Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``Ending the Diagnostic Odyssey Act.'' This legislation gives States the option of providing whole genome sequencing (WGS) clinical services through edicaid for children with a disease that is suspected to have a genetic cause, at an enhanced Federal matching rate for three years. I am pleased to be joined by Senators Kelly and Menendez.

Children with rare diseases will spend on average five to seven years on a diagnostic odyssey, and 30 percent of

those children will not survive beyond the age of five years old. The average patient sees seven different physicians in that time. The wait to find a cause--never mind a cure--can be excruciating. Parents try to project a calm and reassuring presence for their child while facing a whirlwind of doctor appointments, hospital visits, and unanswered questions.

Undeniably, we are making progress in both accelerating research funding for rare diseases as well as in the development of diagnostics. In 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched a program called the Undiagnosed Disease Network (UDN). In its first 20 months, the UDN accepted 601 participants undiagnosed by traditional medical practices. Of those who completed their UDN evaluation during this time, 35% were given a diagnosis. Many of these diagnoses were rare genetic diseases including 31 previously unknown syndromes.

In May 2019, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, wrote a blog post on how whole genome sequencing-- combined with artificial intelligence (AI)--can now be used to diagnose genetic diseases in seriously ill babies in fewer than 24 hours. Dr. Collins writes ``I would submit that there is no other technology in the history of planet Earth that has experienced this degree of progress in speed and affordability.''

For parents of children with an undiagnosed illness, answers cannot come soon enough. There are approximately 7,000 rare diseases known today. Approximately 80 percent of rare diseases are genetic, and about one-half of all rare diseases affect children. For example, Alstrom syndrome is an extremely rare and complex genetic disorder. Approximately 1200 affected individuals have been identified worldwide, which makes a obtaining a correct diagnosis challenging. Characteristics of Alstrom syndrome include vision disturbances, sensorineural hearing impairment, cardiomyopathy, obesity, kidney dysfunction, and diabetes. Robin Marshall, Executive Director of the Alstrom Syndrome International, located in Mount Desert Island, Maine, has said that ``Whole Genome Sequencing has changed the lives of those we represent by enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis, fostering more timely and appropriate medical care, and unlocking a host of social services to combat the educational and psycho-social complications that our children confront.''

By giving states an incentive to provide whole genome sequencing for eligible children through Medicaid, my legislation will ensure that more children and their families can obtain the right diagnosis and treatment from the start. The ``Ending the Diagnostic Odyssey Act'' has the support of more than one hundred patient advocacy organizations, including Alstrom Syndrome International, the Genetic Alliance, the Personalized Medicine Coalition, and many others. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam President, I rise today to applaud the swift, unanimous Senate passage last night of the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks Act, or the HAVANA Act. This bill will provide much needed assistance to the employees of the Intelligence Community, the State Department, and other Federal Agencies who have suffered from often debilitating brain injuries at the hands of our foreign adversaries. Too often, these injured public servants have had to battle the bureaucracy to receive the medical care they desperately require.

I am very pleased today to be joined on the Senate floor by the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Warner. He has been relentless in his pursuit of care for these injured public servants who risk their lives for us, who serve in difficult and dangerous environments. Senator Warner and the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Rubio, and Senator Shaheen of New Hampshire worked with me to draft the bill that the Senate unanimously cleared last night.

We are very pleased that the following Senators cosponsored our legislation: Senators Cornyn, Bennet, Burr, Gillibrand, Blunt, Heinrich, Sasse, Feinstein, Cotton, King, Risch, Durbin, Scott, Menendez, Blumenthal, and Hassan. I mentioned those cosponsors to show the breadth of concern in the Senate about these injured employees.

For several years, American personnel serving our country in Cuba, China, and elsewhere have experienced unexplained, serious medical harm, including, in some cases, permanent brain injuries. Their conditions are believed to be the consequence of a mysterious, directed energy weapon used by an adversary.

As we investigate the source of previous attacks and seek to prevent future ones, the bill that passed the Senate last night would provide additional medical care and financial compensation to Americans who continue to experience debilitating symptoms as a result of these heinous attacks.

The injuries that many of these victims have endured are significant and life-altering. I have talked with many of these victims. They have described debilitating headaches, a loss of vision, a decreased ability to hear, dizziness, and many other symptoms as well, including a decline in their cognitive abilities. In some cases, they have been forced to medically retire. In other cases, they somehow continue on while coping with these symptoms.

I have spoken several times to CIA Director Burns and the Director of National Intelligence, Haines, about these attacks, and I am heartened by the commitments that they have made to me and to other members of the Senate Intelligence Committee to care for the victims and to identify the perpetrators and the weapon used in these attacks.

We can speculate. We have our suspicions. But the fact is, we do not know exactly what the weapon is nor who is wielding it. We need a whole-of-government approach to identify the adversary who is targeting our American personnel, and I am grateful to the chairman and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who I know are committed to getting to the bottom of these attacks.

I hope, when President Biden meets with President Putin, that he will ask President Putin about these attacks, that he will grill him about them to see if the Russians are responsible. At this point, we don't know.

The public servants who work in our embassies and consulates overseas make many personal sacrifices to represent America's interests. They deserve our unwavering support when they are harmed in the line of duty, just as we care for soldiers who are injured on the battlefield. Last night, we took an important step in that direction.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce legislation with my colleague from Maryland, Senator Ben Cardin, to increase access to preventive bone density screenings and to improve osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment in the process.

May is National Osteoporosis month. Approximately 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass. Women are disproportionally affected, accounting for 71 percent of osteoporotic fractures and 75 percent of health costs related to osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is often called ``the silent disease'' because bone loss usually occurs gradually over the years without symptoms. As the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center observes, falls are especially dangerous for people who are unaware that they have low bone density. If the patient and the doctor fail to identify the link between the broken bone and osteoporosis, the chance to make a diagnosis with a bone density test and begin a treatment program may be lost.

Our legislation, the Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2021, tackles a proven barrier to proper screening by creating a floor reimbursement rate under Medicare for the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test, the ``gold standard'' for osteoporosis diagnosis.

Congress has twice recognized the importance of reversing Medicare cuts to DXA reimbursement in order to maintain patient access to this test, yet the Medicare reimbursement rate for DXA tests administered in a doctor's office has declined from $140 in 2006 to only $42 in 2018--a dramatic 70 percent decline. It is not surprising that this inadequate reimbursement has led to a decline in screenings.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation has found that declining reimbursement rates have created a 26 percent decline in physicians performing DXA tests since 2008, resulting in a corresponding 22 percent decline in diagnoses since 2009.

Regrettably, the result of reduced screenings due to declining reimbursements produces real harm. It is estimated that more than 40,000 additional hip fractures occur each year, resulting in nearly 10,000 additional hip fracture-related deaths. Keep in mind that these painful and costly fractures, and even deaths, are all occurring at a time when early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis are proven to reduce fracture rates dramatically.

With osteoporosis already an under-diagnosed condition in the Medicare population, it is clear that we must change this trajectory I thank Senator Cardin for joining me in this effort to increase patient access to osteoporosis screening and diagnosis, while lowering cost and consequences resulting from a lack of diagnosis. I encourage my colleagues to support its adoption. Thank you, Mr. President.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks Act, the HAVANA Act. Our bill would provide assistance to the employees of the intelligence community and other Federal Agencies who have suffered from traumatic brain injuries at the hands of our foreign adversaries.

I am joined today by a bipartisan group of cosponsors, including Senators Warner and Rubio, the chairman and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Senators Shaheen, Cornyn, Bennet, Burr, Gillibrand, Blunt, Heinrich, Sasse, Feinstein, Cotton, King, and Risch. Most of those are members of the Intelligence Committee, and they share my deep concern and my determination to get to the bottom of what has happened to these brave men and women who have been attacked.

For many years, American personnel serving in Cuba, China, and elsewhere have experienced unexplained, serious medical harm, including, in some cases, permanent brain injuries. These conditions are believed to be connected to a mysterious direct energy weapon used by those who are our adversaries.

As we investigate the source of previous attacks and seek to prevent future ones, the bill that I am introducing today would provide additional financial assistance to Americans who were injured and who continue to experience debilitating symptoms. Too many of the victims have had to fight to get the medical care they need for their injuries. This is completely unacceptable.

Last year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report on the more than 40 American diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, and at least a dozen American diplomats at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China, who suffered symptoms ``consistent with the effects of directed, pulsed radiofrequency energy.'' Just this month, the New York Times reported that the number of American personnel who have fallen ill under these mystifying circumstances is much higher, possibly more than 130 cases. Now, we are even hearing reports of cases occurring within the United States.

The injuries that many of these victims have endured are significant and life-altering. These attacks have left Americans serving our country with damage that ranges in severity but can include reduced balance, eyesight, and hearing. Some have severe, permanent headaches. Others have brain injuries that have resulted in reduced cognitive function. Many of them can no longer perform their jobs and have been forced to medically retire.

To make matters worse, some of the victims did not receive the financial and medical support they should have expected from their government when they first reported their injuries. This is an outrageous failure on the part of our government to care for those who serve.

Our bill would give additional authority to the CIA Director and to the Secretary of State to provide financial support to these Americans who experience traumatic brain injuries from attacks that occur while serving our country. Due to limitations in the current law, several victims suffering from cognitive impairment are not receiving all of the medical care and other assistance they need to cope with the impacts of their injuries. The authorities provided in the HAVANA Act will help to rectify this problem.

I have spoken personally with some of the victims of these heinous attacks. This is a group who unfortunately is growing in number. To those victims, I want to pledge to them today that, along with the cosponsors of our bill, I am totally committed to making sure that our government finds out who is responsible for these devastating attacks, and I further pledge to the victims that you will receive the financial support and medical care that you deserve.

I have spoken several times to CIA Director Burns about these attacks, and I am heartened by his commitment and his attitude. He has made commitments to the Senate Intelligence Committee, as has the Director of National Intelligence, to care for these victims and to get to the bottom of these attacks.

We need a whole-of-government approach to identify the heartless adversary who is deliberately targeting American personnel.

The public servants who work in our Embassies and Consulates and in other locations overseas make many personal sacrifices to represent America's interests. They deserve our strong support when they are harmed in the line of duty, just as we care for soldiers who are injured on the battlefield.

I hope all of my colleagues will join us in supporting this vital legislation.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2021, along with my colleague from Michigan, Senator Peters. Our bill would expand Medicare beneficiaries' access to Medical Nutrition Therapy, or MNT, which is a cost-effective component of treatment for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and other chronic conditions. At a time when we have seen many diet-related chronic conditions contribute to poor COVID-19 outcomes, increasing access to MNT should be part of the strategy to improve disease management and prevention for America's seniors. The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act would make two important changes to support patients, improve health outcomes, and reduce unnecessary health care costs.

First, it would expand Medicare Part B coverage of outpatient medical nutrition therapy services to a number of currently uncovered diseases or conditions--including prediabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, malnutrition, eating disorders, cancer, HIV/AIDS, gastrointestinal diseases including celiac disease, and cardiovascular disease. Currently, Medicare Part B only covers outpatient MNT for diabetes, renal disease, and post-kidney transplant.

Second, the bill would allow more types of providers--including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, and psychologists--to refer patients to MNT. This is especially critical for a rural state like Maine where a NP or PA may be one's trusted primary care provider.

MNT counseling is provided by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) as part of a collaborative health care team. It is evidenced- based and proven to positively affect weight, blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar control. Nutritional counseling by RDNs is recommended by the National Lipid Association to promote long-term adherence to an individualized, heart-healthy diet. Through MNT, individuals benefit from in-depth, individualized nutrition assessments. Follow-up visits help reinforce important behavior and lifestyle changes and increase compliance.

Seniors deserve improved access to this cost-effective medical treatment, but many older adults are missing out under the current Medicare policy. Marcy Kyle, a RDN from Rockport, Maine, has seen many patients denied access to medically necessary MNT. One of her patients with prediabetes was referred by his primary care physician for MNT at age 64. At that time, his private insurance covered the service, and he booked the first available appointment the following week. That same week, this patient turned 65 and transitioned onto Medicare. You can imagine his surprise upon arriving for his appointment and learning that MNT would not be covered. Fortunately for that patient, the outpatient facility changed its process to prevent similar situations, but this example demonstrates how the current restrictions can be detrimental for older adults at a critical juncture in their journey to better health.

Another unfortunate example from Maine was a patient with a new Celiac Disease diagnosis complicated by severe weight loss. His private insurance covered MNT as Celiac Disease is a controllable disease with proper nutrition. But when transitioning from private insurance to Medicare, this patient, too, lost his access to MNT. This truly is a lost opportunity since we know early treatment with MNT can prevent future and more serious health complications and chronic conditions in older adults. Conditions such as prediabetes and Celiac Disease should be covered.

The health and financial crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic makes access to MNT even more important. Seniors with diet-related conditions have suffered more than any other population in terms of experiencing the worst health outcomes, including death. According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data, among those hospitalized with COVID-19, 84 percent of patients had hypertension, 68 percent had hyperlipidemia, 51 percent had diabetes, and 35 percent of patients were obese. Tragically, many of these patients were never able to leave the hospital because they passed away. In addition to the human cost, there is a financial one: the impact on the Medicare program.

This should not come as a surprise since the health and economic impact of chronic diseases is staggering. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of the $3.5 trillion that the United States spends annually on health care goes to the treatment of people with chronic diseases and mental health conditions. Preventing chronic diseases, or managing symptoms when prevention is not possible, is one way to reduce these costs. This is particularly important for the Medicare program as more than two-thirds of seniors on Medicare live with multiple chronic conditions. As one Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Maine told me, ``we all know a dollar spent on prevention saves many health care dollars in the long run and is the right thing to do for our seniors at a time when they have limited budgets.''

The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2021 is supported by nearly 50 national organizations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Diabetes Association, the Endocrine Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and UsAgainstAlzheimer's.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation to improve access to cost-effective medical treatment for Medicare patients with chronic diseases.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of Senator

Shaheen's amendment. I urge its adoption.

Representing, as I do, a State where there are a great number of people who receive their drinking water from wells, it is really important that we extend this program to identify contaminants there.

Mr. President, today I am pleased to be joined by my friend and colleague from Delaware, Senator Chris Coons, to reintroduce the Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2021. Our legislation would make it the policy of the United States to lead an effort to end preventable deaths of mothers, newborns, and young children in the developing world by 2030.

For years Sen. Coons and I have led efforts to ensure robust funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development's maternal and child health programing, which have formed the backbone of the U.S. commitment to help end preventable child and maternal deaths globally.

Due in part to American leadership and generosity, many lives have already been saved. Nevertheless, far too many mothers, newborns, and young children under the age of five continue to succumb to disease and malnutrition that could easily be prevented. The impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbating these gaps and disproportionately affecting the world's most vulnerable, undermining decades of progress.

Nearly 300,000 women die annually from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, a significant proportion of deaths of children under the age of five occur in the first 28 days after birth, with newborns accounting for nearly 50 percent of all under-five deaths. In 2019, 5.2 million children under the age of five died from mainly preventable and treatable diseases.

Our bill aims to reach these mothers and children with simple, proven, cost-effective interventions that we know will help them survive. A concentrated effort could end preventable maternal and child deaths worldwide by the year 2030, but continued U.S. leadership and support from the international community are critical to success.

To achieve this ambitious goal, our bill would require the implementation of a strategy focused on bringing to scale the highest impact, evidence-based interventions, with a focus on country and community ownership. These interventions would be specific to each country's needs and include support for the most vulnerable populations. We do not have to guess at what interventions will work-- the reality is that thousands of children die each day of conditions we know today how to treat.

These life-saving interventions include clean birthing practices, vaccines, nutritional supplements, hand-washing with soap, and other basic needs that remain elusive for far too many women and children in developing countries. This must change.

In addition, our bill proposes the establishment a Maternal and Child Survival Coordinator at USAID who would focus on implementing the five- year strategy and verifying that the most

effective interventions are being scaled up in target countries. The bill would improve government efficiency across several agencies that would collaborate with the Coordinator to identify and promote the most effective interventions to end preventable maternal and child deaths globally.

To promote transparency and greater accountability, our bill also would also require detailed public reporting on progress toward implementing the strategy.

Other bipartisan initiatives, such as the successful President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which was started by President George W. Bush, demonstrate that results driven interventions can turn the tide for global health challenges. Applying lessons learned from past initiatives, our bill would provide the focus and the tools necessary to accelerate progress toward ending preventable maternal and child deaths.

I urge my colleagues to join Senator Coons and me in supporting this legislation that will save the lives of mothers and children around the world.

Mr. President, today I am pleased to be joined by my friend and colleague from Delaware, Senator Chris Coons, to reintroduce the Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2021. Our legislation would make it the policy of the United States to lead an effort to end preventable deaths of mothers, newborns, and young children in the developing world by 2030.

For years Sen. Coons and I have led efforts to ensure robust funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development's maternal and child health programing, which have formed the backbone of the U.S. commitment to help end preventable child and maternal deaths globally.

Due in part to American leadership and generosity, many lives have already been saved. Nevertheless, far too many mothers, newborns, and young children under the age of five continue to succumb to disease and malnutrition that could easily be prevented. The impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbating these gaps and disproportionately affecting the world's most vulnerable, undermining decades of progress.

Nearly 300,000 women die annually from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, a significant proportion of deaths of children under the age of five occur in the first 28 days after birth, with newborns accounting for nearly 50 percent of all under-five deaths. In 2019, 5.2 million children under the age of five died from mainly preventable and treatable diseases.

Our bill aims to reach these mothers and children with simple, proven, cost-effective interventions that we know will help them survive. A concentrated effort could end preventable maternal and child deaths worldwide by the year 2030, but continued U.S. leadership and support from the international community are critical to success.

To achieve this ambitious goal, our bill would require the implementation of a strategy focused on bringing to scale the highest impact, evidence-based interventions, with a focus on country and community ownership. These interventions would be specific to each country's needs and include support for the most vulnerable populations. We do not have to guess at what interventions will work-- the reality is that thousands of children die each day of conditions we know today how to treat.

These life-saving interventions include clean birthing practices, vaccines, nutritional supplements, hand-washing with soap, and other basic needs that remain elusive for far too many women and children in developing countries. This must change.

In addition, our bill proposes the establishment a Maternal and Child Survival Coordinator at USAID who would focus on implementing the five- year strategy and verifying that the most

effective interventions are being scaled up in target countries. The bill would improve government efficiency across several agencies that would collaborate with the Coordinator to identify and promote the most effective interventions to end preventable maternal and child deaths globally.

To promote transparency and greater accountability, our bill also would also require detailed public reporting on progress toward implementing the strategy.

Other bipartisan initiatives, such as the successful President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which was started by President George W. Bush, demonstrate that results driven interventions can turn the tide for global health challenges. Applying lessons learned from past initiatives, our bill would provide the focus and the tools necessary to accelerate progress toward ending preventable maternal and child deaths.

I urge my colleagues to join Senator Coons and me in supporting this legislation that will save the lives of mothers and children around the world.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the Justice for the Living victims of Lockerbie Act. This bill would create a process to seek justice for a group Pan American World Airways pilots who lost their careers and pensions following the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, and the subsequent bankruptcy and closure of Pan Am.

On December 21, 1988, the State of Libya committed an infamous act of terror by bombing Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 innocent civilians. Despite Pan Am's greatly improved financial position in 1988, the media coverage of the terrorist attack wreaked havoc on Pan Am sales leading to its bankruptcy in 1991.

In 2008, the U.S. entered into the U.S.-Libya Humanitarian Settlement Agreement, in which Libya paid $ 1.5 billion to settle claims by U.S. citizens for Libyan-sponsored terrorism. After payments by the State Department to families of death victims from Lockerbie and the La Belle Disco bombing in Germany, compensation to other victims was to be determined by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. The Commission could only consider further claims referred to it by the State Department.

One of these claimants was a group of senior Pan Am pilots, most of whom were veterans, who were over the age of 50 and lost and livelihoods when Pan Am went bankrupt and closed. Due to the federally required retirement age of 60 at that time, and the airline industry's seniority system, they were unable to get new pilot jobs with other airlines. Two of these pilots reside in Maine--Ron Fitch of Poland Spring and Schafer Bean of Diamond Cove--and I have heard their stories and their pleas for justice on behalf of their own families and the others who suffered as a result of Libya's acts of terrorism.

Mr. Fitch served nearly ten years in the Air Force and flew rescue helicopters during the Vietnam War. Mr. Bean served in the Navy where he was stationed at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station during the 1960's. Both of these veterans told me that lost their jobs, pensions, health care, and savings as a result of the Pan Am bombing.

This group's initial lawsuit against Libya, which had been joined with the families of those who died at

Lockerbie, was dismissed by the courts due to sovereign immunity. Following the 2008 settlement agreement with Libya, the group of pilots approached the State Department in 2009 seeking the necessary referral to have their claims heard by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. For more than four years the State Department failed to refer the group's claims to the Commission, but following bipartisan letters to then-Secretaries Clinton and Kerry signed by myself and more than 60 other members of Congress, the State Department finally referred the claims in 2013.

After an initial denial of claims in a preliminary ruling by the Commission in July 2016, the group of pilots was granted a hearing in December 2016. So many of the pilots and their families attended the hearing that it was moved to a U.S. District Court courtroom in Washington, D.C. Three senior Pan Am executives testified at the hearing, including the former Pan Am CEO, Thomas Plaskett; former Pan Am Senior Vice President for Finance, Ramesh Punwani; and former Pan Am Vice President of Strategic Planning, Peter Pappas. Each explained why the Lockerbie bombing and the subsequent media coverage directly caused the airline's collapse.

In January 2018, more than a year following that hearing, the Commission ruled against the pilots. Using an undefined standard of proof and applying international law, the Commission argued that Pan Am's demise was not caused by the Lockerbie bombing, contrary to the testimony of the former Pan Am executives themselves. The pilots' referred claim was the very last of the Libya claims adjudicated by the Commission, and the Libya settlement fund is now exhausted from the claims it approved prior to the final adjudication of the pilots' claims.

Mr. President, these terrorism victims were denied an opportunity to even make their case for four years by the Department of State, and when finally referred to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, they were forced to wait another three years for a preliminary ruling and another two years for a final decision, by which point the Commission had already awarded claims that essentially exhausted the settlement funds provided by Libya. That simply is not fair, and I believe these Mainers and other Americans deserve a quick and fair process to compensate them for their losses.

I urge my colleagues to join me in working toward justice for all of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing perpetrated by Libya.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague from Michigan, Senator Peters, in introducing the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act, known as the AFTER Act, to promote the adoption or retirement of animals used for research by Federal agencies.

In fiscal year 2019, the Federal government experimented on approximately 38,000 animals for research purposes. These experiments occurred across fourteen different federal agencies. The animals used were mainly cats, dogs, monkeys, and rabbits. Tracking these animals following experimentation is challenging. In many instances, animals no longer needed for research are killed since many agencies lack formal retirement or adoption policies. Recent peer-reviewed studies indicate that research animals that are adopted, however, often thrive in their new environments.

In 2013, led by Senators Harkin, Alexander, Cantwell and myself, the Senate passed the CHIMP Act, which allowed for the retirement of hundreds of primates that were formerly used in National Institute of Health (NIH) experiments. In addition, the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, FDA, and NIH recently enacted successful animal retirement policies. While I am encouraged by the Senate's past work on primates and the recent policies developed by a few Federal agencies, there are many other Federal agencies, including the Agriculture Department, NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, that lack formal policies for animals used in experiments.

The AFTER Act builds on successful policies at DOD, VA, and NIH by directing all Federal agencies to promulgate regulations that would facilitate the retirement of laboratory animals. The bill provides flexibility for each agency to devise its own policy, with the goal of ensuring that such animals, whenever possible, are retired and not killed. Additionally, the AFTER Act requires that animals be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian and pronounced both mentally and physically healthy before leaving an agency. This will help ensure a smooth transition to a new environment.

Our legislation also encourages Federal agencies to work with non- profit organizations to help place retired animals in sanctuaries and shelters across the country, not just those closest to the research facility. This would allow a State like Maine, which does not have Federal research labs that use animals, to play a role in retiring these animals and providing homes for them.

Mr. President, animals that are suitable for adoption or retirement should not be killed by our Federal government. The AFTER Act would provide the necessary direction Federal agencies need in order to move forward with developing retirement policies. I urge all of my colleagues to join in support of this important bipartisan legislation, the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague from Michigan, Senator Peters, in introducing the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act, known as the AFTER Act, to promote the adoption or retirement of animals used for research by Federal agencies.

In fiscal year 2019, the Federal government experimented on approximately 38,000 animals for research purposes. These experiments occurred across fourteen different federal agencies. The animals used were mainly cats, dogs, monkeys, and rabbits. Tracking these animals following experimentation is challenging. In many instances, animals no longer needed for research are killed since many agencies lack formal retirement or adoption policies. Recent peer-reviewed studies indicate that research animals that are adopted, however, often thrive in their new environments.

In 2013, led by Senators Harkin, Alexander, Cantwell and myself, the Senate passed the CHIMP Act, which allowed for the retirement of hundreds of primates that were formerly used in National Institute of Health (NIH) experiments. In addition, the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, FDA, and NIH recently enacted successful animal retirement policies. While I am encouraged by the Senate's past work on primates and the recent policies developed by a few Federal agencies, there are many other Federal agencies, including the Agriculture Department, NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, that lack formal policies for animals used in experiments.

The AFTER Act builds on successful policies at DOD, VA, and NIH by directing all Federal agencies to promulgate regulations that would facilitate the retirement of laboratory animals. The bill provides flexibility for each agency to devise its own policy, with the goal of ensuring that such animals, whenever possible, are retired and not killed. Additionally, the AFTER Act requires that animals be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian and pronounced both mentally and physically healthy before leaving an agency. This will help ensure a smooth transition to a new environment.

Our legislation also encourages Federal agencies to work with non- profit organizations to help place retired animals in sanctuaries and shelters across the country, not just those closest to the research facility. This would allow a State like Maine, which does not have Federal research labs that use animals, to play a role in retiring these animals and providing homes for them.

Mr. President, animals that are suitable for adoption or retirement should not be killed by our Federal government. The AFTER Act would provide the necessary direction Federal agencies need in order to move forward with developing retirement policies. I urge all of my colleagues to join in support of this important bipartisan legislation, the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experiments, and Research Act.

Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 250th birthday of the town of Winslow, ME. Winslow is a town with a fascinating history and a bright future, connected by generations of hard-working and caring people.

Winslow was incorporated in 1771, but its story began long before. For thousands of years, the land along the great Kennebec River was the home of the Abenaki Tribe, who hunted, fished, and tilled the fertile soil. The reverence the Abenaki had for the natural beauty and resources of the region is upheld by the people of Winslow today.

Winslow's roots run deep into American history. It originally was a Native American settlement called Taconock, meaning ``in the trees.'' Located in central Maine along the mighty Kennebec River, the village was settled by colonists from Plymouth Colony.

Winslow is home to important historical sites. One of those sites, Fort Halifax, the oldest blockhouse in the United States, was constructed by the town's namesake, General John Winslow, in 1754 and named after the Earl of Halifax, Secretary of State of Great Britain. Fort Halifax was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1968.

Today, visitors and residents enjoy this historic site at what is now Fort Halifax Park. This land was once home to industrial and commercial use after a railroad line was built in the 1840s to transport goods from local mills. Years later, the site was developed into a park which is now enjoyed for recreation, picnics, and holiday festivities.

Winslow's Ticonic Footbridge, known by locals as the Two Cent Bridge, is one of the oldest footbridges and the last known toll footbridge in the United States. The bridge, built in 1903, connects the two communities of Winslow and Waterville. For several generations, residents of Winslow crossed the bridge daily to work at the Waterville mills.

Winslow honors the men and women who defend our freedom. Central Maine Veterans Memorial Park was the dream of a group of veterans led by WWII Navy veteran Daniel DeRoch. With the collaboration of town officials, schools, residents, and veterans organizations, this park pays tribute to all who served in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Merchant Marine.

Mr. President, Winslow has played an important role in Maine history, and it continues to exemplify the best of our great State today. I congratulate to the people of Winslow on this landmark anniversary and wish them all the best in the years to come.

Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 250th birthday of the town of Winthrop, ME. This landmark anniversary is a time to celebrate the generations of hard-working and caring people who have made it

such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families.

Originally known as Pondtown Plantation, Winthrop was home to the Abenaki, who thrived along its many lakes and ponds. Those same lakes and ponds would propel Winthrop throughout history, including the historic Winthrop Mills Company's woolen textile mill, and serve as a beautiful backdrop for recreation.

Winthrop's roots run deep into American history. BG Henry Clay Wood, who played a key role in the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri during the Civil War, was born in Winthrop. The philanthropist Charles M. Bailey was also a resident of Winthrop and was very generous to the town, adding to its rich history. Mr. Bailey donated the historic Bailey Public Library, constructed in 1916.

Winthrop is also home to the Cobbossee Lighthouse. When it was constructed in 1908, it was the only inland lighthouse east of the Mississippi.

Maine is known as Vacationland, and Winthrop fits perfectly into that picture. With all of the beautiful ponds and lakes, as well as the 807- foot Mount Pisgah, there is always something to do in Winthrop. The energy and planning going into the town's 250th anniversary celebration demonstrates the pride the townspeople have in their town.

Mr. President, Winthrop's 250th year is a time to celebrate the people who, for longer than America has been a nation, have pulled together, cared for one another, and built a great community. It is a pleasure to offer my congratulations and best wishes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to speak for 5 minutes, as well as Senator Hirono and Senator Cotton for 5 minutes each, prior to the order for 11:30 a.m.

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of Senate amendment No. 1445 that Senator Hirono and I have introduced.

I want to begin by thanking my colleague from Hawaii for working with me on this amendment and acknowledging her leadership. I also want to thank Senators Grassley, Blumenthal, Moran, and Warnock for their contributions as well.

Crimes motivated by bias against race, national origin, or other characteristics simply cannot be tolerated. Our amendment both denounces these acts and marshals additional resources toward addressing and stopping these despicable crimes.

The amendment that the Senator from Hawaii and I are offering today will improve the underlying bill in a number of key ways, while it will affirm our steadfast commitment to stand with the Asian-American, Pacific Islander community against all forms of violence and harassment.

First, our amendment strongly condemns the hate crimes targeting the AAPI community. In the past year, Stop AAPI Hate reported nearly 3,800 cases of anti-Asian discrimination. The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism found that the reporting of anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 145 percent in 16 major cities even though hate crimes declined in those cities overall.

Racially motivated discrimination and violence should never be tolerated.

I want to thank Senator Grassley and Senator Warnock for their contributions to this section of our amendment.

Second, the Hirono-Collins amendment directs the Attorney General to assign a point person at the Department of Justice to expedite the review of these hate crimes and requires the Attorney General to issue guidance to State, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners about how to address them. Our amendment would also improve data collection and expand public awareness about hate crimes and ways to support victims. With better information, we can help prevent these crimes before they occur and assist law enforcement in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Third, our amendment incorporates the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, authored by Senators Blumenthal and Moran. This bipartisan bill, which I have cosponsored, provides State and local governments and law enforcement agencies with additional tools and resources to understand, identify, and report hate crimes. It provides grants to State and local governments for training and for using the FBI's national hate crimes database to create reporting hotlines and to support community engagement around prevention and services for victims. This is important because far too many hate crimes go unreported, and without data, it is difficult to investigate and prosecute them.

Again, let me thank the Senator from Hawaii for her leadership on this amendment. I enjoyed working with her to strengthen and improve the bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it. In doing so, we can send an unmistakably strong signal that crimes targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our country will not be tolerated.

Mr. President, the Senate's passage of this legislation affirms our commitment to stand with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community against hate crimes. I urge a ``yes'' vote

I thank my colleague from Hawaii for working with me to improve the Asian-Americans Hate Crimes Act. Crimes motivated by bias against race, national origin, and other characteristics cannot be tolerated.

The Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism found that reporting of anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 145 percent in 16 major cities, even though hate crimes declined in those cities overall.

The amendment we adopted today and the bill we are about to pass denounces those acts and marshals additional resources toward stopping these despicable crimes. The bill directs the Department of Justice to expedite its review of hate crimes and to issue guidance that will both help prevent them from occurring and improve their reporting.