[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 149 (Thursday, September 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4528-S4529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Braun):
  S. 2803. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow for 
the electronic request of certain records, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Wounded Warrior 
Access Act, along with Senator Braun.
  This legislation would streamline the process for veterans to submit 
a claim for benefits by giving them electronic access to their benefit 
claim file.
  This legislation would require the VA to establish and maintain a 
secure online tool or website to enable a veteran or their 
representative to submit a request to receive their claims file, or C-
File, electronically.
  Allowing veterans to access their C-File electronically would allow 
veterans to access their information in a faster and more efficient 
manner.
  When a veteran submits a claim for benefits to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, VA, a C-File is created. C-Files contain a veteran's 
service records, results of VA exams, additional information submitted 
by the veteran, and any material the VA deems necessary to decide a 
claim,
  Currently, a veteran must travel to a regional VA location or mail in 
a form to request a paper copy of their C-File, slowing down the 
process for individuals to gain access to their information.
  The Wounded Warrior Access Act would require the VA to offer an 
online alternative for veterans to request their C-File. Online 
requests would dramatically modernize the C-File collection, decrease 
processing time, and reduce unnecessary appeals since more veterans 
will have access to all the information the VA used to decide their 
claims, ultimately saving the VA time and money.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Wounded 
Warrior Access Act as quickly as possible, and I thank Congressman Pete 
Aguilar for his partnership on this legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Cortez Masto, 
        Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
        Murphy, and Ms. Warren):
  S. 2813. A bill to promote and support collaboration between 
Hispanic-serving institutions and local educational agencies with high 
enrollments of Hispanic or Latino students, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the 
Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment Act of 2023, which I 
reintroduced today. -
  Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HSIs, provide incredible opportunities 
for millions of low-income and first-generation students. I am proud 
that my State of California is home to 170 HSIs and 47 emerging HSIs, 
the most in the country. That is why I launched the first-ever Senate 
HSI Caucus with my colleague, Senator Menendez--to spotlight and 
advocate for the 572 HSIs across our country. These critical 
institutions educate our future leaders and help to build a more 
diverse and inclusive workforce.
  During the pandemic, the number of HSIs in our country declined for 
the first time in two decades due to a decrease in higher education 
enrollment among Latino students during the pandemic. While the number 
of HSIs has since increased above prepandemic levels, this previous 
decrease illustrates the need for further investments in Latino youth. 
That is why I am reintroducing the HERE Act.
  If enacted, this bill would support Latino students throughout 
secondary and postsecondary education. Specifically, the HERE Act would 
provide $150 million for grants to create partnerships between HSIs and 
K-12 school districts that serve large populations of Latino students.
  Schools could use this funding to provide academic support that 
better prepares students for postsecondary education. They could create 
new programs to foster a college-going culture by exposing students and 
their families to postsecondary opportunities. And they could better 
support students through the college application and transition 
process. Additionally, schools could use grants to address non-academic 
needs that serve as barriers to college enrollment and completion--such 
as childcare, food insecurity, financial hardship, and more.
  Latinos are the largest, youngest, and second fastest growing 
minority population in the United States. While making up about 20 
percent of our country's population, Latinos comprise 26 percent of 
prekindergarten through grade 12 enrollment. Latino students are going 
to college more than ever before, but they still face lower educational 
outcomes, including lower grades, lower scores on standardized tests, 
and higher dropout rates.
  As a Senator representing one of the most diverse States in the 
country, I am proud to work with my colleagues to ensure the American 
dream is a reality for every student.
  I want to thank Congressman Joaquin Castro for introducing this bill 
with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this 
effort to empower Latino youth.
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Murkowski):
  S. 2815. A bill to provide for a wage differential program to support 
new nursing school faculty members; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
                                 ______
                                 
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2815

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Nurse Faculty Shortage 
     Reduction Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. NURSE FACULTY GRANT PROGRAM.

       Section 846A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     296n-1) is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by adding ``and nursing faculty 
     grant program'' after ``loan program'';
       (2) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
       ``(a) In General.--To increase the number of qualified 
     nursing faculty, the Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
     Administration, may--
       ``(1) enter into an agreement with any accredited school of 
     nursing for the establishment and operation of a student loan 
     fund in accordance with subsection (b); and
       ``(2) award nurse faculty grants in accordance with 
     subsection (c).'';
       (3) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by redesignating clauses (A) through (D) of paragraph 
     (2) as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively, and adjusting 
     the margins accordingly;
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as 
     subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and adjusting 
     the margins accordingly;

[[Page S4529]]

       (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``subsection (c)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraph (2)'';
       (D) by striking ``(b) Agreements--Each agreement entered 
     into under subsection (a) shall--'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(b) School of Nursing Student Loan Fund.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each agreement entered into under 
     subsection (a)(1) shall--''.
       (4) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking ``subsection (a)'' each place it appears 
     and inserting ``subsection (a)(1)'';
       (B) in paragraph (3), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
     and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting 
     the margins accordingly;
       (C) in paragraph (6), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
     and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting 
     the margins accordingly; and
       (D) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (6) as 
     subparagraphs (A) through (F), respectively, and adjusting 
     the margins accordingly; and
       (E) in subparagraph (F)(ii), as so redesignated, by 
     striking ``subsection (e)'' and inserting ``paragraph (4)'';
       (5) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection (c)(6)(B)'' 
     and inserting ``paragraph (2)(F)(ii)'';
       (6) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
     paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively, and adjusting the 
     margins accordingly; and
       (7) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Nurse Faculty Grant Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and carry 
     out a program described in subsection (a)(2) under which 
     eligible schools of nursing receive a grant for purposes of 
     supplementing the salaries to enhance recruitment and 
     retention of nursing faculty members.
       ``(2) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
     under this subsection, an entity shall--
       ``(A) be a school of nursing; and
       ``(B) submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, 
     in such manner, and containing such information as the 
     Secretary may require, including--
       ``(i)(I) to the extent such information is available to the 
     school of nursing, the salary history of nursing faculty at 
     such school who previously were nurses in clinical practice, 
     for the most recent 3-year period ending on the date of 
     application, adjusted for inflation as appropriate and broken 
     down by credentials, experience, and levels of education of 
     such nurses; or
       ``(II) if the information described in subclause (I) is not 
     available, information on the average local salary of nurses 
     in clinical practice, adjusted for inflation as appropriate 
     and broken down by credentials, experience, and levels of 
     education of the individual nurses, in accordance with such 
     requirements as the Secretary may specify;
       ``(ii) an attestation of the average nursing faculty salary 
     at the school of nursing during the most recent 3-year period 
     prior to the date of application, adjusted for inflation, as 
     appropriate, broken down by credentials, experience, and 
     levels of education of such faculty members;
       ``(iii) the number of nursing faculty member vacancies at 
     the entity at the time of application, and the entity's 
     projection of such vacancies over the ensuing 5-year period; 
     and
       ``(iv) a description of the entity's plans to identify 
     funding sources to sustainably continue, after the 3-year 
     grant period, the salary available to the eligible nursing 
     faculty member pursuant to the program under this subsection 
     during such grant program and to retain eligible nursing 
     faculty members after the end of the grant period.
       ``(3) Awards.--A grant awarded under this subsection, with 
     respect to supporting eligible nursing faculty members, 
     shall--
       ``(A) be awarded to the school of nursing to supplement the 
     salaries of eligible faculty members at the school of 
     nursing, annually, for up to a 3-year period, in an amount 
     equal to, for each eligible nursing faculty member at the 
     eligible entity during the grant period, the difference 
     between--
       ``(i) the average salary of nurses in clinical practice 
     submitted under subclause (I) or (II) of paragraph (2)(B)(i); 
     and
       ``(ii) the greater of--

       ``(I) the salary for the eligible nursing faculty member at 
     the school of nursing; or
       ``(II) the average nursing faculty salary submitted under 
     paragraph (2)(B)(ii) for faculty members with the same or 
     similar credentials and level of education;

       ``(B) notwithstanding section 803(a), be used in its 
     entirety to supplement the eligible faculty member's salary; 
     and
       ``(C) be conditioned upon the school of nursing 
     maintaining, for each year in which the award is made as 
     described in subparagraph (A), a salary for such faculty 
     member at a level that is not less than the greater of the 
     amount under subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph (A)(ii).
       ``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, 
     the Secretary shall ensure the equitable geographic 
     distribution of awards, and shall give priority to 
     applications from schools of nursing that demonstrate--
       ``(A) the greatest need for such grant, which may be based 
     upon the financial circumstances of the school of nursing, 
     eligible nurse faculty members, the planned number of 
     students to be trained or admitted off a wait list;
       ``(B) training or partnerships to serve vulnerable patient 
     populations, such as through the location or activity of a 
     school in a health professional shortage area;
       ``(C) recruitment and retention of faculty from 
     underrepresented populations; or
       ``(D) other particular need for such grant, including 
     public institutions of higher education that offer 4-year 
     degrees but at which the predominant degree awarded is an 
     associate degree.
       ``(5) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     precludes a school of nursing or an eligible nursing faculty 
     member receiving an award under this section from obtaining 
     or receiving any other form of Federal support or funding.
       ``(6) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act of 
     2023, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Finance 
     and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives, a report that evaluates the program 
     established under this subsection, including--
       ``(A) the impact of such program on recruitment and 
     retention rates of nursing faculty, as available, and 
     specifically for each faculty member participating in the 
     program; and
       ``(B) recommendations and considerations for Congress on 
     continuing the program under this section through the 
     Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security 
     Act.
       ``(7) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Eligible nursing faculty member.--The term `eligible 
     nursing faculty member' means a nursing faculty member who--
       ``(i) was hired by a school of nursing within the 2-year 
     period preceding the submission of an application under 
     paragraph (2), or a prospective nursing faculty member;
       ``(ii) is currently employed at the school of nursing and 
     who demonstrates the need for such support;
       ``(iii) previously worked as a nurse in clinical practice 
     or as a nurse faculty member at another school of nursing; or
       ``(iv) may work on a part-time basis as a nursing faculty 
     member, for whom such award amounts described in paragraph 
     (3) shall be prorated relative to the amount of time 
     participating in part-time teaching.
       ``(B) Inflation.--The term `inflation' means the Consumer 
     Price Index for all urban consumers (all items; U.S. city 
     average).
       ``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
     subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated 
     $28,500,000 for each of fiscal year 2024 through 2028.''.

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