[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8859-H8860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MODIFYING APPLICATION OF TEMPORARY LIMITED APPOINTMENT REGULATIONS TO 
                       THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6599) to modify the application of temporary limited 
appointment regulations to the National Park Service, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6599

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

     SECTION 1. APPLICATION OF TEMPORARY LIMITED APPOINTMENT 
                   REGULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

       With respect to the National Park Service, for purposes of 
     carrying out section 316.401 of subpart D of part 316 of 
     title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to temporary 
     limited appointments)--
       (1) the term ``major subdivision'' in paragraph (1) of 
     subsection (c) of such section shall be defined by the 
     Director of the National Park Service; and
       (2) the requirement in such paragraph that a position be in 
     the same local commuting area shall not apply.

     SEC. 2. SUNSET.

       The modification authority provided by section 1 and any 
     such modification shall expire on the date that is one year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Huffman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, recently, the Office of Personnel Management questioned 
how the National Park Service rehired temporary seasonal employees. The 
NPS did not agree with OPM's interpretation of the relevant regulation 
but, nonetheless, complied.
  OPM's directive caused confusion for Park Service hiring managers and 
threatened the ability of parks to open and operate as normal this past 
summer. Additionally, many temporary seasonal employees were 
unexpectedly left without a job.
  H.R. 6599 addresses this issue and allows the Park Service to 
continue its longstanding practices in hiring its essential seasonal 
employees for 1 year while Congress acts to address the issue 
systemically.
  Congressman Steve Knight of California has brought us this measure, 
and I would like to commend him for his leadership on the issue. 
Americans across the country are going to benefit from this work. I 
would like to thank him for his cooperation, allowing this to go 
forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Natural Resources,

                               Washington, DC, September 24, 2018.
     Hon. Trey Gowdy,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: On September 5, 2018, the Committee on 
     Natural Resources ordered favorably reported H.R. 6599, to 
     modify the application of temporary limited appointment 
     regulations to the National Park Service, and for other 
     purposes. While this bill was not originally referred to the 
     Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I believe your 
     Committee has a valid jurisdictional interest in the measure.
       I ask that you not seek a sequential referral of the bill 
     so that it may be considered by the House of Representatives 
     this week. This action in no way affects your jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as 
     precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a 
     conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your 
     request to have the Committee on Oversight and Government 
     Reform represented on the conference committee. Finally, I 
     would be pleased to include this letter and your response in 
     the bill report and in the Congressional Record.
       Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to 
     further opportunities to work with you this Congress.
           Sincerely,

                                                   Rob Bishop,

                                                         Chairman,
                                   Committee on Natural Resources.

[[Page H8860]]

     
                                  ____
         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                               Washington, DC, September 24, 2018.
     Hon. Rob Bishop,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter concerning 
     H.R. 6599, a bill to modify the application of temporary 
     limited appointment regulations to the National Park Service, 
     and for other purposes. As a result of your having consulted 
     with me concerning the bill, the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform will not seek a sequential referral and 
     agrees to forego formal action on the bill.
       The Committee takes this action with our mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing a request for a sequential 
     referral of H.R. 6599 at this time we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation. I appreciate your agreement to support 
     appointment of members of the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform as conferees in any House-Senate conference 
     on this or related legislation. In addition, I request the 
     Committee be consulted and involved as the bill or similar 
     legislation moves forward so we may address any remaining 
     issues within our jurisdiction.
       Finally, I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters 
     on this matter be included in the bill report filed by the 
     Committee on Natural Resources, as well as in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration, to 
     memorialize our understanding.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Trey Gowdy.

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is correct; this decision created a lot of confusion 
and frustration. Staff needs at national parks fluctuate throughout the 
year. They are highly seasonally dependent, and many career personnel 
work at different parks through the year, a lifestyle that is supported 
by the ability to return to a position every year without having to 
recompete for it. Without that certainty, they lose job security, and 
it becomes extremely difficult to ensure adequate experienced staff 
throughout the National Park system.
  I agree with my colleague. I want to thank Representatives Knight and 
Panetta for coming up with this bipartisan solution.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support its adoption, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of the bill, and 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. McClintock) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6599, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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