Alex Padilla

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Mental Health for Latinos Act. This important bill would boost our continued efforts to reduce stigma and promote mental wellness, while meeting the diverse needs of Latino communities across the country. In response to the mental health crisis in the Latino community, this legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a strategy to provide information on evidence-based practices, interventions, and treatments that are culturally and linguistically appropriate and increases awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses common among such populations, considering differences within subgroups, such as gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity. The evidence is clear: We are experiencing a mental health crisis in the Latino community. Disparities within our healthcare system are preventing members of Latino communities from receiving lifesaving mental health services. These barriers to care are causing too many to suffer in silence, and this must change. Presently, only 36.1 percent of Latino adults aged 18 or older with a mental illness received services in 2021, compared to the U.S. average of 47.2 percent. Between 2010 and 2020, the suicide rate among male Latino adults ages 20 to 64 increased by 35.7 percent, and the female rate increased by 40.6 percent. Even those who are able to access services rarely receive the effective, culturally competent care they need. This bill would further our continued efforts to reduce stigma and promote mental wellness, while meeting the diverse needs of Latino populations across the country. As our Nation confronts an unfolding mental health crisis, this critical legislation reinforces the timeless message that there is zero shame in asking for help and that seeking support is a sign of strength. I would like to thank Congresswoman Napolitano for leading this legislation in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Mental Health for Latinos Act as soon as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Converting Our Waste Sustainably, COWS, Act of 2023. This legislation will help dairy and livestock producers reduce methane emissions, improve air and water quality, and implement more sustainable alternative manure management practices. As the top dairy State in the country and the second in cheese production, California is the largest producer of milk, butter, and cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and queso fresco. Dairy operations contribute billions of dollars to California's economy but are also responsible for 60 percent of California's methane emissions. Recognizing the urgency of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions like methane, California and the dairy industry are on track to reduce dairy methane emissions by 40 percent by 2030 largely due to the successes of California's own Alternative Manure Management Program. The COWS Act would establish an Alternative Manure Management Program to help dairy and livestock producers transition toward pasture-based management, alternative treatment and storage practices, solid separation systems, and scrape technologies. This voluntary program, modeled after California's extremely successful Alternative Manure Management Program, will provide more resources for the dairy and livestock industry to modernize technologies for manure management that help boost profitability, improve water quality, and reduce methane and nitrogen oxide emissions by fostering climate-smart farming. The bill also makes composting eligible for funding under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural operations is critical to addressing the climate crisis. Because of the high construction and operation costs associated with anerobic digesters, nondigester manure management practices can provide a more cost- effective alternative for family dairy and livestock operators seeking to improve profitability while improving air and water quality for their communities. I would like to thank my colleagues, Senators Brown and Heinrich, for their leadership in reducing agricultural methane emissions and Representative Costa for championing this bill in the House. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the COWS Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise as a proud Angeleno to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Few stadiums in the world have such a storied history and such a lasting cultural impact, as the LA Coliseum. Since opening in 1923, it has served as a living memorial to those who bravely fought in World War I, and it has endured as a landmark for generations of Angelenos. The Coliseum remains the only stadium in the world to have hosted two Summer Olympics. The first games, held in 1932, helped revolutionize the format for the modern Olympic Games and displayed America's resolve through the Great Depression. The second, held in 1984, was highly regarded as a financial success and a masterclass in hosting and showcasing the Olympic Games. As a boy, I remember watching in awe as Olympic legend and California icon, Rafer Johnson, ran up the steps of the Coliseum and lit the Olympic cauldron. With plans to once again welcome athletes from around the world and showcase Los Angeles as a world-class city in 2028, the Coliseum will soon break its own record as a third-time host for the Olympic Games. The Coliseum also hosted the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games to showcase the skills and accomplishments of athletes with intellectual disabilities. Many iconic sports teams have called the Coliseum home over the years. The USC Trojans' and the UCLA Bruins' athletic programs shared the stadium for over 50 years. Today, the Coliseum's timeless white arches provide the backdrop for thousands of loyal USC fans waiting to erupt each time their team plays a home game. In the National Football League, the Rams, the Raiders, and the Chargers have all called the Coliseum home at one point, and the stadium hosted three NFL championship games in 1949, 1951, and 1955, as well as the very first Super Bowl in 1967 and Super Bowl VII in 1973. As a point of personal privilege, my Los Angeles Dodgers called the Coliseum home for several years when they first moved out west, and they would host the first World Series played on the west coast at the Coliseum on their way to winning the 1959 World Series. For decades, the Coliseum was where leaders would go to speak to large masses of Southern Californians. The stadium has hosted Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Reagan, as well as notable dignitaries and civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, Cesar Chavez, and the Dalai Lama. It has also hosted decades of legendary concerts from greats like the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen, and more. Since 2022, NASCAR has hosted the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, which is the first exhibition race of the NASCAR Cup Series season each year. As we recognize 100 years of memorable events and historic firsts, I join all of Los Angeles in celebrating a century of competition, camaraderie, civic engagement, and culture, and I know the next 100 years have even more in store.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce State and Local General Sales Tax Protection Act. This legislation would clarify congressional intent around a 1987 amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration's authorization regarding the use of local excise taxes on aviation fuel for airport purposes. In 2014, the FAA implemented a policy change to require State and local governments to use general sales taxes collected on aviation fuel for airport purposes. This contradicted congressional intent clearly stated in the 1987 conference report and 29 years of practice, which applied this requirement only to local excise taxes on fuel and not to other taxes imposed by State and local governments. This legislation would overturn the 2014 FAA policy and remove any ambiguity in Federal interpretation by distinguishing State and local sales tax measures of general application from aviation fuel excise taxes. In my home State of California, local government sales taxes are voter-approved by a two-thirds margin for specific purposes. Diverting this money would be a violation of the State's constitution and the will of its voters. This 2014 FAA rulemaking, if enforced, is estimated to divert tens of millions of dollars away from voter-approved purposes like local transportation, first responders, education, and social programs every year. It is an assault on State and local control of general application sales tax measures. The 2014 FAA rulemaking would also impose an unfunded mandate on States and local governments that would be required to implement a burdensome tracking system to segregate taxes on aviation fuel from other taxable sources. Furthermore, in recognition of this error, the FAA included in its recommendations to Congress that the clarification provided in this legislation be included in an FAA reauthorization bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the State and Local General Sales Tax Protection Act to protect every State and local government that have or will have general sales taxes that include aviation fuel.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce State and Local General Sales Tax Protection Act. This legislation would clarify congressional intent around a 1987 amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration's authorization regarding the use of local excise taxes on aviation fuel for airport purposes. In 2014, the FAA implemented a policy change to require State and local governments to use general sales taxes collected on aviation fuel for airport purposes. This contradicted congressional intent clearly stated in the 1987 conference report and 29 years of practice, which applied this requirement only to local excise taxes on fuel and not to other taxes imposed by State and local governments. This legislation would overturn the 2014 FAA policy and remove any ambiguity in Federal interpretation by distinguishing State and local sales tax measures of general application from aviation fuel excise taxes. In my home State of California, local government sales taxes are voter-approved by a two-thirds margin for specific purposes. Diverting this money would be a violation of the State's constitution and the will of its voters. This 2014 FAA rulemaking, if enforced, is estimated to divert tens of millions of dollars away from voter-approved purposes like local transportation, first responders, education, and social programs every year. It is an assault on State and local control of general application sales tax measures. The 2014 FAA rulemaking would also impose an unfunded mandate on States and local governments that would be required to implement a burdensome tracking system to segregate taxes on aviation fuel from other taxable sources. Furthermore, in recognition of this error, the FAA included in its recommendations to Congress that the clarification provided in this legislation be included in an FAA reauthorization bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the State and Local General Sales Tax Protection Act to protect every State and local government that have or will have general sales taxes that include aviation fuel.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to reintroduce the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Act. The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue coins in commemoration of the ninth time that the United States will host the modern Olympics and the third time that our Nation will host the Paralympics. The proceeds from the sale of these coins will support the hosting of the 2028 Games and aid in the execution of its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States. It is also worth noting that this bill would come at no cost to the Federal Government. As you may know, the United States is one of the only countries with an Olympic Committee that does not receive funding from the Federal Government. All U.S.-hosted Olympic Games must instead rely on corporate partnerships, proceeds from broadcast agreements and ticket sales, and philanthropic contributions. Historically, Congress has authorized commemorative coins to honor the Olympic Games and Olympic athletes, including for the 1984, 1996, and 2002 Olympic Games in the United States. The 2028 games are 5 years from today, and preparations for this grand event are already underway in the region. This legislation can help ensure the 2028 games has the resources necessary to be a world-class event. I thank Senators Feinstein and Romney for introducing this legislation with me in the Senate, as well as Representative Sherman for leading it in the House. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill to ensure that Los Angeles, CA and our entire Nation are able to put on a successful and memorable 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to reintroduce the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Act. The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin would direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue coins in commemoration of the ninth time that the United States will host the modern Olympics and the third time that our Nation will host the Paralympics. The proceeds from the sale of these coins will support the hosting of the 2028 Games and aid in the execution of its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States. It is also worth noting that this bill would come at no cost to the Federal Government. As you may know, the United States is one of the only countries with an Olympic Committee that does not receive funding from the Federal Government. All U.S.-hosted Olympic Games must instead rely on corporate partnerships, proceeds from broadcast agreements and ticket sales, and philanthropic contributions. Historically, Congress has authorized commemorative coins to honor the Olympic Games and Olympic athletes, including for the 1984, 1996, and 2002 Olympic Games in the United States. The 2028 games are 5 years from today, and preparations for this grand event are already underway in the region. This legislation can help ensure the 2028 games has the resources necessary to be a world-class event. I thank Senators Feinstein and Romney for introducing this legislation with me in the Senate, as well as Representative Sherman for leading it in the House. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill to ensure that Los Angeles, CA and our entire Nation are able to put on a successful and memorable 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Fairness for Farmworkers Act, which I am reintroducing today. Farmworkers feed our Nation. This is especially true in California, the agricultural heart of the Nation. California is the most successful State in agricultural production and has the largest population of farmworkers. In fact, more than one-third of our country's vegetables and two-thirds of fruits and nuts come from California. During COVID-19, a time of incredible hardship, farmworkers put food on the tables of millions of Americans despite working in extreme conditions and facing deep-rooted inequities in the workforce. The time to address these inequities is now. While the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act established Federal standards for minimum wage and overtime pay, the law excluded millions of domestic and agricultural workers, who were overwhelmingly people of color. In 2016, California recognized the need to provide farmworkers overtime protection. The California overtime law, which ensures farmworkers will have an equal right to overtime pay, is the same model as this Federal bill. Farmworkers in California and across the Nation deserve an end to discrimination in labor laws. We must undo the discriminatory exclusion of farmworkers by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act. That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which will improve the lives of farmworkers and their families, create equity in our food system, and benefit farming communities as the increased wages are spent in local businesses. This bill will gradually implement overtime pay over the course of 4 years and bring greater equity to the American agricultural industry to greater prosperity to historically marginalized workers. This legislation will also boost farming community economies as increased wages are spent in local businesses. I want to thank Congressman Grijalva for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this bill that would provide a measure of long overdue fairness for our Nation's farmworkers.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Fairness for Farmworkers Act, which I am reintroducing today. Farmworkers feed our Nation. This is especially true in California, the agricultural heart of the Nation. California is the most successful State in agricultural production and has the largest population of farmworkers. In fact, more than one-third of our country's vegetables and two-thirds of fruits and nuts come from California. During COVID-19, a time of incredible hardship, farmworkers put food on the tables of millions of Americans despite working in extreme conditions and facing deep-rooted inequities in the workforce. The time to address these inequities is now. While the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act established Federal standards for minimum wage and overtime pay, the law excluded millions of domestic and agricultural workers, who were overwhelmingly people of color. In 2016, California recognized the need to provide farmworkers overtime protection. The California overtime law, which ensures farmworkers will have an equal right to overtime pay, is the same model as this Federal bill. Farmworkers in California and across the Nation deserve an end to discrimination in labor laws. We must undo the discriminatory exclusion of farmworkers by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act. That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which will improve the lives of farmworkers and their families, create equity in our food system, and benefit farming communities as the increased wages are spent in local businesses. This bill will gradually implement overtime pay over the course of 4 years and bring greater equity to the American agricultural industry to greater prosperity to historically marginalized workers. This legislation will also boost farming community economies as increased wages are spent in local businesses. I want to thank Congressman Grijalva for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this bill that would provide a measure of long overdue fairness for our Nation's farmworkers.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Atmospheric Rivers Reconissance, Observation and Warning Act or ARROW Act. This legislation will support critical atmospheric river reconnaissance missions to improve forecasting for water managers across the west coast. Atmospheric rivers produce between 40 to 65 percent of annual precipitation along the U.S. west coast but cause an estimated 90 percent or more of flood damage. These extreme storm events are the primary driver of drought and major flooding events impacting the entire western region, which is why the Federal Government alongside researchers and water managers support a growing Federal investment into atmospheric river reconnaissance research missions to help improve AR forecasting. The Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as Hurricane Hunters, fly specially equipped aircraft directly into the eye of a storm between 8,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level to collect valuable, real-time data that allows water managers, disaster responders, researchers, and meteorologists to better predict the impact of storm events such as ARs, hurricanes, and tropical cyclones. The ARROW Act would formalize ongoing AR reconnaissance efforts led by the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which, in consultation with NOAA, provide aircraft, personnel, and equipment to meet the AR mission requirements during the winter season in the west coast, from November through March. The bill would direct the Air Force to work with NOAA to improve the accuracy and timeliness of west coast AR forecasts and warning services; support water management decisions and flood forecasting; and participate in the Research and Operations Partnership, which guides flight planning, to improve and expand the capabilities and effectiveness of AR Recon into the future. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes and is a critical component of the U.S. weather forecasting apparatus. Since fiscal year 2020, Congress has directed the 53rd to prioritize atmospheric river reconnaissance in its National Winter Storms Operations Plan. However, without formal authorization, growing AR recon research will go unmet, leaving civil authorities and military decision makers without key forecasting data to predict and respond to AR landfall and to more effectively manage water supplies in an increasingly variable climate. That is why we need to pass the ARROW Act, to formalize the role of the Air Force Reserve's Weather Reconnaissance Squadron as a critical part of the U.S. storm forecasting and response infrastructure. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the ARROW Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Voluntary Agricultural Land Repurposing Act to support voluntary efforts to repurpose agricultural land to multibenefit uses. Enactment of this legislation would provide new tools for States, producers, water users, and Federal partners to adapt to long-term water scarcity at the basin scale. The bill would modernize existing Federal programs at the Bureau of Reclamation to support long-term drought planning and resiliency by stakeholders. Specifically, the bill would authorize funding for States that choose to pilot and implement their own multibenefit land repurposing programs. Eligible State-run programs must be basin-scale, reduce consumptive water use, and repurpose irrigated agricultural land for at least 10 years. Programs must also provide one or more other measurable benefits to the environment or community, including the restoration habitat or floodplains connection to streams or rivers, the creation of dedicated recharge areas, the facilitation of renewable energy projects, the creation of parks or recreational areas, and other listed uses. The bill would also prioritize State programs that provide direct benefits to disadvantaged communities or were developed through a multistakeholder planning process. Because it may take time for States to stand up or pilot programs, the bill would also make multibenefit land repurposing an eligible use under the WaterSMART Program so that individual water users could apply and compete for funding for multibenefit land repurposing projects. Water scarcity at the basin scale demands widespread changes in water use across the West. The Colorado River Basin's water storage shortage, Utah's decline to record low levels of the Great Salt Lake, and California's subsidence due to groundwater overdraft in the Central Valley are just a few of the many examples of long-term, basin-scale water scarcity demanding change in our water use. Through the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, Congress has stepped up and invested billions of dollars in new technologies to shore up our water supplies, including large-scale water recycling and desalination. But a historic megadrought and the climate crisis are unfortunately forcing Western States and water users to reimagine how to allocate and govern water and forcing producers to be more efficient with water or make do with less. One tool to bolster drought resilience is to retire irrigation from some agricultural lands, particularly where soils or productivity is marginal, where non-irrigated agricultural uses can sustainably contribute to an operation, or where important public benefits such as fish and wildlife habitat, watershed health and aquifer recharge, or renewable energy can be supported in a conversion from irrigated agriculture. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Voluntary Agricultural Land Repurposing Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Atmospheric Rivers Reconissance, Observation and Warning Act or ARROW Act. This legislation will support critical atmospheric river reconnaissance missions to improve forecasting for water managers across the west coast. Atmospheric rivers produce between 40 to 65 percent of annual precipitation along the U.S. west coast but cause an estimated 90 percent or more of flood damage. These extreme storm events are the primary driver of drought and major flooding events impacting the entire western region, which is why the Federal Government alongside researchers and water managers support a growing Federal investment into atmospheric river reconnaissance research missions to help improve AR forecasting. The Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as Hurricane Hunters, fly specially equipped aircraft directly into the eye of a storm between 8,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level to collect valuable, real-time data that allows water managers, disaster responders, researchers, and meteorologists to better predict the impact of storm events such as ARs, hurricanes, and tropical cyclones. The ARROW Act would formalize ongoing AR reconnaissance efforts led by the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which, in consultation with NOAA, provide aircraft, personnel, and equipment to meet the AR mission requirements during the winter season in the west coast, from November through March. The bill would direct the Air Force to work with NOAA to improve the accuracy and timeliness of west coast AR forecasts and warning services; support water management decisions and flood forecasting; and participate in the Research and Operations Partnership, which guides flight planning, to improve and expand the capabilities and effectiveness of AR Recon into the future. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes and is a critical component of the U.S. weather forecasting apparatus. Since fiscal year 2020, Congress has directed the 53rd to prioritize atmospheric river reconnaissance in its National Winter Storms Operations Plan. However, without formal authorization, growing AR recon research will go unmet, leaving civil authorities and military decision makers without key forecasting data to predict and respond to AR landfall and to more effectively manage water supplies in an increasingly variable climate. That is why we need to pass the ARROW Act, to formalize the role of the Air Force Reserve's Weather Reconnaissance Squadron as a critical part of the U.S. storm forecasting and response infrastructure. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the ARROW Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023. This legislation will bolster research at land- grant universities along the west coast to better understand the impacts of wildfire smoke on wine grapes. Increasingly frequent and catastrophic wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington are threatening the long-term sustainability of important winegrowing regions. Vineyards, winery operations, and the communities they support are routinely facing the threat of wildfires that can not only destroy vineyards but even those vineyards that escape direct wildfire damage can still suffer from prolonged smoke exposure, which can be absorbed into grapes and create an ashy taste known as smoke taint. The impact has been particularly acute for California's 4,800 wineries and 5,900 winegrape growers, who have seen significant property loss, loss of tourism, and loss of production due to smoke- exposed grapes. The 2020 wildfires alone are estimated to have cost wineries and winegrape growers $3.7 billion both from immediate fire- caused losses as well as losses in future sales due to unharvested grapes exposed to wildfire smoke. Yet, there is a limited understanding of how to measure and identify compounds that cause smoke taint and even less understanding of the mitigation and risk management measures necessary to reduce these impacts. Recognizing the dearth of information and how much is at stake for the wine industry, Congress provided $5 million to the USDA to identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint and to develop mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint. This was a great first step, but we need more. That is what my bill would do. The Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023 would provide $32.5 million over 5 years to ensure the sustainability of the wine industry in the face of climate crisis. Specifically, this bill would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, in coordination with land- grant universities and researchers with viticulture and enology expertise, to identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint; establish standard sampling, testing, and screening tools for use in vineyards and wineries; and develop new risk assessment tools, mitigation measures, and management strategies for growers. As researchers from the University of California Davis, Washington State University, and Oregon State University explain in recent research, the impact of smoke taint is not predictable. We cannot currently predict which grapes may have suffered damage based on anything intuitive, such as sight, smell, or even the flavor of fresh grapes. ``Freshness of the smoke, number of times exposed, variety of grape--the list goes on. There's so much we don't know.'' That is why we need to pass the Smoke Exposure Research Act, to ensure we have strong science-based data for actual risk management and mitigation tools to protect the U.S. wine industry. I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Mike Thompson, for his leadership bolstering California winegrowing communities and championing this bill in the House. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Smoke Exposure Research Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023. This legislation will make Federal crop insurance work better for wine grapes impacted by wildfire smoke exposure. Increasingly frequent and catastrophic wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington are threatening the long-term sustainability of important winegrowing regions. Vineyards, winery operations, and the communities they support are routinely facing the threat of wildfires that can not only destroy vineyards, but can damage fruit through prolonged smoke exposure, which can be absorbed into the grape, creating an ashy taste known as smoke taint. The impact has been particularly acute for California's 4,800 wineries and 5,900 winegrape growers, who have seen significant property loss, loss of tourism, and loss of production due to smoke- exposed grapes. In 2020 alone, industry sources estimate that between 165,000 and 325,000 tons of California wine grapes were lost due to actual or perceived smoke damage, and financial estimates place losses at over $600 million. Federal crop insurance tools are not working for winegrape producers grappling with the impacts of climate change induced wildfires. That's why we need to pass the Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act. The Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023 would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research, develop, and create a crop insurance policy to better insure against wine grape losses due to wildfire smoke exposure. Wine grapes are vital to the economies of California, Oregon, and Washington--the largest producers of wine grapes in the United States and the most impacted by smoke-exposure. But crop insurance is not working for wine grapes--current products do not fully capture the risks associated with growing in these smoke and wildfire-prone States. That is why we need to pass the Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023, to improve crop insurance for winegrape producers, wineries, and the consumers they support to help address the impossible choice facing producers after a wildfire: Does a grower harvest grapes knowing they may be unusable for wine or do they take an indemnity for what may be perfectly good grapes? This bill gets us one step closer to answering that question. I would like to thank my colleagues from California, Washington, and Oregon for joining me to introduce this bill and for our partners in the House, Representatives Mike Thompson and Dan Newhouse, for championing this bill in the House. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act as quickly as possible for inclusion in the 2023 farm Bill.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023. This legislation will make Federal crop insurance work better for wine grapes impacted by wildfire smoke exposure. Increasingly frequent and catastrophic wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington are threatening the long-term sustainability of important winegrowing regions. Vineyards, winery operations, and the communities they support are routinely facing the threat of wildfires that can not only destroy vineyards, but can damage fruit through prolonged smoke exposure, which can be absorbed into the grape, creating an ashy taste known as smoke taint. The impact has been particularly acute for California's 4,800 wineries and 5,900 winegrape growers, who have seen significant property loss, loss of tourism, and loss of production due to smoke- exposed grapes. In 2020 alone, industry sources estimate that between 165,000 and 325,000 tons of California wine grapes were lost due to actual or perceived smoke damage, and financial estimates place losses at over $600 million. Federal crop insurance tools are not working for winegrape producers grappling with the impacts of climate change induced wildfires. That's why we need to pass the Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act. The Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023 would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research, develop, and create a crop insurance policy to better insure against wine grape losses due to wildfire smoke exposure. Wine grapes are vital to the economies of California, Oregon, and Washington--the largest producers of wine grapes in the United States and the most impacted by smoke-exposure. But crop insurance is not working for wine grapes--current products do not fully capture the risks associated with growing in these smoke and wildfire-prone States. That is why we need to pass the Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act of 2023, to improve crop insurance for winegrape producers, wineries, and the consumers they support to help address the impossible choice facing producers after a wildfire: Does a grower harvest grapes knowing they may be unusable for wine or do they take an indemnity for what may be perfectly good grapes? This bill gets us one step closer to answering that question. I would like to thank my colleagues from California, Washington, and Oregon for joining me to introduce this bill and for our partners in the House, Representatives Mike Thompson and Dan Newhouse, for championing this bill in the House. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Smoke Exposure Crop Insurance Act as quickly as possible for inclusion in the 2023 farm Bill.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate an exceptional officer of the U.S. Navy, Rear Admiral Peter Stamatopoulos, Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command and 49th Chief of Supply Corps, on his retirement after 35 years of honorable service to our country. Rear Admiral Peter Stamatopoulos provided outstanding leadership and sound professional judgment in service to the U.S. Navy, Congress, and this Nation. A native of California and a University of San Diego graduate, Rear Admiral Stamatopoulos was first commissioned to serve as a supply corps officer in the U.S. Navy in 1988. Following his precept, ``Do Good, Do Right, Do What Is Honorable,'' he provided vital Navy supply support throughout his career, serving in the Cold War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Determined Response, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Under his leadership, his team won the 2006 Adm. Stan Arthur Logistics Team of the Year award for the noncombatant evacuation of about 15,000 U.S. citizens from Lebanon. As commander, Naval Supply Systems Command and 49th Chief of Supply Corps for the past 36 months, Rear Admiral Stamatopoulos led the execution of a dynamic, worldwide Supply Systems Command consisting of 11 field commands, a 22,500-personnel global workforce, $8 billion annual budget, and $42 billion Navy Working Capital Fund-Supply Management inventory. Through the Naval Sustainment System-Supply and Performance to Plan-Logistics initiatives, he improved the Navy's end- to-end supply chains and enhanced the global supply support network to swiftly respond to the dynamic threat environment. On behalf of all Californians, we thank Rear Admiral Stamatopoulos, his wife Alainie, and their entire family for their continued commitment, sacrifice, and contributions to our Nation.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today just a few days ahead of the anniversary of one of the most devastating Supreme Court voting rights decisions in our Nation's history. This coming Sunday marks the 10-year anniversary since the Supreme Court's Shelby v. Holder decision, when--surprise, surprise--a conservative majority of the Supreme Court voted to dramatically erode Americans' access to the ballot and undo 50 years of voting rights protections. Now, with the benefit of hindsight and my 6 years serving as California's chief elections officer, I can say that the decision in Shelby was not just an anomaly in our Nation's history. Since Shelby, we have seen State after State exploit this decision to enact dozens of laws designed to make it harder for some people to vote. Despite the proponents' claims, the effect of these laws is to make it harder and, disproportionately, for voters of color, voters with disabilities, college students, and senior citizens to register to vote, to stay registered to vote, or to actually cast their ballot. But, unfortunately, we have seen this before. While the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1870, guaranteeing all citizens the right to vote regardless of race, that did not stop States from limiting access to the ballot. Poll tests, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, coupled with the brutal violence of the Jim Crow South, made it nearly impossible for Black citizens and other minorities, at the time, to exercise their constitutional rights. Yes, I know it is not pleasant to be reminded of this, but I think it is important to keep restating these facts for the record before they end up getting censored out of some history books in schools in different parts of this country. The times we live in, I tell you. These violations were so egregious and so pervasive that it would take Congress nearly a century to address them. Congress only took action after the marches of civil rights leaders and the chorus of protests grew so strong that they could no longer be ignored. The country witnessed the civil rights movement and leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King and John Lewis call out the fundamental hypocrisy of a nation that promised all men and women to be equal but whose professed principles stopped at the entrance to the polling place. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a monument to freedom, but it certainly was never intended to be temporary, let alone a final chapter in the struggle for equality. The Voting Rights Act was actually a reminder--a reminder that America's democracy is imperfect and that it is each generation's job to bring us closer to being a more perfect union. So in June of 2013, when the Supreme Court struck down section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in that Shelby v. Holder decision--the provision which required States with a history of racially motivated voter suppression to prove that any new laws or regulations would not adversely impact minority voters before they could be implemented--that decision undid 50 years of voting rights protections. In an instant, the Supreme Court scrapped section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which was a critical tool that successfully protected us against the most egregious forms of voter suppression. As a result of the Shelby decision, today too many eligible citizens--eligible citizens--have fallen victim to a new set of barriers put in place by Republican-led State legislatures. Modern-day voter suppression efforts might be a little bit more subtle than what we saw in the mid-20th century, but make no mistake, they are no less effective in suppressing the vote. Purging voter rolls, limiting vote- by-mail opportunities, limiting early-voting opportunities--these are all strategies designed to make it unduly harder for people to have their voice heard in our democracy. While we may celebrate the recent Supreme Court decision in Allen v. Milligan, which was vitally important in upholding section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and affirming decades of the Supreme Court's jurisprudence on the Voting Rights Act, we must remember that the act as a whole is failing to function as it was intended, as it was originally adopted. Make no mistake, the right to vote--the precious right to vote-- continues to be attacked. Mississippi has passed one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country. Georgia cut 10 percent of its polling places ahead of the 2020 elections--mostly around the Atlanta metropolitan area--despite the fact that more than 2 million new voters had registered. More voters deserve more opportunities to vote, not less. In fact, since 2020 alone, 33 States have passed at least 104 new restrictive voting laws. MAGA Republicans continue to spread false claims of massive voter fraud to cynically justify their voter suppression agenda. It is these types of threats to our democracy that actually fueled my work as California secretary of state prior to my joining the Senate. As the chief elections officer for a State of nearly 40 million people--the most populous State in the nation and the most diverse State in the nation--I actually worked to implement automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, to upgrade California's voting systems to meet higher security standards, and to expand mail-in voting and in-person early-voting opportunities. We intentionally and aggressively worked to make our democracy both more secure and more inclusive, not less. That is why today there are almost 22 million Californians on the voting rolls. That is right--there are more voters in the State of California than the population of the State of Florida. The voter rolls are now the most accurate and up to date they have ever been. That is good for election integrity, and we have seen record turnout as a result in four of the last six elections. That is the way democracy is supposed to work. Now California has taken a stand because our right to vote is worth fighting for and because when it comes to defending and strengthening our democracy, California proudly leads. Now it is time for Congress to follow this example. In the fight for civil and voting rights, a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King is often invoked, and I will quote it: The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Too often in our Nation's history, it has been Congress that has obstructed our path to justice. This body has not always upheld the legacy of the Americans who marched for the right to vote, who risked their safety for the right to vote, who gave their lives so that we might all have a say in our democracy. Ten years after Shelby, it is clear that this decision has undermined the fabric of our democracy. So it is time that we pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore a preclearance requirement that helped protect the voting rights of all Americans. I believe that what I learned in high school government class was right. Our country is stronger when more eligible Americans participate. That is why we must also pass and implement the Freedom to Vote Act to set a national baseline of voter protections and access to the ballot. Our vote is sacred. It is how citizens exercise their voice in the political process. It is how we hold elected leaders accountable. And it is how we, together, shape our country's future. It is our sworn duty, colleagues. It is our sworn duty to protect the right to vote. So I urge all of us to join me in restoring these key components of the Voting Rights Act. Let's pass once again landmark legislation to protect our sacred right to vote, and let us live up to the legacy of the civil rights movement. I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Voluntary Agricultural Land Repurposing Act to support voluntary efforts to repurpose agricultural land to multibenefit uses. Enactment of this legislation would provide new tools for States, producers, water users, and Federal partners to adapt to long-term water scarcity at the basin scale. The bill would modernize existing Federal programs at the Bureau of Reclamation to support long-term drought planning and resiliency by stakeholders. Specifically, the bill would authorize funding for States that choose to pilot and implement their own multibenefit land repurposing programs. Eligible State-run programs must be basin-scale, reduce consumptive water use, and repurpose irrigated agricultural land for at least 10 years. Programs must also provide one or more other measurable benefits to the environment or community, including the restoration habitat or floodplains connection to streams or rivers, the creation of dedicated recharge areas, the facilitation of renewable energy projects, the creation of parks or recreational areas, and other listed uses. The bill would also prioritize State programs that provide direct benefits to disadvantaged communities or were developed through a multistakeholder planning process. Because it may take time for States to stand up or pilot programs, the bill would also make multibenefit land repurposing an eligible use under the WaterSMART Program so that individual water users could apply and compete for funding for multibenefit land repurposing projects. Water scarcity at the basin scale demands widespread changes in water use across the West. The Colorado River Basin's water storage shortage, Utah's decline to record low levels of the Great Salt Lake, and California's subsidence due to groundwater overdraft in the Central Valley are just a few of the many examples of long-term, basin-scale water scarcity demanding change in our water use. Through the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, Congress has stepped up and invested billions of dollars in new technologies to shore up our water supplies, including large-scale water recycling and desalination. But a historic megadrought and the climate crisis are unfortunately forcing Western States and water users to reimagine how to allocate and govern water and forcing producers to be more efficient with water or make do with less. One tool to bolster drought resilience is to retire irrigation from some agricultural lands, particularly where soils or productivity is marginal, where non-irrigated agricultural uses can sustainably contribute to an operation, or where important public benefits such as fish and wildlife habitat, watershed health and aquifer recharge, or renewable energy can be supported in a conversion from irrigated agriculture. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Voluntary Agricultural Land Repurposing Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023. This legislation will bolster research at land- grant universities along the west coast to better understand the impacts of wildfire smoke on wine grapes. Increasingly frequent and catastrophic wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington are threatening the long-term sustainability of important winegrowing regions. Vineyards, winery operations, and the communities they support are routinely facing the threat of wildfires that can not only destroy vineyards but even those vineyards that escape direct wildfire damage can still suffer from prolonged smoke exposure, which can be absorbed into grapes and create an ashy taste known as smoke taint. The impact has been particularly acute for California's 4,800 wineries and 5,900 winegrape growers, who have seen significant property loss, loss of tourism, and loss of production due to smoke- exposed grapes. The 2020 wildfires alone are estimated to have cost wineries and winegrape growers $3.7 billion both from immediate fire- caused losses as well as losses in future sales due to unharvested grapes exposed to wildfire smoke. Yet, there is a limited understanding of how to measure and identify compounds that cause smoke taint and even less understanding of the mitigation and risk management measures necessary to reduce these impacts. Recognizing the dearth of information and how much is at stake for the wine industry, Congress provided $5 million to the USDA to identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint and to develop mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint. This was a great first step, but we need more. That is what my bill would do. The Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023 would provide $32.5 million over 5 years to ensure the sustainability of the wine industry in the face of climate crisis. Specifically, this bill would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, in coordination with land- grant universities and researchers with viticulture and enology expertise, to identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint; establish standard sampling, testing, and screening tools for use in vineyards and wineries; and develop new risk assessment tools, mitigation measures, and management strategies for growers. As researchers from the University of California Davis, Washington State University, and Oregon State University explain in recent research, the impact of smoke taint is not predictable. We cannot currently predict which grapes may have suffered damage based on anything intuitive, such as sight, smell, or even the flavor of fresh grapes. ``Freshness of the smoke, number of times exposed, variety of grape--the list goes on. There's so much we don't know.'' That is why we need to pass the Smoke Exposure Research Act, to ensure we have strong science-based data for actual risk management and mitigation tools to protect the U.S. wine industry. I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Mike Thompson, for his leadership bolstering California winegrowing communities and championing this bill in the House. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Smoke Exposure Research Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act. This legislation would establish a routine mental-health and well-being checkup pilot program in Department of Defense Education Activity, DODEA, Schools. In response to the growing youth mental health crisis in America, this bill would establish a biannual mental health screening program to ensure students have the resources they need to support their mental health, combat the stigmatization of seeking help, and promote healthy lifestyles. Our Nation's young people are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. An estimated 49.5 percent of American adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, with 50 percent of all lifetime mental illnesses beginning by age 14; 75 percent by age 24. This state of affairs was only worsened by the pandemic. While these numbers are already staggering, military children are at even greater risk of mental/behavioral health problems than the general population given their unique vulnerability to adverse childhood experiences. As such, early screening and treatment are essential to decreasing the risk of suicide and improving management of/recovery from mental health conditions amongst this vulnerable segment of youth. The evidence is clear: Ubiquitous mental health screening and education protocols, offered by 55 percent of U.S. public schools in 2019 to 2022, are well-tested, relatively low-resource, and high-impact ways to swiftly diagnose and treat mental health conditions amongst youth. I would like to thank Congressman Moulton for his leadership and efforts on the House side. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act. This legislation would establish a routine mental-health and well-being checkup pilot program in Department of Defense Education Activity, DODEA, Schools. In response to the growing youth mental health crisis in America, this bill would establish a biannual mental health screening program to ensure students have the resources they need to support their mental health, combat the stigmatization of seeking help, and promote healthy lifestyles. Our Nation's young people are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. An estimated 49.5 percent of American adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, with 50 percent of all lifetime mental illnesses beginning by age 14; 75 percent by age 24. This state of affairs was only worsened by the pandemic. While these numbers are already staggering, military children are at even greater risk of mental/behavioral health problems than the general population given their unique vulnerability to adverse childhood experiences. As such, early screening and treatment are essential to decreasing the risk of suicide and improving management of/recovery from mental health conditions amongst this vulnerable segment of youth. The evidence is clear: Ubiquitous mental health screening and education protocols, offered by 55 percent of U.S. public schools in 2019 to 2022, are well-tested, relatively low-resource, and high-impact ways to swiftly diagnose and treat mental health conditions amongst youth. I would like to thank Congressman Moulton for his leadership and efforts on the House side. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of the great State of California to celebrate several newly confirmed U.S. district court judges. I am proud to say that just 3 months after I celebrated a confirmation of four highly qualified Federal judges for the State of California, three more have now been confirmed. Today, I hope to share a bit more about each of their stories, the breadth of experience, and their history of dedicated public service. Early last month, I was proud to see Judge Wesley Hsu confirmed to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Judge Hsu's path to the Federal bench is a story of hard work, remarkable intelligence, and truly a case study in the American dream. His father fled communist China, traveling 70 miles to the coast with his mother and developmentally disabled brother as a child. Both of Judge Hsu's parents eventually immigrated to the United States to attend graduate school at Kansas State University before moving to California where Judge Hsu grew up. After earning his undergraduate degree and his JD from Yale, he worked as a law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the same court on which he now serves as a judge. He later served for over a decade and a half as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District in the Criminal Division. And from 2017 until just recently, Judge Hsu served as a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court, presiding over the Family Law and Criminal Divisions. I have no doubt that Judge Hsu's strong qualifications and deep experience in the Central District will make him an exemplary district court judge. That was early last month. Just yesterday, we confirmed Judge Hernan Vera, another devoted jurist slated to serve on the District Court for the Central District of California. The son of Argentine immigrants, Judge Vera earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his JD from the UCLA School of Law. And since then, he has had a diverse legal career from corporate law to serving 12 years at Public Counsel, our Nation's largest pro bono law firm. As director and then CEO of the Consumer Law Project, Judge Vera worked tirelessly on behalf of consumers, on behalf of veterans, the elderly, and the working poor. In 2020, Judge Vera was appointed to the California Superior Court for Los Angeles County where he adjudicated child dependency cases. In every respect, Judge Vera stands out in California's legal community. His diverse legal and professional experience makes him a welcome addition to the Central District's bench. And, finally, earlier this afternoon, just a couple of hours ago, we confirmed Casey Pitts to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Born in Minnesota and raised in Fargo, ND, Pitts attended Yale University and, later, Yale School of Law. After law school, he came out west, and he served as a law clerk on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for Judge Stephen Reinhardt before joining the public interest firm Altshuler Berzon, where he has been ever since. He has represented workers, consumers, and public interest groups, fighting to protect lives and livelihoods of Americans and helping to shape how and for whom our economy and our courts work. Casey will be the only LGBTQ article III judge currently serving on the District Court for the Northern District of California. His life experience, his credentials, and his record of fighting for the American people will no doubt make him a phenomenal jurist. And I am proud to see him confirmed, as well. Mr. President, for the past 2\1/2\ years, Senate Democrats have worked closely with President Biden to nominate and confirm a record number of Federal judges. I have made it a personal priority to try to fulfill the expectations of Americans all over the country who deserve a trusted, highly qualified, and, yes, diverse Federal judiciary. With these three confirmations, we are proving that our judiciary benefits when people from diverse backgrounds are on the Federal bench. Whether the child of immigrants who sought a better life in the United Sates or an LGBTQ kid from Fargo, ND, whether an assistant U.S. attorney or a lawyer defending consumers and veterans, all these backgrounds should be represented in our judiciary. We can't say this often enough: Our Nation is beautifully diverse, and we are a stronger Nation because of it. And so it should be for our Federal judiciary. So I thank you, colleagues, for confirming these three nominations, and I am so grateful to each and every one of them for their public service on behalf of our Nation. I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Clean Shipping Act of 2023. This legislation aims to reduce harmful emissions from ocean going vessels and improve air quality for the nearly 40 percent of Americans who live within 3 miles of a port. Globally, maritime shipping is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, emitting an estimated 1 billion tons of GHG emissions per year and roughly 3 percent of total anthropogenic global-warming carbon-dioxide emissions. According to the International Maritime Organization, global shipping emissions could more than double between 2018 and 2050. That is why the United States signed two shipping declarations at COP26 to call for zero-emission fuels on international commercial vessels by 2030 and the establishment of zero-emission shipping routes by the middle of the 2020 decade. This legislation would set a path to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from all oceangoing vessels that do business with the United States. The Clean Shipping Act will help reduce emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, protect air quality and public health for near-port communities, reduce climate pollution emissions from large marine vessels that call on U.S. ports, and ensure that the global maritime sector reduces, while providing the EPA with the flexibility needed to ensure smooth implementation. The bill would direct the EPA to set progressively tighter carbon intensity standards for fuels used by ships consistent with a 1.5 deg.C decarbonization pathway, and to eliminate in-port ship emissions by 2030 for all ships at-berth or at-anchor in U.S. ports. Importantly, this legislation is supported by global industry leaders and environmental advocates and will ensure that the global maritime sector reducesemissions consistent with the Paris Agreement, while providing the EPA with the flexibility needed to ensure smooth implementation. More than 90 percent of global trade is transported by oceangoing vessels, which produce an estimated 3 percent of global anthropogenic emissions, yet these emissions are unregulated in the United States. The International Maritime Organization's Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships plans to meet at the end of the month. This bill would send a strong signal of our commitment to our international partners, empower the EPA to set standards to reduce harmful pollution in accordance with our national and international climate goals, provide certainty to the global shipping industry, and catalyze research and development to transition oceangoing vessels that rely on diesel engines. This bill enjoys the support of environmentalists and industry stakeholders alike who recognize the urgent need to reduce emissions from the shipping sector. I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives Robert Garcia and Nanette Barragan for championing this bill in the House. I Look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Clean Shipping Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Clean Shipping Act of 2023. This legislation aims to reduce harmful emissions from ocean going vessels and improve air quality for the nearly 40 percent of Americans who live within 3 miles of a port. Globally, maritime shipping is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, emitting an estimated 1 billion tons of GHG emissions per year and roughly 3 percent of total anthropogenic global-warming carbon-dioxide emissions. According to the International Maritime Organization, global shipping emissions could more than double between 2018 and 2050. That is why the United States signed two shipping declarations at COP26 to call for zero-emission fuels on international commercial vessels by 2030 and the establishment of zero-emission shipping routes by the middle of the 2020 decade. This legislation would set a path to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from all oceangoing vessels that do business with the United States. The Clean Shipping Act will help reduce emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, protect air quality and public health for near-port communities, reduce climate pollution emissions from large marine vessels that call on U.S. ports, and ensure that the global maritime sector reduces, while providing the EPA with the flexibility needed to ensure smooth implementation. The bill would direct the EPA to set progressively tighter carbon intensity standards for fuels used by ships consistent with a 1.5 deg.C decarbonization pathway, and to eliminate in-port ship emissions by 2030 for all ships at-berth or at-anchor in U.S. ports. Importantly, this legislation is supported by global industry leaders and environmental advocates and will ensure that the global maritime sector reducesemissions consistent with the Paris Agreement, while providing the EPA with the flexibility needed to ensure smooth implementation. More than 90 percent of global trade is transported by oceangoing vessels, which produce an estimated 3 percent of global anthropogenic emissions, yet these emissions are unregulated in the United States. The International Maritime Organization's Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships plans to meet at the end of the month. This bill would send a strong signal of our commitment to our international partners, empower the EPA to set standards to reduce harmful pollution in accordance with our national and international climate goals, provide certainty to the global shipping industry, and catalyze research and development to transition oceangoing vessels that rely on diesel engines. This bill enjoys the support of environmentalists and industry stakeholders alike who recognize the urgent need to reduce emissions from the shipping sector. I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives Robert Garcia and Nanette Barragan for championing this bill in the House. I Look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Clean Shipping Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the harmful CRA resolution that would cause tens of millions of hard-working Americans to see their monthly budgets get even further squeezed, making it harder to pay their bills or afford basic necessities. I rise to defend one of the largest efforts to close the racial wealth gap in our Nation's history. As we debate student debt relief, it would be remarkably tone deaf for this body to spend an entire debate on the life-changing student debt forgiveness plan without acknowledging who it is that is at the decision-making table and who is not. Most people consider this body, the U.S. Senate, as being deliberative. Many Members take pride in this being the most deliberative body in the world. While we may be deliberative, we are clearly far from diverse--at least far from reflecting the diversity of our great Nation. Most Members of this body are decades removed from when they earned their undergraduate degrees. And many are at least years, if not, years and years removed from even having to sit down to plan how they would pay for their kids' college education. So before we even get into the merits of President Biden's plan to uplift millions of hard-working Americans, I urge my colleagues to step outside the Senate for a moment. Let's step outside the Senate and step into the homes of working-class and middle-class families across the country who see skyrocketing rates of tuition and wonder if college just isn't for people like them anymore. Step into the family room of parents praying that scholarships might make a college degree possible for their children or talk to the student who is just as smart, just as hard-working as anybody else but because of student loans and higher interest rates, sees the door to higher education as closed to them. We live in a nation where the dreams of too many are determined by their parents' paycheck. And in 2023, that means working- and middle- class families--with a disproportionate burden on communities of color, by the way--have to risk dangerous levels of debt just for a chance at achieving their American dream. I remember what it felt like filling out financial aid forms and facing the brutal reality that when I was looking forward to attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the cost of tuition alone was bigger than my dad's W-2. I was only able to make it through because of Pell grants, scholarships, work study, and, yes, student loans, which took years to pay off. So I know the real weight of student debt. And I also know what it is like to start thinking ahead to prepare my own son's college education. And as it turns out, President Biden's plan is not just good for everybody; I mentioned earlier that it is a part of helping address the racial wealth gap in America. One statistic alone, his plan would mean almost half of Latino borrowers would see their entire debt forgiven. That is not just liberating. That is a wise investment for all of us. The increased relief for Pell grants that is part of the plan would uplift communities of color and cut into the racial wealth gap in America. Two more statistics that are worth noting: Almost 71 percent of Black undergraduate borrowers and 65 percent of Latino students receive this grant. The President's plan will mean that a generation of students would be able to begin their careers and build a life without the weight of student debt holding them back. In California alone, it would bring relief to over 3.5 million eligible borrowers, an undeniable boost to our economy and to families throughout the State. Let me underscore something else about this CRA. It is not just about what it threatens prospectively. If this program is overturned, if this resolution were to pass, 43 million Federal student loan borrowers would have to pay back months of payments and interest that had been relieved, forcing Americans into delinquency or worse: default. Republicans seem determined to prevent relief to tens of millions of Americans, despite the fact that 90 percent of the relief would go to those earning less than $75,000 a year. In one fell swoop, it would cause unthinkable confusion and chaos for Federal student loan borrowers and make clear that, once again, Republicans view the American dream as a premium and higher education as a luxury, only for the wealthiest, only for those who can afford it. I refuse to accept that fate. I urge my colleagues to see the real cost of today's CRA on working families. I assure you that the real impact won't fall on the wealthy families. It will be the working families of California and across the country whose lives will be fundamentally altered should we fail them today. I yield the floor.