[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 20, 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-600. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.

                      ``Assembly Resolution No. 53

       ``Whereas, the flow of foreign and domestic cargoes to and 
     from the ports of New York and New Jersey is vital and 
     essential to the preservation of the economic well-being of 
     the northern New Jersey-New York metropolitan area; and
       ``Whereas, in order to maintain this vital flow of trade 
     and commerce, it is necessary to dredge periodically the 
     various navigational channels and ship berths to allow safe 
     passage of vessels; and
       ``Whereas, it is essential to ensure that the disposal of 
     this dredged material does not result in adverse 
     environmental effects, which in turn could adversely affect 
     the State's travel and tourism, fishing, and other water-
     dependent industries located in the coastal area; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which 
     exercises regulatory authority over the disposal of dredged 
     materials to ensure consistency with the provisions of the 
     federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.), has 
     allowed several applications for permits to dispose of 
     dredged materials to expire after not taking the proper 
     processing actions within the required three-year period for 
     processing; and
       ``Whereas, the unreasonable delays in application 
     processing have created unsafe harbors which could result in 
     oil spills, pose a threat to the 180,000 jobs related to the 
     shipping and trade industry, and will cost New Jersey 
     businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in reapplication 
     costs as well as the loss of trading and shipping activities 
     essential to maintaining viable business operations; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       ``1. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey 
     memorializes the President and the Congress of the United 
     States to call for an expeditious review and a final decision 
     by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United 
     States Environmental Protection Agency on the matter of 
     dredging in the waters of the State of New Jersey.
       ``2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed 
     by the Speaker and attested by the Clerk, shall be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the majority and 
     minority leaders of the United States Senate and the United 
     States House of Representatives, every member of Congress 
     elected from this State, the United States Army Corps of 
     Engineers, New York district, and the United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency.''
                                  ____

       POM-601. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Finance.

                      ``Assembly Resolution No. 75

       ``Whereas, this nation needs to strengthen the basic 
     foundations for the coherence of the American family which is 
     the building block of our society; and
       ``Whereas, the nation must assist the American family to 
     learn to stay together as a unit, flourish and promote self-
     sufficiency, so that children learn to be moral and law-
     abiding; and
       ``Whereas, the federal income tax code must not be a 
     hindrance to a family in which one spouse wants to remain at 
     home and raise the young children; and
       ``Whereas, the economy dominates today's society and forces 
     both parents to work and pay for child care; and
       ``Whereas, the mother or father can instill, early in a 
     child's development, proper values for family life, thereby 
     teaching the family members social responsibility; and
       ``Whereas, the needs of young children, such as love and 
     security of home life, can be best met by a parent at home; 
     now therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       ``1. This House memorializes the United States Congress to 
     amend the federal Internal Revenue Code to put more emphasis 
     on preserving families with children by allowing a tax credit 
     to a family in which a parent chooses to stay at home and 
     properly raise a child during the infant and pre-school 
     years. This credit would be similar to the tax benefits 
     currently allowed to a two-earner family for child or 
     dependent care expenses. Such a tax credit will serve to 
     strengthen the very foundation of the family and provide more 
     after-tax income for the one-earner family in order to reduce 
     financial pressures and allow them to retain more of their 
     own resources.
       ``2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed 
     by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the 
     Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from 
     the State of New Jersey.
       ``This resolution memorializes the United States Congress 
     to amend the Internal Revenue Code to place more emphasis on 
     preserving families with children, resulting in stable 
     families for a better future. Currently, both parents must be 
     working before a tax credit is allowed for the cost of child 
     care or dependent expenses. The child of today is missing 
     out, deprived of that bonding with a parent during infancy 
     and pre-school because the economy is forcing both parents 
     out of the home to go to work. This resolution calls on 
     Congress to help modify the tax situation affecting the basic 
     foundation of the American family.''
                                  ____

       POM-602. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Finance.

                      ``Assembly Resolution No. 76

       ``Whereas, this nation needs to strengthen the American 
     family which is the fundamental unit of our society; and
       ``Whereas, the recession-clouded economy dominates today's 
     society and, many times, requires both parents to work; and
       ``Whereas, the costs of the basic needs of children are 
     increasing daily; and
       ``Whereas, the parents of a traditional American family 
     need relief from taxes that is proportionate to the 
     responsibility they assume in raising their children; and
       ``Whereas, the federal income tax code must not be a 
     hindrance to a family in which parents are working long hours 
     to provide food, shelter and clothing in order to raise their 
     young children; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       ``1. This House memorializes the United States Congress to 
     amend the Federal Internal Revenue Code to put more emphasis 
     on helping families with children by modifying the tax 
     exemption available to a parent with dependent children. This 
     personal exemption for a dependent child would be similar to 
     the exemption currently allowed. However, the amount would be 
     based upon the value of a dependent exemption in 1948, or 
     $600, and subsequently indexed to allow for inflation. This 
     would amount to approximately $4,000 per child, in comparison 
     to the current amount of $2,350 for tax year 1993. This tax 
     exemption will serve to strengthen the very foundation of the 
     American family and allow parents more income in order to 
     reduce financial presures and retain more of their own 
     resources.
       ``2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed 
     by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the 
     Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from 
     the State of New Jersey.
       ``This resolution memorializes the United States Congress 
     to amend the Internal Revenue Code to place more emphasis on 
     helping families with children, resulting in more stable 
     families for a better future. Currently, the personal 
     exemption is valued at $2,350 per child. If the exemption is 
     modified by basing it at the 1948 level of $600 and applying 
     a cost-of-living-adjustment, the exemption would amount to 
     approximately $4,000 per child. This resolution calls on 
     Congress to help modify the tax situation affecting the basic 
     foundation of the American family.''
                                  ____

       POM-603. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs.

                      ``Assembly Resolution No. 18

       ``Whereas, the federal Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief 
     Act of 1940 prevents the eviction of dependents of military 
     service personnel from any premises renting for $150 per 
     month of less; and
       ``Whereas, the figure of $150 per month is excessively low 
     in this day and age and no longer provides adequate 
     protection to dependents of military service personnel on 
     active duty; and
       ``Whereas, this figure should be increased to reflect 
     current market conditions, particularly the cost of renting 
     an apartment in the densely populated Northeastern area of 
     the United States; and
       ``Whereas, the relevance of such a revision became apparent 
     with the activation and deployment of military service 
     personnel in 1990 to counter Iraq's invasion of Kuwait; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       ``1. This House memoralizes the United States Congress to 
     amend the federal Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 
     1940 to increase the $150 per month rental threshold 
     regarding evictions so as to provide adequate protection to 
     dependents of persons in military service and to reflect 
     current market costs for rental units.
       ``2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed 
     by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the 
     Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from 
     the State of New Jersey.''
                                  ____

       POM-604. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources.

                        ``Concurrent Resolution

       ``We recognize that full, permanent parity in all federal 
     programs can only be guaranteed to states of the Union, not 
     to jurisdictions with a lesser status under the American 
     flag, such as the case of a Commonwealth. The United States 
     Supreme Court, however, has ruled that Congress wields the 
     power to fully include, partially include, or exclude Puerto 
     Rico and United States citizens residing therein in federal 
     programs that are nationwide in scope.
       ``In the exercise of that discretion deriving from the 
     Territorial Clause of our national Constitution, Article IV, 
     Section III, clause 2, Congress has in the past chosen to 
     fully include Puerto Rico in many federal programs, such as 
     Head Start, exclude us from others, such as Supplemental 
     Security Income, or SSI, and partially include us in yet 
     others, such as Medicaid. The partial inclusion in Medicaid 
     has been ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court. Such full 
     or partial inclusion, in the case of non-state jurisdictions, 
     such as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is dependent on the 
     federal government's desire to continue such inclusion. For 
     example, while Puerto Rico was fully included in the U.S. 
     Department of Agriculture's Food Stamp Program in 1972, the 
     island was subsequently excluded from that program.
       ``Under Medicaid, rather than receive the approximately 
     $1.2 billion in benefits that residents of a federated State 
     of Puerto Rico would be entitled to receive, this American 
     territory receives a grant of $116.5 million, or 
     approximately ten percent of the amount the island would 
     receive as a State. This unequal treatment has forced the 
     government of Puerto Rico to invest a higher percentage of 
     its locally-generated revenue in health care than any state 
     of the Union.
       ``While states, on the average, enjoy a 60:40 federal:state 
     ratio in Medicaid spending, Puerto Rico suffers from a meager 
     18:82 ratio. In spite of massive local health care spending, 
     the medically indigent in Puerto Rico receive the poorest 
     health services in the nation. A citizen subject to deficient 
     health care eventually becomes more dependent on government 
     aid. Deficient health care creates greater dependence.
       ``Many of the over 2.6 million American citizens of Puerto 
     Rican descent living in the 50 states cannot afford to 
     fulfill their lifelong wish to return to the island because 
     they cannot afford to lose health benefits in the process. In 
     fact, during the past years, the migratory movement of Puerto 
     Ricans to the 50 states seeking better health care has 
     increased.
       ``The people of Puerto Rico wish to be included fully in 
     the health reform programs currently under consideration in 
     Congress. In consideration for full inclusion in equal 
     benefits, the American citizens in Puerto Rico are willing to 
     share in all burdens and obligations, tax or otherwise, 
     imposed to finance such programs.
       ``Clearly, Congress has the power to include Puerto Rico 
     fully in such evolving health programs, and to require 
     American citizens residing in Puerto Rico to share in the 
     burdens such programs may impose. Any attempt to create a 
     controversy, be it for local partisan or ideological reasons, 
     that may postpone or derail Puerto Rico on the basis of 
     political status considerations. The health of Puerto Rico's 
     young and old cannot be held hostage to Puerto Rico's 
     political status debate.
       ``This Legislative Assembly considers it unnecessary to 
     even consider a measure formally consenting to any action 
     that Congress may propose to enact. It was not necessary in 
     1988 when Congress unilaterally decided to impose excise 
     taxes on chemical products and vaccines. Neither was it 
     necessary in 1965 when members of the United States Senate 
     and House of Representatives considered fit to include Puerto 
     Rico in Medicare, nor when taxes were imposed on ozone-
     depleting chemicals, IRC Sec. 4682 (f)(2).
       ``Any objection to the full application of federal health 
     benefits and obligations in Puerto Rico is a censurable 
     attempt to place partisan politics above the health of 
     American citizens residing in Puerto Rico and is fully 
     repudiated by this Legislative Assembly.
       ``Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico:
       ``Section 1.--The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico 
     expresses to the United States Congress that the latter is 
     not required to seek the consent of the Government of Puerto 
     Rico in order to exercise its constitutionally guaranteed 
     power to determine whether the benefits and obligations of 
     federal health reform legislation shall apply to Puerto Rico 
     and American citizens residing therein.
       ``Section 2.--The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico 
     supports the efforts by the Governor and the Resident 
     Commissioner to seek full inclusion in federal health reform 
     legislation, with equal benefits and obligations, currently 
     evolving in the United States Congress.
       ``Section 3.--The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico 
     repudiates any partisan-motivated effort to deny, postpone or 
     otherwise impede the full extension of federal health reform 
     benefits and obligations to Puerto Rico or to require that 
     such valid exercise of the United States Congress' 
     constitutional powers be conditioned to the consent by Puerto 
     Rico to such full extension, a limitation that has not been 
     observed regarding other similar issues in the past.''

                          ____________________