Providing For the Use By the State of North Carolina of Federal Lands at the Oxford Research Station in Granville County, North Carolina

PROVIDING FOR THE USE BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA OF FEDERAL LANDS AT THE OXFORD RESEARCH STATION IN GRANVILLE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA -- (House of Representatives - October 05, 2004)

Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2119) to provide for the use by the State of North Carolina of Federal lands, improvements, equipment, and resource materials at the Oxford Research Station in Granville County, North Carolina, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 2119, legislation to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the State of North Carolina approximately 4.28 acres of Federal lands administered as part of the Oxford Research Station in Granville, North Carolina.

The bill addresses concerns raised by USDA with the original legislation. In a letter dated March 30, 2004, USDA acknowledged the strong, equitable interest the State of North Carolina has in the research station and stated it will gladly exercise the authority provided to convey the Oxford Research to the State of North Carolina once the legislation is enacted.

According to USDA estimates, the amendment will not significantly affect the Federal budget. In fact, the research station is currently unused and actually costs the USDA's property inventory funding to maintain it.

For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).

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Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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