Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1696590716932.pdf (United States)
September 27, 2022 AMENDMENT NO.

5646 At the request of Mr. CRUZ, the name of the Senator from Texas (Mr. COR- NYN) was added as a cosponsor of amendment No.

5646 intended to be pro- posed to H.R.

7900, to authorize appro- priations for fiscal year 2023 for mili- tary activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Depart- ment of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.
f STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS By Mr. DURBIN: S. 4962.

A bill to establish within the Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment of the United States Agency for International Development a rural mobility program to promote mobility in rural communities through access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bi- cycles, to provide sustainably increase access to rural areas, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

support to Mr. DURBIN.


Mr. President, I would like to do something unusual on the floor of the Senate.

I would like to re- port some good news.

It isn’t often we have these reports.

Today, I have three items in my news that I would like to share with the people who are fol- lowing this.

I would like to start my remarks by sharing an incredible story from the other side of the world.
In May 2020, as the world was reeling from the spread of the deadly new strain of the coronavirus, the Red Cross society in the African nation of Kenya received 500 bicycles from a Chi- cago-based, nongovernmental organiza- tion known as World Bicycle Relief.

Community healthworkers used these bicycles to make house visits across southern Kenya, providing health serv- ices to remote communities that would otherwise not be reached because of re- strictions on movement due to COVID– 19.
In Malawi, young girls used these bi- cycles to get safely to and from school, and when COVID–19 closed the schools down, girls like 17-year-old Elizabeth were able to shift focus to help their parents, who are farmers, weather the economic effects of the pandemic.

She used her bicycle to take their produce to market.
Stories like these are common around the world, showing the value of a simple, relatively inexpensive, green, and easy-to-repair means of mobility— a bicycle—to help meet important de- velopment objectives.

Since its founding in 2005, the World Bicycle Relief of Chicago has done great work in helping displaced sur- vivors after a natural disaster in Sri Lanka, allowing farmers to move crops in Zambia, and getting girls to school in Malawi.
I have even seen myself how a bicycle ambulance in rural Tanzania can change lives; and not long ago, my CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE staff saw the group’s efforts in Kenya, where more than 25,000 sustainable, rugged bicycles have been provided.

S5055 existing entities outside the United States that have successful models for providing ac- cess to affordable bicycles to achieve devel- opment objectives.
Since 2019, I have worked through ap- propriations to push USAID to invest in bicycles, which help meet the needs in healthcare, education, women and girls’ empowerment, and more.

Part of this funding has included an in-depth assessment to see what is most useful and how to make the programs locally sustainable.

They not only send bikes; they send parts and then train the re- pairmen.
USAID has used these lessons and opportunities with increasing suc- cess thanks to the work of many groups, including that of the World Bi- cycle Relief of Chicago.

Today, I am introducing legislation in partnering with the Kenya bicycle world and U.S. House of Representa- tives’ Representative EARL BLU- MENAUER of Oregon.

Our bill is going to codify these important efforts and for- malize the creation of a mobility pro- gram within USAID’s Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
COVID–19 has taught us that a global health crisis can easily turn into an economic crisis, a food crisis, a mobil- ity crisis, and more.

Sometimes the simplest things, like a bicycle, can help make incredible progress.

That is item No.

1.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- sent 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. 4962 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act’’.

SEC.

2.

RURAL MOBILITY PROGRAM IN SUB-SAHA- RAN AFRICA.


(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United States Agency for International De- velopment (referred to in this section as ‘‘USAID’’) shall establish, within the Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empower- ment, a rural mobility program (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Program’’) to carry out the purposes described in paragraph (2), including through grants made to eligible nongovernmental partner organizations.
In making such grants, the Administrator shall give priority to organizations with dem- onstrated success conducting rural mobility programs in the region for such purposes.
(2) PURPOSE.—The Program shall focus on country-driven projects within sub-Saharan Africa that— (A) promote rural communities’ access to critical services and opportunities, including education, health care, and livelihood oppor- tunities, through access to affordable, fit- for-purpose bicycles; and (B) provide support to sustainably increase access to critical services, such as education, health care, and livelihood opportunities in rural areas, including through support for rural-based mechanics, access to spare parts, reduction of social and gender-based stigma, and community project management capac- ity.
(3) PARTNERSHIPS.—To the greatest extent practicable, the Program shall partner with (4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (A) $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2023 and 2024; (B) $6,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 and 2026; and (C) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and for each fiscal year thereafter.
(b) REPORT.— (1) PRIOR PROJECTS.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of USAID shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Rela- tions of the Senate, the Committee on Ap- propriations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Represent- atives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives that, with respect to each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2022— (A) describes the projects carried out by USAID that relate to any of the purposes de- scribed in subsection (a)(2); (B) identifies the countries in which USAID embedded rural bicycle mobility into strategies, programs, and projects of USAID and describes the mechanisms by which rural bicycle mobility was so embedded; (C) specifies the number of bicycles distrib- uted through projects carried out by USAID; and (D) assesses the outcomes for, and impacts on, participants in such projects and the ef- forts of USAID to disseminate lessons learned from such projects.
(2) CURRENT PROJECTS.—Not later than De- cember 30, 2024, and each December 30 there- after, the Administrator of USAID shall sub- mit a report to the congressional commit- tees referred to in paragraph (1) that— (A) describes the projects carried out by USAID during the most recently concluded fiscal year; and (B) includes information relating to the (B) in subparagraphs matters described through (D) of paragraph (1).

- - - By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. DURBIN): S. 4968.
A bill to create an Active Shooter Alert Communications Net- work, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. PADILLA.

Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022.

This legislation recognizes the need to protect the public during active shooter situations while our country experiences an unconscionable epi- demic of mass shootings.
This legislation would establish a voluntary public safety alert system for use by law enforcement to notify individuals of active shooter situations occurring within their communities.

It would also appoint an Active Shooter Alert Coordinator at the Department of Justice who would direct Federal training, technical support, and best practices efforts across the country.
Additionally, this legislation would establish an Advisory Panel to coordi- nate with FEMA, the Department of Transportation, and the FCC.

The panel would develop guidance on how alerts should be sent, how they should be designed, and what language should be used.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE and displaced almost 100,000 ethnic Arme- nians; S5056 Americans deserve to feel safe in their communities.

The tragedies in Highland Park, Memphis, and Uvalde are reminders that we have to address the pressing issues surrounding mass shootings.
The House has already passed this bill with strong bipartisan support from 43 Republicans who recognized that political affiliation should never jeopardize our obligation to protect Americans from harm.

Public safety is paramount, and our country’s law enforcement officers, first responders, and healthcare pro- viders deserve every tool available as they carry out their work.
This bill is an important step to strengthen our public safety infra- structure, and I look forward to work- ing with my colleagues to pass the Ac- tive Shooter Alert Act of 2022 as quick- ly as possible.
f SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS SENATE - - - RESOLUTION 797—EX- PRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE CONDEMNING AZER- BAIJANI FORCES’ ILLEGAL AND UNPROVOKED ASSAULT ON AR- MENIAN TERRITORY AND INSIST- ING UPON THE CESSATION OF SECURITY TO AZERBAIJAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Mr. RUBIO) submitted the following resolu- tion; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Foreign Relations: ASSISTANCE S. RES.
797 Whereas on September 13, 2022, Azerbaijani forces mounted an illegal and unprovoked as- sault on Armenian territory, including the cities of Vardenis, Sotk, Artanish, Ishkhanasar, Goris, and Kapan; Whereas by September 14, 2022, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced a preliminary death toll of more than 100 Ar- menians; Whereas the Azerbaijani military fired ar- tillery at Armenian villages along the bor- der, forcing more than 2,750 civilians, includ- ing 370 children and 55 people with disabil- ities, to evacuate their homes and take shel- ter; Whereas, according to Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastruc- ture, the Azerbaijani attack damaged 192 res- idential buildings in Gegharkunik, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor Provinces; Whereas, according to the Armenian Om- budsman, Azerbaijani shelling set fire to a forest in Jermuk, with artillery fire pre- venting Armenian firefighters from imme- diate access to the blaze; Whereas according to Prime Minister Pashinyan, Azerbaijani forces illegally ad- vanced into at least 10 square kilometers of Armenian territory; Whereas on the evening of September 14, 2022, Secretary of the Security Council of Ar- menia, Armen Grigoryan, announced that a ceasefire took hold; Whereas Azerbaijan’s latest attack on Ar- menian territory and the Armenian people follows a long pattern of aggression, includ- ing during the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh War, when an attack by Azerbaijani forces ignited a conflict that killed more than 6,500 people Whereas Azerbaijan continues to hold at least 35 prisoners of war and 3 civilian pris- oners from the Nagorno Karabakh War and Azerbaijan’s recent attack on Armenia; Whereas Azerbaijan’s attack on Armenia, which was launched on September 13, 2022, is a flagrant violation of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a violation of international law; Whereas section 907 of the FREEDOM Sup- port Act (22 U.S.C.
5812 note) prohibits United States assistance to Azerbaijan ‘‘until the President determines, and so re- ports to Congress, that the Government of Azerbaijan is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno- Karabakh’’; Whereas title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Ap- propriations Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–115) allows the President to waive section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act under certain statutorily defined conditions, including if doing so ‘‘will not undermine or hamper on- going efforts to negotiate a peaceful settle- ment between Armenia or Azerbaijan or be used for any offensive purposes against Ar- menia’’; Whereas upon exercising such waiver, the President must submit a report to appro- priate congressional committees outlining— (1) ‘‘the nature and quantity of all training and assistance provided to the Government of Azerbaijan pursuant to [the waiver],’’; (2) ‘‘the status of the military balance be- tween Azerbaijan and Armenia and the im- pact of United States assistance on that bal- ance’’; and (3) ‘‘the status of negotiations for a peace- ful settlement between Armenia and Azer- baijan and the impact of United States as- sistance on those negotiations’’; Whereas on March 2, 2022 the Government Accountability Office released a report, which found that the Department of State and the Department of Defense failed to meet certain statutory reporting require- ments to Congress, including the impact of proposed assistance on the military balance between Azerbaijan and Armenia; Whereas the Government Accountability Office found that the Department of State and the Department of Defense did not docu- ment their consideration of waiver require- ments from fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2020, including how the departments de- termined that assistance would not be used for offensive purposes against Armenia; and Whereas despite agreeing with the Govern- ment Accountability Office’s recommenda-
 tions, the Department of State has not dem- onstrated how it will adequately report to Congress on statutorily required consider- ations for aid to Azerbaijan: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) condemns Azerbaijan’s illegal and unprovoked attack on Armenian territory; (2) urges Azerbaijan to fully adhere to the ceasefire agreed to on September 14, 2022; (3) demands that Azerbaijan respect the territorial integrity of Armenia; (4) calls for the release of all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian prisoners held in Azerbaijan; (5) insists that the Department of State meet all statutorily required reporting re- quirements for consideration of United States assistance to Azerbaijan; (6) urges the Secretary of State to imme- diately halt all security assistance to Azer- baijan; (7) urges the President to evaluate whether officials of the Government of Azerbaijan should be subject to sanctions under the September 27, 2022 Global Magnitsky Human Rights Account- ability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–328) for human rights abuses against ethnic Armenians; and (8) supports the robust provision of human- itarian assistance to the people of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh affected by Azer- baijan’s war of aggression.
f SENATE 798—EX- RESOLUTION PRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19 THROUGH SEP- TEMBER 25, 2022, AS ‘‘RAIL SAFE- TY WEEK’’ IN THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF RAIL SAFETY WEEK TO REDUCE RAIL- RELATED ACCIDENTS, FATALI- TIES, AND INJURIES Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. WICKER, Mr. PETERS, and Mrs. FISCHER) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: Whereas the first Rail Safety Week was held from September 24 through September 30, 2017, by the national education safety nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, the Depart- ment of Transportation, and other organiza- tions; Whereas Rail Safety Week was launched to raise awareness about the need for increased education on how to be safe around highway- rail grade crossings and railroad tracks and to highlight efforts to further reduce colli- sions, injuries, and fatalities; Whereas highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing accidents constituted approxi- mately 94 percent of all rail-related fatali- ties during 2021; Whereas, since 2005— (1) the number of public highway-rail grade crossings has decreased by 10 percent; and (2) the number of gates at such crossings has increased by 39 percent; Whereas, in 2021, 47 percent of all highway- rail grade crossing collisions and 65 percent of all fatal highway-rail grade crossing colli- sions occurred at gated highway-rail grade crossings; Whereas preliminary Federal statistics in- dicate that 2,145 highway-grade crossing col- lisions occurred in the United States in 2021, resulting in 236 deaths and another 664 indi- viduals injured; Whereas many collisions between trains and motor vehicles or pedestrians could have been prevented by increased education, engi- neering, and enforcement; Whereas Operation Lifesaver, the foremost public information and education program on rail safety, administers a public edu- cation program about grade-crossing safety and trespassing prevention; Whereas, during Rail Safety Week, from September 19 through 25, 2022, and
 through- out the year, everyone is encouraged to take added caution as motorists or pedestrians approach tracks or trains; Whereas the United States, Canada, and Mexico will concurrently observe Rail Safety Week; and Whereas this important observance should lead to greater safety awareness and a reduc- tion in highway-rail grade crossing collisions and other railroad incidents: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Rail Safe- ty Week’’; (2) expresses strong support for— (A) the goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week; and (B) efforts to reduce rail-related accidents, fatalities, and injuries; and c