{"database": "openregs", "table": "congressional_record", "rows": [["CREC-1996-10-21-pt1-PgS12463", "1996-10-21", 104, 2, null, null, "OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL", "SENATE", "SENATE", "ALLOTHER", "S12463", "S12463", "[{\"name\": \"Spencer Abraham\", \"role\": \"speaking\"}, {\"name\": \"Judd Gregg\", \"role\": \"speaking\"}]", "[{\"congress\": \"104\", \"type\": \"HR\", \"number\": \"4278\"}, {\"congress\": \"104\", \"type\": \"HR\", \"number\": \"4278\"}]", "142 Cong. Rec. S12463", "Congressional Record, Volume 142 Issue 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)\n\n[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]\n[Senate]\n[Page S12463]\nFrom the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]\n\n                      OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL\n\n Mr. ABRAHAM. There is a section in H.R. 4278, the omnibus\nappropriations bill regarding which I am wondering if I could seek some\nclarification from the distinguished chairman of the Commerce, Justice,\nState, and Judiciary Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. My\ninquiry is directed to section 306 of the Commerce, Justice, State,\nJudiciary Title. that provision prohibits the use of any funds\nappropriated in fiscal 1996, fiscal 1997, or thereafter for costs\nrelated to the appointment of special masters in prison conditions\ncases prior to April 26, 1996. That was the date when the Prison\nLitigation Reform Act, which required that such expenses be paid from\nfunds appropriated for the Judiciary, was signed into law.\n  First, I was wondering if section 306 is intended to operate as an\nexception to the requirement of the PLRA that expenses, costs, and\ncompensation for special masters be paid by the courts.\n  Mr. GREGG. No, it is certainly within the discretion of the courts\nwhether they see a need for a special master and wish to assume the\nresponsibility for such payments.\n  Mr. ABRAHAM. From the Senator's response, I surmise that it was not\nhis intention in the omnibus appropriation bill to allow the courts,\ncontrary to 18 U.S.C. 3626(f)(4) as amended by the PLRA, to impose\ncosts, expenses or compensation amounts for special masters appointed\nprior to April 26, 1996 on the parties to the litigation?\n  Mr. GREGG. No, we did not intend to override any portion of the PLRA\nor impose such costs on anybody else.\n  Mr. ABRAHAM. Finally, is it envisioned under the omnibus\nappropriation bill that special masters originally appointed before and\nsubsequently reappointed after April 26, 1996 would be treated in the\nsame fashion as those appointed after that date?\n  Mr. GREGG. That is correct.\n  Mr. ABRAHAM. Thus if a court wants to retain a special master\nappointed before that date and pay that individual, all it need do is\nreappoint that person consistent with the PLRA.\n  Mr. GREGG. Yes, it is my understanding that the interpretation of my\ncolleague from Michigan of the PLRA is consistent with the omnibus\nappropriation bill.\n\n                          ____________________"]], "columns": ["granule_id", "date", "congress", "session", "volume", "issue", "title", "chamber", "granule_class", "sub_granule_class", "page_start", "page_end", "speakers", "bills", "citation", "full_text"], "primary_keys": ["granule_id"], "primary_key_values": ["CREC-1996-10-21-pt1-PgS12463"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 4.920928040519357, "source": "Federal Register API & Regulations.gov API", "source_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/developers/api/v1", "license": "Public Domain (U.S. Government data)", "license_url": "https://www.regulations.gov/faq"}