[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6460-S6462]
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-93. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry.

                 ``Engrossed House Joint Memorial 4004

       ``Whereas, approximately two-thirds of the farmgate value 
     of agricultural production in Washington State is based on 
     minor crops; and
       ``Whereas, Washington State is one of the most diverse 
     agricultural states in the nation, growing a large number of 
     relatively small but specialized crops of great significance 
     to the American consumer; and
       ``Whereas, the continued production of these crops and 
     their availability to consumers is dependent on the ability 
     to safely and effectively control insects, weeds, diseases, 
     and other pests; and
       ``Whereas, an essential tool in the control of pests in 
     either a conventional or an integrated pest management 
     strategy is the availability of pesticides; and
       ``Whereas, without the availability of a full array of safe 
     and adequate pest management tools, there is likely to be a 
     number of negative consequences including: Decrease in the 
     exports of food products to other countries; increase in 
     imports of less wholesome food products; farming communities 
     will have less diversified economies and will be subject to 
     more economic volatility; decrease of yield; increase in 
     price; decrease in food supply and variety; decrease in 
     ability to meet state and national produce quality standards; 
     increase in incidents of food safety hazards; and an increase 
     in use of products that have greater impact on human health 
     due to higher toxicity than the products that were previously 
     in use; and
       ``Whereas, the production of food in several states is 
     similarly affected due to the lack of availability of pest 
     control products for the production of minor crops;
       ``Now, therefore, your Memorialists respectfully pray that 
     the appropriate committees of the United States Congress 
     inquire into the effects of the 1988 amendments to the 
     Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act on the 
     availability of pesticides for the protection of minor crops 
     and that legislation be introduced and voted upon that has 
     considered the following provisions:
       ``(1) Extend the registrants' exclusive data rights by ten 
     years, thereby increasing the time period over which 
     pesticide registrants have to recoup the cost of 
     registration;
       ``(2) Establish specific time periods for the Environmental 
     Protection Agency to act on minor crop registrations as an 
     incentive to registrants to pursue additional registrations 
     for minor uses;
       ``(3) Provide for an extension in the time for registrants 
     to submit data equal to the time it takes for the 
     Environmental Protection Agency to act upon a request for a 
     waiver, so that registrants are not inadvertently forced to 
     develop data during the time the Environmental Protection 
     Agency is deliberating on the waiver request;
       ``(4) Provide additional time for registrants to generate 
     the necessary residue data for reregistration of pesticides 
     for minor crop uses, or if the registrant is unwilling to 
     finance the generation of the data, to give time to find 
     other methods to generate the required data; and
       ``(5) Provide a temporary extension of registration for 
     unsupported minor uses so that, if the current registrant 
     declines to request the reregistration, other organizations 
     have the time to comply with registration requirements before 
     cancellation of the registration.
       ``Be it resolved, That copies of this Memorial be 
     immediately transmitted to the Honorable Bill Clinton, 
     President of the United States, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     each member of Congress from the State of Washington, the 
     Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, the 
     Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency, and the National Association of State Departments of 
     Agriculture.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-94. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the 
     State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                     ``Assembly Resolution No. 124

       ``Whereas, the President of the United States' Fiscal Year 
     1996 budget proposal includes a significant reduction in 
     funding for ongoing shore protection, beach restoration and 
     flood control projects in New Jersey; and
       ``Whereas, the completion of these projects is essential to 
     preserving a State and national resource, and can be 
     accomplished only with the assistance of the federal 
     government; and
       ``Whereas, new Jersey, in establishing a $15.0 million 
     annual Shore Protection Fund, has clearly committed State 
     funding to assist in the replenishment and preservation of 
     beaches along the New Jersey shore; and
       ``Whereas, tourism is the State's second largest industry, 
     and the annual $10.0 billion in tourism spending in the 
     coastal area constitutes approximately one-half of the total 
     tourism spending in the State; and
       ``Whereas, the proposed budget reduction, if realized, 
     would have a disastrous effect on the shore tourism economy, 
     including the potential loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs 
     directly and indirectly related to the tourism industry, on 
     property values and on State and local tax revenues; Now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
       ``1. The President and the Congress of the United States 
     are respectfully urged to restore funding in the Fiscal Year 
     1996 federal budget for beach stabilization and flood control 
     projects along the Jersey Shore.
       ``2. Copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of 
     the Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be 
     transmitted to the President and Vice President of the United 
     States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Commander and 
     Chief of Engineers of the United States Army Corps of 
     Engineers, every member of Congress elected from the State, 
     the Governor of the State, and the Commissioner of 
     Environmental Protection.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-95. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Fairview Park, Ohio relative to telecommunications; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-96. A resolution adopted by the City of Brook Park, 
     Ohio relative to telecommunications; to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-97. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Barberton, Ohio relative to cable television; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-98. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                   ``Senate Concurrent Memorial 1003

       ``Whereas, the globalization of the United States economy 
     has resulted in the expansion of international trade and 
     tourism; and
       ``Whereas, the international trade and tourism are 
     dependent on an efficient transportation system, including 
     the availability of direct international flights with 
     multiple destinations; and
       ``Whereas, the travel and tourism industry is one of the 
     largest industries in the United States; and
       ``Whereas, international trade is key to the economic 
     health of this nation and contributes directly and indirectly 
     to more than sixty per cent of new jobs created in the United 
     States in recent years; and
       ``Whereas, international air service is an important 
     component of international trade and the travel and tourism 
     industry; and
       ``Whereas, international air service is becoming 
     increasingly important to the economic well-being of states 
     and cities; and
       ``Whereas, increased international air service results in 
     local job development, an enlarged tax base, access to new 
     markets for local products, increased foreign investment, 
     enhanced cultural exchange and increased visibility on the 
     world stage; and
       ``Whereas, international air service is regulated by 
     treaties negotiated between sovereign nations of the world; 
     and
       ``Whereas, with the passage of the North American Free 
     Trade Agreement the flow of goods and people will greatly 
     increase among this country, Canada and Mexico, as well as 
     the rest of the world; and
       ``Whereas, individual states have fought hard and committed 
     resources to securing 
      [[Page S6461]] and bolstering international trade and 
     tourism between themselves and other nations thereby 
     increasing their own exports by over seventy per cent in 
     recent years; and
       ``Whereas, federal regulations governing the negotiations 
     of international flight routes impinge on the power of states 
     to enter into their own agreements, impede state attempts to 
     compete in the international market place and hamper the 
     economic development efforts of individual states; and
       ``Whereas, the positions and views of individual 
     communities should play an increasing role in decisions by 
     the United States government with respect to international 
     air service negotiations; and
       ``Whereas, more liberal international air route regimes 
     between the United States and its trading partners are 
     necessary; and
       ``Whereas, the easing of certain federal processes would 
     hasten new international air service and the benefits 
     associated with such air service. Wherefore your memorialist, 
     the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, prays:
       ``1. That the Congress of the United States enact 
     legislation to reduce federal regulations restricting the 
     ability of states to participate in the negotiation of 
     international flight routes.
       ``2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Concurrent Memorial to the President 
     of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives and to each Member of the Arizona 
     Congressional Delegation.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-99. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation.

                    ``Senate Joint Memorial No. 103

       ``Whereas, Amtrak provides mobility to citizens of many 
     smaller communities poorly served by air and bus services, as 
     well as to those senior citizens, disabled people, students 
     and persons with medical conditions preventing them from 
     flying who need trains as a travel option; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak is nine times safer than driving on a 
     passenger-mile basis, and operates even in severe weather 
     conditions; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak travel rose forty-eight percent from 1982 
     to 1993 and Amtrak dramatically improved coverage of its 
     operating costs from revenue; and
       ``Whereas, expansion of Amtrak service by using existing 
     rail rights-of-way would cost less and use less land than new 
     highways and 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 airports and highways; and
       ``Whereas, states may use highway trust fund money as an 
     eighty percent federal match for a variety of nonhighway 
     programs, but they are prohibited from using such moneys for 
     Amtrak projects; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak pays a fuel tax that 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 members of the First 
     Regular Session of the Fifty-third Iadho Legislature, the 
     Senate and the House of Representatives concurring therein, 
     That we urge the Congress of the United States to take the 
     following steps to insure the continued operation of the 
     Amtrak transportation system: That federal funding of Amtrak 
     not be reduced, that Amtrak be excused from paying fuel taxes 
     that airlines do not pay, that states be given the 
     flexibility to use federal highway trust fund moneys on 
     Amtrak projects if they so choose, that federal officials 
     include a strong Amtrak system in any plans for a National 
     Transportation System.
       ``Be it further resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate 
     be, and she is hereby authorized and directed to forward a 
     copy of this Memorial to the President of the United States, 
     and 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-100. A resolution adopted by the Assembly of the State 
     of New York; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.
               ``Legislative Resolution Assembly No. 374

       ``Whereas, Amtrak is energy-efficient and environmentally 
     beneficial, consuming about half as much energy per passenger 
     mile as airlines and causing less air pollution; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak provides mobility to citizens of many 
     smaller communities, poorly served by air and bus services, 
     as well as to those senior citizens, disabled people, 
     students and persons with medical conditions, who are 
     prevented from flying and who depend on trains as a travel 
     option; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak is nine times safer than driving, on a 
     passenger-mile basis, and operates even in severe weather 
     conditions; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak travel rose 48 percent, from 1982 to 
     1993, and Amtrak dramatically improved coverage of its 
     operating costs from revenues; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak provided service to 7,422,288 riders in 
     New York State in fiscal year 1994; and
       ``Whereas, Expansion of Amtrak service through the use of 
     existing rail rights-of-way would cost less and use less land 
     than new highways and airports, and would further increase 
     Amtrak's energy-efficiency advantage; and
       ``Whereas, The State of New York has made significant 
     investments to ensure the continuation of certain Amtrak 
     services, as well as for capital improvements to rail 
     infrastructure; and
       ``Whereas, Federal investment in Amtrak has fallen in the 
     last decade, while it has risen for airports and highways; 
     and
       ``Whereas, States may use highway trust fund money as an 80 
     percent Federal match for a variety of non-highway programs, 
     while Amtrak is prohibited from using moneys for such 
     projects; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak workers and vendors pay more in taxes 
     than the federal government invests in Amtrak; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak adds to the New York State economy by 
     expending more than $23 million for goods and services (in 
     fiscal year 1993), employing over 3,250 New York State 
     residents whose annualized earnings total approximately $95 
     million; Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That this Legislative Body pause in its 
     deliberations to memorialize Congress and the President of 
     the United States to take the following steps to insure 
     adequate funding and regulatory support of Amtrak: maintain 
     current funding levels for Amtrak; provide Amtrak the same 
     exemption on fuel taxes as that provided to the airline 
     industry; provide states with the flexibility of utilizing 
     federal highway trust funds for Amtrak projects; and provide 
     federal officials with the appropriate authority and 
     regulatory support necessary to make Amtrak a strong 
     component of a National Transportation System; and be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this Resolution, suitably 
     engrossed, be transmitted to President William J. Clinton, 
     the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives, the members of the New York 
     State Congressional Delegation, and the Save Amtrak 
     Coalition.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-101. a resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                              ``S.R. 1491

       ``The government of Puerto Rico has stated that among its 
     priorities is the need to effectively attend to the problems 
     of antisocial conduct which threatens our quality of life and 
     harmonious existence. To achieve this, it is essential to 
     incorporate prevention strategies which avoid the promotion 
     of aggressiveness and violence in the citizenry, especially 
     in our children and youths. The government's action and 
     private initiative must direct their best efforts to programs 
     directed to strengthen the family and to propitiate a 
     wholesome upbringing of Puerto Rican children and youths.
       ``The scientific community has indicated that there is a 
     relationship between exposure to violence on television and 
     aggressive behavior. Televised violence conditions the mind 
     and physical skills of children and adolescents. It also 
     teaches and develops antisocial values and attitudes. In 
     Puerto Rico, studies conducted by distinguished professionals 
     have established the negative effect on human behavior 
     produced by the messages of violence transmitted in the 
     communication media. It has been stated that the mass 
     communication media could be
      considered as the main vehicles of social conditioning. From 
     said studies, it has also been revealed that in Puerto 
     Rico almost all the population has access to television, 
     and that during infancy, the exposure to this medium is 
     grater than exposure to schooling.
       ``Within this context, the Senate of Puerto Rico deems it 
     essential to adopt measures which contribute to make 
     television programming more wholesome and to improve the 
     quality and content of the messages received by television 
     viewers. Government action and private initiatives should be 
     directed to prevent our children and youth from being exposed 
     to violent situations and harmful activities that lead to 
     delinquent and antisocial conduct at home, school and the 
     community.
       ``With the objective of promoting affirmative action on the 
     effects of television programs with a high content of 
     violence, and showing of adult situations, this Body is, at 
     present, considering Senate Bill No. 507. This measure has 
     the purpose of creating an Advisory Board attached to the 
     Department of Consumer's Affairs, with the function of 
     designing a television program classification system to serve 
     as a guide for commercial stations. It would be adopted 
     voluntarily and through self-regulation, fixing the 
     parameters of scheduling and content.
       ``However, when analyzing the possible options of the 
     Legislature of Puerto Rico to determine the feasibility of 
     adopting regulations on the content of the programming, we 
     find that within our juridical frame, television constitutes 
     an activity which affects interstate commerce. The Congress 
     of the United States has directed that the Federal 
     Communications Commission is the agency responsible for 
     regulating the same. That is, the Federal Government has 
     primary jurisdiction over this matter. The courts have 
     interpreted that in matters of regulating interstate 
     communications, the field is preempted by the Federal 
     Communications Act. It is understood that the Congress has 
     preempted the field completely, in radio as well as 
     television communication.
       [[Page S6462]] ``With each passing day, American citizens 
     are more aware of the damage that arises from the continuous 
     and repetitive violence transmitted through the 
     communications media. With the conviction that the voluntary 
     initiatives of the media have not been sufficient to fight 
     the problem of televised violence, Senator Kent Conrad filed 
     S. 332 before the United States, which provides resources to 
     limit the exposure of children to television programs with a 
     high content of violence.
       ``The measure proposes to adopt what is known as the 
     `Childrens' Media Protection Act'. In essence, the bill 
     requires all manufacturers to install on every new television 
     set, a device which allows the blocking of those programs 
     that are not fit for minors. With this resource at hand, 
     parents can make a decision as to the type of program their 
     children will be exposed to.
       ``The legislation also contains provisions regarding the 
     classification of programs of violent content. The Federal 
     Communications Commission, upon consulting with broadcasters 
     of television stations and cable retransmitters, private 
     groups and interested citizens, is required to promulgate 
     rules to classify the levels of violence in television 
     programming.
       ``The measure provides additional safeguards which require 
     the Federal Communications Commission to adopt rules to 
     prohibit commercial television, the Cable TV industry and the 
     public telecommunications entities from transmitting programs 
     and commercials which contain unnecessary violence, from 6:00 
     a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
       ``The Senate of Puerto Rico recognizes that the approval of 
     S. 332 shall have a positive effect on the programming that 
     is broadcast locally by commercial channels and Cable TV. To 
     such ends, we support the efforts of the United States Senate 
     directed to reducing televised violence and improving the 
     quality of the programming, for the benefit of our children 
     and youths. Therefore, through this Resolution, the Senate of 
     Puerto Rico respectfully exhorts the Senate of the United 
     States to proceed with, and approve the `Childrens' Media 
     Protection Act' contained in S. 332.
       ``Be it resolved by the Senate of Puerto Rico:
       ``Section 1.--To express the United States Senate the 
     support of the Senate of Puerto Rico to the approval of S. 
     332, filed in that Body by Senator Kent Conrad, for the 
     purpose of establishing the `Childrens' Media Protection 
     Act', providing the mechanisms to limit the exposure of 
     children to television programs with a high content of 
     violence.
       ``Section 2.--The Secretary of the Senate of Puerto Rico is 
     hereby directed to remit a copy of this Resolution, in both 
     of our official languages, to the Senate of the United 
     States, to the Majority and Minority Floor Leaders of the 
     Senate of the United States, to the Chairperson and members 
     of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that 
     has for its consideration S. 332, to Senator Kent Conrad, 
     author of said legislative initiative, and to the Resident 
     Commissioner, Carlos Romero Barcelo.
       ``Section 3.--This Resolution shall take effect immediately 
     after its approval.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-102. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                      ``House Joint Memorial 4008

       ``Whereas, harbor seal and sea lion populations have 
     greatly expanded in recent years due to the almost absolute 
     protection afforded them under the federal Marine Mammal 
     Protection Act; and
       ``Whereas, seals and sea lions are active predators upon 
     anadromous fish such as salmon and steelhead trout; and
       ``Whereas, anadromous fish populations are significantly 
     reduced in numbers throughout Washington state, and some 
     stocks have been listed as threatened or endangered species; 
     and
       ``Whereas, many more anadromous fish stocks are likely to 
     be listed as threatened or endangered; and
       ``Whereas, in order to allow certain salmon and steelhead 
     populations to recover to and be sustained at viable levels, 
     it will be necessary to have more flexibility to manage seals 
     and sea lions in identifiable areas where they cause 
     unacceptable mortality levels in specific fish runs; and
       ``Whereas, while recent amendments to the federal Marine 
     Mammal Protection Act to allow for lethal removal of problem 
     seals or sea lions, the process established to do so in 
     cumbersome and time-consuming and will do little to protect 
     the fish; and
       ``Whereas, seal and sea lion predation of anadromous fish 
     is a problem that has been going on for some time and needs 
     to be addressed with some urgency;
       ``Now, therefore, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that 
     the Marine Mammal Protection Act be modified to allow for a 
     more common-sense approach to managing predacious seals and 
     sea lions, including provision for reasonable, balanced, and 
     prudent population levels of seals and sea lions in 
     Washington state and provision for the active management of 
     abundant populations at set levels determined with modern 
     wildlife management science by federal and state management 
     agencies, including use of a less cumbersome lethal removal 
     option when and where necessary. In asking for these 
     amendments, it is not our intention to decimate or eliminate 
     seals and sea lions but to find balance between protection of 
     marine mammals and protection of anadromous fish.
       ``Be it resolved, That copies of this Memorial be 
     immediately transmitted to the Honorable Bill Clinton, 
     President of the United States, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.''

                          ____________________