[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.
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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.''.
____________________