[Pages S1778-S1781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lankford, Mr. 
        Wicker, Ms. Lummis, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Scott of 
        Florida, and Mr. Daines):
  S. 1082. A bill to apply the Medicaid asset verification program to 
all applicants for, and recipients of, medical assistance in all States 
and territories, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1082

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Safeguarding Medicaid Act''.

     SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF MEDICAID ASSET TEST TO ALL APPLICANTS 
                   FOR, AND RECIPIENTS OF, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN 
                   ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 1940 of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1396w) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4); and
       (2) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``on the basis of 
     being aged, blind, or disabled''.
       (b) Rules.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall promulgate such rules as are necessary to implement the 
     amendments made by subsection (a).
       (c) Effective Date.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the amendments 
     made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 
     1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (2) Phase-in of implementation.--
       (A) In general.--During the 1-year period that begins on 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services shall require States to submit and 
     implement a plan for an electronic integrated asset 
     verification program that meets the requirements of section 
     1940 of the Social Security Act (as amended by subsection 
     (a)).
       (B) Implementation before effective date.--Nothing in this 
     subsection or section 1940 of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1396w) shall be construed as prohibiting a State from 
     implementing an asset verification program that meets the 
     requirements of such section (as amended by subsection (a)) 
     in advance of the effective date specified under paragraph 
     (1).
       (C) Delay of effective date.--If a State requests a delay 
     of the effective date specified under paragraph (1) on the 
     basis of ongoing economic hardship limitations, as determined 
     by the chief executive officer of the State, the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services may delay such effective date for 
     up to 365 days.

     SEC. 3. MEDICAID RESOURCES ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT.

       (a) In General.--Section 1902(e)(14)(C) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(14)(C)) is amended to read 
     as follows:
       ``(C) Resources test requirement.--
       ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (iii), 
     notwithstanding any other provision of this title, in the 
     case of an individual with respect to whom a determination of 
     income eligibility for medical assistance under the State 
     plan or under any waiver of such plan is required, the State 
     shall also apply a resources eligibility test that meets the 
     requirement of clause (ii).
       ``(ii) Requirement.--A State resources eligibility test 
     meets the requirement of this clause if the test precludes 
     eligibility for any individual whose resources (as determined 
     under section 1613 for purposes of the supplemental security 
     income program) exceed the maximum amount of resources that 
     an individual may have and obtain benefits under that 
     program, or such amount as the State shall establish.

[[Page S1779]]

       ``(iii) No effect on continuous eligibility requirements 
     for pregnant and postpartum women or children.--Nothing in 
     this subparagraph shall affect the application of paragraph 
     (6), (12), or (16) of this subsection (relating to continuous 
     eligibility for pregnant and postpartum women and children 
     under the age of 19).''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1902(e)(6) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(6)) is amended by inserting 
     ``or resources'' after ``income'' each place it appears.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 4. REQUIRING CMS TO TRACK STATE ASSET VERIFICATION OF 
                   FEDERAL MEDICAID PROGRAMS.

       (a) Tracking Asset Verification Program Savings.--Not later 
     than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the 
     Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall create a 
     Federal tracking system of the savings in Federal 
     expenditures on the Medicaid program under title XIX of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) that are 
     associated with the asset verification program requirement 
     added under section 2(a).
       (b) Reports to Congress.--
       (1) In general.--Beginning with the first year that begins 
     on or after the date of enactment of this Act, each State 
     shall submit to the Secretary, as part of the triennial 
     review required under the Payment Error Rate Measurement 
     program of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a 
     report, that the Secretary shall make publicly available, on 
     the activities of the State relating to eligibility 
     determinations and renewals conducted during the year for 
     which the report is submitted, and which includes, with 
     respect to such year, the following information:
       (A) The number of eligibility renewals initiated, and asset 
     checks conducted, beneficiaries renewed on a total and ex 
     parte basis.
       (B) The number of asset checks conducted out of the number 
     of new applications initiated and the number of applicants 
     determined eligible after such checks.
       (C) Such other information related to eligibility 
     determinations and renewals during such month, as identified 
     by the Secretary.
       (2) Application to territories.--For purposes of applying 
     the reporting requirements of paragraph (1) to Puerto Rico, 
     the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
     American Samoa, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to 
     modify such requirements so that they are similar to the 
     reporting requirements that apply under such paragraph to the 
     50 States and the District of Columbia but are reasonable 
     given the circumstances of each such territory.
       (c) Enforcement and Corrective Action.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may assess a State's 
     compliance with all Federal requirements applicable to 
     eligibility determinations, redeterminations, and Medicaid 
     payment error rate measurement (PERM) reporting requirements, 
     and, if the Secretary determines that a State did not comply 
     with any such requirements during the 180 day period 
     preceding the assessment, the Secretary may require the State 
     to submit and implement a corrective action plan in 
     accordance with paragraph (2).
       (2) Corrective action plan.--A State that receives a 
     written notice from the Secretary that the Secretary has 
     determined that the State is not in compliance with a 
     requirement described in paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) not later than 90 days after receiving such notice, 
     submit a corrective action plan to the Secretary;
       (B) not later than 90 days after the date on which such 
     corrective action plan is submitted to the Secretary, receive 
     approval or disapproval for the plan from the Secretary; and
       (C) begin implementation of such corrective action plan not 
     later than 90 days after such approval.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Daines, and Mr. King):
  S. 1083. A bill to provide for certain improvements to the housing 
and workforce programs of Federal land management agencies, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1083

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Land 
     Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2025''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Definitions.

                      TITLE I--EXPANDING AUTHORITY

Sec. 101. Prioritizing National Park Service workforce housing.
Sec. 102. Authorizing the National Park Service to address workforce 
              housing off-park.
Sec. 103. Expanding National Park Service rental options.
Sec. 104. Leveraging National Park Service rental receipts for 
              workforce housing programming.
Sec. 105. Empowering the Forest Service to address workforce housing 
              needs.

                TITLE II--EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP CAPACITY

Sec. 201. Engaging partners to address National Park Service workforce 
              housing.
Sec. 202. Encouraging public-private cooperative management.
Sec. 203. Leveraging philanthropic support to address National Park 
              Service workforce housing.

                    TITLE III--SUPPORTING WORKFORCE

Sec. 301. Supporting the land manager workforce.
Sec. 302. Supporting the seasonal National Park Service workforce.

                    TITLE IV--REPORTS AND OVERSIGHT

Sec. 401. Quantifying the workforce housing needs of land managers.
Sec. 402. Conducting oversight on the housing programming of land 
              managers.
Sec. 403. Justifying emergency spending.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
     of the Senate;
       (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
       (D) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (E) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) Covered agencies.--The term ``covered agencies'' 
     means--
       (A) the National Park Service;
       (B) the Bureau of Land Management;
       (C) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
       (D) the Forest Service.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

                      TITLE I--EXPANDING AUTHORITY

     SEC. 101. PRIORITIZING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE 
                   HOUSING.

       Section 103502(a)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``quarters for field employees (as those 
     terms are defined in section 101331),'' after ``prioritize''; 
     and
       (2) by inserting a comma after ``facilities''.

     SEC. 102. AUTHORIZING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ADDRESS 
                   WORKFORCE HOUSING OFF-PARK.

       Section 100901 of title 54, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(i) Acquisition of Land for Administration of System 
     Units.--
       ``(1) In general.--To facilitate the administration of a 
     System unit, the Secretary may acquire, by donation, 
     exchange, or transfer from another Federal agency, not more 
     than 20 acres of land or interests in land, cumulatively, 
     within the vicinity of the System unit boundary for the 
     development, construction, maintenance, or operation of 
     quarters for field employees (as those terms are defined in 
     section 101331) for the System unit.
       ``(2) Management.--
       ``(A) In general.--With respect to any land or interest in 
     land acquired by the Secretary under paragraph (1)--
       ``(i) the land or interest in land shall not--

       ``(I) be administered as part of the System; or
       ``(II) be subject to the laws (including regulations) 
     governing the associated System unit; but

       ``(ii) the Secretary shall--

       ``(I) have the authority to supervise, manage, and control 
     the land; and
       ``(II) issue such rules and regulations as the Secretary 
     may determine to be necessary and proper for the use and 
     management of the land.

       ``(B) Authorizations.--The Secretary may grant exclusive 
     privileges, leases, and permits for the use of land acquired 
     under paragraph (1) and enter into contracts relating to such 
     authorizations as authorized under this title, 
     notwithstanding any restriction on such authorizations to 
     land within a System unit boundary.
       ``(3) Disposal.--If the Secretary determines that any land 
     or interest in land acquired under paragraph (1) no longer 
     supports the administration of the System unit--
       ``(A) the Secretary may determine the land and any 
     improvements to the land to be excess property for disposal; 
     and
       ``(B) the proceeds from the disposal of excess property 
     under subparagraph (A) shall be retained by the Secretary and 
     deposited in the special fund established for the 
     development, construction, maintenance, or operation of 
     quarters for field employees (as so defined) described in 
     section 101338(b), to be expended by the Secretary without 
     further appropriation.''.

[[Page S1780]]

  


     SEC. 103. EXPANDING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RENTAL OPTIONS.

       Section 101336 of title 54, United States Code, is amended, 
     in the first sentence, by striking ``management, repair, and 
     maintenance of field employee quarters'' and inserting 
     ``development, construction, maintenance, or operation of 
     quarters for field employees''.

     SEC. 104. LEVERAGING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RENTAL RECEIPTS 
                   FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAMMING.

       Section 101338 of title 54, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Use of Special Fund by National Park Service.--
     Amounts deposited by the Service in the special fund 
     described in subsection (b) and established under section 320 
     of Public Law 98-473 (5 U.S.C. 5911 note) shall be available 
     for the development, construction, maintenance, or operation 
     of quarters for field employees at System units.''.

     SEC. 105. EMPOWERING THE FOREST SERVICE TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE 
                   HOUSING NEEDS.

       (a) Use of Forest Service Structures or Improvements.--
     Section 7 of the Act of April 24, 1950 (commonly known as the 
     ``Granger-Thye Act'') (64 Stat. 84, chapter 97; 16 U.S.C. 
     580d), is amended by striking ``thirty years as determined by 
     him'' and inserting ``30 years, or in the case of a permit 
     for workforce housing and related infrastructure, 50 years, 
     as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of 
     Agriculture''.
       (b) Conveyances of Forest Service Administrative Sites.--
     Title V of the Forest Service Facility Realignment and 
     Enhancement Act of 2005 (16 U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 109-
     54) is amended--
       (1) in section 503--
       (A) by striking subsection (f); and
       (B) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f); and
       (2) in section 504(c)(2), by striking ``by competitive 
     sale'' and inserting ``by soliciting not fewer than 2 
     competitive bids''.

                TITLE II--EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP CAPACITY

     SEC. 201. ENGAGING PARTNERS TO ADDRESS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 
                   WORKFORCE HOUSING.

       Section 101701(a) of title 54, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting, ``, including projects 
     for quarters for field employees (as those terms are defined 
     in section 101331),'' after ``responsibilities of the 
     Secretary''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by inserting ``, Tribal,'' after ``State'';
       (B) by inserting ``(including an organization that has a 
     philanthropic agreement to fundraise or otherwise generate 
     donations on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the Service)'' 
     after ``organization''; and
       (C) by inserting ``(including an individual that has a 
     philanthropic agreement to fundraise or otherwise generate 
     donations on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the Service)'' 
     after ``individual''.

     SEC. 202. ENCOURAGING PUBLIC-PRIVATE COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT.

       Section 101703 of title 54, United States Code, is amended 
     to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 101703. Cooperative management agreements

       ``(a) Definition of State.--In this section, the term 
     `State' means each of the several States, the District of 
     Columbia, and each territory of the United States.
       ``(b) Cooperative Management Agreements.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in accordance with the 
     laws generally applicable to System units and under such 
     terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate, 
     may enter into a cooperative management agreement with a 
     State, Indian Tribe, or local government with park land 
     adjacent to a System unit, if the agreement would provide for 
     more effective and efficient management of a System unit and 
     the adjacent non-Federal park land.
       ``(2) No transfer of administrative responsibilities.--The 
     Secretary may not transfer administration responsibilities 
     for any System unit under this subsection.
       ``(c) Provision of Goods and Services.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may provide or acquire 
     goods and services on a reimbursable basis as part of a 
     cooperative management agreement entered into under 
     subsection (b).
       ``(2) Retention of funds.--The Secretary may retain and 
     expend any funds received under this section without further 
     appropriation.
       ``(d) Co-location.--The Secretary and a State, Indian 
     Tribe, or local government may co-locate in offices or 
     facilities owned or leased by either party as part of a 
     cooperative management agreement entered into under 
     subsection (b).
       ``(e) Employees.--
       ``(1) Assignment of employee.--The Secretary may arrange an 
     assignment under section 3372 of title 5 of a Federal 
     employee or an employee of a State, Indian Tribe, or local 
     government, as mutually agreed on, for work, on the 
     applicable Federal, State, local, or Tribal park land covered 
     by the cooperative management agreement.
       ``(2) Extension of assignment.--An assignment under 
     paragraph (1) may be extended if the Secretary and the State, 
     Indian Tribe, or local government determine the extension to 
     be mutually beneficial.''.

     SEC. 203. LEVERAGING PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO ADDRESS 
                   NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE HOUSING.

       Section 103501(c)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``(including funds and fairly valued 
     durable goods and materials)'' and inserting ``(including any 
     combination of cash, fairly valued services, and durable 
     goods and materials)''.

                    TITLE III--SUPPORTING WORKFORCE

     SEC. 301. SUPPORTING THE LAND MANAGER WORKFORCE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary or the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, as applicable, may recruit and directly appoint 
     qualified individuals into the competitive service who are 
     certified, in accordance with procedures established by the 
     Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, as 
     maintaining a permanent and exclusive residence within the 
     vicinity of a site administered by the National Park Service, 
     the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest 
     Service to a field unit which the individual would report to 
     work into any position at or below grade GS-9 of the General 
     Schedule, WG-15 of the Federal Wage System, or equivalent 
     within the applicable field unit.
       (b) Requirements.--An appointment by the Secretary under 
     subsection (a) shall be considered compliant with all 
     applicable provisions of chapter 33 of title 5, United States 
     Code, if the Secretary ensures that the appointment action--
       (1) is consistent with the merit principles of section 2301 
     of that title; and
       (2) complies with the public notice requirements of section 
     3327 of that title.
       (c) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided under 
     subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.

     SEC. 302. SUPPORTING THE SEASONAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 
                   WORKFORCE.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, for purposes of determining the noncompetitive rehire 
     eligibility of temporary seasonal employees of the National 
     Park Service--
       (1) the Secretary shall establish a definition of what 
     constitutes a major subdivision of the National Park Service; 
     and
       (2) any requirement that a position be in the same local 
     commuting area shall not apply.
       (b) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided under 
     subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.

                    TITLE IV--REPORTS AND OVERSIGHT

     SEC. 401. QUANTIFYING THE WORKFORCE HOUSING NEEDS OF LAND 
                   MANAGERS.

       Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture 
     shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a needs assessment report that provides, with 
     respect to housing the workforce of covered agencies, as 
     applicable--
       (1) an analysis of the unit type and condition of--
       (A) housing owned by the covered agencies; and
       (B) housing leased by the covered agencies;
       (2) an analysis of the employment status of the occupants 
     of the housing analyzed under paragraph (1), including--
       (A) whether the occupants are--
       (i) members of the permanent workforce; or
       (ii) members of the seasonal workforce; and
       (B) which positions identified under subparagraph (A) 
     required housing provided by the applicable covered agency as 
     a condition of employment with the covered agency; and
       (3) an analysis of the private housing markets within the 
     vicinity of a covered agency field unit, including--
       (A) the availability and affordability of housing for sale 
     or lease; and
       (B) the impact of vacation rental services on--
       (i) the cost of living; and
       (ii) the available supply of housing.

     SEC. 402. CONDUCTING OVERSIGHT ON THE HOUSING PROGRAMMING OF 
                   LAND MANAGERS.

       (a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a report that--
       (1) assesses, in consultation with the National Housing 
     Council described in Office of Management and Budget Circular 
     A-45, the effect of Office of Management and Budget Circular 
     A-45R on the housing of the workforce of covered agencies;
       (2) assesses the effect of Office of Management and Budget 
     Circular A-11 on the housing of the workforce of covered 
     agencies;
       (3) assesses the effect of department-level guidance on the 
     housing of the workforce of covered agencies;
       (4) assesses the effect of agency-level guidance on the 
     housing of the workforce of covered agencies; and
       (5) identifies suggested administrative actions and 
     legislative proposals to reform the guidance assessed under 
     paragraphs (1) through (4), including--
       (A) improvements to tenant experience;
       (B) improvements to workforce housing supply, including--
       (i) housing managed by the covered agencies; and
       (ii) leased private market housing;
       (C) improvements to financing options;
       (D) improvements to public-private partnerships;
       (E) improvements to philanthropic engagement; and
       (F) improvements to commuting times to report stations, 
     including--

[[Page S1781]]

       (i) available housing in the gateway communities;
       (ii) available housing in the nearest established community 
     (as defined in Office of Management and Budget Circular A-
     45); and
       (iii) differences between normal commuting conditions and 
     peak-commute traffic conditions, including considerations 
     for--

       (I) road quality and condition;
       (II) availability of public transportation;
       (III) winter driving; and
       (IV) visitor traffic.

       (b) Implementation.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
     on which the report is submitted under subsection (a), the 
     heads of the covered agencies shall carry out the 
     administrative actions identified under paragraph (5) of that 
     subsection.

     SEC. 403. JUSTIFYING EMERGENCY SPENDING.

       Section 5 of the Act of August 3, 1956 (70 Stat. 1033, 
     chapter 950; 7 U.S.C. 2228), is amended--
       (1) by striking the section designation and all that 
     follows through ``The Department'' and inserting the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 5. EMERGENCY SUBSISTENCE FOR EMPLOYEES.

       ``(a) In General.--The Department''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Report.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), not 
     later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of 
     Agriculture furnishes subsistence to employees under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress (as defined in section 
     2 of the Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act 
     of 2025) a report providing--
       ``(A) 1 or more justifications for the use of the 
     authority;
       ``(B) the number of employees that were furnished 
     subsistence;
       ``(C) the estimated cost of furnishing subsistence; and
       ``(D) the expected duration for which subsistence is to be 
     provided.
       ``(2) Office of management and budget.--The information for 
     a report required under paragraph (1) shall be produced in 
     coordination with, and approved by, the Director of the 
     Office of Management and Budget.
       ``(3) Exception.--A report under paragraph (1) shall not be 
     required in the case of an emergency resulting from a natural 
     disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster.''.

                          ____________________