[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 3 (Thursday, January 27, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-333. A resolution adopted by the U.S. Navy Cruiser 
     Sailors Association relative to Task Force 16; to the 
     Committee on Armed Services.
       POM-334. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                        ``Resolution Chapter 91

       ``Whereas, the national security interests of the United 
     States are constantly changing in response to changing world 
     conditions and threats; and
       ``Whereas, the Armed Forces of the United States must adapt 
     to these changing circumstances and train to respond to them 
     with resourcefulness and innovation; and
       ``Whereas, as demonstrated during Operation Desert Storm, 
     weapons systems have undergone great changes in 
     effectiveness, speed, and range, since the opening of the 
     National Training Center (NTC) in 1981; and
       ``Whereas, beginning in 1985, the United States Army and 
     the NTC have continuously evaluated and analyzed training 
     requirements, thereby identifying the need to acquire 238,000 
     additional maneuver acres adjoining the NTC for realistic 
     task force training at Fort Irwin, California located in San 
     Bernardino County; and
       ``Whereas, since 1986 in consultation with the United 
     States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land 
     Management, the California Department of Fish and Game, other 
     regulatory agencies, university researchers, and 
     representatives of concerned environmental organizations, the 
     army has conducted extensive, ongoing, environmental studies 
     to determine which lands adjoining the NTC would meet the 
     training requirement while minimizing impacts on flora, 
     fauna, and the human environment; and
       ``Whereas, since 1987 the army has monitored and analyzed 
     real estate market conditions to help identify the least 
     expensive configuration of lands meeting both training 
     mission and environmental compatibility goals; and
       ``Whereas, the army's record of training in an ever-
     improving, environmentally responsible manner at the NTC has 
     attracted international interest and recognition as 
     evidenced by the request of cabinet level officials of the 
     Republic of Mexico to visit the NTC for onsite inspection 
     of current environmental activities and discussion of 
     future plans and programs; and
       ``Whereas, the army's innovative environmental programs at 
     the NTC have also attracted national interest and recognition 
     as demonstrated by the recent visit by officials of the 
     National Geographic Society for onsite inspections of current 
     environmental activities and discussion of future plans and 
     programs; and
       ``Whereas, the army's record of environmental progress and 
     successes at the NTC has been recognized by the environmental 
     community locally as evidenced by the NTC receiving the 1992 
     Conservation Award from the Los Serranos Group, San Gorgonio 
     chapter of the Sierra Club at the annual local Sierra Club 
     Founders Day dinner ceremony in Claremont, California for 
     efforts in exploring geothermal energy, as an alternative 
     fuel source; and
       ``Whereas, based on review of environmental research and 
     consideration of the army's identified land requirement, Dr. 
     David Morafka, internationally respected biologist and 
     Director of the Pan-American Laboratory for Systematics at 
     California State University at Dominguez Hills, independently 
     concluded in January 1993 that acquisition of lands to the 
     east of Fort Irwin in the Silurian Valley, now known as the 
     Silurian Valley alternative, constitutes the most 
     environmentally preferable land configuration to meet the 
     army's requirements; and
       ``Whereas, analysis of overall project costs for the land 
     configuration is also the least expensive and most cost-
     effective for the taxpayers of all acquisition alternatives 
     previously presented to the public for review and comment 
     during scoping meetings and opportunities; now, therefore, be 
     it
       ``Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature commends the army 
     for its resourcefulness and diligence in seeking to 
     accomplish its training mission at the National Training 
     Center while upholding high standards of environmental 
     stewardship; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Legislature acknowledges and supports 
     the army's need to obtain an additional 238,000 net 
     maneuverable acres for training use; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Legislature concurs with the army's 
     goals of acquiring the needed maneuver acreage in the most 
     environmentally responsible, cost-effective manner; and be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That the Legislature endorses the Silurian 
     Valley plan as the acquisition alternative that best balances 
     the requirements of mission needs, environmental stewardship, 
     and cost-effectiveness for the taxpayers; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes 
     the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the President, 
     and the Congress of the United States, to similarly support 
     and endorse the Silurian Valley plan as the most progressive 
     effort to meet the objective of providing for the national 
     defense while maintaining high standards of environmental 
     stewardship; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the Governor, to each member of 
     Base Realignment and Closure Commission, to the President and 
     Vice President of the United States, to the Secretary of 
     Defense, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 
     to each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States.''
                                  ____

       POM-335. A resolution adopted by the Town Commission of 
     Redington Beach, Florida relative to the National Flood 
     Insurance Program; to the Committee on Banking, Housing and 
     Urban Affairs.
       POM-336. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science and Transportation.

                        ``Resolution Chapter 79

       ``Whereas, Los Angeles International Airport is a 
     successful public facility and a valuable public resource to 
     the people of Los Angeles; and
       ``Whereas, the voters of Los Angeles, on November 3, 1992, 
     approved an amendment to the Los Angeles City Charter which 
     lifts longstanding charter restrictions on the use of surplus 
     airport revenues for off-airport purposes; and
       ``Whereas, these restrictions were imposed half a century 
     ago, during a period when Mines Field, then a modest regional 
     airfield, needed major infusions of revenue to finance its 
     upgrading to a full-fledged commercial airport, and airport 
     operating profits were the first obvious source for these 
     funds; and
       ``Whereas, the federal government intervened via the 
     Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, which further 
     restricted the use of operating revenues to onsite uses at 
     airports accepting federal grant moneys, such as Los Angeles 
     International Airport and San Francisco International 
     Airport; and
       ``Whereas, Los Angeles International Airport has long been 
     a booming success and no longer requires such artificial 
     restriction to guarantee its continued healthy operation and 
     growth; and
       ``Whereas, the Los Angeles City Department of Airports is a 
     proprietary, quasi-independent management entity whose 
     careful decisions and policymaking will ensure that the 
     administrative, operational, capital improvement, and 
     maintenance needs of Los Angeles International Airport and 
     the other airports under its jurisdiction are its foremost 
     concern; and
       ``Whereas, the Los Angeles City Charter amendment further 
     ensures that no airport moneys may be considered for use 
     offsite until all airport needs are met; and
       ``Whereas, prohibitions in the Airport and Airway 
     Improvement Act of 1982 must be removed by Congress or the 
     executive branch of the federal government in order to permit 
     the full functioning of the charter amendment; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes the President and the 
     Congress of the United States to amend the Airport and Airway 
     Improvement Act of 1982 to provide (Section 2208, Title 49 
     Appendix, United States Code), either nationality or 
     specifically with regard to airports owned by the City of Los 
     Angeles and the City and County of San Francisco, that the 
     local agency with jurisdiction may determine airport surplus 
     revenues to be unnecessary for the administrative, 
     operational, capital improvement, and maintenance needs of an 
     airport in any given budgeting period, and may make those 
     revenues available to meet other legitimate airport-related 
     needs of the local jurisdiction; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, to the Chairperson of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-337. A petition from the Governor of the Commonwealth 
     of Puerto Rico relative to a plebiscite; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM-338. A petition from the Governor of the Commonwealth 
     of Puerto Rico relative to a plebiscite; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM-339. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                        ``Resolution Chapter 63

       ``Whereas, with the entrance of non-Native Americans into 
     the area that became the State of California, not only were 
     the lands upon which Native Americans lived, hunted, fished, 
     and gathered the products that fed and sheltered them lost, 
     but the very earth that was blessed and held the remains of 
     tribal dead were destroyed; and
       ``Whereas, in the State of California, the lack of 
     traditional burial grounds has caused a great problem for 
     many tribal peoples; and
       ``Whereas, Native Americans know the procedures that are 
     available for claiming their ancestral remains and the 
     associated grave goods, but do not have access to tribal 
     burial grounds; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California hereby memorializes the President and the Congress 
     of the United States to provide a minimum of two sites, at 
     least one each in northern and southern California, to 
     accommodate the burial and reburial of Native Americans; and 
     be it further
       ``Resolved, That the sites be located on federally owned 
     land that is returned to Native Americans for this purpose, 
     be of sufficient size to meet the present and projected needs 
     of Native Americans in this state, be near existing tribal 
     communities, be easily accessible, and be located in 
     appropriate natural settings; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Secretary of the Interior, to 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United 
     States, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.''
                                  ____

       POM-340. A resolution adopted by the Alaska Porcupine 
     Caribou Commission relative to the Arctic Monitoring and 
     Assessment Program; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
       POM-341. A resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners 
     of Henry, Tennessee relative to Interstate 69; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.
       POM-342. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the State of Illinois; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                    ``House Joint Resolution No. 95

       ``Whereas, through the federal Clean Air Act and its 
     amendments, the federal government has undertaken the 
     necessary task of cleaning up our nation's air; and
       ``Whereas, a balance must be struck between the steps to be 
     taken to reduce air pollution and the adverse impact those 
     steps may have upon the economy, the business climate, and 
     the cost of government; and
       ``Whereas, under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the 
     states classified as extreme or severe non-attainment areas 
     are forced to adopt employee commute options and trip 
     reduction laws; and
       ``Whereas, efforts to clean the nation's air are being 
     conducted through the imposition of onerous and burdensome 
     travel restrictions on the employees of companies having one-
     hundred or more employees; and
       ``Whereas, the federal government has launched this ill-
     conceived initiative through the Clean Air Act and its 
     amendments, modeled after California legislation; and
       ``Whereas, the effectiveness and cost of California's 
     program are now coming to the surface; and
       ``Whereas, trip reduction efforts have cost California 
     between $136 and $197 million per year; and
       ``Whereas, the costs experienced by California amount to 
     approximately $3,000 per car taken off the road and $232 per 
     employee; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency has estimated that it will cost the economies of just 
     the ten non-attainment areas a staggering $1.5 billion per 
     year or $337 per employee; and
       ``Whereas, The General Accounting Office estimates that 
     trip reduction programs will only yield a 1-3 percent 
     reduction in vehicle traffic which will be quickly reversed 
     by expected urban growth; and
       ``Whereas, Trip reductions and any resulting benefits will 
     be short-lived at best and will never meet the goals of the 
     Clean Air Act as the California experience, the General 
     Accounting Office studies, and urban growth have 
     demonstrated; and
       ``Whereas, The General Accounting Office believes that 
     virtually none of the trip reduction measures called for in 
     the Clean Air Act will significantly reduce emissions; and
       ``Whereas, The General Accounting Office believes that 
     market-based trip reduction measures will be required if 
     traffic and emissions are to be successfully reduced; and
       ``Whereas, Recent studies cited by Transportation Quarterly 
     indicate that not more than nine percent of all cars are 
     responsible for as much as fifty percent of automotive 
     emissions; and
       ``Whereas, The General Accounting Office has concluded that 
     the existing models used to predict emission reductions for 
     trip reduction measures cannot be used with confidence to 
     estimate reductions; and
       ``Whereas, There is no data or analysis to demonstrate that 
     the Clean Air Act mandates will accomplish the trip and 
     emission reductions mandated in the Clean Air Act; and
       ``Whereas, It is obvious to every employer, employee, 
     governmental entity, and the General Accounting Office that 
     the costs and results of the mandated trip reduction measures 
     do not justify the economic and social hardships which will 
     occur in non-attainment areas if employee trip reduction 
     mandates continue as part of the Clean Air Act; and
       ``Whereas, Despite the fact that other avenues may be 
     available which would result in, among other things, the 
     elimination of the federal mandate for a vehicle reduction 
     program, it is imperative that the path chosen not result in 
     the disruption of many critical and environmentally desirable 
     programs along with the desired elimination of such program; 
     and
       ``Whereas, It is in the best interests of the employees and 
     the employers of time State of Illinois, as well as other 
     states, to chose the course of action which is directed 
     towards accomplishing one thing--the elimination of the 
     federally mandated vehicle trip reduction program; therefore, 
     be it
       ``Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the eighty-
     eighth General Assembly of the State of lllinois, the Senate 
     concurring herein, That we strongly urge Governor Jim Edgar 
     and the members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to 
     work with other states and their congressional delegations to 
     seek amendment to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 so as 
     to eliminate the provision that an Employer Trip Reduction 
     program be required in extreme and severe non-attainment 
     areas and, in lieu thereof, leave such program as an option 
     to be implemented by the States based on relative costs and 
     benefits of such program; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That a suitable copy of this preamble and 
     resolution be presented to Governor Jim Edgar and every 
     member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation and the 
     Governor of every affected state.''
                                  ____

       POW-343. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Montana; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                      ``Senate Joint Resolution 4

       ``Whereas, there is proposed legislation in the United 
     States Congress to place additional standards and 
     restrictions, to be implemented by the states, on aboveground 
     storage tanks; and
       ``Whereas, the enactment of federal requirements that must 
     be implemented by the states results in an additional burden 
     for financially troubled states; and
       ``Whereas, the State of Montana is already in the process 
     of implementing complex requirements for regulation and 
     removal of underground storage tanks; and
       ``Whereas, the regulation and removal of underground 
     storage tanks have been costly and frustrating to Montana 
     citizens, necessitating extraordinary financial measures to 
     meet the requirements for storage tanks; and
       ``Whereas, additional federal requirements for aboveground 
     storage tanks would impair the state's ability to address the 
     environmental hazards of storage tanks in an economical and 
     efficient manner; and
       ``Whereas, the State of Montana already has a comprehensive 
     uniform fire code that regulates the siting and construction 
     of aboveground storage tanks. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate and the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Montana:
       (1) That the United States Congress be strongly urged to 
     refrain from imposing on aboveground storage tanks new 
     standards and restrictions that must be implemented by the 
     states.
       (2) That copies of this resolution be sent by the Secretary 
     of State to the President of the United States, the United 
     States Congress, and the Montana Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-344. A resolution adopted by the Southern Nevada 
     Retired Teachers Association relative to Social Security; to 
     the Committee on Finance.
       POM-345. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Illinois; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                      ``Senate Resolution No. 536

       ``Whereas, the U.S. Congress is considering whether or not 
     to renew China's Most-Favored-Nation status; and
       ``Whereas, initially granted in 1979, Most-Favored-Nation 
     status has benefited both countries in their trade and 
     economic exchanges; and
       ``Whereas, since 1979, Sino-U.S. trade has increased 
     fourfold, from $2.45 billion to $11.77 billion; and
       ``Whereas, American investment in China has grown from 
     practically nothing to $4.31 billion; and
       ``Whereas, China has invested more than $400 million in the 
     U.S.A. since 1979; and
       ``Whereas, without the sound basis provided by the mutual 
     MFN status, Sino-U.S. trade could not have developed to the 
     present level; therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, by the Senate of the eighty-eighth General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois, that we urge the U.S. 
     Congress to renew the Most-Favored-Nation status of the 
     People's Republic of China; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That suitable copies of this preamble and 
     resolution be presented to the President of the U.S. Senate, 
     to the Speaker of the U.S. House, and to each member of the 
     Illinois Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-346. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the State of Illinois; to the Committee on Finance.

                    ``House Joint Resolution No. 27

       ``Whereas, health care costs are already consuming 14% of 
     the gross national product and are still rising: and
       ``Whereas, the country's inability to slow health care 
     spending threatens the nation's economic security; and
       ``Whereas, businesses are being forced to confront rising 
     health care costs by cutting back benefits and wages for 
     employees; and
       ``Whereas, American workers stand ready to help reduce what 
     their employers spend on health care but not by giving up 
     benefits; and
       ``Whereas, there is increasing statistical evidence that it 
     is not just health care costs that are out of control but our 
     health care spending; and
       ``Whereas, the Congressional Budget Office agrees, having 
     said in effect that there is no incentive to control our 
     health care spending because once we get past the deductible 
     we are all spending someone else's money; and
       ``Whereas, because of this the normal market factors do not 
     come in to play in our health care spending like they do for 
     the rest of our spending; and
       ``Whereas, in recognition of this fact, 169 bipartisan 
     Senators and Representatives of the 102nd Congress sponsored 
     legislation aimed at providing a real incentive for Americans 
     to reduce their health care spending, by providing them the 
     option of having Medical Savings Accounts; and
       ``Whereas, with Medical Savings Accounts Americans would be 
     free to manage their own routine health care by letting them 
     choose the doctors, hospitals. and treatments they want, 
     while being protected against the cost of catastrophic bills 
     and illnesses; and
       ``Whereas, the administrative savings realized by Americans 
     paying routine health care bills directly would provide a 
     real and immediate savings to our health care system; and
       ``Whereas, a growing number of influential business leaders 
     and syndicated columnist throughout the country agree with 
     this approach and are calling for a change in the tax code 
     that would allow employees to keep any money they did not 
     spend out of their account each year; and
       ``Whereas, the RAND Study, among others, has proven that 
     people who pay a greater percentage of their own health care 
     bills spend less and utilize the health care system less, 
     without suffering any adverse health conditions; and
       ``Whereas, Medical Savings Accounts, by distributing the 
     money currently being spent on health insurance, in effect 
     make the money put into each worker's account that worker's 
     own money; and
       ``Whereas, making Medical Savings Accounts an available 
     option will provide the incentive needed to reduce our health 
     care spending; therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Eighty-
     Eighth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, the Senate 
     Concurring herein, That we urge the Congress of the United 
     States to enact the appropriate changes in the tax code to 
     allow employers to set up tax-free Medical Savings Accounts 
     that empower consumers to control medical care spending; and 
     be it further
       ``Resolved, That Medical Savings Accounts be included as an 
     option of choice in any health care reform package developed 
     by Congress and signed by the President of the United States; 
     and be it further
       ``Resolved, that copies of this preamble and resolution be 
     sent to each member of Illinois' Congressional delegation. ''
                                  ____

       POM-347. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                        ``Resolution Chapter 115

       ``Whereas, women, men, and children have been raped in 
     systematic conduct by military forces in the towns and 
     villages of the former Yugoslavia; and
       ``Whereas, this terror has been condemned internationally 
     as a crime against humanity; and
       ``Whereas, many of the victims, including many women and 
     children, have died as a result of the rape or other sexual 
     abuse; and
       ``Whereas, the rapes and other incidents of sexual abuse 
     are being carried out in particularly sadistic ways so as to 
     inflict the maximum humiliation and terror; and
       ``Whereas, the systematic use of rape and other sexual 
     abuse in this pervasive manner demonstrates a pattern of 
     conduct knowingly used by the military as a weapon of war, 
     with the conscious intention of demoralizing and terrorizing 
     communities and driving them from their home regions through 
     demonstration of the terrible power of the invading force, 
     thereby achieving the intended result of providing the 
     invading force with a tactical military advantage; and
       ``Whereas, use of rape and other sexual abuse as a military 
     strategy in this conscious, systematic, and pervasive manner 
     is not akin to the incidental abuses that have been evidenced 
     in prior wars, but must be recognized as the knowing, 
     systematic weapon of terror that it is; and
       ``Whereas, an ancillary purpose behind this systematic 
     conduct appears to be a desire to achieve ``ethnic 
     cleansing''; and
       ``Whereas, the rape and other sexual abuse is a terrible 
     component of an overall pattern of destruction of life, 
     property, and human rights; and
       ``Whereas, the United Nations Security Council declared 
     rape when committed in armed conflict and directed against 
     any civilian population, a crime against humanity; and
       ``Whereas, the United States has historically taken the 
     lead in the community of nations to identify, condemn, and 
     outlaw weapons of war that rely, for their success, upon the 
     terror they instill in civilian populations, and to condemn 
     wartime conduct that violates human rights and dignities; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes the President and the 
     Congress of the United States to condemn, in the strongest 
     possible terms, war atrocities relating to the systematic use 
     of rape and other sexual abuse of men, women, and children by 
     the military; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, and to each Senator and 
     Representative from California in the Congress of the United 
     States.''

                          ____________________