Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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.

``(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.

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.''. 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--

(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.''.

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