Volume 167, No. 20 covering the 1st Session of the 117th Congress (2021 - 2022) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S319-S320 on Feb. 3.
More than half of the Agency's employees are engineers, scientists and protection specialists. The Climate Reality Project, a global climate activist organization, accused Agency leadership in the last five years of undermining its main mission.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Schatz):
S. 189. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be made automatically by law each year in the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-
connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 189
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC ANNUAL INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY
COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY
COMPENSATION.
(a) Indexing to Social Security Increases.--Section 5312 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:
``(c)(1) Whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) as a result of a determination made under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)), the Secretary shall, effective on the date of such increase in benefit amounts, increase the dollar amounts in effect for the payment of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation by the Secretary, as specified in paragraph (2), as such amounts were in effect immediately before the date of such increase in benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act, by the same percentage as the percentage by which such benefit amounts are increased.
``(2) The dollar amounts to be increased pursuant to paragraph (1) are the following:
``(A) Disability compensation.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect under section 1114 of this title.
``(B) Additional compensation for dependents.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect under section 1115(1) of this title.
``(C) Clothing allowance.--The dollar amount in effect under section 1162 of this title.
``(D) New dic rates.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1311(a) of this title.
``(E) Old dic rates.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect under section 1311(a)(3) of this title.
``(F) Additional dic for surviving spouses with minor children.--The dollar amount in effect under section 1311(b) of this title.
``(G) Additional dic for disability.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect under subsections (c) and (d) of section 1311 of this title.
``(H) DIC for dependent children.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of this title.''; and
(3) by adding at the end of subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (1), the following new paragraph:
``(3) Whenever there is an increase under subsection (c)(1) in amounts in effect for the payment of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation, the Secretary shall publish such amounts, as increased pursuant to such subsection, in the Federal Register at the same time as the material required by section 215(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) is published by reason of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 415(i)).''.
(b) Effective Date.--Subsection (c) of section 5312 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley):
S. 192. A bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain river segments in the State of Oregon as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the River Democracy Act of 2021, to add 4,702 miles of rivers and streams in Oregon to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system to protect the recreational opportunities, clean drinking water, fish, and wildlife habitat that they provide from harmful activities.
Oregon's 110,994 miles of rivers and streams are an invaluable part of Oregon's livability and an irreplaceable resource that must remain intact for future generations. Currently, Oregon has only protected 2%
(2,173 miles) of rivers and streams under the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system--including gems like the Rogue and Deschutes Rivers and many other iconic salmon and steelhead streams.
Our rivers and streams are Oregon's lifeblood--they provide clean drinking water to millions of Oregonians, sustain our thriving outdoor recreation economy, nurture the salmon and steelhead that fuel our important commercial and recreational fishing industries, and help maintain the quality of life that brings new investments, businesses, and jobs to our state. Oregon's outdoor recreation industry is an economic engine in Oregon. According to the Outdoor Recreation Industry, it supports 224,000 jobs and generates $15.6 billion in economic activity. Healthy rivers are the foundation for Oregon's outdoor recreation economy.
With the climate crisis worsening, access to clean and safe drinking water has perhaps never been more important. America's Wild and Scenic Rivers Act aims to protect and preserve the character of our nation's most important rivers while balancing recreation, multiple use, habitat, and conservation. It encourages public participation in developing goals for river protection, and helps safeguard important waterways as a legacy for future generations.
While I am proud that Oregon has 2,173 miles of protected Wild and Scenic Rivers, it is still a small fraction of Oregon's total river mileage.
On October 2, 2019, I began a public process to solicit recommendations from Oregonians on rivers and streams that deserve protection under the national Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. I held several open-to-all public meetings specifically to hear from Oregonians and gather feedback. The topic has also come up at most townhalls I've since held. Since then, nearly 2,500 Oregonians submitted over 15,000 nominations.
I called on Oregonians to help me develop new legislation to protect Oregon's rivers and they, clearly and loudly, responded. Whether they were a whitewater rafter, a brewer, an elementary school science student, an angler or simply an Oregonian who believes strongly in protecting rivers or streams that provide safe drinking water to their community, they had the chance to speak up for their favorite rivers and highlight the outstanding values that make each river worthy of protection.
Today, I am continuing the effort to protect rivers and streams, drinking water, recreation opportunities, and fish and wildlife habitat. The River Democracy Act represents the best of the Oregon Way--when every Oregonian had the chance to nominate their favorite river or stream worthy of protection under America's Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Ultimately, this is the starting point for future conversations about river conservation in Oregon.
Based on the suggestions of Oregonians, the River Democracy Act would add 4,702 miles of rivers and streams in Oregon to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system with the goals of creating a flexible land management tool that expands recreation access, protects drinking water, reduces wildfire threats, maintains cultural and historic land management practices, and sustains endangered fish and wildlife species.
The bill requires federal land managers to assess wildfire risks in Wild and Scenic River corridors, implement a plan to reduce wildfire risks to homes and businesses near Wild and Scenic Rivers, assist local governments to mitigate wildfire risks, and restore water quality should a fire strike near a Wild and Scenic River.
The River Democracy Act encourages Federal land managers to develop river management plans in collaboration with Native American tribes, and ensures Tribes have a say in how rivers are managed.
The bill ensures that only Federal lands are affected by Wild and Scenic designations, while protecting private property rights, water rights, and existing permits and rights of way on Federal lands.
It is important to note that each river segment in this bill was selected for specific outstanding remarkable values. A chart that shows the specific outstanding remarkable values for each one can be found at https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/ORVs%20chart%202-2-2l.pdf.
Oregonians know their rivers provide more than just electricity. They are the spawning grounds for some of the nation's richest runs of salmon and steelhead. They provide extraordinary trout fishing and unparalleled recreation. They are the source of safe, clean and delicious drinking water. Oregon's rivers are, most of all, an important part of our very special quality of life that needs to be preserved for future generations of Oregonians.
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By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Ernst,
Mr. Grassley, Mr. Rounds, and Ms. Baldwin):
S. 193. A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to update the modeling used for lifecycle greenhouse gas assessments for corn-based ethanol and biodiesel, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 193
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Adopt the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation Model Act'' or the ``Adopt GREET Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF ADMINISTRATOR.
In this Act, the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SEC. 3. LIFECYCLE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM CORN-BASED
ETHANOL AND BIODIESEL.
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall update the methodology used by the Environmental Protection Agency in lifecycle analyses with respect to greenhouse gas emissions that result from corn-based ethanol and biodiesel.
(b) Requirements.--
(1) First update.--In carrying out the first update required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall adopt the most recent Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation model (commonly referred to as the ``GREET model'') developed by Argonne National Laboratory.
(2) Subsequent updates.--In carrying out the second and each subsequent update required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
(A) as necessary, adopt, review, or update a methodology determined to be appropriate by the Administrator; or
(B) adopt the methodology described in paragraph (1).
(c) Report.--If the Administrator fails to carry out subsection (b)(2) before the applicable deadline described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Energy and Natural Resources, and Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report describing the reasons for the failure to carry out subsection (b)(2), which may include a determination by the Administrator that the methodology adopted or updated in a previous update under subsection (a) remains the most current methodology based on available data, research, and technology.
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