[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 190 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7462-S7463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr.
Cornyn, and Mr. Leahy):
S. 3103. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to eliminate
the statute of limitations for the filing of a civil claim for any
person who, while a minor, was a victim of a violation of section 1589,
1590, 1591, 2241(c), 2242, 2243, 2251, 2251A, 2252, 2252A, 2260, 2421,
2422, or 2423 of such title; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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. 3103
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 ``Eliminating Limits to
Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
Section 2255 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Statute of Limitations.--There shall be no time limit
for the filing of any action commenced under this section.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall--
(1) take effect on date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) apply to--
(A) any claim or action that, as of the date described in
paragraph (1), would not have been barred under section
2255(b) of title 18, United States Code, as it read the day
before the date of enactment of this Act; and
(B) any claim or action arising after the date of enactment
of this Act.
By Mr. CARPER:
S. 3104. A bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to
allow the District of Columbia to receive Federal funding under such
Act, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to
allow the District of Columbia to receive funding and other benefits
under the Coastal Zone Management Act. I am pleased to offer this
companion legislation to a bill introduced by the Congresswoman from
the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Few of us realize that 70 percent of the District is located within
the coastal plain. Similar to my State of Delaware, sea level rise,
upstream sources of water, and degraded infrastructure mean that the
District could experience serious future cleanup and repair costs due
to flooding, including damage to Federal property, which makes up
almost 30 percent of the District. Since 1950, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, reports there has been a 343-percent
increase in nuisance flooding in
[[Page S7463]]
the District. Since 2006, D.C. has experienced two 100-year flooding
events. Scientists predict that tides on the Atlantic coast could rise
2 to 4 feet by the year 2100, causing as much as $7 billion worth of
property damage in the District, which would regularly be under threat
by floodwaters. This fact was highlighted by a study released by the
nonprofit Climate Central last week. Needless to say, these events will
become more and more common due to climate change and sea level rise.
The District of Columbia would use funding from the Coastal Zone
Management Program for flood risk planning and environmental
restoration to prevent and mitigate future flood damage. At the same
time, this work would help to restore and conserve the District's
coastal resources such as habitat, fisheries, and endangered species.
If included in the Coastal Zone Management Program, the District of
Columbia would be eligible for $1 million or more of Federal funding
annually to assist in coastal flood-control projects, to combat non-
point source water pollution, and to develop special area management
plans in areas experiencing environmental justice and/or flooding
issues.
The National Coastal Zone Management Program, housed in NOAA, was
established through the passage of the Federal Coastal Zone Management
Act of 1972. At the time, Congress recognized the need to manage the
effects of increased growth in the Nation's coastal zone, which
includes jurisdictions bordering the oceans and the Great Lakes.
There are currently 34 jurisdictional coastal zone management
programs, including both States and territories. In order for the
District of Columbia to participate in the program, Congress must pass
this amendment to the Coastal Zone Management Act that would include
the District under the definition of a ``coastal State.''
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill I am introducing
today be printed in the Record following my statement.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 3104
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 ``Flood Prevention Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOR FEDERAL
FUNDING UNDER THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT
OF 1972.
Section 304(4) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
(16 U.S.C. 1453(4)) is amended by inserting ``the District of
Columbia,'' after ``the term also includes''.
By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr.
Booker, Mr. Coons, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Durbin, Mrs.
Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley,
Mr. Murphy, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Reed, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr.
Schatz, Ms. Smith, Ms. Warren, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden):
S. 3108. A bill to provide counsel for unaccompanied children, and
for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Ms. HIRONO, Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Fair Day in
Court for Kids Act of 2021. This important legislation would provide
all unaccompanied children with legal representation as they go through
immigration proceedings. This will protect the legal rights of
vulnerable children running from violence, abuse, and gangs, but it
will also make our immigration system more efficient.
Five years ago, I traveled to Baltimore, MD, to observe immigration
court hearings on the children's docket. I watched children, who had
suffered violence and trauma in their home countries, trying to
navigate our complex legal system without any support. Leaving young
people, children as young as 3, to combat an adversarial government
lawyer and explain why they qualify for a legal immigration status is
unacceptable and unconscionable.
I have also had the opportunity to speak to children who were able to
secure an immigration status with legal support. These children are
grateful to have escaped the dangers that drove them to leave home.
They also express with certainty that they would not have been able to
succeed in their cases if they did not have lawyers representing them.
In immigration court, people seeking relief through our immigration
system do not have a right to counsel and often cannot afford counsel
who understand our Byzantine immigration system and can explain the
lifelong ramifications that result from certain decisions. This
unfairness is most acute when it comes to unaccompanied children who
are trying to escape brutal violence and crushing poverty. Most do not
speak English, nor do they have any understanding of our legal system.
Yet we expect them to argue their case before immigration court and
against trained and skilled ICE attorneys.
The Fair Day in Court for Kids Act would remedy this injustice by
providing all unaccompanied children with legal counsel. Attorneys
would review the case, advise the child of their legal options, and
remain with them throughout their immigration proceedings. Legal
counsel would ensure these children have the legal rights and
opportunities they are afforded, helping our immigration system protect
the people it was meant to support.
In addition to protecting the rights of unaccompanied children, legal
counsel will ensure their cases move quicker and more smoothly. Cases
with unrepresented children are subject to delays and a slower pace as
the judge must repeatedly help the child understand what is going on
and help them respond. Children with legal counsel also have a 98
percent appearance rate in court. These efficiencies can only help our
overwhelmed immigration court system, which currently has a 1.4 million
case backlog.
I call on my Senate colleagues to help protect unaccompanied children
and quickly pass this bill.
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