[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.


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