Political Quotes

“Both the Transportation and Infrastructure and the Oversight and Government Reform committees have marked up legislation to save money through the disposal of Federal property. We've identified bipartisan common ground on the subject in the past. I hope we can continue to do so with this bill. In the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Members and the staff have worked on a bipartisan basis to report legislation expediting the disposal of real Federal property. The bill we reported unanimously included, by voice vote, my amendment to protect the ability of local governments to work with the Federal Government on real property disposal. The amendment before us today includes identical language to protect local planning prerogatives and to ensure that Federal decisions take cognizance of local circumstances. I reiterate, an amendment that had Republican support on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I introduced this amendment because I have direct experience with successful real property disposal in my northern Virginia district. My predecessor, Republican Tom Davis of Virginia, worked with me and my colleagues in local government and with the GSA to sell the former Lorton prison site, which was under Federal control, to Fairfax County, Virginia. The land transfer saved the Federal Government the cost of maintaining over 330 structures on the property and many historic buildings.…”