[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 16, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         PETITION 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--403. A resolution adopted by the House of Legislature 
     of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico relative to the U.S. Navy 
     in Vieques; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM--404. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     Virgin Islands relative to Pollyberg Gardens; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM--405. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     Virgin Islands relative to George Simmonds Terrace; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM--406. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Louisiana; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                       ``A Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, Congress enacted the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
     in order to prevent shipping accidents and to ensure that 
     there would be adequate money immediately available to 
     respond to oil pollution discharges, especially those 
     discharges occurring in the ocean; and
       ``Whereas, the Act increased from $36,000,000 to 
     $150,000,000 the amount of financial responsibility that must 
     be demonstrated by offshore exploration and production 
     facilities; and
       ``Whereas, the definition of ``offshore'' in the Act covers 
     facilities in, on, or under the navigable waters of the 
     United States; and
       ``Whereas, the Louisiana Legislature is concerned that this 
     definition may be interpreted to apply to all marinas, port 
     authorities, utility companies, gas stations, trucking 
     companies, railroads, pipelines, farms, and airports in 
     almost every area of Louisiana; and
       ``Whereas, the potential effect on the Louisiana economy 
     could be severe because it is unlikely that any but the 
     largest companies will be able to demonstrate the 
     $150,000,000 of financial responsibility required under the 
     Act; and
       ``Whereas, the broad coverage of the Act is well beyond the 
     historical purview of the Minerals Management Service, United 
     States Department of the Interior, which enforces the Act; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the Louisiana Legislature agrees with the 
     requirements of the Act to the extent that they relate to 
     large companies conducting offshore activities on the outer 
     continental shelf, but does not agree that the same financial 
     responsibility requirements should apply to small companies 
     that are only indirectly related to offshore activities: 
     Therefore be it
       ``Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana urges the 
     United States Congress to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
     to the extent that the financial responsibility requirements 
     of persons involved in oil operations more closely reflect 
     the relative risks of those operations: Be it further
       ``Resolved, That in particular, facilities on the outer 
     continental shelf should be the only facilities subject to 
     the kind of high financial responsibility requirements now 
     contained in the Act: Be it further
       ``Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted 
     to the honorable Al Gore, Vice President of the United States 
     and President of the United States Senate; the Honorable 
     Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives; and the Louisiana Congressional 
     Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-407. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Finance.

                        ``A Concurrent Memorial

       ``Whereas, small businesses are extremely vulnerable in 
     times of economic difficulty; and
       ``Whereas, self-employed individuals may be willing to 
     forgo medical insurance coverage for themselves and their 
     dependents as a cost-saving measure; and
       ``Whereas, medical insurance for individuals is typically 
     extremely expensive, further reducing its availability; and
       ``Whereas, the current twenty-five per cent federal income 
     tax deduction for medical insurance costs of self-employed 
     individuals (section 162(1) of the Internal Revenue Code) 
     will terminate December 31, 1991.
       ``Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives 
     of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       ``1. That the Congress of the United States enact 
     legislation extending a full deduction of medical insurance 
     costs of self-employed individuals in computing federal 
     income tax.
       ``2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives and each Member of the Arizona 
     Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-408. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     St. Marys, Ohio relative to unfunded Federal mandates; to the 
     Committee on Governmental Affairs.
       POM-409. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Nebraska; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                      ``Legislative Resolution 319

       ``Whereas, the United States remains the destination for 
     millions of immigrants attracted by the freedoms of liberty, 
     equality, and expression; and
       ``Whereas, while the right of expression is a principal 
     freedom protected by the United States Constitution, very 
     narrowly drawn limitations on expression in specific 
     instances have long been recognized as legitimate means of 
     maintaining public safety and decency; and
       ``Whereas, certain actions, while relating to an 
     individual's right to freedom of expression, nevertheless 
     raise issues concerning public order; and
       ``Whereas, the flag of the United States is a recognized 
     national symbol: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Members of the Ninety-Third Legislature 
     of Nebraska, second session:
       ``1. That the Legislature encourages the Congress of the 
     United States to consider an amendment to the United States 
     Constitution, to be ratified by the states, specifying that 
     Congress and the states shall have the power to prohibit the 
     physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
       ``2. That the Clerk of the Legislature transmit a copy of 
     this resolution to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate 
     of the United States, to all members of the Nebraska 
     delegation to the Congress of the United States, and to the 
     President of the United States.''

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