I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3744
To require conveyance of Governors Island, New York, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 29, 2000
Mr. NADLER (for himself and Mrs. MALONEY of New York) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Re-
form, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, 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 con-
cerned
A BILL
To require conveyance of Governors Island, New York, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Governors Island De-
velopment and Preservation Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Governors Island, located in New York Har-
bor, has great aesthetic, educational, and historic
value for the people of the State of New York and
the City of New York, New York.
(2) Governors Island was acquired by the State
of New York in the 1700’s and became part of the
City of New York in 1730.
(3) On February 15, 1800, the State of New
York transferred control of Governors Island to the
Federal Government at no cost, so that the island
could be used for the nation’s defense.
(4) In 1958, the State of New York formally
transferred title to Governors Island to the Federal
Government for the sum of one dollar.
(5) Having served as an American military in-
stallation until 1966, Governors Island has played
an important role in numerous armed conflicts, in-
cluding the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War
I, and World War II.
(6) In 1966, the Coast Guard assumed control
of Governors Island, which proved an integral com-
ponent of the Coast Guard’s Atlantic coast efforts
for the next 30 years.
(7) The departure of the Coast Guard from
Governors Island in 1997 left its 225 buildings vir-
tually uninhabited.
(8) The State of New York and the City of New
York will agree on a plan that ensures that the his-
toric structures of Governors Island will be protected
and provides substantial educational and rec-
reational facilities for the public.
(9) The plan, to be administered by the Empire
State Development Corporation of the State of New
York, shall provide public access to Governors Is-
land, open park space with views of New York Har-
bor, and educational and cultural institutions that
will display the rich contributions of the island to
United States history.
(10) Consistent with precedent, Governors Is-
land should be transferred to the State of New York
and the City of New York to be preserved and devel-
oped by the Empire State Development Corporation
of the State of New York under the terms of the
plan referred to in the paragraph (9).
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF GOVERNORS ISLAND.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law and not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall con-
vey all right, title, and interest of the United States in
and to Governors Island, New York, except the portions
of Governors Island referred to in section 4, jointly to the
Empire State Development Corporation of the State of
New York (or a subsidiary thereof) and the City of New
York, New York, without consideration.
SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION
OVER CASTLE WILLIAMS AND FORT JAY.
(a) TRANSFER
OF
ADMINISTRATIVE
JURISDIC-
TION.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, administrative jurisdiction over Castle
Williams and Fort Jay and grounds adjacent to these sites
(depicted on the map entitled ll and dated ll) is
transferred to the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary of the Interior
shall administer the properties referred to in subsection
(a) through the Director of the National Park Service.
Æ