[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3761-S3767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. RISCH (for himself, Mr. Crapo, and Ms. Lummis):
S. 2571. A bill to provide for determination of the grizzly bear
species consistent with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mr. RISCH. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Grizzly
Bear Review and Resource Restart Act.
The grizzly bear was originally listed under the Endangered Species
Act, ESA, in 1975 with the worthy intent to recover the species. The
ESA has succeeded and grizzly bear populations have rebounded. However,
the overly-broad listing, which covers all of the lower 48 States, has
led courts to block the Fish and Wildlife Service from delisting
populations which by all measures are recovered and no longer require
strict ESA protections.
This has prevented the ESA from being what it is meant to be, a
temporary assistance for wildlife recovery. It was never intended to
provide a permanent designation for robust species. If enacted, the
Grizzly Bear Review and Resource Restart Act will remove the
unreachable recovery targets based on the erroneous first listing and
allow wildlife managers to focus on areas in the lower 48 which
actually host grizzly bears, not the 30 States currently listed where
bears never were in the first place.
Giving the opportunity to ``delist and relist'' based on scientific
and historic data rather than a panicked first plan from 1975 will help
mitigate human-bear interactions, protect rural communities, and
emphasize and recenter the role of science in grizzly bear recovery. It
will also allow funding and focus to be given where it is needed most:
to grizzly bear populations and other species actually at risk.
______
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Cassidy):
S. 2572. A bill to amend the Public Works and Economic Development
Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make
predevelopment grants, and for other purposes; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan
Economic Empowerment Through Predevelopment Act. This legislation would
improve support for capacity building and early-stage project
development activities to ensure inclusive economic growth across
communities.
Predevelopment activities are projects that must be completed prior
to construction to advance infrastructure and development projects from
concept to reality. This includes planning and design, community asset
mapping, training, technical assistance, feasibility and environmental
studies, demonstration projects, permitting, and organizational
capacity building.
This bill would enhance the Economic Development Administration's
role in the initial stages of a project by authorizing the Agency to
make grants and cooperative agreements for predevelopment activities
and capacity building purposes.
Many underserved, low-income, and rural communities simply do not
have the institutions, expertise, or capacity to plan, design,
coordinate, or implement new economic development initiatives. Building
an inclusive economy requires policies for comprehensive economic
development plans that better equip our communities to sustain and grow
investments, leverage community-based assets, and diversify local
economies to withstand potential disruptions.
Additional support for predevelopment projects would also allow for
more intentional investments and longer term sustainability in local
economies by preventing costly mistakes or unwise investments.
Since the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and
the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress, State and local governments, as
well as community organizations, have increasingly turned to EDA and
economic development districts for assistance in predevelopment
activities. This legislation will strengthen the Agency's work in this
space.
I thank Senator Cassidy for introducing this important legislation
with me in the Senate. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in
supporting this bill for the economic empowerment of our communities.
______
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Durbin,
Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Booker):
S. 2606. A bill to amend section 249 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act to render available to certain long-term residents of
the United States the
[[Page S3762]]
benefit under that section; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Renewing
Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 Act.
This legislation would permit individuals who have lived in the
United States continuously for at least 7 years to file for lawful
permanent residence here.
The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929
Act will provide long-term residents of the U.S. a path to lawful
permanent residence.
Specifically, this bill would amend the existing Registry mechanism
in the Immigration and Nationality Act by opening the application to
register permanent or adjust status to long-term residents who have
lived in the United States for at least 7 years at the time of filing.
This bill would also allow long-term residents who have been in the
United States for at least 7 years, waiting patiently for a visa number
to become available, to immediately file an application to register
permanent or adjust status.
This legislation has the added benefit of creating a much needed
pathway to permanent residency for Dreamers and forcibly displaced
individuals, such as TPS holders, who have been stuck in legal limbo
for years.
By making the eligibility cutoff rolling, this bill would also
preempt the need for Congress to repeatedly update the Registry's
cutoff date to a specific year of entry into the United States.
There is strong precedent for Congress to advance the Registry date,
which it has done on a bipartisan basis four times since it first
codified the Registry in 1929. In 1958, Congress opened the Registry
mechanism to long-term residents of the United States who had entered
the country improperly, overstayed a visa, or otherwise violated the
terms of a temporary period of entry. Congress clearly intended the
Registry to allow undocumented immigrants to adjust to lawful permanent
resident status.
Currently, the eligibility cutoff date for the Registry is January 1,
1972, more than 50 years ago. Just a handful of immigrants can
currently satisfy this cutoff entry date requirement, rendering the
1972 entry cutoff all but meaningless. From 2015 to 2019, only 305
individuals adjusted their status based on the Registry, compared to
the 58,914 individuals who did so between 1985 and 1989. If this
legislation passed today, over 8 million individuals--who are already
living in the United States and have longstanding ties to their
communities--would become eligible to apply for permanent residency
through the Registry.
Today, about 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United
States. It is not feasible or productive to remove all of them, and it
would significantly hurt the U.S. economy to do so. The overwhelming
majority of these undocumented immigrants have established roots in the
United States and are law-abiding citizens. They are integral parts of
our communities who work essential jobs, pay taxes, and even serve in
our military. Leaving them without a path to permanent residency
relegates them to second-class status and denies them the opportunity
to fulfill the American Dream.
It is imperative that we create a path to permanent residence status
for immigrants who lack certainty about their futures.
______
By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Lujan, Mr.
Van Hollen, Mr. Casey, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr.
Markey, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Murphy, Mr.
Heinrich, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Smith, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen,
Mr. Booker, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Padilla):
S. 2608. A bill to provide for the long-term improvement of public
school facilities, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. REED. Madam President, among the many challenges to improving
educational outcomes for students and recruiting and retaining
educators for our public schools is the condition of school facilities.
A 2020 Government Accountability Office, GAO, report found that over
half, 54 percent, of school districts nationwide need to update or
replace multiple systems in their schools, such as heating,
ventilation, air-conditioning, HVAC, or plumbing. These systems are
especially critical to safeguarding public health, as we learned during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Functioning and efficient HVAC systems and
ventilation can help keep indoor air quality healthy and reduce the
spread of infectious airborne viral particles.
Investing in school buildings will make them healthy and safe
learning environments. It will also improve student learning, reduce
carbon emissions, and create jobs. That is why I am proud to partner
with Representative Bobby Scott, ranking member of the House Education
and Workforce Committee, to introduce the Rebuild America's Schools
Act--legislation that will invest $130 billion in fixing our schools. I
would like to thank my Senate colleagues who are joining in this
effort, including Senators Brown, Blumenthal, Booker, Casey, Cortez
Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Heinrich, Hirono, Klobuchar, Lujan, Markey,
Merkley, Murphy, Shaheen, Smith, Stabenow, Van Hollen, and Whitehouse.
Public schools play a vital role in every community across the
Nation--educating the next generation, serving as polling places for
our elections, hosting community meetings and cultural events, and so
much more. When there is a natural disaster or an emergency, people
often gather at their public schools for shelter, information, and
resources. They are essential facilities and should be treated as
essential infrastructure.
Safe, healthy, modern, well-equipped schools are essential for
advancing student achievement and ensuring that the next generation is
prepared to meet the economic, social, environmental, and global
challenges our Nation faces. Yet too many of the over 50 million
students and 6 million staff who learn and work in our public schools
spend their days in facilities that fail to make the grade. In fact,
the American Society of Civil Engineers gave public school buildings
across the country an overall grade of D+ in its latest report card.
The 2021 State of our Schools Report identified an $85 billion annual
shortfall in school facilities investment.
States and local communities cannot bridge this gap alone, especially
when many struggle to simply keep teachers and staff on the payroll. We
know that budget shortfalls hit low-income and minority communities the
hardest. The GAO noted that capital construction expenditures, on
average, were about $300 less per student in high-poverty districts
compared to low-poverty districts. With inflation, interest rates, and
extreme weather events on the rise, the gap between what is needed to
maintain safe and modern schools and what communities can afford will
only grow. Addressing this need with robust Federal investment is not
only the right thing to do for our students; it will also give a needed
boost to our economy, putting people to work in family--sustaining
jobs. According to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, every
$1 billion spent on construction generates 17,785 jobs.
The Rebuild America's Schools Act will create a Federal-State
partnership for school infrastructure. It will provide, over 5 years, a
total of $130 billion in direct grants and school construction bonds to
help fill the annual gap in school facility capital needs, while
creating nearly 2 million jobs.
Specifically, the Rebuild America's Schools Act will provide $100
billion in formula funds to States for local competitive grants for
school repair, renovation, and construction. States will focus
assistance on communities with the greatest financial need, encourage
green construction practices, and expand access to high-speed broadband
to ensure that all students have access to digital learning. Our
legislation would also provide $30 billion for qualified school
infrastructure bonds, QSIBs, $10 billion each year from FY 2023 through
FY 2025, and restore the qualified zone academy bonds, QZABs, that were
eliminated in the Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The legislation
also eases the matching requirements and expands the authority and
eligible purposes of QZABs to allow local education agencies to
construct, rehabilitate, retrofit, or repair school facilities. The
Rebuild America's Schools
[[Page S3763]]
Act also supports American workers by ensuring that projects use
American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products and meet labor
standards.
I would like to thank the broad coalition of educators, community
organizations, unions, civil rights advocates, and employers that have
provided feedback and support for this legislation, including the 21st
Century Schools Fund, A4LE: the Association for Learning Environments,
AASA: The School Superintendents Association, American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees, American Federation of Teachers,
American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Institute of
Architects, BASIC Coalition, Council of the Great City Schools, Heart
of America, International Unions of Bricklayers and Allied Craft
Workers, National Association of Energy Service Companies, National
Association of Federally Impacted Schools, National Council on School
Facilities, National Education Association, Rebuild America's Schools
Coalition, Safe Traces, Teach Plus, and the U.S. Green Building
Council.
We have no time to waste in fixing our deteriorating school
infrastructure. In the words of a student activist in Providence, Rhode
Island: ``Students cannot learn in a crumbling building, a school that
isn't fit to uplift our minds.'' We need to listen to our students,
strengthen our communities, and improve our school buildings. I urge
all of our colleagues to support the Rebuild America's Schools Act and
press for its passage.
______
By Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Warner):
S. 2630. A bill to establish the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic
Area in the State of Virginia, and for other purposes; to the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. KAINE. Madam President, today, I am introducing legislation that
is the product of at least 18 years of collaborative work by a diverse
group of stakeholders in Virginia, including local recreation groups,
conservationists, timber industry representatives, and sportsmen.
The Shenandoah Mountain Act would designate more than 92,000 acres of
the George Washington National Forest lands in Virginia as the
Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, SMNSA.
Congress designates national scenic areas to protect the natural and
scenic value of lands that are also compatible with recreational uses
such as hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, mountain biking, among
others.
The SMNSA encompasses four wilderness areas: Skidmore Fork, Little
River, Ramsey's Draft, and Lynn Hollow, which in total include 10 peaks
above 4,000 feet and 150 miles of trails to attract campers, hikers,
mountain bikers, fishermen, birders, and equestrians. The legislation
also establishes a 5,779-acre wilderness area at Beech Lick Knob,
located 10 miles to the north.
The SMNSA will protect important water resources, as it covers
headwaters for the Potomac and James Rivers and watersheds that provide
drinking water for Harrisonburg, Staunton, and communities farther
downstream, such as Washington, DC, and Richmond. This area is also a
hotspot for biodiversity. Cold mountain streams in the area are a
stronghold for native brook trout. Today's legislation would
permanently protect these rivers and streams from industrial
development. It would also help safeguard plant and wildlife habitat
for black bears, wild turkeys, more than 250 species of birds, and at-
risk species like the Cow Knob and Shenandoah Mountain salamanders.
The Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area will provide a boost to
the region's growing tourism industry. In 2021, the tourism economy
directly employed 6,543 people and generated $728.5 million in Augusta,
Rockingham, Bath, and Highland Counties, as well as Harrisonburg,
Staunton, and Waynesboro. In addition to the direct benefits to
tourism, James Madison University scientists estimate that lands within
the SMNSA proposal already generate $13.7 million per year in other
local benefits, including the value of the water supply. Designation of
the SMNSA would further grow these benefits.
The challenges of the past 3 years have underscored that getting out
into nature is critical to our health and well-being. I am proud that
the Shenandoah Mountain Act will expand these opportunities within the
George Washington National Forest for visitors near and far, while also
boosting our local economies, protecting drinking water sources, and
preserving the wildlife that makes this area so special.
The local governments of Staunton, Augusta, Rockingham, and
Harrisonburg, along with over 400 businesses and organizations, have
endorsed the new designation for the vast benefits it will have on the
surrounding communities. I thank my colleague Senator Mark Warner for
joining me in introducing this legislation. I also commend our local
stakeholders for working on this proposal for so many years.
______
By Mr. PADILLA:
S. 2654. A bill to increase efficiency and conservation in public
water systems, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment
and Public Works.
Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Water
Efficiency, Conservation, and Sustainability Act of 2023. This
legislation would authorize $550 million for the Environmental
Protection Agency to address water inefficiencies and losses in public
water systems.
Every year, household leaks waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water
nationwide, increasing water bills and wasting water meant for critical
drinking water and clean water uses.
The Water Efficiency, Conservation, and Sustainability Act of 2023
creates a suite of options for States, municipalities, water systems,
and Tribal nations to address water inefficiencies and losses in public
water systems and to support leak reduction as one of the most cost-
effective urban water management tools we have.
Leaking pipes waste an estimated 17 percent of water before a drop
reaches a consumer's faucet. In my home State of California, 8 percent
is wasted in a State that cannot afford any waste as we face
increasingly unpredictable weather whiplash between drought and
flooding.
Water efficiency is the most cost-effective way to ensure clean,
affordable drinking water for communities across the country. Much like
energy efficiency measures, improving water efficiency saves consumers
money, reduces demand, decreases strain on water supply systems, and
saves energy.
Yet Federal spending on energy efficiency and renewable energy in
outpaced spending on water efficiency and water reuse by approximately
80 to 1 since 2000, resulting in millions of gallons wasted each year
that could otherwise be saved or utilized.
Achieving widespread water efficiency will require both inside-the-
home and system upgrades. Fixes at the individual building level can
add up to make a big difference. The EPA estimates that installation of
water-efficient fixtures and appliances can reduce water use 20 percent
and save money for consumers.
The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided a
historic level of water infrastructure investment--including for Bureau
of Reclamation States and for wastewater efficiency--but more
investment is needed in the water systems that deliver drinking water
to our homes and businesses across all States.
As drought continues to impact the Western United States and regions
across the country, investing in resilient water supplies is an
increasingly urgent priority for States, water systems, and families
facing rising water rates.
In a survey completed as part of a 2014 GAO report, 40 out of 50
State water managers expected water shortages in some portion of their
State in the next decade. Improving water efficiency saves money, saves
energy, and helps ensure a more resilient water supply.
I would like to thank my House colead, Congressman Levin, for
championing this effort with me, and I look forward to working with my
colleagues to enact the Water Efficiency, Conservation, and
Sustainability Act of 2023.
______
By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Bennet, Mr.
Lujan, Mr. Padilla, Mr.
[[Page S3764]]
Kelly, Ms. Sinema, and Mr. Heinrich):
S. 2696. A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to modify the
water conservation or irrigation efficiency practice waiver authority;
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the EQIP
Water Conservation Act of 2023 and thank Senators Marshall, Bennet,
Lujan, Padilla, Kelly, and Sinema for joining me as original
cosponsors.
Our bill would clarify eligibility requirements for water
conservation and irrigation efficiency practices funded under the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Environmental Quality Incentives Program,
EQIP, to allow irrigation districts to undertake large-scale off-farm
water conservation projects that benefit many farms rather than only
single-farm projects.
Drought poses a persistent and potentially lethal threat to
agriculture in Western States. In 2021 alone, drought cost California's
agricultural sector $1.1 billion in direct costs and nearly 9,000 jobs,
while farmers were forced to leave 400,000 acres of land unplanted.
This situation is causing irreparable harm to agricultural communities
across the West, and farmers need tools to adapt. EQIP is a crucial
tool in the effort to combat drought, and the programs' funds must be
made fully available to water agencies, which often serve hundreds of
farmers.
In the 2018 farm bill, Congress authorized the Secretary of
Agriculture to waive payment limitations and adjusted gross income,
AGI, limitations to more effectively support water district projects
that conserve water, provide fish and wildlife habitat, and combat
drought. However, a subsequent USDA rule effectively nullified this
provision by capping EQIP payments for water agencies at $900,000,
which is only twice the cap for projects that benefit individual
farmers.
Since water agencies often serve dozens or even hundreds of farmers,
this rule makes no sense and undermines the 2018 farm bill's goal of
facilitating water conservation projects by water agencies.
Our bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the EQIP
payment cap of $900,000 for water agencies. To be clear, this bill does
not attempt to bypass the payment cap for individual farms; rather, it
would set the cap on projects based on the number of farmers it serves.
For instance, if a water agency serves 10 farmers, the total payment
limitation would be $4.5 million, or $450,000 per farmer. Our bill
would also deduct for EQIP payments already made to farmers served by
that agency's project.
In maintaining a per-farmer payment limitation at the same level as
the limit for individual farmers, our bill recognizes that water
agencies serve many farmers and that providing adequate funds to these
entities will allow USDA to more effectively meet conservation and
irrigation efficiency goals.
Congress has an opportunity this year to make significant strides in
improving irrigation efficiency and water conservation while more
faithfully adhering to the conservation goals of the 2018 farm bill. I
thank my cosponsors for their partnership on this bill, and I urge the
Senate to take it up and pass it as soon as possible.
______
By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla):
S. 2697. A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act to modify the definitions of the terms ``rural'' and ``rural area''
for purposes of grants and loans to remedy a lack of compliance with
certain drinking water standards, and for other purposes; to the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Clean
Drinking Water for Rural Communities Act of 2023 and thank my colleague
Senator Padilla for joining me as an original cosponsor.
Our bill would change the eligibility limit for the water and
wastewater programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office
of Rural Development from 10,000 residents to 20,000 residents for
investments to treat contaminated drinking water that does not meet
Federal and State standards. Modifying the threshold would correct an
oversight that is a barrier for many rural and agricultural communities
to access clean drinking water.
Many rural communities across the United States lack access to safe
drinking water because their aging systems have not kept pace with
worsening pollution. In many of these communities, agricultural runoff
has caused nitrate concentrations to soar, which can cause cancer,
thyroid disease, and developmental defects. The problem has become
widespread in low-income, rural, and farmworker communities in
California's Central Valley, where the majority of residents get their
water from wells without any treatment system.
Unfortunately, the cost of addressing this problem can be prohibitive
for small water systems that serve mostly low-income residents. Many of
these communities exceed the 10,000-resident limit for USDA programs
but are too small to be competitive for other drinking water assistance
programs. These communities are left to rely on bottled water or
drinking water that does not comply with Federal or State standards.
The small change proposed in this bill would enable more communities
in the Central Valley and around the country to use USDA funds to
remove contamination or connect to larger water systems.
Congress has an opportunity this year to make this small change to
USDA's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to improve
access to safe, clean drinking water for individuals in small,
agricultural communities. I thank Senator Padilla for his partnership
on this bill, and I urge the full Senate to take it up and pass it as
soon as possible.
______
By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla):
S. 2698. A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out
a program to provide payments to producers experiencing certain crop
losses as a result of a disaster; to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the
Agricultural Emergency Relief Act of 2023 and thank my colleague
Senator Padilla for joining me as an original cosponsor.
Our bill would establish a consistent structure and end the delays in
administering ad hoc agricultural disaster assistance by authorizing
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Emergency Relief Program. In
addition to improving the distribution of supplemental disaster funds
appropriated by Congress, this program would encourage participation in
crop insurance by requiring producers who receive relief payments to
purchase 2 years of insurance.
Every year, farmers across the country are contending with disasters
of increasing severity and frequency, whether droughts and wildfires in
the West, hurricanes in the Southeast, freezes in the Midwest, or
flooding throughout the country. In some cases, crop insurance is able
to cover the damages caused by these storms, but producers often
require additional assistance due to the scale of the damage. This is
especially true with specialty crops, where producers may lack
affordable insurance options and, as a result, often operate with
little coverage or no insurance at all. Federal disaster assistance has
been a critical bridge back to production for these farmers, who are
producing the Nation's food supply amid the worsening impacts of
climate change.
Since fiscal year 2018, Congress has appropriated more than $19
billion for agricultural disaster assistance. However, these funds,
lacking proper authorizing language, have been distributed through four
different USDA programs, with changing requirements, forms, and
processes from year to year. Each time USDA has had to create a new
program, administrative delays have slowed the dispersal of relief,
leaving producers, their families, and their communities in limbo.
Farmers deserve more reliability, which our bill would provide.
Our bill would authorize USDA's Emergency Relief Program to provide
consistent, authorized guidelines for program administration of ad hoc
disaster funds. Payment calculations for farmers would rely on
indemnities reported to USDA or on calculation of
[[Page S3765]]
lost revenue. This flexibility will help support farmers producing both
commodities and specialty crops. Our bill would also require producers
to purchase crop insurance for 2 years after receiving a relief
payment.
Congress has an opportunity to provide clarity and consistency to our
Nation's farmers who have weathered disasters and delays in assistance.
I thank Senator Padilla for his partnership on this bill, and I urge
the Senate to take it up and pass it as soon as possible.
______
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Hirono, Mr.
Markey, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Booker):
S. 2701. A bill to address the homelessness and housing crises, to
move toward the goal of providing for a home for all Americans, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs.
Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise in support of the Housing for
All Act of 2023, which I introduced today.
Our Nation's homelessness and affordable housing crises have reached
a breaking point. As of January 2022, over 580,000 individuals in the
United States--disproportionately people of color--experienced
homelessness. The rate of homelessness has increased by 6 percent since
2017. In Los Angeles County alone, the mortality rate for people
experiencing homelessness increased by 55 percent between 2019 to 2021.
The lack of adequate Federal investment in affordable housing and
housing assistance programs contributes to these crises. There is
currently a shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental
homes in the United States. According to a recent National Low Income
Housing Coalition report, no State or county exists where a person
working 40 hours a week and earning the State or local minimum wage can
afford to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment, and 86 percent of all
low-income renters in the Nation are considered cost-burdened, spending
more than 30 percent of their income on just housing costs alone.
The affordable housing and homelessness crises are not just a
Democrat problem or an urban problem but impact every Senator's State.
From our metropolitan areas to our rural heartlands, our constituents
everywhere feel the real impact of housing unaffordability. And it is
time for the Federal Government to step up, partner with our State and
local governments alongside service providers on the ground and other
stakeholders, and invest in solving these problems at a rate
commensurate with the need.
I am proud to reintroduce this bill, which represents a comprehensive
approach to tackling housing and homelessness. If enacted, it would
invest in and align Federal resources to support people experiencing
housing instability. To address the affordable housing and homelessness
crises, we must invest in proven policies that support strong,
sustainable, inclusive communities and ensure quality, affordable homes
for all.
Specifically, this bill will address the affordable housing shortage
by investing in the housing trust fund, the Section 202 Supportive
Housing for the Elderly Program, Section 811 Supportive Housing for
Persons with Disabilities Program, and the HOME Program. It establishes
a commission to focus on racial equity in housing and homelessness.
The bill will address homelessness by investing in housing choice
vouchers, project-based rental assistance, emergency solutions grants,
and continuums of care. It also builds on locally-developed and -driven
approaches by creating new grant programs to strengthen mobile crisis
intervention teams; to support hotel and motel conversions to permanent
supportive housing with services; to aid libraries in supporting
persons experiencing homelessness; to provide people living in vehicles
with a safe place to park overnight and facilitate a transition to
stable housing; and to coordinate behavioral health care with
homelessness services. And it commissions a report on the connection
between evictions and emergency rental assistance during the pandemic,
so we can make smarter policies moving forward.
When I have traveled around California--from Los Angeles County and
the Inland Empire to the Central Valley, San Diego, and San Francisco--
to better understand the needs for housing in different communities,
some key elements stood out. On the production side, there is a need
for more dedicated funding for affordable housing from the Federal
Government. There is also missing middle-income housing for families,
especially people of color. And there is not enough housing near
transit. That is why my bill focuses on supporting inclusive, transit-
oriented development. When I talked to researchers about keeping
families housed, one main point they made is that we don't have enough
data on renters and evictions, and that is why I wanted to include a
section of the bill on data--so we can make evidence-based policies.
Right now, the cost to build low-income housing in California is very
high in part because of land and material costs and the fragmented way
funding is distributed in California. This is a common problem across
the Nation, not just in California. That is why I included a section to
provide technical assistance for localities navigating Federal and
State housing funding sources.
Affordable housing is essential infrastructure. Every person deserves
dignity, security, and a space of their own.
I want to thank Representatives Ted Lieu and Salud Carbajal for
introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us
in supporting this comprehensive solution to our nationwide affordable
housing and homelessness crises.
______
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Brown, Mrs.
Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, Mr. Welch, and Mr.
Wyden):
S. 2702. A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization
Act of 1994 to reauthorize the position of Farmworker Coordinator; to
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Voice
for Farm Workers Act of 2023, which I introduced today.
Farmworkers feed our Nation. This is especially true in California,
agricultural heart of the Nation. California is the most successful
State in agricultural production and has the largest population of
farmworkers. During COVID-19, a time of incredible hardship,
farmworkers put food on the tables of millions of Americans despite
working in extreme conditions and facing deep-rooted inequities.
Right now, just one person is statutorily dedicated to serving as a
liaison between farmworkers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture--the
Farmworker Coordinator. While the 2008 farm bill created this position,
Congress has never provided the proper resources to support or staff
this position. The 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture Equity
Commission Interim Report even included a strong recommendation for the
USDA to fund and elevate roles for professional staff solely dedicated
to farmworkers' concerns and perspectives.
It is time that we support the USDA staff who are dedicated to
integrating the valuable perspectives of farmworkers into the decisions
that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of these workers.
That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which would expand the
current role of USDA Farmworker Coordinator to allow for the
Coordinator to create recommendations for new initiatives and programs,
collaborate within the Department on programmatic and policy decisions
that related to farm and food system workers, and allow for the
employment of additional staff to support the Coordinator in their
duties.
This bill would include additional entities for the Farmworker
Coordinator to consult with, including institutions of higher
education, local education agencies, and community-based nonprofit
organizations, to increase outreach efforts and ensure that more
farmworkers in more communities can be heard.
As we work towards passing this year's farm bill, I urge my
colleagues to consider the farmworkers who keep our families and
communities fed and healthy.
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By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Feinstein,
[[Page S3766]]
Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, Mr. Welch, and Mr. Wyden):
S. 2703. A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization
Act of 1994 to establish the Office of the Farm and Food System
Workforce; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the
Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act of 2023, which I
introduced today.
Farm and food system workers feed our Nation. We know this well in
California--the agricultural heart of the Nation--where we have one of
the largest populations of farmworkers and food system workers in the
United States. Throughout pandemic, these workers put food on our
tables and kept our grocery store shelves stocked--despite facing deep-
rooted inequities in the workforce and often experiencing food
insecurity themselves.
Right now, just one person in the entire Federal Government is
statutorily dedicated to serving as a liaison between farmworkers and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture--the Farmworker Coordinator. While
the 2008 farm bill created this position, Congress has never provided
the proper resources to support or staff this position. The 2023 U.S.
Department of Agriculture Equity Commission Interim Report even
included a strong recommendation for USDA to fund and elevate roles for
professional staff solely dedicated to farmworkers' concerns and
perspectives.
It is time that we give those who provide the food for our Nation a
voice in the national conversation. We must give farm and food system
workers a dedicated office within the USDA to integrate their
invaluable perspectives into the decisions that directly affect their
lives and livelihoods.
That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which will create the
USDA Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce to not only serve as
a liaison for farm and food system workers but also to provide a
platform for their concerns and interests to assist in the creation of
recommendations and new initiatives for the Department.
The bill would also create a Farm and Food System Worker Advisory
Committee, composed of a diverse cross-section of members representing
these workers' varied interests and perspectives, such as workers
themselves, labor unions, higher education professionals, civil rights
advocates, women worker focused groups, and trusted community-based
nonprofits.
The legislation would also establish a Farm and Food System Workforce
Interagency Council comprised of representatives from various Federal
Agencies to improve coordination, planning, program development, and
policymaking across Cabinet-level leadership. The Office will also
appoint staff to various USDA entities to serve as liaisons on matters
related to farm and food system workers within the Department.
Finally, the bill would require annual, publicly available reports in
multiple languages about the Office's work in the past year, including
recommendations to improve the work and livelihood of farm and food
system workers, climate change impacts on the food system, and the
barriers workers face in accessing Federal programs.
During this year's Farm Bill, I urge my colleagues to remember the
workers behind the American food system, the workers who keep our
families and communities fed and healthy. These workers deserve a seat
at the table.
______
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Tillis):
S. 2704. A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish
an exception to certain payment limitations in the case of person or
legal entity that derives income from agriculture, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Fair Access to
Agriculture Disaster Programs Act of 2023. This legislation would allow
specialty crop producers to access critical disaster relief programs at
the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Increasingly frequent and catastrophic floods, fires, freezes, and
other disasters are threatening the long-term sustainability of
agriculture across the country.
The impact has been particularly acute for California's agricultural
communities, who face year-round threats from drought, heat, floods,
and fires.
To ensure producers can get back on their feet following natural
disasters, the farm bill authorizes a number of safety net programs.
But these programs simply don't work for specialty crop producers, who,
despite facing the same challenges posed by extreme weather as other
growers, are excluded from meaningful participation in USDA disaster
programs based on the application of outdated adjusted gross income,
AGI, limitations.
As a result, producers from California to Florida are excluded from
accessing critical disaster programs.
The Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act would codify
flexibility used in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to waive
the AGI limitation for producers that derive 75 percent of their income
from farming, ranching, or related farming practices.
What are referred to as specialty crops are just that--special.
Specialty crops, which include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried
fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, are cultivated for food,
medicine, and aesthetic purposes, requiring overall higher inputs and
specialized processes for planting, growing, and harvesting.
Did you know that it costs more than $30,000 to produce an acre of
strawberries? The cost of production for specialty crops is typically
thousands of dollars per acre.
As a result, both large and small producers of specialty crops end up
exceeding the AGI limitations put in place to means-test critical
disaster assistance.
That is why we need to pass the Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster
Programs Act to ensure farmers and ranchers can access agricultural
safety net programs in the wake of increasingly more frequent and
catastrophic disasters.
I would like to thank Senator Tillis for joining me to introduce this
bill, as well as Congressman Panetta for championing this bill in the
House.
I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Fair Access
to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act as quickly as possible.
______
By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Ricketts, and Mr.
Hickenlooper):
S. 2705. A bill to grant States the authority to request additional
nonimmigrant visas for foreign workers in their respective States, and
for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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. 2705
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.
This Act may be cited as the ``State Executive Authority
for Seasonal Occupations Needing Additional Labor Act'' or
the ``SEASONAL Act''.
SEC. 2. STATE EXEMPTION AUTHORITY FOR SEASONAL OCCUPATIONS
NEEDING ADDITIONAL LABOR.
Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(12)(A) Notwithstanding the numerical limitation set
forth in paragraph (1)(B), the Governor of any State may
submit a petition to the Secretary of Homeland Security and
the Secretary of Labor for the issuance of a specified number
of supplemental H-2B nonimmigrant visas in a fiscal year for
employers based in such State, employers based in such State
that have employees who work within a specified Standard
Occupational Classification Group (as defined by the
Department of Labor), or employers in a specific Economic
Development District designated by the Economic Development
Administration of the Department of Commerce that encompasses
any portion of such State if--
``(i) the number of applications for such visas received
from all employers exceeds such numerical limitation for such
fiscal year;
``(ii) the State had a seasonally adjusted unemployment
rate of not more than 3.5 percent in at least 9 of the 12
most recent monthly reports issued by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics;
``(iii) such Governor certifies that--
``(I) there is a persistent, unmet need for labor within
the State, the specified Standard Occupational Classification
Group in the
[[Page S3767]]
State, or the specific Economic Development District in the
State; and
``(II) the allocation of additional H-2B nonimmigrant visas
pursuant to this paragraph--
``(aa) will not displace domestic workers; and
``(bb) will not negatively affect average wages in such
State; and
``(iv) employers who hire H-2B nonimmigrant workers
pursuant to this paragraph comply with any additional
requirements imposed by the Secretary of Labor, by
regulation.
``(B) The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through
the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
shall issue the supplemental H-2B nonimmigrant visas
requested by the Governor of a State pursuant to subparagraph
(A) to the extent that the applications for such visas
submitted by employers based in such State meet all
applicable requirements of the H-2B nonimmigrant visa
program.
``(C) If the number of employer applications from a State
exceed the number of H-2B nonimmigrant visas requested
pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Office of Foreign Labor
Certification shall randomly assign for processing all of the
remaining H-2B nonimmigrant visa applications and issue
supplemental visas to all qualified applicants until the
number of supplemental visas allocated to such State pursuant
to subparagraph (B) have been issued.
``(D) This paragraph shall cease to have force or effect on
the date that is 4 years after the date of the enactment of
the SEASONAL Act.
``(E) Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to
prohibit the legislature of any State from setting limits
with respect to supplemental H-2B nonimmigrant visas that the
Governor of such State may request, including--
``(i) limiting the number of such visas that may be
requested in a fiscal year; and
``(ii) limiting the allocation of such visas to H-2B
nonimmigrant workers who are employed--
``(I) within such State;
``(II) within specified Standard Occupational
Classification Groups; or
``(III) within specified Economic Development Districts.''.
SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT.
Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and annually thereafter until the date that is 4
years after such date of enactment, the Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Secretary of Labor shall submit a joint
report to Congress that includes, with respect to the
preceding year--
(1) the number of supplemental H-2B nonimmigrant visas
issued pursuant to section 214(g)(12) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(12)), disaggregated by the
State in which the recipients of such visas are working;
(2) a breakdown of Standard Occupational Classification
Groups or Economic Development Districts for which
supplemental H-2B nonimmigrant visas were issued,
disaggregated by the State in which the recipients of such
visas are working;
(3) an analysis of any effect caused by the issuance of
supplemental H-2B nonimmigrant visas that led to the
displacement of domestic workers or a reduction in the
average wages, disaggregated by State; and
(4) an assessment of whether the issuance of supplemental
H-2B nonimmigrant visas led to increased economic
opportunities and productivity in the States in which the
recipients of such visas are working.
____________________