On the recordDecember 5, 2011
70 years ago the Forest Service paid the huge sum of $1 for two parcels of land, a total of 30 acres, surrounded on three sides by private property. In that intervening time period, per the Forest Service's own plans, not only have they not needed them, they have not used them and, until 5 years ago, forgot they had them. The city of Mantua now desperately needs this for its cemetery expansion as well as for a town hall and a fire station to protect people who actually go on the real forest lands. Three times this House has passed this piece of legislation, and the Senate has found it too complex to consider. This time, the Senate has passed a very similar bill over to us, not as good as the one we had, but when one considers we have sent over to them a budget bill, multiple appropriation bills, repeal of ObamaCare, 16 job bills, and numerous regulatory reform bills, the fact that the Senate did anything should be a cause of our celebration today. And, therefore, I urge, even though this is not a perfect bill, it's a pretty good one, so I urge its adoption so that we can send it to the President's desk and let the Senate know we do appreciate them when they finally, finally do their work.
