CLAIMS

Amendments

Apache County, AZ: approve settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe (S. 222), consideration (H. Res. 258), H5020 [5JN]

New Mexico: hold certain BLM land in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso (S. 246), S7934 [16JN]

Western Shoshone Tribe: distribution of land claim judgement funds (S. 618), S12756 [16OC]

Articles and editorials

Bush Pushes Plan To Curb Appeals in Medicare Cases, S7017 [22MY]

Medicare Appeal Process Should Not Be Weakened, S7018 [22MY]

Tilt! Medicare Looks To Rig Appeals System in Its Favor, S7018 [22MY]

Bills and resolutions

Alaska: exchange of certain lands between the Newtok Native Corp., and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see S. 924), S5343 [11AP]

———resolve certain conveyances and provide for alternative land selections relative to Cape Fox Corp. and Sealaska Corp. (see S. 1354), S8725 [26JN] (see H.R. 1899), H3571 [30AP]

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act: provide for equitable allotment of lands to Alaskan Natives who are veterans (see H.R. 951), H1395 [26FE]

Apache County, AZ: approve settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe (see S. 222), S1668 [28JA] (see H.R. 495), H244 [29JA]

———approve settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe (S. 222), consideration (see H. Res. 258), H4976 [4JN]

Arizona: adjust Central Arizona Project, ratify Gila River Indian Community water rights settlement, and reauthorize and amend Southern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act (see S. 437), S2701 [25FE] (see H.R. 885), H1332 [25FE]

Bankruptcy: establish a priority for the payment of claims for duties paid to the U.S. by licensed customs brokers and sureties on behalf of a debtor (see S. 1772), S12969 [21OC] (see S. 1891), S15187 [19NO] (see H.R. 3003), H7948 [4SE]

———increase amount of claims for income given priority in bankruptcy and provide cash payments to retirees to compensate for lost health benefits resulting from the bankruptcy of their former employer (see S. 1970), S15975 [25NO]

Canada: settlement of certain Pottawatomi Nation claims against the U.S. (see S. 663), S3993 [19MR]

China, People's Republic of: urge fair resolution of claims of U.S. citizens who hold defaulted Chinese Government bonds (see H. Con. Res. 60), H1465 [27FE]

Courts: establish legal standards and procedures for the fair, prompt, inexpensive, and efficient resolution of personal injury claims arising out of asbestos exposure (see H.R. 1114), H1678 [6MR]

———provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure (see S. 413), S2457 [13FE] (see S. 1125), S6978 [22MY] (see H.R. 1586), H2819 [3AP] (see H.R. 1737), H3302 [10AP]

Dept. of HHS: ensure independence and preserve role of administrative law judges involved in Medicare appeals processes (see S. 1127), S6978 [22MY]

Dept. of the Interior: establish a voluntary alternative claims resolution process to reach a settlement of claims relative to Indian trust funds (see S. 1770; S. Res. 248), S12969 [21OC]

———limit authority to claim title or other rights to water absent specific direction of law or to abrogate, injure, or otherwise impair any right to the use of any quantity of water (see H.R. 2603), H5928 [25JN]

———quitclaim to Yuba River Properties certain land in Yuba County, CA, so as to extinguish a claim of title asserted by the Dept. of the Interior (see H.R. 2599), H5928 [25JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: allow claimants for benefits to pay fees for attorney services during any stage of the claims process (see H.R. 3492), H11358 [17NO]

———allow for substitution of parties in claims for benefits when the applicant for such benefits dies while the claim is pending (see H.R. 1681), H3051 [9AP]

———clarify requirements for Notices of Disagreement for appellate review (see S. 1360), S8725 [26JN]

———improve procedures for adjudication of claims for benefits (see H.R. 3392), H10129 [29OC]

———reduce backlog of benefit claims (see S. 1186), S7381 [4JN] (see H.R. 1264), H1900 [13MR]

———repeal limitation on payment of accrued benefits upon death of beneficiary and allow substitution of parties in pending benefit claims when applicant dies (see S. 1188), S7476 [5JN]

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act: provide benefits to Dept. of Energy contractors exposed to toxic substances, expand coverage to certain individuals, and reform claimant assistance (see H.R. 1758), H3303 [10AP]

Gila River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: use and distribution of funds awarded under certain U.S. Court of Federal Claims dockets (see S. 162), S847 [15JA] (see H.R. 458), H242 [29JA]

Health: limit medical malpractice claims (see H.R. 321), H137 [8JA]

Insurance: allow States to require certain disclosures regarding Holocaust-era insurance policies of insurers and establish a Federal cause of action for claims for payment of such insurance policies (see S. 972), S5650 [1MY] (see H.R. 1905), H3634 [1MY]

———require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide prompt payment for health benefits claims (see H.R. 848), H703 [13FE]

Iraq: adjudication of certain claims against Iraq (see H.R. 3603), H12307 [21NO]

Medicare: extend minimum deadlines for filing claims relative to adjustments from secondary payor status to primary payor status (see S. 1259), S7876 [13JN] (see H.R. 1788), H3351 [11AP]

Mississippi: address claims relating to Horn Island (see S. 280), S1870 [4FE]

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: amend (see H.R. 1349), H2131 [19MR]

———include hepatitis A vaccines (see S. 814), S4957 [8AP]

———include influenza vaccines (see S. 1817), S13909 [4NO]

———repeal certain amendments (see H.R. 237), H134 [8JA]

Native Americans: distribute judgment funds to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation (see S. 428), S2594 [24FE]

———distribution of judgment funds to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe (see H.R. 2489), H5467 [17JN]

———settle certain land claims of Bay Mills Indian Community (see H.R. 831), H702 [13FE]

———settle certain land claims of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (see H.R. 2793), H7169 [18JY]

———settlement of claims of the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation concerning contributions to production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam (see S. 1438), S9708 [22JY] (see H.R. 1753), H3303 [10AP]

New Mexico: hold certain BLM land in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso (see S. 246), S1736 [29JA]

Nicaragua: require that certain claims of expropriation be filed within a specified time period for purposes of the prohibition on foreign aid (see S. 707), S4376 [25MR] (see H.R. 868), H1331 [25FE]

Oklahoma: compensate the Wyandotte Tribe for the taking of certain rights by the Federal Government (see H.R. 698), H391 [11FE]

POW: payment of claims from the Persian Gulf Conflict (see H.R. 2224), H4734 [22MY] (see H. Con. Res. 344), H12310 [21NO]

Quinault Indian Nation: distribution of land claim judgment funds (see H.R. 2425), H5265 [11JN]

Safe Drinking Water Act: amend to provide procedures for claims relative to drinking water (see H.R. 306), H137 [8JA]

Sports: provide immunity for nonprofit athletic organizations in lawsuits arising from claims of ordinary negligence relative to the passage or adoption of rules for athletic competitions and practices (see H.R. 3369), H9811 [21OC]

Taxation: provide procedural fairness in application of controlled group provisions to employers who contribute to multiemployer pension plans and engage in bona fide corporate transactions (see S. 1857), S14804 [12NO]

———treatment of certain CERCLA settlement funds (see H.R. 805), H701 [13FE]

———treatment of tax attributes in connection with a discharge of indebtedness in a bankruptcy case of a company having asbestos-related claims against it (see H.R. 2503), H5551 [18JN]

Terrorism: allow victims of terrorist attacks to receive certain compensation regardless of any collateral source compensation they may be eligible to receive (see S. 638), S3881 [18MR] (see H.R. 123), H56 [7JA]

———extend deadline for victims of terrorist attacks to file claims to receive certain compensation (see S. 1602), S11245 [9SE] (see H.R. 3084), H8282 [16SE] (see H.R. 3116), H8380 [17SE]

———liquidate certain blocked assets of terrorists and terrorist organizations for the compensation of terrorism victims (see H.R. 922), H1394 [26FE]

Veterans: expand presumption of service-connection for certain diseases of former POW, enhance Dose Reconstruction Program, and enhance and fund certain other epidemiological studies (see S. 1281), S8125 [18JN]

Water: Federal payment of fees and costs in proceedings relative to State water rights adjudications (see S. 844), S5059 [9AP]

———reaffirm policies and principles of the McCarran Amendment dealing with the adjudication of water rights and commend Western States that maintain water rights usage systems (see S. Res. 183), S8559 [25JN]

Western Shoshone Tribe: distribution of land claim judgement funds (see S. 618), S3730 [13MR] (see H.R. 884), H1332 [25FE]

World War II: ensure that U.S. courts provide forum for claims brought against any railroad arising from the deportation of individuals to Nazi concentration camps (see H.R. 2954), H7783 [25JY]

Cloture motions

Wolski, Victor J.: nomination to be U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge, S8845 [27JN]

Letters

Clarify status of Medicare as a secondary payor: William E. Moschella, Dept. of Justice, S8276 [20JN]

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program revisions: Melinda Clark, H2299 [25MR]

Native American settlement of claims with the Dept. of the Interior relative to Indian trust funds: John Echohawk, Native American Rights Fund, H9993 [29OC]

———Tex G. Hall, Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikaka Nation, H9992 [29OC]

———Tex G. Hall, National Congress of American Indians, H9992 [29OC]

Tax treatment of certain CERCLA settlement funds: Robert E. Fabrican, EPA, E240 [13FE]

Remarks in House

Alaska: exchange of certain lands between the Newtok Native Corp., and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (S. 924), H10308, H10309 [4NO]

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act: provide for equitable allotment of lands to Alaskan Natives who are veterans (H.R. 951), E301 [27FE]

Apache County, AZ: approve settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe (H.R. 495), E99 [29JA]

———approve settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe (S. 222), H4797-H4803 [3JN], H5023-H5028 [5JN], E1136 [5JN], E1181 [9JN]

———approve settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe (S. 222), consideration (H. Res. 258), H5012-H5022 [5JN]

———water rights acquisition and development assistance funding for the Zuni Indian Tribe, H7026 [17JY]

Bankruptcy: prevent creditors from employing involuntary bankruptcy actions relative to certain liability claims, E551 [21MR]

Connecticut: anniversary of Federal recognition and settlement of land claims of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, E2060 [16OC]

Courts: establish legal standards and procedures for the fair, prompt, inexpensive, and efficient resolution of personal injury claims arising out of asbestos exposure (H.R. 1114), H1660 [6MR], H5159 [10JN], H5459 [17JN]

———provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure (S. 1125), H5159 [10JN], H5459 [17JN]

Dept. of Justice: settlement of claims relative to accidental fire damage in Julian, CA, by DEA pilot, H7271 [22JY]

Dept. of the Interior: settlement of claims relative to Indian trust funds, H6944, H6945 [16JY], H9991, H9994 [29OC], H10196-H10202 [30OC], E2230 [5NO], E2286 [7NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: reduce backlog of benefit claims (H.R. 1264), H11004 [7NO]

Ethiopia: prohibit international investment organizations and development banks from supporting projects until claims of confiscated private property by the Ethiopian Government are resolved, H11554 [19NO]

Gila River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: use and distribution of funds awarded under certain U.S. Court of Federal Claims dockets (S. 162), H3428-H3431 [29AP]

Insurance: allow States to require certain disclosures regarding Holocaust-era insurance policies of insurers and establish a Federal cause of action for claims for payment of such insurance policies (H.R. 1905), H3573 [1MY]

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: repeal certain amendments (H.R. 237), H1779 [12MR], H1925 [18MR], H2100 [19MR], H2299 [25MR], H2913, H2914 [8AP], H3535 [30AP]

Native Americans: settle certain land claims of Bay Mills Indian Community (H.R. 831), E254 [13FE]

———settlement of claims of the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation concerning contributions to production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam (H.R. 1753), E759-E761 [11AP]

New Mexico: hold certain BLM land in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso (S. 246), H6877, H6878 [16JY]

Nicaragua: require that certain claims of expropriation be filed within a specified time period for purposes of the prohibition on foreign aid (H.R. 868), H1915-H1917 [18MR]

Taxation: treatment of certain CERCLA settlement funds (H.R. 805), E239 [13FE]

———treatment of tax attributes in connection with a discharge of indebtedness in a bankruptcy case of a company having asbestos-related claims against it (H.R. 2503), E1298 [18JN]

Terrorism: extend deadline for victims of terrorist attacks to file claims to receive certain compensation (H.R. 3084), E1794 [16SE]

———liquidate certain blocked assets of terrorists and terrorist organizations for the compensation of terrorism victims (H.R. 922), E302 [27FE]

Remarks in Senate

Alaska: exchange of certain lands between the Newtok Native Corp., and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (S. 924), S5385 [11AP], S9615 [17JY]

———resolve certain conveyances and provide for alternative land selections relative to Cape Fox Corp. and Sealaska Corp. (S. 1354), S8747 [26JN]

Apache County, AZ: approve settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe (S. 222), S1675 [28JA], S3755 [13MR]

Arizona: adjust Central Arizona Project, ratify Gila River Indian Community water rights settlement, and reauthorize and amend Southern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act (S. 437), S2707 [25FE]

Bankruptcy: increase amount of claims for income given priority in bankruptcy and provide cash payments to retirees to compensate for lost health benefits resulting from the bankruptcy of their former employer (S. 1970), S16014 [25NO]

Braden, Susan G.: nomination to be U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge, S9085 [9JY]

Canada: settlement of certain Pottawatomi Nation claims against the U.S. (S. 663), S4001 [19MR]

Courts: provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure, S7095 [23MY]

———provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure (S. 1125), S6600 [19MY], S6947-S6950 [22MY], S9631 [21JY], S15514-S15521 [22NO]

———provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure (S. 413), S2492 [13FE]

Dept. of HHS: ensure independence and preserve role of administrative law judges involved in Medicare appeals processes (S. 1127), S7016 [22MY]

Dept. of the Interior: establish a voluntary alternative claims resolution process to reach a settlement of claims relative to Indian trust funds (S. 1770), S12978 [21OC], S13788 [3NO]

———settlement of claims relative to Indian trust funds, S13785-S13791 [3NO], S14300 [10NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify requirements for Notices of Disagreement for appellate review (S. 1360), S8756 [26JN]

Gila River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: use and distribution of funds awarded under certain U.S. Court of Federal Claims dockets (S. 162), S848 [15JA], S3753 [13MR]

Health care professionals: immunity from liability for physicians providing free medical care to medically underserved or indigent patients, S11149 [5SE]

Horn, Marian Blank: nomination to be U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge, S2991, S3020 [3MR]

Insurance: allow States to require certain disclosures regarding Holocaust-era insurance policies of insurers and establish a Federal cause of action for claims for payment of such insurance policies (S. 972), S5665 [1MY]

Lettow, Charles F.: nomination to be U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge, S9085, S9086 [9JY]

Medicare: provide regulatory relief, appeals process reforms, contracting flexibility, and election improvements, S8282 [20JN]

Native Americans: distribute judgment funds to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation (S. 428), S2600 [24FE]

———settlement of claims of the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation concerning contributions to production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam (S. 1438), S9710 [22JY]

New Mexico: hold certain BLM land in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso (S. 246), S1749 [29JA]

POW: payment of claims from the Persian Gulf Conflict, S14933 [17NO]

Taxation: provide procedural fairness in application of controlled group provisions to employers who contribute to multiemployer pension plans and engage in bona fide corporate transactions (S. 1857), S14808 [12NO]

Terrorism: extend deadline for victims of terrorist attacks to file claims to receive certain compensation (S. 1602), S11254 [9SE], S16109 [9DE]

———extend deadline for victims of terrorist attacks to file claims to receive certain compensation (S. 1602), unanimous-consent request, S15951, S15952 [25NO]

———liquidate certain blocked assets of terrorists and terrorist organizations for the compensation of terrorism victims, S9171-S9173 [10JY]

Veterans: expand presumption of service-connection for certain diseases of former POW, enhance Dose Reconstruction Program, and enhance and fund certain other epidemiological studies (S. 1281), S8133 [18JN]

Water: Federal payment of fees and costs in proceedings relative to State water rights adjudications (S. 844), S5083 [9AP]

———reaffirm policies and principles of the McCarran Amendment dealing with the adjudication of water rights and commend Western States that maintain water rights usage systems (S. Res. 183), S8575 [25JN]

Western Shoshone Tribe: distribution of land claim judgement funds (S. 618), S3735 [13MR], S12756-S12759 [16OC]

Williams, Mary Ellen Coster: nomination to be U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge, S9085, S9086 [9JY]

Wolski, Victor J.: nomination to be U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge, S8845 [27JN], S9064, S9073, S9084, S9085 [9JY]

———nomination to be U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge, unanimous-consent agreement, S8825 [27JN], S9009 [8JY]

Reports filed

Cape Fox Land Entitlement Adjustment Act: Committee on Resources (House) (H.R. 1899) (H. Rept. 108-313), H9477 [15OC]

Consideration of S. 222, Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, and S. 273, Grand Teton National Park Land Exchange Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 258) (H. Rept. 108-140), H4976 [4JN]

Cowlitz Indian Tribe Distribution of Judgment Funds: Committee on Resources (House) (H.R. 2489) (H. Rept. 108-368), H11205, H11358 [17NO]

Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 1125) (S. Rept. 108-118), S10264 [30JY]

Gila River Indian Community Judgement Fund Distribution Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 162) (S. Rept. 108-17), S3410 [10MR]

Hold Certain BLM Land in New Mexico in Trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 246) (S. Rept. 108-60), S7540 [9JN]

Newtok Native Corp., and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Land Exchange in Alaska: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 924) (S. Rept. 108-97), S9303 [11JY]

Newtok Native Corp., and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Land Exchange: Committee on Resources (House) (S. 924) (H. Rept. 108-345), H10338 [4NO]

Nomination of Marian Blank Horn To Be U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate), S2919 [27FE]

Nomination of Mary Ellen Coster Williams To Be U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate), S4512 [27MR]

Nomination of Victor J. Wolski To Be U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate), S4512 [27MR]

Quinault Indian Nation Distribution of Land Claim Judgment Funds: Committee on Resources (House) (H.R. 2425) (H. Rept. 108-367), H11205, H11358 [17NO]

Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 618) (S. Rept. 108-151), S11753 [22SE]

———Committee on Resources (House) (H.R. 884) (H. Rept. 108-299), H9281 [7OC]

Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 222) (S. Rept. 108-18), S3410 [10MR]

Rulings of the Chair

Apache County, AZ: approve settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe (S. 222), H4803 [3JN]

Statements

Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act: Senator Frist, S15516-S15518 [22NO]

Texts of

H. Res. 258, consideration of S. 222, Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, and S. 273, Grand Teton National Park Land Exchange Act, H5012 [5JN]

H.R. 868, Nicaragua Property Dispute Settlement Act, H1915 [18MR]

S. 162, Gila River Indian Community Judgement Fund Distribution Act, S3753 [13MR], H3428-H3430 [29AP]

S. 222, Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, S3755-S3759 [13MR], H4797-H4802 [3JN], H5023-H5027 [5JN]

S. 246, hold certain BLM land in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, S1749 [29JA]

S. 246, hold certain BLM land in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso in New Mexico, H6877 [16JY]

S. 246, hold certain New Mexico BLM land in trust for the Pueblo of Santa Clara and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, S7935 [16JN]

S. 413, Asbestos Claims Criteria and Compensation Act, S2493-S2495 [13FE]

S. 618, Western Shoshone Claims Distribution Act, S3735-S3737 [13MR], S12756-S12759 [16OC]

S. 663, settlement of certain Canadian Pottawatomi Nation claims against the U.S., S4002 [19MR]

S. 924, Newtok Native Corp., and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service land exchange, S5385 [11AP], S9615 [17JY], H10308 [4NO]

S. 972, Comprehensive Holocaust Accountability in Insurance Act, S5665 [1MY]

S. 1125, Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act, S6600-S6612 [19MY]

S. 1127, Fair and Impartial Rights (FAIR) for Medicare Act, S7017 [22MY]

S. 1281, Veterans Information and Benefits Enhancement Act, S8134 [18JN]

S. 1354, Cape Fox Land Entitlement Adjustment Act, S8747-S8749 [26JN]

S. 1360, clarify Dept. of Veterans Afffairs requirements for Notices of Disagreement for appellate review, S8756 [26JN]

S. 1360, clarify requirements for Notices of Disagreement for appellate review of Dept. of Veterans Affairs activities, S8897 [7JY]

S. 1438, Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act, S9711 [22JY]

S. 1770, Indian Money Account Claim Satisfaction Act, S12979 [21OC]

S. 1857, Multiemployer Pension Plan Procedural Fairness Act, S14810 [12NO]

S. Res. 183, reaffirm policies and principles of the McCarran Amendment dealing with the adjudication of water rights and commend Western States that maintain water rights usage systems, S8574 [25JN]

S. Res. 248, establish a voluntary alternative claims resolution process to reach a settlement of claims relative to Indian trust funds, S12983 [21OC]