[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S231-S236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Duckworth):
  S. 241. A bill to designate the Department of Energy Integrated 
Engineering Research Center Federal Building located at the Fermi 
National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, as the ``Helen 
Edwards Engineering Research Center''; to the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam 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. 241

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

     SECTION 1. HELEN EDWARDS ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER.

       (a) Designation.--The Department of Energy Integrated 
     Engineering Research Center Federal Building located at the 
     Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Helen Edwards 
     Engineering Research Center''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     Federal Building referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
     deemed to be a reference to the ``Helen Edwards Engineering 
     Research Center''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. 
        Gillibrand, Ms. Smith, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Welch):
  S. 242. 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. Madam President, today I am reintroducing the Caring for 
All Families Act. It will expand protections of the Family and Medical 
Leave Act and ensure that a broader range of caregiving relationships 
are covered.
  In 2020, the Department of Labor found that one in six people taking 
leave to act as caregiver was not protected by the Family and Medical 
Leave Act's definition of ``family.'' It really begs the question: How 
many of these people decided to drop out of the workforce altogether? 
How many of them were fired because they missed a shift because their 
child woke up with a fever or because an elderly relative was rushed to 
the ER? No one should ever have to choose between caring for a loved 
one or losing their job.
  The Caring for All Families Act will help protect these workers by 
adding domestic partners, in-laws, grandparents, and other significant 
relationships to the FMLA's definition of ``family.''
  Importantly, this legislation will just be a starting point. While it 
would expand job protections to millions of workers, it would not 
resolve one crucial flaw in our safety net. America is the only 
industrialized Nation in the world that does not have guaranteed paid 
family leave. I am going to repeat that. America is the only 
industrialized Nation in the world that does not guarantee paid family 
leave. That is shameful.
  For the millions of working Americans who have or will be caregivers 
at some point in their lives, what are they supposed to do? Take on 
debt? Work even more hours? No. We cannot settle

[[Page S232]]

for a system that abandons working families when they need it the most. 
The American people deserve a safety net that prevents them from 
drowning, a safety net that provides the peace of mind they need to 
reenter the workforce, and offers them the assurance that their 
government has their back.
  So let's start. Let's pass the Caring for All Families Act and then 
get to work to ensure access to paid leave for all American workers.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam 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. 242

       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 ``Caring for All Families 
     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 whose close association is the 
     equivalent of a family relationship.--The term `any other 
     individual 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 or daughter-in-law, 
     parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual whose close association is the equivalent of 
     a family relationship with the employee, if such spouse, 
     domestic partner, son or daughter, son-in-law or 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 or 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual 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 or 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 
     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 or 
     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 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 or 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual 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 or 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 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 or 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 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 or 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 or 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 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 or 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 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 or 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 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 whose close 
     association is the

[[Page S233]]

     equivalent of a family relationship.--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 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 or daughter-in-law, 
     parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual whose close association with the employee is 
     the equivalent of a family relationship, if such spouse, 
     domestic partner, son or daughter, son-in-law or 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 or 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual 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 or 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 
     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 or 
     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 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 or 
     daughter-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, sibling, 
     uncle or aunt, or nephew or niece of the employee, or any 
     other individual 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 or 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 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 or 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 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 or 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 domestic partner, or grandchild 
     of the employee) or attend to the care needs of an elderly 
     individual who is any other individual whose close 
     association is the equivalent of a family relationship with 
     the employee (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

[[Page S234]]

     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 domestic partner, or grandchild 
     of the employee) or to attend to the care needs of an elderly 
     individual who is any other individual whose close 
     association is the equivalent of a family relationship with 
     the employee (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. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, Ms. 
        Warren, Mr. Casey, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. 
        Murphy):
  S. 246. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to require 
federally licensed firearms importers, manufacturers, and dealers to 
meet certain requirements with respect to securing their firearms 
inventory, business records, and business premises; to the Committee on 
the Judiciary.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam 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. 246

       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 ``Safety Enhancements for 
     Communities Using Reasonable and Effective Firearm Storage 
     Act'' or the ``SECURE Firearm Storage Act''.

     SEC. 2. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERALLY LICENSED FIREARMS 
                   IMPORTERS, MANUFACTURERS, AND DEALERS.

       (a) In General.--Section 923 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(m) Security Requirements.--
       ``(1) Relation to provision governing gun shows.--This 
     subsection shall apply to a licensed importer, licensed 
     manufacturer, or licensed dealer except as provided in 
     subsection (j).
       ``(2) Firearm storage.--
       ``(A) In general.--A person who is a licensed importer, 
     licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer shall keep and 
     store each firearm in the business inventory of the licensee 
     at the premises covered by the license.
       ``(B) Means of storage.--When the premises covered by the 
     license are not open for business, the licensee shall, with 
     respect to each firearm in the business inventory of the 
     licensee--
       ``(i) secure the firearm with a hardened steel rod \1/4\ 
     inch thick through the space between the trigger guard, and 
     the frame or receiver, of the firearm, with--

       ``(I) the steel rod secured by a hardened steel lock that 
     has a shackle;
       ``(II) the lock and shackle protected or shielded from the 
     use of a bolt cutter; and
       ``(III) the rod anchored to prevent the removal of the 
     firearm from the premises; or

       ``(ii) store the firearm in--

       ``(I) a locked fireproof safe;
       ``(II) a locked gun cabinet (and if the locked gun cabinet 
     is not steel, each firearm within the cabinet shall be 
     secured with a hardened steel rod \1/4\ inch thick, protected 
     or shielded from the use of a bolt cutter and anchored to 
     prevent the removal of the firearm from the premises); or
       ``(III) a locked vault.

       ``(3) Paper record storage.--When the premises covered by 
     the license are not open for business, the licensee shall 
     store each paper record of the business inventory and firearm 
     transactions of, and other dispositions of firearms by, the 
     licensee at the premises in a secure location such as a 
     locked fireproof safe or locked vault.
       ``(4) Additional security requirements.--The Attorney 
     General may, by regulation, prescribe such additional 
     security requirements as the Attorney General determines 
     appropriate with respect to the firearms business conducted 
     by a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed 
     dealer, such as requirements relating to the use of--
       ``(A) alarm and security camera systems;
       ``(B) site hardening;
       ``(C) measures to secure any electronic record of the 
     business inventory and firearm transactions of, and other 
     dispositions of firearms by, the licensee; and
       ``(D) other measures necessary to reduce the risk of theft 
     at the business premises of a licensee.''.
       (b) Penalties.--Section 924 of title 18, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(q) Penalties for Noncompliance With Firearms Licensee 
     Security Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) Penalty.--With respect to a violation by a licensee 
     of section 923(m) or a regulation issued under that section, 
     the Attorney General, after notice and opportunity for 
     hearing--
       ``(i) in the case of the first violation or related series 
     of violations on the same date, shall subject the licensee to 
     a civil penalty in an amount equal to not less than $1,000 
     and not more than $10,000;
       ``(ii) in the case of the second violation or related 
     series of violations on the same date--

       ``(I) shall suspend the license issued to the licensee 
     under this chapter until the licensee cures the violation; 
     and
       ``(II) may subject the licensee to a civil penalty in an 
     amount provided in clause (i); or

[[Page S235]]

       ``(iii) in the case of the third violation or related 
     series of violations on the same date--

       ``(I) shall revoke the license issued to the licensee under 
     this chapter; and
       ``(II) may subject the licensee to a civil penalty in an 
     amount provided in clause (i).

       ``(B) Review.--An action of the Attorney General under this 
     paragraph may be reviewed only as provided under section 
     923(f).
       ``(2) Administrative remedies.--The imposition of a civil 
     penalty or suspension or revocation of a license under 
     paragraph (1) shall not preclude any administrative remedy 
     that is otherwise available to the Attorney General.''.
       (c) Application Requirement.--Section 923 of title 18, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by striking 
     ``be in such form and contain only that'' and inserting 
     ``describe how the applicant plans to comply with subsection 
     (m) and shall be in such form and contain only such other''; 
     and
       (2) in subsection (d)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(H) the Attorney General determines that the description 
     in the application of how the applicant plans to comply with 
     subsection (m) would, if implemented, so comply.''.
       (d) Effective Dates.--
       (1) Initial firearm storage requirements.--Section 
     923(m)(2) of title 18, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 1 year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (2) Initial paper records storage requirements.--Section 
     923(m)(3) of title 18, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 90 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Kaine, Mr. 
        Markey, Ms. Warren, Mr. Brown, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Smith, Mr. 
        Casey, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Booker, Mr. 
        Merkley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, and Ms. Klobuchar):
  S. 247. A bill to support State, Tribal, and local efforts to remove 
access to firearms from individuals who are a danger to themselves or 
others pursuant to court orders for this purpose; to the Committee on 
the Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, today I rise to introduce the 
Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act.
  The premise of this bill is simple: Individuals who pose a serious 
threat to themselves or others should not have guns.
  Too often we see the deadly consequences when those at risk of 
committing violence are given easy access to guns. Nearly 40,000 people 
die each year from gun violence. Last year, 3,597 children died by 
gunfire--making guns the No. 1 cause of death for children in the 
United States.
  Before many incidents of gun violence, shooters display warning signs 
of impending violence. However, family and friends--those in the best 
position to recognize troubling signs--are too often powerless to stop 
the violence.
  That is why Congress must pass the Extreme Risk Protection Order 
Expansion Act.
  Extreme risk protection orders, which are often referred to as red 
flag laws, allow law enforcement and family members to petition courts 
to temporarily remove guns from individuals who are determined to be 
dangerous. These laws help save lives.
  Nineteen States, including California, already have these laws on the 
books. Red flag laws work, but they need more funding.
  The Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act, which I am 
reintroducing today, would allow States to use Federal funds to develop 
red flag laws.
  Passing the Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act would help 
States respond to situations where a dangerous person should not have 
access to a gun. It will also help us better understand the causes of 
gun violence and how to better protect our communities.
  When Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last year, 
it expanded the Justice Department's existing Byrne-JAG Program to 
allow States to apply for Federal grant assistance if they want to 
create these laws.
  While this was an important first step, I believe we must pass the 
Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act to build on the important 
work done last Congress and make sure that specific dedicated funding 
exists for the development and implementation of red-flag laws.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Tillis, and Mrs. 
        Feinstein):
  S. 253. A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to provide fair 
treatment of radio stations and artists for the use of sound 
recordings, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the 
bipartisan American Music Fairness Act, which I have reintroduced with 
Senator Blackburn today.
  Artists pour their heart and soul into the music we enjoy. 
Unfortunately, our current copyright laws do not adequately reflect the 
value of what they have produced.
  Currently, the United States is the only democratic country in the 
world in which artists are not compensated for the use of their music 
on AM/FM radio.
  By requiring broadcast radio corporations to pay performance 
royalties to creators for AM/FM radio plays, the American Music 
Fairness Act would close an antiquated loophole in our copyright law 
which has prevented artists from receiving compensation for the use of 
their music for far too long.
  This royalty stream would be particularly meaningful for the 
thousands of working-class artists who are a critical part of our 
country's vibrant music industry.
  Additionally, when American-made music is played overseas, other 
countries collect royalties for American artists and producers but 
never pay those royalties to our artists because we do not reciprocate. 
This inequity costs the American economy and artists more than $200 
million each year. This is a serious injustice considering that America 
is the origin of so much of the music listened to around the world.
  So it is time, once and for all, to create a regime that is platform 
neutral and which respects the hard work and dignity of our artists.
  But I also want to be clear about something. I am a huge fan of and 
true believer in the importance of local radio to the music industry 
and to communities all across the United States that rely on radio to 
receive timely and relevant news, entertainment, and emergency response 
information. The American Music Fairness Act recognizes and 
acknowledges the important role that locally owned radio stations play 
by including protections for small, college, and noncommercial 
stations.
  I want to thank Senator Blackburn for introducing this bill with me, 
and I hope our colleagues will join us in supporting the thousands of 
artists across this country who create the music that contributes to 
the soundtrack of our lives.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Sinema, and Mr. King):
  S. 255. A bill to authorize certain aliens seeking asylum to be 
employed in the United States while their applications are being 
adjudicated; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
   Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Asylum 
Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 with my colleagues Senator Sinema 
and Senator King. It is my hope that the changes proposed by our bill 
will lessen the burden on the budgets of communities hosting asylum 
seekers, while allowing these individuals and their families to support 
themselves as they want to do, bringing needed skills to the cities and 
towns in which they settle.
  This legislation would allow individuals seeking asylum at ports of 
entry to be eligible for employment authorizations starting 30 days 
after applying for asylum, provided their applications are not 
frivolous; they are not detained; and their identities have been 
verified, with their names run through the Federal Government's 
terrorist watch lists. This change would allow asylum applicants to 
work, support themselves, and contribute to society without being as 
dependent on assistance from local governments while their claims are 
being adjudicated. By encouraging asylum seekers to enter the country 
through official ports of entry, this legislation would also help 
create a more orderly asylum application process.

[[Page S236]]

  Under current law, asylum seekers must wait extended periods of time 
after filing their applications before they are allowed to obtain work 
permits. This waiting period places the burden of care for these asylum 
seekers onto communities across the Nation. One such community is 
Portland, ME. Over the span of the last 2 years, a historic number of 
asylum seekers have arrived in Portland after crossing our southern 
border. Currently, hundreds of asylum seekers are being housed in 
emergency shelters and other facilities by the city of Portland. These 
asylum seekers could give a much needed boost to Maine businesses that 
are facing labor shortages--our State's unemployment rate is just 3.8 
percent--but the lengthy work authorization process prevents these 
asylum seekers from getting jobs, even to support themselves.
  While the Federal Government has provided assistance to Portland and 
other communities around our country dealing with a surge in asylum 
seekers, it would be a better solution if those seeking asylum were 
able to join the workforce and achieve self-sufficiency as quickly as 
possible while awaiting the outcome of their cases.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this win-win solution that will 
allow asylum seekers to work, as they are eager to do.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Collins):
  S. 265. A bill to reauthorize the rural emergency medical service 
training and equipment assistance program, and for other purposes; 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. 265

       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 ``Supporting and Improving 
     Rural EMS Needs Reauthorization Act'' or the ``SIREN 
     Reauthorization Act''.

     SEC. 2. RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TRAINING AND 
                   EQUIPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       Section 330J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     254c-15) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``the Administrator of 
     the Health Resources and Services Administration (referred to 
     in this section as the `Secretary')'' and inserting ``the 
     Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use,'';
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) ensure emergency medical services personnel are 
     trained on mental health and substance use disorders and care 
     for individuals with such disorders in emergency situations; 
     and''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
     a semicolon;
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; or''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) acquire overdose reversal drugs and devices.'';
       (3) by striking subsection (f);
       (4) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f); and
       (5) in subsection (f)(1), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028''.

                          ____________________