[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 19, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S13841]
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-291. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry.

                     ``Senate Concurrent Resolution

       ``Whereas, family violence is a severe problem in Texas, 
     accounting for more than 22 percent of violent crime in the 
     state; and
       ``Whereas, victims of family violence are frequently 
     handicapped in their efforts to leave their abusers because 
     of lack of support and shelter; and
       ``Whereas, current restrictions on food stamp applications 
     may force some victims to return to their abusers due to 
     requirements that a victim must seek and obtain refuge in a 
     battered women's shelter to qualify for immediate reissuance 
     of food stamps; and
       ``Whereas, in all of Texas there are only 62 full-service 
     battered women's shelters, and these are frequently too 
     crowded to accept new victims; and
       ``Whereas, the current federal policy frequently punishes 
     victims of family violence: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact 
     legislation to amend the food stamp program by adding a 
     special provision to allow food stamp workers to reissue food 
     stamp benefits to family members fleeing from domestic 
     violence, regardless of where they seek refuge, provided the 
     families present evidence that they were or are victims of 
     domestic violence; and, be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Texas Secretary of State forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, the president of the senate and speaker of the 
     house of representatives of the United States Congress, and 
     all members of the Texas delegation to the Congress with the 
     request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional 
     Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-292. A resolution adopted by the Council of the 
     Township of Old Bridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey relative 
     to demonstration programs; to the Committee on 
     Appropriations.
       POM-293. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                   ``Senate Concurrent Resolution 87

       ``Whereas, chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome 
     is the medical term for a group of symptoms that include 
     debilitating fatigue, fever, depression, and a reduced 
     ability to undertake normal daily activities or to function 
     productively; and
       ``Whereas, the disease affects people of all ages, 
     interrupting the education and employment of those afflicted 
     and imposing enormous social costs ranging from burdensome 
     medical expenses to increased demand for disability payments 
     and other social services; and
       ``Whereas, the syndrome was first recognized 10 years ago, 
     but there has been little effort to find either a cause or a 
     cure for the disease, with the result that patients are often 
     misdiagnosed, receive inadequate medical treatment, and can 
     face difficulty in receiving social services and public 
     assistance; and
       ``Whereas, both present and future generations would 
     benefit greatly if the resources of government were 
     marshalled to eliminate the personal and social costs of this 
     insidious and debilitating disease: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to 
     increase federal funding for research relating to chronic 
     fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome; and, be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Texas Secretary of State forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and to the President of the Senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all Members of the Texas delegation to the 
     Congress, with the request that this resolution be officially 
     entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the 
     Congress of the United States of America.''

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