[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5984-S6003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS
SA 3244. Mr. LUJAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title XXXI, insert the
following:
SEC. ___. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF ENERGY
REGARDING PROTECTION OF CERTAIN NUCLEAR
FACILITIES AND ASSETS FROM UNMANNED AIRCRAFT.
Section 4510(e)(1)(C) of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50
U.S.C. 2661(e)(1)(C)) is amended by striking ``owned by the
United States or contracted to the United States, to'' and
inserting ``owned by or contracted to the Department of
Energy, including facilities that''.
______
SA 3245. Mr. CASSIDY (for himself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Schmitt, and Mr.
Kelly) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the
bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1095. ELIGIBILITY OF SPOUSES FOR SERVICES UNDER THE
DISABLED VETERANS' OUTREACH PROGRAM.
Section 4103A of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``and eligible persons'' after ``eligible veterans''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, and eligible
persons,'' after ``Other eligible veterans'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and eligible persons''
after ``veterans'' each place it appears; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by inserting ``or eligible person'' after ``veteran''
each place it appears; and
(ii) by inserting ``or eligible person's'' after
``veteran's'';
(2) in subsection (d)(1)--
(A) by inserting ``and eligible persons'' after ``eligible
veterans'' each place it appears; and
(B) by striking ``non-veteran-related''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Eligible Person Defined.--In this section, the term
`eligible person' means--
``(1) any spouse described in section 4101(5) of this
title; or
``(2) the spouse of any person who died while a member of
the Armed Forces.''.
______
SA 3246. Mr. KAINE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title VIII, add the following:
SEC. 855. WARM BASE MANUFACTURING PILOT PROGRAM TO MAINTAIN
AND IMPROVE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING SURGE
CAPACITY FOR WARFIGHTER EMERGENCY MEDICAL-GRADE
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
(a) Establishment of Pilot Program.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to be
[[Page S5985]]
known as the ``Assuring Critical Infrastructure to Supply
Warfighter Emergency Medical-grade Personal Protective
Equipment Pilot Program''.
(b) Selection of Installations.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting
through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland
Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, shall select geographically
diverse locations in the United States that can surge
medical-grade personal protective equipment for warfighters
to respond to national or international public health
emergencies.
(2) Prioritization.--
(A) In general.--In selecting locations under paragraph
(1), the Secretary of Defense shall give priority to domestic
facilities where the Department has already invested funds to
transform medical-grade personal protective equipment raw
materials into finished products that are essential to
maintain warfighter health and safety in the event of a
national or international public health emergency.
(B) Additional priority.--In selecting locations under
paragraph (1), preference should be given to installations
that--
(i) have the presence of critical transportation
infrastructure immediately adjacent to the selected domestic
facility that facilitates expedited inbound transportation of
medical-grade personal protective equipment raw materials and
outbound transportation of finished medical-grade personal
protective equipment;
(ii) are ISO 13815 certified;
(iii) are subject to periodic audit by the Food and Drug
Administration;
(iv) have the ability to provide and quickly surge medical-
grade personal protective equipment for warfighter use;
(v) have the capacity to support expansion of non-woven
fabric production; and
(vi) can minimize raw material production waste by
utilizing a scrap reclamation process.
______
SA 3247. Mr. DURBIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle F of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 1291. PROHIBITION ON INVESTMENT BY UNITED STATES PERSONS
IN ENERGY SECTOR OF VENEZUELA UNTIL THE
LEGITIMATE RESULTS OF THE JULY 28, 2024,
ELECTION ARE RESPECTED.
(a) Prohibition.--
(1) In general.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act, the following transactions are prohibited:
(A) Any transaction by a United States person, or an entity
owned or controlled by a United States person, to invest,
trade, or operate within the energy sector of Venezuela,
including the provision of goods, services, or finance to--
(i) Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., or subsidiaries,
representatives, or related companies of Petroleos de
Venezuela, S.A.; or
(ii) the regime of Nicolas Maduro or any nondemocratic
successor government in Venezuela.
(B) Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose
of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to
violate the prohibition under subparagraph (A).
(2) Applicability.--The prohibitions under paragraph (1)
shall apply--
(A) to the extent provided by law and regulations, orders,
directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this
section; and
(B) notwithstanding any contract entered into or any
license or permit granted before the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(b) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, may take such
actions, including prescribing regulations, as are necessary
to implement this section.
(B) IEEPA authorities.--The Secretary of the Treasury may
exercise the authorities provided to the President under
sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to the extent necessary
to carry out this section.
(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of
subsection (a) or any regulation, license, directive, or
order issued to carry out that subsection shall be subject to
the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section
206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an
unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section.
(c) Responsibility of Other Agencies.--All agencies of the
United States Government shall take all appropriate measures
within their authority to carry out the provisions of this
section.
(d) Termination of Prohibition.--The prohibitions under
subsection (a) shall terminate on the date on which the
President submits to Congress a determination that the regime
of Nicolas Maduro has recognized the July 28, 2024, electoral
victory of Edmundo Gonzalez and relinquished power to the
legitimately democratically elected government in Venezuela.
(e) United States Person Defined.--In this section, the
term ``United States person'' means--
(1) a United States citizen or alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence to the United States;
(2) any entity organized under the laws of the United
States or any jurisdiction within the United States
(including a foreign branch of any such entity); and
(3) any person physically located in the United States.
______
SA 3248. Mr. SULLIVAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title VI, add the following:
SEC. 630. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS THAT
ARISE FROM THE DEATH OF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED
FORCES.
(a) Death Gratuity.--Section 1475(a)(4) of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``for a period of more
than 13 days''.
(b) Recovery, Care, and Disposition of Remains.--Section
1481(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
``(11) Any person not otherwise covered by this section
whose death entitles a survivor of such person to a death
gratuity under section 1475 of this title.''.
(c) Eligibility for Assistance From a Casualty Assistance
Officer.--Section 633 of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66; 10 U.S.C. 1475
note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) an individual not described in subparagraph (A) or
(B) who is entitled to a death gratuity under section 1475 of
title 10, United States Code.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``spouses and dependents'' each place it
appears and inserting ``survivors''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``spouses and other
dependents of deceased members'' and inserting ``such
survivors''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``the spouse and
other dependents of a deceased member of the Armed Forces''
and inserting ``such a survivor''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to a death that occurs on or after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
______
SA 3249. Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mr. Rounds) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. STUDY AND REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE USE OF
CHINESE-MADE UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEMS
AND PROHIBITION ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
PROCUREMENT AND OPERATION OF SUCH SYSTEMS.
(a) Study and Report on Use in Department of Defense
Systems of Chinese-made Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.--
(1) Study and report required.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall--
(A) conduct a study on the use in Department of Defense
systems of covered unmanned ground vehicle systems made by
covered foreign entities; and
(B) submit to the congressional defense committees a report
on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study
conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A).
(2) Elements.--The study conducted pursuant to paragraph
(1)(A) shall cover the following:
(A) The extent to which covered unmanned ground vehicle
systems made by covered foreign entities are used by the
Department, including a list of all such covered unmanned
ground vehicle systems.
(B) The extent to which covered unmanned ground vehicle
systems made by covered foreign entities are used by
contractors of the Department.
(C) The nature of the use described in subparagraph (B).
[[Page S5986]]
(D) An assessment of the national security threats
associated with using covered unmanned ground vehicle systems
in applications of the Department. Such assessment shall
cover concerns relating to the following:
(i) Cybersecurity.
(ii) Technological maturity of the systems.
(iii) Technological vulnerabilities in the systems that may
be exploited by foreign adversaries of the United States.
(E) Actions taken by the Department to identify covered
foreign entities that--
(i) develop or manufacture covered unmanned ground vehicle
systems; and
(ii) have a military-civil nexus on the list maintained by
the Department under section 1260H(b) of the William M. (Mac)
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2021 (Public Law 116-283; 10 U.S.C. 113 note).
(F) The feasibility and advisability of directing the
Defense Innovation Unit, or another entity in the Department
of Defense, to develop a list of United States manufacturers
of covered unmanned ground vehicle systems.
(G) A recommendation on whether a prohibition on the
procurement and operation of covered unmanned ground vehicle
systems is in the best interest of the Department.
(b) Prohibition on Procurement and Operation by Department
of Defense of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems From
Covered Foreign Entities.--
(1) Prohibition.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, except as provided in paragraph
(2), the Secretary of Defense may not procure or operate any
covered unmanned ground vehicle system that is manufactured
or assembled by a covered foreign entity.
(B) Applicability to contracted services.--The prohibition
under subparagraph (A) with respect to the operation of
covered unmanned ground vehicles systems applies to any such
system that is being used by the Department of Defense
through the method of contracting for the services of such
systems.
(2) Exception.--The Secretary of Defense is exempt from any
restrictions under subsection (a) in a case in which the
Secretary determines that the procurement or operation--
(A) is required in the national interest of the United
States; and
(B) is for the sole purposes of--
(i) research, evaluation, training, testing, or analysis
for electronic warfare, information warfare operations,
cybersecurity, or the development of unmanned ground vehicle
system or counter-unmanned ground vehicle system technology;
or
(ii) conducting counterterrorism or counterintelligence
activities, protective missions, Federal criminal or national
security investigations (including forensic examinations),
electronic warfare, information warfare operations,
cybersecurity activities, or the development of unmanned
ground vehicle system or counter-unmanned ground vehicle
system technology.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered foreign country.--The term ``covered foreign
country'' means any of the following:
(A) The People's Republic of China.
(B) The Russian Federation.
(C) The Islamic Republic of Iran.
(D) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(2) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign
entity'' means an entity that is domiciled in a covered
foreign country or subject to influence or control by the
government of a covered foreign country, as determined by the
Secretary of Defense.
(3) Covered unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term
``covered unmanned ground vehicle system''--
(A) means a mechanical device that--
(i) is capable of locomotion, navigation, or movement on
the ground; and
(ii) operates at a distance from one or more operators or
supervisors based on commands or in response to sensor data,
or through any combination thereof; and
(B) includes--
(i) remote surveillance vehicles, autonomous patrol
technologies, mobile robotics, and humanoid robots; and
(ii) the vehicle, its payload, and any external device used
to control the vehicle.
______
SA 3250. Mr. SULLIVAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1095. EXTENSION OF THE ALASKA NATIVE VIETNAM ERA
VETERANS LAND ALLOTMENT PROGRAM.
Section 1119(b)(3)(B) of the John D. Dingell, Jr.
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (43 U.S.C.
1629g-1(b)(3)(B)) is amended by striking ``5-year period''
and inserting ``10-year period''.
______
SA 3251. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SECTION 1228. SUPPORTING SYRIAN CIVILIANS.
(a) Short Titles.--This section may be cited as the
``Supporting Syrian Civilians Act'' or the ``Caesar Act
2.0''.
(b) Modifications to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection
Act of 2019.--
(1) Caesar syria civilian protection act of 2019.--Section
7412(a) of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019
(title LXXIV of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2020; 22 U.S.C. 8791 note) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the President shall
impose'' and all that follows and inserting the following:
``the President--
``(A) shall impose the sanctions described in subsection
(b) with respect to a foreign person that the President
determines--
``(i) knowingly engages, on or after such date of
enactment, in an activity described in paragraph (2); or
``(ii) is owned or controlled by a foreign person described
in clause (i); and
``(B) may impose the sanctions described in subsection (b)
with respect to a foreign person that the Secretary of State
determines knowingly provides, on or after such date of
enactment, significant financial, material, or technological
support to a foreign person engaging in an activity described
in any of subparagraphs (B) through (H) of paragraph (2).'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by amending clause (i) to read as follows:
``(i) the Government of Syria (including any entity owned
or controlled by the Government of Syria), a senior political
figure of the Government of Syria, a member of the People's
Assembly of Syria, or a senior foreign political figure (as
defined in section 101.605 of title 31, Code of Federal
Regulations) of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Syria,
including any such senior foreign political figure who is a
member of the Central Command, Central Committee, or Auditing
and Inspection Committee of such Party;'';
(II) in clause (ii), by striking ``; or'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(III) in clause (iii), by striking the semicolon at the end
and inserting ``; or''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) Syria Arab Airlines, Cham Wings, or any foreign
person owned or controlled by Syria Arab Airlines or Cham
Wings;'';
(ii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) knowingly sells or provides aircraft or spare
aircraft parts--
``(i) to the Government of Syria; or
``(ii) on behalf of the Government of Syria to any foreign
person operating in an area directly or indirectly controlled
by the Government of Syria or foreign forces under the
direction or control of the Government of Syria;'';
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) purposefully engages in or directs--
``(i) the significant diversion of valuable goods
(including agricultural commodities, food, medicine, and
medical devices) or any international humanitarian assistance
intended for the people of Syria; or
``(ii) the dealing in the significant misappropriation of
proceeds from the sale or resale of such significant diverted
goods or international humanitarian assistance, as the case
may be;
``(G) knowingly engages in, or attempts to engage in, the
significant seizure, confiscation, theft, or expropriation
for personal gain or political purposes of significant
property, including real property, in Syria or owned by a
citizen of Syria; or
``(H) knowingly and directly engages in, or attempts to
engage in, a transaction or transactions for or with seized,
confiscated, stolen, or expropriated property described in
subparagraph (G).''.
(2) Report on caesar syria civilian protection act of
2019.--
(A) Defined term.--In this paragraph, the term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(i) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(ii) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
of the Senate;
(iii) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(iv) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
(B) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
following 3 years, the Secretary of the Treasury, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall submit a report
to the appropriate congressional committees describing the
implementation of sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian
Protection Act of 2019, as amended by this section.
[[Page S5987]]
(C) Elements.--Each report submitted pursuant to
subparagraph (B) shall describe--
(i) all individuals or entities sanctioned under the
authorities granted by the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection
Act of 2019;
(ii) all individuals and entities determined to be eligible
for sanction under the authorities granted by the Caesar
Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 who have not yet been
sanctioned under such authorities;
(iii) all individuals and entities currently under
consideration for sanction under the authorities granted by
the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019; and
(iv) the steps taken to explain to financial institutions
sanctions liability under the authorities granted by the
Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and the date
such steps were taken.
(D) Form.--Each report required under subparagraph (B)
shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a
classified annex that is submitted separately from the
unclassified report.
(3) Exceptions.--Section 7432 of the Caesar Syria Civilian
Protection Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 8791 note) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 7432. EXCEPTIONS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Agricultural commodity.--The term `agricultural
commodity' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of
the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
``(2) Good.--The term `good' means any article, natural or
manmade substance, material, supply, or manufactured product,
including inspection and test equipment, and excluding
technical data.
``(3) Medical device.--The term `medical device' has the
meaning given the term `device' in section 201 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
``(4) Medicine.--The term `medicine' has the meaning given
the term `drug' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
``(b) Exception to Comply With United Nations Headquarters
Agreement and Law Enforcement Activities.--Sanctions under
this Act shall not apply with respect to the admission of an
alien to the United States if admitting or paroling such
alien into the United States is necessary--
``(1) to permit the United States to comply with the
Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force
November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United
States, or other applicable international obligations of the
United States; or
``(2) to carry out or assist authorized law enforcement
activity in the United States.
``(c) Exception to Comply With Intelligence Activities.--
Sanctions under this Act shall not apply to any activity
subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) or any
authorized intelligence activities of the United States.
``(d) Humanitarian Assistance.--Sanctions under this Act
shall not apply to--
``(1) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the
provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine,
medical devices, or humanitarian assistance, or for other
humanitarian purposes; or
``(2) transactions that are necessary for, or related to,
the activities described in paragraph (1).''.
(4) Extension of sunset.--Section 7438 of the Caesar Syria
Civilian Protection Act of 2019 is amended by striking ``the
date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act'' and inserting ``December 31, 2028''.
(5) Determinations with respect to the syria trust for
development.--
(A) Defined term.--In this paragraph, the term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(i) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(ii) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
of the Senate;
(iii) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(iv) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
(B) Determinations.--Not later than 120 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall--
(i) determine whether the nonprofit organization chaired by
Asma Al-Assad, the First Lady of Syria, known as the ``Syria
Trust for Development'' meets the criteria for the imposition
of sanctions--
(I) under section 7412(a) of the Caesar Syria Civilian
Protection Act of 2019, as amended by paragraph (1);
(II) under Executive Order 13894 (84 Fed. Reg. 55851;
relating to blocking property and suspending entry of certain
persons contributing to the situation in Syria); or
(III) by nature of being owned or controlled by a person
designated under any executive order or regulation
administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and
(ii) submit to the appropriate congressional committees
each such determination, including a justification for the
determination.
(C) Form.--Each determination required to be submitted
under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be submitted in unclassified
form, but the justification specified in such paragraph may
be included in a classified annex. The unclassified
determination shall be made available on a publicly available
website of the Federal Government.
(c) Statement of Policy Regarding the Prohibition of
Recognition of the Assad Regime.--It is the policy of the
United States--
(1) to not recognize or normalize relations with any
Government of Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad due to the
Assad regime's ongoing crimes against the Syrian people,
including failure to meet the criteria outlined in section
7431(a) of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019
(22 U.S.C. 8791 note);
(2) to actively oppose recognition or normalization of
relations by other governments with any Government of Syria
that is led by Bashar Al-Assad, including by fully
implementing the mandatory primary and secondary sanctions in
the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 and
Executive Order 13894 (84 Fed. Reg. 55851; relating to
blocking property and suspending entry of certain persons
contributing to the situation in Syria);
(3) to continue to actively advance the national interests
of the United States in Syria, including--
(A) counterterrorism and counternarcotic operations;
(B) the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Syrian
people, including earthquake-related early recovery; and
(C) significant diplomatic efforts towards the advancement
of a political solution to the Syrian conflict in adherence
with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015);
and
(4) to take all necessary steps to secure--
(A) the release of Austin Tice and other hostages and
unjustly detained United States nationals within Syria; and
(B) the repatriation of the remains of United States
nationals killed by the Assad regime or by the Islamic State
in Syria, including Majd Kamalmaz, Kayla Mueller, James
Foley, Peter Kassig, and Steven Sotloff.
(d) Interagency Strategy to Counter Normalization With
Assad Regime.--
(1) Definitions.--In this section:
(A) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(i) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(ii) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(iii) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
of the Senate;
(iv) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(v) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives; and
(vi) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
(B) Covered transaction.--The term ``covered transaction''
means a transaction, including an investment, grant,
contract, or donation (including a loan or other extension of
credit) by a foreign person that is a representative,
citizen, or entity incorporated exclusively under the laws of
the Republic of Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt,
Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, or Lebanon to a
recipient located in any area of Syria controlled by the
Assad regime.
(2) Report required.--
(A) Submission.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a
period not to exceed 3 years, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the heads
of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, shall
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees
that describes--
(i) the steps taken or planned to be taken by foreign
governments to normalize or upgrade political, diplomatic, or
economic ties with the regime led by Bashar al-Assad in Syria
(referred to in this Act as the ``Assad regime''); and
(ii) the actions taken by the United States Government to
counter such steps.
(B) Elements.--The report submitted pursuant to
subparagraph (A) shall include--
(i) a description of--
(I) violations of international law and human rights abuses
committed by Bashar al-Assad, the Government of the Russian
Federation, or the Government of Iran; and
(II) progress made towards achieving justice for the Syrian
people and accountability for the violators;
(ii) a list, including the identification of--
(I) any single covered transaction exceeding $2,500,000;
and
(II) any combination of covered transactions by the same
source within a 12-month period that exceed $2,500,000, in
the aggregate;
(iii) for each identified single transaction or aggregate
transactions, as the case may be, included in the list
described in clause (ii), a determination of whether such
transaction subjects any of the parties to the transaction to
sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of
2019, as amended by subsection (b);
(iv) a description of the steps the United States is taking
to actively deter recognition or normalization of relations
by other governments with the Assad regime, including
specific diplomatic engagements and the use of economic
sanctions authorized by Federal statutes or implemented
through Executive Orders, including--
(I) the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (22
U.S.C. 8791 note);
(II) the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act (22 U.S.C. 2151 note);
[[Page S5988]]
(III) the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and
Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.);
(IV) Executive Order 13894 (84 Fed. Reg. 55851; relating to
blocking property and suspending entry of certain persons
contributing to the situation in Syria);
(V) the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act
(22 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.);
(VI) the Countering American Adversaries through Sanctions
Act (22 U.S.C. 9401 et seq.); and
(VII) the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (title
VIII of Public Law 106-120; 21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.); and
(v) an assessment of how recognition of, or normalization
of relations with, the Assad regime by other governments
impacts--
(I) the national security of the United States;
(II) the material benefits of such recognition or
normalization to the Assad regime;
(III) the normalizing government prospects for the
implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution
2254;
(IV) prospects for justice and accountability for war
crimes in Syria; and
(V) the benefits derived by the Government of the Russian
Federation or the Government of Iran.
(3) Temporal scope.--The initial report required under
paragraph (2) shall address the period beginning on January
1, 2022, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Each subsequent report shall address the 1-year period
immediately following the last day covered by the most
recently submitted report.
(4) Form.--Each report required under paragraph (2) shall
be submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a
classified annex.
(e) Reports on Manipulation of United Nations by the Assad
Regime in Syria.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a
period not to exceed 5 years, the Secretary of State shall
submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives that describes the manipulation of the United
Nations by the Assad regime, including--
(A) a description of conditions, both explicit and
implicit, set by the Assad regime with respect to United
Nations operations in Syria, including with respect to
implementing partners, hiring practices, allocation of grants
and contracts, and procurement of goods and services;
(B) the identification of officials or employees of the
United Nations (including funds, programs, and specialized
agencies of the United Nations) with ties to the Assad
regime, or persons designated for sanctions by United Nations
donor countries;
(C) an account of access restrictions imposed by the Assad
regime and the overall impact of such restrictions on the
ability of the United Nations to equitably deliver
international assistance to target beneficiaries in areas
outside the control of the Assad regime;
(D) a description of ways in which United Nations aid
directly benefits the Assad regime and its associates;
(E) a description of the due diligence mechanisms and
vetting procedures in place to ensure entities contracted by
the United Nations to ensure goods, supplies, or services
provided to Syria do not have links to the Assad regime,
known human rights abusers, or persons designated for
sanctions by United Nations donor countries;
(F) the identification of entities affiliated with the
Assad regime (including the Syria Trust for Development and
the Syrian Arab Red Crescent), foreign government ministries,
and private corporations owned or controlled by the Assad
regime, which have received United Nations funding,
contracts, or grants or have otherwise entered into a
formalized partnership with the United Nations;
(G) an assessment of how the Assad regime sets arbitrary or
punitive exchange rates to extract funding from the United
Nations, and the total amount extracted by such means; and
(H) a strategy for--
(i) reducing the ability of the Assad regime to manipulate
or otherwise influence the United Nations and other aid
operations in Syria; and
(ii) ensuring that United States and international aid is
delivered in a neutral and impartial manner consistent with
basic humanitarian principles.
(2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified
annex.
(f) Briefing Before Force Posture Change.--Not later than
15 days before any decision to withdraw United States forces
from any part of Syria where such forces are being deployed,
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State shall
jointly brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives on the likely impacts of such withdrawal.
(g) Economic Support Funds for Syria.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) the humanitarian situation in areas of northwest Syria
that are not controlled by the Assad regime remains dire,
which is due in large part to ongoing attacks, diversion of
cross-line assistance, and corruption by the Assad regime;
(B) Syrian refugees and their host communities--
(i) are under significant strain due to the prolonged
conflict in Syria; and
(ii) require significant assistance from the international
community;
(C) it remains unsafe for Syrian refugees to return to
Syria absent a formal cessation of hostilities and
significant implementation of the principles laid out in
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015);
(D) the forced return of Syrian refugees to Syria absent
their consent or the aforementioned conditions violates the
principle of non-refoulement; and
(E) host countries must not forcibly return refugees to
Syria without their consent absent a formal cessation of
hostilities and significant implementation of the principles
laid out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254
(2015).
(2) Statement of policy.--It is the policy of the United
States--
(A) to provide humanitarian funding to northwest Syria
outside of mechanisms controlled by the Assad regime;
(B) to maintain basic services for communities in northwest
Syria outside of Assad regime control;
(C) to oppose the refoulement or otherwise forcible return
of Syrian refugees and provide significant assistance to
Syrian refugees and their host communities; and
(D) to work with partners and allies to support the efforts
described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
(3) Authorization of appropriations for humanitarian
assistance for northwest syria.--There is authorized to be
appropriated, in addition to amounts already appropriated for
such purpose, $10,000,000 in Economic Support Funds for the
Syria Civil Defense (commonly known as the ``White
Helmets'').
(4) Report and strategy on stabilization funding for
northwest syria.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, shall submit a report
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
that assesses--
(i) the feasibility of providing stabilization funding to
areas of northwest Syria that are not under the control the
Assad regime; and
(ii) the risks that such funds will be diverted and steps
to counter such risks.
(B) Form.--The report required under subparagraph (A) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a
classified annex.
(5) Authorization of appropriations.--
(A) Stabilization assistance for northwest syria.--
(i) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$20,000,000 in Economic Support Funds for stabilization
funding in areas of northwest Syria that are not under the
control of the Assad Regime.
(ii) Briefing required.--None of the funds appropriated
pursuant to clause (i) may be expended until a senior
official of the Department of State provides a briefing
regarding such expenditure to--
(I) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(II) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(III) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(IV) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(B) Funds for syrian refugees and host communities.--There
is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 in Economic
Support Funds to support Syrian refugees and host communities
in the Middle East and North Africa.
(h) Countering Captagon Trafficking.--
(1) Report on strategy implementation.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
following 3 years, the Secretary of State shall submit a
report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives describing the implementation of the strategy
submitted by the Secretary of State pursuant to section
1238(c) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263).
(B) Elements.--Each report required under subparagraph (A)
shall include--
(i) the amount of funds obligated for the previous fiscal
year in support of the strategy referred to in such
subparagraph; and
(ii) a description of how such funds have supported each of
the elements described in such strategy.
(C) Form.--Each report required under subparagraph (A)
shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a
classified annex that is transmitted separately from the
unclassified report.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated, in addition to any funds already
appropriated for such purpose, $10,000,000 from the
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE)
account to counter the production and trafficking of Captagon
in the Middle East and North Africa, especially such
trafficking carried out by the Assad Regime and Hezbollah.
[[Page S5989]]
(i) Briefing on Steps to Free Austin Tice and Repatriate
American Remains From Syria.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(A) Austin Tice, an American journalist, was kidnaped on
August 14, 2012.
(B) Majd Kamalmaz, an American psychotherapist, was
detained by the Assad regime in February 2017, and
subsequently murdered in captivity by the Assad regime.
(C) Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig, 2 American aid workers,
and James Foley and Steven Sotloff, 2 American journalists,
were all United States citizens who were murdered in Syria
while being held in captivity by the Islamic State.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the Sense of Congress that
the United States Government should take all necessary
steps--
(A) to secure the release of Austin Tice and other
Americans unjustly detained in Syria; and
(B) to secure the return of the remains of Majd Kamalmaz,
Kayla Mueller, James Foley, Peter Kassig, and Steven Sotloff.
(3) Briefing required.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for
the following 5 years, the President shall provide a briefing
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
regarding--
(A) efforts by the United States Government--
(i) to secure the release of Austin Tice and other unjustly
detained Americans in Syria; and
(ii) to secure the return of the remains of Majd Kamalmaz,
Kayla Mueller, James Foley, Peter Kassig, Steven Sotloff, and
other United States nationals killed in captivity in Syria;
and
(B) the steps the United States Government is taking to
keep the families of such persons informed of its efforts to
secure the release of such persons or the return of their
remains.
______
SA 3252. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by her to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title XII, add the following:
Subtitle G--Supporting Democracy and the Rule of Law in the Republic of
Georgia
SEC. 1291. SHORT TITLES.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Georgian People's Act''
or the ``GPA Act''.
SEC. 1292. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On April 9, 1991, the Republic of Georgia declared
independence from the Soviet Union, and on March 24, 1992,
the United States and Georgia established formal diplomatic
relations.
(2) Since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has
been reaffirmed by the international community and numerous
United Nations Security Council resolutions.
(3) At the 2008 Summit in Bucharest, NATO recognized the
aspirations of Georgia to join NATO and committed that
Georgia would become a member of the Alliance.
(4) On August 7, 2008, the Russian Federation invaded
Georgia and thereafter occupied 20 percent of its territory,
all of which it continues to occupy.
(5) On January 9, 2009, the United States and Georgia
signed the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic
Partnership, affirming the close relationship between the
United States and Georgia based on the shared principles of
democracy, free markets, defense and security cooperation,
and cultural exchanges.
(6) Georgia made significant contributions to the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan and was the largest troop contributor
among NATO partners to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission
in Afghanistan.
(7) The United States and Georgia have maintained a strong
security partnership, including the U.S.-Georgia Security
Cooperation Framework, signed in November 2019, and the
Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative,
launched in October 2021.
(8) The United States supports the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally
recognized borders and condemns the continued occupation by
Russia of the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
(9) The United States has continuously supported the
democratic wishes of the Georgian people, who have long
maintained their aspirations to join the European Union and
NATO.
(10) During and following her tenure as United States
Ambassador and Plenipotentiary to Georgia between 2020 and
2023, Kelly Degnan has been the subject of slander and verbal
abuse from members of the Government of Georgia.
(11) As recently as October 2023, reputable polling
indicates that 86 percent of the Georgian public support
Georgia becoming a member of the European Union.
(12) Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in
February 2022, Georgia--
(A) has not imposed its own sanctions on Russia; and
(B) has increased economic ties, including initiating many
direct flights to and from Russia;
(C) has eased visa requirements for Russians visiting
Georgia; and
(D) is perceived as a conduit of Russia's sanctions evasion
endeavors.
(13) Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in
February 2022, and the subsequent rounds of international
sanctions placed on Russia as a result of such invasion,
Georgia saw its trade with Russia grow by 34 percent between
January and June 2023.
(14) Georgia's geographic position as both a Black Sea
littoral nation and its proximity to the Caspian Sea could
further strengthen Georgia's economy by transporting natural
gas through the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Project.
(15) In June 2022, when the Governments of Ukraine and
Moldova received candidate status for membership in the
European Union, the European Council stated it would only be
ready to grant Georgia candidate status once the country has
addressed the 12 priorities outlined by the European
Commission.
(16) In December 2023, the European Union granted Georgia
the status of candidate country, with the understanding that
Georgia would act consistent with the recommendations of the
European Commission by continuing to advance the outlined
reform priorities and increasing its alignment with the
European Union's foreign and security policy positions.
(17) On February 24, 2023, a foreign agents bill was
introduced in the Parliament of Georgia--
(A) to impose restrictions on civil society organizations,
nongovernmental organizations, and independent media
organizations; and
(B) to stigmatize such organizations as ``foreign agents''.
(18) On March 7, 2023, the Parliament of Georgia
accelerated the passage of that bill, which led to--
(A) large-scale protests that Georgian authorities
confronted by deploying tear gas and water cannons; and
(B) the withdrawal of the bill by the Parliament.
(19) On April 15, 2024, the foreign agents bill, which was
renamed ``the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence'', was
reintroduced in the Parliament of Georgia with minor changes
that did not reflect the express wishes of the Georgian
people, which led to--
(A) large-scale protests in Tbilisi and around the country;
(B) harassment and intimidation of civil society activists
and journalists; and
(C) the ejection of opposition parliamentarians from
parliamentary hearings.
(20) On April 29, 2024, former Georgian Prime Minister
Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is currently the Honorary Chairman
of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, gave a speech in which
he--
(A) harshly attacked American and European partners;
(B) alleged that the goal of foreign funding of civil
society and nongovernmental organizations in Georgia is to
deprive Georgia of its state sovereignty; and
(C) promised to punish opposition political groups.
(21) In the face of massive, nation-wide protests against
the foreign agents law, Georgian authorities have, in some
cases, deployed disproportionate force against largely
peaceful protestors, including--
(A) reportedly attacking journalists covering the protests
and members of the political opposition; and
(B) threatening civil society leaders and family members of
protestors at their homes.
(22) On May 14, 2024, the Parliament of Georgia passed the
foreign agents bill against the wishes of the Georgian
people.
(23) On May 21, 2024, the Venice Commission issued an
opinion regarding Georgia's foreign influence law in which it
``strongly recommend[ed] repealing the Law in its current
form, as its fundamental flaws will involve significant
negative consequences for the freedoms of association and
expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in
public affairs as well as the prohibition of
discrimination.''.
SEC. 1293. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to call on all political parties and elected Members of
the Parliament of Georgia to continue working on addressing
the reform plan outlined by the European Commission to
advance Georgia's recently granted candidate status, which
the people of Georgia have freely elected to pursue;
(2) to call on the Government of Georgia to institute the
required reforms, which are to be developed through an
inclusive and transparent consultation process with
opposition parties and civil society organizations;
(3) to express serious concern that impediments to
strengthening the democratic institutions and processes of
Georgia, including the foreign agents law, will slow or halt
Georgia's progress toward achieving its Euro-Atlantic
aspirations, be perceived as stagnating the democratic
trajectory of Georgia, and result in negative domestic and
international consequences for the Government of Georgia;
(4) to impose swift consequences on individuals who are
directly responsible for leading or have directly and
knowingly engaged
[[Page S5990]]
in leading, actions or policies that significantly undermine
the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial
integrity of Georgia;
(5) to emphasize the importance of contributing to
international efforts--
(A) to combat Russian aggression, including through
sanctions on trade with Russia and the implementation and
enforcement of worldwide sanctions on Russia; and
(B) to reduce, rather than increase, trade ties between
Georgia and Russia;
(6) to call on all political parties, elected Members of
the Parliament of Georgia, and officers of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Georgia to respect the freedoms of
peaceful assembly, association, and expression, including for
the press, and the rule of law, and encourage a vibrant and
inclusive civil society;
(7) to call on the Government of Georgia to release all
persons detained or imprisoned on politically motivated
grounds and drop any pending charges against them;
(8) to call on the Government of Georgia to ensure that the
national elections scheduled for October 2024 are free, fair,
and reflective of the will of the Georgian people; and
(9) to continue impressing upon the Government of Georgia
that the United States is committed to sustaining and
deepening bilateral relations and supporting Georgia's Euro-
Atlantic aspirations.
SEC. 1294. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Foreign agents law.--The term ``foreign agents law''
means the ``On Transparency of Foreign Influence'' law, which
was passed by the Parliament of Georgia in May 2024.
(3) Georgia.--The term ``Georgia'' means the Republic of
Georgia.
(4) NATO.--The term ``NATO'' means the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of State.
CHAPTER 1--CONDITIONS ON ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA
Subchapter A--Sanctions
SEC. 1295. DEFINITIONS.
In this chapter:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'',
``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given such
terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1101).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means any
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(4) Immediate family members.--The term ``immediate family
members'' has the meaning given the term ``immediate
relatives'' in section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(b)(2)(A)(i)).
(5) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to
conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has
actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the
circumstance, or the result.
(6) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted
for permanent residence to the United States;
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the United States
or any jurisdiction within the United States, including a
foreign branch of such an entity; or
(C) any person within the United States.
SEC. 1295A. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) In General.--It shall be the policy of the United
States to support the constitutionally stated aspirations of
Georgia to become a member of the European Union and the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which--
(1) is made clear under Article 78 of the Constitution of
Georgia; and
(2) is supported by an estimated 86 percent of the citizens
of Georgia.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) acts of blocking Euro-Atlantic integration in Georgia,
due to undue influence from corrupt or oligarchic forces,
constitute a form of corruption;
(2) the United States should consider travel restrictions
or sanctions on individuals responsible for any actions
preventing Georgia from moving toward Euro-Atlantic
integration, which include acts of violence or intimidation
against Georgian citizens, members of civil society, and
members of an opposition political party;
(3) the United States, in response to recent events in
Georgia, should reassess whether recent actions undertaken by
individuals in Georgia should result in the imposition of
sanctions by the United States for acts of significant
corruption and human rights abuses; and
(4) the United States should consider revoking the visas of
nationals of Georgia and their family members who--
(A) live in the United States; and
(B) are determined to meet the criteria described in
section 103(a).
SEC. 1295B. INADMISSIBILITY OF OFFICIALS OF GOVERNMENT OF
GEORGIA AND CERTAIN OTHER INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED
IN BLOCKING EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall identify and
make a determination as to whether any of the following
foreign persons has knowingly engaged in significant acts of
corruption, or acts of violence or intimidation in relation
to the blocking of Euro-Atlantic integration in Georgia:
(1) Any individual who, on or after January 1, 2014, has
served as a member of the Parliament of the Government of
Georgia or as a current or former senior official of a
Georgian political party.
(2) Any individual who is serving as an official in a
leadership position working on behalf of the Government of
Georgia, including law enforcement, intelligence, judicial,
or local or municipal government.
(3) An immediate family member of an official described in
paragraph (1) or a person described in paragraph (2).
(b) Current Visas Revoked.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsections (d) and
(e), the visa or other entry documentation of any alien
described in subsection (a) is subject to immediate
revocation regardless of the issue date of such visa or
documentation.
(2) Immediate effect.--A revocation of a visa or other
entry documentation of any alien pursuant to paragraph (1)
shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i))--
(A) take effect immediately; and
(B) cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that
is in the possession of such alien.
(c) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
about--
(1) any foreign person for whom the Secretary has
determined has knowingly engaged in an activity described in
subsection (a); and
(2) the specific facts that justify each such positive
determination.
(d) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the application of
subsection (b) if the Secretary determines that--
(1) such waiver would serve a compelling national interest;
or
(2) the circumstances which caused the individual to be
ineligible for a visa have sufficiently changed.
(e) Exception to Comply With International Obligations and
Law Enforcement Activities.--Subsection (b) shall not apply
with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling such alien
into the United States is necessary--
(1) to permit the United States to comply with the
Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force
November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United
States, or other applicable international obligations of the
United States; or
(2) to carry out or assist authorized law enforcement
activity in the United States.
Subchapter B--Improving Bilateral Relations With Georgia
SEC. 1296. UNITED STATES STRATEGY TOWARD GEORGIA.
(a) Statement of Policy on Georgia.--It is the policy of
the United States--
(1) given that the Government of Georgia has passed the
foreign agents law and other legislation further inhibiting
its ability to advance its accession into the European
Union--
(A) to take into consideration these new laws when
formulating the United States Government's policy toward
Georgia; and
(B) to review all forms of foreign and security assistance
made available to the Government of Georgia; and
(2) to reevaluate its policy toward the Government of
Georgia if the Government of Georgia takes the required
steps--
(A) to reorient itself toward its European Union accession
agenda; and
(B) to advance policy or legislation reflecting the express
wishes of the Georgian people.
(b) 5-year United States Strategy for Bilateral Relations
With Georgia.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development, in
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a detailed strategy that--
(1) outlines specific objectives for enhancing bilateral
ties which reflect the current domestic political environment
in Georgia;
(2) determines what tools, resources, and funding should be
available and assess whether Georgia should remain the
second-highest recipient of United States funding in the
Europe and Eurasia region;
(3) determines the extent to which the United States should
continue to invest in its partnership with Georgia;
(4) explore how the United States can continue to support
civil society and independent media organizations in Georgia;
and
[[Page S5991]]
(5) determine whether the Government of Georgia remains
committed to expanding trade ties with the United States and
Europe and whether the United States Government should
continue to invest in Georgian projects.
SEC. 1296A. REPORT ON REVIEW OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO
GEORGIA.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development and other relevant Federal
agencies, shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that--
(1) outlines all assistance provided by any United States
Government agency to the Government of Georgia that primarily
provides material aid, reputational advantage, or sustenance
to state actors, officials, or their proxies who undermine
the democracy of Georgia and enable Russian aggression within
and outside of Georgia;
(2) provides a detailed overview of each project; and
(3) sets forth associated funding allocations, including
projected funding for each project.
(b) Suspension of Projects.--Not later than 60 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
suspend all programming in Georgia carried out by the
Department of State that primarily provide material aid,
reputational advantage, or sustenance to state actors,
officials, or their proxies who undermine the democracy of
Georgia and enable Russian aggression within and outside of
Georgia unless the Secretary certifies to the appropriate
congressional committees that such programming is in the
national security interests in the United States.
(c) Reprogramming Funds.--The Secretary may reprogram any
amounts used for programming that is suspended pursuant to
subsection (b) to other initiatives taking place in other
countries in the Eurasia region after notifying the
appropriate congressional committees.
SEC. 1296B. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SUSPENSION OF UNITED
STATES-GEORGIA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE.
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should
suspend the United States-Georgia Strategic Partnership
Commission, established through the United States-Georgia
Charter on Strategic Partnership on January 9, 2009, until
after the Government of Georgia takes measures--
(1) to represent the democratic wishes of the citizens of
Georgia; and
(2) to uphold its constitutional obligation to advance the
country towards membership in the European Union and NATO.
CHAPTER 2--ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO SUPPORT THE GEORGIAN PEOPLE
SEC. 1297. STATEMENT OF POLICY IN SUPPORT OF THE GEORGIAN
PEOPLE.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to continue supporting the ongoing development of
democratic values in Georgia, including free and fair
elections, freedom of association, an independent and
accountable judiciary, an independent media, public-sector
transparency and accountability, the rule of law, countering
malign influence, and anticorruption efforts;
(2) to support the sovereignty, independence, and
territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally
recognized borders;
(3) to continue to support the Georgian people and civil
society organizations that reflect the aspirations of the
Georgian people for democracy and a future with the people of
Europe;
(4) to continue supporting the capacity of the Government
of Georgia to protect its sovereignty and territorial
integrity from further Russian aggression or encroachment;
(5) to support domestic and international efforts,
including polling, pre-election and election-day observation
efforts, to support the execution of free and fair elections
in Georgia in October 2024;
(6) to continue supporting the right of the Georgian people
to freely engage in peaceful protest, determine their future,
and make independent and sovereign choices on foreign and
security policy, including regarding Georgia's relationship
with other countries and international organizations, without
interference, intimidation, or coercion by other countries or
those acting on their behalf; and
(7) to underscore the unwavering bipartisan support from
Congress in supporting the democratic aspirations of the
Georgian people.
SEC. 1297A. DEMOCRACY AND RULE-OF-LAW PROGRAMMING.
(a) Statement of Policy Regarding Effect of National
Elections in Georgia.--It is the policy of the United States
to undertake efforts, in partnership with the Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to ensure that the
national elections in Georgia that are scheduled to be held
in October 2024 are conducted in a manner that is free, fair,
and reflective of the will of the Georgian people and show
evidence of a broader and sustainable democratic trajectory.
(b) Funding.--From the amounts appropriated to the
Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia account under
the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs Appropriations Act, 2024, or under the comparable
appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025, $50,000,000 is
authorized to be made available--
(1) to strengthen democracy and civil society in Georgia,
including for transparency, independent media, rule of law,
anti-corruption efforts, countering malign influence, and
good governance initiatives; and
(2) to support the Georgian people's efforts to advance
their aspirations for membership in the European Union and
Euro-Atlantic integration.
(c) Review of Support.--In response to the passage of the
foreign agents law, the Secretary and the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development shall
undertake a review of efforts to determine--
(1) how best to continue providing support to civil society
and independent media organizations in Georgia; and
(2) whether additional funds should be allocated to the
National Endowment for Democracy for initiatives in Georgia.
SEC. 1297B. BRIEFING ON DISINFORMATION AND CORRUPTION IN THE
REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination
with such agencies as the Secretary considers relevant, shall
brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding--
(1) the efforts within and outside of Georgia to spread
disinformation within Georgia to mischaracterize or undermine
the bilateral relationships between the United States and
Georgia and the European Union and Georgia;
(2) sources that have played an active role in advancing
disinformation campaigns to erode public support for the
United States, the European Union, and NATO within Georgia;
and
(3) efforts undertaken by the Government of Georgia to
sanction actors involved in the spread of disinformation that
limits its Euro-Atlantic aspirations;
(4) the extent to which corrupt actors are undermining the
ability of political parties and democratic institutions in
Georgia to uphold and adhere to the principles of
transparency and good governance;
(5) policy options to assist the Government of Georgia in
helping protect democracy and the rule of law by punishing
bad actors;
(6) efforts in Georgia designed--
(A) to suppress a free and independent media; or
(B) to harass and intimidate civil society;
(7) actors responsible for--
(A) the suppression of a free and independent media in
Georgia; or
(B) harassment and intimidation of civil society in
Georgia;
(8) the Secretary's assessment of--
(A) the Russian Federation's influence and information
operations in Georgia; and
(B) connections between the influence and operations
described in subparagraph (A) and the broader agenda of the
Russian Federation in the region; and
(9) the Secretary's assessment of--
(A) the People's Republic of China's influence and
information operations in Georgia; and
(B) connections between the influence and operations
described in subparagraph (A) and the broader agenda of the
People's Republic of China in the region.
(b) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, with a classified annex.
SEC. 1297C. SUNSET.
This subtitle shall cease to have any force or effect
beginning on the date that is 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
______
SA 3253. Mr. CASSIDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of part I of subtitle F of title V, insert the
following:
SEC. 578. REVIEW OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESSES AND
PROCEDURES OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION
ACTIVITY.
(a) In General.--The Director of the Department of Defense
Education Activity (in this section referred to as ``DODEA'')
shall review the special education processes and procedures
in place within DODEA to locate, identify (through screening
or other evidence-based tools), evaluate, and refer children
with disabilities from birth to age 21 and provide evidence-
based interventions and supports for students with
disabilities.
(b) Consistency With Existing Law.--The review required by
subsection (a) shall be conducted consistent with child-find
requirements under Department of Defense Instruction 1342.12,
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1400 et seq.), and part 300 of title 34, Code of Federal
Regulations.
(c) Provision of Special Education Materials and
Information to Congress.--As part of the review required by
subsection (a), the Director shall provide to the appropriate
congressional committees the following:
[[Page S5992]]
(1) A briefing on the special education processes and
procedures of DODEA, particularly those for locating,
identifying, evaluating, and referring for specific learning
disabilities, including dyslexia.
(2) Documents, including documents not publicly available,
related to subsection (d).
(d) Provision of Materials and Information to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, as part of the review required by
subsection (a), the Director shall provide to the appropriate
congressional committees the following information regarding
any screening programs of DODEA as that information pertains
to locating and identifying, including screening, for early
literacy skill development in children in DODEA schools:
(A) A description of the following:
(i) The extent to which DODEA ensures that it locates and
identifies, including by screening, children enrolled in an
elementary school operated by DODEA for deficiencies in early
literacy skill development.
(ii) The extent to which DODEA ensures that it locates,
identifies, and screens new enrollees in each such school
regardless of year, unless the new enrollee has already been
identified with a specific learning disability, including
dyslexia.
(iii) The extent to which DODEA ensures it provides
comprehensive literacy instruction (as defined in section
2221(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6641(b)(1))).
(iv) The extent to which DODEA provides high-quality
training for school personnel, particularly specialized
instructional support personnel (as defined in section
8101(47)(A)(ii) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(47)(A)(ii))) related to early
literacy, reading, and specific learning disabilities,
including dyslexia.
(v) The extent to which DODEA ensures that each district of
schools operated by DODEA employs at least one specialized
instructional support personnel who specializes in early
literacy, reading, and specific learning disabilities,
including dyslexia.
(B) Information with respect to the following:
(i) The number of children at schools operated by DODEA
screened for deficiencies in early literacy skill
development, including dyslexia, each year and the grade in
which those children were screened.
(ii) The number and types of early literacy screening tools
used by DODEA each year.
(iii) The total number of children evaluated and identified
with specific learning disabilities, disaggregated by
dyslexia and other reading disabilities, as applicable, that
are served by DODEA.
(iv) The total number of such children described in
subparagraph (C), disaggregated by each subgroup of student
(as defined in section 1111(c)(2) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(c)(2))).
(v) The number of days, on average, from referral from the
screening program to evaluation for specific learning
disabilities, including dyslexia.
(vi) The type of professional conducting intervention
programs for children with early literacy challenges and
specific learning disabilities, particularly dyslexia.
(vii) A list of, and descriptions of materials related to,
early literacy and reading interventions used by DODEA to
provide special education and related services to children
with specific learning disabilities, particularly dyslexia.
(viii) The number of trainings per year provided by DODEA
to school personnel on screening for evaluating and providing
services to children with early literacy challenges and
specific learning disabilities, particularly dyslexia.
(ix) A list of organizations outside of DODEA, if
applicable, that are consulted with on such screening
programs and related reading intervention programs.
(2) Protection of personally identifiable information.--The
Director shall ensure that any information provided to the
appropriate congressional committees under paragraph (1) does
not reveal personally identifiable information.
(e) Assessment of Definitions Used by DODEA.--As part of
the review required by subsection (a), the Director shall
provide to the appropriate congressional committees a
description of how DODEA's definitions of the following terms
align with or differ from the following definitions:
(1) Comprehensive literacy instruction.--The term
``comprehensive literacy instruction'' has the meaning given
that term in section 2221(b)(1) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6641(b)(1)).
(2) Specific learning disabilities.--The term ``specific
learning disabilities'' has the meaning of that term under
section 300.309 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations.
(3) Screening program.--The term ``screening program''
means a screening program that is--
(A) evidence-based and proven for validity and reliability
to measure early literacy and reading skills;
(B) efficient and low-cost; and
(C) readily available.
(4) Evidence-based.--The term ``evidence-based'' has the
meaning given that term in section 8101(21)(A)(i) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801(21)(A)(i)).
(f) Dyslexia Definition Used by DODEA.--As part of the
review required by subsection (a), the Director shall provide
to the appropriate congressional committee the definition of
``dyslexia'' used by DODEA.
(g) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the
Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
______
SA 3254. Ms. ERNST submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
her to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title II, insert the following:
SEC. ___. TRACKING AND REPORTING ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
FUNDS PROVIDED TO FOREIGN ENTITIES OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA OR FOREIGN ENTITIES
OF CONCERN.
(a) Tracking.--The Secretary of Defense shall track amounts
provided by the Department of Defense to foreign entities
located in a foreign country of concern, including the
People's Republic of China, or foreign entities of concern in
the form of a contract, grant, other transaction agreement,
or any other type of funding.
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
a report--
(1) detailing the actions taken by the Department detailing
the actions taken by the Department to carry out subsection
(a);
(2) identifying research funded by the Department in the
last three fiscal years that involves a foreign entity or a
foreign entity of concern, including--
(A) the funding agency;
(B) the type of funding;
(C) which entities were involved;
(D) the type of research project, publication, or other
funding associated with Department funding sources;
(E) the amount awarded or provided directly or indirectly,
including grants, contracts, loans, cooperative agreements,
other transaction agreements, subgrants, all levels of
subawards, and other forms of financial assistance; and
(F) the justification for the funding; and
(3) addressing--
(A) what restrictions, if any, are placed upon the
Department's basic research awards to performers with
research ties to defense entities of foreign countries of
concern, and
(B) what mechanisms, if any, exist to mitigate potential
counterintelligence concerns.
(c) Form.--The report submitted under subsection (b) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
(d) Public Availability.--The Secretary shall make
available to the public on a website of the Department the
unclassified portion of the report submitted under subsection
(b).
(e) Definitions of Foreign Country of Concern, Foreign
Entity, and Foreign Entity of Concern.--The terms ``foreign
country of concern'', ``foreign entity'', and ``foreign
entity of concern'' have the meanings given such terms in
section 9901 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C.
4651).
______
SA 3255. Mr. OSSOFF submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1095. RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL FIX.
(a) In General.--
(1) Rural emergency hospital fix.--Section 1861(kkk)(3) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(kkk)(3)) is amended,
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``October 1, 2020, or'' after ``as of''.
(2) Implementation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement
the amendment made by paragraph (1) by program instruction or
otherwise.
(b) Offset.--
(1) Extending the adjustment to the calculation of hospice
cap amounts under the medicare program.--Section
1814(i)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395f(i)(2)(B)) is amended--
(A) in clause (ii), by striking ``2033'' and inserting
``2034''; and
(B) in clause (iii), by striking ``2033'' and inserting
``2034''.
(2) Medicare improvement fund.--Section 1898(b)(1) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395iii(b)(1)) is amended by
striking ``$0'' and inserting ``$286,000,000''.
[[Page S5993]]
______
SA 3256. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mr. Wyden) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1095. REAUTHORIZATION OF DESCHUTES RIVER CONSERVANCY
WORKING GROUP.
(a) Definition of Working Group.--Section 301(a) of the
Oregon Resource Conservation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208;
110 Stat. 3009-534; 122 Stat. 836) is amended by striking
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) Working group.--The term `Working Group' means the
Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group composed of a board
of directors of not fewer than 10, but not more than 15,
members nominated by the group represented by the member, of
whom--
``(A) 2 members shall be representatives of the
environmental community in the Deschutes River Basin;
``(B) 2 members shall be representatives of the irrigated
agriculture community in the Deschutes River Basin;
``(C) 2 members shall be representatives of the
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of
Oregon;
``(D) 1 member shall be a representative of the
hydroelectric production community in the Deschutes River
Basin;
``(E) 1 member shall be a representative of 1 of the
Federal agencies with authority and responsibility in the
Deschutes River Basin;
``(F) 1 member shall be a representative of an agency of
the State of Oregon with authority and responsibility in the
Deschutes River Basin, such as--
``(i) the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; or
``(ii) the Oregon Water Resources Department; and
``(G) 1 member shall be a representative of a unit of local
government in the Deschutes River Basin.''.
(b) Reauthorization; Administrative Costs.--Section 301 of
the Oregon Resource Conservation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-
208; 110 Stat. 3009-534; 122 Stat. 836) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``2016'' and inserting
``2032''; and
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``5 percent'' and
inserting ``10 percent''; and
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ``2016'' and inserting
``2032''.
______
SA 3257. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Padilla)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S.
4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:
SEC. 1095. ADDITIONS TO THE SMITH RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION
AREA; WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS.
(a) Additions to the Smith River National Recreation
Area.--
(1) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Smith River National
Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460bbb-1) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``referred to in section
4(b)'' and inserting ``entitled `Proposed Smith River
National Recreation Area' and dated July 1990''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the Six Rivers National
Forest'' and inserting ``an applicable unit of the National
Forest System''.
(2) Boundaries.--Section 4(b) of the Smith River National
Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460bbb-2(b)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the first sentence, by inserting ``and on the map
entitled `Proposed Additions to the Smith River National
Recreation Area' and dated January 23, 2023'' after ``1990'';
and
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking ``map'' and
inserting ``maps''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``map'' and inserting
``maps described in paragraph (1)''.
(3) Administration.--Section 5 of the Smith River National
Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460bbb-3) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by striking
``the map'' and inserting ``the maps''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``area shall be on''
and inserting ``area and any portion of the recreation area
in the State of Oregon shall be on roadless''; and
(II) by adding at the end the following:
``(I) The Kalmiopsis Wilderness shall be managed in
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.).'';
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ``by the amendments made
by section 10(b) of this Act'' and inserting ``within the
recreation area''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Study; Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct a
study of the area depicted on the map entitled `Proposed
Additions to the Smith River National Recreation Area' and
dated January 23, 2023, that includes inventories and
assessments of streams, fens, wetlands, lakes, other water
features, and associated land, plants (including Port-Orford-
cedar), animals, fungi, algae, and other values, and unstable
and potentially unstable aquatic habitat areas in the study
area.
``(2) Modification of management plans; report.--On
completion of the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall--
``(A) modify any applicable management plan to fully
protect the inventoried values under the study, including to
implement additional standards and guidelines; and
``(B) submit to Congress a report describing the results of
the study.
``(e) Wildfire Management.--Nothing in this Act affects the
authority of the Secretary (in cooperation with other
Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate) to
conduct wildland fire operations within the recreation area,
consistent with the purposes of this Act.
``(f) Vegetation Management.--Nothing in this Act prohibits
the Secretary from conducting vegetation management projects
(including wildfire resiliency and forest health projects)
within the recreation area, to the extent consistent with the
purposes of the recreation area.
``(g) Application of Northwest Forest Plan and Roadless
Rule to Certain Portions of the Recreation Area.--Nothing in
this Act affects the application of the Northwest Forest Plan
or part 294 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations
(commonly referred to as the `Roadless Rule') (as in effect
on the date of enactment of this subsection), to portions of
the recreation area in the State of Oregon that are subject
to the plan and those regulations as of the date of enactment
of this subsection.
``(h) Protection of Tribal Rights.--
``(1) In general.--Nothing in this Act diminishes any right
of an Indian Tribe.
``(2) Memorandum of understanding.--The Secretary shall
seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with
applicable Indian Tribes with respect to--
``(A) providing the Indian Tribes with access to the
portions of the recreation area in the State of Oregon to
conduct historical and cultural activities, including the
procurement of noncommercial forest products and materials
for traditional and cultural purposes; and
``(B) the development of interpretive information to be
provided to the public on the history of the Indian Tribes
and the use of the recreation area by the Indian Tribes.''.
(4) Acquisition.--Section 6(a) of the Smith River National
Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460bbb-4(a)) is amended--
(A) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``All lands'' and
inserting the following:
``(4) Applicable law.--All land'';
(B) in the third sentence--
(i) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(3) Method of acquisition.--The Secretary'';
(ii) by striking ``or any of its political subdivisions''
and inserting ``, the State of Oregon, or any political
subdivision of the State of California or the State of
Oregon''; and
(iii) by striking ``donation or'' and inserting ``purchase,
donation, or'';
(C) in the second sentence, by striking ``In exercising''
and inserting the following:
``(2) Consideration of offers by secretary.--In
exercising'';
(D) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Secretary''
and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Acquisition of cedar creek parcel.--On the adoption
of a resolution by the State Land Board of Oregon and subject
to available funding, the Secretary shall acquire all right,
title, and interest in and to the approximately 555 acres of
land known as the `Cedar Creek Parcel' located in sec. 16, T.
41 S., R. 11 W., Willamette Meridian.''.
(5) Fish and game.--Section 7 of the Smith River National
Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460bbb-5) is amended--
(A) in the first sentence, by inserting ``or the State of
Oregon'' after ``State of California''; and
(B) in the second sentence, by inserting ``or the State of
Oregon, as applicable'' after ``State of California''.
(6) Management planning.--Section 9 of the Smith River
National Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460bbb-7) is
amended--
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ``The Secretary''
and inserting the following:
``(a) Revision of Management Plan.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Smith River National Recreation Area Management Plan
Revision.--As soon as practicable after the date of the first
revision of the forest plan after the date of enactment of
this subsection, the Secretary shall revise the management
plan for the recreation area--
``(1) to reflect the expansion of the recreation area into
the State of Oregon under
[[Page S5994]]
section 1095(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2025; and
``(2) to include an updated recreation action schedule to
identify specific use and development plans for the areas
described in the map entitled `Proposed Additions to the
Smith River National Recreation Area' and dated January 23,
2023.''.
(7) Streamside protection zones.--Section 11(b) of the
Smith River National Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460bbb-
8(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(24) Each of the river segments described in subparagraph
(B) of section 3(a)(92) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16
U.S.C. 1274(a)(92)).''.
(8) State and local jurisdiction and assistance.--Section
12 of the Smith River National Recreation Area Act (16 U.S.C.
460bbb-9) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``California or any
political subdivision thereof'' and inserting ``California,
the State of Oregon, or a political subdivision of the State
of California or the State of Oregon'';
(B) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``California or its political subdivisions''
and inserting ``California, the State of Oregon, or a
political subdivision of the State of California or the State
of Oregon''; and
(C) in subsection (c), in the first sentence--
(i) by striking ``California and its political
subdivisions'' and inserting ``California, the State of
Oregon, and any political subdivision of the State of
California or the State of Oregon''; and
(ii) by striking ``State and its political subdivisions''
and inserting ``State of California, the State of Oregon, and
any political subdivision of the State of California or the
State of Oregon''.
(b) Wild and Scenic River Designations.--
(1) North fork smith additions, oregon.--
(A) Finding.--Congress finds that the source tributaries of
the North Fork Smith River in the State of Oregon possess
outstandingly remarkable wild anadromous fish and
prehistoric, cultural, botanical, recreational, and water
quality values.
(B) Designation.--Section 3(a)(92) of the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)(92)) is amended--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``scenic'' and
inserting ``wild'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as
clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(iii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``The 13-mile'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The 13-mile''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Additions.--The following segments of the source
tributaries of the North Fork Smith River, to be administered
by the Secretary of Agriculture in the following classes:
``(i) The 13.26-mile segment of Baldface Creek from its
headwaters, including all perennial tributaries, to the
confluence with the North Fork Smith in T. 39 S., R 10 W., T.
40 S., R. 10 W., and T. 41 S., R. 11 W., Willamette Meridian,
as a wild river.
``(ii) The 3.58-mile segment from the headwaters of Taylor
Creek to the confluence with Baldface Creek, as a wild river.
``(iii) The 4.38-mile segment from the headwaters of the
unnamed tributary to Biscuit Creek and the headwaters of
Biscuit Creek to the confluence with Baldface Creek, as a
wild river.
``(iv) The 2.27-mile segment from the headwaters of Spokane
Creek to the confluence with Baldface Creek, as a wild river.
``(v) The 1.25-mile segment from the headwaters of Rock
Creek to the confluence with Baldface Creek, flowing south
from sec. 19, T. 40 S., R. 10 W., Willamette Meridian, as a
wild river.
``(vi) The 1.31-mile segment from the headwaters of the
unnamed tributary number 2 to the confluence with Baldface
Creek, flowing north from sec. 27, T. 40 S., R. 10 W.,
Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.
``(vii) The 3.6-mile segment from the 2 headwaters of the
unnamed tributary number 3 to the confluence with Baldface
Creek, flowing south from secs. 9 and 10, T. 40 S., R. 10 W.,
Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.
``(viii) The 1.57-mile segment from the headwaters of the
unnamed tributary number 4 to the confluence with Baldface
Creek, flowing north from sec. 26, T. 40 S., R. 10 W.,
Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.
``(ix) The 0.92-mile segment from the headwaters of the
unnamed tributary number 5 to the confluence with Baldface
Creek, flowing north from sec. 13, T. 40 S., R. 10 W.,
Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.
``(x) The 4.90-mile segment from the headwaters of Cedar
Creek to the confluence with North Fork Smith River, as a
wild river.
``(xi) The 2.38-mile segment from the headwaters of
Packsaddle Gulch to the confluence with North Fork Smith
River, as a wild river.
``(xii) The 2.4-mile segment from the headwaters of
Hardtack Creek to the confluence with North Fork Smith River,
as a wild river.
``(xiii) The 2.21-mile segment from the headwaters of the
unnamed creek to the confluence with North Fork Smith River,
flowing east from sec. 29, T. 40 S., R. 11 W., Willamette
Meridian, as a wild river.
``(xiv) The 3.06-mile segment from the headwaters of Horse
Creek to the confluence with North Fork Smith River, as a
wild river.
``(xv) The 2.61-mile segment of Fall Creek from the Oregon
State border to the confluence with North Fork Smith River,
as a wild river.
``(xvi)(I) Except as provided in subclause (II), the 4.57-
mile segment from the headwaters of North Fork Diamond Creek
to the confluence with Diamond Creek, as a wild river.
``(II) Notwithstanding subclause (I), the portion of the
segment described in that subclause that starts 100 feet
above Forest Service Road 4402 and ends 100 feet below Forest
Service Road 4402 shall be administered as a scenic river.
``(xvii) The 1.02-mile segment from the headwaters of
Diamond Creek to the Oregon State border in sec. 14, T. 40
S., R. 10 W., Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.
``(xviii) The 1.14-mile segment from the headwaters of
Acorn Creek to the confluence with Horse Creek, as a wild
river.
``(xix) The 8.58-mile segment from the headwaters of Chrome
Creek to the confluence with North Fork Smith River, as a
wild river.
``(xx) The 2.98-mile segment from the headwaters Chrome
Creek tributary number 1 to the confluence with Chrome Creek,
0.82 miles upstream from the mouth of Chrome Creek in the
Kalmiopsis Wilderness, flowing south from sec. 15, T. 40 S.,
R. 11 W., Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.
``(xxi) The 2.19-mile segment from the headwaters of Chrome
Creek tributary number 2 to the confluence with Chrome Creek,
3.33 miles upstream from the mouth of Chrome Creek in the
Kalmiopsis Wilderness, flowing south from sec. 12, T. 40 S.,
R. 11 W., Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.
``(xxii) The 1.27-mile segment from the headwaters of
Chrome Creek tributary number 3 to the confluence with Chrome
Creek, 4.28 miles upstream from the mouth of Chrome Creek in
the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, flowing north from sec. 18, T. 40
S., R. 10 W., Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.
``(xxiii) The 2.27-mile segment from the headwaters of
Chrome Creek tributary number 4 to the confluence with Chrome
Creek, 6.13 miles upstream from the mouth of Chrome Creek,
flowing south from Chetco Peak in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness
in sec. 36, T. 39 S., R. 11 W., Willamette Meridian, as a
wild river.
``(xxiv) The 0.6-mile segment from the headwaters of Wimer
Creek to the border between the States of Oregon and
California, flowing south from sec. 17, T. 41 S., R. 10 W.,
Willamette Meridian, as a wild river.''.
(2) Expansion of smith river, oregon.--Section 3(a) of the
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is amended by
striking paragraph (111) and inserting the following:
``(111) Smith river, california and oregon.--The segment
from the confluence of the Middle Fork Smith River and the
North Fork Smith River to the Six Rivers National Forest
boundary, including the following segments of the mainstem
and certain tributaries, to be administered by the Secretary
of Agriculture in the following classes:
``(A) Mainstem.--The segment from the confluence of the
Middle Fork Smith River and the South Fork Smith River to the
Six Rivers National Forest boundary, as a recreational river.
``(B) Rowdy creek.--
``(i) Upper.--The segment from and including the headwaters
to the California-Oregon State line, as a wild river.
``(ii) Lower.--The segment from the California-Oregon State
line to the Six Rivers National Forest boundary, as a
recreational river.''.
______
SA 3258. Mr. LUJAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. HERMIT'S PEAK/CALF CANYON CLAIMS EXTENSION.
Section 104 of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire
Assistance Act (Public Law 117-180; 136 Stat. 2170) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``Not later than 2 years
after the date on which regulations are first promulgated
under subsection (f)'' and inserting ``Not later than
December 31, 2026''; and
(2) in subsection (d)(4)(C)--
(A) in clause (vii), by striking ``the date that is 3 years
after the date on which the regulations under subsection (f)
are first promulgated'' and inserting ``December 31, 2030'';
(B) by amending clause (viii) to read as follows:
``(viii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
premium for flood insurance that is required to be paid on or
before December 31, 2026, if--
``(I) as a result of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, a
person that was not required to purchase flood insurance
before the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire is required to
purchase flood insurance; or
``(II) a person did not maintain flood insurance before the
Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire but purchased flood insurance
after the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire due to fear of
heightened flood risk.'';
[[Page S5995]]
(C) by redesgnating clause (x) as clause (xi); and
(D) by inserting after clause (ix) the following:
``(x) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B), costs incurred not
later than December 31, 2030 of reasonable efforts, as
determined by the Administrator, by the State of New Mexico
to design, construct, and operate a center with the purpose
of researching, developing and generating native seedlings to
successfully regenerate forests destroyed by the Hermit's
Peak/Calf Canyon Fire with native species.''.
______
SA 3259. Mr. WARNOCK (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:
SEC. ___. DEFINITION OF SURVIVING SPOUSE FOR PURPOSES OF
VETERANS BENEFITS.
Paragraph (3) of section 101 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(3) The term `surviving spouse' means (except for
purposes of chapter 19 of this title) a person who was the
spouse of a veteran at the time of the veteran's death, and
who lived with the veteran continuously from the date of
marriage to the date of the veteran's death (except where
there was a separation which was due to the misconduct of, or
procured by, the veteran without the fault of the spouse) and
who has not remarried.''.
______
SA 3260. Mr. BUDD (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:
SEC. __. EXPANDING COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENTS TO PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNITED STATES
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS.
Section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking``State or local
government'' and inserting ``State, local, or territorial
government''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Territorial Governments.--For the purposes of this
section, the government of a territory of the United States
shall be considered a non-Federal party.''.
______
SA 3261. Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Blumenthal,
and Mr. Cornyn) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him
to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle E of title V, add the following:
SEC. 562. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING FLIGHT TRAINING COURSE
AVAILABILITY FOR UKRANIAN F-16 AIRCRAFT PILOTS.
It is the sense of Congress that during fiscal year 2025,
the Department of Defense should continue to work with
international partners to ensure that Ukraine's military
aviation needs are being met, including F-16 basic flight
training in the United States and at allied nation facilities
overseas.
______
SA 3262. Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself and Mr. Daines) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle F of title III, add the following:
SEC. 358. BRIEFING ON COMMERCIAL AIRLIFT REVIEW BOARD
CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND CRITERIA.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commander of the United States
Transportation Command, in consultation with the Commercial
Airlift Review Board, shall brief the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on
the certification process and criteria used by the Commercial
Airlift Review Board.
(b) Elements.--
(1) In general.--The briefing required under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
(A) The total number of requests received for certification
by the Commercial Airlift Review Board during the one-year
period preceding the date of the briefing, disaggregated by
domestic and international certification requests.
(B) The total number of such requests that were approved,
disaggregated by domestic and international certification
requests.
(C) The total number of such requests that are pending as
of the date of the briefing, disaggregated by domestic and
international certification requests, along with the reason
for the delay in making a decision on each such request.
(D) The total number of such requests that were denied,
disaggregated by domestic and international certification
requests, along with the reason for the denial decision.
(2) Additional information.--
(A) Approvals.--If any approval included under paragraph
(1)(B) limits the area of contract performance under such
approval, the briefing required under subsection (a) shall
include information about all such limitations and the
rationale for restricting certification based on area of
performance.
(B) Denials.--If any denial included under paragraph (1)(D)
is a repeat denial from an entity previously denied a
certification during the one-year period preceding the date
of the briefing required under subsection (a), the briefing
shall include an explanation of the reason for the repeated
denials.
______
SA 3263. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by her to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 1239. PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND PROSPERITY IN THE WESTERN
BALKANS.--
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act''.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Western Balkans countries (the Republic of Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic
of Kosovo, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and
the Republic of Serbia) form a pluralistic, multi-ethnic
region in the heart of Europe that is critical to the peace,
stability, and prosperity of that continent.
(2) Continued peace, stability, and prosperity in the
Western Balkans is directly tied to the opportunities for
democratic and economic advancement available to the citizens
and residents of those seven countries.
(3) It is in the mutual interest of the United States and
the seven countries of the Western Balkans to promote stable
and sustainable economic growth and development in the
region.
(4) The reforms and integration with the European Union
pursued by countries in the Western Balkans have led to
significant democratic and economic progress in the region.
(5) Despite economic progress, rates of poverty and
unemployment in the Western Balkans remain higher than in
neighboring European Union countries.
(6) Out-migration, particularly of youth, is affecting
demographics in each Western Balkans country, resulting in
population decline in all seven countries.
(7) Implementing critical economic and governance reforms
could help enable investment and employment opportunities in
the Western Balkans, especially for youth, and can provide
powerful tools for economic development and for encouraging
broader participation in a political process that increases
trade and prosperity for all.
(8) Existing regional economic efforts, such as the Common
Regional Market, the Berlin Process, and the Open Balkan
Initiative, could have the potential to improve the economic
conditions in the Western Balkans, while promoting inclusion
and transparency.
(9) Corruption, including among key political leaders,
continues to plague the Western Balkans and represents one of
the greatest impediments to further economic and political
development in the region.
(10) Disinformation campaigns targeting the Western Balkans
undermine the credibility of its democratic institutions,
including the integrity of its elections.
(11) Vulnerability to cyberattacks or attacks on
information and communication technology infrastructure
increases risks to the functioning of government and the
delivery of public services.
(12) The Department of State, along with other Federal
agencies, plays a critical role in defending the national
security interests of the United States, including by
deploying cyber hunt forward teams at the request of partner
nations to reinforce their cyber defenses.
[[Page S5996]]
(13) Securing domestic and international cyber networks and
ICT infrastructure is a national security priority for the
United States, which is exemplified by offices and programs
across the Federal Government that support cybersecurity.
(14) Corruption and disinformation proliferate in political
environments marked by autocratic control or partisan
conflict.
(15) Dependence on Russian sources of fossil fuels and
natural gas for the countries of the Western Balkans ties
their economies and politics to the Russian Federation and
inhibits their aspirations for European integration.
(16) Reducing the reliance of the Western Balkans on
Russian natural gas supplies and fossil fuels is in the
national interest of the United States.
(17) The growing influence of China in the Western Balkans
could also have a deleterious impact on strategic
competition, democracy, and economic integration with Europe.
(18) In March 2022, President Biden launched the European
Democratic Resilience Initiative to bolster democratic
resilience, advance anti-corruption efforts, and defend human
rights in Ukraine and its neighbors in response to Russia's
war of aggression.
(19) The parliamentary and local elections held in Serbia
on December 17, 2023, and their immediate aftermath are cause
for deep concern about the state of Serbia's democracy,
including due to the final report of the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights, which--
(A) found ``unjust conditions'' for the election;
(B) found ``numerous procedural deficiencies, including
inconsistent application of safeguards during voting and
counting, frequent instances of overcrowding, breaches in
secrecy of the vote, and numerous instances of group
voting''; and
(C) asserted that ``voting must be repeated'' in certain
polling stations.
(20) The Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe also noted that Serbian officials accused primarily
peaceful protestors, opposition parties, and civil society of
``attempting to destabilize the government'', a concerning
allegation that threatens the safety of important elements of
Serbian society.
(21) Democratic countries whose values are in alignment
with the United States make for stronger and more durable
partnerships.
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is a sense of Congress that the
United States should--
(1) encourage increased trade and investment between the
United States and allies and partners in the Western Balkans;
(2) expand United States assistance to regional integration
efforts in the Western Balkans;
(3) strengthen and expand regional economic integration in
the Western Balkans, especially enterprises owned by and
employing women and youth;
(4) work with allies and partners committed to improving
the rule of law, energy resource diversification, democratic
and economic reform, and the reduction of poverty in the
Western Balkans;
(5) increase United States trade and investment with the
Western Balkans, particularly in ways that support countries'
efforts--
(A) to decrease dependence on Russian energy sources and
fossil fuels;
(B) to increase energy diversification, efficiency, and
conservation; and
(C) to facilitate the transition to cleaner and more
reliable sources of energy, including renewables, as
appropriate;
(6) continue to assist in the development, within the
Western Balkans, of--
(A) strong civil societies;
(B) public-private partnerships;
(C) independent media;
(D) transparent, accountable, citizen-responsive
governance, including equal representation for women and
youth;
(E) political stability; and
(F) modern, free-market based economies.
(7) support the expeditious accession of those Western
Balkans countries that are not already members to the
European Union and to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(referred to in this section as ``NATO'') for countries that
desire and are eligible for such membership;
(8) support--
(A) maintaining the full European Union Force (EUFOR)
mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina as being in the national
security interests of the United States;
(B) encouraging NATO and the European Union to review their
mission mandates and posture in Bosnia and Herzegovina to
ensure they are playing a proactive role in establishing a
safe and secure environment, particularly in the realm of
defense;
(C) working within NATO to encourage contingency planning
for an international military force to maintain a safe and
secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially if
Russia blocks reauthorization of the mission in the United
Nations; and
(D) a strengthened NATO headquarters in Sarajevo;
(9) continue to support the European Union membership
aspirations of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North
Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia by supporting meeting the
benchmarks required for their accession;
(10) continue to support the overarching mission of the
Berlin Process and locally-driven initiatives that are
inclusive of all Western Balkans countries and remains
aligned with the objectives and standards laid out by the
European Union as requirements for accession to the European
Union;
(11) continue to support the cultural heritage, and
recognize the languages, of the Western Balkans;
(12) coordinate closely with the European Union, the United
Kingdom, and other allies and partners on sanctions
designations in Western Balkans countries and work to align
efforts as much as possible to demonstrate a clear commitment
to upholding democratic values;
(13) expand bilateral security cooperation with non-NATO
member Western Balkans countries, particularly efforts
focused on regional integration and cooperation, including
through the Adriatic Charter, which was launched at Tirana on
May 2, 2003;
(14) increase efforts to combat Russian malign influence
campaigns and any other destabilizing or disruptive
activities targeting the Western Balkans through engagement
with government institutions, political stakeholders,
journalists, civil society organizations, and industry
leaders;
(15) develop a series of cyber resilience standards,
consistent with the Enhanced Cyber Defence Policy and
Readiness Action Plan endorsed at the 2014 Wales Summit of
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to expand cooperation
with partners and allies, including in the Western Balkans,
on cyber security and ICT infrastructure;
(16) articulate clearly and unambiguously the United States
commitment to supporting democratic values and respect for
international law as the sole path forward for the countries
of the Western Balkans; and
(17) prioritize partnerships and programming with Western
Balkan countries that demonstrate commitment toward
strengthening their democracies and show respect for human
rights.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of
the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
(2) ICT.--The term ``ICT'' means information and
communication technology.
(3) Western balkans.--The term ``Western Balkans'' means
the region comprised of the following countries:
(A) The Republic of Albania.
(B) Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(C) The Republic of Croatia.
(D) The Republic of Kosovo.
(E) Montenegro.
(F) The Republic of North Macedonia.
(G) The Republic of Serbia.
(4) Western balkans country.--The term ``Western Balkans
country'' means any country listed in subparagraphs (A)
through (G) of paragraph (3).
(e) Codification of Sanctions Relating to the Western
Balkans.--
(1) In general.--Each person listed or designated for the
imposition of sanctions under an executive order described in
paragraph (3) as of the date of the enactment of this Act
shall remain so designated, except as provided in paragraphs
(4) and (5).
(2) Continuation of sanctions authorities.--Each authority
to impose sanctions provided for under an executive order
described in paragraph (3) shall remain in effect.
(3) Executive orders specified.--The executive orders
specified in this paragraph are--
(A) Executive Order 13219, as amended by Executive Order
13304 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property of
persons who threaten international stabilization efforts in
the Western Balkans); and
(B) Executive Order 14033 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to
blocking property and suspending entry into the United States
of certain persons contributing to the destabilizing
situation in the Western Balkans), as in effect on such date
of enactment.
(4) Termination of sanctions.--
(A) Executive order 14033.--The President may terminate the
application of a sanction authorized under Executive Order
14033 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property and
suspending entry into the United States of certain persons
contributing to the destabilizing situation in the Western
Balkans) with respect to a person if the President certifies
to the appropriate congressional committees that--
(i) the person is not engaging in the activity that was the
basis for the sanctions or has taken significant verifiable
steps toward stopping the activity; and
(ii) the President has received reliable assurances that
the person will not knowingly engage in activity subject to
sanctions described in paragraph (1) in the future.
(B) Rule of construction regarding delisting procedures
relating to sanctions authorized under executive orders 13219
and 13304.--Nothing in this Act may be construed to modify
the delisting procedures used by the Department of the
Treasury with respect to sanctions authorized under Executive
Order 13219, as amended by Executive
[[Page S5997]]
Order 13304 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking
property of persons who threaten international stabilization
efforts in the Western Balkans).
(5) Waiver.--
(A) In general.--The President may waive the application of
sanctions under this subsection for renewable periods not to
exceed 180 days if the President--
(i) determines that such a waiver is in the national
security interests of the United States; and
(ii) not less than 15 days before the granting of the
waiver, submits to the appropriate congressional committees a
notice of and justification for the waiver.
(B) Form.--The waiver described in subparagraph (A) may be
transmitted in classified form.
(6) Exceptions.--
(A) Humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions under this
subsection shall not apply to--
(i) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the
provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine,
medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or for humanitarian
purposes; or
(ii) transactions that are necessary for, or related to,
the activities described in clause (i).
(B) Compliance with international obligations and law
enforcement activities.--Sanctions under this section shall
not apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling
such alien is necessary--
(i) to comply with United States obligations under--
(I) the Agreement between the United Nations and the United
States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered
into force November 21, 1947;
(II) the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna
April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967; or
(III) any other international agreement; or
(ii) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity in the
United States.
(C) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions under
this section shall not apply to--
(i) any activity subject to the reporting requirements
under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
3091 et seq.); or
(ii) any authorized intelligence activities of the United
States.
(D) Exception relating to importation of goods.--
(i) In general.--The requirement to block and prohibit all
transactions in all property and interests in property under
this section shall not include the authority or a requirement
to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
(ii) Defined term.--In this subparagraph, the term ``good''
means any article, natural or manmade substance, material,
supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test
equipment, and excluding technical data.
(7) Rulemaking.--The President is authorized to promulgate
such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out
the provisions of this section (which may include regulatory
exceptions), including under section 205 of the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1704)).
(8) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to limit the authorities of the President under the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701
et seq.).
(9) Sunset.--This subsection shall cease to have force or
effect beginning on the date that is 8 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(f) Democratic and Economic Development and Prosperity
Initiatives.--
(1) Anti-corruption initiative.--The Secretary of State,
through ongoing and new programs, shall develop an initiative
that--
(A) seeks to expand technical assistance in each Western
Balkans country, taking into account local conditions and
contingent on the agreement of the host country government to
develop new national anti-corruption strategies;
(B) seeks to share best practices with, and provide
training to, civilian law enforcement agencies and judicial
institutions, and other relevant administrative bodies, of
the Western Balkans countries, to improve the efficiency,
transparency, and accountability of such agencies and
institutions;
(C) strengthens existing national anti-corruption
strategies--
(i) to combat political corruption, particularly in the
judiciary, independent election oversight bodies, and public
procurement processes; and
(ii) to strengthen regulatory and legislative oversight of
critical governance areas, such as freedom of information and
public procurement, including by strengthening cyber defenses
and ICT infrastructure networks;
(D) includes the Western Balkans countries in the European
Democratic Resilience Initiative of the Department of State,
or any equivalent successor initiative, and considers the
Western Balkans as a recipient of anti-corruption funding for
such initiative; and
(E) seeks to promote the important role of an independent
media in countering corruption through engagements with
governments of Western Balkan countries and providing
training opportunities for journalists on investigative
reporting.
(2) Prioritizing cyber resilience, regional trade, and
economic competitiveness.--
(A) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(i) promoting stronger economic, civic, and political
relationships among Western Balkans countries will enable
countries to better utilize existing resources and maximize
their economic security and democratic resilience by
reinforcing cyber defenses and increasing trade in goods and
services among other countries in the region; and
(ii) United States investments in and assistance toward
creating a more integrated region ensures political stability
and security for the region.
(B) 5-year strategy for economic development and democratic
resilience in western balkans.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State
and the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, in coordination with the heads of
other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a regional
economic development and democratic resilience strategy for
the Western Balkans that complements the efforts of the
European Union, European nations, and other multilateral
financing institutions--
(i) to consider the full set of tools and resources
available from the relevant agencies;
(ii) to include efforts to ensure coordination with
multilateral and bilateral partners, such as the European
Union, the World Bank, and other relevant assistance
frameworks;
(iii) to include an initial public assessment of--
(I) economic opportunities for which United States
businesses, or those of other like-minded partner countries,
would be competitive;
(II) legal, economic, governance, infrastructural, or other
barriers limiting United States trade and investment in the
Western Balkans;
(III) the effectiveness of all existing regional
cooperation initiatives, such as the Open Balkan initiative
and the Western Balkans Common Regional Market; and
(IV) ways to increase United States trade and investment
within the Western Balkans;
(iv) to develop human and institutional capacity and
infrastructure across multiple sectors of economies,
including clean energy, energy efficiency, agriculture, small
and medium-sized enterprise development, health, and cyber-
security;
(v) to assist with the development and implementation of
regional and international trade agreements;
(vi) to support women-owned enterprises;
(vii) to promote government and civil society policies and
programs that combat corruption and encourage transparency
(including by supporting independent media by promoting the
safety and security of journalists), free and fair
competition, sound governance, judicial reform, environmental
stewardship, and business environments conducive to
sustainable and inclusive economic growth; and
(viii) to include a public diplomacy strategy that
describes the actions that will be taken by relevant agencies
to increase support for the United States relationship by
citizens of Western Balkans countries.
(C) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide a
briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that
describes the progress made towards developing the strategy
required under subparagraph (B).
(3) Regional trade and development initiative.--
(A) Authorization.--The Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, in coordination with the heads of other relevant
Federal departments and agencies, may coordinate a regional
trade and development initiative for the region comprised of
each Western Balkans country and any European Union member
country that shares a border with a Western Balkans country
(referred to in this subsection as the ``Western Balkans
region'') in accordance with this paragraph.
(B) Initiative elements.--The initiative authorized under
subparagraph (A) shall--
(i) promote private sector growth and competitiveness and
increase the capacity of businesses, particularly small and
medium-sized enterprises, in the Western Balkans region;
(ii) aim to increase intraregional exports to countries in
the Balkans and European Union member states;
(iii) aim to increase United States exports to, and
investments in, countries in the Balkans;
(iv) support startup companies, including companies led by
youth or women, in the Western Balkans region by--
(I) providing training in business skills and leadership;
and
(II) providing opportunities to connect to sources of
capital;
(v) encourage and promote inward and outward trade and
investment through engagement with the Western Balkans
diaspora communities in the United States and abroad;
(vi) provide assistance to the governments and civil
society organizations of Western Balkans countries to
develop--
(I) regulations to ensure fair and effective investment;
and
(II) screening tools to identify and deter malign
investments and other coercive economic practices;
[[Page S5998]]
(vii) review existing assistance programming relating to
the Western Balkans across Federal agencies--
(I) to eliminate duplication; and
(II) to identify areas of potential coordination within the
Western Balkans region;
(viii) identify areas where application of additional
resources could expand successful programs to 1 or more
countries in the Western Balkans region by building on the
existing experience and program architecture;
(ix) compare existing single-country sector analyses to
determine areas of focus that would benefit from a regional
approach with respect to the Western Balkans region; and
(x) promote intraregional trade throughout the Western
Balkans region through--
(I) programming, including grants, cooperative agreements,
and other forms of assistance;
(II) expanding awareness of the availability of loans and
other financial instruments from the United States
Government; and
(III) coordinating access to existing trade instruments
available through allies and partners in the Western Balkans
region, including the European Union and international
financial institutions.
(C) Support for regional infrastructure projects.--The
initiative authorized under subparagraph (A) should
facilitate and prioritize support for regional infrastructure
projects, including--
(i) transportation projects that build roads, bridges,
railways and other physical infrastructure to facilitate
travel of goods and people throughout the Western Balkans
region;
(ii) technical support and investments needed to meet
United States and European Union standards for air travel,
including screening and information sharing;
(iii) the development of telecommunications networks with
trusted providers;
(iv) infrastructure projects that connect Western Balkans
countries to each other and to countries with which they
share a border;
(v) the effective analysis of tenders and transparent
procurement processes;
(vi) investment transparency programs that will help
countries in the Western Balkans analyze gaps and establish
institutional and regulatory reforms necessary--
(I) to create an enabling environment for trade and
investment; and
(II) to strengthen protections against suspect investments
through public procurement and privatization and through
foreign direct investments;
(vii) sharing best practices learned from the United States
and other international partners to ensure that institutional
and regulatory mechanisms for addressing these issues are
fair, nonarbitrary, effective, and free from corruption;
(viii) projects that support regional energy security and
reduce dependence on Russian energy;
(ix) technical assistance and generating private investment
in projects that promote connectivity and energy-sharing in
the Western Balkans region;
(x) technical assistance to support regional collaboration
on environmental protection that includes governmental,
political, civic, and business stakeholders; and
(xi) technical assistance to develop financing options and
help create linkages with potential financing institutions
and investors.
(D) Requirements.--All programming under the initiative
authorized under subparagraph (A) shall--
(i) be open to the participation of Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia;
(ii) be consistent with European Union accession
requirements;
(iii) be focused on retaining talent within the Western
Balkans;
(iv) promote government policies in Western Balkans
countries that encourage free and fair competition, sound
governance, environmental protection, and business
environments that are conducive to sustainable and inclusive
economic growth; and
(v) include a public diplomacy strategy to inform local and
regional audiences in the Western Balkans region about the
initiative, including specific programs and projects.
(4) United states international development finance
corporation.--
(A) Appointments.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Chief Executive Officer of the United
States International Development Finance Corporation, in
collaboration with the Secretary of State, should consider
including a regional office with responsibilities for the
Western Balkans within the Corporation's plans to open new
regional offices.
(B) Joint report.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of
the United States International Development Finance
Corporation and the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development shall submit a joint report to
the appropriate congressional committees that includes--
(i) an assessment of the benefits of providing sovereign
loan guarantees to countries in the Western Balkans to
support infrastructure and energy diversification projects;
(ii) an outline of additional resources, such as tools,
funding, and personnel, which may be required to offer
sovereign loan guarantees in the Western Balkans; and
(iii) an assessment of how the United States International
Development Finance Corporation can deploy its insurance
products in support of bonds or other instruments issued to
raise capital through United States financial markets in the
Western Balkans.
(g) Promoting Cross-cultural and Educational Engagement.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) promoting partnerships between United States
universities and universities in the Western Balkans,
particularly universities in traditionally under-served
communities, advances United States foreign policy goals and
requires a whole-of-government approach, including the
utilization of public-private partnerships;
(B) such university partnerships would provide
opportunities for exchanging academic ideas, technical
expertise, research, and cultural understanding for the
benefit of the United States; and
(C) the seven countries in the Western Balkans meet the
requirements under section 105(c)(4) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c(c)(4)).
(2) University partnerships.--The President, working
through the Secretary of State, is authorized to provide
assistance, consistent with section 105 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c), to promote the
establishment of partnerships between United States
universities and universities in the Western Balkans,
including--
(A) supporting research and analysis on foreign policy,
cyber resilience, and disinformation;
(B) working with partner governments to reform policies,
improve curricula, strengthen data systems, train teachers
and students, including English language teaching, and to
provide quality, inclusive learning materials;
(C) encouraging knowledge exchanges to help provide
individuals, particularly at-risk youth, women, people with
disabilities, and other vulnerable, marginalized, or
underserved communities, with relevant education, training,
and skills for meaningful employment;
(D) promoting teaching and research exchanges between
institutions of higher education in the Western Balkans and
in the United States; and
(E) encouraging alliances and exchanges with like-minded
institutions of education within the Western Balkans and the
larger European continent.
(h) Peace Corps in the Western Balkans.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Peace Corps, whose mission is to promote world peace and
friendship, in part by helping the people of interested
countries in meeting their need for trained men and women,
provides an invaluable opportunity to connect the people of
the United States with the people of the Western Balkans.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps should
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees
that includes an analysis of current opportunities for Peace
Corps expansion in the Western Balkans region.
(i) Young Balkan Leaders Initiative.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
regular people-to-people exchange programs that bring
religious leaders, journalists, civil society members,
politicians, and other individuals from the Western Balkans
to the United States will strengthen existing relationships
and advance United States interests and shared values in the
Western Balkans region.
(2) BOLD leadership program for young balkans leaders.--
(A) Sense of congress.--The Department of State, through
BOLD, a leadership program for young leaders in certain
Western Balkans countries, plays an important role to develop
young leaders in improving civic engagement and economic
development in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and
Montenegro.
(B) Expansion.--BOLD should be expanded, subject to the
availability of appropriations, to the entire Western Balkans
region.
(3) Authorization.--The Secretary of State should further
develop and implement BOLD, which shall hereafter be known as
the ``Young Balkan Leaders Initiative'', to promote
educational and professional development for young adult
leaders and professionals in the Western Balkans who have
demonstrated a passion to contribute to the continued
development of the Western Balkans region.
(4) Conduct of initiative.--The goals of the Young Balkan
Leaders Initiative shall be--
(A) to further build the capacity of young Balkan leaders
in the Western Balkans in the areas of business and
information technology, cyber security and digitization,
agriculture, civic engagement, and public administration;
(B) to support young Balkan leaders by offering
professional development, training, and networking
opportunities, particularly in the areas of leadership,
innovation, civic engagement, elections, human rights,
entrepreneurship, good governance, public administration, and
journalism;
(C) to support young political, parliamentary, and civic
Balkan leaders in collaboration on regional initiatives
related to good governance, environmental protection,
government ethics, and minority inclusion;
[[Page S5999]]
(D) to provide increased economic and technical assistance
to young Balkan leaders to promote economic growth and
strengthen ties between businesses, investors, and
entrepreneurs in the United States and in Western Balkans
countries;
(E) to tailor such assistance to advance the particular
objectives of each United States mission in the Western
Balkans within the framework outlined in this subsection; and
(F) to secure funding for such assistance from existing
funds available to each United States Mission in the Western
Balkans.
(5) Fellowships.--Under the Young Balkan Leaders
Initiative, the Secretary of State shall award fellowships to
young leaders from the Western Balkans who--
(A) are between 18 and 35 years of age;
(B) have demonstrated strong capabilities in
entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership;
(C) have had a positive impact in their communities,
organizations, or institutions, including by promoting cross-
regional and multiethnic cooperation; and
(D) represent a cross-section of geographic, gender,
political, and cultural diversity.
(6) Public engagement and leadership center.--Under the
Young Balkan Leaders Initiative, the Secretary of State shall
take advantage of existing and future public diplomacy
facilities (commonly known as ``American Spaces'') to hire
staff and develop programming for the establishment of a
flagship public engagement and leadership center in the
Western Balkans that seeks--
(A) to counter disinformation and malign influence;
(B) to promote cross-cultural engagement;
(C) to provide training for young leaders from Western
Balkans countries described in paragraph (5);
(D) to harmonize the efforts of existing venues throughout
Western Balkans countries established by the Office of
American Spaces; and
(E) to annually bring together participants from the Young
Balkans Leaders Initiative to provide platforms for regional
networking.
(7) Briefing on certain exchange programs.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional
committees that describes the status of exchange programs
involving the Western Balkans region.
(B) Elements.--The briefing required under subparagraph (A)
shall--
(i) assess the factors constraining the number and
frequency of participants from Western Balkans countries in
the International Visitor Leadership Program of the
Department of State;
(ii) identify the resources that are necessary to address
the factors described in clause (i); and
(iii) describe a strategy for connecting alumni and
participants of professional development exchange programs of
the Department of State in the Western Balkans with alumni
and participants from other countries in Europe, to enhance
inter-region and intra-region, people-to-people ties.
(j) Supporting Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience in the
Western Balkans.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) United States support for cybersecurity, cyber
resilience, and secure ICT infrastructure in Western Balkans
countries will strengthen the region's ability to defend
itself from and respond to malicious cyber activity conducted
by nonstate and foreign actors, including foreign
governments, that seek to influence the region;
(B) insecure ICT networks that are vulnerable to
manipulation can increase opportunities for--
(i) the compromise of cyber infrastructure, including data
networks, electronic infrastructure, and software systems;
and
(ii) the use of online information operations by
adversaries and malign actors to undermine United States
allies and interests; and
(C) it is in the national security interest of the United
States to support the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of
Western Balkans countries.
(2) Interagency report on cybersecurity and the digital
information environment in western balkans countries.--Not
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads
of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees that contains--
(A) an overview of interagency efforts to strengthen
cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans
countries;
(B) a review of the information environment in each Western
Balkans country;
(C) a review of existing United States Government cyber and
digital initiatives that--
(i) counter influence operations and safeguard elections
and democratic processes in Western Balkans countries;
(ii) strengthen ICT infrastructure and cybersecurity
capacity in the Western Balkans;
(iii) support democracy and internet freedom in Western
Balkans countries; and
(iv) build cyber capacity of governments who are allies or
partners of the United States;
(D) an assessment of cyber threat information sharing
between the United States and Western Balkans countries;
(E) an assessment of--
(i) options for the United States to better support
cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans
countries through changes to current assistance authorities;
and
(ii) the advantages or limitations, such as funding or
office space, of posting cyber professionals from other
Federal departments and agencies to United States diplomatic
posts in Western Balkans countries and providing relevant
training to Foreign Service Officers; and
(F) any additional support needed from the United States
for the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of the following
NATO Allies: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and
Croatia.
(k) Relations Between Kosovo and Serbia.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of
Relations, which was agreed to by Kosovo and Serbia on
February 27, 2023, with the facilitation of the European
Union, is a positive step forward in advancing normalization
between the two countries;
(B) Serbia and Kosovo should seek to make immediate
progress on the Implementation Annex to the agreement
referred to in subparagraph (A);
(C) once sufficient progress has been made on the
Implementation Annex, the United States should consider
advancing initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations with
both countries, which could include--
(i) establishing bilateral strategic dialogues with Kosovo
and Serbia; and
(ii) advancing concrete initiatives to deepen trade and
investment with both countries; and
(D) the United States should continue to support a
comprehensive final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia based
on mutual recognition.
(2) Statement of policy.--It is the policy of the United
States Government that--
(A) it shall not pursue any policy that advocates for land
swaps, partition, or other forms of redrawing borders along
ethnic lines in the Western Balkans as a means to arbitrate
disputes between nation states in the region; and
(B) it should support pluralistic democracies in countries
in the Western Balkans as a means to prevent a return to the
ethnic strife that once characterized the region.
(l) Reports on Russian and Chinese Malign Influence
Operations and Campaigns in the Western Balkans.--
(1) Reports required..--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and every two years
thereafter, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
heads of other Federal departments or agencies, as
appropriate, shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees regarding Russian and Chinese malign
influence operations and campaigns carried out with respect
to Balkan countries that seek--
(A) to undermine democratic institutions;
(B) to promote political instability; and
(C) to harm the interests of the United States and other
North Atlantic Treaty Organization member and partner states
in the Western Balkans.
(2) Elements.--Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph
(1) shall include--
(A) an assessment of the objectives of the Russian
Federation and the People's Republic of China regarding
malign influence operations and campaigns carried out with
respect to Western Balkans countries--
(i) to undermine democratic institutions, including the
planning and execution of democratic elections;
(ii) to promote political instability; and
(iii) to manipulate the information environment;
(B) the activities and roles of the Department of State and
other relevant Federal agencies in countering Russian and
Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns;
(C) a comprehensive list identifying--
(i) each network, entity and individual, to the extent such
information is available, of Russia, China, or any other
country with which Russia or China may cooperate, that is
supporting such Russian or Chinese malign influence
operations or campaigns, including the provision of financial
or operational support to activities in a Western Balkans
country that may limit freedom of speech or create barriers
of access to democratic processes, including exercising the
right to vote in a free and fair election; and
(ii) the role of each such entity in providing such
support;
(D) the identification of the tactics, techniques, and
procedures used in Russian or Chinese malign influence
operations and campaigns in Western Balkans countries;
(E) an assessment of the effect of previous Russian or
Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns that
targeted alliances and partnerships of the United States
Armed Forces in the Western Balkans, including the
effectiveness of such operations and campaigns in achieving
the objectives of Russia and China, respectively;
(F) the identification of each Western Balkans country with
respect to which Russia or China has conducted or attempted
to conduct a malign influence operation or campaign;
(G) an assessment of the capacity and efforts of NATO and
of each individual Western Balkans country to counter Russian
or Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns carried
out with respect to Western Balkans countries;
(H) the efforts by the United States to combat such malign
influence operations in
[[Page S6000]]
the Western Balkans, including through the Countering Russian
Influence Fund and the Countering People's Republic of China
Malign Influence Fund;
(I) an assessment of the tactics, techniques, and
procedures that the Secretary of State determines are likely
to be used in future Russian or Chinese malign influence
operations and campaigns carried out with respect to Western
Balkans countries; and
(J) any additional authorities, resources, or activities
that could increase the United States Government's capacity
to counter Russian and Chinese malign influence operations
and campaigns in Western Balkans countries.
(3) Form.--Each report required under paragraph (1) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
______
SA 3264. Mr. YOUNG (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
DIVISION _____--JUDICIAL UNDERSTAFFING DELAYS GETTING EMERGENCIES
SOLVED
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This division may be cited as the ``Judicial Understaffing
Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of 2024'' or the
``JUDGES Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Article III of the Constitution of the United States
gives Congress the power to establish judgeships in the
district courts of the United States.
(2) Congress has not created a new district court judgeship
since 2003 and has not enacted comprehensive judgeship
legislation since 1990.
(3) This represents the longest period of time since
district courts of the United States were established in 1789
that Congress has not authorized any new permanent district
court judgeships.
(4) By the end of fiscal year 2022, filings in the district
courts of the United States had increased by 30 percent since
the last comprehensive judgeship legislation.
(5) As of March 31, 2023, there were 686,797 pending cases
in the district courts of the United States, with an average
of 491 weighted case filings per judgeship over a 12-month
period.
(6) To deal with increased filings in the district courts
of the United States, the Judicial Conference of the United
States requested the creation of 66 new district court
judgeships in its 2023 report.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS.
(a) Additional Judgeships.--
(1) 2025.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 1 additional district judge for the central district of
California;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district
of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Delaware;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the middle district of
Florida;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of Indiana;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of Iowa;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the district of New
Jersey;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of New York;
(x) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district of
Texas; and
(xi) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, is amended--
(i) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern................................... 15
Eastern.................................... 7
Central.................................... 28
Southern................................... 13'';
(ii) by striking the item relating to Delaware and
inserting the following:
``Delaware................................. 5'';
(iii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern................................... 4
Middle..................................... 16
Southern................................... 17'';
(iv) by striking the items relating to Indiana and
inserting the following:
``Indiana:
Northern................................... 5
Southern................................... 6'';
(v) by striking the items relating to Iowa and inserting
the following:
``Iowa:
Northern................................... 3
Southern................................... 3'';
(vi) by striking the item relating to New Jersey and
inserting the following:
``New Jersey............................... 18'';
(vii) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern................................... 5
Southern................................... 29
Eastern.................................... 15
Western.................................... 4''; and
(viii) by striking the items relating to Texas and
inserting the following:
``Texas:
Northern................................... 12
Southern................................... 20
Eastern.................................... 8
Western.................................... 13''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2025.
(2) 2027.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Arizona;
(ii) 2 additional district judges for the central district
of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district
of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of California;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the middle district of
Florida;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of Florida;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of Georgia;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Idaho;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of Texas; and
(x) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (1) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the item relating to Arizona and inserting
the following:
``Arizona.................................. 13'';
(ii) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern................................... 16
Eastern.................................... 8
Central.................................... 30
Southern................................... 13'';
(iii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern................................... 4
Middle..................................... 17
Southern................................... 18'';
(iv) by striking the items relating to Georgia and
inserting the following:
``Georgia:
Northern................................... 12
Middle..................................... 4
Southern................................... 3'';
(v) by striking the item relating to Idaho and inserting
the following:
``Idaho.................................... 3''; and
(vi) by striking the items relating to Texas and inserting
the following:
``Texas:
Northern................................... 13
Southern................................... 21
Eastern.................................... 8
Western.................................... 13''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2027.
(3) 2029.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 1 additional district judge for the central district of
California;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district
of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Colorado;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Delaware;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Nebraska;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district
of New York;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district
of Texas;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of Texas; and
(x) 1 additional district judge for the western district of
Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (2) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern................................... 17
Eastern.................................... 9
Central.................................... 31
Southern................................... 13'';
[[Page S6001]]
(ii) by striking the item relating to Colorado and
inserting the following:
``Colorado................................. 8'';
(iii) by striking the item relating to Delaware and
inserting the following:
``Delaware................................. 6'';
(iv) by striking the item relating to Nebraska and
inserting the following:
``Nebraska................................. 4'';
(v) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern................................... 5
Southern................................... 29
Eastern.................................... 16
Western.................................... 4''; and
(vi) by striking the items relating to Texas and inserting
the following:
``Texas:
Northern................................... 13
Southern................................... 22
Eastern.................................... 9
Western.................................... 14''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2029.
(4) 2031.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Arizona;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the central district
of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district
of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of California;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of California;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the middle district of
Florida;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of Florida;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the district of New
Jersey;
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the western district
of New York; and
(x) 2 additional district judges for the western district
of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (3) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the item relating to Arizona and inserting
the following:
``Arizona.................................. 14'';
(ii) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern................................... 18
Eastern.................................... 10
Central.................................... 32
Southern................................... 14'';
(iii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern................................... 4
Middle..................................... 18
Southern................................... 19'';
(iv) by striking the item relating to New Jersey and
inserting the following:
``New Jersey............................... 19'';
(v) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern................................... 5
Southern................................... 29
Eastern.................................... 16
Western.................................... 5''; and
(vi) by striking the items relating to Texas and inserting
the following:
``Texas:
Northern................................... 13
Southern................................... 22
Eastern.................................... 9
Western.................................... 16''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2031.
(5) 2033.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 2 additional district judges for the central district
of California;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the district of
Colorado;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the middle district of
Florida;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of Florida;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of Georgia;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of New York;
(viii) 1 additional district judge for the southern
district of Texas; and
(ix) 1 additional district judge for the western district
of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (4) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern................................... 19
Eastern.................................... 10
Central.................................... 34
Southern................................... 14'';
(ii) by striking the item relating to Colorado and
inserting the following:
``Colorado................................. 9'';
(iii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern................................... 5
Middle..................................... 19
Southern................................... 19'';
(iv) by striking the items relating to Georgia and
inserting the following:
``Georgia:
Northern................................... 13
Middle..................................... 4
Southern................................... 3'';
(v) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern................................... 5
Southern................................... 30
Eastern.................................... 16
Western.................................... 5''; and
(vi) by striking the items relating to Texas and inserting
the following:
``Texas:
Northern................................... 13
Southern................................... 23
Eastern.................................... 9
Western.................................... 17''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2033.
(6) 2035.--
(A) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(i) 2 additional district judges for the central district
of California;
(ii) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of California;
(iii) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of California;
(iv) 1 additional district judge for the middle district of
Florida;
(v) 1 additional district judge for the southern district
of Florida;
(vi) 1 additional district judge for the district of New
Jersey;
(vii) 1 additional district judge for the eastern district
of New York;
(viii) 2 additional district judges for the western
district of Texas.
(B) Tables.--The table contained in section 133(a) of title
28, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (5) of this
subsection, is amended--
(i) by striking the items relating to California and
inserting the following:
``California:
Northern................................... 20
Eastern.................................... 10
Central.................................... 36
Southern................................... 15'';
(ii) by striking the items relating to Florida and
inserting the following:
``Florida:
Northern................................... 5
Middle..................................... 20
Southern................................... 20'';
(iii) by striking the item relating to New Jersey and
inserting the following:
``New Jersey............................... 20'';
(iv) by striking the items relating to New York and
inserting the following:
``New York:
Northern................................... 5
Southern................................... 30
Eastern.................................... 17
Western.................................... 5''; and
(v) by striking the items relating to Texas and inserting
the following:
``Texas:
Northern................................... 13
Southern................................... 23
Eastern.................................... 9
Western.................................... 19''.
(C) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect on
January 21, 2035.
(b) Temporary Judgeships.--
(1) In general.--The President shall appoint, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate--
(A) 2 additional district judges for the eastern district
of Oklahoma; and
(B) 1 additional district judge for the northern district
of Oklahoma.
(2) Vacancies not filled.--The first vacancy in the office
of district judge in each of the offices of district judge
authorized by this subsection, occurring 5 years or more
after the confirmation date of the judge named to fill the
temporary district judgeship created in the applicable
district by this subsection, shall not be filled.
(3) Effective date.--This subsection shall take effect on
January 21, 2025.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section and the amendments made by this
section--
(A) for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026, $12,965,330;
(B) for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028, $23,152,375;
(C) for each of fiscal years 2029 and 2030, $32,413,325;
(D) for each of fiscal years 2031 and 2032, $42,600,370;
(E) for each of fiscal years 2033 and 2034, $51,861,320;
and
(F) for fiscal year 2035 and each fiscal year thereafter,
$61,122,270.
[[Page S6002]]
(2) Inflation adjustment.--For each fiscal year described
in paragraph (1), the amount authorized to be appropriated
for such fiscal year shall be increased by the percentage by
which--
(A) the Consumer Price Index for the previous fiscal year,
exceeds
(B) the Consumer Price Index for the fiscal year preceding
the fiscal year described in subparagraph (A).
(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``Consumer
Price Index'' means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers (all items, United States city average), published
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
SEC. 4. ORGANIZATION OF UTAH DISTRICT COURTS.
Section 125(2) of title 28, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``and St. George'' and inserting ``St. George,
Moab, and Monticello''.
SEC. 5. ORGANIZATION OF TEXAS DISTRICT COURTS.
Section 124(b)(2) of title 28, United States Code, is
amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (3), by inserting
``and College Station'' before the period at the end.
SEC. 6. ORGANIZATION OF CALIFORNIA DISTRICT COURTS.
Section 84(d) of title 28, United States Code, is amended
by inserting ``and El Centro'' after ``at San Diego''.
SEC. 7. GAO REPORTS.
(a) Judicial Caseloads.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary
of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House
of Representatives and make publicly available reports--
(1) evaluating--
(A) the accuracy and objectiveness of case-related workload
measures and methodologies used by the Administrative Office
of the United States Courts for district courts of the United
States and courts of appeals of the United States;
(B) the impact of non-case-related activities of judges of
the district courts of the United States and courts of
appeals of the United States on judicial caseloads; and
(C) the effectiveness and efficiency of the policies of the
Administrative Office of the United States Courts regarding
senior judges; and
(2) providing any recommendations of the Comptroller
General with respect to the matters described in paragraph
(1).
(b) Detention Space.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the
Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives a report on an assessment of--
(1) a determination of the needs of Federal agencies for
detention space;
(2) efforts by Federal agencies to acquire detention space;
and
(3) any challenges in determining and acquiring detention
space.
SEC. 8. PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY OF THE ARTICLE III JUDGESHIP
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUDICIAL CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED STATES REPORT.
(a) In General.--The Administrative Office of the United
States Courts, in consultation with the Judicial Conference
of the United States, shall make publicly available on their
website, free of charge, the biennial report entitled
``Article III Judgeship Recommendations of the Judicial
Conference of the United States''.
(b) Contents.--The report described in subsection (a)
should be released not less frequently than biennially and
contain the summaries and all related appendixes supporting
the judgeship recommendations of the Judicial Conference of
the United States, including--
(1) the process used by the Judicial Conference in
developing the recommendations;
(2) any caseload and methodology changes;
(3) judgeship surveys with recommendations; and
(4) specific information about each court for which the
Judicial Conference recommends additional judgeships.
(c) Submission to Congress.--The Administrative Office of
the United States Courts shall submit to the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of
the House of Representatives copies of the report described
in subsection (a).
______
SA 3265. Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Mr. Kelly) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. SEMICONDUCTOR PROGRAM.
Title XCIX of division H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15
U.S.C. 4651 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 9902 (15 U.S.C. 4652)--
(A) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections
(i) and (j), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
``(h) Authority Relating to Environmental Review.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the provision by the Secretary of Federal financial
assistance for a project described in this section that
satisfies the requirements under subsection (a)(2)(C)(i) of
this section shall not be considered to be a major Federal
action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (referred to in this subsection as
`NEPA') or an undertaking for the purposes of division A of
subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, if--
``(A) the activity described in the application for that
project has commenced not later than December 31, 2024;
``(B) the Federal financial assistance provided is in the
form of a loan or loan guarantee; or
``(C) the Federal financial assistance provided, excluding
any loan or loan guarantee, comprises not more than 10
percent of the total estimated cost of the project.
``(2) Savings clause.--Nothing in this subsection may be
construed as altering whether an activity described in
subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1) is considered
to be a major Federal action under NEPA, or an undertaking
under division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States
Code, for a reason other than that the activity is eligible
for Federal financial assistance provided under this
section.''; and
(2) in section 9909 (15 U.S.C. 4659), by adding at the end
the following:
``(c) Lead Federal Agency and Cooperating Agencies.--
``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `lead
agency' has the meaning given the term in section 111 of NEPA
(42 U.S.C. 4336e).
``(2) Option to serve as lead agency.--With respect to a
covered activity that is a major Federal action under NEPA,
and with respect to which the Department of Commerce is
authorized or required by law to issue an authorization or
take action for or relating to that covered activity, the
Department of Commerce shall have the first right to serve as
the lead agency with respect to that covered activity under
NEPA.
``(d) Categorical Exclusions.--
``(1) Establishment of categorical exclusions.--Each of the
following categorical exclusions is established for the
National Institute of Standards and Technology with respect
to a covered activity and, beginning on the date of enactment
of this subsection, is available for use by the Secretary
with respect to a covered activity:
``(A) Categorical exclusion 17.04.d (relating to the
acquisition of machinery and equipment) in the document
entitled `EDA Program to Implement the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 and Other Federal Environmental Mandates
As Required' (Directive No. 17.02-2; effective date October
14, 1992).
``(B) Categorical exclusion A9 in Appendix A to subpart D
of part 1021 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor regulation.
``(C) Categorical exclusions B1.24, B1.31, B2.5, and B5.1
in Appendix B to subpart D of part 1021 of title 10, Code of
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
``(D) The categorical exclusions described in paragraphs
(4) and (13) of section 50.19(b) of title 24, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation.
``(E) Categorical exclusion (c)(1) in Appendix B to part
651 of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor regulation.
``(F) Categorical exclusions A2.3.8 and A2.3.14 in Appendix
B to part 989 of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations, or
any successor regulation.
``(2) Additional categorical exclusions.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, each of the following shall be
treated as a category of action categorically excluded from
the requirements relating to environmental assessments and
environmental impact statements under section 1501.4 of title
40, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation:
``(A) The provision by the Secretary of any Federal
financial assistance for a project described in section 9902,
if the facility that is the subject of the project is on or
adjacent to a site--
``(i) that is owned or leased by the covered entity to
which Federal financial assistance is provided for that
project; and
``(ii) on which, as of the date on which the Secretary
provides that Federal financial assistance, substantially
similar construction, expansion, or modernization is being or
has been carried out, such that the facility would not more
than double existing developed acreage or on-site supporting
infrastructure.
``(B) The provision by the Secretary of Defense of any
Federal financial assistance relating to--
``(i) the creation, expansion, or modernization of one or
more facilities described in the second sentence of section
9903(a)(1); or
``(ii) carrying out section 9903(b), as in effect on the
date of enactment of this subsection.
``(C) Any activity undertaken by the Secretary relating to
carrying out section 9906, as in effect on the date of
enactment of this subsection.
``(e) Incorporation of Prior Planning Decisions.--
``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `prior
studies and decisions' means baseline data, planning
documents, studies, analyses, decisions, and documentation
that
[[Page S6003]]
a Federal agency has completed for a project (or that have
been completed under the laws and procedures of a State or
Indian Tribe), including for determining the reasonable range
of alternatives for that project.
``(2) Reliance on prior studies and decisions.--In
completing an environmental review under NEPA for a covered
activity, the Secretary may consider and, as appropriate,
rely on or adopt prior studies and decisions, if the
Secretary determines that--
``(A) those prior studies and decisions meet the standards
for an adequate statement, assessment, or determination under
applicable procedures of the Department of Commerce
implementing the requirements of NEPA;
``(B) in the case of prior studies and decisions completed
under the laws and procedures of a State or Indian Tribe,
those laws and procedures are of equal or greater rigor than
those of each applicable Federal law, including NEPA,
implementing procedures of the Department of Commerce; or
``(C) if applicable, the prior studies and decisions are
informed by other analysis or documentation that would have
been prepared if the prior studies and decisions were
prepared by the Secretary under NEPA.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered activity.--The term `covered activity' means
any activity relating to the construction, expansion, or
modernization of a facility, the investment in which is
eligible for Federal financial assistance under section 9902
or 9906.
``(2) NEPA.--The term `NEPA' means the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).''.
____________________