[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17715-17716]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RATIFICATION OF OTHERWISE LEGAL APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS IN 
      COMMISSIONED CORPS OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 
                             ADMINISTRATION

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 120, S. 886.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 886) to ratify otherwise legal appointments and 
     promotions in the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration that failed to be submitted to 
     the Senate for its advice and consent as required by law, and 
     for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third 
time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and 
any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 886) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 886

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

     SECTION 1. RATIFICATION OF CERTAIN NOAA APPOINTMENTS, 
                   PROMOTIONS, AND ACTIONS.

       All action in the line of duty by, and all Federal agency 
     actions in relation to (including with respect to pay, 
     benefits, and retirement) a de facto officer of the 
     commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration who was appointed or promoted to that office 
     without Presidential action, and without the advice and 
     consent of the Senate, during such time as the officer was 
     not properly appointed in or promoted to that office, are 
     hereby ratified and approved if otherwise in accord with the 
     law, and the President alone may, without regard to any other 
     law relating to appointments or promotions in such corps, 
     appoint or promote such a de facto officer temporarily, 
     without change in the grade currently occupied in a de facto 
     capacity, as an

[[Page 17716]]

     officer in such corps for a period ending not later than 180 
     days from the date of enactment of this Act.

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