116 SRES 553 IS: Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of the People’s Republic of China made multiple serious mistakes in the early stages of the COVID–19 outbreak that heightened the severity and spread of the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic, including the intentional spread of misinformation to downplay the risks of COVID–19, a refusal to cooperate with international health authorities, internal censorship of doctors and journalists, and a malicious disregard for the health of ethnic minorities.
U.S. Senate
2020-03-24
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. RES. 553IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 24, 2020Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Cotton) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsRESOLUTIONExpressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of the People’s Republic of China made multiple serious mistakes in the early stages of the COVID–19 outbreak that heightened the severity and spread of the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic, including the intentional spread of misinformation to downplay the risks of COVID–19, a refusal to cooperate with international health authorities, internal censorship of doctors and journalists, and a malicious disregard for the health of ethnic minorities. Whereas records of the Government of the People’s Republic of China suggest that the first human became infected with COVID–19 on November 17, 2019, in the Hubei Province of China;Whereas, on December 27, 2019, Zhang Jixian, a doctor from the Hubei Provincial Hospital of Chinese and Western Medicine, alerted health authorities in China that several individuals exhibiting mysterious, flu-like symptoms, were infected with a novel strain of coronavirus;Whereas Dr. Yu Wenbin and a team of researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden reported that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market greatly contributed to the spread of COVID–19 throughout the city of Wuhan;Whereas, after being informed of cases of a dangerous new strain of coronavirus concentrated around the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, the Government of the People’s Republic of China waited 5 days to shut down the market;Whereas Zhou Xianwang, the mayor of Wuhan, stated that 5,000,000 of the 14,000,000 residents of Wuhan left Wuhan before the Government of the People’s Republic of China imposed a lockdown; Whereas, on December 30, 2019, Ai Fen, the director of the emergency department of Wuhan Central Hospital, shared a diagnostic report on the then unknown COVID–19 virus with a group of doctors through the social media application WeChat;Whereas, on December 30, 2019, Dr. Li Wenliang, warned his medical school classmates of an outbreak of an unknown SARS-like virus through WeChat;Whereas, on December 31, 2019, Wuhan Central Hospital authorities formally reprimanded Ai Fen for spreading rumors about the virus;Whereas, on January 1, 2020, an official at the Hubei Provincial Health Commission ordered at least 1 private genomics testing company to cease testing samples of a SARS-like virus from Wuhan and to destroy all existing samples of the virus;Whereas, on January 3, 2020, the Public Security Bureau of Wuhan detained, questioned, and forced Dr. Li Wenliang and 7 other doctors to sign a letter confessing that Wenliang had made false comments that severely disturbed the social order;Whereas, on January 3, 2020, the leading public health authority in China, the National Health Commission, directed all research institutions in China to cease publicly publishing any information related to a then unknown SARS-like virus and ordered them to destroy existing samples of the virus or transfer them to approved testing sites;Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first asked permission to study COVID–19 in China on January 6, 2020, but was barred by the Government of the People’s Republic of China from entering the country until mid-February;Whereas authorities of the Government of the People’s Republic of China first publicly confirmed the existence of COVID–19 on January 9, 2020, 14 days after the presence of a novel strain of coronavirus was internally confirmed;Whereas the National Health Commission of China publicly denied that COVID–19 was transmissible through person-to-person contact until January 15, 2020, despite having uncovered contrary evidence in late December and having been alerted of the transmissibility of COVID–19 on January 1, 2020;Whereas, on January 18, 2020, more than 10,000 families attended the annual Lunar New Year Banquet of Wuhan, which was organized and sponsored by the Wuhan city government;Whereas the People’s Daily, the largest newspaper in China, first reported on the coronavirus on January 21, 2020, nearly a month after the virus was internally confirmed;Whereas, on February 7, 2020, 1 month after checking into Wuhan Central Hospital, Dr. Li Wenliang died of a severe case of COVID–19;Whereas the COVID–19 outbreak has disproportionately harmed the persecuted Uyghur Muslim minority of China as a result of actions taken by the Government of the People's Republic of China;Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China detained more than 1,000,000 Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in re-education camps, where crowded and unsanitary conditions make the camps hotspots for viral disease and leave prisoners at an elevated risk of contracting COVID–19;Whereas, as reported by the Uyghur Human Rights Project, and corroborated by video evidence and Radio Free Asia, an unannounced and strictly enforced quarantine of millions of residents of the predominantly Uyghur Muslim Xinjiang Province of China around January 24, 2020, resulted in mass starvation and shortages of basic medical supplies;Whereas, on February 25, 2020, Xinhua News Service reported that the Government of the People's Republic of China had re-located 30,000 Uyghur laborers to temporarily shuttered factories in the Hotan prefecture, exposing them to health risks that the Government of the People's Republic of China determined were unacceptable for the ethnically Han majority;Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the premier infectious disease research institution in the world, was well situated at the beginning of the COVID–19 outbreak to both assist the response of the people and Government of the People’s Republic of China and prepare the people and Government of the United States to handle the virus in the case of international spread; Whereas the National Health Commission of China failed to include individuals who tested positive for COVID–19 but remained asymptomatic in its daily tally of confirmed COVID–19 cases, hampering the ability of public health authorities in the United States to accurately account for the rate of spread and the health risks of the virus;Whereas a Foreign Ministry Spokesman of the Government of the People's Republic of China, Zhao Lijian, claimed that COVID–19 originated in the United States and that the United States Army brought COVID–19 to Wuhan to wage biological warfare on China;Whereas other officials of the Government of the People's Republic of China, including scientists working on the COVID–19 response of China, the Ambassador to South Africa of China, and the Ambassador to Australia of China, have claimed that there is no evidence that COVID–19 originated in China;Whereas, on March 4, 2020, Xinhua News Agency, an official mouthpiece of the Government of the People's Republic of China, published an article threatening to cut off medical supply exports to the United States and plunge [the United States] into the mighty sea of coronavirus;Whereas, on March 17, 2020, the Government of the People's Republic of China expelled nationals of the United States working at the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, reducing the spread of reliable information on the COVID–19 outbreak in China; andWhereas a study by the University of Southampton found that if the Government of the People's Republic of China had taken action 3 weeks earlier, the spread of COVID–19 would be reduced by 95 percent globally: Now, therefore, be itThat the Senate—(1)calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China to—(A)publicly state that there is no evidence that COVID–19 originated anywhere else but China;(B)denounce the baseless conspiracy that the United States Army placed COVID–19 in Wuhan;(C)revoke the expulsion of journalists of the United States;(D)end the detainment of Uyghur Muslims and other persecuted ethnic minorities; and(E)end all forced labor programs;(2)condemns—(A)the censorship of the Government of the People's Republic of China of doctors and journalists during the early days of the COVID–19 outbreak, particularly the treatment of the deceased Dr. Li Wenliang;(B)the refusal of the Government of the People's Republic of China to allow scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assist its response to COVID–19 for more than a month after cooperation was offered, needlessly endangering the lives of its own citizens and hampering the early attempts of the United States to learn more about COVID–19; and(C)the duplicitous denial of the National Health Commission of China of the person-to-person transmissibility of COVID–19; and(3)calls for the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to retract highly misleading statements of support for the response of the Government of the People's Republic of China to COVID–19, especially his praise for the commitment from top leadership [of the Government of the People's Republic of China], and the transparency they have demonstrated.


116 S3276 IS: Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests Act
U.S. Senate
2020-02-11
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3276IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 11, 2020Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Booker, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Harris, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo eliminate asset limits employed by certain federally funded means-tested public assistance
 programs, and for other purposes.1.Short title; table of contents(a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests Act or the ASSET Act.(b)Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Findings; sense of Congress.Sec. 3. States prohibited from imposing asset limits on programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grants.Sec. 4. Eliminating asset limits in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).Sec. 5. Eliminating asset limit in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).Sec. 6. Updating and indexing the resource limit for supplemental security income (SSI).Sec. 7. Effective date.2.Findings; sense of Congress(a)FindingsCongress finds as follows:(1)Many means-tested public assistance programs limit eligibility for benefits on the basis of the assets of a family, such as savings and other resources. Such asset limits impede the ability of needy families to improve their financial circumstances and thereby reduce their dependence on public assistance programs.(2)Restricting eligibility for public assistance programs on the basis of assets negatively affects the financial security of low-income families. For example, to avoid losing eligibility for public assistance under an asset limit, a family may avoid mainstream financial services such as bank accounts, or refrain from acquiring and saving resources that would enable the family to weather an unanticipated expense.(3)The risk that people who don't need public assistance will take advantage of public assistance programs in the absence of asset limits is low, in part because most applicants for public assistance have very few assets, must meet strict work requirements, and usually may only participate in a program for a limited time.(4)Evidence from States that have eliminated asset limits suggests that the administrative cost savings associated with the elimination of asset limits outweigh any increases in payments made to beneficiaries.(b)Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that certain federally funded means-tested public assistance programs should not utilize asset limits to restrict eligibility for assistance under those programs.3.States prohibited from imposing asset limits on programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy
 Families (TANF) grants(a)No State limitation on allowable financial resourcesSection 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(13)No asset or resource limitA State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not apply any asset or resource limit for eligibility of a family for any benefit, assistance, or service provided under the State program funded under this part..(b)Conforming amendmentsSection 408(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(f)) is amended—(1)in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking or resources; and(2)in paragraph (1)—(A)in the paragraph header, by striking and resources;(B)by striking subparagraph (B);(C)by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and(D)in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), by striking and resources each place it appears.(c)Delay permitted if State legislation required(1)In generalIn the case of a State to which a grant is made under section 403 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603) that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) to meet the requirements of paragraph (13) of section 408(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)), such State shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such paragraph before the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this Act.(2)2-year legislative sessionFor purposes of paragraph (1), in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.4.Eliminating asset limits in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP)(a)In general(1)Eligible householdsSection 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended—(A)in subsection (a), in the first sentence, by striking and other financial resources;(B)by striking subsections (g) and (j);(C)by redesignating subsections (h), (i), (k), (l), (m), and (n) as subsections (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (l), respectively; and(D)in subsection (h) (as so redesignated)—(i)in paragraph (1), by striking and resources each place it appears; and(ii)in paragraph (2)—(I)by striking subparagraph (B); and(II)by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (E) as subparagraphs (B) through (D), respectively.(2)Eligibility disqualificationsSection 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended—(A)by striking subsection (h); and(B)by redesignating subsections (i) through (s) as subsections (h) through (r), respectively.(3)Research, demonstration, and evaluationsSection 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is amended—(A)by striking subsections (h) and (i); and(B)by redesignating subsections (j) through (n) as subsections (h) through (l), respectively.(b)Conforming amendments(1)Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended—(A)in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by striking and (r) and inserting and (q); and(B)in subsection (d)—(i)in paragraph (1), by striking subsection (k) and inserting subsection (i); and(ii)in paragraph (10), by striking subsection (k) of this section and inserting subsection (i).(2)Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended—(A)in subsection (d)(4), by striking subsection (o) each place it appears and inserting subsection (n);(B)in subsection (f), in the third sentence, by striking and financial resources;(C)in subsection (q) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)(B)), in paragraph (1)(B), by striking subsection (k) and inserting subsection (j); and(D)in subsection (r) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)(B)), in paragraph (2)—(i)by striking allowable financial resources and; and(ii)by striking (g), (i), (k), (l), (m), and (n) and inserting (h), (i), (j), (k), and (l).(3)Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)) is amended by striking section 6(o)(2) of this Act and inserting section 6(n)(2).(4)Section 11(e)(22) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(22)) is amended by striking section 6(i) and inserting section 6(h).(5)Section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025) is amended—(A)in subsection (a)(9), by striking section 17(n) and inserting section 17(l); and(B)in subsection (h)—(i)in paragraph (1)—(I)in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking section 6(o) and inserting section 6(n);(II)in subparagraph (E)—(aa)by striking section 6(o)(3) each place it appears and inserting section 6(n)(3);(bb)by striking section 6(o)(2) each place it appears and inserting section 6(n)(2); and(cc)in clause (ii)—(AA)in subclause (III), by striking section 6(o)(4) and inserting section 6(n)(4); and(BB)in subclause (IV), by striking section 6(o)(6) and inserting section 6(n)(6); and(III)in subparagraph (F)(ii)(III)(ee)(AA), by striking section 6(o) and inserting section 6(n); and(ii)in paragraph (5)(C)(iv)(I), by striking section 6(o)(2) and inserting section 6(n)(2).(6)Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is amended—(A)in subsection (k) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(3)(B))—(i)by striking subsections (l) through (n) each place it appears and inserting subsections (k) through (m); and(ii)in paragraph (2)(E), by striking section 6(l)(2) and inserting section 6(k)(2); and(B)in subsection (l) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(3)(B)), in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(II), by striking and financial resources (as described in section 5(g)).(7)Section 18(g)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2027(g)(2)) is amended by striking section 5(h) and inserting section 5(g).(8)Section 103(a)(2)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3113(a)(2)(D)) is amended by striking section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) and inserting section 6(n) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(n)).(9)Section 121(b)(2)(B)(iv) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3151(b)(2)(B)(iv)) is amended by striking section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) and inserting section 6(n) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(n)).(10)Section 454 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654) is amended—(A)in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by striking section 6(l)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(l)(1)) and inserting section 6(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(k)(1));(B)in paragraph (6)(B)(i), by striking subsection (l) or (m) of section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and inserting subsection (k) or (l) of section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015); and(C)in paragraph (29)(A)(ii), by striking section 6(l)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(l)(2)) and inserting section 6(k)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(k)(2)).(c)Delay permitted if State legislation required(1)In generalIn the case of a State plan under section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) that the Secretary of Agriculture determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this section, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet those additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this Act.(2)Legislative sessionFor purposes of paragraph (1), in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session shall be considered a separate regular session of the State legislature.5.Eliminating asset limit in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)(a)Elimination of limitations on allowable financial resourcesSection 2605(b)(2) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph (B), by inserting , and agrees that a State may not exclude a household from eligibility in a fiscal year solely or partially on the basis of the assets of 1 or more members of the household before the semicolon.(b)Delay permitted if State legislation required(1)In generalIn the case of a State plan under section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624) that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendment made by this section, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such section 2605 solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet those additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this Act.(2)2-year legislative sessionFor purposes of paragraph (1), in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.6.Updating and indexing the resource limit for supplemental security income (SSI)(a)In general(1)Update in resource limit for individuals and couplesSection 1611(a)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(a)(3)) is amended—(A)in subparagraph (A), by striking $2,250 and all that follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting $20,000 in calendar year 2020, and shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for each subsequent calendar year.; and(B)in subparagraph (B), by striking $1,500 and all that follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting $10,000 in calendar year 2020, and shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for each subsequent calendar year..(2)Inflation adjustmentSection 1617 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382f) is amended—(A)in the section heading, by inserting ; inflation adjustment after benefits; and(B)by adding at the end the following:(d)In the case of any calendar year after 2020, each of the amounts specified in section 1611(a)(3) shall be increased by multiplying each such amount by the quotient (not less than 1) obtained by dividing—(1)the average of the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI–E, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor) for the 12-month period ending with September of the preceding calendar year, by(2)such average for the 12-month period ending with September 2019..(b)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2020.7.Effective dateExcept as otherwise provided, the amendments made by this Act shall apply to benefits for calendar months beginning on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 377
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			January 20, 2011
			Ms. Lee of California
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on
			 Agriculture

		A BILL
		To amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
		  Reconciliation Act of 1996 to repeal the denial of food stamp eligibility of
		  ex-offenders.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Food Assistance to Improve
			 Reintegration Act of 2011.
		2.Repeal of denial
			 of benefitsSection 115 of the
			 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (21
			 U.S.C. 862a) is amended—
			(1)in subsection (a)
			 by striking paragraph (2);
			(2)in subsection (b)
			 by striking paragraph (2); and
			(3)in subsection (e)
			 by striking paragraph (2).


114 HR 4061 IH: Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-11-18
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
114th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 4061
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 18, 2015
Mr. Pallone (for himself and Ms. DeLauro) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to strengthen requirements related to nutrient information on food labels, and for other purposes.

1.Short title; table of contents
(a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2015.  (b)Table of contentsThe table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Additional requirements for front-of-packaging (FOP) labeling for processed foods.
Sec. 3. Claims for conventional foods.
Sec. 4. Use of specific terms.
Sec. 5. Modernization of the Nutrition Facts Panel.
Sec. 6. Ingredient labels.
Sec. 7. Caffeine content on information panel.
Sec. 8. Food allergen labeling for sesame.
Sec. 9. Information about major food allergens in nonprepackaged foods.
Sec. 10. Submission and availability of food label information.
Sec. 11. Definitions.
Sec. 12. Effective date; regulations.
2.Additional requirements for front-of-packaging (FOP) labeling for processed foods
(a)Summary nutrition labeling information
(1)In generalSection 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:  (z) (1)Except as provided in subparagraphs (3), (4), and (5) of paragraph (q), if it is food (other than a dietary supplement) intended for human consumption and is offered for sale and otherwise required to bear nutrition labeling, unless its principal display panel bears summary nutrition information that reflects the overall nutritional value of the food or specified ingredients, as specified in accordance with regulations of the Secretary, and does not contain any summary nutritional information which is in addition to or inconsistent with the information required under this subparagraph..
(2)Principles for implementing regulationsIn promulgating regulations regarding the summary nutrition information required under the amendment made by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take into account published reports of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences regarding such information and base regulations on the following principles: (A)There should be a single simple, standard symbol system that displays calorie information related to a common serving size, and information related to nutrients strongly associated with public health concerns.
(B)Consumers should be able to quickly and easily comprehend the meaning of the symbol system as an indicator of a product’s contribution to a healthy diet.  (C)The information should appear on all products that are required to bear nutrition labeling.
(D)The information should— (i)appear in a consistent location on the principal display panels across products;
(ii)have a prominent design that visually contrasts with existing packaging design; and  (iii)be sufficiently large to be easily legible.
(E)The nutrition information should be consistent with the Nutrition Facts Panel and with the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines of Americans.  (F)The information should aim to facilitate consumer selection of healthy product options, including among nutritionally at-risk subpopulations.
(G)The Secretary should periodically evaluate the front-of-package information to assess its ability to help facilitate consumer selection of healthy product options and the extent to which manufacturers are offering healthier products as a result of the disclosure.  (H)The implementation of the information disclosure should be accompanied by appropriate consumer education and promotion campaigns determined by the Secretary.
(b)Percentage of wheat and grains in grain-Based productsSection 403(z) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(z)), as added by subsection (a)(1), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:  (2)If, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, the principal display panel bears—
(A)the phrase made with whole grain, the term multigrain, or similar descriptive phrases, terms, or representations with respect to whole grain content, unless the amount of whole grains, expressed as a percentage of total grains, is conspicuously disclosed in immediate proximity to such descriptive phrase, term, or representation; or  (B)the terms wheat or whole wheat on breads, pasta, crackers, or similar wheat-based products, unless the percentage of whole wheat by weight contained in the food is conspicuously declared in immediate proximity to that term or there is a conspicuous declaration that the food contains no whole wheat in immediate proximity to that term..
(c)Sweeteners, coloring, and flavoringSection 403(z) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(z)), as amended, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:  (3)If, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, it bears or contains any added artificial or natural coloring, any added artificial or natural non-caloric sweetener, or any added artificial or natural flavoring, unless such fact is prominently stated on the principal display panel of a package or container of the food..
(d)Conforming amendmentThe second sentence of section 403(k) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(k)) is amended by striking and (i) and inserting , (i), and (z).  (e)ConstructionNothing in this section shall be construed as affecting any requirement in regulation in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to matters that are required to be stated on the principal display panel of a package or container of food that is not required by an amendment made by this section or as restricting the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require additional information be disclosed on such a principal display panel.
3.Claims for conventional foods
(a)Health-Related claims
(1)Regulations and guidanceNot later than three years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— (A)promulgate a final rule clarifying the application of section 403(r) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)) with respect to the mechanisms by which a nutrient in food (other than a dietary supplement) is intended to affect the structure or any function of the human body, or characterize the documented mechanism by which a nutrient in such food acts to maintain such structure or function; and
(B)issue guidance clarifying the application of such section 403(r) with respect to the substantiation of claims pursuant to a request under section 403(r)(7) of such Act, as added by paragraph (2).  (2)Substantiation of claimSection 403(r) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)) is amended—
(A)by redesignating subparagraph (7) as subparagraph (8); and  (B)by inserting after subparagraph (6) the following:

(7)If the Secretary requests that a claim under subparagraph (1)(B) for food (other than a dietary supplement) be substantiated, then not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary makes such request, the manufacturer shall provide to the Secretary all documentation in the manufacturer's possession relating to the claim..  (b)Trans fatsSection 403(r)(2)(A) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(r)(2)(A)) is amended—
(1)in subclause (iii)— (A)in the matter before item (I), by striking fat or saturated fat and inserting fat, saturated fat, or trans fats; and
(B)in item (II), by striking fat or saturated fat and inserting fat, saturated fat, or trans fats;  (2)in subclause (iv), by striking saturated fat and inserting saturated fat or trans fats each place it appears;
(3)by redesignating subclauses (v) and (vi) as subclauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; and  (4)by inserting after subclause (iv) the following new subclause:

(v)may not be made with respect to the level of trans fats in the food unless the food contains less than one gram of saturated fat per serving or, if the food contains more than one gram of saturated fat per serving, unless the label or labeling of the food discloses the level of saturated fat in the food in immediate proximity to such claim and with appropriate prominence which shall be no less than one-half the size of the claim with respect to the level of trans fats,.  (c)Added sugarsNot more than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall promulgate a final rule revising section 101.14 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, to include a disqualifying nutrient level for added sugars.
4.Use of specific terms
(a)Use of the term natural
(1)In generalNot later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall promulgate a final rule— (A)relating to use of the term natural on the labeling of food (other than a dietary supplement); and
(B)including provisions to specifically address the use of such term on the principal display panel and the information panel.  (2)DefinitionThe rule promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall define the term natural—
(A)to exclude, at a minimum, the use of any artificial food or ingredient (including any artificial flavor or added color) or any synthetic substance; and  (B)based on data, including data on consumers’ understanding of the term as used in connection with food.
(3)ProcessIn promulgating the rule required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— (A)conduct consumer surveys and studies and issue a timely call for relevant public submissions regarding relevant consumer research, including with respect to consumer understanding of the term natural in relation to the term organic; and
(B)fully consider the results of such surveys and studies, as well as such public submissions.  (b)Use of term healthy (1)Added sugars and whole grainsThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise the regulations under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act relating to the use of the term healthy on the labeling of a food (other than a dietary supplement) to take into account the extent to which such food contains added sugars or whole grains.
(2)RequirementsIn making the revisions to regulations required by paragraph (1)— (A)in the case of a food (other than a dietary supplement) that contains grains, the Secretary shall not consider the food to be healthy unless at least half of those grains, by weight, are whole grains; and
(B)the Secretary shall not allow a food to be labeled healthy if the food contains more than 10 percent of the daily value of added sugar per serving as determined by the Secretary under section 403(q)(1)(F)(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as added by section 5(c) of this Act.  5.Modernization of the Nutrition Facts Panel (a)Disclosure of calorie informationSection 403(q)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(q)(1)) is amended—
(1)by striking the period at the end of clause (E) and inserting a comma;  (2)by inserting after clause (E) the following new clause:

(F)in the case of food other than a dietary supplement— (i)the percent of recommended daily calories that are provided by one serving of the product, based on a recommended daily consumption of calories determined by the Secretary to be appropriate for members of the general population; and
(ii)at the discretion of the Secretary, the percent of recommended daily calories that are provided by one serving of the product— (I)for members of any subpopulation identified by the Secretary; and
(II)based on a recommended daily consumption of calories determined by the Secretary to be appropriate for members of such subpopulation.; and  (3)by adding, after the flush text following clause (F), as added by paragraph (2), the following: The information required under clause (C)(i) shall, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, appear in a typeface and design which is more prominent and conspicuous than that used for other information required under this subparagraph..
(b)Serving sizeSection 403(q)(1)(A)(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(q)(1)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting , or, in the case of a food (other than a dietary supplement) that is packaged in an amount that could reasonably be consumed in a single-eating occasion, which is an amount equal to the amount of food contained in the package before , or.  (c)Disclosure of information relating to sugar on nutrition fact panel (1)In generalSection 403(q)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(q)(1)), as amended by subsection (a), is amended—
(A)in subparagraph (D), by striking sugars and inserting sugars (and, in the case of food other than a dietary supplement, total sugars, and of that, added sugars, disclosed in teaspoons as well as grams); and  (B)by inserting after clause (F) the following new clause:

(G)in the case of food other than a dietary supplement— (i)the percent of added sugars recommended for daily consumption that are provided by one serving of the product, based on a recommended daily consumption of calories determined by the Secretary to be appropriate for members of the general population; and
(ii)at the discretion of the Secretary, the percent of added sugars recommended for daily consumption that are provided by one serving of the product— (I)for members of any subpopulation identified by the Secretary; and
(II)based on a recommended daily consumption of calories determined by the Secretary to be appropriate for members of such subpopulation..  6.Ingredient labels (a)Format of ingredient labels (1)In generalThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall include requirements for the format of the information required under section 403(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(i))—
(A)for the purpose of improving the readability of such information on the label of the food (other than a dietary supplement); and  (B)that are, as determined by the Secretary, necessary to assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices.
(2)Format requirementsThe format requirements referred to in paragraph (1) shall include requirements for upper- and lower-case characters, serif and noncondensed font types, high-contrast between text and background, and bullet points between adjacent ingredients with appropriate exemptions for small packages or other considerations.  (b)Characterizing ingredients in name or primary display panel (1)In generalSection 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(aa)If the name or primary display panel of the food (other than a dietary supplement) refers to any characterizing ingredient or component of the food, unless— (1)the characterizing ingredient or component is a predominant ingredient in the food; or
(2)the primary display panel of the food includes, in letters not less than one-half the height of the letters used in the name of the food, the percentage of the characterizing ingredient or component contained in each serving of the food..  (2)Enforcement of characterizing ingredientsNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to the Congress on the Secretary’s enforcement of—
(A)section 403(aa) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic, as added by paragraph (1); and  (B)regulations of the Food and Drug Administration on characterizing ingredients and components including section 102.5 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (and any successor regulations).
7.Caffeine content on information panelSection 403(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(i)) is amended— (1)by striking and (2) and inserting (2);
(2)by striking and if the food purports and inserting , (3) if the food purports; and  (3)by inserting , and (4) if the food is food other than a dietary supplement and contains at least 10 milligrams of caffeine from all sources per serving, a statement (with appropriate prominence near the statement of ingredients required by this paragraph) of the number of milligrams of caffeine contained in one serving of the food and the size of such serving after vegetable juice contained in the food.
8.Food allergen labeling for sesame
(a)Definition of major food allergenSection 201(qq)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(qq)(1)) is amended by striking and soybeans and inserting soybeans, and sesame.  (b)RegulationNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall promulgate a final regulation under section 403(w) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(x)) determining the manner in which sesame must be disclosed.
9.Information about major food allergens in nonprepackaged foods
(a)In generalSection 403(w) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343(w)) is amended— (1)in subparagraph (1)(A), by striking is printed immediately after or is adjacent to the list of ingredients (in a type size no smaller than the type size used in the list of ingredients) required under subsections (g) and (i) and inserting is printed as specified in subparagraph (8);
(2)in subparagraph (1)(B), by striking in the list of ingredients required under subsections (g) and (i) and inserting as so printed;  (3)in subparagraph (3), by striking The information and inserting Subject to subparagraph (8)(B), the information; and
(4)by adding at the end the following:  (8)The information required by subparagraph (1) to be conveyed to the consumer shall be—
(A)printed immediately after or adjacent to the list of ingredients (in a type size no smaller than the type size used in the list of ingredients) required under subsections (g) and (i); or  (B)in the case of a nonpackaged food being offered for sale at retail, and not subject to the requirements of subsections (g) and (i), placed on a sign adjacent to the food (in a type size no smaller than the name of the food item)..
(b)ApplicabilityThe amendments made by subsection (a) apply beginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.  10.Submission and availability of food label informationThe Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is amended by inserting after section 403C of such Act (21 U.S.C. 343–3) the following:

403D.Submission and availability of food label information
(a)Submissions
(1)RequirementThe Secretary shall require the manufacturer or importer of any food that is introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce in package form to submit to the Secretary all information to be included in the label of the food, including— (A)the nutrition facts panel;
(B)ingredients;  (C)any natural or artificial flavoring;
(D)an image of the primary display panel;  (E)allergy warnings or information;
(F)claims under section 403(r)(1)(A) (popularly referred to as nutrient-content claims);  (G)claims under section 403(r)(1)(B) (popularly referred to as health-related claims); and
(H)other relevant information as determined by the Secretary.  (2)UpdatesThe Secretary shall require the manufacturer or importer of food to update or supplement the information submitted under paragraph (1) with respect to the food in order to keep the information up-to-date and complete.
(3)Civil penaltyWhoever knowingly violates paragraph (1) with respect to any food shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each day on which such violation continues with respect to such food.  (b)Public databaseThe Secretary shall establish and maintain a public database containing the information submitted under this section that—
(1)is available to the public through the website of the Food and Drug Administration; and  (2)is for a public database of searchable, sortable information..
11.Definitions
(a)Definitions applicable in this ActIn this Act, the terms food and dietary supplement have the meanings given to such terms in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).  (b)Definitions applicable in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic ActSection 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(ss)The term artificial, with respect to food or any ingredient of food, means— (1)food or an ingredient that is synthetically produced but has the same chemical structure as a naturally occurring food or ingredient;
(2)food or an ingredient that has undergone chemical changes through the introduction of synthetic chemicals or processing aids (such as corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, high-maltose corn syrup, maltodextrin, chemically modified starch, and cocoa processed with alkali), excluding— (A)food or an ingredient that has undergone traditional processes used to make food edible, to preserve food, or to make food safe for human consumption (such as smoking, roasting, freezing, drying, and fermenting processes); or
(B)food or ingredient that has undergone traditional physical processes that do not fundamentally alter the raw product or which only separate a whole intact food into component parts (such as grinding grains, separating eggs into albumen and yolk, or pressing fruits to produce juice); or  (3)any food or ingredient that the Secretary specifies by regulation to be artificial for purposes of this Act.
(tt)The term synthetic, with respect to a substance, means a substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a process that chemically changes a substance extracted from a naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral source, except that such term does not apply to a substance created by naturally occurring biological processes..  12.Effective date; regulations (a)Effective dateThe amendments made by—
(1)sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11(b) shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act; and  (2)sections 2 and 9 shall take effect on the date that is 3 years after such date of enactment.
(b)Regulations
(1)Proposed regulationsThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall propose regulations— (A)not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, to implement the amendments made by sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11(b); and
(B)not later than 2 years after such date of enactment, to implement the amendments made by section 2.  (2)Final regulationsThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall promulgate final regulations—
(A)not later than 2 years after such date of enactment, to implement the amendments made by sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11(b); and  (B)not later than 3 years after such date of enactment to implement the amendments made by section 2.
(3)DeadlineIf the Secretary of Health and Human Services does not issue a final regulation by the deadline specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2), the corresponding proposed regulation under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) shall become final on the respective deadline.


116 S1251 IS: Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act of 2019
U.S. Senate
2019-04-30
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1251IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESApril 30, 2019Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Portman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public WorksA BILLTo improve and coordinate interagency Federal actions and provide assistance to States for
			 responding to public health challenges posed by emerging contaminants, and
 for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act of 2019.2.FindingsCongress finds that—(1)safe and clean drinking water is essential to the health, well-being, comfort, and standard of living of every person of the United States;(2)emerging contaminants in drinking water systems are increasingly being detected at low levels;(3)prolonged exposure to unregulated drinking water contaminants, including emerging contaminants, may pose human health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations;(4)the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency—(A)to periodically make regulatory determinations with respect to unregulated contaminants; and(B)not less frequently than once every 5 years, to identify and publish a description of unregulated contaminants that may require regulation;(5)in a 2011 report of the Government Accountability Office, the Comptroller General of the United States found, with respect to unregulated drinking water contaminants, that—(A)the Administrator has made limited progress in prioritizing drinking water contaminants based on greatest public health concern;(B)the lack of data relating to the exposure of the public to potentially harmful drinking water contaminants and the related health effects of that exposure continues to limit the ability of the Administrator to make regulatory determinations; and(C)in many cases, gathering sufficient data to address contaminants awaiting regulatory determinations by the Administrator has taken the Administrator more than 10 years, and obtaining data on other contaminants that are currently awaiting regulatory determinations may take decades;(6)in the 2016 Drinking Water Action Plan of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator recommended that the Federal Government and key water stakeholders strengthen the effectiveness of drinking water health advisories through enhanced collaboration and increased focus on risk management and risk communication approaches;(7)in response to the report of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate accompanying S. 1662 of the 115th Congress (S. Rept. 115–139), the Office of Science and Technology Policy developed a coordinated cross-agency plan for addressing critical research gaps related to detecting, assessing exposure to, and identifying the adverse health effects of emerging contaminants in drinking water; and(8)it is vital that legislators, regulatory officials, public water system owners and operators, scientists, and environmental advocacy groups continue to work to ensure that the public water systems of the United States are among the safest in the world.3.DefinitionsIn this Act:(1)AdministratorThe term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.(2)ContaminantThe term contaminant means any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.(3)Contaminant of emerging concern; emerging contaminantThe terms contaminant of emerging concern and emerging contaminant mean a contaminant—(A)for which the Administrator has not promulgated a national primary drinking water regulation; and(B)that may have an adverse effect on the health of individuals.(4)Federal research strategyThe term Federal research strategy means the cross-agency plan described in section 2(7).(5)Technical assistance and supportThe term technical assistance and support includes—(A)assistance with—(i)identifying appropriate analytical methods for the detection of contaminants;(ii)understanding the strengths and limitations of the analytical methods described in clause (i); and(iii)troubleshooting the analytical methods described in clause (i);(B)providing advice on laboratory certification program elements;(C)interpreting sample analysis results;(D)providing training with respect to proper analytical techniques;(E)identifying appropriate technology for the treatment of contaminants; and(F)analyzing samples, if—(i)the analysis cannot be otherwise obtained in a practicable manner otherwise; and(ii)the capability and capacity to perform the analysis is available at a Federal facility.(6)Working GroupThe term Working Group means the Working Group established under section 4(b)(1).4.Research and coordination plan for enhanced response on emerging contaminants(a)In generalThe Administrator shall—(1)review Federal efforts—(A)to identify, monitor, and assist in the development of treatment methods for emerging contaminants; and(B)to assist States in responding to the human health risks posed by contaminants of emerging concern; and(2)in collaboration with owners and operators of public water systems, States, and other interested stakeholders, establish a strategic plan for improving the Federal efforts referred to in paragraph (1).(b)Interagency Working Group on emerging contaminants(1)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall jointly establish a Working Group to coordinate the activities of the Federal Government to identify and analyze the public health effects of drinking water contaminants of emerging concern.(2)MembershipThe Working Group shall include representatives of the following:(A)The Environmental Protection Agency, appointed by the Administrator.(B)The following agencies, appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services:(i)The National Institutes of Health.(ii)The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(iii)The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.(C)The United States Geological Survey, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.(D)Any other Federal agency the assistance of which the Administrator determines to be necessary to carry out this subsection, appointed by the head of the respective agency.(3)Existing Working GroupThe Administrator may expand or modify the duties of an existing working group to perform the duties of the Working Group under this subsection.(c)National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative(1)Federal research strategy(A)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (referred to in this subsection as the Director) shall coordinate with the heads of the agencies described in subparagraph (C) to establish a research initiative, to be known as the National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative, that shall—(i)use the Federal research strategy to improve the identification, analysis, monitoring, and treatment methods of contaminants of emerging concern; and(ii)develop any necessary program, policy, or budget to support the implementation of the Federal research strategy, including mechanisms for joint agency review of research proposals, for interagency cofunding of research activities, and for information sharing across agencies.(B)Research on emerging contaminantsIn carrying out subparagraph (A), the Director shall—(i)take into consideration consensus conclusions from peer-reviewed, pertinent research on emerging contaminants; and(ii)in consultation with the Administrator, identify priority emerging contaminants for research emphasis.(C)Federal participationThe agencies referred to in subparagraph (A) include—(i)the National Science Foundation;(ii)the National Institutes of Health;(iii)the Environmental Protection Agency;(iv)the National Institute of Standards and Technology;(v)the United States Geological Survey; and(vi)any other Federal agency that contributes to research in water quality, environmental exposures, and public health, as determined by the Director.(D)Participation from additional entitiesIn carrying out subparagraph (A), the Director shall consult with nongovernmental organizations, State and local governments, and science and research institutions determined by the Director to have scientific or material interest in the National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative.(2)Implementation of research recommendations(A)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date on which the Director and heads of the agencies described in paragraph (1)(C) establish the National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative under paragraph (1)(A), the head of each agency described in paragraph (1)(C) shall—(i)issue a solicitation for research proposals consistent with the Federal research strategy; and(ii)make grants to applicants that submit research proposals selected by the National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative in accordance with subparagraph (B).(B)Selection of research proposalsThe National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative shall select research proposals to receive grants under this paragraph on the basis of merit, using criteria identified by the Director, including the likelihood that the proposed research will result in significant progress toward achieving the objectives identified in the Federal research strategy.(C)Eligible entitiesAny entity or group of two or more entities may submit to the head of each agency described in paragraph (1)(C) a research proposal in response to the solicitation for research proposals described in subparagraph (A)(i), including—(i)State and local agencies;(ii)public institutions, including public institutions of higher education;(iii)private corporations; and(iv)nonprofit organizations.(d)Federal technical assistance and support for States(1)Study(A)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct a study on actions the Administrator can take to increase technical assistance and support for States with respect to emerging contaminants in drinking water samples.(B)Contents of studyIn carrying out the study described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall identify—(i)methods and effective treatment options to increase technical assistance and support with respect to emerging contaminants to States, including identifying opportunities for States to improve communication with various audiences about the risks associated with emerging contaminants;(ii)means to facilitate access to qualified contract testing laboratory facilities that conduct analyses for emerging contaminants; and(iii)actions to be carried out at existing Federal laboratory facilities, including the research facilities of the Administrator, to provide technical assistance and support for States that require testing facilities for emerging contaminants.(C)Availability of analytical resourcesIn carrying out the study described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall consider—(i)the availability of—(I)Federal and non-Federal laboratory capacity; and(II)validated methods to detect and analyze contaminants; and(ii)other factors determined to be appropriate by the Administrator.(2)ReportNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the study described in paragraph (1).(3)Program to provide Federal assistance to States(A)In generalNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, based on the findings in the report described in paragraph (2), the Administrator shall develop a program to provide technical assistance and support to eligible States for the testing and analysis of emerging contaminants.(B)Application(i)In generalTo be eligible for technical assistance and support under this paragraph, a State shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require.(ii)CriteriaThe Administrator shall evaluate an application for technical assistance and support under this paragraph on the basis of merit using criteria identified by the Administrator, including—(I)the laboratory facilities available to the State;(II)the availability and applicability of existing analytical methodologies;(III)the potency and severity of the emerging contaminant, if known; and(IV)the prevalence and magnitude of the emerging contaminant.(iii)PrioritizationIn selecting States to receive technical assistance and support under this paragraph, the Administrator—(I)shall give priority to States with affected areas primarily in financially distressed communities;(II)may—(aa)waive the application process in an emergency situation; and(bb)require an abbreviated application process for the continuation of work specified in a previously approved application that continues to meet the criteria described in clause (ii); and(III)shall consider the relative expertise and availability of—(aa)Federal and non-Federal laboratory capacity available to the State;(bb)analytical resources available to the State; and(cc)other types of technical assistance available to the State.(C)Database of available resourcesThe Administrator shall establish and maintain a database of resources available through the program developed under subparagraph (A) to assist States with testing for emerging contaminants that—(i)is—(I)available to States and stakeholder groups determined by the Administrator to have scientific or material interest in emerging contaminants, including—(aa)drinking water and wastewater utilities;(bb)laboratories;(cc)Federal and State emergency responders;(dd)State primacy agencies;(ee)public health agencies; and(ff)water associations;(II)searchable; and(III)accessible through the website of the Administrator; and(ii)includes a description of—(I)qualified contract testing laboratory facilities that conduct analyses for emerging contaminants; and(II)the resources available in Federal laboratory facilities to test for emerging contaminants.(D)Water Contaminant Information ToolThe Administrator shall integrate the database established under subparagraph (C) into the Water Contaminant Information Tool of the Environmental Protection Agency.(4)FundingOf the amounts available to the Administrator, the Administrator may use not more than $15,000,000 in a fiscal year to carry out this subsection.(e)ReportNot less frequently than once every 2 years until 2029, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that describes the progress made in carrying out this Act.(f)EffectNothing in this section modifies any obligation of a State, local government, or Indian Tribe with respect to treatment methods for, or testing or monitoring of, drinking water.


116 S3775 IS: United States-Israel Military Capability Act of 2020
U.S. Senate
2020-05-20
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3775IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 20, 2020Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Cotton) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsA BILLTo establish a United States-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the United States-Israel Military Capability Act of 2020.2.FindingsCongress makes the following findings:(1)The United States confronts an intense military technology competition with the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation that may determine whether the United States can effectively deter and defeat adversaries in the future.(2)On July 11, 2019, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said, China is improving their military very, very rapidly in space, air, cyber, maritime, land domains, et cetera.. Noting the rapid technology development by the People's Republic of China, General Milley warned that the United States must ensure that we do not lose our advantages that we have relative to other countries, specifically relative to China..(3)The People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation have already developed or fielded some capabilities in areas such as hypersonics and artificial intelligence that are superior to those of the United States.(4)A closer and more systematic early cooperative research and development effort with select allies may help the United States more quickly and inexpensively restore and sustain military supremacy in critical military capabilities.(5)The innovative and agile defense technology sector of Israel and the status of Israel as one of the closest and most reliable allies of the United States make Israel an ideal candidate for a more systematic and institutionalized partnership with the United States focused on early cooperative research and development.(6)The defense innovation sector of Israel is a global leader in many of the technologies important to Department of Defense modernization efforts.(7)Despite many laudable ongoing defense partnership efforts between the United States and Israel, dangerous United States military capability gaps continue to emerge that a more systematic and institutionalized United States-Israel early cooperative research and development program could have prevented.(8)Such a program would allow the United States to benefit from the innovation agility and sense of urgency of Israel, and Israel would benefit from the economy of scale of the United States. Such a program could be carefully designed to reduce the time and cost associated with research and development, assiduously avoiding anything that would slow down or constrain the research and development of either country.(9)Belatedly acquiring already produced equipment or weapons from Israel to fill a United States capability gap is not a substitute for a systematic program that prevents the capability gap from emerging in the first place.(10)On March 4, 2020, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said, We have a very good innovative base, [the Israelis] have a very good innovative base. And I think the more we can cooperate together as allies and partners to come up with common solutions, the better.. Secretary Esper continued, so I think if there are ways to improve that, we should pursue it..3.Sense of CongressIt is the sense of Congress that—(1)the United States Government has a responsibility to undertake all reasonable measures to ensure that members of the Armed Forces never confront a more technologically advanced foe; and(2)building on positive ongoing efforts, the United States and Israel should further institutionalize and strengthen their defense innovation partnership by establishing a United States-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group to identify and expeditiously field capabilities that the military forces of both countries need to deter and defeat respective adversaries.4.United States-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group(a)In generalNot later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Minister of Defense of Israel and in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall establish a United States-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group (in this Act referred to as the Working Group) for the following purposes:(1)To provide a standing forum for the United States and Israel to systematically share intelligence-informed military capability requirements.(2)To identify military capability requirements common to both the Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defense of Israel.(3)To assist defense suppliers in the United States and Israel with efforts to expeditiously gain government approval to conduct joint science, technology, research, development, test, evaluation, and production efforts.(4)To develop, as feasible and advisable, combined United States-Israel plans to research, develop, procure, and field weapons systems and military capabilities as quickly and economically as possible to meet common capability requirements of the Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defense of Israel.(b)Working Group leadership(1)United States leadershipWith respect to the United States, the Working Group shall be headed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Director of the Joint Staff, with the active support of the Director of the Bureau of Political Military Affairs of the Department of State and the Director of National Intelligence.(2)Israel leadershipThe Secretary of Defense shall invite the Government of Israel to designate the head of the appropriate office or offices to head the Working Group with respect to Israel.(c)Working Group membership(1)United States membershipThe Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of National Intelligence shall each designate one or more individuals to serve as members of the Working Group.(A)Mandatory United States membersThe membership of the Working Group shall consist of, at a minimum, representatives from—(i)the Office of the Secretary of Defense;(ii)the Joint Staff;(iii)each of the military departments (including, as appropriate, subordinate entities such as Army Futures Command and research laboratories);(iv)the defense agencies (including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency);(v)United States Central Command;(vi)United States European Command;(vii)United States Indo-Pacific Command;(viii)the Department of State; and(ix)the intelligence community.(B)Rule of constructionNothing in this paragraph shall be construed as limiting the ability of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, or the Director of National Intelligence to add members to the Working Group as considered appropriate.(2)Israel membershipThe Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of National Intelligence shall invite their counterparts in the Government of Israel to designate individuals from the Government of Israel to serve as members of the Working Group.(3)Representation of defense industry(A)In generalThe Working Group may incorporate recommendations from the defense industries of the United States and Israel with respect to combined science and technology efforts and combined research, development, test, and evaluation efforts. (B)Inclusion in Working GroupThe membership of the Working Group may include, as appropriate, members of the defense industries of the United States and Israel. (d)Existing efforts(1)In generalThe Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of National Intelligence shall jointly determine the most efficient and effective means to integrate the Working Group into existing United States science and technology efforts and research, development, test, and evaluation efforts with Israel. (2)Rule of constructionNothing in this Act shall be construed as requiring the termination of any existing United States defense activity, group, program, or partnership with Israel.(e)Memorandum of understanding(1)In generalThe Secretary of Defense shall, with the concurrence of the Minister of Defense of Israel, establish a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel establishing the United States-Israel Operations Technology Working Group. (2)Matters to be includedThe memorandum of understanding under paragraph (1) shall set forth—(A)the purposes of the Working Group, consistent with subsection (a);(B)the membership of the Working Group, consistent with subsection (c); and(C)any other matter considered appropriate.(f)Reports(1)Initial report(A)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an initial report on the Working Group.(B)ElementsThe report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:(i)The finalized memorandum of understanding under subsection (e).(ii)The name of each individual of the Government of the United States and of the Government of Israel designated to lead the Working Group.(iii)The name of each member of the Working Group designated under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (c).(iv)A description of the manner in which the Working Group is anticipated to complement and augment existing science and technology efforts and research, development, test, and evaluation efforts with Israel.(v)A schedule for Working Group meetings.(vi)A description of key metrics and milestones for the Working Group.(vii)A description of any authority or authorization of appropriations required for the Working Group to carry out the purposes described in subsection (a).(C)FormThe report required by subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.(2)Annual report(A)In generalNot later than March 15 of each year following the submittal of the report required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the activities of the Working Group during the preceding calendar year.(B)ElementsThe report required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:(i)A summary of the performance of the Working Group relative to—(I)with respect to the first annual report under this paragraph, the metrics and milestones described in the initial report in accordance with in paragraph (1)(B)(vi); or(II)with respect to each subsequent annual report under this paragraph, the metrics and milestones described in the preceding annual report under clause (viii).(ii)A description of military capabilities needed by both the United States and Israel.(iii)A description of any United States, or any United States-Israel, science and technology efforts, or research, development, test, and evaluation efforts, associated with the military capabilities described under clause (ii) carried out during the reporting period.(iv)A description of any obstacle or challenge associated with an effort described in clause (iii) and the plan of the Working Group to address such obstacle or challenge.(v)A description of any request to the Working Group made by a United States or Israel defense supplier for combined science and technology efforts or combined research, development, test, and evaluation efforts, including—(I)the date on which the request was received;(II)the efforts made by the Working Group to expeditiously address the request; and(III)the status of any decision associated with the request.(vi)A description of the efforts of the Working Group to prevent the People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation from obtaining intellectual property or military technology associated with combined United States and Israel science and technology efforts and research, development, test, and evaluation efforts.(vii)A description of any science and technology effort, or research, development, test, or evaluation effort, facilitated by the Working Group, including efforts that result in a United States or Israel program of record.(viii)A description of metrics and milestones for the Working Group for the following calendar year.(C)FormThe report required by subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form and shall include a classified annex in which the elements required under clauses (ii) and (vi) of subparagraph (B) shall be addressed.(3)Appropriate committees of Congress definedIn this subsection, the term appropriate committees of Congress means—(A)the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and(B)the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.


117 HR 3514 IH: Humane Correctional Health Care Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-05-25
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3514IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 25, 2021Ms. Kuster (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. McKinley, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Trone, Mr. Takano, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Brownley, and Ms. Clark of Massachusetts) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide a consistent standard of health care to incarcerated individuals, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Humane Correctional Health Care Act.2.Repeal of Medicaid exclusion relating to incarcerated individuals(a)In generalSection 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)) is amended, in the matter following paragraph (31), by striking such term does not include— and all that follows through patient in an institution for mental diseases and inserting such term does not include any such payments with respect to care or services for any individual who has not attained 65 years of age and who is a patient in an institution for mental diseases.(b)Conforming amendmentsSection 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)) is amended—(1)by striking paragraph (84); and(2)by striking subsection (nn).(c)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to medical assistance provided on or after January 1, 2022.3.Report by Comptroller GeneralNot later than the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the following 5 years, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing the following information:(1)The percentage of incarcerated individuals that receive medical assistance under a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).(2)The access of incarcerated individuals to health care services, including specialty care, and health care providers.(3)The quality of health care services provided to incarcerated individuals.(4)Any impact of coverage under such a State plan on recidivism.(5)The percentage of incarcerated individuals who, upon release, are—(A)enrolled under such a State plan; and(B)connected to a primary care provider in their community.(6)Trends in the prevalence and incidence of illness and injury among incarcerated individuals.(7)Any other information the Comptroller General determines necessary regarding the health of incarcerated individuals.4.Sense of Congress on incarceration and community-based health servicesIt is the sense of Congress that—(1)no individual in the United States should be incarcerated for the purpose of being provided with health care that is unavailable to the individual in the individual’s community;(2)each State and unit of local government should establish programs that offer community-based health services (including mental health and substance use disorder services) commensurate with the principle stated in paragraph (1); and(3)Federal reimbursement for expenditures on medical assistance made available through the amendments made by this Act should not supplant an investment in community-based services.


115 HRES 388 IH: Congratulating and honoring Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory on 50 years of groundbreaking discoveries.
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-06-15
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 388IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 15, 2017Mr. Hultgren (for himself and Mr. Foster) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and TechnologyRESOLUTIONCongratulating and honoring Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory on 50 years of groundbreaking
			 discoveries.

 Whereas, in 2017, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (referred to in this preamble as Fermilab) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the date on which the first employees of Fermilab started work in Illinois, June 15, 1967;
 Whereas Fermilab drives scientific discovery by building and operating world-leading particle accelerator and detector facilities, performing pioneering research with national and global partners, and developing new technologies for science that support the industrial competitiveness of the United States;
 Whereas Fermilab provides research facilities for 4,500 scientists from 50 countries; Whereas research at Fermilab led to the discovery of the 3 building blocks of the universe, the bottom quark in 1977, the top quark in 1995, and the tau neutrino in 2000;
 Whereas superconducting magnets developed at Fermilab led to the advancement of magnetic resonance imaging medical diagnostics;
 Whereas Fermilab contributed critical components, computing capabilities, and scientific expertise to the 2012 discovery of the Higgs boson in Geneva, Switzerland;
 Whereas Fermilab continues to lead scientific discoveries, including planning construction for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility to power the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment; and
 Whereas Fermilab demonstrates its strong commitment to developing a diverse workforce for the future in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through educational programs that bring more than 15,000 K–12 students to visit Fermilab each year: Now, therefore, be it

 That the House of Representatives— (1)congratulates and honors the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory on the semicentennial of the Laboratory; and
 (2)wishes the Laboratory success in continuing to help the people of the United States understand the mysteries of matter, energy, space, and time.


		V
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 259
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			January 7, 2011
			Mr. King of New York
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		A BILL
		For the relief of Alemseghed Mussie
		  Tesfamical.

		1.Permanent resident status for
			 Alemseghed Mussie Tesfamical
			(a)In
			 generalNotwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of section 201 of
			 the Immigration and Nationality Act, Alemseghed Mussie Tesfamical shall be
			 eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for adjustment of status to that
			 of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence upon filing an
			 application for issuance of an immigrant visa under section 204 of such Act or
			 for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident.
			(b)Adjustment of
			 statusIf Alemseghed Mussie Tesfamical enters the United States
			 before the filing deadline specified in subsection (c), he shall be considered
			 to have entered and remained lawfully and shall, if otherwise eligible, be
			 eligible for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Immigration and
			 Nationality Act as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
			(c)Deadline for
			 application and payment of feesSubsections (a) and (b) shall
			 apply only if the application for issuance of an immigrant visa or the
			 application for adjustment of status is filed with appropriate fees within 2
			 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
			(d)Reduction of
			 immigrant visa numberUpon the granting of an immigrant visa or
			 permanent residence to Alemseghed Mussie Tesfamical, the Secretary of State
			 shall instruct the proper officer to reduce by 1, during the current or next
			 following fiscal year, the total number of immigrant visas that are made
			 available to natives of the country of the alien’s birth under section 203(a)
			 of the Immigration and Nationality Act or, if applicable, the total number of
			 immigrant visas that are made available to natives of the country of the
			 alien’s birth under section 202(e) of such Act.
			(e)Denial of
			 preferential immigration treatment for certain relativesThe
			 natural parents, brothers, and sisters of Alemseghed Mussie Tesfamical shall
			 not, by virtue of such relationship, be accorded any right, privilege, or
			 status under the Immigration and Nationality Act.