[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2302-S2305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Murphy):
S. 1021. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award
grants to establish, or expand upon, master's degree programs in
orthotics and prosthetics, and for other purposes; to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 1021
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wounded Warrior Workforce
Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT.
(a) Grants Required.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
award grants to eligible institutions to enable the eligible
institutions--
(A) to establish a master's degree program in orthotics and
prosthetics; or
(B) to expand upon an existing master's degree program in
orthotics and prosthetics, including by admitting more
students, further training faculty, expanding facilities, or
increasing cooperation with the Department of Veterans
Affairs and the Department of Defense.
(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in the
award of grants under this section to eligible institutions
that have entered into a partnership with a medical center or
clinic administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or
a facility administered by the Department of Defense,
including by providing clinical rotations at such medical
center, clinic, or facility.
(3) Grant amounts.--Grants awarded under this section shall
be in amounts of not less than $1,000,000 and not more than
$1,500,000.
(b) Requests for Proposals.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than
annually thereafter for two years, the Secretary shall issue
a request for proposals from eligible institutions for grants
under this section.
(2) Proposals.--An eligible institution that seeks the
award of a grant under this section shall submit an
application therefor to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary
may require, including--
(A) demonstration of a willingness and ability to
participate in a partnership described in subsection (a)(2);
and
[[Page S2303]]
(B) a commitment, and demonstration of an ability, to
maintain an accredited orthotics and prosthetics education
program after the end of the grant period.
(c) Grant Uses.--
(1) In general.--An eligible institution awarded a grant
under this section shall use grant amounts to carry out any
of the following:
(A) Building new or expanding existing orthotics and
prosthetics master's degree programs.
(B) Training doctoral candidates in fields related to
orthotics and prosthetics to prepare them to instruct in
orthotics and prosthetics programs.
(C) Training faculty in orthotics and prosthetics education
or related fields for the purpose of instruction in orthotics
and prosthetics programs.
(D) Salary supplementation for faculty in orthotics and
prosthetics education.
(E) Financial aid that allows eligible institutions to
admit additional students to study orthotics and prosthetics.
(F) Funding faculty research projects or faculty time to
undertake research in the areas of orthotics and prosthetics
for the purpose of furthering their teaching abilities.
(G) Renovation of buildings or minor construction to house
orthotics and prosthetics education programs.
(H) Purchasing equipment for orthotics and prosthetics
education.
(2) Limitation on construction.--An eligible institution
awarded a grant under this section may use not more than 50
percent of the grant amount to carry out paragraph (1)(G).
(3) Admissions preference.--An eligible institution awarded
a grant under this section shall give preference in admission
to the orthotics and prosthetics master's degree programs to
veterans, to the extent practicable.
(4) Period of use of funds.--An eligible institution
awarded a grant under this section may use the grant funds
for a period of three years after the award of the grant.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``eligible institution'' means an educational
institution that offers an orthotics and prosthetics
education program that--
(A) is accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic
and Prosthetic Education in cooperation with the Commission
on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; or
(B) demonstrates an ability to meet the accreditation
requirements for orthotic and prosthetic education from the
National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education in
cooperation with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
Health Education Programs if the institution receives a grant
under this section.
(2) The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given that term in
section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated for
fiscal year 2016 for the Department of Veterans Affairs,
$15,000,000 to carry out this section. The amount so
authorized to be appropriated shall remain available for
obligation until September 30, 2018.
(2) Unobligated amounts to be returned to the treasury.--
Any amounts authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1)
that are not obligated by the Secretary as of September 30,
2018, shall be returned to the Treasury of the United States.
SEC. 3. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN ORTHOTIC AND PROSTHETIC
EDUCATION.
(a) Grant for Establishment of Center.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
award a grant to an eligible institution to enable the
eligible institution--
(A) to establish the Center of Excellence in Orthotic and
Prosthetic Education (in this section referred to as the
``Center''); and
(B) to enable the eligible institution to improve orthotic
and prosthetic outcomes for veterans, members of the Armed
Forces, and civilians by conducting evidence-based research
on--
(i) the knowledge, skills, and training most needed by
clinical professionals in the field of orthotics and
prosthetics; and
(ii) how to most effectively prepare clinical professionals
to provide effective, high-quality orthotic and prosthetic
care.
(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in the
award of a grant under this section to an eligible
institution that has in force, or demonstrates the
willingness and ability to enter into, a memoranda of
understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the
Department of Defense, or other appropriate Government
agency, or a cooperative agreement with an appropriate
private sector entity, which memorandum of understanding or
cooperative agreement provides for either, or both, of the
following:
(A) The provision of resources, whether in cash or in kind,
to the Center.
(B) Assistance to the Center in conducting research and
disseminating the results of such research.
(3) Grant amount.--The grant awarded under this section
shall be in the amount of $5,000,000.
(b) Requests for Proposals.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a
request for proposals from eligible institutions for the
grant under this section.
(2) Proposals.--An eligible institution that seeks the
award of the grant under this section shall submit an
application therefor to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary
may require.
(c) Grant Uses.--
(1) In general.--The eligible institution awarded the grant
under this section shall use the grant amount as follows:
(A) To develop an agenda for orthotics and prosthetics
education research.
(B) To fund research in the area of orthotics and
prosthetics education.
(C) To publish or otherwise disseminate research findings
relating to orthotics and prosthetics education.
(2) Period of use of funds.--The eligible institution
awarded the grant under this section may use the grant amount
for a period of five years after the award of the grant.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``eligible institution'' means an educational
institution that--
(A) has a robust research program;
(B) offers an orthotics and prosthetics education program
that is accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and
Prosthetic Education in cooperation with the Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs;
(C) is well recognized in the field of orthotics and
prosthetics education; and
(D) has an established association with--
(i) a medical center or clinic of the Department of
Veterans Affairs; and
(ii) a local rehabilitation hospital.
(2) The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given that term in
section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2016 for the Department of
Veterans Affairs, $5,000,000 to carry out this section.
______
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Murphy):
S. 1022. A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to award grants
to fund research on orthotics and prosthetics, and for other purposes;
to the Committee on Armed Services.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 1022
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wounded Warrior Research
Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. ORTHOTIC AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of the grants described in this
section is to advance orthotic and prosthetic clinical care
for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and civilians who
have undergone amputation, traumatic brain injury, and other
serious physical injury as a result of combat or military
experience.
(b) Grants for Research on Patient Outcomes.--The Secretary
of Defense shall award grants to persons to carry out
research on the following:
(1) The actions that can be taken to prevent amputation of
limbs.
(2) The point in the course of patient treatment during
which orthotic and prosthetic intervention is most effective.
(3) The orthotic interventions that are most effective in
treating the physical effects of traumatic brain injury.
(4) The patients that benefit most from particular orthotic
and prosthetic technologies.
(5) The orthotic and prosthetic services that best
facilitate the return to active duty of members of the Armed
Forces.
(6) The effect of the aging process on the use of
prosthetics, including--
(A) increased skin breakdown;
(B) loss of balance;
(C) falls; and
(D) other issues that arise during the aging process.
(c) Grants on Materials Research.--The Secretary shall
award grants to persons to carry out research on the
following:
(1) The improvement of existing materials used in orthotics
and prosthetics for the purpose of improving quality of life
and health outcomes for individuals with limb loss.
(2) The development of new materials used in orthotics and
prosthetics for the purpose of improving quality of life and
health outcomes for individuals with limb loss.
(d) Grants on Technology Research.--The Secretary shall
award grants to persons to carry out research on the
following:
(1) The improvement of existing orthotic and prosthetic
technology and devices for the purpose of improving quality
of life and health outcomes for individuals with limb loss.
(2) The development of new orthotic and prosthetic
technology and devices for the purpose of improving quality
of life and health outcomes for individuals with limb loss.
[[Page S2304]]
(e) Request for Proposals.--A person seeking the award of a
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an
application therefor in the form and accompanied by such
information as the Secretary shall require.
(f) Award Requirements.--
(1) Peer-reviewed proposals.--Grants under this section may
be awarded only for research that is peer-reviewed.
(2) Competitive procedures.--Grants under this section
shall be awarded through competitive procedures.
(g) Grant Use.--A person awarded a grant under subsection
(b), (c), or (d) shall use the grant amount to carry out the
research described in the applicable subsection.
(h) Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than annually
thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation
with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, veterans, community-
based clinicians, and expert researchers in the field of
orthotics and prosthetics, submit to Congress a report
setting forth the following:
(1) An agenda for orthotic and prosthetic research that
identifies and prioritizes the most significant unanswered
orthotic and prosthetic research questions pertinent to the
provision of evidence-based clinical care to members of the
Armed Forces, veterans, and civilians.
(2) For each report after the initial report under this
subsection--
(A) a summary of how the grants awarded under subsection
(b) are addressing the most significant orthotic and
prosthetic needs; and
(B) the progress made towards resolving orthotic and
prosthetic challenges facing members of the Armed Forces and
veterans.
(i) Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term ``veteran''
has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38,
United States Code.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2016 for the Department of
Defense for the Defense Health Program, $30,000,000 to carry
out this section.
______
By Mr. KIRK (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand):
S. 1027. A bill to require notification of information security
breaches and to enhance penalties for cyber criminals, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I rise to speak about two bipartisan
bills that would help to modernize the way this country approaches
cyber security.
Congress needs to get with the times and realize that the Internet is
no longer a new concept. Swiping a credit card, conducting online
banking, storing prescription records online--these are not new
activities. The cloud is no longer new. Hackers are no longer new. So
why are we still so taken aback, in shock, every time we suffer another
major cyber attack? Why are we still not requiring that consumers be
notified when their information has been stolen? Why aren't we
unleashing law enforcement to go after cyber criminals?
If we want to defend against 21st-century threats, then we have to
bring our laws into the 21st century. We have to get out of the mindset
that the only way we can be hurt is from an actual physical attack.
Hackers don't operate on battlefields; they operate in basements and in
cubicles.
Our approach to cyber security so far has been certifiably wrong. We
have the largest defense budget in the world by far, but that hasn't
stopped our hospitals and banks from falling victim to a near constant
barrage of attacks. Last year, data breaches in this country hit a
record high; they were up more than 27 percent from the year before. In
New York State, between 2006 and 2013, we had nearly 5,000 individual
data breaches that were reported by businesses, not-for-profits, and
government entities. In the same period, 23 million personal records of
New Yorkers were exposed to criminals. And that is just my home State.
Imagine how big that number actually is nationwide.
We are long overdue for a new national approach to cyber security,
and I am introducing two bills that would finally make this happen. The
first is the Data Breach Notification and Punishing Cyber Criminals
Act. It would set, for the first time, a national standard for how and
when victims of cyber attacks will be informed. When an attack takes
place on a business, for example, one that has your financial data or
medical information, this law would require that you be informed
quickly, with information about what was targeted, what was taken, and
whether you were personally affected. This bill would seriously
increase the penalties on people found guilty of hacking and cyber
crime. It would raise the allowable fines and imprisonment sentences
for many of the most common cyber crimes, including identity theft and
theft of personal information.
The second bill is the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Credit Act--
a bill that would incentivize America's businesses to share cyber
security information critical to preventing attacks, without having to
involve their competitors. Instead, businesses would be encouraged,
with significant tax credits, to adopt the preferred, most efficient
method for information sharing; that is, membership in private, sector-
specific cyber security networks designed to protect an industry, such
as health care and hospitals, from attack. At the individual level,
companies, hospitals, and banks can only do so much to protect us. Any
good cyber defense has to involve information sharing so that patterns
can be recognized, industries can bolster their defenses, and the same
hacks aren't just repeated over and over again.
To modernize America's approach to cyber security, we as individuals
have to take action, companies have to take action, law enforcement has
to take action, and local governments must take action. Most
importantly and most urgently, Congress has to take action. We
desperately need to modernize our cyber security laws. I urge my
colleagues to support these two bills.
______
By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Paul):
S. 1030. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for
clarification as to the meaning of access without authorization, and
for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Aaron's Law
Act of 2015 to reform the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, a sweeping
anti-hacking law that criminalizes many forms of common Internet and
computer use. This overly broad law currently allows breathtaking
levels of prosecutorial discretion that invites serious overuse and
abuse.
Together with Senator Rand Paul, and my colleagues in the House of
Representatives, we introduce legislation to fix the Computer Fraud and
Abuse Act which is long overdue for reform. Aaron's Law would curb the
abuses of this outdated law while still preserving the tools needed to
prosecute malicious attacks.
Our bill, inspired by the late Internet innovator and activist Aaron
Swartz, who faced up to 35 years in prison for an act of civil
disobedience, would reform the quarter-century-old law to better
reflect computer and Internet activities in the digital age. Numerous
and recent instances of heavy-handed prosecutions for non-malicious
computer crimes have raised serious questions as to how the law treats
violations of terms of service, employer agreement or website notices.
Aaron's Law is smart legislation that keeps up with the constant
evolution of the Internet, and honors the late Aaron Swartz.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 1030
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Aaron's Law Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. CLARIFYING THAT ``ACCESS WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION''
UNDER SECTION 1030 OF TITLE 18, UNITED STATES
CODE, MEANS CIRCUMVENTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL
BARRIERS IN ORDER TO GAIN UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS.
(a) In General.--Section 1030(e)(6) of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by--
(1) striking ``exceeds authorized access'' and all that
follows; and
(2) inserting the following: `` `access without
authorization' means--
``(A) to obtain information on a protected computer;
``(B) that the accesser lacks authorization to obtain; and
``(C) by knowingly circumventing one or more technological
or physical measures that are designed to exclude or prevent
unauthorized individuals from obtaining that information;''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1030 of title 18, United
States Code, is amended--
[[Page S2305]]
(1) in subsection (d)(10), by striking ``unauthorized
access, or exceeding authorized access, to a'' and inserting
``access without authorization of a protected''; and
(2) by striking ``exceeds authorized access'' each place it
appears.
SEC. 3. ELIMINATING REDUNDANCY.
(a) Repeal.--Section 1030(a) of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (4); and
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) as
paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1030 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(a)(6)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``(a)(5)''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection (a)(4) or
(a)(7)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(6)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``subsection (a)(4),
or (a)(7)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(6)''; and
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)(i), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``subsection (a)(5)(B)'' and inserting
``subsection (a)(4)(B)'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``subsection
(a)(5)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(4)(A)'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``subsection
(a)(5)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(4)'';
(iv) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ``subsection
(a)(5)(C)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(4)(C)'';
(v) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``subsection
(a)(5)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(4)(A)'';
(vi) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``subsection
(a)(5)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(4)(A)''; and
(vii) in subparagraph (G)(i), by striking ``subsection
(a)(5)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(4)''; and
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ``subsection (a)(5)''
and inserting ``subsection (a)(4)''.
SEC. 4. MAKING PENALTIES PROPORTIONAL TO CRIMES.
(a) Section 1030(c)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``conviction for another'' and inserting
``subsequent''; and
(B) by inserting ``such'' after ``attempt to commit'';
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting after ``financial
gain'' the following: ``and the fair market value of the
information obtained exceeds $5,000'';
(3) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``the offense was
committed'' and all that follows through the semicolon, and
inserting the following: ``the offense was committed in
furtherance of any criminal act in violation of the
Constitution or laws of the United States or of any State
punishable by a term of imprisonment greater than one year,
unless such criminal acts are prohibited by this section or
such State violation would be based solely on accessing
information without authorization;'';
(4) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by inserting ``fair market''
before ``value''; and
(5) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) by striking ``conviction for another'' and inserting
``subsequent''; and
(B) by inserting ``such'' after ``attempt to commit''.
______
By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Lee, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Enzi, Mrs.
Fischer, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Wicker, Mrs.
Capito, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. Perdue):
S. 1032. A bill to expand the use of E-Verify, to hold employers
accountable, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, in 1986, Congress made it unlawful for
employers to knowingly hire or employ individuals who are not eligible
to work in the United States. Identity theft and counterfeit documents
have made a mockery of this law.
Under current law, if the documents provided by an employee
reasonably appear on their face to be genuine, the employer has met its
obligation to review the worker's documents. This is why Congress
created a pilot program, known as the Basic Pilot program, to help
employers verify the work eligibility of its new hires.
This program has allowed employers to check records maintained by the
Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.
It was successful, and in 2003, Congress made the program available in
all 50 States.
Now known as E-Verify, this nationwide program is free for employers
and accessible via the internet. This program has been a valuable tool
for those who want to hire a legal workforce. Employers like it. In
fact, according to Westat, a private statistical survey research
corporation that conducted a survey last year, 97 percent of employers
found E-Verify user-friendly, and 92 percent said the program was
effective. Employers also reported that ``E-Verify takes the guess work
out of determining the validity of documents, provides immediate
results, offers reassurance that the company is not hiring unauthorized
workers, and helps them to show a good faith effort to comply with the
law.''
So, today, along with several colleagues, I am introducing
legislation to permanently authorize and expand the E-Verify program.
My bill, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, will
ensure that employers can rely on this program while holding them
accountable for their hiring practices.
My bill would make E-Verify a staple in every workplace. It would
pave the way to modify and simplify the I-9 process required today. It
would increase penalties on employers who hire people unauthorized to
work in the country. Employers would be required to check the status of
current employees within three years, and would allow employers to run
a check prior to offering a job, saving that employer valuable time and
resources. Employers will also be required to re-check those workers
whose authorization is about to expire, such as those who come to the
United States on temporary visas.
As Congress considers the reauthorization of E-Verify this year, I
hope my bill will be a starting point for discussion. We need to
enhance and expand the program so that our immigration laws are being
upheld. I hope my colleagues will consider joining me in making E-
Verify a permanent part of our immigration laws.
______
By Mr. McCONNELL (for himself and Mr. Burr):
S. 1035. A bill to extend authority relating to roving surveillance,
access to business records, and individual terrorists as agents of
foreign powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
and for other purposes; read the first time.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text
of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 1035
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY UNDER THE FOREIGN
INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT OF 1978.
(a) Roving Surveillance and Access to Business Records.--
Section 102(b)(1) of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and
Reauthorization Act of 2005 (50 U.S.C. 1805 note) is amended
by striking ``June 1, 2015'' and inserting ``December 31,
2020''.
(b) Individual Terrorists as Agents of Foreign Powers.--
Section 6001(b)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 (50 U.S.C. 1801 note) is amended by
striking ``June 1, 2015'' and inserting ``December 31,
2020''.
____________________