I 108th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5042 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 9, 2004 Mr. Acevedo-Vilá introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 to ensure that the dependents of employees of the Forest Service stationed in Puerto Rico receive a high-quality elementary and secondary education.

1.

Authority to cover expenses of primary and secondary schooling of dependents of Forest Service personnel in Puerto Rico

Section 202 of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 554b) is amended— (1)by inserting (a) Provision of medical care; related transportation.— before Appropriations for the Forest Service; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b)

Coverage of dependent educational expenses in puerto rico; related transportation

(1)Appropriations for the Forest Service shall be available to the Secretary of Agriculture to cover the cost of primary and secondary schooling of dependents of Forest Service personnel, who are stationed in Puerto Rico and are subject to transfer and reassignment to other locations in the United States, but not to exceed the costs authorized by the Department of Defense for the same area for dependents of members of the Armed Forces, when it is determined by the Secretary that the schools available in the area of Puerto Rico in which the dependents reside are unable to provide adequately for the education of the dependents. (2)If the Secretary determines that the school attended by a dependent described in paragraph (1) is not accessible by public means of transportation on a regular basis, the Secretary may provide, out of funds appropriated for the Forest Service, for the transportation of the dependent between the school and the place of residence of the dependent..