[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 41 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1744-S1749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mr.
Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Brown, Mr. Coons, Mr. Durbin, Mr.
Franken, Mr. King, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Sanders, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mr. Tester, Mr. Warner, and Ms. Cantwell):
S. 591. A bill to expand eligibility for the program of comprehensive
assistance for family caregivers of the Department of Veterans Affairs,
to expand benefits available to participants under such program, to
enhance special compensation for members of the uniformed services who
require assistance in everyday life, and for other purposes; to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am once again delighted to join my
colleague, Senator Patty Murray, to introduce the Military and Veteran
Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017. Our bill would greatly
expand eligibility for VA caregiver support services by including
veterans from all eras, allow veterans to transfer their post 9/11 GI
bill benefits to their dependents, expand eligibility for the VA
caregivers program to include a wider range of injuries that may have
previously gone unrecognized, and provide crucial support for our
Nation's caregivers themselves.
In 2014, my former colleague and friend, Senator Elizabeth Dole,
commissioned a study by the RAND Corporation to learn more about the
military caregiver population and explore common issues experienced by
America's caregivers. The experts at RAND found that those caring for
our servicemembers and veterans provide nearly $14 billion worth of
unpaid services every year--an incredible cost that would otherwise be
passed on to the Nation.
There are more than 5.5 million military caregivers in the United
States, and of those, 1.1 million are caring for post-9/11 veterans.
These are spouses, parents, children, and other loved ones who have
voluntarily put their lives on hold to provide our returning
servicemembers with a trusted continuum of care that could not be
replicated without them. Many of them will provide this care for years,
if not decades, to come.
Tragically, caring for those suffering from the scars of war takes an
enormous toll. According to the RAND study, military caregivers face
increased instances of mental and physical health problems, chronic
absenteeism from work, deteriorating personal relationships, legal and
financial troubles, and feelings of isolation. These difficulties are
often more pronounced for post-9/11 military caregivers.
Our Nation owes America's veterans our deepest gratitude. Their
sacrifices are often very visible. In many cases our veterans have
earned medals or awards for their bravery that they can wear proudly on
their chest. But our military and veteran caregivers truly are hidden
heroes, serving alongside our veterans to provide the love, care, and
support they need. Despite their enormous sacrifice, these hidden
heroes often do not receive the awards and admiration. That does not
mean that they don't deserve it. We must honor our commitment to
veterans by answering the call to better support those caring for our
wounded, ill, and injured warriors.
Our legislation would help strengthen the services offered to
caregivers.
[[Page S1745]]
The Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act is an
important step in helping those who have assumed the mantle of caring
for the men and women who have served our Nation so honorably. I urge
all of my colleagues to join Senator Murray and me in honoring and
supporting our Nation's military caregivers.
______
By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. Perdue):
S. 592. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to support
meeting the increasing needs of the United States for a cybersecurity
and information assurance workforce by reinvigorating and modifying the
Information Assurance Scholarship Program of the Department of Defense,
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
Mr. KAINE. Mr. Presidents, a skilled workforce is essential to
addressing the growing cyber security challenges in the United States.
The Department of Defense, DOD, Cyber Strategy, issued in April 2015,
cites building the cyber workforce among its objective's for achieving
the essential strategic goal of maintaining ready forces and
capabilities to conduct cyberspace operations. In Virginia, it is
estimated that 36,000 cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled.
Beginning in 2001, DOD funded the Information Assurance Scholarship
Program, IASP, vhich boosts the Nation's cyber workforce through
scholarship and capacity-building grants to colleges and universities
designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of
Homeland Security as Centers of Academic Excellence, CAE. Scholarship
recipients are required to fulfill a service obligation by working in a
cyber security position at DOD upon graduation.
According to a DOD report from February 2015, the IASP Program had
employed 593 students and awarded 180 capacity-building grants to CAEs.
However, due to budget constraints, DOD reduced funding for the IASP
beginning in 2013 and stopped recruiting new students. The IASP
received its peak funding level of $7.5 million in 2005--for fiscal
year 2017, it received $500,000.
Today, I am pleased to introduce with my colleague Senator Rounds,
the DOD Cyber Scholarship Program Act of 2017. The DOD Cyber
Scholarship Program Act of 2017 would reinvigorate the IASP to boost
our Nation's cyber workforce. The bill would rename the IASP as the DOD
Cyber Scholarship Program and express the Sense of Congress that the
program is an important tool for boosting our cyber defense workforce.
The DOD Cyber Scholarship Program Act would also modify the program
by expanding scholarships to students pursuing Associate's Degrees.
There are currently 46 two-year institutions designated as CAEs, which
would be eligible to apply for grants. Associate's degree programs
could provide a valuable source of technical personnel, at a lower
cost, to DOD. The bill would require that at least 5 percent of
scholarship funds go to 2-year program students.
The DOD Cyber Scholarship Program Act would authorize the DOD Cyber
Scholarship Program to receive $10 million in fiscal year 2018. At its
peak in 2005, the IASP received $7.5 million. Since then, the cost of
tuition has increased considerably and the need for skilled cyber
professionals has never been greater. Ten million dollars is an
appropriate funding level to reinvigorate the program, expand it to
associate's degree recipients, and allow for manageable program
execution from DOD and the National Security Agency.
The DOD Cyber Scholarship Program is a commonsense, bipartisan bill
that would help students succeed in today's economy and strengthen our
national security. There are good-paying jobs in Virginia and across
the country in the cyber field that are going unfilled, and it is clear
we must make it easier for students to access the programs that prepare
them for these roles. Expanding scholarship funds so they're available
to community college students will help put more of our nation's
students on a path to success and support our national security needs.
______
By Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Leahy):
S. 594. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to
work with cybersecurity consortia for training, and for other purposes;
to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mr. CORNYN. 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. 594
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 ``National Cybersecurity
Preparedness Consortium Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``consortium'' means a group primarily
composed of non-profit entities, including academic
institutions, that develop, update, and deliver cybersecurity
training in support of homeland security;
(2) the terms ``cybersecurity risk'' and ``incident'' have
the meanings given those terms in section 227(a) of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 148(a));
(3) the term ``Department'' means the Department of
Homeland Security; and
(4) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland
Security.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY PREPAREDNESS CONSORTIUM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may work with a consortium,
including the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium,
to support efforts to address cybersecurity risks and
incidents, including threats of terrorism and acts of
terrorism.
(b) Assistance to the NCCIC.--The Secretary may work with a
consortium to assist the national cybersecurity and
communications integration center of the Department
(established under section 227 of the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 148)) to--
(1) provide training to State and local first responders
and officials specifically for preparing for and responding
to cybersecurity risks and incidents, including threats of
terrorism and acts of terrorism, in accordance with
applicable law;
(2) develop and update a curriculum utilizing existing
programs and models in accordance with such section 227, for
State and local first responders and officials, related to
cybersecurity risks and incidents, including threats of
terrorism and acts of terrorism;
(3) provide technical assistance services to build and
sustain capabilities in support of preparedness for and
response to cybersecurity risks and incidents, including
threats of terrorism and acts of terrorism, in accordance
with such section 227;
(4) conduct cross-sector cybersecurity training and
simulation exercises for entities, including State and local
governments, critical infrastructure owners and operators,
and private industry, to encourage community-wide
coordination in defending against and responding to
cybersecurity risks and incidents, including threats of
terrorism and acts of terrorism, in accordance with section
228(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
149(c));
(5) help States and communities develop cybersecurity
information sharing programs, in accordance with section 227
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 148), for the
dissemination of homeland security information related to
cybersecurity risks and incidents, including threats of
terrorism and acts of terrorism; and
(6) help incorporate cybersecurity risk and incident
prevention and response (including related to threats of
terrorism and acts of terrorism) into existing State and
local emergency plans, including continuity of operations
plans.
(c) Prohibition on Duplication.--In carrying out the
functions under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to the
greatest extent practicable, seek to prevent unnecessary
duplication of existing programs or efforts of the
Department.
(d) Considerations Regarding Selection of a Consortium.--In
selecting a consortium with which to work under this Act, the
Secretary shall take into consideration the following:
(1) Any prior experience conducting cybersecurity training
and exercises for State and local entities.
(2) Geographic diversity of the members of any such
consortium so as to cover different regions throughout the
United States.
(e) Metrics.--If the Secretary works with a consortium
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall measure the
effectiveness of the activities undertaken by the consortium
under this Act.
(f) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach to
universities and colleges, including historically Black
colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions,
Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving
institutions, regarding opportunities to support efforts to
address cybersecurity risks and incidents, including threats
of terrorism and acts of terrorism, by working with the
Secretary under subsection (a).
(g) Termination.--The authority to carry out this Act shall
terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.
[[Page S1746]]
______
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Duckworth):
S. 600. A bill to require rulemaking by the Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency to address considerations in
evaluating the need for public and individual disaster assistance, and
for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr President, I am proud to introduce the Fairness in
Federal Disaster Declarations Act today, together with my colleague
Senator Duckworth, to try to bring some transparency and fairness into
FEMA's disaster declaration process.
The inspiration for this bill was a tragic one. On February 29, 2012,
a category F-4 tornado tore through southeastern Illinois, causing
major damage in the towns of Harrisburg and Ridgway. Eight people in
Harrisburg died in that event and 15 people were killed in total. Winds
reached 175 miles per hour. It is not too much of a stretch to say
these two small towns were almost wiped off the map.
And just last week, on February 28, 2017, another tragedy struck the
small towns of Ottawa and Naplate after a category F-3 tornado tore
through North Central Illinois. Two people in Ottawa died in last
week's storm and at least 50 homes were damaged or destroyed.
Requests for Federal assistance after a disaster are made by the
Governor of each State based on State emergency management damage
assessments. In the case of the Harrisburg and Ridgway tornado, the
Governor's request for a Federal emergency declaration for individual
assistance was denied, as was the State's appeal of that decision. With
that denial, individuals whose homes or properties were damaged were
precluded from direct Federal help.
When I asked FEMA why it denied the Governor's request, I was told
that the disaster did not meet or exceed the State's per capita figure.
Currently, FEMA multiplies the number of people in a State by $1.43 to
determine a threshold of the amount of damage a State would incur to be
considered for Federal assistance. In Illinois, that figure is more
than $18 million. In other words, because Illinois is a highly populous
State, it is presumed it can absorb the costs of cleanup and recovery
from disasters up to more than $18 million.
From 2002 to 2012, Illinois was denied Federal disaster assistance
seven times. Texas was denied 13 times. Florida was denied Federal
disaster assistance eight times during that period, and California, New
Jersey, and New York were each denied four times.
FEMA's formula does not work for large, populous States, particularly
those with a concentrated urban area, like Illinois.
Illinois ran into this issue again in November 2013 when tornadoes
swept through the State. That time, six people were killed and whole
neighborhoods were nearly destroyed. The cities of Washington, Gifford,
and New Minden, Illinois, experienced some of the worst tornado damage
I have ever seen. Their infrastructure was decimated, but because
Illinois did not meet one of FEMA's criteria, we were denied Federal
public assistance.
In the case of last week's tornado in Ottawa and Naplate, Illinois,
may not even be able to request federal help because damage assessments
are too low to reach anything close to FEMA's per capita requirement.
But for these small towns, covering losses and cleaning up damage of
this magnitude can put a real strain on the community.
The Fairness in Federal Disaster Declaration seeks to improve the
disaster analysis by assigning a value to each of the factors FEMA must
consider when determining whether Federal disaster assistance will be
made available. When it comes to individual assistance--funding to help
people repair and rebuild their homes--the breakdown would be as
follows:
Concentration of damages--the density of damage in an individual
community--would be considered 20 percent of the analysis. Trauma--the
loss of life and injuries and the disruption of normal community
functions--would be 20 percent. Special Populations--including the age
and income of the residents, the amount of home ownership, etc.--would
comprise 20 percent. Voluntary agency assistance--a consideration of
what the volunteer and charitable groups are providing--would make up 5
percent. The amount of Insurance coverage--20 percent. And average
amount of individual assistance by State, which includes the per capita
analysis, would make up 5 percent of the analysis.
The bill also would add a seventh consideration to FEMA's metrics--
the economics of the area, which will receive 10 percent consideration.
This includes factors such as the local assessable tax base, the median
income as it compares to that of the State, and the poverty rate as it
compares to that of the State.
For Federal public assistance, the breakdown would be similar, with a
greater emphasis placed on the localized impacts of the disaster, which
would warrant 40 percent of the analysis.
It is reasonable that FEMA should take into consideration the size of
the State requesting assistance, but current regulations penalize large
States. Assigning values to the factors will help ensure that the
damage to a specific community weighs more than a State's population.
Illinois is a geographically large State with a concentrated urban
area. And downstate communities are being punished for it.
If the cities of Ottawa and Naplate, Washington and Gifford, and
Harrisburg and Ridgway cannot qualify under FEMA's current criteria for
Federal assistance, something is wrong. The way FEMA evaluates whether
to declare an area Federal disaster is not effective. It is working
against small communities in States with large populations.
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. 600
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 ``Fairness in Federal Disaster
Declarations Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. REGULATORY ACTION REQUIRED.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (in this Act referred to as the
``Administrator'' and ``FEMA'', respectively) shall amend the
rules of the Administrator under section 206.48 of title 44,
Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of
enactment of this Act, in accordance with the provisions of
this Act.
(b) New Criteria Required.--The amended rules issued under
subsection (a) shall provide for the following:
(1) Public assistance program.--Such rules shall provide
that, with respect to the evaluation of the need for public
assistance--
(A) specific weighted valuations shall be assigned to each
criterion, as follows--
(i) estimated cost of the assistance, 10 percent;
(ii) localized impacts, 40 percent;
(iii) insurance coverage in force, 10 percent;
(iv) hazard mitigation, 10 percent;
(v) recent multiple disasters, 10 percent;
(vi) programs of other Federal assistance, 10 percent; and
(vii) economic circumstances described in subparagraph (B),
10 percent; and
(B) FEMA shall consider the economic circumstances of--
(i) the local economy of the affected area, including
factors such as the local assessable tax base and local sales
tax, the median income as it compares to that of the State,
and the poverty rate as it compares to that of the State; and
(ii) the economy of the State, including factors such as
the unemployment rate of the State, as compared to the
national unemployment rate.
(2) Individual assistance program.--Such rules shall
provide that, with respect to the evaluation of the severity,
magnitude, and impact of the disaster and the evaluation of
the need for assistance to individuals--
(A) specific weighted valuations shall be assigned to each
criterion, as follows--
(i) concentration of damages, 20 percent;
(ii) trauma, 20 percent;
(iii) special populations, 20 percent;
(iv) voluntary agency assistance, 10 percent;
(v) insurance, 20 percent;
(vi) average amount of individual assistance by State, 5
percent; and
(vii) economic considerations described in subparagraph
(B), 5 percent; and
(B) FEMA shall consider the economic circumstances of the
affected area, including factors such as the local assessable
tax base and local sales tax, the median income as it
compares to that of the State, and the poverty rate as it
compares to that of the State.
(c) Effective Date.--The amended rules issued under
subsection (a) shall apply to
[[Page S1747]]
any disaster for which a Governor requested a major disaster
declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and was
denied on or after January 1, 2012.
______
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Reed, Mr. Cochran,
Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Brown):
S. 601. A bill to ensure that significantly more students graduate
college with the international knowledge and experience essential for
success in today's global economy through the establishment of the
Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program in the Department of Education;
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, Senator Wicker of Mississippi and I
are reintroducing the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act. This
bill, named for a mentor of mine--the late Senator from Illinois,
embodies a vision Paul Simon believed in throughout his life: a vision
centered on our country's need for a culturally aware, and globally
knowledgeable population and workforce.
Senator Simon saw these characteristics as essential to our country's
economy, society, and national security. He believed that by building
meaningful relationships with people around the world, America would
grow even stronger as a nation. In his words, ``America's incompetence
in foreign languages and cultural awareness jeopardizes our Nation's
future in global affairs. This lack of global perspective damages
America's ability to compete in world markets. The more our country
becomes competent in foreign languages and cultures, the more enhanced
our foreign policy decisions will become.''
He also believed that to truly be educated, our students needed more
than a minimal understanding of the world around them. To be truly
educated, they need to immerse themselves in the beliefs, customs,
language, and environment of a culture other than their own. I share
these beliefs with Senator Simon and many Republicans in this Chamber
share them as well.
At a time when there are calls from some to shut out immigrants and
refugees and pull away from other parts of the world, these beliefs are
more important than ever. We need to continue to give our young people
the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world, so
they can develop their own informed opinions and beliefs.
Undergraduate study abroad programs are a popular source for this
type of engagement. Unfortunately, far too few students take advantage
or have the means to take advantage of this opportunity. Annually, less
than 2 percent of undergraduate students participate in study abroad.
Those who do study abroad don't reflect the incredible diversity of
our postsecondary institutions. Minority students, first-generation
college students, community college students, and students with
disabilities are significantly underrepresented in the study abroad
population. These students miss out on the valuable personal and
educational growth that comes from a study abroad experience, including
interacting with other cultures, developing foreign language skills,
and expanding international knowledge through firsthand experience.
We also know that those who currently study abroad do so mostly in
highly developed countries. In fact, over 50 percent of students who
study abroad each year do so in Europe. Increasing the diversity of
study abroad destinations to include countries in Asia, the Middle
East, Africa, South America, and Latin America will help American
students develop a global perspective and build the insight and skills
needed to better understand the global challenges of the 21st century.
In 2004, Congress took the first step towards expanding study abroad
when it authorized the Commission on Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad
Fellowship Program to provide recommendations to Congress and the
President on expanding study abroad programs.
The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act combines the vision
of Senator Simon with the recommendations of the Abraham Lincoln Study
Abroad Commission. It establishes a competitive grant program for
institutions of higher education to encourage the sustainable expansion
of study abroad opportunities for students in the United States.
Over the next 10 years, this grant program aims to increase the
number of undergraduate students stud g abroad each year to one million
students. It also emphasizes increasing opportunities for
nontraditional students, minority students, and students with
disabilities so that the demographics of students who study abroad more
closely reflect the population of current undergraduate students.
This bill also focuses on getting students to study abroad in
nontraditional destinations particularly in developing countries. We
need to send more students to developing nations because these are the
places that America needs to better understand. This legislation takes
important steps toward expanding and diversifying participation in
study abroad.
Senator Wicker and I are pleased to be joined today in introducing
this bill by Senators Reed, Cochran, Merkley, and Brown. I am also
pleased that several organizations have endorsed this bill including
the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the Association
of International Educators, the American Council on Education, the
Association of American Universities, and the Hispanic Association of
Colleges and Universities.
In today's increasingly interconnected world, study abroad
participation is an important element of a meaningful undergraduate
education. Expanded access to study abroad opportunities is necessary
to prepare the next generation of Americans with the global knowledge
and skills needed to succeed. I hope other colleagues will join us in
that effort.
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. 601
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 ``Senator Paul Simon Study
Abroad Program Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) To prepare students for success in the modern global
economy, opportunities for study abroad should be included as
part of a well-rounded education.
(2) Study abroad programs provide students with
unparalleled access to international knowledge, an unmatched
opportunity to learn foreign languages, and a unique
environment for developing cultural understanding, all of
which are knowledge and skills needed in today's global
economy.
(3) Less than 2 percent of all enrolled postsecondary
students in the United States study abroad for credit in any
given year, and minority students, first generation college
students, community college students, and students with
disabilities are significantly underrepresented in study
abroad participation.
(4) Congress authorized the establishment of the Commission
on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program
pursuant to section 104 of the Miscellaneous Appropriations
and Offsets Act, 2004 (division H of Public Law 108-199).
Pursuant to its mandate, the Lincoln Commission submitted to
Congress and the President a report of its recommendations
for greatly expanding the opportunity for students at
institutions of higher education in the United States to
study abroad, with special emphasis on studying in developing
nations.
(5) According to the Lincoln Commission, ``[e]xperience
shows that leadership from administrators and faculty will
drive the number of study abroad participants higher and
improve the quality of programs. Such leadership is the only
way that study abroad will become an integral part of the
undergraduate experience.''. A competitive grant program is
necessary to encourage and support such leadership.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to ensure that significantly more students have access
to quality study abroad opportunities;
(2) to ensure that the diversity of students studying
abroad reflects the diversity of students and institutions of
higher education in the United States;
(3) to encourage greater diversity in study abroad
destinations by increasing the portion of study abroad that
takes place in nontraditional study abroad destinations,
especially in developing countries; and
(4) to encourage a greater commitment by institutions of
higher education to expand study abroad opportunities.
SEC. 4. SENATOR PAUL SIMON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM.
Section 741 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1138) is amended--
[[Page S1748]]
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as paragraphs
(13) and (14), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
``(12) awarding grants under the Senator Paul Simon Study
Abroad Program described in subsection (g);''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a).
``(B) National of the united states.--The term `national of
the United States' means a national of the United States or
an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as those
terms are defined in section 101 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)).
``(C) Nontraditional study abroad destination.--The term
`nontraditional study abroad destination' means a location
that is determined by the Secretary to be a less common
destination for students who study abroad.
``(D) Student.--The term `student' means a national of the
United States who is enrolled at an institution of higher
education located within the United States.
``(E) Study abroad.--The term `study abroad' means an
educational program of study, work, research, internship, or
combination thereof that is conducted outside the United
States and that carries academic credit.
``(2) Senator paul simon study abroad program.--
``(A) Establishment.--There is established in the
Department a program to be called the `Senator Paul Simon
Study Abroad Program'.
``(B) Objectives.--The objectives of the program
established under subparagraph (A) are, that not later than
10 years after the date of enactment of the Senator Paul
Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2017--
``(i) not less than 1,000,000 undergraduate students will
study abroad annually;
``(ii) the demographics of study abroad participation will
reflect the demographics of the United States undergraduate
population by increasing the participation of
underrepresented groups; and
``(iii) an increasing portion of study abroad will take
place in nontraditional study abroad destinations, with a
substantial portion of such increases in developing
countries.
``(C) Competitive grants to institutions of higher
education.--In order to accomplish the objectives set forth
in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall award grants on a
competitive basis to institutions of higher education,
individually or in a consortium, based on applications by the
institutions that--
``(i) set forth detailed plans for using grant funds to
further such objectives;
``(ii) include an institutional commitment to expanding
access to study abroad;
``(iii) include plans for evaluating progress made in
increasing access to study abroad;
``(iv) describe how increases in study abroad participation
achieved through the grant will be sustained in subsequent
years; and
``(v) demonstrate that the programs have established health
and safety guidelines and procedures.
``(D) Nongovernmental institutions.--Consortia of
institutions of higher education applying for grants
described in subparagraph (C) may include nongovernmental
institutions that provide and promote study abroad
opportunities for students.
``(E) Commission on the abraham lincoln study abroad
fellowship program.--In administering the program, the
Secretary shall take fully into account the recommendations
of the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad
Fellowship Program, established pursuant to section 104 of
the Miscellaneous Appropriations and Offsets Act, 2004
(division H of Public Law 108-199).
``(F) Consultation.--In carrying out this paragraph, the
Secretary shall consult with representatives of diverse
institutions of higher education, educational policy
organizations, and others with appropriate expertise.
``(3) Annual report.--Not later than December 31 of each
year following the date of enactment of the Senator Paul
Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2017, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the
Workforce of the House of Representatives a report on the
implementation of this subsection during the prior fiscal
year.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018 and each
subsequent fiscal year.''.
______
By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Carper):
S. 602. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include
automated fire sprinkler system retrofits as section 179 property and
classify certain automated fire sprinkler system retrofits as 15-year
property for purposes of depreciation; to the Committee on Finance.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Fire Sprinkler
Incentive Act. I am pleased to be joined by my colleague from Delaware,
Senator Carper, in introducing this bipartisan bill.
In the United States, the annual cost of fires is enormous. In 2015,
according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires
resulted in approximately $14 billion in direct property loss. In
addition, more than 3,000 civilians were killed and more than 15,000
people were injured in fires. The NFPA also reports that a fire
department responded to a structure fire every 63 seconds.
These statistics are of particular concern in Maine, which has some
of the oldest housing stock in the country and which has experienced
deadly apartment building fires. In 2014, an apartment fire resulted in
the deaths of six people--Maine's deadliest fire in nearly four
decades.
Historically, Maine has also seen commercial property damaged by
fires. In fact, much of the construction in the historic areas of
Portland was done following a devastating fire in 1866. This fire
destroyed a third of the city, including most of Portland's commercial
buildings, many of its churches, and countless homes.
The NFPA reports that when fire sprinklers are present during a large
fire, they are effective 96 percent of the time, saving billions of
dollars in property damage but more importantly, thousands of lives.
Our bill would encourage commercial building owners to invest in fire
safety upgrades. While building codes require sprinklers in new
commercial buildings, a great number of structures across the U.S. were
built and put in service before sprinklers were required.
Small business building owners, however, may find it difficult to
fund retrofit sprinklers. To help these owners, our bill would provide
two tax incentives to encourage them to make this lifesaving
investment.
Currently, commercial building owners must depreciate fire sprinkler
retrofits over a lengthy 39-year period. The period for residential
buildings is 7\1/2\ years. This bill reclassifies fire sprinkler
retrofits as 15-year depreciable property, thus allowing building
owners to write off their costs more quickly. The bill also provides an
option for certain small businesses to deduct the cost of the fire
system upgrades immediately under Section 179 of the tax code.
Together, these proposals will provide a strong incentive for building
owners to install fire sprinkler systems.
This bill was originally drafted in response to the deadly nightclub
fire in West Warwick, RI, in 2003, which killed a staggering 100
people. That building did not have a fire sprinkler system. Let us work
together to lessen the chances of another tragedy like this one. I
invite my colleagues to join Senator Carper and me in support of this
bipartisan, common sense legislation.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter of support be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the letter of support was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
International Association
of Fire Chiefs,
Fairfax, VA, March 6, 2017.
Hon. Susan Collins,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Collins: On behalf of the more than 12,000
chief fire and emergency service officers of the
International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), thank you
for introducing the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (FSIA). The
IAFC appreciates your leadership in creating an incentive for
property owners to retrofit their properties with automatic
fire sprinkler systems. If passed, the FSIA will be an
important tool to save lives in the future.
Fires continue to be a devastating problem in Maine and
across the United States. According to the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), in 2015 alone, there were more
than 1.3 million fires in the United States which resulted in
nearly 3,300 civilian deaths, 15,700 civilian injuries, and
$14.3 billion in property damage. Additionally, the U.S. Fire
Administration reports that the relative risk of fire death
in Maine is 1.5 times higher than the U.S. average. Fire
sprinkler systems play a crucial role by significantly
increasing the chances of surviving a fire and reducing
property damages. The NFPA found that a fire sprinkler system
decreases the likelihood of dying in a fire by 83%, reduces
property damage by 74%, and confines a fire to its room of
origin in 95% of instances. Incentivizing fire sprinkler
systems simply makes sense from both life safety and public
policy perspectives.
[[Page S1749]]
Despite the clear benefits of fire sprinkler systems, the
current tax code fails to incentivize these lifesaving
systems. Your legislation would fix this oversight by
classifying fire sprinkler systems as Section 179 expenses
and allowing property owners to deduct the cost of
retrofitting their buildings. Additionally, the FSIA will
allow high-rise building owners to depreciate the costs of
these systems much faster than the current tax code allows.
The FSIA provides a real incentive for building owners to
protect not only their properties but the lives of those
people inside them.
Thank you again for your strong support for the fire and
emergency service. The IAFC looks forward to continuing to
work with you to protect communities across Maine and the
entire United States.
Sincerely,
Fire Chief John D. Sinclair,
President and Chairman of the Board.
______
By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Mr. Tester):
S. 605. A bill to amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 to discourage litigation against the Forest Service and the Bureau
of Land Management relating to land management projects; to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act 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. 605
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 ``Litigation Relief for Forest
Management Projects Act''.
SEC. 2. FOREST AND RANGELAND RENEWABLE RESOURCES PLANNING ACT
OF 1974.
(a) Consultation Regarding Land Management Plans.--Section
6(d) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning
Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(d) The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(d) Public Participation and Consultation.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) No additional consultation required after approval of
land management plans.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary shall not be required to engage in
consultation under this subsection or any other provision of
law (including section 7 of Public Law 93-205 (16 U.S.C.
1536) and section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation)) with respect to--
``(i) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered,
or a designation of critical habitat pursuant to Public Law
93-205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), if a land management plan
has been adopted by the Secretary as of the date of listing
or designation; or
``(ii) any provision of a land management plan adopted as
described in clause (i).
``(B) Effect of paragraph.--Nothing in this paragraph
affects any applicable requirement of the Secretary to
consult with the head of any other Federal department or
agency--
``(i) regarding any project to implement a land management
plan, including a project carried out, or proposed to be
carried out, in an area designated as critical habitat
pursuant to Public Law 93-205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or
``(ii) with respect to the development of a modification to
a land management plan that would result in a significant
change (within the meaning of subsection (f)(4)) in the land
management plan.''.
(b) Definition of Secretary; Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Definition of secretary.--Section 3(a) of the Forest
and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16
U.S.C. 1601(a)) is amended, in the first sentence of the
matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``(referred to
in this Act as the `Secretary')'' after ``Secretary of
Agriculture''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--The Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et
seq.) is amended, in sections 4 through 9, 12, 13, and 15, by
striking ``Secretary of Agriculture'' each place it appears
and inserting ``Secretary''.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976.
Section 202(f) of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712(f)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(f) The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(f) Public Involvement.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) No additional consultation required after approval of
land use plans.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary shall not be required to engage in
consultation under this subsection or any other provision of
law (including section 7 of Public Law 93-205 (16 U.S.C.
1536) and section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation)), with respect to--
``(i) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered,
or a designation of critical habitat, pursuant to Public Law
93-205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), if a land use plan has been
adopted by the Secretary as of the date of listing or
designation; or
``(ii) any provision of a land use plan adopted as
described in clause (i).
``(B) Effect of paragraph.--
``(i) Definition of significant change.--In this
subparagraph, the term `significant change' means a
significant change within the meaning of section 219.13(b)(3)
of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the
date of enactment of this subparagraph), except that--
``(I) any reference contained in that section to a land
management plan shall be deemed to be a reference to a land
use plan;
``(II) any reference contained in that section to the
Forest Service shall be deemed to be a reference to the
Bureau of Land Management; and
``(III) any reference contained in that section to the
National Forest Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-588; 90
Stat. 2949) shall be deemed to be a reference to this Act.
``(ii) Effect.--Nothing in this paragraph affects any
applicable requirement of the Secretary to consult with the
head of any other Federal department or agency--
``(I) regarding a project carried out, or proposed to be
carried out, with respect to a species listed as threatened
or endangered, or in an area designated as critical habitat,
pursuant to Public Law 93-205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or
``(II) with respect to the development of a new land use
plan or the revision of or other significant change to an
existing land use plan.''.
____________________