[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H9959-H9960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1330
AUTHORIZING REPAYMENT OF MEDICAL BILLS FOR U.S. PARK POLICE
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4404) to permit the payment of medical expenses incurred by
the United States Park Police in the performance of duty to be made
directly by the National Park Service, to allow for waiver and
indemnification in mutual law enforcement agreements between the
National Park Service and a State or political subdivision when
required by State law, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4404
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. MEDICAL PAYMENTS.
(a) In General.--Subsection (e) of the Policemen and
Firemen's Retirement and Disability Act (39 Stat. 718, as
amended by 71 Stat. 394) is amended by adding at the end the
following new sentence: ``Notwithstanding the previous
sentence, in the case of any member of the United States Park
Police, payment shall be made by the National Park Service
upon a certificate of the Chief, United States Park Police,
setting forth the necessity for such services or treatment
and the nature of the injury or disease which rendered the
same necessary.''.
(b) National Park Service Reimbursement.--Section 6 of the
Policemen and Firemen's Retirement and Disability Act
Amendments of 1957 (71 Stat. 399) is amended by inserting
after the first sentence the following new sentence: ``Such
sums are authorized to be appropriated to reimburse the
National Park Service, on a monthly basis, for medical
benefit payments made from funds appropriated to the National
Park Service in the case of any member of the United States
Park Police.''.
SEC. 2. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) In General.--Section 10(c) of the Act of August 18,
1970 (Public Law 91-383; 16 U.S.C. 1a-6(c)), is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) mutually waive, in any agreement pursuant to
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection or pursuant to
subsection (b)(1) with any State or political subdivision
thereof where State law requires such waiver and
indemnification, any and all civil claims against all the
other parties thereto and, subject to available
appropriations, indemnify and save harmless the other parties
to such agreement from all claims by third parties for
property damage or personal injury, which may arise out of
the parties' activities outside their respective
jurisdictions under such agreement; and''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Paragraph (5) of section 10(c)
the Act of August 18, 1970 (Public Law 91-383; 16 U.S.C. 1a-
6(c)) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), is further
amended--
(1) by striking ``(5) the'' and inserting ``The''; and
(2) by moving the text flush and 2 ems to the left.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Morella). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Holt) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 4404 is a bill that would allow the payment of
medical expenses incurred by the United States Park Police to be paid
directly by the National Park Service. This bill would also allow the
Park Service to enter into mutual aid agreements with adjacent law
enforcement agencies in order that Park Police are indemnified from
third party civil claims.
Currently, payments are made through the District of Columbia, a
process which is very slow. As a result, reimbursement payments to the
Park Police have been a hardship to the officers, staff, and their
families. This bill would direct the NPS to make direct payments to the
Park Police.
The bill would also allow the Park Service to enter into a mutual aid
agreement with adjacent law enforcement agencies in order that the Park
Police are indemnified from third party claims.
Madam Speaker, this legislation is ready to move forward. I urge my
colleagues to support H.R. 4404, as amended.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4404, which was introduced at the
request of the administration, addresses the payment of medical
expenses for the United States Park Police and the indemnification
needed for mutual law enforcement agreements.
Evidently, there have been a number of instances where there have
been problems with timely medical payments being made to the Park
Police officers injured in the performance of their duties. This has
resulted in a hardship to some officers, staff, and their families.
Further, the lack of indemnification is a potential barrier to
cooperative law enforcement agreements between the Park Police and
other police agencies. Such indemnification is needed to hold the
assisting agency harmless from claims by third parties dealing with
property damage or personal injury.
H.R. 4404 provides the U.S. Park Police with the authority to address
these
[[Page H9960]]
two issues. The Committee on Resources did amend the bill to reflect
technical changes to the legislation requested by the National Park
Service.
We on the minority side support passage of the bill, as amended.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4404, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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