Susan Collins

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. I yield the floor.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Mrs. COLLINS

Mrs. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my colleagues Senator Cardin, Senator Marshall, and Senator Shaheen, to introduce the Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth (HEAT) Act. This bipartisan bill would help ensure that seniors who rely on home health care have the choice to receive these critical services through telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies. COVID-19 is the greatest public health challenge since the flu pandemic of 1918 and has claimed the lives of more than 565,000 Americans. This public health emergency has underscored the need for older adults and other at-risk populations to have access to health care in the home setting. Home-based care is crucial to ensuring that this pandemic does not create devastating long-term health consequences due to delayed care. The highly skilled and compassionate care that home health agencies provide is an important component of this in-home care. I have been a strong supporter of home care since my very first home visit, which took place in my hometown in Aroostook County early in my Senate service. This experience gave me the opportunity to meet and visit with home health patients, where I saw first-hand what a difference highly skilled and caring visiting nurses and other health care professionals make to the lives of patients and their families. I have been a passionate advocate for home care ever since. Last year, my bipartisan home health legislation, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act, became law as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This law, which I championed for 13 years, will improve the access Medicare beneficiaries have to home health care by allowing physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives to order home health services. Far too often seniors experience unnecessary delays in accessing home health care. To avoid these needless delays, it is common sense that other medical professionals who are familiar with a patient's case should be able to order these services. Home health professionals have continued to provide face-to-face services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, but this crisis has created additional challenges, including the need to maintain an adequate supply of personal protective equipment to protect themselves, their patients, and their patients' families. The use of telehealth and virtual visits can help address these challenges. Unlike other Medicare providers, however, home health agencies are not eligible to receive Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services during the COVID-19 emergency. Last May, I chaired Congress' first hearing examining COVID-19's devastating impact on seniors. During the hearing, Dr. Steven Landers, President and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, testified that, despite this lack of Medicare reimbursement, his organization has found telehealth to be an essential part of providing high quality home health care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. He urged action to ensure that home health providers can continue offering these critical services remotely. Maine home health care providers have also shared their stories about how telehealth is helping them to continue caring for their patients during COVID-19. Through a combination of video visits and care calls, one provider has been able to care for a woman with severe heart and lung disease and keep this patient out of the hospital. The nurse would speak with the woman by phone a couple of times per week to assess any symptoms that needed follow up. If the nurse identified an issue during the call, she would schedule a video visit and also work with the patient's physician to modify medications as needed. The bill we are introducing today would authorize Medicare reimbursement for home health services provided through telehealth during an emergency period. The services would not be reimbursed unless the beneficiary consents to receiving the services via telehealth. To ensure that the Medicare home health benefit does not become a telehealth-only benefit, Medicare reimbursement would only be provided if the telehealth services constitute no more than half of the billable visits made during the 30-day payment period. The Secretary of Health and Human Services would be required to issue guidance on the authorization of and payment for home health services provided via telehealth. Home health serves a vital role in helping our Nation's seniors avoid more costly hospital visits and nursing home stays. The COVID-19 emergencyhas further underscored the critical importance of home health services and highlighted how these agencies are able to use telehealth to provide skilled care to their patients. The Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth (HEAT) Act would ensure that seniors in Maine and across the country retain access to remote home health services during the COVID-19 emergency and future public health emergencies. Thank you, Mr. President.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today is Earth Day, and there are many issues, environmental challenges, that each of us could be discussing here on the Senate floor. I have chosen to speak on a bill that I am introducing today that is called the Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act. I am pleased to be partnering, once again, with my colleague from Delaware, Senator Carper, who serves as the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Our bipartisan bill would help ensure that we have accurate information about the extent of mercury pollution in our country. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. It poses significant ecological and public health concerns, especially for children and pregnant women. Mercury exposure has gone down as U.S. mercury emissions have declined. However, the levels remain unacceptably high. It is estimated that nearly 200,000 children born in the United States have been exposed to levels of mercury in the womb that are high enough to impair their neurological development. This exposure can impose a lifelong disability. In addition, the societal costs of neurocognitive deficits associated with mercury exposure are estimated to be approximately $4.8 billion per year. In Maine, some of our lands and bodies of water face higher mercury pollution compared to the national average. Maine has been called the tailpipe of the Nation, as the winds carrying pollution, including mercury, from the West drift into the State of Maine A system for collecting information, such as we have for acid rain and other forms of pollution, does not currently exist for mercury, which, ironically, is a more toxic pollutant. A comprehensive mercury monitoring network is needed to protect human health, safeguard our fisheries, and track the effect of emission reductions. This monitoring network would also help policymakers, scientists, and the public better understand the sources, consequences, and trends of mercury pollution in our country. Specifically, our legislation would do the following: First, it would direct the EPA, in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other Federal Agencies, to establish a national mercury monitoring program to measure and monitor mercury levels in the air and watersheds, water and soil chemistry, and in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial organisms at multiple sites across the Nation.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS. 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.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to introduce two bipartisan bills that would help improve Americans' retirement security. Together, these bills would make it easier for more small employers to offer retirement plans and encourage employees to save more for their retirement. There are many reasons why American households struggle to save for retirement, including the shift away from employer-based ``defined benefit'' plans and rising health care and long-term care costs. Longer life spans increase the risk of outliving retirement savings. The economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis may also pose a threat to retirement security. Increasing access to employer-sponsored retirement plans is one way to help improve the financial security of many Americans. According to the Georgetown University Center for Retirement Initiatives, nationwide only about 54 percent of private sector workers had access to a retirement plan through their employer in 2020. In Maine, the percentage is a bit higher; approximately 59 percent of private sector employees had access to a retirement plan at work. But that still leaves more than 200,000 employees without access to a plan. In December 2019, provisions from my bipartisan Retirement Security Act were signed into law as part of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement or ``SECURE'' Act. These provisions will help to expand access to employer-provided retirement plans by reducing their cost and complexity, especially for small businesses. This law represents an important step forward, but more is needed. Congress established SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) retirement plans in 1996 to encourage small businesses to provide their employees with retirement plans. These plans are less costly and easier to navigate than traditional 401(k) plans and provide an alternative approach for employers to help their employees save for retirement. The SIMPLE Plan Modernization Act, which I am introducing today with my colleague, Senator Mark Warner, would provide greater flexibility and access to employees and employers seeking to save for retirement by using SIMPLE plans. This legislation would expand access to SIMPLE plans by increasing the contribution limit for most small businesses. In addition, the bill includes incentives to encourage small businesses to move from a SIMPLE plan to a 401(k) plan when they are able to make this change. Like many Americans, spouses of active duty service members often face challenges when it comes to saving for retirement. Military spouses also face one hurdle that many others do not: frequent moves and changes in employment. According to the Department of Defense, about one-third of military service members experience a permanent change of station move every year. When a service member moves, their spouse usually relocates with them. The military spouse may face periods of unemployment, where they are not able to participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. When they do find a new job, they often work part-time, despite seeking full-time work, or are only able to spend a few years with their employer before moving again. These factors often preclude them from being eligible to receive employer contributions to their retirement plan or from being fully vested in their plan. The second bill I am introducing today focuses on helping to address this need by providing a tax credit to small employers who provide military spouses with accelerated eligibility for retirement plan participation, employer contributions, and vesting. In particular, the Military Spouses Retirement Security Act, which I am introducing with my colleague Senator Maggie Hassan, would make small employers--those with up to 100 employees--eligible for a tax credit of up to $500 per year per military spouse. The credit would be available for three years per military spouse. The amount of the credit would be equal to $200 per military spouse, plus 100 percent of all employer contributions for that spouse, up to $300. To receive the tax credit, small employers must make a military spouse immediately eligible for retirement plan participation within two months of hire. Upon plan eligibility, a military spouse must be eligible for any matching or non-elective contribution available to a similarly situated employee with at least two years of service, and must be 100 percent immediately vested in all employer contributions. In light of the positive effects these bills would have on strengthening retirement security for millions of Americans, I urge my colleagues to support the SIMPLE Plan Modernization Act and the Military Spouses Retirement Security Act. Thank you, Mr. President.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President. I rise today to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Town of Vassalboro, ME. Vassalboro was built with a spirit of determination and resiliency that still guides the community today, and this 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. The year of Vassalboro's incorporation, 1771, was but one milestone in a long journey of progress. 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 Vassalboro today. Vassalboro's roots run deep into American history. It originally was part of the lands granted to the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony in the 1600s. Later, the town became home to a large settlement of Quakers and a center of the movement to abolish slavery. The Society of Friends continues to have a positive presence in the town today. The statue of the Union soldier in Monument Park stands in silent tribute to the many patriots who have stepped forward to serve the cause of freedom. With the mighty Kennebec River providing power, Vassalboro was home to many lumber, grain, and textile mills. Built in 1850, the Olde Mill on Main Street was one of the largest mills in New England and world famous for the quality of the cashmere it produced. The wealth produced by hard work and determination was invested in schools and churches to create a true community. Today, visitors and residents alike enjoy Vassalboro's quiet parks, beautiful historic buildings, and exciting outdoor recreation opportunities. The energy and planning that are going into the town's 250th anniversary celebration demonstrate the pride townspeople have in their town. Mr. President, Vassalboro's 250th anniversary is not merely about the passing of time, it is about human accomplishment. We celebrate the people who, for longer than America has been a nation, have pulled together, cared for one another, and built a great community. Thanks to those who came before, Vassalboro, ME, has a wonderful history. Thanks to those there today, it has a bright future.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to support the Shaheen- Collins substitute to prevent a cut in Medicare reimbursements for hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and other healthcare providers who continue to care for their patients in this era of COVID. Congress twice last year suspended the 2-percent Medicare sequester in bipartisan COVID relief packages, and I hope we can do so once again. At a time when our country is relying so heavily on our healthcare providers to help get us back to normal, we cannot ignore the financial realities they face. Almost half--17 out of 36--of Maine hospitals finished last year with a negative operating margin. According to Northern Light Health in Maine, relief from the Medicare sequester amounts to $1 million per month. The Shaheen-Collins amendment will extend the current sequester moratorium until the end of the year. This financial certainty is needed in these uncertain times. I urge my colleagues to support the Shaheen-Collins substitute. Thank you. Vote on Amendment No. 1410

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 1799, the PPP Extension Act of 2021. It is imperative that we act immediately to pass this bill because we are just days away from the PPP being closed to applications for assistance. This bill mirrors legislation I introduced with my colleagues, Senators Cardin and Shaheen, which is cosponsored by Senators Marshall, Sullivan, Rosen, Murkowski, Leahy, Wyden, Tillis, Ossoff, Capito, Merkley, Heinrich, Portman, Klobuchar, and Manchin. Last March, Senators Rubio, Cardin, Shaheen, and I crafted the Paycheck Protection Program, PPP--a forgivable loan program designed to help keep small employers afloat and their employees paid during the pandemic. The bipartisan bill we are considering today would simply extend the current application deadline for new PPP loans from March 31 to May 31 of this year and then provide an additional 30-day period during which time the Small Business Administration may continue processing applications received prior to the new May 31 deadline. This bipartisan bill passed the House last week by an overwhelming margin of 415 to 3. The PPP has been a lifeline for small businesses in Maine and across the country, providing the support they need to survive the pandemic and continue paying their employees. In 2020, more than 5 million small employers received forgivable PPP loans, helping to sustain upwards of 50 million American jobs. This included more than 28,000 Maine small businesses, which received nearly $2.3 billion in forgivable PPP loans. The average loan size in Maine during this time was $80,000. Recognizing the importance of this program for our Nation's small employers, the bipartisan December 2020 COVID-relief law provided an additional $284.5 billion to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program and allow the hardest hit small employers to receive a second forgivable loan. The December law also made other improvements to the PPP, such as expanding forgivable overhead expenses to include supplier costs and investments in facility modifications and personal protective equipment needed to operate safely. Since reopening in January, more than 3.1 million additional forgivable loans--totaling nearly $196 billion--have been approved for small businesses across the country. In Maine, more than 12,700 small employers have been approved for $797 million in forgivable loans since PPP's reopening. In total, Maine small employers have been approved for upwards of $3 billion in forgivable loans since the program was created last year. I have heard from numerous small employers about the impact this program has had on them and their employees. The PPP has helped the owners of Pottle Transportation in Hermon, Anglers Restaurants in Hampden, and the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport keep their businesses alive and their employees paid. Hodgdon, America's oldest boat builder, was able to keep its family-owned East Boothbay business in operation with the help of two forgivable PPP loans. The owner of Channel X Radio in Aroostook County told me that two forgivable PPP loans kept his business going. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and the Y in Bangor have been able to provide childcare and other services to children due to support from the PPP. With the ongoing distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and reopening of our Nation's economy, I am hopeful that better times will soon be ahead. We are not there yet, which is why we need to extend the deadline to apply for new PPP loans. Extending the deadline would provide more time for the Small Business Administration to resolve error messages generated by its computer systems that prevented eligible small businesses from receiving approval for a PPP Loan. It would also give us more time to address an inequity facing certain sole proprietors who received their PPP loans before the Biden administration unexpectedly announced a change in the maximum loan amount calculation for these types of businesses. By extending the PPP for another 2 months and then providing an additional 30 days after that time for the SBA to process applications that are still pending, the bill before us today would help our Nation's small employers retain access to forgivable PPP loans. This bill has been endorsed by more than 90 organizations, including the National Federation of Independent Business, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Hotel & Lodging Association, International Franchise Association, National Restaurant Association, the U.S. Travel Association, and the Independent Community Bankers of America. I would ask unanimous consent that these letters of support be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my statement. I would like to once again thank my colleagues, Senators Cardin and Shaheen, for partnering with me on this legislation, and Senator Rubio for working to craft the PPP and oversee its implementation. I look forward to working with them and the new administrator of the Small Business Administration to ensure that the PPP is implemented according to Congressional intent. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I urge all of our colleagues to vote yes on this bill, which will provide a crucial 2-month extension for the Paycheck Protection Program. This program has been a lifeline to countless small businesses and has saved more than 50 million jobs in this country. I salute my colleagues Senator Cardin and Senator Shaheen for their work on this extension, which was overwhelmingly passed by the House. Let's talk about briefly what would happen if we do not act. If we do not act, there are approximately 190,000 loans still under review, which prevents any of these businesses from receiving a second PPP loan. These small businesses need this assistance now in order to pay their employees and stay afloat during this pandemic. We cannot wait. The House has gone home. We cannot allow an interruption of this vital program that has made such a difference to our small businesses and their employees. I urge all of my colleagues to support this 2-month extension, with an additional month for SBA to review the applications. Vote on H.R. 1799

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, earlier this week, I joined Senator Leahy in introducing the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act. Our bill would strengthen Federal law by making it easier for prosecutors to go after gun traffickers and straw purchasers, those individuals without criminal records who buy firearms for other people so they can bypass the Federal background checks law. Our bill would also fully protect the rights of the vast majority of gun owners who are law-abiding citizens. Straw purchasing is intended to achieve one result: to put a gun in the hands of a criminal who cannot legally obtain one. Today, traffickers, in particular, exploit weaknesses in Federal law by targeting people who can lawfully purchase guns. Then, those traffickers use those guns to commit crimes or sell them to other criminals. They often ship them across State lines, straight up I-95's ``Iron Pipeline'' and other interstate highways. They frequently connect with criminal gangs that are ready to sell or trade those guns for prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl, and commit other crimes. Yet right now, a straw purchaser can be prosecuted only for lying on a Federal form, a paperwork violation. Our bill would create new criminal offenses for straw purchasing, which would help law enforcement officials take down these criminal enterprises. The heroin and fentanyl epidemic is taking a devastating toll on all of our communities. Police officers in Maine tell me about the familiar patterns they see: Drug dealers and gang members, often from out-of- State and with criminal records, cross into Maine and approach drug addicts to be their straw buyers, people with clean records who may legally purchase firearms. They target addicts, who exchange guns for heroin to support their drug dependencies, and the cycle repeats time and again. I received a briefing from Federal law enforcement officials about a case in Maine fitting this exact pattern. Gang members trafficked crack cocaine and heroin between New Haven, CT, and Bangor, ME, and committed acts of violence including assaults, armed robberies, attempted murder, and murder. They traded narcotics for firearms and then distributed those firearms to other gang members. This is exactly the criminal activity our bill aims to prevent. And our bill would complement existing laws that target criminals who are profiting off of firearm and drug trafficking. It is very difficult to prevent and prosecute straw purchasing offenses under current Federal law. As I stated, right now, a straw purchaser can be prosecuted only for lying on a Federal form, which amounts to a paperwork violation. The Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act would create new, specific criminal offenses for straw purchasing and trafficking in firearms. Instead of a slap on the wrist, these crimes would be punishable by up to 15 years in prison. For those straw purchasers who know or have reasonable cause to believe that the firearm they are acquiring will be used to commit a crime of violence, that crime would be punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Our bill would also strengthen existing laws that prohibit gun smuggling. Right now, it is illegal for someone to smuggle a firearm into the United States with the intent to engage in drug trafficking or violent crime. To combat the drug cartels operating across our southern border, however, we must also prohibit firearms and ammunition from being trafficked out of the United States for these illegal purposes. In doing so, our bill would provide an important tool to combat trafficking organizations that are exporting firearms and ammunition from the United States and into Mexico where they are used by drug cartels that are in turn fueling the heroin crisis here at home. I also want to emphasize that our bill protects the Second Amendment right of law-abiding citizens. It protects legitimate private gun sales and is drafted to avoid sweeping in innocent transactions and placing unnecessary burdens on lawful, private sales. It expressly exempts certain transactions that are allowed under current law, such as gifts, raffles, and auctions. Furthermore, the bill expressly prohibits any authority provided by this act from being used to establish a Federal firearms registry. The Stop Illegal Trafficking and Firearms Act will help keep guns out of the hands of criminals without infringing upon the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.