I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1423 To amend title 1, United States Code, to provide for a definition of the term ‘‘State’’ and to include territories therein, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 26, 2021 Ms. PLASKETT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 1, United States Code, to provide for a definition of the term ‘‘State’’ and to include territories therein, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. THE TERM ‘‘STATE’’ TO INCLUDE TERRITORIES 3 FOR PURPOSES OF FEDERAL LAW. 4 (a) THE TERM ‘‘STATE’’ TO INCLUDE TERRI- 5 TORIES.—Chapter 1 of title 1, United States Code, is 6 amended by adding at the end the following: 7 ‘‘§ 9. Rule of construction regarding the term ‘State’ 8 ‘‘In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, 9 or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the var- 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Apr 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1423.IH H1423 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1423 IH ious administrative bureaus and agencies of the United 1 States, the term ‘State’ shall include any territory of the 2 United States, unless the statute, rule, regulation, or in- 3 terpretation explicitly excludes the territories from the def- 4 inition of the term or otherwise precludes their inclusion.’’. 5 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 6 for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the fol- 7 lowing: 8 ‘‘9. Rule of construction regarding the term ‘State’.’’. Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Apr 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1423.IH H1423 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS