[House Report 106-529]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





106th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     106-529

=======================================================================



 
 SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 
             USE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPORT SERVICES

                                _______
                                

   March 20, 2000.--Referred to the House calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 182]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the 
resolution (H. Res. 182) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the National Park Service should take full 
advantage of support services offered by the Department of 
Defense, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommend that the resolution be agreed 
to.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H. Res. 182 is to express the sense of the 
House of Representatives that the National Park Service should 
take full advantage of support services offered by the 
Department of Defense.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The National Park Service was established to promote and 
regulate units of superlative natural, historic, and recreation 
areas known as national parks, monuments, and other reserves. 
The primary purpose of the National Park Service is to conserve 
the scenery and the natural and historic objects along with the 
wildlife in the parks and also to provide for the public 
enjoyment of the same. To accomplish this purpose, units of the 
National Park Service have constructed buildings, roads, and 
other related infrastructure and facilities. However, the 
National Park Service has repeatedly reported a backlog of 
projects necessary to maintain these structures, roads, and 
infrastructure and has asserted that approximately $6-8 billion 
is required to correct this backlog.
    Separately, the Department of the Defense has the authority 
to provide support and services to other federal agencies and 
entities, including the National Park Service (10 U.S.C. 
Sec. 2012). Part of this support comes from the Civil-Military 
Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program 
which is designed to improve military readiness while providing 
hands-on training opportunities for military personnel. This 
program simultaneously assists with meeting domestic 
priorities. This support and service provided by the Department 
of the Defense includes equipment and other assistance which 
could substantially aid in reducing the backlog of maintenance 
and other like projects identified by the National Park Service 
and provide the American taxpayer added benefits.
    H. Res. 182 urges the National Park Service to immediately 
take full advantage of the support and services offered by the 
Department of the Defense in addressing the needs of the 
backlog of maintenance and other like projects within units of 
the National Park Service.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H. Res. 182 was introduced on May 19, 1999, by Congressman 
James V. Hansen (R-UT). The resolution was referred to the 
Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. On March 15, 
2000, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the 
resolution. The Subcommittee was discharged from further 
consideration of the bill by unanimous consent. No amendments 
were offered and the resolution was approved by voice vote.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations 
are reflected in the body of this report.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact this resolution.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this resolution. However, clause 
3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides that this requirement does not 
apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely 
submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
resolution does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. Government Reform Oversight Findings. Under clause 
3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee has received no report of 
oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on 
Government Reform on this resolution.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate 
for this resolution from the Director of the Congressional 
Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, March 17, 2000.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Res. 182, expressing 
the sense of the House of Representatives that the National 
Park Service should take full advantage of the support services 
offered by the Department of Defense.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

H. Res. 182--Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
        the National Park Service should take full advantage of support 
        services offered by the Department of Defense

    CBO estimates that passage of H. Res. 182 would have no 
impact on the federal budget because it does not authorize any 
change in federal spending. The resolution would not affect 
direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures would not apply.
    H. Res. 182 would express the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the National Park Service should use 
services offered by the Department of Defense for maintenance 
and other projects within units of the National Park System.
    The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. This estimate was 
approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for 
Budget Analysis.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    This resolution contains no unfunded mandates.

               PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    This resolution is not intended to preempt State, local, or 
tribal law.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this resolution would make no changes in 
existing law.

                                

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