[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 59 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4920-S4923]
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 or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-56. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                   ``Senate Joint Resolution No. 241

       ``Whereas, the use of credit cards is a convenient and 
     increasingly popular method of paying for goods and services; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the Virginia General Assembly has enacted 
     legislation authorizing the Department of Motor Vehicles, the 
     Department of Taxation, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage 
     Control, the Supreme Court, and other state agencies to 
     accept payment by credit cards for various taxes, fees, 
     fines, and purchases; and
       ``Whereas, the Virginia General Assembly has also 
     authorized counties, cities, and towns in the Commonwealth to 
     accept payment by credit cards for local taxes and utility 
     charges; and
       ``Whereas, agencies of the Commonwealth and local 
     governments are also authorized to add to any payment made by 
     credit card a service charge for the acceptance of such card 
     in the amount charged to the agency or political subdivision 
     as a result of the use of the credit card; and
       ``Whereas, credit card companies generally assess merchants 
     a discount fee, which typically is equal to two percent of 
     the transaction amount, on credit card transactions; and
       ``Whereas, credit card issuers have become increasingly 
     insistent that state agencies and local governments bear the 
     discount fees incurred in connection with credit card 
     transactions; and
       ``Whereas, several political subdivisions of the 
     Commonwealth, including the Counties of Arlington, 
     Chesterfield, Loudoun and Pulaski and the City of Alexandria, 
     and the Department of Motor Vehicles have been denied the 
     ability to accept credit cards because of their insistence 
     that the user of a credit card pay a service charge in the 
     amount of the discount fee associated with the transaction; 
     and
       ``Whereas, banks that allow agencies of the Commonwealth 
     and local governments to deviate from the general prohibition 
     on charging the card users the costs of using the credit card 
     may be assessed penalties or have their credit card contracts 
     terminated; and
       ``Whereas, it is unreasonable to apply to government 
     entities the general policy prohibiting merchants from 
     assessing card users with the discount fee because 
     governments cannot absorb the impact of the discount fee by 
     increasing the amounts charged to taxpayers and other 
     customers; and
       ``Whereas, on May 19, 1993, Representative James P. Moran 
     of Virginia's Eighth Congressional District sponsored, and 
     Representative Frederick C. Boucher of Virginia's Ninth 
     Congressional District co-sponsored, H.R. 2175, which would 
     amend Chapter 2 of the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 
     Sec. 1631, et seq., to prohibit issuers of credit cards from 
     limiting the ability of governmental agencies to charge fees 
     for honoring credit cards; and
       ``Whereas, H.R. 2175 was not reported out of the Committee 
     on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs during the 103rd 
     Congress; and
       ``Whereas, the enactment of a federal law to prevent credit 
     card issuers from prohibiting state agencies and local 
     governments from charging fees for honoring credit cards will 
     avoid the necessity that these entities either absorb the 
     discount fees or refuse to honor credit cards; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates 
     concurring, That Congress be urged to amend the Truth in 
     Lending Act to prohibit issuers of credit cards from limiting 
     the ability of state agencies and local governments to charge 
     fees for honoring credit cards; and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the Senate of 
     the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and the members of the Virginia Delegation 
     to the United States Congress so that they may be apprised of 
     the sense of the General Assembly on this matter.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-57. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Westlake, Ohio relative to 
     [[Page S4921]] telecommunications legislation; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-58. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.
                   ``Senate Joint Resolution No. 377

       ``Whereas, the Hampton Roads region is one of the fastest 
     growing areas in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 25 
     percent of the state's population; and
       ``Whereas, Hampton Roads is one of the principal economic 
     engines for the Commonwealth home to major tourist 
     attractions, vital defense installations, including the 
     world's largest naval base, the USA Command Headquarters and 
     the Air Combat Command, the Port of Hampton Roads, one of 
     Virginia's greatest economic assets; and
       ``Whereas, the future economic development of Hampton Roads 
     and thus in large part Virginia's future growth and 
     prosperity bears a direct relationship to our ability to move 
     people and goods rapidly; and
       ``Whereas, it is essential that Hampton Roads be connected 
     to the transportation networks of the future, if we are to 
     remain competitive in the emerging global economy; and
       ``Whereas, the Federal Railroad Administration has 
     designated the Washington-Richmond-Charlotte rail corridor 
     part of a proposed national network of high speed rail 
     corridors; and
       ``Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia is currently 
     studying the potential for high speed rail in the Washington 
     to Newport News corridor; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates 
     concurring, That the Congress of the United States be hereby 
     urged to provide for the linkage of both the Virginia 
     Peninsula and Southside Hampton Roads to the developing 
     national high speed rail system; and be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, 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-59. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 268

       ``Whereas, Amtrak is an energy-efficient and environmental 
     beneficial means of transportation, consuming about one-half 
     as much energy per passenger mile as airline travel and 
     causing less air pollution; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak provides mobility to citizens of many 
     smaller communities poorly served by air and bus service, as 
     well as to senior citizens, disabled people, and people with 
     medical conditions that preclude flying; and
       ``Whereas, on a passenger-mile basis, Amtrak is nine times 
     safer than driving an automobile and operates safely even in 
     severe weather conditions; and
       ``Whereas, the number of passengers using Amtrak rose 48 
     percent of 1982 to 1993, allowing Amtrak to dramatically 
     improve coverage of its operating costs from revenues; and
       ``Whereas, expansion of Amtrak service by existing rail 
     rights-of-way would cost less and use less land than either 
     new highways or new airports and would further increase 
     Amtrak's energy-efficiency advantage; and
       ``Whereas, federal investment in Amtrak has fallen in the 
     last decade, while it has risen for both highways and 
     airports; and
       ``Whereas, states may use highway trust fund money as an 80 
     percent federal match for a variety of non-highway programs, 
     but they are prohibited from using such funds for Amtrak 
     projects; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak pays a federal fuel tax that commercial 
     airlines do not pay; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak workers and vendors pay more in taxes 
     than the federal government invests in Amtrak; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates 
     concurring, That the President and Congress of the United 
     States be urged to make no further reductions in funding for 
     Amtrak; and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the General Assembly request that 
     Amtrak be excused from paying federal fuel taxes that the 
     commercial airlines do not pay, that the states be permitted 
     to use federal highway trust fund moneys on Amtrak projects 
     if they so choose, and that federal officials include a 
     strong Amtrak component in any plans for a national 
     transportation system; and, be it
       ``Resolved finally, That the Clerk of the Senate 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 of Virginia.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-60. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislation of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation.

                            Joint Resolution

       ``Whereas, the One Hundred and Fifteenth Legislation 
     directed the Maine Department of Transportation to take all 
     reasonably necessary actions to initiate passenger rail 
     between Portland and Boston and to seek funding necessary in 
     an amount not less than $40,000,000; and
       ``Whereas, the Federal Transit Administration and AMTRAK 
     have committed a combined capital investment of $58,600,000 
     for the rehabilitation of the railroad corridor and for 
     necessary rail-operating equipment; and
       ``Whereas, in 1992 the citizens of Maine approved a bond 
     issue in the amount of $3,000,000 necessary to access the 
     federally authorized funds for the initiation of this 
     passenger rail service; and
       ``Whereas, Maine's communities of Portland, Saco, Old 
     Orchard Beach and Wells have assumed responsibility in 
     planning, development and construction of local 
     transportation centers in support of the passenger rail 
     service with connections to bus service and other 
     transportation modes; and
       ``Whereas, conservative ridership demand forecasts that 
     have been conducted in support of the passenger rail service 
     verify this service to be a sound and viable financial 
     investment for Maine; and
       ``Whereas, the Federal Transit Administration issued a 
     ``Finding of No Significant Impact,'' finding no significant 
     environmental impacts from the passenger rail service and 
     further concluding that integrated rail and bus service is 
     economically feasible in the Northeast corridor; and
       ``Whereas, increased passenger rail traffic, consistent 
     with the federal directives of the federal Intermodal Surface 
     Transportation Efficiency Act, will relieve pressure on 
     Maine's highways and bridges, thereby promoting energy 
     conservation, reduced vehicle emissions and reduced 
     consumption of fossil fuels; and
       ``Whereas, Maine industries are petitioning the State to 
     upgrade freight rail service to enhance their ability to 
     access regional, national and global markets and this rail 
     restoration will significantly improve the main rail line to 
     Maine; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, recommend and urge 
     the President and the Congress of the United States to 
     sustain and fulfill all of the previously approved and 
     authorized financial commitments of the Federal Government 
     for the reinstititution of passenger rail service between 
     Portland and Boston; and be it further
       ``Resolved: That duly authenticated copies of this Memorial 
     be submitted by the Secretary of State 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-61. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Idaho; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 10

       ``Whereas, for more than forty years, the Idaho National 
     Engineering Laboratory (INEL) has been a vital international 
     center for nuclear reactor safety, research, development and 
     reprocessing; and
       ``Whereas, the State of Idaho and the Idaho Legislature 
     have consistently supported the traditional missions of the 
     INEL and the significant and important role it plays in the 
     economic livelihood of Idaho; and
       ``Whereas, the State of Idaho and its citizens have for 
     more than four decades been good citizens and good neighbors 
     to the Department of Energy and the federal government; and
       ``Whereas, nuclear waste has been, and may again in the 
     near future be, shipped to Idaho with the commitment that 
     this is a temporary storage destinations; and
       ``Whereas, twenty-four other states have more nuclear waste 
     stored than in Idaho, so this issue is truly one of national 
     concern and of public health, environmental safety and 
     national security; and
       ``Whereas, there does not currently exist a permanent 
     nuclear waste repository; and
       ``Whereas, a commitment was made to Governor Batt by 
     federal officials that Idaho would not become the permanent 
     repository which is as commitment Idahoans believe and is one 
     that must be fulfilled by federal authorities; and
       ``Whereas, in meetings with federal officials, Governor 
     Batt made it clear that he would commit every resource at his 
     disposal to prevent Idaho from becoming a permanent 
     repository for nuclear waste; and
       ``Whereas, Governor Batt has been working with Idaho's 
     Congressional delegation and Senator Bennett Johnston of 
     Louisiana to advance Senator Johnston's legislation which 
     speeds the process of opening a permanent repository; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Department of Energy has 
     committed additional funding for INEL health and safety 
     monitoring by the State of Idaho and has assured Governor 
     Batt of the continued cleanup and upgrade of existing INEL 
     facilities and the Department of Energy is anxious to 
     continue negotiations which will lead to removal of the waste 
     from Idaho; and
       ``Whereas, failure to locate, site and construct a 
     permanent nuclear waste facility would negatively impact 
     Idaho, and would constitute a breach of faith by the federal 
     authorities with the people of the State of Idaho: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       [[Page S4922]] ``Resolved by the members of the First 
     Regular Session of the Fifty-third Idaho Legislature, the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, 
     That we support the efforts by Governor Batt to limit or 
     prohibit the permanent storage of radioactive waste at the 
     INEL and that the facility be maintained as a center for 
     research, development and safety; be it further
       ``Resolved, That responsible federal authorities must 
     continue the search for and select a permanent nuclear waste 
     repository outside of the State of Idaho and that we urge the 
     members of the congressional delegation representing the 
     State of Idaho in the Congress to vigorously assert the Idaho 
     position and assure that nuclear waste does not come to 
     permanently remain in Idaho through default by the 
     responsible federal authorities; be it further
       ``Resolved, That until meaningful progress is made on the 
     search for a permanent repository for government owned spent 
     fuel, including those fuels of Naval origin, that all 
     shipments of fuel into Idaho be halted with Naval fuels to be 
     stored at Naval shipyards and Department of Energy fuels to 
     be stored at their point of origin; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives, be, and she is hereby authorized and 
     directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the 
     President of the United States, the Department of Energy, the 
     Department of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy, the 
     President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of Congress, and the congressional delegation 
     representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of the United 
     States.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-62. A resolution adopted by the American Society of 
     Mammalogists relative to acoustic pollution of the marine 
     environment; the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
       POM-63. A resolution adopted by the American Fisheries 
     Society (Missouri Chapter) relative to the Clean Water 
     reauthorization; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works.
       POM-64. A resolution adopted by the American Fisheries 
     Society (Missouri Chapter) relative to the Endangered Species 
     Act reauthorization; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
       POM-65. A resolution adopted by the American Fisheries 
     Society (Missouri Chapter) relative to the National 
     Biological Service; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
       POM-66. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Idaho; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works.
                      ``House Joint Memorial No. 2

       ``Whereas, a viable National Highway System is critical to 
     the ability of the states and their communities to attract 
     new industry and to sustain economic growth, and to the 
     ability of manufacturers to build and deliver products, and 
     also for the accomplishment of direct national interests 
     including interstate commerce, national defense and the 
     competitive position of the states and the nation in 
     international trade; and
       ``Whereas, the National Highway System carries over forty 
     percent of the total vehicular miles of travel and over 
     seventy percent of the commercial truck traffic in the United 
     States, thereby constituting the ``backbone'' of the 
     intermodal national transportation system;
       ``Whereas, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
     Act (ISTEA) of 1991 requires that after September 30, 1995, 
     no federal funds may be made available for either the 
     National Highway System or Interstate Maintenance Programs 
     unless Congress has approved a law designating the National 
     Highway System;
       ``Whereas, withholding these funds would create a severe 
     financial impact on the transportation programs of Idaho and 
     the other states and would disrupt delivery of needed 
     transportation services to the public: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the members of the First Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-third Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, That we 
     petition the United States Congress to approve the National 
     Highway System, as submitted to the Congress previously, 
     prior to September 30, 1995; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed 
     to forward a copy of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States, the Secretary of the United States Department 
     of Transportation, the President of the Senate and the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress, and the 
     congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in 
     the Congress of the United States.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-67. A concurrent resolution adopted by the General 
     Assembly of the State of Iowa; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.
                  ``Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6

       ``Whereas, the Missouri River is a major waterway of the 
     United States, bordering the entire western side of the state 
     of Iowa for more than 200 miles; and
       ``Whereas, the average volume of water that flows past the 
     cities of Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, equals 
     32,120 cubic feet per second which is equivalent to 
     approximately 23 million acre-feet per year; and
       ``Whereas, the drainage area above Omaha, Nebraska, and 
     Council Bluffs, Iowa, equals 232,000 square miles; and
       ``Whereas, Iowa is one of the nation's preeminent 
     agricultural states, and consistently one of the leading 
     states in both corn and soybeans production; and
       ``Whereas, Iowa and other upper midwestern states bordering 
     the Missouri River represent a major grain-producing region 
     of the United States; and
       ``Whereas, the Missouri River is used to transport a 
     significant proportion of the region's grain bound for export 
     markets; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has 
     completed a draft environmental impact statement, containing 
     findings embodied in a United States Army Corps of Engineers 
     study referred to as the Missouri River Master Water Control 
     Manual Review and Update; and
       ``Whereas, the draft version of the environmental impact 
     statement analyzes a new method of operation for the Missouri 
     River system which will result in an additional flow of water 
     in the spring, shorter navigation seasons, and further 
     reductions in service to navigation; and
       ``Whereas, the rising river level in the spring as 
     contemplated in the plan proposed by the United States Army 
     Corps of Engineers will increase risks to land along the 
     river by causing additional flooding, increasing groundwater 
     tables, and reducing the effectiveness of drainage systems, 
     including the effectiveness of gate valves along the river 
     designed to facilitate drainage; and
       ``Whereas, the Missouri River contributes between 40 and 50 
     percent of the water flow to the Mississippi River south of 
     the rivers' confluence, between St. Louis, Missouri, and 
     Cairo, Illinois; and
       ``Whereas, the loss of water flow could reduce levels at 
     the Port of St. Louis by two to five feet, creating 
     significant increases in the cost of transporting grain 
     exports throughout the middle Mississippi during peak 
     shipping seasons; and
       ``Whereas, the barge share of grain movements to export 
     ports increased from 43 percent in 1974 to 54 percent in 1991 
     and
      most of this barge grain traffic is on the Mississippi River 
     system; and
       ``Whereas, reductions in support to navigation and the lack 
     of water flowing into the river during dry or drought periods 
     will reduce the commercial value of the Missouri River to an 
     extent that the continued existence of vital barge traffic on 
     the river will be jeopardized; Now therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives 
     concurring, That the plan proposed by the United States Corps 
     of Engineers to dramatically alter the operation of the 
     Missouri River threatens land neighboring the river and the 
     vitality of navigation on the river which is essential to 
     commerce; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the United States Army Corps of Engineers 
     is urged to reevaluate its proposal and maintain the current 
     operation of the river or consider an alternative plan that 
     does not negatively impact upon Iowa and other states 
     bordering the Missouri River; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That if the plan proposed by the United States 
     Army Corps of Engineers is adopted administratively, that the 
     Iowa congressional delegation cooperate to take all actions 
     necessary to ensure that moneys are not made available for 
     the proposal's implementation; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States; the Chief of Engineers, 
     United States Army Corps of Engineers; the Missouri River 
     Division Commander, United States Army Corps of Engineers; 
     the President of the United States Senate; the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives; and members of Iowa's 
     congressional delegation.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-68. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
                           ``Joint Resolution

       ``Whereas, the federal Clean Air Act requires that each 
     state in which moderate ozone nonattainment areas are located 
     submit a revision to the state's implementation plan to 
     provide for a 15% reduction of volatile organic compound 
     emissions by November 15, 1996; and
       ``Whereas, this requirement applies to the State of Maine; 
     and
       ``Whereas, a significant portion of the volatile organic 
     compound emissions present in the State have been transported 
     from other states; and
       ``Whereas, the programs necessary to achieve the required 
     reduction in emissions will result in an immense economic 
     burden on the citizens of the State of Maine; now, therefore, 
     be it
       ``Resolved, That, We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge 
     and request the United States Congress to enact legislation 
     that eliminates the requirement that Maine achieve a 15% 
     reduction of volatile organic compound emissions; 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.''
       [[Page S4923]] POM-69. A joint resolution adopted by the 
     Legislature of the State of Maine; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.
                           ``Joint Resolution

       ``Whereas, we, your Memorialists, the Members of the One 
     hundred and Seventeenth Legislature of the State of Maine now 
     assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully 
     present and petition the Members of Congress of the United 
     States, as follows:
       ``Whereas, as 7 counties in Maine were determined by the 
     federal Environmental Protection Agency as moderate 
     nonattainment areas required by the federal Clean Air Act 
     Amendments of 1990, Section 182(B), (l), to submit a state 
     implementation plan to meet the requirements of that Act; and
       ``Whereas, as 4 Maine counties may no longer fall under the 
     federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines as 
     nonattainment areas causing a necessary change in the State's 
     implementation plan; and
       ``Whereas, as the State of Maine is currently in a contract 
     for IM/240 testing based on the original determination of the 
     federal Environmental Protection Agency for the necessity of 
     IM/240 testing in nonattainment areas; and
       ``Whereas, the federal Environmental Protection Agency is 
     currently making a full reevaluation of the necessity of the 
     testing; and
       ``Whereas, conclusive scientific data showing the extent of 
     out-of-state airborne pollutants coming into Maine from 
     outside sources is still being accumulated; and
       ``Whereas, the State values its heritage of clean air for 
     the health, safety and well-being of our citizens, 
     environment and economy, and needs time to structure an 
     appropriate and cost effective plan that works best for 
     Maine's unique assets and needs; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully 
     petition and urgently seek your support to request a one-year 
     suspension of the July 26, 1995 deadline for sanctions 
     against the State of Maine; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, 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-70. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Nevada; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
                    ``Senate Joint Resolution No. 13

       ``Whereas, Bruce R. Thompson served with distinction as a 
     United States District Judge in Nevada for nearly 30 years; 
     and
       ``Whereas, Bruce R. Thompson, throughout his distinguished 
     career as an attorney and a judge, exemplified the highest 
     ideals of the legal profession; and
       ``Whereas, Bruce R. Thompson was widely recognized as an 
     esteemed and gifted jurist who epitomized judicial wisdom and 
     decorum; and
       ``Whereas, Bruce R. Thompson served Nevada not only as a 
     judge but also as an active and outstanding member of the 
     civic community; and
       ``Whereas, Overwhelming and unprecedented community support 
     exists to pay tribute to Bruce R. Thompson as a preeminent 
     Nevadan and jurist; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     Nevada, jointly, That the members of the 68th session of the 
     Nevada Legislature hereby urge Congress to name the new 
     federal courthouse under construction in the City of Reno the 
     ``Bruce R. Thompson Federal Courthouse''; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Vice President of 
     the United States as presiding officer of the Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives and each member of 
     the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon 
     passage and approval.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-71. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.
                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 329

       ``Whereas, the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) has 
     recommended to the federal Environmental Protection Agency 
     (EPA) the imposition of a low-emission vehicle (LEV) program 
     throughout the northeastern United States, including Northern 
     Virginia, an action to which the General Assembly of 
     Virginia, in House Joint Resolution No. 1 of the 1994 Regular 
     Session, has already expressed its opposition; and
       ``Whereas, use of subsidies, selective tax benefits, or 
     other financial incentives are appropriate means of 
     encouraging the development of alternative fuel technologies 
     and their accompanying infrastructure and stimulating a 
     market for alternative fuel vehicles; and
       ``Whereas, experience has disclosed a tendency for the 
     Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA), the federal Energy Policy 
     Act (EPACT), and EPA regulations to be used by the federal 
     bureaucracy to impose mandates upon the states without any 
     consultation or consideration of state legislatures or other 
     elected representatives of the people who will ultimately 
     have to bear the financial and other costs of these mandates; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the final decision on the appropriateness of 
     such mandates as part of an air pollution control and 
     reduction program should be left in the hands of state 
     legislators and other elected representatives of affected 
     people, and not be imposed by the federal bureaucracy; now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates 
     concurring, That the Congress of the United States be hereby 
     memorialized to refrain from imposing upon the states, 
     through the medium of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, 
     the Energy Policy Act of 1992, or federal regulations, any 
     program of mandates except after consultation with and the 
     cooperation of the legislatures of the affected states; and 
     be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and the members of the Virginia 
     Congressional Delegation in order that they may be apprised 
     of the sense of the General Assembly in this matter.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-72. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.
                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 297

       ``Whereas, the Commonwealth acquired lands and established 
     False Cape State Park in Virginia Beach for the purpose of 
     conserving the natural and cultural values of these lands and 
     making these lands available for the beneficial use of 
     Virginians and their guests; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Government, through the 
     Department of Interior, assisted the Commonwealth in the 
     acquisition and development of this state park with the full 
     understanding that the Park would require reasonable and 
     permanent access through the lands of Back Bay National 
     Wildlife Refuge; and
       ``Whereas, the Commonwealth has acted in good faith on 
     numerous occasions to attempt to establish reasonable access 
     to the Park, including the Virginia legislature's endorsement 
     of park management guidelines and authorization to negotiate 
     land exchange agreements with the federal government; and
       ``Whereas, the federal government has consistently thwarted 
     the efforts of the Commonwealth to establish reasonable 
     access to the Park by placing such unreasonable demands upon 
     the Commonwealth as (i) requiring that disproportionate 
     amounts of state land be exchanged for federal lands, (ii) 
     placing an unreasonably high valuation on federal lands as 
     compared to state lands, and (iii) imposing the Refuge's 
     vehicle-permitting requirements on resident park employees; 
     and
       ``Whereas, although limited access through the Refuge to 
     the Park has existed on an interim basis for many years, the 
     federal government has recently taken action to severely 
     reduce this access, ostensibly basing this decision on a 
     study conducted by employees of the National Wildlife Refuge, 
     which is flawed in its methodology and conclusions; and
       ``Whereas, the Commonwealth has steadfastly managed its 
     property at False Cape State Park in a manner which (i) 
     exhibits good conservation practices and good stewardship, 
     resulting in the protection and enhancement of one of the 
     last barrier spit ecosystems and (ii) serves the mission of 
     the Park and greatly enhances the mission of Back Bay 
     National Wildlife Refuge; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates 
     concurring, That the Congress of the United States be hereby 
     requested to support, through the passage of federal 
     legislation, if needed, the establishment of a permanent 
     access corridor through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to 
     False Cape State Park. The establishment of this corridor 
     should guarantee legal access to the Park and should not be 
     subject to revocation or further restrictions by the federal 
     government; and, be it
       ``Resolved further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     and the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so 
     that they may be apprised of the sense of the Virginia 
     General Assembly in this matter.''
     

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