Dianne Feinstein

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, today I rise to introduce the Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act. The premise of this bill is simple: Individuals who pose a serious threat to themselves or others should not have guns. Too often we see the deadly consequences when those at risk of committing violence are given easy access to guns. Nearly 40,000 people die each year from gun violence. Last year, 3,597 children died by gunfire--making guns the No. 1 cause of death for children in the United States. Before many incidents of gun violence, shooters display warning signs of impending violence. However, family and friends--those in the best position to recognize troubling signs--are too often powerless to stop the violence. That is why Congress must pass the Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act. Extreme risk protection orders, which are often referred to as red flag laws, allow law enforcement and family members to petition courts to temporarily remove guns from individuals who are determined to be dangerous. These laws help save lives. Nineteen States, including California, already have these laws on the books. Red flag laws work, but they need more funding. The Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act, which I am reintroducing today, would allow States to use Federal funds to develop red flag laws. Passing the Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act would help States respond to situations where a dangerous person should not have access to a gun. It will also help us better understand the causes of gun violence and how to better protect our communities. When Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last year, it expanded the Justice Department's existing Byrne-JAG Program to allow States to apply for Federal grant assistance if they want to create these laws. While this was an important first step, I believe we must pass the Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act to build on the important work done last Congress and make sure that specific dedicated funding exists for the development and implementation of red-flag laws.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the resolution designating January as ``National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month.'' I am proud to introduce this resolution every year to raise awareness about the ongoing atrocities of human trafficking. We must continue to support the ongoing partnerships between governments, nonprofits, service providers, and survivors, who are all working to end human trafficking. The human trafficking industry generates an estimated $150 billion in illegal profits a year. And human trafficking impacts 50 million victims around the world. Many of the victims of human trafficking are often difficult to identify and are subjected to manipulation, force, fraud, and abuse. We cannot turn a blind eye to ongoing exploitation and forced labor in our country and throughout the world. We have a responsibility to raise awareness of these horrendous acts, ensure victims understand that they are not alone, and provide legislative solutions to support and protect survivors. Last Congress, I was able to work with my Senate colleagues to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. By designating January as ``National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month,'' we will shine a light on the issue and continue the bipartisan charge to end trafficking and exploitation. I respectfully ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, today I rise to introduce the Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act. This bill would bring ATF into the 21st century by allowing the Agency to electronically search for the records of guns used in crimes across the country. It is hard to believe that ATF still must store paper records and search them by hand in order to identify the guns used for criminal activity. These archaic rules prevent the people responsible for enforcing our laws from doing their jobs effectively. The National Tracing Center at ATF is responsible for quickly placing crime gun ownership information into the hands of law enforcement officials so they can solve crimes and save lives. In 2021, National Tracing Center receive over 540,000 trace requests. Unfortunately, the timely completion of these trace requests has been made nearly impossible because ATF cannot search these records electronically. To make matters worse, these millions of records are stored in thousands of boxes that are overflowing the hallways of the National Tracing Center in Martinsburg, WV. The records that agents must search through are so massive, ATF has been told that if it places more boxes inside the facility, the floor may collapse. Every moment after a crime is committed matters dearly to our law enforcement agencies. Prohibiting the efficient search of these records puts our communities at risk. I thank my former colleague Senator Leahy for championing this bill last Congress. I am committed to continuing the fight for this important fix.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, today I rise to introduce the Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act. This bill would bring ATF into the 21st century by allowing the Agency to electronically search for the records of guns used in crimes across the country. It is hard to believe that ATF still must store paper records and search them by hand in order to identify the guns used for criminal activity. These archaic rules prevent the people responsible for enforcing our laws from doing their jobs effectively. The National Tracing Center at ATF is responsible for quickly placing crime gun ownership information into the hands of law enforcement officials so they can solve crimes and save lives. In 2021, National Tracing Center receive over 540,000 trace requests. Unfortunately, the timely completion of these trace requests has been made nearly impossible because ATF cannot search these records electronically. To make matters worse, these millions of records are stored in thousands of boxes that are overflowing the hallways of the National Tracing Center in Martinsburg, WV. The records that agents must search through are so massive, ATF has been told that if it places more boxes inside the facility, the floor may collapse. Every moment after a crime is committed matters dearly to our law enforcement agencies. Prohibiting the efficient search of these records puts our communities at risk. I thank my former colleague Senator Leahy for championing this bill last Congress. I am committed to continuing the fight for this important fix.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, today I rise to introduce a resolution recognizing February 1, 2023, as National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Nearly 4 million girls and women across this country participate in high school and college athletics. Participation in sports has been shown to provide lifelong benefits to their physical and mental health. Athletic participation helps develop self-discipline, initiative, and confidence. When female athletes are supported on the field, they are empowered to become leaders off of it. For far too long, the many achievements of women in sports have not received fair recognition. Female athletes, coaches, and trainers are consistently paid less than their male counterparts, subjected to subpar working conditions, and receive substantially less investment and promotional support for their athletic programs. This country must do all it can to break down the barriers of discrimination, inequality, and injustice in sports. Today's resolution celebrates the tremendous accomplishments of female athletes across the United States, supports the growth of female sports, and encourages the next generation of athletes to follow their dreams. I thank Senator Capito for leading this important bipartisan resolution with me, and for all of our supporters in the Senate.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Wildfire Emergency Act, bipartisan legislation that Senators Padilla, Daines, Wyden, and I are introducing today, to help address the threat of catastrophic wildfire throughout the West. Wildfires have always been a part of life in California and other Western States, but climate change and drier forests have increased the threat of catastrophic wildfire. The new fire season is nearly year- round, and the wildfires themselves are more destructive as they spread faster and burn hotter. The new reality of the wildfire threat requires transformative action to protect our forests and neighboring communities. Our bill would do just that, empowering Federal, State, and local land managers to make both our forests and infrastructure more resilient. The most recent National Climate Assessment, conducted by leading scientists from the research community and across the Federal Government, found that the number of acres burned in the Western United States is double what would have burned without climate change. My home State of California knows this all too well as it is the epicenter of this destructive phenomenon. The top three worst wildfire seasons in California were all in the last 5 years, including the largest single wildfire in California history in 2021. Since 2017, wildfires have burned more than 11 million acres, killed nearly 200 people, and destroyed more than 32,000 homes. Worryingly, these wildfires are predicted to only grow worse as climate conditions continue to change, and the Federal Government has not yet adequately responded. Important investments in wildfire resilience were included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which were enacted in the last Congress, but stakeholders are nearly unanimous in supporting additional policy changes to improve the pace and scale of wildfire resiliency treatments. At the same time, the urgency of this crisis should not prompt Congress to vitiate important environmental safeguards. Throughout my time in the Senate, I have consistently championed the preservation and careful stewardship of our treasured forests, and this bill will be no different. Our Wildfire Emergency Act is the result of a considered approach to the wildfire crisis and includes feedback from conservationists, public and private stakeholders, and the U.S. Forest Service. First, it would provide the U.S. Forest Service with a pilot authority to leverage private financing options to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. These projects would involve a collaborative approach to forest management to ensure that the forests are protected. This conservation finance model would be a new way of implementing forest restoration work, but the principle at its core is that forests are vital to a healthy environment and populace. Forests provide shade and wind breaks, stabilize steep mountain slopes, and help purify our water. These benefits have tangible value, and the financing model we develop here would make those benefits plain for all to see. In addition, the bill makes energy resilience a priority across the Federal Government. It would help develop and fund backup power for critical infrastructure like drinking water or hospitals, and put a renewed focus on wildfire detection and monitoring. As vulnerable as our forests are, it takes just one spark to ignite an entire mountain. The sooner our firefighters can detect and respond to these fires, the better our chances of preventing more communities from devastation. In addition, the bill would provide grants to low-income households to make fire-resilient upgrades to their homes. Thanks to home insurance regulatory changes taking place in California, wildfire retrofits could also help lower insurance premiums and reduce the financial burden on rural homeowners. The bill would also make grants available to low-income communities to help involve them in planning and implementing forest restoration projects on the lands surrounding their homes. Lastly, our bill recognizes that the forest management workforce is also in crisis. The U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior have experience chronic staffing shortages in wildland firefighters for years. And even though the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act provided historic levels of funding for forest conservation work, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an overall decline in the forest conservation workforce in the next 10 years. To address these issues, our bill would create new funding sources for forest management education and firefighter training. It would also establish a prescribed fire training center in the Western United States, to train the next generation of firefighters and forestry technicians in the landscapes where their skills are most needed. The simple reality is that wildfires will continue to happen in the West. They are an integral part of the West's ecology, even if climate change has exacerbated their scale and intensity. Our job must be to prepare for these wildfires to the extent we are able, to use the best available science to make our forests more resilient, and ensure that our communities remain safe. That is why Senators Padilla, Daines, Wyden, and I have introduced this bill today, and I urge my colleagues to support and pass it as soon as possible.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Wildfire Emergency Act, bipartisan legislation that Senators Padilla, Daines, Wyden, and I are introducing today, to help address the threat of catastrophic wildfire throughout the West. Wildfires have always been a part of life in California and other Western States, but climate change and drier forests have increased the threat of catastrophic wildfire. The new fire season is nearly year- round, and the wildfires themselves are more destructive as they spread faster and burn hotter. The new reality of the wildfire threat requires transformative action to protect our forests and neighboring communities. Our bill would do just that, empowering Federal, State, and local land managers to make both our forests and infrastructure more resilient. The most recent National Climate Assessment, conducted by leading scientists from the research community and across the Federal Government, found that the number of acres burned in the Western United States is double what would have burned without climate change. My home State of California knows this all too well as it is the epicenter of this destructive phenomenon. The top three worst wildfire seasons in California were all in the last 5 years, including the largest single wildfire in California history in 2021. Since 2017, wildfires have burned more than 11 million acres, killed nearly 200 people, and destroyed more than 32,000 homes. Worryingly, these wildfires are predicted to only grow worse as climate conditions continue to change, and the Federal Government has not yet adequately responded. Important investments in wildfire resilience were included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which were enacted in the last Congress, but stakeholders are nearly unanimous in supporting additional policy changes to improve the pace and scale of wildfire resiliency treatments. At the same time, the urgency of this crisis should not prompt Congress to vitiate important environmental safeguards. Throughout my time in the Senate, I have consistently championed the preservation and careful stewardship of our treasured forests, and this bill will be no different. Our Wildfire Emergency Act is the result of a considered approach to the wildfire crisis and includes feedback from conservationists, public and private stakeholders, and the U.S. Forest Service. First, it would provide the U.S. Forest Service with a pilot authority to leverage private financing options to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. These projects would involve a collaborative approach to forest management to ensure that the forests are protected. This conservation finance model would be a new way of implementing forest restoration work, but the principle at its core is that forests are vital to a healthy environment and populace. Forests provide shade and wind breaks, stabilize steep mountain slopes, and help purify our water. These benefits have tangible value, and the financing model we develop here would make those benefits plain for all to see. In addition, the bill makes energy resilience a priority across the Federal Government. It would help develop and fund backup power for critical infrastructure like drinking water or hospitals, and put a renewed focus on wildfire detection and monitoring. As vulnerable as our forests are, it takes just one spark to ignite an entire mountain. The sooner our firefighters can detect and respond to these fires, the better our chances of preventing more communities from devastation. In addition, the bill would provide grants to low-income households to make fire-resilient upgrades to their homes. Thanks to home insurance regulatory changes taking place in California, wildfire retrofits could also help lower insurance premiums and reduce the financial burden on rural homeowners. The bill would also make grants available to low-income communities to help involve them in planning and implementing forest restoration projects on the lands surrounding their homes. Lastly, our bill recognizes that the forest management workforce is also in crisis. The U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior have experience chronic staffing shortages in wildland firefighters for years. And even though the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act provided historic levels of funding for forest conservation work, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an overall decline in the forest conservation workforce in the next 10 years. To address these issues, our bill would create new funding sources for forest management education and firefighter training. It would also establish a prescribed fire training center in the Western United States, to train the next generation of firefighters and forestry technicians in the landscapes where their skills are most needed. The simple reality is that wildfires will continue to happen in the West. They are an integral part of the West's ecology, even if climate change has exacerbated their scale and intensity. Our job must be to prepare for these wildfires to the extent we are able, to use the best available science to make our forests more resilient, and ensure that our communities remain safe. That is why Senators Padilla, Daines, Wyden, and I have introduced this bill today, and I urge my colleagues to support and pass it as soon as possible.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Community Wildfire Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that Senator Daines and I are reintroducing today. This bill would ensure that those communities that are deemed to be under the greatest threat from wildfire are eligible to receive existing Federal wildfire grants. This sounds obvious but unfortunately is not the case under current law. The current definition of an ``at-risk community'' was codified in the 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act. That law requires that, in addition to experiencing significant wildfire risk, an eligible community must either be adjacent to Federal land or included on a list generated in 2001 consisting of voluntary input from States and Tribes. Unfortunately, this 2001 list is far from objective or comprehensive. Communities on the list were not added based on an objective evaluation of their wildfire risk or threat to life and property, only whether an individual Governor or Tribal leader decided to add them. To make matters worse, there are obvious omissions from the list that show its inadequacy, and in fact, 19 States and territories never submitted a single community. For example, large California cities such as Fresno, Fairfield, and Napa are not encompassed by this definition, all of which have experienced recent major wildfires. The list also omits Grizzly Flats, CA, which was devastated by the 2021 Caldor Fire, despite its proximity to Federal lands, as well as countless other small towns at great risk of wildfire. These small, rural towns are frequently at the highest risk of wildfire and lack the resources to undertake wildfire resiliency projects on their own. Obviously, these are some of the towns that would most benefit from addition Federal help but because of the outdated definition, may not be eligible. Aligning the definition in law for at-risk communities to today's environmental realities is more important than ever given the increased spread, frequency, and destructiveness of wildfires, especially in the West. Our bill would simply end the practice of making Federal grants contingent on this outdated, incomplete list or proximity to Federal lands. Instead, our legislation would allow communities to be eligible based on the most up-to-date quantitative wildfire risk data for the entire United States--data already maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $1 billion for community wildfire resilience grants, and last year's Inflation Reduction Act included an historic $1.8 billion for wildfire resilience on federal forestlands. Congress has done the work of providing funding for wildfire resilience. Now it must ensure that these projects can be targeted where they are most necessary and completed with the swiftness that the wildfire crisis demands. I am pleased to work with Senator Daines on this commonsense bill that will save lives, save communities, and ensure that Federal dollars are spent as effectively as possible. This change would help more communities in our home States of California and Montana and others throughout the West access Federal grants to reduce hazardous fuels around their communities and utilize authorities to complete them in a timely fashion, thereby reducing the threat posed by wildfire. I am proud that our bill has received the support of the National Association of Counties, Rural County Representatives of California, the National Association of State Foresters, the Pacific Forest Trust, and the California Fire Safe Council. Our bill is simple, but it would correct a glaring oversight in current law and ensure that billions of dollars in wildfire resiliency funding are applied where they are most needed. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Community Wildfire Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that Senator Daines and I are reintroducing today. This bill would ensure that those communities that are deemed to be under the greatest threat from wildfire are eligible to receive existing Federal wildfire grants. This sounds obvious but unfortunately is not the case under current law. The current definition of an ``at-risk community'' was codified in the 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act. That law requires that, in addition to experiencing significant wildfire risk, an eligible community must either be adjacent to Federal land or included on a list generated in 2001 consisting of voluntary input from States and Tribes. Unfortunately, this 2001 list is far from objective or comprehensive. Communities on the list were not added based on an objective evaluation of their wildfire risk or threat to life and property, only whether an individual Governor or Tribal leader decided to add them. To make matters worse, there are obvious omissions from the list that show its inadequacy, and in fact, 19 States and territories never submitted a single community. For example, large California cities such as Fresno, Fairfield, and Napa are not encompassed by this definition, all of which have experienced recent major wildfires. The list also omits Grizzly Flats, CA, which was devastated by the 2021 Caldor Fire, despite its proximity to Federal lands, as well as countless other small towns at great risk of wildfire. These small, rural towns are frequently at the highest risk of wildfire and lack the resources to undertake wildfire resiliency projects on their own. Obviously, these are some of the towns that would most benefit from addition Federal help but because of the outdated definition, may not be eligible. Aligning the definition in law for at-risk communities to today's environmental realities is more important than ever given the increased spread, frequency, and destructiveness of wildfires, especially in the West. Our bill would simply end the practice of making Federal grants contingent on this outdated, incomplete list or proximity to Federal lands. Instead, our legislation would allow communities to be eligible based on the most up-to-date quantitative wildfire risk data for the entire United States--data already maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $1 billion for community wildfire resilience grants, and last year's Inflation Reduction Act included an historic $1.8 billion for wildfire resilience on federal forestlands. Congress has done the work of providing funding for wildfire resilience. Now it must ensure that these projects can be targeted where they are most necessary and completed with the swiftness that the wildfire crisis demands. I am pleased to work with Senator Daines on this commonsense bill that will save lives, save communities, and ensure that Federal dollars are spent as effectively as possible. This change would help more communities in our home States of California and Montana and others throughout the West access Federal grants to reduce hazardous fuels around their communities and utilize authorities to complete them in a timely fashion, thereby reducing the threat posed by wildfire. I am proud that our bill has received the support of the National Association of Counties, Rural County Representatives of California, the National Association of State Foresters, the Pacific Forest Trust, and the California Fire Safe Council. Our bill is simple, but it would correct a glaring oversight in current law and ensure that billions of dollars in wildfire resiliency funding are applied where they are most needed. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the West Coast Ocean Protection Act, legislation that would prohibit new oil or natural gas leases in federal waters off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. I am pleased to be joined today by Senators Padilla, Wyden, Merkley, Murray, Cantwell, Menendez, Booker, Markey, and Sanders in introducing this bill, which is critically important to protecting the west coast from additional oil spills. Californians know all too well the devastating effects of oil spills. In 1969, a well blowout on an offshore rig spilled an estimated 3 million gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Santa Barbara. At the time, it was the worst oil spill in U.S. history and was catastrophic to the local environment and marine life, closing beaches, harming the economy, and killing thousands of birds, fish, and marine mammals. After the Santa Barbara disaster, California had enough. The State blocked all new offshore drilling in state waters and in 1994 enacted a permanent offshore drilling ban. Through local ordinances, congressional opposition, and Presidential moratoria, no new drilling in Federal waters off California has been allowed since 1984. Unfortunately, Californians are still confronting the impacts from ongoing offshore drilling operations. In October 2021, a ruptured pipeline spilled more than 25,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean and onto the beaches of Orange County. Despite numerous alarms, operators allowed oil to flow from the leak for over 14 hours. It was absolutely devastating. The spill covered more than 8,000 acres of the ocean's surface and required more than a week of cleanup. In that time, local businesses suffered, fisheries shuttered, and crews worked to remove harmful oil and tar balls from sensitive wildlife habitat. Despite the harm caused to individuals and businesses in the community, the operator has been given permission to repair the pipeline and begin drilling again, exposing the California coastline to the risk of yet another accident. California's coastal and ocean economies are engines of growth that support millions of jobs and generate significant economic activity for the State and Nation. Because of the unique nature of the west coast ocean shelf, any new potential drilling would occur near the coastline and directly threaten the environment and robust economy. Beyond that, we are currently in the midst of a historic offshore energy transition. This past December, a successful auction was held for five offshore wind energy areas off the California coast, paving the way for a new floating wind industry. At the same time, the Federal Government has begun a programmatic review of decommissioning oil and gas platforms in the Pacific to prepare for their eventual removal. The era of offshore oil and gas production in the Pacific is coming to a close, and it is long overdue. It is time to respect the view of California and our fellow west coast States by passing the West Coast Ocean Protection Act permanently ban offshore drilling and protect the Pacific coast for generations to come.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act, which would establish a new Federal grant program to increase capacity for comprehensive supportive services paired with housing as a way to address our country's homelessness crisis. As we have seen with the growing diversity of our homeless populations--individuals with mental health conditions or those struggling with addiction, people who simply could not keep up with increases in rent, families with children, and veterans--our Nation's homelessness crisis is not going away on its own without coordinated efforts at every level of government. According to the data released in December from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are approximately 582,500 homeless individuals, including families with small children, in the United States. Nearly 30 percent of this population is in California, with approximately 172,000 homeless people sleeping on the streets on any given night. In a nation as prosperous and wealthy as ours, we can and we must do better to address the issue of homelessness. That is why I am introducing the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act, which would authorize a new Federal funding stream of $1 billion per year, subject to annual appropriations. Grantees must serve individuals or families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing housing paired with a comprehensive set of services and must provide a 25-percent match for any Federal funds received. Because each individual and every community is unique, the grant program would be flexible in order to work in any region or for any homeless population. This bill is based on a model that has proven to be effective and supports the great work already being done across the country, allowing local governmental entities and nonprofit organizations to expand their capacity and ensure a greater reach by putting Federal dollars where they will be most effective. I am proud that this legislation is supported by a wide coalition of local governments, housing, health, and child welfare organizations, including the mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, National League of Cities, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Association of Counties, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the National Housing Conference. Supportive services such as mental and physical health care, substance abuse treatment, education and job training, and life skills such as financial literacy are critical components. Paired with intensive case management, supportive housing models make a difference. We have seen the success of such partnerships in San Francisco, where the GLIDE Foundation provides critical services that meet an individual's basic needs, including meals, crisis intervention and prevention, childcare and educational programming, legal advice, and housing. This would not be possible without the organization's partnerships with the city of San Francisco, particularly the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and other critical stakeholders. I highly encourage my colleagues to examine this exemplary homeless services model to see firsthand how effective partnerships can help to combat homelessness. It is imperative that we support these types of partnerships, as well as nonprofit service providers, as they work to get people into housing to both mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and address their long- term needs. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the bill and moving it through the Senate, especially as we continue to contend with the increase in homelessness.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act, which would establish a new Federal grant program to increase capacity for comprehensive supportive services paired with housing as a way to address our country's homelessness crisis. As we have seen with the growing diversity of our homeless populations--individuals with mental health conditions or those struggling with addiction, people who simply could not keep up with increases in rent, families with children, and veterans--our Nation's homelessness crisis is not going away on its own without coordinated efforts at every level of government. According to the data released in December from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are approximately 582,500 homeless individuals, including families with small children, in the United States. Nearly 30 percent of this population is in California, with approximately 172,000 homeless people sleeping on the streets on any given night. In a nation as prosperous and wealthy as ours, we can and we must do better to address the issue of homelessness. That is why I am introducing the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act, which would authorize a new Federal funding stream of $1 billion per year, subject to annual appropriations. Grantees must serve individuals or families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing housing paired with a comprehensive set of services and must provide a 25-percent match for any Federal funds received. Because each individual and every community is unique, the grant program would be flexible in order to work in any region or for any homeless population. This bill is based on a model that has proven to be effective and supports the great work already being done across the country, allowing local governmental entities and nonprofit organizations to expand their capacity and ensure a greater reach by putting Federal dollars where they will be most effective. I am proud that this legislation is supported by a wide coalition of local governments, housing, health, and child welfare organizations, including the mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, National League of Cities, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Association of Counties, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the National Housing Conference. Supportive services such as mental and physical health care, substance abuse treatment, education and job training, and life skills such as financial literacy are critical components. Paired with intensive case management, supportive housing models make a difference. We have seen the success of such partnerships in San Francisco, where the GLIDE Foundation provides critical services that meet an individual's basic needs, including meals, crisis intervention and prevention, childcare and educational programming, legal advice, and housing. This would not be possible without the organization's partnerships with the city of San Francisco, particularly the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and other critical stakeholders. I highly encourage my colleagues to examine this exemplary homeless services model to see firsthand how effective partnerships can help to combat homelessness. It is imperative that we support these types of partnerships, as well as nonprofit service providers, as they work to get people into housing to both mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and address their long- term needs. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the bill and moving it through the Senate, especially as we continue to contend with the increase in homelessness.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the West Coast Ocean Protection Act, legislation that would prohibit new oil or natural gas leases in federal waters off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. I am pleased to be joined today by Senators Padilla, Wyden, Merkley, Murray, Cantwell, Menendez, Booker, Markey, and Sanders in introducing this bill, which is critically important to protecting the west coast from additional oil spills. Californians know all too well the devastating effects of oil spills. In 1969, a well blowout on an offshore rig spilled an estimated 3 million gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Santa Barbara. At the time, it was the worst oil spill in U.S. history and was catastrophic to the local environment and marine life, closing beaches, harming the economy, and killing thousands of birds, fish, and marine mammals. After the Santa Barbara disaster, California had enough. The State blocked all new offshore drilling in state waters and in 1994 enacted a permanent offshore drilling ban. Through local ordinances, congressional opposition, and Presidential moratoria, no new drilling in Federal waters off California has been allowed since 1984. Unfortunately, Californians are still confronting the impacts from ongoing offshore drilling operations. In October 2021, a ruptured pipeline spilled more than 25,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean and onto the beaches of Orange County. Despite numerous alarms, operators allowed oil to flow from the leak for over 14 hours. It was absolutely devastating. The spill covered more than 8,000 acres of the ocean's surface and required more than a week of cleanup. In that time, local businesses suffered, fisheries shuttered, and crews worked to remove harmful oil and tar balls from sensitive wildlife habitat. Despite the harm caused to individuals and businesses in the community, the operator has been given permission to repair the pipeline and begin drilling again, exposing the California coastline to the risk of yet another accident. California's coastal and ocean economies are engines of growth that support millions of jobs and generate significant economic activity for the State and Nation. Because of the unique nature of the west coast ocean shelf, any new potential drilling would occur near the coastline and directly threaten the environment and robust economy. Beyond that, we are currently in the midst of a historic offshore energy transition. This past December, a successful auction was held for five offshore wind energy areas off the California coast, paving the way for a new floating wind industry. At the same time, the Federal Government has begun a programmatic review of decommissioning oil and gas platforms in the Pacific to prepare for their eventual removal. The era of offshore oil and gas production in the Pacific is coming to a close, and it is long overdue. It is time to respect the view of California and our fellow west coast States by passing the West Coast Ocean Protection Act permanently ban offshore drilling and protect the Pacific coast for generations to come.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. May I just make one remark? I want to thank the Senator for his excellent remarks. Once in a while, we have a case that is really so difficult and sad to solve, and this is one of them. It happens to be a constituent of both of ours in California, and they have asked for help. I hope this Senate will respond and give that help. Thank you very much.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 785 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, this is truly a tragic case. The young woman on my right was born in Guatemala. She suffers from a rare life- threatening disorder called MSP type VI. This is a genetic condition caused by the absence of an enzyme that is needed for the growth of healthy bones and connective tissue. She uses a wheelchair, has a shunt in her brain, and requires a tracheotomy to help her breathe. Because this was a clinical trial in 2003 when Ms. Bueso was 7 years old, doctors invited her and her family to come to California so that she could participate in a clinical trial to treat her condition. That trial led to the development of a treatment that is now approved by the FDA. It is a 6-hour infusion of a prescription drug that replaces the enzyme lacking in people with MSP type VI. Ms. Bueso now receives this lifesaving treatment every week at the University of California San Francisco Children's Hospital. This treatment is not available in Guatemala. If she were removed from the United States, she would no longer have access to the lifesaving medical care she needs. She would die. For the past 10 years, Ms. Bueso and her family have received deferred action from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services so that she could continue receiving the treatments that keep her alive. In 2019, she and her family were notified that their extensions of deferred action were denied and that they would be deported if they did not leave the United States within 33 days. This decision was, effectively, a death sentence for this young person. USCIS ultimately reconsidered its decision and granted Ms. Bueso and her parents an additional extension of deferred action. But since then, she and her family have lived in fear that they might be forced to leave the United States with no way to provide for the care she needs. She has beaten the odds because of one thing--the lifesaving treatment that she is receiving in the United States. She is now 26 years old. She lives in Concord, CA. She is a 2018 graduate of Cal State University in the East Bay, and I am very proud of her. She has become an outspoken advocate on behalf of people with rare diseases. Her family pays taxes, owns a home, and is active in their community. The Bueso family will now be allowed to remain in California, where they will continue to enrich their community and where Ms. Bueso will be able to receive the care that allows her to live a life and to thrive. So I thank you, and I know my colleague Senator Padilla is here on the floor. I would yield to him.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to recognize and give thanks to one of the hardest working and most integral members of my team, Ms. Chesna Foord. Chesna has been my director of scheduling for 6 years and has spent nearly a decade in my offices in Washington, DC, and in San Francisco. Every Member of this Senate knows the importance of their scheduler, and Chesna has been a 10. She is the first person I call in the morning and often the last person I check with at night. She gets me where I need to be and ensures that I am prepared when I get there, but she also has developed a sixth sense for what needs to be done and pitfalls to avoid. And I am forever grateful that she does it all with unflappable patience and good cheer. I am pleased to have her not just on my staff, but as a friend. As a Senator, I have the pleasure of seeing young people come into public service and, in some cases, flourish in the environment. Chesna is one of those people. She joined my San Francisco office as an intern shortly after graduating from the University of Puget Sound. After distinguishing herself there, Chesna moved across country to intern in my Washington, DC, office and was promoted to staff assistant and then to deputy scheduler. But it has been over the past 6 years as director of scheduling that I have gotten to know Chesna and watched her grow in skill, in communication, in leadership, and into the woman I now get to see day in and day out. She has been here with me through good times and bad and has helped me get through impeachments and Supreme Court confirmations, vote-a- ramas and insurrection. And I will be always be thankful for her help with arrangements and support when my husband passed away earlier this year. I am sad to see Chesna leave, but I understand that the lure of the West Coast and personal ties are calling Chesna back home to California. Thankfully, Chesna will remain on the team, as a field representative in my Los Angeles office. And so, on behalf of this grateful Senator, I thank Chesna Foord for her friendship and her forbearance, and thank her for her years of excellent and caring service.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to honor Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Office of Emergency Services-- CalOES--as he retires following years of committed and extraordinarily capable public service. Director Ghilarducci's laudable career spans 30 years of service in public safety and government management at the local, State, and Federal levels, as well as more than 12 years in the private sector, working in security and crisis management globally. I, myself, have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Ghilarducci and have witnessed firsthand his dedication to the safety of all Californians. Early in his career, Director Ghilarducci served as the deputy State fire chief at CalOES. In this role, he oversaw special operations such as the State Urban Search and Rescue Response System. Director Ghilarducci helped develop this search and rescue system in the wake of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, and this system has since served as the model for the Nation. In fact, Ghilarducci relied on this system as he led the Federal search and rescue operations in the wake of the 1995 terrorist bombings in Oklahoma City, demonstrating the system's effectiveness, as well as his own courage in the face of disaster. Twenty years later, he served as an adviser to the State of Louisiana and Governor Kathleen Blanco in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and provided on the ground assistance. In 2000, he was appointed deputy director of CalOES, where he oversaw statewide emergency operations, planning, and training. Drawing from his experience in State and national emergency response, Director Ghilarducci utilized his position to advocate for preventative disaster management and clearer communication between local, State, and Federal agencies with disaster-relief organizations. During his tenure, CalOES expanded its mission to encompass more than natural disasters, adding programs that focused on terrorism prevention and cybersecurity attacks and developed faster and broader disaster response to public health emergencies like COVID-19. In February 2012, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ghilarducci to secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency, a great fit for someone so well-qualified. The following year, the Governor appointed him to director of CalOES and he has held this position ever since. While in this role, Ghilarducci briefed President Obama in 2014 on California's historic drought, as well as President Trump and President Biden during their respective visits to California after natural disaster events, including the Camp and Caldor fires. Under his direction, CalOES improved and modernized the State's emergency management. Earlier this year, CalOES announced a first in the Nation grant program focused on building community resilience to prevent long- term disaster impacts. As one of California's Senators, I extend my deepest gratitude to Director Ghilarducci for his tireless commitment to the safety of Californians and Americans nationwide. Please join me in wishing him a safe, prosperous, and well-earned retirement.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the Respect for Marriage Act. I was proud to introduce this bill earlier this summer with Senators Baldwin, Collins, and Portman. I am greatly encouraged by yesterday's bipartisan vote of 62 to 37 to advance the bill and continue moving this important legislation forward. The Respect for Marriage Act would guarantee legal protections for millions of marriages in the United States by repealing the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act and ensuring that marriages entered into legally are given full faith and credit by every State and the Federal Government. Simply put, Americans should be free to marry the person they love, regardless of sexual orientation or race, without fear of discrimination or fear that their marriages will be invalidated. This is a straightforward bill. It merely codifies the existing requirement that the Federal Government and every State recognize legal marriages. In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to marry for same-sex couples. And 55 years ago, in Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court ruled that ``the freedom to marry . . . a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State.'' These decisions also reflect the will of the American people. Over the past few decades, public support for same-sex marriage and interracial marriage has grown exponentially. In fact, recent polls have found that 71 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage and 94 percent approve of interracial marriages. This bill has been endorsed by hundreds of organizations, including nonprofits, corporations, and religious organizations that span the ideological spectrum. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a list of endorsing organizations be printed in the Record.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I would like to applaud the House for passing the Respect for Marriage Act with significant bipartisan support earlier this summer. It is now the time for the Senate to do the same. I would like to take a moment to speak to my Republican colleagues who have said marriage equality is ``a nonissue'' right now. Some of my Senate colleagues have said things like: It's the law of the land, so passing legislation is not a good use of Congress's time. As we saw this summer with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, hard-fought rights are still always vulnerable to repeal. We must also remember that in a concurring opinion to the Roe v. Wade repeal, one Supreme Court Justice explicitly called for the Court to reconsider and overturn Obergefell. We must act now so that no matter what happens in the courts, married same-sex and interracial couples are protected. Overturning Obergefell and Loving would return the country to a patchwork of State laws where couples could be subject to State- sanctioned discrimination. Many States still have bans on same-sex marriages on the books that would immediately take effect if marriage equality were overturned. I would also like to touch on how far-reaching the legal ramifications of overturning Obergefell and Loving would be. Without the Respect for Marriage Act, if a married same-sex or interracial couple lived in a State that decided to ban their union, their marriage could be invalidated. Even if a couple lived in a State that permitted same-sex or interracial marriage, that marriage could be deemed invalid if they were able to travel to a State that did not have marriage equality. Invalidated marriages would also give rise to a host of legal concerns for couples who relied on the ability to marry when making major life and family planning decisions. For example, spouses may no longer be able to make important healthcare decisions or even visit their partners in the hospital. Nonbirthing parents may no longer have parental rights over their children. There would be some serious confusion about Federal and State tax violations and tax laws could be arbitrarily and discriminatorily applied. The Respect for Marriage Act will ensure that all legally married couples are afforded the same protections, regardless of where they live, providing security and peace of mind to millions of families. I spent decades advocating for equality. As a supervisor and mayor of San Francisco during the height of the gay rights movement, I witnessed the terrible pain and trauma that resulted from hateful discrimination. I watched firsthand as the LGBT community fought for legal recommendation of their lives, their relationships, and their personal dignity. We cannot return to a system that allows bigotry and hate. Bigotry and discrimination have no place in this society. No one should have to live not knowing whether their marriage will suddenly become invalid. This bill will give families the peace of mind and security that comes with knowing that their valid marriages will remain legally protected under Federal law. I want to thank Senators Baldwin, Collins, Portman, Sinema, and Tillis for their leadership on this important issue. I encourage the rest of my colleagues to please join us in supporting the passage of the bill. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Tibetan Policy Act, which I was pleased to introduce in the Senate in May 2001, along with 20 bipartisan cosponsors. This critical legislation solidified Congress' commitment to the Tibetan people, and it makes me so proud to know that it continues to shape U.S. policy toward Tibet today. From its enactment, this law set the foundation for U.S. policy toward Tibet, with the primary goal of preserving the Tibetan way of life. The Tibetan Policy Act makes it official U.S. policy to preserve the Tibetan language, religious freedom, and cultural expression and to press for improved respect for human rights. The act also addresses the importance of economic development, education, and healthcare for the preservation and prosperity of the Tibetan people. This includes addressing the humanitarian needs of Tibetan refugees and diaspora communities and promoting activities to protect the environment and sustainably manage the water and other natural resources of the Tibetan plateau, which has become even more important now as we deal with extreme heat, flooding, and drought as a result of climate change. To achieve these objectives, we established in statute the position of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues at the State Department, whose primary role is to coordinate U.S. Government policies, programs, and projects concerning Tibet. These include U.S. Government assistance for nongovernmental organizations to work in Tibetan communities in China and programs to support human rights and democracy in Tibet, among others. The Special Coordinator's central objective, however, is to promote dialogue between the Chinese Government and Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and his representatives. This is very important to me as I have always believed in the importance of dialogue to improve mutual understanding and respect, especially with those with whom you have the deepest disagreements. It was important to me as mayor of San Francisco, when we developed the first ``sister city'' relationship with Shanghai in 1980, and it remains important to me today as a U.S. Senator. However, to my disappointment, dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama's representatives have stalled since 2010. I have encouraged this and prior administrations at every opportunity to open and exercise channels of communication with China, and I likewise call upon the Chinese Government to engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama, who is unquestionably the cultural and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. The Tibetan people remain close to my heart, as they are for so many in California and as they were for my late husband, Richard Blum, who introduced me to Tibet and felt so passionately about advancing the human rights of Tibetans and preserving their unique heritage. I am proud of what we accomplished with this legislation, but there is more work to be done. It is imperative for those of us in Congress to continue vigorously supporting the aspirations of the Tibetan people, to safeguard their identity and culture, and to advocate for the importance of dialogue to improve their relations with the Chinese Government. I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Michael Schiffer on being confirmed to serve as Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Michael has prepared himself well for this important position, becoming one of the most respected foreign policy hands in Washington, having also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia. I had the pleasure of working with Michael for nearly a decade when he served as my senior national security adviser and then my legislative director. In our time working together, I saw Michael's skill, expertise, and dedication every day. He has excelled in every role he has had throughout his career in public service advancing America's interests and improving our standing abroad. He is committed to advancing U.S. national security and advocating for freedom, democracy, and human rights, the pillars of USAID's mission. Michael will be sorely missed by the Senate, where he has been a pillar of the Foreign Relations Committee staff. USAID will benefit greatly from Michael's service, and I have no doubt that he will continue to serve the American people well. I wish him great good luck as he embarks on this new chapter.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to support my bipartisan resolution--which I introduce along with Senators Todd Young, Tammy Baldwin, and Tim Scott--to designate September 2022 as National Workforce Development Month and to highlight the importance of workforce development programs for dislocated workers, low-income adults, and at-risk youth. According to a recent poll, nearly half of U.S. workers said their current job may be at risk due to advancements in technology and automation. By 2030, the number of U.S.-based jobs that will require more than a high school degree but not those of a 4-year college education is expected to increase by nearly one-quarter. Our economy is changing, and our workforce must change along with it. Accordingly, both business leaders and workers say that they would benefit from investments in worker skills training and development. In response to the needs of workers and businesses, Congress reauthorized the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014, which passed with strong bipartisan support. This landmark legislation has supported employment, training, and support services in recognition of the need to strengthen the focus of the United States on the skills necessary to effectively prepare individuals for employment in local and regional industries. The COVID-19 pandemic has led many Americans to adapt their work habits and change their jobs or career paths. The pandemic has also altered the demands for many jobs. It is therefore imperative for us to prioritize workforce development programs focused on this new reality while also getting people back to work. This resolution reaffirms the impact that education, skills training, and career advancement training can have on workers' ability to improve their lives. Our resolution would designate September 2022 as National Workforce Development Month, something Congress has done each year since 2017. More specifically, our resolution would reaffirm the Senate's support for Federal initiatives promoting workforce development and acknowledge the vital role this training plays in supporting employees, businesses, and our national economic prosperity. As the needs of businesses and workers change, it is important that Congress support the development of a skilled workforce. I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this resolution.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of legislation that I introduced today along with Senator Padilla to preserve the enduring legacy of California's giant sequoias: the Save Our Sequoias Act. I thank Senator Padilla for working with me on this important bill, as well as the bipartisan sponsors of similar legislation in the House. The Save Our Sequoias Act would charge a dedicated group of Federal, State, local, and Tribal land managers known as the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition with developing wildfire resilience projects to help save these magnificent trees. The bill would also provide Federal Agencies with narrow, targeted authorities to implement these projects quickly and protect our remaining sequoias, as well as create a strategy to enhance sequoia reforestation. Giant sequoias are one of the most iconic plants in the world. The sequoia known as General Sherman is the largest tree on Earth at more than 100 feet in circumference and 275 feet tall. Sequoias grow quickly, producing a 50-foot tree's worth of wood each year, yet can live to be thousands of years old. They are also remarkably fire-adapted, with spongy bark that can be up to 2-feet thick. Perhaps most importantly to me, these incredible trees only grow in my home State of California. Just being around these trees is a humbling experience. Their immensity puts them in a class by themselves, and it is no wonder that they have been the source of reverence and amazement. For many years, sequoias were considered nearly immune to the effects of wildfires, but unfortunately devastating fires in recent years have overwhelmed even their potent defenses. Officials have estimated that 20 percent of all mature giant sequoias have been destroyed just since 2020. Scientific research has additionally suggested that without significant action, another 20 percent could be lost in the next 3 years. This would be a staggering tragedy and demands action. As former President Theodore Roosevelt himself put it, ``A grove of giant redwood or sequoias should be kept just as we keep a great and beautiful cathedral.'' The vast majority of giant sequoias live on Federal land, and I thank President Biden and his administration for using existing authorities to try to save these magnificent trees. Nevertheless, Congress can and should enact legislation to protect sequoias long into the future. Our bill would accomplish this goal by first codifying the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, an existing group of public land managers with jurisdiction over sequoia groves, and requiring it to develop a strategy to make sequoia groves more resilient to wildfire. It would also provide congressional support for the Biden Administration's current actions under an emergency declaration to expedite sequoia wildfire resilience projects. Federal agencies should not be reliant on emergency authorities, however, in order to implement necessary wildfire resilience projects in the future. To that end, our bill provides those Agencies with narrow, targeted authorities to continue making progress on those projects and authorizes funding for dedicated personnel. It also establishes a grant program for sequoia resilience projects that occur off of Federal land. Lastly, our bill ensures that we do not simply mitigate future sequoia losses but also begin the process of regrowth. Since sequoias can live to be thousands of years old, it is never too early to begin rejuvenating these majestic trees. Mr. President, giant sequoias are one of the great treasures of the world, not just of California. It is incumbent upon Congress to pass our bill to ensure they are protected and can be cherished for thousands of years to come.