[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 19, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2551-S2552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMENDING NATIONAL GUARD FLOOD RELIEF EFFORT

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to comment on 
the outstanding job performed by the West Virginia National Guard in 
response to the recent catastrophic floods that devastated sixteen West 
Virginia counties.
  Aviation, engineer, and troop command personnel have worked 
diligently and wholeheartedly to deliver potable water, fuel, cleaning 
supplies, and medicines to their fellow citizens who have been trapped 
by the flood waters. They have also provided transportation, cleanup 
assistance, and debris removal in all sixteen counties in the emergency 
zone.
  The approximately five-hundred men and women mobilized in these Guard 
units carry the double burden of civilian jobs in addition to their 
military roles. Despite these burdens, they are capable of responding 
to an emergency at a moment's notice. Thanks to the National Guard's 
efforts, families in many of the affected counties have been able to 
return to their homes and begin the repair and rebuilding process. West 
Virginians in Wayne and Cabell counties are still faced with removing 
large amounts of debris, but again, thanks to the National Guard's 
efforts, the cleanup is on the right track.
  I would also like to thank all of the employers throughout West 
Virginia who have supported the National Guard. Their willingness to 
continue to accommodate the National Guard through all of the flood 
emergencies suffered by West Virginia communities in recent years is 
remarkable and is appreciated by every West Virginian who has 
benefitted from Guard efforts.
  I offer my sincere thanks to all of the National Guard personnel 
involved in helping in West Virginia's recovery from this and every 
natural disaster. May their efforts to aid West Virginia's flood 
victims continue, and may they receive the recognition and praise that 
are so merited. They are, indeed, famous men and women to their fellow 
citizens.

[[Page S2552]]

                      MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT

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 REPORT OF A PROPOSED RESCISSION OF BUDGETARY RESOURCES--MESSAGE FROM 
                          THE PRESIDENT--PM 23

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; referred jointly, pursuant to the order of January 30, 1975, as 
modified by the order of April 11, 1986, to the Committee on 
Appropriations, to the Committee on the Budget, and to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.

To the Congress of the United States:
  In accordance with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control 
Act of 1974, I herewith report one proposed rescission of budgetary 
resources, totaling $10 million.
  The proposed rescission affects the Department of Energy.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, March 19, 1997.
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   REPORT ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT--PM 24

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.

To the Congress of the United States:
  I am pleased to transmit to the Congress the Twenty-fifth Annual 
Report on Environmental Quality.
  As a nation, the most important thing we can do as we move into the 
21st century is to give all our children the chance to live up to their 
God-given potential and live out their dreams. In order to do that, we 
must offer more opportunity and demand more responsibility from all our 
citizens. We must help young people get the education and training they 
need, make our streets safer from crime, help Americans succeed at home 
and at work, protect our environment for generations to come, and 
ensure that America remains the strongest force for peace and freedom 
in the world. Most of all, we must come together as one community to 
meet our challenges.
  Our Nation's leaders understood this a quarter-century ago when they 
launched the modern era of environmental protection with the National 
Environmental Policy Act. NEPA's authors understood that environmental 
protection, economic opportunity, and social responsibility are 
interrelated. NEPA determined that the Federal Government should work 
in concert with State and local governments and citizens ``to create 
and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in 
productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other 
requirements of present and future generations of Americans.''
  We've made great progress in 25 years as we've sought to live up to 
that challenge. As we look forward to the next 25 years of 
environmental progress, we do so with a renewed determination. 
Maintaining and enhancing our environment, passing on a clean world to 
future generations, is a sacred obligation of citizenship. We all have 
an interest in clean air, pure water, safe food, and protected national 
treasures. Our environment is, literally, our common ground.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, March 19, 1997.

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