[House Report 107-286]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar
107th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SENATE
1st Session 107-286
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HEALING OPPORTUNITIES IN PARKS AND THE ENVIRONMENT PASS ACT
_______
November 13, 2001.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
CONFERENCE REPORT
[To accompany H.R. 2976]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 2976) to provide for the issuance of a special entrance
pass for free admission to any federally owned area which is
operated and maintained by a Federal agency and used for
outdoor recreation purposes to the survivors, victims'
immediate families, and police, fire, rescue, recovery, and
medical personnel directly affected by the September 11, 2001,
terrorist hijackings and the attacks on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon, and for other purposes, having considered the
same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend
that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 2976 is to provide for the issuance of
a special entrance pass for free admission to any federally
owned area which is operated and maintained by a Federal agency
and used for outdoor recreation purposes to the survivors,
victims' immediate families, and police, fire, rescue,
recovery, and medical personnel directly affected by the
September 11, 2001, terrorist hijackings and the attacks on the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and for other purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The horrific terrorist hijackings and attack on America
was, by far, the single most deadly one day event on American
soil in the history of the United States. This dastardly
assault left over 6,000 people dead or presumed dead, most of
them non-military citizens, and thousands of others injured.
This death toll easily surpassed the heretofore most deadly one
day total which occurred during the Civil War at the battle of
Antietam where 2,000 soldiers lost their lives.
Even though the dreadful and deplorable sneak-attack by the
cowardly terrorists was one of, if not the, saddest days in
American history, the spirit and essence of the American people
refused to fade and was not diminished. Contrarily, the people
of this country have reached out and helped with the recovery
effort in a variety of ways and contributions. This bill seeks
to recognize those people directly affected by the sudden and
tragic loss of loved ones along with those who have given so
much in aid and assistance in the recovery effort.
In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
the House of Representatives has approved four pieces of
legislation authorizing compensation or tax relief for those
most directly affected. To implement these programs, a universe
of eligible recipients will be developed. For example, title IV
of the Air Transportation Stabilization Act (Public Law 107-42)
requires the Attorney General to appoint a Special Master for
the purpose of administering such a compensation program.
H.R. 2976 follows the parameters of these previously passed
measures and it is the Committee's intention that in developing
the HOPE Pass program, the Secretary will coordinate her
efforts with other federal agencies administering compensation
plans to provide a reasonable and workable definition of a
qualified passholder.
H.R. 2976 would provide some recognition and appreciation
to the aggrieved families and also the heroic efforts of all
those people involved in the senseless and despicable attack on
America by vile and deceitful terrorists.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 2976 was introduced on October 2, 2001, by Congressman
Nick Rahall II (D-WV). The bill was referred to the Committee
on Resources. On October 3, 2001, the Full Resources Committee
met to consider the bill. The bill was ordered favorably
reported without amendment to the House of Representatives 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 bill.
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 bill. 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
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in tax
expenditures. According to the Congressional Budget Office,
enactment of H.R. 2976 would reduce offsetting receipts and
reduce direct spending but ``that the net changes would be
insignificant for each year.''
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives.--This bill
does not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not
apply.
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 bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, November 5, 2001.
Hon. James V. Hansen,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2976, the Healing
Opportunities in Parks and the Environment Pass Act.
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.R. 2976--Healing Opportunities in Parks and the Environment Pass Act
H.R. 2976 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to
issue to persons directly affected by the events of September
11, 2001, a lifetime pass for admission to federal recreational
lands such as national parks. Those eligible for the free
passes include individuals present at the four crash sites, the
immediate families of those killed in the incidents, and all
police, fire, and related personnel who were directly involved
in the aftermath of the crashes. The legislation would affect
direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would
apply. CBO estimates that the net changes would be
insignificant for each year.
H.R. 2976 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of State, local, or tribal
governments.
Providing people with free lifetime passes to federal
recreation areas would reduce the total amount of recreation
fees collected by land management agencies each year. Based on
information provided by the National Park Service, CBO
estimates that the loss of offsetting receipts (a credit
against direct spending) would be less than $500,000 a year
beginning in fiscal year 2002. The loss would be offset
entirely in fiscal year 2002 by a like reduction in direct
spending because, under existing law, fee-collecting agencies
are allowed to spend recreation receipts earned that year
without further appropriation action. For each of the following
years, the receipt loss also would be offset but by a much
smaller amount--15 percent, which is the amount that agencies
are allowed to retain and use for fee collections.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.