[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.
                                 ______
                                 
      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.

                          ____________________