Rep. Lummis, Cynthia M. | Committee on Natural Resources
H.R. 3989 would require the Secretary of Interior to conduct a special resources study of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, in Park County, Wyoming. Under the legislation, the study would evaluate national significance of the site and would determine the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System. In addition, the study would have to identify cost estimates for any federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives considered under the study. The Secretary would be required to report the findings of the study within three years of funding being made available.
Source:H.R. 3989: Heart Mountain Relocation Center Study Act of 2009
Rep. Conyers, JohnJr. | Committee on Natural Resources
H.R. 4514 would require the Secretary of Interior to conduct a special resources study of the Colonel Charles Young Home, a National Historic Landmark in Xenia, Ohio. Under the legislation the study would evaluate any architectural and archeological resources of the home and would determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Home as a unit of the National Park System. In addition, the study would require the Secretary to identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives considered under the study. The Secretary would be required to report the findings of the study within three years of funding being made available.
Rep. Kingston, Jack | Committee on Natural Resources
H.R. 4773 would authorize the Secretary of Interior to lease 30,000 square feet of land within Fort Pulaski National Monument to Savannah Bar Pilots Association. Under the legislation, the rental fee for the lease would be based on “fair market value.” The term of the lease would not be longer than ten years, but the Secretary could extend the lease in up to year increments at his discretion.
Source:H.R. 4773: Fort Pulaski National Monument Lease Authorization Act
Rep. Polis, Jared | Committee on Natural Resources
H.R. 3923 would require the Secretary of Agriculture to exchange approximately 5 acres of land owned by the Department of Agriculture located in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests with the Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District of Boulder, Colorado. Under the legislation, if the land is not exchanged within one year of the bill’s enactment, the Secretary would be authorized to sell the land to the Sugar Loaf fire district for a federally appraised amount.
Source:H.R. 3923: Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District Land Exchange Act
Rep. Hall, John J. | Committee on House Administration
H.R. 5609 would ban lobbyists for state sponsors of terror or other foreign nationals from making contributions or political expenditures. This legislation replicates part of the language from the DISCLOSE motion to recommit offered by Republicans on June 24, 2010.
Rep. Conyers, JohnJr. | Committee on Judiciary
H.R. 5503 makes six changes to current law to remove some limitations on liability related, in part, to the Gulf oil spill. The bill makes three major changes to liability limits in federal maritime law; makes a change to the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA); makes agreements restricting dissemination of information regarding a discharge of hazardous substances into U.S. waters void as against public policy; and makes certain important provisions of the Bankruptcy Code effectively inapplicable to debtors with liability related to oil spills. The bill makes all of these changes apply retroactively.
Specifically, H.R. 5503 amends the Death on the High Seas Act to permit recovery of non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering and loss of care, comfort, and companionship) by the decedent’s family; standardize the geographic threshold for its application; and permit surviving family members to bring suit directly rather than through a personal representative.
The bill amends the Jones Act to permit recovery of non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering and loss of care, comfort, and companionship) by the families of seamen who are killed and are covered by the Jones Act.
The bill repeals the Limitation of Liability Act, which addresses the liability of a vessel owner in the aftermath of a maritime accident.
H.R. 5503 attempts to amend the CAFA to clarify that impacted states can seek legal remedies in their own courts.
The bill makes agreements to restrict the disclosure of information about offshore spills of oil and other pollutants void as against public policy.
H.R. 5503 amends the Bankruptcy Code to prevent debtors liable for damages under the Oil Pollution Act from seeking to sever their assets from the legal liabilities they owe to tort claimants and makes chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code inapplicable to such debtors.
Source:H.R. 5503: Securing Protections for the Injured from Limitations on Liability Act
Senator Lugar (Indiana) | Committee on Foreign Relations
S. 3104 would permanently authorize Radio Free Asia (RFA). The bill also includes a Sense of the Senate that, “Congress should provide additional funding to RFA and the other entities overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors.”
Source:S. 3104: A bill to permanently authorize Radio Free Asia, and for other purposes
Rep. Rush, Bobby L. | Committee on Foreign Affairs
H.Res. 1405 would resolve that the House of Representative:
- “Congratulates the people of the 17 African nations that in 2010 are marking the 50th year of their national independence;
- “Salutes the continuing status of these people as citizens of free and sovereign countries;
- “Honors the lives of the ten of thousands of patriots, including innocent civilians, who died, were imprisoned, or otherwise dedicated their lives, often at great personal sacrifice, to achieving African political independence;
- “Commends the socioeconomic and political progress being made by these nations, while acknowledging the associated challenges that many still face; and
- “Renews the commitment of the United States to help the people of sub-Saharan Africa to foster democratic rule, advance civic freedom and participation, and promote market-based economic growth, and to alleviate the burden of poverty and disease that so many in the region continue to face.”
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. | Committee on Foreign Affairs
H.Res. 1412 would resolve that the House of Representatives:
- “Congratulates the Government of South Africa upon its first two successful convictions for human trafficking;
- “Calls on the Government of South Africa to move quickly to adopt the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill in order to facilitate future prosecutions;
- “Calls on the Government of South Africa to increase awareness among all levels of relevant government officials as to their responsibilities under the trafficking provisions of the Sexual Offenses and Children’s Acts;
- “Calls on the Government of South Africa to prioritize anti-trafficking law enforcement during the 2010 FIFA World Cup through expanded law enforcement presence, raids, and other measures in areas where trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation are likely to occur;
- “Calls on the Government of South Africa to divert all prostituted persons under the age of 18 from the criminal system into rehabilitative care;
- “Calls on the Government of South Africa to ensure shelters and rehabilitative care are available to all human trafficking victims for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond;
- “Calls on the Government of South Africa to adopt measures to protect vulnerable children, including those children unattended because of school closures and refugee children, as well as other potential victims, from sexual and labor exploitation;
- “Urges the Government of South Africa to detain and prosecute tourists participating in commercial sexual exploitation of women and children during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”
Senator Lieberman (Connecticut) | Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
S. 1510 transfers the authority covering pay and work hours for current U.S. Secret Service Uniform Division members from the City of the District of Columbia to the federal government. This legislation would authorize all the Department of Homeland Security to fix and adjust basic pay for the transferred employees beginning with the first pay period after May 1, 2010. S. 1510 would increase direct spending by $15 million from 2011—2020.
In addition, this bill will attach H.R. 2495, the Federal Real Property Disposal Enhancement Act to the overall legislation to offset the cost of S. 1510. This provision would direct the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide guidance as to identifying, planning, and evaluating disposal costs of federal agency real property. H.R. 2495 would reduce net direct spending by $15 million from 2011—2020.
Title I: S. 1510—United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Modernization Act
Authority:
The bill authorized the Secretary of Homeland Security to fix and adjust rates of pay for members of the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division; and to determine appropriate levels of competence for service-step adjustments. It also establishes and determines the positions at the Officer and Sergeant ranks to be included as technician positions, and to include the rate of basic pay of a member who is changed or demoted to a lower rank.
Basic Pay:
The bill establishes a new fixed schedule of rates of basic pay for the uniformed division, except for a limit placed on pay for lieutenants, captains, and inspector ranks to 95 percent of the rate of pay for level five of the executive schedule.
The following ranges of pay over 13 steps based on years of experience:
- Officer: Step 1 = $44,000 to step 13 = $75,680
- Sergeant: Step 4 = $59,708 to step 13 = $87,032
- Lieutenant: Step 5 = $69,018 to step 13 = $95,738
- Captain: Step 6 = $79,594 to step 13 = $105,312
- Inspector: Step 6 = $91,533 to step 13 = $121,108
S.1510 directs the Secretary to adjust the schedule by the amount corresponding to the adjustment made to rates of pay under the federal government’s general schedule for compensation of its employees, whenever a general schedule adjustment is made.
Rate of Pay for Original Appointments:
The bill provides that all original appointments shall be made at the minimum rate of basic pay for the Officer rank set forth in the schedule. The Director of the U.S. Secret Service may appoint an individual at a rate above the minimum rate of basic pay for the Officer rank based on a person’s superior qualification.
Service Step Adjustments:
The bill stipulates that each member of the Uniformed Division, who performs at acceptable levels, will have the following service step adjustments:
- Each member in service step 1, 2, or 3 shall advance successively to the next higher service stop at the beginning of the first pay period immediately following the completion of 52 calendar weeks of active service.
- Each member in service step 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 shall advance successively to the next higher service step at the beginning of the first pay period immediately following the completion of 104 calendar weeks of active service
- Each member in service step 12 shall be advanced successively to the next higher service step at the begging of the first pay period immediately following the completion of 156 calendar weeks of service.
Technician Positions:
The bill provides for additional compensation to any individual holding a technical position at six percent of the sum of the member’s basic rate of pay. The individual would receive the additional compensation until the position is determined to no longer be a technical position.
Promotions and Demotions:
Promotion: Each member who is promoted to a higher rank shall receive basic pay at the same step at which such member was being compensated prior to the date of the promotion.
Demotion: Any member changed or demoted for any rank to a lower rank will receive the rate of basic pay at the rate of pay for any step in the lower rank which does not exceed the lowest step.
Clothing Allowances:
The Director of the U.S. Secret Service is authorized to provide a clothing allowance to a member assigned to perform duties in normal business or work attire purchased at the discretion of the employee. The clothing allowance shall not be treated as part of the member’s basic pay; the allowance for clothing shall not exceed $500 per annum.
Leave Limitations:
The bill sets annual leave limitations for the three most senior officials in the Uniformed Division: the deputy chief, assistant chief, and the chief. The annual leave limitations will be consistent with the ceiling for members of the Senior Executive Service or related federal employees.
Miscellaneous provisions:
S. 1510 provides that retirees of the Uniformed Division who also happen to be members of the District of Columbia Police and Firefighters Retirement and Disability system would receive a three percent increase in retirement compensation.
The bill would make adjustments to the District of Columbia code to prevent the measure from affecting retirement benefits and pensions of current and former members who retired under the D.C. system.
Title II: H.R. 2495—Federal Real Property Disposal Enhancement Act
Duties and General Services Administration and Executive Agencies:
The bill would direct the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) to issue guidance for the development and implementation of agency real property plans. Guidance shall include:
- How to identify excess property;
- How to evaluate the costs and benefits involved with disposing of property;
- How to prioritize disposal decisions based on agency missions and future holdings;
- How to best dispose of those properties.
The Administrator shall submit an annual report, for each of the first five years after 2010 based on data submitted from all executive agencies, detailing executive agency efforts to reduce real property assets. The reports shall include:
- Aggregate estimated market value and number of real property assets under control of executive agencies;
- Aggregate estimated market value and number of surplus properties assets under control of executive agencies;
- Aggregate cost of maintaining all surplus property under the control of the executive agencies;
- Shall include recurring maintenance and repair costs, utilities, cleaning, and janitorial costs and expenses;
- Shall include lease costs, including base and operating rent and other relevant costs.
- Aggregate estimated deferred maintenance cost of property under the control of the executive agencies.
The bill directs the Administrator to assist executive agencies in the identification and disposal of excess real property, including the development and implementation of a property plan in order to identify properties to declare as excess.
The bill requires executive agencies to reassign property to another activity within the agency when the property is no longer required for the purposes of appropriation used to make the purchase.
Preparing Properties to be reported as Excess:
The bill would direct the Administrator to obligate an amount to pay the direct and indirect costs related to identifying and preparing properties to be reported excess by another agency. The GSA shall be reimbursed for such costs from the proceeds of the sale of such properties for such costs.
Reverted Real Property:
The bill allows for the Administrator to take control of such property recommended for reversion, and to sell it at or above appraised fair market value for cash and not by lease, exchange, leaseback arrangements, or service agreements.
Prior to any sale, the Administrator shall make such property available to state and local governments and certain non-profit institutions or organizations.
Agency Retention of Proceeds:
Net proceeds from the transfer or sale of real property shall be deposited into the appropriate real property account of the agency that had custody and accountability for the real property.
Title III: Waiver of Recovery of Certain Payments under DOD Civilian Employees Voluntary Separation Incentive Program.
Authority for Waiver of Recovery of Certain Payments:
The bill gives allows the Secretary of Defense to waive the requirement for repayment to the Department of Defense of a voluntary separation incentive payment to any employee or former employee, for the period of April 1, 2004, and ending on March 1, 2008, received a voluntary separation incentive payment.
The Secretary may grant a waiver in the case of any individual only if the Secretary determines that recovery of the amount of the payment referred to would be against equity and good conscience or would be contrary to the best interests of the United States.
The Secretary may use fund authorized to be appropriated for civilian personnel for fiscal year 2011 and any year thereafter.
Source:S. 1510: United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Modernization Act
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