[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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