> ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in" height="1.15625in"}

**Legislative
Bulletin................................................April 29, 2008**

**Contents:**

> **S. 2457---**bill to provide for extensions of leases of certain land
> by Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe
>
> **H.R. 3522---**To ratify a conveyance of a portion of the Jicarilla
> Apache Reservation to Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, pursuant
> to the settlement of litigation between the Jicarilla Apache Nation
> and Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, to authorize issuance of a
> patent for said lands, and to change the exterior boundary of the
> Jicarilla Apache Reservation accordingly, and for other purposes
>
> **H.R. 3490---**Tuolumne Me-Wuk Land Transfer Act of 2007
>
> **H.Res. 1043---**Honoring the life and legacy of Chief Standing Bear,
> a pioneer in civil rights for Native Americans, on the 100th
> anniversary of Chief Standing Bear's death
>
> **S. 2739---**Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008
>
> **H. Res. 1079---**Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial
> Literacy Month 2008, and for other purposes
>
> **H. R. 4332---**Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2007
>
> **H. Res. 578---**Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
> that there should be established a National Watermelon Month
>
> **H. Res. 892---**Expressing support for designation of March 11,
> 2008, as "National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day"
>
> **H. Res. 1073---**Expressing the sense of the House of
> Representatives that public servants should be commended for their
> dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service
> Recognition Week, May 5 through11, 2008
>
> **H. Res. 49---**Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
> that there should be established a National Letter Carriers
> Appreciation Day
>
> **H.R. 5631**---To designate the facility of the United States Postal
> Service located at 1155 Seminole Trail in Charlottesville, Virginia,
> as the "Corporal Bradley T. Arms Post Office Building"

**S. 2457---bill to provide for extensions of leases of certain land by
Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe *(Lieberman, I-CT)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.\
\
**[Summary]{.underline}**: S. 2457 would allow the Mashantucket Pequot
Tribe to renew leases of tribal land to private entities for a period of
up to 75 years. Under current law, such leases may only be made for 25
years. The bill would stipulate that the U.S. is not liable for any
losses suffered by the tribe as a result of a lease renewal. The bill
would also prohibit any leasing entity from conducting gaming activities
on tribal land that is leased with an option to renew.

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe
has inhabited the Mashantucket area of Southeast Connecticut since
before the arrival of European colonists in the 17^th^ century.
According to the tribe's Website, the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation,
which is located on the Thames River in Connecticut, was initially given
to the tribe in 1666. The reservation is currently 1,250 acres.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: S. 2457 was introduced on December
12, 2007, and referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which
discharged the bill by unanimous consent on February 5, 2008. That same
day, the Senate passed S. 2457, as amended, by unanimous consent. On
February 7, 2008, the bill was received in the House and referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, which held a mark-up and reported the
bill by unanimous consent on April 17, 2008.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: According to CBO, H.R. 2457 would
have no effect on the budget and would not affect spending.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Comply with House Rules Regarding Earmarks/Limited Tax
Benefits/Limited Tariff Benefits?]{.underline}** A Committee Report
citing compliance with rules regarding earmarks, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits was not available. Such a report is not
required because the bill is being considered under a suspension of the
rules.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: A Committee Report citing
constitutional authority was not available.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 3522---To ratify a conveyance of a portion of the Jicarilla
Apache Reservation to Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, pursuant
to the settlement of litigation between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and
Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, to authorize issuance of a
patent for said lands, and to change the exterior boundary of the
Jicarilla Apache Reservation accordingly, and for other purposes
*(Udall, D-NM)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.\
\
**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 3522 would ratify an agreement between
the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the County of Rio Arriba, New Mexico,
concerning a county road on the tribe's reservation. The agreement would
require the county to permanently abandon the disputed land in exchange
for a 70 acre tract of settlement land on the reservation. The agreement
between the two parties requires ratification by Congress to have the
force of law.

**[Additional Background]{.underline}**: According to findings listed in
the bill, a lawsuit is now pending between the County of Rio Arriba and
the Jicarilla Tribe regarding a county road that passes through a 1988
addition to the tribe's reservation. The two parties have been involved
in a legal dispute over the road (which was slated to be built before
the addition to the reservation's land) for over 15 years. In 2003, the
two parties came to an agreement in which the county would abandon the
land in return for the conveyance of a difference tract of land from the
tribe. In order for the agreement to be legally authorized, it must be
ratified by Congress.\
\
**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 3522 was introduced on
September 10, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources,
which held a mark-up on April 17, 2008, and reported the bill by
unanimous consent.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: According to CBO, H.R. 3522 would
have no effect on the budget and would not affect spending.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Comply with House Rules Regarding Earmarks/Limited Tax
Benefits/Limited Tariff Benefits?]{.underline}** A Committee Report
citing compliance with rules regarding earmarks, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits was not available. Such a report is not
required because the bill is being considered under a suspension of the
rules.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: A Committee Report citing
constitutional authority was not available.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 3490---Tuolumne Me-Wuk Land Transfer Act of 2007**

**(Radanovich, R-CA)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.\
\
**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 3490 would transfer approximately 66
acres of land adjacent to the Tuolumne Rancheria of California (the
federally recognized reservation of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians)
from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to be held in trust by the U.S.
government for the benefit of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians. The
bill would stipulate that land held in trust would be used for
non-gaming purposes.

H.R. 3490 would also extend the reservation's boundaries by
approximately 357 acres by adding portions the transferred BLM land and
other adjacent land that is currently owned by the tribe but not
recognized as a portion of the reservation.

**[Additional Background]{.underline}**: The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk
Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria is an recognized American Indian Tribe
in northern California. The tribe's reservation was established in 1910
and has been managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) since that
time. According to findings listed in the bill, the BIA manages three
tracts of land adjacent to the tribe's reservation, which is known as
the Tuolumne Rancheria of California. The land held in trust is used for
an ancestral cemetery, a cultural center, agricultural land, and
housing. Two additional tracts of land were purchased by the tribe and
have been approved for transfer into the reservation by the BIA.
According to their Website, the BIA is responsible for the
"administration and management of 55.7 million acres of land held in
trust by the United States for American Indians."\
\
**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 3490 was introduced on
September 6, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources,
which held a mark-up on April 17, 2008, and reported the bill by
unanimous consent.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: According to CBO, H.R. 3490 would
cost less than \$500,000 over the FY 2009---FY 2013 period (subject to
appropriation) for the transfer of certain land from BLM to the BIA.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Comply with House Rules Regarding Earmarks/Limited Tax
Benefits/Limited Tariff Benefits?]{.underline}** A Committee Report
citing compliance with rules regarding earmarks, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits was not available. Such a report is not
required because the bill is being considered under a suspension of the
rules.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: A Committee Report citing
constitutional authority was not available.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Res. 1043---Honoring the life and legacy of Chief Standing Bear, a
pioneer in civil rights for Native Americans, on the 100th anniversary
of Chief Standing Bear's death (Fortenberry*,* R-GA)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H.Res. 1043 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 1043 would express the sense that the
House "honors the life, legacy, and contributions to civil rights of
Chief Standing Bear."

The resolution lists a number of findings, including:

-   "Chief Standing Bear was born on Ponca land in what is now Nebraska;

-   "Chief Standing Bear became chief of the Ponca Tribe at a young age
    because of his leadership abilities;

-   "In 1878, Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca Tribe were forced by a
    Federal treaty to leave their home for Indian Territory in what is
    now Oklahoma;

-   "The hardship of travel, illness, and the inhospitable conditions of
    Indian Territory caused many members of the tribe to perish
    including Chief Standing Bear's son;

-   "Chief Standing Bear, determined to bury his son in his homeland,
    led 30 members of his tribe back to their home in Nebraska;

-   "Chief Standing Bear and the 30 members of his tribe were arrested
    by the Department of the Interior upon their return;

-   "Chief Standing Bear enlisted the help of Thomas Tibbles of the
    predecessor to the Omaha World-Herald and 2 attorneys to petition
    the Federal court to rule on the Ponca Tribe's treatment by the
    Government;

-   "The Ponca won their freedom and eventually were able to return to
    their home in Nebraska;

-   "Chief Standing Bear would spend the next 4 years touring the
    Eastern United States promoting Native American rights;

-   "Chief Standing Bear demonstrated the highest level of courage and
    determination;

-   "Chief Standing Bear made a vital contribution to civil rights for
    Native Americans; and

-   "2008 is the 100th anniversary of Chief Standing Bear's death."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 1043 was introduced on March
12, 2008, and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, which took
no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution does not authorize
expenditures.\
\
**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.\
\
**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.\
\
**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**S. 2739---Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 *(Bingaman,
D-NM)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.\
\
**[Summary]{.underline}**: S. 2739 is an omnibus federal lands bill that
would authorize the Secretary of Interior to study, establish, and
redesignate numerous National Parks, National Wildernesses, National
Heritage Areas, National Trails, and National Scenic River designations.
S. 2739 would also authorize land conveyances, federal boundary
adjustments, memorials, museums, reclamation projects, and commissions.
Additionally, the bill would include a provision to federalize the
government of the Northern Mariana Islands and grant them a non-voting
delegate to the House of Representatives. In all, S. 2739 includes over
sixty individual bills with a combined authorization level of \$380
million over the FY 2009---FY 2013 period.

The specific bills included in S. 2739 are summarized below with
possible concerns listed in *italics*.

**Wild Sky Wilderness Act (H.R. 886, Larsen D-WA)**

-   H.R. 886 would designate 106,000 acres in the state of Washington as
    the Wild Sky Wilderness, which would be added to the National
    Wilderness Preservation System.

-   *According to dissenting views from [House Report
    110-089](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr089)),
    "The U.S. Forest Service testified that 90,000 acres of the proposed
    area would be appropriate for wilderness. It also concluded that
    16,000 acres were not well-suited for wilderness because it included
    previously harvested and roaded areas, private land and vital
    roads."*

**Jim Weaver Trail renaming (H.R. 247, DeFazio D-OR)**

-   H.R. 247 would designate a 19.4-mile U.S. Forest Service trail in
    the Willamette National Forest in Lane County, Oregon, as the "Jim
    Weaver Loop Trail."

**Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station (H.R. 276, Capps D-CA)**

-   H.R. 276 would establish the Piedras Blancas Historic Station
    Outstanding Natural Area as a part of the National Landscape
    Conservation System. The bill exempts the land from appropriation,
    disposal, mining, and mineral and geothermal leasing

**Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse (H.R. 1922, Mahoney D-FL)**

-   H.R. 1922 would establish the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and 126 acres
    surrounding the area in Jupiter, Florida, as an Outstanding Natural
    Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The purpose of
    the designation would be to protect and conserve natural, scenic,
    and recreational use of the federal land surrounding the lighthouse.

**Nevada National Guard land conveyance (H.R. 815, Porter R-NV)**

-   H.R. 815 would allow the conveyance of 35 to 50 acres of land from
    Clark County, Nevada, to the Division of State Lands, to be used by
    the Nevada National Guard.

**Cooperative agreements with National Park Service (H.R. 658, Porter
R-NV)**

-   H.R. 658 would allow the Secretary of the Interior to enter into
    cooperative agreements with state, local or tribal governments,
    other federal agencies, other public entities, educational
    institutions, private nonprofit organizations, or participating
    private landowners, for the purpose of "protecting natural resources
    of units of the National Park System through collaborative efforts
    on land inside and outside of National Park System units."

**Carl Sandburg Home land acquisition (H.R. 1100, Shuler D-NC)**

-   H.R. 1100 would authorize the Secretary to Interior to purchase,
    from willing sellers, 115 acres of land, water, or interests in land
    and water, to be added to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic
    Site.

-   *According to dissenting views from [House Report
    110-157](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr157)http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr157)),
    twelve minority Members on the Natural Resources Committee stated
    that "We have seen no evidence that this augmentation of the immense
    federal estate will in any way enhance the visitor experience or
    even protect the National Historic Site."*

**Lowell National Historic Park land acquisition (H.R. 299, Meehan
D-MA)**

-   H.R. 299 would adjust the boundaries of the Lowell National
    Historical Park to include five parcels of land located in the City
    of Lowell, Massachusetts.

**Minidoka National Historic Site (H.R. 161, Inslee D-WA)**

-   H.R. 161 would adjust the boundary of the Minidoka Internment
    National Monument (hereafter referred to as the Monument) located in
    Idaho, and provide various federal assistance and federal grants in
    support of the Monument and the Nidoto Nai Yoni Memorial (hereafter
    referred to as the Memorial).

**Acadia National Park amendments (H.R. 2251, Michaud D-ME)**

-   H.R. 2251 **w**ould amend the federal government's land conveyance
    authority within the Acadia National Park, located on Mt. Desert
    Island in Maine. The bill would also increase the maximum amount of
    funds authorized for the Secretary of the Interior to expand the
    park.

-   *Would increase the maximum amount of money that the Secretary of
    the Interior is authorized to use to acquire land for the Acadia
    National Park by nearly \$20 million.*

**Newtonia Civil War Battlefields study (H.R. 376, Blunt R-MO)**

-   H.R. 376 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
    resource study relating to the First and Second Battles of Newtonia
    in Missouri to determine the feasibility of adding the battlefields
    and related sites as part of Wilson's Creek National Battlefield or
    the National Park System.

**Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum study (H.R. 1047, Clay D-MO)**

-   H.R. 1047 would direct the Secretary of Interior to determine the
    suitability and feasibility of designating the Soldiers Memorial
    Military Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, as a unit of the National
    Park System.

**Wolf House study (H.R. 442, Berry D-AR)**

-   H.R. 442 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
    study to determine whether it is suitable and feasible to designate
    [the Wolf House](http://www.baxtercounty.org/wolf.html) located on
    Highway 5 in Norfork, Arkansas as a part of the NPS.

**Space Shuttle Columbia study (H.R. 807, Gohmert R-TX)**

-   H.R. 807 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
    feasibility study to add at least four parcels of land in Texas to
    the National Park System as memorials to the Space Shuttle Columbia
    disaster.

**Cesar Chavez park study** **(H.R. 359, Solis D-CA)**

-   H.R. 359 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
    special resource study of significant sites in the life of Cesar
    Chavez and the farm labor movement. The results of the study would
    be used to determine the best method for preserving such sites, and
    whether those sites meet the criteria for designation as a national
    historic landmark or listing in the National Register of Historic
    Places.

-   *The bill uses federal funds to finance a study that could
    eventually lead to the establishment of federally designated
    historic sites, or a National Park, for a historical figure who is
    accused, by some, of encouraging violence and intimidation as tools
    to organize laborers.*

**Taunton, MA park study (H.R. 1021, Frank D-MA)**

-   H.R. 1021 would direct the Secretary of Interior to conduct a
    special resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility of
    designating certain historic buildings and areas in Taunton,
    Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System.

**Rim of the Valley corridor study (H.R. 1835, Schiff D-CA)**

-   Would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to
    determine whether it is suitable and feasible to designate the Rim
    of the Valley Corridor, in the San Fernando, La Crescenta, Santa
    Clarita, Simi, and Conejo Valleys in and around Los Angeles,
    California, as a part of the NPS.

-   *The vast scope of the designation coupled with the high cost of
    property in the area could lead to land rights issues and huge
    federal expenses while acquiring land in the area. Also, certain
    property rights advocates have suggested that the designation could
    be used as a means to stop private development in the area.*

**Gen. Francis Marion Memorial (H.R. 497, Wilson R-SC)**

-   H.R. 497 would authorize the Marion Park Project, a committee of the
    Palmetto Conservation Foundation, to establish a commemorative work
    on federal land in the District of Columbia (or its environs) to
    honor Brigadier General Francis Marion.

**Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Commission (H.R. 2094, Moore D-KS)**

-   H.R. 2094 would expand the powers of the [Dwight D. Eisenhower
    Memorial Commission](http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/), which was
    created in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2000 to
    plan and create a monument to Dwight D. Eisenhower, and authorize
    "such funds" for carrying out the next phase of the project.

**Museum of the American Latino study (H.R. 512, Becerra D-CA)**

-   H.R. 512 would establish a new commission to study the potential
    creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Heritage to
    develop a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of
    this museum in Washington, D.C.

-   *Outside organization, such as the National Coalition to Save Our
    Mall, have opposed recent additions on the National Mall, arguing
    that the Mall is becoming overcrowded with museums and memorials and
    confusing to navigate.*

**Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission (H.R. 1520,
Hinchey D-NY)**

-   H.R. 1520 would establish two commissions to coordinate with New
    York and Vermont to ensure that there is a suitable national
    observance of Henry Hudson, Robert Fulton, and Samuel de Chaplain in
    2009.

**National Quilt Museum (H Con Res 116, Whitfield R-KY)**

-   H.Con.Res. 116 would express the sense of the House of
    Representatives "that the National Museum of Wildlife Art, located
    at 2820 Rungius Road, Jackson, Wyoming, shall be designated as the
    'National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States.'"

**Ellis Island Library renamed for Bob Hope (H.R. 759, Engel D-NY)**

-   H.R. 759 would redesignate the Ellis Island Library on the third
    floor of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, as the "Bob Hope
    Memorial Library."

**Star Spangled Banner Trail (H.R. 1388, Sarbanes D-MD)**

-   H.R. 1388 would establish the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic
    Trail, which would consist of 290 miles of land and water routes in
    Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

**Lewis and Clark National Trail Center (H.R. 761, Fortenberry R-NE)**

-   H.R. 761 would authorize the Secretary of Interior to transfer
    certain federal land and a visitor's center associated with the
    Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Nebraska to the Missouri
    River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center
    Foundation Inc.

**Lewis and Clark National Trail extension (H.R. 3616, Emerson R-MO)**

-   Would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to
    determine whether it is suitable and feasible to designate ["Eastern
    Legacy" sites](http://lewisandclarktrail.com/eastern.htm) on the
    "Lewis and Clark Trail", including sites in Virginia, the District
    of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio,
    Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, and Illinois as a part of
    the NPS.

**Eightmile Wild and Scenic River (H.R. 986, Courtney D-CT)**

-   H.R. 986 would designate a 25 mile stretch of the Eightmile Wild
    River, in south-central Connecticut, as a part of the Nation Park
    System's National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, to be administered
    by the Secretary of Interior.

-   *During the subcommittee markup, an amendment was offered that would
    have strictly prohibited the NPS from obtaining land through
    condemnation, but allowing for the Park Service to purchase or
    accept donated land, but failed on a party-line vote.*

-   *In light of potential property rights concerns, a letter in
    opposition to the bill was drafted and signed by all 14 Republican
    members of the subcommittee and 172 Members voted against final
    passage of the bill under a rule.*

**Denali National Park and Alaska Railroad Exchange (H.R. 830, Young
R-AK)**

-   H.R. 830 would allow the Secretary of Interior to exchange up to 25
    acres of federal land in the Denali Wilderness with up to 25 acres
    of non-federal adjacent land owned by the Alaska Railroad.

**National Underground Railroad amendments (H.R. 1239, Hastings D-FL)**

-   H.R. 1239 would re-authorize \$2.5 million annually for the National
    Park Service's (NPS) National Underground Railroad Network to
    Freedom program.

**Grand Canyon National Park subcontractors (H.R. 1191, Renzi R-AZ)**

-   H.R. 1191 would authorize the National Park Service to pay for
    services rendered by subcontractors under an Indefinite Quantity
    Contract issued for work to be completed at the Grand Canyon
    National Park.

**Journey Through Hallowed Ground (H.R. 319, Wolf R-VA)**

-   H.R. 319 would establish the Journey Through Hallowed Ground
    National Heritage Area comprised of a 175 mile stretch through four
    different states (VA, MA, PA, and WV).

-   *Rep. Roscoe Bartlett and Rep. Virgil Goode, whose district would be
    included in the designation, attempted to offer an amendment in
    committee to have their districts removed from the heritage area,
    but it was rejected by the majority.*

-   *The Heritage Foundation referred to H.R. 319 as "a badly flawed
    bill that would give a handful of environmentalists and wealthy
    landowners extraordinary powers over the use of private property
    along the Route 15 corridor."*

-   *The National Center for Public Policy Research referred to H.R. 319
    as "the Kelo decision and earmarks rolled into one."*

**Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (H.R. 713, Slaughter D-NY)**

-   H.R. 713 would establish the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area in
    New York.

**Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (H.R. 1625, Lahood R-IL)**

-   H.R. 1625 would establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area
    in Illinois.

**Heritage Area Authorization Extensions (H.R. 1483, Regula R-OH)**

-   H.R. 1483 would reauthorize the following Heritage Areas (listed
    with the amount of money each has received since 1996):

```{=html}
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-   National Coal Heritage Area in West Virginia (\$1.9 million)

-   Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area in Tennessee (\$2.1 million)

-   Augusta Canal National Heritage Area in Georgia (\$4.7 million)

-   Steel Industry American Heritage Area in Pennsylvanian (\$9.4
    million)

-   Essex National Heritage Area in Massachusetts (\$9.3 million)

-   South Carolina National Heritage Corridor in South Carolina (\$7.9
    million)

-   America's Agricultural Partnership in Iowa (\$5.1 million)

-   Ohio & Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor (redesignated as the
    Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway) in Ohio (\$9.4 million)

-   Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in New York (\$6 million)

**Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Area study (H.R. 407, Baird D-WA)**

-   H.R. 407 would direct the Secretary of Interior to commission a
    study to determine the feasibility of designating an area along the
    Columbia River, in Washington State, as the Columbia-Pacific
    National Heritage Area.

**Alaska Water Resources study (H.R. 1114, Young R-AK)**

-   H.R. 1114 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
    study that includes a survey of accessible water supplies, including
    aquifers, on the Kenai Peninsula and in the Municipality of
    Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the city of Fairbanks, and
    the Fairbanks Northstar Borough.

**Redwood Valley County Water District (H.R. 235, Thompson D-CA**)

-   H.R. 235 would allow the Redwood Valley County Water District to
    enter into finance agreements to fund new water improvements.

**American River Pump Station project transfer (H.R. 482, Doolittle
R-CA)**

-   H.R. 482 would authorize the transfer of the ownership of the
    American River Pump Station Project, located at Auburn, California,
    which includes a pumping plant, to the Placer County Water Agency,
    in accordance with the terms of an agreement made between the U.S.
    and the Water Agency.

**Arthur V. Watkins Dam Enlargement (H.R. 839, Bishop R-UT)**

-   H.R. 839 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior (through the
    Bureau of Reclamation) to conduct a feasibility study on raising the
    height of the Arthur V. Watkins Dam to provide additional storage to
    meet water supply needs within the Weber Basin Project area and the
    Wasatch Front, Utah.

**New Mexico water planning assistance (H.R. 1904, Wilson R-NM)**

-   H.R. 1904 would authorize \$3 million for each of fiscal years 2008
    through 2012 for the Secretary of the Interior, upon request of a
    state governor, to provide non-reimbursable technical assistance and
    non-reimbursable grants for the development of comprehensive state
    water plans.

**Yakima Project land conveyance (H.R. 386, Hastings R-WA)**

-   H.R. 1564 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to
    the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District (Yakima County, WA) all U.S.
    right, title, and interest in and to the buildings and lands of the
    Yakima Project, WA.

**Juab County water project (H.R. 1736, Cannon R-UT)**

-   H.R. 1739 adds Juab County, Utah to the current list of Utah
    counties eligible to receive federal funding in a current \$10
    million study and development project by the Utah Division of Water
    Resources of systems to allow ground water recharge, management, and
    the conjunctive use of surface water resources with ground water
    resources.

**A&B Irrigation District construction repayment (H.R. 467, Simpson
R-ID)**

-   H.R. 467 would allow landowners within the A&B Irrigation District
    in Idaho to repay their portion of the construction costs of the
    District project facilities at any time. Once a landowner discharges
    his debt, the land would no longer be subject to the full-cost
    pricing limitations under federal reclamation law.

**Oregon water resources (H.R. 495, Walden R-OR)**

-   H.R. 495 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior, through the
    Bureau of Reclamation, to participate in the design, planning, and
    construction of several water recycling and distribution facilities
    in Oregon at a cost of \$17 million.

**Republican River Basin feasibility study (H.R. 1025, Moran R-KS)**

-   H.R. 1025 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior, along with
    the states of Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado, to conduct a study to
    determine the feasibility of implementing a water supply project in
    order to improve water supply reliability in the Republican River
    Basin.

**Eastern Municipal Water District (H.R. 30, Issa R-CA)**

-   H.R. 30 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate
    with the Eastern Municipal Water District, California, in the
    planning, design, and construction of the permanent facilities for
    operational pressure zones to provide recycled water in the
    district.

**Bay Area Regional water recycling (H.R. 1526, Miller D-CA)**

-   H.R. 1526 would authorize \$30 million for the Secretary of the
    Interior to participate in the design, planning, and construction of
    several water recycling and distribution facilities in California's
    San Francisco Bay area.

**Bureau of Reclamation Site Security (H.R. 1662, Napolitano D-CA)**

-   H.R. 1662 would cap the amount of reimbursements that the Bureau of
    Reclamation could receive from customers for added site security at
    \$18.9 million, adjusted annually for inflation.

**More Water, More Energy and Less Waste Act (H.R. 902, Udall D-CO)**

-   H.R. 902 would authorize \$5 million for the Secretary of the
    Interior and the Director of the U.S Geological Survey to conduct a
    study to identify the technical, economic, environmental, legal, and
    other obstacles to increasing the extent to which produced water can
    be used for irrigation and other purposes.

**Platte River Recovery program (H.R. 1462, Udall D-CO)**

-   H.R. 1462 would authorize the Secretary of Interior, through the
    Commissioner of Reclamation and in partnership with the States, to
    implement the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program for
    threatened and endangered species in the Central and Lower Platte
    River Basin without creating Federal water rights or requiring the
    grant of water rights to Federal entities.

**Central OK Master Conservatory District study (H.R. 1337, Cole R-OK)**

-   H.R. 1337 would authorize the appropriation of \$900,000 for the
    Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a three year feasibility study of
    possible alternatives to enhance the water supplies of the Central
    Oklahoma Master Conservatory District.

**Energy Technology Transfer (H.R. 85, Biggert R-IL)**

-   H.R. 85 would expand a current grant program that provides grants to
    nonprofit institutions, state and local governments, and other
    entities, for geographically dispersed network of Advanced Energy
    Technology Transfer Centers, located in areas determined by the
    Secretary of Commerce, to have the greatest need of the services
    offered by the Centers.

**Steel and Aluminum energy conservation and technology (H.R. 1126,
Lipinski D-IL)**

-   H.R. 1126 would reauthorize, at \$60 million over five years (\$12
    million each year from FY 2008 through FY 2012), the Steel and
    Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act
    of 1988. This Act funds research and development of energy-efficient
    manufacturing of steel and aluminum.

**Northern Mariana Islands (H.R. 3079, Christensen D-VI)**

-   H.R. 3079 would extend U.S. immigration laws to the Commonwealth of
    the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and grant the CNMI a non-voting
    delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

-   *H.R. 3079 would result in a \$2 million increase in mandatory
    spending to pay for the salary and benefits of a new delegate over
    ten years. Because the increase is not offset, the bill technically
    violates PAYGO rules implemented in the 110^th^ Congress. However,
    because the bill is being considered under a suspension of the
    rules, all PAYGO requirements are waived.*

**Compacts of Free Association Amendments (H.R. 2705, Christensen
D-VI)**

-   H.R. 2705 would amend the Compact of Free Association Act of 2003,
    which defines the United State's relationship with Micronesia, the
    Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
    Specifically, the bill would transfer responsibility of America's
    disaster aid from FEMA to USAID and allow the two agencies to
    transfer certain unobligated funds toward disaster relief. The bill
    would also forgive a \$3 million payment owed by Palau if the nation
    deposits the funds into a trust fund controlled by the Republic of
    Palau in order to fund its own economic development.

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: A House Report and CBO score
for S. 2739 has not been made available as of press time. However, when
each authorization is added individually, the total cost of the bill is
\$380.4 million over five years.

**[Possible Conservative Concerns]{.underline}**: Some conservatives may
be concerned that many of the land designations included in S. 2739
limit private property rights. Conservatives may be concerned that
Heritage and Wilderness area designations can lead to restrictive
federal zoning and land-use planning. The management plan could restrict
how residential and commercial property owners utilize their private
property without any notice or warning. Furthermore, some conservatives
may be concerned because numerous designations in S. 2739 would not
allow property owners to escape inclusion in the heritage area.
Conservatives may also be concerned that S. 2739 would authorize \$380
million for local land designations and projects.

In addition, some conservatives may be concerned that S. 2739 couples
non-controversial land bills with contentious federal designations that
limit land use and are opposed by some residents and Members within the
designations. Some conservatives may be concerned that these
non-controversial land bills are attached to S. 2739 in order to garner
votes for disputed designations that would not likely pass the House
under a suspension of the rules.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: S. 2739 was passed in the Senate on
April 10, 2008, by a recorded vote of 91-4. The same day the bill was
received in the House, which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score for S. 2739 was not
available at press time. However, the combined amount of authorizations
in S. 2739 is \$380.4 million over the FY 2009 through FY 2013 period.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** Yes, the bill creates new federal land
designations and authorizes numerous government assistance projects.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Comply with House Rules Regarding Earmarks/Limited Tax
Benefits/Limited Tariff Benefits?]{.underline}** A Committee Report
citing compliance with rules regarding earmarks, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits was not available. Such a report is not
required because the bill is being considered under a suspension of the
rules.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: A Committee Report citing
constitutional authority was not available.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H. Res. 1079---Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy
Month 2008, and for other purposes *(Hinojosa, D-TX)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H. Res. 1079 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H. Res. 1079 would express the sense that the
House of Representatives:

-   "Supports the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month,
    including raising public awareness about financial education;

-   "Recognizes the importance of managing personal finances, increasing
    personal savings and reducing indebtedness in the United States; and

-   " Requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the
    Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit
    organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the
    United States to observe the month with appropriate programs and
    activities with the goal of increasing financial literacy rates for
    individuals of all ages and walks of life."

H. Res. 1079 lists several findings, including the following:

-   "Personal financial literacy is essential to ensure that individuals
    are prepared to make informed financial choices, as well as manage
    money, credit, debt, and risk and become responsible workers, heads
    of households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and
    citizens;

-   "Personal financial management skills and lifelong habits begin to
    develop during childhood;

-   "A study completed in 2006 by the Jump\$tart Coalition for Personal
    Financial Literacy found that high school seniors know less about
    principles of basic personal finance than did high school seniors 7
    years earlier, and the average scores in both years were failing
    grades;

-   "The 2007 Survey of the States by the National Council on Economic
    Education found that 49 States include the subject of economics and
    40 States include the subject of personal finance in their
    elementary and secondary education standards, up from 48 and 31
    States, respectively, in 2002;

-   "55 percent of college students acquire their first credit card
    during their first year in college, and 92 percent of college
    students acquire at least 1 credit card by their second year in
    college, yet only 26 percent of people between the ages of 13 and 21
    reported that their parents actively taught them how to manage
    money;

-   "The personal savings rate in the United States was zero percent at
    the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, which puts it among the
    lowest since the government began collecting the data in 1959;

-   "The average baby boomer has only \$50,000 in savings apart from
    equity in their homes;

-   "A study by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
    found that 55 percent of people between the ages of 25 and 34
    maintain an interest-bearing account or other savings instrument, a
    decrease of 10 percent since 1985;

-   "The April 2007 National Foundation for Credit Counseling consumer
    financial literacy survey found that only 39 percent of American
    consumers keep close track of their expenses; less than half have
    ordered their credit report; and one-third do not know where to go
    for financial advice;

-   "Studies show that as many as 10,000,000 households in the United
    States are 'unbanked' or are without access to mainstream financial
    products and services;

-   "Staff from America's credit unions will make presentations to young
    people at local schools on financial topics such as student loans,
    balancing a checkbook, and auto loans during National Credit Union
    Youth Week, which will be held April 20-26, 2008;

-   "The National Council on Economic Education, its State Councils and
    Centers for Economic Education, the Jump\$tart Coalition for
    Personal Financial Literacy, its State affiliates, and its partner
    organizations, and JA Worldwide have designated April as Financial
    Literacy Month to educate the public about the need for increased
    financial literacy for youth and adults in the United States."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H. Res. 1079 was introduced April 3,
2008, and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, which
took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: H Res. 1079 does not authorize any
funds. A CBO score was not available at press time.\
\
**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin; 202-226-0718;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>.

H. R. 4332---Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2007*(Maloney, D-NY)*

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H. R. 4332 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 4332 would amend the Federal Financial
Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 to require that federal
financial institution regulatory agencies, coordinating through the
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, establish:

-   A single, toll-free telephone number for consumer complaints and
    inquiries concerning institutions under their jurisdiction; and

-   A system for routing such calls to the federal financial institution
    regulatory agency that primarily supervises the financial
    institution, or that is otherwise the appropriate agency to address
    the subject of the complaint or inquiry.

H.R. 4332 cites circumstances under which state agencies may receive
appropriate call transfers from such federal systems.

**[Background Information]{.underline}**: The following is a statement
from the sponsor's office:

> A number of different governing bodies currently regulate banks, which
> can make it difficult for consumers to figure out who they should
> contact with concerns and complaints. Maloney's bill would also
> establish a corresponding informational website.
>
> "Most consumers have no idea who regulates their local bank. If they
> have a problem and want to talk with someone, it's confusing to even
> know where to begin. One, toll-free number will cut down on the
> confusion and help put consumers in quicker contact with the
> appropriate regulator who can help them," said Maloney.
>
> Maloney's bill would amend the "Federal Financial Institutions
> Examination Council Act of 1978," and direct the Federal Financial
> Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), a formal interagency body
> empowered to prescribe uniform principles and standards for financial
> institutions, to set up the toll-free number and website.
>
> The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC),
> the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Office of the
> Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Office of Thrift
> Supervision (OTS) are the various governing bodies charged with
> regulating banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 4332 was introduced December 6,
2007, and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, which
took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: No CBO score exists, but the
legislation does not authorize any funds.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** Yes, the bill would require that federal
financial institution regulatory agencies set up a new toll-free
telephone number for consumer complaints and a system for routing such
calls to the federal financial institution regulatory agency.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Comply with House Rules Regarding Earmarks/Limited Tax
Benefits/Limited Tariff Benefits?]{.underline}**: Currently, no House
Report exists.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: Currently, no House Report
exists.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin; 202-226-0718;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>

**H. Res. 578---Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
that there should be established a National Watermelon Month (Putnam,
R-FL)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H. Res. 578 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H. Res. 578 would express that it is the
sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established a
National Watermelon Month to recognize the health benefits of watermelon
and the importance of watermelon to the agriculture industry of the
United States.

H. Res. 578 lists several findings, including the following:

-   "Watermelon production constitutes an important sector of the
    agricultural industry of the United States;

-   "According to the January 2006 statistics compiled by the National
    Agricultural Statistics Service of the United States Department of
    Agriculture, the United States produces 4,200,000,000 pounds of
    watermelon annually;

-   "Watermelon is grown in 49 States, is purchased and consumed in all
    50 States, and is exported to Canada;

-   "Evidence indicates that eating 2.5 to 5 cups of fruits and
    vegetables daily as part of a healthy diet will improve health and
    protect against diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure,
    stroke, and heart disease;

-   "Proper diet and nutrition are important factors in preventing
    diseases such as childhood obesity and diabetes;

-   "Watermelon is a heart-healthy food that has qualified for the
    heart-check mark from the American Heart Association;

-   "Watermelon has been a nutritious summer favorite from generation to
    generation;

-   "It is important to educate citizens of the United States regarding
    the health benefits of watermelon and other fruits and vegetables;
    and

-   "July 2007 would be an appropriate month to establish as National
    Watermelon Month."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H. Res. 578 was introduced July 26,
2007, and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which held a markup of the bill on March 13, 2008 and ordered
the bill reported, as amended, by voice vote.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: H Res. 578 does not authorize any
funds. A CBO score was not available at press time.\
\
**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin; 202-226-0718;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>.

**H. Res. 892---Expressing support for designation of March 11, 2008, as
"National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day" *(Wilson,
D-OH)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H. Res. 892 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H. Res. 892 would express that it is the
sense of the House of Representatives:

-   "Takes this opportunity to pay the Nation's collective debt of
    gratitude for all the hours and all the times they have put someone
    ahead of themselves by serving the living while caring for the dead;

-   "Urges every American of every walk of life to embrace each of these
    special individuals with heartfelt thanks for their dedication to
    their profession; and

-   "Supports the designation of a 'National Funeral Director and
    Mortician Recognition Day'."

H. Res. 892 lists several findings, including the following:

-   "The death of a family member, friend, or loved one is a devastating
    emotional event;

-   "The memorialization and celebration of the decedent's life is the
    fabric of today's funeral service;

-   "The family of the decedent has traditionally looked to funeral
    directors and morticians for consolation, strength, and guidance in
    the planning and implementation of a meaningful funeral ceremony;

-   "Funeral directors and morticians have dedicated their professional
    lives to serving the families of their communities in their times of
    need for generations with caring, compassion, and integrity;

-   "These special men and women see their chosen profession as a higher
    calling, a sacred trust, in serving every family regardless of
    social standing, financial means, or time of day or day of the year,
    whenever a death occurs; and

-   "March 11, 2008, would be an appropriate day to designate as
    'National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day' to pay
    tribute to these funeral directors and morticians who, day in and
    day out, assist our Nation's families in their times of sadness and
    grief and help families mourn a death and celebrate a life."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H. Res. 892 was introduced December
18, 2007, and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, which held a markup of the bill on March 13, 2008 and
ordered the bill reported, as amended, by voice vote.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: H Res. 892 does not authorize any
funds. A CBO score was not available at press time.\
\
**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin; 202-226-0718;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>.

**H. Res. 1073---Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
that public servants should be commended for their dedication and
continued service to the Nation during Public Service Recognition Week,
May 5 through 11, 2008 *(Davis, D-IL)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H. Res. 1073 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H. Res. 1073 would express that it is the
sense of the House of Representatives:

-   "Commends public servants for their outstanding contributions to
    this great Nation during Public Service Recognition Week and
    throughout the year;

-   "salutes government employees for their unyielding dedication and
    spirit for public service;

-   "Honors those government employees who have given their lives in
    service to their country;

-   "Calls upon a new generation to consider a career in public service
    as an honorable profession; and

-   "Encourages efforts to promote public service careers at all levels
    of government."

H. Res. 1073 lists several findings, including the following:

-   "Public Service Recognition Week provides an opportunity to
    recognize and promote the important contributions of public servants
    and honor the diverse men and women who meet the needs of the Nation
    through work at all levels of government;

-   "Millions of individuals work in government service in every city,
    county, and State across America and in hundreds of cities abroad;

-   "public service is a noble calling involving a variety of
    challenging and rewarding professions;

-   "Federal, State, and local governments are responsive, innovative,
    and effective because of the outstanding work of public servants;

-   "The United States of America is a great and prosperous Nation, and
    public service employees contribute significantly to that greatness
    and prosperity;

-   "the Nation benefits daily from the knowledge and skills of these
    highly trained individuals;

-   "Members of the uniformed services and civilian employees at all
    levels of government make significant contributions to the general
    welfare of the United States, and are on the front lines in the
    fight against terrorism and in maintaining homeland security;

-   "Public servants alert Congress and the public to government waste,
    fraud, abuse, and dangers to public health;

-   "The men and women serving in the Armed Forces of the United States,
    as well as those skilled trade and craft Federal employees who
    provide support to their efforts, are committed to doing their jobs
    regardless of the circumstances, and contribute greatly to the
    security of the Nation and the world;

-   "Public servants have bravely fought in armed conflict in defense of
    this Nation and its ideals and deserve the care and benefits they
    have earned through their honorable service;

-   "May 5 through 11, 2008, has been designated Public Service
    Recognition Week to honor America's Federal, State, and local
    government employees; and

-   "Public Service Recognition Week is celebrating its 24th anniversary
    through job fairs, student activities, and agency exhibits."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H. Res. 1073 was introduced April 2,
2008, and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which held a markup of the bill on April 16, 2008 and ordered
the bill reported by voice vote.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: H Res. 1073 does not authorize any
funds. A CBO score was not available at press time.\
\
**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin; 202-226-0718;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>.

**H. Res. 49---** **Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
that there should be established a National Letter Carriers Appreciation
Day (Camp, R-MI)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H. Res. 49 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H. Res. 49 would express that the House of
Representatives supports the goals and ideals of a National Letter
Carriers Appreciation Day to recognize the unique contributions made by
letter carriers of the United States Postal Service to the well-being
and prosperity of the Nation.

H. Res. 49 lists several findings, including the following:

-   "The commercial activity and economic vitality of the Nation is
    significantly enhanced by the timely and efficient service of letter
    carriers of the United States Postal Service;

-   "Letter carriers of the United States Postal Service provide mail
    delivery service to over 144,000,000 households across the Nation;

-   "letter carriers of the United States Postal Service deliver more
    than 43 tons of mail per year, averaging approximately 2,300
    letters, cards, magazines, and circulars per carrier a day;

-   "Letter carriers of the United States Postal Service delivered
    approximately 212,000,000,000 pieces of mail in 2005;

-   "Letter carriers of the United States Postal Service handle over 44
    percent of the world's mail volume, more than any other national
    postal service; and

-   "The United States Postal Service employs over 705,000 career letter
    carriers and 98,000 noncareer employees, making it the 3rd largest
    employer in the Nation."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H. Res. 49 was introduced January
10, 2007, and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, which held a markup of the bill on April 16, 2008 and
ordered the bill reported by voice vote.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: H Res. 49 does not authorize any
funds. A CBO score was not available at press time.\
\
**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin; 202-226-0718;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>.

**H.R. 5631---To designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1155 Seminole Trail in Charlottesville, Virginia, as
the "Corporal Bradley T. Arms Post Office Building" (Goode, R-VA)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H.R. 5631 is scheduled for
consideration on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 5631 would designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 1155 Seminole Trail in
Charlottesville, Virginia, as the "Corporal Bradley T. Arms Post Office
Building."

**[Additional Background]{.underline}**: According to the sponsor's
office,

> Marine Corporal Bradley Arms died in combat at the age of 20 in the
> Anbar Province of Iraq on November 19, 2004 in service to his country.
> Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, "Brad" attended the
> University of Georgia until he was called into service with the Marine
> Corps Reserve.
>
> Friends and family described Brad as a friendly, caring, optimistic,
> patriotic and purposeful person. The three personal items he brought
> to Iraq appropriately illustrate his personality: a Bible, a picture
> of his family, and a University of Georgia flag. Brad was also a
> member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at the University of
> Georgia. Family members recalled that Brad greatly enjoyed his
> fraternity brothers, friends, music, and faith in God.
>
> While in Iraq, Brad often wrote to friends and family, displaying his
> positive attitude toward his mission in the military and demonstrating
> how proud he was to serve and defend his country. He said that his
> experiences in the military, "strengthened his resolve to live the
> life of a balanced man and lead by example."
>
> Connor Rund, a young man who attends the same high school that
> Corporal Arms graduated from, contacted me suggesting that the
> Charlottesville Post Office be dedicated in Brad's honor. Since then,
> I have received several communications from members of the
> Charlottesville community in support of this tribute to Brad.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 5631 was introduced on March
13, 2008, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which held a mark-up and reported the bill by voice vote on
April 9, 2008.

[**Cost to Taxpayers**:]{.underline} A CBO score for H.R. 5631 is
unavailable, but the only costs associated with a U.S. post office
renaming are those for sign and map changes, none of which significantly
affect the federal budget.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.\
\
**[Does the Bill Comply with House Rules Regarding Earmarks/Limited Tax
Benefits/Limited Tariff Benefits?]{.underline}** A Committee Report
citing compliance with rules regarding earmarks, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits was not available. Such a report is not
required because the bill is being considered under a suspension of the
rules.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: Although no committee report
citing constitutional authority is available, Article I, Section 8,
Clause 7 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to establish
Post Offices and post roads.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-0718.