[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 2243. Mr. HELLER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 36, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2019 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal 
years 2020 through 2028; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON PAY FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 
                   IF THE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET AND 
                   APPROPRIATIONS ARE NOT COMPLETED IN A TIMELY 
                   MANNER.

       It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) both Houses of Congress should approve a concurrent 
     resolution on the budget and all the regular appropriations 
     bills before October 1 of each fiscal year;
       (2) if a concurrent resolution on the budget and all the 
     regular appropriations bills are not approved by October 1 of 
     each fiscal year, no funds should be appropriated or 
     otherwise be made available from the Treasury of the United 
     States for the pay of any Member of Congress during any 
     period after October 1 that a concurrent resolution on the 
     budget and all the regular appropriations bills are not 
     completed; and
       (3) no retroactive pay should be provided to any Member of 
     Congress for any period for which pay is not made available 
     as described in paragraph (2).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2244. Mr. McCONNELL (for Mr. Tillis) proposed an amendment to the 
bill H.R. 2772, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for 
requirements relating to the reassignment of Department of Veterans 
Affairs senior executive employees; as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Senior Executive Accountability Act of 2018'' or the 
     ``SEA Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. SEMIANNUAL REPORTS ON REASSIGNMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS SENIOR EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 7 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 727. Reassignment of senior executives

       ``(a) Approval of Reassignments.--No individual employed in 
     a senior executive position at the Department may be 
     reassigned to another such position at the Department unless 
     such reassignment is approved in writing and signed by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(b) Semiannual Reports Required.--(1) Not later than June 
     30 and December 31 of each year, the Secretary shall submit 
     to Congress a report on the reassignment of individuals 
     employed in senior executive positions at the Department to 
     other such positions at the Department during the period 
     covered by the report.
       ``(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
     describe the purpose of each reassignment and the costs 
     associated with such reassignment.
       ``(3) For purposes of paragraph (2), costs associated with 
     a reassignment may only include the following:
       ``(A) A salary increase.
       ``(B) Temporary travel expenses for the individual or the 
     family of the individual.
       ``(C) Moving expenses.
       ``(D) A paid incentive.
       ``(c) Senior Executive Position Defined.--In this section, 
     the term `senior executive position' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 713(d) of this title.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 725 the following new item:

``727. Reassignment of senior executives.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 2245. Mr. McCONNELL (for Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Peters)) 
proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 3249, to authorize the Project 
Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program, and for other purposes; as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Project Safe Neighborhoods 
     Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this Act--
       (1) the term ``firearms offenses'' means an offense under 
     section 922 or 924 of title 18, United States Code;
       (2) the term ``Program'' means the Project Safe 
     Neighborhoods Block Grant Program established under section 
     3; and
       (3) the term ``transnational organized crime group'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 36(k)(6) of the State 
     Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 
     2708(k)(6)).

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

       The Attorney General of the United States is authorized to 
     establish and carry out a program, to be known as the 
     ``Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program'' within the 
     Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice.

     SEC. 4. PURPOSE.

       (a) Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program.--The 
     purpose of the Program is to foster and improve existing 
     partnerships between Federal, State, and local agencies, 
     including the United States Attorney in each Federal judicial 
     district, entities representing members of the community 
     affected by increased violence, victims' advocates, and 
     researchers to create safer neighborhoods through sustained 
     reductions in violent crimes by--
       (1) developing and executing comprehensive strategic plans 
     to reduce violent crimes, including the enforcement of gun 
     laws, and prioritizing efforts focused on identified subsets 
     of individuals or organizations responsible for increasing 
     violence in a particular geographic area;
       (2) developing evidence-based and data-driven intervention 
     and prevention initiatives, including juvenile justice 
     projects and activities which may include street-level 
     outreach, conflict mediation, provision of treatment and 
     social services, and the changing of community norms, in 
     order to reduce violence; and
       (3) collecting data on outcomes achieved through the 
     Program, including the effect on the violent crime rate, 
     incarceration rate, and recidivism rate of the jurisdiction.
       (b) Additional Purpose Areas.--In addition to the purpose 
     described in subsection (a), the Attorney General may use 
     funds authorized under this Act for any of the following 
     purposes--
       (1) competitive and evidence-based programs to reduce gun 
     crime and gang violence;
       (2) the Edward Byrne criminal justice innovation program;
       (3) community-based violence prevention initiatives; or
       (4) gang and youth violence education, prevention and 
     intervention, and related activities.

     SEC. 5. RULES AND REGULATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall issue guidance 
     to create, carry out, and administer the Program in 
     accordance with this section.
       (b) Funds to Be Directed to Local Control.--Amounts made 
     available as grants under the Program shall be, to the 
     greatest extent practicable, locally controlled to address 
     problems that are identified locally.
       (c) Task Forces.--Thirty percent of the amounts made 
     available as grants under the Program each fiscal year shall 
     be granted to Gang Task Forces in regions experiencing a 
     significant or increased presence of criminal or 
     transnational organizations engaging in high levels of 
     violent crime, firearms offenses, human trafficking, and drug 
     trafficking.
       (d) Priority.--Amounts made available as grants under the 
     Program shall be used to prioritize the investigation and 
     prosecution of individuals who have an aggravating or 
     leadership role in a criminal or transnational organization 
     described in subsection (c).

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney 
     General to carry out the Program $50,000,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2019 through 2021.

                          ____________________