[Senate Report 108-100] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] Calendar No. 208 108th Congress Report SENATE 1st Session 108-100 ====================================================================== ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT _______ July 11, 2003.--Ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Domenici, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 1577] The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was referred the Act (H.R. 1577) to designate the visitor center in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center'', and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the Act do pass. PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE The purpose of H.R. 1577 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to designate the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center,'' in honor of a park ranger killed in the line of duty in August 2002. BACKGROUND AND NEED Kris Eggle, a 28-year-old park ranger at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the State of Arizona, was killed in the line of duty along the international border between the United States and Mexico. This bill dedicates the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to Kris Eggle and promotes awareness of the risks taken each day by public land management law enforcement officers. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY H.R. 1577 was introduced by Representative Tancredo and others on April 2, 2003 and was passed by the House of Representatives on May 14, 2003. Companion legislation, S. 1060, was introduced by Senator McCain on May 14, 2003. Senators Stabenow and Levin are cosponsors. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on H.R. 1577 and S. 1060 on June 10, 2003. At the business meeting on June 25, 2003, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered H.R. 1577 favorably reported. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on June 25, 2003, by unanimous vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 1577 SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1 designates the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center'' and directs the Secretary of the Interior to appropriately memorialize Kris Eggle and promote awareness of the risks taken each day by public land management law enforcement officers. Section 2 authorizes the appropriations necessary to carry out this Act. COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office. U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, June 26, 2003. Hon. Pete V. Domenici, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1577, a bill to designate the visitor center in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. Sincerely, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director. Enclosure. H.R. 1577--A bill to designate the visitor center in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center'' H.R. 1577 would dedicate the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to Kris Eggle, a park ranger at the monument who was killed in the line of duty. The act would designate the visitor center as the Kris Eggle Visitor Center and direct the Secretary of the Interior to post interpretive signs at the monument to explain the designation. For these purposes, the act would authorize the appropriation of whatever amounts are necessary. Based on information provided by the National Park Service, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1577 would cost less than $50,000. Moreover, some of the cost of installing interpretive signs may have been incurred even in the absence of legislation. H.R. 1577 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out H.R. 1577. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. No personal information would be collected in administering the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of H.R. 1577, as ordered reported. EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS On May 29, 2003, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting forth Executive agency recommendations on H.R. 1577. These reports had not been received at the time the report on H.R. 1577 was filed. When the reports become available, the Chairman will request that they be printed in the Congressional Record for the advice of the Senate. The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the Subcommittee hearing follows: Statement of D. Thomas Ross, Assistant Director, Recreation and Conservation, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of the Interior's views on S. 1060 and H.R. 1577, to designate the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center''. The Department supports the legislation and appreciates the recognition by members of Congress for the work of all National Park Service (NPS) employees, especially those involved in law enforcement. Both bills call for the visitor center at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to be named for Kris Eggle. Kris was an outstanding young man, a dedicated NPS law enforcement officer, who died in the line of duty nearly a year ago while assisting in the arrest and capture of drug smugglers crossing into the United States from Mexico. The legislation also calls for installing an interpretive sign at the visitor center and one at the Baker Mine-Milton Mine Loop trailhead. The signs will help inform and educate the public to the critical role law enforcement officers have in protecting visitors and resources on public lands. The signs will also dedicate the trail and center to Kris. The NPS has determined that the costs to add the appropriate signage to the visitor center and install the two exhibits will be approximately $15,000. Further costs to change maps, documents and other references to the visitor center will be incorporated when reprints are needed. None of these costs are presently part of the park's budget. Much has been said and talked about Kris' death. The death of anyone so young is tragic, and to lose someone under these circumstances is even more so--for his family, friends, co- workers and all who care for and about National Parks. By helping the public understand the work and dedication of NPS law enforcement rangers and all NPS employees--through well- planned and designed educational exhibits and signs, perhaps we can prevent or minimize some of the dangers we all face in protecting these great American places and stories. S. 1060 and H.R. 1577 are nearly identical. There are some differences in style and format. S. 1060 does contain a grammatical error that was corrected in the House bill. All references to ``visitors' center'' should read ``visitor center''. We look forward to working with this committee and the House to reach consensus on the language that will allow us to remember this fine young man. That concludes my testimony. I would be glad to answer any questions that you or the members of the subcommittee may have. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by the Act H.R. 1577, as ordered reported.