[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 148 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S14085]
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-294. A resolution adopted by the Military Chaplains 
     Association relative to military retired pay; to the 
     Committee on Armed Services.
       POM-295. A resolution adopted by the Military Chaplains 
     Association relative to the retention of military 
     commissaries; to the Committee on Armed Services.
       POM-296. A resolution adopted by the Military Chaplains 
     Association relative to cost-of-living adjustments; to the 
     Committee on Armed Services.
       POM-297. A resolution adopted by the Military Chaplains 
     Association relative to the Uniformed Services University of 
     the Health Services; to the Committee on Armed Services.
       POM-298. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Texas; to the Committee on Armed 
     Services.

                          ``Resolution No. 38

       ``Whereas, Americans recognize and appreciate the enormous 
     sacrifices made by United States military personnel who 
     served courageously in the Vietnam War and the conflict in 
     Southeast Asia, some of whom are still classified as missing 
     in action; and
       ``Whereas, while the status of most of the American 
     soldiers who lost their lives or were injured during this 
     long military engagement is certain, the fate of more than 
     2,000 military personnel remains unknown decades after the 
     United States' final withdrawal from Vietnam; and
       ``Whereas, the unresolved status of those brave individuals 
     is, understandably, a source of great concern for their 
     families, their friends, and their fellow citizens and 
     represents a chapter in our nation's history that cannot be 
     satisfactorily concluded until their whereabouts are known; 
     and
       ``Whereas, recognizing the important of this vital 
     obligation to American military personnel and their families, 
     the United States Congress has sought to locate these 
     individuals in the past and should continue to take all 
     necessary steps to fulfill this important duty in the future: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 74th 
     Texas Legislative hereby request the Congress of the United 
     States to continue its efforts to determine the location and 
     status of all United States military personnel still missing 
     in Southeast Asia; and, be it further
       ``Resolved, That official copies of this resolution be 
     prepared for the President of the United States, the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives of the United States 
     Congress, the President of the Senate of the United States 
     Congress, and all members of the Texas delegation to the 
     Congress.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-299. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of California Uniformed Services; to the Committee on 
     Armed Services.

                       ``Joint Resolution No. 27

       ``Whereas, California is proud to be the home of millions 
     of active and retired military personnel; and
       ``Whereas, these personnel and their families have earned 
     the right to have access to quality health care because of 
     distinguished service to our state and country; and
       ``Whereas, this quality health care is to be delivered 
     through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the 
     Uniform Services (CHAMPUS) program; and
       ``Whereas, these personnel and their families have already 
     been seriously inconvenienced by the actions of the federal 
     government in closing many of the military bases where they 
     customarily received their medical care, forcing them to 
     travel great distances to receive medical care from different 
     providers; and
       ``Whereas, these personnel and their families were again 
     inconvenienced by the action of the federal government in 
     changing the administration of the CHAMPUS program last year. 
     These changes required some of these military and veteran 
     families to change medical providers, and to travel greater 
     distances to receive medical care; and
       ``Whereas, the Federal government is contemplating making 
     even further major changes to the CHAMPUS program. These 
     changes will cause dislocation in the provider networks that 
     will require that military families endure a stressful 
     transition to new doctors and providers; and
       ``Whereas, many of these changes will result in fewer 
     medical providers available to families which will adversely 
     affect medical quality: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes the United States 
     Department of Defense to make every effort to ensure that the 
     commitment made to provide medical benefits to our military 
     and veteran families through the CHAMPUS program be honored, 
     and that when changes are contemplated for the program that 
     priority be given to protecting the benefits of military and 
     veteran families by ensuring that quality medical care is 
     available at convenient locations for these families, and in 
     doing this, that the Department of Defense take into 
     consideration the impact and the dislocation caused to 
     military and veteran families by previous changes to the 
     program and that any future changes be designed to minimize 
     further dislocation and to enhance the CHAMPUS program rather 
     than to reduce the benefits already earned by our military; 
     and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, to the Secretary of Defense, to the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and to each 
     Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of 
     the United States.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-300. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of California; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                       ``Joint Resolution No. 21

       ``Whereas, McClellan Air Force Base, located in the City of 
     Sacramento, California, is one of the five major Air Force 
     logistic command centers in the United States; and
       ``Whereas, this base has been a major aircraft repair 
     facility for almost 60 years; and
       ``Whereas, McClellan is one of the largest United States 
     Air Force bases as well as the largest employer in northern 
     California; and
       ``Whereas, McClellan is the home facility for other 
     critical and essential military organizations, including the 
     Coast Guard Rescue Service, a Reserve Tanker Wing, and a 
     National Guard Tanker Unit; and
       ``Whereas, the base plays a key function in supporting the 
     responsibility of the entire Air Force and has been a major 
     maintenance and support element in World War II, the Korean 
     Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, the Gulf Conflicts, as well 
     as fulfilling numerous other tactical maintenance 
     requirements; and
       ``Whereas, McClellan has been a part of the State of 
     California prior to the buildup of our armed forces during 
     World War II and its capability could not be duplicated today 
     without a major expenditure of funds; and
       ``Whereas, McClellan Air Force Base is geographically and 
     strategically located on the West Coast and serves as a 
     gateway to our forces in the Pacific Basin; and
       ``Whereas, McClellan has developed extremely advanced 
     technology not only for aircraft maintenance but for medical 
     research as well as composite research that is world 
     renowned; and
       ``Whereas, Potential loss both to the personnel at 
     McClellan as well as the State of California that would 
     result from closure of the base is inestimable in terms of 
     technology, health and welfare, jobs, and community spirit. 
     Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes the Defense Base Closure 
     and Realignment Commission, the President and Congress of the 
     United States to consider the strategic importance of 
     McClellan Air Force Base and to oppose proposals to close 
     this important military installation; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the Chairman of the Defense Base 
     Closure and Realignment Commission, to the President and Vice 
     President of the United States, and to each Senator and 
     Representative from California in the Congress of the United 
     States.

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