[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1984-S1991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. McCONNELL (for himself and Ms. Sinema):
  S. 1133. A bill to direct the Director of the National Institutes of 
Health, in consultation with the Director of the National Heart, Lung, 
and Blood Institute, to establish a program to support or conduct 
research on valvular heart disease, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, now, on an entirely different matter, 
colleagues in Congress and my fellow Kentuckians were heartbroken last 
June when our dear friend, Carol Leavell Barr, suddenly and 
unexpectedly passed away.
  She left behind two beautiful young daughters and an adoring husband 
in Congressman   Andy Barr. She was only 39 years old. Since then, we 
have learned her fatal heart attack was likely the result of an 
underlying condition called mitral valve prolapse.
  Carol was diagnosed at a young age. Like millions of Americans with 
heart valve defects, she lived for many years with no apparent 
symptoms. Tragically, it only took an instant for her condition to turn 
deadly. Approximately 25,000 Americans each year lose their lives from 
this heart valve disease. Her passing deprived the Barr family of an 
extraordinary wife and mother. We all lost a warm and uplifting friend.
  One of the most troubling aspects of this syndrome is just how much 
we still don't know. So Congressman Barr is taking action. He 
introduced the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities 
Legacy Act, the CAROL Act. It would encourage new research into 
valvular heart disease, help us better understand the risks, and bring 
together top experts to identify potential treatments.
  With this legislation, we can help prevent more families from 
enduring this tragedy. More than 120 House colleagues have already 
cosponsored the CAROL Act. It has also earned the support of major 
health advocacy groups.
  So today, I am proud to introduce the CAROL Act here in the Senate. I 
am grateful to partner with Senator Sinema, one of Congressman Barr's 
friends from their days serving together in the House. This important 
legislation is a fitting tribute to a wonderful Kentuckian. It embodies 
Carol's lifetime of service to others, and I look forward to its 
passage.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.

[[Page S1985]]

  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows

                                S. 1133

       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 ``Cardiovascular Advances in 
     Research and Opportunities Legacy Act''.

     SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR VALVULAR HEART DISEASE RESEARCH.

       Subpart 2 of part C of title IV of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285b et seq.) is amended by inserting 
     after section 424C the following:

     ``SEC. 424D. GRANTS FOR VALVULAR HEART DISEASE RESEARCH.

       ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes 
     of Health, in consultation with the Director of the 
     Institute, shall support or conduct research regarding 
     valvular heart disease.
       ``(b) Support Guidelines.--The distribution of funding 
     authorized in subsection (a) may be used to pursue any of the 
     following outcomes:
       ``(1) Using precision medicine and advanced technological 
     imaging to generate data on individuals with valvular heart 
     disease.
       ``(2) Identifying and developing a cohort of individuals 
     with valvular heart disease and available data.
       ``(3) Corroborating data generated through clinical trials 
     to develop a prediction model to distinguish individuals at 
     high risk for sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death 
     from valvular heart disease.
       ``(4) Other outcomes needed to acquire necessary data on 
     valvular heart disease.
       ``(c) Mitral Valve Prolapse Workshop.--Not later than one 
     year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
     Director of the Institute shall convene a workshop composed 
     of subject matter experts and stakeholders to identify 
     research needs and opportunities to develop prescriptive 
     guidelines for treatment of individuals with mitral valve 
     prolapse.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
     through 2026.''.

     SEC. 3. PROGRAMS OF CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND 
                   PREVENTION.

       Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
     393D the following section:

     ``SEC. 393E. PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH AS A RESULT 
                   OF VALVULAR HEART DISEASE.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
     may carry out projects to increase education, awareness, or 
     diagnosis of valvular heart disease and to reduce the 
     incidence of sudden cardiac death caused by valvular heart 
     disease. Such projects may be carried out by the Secretary 
     directly or through awards of grants or contracts to public 
     or nonprofit private entities. The Secretary may directly (or 
     through such awards) provide technical assistance with 
     respect to the planning, development, and operation of such 
     projects.
       ``(b) Certain Activities.--Projects carried out under 
     subsection (a) may include--
       ``(1) the implementation of public information and 
     education programs for--
       ``(A) the prevention of sudden cardiac death from valvular 
     heart disease;
       ``(B) broadening the awareness of the public concerning the 
     risk factors for, the symptoms of, and the public health 
     consequences of, valvular heart disease; and
       ``(C) increasing screening, detection, and diagnosis of 
     valvular heart disease; and
       ``(2) surveillance of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests to 
     improve patient outcomes.
       ``(c) Grant Prioritization.--The Secretary may, in awarding 
     grants or entering into contracts pursuant to subsection (a), 
     give priority to entities seeking to carry out projects that 
     target populations most impacted by valvular heart disease.
       ``(d) Coordination of Activities.--The Secretary shall 
     ensure that activities under this section are coordinated, as 
     appropriate, with other agencies of the Public Health Service 
     that carry out activities regarding valvular heart disease.
       ``(e) Best Practices.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
     shall--
       ``(1) collect and analyze the findings of research 
     conducted with respect to valvular heart disease; and
       ``(2) taking into account such findings, publish on the 
     website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     best practices for physicians and other health care providers 
     who provide care to individuals with valvular heart disease.
       ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
     years 2022 through 2026.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Warner):
  S. 1155. A bill to reform Federal firearmslaws, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, it is painfully clear that existing Federal 
policies do not provide a comprehensive approach to address the 
national epidemic of gun violence. In fact, in 2019, for the third 
consecutive year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
reported gun violence as a leading cause of premature death in the 
United States resulting in the loss of 39,707 American lives--that is 
109 American lives lost each day. And unfortunately, 2020 was no 
different. Even as the Country was enduring an unprecedented global 
pandemic, communities across the country were left dealing with the 
ever-present threat of gun violence.
  There is single legislative action that can eradicate the complex and 
deeply rooted issues of gun violence. However, we must undertake the 
correct approach by focusing on many issues, including improvements to 
our mental health system, better security protocols, and commonsense 
rules about gun use and safety, such that keep firearms out of the 
hands of dangerous individuals.
  Virginians know all too well the heartbreaking consequences of gun 
violence. We have seen it in the tragedies of Virginia Tech and 
Virginia Beach and the countless drive-by shootings, domestic violence, 
and suicides by firearms. Yet the Commonwealth has chosen to 
acknowledge and address its unfortunate history of gun violence, and 
this past year adopted a series of gun violence prevention measures. 
These measures include legislation to enact an Extreme Risk Protective 
Order; an expansion of background checks on all gun sales; a mandate to 
report lost and stolen firearms; safeguards that prevent children from 
accessing firearms; and a reinstatement of Virginia's successful one-
handgun-a-month policy. The Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act of 
2021 builds on the newly adopted Virginia framework by creating a 
comprehensive package of policies at the federal level to reduce gun 
violence across the nation.
  With public support for commonsense rules at the highest it has ever 
been, we cannot wait until the next senseless tragedy before enacting 
commonsense gun policies. It is important to remember that gun violence 
is preventable and requires we take an evidence-based approach to 
create a more peaceful society, free of gun violence. I believe that 
the ``Virginia Plan'' will pave the way to advance meaningful gun 
reform and ultimately save lives.
  Now is the time to act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Ms. Hassan):
  S. 1161. A bill to promote focused research and innovation in quantum 
communications and quantum network infrastructure to bolster internet 
security, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. THUNE. 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. 1161

         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 ``Quantum Network 
     Infrastructure and Workforce Development Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

         In this Act:
         (1) ESEA definitions.--The terms ``elementary school'', 
     ``high school'', ``local educational agency'', and 
     ``secondary school'' have the meanings given those terms in 
     section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
         (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 2 of the National Quantum Initiative Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 8801).
         (3) Interagency working group.--The term ``Interagency 
     Working Group'' means the Interagency Working Group on 
     Workforce, Industry, and Infrastructure under the 
     Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science of the National 
     Science and Technology Council.
         (4) Q2work program.--The term ``Q2Work Program'' means 
     the Q2Work Program supported by the National Science 
     Foundation.
         (5) Quantum information science.--The term ``quantum 
     information science'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 2 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. 
     8801).
         (6) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics.

[[Page S1986]]

  


     SEC. 3. QUANTUM NETWORKING WORKING GROUP REPORT ON QUANTUM 
                   NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATIONS.

         (a) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Quantum Networking Working Group 
     within the Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science of the 
     National Science and Technology Council shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing a plan 
     for the advancement of quantum networking and communications 
     technology in the United States.
         (b) Requirements.--The report under subsection (a) shall 
     include--
         (1) a framework for interagency collaboration on the 
     advancement of quantum networking and communications 
     research;
         (2) a plan for interagency collaboration on the 
     development and drafting of international standards for 
     quantum communications technology, including standards 
     relating to--
         (A) quantum cryptography and post-quantum classical 
     cryptography;
         (B) network security;
         (C) quantum network infrastructure;
         (D) transmission of quantum information through optical 
     fiber networks; and
         (E) any other technologies considered appropriate by the 
     Working Group;
         (3) a proposal for the protection of national security 
     interests relating to the advancement of quantum networking 
     and communications technology;
         (4) recommendations to Congress for legislative action 
     relating to the framework, plan, and proposal set forth 
     pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively; and
         (5) such other matters as the Working Group considers 
     necessary to advance the security of communications and 
     network infrastructure, remain at the forefront of scientific 
     discovery in the quantum information science domain, and 
     transition quantum information science research into the 
     emerging quantum technology economy.

     SEC. 4. QUANTUM NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH.

         (a) Research.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for 
     Standards and Technology shall carry out research to 
     facilitate the development and standardization of quantum 
     networking and communications technologies and applications, 
     including research on the following:
         (1) Quantum cryptography and post-quantum classical 
     cryptography.
         (2) Quantum repeater technology.
         (3) Quantum network traffic management.
         (4) Quantum transduction.
         (5) Long baseline entanglement and teleportation.
         (6) Such other technologies, processes, or applications 
     as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.
         (b) Implementation.--The Under Secretary shall carry out 
     the research required by subsection (a) through such 
     divisions, laboratories, offices and programs of the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology as the Under Secretary 
     considers appropriate and actively engaged in activities 
     relating to quantum information science.
         (c) Development of Standards.--For quantum technologies 
     deemed by the Under Secretary to be at a readiness level 
     sufficient for standardization, the Under Secretary shall 
     provide technical review and assistance to such other Federal 
     agencies as the Under Secretary considers appropriate for the 
     development of quantum network infrastructure standards.
         (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
         (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Scientific and Technical Research and Services account 
     of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to 
     carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2022 through 2026.
         (2) Supplement, not supplant.--The amounts authorized to 
     be appropriated under paragraph (1) shall supplement and not 
     supplant amounts already appropriated to the account 
     described in such paragraph.

     SEC. 5. ENERGY SCIENCES NETWORK.

         (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Secretary'') shall supplement the 
     Energy Sciences Network User Facility (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Network'') with dedicated quantum network 
     infrastructure to advance development of quantum networking 
     and communications technology.
         (b) Purpose.--The purpose of subsection (a) is to utilize 
     the Network to advance a broad range of testing and research, 
     including relating to--
         (1) the establishment of stable, long-baseline quantum 
     entanglement and teleportation;
         (2) quantum repeater technologies for long-baseline 
     communication purposes;
         (3) quantum transduction;
         (4) the coexistence of quantum and classical information;
         (5) multiplexing, forward error correction, wavelength 
     routing algorithms, and other quantum networking 
     infrastructure; and
         (6) any other technologies or applications determined 
     necessary by the Secretary.
         (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
     this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal 
     years 2022 through 2026.

     SEC. 6. QUANTUM WORKFORCE EVALUATION AND ACCELERATION.

         (a) Identification of Gaps.--The National Science 
     Foundation shall enter into an agreement with the National 
     Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a 
     study of ways to support the next generation of quantum 
     leaders.
         (b) Scope of Study.--In carrying out the study described 
     in subsection (a), the National Academies of Sciences, 
     Engineering, and Medicine shall identify--
         (1) education gaps, including foundational courses in 
     STEM and areas in need of standardization, in elementary 
     school, middle school, high school, and higher education 
     curricula, that need to be rectified in order to prepare 
     students to participate in the quantum workforce;
         (2) the skills and workforce needs of industry, 
     specifically identifying the cross-disciplinary academic 
     degrees or academic courses necessary--
         (A) to qualify students for multiple career pathways in 
     quantum information sciences and related fields;
         (B) to ensure the United States is competitive in the 
     field of quantum information science while preserving 
     national security; and
         (C) to support the development of quantum applications; 
     and
         (3) the resources and materials needed to train 
     elementary, middle, and high school educators to effectively 
     teach curricula relevant to the development of a quantum 
     workforce.
         (c) Reports.--
         (1) Executive summary.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the National Academies of 
     Science, Engineering, and Medicine shall prepare and submit 
     to the National Science Foundation, and programs or projects 
     funded by the National Science Foundation, an executive 
     summary of progress regarding the study conducted under 
     subsection (a) that outlines the findings of the Academies as 
     of such date.
         (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the National Academies of Science, 
     Engineering, and Medicine shall prepare and submit a report 
     containing the results of the study conducted under 
     subsection (a) to Congress, the National Science Foundation, 
     and programs or projects funded by the National Science 
     Foundation that are relevant to the acceleration of a quantum 
     workforce.

     SEC. 7. INCORPORATING QISE INTO STEM CURRICULUM.

         (a) In General.--The National Science Foundation shall, 
     through programs carried out or supported by the National 
     Science Foundation, prioritize the better integration of 
     quantum information science and engineering (referred to in 
     this section as ``QISE'') into the STEM curriculum for each 
     grade level from kindergarten through grade 12.
         (b) Requirements.--The curriculum integration under 
     subsection (a) shall include--
         (1) methods to conceptualize QISE for each grade level 
     from kindergarten through grade 12;
         (2) methods for strengthening foundational mathematics 
     and science curricula;
         (3) age-appropriate materials that apply the principles 
     of quantum information science in STEM fields;
         (4) recommendations for the standardization of key 
     concepts, definitions, and curriculum criteria across 
     government, academia, and industry; and
         (5) materials that specifically address the findings and 
     outcomes of the study conducted under section 6 and 
     strategies to account for the skills and workforce needs 
     identified through the study.
         (c) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the 
     National Science Foundation, including the STEM Education 
     Advisory Panel and the Advancing Informal STEM Learning 
     program and through the National Science Foundation's role in 
     the National Q-12 Education Partnership and the Q2Work 
     Program, shall coordinate with the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy, EPSCoR eligible universities, and any 
     Federal agencies or working groups determined necessary by 
     the National Science Foundation.
         (d) Review.--In implementing this section, the National 
     Science Foundation shall review and provide necessary updates 
     to the related report entitled ``Key Concepts for Future QIS 
     Learners'' (May 2020).

     SEC. 8. QUANTUM EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM.

         (a) In General.--The National Science Foundation, through 
     the National Science Foundation's role in the National Q-12 
     Education Partnership and the Q2Work Program, and in 
     coordination with the Directorate for Education and Human 
     Resources, shall carry out a pilot program, to be known as 
     the ``Next Generation Quantum Leaders Pilot Program'', to 
     provide funding for the education and training of the next 
     generation of students in the fundamental principles of 
     quantum mechanics.
         (b) Requirements.--
         (1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program 
     required by subsection (a), the National Science Foundation 
     shall--
         (A) publish a call for applications through the National 
     Q-12 Education Partnership website (or similar website) for 
     participation in the pilot program from elementary schools, 
     secondary schools, and State educational agencies;
         (B) coordinate with educational service agencies, 
     associations that support STEM educators or local educational 
     agencies, and partnerships through the Q-12 Education

[[Page S1987]]

     Partnership, to encourage elementary schools, secondary 
     schools, and State educational agencies to participate in the 
     program;
         (C) accept applications for a period of 5 months in 
     advance of the academic year in which the program shall 
     begin;
         (D) select elementary schools, secondary schools, and 
     State educational agencies to participate in the program, in 
     accordance with qualifications determined by the Interagency 
     Working Group, in coordination with the National Q-12 
     Education Partnership; and
         (E) in coordination with the National Q-12 Education 
     Partnership, identify qualifying advanced degree students, or 
     recent advanced degree graduates, with experience in the 
     field of quantum information science to provide feedback and 
     assistance to educators selected to participate in the pilot 
     program.
         (2) Prioritization.--In selecting program participants 
     under paragraph (1)(D), the Director of the National Science 
     Foundation shall give priority to elementary schools, 
     secondary schools, and local educational agencies located in 
     jurisdictions eligible to participate in the Established 
     Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (commonly known as 
     ``EPSCoR''), including Tribal and rural elementary, middle, 
     and high schools in such jurisdictions.
         (c) Consultation.--The National Science Foundation shall 
     carry out this section in consultation with the Interagency 
     Working Group.
         (d) Reporting.--
         (1) Report and selected participants.--Not later than 180 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the educational institutions selected to 
     participate in the pilot program required under subsection 
     (a), specifying the percentage from nontraditional 
     geographies, including Tribal or rural school districts.
         (2) Report on implementation of curriculum.--Not later 
     than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Director of the National Science Foundation shall submit to 
     Congress a report on implementation of the curricula and 
     materials under the pilot program, including the feasibility 
     and advisability of expanding such pilot program to include 
     additional educational institutions beyond those originally 
     selected to participate in the pilot program.
         (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to carry 
     out this section.
         (f) Termination.--This section shall cease to have effect 
     on the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 1179. A bill to provide financial assistance for projects to 
address certain subsidence impacts in the State of California, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Ms. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
``Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act,'' which I introduced 
today. Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA) has introduced companion 
legislation in the House.
  The bill has two major provisions, benefiting both drought resilience 
and the environment:
  First, it would authorize more than $653 million to restore the 
capacity of three canals of national importance. Restoring these canals 
would improve California's drought resilience and help the nation's 
leading agricultural economy comply with limits on groundwater pumping 
under the state's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
  Second, the bill authorizes an additional $180 million to restore 
salmon runs on the San Joaquin River. The funding is for fish passage 
structures, levees and other improvements that will allow the 
threatened Central Valley Spring-run Chinook salmon to swim freely 
upstream from the ocean to the Friant Dam.
  The bill authorizes a \1/3\ Federal cost-share for restoring the 
capacity of the Friant-Kern Canal, the Delta-Mendota Canal, and the 
California Aqueduct.
  Coordinated legislation in the State legislature introduced by State 
Senator Melissa Hurtado would authorize a \1/3\ state cost-share for 
restoring the canals' capacity. Under the coordinated Federal and State 
legislation, the locals would also be responsible for a \1/3\ cost-
share for the canal restoration projects.
  This legislation would help California water users and California's 
nation-leading agricultural industry comply with a recent State 
requirement to end the overpumping of groundwater. The stakes are huge: 
bringing groundwater into balance will reduce the water supply of the 
San Joaquin Valley by about 2 million acre-feet per year.
  Unless local water agencies and the State and Federal governments 
take action, a recent U.C. Berkeley study has projected severe impacts 
from these water supply losses:
  798,000 acres of land would have to be retired from agricultural 
production, nearly \1/6\ of the working farmland in an area that 
produces half the fruit and vegetables grown in the nation; and
  $5.9 billion would be lost in annual farm income in a region that is 
almost entirely reliant on agriculture and has been called ``the 
Appalachia of the West'' due to its severe economic disadvantage.
  One of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to restore 
groundwater balance is to convey floodwaters to farmlands where they 
can recharge the aquifer. California has the most variable 
precipitation of any State. When we get massive storms from atmospheric 
rivers, there is plenty of runoff to recharge aquifers--but only if we 
can effectively convey the floodwaters throughout the San Joaquin 
Valley to recharge areas.
  Here is where the challenge arises. For a variety of reasons, the 
ground beneath the major canals has dropped by as much as 10 to 20 
feet, which has caused canals designed to convey floodwaters to buckle 
and drop in many places. Other parts of the canals have not subsided, 
so the amount of water that the canal conveys must be reduced so that 
the canals don't overrun.

  As a result, these essential canals for conveying floodwaters have 
lost as much as 60% of their conveyance capacity. The bill I am 
introducing today would provide Federal assistance to help fix these 
Federal canals.
  Specifically, the bill would authorize $653.4 million in a Federal 
funding-cost share for three major projects to repair Federal canals 
damaged by subsidence to achieve their lost capacity:
  $180 million for the Friant-Kern Canal, which would move an 
additional 100,000 acre-feet per year on average;
  $183.9 million for the Delta Mendota Canal, which would move an 
additional 62,000 acre-feet per year on average; and
  $289.5 million for California Aqueduct repairs, which would move an 
additional 205,000 acre-feet per year on average. While parts of the 
California Aqueduct are state-owned, the majority of the repairs are on 
its federally-owned portion.
  If the Federal government covers a portion of the cost of restoring 
these three essential Federal canals for conveying floodwaters, it will 
give local farmers a fighting chance to bring their groundwater basins 
into balance without being forced to retire massive amounts of land.
  Critically, the ability to deliver floodwaters through restored 
Federal canals will allow the water districts to invest in their own 
turnouts, pumps, detention basins and other groundwater recharge 
projects. The South Valley Water Association, which covers just a small 
part of the Valley, provided my office with a list of 36 such projects 
for its area alone.
  The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has determined that 
groundwater recharge projects are the best option to help the San 
Joaquin Valley comply with the new state groundwater pumping law. PPIC 
projects that the Valley can make up 300,000 to 500,000 acre feet of 
its groundwater deficit through recharge projects.
  A study commissioned by the coalition group called the ``Water 
Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley'' estimates that required 
reductions in groundwater could cause a loss of up to 42,000 farm and 
agricultural jobs in the San Joaquin Valley. Another 40,000 jobs or 
more could be lost statewide each year due to reductions in Valley 
agricultural production, putting the total at approximately 85,000 jobs 
statewide. Most of these impacts will fall disproportionately on 
economically disadvantaged communities. These impacts will be 
significant unless we address them through collaborative planning, 
policies, infrastructure, recharge and necessary financial support.
  Let me now turn to the three critical canals that the bill would 
authorize assistance to restore. The Friant-Kern Canal is a key feature 
of the Friant Division of the Federal Central Valley Project on the 
Eastside of the San Joaquin Valley. For nearly 70 years, the Friant 
Division successfully kept groundwater tables stable on the

[[Page S1988]]

Eastside. This provided a sustainable source of water for farms and for 
thousands of Californians and more than 50 small, rural, or 
disadvantaged communities who rely entirely on groundwater for their 
household water supplies.
  But unsustainable groundwater pumping in the Valley has reduced the 
Friant-Kern Canal's ability to deliver water to all who need it. Land 
elevation subsidence caused by over-pumping means that not all of the 
supplies stored at Friant Dam can be conveyed through the canal. In 
some areas, the canal can carry only 40 percent of what it's designed 
to deliver.

  In 2017, a very wet year in which we should have been banking as much 
flood water as possible, the Friant-Kern Canal couldn't deliver an 
additional 300,000 acre-feet of water that it would have been able to 
convey had its capacity not been limited by subsidence. This 
significant amount of water would have been destined for groundwater 
recharge efforts in the south San Joaquin Valley, where the impacts of 
reduced water deliveries, water quality issues and groundwater 
regulation are expected to be most severe.
  The California Aqueduct serves more than 27 million people in 
Southern California and the Silicon Valley and more than 750,000 acres 
of the Nation's most productive farmland. But despite its name, much of 
the California Aqueduct is owned by the Federal government and serves 
portions of Silicon Valley, small towns and communities in the northern 
San Joaquin Valley, and farms from Firebaugh to Kettleman City. The 
aqueduct represents a successful 70-year partnership between the 
Federal Government and the State of California.
  In recent years, particularly recent drought years, the California 
Aqueduct has subsided. It has lost as much as 20% of its capacity to 
move water to California's families, farms and businesses. California 
is leading efforts to repair the aqueduct and is working to provide its 
share of funding, but the Federal government will also need to pay its 
fair share. The bill I am introducing today would authorize $289.5 
million toward restoring the California Aqueduct.
  The Delta-Mendota Canal stretches southward 117 miles from the C.W. 
Bill Jones Pumping Plant along the western edge of the San Joaquin 
Valley, parallel to the California Aqueduct. The Delta-Mendota Canal 
has lost 15% of its conveyance capacity due to subsidence. The bill I 
am introducing today would authorize $183.9 million toward restoring 
its full ability to convey floodwaters to farms needing to recharge 
their groundwater, and to wildlife refuges of critical importance for 
migratory waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway.
  This bill responds to a potential crisis that very possibly could 
cause the forced retirement of nearly 1/6 of the working farmland in an 
area that produces half of America's fruits and vegetables.
  These are Federal canals, and the federal government must help give 
these farmers and communities reliant on the agricultural economy a 
fighting chance to keep their lands in production.
  In addition, this legislation helps to restore an historic salmon run 
on California's second-longest river, the San Joaquin.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill. Thank you, 
Mr. President, and I yield the floor.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. 
        Leahy, and Mr. Brown):
  S. 1185. A bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and 
title 5, United States Code, to permit leave to care for a domestic 
partner, parent-in-law, or adult child, or another related individual, 
who has a serious health condition, and to allow employees to take, as 
additional leave, parental involvement and family wellness leave to 
participate in or attend their children's and grandchildren's 
educational and extracurricular activities or meet family care needs; 
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. 1185

       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 ``Family Medical Leave 
     Modernization Act''.

     SEC. 2. LEAVE TO CARE FOR A DOMESTIC PARTNER, SON-IN-LAW, 
                   DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, PARENT-IN-LAW, ADULT CHILD, 
                   GRANDPARENT, GRANDCHILD, OR SIBLING OF THE 
                   EMPLOYEE, OR ANOTHER RELATED INDIVIDUAL.

       (a) Definitions.--
       (1) Inclusion of related individuals.--Section 101 of the 
     Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2611) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(20) Any other individual related by blood whose close 
     association is the equivalent of a family relationship.--The 
     term `any other individual related by blood whose close 
     association is the equivalent of a family relationship', used 
     with respect to an employee, means any person with whom the 
     employee has a significant personal bond that is or is like a 
     family relationship, regardless of biological or legal 
     relationship.
       ``(21) Domestic partner.--The term `domestic partner', used 
     with respect to an employee, means--
       ``(A) the person recognized as the domestic partner of the 
     employee under any domestic partnership or civil union law of 
     a State or political subdivision of a State; or
       ``(B) in the case of an unmarried employee, an unmarried 
     adult person who is in a committed, personal relationship 
     with the employee, is not a domestic partner as described in 
     subparagraph (A) to or in such a relationship with any other 
     person, and who is designated to the employer by such 
     employee as that employee's domestic partner.
       ``(22) Grandchild.--The term `grandchild' means the son or 
     daughter of an employee's son or daughter.
       ``(23) Grandparent.--The term `grandparent' means a parent 
     of a parent of an employee.
       ``(24) Nephew; niece.--The terms `nephew' and `niece', used 
     with respect to an employee, mean a son or daughter of the 
     employee's sibling.
       ``(25) Parent-in-law.-- The term `parent-in-law' means a 
     parent of the spouse or domestic partner of an employee.
       ``(26) Sibling.--The term `sibling' means any person who is 
     a son or daughter of an employee's parent (other than the 
     employee).
       ``(27) Son-in-law; daughter-in-law.--The terms `son-in-law' 
     and `daughter-in-law', used with respect to an employee, mean 
     any person who is a spouse or domestic partner of a son or 
     daughter, as the case may be, of the employee.
       ``(28) Uncle; aunt.--The terms `uncle' and `aunt', used 
     with respect to an employee, mean the son or daughter, as the 
     case may be, of the employee's grandparent (other than the 
     employee's parent).''.
       (2) Inclusion of adult children and children of a domestic 
     partner.--Section 101(12) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2611(12)) is 
     amended--
       (A) by inserting ``a child of an individual's domestic 
     partner,'' after ``a legal ward,''; and
       (B) by striking ``who is--'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``and includes an adult child.''.
       (b) Leave Requirement.--Section 102 of the Family and 
     Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``spouse, or a son, 
     daughter, or parent, of the employee, if such spouse, son, 
     daughter, or parent'' and inserting ``spouse or domestic 
     partner, or a son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 
     parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual related by blood whose close association is 
     the equivalent of a family relationship with the employee, if 
     such spouse, domestic partner, son or daughter, son-in-law, 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, 
     grandchild, sibling, uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece, or 
     such other individual''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``spouse, or a son, 
     daughter, or parent of the employee'' and inserting ``spouse 
     or domestic partner, or a son or daughter, son-in-law, 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual related by blood whose close association is 
     the equivalent of a family relationship with the employee''; 
     and
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``spouse, son, daughter, 
     parent, or next of kin of a covered servicemember'' and 
     inserting ``spouse or domestic partner, son or daughter, son-
     in-law, daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, 
     sibling, uncle or aunt, nephew or niece, or next of kin of a 
     covered servicemember, or any other individual related by 
     blood whose close association is the equivalent of a family 
     relationship with the covered servicemember'';
       (2) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``son, daughter, 
     spouse, parent, or covered servicemember of the employee, as 
     appropriate'' and inserting ``son or daughter, son-in-law, 
     daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic partner, parent, parent-
     in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, uncle or aunt, 
     nephew or

[[Page S1989]]

     niece, or covered servicemember of the employee, or any other 
     individual related by blood whose close association is the 
     equivalent of a family relationship with the employee, as 
     appropriate''; and
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``spouse, or a son, 
     daughter, or parent, of the employee'' and inserting ``spouse 
     or domestic partner, or a son or daughter, son-in-law, 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual related by blood whose close association is 
     the equivalent of a family relationship with the employee, as 
     appropriate,''; and
       (3) in subsection (f)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``, or domestic partners,'' after ``husband and wife''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or parent-in-law'' 
     after ``parent''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or those domestic 
     partners,'' after ``husband and wife'' each place it appears.
       (c) Certification.--Section 103 of the Family and Medical 
     Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2613) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``son, daughter, spouse, 
     or parent of the employee, or of the next of kin of an 
     individual in the case of leave taken under such paragraph 
     (3), as appropriate'' and inserting ``son or daughter, son-
     in-law, daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic partner, parent, 
     parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, uncle or 
     aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or the next of kin 
     of an individual, or any other individual related by blood 
     whose close association is the equivalent of a family 
     relationship with the employee, as appropriate''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``son, daughter, 
     spouse, or parent and an estimate of the amount of time that 
     such employee is needed to care for the son, daughter, 
     spouse, or parent'' and inserting ``son or daughter, son-in-
     law, daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic partner, parent, 
     parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, uncle or 
     aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any other 
     individual related by blood whose close association is the 
     equivalent of a family relationship with the employee, as 
     appropriate, and an estimate of the amount of time that such 
     employee is needed to care for such son or daughter, son-in-
     law, daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic partner, parent, 
     parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, uncle or 
     aunt, or nephew or niece, or such other individual''; and
       (B) in paragraph (7), by striking ``son, daughter, parent, 
     or spouse who has a serious health condition, or will assist 
     in their recovery,'' and inserting ``son or daughter, son-in-
     law, daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic partner, parent, 
     parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, uncle or 
     aunt, or nephew or niece, with a serious health condition, of 
     the employee, or an individual, with a serious health 
     condition, who is any other individual related by blood whose 
     close association is the equivalent of a family relationship 
     with the employee, as appropriate, or will assist in the 
     recovery,''.
       (d) Employment and Benefits Protection.--Section 104(c)(3) 
     of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 
     2614(c)(3)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``son, daughter, 
     spouse, or parent of the employee, as appropriate,'' and 
     inserting ``son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 
     spouse or domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, 
     grandparent, grandchild, sibling, uncle or aunt, or nephew or 
     niece of the employee, or any other individual related by 
     blood whose close association is the equivalent of a family 
     relationship with the employee, as appropriate,''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking ``son, daughter, 
     spouse, or parent'' and inserting ``employee's son or 
     daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic 
     partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, 
     sibling, uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece, or (with relation 
     to the employee) any other individual related by blood whose 
     close association is the equivalent of a family relationship, 
     as appropriate,''.

     SEC. 3. LEAVE TO CARE FOR A DOMESTIC PARTNER, SON-IN-LAW, 
                   DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, PARENT-IN-LAW, ADULT CHILD, 
                   GRANDPARENT, GRANDCHILD, OR SIBLING OF THE 
                   EMPLOYEE, OR ANOTHER RELATED INDIVIDUAL FOR 
                   FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

       (a) Definitions.--
       (1) Inclusion of a domestic partner, son-in-law, daughter-
     in-law, parent-in-law, adult child, grandparent, grandchild, 
     or sibling of the employee, or another individual related by 
     blood.--Section 6381 of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (11) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(13) the term `any other individual related by blood 
     whose close association is the equivalent of a family 
     relationship', used with respect to an employee, means any 
     person with whom the employee has a significant personal bond 
     that is or is like a family relationship, regardless of 
     biological or legal relationship;
       ``(14) the term `domestic partner', used with respect to an 
     employee, means--
       ``(A) the person recognized as the domestic partner of the 
     employee under any domestic partnership or civil union law of 
     a State or political subdivision of a State; or
       ``(B) in the case of an unmarried employee, an unmarried 
     adult person who is in a committed, personal relationship 
     with the employee, is not a domestic partner as described in 
     subparagraph (A) or in such a relationship with any other 
     person, and who is designated to the employing agency by such 
     employee as that employee's domestic partner;
       ``(15) the term `grandchild' means the son or daughter of 
     an employee's son or daughter;
       ``(16) the term `grandparent' means a parent of a parent of 
     an employee;
       ``(17) the terms `nephew' and `niece', used with respect to 
     an employee, mean a son or daughter of the employee's 
     sibling;
       ``(18) the term `parent-in-law' means a parent of the 
     spouse or domestic partner of an employee;
       ``(19) the term `sibling' means any person who is a son or 
     daughter of an employee's parent (other than the employee);
       ``(20) the terms `son-in-law' and `daughter-in-law', used 
     with respect to an employee, mean any person who is a spouse 
     or domestic partner of a son or daughter, as the case may be, 
     of the employee;
       ``(21) the term `State' has the same meaning given the term 
     in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 
     U.S.C. 203); and
       ``(22) the terms `uncle' and `aunt', used with respect to 
     an employee, mean the son or daughter, as the case may be, of 
     the employee's grandparent (other than the employee's 
     parent).''.
       (2) Inclusion of adult children and children of a domestic 
     partner.--Section 6381(6) of such title is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``a child of an individual's domestic 
     partner,'' after ``a legal ward,''; and
       (B) by striking ``who is--'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``and includes an adult child''.
       (b) Leave Requirement.--Section 6382 of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``spouse, or a son, 
     daughter, or parent, of the employee, if such spouse, son, 
     daughter, or parent'' and inserting ``spouse or domestic 
     partner, or a son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 
     parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual related by blood whose close association 
     with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship, 
     if such spouse, domestic partner, son or daughter, son-in-
     law, daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, 
     grandchild, sibling, uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece, or 
     such other individual''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``spouse, or a son, 
     daughter, or parent of the employee'' and inserting ``spouse 
     or domestic partner, or a son or daughter, son-in-law, 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual related by blood whose close association is 
     the equivalent of a family relationship with the employee''; 
     and
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``spouse, son, daughter, 
     parent, or next of kin of a covered servicemember'' and 
     inserting ``spouse or domestic partner, son or daughter, son-
     in-law, daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, 
     sibling, uncle or aunt, nephew or niece, or next of kin of a 
     covered servicemember, or any other individual related by 
     blood whose close association is the equivalent of a family 
     relationship with the covered servicemember''; and
       (2) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``son, daughter, 
     spouse, parent, or covered servicemember of the employee, as 
     appropriate'' and inserting ``son or daughter, son-in-law, 
     daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic partner, parent, parent-
     in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, uncle or aunt, 
     nephew or niece, or covered servicemember of the employee, or 
     any other individual related by blood whose close association 
     is the equivalent of a family relationship with the employee, 
     as appropriate''; and
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``spouse, or a son, 
     daughter, or parent, of the employee'' and inserting ``spouse 
     or domestic partner, or a son or daughter, son-in-law, 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual related by blood whose close association is 
     the equivalent of a family relationship with the employee, as 
     appropriate,''.
       (c) Certification.--Section 6383 of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``son, daughter, spouse, 
     or parent of the employee, as appropriate'' and inserting 
     ``son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, spouse or 
     domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, 
     grandchild, sibling, uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the 
     employee, or any other individual related by blood whose 
     close association is the equivalent of a family relationship 
     with the employee, as appropriate''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(4)(A), by striking ``son, daughter, 
     spouse, or parent, and an estimate of the amount of time that 
     such employee is needed to care for such son, daughter, 
     spouse, or parent'' and inserting ``son or daughter, son-in-
     law, daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic partner, parent, 
     parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling,

[[Page S1990]]

     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual related by blood whose close association is 
     the equivalent of a family relationship with the employee, as 
     appropriate, and an estimate of the amount of time that such 
     employee is needed to care for such son or daughter, son-in-
     law, daughter-in-law, spouse or domestic partner, parent, 
     parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, uncle or 
     aunt, or nephew or niece, or such other individual''.

     SEC. 4. ENTITLEMENT TO ADDITIONAL LEAVE UNDER THE FMLA FOR 
                   PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND FAMILY WELLNESS.

       (a) Leave Requirement.--Section 102(a) of the Family and 
     Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)), as amended by 
     section 2(b), is further amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(5) Entitlement to additional leave for parental 
     involvement and family wellness.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B) and section 
     103(g), an eligible employee shall be entitled to leave under 
     this paragraph to--
       ``(i) participate in or attend an activity that is 
     sponsored by a school or community organization and relates 
     to a program of the school or organization that is attended 
     by a son or daughter or a grandchild of the employee; or
       ``(ii) meet routine family medical care needs (including by 
     attending medical and dental appointments of the employee or 
     a son or daughter, spouse, or grandchild of the employee) or 
     attend to the care needs of an elderly individual who is 
     related to the employee through a relationship described in 
     section 102(a) (including by making visits to nursing homes 
     or group homes).
       ``(B) Limitations.--
       ``(i) In general.--An eligible employee shall be entitled 
     to--

       ``(I) not to exceed 4 hours of leave under this paragraph 
     during any 30-day period; and
       ``(II) not to exceed 24 hours of leave under this paragraph 
     during any 12-month period described in paragraph (4).

       ``(ii) Coordination rule.--Leave under this paragraph shall 
     be in addition to any leave provided under any other 
     paragraph of this subsection.
       ``(C) Definitions.--As used in this paragraph:
       ``(i) Community organization.--The term `community 
     organization' means a private nonprofit organization that is 
     representative of a community or a significant segment of a 
     community and provides activities for individuals described 
     in section 101(12), such as a scouting or sports 
     organization.
       ``(ii) School.--The term `school' means an elementary 
     school or secondary school (as such terms are defined in 
     section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)), a Head Start program assisted under 
     the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), and a child care 
     facility licensed under State law.''.
       (b) Schedule.--Section 102(b)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
     2612(b)(1)) is amended by inserting after the third sentence 
     the following new sentence: ``Subject to subsection (e)(4) 
     and section 103(g), leave under subsection (a)(5) may be 
     taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule.''.
       (c) Substitution of Paid Leave.--Section 102(d)(2) of such 
     Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(d)(2)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) Parental involvement leave and family wellness 
     leave.--
       ``(i) Vacation leave; personal leave; family leave.--An 
     eligible employee may elect, or an employer may require the 
     employee, to substitute any of the accrued paid vacation 
     leave, personal leave, or family leave of the employee for 
     any part of the period of leave under subsection (a)(5).
       ``(ii) Medical or sick leave.--An eligible employee may 
     elect, or an employer may require the employee, to substitute 
     any of the accrued paid medical or sick leave of the employee 
     for any part of the period of leave provided under clause 
     (ii) of subsection (a)(5)(A), except that nothing in this 
     title shall require an employer to provide paid sick leave or 
     paid medical leave in any situation in which such employer 
     would not normally provide any such paid leave.
       ``(iii) Prohibition on restrictions and limitations.--If 
     the employee elects or the employer requires the substitution 
     of accrued paid leave for leave under subsection (a)(5), the 
     employer shall not restrict or limit the leave that may be 
     substituted or impose any additional terms and conditions on 
     the substitution of such leave that are more stringent for 
     the employee than the terms and conditions set forth in this 
     Act.''.
       (d) Notice.--Section 102(e) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
     2612(e)), as amended by section 2(b), is further amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) Notice relating to parental involvement and family 
     wellness leave.--In any case in which an employee requests 
     leave under paragraph (5) of subsection (a), the employee 
     shall--
       ``(A) provide the employer with not less than 7 days' 
     notice, or (if such notice is impracticable) such notice as 
     is practicable, before the date the leave is to begin, of the 
     employee's intention to take leave under such paragraph; and
       ``(B) in the case of leave to be taken under subsection 
     (a)(5)(A)(ii), make a reasonable effort to schedule the 
     activity or care involved so as not to disrupt unduly the 
     operations of the employer, subject to the approval of the 
     health care provider involved (if any).''.
       (e) Certification.--Section 103 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
     2613) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(g) Certification Related to Parental Involvement and 
     Family Wellness Leave.--An employer may require that a 
     request for leave under section 102(a)(5) be supported by a 
     certification issued at such time and in such manner as the 
     Secretary may by regulation prescribe.''.

     SEC. 5. ENTITLEMENT OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES TO LEAVE FOR 
                   PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND FAMILY WELLNESS.

       (a) Leave Requirement.--Section 6382(a) of title 5, United 
     States Code, as amended by section 3(b), is further amended 
     by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B) and section 6383(f), 
     an employee shall be entitled to leave under this paragraph 
     to--
       ``(i) participate in or attend an activity that is 
     sponsored by a school or community organization and relates 
     to a program of the school or organization that is attended 
     by a son or daughter or a grandchild of the employee; or
       ``(ii) meet routine family medical care needs (including by 
     attending medical and dental appointments of the employee or 
     a son or daughter, spouse, or grandchild of the employee) or 
     to attend to the care needs of an elderly individual who is 
     related to the employee through a relationship described in 
     section 6382(a) (including by making visits to nursing homes 
     and group homes).
       ``(B)(i) An employee is entitled to--
       ``(I) not to exceed 4 hours of leave under this paragraph 
     during any 30-day period; and
       ``(II) not to exceed 24 hours of leave under this paragraph 
     during any 12-month period described in paragraph (4).
       ``(ii) Leave under this paragraph shall be in addition to 
     any leave provided under any other paragraph of this 
     subsection.
       ``(C) For the purpose of this paragraph--
       ``(i) the term `community organization' means a private 
     nonprofit organization that is representative of a community 
     or a significant segment of a community and provides 
     activities for individuals described in section 6381(6), such 
     as a scouting or sports organization; and
       ``(ii) the term `school' means an elementary school or 
     secondary school (as such terms are defined in section 8101 
     of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 7801)), a Head Start program assisted under the Head 
     Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), and a child care facility 
     licensed under State law.''.
       (b) Schedule.--Section 6382(b)(1) of such title is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting after the third sentence the following new 
     sentence: ``Subject to subsection (e)(4) and section 6383(f), 
     leave under subsection (a)(5) may be taken intermittently or 
     on a reduced leave schedule.''; and
       (2) in the last sentence, by striking ``involved,'' and 
     inserting ``involved (or, in the case of leave under 
     subsection (a)(5), for purposes of the 30-day or 12-month 
     period involved),''.
       (c) Substitution of Paid Leave.--Section 6382(d) of such 
     title is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) An employee may elect to substitute for any part of 
     the period of leave under subsection (a)(5), any of the 
     employee's accrued or accumulated annual or sick leave. If 
     the employee elects the substitution of that accrued or 
     accumulated annual or sick leave for leave under subsection 
     (a)(5), the employing agency shall not restrict or limit the 
     leave that may be substituted or impose any additional terms 
     and conditions on the substitution of such leave that are 
     more stringent for the employee than the terms and conditions 
     set forth in this subchapter.''.
       (d) Notice.--Section 6382(e) of such title, as amended by 
     section 3(b)(2), is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(4) In any case in which an employee requests leave under 
     paragraph (5) of subsection (a), the employee shall--
       ``(A) provide the employing agency with not less than 7 
     days' notice, or (if such notice is impracticable) such 
     notice as is practicable, before the date the leave is to 
     begin, of the employee's intention to take leave under such 
     paragraph; and
       ``(B) in the case of leave to be taken under subsection 
     (a)(5)(A)(ii), make a reasonable effort to schedule the 
     activity or care involved so as not to disrupt unduly the 
     operations of the employing agency, subject to the approval 
     of the health care provider involved (if any).''.
       (e) Certification.--Section 6383(f) of such title is 
     amended by striking ``paragraph (1)(E) or (3) of'' and 
     inserting ``paragraph (1)(E), (3) or (5) of''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. 
        Collins, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, 
        Mr. Graham, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Moran, 
        Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Warner):
  S.J. Res. 17. A joint resolution requiring the advice and consent of 
the Senate or an Act of Congress to suspend, terminate, or withdraw the

[[Page S1991]]

United States from the North Atlantic Treaty and authorizing related 
litigation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, throughout his time in office, President 
Donald Trump repeatedly disparaged our NATO allies and reportedly 
threatened withdrawal from the NATO alliance, the bedrock of European 
and American security for over seventy years. Although our current 
President has recommitted the United States to NATO and our 
transatlantic partnerships, it is still necessary for the Senate to 
consider legislation that prevents any President from withdrawing the 
United States from this critical defense treaty. This legislation would 
not only help address present national security challenges by 
reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Europe, it would also provide 
clarity to important constitutional questions regarding the role of 
Congress in terminating U.S. participation in treaties and alliances. 
Particularly with a treaty obligation that is as central to U.S. 
security as NATO, no President should be allowed to unilaterally 
withdraw without the advice and consent of the Senate.
  Over the past several years, NATO allies, many of whom we have fought 
alongside since World War II and earlier in some cases, have questioned 
our allegiance for the first time in the history of NATO. In response 
to the only invocation of Article 5 of the NATO Treaty following the 9/
11 attacks, more than 1,000 servicemembers from these allied nations 
gave their lives fighting alongside the United States. While the United 
States must continue to press every country to increase defense 
spending to meet the agreed-upon goal of 2 percent of GDP by 2024, and 
ensure that our European allies contribute to their own defense, U.S. 
withdrawal from NATO should not be considered without Congressional 
input. For this reason, we must use our constitutional powers of advice 
and consent and of the purse to block any unilateral executive 
withdrawal, and preemptively authorize legal proceedings to challenge 
any decision to terminate U.S. membership.
  The legislation I am introducing today with Senators Rubio, Collins, 
Blumenthal, Coons, Duckworth, Durbin, Feinstein, Graham, King, 
Klobuchar, Merkley, Moran, Shaheen, and Warner would provide the 
necessary tools to prevent a President from unilaterally withdrawing 
the United States from the NATO treaty without the consent of Congress. 
The Senate has repeatedly indicated its support for NATO through 
previous legislation, including the original vote of 82-13 in 1949 to 
grant the Senate's consent to join NATO, and the Fiscal Year 2020 
National Defense Authorization Act, which called for the United States 
to ``remain ironclad in its commitment to uphold its obligations under 
the North Atlantic Treaty.''
  I am proud to have bipartisan support for this bill to ensure that 
the safety of the American people is prioritized through our continued 
membership in NATO, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
ensure that this legislation is swiftly considered by the Senate.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

                          ____________________