[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 93 (Thursday, May 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3897-S3901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Moran, and Ms. Cortez 
        Masto):
  S. 1885. A bill to provide funds to assess the availability, 
accelerate the deployment, and improve the sustainability of advanced 
communications services and communications infrastructure in rural 
America, and for

[[Page S3898]]

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. 1885

       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 ``Rural Connectivity 
     Advancement Program Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. DEPOSIT OF SPECTRUM AUCTION PROCEEDS IN RURAL 
                   BROADBAND ASSESSMENT AND DEPLOYMENT FUND.

       Section 309(j)(8) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
     U.S.C. 309(j)(8)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and (G)'' and 
     inserting ``(G), and (H)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(H) Certain proceeds designated for rural broadband 
     assessment and deployment fund.--
       ``(i) Assessment and deployment set-aside.--Notwithstanding 
     subparagraph (A), and except as provided in subparagraphs 
     (B), (D), (E), (F), and (G), 10 percent of the net proceeds 
     from each use of a system of competitive bidding under this 
     subsection that is mandated by an Act of Congress and that 
     begins on or after the date of enactment of the Rural 
     Connectivity Advancement Program Act of 2021 shall be 
     deposited in the Rural Broadband Assessment and Deployment 
     Fund established under section 3 of that Act.
       ``(ii) Definition.--For purposes of this subparagraph, the 
     term `net proceeds', with respect to the use of a system of 
     competitive bidding, means the proceeds remaining after 
     subtracting all auction-related expenditures, including--

       ``(I) relocation payments, including accelerated relocation 
     payments;
       ``(II) payments to incumbent licensees for the 
     relinquishment of all or a portion of the spectrum usage 
     rights of those licensees;
       ``(III) costs associated with the reallocation of spectrum, 
     whether on an exclusive or shared use basis;
       ``(IV) relocation or sharing costs, including for planning 
     for relocation or sharing; and
       ``(V) bidding credits.''.

     SEC. 3. DIRECTION AND USE OF RURAL BROADBAND ASSESSMENT AND 
                   DEPLOYMENT FUND PROCEEDS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Communications Commission;
       (2) the term ``high-cost programs'' means--
       (A) the program for Universal Service Support for High-Cost 
     Areas set forth under subpart D of part 54 of title 47, Code 
     of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations;
       (B) the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund set forth under 
     subpart J of part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, or any successor regulations;
       (C) the Interstate Common Line Support Mechanism for Rate-
     of-Return Carriers set forth under subpart K of part 54 of 
     title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
     regulations;
       (D) the Mobility Fund set forth under subpart L of part 54 
     of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
     regulations;
       (E) the High Cost Loop Support for Rate-of-Return Carriers 
     program set forth under subpart M of part 54 of title 47, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations;
       (F) the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI 
     Fund set forth under subpart O of part 54 of title 47, Code 
     of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations; and
       (G) the Rural Broadband Experiments, as established by the 
     Commission under part 54 of title 47, Code of Federal 
     Regulations;
       (3) the term ``net proceeds'' has the meaning given the 
     term in subparagraph (H) of section 309(j)(8) of the 
     Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)), as added by 
     section 2 of this Act; and
       (4) the term ``Rural Broadband Assessment and Deployment 
     Fund'' means the fund established under subsection (b).
       (b) Establishment of Fund.--There is established in the 
     Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the 
     ``Rural Broadband Assessment and Deployment Fund''.
       (c) Borrowing Authority.--
       (1) In general.--With respect to any auction described in 
     subparagraph (H)(i) of section 309(j)(8) of the 
     Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)), as added by 
     section 2 of this Act, on or after the date on which the 
     Commission makes a final determination of the amount of net 
     proceeds that will be deposited in the Rural Broadband 
     Assessment and Deployment Fund under such subparagraph (H)(i) 
     as a result of that auction, the Commission may borrow not 
     more than that amount from the Treasury of the United States.
       (2) Reimbursement.--The Commission shall reimburse the 
     general fund of the Treasury, without interest, for any 
     amounts borrowed under paragraph (1) as funds are deposited 
     into the Rural Broadband Assessment and Deployment Fund.
       (d) Availability of Amounts.--Any amounts borrowed under 
     subsection (c)(1) and any amounts in the Rural Broadband 
     Assessment and Deployment Fund that are not necessary for 
     reimbursement of the general fund of the Treasury for such 
     borrowed amounts shall be available to the Commission for use 
     in accordance with subsection (e).
       (e) Use of Amounts.--
       (1) Establishment of program or programs.--The Commission 
     shall use the amounts made available under subsection (d) to 
     establish 1 or more programs that are separate from, but are 
     coordinated with and complement, the high-cost programs to 
     address--
       (A) gaps that remain in broadband internet access service 
     coverage in high-cost rural areas despite the operations of 
     the high-cost programs; and
       (B) shortfalls in sufficient funding of the high-cost 
     programs that could adversely affect the sustainability of 
     services or reasonable comparability of rates that are 
     supported by those programs.
       (2) Purposes.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
     Commission shall use amounts made available under subsection 
     (d) in an efficient and cost-effective manner only--
       (A) for the assessment of, and to provide subsidies in a 
     technology-neutral manner through a competitive process 
     (subject to weighting preferences for performance quality and 
     other service metrics as the Commission may find appropriate) 
     to providers for support of, deployment of broadband-capable 
     infrastructure in high-cost rural areas that the Commission 
     determines are unserved by fixed terrestrial broadband 
     internet access service at a download speed of not less than 
     25 megabits per second and an upload speed of not less than 3 
     megabits per second (or such higher speed as the Commission 
     may determine appropriate based upon an evolving definition 
     of universal service); and
       (B) to assess, and provide subsidies to providers to enable 
     providers to sustain, broadband internet access service in 
     any rural area in which--
       (i) not more than 1 provider of fixed terrestrial broadband 
     internet access service operates; and
       (ii) the high-cost nature of the area precludes the 
     offering of voice service and broadband internet access 
     service at rates and performance levels available in urban 
     areas as determined by the Urban Rate Survey conducted by the 
     Commission.
       (3) Tribal considerations.--In distributing amounts under 
     this subsection, the Commission shall consider the broadband 
     internet access service needs of residents of Tribal lands 
     (as defined in section 54.400 of title 47, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, or any successor regulation).
       (4) Limitations.--
       (A) Prohibition on funding other programs.--
       (i) In general.--The Commission may not use amounts made 
     available under subsection (d) to fund any program that was 
     not established by the Commission under paragraph (1) of this 
     subsection, including any program established under section 
     254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) in 
     effect on the date of enactment of this Act, except for using 
     the Universal Service Administrative Company to administer 
     funding.
       (ii) Rule of construction.--Nothing in clause (i) shall be 
     construed to prohibit the Commission from using amounts made 
     available under subsection (d) to supplement the provision of 
     support under the high-cost programs, as authorized under 
     paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection.
       (B) Transparency and accountability for addressing gaps in 
     coverage.--The Commission shall establish transparency and 
     accountability requirements for amounts made available for 
     the purpose set forth in paragraph (1)(A) that, at a 
     minimum--
       (i) provide--

       (I) a process for challenging any initial determination by 
     the Commission regarding whether an area is served or 
     unserved; and
       (II) written public notice on the website of the Commission 
     of--

       (aa) how each challenge under subparagraph (I) was decided; 
     and
       (bb) the reasons of the Commission for each decision;
       (ii) establish broadband service buildout milestones and 
     require periodic certification by funding recipients to 
     ensure compliance with the broadband service buildout 
     milestones;
       (iii) establish a maximum buildout timeframe of 4 years 
     beginning on the date on which funding is provided to a 
     funding recipient;
       (iv) establish periodic reporting requirements for funding 
     recipients that identify, at a minimum, the speed of, and 
     technology used for, the service provided in each area where 
     funding is provided;
       (v) establish standard penalties for noncompliance with the 
     requirements established under this subparagraph and as may 
     be further prescribed by the Commission;
       (vi) establish procedures for recovery of funds, in whole 
     or in part, from funding recipients in the event of default 
     or noncompliance with the requirements established under this 
     subparagraph and as may be further prescribed by the 
     Commission; and
       (vii) require a funding recipient to--

       (I) offer voice service and broadband internet access 
     service; and
       (II) permit a consumer to subscribe to one type of service 
     described in subclause (I) or both types.

       (C) Transparency and accountability for addressing 
     shortfalls in funding.--The

[[Page S3899]]

     Commission shall establish transparency and accountability 
     requirements for amounts made available for the purpose set 
     forth in subparagraph (1)(B) that, at a minimum--
       (i) establish periodic reporting and certification 
     requirements for funding recipients to ensure that the 
     funding results in the offering of voice service and 
     broadband internet access service at reasonably comparable 
     rates and performance levels;
       (ii) establish standard penalties for noncompliance with 
     the requirements established under this subparagraph and as 
     may be further prescribed by the Commission;
       (iii) establish procedures for recovery of funds, in whole 
     or in part, from funding recipients in the event of default 
     or noncompliance with the requirements established under this 
     subparagraph and as may be further prescribed by the 
     Commission; and
       (iv) require a funding recipient to--

       (I) offer voice service and broadband internet access 
     service; and
       (II) permit a consumer to subscribe to one type of service 
     described in subclause (I) or both types.

       (f) Reports.--
       (1) Annual auction proceeds deployment report.--Not later 
     than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
     not less frequently than annually thereafter until all 
     amounts have been distributed, the Commission shall publish 
     and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and 
     Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the 
     distribution of amounts made available under subsection (d).
       (2) Auction-specific deposit reports.--Not later than 30 
     days after the date on which the Commission announces the 
     results of an auction described in subparagraph (H)(i) of 
     section 309(j)(8) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
     U.S.C. 309(j)(8)), as added by section 2 of this Act, the 
     Commission shall publish and submit to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives a report that estimates the amount of net 
     proceeds that will be deposited in the Rural Broadband 
     Assessment and Deployment Fund under that subparagraph as a 
     result of that auction.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Duckworth):
  S. 1903. A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency to revise certain ethylene oxide emissions standards 
under the Clean Air Act, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  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. 1903

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

     SECTION 1. ETHYLENE OXIDE EMISSIONS STANDARDS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the 
     ``Administrator'') shall amend subpart O of part 63 of title 
     40, Code of Federal Regulations--
       (1) to revise the standards for the emission of ethylene 
     oxide under that subpart based on the results described in 
     the report of the National Center for Environmental 
     Assessment of the Environmental Protection Agency entitled 
     ``Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene 
     Oxide'' and dated December 2016;
       (2) to apply maximum achievable control technology (within 
     the meaning of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.)) 
     requirements to chamber exhaust vents; and
       (3) to apply to area sources and major sources (as those 
     terms are defined in section 112(a) of the Clean Air Act (42 
     U.S.C. 7412(a))) of ethylene oxide.
       (b) Residual Risk Review.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date on which the Administrator finalizes the revised 
     standards required under subsection (a), the Administrator 
     shall carry out a residual risk assessment pursuant to 
     section 112(f)(2) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7412(f)(2)) 
     with respect to the revised standards.
       (c) Notification.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
     Administrator learns of a violation of the standards revised 
     under subsection (a), the Administrator shall notify the 
     public of the violation in a manner determined to be 
     appropriate by the Administrator.
       (2) Failure to notify.--If the Administrator fails to 
     notify the public under paragraph (1) by the end of the 
     period described in that paragraph, the Inspector General of 
     the Environmental Protection Agency shall carry out an 
     investigation to determine--
       (A) the reason or reasons for which the Administrator 
     failed to notify the public;
       (B) the public health risks associated with the failure of 
     the Administrator to notify the public; and
       (C) any steps the Administrator should take to ensure the 
     Administrator meets the requirements described in paragraph 
     (1) in the future.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla):
  S. 1906. A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
establish a grant program to support the restoration of San Francisco 
Bay, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the ``San 
Francisco Bay Restoration Act.'' Thank you to Senator Padilla for 
cosponsoring and I am happy to be once again be working with 
Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who is leading the bill in the House.
  This legislation would create a San Francisco Bay Program within the 
Environmental Protection Agency dedicated to conserving and protecting 
the San Francisco Bay estuary ecosystem--the largest estuary in the 
western United States.
  The San Francisco Bay estuary is truly a national treasure, and it is 
vital to the nation's environmental and economic health. It is home to 
more than 1,000 plant and wildlife species, roughly 77% of California's 
remaining perennial estuarine wetlands, and an important stopover for 
birds along the Pacific Flyway. The Bay region produces more than $370 
billion in goods and supports more than 4 million jobs.
  Unfortunately, during the last 150 years, the water quality and 
health of the San Francisco Bay has been diminished. According to the 
United States Geological Survey, the Bay has lost 95% of its wetlands, 
which serve as both habitat for vulnerable species and as an important 
barrier to protect against climate change impacts such as rising sea 
levels and extreme weather events made only more common by global 
warming.
  The program created within EPA to focus on the San Francisco Bay 
Estuary would increase federal investment into the San Francisco Bay 
Estuary to ensure that it can continue to support the environment, 
agriculture, and economy for generations to come.
  A 2018 General Accounting Office report on the San Francisco Bay 
Delta Watershed found that the lack of sufficient Federal funding is 
one of the biggest risks to long-term restoration efforts, and a major 
factor limiting habitat restoration and water quality improvement.
  The GAO noted that while Bay Area voters established a local funding 
source through a bond measure for some Bay restoration, local funding 
``needs to be leveraged by significant state and Federal dollars to 
meet the estimated $1.5 billion needed for restoration in the Bay 
Area.''
  This bill recognizes the important restoration work that must be done 
to protect and restore the iconic San Francisco Bay Estuary. It 
authorizes $50 million per year for five years for the creation of the 
San Francisco Program office.
  This program office would work with local stakeholders to compile an 
annual list of project and study priorities that advance the goals of 
the National Estuary Program for the San Francisco Bay estuary.
  Funds would be distributed by the agency in a competitive grant 
program, prioritizing projects that improve water quality, provide 
wetland restoration, promote endangered species recovery, and support 
adaptation to climate change.
  This legislation would bring the Federal funding investment in line 
with other major estuaries in the country, like the Chesapeake Bay, 
Great Lakes, and Puget Sound.
  This is another example of the type of front-end investment in green 
infrastructure and natural resources that will only pay dividends in 
the future and, most importantly, for future generations.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.
  Thank you, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Warren, 
        Mr. Booker, Mr. Markey, Ms. Cortez Masto, and Ms. Hirono):
  S. 1912. A bill to clarify the rights of certain persons who are held 
or detained at a port of entry or at any facility overseen by U.S. 
Customs and

[[Page S3900]]

Border Protection; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the ``Access to 
Counsel Act.''
  This legislation would ensure that all individuals with a legal right 
to be in the United States and are detained by Customs and Border 
Protection at ports of entry or airports have access to legal counsel.
  This legislation would ensure that individuals who have legal status 
in the U.S. and are detained by Customs and Border Protection in 
secondary inspection at airports or other points of entry for more than 
an hour are granted an opportunity to access legal counsel and an 
interested party. An interested party is defined as a family member, 
sponsor, or organization with a connection to the individual.
  The bill provides no obligation for the Federal government to pay for 
counsel and allows counsel the ability to advocate on behalf of the 
individual by providing information or documentation in support of the 
individual.
  It also invalidates any effort by CBP to persuade someone to 
relinquish their legal status if that person has been denied access to 
counsel or voluntarily waives in writing their right to counsel.
  The Trump Administration's immigration policies often caused 
unnecessary chaos and confusion.
  One vivid example of this is when the first Muslim Ban was 
implemented, in early 2017, and thousands of U.S. citizens, green card 
holders, and others with valid visas were detained at airports for 
hours.
  They were held by Customs and Border Protection officers without any 
ability to call a lawyer, a relative or an advocate. Many members of 
Congress rushed to the airports in an attempt to help these individuals 
and were barred from speaking to them or connecting them with 
attorneys.
  In addition, in early 2020, 200 Iranian Americans were held at the 
northern border in Blaine, WA for 12 hours without access to counsel.
  While President Biden has rescinded the travel bans, it is imperative 
that Americans and those with a legal right to be here have access to 
representation if they are held at a port of entry.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Marshall, Ms. 
        Stabenow, Mrs. Capito, Mr. King, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Sinema, Mr. 
        Menendez, and Ms. Rosen):
  S. 1943. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
improve access to, and utilization of, bone mass measurement benefits 
under part B of the Medicare program by establishing a minimum payment 
amount under such part for bone mass measurement; to the Committee on 
Finance.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce legislation 
with my colleague from Maryland, Senator Ben Cardin, to increase access 
to preventive bone density screenings and to improve osteoporosis 
diagnosis and treatment in the process.
  May is National Osteoporosis month. Approximately 54 million 
Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass. Women are 
disproportionally affected, accounting for 71 percent of osteoporotic 
fractures and 75 percent of health costs related to osteoporosis.
  Osteoporosis is often called ``the silent disease'' because bone loss 
usually occurs gradually over the years without symptoms. As the NIH 
Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center 
observes, falls are especially dangerous for people who are unaware 
that they have low bone density. If the patient and the doctor fail to 
identify the link between the broken bone and osteoporosis, the chance 
to make a diagnosis with a bone density test and begin a treatment 
program may be lost.
  Our legislation, the Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for 
Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2021, tackles a proven barrier to proper 
screening by creating a floor reimbursement rate under Medicare for the 
dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test, the ``gold standard'' for 
osteoporosis diagnosis.
  Congress has twice recognized the importance of reversing Medicare 
cuts to DXA reimbursement in order to maintain patient access to this 
test, yet the Medicare reimbursement rate for DXA tests administered in 
a doctor's office has declined from $140 in 2006 to only $42 in 2018--a 
dramatic 70 percent decline. It is not surprising that this inadequate 
reimbursement has led to a decline in screenings.
  The National Osteoporosis Foundation has found that declining 
reimbursement rates have created a 26 percent decline in physicians 
performing DXA tests since 2008, resulting in a corresponding 22 
percent decline in diagnoses since 2009.
  Regrettably, the result of reduced screenings due to declining 
reimbursements produces real harm. It is estimated that more than 
40,000 additional hip fractures occur each year, resulting in nearly 
10,000 additional hip fracture-related deaths. Keep in mind that these 
painful and costly fractures, and even deaths, are all occurring at a 
time when early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis are proven to 
reduce fracture rates dramatically.
  With osteoporosis already an under-diagnosed condition in the 
Medicare population, it is clear that we must change this trajectory I 
thank Senator Cardin for joining me in this effort to increase patient 
access to osteoporosis screening and diagnosis, while lowering cost and 
consequences resulting from a lack of diagnosis. I encourage my 
colleagues to support its adoption. Thank you, Mr. President.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Tester):
  S. 1944. A bill to improve Vet Centers of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President. as many of my colleagues know. the 
transition from military to civilian life can be very difficult. To 
address these kinds of challenges. Vet Centers were created in the wake 
of the Vietnam War to provide critical services for veterans. service 
members. and their families in community-based settings separate from 
other Veterans Health Administration facilities. Today. there is a need 
to enhance these Centers to continue to realize that original vision--
which is why I am reintroducing the Vet Center Improvement Act.
  This legislation is the product of a Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) investigation that Senator Tester and I requested into 
allegations that changes to performance metrics at Vet Centers may have 
negatively impacted quality of care as well as additional concerns that 
we had about their staffing practices. The GAO report concluded that 
recent changes ``have the potential to negatively affect care and 
create undue burden and stress on counselors providing that care at 
some Vet Centers.'' This report included recommendations to improve 
care, transparency. and hiring and staffing methods that are the 
foundation for our legislation.
  Specifically, the Vet Center Improvement Act requires periodic review 
and reform of performance standards at Vet Centers; the creation and 
periodic reevaluation of a staffing model, along with standardization 
of position descriptions and responsibilities across Vet Centers; the 
creation of a working group to implement changes to improve quality of 
care for veterans and recruitment and retention of staff; and the GAO 
to review Vet Center infrastructure and examine what future investments 
are needed. Additionally, our legislation creates a $50 million pilot 
program to provide grants to combat food insecurity and provide 
necessary heating and cooling assistance to veterans and their 
families. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has further underscored 
the need for this legislation--to ensure that we are providing high 
quality counseling services and offering programs that help our 
veterans meet their daily needs, like feeding their families and 
heating their homes.
  I would like to thank Senator Tester for joining me in introducing 
this important legislation and the attention he has paid to this issue 
as Ranking Member and now Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs 
Committee. Our legislation has received support from such organizations 
as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Veterans (AMVETS), 
National Community Action Foundation (NCAF), National Association for 
State Community Services Programs (NASCSP). the National Energy & 
Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC),

[[Page S3901]]

and the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America. I look forward 
to continuing our partnership on this and other measures to improve 
care for our veterans. and I hope our colleagues will join us in this 
endeavor.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REED:
  S. 1954. A bill to reauthorize the John H. Chafee Blackstone River 
Valley National Heritage Corridor, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
reauthorize the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National 
Heritage Corridor for the next fifteen years. This legislation will 
continue to preserve the industrial, natural, and cultural heritage of 
the Blackstone River Valley for generations to come.
  In 1986, Congress designated the Blackstone River Valley as a 
National Heritage Corridor, recognizing the region's critical 
contributions to the American Industrial Revolution. Indeed, in 1793. 
Samuel Slater initiated the American Industrial Revolution in Rhode 
Island when he built his historic mill along the Blackstone River, 
Today, the mills and villages throughout the Corridor reflect the 
legacy of this key chapter in American history.
  Encompassing both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the John H. Chafee 
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor links twenty-four 
communities along the Blackstone River from Providence to Worcester. 
The Corridor has also served as a critical partner to the Blackstone 
River Valley National Historical Park, resulting in the recovery of 
dozens of historic villages, waterways, and rural landscapes throughout 
the Blackstone River Valley, which includes thousands of acres of 
beautiful lands and waters that are home to diverse wildlife.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to 
ensure the continued preservation of the Blackstone River Valley for 
the benefit of our natural resources and our country's history.

                          ____________________