[House Report 108-745]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     108-745
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    CONGRATULATING THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ON ITS 125TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                _______
                                

  October 6, 2004.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

  Mr. Pombo, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 556]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the 
resolution (H. Res. 556) congratulating the United States 
Geological Survey on its 125th Anniversary, 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. 556 is to congratulate the United 
States Geological Survey on its 125th Anniversary.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    March 3, 2004, marked the 125th anniversary of the 
establishment of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), 
the Nation's premiere earth and biological science agency. 
During its 125-year history, the USGS has been the birthplace 
of a number of other federal agencies, including the 
Reclamation Service (later renamed the Bureau of Reclamation) 
in 1902, the Forest Service in 1905, the United States Bureau 
of Mines in 1910, the Grazing Service (later renamed the Bureau 
of Land Management) in 1934, and the Minerals Management 
Service in 1982.
    The USGS has a scientific presence in every State and 
Territory of the United States and serves the Nation's 
extensive and diverse needs for objective scientific knowledge 
and understanding. The agency has no regulatory or land 
management responsibilities and is thus a trusted entity to 
provide impartial science that serves the needs of the Nation. 
The agency is widely respected as a source of relevant and 
objective science regarding the Nation's natural resource 
issues and continues to serve the Nation as an independent 
fact-finding agency that collects, monitors, analyzes, and 
provides scientific information and understanding about natural 
hazards, and natural resource conditions, issues, and problems.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    Congressman James Moran (D-VA) introduced H. Res. 556 on 
March 10, 2004. The bill was referred to the Committee on 
Resources and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 
Energy and Mineral Resources. On September 15, 2004, 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 ordered favorably reported to the House of 
Representatives by unanimous consent.

            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. H. Res. 556 is a resolution 
to congratulate the United States Geological Survey on its 
125th Anniversary. No costs are involved.
    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 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    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.

                    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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