Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004

Bill: 108-hr-2691
Sponsor: Rep. Taylor, Charles H. [R-NC-11]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Advertising
Agriculture and Food
Airports
Alaska
American Samoa
Animals
Appropriations
Arizona
Armed Forces and National Security
Art
Arts
Arts, Culture, Religion
Auditing
Beaches
Biological diversity
Biological research
Bridges
Building construction
California
Cemeteries and funerals
Charter schools
Civics education
Coal
Colorado
Commemorations
Commission of Fine Arts
Community colleges
Competitive bidding
Computer software
Concessions
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Conservation easements
Construction costs
Consultants
Continental shelf
Coral reefs
Crime and Law Enforcement
Cultural centers
Dams
Department of Agriculture
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of the Interior
Disaster relief
Dislocated workers
District of Columbia
Earthquakes
Economic assistance
Ecosystem management
Education
Electric power
Electronic government information
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Elephants
Emergency Management
Endangered species
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy research
Energy supplies
Environmental Protection
Everglades
Ex-presidents
Explosives
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to air pollution control
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal aid to the arts and humanities
Federal aid to water pollution control
Federal employees
Federal law enforcement officers
Federal-Indian relations
Federal-territorial relations
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Fire prevention
Fishery management
Floods
Florida
Forest conservation
Forest ecology
Forest fires
Forest management
Forest products
Forest roads
Forestry
Forestry research
Fossil fuels
Foundations
Fund raising
Gas in submerged lands
Geology
Gifts
Government Operations and Politics
Government aircraft
Government contractors
Government liability
Government paperwork
Government procurement
Government publicity
Government travel
Government trust funds
Government vehicles
Grazing
Guam
Gulf of Mexico
Habitat conservation
Hazardous wastes
Health
Heating
Helicopters
Higher education
Historic sites
History
Horses
Housing and Community Development
Idaho
Indian claims
Indian education
Indian lands
Indian medical care
Indian water rights
Infrastructure
Insect control
Inspectors general
International Affairs
International education
International environmental cooperation
Irrigation
Islands
Jewish holocaust (1939-1945)
Judicial compensation
Judicial review
Kansas
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Lakes
Land transfers
Land use
Landowners
Law
Leases
Legal fees
Legislation
Liability for environmental damages
Licenses
Literature
Lobbying
Local laws
Logging
Louisiana
Lumber trade
Maintenance and repair
Maps
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine resources conservation
Marshall Islands
Michigan
Micronesia
Migratory bird conservation
Military base closures
Military parks
Mine wastes
Mines and mineral resources
Mining claims
Mining leases
Mining royalties
Minnesota
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Missouri
Montana
Monuments and memorials
Mountains
Museums
Music
National Capital Planning Commission
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
National forests
National monuments
National parks
National recreation areas
National seashores
Native Americans
Natural areas
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York City
New York State
Non-native species
North Carolina
Northeastern States
Northern Mariana Islands
Nuclear weapons
Occupational health and safety
Ocean mining
Oceania
Ohio
Oil and gas leases
Oil and gas royalties
Oil shales
Oil spills and wildlife
Oklahoma
Old growth forests
Older workers
Oregon
Outdoor recreation
Palau Islands
Park rangers
Parks
Payments in lieu of taxes
Pedestrians
Pennsylvania
Pension funds
Performing arts
Pest control
Pests
Petroleum in submerged lands
Petroleum reserves
Poverty
Primates
Private forests
Probate law and practice
Prospecting
Protection of animals
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public records
Railroad land grants
Range management
Reclamation of land
Reforestation
Relocation
Reprogramming of appropriated funds
Rescission of appropriated funds
Research and development
Research centers
Restaurants
Restoration ecology
Revolving funds
Rhinoceroses
Right-of-way
Road construction

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 - Makes appropriations for FY 2004 for the Department of the Interior for: (1) the Bureau of Land Management; (2) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; (3) the National Park Service; (4) the U.S. Geological Survey; (5) the Minerals Management Service; (6) the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; (7) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (8) departmental offices for insular affairs; (9) departmental management; (10) the Office of the Solicitor; (11) the Office of Inspector General; (12) the Office of Special Trustee for American Indians; and (13) natural resource damage assessment and restoration. 
 
 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 for: (1) the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service; (2) the Department of Energy for specified activities, including fossil energy research and development activities and energy conservation activities; and (3) the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 for specified related agencies, including: (1) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation; (2) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (3) the Smithsonian Institution; (4) the National Gallery of Art; (5) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; (6) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; (7) the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities (8) the National Endowment for the Arts; (9) the National Endowment for the Humanities; (10) the Commission of Fine Arts; (11) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (12) the National Capital Planning Commission; (13) the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; and (14) the Presidio Trust.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 - Makes appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for FY 2004.
 

Title I: Department of the Interior
 - Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for: (1) land and resource management; (2) wildland fire management; (3) remedial action of hazardous waste substances; (4) construction; (5) land acquisition; (6) Oregon and California grant lands; (7) range improvements; (8) service charges, deposits, and forfeitures with respect to public lands; and (9) miscellaneous trust funds. 
Appropriates funds for FY 2004 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for: (1) resource management; (2) construction; (3) land acquisition; (4) the establishment of a Landowner Incentive Program that provides assistance to private landowners for private conservation efforts; (5) the establishment of a Private Stewardship Grants Program; (6) expenses related to carrying out the Endangered Species Act of 1973; (7) the National Wildlife Refuge Fund; (8) expenses related to carrying out the North American Wetlands Conservation Act; (9) financial assistance for projects to promote the conservation of neotropical migratory birds; (10) expenses related to carrying out the African Elephant Conservation Act, the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, and the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000; and (11) wildlife conservation grants to States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Indian tribes. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the National Park Service (NPS) for: (1) the National Park System; (2) the U.S. Park Police; (3) expenses for national recreation and preservation programs; (4) expenses to carry out the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978; (5) expenses related to carrying out the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996; (6) construction; and (7) land acquisition and State assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 
Rescinds specified contract authority to obligate funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for FY 2004. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to: (1) the U.S. Geological Survey for surveys, investigations, and research; (2) the Minerals Management Service for royalty and offshore minerals management and oil spill research; (3) the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for regulation and technology and the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund; (4) the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for operation of Indian programs, construction, Indian land and water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to Indians, and Indian guaranteed loans; (5) assist U.S. territories and to carry out the Compacts of Free Association with respect to Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau; (6) the Department of the Interior for departmental management; (7) make payments in lieu of taxes to local units of government containing certain Federally owned lands; (8) the Offices of the Solicitor and of the Inspector General; (9) trust programs for Indians; (10) a program for consolidation of fractional interests in Indian lands by direct expenditure or cooperative agreement; and (11) the Department of the Interior for natural resource damage assessment and restoration. 
Cancels certain unobligated balances under the heading of the Working Capital Fund. 
Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of specified funds. 
(Sec. 114) Provides that a grazing permit or lease that expires during FY 2004 shall be renewed under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 or, if applicable, the California Desert Protection Act. States that the terms and conditions contained in the expiring permit or lease shall continue in effect under the new permit or lease until the Secretary completes processing of the new permit or lease. 
(Sec. 131) Allows such funds as are necessary to be transferred from &quot;Departmental Management, Salaries and Expenses&quot;, to &quot;United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Management&quot; for operational needs at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge airport. 
(Sec. 132) Prohibits any funds appropriated for the Department of the Interior by this Act or any other Act from being used to study or implement any plan to drain Lake Powell or reduce the water level of the lake below the range of water levels required for the operation of the Glen Canyon Dam. 
(Sec. 133) Amends provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, pertaining to the Tribal School Construction Demonstration Program, including to set forth a new definition for a tribally controlled school. Allows schools that are not funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to participate in the demonstration program with the understanding that only construction funds and no funding for school operations or facilities operations and maintenance will be provided to these schools. 
(Sec. 134) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on various topics related to the educational facilities available to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (including the impacts that the construction of new facilities might have on natural, cultural, and other resources present within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway). 
(Sec. 135) Directs the Secretary to convey to the Veterans Home of California-Barstow, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #385E, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a specified property in the Mojave National Preserve in exchange for a specified property. Designates the property conveyed by the Government as a national memorial commemorating United States participation in World War I and honoring American veterans of that war. 
(Sec. 136) Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Act of 2003 - Establishes the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in North Carolina, to be managed by the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership. 
(Sec. 137) Prescribes expedited procedures for Indian Trust accounting. 
(Sec. 138) Prohibits any funds in any Act from being used by the Department of the Interior to support the Klamath Fishery Management Council. 
(Sec. 139) Allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to use funds for incidental expenses related to encouraging public participation in Service programs, and to use up to $2,000,000 per year for contracts for employment-related legal services. 

Title II: Related Agencies
 - Makes FY 2004 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service for: (1) forest and rangeland research; (2) State and private forestry; (3) the National Forest System (NFS); (4) wildland fire management; (5) capital improvement and maintenance; (6) land acquisitions, including specified National Forest areas in Utah, Nevada, and California; (7) range rehabilitation protection, and improvement; (8) gifts, donations, and bequests for forest and rangeland research; and (9) Federal land management in Alaska. 
Defers funds made available in prior years for clean coal technology from being used until October 1, 2004, subject to a specified condition. Makes appropriations for the Department of Energy for: (1) fossil energy research and development that includes acquisition of real property, plants or facilities, technological investigations and research targeting mineral substances, and a Clean Coal Power Initiative; (2) naval petroleum and oil shale reserve activities; (3) installment payments pertaining to the Elk Hills School Lands Fund; (4) implementation of energy conservation activities; (5) implementation of activities of the Office of Hearings and Appeals, and of the Energy Information Administration; and (6) the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. 
Specifies that, unless specifically provided for in an appropriations Act, funds made available to the Department of Energy under this Act may not be used to: (1) finance or implement authorized price support or loan guarantee programs; or (2) issue or process procurement documents for various enterprises. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Indian health facilities. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to: (1) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation; and (2) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. 
Makes appropriations in specified amounts for various purposes to: (1) the Smithsonian Institution (earmarking certain funds for the National Museum of the American Indian, the Council of American Overseas Research Centers and other specified programs, ); (2) the National Gallery of Art; (3) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; (4) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; (5) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities; (6) the Challenge America Arts Fund, for Challenge America Grants for arts education and public outreach activities to be administered by the NEA; (7) the Commission of Fine Arts, including expenses for National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs; (8) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (9) the National Capital Planning Commission; (10) the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, for the Holocaust Memorial Museum; and (11) the Presidio Trust Fund. 

Title III: General Provisions
 - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds under this Act. 
(Sec. 305) Prohibits any assessments, charges, or billings from being levied against any program, budget activity, subactivity, or project funded by this Act without advance notice to Congress. 
(Sec. 323) States that employees of the foundations established by Acts of Congress to solicit private sector funds on behalf of Federal land management agencies shall, in FY 2004 and thereafter, qualify for General Service Administration contract airfares. 
(Sec. 324) Permits the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to make reciprocal agreements in which the individuals furnished by an agreement to provide fire management services are considered, for tort liability, employees of the country receiving the services when the individuals are fighting fires. Prohibits the Secretaries from making any agreement in which a foreign country does not assume any and all responsibility for acts or omissions of American firefighters who are firefighting in such foreign country. 
(Sec. 330) Allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, in awarding a Federal contract for any of specified purposes with funds made available by this Act, to give consideration to local contractors who are from economically disadvantaged rural communities and who provide employment and training for dislocated and displaced workers in such communities. Allows the Secretaries to award grants or cooperative agreements in certain areas to various entities, including local non-profits and the Youth Conservation Corps. Includes in such areas habitat restoration or management and forest hazardous fuels reduction. 
(Sec. 332) Extends the recreational fee demonstration program for two years. 
(Sec. 333) Amends the Land Between the Lakes Protection Act of 1998 to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize funds regarding the Recreation Area consistent with the authorities formerly exercised by the Tennessee Valley Authority when it had jurisdiction over the Area. Includes in such authorities campground management and visitor services, paid advertisement, and procurement of food and supplies for resale purposes. (Current law allows the Secretary of Agriculture to exercise such authorities regarding procurement of property, services, supplies, and equipment.) 
(Sec. 334) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000, with respect to the pilot program for the harvest of forest botanical products. Directs the Secretary to establish appraisal methods and bidding procedures to determine the fair market value of forest botanical products harvested for the program. Revises a provision pertaining to the collection of fees to direct the Secretary to recover at least a portion of the fair market value of the harvested forest botanical products and of certain costs incurred by the Department of Agriculture. (Current law directs the Secretary to recover all of such costs). Permits the Secretary to collect fees associated with the pilot program through FY 2009. 
(Sec. 335) Declares that none of the funds in this Act can be used to initiate any new competitive sourcing studies.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: 
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 - Makes appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for FY 2004.
 

Title I: Department of the Interior
 - Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for: (1) land and resource management; (2) wildland fire management; (3) remedial action of hazardous waste substances; (4) construction; (5) land acquisition; (6) Oregon and California grant lands; (7) range improvements; (8) service charges, deposits, and forfeitures with respect to public lands; and (9) miscellaneous trust funds. 
Appropriates funds for FY 2004 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for: (1) resource management; (2) construction; (3) land acquisition; (4) the establishment of a Landowner Incentive Program that provides assistance to private landowners for private conservation efforts; (5) the establishment of a Private Stewardship Grants Program; (6) expenses related to carrying out the Endangered Species Act of 1973; (7) the National Wildlife Refuge Fund; (8) expenses related to carrying out the North American Wetlands Conservation Act; (9) financial assistance for projects to promote the conservation of neotropical migratory birds; (10) expenses related to carrying out the African Elephant Conservation Act, the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, and the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000; and (11) wildlife conservation grants to States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Indian tribes. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the National Park Service (NPS) for: (1) the National Park System; (2) the U.S. Park Police; (3) expenses for national recreation and preservation programs; (4) expenses to carry out the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978; (5) expenses related to carrying out the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996; (6) construction; and (7) land acquisition and State assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 
Rescinds specified contract authority to obligate funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for FY 2004. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to: (1) the U.S. Geological Survey for surveys, investigations, and research; (2) the Minerals Management Service for royalty and offshore minerals management and oil spill research; (3) the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for regulation and technology and the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund; (4) the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for operation of Indian programs, construction, Indian land and water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to Indians, and Indian guaranteed loans; (5) assist U.S. territories and to carry out the Compacts of Free Association with respect to Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau; (6) the Department of the Interior for departmental management; (7) make payments in lieu of taxes to local units of government containing certain Federally owned lands; (8) the Offices of the Solicitor and of the Inspector General; (9) trust programs for Indians; (10) a program for consolidation of fractional interests in Indian lands by direct expenditure or cooperative agreement; and (11) the Department of the Interior for natural resource damage assessment and restoration. 
Cancels certain unobligated balances under the heading of the Working Capital Fund. 
Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of specified funds. 
(Sec. 114) Provides that a grazing permit or lease that expires during FY 2004 shall be renewed under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 or, if applicable, the California Desert Protection Act. States that the terms and conditions contained in the expiring permit or lease shall continue in effect under the new permit or lease until the Secretary completes processing of the new permit or lease. 
(Sec. 131) Allows such funds as are necessary to be transferred from &quot;Departmental Management, Salaries and Expenses&quot;, to &quot;United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Management&quot; for operational needs at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge airport. 
(Sec. 132) Prohibits any funds appropriated for the Department of the Interior by this Act or any other Act from being used to study or implement any plan to drain Lake Powell or reduce the water level of the lake below the range of water levels required for the operation of the Glen Canyon Dam. 
(Sec. 133) Amends provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, pertaining to the Tribal School Construction Demonstration Program, including to set forth a new definition for a tribally controlled school. Allows schools that are not funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to participate in the demonstration program with the understanding that only construction funds and no funding for school operations or facilities operations and maintenance will be provided to these schools. 
(Sec. 134) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on various topics related to the educational facilities available to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (including the impacts that the construction of new facilities might have on natural, cultural, and other resources present within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway). 
(Sec. 135) Directs the Secretary to convey to the Veterans Home of California-Barstow, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #385E, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to a specified property in the Mojave National Preserve in exchange for a specified property. Designates the property conveyed by the Government as a national memorial commemorating United States participation in World War I and honoring American veterans of that war. 
(Sec. 136) Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Act of 2003 - Establishes the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in North Carolina, to be managed by the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership. 
(Sec. 137) Prohibits any funds in any Act from being used by the Department of the Interior to support the Klamath Fishery Management Council. 

Title II: Related Agencies
 - Makes FY 2004 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service for: (1) forest and rangeland research; (2) State and private forestry; (3) the National Forest System (NFS); (4) wildland fire management; (5) capital improvement and maintenance; (6) land acquisitions, including specified National Forest areas in Utah, Nevada, and California; (7) range rehabilitation protection, and improvement; (8) gifts, donations, and bequests for forest and rangeland research; and (9) Federal land management in Alaska. 
Defers funds made available in prior years for clean coal technology from being used until October 1, 2004, subject to a specified condition. Makes appropriations for the Department of Energy for: (1) fossil energy research and development that includes acquisition of real property, plants or facilities, technological investigations and research targeting mineral substances, and a Clean Coal Power Initiative; (2) naval petroleum and oil shale reserve activities; (3) installment payments pertaining to the Elk Hills School Lands Fund; (4) implementation of energy conservation activities; (5) implementation of activities of the Office of Hearings and Appeals, and of the Energy Information Administration; and (6) the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. 
Specifies that, unless specifically provided for in an appropriations Act, funds made available to the Department of Energy under this Act may not be used to: (1) finance or implement authorized price support or loan guarantee programs; or (2) issue or process procurement documents for various enterprises. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Indian health facilities. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to: (1) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation; and (2) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. 
Makes appropriations in specified amounts for various purposes to: (1) the Smithsonian Institution (earmarking certain funds for the National Museum of the American Indian, the Council of American Overseas Research Centers and other specified programs, ); (2) the National Gallery of Art; (3) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; (4) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; (5) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities; (6) the Challenge America Arts Fund, for Challenge America Grants for arts education and public outreach activities to be administered by the NEA; (7) the Commission of Fine Arts, including expenses for National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs; (8) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (9) the National Capital Planning Commission; (10) the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, for the Holocaust Memorial Museum; and (11) the Presidio Trust Fund. 

Title III: General Provisions
 - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds under this Act. 
(Sec. 305) Prohibits any assessments, charges, or billings from being levied against any program, budget activity, subactivity, or project funded by this Act without advance notice to Congress. 
(Sec. 323) States that employees of the foundations established by Acts of Congress to solicit private sector funds on behalf of Federal land management agencies shall, in FY 2004 and thereafter, qualify for General Service Administration contract airfares. 
(Sec. 324) Permits the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to make reciprocal agreements in which the individuals furnished by an agreement to provide fire management services are considered, for tort liability, employees of the country receiving the services when the individuals are fighting fires. Prohibits the Secretaries from making any agreement in which a foreign country does not assume any and all responsibility for acts or omissions of American firefighters who are firefighting in such foreign country. 
(Sec. 330) Allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, in awarding a Federal contract for any of specified purposes with funds made available by this Act, to give consideration to local contractors who are from economically disadvantaged rural communities and who provide employment and training for dislocated and displaced workers in such communities. Allows the Secretaries to award grants or cooperative agreements in certain areas to various entities, including local non-profits and the Youth Conservation Corps. Includes in such areas habitat restoration or management and forest hazardous fuels reduction. 
(Sec. 332) Extends the recreational fee demonstration program for two years. 
(Sec. 333) Amends the Land Between the Lakes Protection Act of 1998 to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to utilize funds regarding the Recreation Area consistent with the authorities formerly exercised by the Tennessee Valley Authority when it had jurisdiction over the Area. Includes in such authorities campground management and visitor services, paid advertisement, and procurement of food and supplies for resale purposes. (Current law allows the Secretary of Agriculture to exercise such authorities regarding procurement of property, services, supplies, and equipment). 
(Sec. 334) Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000, with respect to the pilot program for the harvest of forest botanical products. Directs the Secretary to establish appraisal methods and bidding procedures to determine the fair market value of forest botanical products harvested for the program. Revises a provision pertaining to the collection of fees to direct the Secretary to recover at least a portion of the fair market value of the harvested forest botanical products and of certain costs incurred by the Department of Agriculture. (Current law directs the Secretary to recover all of such costs). Permits the Secretary to collect fees associated with the pilot program through FY 2009. 
(Sec. 335) Declares that none of the funds in this Act can be used to initiate any new competitive sourcing studies. 
(Sec. 336) Declares that none of the funds made available by this Act may be used for the implementation of a competitive sourcing study at the Midwest Archaeological Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, or the Southeast Archaeological Center in Florida. 
(Sec. 337) Declares that none of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement amendments to Bureau of Land Management regulations on Recordable Disclaimers of Interest in Land, with regard to any lands within specified types of areas.
action_date: 2003-11-10
text: 
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 - Makes appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for FY 2004.
 

Title I: Department of the Interior
 - Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for: (1) land and resource management; (2) wildland fire management (including funds to repay prior year advances from other appropriations for wildfire suppression and emergency rehabilitation activities); (3) remedial action of hazardous waste substances; (4) construction; (5) land acquisition; (6) Oregon and California grant lands; (7) range improvements; (8) service charges, deposits, and forfeitures with respect to public lands; and (9) miscellaneous trust funds. 
Appropriates funds for FY 2004 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for: (1) resource management; (2) construction; (3) land acquisition; (4) the establishment of a Landowner Incentive Program that provides assistance to private landowners for private conservation efforts; (5) the establishment of a Private Stewardship Grants Program; (6) expenses related to carrying out the Endangered Species Act of 1973; (7) the National Wildlife Refuge Fund; (8) expenses related to carrying out the North American Wetlands Conservation Act; (9) financial assistance for projects to promote the conservation of neotropical migratory birds; (10) expenses related to carrying out the African Elephant Conservation Act, the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994, and the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000; and (11) wildlife conservation grants to States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Indian tribes. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the National Park Service (NPS) for: (1) the National Park System; (2) the U.S. Park Police; (3) expenses for national recreation and preservation programs; (4) expenses to carry out the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978; (5) expenses related to carrying out the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996; (6) construction; and (7) land acquisition and State assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 
Prohibits the use of any funds for planning, design, or construction of any underground security screening or visitor contact facility at the Washington Monument until such facility has been approved by the congressional appropriations committees. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to: (1) the U.S. Geological Survey for surveys, investigations, and research; (2) the Minerals Management Service for royalty and offshore minerals management and oil spill research; (3) the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for regulation and technology and the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund; (4) the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for operation of Indian programs, construction, Indian land and water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to Indians, and Indian guaranteed loans; (5) assist U.S. territories and to carry out the Compacts of Free Association with respect to Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau; (6) the Department of the Interior for departmental management; (7) payments in lieu of taxes to local governments; (8) the Offices of the Solicitor and of the Inspector General; (9) trust programs for Indians; (10) a program for consolidation of fractional interests in Indian lands by direct expenditure or cooperative agreement; and (11) the Department of the Interior for natural resource damage assessment and restoration. 
Extends the period for the enactment of legislation approving the agreements between the United States, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia regarding certain Federal grants and payments pursuant to the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985. 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress on the amount of acquisitions of articles, materials, or supplies purchased by the Department of the Interior that were manufactured outside the United States, including an itemized list of all waivers under the Buy American Act. 
 Earmarks funds for the acquisition of a departmental financial and business management system. 
Limits the amount of funds available under the heading of Office of Special Trustee for American Indians, Federal trust programs to be available for records collection and indexing, imaging and coding, accounting for per capita and judgment accounts, accounting for tribal accounts, reviewing and distributing funds from special deposit accounts, and program management of the Office of Historical Trust Accounting, including litigation support. States that nothing in the American Indian Trust Management Reform Act of 1994 nor in any other statute and no principle of common law shall be construed to require the Department of the Interior to commence or continue historical accounting activities with respect to the Individual Indian Money Trust until Congress amends such Act to delineate the specific historical accounting obligations of the Interior Department with respect to the Trust or December 31, 2004, whichever occurs first. 
Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of specified funds. 
(Sec. 112) Declares that appropriations made in this Act under the headings Bureau of Indian Affairs and Office of Special Trustee for American Indians and any unobligated balances under the same headings shall be available for expenditure or transfer for Indian trust management and reform activities, except that total funding for historical accounting activities shall not exceed amounts specifically designated for such purpose in this Act. 
(Sec. 132) Prohibits any funds appropriated for the Department of the Interior by this Act or any other Act from being used to study or implement any plan to drain Lake Powell or reduce the water level of the lake below the range of water levels required for the operation of the Glen Canyon Dam. 
(Sec. 135) Designates Congaree Swamp National Monument as Congaree National Park. 
(Sec. 138) Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land Exchange Act of 2003 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to exchange the Ravensford tract, currently in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, for the Yellow Face tract adjacent to the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Requires the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to deed the Yellow Face tract to the United States. Declares the Ravensford tract, upon completion of the exchange, to be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Eastern Band as part of the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Prohibits gaming on the Ravensford tract. 
 (Sec. 140) Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Act of 2003 - Establishes the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in North Carolina, to be managed by the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership. 
(Sec. 145) Bars the use of Federal funds to permit the use of the National Mall for a special event unless the permit expressly prohibits the erection, placement, or use of structures and signs bearing commercial advertising. Authorizes the Secretary to allow for recognition of sponsors of special events. 
(Sec. 149) Provides for the issuance of permits for the importation of polar bear parts, other than internal organs, taken in sports hunts in Canada before February 18, 1997 (currently, April 30, 1994). 
(Sec. 150) Directs NPS to issue a special regulation concerning continued hunting at New River Gorge National River. 

Title II: Related Agencies
 - Makes FY 2004 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service for: (1) forest and rangeland research; (2) State and private forestry; (3) the National Forest System (NFS); (4) wildland fire management (including funds to repay prior year advances from other appropriations for wildfire suppression and emergency rehabilitation activities); (5) capital improvement and maintenance; (6) land acquisitions, including specified National Forest areas in Utah, Nevada, and California; (7) range rehabilitation protection, and improvement; (8) gifts, donations, and bequests for forest and rangeland research; and (9) Federal land management in Alaska. 
Defers funds made available in prior years for clean coal technology from being used until October 1, 2004, subject to a specified condition. Makes appropriations for the Department of Energy for: (1) fossil energy research and development that includes acquisition of real property, plants or facilities, technological investigations and research targeting mineral substances, and a Clean Coal Power Initiative; (2) naval petroleum and oil shale reserve activities; (3) installment payments pertaining to the Elk Hills School Lands Fund; (4) implementation of energy conservation activities; (5) implementation of activities of the Office of Hearings and Appeals, and of the Energy Information Administration; and (6) the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. 
Specifies that, unless specifically provided for in an appropriations Act, funds made available to the Department of Energy under this Act may not be used to: (1) finance or implement authorized price support or loan guarantee programs; or (2) issue or process procurement documents for various enterprises. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Indian health facilities. 
Makes appropriations for FY 2004 to: (1) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation; and (2) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development (including to assist with the Institute's efforts to develop a Continuing Education Lifelong Learning Center). 
Makes appropriations in specified amounts for various purposes to: (1) the Smithsonian Institution (earmarking certain funds for the National Museum of the American Indian, the Council of American Overseas Research Centers and other specified programs); (2) the National Gallery of Art; (3) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; (4) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; (5) the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA); (6) the National Endowment for the Humanities; (7) the Challenge America Arts Fund for Challenge America Grants for arts education and public outreach activities to be administered by the NEA; (8) the Commission of Fine Arts; (9) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (10) the National Capital Planning Commission; (11) the United States Holocaust Memorial Council for the Holocaust Memorial Museum; and (12) the Presidio Trust Fund. 

Title III: General Provisions
 - Sets forth limitations on the use of funds under this Act. 
(Sec. 305) Prohibits any assessments from being levied against any program, budget activity, subactivity, or project funded by this Act unless the congressional appropriations committees are notified of and approve those assessments. 
(Sec. 324) Permits the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to make reciprocal agreements in which the individuals furnished by an agreement to provide wildfire services are considered, for tort liability, employees of the country receiving the services when the individuals are engaged in fire suppression. Prohibits the Secretaries from making any agreement in which a foreign country does not assume any and all responsibility for acts or omissions of American firefighters who are firefighting in such foreign country. 
(Sec. 330) Allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, in awarding a Federal contract for any of specified purposes with funds made available by this Act, to give consideration to local contractors who are from economically disadvantaged rural communities and who provide employment and training for dislocated and displaced workers in such communities. Allows the Secretaries to award grants or cooperative agreements in certain areas to various entities, including local non-profits and the Youth Conservation Corps. Includes in such areas habitat restoration or management and forest hazardous fuels reduction. 
(Sec. 332) Extends the recreational fee demonstration program to December 31, 2005. 
(Sec. 338) Sets forth procedures regarding the process of any application for judicial review of a Record of Decision for any timber sale in Region 10 of the Forest Service that had a notice of intent prepared on or before January 1, 2003. 
(Sec. 339) Allows the Secretary of Agriculture, under specified conditions, to cancel a maximum of 70 contracts for the sale of timber awarded between October 1, 1995, and January 1, 2002, on the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Makes timber included in a canceled contract available for resale by such Secretary. 
(Sec. 340) Requires amounts requested to perform competitive sourcing studies (studies on subjecting work performed by Federal employees or private contractors to public-private competition or on converting such employees or their work to private contractor performance) for programs, projects, and activities of the Department of the Interior, Forest Service, and Department of Energy to be set forth separately from other amounts requested in each budget submitted by the President to Congress beginning with FY 2005. Requires each Secretary concerned (Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, or Secretary of Energy), beginning December 31, 2003, to submit annual reports to the congressional appropriations committees on the competitive sourcing studies conducted. Directs such Secretaries to submit competitive sourcing proposals to such congressional committees for FY 2004. Limits the amounts that may be used to initiate or continue competitive sourcing studies in FY 2004 until the Secretary concerned submits a reprogramming proposal to the congressional appropriations committees and such proposal has been processed consistent with the FY 2004 reprogramming guidelines. 
Bars any funds made available in this or any other Act from being used to covert to contractor performance an activity or function performed by more than ten Federal employees, unless: (1) the conversion is based on public-private competition that includes a more efficient and cost effective organization plan; and (2) the Competitive Sourcing Official determines that the cost of performance by a contractor would be less costly to the Government by the lesser of ten percent or $10 million. Excludes specified commercial and industrial type functions from such prohibition. 
(Sec. 343) Requires that: (1) estimated overhead charges, deductions, reserves, or holdbacks from programs, projects, and activities to support government-wide, departmental, agency, or bureau administrative functions or headquarters, regional or central office operations be presented in annual budget justifications; and (2) changes to such estimates be presented to the congressional appropriations committees for approval. 
(Sec. 344) Rescinds an amount equal to 0.646 percent of the budget authority provided: (1) for any discretionary account in this Act; and (2) in any advance appropriation for FY 2004 for any discretionary account in the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations, Act 2003. Requires any rescission to be applied proportionately to each discretionary account and item of budget authority and, within each such account and item, to each program, project, and activity. 

Title IV: The Flathead and Kootenai National Forest Rehabilitation Act 
- Flathead and Kootenai National Forest Rehabilitation Act of 2003 - (Sec. 403) Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to conduct projects that are necessary to rehabilitate and restore, and to conduct salvage harvests on, National Forest System lands in the North Fork drainage on the Flathead National Forest. Prohibits the Secretary, if an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement is required for a project, from being required to study, develop, or describe any alternative to the proposed agency action in the assessment or statement. Instructs the Secretary to facilitate collaboration among the State of Montana, local governments, Indian tribes, and interested persons during the preparation of each project in a manner consistent with the Implementation Plan for the ten-year Comprehensive Strategy of a Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment (May 2002). 
(Sec. 405) Directs the Secretary to establish a multiparty monitoring group to monitor the performance and effectiveness of projects. Requires such Group to report to the Secretary annually on the progress of the projects in rehabilitating and restoring the North Fork drainage. 
(Sec. 406) Terminates the Secretary's authority to issue decisions to carry out projects five years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(Sec. 407) Directs the Secretary to: (1) publish new information regarding forest-wide estimates of old growth from the administrative record in the case of Ecology Center v. Castenada for public comment for a 30-day period; and (2) review any comments received during the comment period and decide whether to modify the records of decision for the Pinkham, White Pine, Kelsey-Beaver, Gold/Boulder/Sullivan, and Pink Stone projects on Kootenai National Forest. States that such records shall not be deemed arbitrary and capricious under applicable law as long as each project area retains ten percent designated old growth below 5,500 feet elevation in third order watersheds.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-10
text: Became Public Law No: 108-108.
action_date: 2003-11-10
text: Became Public Law No: 108-108.
action_date: 2003-11-10
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-11-10
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-11-05
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-11-03
text: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 2. Record Vote Number: 433.
action_date: 2003-11-03
text: Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 - 2. Record Vote Number: 433.
action_date: 2003-11-03
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-11-03
text: Conference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S13784-13791)
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 216 - 205 (Roll no. 595). (consideration: CR H10204-10205)
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 216 - 205 (Roll no. 595).(consideration: CR H10204-10205)
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: On motion to recommit to conference committee Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 190 - 229 (Roll no. 594).
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit to conference committee was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Mr. Hinchey moved to recommit to the conference committee.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: The previous question was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report on H.R. 2691.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Mr. Taylor (NC) brought up conference report H. Rept. 108-330 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 418. (consideration: CR 10/31/2003 H10190-10205)
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Rule H. Res. 418 passed House.
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 418 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 2691 with 1 hour of general debate.
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: Conference report H. Rept. 108-330 filed. (text of conference report: CR H9898-9959)
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 108-330 filed.(text of conference report: CR H9898-9959)
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: The Speaker appointed conferees: Taylor (NC), Regula, Kolbe, Nethercutt, Wamp, Peterson (PA), Sherwood, Crenshaw, Young (FL), Dicks, Murtha, Moran (VA), Hinchey, Olver, and Obey.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 259 - 165, 1 Present (Roll no. 527). (consideration: CR H9061, H9071-9072)
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At conclusion of debate on the Dicks motion to instruct conferees, the Chair put the question on adoption of the motion and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Dicks objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the motion until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: The previous question was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Dicks motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2691.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: Mr. Dicks moved that the House instruct conferees.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-01
text: Mr. Taylor (NC) moved that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.
action_date: 2003-09-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-09-23
text: Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Burns; Stevens; Cochran; Domenici; Bennett; Gregg; Campbell; Brownback; Dorgan; Byrd; Leahy; Hollings; Reid; Feinstein; Mikulski.
action_date: 2003-09-23
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR 9/25/2003 S12004-12022)
action_date: 2003-09-23
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text: CR 9/25/2003 S12004-12022)
action_date: 2003-09-23
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S11780-11781, S11784-11826)
action_date: 2003-09-22
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S11731-11736, S11738-11739)
action_date: 2003-09-18
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S11712-11720)
action_date: 2003-09-17
text: Measure laid before Senate. (consideration:  CR S11605-11610, S11624-11630)
action_date: 2003-07-21
text: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 217.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 268 - 152 (Roll no. 389).
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 268 - 152 (Roll no. 389).
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: The previous question was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2691.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of the amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Taylor (NC) to Udall (CO) amendment the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Udall (CO) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Matheson substitute amendment to the Udall (CO) amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Taylor (NC) to the Udall (CO) amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Udall (CO) amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Bereuter amendment the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Taylor (NC) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Bereuter amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Inslee amendment the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Inslee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 50 minutes of debate on the Inslee amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the King (IA) amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the John amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of the amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Holt amendment the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Holt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 50 minutes of debate on the Holt amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Udall (NM) amendment the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Udall (NM) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 50 minutes of debate on the Udall (NM) amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7062-7083, CR 7/18/2003 H7087-7105)
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2691 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of the amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Rahall amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rahall demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Rahall amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Gallegly amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Gallegly demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gallegly amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Shadegg amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Shadegg demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the previous order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shadegg amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7048-7058)
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Taylor of North Carolina asked unanimous consent to limit amendments in the Committee of the Whole to the following amendments: Pro forma amendments offered by the chairman or ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees for the purpose of debate; Amendments printed in the Congressional Record numbered 2, 9, 6, 15, 16, 4, 12, and 1; A substitute amendment by Mr. Matheson to the amendment numbered 1; An amendment by Mr. Taylor of North Carolina to the amendment numbered 1; An amendment by Mr. Gallegly regarding bear feeding; An amendment by Mr. Inslee regarding Forest Service regulations on roadless areas; An amendment by Mr. Shadegg regarding Forest Service land acquisition.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2691 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Blumenauer amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Blumenauer demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Blumenauer amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Tancredo amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Tancredo demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tancredo amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Manzullo amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Hefley amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hefley demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hefley amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Sessions amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the DeFazio amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. DeFazio demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the DeFazio amendment.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Sanders amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7025-7047; text of Title II as reported in House: CR H7026-7027, H7028-7030; text ofTitle III as reported in House: CR H7031-7033, H7036-7037)
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2691 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: PROCEEDINGS POSTPONED - At the conclusion of debate on the Slaughter amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Taylor of North Carolina demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the adoption of the amendment until a later time.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Slaughter amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Diaz-Balart amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Mr. Pombo raised a point of order against the content of the measure. Mr. Pombo stated that section 137 of the bill sought to impose new duties and as such, constituted legislation in an appropriations bill. The Chair sustained the point of order.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Mr. Pombo raised a point of order against the content of the measure. Mr. Pombo stated that section 139 of the bill sought to change existing law and constituted legislation in an appropriations bill. The Chair sustained the point of order.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Obey amendments en bloc under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2691.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 319 and Rule XXIII.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2691 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. Measure will be read by paragraph. Bill is open to amendments.
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 319. (consideration: CR H6950-6984; text of Title I as reported in House: CR H6962-6963, H6964-6973; text of Title II as reported in House: CR H6973, H6983-6984)
action_date: 2003-07-16
text: Rule H. Res. 319 passed House.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 319 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2691 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. Measure will be read by paragraph. Bill is open to amendments.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 100.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 108-195, by Mr. Taylor (NC).
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 108-195, by Mr. Taylor (NC).
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 108-108