[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 182 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17182-S17183]
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-466. A resolution adopted by the Salinas City 
     Firefighters of Salinas, CA, relative to the Ward Valley of 
     the East Mojave; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.
       POM-467. A petition from the attorney general of the State 
     of Hawaii relative to proposed legislation entitled ``The 
     Medicare Preservation Act of 1995''; to the Committee on 
     Finance.
       POM-468. A petition from a citizen of the State of Kansas 
     for a redress of grievances; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.
       POM-469. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                      ``Senate Resolution No. 30.

       ``A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United 
     States regarding voluntary, individual, unorganized, and non-
     mandatory prayer in public schools.

[[Page S 17183]]

       ``Whereas, the United States of America was founded by men 
     and women with varied religious beliefs and ideals; and
       ``Whereas, The First Amendment to the United States 
     Constitution states that Congress shall make no law 
     respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the 
     free exercise thereof . . ., which means that the government 
     is prohibited from establishing a state religion. However, no 
     barriers shall be erected against the practice of any 
     religion; and
       ``Whereas, The establishment clause of the First Amendment 
     was not drafted to protect Americans from religion, rather, 
     its purpose was clearly to protect Americans from 
     governmental mandates with respect to religion; and
       ``Whereas, The Michigan Legislature strongly believes that 
     reaffirming a right to voluntary, individual, unorganized, 
     and non-mandated prayer in the public schools is an important 
     element of religious choice guaranteed by the constitution, 
     and will reaffirm those religious rights and beliefs upon 
     which the nation was founded: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this 
     legislative body memorialize the Congress of the United 
     States to strongly support voluntary, individual, 
     unorganized, and non-mandatory prayer in the public schools 
     of this nation; 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.
                                                                    ____

       POM-470. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Hawaii; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                 ``House Concurrent Resolution No. 142

       ``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 March, 1995, forty-six states have 
     memorials to the United States Congress urging action to 
     protect the American flag from willful physical desecration 
     and these legislations represent nearly two hundred and 
     twenty-nine million Americans, more than ninety percent of 
     our country's population; 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 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 
     other citizens; 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 is a most honorable and worthy 
     banner of a nation which 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 the 
     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 restoration to the 
     Stars and Stripes of a proper station under law and decency; 
     and
       ``Whereas, an increasing number of citizens, individually 
     and collectively, in Hawaii and throughout the nation, have 
     called for action to ban the willful desecration of the 
     American flag; and to ignore the effect of this decision 
     would be an affront to everyone who has been committed to the 
     ideals of our nation in times of war and in times of peace: 
     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 this body 
     respectfully requests each member of Hawaii's congressional 
     delegation, with the specific purpose of urging the Congress 
     of the United States to support an amendment to the United 
     States Constitution, for ratification by the states, 
     providing that Congress and the states shall have the power 
     to prohibit the willful physical desecration of the flag of 
     the United States; and; be it further
       ``Resolved That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to each member of Hawaii's 
     congressional delegation.

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