Congressional Record publishes “TEXT OF AMENDMENTS” on July 2, 2020

Friday, Sep 24, 2021 @ 7:27pm By EP News Wire Reports

Volume 166, No. 122 covering the 2nd 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.

“TEXT OF AMENDMENTS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S4234-S4240 on July 2, 2020.

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 2420. Mr. PERDUE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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 VIII, add the following:

SEC. 847. REQUIREMENT TO AWARD CONTRACTS UNDER COMMERCIAL E-

COMMERCE PORTAL PROGRAM.

The Administrator of General Services shall afford all commercial e-commerce providers that meet the requirements established under section 846 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91; 41 U.S.C. 1901 note) and the General Service Administration's requirements on data sharing and protection the ability to participate in the commercial e-commerce portal program established under such section.

______

SA 2421. Mr. TILLIS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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. 752. SENSE OF SENATE ON THE ARMED FORCES INSTITUTE FOR

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE.

It is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) the Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine

(in this section referred to as ``AFIRM'') delivers critical regenerative-based technologies lead to functional and aesthetic recovery from injuries incurred during service in the Armed Forces;

(2) AFIRM is a highly rated, nationally respected public-private consortium leading the development of restorative therapies for battlefield trauma as part of several research and development programs directed to meet defined medical technology gaps for warfighter groups;

(3) the efforts by AFIRM span from research and development to clinical translation, implementation, and commercialization, with therapies developed for extremity and craniofacial trauma, skin and genitourinary injuries, and transplantation;

(4) each AFIRM project specifically addresses a key need of the wounded warfighter, which has helped guide research projects toward partnerships with industry that can be reviewed for approval and entered into clinical trials for eventual placement in the marketplace;

(5) technologies developed by AFIRM include, in part, those that will result in the ability to generate and integrate functional composite tissue, neural pathways, vascularization, aesthetic skin, bone, and muscle;

(6) despite the technology challenges, the public-private teaming approach to medical research and development used by AFIRM has resulted in more than 24 products reaching clinical trials;

(7) it is essential that Congress continue to provide the necessary resources to sustain the technology exploration, maturation, and transition in regenerative medicine set forth by AFIRM; and

(8) the Senate highly encourages allocation of additional funds to AFIRM from the undistributed medical research funds provided in this Act to facilitate the continued implementation of the innovative consortium model used by AFIRM that has a proven track record of success.

______

SA 2422. Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Sasse, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Burr) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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 title X, add the following:

Subtitle H--Wireless Supply Chain Innovation and Multilateral Security

SEC. 1091. DEFINITIONS.

In this subtitle:

(1) 3GPP.--The term ``3GPP'' means the Third Generation Partnership Project.

(2) 5G network.--The term ``5G network'' means a radio network as described by 3GPP Release 15 or higher.

(3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Communications Commission.

(4) NTIA administrator.--The term ``NTIA Administrator'' means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.

(5) Open-RAN.--The term ``Open-RAN'' means the Open Radio Access Network approach to standardization adopted by the O-RAN Alliance, Telecom Infra Project, or 3GPP, or any similar set of open standards for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability.

(6) Relevant committees of congress.--The term ``relevant committees of Congress'' means--

(A) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;

(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

(D) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;

(E) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(G) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives;

(H) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;

(I) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;

(J) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;

(K) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and

(L) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 1092. COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SECURITY FUNDS.

(a) Use of Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall transfer from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund established under section 309(j)(8)(E) of the Communications Act of 1934

(47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(E))--

(1) $50,000,000 to the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund established under subsection (b) of this section; and

(2) $25,000,000 to the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund established under subsection (c) of this section.

(b) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund.--

(1) Establishment.--

(A) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the ``Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund'' (referred to in this subsection as the ``R&D Fund'').

(B) Availability.--

(i) In general.--Amounts deposited in the R&D Fund shall remain available through the end of the tenth fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.

(ii) Remainder to treasury.--Any amounts remaining in the R&D Fund after the end of the tenth fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.

(2) Use of fund.--

(A) In general.--Amounts deposited in the R&D Fund shall be available to the NTIA Administrator to make grants under this subsection in such amounts as the NTIA Administrator determines appropriate, subject to subparagraph (B) of this subparagraph.

(B) Limitation on grant amounts.--The amount of a grant awarded under this subsection to a recipient for a specific research focus area may not exceed $50,000,000.

(3) Administration of fund.--The NTIA Administrator, in consultation with the Commission, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, shall establish criteria for grants awarded under this subsection, and administer the R&D Fund, to support research and the commercial application of that research, including in the following areas:

(A) Promoting the development of technology, including software, hardware, and microprocessing technology, that will enhance competitiveness in the fifth-generation (commonly known as ``5G'') and successor wireless technology supply chains.

(B) Accelerating development and deployment of open interface standards-based compatible, interoperable equipment, such as equipment developed pursuant to the standards set forth by organizations such as the O-RAN Alliance, the Telecom Infra Project, 3GPP, the Open-RAN Software Community, or any successor organizations.

(D) Managing integration of multi-vendor network environments.

(E) Objective criteria to define equipment as compliant with open standards for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability.

(F) Promoting development and inclusion of security features enhancing the integrity and availability of equipment in multi-vendor networks.

(G) Promoting the application of network function virtualization to facilitate multi-vendor interoperability and a more diverse vendor market.

(4) Nonduplication of research.--To the greatest extent practicable, the NTIA Administrator shall ensure that any research funded by a grant awarded under this subsection avoids duplication of other Federal or private sector research.

(5) Timing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the NTIA Administrator shall begin awarding grants under this subsection.

(6) Federal advisory body.--

(A) Establishment.--The NTIA Administrator shall establish a Federal advisory committee, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), composed of government and private sector experts, to advise the NTIA Administrator on the administration of the R&D Fund.

(B) Composition.--The advisory committee established under subparagraph (A) shall be composed of--

(i) representatives from--

(I) the Commission;

(II) the Department of Defense;

(III) the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence;

(IV) the National Institute of Standards and Technology;

(V) the Department of State;

(VI) the National Science Foundation; and

(VII) the Department of Homeland Security; and

(ii) other representatives from the private and public sectors, at the discretion of the NTIA Administrator.

(C) Duties.--The advisory committee established under subparagraph (A) shall advise the NTIA Administrator on technology developments to help inform--

(i) the strategic direction of the R&D Fund; and

(ii) efforts of the Federal Government to promote a more secure, diverse, sustainable, and competitive supply chain.

(7) Reports to congress.--

(A) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the NTIA Administrator shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report with--

(i) additional recommendations on promoting the competitiveness and sustainability of trusted suppliers in the wireless supply chain; and

(ii) any additional authorities needed to facilitate the timely adoption of open standards-based equipment, including authority to provide loans, loan guarantees, and other forms of credit extension that would maximize the use of designated funds.

(B) Annual report.--For each fiscal year for which amounts in the R&D Fund are available under this subsection, the NTIA Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that--

(i) describes how, and to whom, amounts in the R&D Fund have been deployed;

(ii) details the progress of the NTIA Administrator in meeting the objectives described in paragraph (3); and

(iii) includes any additional information that the NTIA Administrator determines appropriate.

(1) Establishment of fund.--

(A) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the

``Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund''.

(B) Use of fund.--Amounts deposited in the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund shall be available to the Secretary of State to make expenditures under this subsection in such amounts as the Secretary of State determines appropriate.

(i) In general.--Amounts deposited in the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund--

(I) shall remain available through the end of the tenth fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(II) may only be allocated upon the Secretary of State reaching an agreement with foreign government partners to participate in the common funding mechanism described in paragraph (2).

(ii) Remainder to treasury.--Any amounts remaining in the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund after the end of the tenth fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.

(2) Administration of fund.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the NTIA Administrator, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Commission, shall establish a common funding mechanism, in coordination with foreign partners, that uses amounts from the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund to support the development and adoption of secure and trusted telecommunications technologies.

(3) Annual report to congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each fiscal year during which amounts in the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund are available, the Secretary of State shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report on the status and progress of the funding mechanism established under paragraph (2), including--

(A) any funding commitments from foreign partners, including each specific amount committed;

(B) governing criteria for use of the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund;

(i) how, and to whom, funds have been deployed;

(ii) amounts remaining in the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund; and

(iii) the progress of the Secretary of State in meeting the objective described in paragraph (2); and

(D) additional authorities needed to enhance the effectiveness of the Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund in achieving the security goals of the United States.

SEC. 1093. PROMOTING UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP IN

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

STANDARDS-SETTING BODIES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Chairman of the Commission, or their designees, shall consider how to enhance representation of the United States at international forums that set standards for 5G networks and for future generations of wireless communications networks, including--

(1) the International Telecommunication Union (commonly known as ``ITU'');

(2) the International Organization for Standardization

(commonly known as ``ISO'');

(3) the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission

(commonly known as ``CITEL''); and

(4) the voluntary standards organizations that develop protocols for wireless devices and other equipment, such as the 3GPP and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (commonly known as ``IEEE'').

(b) Annual Report.--The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Chairman of the Commission shall jointly submit to the relevant committees of Congress an annual report on the progress made under subsection (a).

______

SA 2423. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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. __. ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO DISTRIBUTE FACE

MASKS DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY.

(a) Establishment of Program.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President, acting through the Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary, the Postmaster General, and the heads of any other relevant Federal agencies, and in consultation with Governors, units of local government, and appropriate labor unions, shall establish a program to eliminate all shortages of face masks, surgical masks, and N-95 respirator masks in the United States as soon as practicable.

(2) Requirements.--The program required to be developed under paragraph (1) shall provide for the following:

(A) Household deliveries.--A one-time supply of face masks shall be provided and delivered through the United States Postal Service, free of charge, to every individual and household in the United States.

(B) Additional deliveries.--A one-time supply of face masks shall be provided, free of charge, to individuals who do not receive face masks that are delivered to households by the United States Postal Service, including--

(i) all individuals who are experiencing homelessness; and

(ii) all individuals who are living in group quarters, as defined by the Census Bureau for the purposes of the most recent decennial census.

(C) Health care providers.--Needed surgical masks and N-95 respirator masks shall be provided to all health care providers in the United States, free of charge, either directly or to each State for distribution to health care providers.

(3) Prohibition on identification requirement.--The program developed under paragraph (1) shall not require any individual in the United States to provide identification or proof of citizenship in order to receive face masks.

(b) Use of Authorities.--

(1) In general.--To carry out this section, the President shall make use of any and all available authorities at the disposal of the Federal Government to procure, manufacture, and support the domestic manufacturing of face masks, surgical masks, and N-95 respirator masks, including emergency authorities, such as the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4511 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act

(50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).

(2) Requirement.--Any face masks, surgical masks, and N-95 respirator masks procured or manufactured for purposes of carrying out this section shall be purchased in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation guidance on fair and reasonable pricing.

(1) Appropriation.--There is appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,000,000,000, to remain available until the date described in paragraph

(4), to the Administrator to carry out this section.

(2) Limitation.--No funds made available under this subsection shall be provided to--

(A) any person who is a Federal elected official or serving in a Senior Executive Service position; or

(B) any entity that is controlled in whole or in part by a Federal elected official or serving in a Senior Executive Service position.

(3) Emergency designation.--

(A) In general.--The amounts provided under this section are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).

(B) Designation in senate.--In the Senate, this section is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.

(4) Date described.--The date described in this paragraph is the date on which no new cases of COVID-19 are reported in the United States for a period of not less than 14 consecutive days.

(d) Reports to Congress.--Beginning 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 7 days thereafter until the requirements of this section are met, the Administrator and the Secretary shall jointly submit to Congress a detailed report on the implementation of and activities authorized by this section, including--

(1) detailed plans to establish and implement the program required under this section, including information on progress made toward eliminating all shortages of face masks, surgical masks, and N-95 respirator masks in the United States as soon as practicable, and a timeline for when such shortage elimination will be achieved;

(2) information on--

(A) the use of funds under this section;

(B) the current and projected supply of face masks, surgical masks, and N-95 respirator masks;

(D) the distribution of face masks, surgical masks, and N-95 respirator masks, by State, geographic area, and need;

(E) the prices paid by the Federal Government and to which suppliers such amounts were paid; and

(3) any other information requested by Congress.

(e) Effect on State Requests for PPE.--Any face masks delivered under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(2) shall not be taken into account for purposes of the Federal Government responding to State or health care provider requests for surgical masks, N-95 respirator masks, personal protective equipment, or other supplies related to COVID-19.

(f) Required Consultation.--The consultation with appropriate labor unions required under subsection (a)(1) shall include consultation with labor organizations representing employees of the United States Postal Service, including regarding the safety of such employees who carry out the activities authorized under this section.

(g) Excess Masks.--Any face masks, surgical masks, and N-95 respirator masks in the possession of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Department of Health and Human Services for purposes of carrying out this section that have not been distributed as of the date described in subsection

(c)(4) shall be added to the strategic national stockpile.

(h) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(2) Face mask.--The term ``face mask'' means a tight-weave cloth mask.

(3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

(25 U.S.C. 5304(e)).

(4) One-time supply.--The term ``one-time supply'' means not less than 3 face masks per individual.

(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(6) Senior executive service position.--The term ``Senior Executive Service position'' has the meaning given that term in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code.

(7) State.--The term ``State'' means--

(A) any State of the United States;

(B) the District of Columbia;

(D) Guam;

(E) American Samoa;

(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;

(G) the Federated States of Micronesia;

(H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;

(I) the Republic of Palau;

(J) the United States Virgin Islands; and

(K) each Indian Tribe.

(8) United states.--The term ``United States'' means--

(A) each of the several States of the United States;

(B) the District of Columbia;

(D) Guam;

(E) American Samoa;

(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;

(G) the Federated States of Micronesia;

(H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;

(I) the Republic of Palau;

(J) the United States Virgin Islands; and

(K) each Indian Tribe.

______

SA 2424. Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for Mr. Cornyn) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1253, to apply requirements relating to delivery sales of cigarettes to delivery sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems, and for other purposes; as follows:

At the end of section 2, add the following:

(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section, or an amendment made by this section, may be construed to affect or otherwise alter any provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), including its implementing regulations.

At the end, add the following:

SEC. __. UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF E-CIGARETTE USE BY

ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS.

(a) Study.--The National Institutes of Health, in coordination with other appropriate agencies, shall conduct a study on the short-term and long-term health impacts of e-cigarette use by youth and young adults under 21 years of age, that includes the following:

(1) An examination of the health impacts of using liquids obtained from the legal market, including liquids that may not have premarket approval from the Food and Drug Administration, compared to liquids obtained illicitly.

(2) A determination of the precise relationship between underage vaping and underage smoking, which may include using national survey data, in which the reporting of smoking and vaping usage classifications (such as current users, former users, or never users) shall be integrated and not treated as separate or unrelated categories.

(3) A determination of the precise relationship between vaping and smoking among young adults, who are 21 to 24 years of age, using national survey data, in which the reporting of smoking and vaping usage classifications (such as current users, former users, or never users) shall be integrated and not treated as separate or unrelated categories.

(4) An examination of e-cigarette usage data from cities, localities, and States that have adopted e-cigarette product bans to evaluate--

(A) the proportion of e-cigarette users in those areas who return to smoking combustible cigarettes;

(B) the proportion of e-cigarette users in those areas who access products from illicit markets; and

(C) the proportion of e-cigarette users in those areas who stop using all nicotine products or reduce their overall nicotine product use.

(5) A determination of the frequency of use of each specific and multiple tobacco products among high school students in the United States, including--

(A) the number of high school students who use each specific and multiple tobacco products less than 20 days per month; and

(B) the number of high school students who use each specific and multiple tobacco products 20 or more days per month.

(6) An examination of the rates of underage e-cigarette use in cities, localities, and States that have adopted Tobacco 21 laws prior to the date of enactment of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94).

(7) An examination of illegal smuggling of tobacco products in cities, localities, and States that have--

(A) banned such products;

(B) enacted taxes on such products that are higher than the national median; or

(8) A determination of how prevalence estimates of tobacco use in the National Youth Tobacco Survey differ from prevalence estimates of tobacco use in other national surveys, including the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health and the Knowledge Panel.

(9) A determination of the prevalence of the following high-risk behaviors among high school students, and their relationship, if any, to vaping and smoking:

(A) Using marijuana or alcohol.

(B) Binge drinking.

(D) Using an electronic device while driving.

(E) Knowingly riding in a motor vehicle with a driver who was recently drinking.

(F) Seriously considering suicide.

(10) An examination of the role flavors play in youth initiation and use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.

(11) An examination of the risk of youth addiction to nicotine, including the impact of e-cigarettes that use nicotine salts.

(12) An examination of risks to youth of nicotine use and exposure to harmful and potentially harmful constituents emitted from some e-cigarettes, including flavorings used in e-cigarettes.

(13) A determination of a credible estimate of the difference in health risks between combustible cigarette smoking and vaping, if a valid estimate can be made, to inform tobacco regulation in the United States, taking into account--

(A) the findings of the British Royal College of Physicians in their 2016 report, ``Nicotine without smoke: Tobacco harm reduction'';

(B) the article entitled ``Invalidity of an Oft-Cited Estimate of the Relative Harms of Electronic Cigarettes'' published in the American Journal of Public Health in February 2020;

(C) the findings of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in their 2018 report, ``Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes'';

(D) relevant reports and advisories of the Surgeon General; and

(E) other peer reviewed research.

(b) Report.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Institutes of Health shall submit a report to Congress on the findings of the study required to be conducted under subsection (a).

(2) Requirement.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the report required under paragraph (1) is submitted, all data, research products, and reports from the study required to be conducted under subsection (a) shall be made publicly available online.

______

SA 2425. Mr. DAINES submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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. ___. PENALTIES FOR REPRESENTING VETERANS AS AGENTS AND

ATTORNEYS WITHOUT RECOGNITION BY SECRETARY OF

VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) Penalties.--

(1) In general.--Section 5905 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

``Sec. 5905. Penalty for certain acts

``Whoever commits any of the following acts shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both:

``(1) Acts or attempts to act as an agent (including as a financial planner, benefits claim advisor, or benefits claim prepper) or attorney for the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a claim under a law administered by the Secretary--

``(A) without recognition by the Secretary as an agent or attorney under section 5904 of this title; or

``(B) while suspended or excluded under subsection (b) of such section.

``(2) The act of unlawfully withholding from any claimant or beneficiary any part of a benefit or claim under the laws administered by the Secretary that is allowed and due to the claimant or beneficiary.''.

(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to acts committed after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b) Biennial Reviews by General Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs.--Section 5904 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

``(e) Biennial Reviews by General Counsel.--(1) Not less frequently than once every two years, the General Counsel of the Department shall submit to Congress a report on activities under this section.

``(2) Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:

``(A) A discussion of the rates generally charged for services covered by this section.

``(B) A discussion of the requests made by claimants under subsection (c)(3)(A).

``(C) A discussion of the fees reduced under such subsection.

``(D) The number of claims for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary that were prepared, presented, or prosecuted by an individual acting as an agent or attorney who did so while not recognized under this section.''.

______

SA 2426. Mr. CRUZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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:

Amend section 144 to read as follows:

SEC. 144. MINIMUM AIR FORCE BOMBER AIRCRAFT LEVEL.

(a) Minimum.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees recommendations for a minimum number of bomber aircraft, including penetrating bombers in addition to B-52H aircraft, to enable the Air Force to carry out its long-range penetrating strike capability.

(b) Report on B-1 Aircraft Fleet Sustainment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the sustainment of the B-1 aircraft fleet. The report shall include the following:

(1) A cost benefit analysis of bombers compared with the Air Force Arsenal Plane program.

(2) A description of any structural issues found in full-scale fatigue testing or inspections of B-1 aircraft.

(3) A description of future structural mitigation strategies for B-1 aircraft, including an analysis of the support requirement for each aircraft.

(4) A potential modernization plan for B-1 aircraft capability, including hypersonic and other advanced weapons, to ensure survivability and combat efficacy of such aircraft until the B-21 aircraft is operational

(c) Limitation.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended in support of the Air Force Arsenal Plane program, and the Department may not otherwise implement any such activity, until the report required under subsection

(b) is submitted.

______

SA 2427. Ms. HASSAN (for herself and Mr. Johnson) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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 IX, insert the following:

SEC. 952. THREATS TO UNITED STATES FORCES FROM SMALL UNMANNED

AERIAL SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

(1) United States military forces face an ever increasing and constantly evolving threat from small unmanned aerial systems in operations worldwide, whether in the United States or abroad.

(2) The Department of Defense is already doing important work to address the threats from small unmanned aerial systems worldwide, though the need for engagement in that area continues.

(b) Executive Agent.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Army is the executive agent of the Department of Defense for programs, projects, and activities to counter small unmanned aerial systems (in this section referred to as the ``Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program'').

(2) Functions.--The functions of the Secretary as executive agent shall be as follows:

(A) To develop the strategy required by subsection (c).

(B) To carry out such other activities to counter threats to United States forces worldwide from small unmanned aerial systems as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army consider appropriate.

(3) Structure.--The Secretary as executive agent shall carry out the functions specified in paragraph (2) through such administrative structures as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(c) Strategy To Counter Threats From Small Unmanned Aerial Systems.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, as executive agent for the Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program, shall develop and submit to relevant committees of Congress a strategy for the Armed Forces to effectively counter threats from small unmanned aerial systems worldwide. The report shall be submitted in classified form.

(d) Report on Executive Agent Activities.--

(1) Report required.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, as executive agent for the Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program, shall submit to Congress a report on the Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program.

(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) A description and assessment of the structure and activities of the executive agent as established and put in place by the Secretary, including the following:

(i) Any obstacles hindering the effective discharge of its functions and activities, including limitations in authorities or policy.

(ii) The changes, if any, to airspace management, rules of engagement, and training plans that are required in order to optimize the use by the Armed Forces of counter-small unmanned aerial systems.

(B) An assessment of the implementation of the strategy required by subsection (c), and a description of any updates to the strategy that are required in light of evolving threats to the Armed Forces from small unmanned aerial systems.

(e) Report on Threat From Small Unmanned Aerial Systems.--

(1) Report required.--Not later than 180 days after the submittal of the strategy required by subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that sets forth a direct comparison between the threats United States forces in combat settings face from small unmanned aerial systems and the capabilities of the United States to counter such threats. The report shall be submitted in classified form.

(2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall prepare the report required by paragraph (1) in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, and with such other appropriate officials of the intelligence community, and such other officials in the United States Government, as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(3) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) An evaluation and assessment of the current and evolving threat being faced by United States forces from small unmanned aerial systems.

(B) A description of the counter-small unmanned aerial system systems acquired by the Department of Defense as of the date of the enactment of this Act, and an assessment whether such systems are adequate to meet the current and evolving threat described in subparagraph (A).

(4) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--

(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.

(f) Comptroller General of the United States Assessment of Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program.--

(1) Assessment.--Not later than 180 days after the submittal of the strategy required by subsection (c), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the results of an assessment, conducted by the Comptroller General for purposes of the report, of the efficacy of the Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program.

(2) Elements.--The assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) An identification of metrics to assess progress in the implementation of the strategy required by subsection (c), which metrics shall take into account the threat assessment required for purposes of subsection (e).

(B) An assessment of progress, and key challenges, in the implementation of the strategy using such metrics, and recommendations for improvements in the implementation of the strategy.

(C) An assessment of the extent to which the Department of Defense is coordinating adequately with other departments and agencies of the United States Government, and other appropriate entities, in the development and procurement of counter-small unmanned aerial systems for the Department.

(D) An assessment of the extent to which the designation of the Secretary of the Army as executive agent for the Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program has reduced redundancies and increased efficiencies in procurement of counter-small unmanned aerial systems.

(E) An assessment whether United States technological progress on counter-small unmanned aerial systems is sufficient to maintain a competitive edge over the small unmanned aerial systems technology available to United States adversaries.

______

SA 2428. Ms. HARRIS (for herself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Sasse) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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. ___. DISCLOSURE OF STATUS BY NEWS OUTLETS THAT ARE

AGENTS OF A FOREIGN PRINCIPAL.

Section 4(b) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended (22 U.S.C. 614(b)) is amended by inserting after the first sentence the following: ``It shall be unlawful for any news or press service or association, newspaper, magazine, periodical, or other publication that is an agent of a foreign principal and required to register under the provisions of this Act to fail to include in any transmission in the United States mails or any transmission made by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce (including a transmission by radio, television, or the internet) that is transmitted into the United States a conspicuous statement that the transmission is made by an agent of a foreign principal, and that additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia.''.

______

SA 2429. Mr. BENNET (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Durbin) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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, insert the following:

SEC. 549. ANNUAL REPORTS ON MILITARY PERSONNEL AND EXTREMIST

IDEOLOGIES.

(a) In General.--Not later than February 28 each year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that sets forth a description and assessment of the interaction between members of the Armed Forces and extremist ideologies during the preceding year.

(b) Elements.--Each report under subsection (a) shall include, for the year covered by such report, the following:

(1) A description of the current policies of the Department of Defense, and each Armed Force, on affiliations between members of the Armed Forces and recruits to the Armed Forces and white supremacist, neo-Nazi, terrorist, gang, and other extremist ideologies.

(2) A description and assessment of the current procedures used by the Department, and each Armed Force, to identify and mitigate the affiliations described in paragraph (1).

(3) An assessment of the recruitment tactics and practices used by organizations that propound ideologies referred to in paragraph (1) toward members and potential members of the Armed Forces, including a description of the evolution of such tactics and practices.

(4) If the disciplinary action authorized for violations of policies against the affiliations described in paragraph (1) included administrative separation from the Armed Forces--

(A) the number of individuals administratively separated from the Armed Forces in connection with such violations; and

(B) the number of individuals retained in the Armed Forces notwithstanding a substantiated finding of such a violation.

(5) An identification and assessment of the extent to which the number of violations described in paragraph (4) is on the increase, and a description and assessment of any trends in the number of such violations.

(6) A description and assessment of the training provided to members of the Armed Forces in order combat the ideologies referred to in paragraph (1), and an identification of each Armed Force that provides implicit bias training, including a description of such training, the frequency of such training, and the recipients of such training.

(c) Additional Reports in Connection With Increase in Violations.--If the report under subsection (a) in any of 2022 through 2027 identifies an increase in violations described in subsection (b)(4) between the two years preceding the year in which such report is submitted, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives an additional report setting forth the results of a study, conducted for purposes of this subsection by an entity outside the Department of Defense selected by the Secretary for purposes of this subsection, on the following:

(1) The causes of the increase.

(2) Recommendations for measures to address the increase.

(d) Additional Elements on Trends in Violations.--Each report under subsection (a) shall also include the following:

(1) A description and assessment of the trend in violations described in subsection (b)(4) between the year covered by such report and the year preceding the year covered by such report.

(2) A description and assessment of the work undertaken by the Department of Defense with other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to identify the extent and nature of such trend.

(e) Form.--Each report under this section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include information in a classified annex only to the extent that submittal of such information in classified form is the sole basis on which such information is submittable to Congress.

______

SA 2430. Mr. CRAPO (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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, insert the following:

SEC. 549. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES REPORT ON

PARTICIPATION IN TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

AT SMALL AND REMOTE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

(a) Report Required.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on a review, conducted by the Comptroller General for purposes of the report, on the participation in covered transition assistance programs of members of the Armed Forces assigned to small military installations and remote military installations in the United States.

(b) Covered Transition Assistance Programs.--For purposes of this section, covered transition assistance programs are the following:

(1) The Transition Assistance Program.

(2) The programs under section 1143(e) of title 10, United States Code (commonly referred to as ``Job Training, Employment Skills, Apprenticeships and Internships (JTEST-AI)'' or ``Skill Bridge'').

(3) Any other program of apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or internship offered at a small military installation or remote installation that the Comptroller General considers appropriate for inclusion in the review under this section.

(1) A small military installation is an installation at which are assigned not more than 10,000 members of the Armed Forces.

(2) A remote military installation is an installation that is located more than 50 miles from any city with a population of 50,000 people or more (as determined by the Office of Management and Budget).

(d) Scope of Review.--In conducting the review, the Comptroller General shall evaluate participation in covered transition assistance programs at a number of small military installations and remote military installations that is sufficient to provide a complete understanding of the participation in such programs of members of the Armed Forces at such installations throughout the United States.

(e) Elements.--The review under this section shall include the following:

(1) Rates of participation of members of the Armed Forces in covered transition assistance programs at small military installations and remote military installations in the United States.

(2) In the case of the Transition Assistance Program, the following:

(A) A comparison between rates of participation in person and rates of participation on line.

(B) The average ratio of permanent, full-time equivalent program staff to participating members at small military installations and at remote military installations.

(C) The average number of program staff (including full-time equivalent staff and contractor staff) physically and permanently located on installation at small military installations and at remote military installations.

(3) Such other matters with respect to participation in covered transition assistance programs of members assigned to small military installations and remote military installations as the Comptroller General considers appropriate.

(f) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--

(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2) The term ``Transition Assistance Program'' means the program of counseling, information, and services under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code.

______

SA 2431. Mrs. FISCHER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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 173.

______

SA 2432. Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, and Ms. Rosen) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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. __. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S BUSINESS

ENTERPRISE.

Title IV of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is amended--

(1) in section 402 (15 U.S.C. 7102)--

(A) in subsection (a)--

(i) by striking paragraphs (2) and (5);

(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs

(2) and (3), respectively; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

``(4) monitor the plans, programs, and operations of the departments and agencies of the Federal Government to identify barriers to new business formation by women entrepreneurs, or barriers experienced by women-led startups in accessing and participating in the plans, programs, and operations of the departments and agencies of the Federal Government.''; and

(B) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by inserting

``, including through the use of research and policy developed by the Council'' after ``Council'';

(2) in section 403 (15 U.S.C. 7103)--

(A) in subsection (a)--

(i) in paragraph (1)--

(I) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting

``the executive director of the Council and'' before ``1 representative''

(II) by adding at the end the following:

``(K) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

``(L) The Environmental Protection Agency.

``(M) The Deputy Director of Management of the Office of Management and Budget.

``(N) The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

``(O) The Department of Homeland Security.

``(P) The Department of Veterans Affairs.''; and

(ii) in paragraph (2)--

(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Small Business Administration Reauthorization Act of 1997'' and inserting

``Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise Act of 2020''; and

(II) in subparagraph (B)--

(aa) by striking ``Small Business''; and

(bb) by striking ``National Women's Business Council established under section 405'' and inserting ``Council''; and

(B) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

``(b) Appointment.--

``(1) In general.--Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise Act of 2020, the President, in consultation with the Administrator, shall appoint one of the members of the Interagency Committee to serve as chairperson.

``(2) Vacancy.--In the event that a chairperson is not appointed within the time frame required under paragraph (1), the Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall serve as acting chairperson of the Interagency Committee until a chairperson is appointed under paragraph

(1).''; and

(3) in section 404 (15 U.S.C. 7104)--

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking

``1995'' and inserting ``2020'';

(B) in paragraph (1), by adding ``and'' at the end;

(D) by striking paragraph (3).

______

SA 2433. Mr. MANCHIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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:

In section 911(a)(1), strike ``not later than'' and insert

``not earlier than''.

______

SA 2434. Mr. MANCHIN (for himself and Mrs. Capito) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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:

In the funding table in section 4101, in the item relating to MQ-4 TRITON, strike the amount in the Senate Authorized column and insert ``411,570''.

In the funding table in section 4101, under the heading Other Procurement, Navy, under the heading Generators, in the item relating to Surface Combatant HM&E (line 2), strike the amount in the Senate Authorized column and insert ``8,497''.

In the funding table in section 4101, under the heading Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, under the heading Other Airlift, in the item relating to MC-130J (line 10), strike the amount in the Senate Authorized column and insert

``291,807''.

In the funding table in section 4201, under the heading Advanced Component Development & Prototypes, in the item relating to Improved Homeland Defense Interceptors (line 111), strike the amount in the Senate Authorized column and insert ``144,138''.

______

SA 2435. Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Warren, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Udall, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Brown) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2301 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 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. 1287. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO DEPLOY DEFENSE

ARTICLES, SERVICES, OR TRAINING TO CERTAIN

ANNEXED TERRITORIES IN THE WEST BANK OR TO

FACILITATE ANNEXATION OF SUCH TERRITORIES.

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020, this Act, or any other Act enacted before the date of the enactment of this Act, or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense, may be obligated or expended to deploy, or support the deployment of, United States defense articles, services, or training to territories in the West Bank unilaterally annexed by Israel after July 1, 2020, or to facilitate the unilateral annexation of such territories.

____________________

SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 122

Congressional Record publishes “TEXT OF AMENDMENTS” on July 2, 2020

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