Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2013

Mr. President, ensuring equal opportunities and equal rights for individuals with disabilities has been one of my highest priorities during my time in Congress. As the lead Senate sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I still remember the day that legislation was signed into law, July 26, 1990, as one of the proudest days of my legislative career.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is one of the landmark civil rights laws of the 20th century--a long overdue emancipation proclamation for Americans with disabilities. The ADA has played a huge role in making our country more accessible and more inclusive, in raising the expectations of people with disabilities about what they can hope to achieve at work and in life, and in inspiring Americans to view disability issues through the lens of equality and opportunity.

Before the ADA, life was very different for people with disabilities in Iowa and across the country. Being an American with a disability meant not being able to ride on a bus because there was no lift, not being able to attend a concert or ballgame because there was no accessible seating, and not being able to cross the street in a wheelchair because there were no curb cuts. In short, it meant not being able to work or participate in community life. Discrimination was both commonplace and accepted.

Since then, we have made amazing progress. The ADA literally transformed the American landscape by requiring that architectural and communications barriers be removed and replaced with accessible features such as ramps, lifts, curb cuts, widening doorways, and closed captioning. More importantly, the ADA gave millions of Americans the opportunity to participate in their communities.

The ADA stands for a simple, universal proposition--that disability is a natural part of the human experience and that all people with disabilities have a right to make choices, pursue meaningful careers, and participate fully in all aspects of society.

One of the four great goals of the ADA is to assure equality of opportunity. The opportunity for an individual to be judged based on his or her talents, skills, and abilities rather than stigmatizing labels; to be included with non-disabled peers; and ultimately, the opportunity to be successful. That is the minimum that any individual with a disability should expect, and it is our responsibility to make that happen.

More than two years ago I met Keith Nolan, a young man who is deaf and whose life goal is to be a military officer. Keith enrolled in and completed the first two levels of Army ROTC in California.

As a ROTC cadet Keith participated in all classes, labs, and physical training. He had interpreters provided by his school program for classes and training, but not for physical training which he did without an interpreter. Still, he participated fully in a Fall Field Training Exercise where the cadets spent a weekend working on tactics. He also earned a German Army Forces Badge for Military Proficiency becoming the only cadet in his squad to get the highest decoration. Overall, he excelled in the ROTC program.

However, Keith was not allowed to continue in ROTC due to Department of Defense rules that exclude individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Keith has a master's degree, and if not for Department of Defense rules excluding individuals who are deaf, would have qualified for Officer Candidate School.

My experience with Keith, as well as my long-standing advocacy to provide to persons with disabilities the same rights as every other American, have convinced me that individuals with disabilities can meaningfully contribute to our Armed Forces and should have the opportunity to do so.

I know that there is some hesitation among the service branches in having individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing serve in the active military. But I know, just as we have found under the ADA for the last 23 years, people with disabilities can accomplish great things if they are provided with the same opportunities the rest of us take for granted. Keith Nolan is one exceptional young man, the kind the military would be proud to have among its ranks and I bet there are probably a few other Keith Nolans out there eager to serve.

That is why today, on the day the Senate considers the National Defense Authorization Act, I am introducing legislation which would create a small demonstration program for 15-20 highly intelligent, deaf and hard of hearing men and women, in top physical condition, to enter the Air Force's Basic Officer Training course or the Commissioned Officer Training course at Maxwell AFB. The individuals who participate in this demonstration program will meet all the essential qualifications for accession as an officer in the Air Force--except for the one related to having a hearing impairment.

I had filed this legislation as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill; unfortunately, because that amendment process was cut short, I was not able to have it considered. But I am filing this legislation today to make clear that I intend to press forward in this effort to create a demonstration program.

If this program is successful, as I believe it will be, then we will have created an opportunity for talented individuals like Keith Nolan in the military. We will have reiterated our commitment to equal opportunity for all Americans, including people with disabilities.

I hope my fellow Members will join me as cosponsors of this small, but important, demonstration program.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, student loan debt continues to climb. According to an analysis by the Institute for College Access, average student loan debt has increased by 6 percent each year since 2008. In 2012, over 70 percent of college graduates had debt, owing an average of $29,400.

This is a growing drag on our economy.

In this summer's National Association of Realtors survey, 49 percent of the respondents identified student loan debt as a huge obstacle to home ownership--more than those who identified having enough money for a down payment or having enough confidence in their job security.

It is clear that the more than $1.2 trillion in outstanding student loan debt has serious implications for the broader economy.

We know that student loan borrowers are struggling. Default rates are on the rise. 13.4 percent of borrowers entering repayment in 2009 defaulted within three years. The rate jumped to 14.7 percent for borrowers entering repayment in 2010.

We cannot tackle the student loan debt crisis without States and institutions stepping up and taking greater

responsibility for college costs and student borrowing.

States are critical partners in making college accessible and affordable. However, state support for higher education has declined in recent years, contributing to rising tuition costs at public colleges and universities. According to the latest State Higher Education Finance report published by the State Higher Education Executive Officers, state spending per full-time equivalent student reached its lowest point in 25 years in 2011.

In the Partnerships for Affordability and Student Success, PASS, Act that I am introducing today, we will re-establish a robust, Federal- State partnership for college affordability and student success. I long worked to fund the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership, LEAP, program, an initiative that engaged the states in matching federal funds to provide need-based grants to students. LEAP was modest in scale. The legislation I am introducing today calls for a more ambitious and comprehensive Federal-State partnership for higher education.

The PASS Act will authorize $1 billion for a State formula grant program. In order to participate, states must make a commitment to maintain their investment in higher education and must have a comprehensive plan for higher education with measurable goals for access, affordability, and student outcomes. At least 70 percent of the funding must be dedicated to need-based student financial aid. States also have the option of awarding grants to colleges and universities or partnerships between institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations to improve student outcomes, including enrollment, completion, and employment, and to develop innovative methods for reducing college costs. I am pleased to have the support of the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and U.S PIRG in advancing this legislation.

Institutions also have a critical role to play in curbing student loan debt. To ensure that institutions have more skin in the game, so they provide a better and more affordable education to students, which will in turn help put the brakes on rising student loan defaults, I am proud to be introducing the Protect Student Borrowers Act with Senators Durbin and Warren.

The Protect Student Borrowers Act will hold colleges and universities accountable for student loan default by requiring them to repay a percentage of defaulted loans. Only institutions that have 25 percent or more of their students borrow would be included in risk sharing based on their cohort default rate. Risk-sharing requirements would kick in when default rate exceeds 15 percent. As the institutional default rate rises, so too will the institution's risk-share payment.

The Protect Student Borrowers Act also provides incentives for institutions to take proactive steps to ease student loan debt burdens and reduce default rates. Colleges and universities can reduce or eliminate their payments if they implement a comprehensive student loan management plan. The Secretary may waive or reduce the payments for institutions whose mission is to serve low-income and minority students such as community colleges, Historically Black Institutions, or Hispanic-Serving Institutions, provided that they are making progress in their student loan management plans.

The risk-sharing payments will be invested in helping struggling borrowers, preventing future default and delinquency, and reducing shortfalls in the Pell Grant program.

With the stakes so high for students and taxpayers, it is only fair that institutions bear some of the risk in the student loan program.

We need to tackle student loan debt and college affordability from multiple angles. We need all stakeholders in the system to do their part. With the PASS Act and the Protect Student Borrowers Act, we are providing the resources and incentives for states and institutions to take more responsibility to address college affordability and student loan debt and improve student outcomes. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor these bills and look forward to working with them to include these and other key reforms in the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2013 to end the destructive cycle of underfunding wildfire prevention and then having to spend even greater amounts fighting wildfires than if our forests were properly managed.

For some time now, our country has witnessed tragic wildfire seasons that have put American lives and our treasured public lands in harm's way. Sadly, this year 19 firefighters lost their lives fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona. Due to climate change, drought, and other factors, the risks from these infernos are likely to increase in the future.

Federal fire suppression spending has increased substantially over the past 20 years. In the case of the Forest Service, the proportion of their budget devoted to wildland fire management has increased steadily from 13 percent of the total budget in 1991 to 41 percent of the budget in 2013. Most recent fire seasons have cost upwards of $1 billion, compared to $200 million in the 1990's. This leads to an unfortunate new reality: our Forest Service is turning into the Fire Service.

In 8 of the past 10 years, the Forest Service has exceeded its budget for wildfire suppression, requiring the agency to conduct what is known as ``fire borrowing'' to cover wildfire suppression costs. ``Fire robbery'' would be a more accurate term because in many cases, the borrowed funds are never repaid. These transfers are incredibly disruptive and are undermining the core mission of the Forest Service.

What is worse, in order to fund the costs of fighting these infernos, the agencies responsible for fighting fires are underfunding the very programs designed to prevent fires. The 2013 President's Budget Request included significant cuts to hazardous fuels treatments for both the Department of the Interior, 50 percent cut, and the Forest Service, 30 percent cut.

Studies confirm that hazardous fuels treatments are effective at reducing fire risk and lowering costs. For example, a recent study published by Northern Arizona University's Ecological Restoration Institute concluded that treatments ``. . . can reduce fire severity . . .'', and ``. . . successfully reduce fire risk to communities.''

It is clear that our Nation needs a new path forward on fire budgeting to make sure that there is adequate funding for fire prevention work. For much of 2013, I have been urging the Office of Management and Budget, OMB, to help the Congress develop a new path forward through oversight hearings, letters, and numerous discussions.

Therefore, today I am introducing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act to provide a better path forward on wildfire funding and fire prevention.

This bill will establish parity for wildfire funding to how the Federal Government funds other major natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes. Specifically, the bill would move any spending above 70 percent of the 10-year rolling average for fire suppression outside of the agencies' baseline budget by making these additional costs eligible to be funded under a separate disaster account.

Based on Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture analysis, 1 percent of wildland fires represent 30 percent of costs, so in essence my legislation would be moving the true emergency fire events to be funded under disaster programs, and the routine wildland firefighting costs--would be funded through the normal budgeting and appropriations process.

Most importantly, this legislation would free up as much as $412 million in discretionary funding to fund hazardous fuels projects and make sure urgently needed work is done in the forests to prevent wildland fires.

I am pleased to be joined by Senator Crapo in introducing the bill today. This legislation also has the support of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. I look forward to working towards enactment of the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act in the 113th Congress through any possible avenue. Together, the Congress and the Administration must work to guarantee that

our country has the necessary tools to both combat and prevent wildland fires.

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2013 to end the destructive cycle of underfunding wildfire prevention and then having to spend even greater amounts fighting wildfires than if our forests were properly managed.

For some time now, our country has witnessed tragic wildfire seasons that have put American lives and our treasured public lands in harm's way. Sadly, this year 19 firefighters lost their lives fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona. Due to climate change, drought, and other factors, the risks from these infernos are likely to increase in the future.

Federal fire suppression spending has increased substantially over the past 20 years. In the case of the Forest Service, the proportion of their budget devoted to wildland fire management has increased steadily from 13 percent of the total budget in 1991 to 41 percent of the budget in 2013. Most recent fire seasons have cost upwards of $1 billion, compared to $200 million in the 1990's. This leads to an unfortunate new reality: our Forest Service is turning into the Fire Service.

In 8 of the past 10 years, the Forest Service has exceeded its budget for wildfire suppression, requiring the agency to conduct what is known as ``fire borrowing'' to cover wildfire suppression costs. ``Fire robbery'' would be a more accurate term because in many cases, the borrowed funds are never repaid. These transfers are incredibly disruptive and are undermining the core mission of the Forest Service.

What is worse, in order to fund the costs of fighting these infernos, the agencies responsible for fighting fires are underfunding the very programs designed to prevent fires. The 2013 President's Budget Request included significant cuts to hazardous fuels treatments for both the Department of the Interior, 50 percent cut, and the Forest Service, 30 percent cut.

Studies confirm that hazardous fuels treatments are effective at reducing fire risk and lowering costs. For example, a recent study published by Northern Arizona University's Ecological Restoration Institute concluded that treatments ``. . . can reduce fire severity . . .'', and ``. . . successfully reduce fire risk to communities.''

It is clear that our Nation needs a new path forward on fire budgeting to make sure that there is adequate funding for fire prevention work. For much of 2013, I have been urging the Office of Management and Budget, OMB, to help the Congress develop a new path forward through oversight hearings, letters, and numerous discussions.

Therefore, today I am introducing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act to provide a better path forward on wildfire funding and fire prevention.

This bill will establish parity for wildfire funding to how the Federal Government funds other major natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes. Specifically, the bill would move any spending above 70 percent of the 10-year rolling average for fire suppression outside of the agencies' baseline budget by making these additional costs eligible to be funded under a separate disaster account.

Based on Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture analysis, 1 percent of wildland fires represent 30 percent of costs, so in essence my legislation would be moving the true emergency fire events to be funded under disaster programs, and the routine wildland firefighting costs--would be funded through the normal budgeting and appropriations process.

Most importantly, this legislation would free up as much as $412 million in discretionary funding to fund hazardous fuels projects and make sure urgently needed work is done in the forests to prevent wildland fires.

I am pleased to be joined by Senator Crapo in introducing the bill today. This legislation also has the support of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. I look forward to working towards enactment of the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act in the 113th Congress through any possible avenue. Together, the Congress and the Administration must work to guarantee that

our country has the necessary tools to both combat and prevent wildland fires.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.