[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4600-S4606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 1242. Mr. BUDD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 230, line 13, insert ``Provided further, That not 
     later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     the Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report that 
     provides, with respect to the FAA Modernization and Reform 
     Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-95), FAA Extension, Safety, and 
     Security Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-190), and FAA 
     Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-254), a list of each 
     rulemaking and report requirement in such Acts and the status 
     of each rulemaking or report: Provided further, That the 
     amounts made available under this heading shall be reduced by 
     $100,000 for each day after the date that is 60 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act that such report has not 
     been submitted to Congress:'' after ``Congress:''.

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1243. Mr. BUDD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) 
to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military construction, 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT EXECUTIVE 
                   ORDER 14019.

       None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
     by this division may be used to implement or enforce 
     Executive Order 14019 (86 Fed. Reg. 13623; relating to 
     promoting access to voting).
       At the appropriate place in division B, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT EXECUTIVE 
                   ORDER 14019.

       None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
     by this division may be used to implement or enforce 
     Executive Order 14019 (86 Fed. Reg. 13623; relating to 
     promoting access to voting).
       At the appropriate place in division C, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT EXECUTIVE 
                   ORDER 14019.

       None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
     by this division may be used to implement or enforce 
     Executive Order 14019 (86 Fed. Reg. 13623; relating to 
     promoting access to voting).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1244. Mr. BARRASSO (for himself and Ms. Lummis) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. 
Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making 
appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

        At the appropriate place in division B, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the 
     proposed rule of the Department of Agriculture entitled ``Use 
     of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official 
     Identification in Cattle and Bison'' (88 Fed. Reg. 3320 
     (January 19, 2023)).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1245. Mr. MANCHIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:
       Sec. ___. (a) Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Housing 
     Finance Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, shall submit to Congress a report regarding the 
     state of the conservatorship of the Federal National Mortgage 
     Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 
     (referred to in this section as the ``covered entities'').
       (b) The report required under subsection (a) shall 
     include--
       (1) policy options that could be taken to end the 
     conservatorship of the covered entities;
       (2) potential safeguards that would need to be established 
     to ensure that, after the end of the conservatorship of the 
     covered entities, the covered entities would not need to be 
     placed in conservatorship at a future date;
       (3) whether the conservatorship of the covered entities has 
     accomplished the primary goals of the conservatorship; and
       (4) if applicable, the projected timeline for ending the 
     conservatorship of the covered entities.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1246. Ms. BALDWIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        In the matter under the heading ``salaries and expenses'' 
     under the heading ``Agricultural Research Service'' under the 
     heading ``AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS'' in title I of division B, 
     insert ``: Provided further, That of the amounts made 
     available under this heading, $8,100,000 shall be used to 
     carry out cranberry research'' before the period at the end.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1247. Mr. TILLIS (for himself and Mr. Budd) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray 
(for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making 
appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of the amendment, insert the following:

[[Page S4601]]

  


                    DIVISION D--LUMBEE FAIRNESS ACT

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This division may be cited as the ``Lumbee Fairness Act''.

     SEC. 102. FEDERAL RECOGNITION.

       The Act of June 7, 1956 (70 Stat. 254, chapter 375), is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking section 2;
       (2) in the first sentence of the first section, by striking 
     ``That the Indians'' and inserting the following:

     ``SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF LUMBEE INDIANS.

       ``The Indians'';
       (3) in the preamble--
       (A) by inserting before the first undesignated clause the 
     following:

     ``SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       ``Congress finds that--'';
       (B) by designating the undesignated clauses as paragraphs 
     (1) through (4), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
       (C) by striking ``Whereas'' each place it appears;
       (D) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
     each of paragraphs (1) and (2) (as so designated); and
       (E) in paragraph (4) (as so designated), by striking ``: 
     Now, therefore,'' and inserting a period;
       (4) by moving the enacting clause so as to appear before 
     section 1 (as so designated);
       (5) by striking the last sentence of section 3 (as 
     designated by paragraph (2));
       (6) by inserting before section 3 (as designated by 
     paragraph (2)) the following:

     ``SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this Act:
       ``(1) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       ``(2) Tribe.--The term `Tribe' means the Lumbee Tribe of 
     North Carolina or the Lumbee Indians of North Carolina.''; 
     and
       (7) by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 4. FEDERAL RECOGNITION.

       ``(a) In General.--Federal recognition is extended to the 
     Tribe (as designated as petitioner number 65 by the Office of 
     Federal Acknowledgment).
       ``(b) Applicability of Laws.--All laws and regulations of 
     the United States of general application to Indians and 
     Indian tribes shall apply to the Tribe and its members.
       ``(c) Petition for Acknowledgment.--Notwithstanding section 
     3, any group of Indians in Robeson and adjoining counties, 
     North Carolina, whose members are not enrolled in the Tribe 
     (as determined under section 5(d)) may petition under part 83 
     of title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations for 
     acknowledgment of tribal existence.

     ``SEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL SERVICES.

       ``(a) In General.--The Tribe and its members shall be 
     eligible for all services and benefits provided by the 
     Federal Government to federally recognized Indian tribes.
       ``(b) Service Area.--For the purpose of the delivery of 
     Federal services and benefits described in subsection (a), 
     those members of the Tribe residing in Robeson, Cumberland, 
     Hoke, and Scotland counties in North Carolina shall be deemed 
     to be residing on or near an Indian reservation.
       ``(c) Determination of Needs.--On verification by the 
     Secretary of a tribal roll under subsection (d), the 
     Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall--
       ``(1) develop, in consultation with the Tribe, a 
     determination of needs to provide the services for which 
     members of the Tribe are eligible; and
       ``(2) after the tribal roll is verified, each submit to 
     Congress a written statement of those needs.
       ``(d) Tribal Roll.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purpose of the delivery of Federal 
     services and benefits described in subsection (a), the tribal 
     roll in effect on the date of enactment of this section 
     shall, subject to verification by the Secretary, define the 
     service population of the Tribe.
       ``(2) Verification limitation and deadline.--The 
     verification by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall--
       ``(A) be limited to confirming documentary proof of 
     compliance with the membership criteria set out in the 
     constitution of the Tribe adopted on November 16, 2001; and
       ``(B) be completed not later than 2 years after the 
     submission of a digitized roll with supporting documentary 
     proof by the Tribe to the Secretary.

     ``SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION TO TAKE LAND INTO TRUST.

       ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary is hereby authorized to take land into 
     trust for the benefit of the Tribe.
       ``(b) Treatment of Certain Land.--An application to take 
     into trust land located within Robeson County, North 
     Carolina, under this section shall be treated by the 
     Secretary as an `on reservation' trust acquisition under part 
     151 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
     regulation).

     ``SEC. 7. JURISDICTION OF STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

       ``(a) In General.--With respect to land located within the 
     State of North Carolina that is owned by, or held in trust by 
     the United States for the benefit of, the Tribe, or any 
     dependent Indian community of the Tribe, the State of North 
     Carolina shall exercise jurisdiction over--
       ``(1) all criminal offenses that are committed; and
       ``(2) all civil actions that arise.
       ``(b) Transfer of Jurisdiction.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
     may accept on behalf of the United States, after consulting 
     with the Attorney General of the United States, any transfer 
     by the State of North Carolina to the United States of any 
     portion of the jurisdiction of the State of North Carolina 
     described in subsection (a) over Indian country occupied by 
     the Tribe pursuant to an agreement between the Tribe and the 
     State of North Carolina.
       ``(2) Restriction.--A transfer of jurisdiction described in 
     paragraph (1) may not take effect until 2 years after the 
     effective date of the agreement described in that paragraph.
       ``(c) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects the 
     application of section 109 of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 
     1978 (25 U.S.C. 1919).

     ``SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1248. Mr. KING submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       In the matter under the heading ``rural housing insurance 
     fund program account'' under the heading ``Rural Housing 
     Service'' under the heading ``RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS'' in 
     title III of division C, strike ``$60,000,000 for section 
     515'' and insert ``$200,000,000 for section 515''.
       In the matter under the heading ``rural housing insurance 
     fund program account'' under the heading ``Rural Housing 
     Service'' under the heading ``RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS'' in 
     title III of division C, strike ``$35,000,000'' and insert 
     ``75,000,000''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1249. Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Mr. Cornyn) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray 
(for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making 
appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. ADVANCING EFFORTS SEEKING COMPLIANCE BY MEXICO WITH 
                   TREATY ON UTILIZATION OF WATERS OF THE COLORADO 
                   AND TIJUANA RIVERS AND OF THE RIO GRANDE.

       The Secretary of State shall use the voice, vote, 
     diplomatic capital, and resources of the United States to 
     ensure that United States diplomats and officials of the U.S. 
     Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission 
     are able to advance efforts seeking compliance by the United 
     Mexican States with the Treaty on Utilization of Waters of 
     the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande, signed 
     at Washington February 3, 1944, and to establish 
     understandings to provide predictable and reliable future 
     deliveries of water by the United Mexican States.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1250. Mr. MORAN (for himself, Mr. Tester, and Mr. Boozman) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 
proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill H.R. 
4366, making appropriations for military construction, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO CHANGE RATE OF 
                   REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION VIA SPECIAL 
                   MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.

       During the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending 
     on September 30, 2024, no funds appropriated by this division 
     may be obligated or expended to change rates for 
     reimbursement for transportation of a veteran or other 
     individual via a special mode of transportation under the 
     laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 
     the rates in place as of January 1, 2023.

     SEC. ___. REDUCTION OF AMOUNTS FOR DEPARTMENTAL 
                   ADMINISTRATION--GENERAL ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNT 
                   OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       The amounts otherwise made available by this division for 
     the Departmental Administration--General Administration 
     account of the Department of Veterans Affairs are hereby 
     reduced by $43,500,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1251. Mr. CASSIDY (for himself and Mr. Carper) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 4366, making 
appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

        In the matter under the heading ``rural housing insurance 
     fund program account'' under the heading ``Rural Housing 
     Service''

[[Page S4602]]

     under the heading ``RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS'' in title III 
     of division C, strike ``$850,000,000'' and insert 
     ``$793,520,000''.
       In the matter under the heading ``rural housing insurance 
     fund program account'' under the heading ``Rural Housing 
     Service'' under the heading ``RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS'' in 
     title III of division C, strike ``$62,637,000'' and insert 
     ``$82,637,000''.
       In title VII of division B, strike sections 771 and 774.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1252. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end of division A, insert the following:

       TITLE V--IMPROVING REVIEW OF CLAIMS FOR VETERANS BENEFITS

     SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Preserving Lawful 
     Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2023'' or the 
     ``PLUS for Veterans Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 502. CLARIFICATION OF PREPARATION, PRESENTATION, OR 
                   PROSECUTION OF A CLAIM UNDER A LAW ADMINISTERED 
                   BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       Section 5901 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Except'' and inserting the following:
       ``(a) In General.--Except''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Exclusion.--The administration of a medical 
     examination, or the writing of a report based on such 
     examination, described in section 5125 of this title, does 
     not constitute the preparation, presentation, or prosecution 
     of a claim described in subsection (a).''.

     SEC. 503. AGENTS AND ATTORNEYS IN CLAIMS UNDER LAWS 
                   ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: 
                   RECOGNITION; SUSPENSION.

       Section 5904 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
       (A) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``Except''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(B)(i) The Secretary shall determine whether to recognize 
     under subparagraph (A) an agent or attorney who applies for 
     such recognition not later than 90 days after the Secretary 
     receives such application.
       ``(ii) If the Secretary cannot verify whether the agent or 
     attorney meets the qualifications and standards prescribed 
     under paragraph (2) before the end of such 90 days, the 
     Secretary shall recognize the agent or attorney under such 
     subparagraph.
       ``(C) The Secretary may not refuse to recognize under 
     subparagraph (A) an agent or attorney solely on the basis 
     that such agent or attorney charges a claimant a fee for 
     services rendered in the preparation, presentation, or 
     prosecution of a claim.
       ``(D) The Secretary may suspend under subsection (b) an 
     agent or attorney described in subparagraph (E) without 
     regard to the notice and opportunity for a hearing under such 
     subsection.
       ``(E) An agent or attorney described in this subparagraph 
     is an agent or attorney--
       ``(i) recognized pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii); and
       ``(ii) whom the Secretary determines, after the 90-day 
     period described in such subparagraph, does not meet the 
     qualifications and standards prescribed under paragraph 
     (2).''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) as 
     subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively;
       (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as 
     redesignated, by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; 
     and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of the Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services 
     for Veterans Act of 2023 and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives a report regarding the number of 
     individuals suspended under this subsection or denied 
     recognition under subsection (a), disaggregated by the 
     reasons for such suspension or denial and whether the 
     individual is--
       ``(A) a representative of an organization recognized under 
     section 5902 of this title;
       ``(B) an agent; or
       ``(C) an attorney.''.

     SEC. 504. FEES ALLOWABLE FOR REPRESENTATION OF VETERANS FOR 
                   CLAIMS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Fees.--Section 5904 of title 38, United States Code, as 
     amended by section 503, is further amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``preparation, 
     presentation, and prosecution of a claim before the 
     Department'' and inserting ``course of representation 
     described in subsection (c)(2)'';
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``Flat Fee 
     Agreements.--'' after ``(c)'';
       (B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1)(A) In a case other than a case described in paragraph 
     (2), a fee agreement between a claimant and an agent or 
     attorney, with respect to the preparation, presentation, or 
     prosecution of a claim under a law administered by the 
     Secretary, shall be a fee agreement under--
       ``(i) this paragraph, using a standard agreement form 
     prescribed by the Secretary;
       ``(ii) subsection (d); or
       ``(iii) subsection (e).
       ``(B) A fee agreement under this paragraph is one under 
     which the total amount payable by the claimant to the agent 
     or attorney with respect to the claim--
       ``(i) may not exceed $12,500 (as adjusted from time to time 
     under subparagraph (C)); and
       ``(ii) is contingent on whether the claim is resolved in a 
     manner favorable to the claimant.
       ``(C) Effective on October 1 of each year (beginning in the 
     first fiscal year after the date of the enactment of the 
     Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 
     2023), the Secretary shall increase the dollar amount in 
     effect under clause (i) of subparagraph (B) by a percentage 
     equal to the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for 
     all urban consumers (U.S. city average) increased during the 
     12-month period ending with the last month for which Consumer 
     Price Index data is available. In the event that such 
     Consumer Price Index does not increase during such period, 
     the Secretary shall maintain the dollar amount in effect 
     under such clause during the previous fiscal year.
       ``(D) The limitation under subparagraph (B)(i) does not 
     apply to any fee charged, allowed, or paid for services 
     provided with respect to proceedings before a court.
       ``(E) For purposes of subparagraph (B)(ii), a claim shall 
     be considered to have been resolved in a manner favorable to 
     the claimant if all or any part of the relief sought is 
     granted.
       ``(F) The form prescribed by the Secretary under 
     subparagraph (A)(i) shall include the following notifications 
     to the claimant:
       ``(i) That organizations recognized under section 5902 of 
     this title furnish services concerning claims under laws 
     administered by the Secretary, at no cost to claimants.
       ``(ii) That the claimant may select a private physician for 
     a medical examination described in section 5125 of this title 
     regarding the claim.
       ``(iii) That such agent or attorney may not refer the 
     claimant to a private physician described in clause (ii) with 
     whom the agent or attorney has a business relationship 
     regarding the claim.'';
       (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``referred to in 
     paragraph (1) of this subsection'' and inserting ``regarding 
     a claim under a law administered by the Secretary'';
       (D) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``to paragraph (2)'' 
     and inserting ``to paragraph (1) or (2)''; and
       (E) by striking paragraph (4); and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Payment of Fees Out of an Award or Increased Award.--
     (1) When a claimant and an agent or attorney have entered 
     into a fee agreement described in paragraph (2), the total 
     fee payable to the agent or attorney (including all ancillary 
     fees) may not exceed the amount that is equal to the product 
     of five and the amount of the monthly increase of benefits 
     awarded on the basis of the claim.
       ``(2) A fee agreement referred to in paragraph (1) is one 
     under which the total amount of the fee payable to the agent 
     or attorney--
       ``(A) is to be paid to the agent or attorney by the 
     claimant, after commencement of the monthly period of payment 
     of monetary benefits based on an award or increased award (as 
     defined in section 5111(d) of this title); and
       ``(B) is contingent on whether the matter is resolved in a 
     manner favorable to the claimant.
       ``(3) For the purposes of this subsection, a claim shall be 
     considered to have been resolved in a manner favorable to the 
     claimant if all or any part of the relief sought is 
     granted.''.
       (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe 
     regulations to carry out the amendments made by this section.

     SEC. 505. REINSTATEMENT OF PENALTIES FOR CHARGING VETERANS 
                   UNAUTHORIZED FEES RELATING TO CLAIMS UNDER LAWS 
                   ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 5905 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``Penalty'' and 
     inserting ``Penalties'';
       (2) by striking ``Whoever'' and inserting the following:
       ``(a) Withholding of Benefits.--Whoever''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Charging of Unauthorized Fees.--Except as provided in 
     sections 5904 or 1984 of this title, whoever directly or 
     indirectly solicits, contracts for, charges, or receives, or 
     attempts to solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, any 
     fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, 
     presentation, or

[[Page S4603]]

     prosecution of any claim for benefits under a law 
     administered by the Secretary shall be fined as provided in 
     title 18, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 59 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 5905 and inserting the following 
     new item:

``5905. Penalties for certain acts.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1253. Mr. MORAN (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, and Ms. Baldwin) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 
proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill H.R. 
4366, making appropriations for military construction, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division B, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ____. (a) In addition to amounts otherwise made 
     available, there is appropriated, out of amounts in the 
     Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,000,000 to carry out 
     section 4208 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 
     U.S.C. 2026a).
       (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the 
     total amount appropriated under the heading ``Office of the 
     Secretary'' under the heading ``Processing, Research, and 
     Marketing'' under the heading ``AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS'' in 
     title I is reduced by $1,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1254. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) 
to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military construction, 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title VII of division B, insert 
     the following:
       Sec. __. (a) In addition to the annual amount of user fees 
     authorized to be assessed and collected under section 919(c) 
     of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 
     387s(c)) and made available for purposes of carrying out the 
     Food and Drug Administration's tobacco regulation activities 
     under chapter IX of such Act (21 U.S.C. 387 et seq.), 
     notwithstanding section 919(c)(2)(B) of such Act (21 U.S.C. 
     387s(c)(2)(B)), of the amounts made available to the Food and 
     Drug Administration under this Act, not less than $8,000,000 
     shall be used by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs for such 
     tobacco regulation activities, including to enhance 
     regulatory reviews of, and enforcement actions with respect 
     to, electronic nicotine delivery systems.
       (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the 
     amount rescinded pursuant to section 745 shall be 
     $315,526,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1255. Mr. OSSOFF (for himself, Mr. Braun, and Mr. Tillis) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 
proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill H.R. 
4366, making appropriations for military construction, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       On page 75, line 23, strike the period at the end and 
     insert the following: ``, of which $10,000,000 shall be made 
     available for the Office of Women's Health of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs established under section 7310 of title 
     38, United States Code, to be used by the Secretary to expand 
     access of women veterans to--
       (1) mobile mammography initiatives;
       (2) advanced mammography equipment; and
       (3) outreach activities to publicize such initiatives and 
     equipment.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1256. Mr. LANKFORD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title VII of division B, insert 
     the following:
       Sec. 7__. (a) The modifications approved by the Food and 
     Drug Administration on January 3, 2023, to the risk 
     evaluation and mitigation strategy under section 505-1 of the 
     Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355-1) for 
     mifepristone shall have no force or effect.
       (b) None of the funds made available by this Act may be 
     used to--
       (1) establish, implement, or enforce any provision of a 
     risk evaluation and mitigation strategy under section 505-1 
     of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355-1) 
     for mifepristone that is substantially similar to any of the 
     modifications nullified by subsection (a); or
       (2) exercise discretion to not enforce any provision of a 
     risk evaluation and mitigation strategy under such section 
     505-1 for mifepristone.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1257. Mr. JOHNSON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end, add the following:

          DIVISION D--PREVENT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS ACT OF 2023

     SECTION 4001. SHORT TITLE.

       This division may be cited as the ``Prevent Government 
     Shutdowns Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 4002. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle I of chapter 13 of title 31, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 1311. Automatic continuing appropriations

       ``(a)(1)(A) On and after the first day of each fiscal year, 
     if an appropriation Act for such fiscal year with respect to 
     the account for a program, project, or activity has not been 
     enacted and continuing appropriations are not in effect with 
     respect to the program, project, or activity, there are 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary to continue, at 
     the rate for operations specified in subparagraph (C), the 
     program, project, or activity if funds were provided for the 
     program, project, or activity during the preceding fiscal 
     year.
       ``(B)(i) Appropriations and funds made available and 
     authority granted under subparagraph (A) shall be available 
     for a period of 14 days.
       ``(ii) If, at the end of the first 14-day period during 
     which appropriations and funds are made available and 
     authority is granted under subparagraph (A), and the end of 
     every 14-day period thereafter, an appropriation Act for such 
     fiscal year with respect to the account for a program, 
     project, or activity has not been enacted and continuing 
     appropriations are not in effect with respect to the program, 
     project, or activity under a provision of law other than 
     subparagraph (A), the appropriations and funds made available 
     and authority granted under subparagraph (A) during the 14-
     day period shall be extended for an additional 14-day period.
       ``(C)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), the rate for 
     operations specified in this subparagraph with respect to a 
     program, project, or activity is the rate for operations for 
     the preceding fiscal year for the program, project, or 
     activity--
       ``(I) provided in the corresponding appropriation Act for 
     such preceding fiscal year;
       ``(II) if the corresponding appropriation bill for such 
     preceding fiscal year was not enacted, provided in the law 
     providing continuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal 
     year; or
       ``(III) if the corresponding appropriation bill and a law 
     providing continuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal 
     year were not enacted, provided under this section for such 
     preceding fiscal year.
       ``(ii) For entitlements and other mandatory payments whose 
     budget authority was provided for the previous fiscal year in 
     appropriations Acts, under a law other than this section 
     providing continuing appropriations for such previous year, 
     or under this section, and for activities under the Food and 
     Nutrition Act of 2008, appropriations and funds made 
     available during a fiscal year under this section shall be at 
     the rate necessary to maintain program levels under current 
     law, under the authority and conditions provided in the 
     applicable appropriations Act.
       ``(2) Appropriations and funds made available, and 
     authority granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this 
     section for a program, project, or activity shall be 
     available, in accordance with paragraph (1)(B), for the 
     period--
       ``(A) beginning on the first day of any lapse in 
     appropriations during such fiscal year; and
       ``(B) ending on the date of enactment of an appropriation 
     Act for such fiscal year with respect to the account for such 
     program, project, or activity (whether or not such Act 
     provides appropriations for such program, project, or 
     activity) or a law making continuing appropriations for the 
     program, project, or activity, as applicable.
       ``(3) Notwithstanding section 251(a)(1) of the Balanced 
     Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 
     901(a)(1)) and the timetable in section 254(a) of such Act (2 
     U.S.C. 904(a)), for any fiscal year for which appropriations 
     and funds are made available under this section, the final 
     sequestration report for such fiscal year pursuant to section 
     254(f)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 904(f)(1)) and any order for 
     such fiscal year pursuant to section 254(f)(5) of such Act (2 
     U.S.C. 901(f)(5)) shall be issued--

[[Page S4604]]

       ``(A) for the Congressional Budget Office, 10 days after 
     the date on which appropriation Acts providing funding for 
     the entire Federal Government through the end of such fiscal 
     year have been enacted; and
       ``(B) for the Office of Management and Budget, 15 days 
     after the date on which appropriation Acts providing funding 
     for the entire Federal Government through the end of such 
     fiscal year have been enacted.
       ``(b) An appropriation or funds made available, or 
     authority granted, for a program, project, or activity for 
     any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be subject to 
     the terms and conditions imposed with respect to the 
     appropriation made or funds made available for the preceding 
     fiscal year, or authority granted for such program, project, 
     or activity under current law.
       ``(c) Expenditures made for a program, project, or activity 
     for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be charged 
     to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization 
     whenever an appropriation Act for such fiscal year with 
     respect to the account for a program, project, or activity or 
     a law making continuing appropriations until the end of such 
     fiscal year for such program, project, or activity is 
     enacted.
       ``(d) This section shall not apply to a program, project, 
     or activity during a fiscal year if any other provision of 
     law (other than an authorization of appropriations)--
       ``(1) makes an appropriation, makes funds available, or 
     grants authority for such program, project, or activity to 
     continue for such period; or
       ``(2) specifically provides that no appropriation shall be 
     made, no funds shall be made available, or no authority shall 
     be granted for such program, project, or activity to continue 
     for such period.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subtitle 
     I of chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:

``1311. Automatic continuing appropriations.''.

     SEC. 4003. TIMELY ENACTMENT OF APPROPRIATION ACTS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``covered officer or employee'' means--
       (A) an officer or employee of the Office of Management and 
     Budget;
       (B) a Member of Congress; or
       (C) an employee of the personal office of a Member of 
     Congress, a committee of either House of Congress, or a joint 
     committee of Congress;
       (2) the term ``covered period''--
       (A) means any period of automatic continuing 
     appropriations; and
       (B) with respect to the legislative branch--
       (i) does not include any period of automatic continuing 
     appropriations that occurs during the period--

       (I) beginning at the time at which general appropriations 
     Acts providing funding for the entire Federal Government 
     (including an appropriation Act providing continuing funding) 
     have been enacted or passed in identical form by both Houses 
     and transmitted to the Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of 
     the House for enrollment and presentment to the President for 
     his signature; and
       (II) ending at the time at which 1 or more general 
     appropriations Acts--

       (aa) are vetoed by the President; or
       (bb) do not become law without the President's signature 
     under article I, section 7 of the Constitution of the United 
     States based on an adjournment of the Congress; and
       (ii) includes any period of automatic continuing 
     appropriations that is not a period described in clause (i) 
     and that follows a veto or a failure to become law (as 
     described in item (bb) of clause (i)(II)) of 1 or more 
     general appropriations Acts;
       (3) the term ``Member of Congress'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 2106 of title 5, United States Code;
       (4) the term ``National Capital Region'' has the meaning 
     given that term in section 8702 of title 40, United States 
     Code; and
       (5) the term ``period of automatic continuing 
     appropriations'' means a period during which automatic 
     continuing appropriations under section 1311 of title 31, 
     United States Code, as added by section 2 of this Act, are in 
     effect with respect to 1 or more programs, projects, or 
     activities.
       (b) Limits on Travel Expenditures.--
       (1) Limits on official travel.--
       (A) Limitation.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no 
     amounts may be obligated or expended for official travel by a 
     covered officer or employee during a covered period.
       (B) Exceptions.--
       (i) Return to dc.--If a covered officer or employee is away 
     from the seat of Government on the date on which a covered 
     period begins, funds may be obligated and expended for 
     official travel for a single return trip to the seat of 
     Government by the covered officer or employee.
       (ii) Travel in national capital region.--During a covered 
     period, amounts may be obligated and expended for official 
     travel by a covered officer or employee from one location in 
     the National Capital Region to another location in the 
     National Capital Region.
       (iii) National security events.--During a covered period, 
     if a national security event that triggers a continuity of 
     operations or continuity of Government protocol occurs, 
     amounts may be obligated and expended for official travel by 
     a covered officer or employee for any official travel 
     relating to responding to the national security event or 
     implementing the continuity of operations or continuity of 
     Government protocol.
       (2) Restriction on use of campaign funds.--Section 313 of 
     the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30114) 
     is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``for ordinary'' and 
     inserting ``except as provided in subsection (d), for 
     ordinary''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Restriction on Use of Campaign Funds for Official 
     Travel During Automatic Continuing Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     during a covered period (as defined in section 3 of the 
     Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2023), a contribution or 
     donation described in subsection (a) may not be obligated or 
     expended for travel in connection with duties of the 
     individual as a holder of Federal office.
       ``(2) Return to dc.--If the individual is away from the 
     seat of Government on the date on which a covered period (as 
     so defined) begins, a contribution or donation described in 
     subsection (a) may be obligated and expended for travel by 
     the individual to return to the seat of Government.''.
       (c) Procedures in the Senate and House of 
     Representatives.--
       (1) In general.--During a covered period, in the Senate and 
     the House of Representatives--
       (A) it shall not be in order to move to proceed to any 
     matter except for--
       (i) a measure making appropriations for the fiscal year 
     during which the covered period begins;
       (ii) any motion required to determine the presence of or 
     produce a quorum; or
       (iii) on and after the 30th calendar day after the first 
     day of a covered period--

       (I) the nomination of an individual--

       (aa) to a position at level I of the Executive Schedule 
     under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code; or
       (bb) to serve as Chief Justice of the United States or an 
     Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; 
     or

       (II) a measure extending the period during which a program, 
     project, or activity is authorized to be carried out (without 
     substantive change to the program, project, or activity or 
     any other program, project, or activity) if--

       (aa) an appropriation Act with respect to the program, 
     project, or activity for the fiscal year during which the 
     covered period occurs has not been enacted; and
       (bb) the program, project, or activity has expired since 
     the beginning of such fiscal year or will expire during the 
     30-day period beginning on the date of the motion;
       (B) it shall not be in order to move to recess or adjourn 
     for a period of more than 23 hours; and
       (C) at noon each day, or immediately following any 
     constructive convening of the Senate under rule IV, paragraph 
     2 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Presiding Officer 
     shall direct the clerk to determine whether a quorum is 
     present.
       (2) Waiver.--
       (A) Limitation on period.--It shall not be in order in the 
     Senate or the House of Representatives to move to waive any 
     provision of paragraph (1) for a period that is longer than 7 
     days.
       (B) Supermajority vote.--A provision of paragraph (1) may 
     only be waived or suspended upon an affirmative vote of two-
     thirds of the Members of the applicable House of Congress, 
     duly chosen and sworn.
       (d) Motion To Proceed to Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--On and after the 30th calendar day after 
     the first day of each fiscal year, if an appropriation Act 
     for such fiscal year with respect to a program, project, or 
     activity has not been enacted, it shall be in order in the 
     Senate, notwithstanding rule XXII or any pending executive 
     measure or matter, to move to proceed to any appropriations 
     bill or joint resolution for the program, project, or 
     activity that has been sponsored and cosponsored by not less 
     than 3 Senators who are members of or caucus with the party 
     in the majority in the Senate and not less than 3 Senators 
     who are members of or caucus with the party in the minority 
     in the Senate.
       (2) Consideration.--For a bill or joint resolution 
     described in paragraph (1)--
       (A) the bill or joint resolution may be considered the same 
     day as it is introduced and shall not have to lie over 1 day; 
     and
       (B) the motion to proceed to the bill or joint resolution 
     shall be debatable for not to exceed 6 hours, equally divided 
     between the proponents and opponents of the motion, and upon 
     the use or yielding back of time, the Senate shall vote on 
     the motion to proceed.

     SEC. 4004. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       (a) Classification of Budgetary Effects.--The budgetary 
     effects of this division and the amendments made by this 
     division shall be estimated as if this division and the 
     amendments made by this division are discretionary 
     appropriations Acts for purposes of section 251 of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 
     U.S.C. 900 et seq.).
       (b) Baseline.--For purposes of calculating the baseline 
     under section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 907), the provision of 
     budgetary resources under section 1311 of title 31, United 
     States Code, as added by this division, for an account shall 
     be considered to be a continuing appropriation in effect for

[[Page S4605]]

     such account for less than the entire current year.
       (c) Enforcement of Discretionary Spending Limits.--For 
     purposes of enforcing the discretionary spending limits under 
     section 251(a) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(a)), the budgetary 
     resources made available under section 1311 of title 31, 
     United States Code, as added by this division, shall be 
     considered part-year appropriations for purposes of section 
     251(a)(4) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(a)(4)).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1258. Mr. MANCHIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND REPORT ON NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL 
                   INTELLIGENCE INSTITUTE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     Congress supports the National Artificial Intelligence 
     Institute of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the 
     endeavors of the Institute to research, develop, incorporate, 
     and implement artificial intelligence where needed in the 
     Department.
       (b) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the mission of 
     the Institute, the current programs of the Institute, the 
     implementation by the Institute of artificial intelligence 
     within the Department, and the strategy of the Institute to 
     incorporate artificial intelligence across the Department 
     going forward.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1259. Mr. MANCHIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division B, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  In determining awardees of grants under the 
     distance learning and telemedicine program under chapter 1 of 
     subtitle D of title XXIII of the Food, Agriculture, 
     Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et 
     seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide attention 
     to the need for distance learning and telemedicine access in 
     moderately rugged and highly rugged areas, as defined by the 
     Road Ruggedness Scale of the Economic Research Service.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1260. Mr. MANCHIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. __. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   CONSULTATION WITH PHYSICIANS ON NATIONAL 
                   STANDARDS OF PRACTICE.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
     Congress a report on how the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     consults with physicians to ensure that safe, high-quality 
     national standards of practice are developed and implemented 
     across medical centers of the Department.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1261. Mr. REED (for Mr. Tester) proposed an amendment to the 
resolution S. Res. 238, expressing support for recognizing September 20 
as National Service Dog Day; as follows:

       In the first whereas clause of the preamble, strike 
     ``including--'' and all that follows through 
     ``disabilities''.
       In the second whereas clause of the preamble, strike ``, 
     hear'' and all that follows through ``seizure''.
       Strike the fourth whereas clause of the preamble.
       In the fifth whereas clause of the preamble, strike ``, 
     including'' and all that follows through ``ideation''.
       In the sixth whereas clause of the preamble, strike ``, 
     located in all 50 States, Puerto Riceo, and Guam''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1262. Mr. ROMNEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) 
to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military construction, 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in title I of division C, insert 
     the following:
       Sec. ___.  Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary 
     of Transportation shall submit to Congress a report that 
     compares the labor costs of transportation projects funded by 
     the Department of Transportation (including through any 
     grant, loan, loan guarantee, insurance, or other method) that 
     are subject to the final rule of the Department of Labor 
     entitled ``Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts 
     Regulations'' (88 Fed. Reg. 57526 (August 23, 2023)) with the 
     labor costs of transportation projects funded by the 
     Department of Transportation (including through any grant, 
     loan, loan guarantee, insurance, or other method) in the 1-
     year period ending on the effective date of that rule.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1263. Mr. ROMNEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) 
to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military construction, 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ____. PROTECTING DOMESTIC SOURCES OF URANIUM.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal 
     funds shall be used to designate a new, or expand an 
     existing, national monument on land that includes a uranium 
     mill or mine that may provide a domestic source of uranium.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1264. Mr. TILLIS (for himself, Mr. Welch, Mr. Sanders, and Ms. 
Hassan) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 
1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill 
H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military construction, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. REVIEW OF VETERANS WHO ENGAGED IN TOXIC EXPOSURE 
                   RISK ACTIVITIES WHILE SERVING IN KOSOVO AND THE 
                   HEALTH EFFECTS OF SUCH TOXIC EXPOSURE RISK 
                   ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Review Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall conduct a review of the following:
       (1) Data regarding the mortality of covered veterans.
       (2) Any data on toxic exposure experienced by covered 
     veterans that is both relevant and available, including 
     toxicology studies.
       (3) The type of toxic exposure risk activities covered 
     veterans engaged in while serving in the active military, 
     naval, air, or space service in Kosovo.
       (b) Covered Veterans.--For purposes of subsection (a), a 
     covered veteran is a veteran who--
       (1) served in the active military, naval, air, or space 
     service in Kosovo; and
       (2) as part of such service, engaged in a toxic exposure 
     risk activity.
       (c) Manner and Suitability of Review.--The Secretary shall 
     carry out the review required by subsection (a) in a manner 
     such that the findings of the Secretary with respect to the 
     review are suitable and applicable under subchapter VII of 
     chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Active military, naval, air, or space service.--The 
     term ``active military, naval, air, or space service'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (2) Toxic exposure risk activity.--The term ``toxic 
     exposure risk activity'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 1710(e)(4) of such title.
       (3) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 101 of such title.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1265. Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, and Ms. Hirono) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1092 
proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill H.R. 
4366, making appropriations for military construction, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title IV of division C, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. __.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may 
     adjust the limit established under section 408(h)(1) of the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

[[Page S4606]]

     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(h)(1)) with respect 
     to a major disaster declared under section 401 of that Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 5170) outside the continental United States after 
     August 1, 2023, based on appropriate economic indicators 
     demonstrating high local repair and construction costs.  
     Provided, that such amounts are designated by Congress as 
     being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 951(b)(2)(A)(i)).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1266. Mr. SCHMITT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. __. AMOUNTS FOR ROSECRANS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, 
                   MISSOURI.

       The is appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not 
     otherwise appropriated, $2,000,000 to carry out a project at 
     Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Missouri, relating to 
     139th airlift wing entry control point planning and design.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1267. Mr. SCHMITT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. 
Collins) to the bill H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military 
construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. __. AMOUNTS FOR ROSECRANS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, 
                   MISSOURI.

       The is appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not 
     otherwise appropriated, $2,000,000 to carry out a project at 
     Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Missouri, relating to 
     entry control point planning and design.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1268. Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Sanders, and Ms. 
Hassan) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 
1092 proposed by Mrs. Murray (for herself and Ms. Collins) to the bill 
H.R. 4366, making appropriations for military construction, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. REVIEW OF VETERANS WHO ENGAGED IN TOXIC EXPOSURE 
                   RISK ACTIVITIES WHILE SERVING IN KOSOVO AND THE 
                   HEALTH EFFECTS OF SUCH TOXIC EXPOSURE RISK 
                   ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Review Required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall conduct a review of the following:
       (1) Data regarding the mortality of covered veterans.
       (2) Any data on toxic exposure experienced by covered 
     veterans that is both relevant and available, including 
     toxicology studies.
       (3) The type of toxic exposure risk activities covered 
     veterans engaged in while serving in the active military, 
     naval, air, or space service in Kosovo.
       (b) Covered Veterans.--For purposes of subsection (a), a 
     covered veteran is a veteran who--
       (1) served in the active military, naval, air, or space 
     service in Kosovo; and
       (2) as part of such service, engaged in a toxic exposure 
     risk activity.
       (c) Manner and Suitability of Review.--The Secretary shall 
     carry out the review required by subsection (a) in a manner 
     such that the findings of the Secretary with respect to the 
     review are suitable and applicable under subchapter VII of 
     chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Active military, naval, air, or space service.--The 
     term ``active military, naval, air, or space service'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, 
     United States Code.
       (2) Toxic exposure risk activity.--The term ``toxic 
     exposure risk activity'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 1710(e)(4) of such title.
       (3) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 101 of such title.

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