Floor Statements

Madam President, there are moments in history that shock our national conscience, news so heartbreaking that we will always remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. One of those moments is the day the El Monte Thai garment workers were found enslaved in California.

As recently as August 2, 1995, there was 72 Thai women and men who were discovered held against their will in the city of El Monte, CA, just outside the city of Los Angeles. There, in a series of apartments- turned-sweatshops, packed in between sewing machines, forced to work 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, and hidden behind barbed wire fences and armed guards, some of them believed help would never come.

They were lured by recruiters with the promise of their own American dream. Seventy-two Thai women and men arrived into the United States only to find a nightmare.

When they were liberated by Federal agents on that day, that nightmare wasn't over. Instead, they were placed into holding cells, where they feared they would actually be deported after the horrific experience. It wasn't until a 26-year-old staff attorney for the Asian Pacific American Legal Center by the name of Julie Su, among others, took on their case for backpay and for dignity in this country that they had once only dreamt about.

When the 72 Thai nationals were finally, truly freed, they actually owed nothing to this country. Yet they stood up and they fought to protect others from going through the hell they had endured. Their advocacy led to meaningful protections in America, including the landmark Federal Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act, which created a new class of visas for victims of crimes like forced labor and trafficking and strengthened the penalties for trafficking crimes.

Just last week, now-Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su--yes, the same Julie Su--had the opportunity to induct the El Monte Thai garment workers into the Department of Labor's Hall of Honor, honoring the courage they have shown and the progress they have made to protect other workers.

I also had the privilege of getting to meet them in Washington last week, and I was proud to join Senators Duckworth and Feinstein in introducing a resolution to honor them by the U.S. Senate.

But, as each and every one of them has shown us, the best way to respond to the atrocities they went through, the best way to honor them is through our action--by keeping up the fight to end human trafficking, by working to end wage theft that exploits far too many workers in the garment industry and passing the FABRIC Act, and by, in my opinion, finally confirming a champion for workers and worker

rights like Julie Su to be Secretary of Labor.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I also rise today just a week after the Senate confirmed Judge Rita Lin to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Today, I would like to take a moment to celebrate her confirmation and share with the people of California a bit more about the outstanding public servant and jurist they have gained on the Federal bench.

Now Judge Lin earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard College and her law degree from Harvard Law School. After clerking on the First Circuit Court of Appeals for Judge Sandra Lynch, she started out her legal career as an associate and later became partner at the firm of Morrison Foerster in San Francisco.

But in 2014, she left private practice to pursue a career in public service, joining the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California.

Four years later, Governor Brown appointed Judge Lin to the San Francisco County Superior Court, where she presided over both felony and misdemeanor trials.

At every step, Judge Lin's career has been guided by her dedication to public service, whether by maintaining an extensive pro bono practice in the early years of her career or by leaving behind the promise of a very lucrative career in private practice to serve in the Northern District U.S. Attorney's Office. Judge Lin has proven she has the heart and mind worthy of a Federal district judge.

And as someone who has lived her entire life with a hearing disability, she also brings a unique perspective from a community not often represented in our Nation's Federal judiciary.

The State of California is now lucky to have a Federal district court judge not only with the judicial qualifications of Judge Lin but with the voice, the personal experience, and the passion for public service she brings each and every day.

So I want to thank my colleagues for confirming her nomination, and I want to congratulate Judge Lin once again on her confirmation.

Unanimous Consent Requests--Executive Calendar

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 266, Tara K. McGrath, to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate, that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session.

Madam President, it has been 2 months since I first came to the floor to call for the confirmation of Tara McGrath, President Biden's nominee to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California.

On that day in July, my Republican colleague from Ohio chose, as he does today, to put political gamesmanship over the safety of the American people and to hold her nomination hostage to leverage completely unrelated issues.

Two months later, clearly, nothing has changed. And as a result, since early August, the Southern District of California has gone without a confirmed U.S. attorney. That is despite the fact that a highly qualified candidate was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee after a confirmation hearing, after the proper vetting and review, and is awaiting a full vote on the Senate floor.

Yet, because my Republican colleague has chosen to politicize our Justice Department and the confirmation process and hinder the work of multiple law enforcement offices as they await confirmation of their leadership, law enforcement is now forced to work harder than necessary to keep our communities safe. That includes the Senator's own home State of Ohio where the Northern District is currently without a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney for the longest stretch in that office's history.

Now, in my own State, the Southern District of California has become tangled in this political mess.

Make no mistake, these delays damage the effectiveness of U.S. Attorney Offices across the country. Like the

confirmation of hundreds of our military leaders, these crucial law enforcement nominations are being treated like pawns in their political game.

If we truly care about public safety in our communities, if we truly care about enforcing the law, and if we truly care about cracking down on fentanyl and saving American lives--a claim I hear constantly from my colleagues--then confirm Tara McGrath in the Southern District and allow for the swift confirmation of a host of U.S. attorneys that are still being held up. The people of California and the people of the United States deserve better than this.

So I call on my colleague to stop weaponizing the Senate's procedures, to confirm Ms. McGrath and all the qualified nominees before us, and take seriously the job that Americans have sent us here to do.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I recognize that my colleague from Ohio cannot or will not speak on behalf of other Republican Members, but I would respectfully ask if he would lift his hold on the nomination of Tara McGrath to be U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California.

I yield to the Senator from Ohio to respond to my question.

I respectfully ask if my colleague from Ohio will lift his hold on the nomination of Tara McGrath to be U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California; yes or no?

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 2023 Little League World Series Champions, Southern California's own El Segundo 12U All Stars.

Every year, communities from around the world gather their best youth baseball players to assemble an All-Star team with dreams of one day making it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. But after local, State, and regional tournaments, only 20 teams earn such an honor, 10 from the United States and another 10 from around the world. In the end, only one team takes home the World Series title--and it is no easy road.

For the El Segundo 12U All Stars in Williamsport, after an opening game win thanks to back-to-back homeruns and a high-powered offense, the team from Southern California hit a significant hurdle in just their second game. They lost 3-1 to a Southwest Region team and were quickly sent down to the elimination bracket, facing long odds and a rocky road back to the finals, when even one loss would send them home.

But rather than shrink from the challenge, El Segundo trusted their pitching and defense, their great power hitting, and their fearless competitiveness to rattle off four straight wins to make it all the way to the Little League World Series Championship. Their impressive streak included returning the favor and defeating the team from the Southwest Region in the U.S. Championship 6-1.

Finally, on the biggest stage, facing Curacao in the Little League World Series Championship, El Segundo got off to an early start, jumping to a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning. But the winds quickly shifted after a Curacao grand slam tied the game heading into the sixth and final inning. Yet again, El Segundo refused to back down.

Manager Danny Boehle turned to No. 14 Brody Brooks to shutdown a hot Curacao offense and give El Segundo a

shot in the bottom of the sixth, which he provided with a standout scoreless inning. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, as countless Little League baseball fans will now remember for eternity, No. 19 Louis Lappe stepped up to the plate--and the rest is history. A shot to deep left field sent the crowd to their feet, Lappe around the bases, and a city all the way across the country into pandemonium. Lappe's walk-off homerun meant California, once again, was on top of the baseball world.

For one summer in 2023, kids in Southern California weren't just imitating Mookie Betts' batting stance or dreaming of throwing across the diamond to Freddie Freeman at first base. They were dreaming of playing like Brooks and Lappe, Salazar and Green, Boehle and Keldorf, Lee and Baker, McRoberts and Parks, O'Connor and Kalish.

My sincere congratulations to all the players, manager Danny Boehle, coaches Tim Abrams and Eddie Lee, and all the parents and family members who made this dream possible.

Congratulations--you have made California proud.

Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Opportunity to Address College Hunger Act, which I introduced today.

According to a 2018 GAO study, roughly 2 million at-risk college students who were potentially eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, benefits did not report receiving them. Millions of eligible college students across the Nation face steep barriers to accessing these critical benefits due to a complex application process and a lack of information-sharing from their own colleges and universities.

In California alone, 127,000 college students received CalFresh before the pandemic, despite upwards of 690,000 students being potentially eligible. Through my conversations with California college students, many have said that they wished their campuses told them they were eligible for SNAP and how to access benefits.

That is why I am introducing this bill--to increase awareness of SNAP for potentially eligible college students and to continue the fight to tackle student hunger.

If enacted, this bill would require colleges and universities to notify students participating in State or federally financed work-study programs of their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits. Institutions would also need to provide students with details about how they can obtain more information about SNAP, confirm their eligibility for the program, and access benefits.

This notification would be developed by the U.S. Department of Education, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and would be specific to the student's State of residence and provide contact information for the local office where the student can apply for SNAP.

The notification would also include an official document confirming that the student participates in a work-study program and meets one of the SNAP eligibility requirements for college students. This documentation would help students overcome a common paperwork hurdle they face when applying for SNAP benefits.

Finally, this bill would require the Department of Education and USDA to provide guidance to States and institutions on how to better engage with potentially eligible students.

While I support eliminating the restrictive work requirements that limit access to critical nutrition benefits for millions of low-income college students, this bill works to tackle barriers students face with the eligibility requirements currently in place.

I want to thank Representative Suzanne Bonamici for introducing this bill in the House and for her continued work to combat student hunger. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to help improve student food security, health, and learning.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Supporting Farm Workers' Mental Health Act of 2023. This bill would ensure that the Farm and Ranch Assistance Network serves the behavioral health needs of farm workers.

The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network is a transformative program that addresses the mental health needs of farmers, ranchers, and those engaged in agricultural occupations. While grants can be used to serve farmworkers, farmworkers are not explicitly identified as population of interest, despite their unique health needs.

Farmworkers face significant barriers to care, including a shortage of culturally competent providers and low health literacy in addition to the challenges associated with accessing healthcare in rural areas. Nineteen percent of farmworkers reported symptoms of anxiety, and 14 percent reported feeling depressed, according to a recent University of California, Merced study.

The Supporting Farm Workers' Mental Health Act of 2023 would amend the Farm and Ranch Stress Act of 2023 would amend the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to explicitly include farmworkers as an eligible population and ensure peer-to-peer mental health services are an allowable grant activity. Both changes will update the program to reflect our agricultural workforce's behavioral health needs.

Farmworkers feed our Nation. It is our responsibility to ensure they have access to behavioral health care they need.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this important initiative as quickly as possible.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Health Equity and Middle Eastern and North African Community Inclusion Act of 2023. This bill would ensure that Middle Eastern and North African communities in the United States receive the Federal recognition they need to receive targeted public health resources.

Too often, Federal data collection overlooks people in MENA communities. This is true even at the Office of Minority Health, which is tasked with the important work of improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations. The office's definition of ``racial and ethnic minorities'' does not currently include a Middle Eastern or North African category, meaning that people in this community are often misidentified as White. As a result, the unique health concerns that Middle Easterners and North Africans face remain underreported and unaddressed.

This bureaucratic oversight has a tangible impact on individuals' abilities to live full and healthy lives.

The Health Equity and Middle Eastern and North African Community Inclusion Act of 2023 would add a Middle Eastern and North African category to the definition of ``racial and ethnic minorities'' used by the Office of Minority Health. Additionally, it would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to use this data to conduct a comprehensive study of the unique patterns and health outcomes in MENA populations.

I want to thank Representative Tlaib for joining me in introducing this bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues to take this important step to reduce health disparities.

Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Opportunity to Address College Hunger Act, which I introduced today.

According to a 2018 GAO study, roughly 2 million at-risk college students who were potentially eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, benefits did not report receiving them. Millions of eligible college students across the Nation face steep barriers to accessing these critical benefits due to a complex application process and a lack of information-sharing from their own colleges and universities.

In California alone, 127,000 college students received CalFresh before the pandemic, despite upwards of 690,000 students being potentially eligible. Through my conversations with California college students, many have said that they wished their campuses told them they were eligible for SNAP and how to access benefits.

That is why I am introducing this bill--to increase awareness of SNAP for potentially eligible college students and to continue the fight to tackle student hunger.

If enacted, this bill would require colleges and universities to notify students participating in State or federally financed work-study programs of their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits. Institutions would also need to provide students with details about how they can obtain more information about SNAP, confirm their eligibility for the program, and access benefits.

This notification would be developed by the U.S. Department of Education, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and would be specific to the student's State of residence and provide contact information for the local office where the student can apply for SNAP.

The notification would also include an official document confirming that the student participates in a work-study program and meets one of the SNAP eligibility requirements for college students. This documentation would help students overcome a common paperwork hurdle they face when applying for SNAP benefits.

Finally, this bill would require the Department of Education and USDA to provide guidance to States and institutions on how to better engage with potentially eligible students.

While I support eliminating the restrictive work requirements that limit access to critical nutrition benefits for millions of low-income college students, this bill works to tackle barriers students face with the eligibility requirements currently in place.

I want to thank Representative Suzanne Bonamici for introducing this bill in the House and for her continued work to combat student hunger. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to help improve student food security, health, and learning.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Supporting Farm Workers' Mental Health Act of 2023. This bill would ensure that the Farm and Ranch Assistance Network serves the behavioral health needs of farm workers.

The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network is a transformative program that addresses the mental health needs of farmers, ranchers, and those engaged in agricultural occupations. While grants can be used to serve farmworkers, farmworkers are not explicitly identified as population of interest, despite their unique health needs.

Farmworkers face significant barriers to care, including a shortage of culturally competent providers and low health literacy in addition to the challenges associated with accessing healthcare in rural areas. Nineteen percent of farmworkers reported symptoms of anxiety, and 14 percent reported feeling depressed, according to a recent University of California, Merced study.

The Supporting Farm Workers' Mental Health Act of 2023 would amend the Farm and Ranch Stress Act of 2023 would amend the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to explicitly include farmworkers as an eligible population and ensure peer-to-peer mental health services are an allowable grant activity. Both changes will update the program to reflect our agricultural workforce's behavioral health needs.

Farmworkers feed our Nation. It is our responsibility to ensure they have access to behavioral health care they need.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this important initiative as quickly as possible.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Health Equity and Middle Eastern and North African Community Inclusion Act of 2023. This bill would ensure that Middle Eastern and North African communities in the United States receive the Federal recognition they need to receive targeted public health resources.

Too often, Federal data collection overlooks people in MENA communities. This is true even at the Office of Minority Health, which is tasked with the important work of improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations. The office's definition of ``racial and ethnic minorities'' does not currently include a Middle Eastern or North African category, meaning that people in this community are often misidentified as White. As a result, the unique health concerns that Middle Easterners and North Africans face remain underreported and unaddressed.

This bureaucratic oversight has a tangible impact on individuals' abilities to live full and healthy lives.

The Health Equity and Middle Eastern and North African Community Inclusion Act of 2023 would add a Middle Eastern and North African category to the definition of ``racial and ethnic minorities'' used by the Office of Minority Health. Additionally, it would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to use this data to conduct a comprehensive study of the unique patterns and health outcomes in MENA populations.

I want to thank Representative Tlaib for joining me in introducing this bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues to take this important step to reduce health disparities.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Wounded Warrior Access Act, along with Senator Braun.

This legislation would streamline the process for veterans to submit a claim for benefits by giving them electronic access to their benefit claim file.

This legislation would require the VA to establish and maintain a secure online tool or website to enable a veteran or their representative to submit a request to receive their claims file, or C- File, electronically.

Allowing veterans to access their C-File electronically would allow veterans to access their information in a faster and more efficient manner.

When a veteran submits a claim for benefits to the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, a C-File is created. C-Files contain a veteran's service records, results of VA exams, additional information submitted by the veteran, and any material the VA deems necessary to decide a claim,

Currently, a veteran must travel to a regional VA location or mail in a form to request a paper copy of their C-File, slowing down the process for individuals to gain access to their information.

The Wounded Warrior Access Act would require the VA to offer an online alternative for veterans to request their C-File. Online requests would dramatically modernize the C-File collection, decrease processing time, and reduce unnecessary appeals since more veterans will have access to all the information the VA used to decide their claims, ultimately saving the VA time and money.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Wounded Warrior Access Act as quickly as possible, and I thank Congressman Pete Aguilar for his partnership on this legislation.

Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment Act of 2023, which I reintroduced today. -

Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HSIs, provide incredible opportunities for millions of low-income and first-generation students. I am proud that my State of California is home to 170 HSIs and 47 emerging HSIs, the most in the country. That is why I launched the first-ever Senate HSI Caucus with my colleague, Senator Menendez--to spotlight and advocate for the 572 HSIs across our country. These critical institutions educate our future leaders and help to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

During the pandemic, the number of HSIs in our country declined for the first time in two decades due to a decrease in higher education enrollment among Latino students during the pandemic. While the number of HSIs has since increased above prepandemic levels, this previous decrease illustrates the need for further investments in Latino youth. That is why I am reintroducing the HERE Act.

If enacted, this bill would support Latino students throughout secondary and postsecondary education. Specifically, the HERE Act would provide $150 million for grants to create partnerships between HSIs and K-12 school districts that serve large populations of Latino students.

Schools could use this funding to provide academic support that better prepares students for postsecondary education. They could create new programs to foster a college-going culture by exposing students and their families to postsecondary opportunities. And they could better support students through the college application and transition process. Additionally, schools could use grants to address non-academic needs that serve as barriers to college enrollment and completion--such as childcare, food insecurity, financial hardship, and more.

Latinos are the largest, youngest, and second fastest growing minority population in the United States. While making up about 20 percent of our country's population, Latinos comprise 26 percent of prekindergarten through grade 12 enrollment. Latino students are going to college more than ever before, but they still face lower educational outcomes, including lower grades, lower scores on standardized tests, and higher dropout rates.

As a Senator representing one of the most diverse States in the country, I am proud to work with my colleagues to ensure the American dream is a reality for every student.

I want to thank Congressman Joaquin Castro for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this effort to empower Latino youth.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Wounded Warrior Access Act, along with Senator Braun.

This legislation would streamline the process for veterans to submit a claim for benefits by giving them electronic access to their benefit claim file.

This legislation would require the VA to establish and maintain a secure online tool or website to enable a veteran or their representative to submit a request to receive their claims file, or C- File, electronically.

Allowing veterans to access their C-File electronically would allow veterans to access their information in a faster and more efficient manner.

When a veteran submits a claim for benefits to the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, a C-File is created. C-Files contain a veteran's service records, results of VA exams, additional information submitted by the veteran, and any material the VA deems necessary to decide a claim,

Currently, a veteran must travel to a regional VA location or mail in a form to request a paper copy of their C-File, slowing down the process for individuals to gain access to their information.

The Wounded Warrior Access Act would require the VA to offer an online alternative for veterans to request their C-File. Online requests would dramatically modernize the C-File collection, decrease processing time, and reduce unnecessary appeals since more veterans will have access to all the information the VA used to decide their claims, ultimately saving the VA time and money.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Wounded Warrior Access Act as quickly as possible, and I thank Congressman Pete Aguilar for his partnership on this legislation.

Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment Act of 2023, which I reintroduced today. -

Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HSIs, provide incredible opportunities for millions of low-income and first-generation students. I am proud that my State of California is home to 170 HSIs and 47 emerging HSIs, the most in the country. That is why I launched the first-ever Senate HSI Caucus with my colleague, Senator Menendez--to spotlight and advocate for the 572 HSIs across our country. These critical institutions educate our future leaders and help to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

During the pandemic, the number of HSIs in our country declined for the first time in two decades due to a decrease in higher education enrollment among Latino students during the pandemic. While the number of HSIs has since increased above prepandemic levels, this previous decrease illustrates the need for further investments in Latino youth. That is why I am reintroducing the HERE Act.

If enacted, this bill would support Latino students throughout secondary and postsecondary education. Specifically, the HERE Act would provide $150 million for grants to create partnerships between HSIs and K-12 school districts that serve large populations of Latino students.

Schools could use this funding to provide academic support that better prepares students for postsecondary education. They could create new programs to foster a college-going culture by exposing students and their families to postsecondary opportunities. And they could better support students through the college application and transition process. Additionally, schools could use grants to address non-academic needs that serve as barriers to college enrollment and completion--such as childcare, food insecurity, financial hardship, and more.

Latinos are the largest, youngest, and second fastest growing minority population in the United States. While making up about 20 percent of our country's population, Latinos comprise 26 percent of prekindergarten through grade 12 enrollment. Latino students are going to college more than ever before, but they still face lower educational outcomes, including lower grades, lower scores on standardized tests, and higher dropout rates.

As a Senator representing one of the most diverse States in the country, I am proud to work with my colleagues to ensure the American dream is a reality for every student.

I want to thank Congressman Joaquin Castro for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this effort to empower Latino youth.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience Act. This legislation would better equip and formalize the Economic Development Administration's role in post-disaster economic recovery.

EDA has a long history of supporting disaster recovery and resilience efforts and is uniquely positioned to coordinate Federal support due to its network of partners in impacted communities. EDA's role in disaster recovery is to facilitate the timely and effective delivery of Federal economic development assistance to support near- and long-term community economic recovery planning and project implementation, redevelopment, and resilience.

This bill would establish a dedicated Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at EDA to coordinate the Agency's post-disaster economic recovery activities, create a disaster team for the deployment of individuals to carry out such activities after a disaster or emergency declaration, and require 100 Percent Federal cost share for major disaster recovery projects.

EDA currently serves as the coordinating Agency for the Economic Recovery Support Function, ERSF, under the Federal Government's National Disaster Recovery Framework, NDRF. In this capacity, EDA provides leadership, coordination, and oversight for primary and support Agencies for the provision of grants, loans, training, and other forms of assistance to support economic recovery efforts in disaster-impacted communities and regions.

Congress has relied on the Agency to implement economic recovery activities since the 1990s, providing a total of $3.2 billion in supplemental funding for EDA's disaster relief and economic resiliency efforts for natural disasters--most recently in calendar years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. The Agency also received billion in additional funding tor COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts.

Yet, EDA's role in disaster assistance has never been formalized. Having a dedicated bureau or office to direct and implement the economic recovery support function activities of the Agency could expedite deployment of resources and improve service delivery to communities by retaining institutional knowledge that can translate between communities, preserving leadership at the Agency, and deploying staff and funds more rapidly.

I thank Senator Boozman for introducing this important legislation with me in the Senate. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill for the long-term economic strength and resilience of our communities.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience Act. This legislation would better equip and formalize the Economic Development Administration's role in post-disaster economic recovery.

EDA has a long history of supporting disaster recovery and resilience efforts and is uniquely positioned to coordinate Federal support due to its network of partners in impacted communities. EDA's role in disaster recovery is to facilitate the timely and effective delivery of Federal economic development assistance to support near- and long-term community economic recovery planning and project implementation, redevelopment, and resilience.

This bill would establish a dedicated Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at EDA to coordinate the Agency's post-disaster economic recovery activities, create a disaster team for the deployment of individuals to carry out such activities after a disaster or emergency declaration, and require 100 Percent Federal cost share for major disaster recovery projects.

EDA currently serves as the coordinating Agency for the Economic Recovery Support Function, ERSF, under the Federal Government's National Disaster Recovery Framework, NDRF. In this capacity, EDA provides leadership, coordination, and oversight for primary and support Agencies for the provision of grants, loans, training, and other forms of assistance to support economic recovery efforts in disaster-impacted communities and regions.

Congress has relied on the Agency to implement economic recovery activities since the 1990s, providing a total of $3.2 billion in supplemental funding for EDA's disaster relief and economic resiliency efforts for natural disasters--most recently in calendar years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. The Agency also received billion in additional funding tor COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts.

Yet, EDA's role in disaster assistance has never been formalized. Having a dedicated bureau or office to direct and implement the economic recovery support function activities of the Agency could expedite deployment of resources and improve service delivery to communities by retaining institutional knowledge that can translate between communities, preserving leadership at the Agency, and deploying staff and funds more rapidly.

I thank Senator Boozman for introducing this important legislation with me in the Senate. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill for the long-term economic strength and resilience of our communities.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 266, Tara K. McGrath, to be U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. President, let me just add that it is beyond disappointing and beyond frustrating that our colleague from Ohio continues to hold the Senate process hostage for political gain.

I won't get into the credentials and stellar qualifications that Ms. McGrath has to serve in this capacity. I will reserve that for a more constructive day relative to her confirmation. But I will note this with a sense of urgency. In the Southern District of California, the current acting U.S. attorney is due to step down on August 4. So there is an urgency to this particular confirmation--a confirmation which was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, by the way, but has not been voted on by the entire Senate.

And it is not just this confirmation. I am not going to talk about Federal judges. I am not going to talk about military promotions that are on hold because of politics being played on the other side of the aisle.

I believe the American people deserve to know that when even the confirmation of U.S. attorneys are being held up, it is impeding the investigation of crimes. It is impeding the enforcement of our Nation's laws. It is impeding the cooperation and coordination between various prosecutors' offices throughout the country. That is the job of a U.S. attorney. And it is shameful that Republican colleagues are holding these confirmations up, particularly of candidates for these positions who are far and above the qualifications necessary to serve in these capacities.

Energy

Mr. President, I also rise to speak today on this hot summer day in Washington, DC, where the forecast, as I was on the way in, showed that it was going to be 99 degrees today. Well, 35 years ago, on a scorching 98-degree summer day here in Washington, NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen testified in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to share an alarming conclusion.

Thirty-five years ago, he said this: Manmade pollution was causing our climate to change. It was one of the earliest major scientific warnings that, without action, one day our planet would be at risk of catastrophic climate events.

So colleagues, I am here to say that day has come. This past May, in a report in the Environmental Research Letters journal, researchers found a direct correlation between increased carbon emissions and wildfires in the Western United States.

Eight of the last ten largest wildfires in California history have occurred in just the last 6 years. In June, last month, New York City experienced the worst air pollution recorded on the planet, while Washington, DC, was blanketed in smoke not because of wildfires in California but because of wildfires in Canada. And over the last several weeks, a heat wave has brought record-breaking temperatures from coast to coast and put over 140 million Americans under heat alerts. And just today, we learned that this July is set to be the hottest month in recorded history.

So the question is no longer hypothetical; the question is real: How viable of a planet are we going to leave to our children and our grandchildren? We must act, colleagues. Yet, even in the year 2023, with indisputable proof in many scientific studies, too many of our Republican colleagues remain defiant.

Now, I will acknowledge that the deliberate attempt to distract from the problem at hand has evolved over time. What was once ``climate change is a hoax'' has become ``defense of industry'' or ``market-based solutions.'' What was once the Republican chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee bringing a snowball onto the floor of the U.S. Senate to somehow disprove the dynamic of a warming planet has been replaced with press conferences promising energy independence if we only allow continued polluting.

It is a new kind of climate denial, a sophisticated campaign to create delays and undermine climate progress in order to enrich major corporations' bottom lines. But, make no mistake, the result is the same: Republicans continuing to obstruct desperately needed solutions.

They vilify President Biden and all of us Democrats for having the courage to fight for bold action, and all too often they hold up California as the punching bag for enacting lifesaving policies that they disagree with. That is right; they bash California for having the audacity to lead.

So, today, I want to set the record straight. Yes, in California we have long accepted the truth about climate change, and as a result, we have been trailblazers for enacting environmental protections and leading our clean energy transition. As far back as 1966, California established the first tailpipe

emission standards for passenger vehicles in the Nation. Three years later, after a catastrophic oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, Californians rose up and demanded environmental protections, spurring the birth of the modern-day environmental movement and eventually creating the very first Earth Day, which we now celebrate every year.

Mr. President, flash forward to 2006, when California passed AB 32, also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act--legislation with the bold goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. I was elected to the State senate that year, eager to be part of implementation of that measure, and I went on to serve for 6 years as chair of the State senate Committee on Energy.

Now, since then, California has continued to lead the Nation with increasingly ambitious goals for cutting emissions, conserving public lands, becoming the first State committed to conserving 30 percent of our lands and water by the year 2030, a goal that President Biden has called for nationally.

Just this month, California's environmental leadership came in the form of the Nation's heavy-duty truck manufacturers agreeing to comply with California's first-in-the-Nation zero emission truck standards, which will advance the adoption of 100 percent zero-emission trucks by 2036, a truly historic achievement. And I think it is important to repeat and emphasize here, I am talking about a standard that truck manufacturers have agreed to.

But let me make another point, Mr. President, just to demonstrate just how partisan this conversation ought not to be. It has not just been Democrats in California who have led the way. As President, former California Senator Richard Nixon signed into law landmark legislation, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Endangered Species Act, and the creation of the EPA. That is right; a Republican President did that.

As President, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan built on California's leadership when he signed the first national energy efficiency standards for appliances into law. That is right; a Republican President did that.

It was Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, who established the California EPA, and it was Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who signed the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act that I referenced earlier.

The net result in California's efforts is that, in 2023, our State has a diverse portfolio of clean energy resources, not hypothetical-- operational solar, wind, and geothermal energy--all while fostering a growing economy that is on its way to becoming the fourth largest economy in the world. It is that long-term vision and commitment to clean energy and a transition to it that will bring the first-ever transition to Caltrain's all-new electric fleet in 2024, a three- decade-long project that will result in the first transition from diesel trains in the West. It is that same vision that diversified our energy sources so that, after a winter of extreme storms like we saw this last year, we can take advantage of torrential rains with hydropower capabilities or reap the benefits of our expanded solar capacity and battery storage.

I raise these examples, colleagues, not just to showcase California's leadership but to prove that these aren't just lofty climate aspirations. California is proving that a clean energy transition is not only possible; it is actually good for our economy. And, today, the Federal Government is smart to follow California's lead.

Over the last 2 years, we have made huge strides toward transitioning our Nation's energy sector to clean, renewable sources and adopting California's clean vehicle emission standards. When we passed the bipartisan infrastructure law, we also chose to invest in clean schoolbuses, to invest in electrifying public transit across the country. We chose to expand electric vehicle charging stations to make the switch to electric vehicles that much more convenient for Americans.

Last summer, we passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which is jump- starting clean energy and clean transportation projects, providing tax credits for Americans to upgrade their appliances and their homes and making electric vehicle ownership more affordable.

And, more recently, we were able to defend our hard-fought gains during the debt ceiling negotiations from Republicans who wanted to undercut our progress.

Now, part of making sure we fully realize the investments in the IRA is speeding up the permitting process for transmission lines that are needed to deliver the renewable energy from where it occurs as a natural resource to the communities where it is needed. It also means pushing Agencies like the EPA to embark on ambitious regulatory efforts on light- and heavy-duty vehicles, trains, and ships, thanks to investments in the IRA.

So when we hear the defeatist attitude of Republicans who say this is going to hurt jobs, we can show them the millions of good-paying jobs being created by the Inflation Reduction Act.

When we hear about alleged overreliance on foreign imports, we will show them badly needed investments in domestic manufacturing and a new generation of American solar, wind, geothermal, and green hydrogen.

And when we hear cynics who prefer inaction to intervention, a planet burning to Congress acting, we will show them that the audacity to lead has paid off before, and it can pay off again.

Now, I am willing to forgive all that has been said--all the misinformation about climate change, all the ranting about California-- if my Republican colleagues were just willing to do what is right. Now, in the end, I wouldn't even ask my Republican colleagues to reverse their positions and have the courage to lead. I will settle for their courage to follow or at least get out of the way because California has already shown us the path forward.

Have the courage, colleagues. Have the courage for the sake of our children and future generations.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today as a proud, lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers fan to recognize the achievements and legacy of Fernando ``El Toro'' Valenzuela, whose jersey will soon be retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fernando Valenzuela stunned the baseball world, captured the hearts of millions of Californians, and inspired Little League baseball players, future Major League Baseball Hall of Famers, and Mexican Americans across the country to dream big.

The youngest of 12 children, Valenzuela was born and raised in the small town of Etchohuaquila, in Sonora, Mexico. His parents Avelino and Maria were poor farmers who worked the land with their children. Valenzuela learned to play baseball from his older brothers and started pitching professionally in Mexico at the age of 17. Discovered by legendary Dodgers scout Mike Brito, Valenzuela soon made his Major League debut at the age of 19. In 1980, his first season, he pitched in relief in 10 games and did not surrender a single earned run.

The 1981 season saw the cultural phenomenon of ``Fernandomania,'' which brought one of the best stretches of pitching in Major League Baseball history. He was on the mound for the Dodgers as their opening day starting pitcher and proceeded to win his first eight starts--at that time, the longest such streak since World War II. He finished the season with 11 complete games, 8 shutouts, and a 2.48 ERA. His sensational pitching brought packed crowds to Dodger Stadium as he captured the hearts of Los Angeles' Mexican-American community, and brought record crowds to every stadium he pitched in across the country.

During the deciding game 5 of the 1981 National League Championship Series against the Expos, Valenzuela locked into a grueling pitching duel for over eight innings and helped the Dodgers win the National League pennant. In game 3 of the 1981 World Series, Valenzuela pitched a complete game against the Yankees and jumpstarted a four-game Dodgers winning streak on their way to winning the World Series title.

On a personal note, as a kid growing up playing Little League baseball in the San Fernando Valley, I remember watching Fernando pitch, his iconic wind-up with his leg sweeping up chest high, his quick glance toward the heavens, and suddenly, El Toro would deliver a devastating screwball.

Valenzuela would go on to pitch for the Dodgers for 11 seasons, play for several other MLB teams, and even pitch in the Mexican Pacific League when he was nearly 44 years old. He ended his career as a World Series Champion, a six-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger winner, and a Gold Glove winner. He also became the first player--and remains the only player--ever to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in the same season for his remarkable 1981 season. And today, he remains part of the Dodgers organization as the color commentator for the team's Spanish language television broadcast.

More than 40 years later, Fernandomania lives on. Valenzuela continues to bring immense joy and pride to the Mexican-American community in Los Angeles and around the country. I am proud that the Dodgers will be retiring Valenzuela's No. 34 jersey, and I am proud to recognize his many years of dedication to the Los Angeles community and for inspiring generations of Latinos to pursue their dreams and be champions in their own right.

So now, enshrined in Dodger Stadium alongside names like ``Robinson,'' ``Koufax,'' ``Drysdale,'' ``Hodges,'' and ``Snider,'' finally, a new number will hang forever--34, for Valenzuela.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Economic Empowerment Through Predevelopment Act. This legislation would improve support for capacity building and early-stage project development activities to ensure inclusive economic growth across communities.

Predevelopment activities are projects that must be completed prior to construction to advance infrastructure and development projects from concept to reality. This includes planning and design, community asset mapping, training, technical assistance, feasibility and environmental studies, demonstration projects, permitting, and organizational capacity building.

This bill would enhance the Economic Development Administration's role in the initial stages of a project by authorizing the Agency to make grants and cooperative agreements for predevelopment activities and capacity building purposes.

Many underserved, low-income, and rural communities simply do not have the institutions, expertise, or capacity to plan, design, coordinate, or implement new economic development initiatives. Building an inclusive economy requires policies for comprehensive economic development plans that better equip our communities to sustain and grow investments, leverage community-based assets, and diversify local economies to withstand potential disruptions.

Additional support for predevelopment projects would also allow for more intentional investments and longer term sustainability in local economies by preventing costly mistakes or unwise investments.

Since the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress, State and local governments, as well as community organizations, have increasingly turned to EDA and economic development districts for assistance in predevelopment activities. This legislation will strengthen the Agency's work in this space.

I thank Senator Cassidy for introducing this important legislation with me in the Senate. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill for the economic empowerment of our communities.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 Act.

This legislation would permit individuals who have lived in the United States continuously for at least 7 years to file for lawful permanent residence here.

The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 Act will provide long-term residents of the U.S. a path to lawful permanent residence.

Specifically, this bill would amend the existing Registry mechanism in the Immigration and Nationality Act by opening the application to register permanent or adjust status to long-term residents who have lived in the United States for at least 7 years at the time of filing.

This bill would also allow long-term residents who have been in the United States for at least 7 years, waiting patiently for a visa number to become available, to immediately file an application to register permanent or adjust status.

This legislation has the added benefit of creating a much needed pathway to permanent residency for Dreamers and forcibly displaced individuals, such as TPS holders, who have been stuck in legal limbo for years.

By making the eligibility cutoff rolling, this bill would also preempt the need for Congress to repeatedly update the Registry's cutoff date to a specific year of entry into the United States.

There is strong precedent for Congress to advance the Registry date, which it has done on a bipartisan basis four times since it first codified the Registry in 1929. In 1958, Congress opened the Registry mechanism to long-term residents of the United States who had entered the country improperly, overstayed a visa, or otherwise violated the terms of a temporary period of entry. Congress clearly intended the Registry to allow undocumented immigrants to adjust to lawful permanent resident status.

Currently, the eligibility cutoff date for the Registry is January 1, 1972, more than 50 years ago. Just a handful of immigrants can currently satisfy this cutoff entry date requirement, rendering the 1972 entry cutoff all but meaningless. From 2015 to 2019, only 305 individuals adjusted their status based on the Registry, compared to the 58,914 individuals who did so between 1985 and 1989. If this legislation passed today, over 8 million individuals--who are already living in the United States and have longstanding ties to their communities--would become eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Registry.

Today, about 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States. It is not feasible or productive to remove all of them, and it would significantly hurt the U.S. economy to do so. The overwhelming majority of these undocumented immigrants have established roots in the United States and are law-abiding citizens. They are integral parts of our communities who work essential jobs, pay taxes, and even serve in our military. Leaving them without a path to permanent residency relegates them to second-class status and denies them the opportunity to fulfill the American Dream.

It is imperative that we create a path to permanent residence status for immigrants who lack certainty about their futures.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Water Efficiency, Conservation, and Sustainability Act of 2023. This legislation would authorize $550 million for the Environmental Protection Agency to address water inefficiencies and losses in public water systems.

Every year, household leaks waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water nationwide, increasing water bills and wasting water meant for critical drinking water and clean water uses.

The Water Efficiency, Conservation, and Sustainability Act of 2023 creates a suite of options for States, municipalities, water systems, and Tribal nations to address water inefficiencies and losses in public water systems and to support leak reduction as one of the most cost- effective urban water management tools we have.

Leaking pipes waste an estimated 17 percent of water before a drop reaches a consumer's faucet. In my home State of California, 8 percent is wasted in a State that cannot afford any waste as we face increasingly unpredictable weather whiplash between drought and flooding.

Water efficiency is the most cost-effective way to ensure clean, affordable drinking water for communities across the country. Much like energy efficiency measures, improving water efficiency saves consumers money, reduces demand, decreases strain on water supply systems, and saves energy.

Yet Federal spending on energy efficiency and renewable energy in outpaced spending on water efficiency and water reuse by approximately 80 to 1 since 2000, resulting in millions of gallons wasted each year that could otherwise be saved or utilized.

Achieving widespread water efficiency will require both inside-the- home and system upgrades. Fixes at the individual building level can add up to make a big difference. The EPA estimates that installation of water-efficient fixtures and appliances can reduce water use 20 percent and save money for consumers.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided a historic level of water infrastructure investment--including for Bureau of Reclamation States and for wastewater efficiency--but more investment is needed in the water systems that deliver drinking water to our homes and businesses across all States.

As drought continues to impact the Western United States and regions across the country, investing in resilient water supplies is an increasingly urgent priority for States, water systems, and families facing rising water rates.

In a survey completed as part of a 2014 GAO report, 40 out of 50 State water managers expected water shortages in some portion of their State in the next decade. Improving water efficiency saves money, saves energy, and helps ensure a more resilient water supply.

I would like to thank my House colead, Congressman Levin, for championing this effort with me, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Water Efficiency, Conservation, and Sustainability Act of 2023.

Madam President, I rise in support of the Housing for All Act of 2023, which I introduced today.

Our Nation's homelessness and affordable housing crises have reached a breaking point. As of January 2022, over 580,000 individuals in the United States--disproportionately people of color--experienced homelessness. The rate of homelessness has increased by 6 percent since 2017. In Los Angeles County alone, the mortality rate for people experiencing homelessness increased by 55 percent between 2019 to 2021.

The lack of adequate Federal investment in affordable housing and housing assistance programs contributes to these crises. There is currently a shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental homes in the United States. According to a recent National Low Income Housing Coalition report, no State or county exists where a person working 40 hours a week and earning the State or local minimum wage can afford to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment, and 86 percent of all low-income renters in the Nation are considered cost-burdened, spending more than 30 percent of their income on just housing costs alone.

The affordable housing and homelessness crises are not just a Democrat problem or an urban problem but impact every Senator's State. From our metropolitan areas to our rural heartlands, our constituents everywhere feel the real impact of housing unaffordability. And it is time for the Federal Government to step up, partner with our State and local governments alongside service providers on the ground and other stakeholders, and invest in solving these problems at a rate commensurate with the need.

I am proud to reintroduce this bill, which represents a comprehensive approach to tackling housing and homelessness. If enacted, it would invest in and align Federal resources to support people experiencing housing instability. To address the affordable housing and homelessness crises, we must invest in proven policies that support strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and ensure quality, affordable homes for all.

Specifically, this bill will address the affordable housing shortage by investing in the housing trust fund, the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program, and the HOME Program. It establishes a commission to focus on racial equity in housing and homelessness.

The bill will address homelessness by investing in housing choice vouchers, project-based rental assistance, emergency solutions grants, and continuums of care. It also builds on locally-developed and -driven approaches by creating new grant programs to strengthen mobile crisis intervention teams; to support hotel and motel conversions to permanent supportive housing with services; to aid libraries in supporting persons experiencing homelessness; to provide people living in vehicles with a safe place to park overnight and facilitate a transition to stable housing; and to coordinate behavioral health care with homelessness services. And it commissions a report on the connection between evictions and emergency rental assistance during the pandemic, so we can make smarter policies moving forward.

When I have traveled around California--from Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire to the Central Valley, San Diego, and San Francisco-- to better understand the needs for housing in different communities, some key elements stood out. On the production side, there is a need for more dedicated funding for affordable housing from the Federal Government. There is also missing middle-income housing for families, especially people of color. And there is not enough housing near transit. That is why my bill focuses on supporting inclusive, transit- oriented development. When I talked to researchers about keeping families housed, one main point they made is that we don't have enough data on renters and evictions, and that is why I wanted to include a section of the bill on data--so we can make evidence-based policies.

Right now, the cost to build low-income housing in California is very high in part because of land and material costs and the fragmented way funding is distributed in California. This is a common problem across the Nation, not just in California. That is why I included a section to provide technical assistance for localities navigating Federal and State housing funding sources.

Affordable housing is essential infrastructure. Every person deserves dignity, security, and a space of their own.

I want to thank Representatives Ted Lieu and Salud Carbajal for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in supporting this comprehensive solution to our nationwide affordable housing and homelessness crises.

Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Voice for Farm Workers Act of 2023, which I introduced today.

Farmworkers feed our Nation. This is especially true in California, agricultural heart of the Nation. California is the most successful State in agricultural production and has the largest population of farmworkers. During COVID-19, a time of incredible hardship, farmworkers put food on the tables of millions of Americans despite working in extreme conditions and facing deep-rooted inequities.

Right now, just one person is statutorily dedicated to serving as a liaison between farmworkers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture--the Farmworker Coordinator. While the 2008 farm bill created this position, Congress has never provided the proper resources to support or staff this position. The 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture Equity Commission Interim Report even included a strong recommendation for the USDA to fund and elevate roles for professional staff solely dedicated to farmworkers' concerns and perspectives.

It is time that we support the USDA staff who are dedicated to integrating the valuable perspectives of farmworkers into the decisions that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of these workers.

That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which would expand the current role of USDA Farmworker Coordinator to allow for the Coordinator to create recommendations for new initiatives and programs, collaborate within the Department on programmatic and policy decisions that related to farm and food system workers, and allow for the employment of additional staff to support the Coordinator in their duties.

This bill would include additional entities for the Farmworker Coordinator to consult with, including institutions of higher education, local education agencies, and community-based nonprofit organizations, to increase outreach efforts and ensure that more farmworkers in more communities can be heard.

As we work towards passing this year's farm bill, I urge my colleagues to consider the farmworkers who keep our families and communities fed and healthy.

Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act of 2023, which I introduced today.

Farm and food system workers feed our Nation. We know this well in California--the agricultural heart of the Nation--where we have one of the largest populations of farmworkers and food system workers in the United States. Throughout pandemic, these workers put food on our tables and kept our grocery store shelves stocked--despite facing deep- rooted inequities in the workforce and often experiencing food insecurity themselves.

Right now, just one person in the entire Federal Government is statutorily dedicated to serving as a liaison between farmworkers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture--the Farmworker Coordinator. While the 2008 farm bill created this position, Congress has never provided the proper resources to support or staff this position. The 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture Equity Commission Interim Report even included a strong recommendation for USDA to fund and elevate roles for professional staff solely dedicated to farmworkers' concerns and perspectives.

It is time that we give those who provide the food for our Nation a voice in the national conversation. We must give farm and food system workers a dedicated office within the USDA to integrate their invaluable perspectives into the decisions that directly affect their lives and livelihoods.

That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which will create the USDA Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce to not only serve as a liaison for farm and food system workers but also to provide a platform for their concerns and interests to assist in the creation of recommendations and new initiatives for the Department.

The bill would also create a Farm and Food System Worker Advisory Committee, composed of a diverse cross-section of members representing these workers' varied interests and perspectives, such as workers themselves, labor unions, higher education professionals, civil rights advocates, women worker focused groups, and trusted community-based nonprofits.

The legislation would also establish a Farm and Food System Workforce Interagency Council comprised of representatives from various Federal Agencies to improve coordination, planning, program development, and policymaking across Cabinet-level leadership. The Office will also appoint staff to various USDA entities to serve as liaisons on matters related to farm and food system workers within the Department.

Finally, the bill would require annual, publicly available reports in multiple languages about the Office's work in the past year, including recommendations to improve the work and livelihood of farm and food system workers, climate change impacts on the food system, and the barriers workers face in accessing Federal programs.

During this year's Farm Bill, I urge my colleagues to remember the workers behind the American food system, the workers who keep our families and communities fed and healthy. These workers deserve a seat at the table.

Madam President, I rise to introduce the Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act of 2023. This legislation would allow specialty crop producers to access critical disaster relief programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Increasingly frequent and catastrophic floods, fires, freezes, and other disasters are threatening the long-term sustainability of agriculture across the country.

The impact has been particularly acute for California's agricultural communities, who face year-round threats from drought, heat, floods, and fires.

To ensure producers can get back on their feet following natural disasters, the farm bill authorizes a number of safety net programs. But these programs simply don't work for specialty crop producers, who, despite facing the same challenges posed by extreme weather as other growers, are excluded from meaningful participation in USDA disaster programs based on the application of outdated adjusted gross income, AGI, limitations.

As a result, producers from California to Florida are excluded from accessing critical disaster programs.

The Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act would codify flexibility used in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to waive the AGI limitation for producers that derive 75 percent of their income from farming, ranching, or related farming practices.

What are referred to as specialty crops are just that--special. Specialty crops, which include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, are cultivated for food, medicine, and aesthetic purposes, requiring overall higher inputs and specialized processes for planting, growing, and harvesting.

Did you know that it costs more than $30,000 to produce an acre of strawberries? The cost of production for specialty crops is typically thousands of dollars per acre.

As a result, both large and small producers of specialty crops end up exceeding the AGI limitations put in place to means-test critical disaster assistance.

That is why we need to pass the Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act to ensure farmers and ranchers can access agricultural safety net programs in the wake of increasingly more frequent and catastrophic disasters.

I would like to thank Senator Tillis for joining me to introduce this bill, as well as Congressman Panetta for championing this bill in the House.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act as quickly as possible.