[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6116-6118]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                  APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016--Continued

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.


Amendments Nos. 3934, 3918, 3905, 3926, 3961, and 3941 to Amendment No. 
                                  3896

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to report that due to a lot 
of hard work on both sides of the aisle by Senators and their staffs, 
the leaders, and particularly my colleague Senator Reed of Rhode 
Island, we have another group of amendments we are able to clear 
tonight.
  I therefore ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be 
called up en bloc and reported by number: amendment No. 3934, offered 
by Senator King; amendment No. 3918, offered by Senator Rubio; 
amendment No. 3905, offered by Senator Heller; amendment No. 3926, 
offered by Senator Rubio; amendment No. 3961, offered by Senator 
Manchin; and amendment No. 3941, offered by Senator Booker.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the amendments en bloc by number.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Maine [Ms. Collins], for others, proposes 
     amendments numbered 3934, 3918, 3905, 3926, 3961, and 3941 en 
     bloc to amendment No. 3896.

  The amendments are as follows:


                           amendment no. 3934

(Purpose: To authorize the use of funds to carry out a matching program 
     with the Department of Education to identify veterans who are 
  unemployable due to a service-connected disability and who are also 
borrowers of Federal student loans in order to streamline and expedite 
  the process through which such veterans may discharge their Federal 
                             student loans)

       On page 223, line 9, after ``interoperability:'' insert the 
     following: ``Provided further, That, notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, $300,000 shall be available to carry 
     out a matching program with the Department of Education to 
     identify veterans who are unemployable due to a service-
     connected disability and who are also borrowers of Federal 
     student loans in order to streamline and expedite the process 
     through which such veterans may discharge their Federal 
     student loans.''.

                           amendent no. 3918

(Purpose: To shorten the time given to a property owner to respond to a 
violation of a contract and the time given to the Secretary to develop 
            a Compliance, Disposition, and Enforcement Plan)

       On page 152, strike lines 1 through 13 and insert the 
     following:
       (1) The Secretary shall notify the owner and provide an 
     opportunity for response within 15 days of UPCS inspection 
     results. If the violations remain, the Secretary shall 
     develop a Compliance, Disposition and Enforcement Plan within 
     30 days of the UPCS inspection results and must provide the 
     owner with a Notice of Default with a specified timetable, 
     determined by the Secretary, for correcting all deficiencies. 
     The Secretary must also provide a copy of the Notice of 
     Default to the tenants, the local government, any mortgagees, 
     and any contract administrator. If the owner's appeal results 
     in a UPCS score of 60 or above, the Secretary may withdraw 
     the Notice of Default.


                           amendment no. 3905

    (Purpose: To prohibit funds from being used to provide housing 
   assistance benefits to individuals convicted of certain criminal 
                               offenses)

       At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __. None of the funds made available under this Act 
     shall be used to provide housing assistance benefits for an 
     individual who is convicted of--
       (1) aggravated sexual abuse under section 2241 of title 18, 
     United States Code;
       (2) murder under section 1111 of title 18, United States 
     Code; or
       (3) any other Federal or State offense involving--
       (A) severe forms of trafficking in persons or sex 
     trafficking, as those terms are defined in paragraphs (9) and 
     (10), respectively, of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims 
     Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102); or
       (B) child pornography, as defined in section 2256 of title 
     18, United States Code.


                           amendment no. 3926

  (Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of Real Estate Assessment 
                      Center physical inspections)

       At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __. (a) Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall prepare a report, and post the report on 
     the public website of the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Department''), regarding Real Estate Assessment Center (in 
     this section referred to as ``REAC'') inspections of all 
     properties assisted, insured, or both, under a program of the 
     Department, which shall include--
       (1) the percentage of all inspected properties that 
     received a REAC-inspected score of less than 65 within the 
     last 48 months;
       (2) the number of properties in which the most recent REAC-
     inspected score represented a decline relative to the 
     previous REAC score;
       (3) a list of the 10 metropolitan statistical areas with 
     the lowest average REAC-inspected scores for all inspected 
     properties; and
       (4) a list of the 10 States with the lowest average REAC-
     inspected scores for all inspected properties.
       (b) The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     prepare a report, and post the report on the public website 
     of the Government Accountability Office, regarding areas in 
     which REAC inspections of all properties assisted, insured, 
     or both, under a program of the Department should be reformed 
     and improved.


                           amendment no. 3961

(Purpose: To allow airports to use airport improvement program funds to 
   repair damage to runway safety areas caused by natural disasters)

       At the appropriate place in division A, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___. (a) Subchapter I of chapter 471, as amended by 
     this subtitle, is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 47144. Use of funds for repairs for runway safety 
       repairs

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation may make 
     project grants under this subchapter to an airport described 
     in subsection (b) from funds under section 47114 apportioned 
     to that airport or funds available for discretionary grants 
     to that airport

[[Page 6117]]

     under section 47115 to conduct airport development to repair 
     the runway safety area of the airport damaged as a result of 
     a natural disaster in order to maintain compliance with the 
     regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration relating 
     to runway safety areas, without regard to whether 
     construction of the runway safety area damaged was carried 
     out using amounts the airport received under this subchapter.
       ``(b) Airports Described.--An airport is described in this 
     subsection if--
       ``(1) the airport is a public-use airport;
       ``(2) the airport is listed in the National Plan of 
     Integrated Airport Systems of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration;
       ``(3) the runway safety area of the airport was damaged as 
     a result of a natural disaster;
       ``(4) the airport was denied funding under the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 4121 et seq.) with respect to the disaster;
       ``(5) the operator of the airport has exhausted all legal 
     remedies, including legal action against any parties (or 
     insurers thereof) whose action or inaction may have 
     contributed to the need for the repair of the runway safety 
     area;
       ``(6) there is still a demonstrated need for the runway 
     safety area to accommodate current or imminent aeronautical 
     demand; and
       ``(7) the cost of repairing or replacing the runway safety 
     area is reasonable in relation to the anticipated operational 
     benefit of repairing the runway safety area, as determined by 
     the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.''.
       (b) The analysis for chapter 471, as amended by this 
     subtitle, is further amended by inserting after the item 
     relating to section 47143 the following:

``47144. Use of funds for repairs for runway safety repairs.''.


                           amendment no. 3941

    (Purpose: To slightly modify the scope of projects eligible for 
                        railroad safety grants)

       On page 50 of division A, strike line 7 and all that 
     follows through ``Code:'' on line 10, and insert the 
     following: ``up to $25,000,000 shall be available to carry 
     out section 24407(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code; and 
     not less than $25,000,000 shall be available to carry out 
     paragraphs (2), (5), (6), (7) and (10) of section 24407(c) of 
     such title:''.

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now vote on these amendments en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on these 
amendments.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  If not, the question occurs on agreeing to the amendments en bloc.
  The amendments (Nos. 3934, 3918, 3905, 3926, 3961, and 3941) were 
agreed to en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.


 Amendments Nos. 3914, 3938, 3948, 3954, and 3971 to Amendment No. 3896

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following 
amendments be called up en bloc and reported by number: No. 3914, by 
Senator Tester; No. 3938, by me; No. 3948, by Senator Heller; No. 3954, 
by Senator Heitkamp; and No. 3971, by Senator Bennet.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the amendments by number.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Illinois [Mr. Kirk], for himself and 
     others, proposes amendments numbered 3914, 3938, 3948, 3954, 
     and 3971 en bloc to amendment No. 3896.

  The amendments are as follows:


                           amendment no. 3914

 (Purpose: To require the Comptroller General of the United States to 
  submit to Congress a report evaluating force structure and military 
                  construction requirements in Europe)

       At the appropriate place in title I of division B, insert 
     the following:
       Sec. __. (a) Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 
     report evaluating the extent to which the Department of 
     Defense has developed a comprehensive force structure plan, 
     including military construction requirements, to meet 
     emerging security threats in Europe.
       (b) The report required under subsection (a) shall include 
     an assessment of the extent to which the Department of 
     Defense has--
       (1) identified the near-term and long-term United States 
     military force requirements in Europe in support of the 
     European Reassurance Initiative;
       (2) evaluated the posture, force structure, and military 
     construction options for meeting projected force 
     requirements;
       (3) evaluated the long-term costs associated with the 
     posture, force structure, and military construction 
     requirements; and
       (4) developed a Future Years Defense Program for force 
     structure costs associated with the European Reassurance 
     Initiative.
       (c) The report shall also include any other matters related 
     to security threats in Europe that the Comptroller General 
     determines are appropriate, and recommendations as warranted 
     for improvements to the Department's planning and analysis 
     methodology.


                           amendment no. 3938

 (Purpose: To make a technical correction to section 132 of title I of 
                   division J of Public Law 114-113)

       At the appropriate place in title I of division B, insert 
     the following:
       Sec. __. (a) Of the amounts appropriated by section 132 of 
     the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (division J of Public Law 
     114-13; 129 Stat. 2683), $30,000,000 is hereby rescinded.
       (b) Notwithstanding section 123 of this title, for an 
     additional amount for fiscal year 2016 for ``Military 
     Construction, Army'' in this title, $30,000,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2021, is provided for advances 
     to the Federal Highway Administration, Department of 
     Transportation, for construction of access roads as 
     authorized by section 210 of title 23, United States Code.
       (c) This section shall become effective immediately upon 
     enactment of this Act.


                           amendment no. 3948

(Purpose: To modify the contents of the quarterly report on disability 
                          compensation claims)

       On page 245, lines 23 through 24, strike ``and (7) the 
     number and results of Quality Review Team audits'' and insert 
     ``(7) the number and results of Quality Review Team audits; 
     (8) the number of claims completed by each Regional Office 
     based on the Regional Office being the station of 
     jurisdiction; and (9) the number of claims completed by each 
     Regional Office based on the Regional Office being the 
     station of origin''.


                           amendment no. 3954

  (Purpose: To require coordination within the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to meet the readjustment and psychological counseling needs of 
            veterans in rural and highly rural communities)

       At the end of title II of division B, add the following:
       Sec. 251. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     ensure that the Readjustment Counseling Service of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs coordinates directly with the 
     Office of Rural Health of the Department on efforts to expand 
     the capacity of Vet Centers (as defined in section 1712A(h) 
     of title 38, United States Code) in order to ensure that the 
     readjustment and psychological counseling needs of veterans 
     in rural and highly rural communities are met.
       (b) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report 
     detailing the number of Vet Centers (as so defined) operated 
     by the Department and a strategic plan to increase the 
     capacity of such Vet Centers to address unmet readjustment 
     and psychological counseling needs of veterans in rural and 
     highly rural communities.


                           amendment no. 3971

  (Purpose: To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide 
 monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training to compete 
                   on the United States Olympic Team)

       At the end of title II of division B, add the following:

     SEC. 251. MONTHLY ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE FOR DISABLED VETERANS 
                   COMPETING ON OLYMPIC TEAMS.

       Section 322(d)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``allowance to a veteran'' and inserting 
     the following: ``allowance to--
       ``(A) a veteran'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A), as designated by paragraph (1), by 
     striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) a veteran with a service-connected disability rated 
     as 30 percent or greater by the Department who is selected by 
     the United States Olympic Committee for the United States 
     Olympic Team for any month in which the veteran is competing 
     in any event sanctioned by the National Governing Bodies of 
     the United States Olympic Sports.''.

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
vote on these amendments en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page 6118]]


  Mr. KIRK. I know of no further debate on these amendments.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  If not, the question occurs on agreeing to the amendments en bloc.
  The amendments (Nos. 3914, 3938, 3948, 3954, and 3971) were agreed to 
en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.

                          ____________________