Alex Padilla

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act. This legislation would ensure that noncitizen servicemembers have access to the information and resources they need to apply for citizenship in the United States and avoid deportation from the country they have served. The Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act includes important changes to ensure that servicemembers are not removed from the United States after leaving the military because they were never provided the resources necessary to ensure they could adjust their status. The bill would also protect servicemembers' spouses and children from deportation. Specifically, this bill would require the Department of Homeland Security, DHS and the Department of Defense to create a program to help ensure that servicemembers and their families have a pathway to naturalization. The program must also include training for JAG officers and recruiter training on the naturalization process for servicemembers. These personnel must also work with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency to ensure that all noncitizen military servicemembers are naturalized before they leave the service. The bill would also create the Military Family Immigation Advisory Committe that must provide recommendations to DHS on whether a noncitizen who has served in the military or their family members should be granted a stay of removal, deferred action, parole, or be removed from the country. ICE, CBP, and USCIS are directed to transfer case materials of individuals in removal proceedings for individuals who are determined to be a member of the Armed Forces, a veteran, or a covered family member of the advisory committee. These individuals cannot be removed until a recommendation is issued by the advisory committee. Finally, the bill would require DHS to establish a program and application to allow removed veterans and their family members to be admitted back into the United States as lawful permanent residents and would direct the Department of Justice to reopen their removal cases. Our noncitizen servicemembers have risked their lives serving our country. For over a century, the United States has recognized the contributions that noncitizens make in the military. They deserve a clear path to citizenship for themselves and their spouses and children. Over the past several years, programs to help facilitate these processes have diminished, and this lack of support from Federal Agencies has made it more difficult for noncitizen servicemembers to become U.S. citizens. Veterans who are unable to naturalize are at risk of deportation if they commit certain crimes and are forced to leave the country they served. Many of these individuals believe that they are citizens already due to their service and are shocked they are not, years later. It is imperative that we work to protect our noncitizen veterans from deportation and that we bring back those veterans who were removed from the United States. These veterans have shown nothing but loyalty to the United States, and they deserve to stay here, receive their benefits, and live fulfilling lives alongside their family members.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act. This legislation would ensure that noncitizen servicemembers have access to the information and resources they need to apply for citizenship in the United States and avoid deportation from the country they have served. The Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act includes important changes to ensure that servicemembers are not removed from the United States after leaving the military because they were never provided the resources necessary to ensure they could adjust their status. The bill would also protect servicemembers' spouses and children from deportation. Specifically, this bill would require the Department of Homeland Security, DHS and the Department of Defense to create a program to help ensure that servicemembers and their families have a pathway to naturalization. The program must also include training for JAG officers and recruiter training on the naturalization process for servicemembers. These personnel must also work with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency to ensure that all noncitizen military servicemembers are naturalized before they leave the service. The bill would also create the Military Family Immigation Advisory Committe that must provide recommendations to DHS on whether a noncitizen who has served in the military or their family members should be granted a stay of removal, deferred action, parole, or be removed from the country. ICE, CBP, and USCIS are directed to transfer case materials of individuals in removal proceedings for individuals who are determined to be a member of the Armed Forces, a veteran, or a covered family member of the advisory committee. These individuals cannot be removed until a recommendation is issued by the advisory committee. Finally, the bill would require DHS to establish a program and application to allow removed veterans and their family members to be admitted back into the United States as lawful permanent residents and would direct the Department of Justice to reopen their removal cases. Our noncitizen servicemembers have risked their lives serving our country. For over a century, the United States has recognized the contributions that noncitizens make in the military. They deserve a clear path to citizenship for themselves and their spouses and children. Over the past several years, programs to help facilitate these processes have diminished, and this lack of support from Federal Agencies has made it more difficult for noncitizen servicemembers to become U.S. citizens. Veterans who are unable to naturalize are at risk of deportation if they commit certain crimes and are forced to leave the country they served. Many of these individuals believe that they are citizens already due to their service and are shocked they are not, years later. It is imperative that we work to protect our noncitizen veterans from deportation and that we bring back those veterans who were removed from the United States. These veterans have shown nothing but loyalty to the United States, and they deserve to stay here, receive their benefits, and live fulfilling lives alongside their family members.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Prevent Release of Toxics Emissions, Contamination, and Transfer Act. The PROTECT Act would add certain PFAS chemicals to the list of hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Working Group recently identified nearly 30,000 potential industrial dischargers of PFAS into the air and water. Yet there are currently no restrictions on industrial PFAS discharges under the Clean Water Act or the Clean Air Act, leaving communities vulnerable to the devastating impacts of PFAS pollution. While it is well documented how toxic PFAS chemicals are prevalent in the water supply, it is less well known that PFAS chemicals are also emitted into the air. This legislation would add PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and GenX to the list of hazardous air pollutants regulated under section 112(b) of the Clean Air Act. It would also direct the EPA to create a list of categories of major sources and area sources that emit PFAS within 2 years and give the EPA a 5-year deadline to finalize the subsequent regulations. The EPA has acknowledged that ``air emissions of PFAS from industrial sources is now recognized as a significant route for PFAS releases to the environment and is evidenced by deposition as well as their presence in rainwater.'' Yet PFAS air emissions aren't currently regulated under the Clean Air Act or any other anti-pollution law. Adding PFAS to the EPA's hazardous air pollutants list would build upon work done by States to limit air emissions from industrial facilities and greatly expand the number of facilities that would have to adopt technology to reduce PFAS emissions. I thank my colead Senator Shaheen for her tireless leadership fighting PFAS contamination and protecting vulnerable communities and Congresswoman Stevens for successfully shepherding this legislation through the House. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the PROTECT Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Prevent Release of Toxics Emissions, Contamination, and Transfer Act. The PROTECT Act would add certain PFAS chemicals to the list of hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Working Group recently identified nearly 30,000 potential industrial dischargers of PFAS into the air and water. Yet there are currently no restrictions on industrial PFAS discharges under the Clean Water Act or the Clean Air Act, leaving communities vulnerable to the devastating impacts of PFAS pollution. While it is well documented how toxic PFAS chemicals are prevalent in the water supply, it is less well known that PFAS chemicals are also emitted into the air. This legislation would add PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and GenX to the list of hazardous air pollutants regulated under section 112(b) of the Clean Air Act. It would also direct the EPA to create a list of categories of major sources and area sources that emit PFAS within 2 years and give the EPA a 5-year deadline to finalize the subsequent regulations. The EPA has acknowledged that ``air emissions of PFAS from industrial sources is now recognized as a significant route for PFAS releases to the environment and is evidenced by deposition as well as their presence in rainwater.'' Yet PFAS air emissions aren't currently regulated under the Clean Air Act or any other anti-pollution law. Adding PFAS to the EPA's hazardous air pollutants list would build upon work done by States to limit air emissions from industrial facilities and greatly expand the number of facilities that would have to adopt technology to reduce PFAS emissions. I thank my colead Senator Shaheen for her tireless leadership fighting PFAS contamination and protecting vulnerable communities and Congresswoman Stevens for successfully shepherding this legislation through the House. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the PROTECT Act as quickly as possible.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act. This legislation would ensure that immigrants with criminal convictions do not face barriers to naturalization and experience unfair removals after their convictions have been dismissed, expunged, or pardoned by a Federal or State locality. What the bill would do. The Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act is important in ensuring immigrants are not unjustly treated after receiving a criminal charge that never resulted in a conviction or after a previous conviction no longer stands. Specifically, this bill would ensure that immigrants whose convictions have been overturned are not penalized when they are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction or for sentences that have been fully suspended by the sentencing court. By redefining the term ``conviction'' in the Immigration and Nationality Act, this legislation also clarifies that any adjudication that is appealable or in which the court has issued a judicial recommendation against removal or probation without judgment will not count as a conviction. The bill would apply retroactively to any conviction, adjudication, or judgement entered before, on, or after the enactment of this bill. Finally, it establishes that an immigrant cannot be removed on the basis of a conviction if the sentencing court issues a recommendation against removal to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Why the bill is needed. Under current law, rather than having access to many rehabilitative measures that are afforded in the criminal justice system, immigrants with dismissed criminal charges, suspended sentences, or criminal convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction still face severe consequences in the immigration court system. Some of the immigration consequences that immigrants can face include unjust removals, mandatory detention, and barriers to naturalization. It is imperative that we resolve this disparity between immigration and criminal law to prevent those immigrants with dismissed criminal charges or with convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction from continuing to face punitive immigration consequences.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act. This legislation would ensure that immigrants with criminal convictions do not face barriers to naturalization and experience unfair removals after their convictions have been dismissed, expunged, or pardoned by a Federal or State locality. What the bill would do. The Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act is important in ensuring immigrants are not unjustly treated after receiving a criminal charge that never resulted in a conviction or after a previous conviction no longer stands. Specifically, this bill would ensure that immigrants whose convictions have been overturned are not penalized when they are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction or for sentences that have been fully suspended by the sentencing court. By redefining the term ``conviction'' in the Immigration and Nationality Act, this legislation also clarifies that any adjudication that is appealable or in which the court has issued a judicial recommendation against removal or probation without judgment will not count as a conviction. The bill would apply retroactively to any conviction, adjudication, or judgement entered before, on, or after the enactment of this bill. Finally, it establishes that an immigrant cannot be removed on the basis of a conviction if the sentencing court issues a recommendation against removal to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Why the bill is needed. Under current law, rather than having access to many rehabilitative measures that are afforded in the criminal justice system, immigrants with dismissed criminal charges, suspended sentences, or criminal convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction still face severe consequences in the immigration court system. Some of the immigration consequences that immigrants can face include unjust removals, mandatory detention, and barriers to naturalization. It is imperative that we resolve this disparity between immigration and criminal law to prevent those immigrants with dismissed criminal charges or with convictions that are no longer considered valid in the court of conviction from continuing to face punitive immigration consequences.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I want to join Chairman Cardin in calling attention to the unacceptable obstruction by our Republican colleagues who are doing nothing other than playing political games with the confirmation process. Dilawar Syed is an outstanding and highly qualified nominee to serve as Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Mr. Syed brings decades of experience as a business leader and entrepreneur in a number of fields. He is a dedicated public servant who helped guide President Obama's support of Asian-American small business owners in the wake of the great recession, and he has served as the founding chair of the California Entrepreneurship Task Force. He has earned support from business groups and on both sides of the aisle. Notably, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically announced their support for his nomination, citing his very impressive background. In June of this year, two of our Republican colleagues joined the Democratic members of the Small Business Committee and voted to send Mr. Syed's nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. But, today, Republicans are refusing to allow the Senate to vote on his nomination. In so doing, they are also obstructing the work of the SBA itself--work that has never been more critical. As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote back in April, ``It is essential for SBA's senior leadership team to be in place to deliver on the agency's COVID-19 small business emergency relief responsibilities.'' Again, critical. Mr. Syed is ready to serve with dedication and skill as the SBA pursues its mission of supporting economic growth for entrepreneurs and working families. He is also ready to make history as the highest ranking Muslim official in any Presidential administration, and our Nation's hard-working small business owners urgently need his leadership. My Republican colleagues who are playing these political games to obstruct this nomination are also blocking resources needed by their own constituents. Let's end this, and I urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Mr. Syed.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Outdoors for All Act. This legislation would ensure that access to local parks and outdoor recreation is equitable and available to all. The Outdoors for All Act would codify and guarantee annual funding for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, which provides grants to build new outdoor recreation spaces, improve existing parks, and form connections between underserved, urban communities and the outdoors. It specifically invests in parks and open spaces in areas where 80 percent of Americans live. Any urban area with a population of at least 30,000 can qualify for grants, which can benefit residents in all 50 States. These grants would fund projects in park-poor, urban communities, and the bill would require the National Park Service to prioritize projects that support underserved communities, provide job-training to youth, and leverage resources through public-private partnerships. As our cities grow and the effects of climate change intensify, this bill will increase equitable access to the many benefits of local parks, from job creation, to shade and tree cover, to clean air. Nationwide, 100 million people, including 28 million children, do not have a park within a half-mile of home. That is almost one third of America. Additionally, in the 100 most populated cities, neighborhoods where most residents identify as Black, Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, or Asian American and Pacific Islander have access to an average of 44 percent less park acreage than predominantly White neighborhoods. For example, in Los Angeles, low-income communities and communities of color lack equal access to parks; a Los Angeles County survey found that Compton reported only 0.6 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, in contrast to Malibu, which has 55.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. This bill would address this staggering inequity in Los Angeles and across the country and make equity and justice a key focus of park investment and planning. I thank my colead Senator Collins and all of the bill's cosponsors for championing this effort with me in the Senate. I also thank Congresswoman Barragan for her steadfast dedication to park equity. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Outdoors for All Act as soon as possible. Thank you.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Outdoors for All Act. This legislation would ensure that access to local parks and outdoor recreation is equitable and available to all. The Outdoors for All Act would codify and guarantee annual funding for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, which provides grants to build new outdoor recreation spaces, improve existing parks, and form connections between underserved, urban communities and the outdoors. It specifically invests in parks and open spaces in areas where 80 percent of Americans live. Any urban area with a population of at least 30,000 can qualify for grants, which can benefit residents in all 50 States. These grants would fund projects in park-poor, urban communities, and the bill would require the National Park Service to prioritize projects that support underserved communities, provide job-training to youth, and leverage resources through public-private partnerships. As our cities grow and the effects of climate change intensify, this bill will increase equitable access to the many benefits of local parks, from job creation, to shade and tree cover, to clean air. Nationwide, 100 million people, including 28 million children, do not have a park within a half-mile of home. That is almost one third of America. Additionally, in the 100 most populated cities, neighborhoods where most residents identify as Black, Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, or Asian American and Pacific Islander have access to an average of 44 percent less park acreage than predominantly White neighborhoods. For example, in Los Angeles, low-income communities and communities of color lack equal access to parks; a Los Angeles County survey found that Compton reported only 0.6 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, in contrast to Malibu, which has 55.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. This bill would address this staggering inequity in Los Angeles and across the country and make equity and justice a key focus of park investment and planning. I thank my colead Senator Collins and all of the bill's cosponsors for championing this effort with me in the Senate. I also thank Congresswoman Barragan for her steadfast dedication to park equity. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Outdoors for All Act as soon as possible. Thank you.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the cloture motion with respect to the motion to proceed to S. 2093.

Mr. PADILLA. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, in Spanish, we say ``en Espanol,'' but I know the Presiding Officer knew that from Colorado. I rise today, as we mark the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, to reflect on a historic leader whose work inspires me in this fight for voting rights and the work that we have before us. Willie Velasquez, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, dedicated his life to improving the freedom to vote in Latino communities. Everywhere he went, he brought a simple motto. You might have heard it. (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) ``Your vote is your voice.'' Willie Velasquez was born in 1944 and grew up in a Latino community in Texas which suffered from the harms of segregation, redlining, and government neglect. He understood that the path to greater recognition for Latinos was through participation in our democracy. So Willie set out to make sure Latinos across the Southwest could participate. In 1974, Willie Velasquez founded his groundbreaking organization, the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project. Through his efforts, Willie helped bring the vote--and a powerful voice--to many Latino communities. Now, Willie's successes were built on the hard-earned victories of those of past civil rights leaders. Especially critical was Congress's 1975 extension of the Voting Rights Act--yes, a bipartisan reauthorization of the Federal Voting Rights Act--which established protections for language minorities, like Spanish speakers. In just 10 years, with Willie's and other activists' hard work on the ground, the number of Latinos registered to vote nearly doubled, and in the same 10 years, the number of Latinos holding elected office also nearly doubled. That is the power of the freedom to vote and the power of what we can do here in the Senate and here in Congress--give every American a voice in our democracy. Now, in his time, Willie fought to do exactly this, like the generations of Americans of all ages, colors, creeds, and genders who came before him. Their efforts reflect a fundamental truth about our country: We are stronger when more Americans can vote, and we are stronger when all communities have a say in government. But the path to realizing our highest ideals has never been easy. From a convention hall in Seneca Falls to a bridge in Selma, from Willie's home in San Antonio, TX, to this very Chamber, the voting rights' victories of each generation have been hard-fought and hard-won, and it is no different today. In recent months, we have seen the latest challenge to the core of our democracy: scores of new laws proposed by Republican State legislatures to target the past five decades of gains in voting rights; cynical politicians, spreading false claims of voter fraud because they fear losing in a fair election. You can see the danger of it even in my home State of California where, just yesterday, we held a recall election. Republicans ran a campaign of disinformation, spreading baseless claims of massive voter fraud before the polls even closed, before they even opened, and long before a single ballot was even counted. It is straight out of Donald Trump's playbook--the same playbook that perpetuated the Big Lie and fueled the domestic terrorism that the world witnessed on January 6. It is no coincidence that the cynical claims of voter fraud are often targeted at communities of color. In the face of these challenges, we must overcome, together, again. We must renew our collective fight for our democracy. It is up to us. The time is now to get the job done. It is an honor to lead the Freedom to Vote Act alongside my colleagues Senators Klobuchar, Merkley, Warnock, Manchin, King, Tester, and Kaine. The Freedom to Vote Act will make it easier for all eligible citizens to register to vote and to cast their ballots. This bill will set a baseline of protections for voters across the country, with commonsense, proven reforms that have already been successfully implemented in blue and red States across the country. I urge all of my colleagues to join us and vote to strengthen our democracy. As the first Latino to represent California in this body, in the U.S. Senate, I am proud to be spending this Hispanic Heritage Month fighting for voting rights because so many of our community's gains have been achieved through political participation and representation. The fight to expand voting rights is, indeed, part of our heritage. It is also a tradition that unites Americans because we have come together, generation after generation, to expand the promise of our democracy for all. Yes, we are strongest when every eligible voter can make their voice heard. ``Your vote is your voice. (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) Your vote is your voice.'' I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, before I begin, I ask unanimous consent to deliver a portion of my remarks in Spanish.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the ``Comprehensive Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program Act of 2021,'' which I introduced today. Millions of children and adolescents across the Nation struggle every day with mental health concerns that threaten their emotional well- being and academic achievement. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for comprehensive school mental health systems that can provide the support and services that students desperately need. This bill is a targeted effort to address the worsening mental health crisis in this country. If enacted, this legislation would help schools as they work to promote positive school climates, improve social and emotional learning, and reduce the prevalence and severity of mental illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that between March and October of 2020, the proportion of children between the ages of 5 and 11 who visited an emergency department because of a mental health crisis climbed 24 percent compared to the same time period in 2019, and climbed 31 percent for children between the ages of 12 and 17. More people are reporting frequent thoughts of suicide and self- harm than have ever been recorded. The full effects of increased learning loss, social isolation, uncertainty, and trauma may not manifest for years, and schools must be prepared to deal with this preventatively. That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which would direct the Secretary of Education to establish a $20 million 4-year pilot grant program to help schools serving low-income students address mental and behavioral wellbeing, as well as academic, cognitive, and social and emotional development, through multi-tier, evidence-based interventions that foster positive learning environments. More specifically, this funding may be used for providing professional development opportunities, encouraging restorative policies, establishing racially, culturally, and linguistically appropriate trauma-informed practices, and hiring more school-based mental and behavioral health professionals. I want to thank Representative David Trone for introducing this bill with me, and I hope our colleagues will join us in support of this solution to our youth mental health crisis. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan ``Salton Sea Projects Improvement Act'' to expand the Bureau of Reclamation's ability to participate and invest in projects at the Salton Sea. This legislation would ensure Reclamation can meaningfully partner with state, local, and Tribal governments to address both the public health and environmental crises at the Salton Sea. Under current law, the Bureau of Reclamation is only able to engage in projects that have a research focus. This means that Reclamation can only engage in projects to research how to protect habitat, enhance fisheries, enhance recreational opportunities, or control salinity. Reclamation also operates under a $10 million authorization. This effectively prohibits Reclamation from participating in the Salton Sea Management Program run by California. This legislation would expand Reclamation's authority so they can participate in large-scale projects, even if they don't have a research focus. Projects could improve air and water quality, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and improve public health at the Salton Sea. It would also increase Reclamation's authorization for Salton Sea efforts from $10 million to $250 million. The Salton Sea, located in southern Riverside and northern Imperial counties, is California's largest inland body of water. It formed after Colorado River floodwater breached an irrigation canal and flowed into the Salton Sink. The current Salton Sea maintains water levels from irrigation runoff but has been shrinking for many years. The water has become increasingly salty, so much so that its salinity is 50% higher than the Pacific Ocean. This has led to major water quality issues with devastating impacts to the Salton Sea's ecosystem, which serves as critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and other species. But this ecological crisis has even more widespread impacts. The declining water levels have also exposed wide swaths of lakebed at the Salton Sea, polluting the air with dust and pesticides. The largely disadvantaged communities who live nearby suffer from toxic, poisonous air and experience higer levels of related health conditions like asthma. It is an environmental and public health crisis, and we need to ensure that the Bureau of Reclamation has the authority it need to partner with the State of California, Tribal and local governments, and nonprofits to adequately address these crises. I thank Senator Feinstein for co-leading this bill with me, and for her decades of efforts at the Salton Sea. I also thank Congressmen Ruiz and Vargas for their relentless leadership to address this environmental hazard. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the bipartisan ``Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act'' as quickly as possible. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan ``Salton Sea Projects Improvement Act'' to expand the Bureau of Reclamation's ability to participate and invest in projects at the Salton Sea. This legislation would ensure Reclamation can meaningfully partner with state, local, and Tribal governments to address both the public health and environmental crises at the Salton Sea. Under current law, the Bureau of Reclamation is only able to engage in projects that have a research focus. This means that Reclamation can only engage in projects to research how to protect habitat, enhance fisheries, enhance recreational opportunities, or control salinity. Reclamation also operates under a $10 million authorization. This effectively prohibits Reclamation from participating in the Salton Sea Management Program run by California. This legislation would expand Reclamation's authority so they can participate in large-scale projects, even if they don't have a research focus. Projects could improve air and water quality, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and improve public health at the Salton Sea. It would also increase Reclamation's authorization for Salton Sea efforts from $10 million to $250 million. The Salton Sea, located in southern Riverside and northern Imperial counties, is California's largest inland body of water. It formed after Colorado River floodwater breached an irrigation canal and flowed into the Salton Sink. The current Salton Sea maintains water levels from irrigation runoff but has been shrinking for many years. The water has become increasingly salty, so much so that its salinity is 50% higher than the Pacific Ocean. This has led to major water quality issues with devastating impacts to the Salton Sea's ecosystem, which serves as critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and other species. But this ecological crisis has even more widespread impacts. The declining water levels have also exposed wide swaths of lakebed at the Salton Sea, polluting the air with dust and pesticides. The largely disadvantaged communities who live nearby suffer from toxic, poisonous air and experience higer levels of related health conditions like asthma. It is an environmental and public health crisis, and we need to ensure that the Bureau of Reclamation has the authority it need to partner with the State of California, Tribal and local governments, and nonprofits to adequately address these crises. I thank Senator Feinstein for co-leading this bill with me, and for her decades of efforts at the Salton Sea. I also thank Congressmen Ruiz and Vargas for their relentless leadership to address this environmental hazard. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the bipartisan ``Salton Sea Projects Improvements Act'' as quickly as possible. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today because my home State of California is on fire. Nearly half a million acres have burned in the last month by the Dixie Fire alone. That is more than 10 times the size of the District of Columbia. It is larger in size than the city of Los Angeles. Thousands of Californians have been forced to flee their homes with only the clothes on their backs and the belongings they can carry in their cars. Entire towns have burned to the ground. As of Sunday, Dixie is the largest single-source fire in California's history. California is not alone. The entire Western United States is on fire. Colleagues, this morning, the IPCC, the world's foremost body of climate scientists, presented a new report. I am hoping you have seen it. There are 195 countries, including the United States, that have agreed on every statement that it makes, and the verdict could not be clearer: Climate change is happening, and we must act now. As the report says, in more than 1,000 centuries, the Earth has never seen a decade as hot as we have seen in the last 10 years. Scientists can show that particular disasters are fueled by climate change. The heat wave that is fueling fires, destroying crops, and sending areas across California into drought--that is on us. Devastating floods from Texas to Central Europe--those are on us. We have pushed our planet to this point, and if we continue to stall, the pace of recordbreaking catastrophe will only increase. This is planet Earth's 10-alarm fire. Yet, my Republican colleagues pretend that they can't see the smoke blowing across the country--smoke that is visible from space. But the good news is, we have a Democratic majority, and we know how to fight this fire. If we race to zero out our carbon emissions, we can slow the pace of climate change. We can even bring down temperatures by the middle of the century. But our path to avert a catastrophic cycle is narrowing by the day. We must act boldly and with urgency to tackle this crisis head-on. Across the country, across industries, and across the world, we need to end our dependence on fossil fuels. We also need to aim high and fully fund transformational infrastructure that will allow us not just to survive this transition but to come out better than we were before. On a zero-emissions schoolbus, students won't have to breathe dirty air. In an economy rebuilt to meet this challenge, millions of Americans will work in high-paying, sustainable jobs. Sometimes, I have worried that we have grown numb to the idea of the climate crisis. If we truly understood the meaning of those words, how could we even contemplate business as usual? If my colleagues across the aisle were to listen to scientists, how could a single one of them argue that we need to spend less on climate? As many of you know, my wife and I are raising three sons, trying to raise three gentleman. Today, they are age 14, 8, and 6 years old. We are trying to get them ready to go back to school. Protecting them and giving them every opportunity to thrive is the cause of my lifetime. But the IPCC report makes clear that we will blow through the 1.5 degrees of global warming by the year 2040--it is right here--no matter what we do today. Come 2040, my sons will be ages 33, 27, and 25. I think about what their lives will be like at that stage--just starting their careers, maybe starting their own families. What will their adulthood look like? If we act now, we have a chance to turn the tide to begin the planet's recovery as my children--my children--reach middle age. If we fail, they will face a world of accelerating disasters; up to 4 degrees of warming, the report says--4 degrees. Now, as an engineer, I understand how deadly serious it is to upset the delicate balance of our environment, but if 4 degrees does not sound significant to you, just listen to the scientists warning of what 4 degrees of warming will create: global conflict over food, water, and safe shelter; millions of climate refugees and desperate migrants. Failure is not an option. I refuse to tell my boys that we knew what to do but could not muster up the political will to act. I refuse to leave to them a world where their lives are defined by climate disaster and where they fear that every summer will bring the fire or drought or storm that consumes their home. I refuse to leave that world for my children or for anyone's children. That means time is of the essence. Climate cannot be on the chopping block of any budget. It is nonnegotiable. So let's rise to meet the challenge of our generation. We cannot, we will not let our home burn. Budget Reconciliation Madam President, on a different topic, I rise to speak today on the budget resolution that will soon come before us and the opportunity that it represents to finally provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of our neighbors, friends, and family members. I rise today on behalf of the people who are the subject of our immigration debate and the immigrants who have lived and worked in communities throughout the United States for years, sometimes decades, while stuck in a limbo that Congress has created. Our Nation depends on the labor of immigrants. There has been bipartisan agreement on this for generations. But while our Nation depends on the labor of immigrants, we do not provide the pathways to citizenship that these individuals and their families have earned. Today, we stand on the brink of a historic opportunity to adopt long overdue reforms to our immigration system. I rise to share just a few stories of the people on whom our Nation depends and for whom we must act. In May, I had the honor of welcoming Rose Tilus to testify before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, the Subcommittee which I chair. Rose was born in Haiti but fled gang violence and political instability at the age of 17. Alone, in an unfamiliar country, she dreamed of becoming a nurse, but Rose's immigration status kept that dream out of reach. For 10 years, she sustained herself working as a housekeeper and as a babysitter to make ends meet. But Rose's life changed in 2010, when a devastating earthquake in Haiti allowed her to obtain a work permit under a program called temporary protected status, or TPS. Now, she seized this opportunity to return to school and fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse and going out to serve and care for others in nursing homes, in hospitals, in community health centers. Now, while Rose's story is the story of the American dream, her legal status in this country remains all too temporary. Our Nation's economy has always depended on the dreams, the dedication, and the contributions of immigrants. No State knows this better than my home State of California, which also represents the fifth largest economy in the world and which nearly a quarter of America's immigrants call home. Immigrants make up 27 percent of California's population, and, yes, they are essential to our success in every industry, from farm workers in the Central Valley to tech innovators in the Silicon Valley, to construction and domestic workers throughout the State, and to nurses and teachers, and more. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has made us a country that relies even more on the essential work of immigrants. More than 5 million undocumented workers have held jobs that the Federal Government deems essential during the pandemic. TPS holders, like Rose, who care for our loved ones in hospitals and nursing homes; DACA recipients, like Erika Henriquez, a medical assistant who works helping to distribute COVID tests and lifesaving vaccines; farm workers, like Vicente Reyes and his parents, who show up to work every single day to keep grocery store shelves stocked and for us to be able to put food on our table--as has been the case since the founding of our Nation, immigrants are serving at the heart of the American story. An overwhelming bipartisan majority knows that people like Rose, Erika, and Vicente have earned the right to live here without fear of deportation. Seventy percent of Americans support creating a pathway to citizenship for TPS holders, for Dreamers, and farm workers. That includes a majority of Democrats and Republicans and Independents. Colleagues, right now, we have an opportunity to provide stability and security for the very workforce that the Department of Homeland Security, beginning during the Trump administration, has deemed essential to our Nation's economy and security. So as we write a reconciliation bill to create an equitable and sustainable economic recovery, we must include immigration reform. We have strong arguments and precedent from this very body in our corner. The logic is simple: Providing a pathway to citizenship is a direct government action, not some carrot-and-stick approach involving private businesses and private actors. Newly eligible immigrants would pay fees directly to the U.S. Government, as part of this direct government action, which would then be processed by government employees. Every step of this process involves direct government action and direct government revenues, expenditures, and personnel. And by expanding pathways to citizenship, we will grow our economy and improve the workplaces for all. That is precisely the spirit and the intent of the infrastructure investments that we are developing as part of the budget reconciliation bill. Research by the Center for American Progress shows that providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farm workers, and all essential workers will boost GDP by $1.5 trillion over 10 years. It will raise wages for all American workers. It will create 400,000 new jobs, and it will generate billions of dollars of spending and tax revenue, fueling our economic recovery. We have more than just an opportunity; we have an obligation to pass meaningful immigration reform as part of the upcoming reconciliation bill--for Rose; for Erika; for Vicente; for the millions of essential workers and long-term residents who lack permanent status; for the bipartisan majority of Americans who support reform for their immigrant friends, families, and neighbors; and for every one of our constituents, because all Americans will see the economic benefits of immigration reform. (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) Madam President, we have more than an opportunity--we have an obligation--to pass meaningful immigration reform as part of the upcoming reconciliation bill. For the millions of essential workers and long-term residents who lack permanent status. For the bipartisan majority of Americans who support reform for their immigrant friends, families, and neighbors. And for every one of our constituents--because all Americans will see the economic benefits of immigration reform. I recently met with President Biden in the Oval Office to discuss California's immigration needs. And I am so thankful for President Biden and Vice President Harris's unequivocal support for including immigration reforms in the budget reconciliation process. As I said, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to bring security to millions of federally recognized essential workers and their families. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the essential work and economic contributions of immigrants by opening the pathway to citizenship and the American dream. Thank you. I now yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I understand Senator Carper has already called up the amendment 2133.

Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important bipartisan amendment. I want to thank Senators Lankford, Moran, Rounds, Schatz, Feinstein, and Smith for joining me in this effort. Tribal communities face grave and unjust disparities in access to all kinds of infrastructure, but the disparities and access to healthcare and health infrastructure are increasingly stark. This amendment is very simple. It is common sense, in my opinion. It is a technical fix that would allow urban Indian organizations to use the Indian Health Service funds that they already receive for infrastructure and facilities improvements. So I want to be clear. This amendment would not give urban Indian organizations more funding or take away funding from anybody else. It would simply give them additional flexibility to use the funding they already receive for necessary infrastructure improvements. Urban Indian organizations provide culturally competent care for over 70 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives who live in urban centers. Many of those served live in low-income, medically underserved areas. According to recent congressional testimony from the Indian Health Service, ``expanding the current authority to be consistent with the authority for other government contractors. . . . would allow [urban Indian organizations] to make renovations, construction, or expansion of facilities necessary to improve the safety and quality of care provided to urban Indian patients.'' In fact, the Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service went on to state: Providing [urban Indian organizations] with broader authority . . . to improve their health care facilities will assist in providing the high quality, safe, and culturally relevant health care for the Urban Indian population.'' This amendment, I believe, is particularly relevant in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when items like ventilation, along with social distancing and other infrastructure upgrades, are desperately needed. This is an easy, no-cost, bipartisan way to help ensure that this package bolsters infrastructure in Indian Country, because no infrastructure package would be complete without robust, strategic improvements to Tribal infrastructure. It has the support of the chairman and ranking member of the Indian Affairs Committee, which just held a hearing on this issue last month, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield the floor.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the 99th birthday of Norman Lear, a man who came to Hollywood and entertained the Nation, then dedicated his life to bettering it as a champion for progressive values. Born in 1922, Norman Lear served bravely in the Air Force during World War II, flying 52 combat missions over Europe. After the war, he made his way to California and struck out as a television writer. Norman Lear's sitcoms were beloved for their humor, empathy, and willingness to dive into the lives of diverse characters. His innovative shows reached more than 120 million viewers per week in the 1970s and `80s. And yet, in the midst of this success, Norman Lear put his career on hold because, once again, he felt called to serve his country. Distressed by the rise of radical rightwing activists, Norman Lear founded People for the American Way in 1980 and became a champion of American constitutional values. Through his writing, producing, and activism, Norman Lear has strengthened our democracy. He has championed free expression, civic participation, and equal justice for all. He even bought a copy of the Declaration of Independence to send on a 50-State tour, bringing Americans closer to our founding ideals and encouraging voter registration, a cause that is dear to me. Today, at 99, Norman Lear is still fighting for progressive values. He also continues to produce some of the funniest and wisest works for the screen, highlighting the diverse experiences that make America stronger. I want to offer Norman Lear my best wishes for the first day of his 100th year and my thanks for his dedication to bettering the lives of so many.

Mr. PADILLA

Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the 50th anniversary of Tapatio, a family-run company from the great State of California that exemplifies the American Dream. Jose-Luis Saavedra, the founder of Tapatio, immigrated to California from Guadalajara, Mexico. He started out working in the aerospace industry, and he often shared a delicious homemade salsa with his coworkers. In 1971, after a recession shut down the plant where he worked, Mr. Saavedra decided to try perfecting and selling his hot sauce. Tapatio was born out of a small kitchen in Maywood, CA, and continues its operations to this day in Vernon, CA. With the hard work and innovation of Mr. Saavedra, his wife, and his children, Tapatio grew in popularity and size, spreading from small groceries in East Los Angeles to stores and restaurants around the country. Today, Tapatio is known for introducing the flavors of Guadalajara around the world. It now produces about 200,000 bottles of Tapatio a day and exports globally to about 30 countries. The company has even developed single-serving packets of its signature hot sauce to meet the demand from American servicemembers stationed abroad and at least one U.S. Senator. Tapatio has remained a family-run business for 50 years, employing three generations of the Saavedra family. It is more than an immigrant success story, Tapatio is an icon of cultural ambassadorship. According to Mr. Saavedra, the Smithsonian Institute displayed a bottle of Tapatio to showcase the brand's role in spreading positive images of Latino culture. I congratulate Tapatio on reaching this historic milestone, serving as an important reminder of the cultural and economic contributions of immigrants to our country, and keeping the American dream alive for future generations.