Jack Reed

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I have a parliamentary inquiry: How much time do we have remaining?

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I yield back the remaining time on our side.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to join Senator Collins in support of the fiscal year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. I want to join her in commending Chairman Cochran and Vice Chairwoman Mikulski for their great work, but I particularly want to commend Chairman Collins for her extraordinary work, her thoughtfulness, and her diligence. All those aspects are evidenced in this bill. She has, once again, developed a balanced and thoughtful bill that includes priorities for Members on both sides of the aisle. This bill allows for our Nation to continue moving forward by investing in critical transportation and housing initiatives, and, suffice it to say, without her leadership, we would not be here today with a bill that not only merits our attention, but also merits our support. This bill includes policies and funding that will grow our economy, improve the safety of our national transportation system, create jobs, and preserve affordable housing for our most vulnerable citizens. Working within a tight allocation, this bill makes important contributions to the development and safety of our national transportation system. For example, the bill provides $16.4 billion to fully fund the needs of the Federal Aviation Administration, including $1 billion for NextGen modernization activities, which will bring our aviation system to a new level of performance and safety. This funding level also fully accommodates the needs of contract towers and Essential Air Service, and provides for new safety staff and pay for air traffic controllers. The very popular TIGER Program, which the Chairman mentioned, is funded at $525 million. That is a $25 million increase from last year. TIGER grants allow State and local governments to make transformative investments in their transportation infrastructure that traditional formula grant programs are not able to address. The fiscal year 2016 grant competition just ended 2 weeks ago for TIGER grants, and the Department of Transportation reports that they have received over 600 grant applications, totaling nearly $100 billion in requests. This money is extraordinarily important to localities, and we have just barely increased it. Without the Chairman's leadership, however, I don't think that we would have made that increase. Again, I thank her. There is high demand for this program that is evidenced by these applications. That goes to underscore a point that the Chairman has made about the need for even more significant investment in infrastructure. This legislation also provides a boost to essential transit programs throughout the country, in order to sustain and expand their services. This bill provides $2.3 billion for the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grant program to help meet growing demand across the country. This bill also continues investment in the Washington Metrorail system, while holding the system accountable for improved financial management and ensuring that the FTA has the needed resources for strong safety oversight. Indeed, the bill before us maintains a key focus on safety across all modes of transportation. For example, the bill fulfills the promises of the FAST Act through a $199 million investment in Positive Train Control grants in order to protect passengers and workers on commuter and interstate rail lines with the next generation of railroad safety technology. The bill funds new research at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the safety and cybersecurity of autonomous vehicles. As autonomous vehicles are integrated into the general driving population, there is the potential to save thousands of lives with this innovative technology. However, an appropriate safety framework must be in place to realize the benefits of this promising transportation revolution. In addition, the bill continues ongoing crude-by-rail safety initiatives at both the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. These initiatives will work to ensure the safe transportation of crude oil and crude products across the country. The bill also provides $85 million for rail grant programs that were recently-authorized by the FAST Act. These grants can be used for rail safety and state-of-good-repair projects, such as Positive Train Control implementation and grade-crossing improvements. For Amtrak, the bill provides $1.4 billion. In response to the FAST Act, the THUD appropriations bill now allows the revenue generated on the Northeast Corridor to remain there. Again, this is consistent with the FAST Act. This investment will fully fund the Northeast Corridor and the National Network, while putting Amtrak in a better position to address the $28 billion state-of-good-repair backlog. I am also proud of what we were able to accomplish together for our Nation's housing programs. The bill preserves HUD's rental assistance programs, expands housing for youth and families experiencing homelessness, and increases lead-based paint remediation programs. These programs are vital to our Nation's safety net and also to the prosperity of local economies. I wish to speak briefly about how this bill increases protections for children against lead-based paint hazards. The bill--and the Chairman has discussed this--directs HUD to align its blood lead level regulations with the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a significant change that will help young children. If you just look at my home State of Rhode Island, 935 children will enter kindergarten this year exceeding the CDC standard for lead poisoning, but under the HUD standard, only 32 of those children would exceed the blood lead level standard. Now, when this regulation is implemented, there will be 900 children who not only are properly identified, but also, we hope, will have access to remediation in their homes, so that they will not be further affected by lead exposure. To help mitigate the threat of lead in the home, the bill provides $25 million in new resources for public housing agencies to address lead-based paint hazards in public housing units in response to this new health standard. We are really trying to synchronize best practices with practical systems that will make a huge difference in the lives of children. There is also $135 million for lead-hazard reduction grants, $25 million more than in 2016. This increased spending will support lead- based paint reductions in over 1,750 additional units. The bill increases support for the training of maintenance staff at public housing agencies to ensure that lead-based paint hazards are identified and properly managed. Finally, it encourages HUD to increase tenant awareness of lead-based paint hazards in the home to help ensure that families are able to address hazards before damage is done. These are immediate, cost- effective changes that will improve the lives of children living in low-income housing. Preventing lead poisoning is an issue that I have long worked on. I am so pleased to see the steps and strides that we are taking in this bill. The bill also provides funding for other critical HUD programs, including $40 million for new interventions targeting homeless youth, 6,000 new vouchers for homeless veterans through the HUD-VASH Program, housing and supportive care for 2,500 young people aging out of the foster care system, and services to help families and young people get jobs and increase their earnings. Again, I thank Senator Collins for her tremendous work, her leadership, and her unstinting commitment to making sure that these resources are directed appropriately and properly. We always wish that we could do more, but this bill provides a workable balance of resources for transportation and housing programs. The bill responds to the priorities of the Members of this Chamber. It makes wise investments that will benefit our Nation, not only in the present, but also in the future. In that regard, I must once again return to the issue of lead exposure to children in their homes. This is something that has a lifetime effect on children. I do not have the expertise of the Presiding Officer when it comes to these issues, but childhood exposure can have incredible lifetime cognitive impacts on a child and can have huge costs to society. The steps that we are taking are going to help those lifetime costs be reduced. I again thank the Chairman, Senator Collins. I appreciate her leadership, her willingness, and her extraordinary effort. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, last Sunday I had the opportunity to attend the 101st anniversary commemoration of the Armenian genocide, hosted at the Armenian Martyrs Memorial in Providence, RI. I was pleased to be able to join with so many in the Armenian community in my home State for this solemn event. Over a century ago, the Young Turk leaders of the Ottoman Empire summoned and executed over 200 Armenian community leaders and intellectuals, beginning an 8-year campaign of oppression and massacre. By 1923, an estimated 1\1/2\ million Armenians were killed, and over a half a million survivors were exiled. These atrocities affected the lives of every Armenian living in Asia Minor and, indeed, throughout the world. The survivors of the Armenian Genocide, however, persevered due to their unbreakable spirit and steadfast resolve and went on to greatly contribute to the lands in which they found new homes and communities, including the United States. This genocide should no longer be denied, which is why I have joined with several of my colleagues on resolutions over the years to encourage the United States to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. But as we remember our history, we must also look to the present and to our future. Violence against Armenians in Nogorno-Karabakh has escalated in recent months. These attacks on the Armenian people are completely unacceptable and call into question the sincerity with which Azerbaijan has approached recent peace negotiations. We must remain vigilant and do all that we can to encourage Azerbaijan to return to the negotiating table and make a good faith effort to ensure a lasting peace agreement in the region. As ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I remain committed to supporting efforts to provide assistance to Armenia to strengthen security, promote economic growth, and support democratic reforms and development. We also must find a way to come together to recognize our past and to show our unwavering support to those facing persecution today.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I would like to associate myself with the comments made by the Senator from Ohio. I also support the need for greater energy efficiency and applaud the sponsors of this amendment for promoting greater energy efficiency. At the same time, I do have some concerns. Specifically, I am concerned about whether and how potential energy savings can safely be incorporated as part of the mortgage underwriting process at the FHA, especially when there may not be a consensus on how to define and accurately quantify future energy savings. Another concern is the interaction of estimated energy savings in the underwriting and appraisal processes. This could happen because the SAVE Act requires expected energy cost savings to be used as an offset to certain regular expenses, such as property taxes, while also requiring the estimated energy savings of a home to be added to the home's appraisal. While not the intent of the authors, I am concerned that this could tilt the mortgage market towards more expensive products without adequate safeguards to protect borrowers.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be introducing, along with Senator Capito, the High Hazard Potential Small Dam Safety Act. This legislation seeks to provide grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of non-Federal high hazard potential dams. High hazard potential dams are those dams where failure is probable to cause loss of human life and endanger population centers and ecosystems, especially in periods of extreme weather and flooding. According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, ASDSO, the number of high-hazard potential dams increased nationally from 9,281 in 1998 to more than 14,700 in 2013. In testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, on February 10, 2016, the president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE, Norma Jean Mattei, indicated that the average age of dams in the United States is 52 years, and she called for a dam rehabilitation program to address this growing problem. In Rhode Island, we have dozens of high hazard potential dams in need of rehabilitation, many of which date back to the nineteenth century. Currently, there is no Federal program to assist states with the repair or removal of non-agricultural, non-hydroelectric, non-Federal high hazard potential small dams. Such a program does exist to address dams built by the Department of Agriculture, but this leaves many dams vulnerable and some states without the ability to address the risks posed by small dams whose failure would likely result in the loss of human life. The bill Senator Capito and I are introducing today expands FEMA's existing National Dam Safety Program to allow non-Federal entities to apply for matching grants for the repair and removal of non-Federal, non- agricultural, non-hydroelectric small dams that have been identified by a state dam safety agency as a high hazard potential. The program is non-mandatory, allowing states to determine which, if any, dams they would submit for assistance. The allocation of funds is based on a one- third equal distribution and 2/3 need-based formula, with a 65-35 percent cost share, to ensure the participation of a wide number of states. This legislation builds upon a bipartisan bill introduced in the 110th Congress by our former colleague, Senator Akaka of Hawaii, of which I was a cosponsor. By assisting in the repair or removal of high hazard dams before they fail, the bill makes an investment in future cost savings, not to mention lives and property saved. Estimates show that one dollar of pre-disaster mitigation spending can save between $3-$14 in post- disaster spending. This bipartisan bill, which is supported by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the American Society of Civil Engineers, will improve dam safety across the Nation. I look forward to working with these and other stakeholders as well as Senator Capito and our colleagues to pass the High Hazard Potential Small Dam Safety Act.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be introducing, along with Senator Capito, the High Hazard Potential Small Dam Safety Act. This legislation seeks to provide grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of non-Federal high hazard potential dams. High hazard potential dams are those dams where failure is probable to cause loss of human life and endanger population centers and ecosystems, especially in periods of extreme weather and flooding. According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, ASDSO, the number of high-hazard potential dams increased nationally from 9,281 in 1998 to more than 14,700 in 2013. In testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, on February 10, 2016, the president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE, Norma Jean Mattei, indicated that the average age of dams in the United States is 52 years, and she called for a dam rehabilitation program to address this growing problem. In Rhode Island, we have dozens of high hazard potential dams in need of rehabilitation, many of which date back to the nineteenth century. Currently, there is no Federal program to assist states with the repair or removal of non-agricultural, non-hydroelectric, non-Federal high hazard potential small dams. Such a program does exist to address dams built by the Department of Agriculture, but this leaves many dams vulnerable and some states without the ability to address the risks posed by small dams whose failure would likely result in the loss of human life. The bill Senator Capito and I are introducing today expands FEMA's existing National Dam Safety Program to allow non-Federal entities to apply for matching grants for the repair and removal of non-Federal, non- agricultural, non-hydroelectric small dams that have been identified by a state dam safety agency as a high hazard potential. The program is non-mandatory, allowing states to determine which, if any, dams they would submit for assistance. The allocation of funds is based on a one- third equal distribution and 2/3 need-based formula, with a 65-35 percent cost share, to ensure the participation of a wide number of states. This legislation builds upon a bipartisan bill introduced in the 110th Congress by our former colleague, Senator Akaka of Hawaii, of which I was a cosponsor. By assisting in the repair or removal of high hazard dams before they fail, the bill makes an investment in future cost savings, not to mention lives and property saved. Estimates show that one dollar of pre-disaster mitigation spending can save between $3-$14 in post- disaster spending. This bipartisan bill, which is supported by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials and the American Society of Civil Engineers, will improve dam safety across the Nation. I look forward to working with these and other stakeholders as well as Senator Capito and our colleagues to pass the High Hazard Potential Small Dam Safety Act.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing two bills pertaining to healthy housing, the Healthy Housing Council Act and the Title X Amendments Act. These bills seek to improve federal coordination of healthy housing efforts and better integrate healthy housing activities into the ongoing lead poisoning prevention work at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The crisis in Flint, Michigan reaffirms a tragic reality; millions of Americans, including thousands of children and families in Rhode Island, remain at risk from lead exposure. For example, Rhode Island has the highest percentage of low-income children living in older housing, which poses health risks for these children because of the lead paint used in these older homes. Fortunately, Rhode Island has been a national leader in working to reduce lead hazards and bring down childhood lead poisoning rates. The number of children with elevated blood lead levels has been steadily declining in all areas of Rhode Island over the last decade, from 212 children under the age of 6 in 2005 to 42 children in 2015. But as we have seen this year with the tragedy in Flint, MI, lead poisoning among children is still a huge problem in this country. This is unacceptable, which is why I have long sought to improve and maximize federal finding for lead poisoning prevention programs. The Title X Amendments Act makes important improvements to lead poisoning prevention programs at HUD to better serve low income families at risk for lead poisoning. It would provide HUD with the necessary authority to continue to carry out healthy housing activities while protecting important ongoing lead remediation efforts, allow grantees to improve the conditions in zero-bedroom units, and streamline eligibility for assistance. These are simple, yet necessary reforms designed to improve and expand cost-effective services, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to see them enacted. It is also vital that we continue the type of collaboration and coordination among Federal departments and agencies, like HUD, HHS, EPA, and CDC, that resulted in the Strategy for Action to Advance Healthy Homes. Indeed, there are many programs fragmented across multiple agencies that are responsible for addressing housing-related health hazards like lead and radon, and we should strive to improve the efficiency and efficacy of these efforts by ensuring that these agencies continue to work together. The Healthy Housing Council Act would establish an independent interagency Council on Healthy Housing in the executive branch in order to improve coordination, bring existing efforts out of their respective silos, and reduce duplication. The bill calls for the council to convene periodic meetings with experts in the public and private sectors to discuss ways to educate individuals and families on how to recognize housing-related health hazards and access the necessary services and preventive measures to combat these hazards. The council would also be required to hold biannual stakeholder meetings, maintain an updated website, and work to unify healthy housing data collection. In addition to the 23 million homes with lead-based paint hazards, there are nearly 6 million households with moderate or severe health hazards, resulting in approximately 22,600 unintentional injury and fire deaths and 21,000 radon-associated lung cancer deaths every year. These bills seek to tackle these numbers, which contribute to increasing health care costs for individuals and families, as well as for Federal, State, and local governments. The presence of housing-related health hazards is often overlooked and yet these hazards are sometimes the cause of a variety of preventable diseases and conditions like cancer, lead poisoning, and asthma. Promoting low-cost measures to eliminate subpar housing can make a dramatic and meaningful difference in the lives of children and families and help reduce health care costs. I am pleased that the National Center for Healthy Housing supports both of these bills and I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this legislation forward.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing two bills pertaining to healthy housing, the Healthy Housing Council Act and the Title X Amendments Act. These bills seek to improve federal coordination of healthy housing efforts and better integrate healthy housing activities into the ongoing lead poisoning prevention work at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The crisis in Flint, Michigan reaffirms a tragic reality; millions of Americans, including thousands of children and families in Rhode Island, remain at risk from lead exposure. For example, Rhode Island has the highest percentage of low-income children living in older housing, which poses health risks for these children because of the lead paint used in these older homes. Fortunately, Rhode Island has been a national leader in working to reduce lead hazards and bring down childhood lead poisoning rates. The number of children with elevated blood lead levels has been steadily declining in all areas of Rhode Island over the last decade, from 212 children under the age of 6 in 2005 to 42 children in 2015. But as we have seen this year with the tragedy in Flint, MI, lead poisoning among children is still a huge problem in this country. This is unacceptable, which is why I have long sought to improve and maximize federal finding for lead poisoning prevention programs. The Title X Amendments Act makes important improvements to lead poisoning prevention programs at HUD to better serve low income families at risk for lead poisoning. It would provide HUD with the necessary authority to continue to carry out healthy housing activities while protecting important ongoing lead remediation efforts, allow grantees to improve the conditions in zero-bedroom units, and streamline eligibility for assistance. These are simple, yet necessary reforms designed to improve and expand cost-effective services, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to see them enacted. It is also vital that we continue the type of collaboration and coordination among Federal departments and agencies, like HUD, HHS, EPA, and CDC, that resulted in the Strategy for Action to Advance Healthy Homes. Indeed, there are many programs fragmented across multiple agencies that are responsible for addressing housing-related health hazards like lead and radon, and we should strive to improve the efficiency and efficacy of these efforts by ensuring that these agencies continue to work together. The Healthy Housing Council Act would establish an independent interagency Council on Healthy Housing in the executive branch in order to improve coordination, bring existing efforts out of their respective silos, and reduce duplication. The bill calls for the council to convene periodic meetings with experts in the public and private sectors to discuss ways to educate individuals and families on how to recognize housing-related health hazards and access the necessary services and preventive measures to combat these hazards. The council would also be required to hold biannual stakeholder meetings, maintain an updated website, and work to unify healthy housing data collection. In addition to the 23 million homes with lead-based paint hazards, there are nearly 6 million households with moderate or severe health hazards, resulting in approximately 22,600 unintentional injury and fire deaths and 21,000 radon-associated lung cancer deaths every year. These bills seek to tackle these numbers, which contribute to increasing health care costs for individuals and families, as well as for Federal, State, and local governments. The presence of housing-related health hazards is often overlooked and yet these hazards are sometimes the cause of a variety of preventable diseases and conditions like cancer, lead poisoning, and asthma. Promoting low-cost measures to eliminate subpar housing can make a dramatic and meaningful difference in the lives of children and families and help reduce health care costs. I am pleased that the National Center for Healthy Housing supports both of these bills and I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this legislation forward.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joining Senator Blunt in introducing the Ensuring Children's Access to Specialty Care Act. According to the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, there are currently only 8,300 child and adolescent psychiatrists, CAPs, in the United States--many of whom are not practicing full time--far short of the estimated need of over 30,000 CAPs. On average, patients wait almost 2 months to see a CAP, a startling concern given that the incidence rates of mental illness and behavioral disorders among children in the United States continue to grow. Fifty percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin at age 14; 75 percent by age 24. The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, NHSCLRP, was created by Congress 40 years ago to help recruit and place trained individuals in underserved communities to provide needed health care services. Licensed health care providers may earn up to $50,000 toward student loans in exchange for a 2-year commitment at an NHSC-approved site, within 2 years of completing their residency. Accepted participants may serve as primary care medical, dental, or mental- behavioral health clinicians. NHSCLRP provides critical relief to physicians who have completed pediatrics or psychiatry residency training programs; however, pediatric subspecialists, such as child and adolescent psychiatrists are effectively barred from participating due to the extra training these physicians are required to take after completing their residency. This extra training, which often results in increased student debt, typically consisting of a fellowship, takes place in the 2-year window of eligibility for NHSCLRP. The creation of NHSCLRP preceded the expansion of many pediatric subspecialties, not taking into account the extra years of training required for these physicians. The Ensuring Children's Access to Specialty Care Act would correct this loophole and allow pediatric subspecialists practicing in underserved areas to benefit from the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. This bill would increase access to specialty care for children and improve mental health parity for children served by NHSCLRP. Every child with a physical, mental, or behavioral health condition should have access to pediatric health services. Providers across the spectrum of care support this bipartisan legislation including the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Arthritis Foundation, Children's Hospital Association, March of Dimes, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I look forward to working with these and other stakeholders as well as Senator Blunt and our colleagues to pass the Ensuring Children's Access to Specialty Care Act in order to help ensure children have access to the health care they need.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joining Senator Blunt in introducing the Ensuring Children's Access to Specialty Care Act. According to the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, there are currently only 8,300 child and adolescent psychiatrists, CAPs, in the United States--many of whom are not practicing full time--far short of the estimated need of over 30,000 CAPs. On average, patients wait almost 2 months to see a CAP, a startling concern given that the incidence rates of mental illness and behavioral disorders among children in the United States continue to grow. Fifty percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin at age 14; 75 percent by age 24. The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, NHSCLRP, was created by Congress 40 years ago to help recruit and place trained individuals in underserved communities to provide needed health care services. Licensed health care providers may earn up to $50,000 toward student loans in exchange for a 2-year commitment at an NHSC-approved site, within 2 years of completing their residency. Accepted participants may serve as primary care medical, dental, or mental- behavioral health clinicians. NHSCLRP provides critical relief to physicians who have completed pediatrics or psychiatry residency training programs; however, pediatric subspecialists, such as child and adolescent psychiatrists are effectively barred from participating due to the extra training these physicians are required to take after completing their residency. This extra training, which often results in increased student debt, typically consisting of a fellowship, takes place in the 2-year window of eligibility for NHSCLRP. The creation of NHSCLRP preceded the expansion of many pediatric subspecialties, not taking into account the extra years of training required for these physicians. The Ensuring Children's Access to Specialty Care Act would correct this loophole and allow pediatric subspecialists practicing in underserved areas to benefit from the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. This bill would increase access to specialty care for children and improve mental health parity for children served by NHSCLRP. Every child with a physical, mental, or behavioral health condition should have access to pediatric health services. Providers across the spectrum of care support this bipartisan legislation including the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Arthritis Foundation, Children's Hospital Association, March of Dimes, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I look forward to working with these and other stakeholders as well as Senator Blunt and our colleagues to pass the Ensuring Children's Access to Specialty Care Act in order to help ensure children have access to the health care they need.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to require the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to update its industry guides for oil, gas, and mining companies. In November 2015, Peabody Energy agreed to provide comprehensive SEC disclosures about climate change risks facing the company when it settled charges of misleading investors. The company executed this settlement with the New York Attorney General after an investigation discovered that Peabody Energy ``repeatedly denied in public financial filings to the SEC that it had the ability to predict the impact that potential regulation of climate change pollution would have on its business, even though Peabody and its consultants actually made projections that such regulation would have severe impacts on the company.'' Unfortunately, it appears that the SEC had no role in this settlement, in which Peabody Energy agreed to amend its SEC disclosures, admitting that ``concerns about the environmental impacts of coal combustion . . . could significantly affect demand for our products or our securities.'' It is clear that the SEC needs to do more when it comes to critically reviewing the disclosures being filed by publicly traded companies, but it is also clear that the SEC's industry guides for oil, gas, and mining companies should be updated to reflect the growing risk of climate change to these companies. By so doing, the investing public can access the material information necessary to make informed decisions when investing in these types of companies. Indeed, it is for this reason that the SEC has established industry guides for certain industries with complex financial and non-financial data. These disclosures are important to investors, such as Allianz Global Investors, which is a global diversified active investment manager with nearly $500 billion in assets under management. Allianz has specifically called for ``achieving better disclosure of the effects of carbon costs on the Oil & Gas companies.'' In updating the industry guides for oil, gas, and mining companies, my legislation would direct the SEC to work with the SEC's Investor Advisory Committee. This Committee was established by the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to advise and consult with the SEC on regulatory priorities, the regulation of securities products, trading strategies, fee structures, disclosure effectiveness, and on initiatives to promote investor confidence and the integrity of the securities marketplace. I thank Ceres for their support, and I also thank Representative Cartwright for introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives today. I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to require the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, to update its industry guides for oil, gas, and mining companies. In November 2015, Peabody Energy agreed to provide comprehensive SEC disclosures about climate change risks facing the company when it settled charges of misleading investors. The company executed this settlement with the New York Attorney General after an investigation discovered that Peabody Energy ``repeatedly denied in public financial filings to the SEC that it had the ability to predict the impact that potential regulation of climate change pollution would have on its business, even though Peabody and its consultants actually made projections that such regulation would have severe impacts on the company.'' Unfortunately, it appears that the SEC had no role in this settlement, in which Peabody Energy agreed to amend its SEC disclosures, admitting that ``concerns about the environmental impacts of coal combustion . . . could significantly affect demand for our products or our securities.'' It is clear that the SEC needs to do more when it comes to critically reviewing the disclosures being filed by publicly traded companies, but it is also clear that the SEC's industry guides for oil, gas, and mining companies should be updated to reflect the growing risk of climate change to these companies. By so doing, the investing public can access the material information necessary to make informed decisions when investing in these types of companies. Indeed, it is for this reason that the SEC has established industry guides for certain industries with complex financial and non-financial data. These disclosures are important to investors, such as Allianz Global Investors, which is a global diversified active investment manager with nearly $500 billion in assets under management. Allianz has specifically called for ``achieving better disclosure of the effects of carbon costs on the Oil & Gas companies.'' In updating the industry guides for oil, gas, and mining companies, my legislation would direct the SEC to work with the SEC's Investor Advisory Committee. This Committee was established by the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to advise and consult with the SEC on regulatory priorities, the regulation of securities products, trading strategies, fee structures, disclosure effectiveness, and on initiatives to promote investor confidence and the integrity of the securities marketplace. I thank Ceres for their support, and I also thank Representative Cartwright for introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives today. I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am pleased to be joining my colleague, Senator Collins, in introducing a bill to update the funding formula for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, or HOPWA, program. HOPWA is a program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, that provides state and local governments with resources to ensure that stable housing and supportive services are available for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Stable and affordable housing is a critical component of treatment for HIV-positive individuals. More than half of this population will face homelessness or an unstable housing situation at some point during the course of their illness. Medication for treatment is extremely expensive, and the assistance offered by HOPWA results in better management of this illness, reduces the risk of HIV transmission, and ensures that better public health outcomes can be achieved. Our bipartisan legislation seeks to strengthen HOPWA by improving the accuracy of the formula used to distribute funding to housing programs that benefit people living with HIV/AIDS. This improved funding formula would take into account the number of persons currently living in a community with HIV/AIDS. HOPWA's current funding formula instead considers the cumulative number of individuals diagnosed with HIV in a community since 1981, and includes those individuals who have since passed away. In fact, according to HUD, 55 percent of the cases used to determine funding allocations under the current formula are deceased individuals. As a result, this diverts already limited funding from communities that are dealing with the effects of this epidemic most acutely today Our bill proposes a more accurate formula that will protect low- income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families and will better target federal resources to the states and localities with the greatest need today. In short, we hope to make the program more effective and responsive in addressing the current needs of communities. Furthermore, to ease the move to a fairer allocation of resources, the bill transitions current grantees to the new formula over a 5-year period. Grantees will not lose more than 5 percent of their share of HOPWA formula funds in each successive year until fiscal year 2021 and cannot gain more than 10 percent of their share in each successive fiscal year. I thank Senator Collins for her partnership, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, which will enable communities to provide care to those living with HIV/AIDS by ensuring that their current housing challenges can be addressed.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am pleased to be joining my colleague, Senator Collins, in introducing a bill to update the funding formula for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, or HOPWA, program. HOPWA is a program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, that provides state and local governments with resources to ensure that stable housing and supportive services are available for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Stable and affordable housing is a critical component of treatment for HIV-positive individuals. More than half of this population will face homelessness or an unstable housing situation at some point during the course of their illness. Medication for treatment is extremely expensive, and the assistance offered by HOPWA results in better management of this illness, reduces the risk of HIV transmission, and ensures that better public health outcomes can be achieved. Our bipartisan legislation seeks to strengthen HOPWA by improving the accuracy of the formula used to distribute funding to housing programs that benefit people living with HIV/AIDS. This improved funding formula would take into account the number of persons currently living in a community with HIV/AIDS. HOPWA's current funding formula instead considers the cumulative number of individuals diagnosed with HIV in a community since 1981, and includes those individuals who have since passed away. In fact, according to HUD, 55 percent of the cases used to determine funding allocations under the current formula are deceased individuals. As a result, this diverts already limited funding from communities that are dealing with the effects of this epidemic most acutely today Our bill proposes a more accurate formula that will protect low- income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families and will better target federal resources to the states and localities with the greatest need today. In short, we hope to make the program more effective and responsive in addressing the current needs of communities. Furthermore, to ease the move to a fairer allocation of resources, the bill transitions current grantees to the new formula over a 5-year period. Grantees will not lose more than 5 percent of their share of HOPWA formula funds in each successive year until fiscal year 2021 and cannot gain more than 10 percent of their share in each successive fiscal year. I thank Senator Collins for her partnership, and I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, which will enable communities to provide care to those living with HIV/AIDS by ensuring that their current housing challenges can be addressed.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Madam President, today I join my colleagues in supporting the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016. This legislation will send a strong message to the North Korean regime that there are consequences to its dangerous and destabilizing activities on the Korean peninsula. Just in the past month, North Korea has conducted its fourth nuclear weapon test and launched a satellite into orbit, both of which violate several United Nations Security Council resolutions. The bipartisan bill before us makes clear that Congress will not tolerate the North Korean regime's continuing and flagrant violations of international law. This bill is comprehensive and addresses a number of important concerns. First, it prohibits defense exports to North Korea and withholds foreign assistance to those governments that provide lethal military equipment to the government of North Korea. Second, it codifies and makes mandatory important cyber security sanctions under Executive Orders 13681 and 13694 that are essential to countering North Korea's dangerous cyber attacks, like the one perpetrated against Sony Pictures Entertainment in November 2014. Third, it includes sanctions on individuals who knowingly engage in the serious human rights abuses that are perpetuated by the regime against its own people. I would like to commend my colleagues from the Banking and Foreign Relations Committees who have worked to move this legislation forward. It is critical that we use all of our diplomatic and legal resources to further restrict North Korea's ability to fund its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. I urge my colleagues to support adoption of this important legislation.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the United Service Organizations, commonly known as the USO, on its 75th anniversary. Since February 4, 1941, the USO has been serving alongside our men and women in uniform. Ahead of our entry into World War II and having witnessed the morale issues among the ranks during World War I, Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall called for an effort that would bring together private, civilian organizations to provide recreational activities and entertainment for the troops. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, ``not by machines alone will we win this war,'' and so he directed the newly formed USO to keep servicemembers in touch with the comforts of home, no matter where they were deployed. Initially led by the YMCA, YWCA, the Salvation Army, the National Jewish Welfare Board, the National Catholic Community Service, and the Traveler's Aid Society, the USO provided servicemen with wholesome recreation and entertainment. According to Walter Hoving, one of the original directors of the USO, ``this is not only vital to military morale but also from the standpoint of the future of our youth as peacetime citizens.'' Seventy-five years later, the USO continues to adapt to meet the needs of our men and women in uniform and their families. From USO centers at or near military installations across the United States and around the world, to their airport centers that offer around-the-clock hospitality for traveling servicemembers, to their trademark tours that bring America's celebrities to entertain our troops, to their support for military kids, wounded warriors and their caregivers, and families of the fallen, the USO has answered the call to serve those who serve our Nation. The USO remains a private organization, relying on the generosity of individuals, communities, and corporations and 30,000 dedicated volunteers. As General Eisenhower wrote many decades ago, ``the USO served also in providing a channel through which more than a million civilian men and women were able to help effectively in the war effort.'' The same holds true today. I would like to thank the many men and women of the USO who give so much to bring a bit of home to our servicemembers all over the globe. I congratulate the USO on 75 years of strengthening America's military by keeping servicemembers connected to family, home, and country wherever they go.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, first, I commend Senator Whitehouse, my colleague from Rhode Island, for his very thoughtful leadership on this issue of education and particularly the situation where so many young people are so deeply in debt after a college education. It was Senator Whitehouse who organized a meeting in Rhode Island. I was there and I listened to the story he just related. It is astounding, the debt these young people and in some cases middle-aged people are shouldering. We have to do something. I would like to commend and thank him for his leadership and urge a bipartisan effort in this regard. Mr. President, I was on the floor last week, and I spoke about a series of two amendments that I was working with Senator Heller on, and they are all focused on enhancing energy storage. I thank Senator Heller for his efforts in so many ways but particularly this bipartisan effort to enhance the Energy bill that is before us. Indeed, earlier this week, we were able to pass one of these amendments, No. 2989, that we introduced together to improve coordination of Department of Energy programs and authorities in order to maximize the amount of money that goes toward energy storage research and development. Let me particularly thank Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairperson Lisa Murkowski and ranking member Maria Cantwell for their great efforts overall and particularly for their help in getting the Reed-Heller amendment through. They have done an extraordinary job on this legislation. As I have indicated, we have two amendments. I have also joined Senator Heller on another amendment. He is the lead author. This amendment would amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act--or PURPA, as it is known--to require industry and State regulators to consider energy storage when making their energy efficiency plans. By encouraging energy storage usage by public utilities, we will help expand the reach of this needed technology. There are many technical, financial, and security benefits to energy storage, including: improving grid utilization by storing and moving low-cost power into higher priced markets, thereby reducing the amount we all pay on our utility bills; increasing the value and the amount of renewable energy in the grid, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and enhancing the security of the grid, thereby ensuring critical access to power in an emergency. We are all each day much more cognizant of the threat not just through natural disasters but through particular cyber intrusions which could affect our energy grid. This would be another way in which we could not only protect ourselves but respond more quickly in the case of any of these natural or manmade disasters. I want to conclude by again thanking my colleague and friend Senator Heller and urge our colleagues to work with us in a bipartisan fashion to adopt this amendment. With that, Mr. President, I thank you. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. REED

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

Mr. REED. Mr. President, first let me commend Senator Brown for his very thoughtful and articulate comments on the earned-income tax credit. Mr. President, I am very glad that the Senate is taking up the issue of energy this week. The bill we are debating takes positive steps forward to encourage energy efficiency in Federal and commercial buildings, modernize the electric grid, and boost renewable sources of energy. I am particularly pleased that provisions I have worked on, on a bipartisan basis with Senators Coons and Collins, to enhance the Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program are included. These provisions improve these programs that help low-income Americans reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient, and many of these individuals are senior citizens who are day-by-day struggling on fixed incomes, trying to pay not just a heating bill but the grocery bill and many other bills. I have long championed these cost-effective programs that are helping families across my State and across the Nation to provide a warm and safe home while also increasing energy efficiency. Indeed, weatherization to me is one of the most sensible steps. It is in some respects the low-hanging fruit. If we can reduce demand, then we can go a long way not only in terms of our energy situation but also our environmental situation. We are here today because of the great work of the Chairwoman, Senator Murkowski, and the Ranking Member, Senator Cantwell. They have done an extraordinary job. I am not surprised, as they are extraordinary Members of this body. I want to personally thank them and commend them for what they have done not just in this effort but in many other efforts. Indeed, I have joined Senator Cantwell as a cosponsor of her bill that goes so much further than the current bill on the Senate floor to modernize our current electrical infrastructure and promote greater use of domestic energy and renewable energy. I would like to extend my thanks and commendations to both Senators. One area that I believe needs further focus as we move forward is the issue of energy storage. I am glad to be working with my colleague from Nevada, Senator Heller, on amendments that support more efficient use of Federal funding for energy storage research at the Department of Energy and encourage energy storage usage in public utilities. Advances in energy storage, advances in batteries--and sometimes it is the same thing--can help improve the reliability, resiliency, and flexibility of the grid as well as reduce the potential for future rate increases, saving us all money on our utility bills. Senator Heller and I have submitted two amendments that we hope will spur action in this area. One amendment would give the Secretary of Energy the ability to coordinate energy storage research and development projects among the existing programs at DOE to maximize the amount of funding that goes toward research and minimize administrative costs. We feel it does not have that flexibility at the moment. I also joined Senator Heller in offering another amendment, in which he is indeed the lead sponsor, which amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act so industry and State regulators must consider energy storage when making their energy efficiency plans. I also, in addition to these proposals, would like to use this opportunity to encourage greater attention to the financial impacts of climate change caused by energy consumption. It is clear not only that the SEC needs to do more when it comes to critically reviewing disclosures being filed by publicly traded companies, but also that the SEC's disclosure industry guides for mining companies and oil and gas companies should be updated to reflect the growing risk of climate change to these companies and, in effect, to their shareholders. That is why I am offering an additional amendment that directs the SEC to update these industry guides as well as to consider and incorporate appropriate suggestions from the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative's report entitled ``Climate Strategies and Metrics: Exploring Options for Institutional Investors,'' which was published in 2015. These disclosures are important to institutional investors such as Allianz Global Investors, for example, which is a global diversified active investment manager with $477 billion in assets under management, which has specifically called for ``achieving better disclosure of the effects of carbon costs on the oil and gas companies.'' What we are trying to do is respond to the growing demand of investors and shareholders so they can make better judgments about their investments. It is also important for us to continue to invest in our energy infrastructure and support cutting-edge technological advancements while effectively monitoring the effects of our energy consumption on our economy and our environment. One way of doing this is once again to have assurances that investors have the knowledge they need to make wise decisions about their investments. All told, this is very responsible and appropriate legislation. We can make improvements. I hope the amendments I have proposed, along with Senator Heller, can get favorable consideration as we move forward. Once again, let me thank Senators Murkowski and Cantwell for extraordinary leadership. With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Molly Baier, a fellow in my office, be granted privileges of the floor for the remainder of the Congress.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am pleased to be introducing the Cybersecurity Disclosure Act of 2015 with Senator Collins. In response to data breaches by various companies, which exposed the personal information of millions of customers, this bill asks each publicly traded company to include, in Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, disclosures to investors, information on whether any member of the Board of Directors is a cybersecurity expert, and if not, why having this expertise on the Board of Directors is not necessary because of other cybersecurity steps taken by the publicly traded company. The legislation does not require companies to take any actions other than to provide this disclosure to its investors. Many investors may be surprised to learn that board directors who participated in National Association of Corporate Directors roundtable discussions on cybersecurity late in 2013 admitted that ``the lack of adequate knowledge of information technology risk has made it challenging for them to `effectively oversee management's cybersecurity activities.' Participating board members also suggested that `without sound knowledge of--or adequate sensitivity to--the topic, directors cannot easily draw the line between oversight and management,' and that once in the technical `weeds,' directors `find it difficult to assess the appropriate level of [the board's] involvement in risk management.' '' Investors and customers deserve a clear understanding of whether publicly traded companies are not only prioritizing cybersecurity, but also have the capacity to protect investors and customers from cyber related attacks. This bill aims to provide a better understanding of these issues through improved SEC disclosure. While this legislation is a matter for consideration by the Banking Committee, of which I am a member, this bill is also informed by my service on the Armed Services Committee. It is through this dual Banking-Armed Services perspective that I see that our economic security is indeed a matter of our national security, and this is particularly the case as our economy becomes increasingly reliant on technology and the Internet. For example, James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, recently appeared before the Armed Services Committee on September 29, 2015, and testified that ``cyber threats to the U.S. national and economic security are increasing in frequency, scale, sophistication and severity of impact.'' He further said that ``[b]ecause of our heavy dependence on the Internet, nearly all information communication technologies and I.T. networks and systems will be perpetually at risk.'' With mounting cyber threats and concerns over the capabilities of corporate directors, we all need to be more proactive in ensuring our Nation's cybersecurity before there are additional serious breaches. This legislation seeks to take one step towards that goal by encouraging publicly traded companies to be more transparent to its investors and customers on whether and how their Boards of Directors are prioritizing cybersecurity. I thank Harvard Law School Professor John Coates, MIT Professor Simon Johnson, Columbia Law School Professor John Coffee, and the Consumer Federation of America for their support, and I urge my colleagues to join Senator Collins and me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. REED. Mr. President, we know that the quality of teachers and principals are two of the most important in-school factors related to student achievement. If we want to improve our schools, it is essential that teachers, principals, and other educators have a comprehensive system that supports their professional growth and development, starting on day one and continuing throughout their careers. Senator Casey and I introduced the Better Education Support and Training Act to create such a system, and many key provisions of this legislation were included in the Every Student Succeeds Act that passed the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan vote and was signed into law last week. However, our work is not done. We need to make sure that educator preparation programs help teachers, principals, librarians, and other school leaders develop the skills and knowledge to be profession-ready. There is a looming shortage of fully-prepared teachers. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that many high poverty schools struggle to fill their teaching positions and rely on a ``rotating cast of substitutes.'' We must do better by our students and our schools. Today, I am reintroducing the Educator Preparation Reform Act and am pleased to be joined by Senator Casey in offering this approach to improving how we prepare teachers, principals, and other educators so that they can be effective right from the start. The Educator Preparation Reform Act builds on the success of the Teacher Quality Partnership Program, which I helped author in the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Among the key changes this new bill makes is specific attention and emphasis on principals, with the addition of a residency program for new principals. Improving instruction is a team effort, with principals at the helm. This bill better connects teacher preparation with principal preparation. The Educator Preparation Reform Act will also allow partnerships to develop preparation programs for other areas of instructional need, such as for school librarians, counselors, or other academic support professionals. The bill streamlines the accountability and reporting requirements for teacher preparation programs to provide greater transparency on key quality measures such as admissions standards, requirements for clinical practice, placement of graduates, retention in the field of teaching, and teacher performance, including student learning outcomes. All programs--whether traditional or alternative routes to certification--will be asked to report on the same measures. Under our legislation, states will be required to identify at-risk and low-performing programs and provide them with technical assistance and a timeline for improvement. States would be encouraged to close programs that do not improve. We have been fortunate to work with many stakeholders on this legislation. Organizations that have endorsed the Educator Preparation Reform Act include: the Alliance for Excellent Education, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, Association of American Universities, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, First Focus Campaign for Children, Higher Education Consortium for Special Education, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of State Directors of Special Education, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Education Association, National Disabilities Rights Network, Public Advocacy for Kids, Rural School and Community Trust, and the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. I look forward to working to incorporate this legislation into the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. I urge my colleagues to join us in this effort and support this legislation.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am pleased to be introducing the Cybersecurity Disclosure Act of 2015 with Senator Collins. In response to data breaches by various companies, which exposed the personal information of millions of customers, this bill asks each publicly traded company to include, in Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, disclosures to investors, information on whether any member of the Board of Directors is a cybersecurity expert, and if not, why having this expertise on the Board of Directors is not necessary because of other cybersecurity steps taken by the publicly traded company. The legislation does not require companies to take any actions other than to provide this disclosure to its investors. Many investors may be surprised to learn that board directors who participated in National Association of Corporate Directors roundtable discussions on cybersecurity late in 2013 admitted that ``the lack of adequate knowledge of information technology risk has made it challenging for them to `effectively oversee management's cybersecurity activities.' Participating board members also suggested that `without sound knowledge of--or adequate sensitivity to--the topic, directors cannot easily draw the line between oversight and management,' and that once in the technical `weeds,' directors `find it difficult to assess the appropriate level of [the board's] involvement in risk management.' '' Investors and customers deserve a clear understanding of whether publicly traded companies are not only prioritizing cybersecurity, but also have the capacity to protect investors and customers from cyber related attacks. This bill aims to provide a better understanding of these issues through improved SEC disclosure. While this legislation is a matter for consideration by the Banking Committee, of which I am a member, this bill is also informed by my service on the Armed Services Committee. It is through this dual Banking-Armed Services perspective that I see that our economic security is indeed a matter of our national security, and this is particularly the case as our economy becomes increasingly reliant on technology and the Internet. For example, James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, recently appeared before the Armed Services Committee on September 29, 2015, and testified that ``cyber threats to the U.S. national and economic security are increasing in frequency, scale, sophistication and severity of impact.'' He further said that ``[b]ecause of our heavy dependence on the Internet, nearly all information communication technologies and I.T. networks and systems will be perpetually at risk.'' With mounting cyber threats and concerns over the capabilities of corporate directors, we all need to be more proactive in ensuring our Nation's cybersecurity before there are additional serious breaches. This legislation seeks to take one step towards that goal by encouraging publicly traded companies to be more transparent to its investors and customers on whether and how their Boards of Directors are prioritizing cybersecurity. I thank Harvard Law School Professor John Coates, MIT Professor Simon Johnson, Columbia Law School Professor John Coffee, and the Consumer Federation of America for their support, and I urge my colleagues to join Senator Collins and me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. REED

Mr. REED. Mr. President, we know that the quality of teachers and principals are two of the most important in-school factors related to student achievement. If we want to improve our schools, it is essential that teachers, principals, and other educators have a comprehensive system that supports their professional growth and development, starting on day one and continuing throughout their careers. Senator Casey and I introduced the Better Education Support and Training Act to create such a system, and many key provisions of this legislation were included in the Every Student Succeeds Act that passed the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan vote and was signed into law last week. However, our work is not done. We need to make sure that educator preparation programs help teachers, principals, librarians, and other school leaders develop the skills and knowledge to be profession-ready. There is a looming shortage of fully-prepared teachers. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that many high poverty schools struggle to fill their teaching positions and rely on a ``rotating cast of substitutes.'' We must do better by our students and our schools. Today, I am reintroducing the Educator Preparation Reform Act and am pleased to be joined by Senator Casey in offering this approach to improving how we prepare teachers, principals, and other educators so that they can be effective right from the start. The Educator Preparation Reform Act builds on the success of the Teacher Quality Partnership Program, which I helped author in the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Among the key changes this new bill makes is specific attention and emphasis on principals, with the addition of a residency program for new principals. Improving instruction is a team effort, with principals at the helm. This bill better connects teacher preparation with principal preparation. The Educator Preparation Reform Act will also allow partnerships to develop preparation programs for other areas of instructional need, such as for school librarians, counselors, or other academic support professionals. The bill streamlines the accountability and reporting requirements for teacher preparation programs to provide greater transparency on key quality measures such as admissions standards, requirements for clinical practice, placement of graduates, retention in the field of teaching, and teacher performance, including student learning outcomes. All programs--whether traditional or alternative routes to certification--will be asked to report on the same measures. Under our legislation, states will be required to identify at-risk and low-performing programs and provide them with technical assistance and a timeline for improvement. States would be encouraged to close programs that do not improve. We have been fortunate to work with many stakeholders on this legislation. Organizations that have endorsed the Educator Preparation Reform Act include: the Alliance for Excellent Education, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, Association of American Universities, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, First Focus Campaign for Children, Higher Education Consortium for Special Education, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of State Directors of Special Education, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Education Association, National Disabilities Rights Network, Public Advocacy for Kids, Rural School and Community Trust, and the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. I look forward to working to incorporate this legislation into the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. I urge my colleagues to join us in this effort and support this legislation.