[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 32 (Monday, March 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CONCESSIONS POLICY REFORM ACT OF 1994

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                       WALLOP AMENDMENT NO. 1552

  Mr. WALLOP proposed an amendment to the bill (S. 208) to reform the 
concessions policies of the National Park Service, and for other 
purposes; as follows:

       On Page 32, on lines 14 through 21, strike paragraph 3 in 
     its entirety and insert in lieu thereof the following:
       ``(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), with 
     respect to a concessions contract entered into on or after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the provisions of 
     subsection (b) shall apply to any existing structure, 
     fixture, or improvement as defined in paragraph (a)(1), 
     except that the value of the possessory interest as of the 
     termination date of the first contract expiring after the 
     date of enactment of this Act shall be used as the basis for 
     depreciation, in lieu of the actual original cost of such 
     structure, fixture, or improvement.
       ``(B) If the Secretary determines during the competitive 
     selection process that all proposals submitted either fail to 
     meet the minimum requirements or are rejected (as provided in 
     section 6), the Secretary may, solely with respect to a 
     structure, fixture, or improvement covered under this 
     paragraph, suspend the depreciation provisions of subsection 
     (b)(1) for the duration of the contract: Provided, That the 
     Secretary may suspend such depreciation provisions only if 
     the Secretary determines that the establishment of other new 
     minimum contract requirements is not likely to result in the 
     submission of satisfactory proposals, and that the suspension 
     of the depreciation provisions is likely to result in the 
     submission of satisfactory proposals.
                                 ______


                       WALLOP AMENDMENT NO. 1553

  Mr. WALLOP proposed an amendment to the bill S. 208, supra; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place insert the following new section:
       Sec.  . Beginning on June 1, 1997 and bi-annually 
     thereafter the Inspector General of the Department of the 
     Interior shall submit a report to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the 
     appropriate Committees of the House of Representatives on the 
     implementation of this Act and the effect of such 
     implementation on facilities operated pursuant to concession 
     contracts and on visitor services. Each report shall
       (a) identify any concession contracts which have been 
     renewed, renegotiated, terminated, or transferred during the 
     year prior to the submission of the report and identify any 
     significant changes in the terms of the new contract;
       (b) state the amount of franchise fees the rates which 
     would be charged for services, and the level other of 
     services required to be provided by the concessioner in 
     comparison to that required in the previous contract,
       (c) assess the degree to which concession facilities are 
     being maintained using the condition of such facilities on 
     the date of enactment of this Act as a baseline;
       (d) determine whether competition has been increased or 
     decreased with respect to the awarding of each contract;
       (e) set forth the amount of revenues received and financial 
     obligations incurred or reduced by the Federal Government as 
     a result of the comparison of the Act for the reporting 
     period and in comparison with previous reporting periods and 
     the baseline year of 1993, including the costs, if any, 
     associated with the acquisition of possessory interests.
                                 ______


                       McCAIN AMENDMENT NO. 1554

  Mr. WALLOP (for Mr. McCain) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 208, 
supra; as follows:

       On page 34, lines 24 and 25, between ``Federal State and 
     Local regulatory agencies'', and ``If the Secretary's 
     performance'', insert the following, ``, and shall seek and 
     consider the applicable views of park visitors and concession 
     customers.''
                                 ______


                       McCAIN AMENDMENT NO. 1555

  Mr. WALLOP (for Mr. McCain) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 208 
to reform the concessions policies of the National Park Service, and 
for other purposes; as follows:

       On page 21, line 25, after ``to the public at a park'', 
     insert the following, ``except that the Secretary shall take 
     all reasonable and appropriate steps to consider competing 
     alternatives for such contract.''.
                                 ______


                        COHEN AMENDMENT NO. 1556

  Mr. WALLOP (for Mr. Cohen) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 208 
to reform the concessions policies of the National Park Service, and 
for other purposes; as follows:

       On page 35, line 21, through page 36, line 5, strike 
     section 14 in its entirety and insert in lieu thereof the 
     following:

     SEC. 14. RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Each concessioner shall keep such records 
     as the Secretary may prescribe to enable the Secretary to 
     determine that all terms of the concessioner's contract have 
     been, and are being faithfully performed, and the Secretary 
     or any of the Secretary's duly authorized representatives 
     shall, for the purpose of audit and examination, have access 
     to such records and to other books, documents and papers of 
     the concessioner pertinent to the contract and all the terms 
     and conditions thereof as the Secretary deems necessary.
       (b) General Accounting Office Review.--The Comptroller 
     General of the United States or any of his or her duly 
     authorized representatives shall, until the expiration of 
     five calendar years after the close of the business year for 
     each concessioner, have access to and the right to examine 
     any pertinent books, documents, papers, and records of the 
     concessioner related to the contracts or contracts involved.

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