[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 203 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7050-S7057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
        Sanders, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. 
        Klobuchar, and Ms. Baldwin):
  S. 3056. A bill to designate as wilderness certain Federal portions 
of the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin 
Deserts in the State of Utah for the benefit of present and future 
generations of people in the United States; to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3056

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``America's 
     Red Rock Wilderness Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.

                TITLE I--DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS

Sec. 101. Great Basin Wilderness Areas.
Sec. 102. Grand Staircase-Escalante Wilderness Areas.
Sec. 103. Moab-La Sal Canyons Wilderness Areas.
Sec. 104. Henry Mountains Wilderness Areas.
Sec. 105. Glen Canyon Wilderness Areas.
Sec. 106. San Juan-Anasazi Wilderness Areas.
Sec. 107. Canyonlands Basin Wilderness Areas.
Sec. 108. San Rafael Swell Wilderness Areas.
Sec. 109. Book Cliffs and Uinta Basin Wilderness Areas.

                  TITLE II--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. General provisions.
Sec. 202. Administration.
Sec. 203. State school trust land within wilderness areas.
Sec. 204. Water.
Sec. 205. Roads.
Sec. 206. Livestock.
Sec. 207. Fish and wildlife.
Sec. 208. Management of newly acquired land.
Sec. 209. Withdrawal.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land 
     Management.
       (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Utah.

                TITLE I--DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS

     SEC. 101. GREAT BASIN WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Great Basin region of western Utah is comprised of 
     starkly beautiful mountain ranges that rise as islands from 
     the desert floor;
       (2) the Wah Wah Mountains in the Great Basin region are 
     arid and austere, with massive cliff faces and leathery 
     slopes speckled with pinon and juniper;
       (3) the Pilot Range and Stansbury Mountains in the Great 
     Basin region are high enough to draw moisture from passing 
     clouds and support ecosystems found nowhere else on earth;
       (4) from bristlecone pine, the world's oldest living 
     organism, to newly flowered mountain meadows, mountains of 
     the Great Basin region are islands of nature that--
       (A) support remarkable biological diversity; and
       (B) provide opportunities to experience the colossal 
     silence of the Great Basin; and
       (5) the Great Basin region of western Utah should be 
     protected and managed to ensure the preservation of the 
     natural conditions of the region.
       (b) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Antelope Range (approximately 17,000 acres).
       (2) Barn Hills (approximately 21,000 acres).
       (3) Black Hills (approximately 8,700 acres).
       (4) Bullgrass Knoll (approximately 16,000 acres).
       (5) Burbank Hills/Tunnel Spring (approximately 94,000 
     acres).
       (6) Conger Mountain (approximately 31,000 acres).
       (7) Crater and Silver Island Mountains (approximately 
     121,000 acres).
       (8) Crater Bench (approximately 35,000 acres).
       (9) Cricket Mountains (approximately 56,000 acres).
       (10) Deep Creek Mountains (approximately 128,000 acres).
       (11) Drum Mountains (approximately 40,500 acres).
       (12) Dugway Mountains (approximately 24,500 acres).
       (13) Fish Springs Range (approximately 64,500 acres).
       (14) Granite Peak (approximately 19,500 acres).
       (15) Grassy Mountains (approximately 24,000 acres).
       (16) Grouse Creek Mountains (approximately 15,000 acres).
       (17) House Range (approximately 202,000 acres).
       (18) Keg Mountain (approximately 38,500 acres).
       (19) Kern Mountains (approximately 15,000 acres).
       (20) King Top (approximately 111,000 acres).
       (21) Little Goose Creek (approximately 1,300 acres).
       (22) Middle/Granite Mountain (approximately 81,000 acres).
       (23) Mount Escalante (approximately 17,500 acres).
       (24) Mountain Home Range (approximately 90,000 acres).
       (25) Newfoundland Mountains (approximately 23,000 acres).
       (26) Ochre Mountain (approximately 13,500 acres).
       (27) Oquirrh Mountains (approximately 8,900 acres).
       (28) Painted Rock (approximately 26,500 acres).
       (29) Paradise/Steamboat Mountains (approximately 136,000 
     acres).
       (30) Pilot Range (approximately 44,000 acres).
       (31) Red Tops (approximately 28,000 acres).
       (32) Rockwell-Little Sahara (approximately 19,000 acres).
       (33) San Francisco Mountains (approximately 40,000 acres).
       (34) Sand Ridge (approximately 73,000 acres).
       (35) Sevier Plateau (approximately 30,000 acres).
       (36) Simpson Mountains (approximately 43,000 acres).
       (37) Snake Valley (approximately 103,000 acres).
       (38) Spring Creek Canyon (approximately 5,200 acres).
       (39) Stansbury Island (approximately 9,900 acres).
       (40) Stansbury Mountains (approximately 25,000 acres).
       (41) Thomas Range (approximately 41,000 acres).
       (42) Tule Valley (approximately 159,000 acres).
       (43) Wah Wah Mountains (approximately 177,000 acres).
       (44) White Rock Range (approximately 5,500 acres).

     SEC. 102. GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Grand Staircase Area.--
       (1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (A) the area known as the Grand Staircase rises more than 
     6,000 feet in a series of great cliffs and plateaus from the 
     depths of the Grand Canyon to the forested rim of Bryce 
     Canyon;
       (B) the Grand Staircase--
       (i) spans 6 major life zones, from the lower Sonoran Desert 
     to the alpine forest; and
       (ii) encompasses geologic formations that display 
     3,000,000,000 years of Earth's history;
       (C) land managed by the Secretary lines the intricate 
     canyon system of the Paria

[[Page S7051]]

     River and forms a vital natural corridor connection to the 
     deserts and forests of those national parks;
       (D) land described in paragraph (2) (other than East of 
     Bryce, the majority of Upper Kanab Creek, Moquith Mountain, 
     Bunting Point, Canaan Mountain, Orderville Canyon, Parunuweap 
     Canyon, and Vermillion Cliffs) is located within the Grand 
     Staircase-Escalante National Monument, as established in 
     1996; and
       (E) the Grand Staircase in Utah should be protected and 
     managed as a wilderness area.
       (2) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (A) Bryce Boot (approximately 2,800 acres).
       (B) Bryce View (approximately 850 acres).
       (C) Bunting Point (approximately 11,000 acres).
       (D) Canaan Mountain (approximately 15,000 acres).
       (E) East of Bryce (approximately 850 acres).
       (F) Glass Eye Canyon (approximately 25,000 acres).
       (G) Ladder Canyon (approximately 14,000 acres).
       (H) Moquith Mountain (approximately 15,500 acres).
       (I) Nephi Point (approximately 15,000 acres).
       (J) Orderville Canyon (approximately 8,100 acres).
       (K) Paria-Hackberry (approximately 196,000 acres).
       (L) Paria Wilderness Expansion (approximately 4,000 acres).
       (M) Parunuweap Canyon (approximately 44,500 acres).
       (N) Pine Hollow (approximately 11,000 acres).
       (O) Slopes of Bryce (approximately 3,700 acres).
       (P) Timber Mountain (approximately 52,500 acres).
       (Q) Upper Kanab Creek (approximately 51,000 acres).
       (R) Vermillion Cliffs (approximately 26,000 acres).
       (S) Willis Creek (approximately 21,000 acres).
       (b) Kaiparowits Plateau.--
       (1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (A) the Kaiparowits Plateau east of the Paria River is one 
     of the most rugged and isolated wilderness regions in the 
     United States;
       (B) the Kaiparowits Plateau, a windswept land of harsh 
     beauty, contains distant vistas and a remarkable variety of 
     plant and animal species;
       (C) ancient forests, an abundance of big game animals, and 
     22 species of raptors thrive undisturbed on the grassland 
     mesa tops of the Kaiparowits Plateau;
       (D) each of the areas described in paragraph (2) (other 
     than Heaps Canyon, Little Valley, and Wide Hollow) is located 
     within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, as 
     established in 1996; and
       (E) the Kaiparowits Plateau should be protected and managed 
     as a wilderness area.
       (2) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (A) Andalex Not (approximately 18,000 acres).
       (B) Box Canyon (approximately 3,000 acres).
       (C) Burning Hills (approximately 81,000 acres).
       (D) Canaan Peak Slopes (approximately 2,500 acres).
       (E) Carcass Canyon (approximately 85,000 acres).
       (F) Fiftymile Bench (approximately 13,000 acres).
       (G) Fiftymile Mountain (approximately 207,000 acres).
       (H) Heaps Canyon (approximately 4,000 acres).
       (I) Horse Spring Canyon (approximately 32,000 acres).
       (J) Kodachrome Headlands (approximately 8,500 acres).
       (K) Little Valley Canyon (approximately 4,000 acres).
       (L) Mud Spring Canyon (approximately 66,000 acres).
       (M) Nipple Bench (approximately 32,000 acres).
       (N) Paradise Canyon-Wahweap (approximately 266,000 acres).
       (O) Rock Cove (approximately 17,000 acres).
       (P) The Blues (approximately 22,000 acres).
       (Q) The Cockscomb (approximately 12,000 acres).
       (R) Warm Creek (approximately 24,000 acres).
       (S) Wide Hollow (approximately 7,700 acres).
       (c) Escalante Canyons.--
       (1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (A) glens and coves carved in massive sandstone cliffs, 
     spring-watered hanging gardens, and the silence of ancient 
     Anasazi ruins are examples of the unique features that entice 
     hikers, campers, and sightseers from around the world to 
     Escalante Canyon;
       (B) Escalante Canyon links the spruce fir forests of the 
     11,000-foot Aquarius Plateau with winding slickrock canyons 
     that flow into Glen Canyon;
       (C) Escalante Canyon, one of Utah's most popular natural 
     areas, contains critical habitat for deer, elk, and wild 
     bighorn sheep that also enhances the scenic integrity of the 
     area;
       (D) each of the areas described in paragraph (2) is located 
     within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, as 
     established in 1996; and
       (E) Escalante Canyon should be protected and managed as a 
     wilderness area.
       (2) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (A) Colt Mesa (approximately 28,000 acres).
       (B) Death Hollow (approximately 50,000 acres).
       (C) Forty Mile Gulch (approximately 7,600 acres).
       (D) Lampstand (approximately 11,500 acres).
       (E) Muley Twist Flank (approximately 3,700 acres).
       (F) North Escalante Canyons (approximately 182,000 acres).
       (G) Pioneer Mesa (approximately 11,000 acres).
       (H) Scorpion (approximately 61,000 acres).
       (I) Sooner Bench (approximately 500 acres).
       (J) Steep Creek (approximately 36,000 acres).
       (K) Studhorse Peaks (approximately 24,000 acres).

     SEC. 103. MOAB-LA SAL CANYONS WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the canyons surrounding the La Sal Mountains and the 
     town of Moab offer a variety of extraordinary landscapes;
       (2) outstanding examples of natural formations and 
     landscapes in the Moab-La Sal area include the huge sandstone 
     fins of Behind the Rocks, the mysterious Fisher Towers, and 
     the whitewater rapids of Westwater Canyon; and
       (3) the Moab-La Sal area should be protected and managed as 
     a wilderness area.
       (b) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Arches Adjacent (approximately 4,100 acres).
       (2) Beaver Creek (approximately 45,000 acres).
       (3) Behind the Rocks (approximately 19,500 acres).
       (4) Big Triangle (approximately 21,500 acres).
       (5) Coyote Wash (approximately 27,000 acres).
       (6) Dome Plateau (approximately 36,500 acres).
       (7) Fisher Towers (approximately 18,000 acres).
       (8) Goldbar Canyon (approximately 9,500 acres).
       (9) Granite Creek (approximately 5,000 acres).
       (10) Hunter Canyon (approximately 5,500 acres).
       (11) Mary Jane Canyon (approximately 27,500 acres).
       (12) Mill Creek (approximately 17,000 acres).
       (13) Morning Glory (approximately 11,000 acres).
       (14) Porcupine Rim (approximately 10,000 acres).
       (15) Renegade Point (approximately 6,200 acres).
       (16) Westwater Canyon (approximately 39,000 acres).
       (17) Yellow Bird (approximately 4,600 acres).

     SEC. 104. HENRY MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Henry Mountain Range, the last mountain range to be 
     discovered and named by early explorers in the contiguous 
     United States, still retains a wild and undiscovered quality;
       (2) fluted badlands that surround the flanks of 11,000-foot 
     Mounts Ellen and Pennell contain areas of critical habitat 
     for mule deer and for the largest herd of free-roaming 
     buffalo in the United States;
       (3) despite their relative accessibility, the Henry 
     Mountain Range remains one of the wildest, least-known ranges 
     in the United States; and
       (4) the Henry Mountain range should be protected and 
     managed to ensure the preservation of the range as a 
     wilderness area.
       (b) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Bull Mountain (approximately 16,000 acres).
       (2) Bullfrog Creek (approximately 42,000 acres).
       (3) Dogwater Creek (approximately 3,400 acres).
       (4) Fremont Gorge (approximately 22,000 acres).
       (5) Long Canyon (approximately 16,500 acres).
       (6) Mount Ellen-Blue Hills (approximately 145,000 acres).
       (7) Mount Hillers (approximately 20,000 acres).
       (8) Mount Pennell (approximately 155,000 acres).
       (9) Notom Bench (approximately 7,300 acres).
       (10) Oak Creek (approximately 1,500 acres).
       (11) Ragged Mountain (approximately 29,000 acres).

[[Page S7052]]

  


     SEC. 105. GLEN CANYON WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the side canyons of Glen Canyon, including the Dirty 
     Devil River and the Red, White and Blue Canyons, contain some 
     of the most remote and outstanding landscapes in southern 
     Utah;
       (2) the Dirty Devil River, once the fortress hideout of 
     outlaw Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, has sculpted a maze of 
     slickrock canyons through an imposing landscape of monoliths 
     and inaccessible mesas;
       (3) the Red and Blue Canyons contain colorful Chinle/
     Moenkopi badlands found nowhere else in the region; and
       (4) the canyons of Glen Canyon in the State should be 
     protected and managed as wilderness areas.
       (b) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Cane Spring Desert (approximately 18,000 acres).
       (2) Dark Canyon (approximately 138,000 acres).
       (3) Dirty Devil (approximately 245,000 acres).
       (4) Fiddler Butte (approximately 93,000 acres).
       (5) Flat Tops (approximately 30,000 acres).
       (6) Little Rockies (approximately 64,000 acres).
       (7) Red Rock Plateau (approximately 210,000 acres).
       (8) The Needle (approximately 11,000 acres).
       (9) White Canyon (approximately 115,500 acres).

     SEC. 106. SAN JUAN-ANASAZI WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) more than 1,000 years ago, the Anasazi Indian culture 
     flourished in the slickrock canyons and on the pinon-covered 
     mesas of southeastern Utah;
       (2) evidence of the ancient presence of the Anasazi 
     pervades the Cedar Mesa area of the San Juan-Anasazi area 
     where cliff dwellings, rock art, and ceremonial kivas 
     embellish sandstone overhangs and isolated benchlands;
       (3) the Cedar Mesa area is in need of protection from the 
     vandalism and theft of its unique cultural resources;
       (4) the Cedar Mesa wilderness areas should be created to 
     protect both the archaeological heritage and the 
     extraordinary wilderness, scenic, and ecological values of 
     the United States; and
       (5) the San Juan-Anasazi area should be protected and 
     managed as a wilderness area to ensure the preservation of 
     the unique and valuable resources of that area.
       (b) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Allen Canyon (approximately 6,400 acres).
       (2) Arch Canyon (approximately 30,500 acres).
       (3) Comb Ridge (approximately 16,000 acres).
       (4) Cross Canyon (approximately 2,400 acres).
       (5) East Montezuma (approximately 46,500 acres).
       (6) Fish and Owl Creek Canyon (approximately 74,000 acres).
       (7) Grand Gulch (approximately 161,000 acres).
       (8) Hammond Canyon (approximately 4,700 acres).
       (9) Monument Canyon (approximately 18,000 acres).
       (10) Nokai Dome (approximately 94,000 acres).
       (11) Road Canyon (approximately 64,000 acres).
       (12) San Juan River (approximately 15,000 acres).
       (13) The Tabernacle (approximately 7,400 acres).
       (14) Tin Cup Mesa (approximately 26,000 acres).
       (15) Valley of the Gods (approximately 20,000 acres).

     SEC. 107. CANYONLANDS BASIN WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) Canyonlands National Park safeguards only a small 
     portion of the extraordinary red-hued, cliff-walled 
     canyonland region of the Colorado Plateau;
       (2) areas near Canyonlands National Park contain canyons 
     with rushing perennial streams, natural arches, bridges, and 
     towers;
       (3) the gorges of the Green and Colorado Rivers lie on 
     adjacent land managed by the Secretary;
       (4) popular overlooks in Canyonlands National Park and Dead 
     Horse Point State Park have views directly into adjacent 
     areas, including Lockhart Basin and Indian Creek; and
       (5) designation of those areas as wilderness would ensure 
     the protection of this erosional masterpiece of nature and of 
     the rich pockets of wildlife found within its expanded 
     boundaries.
       (b) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Bridger Jack Mesa (approximately 33,500 acres).
       (2) Butler Wash (approximately 27,000 acres).
       (3) Dead Horse Cliffs (approximately 5,300 acres).
       (4) Demon's Playground (approximately 3,600 acres).
       (5) Duma Point (approximately 14,500 acres).
       (6) Gooseneck (approximately 9,400 acres).
       (7) Hatch Point Canyons/Lockhart Basin (approximately 
     150,500 acres).
       (8) Horseshoe Canyon (approximately 83,500 acres).
       (9) Horsethief Point (approximately 15,500 acres).
       (10) Indian Creek (approximately 28,500 acres).
       (11) Labyrinth Canyon (approximately 83,000 acres).
       (12) San Rafael River (approximately 117,000 acres).
       (13) Shay Mountain (approximately 15,500 acres).
       (14) Sweetwater Reef (approximately 69,500 acres).

     SEC. 108. SAN RAFAEL SWELL WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the San Rafael Swell towers above the desert like a 
     castle, ringed by 1,000-foot ramparts of Navajo Sandstone;
       (2) the highlands of the San Rafael Swell have been 
     fractured by uplift and rendered hollow by erosion over 
     countless millennia, leaving a tremendous basin punctuated by 
     mesas, buttes, and canyons and traversed by sediment-laden 
     desert streams;
       (3) among other places, the San Rafael wilderness offers 
     exceptional back country opportunities in the colorful Wild 
     Horse Badlands, the monoliths of North Caineville Mesa, the 
     rock towers of Cliff Wash, and colorful cliffs of Humbug 
     Canyon;
       (4) the mountains within these areas are among Utah's most 
     valuable habitat for desert bighorn sheep; and
       (5) the San Rafael Swell area should be protected and 
     managed to ensure its preservation as a wilderness area.
       (b) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Cedar Mountain (approximately 15,000 acres).
       (2) Devils Canyon (approximately 14,000 acres).
       (3) Eagle Canyon (approximately 38,500 acres).
       (4) Factory Butte (approximately 22,000 acres).
       (5) Hondu Country (approximately 2,600 acres).
       (6) Jones Bench (approximately 3,400 acres).
       (7) Limestone Cliffs (approximately 25,500 acres).
       (8) Lost Spring Wash (approximately 36,500 acres).
       (9) Mexican Mountain (approximately 25,000 acres).
       (10) Molen Reef (approximately 32,500 acres).
       (11) Muddy Creek (approximately 92,000 acres).
       (12) Mussentuchit Badlands (approximately 24,500 acres).
       (13) Price River-Humbug (approximately 122,000 acres).
       (14) Red Desert (approximately 36,500 acres).
       (15) Rock Canyon (approximately 17,500 acres).
       (16) San Rafael Knob (approximately 15,000 acres).
       (17) San Rafael Reef (approximately 53,000 acres).
       (18) Sids Mountain (approximately 36,500 acres).
       (19) Upper Muddy Creek (approximately 18,500 acres).
       (20) Wild Horse Mesa (approximately 63,000 acres).

     SEC. 109. BOOK CLIFFS AND UINTA BASIN WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Book Cliffs and Uinta Basin wilderness areas 
     offer--
       (A) unique big game hunting opportunities in verdant high-
     plateau forests;
       (B) the opportunity for float trips of several days 
     duration down the Green River in Desolation Canyon; and
       (C) the opportunity for calm water canoe weekends on the 
     White River;
       (2) the long rampart of the Book Cliffs bounds the area on 
     the south, while seldom-visited uplands, dissected by the 
     rivers and streams, slope away to the north into the Uinta 
     Basin;
       (3) bears, Bighorn sheep, cougars, elk, and mule deer 
     flourish in the back country of the Book Cliffs; and
       (4) the Book Cliffs and Uinta Basin areas should be 
     protected and managed to ensure the protection of the areas 
     as wilderness.
       (b) Designation.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 
     U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), the following areas in the State are 
     designated as wilderness areas and as components of the 
     National Wilderness Preservation System:
       (1) Bad Land Cliffs (approximately 13,000 acres).
       (2) Bourdette Draw (approximately 15,500 acres).
       (3) Bull Canyon (approximately 3,100 acres).
       (4) Dead Horse Pass (approximately 8,400 acres).
       (5) Desbrough Canyon (approximately 14,000 acres).
       (6) Desolation Canyon (approximately 32,000 acres).

[[Page S7053]]

       (7) Diamond Breaks (approximately 8,600 acres).
       (8) Diamond Canyon (approximately 168,000 acres).
       (9) Diamond Mountain (approximately 31,000 acres).
       (10) Dinosaur Adjacent (approximately 7,900 acres).
       (11) Goslin Mountain (approximately 3,800 acres).
       (12) Hideout Canyon (approximately 12,500 acres).
       (13) Lower Flaming Gorge (approximately 21,000 acres).
       (14) Mexico Point (approximately 1,500 acres).
       (15) Moonshine Draw (approximately 10,500 acres).
       (16) Mountain Home (approximately 7,800 acres).
       (17) O-Wi-Yu-Kuts (approximately 14,000 acres).
       (18) Red Creek Badlands (approximately 4,600 acres).
       (19) Survey Point (approximately 8,600 acres).
       (20) Turtle Canyon (approximately 9,700 acres).

                  TITLE II--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

     SEC. 201. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

       (a) Names of Wilderness Areas.--Each wilderness area named 
     in title I shall--
       (1) consist of the quantity of land referenced with respect 
     to that named area, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
     ``Utah BLM Wilderness Proposed by H.R. 1630, 113th 
     Congress''; and
       (2) be known by the name given to it in title I.
       (b) Map and Description.--
       (1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a 
     legal description of each wilderness area designated by this 
     Act with--
       (A) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate.
       (2) Force of law.--A map and legal description filed under 
     paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if 
     included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct 
     clerical and typographical errors in the map and legal 
     description.
       (3) Public availability.--Each map and legal description 
     filed under paragraph (1) shall be filed and made available 
     for public inspection in the Office of the Director of the 
     Bureau of Land Management.

     SEC. 202. ADMINISTRATION.

        Subject to valid rights in existence on the date of 
     enactment of this Act, each wilderness area designated under 
     this Act shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance 
     with--
       (1) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
     U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
       (2) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).

     SEC. 203. STATE SCHOOL TRUST LAND WITHIN WILDERNESS AREAS.

       (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), if State-owned 
     land is included in an area designated by this Act as a 
     wilderness area, the Secretary shall offer to exchange land 
     owned by the United States in the State of approximately 
     equal value in accordance with section 603(c) of the Federal 
     Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1782(c)) 
     and section 5(a) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1134(a)).
       (b) Mineral Interests.--The Secretary shall not transfer 
     any mineral interests under subsection (a) unless the State 
     transfers to the Secretary any mineral interests in land 
     designated by this Act as a wilderness area.

     SEC. 204. WATER.

       (a) Reservation.--
       (1) Water for wilderness areas.--
       (A) In general.--With respect to each wilderness area 
     designated by this Act, Congress reserves a quantity of water 
     determined by the Secretary to be sufficient for the 
     wilderness area.
       (B) Priority date.--The priority date of a right reserved 
     under subparagraph (A) shall be the date of enactment of this 
     Act.
       (2) Protection of rights.--The Secretary and other officers 
     and employees of the United States shall take any steps 
     necessary to protect the rights reserved by paragraph (1)(A), 
     including the filing of a claim for the quantification of the 
     rights in any present or future appropriate stream 
     adjudication in the courts of the State--
       (A) in which the United States is or may be joined; and
       (B) that is conducted in accordance with section 208 of the 
     Department of Justice Appropriation Act, 1953 (66 Stat. 560, 
     chapter 651).
       (b) Prior Rights Not Affected.--Nothing in this Act 
     relinquishes or reduces any water rights reserved or 
     appropriated by the United States in the State on or before 
     the date of enactment of this Act.
       (c) Administration.--
       (1) Specification of rights.--The Federal water rights 
     reserved by this Act are specific to the wilderness areas 
     designated by this Act.
       (2) No precedent established.--Nothing in this Act related 
     to reserved Federal water rights--
       (A) shall establish a precedent with regard to any future 
     designation of water rights; or
       (B) shall affect the interpretation of any other Act or any 
     designation made under any other Act.

     SEC. 205. ROADS.

       (a) Setbacks.--
       (1) Measurement in general.--A setback under this section 
     shall be measured from the center line of the road.
       (2) Wilderness on 1 side of roads.--Except as provided in 
     subsection (b), a setback for a road with wilderness on only 
     1 side shall be set at--
       (A) 300 feet from a paved Federal or State highway;
       (B) 100 feet from any other paved road or high standard 
     dirt or gravel road; and
       (C) 30 feet from any other road.
       (3) Wilderness on both sides of roads.--Except as provided 
     in subsection (b), a setback for a road with wilderness on 
     both sides (including cherry-stems or roads separating 2 
     wilderness units) shall be set at--
       (A) 200 feet from a paved Federal or State highway;
       (B) 40 feet from any other paved road or high standard dirt 
     or gravel road; and
       (C) 10 feet from any other roads.
       (b) Setback Exceptions.--
       (1) Well-defined topographical barriers.--If, between the 
     road and the boundary of a setback area described in 
     paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a), there is a well-
     defined cliff edge, stream bank, or other topographical 
     barrier, the Secretary shall use the barrier as the 
     wilderness boundary.
       (2) Fences.--If, between the road and the boundary of a 
     setback area specified in paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection 
     (a), there is a fence running parallel to a road, the 
     Secretary shall use the fence as the wilderness boundary if, 
     in the opinion of the Secretary, doing so would result in a 
     more manageable boundary.
       (3) Deviations from setback areas.--
       (A) Exclusion of disturbances from wilderness boundaries.--
     In cases where there is an existing livestock development, 
     dispersed camping area, borrow pit, or similar disturbance 
     within 100 feet of a road that forms part of a wilderness 
     boundary, the Secretary may delineate the boundary so as to 
     exclude the disturbance from the wilderness area.
       (B) Limitation on exclusion of disturbances.--The Secretary 
     shall make a boundary adjustment under subparagraph (A) only 
     if the Secretary determines that doing so is consistent with 
     wilderness management goals.
       (C) Deviations restricted to minimum necessary.--Any 
     deviation under this paragraph from the setbacks required 
     under in paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a) shall be the 
     minimum necessary to exclude the disturbance.
       (c) Delineation Within Setback Area.--The Secretary may 
     delineate a wilderness boundary at a location within a 
     setback under paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a) if, as 
     determined by the Secretary, the delineation would enhance 
     wilderness management goals.

     SEC. 206. LIVESTOCK.

        Within the wilderness areas designated under title I, the 
     grazing of livestock authorized on the date of enactment of 
     this Act shall be permitted to continue subject to such 
     reasonable regulations and procedures as the Secretary 
     considers necessary, as long as the regulations and 
     procedures are consistent with--
       (1) the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
       (2) section 101(f) of the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 
     1990 (Public Law 101-628; 104 Stat. 4469).

     SEC. 207. FISH AND WILDLIFE.

        Nothing in this Act affects the jurisdiction of the State 
     with respect to wildlife and fish on the public land located 
     in the State.

     SEC. 208. MANAGEMENT OF NEWLY ACQUIRED LAND.

        Any land within the boundaries of a wilderness area 
     designated under this Act that is acquired by the Federal 
     Government shall--
       (1) become part of the wilderness area in which the land is 
     located; and
       (2) be managed in accordance with this Act and other laws 
     applicable to wilderness areas.

     SEC. 209. WITHDRAWAL.

        Subject to valid rights existing on the date of enactment 
     of this Act, the Federal land referred to in title I is 
     withdrawn from all forms of--
       (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under public law;
       (2) location, entry, and patent under mining law; and
       (3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and 
     geothermal leasing or mineral materials.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Casey):
  S. 3057. A bill to modernize the Older Americans Act of 1965, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, there is a great deal of activity going 
on as we seek to conclude the negotiations on so many important issues. 
However, I don't want us to lose sight of the expiration of the 
authorization of the Older Americans Act--a very important law that 
makes a big difference for many of our seniors all across our country--
so I rise today to introduce a reauthorization of that important law 
called the Modernization of the Older Americans

[[Page S7054]]

Act. I am pleased to sponsor this reauthorization with Senator Bob 
Casey, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Special Committee 
on Aging, of which I am the chair.
  Since 1965, the Older Americans Act has ensured that seniors receive 
the support they need to grow older independently and with dignity. The 
OAA programs provide nutritious food, transportation, assistance to 
caregivers, and in-home services for older adults. Our investments 
foster a sense of community for older adults and save taxpayers money 
by reducing hospitalizations and the need for long-term residential 
care.
  I know the Presiding Officer would agree that most seniors would 
prefer to remain in the comfort, security, and privacy of their own 
homes if they possibly can. It is the programs of the Older Americans 
Act that help to make that possible.
  As our population grows older, the demand for Older American Act 
services has grown as well. For example, Meals on Wheels--perhaps the 
best known of all the OAA programs--provided seniors with 358 million 
meals last year. In many States, the need is soaring. In Maine, which 
is the oldest State by median age in the country, there is a waiting 
list of 400 to 1,500 seniors, depending on the time of the year and the 
location within our State.
  This reauthorization helps to ensure that more seniors in need of 
nutritious food can be served. At $11 a day, a meal is far cheaper than 
a $2,400 average cost of a daily hospital stay. Let me give an example 
of what I mean by that. Using Older Americans Act dollars, the Southern 
Maine Agency on Aging conducted a pilot study that provided seniors 
discharged from hospitals with 4 weeks' worth of prepared meals. The 
results were astounding. Hospital readmissions were reduced by 38 
percent--a 387-percent return on investment. If you scaled that 
nationwide, the savings would be an astronomical $51 billion annually--
just ensuring that a senior who is discharged from the hospital has 4 
weeks' worth of prepared meals available to him or her.
  We have also included several provisions in the reauthorization to 
combat social isolation, which can have devastating health effects. In 
fact, estimates are that prolonged isolation and loneliness have an 
impact on health that is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 
Just think of that.
  My State is already on the forefront of combating this epidemic of 
isolation. Using Older Americans Act funding, the Maine Eastern Area 
Agency on Aging has partnered with the University of Maine to implement 
Project Generations, which brings student volunteers into the homes of 
local seniors for visits. Our reauthorization includes an increased 
focus on the detrimental effects of social isolation and would provide 
States with more resources to develop programs like Project 
Generations. What a wonderful program this is. It not only gives some 
company that an older American might not have, but also it is great for 
those students to have the interaction with our seniors. It truly is a 
win-win program.
  Flexibility and innovation have always been at the heart of the Older 
Americans Act. What may be needed in the Presiding Officer's home State 
may be different from what is needed in the State of Maine. Our 
reauthorization would help communities continue to find creative 
solutions to meet the needs of our seniors. For example, the Southern 
Maine Agency on Aging restructured its congregate meals program by 
hosting meals in multigenerational settings, such as hospital and 
college cafeterias and small local restaurants. Since then, the program 
has grown by 55 percent and boosted the local economy by increasing the 
number of diners from rural areas by 61 percent in the first 5 years.
  It is much more interesting for our seniors to go out to a local 
restaurant for a congregate meal than in some cases going to a senior 
center. It may be more interesting for them to go to a college 
cafeteria and have that interaction with younger people. Whatever 
works, that is the answer. In some areas, it may work to do a college 
or hospital cafeteria; in another, it is a senior center; and in still 
others, it may be the local diner that is providing the meal.
  The core of the Older Americans Act is protecting the most vulnerable 
of our older Americans. One critical program is the Long-Term Care 
Ombudsman Program. This provides advocacy for residents in long-term 
care facilities, assisting with discharge and also protecting their 
rights.
  There was a disturbing story in one of the weekend newspapers in 
Maine about a nursing home that was not living up to the quality 
standards that we need, and that is where the ombudsman program can be 
absolutely critical because a lot of times, the relatives of residents 
are very cautious about complaining. They are fearful that their loved 
one may have nowhere else to go. So the ombudsman program is an 
important quality control program.
  At an Aging Committee hearing this May, the executive director of 
Maine's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Brenda Gallant, shared the 
story of a 94-year-old woman whom she was able to help transition from 
a nursing home back to her own home after recovering from a fractured 
hip. Brenda connected the woman with the resources and the technologies 
to make the transition a smooth one and to help her live successfully 
back in her own home, just where she wanted to be.
  The Older Americans Act is a shining example of a Federal policy that 
works. Every dollar invested into the Older Americans Act generates $3 
by helping seniors stay at home through highly effective and lower cost 
community-based services.
  I thank the dozens of stakeholders we have worked with over the past 
several months. We have gotten lots of input in preparing this 
reauthorization, including from the Leadership Council of Aging 
Organizations, AARP, the National Association of Area Agencies on 
Aging, Advancing States, the National Alliance for Caregiving, Meals on 
Wheels America, and the Alzheimer's Association.
  I ask unanimous consent to print these many letters of support in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


                                                         AARP,

                                                December 16, 2019.
     Hon. Susan Collins,
     Chair, Special Committee on Aging,
     U.S. Senate.
     Hon. Bob Casey,
     Ranking Member, Special Committee on Aging,
     U.S. Senate.
       Dear Senators Collins and Casey: On behalf of our nearly 38 
     million members and all older Americans nationwide, AARP is 
     pleased to support the Modernization of the Older Americans 
     Act Amendments, legislation to reauthorize the Older 
     Americans Act (OAA). We appreciate your leadership and the 
     bipartisan work of Senate Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor and Pensions Chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking 
     Member Patty Murray in developing this legislation, and 
     encourage prompt reauthorization of OAA.
       The Older Americans Act has a powerful legacy. Since 1965 
     it has provided older Americans with the support they need to 
     live at home with independence and dignity. In 2017 alone, 
     OAA programs provided services for over 11 million older 
     adults. Those services include home care, congregate and 
     home-delivered meals, case management, family caregiver 
     support, transportation, adult day care, legal services, 
     elder abuse prevention, and job training and employment 
     opportunities for low-income older adults. OAA programs serve 
     the needs of older Americans while deferring or eliminating 
     the need for costly institutionalization.
       The Modernization of the Older Americans Act Amendments 
     builds on this legacy. The legislation further strengthens 
     the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) by 
     helping to make sure that more caregivers can get their needs 
     assessed when they turn to the program for support, extends 
     the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, and increases funding levels 
     to support the needs of the growing older population. This 
     legislation, which will promote greater responsiveness to the 
     needs of older Americans and their caregivers, comes at a 
     critical time. From 2019 to 2030 we expect to see the 80+ 
     population grow by 54 percent. This age group is among the 
     most likely to need help living independently in their homes 
     and communities .
       Again, thank you for your bipartisan leadership in 
     advancing this important legislation. We urge prompt 
     reauthorization so that our loved ones can continue to turn 
     to these services for their health and economic security as 
     they age. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
           Sincerely,

                                               Megan O'Reilly,

       Vice President, Federal Health & Family Government Affairs.

[[Page S7055]]

     
                                  ____
                             National Alliance for Caregiving,

                                                November 15, 2019.
     Re Senator Collins ``Modernization of the Older Americans Act 
         Amendments'' bill in the 116th Congress.

     Hon. Susan Collins,
     Chairman,
     Special Committee on Aging.
       On behalf of the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), we 
     are happy to support Senator Collins ``Modernization of the 
     Older Americans Act Amendments'' bill. Thank you for the 
     opportunity to participate in the reauthorization process for 
     the Older Americans Act. This law is one of the most 
     underrecognized supports for family caregivers of adults, and 
     your leadership in the goal to strengthen families and the 
     dignity and independence of aging adults is critical to the 
     communities we serve.
       We were excited to have the opportunity to come and meet 
     with your staff and to explore ways that family caregiving 
     could be supported with this reauthorization. Your leadership 
     and commitment to families is evident in the latest draft of 
     the bill and we appreciate the opportunity to provide our 
     input, as follows:
       1. NAC recommended that the bill increase the authorized 
     funding level for the National Family Caregiver Support 
     Program (Title IIIE) from the current appropriated level of 
     $181.2 million to $360 million. We recognize that OAA funding 
     has not kept pace with inflation and the growing demands 
     placed on families as the population ages. We remain hopeful 
     that you will be able to support our request.
       2. NAC recommended that the bill direct the Assistant 
     Secretary (in Title II) to award a grant to or enter into a 
     cooperative agreement with a public or private nonprofit 
     entity to establish and operate a National Resource Center on 
     Family Caregiving. Although the draft bill does not 
     specifically direct the creation of the Resource Center, 
     Section 215 of the Modernization of the Older Americans Act 
     includes language pertaining to ``(i) Activities of National 
     Significance, which offers a potential for the creation of a 
     Resource Center. We suggest the following modification to 
     strengthen that section:

       (i) Activities of National Significance.--The Assistant 
     Secretary [may] shall award funds authorized under this 
     section to one or more public or private nonprofit entities 
     with appropriate caregiving expertise for conducting 
     activities of national significance that--
       (1[2]) include, with respect to such programs, program 
     evaluation, training, technical assistance, materials, 
     dissemination, and research; and
       ([1]2) promote quality and continuous improvement in the 
     support provided to family caregivers and older relative 
     caregivers through programs carried out under this section 
     and section 631.

       3. We recommended extending the RAISE Family Caregivers Act 
     of 2017, and we appreciate the current draft bill which would 
     extend the act for five years.
       4. Section 215 of the current draft bill about the National 
     Family Caregiver Support Program addresses our recommendation 
     to increase the use of standardized family caregiver 
     assessment tools. The inclusion of a clear definition for 
     caregiver assessment, identifying and disseminating best 
     practices, and calling for a report on the status of 
     caregiver assessment are excellent proposals to successfully 
     expand assessment tools and access to services for family 
     caregivers.
       5. NAC's fifth recommendation was to direct the Assistant 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a plan to 
     implement recommendation 1-g from the National Academies of 
     Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's ``Families Caring for 
     and Aging America'' report: ``Launch a multi-agency research 
     program sufficiently robust to evaluate caregiver 
     interventions in real-world health care and community 
     settings, across diverse conditions and populations, and with 
     respect to a broad array of outcomes.'' Noting that this is 
     not in the current draft, we would offer our expertise and be 
     happy to participate in further conversation about how such a 
     research program might be created.
       Again, thank you and we look forward to a successful 
     reauthorization this year.
           Kind regards,
     C. Grace Whiting, J.D,
       President, CEO.
     Michael R. Wittke, B.S.W., M.P.A.,
       Senior Director, Public Policy and Advocacy.
                                  ____


                                        West Health Institute,

                                                 December 2, 2019.
     Hon. Susan Collins.
       Dear Senator Collins: On behalf of the Gary and Mary West 
     Health Institute (WHI), I am writing to thank you and your 
     staff for your tireless efforts to reauthorize the Older 
     Americans Act (OAA). Originally enacted in 1965, the OAA 
     supports a range of vital home- and community-based programs, 
     such as Meals on Wheels and other nutritional support; in-
     home, transportation and legal services; and elder abuse 
     prevention and caregiver support. Protecting seniors' access 
     to these services is critical in light of the growing 
     population of U.S. seniors, which is projected to reach 56 
     million in 2020 and more than 73 million by 2030. We urge 
     your colleagues to support reauthorization of this critical 
     legislation before the end of the year.
       Based in San Diego, WHI is an applied medical research 
     organization and part of nonprofit and nonpartisan West 
     Health, which also includes the Gary and Mary West Foundation 
     and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center. Our 
     organizations work together toward a shared mission dedicated 
     to lowering the cost of healthcare to enable seniors to 
     successfully age in place with access to high-quality, 
     affordable health and support services that preserve and 
     protect their dignity, quality of life and independence.
       One of West Health's flagship programs is the Gary and Mary 
     West Senior Wellness Center in downtown San Diego. At the 
     Senior Wellness Center, which is operated by the nonprofit 
     Serving Seniors, low-income seniors receive coordinated care 
     and social support services--all under one roof. Since it 
     opened in 2010, the Center has served over 1.7 million 
     nutritious meals and has provided more than 10,000 seniors 
     with services they need from the Center's 30 collaborative 
     partners, including the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental 
     Center--a separate, onsite nonprofit dental clinic providing 
     affordable oral care to low-income seniors.
       In recent years, West Health has focused on shining a light 
     on one of the greatest threats to successful aging: senior 
     malnutrition. Malnutrition disproportionally affects seniors. 
     One out of two seniors are at risk, and disease-associated 
     malnutrition in seniors is estimated to cost $51.3 billion 
     annually. With our nation's rapidly growing senior 
     population, the impact of malnutrition will be even greater 
     if action is not taken now. Thank you for adding malnutrition 
     to routine health screenings in your draft legislation as 
     well as H.R. 4334.
       We fully appreciate the value of OAA funded programs in 
     enriching seniors' lives and urge Congress to reauthorize the 
     OAA this year at the highest possible authorization levels. 
     On behalf of the seniors we serve, thank you for your 
     advocacy and leadership.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Shelley Lyford,
     President and Chief Executive Officer.
                                  ____

         National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services 
           Programs,
                                Washington, DC, November 16, 2019.

             NANASP Older Americans Act Draft Bill Comments

     To the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) 
         Committee Majority:

       Thank you for providing an opportunity to share comments on 
     the draft bill you released for the 2019 Older Americans Act 
     reauthorization.
       NANASP is pleased that Sen. Collins' Older Americans Act 
     proposal includes:
       Increased authorizations for funding levels. The bill 
     includes continued increases over the next seven federal 
     fiscal years (FY) for Older Americans Act programs, including 
     an increase of over $473 million total for Older Americans 
     Act nutrition programs by FY 2026--increases that are sorely 
     needed for programs that are stretched thin by growing 
     demand.
       An increased focus on malnutrition. The bill includes new 
     provisions for malnutrition screening and adds reduction of 
     malnutrition to the purposes of the nutrition program. Since 
     more than one in two older adults is at risk for 
     malnutrition, which increases their risk of disease and 
     death, it is vital to detect this condition early.
       Simpler transfer authority between congregate and home-
     delivered meals programs. The bill includes language 
     instructing states to ensure that the transfer process for 
     nutrition programs is simplified and clarified, maximizing 
     efficiency and minimizing paperwork and confusion.
       Creation of a nutrition program impact study. This study 
     would assess how to measure and evaluate the discrepancy 
     between available nutrition services and the demand for such 
     services, which would ultimately lead to data to strengthen 
     the case for much-needed future funding increases for 
     nutrition programs.
       Inclusion of culturally considerate and medically tailored 
     meals in nutrition programs' offerings to the maximum extent 
     practicable. As the older population becomes more diverse, it 
     is important to take newly diverse preferences into 
     consideration when providing meals. Medically tailored meals 
     have also been shown to reduce disease burden in older adults 
     and are important to consider offering as well.
       An increased focus on social isolation. Through the first-
     time inclusion of social isolation screening, further 
     coordination of services to address this issue, and creation 
     of an advisory council on social isolation, Older Americans 
     Act programs and services can even more effectively address 
     the needs of socially isolated older adults.
       Strengthened family caregiver provisions. Caregivers, 
     including older relative caregivers, need support, and this 
     bill would increase the use of caregiver assessments to 
     analyze their needs as well as allow individual states to 
     determine spending needs for older relative caregivers.
       If you have any questions, please contact NANASP's Policy 
     and Advocacy Director Meredith Whitmire.
     Bob Blancato,
       Executive Director.
     Meredith Whitmire,
       Policy and Advocacy Director.
                                  ____



[[Page S7056]]




                                  Alzheimer's Impact Movement,

                                                November 15, 2019.
     Hon. Susan Collins,
     Chairman, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.
       Dear Chairman Collins: On behalf of the Alzheimer's 
     Association and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), 
     including our nationwide network of advocates, thank you for 
     your continued leadership on issues and legislation important 
     to Americans living with Alzheimer's and other dementias, and 
     their caregivers. In addition, thank you for working in a 
     bipartisan manner to reauthorize this important program, 
     including the hearing held by the Senate Special Committee on 
     Aging. We are proud to support this draft of the Older 
     Americans Act (OAA) reauthorization and are pleased to 
     highlight several provisions that are critical to persons 
     living with dementia, families, and their caregivers.
       We strongly support the inclusion in the draft of language 
     codifying existing authority to provide services to 
     individuals living with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease 
     under the National Family Caregiver Support Program and the 
     Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. We are very appreciative 
     for the inclusion of these key elements of the Younger-Onset 
     Alzheimer's Disease Act (S. 901/H.R. 1903).
       There are approximately 5.8 million Americans living with 
     Alzheimer's disease. The vast majority of those individuals 
     are over the age of 65, however, approximately 200,000 
     Americans are under the age of 65 living with younger-onset 
     Alzheimer's disease. Individuals living with younger-onset 
     face unique challenges when it comes to family, work, and 
     finances. They may be parenting young children at home, or 
     still be working as the primary income provider for their 
     families. Due to their young age, they may have more trouble 
     receiving an accurate diagnosis, and even family and friends 
     might question their diagnosis. The stigma associated with 
     younger-onset Alzheimer's can have a significant impact on 
     their well-being and quality of life.
       Since 97 percent of all people living with Alzheimer's are 
     age 65 or older, current Alzheimer's support infrastructure 
     focuses exclusively on seniors. As a result, few supportive 
     services are available to those with younger-onset. With 
     other diseases--like heart disease, diabetes, and even 
     cancer--many people living with them are middle-aged and 
     there is a large support structure available to them. Those 
     same support structures are not available for the individuals 
     living with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease. The services 
     provided under the OAA are particularly helpful for 
     individuals with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease and 
     related dementias who need assistance with activities of 
     daily living.
       The Younger-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Act is consistent 
     with the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. The 
     Advisory Council on Alzheimers Research. Care. and Services. 
     which is responsible for updating and implementing the Plan, 
     has noted that persons living with younger-onset Alzheimer's 
     face unique challenges in accessing care. In the 2017 
     National Plan, the Advisory Council recommended that Congress 
     amend the OAA to allow additional services to be provided to 
     younger adults living with dementia.
       The Alzheimer's Association and AIM also deeply appreciate 
     the bill's extension of the authorization for the RAISE 
     Family Caregivers Act from 3 years to 8 years. We have been 
     strong advocates for the RAISE Family Caregivers Act since it 
     was introduced in Congress. There has been a delay in the 
     implementation of the Act and the decision to extend the 
     authorization allows the Department of Health and Human 
     Services to better develop a national strategy for education 
     and training, long-term services and supports, and financial 
     stability and security for caregivers.
       For millions of Americans caring for individuals with 
     Alzheimer's and other dementias the emotional, physical, and 
     financial costs can be overwhelming. Caregivers of people 
     with dementia report higher levels of stress, depression, and 
     worse health outcomes than those providing care to 
     individuals without dementia. As a result, Alzheimer's 
     caregivers incurred $11.8 billion in additional health costs 
     last year. We appreciate the bill prioritizing this important 
     program.
       We also applaud the bill's strengthening of caregiver 
     assessments. In 2018, more than 16 million unpaid caregivers 
     provided 18.5 billion hours of care valued at nearly $234 
     billion and face the challenges noted above. Eighty-three 
     percent of the help provided to older adults in the United 
     States comes from family members, friends, or other unpaid 
     caregivers. Nearly half of all caregivers who provide help to 
     older adults do so for someone living with Alzheimer's or 
     another dementia. Alzheimer's takes a devastating toll on 
     caregivers. Compared with caregivers of people without 
     dementia, twice as many caregivers of those with dementia 
     indicate substantial emotional, financial, and physical 
     difficulties. Of the total lifetime cost of caring for 
     someone with dementia, 70 percent is borne by families--
     either through out-of-pocket health and long-term care 
     expenses or from the value of unpaid care.
       These dedicated caregivers would greatly benefit from 
     increased resources, training, and support to help them 
     navigate the strain of caregiving and improve their health 
     and quality of life. The proposed changes would provide these 
     caregivers with much-needed resources through the National 
     Family Caregiver Support Program, increase the use of 
     caregiver assessments, and identify best practices relating 
     to the programs. These important actions will enhance support 
     for caregivers through skills building, increased resources 
     and information, respite care, counseling, and other helpful 
     benefits.
       Finally, the Association and AIM appreciate your commitment 
     to supporting individuals facing social isolation with the 
     inclusion of a report on social isolation. Social isolation 
     is an issue within the aging community as a whole, and 
     particularly in the Alzheimer's and related dementias 
     community. Studies have found that support groups can 
     decrease social isolation and increase social support, 
     ability to accept the diagnosis, cope with symptoms, improve 
     quality of life, and enhance family communication 
     (Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Practice 
     Recommendations, 2018). Support programs offered through the 
     National Family Caregiver Support Program can work to 
     decrease social isolation. We appreciate the bill's inclusion 
     of a study on the effectiveness of these programs.
       Again, thank you for your leadership in ensuring OAA's 
     reauthorization, which will improve the quality of care for 
     people living with Alzheimer's. If you have any questions, 
     please contact Rachel Conant, Vice President of Federal 
     Affairs.
           Sincerely,

                                                  Robert Egge,

                                      Chief Public Policy Officer,
     Executive Vice President, Government Affairs.
                                  ____

                                            The Jewish Federations


                                             of North America,

                                                November 25, 2019.
     Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,
     U.S. Senate.
     Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,
     U.S. Senate.
     Chairman Lamar Alexander,
     HELP Committee, U.S. Senate.
     Ranking Member Patty Murray,
     HELP Committee, U.S. Senate.
       Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Chairman Alexander 
     and Ranking Member Murray: The Jewish Federations of North 
     America (JFNA) is proud to endorse the Modernization of the 
     Older Americans Act Amendments. JFNA represents 146 local 
     Jewish Federations, 300 Network communities, and thousands of 
     affiliated social service agencies across the continent. Our 
     movement protects and enhances the well-being of Jews 
     worldwide through the values of tikkun olam (repairing the 
     world), tzedakah (charity and social justice) and torah 
     (Jewish learning). Jewish social services provide support for 
     more than one million vulnerable individuals each year, 
     Jewish and non-Jewish alike, including approximately 100,000 
     older adults.
       For more than 50 years, the Older Americans Act (OAA) has 
     been essential in developing, coordinating, and delivering 
     home and community-based services that help older adults age 
     with independence and dignity in their homes and communities. 
     Without these crucial services, many individuals served by 
     OAA-funded programs in our network are at significant risk of 
     hunger, isolation, and losing their ability to live with 
     health and independence.
       The Jewish community is disproportionately older than the 
     general population in this country with approximately 28% of 
     American Jews already over the age of 65, and the fastest 
     growing demographic in the Jewish community is those over the 
     age of 85. Jewish family service agencies, Jewish vocational 
     service agencies and Jewish community centers are a key 
     component of the country's Aging Services Network and, in a 
     classic public-private partnership, provide many services 
     funded through the OAA, including case management, 
     transportation, congregate and home-delivered meals, adult 
     day care, elder abuse prevention and intervention, family 
     caregiver support, home care, legal conservatorship, and 
     support groups.
       This year's reauthorization process produced the 
     Modernization of the Older Americans Act Amendments in the 
     Senate, a bill that, if enacted, will significantly move the 
     ball forward in how our country and its Aging Services 
     Network treat and care for seniors. The very first 
     substantive provision of the bill (after the authorization of 
     appropriations) incorporates ``person-centered, trauma-
     informed care'' (``PCTI'') as a new objective of the Older 
     Americans Act. This principle, which is subsequently defined 
     in the bill, represents a new trend in service delivery that 
     will positively impact both clients and agencies. It 
     incorporates a holistic approach to service provision that 
     promotes the dignity, strength, and empowerment of trauma 
     victims by referencing knowledge about the role of trauma in 
     trauma victims' lives. The inclusion of the PCTI approach in 
     this bill is indicative of the forward and necessary progress 
     embedded in the Modernization of the Older Americans Act 
     Amendments.
       The Modernization of the Older Americans Act Amendments 
     authorizes a technical assistance center to serve older 
     adults experiencing the long-term and adverse consequences of 
     trauma. This includes but is not limited to Holocaust 
     survivors. Holocaust

[[Page S7057]]

     survivors are specifically mentioned for the first time 
     within the Older Americans Act in the context of providing 
     additional outreach to older individuals ``including 
     Holocaust survivors'' who are at risk of institutional 
     placement. The bill also emphasizes cultural considerations 
     in the provision of congregate and home-delivered meals.
       This Older American Act reauthorization incorporates new 
     support for age-friendly communities, a major new focus on 
     social isolation in older adults, an updating of, recognition 
     and support for multigenerational families, and assistance to 
     family caregivers with an extension of the RAISE Family 
     Caregivers Act. Each of these provisions and many others 
     contained in the bill will serve our nation well. JFNA also 
     is pleased with the lengthy reauthorization period and 
     relatively robust funding increases for the Older Americans 
     Act, which help safeguard support and removes uncertainty for
       Collectively, this reauthorization vehicle that is very 
     worthy of support and JFNA looks forward to its enactment.
           Sincerely,
     Stephan O, Kline,
         Interim Director of the Washington Office and Associate 
           Vice President, Public Policy The Jewish Federations of 
           North America.
                                  ____



                                             Advancing States,

                                                 December 9, 2019.
     Majority Leader McConnell,
     U.S. Senate.
     Minority Leader Schumer,
     U.S. Senate.
       Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer: 
     On behalf of ADvancing States, I am writing you in support of 
     efforts to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA). 
     ADvancing States is a nonpartisan association of state 
     government agencies that represents the nation's 56 state and 
     territorial agencies on aging and disabilities. We work to 
     support visionary state leadership, the advancement of state 
     systems innovation, and the development of national policies 
     that support home and community-based services for older 
     adults and persons with disabilities. Our members administer 
     a wide range of services and supports for older adults and 
     people with disabilities, including overseeing OAA programs 
     and services in every state. Together with our members, we 
     work to design, improve, and sustain state systems delivering 
     long-term services and supports for people who are older or 
     have a disability and for their caregivers.
       We are writing to you to strongly encourage the U.S. Senate 
     to pass a bill to reauthorize the OAA as soon as possible. 
     Authorization for critical OAA programs, such as 
     homedelivered meals and caregiver supports, expired September 
     30, 2019. We know that members of the Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions committee have been working diligently to 
     craft a bill to reauthorize the OAA. We appreciate these 
     bipartisan efforts and strongly encourage the U.S. Senate to 
     pass a bill to reauthorize the OAA as soon as possible.
       If you have any questions regarding this letter, please 
     feel free to contact Damon Terzaghi or Adam Mosey.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Martha Roherty,
                                               Executive Director.

  Ms. COLLINS. I urge my colleagues to take a look at this bipartisan 
bill.
  We are overdue to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. This is our 
opportunity not only to reauthorize it but to make it even better and 
more responsive to the needs of America's older Americans.
  Thank you very much.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN:
  S. 3058. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to 
establish fair and consistent eligibility requirements for graduate 
medical schools operating outside the United States and Canada; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3058

       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 ``Foreign Medical School 
     Accountability Fairness Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       To establish consistent eligibility requirements for 
     graduate medical schools operating outside of the United 
     States and Canada in order to increase accountability and 
     protect American students and taxpayer dollars.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Three for-profit schools in the Caribbean have 
     historically received nearly \3/4\ of all Federal funding 
     under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1070 et seq.) that goes to students enrolled at foreign 
     graduate medical schools, despite those three schools being 
     exempt from meeting the same eligibility requirements as the 
     majority of graduate medical schools located outside of the 
     United States and Canada.
       (2) The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and 
     Accreditation and the Department of Education recommend that 
     all foreign graduate medical schools should be required to 
     meet the same eligibility requirements to participate in 
     Federal funding under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
       (3) The attrition rate at United States medical schools 
     averaged 3.3 percent between 1993 and 2013, while rates at 
     for-profit Caribbean medical schools have been known to reach 
     30 percent.
       (4) In 2019, residency match rates for foreign trained 
     graduates averaged 59 percent compared to 94 percent for 
     graduates of allopathic medical schools in the United States.
       (5) On average, students at for-profit medical schools 
     operating outside of the United States and Canada amass more 
     student debt than those at medical schools in the United 
     States.

     SEC. 4. REPEAL GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS.

       Section 102(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1002(a)(2)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(i) in the case of a graduate medical school located 
     outside the United States--

       ``(I) at least 60 percent of those enrolled in, and at 
     least 60 percent of the graduates of, the graduate medical 
     school outside the United States were not persons described 
     in section 484(a)(5) in the year preceding the year for which 
     a student is seeking a loan under part D of title IV; and
       ``(II) at least 75 percent of the individuals who were 
     students or graduates of the graduate medical school outside 
     the United States or Canada (both nationals of the United 
     States and others) taking the examinations administered by 
     the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates 
     received a passing score in the year preceding the year for 
     which a student is seeking a loan under part D of title 
     IV;''; and

       (2) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by adding at the end the 
     following:

       ``(V) Expiration of authority.--The authority of a graduate 
     medical school described in subclause (I) to qualify for 
     participation in the loan programs under part D of title IV 
     pursuant to this clause shall expire beginning on the first 
     July 1 following the date of enactment of the Foreign Medical 
     School Accountability Fairness Act of 2019.''.

     SEC. 5. LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.

       If a graduate medical school loses eligibility to 
     participate in the loan programs under part D of title IV of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) 
     due to the enactment of the amendments made by section 4, 
     then a student enrolled at such graduate medical school on or 
     before the date of enactment of this Act may, notwithstanding 
     such loss of eligibility, continue to be eligible to receive 
     a loan under such part D while attending such graduate 
     medical school in which the student was enrolled upon the 
     date of enactment of this Act, subject to the student 
     continuing to meet all applicable requirements for 
     satisfactory academic progress, until the earliest of--
       (1) withdrawal by the student from the graduate medical 
     school;
       (2) completion of the program of study by the student at 
     the graduate medical school; or
       (3) the fourth June 30 after such loss of eligibility.

                          ____________________