[House Report 112-608] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 112th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 112-608 ====================================================================== TO NAME THE JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE VISITOR CONTACT STATION OF THE JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE UNIT OF GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA IN HONOR OF JAMES L. BUCKLEY _______ July 19, 2012.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Hastings of Washington, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 5958] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 5958) to name the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in honor of James L. Buckley, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of H.R. 5958 is to name the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in honor of James L. Buckley. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION H.R. 5958 would name the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in honor of James L. Buckley. The legislation was introduced to recognize the contributions of Senator James L. Buckley to New York State, and to the establishment of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and the Gateway National Recreation Area. The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge includes the open waters, dunes, brackish ponds, woodlands, fields and salt marshes of Jamaica Bay. The Refuge is within the boundary of New York City and is managed by the National Park Service as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. Senator Buckley, a life-long birder and naturalist, was a cosponsor of the legislation creating the Park and spoke of protecting the area from airport expansion even before his election to the Senate in 1970. James Buckley is one of the few Americans to have served at the top levels of all three branches of the U. S. government. In addition to his election to the Senate, Buckley served as Under Secretary of State, President of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty and Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit--generally held to be the second highest court in the U.S. judicial system. COMMITTEE ACTION H.R. 5958 was introduced on June 18, 2012, by Congressman Robert L. Turner (R-NY). The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. On June 28, 2012, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on the bill. On July 11, 2012, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered, and the bill was adopted and ordered favorably to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: July 13, 2012. Hon. Doc Hastings, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed H.R. 5958, a bill to name the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in honor of James L. Buckley, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 11, 2012. CBO estimates that enacting this legislation would have no significant impact on the federal budget and would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. H.R. 5958 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave. Sincerely, Douglas W. Elmendorf. 2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. CBO estimates that enacting this legislation would have no significant impact on the federal budget and would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective of this bill is to name the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge unit of Gateway National Recreation Area in honor of James L. Buckley. EARMARK STATEMENT This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4 This bill contains no unfunded mandates. PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law.