,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ccaa ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #bc1 #bjac,mr4 ,stewart introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,interior to enter into agreements with ,states to allow continued operation of facilities and programs that have been determined to have a direct economic impact on tourism1 mining1 timber1 or general transportation in the ,state and which would otherwise cease operating1 in whole or in part1 during a ,federal ,government shutdown that is the result of a lapse in appropriations1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,provide ,access and ,retain ,continuity ,act or the ,,parc ,act4 #b4 ,agreements for continued operation of certain facilities and programs 7a7 ,in general ,as soon as practical after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,interior 7hereafter in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary7 shall enter into agreements with ,states that submit an agreement that is approved under subsection 7c7 or 7f7 to provide for those ,states to conduct activities described in section #c4 ,not later than #ij days after funds are made available to the ,secretary1 the ,secretary shall reimburse ,states for eligible activities conducted by that ,state under an agreement entered into under this ,act4 7b7 ,petition for agreement ,beginning #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 a ,state may submit to the ,secretary a petition to enter into an agreement with the ,secretary for purposes of conducting activities described in section #c4 7c7 ,determination ,the ,secretary shall approve or deny a petition 7including a corrected petition that is resubmitted7 submitted under this section not later than #ij days after the date on which the ,secretary receives the petition4 7d7 ,denial of petition ,the ,secretary shall approve a petition submitted under subsection 7b7 if the ,secretary determines that-- 7#a7 the petition is complete2 7#b7 the proposed agreement submitted with the petition contains all of the terms required under subsection 7g72 or 7#c7 the petition is from a ,state that had a previous agreement terminated and the ,secretary determines that the reasons for that termination warrant denial of the new 7or corrected7 petition4 7e7 ,opportunity ,to amend petition 7#a7 ,notice of denial ,if the ,secretary denies a petition under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall provide to the ,state that submitted such petition written notice of the denial4 ,such written notice shall include-- 7,a7 a clear and comprehensive statement of the reasons why the petition was denied2 and 7,b7 a clear and comprehensive description of any deficiencies in the petition or the related proposed agreement4 7#b7 ,resubmission of corrected petition ,after receiving a notice from the ,secretary under paragraph 7#a71 a ,state may amend and resubmit the denied petition4 7f7 ,petition and agreement deemed approved ,if the ,secretary does not approve or deny a petition submitted under subsection 7b7 or 7e77#b7 within #ij days after receiving the petition1 the petition and the proposed agreement submitted with the petition shall be deemed approved4 7g7 ,petition contents ,a petition submitted under subsection 7b7 shall include-- 7#a7 a letter signed by the ,governor of the ,state submitting such petition addressed to the ,secretary that contains a description of the eligible activities that the ,state seeks to conduct2 7#b7 the proposed agreement that is the subject of the petition2 7#c7 documentation that demonstrates the ability of the ,state to conduct the eligible activities2 7#d7 a statement that the ,state shall indemnify and hold the ,united ,states harmless for any action of negligence or gross negligence on the part of the ,state while conducting an eligible activity2 and 7#e7 any other documentation that the ,secretary may require4 #c4 ,activities eligible for reimbursement ,the ,secretary of the ,interior shall reimburse ,states for non-,federal funds expended for activities that meet all of the following criteria3 7#a7 ,the activity was conducted under a memorandum of understanding entered into under section #b4 7#b7 ,the activity was conducted during a time when the ,federal ,government was not conducting that activity due to the partial shutdown of the ,federal ,government that was the result of a lapse in appropriations4 7#c7 ,the activity was necessary to operate one or more facilities or programs that the ,secretary and the ,state have agreed1 under the memorandum of understanding entered into under section #b1 to have a direct economic impact on tourism1 mining1 timber1 or general transportation in the ,state4 7#d7 ,the activity was conducted in a manner and at a level not substantially greater in scope or cost than how the activity would have been conducted by the ,federal ,government4 7#e7 ,the activity is not a settlement of or defense against a claim of liability on the part of the ,state4 #d4 ,waiver of sovereign immunity ,if any ,state brings an action in any court of the ,united ,states or any ,state court relating only and directly to enforcement of section #c and names the ,united ,states as a party1 any claim by the ,united ,states to sovereign immunity from the action is waived1 but only for the limited and sole purpose of reimbursement to a ,state for non-,federal funds expended by or on behalf of that ,state for activities that meet all of the criteria listed in section #c4