[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 129 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5052-S5054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla):
  S. 2430. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand 
the exclusion for certain conservation subsidies to include subsidies 
for water conservation or efficiency measures and storm water 
management measures; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
``Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act,'' which I introduced today. 
Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) has introduced companion 
legislation in the House of Representatives.
  Access to water has always been a major issue in California and 
throughout the Western United States. That issue has only become more 
pressing as climate change increases the risk of drought in the West. 
Right now, 87 percent of California is facing ``Extreme Drought'' 
conditions and 33 percent of the state is experiencing ``Exceptional 
Drought'' conditions, the most severe category.
  A growing number of States, including California, have begun offering 
rebates to homeowners to improve the water efficiency of their homes. 
Unfortunately, many homeowners are unaware that they are required to 
pay federal income taxes on these rebates and are surprised to be stuck 
with that bill. Still other homeowners aware of the tax implications 
are disincentivized from making these efficiencies to their homes.
  The ``Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act'' would exempt such 
State and local rebates for water conservation improvements, as well as 
improvements to better handle storm water runoff, from taxable income. 
This would eliminate the unexpected bill homeowners face, increasing 
the incentive to make these improvements, which benefit all of us.
  I note that such State rebates for energy conservation improvements 
are already excluded from taxable income. Thus, my bill would simply 
put water conservation rebates on par with energy conservation rebates 
for tax treatment.
  It is critical that Congress explore many ways to address climate 
change and mitigate the impacts that we are already seeing. Encouraging 
homeowners to make their properties more water-efficient is one way to 
do that.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill. Thank you, 
Mr. President, and I yield the floor.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Burr, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. 
        Tillis):
  S. 2432. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude 
from gross income amounts received from State-based catastrophe loss 
mitigation programs; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
``Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act,'' which Senator Burr and I 
introduced today. Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) has introduced 
companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
  Encouraging homeowners to take steps to reduce the risk of natural 
catastrophe damage to their homes has long been a goal of policy 
makers. In California, it has been a special challenge to incentivize 
individuals to purchase earthquake insurance and to harden their homes 
against potential earthquake damage.
  The threat of natural disasters and extreme weather events has become 
a much greater problem in recent years due to climate change, which is 
driving an increasing frequency and severity of wildfires, droughts, 
hurricanes, and other catastrophic events. This, in turn, is reducing 
the availability and increasing the costs of insurance for individuals 
and businesses.
  A growing number of states, including California, have begun offering 
rebates to homeowners to improve their homes to mitigate against damage 
from such events. Unfortunately, many homeowners are unaware that they 
are required to pay Federal income taxes on these rebates and are 
surprised to be stuck with that bill. Other homeowners who are aware of 
the tax implications are disincentivized from making these improvements 
to their homes.
  The ``Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act'' would exempt such 
State rebates for disaster mitigation improvements from taxable income. 
This would eliminate the unexpected bill homeowners face, increasing 
the incentive to make these improvements, which benefit all of us.
  I also note that such State rebates for energy conservation 
improvements are already excluded from taxable income. Thus, our bill 
would simply put disaster mitigation rebates on par with energy 
conservation measures.
  I am pleased that Congress is exploring many ways to address climate 
change-related matters. Encouraging homeowners to make their properties 
more resistant to natural catastrophe damage is one way to help.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill. Thank you, 
Mr. President, and I yield the floor.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. THUNE:
  S. 2437. A bill to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
to require the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite hazardous fuel or 
insect and disease risk reduction projects on certain National Forest 
System land, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry.
  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. 2437

       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 ``Expediting Forest 
     Restoration and Recovery Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. APPLICATION BY FOREST SERVICE OF AUTHORITIES TO 
                   EXPEDITE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES IN CARRYING OUT 
                   HAZARDOUS FUEL AND INSECT AND DISEASE RISK 
                   REDUCTION PROJECTS.

       Section 104 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
     (16 U.S.C. 6514) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(i) Application by Forest Service of Authorities to 
     Expedite Environmental Analyses in Carrying Out Hazardous 
     Fuel and Insect and Disease Risk Reduction Projects.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Insect and disease treatment area.--The term `insect 
     and disease treatment area' means an area that--
       ``(i) is designated by the Secretary as an insect and 
     disease treatment area under this title; or

[[Page S5053]]

       ``(ii) is designated as at risk or a hazard on the most 
     recent National Insect and Disease Risk Map published by the 
     Forest Service.
       ``(B) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 101(14)(A).
       ``(2) Use of authorities.--In carrying out a hazardous fuel 
     or insect and disease risk reduction project in an insect and 
     disease treatment area authorized under this Act, the 
     Secretary shall--
       ``(A) apply the categorical exclusion established by 
     section 603 in the case of a hazardous fuel or insect and 
     disease risk reduction project carried out in an area--
       ``(i) designated as suitable for timber production within 
     the applicable forest plan; or
       ``(ii) where timber harvest activities are not prohibited;
       ``(B) conduct applicable environmental assessments and 
     environmental impact statements in accordance with this 
     section in the case of a hazardous fuel or insect and disease 
     risk reduction project--
       ``(i) carried out in an area--

       ``(I) outside of an area described in subparagraph (A); or
       ``(II) where other significant resource concerns exist, as 
     determined exclusively by the Secretary; or

       ``(ii) that is carried out in an area equivalent to not 
     less than a hydrologic unit code 5 watershed, as defined by 
     the United States Geological Survey; and
       ``(C) notwithstanding subsection (d), in the case of any 
     other hazardous fuel or insect and disease reduction project, 
     in the environmental assessment or environmental impact 
     statement prepared under subsection (b), study, develop, and 
     describe--
       ``(i) the proposed agency action; and
       ``(ii) the alternative of no action.
       ``(3) Priority for reducing risks of insect infestation and 
     wildfire.--Except where established as a mandatory standard 
     that constrains project and activity decisionmaking in a 
     resource management plan (as defined in section 101(13)(A)) 
     in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, in the case 
     of an insect and disease treatment area, the Secretary shall 
     prioritize reducing the risks of insect and disease 
     infestation and wildfire over other planning objectives.
       ``(4) Inclusion of fire regime groups iv and v.--
     Notwithstanding section 603(c)(2)(B), the Secretary shall 
     apply the categorical exclusion described in paragraph (2)(A) 
     to areas in Fire Regime Groups IV and V.
       ``(5) Excluded areas.--This subsection shall not apply to--
       ``(A) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation 
     System; or
       ``(B) an inventoried roadless area, except in the case of 
     an activity that is permitted under--
       ``(i) the final rule of the Secretary entitled `Special 
     Areas; Roadless Area Conservation' (66 Fed. Reg. 3244 
     (January 12, 2001)); or
       ``(ii) a State-specific roadless area conservation rule.
       ``(6) Reports.--The Secretary shall annually make publicly 
     available data describing the acreage treated under hazardous 
     fuel or insect and disease risk reduction projects in insect 
     and disease treatment areas during the previous year.''.

     SEC. 3. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.

       Section 8206(b)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 
     U.S.C. 2113a(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C) 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(C) Treatment of revenue.--Funds received from the sale 
     of timber by a Governor of a State under a good neighbor 
     agreement shall be retained and used by the Governor--
       ``(i) to carry out authorized restoration services under 
     that good neighbor agreement; and
       ``(ii) if funds remain after carrying out authorized 
     restoration services under clause (i), to carry out 
     authorized restoration services within the State under other 
     good neighbor agreements.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. 
        Booker):
  S. 2442. A bill to amend section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 in order to allow adjunct faculty members to qualify for public 
service loan forgiveness; 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. 2442

       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 ``Adjunct Faculty Loan 
     Fairness Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR ADJUNCT FACULTY.

       Section 455(m)(3)(B)(ii) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)(3)(B)(ii)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``teaching as'' and inserting the 
     following: ``teaching--

       ``(I) as'';

       (2) by striking ``, foreign language faculty, and part-time 
     faculty at community colleges), as determined by the 
     Secretary.'' and inserting ``and foreign language faculty), 
     as determined by the Secretary; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(II) as a part-time faculty member or instructor who--

       ``(aa) teaches not less than 1 course at an institution of 
     higher education (as defined in section 101(a)), a 
     postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 
     102(c)), or a Tribal College or University (as defined in 
     section 316(b)); and
       ``(bb) is not employed on a full-time basis by any other 
     employer.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Casey, Mr. Durbin, Ms. 
        Klobuchar, Mr. Menendez, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 2452. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide 
matching payments for retirement savings contributions by certain 
individuals, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I have introduced the Encouraging 
Americans to Save Act (EASA). This legislation makes common sense 
reforms to the saver's tax credit by making the credit refundable and 
restructuring it as a government matching contribution that is directly 
deposited into a taxpayer's retirement savings account. This bill would 
offer matching contributions for the first time to millions of middle 
and low income individuals not covered by an employer-sponsored 
retirement plan, including those who save through an IRA under a state 
or local government savings program--such as workers in my home State 
of Oregon under the OregonSaves program. The government match is also 
available to middle and lower income savers who participate in an 
employer-sponsored plan. The government match provided by the bill 
would both encourage saving and help middle and low income earners 
build assets by providing an immediate, meaningful return on their 
personal contributions. The legislation would also establish a 
coronavirus bonus recovery credit that would provide an additional 
government match of up to $5,000 to workers on their retirement saving 
for a five year period. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Ossoff):
  S. 2454. A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
reauthorize the pilot program for alternative water source projects, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the ``Water Reuse and 
Resiliency Act.'' This legislation would authorize $1 billion for 
innovative water infrastructure projects that respond to our Country's 
growing water needs and the historic drought facing the Western United 
States.
  In the face of unprecedented heat and drought conditions across the 
Western United States, and growing water resource challenges across the 
entire Nation, it is critically important that we invest now to 
modernize and adapt our water systems for the 21st century.
  The Environmental Protection Agency's Alternative Water Source 
Projects pilot program provides competitive grants to engineer, design, 
construct, and test alternative water source systems, including water 
recycling systems and projects that conserve, manage, reclaim, or reuse 
water resources.
  The Water Reuse and Resiliency Act would reauthorize the EPA's 
Alternative Water Source Projects pilot program for five years, 
increase the authorization to $1 billion, and make stormwater reuse and 
groundwater recharge projects eligible for grant funding.
  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA), as of July 13, an estimated 89% of the Western U.S. is 
experiencing drought. Unfortunately, historic droughts are becoming the 
new normal. The impacts of drought on water availability are compounded 
by triple-digit temperatures, record low snowpack levels, and a growing 
population.
  By expanding the use of alternative, non-traditional water sources, 
such as capturing stormwater runoff and recycling wastewater for 
groundwater recharge, the Water Reuse and Resiliency Act supports 
innovations in water treatment that can deliver a new, safe, and 
reliable source of water for potable use or irrigation.
  I thank my co-lead, Senator Feinstein, for her tireless leadership 
fighting for clean water for Californians and

[[Page S5054]]

all Americans. I also thank the cosponsors of this bill for championing 
this vital effort with us in the Senate.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the ``Water 
Reuse and Resiliency Act'' as quickly as possible.
  Thank you, Mr. President, I yield the floor.

                          ____________________