Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3620) to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southcentral Foundation located in Anchorage, Alaska, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3620
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 ``Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) SCF.--The term ``SCF'' means the Southcentral Foundation located in Anchorage, Alaska.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY TO SCF.
(a) In General.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 2 years, after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convey to SCF all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the property described in subsection (b) for use in connection with health and social services programs.
(b) Property Described.--The property, including all land, improvements, and appurtenances, referred to in this section is the approximately 3.372 acres located in Lot 1A, Block 36 East Addition, Anchorage Townsite Subdivision in Anchorage, Alaska, according to the official plat thereof, filed under Plat No. 2025-11, records of the Anchorage Recording District, Third Judicial District, State of Alaska. SEC. 4. CONDITIONS OF CONVEYANCE.
(a) Conditions.--The conveyance under subsection (a) of section 3--
(1) shall be made by warranty deed; and
(2) shall not--
(A) require any consideration from SCF for the property described in subsection (b) of that section;
(B) impose any obligation, term, or condition on SCF relating to that property; or
(C) allow for any reversionary interest of the United States in that property.
(b) Effect on Any Quitclaim Deed.--The conveyance by the Secretary under subsection (a) of section 3 by warranty deed shall, on the effective date of the conveyance, supersede, and render of no future effect, any quitclaim deed to the property described in subsection (b) of that section executed by the Secretary and SCF.
(c) Easement.--The Secretary shall be accorded any easement or access to the property conveyed under section 3(a) as may be reasonably necessary to satisfy any retained obligation or liability of the Secretary. SEC. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, SCF shall not be liable for any soil, surface water, groundwater, or other contamination resulting from the disposal, release, or presence of any environmental contamination described in subsection (b) on any portion of the property described in section 3(b) that occurred on or before the date on which the property is conveyed to SCF under section 3(a), except that the Secretary shall not be liable for any contamination that occurred after the date that SCF controlled, occupied, and used the property.
(b) Environmental Contamination.--Environmental contamination referred to in subsection (a) includes any oil or petroleum products, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, pollutants, toxic substances, solid waste, or any other environmental contamination or hazard as defined in any Federal or State of Alaska law.
(c) Notice of Hazardous Substance Activity and Warranty.-- In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall comply with section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)).
(d) Limitation on Applicability.--This section shall only apply to the property conveyance specifically required by this Act.
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Mr. STAUBER. 3620, the bill now under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3620, the Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025, sponsored by my colleague, Representative Begich of Alaska. This would transfer approximately 3.4 acres of Federal land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation.
Southcentral Foundation is a tribally-operated health organization serving Alaska Native people under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. This parcel, currently owned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has housed Southcentral Foundation's behavioral health programs since 1994, for over 30 years.
However, the foundation does not currently hold title to the property. As a result, it cannot secure financing to improve or replace the aging facility, meaning that it cannot take full advantage of opportunities to expand mental health services for the Alaska Native population that it serves.
H.R. 3620 corrects this by conveying the land to Southcentral Foundation so it may move forward with plans to construct a modern behavioral health facility. The foundation has already coordinated with the municipality of Anchorage to rezone the land in anticipation of this project. Once the bill is signed into law, construction can and will begin immediately.
This is a commonsense measure that supports Tribal self- determination. It empowers a proven provider to serve its community with up-to-date infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Begich for introducing this bill and for his hard work and leadership on Alaska Native health issues. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3620, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC, December 8, 2025. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Westerman: I write regarding H.R. 3620, the ``Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025.'' While there are provisions of the legislation that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, I wanted to notify you that the Committee will forgo action on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
This is done with the understanding that the Committee's jurisdictional interests over this and similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 3620 and requests your support when such a request is made.
I would appreciate your response confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 3620 and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the committee report on the bill or in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor. Sincerely, Brett Guthrie, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, December 8, 2025. Hon. Brett Guthrie, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Guthrie: I write regarding H.R. 3620, the ``Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025,'' which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on July 23, 2025.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Energy and Commerce will not formally consider H.R. 3620 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 3620. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3620 is a simple fix that will have a meaningful impact. By granting Southcentral Foundation title to the land it has used for decades, we are removing bureaucratic barriers and enabling the construction of a modern behavioral health facility.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3620 and help us take a small but significant step forward in improving behavioral health outcomes for our Tribal communities.
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Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3176) to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3176
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. NATIONAL VOLCANO EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING SYSTEM REAUTHORIZATION.
Section 5001(c) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (43 U.S.C. 31k(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``United States Geological Survey'' and inserting ``Secretary''; and
(B) by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2026 through 2029''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration'' and inserting ``Secretary of Commerce''; and
(B) by striking ``such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2024'' and inserting ``$470,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029''.
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Mr. STAUBER. 3176, the bill now under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3176, which will amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, NVEWS.
First, I thank my colleague from Alaska, Representative Begich, for his efforts on this bill.
With over 130 volcanoes and volcanic fields, Alaska has more volcanoes than any other State, and more than 50 of those have been active in the last 300 years.
Volcanic hazards are difficult to estimate on a year-to-year basis, but when they occur, the results can be catastrophic. For example, the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 caused more than $1 billion in damage. Adjusting for inflation, that figure would now exceed $4 billion.
Damage estimates for volcanic eruptions can swing wildly, depending on many factors, but are almost always severe, underscoring the need for early warning and monitoring.
Obviously, protecting human life is our paramount concern in monitoring volcanic activity, but it is not just people on the ground who are at risk. Aircraft that are flying within 1,000 miles of a volcanic eruption can experience damage if they are not made aware of the smoke. Volcanic eruptions can be detrimental, and even fatal, to passengers and crew.
The lives of families near erupting volcanoes are priceless, far surpassing the value of any damaged infrastructure. To protect those lives, we must be able to monitor volcanic activity effectively and broadcast early warnings of eruptions.
This is why Congress should reauthorize this critical program so that communities near volcanoes are provided ample time to react to an eruption and so that air traffic is warned of potential dangers.
The NVEWS Advisory Committee is integral to this program. It provides the Secretary of the Interior with information on current program activities and relevant research that may improve the program going forward.
The committee cannot meet while the program is unauthorized, however, so reauthorization is essential to get the committee working again.
While we cannot stop volcanic eruptions, we can take prudent steps to minimize damage and loss of life. That is precisely what this program is intended to do.
I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would again commend my colleague from Alaska (Mr. Begich) for working to pass meaningful legislation that can save lives.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3176, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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