Pending lawsuits in the court system would put more than half of the Marine Corps' critical Camp Pendleton in California out-of-bounds because the Marines might disturb the one-inch-long Pacific pocket mouse and other species.
The Supreme Court last considered this question in 2005, when it decided that a marine dredge in Boston Harbor was a vessel for purposes of determining whether people essential to its function were covered by maritime labor laws.
Another bill, the Justice for Marine Corps Families--Victims of Terrorism Act, would make it possible for victims of terrorism to collect court-ordered damages.
The Bush Administration should immediately urge passage in Congress of the Justice for Marine Corps Families-Victims of Terrorism Act, which would make it possible for victims of terrorism to collect court-ordered damages.