[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2471-S2472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wyden, Ms. 
        Butler, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. King, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Smith, 
        Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Warren, Mr. Fetterman, and Mr. Welch):
  S. 3982. A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to 
establish the Expanding Access to Local Foods Program, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. REED. Madam President, today I am introducing the Expanding 
Access to EAT Local Foods Act with Senators Brown, Booker, Wyden, 
Butler, Whitehouse, King, Blumenthal, Smith, Shaheen, Warren, 
Fetterman, and Welch. This bill would create a permanent grant program 
for State and Tribal governments to procure local foods for 
distribution to nearby hunger relief programs.
  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted national supply chains and 
highlighted the importance of resilient, local food systems. In 
response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture created the Local Food 
Purchase Cooperative Agreement, LFPA, Program, using nearly $900 
million in one-time funds. Through LFPA, USDA has awarded grants to 
State and Tribal governments to buy local foods for distribution to 
nearby feeding programs. LFPA provides as access to food for those in 
need, creates economic opportunity for local and underserved producers, 
farmers, and fishermen, and strengthens our food supply chains.
  This program is making a positive impact in communities across the 
country. In my home State of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department 
of Environmental Management has worked with the nonprofit Farm Fresh 
Rhode Island to purchase food from 95 local producers, distributing 
that nutritious, local food to over 65,000 Rhode Islanders.
  However, unless codified in law, this program will end when the one-
time LFPA dollars are fully expended. And without sustained investment, 
we will lose the resilient local food systems that the LFPA program has 
been able to create.
  The EAT Local Foods Act prevents us from losing ground by creating a 
permanent program for States and Tribes to purchase food from producers 
within their State's geographic bounds or within 400 miles of the final 
delivery destination for distribution through the hunger relief system.
  This is a win-win-win. First, the bill supports local economic 
development by providing local producers with access to the hunger 
relief market. By establishing a new, reliable stream of orders for 
small, beginning, and underserved farmers, ranchers, and fishers, the 
bill will give these businesses the financial security to invest and 
further expand. Second, the bill would strengthen our domestic 
agriculture supply chain. By investing in local food distribution, the 
bill would help build local businesses that support durable and 
resilient local food systems. Third, the EAT Local Foods Act would help 
combat food insecurity by providing fresh, nutritious, local food to 
underserved communities, feeding more families and helping ease the 
strain on the hunger relief system.
  I am pleased that the bill is supported by farmers, food hubs, 
coalitions, and business networks from across the country, including 
the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, the National Center for 
Frontier Communities, and the Wallace Center at Winrock International. 
In Rhode Island, the bill is supported by the Rhode Island Community 
Food Bank, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, the Commercial Fisheries Center of 
Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Food Policy Council, and Southside 
Community Land Trust. I hope that my colleagues will join me in 
supporting this legislation and in working to include it in the farm 
bill.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. King, Ms. Smith, Mr. 
        Welch, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Hirono, and Ms. Duckworth):
  S. 3991. A bill to expand the scope of the Do Not Call rules under 
the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to include all telephone 
subscribers, and to expand the private right of action for calls in 
violation of those rules; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3991

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting American 
     Consumers from Robocalls Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXPANDING SCOPE OF DO NOT CALL RULES AND PRIVATE 
                   RIGHT OF ACTION.

       (a) In General.--Section 227(c) of the Communications Act 
     of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A), by striking ``residential'';
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``residential''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``residential''; and
       (3) in paragraph (5)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``more than one telephone call within any 12-month period by 
     or on behalf of the same entity'' and inserting ``a telephone 
     call by or on behalf of an entity''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``up to''.
       (b) Revised Regulations.--Not later than 270 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications 
     Commission shall revise the regulations prescribed under 
     section 227(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
     227(c)) as necessary to implement the amendments made by 
     subsection (a) of this section.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Brown, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. 
        Padilla, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Welch):
  S. 3997. A bill to prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained 
national investment in basic science research; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3997

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``American Innovation Act''.

     SEC. 2. APPROPRIATIONS FOR INNOVATION.

       (a) In General.--There are hereby authorized to be 
     appropriated, and appropriated, out of any monies in the 
     Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the following:
       (1) National science foundation.--For the National Science 
     Foundation--
       (A) for fiscal year 2025, $9,741,000,000;
       (B) for fiscal year 2026, $10,460,00,000;
       (C) for fiscal year 2027, $11,213,000,000;
       (D) for fiscal year 2028, $12,019,000,000;
       (E) for fiscal year 2029, $12,886,000,000;
       (F) for fiscal year 2030, $13,817,000,000;
       (G) for fiscal year 2031, $14,817,000,000;
       (H) for fiscal year 2032, $15,891,000,000;
       (I) for fiscal year 2033, $17,043,000,000;
       (J) for fiscal year 2034, $18,280,000,000; and
       (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
     the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous 
     fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), 
     during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index 
     for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor 
     Statistics.
       (2) Department of energy, office of science.--For the 
     Office of Science at the Department of Energy--
       (A) for fiscal year 2025, $8,859,000,000;
       (B) for fiscal year 2026, $9,513,000,000;
       (C) for fiscal year 2027, $10,199,000,000;
       (D) for fiscal year 2028, $10,931,000,000;
       (E) for fiscal year 2029, $11,720,000,000;
       (F) for fiscal year 2030, $12,566,000,000;
       (G) for fiscal year 2031, $13,476,000,000;
       (H) for fiscal year 2032, $14,452,000,000;
       (I) for fiscal year 2033, $15,501,000,000;
       (J) for fiscal year 2034, $16,625,000,000; and
       (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
     the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous 
     fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), 
     during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index 
     for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor 
     Statistics.
       (3) Department of defense science and technology 
     programs.--For the Department of Defense science and 
     technology programs--
       (A) for fiscal year 2025, $21,897,000,000;
       (B) for fiscal year 2026, $23,512,000,000;
       (C) for fiscal year 2027, $25,207,000,000;
       (D) for fiscal year 2028, $27,018,000,000;
       (E) for fiscal year 2029, $28,966,000,000;
       (F) for fiscal year 2030, $31,059,000,000;
       (G) for fiscal year 2031, $33,307,000,000;
       (H) for fiscal year 2032, $35,721,000,000;
       (I) for fiscal year 2033, $38,312,000,000;
       (J) for fiscal year 2034, $41,091,000,000; and
       (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
     the amount appropriated under

[[Page S2472]]

     this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the 
     percentage increase (if any), during the previous fiscal 
     year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers 
     published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
       (4) National institute of standards and technology 
     scientific and technical research and services.--For the 
     scientific and technical research and services of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology at the 
     Department of Commerce--
       (A) for fiscal year 2025, $1,161,000,000;
       (B) for fiscal year 2026, $1,247,000,000;
       (C) for fiscal year 2027, $1,337,000,000;
       (D) for fiscal year 2028, $1,433,000,000;
       (E) for fiscal year 2029, $1,536,000,000;
       (F) for fiscal year 2030, $1,647,000,000;
       (G) for fiscal year 2031, $1,766,000,000;
       (H) for fiscal year 2032, $1,894,000,000;
       (I) for fiscal year 2033, $2,032,000,000;
       (J) for fiscal year 2034, $2,179,000,000; and
       (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
     the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous 
     fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), 
     during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index 
     for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor 
     Statistics.
       (5) National aeronautics and space administration science 
     mission directorate.--For the Science Mission Directorate at 
     the National Aeronautics and Space Administration--
       (A) for fiscal year 2025, $7,885,000,000;
       (B) for fiscal year 2026, $8,467,000,000;
       (C) for fiscal year 2027, $9,077,000,000;
       (D) for fiscal year 2028, $9,729,000,000;
       (E) for fiscal year 2029, $10,431,000,000;
       (F) for fiscal year 2030, $11,185,000,000;
       (G) for fiscal year 2031, $11,994,000,000;
       (H) for fiscal year 2032, $12,863,000,000;
       (I) for fiscal year 2033, $13,796,000,000;
       (J) for fiscal year 2034, $14,797,000,000; and
       (K) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
     the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous 
     fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), 
     during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index 
     for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor 
     Statistics.
       (b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated under subsection 
     (a) shall remain available until expended.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Department of defense science and technology 
     programs.--The term ``Department of Defense science and 
     technology programs'' means the appropriations accounts that 
     support the various institutes, offices, and centers that 
     make up the Department of Defense science and technology 
     programs.
       (2) National science foundation.--The term ``National 
     Science Foundation'' means the appropriations accounts that 
     support the various institutes, offices, and centers that 
     make up the National Science Foundation.
       (3) Office of science at the department of energy.--The 
     term ``Office of Science at the Department of Energy'' means 
     the appropriations accounts that support the various 
     institutes, offices, and centers that make up the Department 
     of Energy Office of Science.
       (4) Science mission directorate at the national aeronautics 
     and space administration.--The term ``Science Mission 
     Directorate at the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration'' means the appropriations accounts that 
     support the various institutes, offices, and centers that 
     make up the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     Science Mission Directorate.
       (5) Scientific and technical research and services of the 
     national institute of standards and technology.--The term 
     ``scientific and technical research and services of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology'' means the 
     appropriations accounts that support the various institutes, 
     offices, and centers that make up the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology scientific and technical research 
     and services.
       (d) Exemption of Certain Appropriations From 
     Sequestration.--
       (1) In general.--Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the Balanced 
     Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act (2 U.S.C. 
     905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting after ``Advances to the 
     Unemployment Trust Fund and Other Funds (16-0327-0-1-600).'' 
     the following:
       ``Appropriations under the American Innovation Act.''.
       (2) Applicability.--The amendment made by this section 
     shall apply to any sequestration order issued under the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 
     U.S.C. 900 et seq.) on or after the date of enactment of this 
     Act.
       (e) Budgetary Effects.--
       (1) Statutory paygo scorecards.--The budgetary effects of 
     this section shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard 
     maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay As-
     You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(d)).
       (2) Senate paygo scorecards.--The budgetary effects of this 
     section shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard 
     maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 
     (115th Congress).
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PADILLA:
  S. 4000. A bill to reaffirm the applicability of the Indian 
Reorganization Act to the Lytton Rancheria of California, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce legislation to 
reaffirm the applicability of the Indian Reorganization Act to the 
Lytton Rancheria of California.
  This legislation would provide clarity that the Lytton Rancheria of 
California is able to place land into trust via the Department of the 
Interior's standard land-to-trust process, 25 CFR part 151.
  The Lytton Rancheria would like to place additional land into trust 
in order to build a proper homeland and provide housing for their 
members. The bill is needed to clarify that Lytton Rancheria is subject 
to the Indian Reorganization Act and, just like other Tribal 
governments, is able to put land into trust through the administrative 
process.

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