[Senate Report 105-388]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 630
105th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 105-388
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UNITED STATES PARK POLICE
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October 9 (legislative day, October 2), 1998.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2247]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 2247) 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, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that
the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Measure
The purpose of S. 2247 is to amend section 12(e) of the Act
of September 1, 1916 to allow the National Park Service to pay
medical bills, directly to medical providers, for services
rendered for United States Park Police members who become
injured or ill in the performance of their duties.
Background and Need
The District of Columbia (District) pays all medical
expenses for services rendered for United States Park Police
officers who become injured or ill in the performance of their
duties. The National Park Service then reimburses the District
for medical payments made on behalf of the Park Police. Fiscal
constraints experienced by the District have resulted in
untimely payments of these expenses. Consequently, some Park
Police officers have been denied treatment and others have had
their credit ratings adversely affected. Medical vendors for
officers, in the Washington metropolitan area, have submitted
payment requests to the District of Columbia up to six times
before the bills were paid.
The District of Columbia is also responsible for paying
prescription benefits for Park Police, and then seeking
reimbursement from the National Park Service. Recently,
Metropolitan Police officials informed the Park Police that no
pharmaceutical vendors would honor prescriptions written by the
Police and Fire Clinic because of lack of payment by the D.C.
Government.
Legislative History
S. 2247 was introduced June 26, 1998 by Senator Murkowski,
at the request of the Administration, and referred to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Subcommittee on
National Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation held a
hearing on S. 2247 on September 17, 1998.
At its business meeting on September 24, 1998, the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2247,
favorably reported.
Committee Recommendation
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on September 24, 1998, by a unanimous voice
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S.
2247 as described herein.
Summary of S. 2247
S. 2247 amends the Act of September 1, 1916, section 12(e),
to allow the National Park Service to pay medical providers
directly for expenses incurred by the U.S. Park Police while on
official duty.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the costs of
this measure has been requested but was not received at the
time the report was filed. When the report is available, the
Chairman will request it to be printed in the Congressional
Record for the advise of the Senate.
Regulatory Impact Evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 2247. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards of
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from
enactment of S. 2247, as ordered reported.
Executive Communications
S. 2247 was introduced at the request of the
Administration. On March 11, 1998, the Department of the
Interior transmitted a letter to the Energy and Natural
Resources Committee requesting that the bill be introduced and
passed. A copy of the letter, and the testimony of the National
Park Service follows:
U.S. Department of the Interior,
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, DC, March 11, 1998.
Hon. Albert Gore, Jr.,
President of the Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. President: Enclosed is a draft bill, ``to permit
the payment of medical expenses incurred by the U.S. Park
Police in the performance of duty to be made directly by the
National Park Service, and other purposes.''
We recommend the bill be introduced, referred to the
appropriate committee for consideration, and enacted.
The District of Columbia (District) is currently charged
with paying all medical bills for services rendered for
National Park Police members who become injured or ill in the
performance of their duties. Subsequently, the National Park
Service reimburses the District for medical payments made on
behalf of the Park Police. Fiscal constraints experienced by
the District have resulted in untimely payments of these
expenses. Consequently, some Park Police members have been
denied treatment and others have had their credit ratings
adversely affected. This situation is untenable. It compromises
the law enforcement capability of the Park Police and places an
undue burben on Park Police employees. The enclosed draft
legislation would amend the Act of September 1, 1916, section
12(e), to allow the National Park Service to make these
payments directly to the medical providers. Amended language is
urgently needed. We respectfully request that this draft
legislation be expedited.
The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there
is no objection to the enactment of the enclosed draft
legislation from the standpoint of the Administration's
program.
Sincerely,
Donald Barry,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
Statement of Destry Jarvis, Assistant Director, External Affairs,
National Park Service, Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department of the Interior's views on S. 2247, a bill 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, and for other purposes.
The Administration submitted a proposal to Congress on
March 11, 1998, to address this issue. Senator Murkowski
introduced the legislation as S. 2247 on June 26, 1998. The
language is identical to our proposal, and we strong support
it.
In accordance with Title 4 District of Columbia Code 613
entitled ``Payment of Medical Expenses--Active Members,'' the
District of Columbia (District) is charged with the
responsibility of paying all medical bills for services
rendered for United States Park Police (USPP) members who
become injured or ill in the performance of their duties.
Subsequently, the National Park Service reimburses the District
for medical payments on behalf of the USPP. There are presently
222 officers who are subject to medical services being provided
under the auspices of 4 D.C. Code 613. Of these officers 162
are assigned to the Washington metropolitan area, 19 to our San
Francisco Field Office, 24 to our New York Field Office, 8 to
the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick,
Georgia, and 9 to the various Park Service field areas.
Fiscal constraints experienced by the District over the
last several years have resulted in untimely payment of these
medical expenses. Consequently, some Park Police members have
been denied treatment and others have had their credit ratings
adversely affected.
Currently, the USPP has outstanding medical bills from
1995, 1996 and 1997, which the District has not paid. In the
last two years, 6 officers in the Washington Metropolitan Area,
along with 5 officers assigned to our field offices, have had
their unpaid medical bills submitted by multiple vendors to
collection agencies. We have one totally disabled retiree who
is confined to a nursing home. His medical bills generally
amount to between $24,000 and $27,000 per month. The District
is normally about 2-3 months in arrears on these payments. All
of this despite the readiness of the Park Service to reimburse
the District for these payments.
The District has also tightened its procurement controls.
It now requires a contract with a medical provider before
payments can be made to such providers. Since the Park Police
routinely use medical providers other than those with whom the
District has contracts, many of our medical vendors' bills are
sent to the District's Finance Office where they remain unpaid.
We view prompt payment of medical bills to be critical to
the operation of the Park Police. We do not want to jeopardize
medical services to our members, nor do we want their credit
ratings to be marred due to circumstances beyond their control.
The present situation is untenable. It compromises the law
enforcement capability of the Park Police and places an undue
burden on Park Police employees. The language contained in S.
2247 would amend the Act of September 1, 1916, section 12(e),
to allow the Park Service to make these payments directly to
the medical providers. This legislation is urgently needed, and
we respectfully request favorable consideration of this issue.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my remarks. I would be happy
to answer any questions you may have.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the bill S. 2247, as ordered reported, are shown as follows
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in
which no change is proposed is shown in roman);
(Public Law 85-157, August 21, 1957)
Whenever any member shall become temporarily disabled by
injury received or disease contracted in the performance of
duty, to such an extent as to require medical or surgical
services, other than such as can be rendered by the Mayor, or
to require hospital treatment, the expense of such medical or
surgical services, or hospital treatments, shall be paid by the
District of Columbia; in the case of Metropolitan Police
members, or by the National Park Service in the case of United
States Park Police; but no such expense shall be paid except
upon a certificate of the Mayor in the case of Metropolitan
Police members, or upon a certificate of the Chief, United
States Park Police, in the case of United States Park Police
members; setting forth the necessity for such services of
treatment and the nature of the injury or disease which
rendered the same necessary.