Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 4.djvu/784

This page needs to be proofread.

114 STAT. 2762A-84 PUBLIC LAW 106-553—APPENDIX B form, certified, and approved; and (3) be held accountable as provided by law. However, a disbursing officer will not be held accountable or responsible for any illegal, improper, or incorrect pa3niient resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificate for which a certifying officer is responsible under subsection (b) of this section. (b)(1) The Director may designate in writing officers and employees of the judicial branch of the United States Government, including the courts as defined in section 610 of title 28, United States Code, but excluding the Supreme Court, to certify payment requests payable from appropriations and funds. These certifying officers will be responsible and accountable for: (A) the existence and correctness of the facts recited in the certificate or other request for payment or its supporting papers; (B) the legality of the proposed payment under the appropriation or fund involved; and (C) the correctness of the computations of certified payment requests. (2) The liability of a certifying officer will be enforced in the same manner and to the same extent as provided by law with respect to the enforcement of the liability of disbursing and other accountable officers. A certifying officer shall be required to make restitution to the United States for the amount of any illegal, improper, or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or misleading certificates made by the certifying officer, as well as for any payment prohibited by law or which did not represent a legal obligation under the appropriation or fund involved. (c) A certifying or disbursing officer: (1) has the right to apply for and obtain a decision by the Comptroller General on any question of law involved in a payment request presented for certification; and (2) is entitled to relief from liability arising under this section as provided by law. (d) The Director shall disburse, directly or through officials designated pursuant to this section, appropriations and other funds for the maintenance and operation of the courts. (e) Nothing in this section affects the authority of the courts to receive or disburse moneys in accordance with chapter 129 of title 28, United States Code. (f) This section shall be effective for fiscal year 2001 and hereafter. SEC. 305. DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS, (a) IN GENERAL. —The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate— (1) 1 additional district judge for the district of Arizona; (2) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of Florida; (3) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of Kentucky; (4) 1 additional district judge for the district of Nevada; (5) 1 additional district judge for the district of New Mexico; (6) 1 additional district judge for the district of South Carolina; (7) 1 additional district judge for the southern district of Texas; (8) 1 additional district judge for the western district of Texas; (9) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of Virginia; and