STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

On 2025-03-26, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) delivered a floor speech titled "STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS" in the Senate. The speech addressed gun policy and also covered the environment, foreign policy. It referenced legislation including S1873, S1875, S1142, among other bills.

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S1873-S1875] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS By Mr. PADILLA: S. 1142. A bill to adjust the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to include the Scarper Ridge property; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Scarper Ridge Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act, a straightforward, uncontroversial bill to adjust the boundary of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This bill would modify the boundary of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, GGNRA, to include the approximately 896-acre Scarper Ridge property. This land is currently owned by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, who would like to sell this land to the National Park Service to include within the GGNRA. The GGNRA is one of the world's largest urban national parks, spanning three counties and more than 82,000 acres of coastal and urban lands. According to the National Park Service, the GGNRA is an assemblage of military, private, and public lands which altogether offer vast skylines, natural beauty, and diverse histories to locals and visitors alike. The GGNRA welcomes over 15 million visitors each year and strives to be an accessible recreational area for all people. Thanks to continuing efforts by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, local partners, Congressman Liccardo, former Congresswoman Eshoo, and my predecessors in the Senate, Congress has previously awarded funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to purchase additional land to be included within the GGNRA. [[Page S1874]] However, the lands included in my bill--known as the Scarper Ridge property--require a minor legislative boundary adjustment in order for the National Park Service to use future Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to purchase this property and include it within the park. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this commonsense, straightforward boundary adjustment bill as soon as possible. ______ By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Murphy): S. 1144. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain amounts paid for physical activity, fitness, and exercise as amounts paid for medical care; to the Committee on Finance. Mr. THUNE. 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. 1144 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 ``Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2025'' or the ``PHIT Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to promote health and prevent disease, particularly diseases related to being overweight or obese, by-- (1) encouraging healthier lifestyles; (2) providing financial incentives to ease the financial burden of engaging in healthy behavior; and (3) increasing the ability of individuals and families to participate in physical fitness activities. SEC. 3. CERTAIN AMOUNTS PAID FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, FITNESS, AND EXERCISE TREATED AS AMOUNTS PAID FOR MEDICAL CARE. (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting ``, or'', and by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph: ``(E) for qualified sports and fitness expenses.''. (b) Qualified Sports and Fitness Expenses.--Subsection (d) of section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(12) Qualified sports and fitness expenses.-- ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified sports and fitness expenses' means amounts paid exclusively for the sole purpose of participating in a physical activity including-- ``(i) for membership at a fitness facility, ``(ii) for participation or instruction in physical exercise or physical activity, or ``(iii) for equipment used in a program (including a self- directed program) of physical exercise or physical activity. ``(B) Overall dollar limitation.--The aggregate amount treated as qualified sports and fitness expenses with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $1,000 ($2,000 in the case of a joint return or a head of household (as defined in section 2(b))). ``(C) Fitness facility.--For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), the term `fitness facility' means a facility-- ``(i) which provides instruction in a program of physical exercise, offers facilities for the preservation, maintenance, encouragement, or development of physical fitness, or serves as the site of such a program of a State or local government or an organization described in section 501(c)(3) and exempt from tax under section 501(a), ``(ii) which is not a private club owned and operated by its members, ``(iii) which does not offer golf, hunting, sailing, or riding facilities, ``(iv) the health or fitness component of which is not incidental to its overall function and purpose, and ``(v) which is fully compliant with the State of jurisdiction and Federal anti-discrimination laws. ``(D) Treatment of exercise videos, etc.--Videos, books, and similar materials shall be treated as described in subparagraph (A)(ii) if the content of such materials constitutes instruction in a program of physical exercise or physical activity. ``(E) Limitations related to sports and fitness equipment.--Amounts paid for equipment described in subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be treated as qualified sports and fitness expenses only-- ``(i) if such equipment is utilized exclusively for participation in fitness, exercise, sport, or other physical activity, ``(ii) in the case of amounts paid for apparel or footwear, if such apparel or footwear is of a type that is necessary for, and is not used for any purpose other than, a specific physical activity, and ``(iii) in the case of amounts paid for any single item of sports equipment (other than exercise equipment), to the extent such amounts do not exceed $250. ``(F) Programs which include components other than physical exercise and physical activity.--Rules similar to the rules of paragraph (6) shall apply in the case of any program that includes physical exercise or physical activity and also other components. For purposes of the preceding sentence, travel and accommodations shall be treated as a separate component.''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. ______ By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Blumenthal, and Ms. Klobuchar): S. 1146. A bill to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. DURBIN. 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. 1146 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 ``Cameras in the Courtroom Act''. SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 28. (a) In General.--Chapter 45 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following: ``Sec. 678. Televising Supreme Court proceedings ``The Supreme Court shall permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless the Court decides, by a vote of the majority of justices, that allowing such coverage in a particular case would constitute a violation of the due process rights of 1 or more of the parties before the Court.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 45 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following: ``678. Televising Supreme Court proceedings.''. ______ By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse): S. 1152. A bill to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to add Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act along with my colleague Senator Whitehouse. I am also pleased that my colleagues Representative Magaziner and Representative Amo will be introducing a companion measure in the House of Representatives. Our legislation will give Rhode Island a voice and voting representation on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, MAFMC, which manages some of the most important fish stocks for our State's commercial fishing industry--chief among them squid. The National Marine Fisheries Service reported that Rhode Island led Atlantic States in the harvest of squid in 2023--the most recent year for which data is available. Fishermen landed more than 30.7 million pounds of squid in Rhode Island, helping make Point Judith one of the most productive and valuable commercial fishing ports in the United States. For years now, Rhode Island's landings of stocks managed by the MAFMC have outpaced the landings of those managed by the New England Fishery Management Council, where Rhode Island is represented. Moreover, Rhode Island has a larger stake in the mid-Atlantic fishery than many of the States that currently hold seats on the MAFMC. Because so much is at stake for our State in every decision the MAFMC makes, our bill would expand the MAFMC by two seats in order to ensure that Rhode Island will have the minimum number of seats guaranteed to other States on the council. It will all

Referenced legislation: S1142, S1142, S1144, S1146, S1152