113 STAT. 1501A-160 PUBLIC LAW 106-113—APPENDIX C such applicable laws and regulations. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to alter the Secretary's statutory authority. SEC. 124. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of reducing the backlog of Indian probate cases in the Department of the Interior, the hearing requirements of chapter 10 of title 25, United States Code, are deemed satisfied by a proceeding conducted by an Indian probate judge, appointed by the Secretary without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing the appointments in the competitive service, for such period of time as the Secretary determines necessary: Provided, That the Secretary may only appoint such Indian probate judges if, by January 1, 2000, the Secretary is unable to secure the services of at least 10 qualified Administrative Law Judges on a temporary basis from other agencies and/or through appointing retired Administrative Law Judges: Provided further, That the basic pay of an Indian probate judge so appointed may be fixed by the Secretary without regard to the provisions of chapter 51, and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, governing the classification and pay of General Schedule employees, except that no such Indian probate judge may be paid at a level which exceeds the maximum rate payable for the highest grade of the General Schedule, including locality pay. SEC. 125. (a) LOAN TO BE GRANTED. —Notwithstanding any other provision of law or of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter the "Secretary"), in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall make available to the Government of American Samoa (hereinafter "ASG"), the benefits of a loan in the amount of $18,600,000 bearing interest at a rate equal to the United States Treasury cost of borrowing for obligations of similar duration. Repa5mment of the loan shall be secured and accomplished pursuant to this section with funds, as they become due and payable to ASG from the Escrow Account established under the terms and conditions of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (and the subsequent Enforcing Consent Decree) (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the Agreement") entered into by the parties November 23, 1998, and judgment granted by the High Court of American Samoa on January 5, 1999 (Civil Action 119-98, American Samoa Government v. Philip Morris Tobacco Co., et. al.). (b) CONDITIONS REGARDING LOAN PROCEEDS.—Except as provided under subsection (e), no proceeds of the loan described in this section shall become available until ASG— (1) has enacted legislation, or has taken such other or additional official action as the Secretary may deem satisfactory to secure and ensure repayment of the loan, irrevocably transferring and assigning for payment to the Department of the Interior (or to the Department of the Treasury, upon agreement between the Secretaries of such departments) all amounts due and payable to ASG under the terms and conditions of the Agreement for a period of 26 years with the first pa3anent beginning in 2000, such repayment to be further secured by a pledge of the full faith and credit of ASG; (2) has entered into an agreement or memorandum of understanding described in subsection (c) with the Secretary identifying with specificity the manner in which approximately $14,300,000 of the loan proceeds will be used to pay debts of ASG incurred prior to April 15, 1999; and
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