[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 83 (Monday, June 27, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 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-538. A resolution adopted by the Missouri Chapter of 
     the American Fisheries Society relative to the White River 
     Reservoir operations; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
       POM-539. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Colorado; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                    ``House Joint Resolution 94-1036

       ``Whereas, a modern, well maintained, efficient, and 
     interconnected transportation system is vital to the economic 
     growth and health and the global competitiveness of our state 
     and the entire nation; and
       ``Whereas, a highway network is the backbone of a 
     transportation system used for the movement of people, goods, 
     and intermodal connectivity; and it is critical to 
     effectively address highway transportation needs 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) that 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 that 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 NHS is 
     not approved by September 30, 1995; and
       ``Whereas, the uncertainly associated with the future of 
     the NHS precludes the possibility of Colorado effectively 
     establishing a transportation system necessary for the state 
     through the proper development of planning and programming 
     activities: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-
     ninth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate 
     concurring herein:
       ``That the General Assembly hereby requests the Congress of 
     the United States to accelerate the process of developing and 
     approving the National Highway System. The General Assembly 
     also requests the Congress of the United States to pass 
     legislation designating and approving the National Highway 
     System no later than September 30, 1994; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the President of the Senate 
     of the United States Congress, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the United States Congress, and all the 
     members of the Colorado delegation of the United States 
     Congress.''
                                  ____

       POM-540. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Colorado; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Work.

                     ``Senate Joint Resolution 94-4

       ``Whereas, the current authorization of the Endangered 
     Species Act (ESA, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) has expired and 
     Congress will be considering legislation to reauthorize the 
     ESA; and
       ``Whereas, the ESA's current emphasis on enforcement of 
     penalties, and listing of species already on the verge of 
     extinction rather than on measures which prevent species 
     decline, is counterproductive; and
       ``Whereas, the Colorado Division of Wildlife's Nongame and 
     Endangered Wildlife Program has been successful in its 
     efforts to recover the sandhill crane, the peregrine falcon, 
     the bald eagle, greenback cutthroat trout, the river otter, 
     and the squawfish, demonstrating the need to incorporate 
     grater state primacy into the ESA; and
       ``Whereas, the ESA should be implemented, like other 
     federal statutes, to minimize adverse social and economic 
     impacts; and
       ``Whereas, where the implementation of the ESA potentially 
     results in the taking of private property rights, the injured 
     person should receive fair and just compensation; and
       ``Whereas, the ESA should be implemented in a manner which 
     respects interstate water compacts, equitable apportionment 
     decrees, and the water allocation laws and water rights laws 
     of the affected states; and
       ``Whereas, it is important that the State of Colorado be 
     proactive in identifying solutions to existing and future 
     endangered species problems which minimize the ESA's 
     potential for interference with land and water use: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate of the Fifty-ninth General 
     Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of 
     Representatives concurring herein:
       ``That we, the members of the General Assembly, request 
     that the United States Congress consider that:
       ``(1) If a species is listed and a state has a recovery 
     plan in place, individual permits for proposed actions and 
     projects may proceed in that state unless the state decides 
     that they are in direct conflict with the state recovery 
     program;
       ``(2) Populations of a nonlisted species established under 
     a state recovery program be treated as experimental 
     populations if the species were later listed under the ESA, 
     in order to provide incentives for prevention of the species' 
     decline;
       ``(3) A State Wildlife Commission not list species as 
     threatened or endangered under a state program unless the 
     listing is accompanied by a viable recovery plan that is 
     fully funded;
       ``(4) The ESA be amended to require that the United States 
     Fish and wildlife Service take progress toward recovery of 
     endangered species into account when administering the ESA, 
     and that the definition of species ``recovery'' be expanded 
     accordingly by a new subdivision specifically dealing with 
     progress toward recovery of species;
       ``(5) Reauthorization of the ESA should contain a provision 
     for state jurisdiction over ``candidate'' and ``sensitive 
     species'' so designated by federal agencies;
       '`(6) The reauthorization of the ESA contain a provision 
     for delaying a federal listing in states where a funded state 
     recovery plan is in place;
       ``(7) The ESA be amended to provide for compensation for 
     any diminution in the value of private property which results 
     from the application of the ESA. ``Private property'' for 
     this purpose should be defined to include all traditional 
     property rights including, but not limited to, rights in 
     land, water, and minerals; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the State of Colorado is considering 
     building a fish hatchery dedicated to native fish species 
     primarily for the reproduction and stocking of species which 
     are listed under the ESA; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Chairman and Ranking 
     Minority Members of the Senate Environment and Public Works 
     Committee, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency, and the Colorado Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-541. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Colorado; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                     ``Senate Joint Resolution 94-5

       ``Whereas, Federal environmental statutes frequently place 
     substantial mandates upon state governments; and
       ``Whereas, under federal statutes, state governments are 
     called upon to develop environmental regulatory programs 
     which substantially adopt the requirements of such federal 
     statues; and
       ``Whereas, the burden of proof that the state environmental 
     regulatory programs meet federal statutory requirements has 
     traditionally fallen upon the state governments: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate of the Fifty-ninth General 
     Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of 
     Representatives concurring herein:
       ``That the Colorado General Assembly believes that each 
     state government should explicitly be given the 
     responsibility and authority to enact legislation and to 
     adopt regulations and policies which implement federal 
     environmental statues including the ``Clean Water Act'', the 
     ``Clean Air Act'', the ``Resource Conservation and Recovery 
     Act of 1976'', and the ``Safe Drinking Water Act'' and which 
     achieve the goals of such federal statues while conforming to 
     the unique circumstances of the individual state; and be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That upon enactment of legislation and adoption 
     of regulations and policies by a state government, it shall 
     be the duty and responsibility of the federal government and 
     each federal department and agency to facilitate the 
     enforcement of any such state law under the applicable 
     federal statue; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That in the case of a conflict between state 
     law, regulation, or policy and federal law, regulation, or 
     policy, the federal government may disapprove such state law, 
     regulation, or policy, if it consults and negotiates with 
     such state and provides proof based upon clear and convincing 
     evidence and accept scientific information that such state 
     law, regulation, or policy does not meet the requirements of 
     the federal statue; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the 
     members of the Colorado congressional delegation, the 
     leadership of the United States House of Representatives and 
     Senate, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the 
     Energy Council, and the Western Legislative Council.''
                                  ____

       POM-542. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                       ``House Resolution No. 718

       ``Whereas, in 1977, Congress granted authority to the state 
     of California to establish its own more stringent automobile 
     emissions standards to protect human and environmental 
     health. This authority is contingent upon the determination 
     of the California Air Resources Board and the federal 
     Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the state 
     standards are at least as protective of public health and 
     welfare as the federal standards and upon the state's need 
     for extreme measures to control air pollution in serious 
     ozone non-attainment areas; and
       ``Whereas, under the Clean Air Act, this authority is 
     granted only if the EPA finds that the determination of the 
     state is not arbitrary and capricious, that the proposed 
     state standards are required for compelling and extraordinary 
     conditions, and that the accompanying enforcement procedures 
     are consistent with preventing the endangerment of public 
     health and welfare; and
       ``Whereas, in January 1993, California was granted an EPA 
     waiver of federal preemption, allowing the implementation of 
     the California Air Resources Board-Low Emission Vehicle 
     (CARB-LEV) program. This LEV program includes a mandate for 
     the production and sale of zero emission vehicles. However, 
     the authority for this mandate is not found in the Clean Air 
     Act. The state gained the authority for the mandate through 
     the waiver of federal preemption which permitted the 
     implementation of the CARB-LEV program; and
       ``Whereas, evidence now suggests that California is using 
     its special standards-setting authority to go beyond the 
     boundaries of protecting environmental and human health that 
     were intended in granting this authority. Some observers feel 
     that the special authority granted California could be used 
     to solicit commitments from carmakers to build electric 
     vehicle assembly plants in California. In return for a 
     substantial investment in manufacturing base and jobs in the 
     state, the evidence indicates that California is prepared to 
     offer an easing of auto emission standards. The authority to 
     establish more stringent emissions standards was only granted 
     California in order that the state could address its unique 
     smog problems and not for any other purpose. Clearly, the 
     easing of these stringent standards to obtain commitments 
     from automobile manufacturers to invest in assembly plants 
     and jobs which would be located in California is a misuse of 
     the Clean Air Act. It could also result in the loss of jobs 
     in other states. Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress, the President, the 
     Vice President, and the Environmental Protection Agency to 
     oppose any attempt by the state of California to use its 
     special authority granted under the Clean Air Act to create 
     an uneven playing field in exchange for automotive 
     manufacturing plants and jobs; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted 
     to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation, the President of the 
     United States, and the head of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency.''
                                  ____

       POM-543. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Kansas; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                 ``House Concurrent Resolution No. 5024

       ``Whereas, in recent years the number of federal ``riders'' 
     or conditions attached to federal funds earmarked for the 
     states has increased dramatically; and
       ``Whereas, these riders threaten the states with subsequent 
     loss of the federal funds if they do not adopt certain 
     policies or laws; and
       ``Whereas, according to the National Governors' 
     Association, states currently faced 13 different financial 
     penalties under which they can lose from 5% to 100% of their 
     highway funds for failure to comply with federal 
     requirements; and
       ``Whereas, the government of the United States has a 
     difficult time conceiving of the proposition that each state 
     is a sovereign general purpose government and the proposition 
     that the government of the United States is a limited purpose 
     government; and
       ``Whereas, it is imperative that the State of Kansas assist 
     in the education of the government of the United States with 
     regard to the concept of sovereignty of the states; and
       ``Whereas, under the provisions of Section 333 of the 
     Department of Transportation and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Act of 1991, the Congress of the United States 
     has mandated that the Secretary of Transportation is required 
     to withhold 5% of a state's portion of the federal aid to 
     highway funds where the state has not enacted a law which 
     complies in every respect with the federal concept of 
     revoking or suspending the driving privileges of convicted 
     drug offenders; and
       ``Whereas, under the provisions of Section 333 of the 
     Department of Transportation and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Act of 1991, the Congress of the United States 
     has provided that so as not to lose its federal aid to 
     highway funds a state's legislature may adopt a resolution 
     expressing its opposition to being coerced by the federal 
     government into enacting a law to revoke or suspend the 
     driving privileges of convicted drug offenders; and
       ``Whereas, in order not to lose federal aid to highway 
     funds, the Governor of the state must also certify to the 
     Secretary of Transportation that the Governor's state is 
     opposed to being forced by the federal government into the 
     enactment and enforcement of a law revoking or suspending the 
     driving privileges of convicted drug offenders solely for the 
     purposes of avoiding federal sanctions: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of 
     Kansas, the Senate concurring therein, That the Kansas 
     Legislature certifies to the Secretary of Transportation, 
     under the provisions of Section 333 of the Department of 
     Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 
     1991, that it is opposed to the enactment and enforcement of 
     a law relating to the revocation, suspension, issuance and 
     reinstatement of the drivers' licenses of convicted drug 
     offenders set forth in 23 U.S.C. 159; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Kansas Legislature, so as not to lose 
     federal aid to highway funds, and in order to help the 
     government of the United States understand its limited 
     mission, urges the Governor of the State of Kansas also to 
     certify to the Secretary of Transportation that this state is 
     opposed to being forced by the federal government to enact 
     and enforce a law revoking or suspending the driving 
     privileges of convicted drug offenders; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this Concurrent Resolution be 
     transmitted to the Secretary of Transportation, the President 
     of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     of the United States Congress, the Kansas congressional 
     delegation and the Governor of the State of Kansas.''
                                  ____

       POM-544. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of South Carolina; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                       ``A Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, a modern, well maintained, efficient, and 
     interconnected transportation system is vital to the economic 
     growth and health and the global competitiveness of our State 
     and the entire nation; and
       ``Whereas, the highway network is the backbone of a 
     transportation system for the movement of people, goods, and 
     internodal connectivity; and
       ``Whereas, it is critical to effectively address highway 
     transportation needs through appropriate transportation plans 
     and program investments; and
       ``Whereas, the 1991 Internodal Surface Transportation 
     Efficiency Act (ISTEA) established the concept of a one 
     hundred fifty-five thousand mile National Highway System 
     which includes the Interstate System; and
       ``Whereas, on December 9, 1993, the United States 
     Department of Transportation transmitted to Congress a one 
     hundred fifty-nine thousand mile proposed National Highway 
     System which identified one hundred four port facilities, one 
     hundred forty-three airports, one hundred ninety-one rail-
     truck terminals, three hundred twenty-one Amtrack stations, 
     and three hundred nineteen transit terminals; and
       ``Whereas, ISTEA requires that the National Highway System 
     and interstate maintenance funds not be released to the 
     states if the system is not improved by September 30, 1994; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the uncertainty associated with the future of 
     the National Highway System precludes the possibility of the 
     State to effectively undertake the necessary and properly 
     developed planning and programming activities: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 
     concurring: That the members of the General Assembly 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to develop and 
     approve quickly the National Highway System no later than 
     September 30, 1994; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to 
     the President of the United States, the Clerk of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the President of the United 
     States Senate, and the South Carolina Congressional 
     Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-545. A resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors 
     of Fulton County, New York relative to health care reform; to 
     the Committee on Finance.
       POM-546. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Alaska; to the Committee on Finance.

                    ``Legislative Resolution No. 31

       ``Whereas the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 
     changed the point of collection of the federal highway tax 
     and, effective January 1, 1994, requires dyeing of diesel 
     fuel that is exempt from the federal diesel fuel tax; and
       ``Whereas a regulation of the Internal Revenue Service 
     requires dye to be added to nontaxable diesel fuel in the 
     state; and
       ``Whereas the use of diesel fuel for taxable purposes in 
     Alaska is substantially below that used in the rest of the 
     United States; the State of Alaska has determined that less 
     than five percent of all diesel fuel sold in the state is 
     sold for taxable purposes for use in onroad vehicles and 
     recreational boats, which means that 95 percent of the diesel 
     fuel in Alaska will have to be dyed; and
       ``Whereas compliance with the requirement imposes a special 
     hardship in rural Alaska in that the ability to meet the 
     requirement in some rural areas is threatened due to the 
     logistical limitations of available tankage and controls; and
       ``Whereas in a state in which there is a high per capita 
     usage of private aircraft, the dye requirement poses a 
     particular problem for private aircraft users in that dyed 
     diesel is very similar in color to one or more fuels, which 
     could lead to inadvertent mixing or substitution of fuels and 
     increases the probability of improper fuel handling and 
     potential for accidents, serious bodily injury, or death; and
       ``Whereas the Federal Aviation Administration is very 
     concerned about these serious public health issues and 
     associated safety risks; and
       ``Whereas the penalties for failure to comply with this 
     legislation can be very high; and
       ``Whereas there is no indication of any tax fraud in the 
     state related to the improper use of nontaxable fuel for 
     taxable purposes; and be it
       ``Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges the 
     United States Congress to take appropriate action to assure 
     the elimination of the safety threats imposed by the current 
     requirement that nontaxable diesel fuel offered for sale in 
     Alaska be dyed by providing a waiver of the requirement.''
                                  ____

       POM-547. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Colorado; to the Committee on Finance.

                    ``House Joint Resolution 94-1005

       ``Whereas, it is imperative that patients and consumers of 
     health care services be brought back into the financial 
     equation if the cost of providing such services is to be 
     brought under control; and
       ``Whereas, patients and consumers will reduce health care 
     costs if they are allowed to benefit from prudent individual 
     spending decisions and if they use pre-tax dollars to 
     establish individual medical accounts or individual medical 
     savings accounts; and
       ``Whereas, it is important to preserve the excellent 
     quality of American medicine by giving Americans the freedom 
     to choose their own health care provider and not limiting 
     their choice to employer- or government-designed health 
     benefit packages: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-
     ninth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate 
     concurring herein:
       ``That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, 
     hereby urge the members of the United States Congress to 
     consider programs to encourage and facilitate the use of 
     individual medical savings accounts, which will enable 
     Americans to plan for their future health needs; and be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the United States Congress, the President 
     of the Senate of the United States Congress, and each Member 
     of Congress from the State of Colorado.''
                                  ____

       POM-548. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana; to the Committee on Finance.

                       ``A Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, the Gulf of Mexico is the most promising oil and 
     gas province in the continental United States; and
       ``Whereas, the development of oil and natural gas resources 
     is vital to the state of Louisiana and the United States; and
       ``Whereas, the search for new oil and gas reserves requires 
     exploration further away from shore and at deeper depths; and
       ``Whereas, the increased distances, increased depths and 
     other factors tremendously increases the cost of deepwater 
     oil and gas exploration and production; and
       ``Whereas, without the development of the deepwater 
     reserves in the Gulf of Mexico the United States will grow 
     more dependent on foreign oil and natural gas to supply our 
     daily energy needs; and
       ``Whereas, it would be most beneficial to the state of 
     Louisiana and to all states in the nation to encourage and 
     promote the development of these deepwater offshore 
     resources; and
       ``Whereas, the oil and gas industry has encountered a 
     difficult period of low prices, increased employee layoffs 
     and a general reduction in size: And therefore, be it
       ``Resolved That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States promote the expedient 
     development of these deepwater reserves by enacting tax 
     credits, royalty relief and other similar steps that will 
     encourage the immediate development of these vital resources 
     found in the Gulf of Mexico: And be it further
       ``Resolved That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and 
     burdensome regulatory requirements that would halt, hinder or 
     impair the development of these offshore deepwater resources: 
     And be it further
       ``Resolved That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the United States Senate and the clerk of the 
     United States House of Representatives and to each member of 
     the Louisiana congressional delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-549. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana; to the Committee on Finance.

                       ``A Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, the Tax Fairness for Main Street Business Act of 
     1994, also known as Senate Bill 1825, authored by Senator 
     Bumpers, will remove some of the unfair advantages mail order 
     companies now enjoy and allow ``main street'' firms to 
     compete on a more equal footing; and
       ``Whereas, this proposed federal legislation is designed to 
     promote equal competition between businesses located both 
     within the state and around the country without placing an 
     undue burden on any business; and
       ``Whereas, the National Governor's Association, the 
     National Conference of State Legislatures, the National 
     League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and many 
     other state and local government associations do endorse and 
     support this legislation: Therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana hereby 
     memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact 
     Senator Bumpers' Tax Fairness For Main Street Business Act of 
     1994: And be it further
       ``Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and 
     to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-550. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana; to the Committee on Finance.

                       ``A Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, approximately six-hundred million dollars in 
     local sales taxes and two billion, four-hundred million 
     dollars in state sales taxes go uncollected each year as a 
     result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Bellas 
     Hess vs. Department of Revenue; and
       ``Whereas, the recent United States Supreme Court's 
     decision in North Dakota vs. Quill Corporation held that the 
     Congress of the United States has the authority to authorize 
     state and local governments to collect sales taxes from 
     interstate sales transactions; and
       ``Whereas, United States Senator Dale Bumpers has 
     introduced legislation which would require mail marketers 
     with annual United States revenues of three million dollars 
     or more to collect state and local sales, or use taxes on all 
     transactions; and
       ``Whereas, if this federal legislation is enacted, the 
     estimated tax revenues for the state of Louisiana are thirty 
     million, seven-hundred thousand dollars for the state and 
     twenty-four million, nine-hundred million for local 
     governments within the state; and
       ``Whereas, Louisiana retailers are at a distinct 
     competitive disadvantage regarding the out-of-state 
     retailers' exemption from the payment of state and local 
     taxes: And therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana hereby 
     memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact 
     legislation authorizing states and local governments to 
     collect sales taxes on interstate sales transactions: And be 
     it further
       ``Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted 
     to the secretary of the United States Senate and clerk of the 
     United States House of Representatives and to each member of 
     the Louisiana congressional delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-551. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Oklahoma; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                         ``Resolution No. 1042

       ``Whereas, the U.S. annual trade deficit was over $115 
     billion for 1993; and
       ``Whereas, the trade imbalance in the United States has 
     increased 37 percent over the past two years; and
       ``Whereas, the value of imported goods into the U.S. has 
     grown at a rate twice that of exported goods to other 
     nations; and
       ``Whereas, the annual trade deficit with Japan grew in 1993 
     to nearly $60 billion, an increase of 23.7 percent over the 
     previous year, which represents more than one-half of the 
     United States' annual deficit with the world; and
       ``Whereas, numerous imported goods from Japan are sold 
     openly throughout the United States; and
       ``Whereas, trade policies in Japan currently prevent the 
     sale of many American products; and
       ``Whereas, Japan has failed to negotiate objective criteria 
     concerning open trade practices with the U.S.; and
       ``Whereas, recent circumstances have caused federal 
     officials to consider imposing trade sanctions: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the 2nd session 
     of the 44th Oklahoma legislature: That the Oklahoma House of 
     Representatives urges Congress to support President Clinton's 
     policy on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for not opening 
     its markets to U.S. products.
       ``That the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages 
     Congress to support international economic and trade policies 
     which provide U.S. businesses access to foreign markets, 
     measurable objectives, and which create a level playing field 
     for the sale of U.S. goods abroad.
       ``That copies of this resolution be distributed to the 
     President of the United States, the Secretary of the United 
     States Senate, the Clerk of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and the State of Oklahoma Congressional 
     Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-552. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of South Carolina; to the Committee on Finance.

                       ``A Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, thirty-seven million Americans are without 
     health insurance and many more are under-insured because of 
     the effects of rising health care costs. The costs of health 
     care are escalating by as much as seventeen percent each 
     year. This has forced employers to trim the level and 
     availability of health care benefits to their employees; and
       ``Whereas, polling of citizens shows that a substantial 
     majority feel that affordable health care is the number one 
     economic issue facing them; and
       ``Whereas, over-utilization of medical services for 
     relatively small claims is one of the most significant causes 
     of health care cost increases. More than two-thirds of all 
     insurance claims for medical spending are less than three 
     thousand dollars each year for families in this country; and
       ``Whereas, the concept of medical savings accounts has 
     developed in response to the runaway cost increases of health 
     care in this country. This initiative is designed to bring 
     market forces to bear on health care and its financing. It is 
     predicated on providing incentives to eliminate unnecessary 
     medical treatment and encourage competition in seeking health 
     care; and
       ``Whereas, through employer-funded medical care savings and 
     reduced cost catastrophic insurance policies, millions of 
     Americans could insure themselves for both routine and major 
     medical services. Under the concept of medical care savings 
     accounts, an employer making annual premium payments of four 
     thousand five hundred dollars per employee each year, the 
     national average, would invest three thousand into a medical 
     care bank account for each employee. From this amount, the 
     employee would pay the first three thousand dollars of 
     medical expenses. The remaining one thousand five hundred 
     dollars of the employer's contribution would go toward the 
     purchase of a group policy to cover catastrophic medical 
     costs up to a specified limit. Any of the three thousand 
     dollars not used to pay incurred medical bills belongs to the 
     employee. This could be a strong incentive for people not to 
     abuse health expenditures, and this concept also makes it 
     more feasible for low income workers to seek preventive care 
     and early intervention which they might otherwise be forced 
     to forego due to high deductibles in traditional policies; 
     and
       ``Whereas, by making medical care decisions the employee's 
     prerogative, individuals have a strong stake in reducing 
     costs. This simple financial mechanism also will expand 
     health insurance options to others who presently have no 
     insurance. Most importantly, this move to decrease health 
     care cost burdens in this country would require no new 
     federal bureaucracy and would be revenue neutral to 
     employers: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 
     concurring: That the members of the General Assembly of South 
     Carolina hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States 
     to promptly enact legislation to enable Americans to 
     establish medical care savings accounts: Be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and each member of 
     the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.''
                                  ____

       POM-553. A resolution adopted by the House of Legislature 
     of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                         ``Statement of Motives

       ``In 1930, the Congress of the United States, through 
     section 319 of the Tariff Act of Coffee authorized the 
     Legislature of Puerto Rico to establish a tariff duty for 
     imported coffee.
       ``Said section has been amended several times and at 
     present the tariff duty for imported coffee is $250.00 per 
     quintal of unprocessed coffee and $300.00 dollars per quintal 
     of processed coffee.
       ``Recently, in the Free Trade Agreement between the United 
     States, Canada and Mexico, known as ``NAFTA'', it was agreed 
     that this tariff duty would be eliminated within a ten (10)-
     year period. Subsequently, the fact that this measure would 
     not be implemented and that the Legislature of Puerto Rico 
     would continue with this responsibility was discussed.
       ``Aware of the importance this tariff duty has for the 
     coffee industry of Puerto Rico, it is recommended that after 
     a study is conducted, the Congress of the United States be 
     notified of the official position of Puerto Rico regarding 
     the power of the Legislature to continue fixing the tariff 
     duties on this product: And be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico:
       ``Section 1. To direct the Committee on Agriculture of the 
     House of Representatives to analyze the impact of the Free 
     Trade Agreement, known as ``NAFTA'', on the coffee industry 
     of Puerto Rico, without excluding section 319 of the Tariff 
     Act of Coffee of the United States Congress.
       ``Section 2. The Committee shall render a report of the 
     analysis directed with its findings, conclusions and 
     recommendations, within one hundred and twenty (120) days 
     following the approval of this Resolution.
       ``Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately 
     after its approval.''
                                  

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