[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 26, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14310-S14312]
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-305. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Alaska; to the Committee on Armed 
     Services.

                         ``Senate Resolve No. 3

       ``Whereas the closure of the Naval Air Facility in Adak, 
     Alaska, is anticipated to occur is 1995; and
       ``Whereas the land and existing infrastructure of the 
     facility could be used after the closure to benefit people 
     and businesses in the state, as well as to serve the long-
     term interests of the state and the federal government; and
       ``Whereas the closure of the facility presents a unique 
     opportunity to develop a new community for the western 
     Aleutians, to promote commercial ventures, and to use the 
     existing land and infrastructure for community purposes; and
       ``Whereas, unless appropriate steps are taken immediately 
     to preserve the buildings and other infrastructure from 
     damage by wind and moisture, the future use of the existing 
     infrastructure and the development of the Adak community will 
     be jeopardized; be it
       ``Resolved, That the Senate supports the conversion of the 
     Naval Air Facility in Adak, Alaska, into a facility that can 
     be used beneficially by the citizens of the western 
     Aleutians; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate respectfully requests the United 
     States Department of Defense to
       (1) take effective and timely measures to preserve the 
     infrastructure that constitutes the Naval Air Facility in 
     Adak, Alaska;
       (2) work closely with all federal and state agencies, the 
     Department of the Navy, and the Aleut Corporation regarding 
     the future use of the facility after its closure;
       (3) designate in a timely manner an authority, preferably 
     the Aleut Corporation, for developing the future use of the 
     property constituting the facility; and
       (4) arrange for the transfer of the property that 
     constitutes the facility to the Aleut Corporation as part of 
     the corporation's entitlement under 43 U.S.C. 1601-1641 
     (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act).''
                                                                    ____

       POM-306. A resolution adopted by the Cable Television Board 
     of Campbell County, Kentucky relative to telecommunications; 
     to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-307. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of California to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                       ``Senate Resolution No. 21

       ``Whereas, rail passenger service provided by the National 
     Rail Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is energy-efficient and 
     environmentally beneficial, consuming less energy per 
     passenger-mile than 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 senior citizens, disabled people, students, and 
     persons with medical conditions that prevent them from 
     flying, who need trains as a travel option; and
       ``Whereas, travel by Amtrak is safer than driving, on a 
     passenger-mile basis, and Amtrak operates even in severe 
     weather conditions; and
       ``Whereas, Amtrak travel rose 48 percent from 1982 to 1993, 
     and Amtrak dramatically increased the amount of its operating 
     cost paid from revenues; and
       ``Whereas, the expansion of Amtrak service by using 
     existing rail rights-of-way would cost less and use less land 
     than the construction of new highways and airports, and would 
     further 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, while states may use higheay trust fund money as 
     an 80-percent federal match for a variety of nonhighway 
     programs, they are prohibited from using those moneys for 
     Amtrak projects; and
       Whereas, Amtrak pays a fuel tax that airlines do not pay; 
     Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That 
     the President and the Congress of the United States are 
     respectfully memorialized to do all of the following:
       ``(1) Maintain or increase federal funding for Amtrak.
       ``(2) Extend to Amtrak the same exemption from fuel taxes 
     that is afforded airlines.
       ``(3) Allow states to use federal highway trust fund moneys 
     for Amtrak projects if they so choose.
       ``(4) Include a strong Amtrak system in any plans for a 
     National Transportation System; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-308. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                   ``Assembly Joint Resolution No. 28

       ``Whereas, the future success of California's economy and 
     the future welfare of its citizens rests upon its ability to 
     increase the employment skills and competitiveness of its 
     people and to stimulate economic growth; and
       ``Whereas, the improvement of California's employment 
     capabilities and competitiveness of its people requires high 
     quality education supported by an advanced telecommunications 
     and information infrastructure; and
       ``Whereas, increases in the productivity and 
     competitiveness of California's education and public library 
     system are essential to upgrading the quality of the existing 
     education system; and
       ``Whereas, the development of an advanced state-of-the-art 
     telecommunications and information infrastructure, utilizing 
     modern information processing technology in California's 
     education and library system, linked locally, nationally, and 
     internationally to businesses, residences, and other public 
     and private services, is essential for achieving a quality 
     educational system in a cost-effective manner; and
       ``Whereas, the development of an advanced state-of-the-art 
     telecommunications infrastructure in California is essential 
     to promoting the economic competitiveness of the state, 
     improving the literacy and employment skill level of its 
     citizens, and ensuring the future vitality of its educational 
     and library systems; and
       ``Whereas, California must ensure that the state benefits 
     from telecommunications infrastructure advances and ensure 
     universal access to information and education resources for 
     all residents of the state; and
       ``Whereas, California must assume a position of economic 
     leadership and national prominence in the information age by 
     funding school and library information infrastructure in a 
     manner which is technology and provider neutral; and
       ``Whereas, California will attain a superior technology and 
     provider neutral school and public library information and 
     telecommunications infrastructure by utilizing and 
     integrating, on a nondiscriminatory basis, the technology and 
     services of numerous state-of-the-art providers; and
       ``Whereas, current funding mechanisms may not provide 
     California's schools and public libraries with the funds 
     needed to construct the infrastructure necessary to take 
     advantage of telecommunications technologies and services, to 
     purchase those services, or to provide the education, 
     training, and information needs they are intended to serve; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the current Congress has expressed its belief in 
     the concept that the individual states are better able to 
     determine their individual needs and are better positioned to 
     determine how moneys should be spent to address those needs; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the Federal Communications Commission is charged 
     with the responsibility of administering the radio frequency 
     spectrum as a national asset for the benefit of the American 
     public; and
       ``Whereas, the Federal Communications Commission is 
     currently conducting an auction of radio spectrum that will 
     be used by winners of that auction to provide personal 
     communications services; and
       ``Whereas, the Federal Communications Commission auction 
     has generated moneys in excess of seven billion dollars which 
     is approximately three billion dollars more than the 
     approximately four billion dollars that has been earmarked 
     for budget deficit reduction, and that this approximately 
     three billion dollars should be shared with the individual 
     states so that they may accelerate development of their 
     telecommunications infrastructure by using public 
     institutions such as schools and public libraries as 
     catalysts: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Congress of the United States 
     enact whatever laws are necessary to allow each state to 
     share in the proceeds of the current Federal Communications 
     Commission auction of radio spectrum for purposes of funding 
     their schools' and public libraries' telecommunications and 
     information infrastructure; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That revenues received as a result of this 
     resolution be efficiently expended in a technology and 
     provider neutral manner using California's schools and public 
     libraries as catalysts to accelerate the development of the 
     state's telecommunications and information infrastructure; 
     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 House of 
     Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-309. A resolution adopted by the City Council of 
     Puyallup, Washington relative to spent nuclear fuel; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.
       POM-310. A resolution adopted by the Assembly of Fairbanks 
     North Star Borough, 

[[Page S 14311]]
     Alaska relative to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM-311. A resolution adopted by the Chamber of Commerce of 
     Lake City, Minnesota relative to nuclear waste; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM-312. A resolution adopted by the California-Pacific 
     Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church relative to 
     the Ward Valley Dump Site; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
       POM-313. A resolution adopted by the Midwestern Legislative 
     Conference of the Council of State Governments relative to 
     spent-fuel shipping casks; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
       POM-314. A resolution adopted by the Midwestern Legislative 
     Conference of the Council of State Governments relative to 
     spent nuclear fuel shipments; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
       POM-315. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                   ``Assembly Joint Resolution No. 3

       ``Whereas, the internationally respected United States 
     Geological Survey has been proposed for possible elimination; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the United States Geological Survey traces its 
     history back to 1879 when Congress created an agency to 
     identify natural hazards and locate natural resources; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Geological Survey counts among 
     its former directors John Wesley Powell, the explorer who 
     made the first boat trip down the Colorado River through the 
     Grand Canyon; and
       ``Whereas, the loss of the United States Geological Survey 
     would seriously damage the nation's efforts to improve water 
     quality, prevent landslides, locate minerals, and identify 
     unsafe construction sites and suitable toxic waste disposal 
     sites; and
       ``Whereas, geologists with the United States Geological 
     Survey have contributed to efforts by engineers and urban 
     planners to revise building codes to improve earthquake 
     preparedness; and
       ``Whereas, the National Weather Service issues flood 
     advisory warnings based on information from the United States 
     Geological Survey; and
       ``Whereas, the volcanic activity monitoring of the United 
     States Geological Survey resulted in, for example, the early 
     warning of the impending eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the 
     Philippines which caused the evacuation of Clark Air Force 
     Base and saved thousands of lives; and
       ``Whereas, the United States Geological Survey provides 
     approximately 1,500 jobs in California, primarily in Menlo 
     Park, Pasadena, and Sacramento; and
       ``Whereas, the state's flood, earthquake, and volcanic 
     monitoring programs all depend on information from the 
     automated instrument networks maintained by the United States 
     Geological Survey to protect the public's safety; and
       ``Whereas, the state's water agencies rely on the United 
     States Geological Survey's water resources division--the 
     agency's largest single program--to compile data that serve 
     as the basis for flood forecasting and water distribution 
     statewide; and
       ``Whereas, the budget of the United States Geological 
     Survey has remained static for years and, was cut by $13.2 
     million this year, and the agency has already been ordered to 
     cut its staff by 12 percent by 1999: 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 President and 
     Congress to not eliminate the United States Geological 
     Survey; 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 House of 
     Representatives, and to each Senator and Representatives from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-316. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                   ``Assembly Joint Resolution No. 33

       ``Whereas, Fredonyer Mountain and Fredonyer Pass are 
     located 15 miles west of Susanville in the Lassen National 
     Forest, and are named after an early resident of the area, 
     Atlas Fredonyer, who is credited with discovery of the pass 
     in 1850; and
       ``Whereas, in May 1862, Atlas Fredonyer was tried and 
     convicted in Quincy for incestuous and criminal assault upon 
     his 15-year old daughter Sally for which crime he was 
     incarcerated in the State Prison at San Quentin; and
       ``Whereas, naming the mountain and pass after Atlas 
     Fredonyer, given his crimes and subsequent conviction, seems 
     improper, unacceptable, and undeserving to the residents of 
     Lassen County and the state; and
       ``Whereas, on March 2, 1995, Lassen County Deputy Sheriff 
     Larry Griffith became the first peace officer in the county 
     to be killed in the line of duty in the last 25 years; and
       ``Whereas, Deputy Griffith was responding to a domestic 
     dispute that day when he was mortally wounded while providing 
     cover for fellow officers at the scene, which action saved 
     the lives of two officers: 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 Board 
     on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey, to 
     rename Fredonyer Mountain and Fredonyer Pass to Griffith 
     Mountain and Griffith Pass in honor and recognition of the 
     sacrifice made by Deputy Sheriff Larry Griffith on behalf of 
     the residents of Lassen County; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That upon renaming the mountain and pass, a 
     memorial plaque be erected, in a suitable location on the 
     pass, to memorialize Deputy Sheriff Griffith and the 
     courageous event that led to renaming the sites after him, 
     and be it further
       ``Resolved, That the design, construction, and erection of 
     the plaque be a cooperative effort of the federal government 
     and the residents of the community; 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 Secretary of Interior, to the 
     Director of the United States Geological Survey, to the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Senator 
     and Representative from California in the Congress of the 
     United States.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-317. A current resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Oregon; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                    ``House Concurrent Resolution 14

       ``Whereas the Oregon and California Railroad Grant lands 
     (``O & C Lands'') were originally conveyed into private 
     ownership the Act of July 25, 1866 (as amended by the Acts of 
     June 25, 1868, and April 10, 1869), and the Act of May 4, 
     1870, to aid, in conjunction with construction of a railway, 
     in the economic development of the State of Oregon and its 
     communities; and
       ``Whereas the railway was built but the intent of the 
     original grants to facilitate community development was not 
     carried out and on February 14, 1907, the State of Oregon 
     petitioned the Congress of the United States by legislative 
     memorial to take steps necessary to compel action in 
     furtherance of the original intent of the land grants; and
       ``Whereas the O & C Lands were revested to the United 
     States by the Act of June 9, 1916, for the purpose of 
     management and redisposition to achieve the original goal of 
     economic development of local communities, particularly in 
     the 18 Oregon counties within which the O & C Lands are 
     situated (``O & C Counties''); and
       ``Whereas the United States ceased reconveying the grant 
     lands back into private ownership and, instead, Congress 
     placed them by the Act of August 28, 1937, into management 
     for the sustained yield of timber with minimum harvest levels 
     to provide for long-term community stability in the O & C 
     Counties, conservation of watersheds and provision of 
     recreational opportunities; and
       ``Whereas the State of Oregon by legislative memorial on 
     April 27, 1951, petitioned Congress to transfer title to the 
     lands to the State of Oregon to help achieve the efficient 
     management of the lands for the benefit of the people of the 
     State of Oregon; and
       ``Whereas approximately $1 billion in revenues that would, 
     under the law, have gone to the O & C Counties since 1952 
     were instead retained by the Federal Government with the 
     understanding that the revenue would be used to improve the 
     sustained yield capacity of the O & C Lands and would 
     increase the annual harvests and revenues from the O & C 
     Lands; and
       ``Whereas the Federal Government is not now complying with 
     its obligations under the Act of August 28, 1937, and has 
     reduced the annual harvest below required minimum levels, 
     thereby endangering the economic stability of the O & C 
     Counties, their timber-dependent communities and the families 
     dependent on timber jobs: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of 
     Oregon: That the Congress of the United States be and hereby 
     is urged to pass such legislation as will result in the 
     transfer of title to the O & C Lands to the State of Oregon, 
     subject to such terms and conditions as are necessary to 
     assure management in perpetuity for the sustained yield of 
     timber to stabilize and support the O & C Counties, conserve 
     watersheds and provide recreational opportunities to all 
     citizens, as set forth in the Act of August 28, 1937, and to 
     provide sound wildlife management and protect cultural 
     resources; and be it further
       ``Resolved, That copies of this resolution shall be sent to 
     the President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and the President of the Senate of the United States and to 
     each member of the Oregon Congressional Delegation.''
                                                                    ____

       POM-318. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                  ``Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8

       ``Whereas, the United States Department of Interior, Bureau 
     of Reclamation, in times past has assisted the people of the 
     State of Texas by cooperating with state and local 
     governments in development of the state's water resources for 
     municipal and industrial purposes; and
       ``Whereas, the projects developed by the Bureau of 
     Reclamation in Texas are complete and have been turned over 
     to local sponsors of the projects for operation; and
       ``Whereas, the water made available by such projects is 
     water of the State of Texas, 

[[Page S 14312]]
     managed under the laws of Texas by the Texas Natural Resource 
     Conservation Commission and local governmental entities; and
       ``Whereas, Bureau of Reclamation projects in Texas were 
     authorized by congress and constructed under contracts that 
     require repayment of the local share of costs to the Bureau 
     of Reclamation; and
       ``Whereas, the Bureau of Reclamation's current actual 
     function is largely limited to supervision or repayment of 
     the local share of costs; and
       ``Whereas, in recent years the Bureau of Reclamation's 
     mission has shifted from water resource conservation and 
     development to oversight and management of existing projects; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the Bureau of Reclamation, in an effort to 
     support extended oversight and management activities, has 
     imposed fees and charges on local sponsors for services that 
     are neither necessary nor desired; and
       ``Whereas, State and local governments can manage local 
     water resource projects more economically and efficiently for 
     the benefit of all citizens and the environment of the State 
     of Texas without assistance from the Bureau of Reclamation; 
     and
       ``Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Texas favors 
     elimination of unfunded federal mandates, unnecessary federal 
     bureaucracy, and elimination of federal debt; and
       ``Whereas, elimination of operational expenses for the 
     Bureau of Reclamation and immediate repayment of project 
     indebtedness due would assist in balancing the federal 
     budget: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby endorse management of state water resource projects by 
     state and local governmental entities created for that 
     purpose without restraint, interference, or unsolicited 
     assistance from the Bureau of Reclamation; and, be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Texas Water Development Board, as 
     requested by those entities, is directed to assist local and 
     regional entities in acquiring, either for the local entities 
     or the state, the Bureau of Reclamation ownership interest in 
     existing projects in Texas; and, be it further
       ``Resolved, That the Texas Legislature hereby encourage and 
     urge congress to adopt legislation facilitating acquisition 
     of the Bureau of Reclamation interests in existing projects 
     in Texas by the state and local governments; and, be it 
     further
       ``Resolved, That the Texas Secretary of State forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the United States 
     Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, the President 
     of the United States, the president of the senate and the 
     speaker of the house of representatives of the United States, 
     and all members of the Texas delegation to the congress with 
     the request that it be officially entered in the 
     Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the 
     United States.''
                                                                    ____
                                  

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