[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 73 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5178-S5191]
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-52. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to

[[Page S5179]]

     the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                     House Concurrent Memorial 2005

       Whereas, agriculture in the State of Arizona represents a 
     $6.2 billion industry; and
       Whereas, wheat production, a $90 million industry in 
     Arizona, plays an important role in maintaining the fertility 
     and efficiency of Arizona's soils; and
       Whereas, Arizona wheat producers have developed a $35 
     million durum wheat seed industry that supplies customers 
     around the world; and
       Whereas, the discovery of the Karnal bunt fungus in Arizona 
     in March 1996 has affected not only Arizona's wheat industry 
     but all of the state's related agricultural commodities, 
     including livestock and dairy; and
       Whereas, while Karnal bunt affects grain quality, it does 
     not present a direct risk to human health or livestock; and
       Whereas, the United States Department of Agriculture has 
     implemented a quarantine on the state of Arizona, restricting 
     the interstate movement not only of wheat but also of other 
     regulated articles such as wheat conveyors, grain elevators 
     and related equipment; and
       Whereas, nine other states have discovered Karnal bunt 
     spores in their wheat and have not been quarantined to the 
     extent that Arizona has been; and
       Whereas, the American Phytopathological Society has stated 
     its opposition to a ``zero tolerance'' requirement for Karnal 
     bunt seed spores, suggesting that Karnal bunt is a minor 
     disease that can be effectively managed without the use of 
     quarantines. The Society believes that this and similar 
     diseases can be satisfactorily controlled by seed-treatment 
     chemicals, resistant varieties and the use of cultural 
     practices; and
       Whereas, the United States cannot declare itself as free of 
     Karnal bunt for international trading purposes as long as 
     even a single state reports the presence of this disease. A 
     finding of Karnal bunt in any state could unfairly result in 
     the restriction of all wheat from the United States, even 
     that produced and imported from an unaffected area of the 
     nation.
       Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That the Congress of the United States instruct the 
     United States Department of Agriculture to establish 
     reasonable, science-based standards by which wheat growers in 
     the United States can market wheat and other grain products 
     that contain Karnal bunt.
       2. That the United States Department of Agriculture sponsor 
     an international meeting of scientists to evaluate the 
     management of Karnal bunt and other fungi and to reevaluate 
     international policies on the use of quarantine that inhibit 
     free trade.
       3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this memorial to the President of the 
     Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the United States, the Secretary of the 
     United States Department of Agriculture and each Member of 
     the Arizona Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-53. A joint resolution adopted by legislators of the 
     State of Wyoming; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
     and Forestry.
       Whereas, the market concentration of the top three (3) beef 
     packing processing companies has increased dramatically from 
     just thirty-three percent (33%) of the market in 1978 to over 
     eighty percent (80%) of the market in 1996, which has 
     resulted in record low prices for Wyoming cattle producers 
     while consumer prices have steadily increased in relation to 
     the quality of product available; and
       Whereas, over time this situation has continued to 
     intensity resulting in an alarming loss of input to the 
     overall economy of Wyoming of over two million eight hundred 
     thousand dollars ($2,800,000.00) per day; and
       Whereas, this trend towards concentration and vertical 
     integration of the livestock industry threatens free 
     enterprise and the independence of Wyoming's and the nation's 
     livestock producers, as well as the economic vitality of the 
     communities and states dependent upon the livestock industry; 
     and
       Whereas, federal antitrust law is founded on economic 
     principles of preserving competitive markets and a social 
     policy that small business should be preserved; and
       Whereas, federal antitrust laws, if enforced, ensure that 
     individual businesses do not dominate shares of individual 
     markets to the point of harming the public, including 
     consumers, producers and workers; and
       Whereas, free competitive markets foster innovation and 
     efficiency, promote free enterprise and public confidence, 
     and are beneficial not only to the general population but to 
     the security of the nation as well: Now, therefore be it 
     Resolved that:
       Section 1.
       (a) That Congress direct the Federal Trade Commission, the 
     Packers and Stockyards Administration of the United States 
     Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.), the Commodity Futures 
     Trading Commission and the United States Attorney General to 
     enforce existing law to:
       (i) Prohibit packing processing firms from owning or 
     controlling their live animal inventory needs beyond seven 
     (7) days prior to pickup or delivery; and
       (ii) Require packing processing firms to report daily the 
     quantity of animals purchased, the kind, quality and 
     respective purchase prices; and
       (iii) Require packing and processing firms to report weekly 
     the quantity of all products sold as to kind, quality and 
     respective price received for each market category, carcass, 
     boxed, restaurant, export, byproduct, pharmaceuticals, etc.; 
     and
       (iv) Require meat wholesalers and distributors to report 
     weekly the quantity of product sold, the kind, quality and 
     respective price received for each market category, carcass, 
     boxed, restaurant, export, tripe, byproduct, etc.; and
       (v) Prohibit packing and processing firms from speculative 
     ``short'' selling of commodity future contracts; and
       (vi) Require packing processing firms to divest themselves 
     of producing capacity exceeding twenty percent (20%) of total 
     production share; and
       (vii) Initiative monthly reporting by the U.S.D.A. of the 
     retail value of all meat and meat products and market 
     categories, grocery sales, governmental and institutional 
     sales, catering and restaurant sales, export sales, etc.; and
       (viii) Lift the federal ban on federal equivalent state 
     inspected meats for interstate commerce; and
       (ix) Require meat and meat products to have country of 
     origin and processor identification labels; and
       (x) Require permanent country of origin identification of 
     imported livestock; and
       (xi) Require all imported or domestic meat, poultry and 
     seafood products subject to the same inspection, testing and 
     labeling process and standards; and
       (xii) Research for implementation of a value based pricing 
     structure for the live cattle that reflects the premium 
     obtained by the packer processors from the high quality meat 
     products demanded by the consumer in today's market.
       Section 2.
       (a) That the legislature hereby formally requests Wyoming's 
     Congressional Delegation to:
       (i) Take whatever measures are needed to ensure 
     implementation, enactment and enforcement of the items listed 
     in section 1 of this act, and help to coordinate and 
     facilitate the efforts among relevant federal agencies, 
     including the U.S.D.A., the United States Department of 
     Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and the Commodity 
     Futures Trading Commission; and
       (ii) Introduce and support federal legislation which would 
     protect producers from retaliation by packing processing 
     firms on account of any statement made by producers to USDA 
     officials or to law enforcement agencies or in a public forum 
     regarding practices or actions of the packing processing 
     firms; and
       (iii) Instigate full scale investigations at the federal 
     level of activities and practices within the USDA and other 
     responsible agencies concerning the gathering, reporting and 
     interpreting of agricultural commodities supply data, and 
     what effects these reports historically have had upon the 
     cash and commodities futures markets.
       Section 3. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming send 
     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, each member 
     of the Wyoming Congressional Delegation, the Secretary of the 
     United States Department of Agriculture and the Federal Trade 
     Commission, the United States Department of Justice and the 
     Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
                                  ____

       POM-54. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, The unprecedented flooding across California has 
     caused the loss of life, destruction of homes, and an 
     unprecedented disruption in the web of neighbors, 
     transportation, commerce, services, and communications that 
     bind communities together; and
       Whereas, Forty-eight counties in California have qualified 
     for federal disaster relief because of damage caused by the 
     recent flooding; and
       Whereas, The State of California is entitled to $100 
     million in federal emergency relief funds for transportation 
     infrastructure repair for this disaster; and
       Whereas, California state agencies have already identified 
     well over $300 million worth of flood-caused transportation 
     damages that are eligible for state and federal funding for 
     urgently needed repairs; and
       Whereas, California has already requested the release of 
     the $100 million in federal transportation disaster relief 
     funds of which only $50 million have been received to date; 
     and
       Whereas, These moneys are urgently needed to rebuild the 
     lands, lives, and livelihood of thousands of Californians; 
     now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California strongly urges the Federal Highway Administrator 
     to immediately released all of the requested transportation 
     funds for which California is eligible, so that the flood-
     ravaged people of California may more speedily recover from 
     their plight; 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, and to the Federal Highway 
     Administrator.

[[Page S5180]]

     
                                  ____
       POM-55. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Alaska; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                       Legislative Resolve No. 71

       Whereas the Alaska National Guard Youth Corps Challenge 
     Program has provided nearly three hundred 16 to 18 year old 
     graduates of the program with critically needed academic, 
     vocational, and life skills education and training; and
       Whereas the Challenge Program, through its military 
     discipline and structure, has instilled in its graduates 
     self-confidence, self-esteem, and good citizenship skills; 
     and
       Whereas the Challenge Program provides Alaska's at-risk 
     youth with an opportunity to become successful, productive 
     citizens of the state and the nation; and
       Whereas the Challenge Program is an important crime and 
     poverty prevention program worthy of continued support by the 
     government of the Unites States; and
       Whereas 85 percent of the graduates of the Challenge 
     Program are either employed or in school; and
       Whereas federal funding for the Challenge Program is 
     scheduled to end in September 1997;
       Be it resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature supports 
     continued funding for the Alaska National Guard Youth Corps 
     Challenge Program; and be it
       Further resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges 
     the United States Congress to continue funding for the Alaska 
     National Guard Youth Corps Challenge Program and urges the 
     President of the United States to support the funding.
                                  ____

       POM-56. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                     House Concurrent Memorial 2002

       The state of Arizona and the state of Sonora should adopt 
     resolutions encouraging their respective congresses to 
     allocate more federal monies for:
       1. Implementation of recommendations resulting from the 
     Nogales unified port management and expedited processing at 
     international crossings pilot projects.
       2. Highway projects that enhance the linkage of the CANAMEX 
     corridor.
       3. Port facilities and supporting infrastructure projects 
     that are necessary to improve traffic flow across the border 
     between Arizona and Mexico.
       4. Binational transportation planning activities; and
       Whereas, four hundred twenty-four thousand eighty-three 
     commercial vehicles crossed the border between Arizona and 
     Mexico from January 1995 through December 1996 and commercial 
     vehicle traffic is conservatively estimated to increase by 
     ten per cent annually over the next few years with further 
     implementation of the North America Free Trade Agreement; and
       Whereas, the December 1993 Arizona border infrastructure 
     needs assessment conducted by the Arizona department of 
     transportation estimates that eight hundred fifty million 
     dollars are needed to fund intermodal transportation projects 
     over the next ten years to handle increased commercial 
     traffic as a result of the North American Free Trade 
     Agreement; and
       Whereas, a 1996 port facilities needs assessment study 
     conducted by the Arizona department of transportation 
     identified three million five hundred thousand dollars in 
     short-term and eighteen million dollars in long-term port 
     facilities projects that are needed to keep pace with the 
     increase in commercial and pedestrian traffic at ports of 
     entry along the border between Arizona and Mexico; and
       Whereas, during the winter season eighty per cent of the 
     agricultural products coming into the United States are 
     brought through Nogales, Arizona ports of entry; and
       Whereas, in support of the federal unified port management 
     pilot project, the Arizona legislature appropriated seven 
     hundred fifty thousand dollars to fund a state unified port 
     management project at the Nogales, Arizona port entry that is 
     schedule for completion by July 1, 1997; and
       Whereas, an expedited processing at international crossings 
     pilot project is being implemented at the Nogales, Arizona 
     port of entry to expedite commercial traffic utilizing state-
     of-the-art electronic technology and computer systems and is 
     scheduled for completion by November 1997; and
       Whereas, the three million dollars that the Arizona 
     department of transportation receives each year in federal 
     monies does not adequately cover the department's cost in 
     conducting its required state transportation planning and 
     research activities or the increased demand on the department 
     to fund binational planning activities that are needed to 
     develop a cohesive and coordinated transportation system 
     between Arizona and the border states of Mexico.
       Whereas, your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That the Congress of the United States in the next 
     surface transportation act provides more money to states 
     located in the high priority corridors that were identified 
     in the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995.
       2. That the Congress of the United States approves 
     legislation that makes more federal monies available for port 
     facility projects and supporting border transportation 
     infrastructure projects.
       3. That the Congress of the United States earmarks future 
     federal monies to assist border states in implementing the 
     findings and recommendation of the unified port management 
     pilot projects now underway at the port of entry in Nogales, 
     Arizona and the port of entry in Buffalo, New York.
       4. That the Congress of the United States earmarks future 
     federal monies to assist border states in implementing the 
     findings and recommendations of the expedited processing at 
     international crossings pilot project now underway at the 
     port of entry in Nogales, Arizona.
       5. That the Congress of the United States provides 
     additional monies as part of a new federal highway 
     reauthorization act to border states that are being required 
     to participate in and fund more binational transportation 
     planning activities.
       6. That the Congress of the United States provided 
     additional monies to increase the number of federal and state 
     enforcement officers at ports of entry along the border 
     between Arizona and Mexico in order to take advantage of 
     recent and future port facility and transportation 
     infrastructure improvements and the implementation of a new 
     unified port management procedures.
       7. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives and to the President of the 
     United States Senate.
                                  ____

       POM-57. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Appropriations.
       Whereas, Interstate 95 ends at Houlton, Maine, 99 miles 
     from the end of U.S. Route 1 in Fort Kent, Maine, which 
     parallels the international border in northern Maine between 
     the United States and Canada; and
       Whereas, the structural and functional condition of the 
     U.S. Route 1 corridor from Houlton to Fort Kent is such that 
     substantial upgrades or reconstruction of the Route 1 
     corridor or alternative routes is necessary for the economic 
     growth and vitality of northern Maine; and
       Whereas, northern Maine is critical as an economic 
     connector to Canada and the Atlantic Rim; and
       Whereas, various alternative improvements for the U.S. 
     Route 1 corridor have been studied and it has been concluded 
     that these improvements would not only enhance mobility and 
     accessibility, but would spur the economic development of 
     northern Maine; and
       Whereas, the improvements would provide the type of high 
     quality north-south transportation envisioned by the ``20-
     Year Statewide Transportation Plan'' called for by the 
     Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991; and
       Whereas, federal, state, local and private support and 
     innovative financing are critical to fund any of several 
     proposed alternative improvements and financing of those 
     improvements would range from $290,000,000 to $476,000,000, 
     the least costly alternative being nearly 6 times the Maine 
     Department of Transportation's biennial budget of Interstate 
     and National Highway System funds; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, request the United 
     States Congress and the President of the United States to 
     provide essential financial assistance to address the need 
     for substantial highway improvements in this economically 
     depressed, yet strategically located, section of the United 
     States; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United 
     States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States 
     and each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-58. A resolution adopted by the House of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; to the 
     Committee on Appropriations.

                        House Resolution No. 93

       Whereas, macular degeneration is the most frequent cause of 
     legal blindness in the United States; and
       Whereas, over 13 million American citizens suffer from 
     macular degeneration; and
       Whereas, there are currently no identifiable causes for 
     this disease; and
       Whereas, macular degeneration develops gradually and 
     painlessly, resulting from blood vessels leaking onto the 
     macular region between the retain and its supporting layer of 
     choroid tissue in the eye; and
       Whereas, macular degeneration, unless detected early, 
     produces considerable impairment of central vision; and
       Whereas, the only treatment for macular degeneration is 
     laser therapy to coagulate abnormal blood vessels to prevent 
     or slow further loss of vision; and
       Whereas, this treatment is useful during the early stages 
     of the disease; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the 
     United States to fund research studies which examine the 
     causes of this devastating and debilitating disease; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives request 
     Congress to fund research studies which examine possible 
     cures of this disease; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of each

[[Page S5181]]

     house of Congress and to each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-59. A resolution adopted by the House of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; to the 
     Committee on Appropriations.

                        House Resolution No. 137

       Whereas, the Gettysburg National Military Park, located in 
     Gettysburg, is the scene where an epic, three-day battle 
     occurred during July 1863; and
       Whereas, in the battle of Gettysburg approximately 51,000 
     men were killed, wounded or captured in order to secure the 
     sanctity of the Union and freedom for all people; and
       Whereas, the Gettysburg National Military Park is the 
     largest and most visited of the nation's 24 Civil War parks; 
     and
       Whereas, there are 1,300 monuments and statues and 400 
     cannons scattered about the 5,900 acres of the Gettysburg 
     National Military Park; and
       Whereas, over 1.7 million people visit the Gettysburg 
     National Military Park annually; and
       Whereas, the Gettysburg National Military Park is 
     deteriorating due to lack of funds, and the deterioration of 
     the park is a national disgrace that wants, needs and demands 
     congressional action; and
       Whereas, funds are needed to preserve and protect the 
     Gettysburg National Military Park; and
       Whereas, the people of the United States of America must 
     protect this important landmark of our Civil War heritage; 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, that the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the 
     United States to provide an appropriation to preserve and 
     protect the Gettysburg National Military Park; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, that the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives transmit a copy of this resolution to each 
     member of Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-60. A joint resolution adopted by legislators of the 
     State of Wyoming; to the Committee on Appropriations.
       Whereas, the people of Wyoming have benefited from the 
     development of stronger and more accessible arts activity in 
     every county of the state because of the assistance provided 
     by the Wyoming Arts Council with support from the National 
     Endowment for the Arts; and
       Whereas, Arts Endowment funding of $422,800 in FY 96 
     combined with $331,000 provided by the State help generate 
     $12.3 million in cash from local Wyoming communities; and
       Whereas, the annual audience for arts activities in Wyoming 
     exceeds 2,900,000 citizens and tourists; and
       Whereas, lifelong education in the arts is a primary goal 
     for the Arts Endowment and the Wyoming Arts Council and helps 
     our children develop higher-order thinking, creativity, and 
     problem solving skills that carry over into all areas of 
     study and are crucial for an educated populace; and
       Whereas, funding by the National Endowment for the Arts 
     through the Wyoming Arts Council helps our state's artists 
     and arts institutions gain regional and national recognition, 
     contributing to Wyoming's growing recognition as a state that 
     takes its arts seriously; and
       Whereas, National Endowment for the Arts funding in Wyoming 
     and throughout the United States has enabled arts 
     organizations to win matching support from private sources; 
     and
       Whereas, all great nations support the arts knowing that 
     the arts are vital to a society's well-being and linchpin for 
     the creative thinking needed for the work force of the next 
     millennium.
       Now, therefore, be it resolved by the undersigned 
     legislators of the State of Wyoming that:
       The Congress of the United States of America is hereby 
     encouraged to endorse the President's request for $136 
     million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
       It is further resolved, That the Secretary of State of 
     Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President 
     of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States 
     Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-61. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Washington; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                       Senate Joint Memorial 8008

       Whereas, the Battleship U.S.S. Missouri (BB 63) is the 
     solitary identifiable symbol of the end of World War II for 
     both the servicemen and women who served overseas during that 
     period and the millions of home front defense workers; and
       Whereas, this intrinsic historical vessel is presently 
     moored on the mainland of the contiguous states of the union 
     where the majority of veterans and home front defense workers 
     and their descendants reside and are economically able to 
     visit and observe the significance of the U.S.S. Missouri's 
     involvement in ending the most important event of the 20th 
     century; and
       Whereas, the youth of the United States of America, the 
     future leaders of this republic, will learn from and 
     appreciate the sacrifices for freedom which the U.S.S. 
     Missouri represents; and
       Whereas, the Missouri on the Mainland Committee (MOM) has 
     been duly organized and proposes that the Battleship U.S.S. 
     Missouri (BB 63) be moored at a suitable location on the 
     mainland to provide accessibility for the majority of the 
     American public to savor a taste of freedom and their 
     heritage; and
       Whereas, the Washington State legislature supports the 
     actions and the proposal of the Missouri on the Mainland 
     Committee (MOM);
       Now, therefore, your Memorialists respectfully pray that 
     the Congress of the United States of America enact 
     appropriate legislation to retain the Battleship U.S.S. 
     Missouri (BB 63) at a selected site on the mainland.
       Be it resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of 
     the United States, the President of the United States Senate, 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member 
     of Congress from the State of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-62. A resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners 
     of the Metropolitan Knoxville (Tennessee) Airport Authority 
     relative to the formation of the Safe Skies Alliance; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-63. A resolution adopted by the Board of Mayor and 
     Alderman of the City of Kingsport, Tennessee relative to the 
     Telecommunications Act of 1996; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.
       POM-64. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 12

       Whereas, the Federal Aviation Administration is scheduled 
     to close the flight-service station at the Arcata-Eureka 
     Airport in McKinleyville, Humboldt County; and
       Whereas, all onsite personnel will be eliminated and the 
     airport will be operated as an automatic flight-service 
     center, served by an air traffic controller located in 
     Oakland, California; and
       Whereas, the FAA plan eliminates all air traffic personnel 
     between McMinville, Oregon, and Oakland, California, and this 
     same geographic discrepancy on the east coast of the United 
     States would be similar to eliminating all air traffic 
     controllers between Portland, Maine and Richmond, Virginia; 
     and
       Whereas, the Arcata-Eureka Airport flight-service center 
     has provided daily services for commercial, corporate, and 
     general aviation traffic for over four decades; and
       Whereas, it serves the region's smaller airports, which 
     include Brookings, Oregon, and Crescent City, Fortuna, 
     Shelter Cove, Willow Creek, and Hoopa, California, and 
     averages 150 to 300 contacts and a traffic flow of 40 to 100 
     airplanes daily; and
       Whereas, there are unique weather and geographic factors to 
     be considered such as that the airport was constructed 
     overlooking the Pacific Ocean by the Navy during World War II 
     to test military defogging equipment, as it is believed to be 
     the foggiest stretch of coastline in the western United 
     States; and
       Whereas, on average, Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) must be 
     filed 265 days per year due to fog and inclement weather, and 
     station personnel must utilize a wide array of tools to 
     ensure air traffic safety, including radio frequencies, the 
     telephone, a direction finder, and on-the-ground view of the 
     runway; and
       Whereas, the closure of the station would put the safety of 
     air travelers on the north coast of California at risk, air 
     traffic will experience greater delays and flight 
     cancellations, and local efforts to improve the regional 
     economy through tourism and commerce will be adversely 
     affected: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the California Legislature 
     memorializes Congress to oppose the closure of the air 
     flight-service center at the Arcata-Eureka Airport, in 
     Humboldt County, California, and to direct the Federal 
     Aviation Administration to act accordingly: 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, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     to each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States, and to the Administrator of 
     the Federal Aviation Administration.
                                  ____

       POM-65. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the 
     State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation.

                       Assembly Resolution No. 9

       Whereas; recent tragic events have reemphasized the 
     importance of keeping our nation's airports secure, and the 
     Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee held a 
     public hearing on airport security matters which highlighted 
     several areas where action should be taken to improve airport 
     security; and
       Whereas; although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
     is responsible for overseeing all security-related matters at 
     this country's airports, responsibility for implementing 
     airport security is fragmented among airline carriers, 
     airport owners and operators and local police leading to a 
     lack of uniform security procedures; and
       Whereas; airline carriers are responsible for developing 
     and implementing security procedures and protocols such as 
     passenger

[[Page S5182]]

     and baggage screening, employment standards for screening 
     personnel, controlling access to airplanes, ensuring 
     integrity of cargo and baggage, and performing security 
     inspections of aircraft; and
       Whereas; the FAA should require criminal background checks 
     and fingerprint records for all airport and airline employees 
     who have access to secure areas and Congress should enact 
     legislation to provide airports and airlines with the 
     necessary authority to conduct such background checks where 
     airports and airlines do not currently have the authority to 
     do so; and
       Whereas; since airport employees are critical to the effort 
     of ensuring safer air travel, there should be uniform 
     training requirements for all baggage handlers and security 
     officers employed at airports, regardless of who employs 
     them; and
       Whereas; aggressive, proactive testing of existing security 
     systems and proactive security measures must be implemented 
     at all airports to guard against lapses and complacency that 
     could lead to tragedy; and
       Whereas; although the Gore Commission has recommended 
     expanded use of bomb-sniffing dogs and the federal government 
     has made some funds available for that purpose, that funding 
     is so inadequate that it will provide only four bomb-
     sniffing dogs for the three major airports operated by the 
     Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and funding for 
     this program must be increased; and
       Whereas, the FAA is developing other security measures such 
     as better screening of cargo and mail and blast-resistant 
     containers for cargo, which measures must be implemented as 
     soon as possible; and
       Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper and in the 
     public interest for this House to call upon Congress and the 
     FAA to take immediate action to improve airport security; 
     now, therefore,
       Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       1. The United States Congress and the Federal Aviation 
     Administration are urged to take immediate action to increase 
     airport security, including: placing responsibility for 
     development and implementation of airport security under one 
     agency to provide for a uniform system of airport security; 
     requiring criminal background checks and fingerprint records 
     for all airport and airline employees who have access to 
     secure areas; implementing uniform training requirements for 
     all baggage handlers and security officers employed at 
     airports, regardless of who employs them; implementing 
     aggressive, proactive testing of existing security systems 
     and proactive security measures; increased funding for the 
     bomb-sniffing dog program; and speeding development and 
     implementation of other security measures such as better 
     screening of cargo and mail and blast-resistant containers 
     for cargo.
       2. duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the 
     Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the presiding officers 
     of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 
     each member of Congress elected thereto from New jersey and 
     the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
                                  ____

       POM-66. A resolution adopted by the Loudon County 
     (Tennessee) Visitors Bureau relative to the Chickamauga Lock; 
     to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM-67. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas relative to Guam; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM-68. A resolution adopted by the Board of County 
     Commissioners, Park County, Wymoning relative to the Bureau 
     of Land Management; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.
       POM-69. A resolution adopted by the Board of Campbell 
     County Commissioners, Campbell County, Wyoming relative to 
     the Bureau of Land Management; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
       POM-70. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Alaska; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                            Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, in sec. 1002 of the Alaska National Interest Lands 
     Conservation Act (ANILCA), the United States Congress 
     reserved the right to permit further oil and gas exploration, 
     development, and production within the coastal plain of the 
     Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska; and
       Whereas the oil industry, the state, and the United States 
     Department of the Interior consider the coastal plain to have 
     the highest potential for discovery of very large oil and gas 
     accumulations on the continent of North America, estimated to 
     be as much as 10,000,000,000 barrels of recoverable oil; and
       Whereas the residents of the North Slope Borough, within 
     which the coastal plain is located, are supportive of 
     development in the ``1002 study area''; and
       Whereas oil and gas exploration and development of the 
     coastal plain of the refuge and adjacent land could result in 
     major discoveries that would reduce our nation's future need 
     for imported oil, help balance the nation's trade deficit, 
     and significantly increase the nation's security; and
       Whereas the state will ensure the continued health and 
     productivity of the Porcupine Caribou herd and the protection 
     of land, water, and wildlife resources during the exploration 
     and development of the coastal plain of the Arctic National 
     Wildlife Refuge; be it
       Resolved by the Alaska State Legislature, That the Congress 
     of the United States is urged to pass legislation to open the 
     coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 
     to oil and gas exploration, development, and production; and 
     be it further
       Resolved That that activity be conducted in a manner that 
     protects the environment and uses the state's work force to 
     the maximum extent possible.
                                  ____

       POM-71. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                    Senate Concurrent Memorial 1001

       Whereas, the Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 United States Code 
     sections 431, 432 and 433) grants authority to the President 
     of the United States to establish national monuments; and
       Whereas, the Antiquities Act was intended to preserve only 
     historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures and 
     other objects of historic or scientific interest; and
       Whereas, the Antiquities Act has been misused repeatedly to 
     set aside enormous parcels of real property; and
       Whereas, the establishment in 1996 of the Grand Staircase-
     Escalante National Monument in southern Utah set aside 1.7 
     million acres of land despite the objections of public 
     officials in the State of Utah, making it the largest 
     national monument in the continental United States; and
       Whereas, this designation clearly violates the spirit and 
     letter of the Antiquities Act, which requires monument lands 
     to ``be confined to the smallest area'' necessary to preserve 
     and protect historical areas or objects; and
       Whereas, the creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante 
     National Monument has resulted in the loss of significant 
     economic resources for the public schools and the taxpayers 
     of the State of Utah; and
       Whereas, the power to establish national monuments can be 
     checked only in limited circumstances; and
       Whereas, in 1950, the State of Wyoming obtained statutory 
     relief from the further establishment of national monuments 
     without the express authorization of Congress (16 United 
     States Code section 431a).
       Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of 
     Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:
       1. That the 105th Congress of the United States enacts 
     legislation prohibiting the President of the United States 
     from further extending or establishing national monuments 
     without the express authorization of Congress.
       2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States, to each Member of the Senate of the United 
     States and to each presiding officer of both houses of the 
     legislature of each state in the union.
                                  ____

       POM-72. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                     House Concurrent Memorial 2003

       Whereas, the bureau of land management (BLM) has the 
     authority to impose appropriate criminal penalties for 
     activities occurring on BLM land; and
       Whereas, BLM has proposed rules set forth in the Federal 
     Register dated November 7, 1996 at pages 57615 through 57621 
     to expand its authority; and
       Whereas, the proposed BLM rules would increase the amount 
     of fines for certain criminal acts that occur on federal 
     lands from one thousand dollars to five hundred thousand 
     dollars; and
       Whereas, pursuant to the same proposed rules BLM seeks to 
     increase the prison sentence for persons who commit certain 
     criminal acts from one year to five years; and
       Whereas, under the proposed rules BLM would expand its 
     authority beyond activities occurring on federal land to 
     activities having a potential danger to affect water bodies 
     on or adjacent to BLM lands. Thus, BLM would have law 
     enforcement authority for activities on private lands 
     adjacent to and upstream from BLM lands; and
       Whereas, the proposed rules would give BLM authority to 
     preempt state laws over motor vehicles on BLM lands when the 
     state laws are less restrictive than the proposed rules or 
     when a state does not have laws covering the areas included 
     in the BLM proposed rules; and
       Whereas, the rules would prohibit the diversion, transport 
     or removal of any water resources that are owned or reserved 
     by the United States and administered by BLM unless BLM gave 
     prior authorization. This would prohibit states that own 
     water that is reserved to the federal government and 
     administered by BLM from constructing dams, transporting 
     water or removing water resources.
       Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That Congress and the President of the United States 
     prevent BLM from adopting the proposed rules.
       2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States, to the President of the United States Senate, 
     to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives 
     and to each Member of the Arizona Congressional Delegation.

[[Page S5183]]

     
                                  ____
       POM-73. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                       House Joint Memorial 4005

       Whereas, The area south of the Saddle Mountains in Grant, 
     Franklin, and Adams counties, Washington, known as the 
     Wahluke Slope, is one of the most productive argricultural 
     areas in the Pacific Northwest; and
       Whereas, the need for a large security and control zone 
     around the Department of Energy's Hanford control zone on 
     Wahluke Slope caused the forced relocation of citizens of 
     Hanford, White Bluff, Wahluke, and the surrounding 
     agricultural lands that had been settled prior to 1900; and
       Whereas, Due to the decommissioning of all the production 
     reactors along the Hanford Reach opposite the Wahluke Slope, 
     and with the overall change of the Department of Energy's 
     Hanford mission from plutonium production to environmental 
     restoration, the need for a large security and control zone 
     no longer exists; and
       Whereas, The Wahluke Slope's topography and its proximity 
     to the Columbia River make the area unique in terms of the 
     economic feasibility or irrigation development; and
       Whereas, Prior to its inclusion in the Hanford control 
     zone, the Bureau of Reclamation purchased over twenty-seven 
     thousand acres of the Wahluke Slope with the intent of future 
     development in the Columbia Basin Project; and
       Whereas, The balanced development of this land would 
     achieve the long-awaited completion of irrigation on the 
     Wahluke Slope and improved wildlife and recreational 
     opportunities; and
       Whereas, Based on current land prices, the sale of land to 
     private owners could potentially cover a great deal of the 
     cost of constructing water delivery systems, due to the 
     suitability of topography and nearby water supply; and
       Whereas, Resulting property tax and income tax revenues 
     from this new farm land would be an immediate and significant 
     benefit; and
       Whereas, Farmland development would result in millions of 
     dollars in capital investment for farm equipment of all 
     kinds, the great majority of its manufactured in the United 
     States by American workers; and
       Whereas, The vast majority of crops presently raised on the 
     Wahluke Slope have potential for export to the Pacific Rim 
     and other nations; and
       Whereas, Other than small grains, the crops grown on the 
     Wahluke Slope are completely driven by the free-market 
     economy and are not subsidized or supported by the federal 
     government; and
       Whereas, Broad support exists for the preservation of the 
     natural beauty and topography of the Hanford Reach, including 
     protecting the White Bluffs from sloughing into the Columbia 
     River, prohibiting dredging and damming, and providing for a 
     one-quarter mile buffer zone on both sides of the river 
     including even wider zones depending on the terrain; and
       Whereas, The Wahluke Slope contains significant areas of 
     land not suitable for farming, but that are ideally suited 
     for wildlife habitat and recreational uses; and
       Whereas, The United States can no longer afford to hold 
     idle public lands of this potential;
       Now, Therefore, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that, 
     except for needed buffer zones, the present boundaries of the 
     Department of Energy's Hanford control zone on the Wahluke 
     Slope be reduced to the area south of the Columbia River 
     and that the Wahluke Slope presently under the custody and 
     control of the Department of Energy be transferred in 
     total to the counties of Grant, Franklin, and Adams for 
     the purpose of returning the land to its former 
     agricultural use, as well as for wildlife and recreational 
     areas along the Hanford Reach.
       Be it resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of 
     the United States, the Director of the Department of Energy, 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from 
     the State of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-74. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General 
     Assembly of the State of Connecticut; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources.
       Whereas, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act established a federal 
     program within the United States Department of Energy for 
     managing and disposing of spent nuclear fuel; and
       Whereas, the Department has agreed to begin accepting spent 
     fuel by January 31, 1998; and
       Whereas, the Department has not made significant progress 
     in meeting its obligation to take title to and remove spent 
     fuel; and
       Whereas, the Department has now stated that it will not 
     have a permanent repository in operation earlier than 2010 
     and has no obligation to begin accepting spent nuclear fuel 
     in 1998; and
       Whereas, nuclear power generating facilities are facing a 
     serious depletion of spent fuel storage space; and
       Whereas, Connecticut must address the prospect of storing 
     spent fuel from decommissioned nuclear power generating 
     facilities; and
       Whereas, the Act requires customers who benefit from 
     electricity generated by nuclear power generating facilities 
     to pay a fee of one-tenth of a cent per kilowatt hour of 
     electricity, said fee to fund the Program in its entirety; 
     and
       Whereas, this fee generates approximately $600 million 
     annually, and since its inception, Connecticut consumers have 
     paid nearly $200 million into the Fund; and
       Whereas, moneys received by the Fund have been relied upon 
     to offset shortfalls in the federal budget.
       Now, therefore, be it resolved, That the Senate calls upon 
     the United States Congress to address the programmatic and 
     budgetary shortfalls that have plagued the Nuclear Waste 
     Program and to address, through legislation, the Department's 
     responsibility to accept and remove spent fuel from reactor 
     sites, the establishment of an interim spent fuel storage 
     site, the siting and licensing process for a permanent 
     repository and usage of the unobligated balance of the Fund 
     available for nuclear waste program activities; and
       Be it further resolved, That the clerk of the Senate cause 
     a copy of this resolution to be sent to the presiding officer 
     of each house of Congress and to each member of the 
     Connecticut congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-75. A resolution adopted by the Hudson County (New 
     Jersey) Board of Chosen Freeholders relative to the 
     Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991; to 
     the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
       POM-76. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Nevada; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 2

       Whereas, approximately 87 percent of the land in Nevada is 
     owned by the Federal Government; and
       Whereas, Nevada has experienced a dramatic increase in its 
     population during the last two decades; and
       Whereas, the rate of increase in the population of Nevada 
     is one of the highest in the nation; and
       Whereas, as of the last census, Nevada has approximately 
     95,000 families of low income who are in need of affordable 
     housing; and
       Whereas, the shortage of affordable housing has forced some 
     families of low income with children to occupy motels that 
     have few or no facilities for the preparation and storage of 
     food and that serve as an inadequate substitution for 
     providing housing for children; and
       Whereas, several thousand senior citizens in Nevada are 
     also unable to find affordable housing that is safe and 
     sanitary; and
       Whereas, the current shortage of affordable housing in 
     Nevada is directly related to the high cost of available land 
     in the state; and
       Whereas, Congress controls a considerable amount of Federal 
     land in Nevada that may be used to provide affordable housing 
     for persons of low income; and
       Whereas, during the 104th session of Congress, United 
     States Senator Richard Bryan proposed an amendment to the 
     Recreation and Public Purposes Act (43 U.S.C. Sec. Sec. 869 
     et seq.) which, if it had been enacted, would have included 
     affordable housing as a public purpose for which public lands 
     may be disposed of in any manner to governmental bodies and 
     to nonprofit corporations; and
       Whereas, during the 104th session of Congress, 
     Representative John Ensign joined Senator Bryan in 
     introducing the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 
     1996, which, if it had been enacted, might have provided 
     additional opportunities for the acquisition of land in the 
     Las Vegas Valley to be used to provide additional sites for 
     affordable housing; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada, 
     Jointly, That the Nevada Legislature supports the efforts of 
     Senator Bryan and Representative Ensign in this regard and 
     urges the Nevada Congressional Delegation to continue to 
     bring this issue before Congress; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Congress of the United States is hereby 
     urged to adopt an amendment to the Recreation and Public 
     Purposes Act which would include affordable housing as a 
     public purpose for which public lands may be disposed of in 
     any manner to governmental bodies and to nonprofit 
     corporations; and be it further
       Resolved, That if Congress does not adopt such an amendment 
     to the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, that Congress is 
     hereby urged to enact legislation that would allow the sale 
     of public lands to local governments and to nonprofit 
     corporations at a price that is less than the fair market 
     value of the land so that affordable housing projects may be 
     developed; and be it further.
       Resolved, That the chief clerk of the assembly prepare and 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Vice President of 
     the United States as the presiding officer of the Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives and each member of 
     the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further
       Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon 
     passage and approval.
                                  ____

       POM-77. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of New Mexico; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                        Senate Joint Memorial 26

       Whereas, New Mexico has a unique History in the acquisition 
     of Land Ownership due to the substantial number of Spanish 
     and Mexican Land Grants that were an integral part

[[Page S5184]]

     of the Colonization and growth of this Area of the Country; 
     and
       Whereas, various provisions of the Treaties signed under 
     prior Sovereigns have not yet been fully implemented in the 
     Spirit of Article VI of the Constitution of the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, Congress did establish an Indian Claims 
     Commission, which successfully adjudicated hundreds of 
     disputed Land Possessions quietly; and
       Whereas, there still exist serious questions about prior 
     Ownership, particularly about certain Public Lands; and
       Whereas, Congressman Bill Richardson introduced House 
     Resolution 260 in January 1997 to create a Presidential 
     Commission to determine the validity of certain Land Claims 
     arising out of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo of 1848 
     involving Persons who were Mexican Citizens at the time of 
     the Treaty;
       Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the 
     State of New Mexico that the Congress of the United States be 
     respectfully requested and urged to support this important 
     piece of legislation to adjudicate and make conclusive 
     determinations, including possible restitution of Public 
     Lands, on unresolved provisions of the various Treaties 
     affected by the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo; and
       Be It Further Resolved that copies of this Memorial be sent 
     to the New Mexico Congressional Delegation and to the 
     Presiding Officers of each House of Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-78. A joint resolution adopted by legislators of the 
     State of Wyoming; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                           A Joint Resolution

       Whereas, the prevailing land status pattern in Wyoming and 
     the west has complicated rather than encouraged good land 
     management, land ownership being divided among private 
     parties and government entities, each with often mutually 
     exclusive management philosophies and objectives, in a 
     checkerboard and scattered parcel configuration; and
       Whereas, this situation has resulted in private landowners 
     having difficulty in achieving profitability and 
     manageability goals and public entities have likewise 
     experienced frustration in achieving improvements to land 
     access and habitats for wildlife; and
       Whereas, this land status pattern causes confrontation 
     among private landowners, public resource managers and users, 
     confounds good faith attempts at proper resource management 
     and, in the extreme, risks distress sale of lands thus 
     threatening the rural agricultural character of Wyoming; and
       Whereas, Congress, with passage of the Federal Land 
     Exchange Facilitation Act (FLEFA), has presented an 
     opportunity to resolve this situation through the exchange of 
     lands of equal value between private interests and the 
     federal government, consolidating lands in logical and 
     manageable parcels under one (1) ownership; and
       Whereas, land exchanges conducted under FLEFA can be 
     concluded in a fraction of the time necessary otherwise with 
     a minimum of administrative and bureaucratic delay; and
       Whereas, the Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming has a 
     demonstrated commitment to FLEFA exchanges and has identified 
     candidate acreage for exchange with private landowners; and
       Whereas, resolving difficult natural resource management 
     conflict through exchanges under FLEFA is clearly in the best 
     interest of the people of the state of Wyoming.
       Now, Therefore, Be it resolved by the undersigned 
     Legislators of the State of Wyoming That:
       Section 1. That the legislature endorses the land exchange 
     process authorized under FLEFA.
       Section 2. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the United States Congress, to 
     the United States Secretary of the Interior and to the 
     Wyoming Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-A joint resolution adopted by legislators of the State 
     of Wyoming; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                           A Joint Resolution


            fifty-fourth legislature of the state of Wyoming

       Whereas, on November 7, 1996, the proposed rule on Bureau 
     of Land Management (BLM) criminal law enforcement was 
     published in the Federal Register pages 57615-57621; and
       Whereas, the BLM intends to apply this new rule on the 
     public domain within the several western states including 
     Wyoming; and
       Whereas, the attempted enforcement of this rule on any 
     public land that lies within Wyoming would violate;
       (a) The equal protection afforded Wyoming citizens under 
     the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution;
       (b) The procedure for acquiring criminal enforcement 
     jurisdiction outlined in article I, section 8, clause 17 of 
     the United States Constitution as it applies to an 
     established state;
       (c) The separation of powers between the judicial, 
     executive and legislative branches of the United States 
     Government;
       (d) Federalism as established between the several states 
     and the federal government;
       (e) The authority granted to the BLM under applicable 
     enabling statutes; and
       (f) A host of other statutory and constitutional 
     protections to be further listed both at national and state 
     levels.
       Whereas, the BLM is required, as are all federal agencies, 
     to properly utilize federal acts and executive orders in 
     preparing any proposed rules; and
       Whereas, the BLM has not evaluated the existing regulations 
     for possible deletion should they historically have proven to 
     be unwarranted; and
       Whereas, the following acts and executive orders, listed in 
     section IV, procedural matters, page 57607, all require 
     federal agencies to evaluate regulations for removing rules 
     as well as consolidating rules:
       (a) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA);
       (b) Regulatory Flexibility Act;
       (c) Executive Order 12612 (Federalism);
       (d) Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review).
       Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Undersigned 
     Legislators of the State of Wyoming That:
       Section 1.
       (a) The citizens of Wyoming shall not be subjected to this 
     proposed or final rule which dramatically expands the scope 
     of federal enforcement authority.
       (b) The state of Wyoming shall take every measure possible 
     to ensure that this proposal, which is a transparent effort 
     to eliminate multiple uses of public land, be thwarted at its 
     inception.
       (c) No federal agent shall enforce this proposed rule 
     outside of lawful geographic areas.
       (d) The state attorney general shall consult with one (1) 
     or more attorneys with expertise in constitutional law and 
     determine the legality of the proposed rule not later than 
     ten (10) days after this resolution is approved.
       Section 2. The legislature hereby formally requests Wyoming 
     Congressional Delegation to hold a hearing on the BLM's 
     proposed rule on Criminal Law Enforcement as published in the 
     November 7, 1996, Federal Register, pages 57615-57621.
       Section 3. That the Secretary of State shall forward copies 
     of this resolution to the President of the Senate and the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States 
     Congress, each member of the Wyoming Congressional 
     Delegation, the Secretary of Interior, Director of Bureau of 
     Land Management and the State Director of Bureau of Land 
     Management.
                                  ____

       POM-80. A resolution adopted by the Board of Mayor and 
     Alderman of the City of Kingsport, Tennessee relative to the 
     Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.
       POM-81. A resolution adopted by the Board of Mayor and 
     Alderman of the City of Kingsport, Tennessee relative to air 
     quality standards; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works.
       POM-82. A resolution adopted by the Board of County 
     Commissioners of Broward County, Florida relative to shore 
     protection projects; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
       POM-83. A resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners 
     of the Borough of Avon-By-The-Sea, New Jersey relative to the 
     Mud Dump Site; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works.
       POM-84. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                        House Resolution No. 17

       Whereas, one of the most vexing environmental problems is 
     the disposal of solid waste. Enormous energy and expense are 
     directed to finding means to reduce the volume of solid 
     waste, to utilize limited landfill space safely and 
     efficiently, and to incorporate other means of disposing of 
     waste without endangering air, soil, or water. In spite of 
     great progress, there remain serious long-term unresolved 
     issues involving solid waste; and
       Whereas, since there are limited disposal options, there is 
     considerably demand for landfill space and other disposal 
     facilities. In response to this situation, solid waste is 
     often transported across local, state, and even international 
     boundaries for storage or disposal away from where the solid 
     waste is generated. Communities in Michigan are dealing with 
     this reality today; and
       Whereas, the potential problems of imported solid waste are 
     many. Even areas with ample storage capacity or facilities 
     now will face shortages in the future, leaving a local 
     problem of how to handle solid waste. Eventual problems with 
     a landfill site or other facility will not be handled by an 
     out-of-state or out-of-country party. The burdens will be 
     borne by those in the area importing solid wastes. Given the 
     nature of our delicate environment, especially in Michigan, 
     the ultimate risks are not restricted to the specific local 
     unit of government; and
       Whereas, since states will bear the responsibility and face 
     the consequences when and if solid waste landfills or other 
     facilities encounter problems, it is essential that states be 
     empowered to regulate this activity. Measures in Congress 
     have proposed extending authority to the states to deal with 
     this issue, an approach that is long overdue; now, therefore, 
     be it

[[Page S5185]]

       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact 
     legislation to authorize states to regulate the flow of solid 
     waste from other states or another country; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-85. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the 
     State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
       Whereas, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
     Act of 1991 (ISTEA), signed into law by the President in 
     December 1991, is a six year program authorized to provide a 
     total of $155 billion for highway and mass transportation 
     purposes; and
       Whereas, ISTEA has provided significant, annual federal 
     funds to New Jersey and all other states to help develop a 
     strong, globally-competitive economy and to improve the 
     mobility, safety and well-being of our nation's residents; 
     and
       Whereas, our state, regional and national transportation 
     systems still face growing travel demand, inadequate 
     capacity, ``bottlenecks,'' and awkward connections between 
     different forms of transportation; and
       Whereas, the need to continue and accelerate improvements 
     to our transportation systems is absolutely vital for 
     economic growth, to address safety and environmental 
     concerns, and to reduce the costs and disruptions that an 
     inefficient transportation system imposes on our residents; 
     and
       Whereas, a federal role of providing leadership and long-
     term funding remains essential if a smooth, seamless highway 
     and mass transportation system is to be achieved and then 
     maintained; and
       Whereas, a direct federal role is also especially important 
     to the viability of AMTRAK, and an annual, financial 
     commitment acknowledging such federal role must be 
     reemphasized by the President and Congress if our national 
     railroad is to reach the status, importance, and efficiency 
     of national railroads in other competitive, economically 
     developed countries; now, therefore,
       Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       1. The President and the Congress of the United States are 
     urged to reauthorize [ISTEA] the federal Intermodal Surface 
     Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), prior to its 
     expiration in October 1997, for a period of time and a level 
     of funding that are no less than current ISTEA authorization 
     levels and providing that New Jersey's share of that funding 
     is no less than its current ISTEA share. Timely 
     reauthorization of ISTEA is paramount if states are to 
     continue, without interruption, their efforts to improve and 
     enhance the effectiveness of our nation's state, regional, 
     and national transportation systems. Additionally, the 
     federal government must continue to acknowledge its role 
     relative to AMTRAK and provide the financial assistance 
     needed by AMTRAK to ensure the long-term viability of our 
     national railroad passenger corporation.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the 
     Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President and the 
     Vice President of the United States, members of Congress, and 
     the President of AMTRAK.
                                  ____

       POM-86. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Montana; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas, Montana's economy and the quality of life of its 
     citizens benefit greatly from federal transportation and 
     highway infrastructure investments; and
       Whereas, the nation's highways are a linked, interconnected 
     system, with the nation as a whole benefiting from federal 
     highway infrastructure investments in rural western states, 
     such as Montana, where our Interstate and National Highway 
     Systems provide a bridge for the safe and efficient movement 
     of people and goods across this vast region; and
       Whereas, the benefits to the nation and the states from the 
     Federal-Aid Highway Program investments include:
       (1) Improved mobility to support our economy and our 
     competitive international position;
       (2) access to the nation's agricultural production, its 
     manufactured goods, and its national parks and monuments;
       (3) access and mobility for our national and civil defense 
     forces; and
       (4) social progress and quality of life for our citizens; 
     and
       Whereas, federal highway investments are supported entirely 
     by the fees assessed every day on the users of the nation's 
     highways; and
       Whereas, the Federal Highway Trust Fund could substantially 
     increase investments in highway infrastructure without any 
     increase in fees to the users of the highway system; and
       Whereas, to continue the benefits of transportation and 
     highway infrastructure investments, the Federal Surface 
     Transportation Program must be reauthorized by the United 
     States Congress before the program expires on October 1, 
     1997: Now, therefore,
       Be it resolved by the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Montana:
       That the United States Congress is urged to act promptly to 
     reauthorize the Federal Surface Transportation Program and 
     that this reauthorization should include:
       (1) full investment of all Federal Highway Trust Fund 
     balances, interest, and revenue in much-needed transportation 
     and highway infrastructure;
       (2) a high level of support for the nation's most important 
     highways, our Interstate System and National Highway System 
     routes;
       (3) fair treatment of western, rural states in the 
     distribution of Federal-Aid Highway Program funds between 
     states, including recognition that the western states have 
     vast highway systems that benefit the entire nation and few 
     people to support them;
       (4) regulatory reduction and program streamlining to 
     improve the timeliness and cost-effectiveness of highway 
     project delivery; and
       (5) respect for the uniqueness of each state's approach to 
     managing its transportation system. Solutions in small, 
     densely populated eastern states may not make sense in the 
     west. One size does not fit all, so the federal government 
     should refrain from mandating solutions.
       Be it further resolved, That the Secretary of State send a 
     copy of this resolution to the Director of the Montana 
     Department of Transportation, the President of the United 
     States, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, 
     and each member of the Montana Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-87. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; to the 
     Committee on the Environment and Public Works.
       Whereas, The United States Supreme Court has issued a 
     series of decisions holding that the Commerce Clause of the 
     Constitution of the United States prohibits states from 
     restricting the importation of solid waste from other states; 
     and
       Whereas, Over the past several years, owners and operators 
     of solid waste landfills located in this Commonwealth have 
     increased significantly the amount of solid waste that they 
     accept from other states; and
       Whereas, According to statistics compiled by the Department 
     of Environmental Protection, the percentage of solid waste 
     disposed of in this Commonwealth that is imported from other 
     states has increased in each of the past six years; and
       Whereas, According to statistics compiled by the Department 
     of Environmental Protection, in 1996 imported waste made up 
     43% of the solid waste disposed of in landfills located in 
     this Commonwealth; and
       Whereas, New York State and New York City have announced 
     plans to close by the year 2001 the Fresh Kills landfill 
     located on Staten Island, which currently accepts 13,000 tons 
     of waste per day from New York City and the city's sanitation 
     director stated that the city would consider sending its 
     waste to landfills in Pennsylvania, among other places; and
       Whereas, Governor Tom Ridge has notified the Governor of 
     New York that the recently released report on how New York 
     State and New York City will handle the closure of Fresh 
     Kills did not adequately address limiting the exportation of 
     the waste from Fresh Kills or steps New York State will take 
     to plan for the construction of disposal facilities; and
       Whereas, The present and projected future levels of solid 
     waste that owners and operators of landfills and incinerators 
     located in this Commonwealth import from other states pose 
     environmental, aesthetic and traffic problems and is unfair 
     to citizens of this Commonwealth, particularly citizens 
     living in areas where landfills and incinerators are located; 
     and
       Whereas, In 1988 the Commonwealth adopted a law designed to 
     reduce the need for additional landfills and incinerators by 
     requiring and encouraging recycling of certain materials; and
       Whereas, It is within the power of Congress to delegate 
     authority to the states to restrict the amount of solid waste 
     they import from other states; and
       Whereas, Legislation has been introduced in both Houses of 
     Congress that would give states authority to impose 
     reasonable restrictions on the amount of solid waste imported 
     from other states; and
       Whereas, Passage of such legislation by Congress may hinge 
     upon the success of negotiations between certain states that 
     import and export trash; and
       Whereas, Governor Ridge and the governors of four other 
     states wrote to the Honorable George Pataki, Governor of New 
     York, expressing their desire to reach an accord on 
     authorizing states to place reasonable limits on the 
     importation of solid waste; and
       Whereas, The failure of Congress to act will harm this 
     Commonwealth by allowing the continued unrestricted flow of 
     solid waste generated in other states to landfills and 
     incinerators located in this Commonwealth: Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives memorialize the 
     Clinton Administration and Congress to support legislation 
     authorizing states to restrict the amount of solid waste they 
     import from other states; and be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives memorialize the 
     Governor of New York to support the legislation giving states 
     the authority to place reasonable restrictions

[[Page S5186]]

     upon the amount of solid waste imported from other states; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Honorable William Clinton, President of the United 
     States, the Honorable George Pataki, Governor of New York, 
     the presiding officer of each House of Congress and to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-88. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has issued a 
     series of decisions holding that the Commerce Clause of the 
     Constitution of the United States prohibits states from 
     restricting the importation of solid waste from other states; 
     and
       Whereas, over the past several years owners and operators 
     of solid waste landfills located in this Commonwealth have 
     increased significantly the amount of solid waste that they 
     accept from other states; and
       Whereas, according to statistics compiled by the Department 
     of Environmental Protection, the percentage of solid waste 
     deposited in this Commonwealth that is imported from other 
     states has increased in each of the past six years; and
       Whereas, according to statistics compiled by the Department 
     of Environmental Protection of this Commonwealth, in 1996 
     imported waste made up 43% of the solid waste deposited in 
     landfills located in this Commonwealth; and
       Whereas, New York State and New York City have announced 
     plans to close by the year 2001 the Fresh Kills landfill 
     located on Staten Island, which currently accepts 13,000 tons 
     of waste per day from New York City, and the city's 
     sanitation director stated that the city would consider 
     sending its waste to landfills in Pennsylvania, among other 
     places; and
       Whereas, Governor Tom Ridge has notified the Governor of 
     New York that the recently released report on how New York 
     State and New York City will handle the closure of Fresh 
     Kills did not adequately address limiting the exportation of 
     the waste from Fresh Kills or steps New York State will take 
     to plan for the construction of disposal facilities; and
       Whereas, the present and projected future levels of solid 
     waste that owners and operators of landfills and incinerators 
     located in this Commonwealth import from other states pose 
     environmental, aesthetic and traffic problems and is unfair 
     to citizens of this Commonwealth particularly citizens living 
     in areas where landfills and incinerators are located; and
       Whereas, in 1988 the Commonwealth adopted a law designed to 
     reduce the need for additional landfills and incinerators by 
     requiring and encouraging recycling of certain materials; and
       Whereas, it is within the power of Congress to delegate 
     authority to the states to restrict the amount of solid waste 
     they import from other states; and
       Whereas, legislation has been introduced in both houses of 
     Congress that would give states authority to impose 
     reasonable restrictions on the amount of solid waste imported 
     from other states; and
       Whereas, passage of such legislation by Congress may hinge 
     upon the success of negotiations between certain states that 
     import and export trash; and
       Whereas, Governor Ridge and the governors of four other 
     states wrote to the Honorable George Pataki, Governor of New 
     York, expressing their desire to reach an accord on 
     authorizing states to place reasonable limits on the 
     importation of solid waste; and
       Whereas, the failure of Congress to act will harm this 
     Commonwealth by allowing the continued unrestricted flow of 
     solid waste generated in other states to landfills and 
     incinerators located in this Commonwealth; Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate memorialize the President of the 
     United States and Congress to support legislation authorizing 
     states to restrict the amount of solid waste being imported 
     from other states; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate memorialize the Governor of New 
     York to support the legislation giving states the authority 
     to place reasonable restrictions upon the amount of solid 
     waste imported from other states; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate memorialize the President of the 
     United States and Congress to support legislation that gives 
     communities hosting disposal facilities the right to decide 
     by agreement whether to accept waste from other States; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Honorable William Clinton, President of the United 
     States; the Honorable George Pataki, Governor of New York; 
     the presiding officer of each house of Congress; and to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-89. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of South Dakota; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.

                    House Concurrent Resolution 1012

       Whereas, South Dakota's economy, the quality of life and 
     the personal mobility of its citizens benefit greatly from 
     federal transportation and highway infrastructure 
     investments; and
       Whereas, the nation's highways are a linked, inter-
     connected system with the nation as a whole benefiting from 
     federal highway infrastructure investments in rural western 
     states, such as South Dakota, where our Interstate and 
     National Highway Systems provide a bridge for the safe and 
     efficient movement of people and goods across this vast 
     region; and
       Whereas, the benefits from federal highway investments to 
     the nation and the states include: improved mobility to 
     support out economy and competitive international position; 
     access to the nation's natural resource and agricultural 
     production, its manufactured goods, and our national parks 
     and monuments; access and mobility for our national and civil 
     defense forces; social progress and quality of life for our 
     citizens; and
       Whereas, South Dakota has an aging Interstate System which 
     needs significant funding for pavement maintenance and 
     replacement; and
       Whereas, federal highway investments are supported entirely 
     by the fees assessed every day on the users of the nation's 
     highways; and
       Whereas, the Federal Highway Trust Fund could support 
     substantially increased investments in highway infrastructure 
     without any increase in fees to the users of the highway 
     system; and
       Whereas, to continue the benefits of transportation and 
     highway infrastructure investments, the Federal Surface 
     Transportation Program must be reauthorized by the United 
     States Congress before the program expires on September 30, 
     1997: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-
     second Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate 
     concurring therein, That the United States Congress is urged 
     to act promptly to reauthorize the Federal Surface 
     Transportation Program; and be it further
       Resolved, That this reauthorization include: full 
     investment of all Highway Trust Fund balances, interest and 
     revenues in much needed transportation and highway 
     infrastructure; a high level of support for the nation's most 
     important highways; the Interstate and National Highway 
     System routes; fair treatment of rural western states in the 
     distribution of federal highway program funds among the 
     states, considering the national interest in rural and 
     intercity, as well as urban transportation, and recognizing 
     that the rural western states have vast highway systems which 
     benefit the entire nation and few people to support them; 
     regulatory reduction and program streamlining to improve the 
     timeliness and cost-effectiveness of highway project 
     delivery; and respect for the uniqueness of each state's 
     approach to managing its transportation system where one size 
     does not fit all, so the federal government should refrain 
     from mandating solutions and imposing sanctions on the 
     states; and be it further
       Resolved, That the President of the Senate and the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives send a copy of this 
     resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker 
     of the United States House of Representatives, the President 
     of the United States Senate, and each member of the South 
     Dakota Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-90. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 38

       Whereas, though Texans are faced with pressing surface 
     transportation needs that require immediate attention and 
     revenue to remedy existing problems and to keep pace with 
     growing demands, the state continues to lose money each year 
     under the current federal funding formula that requires the 
     state to contribute more to the national Highway Trust Fund 
     than it is apportioned back; and
       Whereas, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
     Act of 1991 (ISTEA) was created to sustain and enhance a 
     strong national surface transportation network through the 
     National Highway System and to expand other programs to 
     ensure that states' transportation plans are intermodal, 
     environmentally sound, and energy efficient; and
       Whereas, since its passage, however, funding provisions 
     contained in the ISTEA have traditionally benefited some 
     states at the expense of others, inflicting a heavy penalty 
     that, in Texas alone, has cost this state millions of dollars 
     that could have been used to repair and augment the Texas 
     highway system; and
       Whereas, the expiration of ISTEA on September 30, 1997, and 
     the disparity in the current apportionment of highway funds 
     have prompted a coalition of more than 20 states, including 
     Texas, to join together to develop the Streamlined 
     Transportation Efficiency Program for the 21st Century (STEP 
     21); while acknowledging the need for a broadly focused 
     national surface transportation policy, the program 
     recognizes that the surface transportation needs of each and 
     region differ greatly and promotes a simplified federal 
     surface transportation program that would significantly 
     benefit mobility and the national economy while giving each 
     state more flexibility to respond to diverse local needs; and
       Whereas, currently before Congress in the form of the ISTEA 
     Integrity Restoration

[[Page S5187]]

     Act, the STEP 21 program seeks to revise the apportionment 
     adjustment formula to ensure that all states receive at least 
     a 95 percent return on tax payments made to the Highway Trust 
     Fund while continuing to provide an adequate level of funding 
     for states with special circumstances; it would further 
     provide states with more autonomy to respond to their 
     specific state and local transportation needs, would 
     consolidate and streamline various federal highway programs, 
     and would distribute new program funds using simplified, 
     objective criteria; and
       Whereas, the STEP 21 proposal would bring more Texas motor 
     fuels tax dollars back to the state, giving state officials 
     greater control over where available surface transportation 
     funds should be spent and providing them with the flexibility 
     to use funds from various sources to meet Texas' 
     transportation needs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     support the passage of the Steamlined Transportation 
     Efficiency Program for the 21st Century (STEP 21); and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby encourage the members of the Texas delegation of the 
     Congress of the United States to cosponsor the ISTEA 
     Integrity Restoration Act; 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 the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas congressional 
     delegation 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.
                                  ____

       POM-91. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Vermont; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                       Joint Senate Resolution 18

       Whereas, the federal Clean Air Act requires the EPA to 
     promulgate and revise national ambient air quality standards 
     that provide for the level of air quality necessary to 
     protect public health, and
       Whereas, the EPA is required to undertake detailed 
     independent scientific review of all of the available health 
     and welfare information in setting and revising the national 
     ambient air quality standards, and
       Whereas, recent studies have linked exposure to ozone in 
     the ambient air to increased hospital admissions for 
     respiratory illness, increased susceptibility to respiratory 
     infection and lung inflammation, and
       Whereas, long-term exposure to ozone can cause irreversible 
     changes in the lungs leading to chronic respiratory illnesses 
     such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and/or premature aging 
     of the lungs, and
       Whereas, the current primary standard for ozone is not 
     adequate to protect the public from adverse health effects, 
     and
       Whereas, recent studies suggest that significant health 
     effects including premature mortality, increased hospital 
     emissions and other respiratory illnesses result from 
     exposure to fine particulates at concentrations below the 
     current standards, and
       Whereas, concentrations of fine particulates are also 
     responsible for significant visibility impairment in areas of 
     importance to Vermont's tourism industry, and
       Whereas, the current primary standard for particulate 
     matter is not adequate to protect the public from the adverse 
     health effects attributable to exposure to fine particulates, 
     and
       Whereas, children and the elderly are particularly 
     susceptible to the adverse health effects resulting from 
     exposure to ozone and fine particulates, and
       Whereas, comprehensive economic analysis will be done in 
     the implementation of the regulatory process, now therefore 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That 
     it is the sense of the General Assembly that the EPA should 
     fulfill its duty under the Clean Air Act to review and revise 
     national ambient air quality standards to levels that are 
     necessary to protect public helath, and be it further
       Resolved: That the General Assembly urges the EPA to revise 
     the standards in accordance with recent scientific evidence 
     connecting exposure to ozone and fine particulate to 
     significant adverse health effects, particularly to children 
     and the elderly, and be it further
       Resolved: That the General Assembly urges the EPA to 
     expeditiously finalize the standards for ozone and fine 
     particulates as proposed by the EPA on November 29, 1996, and 
     be it further
       Resolved: That the Secretary of State is directed to 
     forward a copy of this resolution to the President, Vice 
     President, Vermont's Congressional delegation, and the 
     Administrator of the EPA in Washington, DC.
                                  ____

       POM-92. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Vermont; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                       Joint Senate Resolution 12

       Whereas, there has been a two-to-threefold global increase 
     in mercury in the environment since the 1850's, increases of 
     three times have been found in wilderness areas of the United 
     States, and much higher increases have been found in 
     developed areas of the United States, and
       Whereas, mercury is truly a state, national and 
     international concern because mercury is atmospherically 
     transported indiscriminately across political boundaries, and
       Whereas, atmospheric deposition resulting from human 
     activities, including area sources, waste disposal and fossil 
     fuel burning, contributes to mercury loading in the 
     environment, and
       Whereas, mercury is a persistent bioaccumulative toxic 
     substance that presents particular problems in aquatic 
     systems, and
       Whereas, human consumption advisories have been issued in 
     at least 1,500 water bodies in 36 states, including Vermont, 
     because of high levels of mercury contamination in fish, 
     resulting in losses to tourism and fishing industries and 
     related activities, and
       Whereas, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
     estimates, each year in the United States between 80,000 and 
     85,000 pregnant women are exposed to mercury levels high 
     enough to produce risk to their children, and
       Whereas, the EPA's Mercury Report to Congress, required by 
     the Clean Air Act to be completed by 1994, represents the 
     best information in the world on the use, generation and 
     disposal of mercury, and
       Whereas, the EPA effectively completed the draft report in 
     1995, but has delayed submittal of the mercury report to 
     Congress until 1999, and
       Whereas, there are known substitutes for most mercury-
     containing products and devices, except for high-efficiency 
     lighting, and
       Whereas, over one-half billion mercury-containing lamps are 
     annually generated * * *
       Whereas, the EPA is simultaneously establishing achievable 
     control technologies for mercury sources pursuant to the 
     Clean Air Act, proposing tightening water quality criteria 
     for mercury under the Clean Water Act, placing priority on 
     mercury-contaminated superfund sites, but is proposing to 
     exempt mercury-containing lamps from hazardous waste 
     regulations, and
       Whereas, the U.S. government owns in excess of 11 million 
     pounds of mercury in Department of Defense (DOD) and 
     Department of Energy (DOE) stockpiles, and
       Whereas, the entire U.S. mercury stockpile has been 
     declared excess to U.S. needs and has been slated for sale on 
     the world market through the Defense National Stockpile of 
     the DOD, and
       Whereas, the State of Vermont is committed to mercury 
     recycling and the elimination of nonessential uses of mercury 
     as its top priority for waste management, and
       Whereas, state and federal governments have taken many 
     actions to reduce mercury in the environment, now therefore 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That 
     it is the sense of the General Assembly that EPA should 
     officially release the Mercury Report to Congress forthwith, 
     and be it further
       Resolved: That the General Assembly urges the EPA to 
     conduct landfill air emission tests for mercury in the 
     northeast and nationally, and be it further
       Resolved: That the General Assembly urges the EPA not to 
     exempt mercury-containing lamps from hazardous waste 
     regulations, but instead to adopt universal waste rules that 
     foster mercury recycling, and be it further
       Resolved: That the General Assembly opposes future U.S. 
     mercury stockpile sales, and calls for a permanent halt to 
     sales; and be it further
       Resolved: That the General Assembly urges EPA to develop 
     permit provisions for all waste incinerators requiring the 
     source separation of mercury-containing products and devices, 
     and to not exempt smaller medical waste incinerators from 
     more stringent federal pollution control rules; and be it 
     further
       Resolved: That the General Assembly urges EPA to recommend 
     to Congress rescission of the exemption of fossil fuel 
     burning power plants from federal pollution control rules; 
     and be it further
       Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send 
     copies of this resolution to the President, Vice President, 
     Vermont's Congressional delegation, and the Administrator of 
     the EPA.
                                  ____

       POM-93. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 495

       Whereas, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
     Act (ISTEA) of 1991 expires September 30, 1997; and
       Whereas, according to the Federal Highway Administration's 
     publication Federal Highway Statistics, Virginia consistently 
     receives a lower percentage of federal highway funding than 
     its percentage share of payments into the Highway Trust Fund; 
     and
       Whereas, the proposed reauthorization of federal aid for 
     surface transportation programs provides an ideal opportunity 
     to ensure that future methods of apportioning federal 
     transportation funds are equitable and fair; and
       Whereas, adequate support for the National Highway System 
     (NHS) is necessary to provide consistent mobility and 
     economic benefits for all states and the nation, and to 
     ensure that Virginia's citizens are able to connect with 
     citizens throughout the nation; and
       Whereas, a streamlined transportation program is needed to 
     provide flexible funding to allow states and their local 
     partners to respond to specific state and local needs; and

[[Page S5188]]

       Whereas, it is in the national interest to ensure an 
     adequate level of resources for highways in states with small 
     populations and large land areas, as well as states with 
     small populations and small land areas; to provide road 
     systems necessary to facilitate the mobility of citizens 
     across the country and economic development; and to meet the 
     transportation needs of transit-dependent citizens; and
       Whereas, multi-modal transportation systems are needed to 
     link the nation's highway systems to the public transit 
     systems; and
       Whereas, a strong transit program contributes to national 
     benchmarks for improved air quality by reducing pollution as 
     defined by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; and
       Whereas, the Integrity Restoration Act, which embodies the 
     principles advanced by the Surface Transportation Efficiency 
     Program (STEP 21) Coalition, has been introduced in both the 
     United States House of Representatives and the United States 
     Senate; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, 
     That Congress be urged to reauthorize the federal surface 
     transportation program by replacing outdated formulas with 
     factors reflecting use, such as those identified in STEP 21; 
     providing better equity in the distribution of highway funds 
     to states; and authorizing funding for multi-modal transit 
     services and highways; and, be it
       Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates 
     transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives, the President of the United States 
     Senate, and the members of the Congressional Delegation of 
     Virginia in order that they may be apprised of the sense of 
     the General Assembly in this matter.
                                  ____

       POM-94. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 571

       Memorializing the President and the Congress of the United 
     States to provide full federal funding to replace the Woodrow 
     Wilson Bridge, its interchanges and approaches.
       Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 1997 and 
     Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 1997.
       Whereas, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is the major crossing of 
     the Potomac River for the southern half of the Washington, 
     D.C., metropolitan region; and
       Whereas, the bridge carries 170,000 vehicles per day, yet 
     was designed to carry only 75,000 vehicles per day; and
       Whereas, traffic is estimated to increase to 300,000 
     vehicles per day by the year 2020; and
       Whereas, the bridge is the only segment of the region's 
     eight-lane capital beltway limited to six lanes; and
       Whereas, the bridge is the only segment of the interstate 
     system owned by the federal government, and
       Whereas, delays by the owner in replacing the bridge 
     facility have increased traffic congestion and the risk of 
     vehicle accidents; and
       Whereas, the bridge was not funded under the Interstate 
     Construction Program because of federal ownership or included 
     in the Final Interstate Cost Estimates where funding was 
     provided in addition to the normal federal-aid apportionment 
     and where the federal share was 90% of the cost of the 
     project; and
       Whereas, the National Highway System Designation Act 
     recently reaffirmed the responsibility of the federal 
     government to fund the reconstruction of the bridge; and
       Whereas, the National Highway System Designation Act 
     provides for the establishment of an interstate authority; 
     and
       Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of 
     Columbia, and the State of Maryland have enacted legislation 
     creating the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Tunnel Authority; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, 
     That the President and the Congress of the United States be 
     urged to provide full federal funding to replace the Woodrow 
     Wilson Bridge, its interchanges and its approaches; and, be 
     it
       Resolved further, That federal government funding and 
     design comply with current design and engineering standards 
     currently imposed on states for constructing bridges, and 
     that such design enhance the capacity of the bridge and match 
     the approaches with the new bridge configuration; and, be it
       Resolved finally, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     the President of the United States Senate, and the 
     Congressional Delegation of Virginia to apprise them of the 
     sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this manner.
       POM-95. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 225

       Memorializing Congress to reauthorize the federal surface 
     transportation program by replacing outdated formulas with 
     factors reflecting use, such as those identified in STEP 21; 
     providing better equity in the distribution of highway funds 
     to states; and authorizing funding for multi-modal transit 
     services and highways.
       Agreed to by the Senate, February 20, 1997 and Agreed to by 
     the House of Delegates, February 20, 1997.
       Whereas, the Intermodel Surface Transportation Efficiency 
     Act (ISTEA) of 1991 expires on September 30, 1997; and
       Whereas, according to the Federal Highway Administration's 
     publication, Federal Highway Statistics, Virginia 
     consistently receives a lower percentage of federal highway 
     funding than its percentage share of payments into the 
     Highway Trust Fund; and
       Whereas, the proposed reauthorization of federal aid for 
     surface transportation programs provides an ideal opportunity 
     to ensure that future methods of apportioning federal 
     transportation funds are equitable and fair; and
       Whereas, adequate support for the National Highway System 
     (NHS) is necessary to provide consistent mobility and 
     economic benefits for all states and the nation, and to 
     ensure that Virginia's citizens are able to connect with 
     citizens throughout the nation; and
       Whereas, a streamlined transportation program is needed to 
     provide flexible funding to allow states and their local 
     partners to respond to specific state and local needs; and
       Whereas, it is in the national interest to ensure an 
     adequate level of resources for highways in states with small 
     populations and large land areas, as well as states with 
     small populations and small land areas; to provide the road 
     systems necessary to facilitate the mobility of citizens 
     across the country and economic development; and to meet the 
     transportation needs of transit-dependent citizens; and
       Whereas, multi-modal transportation systems are needed to 
     link the nation's highway systems to the public transit 
     systems; and
       Whereas, a strong transit program contributes to national 
     benchmarks for improved air quality by reducing pollution as 
     defined by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; and
       Whereas, the Integrity Restoration Act, which embodies the 
     principles advanced by the Surface Transportation Efficiency 
     Program (STEP 21) Coalition, has been introduced in both the 
     United States Senate and the United States House of 
     Representatives; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, 
     That Congress be urged to reauthorize the federal surface 
     transportation program by replacing outdated formulas with 
     factors reflecting use, such as those identified in STEP 
     providing better equity in the distribution of highway funds 
     to states; and authorizing funding for multi-modal transit 
     services and highways; and, be it
       Resolved Further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     and the members of the Congressional Delegation of Virginia 
     in order that they may be apprised of the sense of the 
     General Assembly of Virginia on this matter.
       POM-96. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Alabama; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                                H.R. 415

       By Representatives Jeff Dolbare, James Clark and Richard 
     Laird.
       Petitioning the United States Congress to repeal estate and 
     gift tax laws.
       Whereas, working men and women of Alabama spend decades in 
     jobs to provide a better life for themselves and their 
     offspring; and
       Whereas, Social Security and other current entitlements 
     created by Congress may be in jeopardy in the future; and
       Whereas, the savings rate in the United States is lower 
     than in most industrialized nations; and
       Whereas, the incentive to save is thwarted by the national 
     government's tax code which takes up to 55 percent of the 
     assets of a taxpayer upon death; and
       Whereas, estates of a deceased family member, which 
     contain, in whole or in part, closely held family businesses 
     that owe a ludicrous amount of taxes to the federal 
     government ranging from 37.5 to 55 percent of their fair 
     market value, are often forced to sell or liquidate those 
     family businesses; and
       Whereas, family businesses represent the heart of the 
     American dream and should be encouraged to continue instead 
     of being forced into liquidation or heavy debt; and
       Whereas, family farms are often forced, without leniency, 
     to be sold in order to pay estate taxes; now therefore
       Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the 
     Legislature of Alabama, That the Congress of the United 
     States is strongly urged to repeal, in their entirety, 
     federal estate and gift tax statutes.
       Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be 
     forwarded to the following persons:
       POM-97. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to the 
     Committee on Finance.
       Whereas, in August of nineteen hundred and ninety-six, the 
     United States Congress enacted the Personal Responsibility 
     and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, so-called; 
     and
       Whereas, Congress in said act forbade use of federal funds 
     to provide benefits for financially needy immigrants lawfully 
     residing in the United States; and
       Whereas, legal immigrants pay taxes and contribute in many 
     ways to the productivity and vitality of our communities; and
       Whereas, the United States was founded and built by 
     immigrants; and

[[Page S5189]]

       Whereas, because Congress has abdicated its financial 
     responsibility, the financial burden of the action by 
     Congress falls unfairly on the states and needy residents of 
     the states; Now Therefore Be It
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts senate respectfully 
     requests that the President and the Congress of the United 
     States restore to the states the authority to provide 
     federally funded benefits to needy, lawful residents of the 
     United States; And Be It Further
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts senate respectfully 
     requests that the United States Congress and the President 
     restore to the commonwealth adequate federal funding to allow 
     for the provision of benefits for financially needy 
     immigrants lawfully residing in this commonwealth; and Be It 
     Further
       Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted 
     forthwith by the clerk of the senate to the President of the 
     United States of America, the presiding officer of each 
     branch of the United States Congress, and each member of the 
     Massachusetts congressional delegation.
       POM-98. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to the 
     Committee on Finance.
       Whereas, for over one hundred years, Dalton, Massachusetts 
     has been the home of Crane and Company the producer of high 
     quality currency paper; and
       Whereas, the product manufactured at Crane and Company has 
     been of outstanding grade, produced by an experienced work 
     force, under the direction of a superior management and 
     within the guidelines of the free enterprise system; and
       Whereas, Crane and Company has abided by all the 
     appropriate business practices established by the United 
     States Bureau of Engraving and Printing; and
       Whereas, U.S. Treasury officials have now proposed a 
     procedure that encourages foreign companies to unfairly 
     compete against Crane and Company by offering a subsidy of 
     United States tax dollars which, if implemented, could 
     potentially harm the economic structure of western 
     Massachusetts; and
       Whereas, Crane and Company, a family owned business, has 
     been built by the traditional method of hard work and 
     diligence, with private capital and investment, and has, 
     since its inception, given generously to the community; now 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts Senate hereby calls upon 
     the Secretary of the United States Treasury to suspend any 
     programs or actions that promote or provide for the 
     subsidizing of foreign industries for the purpose of 
     manufacturing United States currency paper; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted 
     forthwith by the clerk of the senate to the President of the 
     United States, the presiding officers of each branch of 
     Congress and the Members thereof from this Commonwealth, the 
     Secretary of the United States Treasury and the Governor of 
     the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
                                  ____

       POM-99. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Finance.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 365

       Whereas, the states of Connecticut, New York, Indiana, and 
     California have established public/private long-term care 
     partnerships; and
       Whereas, these partnerships encourage the purchase of 
     approved long-term care insurance policies by offering 
     purchasers enhanced asset protection under the Medicaid 
     program; and
       Whereas, under such a partnership program, if a 
     policyholder requires long-term care and eventually exhausts 
     his or her private insurance benefits, the policyholder is 
     permitted to keep more of his or her assets while still 
     qualifying for Medicaid coverage; and
       Whereas, the 1993 Session of the General Assembly requested 
     a study of the advantages of public/private partnerships to 
     encourage the purchase of long-term care insurance in an 
     attempt to formulate an innovative program to slow the growth 
     of Medicaid funding for long-term care; and
       Whereas, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 
     includes a provision, Sec. 13612 (a) (C), that discourages 
     additional states from implementing such partnerships by 
     requiring states to make recovery from the estates of persons 
     who had enjoyed enhanced Medicaid asset protection, making 
     the asset protection provided by such partnerships only 
     temporary; and
       Whereas, the removed of Sec. 13612 (a) (C) would allow 
     additional states to establish asset protection programs for 
     individuals who purchase qualified long-term care insurance 
     policies without requiring states to recover such assets upon 
     a beneficiary's death; and
       Whereas, the removed of Sec. 13612 (a) (C) would make such 
     partnerships much more attractive to potential participants, 
     especially if they are motivated by a desire to pass some of 
     their assets on to their children; and
       Whereas, having long-term care insurance reduces the 
     possibility that persons will spend down to Medicaid 
     eligibility levels; and
       Whereas, long-term care insurance, by reducing the Medicaid 
     expenditures for policyholders, helps states control Medicaid 
     costs; now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring. 
     That Congress be urged to repeal Sec. 13612 (a) (C) of the 
     Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993; and, be it
       Resolved further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a 
     copy of this resolution to the President of the United States 
     Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the 
     Congressional Delegation of Virginia in order that they may 
     be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly in this 
     matter.
                                  ____

       POM-100. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Finance.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 618

       Whereas, in 1986, the United States Congress created the 
     Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program to assist in the 
     construction and rehabilitation of housing for low and 
     moderate income persons and families at rents which would be 
     affordable to them; and
       Whereas, since the creation of the Low Income Housing Tax 
     Credit Program, approximately $75 million worth of tax 
     credits have been allocated in Virginia for more than 22,000 
     rental housing units; and
       Whereas, the tax credits so allocated have generated over 
     $350 million in private investment funds which have been 
     leveraged with more than $1 billion in funding from other 
     public and private sources; and
       Whereas, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program has 
     created a successful partnership of the public and private 
     sectors, bringing together multiple parties and sources of 
     funding and, in particular, has encouraged the involvement of 
     nonprofit organizations in the ownership and operation of low 
     and moderate income housing; and
       Whereas, the administration of the Low Income Housing Tax 
     Credit Program has been implemented by the states without any 
     increase in the federal bureaucracy and minimal operating 
     cost to the public; and
       Whereas, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program is the 
     only major federal program for the construction and 
     rehabilitation of low and moderate income housing and should 
     be continued in order to ensure the availability of an 
     important source of funds for such housing; now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, 
     That the Congress of the United States be requested to 
     continue the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program; and, be 
     it
       Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the President of the 
     United States Senate, and the Congressional Delegation of 
     Virginia to apprise them of the sense of the General Assembly 
     of Virginia in this matter.
                                  ____

       POM-101. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Finance.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 343

       Whereas, community-based services to the frail and 
     chronically ill, especially to that category of elderly, are 
     often uncoordinated, fragmented, inappropriate, or 
     insufficient to meet the needs of the frail and chronically 
     ill who are at risk of institutionalization, often resulting 
     in unnecessary placement in nursing homes; and
       Whereas, steadily increasing health care costs for the 
     frail, chronically ill, and especially the frail elderly 
     provide incentives to develop programs providing quality 
     services at reasonable costs; and
       Whereas, capitated, risk-based financing provides an 
     alternative to the traditional fee-for-service payment system 
     by providing a fixed, per capita monthly payment for a 
     package of health care and social services and requires the 
     provider to assume financial responsibility for cost 
     overruns; and
       Whereas, On Lok Senior Health Services of San Francisco, 
     California, began as a federal and state demonstration 
     program in 1973 to test whether comprehensive community-based 
     services could be provided to the frail elderly at no greater 
     cost than nursing home care; and
       Whereas, since 1983, On Lok Senior Health Services of San 
     Francisco, California, has successfully provided a 
     comprehensive package of services and operated within a cost-
     effective, capitated risk-based financing system; and
       Whereas, recognizing On Lok's success, Congress passed 
     legislation in 1986, 1987, and 1990 encouraging the expansion 
     of capitated long-term care programs by permitting federal 
     Medicare and Medicaid waivers to be granted indefinitely to 
     On Lok and authorizing the Health Care Financing 
     Administration to grant waivers in up to 15 new sites 
     throughout the nation in order to replicate the On Lok model 
     and entitled this program as Program for All Inclusive Care 
     for the Elderly (PACE); and
       Whereas, in Virginia, the intent to develop programs 
     similar to On Lok has been established by Chapter 628 (1996), 
     which created insurance regulatory exemptions for certain 
     health plans, and by the Budget Bill of 1995 I-92, 396-A-B; 
     and
       Whereas, pre-PACE sites can only transition to PACE if the 
     program receives federal approval and no federal waivers are 
     currently available; and
       Whereas, Virginia's Medicaid program is currently in a 
     contract with Sentara to offer services to Medicaid clients; 
     now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, 
     That Congress be urged to proceed immediately with an 
     extension of

[[Page S5190]]

     waivers to the PACE program or to pass S. 999, extending 
     provider status to the PACE program; and, be it
       Resolved further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     and the Congressional Delegation of Virginia in order that 
     they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly in 
     this matter.
                                  ____

       POM-102. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Georgia; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                           Resolution No. 387

       Whereas, Georgia has a rich natural resource heritage and 
     has been blessed with bountiful forests; and
       Whereas, these forests cover two-thirds of Georgia and 
     provide many benefits and services; and
       Whereas, Georgians have relied on their forest resources 
     for hundreds of years to provide shelter, sustenance, forest 
     products, employment, and other economic benefits; and
       Whereas, Georgia's forests also significantly contribute to 
     our quality of life by providing clean water, clean air, rich 
     soil, wildlife, aesthetic, and recreational benefits, all of 
     which are irreplaceable; and
       Whereas, forestry is the largest single economic 
     contributor to Georgia's thriving economy with $17.3 billion 
     in total value added to the economy in 1996, and the forest 
     products industry, through its own initiative, is working to 
     sustain and enhance this contribution through the Sustainable 
     Forestry Initiative; and
       Whereas, hundreds of Georgia businesses including sawmills, 
     other wood processing plants, independent logging 
     contractors, and hundreds of thousands of private Georgia 
     forest landowners have been adversely affected by imports of 
     subsidized Canadian lumber; and
       Whereas, over 170,000 Georgians are employed in forestry 
     operations; and
       Whereas, almost 70 percent of Georgia's timberland base is 
     owned by over 600,000 private property owners; and
       Whereas, in recent years, Georgia's timber resources have 
     been able to exert their rightful place in the national and 
     international marketplace with the shutdown of logging on 
     federal lands in the Pacific Northwest; and
       Whereas, this increase in product value has proven of 
     immense benefit to Georgia's economy; and
       Whereas, recent proposals to allow a renewal of the flood 
     of subsidized, price depressing imports from outside the 
     United States is a direct threat to the well-being of 
     thousands of Georgians: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate That the members of this body urge 
     the United States Congress and the United States 
     International Trade Representative not to rescind the 
     international trade agreement limiting the amount of 
     subsidized Canadian lumber imported into the United States 
     duty-free, be it further
       Resolved That the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and 
     directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to 
     the United States Congress, the United States International 
     Trade Representative, the Georgia Forestry Association, the 
     Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Southeastern Wood 
     Producers Association, the Georgia Agribusiness Council, the 
     Campaign for a Prosperous Georgia, and the capitol press 
     corps.
                                  ____

       POM-103. A resolution adopted by Hudson County (New Jersey) 
     Board of Chosen Freeholders relative to World Expo '98; to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-104. A resolution adopted by the Village of Poland, 
     Ohio relative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-105. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Georgia; to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.

                           Resolution No. 205

       Whereas, the Republic of Poland is a free, democratic, and 
     independent nation with a long and proud history; and
       Whereas, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is 
     dedicated to the preservation of the freedom and security of 
     its member nations; and
       Whereas, the Republic of Poland desires to share in both 
     the benefits and obligations of NATO in pursuing the 
     development, growth, and promotion of democratic institutions 
     and ensuring free market economic development; and
       Whereas, the Republic of Poland recognizes its 
     responsibilities as a democratic nation and wishes to 
     exercise such responsibilities in concert with members of 
     NATO; and
       Whereas, the Republic of Poland desires to become part of 
     NATO's efforts to prevent the extremes of nationalism; and
       Whereas, the security of the United States is dependent 
     upon the stability of Central Europe: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate That the members of this body urge 
     the President and Congress of the United States to support 
     the Republic of Poland's petition for admission to the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization and to support the establishment 
     during 1997 of a timetable for such admission; be it further
       Resolved That the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and 
     directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to 
     the President of the United States, the presiding officer of 
     each branch of the United States Congress, the members 
     thereof from the State of Georgia, and Ambassador Jerzy 
     Kozminski of the Republic of Poland.
                                  ____

       POM-106. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Montana; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas, China has been a divided nation since 1949, and 
     the Republic of China on Taiwan and the People's Republic of 
     China on the Chinese mainland have exercised exclusive 
     jurisdiction over separate parts of China; and
       Whereas, the Republic of China on Taiwan acknowledges that 
     two equal and distinct political entities exist within the 
     divided China; and
       Whereas, the Republic of China on Taiwan is currently the 
     14th largest trading nation in the world; its gross national 
     product is the 20th largest in the world; its annual per 
     capita income exceeds $16,000; its foreign exchange reserves 
     exceed $100 billion; and it has become the seventh largest 
     outbound investor in the world; and
       Whereas, the 21 million people on Taiwan enjoy a democratic 
     form of government that includes free and open elections at 
     the local and national levels, and the policies of the 
     Republic of China on Taiwan conform to those of other 
     democratic nations; and
       Whereas, the Republic of China on Taiwan has joined other 
     nations in responding to international disasters and crises, 
     has undertaken programs of assistance for less developed 
     nations, and has in other ways accepted regional and global 
     responsibilities; and
       Whereas, the Republic of China on Taiwan has joined several 
     important multilateral organizations in recent years, 
     including the Asia Pacific Economic Council and the Asian 
     Development Bank, and its admission into these organizations 
     has been supported by the United States; and
       Whereas, the Republic of China on Taiwan has launched a 
     campaign to pursue a seat in the United Nations without 
     prejudice to the current position of the People's Republic of 
     China in the United Nations; and
       Whereas, membership of the Republic of China on Taiwan in 
     the United Nations conforms to the United Nations' principle 
     of universality and would contribute to the peace and 
     stability of the Pacific region and, therefore, to the 
     interests of the United States; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     State of Montana: That the Republic of China on Taiwan 
     deserves to be allowed full membership in the United Nations. 
     Be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of State send copies of this 
     resolution to the President of the United States, the 
     President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the United States Congress, the Governor 
     of Montana, and the Montana Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-107. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Arizona; to the Committee on Governmental 
     Affairs.

                      Senate Joint Resolution 1001

       Whereas, the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States read as follows:
       ``The powers not delegated to the United States by the 
     Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are 
     reserved to the States respectively, or to the people''; and
       Whereas, the 10th Amendment defines the total scope of 
     federal power as being that specifically granted by the 
     United States Constitution and no more; and
       Whereas, the scope of power defined by the 10th Amendment 
     means that the federal government was created by the states 
     specifically to be the agent of the states; and
       Whereas, in the year 1996, the states are demonstrably 
     treated as agents of the federal government; and
       Whereas, resolutions have been forwarded to the federal 
     government by the Arizona Legislature without any reply or 
     result from Congress or the federal government; and
       Whereas, many federal mandates are directly in violation of 
     the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; 
     and
       Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has ruled in New 
     York v. United States, 112 S. Ct. 2408 (1992), that Congress 
     may not simply commandeer the legislative and regulatory 
     processes of the states; and
       Whereas, a number of proposals from previous 
     administrations and some now pending from the present 
     administration and from Congress may further violate the 
     United States Constitution. Therefore be it
       Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: That 
     the State of Arizona hereby claims sovereignty under the 10th 
     Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all 
     powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal 
     government by the United States Constitution and that this 
     measure serves as notice and demand to the federal government 
     to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that 
     exceed the scope of its constitutionally delegated powers; 
     That the Secretary of State transmit copies of the Resolution 
     to the President and Vice-president of the United States, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, 
     the President of the Senate of the United States, each Member 
     of the Arizona Congressional Delegation and the Speaker of 
     the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate 
     of each state legislature in the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-108. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth

[[Page S5191]]

     of Massachusetts; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
       Whereas, targeted business incentive programs have 
     proliferated into a counterproductive economic War Between 
     the States and now form the cornerstone of State-sponsored 
     ``economic development'' policies; and
       Whereas, these programs fail to promote healthy and 
     equitable statewide economic growth and, in reality, result 
     in States engaging in economic warfare by moving businesses 
     from one location to another both within and between States, 
     with no significant economic benefit in the aggregate; and
       Whereas, America's future in the global economy lies within 
     its educational, industrial, technological, and research 
     capabilities throughout the entire fifty States; and
       Whereas, disarmament of wasteful programs can be achieved 
     through a combination of new State and Federal policies; and
       Whereas, States would be better off providing a less 
     burdensome tax climate for all businesses and a quality 
     educational system geared to providing an adequately trained 
     and ready work force, support for research and development, 
     and a quality transportation system, along with other high-
     quality traditional Government services; and
       Whereas, efforts are currently under way in the United 
     States Congress to identify and eliminate federally funded 
     programs that are used by the States to escalate this 
     economic warfare: Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts House of Representatives 
     urges the Congress of the United States to embrace and 
     support efforts in the United States Congress such as H.R. 
     1842 and other legislative initiatives that will begin to 
     mitigate this economic warfare: And be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by 
     the Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Presiding 
     Officer of each branch of the Congress, and to the members 
     thereof from this Commonwealth.
       POM-109. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on 
     Governmental Affairs.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 415

       Whereas, the federal government distributed almost $229 
     billion in grants to state and local governments in federal 
     fiscal year 1995; and
       Whereas, Virginia received approximately $3.5 billion in 
     federal grants in federal fiscal year 1995; and
       Whereas, Virginia's receipt of federal grants on a per-
     capita basis is the lowest of any state in the country and 
     has been for five consecutive years; and
       Whereas, many federal grants are awarded using mathematical 
     formulas that may be disadvantageous to the Commonwealth; and
       Whereas, the United States General Accounting Office last 
     prepared a catalogue of federal grant formulas in 1987; and
       Whereas, an updated catalogue of federal grant formulas is 
     vital for Virginia to better understand and address its 
     receipt of federal grant moneys: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, 
     That the Congress of the United States be urged to direct the 
     General Accounting Office to update its 1987 catalogue of 
     federal grant-in-aid formulas as soon as possible; and, be it
       Resolved further, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates 
     transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the members of the Congressional 
     Delegation of Virginia, and the Director of the Virginia 
     Liaison Office in order that they may be apprised of the 
     sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.
       POM-110. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on 
     Governmental Affairs.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 228

       Whereas, the federal government was granted carefully 
     limited powers by the states through the ratification of the 
     Constitution of the United States; and
       Whereas, the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States specifies that ``the powers not delegated to 
     the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it 
     to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to 
     the people''; and
       Whereas, the framers of the Constitution recognized that 
     the separation of powers is essential in protecting the 
     rights of the people and extends not only to the three 
     branches of the federal government, but also to the 
     relationship between the federal government and state 
     governments; and
       Whereas, the three branches of the federal government have 
     by many actions usurped powers reserved by the Constitution 
     of the United States to the states and the people, thus 
     severely unbalancing the relationship between the federal 
     government and the state governments; and
       Whereas, the federal judiciary has not taken any action to 
     control these unwarranted assumptions of power by the federal 
     government; and
       Whereas, less federal preemption means states can act as 
     true laboratories of democracy, developing novel social and 
     economic policies without intruding into the affairs of the 
     rest of the nation; and
       Whereas, in order to restore the balance of power between 
     the federal government and state governments as intended by 
     the framers of the Constitution of the United States, the 
     federal government must carefully consider, and be 
     accountable for, the constitutional boundaries of its 
     jurisdiction; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, 
     That the Congress of the United States be urged to enact 
     legislation that would require Congress to cite the 
     constitutional authority for all proposed laws; and, be it
       Resolved further, That the enabling legislation enacted by 
     Congress contain the following provisions:
       1. To require Congress to state explicitly the extent to 
     which the proposed section of any new law preempts any state, 
     local, or tribal law, and if so, to provide the reasons for 
     such preemptions;
       2. To prohibit federal agencies from promulgating rules or 
     regulations (i) that preempt or otherwise interfere with 
     state and local powers without expressed statutory authority 
     and (ii) that do not give states notice and an opportunity to 
     be heard in the rule-making process; and
       3. If clause 3 of Section 8 of Article I of the 
     Constitution of the United States is cited as the 
     constitutional authority for the proposed law, to require 
     Congress to report a list of factual findings establishing a 
     substantial nexus between the regulatory effect of the 
     proposed law and interstate commerce; and, be it
       Resolved finally, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     and the members of the Congressional Delegation of Virginia 
     in order that they may be apprised of the sense of the 
     General Assembly in this matter.

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