[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 143 (Monday, September 9, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mrs. 
        Shaheen):
  S. 2444. A bill to establish a minimum staffing level of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection officers along the northern border, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
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. 2444

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Border Officers Utilization 
     for National Defense Act of 2019'' or the ``BOUND Act''.

     SEC. 2. MINIMUM U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION STAFFING 
                   ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER.

       (a) In General.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection shall ensure that not fewer than the maximum 
     number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers 
     deployed along the international border between the United 
     States and Canada (referred to in this Act as the ``northern 
     border'') at any time between January 1, 2016 and the date of 
     the enactment of this Act are always deployed along the 
     northern border, including ports of entry along the northern 
     border.
       (b) Limitation on Transfers.--The Commissioner of U.S. 
     Customs and Border Protection may not transfer any U.S. 
     Customs and Border Protection officer away from an assignment 
     along the northern border if such transfer would reduce the 
     number of such officers assigned to the northern border below 
     the level required under subsection (a).
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Cassidy):
  S. 2443. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for 
investment in tomorrow's pediatric health care workforce; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be introducing the 
Investment in Tomorrow's Pediatric Workforce Act with Senator Cassidy. 
This critical legislation would provide funding for the Title VII 
pediatric subspecialty loan repayment program.
  The Title VII health professions programs have a longstanding history 
of increasing the supply of health care professionals, expanding access 
to care in rural and urban underserved areas, and developing a 
workforce that reflects the Nation's diversity and the needs of 
patients. These education and training programs guide current and 
aspiring health professionals to high-demand careers in areas of 
greatest need. Pediatric subspecialty care is one such shortage area.
  According to the American Association of Child and Adolescent 
Psychiatry, there are currently only 8,300 child and adolescent 
psychiatrists (CAPs) in the United States--many of whom are not 
practicing full time--far short of the estimated need of over 30,000 
CAPs. On average, patients wait almost two months to see a CAP, a 
startling concern given that the incidence rates of mental illness and 
behavioral disorders among children in the United States continue to 
grow. Fifty percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin at 
age 14; seventy-five percent by age 24.
  This legislation would take an important first step in incentivizing 
more health care professionals to go into pediatric subspecialties and 
increase the supply of these professionals to ensure more children have 
greater access to the health care they need. I look forward to working 
with stakeholders supporting the legislation including the American 
Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Child and Adolescent 
Psychiatry, the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of 
Rheumatology, and the Child Neurology Society, as well as my colleague, 
Senator Cassidy, to pass the Investment in Tomorrow's Pediatric 
Workforce Act, and to strengthen all of the Title VII health 
professions programs.

                          ____________________