[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

[[Page S5156]]

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

[[Page S5157]]

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.

[[Page S5159]]

  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.

                          ____________________