[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 80 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1626-S1629]
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, Ms. Baldwin, and Ms. Smith):
S. 1567. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to address
the teacher and school leader shortage in early childhood, elementary,
and secondary education, and for other purposes; to the Committee on
Finance.
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. 1567
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 ``Retaining Educators Takes
Added Investment Now Act'' or the ``RETAIN Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to create a refundable tax
credit for early childhood educators, teachers, early
childhood education program directors, school leaders, and
school-based mental health services providers in early
childhood, elementary, and secondary education settings that
rewards retention based on the time spent serving high-need
students.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The shortage of experienced, qualified early childhood
educators and elementary school and secondary school teachers
is a national problem that compromises the academic outcomes
and long-term success of students.
(2) The shortage is the result of many factors including
low pay, frequent turnover in school leadership, poor
teaching conditions, and inadequate teacher supports.
(3) The shortage is worse in high-poverty areas where the
factors contributing to the shortage are particularly acute
and have an increased negative impact on teachers of color
remaining in the field.
(4) A child's access to high-quality early childhood
education is critical to supporting positive outcomes, and
early childhood educators--
(A) play an important role in setting the foundation for
future learning, and
(B) promote the development of vital skills, habits, and
mindsets that children need to be successful in school and in
life.
(5) In 2021, the national median pay of early childhood
educators was a mere $30,210, with many early childhood
educators relying on government assistance programs such as
Medicaid, the supplemental nutrition assistance program
established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), or the temporary assistance for needy
families program established under part A of title IV of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), and struggling
to provide for their own families.
(6) Studies have demonstrated that well-qualified,
experienced teachers are the single most important school-
based element contributing to a child's academic achievement
and success.
(7) In the 2021-2022 academic year, the average teacher
salary in public elementary schools and secondary schools was
only $66,397, a 2 percent increase from the previous academic
year. When adjusted for inflation, the average teacher salary
has declined by 6.4 percent over the past decade.
(8) On average, public elementary school and secondary
school teachers were paid 23.5 percent less than other
college graduates working in non-teaching fields, and many
teachers struggle with large amounts of student loan debt.
(9) In 2021, the average teacher salary for a first-year
teacher in a public elementary school or secondary school was
$41,770.
(10) An experienced, well-qualified education workforce
must also be reflective of the diversity of the student body
across race, ethnicity, and disability.
(11) Higher pay for teachers can result in a more diverse
teacher workforce, and minority students often perform better
on standardized tests, have improved attendance, and are
suspended less frequently when they have at least one same-
race teacher.
(12) Experienced, well-qualified school leaders and school-
based mental health service providers are essential for
providing strong educational opportunities and services for
students and promoting teacher retention through improved
professional supports and teaching conditions.
(13) Between February 2020 and May 2022, at least 300,000
teachers at public elementary schools and secondary schools
left the field, a nearly 3 percent decline in the teacher
workforce.
SEC. 4. REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT FOR TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADER
RETENTION.
(a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of
chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
is amended by inserting after section 36B the following new
section:
``SEC. 36C. TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADER RETENTION CREDIT.
``(a) Allowance of Credit.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of an individual who is
employed in a position described in paragraph (2) during a
school year ending with or within the taxable year, there
shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this
subtitle for the taxable year an amount equal to the
applicable amount (as determined under subsection (b)).
``(2) Eligible positions.--The positions described in this
paragraph shall consist of the following:
``(A) An eligible early childhood educator.
``(B) An eligible early childhood education program
director.
``(C) An eligible early childhood education provider.
``(D) An eligible teacher.
``(E) An eligible paraprofessional.
``(F) An eligible school-based mental health services
provider.
``(G) An eligible school leader.
``(b) Applicable Amount.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the
applicable amount shall be an amount determined based on the
number of school years for which the individual has been
continuously employed in any position described in subsection
(a)(2), as follows:
``(A) Subject to paragraph (2), for the first year of
employment, $5,800.
``(B) For the second continuous year of employment, $5,800.
``(C) For the third and fourth continuous year of
employment, $7,000.
``(D) For the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth
continuous year of employment, $8,700.
``(E) For the tenth continuous year of employment, $11,600.
``(F) For the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth,
and fifteenth continuous year of employment, $8,700.
``(G) For the sixteenth continuous year of employment,
$7,000.
``(H) For the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and
twentieth continuous year of employment, $5,800.
``(2) First year.--For purposes of the first year of
employment ending with or within a taxable year, an
individual must have been so employed for a period of not
less than 4 months before the first day of such taxable year.
``(3) Limitation based on total number of school years.--In
the case of any individual who has been employed in any
position described in subsection (a)(2) for a total of more
than 20 school years, the applicable amount shall be reduced
to zero.
``(c) Inflation Adjustment.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of any taxable year
beginning after 2024, each of the dollar amounts in
subsection (b)(1) shall be increased by an amount equal to--
``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under
section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year by substituting
`calendar year 2023' for `calendar year 2016' in subparagraph
(A)(ii) thereof.
``(2) Rounding.--If any increase determined under paragraph
(1) is not a multiple of $100, such increase shall be rounded
to the nearest multiple of $100.
``(d) Supplementing, Not Supplanting, State and Local
Education Funds.--
``(1) In general.--A State educational agency or local
educational agency shall not reduce or adjust any
compensation, or any assistance provided through a loan
forgiveness program, to an employee of the State educational
agency or local educational agency who serves in any position
described in subsection (a)(2) due to the individual's
eligibility for the credit under this section.
``(2) Methodology.--Upon request by the Secretary of
Education, a State educational agency or local educational
agency shall reasonably demonstrate that the methodology used
to allocate amounts for compensation and for loan forgiveness
to the employees described in paragraph (1) at qualifying
schools or qualifying early childhood education programs
ensures that employees at each qualifying school or
qualifying early childhood education program in the State or
served by the local educational agency, respectively, receive
the same amount of State or local funds for compensation and
loan forgiveness that the qualifying school or qualifying
early childhood education program would receive if the credit
under this section had not been enacted.
``(e) Information Sharing.--The Secretary of Education and
the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide the
Secretary with such information as is necessary for purposes
of determining whether an early childhood education program
or an elementary school or secondary school satisfies the
requirements for a qualifying early childhood education
program or a qualifying school, respectively.
``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
``(1) ESEA definitions.--The terms `elementary school',
`local educational agency', `secondary school', and `State
educational agency' have the meanings given the terms in
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(2) Eligible early childhood education program
director.--The term `eligible early childhood education
program director' means an employee or officer of a
qualifying
[[Page S1627]]
early childhood education program who is responsible for the
daily instructional leadership and managerial operations of
such program.
``(3) Eligible early childhood education provider.--The
term `eligible early childhood education provider' means an
individual--
``(A) who--
``(i) has an associate's degree or higher degree in early
childhood education or a related field, or
``(ii) is enrolled during the taxable year in a program
leading to such an associate's or higher degree and is making
satisfactory progress toward such degree, and
``(B) who is responsible for the daily instructional
leadership and managerial operations of a qualifying early
childhood education program in a home-based setting.
``(4) Eligible early childhood educator.--The term
`eligible early childhood educator' means an individual--
``(A) who--
``(i) has an associate's degree or higher degree in early
childhood education or a related field, or
``(ii) is enrolled during the taxable year in a program
leading to such an associate's or higher degree and is making
satisfactory progress toward such degree,
``(B) who has credentials or a license under State law for
early childhood education, as applicable, and
``(C) whose primary responsibility is for the learning and
development of children in a qualifying early childhood
education program during the taxable year.
``(5) Eligible paraprofessional.--The term `eligible
paraprofessional' means an individual--
``(A) who is a paraprofessional, as defined in section 3201
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7011),
``(B) who meets the applicable State professional standards
and qualifications pursuant to section 1111(g)(2)(M) of such
Act (20 U.S.C. 6311(g)(2)(M)),
``(C) whose primary responsibilities involve working or
assisting in a classroom setting, and
``(D) who is employed in a qualifying school or a
qualifying early childhood education program.
``(6) Eligible school-based mental health services
provider.--The term `eligible school-based mental health
services provider' means an individual--
``(A) described in section 4102(6) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7112(6)), and
``(B) who is employed in a qualifying school or a
qualifying early childhood education program.
``(7) Eligible school leader.--The term `eligible school
leader' means a principal, assistant principal, or other
individual who is--
``(A) an employee or officer of a qualifying school, and
``(B) responsible for the daily instructional leadership
and managerial operations in the qualifying school.
``(8) Eligible teacher.--The term `eligible teacher' means
an individual who--
``(A) is an elementary school or secondary school teacher
who, as determined by the State or local educational agency,
is a teacher of record who provides direct classroom teaching
(or classroom-type teaching in a nonclassroom setting) to
students in a qualifying school, and
``(B)(i) meets applicable State certification and licensure
requirements, including any requirements for certification
obtained through alternative routes to certification, in the
State in which such school is located and in the subject area
in which the individual is the teacher of record, or
``(ii) is enrolled during the taxable year in a program
leading to State certification and licensure as described in
clause (i) and is making satisfactory progress toward such
certification and licensure requirements.
``(9) Qualifying early childhood education program.--
``(A) In general.--The term `qualifying early childhood
education program' means an early childhood education
program, as defined in section 103 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003), that, regardless of setting--
``(i) serves children who receive services for which
financial assistance is provided in accordance with the Child
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857
et seq.), the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), or the
child and adult care food program established under section
17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1766), and
``(ii) participates in a State tiered and transparent
system for measuring program quality.
``(B) Special rule.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an
early childhood education program that does not satisfy the
requirements of subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be deemed to be a
qualifying early childhood education program until September
30, 2023, if the program--
``(i) satisfies all requirements of subparagraph (A) except
for clause (ii) of such subparagraph, and
``(ii)(I) meets the Head Start program performance
standards described in section 641A(a) of the Head Start Act
(42 U.S.C. 9836a(a)), if applicable, or
``(II) is accredited by a national accreditor of early
learning programs as of the date of enactment of the
Retaining Educators Takes Added Investment Now Act.
``(10) Qualifying school.--The term `qualifying school'
means--
``(A) a public elementary school or secondary school that--
``(i) is in the school district of a local educational
agency that is eligible for assistance under part A of title
I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6311 et seq.), or
``(ii) is served or operated by an educational service
agency that is eligible for such assistance, or
``(B) an elementary school or secondary school that is
funded by the Bureau of Indian Education and that is in the
school district of a local educational agency that is
eligible for such assistance.''.
(b) W-2 Reporting of Continuous Employment for Certain
Positions at Qualifying Early Childhood Education Programs or
Qualifying Schools.--Section 6051(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of
paragraph (16), by striking the period at the end of
paragraph (17) and inserting ``, and'', and by inserting
after paragraph (17) the following new paragraph:
``(18) in the case of an employee who is employed in a
position described in subsection (a)(2) of section 36C, the
number of school years for which such employee has been
continuously employed in any such position.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of
subchapter A of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 36B the following:
``Sec. 36C. Teacher and school leader retention credit.''.
(2) Section 6211(b)(4)(A) of such Code is amended by
inserting ``36C,'' after ``36B,''.
(3) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by inserting ``36C,'' after ``36B,''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31,
2023.
SEC. 5. DEVELOPING INTERAGENCY DATA SERIES.
The Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary
of Treasury, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, shall--
(1) develop and publish on the internet website of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics a data series that captures--
(A) the average base salary of teachers in elementary
schools and secondary schools, disaggregated by--
(i) employment in public elementary schools and secondary
schools that receive assistance under part A of title I of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6311 et seq.),
(ii) employment in public elementary schools and secondary
schools that do not receive such assistance, and
(iii) geographic region, and
(B) the average base salary of early childhood educators,
disaggregated by highest level of degree attained, and
(2) update the data series under paragraph (1) on an annual
basis.
______
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Lankford):
S. 1571. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to
restore State authority to waive for certain facilities the 35-mile
rule for designating critical access hospitals under the Medicare
program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
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. 1571
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 Hospital Closure
Relief Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. RESTORING STATE AUTHORITY TO WAIVE THE 35-MILE RULE
FOR CERTAIN MEDICARE CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL
DESIGNATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 1820 of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395i-4) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)(i)--
(i) in subclause (I), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(ii) in subclause (II), by inserting ``or'' at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
``(III) subject to subparagraph (G), is a hospital
described in subparagraph (F) and is certified on or after
the date of the enactment of the Rural Hospital Closure
Relief Act of 2023 by the State as being a necessary provider
of health care services to residents in the area;''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(F) Hospital described.--For purposes of subparagraph
(B)(i)(III), a hospital described in this subparagraph is a
hospital that--
``(i) is a sole community hospital (as defined in section
1886(d)(5)(D)(iii)), a medicare dependent, small rural
hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(G)(iv)), a low-
volume hospital that in 2021 receives a payment adjustment
under section 1886(d)(12), a subsection
[[Page S1628]]
(d) hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(1)(B)) that has
fewer than 50 beds, or, subject to the limitation under
subparagraph (G)(i)(I), is a facility described in
subparagraph (G)(ii);
``(ii) is located in a rural area, as defined in section
1886(d)(2)(D);
``(iii)(I) is located--
``(aa) in a county that has a percentage of individuals
with income that is below 150 percent of the poverty line
that is higher than the national or statewide average in
2021;
``(bb) in a health professional shortage area (as defined
in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act); or
``(II) has a percentage of inpatient days of individuals
entitled to benefits under part A of this title, enrolled
under part B of this title, or enrolled under a State plan
under title XIX that is higher than the national or statewide
average in 2020 or 2021;
``(iv) subject to subparagraph (G)(ii)(II), has attested to
the Secretary two consecutive years of negative operating
margins preceding the date of certification described in
subparagraph (B)(i)(III); and
``(v) submits to the Secretary--
``(I) at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may
require, an attestation outlining the good governance
qualifications and strategic plan for multi-year financial
solvency of the hospital; and
``(II) not later than 120 days after the date on which the
Secretary issues final regulations pursuant to section 2(b)
of the Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2023, an
application for certification of the facility as a critical
access hospital.
``(G) Limitation on certain designations.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary may not under subsection
(e) certify pursuant to a certification by a State under
subparagraph (B)(i)(III)--
``(I) more than a total of 175 facilities as critical
access hospitals, of which not more than 20 percent may be
facilities described in clause (ii); and
``(II) within any one State, more than 10 facilities as
critical access hospitals.
``(ii) Facility described.--
``(I) In general.--A facility described in this clause is a
facility that as of the date of enactment of this
subparagraph met the criteria for designation as a critical
access hospital under subparagraph (B)(i)(I).
``(II) Nonapplication of certain criteria.--For purposes of
subparagraph (B)(i)(III), the criteria described in
subparagraph (F)(iv) shall not apply with respect to the
designation of a facility described in subclause (I).''; and
(2) in subsection (e), by inserting ``, subject to
subsection (c)(2)(G),'' after ``The Secretary shall''.
(b) Regulations.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall issue final regulations to carry out
subsection (a).
(c) Clarification Regarding Facilities That Meet Distance
or Other Certification Criteria.--Nothing in this section
shall affect the application of criteria for designation as a
critical access hospital described in subclause (I) or (II)
section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395i-4(c)(2)(B)(i)).
(d) GAO Study and Report.--
(1) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States
(in this section referred to as the ``Comptroller General''),
in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall conduct a study on the
implementation of the amendments made by subsection (a). Such
study shall include an analysis of--
(A) the characteristics of facilities designated as
critical access hospitals pursuant to section
1820(c)(2)(B)(i)(III) of the Social Security Act, as added by
subsection (a);
(B) the financial status and outlook for such facilities
based on their designation as a critical access hospital
pursuant to such section;
(C) any increase in expenditures under the Medicare program
under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395
et seq.) as a result of such designation, relative to the
expected baseline expenditures under the Medicare program if
such facilities had not received such designation; and
(D) whether the authority to designate facilities as
critical access hospitals pursuant to such section
1820(c)(2)(B)(i)(III) should be maintained as is, modified in
scale or scope, or sunset.
(2) Report.--Not later than 7 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
to Congress a report containing the results of the study
conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations
for such legislation and administrative action as the
Comptroller General determines appropriate.
(e) Guidance.--Not later than 2 years after the date of on
which the Comptroller General submits the report to Congress
under subsection (d)(2), the Administrator of the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services shall establish a mechanism and
provide guidance and technical assistance to facilities that
have been designated as a critical access hospital pursuant
to section 1820(c)(2)(B)(i)(III) of the Social Security Act,
as added by subsection (a), on how such facilities may
consider transitioning to a different payment model under the
Medicare program.
______
By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. King,
and Mr. Coons):
S. 1576. A bill to provide for advancements in carbon removal
research, quantification, and commercialization, including by
harnessing natural processes, and for other purposes; to the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources.
Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Carbon
Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act, the CREST Act. I want
to thank Senator Cantwell for her partnership in working on this bill.
Our bipartisan bill would direct the Department of Energy to research
and evaluate the feasibility of innovative carbon removal and storage
pathways. The name the ``CREST Act'' alludes to the fact that we have
reached the ``crest'' of our emissions, and we must work to reduce
them.
With more and more private and public sector commitments to reach
net-zero emissions within certain timeframes, companies are scrambling
to invest in quantifiable, durable, and verifiable carbon removal
solutions. Microsoft, for example, has made a commitment to be carbon
negative by 2030. Even though Microsoft plans to reduce its greenhouse
gas emissions by more than half, it will need to remove the rest of its
carbon emissions. In order to do this, Microsoft plans to invest $1
billion in carbon removal technologies, such as direct air capture,
forestation, and carbon mineralization.
Despite the growing number of companies that are looking to offset
their emissions, current cost estimates show that private sector
investment alone will not be sufficient to research and deploy carbon
removal pathways. I supported the Energy Act of 2020, which authorized
the first comprehensive Federal carbon removal research and development
program, and the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which invested $3.6
billion in direct air capture. Although these investments have been
significant, more work is needed in further research, increased
testing, and enhanced public-private partnerships to help aid in
scaling carbon removal technologies.
The CREST Act would expand the Department of Energy's carbon removal
research and development programs to include carbon removal pathways
that can permanently sequester carbon dioxide or use carbon dioxide to
produce biofuels or products. The key areas of focus for research and
development in our legislation are biomass carbon removal and storage,
geological removal, atmospheric and aquatic removal, carbon dioxide
storage, and carbon dioxide removal quantification.
Our legislation also aims to accelerate the commercialization of
innovative carbon solutions through a pilot program at the Department
of Energy. This pilot program would be charged with accelerating the
deployment of affordable and proven carbon removal technologies. This
reverse-auction style pilot program would position the government to
purchase innovative and promising technologies, subject to certain
criteria, and reduce the costs of those technologies. This would allow
companies that may not have as much purchasing power as Microsoft to
participate in carbon removal to help offset emissions.
This pilot program could also support companies that are leading the
way in carbon removal technology, like Running Tide in Maine, in
bringing down the cost of its product. Running Tide captures carbon
dioxide using kelp microforests, sun, ocean currents, and gravity. This
new and exciting company grows floating kelp microforests attached to
biodegradable buoys that sink as they break down. The carbon captured
through the floating microforest is effectively removed for hundreds of
years once it hits the ocean floor. Running Tide hopes to soon be
selling ``kelp carbon credits'' to help offset private entities'
emissions. They are currently working to commercialize quickly. These
innovative approaches are the kinds that our new pilot program could
encourage.
Climate change is a significant environmental challenge that requires
innovative and global solutions to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
While carbon removal is only a small part of the solution, it is
critical that we promote innovation in this area. Our bipartisan bill
has earned endorsements from Bipartisan Policy Center Action,
[[Page S1629]]
ClearPath Action, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, and many
others. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Cantwell and me in
supporting this legislation.
______
By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Braun, Mr. Budd,
Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Daines, Mrs. Fischer,
Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Kennedy,
Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Risch,
and Mr. Rubio):
S. 1583. A bill to require the Secretary of State to submit to
Congress classified dissent cables relating to the withdrawal of the
United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan; to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
Mr. THUNE. 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. 1583
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS OF DISSENT CABLES RELATING
TO WITHDRAWAL OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
FROM AFGHANISTAN.
(a) Submission of Classified Dissent Cables to Congress.--
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress any
classified Department of State cable or memo that expresses a
dissenting recommendation or opinion with respect to the
withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces from
Afghanistan.
(b) Public Availability of Unclassified Dissent Cables.--
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall make available to the
public an unclassified version of any such cable or memo.
(c) Protection of Personally Identifiable Information.--The
name and any other personally identifiable information of an
author of a cable or memo referred to in subsection (a) shall
be redacted before submission under that subsection or
publication under subsection (b).
____________________