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ity by operative methods, in which human tissue is cut,
burned, or vaporized by the use of any mechanical means,
laser, or ionizing radiation, or the penetration of the skin
or body orifice by any means), performing a medical proce-
dure (defined as a nonsurgical, nondiagnostic procedure
for curing or preventing a disease, injury, illness, disorder,
or deformity), or making a medical diagnosis (defined as
the identification of a medical condition or a disease or
disorder of a body).
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—The limitation established in sub-
section (a) shall not apply to the issuance of a patent when
it is made known to the Federal official having authority
to obligate or expend such funds that—
(1) the patent is for a machine, manufacture,
or composition of matter, or improvement thereof,
that is itself patentable subject matter, and the tech-
nique, method, or process referred to in subsection
(a) is performed by or is a necessary component of
the machine, manufacture, or composition of matter;
or
(2) the patent is for a new use of a composition
of mattter or biotechnological process.
SEC. 620. Effective with the enactment of this Act and
in any fiscal year hereafter, section 8 of Public Law 96–
132 is hereby repealed.
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SEC. 621. CERTAIN UNITED STATES ORIGIN HISTORIC
FIREARMS IMPORTS.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, no department, agency, or instrumentality of
the United States receiving appropriated funds under this
Act or any other Act shall obligate or expend in any way
such funds to pay administrative expenses or the compensa-
tion of any officer or employee of the United States to deny
any application submitted pursuant to 22 U.S.C.
2778(b)(1)(B) and qualified pursuant to 27 C.F.R.
§§ 178.112 or .113, for a permit to import United States
origin ‘‘curios or relics’’ firearms, parts, or ammunition.
SEC. 622. SHIPYARD REACTIVATION AND MODERNIZATION.
(a) SHIPYARD REACTIVATION.—Notwithstanding the
provisions of title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46
App. U.S.C. 1271) or any other law, the Secretary of Trans-
portation may provide a guarantee or commitment to guar-
antee under the authority of section 1103 of that title and
in accordance with appropriate terms that the Secretary
shall prescribe otherwise, for shipyard infrastructure devel-
opment and modernization and for vessels integral to the
reactivation and modernization of a shipyard that receives
a guarantee under this section.
(b) ELIGIBLE SHIPYARD.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation may provide a guarantee or commitment under this
section to shipyards that—
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(1) have historically built military vessels and
are seeking to become part of a self-sufficient, inter-
nationally competitive shipbuilding industry;
(2) (i) have been designated by the President for
reactivation as a public-private project, or (ii) have
reuse plans approved by the Navy in which commer-
cial shipbuilding and repair are primary activities
and have a revolving economic conversion fund ap-
proved by the Department of Defense; and
(3) maintain shipbuilding capacity for national
security objectives consistent with the National Ship-
building Initiative program (U.S.C. 2501 note).
TITLE VII—RESCISSIONS
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
WORKING CAPITAL FUND
(RESCISSION)
Of the unobligated balances available under this head-
ing on October 31, 1996, $30,000,000 are rescinded.
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
IMMIGRATION EMERGENCY FUND
(RESCISSION)
Of the unobligated balances available under this head-
ing, $34,779,000 are rescinded.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Departments of Com-
merce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997.’’.
Passed the House of Representatives July 24, 1996.
Attest:
ROBIN H. CARLE,
Clerk.