Volume 163, No. 154 covering the 1st Session of the 115th Congress (2017 - 2018) 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.
“TEXT OF AMENDMENTS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S6139-S6141 on Sept. 26, 2017.
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:
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS
SA 1101. Mr. CORNYN (for Ms. Collins) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1028, to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a Family Caregiving Strategy, and for other purposes; as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act of 2017'' or the
``RAISE Family Caregivers Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Advisory council.--The term ``Advisory Council'' means the Family Caregiving Advisory Council convened under section 4.
(2) Family caregiver.--The term ``family caregiver'' means an adult family member or other individual who has a significant relationship with, and who provides a broad range of assistance to, an individual with a chronic or other health condition, disability, or functional limitation.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(4) Strategy.--The term ``Strategy'' means the Family Caregiving Strategy set forth under section 3.
SEC. 3. FAMILY CAREGIVING STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall develop jointly with the Advisory Council and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out family caregiver programs, and make publically available on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a Family Caregiving Strategy.
(b) Contents.--The Strategy shall identify recommended actions that Federal (under existing Federal programs), State, and local governments, communities, health care providers, long-term services and supports providers, and others are taking, or may take, to recognize and support family caregivers in a manner that reflects their diverse needs, including with respect to the following:
(1) Promoting greater adoption of person- and family-centered care in all health and long-term services and supports settings, with the person receiving services and supports and the family caregiver (as appropriate) at the center of care teams.
(2) Assessment and service planning (including care transitions and coordination) involving family caregivers and care recipients.
(3) Information, education and training supports, referral, and care coordination, including with respect to hospice care, palliative care, and advance planning services.
(4) Respite options.
(5) Financial security and workplace issues.
(6) Delivering services based on the performance, mission, and purpose of a program while eliminating redundancies.
(c) Duties of the Secretary.--The Secretary (or the Secretary's designee), in carrying out subsection (a), shall oversee the following:
(1) Collecting and making publicly available information, submitted by the Advisory Council under section 4(d) to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out family caregiver programs, and made publically available by the Secretary, including evidence-based or promising practices and innovative models (both domestic and foreign) regarding the provision of care by family caregivers or support for family caregivers.
(2) Coordinating and assessing existing Federal Government programs and activities to recognize and support family caregivers while ensuring maximum effectiveness and avoiding unnecessary duplication.
(3) Providing technical assistance, as appropriate, such as disseminating identified best practices and information sharing based on reports provided under section 4(d), to State or local efforts to support family caregivers.
(d) Initial Strategy; Updates.--The Secretary shall--
(1) not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, develop, publish, and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out family caregiver programs, an initial Strategy incorporating the items addressed in the Advisory Council's initial report under section 4(d) and other relevant information, including best practices, for recognizing and supporting family caregivers; and
(2) biennially update, republish, and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out family caregiver programs the Strategy, taking into account the most recent annual report submitted under section 4(d)(1)--
(A) to reflect new developments, challenges, opportunities, and solutions; and
(B) to review progress based on recommendations for recognizing and supporting family caregivers in the Strategy and, based on the results of such review, recommend priority actions for improving the implementation of such recommendations, as appropriate.
(e) Process for Public Input.--The Secretary shall establish a process for public input to inform the development of, and updates to, the Strategy, including a process for the public to submit recommendations to the Advisory Council and an opportunity for public comment on the proposed Strategy.
(f) No Preemption.--Nothing in this Act preempts any authority of a State or local government to recognize or support family caregivers.
(g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to permit the Secretary (through regulation, guidance, grant criteria, or otherwise) to--
(1) mandate, direct, or control the allocation of State or local resources;
(2) mandate the use of any of the best practices identified in the reports required under this Act; or
(3) otherwise expand the authority of the Secretary beyond that expressly provided to the Secretary in this Act.
SEC. 4. FAMILY CAREGIVING ADVISORY COUNCIL.
(a) Convening.--The Secretary shall convene a Family Caregiving Advisory Council to advise and provide recommendations, including identified best practices, to the Secretary on recognizing and supporting family caregivers.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The members of the Advisory Council shall consist of--
(A) the appointed members under paragraph (2); and
(B) the Federal members under paragraph (3).
(2) Appointed members.--In addition to the Federal members under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall appoint not more than 15 voting members of the Advisory Council who are not representatives of Federal departments or agencies and who shall include at least one representative of each of the following:
(A) Family caregivers.
(B) Older adults with long-term services and supports needs.
(C) Individuals with disabilities.
(D) Health care and social service providers.
(E) Long-term services and supports providers.
(F) Employers.
(G) Paraprofessional workers.
(H) State and local officials.
(I) Accreditation bodies.
(J) Veterans.
(K) As appropriate, other experts and advocacy organizations engaged in family caregiving.
(3) Federal members.--The Federal members of the Advisory Council, who shall be nonvoting members, shall consist of the following:
(A) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (or the Administrator's designee).
(B) The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living (or the Administrator's designee who has experience in both aging and disability).
(C) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (or the Secretary's designee).
(D) The heads of other Federal departments or agencies (or their designees), including relevant departments or agencies that oversee labor and workforce, economic, government financial policies, community service, and other impacted populations, as appointed by the Secretary or the Chair of the Advisory Council.
(4) Diverse representation.--The Secretary shall ensure that the membership of the Advisory Council reflects the diversity of family caregivers and individuals receiving services and supports.
(c) Meetings.--The Advisory Council shall meet quarterly during the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and at least three times during each year thereafter. Meetings of the Advisory Council shall be open to the public.
(d) Advisory Council Annual Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Advisory Council shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the State agencies responsible for carrying out family caregiver programs, and make publically available on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report concerning the development, maintenance, and updating of the Strategy, including a description of the outcomes of the recommendations and any priorities included in the initial report pursuant to paragraph (2), as appropriate.
(2) Initial report.--The Advisory Council's initial report under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) an inventory and assessment of all federally funded efforts to recognize and support family caregivers and the outcomes of such efforts, including analyses of the extent to which federally funded efforts are reaching family caregivers and gaps in such efforts;
(B) recommendations--
(i) to improve and better coordinate Federal programs and activities to recognize and support family caregivers, as well as opportunities to improve the coordination of such Federal programs and activities with State programs; and
(ii) to effectively deliver services based on the performance, mission, and purpose of a program while eliminating redundancies, avoiding unnecessary duplication and overlap, and ensuring the needs of family caregivers are met;
(C) the identification of challenges faced by family caregivers, including financial, health, and other challenges, and existing approaches to address such challenges; and
(D) an evaluation of how family caregiving impacts the Medicare program, the Medicaid program, and other Federal programs.
(e) Nonapplicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Advisory Council.
SEC. 5. FUNDING.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act. This Act shall be carried out using funds otherwise authorized. .
SEC. 6. SUNSET PROVISION.
The authority and obligations established by this Act shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
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SA 1102. Mr. CORNYN (for Ms. Collins) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1028, to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a Family Caregiving Strategy, and for other purposes; as follows:
Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a Family Caregiving Strategy, and for other purposes.''.
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SA 1103. Mr. CORNYN (for Mr. Lee) proposed an amendment to the resolution S. Res. 114, expressing the sense of the Senate on humanitarian crises in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen; as follows:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE.
It is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) an urgent and comprehensive international diplomatic effort is necessary to address obstacles in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen that are preventing humanitarian aid from being delivered to millions of people who desperately need it;
(2) the United States should encourage other governments to join in providing the resources necessary to address the humanitarian crises in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen;
(3) parties to the conflicts in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen should allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need and respect and protect humanitarian and medical relief personnel and objects;
(4) the United States, working with international partners, should support efforts to hold accountable those responsible for deliberate restrictions on humanitarian access in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen; and
(5) the contributions of charities, non-profit organizations, religious organizations, and businesses of the United States have an important role in addressing humanitarian crises.
SEC. 2. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as a declaration of war or authorization to use force.
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SA 1104. Mr. CORNYN (for Ms. Hirono) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 504, to permanently authorize the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Program; as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION BUSINESS TRAVEL
CARDS.
(a) In General.--Subtitle B of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 417 the following:
``SEC. 418. ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION BUSINESS TRAVEL
CARDS.
``(a) In General.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is authorized to issue an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (referred to in this section as an `ABT Card') to any individual described in subsection (b).
``(b) Card Issuance.--An individual described in this subsection is an individual who--
``(1) is a citizen of the United States;
``(2) has been approved and is in good standing in an existing international trusted traveler program of the Department; and
``(3) is--
``(A) engaged in business in the Asia-Pacific region, as determined by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; or
``(B) a United States Government official actively engaged in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation business, as determined by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
``(c) Integration With Existing Travel Programs.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall integrate application procedures for, and issuance, renewal, and revocation of, ABT Cards with existing international trusted traveler programs of the Department.
``(d) Cooperation With Private Entities and Nongovernmental Organizations.--In carrying out this section, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may consult with appropriate private sector entities and nongovernmental organizations, including academic institutions.
``(e) Fee.--
``(1) In general.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall--
``(A) prescribe and collect a fee for the issuance and renewal of ABT Cards; and
``(B) adjust such fee to the extent the Commissioner determines necessary to comply with paragraph (2).
``(2) Limitation.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall ensure that the total amount of the fees collected under paragraph (1) during any fiscal year is sufficient to offset the direct and indirect costs associated with carrying out this section during such fiscal year, including the costs associated with operating and maintaining the ABT Card issuance and renewal processes.
``(3) Account for collections.--There is established in the Treasury of the United States an `Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account' into which the fees collected under paragraph (1) shall be deposited as offsetting receipts.
``(4) Use of funds.--Amounts deposited into the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established under paragraph (3) shall--
``(A) be credited to the appropriate account of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for expenses incurred in carrying out this section; and
``(B) remain available until expended.
``(f) Notification.--The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall notify the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate not later than 60 days after the expenditures of funds to operate and provide ABT Card services beyond the amounts collected under subsection (e)(1).
``(g) Trusted Traveler Program Defined.--In this section, the term `trusted traveler program' means a voluntary program of the Department that allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to expedite clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the United States.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 417 the following new item:
``Sec. 418. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards.''.
SEC. 3. ACCOUNT.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the repeal of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-54; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) pursuant to section 4(b)(1), amounts deposited into the APEC Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to such Act as of the date of the enactment of this Act are hereby transferred to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to section 418(e) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 2(a) of this Act), and shall be available without regard to whether such amounts are expended in connection with expenses incurred with respect to an ABT Card issued at any time before or after such date of enactment.
(b) Availability.--Amounts deposited in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to section 418(e) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, in addition to the purposes for which such amounts are available pursuant to such subsection, shall also be available for expenditure in connection with expenses incurred with respect to ABT Cards issued at any time before the date of the enactment of such section.
(c) Termination.--After the completion of the transfer described in subsection (a), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Account established pursuant to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 shall be closed.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS AND REPEAL.
(a) Conforming Amendments.--Section 411(c) of section 411 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (17), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (18) as paragraph (19); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (17) the following:
``(18) carry out section 418, relating to the issuance of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards; and''.
(b) Repeal.--
(1) In general.--The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-54; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is repealed.
(2) Saving clause.--Notwithstanding the repeal under paragraph (1), an ABT Card issued pursuant to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 before the date of the enactment of this Act that, as of such date, is still valid, shall remain valid on and after such date until such time as such Card would otherwise expire.
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SA 1105. Mr. CORNYN (for Mr. Lee) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1057, to amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to address harmful algal blooms, and for other purposes; as follows:
Beginning on page 10, strike line 4 and all that follows through page 12, line 15 and insert the following:
SEC. 7. HYPOXIA OR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OF NATIONAL
SIGNIFICANCE.
(a) Relief.--
(1) In general.--Upon a determination under subsection (b) that there is an event of national significance, the appropriate Federal official is authorized to make sums available to the affected State or local government for the purposes of assessing and mitigating the detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, and public health effects of the event of national significance.
(2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out under this subsection for the purposes described in paragraph (1) may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of that activity.
(3) Donations.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an appropriate Federal official may accept donations of funds, services, facilities, materials, or equipment that the appropriate Federal official considers necessary for the purposes described in paragraph (1). Any funds donated to an appropriate Federal official under this paragraph may be expended without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation.
(b) Determinations.--
(1) In general.--At the discretion of an appropriate Federal official, or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, an appropriate Federal official shall determine whether a hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event is an event of national significance.
(2) Considerations.--In making a determination under paragraph (1), the appropriate Federal official shall consider the toxicity of the harmful algal bloom, the severity of the hypoxia, its potential to spread, the economic impact, the relative size in relation to the past 5 occurrences of harmful algal blooms or hypoxia events that occur on a recurrent or annual basis, and the geographic scope, including the potential to affect several municipalities, to affect more than 1 State, or to cross an international boundary.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate federal official.--The term ``appropriate Federal official'' means--
(A) in the case of a marine or coastal hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; and
(B) in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Event of national significance.--The term ``event of national significance'' means a hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event that has had or will likely have a significant detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, or public health impact on an affected State.
(3) Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event.--The term
``hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event'' means the occurrence of hypoxia or a harmful algal bloom as a result of a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined cause.
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