For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 2316. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk Union Calendar bill 207, h. R. 2316, a to amend the mineral leasing act and the Energy Policy act of 1992 to repeal provisions relating only to the allegheny. Ational forest the speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson, and the gentleman from virginia, mr. Mceachin, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Thompson well, thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Thompson i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, thank you for bringing h. R. 2316 to the floor. The Allegany National Forest, located in my district in northwestern pennsylvania is located near the First Commercial Oil discovery in the country. The Allegany National Forest is pennsylvanias only National Forest and since its creation in 1923 has been home to numerous recreational and other activities. Mineral owners work cooperatively with the Forest Service to safely produce oil and gas within the National Forest boundaries. Mineral owners routinely provided 60day notification of drilling plans prior to the commencement of operations and the forest issued a notice to proceed or n. T. P. However, in 2006, the Forest Service deemed it to be a major federal action which triggered the flal environmental policy. National environmental policy. This has a full analysis. Environmental groups were quick to sue the Forest Service to enforce the new rule. After settling with these groups they issued a moratorium on issuing n. T. P. s until a full environmental analysis was completed. This had immediate and severe impacts on the mineral rights owners who were unfairly denied access to their mineral property. The oil and gas industry sued, claiming Forest Service did not have the authority to preclude the development of privately owned minerals and in 2009 the u. S. District court of western pennsylvania agreed and lifted the moratorium in the Allegany National Forest. The lower courts decision was confirmed on appeal in 2013. This bill fully repeals the invalidated language from the mineral leasing act and the Energy Policy act of 1992. In accordance with these Court Decisions. Throughout the litigation, the Forest Service claims section 2508 of the Energy Policy act of 1992 codified in the mineral leasing act provided them with the authority to restrict mineral development. It is critical to strike this language, have this regulation not been challenged over 11 million acres of split estate minerals throughout the country would have been locked up, devastating mineral owners and local and state economies. A similar version of this bill passed the house during the 114th congress, demonstrating the support for protecting private Property Rights in the Allegany National Forest. I want to thank you for your time and we look forward to implementing this crucial solution. I urge adoption of the measure and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Mceachin thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mceachin thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, h. R. 2316 is nearly identical to a bill that passed the house last year with overwhelming bipartisan support. The intent of the bill, according to the sponsor, is to ensure owners of mineral rights in the Allegany National Forest are allowed to drill for their oil and gas within the boundaries of that natural forest. In the Natural ResourcesCommittee Last congress, the majority accepted an amendment by energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee Ranking Member lowenthal that clarified the intent of the bill. It ensures the National Forest would receive advance notice of oil and gas operations and that no other National Forest would be affected. So this bill is a bipartisan compromise that protects the private Property Rights while also protecting the rights of the Forest Service and i thank the sponsor for working so cooperatively on this. I support h. R. 2316 and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise . Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, i have no additional speakers so i continue to reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Mceachin mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Thompson i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 2316. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that the house suspend the rules and pass h. R. 1547. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 1547, a bill to provide for the unencumbering of title to nonfederal land owned by the city of tucson, arizona, for purposes of Economic Development by conveyance of the federal reversionary interest to the ity. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson, and the gentleman from virginia mr. Mceachin, will each control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Thompson i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, 1547 completes the transfer of bureau of Land Managements reversionary interest in uredal park located in tuesdayson, arizona, nearly after they donated 4 million worth of land to complete their portion of the exchange. 20 years after the exchange took place, the bureau of Land Management threatened to invoke his reversionary interest because the city dared to hold a local Farmers Market in the park. The city of tucson has invested millions of dollars in this community park, building swimming pools, Recreation Centers and Athletic Field and deserves to have clear title of the land and complete jurisdiction over uses of the park. The bill is bipartisan and has nearly unanimous support from the arizona congressional delegation. And i urge adoption of the measure and reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Ceachin mr. Speaker, mr. Mceachin mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mceachin this transfers this park to the city of tucson, arizona. The land was transferred back to the city under the recreation and Public Services act, a program that authorizes the conveyance of federal lands to local governments and nonprofits. These conveyances include what is known as a reversionary interest which stipulates the land must permanently remain in use for a public purpose or ownership reverts back to the United States. Typically if a recipient want to convert the land to a nonpublic purpose they have it compensate the federal government. However, this is not the typical situation. In 1989 tucson came to an agreement with the bureau of Land Management in exchange for the title to the udall park, the city gave the bureau of Land Management a 297acre parcel known as the freeman roads property. A letter from the b. L. M. State director at the time indicates the agency supported the elimination of udall parks reversionary interest in exchange for the freeman road property. Unfortunately, mr. Speaker, Congress Never followed through on that promise. This bill honors the federal governments longforgotten commitment which is why we support it and encourage its swift adoption. The unique situation of udall reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. Mr. Thompson im pleased to yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlelady from arizona, congresswoman mcsally. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Mcsally thank you, mr. Thompson. I rise today in strong support of my bill h. R. 1547, the Udall Park Land Exchange completion act of 2017. Udall park is a cherished urban park in the heart of tucson. The city has invested millions of dollars in park facilities, including construction of very Large Community recreation and senior centers, a large swimming pool, a walking track and multiple Athletic Fields and picnic areas. In 2011, the mayor and City Council Approved a master plan update. It calls for plans to invest even more money into the park. By way of additional Athletic Fields and expanded recognize weeksal programming. However, long recreational programming. However, we cant supplement park funding, approve Certain Community events or look to other commercial ventures like Farmers Markets that would benefit the city in general. The Udall Park Land Exchange completion act resolves this historic Land Exchange agreement between the city of tucson and the bureau of Land Management at udall park in 1989, the city of tucson and b. L. M. Entered into an agreement to exchange 297 acres swarrow djacent to National Park for b. L. M. Land now known as udall park. This agreement specifically outlined the terms and conditions of this land conveyance would include a legislative fix to remove any encumberanses. This never came to fruition due to staff changes and who knows what else. The city has been prevented from utilizing udall park to its full extent. Recently the issue came to head on a small commercial lease located on udall park. Federal red tape should not stand in the way of communities like mine. Udall park is a beautiful place to gather, but this long standing land dispute has prevented the city of tucson from improving the park and growing it to its full potential for too long. When im out and about in my district and people come to me with issues like this i say, does it literally take an act to fix . Let me say this again, does it literally take an act of congress to fix . In this case the answer is yes. I appreciate as we testified before the house Natural Resources federal lands subcommittee, the Ranking Member, ms. Hanabusa, was saying, no kidding in july, quote, if it takes an act of congress to get it done then thats what we got to do and im with the Ranking Member at this point. Its finally time to take action and get this thing ishished finished. This land would be exchanged at federal market value. It directs the park to the city as intended when the Land Exchange was made. The bill will allow tucson to finally take full ownership of the park. In closing i want to thank chairman bishop, chairman mccolin ok, members of the natural mcclintock, members of the Natural Resources committee, members on both sides of the aisle for working with me to get this bill forward. This has strong bipartisan support. I want to ensure the Land Transfer is completed and with that i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman reserves . Mr. Thompson continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia. Mr. Mceachin mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers on this issue so i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, i have no additional speakers and so i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass h. R. 1547. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 having responded in the affirmative mr. Thompson mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, on that i would ask for the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Thompson mr. Speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 965 as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk Union Calendar to er 197, h. R. 965, a bill to redesignate the saintgaudens National Historic site as the saintgaudens National Historical park, and. R other purposes 4 the speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson, and the gentleman from virginia, mr. Mceachin, will each control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Thompson i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. Mr. Thompson i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Thompson meerks saintgaudens is one of the most prolific scupters in our nations history. His work includes bostons robert shaw memorial, chicagos standing lincoln and new yorks memorial. Most notably, saintgaudens designed a 20 double eagle gold piece for the u. S. Mint, considered one of the greatest american coins ever issued. The saintgaudens National Historic site is a 190 had been acre Historic Site in Sullivan County 190acre Historic Site in Sullivan County. This helped spawn the core initial artists colony cornish artists colony. This was comprised of painters, sculptures and musicians. In the years following the civil war. The main house and surrounding gardens were initially designed as a National Historic landmark in 1962, which was converted to a National Historic site in 1964, when the grounds were donated to the National Park service. The current property contains 21 buildings, a number of saintgaudens sculptures and miles of hiking trace. This bill simply changes the designation trails. This bill simply changes the designation of saintgaudens National Historic site to a National Historic park. Allowing the National Park service to better relay the impact and legacy of this historic american artist. I urge the adoption of the measure and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Mceachin mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mceachin thank you, mr. Speaker. H. R. 965, introduced by representative kuster of New Hampshire, redesignates a site in her state as the saintgaude