HR584hMAR18

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending March 18, 2005

HR 584 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to recruit volunteers to assist with, or facilitate, the activities of various agencies and offices of the Department of the Interior.

BRIEF

The Department of the Interior has agencies with vibrant volunteer programs such as the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. However, there are a number of Department of Interior agencies and offices that have no authority or incomplete authority to recruit and use volunteers. The bill would authorize the Secretary to recruit, train and accept the service of individual volunteers without regard to civil service classification laws, rules or regulations. The volunteers would aid or facilitate the activities of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Office of the Secretary. For two of the agencies with current statutory authority to accept volunteers--the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey--the existing authority is lacking in certain aspects.

“The legislation will not permit the use of volunteers in law enforcement positions, on private property, and performing hazardous duty (with limited exceptions). In addition, volunteers may not at any time replace a permanent employee. The Secretary of the Interior shall also ensure appropriate supervision of each volunteer.”

Sponsor: Representative Richard W. Pombo (R-CA-11^th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote (Mar. 15, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: The cost of the bill would be considered minimal. No authorizations of appropriations were included