H.R. 1612 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1612 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 17, 2013 Mr. Rogers of Alabama (for himself, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Bonner, Mr. Brooks of Alabama, Mrs. Roby, and Ms. Sewell of Alabama) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to convey a parcel of land in Tuskegee, Alabama, to Tuskegee University, and for other purposes. 1. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) In 1922, Tuskegee University voted to donate three hundred acres of land to the United States to build a veterans’ hospital, a portion of which is described in section 2(a). (2) The property is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and has been used as space for the Tuskegee Veteran’s Hospital. (3) Tuskegee University (hereinafter referred to as the University) is a State-related land grant institution of higher learning that intends to use the property described in section 2(a) to further the education and general welfare of its students. (4) As provided in section 2, the conveyance of the property to the University would promote the University’s educational mission and related purposes and result in savings to the Federal Government. 2. Land conveyance, Department of Veterans Affairs property, Tuskegee, Alabama (a) Conveyance authorized The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, without consideration, convey all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a parcel of real property, including improvements thereon, consisting of approximately 64.5 acres located at 2400 Hospital Road, Tuskegee, Alabama, including building numbers 19–29, 50–51, 59–60, 62–63, 80, 94, 96, and 124, to Tuskegee University, for the purpose of permitting Tuskegee University to use the property to further the education and general welfare of its students. In carrying out the conveyance under this subsection, the Secretary may survey all or a portion of the property to be conveyed if the Secretary determines such a survey would be necessary or desirable. (b) Hazardous substances Notwithstanding section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)) or the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), in the conveyance of the property under subsection (a), the Secretary shall be only required to meet the disclosure requirements for hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants, but otherwise shall not be required to remediate or abate the release of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant, including petroleum and petroleum derivatives. (c) Cooperative authority (1) Leases, contracts, and cooperative agreements authorized In conjunction with, or in addition to, the conveyance under subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into leases, contracts, and cooperative agreements with the University related to the conveyance authorized under subsection (a). (2) Sole source Notwithstanding division C of subtitle I of title 41, United States Code, or any other provision of law, the Secretary may lease real property from the University on a noncompetitive basis. (3) Non-exclusive authority The authority provided by this subsection is in addition to any other authority of the Secretary. (d) Additional terms and conditions The Secretary may require such reasonable terms and conditions in connection with the conveyance under subsection (a) as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States, except that the conveyance may not require further administrative or environmental analyses or examination.