109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2015
To provide a site for construction of a national health museum,
and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 15, 2005
Mr. ISAKSON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
A BILL
To provide a site for construction of a national health museum,
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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `National Health Museum Act of 2005'.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to provide for a site to be used for the construction
and operation of a national health museum.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) ADMINISTRATOR- The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of
General Services.
(2) CERCLA- The term `CERCLA' means the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).
(3) COMMITTEES- The term `Committees' means the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
(4) MUSEUM- The term `Museum' means the National Health Museum, Inc.,
a District of Columbia nonprofit corporation exempt from taxation pursuant
to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(5) NORTHERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY- The term `northern portion of the
property' means that portion of the property which the Administrator and
Museum deem appropriate for the museum facility.
(6) PROPERTY- The term `property' means the property located in the District
of Columbia, subject to survey and as determined by the Administrator,
generally consisting of Squares 325 and 326, and the westerly portions
of Squares 351 and 352, including the parcel and structure commonly known
as the `Cotton Annex'. The property is generally bounded by 12th Street,
Independence Avenue, Maryland Avenue, the James Forrestal Building, and
L'Enfant Plaza, all in Southwest, Washington, D.C., and shall include
all associated air rights, improvements thereon, and appurtenances thereto.
(7) SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY- The term `southern portion of the
property' means that portion of the property other than the northern portion
of the property.
SEC. 4. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY.
(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to the requirements of this Act, the Administrator
shall convey the property to the Museum on such terms and conditions as
the Administrator considers reasonable and appropriate to protect the
interests of the United States and further the purposes of this Act.
(2) AGREEMENT- As soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall enter into
an agreement with the Museum for the conveyance.
(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS- The terms and conditions of the agreement shall
address, among other things, mitigation of developmental impacts to existing
Federal buildings and structures, security concerns, and operational protocols
for development and use of the property.
(4) SEPARATE CONVEYANCE OF NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS- Under the agreement,
the Administrator shall convey the northern portion of the property separately
from and, if so agreed by the Administrator and the Museum, at a different
time than the southern portion of the property.
(1) IN GENERAL- The purchase price for the property shall be its fair
market value based on its highest and best use as determined by an independent
appraisal commissioned by the Administrator and paid for by the Museum.
(2) SELECTION OF APPRAISER- The appraisal shall be performed by an appraiser
mutually acceptable to the Administrator and the Museum.
(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR APPRAISAL-
(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided by subparagraph (B), the assumptions,
scope of work, and other terms and conditions related to the appraisal
assignment shall be mutually acceptable to the Administrator and the
Museum.
(B) REQUIRED TERMS- The following terms and conditions shall apply to
the appraisal:
(i) The appraisal shall assume that the property does not contain
hazardous substances (as defined in section 101 of CERCLA (42 U.S.C.
9601)) which require remedial action (as defined in such section).
(ii) The appraisal shall state a value for the property as a whole
as well as separate values for the northern portion and southern portion
of the property, taking into consideration the impact to value (if
any) resulting from a conveyance of less than the entirety of the
property.
(c) Application of Proceeds- The purchase price shall be paid into the Federal
Buildings Fund established under section 592 of title 40, United States
Code. Upon deposit, the Administrator may expend the proceeds from the conveyance
for any lawful purpose consistent with existing authorities granted to the
Administrator; except that the Administrator shall provide the Committees
with 30 days advance written notice of any expenditure of the proceeds.
(1) IN GENERAL- The property shall be conveyed pursuant to 2 quit claim
deeds (one for the northern portion and one for the southern portion of
the property), each of which shall contain the covenants required by section
120(h) of CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9620).
(2) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY- The United States shall not be liable or
responsible pursuant to paragraph (1) for any additional remedial action--
(A) with respect to hazardous substances not existing on the property
as of the date of conveyance, unless the presence of such hazardous
substances on the property was caused by the United States; or
(B) caused, required, or arising out of actions of the Museum, its affiliate,
any successor thereto, or any of their respective agents, contractors,
or assigns.
(e) Use Restriction- The northern portion of the property shall be dedicated
for use as a site for a national health museum for the 99-year period beginning
on date of conveyance of that portion to the Museum.
(1) BASES FOR REVERSION- The northern portion of the property shall revert
to the United States, without any obligation for repayment by the United
States of any amount of the purchase price for the property, if--
(A) that portion is not used as a site for a national health museum
at any time during the 99-year period referred to in subsection (e);
or
(B) the Museum has not commenced construction of a museum facility on
that portion in the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment
of this Act, other than for reasons beyond the control of the Museum
as reasonably determined by the Administrator.
(2) ENFORCEMENT- The Administrator may perform any acts necessary to enforce
the reversionary rights provided in this section.
(3) CUSTODY OF PROPERTY UPON REVERSION- If any portion of the property
reverts to the United States pursuant to this section, such property shall
be under the custody and control of the Administrator.
(1) DEADLINE- The Administrator shall convey the northern and southern
portions of the property not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this Act. The Administrator may extend that period for such time as
is reasonably necessary for the Museum to perform its obligations under
section 5(a).
(2) APPLICABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS- The requirements of this Act shall
remain in full force and effect with respect to any portion of the property
conveyed before the deadline established by paragraph (1) or any extension.
SEC. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) Liabilities and Responsibilities- The agreement entered into under section
4(a)(2) shall provide that the Museum will conduct any environmental remediation
activity with respect to the property, and bear the costs of any such activity,
except as otherwise provided by section 4(d) and subsection (b) of this
section.
(b) Crediting of Remediation Costs- Any costs of environmental remediation
activities referred to in subsection (a) shall be credited to the purchase
price for the property up to an amount not greater than the purchase price
for the property.
(c) Scope of Remediation Activities- The scope of any required environmental
remediation activity with respect to the property shall be as required by
section 120 of CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9620).
SEC. 6. INCIDENTAL COSTS.
(a) Responsibilities- Except as otherwise specifically provided by this
Act, the Museum shall bear any and all costs associated with complying with
the provisions of this Act, including studies and reports, surveys, relocating
tenants, and mitigating impacts to existing Federal buildings and structures
resulting directly from the development of the property by the Museum.
(b) Relocation of Existing Tenants- The costs of relocating existing tenants
(including the costs of related studies), shall be paid by the Museum up
to an amount to be agreed upon by the Administrator and Museum in the agreement
entered into under section 4(a)(2), and any costs in excess of such agreed
upon amount shall be credited to the purchase price for the property upon
the closing on the portion of the property first conveyed.
SEC. 7. LAND USE APPROVALS.
(a) Existing Authorities- Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting
or affecting the authority or responsibilities of the National Capital Planning
Commission or the Commission of Fine Arts.
(1) ZONING AND LAND USE- Subject to paragraph (2), the Administrator shall
reasonably cooperate with the Museum with respect to any zoning or other
land use matter relating to development of the property in accordance
with this Act. Such cooperation shall include consenting to applications
by the Museum for applicable zoning and permitting with respect to the
property.
(2) LIMITATIONS- The Administrator shall not be required to incur any
costs with respect to cooperation under this subsection and any consent
provided under this subsection shall be premised on the property being
developed and operated in accordance with this Act.
SEC. 8. REPORTS.
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter until the end of the 5-year period following conveyance of the
property or until substantial completion of the museum facility (whichever
is later), the Museum shall submit annual reports to the Administrator and
the Committees detailing the development and construction activities of
the Museum with respect to this Act.
END
