Tim Kaine

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President. A vibrant and independent media and public access to accurate information are critical to the functioning of any democracy. A free press is so important that our Founding Fathers explicitly guaranteed that right in the First Amendment of our Constitution, and the United Nations defined press freedom as a fundamental human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But today--as democracies worldwide are facing growing challenges from authoritarian leaders, censorship, and disinformation campaigns-- foreign journalists are facing unprecedented dangers that put their profession, and their lives, at risk. The nature of threats against journalists is shifting. While the number of journalists killed in war zones continues to drop, the number of journalists killed or targeted in countries at peace continues at historically high levels. Fifty journalists were killed because of their work in 2020, and 68% of these deaths occurred outside of conflict zones. Most of those who perpetrate attacks are never held accountable. Worldwide, there was complete impunity in 86% of cases of murdered journalists occurring between September 2019 and August 2020. In addition, the number of journalists imprisoned remains at historically high levels, with nearly 400 behind bars as of December 2020. And authoritarian governments are using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext for censorship, restricting reporters' freedom of movement, and harassing them. The legislation I am introducing today with Senator Graham marks World Press Freedom Day by honoring journalists not only with words but with action. It builds on the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, signed into law in 2009, to take concrete steps to ensure the wellbeing of journalism as a profession, and of individual journalists themselves. This legislation creates a new fund for programs to help keep foreign journalists safe, whether they are operating in dangerous environments or need to be re-located for their safety, and authorizes $30 million for this purpose. It uses existing funding to help nations prevent, investigate, and prosecute crimes against journalists overseas. It creates a new non-immigrant visa category to allow journalists in danger to come to the United States. And it creates a Coordinator for International Press Freedom at the State Department to serve as a focal point for advancing the right to freedom of the press and freedom of expression abroad. I am proud to join Senator Graham in this effort to ensure that the free press that we value so highly in the United States is protected and promoted around the world, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that this legislation is swiftly considered by the Senate. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 113; that the nomination be confirmed; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth are at an increased risk for experiencing maltreatment compared to non-LGBTQ youth. Because of limited exposure to mandated reporters as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the unfortunate truth is that the maltreatment that some youth experience have experienced has gone unrecognized and underreported. Research prior to the pandemic demonstrated that LGBTQ youth were more likely to experience physical abuse by a parent or guardian when compared to their heterosexual peers. Risk for harm of vulnerable youth also extends far beyond physical safety. LGBTQ youth are at a disproportionately high risk for depression, suicidal ideation and suicide, and self-harming behaviors, with rates of attempted suicide of around 2 to 10 times those of peers. These risks for maltreatment often times result in LGBTQ youth entering the child welfare system. Studies have found that, ``LGBT young people are overrepresented in child welfare systems, despite the fact that they are likely to be underreported because they risk harassment and abuse if their LGBT identity is disclosed.'' This overrepresentation of LGBTQ youth in the foster care system raises concerns about issues in the child abuse and prevention space. Additional research is needed to understand the risk of abuse among LGBTQ youth, particularly those identifying as transgender. This information will yield invaluable information to be used in developing targeted prevention strategies to reduce the rates of adverse childhood experiences of LGBTQ individuals. This is why I am pleased to introduce the Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act with my colleague Senator Baldwin. Our bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and calls for HHS and other federal agencies to carry out an interdisciplinary research program to protect LGBTQ youth from child abuse and neglect and improve the well-being of victims of child abuse or neglect. This legislation also expands current practices around demographic information collection and reporting on incidences and prevalence of child maltreatment to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Additionally, the bill opens existing grant funding opportunities to invest in the training of personnel in best practices to meet the unique needs of LGBTQ youth and calls for the inclusion of individuals experienced in working with LGBTQ youth and families in state task forces. Improving data collection and disaggregation will provide greater insight into the circumstances LGBTQ youth face in the home that, when left unaddressed, lead to entry into the child welfare system. This improved data-driven understanding can then be used to develop appropriate and effective primary prevention practices to decrease the risks faced by LGTBQ youth, and will be pivotal in our understanding of abuse and neglect following the pandemic. I hope that as the Senate moves to reauthorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act we consider the Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act to better inform our collective understanding of the risks faced by LGBTQ youth and the best ways to protect them.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. KAINE. I know of no further debate.

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 66.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, that the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 321 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. KAINE. I know of no further debate.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I have 8 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Armed Services The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a briefing. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on the Judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Special Committee on Aging The Special Committee on Aging is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 70; that the nomination be confirmed; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I rise because it is a historic day. It is a historic day because the House is scheduled to pass H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. My original intent was to speak about that, but before I do, I want to honor my colleagues who have worked very hard on the hate crimes legislation that we will tackle later today. I want to thank Senators Hirono and Duckworth and Senator Collins for working with them. I want to thank Senators Blumenthal and Moran and all the Senators who have worked to get us at the threshold where we will do something bipartisan that will send comfort to people around the country who are worried about being targeted because of who they are. In honor of my colleagues who have worked hard, I just want to tell you a story about Heather Heyer, the Virginian for whom the NO HATE Act is partially named, who was killed when she was 32 in 2017 by a White supremacist in Charlottesville. I didn't know Heather--I know her mother Susan pretty well--but I went to Heather's funeral. Let me tell you this amazing story about Heather Heyer. Heather was a waitress, and she saw an ad in the newspaper to apply to be a paralegal at a local law firm specializing in bankruptcy. A Charlottesville attorney, an African-American man, had a bankruptcy firm. He needed a paralegal, put an ad in the paper, and got a lot of applications. He got this application from Heather Heyer. The other applicants had paralegal degrees. Heather Heyer was a waitress who didn't have a paralegal degree, but something about the letter made him think, well, I at least have to talk to this person. He interviewed those with the paralegal degrees, and then he interviewed Heather Heyer and was very struck with her personality but said: Look, I am interviewing for people to be a paralegal. You don't have background in this area. You are a waitress. Why do you think you can do this job? Heather said: Because I am a waitress, I listen to people all day long, and I want to tell you about some of my customers--the elderly widower who comes in every Tuesday for lunch, and I know his order, and I know how to converse with him to lighten his mood. She went on to describe some of the people in the restaurant she had served for years. Then she looked at this attorney and said: You are a bankruptcy lawyer. The people who come to you are hurting. They need to be listened to. They are worried about losing everything. I think you couldn't do better than to hire somebody who has made a specialist out of listening to other people. He said: Well, you may not have a degree, but you have answered that in a wonderful way, and I am going to hire you. He hired Heather. Heather ended up, as he described at her funeral service, kind of becoming like the office den mother, manager, et cetera, who was so good dealing with clients who were so very worried when they came to see him. One night after she had been working with him for a while, they worked late and they left the office. As they left the office, Heather's relatively new boyfriend was waiting outside. Heather introduced him to her boss. The next day, the attorney noticed that Heather wasn't her normal, talkative self, that she wasn't in a very good mood. At the end of the day, he said to her: Heather, is something wrong? She said: Yes. I broke up with my boyfriend last night. He said: Well, I just met him last night outside the office. He seemed like a wonderful guy. She said: Well, I thought he was a wonderful guy, but when he saw that I was working for a Black man, he started to criticize me for that, and I had no choice but to break up with him. She is Heather Heyer. She is the woman whom we are honoring in passing the NO HATE amendment as part of the hate crimes bill today, and I appreciate my colleagues for including her in the NO HATE amendment that will be part of this bill. Washington, D.C. Admission Act Mr. President, our colleagues in the House today are acting on H.R. 51, and there is an equivalent bill, S. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. As somebody who represents a State just a few miles from DC, I didn't want to let this historic day pass without saying a word about it. The bill would, as everyone knows, make Washington, DC, the Nation's 51st State. I am proud to serve as an original cosponsor of the Senate version, led by my colleague Senator Carper. The bill was introduced earlier this year after many previous efforts with a record number of cosponsors, and I am proud to say that statehood for DC is enjoying the largest support in years. The right to vote is the cornerstone of our American democratic society. Through free and fair elections, ordinary citizens choose the leaders and direction of our country; yet some 712,000 residents of the Nation's Capital do not enjoy the right fully. For too long, Virginia's neighbors in DC have been denied their civil rights and have been subject to taxation without full representation in Congress, which is a founding principle of our Nation. Virginians love history. So, on May 29, 1765, Patrick Henry gave his famous speech before the Virginia House of Burgesses, encouraging the passage of the five resolutions, commonly referred to as the Virginia Resolves, to address the Stamp Act. The act that was passed the following day included four of his resolves. Everybody remembers that the Stamp Act of 1765 levied an unfair tax on American Colonies on paper goods, newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, and legal documents. The Crown was worried about the content of those documents, so it levied the tax. In his first resolve, Henry declared that Virginians should be entitled to ``all of the liberties, privileges, franchises, and immunities'' that other British subjects enjoyed. He wanted for Virginians the same rights enjoyed by people living in Britain, thousands of miles away. I can't help but notice the parallel. We stand in the District of Columbia, the seat of our Nation's Federal Government. Not thousands of miles away but just across the Potomac River or just over the border in Maryland, hundreds of thousands of American citizens don't enjoy the same ``liberties, privileges, franchises, and immunities'' as those in Virginia, Maryland, or other States. In his third resolve, Patrick Henry stated: The taxation of the people by themselves, or by persons chosen by themselves to represent them, who can only know what taxes the people can bear, or the easiest method of raising them, and must themselves be affected by every tax laid on the people, is the only security against a burdensome taxation, and the distinguishing characteristic of British freedom, without which the ancient constitution cannot exist. To date, DC pays more in Federal taxes per capita than any State. Its residents pay more in Federal taxes per capita than any State and more total Federal taxes than 22 States. Yet, for more than 200 years, the people of Washington, DC, have been denied what Patrick Henry urged on the Virginia House of Burgesses as a reason for American independence. DC not only pays more per capital Federal taxes than any State, it is also subject to a higher degree of congressional regulation of its internal affairs than any other State. So it is both taxed and overregulated without representation. DC meets the two criteria that have always been the test of admission of a new State into the Union: sufficient population and a demonstrated desire by the population for statehood. Congress used to establish minimal required populations for statehood. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787, for example, incorporated territories into the United States in the upper Midwest and allowed that they could become States once their populations exceeded 60,000. While there is no such statutory minimum today, all would acknowledge that DC, because it has a larger population than both Wyoming and Vermont and is close to the populations of the two Dakotas, is sufficiently sizable to be a State. DC has also demonstrated its desire to be a State over and over again by popular referendum. Most recently, in 2016, a statehood referendum was supported by 86 percent of DC residents. So DC meets the traditional test for statehood. Its people are both taxed and regulated by a Congress that does not include representatives who can advocate on their behalf. Finally, I support adding a 51st star to the American flag because it will show that we are still a thriving nation. We haven't added a State in nearly 70 years. This is the longest period in American history without adding a State. Adding DC as a State will show the world that America is still a confident and growing nation with our best days ahead of us, not a fixed, inward, and static nation with our best days behind us. With that, I stand here today to call on my colleagues in the Senate to give full and fair consideration to H.R. 51, which will pass today, and S. 51 and provide the more than 700,000 residents of our Nation's Capital the full and equal citizenship that Patrick Henry demanded in 1775 and that the rest of the country enjoys today. I yield the floor

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, throughout his time in office, President Donald Trump repeatedly disparaged our NATO allies and reportedly threatened withdrawal from the NATO alliance, the bedrock of European and American security for over seventy years. Although our current President has recommitted the United States to NATO and our transatlantic partnerships, it is still necessary for the Senate to consider legislation that prevents any President from withdrawing the United States from this critical defense treaty. This legislation would not only help address present national security challenges by reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Europe, it would also provide clarity to important constitutional questions regarding the role of Congress in terminating U.S. participation in treaties and alliances. Particularly with a treaty obligation that is as central to U.S. security as NATO, no President should be allowed to unilaterally withdraw without the advice and consent of the Senate. Over the past several years, NATO allies, many of whom we have fought alongside since World War II and earlier in some cases, have questioned our allegiance for the first time in the history of NATO. In response to the only invocation of Article 5 of the NATO Treaty following the 9/ 11 attacks, more than 1,000 servicemembers from these allied nations gave their lives fighting alongside the United States. While the United States must continue to press every country to increase defense spending to meet the agreed-upon goal of 2 percent of GDP by 2024, and ensure that our European allies contribute to their own defense, U.S. withdrawal from NATO should not be considered without Congressional input. For this reason, we must use our constitutional powers of advice and consent and of the purse to block any unilateral executive withdrawal, and preemptively authorize legal proceedings to challenge any decision to terminate U.S. membership. The legislation I am introducing today with Senators Rubio, Collins, Blumenthal, Coons, Duckworth, Durbin, Feinstein, Graham, King, Klobuchar, Merkley, Moran, Shaheen, and Warner would provide the necessary tools to prevent a President from unilaterally withdrawing the United States from the NATO treaty without the consent of Congress. The Senate has repeatedly indicated its support for NATO through previous legislation, including the original vote of 82-13 in 1949 to grant the Senate's consent to join NATO, and the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which called for the United States to ``remain ironclad in its commitment to uphold its obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty.'' I am proud to have bipartisan support for this bill to ensure that the safety of the American people is prioritized through our continued membership in NATO, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that this legislation is swiftly considered by the Senate. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, throughout his time in office, President Donald Trump repeatedly disparaged our NATO allies and reportedly threatened withdrawal from the NATO alliance, the bedrock of European and American security for over seventy years. Although our current President has recommitted the United States to NATO and our transatlantic partnerships, it is still necessary for the Senate to consider legislation that prevents any President from withdrawing the United States from this critical defense treaty. This legislation would not only help address present national security challenges by reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Europe, it would also provide clarity to important constitutional questions regarding the role of Congress in terminating U.S. participation in treaties and alliances. Particularly with a treaty obligation that is as central to U.S. security as NATO, no President should be allowed to unilaterally withdraw without the advice and consent of the Senate. Over the past several years, NATO allies, many of whom we have fought alongside since World War II and earlier in some cases, have questioned our allegiance for the first time in the history of NATO. In response to the only invocation of Article 5 of the NATO Treaty following the 9/ 11 attacks, more than 1,000 servicemembers from these allied nations gave their lives fighting alongside the United States. While the United States must continue to press every country to increase defense spending to meet the agreed-upon goal of 2 percent of GDP by 2024, and ensure that our European allies contribute to their own defense, U.S. withdrawal from NATO should not be considered without Congressional input. For this reason, we must use our constitutional powers of advice and consent and of the purse to block any unilateral executive withdrawal, and preemptively authorize legal proceedings to challenge any decision to terminate U.S. membership. The legislation I am introducing today with Senators Rubio, Collins, Blumenthal, Coons, Duckworth, Durbin, Feinstein, Graham, King, Klobuchar, Merkley, Moran, Shaheen, and Warner would provide the necessary tools to prevent a President from unilaterally withdrawing the United States from the NATO treaty without the consent of Congress. The Senate has repeatedly indicated its support for NATO through previous legislation, including the original vote of 82-13 in 1949 to grant the Senate's consent to join NATO, and the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which called for the United States to ``remain ironclad in its commitment to uphold its obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty.'' I am proud to have bipartisan support for this bill to ensure that the safety of the American people is prioritized through our continued membership in NATO, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that this legislation is swiftly considered by the Senate. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, it is painfully clear that existing Federal policies do not provide a comprehensive approach to address the national epidemic of gun violence. In fact, in 2019, for the third consecutive year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported gun violence as a leading cause of premature death in the United States resulting in the loss of 39,707 American lives--that is 109 American lives lost each day. And unfortunately, 2020 was no different. Even as the Country was enduring an unprecedented global pandemic, communities across the country were left dealing with the ever-present threat of gun violence. There is single legislative action that can eradicate the complex and deeply rooted issues of gun violence. However, we must undertake the correct approach by focusing on many issues, including improvements to our mental health system, better security protocols, and commonsense rules about gun use and safety, such that keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals. Virginians know all too well the heartbreaking consequences of gun violence. We have seen it in the tragedies of Virginia Tech and Virginia Beach and the countless drive-by shootings, domestic violence, and suicides by firearms. Yet the Commonwealth has chosen to acknowledge and address its unfortunate history of gun violence, and this past year adopted a series of gun violence prevention measures. These measures include legislation to enact an Extreme Risk Protective Order; an expansion of background checks on all gun sales; a mandate to report lost and stolen firearms; safeguards that prevent children from accessing firearms; and a reinstatement of Virginia's successful one- handgun-a-month policy. The Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act of 2021 builds on the newly adopted Virginia framework by creating a comprehensive package of policies at the federal level to reduce gun violence across the nation. With public support for commonsense rules at the highest it has ever been, we cannot wait until the next senseless tragedy before enacting commonsense gun policies. It is important to remember that gun violence is preventable and requires we take an evidence-based approach to create a more peaceful society, free of gun violence. I believe that the ``Virginia Plan'' will pave the way to advance meaningful gun reform and ultimately save lives. Now is the time to act.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, it is painfully clear that existing Federal policies do not provide a comprehensive approach to address the national epidemic of gun violence. In fact, in 2019, for the third consecutive year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported gun violence as a leading cause of premature death in the United States resulting in the loss of 39,707 American lives--that is 109 American lives lost each day. And unfortunately, 2020 was no different. Even as the Country was enduring an unprecedented global pandemic, communities across the country were left dealing with the ever-present threat of gun violence. There is single legislative action that can eradicate the complex and deeply rooted issues of gun violence. However, we must undertake the correct approach by focusing on many issues, including improvements to our mental health system, better security protocols, and commonsense rules about gun use and safety, such that keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals. Virginians know all too well the heartbreaking consequences of gun violence. We have seen it in the tragedies of Virginia Tech and Virginia Beach and the countless drive-by shootings, domestic violence, and suicides by firearms. Yet the Commonwealth has chosen to acknowledge and address its unfortunate history of gun violence, and this past year adopted a series of gun violence prevention measures. These measures include legislation to enact an Extreme Risk Protective Order; an expansion of background checks on all gun sales; a mandate to report lost and stolen firearms; safeguards that prevent children from accessing firearms; and a reinstatement of Virginia's successful one- handgun-a-month policy. The Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act of 2021 builds on the newly adopted Virginia framework by creating a comprehensive package of policies at the federal level to reduce gun violence across the nation. With public support for commonsense rules at the highest it has ever been, we cannot wait until the next senseless tragedy before enacting commonsense gun policies. It is important to remember that gun violence is preventable and requires we take an evidence-based approach to create a more peaceful society, free of gun violence. I believe that the ``Virginia Plan'' will pave the way to advance meaningful gun reform and ultimately save lives. Now is the time to act.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, The U.S. Infrastructure system is in critical need of an upgrade. In February 2021, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) graded 11 of 17 infrastructure categories a D+ or worse. Systems across the Nation are in dire need of repair, including our bridges, public transit, roads, and schools. A recent study by the Center of Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University estimated that a $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment would create 15 million new jobs. Nearly half of these would require training past the high school level. Even without a significant investment, though, infrastructure industries are already struggling to meet workforce demands. Though the need to invest in infrastructure goes back decades, there's renewed momentum today, especially as more than 10 million people remain unemployed across the country as a result of COVID-19, exacerbating the already historic inequities that have limited women and people of color from accessing these jobs. Investments in infrastructure skills training must serve people of color, women, and other communities who have historically been excluded from good careers in infrastructure. Industry and sector partnerships are a proven strategy for helping workers prepare for jobs that lead to strong career pathways and helping businesses find skilled workers. Congress requires states and local areas to support the development of these partnerships under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), but no dedicated funding has been provided for these activities. For workers, especially those underrepresented in infrastructure industries, support services like career counseling, child care, and transportation can often be the key to succeed in work-based learning programs. Providing these services may be outside the capacity of a business. Industry partnerships bring business together with community and human service organizations that can make these connections for workers and drastically improve their ability to succeed in training and meet business demand for skilled workers. This is why I am pleased to introduce with my colleague, Senator Portman, the Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills Act, or BUILDS Act. The BUILDS Act creates a grant program that would support industry and sector partnerships working with local businesses, industry associations and organizations, labor organizations, state and local workforce boards, economic development agencies and other partners engaged in their communities to encourage industry growth, competitiveness and collaboration to improve worker training, retention and advancement in targeted infrastructure clusters. Additionally, businesses and education providers would be connected to develop classroom curriculum to complement on-the-job learning and workers would receive support services such as mentoring and career counseling to ensure that they are successful from the pre- employment to placement in a full-time position. As we prepare to tackle critical infrastructure needs nationwide, it's vital we also support a skilled workforce that can take on this task. This bill will help foster strong industry partnerships and career pathways in infrastructure fields to ensure we can train and upskill workers for millions of good-paying jobs and also strengthen our economy as we begin to recover from COVID-19. I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle consider the BUILDS Act as a necessary component to any investment in our nation's infrastructure.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, The U.S. Infrastructure system is in critical need of an upgrade. In February 2021, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) graded 11 of 17 infrastructure categories a D+ or worse. Systems across the Nation are in dire need of repair, including our bridges, public transit, roads, and schools. A recent study by the Center of Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University estimated that a $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment would create 15 million new jobs. Nearly half of these would require training past the high school level. Even without a significant investment, though, infrastructure industries are already struggling to meet workforce demands. Though the need to invest in infrastructure goes back decades, there's renewed momentum today, especially as more than 10 million people remain unemployed across the country as a result of COVID-19, exacerbating the already historic inequities that have limited women and people of color from accessing these jobs. Investments in infrastructure skills training must serve people of color, women, and other communities who have historically been excluded from good careers in infrastructure. Industry and sector partnerships are a proven strategy for helping workers prepare for jobs that lead to strong career pathways and helping businesses find skilled workers. Congress requires states and local areas to support the development of these partnerships under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), but no dedicated funding has been provided for these activities. For workers, especially those underrepresented in infrastructure industries, support services like career counseling, child care, and transportation can often be the key to succeed in work-based learning programs. Providing these services may be outside the capacity of a business. Industry partnerships bring business together with community and human service organizations that can make these connections for workers and drastically improve their ability to succeed in training and meet business demand for skilled workers. This is why I am pleased to introduce with my colleague, Senator Portman, the Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills Act, or BUILDS Act. The BUILDS Act creates a grant program that would support industry and sector partnerships working with local businesses, industry associations and organizations, labor organizations, state and local workforce boards, economic development agencies and other partners engaged in their communities to encourage industry growth, competitiveness and collaboration to improve worker training, retention and advancement in targeted infrastructure clusters. Additionally, businesses and education providers would be connected to develop classroom curriculum to complement on-the-job learning and workers would receive support services such as mentoring and career counseling to ensure that they are successful from the pre- employment to placement in a full-time position. As we prepare to tackle critical infrastructure needs nationwide, it's vital we also support a skilled workforce that can take on this task. This bill will help foster strong industry partnerships and career pathways in infrastructure fields to ensure we can train and upskill workers for millions of good-paying jobs and also strengthen our economy as we begin to recover from COVID-19. I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle consider the BUILDS Act as a necessary component to any investment in our nation's infrastructure.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, VA. This text represents years of negotiation and compromise among Virginia stakeholders who rely in different ways on the GW Forest. In many parts of America, Federal land management is controversial. Some may view these lands as repositories for timber, energy, or minerals. Others may enjoy using recreational trails through them. Others may believe that they should be left to nature and not disturbed. The truth, of course, is that all of these uses are important; the conflict lies in agreeing on which lands are best suited to which purposes. In the lead-up to the latest multiyear GW Forest Management Plan, various forest users came together to see if they could find reasonable compromises that would avoid years of unproductive disagreement and litigation. This group, known as the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, succeeded. Through hard work and consensus, the collaborative made joint recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for forest management and protection. Preservation advocates consented to timber harvest and other active forest restoration and management in certain areas, while forest products interests consented to wilderness and light management in other areas. Following this fruitful collaboration, the Forest Service convened the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project, bringing together the collaborative and other stakeholders to help develop management activities on this particular part of the forest in Bath County. Again, this collaborative succeeded, with everyone getting some of what they want and giving some ground. The collaborative has now come together to support the wilderness additions in this bill, which designates 4,500 acres to be added to the Rich Hole Wilderness Area and 1,000 acres to be added to the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area. I am proud to partner on this with my colleague Senator Mark Warner, and we are following in the path blazed by Senator John Warner and Representative Rick Boucher, who led the original Virginia Wilderness Act in 1984. I am further proud that this bill passed unanimously in the Senate last Congress and as part of a package passed the House this Congress. I hope it will cross the finish line soon. Taking care of our Nation's public lands is good for the economy and good for the environment. Land disputes may often be contentious, but this example proves they don't have to be. When everyone comes to the table and invests the necessary time, we can find common ground. I hope this will be a lesson for us in other tough policy challenges, and I encourage the Senate to support this bill.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, VA. This text represents years of negotiation and compromise among Virginia stakeholders who rely in different ways on the GW Forest. In many parts of America, Federal land management is controversial. Some may view these lands as repositories for timber, energy, or minerals. Others may enjoy using recreational trails through them. Others may believe that they should be left to nature and not disturbed. The truth, of course, is that all of these uses are important; the conflict lies in agreeing on which lands are best suited to which purposes. In the lead-up to the latest multiyear GW Forest Management Plan, various forest users came together to see if they could find reasonable compromises that would avoid years of unproductive disagreement and litigation. This group, known as the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, succeeded. Through hard work and consensus, the collaborative made joint recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for forest management and protection. Preservation advocates consented to timber harvest and other active forest restoration and management in certain areas, while forest products interests consented to wilderness and light management in other areas. Following this fruitful collaboration, the Forest Service convened the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and Management Project, bringing together the collaborative and other stakeholders to help develop management activities on this particular part of the forest in Bath County. Again, this collaborative succeeded, with everyone getting some of what they want and giving some ground. The collaborative has now come together to support the wilderness additions in this bill, which designates 4,500 acres to be added to the Rich Hole Wilderness Area and 1,000 acres to be added to the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area. I am proud to partner on this with my colleague Senator Mark Warner, and we are following in the path blazed by Senator John Warner and Representative Rick Boucher, who led the original Virginia Wilderness Act in 1984. I am further proud that this bill passed unanimously in the Senate last Congress and as part of a package passed the House this Congress. I hope it will cross the finish line soon. Taking care of our Nation's public lands is good for the economy and good for the environment. Land disputes may often be contentious, but this example proves they don't have to be. When everyone comes to the table and invests the necessary time, we can find common ground. I hope this will be a lesson for us in other tough policy challenges, and I encourage the Senate to support this bill.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University, OLLI Mason, its 30th anniversary and on its continuing success in offering educational programming for older Americans in Northern Virginia. Programs like OLLI Mason provide lifelong learning opportunities for seniors interested in maintaining an active intellectual life. The Learning in Retirement Institute was founded in 1991 to establish educational and social opportunities for a growing base of seniors in Northern Virginia. The Institute soon became affiliated with George Mason University as part of Mason's vision to extend its learning mission in the community. The institute was generously endowed by the Bernard Osher Foundation, a nonprofit that is dedicated to enhancing quality of life in the United States through education and the arts. What started two decades ago as a member-run Learning in Retirement Center with 100 members operating and teaching out of one room in Mason's Commerce II Building has burgeoned today into a robust, first- rate educational and social institute with 1,100 members. OLLI Mason's mission is ``to offer its members learning opportunities in a stimulating environment in which adults can share their talents, experiences and skills, explore new interests, discover and develop latent abilities, engage in intellectual and cultural pursuits, and socialize with others of similar interests.'' OLLI Mason has fulfilled this mission by offering retirees in Northern Virginia over 600 courses from arts to zoology, religion to science, as well as excursions and special events. As the over 50 population across the Commonwealth continues to live longer and healthier lives, I am pleased to recognize OLLI, George Mason University, and the County of Fairfax for their initiative in foreseeing decades ago the critical need to offer programs that meet the needs, expand opportunities, and enhance the quality of life for older Americans across Northern Virginia. I look forward to many more years of their programming success.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President. In today's economy, ensuring access to a variety of postsecondary programs has become even more critical in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of the end of 2020, more than 10 million Americans were unemployed, and 3. 7 million of those individuals have suffered permanent job loss. These workers will need access to postsecondary education and training to reskill and reenter the workforce. Notably, according to a poll conducted by Strada in June of 2020, Americans strongly prefer nondegree and skills training programs over degree programs as a way to access postsecondary credentials during and post-pandemic. However, when it comes to higher education, Federal policies are not doing enough to support the demands of the changing labor market. Many of the individuals who enter into skills and job training programs are at the lowest end of the socioeconomic level, yet simply because their goal is to enter the workforce rather than obtain a degree, they are denied access Federal financial aid. The Federal Pell Grant Program-- needs-based grants for low-income and king students--can only be used to offset the cost of programs that are over 600 clock hours or at least 15 weeks in length. While many short-term programs provide high-quality skills training that employers need and recognize, they are not Pell-eligible. Since the creation of the Pell grant, the profile of today's students has evolved along with the types of postsecondary education and training programs students look to enroll in. Today, 3 7 percent of all postsecondary students are 25 years of age or older, 68 percent work full-or-part-time while attending school and 26 percent have children or dependents. While many of these students enroll in longer-term degree programs, a significant number seek out shorter-term, workforce- oriented training programs that lead to in-demand jobs or stack to longer-term education pathways. These short-term programs allow them to advance their education and skills in a manner that works with their life-situation of working and caring for children and other dependents. Without such programs, many of these students cannot devote the four plus years that many part-time students must spend to get an associates degree, or six plus years to earn a four year degree. Our federal higher education policy must be modernized to meet the needs of students and employers. According to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, shorter-term educational investments pay off--the average postsecondary certificate holder has 30 percent higher lifetime earnings than individuals with only a high school diploma. Today, I am pleased to introduce with my colleague, Senator Portman, the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students or JOBS Act. The JOBS Act would close extend Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality, short-term job training programs offered at community colleges and other public institutions, so workers can afford the instruction they need to be successful in today's job market. Under the legislation, Pell-eligible job training programs are defined as those providing at least 150 clock hours of instruction time over a minimum of 8 weeks. Eligible job training programs must also provide students with licenses, certifications, or credentials that meet the hiring requirements of multiple employers in the field for which the job training is offered. The JOBS Act also ensures that students enrolling in Pell-eligible short-term programs are earning high-quality postsecondary credentials by requiring that the credentials meet the standards of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, are recognized by industry or sector partnerships, and align with the skill needs of industries in States or local economies. Job training programs under this Act must also be evaluated by an accreditor and the State workforce board for quality and outcomes. The Virginia Community College System has identified approximately 50 programs that would benefit from the JOBS Act including in the fields of manufacturing, maritime, architecture/ construction, energy, health care, information technology, transportation, and business management and administration. The JOBS Act is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that would help workers and employers succeed in today's economy. As Congress works to help Americans recover from pandemic job losses, I am hopeful that my colleagues will join me in advocating for Pell Grants to be made available to individuals enrolling in high-quality, short-term training programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials and good paying jobs.