Francis Marion National Forest Land Conveyance

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5414. This simple legislation allows the Forest Service to sell a 3-acre parcel of land in the Francis Marion National Forest to the Bonneau Baptist Church in Bonneau, South Carolina. The church needs this land to expand their cemetery, which is within the boundary of the National Forest, and cannot expand without this sale.

The church has agreed to pay for the costs of the transaction. The Forest Service is going to use the funds generated by the sale of this tract to purchase other land for the forest in the future. The gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) has worked with the Forest Service, the church, and the community to ensure that this transaction is acceptable to everyone concerned. And most importantly, Mr. Speaker, this bill will not result in any expense to the taxpayers.

I hope and urge that my colleagues will join me in support of this legislation.

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