Sherwood Boehlert: “this is a manager's amendment that clarifies a number of issues in the bill. It reflects the discussions between the…”

“this is a manager's amendment that clarifies a number of issues in the bill. It reflects the discussions between the committee and the administration, especially the White House and the Department of Commerce. It also includes language worked out with the Committee on Appropriations. So I appreciate the willingness of both the White House and the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) of the Committee on Appropriations to work with us to bring this bill to the floor with their support. This is an en bloc amendment that clarifies or alters several different sections of the bill. First, the amendment clarifies that members of investigative teams should be treated as contract employees, thereby shielding them from liability. Second, it clarifies that team members not recommend code changes or further research in the unlikely event that they do not believe any code changes or further research is necessary. Third, it expands the types of criminal investigations that would require NIST to stop serving as the lead agency at the site of the building collapse. Fourth, the amendment clarifies how certain decisions of the Director of NIST can be enforced. Fifth, it clarifies that all expenditures in the bill are subject to appropriations. Sixth, it clarifies in two separate places that the bill gives NIST no regulatory authority over the adoption of building standards, codes and practices.”