Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/3207

 118 STAT. 3177 PUBLIC LAW 108–447—DEC. 8, 2004 permanent law by section 201 of the Legislative Branch Appro priations Act, 1976 (2 U.S.C. 43b–2), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(c) With the approval of the majority leader (in the case of a Member or Member elect of the majority party) or the minority leader (in the case of a Member or Member elect of the minority party), subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to the attendance of a Member or Member elect at a program conducted by the Committee on House Administration for the orientation of new members in the same manner as such provisions apply to the attendance of the Member or Member elect at the organiza tional caucus or conference.’’. (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the One Hundred Tenth Congress and each succeeding Congress. SEC. 108. (a) Subject to the approval of the Committee on House Administration, the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives shall implement regulations under which the Chief Administrative Officer shall be authorized to handle any mail matter delivered by the United States Postal Service or any other carrier to the House of Representatives, or to any other entity with whom the Chief Administrative Officer has entered into an agreement to receive mail matter delivered to the entity, in such manner as the Chief Administrative Officer deems necessary to ensure the safety of any individuals who may come into contact with, or otherwise be exposed to, such mail matter. (b) No action taken under the regulations implemented pursu ant to this section may serve as a basis for civil or criminal liability of any individual or entity. (c) As used in this section, the term ‘‘handle’’ includes but is not limited to collecting, isolating, testing, opening, disposing, and destroying. (d) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2004 and each succeeding fiscal year. SEC. 109. (a) There is established in the House of Representa tives an office to be known as the Republican Policy Committee, which shall have such responsibilities as may be assigned by the chair of the Republican Conference. (b) There shall be a lump sum allowance for the salaries and expenses of the Republican Policy Committee, which shall be treated as a category of House leadership offices for purposes of section 101(c) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1993 (2 U.S.C. 95b(c)). (c) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2005 and each succeeding fiscal year. SEC. 110. The first sentence of section 5 of House Resolution 1238, Ninety first Congress, agreed to December 22, 1970 (as enacted into permanent law by chapter VIII of the supplemental Appropriations Act, 1971) (2 U.S.C. 31b–5), is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘step 5 of level 11’’ and inserting ‘‘step 11 of level 13’’; and (2) by striking ‘‘step 9 of level 8’’ and inserting ‘‘step 8 of level 12’’. JOINT ITEMS For Joint Committees, as follows: Applicability. Establishment. 2 USC 74a–13. Applicability. Regulations. 2 USC 117j–1. 2 USC 29a note. Applicability.

�