Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation Property Conveyance
Floor Speech
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 230) to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation located in Bethel, Alaska.
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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would first like to acknowledge the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs, for his hard work as the sponsor of the House companion to this bill, H.R. 521.
This bill was favorably reported from the Committee on Natural Resources by unanimous consent in July of this year. The Senate version, S. 230, sponsored by Senator Murkowski, is before us today. This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convey by warranty deed a 23-acre parcel of Federal land under the administration of the Indian Health Service and located in Bethel, Alaska, to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation for health and social service-related programs.
The YKHC is a nonprofit Alaska Native organization which operates a regional hospital on the 23 acres of the Federal land conveyed under this bill. In recent years, the hospital has had a need to expand and renovate the existing facilities in this location. To secure funding for the hospital expansion, the YKHC must demonstrate sufficient site control, but because the surrounding land is federally owned, this bill is necessary to provide the health corporation the site control necessary to improve its facilities.
Congress has enacted two similar bills in the last several Congresses and, like those, this bill is supported by the entire Alaska delegation and by the administration.
I again want to commend my colleague from Alaska for his hard work for Alaska Natives, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would reciprocate those kind words to the gentlewoman from Michigan; thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of this measure.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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