[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H15096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BENCHMARK RAIL GROUP, INC.

  The Clerk called the bill (H.R. 419) for the relief of Benchmark Rail 
Group, Inc.
  There being no objection, the Clerk read the bill as follows:

                                H.R. 419

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDING AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Finding.--The Congress finds that Benchmark Rail Group, 
     Inc., of St. Louis, Missouri, satisfactorily performed 
     emergency work after the Northridge earthquake, but has not 
     been reimbursed as a result of a technicality under 
     California State law.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to fairly 
     compensate Benchmark Rail Group, Inc., for the work for 
     which, except for the technicality under California State 
     law, it would otherwise have been paid under the provisions 
     of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121).

     SEC. 2. PAYMENT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the director of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency shall pay to Benchmark Rail Group, Inc., of 
     St. Louis, Missouri, an amount equal to the total amount owed 
     to Benchmark Rail Group, Inc., by the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency and the State of California to compensate 
     Benchmark Rail Group, Inc., for the emergency work and 
     services performed at the request of the Southern California 
     Regional Rail Authority to the extent that such work and 
     services are otherwise eligible for reimbursement under the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5121). The payment shall be made from funds 
     appropriated to implement such Act.
       (b) Deobligation of Funds.--The Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency shall deobligate an equal amount to that 
     obligated previously for payment to the State of California 
     to cover the costs of work performed for the Southern 
     California Regional Rail Authority by Benchmark Rail Group, 
     Inc., after the Northridge earthquake which would have been 
     eligible for reimbursement under such Act.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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