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Calendar No. 614
104th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 104-391
_______________________________________________________________________
FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
_______
September 30, 1996.--Ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2636]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the Act (H.R. 2636) to transfer jurisdiction over
certain parcels of Federal real property located in the
District of Columbia, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and
recommends that the Act do pass.
purpose of the measure
The purpose of H.R. 2636 is to authorize an exchange of
land between the Architect of the Capitol and the Secretary of
the Interior, within the District of Columbia, to locate and
establish a Japanese American patriotism Memorial.
background and need
This bill would authorize an exchange of land between the
Architect of the Capitol and the Secretary of the Interior. The
no-cost transfer would allow the parcel to be used to establish
a memorial to Japanese American patriotism during World War II.
A total of 33,000 Japanese Americans from the U.S. mainland
and Hawaii were drafted or they volunteered for U.S. military
service during World War II. The Japanese American 100th/44nd
Regimental Combat Team is considered one of the most highly
decorated military units in American history. Its members
received more that 18,000 individual decorations.
In 1992, Congress passed H.J. Res. 271, a resolution
authorizing the Japanese American Memorial Foundation to
establish a memorial in the District of Columbia. The
Foundation is responsible for accepting contributions and
paying the expenses in connection with the Memorial, including
the Memorial's maintenance and preservation.
The Memorial would not only honor the patriotism of
Japanese Americans who served the armed forces of the United
States during World War II, it would also commemorate the
sacrifices of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans who were
interned as a matter of ``military necessity'' for up to four
years during the War.
The Japanese American Memorial Foundation feels that it is
very important that the bill pass during this session in order
to provide sufficient time for them to begin the lengthy
process of applying for permits and initiating construction.
The authorizing legislation (Public Law 102-502) for the
Memorial expires in 1999.
The resolution was enacted in accordance with the Act
passed in 1986, which established standards for the placement
of memorials on Federal lands in the District of Columbia. The
Memorial would be located on a triangle of land bordered by
Louisiana Avenue, New Jersey Avenue and D Street, NW, in
Washington, D.C.
legislative history
H.R. 2636 was introduced by Representative Oberstar on
November 15, 1995. The bill was referred to the House Committee
on Resources, and additionally to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on
Government Oversight and Reform. The bill was reported in the
House of Representatives on November 28, 1995 (H. Rept. 104-
368, Part 1). Representative Matsui was added as a co-sponsor
on March 19, 1996, and Representative King was added as a co-
sponsor on March 26, 1996.
The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and
Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 2636 on May 9, 1996. The
bill was ordered reported, amended, on June 26, 1996, and was
reported to the House on July 26, 1996 (H. Rept. 104-368, Part
II). The bill was passed in the House as amended by a voice
vote on July 31, 1996.
On August 1, 1996, the House requested the concurrence of
the Senate on the bill and referred the bill to the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee. At the business meeting
on September 12, 1996, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources ordered H.R. 2636 favorably reported.
committee recommendation
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on September 12, 1996, by a unanimous voice
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R.
2636.
section-by-section analysis
Section 1 defines the purposes of the Act as: (1) assisting
in the effort to establish a national memorial within the
District of Columbia to Japanese American patriotism in World
War II within; and (2) improving the management of certain
parcels of Federal real property located within the District of
Columbia by transferring jurisdiction of the parcels to the
Architect of the Capitol, the Secretary of the Interior, and
the Government of the District of Columbia.
Section 2 identifies the specific parcels of land to be
transferred among the Secretary of the Interior, District of
Columbia, and Architect of the Capitol.
Section 3 contains several miscellaneous provisions
associated with the transfer, such as realignment of law
enforcement responsibilities among the various parties.
cost and budgetary considerations
The following estimate of the cost of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, September 16, 1996.
Hon. Frank H. Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
reviewed H.R. 2636, an act to transfer jurisdiction over
certain parcels of federal real property located in the
District of Columbia, and for other purposes, as ordered
reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources on September 12, 1996. CBO estimates that H.R. 2636
would result in no significant cost to the federal government.
Enacting H.R. 2636 would not affect direct spending or
receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
H.R. 2636 would transfer several parcels of land between
federal agencies to provide suitable space to erect a memorial
to honor Japanese-American patriotism in World War II. In
addition, the legislation would transfer, without compensation,
one parcel of land to the District of Columbia. The costs of
erecting and maintaining the memorial would be borne by the Go
For Broke National Veterans Association Foundation. Otherwise,
the future use of the properties conveyed by this legislation
would not be affected by the transfers.
H.R. 2636 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in Public Law 104-4 and would have no
impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
The land that the federal government would convey to the
District of Columbia is a small section of New Jersey Avenue.
The District already maintains and administers this section of
road and would continue to do so under this legislation.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact in John R.
Righter.
Sincerely,
June E. O'Neill, Director.
regulatory impact evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out H.R. 2636. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of H.R. 2636, as ordered reported.
executive communications
On September 13, 1996, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of
the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting
forth Executive agency recommendations on H.R. 2636. These
reports had not been received at the time the report on H.R.
2636 was filed. When these reports become available, the
Chairman will request that they be printed in the Congressional
Record for the advice of the Senate.
changes in existing law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by the bill H.R. 2636, as
ordered reported.
