President Signs FY 2007 Supplemental Appropriations Bill into Law (Part II - Aviation Security, Minimum Wage for Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa)
On May 25, 2007, President Bush signed into law H.R. 2206, the "U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007," which makes emergency supplemental appropriations and additional supplemental appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2007 (Public Law 110-28).
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This is Part II, the final partof a two-part summary of P.L. 110-28 and focuses on funding for aviation security (including air cargo security), and an increase in the minimum wage for the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/12/07 news, 07061215, for Part I.)
Transportation Security Administration (Aviation Security)
P.L. 110-28 provides $390 million to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation security as follows:
air cargo security ($80 million);
checkpoint explosives detection equipment and pilot screening technologies ($25 million); and
procurement and installation of checked baggage explosives detection systems ($285 million).
According to P.L. 110-28, with the $80 million for air cargo security the TSA shall:
(1) hire no fewer than 150 additional air cargo inspectors to establish a more robust enforcement and compliance program;
(2) complete air cargo vulnerability assessments for all Category X airports;
(3) expand the National Explosives Detection Canine Program by no fewer than 170 additional canine teams, including the use of agency led teams;
(4) pursue canine screening methods utilized internationally that focus on air samples; and
(5) procure and install explosive detection systems, explosive trace machines, and other technologies to screen air cargo.
P.L. 110-28 also states that no later than 90 days after the date of enactment, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS Secretary) shall provide the House and Senate Appropriations Committees an expenditure plan detailing how the TSA will utilize this additional funding.
Increase in Minimum Wage for Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa
P.L. 110-28 also contains a provision entitled the "Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007" which, among other things, provides for an increase in the minimum wage in the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
Northern Mariana Islands. According to P.L. 110-28, the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 USC 206(a)(1)) shall be:
(A) $3.55 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(B) increased by $0.50 an hour (or such lesser amount as may be necessary to equal the federal minimum wage), beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and each year thereafter until the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under this paragraph is equal to the federal minimum wage.
American Samoa. The minimum wage applicable to American Samoa under section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 USC 206(a)(1)) shall be:
(A) the applicable wage rate in effect for each industry and classification under section 29 CFR section 697, on the date of enactment of this Act;
(B) increased by $0.50 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(C) increased by $0.50 an hour (or such lesser amount as may be necessary to equal the federal minimum wage), beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and each year thereafter until the minimum wage applicable to American Samoa is equal to the Federal minimum wage.
Report on impact of minimum wage increase. Beginning on the date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall, through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, conduct a study and report to Congress on, among other things, the impact of any further wage increase, and on living standards and rates of employment in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/12/07 and 02/06/07 news, 07011299 2 and 07020699 1, for BP summaries on House and Senate passage of their separate versions of an earlier minimum wage bill (H.R. 2).)
H.R. 2206, as passed by the House and Senate, available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h2206enr.txt.pdf.