[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S794-S797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
______
By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Risch):
S. 449. A bill to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
to require the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite hazardous fuel or
insect and disease risk reduction projects on certain National Forest
System land, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objections, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 449
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Expediting Forest
Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. APPLICATION BY FOREST SERVICE OF AUTHORITIES TO
EXPEDITE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES IN CARRYING OUT
HAZARDOUS FUEL AND INSECT AND DISEASE RISK
REDUCTION PROJECTS.
Section 104 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
(16 U.S.C. 6514) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(i) Application by Forest Service of Authorities to
Expedite Environmental Analyses in Carrying Out Hazardous
Fuel and Insect and Disease Risk Reduction Projects.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Insect and disease treatment area.--The term `insect
and disease treatment area' means an area that--
``(i) is designated by the Secretary as an insect and
disease treatment area under this title; or
``(ii) is designated as at-risk or a hazard on the most
recent National Insect and Disease Risk Map published by the
Forest Service.
``(B) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' has the meaning
given the term in section 101(14)(A).
``(2) Use of authorities.--In carrying out a hazardous fuel
or insect and disease risk reduction project authorized under
this Act in an insect and disease treatment area, the
Secretary shall--
``(A) apply the categorical exclusion established by
section 603 if the project is carried out in an insect and
disease treatment area--
``(i) designated as suitable for timber production within
the applicable forest plan; or
``(ii) where timber harvest activities are not prohibited;
``(B) conduct applicable environmental assessments and
environmental impact statements in accordance with this
section if the project is carried out in--
``(i) an insect and disease treatment area--
``(I) outside of an area described in subparagraph (A); or
``(II) where other significant resource concerns exist, as
determined exclusively by the Secretary; or
``(ii) an insect and disease treatment area equivalent to
not less than a Hydrologic Unit code 5 watershed, as defined
by the United States Geological Survey; and
``(C) notwithstanding subsection (d), in the case of any
other hazardous fuel or insect and disease risk reduction
project, in the environmental assessment or environmental
impact statement prepared under subsection (b), study,
develop, and describe--
``(i) the proposed agency action; and
``(ii) the alternative of no action.
``(3) Priority for reducing risks of insect infestation and
wildfire.--Except where established as a mandatory standard
that constrains project and activity decisionmaking in a
resource management plan (as defined in section 101(13)(A))
in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, in the case
of an insect and disease treatment area, the Secretary shall
prioritize reducing the risks of insect and disease
infestation and wildfire over other planning objectives.
``(4) Inclusion of fire regime group iv.--Notwithstanding
section 603(c)(2)(B), the Secretary shall apply the
categorical exclusion described in paragraph (2)(A) to areas
in Fire Regime Group IV.
``(5) Excluded areas.--This subsection shall not apply to--
``(A) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation
System; or
``(B) an inventoried roadless area, except in the case of
an activity that is permitted under--
``(i) the final rule of the Secretary entitled `Special
Areas; Roadless Area Conservation' (66 Fed. Reg. 3244
(January 12, 2001)); or
``(ii) a State-specific roadless area conservation rule.
``(6) Reports.--The Secretary shall annually make publicly
available data describing the acreage treated under hazardous
fuel or insect and disease risk reduction projects in insect
and disease treatment areas during the previous year.''.
SEC. 3. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.
Section 8206(b)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16
U.S.C. 2113a(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C)
and inserting the following:
``(C) Treatment of revenue.--Funds received from the sale
of timber by a Governor of a State under a good neighbor
agreement shall be retained and used by the Governor--
``(i) to carry out authorized restoration services under
that good neighbor agreement; and
``(ii) if funds remain after carrying out authorized
restoration services under clause (i), to carry out
authorized restoration services within the State under other
good neighbor agreements.''.
______
By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Daines, and Mr.
Hickenlooper):
S. 453. A bill to establish a Wildfire Intelligence Center, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry.
Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Wildfire
Intelligence Collaboration and Coordination Act of 2025.
This legislation would establish a joint wildfire intelligence center
between the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, and
the Department of the Interior to foster
[[Page S795]]
collaboration and increase wildfire response capabilities. The scale,
size, and intensity for the wildfire crisis demands a singular, whole-
of-government wildfire intelligence center. Such a center could compile
comprehensive information on wildfires to better inform responses and
inform wildfire recovery and streamline Federal wildfire response to
ensure that States have a one-stop-shop within the federal government.
This center would also increase monitoring and imaging capabilities
that land management Agencies currently cannot achieve.
As we have seen with the destruction in Los Angeles, increasingly
severe and frequent wildfires pose a significant to the whole Western
United States. In recent years, huge wildfires have struck Alaska,
Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Hawaii, and my home State of California.
Whether the fire was burning in your State or whether the smoke
traveled and covered the skies of your State, the impacts of wildfires
cannot be ignored.
As the West continues to suffer from devastating wildfires year after
year, we must be proactive, and that includes coordinating across the
Federal Government to meet the current challenge.
I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this necessary
legislation to better coordinate fire responses and fire preparedness.
______
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms.
Hirono, Mr. Booker, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Warren, Mrs.
Gillibrand, Mr. Schatz, and Mr. Markey):
S. 468. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to require
federally licensed firearms importers, manufacturers, and dealers to
meet certain requirements with respect to securing their firearms
inventory, business records, and business premises; to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 468
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safety Enhancements for
Communities Using Reasonable and Effective Firearm Storage
Act'' or the ``SECURE Firearm Storage Act''.
SEC. 2. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERALLY LICENSED FIREARMS
IMPORTERS, MANUFACTURERS, AND DEALERS.
(a) In General.--Section 923 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Security Requirements.--
``(1) Relation to provision governing gun shows.--This
subsection shall apply to a licensed importer, licensed
manufacturer, or licensed dealer except as provided in
subsection (j).
``(2) Firearm storage.--
``(A) In general.--A person who is a licensed importer,
licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer shall keep and
store each firearm in the business inventory of the licensee
at the premises covered by the license.
``(B) Means of storage.--When the premises covered by the
license are not open for business, the licensee shall, with
respect to each firearm in the business inventory of the
licensee--
``(i) secure the firearm with a hardened steel rod \1/4\
inch thick through the space between the trigger guard, and
the frame or receiver, of the firearm, with--
``(I) the steel rod secured by a hardened steel lock that
has a shackle;
``(II) the lock and shackle protected or shielded from the
use of a bolt cutter; and
``(III) the rod anchored to prevent the removal of the
firearm from the premises; or
``(ii) store the firearm in--
``(I) a locked fireproof safe;
``(II) a locked gun cabinet (and if the locked gun cabinet
is not steel, each firearm within the cabinet shall be
secured with a hardened steel rod \1/4\ inch thick, protected
or shielded from the use of a bolt cutter and anchored to
prevent the removal of the firearm from the premises); or
``(III) a locked vault.
``(3) Paper record storage.--When the premises covered by
the license are not open for business, the licensee shall
store each paper record of the business inventory and firearm
transactions of, and other dispositions of firearms by, the
licensee at the premises in a secure location such as a
locked fireproof safe or locked vault.
``(4) Additional security requirements.--The Attorney
General may, by regulation, prescribe such additional
security requirements as the Attorney General determines
appropriate with respect to the firearms business conducted
by a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed
dealer, such as requirements relating to the use of--
``(A) alarm and security camera systems;
``(B) site hardening;
``(C) measures to secure any electronic record of the
business inventory and firearm transactions of, and other
dispositions of firearms by, the licensee; and
``(D) other measures necessary to reduce the risk of theft
at the business premises of a licensee.''.
(b) Penalties.--Section 924 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(q) Penalties for Noncompliance With Firearms Licensee
Security Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Penalty.--With respect to a violation by a licensee
of section 923(m) or a regulation issued under that section,
the Attorney General, after notice and opportunity for
hearing--
``(i) in the case of the first violation or related series
of violations on the same date, shall subject the licensee to
a civil penalty in an amount equal to not less than $1,000
and not more than $10,000;
``(ii) in the case of the second violation or related
series of violations on the same date--
``(I) shall suspend the license issued to the licensee
under this chapter until the licensee cures the violation;
and
``(II) may subject the licensee to a civil penalty in an
amount provided in clause (i); or
``(iii) in the case of the third violation or related
series of violations on the same date--
``(I) shall revoke the license issued to the licensee under
this chapter; and
``(II) may subject the licensee to a civil penalty in an
amount provided in clause (i).
``(B) Review.--An action of the Attorney General under this
paragraph may be reviewed only as provided under section
923(f).
``(2) Administrative remedies.--The imposition of a civil
penalty or suspension or revocation of a license under
paragraph (1) shall not preclude any administrative remedy
that is otherwise available to the Attorney General.''.
(c) Application Requirement.--Section 923 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by striking
``be in such form and contain only that'' and inserting
``describe how the applicant plans to comply with subsection
(m) and shall be in such form and contain only such other'';
and
(2) in subsection (d)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(H) the Attorney General determines that the description
in the application of how the applicant plans to comply with
subsection (m) would, if implemented, so comply.''.
(d) Effective Dates.--
(1) Initial firearm storage requirements.--Section
923(m)(2) of title 18, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Initial paper records storage requirements.--Section
923(m)(3) of title 18, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 90 days
after the date of enactment of this Act.
______
By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mrs.
Shaheen, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Lummis, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Wyden,
Mr. Risch, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Daines, and Mr. Sheehy):
S. 472. A bill to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management
Act of 1996 to provide for the establishment of a Ski Area Fee
Retention Account, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 472
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ski Hill Resources for
Economic Development Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SKI AREA FEE RETENTION ACCOUNT.
(a) In General.--Section 701 of division I of the Omnibus
Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C.
497c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Ski Area Fee Retention Account.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Account.--The term `Account' means the Ski Area Fee
Retention Account established under paragraph (2).
``(B) Covered unit.--The term `covered unit' means the unit
of the National Forest System that collects the ski area
permit rental charge under this section.
``(C) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
[[Page S796]]
``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall
establish a special account in the Treasury, to be known as
the `Ski Area Fee Retention Account'.
``(3) Deposits.--Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), a ski
area permit rental charge collected by the Secretary under
this section shall--
``(A) be deposited in the Account;
``(B) be available to the Secretary for use, without
further appropriation; and
``(C) remain available for the period of 4 fiscal years
beginning with the first fiscal year after the fiscal year in
which the ski area permit rental charge is deposited in the
Account under subparagraph (A).
``(4) Distribution of amounts in the account.--
``(A) Local distribution of funds.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C),
the Secretary shall expend 80 percent of the ski area permit
rental charges deposited in the Account from a covered unit
at the covered unit in accordance with clause (ii).
``(ii) Distribution.--Of the amounts made available for
expenditure under clause (i)--
``(I) 75 percent shall be used at the covered unit for
activities described in paragraph (5)(A); and
``(II) 25 percent shall be used for activities at the
covered unit described in paragraph (5)(B).
``(B) Agency-wide distribution of funds.--The Secretary
shall expend 20 percent of the ski area permit rental charges
deposited in the Account from a covered unit at any unit of
the National Forest System for an activity described in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (5).
``(C) Reduction of percentage.--
``(i) Reduction.--The Secretary shall reduce the percentage
otherwise applicable under subparagraph (A)(i) to not less
than 60 percent if the Secretary determines that the amount
otherwise made available under that subparagraph exceeds the
reasonable needs of the covered unit for which expenditures
may be made in the applicable fiscal year.
``(ii) Distribution of funds.--The balance of the ski area
permit rental charges that are collected at a covered unit,
deposited into the Account, and not distributed in accordance
with subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be available to the
Secretary for expenditure at any other unit of the National
Forest System in accordance with the following:
``(I) 75 percent shall be used for activities described in
paragraph (5)(A).
``(II) 25 percent shall be used for activities described in
paragraph (5)(B).
``(5) Expenditures.--Amounts available to the Secretary for
expenditure from the Account shall be only used for--
``(A)(i) the administration of the Forest Service ski area
program, including--
``(I) the processing of an application for a new ski area
or a ski area improvement project, including staffing and
contracting for the processing; and
``(II) administering a ski area permit described in
subsection (a);
``(ii) staff training for--
``(I) the processing of an application for--
``(aa) a new ski area;
``(bb) a ski area improvement project; or
``(cc) a special use permit; or
``(II) administering--
``(aa) a ski area permit described in subsection (a); or
``(bb) a special use permit;
``(iii) an interpretation activity, National Forest System
visitor information, a visitor service, or signage;
``(iv) direct costs associated with collecting a ski area
permit rental charge or other fee collected by the Secretary
related to recreation;
``(v) planning for, or coordinating to respond to, a
wildfire in or adjacent to a recreation site, particularly a
ski area; or
``(vi) reducing the likelihood of a wildfire starting, or
the risks posed by a wildfire, in or adjacent to a recreation
site, particularly a ski area, except through hazardous fuels
reduction activities; or
``(B)(i) the repair, maintenance, or enhancement of a
Forest Service-owned facility, road, or trail directly
related to visitor enjoyment, visitor access, or visitor
health or safety;
``(ii) habitat restoration directly related to recreation;
``(iii) law enforcement related to public use and
recreation;
``(iv) the construction or expansion of parking areas;
``(v) the processing or administering of a recreation
special use permit;
``(vi) avalanche information and education activities
carried out by the Secretary or nonprofit partners;
``(vii) search and rescue activities carried out by the
Secretary, a local government, or a nonprofit partner; or
``(viii) the administration of leases under--
``(I) the Forest Service Facility Realignment and
Enhancement Act of 2005 (16 U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 109-
54); and
``(II) section 8623 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 (16 U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 115-334).
``(6) Limitation.--Amounts in the Account may not be used
for--
``(A) the conduct of wildfire suppression; or
``(B) the acquisition of land for inclusion in the National
Forest System.
``(7) Effect.--
``(A) In general.--Nothing in this subsection affects the
applicability of section 7 of the Act of April 24, 1950
(commonly known as the `Granger-Thye Act') (16 U.S.C. 580d),
to ski areas on National Forest System land.
``(B) Supplemental funding.--Rental charges retained and
expended under this subsection shall supplement (and not
supplant) appropriated funding for the operation and
maintenance of each covered unit.
``(C) Cost recovery.--Nothing in this subsection affects
any cost recovery under any provision of law (including
regulations) for processing an application for or monitoring
compliance with a ski area permit or other recreation special
use permit.''.
(b) Effective Date.--This section (including the amendments
made by this section) shall take effect on the date that is
60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
______
By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Cramer, and Mr.
Welch):
S. 474. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to
establish a minimum Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotment
for States; to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 474
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fair Funding for Rural
Hospitals Act''.
SEC. 2. MINIMUM MEDICAID DSH ALLOTMENT.
Section 1923(f)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396r-4(f)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(C) Minimum dsh allotment for fiscal years after 2024.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding the table set forth in
paragraph (2) or the reductions required under paragraph (7),
for fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year, the DSH
allotment for any State shall not be less than the minimum
DSH allotment amount established for the fiscal year under
clause (ii).
``(ii) Minimum dsh allotment amount.--The minimum DSH
allotment amount established under this clause--
``(I) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, shall be
equal to $20,000,000; and
``(II) for fiscal year 2030 and each succeeding fiscal
year, shall be equal to the minimum DSH allotment amount
established under this clause for the preceding fiscal year,
subject to an increase for inflation as provided in paragraph
(3)(A).''.
______
By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Warren, Mr. Peters,
Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Warner):
S. 490. A bill to provide that unauthorized access to the central
payment systems of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service is unlawful; to the
Committee on Finance.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 490
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Americans'
Privacy Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO THE CENTRAL PAYMENT SYSTEMS OF
THE BUREAU OF THE FISCAL SERVICE.
(a) Prohibitions.--
(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for an individual to
knowingly access or exercise administrative control over any
public money receipt or payment system of the Department of
the Treasury (including any payment system of the Bureau of
the Fiscal Service (or any successor thereof)) if the
individual--
(A) is not--
(i) a Federal employee; or
(ii) a Federal contractor whose current continuous service
in a position on an agency's contract, as of the date of such
access, is for a period of at least 1 year;
(B) is a Federal employee--
(i) who is employed as the chief executive officer, chief
financial officer, chief operating officer, or a position of
similar stature at a covered entity;
(ii) who serves on the Board of Directors of a covered
entity;
(iii) who has control over a covered entity; or
(iv) whose current continuous service in a position in the
civil service (as that term is defined in section 2101 of
title 5, United States Code), as of the date of such access,
is for a period of less than 1 year; or
(C) is a covered employee who--
(i) has a conflict of interest as described in section 208
of title 18, United States Code, with respect to such central
payment system, or
[[Page S797]]
(ii) has not signed a written ethics agreement with either
the covered employee's respective agency or the Office of
Government Ethics.
(2) Facilitation of access.--It shall be unlawful for an
individual to facilitate access to or the exercise of
administrative control over any such public money receipt or
payment system, or to knowingly permit such access or
exercise of control, which such individual knows or should
know is in violation of paragraph (1).
(b) Enforcement by Individuals.--
(1) In general.--Any persons harmed by a violation of
subsection (a) may file a civil action in any district court
of the United States or State court of general jurisdiction
to recover from the individual who engaged in the violation
appropriate relief described in paragraph (2).
(2) Relief.--In an action under this subsection,
appropriate relief includes--
(A) preliminary and other equitable or declaratory relief,
as appropriate;
(B) damages as described in paragraph (3);
(C) punitive damages, as appropriate; and
(D) reasonable attorney's fees and other reasonable
litigation costs.
(3) Damages.--In an action under this subsection, a court
may assess as damages an amount equal to the greater of--
(A) the sum of the actual damages suffered by the
plaintiff; or
(B) $250,000 for each unauthorized access relating to the
plaintiff.
(4) Joint and several liability.--Any individual who
violates subsection (a)(1) and any individual who violates
subsection (a)(2) shall be jointly and severally liable to
the extent such violations relate to the same access.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency''--
(A) has the meaning given the term ``Executive agency'' in
section 105 of title 5, United States Code; and
(B) includes each component of the Executive Office of the
President, including each such component established under
title 3, United States Code.
(2) Control.--The term ``control'' means, with respect to
an entity--
(A) ownership of, or the power to vote, more than 50
percent of the outstanding shares of any class of voting
security of the entity;
(B) control over the election of a majority of the
directors of the entity (or of individuals exercising similar
functions); or
(C) the power to exercise a controlling influence over the
management of the entity.
(3) Covered employee.--The term ``covered employee''
includes the following individuals:
(A) Each individual who is--
(i) a noncareer employee; and
(ii) described in any of paragraphs (3) through (8) of
section 13103(f) of title 5, United States Code.
(B) Each individual serving in a position with respect to
which a determination has been made under section 7511(b)(2)
of title 5, United States Code.
(C) Each special Government employee, as defined in section
202(a) of title 18, United States Code.
(4) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means a
corporation (and the subsidiaries it controls), company,
association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company,
or any other organization or institution, including an
organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(5) Federal contractor.--The term ``Federal contractor''
means an individual, other than a Federal employee, working
under a contract with an agency.
(6) Federal employee.--The term ``Federal employee'' means
an individual employed by or holding office in an agency.
(7) Noncareer employee.--The term ``noncareer employee''
means an individual who is--
(A) serving in a position to which the President appointed
the individual (without regard to whether the advice and
consent of the Senate was required with respect to that
appointment), other than an individual who is--
(i) a member of a uniformed service, as that term is
defined in section 210(m) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 410(m)); or
(ii) a member of the Foreign Service serving under a career
appointment, as described in section 301 of the Foreign
Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3941);
(B) a noncareer appointee, as that term is defined in
section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code;
(C) serving in a position in a Federal executive system
(other than the Senior Executive Service established under
subchapter II of chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code),
if appointment to the position is not made through merit-
based procedures; or
(D) serving in a position with respect to which a
determination has been made under section 7511(b)(2) of title
5, United States Code.
(d) No Inference.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed as creating any inference as to whether any act
which occurred prior to the enactment of this Act was lawful
or otherwise permitted.
SEC. 3. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RETURNS AND RETURN INFORMATION
UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986.
(a) In General.--Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsection (q) as
subsection (r) and by inserting after subsection (p) the
following new subsection:
``(q) Prohibition on Disclosure to Certain Employees.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no
return or return information shall be disclosed by means of
access to any public money receipt or payment system of the
Department of the Treasury (including any payment system of
the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (or any successor thereof))
to any individual described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of
section 2(a)(1) of the Protecting Americans' Privacy Act of
2025.''.
(b) Civil Damages for Unauthorized Inspection or
Disclosure.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (a) of section 7431 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraph:
``(3) Inspection or disclosure by certain employees.--If
any individual described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of
section 2(a)(1) of the Protecting Americans' Privacy Act of
2025 knowingly, or by reason of negligence, inspects or
discloses any return or return information with respect to a
taxpayer in violation of section 6103(q), such taxpayer may
bring a civil action for damages against such person in a
district court of the United States. In any action brought
under this paragraph, subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be applied
by substituting `$250,000' for `$1,000'.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Paragraph (1) of section 7431(a)
of such Code is amended by striking ``If any'' in paragraph
(1) and inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (3), if
any''.
(c) No Inference.--Nothing in the amendments made by this
section shall be construed as creating any inference as to
whether any disclosure or inspection prior to the enactment
of this Act was lawful or permitted by section 6103 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
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