[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S613-S615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Heinrich, Mrs. 
        Murray, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Warren):
  S. 3621. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish

[[Page S614]]

a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and Regional Climate 
Adaptation Science Centers to respond to the effects of extreme weather 
events and climate trends, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Climate 
Adaptation Science Center Act, or CASC Act. This bill authorizes the 
national and nine regional CASCs that came about after Congress 
appropriated funding for a National Climate Science Center in 2008 and 
subsequently, in 2009, Department of the Interior Secretary Salazar 
recognized the Department as the lead Agency for protecting the 
country's cultural and natural resources via secretarial order.
  The national and regional CASCs are housed within the U.S. Geological 
Survey, USGS. The national CASC is located in Reston, VA, and the nine 
regional CASCs are dispersed throughout the country from Hawaii, to 
Alaska to Massachusetts. These regional CASCs service stakeholders in 
the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, U.S.-affiliated Pacific 
Islands, USAPI, and the U.S. Caribbean. The purpose of these CASCs is 
to help protect cultural and natural resources by developing the 
science and tools that on-the-ground managers need to respond to the 
effects of climate change.
  One regional CASC, the Pacific Island CASC, or PI-CASC, is a 
partnership between the USGS and a university consortium hosted by the 
University of Hawaii at Manoa, with the University of Hawaii at Hilo 
and the University of Guam. PI-CASC was established in October 2011 and 
over the course of more than a decade has conducted important climate 
research informed by impacted stakeholders, developed products and 
tools for resource managers to address climate change, and provided 
programs to increase capacity and stakeholder networking.
  Over 100 research projects have been completed to address stakeholder 
needs across the Hawaiian Islands and USAPI, such as prioritization 
planning for coastal wetland restoration on Molokai, developing a 
climate and GIS data portal for American Samoa, and predicting and 
mitigating avian disease at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on 
Hawaii Island. Over a dozen different products and tools have been 
developed by PI-CASC, including sea level forecasting tools for 
communities throughout the Pacific, a database on weed fire risk 
throughout Hawaii, and an agroforestry tool for Marshallese 
agricultural producers. Programs that have been made possible by the 
PI-CASC include a Manager Climate Corps on Hawaii Island, a Summer 
Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and a Pacific Regional Invasive 
Species & Climate Change Management Program.
  These are just examples of research, products, and programs made 
possible by one regional CASC. The nine regional CASCs are providing 
similar services all across the country. Currently, stakeholder demand 
for CASC system services outpaces available resources. Additionally, in 
the coming years and decades, the challenges that on-the-ground 
resource managers face with climate change are only going to become 
more numerous and complex. As such, this bill is necessary to formally 
establish the CASCs in law so that the important work that the national 
and nine regional CASCs conduct can continue assisting stakeholders all 
across the country for decades to come.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Coons, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
        Blumenthal, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Ms. Duckworth):
  S. 3622. A bill to establish an AmeriCorps Administration to carry 
out the national and volunteer service programs, to expand 
participation in such programs, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Finance.

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, service is at the heart of the Americans 
ethos. We take inspiration from those who have answered the call to 
serve, whether in defense of our Nation abroad or in strengthening our 
communities at home. Finding common cause through service is how we 
will overcome the major challenges of our time, from recovering from 
the COVID-19 pandemic to addressing inequality to strengthening civil 
society and democratic institutions to leaving a healthy, resilient 
planet to future generations. That is why I am proud to join 
Congressman John Larson of Connecticut in introducing the America's 
Call to Improving Opportunities Now, ACTION for National Service Act. 
Our legislation calls for a historic expansion of the number of service 
opportunities and an increased investment in those who serve.
  The ACTION for National Service Act will honor our national value of 
service, while addressing the barriers that limit citizens' 
opportunities to serve. Our legislation will set us on a path to 1 
million national service positions within 10 years. It will increase 
the educational award so that an individual completing 2 full years of 
service will earn the equivalent of 4 years of the average in-state 
tuition at a public college or university. Indeed, those who are 
willing to serve should not be left to carry a heavy financial burden 
of student loan debt. The ACTION for National Service Act will also 
ease other financial barriers to service by increasing the living 
allowance and eliminating the tax liability for the education awards 
and living stipends. The bill calls for a robust outreach effort to 
ensure that all young people will know about the many opportunities to 
serve their country and their communities. It will mobilize a Civilian 
Climate Corps to address the urgent needs of hardest hit communities. 
Finally, the ACTION for National Service Act calls for elevating the 
Corporation for National and Community Service to a Cabinet-level 
Agency and establishes a National Service Foundation to leverage 
private sector resources to support national service activities.
  Mr. President, it is time we reinvigorate the social contract we have 
with each other. Americans have a deep tradition of service, starting 
with the dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces and including all 
those who have served in AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Peace Corps. 
However, as more Americans desire to serve, it is important that they 
be given the opportunity to do so. It is just as important to invest in 
the education and professional development of those who have sacrificed 
and given so much to our Nation. Developing the talents of our most 
committed citizens pays lifelong dividends. Our investment in the GI 
Bill not only honors our servicemembers but also enriches our Nation. 
Similarly, the education awards for those who have served through our 
national programs have economic impacts beyond the individuals who earn 
them. That is the new deal that the ACTION for National Service Act 
offers.
  All AmeriCorps members take a pledge to get things done for 
Americans, to make communities safer, smarter and healthier, and to 
bring us together. It is a pledge we all should commit ourselves to.
  I would like to thank Senators Coons, Baldwin, Brown, Blumenthal, 
Gillibrand, and Klobuchar for joining me as original cosponsors of the 
ACTION for National Service Act and to urge our colleagues to join us 
in working for its passage so we can ensure that all who aspire to 
serve have the opportunity to do so.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Durbin, Ms. 
        Murkowski, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Capito, 
        Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Portman, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Brown, 
        Mr. Cramer, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Moran, 
        Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Burr):
  S. 3623. A bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 
1994, and for other purposes; read the first time.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Violence 
Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.
  This bipartisan bill would reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act 
through 2027 and provide important updates to modernize the law that 
has been critical to protecting and supporting the survivors of 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
  I was proud to support the original Violence Against Women Act in 
1994 and have supported each reauthorization of the law.

[[Page S615]]

  This includes the most recent reauthorization in 2013, which passed 
the Senate by a strong bipartisan vote of 78 to 22.
  It is an honor to introduce this reauthorization and expansion of 
protections for survivors.
  This bill is the result of a truly bipartisan effort. I would like to 
thank Senator Ernst, Senator Durbin, and Senator Murkowski for working 
with me to prepare this important piece of legislation.
  We have also had help from a number of our Senate colleagues who have 
made important contributions to this effort. I am proud that this bill 
has received strong bipartisan support in the Senate.
  I would also like to thank the many advocates who have lent their 
thoughts and support to this effort. This bill was written in close 
consultation with the people who are on the frontlines helping 
survivors of domestic violence every day. It is not a Democratic bill 
or a Republican bill--it is a bill for survivors.
  Together, we drafted a bill that preserves the good work of the last 
Violence Against Women Act reauthorization and strengthens existing 
programs.
  For nearly 30 years, the Violence Against Women Act has played a 
vital role in the Federal response to domestic violence, dating 
violence, sexual assault, and stalking. I hope that this bill will be 
an effective tool to build upon those efforts.
  Despite the progress made over the last three decades, sexual, 
emotional, and physical abuse are still painful realities for far too 
many Americans. More than one in three women experience rape, physical 
violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. 
Nationwide, an average of three women are killed each day by a current 
or former intimate partner.
  According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in a 
single day in 2020, 76,525 domestic violence survivors received the 
resources they needed thanks to programs funded and supported by the 
Violence Against Women Act.
  It is clear that the programs created by the Violence Against Women 
Act are necessary, and they need to be continually updated to meet the 
needs of survivors. The bipartisan bill that we are introducing today 
reauthorizes these important programs and provides the necessary 
updates to strengthen them.
  This bill enhances and expands services for survivors of domestic 
violence, including survivors in rural communities, LGBT survivors, 
survivors with disabilities, and survivors who experience abuse later 
in life.
  This bill reauthorizes and strengthens the criminal justice response 
to domestic violence, including by improving the Justice Department's 
STOP grant program; expanding support provided to survivors in the 
legal system; and strengthening the ability of Tribal courts to address 
instances of domestic violence on Tribal lands.
  This bill also invests in prevention education efforts, improves the 
healthcare system's response to sexual violence across the country, and 
establishes a pilot program on restorative practices that focuses on 
preventing or addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 
assault, and stalking through community based, victim-initiated efforts 
to seek accountability.
  I am pleased that we have strong bipartisan support for this bill, 
but our work is not done. The survivors--who this bill is for--need the 
Senate to not only introduce this bill but to pass it. The prevention 
of domestic violence and the support for survivors of these heinous 
crimes is not a partisan issue.
  This is not a perfect bill. I regret that certain provisions were not 
able to be included in this bill, most notably the closure of the 
``boyfriend loophole'' to ensure that individuals convicted of domestic 
abuse against a dating partner could not purchase firearms. Individuals 
convicted of domestic violence against a spouse are already prevented 
from purchasing a firearm, and it is deeply disappointing that there is 
not sufficient bipartisan support for this commonsense provision to 
close this loophole. I would have liked to include those additional 
provisions, as would many of my Senate colleagues. But though it is not 
perfect, it is a strong bill.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to advance this bill through the Senate and get it signed into 
law as soon as possible.
  The time to act is now. I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
important bipartisan legislation, and I hope that it will come to the 
floor for a vote quickly.

                          ____________________