Land transfer bill pending in Senate
WASHINGTON -- Sponsors are looking for ways for the Senate to pass a bill that would give the city of Henderson 502 acres of federal land near its municipal airport for economic development.
The bill was passed last week by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. It probably will be packaged into a larger bill containing other land measures before final votes, officials said.
One key will be to persuade Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to let the bill pass. He customarily scrutinizes all bills and has a hold on a number of measures involving federal land.
A Coburn aide was not familiar with the Henderson bill. Usually, land bills "need an open debate to prevent the infringement of private property rights," Coburn spokesman Don Tatro said.
The Nevada bill was sponsored by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. He is waiting for a chance to bring it to the floor, spokesman Jon Summers said.
The bill directs the Bureau of Land Management to convey several parcels near the Henderson Executive Airport. The city would be allowed to sell or lease the land for commercial or public use. Profits would be deposited into a federal land account for Southern Nevada.
A House version of the bill is sponsored by Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau reporter Sara Spivey at sspivey@stephensmedia.com or (202) 783-1760.
