CLAIMS

Amendments

Dept. of the Interior: provide a loan to the White Mountain Apache Tribe for use in planning, engineering, and designing a certain water system project (S. 3128), S9552 [25SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: prescribe regulations specifying content of notices provided to claimants seeking VA benefits and services (S. 3023), S8876, S8883 [16SE]

Native Americans: provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community (H.R. 2176), consideration (H. Res. 1298), H6021 [25JN]

Articles and editorials

DFAS Says Hiring To Clear Backlog of Disabled Vets' Benefits Claims, E57 [22JA]

FISA Fix for Lawyers, H1759 [14MR]

Holding Telecoms Hostage—A Risky Game, H511 [29JA]

In Case You Missed It—Hard of Hearing, S1725 [7MR]

Injustice Undone—Soldier Honored More Than 20 Years After Death, H433 [23JA]

No Immunity—Senate Veers Off Track in Its Surveillance Bill, H1759 [14MR]

Surveillance Sanity, S474 [30JA], S6198 [26JN]

Bills and resolutions

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act: provide for completion of certain land selections by Sealaska Corp. (see S. 3651), S10069 [29SE]

———resolve land claims of the Bering Straits Native Corp. (see S. 3650), S10069 [29SE] (see H.R. 7172), H10131 [26SE]

Arizona: resolve water rights claims of the White Mountain Apache Tribe (see S. 3473), S8383 [11SE]

Armed Forces: provide for payment of interest on claims paid by the U.S. in connection with the correction of military records when a military corrections board sets aside a conviction by court-martial (see S. 2548), S207 [23JA] (see H.R. 5130), H456 [23JA]

Bankruptcy: provide that claims arising from high cost consumer credit transactions shall be subordinated to all other claims (see S. 3259), S6650 [14JY]

Bureau of Reclamation: develop water infrastructure in the Rio Grande Basin, and approve settlement of water rights claims of the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, and Taos tribes (see S. 3381), S7904 [31JY] (see H.R. 6768), H7787 [31JY]

Civil Rights Act: clarify filing period applicable to discrimination charges (see S. 3209), S6285 [26JN]

Dept. of HHS: temporarily delay application of proposed changes to the Departmental Appeals Board (see S. 2849), S2945 [10AP] (see H.R. 5763), H2223 [10AP]

Dept. of the Interior: provide a loan to the White Mountain Apache Tribe for use in planning, engineering, and designing a certain water system project (see S. 3128), S5592 [12JN] (see H.R. 6754), H7787 [31JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: make certain improvements in claims processing (see H.R. 5576), H1538 [11MR]

———modernize disability benefits claims processing system to ensure accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors (see S. 3419), S8034 [1AU] (see H.R. 5892), H2758 [24AP] (see H.R. 6236), H5327 [11JN]

———prescribe regulations specifying content of notices provided to claimants seeking VA benefits and services (see S. 3023), S4282 [15MY]

———require courts to use its full equity powers to vindicate rights or benefits of persons with complaints relative to State or private employers (see H.R. 6225), H5213 [10JN]

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act: expand individuals eligible for compensation, enhance provision of information to claimants, and improve compensation procedures (see S. 3329), S7278 [24JY] (see H.R. 6766), H7787 [31JY]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: preserve ability to file State product liability lawsuits relative to defective medical devices (see S. 3398), S7904 [31JY] (see H.R. 6381), H6173 [26JN]

Health care facilities: require that agreements to arbitrate nursing home disputes be made after the dispute has arisen (see S. 2838), S2817 [9AP] (see H.R. 6126), H4829 [22MY]

Libya: resolve pending claims of Pan Am Flight 103 victims' families and other victims of Libyan terrorist attacks (see S. 3370), S7903 [31JY]

Medicare: reduce fraud (see S. 3164), S5832 [19JN]

———respond to a funding warning by introducing principles of value-based health care and reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (see S. 2662), S1121 [25FE] (see H.R. 5480), H1031 [25FE]

Native Americans: provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community (H.R. 2176), consideration (see H. Res. 1298), H6009 [24JN]

———restore Federal recognition and settle claims arising from the use and distribution of judgment funds previously awarded and provided to the Delaware Tribe (see H.R. 6786), H7806 [1AU]

———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 H.R. 6547), H6726 [17JY]

Pan American World Airways: anniversary of bombing of Flight 103 and convey condolences to victims' families and friends (see S. Res. 727), S10834 [9DE]

Power resources: establish procedures for causes and claims relative to leasing of Federal lands for exploration, development, production, processing, or transmission of oil, natural gas, or any other source or form of energy (see H.R. 7124), H10130 [26SE]

Roosevelt, Franklin D.: provide that claims of the U.S. to certain documents shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances (see S. 3350), S7573 [28JY] (see H.R. 6669), H7628 [30JY]

Social Security: ensure certain disability determinations on the basis of SSA hearings are made on a timely basis and monitor number of disability determinations under reconsideration (see H.R. 6485), H6472 [14JY]

———increase maximum level of fees authorized to be charged by representatives relative to claims of entitlement to past-due benefits and require cost-of-living adjustments to such fees (see H.R. 7285), H10844 [19NO]

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: grant jurisdiction to review compliance of the schedule of ratings for disabilities with statutory requirements applicable to entitlement to disability compensation (see S. 2737), S1818 [10MR]

Veterans: address waiting period for dual VA-SSA disability designees by rating service-connected disabled veterans as totally disabled, thus classifying them as disabled for SSA (see S. 2872), S3080 [16AP]

———clarify meaning of ``combat with the enemy'' for purposes of service-connection of disabilities (see H.R. 6732), H7786 [31JY]

———clarify the service treatable as service engaged in combat with the enemy for utilization of non-official evidence for proof of service-connection in a combat-related disease or injury (see H.R. 5985), H3185 [7MY]

World War II: ensure that U.S. courts provide a forum for claims brought against any railroad arising from the deportation of individuals to Nazi concentration camps (see S. 3462), S8275 [10SE]

Explanations

Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act (S. 3023), E2051-E2062 [27SE]

Letters

Grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance: Craig Webre, National Sheriff's Association, S832 [11FE]

———Dennis J. Hallion, National Troopers Coalition, S832 [11FE]

———Ronald C. Ruecker, International Association of Chiefs of Police, S833 [11FE]

———Ronald E. Brooks, National Narcotic Officers' Association's Coalition, S833 [11FE]

———Senators Rockefeller and Bond, Committee on Intelligence (Senate, Select), S6198 [26JN]

———several State Attorneys General, S832 [11FE]

Resolve water rights claims of the White Mountain Apache Tribe: Douglas K. Miller, Central Arizona Water Conservation District, S8388 [11SE]

———White Mountain Apache Tribe Quantification Agreement representatives, S8388 [11SE]

Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act: Albert M. Kookesh and Chris E. McNeil, Jr., Sealaska Corp., S10074 [29SE]

Stay cases against telecommunications companies in actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance and delay retroactive immunity: Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General and J. Michael McConnell, Director of National Intelligence, S6400 [8JY]

Motions

Native Americans: provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community (H.R. 2176), H6056 [25JN]

Remarks in House

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act: resolve land claims of the Bering Straits Native Corp. (H.R. 7172), E2100 [28SE]

Armed Forces: provide for payment of interest on claims paid by the U.S. in connection with the correction of military records when a military corrections board sets aside a conviction by court-martial (H.R. 5130), H432 [23JA]

Bureau of Reclamation: develop water infrastructure in the Rio Grande Basin, and approve settlement of water rights claims of the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, and Taos tribes (H.R. 6768), E1672 [1AU]

Courts: allow telecommunications companies dealing with civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance to use classified information in defense of claims against them, H1707, H1710, H1743-H1750, H1754-H1759 [14MR], H1832 [1AP], E514 [4AP]

———grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance, H511 [29JA], H888, H889, H901, H904, H923 [13FE], H998, H999 [15FE], H1079 [27FE], H1168, H1169 [28FE], H1223, H1224, H1327, H1329-H1335 [5MR], H1742-H1750, H1754-H1760 [14MR], H1801 [31MR], H5740, H5755, H5760, H5762, H5766, H5768, H5771-H5773 [20JN], E491 [3AP], E514 [4AP], E537 [8AP], E647 [17AP], E1316 [23JN], E1448 [14JY]

Dept. of the Interior: provide a loan to the White Mountain Apache Tribe for use in planning, engineering, and designing a certain water system project (S. 3128), H10609 [29SE]

———ratify and execute the settlement agreement resolving claims by the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians relative to interferences with water resources of the tribe (H.R. 4841), H4075-H4078 [19MY], H4401 [21MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: modernize disability benefits claims processing system to ensure accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and their families and survivors (H.R. 5892), H7256-H7263 [29JY], H7650 [31JY], E1635 [31JY]

———require courts to use its full equity powers to vindicate rights or benefits of persons with complaints relative to State or private employers (H.R. 6225), H7248-H7253 [29JY], H7707 [31JY]

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act: expand individuals eligible for compensation, enhance provision of information to claimants, and improve compensation procedures (H.R. 6766), E1657 [1AU]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: preserve ability to file State product liability lawsuits relative to defective medical devices (H.R. 6381), E1387 [26JN], E1402 [8JY], E1523 [22JY]

Health: provide health care liability reform, H7130 [24JY]

———provide health care liability reform (H.R. 3509), H603 [6FE], H2003 [3AP]

Health care facilities: require that agreements to arbitrate nursing home disputes be made after the dispute has arisen (H.R. 6126), E1079 [23MY]

Iraq: allow waiver of claims by victims of state-sponsored terrorism for actions that occured while under leadership of Saddam Hussein, H257-H259 [16JA], H334, H335 [17JA], H447-H453 [23JA]

Libya: resolve pending claims of Pan Am Flight 103 victims' families and other victims of Libyan terrorist attacks (S. 3370), H7705 [31JY]

Medicare: respond to a funding warning by introducing principles of value-based health care and reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 5480), H1210-H1212 [4MR], E228 [25FE]

Native Americans: provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community (H.R. 2176), H6045-H6058 [25JN]

———provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community (H.R. 2176), consideration (H. Res. 1298), H6016-H6022 [25JN]

———provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community (H.R. 2176), motion to recommit, H6056 [25JN]

———restore Federal recognition and settle claims arising from the use and distribution of judgment funds previously awarded and provided to the Delaware Tribe (H.R. 6786), E1700 [1AU]

———settle certain land claims of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (H.R. 4115), H6016, H6018 [25JN]

Roosevelt, Franklin D.: provide that claims of the U.S. to certain documents shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances (H.R. 6669), H10205, H10206 [27SE], H10631 [29SE]

Social Security: ensure certain disability determinations on the basis of SSA hearings are made on a timely basis and monitor number of disability determinations under reconsideration (H.R. 6485), E1451 [14JY]

Turkey: allow certain claims of U.S. nationals against Turkey (H.R. 1456), H6804 [22JY], E1527 [22JY]

Veterans: allow care at VA facilities for disesases associated with exposure to biological, chemical, or other toxic agents as part of Project 112/Shipboard Hazard and Defense without proving service connection, H7722, H7723 [31JY]

Remarks in Senate

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act: provide for completion of certain land selections by Sealaska Corp. (S. 3651), S10069 [29SE]

Arizona: resolve water rights claims of the White Mountain Apache Tribe (S. 3473), S8387 [11SE]

Bankruptcy: provide that claims arising from high cost consumer credit transactions shall be subordinated to all other claims (S. 3259), S9464 [25SE]

Bureau of Reclamation: develop water infrastructure in the Rio Grande Basin, and approve settlement of water rights claims of the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, and Taos tribes (S. 3381), S7916-S7925 [31JY]

Courts: clarify definition of electronic communication service provider relative to granting retroactive immunity in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance, S6471 [9JY]

———grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance, S165, S216-S219 [23JA], S232-S244, S251 [24JA], S307, S314, S317-S320 [25JA], S373-S382, S384 [28JA], S406, S421, S436, S439 [29JA], S471-S474 [30JA], S575 [4FE], S704-S706 [6FE], S832, S833 [11FE], S890 [12FE], S952, S953, S962-S964 [13FE], S1015, S1033-S1037 [14FE], S1241 [27FE], S1324, S1331-S1334 [28FE], S1412 [29FE], S1725 [7MR], S5950 [23JN], S5985, S5986, S6083-S6095 [24JN], S6109-S6112, S6115-S6118, S6120-S6129 [25JN], S6196-S6198, S6271 [26JN], S6350, S6351 [7JY], S6381-S6386, S6394-S6416, S6419, S6424-S6429 [8JY], S6452, S6454-S6475 [9JY], S6646 [14JY]

———prohibit granting of retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance, S644-S647, S650 [5FE], S698-S700, S703 [6FE], S838-S841, S864-S878 [11FE], S884, S896, S897, S900 [12FE]

———provide for the substitution of the U.S. in place of any electronic communications service company in certain civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance, S712-S714 [6FE], S807 [8FE], S827, S841, S843, S862-S864 [11FE], S887, S888, S890 [12FE]

———stay pending cases against telecommunications companies named in civil actions involving Presidentially authorized surveillance and delay pursuit of retroactive immunity until release of report on such surveillance, S6398-S6404, S6407, S6410, S6424, S6425 [8JY], S6454, S6455, S6462, S6463, S6467, S6469, S6470, S6472 [9JY], S6646 [14JY]

Dept. of Agriculture: provide a mechanism for the determination of claims of claimants who met the class criteria in a civil action relative to racial discrimination but who were denied that determination, S4233 [15MY]

Dept. of the Interior: provide a loan to the White Mountain Apache Tribe for use in planning, engineering, and designing a certain water system project (S. 3128), S5626 [12JN], S9552 [25SE]

———ratify and execute the settlement agreement resolving claims by the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians relative to interferences with water resources of the tribe (H.R. 4841), S7197, S7198 [23JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: prescribe regulations specifying content of notices provided to claimants seeking VA benefits and services (S. 3023), S4284 [15MY], S8875-S8889 [16SE], S10016 [27SE], S10444 [2OC]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: preserve ability to file State product liability lawsuits relative to defective medical devices (S. 3398), S7953 [31JY], S8022 [1AU]

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: district court decision on the constitutionality of warrantless electronic surveillance, S6381, S6382, S6386 [8JY]

Guam War Claims Review Commission: implement recommendations (H.R. 1595), unanimous-consent request, S3135 [17AP]

Health: provide health care liability reform, S3378 [24AP]

Health care facilities: require that agreements to arbitrate nursing home disputes be made after the dispute has arisen (S. 2838), S2819, S2820 [9AP]

Iraq: allow waiver of claims by victims of state-sponsored terrorism for actions that occured while under leadership of Saddam Hussein, S424 [29JA], S10413 [2OC]

Libya: resolve pending claims of Pan Am Flight 103 victims' families and other victims of Libyan terrorist attacks (S. 3370), S7979 [31JY]

Medicare: reduce fraud (S. 3164), S5836 [19JN]

———respond to a funding warning by introducing principles of value-based health care and reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (S. 2662), S1127 [25FE]

Pan American World Airways: anniversary of bombing of Flight 103 and convey condolences to victims' families and friends (S. Res. 727), S10837 [9DE]

Presidents of the U.S.: establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records (H.R. 1255), unanimous-consent request, S58 [22JA]

———establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records (S. 886), S201 [23JA]

Terrorism: provide justice for victims of state-sponsored terrorism, S53, S54, S56 [22JA]

Turkey: allow certain claims of U.S. nationals against Turkey (S. 695), S7025 [22JY]

U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea: urge U.S. to submit requests to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for extended continental shelf claims, S3968-S3970 [8MY]

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims: grant jurisdiction to review compliance of the schedule of ratings for disabilities with statutory requirements applicable to entitlement to disability compensation (S. 2737), S1819 [10MR]

Reports filed

Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claims Settlement Provision and Approval: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 2176) (H. Rept. 110-541), H1444 [10MR]

———Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 2176) (H. Rept. 110-541), H2015 [4AP]

Consideration of H.R. 2176, Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claims Settlement Provision and Approval: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 1298) (H. Rept. 110-732), H6009 [24JN]

Dept. of the Interior Ratification and Execution of Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians Settlement Agreement Relative to Water Resources of the Tribe: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 4841) (H. Rept. 110-649), H4059 [15MY]

Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 6126) (H. Rept. 110-894), H10129 [26SE]

———Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 2838) (S. Rept. 110-518), S10323 [1OC]

False Claims Act Correction Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 2041), S7628 [29JY]

———Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 2041) (S. Rept. 110-507), S9491 [25SE]

Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 1746) (H. Rept. 110-820), H7805 [1AU]

Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (House) (H.R. 6225) (H. Rept. 110-778), H7168 [28JY]

Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 1171) (S. Rept. 110-401), S6157 [25JN]

Provide That Claims of the U.S. To Certain Documents Relative to Franklin R. Roosevelt Shall Be Treated as Waived and Relinquished in Certain Circumstances: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 3350), S9414 [24SE]

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Land Claims Settlement: Committee on Natural Resources (House) (H.R. 4115) (H. Rept. 110-542), H1444 [10MR]

———Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 4115) (H. Rept. 110-542), H2015 [4AP]

Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 2494) (S. Rept. 110-450), S8179 [9SE]

Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (House) (H.R. 5892) (H. Rept. 110-789), H7305 [29JY]

Veterans' Notice Clarification Act: Committee on Veterans Affairs (Senate) (S. 3023) (S. Rept. 110-449), S8179 [9SE]

White Mountain Apache Tribe Rural Water System Loan Authorization Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 3128) (S. Rept. 110-502), S9414 [24SE]

Rulings of the Chair

Native Americans: provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community (H.R. 2176), H6056 [25JN]

Statements

Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act (S. 3023), S10445-S10456 [2OC]

Texts of

H. Res. 1298, consideration of H.R. 2176, provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community, H6016 [25JN]

H.R. 2176, provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Bay Mills Indian Community, H6045 [25JN]

H.R. 4841, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians Settlement Act, H4075-H4077 [19MY]

H.R. 5892, Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act, H7256-H7261 [29JY]

H.R. 6225, Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act, H7248-H7250 [29JY]

H.R. 6669, provide that claims of the U.S. to certain documents relative to Franklin D. Roosevelt shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances, H10205 [27SE]

S. 2737, Veterans' Rating Schedule Review Act, S1820 [10MR]

S. 3023, Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act, S8876-S8881, S8884-S8889 [16SE]

S. 3023, Veterans' Notice Clarification Act, S4284 [15MY]

S. 3128, White Mountain Apache Tribe Rural Water System Loan Authorization Act, S5626 [12JN], S9552 [25SE], H10609 [29SE]

S. 3259, Consumer Credit Fairness Act, S6652 [14JY]

S. 3370, Libyan Claims Resolution Act, S7980 [31JY], H7705 [31JY]

S. 3381, develop water infrastructure in the Rio Grande Basin, and approve settlement of water rights claims of the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, and Taos tribes, S7917-S7924 [31JY]

S. 3651, Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act, S10070-S10073 [29SE]

S. Res. 727, Pan American World Airways Flight 103 bombing anniversary and condolences to victims' families and friends, S10835, S10837 [9DE]