AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO SELL OR EXCHANGE CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE SITES IN THE OZARK-ST. FRANCIS AND OUACHITA NATIONAL FORESTS -- (House of Representatives - October 05, 2004)

Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 33) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange all or part of certain administrative sites and other land in the Ozark-St. Francis and Ouachita National Forests and to use funds derived from the sale or exchange to acquire, construct, or improve administrative sites.

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Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 33 which allows the Forest Service to sell or exchange a total of 23 administrative sites on national forest lands in Arkansas and Oklahoma. The funds generated will be used to relocate and renovate offices as well as purchase and replace administrative sites. Overall, the lands covered by the bill total just over 308 acres. The total value of the sites to be sold is $3.375 million.

The total acreage involved requires an act of Congress to allow the agency to sell these lands. The sales will encourage efficient management of the National Forest Service lands in Arkansas and Oklahoma. And I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I welcome back the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) who I hear has been at the Committee on Rules.