[House Report 105-666] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 105th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 105-666 _______________________________________________________________________ MEMORIAL TO HONOR MAHATMA GANDHI _______ July 31, 1998.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______________________________________________________________________ Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 4284] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 4284) to authorize the Government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma Gandhi in the District of Columbia, 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. 4284 is to authorize the Government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma Gandhi in the District of Columbia. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION H.R. 4284 authorizes the Government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma Gandhi on federal property in the District of Columbia. The establishment of the memorial shall be in basic accordance with the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.). H.R. 4284 also authorizes the federal government to enter into cooperative agreements with the Government of India to maintain features associated with the memorial. The federal government shall not pay any expense for the establishment or maintenance of the memorial. Mahatma Gandhi was born in India in 1869. He was best known for his civil disobedience that took shape in non-violence and passive resistance. Gandhi was instrumental in helping India achieve its independence from England and is revered by millions throughout the world for his insatiable fight for personal freedom and human rights. The memorial is to be a gift to the people of the United States, as a part of the celebration of India's 50 years of freedom. Although certain minority groups from within India are opposed to the creation of any memorials of Gandhi, the Government of India is in full support of this legislation. This bill would give the necessary authorization for the Indian Government to build the memorial. H.R. 4284 is in basic compliance with the Commemorative Works Act, with two exceptions: (1) the memorial is not required to be a significant element of American history; and (2) the memorial is not required to be of lasting historical significance to the American people. Lastly, the bill specifically states that the federal government shall bear none of the expenses associated with the establishment or maintenance of the Gandhi memorial. However, the bill does authorize the Secretary of the Interior or the head of another federal agency to enter into cooperative agreements with the Government of India to maintain the memorial. COMMITTEE ACTION H.R. 4284 was introduced on July 21, 1998, by Congressman Bill McCollum (R-FL). The bill was referred to the Committee on Resources. On July 22, 1998, the Full Resources Committee met to consider H.R. 4284. No amendments were offered and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, theCommittee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority to enact H.R. 4284. COST OF THE LEGISLATION Clause 7(a) 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 H.R. 4284. However, clause 7(d) 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 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XI 1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 4284 does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee has received no report of oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight on the subject of H.R. 4284. 3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of rule XI 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 H.R. 4284 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, July 30, 1998. Hon. Don Young, Chairman, Committee on Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4284, a bill to authorize the government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma Gandhi in the District of Columbia. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. Sincerely, June E. O'Neill, Director. Enclosure. H.R. 4284--A bill to authorize the government of India to establish a memorial to honor Mahatma Gandhi in the District of Columbia CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4284 would have no impact on the federal budget. The bill would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. H.R. 4284 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. H.R. 4284 would authorize the government of India to establish a memorial honoring Mahatma Gandhi on federal land in Washington, D.C. The bill would allow the Department of the Interior or another federal agency to execute a cooperative agreement with India under which that country would maintain the memorial. No federal funds could be used for the purpose. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. This estimate was approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4 H.R. 4284 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW If enacted, H.R. 4284 would make no changes in existing law.