[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E673]]



                      PARK POLICE ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 2000

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I am today 
introducing the Park Police Enhancement Act. This legislation is long 
overdue and would help the United States Park Police solve two 
particular, albeit small, problems that have been plaguing this police 
force for a number of years, namely, medical payments and mutual aid 
agreements dealing with indemnification.
  The first section of this bill clarifies that medical payments to 
qualifying Park Police personnel will be made by the Park Service. This 
will significantly speed up the process for reimbursements to the Park 
Police personnel. Currently, payments are routed through the District 
of Columbia, who eventually distributes the reimbursements. This 
process is overly burdensome and frequently takes months to complete.
  Section 2 of the bill would provide express authority for the 
National Park Service to enter into mutual aid agreements with adjacent 
law enforcement agencies, for example those in Maryland or Virginia. 
Both of these states require that each party to the agreements be 
indemnified and hold the assisting agency harmless from claims by third 
parties dealing with property damage or personal injury.
  Both of these sections will help the Park Police function better and 
is necessary to address identified problems that have hindered the 
effectiveness of the US Park Police. The Park Police deserve nothing 
less.

                          ____________________