[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 57 (Monday, March 31, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2094-S2096]
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, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, and Ms.
Smith):
S. 1230. A bill to amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to
preserve foreign markets for goods using common names, 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 objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
[[Page S2095]]
S. 1230
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 ``Safeguarding American Food
and Export Trade Yields Act of 2025'' or the ``SAFETY Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. PRESERVING FOREIGN MARKETS FOR GOODS USING COMMON
NAMES.
(a) Definitions.--Section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act
of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``As
used in this Act--'' and inserting ``In this Act:'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as
paragraphs (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (4),
respectively, and reordering accordingly;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Common name.--
``(A) In general.--The term `common name' means a name
that--
``(i) is ordinarily or customarily used for an agricultural
commodity or food product;
``(ii) is typically placed on the packaging and product
label of the agricultural commodity or food product;
``(iii) with respect to wine--
``(I) is--
``(aa) ordinarily or customarily used for a wine grape
varietal name; or
``(bb) a traditional term or expression that is typically
placed on the packaging and label of the wine; and
``(II) does not mean any appellation of origin for wine
listed in subpart C of part 9 of title 27, Code of Federal
Regulations (or successor regulations); and
``(iv) the use of which is consistent with standards of the
Codex Alimentarius Commission.
``(B) Examples.--The following names shall be considered
common names under subparagraph (A):
``(i) With respect to food products:
``(I) American.
``(II) Asiago.
``(III) Basmati.
``(IV) Black forest ham.
``(V) Bologna.
``(VI) Bratwurst.
``(VII) Chevre.
``(VIII) Chorizo.
``(IX) Colby.
``(X) Feta.
``(XI) Fontina.
``(XII) Gorgonzola.
``(XIII) Grana.
``(XIV) Gruyere.
``(XV) Kielbasa.
``(XVI) Limburger and Limburgo.
``(XVII) Mascarpone.
``(XVIII) Monterey and Monterey jack.
``(XIX) Mortadella.
``(XX) Munster and muenster.
``(XXI) Neufchatel.
``(XXII) Parmesan.
``(XXIII) Pecorino.
``(XXIV) Pepper Jack.
``(XXV) Prosciutto.
``(XXVI) Ricotta.
``(XXVII) Romano.
``(XXVIII) Salami.
``(XXIX) Swiss.
``(ii) With respect to wine:
``(I) The list of grape varietal terms in section 4.91 of
title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation).
``(II) The grape variety designations administratively
approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
``(III) The following nonvarietal descriptors:
``(aa) Chateau.
``(bb) Classic.
``(cc) Clos.
``(dd) Cream.
``(ee) Crusted and Crusting.
``(ff) Noble.
``(gg) Ruby.
``(hh) Sur lie.
``(ii) Tawny.
``(jj) Vintage.
``(kk) Vintage character.
``(iii) With respect to beer:
``(I) Bitter.
``(II) Pale Ale.
``(III) India Pale Ale.
``(IV) Mild.
``(V) Porter.
``(VI) Stout.
``(VII) Barleywine.
``(VIII) Dubbel.
``(IX) Quadrupel.
``(X) Witbier.
``(XI) Saison.
``(XII) Biere de Garde.
``(XIII) Oud Red.
``(XIV) Altbier.
``(XV) Weisse.
``(XVI) Gose.
``(XVII) Hefeweizen.
``(XVIII) Dunkel.
``(XIX) Helles.
``(XX) Rauchbier.
``(XXI) Pilsener.
``(XXII) Maerzen.
``(XXIII) Schwarzbier.
``(XXIV) Doppelbock.
``(XXV) Bock.
``(XXVI) Kellerbier.
``(XXVII) Munchener and Munich style.
``(XXVIII) Oktoberfest.
``(XXIX) Dortmunder.
``(XXX) Kolsch and Koelsch.
``(XXXI) Budejovick'e pivo (Budweiser beer).
``(XXXII) Cream.
``(XXXIII) Grodziskie.
``(XXXIV) Jerez and sherry.
``(XXXV) Lager.
``(C) Considerations.--In making a determination under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary may take into account--
``(i) competent sources, such as dictionaries, newspapers,
professional journals and literature, and information posted
on websites that are determined by the Secretary to be
reliable in reporting market information;
``(ii) the use of the common name in a domestic, regional,
or international product standard, including a standard
promulgated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, for the
agricultural commodity or food product; and
``(iii) the ordinary and customary use of the common name
in the production or marketing of the agricultural commodity
or food product in the United States or in other
countries.''; and
(4) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), in subparagraph
(A)--
(A) in clause (v), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(B) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(vii) prohibits or disallows the use of the common name
of an agricultural commodity or food product of the United
States.''.
(b) Negotiations to Defend Use of Common Names.--Title III
of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5652 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 303. NEGOTIATIONS TO DEFEND THE USE OF COMMON NAMES.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall coordinate efforts
with the United States Trade Representative to secure the
right of United States agricultural producers, processors,
and exporters to use common names for agricultural
commodities or food products in foreign markets through the
negotiation of bilateral, plurilateral, or multilateral
agreements, memoranda of understanding, or exchanges of
letters that assure the current and future use of each common
name in connection with United States agricultural
commodities or food products.
``(b) Briefing.--The Secretary and the United States Trade
Representative shall jointly provide to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the
Committee on Finance of the Senate, the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a
semi-annual briefing on their efforts and success in carrying
out subsection (a).''.
______
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. King):
S. 1233. A bill to provide lawful permanent resident status for
certain advanced STEM degree holders, and for other purposes; 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. 1233
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 ``Keep STEM Talent Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. VISA REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Graduate Degree Visa Requirements.--To be approved for
or maintain nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(F)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(15)(F)), a student seeking to pursue an advanced
degree in a STEM field (as defined in section
201(b)(1)(F)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)(F)(ii))) (as amended by section 3(a)) for a
degree at the master's level or higher at a United States
institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) must
apply for admission prior to beginning such advanced degree
program.
(b) Strengthened Vetting Process.--The Secretary of
Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall establish
procedures to ensure that aliens described in subsection (a)
are admissible pursuant to section 212(a)(3)(A) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(A)).
Such procedures shall ensure that such aliens seeking
admission from within the United States undergo verification
of academic credentials, comprehensive background checks, and
interviews in a manner equivalent to that of an alien seeking
admission from outside of the United States. To the greatest
extent practicable, the Secretary of Homeland Security and
the Secretary of State shall also take steps to ensure that
such applications for admission are processed in a timely
manner to allow the pursuit of graduate education.
(c) Reporting Requirement.--The Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Secretary of State shall submit an annual
report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives detailing the implementation and
effectiveness of the requirement for foreign graduate
students pursuing advanced degrees in STEM fields to
[[Page S2096]]
seek admission prior to pursuing a graduate degree program.
The report shall include data on visa application volumes,
processing times, security outcomes, and economic impacts.
SEC. 3. LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR CERTAIN ADVANCED
STEM DEGREE HOLDERS.
(a) Aliens Not Subject to Direct Numerical Limitations.--
Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(F)(i) Aliens who--
``(I) have earned a degree in a STEM field at the master's
level or higher while physically present in the United States
from a United States institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) accredited by an accrediting entity
recognized by the Department of Education;
``(II) have an offer of employment from, or are employed
by, a United States employer to perform work that is directly
related to such degree at a rate of pay that is higher than
the median wage level for the occupational classification in
the area of employment, as determined by the Secretary of
Labor;
``(III) have an approved labor certification under section
212(a)(5)(A)(i); or
``(IV) are the spouses and children of aliens described in
subclauses (I) through (III) who are accompanying or
following to join such aliens.
``(ii) In this subparagraph, the term `STEM field' means a
field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
described in the most recent version of the Classification of
Instructional Programs of the Department of Education
taxonomy under the summary group of--
``(I) computer and information sciences and support
services;
``(II) engineering;
``(III) mathematics and statistics;
``(IV) biological and biomedical sciences;
``(V) physical sciences;
``(VI) agriculture sciences; or
``(VII) natural resources and conservation sciences.''.
(b) Procedure for Granting Immigration Status.--Section
204(a)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1154(a)(1)(F)) is amended by striking ``203(b)(2)'' and all
that follows through ``Attorney General'' and inserting
``203(b)(2), 203(b)(3), or 201(b)(1)(F) may file a petition
with the Secretary of Homeland Security''.
(c) Labor Certification.--Section 212(a)(5)(D) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(D)) is
amended by inserting ``section 201(b)(1)(F) or under'' after
``adjustment of status under''.
(d) Dual Intent for F Nonimmigrants Seeking Advanced STEM
Degrees at United States Institutions of Higher Education.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding sections 101(a)(15)(F)(i)
and 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(15)(F)(i) and 1184(b)), an alien who is a bona fide
student admitted to a program in a STEM field (as defined in
subparagraph (F)(ii) of section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1))) for a degree at
the master's level or higher at a United States institution
of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) accredited
by an accrediting entity recognized by the Department of
Education may obtain a student visa, be admitted to the
United States as a nonimmigrant student, or extend or change
nonimmigrant status to pursue such degree even if such alien
seeks lawful permanent resident status in the United States.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may
be construed to modify or amend section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) or
214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(15)(F)(i) or 1184(b)), or any regulation interpreting
such authorities for an alien who is not described in this
subsection.
____________________