| Sponsor | Rep. Cravaack, Chip |
| Committee | Natural Resources |
| Date | April 24, 2012 (112th Congress, 2nd Session) |
| Staff Contact | Andy Koenig |
On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, the House is scheduled to consider H.R. 2947, a bill to provide for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States, and for other purposes, under a suspension of the rules requiring a two-thirds majority for approval. The bill was introduced on September 15, 2011, by Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN) and referred to the committee on Natural Resources, which held a mark up and reported the bill by voice vote on February 29, 2012.
H.R. 2947 would require the Secretary of Agriculture to release reversionary interest (future interest that is retained by the grantor) and deed restrictions on land conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota. Under current law, if the land is not used for purposes related to the operation of Cook County Airport, it must be returned to the United States. H.R. 2947 would remove this restriction.
According to Committee Report 112-441, H.R. 2947 would require the Secretary of Agriculture to release the deed restrictions that were placed on a parcel of land conveyed to the State of Minnesota under the Federal Airport Act of 1946 to allow for the construction of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota. The original 1950 conveyance required that the lands be used for the specific purposes of expanding the Grand Marais-Cook County Airport, yet the entire parcel was never developed and the restrictions in the land grant keep it from being used for any other purpose. Release of this parcel will allow it to be utilized by the Cook County Highway Department for a local highway project.
According to CBO, enacting H.R. 2947 would have no significant impact on revenue or future budget deficits.