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[Page S5364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mrs.
Shaheen):
S. 2444. A bill to establish a minimum staffing level of U.S. Customs
and Border Protection officers along the northern border, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
Mr. SCHUMER. 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. 2444
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.
This Act may be cited as the ``Border Officers Utilization
for National Defense Act of 2019'' or the ``BOUND Act''.
SEC. 2. MINIMUM U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION STAFFING
ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER.
(a) In General.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection shall ensure that not fewer than the maximum
number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers
deployed along the international border between the United
States and Canada (referred to in this Act as the ``northern
border'') at any time between January 1, 2016 and the date of
the enactment of this Act are always deployed along the
northern border, including ports of entry along the northern
border.
(b) Limitation on Transfers.--The Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection may not transfer any U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officer away from an assignment
along the northern border if such transfer would reduce the
number of such officers assigned to the northern border below
the level required under subsection (a).
______
By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Cassidy):
S. 2443. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for
investment in tomorrow's pediatric health care workforce; to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be introducing the
Investment in Tomorrow's Pediatric Workforce Act with Senator Cassidy.
This critical legislation would provide funding for the Title VII
pediatric subspecialty loan repayment program.
The Title VII health professions programs have a longstanding history
of increasing the supply of health care professionals, expanding access
to care in rural and urban underserved areas, and developing a
workforce that reflects the Nation's diversity and the needs of
patients. These education and training programs guide current and
aspiring health professionals to high-demand careers in areas of
greatest need. Pediatric subspecialty care is one such shortage area.
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 two 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; seventy-five percent by age 24.
This legislation would take an important first step in incentivizing
more health care professionals to go into pediatric subspecialties and
increase the supply of these professionals to ensure more children have
greater access to the health care they need. I look forward to working
with stakeholders supporting the legislation including the American
Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry, the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of
Rheumatology, and the Child Neurology Society, as well as my colleague,
Senator Cassidy, to pass the Investment in Tomorrow's Pediatric
Workforce Act, and to strengthen all of the Title VII health
professions programs.
____________________
