[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 92 (Wednesday, June 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7912-S7918]
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-146. A petition from a citizen of the State of Indiana 
     relative to taxes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-147. A resolution adopted by the Board of 
     Representatives, Otsego County, New York relative to local 
     government resources; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-148. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Alexandria, Virginia relative to the flag; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.
       POM-149. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                  ``Senate Concurrent Resolution 1018

       ``Whereas, the people of the State of Arizona believe that 
     state legislatures should be provided with a method of 
     offering amendments to the Constitution of the United States: 
     Therefore be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House 
     of Representatives concurring:
       ``1. That the Congress of the United States propose to the 
     people of the United States an amendment to the Constitution 
     of the United States to amend the Constitution of the United 
     States as follows:


               ``Article v--amendment of the constitution

       ``The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall 
     deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this 
     Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of 
     two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for 
     proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid 
     to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, 
     when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the 
     several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, 
     as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed 
     by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made 
     prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall 
     in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the 
     Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no States, 
     without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage 
     in the Senate.
       ``Whenever three-fourths of the legislatures of the States 
     deem it necessary, they shall propose amendments to this 
     Constitution. These proposed amendments are valid for all 
     intents and purposes two years after these amendments are 
     submitted to Congress unless both Houses of Congress by a 
     two-thirds vote disapprove the proposed amendments within two 
     years after their submission.
       ``2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Concurrent Resolution to the 
     President of the United States, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the President of the Senate and the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives of each state's legislature 
     of the United States of America, and the Arizona 
     Congressional Delegation.''
       POM-150. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                  ``Senate Concurrent Resolution 1006

       ``Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the 
     House of Representatives concurring:
       ``1. The following Declaration of Sovereignty is adopted:
       ``Section I:
       ``A. We, the legislature of the State of Arizona, hereby 
     reaffirm the sovereignty of the states and of the 
     people. [[Page S7913]] 
       ``B. More than two centuries ago, the sovereign states, 
     representing the sovereign people did, of their own volition, 
     ratify the Constitution of the United States. In so doing, 
     the states, in concerted action, established the federal 
     government to perform certain limited and enumerated 
     functions. Under the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of 
     the United States, the powers not delegated to the federal 
     government were ``reserved to the states respectively, or to 
     the people.''
       ``Section II:
       ``A. Throughout the history of the United States, and 
     especially in recent decades, the federal government has, 
     without right, blatantly disregarded state sovereignty by 
     arrogating unto itself powers that were to have been reserved 
     to the states and to the people.
       ``(1.) It has conscripted states and their subordinate 
     levels of government to implement its programs through 
     federal mandates, funded and unfunded;
       ``(2.) It has requisitioned officers of states and their 
     subordinate levels of government to perform duties on its 
     behalf, bypassing state constitutional and legislative 
     processes;
       ``(3.) It has, as a result of expanding power, imprudently 
     increased spending, increased taxation and increased 
     regulation, which have, in consequence, reduced economic 
     growth by unnecessarily discouraging investment and job 
     creation;
       ``(4.) It has, through deficit spending and other actions, 
     created massive federal obligations that threaten the living 
     standards of the people, the solvency of the states and the 
     future of generations yet unborn;
       ``(5.) It has, by centralizing power in Washington, D.C., 
     created a ``democratic deficit,'' a condition under which the 
     federal government has assumed control over functions of 
     government that should have been reserved to state and local 
     governments, making effective control of government more 
     difficult for the people;
       ``(6.) It has, through unwarranted judicial intervention, 
     interposed itself between the states and the people on 
     matters not of federal jurisdiction;
       ``(7.) It has, through imprudent judicial review, 
     systematically expanded the power of Congress and the 
     Executive by usurping powers that were not intended under the 
     Constitution of the United States;
       ``(8.) It has evaded the restraints of the nation's 
     fundamental law, the Constitution of the United States, and 
     has in so doing engaged in the imposition of arbitrary laws, 
     administrative actions and judicial decisions.
       ``B. Through these actions, the federal government has 
     usurped the sovereignty of the states. And, through these 
     actions, the federal government has usurped the sovereignty 
     of the people.
       ``Section III:
       ``A. We declare that the federal government cannot, on its 
     own, legitimately diminish the sovereignty of the states and 
     of the people as intended under the Constitution of the 
     United States.
       ``B. The fundamental law of the nation may only be altered 
     in the manners prescribed by that fundamental law. We are 
     convinced that the policy failures that have accompanied 
     expanded central authority provide, in themselves, powerful 
     testimony to the importance of limiting the federal 
     government to those powers enumerated in the Constitution of 
     the United States. To correct these failures and to secure a 
     more favorable future for the nation, it is necessary that 
     the powers expropriated by the federal government be returned 
     to the states and to the people.
       ``Section IV:
       ``We therefore declare the following principles as 
     necessary to the restoration of the sovereignty of the states 
     and of the people, as required under the 10th Amendment of 
     the Constitution of the United States:
       ``(1.) The federal government should be restored to the 
     role assigned to it under the Constitution of the United 
     States. The powers usurped from the states and from the 
     people by the federal government should be returned in an 
     expeditious and orderly manner. Mechanisms exist for 
     interstate cooperation where necessary, such as interstate 
     compacts and voluntary uniform standards.
       ``(2.) Constitutional clauses that have been the source of 
     illegitimate federal expansion should be restored to their 
     original meaning. Federal expansion has often been based upon 
     unreasonably permissive interpretations of enumerated powers 
     under the Constitution of the United States, especially the 
     ``commerce'' clause.
       ``(3.) The federal government should not impose mandates, 
     unfunded or funded, on the states or on their subordinate 
     governments. The Constitution of the United States delineates 
     federal responsibilities and reserves all other 
     responsibilities to the states or to the people. Federal 
     mandates on state or local governments are unnecessary and 
     inappropriate.
       ``(4.) The federal government should be the exclusive 
     financier of its programs. By partially funding federal 
     programs, such as through matching grants, the federal 
     government distorts the priorities of state and local 
     governments, and establishes a democratic deficit that 
     virtually disenfranchises state and local voters. The federal 
     government has a legal obligation to fully fund its programs, 
     and should neither require nor entice state or local 
     governments to participate in the funding of federal 
     programs.
       ``(5.) All federal government relationships with local 
     governments should be through the states. All governments in 
     the United States are the creation of the states, which are 
     the creation of the people. One government, the federal 
     government, was created in concert by the states. All other 
     governments are the creation of, and subordinate to the 
     states respectively. Direct federal government-local 
     government relationships are inappropriate, except to the 
     extent specifically authorized by the constitution or laws of 
     a particular state.
       ``(6.) The federal government should not assign federal 
     responsibilities to officers of state or local governments. 
     Various federal laws designate state or local government 
     officers to perform federal functions. The federal government 
     should enlist state offices or departments to assist it in 
     the performance of its duties only when specifically 
     authorized by the constitution or laws of a particular state.
       ``(7.) The federal government's treaty making power should 
     be limited to powers that are clearly within the federal 
     scope of responsibility. The states have delegated treaty 
     making powers only with respect to those areas of authority 
     that have been delegated to the federal government.
       ``(8.) Congress should not act to displace state and local 
     police power--and the courts should not permit such 
     displacement--except where the Constitution authorizes. 
     Congress has preempted entire areas of regulation that have 
     traditionally been matters of state and local police power. 
     In addition, the federal courts have improperly condoned 
     these congressional assaults on local governance, under the 
     doctrine of implied preemption, the so-called ``dormant'' 
     commerce clause and other constitutional provisions.
       ``Section V:
       ``In support of these principles, we commit ourselves to 
     the pursuit of such remedies as may be necessary to restore 
     the sovereignty of the states and of the people, by:
       ``(1.) Legal actions to challenge the illegitimate exercise 
     of federal power;
       ``(2.) Repeals of laws by which federal power has been 
     illegitimately expanded;
       ``(3.) Such other actions as may be appropriate.
       ``2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to:
       ``(a) The President of the United States.
       ``(b) The President of the United States Senate.
       ``(c) The Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives.
       ``(d) Each Member of the Congress of the United States.
       ``(e) The presiding officer of each legislative house of 
     each other state in the United States.''
       POM-151. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     the Legislature of the State of Hawaii; to the Committee on 
     the Judiciary.

                     ``House Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 
     signed into law by President Clinton on August 10, 1993, 
     included the largest tax increase in history: $115 billion in 
     new taxes and a forty-seven percent increase in income tax 
     rates; and
       ``Whereas, the income, estate, and gift tax components of 
     the tax increase were retroactive, taking effect on January 
     1, 1993; and
       ``Whereas, Treasury Secretary Bentsen has declared that 
     more than one and one-quarter million small businesses will 
     be subject to retroactive taxation despite the 
     administration's claim that the tax increase ``only affected 
     the rich''; and
       ``Whereas, the retroactivity of the Omnibus Budget 
     Reconciliation Act of 1993 is unprecedented in that it became 
     effective during a previous administration--before President 
     Clinton or the 103rd Congress even took office; and
       ``Whereas, the passage of the bill resulted in loud public 
     outcry against retroactive taxation; and
       ``Whereas, retroactive taxation places an unfair and 
     intolerable burden on the American taxpayer; and
       ``Whereas, retroactive taxation is wrong, it is bad policy, 
     and it is a reprehensible action on the part of the 
     government: Now, Therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives of the 
     Eighteenth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular 
     Session of 1995, the Senate concurring, That the Legislature 
     of the State of Hawaii memorialize the Congress of the United 
     States to propose and submit to the several states an 
     amendment to the Constitution of the United States that would 
     provide that no federal tax shall be imposed for the period 
     before the date of the enactment of the retroactive tax; and 
     be it further
       ``Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United 
     States, the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Clerk 
     of the United States House of Representatives, Hawaii's 
     Congressional delegation, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and the Senate President.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-152. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                          ``Senate Resolution

       ``Whereas, the flag of the United States is the ultimate 
     symbol of our country and it is the unique fiber that holds 
     together a diverse and different people into a nation we call 
     America and the United States; and
       ``Whereas, as of May 1994, 46 states, representing more 
     than ninety percent of our [[Page S7914]] national 
     population, have adopted similar acts urging Congress to 
     protect the American flag from physical desecration; and
       ``Whereas, although the right of free expression is part of 
     the foundation of the United States Constitution, very 
     carefully drawn limits on expression in specific instances 
     have long been recognized as an appropriate means of 
     maintaining public safety and decency, as well as orderliness 
     and a productive value of public debate; and
       ``Whereas, certain actions, although arguably related to 
     one person's free expression, nevertheless raise issues 
     concerning public decency, public peace, and the rights of 
     other citizens; and
       ``Whereas, there are symbols of our national heritage such 
     as the Washington Monument, the United States Capitol 
     Building, and memorials to our greatest leaders, which are 
     the property of every American and are therefore worthy of 
     protection from desecration and dishonor; and
       ``Whereas, the American Flag is a most honorable and worthy 
     banner of a nation which is thankful for its strengths and 
     committed to overcoming its weaknesses; and
       ``Whereas, the American flag remains a symbol for the 
     destination of millions of immigrants attracted to the the 
     American ideal; and
       ``Whereas, the law as interpreted by the United States 
     Supreme Court no longer accords the reverence, respect, and 
     dignity befitting the banner of the United States, that most 
     noble experiment of a nation-state: Now, Therefore, be it
       ``RESOLVED by the Senate of the Eighteenth Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1995, that this body 
     respectfully urges the President of the United States and the 
     United States Congress to join in a concerted effort in 
     amending the United States Constitution to prohibit the 
     physical desecration of the United States Flag; and be it 
     further
       ``Resolved That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     Secretary of the United States Senate, the Clerk of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and each member of 
     the Hawaii congressional delegation.
       POM-153. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Illinois; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                     ``House Joint Resolution No. 8

       ``Whereas, the United States Congress will be considering a 
     resolution to propose an amendment to the United States 
     Constitution providing for a balanced budget: and
       ``Whereas, federal budget deficits are fiscally 
     irresponsible and will place an onerous burden on future 
     generations of Americans and erode our Nation's standard of 
     living; and
       ``Whereas, the federal government, unfettered by a 
     requirement to balance its budget, often spends the 
     taxpayers' dollars indiscriminately; and
       ``Whereas, the federal government borrows extremely large 
     amounts because of budget deficits: this borrowing diverts 
     money that would otherwise be available for private 
     investment and consumption and will inevitably result in 
     higher long-term interest rates; and
       ``Whereas, the costs of not acting are high and will get 
     exponentially higher the longer hesitation continues; 
     mandatory spending and interest expense will continue to 
     squeeze out all discretionary spending; therefore, even if 
     the amendment is not adopted, states will face many pressures 
     to assume the federal role in domestic programs; the balanced 
     budget amendment will create a foundation for long-term 
     stability, rather than allowing the deficit slowly to erode 
     federal discretionary programs and undermine the American 
     economy; and
       ``Whereas, a balanced budget amendment to the United States 
     Constitution will impose the discipline and responsibility 
     that Congress must exercise in order to assure the vitality 
     of our economy and our Nation; and
       ``Whereas, the amendment will give Congress and the 
     President time to eliminate the deficit, avoiding the sudden 
     shock that opponents fear could throw the economy into 
     recession; and
       ``Whereas, it is in the best interests of the People of the 
     State of Illinois that a balanced budget to the Constitution 
     of the United States be adopted: Therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the eighty-
     ninth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, the Senate 
     concurring herein. That we urge the United States Congress to 
     immediately adopt a resolution proposing a balanced budget 
     amendment to the Constitution of the United States of 
     America; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to 
     the President pro tempore of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and 
     each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-154. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Iowa; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                       ``Senate Resolution No. 8

       ``Whereas, the 50 states, including the State of Iowa, have 
     long been required by their state constitutions to balance 
     their state operating budgets; and
       ``Whereas, the states have balanced their state operating 
     budgets by making difficult choices each budget session to 
     ensure that their expenditures do not exceed their revenues;
       ``Whereas, without a balanced federal budget, the federal 
     deficit may continue to grow and continue to have serious 
     negative impact on interest rates, available credit for 
     consumers, and taxpayer obligations; and
       ``Whereas, the Congress of the United States, in the last 
     two years, has begun to reduce the annual federal deficit by 
     making substantial reductions in federal spending; and
       ``Whereas, achieving a balanced federal budget by the year 
     2002 will require continued reductions in the annual deficit, 
     averaging almost 15 percent per year over the next seven 
     years; and
       ``Whereas, it now appears that Congress, by passing a 
     balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution, 
     is willing to impose on itself the same budgetary discipline 
     exhibited by the states; and
       ``Whereas, Congress, in working to balance the federal 
     budget, may impose on the states unfunded mandates that shift 
     to the states responsibility for carrying out programs that 
     Congress can no longer afford; and
       ``Whereas, the states will better be able to revise their 
     state budgets if Congress gives them fair warning of the 
     revisions Congress will be making in the federal budget; and
       ``Whereas, if the federal budget is to be brought into 
     balance by the year 2002, major reductions in the annual 
     federal deficit must continue unabated; and
       ``Whereas, these major reductions will be more acceptable 
     to the states and to the people of the United States if they 
     are shown to be part of a realistic long-term plan to balance 
     the federal budget: Now Therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate, That it urges the Congress of the 
     United States to continue its progress in reducing the annual 
     federal deficit and, when Congress proposes to the states a 
     balanced budget amendment, to accompany it with financial 
     information on its impact on the budget of the State of Iowa 
     for state budget planning purposes.
       ``Be it further resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate 
     send copies of this Resolution to the Clerk of the United 
     States House of Representatives and the Secretary of the 
     United States Senate, to all members of Iowa's congressional 
     delegation, and to the presiding officers of both houses of 
     the legislature of each of the other states.''
       POM-155. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Massachusetts; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.

                              ``Resolution

       ``Whereas, the travel agent industry employs a substantial 
     number of full and part-time travel agents in the 
     commonwealth who derive almost one-third of their earnings 
     from the traditional ten percent commission on airline ticket 
     sales; and
       ``Whereas, virtually every major airline has proposed the 
     imposition of a cap on these sales commissions, such that 
     airlines will pay no more than twenty-five dollars on one-way 
     domestic tickets and fifty dollars for round-trip tickets 
     instead of the current commission of ten percent of the cost 
     of the ticket; and
       ``Whereas, the imposition of such a cap would devastate the 
     travel agent industry, resulting in the loss of thousands of 
     jobs held primarily by women and single parents, and adding 
     to the unemployment in the commonwealth; and
       ``Whereas, the job loss would have a negative impact on the 
     State budget, resulting in a decrease in formerly collected 
     income taxes and an increase in state unemployment 
     compensation expenditures; and
       ``Whereas, the proposed cap would also harm the travelling 
     public which would become a captive customer of the airline 
     industry, and would no longer be able to rely on 
     knowledgeable travel agents to guide it through the maze of 
     travel-related information and provide the most cost-
     effective travel recommendations; and
       ``Whereas, it has not yet been determined whether the 
     airline industry's lockstep approach to cost savings through 
     the imposition of the commission cap constitutes a violation 
     of antitrust law: Therefore be it
       ``Resolved, That the Massachusetts House of Representatives 
     respectfully urges the Attorney General of the United States 
     to conduct an investigation to determine if the airlines' 
     imposition of a cap on the sales commissions of travel agents 
     constitutes a violation of federal antitrust law; and 
     respectfully requests the Congress of the United States to 
     enact legislation prohibiting the imposition of commission 
     caps until the Attorney General has completed her 
     investigation; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be forwarded 
     by the clerk of the House of Representatives to the Attorney 
     General of the United States, the Majority Leader of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from 
     the commonwealth.
       POM-156. A concurrent resolution adopted by the legislature 
     of the state of Michigan; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                  ``House Concurrent Resolution No. 13

       ``Whereas, the effectiveness of the item veto is readily 
     apparent if one examines the success of such a power at the 
     state level. States are often referred to as laboratories 
     where innovative programs may be tested before use at the 
     federal level, yet we fail to act on the obvious advantages 
     of the line item veto demonstrated in the states. Forty- 
     [[Page S7915]] two states and five major overseas possessions 
     of the United States grant their executive branch some form 
     of line item veto power. Some require simple majorities of 
     the legislature to override, others require a three-fifths 
     majority, while still others, including Michigan, require a 
     two-thirds majority; and
       ``Whereas, clearly, such a power has not prevented state 
     legislatures from exercising their authority to enact 
     legislation and to appropriate money. Instead, it has proven 
     to be an indispensable tool to bring spending into line with 
     available resources. Congress should, in a demonstration of 
     its unswerving determination to reform our budget process, 
     take action to grant the President of the United States line 
     item veto authority; now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 
     concurring, That we hereby memorialize the United States 
     Congress to take action to grant the President line item veto 
     authority; 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, and the members 
     of the Michigan congressional delegation as a symbol of our 
     support for such action.''
       POM-157. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Montana; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                           ``Joint Resolution

       ``Whereas, under Article III, section 1, of the United 
     States Constitution, the Congress of the United States has 
     plenary power to ordain and establish the federal courts 
     below the Supreme Court level; and
       ``Whereas, in 1988, the 100th Congress created the Federal 
     Courts Study Committee as an ad hoc committee within the 
     Judicial Conference of the United States to examine the 
     problems facing the federal courts and to develop a long-term 
     plan for the Judiciary; and
       ``Whereas, the Study Committee found that the federal 
     appellate courts are faced with a crisis of volume that will 
     continue into the future and that the structure of these 
     courts will require some fundamental changes; and
       ``Whereas, the Study Committee did not endorse any one 
     solution but served only to draw attention to the serious 
     problems of the courts of appeals; and
       ``Whereas, the Study Committee recommended that fundamental 
     structural alternatives deserve the careful attention of 
     Congress and of the courts, bar associations, and scholars 
     over the next 5 years; and
       ``Whereas, the problems of the circuit court system and the 
     alternative for revising the system represent a policy choice 
     that requires Congress to weigh costs and benefits and to 
     seek the solution that best serves the judicial needs of the 
     nation; and
       ``Whereas, there are 13 judicial circuits of the United 
     States courts of appeals; and
       ``Whereas, Montana is in the Ninth Circuit, which consists 
     of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, 
     Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana 
     Islands; and
       ``Whereas, in 1980, it was estimated that the Ninth 
     Circuit: covers nine states and two territories, totaling 
     approximately 14 million square miles; serves a population of 
     almost 44 million people, 15 million more than the next 
     largest circuit court and about 20 million more than all 
     other courts of appeals; has 28 judges, 12 more than the next 
     largest circuit court and 16 more than the average circuit 
     court; and has a caseload of more than 6,000 appeals, 2,000 
     larger than the next largest court of appeals and nearly one-
     sixth of the total appeals in all the 12 regional courts of 
     appeals; and
       ``Whereas, projections are that at the current rate of 
     growth, the Ninth Circuit's 1980 docket of cases will double 
     before the year 2000; and
       ``Whereas, statistics reveal that, because of the number of 
     judges in the Ninth Circuit, there are numerous opportunities 
     for conflicting holdings--one legal scholar has estimated 
     that on a 28-judge court there are over 3,000 combinations of 
     panels that may decide an issue, without counting senior 
     judges, district judges, and judges sitting by designation; 
     and
       ``Whereas, legal scholars have suggested that because the 
     United States Supreme Court reviews less than 1% of appellate 
     decisions, the concept of regional stare decisis, or 
     adherence to decided cases, results, in effect, in each court 
     of appeals becoming a junior supreme court with final 
     decision power over all issues of federal law in each circuit 
     (unless and until reviewed by the Supreme Court); and
       ``Whereas, the Ninth Circuit has been described as an 
     experiment in judicial administration and a laboratory in 
     which to test whether the values of a large circuit can be 
     preserved; and
       ``Whereas, some legal scholars have opposed its division on 
     the grounds that to divide the Ninth Circuit would be to 
     loose the benefit of an experiment in judicial administration 
     that has not yet run its course; and
       ``Whereas, the problems of the Ninth Circuit are immediate 
     and growing and maintaining the court in its present state is 
     a disservice to the citizens of Montana and other Ninth 
     Circuit states and territories; and
       ``Whereas, it is generally understood that an essential 
     element of a federal appellate system must include 
     guaranteeing regionalized and decentralized review when 
     regional concerns are strongest; and
       ``Whereas, because of the problems of the Ninth Circuit 
     related to its dimensions of geography, population, 
     judgeships, docket, and costs, it is desirable for the 
     Northwest states to be placed in a separate circuit, 
     consisting mainly of contiguous states with common interests; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the existing circuit boundary lines have been 
     called arbitrary products of history; and
       ``Whereas, Congress has at least twice divided circuits: in 
     1929, to spearate the new Tenth Circuit from the Eighth 
     Circuit, and in 1981, to separate the new Eleventh Circuit 
     from the Fifth Circuit; and
       ``Whereas, Congress, in 1989, considered and is expected, 
     in 1995, to again consider a bill to divide the Ninth 
     Judicial Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals into 
     two circuits--a new Ninth Circuit, composed of Arizona, 
     California, and Nevada, and a new Twelfth Circuit, composed 
     of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Guam, 
     and the Northern Mariana Islands; and
       ``Whereas, it is the proper function of Congress to 
     determine circuit boundaries and it is desirable that Montana 
     be included in a regional circuit that will allow relief for 
     its citizens from the problems occasioned by its inclusion in 
     the present Ninth Circuit: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives 
     of the State of Montana: That the Legislature of the State of 
     Montana urge Congress to turn its thoughtful attention to the 
     passage of legislation that will split the existing Ninth 
     Judicial Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals into 
     two circuits and that will include Montana in a circuit 
     composed in large part of other Northwest states with similar 
     regional interests, Be it further
       ``Resolved, That the President of the United States be 
     urged to place a Montana judge on the federal circuit court 
     for Montana, Be it further
       Resolved, That Congress grant this relief and pass this 
     legislation immediately, regardless of considerations of 
     long-term changes to the appellate system in general, Be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That the Secretary of State send copies of this 
     resolution to the Secretary of the United States Senate, the 
     Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     President of the United States, and the members of Montana's 
     Congressional Delegation.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-158. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Montana; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                           ``Joint Resolution

       ``Whereas, at yearend 1993, 34 states and the federal 
     prison system held 2,716 prisoners under sentence of death; 
     and
       ``Whereas, in capital cases it has been estimated that the 
     average length of time from commission of the crime to 
     execution of the sentence was 8 years, 2 months; and
       ``Whereas, justice delayed is justice denied; and
       ``Whereas, the delay and small number of executions 
     associated with capital cases indicates that the present 
     system of collateral review operates to frustrate the capital 
     punishment laws of the states; and
       ``Whereas, capital litigation is often chaotic, with 
     periodic inactivity and last-minute frenzied activity and 
     rescheduling of execution dates; and
       ``Whereas, this chaotic nature of capital litigation 
     diminishes public confidence in the criminal justice system; 
     and
       ``Whereas, reform of the appellate review process in 
     capital cases would reduce the cost of death penalty cases by 
     reducing the number and length of appeals proceedings; and
       ``Whereas, reforms to the appellate review process, such as 
     allowing federal habeas corpus petitions to be filed for only 
     a 6-month period following final decision by a state court 
     and restricting the filing of second or successive federal 
     habeas corpus petitions, would provide an orderly 
     postconviction process with the opportunity for fair and 
     effective review: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives 
     of the State of Montana:
       ``(1) That the Senate and the House of Representatives of 
     the United States be encouraged to enact meaningful reforms 
     to limit successive appeals in death penalty cases.
       ``(2) That such reforms include allowing federal habeas 
     corpus petitions to be filed for only a 6-month period 
     following the date on which the conviction becomes final and 
     imposing restrictions on the filing of second or successive 
     federal habeas corpus petitions.
       ``(3) That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     presiding officers of the United States and House of 
     Representatives and to the members of the Montana 
     Congressional Delegation.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-159. A joint resolution adopted by the Assembly of the 
     State of Nevada; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                   ``Assembly Joint Resolution No. 15

       ``Whereas, the use, possession and distribution of 
     unlawfully obtained controlled substances continues to be a 
     problem of paramount concern in the United States; and
       ``Whereas, because studies estimate that 10 times more 
     Americans use alcohol and five times more Americans use 
     tobacco than persons who use illicit drugs, and because the 
     permissive and subsequently increased use of controlled 
     substances to countries such as Italy and the Neitherlands 
     indicates that the [[Page S7916]] use of controlled 
     substances increases when laws regulating their use are 
     nonexistent or are only passively enforced, it could be 
     concluded that the legalization of the use, possession and 
     distribution of unlawfully obtained controlled substances 
     would lead to a proportionate increase in their use in the 
     United States; and
       ``Whereas, many violent crimes, including domestic 
     violence, are committed while the offenders are under the 
     influence of an illegally obtained controlled substance; and
       ``Whereas, the legalization of the use, possession and 
     distribution of unlawfully obtained controlled substances may 
     consequently increase the number of violent crimes committed 
     in the United States; and
       ``Whereas, the illegal use of controlled substances may 
     create a direct impact upon the cost of health care 
     associated with drug abuse, thereby dramatically increasing 
     the cost of that care; and
       ``Whereas, the increased usage that would result from the 
     legalization of the use, possession and distribution of 
     unlawfully obtained controlled substances and its possible 
     resulting increase in the cost of health care would also 
     directly impact and adversely affect economic productivity in 
     the United States; Now therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the assembly and Senate of the State of 
     Nevada, jointly, That the Nevada Legislature hereby urges the 
     Congress and the President of the United States to oppose the 
     legalization of the use, possession and distribution of 
     unlawfully obtained controlled substances in the United 
     States; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare 
     and transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of 
     the United States, 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-160. A joint resolution adopted by the Assembly of the 
     State of Nevada; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                   ``Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1

       ``Whereas, the text of the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact 
     is set forth in full in NRS 277.200; and
       ``Whereas, the compact was amended by the State of 
     California and the amendments were adopted by the Nevada 
     Legislature in 1987; and
       ``Whereas, the amendments become effective upon their 
     approval by the Congress of the United States; and
       ``Whereas, the amendments would authorize certain members 
     of the California and Nevada delegations which constitute the 
     governing body of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to 
     appoint alternates to attend meetings and vote in the absence 
     of the appointed members, alter the selection process of the 
     Nevada delegation and further expand the powers of the Tahoe 
     Transportation District; and
       ``Whereas, the compact was enacted to achieve regional 
     goals in conserving the natural resources of the entire Lake 
     Tahoe Basin and the amendments are consistent with this 
     objective: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     Nevada, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of Nevada 
     hereby urges the Congress of the United States to expedite 
     ratification of the amendments to the Tahoe Regional Planning 
     Compact made by the State of California and adopted by the 
     Nevada Legislature in 1987; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly 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-161. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Tennessee; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                              ``Resolution

       ``Whereas, one of the most trustworthy indicators of the 
     health, strength and progress of a nation is the esteem in 
     which the family is held; and
       ``Whereas, family strength, unity and respect cannot be 
     purchased or fabricated, but comes to us instead when 
     families are together and realize that through interaction 
     they know love, trust and hope; and
       ``Whereas, life is special when we realize the worth of the 
     family and its importance in all relationships; and
       ``Whereas, the family is the center of our affections and 
     the foundation of our American society; and
       ``Whereas, no institution can take the family's place in 
     giving meaning to human life and stability in our society; 
     and
       ``Whereas, it is fitting that official recognition be given 
     to the importance of strengthening family life: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate of the ninety-ninth General 
     Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, That this General Assembly hereby 
     memorializes the U.S. Congress to enact legislation 
     establishing the last Sunday of August of each year as a day 
     of national observance to be known as ``Family Day'' in order 
     to focus attention and to confer honor upon the importance of 
     the American family as the cornerstone of our society, be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Senate is directed 
     to transmit enrolled copies of this resolution to the 
     Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States, the 
     Honorable Al Gore, Vice President of the United States, and 
     to each member of the Tennessee delegation to the U.S. 
     Congress.''
       POM-162. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Tennessee; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                    ``Senate Joint Resolution No. 97

       ``Whereas, one of the most trustworthy indicators of the 
     health, strength and progress of a nation is the esteem in 
     which the family is held; and
       ``Whereas, family strength, unity and respect cannot be 
     purchased or fabricated, but comes to us instead when 
     families are together and realize that through interaction 
     they know love, trust and hope; and
       ``Whereas, life is special when we realize the worth of the 
     family and its importance in all relationships; and
       ``Whereas, the family is the center of our affections and 
     the foundation of our American society; and
       ``Whereas, no institution can take the family's place in 
     giving meaning to human life and stability in our society; 
     and
       ``Whereas, it is fitting that official recognition be given 
     to the importance of strengthening family life: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate of the ninety-ninth General 
     Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, That this General Assembly hereby 
     memorializes the U.S. Congress to enact legislation 
     establishing the last Sunday of August of each year as a day 
     of national observance to be known as ``Family Day'' in order 
     to focus attention and to confer honor upon the importance of 
     the American family as the cornerstone of our society, be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Senate is directed 
     to transmit enrolled copies of this resolution to the 
     Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States, the 
     Honorable Al Gore, Vice President of the United States, and 
     to each member of the Tennessee delegation to the U.S. 
     Congress.''
       POM-163. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                     ``Senate Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, the United States flag belongs to all Americans 
     and ought not be desecrated by any one individual, even under 
     principles of free expression, any more than we would allow 
     desecration of the Declaration of Independence, Statue of 
     Liberty, Lincoln Memorial, Yellowstone National Park, or any 
     other common inheritance which the people of this land hold 
     dear; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Supreme Court, in 
     contravention of this postulate, has by a narrow decision 
     held to be a First Amendment freedom the license to destroy 
     in protest this cherished symbol of our national heritage; 
     and
       ``Whereas, whatever legal arguments may be offered to 
     support this contention, the incineration or other mutilation 
     of the flag of the United States of America is repugnant to 
     all those who have saluted it, paraded beneath it on the 
     Fourth of July, been saluted by its half-mast configuration, 
     or raised it inspirationally in remote corners of the globe 
     where they have defended the ideals of which it is 
     representative; and
       ``Whereas, the members of the Legislature of the State of 
     Texas, while respectful of dissenting political views, 
     themselves dissent forcefully from the court decision, 
     echoing the beliefs of all patriotic Americans that this flag 
     is OUR flag and not a private property subject to a private 
     prerogative to main or despoil in the passion of individual 
     protest; and
       ``Whereas, as stated by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 
     writing for three of the four justices who comprised the 
     minority in the case, ``Surely one of the high purposes of a 
     democratic society is to legislate against conduct that is 
     regarded as evil and profoundly offensive to the majority of 
     people--whether it be murder, embezzlement, pollution, or 
     flag burning''; and
       ``Whereas, this legislature concurs with the court minority 
     that the Stars and Stripes is deserving of a unique sanctity, 
     free to wave in perpetuity over the spacious skies where our 
     bald eagles fly, the fruited plain above which our mountain 
     majesties soar, and the venerable heights to which our 
     melting pot of peoples and their posterity aspire. Now, 
     therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby petition the Congress of the United States of America 
     to propose to the states an amendment to the United States 
     Constitution, protecting the American flag and 50 state flags 
     from wilful desecration and exempting such desecration from 
     constitutional construction as a First Amendment right; and, 
     be it further
       ``Resolved, That official copies of this resolution be 
     prepared and forwarded by the Texas secretary of state to the 
     speaker of the home of representatives and president of the 
     senate of the United States Congress and to all members of 
     the Texas delegation to that congress, with the request that 
     it be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a 
     memorial to the Congress of the United States; and, be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That a copy of the resolution be prepared and 
     forwarded also to President Bill Clinton, asking that he lend 
     his support to the proposal and adoption of a flag-protection 
     constitutional amendment; and, be it finally [[Page S7917]] 
       ``Resolved, That official copies likewise be sent to the 
     presiding officers of the legislatures of the several states, 
     inviting them to join with Texas to secure this amendment and 
     to restore this nation's banners to their rightful status of 
     treasured reverence.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-164. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                      ``Senate Joint Memorial 8006

       ``Whereas, although the right of free expression is part of 
     the foundation of the United States Constitution, very 
     carefully drawn limits on expression in specific instances 
     have long been recognized as legitimate means of maintaining 
     public safety and decency, as well as orderliness and 
     productive value of public debate; and
       ``Whereas, certain actions, although arguably related to 
     one person's free expression, nevertheless raise issues 
     concerning public decency, public peace, and the rights of 
     expression and sacred values of others; and
       ``Whereas, there are symbols of our national soul such as 
     the Washington Monument, the United States Capitol Building, 
     and memorials to our greatest leaders, which are the property 
     of every American and are therefore worthy of protection from 
     desecration and dishonor; and
       ``Whereas, the American Flag to this day is a most 
     honorable and worthy banner of a nation that is thankful for 
     its strengths and committed to curing its faults, and remains 
     the destination of millions of immigrants attracted by the 
     universal power of the American ideal; and
       ``Whereas, the law as interpreted by the United States 
     Supreme Court no longer accords to the Stars and Stripes that 
     reverence, respect, and dignity befitting the banner of that 
     most noble experiment of a nation-state; and
       ``Whereas, it is only fitting that people everywhere should 
     lend their voices to a forceful call for a restoration of the 
     Stars and Stripes to a proper station under law and decency: 
     Now, Therefore, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the 
     Congress of the United States propose an amendment of the 
     United States Constitution, for ratification by the states, 
     specifying that Congress and the states shall have the power 
     to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the 
     United States; be it ``Resolved, That certified copies of 
     this Memorial be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of 
     State to the President and the Secretary of the United States 
     Senate, to the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States 
     House of Representatives, and to each Member of this state's 
     delegation to the Congress.''
       POM-165. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                      ``Senate Joint Memorial 8010

       ``Be it resolved, That the Legislature of the State of 
     Washington, pursuant to Article V of the United States 
     Constitution, hereby postratifies an amendment to that 
     document proposed by the very first Congress of the United 
     States, sitting in the City of New York on September 25, 
     1789, which amendment reads as follows:


                           ``amendment xxvii

       ``No law, varying the compensation for the services of the 
     [United States] Senators and [United States] Representatives, 
     shall take effect, until an election of [United States] 
     Representatives shall have intervened.''; and
       ``That, the Legislature of the State of Washington 
     acknowledges that the constitutional amendment in question 
     has received the approval of the legislatures of the 
     following states on the dates indicated:
       ``Maryland on December 19, 1789 (138 Cong. Rec. S6831-2);
       ``North Carolina, first, on December 22, 1789 (138 Cong. 
     Rec. S6832-3); and then a second time on June 30, 1989 (139 
     Cong. Rec. S22);
       ``South Carolina on January 19, 1790 (138 Cong. Rec. 
     S6833);
       ``Delaware on January 28, 1790 (138 Cong. Rec. S6833-4);
       ``Vermont on November 3, 1791 (138 Cong. Rec. S6834);
       ``Virginia on December 15, 1791 (138 Cong. Rec. S6834-5);
       ``Ohio on May 6, 1873 (138 Cong. Rec. S6835-6);
       ``Wyoming on March 3, 1978 (124 Cong. Rec. 7910, 8265-6; 
     133 Cong. Rec. 25418-9; 138 Cong. Rec. S6836);
       ``Maine on April 27, 1983 (130 Cong. Rec. 24320, 25007-; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6836-7);
       ``Colorado on April 18, 1984 (131 Cong. Rec. 36505; 132 
     Cong. Rec. 22146; 138 Cong. Rec. S6837);
       ``South Dakota on February 21, 1985 (131 Cong. Rec. 4299, 
     5815; 138 Cong. Rec. S6837);
       ``New Hampshire on March 7, 1985 (131 Cong. Rec. 5987, 
     6689; 138 Cong. Rec. S6837);
       ``Arizona on April 3, 1985 (131 Cong. Rec. 8057; 9443; 138 
     Cong. Rec. S6838);
       ``Tennessee on May 23, 1985 (131 Cong. Rec. 21277, 22264, 
     27963; 138 Cong. Rec. S6838);
       ``Oklahoma on July 10, 1985 (131 Cong. Rec. 22898, 27963-4; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6114-5, S6506, S6838);
       ``New Mexico on February 13, 1986 (132 Cong. Rec. 3649, 
     3956-7; 4077; 138 Cong. Rec. S6838);
       ``Indiana on February 19, 1986 (132 Cong. Rec. 6638, 8284; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6839);
       ``Utah on February 25, 1986 (132 Cong. Rec. 12480, 13834-5; 
     133 Cong. Rec. 31424; 138 Cong. Rec. S6839);
       ``Arkansas on March 5, 1987 (134 Cong. Rec. 12562, 14023; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6839);
       ``Montana on March 11, 1987 (133 Cong. Rec. 7428, 11618-9; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6839-40);
       ``Connecticut on May 13, 1987 (133 Cong. Rec. 23571, 23648-
     9; 138 Cong. Rec. S6840);
       ``Wisconsin on June 30, 1987 (133 Cong. Rec. 23649, 24957, 
     25417, 26159-60; 138 Cong. Rec. S6840);
       ``Georgia on February 2, 1988 (134 Cong. Rec. 9155, 9525; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6840);
       ``West Virginia on March 10, 1988 (134 Cong. Rec. 8569, 
     8752; 138 Cong. Rec. S6840-1);
       ``Louisiana on July 6, 1988 (134 Cong. Rec. 18470, 18760; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6841);
       ``Iowa on February 7, 1989 (135 Cong. Rec. 5171, 5821; 138 
     Cong. Rec. S6841);
       ``Idaho on March 23, 1989 (135 Cong. Rec. 9140, 14572-3; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S.6842);
       ``Nevada on April 26, 1989 (135 Cong. Rec. 9996, 19926-7; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6842);
       ``Alaska on May 5, 1989 (135 Cong. Rec. 14816, 19782; 138 
     Cong. Rec. S6842);
       ``Oregon on May 19, 1989 (135 Cong. Rec. 20442, 20519-20, 
     21589, 22413; 138 Cong. Rec. S6841);
       ``Minnesota on May 22, 1989 (135 Cong. Rec. 13623, 14147, 
     14475, 14573; 138 Cong. Rec. S6842-3);
       ``Texas on May 25, 1989 (135 Cong. Rec. 11818, 11900-1; 138 
     Cong. Rec. S6843);
       ``Kansas on April 5, 1990 (136 Cong. Rec. H1689, S9170, 
     12550-1; 138 Cong. Rec. S6843-4);
       ``Florida on May 31, 1990 (136 Cong. Rec. H5198, S10091; 
     138 Cong. Rec. S6844);
       ``North Dakota on March 25, 1991 (137 Cong. Rec. H2261, 
     S10949; 138 Cong. Rec. S6844-5);
       ``Missouri during the a.m. hours of May 5, 1992 (138 Cong. 
     Rec. H3924, S6845, S14974, E1532-3, E1634, E1651);
       ``Alabama during the p.m. hours of May 5, 1992 (138 Cong. 
     Rec. H3729, H3739, S6845, S8387);
       ``Michigan during the a.m. hours of May 7, 1992 (138 Cong. 
     Rec. H3093, S6845-6, S7026);
       ``New Jersey during the a.m. hours of May 7, 1992 (138 
     Cong. Rec. S6846);
       ``Illinois on May 12, 1992 (138 Cong. Rec. H3729, H3739, 
     S6846, S8387-8);
       ``California on June 26, 1992 (138 Cong. Rec. H10100, 
     S18271, E2237);
       ``Rhode Island on June 10, 1993 (139 Cong. Rec. H4681, 
     S9981-2); and
       ``Hawaii on April 29, 1994 (140 Cong. Rec. H3791, S7956); 
     and
       ``That, the Legislature of the State of Washington further 
     acknowledges: That the constitutional amendment in question 
     became Amendment XXVII to the United States Constitution 
     during the a.m. hours of May 7, 1992, when the Legislature of 
     the State of Michigan became the thirty-eighth state 
     legislature to ratify it; that on May 18, 1992, the Archivist 
     of the United States issued a proclamation published in the 
     Federal Register concluding that the two hundred four-year-
     old proposal had, in fact, been incorporated into the United 
     States Constitution; and that on May 20, 1992, both the 
     United States Senate and the United States House of 
     Representatives, by roll-call votes, adopted resolutions 
     agreeing with the Archivist's conclusion; and
       ``That, while the Legislature of the State of Washington is 
     quite aware of this constitutional amendment's success in 
     already having become part of the United States Constitution, 
     it is important that the stamp-of-approval of the State of 
     Washington join the legislatures of the forty-three other 
     states that have already given their assent to what is now 
     Amendment XXVII, be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the 
     United States, the Archivist of the United States (pursuant 
     to P.L. 98-497), the President of the United States Senate, 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member 
     of Congress from the State of Washington, with the request 
     that this joint memorial's text be reprinted in its entirety 
     in the Congressional Record.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-166. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Wyoming; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       ``Whereas, for one hundred twenty-five (125) years the 
     women of Wyoming have been granted the right to vote, the 
     state of Wyoming being the first government in the world to 
     grant women suffrage, thus earning the name Equality State 
     for the people of Wyoming; and
       ``Whereas, on December 10, 1869, Wyoming's first 
     Territorial Governor, John A. Campbell sighed a bill making 
     Wyoming the first government to grant women the right to 
     vote, a proud day in the struggle for equal rights, a 
     milestone in the history of Wyoming and the history of the 
     United States; and
       ``Whereas, Wyoming women held the privilege of voting for 
     fifty (50) years before the 19th Amendment to the United 
     States Constitution was ratified giving all women in the 
     United States the right to vote; and
       ``Whereas, 1995 marks the 75th anniversary of the passage 
     of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution which 
     brought all women of the United States out of second class 
     citizenship into full partnership politically and extended to 
     them the right to vote, own property and be elected to 
     office; and
       ``Whereas, women continue to work on issues of equality in 
     areas including education, economy and health care.
       Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the 
     Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
       ``Section 1. That the State of Wyoming join citizens across 
     the land in commemorating one hundred twenty-five (125) years 
     of 
     [[Page S7918]] voting rights for Wyoming women and in 
     celebrating the 75th anniversary of the 19th Amendment 
     guaranteeing the right to vote to all women in the United 
     States.
       ``Section 2. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming 
     transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress 
     and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.''
     

                          ____________________