[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 8899-8939]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 1870. Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Udall, Mr. 
Blumenthal, and Mr. Tester) submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 
1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 G title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1283. PROHIBITION ON DEPLOYMENT OF GROUND COMBAT TROOPS 
                   IN IRAQ AND SYRIA.

       No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be 
     used to support the deployment of the United States Armed 
     Forces for the purpose of ground combat operations in Iraq or 
     Syria, except as necessary--
       (1) for the protection or rescue of members of the United 
     States Armed Forces or United States citizens from imminent 
     danger posed by ISIL; or
       (2) to conduct missions not intended to result in ground 
     combat operations by United States forces, such as--
       (A) intelligence collection and sharing;
       (B) enabling kinetic strikes;
       (C) operational planning; or
       (D) other forms of advice and assistance to forces fighting 
     ISIL in Iraq or Syria.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1871. Mr. WYDEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       Beginning on page 818, strike ``and the congressional 
     defense committees'' on line 25 and all that follows through 
     page 819, line 3, and insert ``, the congressional defense 
     committees, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
     the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
     House of Representatives a report on the assistance provided 
     by the owner's agent to the Secretary under that subsection 
     with respect to oversight of the contract described in 
     subsection (b), and shall make that report available to the 
     public.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1872. Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. Peters, and Mr. King) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 
proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. ___. DOMESTIC REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT REFORM AND 
                   MODERNIZATION.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Community-based organization.--The term ``community-
     based organization'' means a nonprofit organization providing 
     a variety of social, health, educational and community 
     services to a population that includes refugees resettled 
     into the United States.
       (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the Office of Refugee Resettlement in the Department of 
     Health and Human Services.
       (3) National resettlement agencies.--The term ``national 
     resettlement agencies'' means voluntary agencies contracting 
     with the Department of State to provide sponsorship and 
     initial resettlement services to refugees entering the United 
     States.
       (b) Assessment of Refugee Domestic Resettlement Programs.--
       (1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall conduct a study regarding the 
     effectiveness of the domestic refugee resettlement programs 
     operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
       (2) Matters to be studied.--In the study required under 
     paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall determine and 
     analyze--
       (A) how the Office of Refugee Resettlement defines self-
     sufficiency and integration and if these definitions 
     adequately represent refugees' needs in the United States;
       (B) the effectiveness of Office of Refugee Resettlement 
     programs in helping refugees to meet self-sufficiency and 
     integration;
       (C) technological solutions for consistently tracking 
     secondary migration, including opportunities for interagency 
     data sharing;
       (D) the Office of Refugee Resettlement's budgetary 
     resources and project the amount of additional resources 
     needed to fully address the unmet needs of refugees with 
     regard to self-sufficiency and integration;
       (E) the role of community-based organizations in serving 
     refugees in areas experiencing a high number of new refugee 
     arrivals;
       (F) how community-based organizations can be better 
     utilized and supported in the Federal domestic resettlement 
     process;
       (G) recertification processes for high-skilled refugees, 
     specifically considering how to decrease barriers for Special 
     Immigrant Visa holders to use their skills; and
       (H) recommended statutory changes to improve the Office of 
     Refugee Resettlement and the domestic refugee program in 
     relation to the matters analyzed under subparagraphs (A) 
     through (G).
       (3) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
     to Congress the results of the study required under this 
     subsection.
       (c) Refugee Assistance.--
       (1) Assistance made available to secondary migrants.--
     Section 412(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1522(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(C) The Director shall ensure that assistance under this 
     section is provided to refugees who are secondary migrants 
     and meet all other eligibility requirements for such 
     assistance.''.
       (2) Report on secondary migration.--Section 412(a)(3) of 
     such Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(a)(3)) is amended--
       (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(3)'';
       (B) by striking ``periodic'' and inserting ``annual''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) At the end of each fiscal year, the Director shall 
     submit a report to Congress that includes--
       ``(i) States experiencing departures and arrivals due to 
     secondary migration;
       ``(ii) likely reasons for migration;
       ``(iii) the impact of secondary migration on States hosting 
     secondary migrants;
       ``(iv) the availability of social services for secondary 
     migrants in those States; and
       ``(v) unmet needs of those secondary migrants.''.
       (3) Amendments to social services funding.--Section 
     412(c)(1)(B) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(c)(1)(B)) is 
     amended--
       (A) by inserting ``a combination of--'' after ``based on'';
       (B) by striking ``the total number'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(i) the total number''; and
       (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(ii) the total number of all other eligible populations 
     served by the Office during the period described who are 
     residing in the State as of the beginning of the fiscal year; 
     and
       ``(iii) projections on the number and nature of incoming 
     refugees and other populations served by the Office during 
     the subsequent fiscal year.''.
       (4) Notice and rulemaking.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act and not later than 30 
     days before

[[Page 8900]]

     the effective date set forth in paragraph (5), the Director 
     shall--
       (A) issue a proposed rule for a new formula by which grants 
     and contracts are to be allocated pursuant to the amendments 
     made by paragraph (3); and
       (B) solicit public comment regarding such proposed rule.
       (5) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall become effective on the first day of the first fiscal 
     year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Resettlement Data.--
       (1) In general.--The Director shall expand the Office of 
     Refugee Resettlement's data analysis, collection, and sharing 
     activities in accordance with the requirements set forth in 
     paragraphs (2) through (5).
       (2) Data on mental and physical medical cases.--The 
     Director shall--
       (A) coordinate with the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, national resettlement agencies, community-based 
     organizations, and State refugee health programs to track 
     national and State trends on refugees arriving with Class A 
     medical conditions and other urgent medical needs;
       (B) examine the information sharing process, from country 
     of arrival through refugee resettlement, to determine if 
     access to additional mental health data could--
       (i) help determine placements; and
       (ii) enable agencies to better prepare to meet refugee 
     mental health needs; and
       (C) in collecting information under this paragraph, utilize 
     initial refugee health screening data, including--
       (i) a history of severe trauma, torture, mental health 
     symptoms, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress 
     disorder recorded during domestic and international health 
     screenings; and
       (ii) Refugee Medical Assistance utilization rate data.
       (3) Data on housing needs.--The Director shall partner with 
     State refugee programs, community-based organizations, and 
     national resettlement agencies to collect data relating to 
     the housing needs of refugees, including--
       (A) the number of refugees who have become homeless; and
       (B) the number of refugees who are at severe risk of 
     becoming homeless.
       (4) Data on refugee employment and self-sufficiency.--The 
     Director shall gather longitudinal information relating to 
     refugee self-sufficiency, integration, and employment status 
     during the 2-year period beginning 1 year after the date on 
     which the refugees arrived in the United States.
       (5) Availability of data.--The Director shall annually--
       (A) update the data collected under this subsection; and
       (B) submit a report to Congress that contains the updated 
     data.
       (e) Guidance Regarding Refugee Placement Decisions.--
       (1) Consultation.--The Secretary of State shall provide 
     guidance to national resettlement agencies and State refugee 
     coordinators on consultation with local stakeholders 
     pertaining to refugee resettlement.
       (2) Best practices.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, in collaboration with the Secretary of State, shall 
     collect best practices related to the implementation of the 
     guidance on stakeholder consultation on refugee resettlement 
     from voluntary agencies and State refugee coordinators and 
     disseminate such best practices to such agencies and 
     coordinators.
       (f) Effective Date.--This section (except for the 
     amendments made by subsection (c)) shall take effect on the 
     date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1873. Ms. HIRONO (for herself and Mr. Wyden) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 B of title III, add the following:

     SEC. 314. SECURE ENERGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense should continue 
     to develop and support projects designed to foster secure and 
     reliable sources of all types of energy for military 
     installations, including energy metering, energy storage, and 
     redundant power systems.
       (b) Metrics.--The Secretary of Defense shall develop 
     metrics for assessing the costs, risks, and benefits 
     associated with secure energy projects. The metrics shall 
     take into account financial and operational costs and risks 
     associated with sustained losses of power resulting from 
     natural or man-made disasters or attacks that impact military 
     installations.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1874. Mr. BLUNT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 A of title VII, add the following:

     SEC. 706. INCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES NOT 
                   SUBJECTED OR EXPOSED TO OPERATIONAL RISK 
                   FACTORS IN REQUIRED MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT.

       Section 1074m(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``the Secretary determines that'' and all 
     that follows through the period at the end and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) the member completes a mental health assessment under 
     section 1074n of this title during any of the time periods 
     specified under such subparagraphs; or
       ``(B) the Secretary determines that providing a mental 
     health assessment under this section to the member during 
     such time periods would remove the member from forward 
     deployment or put members or operational objectives at 
     risk.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1875. Mr. PAUL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. ___. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON EXPANDING ACCESS TO POST-9/11 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BY INDIVIDUALS WITH 
                   POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER OR TRAUMATIC 
                   BRAIN INJURY.

       Not later than January 31, 2016, the Secretary of Defense 
     and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly--
       (1) complete a study on the feasibility of enabling 
     individuals entitled to educational assistance under chapter 
     33 of title 38, United States Code, who have post-traumatic 
     stress disorder or traumatic brain injury to pursue a program 
     of education with such assistance on a less than full-time 
     but more than half-time basis; and
       (2) submit to the congressional defense committees, the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the study carried out under 
     paragraph (1), which shall include the findings of the 
     secretaries and recommendations for such legislative or 
     administrative action as the secretaries consider 
     appropriate.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1876. Mr. MORAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 II of subtitle H of title V, add the 
     following:

     SEC. 593. REPORT ON EXEMPTION FROM FURLOUGH DURING A LAPSE IN 
                   APPROPRIATIONS FOR POSITIONS FILLED BY 
                   INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND 
                   WEAPON SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE WITHIN THE 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than March 1, 2016, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the Chief of 
     the National Guard Bureau, submit to the congressional 
     defense committees a report on the exemption from furlough 
     during a lapse in appropriations for positions filled by 
     individuals engaged in military equipment and weapon system 
     maintenance within the Department of Defense, including the 
     position of military technician (dual status) and positions 
     of field and depot level maintenance and engineers.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An analysis of the Department of Defense positions 
     described in subsection (a), and the personnel, that were 
     exempted from furlough during the most recent lapse in 
     appropriations for the Department.
       (2) An analysis of positions filled by individuals engaged 
     in military equipment and weapon system maintenance within 
     the Department, and the personnel, that were not

[[Page 8901]]

     exempted from the furlough described in paragraph (1).
       (3) A cost analysis of the exemption of positions from 
     furlough as described in paragraph (1).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1877. Mr. COATS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 B of title I, add the following:

     SEC. 119. REPORT ON POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE INDUSTRIAL BASE 
                   OF DELAYING OVERHAUL OF USS GEORGE WASHINGTON 
                   (CVN-73).

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the 
     Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives a report detailing the potential impacts to 
     the industrial base if the July 2017 start date for the 
     refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the USS GEORGE 
     WASHINGTON (CVN-73) is delayed by six months, one year, or 
     two years. The report shall assume the Navy and industrial 
     base have at least 18 months prior notice of the delay.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1878. Mr. McCAIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. __. THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS.

       Section 487(a)(20) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1094(a)(20)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, an 
     institution may provide payment, based on the amount of 
     tuition generated by the institution from student enrollment, 
     to a third-party entity that provides a set of services to 
     the institution that includes student recruitment services, 
     regardless of whether the third-party entity is affiliated 
     with an institution that provides educational services other 
     than the institution providing such payment, if--
       ``(A) the third-party entity is not affiliated with the 
     institution providing such payment;
       ``(B) the third-party entity does not make compensation 
     payments to its employees that are prohibited under this 
     paragraph;
       ``(C) the set of services provided to the institution by 
     the third-party entity include services in addition to 
     student recruitment services, and the institution does not 
     pay the third-party entity solely or separately for student 
     recruitment services provided by the third-party entity; and
       ``(D) any student recruitment information available to the 
     third-party entity, including personally identifiable 
     information, will not be used by, shared with, or sold to any 
     other person or entity, including any institution that is 
     affiliated with the third-party entity.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1879. Mr. ALEXANDER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. MINIMUM WAGE APPLICABLE TO AMERICAN SAMOA.

       Section 8103(b)(2)(C) of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 
     (29 U.S.C. 206(b)(2)(C) note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and 2014'' and inserting ``2014, 2015, 
     2016, and 2017''; and
       (2) by striking ``triennial report required'' and inserting 
     ``triennial report required to be submitted in 2017''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1880. Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Burr) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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:

       On page 607, strike ``submit to the congressional defense 
     committees'' and insert ``, in consultation with the Director 
     of National Intelligence, submit to the congressional defense 
     committees, the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
     Senate, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of 
     the House of Representatives''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1881. Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Burr) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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:

       On page 682, beginning on line 8, strike ``Committees'' and 
     all that follows through line 11 and insert the following: 
     ``Committee on Armed Services and the Select Committee on 
     Intelligence of the Senate and the Committee on Armed 
     Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 
     of the House of Representatives a report setting forth the 
     policy developed pursuant to subsection (a).''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1882. Mr. UDALL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       On page 58, strike lines 14 through 17 and insert the 
     following:
     services of the Centers;
       ``(C) enhance capabilities by reducing the cost and 
     improving the performance and efficiency of executing 
     laboratory missions; and
       ``(D) expand commercial business ventures based on the core 
     competencies of a Center, as determined by the director of 
     the Center, to promote technology transfer.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1883. Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Flake) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to 
the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 
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 B of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1230. USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE OF 
                   IRAQ AND THE LEVANT.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The United States has been engaged in military 
     operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant 
     (ISIL) since August 8, 2014.
       (2) Thousands of members of the United States Armed Forces 
     have been deployed to support military operations against 
     ISIL in Iraq and Syria.
       (3) The United States has conducted over 3,400 airstrikes 
     against ISIL as of June 2015.
       (4) The United States has spent more than $2,600,000,000 
     American taxpayer dollars on this war as of June 2015--a 
     number that continues to rise by approximately $9,000,000 per 
     day.
       (5) Tragically, members of the Armed Forces have been 
     killed in Operation Inherent Resolve, and United States 
     hostages have been killed by ISIL in barbaric ways.
       (6) The most solemn duty and responsibility Congress has is 
     the authority, under article 1, section 8 of the 
     Constitution, to ``declare war''.
       (7) While Congress has authorized appropriations for 
     Operation Inherent Resolve, and authorized the training of 
     anti-ISIL forces in Syria, Congress has taken no formal 
     action to approve Operation Inherent Resolve.
       (8) In testimony before the Committee on Foreign Relations 
     of the Senate, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 
     Defense, and the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global 
     Coalition to Counter ISIL agreed that congressional 
     authorization of Operation Inherent Resolve is important for 
     reinforcing

[[Page 8902]]

     the leadership of the United States with our coalition 
     partners.
       (9) President Barack Obama submitted an authorization for 
     use of military force against ISIL in February 2015.
       (10) Congress has a duty to debate and determine whether or 
     not to authorize the use of military force against ISIL and 
     to engage in a debate about whether it is in the nation's 
     best interest to order United States troops to risk their 
     lives in this mission.
       (11) The American public deserves a congressional debate to 
     educate them about the national security interests at stake 
     and the advisability of this war.
       (12) Authorizing Operation Inherent Resolve would send a 
     strong message to our coalition partners and to our 
     adversaries that the United States is united in the fight 
     against ISIL and speaks with one voice in confronting ISIL.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1884. Mr. SCHATZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 G of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1283. MESSAGING PLAN FOR THE INTERNET TO COUNTERING 
                   VIOLENT EXTREMISM ABROAD.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Violent extremist groups abroad increasingly use social 
     media and other information technologies to intimidate, 
     recruit, radicalize, and raise funds.
       (2) The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has 
     expertly exploited social media to spread its propaganda, 
     intimidate its opposition, raise money, and recruit others 
     into its ranks.
       (3) The United States strategy to defeat the Islamic State 
     of Iraq and the Levant must include a campaign to counter 
     digital media to degrade and defeat the social media 
     propaganda and recruitment networks of the Islamic State of 
     Iraq and the Levant.
       (4) This effort must include the empowering of moderate 
     local voices and other non-United States attributed messaging 
     to challenge the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant through 
     a coordinated and integrated Government-wide strategy online.
       (b) Messaging Plan.--The Secretary of Defense shall, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of State, the Director of 
     National Intelligence, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, 
     and other appropriate public and private sector stakeholders, 
     develop and implement a coordinated messaging plan for the 
     Internet, including elements described in subsection (a)(4), 
     to counter propaganda and recruitment media disseminated by 
     the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and associated 
     violent extremist groups abroad.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1885. Mr. PETERS (for himself, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Wyden) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 
proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 II, add the following:

     SEC. 314. AUTHORIZATION FOR RESEARCH TO IMPROVE MILITARY 
                   VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE FUEL ECONOMY OR 
                   REDUCE FUEL CONSUMPTION OF MILITARY GROUND 
                   VEHICLES USED IN COMBAT.

       (a) Research Authorized.--The Secretary of Defense, acting 
     through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and 
     Engineering and in collaboration with the Secretary of the 
     Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Director of the 
     Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, may carry out 
     research to improve military ground vehicle technology to 
     increase fuel economy or reduce fuel consumption of military 
     ground vehicles used in combat.
       (b) Previous Successes.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
     ensure that research carried out under subsection (a) takes 
     into account the successes of, and lessons learned during, 
     previous Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and 
     private sector efforts to identify, assess, develop, 
     demonstrate, and prototype technologies that support 
     increasing fuel economy or decreasing fuel consumption of 
     military ground vehicles, while balancing survivability, in 
     furtherance of military missions.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1886. Ms. MIKULSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       On page 263, strike lines 6 through 13 and insert the 
     following:
       (1) in subsection (e)(3)(A), by striking ``in the United 
     States''; and
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1887. Ms. MIKULSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 A of title XIV, add the following:

     SEC. 1409. ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS, 
                   WORKING CAPITAL FUNDS, FOR THE DEFENSE 
                   COMMISSARY AGENCY.

       (a) Additional Amount.--The amount authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2016 by section 1401 is hereby 
     increased by $322,000,000, with the amount of the increase to 
     be available for working capital funds, Defense Commissary 
     Agency, as specified in the funding table in section 4501.
       (b) Offset.--The amount authorized to be appropriated for 
     fiscal year 2016 by section 301 is hereby decreased by 
     $322,000,000, with the amount of the decrease to be applied 
     to amounts available for operation and maintenance as 
     specified in the funding table in section 4301 and achieved 
     by limiting excessive and redundant purchases of spare parts.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1888. Mrs. McCASKILL submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 
1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       On page 564, after line 25, add the following:
       (d) Report.--
       (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``covered 
     employee'' has the meaning given that term in section 1599e 
     of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection 
     (a)(1).
       (2) Contents.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
     Congress a report regarding covered employees hired into a 
     probationary status during the 10-year period ending on the 
     date of enactment of this Act, which shall include the number 
     of covered employees--
       (A) hired during the period;
       (B) whose appointment became final after the probationary 
     period;
       (C) who were subject to disciplinary action or termination 
     during the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the 
     appointment of the covered employee became final;
       (D) who were subject to disciplinary action during the 
     probationary period; and
       (E) who were terminated before the appointment of the 
     covered employee became final.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1889. Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Reed, and Ms. 
Collins) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 
1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle D of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1040. REAFFIRMATION OF THE PROHIBITION ON TORTURE.

       (a) Limitation on Interrogation Techniques to Those in the 
     Army Field Manual.--
       (1) Army field manual 2-22.3 defined.--In this subsection, 
     the term ``Army Field Manual 2-22.3'' means the Army Field 
     Manual 2-22.3 entitled ``Human Intelligence Collector 
     Operations'' in effect on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act or any similar successor Army Field Manual.

[[Page 8903]]

       (2) Restriction.--
       (A) In general.--An individual described in subparagraph 
     (B) shall not be subjected to any interrogation technique or 
     approach, or any treatment related to interrogation, that is 
     not authorized by and listed in the Army Field Manual 2-22.3.
       (B) Individual described.--An individual described in this 
     subparagraph is an individual who is--
       (i) in the custody or under the effective control of an 
     officer, employee, or other agent of the United States 
     Government; or
       (ii) detained within a facility owned, operated, or 
     controlled by a department or agency of the United States, in 
     any armed conflict.
       (3) Implementation.--Interrogation techniques, approaches, 
     and treatments described in Army Field Manual 2-22.3 shall be 
     implemented strictly in accord with the principles, 
     processes, conditions, and limitations prescribed by Army 
     Field Manual 2-22.3.
       (4) Agencies other than the department of defense.--If a 
     process required by Army Field Manual 2-22.3, such as a 
     requirement of approval by a specified Department of Defense 
     official, is inapposite to a department or an agency other 
     than the Department of Defense, the head of such department 
     or agency shall ensure that a process that is substantially 
     equivalent to the process prescribed by Army Field Manual 2-
     22.3 for the Department of Defense is utilized by all 
     officers, employees, or other agents of such department or 
     agency.
       (5) Interrogation by federal law enforcement.--Nothing in 
     this subsection shall preclude an officer, employee, or other 
     agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other Federal 
     law enforcement agency from continuing to use authorized, 
     non-coercive techniques of interrogation that are designed to 
     elicit voluntary statements and do not involve the use of 
     force, threats, or promises.
       (6) Update of the army field manual.--
       (A) Requirement to update.--
       (i) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and once every three years 
     thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with 
     the Attorney General, the Director of the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation, and the Director of National Intelligence, 
     shall complete a thorough review of Army Field Manual 2-22.3, 
     and revise Army Field Manual 2-22.3, as necessary to ensure 
     that Army Field Manual 2-22.3 complies with the legal 
     obligations of the United States and reflects current, 
     evidence-based, best practices for interrogation that are 
     designed to elicit reliable and voluntary statements and do 
     not involve the use or threat of force.
       (ii) Availability to the public.--Army Field Manual 2-22.3 
     shall remain available to the public and any revisions to the 
     Army Field Manual 2-22.3 adopted by the Secretary of Defense 
     shall be made available to the public 30 days prior to the 
     date the revisions take effect.
       (B) Report on best practices of interrogations.--
       (i) Requirement for report.--Not later than 120 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the interagency body 
     established pursuant to Executive Order 13491 (commonly known 
     as the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group) shall submit 
     to the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National 
     Intelligence, the Attorney General, and other appropriate 
     officials a report on current, evidence-based, best practices 
     for interrogation that are designed to elicit reliable and 
     voluntary statements and do not involve the use of force.
       (ii) Recommendations.--The report required by clause (i) 
     may include recommendations for revisions to Army Field 
     Manual 2-22.3 based on the body of research commissioned by 
     the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group.
       (iii) Availability to the public.--Not later than 30 days 
     after the report required by clause (i) is submitted such 
     report shall be made available to the public.
       (b) International Committee of the Red Cross Access to 
     Detainees.--
       (1) Requirement.--The head of any department or agency of 
     the United States Government shall provide the International 
     Committee of the Red Cross with notification of, and prompt 
     access to, any individual detained in any armed conflict in 
     the custody or under the effective control of an officer, 
     employee, contractor, subcontractor, or other agent of the 
     United States Government or detained within a facility owned, 
     operated, or effectively controlled by a department, agency, 
     contractor, or subcontractor of the United States Government, 
     consistent with Department of Defense regulations and 
     policies.
       (2) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed--
       (A) to create or otherwise imply the authority to detain; 
     or
       (B) to limit or otherwise affect any other individual 
     rights or state obligations which may arise under United 
     States law or international agreements to which the United 
     States is a party, including the Geneva Conventions, or to 
     state all of the situations under which notification to and 
     access for the International Committee of the Red Cross is 
     required or allowed.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1890. Mr. DAINES submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       On page 213, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following:
       (3) Preservation of current bah for certain other married 
     members.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the amount of basic 
     allowance for housing payable to a member of the uniformed 
     services under section 403 of title 37, United States Code, 
     as of September 30, 2015, shall not be reduced by reason of 
     the amendment made by subsection (a) unless--
       (A) the member and the member's spouse undergo a permanent 
     change of station requiring a change of residence;
       (B) the member and the member's spouse move into or 
     commence living in on-base housing; or
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1891. Mr. SESSIONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. 1242. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IRAN NEGOTIATIONS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) President Barack Obama and administration officials 
     have routinely spoken about taking a hard line when dealing 
     with Iran on the subject of their nuclear program and related 
     sanctions.
       (2) On September 25, 2012, in a speech to the United 
     Nations General Assembly, President Obama stated: ``Make no 
     mistake: A nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be 
     contained . . . the United States will do what we must to 
     prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.''
       (3) On April 2, 2015, in an address in the Rose Garden, 
     President Obama stated that ``Iran has also agreed to the 
     most robust and intrusive inspections and transparency 
     regime,'' and declared, ``This deal was not based on trust. 
     It's based on unprecedented verification.''
       (4) On April 2, 2015, in an interview with Andrea Mitchell 
     of NBC, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Secretary of State John 
     Kerry when asked, ``Mr. Secretary, President Obama said if 
     Iran cheats, we will know it. How can you be so sure? They've 
     cheated before''; stated, ``Well, we have extraordinary, 
     extensive verification measures that have not been applied 
     before. We will have state-of-the-art television cameras 
     within centrifuge production facilities. We will have cradle-
     to-grave tracking of uranium--uranium from the mine to the 
     mill to the yellowcake to gas to the centrifuge to out and 
     where it goes in spent fuel. So we have--that is an amazing 
     amount--and we have a new dispute process which will allow us 
     to be able to finalize access where we need it.''
       (5) April 8, 2015, on the ``PBS NewsHour,'' Secretary Kerry 
     said that in any final agreement, Iran would also have to 
     resolve outstanding questions with the International Atomic 
     Energy Agency over suspected military dimensions of the 
     nuclear program. ``It will be part of a final agreement,'' he 
     said. ``It has to be.''
       (6) Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has 
     routinely spoken out openly against the United States and any 
     sanctions against Iran's nuclear program.
       (7) On April 9, 2015, the Wall Street Journal, in response 
     to the nuclear deal, reported, ``The 75-year-old cleric also 
     said Iran's government and security forces wouldn't permit 
     outside inspections of the country's military sites, which 
     are officially nonnuclear but where United Nations 
     investigators suspect Tehran conducted tests related to 
     atomic weapons development.''
       (8) On May 20, 2015, in a graduation speech at the Imam 
     Hussein Military University in Tehran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 
     ruled out allowing international inspectors to interview 
     Iranian nuclear scientists as part of any potential deal on 
     its nuclear program, and reiterated that ``regarding 
     inspections, we have said that we will not let foreigners 
     inspect any military center''.
       (9) The stated positions of the United States requiring 
     ``robust and intrusive'' inspections of Iran's nuclear sites 
     and any other sites where nuclear activities may be

[[Page 8904]]

     carried out or may have been conducted previously is 
     essential to any effective agreement that would provide 
     relief from sanctions.
       (10) The public statements of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and 
     other top Iranian leaders suggest they may refuse to grant 
     such inspections as are required to ensure the nuclear 
     agreement is complied with.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Government of Iran's stated opposition to 
     inspections represents decisive questions and suggest a 
     verifiable agreement may be unachievable; and
       (2) no nuclear agreement with Iran that does not include 
     robust inspections and proper verification of all Iran's 
     nuclear programs and related military installations and 
     access to nuclear supporting scientists should be accepted.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1892. Mr. DAINES (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. CLARIFICATION OF PRESUMPTIONS OF EXPOSURE FOR 
                   VETERANS WHO SERVED IN VICINITY OF REPUBLIC OF 
                   VIETNAM.

       (a) Compensation.--Subsections (a)(1) and (f) of section 
     1116 of title 38, United States Code, are amended by 
     inserting ``(including the territorial seas of such 
     Republic)'' after ``served in the Republic of Vietnam'' each 
     place it appears.
       (b) Health Care.--Section 1710(e)(4) of such title is 
     amended by inserting ``(including the territorial seas of 
     such Republic)'' after ``served on active duty in the 
     Republic of Vietnam''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall take effect as of September 25, 1985.
       (d) Offset.--Increased Government expenditures resulting 
     from enactment of this section shall be paid from savings 
     achieved by section 605 of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1893. Mr. FLAKE (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. McCain, and Mr. 
Schumer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 
1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. ___. RECRUITING SEPARATING SERVICE MEMBERS AS CUSTOMS 
                   AND BORDER PATROL OFFICERS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) Customs and Border Protection Officers at United States 
     ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties 
     associated with screening foreign visitors, returning United 
     States citizens, and imported cargo entering the United 
     States;
       (2) it is in the national interest for United States ports 
     of entry to be adequately staffed with Customs and Border 
     Protection Officers in a timely fashion, including meeting 
     the congressionally mandated staffing level of 23,775 
     officers for fiscal year 2015;
       (3) an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed 
     Forces separate from military service every year; and
       (4) recruiting efforts and expedited hiring procedures 
     should be undertaken to ensure that individuals separating 
     from military service are aware of, and partake in, 
     opportunities to fill vacant Customs and Border Protection 
     Officer positions.
       (b) Expedited Hiring of Appropriate Separating Service 
     Members.--
       (1) Identification of transferable qualifications.--Not 
     later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with 
     the Secretary of Defense, shall jointly identify Military 
     Occupational Safety Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes, and 
     Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators and 
     Coast Guard Competencies that are transferable to the 
     requirements, qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs 
     and Border Protection Officers.
       (2) Hiring.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     consider hiring qualified candidates with the Military 
     Occupational Safety Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes, and 
     Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators 
     identified as transferable under paragraph (1) who are 
     eligible for veterans recruitment appointment authorized 
     under section 4214 of title 38, United States Code.
       (c) Establishing a Program for Recruiting Service Members 
     Separating From Military Service for Customs and Border 
     Protection Officer Vacancies.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, shall 
     establish a program to actively recruit members of the Armed 
     Forces who are separating from military service to serve as 
     Customs and Border Protection Officers.
       (2) Elements.--The program established under paragraph (1) 
     shall--
       (A) include Customs and Border Protection Officer 
     opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts under the 
     Transition Assistance Program;
       (B) place Customs and Border Protection Officers at 
     recruiting events and jobs fairs involving members of the 
     Armed Forces who are separating from military service;
       (C) provide opportunities for local U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection field offices to partner with military bases in 
     the region;
       (D) conduct outreach efforts to educate members of the 
     Armed Forces with Military Occupational Safety Codes, Air 
     Force Specialty Codes, and Naval Enlisted Classifications and 
     Officer Designators that are transferable to the 
     requirements, qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs 
     and Border Protection Officers;
       (E) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security to work cooperatively to identify shared 
     activities and opportunities for reciprocity related to steps 
     in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers with the 
     goal of minimizing the time required to hire qualified 
     applicants;
       (F) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security to work cooperatively to ensure the 
     streamlined interagency transfer of relevant background 
     investigations and security clearances; and
       (G) include such other elements as may be necessary to 
     ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are separating 
     from military service are aware of opportunities to fill 
     vacant Customs and Border Protection Officer positions.
       (d) Report to Congress.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and December 31 of each year 
     thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
     Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit a report to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that includes a 
     description and assessment of the program established under 
     subsection (c).
       (2) Content.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall 
     include--
       (A) a detailed description of the program established under 
     subsection (c), including--
       (i) programmatic elements;
       (ii) goals associated with those elements; and
       (iii) a description of how the elements and goals will 
     assist in meeting statutorily mandated staffing levels and 
     agency hiring benchmarks;
       (B) a detailed description of the program elements that 
     have been implemented under subsection (c);
       (C) a detailed summary of the actions taken under 
     subsection (c) to implement such program elements;
       (D) the number of separating service members made aware of 
     Customs and Border Protection Officer vacancies;
       (E) the Military Occupational Safety Codes, Air Force 
     Specialty Codes, and Naval Enlisted Classifications and 
     Officer Designators identified as transferable under 
     subsection (b)(1) and a rationale for such identifications;
       (F) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer 
     vacancies filled with separating service members;
       (G) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer 
     vacancies filled with separating service members under 
     Veterans' Recruitment Appointment authorized under the 
     Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-
     339); and
       (H) the results of any evaluations or considerations of 
     additional elements included or not included in the program 
     established under subsection (c).
       (e) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed--
       (1) as superseding, altering, or amending existing Federal 
     veterans' hiring preferences or Federal hiring authorities; 
     or
       (2) to authorize the appropriation of additional amounts to 
     carry out this section.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1894. Mr. HELLER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 V, add the following:

[[Page 8905]]



     SEC. 524. SENSE OF SENATE ON SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REVIEW OF 
                   SECTION 504 OF TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE, 
                   REGARDING ENLISTING CERTAIN ALIENS IN THE ARMED 
                   FORCES.

       It is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Defense 
     should review section 504 of title 10, United States Code, 
     for the purpose of making a determination and authorization 
     pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of such section regarding the 
     enlistment in the Armed Forces of aliens who--
       (1) were unlawfully present in the United States on 
     December 31, 2011;
       (2) have been continuously present in the United States 
     since that date;
       (3) were younger than 16 years of age on the date the 
     aliens initially entered the United States; and
       (4) disregarding such unlawful status, are otherwise 
     eligible for original enlistment in a regular component of 
     the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1895. Mr. HELLER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 V, add the following:

     SEC. 524. EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE ENLISTMENT OF 
                   CERTAIN ALIENS IN THE ARMED FORCES ON MILIARY 
                   READINESS.

       (a) Evaluation Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
     evaluate--
       (1) whether permitting covered aliens to enlist in the 
     Armed Forces could expand the pool of potential enlistees in 
     the Armed Forces; and
       (2) how making covered aliens eligible for enlistment in 
     the Armed Forces would impact military readiness.
       (b) Covered Aliens Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``covered aliens'' means aliens who--
       (1) were unlawfully present in the United States on 
     December 31, 2011;
       (2) have been continuously present in the United States 
     since that date;
       (3) were younger than 16 years of age on the date the 
     aliens initially entered the United States; and
       (4) disregarding such unlawful status, are otherwise 
     eligible for original enlistment in a regular component of 
     the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1896. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCAIN to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. __. REPORT ON THE ROLE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE 
                   REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES AND THE MINISTRY OF 
                   THE INTERIOR IN CUBA IN THE ECONOMY AND FOREIGN 
                   RELATIONSHIPS OF CUBA.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
     annually thereafter, the President shall submit a report to 
     Congress that describes the role of the Ministry of the 
     Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior 
     of the Republic of Cuba with respect to the economy of Cuba.
       (b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       (1) identify the entities that the United States considers 
     to be owned, operated, or controlled (in whole or in part) 
     by--
       (A) the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces or the 
     Ministry of the Interior of Cuba; or
       (B) any senior member of the Ministry of the Revolutionary 
     Armed Forces or the Ministry of the Interior of Cuba;
       (2) include an assessment of the business dealings with 
     countries and entities outside of Cuba that are conducted 
     by--
       (A) either of the entities identified under paragraph 
     (1)(A); or
       (B) officers of such entities; and
       (3) include an assessment of the relationship of the 
     Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry 
     of the Interior of Cuba with the militaries of foreign 
     countries, including whether either Cuban Ministry has--
       (A) conducted any joint training, exercises, financial 
     dealings, or weapons purchases or sales with such foreign 
     militaries; or
       (B) provided advisors to such foreign militaries.
       (c) Form of Report.--Each report submitted under subsection 
     (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
     a classified annex.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1897. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. 558. ADDITIONAL RECIPIENTS OF CONFIDENTIAL DISCLOSURES 
                   OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE ARMED FORCES THAT DO 
                   NOT TRIGGER AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.

       (a) Additional Recipients.--Section 1565b(b)(2) of title 
     10, United States Code, is modified by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraphs:
       ``(D) The Senators representing the State in which the 
     victim resides, and the Member, Delegate, or Resident 
     Commissioner of the House of Representatives representing the 
     district in which the victim resides.
       ``(E) A Special Victims' Counsel pursuant to section 1044e 
     of this title.''.
       (b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall revise the 
     regulations required by section 1565b(b) of title 10, United 
     States Code, to establish procedures to ensure that Members 
     of Congress can engage with the Department of Defense on 
     behalf of a member of the Armed Forces who is a victim of 
     sexual assault, pursuant to a request for assistance from the 
     victim to such Member of Congress, in a confidential manner. 
     Under the regulations as so revised, neither a request by a 
     victim to a Member of Congress for assistance nor subsequent 
     engagement with the victim by such Member of Congress shall 
     jeopardize the Restricted status of any report filed by the 
     victim in connection with the sexual assault.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1898. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. NOTICE REGARDING MAXIMUM RATE OF INTEREST ON 
                   STUDENT LOANS UNDER SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF 
                   ACT.

       Section 105 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 
     U.S.C. App. 515) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Student Loans.--Each servicer of a loan made, 
     insured, or guaranteed under Part B, D, or E of title IV of 
     the HIgher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq., 
     1087a et seq., 1087aa et seq.) shall, not later than 30 days 
     after the date on which a servicemember with a student loan 
     serviced by such servicer that is subject to subsection (a) 
     of section 207 begins a period of military service, notify 
     such servicemember of the servicemember's rights under this 
     act.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1899. Mr. REED submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       The table in section 2614(b) is amended by adding after the 
     item relating to Camp Smith, New York, the following new 
     item:


 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Puerto Rico.............................  Gurabo....................  Readiness Center..........     $14,218,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1900. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe

[[Page 8906]]

military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 1103 and insert the following:

     SEC. 1103. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ``NEW 
                   BEGINNINGS'' PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND 
                   WORKFORCE INCENTIVE SYSTEM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   DEFENSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Section 1113 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84) required the 
     Department of Defense to institute a fair, credible, and 
     transparent performance appraisal system, given the name 
     ``New Beginnings'', for employees which--
       (A) links employee bonuses and other performance-based 
     action to employee performance appraisals;
       (B) ensured ongoing performance feedback and dialogue among 
     supervisors, managers, and employees throughout the appraisal 
     period, with timetables for review; and
       (C) developed performance assistance plans to give 
     employees formal training, on-the-job training, counseling, 
     mentoring, and other assistance.
       (2) The military components and Defense Agencies of the 
     Department are currently reviewing the proposed ``New 
     Beginnings'' performance management and workforce incentive 
     system developed in response to section 1113 of the National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.
       (3) The Department anticipates it will begin implementation 
     of the ``New Beginnings'' performance management and 
     workforce incentive system in April 2016.
       (4) The authority in section 1113 of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 provided the 
     Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Office of 
     Personnel Management, flexibilities in promulgating 
     regulations to redesign the procedures which are applied by 
     the Department in making appointments to positions within the 
     competitive service in order to--
       (A) better meet mission needs;
       (B) respond to manager needs and the needs of applicants;
       (C) produce high-quality applicants;
       (D) support timely decisions;
       (E) uphold appointments based on merit system principles; 
     and
       (F) promote competitive job offers.
       (5) In implementing the ``New Beginnings'' performance 
     management and workforce incentive system, section 1113 of 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 
     requires the Secretary to comply with veterans' preference 
     requirements.
       (6) Among the criteria for the ``New Beginnings'' 
     performance management and workforce incentive system 
     authorized by section 1113 of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, the Secretary is 
     required to--
       (A) adhere to merit principles;
       (B) include a means for ensuring employee involvement (for 
     bargaining unit employees, through their exclusive 
     representatives) in the design and implementation of the 
     performance management and workforce incentive system;
       (C) provide for adequate training and retraining for 
     supervisors, managers, and employees in the implementation 
     and operation of the performance management and workforce 
     incentive system;
       (D) develop a comprehensive management succession program 
     to provide training to employees to develop managers for the 
     Department and a program to provide training to supervisors 
     on actions, options, and strategies a supervisor may use in 
     administering the performance management and workforce 
     incentive system;
       (E) include effective transparency and accountability 
     measures and safeguards to ensure that the management of the 
     performance management and workforce incentive system is 
     fair, credible, and equitable, including appropriate 
     independent reasonableness reviews, internal assessments, and 
     employee surveys;
       (F) utilize the annual strategic workforce plan required by 
     section 115b of title 10, United States Code; and
       (G) ensure that adequate resources are allocated for the 
     design, implementation, and administration of the performance 
     management and workforce incentive system.
       (7) Section 1113 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2010 also requires the Secretary to develop a 
     program of training--to be completed by a supervisor every 
     three years--on the actions, options, and strategies a 
     supervisor may use in--
       (A) developing and discussing relevant goals and objectives 
     with employees, communicating and discussing progress 
     relative to performance goals and objectives, and conducting 
     performance appraisals;
       (B) mentoring and motivating employees, and improving 
     employee performance and productivity;
       (C) fostering a work environment characterized by fairness, 
     respect, equal opportunity, and attention to the quality of 
     the work of employees;
       (D) effectively managing employees with unacceptable 
     performance;
       (E) addressing reports of a hostile work environment, 
     reprisal, or harassment of or by another supervisor or 
     employee; and
       (F) allowing experienced supervisors to mentor new 
     supervisors by sharing knowledge and advice in areas such as 
     communication, critical thinking, responsibility, 
     flexibility, motivating employees, teamwork, leadership, and 
     professional development, and pointing out strengths and 
     areas of development.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Secretary of Defense should proceed with the 
     collaborative work with employee representatives on the ``New 
     Beginnings'' performance management and workforce incentive 
     system and begin implementation of the new system at the 
     earliest possible date.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1901. Mr. MURPHY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 VIII, add the following:

     SEC. 884. ANNUAL REPORT ON FOREIGN PROCUREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 137 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 2338. Reporting on foreign purchases

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the end of 
     fiscal year 2016, and each fiscal year thereafter, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional defense committees a report listing specific 
     procurements by the Department of Defense in that fiscal year 
     of articles, materials, or supplies valued greater than 
     $5,000,000, indexed to inflation, using the exception under 
     section 8302(a)(2)(A) of title 41. This report may be 
     submitted as part of the report required under section 8305 
     of such title.
       ``(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In 
     this section, the term `appropriate congressional committees' 
     means the congressional defense committees, the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and 
     the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House 
     of Representatives.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 137 of title 10, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2337 
     the following new item:

``2338. Reporting on foreign purchases.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1902. Ms. WARREN (for herself and Mr. Merkley) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 VII, add the following:

     SEC. 738. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY ON GAMBLING AND PROBLEM 
                   GAMBLING BEHAVIOR AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
                   FORCES.

       (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a study on gaming facilities at military 
     installations and problem gambling among members of the Armed 
     Forces.
       (b) Matters Included.--The study conducted under subsection 
     (a) shall include the following:
       (1) With respect to gaming facilities at military 
     installations, disaggregated by each branch of the Armed 
     Forces--
       (A) the number, type, and location of such gaming 
     facilities;
       (B) the total amount of cash flow through such gaming 
     facilities; and
       (C) the amount of revenue generated by such gaming 
     facilities for morale, welfare, and recreation programs of 
     the Department of Defense.
       (2) An assessment of the prevalence of and particular risks 
     for problem gambling among members of the Armed Forces, 
     including such recommendations for policies and programs to 
     be carried out by the Department to address problem gambling 
     as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       (3) An assessment of the ability and capacity of military 
     health care personnel to adequately diagnose and provide 
     dedicated treatment for problem gambling, including--
       (A) a comparison of treatment programs of the Department 
     for alcohol abuse, illegal substance abuse, and tobacco 
     addiction with

[[Page 8907]]

     treatment programs of the Department for problem gambling; 
     and
       (B) an assessment of whether additional training for 
     military health care personnel on providing treatment for 
     problem gambling would be beneficial.
       (4) An assessment of the financial counseling and related 
     services that are available to members of the Armed Forces 
     and their dependents who are impacted by problem gambling.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
     submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
     the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
       (2) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1903. Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Sullivan, and Ms. Murkowski) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 
proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 X, add the following:

     SEC. 1024. MULTIYEAR PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR POLAR 
                   ICEBREAKERS.

       (a) Multiyear Procurement.--Subject to section 2306b of 
     title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Navy shall 
     enter into multiyear contracts for the procurement of three 
     heavy polar icebreakers and any systems and equipment 
     associated with those vessels.
       (b) Authority for Advance Procurement.--The Secretary may 
     enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year 
     2016, for advance procurement associated with the vessels, 
     systems, and equipment for which authorization to enter into 
     a multiyear contract is provided under subsection (a).
       (c) Condition for Out-year Contract Payments.--A contract 
     entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that any 
     obligation of the United States to make a payment under the 
     contract for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2016 is subject 
     to the availability of appropriations or funds for that 
     purpose for such later fiscal year.
       (d) Memorandum of Agreement.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
     Navy and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 
     Guard is operating shall enter into a memorandum of agreement 
     establishing a process by which the Coast Guard, in 
     concurrence with the Navy, shall--
       (1) identify the vessel specifications, capabilities, 
     systems, equipment, and other details required for the design 
     of heavy polar icebreakers capable of fulfilling Navy and 
     Coast Guard mission requirements, with the Coast Guard, as 
     the sole operator of United States Government polar 
     icebreaking assets, retaining final decision authority in the 
     establishment of vessel requirements;
       (2) oversee the construction of heavy polar icebreakers 
     authorized to be procured under this section; and
       (3) to the extent not adequately addressed in the 1965 
     Revised Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of the 
     Navy and the Department of the Treasury on the Operation of 
     Icebreakers, transfer heavy polar icebreakers procured 
     through contracts authorized under this section from the Navy 
     to the Coast Guard to be maintained and operated by the Coast 
     Guard.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1904. Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Kaine) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 X, add the following:

     SEC. 1049. PROGRAM TO COMMEMORATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                   THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER.

       (a) Findings and Purpose.--
       (1) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (A) At the end of World War I, Congressman Hamilton Fish 
     championed legislation to create a national focus for 
     Americans to honor the memory of all people who served in the 
     Armed Forces, but especially for those who died unknown and 
     lost to history. The legislation created the Tomb of the 
     Unknown Soldier. Since that time, the remains of a single 
     unknown member of the Armed Forces from World War II and from 
     the Korean War have been entombed at the same memorial. (The 
     remains of an unknown Vietnam War veteran were subsequently 
     identified and removed from the Tomb).
       (B) These additions transformed the Tomb of the Unknown 
     Soldier into a transcendent place of honor and reflection. 
     Now known as the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Tomb represents 
     that one place where every American can go to honor every 
     member of our country who has ever worn the uniform of the 
     Nation. Today at the Tomb, American citizens and citizens 
     from other countries come daily to remember and honor the 
     ideals of sacrifice and service.
       (C) The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was formally 
     consecrated on November 11, 1921. Now is the time to prepare 
     for the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the Tomb.
       (2) Purpose.--The purposes of this section is to provide 
     for the conduct of a formal program to commemorate the 100th 
     anniversary of the consecration of the Tomb of the Unknown 
     Soldier, including authorizing private sector efforts to 
     create nation-wide commemorations on the day of the 
     Washington National Commemoration of the Tomb.
       (b) Commemorative Program Authorized.--The Secretary of 
     Defense may conduct a program to commemorate the 100th 
     anniversary of the consecration of the Tomb of the Unknown 
     Soldier. In conducting the commemorative program, the 
     Secretary shall coordinate, support, and facilitate other 
     programs and activities of the Federal Government, State, and 
     local governments, and other persons and organizations in 
     commemoration of the Tomb.
       (c) Schedule.--The Secretary of Defense shall determine the 
     schedule of major events and priority of efforts for the 
     commemorative program in order to ensure achievement of the 
     objectives specified in subsection (d).
       (d) Commemorative Activities and Objectives.--The 
     commemorative program may include activities and ceremonies 
     to achieve the following objectives:
       (1) To honor the commitment of the United States to never 
     forget or forsake the members of the Armed Forces who served 
     and sacrificed for our Country, including personnel who were 
     held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action, and 
     to thank and honor the families of these veterans.
       (2) To highlight the service of the Armed Forces in times 
     of war or armed conflict and the contributions of Federal 
     agencies and governmental and nongovernmental organizations 
     that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces.
       (3) To pay tribute to the contributions made on the home 
     front by the people of the United States in times of war or 
     armed conflict.
       (4) To educate the American public about service and 
     sacrifice on behalf of the United States and the principles 
     that define and unite the United States.
       (5) To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by 
     the allies of the United States during times of war or armed 
     conflict.
       (6) To apply the advances in technology to communicate the 
     activities at the Tomb of the Unknowns to people across the 
     United States.
       (7) To facilitate the participation of the American people 
     in the centennial commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown 
     Soldier.
       (8) To educate the youth of America on the importance of 
     our citizens' commitment of service and sacrifice to secure 
     and to keep safe, now and in the future, and on America's 
     founding principles and promise of freedom for all who abide 
     in the United States.
       (e) Names and Symbols.--The Secretary shall have the sole 
     and exclusive right to use the name ``The United States of 
     America Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Commemoration'', and such 
     seal, emblems, and badges incorporating such name as the 
     Secretary may lawfully adopt. Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to supersede rights that are established or vested 
     before the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (f) Commemorative Fund.--
       (1) Establishment and administration.--Upon the 
     commencement of the commemorative program, the Secretary of 
     the Treasury shall establish on the books of the Treasury an 
     account to be known as the ``Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 
     Commemoration Fund'' (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Fund''). The Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of 
     Defense.
       (2) Deposits.--Subject to paragraph (3), there shall be 
     deposited into the Fund the following:
       (A) Amounts appropriated to the Fund.
       (B) Proceeds derived from the use by the Secretary of the 
     exclusive rights described in subsection (e).
       (C) Donations made in support of the commemorative program 
     by private and corporate donors.
       (D) Any other amounts authorized to deposit into the Fund 
     by law.
       (3) Limitation on expenditures.--Total contributions from 
     the Federal Government to the Fund may not exceed $5,000,000.

[[Page 8908]]

       (4) Use of fund.--Amounts in the Fund shall be available to 
     the Secretary of Defense only for the purpose of conducting 
     the commemorative program. The Secretary shall prescribe such 
     regulations regarding the use of the Fund as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate.
       (5) Availability.--Amounts in the Fund shall remain 
     available until expended.
       (6) Treatment of unobligated funds.--Any unobligated 
     amounts in the Fund as of the end of the [commemorative 
     period specified in subsection (b) shall remain in the Fund 
     until transferred by law.
       (7) Budget request.--The Secretary of Defense may establish 
     a separate budget line for the commemorative program. In the 
     budget justification materials submitted by the Secretary in 
     support of the budget of the President for any fiscal year 
     for which the Secretary establishes the separate budget line, 
     the Secretary shall--
       (A) identify and explain any amounts expended for the 
     commemorative program in the fiscal year preceding the budget 
     request;
       (B) identify and explain the amounts being requested to 
     support the commemorative program for the fiscal year of the 
     budget request; and
       (C) present a current summary of the fiscal status of the 
     Fund.
       (g) Acceptance of Voluntary Services.--
       (1) Authority to accept services.--Notwithstanding section 
     1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of 
     Defense may accept from any person voluntary services to be 
     provided in furtherance of the commemorative program. The 
     Secretary shall prohibit the solicitation of any voluntary 
     services if the nature or circumstances of such solicitation 
     would compromise the integrity or the appearance of integrity 
     of any program of the Department of Defense or of any 
     individual involved in the program.
       (2) Reimbursement of incidental expenses.--The Secretary 
     may provide for reimbursement of incidental expenses incurred 
     by a person providing voluntary services under this 
     subsection. The Secretary shall determine which expenses are 
     eligible for reimbursement under this paragraph.
       (h) Final Report.--Not later than 60 days after the end of 
     the commemorative program, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to Congress a report containing an accounting of the 
     following:
       (1) All of the amounts deposited into and expended from the 
     Fund.
       (2) Any other amounts expended pursuant to this section.
       (3) Any unobligated funds remaining in the Fund as of the 
     date of the report.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1905. Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Wicker, 
Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Graham, Mrs. Ernst, Mr. Cotton, and Ms. Hirono) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 
proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 II of subtitle H of title V, add the 
     following:

     SEC. 593. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF 
                   EFFORTS TO SLOW THE GROWTH OF PERSONNEL COSTS 
                   ON JUNIOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED 
                   FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

       Congress--
       (1) remains concerned about the cumulative impact of 
     Department of Defense efforts to slow the growth of personnel 
     costs on junior enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces and 
     their families; and
       (2) encourages the Department to specifically consider 
     these impacts when developing legislative proposals for 
     consideration by Congress.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1906. Mr. INHOFE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 II, add the following:

     SEC. 236. ASSESSMENT OF EFFECT OF BETTER BUYING POWER 3.0 
                   INITIATIVE ON INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND 
                   DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Assessment on Changes Made to Better.--Not later than 
     90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
     defense committees an assessment of the Better Buying Power 
     3.0 initiative and its management of independent research and 
     development activities by contractors of the Department of 
     Defense.
       (b) Elements.--The assessment required under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the implementation of Better Buying 
     Power 3.0 and how it balances the need for management of 
     reimbursement of Department contractor independent research 
     and development costs with the need to preserve the 
     independence of a contractor to choose which technologies to 
     pursue in its independent research and development program.
       (2) An assessment of the costs, risks and benefits of 
     proposed changes to the current guidelines of the Department 
     for authorizing independent research and development by 
     contractors and reimbursing such contractors for expenses 
     relating to such independent research and development.
       (3) Recommendations for legislative or administrative 
     action to improve the ways in which the Department authorizes 
     independent research and development by contractors of the 
     Department and reimburses such contractors for expenses 
     relating to such independent research and development.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1907. Mr. CASSIDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       On page 38, between lines 10 and 11, insert the following:
       (c) Re-engining Study.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, the Air Force shall submit their B-52 re-engine 
     analysis to the congressional defense committees not later 
     than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1908. Mr. ENZI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 VIII, add the following:

     SEC. 884. SMALL BUSINESS PROCUREMENT OMBUDSMAN.

       (a) In General.--The small business offices in the Office 
     of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments 
     shall serve as intermediaries between small businesses and 
     contracting officials prior to the award of contracts in 
     cases where a small business prospective contractor notifies 
     the small business office that it has reason to believe that 
     the contracting process has been modified to preclude a small 
     business from bidding on the contract or would give another 
     contractor an unfair competitive advantage.
       (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to preclude a contractor from exercising the right 
     to initiate a bid protest under a contract.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1909. Mr. TOOMEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 X, add the following:

     SEC. 1065. STUDY ON RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM ATOMIC TESTING 
                   CLEANUP ON THE ENEWETAK ATOLL.

       (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
     Secretary of Energy, the Director of the National Cancer 
     Institute, and such others as the Secretary of Defense 
     considers appropriate, conduct a study on radiation exposure 
     from the atomic testing cleanup that occurred on the Enewetak 
     Atoll during the period of years beginning with 1977 and 
     ending with 1980.
       (b) Elements.--The study conducted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) A determination of the amount of radiation that members 
     of the Armed Forces and civilians were exposed to as a result 
     of the atomic testing cleanup that described in subsection 
     (a), especially with respect to those

[[Page 8909]]

     who were located on Runit Island during such cleanup.
       (2) Identification of the effects of the exposure described 
     in paragraph (1).
       (3) An estimate of the number of surviving veterans and 
     other civilians who were exposed as described in paragraph 
     (1).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1910. Mr. TOOMEY (for himself and Mr. Cornyn) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 B of title IV, add the following:

     SEC. 417. CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU AUTHORITY 
                   RELATING TO ALLOCATIONS TO STATES OF AUTHORIZED 
                   NUMBERS OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.

       (a) Mandatory Review and Authorized Reduction.--
       (1) In general.--The Chief of the National Guard Bureau--
       (A) shall review each fiscal year the number of members of 
     the Army National Guard of the United States and the Air 
     National Guard of the United States serving in each State; 
     and
       (B) if the Chief of the National Guard Bureau makes the 
     determination described in paragraph (2) with respect to a 
     State in a fiscal year, may reduce the number of members of 
     the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air 
     National Guard of the United States, as applicable, to be 
     allocated to serve in such State during the succeeding fiscal 
     years.
       (2) Determination.--A determination described in this 
     paragraph is a determination with respect to a State that, 
     during any three of the five fiscal years ending in the 
     fiscal year in which such determination is made, the number 
     of members of the Army National Guard of the United States or 
     the Air National Guard of the United States serving in such 
     State is or was fewer than the number authorized for the 
     applicable fiscal year
       (b) Administration of Reductions.--In administering 
     reductions under subsection (a)(1)(B), the Chief of the 
     National Guard Bureau shall seek to ensure that--
       (1) the number of members of the Army National Guard of the 
     United States and the Air National Guard of the United States 
     serving in each State each fiscal year is commensurate with 
     the National Guard force structure in such State during such 
     fiscal year; and
       (2) the number of members of the National Guard serving on 
     full-time duty for the purpose of organizing, administering, 
     recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard 
     serving in each State during each fiscal year is commensurate 
     with the National Guard force structure in such State during 
     such fiscal year.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1911. Mr. HATCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. ___. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFINITION OF AND 
                   POLICY REGARDING SOFTWARE SUSTAINMENT.

       (a) Report on Assessment of Definition and Policy.--Not 
     later than March 15, 2016, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to the congressional defense committees and the 
     President pro tempore of the Senate a report setting forth an 
     assessment, obtained by the Secretary for purposes of the 
     report, on the definition used by the Department of Defense 
     for and the policy of the Department regarding software 
     maintenance, particularly with respect to the totality of the 
     term ``software sustainment'' in the definition of ``depot-
     level maintenance and repair'' under section 2460 of title 
     10, United States Code.
       (b) Independent Assessment.--The assessment obtained for 
     purposes of subsection (a) shall be conducted by a federally 
     funded research and development center (FFRDC), or another 
     appropriate independent entity with expertise in matters 
     described in subsection (a), selected by the Secretary for 
     purposes of the assessment.
       (c) Elements.--
       (1) In general.--The assessment obtained for purposes of 
     subsection (a) shall address, with respect to software and 
     weapon systems of the Department of Defense (including space 
     systems), each of the following:
       (A) Fiscal ramifications of current programs with regard to 
     the size, scope, and cost of software to the program's 
     overall budget, including embedded and support software, 
     percentage of weapon systems' functionality controlled by 
     software, and reliance on proprietary data, processes, and 
     components.
       (B) Legal status of the Department in regards to adhering 
     to section 2464(a)(1) of such title with respect to ensuring 
     a ready and controlled source of maintenance and sustainment 
     on software for its weapon systems.
       (C) Operational risks and reduction to materiel readiness 
     of current Department weapon systems related to software 
     costs, delays, re-work, integration and functional testing, 
     defects, and documentation errors.
       (D) Other matters as identified by the Secretary.
       (2) Additional matters.--For each of subparagraphs (A) 
     through (C) of paragraph (1), the assessment obtained for 
     purposes of subsection (a) shall include review and analysis 
     regarding sole-source contracts, range of competition, rights 
     in technical data, public and private capabilities, 
     integration lab initial costs and sustaining operations, and 
     total obligation authority costs of software, disaggregated 
     by armed service, for the Department.
       (d) Department of Defense Support.--The Secretary of 
     Defense shall provide the independent entity described in 
     subsection (b) with timely access to appropriate information, 
     data, resources, and analysis so that the entity may conduct 
     a thorough and independent assessment as required under such 
     subsection.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1912. Mr. WARNER (for himself, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. King) submitted 
an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by 
Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2016 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 A of title XVI, add the following:

     SEC. 1614. STRATEGY FOR COMPREHENSIVE INTERAGENCY REVIEW OF 
                   THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY OVERHEAD 
                   SATELLITE ARCHITECTURE.

       (a) Requirement for Strategy.--The Director of National 
     Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of 
     the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall develop a strategy, with 
     milestones and benchmarks, to ensure that there is a 
     comprehensive interagency review of policies and practices 
     for planning and acquiring national security satellite 
     systems and architectures, including capabilities of 
     commercial systems and partner countries, consistent with the 
     National Space Policy issued on June 28, 2010, and section 
     1601 of this Act. Such strategy shall, where applicable, 
     account for the unique missions and authorities vested in the 
     Department of Defense and the intelligence community.
       (b) Elements.--The strategy required by subsection (a) 
     shall ensure that the United States national security 
     overhead satellite architecture--
       (1) meets the needs of the United States in peace time and 
     is resilient in war time;
       (2) responsibly stewards the taxpayers' dollars;
       (3) accurately takes into account cost and performance 
     tradeoffs;
       (4) meets realistic requirements;
       (5) produces excellence, innovation, competition, and a 
     robust industrial base;
       (6) aims to produce innovative satellite systems in less 
     than 5 years that are able to leverage common, standardized 
     design elements and commercially available technologies;
       (7) takes advantage of rapid advances in commercial 
     technology, innovation, and commercial-like acquisition 
     practices;
       (8) is open to innovative concepts such as distributed, 
     disaggregated architectures that could allow for better 
     resiliency, reconstitution, replenishment, and rapid 
     technological refresh; and
       (9) emphasizes deterrence and recognizes the importance of 
     offensive and defensive space control capabilities.
       (c) Report on Strategy.--Not later than February 28, 2016, 
     the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of 
     Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall 
     report to the congressional defense committees, the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent 
     Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
     Representatives on the strategy required by subsection (a).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1913. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016

[[Page 8910]]

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. ___. REPEAL OF DUPLICATIVE INSPECTION AND GRADING 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.--Effective 
     June 18, 2008, section 11016 of the Food, Conservation, and 
     Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246; 122 Stat. 2130) is 
     repealed.
       (b) Agricultural Act of 2014.--Effective February 7, 2014, 
     section 12106 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 
     113-79; 128 Stat. 981) is repealed.
       (c) Application.--The Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
     U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
     1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) shall be applied and 
     administered as if the provisions of law struck by this 
     section had not been enacted.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1914. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       After section 1002, insert the following:

     SEC. 1002A. AUDIT READINESS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF 
                   THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution of the United 
     States requires of the agencies of the Federal Government, 
     including the Department of Defense, that ``a regular 
     Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all 
     public Money shall be published from time to time''.
       (2) Congress passed a series of laws in the 1990s, 
     beginning with the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, to 
     require that all Government agencies and departments obtain 
     opinions on their financial statements.
       (3) On September 10, 2001, former Secretary of Defense 
     Donald Rumsfeld, stated that ``[a]ccording to some estimates, 
     we cannot track $2,300,000,000 in transactions. We cannot 
     share information from floor to floor in this building 
     because it's stored on dozens of technological systems that 
     are inaccessible or incompatible''.
       (4) The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2010 codified a statutory requirement that the Department of 
     Defense financial statements be validated as ready for audit 
     not later than September 30, 2017.
       (5) On April 21, 2015, the Deputy Chief Management Officer 
     of the Department of Defense testified before the Committee 
     on Armed Services of the Senate that ``I have long been 
     skeptical of the ability of the Department to achieve the 
     statutory timeline for producing auditable financial 
     statements''.
       (6) In September 2010, the Government Accountability Office 
     stated that past expenditures by the Department of Defense of 
     $5,800,000,000 to improve financial information, and billions 
     of dollars more of anticipated expenditures on new 
     information technology systems for that purpose, may not 
     suffice to achieve full audit readiness of the financial 
     statement of the Department.
       (7) During his confirmation hearing in 2015, Secretary of 
     Defense Ashton Carter submitted testimony stating that ``[i]t 
     is time that DoD finally lives up to its moral and legal 
     obligation to be accountable to those who pay its bills. I 
     intend to do everything we can--including holding people to 
     account--to get this done''.
       (8) The financial management practices of the Department of 
     Defense have been on the ``High Risk'' list of the Government 
     Accountability Office since 1995. As a result of poor 
     financial management, the Department is unable to ``control 
     costs; ensure basic accountability; anticipate future costs 
     and claims on the budget; measure performance; maintain funds 
     control; and prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse''.
       (b) Financial Audit Fund.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
     establish a fund to be known as the ``Financial Audit Fund'' 
     (in this section referred to as the ``Fund'') for the purpose 
     of supporting initiatives, programs, and activities that will 
     assist the organizations, components, and elements of the 
     Department of Defense in--
       (1) improving the audit readiness of the financial 
     statements of such organizations, components, and elements;
       (2) obtaining unmodified audit opinions of the financial 
     statements of such organizations, components, and elements; 
     and
       (3) maintaining unmodified audit opinions of the financial 
     statements of such organizations, components, and elements.
       (c) Elements.--Amounts in the Fund shall include the 
     following:
       (1) Amounts appropriated to the Fund.
       (2) Amounts transferred to the Fund under subsection (e).
       (3) Any other amounts authorized for transfer or deposit 
     into the Fund by law.
       (d) Availability.--
       (1) In general.--Amounts in the Fund shall be available for 
     initiatives, programs, and activities described in subsection 
     (b) that are approved by the Secretary to support and 
     maintain the audit readiness of the financial statement of 
     the organizations, components, and elements of the Department 
     of Defense.
       (2) Transfer.--Amounts in the Fund may be transferred to 
     any other account of the Department in order to fund 
     initiatives, programs, and activities described in paragraph 
     (1). Any amounts transferred from the Fund to an account 
     shall be merged with amounts in the account to which 
     transferred and shall be available subject to the same terms 
     and conditions as amounts in such account, except that 
     amounts so transferred shall remain available until expended. 
     The authority to transfer amounts under this paragraph is in 
     addition to any other authority of the Secretary to transfer 
     amounts by law.
       (3) Priority.--In approving initiatives, programs, and 
     activities to be funded with amounts in the Fund, the 
     Secretary shall accord a priority to initiatives, programs, 
     and activities that are designed to maintain unmodified audit 
     opinions of financial statement of organizations, components, 
     and elements of the Department that have previously obtained 
     unmodified audit opinions of their financial statements.
       (e) Failure To Achieve Audit Readiness.--
       (1) Reduction in amount available.--Subject to paragraph 
     (2), if during any fiscal year after fiscal year 2017 the 
     Secretary determines that an organization, component, or 
     element of the Department has not achieved audit readiness of 
     its financial statements for the calender year ending during 
     such fiscal year--
       (A) the amount available to such organization, component, 
     or element for the fiscal year in which such determination is 
     made shall be equal to--
       (i) the amount otherwise authorized to be appropriated for 
     such organization, component, or element for the fiscal year, 
     minus
       (ii) an amount equal to 0.5 percent of the amount described 
     in clause (i); and
       (B) the Secretary shall deposit in the Fund pursuant to 
     subsection (b)(2) all amounts unavailable to organizations, 
     components, and elements of the Department in the fiscal year 
     pursuant to determinations made under subparagraph (A).
       (2) Inapplicability to amounts for military personnel.--Any 
     reduction applicable to an organization, component, or 
     element of the Department under paragraph (1) for a fiscal 
     year shall not apply to amounts, if any, available to such 
     organization, component, or element for the fiscal year for 
     military personnel.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1915. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. SENSE OF SENATE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERAGENCY 
                   COOPERATION FOR THE UNITED STATES NORTHERN 
                   COMMAND.

       (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:
       (1) The Commander of United States Northern Command 
     (USNORTHCOM) testified before the Committee on Armed Services 
     of the Senate that since September 11, 2001, ``resurgent 
     state actors have invested in new capabilities that make 
     North America vulnerable in ways not seen in a generation'' 
     and particularly that the ``unpredictable cascading impacts 
     of a cyberspace attack have the potential to easily outpace 
     those of a natural disaster''.
       (2) The Joint Cyber Center was established in the United 
     States Northern Command to integrate cybersecurity efforts 
     into headquarters missions by improving situational awareness 
     in the cyber domain, improving the defense of the networks of 
     the Command, and providing cyber consequence response and 
     recovery support to civil authorities.
       (3) The responsibilities of United States Northern Command 
     for homeland defense (including countering illegal drugs and 
     combating transnational organized crime) and defense support 
     of civil authorities (including domestic disaster relief 
     operations during wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and 
     floods) depend on interagency partnerships and cooperation.

[[Page 8911]]

       (4) During the past fire season, Air Force Reserve and Air 
     National Guard C-130 aircraft equipped with the United States 
     Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System made 132 
     airdrops, releasing nearly 250,000 gallons of fire retardant 
     to combat wildfires.
       (5) The regional partnership of United States Northern 
     Command with Mexico and the Bahamas in combating the 
     trafficking of illegal drugs and persons and in training law 
     enforcement and disaster relief personnel depends on 
     cooperation with other agencies of the United States 
     Government such as the Department of State, Department of 
     Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
       (6) The Commander of United States Northern Command is also 
     the Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command 
     (NORAD), the bi-national command with Canada. For more than 
     57 years, the United States has partnered with our vital ally 
     to the north to provide aerospace warning, aerospace defense, 
     and maritime warning in defense of North America. Since 
     September 11, 2001, North American Aerospace Defense Command 
     fighters have responded to more than 5,000 possible air 
     threats in the United States and flown more than 62,500 
     sorties in defense of our homeland. Successful execution on 
     the North American Aerospace Defense Command mission relies 
     heavily on timely communication and seamless integration with 
     numerous agencies of the United States Government such as the 
     Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Homeland 
     Security, and Federal law enforcement agencies.
       (b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) continued interagency cooperation is vital to the 
     successful discharge of the missions of the United States 
     Northern Command, including homeland defense, cybersecurity, 
     counterterrorism, counterdrug efforts, and defense support of 
     civil authorities; and
       (2) the United States Northern Command should continue its 
     efforts to integrate cyberspace operations into its 
     contingency plans and training exercises to understand better 
     how cyber-attacks could be mitigated or prevented and how 
     other Federal and State government partners can effectively 
     respond should such attacks occur.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1916. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. DESIGNATION OF CONSTRUCTION AGENT FOR CERTAIN 
                   CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     seek to enter into an agreement subject to subsections (b), 
     (c), and (e) of section 1535 of title 31, United States Code, 
     with the Army Corps of Engineers or another entity of the 
     Federal Government to serve, on a reimbursable basis, as the 
     construction agent on all construction projects of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs specifically authorized by 
     Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act that 
     involve a total expenditure of more than $100,000,000, 
     excluding any acquisition by exchange.
       (b) Agreement.--Under the agreement entered into under 
     subsection (a), the construction agent shall provide design, 
     procurement, and construction management services for the 
     construction, alteration, and acquisition of facilities of 
     the Department.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1917. Mr. REED (for himself and Ms. Hirono) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to 
the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 
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 B of title III, add the following:

     SEC. 314. REPORT ON USE OF DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAMS.

       (a) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2016, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
     defense committees a report on the use of demand response 
     programs at military installations.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (1) A description of the progress made in identifying 
     installations where the use of demand response can be 
     economically beneficial to the Department of Defense.
       (2) A description of challenges to participation in demand 
     response programs.
       (3) A description of effective incentives for the 
     participation of installations in these programs, including 
     options for installations to gain access to the funds they 
     earn for their participation.
       (4) An assessment of possibilities for future expansion of 
     demand response participation by the Department.
       (5) An assessment of methods for receiving direct payments 
     from utilities, independent system operators, and third party 
     aggregators for participation in demand response programs and 
     utilizing these payments for energy-related purposes at the 
     participating installations.
       (c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
     be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a 
     classified annex as necessary.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1918. Mr. GRASSLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. ___. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF VISA REVOCATION.

       (a) In General.--Section 221(i) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)) is amended by striking 
     ``There shall be no means of judicial review'' and all that 
     follows and inserting the following: ``Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, including section 2241 of title 28, 
     United States Code, any other habeas corpus provision, and 
     sections 1361 and 1651 of such title, no court has 
     jurisdiction to review a revocation under this subsection or 
     to hear any claim arising from such a revocation.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall--
       (1) take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act;
       (2) apply to all visas issued before, on, or after such 
     date; and
       (3) apply to any claim pending on, or filed after, the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1919. Mr. SESSIONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

                     Subtitle __--Safe Communities

     SEC. __1. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Keep Our Communities 
     Safe Act of 2015''.

     SEC. __2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) Constitutional rights should be upheld and protected;
       (2) Congress intends to uphold the Constitutional principle 
     of due process; and
       (3) due process of the law is a right afforded to everyone 
     in the United States.

     SEC. __3. DETENTION OF DANGEROUS ALIENS DURING REMOVAL 
                   PROCEEDINGS.

       Section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1226) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Attorney General'' each place such term 
     appears (except in the second place it appears in subsection 
     (a)) and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security'';
       (2) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 
     ``the Secretary of Homeland Security or'' before ``the 
     Attorney General--''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``conditional parole'' 
     and inserting ``recognizance'';
       (3) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Parole'' and 
     inserting ``Recognizance''; and
       (B) by striking ``parole'' and inserting ``recognizance'';
       (4) in subsection (c)(1), by striking the undesignated 
     matter following subparagraph (D) and inserting the 
     following:
     ``any time after the alien is released, without regard to 
     whether an alien is released related to any activity, 
     offense, or conviction described in this paragraph; to 
     whether the alien is released on parole, supervised release, 
     or probation; or to whether the alien may be arrested or 
     imprisoned again for the same offense. If the activity 
     described in this

[[Page 8912]]

     paragraph does not result in the alien being taken into 
     custody by any person other than the Secretary, then when the 
     alien is brought to the attention of the Secretary or when 
     the Secretary determines it is practical to take such alien 
     into custody, the Secretary shall take such alien into 
     custody.'';
       (5) in subsection (e), by striking ``Attorney General's'' 
     and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security's''; and
       (6) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Length of Detention.--(1) Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of this section, an alien may be detained under 
     this section for any period, without limitation, except as 
     provided in subsection (h), until the alien is subject to a 
     final order of removal.
       ``(2) The length of detention under this section shall not 
     affect a detention under section 241.
       ``(g) Administrative Review.--(1) The Attorney General's 
     review of the Secretary's custody determinations under 
     subsection (a) shall be limited to whether the alien may be 
     detained, released on bond (of at least $1,500 with security 
     approved by the Secretary), or released with no bond. Any 
     review involving an alien described in paragraph (2)(D) shall 
     be limited to a determination of whether the alien is 
     properly included in such category.
       ``(2) The Attorney General shall review the Secretary's 
     custody determinations for the following classes of aliens:
       ``(A) Aliens in exclusion proceedings.
       ``(B) Aliens described in section 212(a)(3) or 237(a)(4).
       ``(C) Aliens described in subsection (c).
       ``(D) Aliens in deportation proceedings subject to section 
     242(a)(2) (as in effect between April 24, 1996 and April 1, 
     1997).
       ``(h) Release on Bond.--(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and 
     (3), an alien detained under subsection (a) may seek release 
     on bond.
       ``(2) No bond may be granted under this subsection except 
     to an alien who establishes, by clear and convincing 
     evidence, that the alien is not a flight risk or a risk to 
     another person or the community.
       ``(3) No alien detained under subsection (c) may seek 
     release on bond.''.

     SEC. __4. ALIENS ORDERED REMOVED.

       Section 241(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1231(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Attorney General'' each place it appears, 
     except for the first place it appears in paragraph (4)(B)(i), 
     and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(B) Beginning of period.--The removal period begins on 
     the latest of--
       ``(i) the date on which the order of removal becomes 
     administratively final;
       ``(ii) the date on which the alien is taken into such 
     custody if the alien is not in the custody of the Secretary 
     on the date on which the order of removal becomes 
     administratively final; and
       ``(iii) the date on which the alien is taken into the 
     custody of the Secretary after the alien is released from 
     detention or confinement if the alien is detained or confined 
     (except for an immigration process) on the date on which the 
     order of removal becomes administratively final.
       ``(C) Suspension of period.--
       ``(i) Extension.--The removal period shall be extended 
     beyond a period of 90 days and the Secretary may, in the 
     Secretary's sole discretion, keep the alien in detention 
     during such extended period, if--

       ``(I) the alien fails or refuses to make all reasonable 
     efforts to comply with the removal order, or to fully 
     cooperate with the Secretary's efforts to establish the 
     alien's identity and carry out the removal order, including 
     making timely application in good faith for travel or other 
     documents necessary to the alien's departure or conspires or 
     acts to prevent the alien's removal that is subject to an 
     order of removal;
       ``(II) a court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, or an 
     immigration judge orders a stay of removal of an alien who is 
     subject to an administratively final order of removal;
       ``(III) the Secretary transfers custody of the alien 
     pursuant to law to another Federal agency or a State or local 
     government agency in connection with the official duties of 
     such agency; or
       ``(IV) a court or the Board of Immigration Appeals orders a 
     remand to an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration 
     Appeals, during the time period when the case is pending a 
     decision on remand (with the removal period beginning anew on 
     the date that the alien is ordered removed on remand).

       ``(ii) Renewal.--If the removal period has been extended 
     under clause (i), a new removal period shall be deemed to 
     have begun on the date on which--

       ``(I) the alien makes all reasonable efforts to comply with 
     the removal order, or to fully cooperate with the Secretary's 
     efforts to establish the alien's identity and carry out the 
     removal order;
       ``(II) the stay of removal is no longer in effect; or
       ``(III) the alien is returned to the custody of the 
     Secretary.

       ``(iii) Mandatory detention for certain aliens.--The 
     Secretary shall keep an alien described in subparagraphs (A) 
     through (D) of section 236(c)(1) in detention during the 
     extended period described in clause (i).
       ``(iv) Sole form of relief.--An alien may only seek relief 
     from detention under this subparagraph by filing an 
     application for a writ of habeas corpus in accordance with 
     chapter 153 of title 28, United States Code. No alien whose 
     period of detention is extended under this subparagraph shall 
     have the right to seek release on bond.'';
       (3) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``or is not detained pursuant to paragraph (6)'' after ``the 
     removal period''; and
       (B) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:
       ``(D) to obey reasonable restrictions on the alien's 
     conduct or activities that the Secretary prescribes for the 
     alien--
       ``(i) to prevent the alien from absconding;
       ``(ii) for the protection of the community; or
       ``(iii) for other purposes related to the enforcement of 
     immigration laws.'';
       (4) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and 
     inserting ``subparagraph (B)''; and
       (5) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
       ``(6) Additional rules for detention or release of certain 
     aliens.--
       ``(A) Detention review process for cooperative aliens 
     established.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     establish an administrative review process to determine 
     whether an alien who is not otherwise subject to mandatory 
     detention, who has made all reasonable efforts to comply with 
     a removal order and to cooperate fully with the Secretary's 
     efforts to establish the alien's identity and carry out the 
     removal order, including making timely application in good 
     faith for travel or other documents necessary to the alien's 
     departure, and who has not conspired or acted to prevent 
     removal should be detained or released on conditions.
       ``(ii) Determination.--The Secretary shall make a 
     determination whether to release an alien after the removal 
     period in accordance with subparagraph (B), which--

       ``(I) shall include consideration of any evidence submitted 
     by the alien; and
       ``(II) may include consideration of any other evidence, 
     including--

       ``(aa) any information or assistance provided by the 
     Secretary of State or other Federal official; and
       ``(bb) any other information available to the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security pertaining to the ability to remove the 
     alien.
       ``(B) Authority to detain beyond removal period.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
     continue to detain an alien for 90 days beyond the removal 
     period (including any extension of the removal period under 
     paragraph (1)(C)). An alien whose detention is extended under 
     this subparagraph shall not have the right to seek release on 
     bond.
       ``(ii) Specific circumstances.--The Secretary may continue 
     to detain an alien beyond the 90 days authorized under clause 
     (i)--

       ``(I) until the alien is removed, if the Secretary 
     determines that there is a significant likelihood that the 
     alien--

       ``(aa) will be removed in the reasonably foreseeable 
     future;
       ``(bb) would be removed in the reasonably foreseeable 
     future; or
       ``(cc) would have been removed if the alien had not--
       ``(AA) failed or refused to make all reasonable efforts to 
     comply with the removal order;
       ``(BB) failed or refused to cooperate fully with the 
     Secretary's efforts to establish the alien's identity and 
     carry out the removal order, including making timely 
     application in good faith for travel or other documents 
     necessary to the alien's departure; or
       ``(CC) conspired or acted to prevent removal;

       ``(II) until the alien is removed, if the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security certifies in writing--

       ``(aa) in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services, that the alien has a highly contagious 
     disease that poses a threat to public safety;
       ``(bb) after receipt of a written recommendation from the 
     Secretary of State, that release of the alien is likely to 
     have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the 
     United States;
       ``(cc) based on information available to the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security (including classified, sensitive, or 
     national security information, and without regard to the 
     grounds upon which the alien was ordered removed), that there 
     is reason to believe that the release of the alien would 
     threaten the national security of the United States; or
       ``(dd) that the release of the alien will threaten the 
     safety of the community or any person, conditions of release 
     cannot reasonably be expected to ensure the safety of the 
     community or of any person; and
       ``(AA) the alien has been convicted of 1 or more aggravated 
     felonies (as defined in section 101(a)(43)(A)) or of 1 or 
     more crimes

[[Page 8913]]

     identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security by 
     regulation, or of 1 or more attempts or conspiracies to 
     commit any such aggravated felonies or such identified 
     crimes, if the aggregate term of imprisonment for such 
     attempts or conspiracies is at least 5 years; or
       ``(BB) the alien has committed 1 or more crimes of violence 
     (as defined in section 16 of title 18, United States Code, 
     but not including a purely political offense) and, because of 
     a mental condition or personality disorder and behavior 
     associated with that condition or disorder, the alien is 
     likely to engage in acts of violence in the future; or

       ``(III) pending a certification under subclause (II), if 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security has initiated the 
     administrative review process not later than 30 days after 
     the expiration of the removal period (including any extension 
     of the removal period under paragraph (1)(C)).

       ``(iii) No right to bond hearing.--An alien whose detention 
     is extended under this subparagraph shall not have a right to 
     seek release on bond, including by reason of a certification 
     under clause (ii)(II).
       ``(C) Renewal and delegation of certification.--
       ``(i) Renewal.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
     renew a certification under subparagraph (B)(ii)(II) every 6 
     months after providing an opportunity for the alien to 
     request reconsideration of the certification and to submit 
     documents or other evidence in support of that request. If 
     the Secretary does not renew a certification, the Secretary 
     may not continue to detain the alien under subparagraph 
     (B)(ii)(II).
       ``(ii) Delegation.--Notwithstanding section 103, the 
     Secretary may not delegate the authority to make or renew a 
     certification described in item (bb), (cc), or (dd) of 
     subparagraph (B)(ii)(II) below the level of the Assistant 
     Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
       ``(iii) Hearing.--The Secretary may request that the 
     Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee provide 
     for a hearing to make the determination described in 
     subparagraph (B)(ii)(II)(dd)(BB).
       ``(D) Release on conditions.--If it is determined that an 
     alien should be released from detention by a Federal court, 
     the Board of Immigration Appeals, or if an immigration judge 
     orders a stay of removal, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     may impose conditions on release in accordance with paragraph 
     (3).
       ``(E) Redetention.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, 
     without any limitations other than those specified in this 
     section, may detain any alien subject to a final removal 
     order who is released from custody if--

       ``(I) removal becomes likely in the reasonably foreseeable 
     future;
       ``(II) the alien fails to comply with the conditions of 
     release or to continue to satisfy the conditions described in 
     subparagraph (A); or
       ``(III) upon reconsideration, the Secretary determines that 
     the alien can be detained under subparagraph (B).

       ``(ii) Applicability.--This section shall apply to any 
     alien returned to custody pursuant to this subparagraph as if 
     the removal period terminated on the day of the redetention.
       ``(F) Review of determinations by secretary.--A 
     determination by the Secretary under this paragraph shall not 
     be subject to review by any other agency.''.

     SEC. __5. SEVERABILITY.

       If any of the provisions of this subtitle, any amendment 
     made by this subtitle, or the application of any such 
     provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be 
     invalid for any reason, the remainder of this subtitle, the 
     amendments made by this subtitle, and the application of the 
     provisions and amendments made by this subtitle to any other 
     person or circumstance shall not be affected by such holding.

     SEC. __6. EFFECTIVE DATES.

       (a) Apprehension and Detention of Aliens.--The amendments 
     made by section _3 shall take effect on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act. Section 236 of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act, as amended by section _3, shall apply to any 
     alien in detention under the provisions of such section on or 
     after such date of enactment.
       (b) Aliens Ordered Removed.--The amendments made by section 
     _4 shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall apply to--
       (1) all aliens subject to a final administrative removal, 
     deportation, or exclusion order that was issued before, on, 
     or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (2) acts and conditions occurring or existing before, on, 
     or after such date of enactment.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1920. Mr. SESSIONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

                          Subtitle __E-Verify

     SEC. __1. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Accountability Through 
     Electronic Verification Act''.

     SEC. __2. PERMANENT REAUTHORIZATION.

       Section 401(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
     Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public 
     Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is amended by striking 
     ``Unless the Congress otherwise provides, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security shall terminate a pilot program on 
     September 30, 2015.''.

     SEC. __3. MANDATORY USE OF E-VERIFY.

       (a) Federal Government.--Section 402(e)(1) of the Illegal 
     Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
     (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is amended--
       (1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
       ``(A) Executive departments and agencies.--Each department 
     and agency of the Federal Government shall participate in E-
     Verify by complying with the terms and conditions set forth 
     in this section.''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, that conducts 
     hiring in a State'' and all that follows and inserting 
     ``shall participate in E-Verify by complying with the terms 
     and conditions set forth in this section.''.
       (b) Federal Contractors; Critical Employers.--Section 
     402(e) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
     Responsibility Act of 1996, as amended by subsection (a), is 
     further amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
     (4) and (5), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) United states contractors.--Any person, employer, or 
     other entity that enters into a contract with the Federal 
     Government shall participate in E-Verify by complying with 
     the terms and conditions set forth in this section.
       ``(3) Designation of critical employers.--Not later than 7 
     days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall--
       ``(A) conduct an assessment of employers that are critical 
     to the homeland security or national security needs of the 
     United States;
       ``(B) designate and publish a list of employers and classes 
     of employers that are deemed to be critical pursuant to the 
     assessment conducted under subparagraph (A); and
       ``(C) require that critical employers designated pursuant 
     to subparagraph (B) participate in E-Verify by complying with 
     the terms and conditions set forth in this section not later 
     than 30 days after the Secretary makes such designation.''.
       (c) All Employers.--Section 402 of the Illegal Immigration 
     Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, as amended 
     by this section, is further amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
       ``(f) Mandatory Participation in E-Verify.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), all 
     employers in the United States shall participate in E-Verify, 
     with respect to all employees recruited, referred, or hired 
     by such employer on or after the date that is 1 year after 
     the date of the enactment of this subsection.
       ``(2) Use of contract labor.--Any employer who uses a 
     contract, subcontract, or exchange to obtain the labor of an 
     individual in the United States shall certify in such 
     contract, subcontract, or exchange that the employer uses E-
     Verify. If such certification is not included in a contract, 
     subcontract, or exchange, the employer shall be deemed to 
     have violated paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Interim mandatory participation.--
       ``(A) In general.--Before the date set forth in paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require any 
     employer or class of employers to participate in E-Verify, 
     with respect to all employees recruited, referred, or hired 
     by such employer if the Secretary has reasonable cause to 
     believe that the employer is or has been engaged in a 
     material violation of section 274A of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a).
       ``(B) Notification.--Not later than 14 days before an 
     employer or class of employers is required to begin 
     participating in E-Verify pursuant to subparagraph (A), the 
     Secretary shall provide such employer or class of employers 
     with--
       ``(i) written notification of such requirement; and
       ``(ii) appropriate training materials to facilitate 
     compliance with such requirement.''.

     SEC. __4. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE.

       (a) In General.--Section 402(e)(5) of the Illegal 
     Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
     (8 U.S.C. 1324a note), as redesignated by section _3(b)(1), 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(5) Consequences of failure to participate.--If a person 
     or other entity that is required to participate in E-Verify 
     fails to

[[Page 8914]]

     comply with the requirements under this title with respect to 
     an individual--
       ``(A) such failure shall be treated as a violation of 
     section 274A(a)(1)(B) with respect to such individual; and
       ``(B) a rebuttable presumption is created that the person 
     or entity has violated section 274A(a)(1)(A).''.
       (b) Penalties.--Section 274A of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (4)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause 
     (i), by inserting ``, subject to paragraph (10),'' after ``in 
     an amount'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``not less than 
     $250 and not more than $2,000'' and inserting ``not less than 
     $2,500 and not more than $5,000'';
       (iii) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``not less than 
     $2,000 and not more than $5,000'' and inserting ``not less 
     than $5,000 and not more than $10,000'';
       (iv) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by striking ``not less than 
     $3,000 and not more than $10,000'' and inserting ``not less 
     than $10,000 and not more than $25,000''; and
       (v) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
       ``(B) may require the person or entity to take such other 
     remedial action as is appropriate.'';
       (B) in paragraph (5)--
       (i) by inserting ``, subject to paragraphs (10) through 
     (12),'' after ``in an amount'';
       (ii) by striking ``$100'' and inserting ``$1,000'';
       (iii) by striking ``$1,000'' and inserting ``$25,000'';
       (iv) by striking ``the size of the business of the employer 
     being charged, the good faith of the employer'' and inserting 
     ``the good faith of the employer being charged''; and
       (v) by adding at the end the following: ``Failure by a 
     person or entity to utilize the employment eligibility 
     verification system as required by law, or providing 
     information to the system that the person or entity knows or 
     reasonably believes to be false, shall be treated as a 
     violation of subsection (a)(1)(A).''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(10) Exemption from penalty.--In the case of imposition 
     of a civil penalty under paragraph (4)(A) with respect to a 
     violation of paragraph (1)(A) or (2) of subsection (a) for 
     hiring or continuation of employment or recruitment or 
     referral by person or entity and in the case of imposition of 
     a civil penalty under paragraph (5) for a violation of 
     subsection (a)(1)(B) for hiring or recruitment or referral by 
     a person or entity, the penalty otherwise imposed may be 
     waived or reduced if the violator establishes that the 
     violator acted in good faith.
       ``(11) Authority to debar employers for certain 
     violations.--
       ``(A) In general.--If a person or entity is determined by 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security to be a repeat violator of 
     paragraph (1)(A) or (2) of subsection (a), or is convicted of 
     a crime under this section, such person or entity may be 
     considered for debarment from the receipt of Federal 
     contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements in accordance 
     with the debarment standards and pursuant to the debarment 
     procedures set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
       ``(B) Does not have contract, grant, agreement.--If the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General wishes 
     to have a person or entity considered for debarment in 
     accordance with this paragraph, and such an person or entity 
     does not hold a Federal contract, grant or cooperative 
     agreement, the Secretary or Attorney General shall refer the 
     matter to the Administrator of General Services to determine 
     whether to list the person or entity on the List of Parties 
     Excluded from Federal Procurement, and if so, for what 
     duration and under what scope.
       ``(C) Has contract, grant, agreement.--If the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security or the Attorney General wishes to have a 
     person or entity considered for debarment in accordance with 
     this paragraph, and such person or entity holds a Federal 
     contract, grant or cooperative agreement, the Secretary or 
     Attorney General shall advise all agencies or departments 
     holding a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with the 
     person or entity of the Government's interest in having the 
     person or entity considered for debarment, and after 
     soliciting and considering the views of all such agencies and 
     departments, the Secretary or Attorney General may waive the 
     operation of this paragraph or refer the matter to any 
     appropriate lead agency to determine whether to list the 
     person or entity on the List of Parties Excluded from Federal 
     Procurement, and if so, for what duration and under what 
     scope.
       ``(D) Review.--Any decision to debar a person or entity 
     under in accordance with this paragraph shall be reviewable 
     pursuant to part 9.4 of the Federal Acquisition 
     Regulation.''; and
       (2) in subsection (f)--
       (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1) Criminal penalty.--Any person or entity which engages 
     in a pattern or practice of violations of subsection (a)(1) 
     or (2) shall be fined not more than $15,000 for each 
     unauthorized alien with respect to which such a violation 
     occurs, imprisoned for not less than 1 year and not more than 
     10 years, or both, notwithstanding the provisions of any 
     other Federal law relating to fine levels.''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Attorney General'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland 
     Security''.

     SEC. __5. PREEMPTION; LIABILITY.

       Section 402 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
     Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note), as amended 
     by this subtitle, is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(h) Limitation on State Authority.--
       ``(1) Preemption.--A State or local government may not 
     prohibit a person or other entity from verifying the 
     employment authorization of new hires or current employees 
     through E-Verify.
       ``(2) Liability.--A person or other entity that 
     participates in E-Verify may not be held liable under any 
     Federal, State, or local law for any employment-related 
     action taken with respect to the wrongful termination of an 
     individual in good faith reliance on information provided 
     through E-Verify.''.

     SEC. __6. EXPANDED USE OF E-VERIFY.

       Section 403(a)(3)(A) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
     Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(A) In general.--
       ``(i) Before hiring.--The person or other entity may verify 
     the employment eligibility of an individual through E-Verify 
     before the individual is hired, recruited, or referred if the 
     individual consents to such verification. If an employer 
     receives a tentative nonconfirmation for an individual, the 
     employer shall comply with procedures prescribed by the 
     Secretary, including--

       ``(I) providing the individual employees with private, 
     written notification of the finding and written referral 
     instructions;
       ``(II) allowing the individual to contest the finding; and
       ``(III) not taking adverse action against the individual if 
     the individual chooses to contest the finding.

       ``(ii) After employment offer.--The person or other entity 
     shall verify the employment eligibility of an individual 
     through E-Verify not later than 3 days after the date of the 
     hiring, recruitment, or referral, as the case may be.
       ``(iii) Existing employees.--Not later than 3 years after 
     the date of the enactment of the Accountability Through 
     Electronic Verification Act, the Secretary shall require all 
     employers to use E-Verify to verify the identity and 
     employment eligibility of any individual who has not been 
     previously verified by the employer through E-Verify.''.

     SEC. __7. REVERIFICATION.

       Section 403(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
     Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Reverification.--Each person or other entity 
     participating in E-Verify shall use the E-Verify confirmation 
     system to reverify the work authorization of any individual 
     not later than 3 days after the date on which such 
     individual's employment authorization is scheduled to expire 
     (as indicated by the Secretary or the documents provided to 
     the employer pursuant to section 274A(b) of the Immigration 
     and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(b))), in accordance with 
     the procedures set forth in this subsection and section 
     402.''.

     SEC. __8. HOLDING EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE.

       (a) Consequences of Nonconfirmation.--Section 403(a)(4)(C) 
     of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
     Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(C) Consequences of nonconfirmation.--
       ``(i) Termination and notification.--If the person or other 
     entity receives a final nonconfirmation regarding an 
     individual, the employer shall immediately--

       ``(I) terminate the employment, recruitment, or referral of 
     the individual; and
       ``(II) submit to the Secretary any information relating to 
     the individual that the Secretary determines would assist the 
     Secretary in enforcing or administering United States 
     immigration laws.

       ``(ii) Consequence of continued employment.--If the person 
     or other entity continues to employ, recruit, or refer the 
     individual after receiving final nonconfirmation, a 
     rebuttable presumption is created that the employer has 
     violated section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
     (8 U.S.C. 1324a).''.
       (b) Interagency Nonconfirmation Report.--Section 405 of the 
     Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act 
     of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(c) Interagency Nonconfirmation Report.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director of U.S. Citizenship and 
     Immigration Services shall submit a weekly report to the 
     Assistant Secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
     that includes, for each individual who receives final 
     nonconfirmation through E-Verify--
       ``(A) the name of such individual;
       ``(B) his or her Social Security number or alien file 
     number;
       ``(C) the name and contact information for his or her 
     current employer; and

[[Page 8915]]

       ``(D) any other critical information that the Assistant 
     Secretary determines to be appropriate.
       ``(2) Use of weekly report.--The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall use information provided under paragraph (1) 
     to enforce compliance of the United States immigration 
     laws.''.

     SEC. __9. INFORMATION SHARING.

       The Commissioner of Social Security, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     jointly establish a program to share information among such 
     agencies that may or could lead to the identification of 
     unauthorized aliens (as defined in section 274A(h)(3) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act), including any no-match 
     letter and any information in the earnings suspense file.

     SEC. __10. FORM I-9 PROCESS.

       Not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a 
     report to Congress that contains recommendations for--
       (1) modifying and simplifying the process by which 
     employers are required to complete and retain a Form I-9 for 
     each employee pursuant to section 274A of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a); and
       (2) eliminating the process described in paragraph (1).

     SEC. __11. ALGORITHM.

       Section 404(d) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
     Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Design and Operation of System.--E-Verify shall be 
     designed and operated--
       ``(1) to maximize its reliability and ease of use by 
     employers;
       ``(2) to insulate and protect the privacy and security of 
     the underlying information;
       ``(3) to maintain appropriate administrative, technical, 
     and physical safeguards to prevent unauthorized disclosure of 
     personal information;
       ``(4) to respond accurately to all inquiries made by 
     employers on whether individuals are authorized to be 
     employed;
       ``(5) to register any times when E-Verify is unable to 
     receive inquiries;
       ``(6) to allow for auditing use of the system to detect 
     fraud and identify theft;
       ``(7) to preserve the security of the information in all of 
     the system by--
       ``(A) developing and using algorithms to detect potential 
     identity theft, such as multiple uses of the same identifying 
     information or documents;
       ``(B) developing and using algorithms to detect misuse of 
     the system by employers and employees;
       ``(C) developing capabilities to detect anomalies in the 
     use of the system that may indicate potential fraud or misuse 
     of the system; and
       ``(D) auditing documents and information submitted by 
     potential employees to employers, including authority to 
     conduct interviews with employers and employees;
       ``(8) to confirm identity and work authorization through 
     verification of records maintained by the Secretary, other 
     Federal departments, States, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
     Mariana Islands, or an outlying possession of the United 
     States, as determined necessary by the Secretary, including--
       ``(A) records maintained by the Social Security 
     Administration;
       ``(B) birth and death records maintained by vital 
     statistics agencies of any State or other jurisdiction in the 
     United States;
       ``(C) passport and visa records (including photographs) 
     maintained by the Department of State; and
       ``(D) State driver's license or identity card information 
     (including photographs) maintained by State department of 
     motor vehicles;
       ``(9) to electronically confirm the issuance of the 
     employment authorization or identity document; and
       ``(10) to display the digital photograph that the issuer 
     placed on the document so that the employer can compare the 
     photograph displayed to the photograph on the document 
     presented by the employee or, in exceptional cases, if a 
     photograph is not available from the issuer, to provide for a 
     temporary alternative procedure, specified by the Secretary, 
     for confirming the authenticity of the document.''.

     SEC. __12. IDENTITY THEFT.

       Section 1028 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(7), by striking ``of another person'' 
     and inserting ``that is not his or her own''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by adding ``or'' at the end; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) to facilitate or assist in harboring or hiring 
     unauthorized workers in violation of section 274, 274A, or 
     274C of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324, 
     1324a, and 1324c).''.

     SEC. __13. SMALL BUSINESS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

       Section 403 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
     Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d) Small Business Demonstration Program.--Not later than 
     9 months after the date of the enactment of the 
     Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, the 
     Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall 
     establish a demonstration program that assists small 
     businesses in rural areas or areas without internet 
     capabilities to verify the employment eligibility of newly 
     hired employees solely through the use of publicly accessible 
     internet terminals.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1921. Mr. BURR (for himself and Mr. McCain) proposed an amendment 
to amendment SA 1569 proposed by Mr. Burr (for himself and Mrs. Boxer) 
to the amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, 
to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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; as follows:

       Strike line 2 and all that follows and insert the 
     following:

             TITLE XVII--CYBERSECURITY INFORMATION SHARING

     SECTION 1701. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Cybersecurity Information 
     Sharing Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 1702. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.
       (2) Antitrust laws.--The term ``antitrust laws''--
       (A) has the meaning given the term in section 1 of the 
     Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12);
       (B) includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 45) to the extent that section 5 of that Act 
     applies to unfair methods of competition; and
       (C) includes any State law that has the same intent and 
     effect as the laws under subparagraphs (A) and (B).
       (3) Appropriate federal entities.--The term ``appropriate 
     Federal entities'' means the following:
       (A) The Department of Commerce.
       (B) The Department of Defense.
       (C) The Department of Energy.
       (D) The Department of Homeland Security.
       (E) The Department of Justice.
       (F) The Department of the Treasury.
       (G) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
       (4) Cybersecurity purpose.--The term ``cybersecurity 
     purpose'' means the purpose of protecting an information 
     system or information that is stored on, processed by, or 
     transiting an information system from a cybersecurity threat 
     or security vulnerability.
       (5) Cybersecurity threat.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     the term ``cybersecurity threat'' means an action, not 
     protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States, on or through an information system that may 
     result in an unauthorized effort to adversely impact the 
     security, availability, confidentiality, or integrity of an 
     information system or information that is stored on, 
     processed by, or transiting an information system.
       (B) Exclusion.--The term ``cybersecurity threat'' does not 
     include any action that solely involves a violation of a 
     consumer term of service or a consumer licensing agreement.
       (6) Cyber threat indicator.--The term ``cyber threat 
     indicator'' means information that is necessary to describe 
     or identify--
       (A) malicious reconnaissance, including anomalous patterns 
     of communications that appear to be transmitted for the 
     purpose of gathering technical information related to a 
     cybersecurity threat or security vulnerability;
       (B) a method of defeating a security control or 
     exploitation of a security vulnerability;
       (C) a security vulnerability, including anomalous activity 
     that appears to indicate the existence of a security 
     vulnerability;
       (D) a method of causing a user with legitimate access to an 
     information system or information that is stored on, 
     processed by, or transiting an information system to 
     unwittingly enable the defeat of a security control or 
     exploitation of a security vulnerability;
       (E) malicious cyber command and control;
       (F) the actual or potential harm caused by an incident, 
     including a description of the information exfiltrated as a 
     result of a particular cybersecurity threat;
       (G) any other attribute of a cybersecurity threat, if 
     disclosure of such attribute is not otherwise prohibited by 
     law; or
       (H) any combination thereof.
       (7) Defensive measure.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     the term ``defensive measure'' means an action, device, 
     procedure, signature, technique, or other measure applied to 
     an information system or information

[[Page 8916]]

     that is stored on, processed by, or transiting an information 
     system that detects, prevents, or mitigates a known or 
     suspected cybersecurity threat or security vulnerability.
       (B) Exclusion.--The term ``defensive measure'' does not 
     include a measure that destroys, renders unusable, or 
     substantially harms an information system or data on an 
     information system not belonging to--
       (i) the private entity operating the measure; or
       (ii) another entity or Federal entity that is authorized to 
     provide consent and has provided consent to that private 
     entity for operation of such measure.
       (8) Entity.--
       (A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
     paragraph, the term ``entity'' means any private entity, non-
     Federal government agency or department, or State, tribal, or 
     local government (including a political subdivision, 
     department, or component thereof).
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``entity'' includes a government 
     agency or department of the District of Columbia, the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
     American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other 
     territory or possession of the United States.
       (C) Exclusion.--The term ``entity'' does not include a 
     foreign power as defined in section 101 of the Foreign 
     Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801).
       (9) Federal entity.--The term ``Federal entity'' means a 
     department or agency of the United States or any component of 
     such department or agency.
       (10) Information system.--The term ``information system''--
       (A) has the meaning given the term in section 3502 of title 
     44, United States Code; and
       (B) includes industrial control systems, such as 
     supervisory control and data acquisition systems, distributed 
     control systems, and programmable logic controllers.
       (11) Local government.--The term ``local government'' means 
     any borough, city, county, parish, town, township, village, 
     or other political subdivision of a State.
       (12) Malicious cyber command and control.--The term 
     ``malicious cyber command and control'' means a method for 
     unauthorized remote identification of, access to, or use of, 
     an information system or information that is stored on, 
     processed by, or transiting an information system.
       (13) Malicious reconnaissance.--The term ``malicious 
     reconnaissance'' means a method for actively probing or 
     passively monitoring an information system for the purpose of 
     discerning security vulnerabilities of the information 
     system, if such method is associated with a known or 
     suspected cybersecurity threat.
       (14) Monitor.--The term ``monitor'' means to acquire, 
     identify, or scan, or to possess, information that is stored 
     on, processed by, or transiting an information system.
       (15) Private entity.--
       (A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
     paragraph, the term ``private entity'' means any person or 
     private group, organization, proprietorship, partnership, 
     trust, cooperative, corporation, or other commercial or 
     nonprofit entity, including an officer, employee, or agent 
     thereof.
       (B) Inclusion.--The term ``private entity'' includes a 
     State, tribal, or local government performing electric 
     utility services.
       (C) Exclusion.--The term ``private entity'' does not 
     include a foreign power as defined in section 101 of the 
     Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 
     1801).
       (16) Security control.--The term ``security control'' means 
     the management, operational, and technical controls used to 
     protect against an unauthorized effort to adversely affect 
     the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of an 
     information system or its information.
       (17) Security vulnerability.--The term ``security 
     vulnerability'' means any attribute of hardware, software, 
     process, or procedure that could enable or facilitate the 
     defeat of a security control.
       (18) Tribal.--The term ``tribal'' has the meaning given the 
     term ``Indian tribe'' in section 4 of the Indian Self-
     Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).

     SEC. 1703. SHARING OF INFORMATION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

       (a) In General.--Consistent with the protection of 
     classified information, intelligence sources and methods, and 
     privacy and civil liberties, the Director of National 
     Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the 
     Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General, in 
     consultation with the heads of the appropriate Federal 
     entities, shall develop and promulgate procedures to 
     facilitate and promote--
       (1) the timely sharing of classified cyber threat 
     indicators in the possession of the Federal Government with 
     cleared representatives of relevant entities;
       (2) the timely sharing with relevant entities of cyber 
     threat indicators or information in the possession of the 
     Federal Government that may be declassified and shared at an 
     unclassified level;
       (3) the sharing with relevant entities, or the public if 
     appropriate, of unclassified, including controlled 
     unclassified, cyber threat indicators in the possession of 
     the Federal Government; and
       (4) the sharing with entities, if appropriate, of 
     information in the possession of the Federal Government about 
     cybersecurity threats to such entities to prevent or mitigate 
     adverse effects from such cybersecurity threats.
       (b) Development of Procedures.--
       (1) In general.--The procedures developed and promulgated 
     under subsection (a) shall--
       (A) ensure the Federal Government has and maintains the 
     capability to share cyber threat indicators in real time 
     consistent with the protection of classified information;
       (B) incorporate, to the greatest extent practicable, 
     existing processes and existing roles and responsibilities of 
     Federal and non-Federal entities for information sharing by 
     the Federal Government, including sector specific information 
     sharing and analysis centers;
       (C) include procedures for notifying entities that have 
     received a cyber threat indicator from a Federal entity under 
     this title that is known or determined to be in error or in 
     contravention of the requirements of this title or another 
     provision of Federal law or policy of such error or 
     contravention;
       (D) include requirements for Federal entities receiving 
     cyber threat indicators or defensive measures to implement 
     and utilize security controls to protect against unauthorized 
     access to or acquisition of such cyber threat indicators or 
     defensive measures; and
       (E) include procedures that require a Federal entity, prior 
     to the sharing of a cyber threat indicator--
       (i) to review such cyber threat indicator to assess whether 
     such cyber threat indicator contains any information that 
     such Federal entity knows at the time of sharing to be 
     personal information of or identifying a specific person not 
     directly related to a cybersecurity threat and remove such 
     information; or
       (ii) to implement and utilize a technical capability 
     configured to remove any personal information of or 
     identifying a specific person not directly related to a 
     cybersecurity threat.
       (2) Coordination.--In developing the procedures required 
     under this section, the Director of National Intelligence, 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, 
     and the Attorney General shall coordinate with appropriate 
     Federal entities, including the National Laboratories (as 
     defined in section 1702 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
     U.S.C. 15801)), to ensure that effective protocols are 
     implemented that will facilitate and promote the sharing of 
     cyber threat indicators by the Federal Government in a timely 
     manner.
       (c) Submittal to Congress.--Not later than 60 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this title, the Director of 
     National Intelligence, in consultation with the heads of the 
     appropriate Federal entities, shall submit to Congress the 
     procedures required by subsection (a).

     SEC. 1704. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR PREVENTING, DETECTING, 
                   ANALYZING, AND MITIGATING CYBERSECURITY 
                   THREATS.

       (a) Authorization for Monitoring.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, a private entity may, for cybersecurity purposes, 
     monitor--
       (A) an information system of such private entity;
       (B) an information system of another entity, upon the 
     authorization and written consent of such other entity;
       (C) an information system of a Federal entity, upon the 
     authorization and written consent of an authorized 
     representative of the Federal entity; and
       (D) information that is stored on, processed by, or 
     transiting an information system monitored by the private 
     entity under this paragraph.
       (2) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed--
       (A) to authorize the monitoring of an information system, 
     or the use of any information obtained through such 
     monitoring, other than as provided in this title; or
       (B) to limit otherwise lawful activity.
       (b) Authorization for Operation of Defensive Measures.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, a private entity may, for cybersecurity purposes, 
     operate a defensive measure that is applied to--
       (A) an information system of such private entity in order 
     to protect the rights or property of the private entity;
       (B) an information system of another entity upon written 
     consent of such entity for operation of such defensive 
     measure to protect the rights or property of such entity; and
       (C) an information system of a Federal entity upon written 
     consent of an authorized representative of such Federal 
     entity for operation of such defensive measure to protect the 
     rights or property of the Federal Government.
       (2) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed--
       (A) to authorize the use of a defensive measure other than 
     as provided in this subsection; or
       (B) to limit otherwise lawful activity.
       (c) Authorization for Sharing or Receiving Cyber Threat 
     Indicators or Defensive Measures.--

[[Page 8917]]

       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2) and 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, an entity may, 
     for the purposes permitted under this title and consistent 
     with the protection of classified information, share with, or 
     receive from, any other entity or the Federal Government a 
     cyber threat indicator or defensive measure.
       (2) Lawful restriction.--An entity receiving a cyber threat 
     indicator or defensive measure from another entity or Federal 
     entity shall comply with otherwise lawful restrictions placed 
     on the sharing or use of such cyber threat indicator or 
     defensive measure by the sharing entity or Federal entity.
       (3) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed--
       (A) to authorize the sharing or receiving of a cyber threat 
     indicator or defensive measure other than as provided in this 
     subsection; or
       (B) to limit otherwise lawful activity.
       (d) Protection and Use of Information.--
       (1) Security of information.--An entity monitoring an 
     information system, operating a defensive measure, or 
     providing or receiving a cyber threat indicator or defensive 
     measure under this section shall implement and utilize a 
     security control to protect against unauthorized access to or 
     acquisition of such cyber threat indicator or defensive 
     measure.
       (2) Removal of certain personal information.--An entity 
     sharing a cyber threat indicator pursuant to this title 
     shall, prior to such sharing--
       (A) review such cyber threat indicator to assess whether 
     such cyber threat indicator contains any information that the 
     entity knows at the time of sharing to be personal 
     information of or identifying a specific person not directly 
     related to a cybersecurity threat and remove such 
     information; or
       (B) implement and utilize a technical capability configured 
     to remove any information contained within such indicator 
     that the entity knows at the time of sharing to be personal 
     information of or identifying a specific person not directly 
     related to a cybersecurity threat.
       (3) Use of cyber threat indicators and defensive measures 
     by entities.--
       (A) In general.--Consistent with this title, a cyber threat 
     indicator or defensive measure shared or received under this 
     section may, for cybersecurity purposes--
       (i) be used by an entity to monitor or operate a defensive 
     measure on--

       (I) an information system of the entity; or
       (II) an information system of another entity or a Federal 
     entity upon the written consent of that other entity or that 
     Federal entity; and

       (ii) be otherwise used, retained, and further shared by an 
     entity subject to--

       (I) an otherwise lawful restriction placed by the sharing 
     entity or Federal entity on such cyber threat indicator or 
     defensive measure; or
       (II) an otherwise applicable provision of law.

       (B) Construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall be 
     construed to authorize the use of a cyber threat indicator or 
     defensive measure other than as provided in this section.
       (4) Use of cyber threat indicators by state, tribal, or 
     local government.--
       (A) Law enforcement use.--
       (i) Prior written consent.--Except as provided in clause 
     (ii), a cyber threat indicator shared with a State, tribal, 
     or local government under this section may, with the prior 
     written consent of the entity sharing such indicator, be used 
     by a State, tribal, or local government for the purpose of 
     preventing, investigating, or prosecuting any of the offenses 
     described in section 1705(d)(5)(A)(vi).
       (ii) Oral consent.--If exigent circumstances prevent 
     obtaining written consent under clause (i), such consent may 
     be provided orally with subsequent documentation of the 
     consent.
       (B) Exemption from disclosure.--A cyber threat indicator 
     shared with a State, tribal, or local government under this 
     section shall be--
       (i) deemed voluntarily shared information; and
       (ii) exempt from disclosure under any State, tribal, or 
     local law requiring disclosure of information or records.
       (C) State, tribal, and local regulatory authority.--
       (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), a cyber 
     threat indicator or defensive measure shared with a State, 
     tribal, or local government under this title shall not be 
     directly used by any State, tribal, or local government to 
     regulate, including an enforcement action, the lawful 
     activity of any entity, including an activity relating to 
     monitoring, operating a defensive measure, or sharing of a 
     cyber threat indicator.
       (ii) Regulatory authority specifically relating to 
     prevention or mitigation of cybersecurity threats.--A cyber 
     threat indicator or defensive measures shared as described in 
     clause (i) may, consistent with a State, tribal, or local 
     government regulatory authority specifically relating to the 
     prevention or mitigation of cybersecurity threats to 
     information systems, inform the development or implementation 
     of a regulation relating to such information systems.
       (e) Antitrust Exemption.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in section 1708(e), it 
     shall not be considered a violation of any provision of 
     antitrust laws for 2 or more private entities to exchange or 
     provide a cyber threat indicator, or assistance relating to 
     the prevention, investigation, or mitigation of a 
     cybersecurity threat, for cybersecurity purposes under this 
     title.
       (2) Applicability.--Paragraph (1) shall apply only to 
     information that is exchanged or assistance provided in order 
     to assist with--
       (A) facilitating the prevention, investigation, or 
     mitigation of a cybersecurity threat to an information system 
     or information that is stored on, processed by, or transiting 
     an information system; or
       (B) communicating or disclosing a cyber threat indicator to 
     help prevent, investigate, or mitigate the effect of a 
     cybersecurity threat to an information system or information 
     that is stored on, processed by, or transiting an information 
     system.
       (f) No Right or Benefit.--The sharing of a cyber threat 
     indicator with an entity under this title shall not create a 
     right or benefit to similar information by such entity or any 
     other entity.

     SEC. 1705. SHARING OF CYBER THREAT INDICATORS AND DEFENSIVE 
                   MEASURES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

       (a) Requirement for Policies and Procedures.--
       (1) Interim policies and procedures.--Not later than 60 
     days after the date of the enactment of this title, the 
     Attorney General, in coordination with the heads of the 
     appropriate Federal entities, shall develop and submit to 
     Congress interim policies and procedures relating to the 
     receipt of cyber threat indicators and defensive measures by 
     the Federal Government.
       (2) Final policies and procedures.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this title, the Attorney 
     General shall, in coordination with the heads of the 
     appropriate Federal entities, promulgate final policies and 
     procedures relating to the receipt of cyber threat indicators 
     and defensive measures by the Federal Government.
       (3) Requirements concerning policies and procedures.--
     Consistent with the guidelines required by subsection (b), 
     the policies and procedures developed and promulgated under 
     this subsection shall--
       (A) ensure that cyber threat indicators are shared with the 
     Federal Government by any entity pursuant to section 1704(c) 
     through the real-time process described in subsection (c) of 
     this section--
       (i) are shared in an automated manner with all of the 
     appropriate Federal entities;
       (ii) are not subject to any delay, modification, or any 
     other action that could impede real-time receipt by all of 
     the appropriate Federal entities; and
       (iii) may be provided to other Federal entities;
       (B) ensure that cyber threat indicators shared with the 
     Federal Government by any entity pursuant to section 1704 in 
     a manner other than the real-time process described in 
     subsection (c) of this section--
       (i) are shared as quickly as operationally practicable with 
     all of the appropriate Federal entities;
       (ii) are not subject to any unnecessary delay, 
     interference, or any other action that could impede receipt 
     by all of the appropriate Federal entities; and
       (iii) may be provided to other Federal entities;
       (C) consistent with this title, any other applicable 
     provisions of law, and the fair information practice 
     principles set forth in appendix A of the document entitled 
     ``National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace'' 
     and published by the President in April 2011, govern the 
     retention, use, and dissemination by the Federal Government 
     of cyber threat indicators shared with the Federal Government 
     under this title, including the extent, if any, to which such 
     cyber threat indicators may be used by the Federal 
     Government; and
       (D) ensure there is--
       (i) an audit capability; and
       (ii) appropriate sanctions in place for officers, 
     employees, or agents of a Federal entity who knowingly and 
     willfully conduct activities under this title in an 
     unauthorized manner.
       (4) Guidelines for entities sharing cyber threat indicators 
     with federal government.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this title, the Attorney General shall 
     develop and make publicly available guidance to assist 
     entities and promote sharing of cyber threat indicators with 
     Federal entities under this title.
       (B) Contents.--The guidelines developed and made publicly 
     available under subparagraph (A) shall include guidance on 
     the following:
       (i) Identification of types of information that would 
     qualify as a cyber threat indicator under this title that 
     would be unlikely to include personal information of or 
     identifying a specific person not directly related to a cyber 
     security threat.
       (ii) Identification of types of information protected under 
     otherwise applicable privacy laws that are unlikely to be 
     directly related to a cybersecurity threat.

[[Page 8918]]

       (iii) Such other matters as the Attorney General considers 
     appropriate for entities sharing cyber threat indicators with 
     Federal entities under this title.
       (b) Privacy and Civil Liberties.--
       (1) Guidelines of attorney general.--Not later than 60 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this title, the Attorney 
     General shall, in coordination with heads of the appropriate 
     Federal entities and in consultation with officers designated 
     under section 1062 of the National Security Intelligence 
     Reform Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 2000ee-1), develop, submit to 
     Congress, and make available to the public interim guidelines 
     relating to privacy and civil liberties which shall govern 
     the receipt, retention, use, and dissemination of cyber 
     threat indicators by a Federal entity obtained in connection 
     with activities authorized in this title.
       (2) Final guidelines.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this title, the Attorney General shall, in 
     coordination with heads of the appropriate Federal entities 
     and in consultation with officers designated under section 
     1062 of the National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 
     (42 U.S.C. 2000ee-1) and such private entities with industry 
     expertise as the Attorney General considers relevant, 
     promulgate final guidelines relating to privacy and civil 
     liberties which shall govern the receipt, retention, use, and 
     dissemination of cyber threat indicators by a Federal entity 
     obtained in connection with activities authorized in this 
     title.
       (B) Periodic review.--The Attorney General shall, in 
     coordination with heads of the appropriate Federal entities 
     and in consultation with officers and private entities 
     described in subparagraph (A), periodically review the 
     guidelines promulgated under subparagraph (A).
       (3) Content.--The guidelines required by paragraphs (1) and 
     (2) shall, consistent with the need to protect information 
     systems from cybersecurity threats and mitigate cybersecurity 
     threats--
       (A) limit the impact on privacy and civil liberties of 
     activities by the Federal Government under this title;
       (B) limit the receipt, retention, use, and dissemination of 
     cyber threat indicators containing personal information of or 
     identifying specific persons, including by establishing--
       (i) a process for the timely destruction of such 
     information that is known not to be directly related to uses 
     authorized under this title; and
       (ii) specific limitations on the length of any period in 
     which a cyber threat indicator may be retained;
       (C) include requirements to safeguard cyber threat 
     indicators containing personal information of or identifying 
     specific persons from unauthorized access or acquisition, 
     including appropriate sanctions for activities by officers, 
     employees, or agents of the Federal Government in 
     contravention of such guidelines;
       (D) include procedures for notifying entities and Federal 
     entities if information received pursuant to this section is 
     known or determined by a Federal entity receiving such 
     information not to constitute a cyber threat indicator;
       (E) protect the confidentiality of cyber threat indicators 
     containing personal information of or identifying specific 
     persons to the greatest extent practicable and require 
     recipients to be informed that such indicators may only be 
     used for purposes authorized under this title; and
       (F) include steps that may be needed so that dissemination 
     of cyber threat indicators is consistent with the protection 
     of classified and other sensitive national security 
     information.
       (c) Capability and Process Within the Department of 
     Homeland Security.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this title, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, in coordination with the heads of the appropriate 
     Federal entities, shall develop and implement a capability 
     and process within the Department of Homeland Security that--
       (A) shall accept from any entity in real time cyber threat 
     indicators and defensive measures, pursuant to this section;
       (B) shall, upon submittal of the certification under 
     paragraph (2) that such capability and process fully and 
     effectively operates as described in such paragraph, be the 
     process by which the Federal Government receives cyber threat 
     indicators and defensive measures under this title that are 
     shared by a private entity with the Federal Government 
     through electronic mail or media, an interactive form on an 
     Internet website, or a real time, automated process between 
     information systems except--
       (i) communications between a Federal entity and a private 
     entity regarding a previously shared cyber threat indicator; 
     and
       (ii) communications by a regulated entity with such 
     entity's Federal regulatory authority regarding a 
     cybersecurity threat;
       (C) ensures that all of the appropriate Federal entities 
     receive in an automated manner such cyber threat indicators 
     shared through the real-time process within the Department of 
     Homeland Security;
       (D) is in compliance with the policies, procedures, and 
     guidelines required by this section; and
       (E) does not limit or prohibit otherwise lawful disclosures 
     of communications, records, or other information, including--
       (i) reporting of known or suspected criminal activity, by 
     an entity to any other entity or a Federal entity;
       (ii) voluntary or legally compelled participation in a 
     Federal investigation; and
       (iii) providing cyber threat indicators or defensive 
     measures as part of a statutory or authorized contractual 
     requirement.
       (2) Certification.--Not later than 10 days prior to the 
     implementation of the capability and process required by 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, in 
     consultation with the heads of the appropriate Federal 
     entities, certify to Congress whether such capability and 
     process fully and effectively operates--
       (A) as the process by which the Federal Government receives 
     from any entity a cyber threat indicator or defensive measure 
     under this title; and
       (B) in accordance with the policies, procedures, and 
     guidelines developed under this section.
       (3) Public notice and access.--The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall ensure there is public notice of, and access 
     to, the capability and process developed and implemented 
     under paragraph (1) so that--
       (A) any entity may share cyber threat indicators and 
     defensive measures through such process with the Federal 
     Government; and
       (B) all of the appropriate Federal entities receive such 
     cyber threat indicators and defensive measures in real time 
     with receipt through the process within the Department of 
     Homeland Security.
       (4) Other federal entities.--The process developed and 
     implemented under paragraph (1) shall ensure that other 
     Federal entities receive in a timely manner any cyber threat 
     indicators and defensive measures shared with the Federal 
     Government through such process.
       (5)  Report on development and implementation.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this title, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall submit to Congress a report on the development 
     and implementation of the capability and process required by 
     paragraph (1), including a description of such capability and 
     process and the public notice of, and access to, such 
     process.
       (B) Classified annex.--The report required by subparagraph 
     (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
     a classified annex.
       (d) Information Shared With or Provided to the Federal 
     Government.--
       (1) No waiver of privilege or protection.--The provision of 
     cyber threat indicators and defensive measures to the Federal 
     Government under this title shall not constitute a waiver of 
     any applicable privilege or protection provided by law, 
     including trade secret protection.
       (2) Proprietary information.--Consistent with section 
     1704(c)(2), a cyber threat indicator or defensive measure 
     provided by an entity to the Federal Government under this 
     title shall be considered the commercial, financial, and 
     proprietary information of such entity when so designated by 
     the originating entity or a third party acting in accordance 
     with the written authorization of the originating entity.
       (3) Exemption from disclosure.--Cyber threat indicators and 
     defensive measures provided to the Federal Government under 
     this title shall be--
       (A) deemed voluntarily shared information and exempt from 
     disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, 
     and any State, tribal, or local law requiring disclosure of 
     information or records; and
       (B) withheld, without discretion, from the public under 
     section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United States Code, and any 
     State, tribal, or local provision of law requiring disclosure 
     of information or records.
       (4) Ex parte communications.--The provision of a cyber 
     threat indicator or defensive measure to the Federal 
     Government under this title shall not be subject to a rule of 
     any Federal agency or department or any judicial doctrine 
     regarding ex parte communications with a decisionmaking 
     official.
       (5) Disclosure, retention, and use.--
       (A) Authorized activities.--Cyber threat indicators and 
     defensive measures provided to the Federal Government under 
     this title may be disclosed to, retained by, and used by, 
     consistent with otherwise applicable provisions of Federal 
     law, any Federal agency or department, component, officer, 
     employee, or agent of the Federal Government solely for--
       (i) a cybersecurity purpose;
       (ii) the purpose of identifying a cybersecurity threat, 
     including the source of such cybersecurity threat, or a 
     security vulnerability;
       (iii) the purpose of identifying a cybersecurity threat 
     involving the use of an information system by a foreign 
     adversary or terrorist;
       (iv) the purpose of responding to, or otherwise preventing 
     or mitigating, an imminent threat of death, serious bodily 
     harm, or serious economic harm, including a terrorist act or 
     a use of a weapon of mass destruction;

[[Page 8919]]

       (v) the purpose of responding to, or otherwise preventing 
     or mitigating, a serious threat to a minor, including sexual 
     exploitation and threats to physical safety; or
       (vi) the purpose of preventing, investigating, disrupting, 
     or prosecuting an offense arising out of a threat described 
     in clause (iv) or any of the offenses listed in--

       (I) section 3559(c)(2)(F) of title 18, United States Code 
     (relating to serious violent felonies);
       (II) sections 1028 through 1030 of such title (relating to 
     fraud and identity theft);
       (III) chapter 37 of such title (relating to espionage and 
     censorship); and
       (IV) chapter 90 of such title (relating to protection of 
     trade secrets).

       (B) Prohibited activities.--Cyber threat indicators and 
     defensive measures provided to the Federal Government under 
     this title shall not be disclosed to, retained by, or used by 
     any Federal agency or department for any use not permitted 
     under subparagraph (A).
       (C) Privacy and civil liberties.--Cyber threat indicators 
     and defensive measures provided to the Federal Government 
     under this title shall be retained, used, and disseminated by 
     the Federal Government--
       (i) in accordance with the policies, procedures, and 
     guidelines required by subsections (a) and (b);
       (ii) in a manner that protects from unauthorized use or 
     disclosure any cyber threat indicators that may contain 
     personal information of or identifying specific persons; and
       (iii) in a manner that protects the confidentiality of 
     cyber threat indicators containing personal information of or 
     identifying a specific person.
       (D) Federal regulatory authority.--
       (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), cyber 
     threat indicators and defensive measures provided to the 
     Federal Government under this title shall not be directly 
     used by any Federal, State, tribal, or local government to 
     regulate, including an enforcement action, the lawful 
     activities of any entity, including activities relating to 
     monitoring, operating defensive measures, or sharing cyber 
     threat indicators.
       (ii) Exceptions.--

       (I) Regulatory authority specifically relating to 
     prevention or mitigation of cybersecurity threats.--Cyber 
     threat indicators and defensive measures provided to the 
     Federal Government under this title may, consistent with 
     Federal or State regulatory authority specifically relating 
     to the prevention or mitigation of cybersecurity threats to 
     information systems, inform the development or implementation 
     of regulations relating to such information systems.
       (II) Procedures developed and implemented under this 
     title.--Clause (i) shall not apply to procedures developed 
     and implemented under this title.

     SEC. 1706. PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY.

       (a) Monitoring of Information Systems.--No cause of action 
     shall lie or be maintained in any court against any private 
     entity, and such action shall be promptly dismissed, for the 
     monitoring of information systems and information under 
     section 1704(a) that is conducted in accordance with this 
     title.
       (b) Sharing or Receipt of Cyber Threat Indicators.--No 
     cause of action shall lie or be maintained in any court 
     against any entity, and such action shall be promptly 
     dismissed, for the sharing or receipt of cyber threat 
     indicators or defensive measures under section 1704(c) if--
       (1) such sharing or receipt is conducted in accordance with 
     this title; and
       (2) in a case in which a cyber threat indicator or 
     defensive measure is shared with the Federal Government, the 
     cyber threat indicator or defensive measure is shared in a 
     manner that is consistent with section 1705(c)(1)(B) and the 
     sharing or receipt, as the case may be, occurs after the 
     earlier of--
       (A) the date on which the interim policies and procedures 
     are submitted to Congress under section 1705(a)(1); or
       (B) the date that is 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this title.
       (c) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed--
       (1) to require dismissal of a cause of action against an 
     entity that has engaged in gross negligence or willful 
     misconduct in the course of conducting activities authorized 
     by this title; or
       (2) to undermine or limit the availability of otherwise 
     applicable common law or statutory defenses.

     SEC. 1707. OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Biennial Report on Implementation.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this title, and not less frequently than 
     once every 2 years thereafter, the heads of the appropriate 
     Federal entities shall jointly submit and the Inspector 
     General of the Department of Homeland Security, the Inspector 
     General of the Intelligence Community, the Inspector General 
     of the Department of Justice, the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Defense, and the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Energy, in consultation with the Council of 
     Inspectors General on Financial Oversight, shall jointly 
     submit to Congress a detailed report concerning the 
     implementation of this title.
       (2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) An assessment of the sufficiency of the policies, 
     procedures, and guidelines required by section 1705 in 
     ensuring that cyber threat indicators are shared effectively 
     and responsibly within the Federal Government.
       (B) An evaluation of the effectiveness of real-time 
     information sharing through the capability and process 
     developed under section 1705(c), including any impediments to 
     such real-time sharing.
       (C) An assessment of the sufficiency of the procedures 
     developed under section 1703 in ensuring that cyber threat 
     indicators in the possession of the Federal Government are 
     shared in a timely and adequate manner with appropriate 
     entities, or, if appropriate, are made publicly available.
       (D) An assessment of whether cyber threat indicators have 
     been properly classified and an accounting of the number of 
     security clearances authorized by the Federal Government for 
     the purposes of this title.
       (E) A review of the type of cyber threat indicators shared 
     with the Federal Government under this title, including the 
     following:
       (i) The degree to which such information may impact the 
     privacy and civil liberties of specific persons.
       (ii) A quantitative and qualitative assessment of the 
     impact of the sharing of such cyber threat indicators with 
     the Federal Government on privacy and civil liberties of 
     specific persons.
       (iii) The adequacy of any steps taken by the Federal 
     Government to reduce such impact.
       (F) A review of actions taken by the Federal Government 
     based on cyber threat indicators shared with the Federal 
     Government under this title, including the appropriateness of 
     any subsequent use or dissemination of such cyber threat 
     indicators by a Federal entity under section 1705.
       (G) A description of any significant violations of the 
     requirements of this title by the Federal Government.
       (H) A summary of the number and type of entities that 
     received classified cyber threat indicators from the Federal 
     Government under this title and an evaluation of the risks 
     and benefits of sharing such cyber threat indicators.
       (3) Recommendations.--Each report submitted under paragraph 
     (1) may include recommendations for improvements or 
     modifications to the authorities and processes under this 
     title.
       (4) Form of report.--Each report required by paragraph (1) 
     shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a 
     classified annex.
       (b) Reports on Privacy and Civil Liberties.--
       (1) Biennial report from privacy and civil liberties 
     oversight board.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this title and not less frequently than once 
     every 2 years thereafter, the Privacy and Civil Liberties 
     Oversight Board shall submit to Congress and the President a 
     report providing--
       (A) an assessment of the effect on privacy and civil 
     liberties by the type of activities carried out under this 
     title; and
       (B) an assessment of the sufficiency of the policies, 
     procedures, and guidelines established pursuant to section 
     1705 in addressing concerns relating to privacy and civil 
     liberties.
       (2) Biennial report of inspectors general.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this title and not less frequently than once 
     every 2 years thereafter, the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Homeland Security, the Inspector General of the 
     Intelligence Community, the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Justice, the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Defense, and the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Energy shall, in consultation with the Council 
     of Inspectors General on Financial Oversight, jointly submit 
     to Congress a report on the receipt, use, and dissemination 
     of cyber threat indicators and defensive measures that have 
     been shared with Federal entities under this title.
       (B) Contents.--Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) 
     shall include the following:
       (i) A review of the types of cyber threat indicators shared 
     with Federal entities.
       (ii) A review of the actions taken by Federal entities as a 
     result of the receipt of such cyber threat indicators.
       (iii) A list of Federal entities receiving such cyber 
     threat indicators.
       (iv) A review of the sharing of such cyber threat 
     indicators among Federal entities to identify inappropriate 
     barriers to sharing information.
       (3) Recommendations.--Each report submitted under this 
     subsection may include such recommendations as the Privacy 
     and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, with respect to a report 
     submitted under paragraph (1), or the Inspectors General 
     referred to in paragraph (2)(A), with respect to a report 
     submitted under paragraph (2), may have for improvements or 
     modifications to the authorities under this title.
       (4) Form.--Each report required under this subsection shall 
     be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a 
     classified annex.

[[Page 8920]]



     SEC. 1708. CONSTRUCTION AND PREEMPTION.

       (a) Otherwise Lawful Disclosures.--Nothing in this title 
     shall be construed--
       (1) to limit or prohibit otherwise lawful disclosures of 
     communications, records, or other information, including 
     reporting of known or suspected criminal activity, by an 
     entity to any other entity or the Federal Government under 
     this title; or
       (2) to limit or prohibit otherwise lawful use of such 
     disclosures by any Federal entity, even when such otherwise 
     lawful disclosures duplicate or replicate disclosures made 
     under this title.
       (b) Whistle Blower Protections.--Nothing in this title 
     shall be construed to prohibit or limit the disclosure of 
     information protected under section 2302(b)(8) of title 5, 
     United States Code (governing disclosures of illegality, 
     waste, fraud, abuse, or public health or safety threats), 
     section 7211 of title 5, United States Code (governing 
     disclosures to Congress), section 1034 of title 10, United 
     States Code (governing disclosure to Congress by members of 
     the military), section 1104 of the National Security Act of 
     1947 (50 U.S.C. 3234) (governing disclosure by employees of 
     elements of the intelligence community), or any similar 
     provision of Federal or State law.
       (c) Protection of Sources and Methods.--Nothing in this 
     title shall be construed--
       (1) as creating any immunity against, or otherwise 
     affecting, any action brought by the Federal Government, or 
     any agency or department thereof, to enforce any law, 
     executive order, or procedure governing the appropriate 
     handling, disclosure, or use of classified information;
       (2) to affect the conduct of authorized law enforcement or 
     intelligence activities; or
       (3) to modify the authority of a department or agency of 
     the Federal Government to protect classified information and 
     sources and methods and the national security of the United 
     States.
       (d) Relationship to Other Laws.--Nothing in this title 
     shall be construed to affect any requirement under any other 
     provision of law for an entity to provide information to the 
     Federal Government.
       (e) Prohibited Conduct.--Nothing in this title shall be 
     construed to permit price-fixing, allocating a market between 
     competitors, monopolizing or attempting to monopolize a 
     market, boycotting, or exchanges of price or cost 
     information, customer lists, or information regarding future 
     competitive planning.
       (f) Information Sharing Relationships.--Nothing in this 
     title shall be construed--
       (1) to limit or modify an existing information sharing 
     relationship;
       (2) to prohibit a new information sharing relationship;
       (3) to require a new information sharing relationship 
     between any entity and the Federal Government; or
       (4) to require the use of the capability and process within 
     the Department of Homeland Security developed under section 
     1705(c).
       (g) Preservation of Contractual Obligations and Rights.--
     Nothing in this title shall be construed--
       (1) to amend, repeal, or supersede any current or future 
     contractual agreement, terms of service agreement, or other 
     contractual relationship between any entities, or between any 
     entity and a Federal entity; or
       (2) to abrogate trade secret or intellectual property 
     rights of any entity or Federal entity.
       (h) Anti-Tasking Restriction.--Nothing in this title shall 
     be construed to permit the Federal Government--
       (1) to require an entity to provide information to the 
     Federal Government;
       (2) to condition the sharing of cyber threat indicators 
     with an entity on such entity's provision of cyber threat 
     indicators to the Federal Government; or
       (3) to condition the award of any Federal grant, contract, 
     or purchase on the provision of a cyber threat indicator to a 
     Federal entity.
       (i) No Liability for Non-Participation.--Nothing in this 
     title shall be construed to subject any entity to liability 
     for choosing not to engage in the voluntary activities 
     authorized in this title.
       (j) Use and Retention of Information.--Nothing in this 
     title shall be construed to authorize, or to modify any 
     existing authority of, a department or agency of the Federal 
     Government to retain or use any information shared under this 
     title for any use other than permitted in this title.
       (k) Federal Preemption.--
       (1) In general.--This title supersedes any statute or other 
     provision of law of a State or political subdivision of a 
     State that restricts or otherwise expressly regulates an 
     activity authorized under this title.
       (2) State law enforcement.--Nothing in this title shall be 
     construed to supersede any statute or other provision of law 
     of a State or political subdivision of a State concerning the 
     use of authorized law enforcement practices and procedures.
       (l) Regulatory Authority.--Nothing in this title shall be 
     construed--
       (1) to authorize the promulgation of any regulations not 
     specifically authorized by this title;
       (2) to establish or limit any regulatory authority not 
     specifically established or limited under this title; or
       (3) to authorize regulatory actions that would duplicate or 
     conflict with regulatory requirements, mandatory standards, 
     or related processes under another provision of Federal law.
       (m) Authority of Secretary of Defense To Respond to Cyber 
     Attacks.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to limit 
     the authority of the Secretary of Defense to develop, 
     prepare, coordinate, or, when authorized by the President to 
     do so, conduct a military cyber operation in response to a 
     malicious cyber activity carried out against the United 
     States or a United States person by a foreign government or 
     an organization sponsored by a foreign government or a 
     terrorist organization.

     SEC. 1709. REPORT ON CYBERSECURITY THREATS.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this title, the Director of National 
     Intelligence, in coordination with the heads of other 
     appropriate elements of the intelligence community, shall 
     submit to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate 
     and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
     House of Representatives a report on cybersecurity threats, 
     including cyber attacks, theft, and data breaches.
       (b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) An assessment of the current intelligence sharing and 
     cooperation relationships of the United States with other 
     countries regarding cybersecurity threats, including cyber 
     attacks, theft, and data breaches, directed against the 
     United States and which threaten the United States national 
     security interests and economy and intellectual property, 
     specifically identifying the relative utility of such 
     relationships, which elements of the intelligence community 
     participate in such relationships, and whether and how such 
     relationships could be improved.
       (2) A list and an assessment of the countries and nonstate 
     actors that are the primary threats of carrying out a 
     cybersecurity threat, including a cyber attack, theft, or 
     data breach, against the United States and which threaten the 
     United States national security, economy, and intellectual 
     property.
       (3) A description of the extent to which the capabilities 
     of the United States Government to respond to or prevent 
     cybersecurity threats, including cyber attacks, theft, or 
     data breaches, directed against the United States private 
     sector are degraded by a delay in the prompt notification by 
     private entities of such threats or cyber attacks, theft, and 
     breaches.
       (4) An assessment of additional technologies or 
     capabilities that would enhance the ability of the United 
     States to prevent and to respond to cybersecurity threats, 
     including cyber attacks, theft, and data breaches.
       (5) An assessment of any technologies or practices utilized 
     by the private sector that could be rapidly fielded to assist 
     the intelligence community in preventing and responding to 
     cybersecurity threats.
       (c) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) 
     shall be made available in classified and unclassified forms.
       (d) Intelligence Community Defined.--In this section, the 
     term ``intelligence community'' has the meaning given that 
     term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 
     U.S.C. 3003).

     SEC. 1710. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Public Information.--Section 552(b) of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking ``wells.'' and inserting 
     ``wells; or''; and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
       ``(10) information shared with or provided to the Federal 
     Government pursuant to the Cybersecurity Information Sharing 
     Act of 2015.''.
       (b) Modification of Limitation on Dissemination of Certain 
     Information Concerning Penetrations of Defense Contractor 
     Networks.--Section 941(c)(3) of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239; 
     10 U.S.C. 2224 note) is amended by inserting at the end the 
     following: ``The Secretary may share such information with 
     other Federal entities if such information consists of cyber 
     threat indicators and defensive measures and such information 
     is shared consistent with the policies and procedures 
     promulgated by the Attorney General under section 1705 of the 
     Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015.''.

     SEC. 1711. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS OF EMPLOYEES OF THE 
                   MILITARY CHILD CARE SYSTEM AND PROVIDERS OF 
                   CHILD CARE SERVICES AND YOUTH PROGRAM SERVICES 
                   FOR MILITARY DEPENDENTS.

       (a) Employees of Military Child Care System.--Section 1792 
     of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
     subsection (d):
       ``(d) Criminal Background Check.--The criminal background 
     check of child care employees under this section that is 
     required pursuant to section 231 of the Crime Control

[[Page 8921]]

     Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13041) shall be conducted pursuant to 
     regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense in 
     accordance with the provisions of section 658H of the Child 
     Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     9858f).''.
       (b) Providers of Child Care Services and Youth Program 
     Services.--Section 1798 of such title is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
     subsection (c):
       ``(c) Criminal Background Check.--A provider of child care 
     services or youth program services may not provide such 
     services under this section unless such provider complies 
     with the requirements for criminal background checks under 
     section 658H of the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
     Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858f) for the State in which such 
     services are provided.''.
       (c) Funding.--Amounts for activities required by reason of 
     the amendments made by this section during fiscal year 2016 
     shall be derived from amounts otherwise authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2016 by section 301 and 
     available for operation and maintenance for the Yellow Ribbon 
     Reintegration Program as specified in the funding tables in 
     section 4301.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1922. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Cochran) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH PROGRAM.

       (a) Requirement to Develop and Deploy UAS Technologies.--
     The Secretary of Defense and the Director of National 
     Intelligence shall work in conjunction with the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, the Secretary of Transportation, the 
     Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, the heads of other Federal agencies, existing 
     UAS test sites and centers of excellence designated by the 
     Federal Aviation Administration, the private sector, and 
     academia on the research and development of technologies to 
     safely detect, identify, and classify potentially threatening 
     UAS in the national air space and to develop mitigation 
     technologies--
       (1) to ensure that, as the commercial use of UAS 
     technologies increases and such technologies are safely 
     integrated into the national air space, the United States is 
     taking full advantage of existing and developmental 
     technologies to detect, identify, classify, track, and 
     counteract potentially threatening UAS, including in and 
     around restricted and controlled air space, such as airports, 
     military training areas, National Special Security Events, 
     and sensitive national security locations; and
       (2) to contribute to the development of intelligence, 
     reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities for national 
     security over widely dispersed and expansive territories.
       (b) UAS Defined.--In this section, the term ``UAS'' means 
     unmanned aerial systems.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1923. Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 G of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1283. FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN 
                   COUNTRIES.

       (a) Plan Requirements and Reporting.--Section 116 of the 
     African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3723) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Plan Requirement.--
       ``(1) In general.--The President shall develop a plan for 
     the purpose of negotiating and entering into one or more free 
     trade agreements with all eligible sub-Saharan African 
     countries. The plan shall identify the 10 to 15 eligible sub-
     Saharan African countries or groups of such countries that 
     are most ready for a free trade agreement with the United 
     States.
       ``(2) Elements of plan.--The plan required by paragraph (1) 
     shall include, for each eligible sub-Saharan African country, 
     the following:
       ``(A) The steps each such country needs to be equipped and 
     ready to enter into a free trade agreement with the United 
     States, including the effective implementation of the WTO 
     Agreements and the development of a bilateral investment 
     treaty.
       ``(B) Milestones for accomplishing each step identified in 
     subparagraph (A) for each such country, with the goal of 
     establishing a free trade agreement with each such country 
     not later than 10 years after the date of the enactment of 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.
       ``(C) A description of the resources required to assist 
     each such country in accomplishing each milestone described 
     in subparagraph (B).
       ``(D) The extent to which steps described in subparagraph 
     (A), the milestones described in subparagraph (B), and 
     resources described in subparagraph (C) may be accomplished 
     through regional or subregional organizations in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, including the East African Community, the Economic 
     Community of West African States, the Common Market for 
     Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Economic Community of 
     Central African States.
       ``(E) Procedures to ensure the following:
       ``(i) Adequate consultation with Congress and the private 
     sector during the negotiations.
       ``(ii) Consultation with Congress regarding all matters 
     relating to implementation of the agreement or agreements.
       ``(iii) Approval by Congress of the agreement or 
     agreements.
       ``(iv) Adequate consultations with the relevant African 
     governments and African regional and subregional 
     intergovernmental organizations during the negotiation of the 
     agreement or agreements.
       ``(3) Reporting requirement.--Not later than 12 months 
     after the date of the enactment of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, and every 5 years 
     thereafter, the President shall prepare and submit to 
     Congress a report containing the plan developed pursuant to 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Eligible sub-saharan african country.--The term 
     `eligible sub-Saharan African country' means a country 
     designated as an eligible sub-Saharan African country under 
     section 104.
       ``(B) WTO.--The term `WTO' means the World Trade 
     Organization.
       ``(C) WTO agreement.--The term `WTO Agreement' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 2(9) of the Uruguay Round 
     Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3501(9)).
       ``(D) WTO agreements.--The term `WTO Agreements' means the 
     WTO Agreement and agreements annexed to that Agreement.''.
       (b) Coordination of USAID With Free Trade Agreement 
     Policy.--
       (1) Authorization of funds.--Funds made available to the 
     United States Agency for International Development under 
     section 496 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2293) after the date of the enactment of this Act may be 
     used, in consultation with the United States Trade 
     Representative--
       (A) to assist eligible countries, including by deploying 
     resources to such countries, in addressing the steps and 
     milestones identified in the plan developed under subsection 
     (d) of section 116 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
     (19 U.S.C. 3723), as added by subsection (a); and
       (B) to assist eligible countries in the implementation of 
     the commitments of those countries under agreements with the 
     United States and the WTO Agreements (as defined in 
     subsection (d)(4) of such section 116).
       (2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       (A) Eligible country.--The term ``eligible country'' means 
     a sub-Saharan African country that receives--
       (i) benefits under for the African Growth and Opportunity 
     Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.); and
       (ii) funding from the United States Agency for 
     International Development.
       (B) Sub-saharan african country.--The term ``sub-Saharan 
     African country'' has the meaning given that term in section 
     107 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 
     3706).
       (c) Coordination With Millennium Challenge Corporation.--
     After the date of the enactment of this Act, the United 
     States Trade Representative and the Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development shall 
     consult and coordinate with the Chief Executive Officer of 
     the Millennium Challenge Corporation regarding countries that 
     have entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact pursuant to 
     section 609 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 
     U.S.C. 7708) that have been declared eligible to enter into 
     such a Compact for the purpose of developing and carrying out 
     the plan required by subsection (d) of section 116 of the 
     African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3723), as added 
     by subsection (a).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1924. Mr. DAINES submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the

[[Page 8922]]

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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. EXEMPTION OF INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS FROM 
                   EMPLOYER MANDATE.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 4980H(c) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subparagraph:
       ``(F) Certain indian employers.--The term `applicable large 
     employer' does not include--
       ``(i) any Indian tribal government (as defined in section 
     7701(a)(40)), or
       ``(ii) any enterprise or institution owned and operated by 
     an Indian tribe (as defined in section 45A(c)(6)).''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     shall apply to calendar years beginning after December 31, 
     2014
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1925. Mr. COATS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 B of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1230. PLAN FOR DEFEATING THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND 
                   THE LEVANT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
     the House of Representatives a report detailing a realistic 
     plan to confront, degrade, and defeat the Islamic State of 
     Iraq and the Levant first in Iraq and Syria and then in any 
     country where its forces or allies are operating.
       (b) Elements.--The plan submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include--
       (1) realistic, well-substantiated estimates of timeframes, 
     resources required, expected allies, and anticipated 
     obstacles; and
       (2) clear definitions of milestones, metrics of success, 
     and personal accountability.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1926. Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Grassley) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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:

       On page 492, line 2, after ``Appropriations,'' insert ``the 
     Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 492, line 5, after ``Appropriations,'' insert ``the 
     Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 500, line 21, after ``Appropriations,'' insert 
     ``the Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 500, line 24, after ``Appropriations,'' insert 
     ``the Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 509, line 8, after ``Appropriations,'' insert ``the 
     Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 509, line 11, after ``Appropriations,'' insert 
     ``the Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 512, line 11, after ``Appropriations,'' insert 
     ``the Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 512, line 16, after ``Appropriations,'' insert 
     ``the Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 514, line 14, after ``Appropriations,'' insert 
     ``the Committee on the Judiciary,''.
       On page 514, line 18, after ``Appropriations,'' insert 
     ``the Committee on the Judiciary,''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1927. Mr. ISAKSON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 B of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 515. AUTHORITY TO ORDER UNITS AND MEMBERS OF THE 
                   SELECTED RESERVE TO ACTIVE DUTY FOR PREPLANNED 
                   MISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY 
                   DEPARTMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 12304b of title 
     10, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``When the Secretary'';
       (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated--
       (A) by inserting ``or the military department'' after ``a 
     combatant command'';
       (B) by inserting ``or any individual member of the Selected 
     Reserve,'' after ``title),''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Support provided under paragraph (1) may include the 
     following:
       ``(A) Support to a geographic combatant command or other 
     combatant command for which regular forces are inadequate at 
     the time such support is provided, including support to 
     training exercises sponsored by the combatant command and 
     non-combat missions related to a named operation.
       ``(B) Support to a military department for non-combat 
     missions for which regular forces are inadequate at the time 
     such support is provided, including support to training 
     exercises sponsored by the military department and non-combat 
     missions related to a named operation.''.
       (b) Limitations.--Subsection (b)(1) of such section is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses 
     (i) and (ii) and redesignating the margins of such clauses, 
     as so redesignated, four ems from the left margin;
       (2) by striking ``if--'' and inserting ``if--
       ``(A) both--'';
       (3) in clause (ii), as so redesignated, by striking the 
     period and inserting ``; or''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) the military department to which the unit or 
     individual members are assigned reprograms funds in the 
     fiscal year in which support is provided in order to provide 
     for the manpower and associated costs of the members ordered 
     to active duty.''.
       (c) Treatment of Members.--
       (1) In general.--Such section is further amended--
       (A) by redesignating subsections (f) through (i) as 
     subsections (g) through (j), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
     subsection (f):
       ``(f) Treatment of Members.--Any member ordered to active 
     duty pursuant to this section shall be entitled while on and 
     in connection with such duty to the benefits to which members 
     of the Ready Reserve are entitled while on and in connection 
     with duty to which ordered pursuant to section 12302 of this 
     title.''.
       (2) Retired pay for non-regular service.--Section 
     12731(f)(2)(B)(i) of such title is amended by inserting ``or 
     12304b'' after ``12301(d)''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     and shall apply to members of the Selected Reserve ordered to 
     active duty pursuant to section 12304b of title 10, United 
     States Code, on or after that date.
       (d) Conforming Amendments.--Setion12304b of such title is 
     further amended--
       (1) in subsections (d) and (e), by inserting ``or member'' 
     after ``any unit''; and
       (2) in subsection (h), as redesignated by subsection (c)(1) 
     of this section, by inserting ``or members'' after ``which 
     units''.
       (e) Heading and Clerical Amendments.--
       (1) Heading amendment.--The heading of such section is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 12304b. Selected Reserve: order to active duty for 
       preplanned missions in support of the combatant commands 
       and the military departments''.

       (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 1209 of such title is amended by 
     striking the item relating to section 12304b and inserting 
     the following new item:

``12304b. Selected Reserve: order to active duty for preplanned 
              missions in support of the combatant commands and the 
              military departments.''.
       (f) Exclusion From Discretionary Spending Limits.--The 
     Office of Management and Budget shall not include amounts 
     appropriated for manpower costs or associated costs of 
     performing duty under the amendments to section 12304b of 
     title 10, United States Code, made by this section in 
     determining whether there has been a breach of the 
     discretionary spending limits under the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.) 
     during any fiscal year.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1928. Mr. CASSIDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:


[[Page 8923]]

       On page 38, between lines 10 and 11, insert the following:
       (c) Re-engining Study.--the Air Force shall submit their B-
     52 re-engine analysis to the congressional defense committees 
     not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1929. Mr. WYDEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       Strike section 535.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1930. Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Graham) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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:

       On page 530, line 11, insert ``, since November 1, 2013,'' 
     before ``have been transferred''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1931. Mr. LEAHY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 X, add the following:

     SEC. 1065. ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD 
                   BUREAU ON THE ABILITY OF THE NATIONAL GUARD TO 
                   MEETS ITS MISSIONS.

       Section 10504(a) of title 10, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Chief of the National 
     Guard Bureau'';
       (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated, by striking ``, 
     through the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force,'';
       (3) by striking the second sentence; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(2) Each report shall include the following:
       ``(A) An assessment, prepared in conjunction with the 
     Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force, of the ability of 
     the National Guard to carry out its Federal missions.
       ``(B) An assessment, prepared in conjunction with the chief 
     executive officers of the States and territories, of the 
     ability of the National Guard to carry out emergency support 
     functions of the National Response Framework.
       ``(3) Each report may be submitted in classified and 
     unclassified versions.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1932. Mr. REED submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       On page 510, line 25, strike ``, in unclassified form,''.
       On page 511, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:
       (3) Whether, as of the date of the report, the basis for 
     the first designation or assessment remains valid.
       On page 511, beginning on line 21, strike ``and the 
     designation or assessment to which changed'' and insert ``, 
     the designation or assessment to which changed, and 
     information on, and a justification for, the change in the 
     designation or assessment''.
       On page 512, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following:
       (c) Form.--The report under subsection (a) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
     annex.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1933. Mr. WARNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 VII, add the following:

     SEC. 738. REPORT ON CREDENTIALING OF PHYSICIANS SERVING ON 
                   ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall submit to Congress a 
     report on--
       (1) the full credentialing process for a member of the 
     Armed Forces on active duty serving as a physician, including 
     any uniform standards used throughout the Department of 
     Defense for such process; and
       (2) the feasibility and advisability of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs recognizing a credential issued under such 
     process in order to facilitate the transition of such member 
     to employment in the Department of Veterans Affairs upon the 
     retirement, separation, or release of such member from the 
     Armed Forces.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1934. Mr. WARNER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 VII, add the following:

     SEC. 738. REPORT ON SHARING OF PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE AMONG 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to 
     Congress a report on the use and efficacy of memoranda of 
     understanding entered into between the Department of Defense 
     and the Department of Veterans Affairs that allow for the 
     sharing of physicians between each such Department.
       (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     include the following:
       (1) Information on--
       (A) the location of each physician shared by the Department 
     of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including 
     the name of the facility or facilities at which the physician 
     works;
       (B) the specialty, if any, of each physician described in 
     subparagraph (A); and
       (C) the purpose, if any, stated by the Department of 
     Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs for sharing 
     each physician described in subparagraph (A).
       (2) The total number of physicians shared by the Department 
     of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
     disaggregated by Department.
       (3) A description of the administrative actions required to 
     be taken by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to ensure the sharing of scheduling records 
     and medical records between the Department of Defense and the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs for physicians shared between 
     each such Department.
       (4) The impact of sharing physicians on wait times and 
     patient loads at each medical facility of the Department of 
     Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (5) An assessment of the policies of the Department of 
     Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs that hinder 
     the sharing of physicians between each such Department.
       (6) An identification of any excess capacity among 
     physicians of the Department of Defense or the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1935. Mr. McCONNELL (for Mr. Rubio) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to 
the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 
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:

       On page 209, line 19, strike ``1.3 percent'' and insert 
     ``2.3 percent''.
       On page 210, between lines 4 and 5, insert the following:
       (d) Funding.--
       (1) Increase in amount for military personnel.--The amount 
     authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2016 by section 
     421 is hereby increased by the amount necessary to provide an 
     increase in military basic pay

[[Page 8924]]

     under subsection (b) by 2.3 percent rather than 1.3 percent, 
     with the amount to be available for military personnel to 
     provide such increase.
       (2) Offset.--The aggregate amount authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2016 by this division, other 
     than the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 421, 
     is hereby reduced by the amount necessary to provide an 
     increase in military basic pay under subsection (b) by 2.3 
     percent rather than 1.3 percent, with the amount of the 
     reduction to be achieved by terminating funding for projects 
     determined to be low-priority projects by the Joint Chiefs of 
     Staff.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1936. Mr. McCONNELL (for Mr. Rubio) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to 
the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 
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 D of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1040. LIMITATION OF THE TRANSFER OF UNITED STATES NAVAL 
                   STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, TO THE 
                   GOVERNMENT OF CUBA.

       (a) In General.--No portion of the land or water listed by 
     Article I of the United States-Cuba Agreements and Treaty of 
     1934 shall be transferred to the Government of Cuba, unless--
       (1) a democratically-elected Government of Cuba and the 
     United States Government mutually agree to new lease terms 
     for such land or water;
       (2) the elections of the Government of Cuba were--
       (A) free and fair;
       (B) conducted under internationally recognized observers; 
     and
       (C) carried out so that opposition parties had ample time 
     to organize and campaign using full access media available to 
     every candidate;
       (3) the Government of Cuba has committed itself to 
     constitutional change that would ensure regular free and fair 
     elections;
       (4) the Government of Cuba has made a public commitment to 
     respect, and is respecting, internationally recognized human 
     rights and basic democratic freedoms;
       (5) the President certifies to Congress that Cuba is no 
     longer a state sponsor of terrorism and no longer harbors 
     members of recognized foreign terrorist organizations; and
       (6) the Secretary of Defense certifies that the United 
     States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is not 
     advantageous to United States national security or to the 
     operation of the Navy and the Coast Guard in the Caribbean 
     Sea.
       (b) Continuation of Current Lease.--It shall be the policy 
     of the United States to continue to lease the land or 
     waterways that encompass the United States Naval Station, 
     Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, unless the criteria set out in 
     paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a) are met.

     SEC. 1040A. LIMITATION ON MODIFICATION OR ABANDONMENT OF 
                   LEASED LAND AND WATER CONTAINING UNITED STATES 
                   NAVAL STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA.

       (a) Limitation.--The United States may not modify the 45 
     square mile lease of land or waterways that encompass the 
     United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in effect 
     on the date of the enactment of this Act, unless--
       (1) the President notifies Congress not later than 90 days 
     prior to the proposed modification of such lease; and
       (2) after such notification, Congress enacts a law 
     authorizing a modification of such lease.
       (b) Retention.--The United States may not abandon any 
     portion of the land or water that contains the United States 
     Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, unless--
       (1) the President notifies Congress not less than 90 days 
     prior to the proposed abandonment of such land or water; and
       (2) after such notification, Congress enacts a law 
     authorizing such abandonment.
       (c) No New Grant of Authority.--This section may not be 
     construed to grant the President any authority not already 
     provided by the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity 
     (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 6021 et seq.).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1937. Ms. AYOTTE (for herself and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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:

       On page 210, strike lines 9 through 12 and insert the 
     following:
       (a) Modification of Percentage Usable.--Section 
     403(b)(3)(B) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``may not exceed one percent.'' and inserting ``may 
     not exceed the following:
       ``(i) In the case of members in pay grades E-5 and above, 
     five percent.
       ``(ii) In the case of members in pay grades E-1 through E-
     4--
       ``(I) one percent; or
       ``(II) if the Secretary determines that one percent would 
     result in a monthly amount of basic allowance for housing for 
     such area for such members that is greater than the monthly 
     amount of basic allowance for housing for such area for 
     members in pay grade E-5, the lesser of--
       ``(aa) five percent; or
       ``(bb) a percent (determined by the Secretary) such that 
     the monthly amount of basic allowance for housing for such 
     area for members in pay grades E-1 through E-4 is equal to 
     the monthly amount of basic allowance for housing for such 
     area for members in pay grade E-5 minus $1''.
       (b) Funding.--The amount authorized to be appropriated for 
     fiscal year 2016 by section 421 for military personnel is 
     hereby increased by $75,000,000.
       (c) Offset.--The aggregate amount authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2016 by division A is hereby 
     reduced by $75,000,000, with the amount of the reduction to 
     be achieved through anticipated foreign currency gains in 
     addition to any other anticipated foreign currency gains 
     specified in the funding tables in division D.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1938. Mr. MORAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 VIII, add the following:

     SEC. 884. REPORT ON ARMY ACQUISITION STRATEGY FOR THE 
                   TACTICAL NETWORK MODERNIZATION AND 
                   TRANSPORTABLE TACTICAL COMMAND COMMUNICATIONS 
                   TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall 
     submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the Army's acquisition strategy 
     for the Tactical Network Modernization and Transportable 
     Tactical Command Communications Terrestrial Transmission 
     System.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (1) An explanation of the rationale for delaying the TriLOS 
     radio modernization until the fiscal year 2018-2020 period.
       (2) An estimate of the total costs associated with delaying 
     the modernization with regard to costs associated with 
     additional prototyping and Initial Operational Test and 
     Evaluation (IOT&E).
       (3) An assessment of the GRC-245C immediate utilization 
     potential to meet the program objectives required by 
     Expeditionary Signal Battalions (ESBs) and Army units to meet 
     the TriLOS radio modernization as defined in the requirements 
     for a Terrestrial Transmission System outlined in the 
     operational requirements of the G-3/5/7 Directed Requirement 
     and Transmission Capabilities Production Document (CPD).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1939. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. 622. TRAVEL ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AIRCRAFT ON A 
                   SPACE-AVAILABLE BASIS FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
                   NATIONAL GUARD AND THE RESERVES.

       (a) Eligibility.--Subsection (c) of section 2641b of title 
     10, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

[[Page 8925]]

       (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
     paragraph (5):
       ``(5) Members of the reserve components not otherwise 
     eligible for travel under the program pursuant to this 
     subsection.''.
       (b) Conditions.--Subsection (d) of such section is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) in the case of members eligible for travel under the 
     program pursuant to subsection (c)(5)--
       ``(A) travel under the program shall be available on all 
     contract flights operated by the Department of Defense for 
     the transportation of passengers;
       ``(B) in the case of travel on any military or contract 
     aircraft traveling from outside the continental United States 
     (OCONUS) to the continental United States (CONUS), 
     eligibility shall cease at the first point of entry to the 
     continental United States; and
       ``(C) in the case of travel on any military or contract 
     aircraft traveling from the continental United States to 
     outside the continental United States, eligibility shall 
     cease at the first point of entry outside the continental 
     United States.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1940. Ms. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 XXVIII, add the 
     following:

     SEC. 2822. LAND CONVEYANCE, CAMPION AIR FORCE RADAR STATION, 
                   GALENA, ALASKA.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Secretary of the Air Force 
     may convey, without consideration, to the Town of Galena, 
     Alaska (in this section referred to as the ``Town''), all 
     right, title, and interest of the United States in and to 
     real property, including improvements thereon, at the former 
     Campion Air Force Station, Alaska, as further described in 
     subsection (b), for the purpose of permitting the Town to use 
     the conveyed property for public purposes.
       (b) Description of Property.--The real property to be 
     conveyed under subsection (a) consists of approximately 1290 
     acres of the approximately 1613 acres of land withdrawn under 
     Public Land Order 843 for use by the Secretary of the Air 
     Force as the former Campion Air Force Station. The portions 
     of the former Air Force Station that are not authorized to be 
     conveyed under subsection (a) are those portions that are 
     subject to environmental land use restrictions or are 
     currently undergoing environmental remediation by the 
     Secretary of the Air Force.
       (c) Consultation.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
     consult with the Secretary of the Interior on the exact 
     acreage and legal description of the real property to be 
     conveyed under subsection (a) and conditions to be included 
     in the conveyance that are necessary to protect human health 
     and the environment.
       (d) Payment of Costs of Conveyance.--
       (1) Payment required.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
     require the Town to cover all costs (except costs for 
     environmental remediation of the property) to be incurred by 
     the Secretary of the Air Force and by the Secretary of the 
     Interior, or to reimburse the appropriate Secretary for such 
     costs incurred by the Secretary, to carry out the conveyance 
     under this section, including survey costs, costs for 
     environmental documentation, and any other administrative 
     costs related to the conveyance. If amounts are collected in 
     advance of the Secretary incurring the actual costs, and the 
     amount collected exceeds the costs actually incurred by the 
     Secretary to carry out the conveyance, the appropriate 
     Secretary shall refund the excess amount to the Town.
       (2) Treatment of amounts received.--
       (A) Secretary of the air force.--Amounts received by the 
     Secretary of the Air Force as reimbursement under paragraph 
     (1) shall be credited, at the option of the Secretary, to the 
     appropriation, fund, or account from which the expenses were 
     paid, or to an appropriate appropriation, fund, or account 
     currently available to the Secretary for the purposes for 
     which the expenses were paid. Amounts so credited shall be 
     merged with funds in such appropriation, fund, or account and 
     shall be available for the same purposes and subject to the 
     same limitations as the funds with which merged.
       (B) Secretary of the interior.--Amounts received by the 
     Secretary of the Interior as reimbursement under paragraph 
     (1) shall be credited, at the option of the Secretary, to the 
     appropriation, fund, or account from which the expenses were 
     paid, or to an appropriate appropriation, fund, or account 
     currently available to the Secretary for the purposes for 
     which the expenses were paid. Amounts so credited shall be 
     merged with funds in such appropriation, fund, or account and 
     shall be available for the same purposes and subject to the 
     same limitations as the funds with which merged.
       (e) Conveyance Agreement.--The conveyance of public land 
     under this section shall be accomplished using a quit claim 
     deed or other legal instrument and upon terms and conditions 
     mutually satisfactory to the Secretary of the Air Force, 
     after consulting with the Secretary of the Interior, and the 
     Town, including such additional terms and conditions as the 
     Secretary of the Air Force, after consulting with the 
     Secretary of the Interior, considers appropriate to protect 
     the interests of the United States.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1941. Mr. BLUNT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 VII, add the following:

     SEC. 738. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH 
                   SCREENINGS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the annual mental health assessment for members of the 
     Armed Forces provided under section 1074n of title 10, United 
     States Code, may be improved by providing members undergoing 
     such an assessment with a record of events, including non-
     combat related events, to substantiate latent mental health 
     issues that appear months or years after the causal incident;
       (2) some members may not know how to request help with 
     mental health concerns in connection with such assessment and 
     not all health care providers fully discuss mental health 
     concerns during such assessment;
       (3) the majority of mild traumatic brain injury inducing 
     incidents are not diagnosed during combat deployment, so when 
     symptoms do appear, there may be no mechanism for health care 
     providers to link the injury back to the causal incident;
       (4) the provision of such assessment may not recognize 
     incidents described in paragraph (3) unless the member 
     provides information regarding those incidents to a health 
     care provider;
       (5) when latent mental health symptoms appear after a 
     member is discharged, the member may not be eligible to 
     receive treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     without a record of causal justification;
       (6) the Secretary of Defense has an obligation to identify 
     as quickly and efficiently as possible without disrupting 
     military readiness the mental health concerns that persist 
     among members of the Armed Forces unbeknownst to those 
     members and the health care providers of those members; and
       (7) the Department of Defense and the Defense Health Agency 
     are currently developing a standardized periodic health 
     assessment tool that incorporates a screening for depression, 
     post-traumatic stress, substance use, and risk for suicide 
     through a person-to-person dialogue using the same question 
     set used for mental health assessments provided to members of 
     the Armed Forces undergoing deployment.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
     to Congress a report on the implementation of mental health 
     assessments provided to members of the Armed Forces under 
     section 1074n of title 10, United States Code, that includes 
     a description of--
       (1) the reliability of such assessments;
       (2) any significant changes in mental health concerns among 
     members of the Armed Forces as a result of such assessments;
       (3) any areas in which the provision of such assessments to 
     members of the Armed Forces needs to improve; and
       (4) such additional information as the Secretary considers 
     necessary relating to mental health screening and treatment 
     of members of the Armed Forces.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1942. Mr. BOOZMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

[[Page 8926]]



     SEC. __. RETURN OF HUMAN REMAINS BY THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF 
                   HEALTH AND MEDICINE.

       The National Museum of Health and Medicine shall facilitate 
     the relocation of the human cranium that is in the possession 
     of the National Museum of Health and Medicine and that is 
     associated with the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857 for 
     interment at the Mountain Meadows grave site.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1943. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. __. ASSESSMENT OF THE ABILITY OF INDUSTRIAL BASE TO 
                   MANUFACTURE ANCHOR AND MOORING CHAIN.

       (a) Assessment.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct an 
     assessment of the ability of the industrial base to 
     manufacture and support anchor and mooring chain for the 
     Department of Defense.
       (b) Scope.--In conducting the assessment required under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall examine the potential 
     cost, schedule, and performance impacts if procurement of the 
     anchor and mooring chain described in such subsection were 
     limited to manufacturers in the National Technology and 
     Industrial Base.
       (c) Determination Required.--Upon completion of the 
     assessment required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     make a determination whether manufacturers of the anchor and 
     mooring chain described in such subsection should be included 
     in the National Technology and Industrial Base.
       (d) Report.--Not later than February 15, 2016, the 
     Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
     defense committees a report including the results of the 
     assessment required under subsection (a) and the 
     determination required under subsection (c).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1944. Mr. TESTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. REFORM AND IMPROVEMENT OF PERSONNEL SECURITY, 
                   INSIDER THREAT DETECTION AND PREVENTION, AND 
                   PHYSICAL SECURITY.

       (a) Personnel Security and Insider Threat Protection in 
     Department of Defense.--
       (1) Plans and schedules.--Consistent with the Memorandum of 
     the Secretary of Defense dated March 18, 2014, regarding the 
     recommendations of the reviews of the Washington Navy Yard 
     shooting, the Secretary of Defense shall develop plans and 
     schedules--
       (A) to implement a continuous evaluation capability for the 
     national security population for which clearance 
     adjudications are conducted by the Department of Defense 
     Central Adjudication Facility, in coordination with the 
     Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Director 
     of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget;
       (B) to produce a Department-wide insider threat strategy 
     and implementation plan, which includes--
       (i) resourcing for the Defense Insider Threat Management 
     and Analysis Center (DITMAC) and component insider threat 
     programs, and
       (ii) alignment of insider threat protection programs with 
     continuous evaluation capabilities and processes for 
     personnel security;
       (C) to centralize the authority, accountability, and 
     programmatic integration responsibilities, including fiscal 
     control, for personnel security and insider threat protection 
     under the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence;
       (D) to align the Department's consolidated Central 
     Adjudication Facility under the Under Secretary of Defense 
     for Intelligence;
       (E) to develop a defense security enterprise reform 
     investment strategy to ensure a consistent, long-term focus 
     on funding to strengthen all of the Department's security and 
     insider threat programs, policies, functions, and information 
     technology capabilities, including detecting threat behaviors 
     conveyed in the cyber domain, in a manner that keeps pace 
     with evolving threats and risks;
       (F) to resource and expedite deployment of the Identity 
     Management Enterprise Services Architecture (IMESA); and
       (G) to implement the recommendations contained in the study 
     conducted by the Director of Cost Analysis and Program 
     Evaluation required by section 907 of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (Public Law 113-66; 10 
     U.S.C. 1564 note), including, specifically, the 
     recommendations to centrally manage and regulate Department 
     of Defense requests for personnel security background 
     investigations.
       (2) Reporting requirement.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a report describing the plans and schedules required 
     under paragraph (1).
       (b) Physical and Logical Access.--Not later than 270 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act--
       (1) the Secretary of Defense shall define physical and 
     logical access standards, capabilities, and processes 
     applicable to all personnel with access to Department of 
     Defense installations and information technology systems, 
     including--
       (A) periodic or regularized background or records checks 
     appropriate to the type of physical or logical access 
     involved, the security level, the category of individuals 
     authorized, and the level of access to be granted;
       (B) standards and methods for verifying the identity of 
     individuals seeking access; and
       (C) electronic attribute-based access controls that are 
     appropriate for the type of access and facility or 
     information technology system involved;
       (2) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and 
     the Chair of the Performance Accountability Council, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Director of 
     the Office of Personnel Management, and the Administrator of 
     General Services, and in consultation with representatives 
     from organizations representing Federal and contractor 
     employees who each have access to more than 1 secured 
     facility, shall design a capability to share and apply 
     electronic identity information across the Government to 
     enable real-time, risk-managed physical and logical access 
     decisions; and
       (3) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in 
     conjunction with the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management and in consultation with representatives from 
     organizations representing Federal and contractor employees 
     who each have access to more than 1 secured facility, shall 
     establish investigative and adjudicative standards for the 
     periodic or regularized reevaluation of the eligibility of an 
     individual to retain credentials issued pursuant to Homeland 
     Security Presidential Directive 12 (dated August 27, 2004), 
     as appropriate, but not less frequently than the 
     authorization period of the issued credentials.
       (c) Security Enterprise Management.--Not later than 180 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of 
     the Office of Management and Budget shall--
       (1) formalize the Security, Suitability, and Credentialing 
     Line of Business;
       (2) submit a report to the appropriate congressional 
     committee that describes plans--
       (A) for oversight by the Office of Management and Budget of 
     activities of the executive branch of the Government for 
     personnel security, suitability, and credentialing;
       (B) to designate enterprise shared services to optimize 
     investments;
       (C) to define and implement data standards to support 
     common electronic access to critical Government records; and
       (D) to reduce the burden placed on Government data 
     providers by centralizing requests for records access and 
     ensuring proper sharing of the data with appropriate 
     investigative and adjudicative elements.
       (d) Reciprocity Management.--Not later than 2 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office 
     of Personnel Management, in consultation with the Director of 
     the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of National 
     Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense, shall enhance the 
     Central Verification System to--
       (1) serve as the reciprocity management system for the 
     Government; and
       (2) ensure that the Central Verification System is aligned 
     with continuous evaluation and other enterprise reform 
     initiatives.
       (e) Reporting Requirements Implementation.--Not later than 
     180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the Office 
     of Management and Budget, the Director of the Office of 
     Personnel Management, and the Secretary of Defense shall 
     jointly develop a plan to--
       (1) implement the Security Executive Agent Directive on 
     common, standardized employee and contractor security 
     reporting requirements;
       (2) establish and implement uniform reporting requirements 
     for employees and Federal contractors, according to risk, 
     relative to the safety of the workforce and protection of the 
     most sensitive information of the Government; and
       (3) ensure that reported information is shared 
     appropriately.

[[Page 8927]]

       (f) Access to Criminal History Records for National 
     Security and Other Purposes.--
       (1) Definition.--Section 9101(a) of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) The terms `Security Executive Agent' and `Suitability 
     Executive Agent' mean the Security Executive Agent and the 
     Suitability Executive Agent, respectively, established under 
     Executive Order 13467 (73 Fed. Reg. 38103), or any successor 
     thereto.''.
       (2) Covered agencies.--Section 9101(a)(6) of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(G) The Department of Homeland Security.
       ``(H) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
       ``(I) An Executive agency that--
       ``(i) is authorized to conduct background investigations 
     under a Federal statute; or
       ``(ii) is delegated authority to conduct background 
     investigations in accordance with procedures established by 
     the Security Executive Agent or the Suitability Executive 
     Agent under subsection (b) or (c)(iv) of section 2.3 of 
     Executive Order 13467 (73 Fed. Reg. 38103), or any successor 
     thereto.
       ``(J) A contractor that conducts a background investigation 
     on behalf of an agency described in subparagraphs (A) through 
     (I).''.
       (3) Applicable purposes of investigations.--Section 
     9101(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) as 
     clauses (i) through (iv), respectively, and adjusting the 
     margins accordingly;
       (B) in the matter preceding clause (i), as redesignated--
       (i) by striking ``the head of'';
       (ii) by inserting ``all'' before ``criminal history record 
     information''; and
       (iii) by striking ``for the purpose of determining 
     eligibility for any of the following:'' and inserting ``, in 
     accordance with Federal Investigative Standards jointly 
     promulgated by the Suitability Executive Agent and Security 
     Executive Agent, for the purpose of--
       ``(A) determining eligibility for--'';
       (C) in clause (i), as redesignated--
       (i) by striking ``Access'' and inserting ``access''; and
       (ii) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon;
       (D) in clause (ii), as redesignated--
       (i) by striking ``Assignment'' and inserting 
     ``assignment''; and
       (ii) by striking the period and inserting ``or 
     positions;'';
       (E) in clause (iii), as redesignated--
       (i) by striking ``Acceptance'' and inserting 
     ``acceptance''; and
       (ii) by striking the period and inserting ``; or'';
       (F) in clause (iv), as redesignated--
       (i) by striking ``Appointment'' and inserting 
     ``appointment'';
       (ii) by striking ``or a critical or sensitive position''; 
     and
       (iii) by striking the period and inserting ``; or''; and
       (G) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) conducting a basic suitability or fitness assessment 
     for Federal or contractor employees, using Federal 
     Investigative Standards jointly promulgated by the Security 
     Executive Agent and the Suitability Executive Agent in 
     accordance with--
       ``(i) Executive Order 13467 (73 Fed. Reg. 38103), or any 
     successor thereto; and
       ``(ii) the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum 
     `Assignment of Functions Relating to Coverage of Contractor 
     Employee Fitness in the Federal Investigative Standards', 
     dated December 6, 2012;
       ``(C) credentialing under the Homeland Security 
     Presidential Directive 12 (dated August 27, 2004); and
       ``(D) Federal Aviation Administration checks required 
     under--
       ``(i) the Federal Aviation Administration Drug Enforcement 
     Assistance Act of 1988 (subtitle E of title VII of Public Law 
     100-690; 102 Stat. 4424) and the amendments made by that Act; 
     or
       ``(ii) section 44710 of title 49.''.
       (4) Biometric and biographic searches.--Section 9101(b)(2) 
     of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(2)(A) A State central criminal history record depository 
     shall allow a covered agency to conduct both biometric and 
     biographic searches of criminal history record information.
       ``(B) Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to 
     prohibit the Federal Bureau of Investigation from requiring a 
     request for criminal history record information to be 
     accompanied by the fingerprints of the individual who is the 
     subject of the request.''.
       (5) Use of most cost-effective system.--Section 9101(e) of 
     title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(6) If a criminal justice agency is able to provide the 
     same information through more than 1 system described in 
     paragraph (1), a covered agency may request information under 
     subsection (b) from the criminal justice agency, and require 
     the criminal justice agency to provide the information, using 
     the system that is most cost-effective for the Federal 
     Government.''.
       (6) Sealed or expunged records; juvenile records.--
       (A) In general.--Section 9101(a)(2) of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (i) in the first sentence, by inserting before the period 
     the following: ``, and includes any analogous juvenile 
     records''; and
       (ii) by striking the third sentence and inserting the 
     following: ``The term includes those records of a State or 
     locality sealed pursuant to law if such records are 
     accessible by State and local criminal justice agencies for 
     the purpose of conducting background checks.''.
       (B) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Federal Government should not uniformly reject applicants 
     for employment with the Federal Government or Federal 
     contractors based on--
       (i) sealed or expunged criminal records; or
       (ii) juvenile records.
       (7) Interaction with law enforcement and intelligence 
     agencies abroad.--Section 9101 of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Upon request by a covered agency and in accordance 
     with the applicable provisions of this section, the Deputy 
     Assistant Secretary of State for Overseas Citizens Services 
     shall make available criminal history record information 
     collected by the Deputy Assistant Secretary with respect to 
     an individual who is under investigation by the covered 
     agency regarding any interaction of the individual with a law 
     enforcement agency or intelligence agency of a foreign 
     country.''.
       (8) Clarification of security requirements for contractors 
     conducting background investigations.--Section 9101 of title 
     5, United States Code, as amended by this subsection, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) If a contractor described in subsection (a)(6)(J) 
     uses an automated information delivery system to request 
     criminal history record information, the contractor shall 
     comply with any necessary security requirements for access to 
     that system.''.
       (9) Clarification regarding adverse actions.--Section 7512 
     of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'';
       (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``, or''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(F) a suitability action taken by the Office under 
     regulations prescribed by the Office, subject to the rules 
     prescribed by the President under this title for the 
     administration of the competitive service.''.
       (10) Annual report by suitability and security clearance 
     performance accountability council.--Section 9101 of title 5, 
     United States Code, as amended by this subsection, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(i) The Suitability and Security Clearance Performance 
     Accountability Council established under Executive Order 
     13467 (73 Fed. Reg. 38103), or any successor thereto, shall 
     submit to the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on 
     Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of 
     the Senate, and the Committee on Armed Services, the 
     Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Committee 
     on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence of the House of Representatives, an annual 
     report that--
       ``(1) describes efforts of the Council to integrate 
     Federal, State, and local systems for sharing criminal 
     history record information;
       ``(2) analyzes the extent and effectiveness of Federal 
     education programs regarding criminal history record 
     information;
       ``(3) provides an update on the implementation of best 
     practices for sharing criminal history record information, 
     including ongoing limitations experienced by investigators 
     working for or on behalf of a covered agency with respect to 
     access to State and local criminal history record 
     information; and
       ``(4) provides a description of limitations on the sharing 
     of information relevant to a background investigation, other 
     than criminal history record information, between--
       ``(A) investigators working for or on behalf of a covered 
     agency; and
       ``(B) State and local law enforcement agencies.''.
       (11) GAO report on enhancing interoperability and reducing 
     redundancy in federal critical infrastructure protection 
     access control, background check, and credentialing 
     standards.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit to the congressional defense committees, 
     the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the background 
     check, access control, and credentialing requirements of 
     Federal programs for the protection of critical 
     infrastructure and key resources.
       (B) Contents.--The Comptroller General shall include in the 
     report required under subparagraph (A)--
       (i) a summary of the major characteristics of each such 
     Federal program, including the types of infrastructure and 
     resources covered;
       (ii) a comparison of the requirements, whether mandatory or 
     voluntary in nature,

[[Page 8928]]

     for regulated entities under each such program to--

       (I) conduct background checks on employees, contractors, 
     and other individuals;
       (II) adjudicate the results of a background check, 
     including the utilization of a standardized set of 
     disqualifying offenses or the consideration of minor, non-
     violent, or juvenile offenses; and
       (III) establish access control systems to deter 
     unauthorized access, or provide a security credential for any 
     level of access to a covered facility or resource;

       (iii) a review of any efforts that the Screening 
     Coordination Office of the Department of Homeland Security 
     has undertaken or plans to undertake to harmonize or 
     standardize background check, access control, or 
     credentialing requirements for critical infrastructure and 
     key resource protection programs overseen by the Department; 
     and
       (iv) recommendations, developed in consultation with 
     appropriate stakeholders, regarding--

       (I) enhancing the interoperability of security credentials 
     across critical infrastructure and key resource protection 
     programs;
       (II) eliminating the need for redundant background checks 
     or credentials across existing critical infrastructure and 
     key resource protection programs;
       (III) harmonizing, where appropriate, the standards for 
     identifying potentially disqualifying criminal offenses and 
     the weight assigned to minor, nonviolent, or juvenile 
     offenses in adjudicating the results of a completed 
     background check; and
       (IV) the development of common, risk-based standards with 
     respect to the background check, access control, and security 
     credentialing requirements for critical infrastructure and 
     key resource protection programs.

       (g) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the congressional defense committees;
       (B) the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee 
     on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
     and
       (C) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the 
     Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the 
     Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (2) the term ``Performance Accountability Council'' means 
     the Suitability and Security Clearance Performance 
     Accountability Council established under Executive Order 
     13467 (73 Fed. Reg. 38103), or any successor thereto.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1945. Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Blumenthal) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 
proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       On page 123, strike line 9 and insert the following:
       (7) The Coast Guard Reserve, 7,300.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1946. Ms. BALDWIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       Beginning on page 30, strike line 16 and all that follows 
     through page 33, line 13, and insert the following:
       (a) In General.--Of the funds authorized to be appropriated 
     by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2016 
     for research and development, design, construction, 
     procurement or advanced procurement of materials for the 
     Littoral Combat Ships designated as LCS 33 or subsequent, not 
     more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the 
     Secretary of the Navy submits to the Committees on Armed 
     Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives each 
     of the following:
       (1) A Capabilities Based Assessment or equivalent report to 
     assess capability gaps and associated capability requirements 
     and risks for the upgraded Littoral Combat Ship, which is 
     proposed to commence with LCS 33. This assessment or 
     equivalent report shall conform with the Joint Capabilities 
     Integration and Development System, including Chairman of the 
     Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 3170.01H.
       (2) A certification that the Joint Requirements Oversight 
     Council has validated an updated Capabilities Development 
     Document for the upgraded Littoral Combat Ship.
       (3) A report describing the upgraded Littoral Combat Ship 
     modernization, which shall, at a minimum, include the 
     following elements:
       (A) A description of capabilities that the LCS program 
     delivers, and a description of how these relate to the 
     characteristics of the future joint force identified in the 
     Capstone Concept for Joint Operations, concept of operations, 
     and integrated architecture documents.
       (B) A summary of analyses and studies conducted on LCS 
     modernization.
       (C) A concept of operations for LCS modernization ships at 
     the operational level and tactical level describing how they 
     integrate and synchronize with joint and combined forces to 
     achieve the Joint Force Commander's intent.
       (D) A description of threat systems of potential 
     adversaries that are projected or assessed to reach initial 
     operational capability within 15 years against which the 
     lethality and survivability of the LCS should be determined.
       (E) A plan and timeline for LCS modernization program 
     execution.
       (F) A description of system capabilities required for LCS 
     modernization, including key performance parameters and key 
     system attributes.
       (G) A plan for family of systems or systems of systems 
     synchronization.
       (H) A plan for information technology and national security 
     systems supportability.
       (I) A plan for intelligence supportability.
       (J) A plan for electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) 
     and spectrum supportability.
       (K) A description of assets required to achieve initial 
     operational capability (IOC) of an LCS modernization 
     increment.
       (L) A schedule and initial operational capability and full 
     operational capability definitions.
       (M) A description of doctrine, organization, training, 
     materiel, leadership, education, personnel, facilities, and 
     policy considerations.
       (N) A description of other system attributes.
       (4) A plan for future periodic combat systems upgrades, 
     which are necessary to ensure relevant capability throughout 
     the Littoral Combat Ship or Frigate class service lives, 
     using the process described in paragraph (3).
       (b) Waiver.--The Secretary of the Navy may waive the 
     funding limitation under subsection (a) upon submission of a 
     determination to Congress that--
       (1) application of the limitation would impede the timely 
     acquisition of LCS 33 or subsequent ships in a manner that 
     would undermine the national security of the United States; 
     and
       (2) application of the limitation would result in a gap in 
     production or additional procurement costs;
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (b) shall 
     be construed as authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to not 
     submit the information required under paragraphs (1) through 
     (4) of subsection (a).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1947. Ms. BALDWIN (for herself and Mr. Wyden) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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. ___. CLARIFICATION ON PROHIBITION ON SEARCHING OF 
                   COLLECTIONS OF COMMUNICATIONS TO CONDUCT 
                   WARRANTLESS SEARCHES FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS OF 
                   UNITED STATES PERSONS.

       Section 702(b) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 
     of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1881a(b)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as 
     subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting 
     such subparagraphs, as so redesignated, an additional two ems 
     from the left margin;
       (2) by striking ``An acquisition'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--An acquisition''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Clarification on prohibition on searching of 
     collections of communications of united states persons.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     no officer or employee of the United States may conduct a 
     search of a collection of communications acquired under this 
     section in an effort to find communications of a particular 
     United States person (other than a corporation).
       ``(B) Concurrent authorization and exception for emergency 
     situations.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a search for 
     communications related to a particular United States person 
     if--
       ``(i) such United States person is the subject of an order 
     or emergency authorization

[[Page 8929]]

     authorizing electronic surveillance or physical search under 
     section 105, 304, 703, 704, or 705 of this Act, or under 
     title 18, United States Code, for the effective period of 
     that order;
       ``(ii) the entity carrying out the search has a reasonable 
     belief that the life or safety of such United States person 
     is threatened and the information is sought for the purpose 
     of assisting that person; or
       ``(iii) such United States person has consented to the 
     search.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1948. Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Franken, and Mr. Markey) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 
proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NATIONAL SECURITY 
                   IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The 2015 National Security Strategy states that climate 
     change is ``an urgent and growing threat to our national 
     security''.
       (2) The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review describes long-term 
     strategies and initiatives for the Department of Defense and 
     states that--
       (A) ``the pressures caused by climate change will influence 
     resource competition while placing additional burdens on 
     economies, societies, and governance institutions around the 
     world''; and
       (B) the effects of climate change are ``threat 
     multipliers'' that aggravate stressors abroad that can 
     ``enable terrorist activity and other violence''.
       (3) The 2014 Department of Defense Climate Change 
     Adaptation Roadmap asserts that climate change will ``be felt 
     across the full range of Department activities, including 
     plans, operations, training, infrastructure, and 
     acquisition'' and that among the potential effects of climate 
     change are--
       (A) ``instability within and among other nations'';
       (B) ``decreased training/testing land-carrying capacity to 
     support current testing and training rotation types or 
     levels'';
       (C) ``increased inundation, erosion, and flooding damage'' 
     to Department of Defense infrastructure; and
       (D) ``reduced availability of or access to the materials, 
     resources, and industrial infrastructure needed to 
     manufacture the Department's weapon systems and supplies''.
       (4) The 2014 United States Government Accountability Office 
     report entitled ``Climate Change Adaptation: DOD Can Improve 
     Infrastructure Planning and Processes to Better Account for 
     Potential Impacts'' assessed 15 sites at defense 
     installations in the United States for vulnerability to the 
     effects of climate change. The report found that climate 
     change could affect Department of Defense readiness and 
     fiscal exposure in the following ways:
       (A) ``According to DOD officials, the combination of 
     thawing permafrost, decreasing sea ice, and rising sea levels 
     on the Alaskan coast has increased coastal erosion at several 
     Air Force radar early warning and communication 
     installations''.
       (B) ``Impacts on DOD's infrastructure from this erosion 
     have included damaged roads, seawalls, and runways''.
       (C) ``Officials on a Navy installation told GAO that sea 
     level rise and resulting storm surge are the two largest 
     threats to their waterfront infrastructure''.
       (D) ``Officials provided examples of impacts from reduced 
     precipitation--such as drought and wildfire risk--and 
     identified potential mission vulnerabilities--such as reduced 
     live-fire training''.
       (5) The 2014 CNA Corporation released a report entitled 
     ``National Security Risks and the Accelerating Risks of 
     Climate Change''. The report by the Corporation, the Military 
     Advisory Board of which was comprised of 15 generals and 
     admirals retired from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and 
     the Marine Corps, found that--
       (A) ``climate change impacts are already accelerating 
     instability in vulnerable areas of the world and are serving 
     as catalysts for conflict''; and
       (B) ``actions by the United States and the international 
     community have been insufficient to adapt to the challenges 
     associated with projected climate change''.
       (6) The Military Advisory Board also wrote that ``[w]e are 
     dismayed that discussions of climate change have become so 
     polarizing and have receded from the arena of informed public 
     discourse and debate. Political posturing and budgetary woes 
     cannot be allowed to inhibit discussion and debate over what 
     so many believe to be a salient national security concern for 
     our Nation''.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that it 
     is in the national security interests of the United States to 
     assess, plan for, and mitigate the security and strategic 
     implications of climate change.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1949. Mr. WHITEHOUSE submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 
1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 A of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1209. REPORT ON FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF 
                   ESTABLISHING PERMANENT FOREIGN DISASTER 
                   ASSISTANCE FORCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   DEFENSE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
     consultation with the Secretaries of the military 
     departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and 
     the commander of each combatant command, shall submit to the 
     congressional defense committees a report on the feasibility 
     and advisability of establishing a permanent command 
     structure along with permanently assigned forces (from either 
     the active duty or reserve components) to respond to requests 
     for foreign disaster assistance.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     should include a description of--
       (1) the funding mechanism and amount required to stand up 
     and sustain a foreign assistance disaster force;
       (2) the authorities and policies related to the role of the 
     Department of Defense in foreign disaster assistance;
       (3) the organizational and functional requirements of 
     establishing a foreign disaster assistance force; and
       (4) the requisite skills, experience, and training needed 
     to sustain an effective disaster assistance response force 
     that would be tasked with--
       (A) planning and executing disaster response missions;
       (B) coordinating with the Department of State, the United 
     States Agency for International Development, and 
     international and nongovernmental partners; and
       (C) training partner countries in preparedness and 
     response.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1950. Mrs. McCASKILL submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 
1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       Beginning on page 419, strike line 23 and all that follows 
     through page 420, line 3 and insert the following:
       (2) establish a process by which the contractor may appeal 
     a determination by a contracting officer that an earlier 
     determination was made in error or was based on inadequate 
     information to the head of contracting for the agency; and
       (3) establish a process by which a commercial item 
     determination can be revoked in cases where the contracting 
     officer has determined that an item may no longer meet the 
     definition of a commercial item and through a price-
     reasonableness determination it is found that the Department 
     of Defense would pay more for the item than it had previously 
     or another source could provide a similar item for a lower 
     price.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1951. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Baldwin, and 
Mr. Wyden) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment 
SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 D of title VIII, add the following:

     SEC. 884. TREATMENT OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING SYSTEMS AT 
                   DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
                   NATIONAL LABORATORIES AS NATIONAL SECURITY 
                   SYSTEMS.

       (a) Treatment as National Security Systems.--Consistent 
     with the exceptions to certain requirements under subchapter 
     II of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, applicable 
     to national security systems, high-

[[Page 8930]]

     performance computing (HPC) systems at Department of Defense 
     and Department of Energy laboratories shall, as national 
     security systems, be exempt from requirements under section 
     11319 of title 40, United States Code.
       (b) Information Sharing.--The head of each relevant agency 
     shall develop procedures to ensure that the Chief Information 
     Officer of the agency has access to all necessary and 
     appropriate information on HPC programs and investments to 
     fulfill the Chief Information Officer's duties.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1952. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 B of title XVI, add the following:

     SEC. 1628. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON CYBER WARFARE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) As an instrument of power, information is a powerful 
     tool to influence, disrupt, corrupt, or usurp an adversary's 
     ability to make and share decisions.
       (2) Within the information environment, actions taken in 
     cyberspace are increasingly part of the battlefield.
       (3) State and non-state adversaries deliver propaganda 
     through publically available social media capabilities.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) military information support operations should support 
     Department of Defense communications efforts and act to 
     augment efforts to degrade adversary combat power, reduce 
     recruitment, minimize collateral damage, and maximize local 
     support for operations; and
       (2) the Secretary of Defense should develop advanced 
     concepts to degrade adversary organizations using both 
     traditional and emerging forms of communication and 
     information related-capabilities.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1953. Mr. REED submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       Strike section 535 and insert the following:

     SEC. 535. LIMITATION ON RECEIPT OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 
                   WHILE RECEIVING POST-9/11 EDUCATION ASSISTANCE.

       Section 8525 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; or''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) except for an individual described in subsection (c), 
     an educational assistance allowance under chapter 33 of title 
     38.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) An individual described in this subsection is an 
     individual--
       ``(1) who is otherwise entitled to compensation under this 
     subchapter;
       ``(2) who is an individual described in section 3311(b) of 
     title 38; and
       ``(3)(A) who--
       ``(i) did not voluntary separate from service in the Armed 
     Forces or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration (including through a reduction in 
     force); and
       ``(ii) was discharged or released from such service under 
     conditions other than dishonorable; or
       ``(B) who--
       ``(i) voluntary separated from service in the Armed Forces 
     or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration;
       ``(ii) was employed after such separation from such 
     service; and
       ``(iii) was terminated from such employment other than for 
     cause due to misconduct connected with work.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1954. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       Strike section 3115 and insert the following:

     SEC. 3115. HANFORD WASTE TREATMENT AND IMMOBILIZATION PLANT 
                   CONTRACT OVERSIGHT.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle C of title XLIV of the Atomic 
     Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2621 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 4446. HANFORD WASTE TREATMENT AND IMMOBILIZATION PLANT 
                   CONTRACT OVERSIGHT.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2016, the Secretary of Energy shall arrange 
     to have an owner's representative assist in carrying out the 
     oversight responsibilities of the Department of Energy with 
     respect to the contract described in subsection (b). The 
     owner's representative shall report to the Office of River 
     Protection of the Department of Energy.
       ``(b) Contract Described.--The contract described in this 
     subsection is the contract between the Office of River 
     Protection of the Department of Energy and Bechtel National, 
     Inc. or its successor relating to the Hanford Waste Treatment 
     and Immobilization Plant (contract number DE-AC27-01RV14136).
       ``(c) Duties.--The duties of the owner's representative 
     under subsection (a) may include the following:
       ``(1) Assisting the Department of Energy with performing 
     design, construction, commissioning, nuclear safety, and 
     operability oversight of each facility covered by the 
     contract described in subsection (b).
       ``(2) Beginning not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2016, assisting the Department of Energy to 
     ensure that the preliminary documented safety analyses for 
     the Low-Activity Waste Vitrification Facility, the Balance of 
     Facilities, and the Analytical Laboratory covered by the 
     contract described in subsection (b) meet the requirements of 
     all applicable regulations and orders of the Department of 
     Energy as required by the contract.
       ``(d) Report Required.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2016, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
     of Energy shall submit to the congressional defense 
     committees a report on the assistance provided by the owner's 
     representative to the Department of Energy under subsection 
     (a) with respect to the contract described in subsection (b).
       ``(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       ``(A) An identification of any instance of the contractor 
     not meeting the requirements of the applicable regulations or 
     orders of the Department of Energy as required by the 
     contract described in subsection (b) and the plan for and 
     status of correcting any such instance.
       ``(B) Information on the status of and the plan for 
     resolving significant unresolved technical issues at the Low-
     Activity Waste Vitrification Facility, the Balance of 
     Facilities, and the Analytical Laboratory.
       ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `contractor' means Bechtel National, Inc. or 
     its successor.
       ``(2) The terms `preliminary documented safety analysis' 
     has the meaning given that term in section 830.3 of title 10, 
     Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar 
     ruling or regulation).
       ``(3) The term `owner's representative' means a third-party 
     entity with expertise in nuclear design, construction, 
     commissioning, and safety management and without any 
     contractual relationship with the contractor.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the 
     Atomic Energy Defense Act is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 4445 the following new item:

``Sec. 4446. Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant contract 
              oversight.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1955. Mr. BROWN (for himself and Mr. Blunt) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to 
the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 
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 B of title VII, add the following:

     SEC. 721. PILOT PROGRAM ON INTEGRATION OF CERTAIN NON-MEDICAL 
                   REPORTS AND RECORDS INTO THE MEDICAL RECORD OF 
                   MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
     coordination

[[Page 8931]]

     with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall commence the 
     conduct of a pilot program to assess the feasibility and 
     advisability of integrating into the medical record of a 
     member of the Armed Forces non-medical reports and records of 
     the Department of Defense relating to the member that are 
     relevant to the medical condition of the member.
       (b) Participation in Pilot Program.--
       (1) Unit basis.--Members of the Armed Forces shall 
     participate in the pilot program on a unit basis.
       (2) Participation by each armed force.--The units 
     participating in the pilot program shall include not less 
     than one unit of the regular component, and of each reserve 
     component, of each Armed Force selected by the Secretary of 
     Defense for purposes of the pilot program.
       (c) Reports and Records Used.--The non-medical reports and 
     records to be integrated by the Secretary under the pilot 
     program shall include the following:
       (1) Unit combat action or significant action reports.
       (2) Reports or records relating to accident, injury, or 
     mortality investigations.
       (3) Reports or records relating to sexual assault 
     investigations conducted by military criminal investigation 
     services.
       (4) Such other reports or records as the Secretary of 
     Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly 
     consider appropriate for purposes of the pilot program.
       (d) Exception.--If the Secretary of Defense determines that 
     carrying out the pilot program with respect to a particular 
     unit is no longer feasible or advisable because of the 
     operational necessity of the Department of Defense or because 
     it would create an unreasonable burden on the Department, the 
     Secretary--
       (1) shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress; 
     and
       (2) may, not earlier than 30 days after such notification, 
     terminate carrying out the pilot program with respect to such 
     unit.
       (e) Protection of Certain Information.--The Secretary of 
     Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, shall ensure that any sensitive, classified, or 
     personally identifiable information included in a report or 
     record integrated by the Secretary of Defense under the pilot 
     program is protected from disclosure in accordance with all 
     laws applicable to such information.
       (f) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on the 
     date that is one year after the commencement of the pilot 
     program under subsection (a).
       (g) Reports.--
       (1) Initial report.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report on--
       (A) the units selected for participation in the pilot 
     program;
       (B) the guidance provided to such units in carrying out the 
     pilot program; and
       (C) the methods to be used by the Secretary of Defense in 
     carrying out the pilot program.
       (2) Final report.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     termination of the pilot program under subsection (f), the 
     Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a report on the pilot program.
       (B) Elements.--The report required by subparagraph (A) 
     shall include the following:
       (i) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of 
     integrating into the medical record of a member of the Armed 
     Forces non-medical reports and records of the Department of 
     Defense relating to the member that are relevant to the 
     medical condition of the member.
       (ii) The number and types of non-medical reports and 
     records that were integrated into the medical records of 
     members of the Armed Forces under the pilot program.
       (iii) A summary of the activities of the units during the 
     period in which the pilot program was carried out.
       (iv) Such other information and metrics relating to the 
     pilot program as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs jointly consider appropriate.
       (h) Funding.--Such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     the pilot program shall be derived from amounts appropriated 
     to the Department of Defense for purposes of honoring members 
     of the Armed Forces at sporting events.
       (i) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1956. Mr. CARPER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 XI, add the following:

     SEC. 1116. PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY.

       (a) In General.--Section 306 of the Homeland Security Act 
     of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 186) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(e) Personnel Appointment Authority.--
       ``(1) In general.--In appointing employees to positions in 
     the Directorate of Science and Technology, the Secretary 
     shall have the hiring and management authorities described in 
     section 1101 of the Strom Thurmond National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (5 U.S.C. 3104 note; 
     Public Law 105-261) (referred to in this subsection as 
     `section 1101').
       ``(2) Term of appointments.--The term of appointments for 
     employees under subsection (c)(1) of section 1101 may not 
     exceed 5 years before the granting of any extension under 
     subsection (c)(2) of that section.
       ``(3) Termination.--The authority under this subsection 
     shall terminate on the date on which the authority to carry 
     out the program under section 1101 terminates under section 
     1101(e)(1).''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 307(b) of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 187(b)) is amended by--
       (1) striking paragraph (6); and
       (2) redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (6).
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in the amendments made 
     by this section shall be construed to limit the authority 
     granted under paragraph (6) of section 307(b) of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 187(b)), as in effect on the 
     day before the date of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1957. Mr. CARPER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       Beginning on page 712, line 24, strike ``Act,'' and all 
     that follows ``Security,'' on page 713, line 1, and insert 
     ``Act, consistent with section 227 of the Homeland Security 
     Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 149), the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security and the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination 
     with''.
       On page 713, line 12, insert ``of Defense'' after 
     ``Secretary''.
       On page 714, line 13, insert ``of Homeland Security and the 
     Secretary of Defense'' after ``Secretary''.
       On page 714, line 19, strike ``Department of Defense'' and 
     insert ``United States''.
       On page 714, line 23, insert ``full spectrum of cyber 
     defense and mitigation capabilities available to the Federal 
     Government, including the'' before ``National''.
       On page 715, line 6, insert ``of Homeland Security and the 
     Secretary of Defense'' after ``Secretary''.
       On page 715, lines 7 and 8, strike ``is required to 
     coordinate under subsection (a)'' and insert ``of Homeland 
     Security and the Secretary of Defense are required to 
     coordinate under subsection (a) to leverage existing National 
     Cyber Exercise programs, such as the Department of Homeland 
     Security Biennial Cyber Storm Program and''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1958. Mr. BOOKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 VII, add the following:

     SEC. 738. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON USE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
                   OF PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT NETWORKS.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense 
     should use peer-to-peer support networks that are staffed 24 
     hours per day and seven days per week by veterans to provide 
     counseling in a confidential environment to active duty 
     members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1959. Mr. CORNYN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the

[[Page 8932]]

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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. DESIGNATION OF MEDICAL CENTER OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS IN HARLINGEN, TEXAS, AND 
                   INCLUSION OF INPATIENT HEALTH CARE FACILITY AT 
                   SUCH MEDICAL CENTER.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The current and future health care needs of veterans 
     residing in South Texas are not being fully met by the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (2) According to recent census data, more than 108,000 
     veterans reside in South Texas.
       (3) Travel times for veterans from the Valley Coastal Bend 
     area from their homes to the nearest hospital of the 
     Department for acute inpatient health care can exceed six 
     hours.
       (4) Even with the significant travel times, veterans from 
     South Texas demonstrate a high demand for health care 
     services from the Department.
       (5) Ongoing overseas deployments of members of the Armed 
     Forces from Texas, including members of the Armed Forces on 
     active duty, members of the Texas National Guard, and members 
     of the other reserve components of the Armed Forces, will 
     continue to increase demand for medical services provided by 
     the Department in South Texas.
       (6) The Department employs an annual Strategic Capital 
     Investment Planning process to ``enable the VA to continually 
     adapt to changes in demographics, medical and information 
     technology, and health care delivery'', which results in the 
     development of a multi-year investment plan that determines 
     where gaps in services exist or are projected and develops an 
     appropriate solution to meet those gaps.
       (7) According to the Department, final approval of the 
     Strategic Capital Investment Planning priority list serves as 
     the ``building block'' of the annual budget request for the 
     Department.
       (8) Arturo ``Treto'' Garza, a veteran who served in the 
     Marine Corps, rose to the rank of Sergeant, and served two 
     tours in the Vietnam War, passed away on October 3, 2012.
       (9) Treto Garza, who was also a former co-chairman of the 
     Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley, tirelessly fought 
     to improve health care services for veterans in the Rio 
     Grande Valley, with his efforts successfully leading to the 
     creation of the medical center of the Department located in 
     Harlingen, Texas.
       (b) Redesignation of Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas.--
       (1) In general.--The medical center of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs located in Harlingen, Texas, shall after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as 
     the ``Treto Garza South Texas Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Health Care Center''.
       (2) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     medical center of the Department referred to in paragraph (1) 
     shall be deemed to be a reference to the Treto Garza South 
     Texas Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Center.
       (c) Requirement of Full-service Inpatient Facility.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     ensure that the Treto Garza South Texas Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Health Care Center, as designated under 
     subsection (b), includes a full-service inpatient health care 
     facility of the Department and shall modify the existing 
     facility as necessary to meet that requirement.
       (2) Plan to expand facility capabilities.--The Secretary 
     shall include in the annual Strategic Capital Investment Plan 
     of the Department for fiscal year 2016 a project to expand 
     the capabilities of the Treto Garza South Texas Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Health Care Center, as so designated, by 
     adding the following:
       (A) Inpatient capability for 50 beds with appropriate 
     administrative, clinical, diagnostic, and ancillary services 
     needed for support.
       (B) An urgent care center.
       (C) The capability to provide a full range of services to 
     meet the health care needs of women veterans.
       (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
     to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report detailing a plan to implement the 
     requirements in subsection (c), including an estimate of the 
     cost of required actions and the time necessary for the 
     completion of those actions.
       (e) South Texas Defined.--In this section, the term ``South 
     Texas'' means the following counties in Texas: Aransas, Bee, 
     Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Goliad, 
     Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, 
     Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria, Webb, 
     Willacy, Zapata.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1960. Ms. AYOTTE (for herself and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 B of title VIII, add the following:

     SEC. 832. PREFERENCE FOR FIRM FIXED PRICE CONTRACTS FOR 
                   FOREIGN MILITARY SALES.

       (a) Establishment of Preference.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Defense 
     Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement shall be revised to 
     establish a preference for firm fixed price contracts for 
     foreign military sales.
       (b) Waiver Authority.--The preference established pursuant 
     to subsection (a) shall include a waiver that may be 
     exercised by the military service's acquisition executive 
     responsible or the Under Secretary of Defense for 
     Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics if such official or 
     the Under Secretary certifies that a different contract type 
     is more appropriate and in the best interest of the United 
     States.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1961. Ms. AYOTTE (for herself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PROCUREMENTS 
                   INVOLVING SMALL PURCHASES.

       Subsection (f) of section 604b of the American Recovery and 
     Investment Act of 2009 (6 U.S.C. 453b) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(f) Exception for Certain Purchases.--Subsection (a) does 
     not apply to purchases for amounts not greater than 
     $150,000.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1962. Ms. AYOTTE (for herself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 B of title VIII, add the following:

     SEC. 832. PROCUREMENTS INVOLVING SMALL PURCHASES.

       (a) Procurements of Certain Articles.--Subsection (h) of 
     section 2533a of title 10, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(h) Exception for Certain Purchases.--Subsection (a) does 
     not apply to purchases for amounts not greater than 
     $150,000.''.
       (b) Procurements of Strategic Materials.--Subsection (f) of 
     section 2533b of title 10, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(f) Exception for Certain Purchases.--Subsection (a) does 
     not apply to purchases for amounts not greater than 
     $150,000.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1963. Mr. FLAKE (for himself, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Heinrich) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 
proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 A of title XVI, add the following:

     SEC. 1614. REPORT ON FEASIBILITY, COSTS, AND COST SAVINGS OF 
                   ALLOWING FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF EXCESS 
                   BALLISTIC MISSILE SOLID ROCKET MOTORS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States

[[Page 8933]]

     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report assessing--
       (1) the feasibility of permitting excess ballistic missile 
     solid rocket motors, including excess ballistic missile solid 
     rocket motors from the Minotaur launch vehicle, to be made 
     available for commercial applications;
       (2) the costs of, and the cost savings anticipated to 
     result from, making such motors available for commercial 
     applications;
       (3) the effects of making such motors available for 
     commercial applications on programs of the Department of 
     Defense; and
       (4) any implications of making such motors available for 
     commercial applications for the international obligations of 
     the United States.
       (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the congressional defense committees; and
       (2) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
     House of Representatives.

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1964. Mr. BROWN (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. PRIORITY ENROLLMENT FOR VETERANS IN CERTAIN 
                   COURSES OF EDUCATION.

       (a) Priority Enrollment.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 36 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 3680A the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 3680B. Priority enrollment in certain courses

       ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 3672(b)(2)(A) of 
     this title or any other provision of law, with respect to an 
     educational assistance program provided for in chapter 30, 
     31, 32, 33, or 35 of this title or chapter 1606 or 1607 of 
     title 10, if an educational institution administers a 
     priority enrollment system that allows certain students to 
     enroll in courses earlier than other students, the Secretary 
     or a State approving agency may not approve a program of 
     education offered by such institution unless such institution 
     allows a covered individual to enroll in courses at the 
     earliest possible time pursuant to such priority enrollment 
     system.
       ``(b) Covered Individual Defined.--In this section, the 
     term `covered individual' means an individual using 
     educational assistance under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of 
     this title or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, including--
       ``(1) a veteran;
       ``(2) a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty 
     or a member of a reserve component (including the National 
     Guard);
       ``(3) a dependent to whom such assistance has been 
     transferred pursuant to section 3319 of this title; and
       ``(4) any other individual using such assistance.
       ``(c) Disapproval.--An educational institution described in 
     subsection (a) that has a program of education approved for 
     purposes of this chapter and fails to meet the requirements 
     of such subsection shall be immediately disapproved by the 
     Secretary or the appropriate State approving agency in 
     accordance with section 3679 of this title.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 3680A the following new item:

``3680B. Priority enrollment in certain courses.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--Section 3680B of such title, as added 
     by subsection (a)(1), shall take effect on August 1, 2017.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1965. Mr. BROWN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. __. ASSIGNMENT OF CERTAIN NEW REQUIREMENTS BASED ON 
                   DETERMINATIONS OF COST-EFFICIENCY.

       (a) Amendment.--Chapter 146 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 2463 the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 2463a. Assignment of certain new requirements based on 
       determinations of cost-efficiency

       ``(a) Assignments Based on Determinations of Cost-
     efficiency.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and 
     subject to subsection (b), the assignment of performance of a 
     new requirement by the Department of Defense to members of 
     the armed forces, civilian employees, or contractors shall be 
     based on a determination of which sector of the Department's 
     workforce can perform the new requirement in the most cost-
     efficient manner, based on an analysis of the costs to the 
     Federal Government in accordance with Department of Defense 
     Instruction 7041.04 (`Estimating and Comparing the Full Costs 
     of Civilian and Active Duty Military Manpower and Contract 
     Support') or successor guidance, consistent with the needs of 
     the Department with respect to factors other than cost, 
     including quality, reliability, and timeliness.
       ``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of a new 
     requirement that is inherently governmental, closely 
     associated with inherently governmental functions, critical, 
     or required by law to be performed by members of the armed 
     forces or Department of Defense civilian employees.
       ``(3) Nothing in this section may be construed as affecting 
     the requirements of the Department of Defense under policies 
     and procedures established by the Secretary of Defense under 
     section 129a of this title for determining the most 
     appropriate and cost-efficient mix of military, civilian, and 
     contractor personnel to perform the mission of the Department 
     of Defense.
       ``(b) Waiver During an Emergency or Exigent 
     Circumstances.--The head of an agency may waive subsection 
     (a) for a specific new requirement in the event of an 
     emergency or exigent circumstances, as long as the head of an 
     agency, within 60 days of exercising the waiver, submits to 
     the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives notice of the specific new requirement 
     involved, where such new requirement is being performed, and 
     the date on which it would be practical to subject such new 
     requirement to the requirements of subsection (a).
       ``(c) Provisions Relating to Assignment of Civilian 
     Personnel.--If a new requirement is assigned to a Department 
     of Defense civilian employee consistent with the requirements 
     of this section--
       ``(1) the Secretary of Defense may not--
       ``(A) impose any constraint or limitation on the size of 
     the civilian workforce in terms of man years, end strength, 
     full-time equivalent positions, or maximum number of 
     employees; or
       ``(B) require offsetting funding for civilian pay or 
     benefits or require a reduction in civilian full-time 
     equivalents or civilian end-strengths; and
       ``(2) the Secretary may assign performance of such 
     requirement without regard to whether the employee is a 
     temporary, term, or permanent employee.
       ``(d) New Requirement Described.--For purposes of this 
     section, a new requirement is an activity or function that is 
     not being performed, as of the date of consideration for 
     assignment of performance under this section, by military 
     personnel, civilian personnel, or contractor personnel at a 
     Department of Defense component, organization, installation, 
     or other entity. For purposes of the preceding sentence, an 
     activity or function that is performed at such an entity and 
     that is re-engineered, reorganized, modernized, upgraded, 
     expanded, or changed to become more efficient but is still 
     essentially providing the same service shall not be 
     considered a new requirement.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 2463 the following new item:

``2463a. Assignment of certain new requirements based on determinations 
              of cost-efficiency.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1966. Ms. STABENOW submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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 VII, add the following:

     SEC. 738. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON CARE FOR ALZHEIMER'S 
                   DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS UNDER TRICARE 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--
       (1) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (A) Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and ultimately 
     fatal neurodegenerative disease with no known cure and is the 
     sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
       (B) Only 45 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease or 
     their caregivers report ever being told of the diagnosis.

[[Page 8934]]

       (C) Accumulating evidence suggests a strong link between 
     head injury and future risk of Alzheimer's disease.
       (D) During the years of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, 
     the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center reports 327,299 
     documented cases of traumatic brain injury among active duty 
     members of the Armed Forces.
       (E) Care planning can improve health outcomes for both the 
     diagnosed individual and caregivers of those individuals.
       (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (A) covered beneficiaries diagnosed with Alzheimer's 
     disease or a related dementia and their families should have 
     access to a comprehensive care planning session from the 
     Department of Defense;
       (B) the Secretary of Defense should take appropriate action 
     to provide eligible individuals with a care planning session 
     with respect to diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or a related 
     dementia; and
       (C) the care planning session should include, at minimum, a 
     comprehensive care plan, information on the diagnosis and 
     treatment options, and information on relevant medical and 
     community services.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the 
     House of Representatives a report on care planning services 
     for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias for all members 
     of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries.
       (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) A description and assessment of care planning services 
     for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias currently 
     provided for members of the Armed Forces and covered 
     beneficiaries, including access to care, scope of available 
     care, availability of specialty care, and use of care 
     planning sessions with beneficiaries and caregivers.
       (B) An assessment of the incidence and prevalence of 
     Alzheimer's disease and related dementias during the five-
     year period preceding the submittal of the report for members 
     of the Armed Forces and covered beneficiaries.
       (C) A description of how the Department of Defense would 
     implement a service for members of the Armed Forces and 
     covered beneficiaries who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's 
     disease or a related dementia that provides a one-time care 
     planning session to a beneficiary and caregivers of the 
     beneficiary to design a comprehensive care plan that includes 
     information about the diagnosis, medical and non-medical 
     options for ongoing treatment, and available services and 
     support.
       (c) Covered Beneficiaries Defined.--In this section, the 
     term ``covered beneficiaries'' has the meaning given that 
     term in section 1072(5) of title 10, United States Code.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1967. Mr. CASEY (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. 
McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2016 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 IX, add the following:

     SEC. 904. GUIDELINES FOR CONVERSION OF FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY 
                   CIVILIAN OR CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL TO PERFORMANCE 
                   BY MILITARY PERSONNEL.

       Section 129a of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g) Guidelines for Performance of Certain Functions by 
     Military Personnel.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     no functions performed by civilian personnel or contractors 
     may be converted to performance by military personnel 
     unless--
       ``(A) there is a direct link between the functions to be 
     performed and a military occupational specialty; and
       ``(B) the conversion to performance by military personnel 
     is cost effective, based on Department of Defense instruction 
     7041.04 (or any successor administrative regulation, 
     directive, or policy).
       ``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the following 
     functions:
       ``(A) Functions required by law or regulation to be 
     performed by military personnel.
       ``(B) Functions related to--
       ``(i) missions involving operation risks and combatant 
     status under the law of war;
       ``(ii) specialized collective and individual training 
     requiring military-unique knowledge and skills based on 
     recent operational experience;
       ``(iii) independent advice to senior civilian leadership in 
     the Department of Defense requiring military-unique knowledge 
     and skills based on recent operational experience; and
       ``(iv) command and control arrangements under chapter 47 of 
     this title (the Uniform Code of Military Justice).
       ``(3) A function being performed by civilian personnel or 
     contractors may not be--
       ``(A) modified, reorganized, divided, expanded, or in any 
     way changed for the purpose of exempting a conversion of the 
     function from the requirements of this subsection; or
       ``(B) converted to performance by military personnel 
     because of a civilian personnel ceiling.
       ``(4) A conversion of performance is covered by this 
     subsection only if the conversion changes performance of a 
     function designated for performance by civilian personnel or 
     contractors to performance by military personnel for a period 
     in excess of 30 days.
       ``(5) The requirements of this subsection may be waived by 
     the head of an agency for a specific function in the event of 
     an emergency or exigent circumstances if theH ead of the 
     agency notifies the Committees on Armed Services of the 
     Senate and the House of Representatives that the specific 
     function designated for performance by civilian personnel or 
     contractors will instead be performed by military personnel 
     because of an emergency or exigent circumstances. The period 
     of any waiver under this paragraph with respect to a specific 
     function may not exceed 90 days.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1968. Mr. CORKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

       On page 597, between lines 18 and 19, insert the following:
       (b) Notice to Congress on Certain Assistance.--Section 
     1204(e) of such Act is amended by striking ``the 
     congressional defense committees'' and inserting ``the 
     appropriate committees of Congress specified in subsection 
     (g)(2)''.
       On page 600, line 6, strike ``in coordination with the 
     Secretary of State'' and insert ``with the concurrence of the 
     Secretary of State''.
       On page 600, beginning on line 21, strike ``the 
     congressional defense committees'' and insert ``the 
     appropriate committees of Congress''.
       On page 601, line 20, strike ``the congressional defense 
     committees'' and insert ``the appropriate committees of 
     Congress''.
       On page 602, between lines 11 and 12, insert the following:
       (3) An assessment by the Department of State of the impact 
     of such support on internal security and stability in the 
     countries provided support.
       On page 602, strike lines 12 through 15 and insert the 
     following:
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives.
       (2) The term ``logistic support, supplies, and services'' 
     has the meaning given that term in section 2350(1) of title 
     10, United States Code.
       On page 606, line 15, insert ``the Secretary of State and'' 
     before ``the Director of National Intelligence''.
       On page 606, beginning on line 21, strike ``the 
     congressional defense committees'' and insert ``the 
     appropriate committees of Congress''.
       On page 607, between lines 7 and 8, insert the following:
       (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives.
       On page 607, beginning on line 12, strike ``the 
     congressional defense committees'' and insert ``the 
     appropriate committees of Congress''.
       On page 608, after line 22, add the following:
       (e) Concurrence of Secretary of State Required in Use of 
     Authority.--Subsections (a) and (b)(1) of section 1209 of the 
     Carl Levin and Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 are each amended by 
     striking ``in coordination with the Secretary of

[[Page 8935]]

     State'' and inserting ``with the concurrence of the Secretary 
     of State''.
       (f) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives.
       On page 621, after line 22, add the following:
       (e) Concurrence of Secretary of State Required in Use of 
     Authority.--Subsections (a) and (b)(1) of section 1236 of 
     such Act (128 Stat. 3558) are each amended by striking ``in 
     coordination with the Secretary of State'' and inserting 
     ``with the concurrence of the Secretary of State''.
       On page 625, beginning on line 19, strike ``the Committee 
     on Armed Services'' and all that follows through ``of the 
     House of Representatives'' on line 22 and insert ``the 
     Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, 
     and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on the Judiciary, 
     and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives''.
       On page 626, beginning 16, strike ``the Committee on Armed 
     Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of 
     the House of Representatives'' and insert ``the Committee on 
     Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 
     on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives''.
       On page 634, line 21, strike ``in coordination with the 
     Secretary of State'' and insert ``with the concurrence of the 
     Secretary of State''.
       On page 640, beginning on line 19, strike ``the Committee 
     on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed 
     Services of the House of Representatives'' and insert ``the 
     appropriate committees of Congress''.
       On page 641, strike lines 4 through 11, and insert the 
     following:
       (g) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (2) The term ``incremental expenses'' means the reasonable 
     and proper cost of the goods and services that are consumed 
     by a country as a direct result of that country's 
     participation in training under the authority of this 
     section, including rations, fuel, training ammunition, and 
     transportation. Such term does not include pay, allowances, 
     and other normal costs of a country's personnel.
       On page 642, beginning on line 25, strike ``in consultation 
     with the Secretary of State'' and insert ``with the 
     concurrence of the Secretary of State''.
       On page 643, beginning on line 1, strike ``the 
     congressional defense committees'' and insert ``the 
     appropriate committees of Congress''.
       On page 644, between lines 13 and 14, insert the following:
       (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives.
       On page 652, line 20, insert after ``the Secretary of 
     Defense'' the following: ``, with the concurrence of the 
     Secretary of State,''.
       On page 654, line 12, strike ``the congressional defense 
     committees'' and insert ``the appropriate committees of 
     Congress''.
       On page 655, between lines 14 and 15, insert the following:
       (h) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives.
       On page 661, beginning on line 24, strike ``in consultation 
     with the Secretary of State'' and insert ``with the 
     concurrence of the Secretary of State''.
       On page 663, beginning on line 11, strike ``in consultation 
     with the Secretary of State'' and insert ``with the 
     concurrence of the Secretary of State''.
       On page 677 between lines 2 and 3, insert the following:
       (c) Inclusion of Foreign Relations Committees in Reports.--
     Section 1513 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2008 is amended--
       (1) in subsections (e) and (g), by striking ``the 
     congressional defense committees'' and insert ``the 
     appropriate committees of Congress'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new 
     subsection (h):
       ``(h) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
     section, the term `appropriate committees of Congress' 
     means--
       ``(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       ``(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives.''.
       On page 682, beginning on line 8, strike ``the Committees 
     on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives'' and insert ``the appropriate committees of 
     Congress''.
       On page 682, beginning on line 16, strike ``the Committees 
     on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives'' and insert ``the appropriate committees of 
     Congress''.
       On page 683, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following:
       (4) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1969. Mr. SESSIONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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. ___. PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE EARNED INCOME TAX 
                   CREDIT.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 32(c) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subparagraph:
       ``(G) Prohibition on provision of credit to certain 
     immigrants.--
       ``(i) In general.--In the case of any alien not described 
     in clause (ii), no credit shall be allowed under this section 
     for any taxable year.
       ``(ii) Authorized aliens.--An alien is described in this 
     clause if such alien--

       ``(I) is lawfully admitted for permanent residence,
       ``(II) otherwise has lawful status and is authorized to be 
     employed in the United States pursuant to an affirmative 
     grant of such authority under the immigration laws, or
       ``(III) is otherwise lawfully present in the United States, 
     but only if such lawful presence is based on an affirmative 
     grant of withholding of removal pursuant to section 214(b)(3) 
     of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)) 
     or an affirmative grant of withholding or deferral of removal 
     pursuant to Article 3 of the Convention against Torture and 
     other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 
     done at New York December 10, 1984.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 
     2014.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1970. Mr. SESSIONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

                  Subtitle __--Protection of Children

     SEC. __1. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Protection of Children 
     Act of 2015''.

     SEC. __2. REPATRIATION OF UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILDREN.

       (a) In General.--Section 235 of the William Wilberforce 
     Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 
     U.S.C. 1232) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by amending the heading to read as follows: ``Rules for 
     unaccompanied alien children.'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (A);

[[Page 8936]]

       (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``who 
     is a national or habitual resident of a country that is 
     contiguous with the United States'';
       (II) in clause (i), by inserting ``and'' at the end;
       (III) in clause (ii), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     period; and
       (IV) by striking clause (iii);

       (iii) in subparagraph (B)--

       (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``(8 
     U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) may--'' and inserting ``(8 U.S.C. 1101 
     et seq.)--'';
       (II) in clause (i), by inserting before ``permit such child 
     to withdraw'' the following: ``may''; and
       (III) in clause (ii), by inserting before ``return such 
     child'' the following: ``shall''; and

       (iv) in subparagraph (C)--

       (I) by amending the heading to read as follows: 
     ``Agreements with foreign countries.''; and
       (II) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``The 
     Secretary of State shall negotiate agreements between the 
     United States and countries contiguous to the United States'' 
     and inserting ``The Secretary of State may negotiate 
     agreements between the United States and any foreign country 
     that the Secretary determines appropriate''; and

       (B) in paragraph (5)(D)--
       (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``, 
     except for an unaccompanied alien child from a contiguous 
     country subject to the exceptions under subsection (a)(2),'' 
     and inserting ``who does not meet the criteria listed in 
     paragraph (2)(A)''; and
       (ii) in clause (i), by inserting before the semicolon at 
     the end the following: ``, which shall include a hearing 
     before an immigration judge not later than 14 days after 
     being screened under paragraph (4)'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting before the semicolon 
     the following: ``believed not to meet the criteria listed in 
     subsection (a)(2)(A)''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period 
     the following: ``and does not meet the criteria listed in 
     subsection (a)(2)(A)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``an unaccompanied alien 
     child in custody shall'' and all that follows, and inserting 
     the following: ``an unaccompanied alien child in custody--
       ``(A) in the case of a child who does not meet the criteria 
     listed in subsection (a)(2)(A), shall transfer the custody of 
     such child to the Secretary of Health and Human Services not 
     later than 30 days after determining that such child is an 
     unaccompanied alien child who does not meet such criteria; or
       ``(B) in the case of child who meets the criteria listed in 
     subsection (a)(2)(A), may transfer the custody of such child 
     to the Secretary of Health and Human Services after 
     determining that such child is an unaccompanied alien child 
     who meets such criteria.''; and
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting at the end the 
     following:
       ``(D) Information about individuals with whom children are 
     placed.--
       ``(i) Information to be provided to homeland security.--
     Before placing a child with an individual, the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services shall provide to the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, regarding the individual with whom the 
     child will be placed, the following information:

       ``(I) The name of the individual.
       ``(II) The social security number of the individual.
       ``(III) The date of birth of the individual.
       ``(IV) The location of the individual's residence where the 
     child will be placed.
       ``(V) The immigration status of the individual, if known.
       ``(VI) Contact information for the individual.

       ``(ii) Special rule.--In the case of a child who was 
     apprehended on or after June 15, 2012, and before the date of 
     the enactment of the Protection of Children Act of 2015, who 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services placed with an 
     individual, the Secretary shall provide the information 
     listed in clause (i) to the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the 
     Protection of Children Act of 2015.
       ``(iii) Activities of the secretary of homeland security.--
     Not later than 30 days after receiving the information listed 
     in clause (i), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall--

       ``(I) in the case that the immigration status of an 
     individual with whom a child is placed is unknown, 
     investigate the immigration status of that individual; and
       ``(II) upon determining that an individual with whom a 
     child is placed is unlawfully present in the United States, 
     initiate removal proceedings pursuant to chapter 4 of title 
     II of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1221 et 
     seq.).''; and

       (B) in paragraph (5)--
       (i) by inserting after ``to the greatest extent 
     practicable'' the following: ``(at no expense to the 
     Government)''; and
       (ii) by striking ``have counsel to represent them'' and 
     inserting ``have access to counsel to represent them''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to any unauthorized alien child apprehended on or 
     after June 15, 2012.

     SEC. __3. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS FOR IMMIGRANTS 
                   UNABLE TO REUNITE WITH EITHER PARENT.

       Section 101(a)(27)(J)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)(i)) is amended by striking ``1 
     or both of the immigrant's parents'' and inserting ``either 
     of the immigrant's parents''.

     SEC. __4. JURISDICTION OF ASYLUM APPLICATIONS.

       Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1158) is amended by striking subparagraph (C).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1971. Mr. SESSIONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 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:

            Subtitle __ Asylum Reform and Border Protection

     SEC. __1. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Asylum Reform and 
     Border Protection Act of 2015''.

     SEC. __2. CLARIFICATION OF INTENT REGARDING TAXPAYER-PROVIDED 
                   COUNSEL.

       Section 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1362) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(at no expense to the Government)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
     ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in no instance 
     shall the Government bear any expense for counsel for any 
     person in removal proceedings or in any appeal proceedings 
     before the Attorney General from any such removal 
     proceedings.''.

     SEC. __3. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE VISAS.

       Section 101(a)(27)(J)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)(i)) is amended by striking ``and 
     whose reunification with 1 or both of the immigrant's parents 
     is not viable due'' and inserting ``and who cannot be 
     reunified with either of the immigrant's parents due''.

     SEC. __4. CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEWS.

       Section 235(b)(1)(B)(v) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B)(v)) is amended by striking 
     ``208.'' and inserting ``208, and it is more probable than 
     not that the statements made by the alien in support of the 
     alien's claim are true.''.

     SEC. __5. RECORDING EXPEDITED REMOVAL AND CREDIBLE FEAR 
                   INTERVIEWS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     establish quality assurance procedures and take steps to 
     effectively ensure that questions by employees of the 
     Department of Homeland Security exercising expedited removal 
     authority under section 235(b) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)) are asked in a uniform 
     manner, and that both these questions and the answers 
     provided in response to them are recorded in a uniform 
     fashion.
       (b) Factors Relating to Sworn Statements.--Where 
     practicable, any sworn or signed written statement taken of 
     an alien as part of the record of a proceeding under section 
     235(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1225(b)(1)(A)) shall be accompanied by a recording of the 
     interview which served as the basis for that sworn statement.
       (c) Interpreters.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     ensure that a competent interpreter, not affiliated with the 
     government of the country from which the alien may claim 
     asylum, is used when the interviewing officer does not speak 
     a language understood by the alien and there is no other 
     Federal, State, or local government employee available who is 
     able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially.
       (d) Recordings in Immigration Proceedings.--Recordings of 
     interviews of aliens subject to expedited removal shall be 
     included in the record of proceeding and shall be considered 
     as evidence in any further proceedings involving the alien.
       (e) No Private Right of Action.--Nothing in this section 
     may be construed to create any right, benefit, trust, or 
     responsibility, whether substantive or procedural, 
     enforceable in law or equity by a party against the United 
     States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, 
     entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any person, nor 
     does this section create any right of review in any 
     administrative, judicial, or other proceeding.

     SEC. __6. PAROLE REFORM.

       (a) In General.--Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(5) Humanitarian and public interest parole.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to the provisions of this 
     paragraph and section 214(f)(2),

[[Page 8937]]

     the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the sole discretion of 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security, may on a case-by-case 
     basis parole an alien into the United States temporarily, 
     under such conditions as the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     may prescribe, only--
       ``(i) for an urgent humanitarian reason (as described under 
     subparagraph (B)); or
       ``(ii) for a reason deemed strictly in the public interest 
     (as described under subparagraph (C)).
       ``(B) Humanitarian parole.--The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security may parole an alien based on an urgent humanitarian 
     reason described in this subparagraph only if--
       ``(i) the alien has a medical emergency and the alien 
     cannot obtain necessary treatment in the foreign state in 
     which the alien is residing or the medical emergency is life-
     threatening and there is insufficient time for the alien to 
     be admitted through the normal visa process;
       ``(ii) the alien is needed in the United States in order to 
     donate an organ or other tissue for transplant into a close 
     family member;
       ``(iii) the alien has a close family member in the United 
     States whose death is imminent and the alien could not arrive 
     in the United States in time to see such family member alive 
     if the alien were to be admitted through the normal visa 
     process;
       ``(iv) the alien is a lawful applicant for adjustment of 
     status under section 245; or
       ``(v) the alien was lawfully granted status under section 
     208 or lawfully admitted under section 207.
       ``(C) Public interest parole.--The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security may parole an alien based on a reason deemed 
     strictly in the public interest described in this 
     subparagraph only if the alien has assisted the United States 
     Government in a matter, such as a criminal investigation, 
     espionage, or other similar law enforcement activity, and 
     either the alien's presence in the United States is required 
     by the Government or the alien's life would be threatened if 
     the alien were not permitted to come to the United States.
       ``(D) Limitation on the use of parole authority.--The 
     Secretary of Homeland Security may not use the parole 
     authority under this paragraph to permit to come to the 
     United States aliens who have applied for and have been found 
     to be ineligible for refugee status or any alien to whom the 
     provisions of this paragraph do not apply.
       ``(E) Parole not an admission.--Parole of an alien under 
     this paragraph shall not be considered an admission of the 
     alien into the United States. When the purposes of the parole 
     of an alien have been served, as determined by the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security, the alien shall immediately return or 
     be returned to the custody from which the alien was paroled 
     and the alien shall be considered for admission to the United 
     States on the same basis as other similarly situated 
     applicants for admission.
       ``(F) Report to congress.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     end of each fiscal year, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     shall submit a report to the Committees on the Judiciary of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate describing the 
     number and categories of aliens paroled into the United 
     States under this paragraph. Each such report shall contain 
     information and data concerning the number and categories of 
     aliens paroled, the duration of parole, and the current 
     status of aliens paroled during the preceding fiscal year.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the first day of the first month 
     beginning more than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.

     SEC. __7. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON PAROLE PROCEDURES AND 
                   STANDARDIZATION OF PAROLE PROCEDURES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     jointly conduct a review, and submit a report to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on 
     the Judiciary of the House of Representatives regarding the 
     effectiveness of parole and custody determination procedures 
     applicable to aliens who have established a credible fear of 
     persecution and are awaiting a final determination regarding 
     their asylum claim by the immigration courts. The report 
     shall include the following:
       (1) An analysis of the rate at which release from detention 
     (including release on parole) is granted to aliens who have 
     established a credible fear of persecution and are awaiting a 
     final determination regarding their asylum claim by the 
     immigration courts throughout the United States, and any 
     disparity that exists between locations or geographical 
     areas, including explanation of the reasons for this 
     disparity and what actions are being taken to have consistent 
     and uniform application of the standards for granting parole.
       (2) An analysis of the effect of the procedures and 
     policies applied with respect to parole and custody 
     determinations both by the Attorney General and the Secretary 
     on the alien's pursuit of their asylum claim before an 
     immigration court.
       (3) An analysis of the effectiveness of the procedures and 
     policies applied with respect to parole and custody 
     determinations both by the Attorney General and the Secretary 
     in securing the alien's presence at the immigration court 
     proceedings.
       (b) Recommendations.--The report submitted under subsection 
     (a) should include--
       (1) recommendations with respect to whether the existing 
     parole and custody determination procedures applicable to 
     aliens who have established a credible fear of persecution 
     and are awaiting a final determination regarding their asylum 
     claim by the immigration courts--
       (A) respect the interests of aliens; and
       (B) ensure the presence of the aliens at the immigration 
     court proceedings; and
       (2) an assessment on corresponding failure to appear rates, 
     in absentia orders, and absconders.

     SEC. __8. UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILD DEFINED.

       Section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 279(g)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) the term `unaccompanied alien child'--
       ``(A) means an alien who--
       ``(i) has no lawful immigration status in the United 
     States;
       ``(ii) has not attained 18 years of age; and
       ``(iii) with respect to whom--

       ``(I) there is no parent or legal guardian in the United 
     States;
       ``(II) no parent or legal guardian in the United States is 
     available to provide care and physical custody; or
       ``(III) no sibling over 18 years of age, aunt, uncle, 
     grandparent, or cousin over 18 years of age is available to 
     provide care and physical custody; except that

       ``(B) such term shall cease to include an alien if at any 
     time a parent, legal guardian, sibling over 18 years of age, 
     aunt, uncle, grandparent, or cousin over 18 years of age of 
     the alien is found in the United States and is available to 
     provide care and physical custody (and the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall revoke accordingly any prior designation of 
     the alien under this paragraph).''.

     SEC. __9. MODIFICATIONS TO PREFERENTIAL AVAILABILITY FOR 
                   ASYLUM FOR UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN MINORS.

       Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1158) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (a)(2)(E); and
       (2) by striking subsection (b)(3)(C).

     SEC. __10. NOTIFICATION AND TRANSFER OF CUSTODY REGARDING 
                   UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN MINORS.

       Section 235(b) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 
     1232(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``48 hours'' and 
     inserting ``7 days''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``72 hours'' and 
     inserting ``30 days''.

     SEC. __11. INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
                   AND HUMAN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
                   SECURITY.

       Section 235(b) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 
     1232(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Information sharing.--The Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services shall share with the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security any information requested on a child who has been 
     determined to be an unaccompanied alien child and who is or 
     has been in the custody of the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, including the location of the child and any person 
     to whom custody of the child has been transferred, for any 
     legitimate law enforcement objective, including enforcement 
     of the immigration laws.''.

     SEC. __12. SAFE THIRD COUNTRY.

       Section 208(a)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
     (8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)(A)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Attorney General'' and inserting 
     ``Secretary of Homeland Security''; and
       (2) by striking ``removed, pursuant to a bilateral or 
     multilateral agreement, to'' and inserting ``removed to''.

     SEC. __13. ADDITIONAL IMMIGRATION JUDGES AND ICE PROSECUTORS.

       (a) Executive Office for Immigration Review.--Subject to 
     the availability of appropriations, in each of fiscal years 
     2015 through 2017, the Attorney General shall increase by not 
     less than 50 the number of positions for full-time 
     immigration judges within the Executive Office for 
     Immigration Review above the number of such positions for 
     which funds were allotted for fiscal year 2014.
       (b) Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of the 
     Principal Legal Advisor.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, in each of the fiscal years 2015 through 
     2017, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall increase by 
     not less than 60 the number of positions for full-time trial 
     attorneys within the Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
     Office of the Principal Legal Advisor above the number of 
     such positions for which funds were allotted for fiscal year 
     2014.

     SEC. __14. MINORS IN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 
                   CUSTODY.

       Section 235(c)(2)(A) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 
     1232(c)(2)(A))

[[Page 8938]]

     is amended by striking the last two sentences.

     SEC. __15. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FOR REPATRIATION.

       (a) Suspension of Foreign Assistance.--The Secretary of 
     State shall immediately suspend all foreign assistance, 
     including under United States Agency for International 
     Development programs, the Central American Regional Security 
     Initiative, or the International Narcotic Control Law 
     Enforcement program, to any large sending country that--
       (1) refuses to negotiate an agreement under section 
     235(a)(2) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(a)(2)); 
     or
       (2) refuses to accept from the United States repatriated 
     unaccompanied alien children (as defined in section 462(g)(2) 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g))) who 
     are nationals or residents of the sending country.
       (b) Use of Foreign Assistance for Repatriation.--The 
     Secretary of State shall provide any additional foreign 
     assistance from the United States that such Secretary 
     determines is needed to implement an agreement under section 
     235(a)(2) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(a)(2)) 
     or safely to repatriate or reintegrate nationals or residents 
     of a large sending country without increasing the total 
     quantity of foreign assistance to such country. Such country 
     may use any earlier foreign assistance for the purpose of 
     repatriation or implementation of any agreement under such 
     section 235(a)(2).
       (c) Definition of Large Sending Program.--In this section, 
     the term ``large sending country'' means--
       (1) any country which was the country of nationality or 
     last habitual residence for 1,000 or more unaccompanied alien 
     children (as defined in section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g))) who entered the 
     United States in a single fiscal year in any of the prior 3 
     fiscal years; and
       (2) any other country which the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security deems appropriate.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with 
     respect to any unaccompanied alien child (as defined in 
     section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 279(g))) apprehended on or after such date.

     SEC. __16. REPORTS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Secretary of State and the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, with assistance from the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, shall submit a report to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of 
     the House of Representatives on efforts to improve 
     repatriation programs for unaccompanied alien children (as 
     defined in section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g))). Such reports shall include the 
     following:
       (1) The average time that such a child is detained after 
     apprehension until removal.
       (2) The number of such children detained improperly beyond 
     the required time periods under paragraphs (2) and (3) of 
     section 235(b) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(b)).
       (3) A statement of the funds used to effectuate the 
     repatriation of such children, including any funds that were 
     reallocated from foreign assistance accounts as of the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with 
     respect to any unaccompanied alien child (as defined in 
     section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 279(g))) apprehended on or after such date.

     SEC. __17. WITHHOLDING OF REMOVAL.

       (a) In General.--Section 241(b)(3) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)) is amended--
       (1) by adding at the end of subparagraph (A) the following:
     ``The burden of proof shall be on the alien to establish that 
     the alien's life or freedom would be threatened in that 
     country, and that race, religion, nationality, membership in 
     a particular social group, or political opinion would be at 
     least one central reason for such threat.'';''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``In determining 
     whether an alien has demonstrated that the alien's life or 
     freedom would be threatened for a reason described in 
     subparagraph (A),'' and inserting ``For purposes of this 
     paragraph,''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect as if enacted on May 11, 2005, and shall 
     apply to applications for withholding of removal made on or 
     after such date.

     SEC. __18. GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

       (a) Inadmissibility of Certain Aliens.--Section 
     212(a)(3)(E)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(E)(iii)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(iii) Commission of acts of torture, extrajudicial 
     killings, war crimes, or widespread or systematic attacks on 
     civilians.--Any alien who planned, ordered, assisted, aided 
     and abetted, committed, or otherwise participated in, 
     including through command responsibility and without regard 
     to motivation or intent, the commission of--

       ``(I) any act of torture (as defined in section 2340 of 
     title 18, United States Code);
       ``(II) any extrajudicial killing (as defined in section 
     3(a) of the Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 (28 U.S.C. 
     1350 note)) under color of law of any foreign nation;
       ``(III) a war crime (as defined in section 2441 of title 
     18, United States Code); or
       ``(IV) a widespread or systematic attack directed against a 
     civilian population, with knowledge of the attack, murder, 
     extermination, enslavement, forcible transfer of population, 
     arbitrary detention, rape, sexual slavery, enforced 
     prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or 
     any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity;
       ``(V) persecution on political racial, national, ethnic, 
     cultural, religious, or gender grounds;
       ``(VI) enforced disappearance of persons; or
       ``(VII) other inhumane acts of a similar character 
     intentionally causing great suffering or serious bodily or 
     mental injury,

     is in admissible.''.
       (b) Nonapplicability of Confidentiality Requirement With 
     Respect to Visa Records.--The President may make public, 
     without regard to the requirements under section 222(f) of 
     the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1202(f)), with 
     respect to confidentiality of records pertaining to the 
     issuance or refusal of visas or permits to enter the United 
     States, the names of aliens deemed inadmissible on the basis 
     of section 212(a)(3)(E)(iii) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (a).

     SEC. __19. FIRM RESETTLEMENT.

       Section 208(b)(2)(A)(vi) of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A)(vi)) is amended by striking 
     ``States.'' and inserting ``States, which shall be considered 
     demonstrated by evidence that the alien can live in such 
     country (in any legal status) without fear of persecution.''.

     SEC. __20. TERMINATION OF ASYLUM STATUS PURSUANT TO RETURN TO 
                   HOME COUNTRY.

       (a) Termination of Status.--Except as provided in 
     subsections (b) and (c), any alien who is granted asylum or 
     refugee status under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), who, without a compelling reason as 
     determined by the Secretary, subsequently returns to the 
     country of such alien's nationality or, in the case of an 
     alien having no nationality, returns to any country in which 
     such alien last habitually resided, and who applied for such 
     status because of persecution or a well-founded fear of 
     persecution in that country on account of race, religion, 
     nationality, membership in a particular social group, or 
     political opinion, shall have his or her status terminated.
       (b) Waiver.--The Secretary has discretion to waive 
     subsection (a) if it is established to the satisfaction of 
     the Secretary that the alien had a compelling reason for the 
     return. The waiver may be sought prior to departure from the 
     United States or upon return.
       (c) Exception for Certain Aliens From Cuba.--Subsection (a) 
     shall not apply to an alien who is eligible for adjustment to 
     that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
     pursuant to the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-
     732).

     SEC. __21. ASYLUM CASES FOR HOME SCHOOLERS.

       (a) In General.--Section 101(a)(42) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42)) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following: ``For purposes 
     of determinations under this Act, a person who has been 
     persecuted for failure or refusal to comply with any law or 
     regulation that prevents the exercise of the individual right 
     of that person to direct the upbringing and education of a 
     child of that person (including any law or regulation 
     preventing homeschooling), or for other resistance to such a 
     law or regulation, shall be deemed to have been persecuted on 
     account of membership in a particular social group, and a 
     person who has a well founded fear that he or she will be 
     subject to persecution for such failure, refusal, or 
     resistance shall be deemed to have a well founded fear of 
     persecution on account of membership in a particular social 
     group.''.
       (b) Numerical Limitation.--Section 207(a) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157(a)) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) For any fiscal year, not more than 500 aliens may be 
     admitted under this section, or granted asylum under section 
     208, pursuant to a determination under section 101(a)(42) 
     that the alien is described in the final sentence of section 
     101(a)(42) (as added by section 21 of the Asylum Reform and 
     Border Protection Act of 2015).''.
       (c) Effective Dates.--
       (1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
     take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
     shall apply to failure or refusal to comply with a law or 
     regulation, or other resistance to a law or regulation, 
     occurring before, on, or after such date.

[[Page 8939]]

       (2) Numerical limitation.--The amendment made by subsection 
     (b) shall take effect beginning on the first day of the first 
     fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

     SEC. __22. NOTICE CONCERNING FRIVOLOUS ASYLUM APPLICATIONS:.

       (a) In General.--Section 208(d)(4) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(4)) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``the Secretary of Homeland Security or'' before ``the 
     Attorney General'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and of the 
     consequences, under paragraph (6), of knowingly filing a 
     frivolous application for asylum'';
       (3) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and'';
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) ensure that a written warning appears on the asylum 
     application advising the alien of the consequences of filing 
     a frivolous application.''; and
       (5) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
     ``The written warning referred to in subparagraph (C) shall 
     serve as notice to the alien of the consequences of filing a 
     frivolous application.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 208(d)(6) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(6)) is 
     amended by striking ``paragraph (4)(A)'' and inserting 
     ``paragraph (4)(C)''.

     SEC. __23. TERMINATION OF ASYLUM STATUS.

       Section 208(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1158(c)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(4) If an alien's asylum status is subject to termination 
     under paragraph (2), the immigration judge shall first 
     determine whether the conditions specified under paragraph 
     (2) have been met, and if so, terminate the alien's asylum 
     status before considering whether the alien is eligible for 
     adjustment of status under section 209.''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1972. Mr. SESSIONS (for Mr. Vitter) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to 
the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 
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 G of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1085. CITIZENSHIP AT BIRTH FOR CERTAIN PERSONS BORN IN 
                   THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) In General.--Section 301 of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The 
     following'';
       (2) by redesignating subsections (a) through (h) as 
     paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively, and indenting such 
     paragraphs, as redesignated, an additional 2 ems to the 
     right; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Definition.--Acknowledging the right of birthright 
     citizenship established by section 1 of the 14th Amendment to 
     the Constitution of the United States, a person born in the 
     United States shall be considered `subject to the 
     jurisdiction' of the United States for purposes of subsection 
     (a)(1) only if the person is born in the United States and at 
     least 1 of the person's parents is--
       ``(1) a citizen or national of the United States;
       ``(2) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in 
     the United States whose residence is in the United States; or
       ``(3) an alien performing active service in the armed 
     forces (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States 
     Code).''.
       (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a)(3) 
     may not be construed to affect the citizenship or nationality 
     status of any person born before the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (c) Severability.--If any provision of this section or any 
     amendment made by this section, or any application of such 
     provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held 
     to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of 
     this Act and the amendments made by this Act and the 
     application of the provision or amendment to any other person 
     or circumstance shall not be affected.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 1973. Mr. SESSIONS (for Mr. Vitter) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to 
the bill H.R. 1735, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 
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 V, add the following:

     SEC. 524. REPEAL OF DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE 
                   CERTAIN ENLISTMENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES.

       Section 504(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (2);
       (2) by striking ``(1)''; and
       (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as 
     paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.

                          ____________________