[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 176 (Wednesday, October 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5155-S5163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
______
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the
Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 4366, which the clerk will
report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A 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.
Pending:
Schumer (for Murray/Collins) amendment No. 1092, in the
nature of a substitute.
Murray amendment No. 1205 (to amendment No. 1092), to
change the effective date.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On page S5155, October 25, 2023, second column, the following
appears: Pending: Schumer (for Murray/Collins) amendment No. 1092,
in the nature of a substitute. Murray amendment No. 1205 (to
amendment No. 1092), to change the effective date. Murray motion
to suspend rule XVI for the consideration of Schumer (for Murray/
Collins) amendment No. 1092 (listed above) to the bill.
The online Record has been corrected to read: Pending: Schumer
(for Murray/Collins) amendment No. 1092, in the nature of a
substitute. Murray amendment No. 1205 (to amendment No. 1092), to
change the effective date.
========================= END NOTE =========================
Schumer motion to commit the bill to the Committee on
Appropriations, with instructions, Schumer amendment No.
1230, to change the effective date.
Recognition of the Majority Leader
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized.
Government Funding
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, yesterday morning, Democrats and
Republicans reached an important agreement to move forward on three
bipartisan--underline bipartisan--appropriations bills: MILCON-VA,
Agriculture, and Transportation-HUD.
We will begin voting on amendments as soon as this afternoon and keep
going through the rest of the week and into the next. It is my hope
that with bipartisan cooperation, we can wrap up our work on these
bipartisan appropriations bills sometime next week.
And this will be the Senate working as it should, both parties
cooperating, debating amendments, working through differences, without
grinding the legislative process to a halt. Democrats promised our
Republican colleagues that their voices would be heard, and we are
making good on that promise. Forty amendments will be considered, many
of them bipartisan, on issues ranging from telehealth funding for
veterans, fixing infrastructure hit by natural disasters, to
investments in rural America.
We worked closely with Republicans to put these appropriations bills
together. If passed, the bills will make a huge difference for American
farmers, for our infrastructure, for housing, and for our military
bases and veterans.
Bipartisanship isn't easy. On the contrary, these days it is
exceedingly difficult, but we are moving forward thanks to the good
work of our appropriators, especially Chair Murray and Vice Chair
Collins. They have set the tone from the start here in the Senate that
bipartisanship should lead the way.
It was true in the Appropriations Committee; I hope it remains true
here on the floor because we are going to need bipartisanship in all
that we do
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during this time of divided government.
Bipartisanship will be essential for passing these appropriations
bills; bipartisanship will be essential for keeping the government open
in less than a month; and bipartisanship will be essential for passing
the President's national security request.
I would say to my colleagues in the House, my Republican colleagues,
if you try to do things not in a bipartisan way, it is going to lead to
cul-de-sacs, gridlocks, and other things that hurt the American people.
Both parties recognize we must support our allies in Israel against
Hamas. Both parties recognize that we must support our friends in
Ukraine against Putin. Both parties know that we must fight the scourge
of fentanyl coming through the border, outcompete the Chinese
Government, and support Taiwan.
So to my Republican colleagues, House and Senate, let's work together
to ensure that passing the supplemental remains bipartisan because only
things that win support from both sides will make it to the President's
desk.
I thank my colleagues on both sides who have shown that
bipartisanship is still the key to getting things done here in the
Senate. And, now, because of that bipartisanship, the appropriations
process is finally--finally--moving forward.
Artificial Intelligence
Mr. President, on our AI Insight Forum, yesterday, the Senate held
our second bipartisan AI Insight Forum. This one was focused on our
North Star for AI, and that is innovation.
It was an amazing 3 hours. We learned so much about all the things we
need to do on AI as well as things we still don't know. The biggest
takeaway from our AI Insight Forums so far is that government has to be
involved on AI, and that was the consensus among everybody yesterday,
just as it was a few weeks ago. Democrats, Republicans, liberals,
conservatives, and everyone in between knew that government had to be
involved.
But after yesterday's conversation, I will add a few more things we
agreed to. First, as you know, at the last forum, everyone agreed that
the government had to be involved, but after today's forum, there was
universal agreement that Congress had to be prepared, not just to be
involved but to invest significant resources in AI innovation, both
inside the government and outside, helping companies and universities
and others because the government can do things in terms of dollar
investments that others simply can't. The awesome power of the Federal
Government and its ability to provide resources is way beyond the
capability of any one company, university, et cetera.
One number mentioned yesterday was about $32 billion in nondefense
Federal spending, which is what the bipartisan National Security
Commission on AI said we need in their 2021 report. It doesn't have to
happen all at once, but it is important we prioritize these investments
now and continue over time. Just about everybody in the room agreed
that $32 billion is really a floor not a ceiling, so we are going to
need--if we want to stay No. 1 in AI, if we want to get our arms around
it, if we want to make sure the good is maximized and the bad is
minimized, we are going to need significant Federal dollars.
AI is another reason that we must fully appropriate the funds
authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act, and that came up many times.
There are many things that we authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act
that haven't been appropriated. We have to do those things if we want
to stay in the lead economically and in AI.
The second point that was made was that Congress doesn't have a lot
of time to act because AI moved so fast and is growing in its
complexity. We need to be proactive, not reactive. That is one reason
we have made these AI Insight Forums a priority.
A third point that was made was our race against the Chinese
Government. China is not waiting to invest in AI, just as they didn't
wait on science and chips. With the CHIPS and Science bill, we met
them--maybe even exceeded them--by putting in some real investments. We
must do the same thing with AI or we will fall behind. And many of the
speakers noted that if China gains the lead in AI, they will become the
No. 1 economy in the world. They will set the values--authoritarian,
not democratic values--and Americans will suffer.
So this investment in AI must be done; otherwise, we will fall behind
China, something we don't want to do, and both parties agreed that is
the case.
And particularly a point made by some of my Republican colleagues, we
will fall behind on national security. If China gets ahead of us in AI
and applies that to national security and we don't do what we are
supposed to do, we will really have some problems. So that is point 3.
And point 4, just to reiterate, is that we need innovation. We need
the government to help create innovation, both on the transformational
side--creating new vistas, unlocking new cures, improving education,
strengthening national security, protecting global food supply--but
also, and this is harder, on sustainable innovation. That means to
minimize the harms that come from AI like job loss, racial and gender
bias, and economic displacement because if we don't have some
guardrails, the whole thing, the whole AI enterprise, could go off the
rails, and that would be of real detriment to this country and to our
world.
The private sector does a good job on positive transformational
innovation. They need some help. The government needs to be involved,
particularly in setting an ecosystem that works, in providing some of
the resources to smaller companies so they are not dwarfed by the
larger companies. But only the government can provide the guardrails
for sustainable innovation.
It is not reasonable to expect all companies to act on their own and
even less reasonable that they would act in concert, even if a few do.
The challenge will be a balance between placing guardrails and
preserving innovation.
It is a tough challenge, but, you know, as Theodore Roosevelt said,
we are in the arena. And if not us, who? No one will do it.
So, again, yesterday was an exciting, illuminating, eye-opening
conversation. Thank you to all the Senators who came yesterday from
both sides of the aisle. And let's note, we are still just at the
beginning. We will continue to hold bipartisan AI Insight Forums in the
weeks and months to come and encourage the relevant committees to begin
drawing up bipartisan legislation.
New York
Mr. President, on the Second Avenue subway, New York City is in the
midst of an infrastructure renaissance, from the Gateway Tunnel to East
Side Access to Penn Station Access. Today, I have even more great news
for New York. I am proud to announce that the Second Avenue subway will
receive $3.4 billion in Federal funding to advance to phase 2 of its
construction.
I have worked myself to the bone for years fighting for Federal
funding for the Second Avenue subway, and I want to thank my colleague
who has been along my side as we do this, and that is Congress Member
Adriano Espaillat, who represents the area in Congress, and he, too,
has been a champion for funding.
Thanks to the investments we made in our bipartisan infrastructure
law, Second Avenue subway has now received the largest capital
investment grant in the history of the program, the CIG Program. So
this is no longer abstract. Billions of dollars passed in Congress, but
now it is across the country like here in New York and in East Harlem,
in particular, it is becoming real--real in terms of jobs and real in
terms of better transportation.
The Federal funding will mean tens of thousands of good-paying jobs
in New York, and expanded services will benefit more than 300,000
riders on the Second Avenue subway every single day. That is more
people than most cities have so it is important to do.
Most importantly, the subway will now expand into East Harlem, which
has desperately needed better access to public transportation. When
work on the Second Avenue subway is complete, people in East Harlem
will have an easier time getting to work, going to the doctor's office,
getting to school, and so much more. And it is not just an easier time.
The studies show when there is transit, people get better and
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more high-paying jobs because they can find these jobs and then get to
them easily and don't say: Well, it is such a long commute, I can't go
work there.
So thanks to President Biden, thanks to our Democratic and Republican
bipartisanship action in the Senate, which I was so proud to help lead,
New York continues to reap the benefits of our agenda: stronger
infrastructure, more manufacturing jobs, lower prescription drug costs,
and more opportunity.
I thank the administration for awarding New York this game-changing
Federal grant, and we will keep going to improve life for New Yorkers
as we are doing for all Americans.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Recognition of the Minority Leader
The Republican leader is recognized.
Government Funding
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, government funding is set to run out in
23 days. We have a responsibility to keep the lights on and to avoid
the disastrous effects of a shutdown.
We also need to make serious headway toward the full-year funding
process the Nation actually deserves. This week, thanks to a lot of
hard work from Senator Collins, Senator Murray, and our colleagues on
the Appropriations Committee, the Senate will finally take an important
step in the right direction. As we continue to review the President's
request for urgent supplemental appropriations--and make necessary
changes--Senate Republicans stand ready to vote on a robust package of
amendments to this full-year appropriations measure and pass it quickly
out here on the floor.
Israel
Mr. President, now on another matter, it has been 18 days since the
brutal terrorist attacks of October 7, 18 days since savages confronted
the world with the depths of human depravity, since one of the oldest
forms of hatred in human history reared its ugly head, since radical
Islamic terrorists reminded us they pose a persistent threat to the
civilized world.
In our shock, the West vowed solidarity. We pledged not to look away
from the horrors Israel was grieving. We reaffirmed Israel's right to
defend itself, and we promised to stand with our ally as it fought back
against pure evil.
But in the last 18 days, silence, amnesia, cowardice, and outright
hate have begun to take their toll. All too quickly, the West's resolve
has shown signs of weakness.
First, we saw the most elite corners of higher education rush to
blame Israel for the deaths of its own children. We saw college
administrators tie themselves in grotesque moral knots to avoid
acknowledging reality, even in the face of alumni revolts.
Last night, for example, at George Washington University, here in the
Nation's Capital, student activists projected anti-Semitic messages on
the side of the campus building named for a pair of Jewish benefactors.
They issued a call to ``free Palestine from the river to the sea.''
For anyone unfamiliar with Israel's geography, that is a call for the
destruction of the Jewish State.
But, just a few blocks away, the Biden administration is in denial.
After protestors in Time Square displayed the Nazi swastika and an
Israeli student at Columbia University was beaten with a stick, the
White House Press Secretary replied to a question about rising concerns
of anti-Semitism that ``we have not seen any credible threats.'' That
is the White House Press Secretary. Even more absurd was how, in the
very next breath, without even uttering the word ``Jew,'' she pivoted
abruptly to condemning Islamophobia.
Seriously, after thousands of Jews have been tortured and murdered,
after hundreds have been taken hostage, after the sight of Jewish
bodies paraded through Gaza was met with rejoicing from Arab capitals
to London--after all of this--President Biden's Press Secretary
reverted to the disgraceful ``both sides'' talking points.
Of course, as I have discussed before, the media organizations who
engage with her deserve their own share of shame. Some in the press are
already indulging the same tired language designed to sap the free
world's sense of moral clarity. Headlines are already warning about the
indiscernible ``cycle of violence'' and amplifying morally bankrupt
calls for a cease-fire.
For anyone who needs a reminder, a cease-fire is what Israel thought
it had with Hamas and with Palestinian Islamic Jihad earlier this
summer. A cease-fire today is an amnesty for Hamas, a free path for
terrorists from the same savage tribe as ISIS and al-Qaida.
So less than 3 weeks after the deadliest slaughter of Jews since the
Holocaust, too many prominent corners of our society already need a
reminder--a reminder--of the terrorist horrors that actually started
the war.
Yesterday, I welcomed a group of important visitors to my office,
among them were family members of Israelis being held hostage by Hamas.
Two had survived the attacks and witnessed the terror firsthand. I
would like to share with our colleagues two of their stories.
First was Netta, a 20-year-old student who lived in a kibbutz in
southern Israel. Netta told me that he woke up on October 7 to the
sound of sirens. He talked about how he armed himself with a kitchen
knife, barricaded himself in an interior room, and leaned against the
door as terrorists ransacked his apartment. Netta told me about how he
realized hours later, when his mother stopped replying to his texts,
that his parents had been taken hostage by Hamas.
I also heard from a young woman named Maya who was at the music
festival that morning with her friends. Maya described to me yesterday
the sounds of rockets interrupting the party at sunrise. She described
how she cried the first time she saw a victim lying in the road as she
fled, not knowing if he was alive or dead. She recalled how she turned
left on a road in search of safe haven while many of her friends--two
of whom would be murdered--turned right. She told me how she called her
father to say, ``I love you, and I don't know if I will make it out,''
and how she waited hours in a kibbutz shelter, assuming that her ``time
was coming.''
She remembers how news spread in message groups about which of her
friends had made it out alive, and how friends witnessed bodies blown
apart by grenades. Maya told me she is haunted by the images her
friends shared of Hamas desecrating bodies and by how they seemed to
enjoy it. She said she feels guilty for encouraging her friends to join
her at the music festival that Saturday.
This is why Israel fights.
The attacks of October 7 confronted the world with the sort of
horrors Jewish communities have no choice but to remember for
generations. From European villages caught in pogroms to the horrors of
Nazi Germany, to Israeli kibbutzim burned and bloodied by Hamas
terrorists. For decades, the free world refrain has been: ``Never
forget. Never again.''
God help us if we do not mean what we say.
There is no room for false moral equivalency. Let me repeat that:
There is no room for false moral equivalency.
We must not forget who is responsible, and we must hold them
accountable. Terror and self-defense are not the same thing. One side
started the war, but the other side will finish it. And the United
States must give Israel the time, space, and support to bring innocent
people home and bring murderous terrorists to justice.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. COTTON. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum
call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
40th Anniversary of the Grenada Invasion
Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, today marks the 40th anniversary of the
U.S. invasion of Grenada. This short and
[[Page S5158]]
largely overlooked conflict is one of the most successful military
interventions in history. In just 4 days, President Ronald Reagan
toppled an anti-American regime, rolled back communism in the
hemisphere, and saved American lives. In the years that followed, we
built a strong, genuine, and enduring partnership with the people of
Grenada.
But this success was far from certain. It was only possible because
of President Reagan's decisive and overwhelming military response to a
crisis on the island. The seeds of this crisis were sown--like many
others--during Jimmy Carter's disastrous Presidency. Under President
Carter, communism began to metastasize in Latin America, and in the
especially pivotal year of 1979, both Nicaragua and Grenada fell to
communists.
As he returned from Managua, Fidel Castro boasted, ``Now there are
three of us.'' The Cuban dictator had big plans to add more captive
nations to his anti-American axis in the hemisphere.
Grenada is a small island located in the southeast Caribbean and
strategically vital to both Cuba and Soviet Russia during the Cold War.
Barely 150 miles off the coast of Venezuela, the island could serve as
an offshore arms depot for communist rebels in Latin America and other
Caribbean nations. Russia could also use Grenada as a base to launch
submarines into the Caribbean Basin.
Most concerning was Grenada's proximity to Africa, which made it the
potential final link in a chain of communist air bases from Southern
Russia to North Africa, to West Africa, to Grenada, and then finally to
Cuba. Soviet bombers and heavy-cargo planes could fly between these
lily pads of bases for refueling and largely beyond American detection.
This grave threat materialized when Grenada welcomed hundreds of
Cubans to construct a massive airport with a 9,000-foot runway. What
Ronald Reagan called a ``suspiciously huge'' runway was far larger than
anything Grenada's commercial aviation required. It was, curiously
enough, just big enough to support the largest Soviet bombers and cargo
aircraft.
This airbase posed a two-way threat. Russia could use Grenada as a
launching pad in the hemisphere to arm Cuba and other Latin American
communists. Going the other way, Castro could export revolutionaries to
the bloody war in Angola and elsewhere in Africa.
Tensions boiled over into crisis in October 1983 when an even more
radical, bloodthirsty gang of communists toppled the ruling communists
in Grenada. The new government killed the former Prime Minister and
instituted a 24-hour shoot-on-sight curfew that threatened hundreds of
American medical students on the island. The Reagan administration
feared a replay of the Iranian hostage crisis, and the Organisation of
Eastern Caribbean States pleaded with the administration to intervene
and prevent communism from spreading further in the region.
Within days, Reagan had concluded that we had ``no choice but to act
strongly and decisively,'' as he put it, and he authorized an invasion.
This wasn't an easy decision. We had only spotty intelligence on
Grenada's forces and capabilities and the presence of Cuban or other
communist forces, we had little time to execute the mission, and many
in Washington still hesitated to use military force due to Vietnam
syndrome. But Reagan was undaunted.
Then a disaster halfway around the world threatened to derail the
operation. Just after Reagan authorized the invasion planning, a
suicide bomber killed 241 marines in their Beirut barracks. Although
heartbroken and enraged by the attack, Reagan didn't let the crisis in
Lebanon crowd out the crisis in our backyard. He declared:
There are Americans there and they are in danger. We are
going.
This is an important point. Contrary to liberal smears, Reagan did
not authorize the Grenada invasion as cover for his withdrawal from
Lebanon or to flex his muscles after the Beirut bombing. He authorized
the invasion planning before the bombing happened in Beirut. The
historical record on this is absolutely clear. Unlike Democratic
Presidents, Reagan didn't act tough to conceal his true weakness;
Reagan was tough on America's enemies and tough in defense of America's
interests.
On October 25, barely a week after the coup, around 8,000 American
troops embarked on Operation Urgent Fury. They had a clearly defined
mission: save the endangered Americans, depose the communist regime,
and reestablish order on the island. Our troops had some setbacks, but
they adapted, overcame, and prevailed.
The incomplete intelligence and short timeframe for preparation
hampered the operation yet vindicated Reagan's judgment. Military
leaders anticipated only 200 Cuban construction workers on the island.
In reality, 700 well-armed Cuban soldiers awaited American forces. Our
troops also discovered huge weapons caches at the airbase, enough to
arm the Cuban forces and thousands more communist rebels. Reagan had
acted just in time.
The war ended after 4 lopsided days. Our troops took fewer than 150
casualties, while the communists suffered nearly 500 casualties, and
more than 600 Cubans surrendered. Our citizens on the island were safe.
Reagan hit hard, he hit fast, and America won.
Fidel Castro's dreams of hemispheric revolution soon turned to ash.
Reagan destroyed communism in Grenada and besieged the communist regime
in Nicaragua. A year after Reagan left office, Nicaragua ousted Daniel
Ortega in a democratic election, made possible by American pressure.
The Grenada operation was the first successful military rollback of
communism during the Cold War. We had eliminated a deadly threat on our
doorstep, and we had liberated a grateful people, who enjoy freedom and
democracy to this day.
Reagan worked to stabilize the island and later traveled there in
1986. Tens of thousands of Grenadians lined the streets and welcomed
Reagan as a liberator. Grenada's Prime Minister described Reagan as
``our own national hero'' and ``our rescuer after God.'' Reagan passed
banner after banner that read ``God Bless America'' and later wrote
that ``I probably never felt better during my presidency than I did
that day.''
What Reagan felt that day was the joy of American success, made
possible by American strength and confidence. This success stands in
stark contrast to other interventions, like the one we saw in Somalia
10 years later under Bill Clinton.
I spoke here 3 weeks ago to mark the 30th anniversary of the Battle
of Mogadishu. While Reagan delivered a crushing and decisive blow
against a regime that threatened American interests, Bill Clinton used
insufficient forces for an ill-defined, expansive mission in a nation
where our interests weren't at stake. He then cut and ran after the
first sign of resistance, emboldening our enemies, including Osama bin
Laden.
No two interventions were more different in rationale, execution, or
result, and they offer important lessons for today.
The most profound is that weak interventions with vague and self-
righteous missions usually fail. Strong military action with well-
defined missions focused on America's interests usually succeed.
We must never confuse the U.S. Army for the Salvation Army. Our
military is not a charitable organization, and it is not a tool of
mankind. It is the most fundamental instrument of our national power
and ours alone, and it should be used to pursue American interests and
American interests alone. It is not the military's responsibility to
right every wrong in the world or to be an avenging angel of liberal
democracy.
One of America's great statesmen, John Quincy Adams, once wrote that
America is ``the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.
She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.'' Indeed, he
famously observed that America ``goes not abroad, in search of monsters
to destroy.''
I have to observe, though, that Adams wrote that we do not ``search''
for monsters to destroy, but the architect of the Monroe Doctrine and
chief defender of Andrew Jackson's conquest of Spanish Florida was no
pacifist. When monsters rear their heads and challenge America,
especially in her own hemisphere, America must indeed not hesitate to
destroy those monsters. From Tripoli to Berlin, to Tokyo, to St.
George's, we have done it before, and we must be prepared to do it
again.
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When we must go abroad to destroy monsters, we must use overwhelming
force. If Washington is unwilling to use the force necessary to win, we
ought not use force at all. It is unfair and cruel to both American
troops pursuing the mission and to our friends in the nation where the
mission is being conducted.
As we look for examples to follow in this new moment of international
crisis and chaos, we should look to Reagan, not to Clinton. We need
more Grenadas and no more Somalias.
On this 40th anniversary of the invasion of Grenada, I would also
like to recognize and thank the veterans of that conflict, along with
their families, for their invaluable service. They made our country
proud and helped bring communism to its knees in this hemisphere. God
bless them all, and God bless the United States of America.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Israel
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, early yesterday morning, I returned from a
whirlwind trip to the Middle East as part of a bipartisan codel, or a
congressional delegation, to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The trip
was a direct response to Hamas's savage attack on Israel. The codel,
led by my friend Senator Lindsey Graham, brought together 10 Senators
from both parties to show the United States' support for Israel and to
demonstrate U.S. commitment to protecting our now-threatened national
interests in the region.
Our message was united: The United States stands with Israel. Iran is
on notice, and it must stand down; and we need to get hostages freed
and Americans out of harm's way.
We are committed to seeing Hamas defeated so that a new chapter of
prosperity for Israel and its Arab neighbors can begin, of which
normalized relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be a
keystone.
Our engagements on the ground included frank and candid discussions
with heads of state, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and our U.S. Embassy
teams on the ground. Our day in Tel Aviv began with meeting the
families of hostages being held in Gaza, including Americans who shared
their painful stories. As a parent and grandparent, it is heartbreaking
to see and hear the grief of these family members.
Later that day, we met with Israeli defense officials for an update
on the war. We were shown video evidence of the unnerving atrocities
committed by Hamas terrorists--horrific images that I will not soon
forget. Our meetings made clear the absolute imperative to see Hamas
defeated.
Hamas's attacks have been likened to Israel's own September 11; but
Prime Minister Netanyahu made a point that is especially chilling for
Americans but that every critic of Israel must hear. He pointed out
that, on 9/11, our enemy was thousands of miles away. In Israel, their
enemy is only a kilometer away.
For more than 15 years, Israel has had to live every day with a
terrorist organization on its border whose sole mission in life is to
kill Jews and to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth; and during that
time, Hamas has loomed as a persistent threat to Israel, attacking,
kidnapping, and killing Israelis. But the barbarism and brutality that
Hamas displayed in its October 7 attacks took its evil to new heights,
and now Israel knows what it has to do: It has to wipe Hamas off the
face of the Earth.
For the Israelis, this is existential. Israel's cause is just, and
its resolve is firm, and it should have every peace-loving nation in
the world on its side. Now, how Israel goes about that mission matters,
and it needs to be done in a way that minimizes civilian casualties.
The Palestinians living in Gaza are also victims of Hamas's reign of
terror. Hamas has made it clear that the only value it places on the
lives of Palestinians is to use them as fodder to direct attention away
from its atrocities and to try and turn public sentiment, especially in
Western media and the Arab street, against Israel. Case in point:
Hamas's disproven claim that Israel struck a hospital, which sparked
protests and riots in a number of countries.
Israelis know that there are innocent Palestinians trapped in this
fight and that civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis could
drive more Palestinians toward extremism. That is why Israel is taking
measures to protect innocents in Gaza, although its efforts are being
undermined by Hamas, which has discouraged Palestinians from complying
with Israel's evacuation order.
The United States and other peace-loving nations in the region and
beyond need to give Israel space to take the fight to and eradicate
Hamas, because if Hamas and its reign of terror are allowed to
continue, no nation in the region or beyond will be able to live in
peace and security. It really is that simple.
And one final but important point: Hamas might claim to represent
Palestinians, but its violent actions do nothing--nothing--to benefit
the Palestinian people. The only people who benefit from this brutal
bloodshed are the ayatollahs in Iran, whose goal is to bring chaos,
violence, and death to all who don't share their extreme and militant
religious ideology, which, I might add, includes wiping Israel off the
face of the Earth.
Look no further than Hamas if you want to see Iran's influence, as 90
percent of their military budget comes from Iran, or Hezbollah, the
terrorist organization on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, which
is also armed and financed by Iran. Then there are the Houthis in Yemen
who, in the aftermath of October 7, fired missiles and drones headed
for Israel--again, likely at the direction of Iran; the Shia militias,
who are attacking American soldiers in Iraq and Syria; the killing by
Russians of innocent civilians in Ukraine with drones supplied by Iran.
Through its proxies, Iran is literally getting away with murder.
To the Iranian regime, we say: We are on to you.
In addition to working with regional partners to get American
hostages and citizens out of Gaza, the Biden administration must
clearly articulate to the Iranians that, if they do not stand down or
if they green-light the escalation of this war, the United States and
our allies will be forced to respond forcefully. The movement of U.S.
firepower to the region should make that point very clear to Tehran.
The attacks on October 7 represent a kind of evil that the world
hasn't seen in generations, and it must be confronted and contained. If
it is not, we could see death and destruction on a scale akin to the
horrors of the last century. History is watching.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hickenlooper). The clerk will call the
roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
H.R. 4366
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I have been working incredibly hard
alongside my colleagues to make sure we have an open, bipartisan
appropriations process and to keep this process moving, which is why I
am glad to say that in a moment, I will call up and ask for unanimous
consent to adopt by voice vote the first series of amendments to the
appropriations minibus.
These are amendments that will further strengthen a package of
bipartisan appropriations bills--bills, I should mention, that passed
our committee unanimously. We worked hard in committee to ensure this
package reflects input from Members across the aisle and across the
country.
While we may not agree on everything, the votes we are taking now are
an opportunity for Members on both sides to provide additional input on
this bipartisan package, debate those ideas, and put them up for a
vote. This is an important step forward as we work to pass this package
in the Senate, keep the appropriations process moving, and in the
coming weeks, deliver absolutely essential supplemental funding as
well. I am delighted that we are going.
[[Page S5160]]
I will turn it over to my vice chair who has been working alongside
of me to get this moving.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, let me start by saying that I am so
pleased that we are finally--finally--voting on amendments to the
three-bill package that Senator Murray and I, as well as the terrific
members of our Appropriations Committee, have worked very hard to bring
before the Senate.
This has been the result of many weeks--far too many weeks--of
negotiations and would not have happened without the leadership of
Chair Murray.
I also want to thank Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, our Republican
whip, John Thune, and the chairs and ranking members of the three
subcommittees--Senators Heinrich and Hoeven, Senators Murray and
Boozman, Senators Schatz and Senator Hyde-Smith--for their hard work.
These are bills that really make a difference to the American people.
As our colleagues know, we are considering the Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill;
the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill; and also the
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
bill.
So we finally are making progress, and I look forward to the robust--
no one could say that this is not a robust amendment process.
Again, my thanks to Chair Murray. It has been a great pleasure to
work with her.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
Motion to Commit and Amendment No. 1205 Withdrawn
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion
to commit H.R. 4366 and amendment No. 1205 be withdrawn.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendment Nos. 1250, 1185, 1216, 1221, 1283, 1117, 1120, 1175, 1264,
1202, 1270, 1116, 1113, 1351, 1134, 1220, 1277, 1140, 1131, 1203, 1133,
1139, 1255, 1352, and 1115
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, as provided under the order of October
24, I call up the following amendments to Murray-Collins substitute
amendment No. 1092 en bloc: Moran No. 1250, Daines No. 1185, Sullivan
No. 1216, Sullivan No. 1221, Peters-Cornyn No. 1283, Rosen No. 1117,
Schatz No. 1120, Booker-Tuberville No. 1175, Tillis-Welch No. 1264,
Reed No. 1202, Britt No. 1270, Kelly-Tillis No. 1116, Hirono-Moran No.
1113, Warnock-Cornyn No. 1351, Smith-Rickets No. 1134, Rosen-Crapo No.
1220, Cardin No. 1277, Padilla No. 1140, Shaheen No. 1131, Klobuchar-
Moran No. 1203, Kelly No. 1133, Padilla No. 1139, Ossoff-Braun No.
1255, Merkley-Crapo No. 1352, and Stabenow No. 1115.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendments are as follows:
AMENDMENT NO. 1250
(Purpose: To prohibit the use of funds appropriated by division A to
change rates for reimbursement for transportation via a special mode of
transportation under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and to reduce certain amounts available to the Department of
Veterans Affairs)
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.
AMENDMENT NO. 1185
(Purpose: To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to
Congress an earned value analysis of the Veterans Electronic Health
Record system of the Department of Veterans Affairs)
On page 41, line 6, insert after the colon the following:
``Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to Congress a report containing an earned value
analysis of the Veterans Electronic Health Record system,
which shall include a graphic performance report, a schedule
and cost performance indexes, an estimate at completion and
budget at completion, and a variance analysis for cost and
schedule.''.
AMENDMENT NO. 1216
(Purpose: To prioritize the use of funds for certain telehealth
services and mental health programs for veterans)
At the appropriate place in division A, insert the
following:
SEC. ___. PRIORITIZATION OF USE OF FUNDS FOR CERTAIN
TELEHEALTH SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
FOR VETERANS.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prioritize the use
of any amounts provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs
under this division for telehealth services or mental health
programs, including for suicide prevention outreach and
treatment programs or the Veterans Crisis Line established
under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code, in
States with the highest rate of suicide among members of the
Armed Forces and veterans.
AMENDMENT NO. 1221
(Purpose: To prohibit the use of funds to procure seafood from China
for use in school meals)
In section 747 of division B, insert ``or seafood'' after
``poultry products''.
AMENDMENT NO. 1283
(Purpose: To provide funding for the emergency and transitional pet
shelter and housing assistance grant program)
At the appropriate place in title VII of division B,
insert the following:
Sec. ___. (a) There is appropriated $3,000,000 for the
emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing assistance
grant program established under section 12502(b) of the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (34 U.S.C. 20127).
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
total amount rescinded in section 745 is increased by
$3,000,000.
amendment no. 1117
(Purpose: To make amounts available to the Veterans Health
Administration to sustain and increase telehealth capacity and
associated programmatic efforts)
At the appropriate place in division A, insert the
following:
SEC. __. TELEHEALTH CAPACITY OF VETERANS HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION.
Of the amounts made available to the Department of Veterans
Affairs for fiscal year 2024 by this Act or any other Act
under the ``Veterans Health Administration - Medical
Services'', ``Veterans Health Administration - Medical
Community Care'', and ``Veterans Health Administration -
Medical Support and Compliance'' accounts, $5,180,336,000
shall be made available to sustain and increase telehealth
capacity, including in rural and highly rural areas, and
associated programmatic efforts.
amendment no. 1120
(Purpose: To extend the period of availability for fiscal year 2021
national infrastructure investments)
At the appropriate place in title I of division C, insert
the following:
Sec. 110. The remaining unobligated balances, as of
September 30, 2024, from amounts made available for the
``Department of Transportation--Office of the Secretary--
National Infrastructure Investments'' in division L of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260)
are hereby permanently rescinded, and an amount of additional
new budget authority equivalent to the amount rescinded is
hereby appropriated on September 30, 2024, to remain
available until September 30, 2027, and shall be available,
without additional competition, for completing the funding of
awards made pursuant to the fiscal year 2021 national
infrastructure investments program, in addition to other
funds as may be available for such purposes: Provided, That
no amounts may be rescinded from amounts that were designated
by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to a
concurrent resolution on the budget or the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
AMENDMENT NO. 1175
(Purpose: To increase funding for rural decentralized water systems)
In the matter under the heading ``rural water and waste
disposal program account'' under the heading ``Rural
Utilities Service'' in title III, in the second undesignated
paragraph, strike ``, and of which not to exceed $5,000,000
shall be available for the rural utilities program described
in section 306E of such Act: Provided,'' and insert ``:
Provided, That not to exceed $20,000,000 of the amount
appropriated under this heading shall be available for the
rural utilities program described in section 306E of such
Act, of which not less than $10,000,000 shall be used to
provide subgrants to eligible individuals for the
construction, refurbishing, and servicing of individually
owned household decentralized wastewater systems: Provided
further,''.
AMENDMENT NO. 1264
(Purpose: To require a review regarding veterans who engaged in toxic
exposure risk activities while serving in Kosovo)
At the appropriate place in division A, insert the
following:
[[Page S5161]]
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.
amendment no. 1202
(Purpose: To appropriate amounts for shellfish research, with an
offset)
At the appropriate place in division B, insert the
following:
Sec. ___. (a) For an additional amount for ``Agricultural
Programs--Agricultural Research Service--Salaries and
Expenses'', there is appropriated, out of amounts in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,000,000, to remain
available until expended, for research on East Coast
shellfish.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
amount made available by this Act under the heading ``Farm
Production and Conservation Programs--Farm Service Agency--
State Mediation Grants'' in title II shall be $6,000,000.
amendment no. 1270
(Purpose: To provide appropriations for certain research using plant
genomies, with an offset)
At the appropriate place in division B, insert the
following:
Sec. ____. (a) For an additional amount for ``Agricultural
Programs--Agricultural Research Service--Salaries and
Expenses'', there is appropriated $1,000,000, to remain
available until expended, for cooperative agreements with
qualified nonprofit organizations to expedite research using
plant genomics to develop drought- and disease-resistant
peanut varieties and other crops.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
amount appropriated by this Act under the heading
``Agricultural Programs--Processing, Research, and
Marketing--Office of the Secretary'' in title I for the
Office of Communications shall be reduced by $1,000,000.
amendment no. 1116
(Purpose: To require medical facilities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to share certain data with State cancer registeries)
At the end of division A, add the following:
TITLE V--COUNTING VETERANS' CANCER ACT OF 2023
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Counting Veterans' Cancer
Act of 2023''.
SEC. 502. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) According to 2017 data from National Program of Cancer
Registries of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
approximately 26,500 cancer cases among veterans were not
reported to State cancer registries funded through such
Program.
(2) Established by Congress in 1992 through the Cancer
Registries Amendment Act (Public Law 102-515), the National
Program of Cancer Registries under section 399B of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280e) collects data on cancer
occurrence (including the type, extent, and location of the
cancer), the type of initial treatment, and outcomes.
(3) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support
central cancer registries in 46 States, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, certain territories of the United
States in the Pacific Islands, and the United States Virgin
Islands.
(4) The data obtained by registries described in paragraph
(3) combined with data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology,
and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute and
mortality data from National Center for Health Statistics of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comprise the
official United States Cancer Statistics.
(5) The United States Cancer Statistics reflect all newly
diagnosed cancer cases and cancer deaths for the entire
population of the United States, except for unreported
veterans.
(6) Federal law requires the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute to collect
cancer data for all newly diagnosed cancer cases, but that
currently cannot be achieved due to frequent lack of
reporting by medical facilities of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
(7) Releasing all data from medical facilities of the
Department to State cancer registries will provide more
complete data for health care providers, public health
officials, and researchers to--
(A) measure cancer occurrence and trends at the local and
national level;
(B) inform and prioritize cancer educational and screening
programs;
(C) evaluate efficacy of prevention efforts and treatment;
(D) determine survival rates;
(E) conduct research on the etiology, diagnosis, and
treatment of cancer;
(F) ensure quality and equity in cancer care; and
(G) plan for health services.
(8) Capturing cancer data from medical facilities of the
Department in State cancer registries and the United States
Cancer Statistics can benefit veterans by--
(A) improving the ability to identify cancer-related
disparities in the veteran community;
(B) improving understanding of the cancer-related needs of
veterans, which can be incorporated into State Comprehensive
Cancer Control planning for screening and treatment programs
funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
(C) increasing opportunities for veterans with cancer to be
included in more clinical trials and cancer-related research
and analysis being done outside of the health care system of
the Department.
(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to improve care
for veterans by ensuring all data on veterans diagnosed with
cancer are captured by the national cancer registry programs
supported by the National Program of Cancer Registries of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the
National Cancer Institute.
SEC. 503. REQUIREMENT THAT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
SHARE DATA WITH STATE CANCER REGISTRIES.
(a) Sharing of Data With State Cancer Registries.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 7330E. Sharing of data with State cancer registries
``(a) Sharing by the Department.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall share with the State
cancer registry of each State, if such a registry exists,
qualifying data for all individuals who are residents of the
State and have received health care under the laws
administered by the Secretary.
``(2) Requirements relating to data shared.--In sharing
data under paragraph (1) with a State cancer registry, the
Secretary shall comply with the requirements for non-
Department facilities to report data, in a manner that is as
complete and timely as possible, without requiring a data use
agreement in place between the Department and each State
cancer registry--
``(A) to State cancer registries that are supported by the
National Program of Cancer Registries of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention under section 399B of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280e);
``(B) to State cancer registries that are supported by the
Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program of the
National Cancer Institute authorized under the National
Cancer Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-218); and
``(C) to State cancer registries as set forth in relevant
State laws and regulations that authorize a cancer registry.
``(b) Qualifying Data Defined.--In this section, the term
`qualifying data', with respect to a State cancer registry,
means all data required to be provided to the registry
pursuant to the authorities specified in subparagraphs (A)
through (C) of subsection (a)(2).''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of subchapter II of such chapter is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 7330D the
following new item:
``7330E. Sharing of data with State cancer registries.''.
(b) Sharing by State Cancer Registries.--The Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall assist
State cancer registries described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B) of section 7330E(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a)(1), in facilitating, to the extent
allowed under State laws regulating the cancer registry
program, the sharing with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
of data in the possession of each such registry regarding
diagnosis of cancer for each veteran--
(1) enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment
established and operated under section 1705(a) of such title;
or
(2) registered to receive care from the Department of
Veterans Affairs under section 17.37 of title 38, Code of
Federal Regulations, or successor regulations.
[[Page S5162]]
amendment no. 1113
(Purpose: To provide funding for competitive grants for construction of
agricultural research facilities and related activities, with an
offset)
At the appropriate place in division B, insert the
following:
Sec. __. For an additional amount for ``Agricultural
Programs--National Institute of Food and Agriculture--
Research and Education Activities'', for competitive grants
to assist in the facility construction, alteration,
acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of
agricultural research facilities, as authorized by the
Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390 et seq.), there is
hereby appropriated, and the amount otherwise provided by
this Act for ``Agricultural Programs--Processing, Research,
and Marketing--Office of the Secretary'' is hereby reduced
by, $2,000,000.
AMENDMENT NO. 1351
(Purpose: To require the Secretary of Transportation to report on the
Federal Aviation Administration's workforce development programs)
At the appropriate place in division C, insert the
following:
Sec. ___. Using amounts made available for the Federal
Aviation Administration under this Act that are not otherwise
obligated, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a
report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
on whether, and the degree to which, the Federal Aviation
Administration's workforce development programs authorized in
section 625 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-254) have: (1) helped to expand the pool of
prospective applicants to the industry; (2) strengthened
aviation programs at minority-serving institutions, public
institutions of higher education, women-focused institutions,
and public postsecondary vocational institutions; and (3)
encouraged the participation of populations that are
underrepresented in the aviation workforce, including women,
minorities, and individuals in economically disadvantaged
geographic areas and rural communities. In submitting this
report, the Federal Aviation Administration shall also
provide recommendations on how it can better use its
workforce development grant programs to: (1) expand the pool
of prospective applicants to the industry; (2) strengthen
aviation programs at minority-serving institutions, public
institutions of higher education, women-focused institutions,
and public postsecondary vocational institutions; and (3)
encourage the participation of populations that are
underrepresented in the aviation workforce, including women,
minorities, and individuals in economically disadvantaged
geographic areas and rural communities.
AMENDMENT NO. 1134
(Purpose: To require the submission of a report on improving staffing
at the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service at the county level)
At the appropriate place in division B, insert the
following:
Sec. ___. Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
submit to Congress a report describing a plan for improving
staffing at the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service at the county level, including
recommendations for actions that Congress may take.
AMENDMENT NO. 1220
(Purpose: To provide funding for the suppression and control
of Mormon crickets in western States)
On page 104 of the amendment, line 11, insert ``, and of
which $6,000,000 shall be for the suppression and control of
Mormon crickets in western States'' before the semicolon.
AMENDMENT NO. 1277
(Purpose: To provide funding for invasive catfish control)
On page 104 of the amendment, line 11, insert ``, and of
which $750,000, to remain available until expended, shall be
for invasive catfish control'' before the semicolon.
AMENDMENT NO. 1140
(Purpose: To improve housing assistance for veterans experiencing
homelessness)
At the appropriate place in division A, insert the
following:
SEC. __. IMPROVING HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
In carrying out the program under section 8(o)(19) of the
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19))
(commonly referred to as ``HUD-VASH''), the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall--
(1) coordinate with the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development to establish pathways that would allow for
temporary, transitional case management in areas in which
public housing authorities have vouchers under the program
that are available, allocated, and accompanied with case
management resources provided by the Department of Veterans
Affairs, but underutilized due to a lack of referrals from
the Department; and
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, finalize guidance regarding approval of a public
housing authority to be a designated service provider.
AMENDMENT NO. 1131
(Purpose: To require a report on the use of third-party contractors to
conduct medical disability examinations of veterans)
At the appropriate place in division A, insert the
following:
SEC. ___. REPORT ON USE OF THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTORS TO CONDUCT
MEDICAL DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on the use of third-party contractors to conduct
medical disability examinations of veterans for purposes of
obtaining compensation under laws administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(b) Contents.--The report submitted pursuant to subsection
(a) shall include the following:
(1) The number of contractors described in subsection (a)
in each State who are used as described in such subsection.
(2) The requirements for performance and quality in the
contracts governing the use described in subsection (a),
including qualifications contractors described in such
subsection are required meet for such uses.
(3) The average milage veterans described in subsection (a)
are required to travel to attend a contract medical
disability examination described in such subsection,
disaggregated by state;
(4) The number of veterans described in paragraph (3) who
are required to travel beyond the mileage requirement in a
contract described in paragraph (2).
(5) A description of the process at the Department for
handling complaints of veterans about the use of contractors
as described in subsection (a).
(c) Definition of Appropriate Committees of Congress.--In
this section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
AMENDMENT NO. 1203
(Purpose: To make funds available for the aeronautical information
management program)
At the appropriate place in title I, insert the following:
Sec. ___. Of the funds made available in this Act under
the heading ``Department of Transportation--Federal Aviation
Administration--Facilities and Equipment'', $29,350,000 shall
be for the aeronautical information management program, which
includes Federal notices to air missions (``NOTAM'')
sustainment, enhancements, and modernization in support of
the NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).
AMENDMENT NO. 1133
(Purpose: To require a report relating to rural community facilities
direct loan applicants)
In the matter under the heading ``Rural Development
Programs--Rural Housing Service--Rural Community Facilities
Program Account'' in title III of division B, strike the
period at the end and insert ``: Provided further, That not
later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on
community facilities direct loan applicants for which there
was a completed favorable analysis for eligibility but that
were subsequently determined to be ineligible due to
population calculation changes or other modeling errors,
including a description of actions taken by the Department of
Agriculture to minimize disruption to community planning
initiatives and prevent future inaccurate determinations.''.
AMENDMENT NO. 1139
(Purpose: To provide for the development of emergency evacuation route
planning guidelines and best practices)
At the appropriate place in title I of division C, insert
the following:
SEC. ___. EVACUATION ROUTE PLANNING.
Using amounts made available for the Federal Highway
Administration under this Act that are not otherwise
obligated, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation
with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, shall develop and publish guidelines and best
practices for States, Indian Tribes, and units of local
government to use when conducting local emergency evacuation
route planning, including routing of emergency response
supplies, equipment, and workers, as part of natural disaster
preparedness efforts.
AMENDMENT NO. 1255
(Purpose: To provide funds for the Office of Women's Health of the
Department of Veterans Affairs to expand access of women veterans to
mammography initiatives and equipment)
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.
[[Page S5163]]
AMENDMENT NO. 1352
(Purpose: To increase the set-aside for multi-benefit projects under
the watershed and flood prevention operations program)
On page 121, lines 23 and 24, strike ``$10,000,000 shall be
allocated to irrigation modernization projects and activities
located in Western states'' and insert ``$20,000,000 shall be
allocated to multi-benefit irrigation modernization projects
and activities''.
AMENDMENT NO. 1115
(Purpose: To provide funding for the Urban Agriculture and Innovative
Production Program)
On page 120, line 15, strike ``2250a.'' and insert
``2250a: Provided further, That of the total amount available
under this heading, $8,500,000 shall be for necessary
expenses to carry out the Urban Agriculture and Innovative
Production Program under section 222 of subtitle A of title
II of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923), as amended by section 12302 of Public
Law 115-334.''.
Mrs. MURRAY. I know of no further debate on those amendments.
Vote on Amendment Nos. 1250, 1185, 1216, 1221, 1283, 1117, 1120, 1175,
1264, 1202, 1270, 1116, 1113, 1351, 1134, 1220, 1277, 1140, 1131, 1203,
1133, 1139, 1255, 1352, and 1115
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is
on agreeing to the amendments en bloc.
The amendments (Nos. 1250, 1185, 1216, 1221, 1283, 1117, 1120, 1175,
1264, 1202, 1270, 1116, 1113, 1351, 1134, 1220, 1277, 1140, 1131, 1203,
1133, 1139, 1255, 1352, and 1115) are agreed to en bloc.
Mrs. MURRAY. With that, I ask that the motion to reconsider be
considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Order of Business
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I now ask that following disposition of
the Looman nomination, the Senate vote on Vance No. 1210 and, finally,
that there be 2 minutes for debate, equally divided, prior to each
amendment vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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