John Drake: “with time quickly running out in the 109th Congress, the Committee on Resources has amended this bill to package several…”

“with time quickly running out in the 109th Congress, the Committee on Resources has amended this bill to package several bills for consideration in the Senate. Title I is the text of H.R. 6014 authored by Congressman Richard Pombo, which aims to protect levees in the highly vulnerable Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Central California. This bill passed the House in September. Title II is the text of H.R. 5861, authored by Congressman Stevan Pearce, which strengthens and improves the operation of the National Historic Preservation Act. This bill also passed the House in September. Title III, authored by Senator Pete Domenici and Congresswoman Donna Christensen, amends the Organic Act which applies to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The language, as reflected in both H.R. 59 and S. 1829, as passed by the Senate on September 29 of this year, will allow the Virgin Islands to control its property tax system. Currently, all other States and territories have this ability, and for the many residents of this territory it is important that we are able to move this provision forward. The last title includes the text of H.R. 5978, authored by Congressman Roy Blunt.”