This bill provides that, in determining the meaning of any federal statute or any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various U.S. administrative bureaus and agencies, the term state shall include any U.S. territory, unless the statute, rule, regulation, or interpretation explicitly excludes the territories from the definition of the term or otherwise precludes their inclusion.
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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. THE TERM ``STATE'' TO INCLUDE TERRITORIES FOR PURPOSES OF 
              FEDERAL LAW.

    (a) The Term ``State'' To Include Territories.--Chapter 1 of title 
1, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 9. Rule of construction regarding the term `State'
    ``In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any 
ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative 
bureaus and agencies of the United States, the term `State' shall 
include any territory of the United States, unless the statute, rule, 
regulation, or interpretation explicitly excludes the territories from 
the definition of the term or otherwise precludes their inclusion.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``9. Rule of construction regarding the term `State'.''.
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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.
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.
Official Titles - House of Representatives
Official Title as Introduced
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.
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E.