[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 61 (Tuesday, May 17, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

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

       POM-484. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; ordered to lie on the table.

                    ``House Joint Resolution No. 86

       ``Whereas, the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986, 
     as passed by the Congress of the United States, mandated a 
     significance increase in resource commitments by the owners 
     and operators of public water supply systems and by state 
     regulatory agencies, such as the Virginia Department of 
     Health; and
       ``Whereas, the effect of these mandates has been most 
     severely felt by the small water system owners and operators 
     and ultimately by their customers through increased rates; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the vast majority of the public water systems in 
     Virginia are small systems that serve fewer than 3,300 
     persons; and
       ``Whereas, the Virginia Department of Health must 
     promulgate regulations at least as stringent as those of the 
     United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order 
     to retain regulatory primacy; and
       ``Whereas, rules issued by the EPA in accordance with the 
     1986 Amendments are frequently burdensome, costly, and of 
     marginal public health benefit, especially as they are 
     applied to small water systems; and
       ``Whereas, a Virginia Department of Health study estimated 
     that a 200 percent increase in state resources in needed to 
     fully implement the EPA regulations promulgated to comply 
     with the 1986 Amendments; and
       ``Whereas, the Congress has begun the process of 
     reauthorizing the Safe Drinking Water Act, and several bills 
     relating to the Act have been introduced in both houses; and
       ``Whereas, among the bills introduced is House Resolution 
     3392, which addresses the concerns of the owners and 
     operators of small water systems in the Commonwealth, who are 
     attempting to serve and protect the health of their 
     customers; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, 
     That the General Assembly urge the Congress to ensure that 
     safe drinking water regulations promulgated by the EPA in 
     compliance with the 1986 Amendments by both necessary to the 
     public health and cost effective; and, be it
       Resolved further, That the General Assembly further 
     memorialize the Congress to consider favorably the provisions 
     of HR 3392 in its deliberations leading to the re-
     authorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act; and, be it
       Resolved finally, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates 
     transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the President of the 
     United States Senate, and the members of the Virginia 
     Congressional Delegation so that they may be apprised of the 
     sense of the General Assembly of Virginia.''
                                  ____

       POM-485. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; ordered to lie on the table.
       POM-487. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Armed 
     Services.

                    ``House Joint Resolution No. 53

       ``Whereas, in 1991, the nation experienced 320,000 
     accidents involving large trucks, which caused 111,000 
     injuries and 4,800 fatalities; and
       ``Whereas, in Northern Virginia, the problem is acute, 
     often with fiery crashes involving large trucks, many of them 
     on the extremely congested Capitol Beltway, causing numerous 
     injuries, frequent loss of life, and legendary traffic jams; 
     and
       ``Whereas, according to the American Trucking Association, 
     truck drivers' succumbing to drowsiness, fatigue, and the 
     hypotism of the road is a major cause of many of these 
     accidents; and
       ``Whereas, technology originally developed for the military 
     holds the promise of alleviating the problem of driver 
     fatigue, and a consortium consisting of a defense contractor, 
     the American Trucking Association, truck manufacturers, fleet 
     operators, and academicians has adapted a system originally 
     designed for military use to reduce truck accidents caused by 
     driver fatigue or inattention; and
       ``Whereas, using radar systems now utilized in military 
     avionics and guidance systems, combined with computer 
     software designed for automatic target recognition, the 
     consortium has designed a guidance system for commercial 
     trucks that would both assume control of a truck heading into 
     danger and alert the driver to reassume control; and
       ``Whereas, the consortium is seeking funding, in the amount 
     of $3.5 million, to develop a prototype of the truck-safety 
     system from the Department of Defense, through its Advanced 
     Research Projects Agency, and offering to match the Agency's 
     funding, which would come from the Technology Reinvestment 
     Program budget; and
       ``Whereas, the development of a much needed truck-safety 
     device, which could well prevent accidents and save lives, is 
     an entirely appropriate use of funds earmarked for defense 
     conversion through the Technology Reinvestment Program, 
     created in 1993 to help defense contractors find new, 
     nonmilitary markets for their technology and resources; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate 
     concurring, That the Congress be hereby memorialized to urge 
     the Department of Defense, through its Technology 
     Reinvestment Program, to provide the requested funding for 
     the development of this potentially most useful truck-safety 
     device; and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of 
     Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the President 
     of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the President of the United States 
     Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional 
     Delegation so that they may be apprised of the sense of the 
     General Assembly on this issue.''
                                  ____

       POM-488. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Armed Services.

    ``Joint Resolution Memorializing the U.S. Congress and the U.S. 
 Secretary of Defense To Establish Two Defense Finance and Accounting 
                      Service Centers in the State

       ``Whereas, there is now under consideration by the United 
     States Secretary of Defense a proposal to consolidate the 
     existing defense finance and accounting service centers 
     throughout the world; and
       ``Whereas, states that have lost a military base because of 
     downsizing of the United States military ought to receive 
     primary consideration for the site of a new defense finance 
     and accounting service center; and
       ``Whereas, Maine recently suffered the closure of Loring 
     Air Force Base, which adversely affected the economies of 
     many of the State's communities and the overall economic 
     health of the State; and
       ``Whereas, the closure of Pease Air Force Base had a 
     similar adverse impact on Maine and its citizens; and
       ``Whereas, the criteria considered by the United States 
     Department of Defense are cost to the federal government, the 
     availability of a good labor force and maintenance of 
     service; and
       ``Whereas, Maine offers a highly productive and skilled 
     workforce; a low cost of living; one of the 2 best fiber 
     optic networks in the United States; a high quality of life 
     because of the combination of a clean environment, 3,000 
     miles of coastline, mountains, and one of the lowest crime 
     rates in the country; international airports and port 
     facilities; and numerous private and public institutions of 
     higher learning; and
       ``Whereas, the Federal Government recently renovated and 
     upgraded communications systems and general infrastructure of 
     the former Loring Air Force Base at a cost of millions of 
     dollars; and
       ``Whereas, the former site of Loring Air Force Base and the 
     City of Bangor offer excellent sites for these centers and 
     both locations can be easily adapted to the needs of the 
     Department of Defense; and
       ``Whereas, for all of these reasons, as well as the State's 
     long and distinguished commitment to defense and national 
     security interests, we believe that it would be in the best 
     interest of the United States Department of Defense to locate 
     2 of its proposed finance and accounting service centers 
     within Maine; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and 
     request the United States Secretary of Defense and the United 
     States Congress to locate 2 defense finance and accounting 
     centers in Maine; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this Memorial, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United 
     States; the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the Congress of the United 
     States; the Secretary of Defense; the Honorable John R. 
     McKernan, Jr., Governor of the State of Maine; and each 
     member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-489. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Armed Services.

``Joint Resolution Memorializing the President and the U.S. Congress To 
     Support Military and Civilian Dual-Use of Military Facilities

       ``Whereas, changes in national security interests have 
     caused changes in the status of military facilities in the 
     United States, to include closure, realignment and reduction 
     in mission; and
       ``Whereas, future changes are likely to occur that will 
     potentially affect military facilities in Maine; and
       ``Whereas, it is in the national security interest of the 
     United States to preserve defense infrastructure during times 
     of peace; and
       ``Whereas, the closure, realignment or reduction in the 
     mission of military facilities may have a long-term impact on 
     national security; and
       ``Whereas, military and civilian dual-use planning for 
     military facilities is an effective method to preserve 
     physical infrastructure and labor-force skills; and
       ``Whereas, the current base closure and realignment process 
     discourages the State, communities, workers and businesses 
     from working in partnership to develop military and civilian 
     dual uses of military facilities; and
       ``Whereas, it is in our national interest to address 
     disincentives or barriers to military and civilian dual use 
     of military facilities, including disincentives caused by the 
     base closure or realignment selection criteria; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge 
     Maine's Congressional Delegation to convey the concerns 
     contained in this memorial to the House Armed Services 
     Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee of the 
     United States Congress, the President of the United States 
     and the Secretary of Defense; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That Maine's Congressional Delegation advocate 
     for changes to the base closure and realignment process to 
     provide incentives for communities and military facilities to 
     undertake military and civilian dual-use initiatives, 
     including, but not limited to, positive military point value 
     being assigned to military facilities that have undertaken 
     dual-use planning to preserve physical infrastructure and 
     work-force skills during times of peace; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That suitable copies of this Memorial, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United 
     States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States 
     and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-490. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                      ``House Joint Resolution 155

       ``Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia promotes personal 
     responsibility and self-sufficiency through a community-based 
     approach for individuals receiving public assistance; and
       ``Whereas, some families that receive public assistance 
     reside in public housing that is subsidized through state and 
     federal housing programs or receive housing subsidies; and
       ``Whereas, welfare recipients who make the transition from 
     public assistance to self-sufficiency frequently begin 
     employment at minimum wage or part-time jobs; and
       ``Whereas, there are costs to an employee of becoming 
     employed and sustaining that employment, such as 
     transportation and suitable clothing, in addition to ordinary 
     living expenses; and
       ``Whereas, individuals who receive public assistance have 
     severely limited financial resources; and
       ``Whereas, welfare recipients who enter employment have 
     minimal discretionary funds and are particularly vulnerable 
     to financial emergencies; and
       ``Whereas, recipients who reside in federal public housing 
     or who receive federal housing subsidies may have income from 
     employment immediately applied to their financial obligation 
     for rent; and
       ``Whereas, the immediate increase in a family's obligation 
     for housing expenses can be a disincentive to becoming 
     employed because the family realizes no increase in 
     disposable income; and
       ``Whereas, the increase in housing costs for families may 
     create serious financial stress and place recipients at risk 
     of losing their jobs and self-sufficiency; and
       ``Whereas, the federal government operates housing subsidy 
     programs through the United States Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development; and
       ``Whereas, that agency has not taken steps to encourage 
     self-sufficiency through more gradual rest increases for 
     welfare recipients who become employed; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate 
     concurring, That the Congress of the United States be 
     requested to allow greater flexibility in the consideration 
     of income for newly employed welfare recipients when 
     determining the recipient's rent costs, in order to promote 
     long-term independence and self-sufficiency; and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of 
     Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the President 
     of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the President of the United States 
     Senate, the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation, 
     and the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing 
     and Urban Development, that they may be apprised of the sense 
     of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.''
                                  ____

       POM-491. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of New Hampshire; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                    ``House Concurrent Resolution 31

       ``Whereas, Congress recognized the northern forest region 
     of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York when the 
     northern forest lands study was authorized in 1988; and
       ``Whereas, the governor of the state of New Hampshire 
     recognized the importance of this effort when he appointed 
     the New Hampshire members of the governors' task force on 
     northern forest lands in 1988; and
       ``Whereas, this commitment was extended when the governor 
     of the state of New Hampshire appointed the New Hampshire 
     members of the northern forest lands council in 1991; and
       ``Whereas, the council's purpose is to study and issue 
     recommendations to the 4 states' governors and congressional 
     delegations on how to ``reinforce the traditional patterns of 
     land ownership and use that have characterized the northern 
     forest region, enhance the quality of life for local 
     residents through the promotion of economic stability, 
     encourage the production of a sustainable yield of forest 
     products, and protect recreational, wildlife, scenic and 
     wildland resources'' in a region of 26 million acres which 
     includes most of northern New Hampshire; and
       ``Whereas, northern New Hampshire is supported by an 
     economy closely associated with the land and its varied 
     products, and includes some of the state's most productive 
     forests and farms, pristine wild areas, clean water, habitat 
     for a diversity of game and non-game wildlife, and both 
     public and private lands for outdoor recreation; and
       ``Whereas, the council will issue final recommendations in 
     July, 1994 that will establish a framework for the state to 
     address some of northern New Hampshire's most pressing social 
     and environmental problems and opportunities; now, therefore 
     be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 
     concurring: That the general court of the state of New 
     Hampshire shall give due consideration to the rights and 
     interests of the people of northern New Hampshire, with 
     respect to any final recommendations of the northern forest 
     lands council, and shall commit itself to a thorough review 
     of these final recommendations; and
       ``That the general court call upon the New Hampshire 
     congressional delegation in deliberation of the 
     recommendations of the northern forest lands council, to give 
     due consideration to the rights, interests and well-being of 
     the people of northern New Hampshire, and to respect the 
     right of self-determination that must underlie any successful 
     resolution of the problems and opportunities arising from the 
     issuance of the council's final report; and
       ``That copies of this resolution be forwarded by the clerk 
     of the house to the President of the United States, the Vice 
     President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives, and to each member of the 
     New Hampshire congressional delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-492. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Wyoming; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                   ``Enrolled Joint Resolution No. 1.

       ``Whereas, the Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 financial 
     responsibility section 4303 expands financial responsibility 
     from thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000.00) to one 
     hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000.00) liability for 
     each petroleum product facility, and expands coverage to all 
     facilities in, on, or under navigable waters of the United 
     States; and
       ``Whereas, the definition of navigable waters encompasses 
     vast new areas of the United States beyond the historic 
     purview of the Federal Mineral Management Service; and
       ``Whereas, there is no recognition in the act for the 
     relative environmental risk posed by these various 
     facilities; and
       ``Whereas, these provisions will likely create public 
     opposition to these environmental safeguards and thus defeat 
     the worthy purposes for which they were intended.
       ``Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the 
     legislature of the State of Wyoming:
       ``Section 1. That the Wyoming legislature respectfully 
     requests the Secretary of the Interior to represent these 
     concerns directly to the chairman of the appropriate 
     congressional authorizing committee to correct the situation, 
     including, but not limited to, proposing corrective 
     legislation to the existing law. Further, that the Wyoming 
     legislature requests the Secretary of the Interior to proceed 
     with the utmost care and with the fullest public 
     participation.
       ``Section 2. That actions be taken to assure that the 
     Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 be implemented in a way 
     that brings about the underlying purpose of the act, ensuring 
     that those engaged in oil operations on the Outer Continental 
     Shelf historically within the jurisdiction of the Federal 
     Mineral Management Service demonstrate the amount of 
     financial responsibility commensurate with the relative oil 
     spill risk posed by each facility.
       ``Section 3. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming 
     transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives of the United States 
     Congress, to the Secretary of the Interior and to the Wyoming 
     Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-493. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.
       ``Whereas, the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, is seeking a 
     $9.5 million authorization for funding from the U.S. Congress 
     through the House Public Works Committee Authorization Bill 
     for South Battlefield Boulevard (State Route 168); and
       ``Whereas, South Battlefield Boulevard is the major link 
     between the I-95-64 corridor to the resort beaches of North 
     Carolina's Outer Banks; and
       ``Whereas, the present 10-mile length of the two land 
     highway carries three times its design capacity; and
       ``Whereas, eighty percent of the traffic generated from 
     outside of the corridor, this through traffic causes severe 
     congestion for local citizens and emergency response teams 
     (police, fire, and emergency medical services); and
       ``Whereas, since this route serves as the emergency 
     evacuation route for the Outer Banks during hurricane 
     emergencies, South Battlefield Boulevard becomes almost 
     impassable as motorists evacuate the beaches; and
       ``Whereas, the project is among the top critically needed, 
     yet unfunded, projects in Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth 
     and is part of the proposed National Highway System; and
       ``Whereas, the city is requesting authorization for funding 
     from the House Public Works Committee for $4 million for 
     engineering design costs and $5.5 million for right-of-way 
     acquisition costs; and
       ``Whereas, the project has long-standing support at the 
     local, regional and state levels as well as from the adjacent 
     North Carolina Counties of Dare and Currituck; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate 
     concurring,
       ``That the Congress of the United States be hereby 
     requested to provide funding through the House Public Works 
     Committee Authorization Bill, for $9.5 million that is needed 
     for improvements to South Battlefield Boulevard in 
     Chesapeake, Virginia; and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of 
     Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives, the President of the United 
     States Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional 
     Delegation in order that they may be apprised of the sense of 
     the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.''
                                  ____

       POM-494. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.
       ``Whereas, a modern, well-maintained, efficient, and 
     interconnected transportation system is vital to the economic 
     growth and health and the global competitiveness of the 
     Commonwealth and the entire nation; and
       ``Whereas, the highway network is the backbone of a 
     transportation system for the movement of people, goods, and 
     intermodal connectivity; and
       ``Whereas, it is critical to address highway transportation 
     needs effectively through appropriate transportation plans 
     and program investments; and
       ``Whereas, the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation 
     Efficiency Act (ISTEA) established the concept of a 155,000-
     mile National Highway System (NHS) which includes the 
     Interstate System; and
       ``Whereas, on December 9, 1993, the United States 
     Department of Transportation transmitted to Congress a 
     159,000-mile Proposed National Highway System which 
     identified 104 port facilities, 143 airports, 191 rail-truck 
     terminals, 321 Amtrak stations and 319 transit terminals; and
       ``Whereas, ISTEA requires that the NHS and Interstate 
     Maintenance funds not be released to the States if the system 
     is not approved by September 30, 1995; and
       ``Whereas, the uncertainty associated with the future of 
     the National Highway System precludes the possibility of the 
     state's effectively undertaking necessary and properly 
     developed planning and programming activities; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate 
     concurring,
       ``That the Congress of the United States be urged to 
     accelerate the process of developing and approving the 
     National Highway System and that the Congress of the United 
     States should pass legislation which designates and approves 
     the National Highway System no later than September 30, 1994; 
     and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of 
     Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the President 
     of the United States, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, 
     and the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so 
     that they may be apprised of the sense of the General 
     Assembly of Virginia in this matter.''
                                  ____

       POM-495. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Finance.
       ``Whereas, 38 million Americans were without health 
     insurance at some time in the last year, many while between 
     jobs or while employed in jobs that did not offer health 
     insurance; and
       ``Whereas, the rising costs of health care threaten access 
     for even those currently insured, particularly as escalating 
     costs force employers to trim the level and availability of 
     health care benefits to their employees; and
       ``Whereas, employer contributions to employee group health 
     insurance are presently fully exempt from federal income tax; 
     and
       ``Whereas, insurance purchased by individuals outside of 
     employer groups, by the unemployed, the self-employed, the 
     part-time employed, and those otherwise unable to obtain 
     group coverage through their employer, is limited to at most 
     a 25 percent exemption; and
       ``Whereas, even this smaller benefit to individuals has at 
     times been threatened with removal; and
       ``Whereas, those without access to employer coverage are 
     likely to be more in need of subsidy to effort insurance; and
       ``Whereas, aside from need, fairness suggests that those 
     without access to employer coverage be accorded the same tax 
     privileges for their health insurance purchases as those 
     available within employer groups; and
       ``Whereas, the continuation of a differential benefit to 
     employer-sponsored health insurance may contribute to the 
     perpetuation of a system that adversely affects worker 
     mobility, since employer coverage is not portable and 
     coverage outside an employer group is prohibitively 
     expensive; and
       ``Whereas, this arrangement may also limit individual 
     choice of health coverage to the levels and forms of 
     insurance chosen by the employer; and
       ``Whereas, the form of health insurance known as medical 
     care savings accounts, combining high-deductible insurance 
     policies with dedicated funds to meet insurance expense, may 
     offer a fruitful mechanism to control spending and spur 
     consumer responsibility for health care choices, by forcing 
     health services purchasers to consider the full cost of 
     services for expenses under their deductibles; and
       ``Whereas, the present system of tax privileges does not 
     extend exemption to contributions to a dedicated savings 
     account for medical purposes, except for the current Flexible 
     Spending Accounts under Sec. 125 of the Federal Tax Code; and
       ``Whereas, Sec. 125 account funds must be used by the end 
     of the tax year or forfeited undermining consumer incentives 
     to save; and
       ``Whereas, the Clinton Health Security Act proposes to 
     eliminate Sec. 125 accounts; and
       ``Whereas, states like Virginia that practice strict 
     federal conformity are bound to accept the federal 
     determination of taxable income and exemptions therefrom, or 
     else engender the substantial costs of independent monitoring 
     and enforcement for Tax Code compliance; and
       ``Whereas, changes in state tax policy alone might not 
     yield enough substantial benefits to induce appropriate 
     changes in insurance coverage, given that a state can only 
     provide exemptions from its own levies; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate 
     concurring,
       ``That the Congress of the United States be requested to 
     enact legislation which makes the tax privileges accorded to 
     health insurance purchased by individuals outside of employer 
     groups equivalent to that available within employer groups; 
     and to enact legislation which makes the tax privileges 
     accorded to medical care savings accounts equivalent to that 
     accorded other forms of health insurance; and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, 
     and all members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so 
     that they may be apprised of the sense of the General 
     Assembly.''
                                  ____

       POM-496. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Finance.
       ``Whereas, the dependent care tax credit is a tax subsidy 
     reducing the child care costs of working families; and
       ``Whereas, the size of the credit depends upon a family's 
     income, the number of dependents in child care, and the size 
     of the family's child care cost; and
       ``Whereas, the family receives an income tax credit of 30 
     percent down to 20 percent for a portion of its child care or 
     dependent care costs, depending on the family's adjusted 
     gross income; and
       ``Whereas, this credit may fail to assist the very group 
     that needs child care assistance the most, working poor 
     families, because it is not refundable; and
       ``Whereas, unlike the earned income credit which is 
     refundable, those too poor to owe income tax receive no 
     refund or other subsidy payment; and
       ``Whereas, by contrast, families at higher income levels 
     may benefit from the credit, which lowers their income tax 
     liability; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate 
     concurring,
       ``That the Congress of the United States be requested to 
     make dependent care tax credits refundable to provide support 
     to the working poor families. Making this tax credit 
     refundable supports the income-related strategy of ``making 
     work pay.'' Due to the substantial child care costs that 
     exist today, it is critical to defray some of those costs to 
     move full-time working families out of poverty to self-
     sufficiency; and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of 
     Delegates transmit copies of this resolution for distribution 
     to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the members of the Virginia 
     Congressional Delegation, and the Secretary of the United 
     States Department of Health and Human Services to apprise 
     them of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia.

                          ____________________