[Vision2020] HR 3855

[Tom Hansen]

109th CONGRESS

 

1st Session

 

H. R. 3855

 

To raise funds necessary to respond to Hurricane Katrina and future
disasters by selling a portion of the lands administered by the Forest
Service and the Department of the Interior, and for other purposes. 

 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

September 21, 2005

 

Mr. TANCREDO (for himself, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr.
WELDON of Florida, Mr. PITTS, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. AKIN, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr.
BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. POE, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, and Mr. OTTER) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in
addition to the Committees on Agriculture and Transportation and
Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

 

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A BILL

 

To raise funds necessary to respond to Hurricane Katrina and future
disasters by selling a portion of the lands administered by the Forest
Service and the Department of the Interior, and for other purposes. 

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,

 

SECTION 1. SALE OF NATIONAL FOREST AND DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR LANDS TO
RAISE FUNDS FOR DISASTER RELIEF.

 

(a) Sale of National Forest Lands- The Secretary of Agriculture shall select
15 percent of the lands included in the National Forest System (as defined
in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning
Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a))) and convey all right, title, and interest
of the United States in and to the selected lands by public sale.

 

(b) Sale of Department of the Interior Lands- The Secretary of the Interior
shall identify 15 percent of the lands managed by agencies of the Department
of the Interior (excluding lands in units of the National Park System
established by Act of Congress and lands held for the benefit of an Indian
tribe) and convey all right, title, and interest of the United States in and
to the identified lands by public sale.

 

(c) Priority Locations- The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of
the Interior shall place an emphasis on identifying lands for sale under
this section in those States where the United States owns more than 15
percent of the total land area.

 

(d) Commencement of Sales- The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of
the Interior shall complete the identification of Federal lands under this
section and commence the sale of such lands not later than October 1, 2006.
The land sales shall proceed without regard to any other provision of law.

 

(e) Treatment of Proceeds- All proceeds from the sale of Federal lands under
this section (other than amounts retained to cover the administrative costs
incurred solely to conduct the sales) shall be deposited in the special
account established under subsection (f).

 

(f) Disaster Response and Relief Fund-

 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established in the Treasury a special account to
be known as the `Disaster Response and Relief Fund'.

 

(2) INVESTMENT- Pending the need to use the special account for the purposes
specified in subsection (g), the Secretary of the Treasury shall manage
amounts in the special account to maximize the return to the United States.
Interest on investments shall also be deposited in the special account.

 

(g) Use of Fund for Disaster Relief- Amounts in the special account shall be
available only for appropriation to cover or defray the costs of responding
to a natural disaster or terrorist attack in an area covered by a disaster
declaration made by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).

 

(h) Moratorium on Federal Land Acquisition- Until the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior comply with the duties imposed
on the Secretaries by this section, an interest in land may not be acquired
by the Forest Service or an agency of the Department of the Interior unless
the acquisition of that land is specifically authorized by an Act of
Congress enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act.

 

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Take care, Moscow.

 

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

 

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, chocolate in one hand, a drink in the other, body thoroughly used
up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO. What a ride!'"

 

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