[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 109 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4631-S4635]
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, Mr. Booker, Ms. Baldwin, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Ms.
Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms.
Harris, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez,
Mr. Merkley, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Reed, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr.
Schatz, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Sinema, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr.
Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden):
S. 2008. A bill to prohibit, as an unfair or deceptive act or
practice, commercial sexual orientation conversion therapy, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, half a century ago, members of the
LGBTQIA+ community, who were tired of being accosted and abused and
assaulted just because of who they were or whom they loved, took a
stand to say ``enough is enough'' and pushed back against the forces of
history that said they were anything less than.
Thanks to the sacrifice of freedom fighters like Marsha P. Johnson,
Sylvia Rivera, and so many others both named and unnamed who dared that
day to live their entire truth, countless others today have been set
free. Now, 50 years later, through dogged persistence and sacrifice, we
have been able to pass laws and create policies that respect and
protect members of the LGBTQIA+ community--from challenging hateful
bans against lesbian and gay relationships, to securing landmark civil
rights protections against hate crimes, to, finally, making marriage
equality the law of our land.
This year, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall
protests that sparked the modern movement for LGBTQ equality, I am very
proud to stand here on the floor of the Senate as an unapologetic ally
for this vibrant community.
As we close out this month's annual celebration of Pride, I come to
the floor today to reintroduce legislation to further protect gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and gender
nonconforming individuals from the dogma of our Nation's homophobic and
transphobic past because, even as we reflect on the progress we have
made, we have a lot more to do to achieve equality.
In the Senate, I have been very proud to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the community in Washington State and around the country in order
to continue our progress and work to expand protections to help members
of the community thrive, from our efforts to reduce bullying and
harassment at colleges and universities through legislation named after
Tyler Clementi--a student who tragically died by suicide in college--to
reducing the epidemic of harassment and discrimination in workplaces
through the Be HEARD Act, which is a bill I recently introduced that
would hold businesses accountable for harassment and discrimination,
give workers the resources and support they need to seek justice, and
clarify that discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and
gender identity are unlawful under the Civil Rights Act.
I am very grateful to my colleague Senator Booker and our friend
Representative Lieu for joining me today in reintroducing the
Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act--the first Federal ban on so-called
conversion therapy--because, in 2019, we know that being a member of
the LGBTQIA+ community isn't an affliction, a disease, or some chronic
condition that requires medical treatment; rather, the politicians who
say it is are on the wrong side of history.
In fact, we know that conversion therapy is a painful and
discriminatory practice. The American Psychological Association has
said it ``is unlikely to be successful in changing someone's sexual
orientation'' and would ``involve some risk of harm'' contrary to the
claims of practitioners and advocates. It is also a practice that is
especially harmful to LGBTQIA+ children, who we already know are
vulnerable to increased harassment and discrimination because of who
they are.
I am proud that my home State of Washington has already banned
conversion therapy, but that is not enough so long as any child or any
person in our country can be harmed by this sham practice. That is why
I am very proud to be here to reintroduce the Therapeutic Fraud
Prevention Act and to remind all of our friends that we stand with them
throughout history and throughout the future to make sure they are
protected with their rights.
The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act is legislation that would
classify conversion therapy as the fraudulent practice our communities
and science know it is. It would clarify in our Nation's laws that
providing or facilitating commercial conversion therapy or facilitating
or advertising such services is an unfair and deceptive practice, and
it would ensure that Federal regulators and State attorneys general
have the ability and authority to enforce this ban.
We have come far in our long battle for LGBTQIA+ equality, and I am
ready to get to work to get this important legislation over the finish
line because, after 50 years of struggle, as a nation, we have come to
know that love is love and that love wins. However, after 50 years, we
also know it gets better but only if we work to make it so.
From the horrors of the Pulse massacre, to the ever-climbing number
of murdered African-American and Latinx transgender women, to President
Trump's transgender military ban and his administration's continuous
assault on LGBTQIA+ rights, so many of the challenges that face the
community today mirror the critical struggles they faced all those
years ago at the Stonewall Inn. Like then, too many in the community
are still threatened by even greater danger because they are also
women, transgender, people of color, poor, and the list goes on.
[[Page S4632]]
That is why this legislation and recognitions like Pride Month are so
important. All month, I have been thrilled to see the photos from Pride
celebrations back in Washington State--from Spokane, to Yakima, to
Olympia--filled with so much cheer, resilience, and strength, only to
come back here to Washington and argue in this Chamber about why we
shouldn't confirm people to judicial or executive posts who don't
believe in the full humanity and equality of so many of our family
members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.
It is obvious that this work is still very important, and we have it
cut out for us, but I remain hopeful because I have seen how far we
have come in just 50 years. By continuing to honor the righteous
tradition of Marsha, Sylvia, and so many others by raising our voices
against injustice and taking key steps like this legislation to make
life easier for the next generation of LGBTQIA+ Americans, I know we
will see even more progress in the next 50 years.
______
By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Jones):
S. 2018. A bill to provide Federal matching funding for State-level
broadband programs; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the American
Broadband Buildout Act of 2019, or ABBA. This legislation would help
ensure that rural Americans have access to broadband services at speeds
they need to fully participate in the benefits of our modern society
and economy regardless of whether they live in the largest cities or
the smallest towns. I am delighted to be joined by my friend and
colleague Senator Doug Jones in introducing this bill.
Twenty-five years ago, when the internet was known as the World Wide
Web, Americans typically accessed the web using their home phone lines
via modems capable of downloading data at just 56 kilobits per second--
too slow even to support MP3-quality streaming music. Today, the
threshold for broadband service as defined by the FCC allows downloads
at speeds nearly 500 times faster--25 megabits per second. At these
speeds, Americans not only can watch their favorite movies on demand in
the comfort of their very own living rooms but can also participate in
the global economy while working from home, upgrade their skills
through online education, stay connected to their families as they age
in place, and access healthcare through advances in telemedicine.
While the increase in broadband speeds has been dramatic and is
encouraging, these numbers mask a disparity between urban and rural
Americans. Nearly all Americans living in urban areas have access to
the internet at speeds that meet the FCC's broadband threshold, while
one in four rural Americans does not.
Similar disparities occur in terms of broadband adoption--the rate at
which Americans subscribe to broadband service if they have access to
it. According to the Pew Research Center survey last year, 22 percent
of rural Americans don't use the internet at home, compared to just 8
percent of urban Americans.
The bipartisan bill that we are introducing would help close the
digital divide between urban and rural America by directing the FCC to
provide up to $5 billion in matching grants to assist States and State-
approved entities in building ``last-mile'' infrastructure to bring
high-speed broadband directly to homes and businesses in areas that
lack it. Let me briefly discuss a few key points about the bill that I
would like to highlight.
First, projects that receive funding must be located in unserved
areas where broadband is unavailable at speeds that meet the FCC
standards. Narrowing the focus to those areas will ensure that the
money goes where it is needed most and will also protect against
overbuilding where broadband infrastructure is already in place.
Second--and this is important--the bill requires that this Federal
funding be matched through public-private partnerships between the
broadband service provider and the State in which the last-mile
infrastructure project will be built. This means that States and their
private sector partners will have ``skin in the game'' to balance the
Federal commitment, ensuring that projects will be well thought out and
designed to be sustainable.
Third, the bill requires that projects be designed to be ``future
proof,'' meaning that the infrastructure installed must be capable of
delivering higher speeds as broadband accelerates in the future. This
will ensure that Federal tax dollars are used to help build a network
that serves rural Americans now and in the future without our having to
rebuild it every time technology advances.
Furthermore, the bill directs the FCC to prioritize the funding of
projects in States that have traditionally lagged behind the national
average in terms of broadband subscribers and are at risk of falling
further behind as broadband speeds increase.
Finally, the bill provides grants for states and state-designated
entities for digital literacy and public awareness campaigns,
highlighting the benefits and possibilities of broadband service and
helping to attract employers to rural parts of our country in which
broadband services are lacking and yet are essential for a business's
success. The key reason to do this is to address the disparity in the
adoption rates I have already mentioned, which will help drive down the
costs of the service and make it more affordable for everyone.
One broadband application that holds special promise for rural
America is telemedicine. As a native of Aroostook County--the largest
county by land area east of the Mississippi, with fewer than 70,000
residents--I know how important healthcare is to the vitality and even
to the survival of rural communities. Often, these communities struggle
to attract and retain the physicians they need to ensure their having
access to quality care for their citizens. Broadband can help to bridge
this gap by enabling innovative healthcare delivery in these rural
communities.
In an example described to me in a recent letter, hospice workers at
Northern Light Home Care and Hospice were able to use the internet and
video technology to help support a patient who was living on an island
off the coast of Maine--not as far as the seagull flies but hours away
in travel time. Although the connection was very poor, the video
enabled the hospice nurses to monitor the patient's symptoms and
provide emotional support to her family. As the author of that letter,
Lisa Harvey-McPherson, put it, ``Our hospice team could be doing so
much more with video and telemonitoring technologies if Maine had
better connectivity.''
I ask unanimous consent that immediately following my remarks, this
letter from Lisa Harvey-McPherson be printed in the Record.
Mr. President, in closing, rural Americans deserve to enjoy the
benefits of high-speed internet in the same way that urban Americans
do, but a digital divide has arisen due to the simple fact that rural
areas are more sparsely populated than urban ones and are therefore
more expensive to serve. The bill that Senator Jones and I are
introducing today would help to bridge this digital divide by funding
future-proof broadband where it is needed most and giving a real boost
to job creation in rural America.
I urge my colleagues to support our bill.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Northern Light Health,
Brewer, ME, May 13, 2019.
Senator Susan Collins,
Dirksen Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Collins: On behalf of Northern Light Health
member organizations and the patients we serve, I want to
thank you for your support for the need to advance health
care technology in Maine. Technology is an essential strategy
to increase access to health care services in rural Maine.
Northern Light Health is a technology leader in Maine
providing a variety of telehealth services including
cardiology, stroke, psychiatry, trauma, pediatric intensive
care and in-home telemonitoring services state wide. As we
work to expand opportunities for patients to receive health
care services through technology we consistently encounter
the challenge of inadequate (or absent) broad band capacity.
Northern Light Health member organizations compete nationally
to recruit specialists to Maine, technology is often the only
option to expand access to specialists in rural Maine.
The following Northern Light Health examples highlight
technology opportunities
[[Page S4633]]
and the need to increase broadband speed and capacity in
rural Maine.
Our hospice program cared for a patient on an island off
Hancock County. Staff placed a tablet at the patient's home
and one with the hospice nurse. Because of the challenges of
Island travel, it took hours to get to the home to manage and
support the patient and her family. While the broadband
connection was very poor we were able to help with symptoms
and emotional support using video technology. Our hospice
team could be doing so much more with video and
telemonitoring technologies if Maine had better connectivity.
At Northern Light AR Gould in Presque Isle, they are a
pilot site for the telehealth virtual walk-in clinic. Those
using the system within the pilot are amazed at the ease of
access to a provider to ask those easy questions that keep
patients out of the ED. If successful, in a broader roll-out,
patients in local communities will have access to walk-in
level care (colds, rashes, general health questions) without
leaving their home via technology. This is important given
the average age of the population and the difficulty of
traveling roads during the winter months in Aroostook County.
The barrier to fully expanding the telehealth virtual clinic
is broadband capacity.
Broadband access is also a professional recruitment tool,
often provider spouses have difficulty finding meaningful
employment. Addressing rural broadband capacity will support
remote work.
In Aroostook County we are also evaluating telepsychiatry
services for the regional nursing homes. This will
significantly increase access to psychiatry services which is
in clinical demand. Connectivity is a foundational component
of offering this service.
Our electronic health record has expanded access to
individualized health information for our patients,
connectivity is a barrier to patients accessing this
important resource in rural Maine.
As we increase our electronic health record capacity
providers are reliant on this technology as much as they are
reliant on clinical tools like a stethoscope. In areas with
broadband capacity challenges the providers spend time
looking at buffering symbols on their screens for long
periods of time in the day.
We appreciate the opportunity to share these examples with
you and your staff as you explore Congressional solutions to
Maine's broadband challenge.
Sincerely,
Lisa Harvey-McPherson RN, MBA, MPPM,
Vice President Government Relations.
______
By Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Brown, and Ms.
Collins):
S. 2026. A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act to reauthorize the farm to school program, and for other purposes;
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act, which
reauthorized child nutrition programs and made healthy meal choices a
reality to children nationwide. Far too many children and adolescents
in the United States suffer from obesity, which puts them at risk for
developing chronic health conditions later in life. One of the best
ways to help students make healthy choices is to teach them about their
food and how it is grown. Making that connection makes a difference.
That is why I championed the inclusion of funding for a farm to school
grant program, which was included in the Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids
Act.
The program has had tremendous success and interest nationwide, and
has awarded grants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to
support programs in more than 33,000 schools. Building upon the success
of this program, I am glad to be joined today by Senators Perdue,
Brown, and Collins in introducing the Farm to School Act of 2019. In
years past, I have championed this important farm to school legislative
effort with one of my dearest friends, Thad Cochran, who sadly passed
away last month.
We all know that hungry children cannot learn. Studies have shown
that healthy nutrition in a young person's diet is crucial to cognitive
ability and better health in the long run. Food insecurity and obesity
rates are still too high in this country, resulting in poor health, and
learning and behavioral difficulties at school. The school meal program
has made tremendous strides in recent years to ensure not only that
children have access to meals throughout the school day, but that those
meals are nutritious. The Farm to School program has given children and
schools across the country the tools to craft farm-fresh, healthy, and
delicious meals that students enjoy.
The Farm to School grant program offers support to farmers and local
economies, while teaching kids about nutritious foods and how they are
grown. The program has a strong educational component, making our
school cafeterias an extension of the classroom, giving students an
opportunity to learn about nutrition, well-balanced meals, and even how
to grow the food themselves.
In Vermont, I have seen first-hand how farm to school efforts have
better connected children with the food in their cafeteria. Students
participate in school gardens, sustainability projects, and taste tests
for new school menu items. With the help of a USDA Farm to School
grant, the Burlington School Food Project has created a partnership
with a local Vermont beef processor and 100 percent of the beef served
the last school year was locally sourced, and that will continue next
year as well. Organizations in Vermont such as Vermont Food Education
Every Day, Shelburne Farms, and the Northeast Organic Farming
Association have been able to expand their programs to link more farms
to the classroom throughout Vermont.
Farm to school is equally crucial to farmers and ranchers by opening
another market to them to sell their locally grown and locally
harvested goods. The program links the classroom with the farm to
engage students in the importance of farming and contributing to the
local economy. Every dollar spent on local food generates up to an
additional $2.16 in economic activity.
This program is so popular among school and farmers alike that demand
for grants far outpaces available funding. Since the program began in
2013, USDA has received more than 1,900 applications, but has only been
able to fund 437 projects. The Farm to School Act of 2019 would build
upon the success of the program and expand its reach by increasing the
funding for the program to $15 million per year. The bill also
recognizes the importance of growing the program to include preschools,
summer food service program sites, and after-school programs.
Ensuring children have enough food to eat is an issue that unites us
all. There is simply no excuse that in the wealthiest, most powerful
Nation on Earth people go hungry. Small changes in eating habits by
children will result in lifelong health benefits for generations to
come. The Farm to School program empowers children and their families
to make healthy choices now and in the future. As the Senate begins
considering reauthorizing the child nutrition bill this year, I look
forward to including these improvements in the Farm to School program.
______
By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Schatz, Mr.
Durbin, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Ernst, and
Mr. Cramer):
S. 2032. A bill to expand research on the cannabidiol and marihuana;
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the
Cannabidiol and Marijuana Research Expansion Act with my colleagues.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that marijuana and its derivatives, like
cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, may be helpful in treating serious
medical conditions. However, anecdotal evidence alone cannot be the
basis for developing new medications. Rather, medication development
must be based on science.
Unfortunately, marijuana research is subject to burdensome
regulations which may unintentionally inhibit research and medication
development.
The Cannabidiol and Marijuana Research Expansion Act will reduce
these barriers without sacrificing security or enabling diversion. It
will ensure that marijuana-derived medications are developed using
strong scientific evidence, and provide a pathway for the manufacture
and distribution of FDA-approved drugs that are based on this research.
First, the bill streamlines the regulatory process for marijuana
research. Specifically, it requires the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) to quickly approve or deny applications to research CBD or
marijuana and establishes a process by which applicants may submit
supplemental information, if necessary.
[[Page S4634]]
It also improves regulations dealing with changes to approved
quantities of marijuana needed for research and approved research
protocols. These improvements will eliminate lengthy delays that
researchers encounter under current regulations.
Second, this legislation seeks to increase medical research on CBD.
It does so by explicitly authorizing medical and osteopathic schools,
research universities, practitioners and pharmaceutical companies to
produce the marijuana they need for approved medical research. This
will ensure that researchers have access to the material they need to
develop proven, effective medicines. Once the FDA approves these
medications, pharmaceutical companies are permitted to manufacture and
distribute them.
Third, the bill fosters increased communication between doctors and
patients.
Because it is a Schedule I drug, some doctors are hesitant to talk to
their patients about the potential harms and benefits of using
marijuana, CBD, or other marijuana derivatives as a treatment, for fear
that they will lose their DEA registrations. Yet, if patients are using
marijuana or its derivatives without their doctors' knowledge, it could
impact the effectiveness of the care they receive. That is why our bill
authorizes these discussions to occur.
Finally, because existing Federal research is lacking, the bill
directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand and
coordinate research to determine the potential medical benefits of CBD
or other marijuana-derived medications on serious medical conditions.
I have heard from many parents who have turned to CBD as a last
resort to treat their children who have intractable epilepsy.
Anecdotally, CBD has produced positive results. I have heard similar
stories from people who use marijuana to treat various other medical
conditions.
But a common concern echoed in many of these conversations is that
there is a lack of understanding about the proper delivery mechanism,
dosing, or potential interactions that CBD or marijuana may have with
other medications. Some also worry because these products aren't well
regulated or factory sealed, and often are labeled incorrectly.
Without additional research, our ability to adequately address these
concerns is limited and uninformed.
The need for additional research, along with the need to increase the
supply of CBD and marijuana for research purposes, was highlighted in
the National Academy of Sciences report, titled ``The Health Effects of
Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and
Recommendations for Research.''
I firmly believe that we should reduce the regulatory barriers
associated with researching marijuana and CBD. If and when science
shows that these substances are effective in treating serious medical
illnesses, we should enable products to be brought to the market with
FDA approval. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this
important piece of legislation.
Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
______
By Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. Van Hollen):
S. 2036. A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
to provide grants to States for summer employment programs for youth;
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I would like to call the Senate's
attention to the Youth Summer Jobs and Public Service Act of 2019 that
I am introducing today with my colleague from Maryland, Senator Van
Hollen. This legislation authorizes the Department of Labor to award
Summer Employment for Youth grants to connect youth with jobs that
serve their local communities and private businesses over the summer
months.
Since the mid-1990s, my home city of Baltimore has organized the
Youth Works program out of the Mayor's Office of Employment
Development. The Youth Works program provides individuals between the
ages of 14 to 21 with a summer job with employers ranging from private
businesses, local community nonprofit organizations, to city and State
government agencies throughout the City. At these summer jobs,
participants are provided with meaningful work experiences, are able to
learn to develop the attitudes and grit necessary to compete in the
workforce, gain exposure to a variety of career fields, and have a
safe, stable environment over the summer months during the day. For the
2019 Youth Works session that begins next week, Baltimore youth
participating in the program will have a job for five days a week, five
hours per day from July 1st through August 2nd and be paid a minimum of
$10.10 per hour for their service.
This program has grown to be one of the largest youth summer
employment programs in the Nation. After the unrest in my home city in
April 2015, the Federal Department of Labor provided the Maryland
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and the Baltimore City's
Mayor's Office of Employment with a $5 million grant to develop
innovative job training strategies and work opportunities for youth and
young adults across Baltimore. This Federal grant increased the number
of individuals able to be served by the Youth Works program from an
historic average of 5,000 participants to the more than 8,000 served
today. Last year, Youth Works provided 8,600 Baltimoreans with jobs at
more than 900 different worksites across my home city. I'm proud to say
that some of those individuals who participated in the Youth Works
program over the course of multiple summers while in high school have
recently graduated and were hired by State agencies such as the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Baltimore youth and their
families clearly see the value of this program, with more than 14,000
individuals applying for Youth Works slots this upcoming summer.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of funding between the partnership
between the City, State, private business, and philanthropic ventures,
more than 5,000 Baltimore City youth who sought summer employment will
be denied the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace, foster
confidence that they are capable of being successful in a new
environment, and lose the security of a safe environment over the
summer. We can and must do more to help individuals willing and eager
to start their careers.
The Youth Summer Jobs and Public Service Act would seek to eliminate
the waiting list for Baltimore students seeking to participate in Youth
Works or other summer employment programs around the Nation. If
enacted, my legislation would allow States to compete for Summer
Employment for Youth grants to serve communities like Baltimore that
have high concentrations of eligible, low-income youth. The grants
would be utilized by local communities to carry out programs like the
Youth Works program that provide summer employment opportunities that
are directly linked to academic and occupations learning by providing
meaningful work experiences. States competing for grants would be
required to partner with private businesses to the extent feasible and
to prioritize jobs and work opportunities that directly serve their
communities, such as through summer employment with local community
nonprofit organizations and city and State government agencies. This
additional Federal funding can boost existing programs such as Youth
Works and allow other communities across Maryland to establish their
own programs and develop Maryland's next generation of workforce.
I am proud to lead this Senate effort with my colleague from Maryland
and appreciate the work of Representative Cedric Richmond of Louisiana
who initially led this effort in the U.S. House of Representatives and
will shortly introduce companion legislation this Congress. I urge my
Senate colleagues to join with me in this effort to connect youth with
summer employment opportunities and start their journey towards
fulfilling, successful careers.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Congressional Record following my remarks.
There being no objections, so ordered.
S. 2036
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page S4635]]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Youth Summer Jobs and Public
Service Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO STATES FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUTH.
Section 129 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(29 U.S.C. 3164) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(d) Grants to States for Summer Employment for Youth.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Act, from the amount appropriated under paragraph (2),
the Secretary shall award grants to States to provide
assistance to local areas that have high concentrations of
eligible youth to enable such local areas to carry out
programs described in subsection (c)(1) that provide summer
employment opportunities for eligible youth, which are
directly linked to academic and occupational learning, as
described in subsection (c)(2)(C). In awarding grants under
this subsection, a State shall--
``(A) partner with private businesses to the extent
feasible to provide employment opportunities at such
businesses; and
``(B) prioritize jobs and work opportunities that directly
serve the community.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated $100,000,000 to carry out this subsection
for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.''.
______
By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Gillibrand, and
Ms. Klobuchar):
S. 2042. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint
coins in commemoration of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor; to
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Mr. SCHUMER. 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. 2042
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 Purple Heart Hall
of Honor Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The mission of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
is--
(A) to commemorate the extraordinary sacrifice of
servicemembers of the United States who were killed or
wounded by enemy action; and
(B) to collect and preserve the stories of Purple Heart
recipients from all branches of service and across
generations to ensure that all recipients are represented.
(2) The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor first opened
its doors on November 10, 2006, in New Windsor, New York.
(3) The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is colocated
with the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site.
(4) The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is the first to
recognize the estimated 1,800,000 servicemembers of the
United States wounded or killed in action representing
recipients from the Civil War to the present day, serving as
a living memorial to their sacrifice by sharing their stories
through interviews, exhibits, and the Roll of Honor, an
interactive computer database of each recipient enrolled.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--The Secretary of the Treasury
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'')
shall mint and issue the following coins:
(1) $5 gold coins.--Not more than 50,000 $5 coins, which
shall--
(A) weigh 8.359 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
(C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.
(2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 400,000 $1 coins, which
shall--
(A) weigh 26.73 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(C) contain not less than 90 percent silver.
(3) Half-dollar clad coins.--Not more than 750,000 half-
dollar coins which shall--
(A) weigh 11.34 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and
(C) be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins
contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be
legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United
States Code.
(c) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of
title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act
shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) Design Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this
Act shall be emblematic of the mission of the National Purple
Heart Hall of Honor.
(2) Designation and inscriptions.--On each coin minted
under this Act there shall be--
(A) a designation of the value of the coin;
(B) an inscription of the year ``2021''; and
(C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We
Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus
Unum''.
(b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this
Act shall be--
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the
Commission of Fine Arts and the National Purple Heart Hall of
Honor, Inc.; and
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be
issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Mint Facility.--Only the West Point Mint may be used to
strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this
Act.
(c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins
minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning
on January 1, 2021.
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.
(a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under this Act shall be
sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
(1) the face value of the coins;
(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to
such coins; and
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses,
marketing, and shipping).
(b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the
coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid Orders.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders
for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of
such coins.
(2) Discount.--Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders
under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.
(a) In General.--All sales of coins issued under this Act
shall include a surcharge of--
(1) $35 per coin for the $5 coin;
(2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin; and
(3) $5 per coin for the half-dollar coin.
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f)(1) of title
31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the
Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall
be promptly paid by the Secretary to the National Purple
Heart Hall of Honor, Inc. to support the mission of the
National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Inc., including capital
improvements to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
facilities.
(c) Audits.--The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Inc.
shall be subject to the audit requirements of section
5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with regard to
the amounts received under subsection (b).
(d) Limitation.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), no
surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under
this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the
time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result
in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during
such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program
issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31,
United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment
of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue
guidance to carry out this subsection.
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By Mr. SCHUMER:
S. 2047. A bill to provide for a 2-week extension of the Medicaid
community mental health services demonstration program, and for other
purposes; considered and passed.
Mr. SCHUMER. 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. 2047
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF THE MEDICAID COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Section 223(d)(3) of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act
of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note) is amended by striking ``June
30, 2019'' and inserting ``July 14, 2019''.
SEC. 2. MEDICAID IMPROVEMENT FUND.
Section 1941(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396w-1(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``$6,000,000'' and
inserting ``$1,000,000''.
____________________