Volume 165, No. 129 covering the 1st Session of the 116th Congress (2019 - 2020) 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 RESOLUTIONS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S5199-S5200 on July 30, 2019.
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 RESOLUTIONS
By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Peters, Ms. McSally, and Mrs.
Shaheen):
S. 2322. A bill to amend the Animal Welfare Act to allow for the retirement of certain animals used in Federal research; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague from Michigan, Senator Peters, in introducing the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act, known as the AFTER Act, to promote the adoption or retirement of animals used for research at Federal agencies. I would also like to thank Senators Shaheen and McSally who are original cosponsors of this legislation.
In fiscal year 2018, the Federal government experimented on approximately 50,000 animals for research purposes. The experiments occurred across twelve different Federal agencies and the animals used were mainly cats, dogs, monkeys, and rabbits. While tracking these animals following experimentation is challenging, once animals are no longer needed for research, they are often killed, since many agencies lack formal retirement or adoption policies. With that said, recent studies indicate that research animals who are adopted often thrive in their new environments.
In 2013, led by Senators Harkin, Alexander, Cantwell and myself, the Senate passed the CHIMP Act, which allowed for the retirement of hundreds of primates that were formerly being used in National Institute of Health (NIH) experiments. In addition, the Departments of Defense, Veteran Affairs, and NIH recently enacted successful animal retirement policies. While I am encouraged by the Senate's past work on primates and the recent policies developed by a few agencies; there are still many Federal agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, Commerce, NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency that lack formal policies for animals that have been used in experiments.
The AFTER Act builds on successful policies at DOD, VA, and NIH by directing all Federal agencies to promulgate regulations that would facilitate the retirement of laboratory animals. The bill provides flexibility for each agency to devise its own policy, with the goal of ensuring that such animals, whenever possible, are retired and not killed. Additionally, the AFTER Act requires animals to be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian and pronounced both mentally and physically healthy before leaving an agency. This will help ensure a smooth transition to a new environment.
Our legislation also encourages Federal agencies to work with non-
profit organizations to ensure retired animals are distributid to sanctuaries and shelters across the Nation, not just those closest to the research facility. This would allow a State like Maine, which does not have Federal research labs that use animals, to play a role in retiring these animals and providing homes for them.
Mr. President, there is no reason animals that are suitable for adoption or retirement should be killed by our Federal government. The AFTER Act would provide the necessary direction Federal agencies need in order to move forward with developing retirement policies. I urge all of my colleagues to join in support of this important bipartisan legislation, the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act.
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By Mr. DURBIN:
S. 2340. A bill to establish the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park in the States of Illinois and Missouri, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 2340
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 ``Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park Act''.
SEC. 2. CAHOKIA MOUNDS MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE NATIONAL
HISTORICAL PARK, ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Historical park.--The term ``historical park'' means the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park established by subsection (b).
(2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park, Boundary'', numbered CMMC-NHP-107, and dated 05-31-2019.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior.
(4) States.--The term ``States'' means the States of Illinois and Missouri.
(b) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in order to preserve and interpret for the benefit of present and future generations the historical, cultural, and natural resources associated with the life of the Mississippian Culture, there is established, as a unit of the National Park System, the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park in--
(A) Collinsville, Illinois;
(B) Monroe, Madison, and St. Clair Counties, Illinois; and
(C) St. Louis City County, Missouri.
(2) Determination by secretary.--The historical park shall not be established until the date on which the Secretary determines that a sufficient quantity of land, or interests in land, has been acquired in accordance with subsection (d) to constitute a manageable unit.
(3) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(c) Boundary.--The boundary of the historical park shall be the boundary as depicted on the map.
(d) Land Acquisition.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land within the boundary of the historical park by--
(A) donation;
(B) purchase from a willing seller with donated or appropriated funds; or
(C) exchange.
(2) Limitation.--Any land owned by the States or a political subdivision of 1 of the States may be acquired only by donation.
(3) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary acquires sufficient land under this subsection to achieve compliance with subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of the establishment of the historical park.
(e) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the historical park in accordance with--
(A) this section; and
(B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including--
(i) sections 100101(a), 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United States Code; and
(ii) chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
(2) Cooperative agreements.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the States and political subdivisions of the States, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, Indian Tribes, and individuals--
(i) to identify, interpret, and restore nationally significant historical or cultural and natural resources relating to the life of the Mississippian Culture within the boundaries of the historical park, subject to the condition that such an agreement shall provide for reasonable public access; and
(ii) to conduct research relating to the Mississippian Culture.
(B) Cost-sharing.--
(i) Federal share.--The Federal share of the total cost of any activity carried out under this paragraph shall be not more than 50 percent.
(ii) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost of carrying out an activity under this paragraph may be in the form of--
(I) in-kind contributions; or
(II) goods or services fairly valued.
(f) General Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the historical park in accordance with section 100502 of title 54, United States Code.
(2) Consultation.--In preparing the general management plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
(A) the States and appropriate political subdivisions of the States;
(B) institutions of higher education;
(C) nonprofit organizations;
(D) Indian Tribes; and
(E) other affected individuals and entities, including--
(i) the Illinois Department of Natural Resources;
(ii) the Osage Tribe; and
(iii) the HeartLands Conservancy.
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