[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7948-S7950]
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-186. A resolution adopted by the East Tennessee 
     Development District relative to the National Spallation 
     Neutron Source; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.
       POM-187. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Alaska; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                               Resolution

       Whereas Alaska is the 49th state to enter the federal union 
     of the United States of America and is entitled to all of the 
     rights, privileges, and obligations that the union affords 
     and requires; and
       Whereas Alaska possesses natural resources, including 
     energy, mineral, and human resources, vital to the prosperity 
     and national security of the United States; and
       Whereas the people of Alaska are conscious of the state's 
     remote northern location and proximity to Northeast Asia and 
     the Eurasian land mass, and of how the unique location places 
     the state in a more vulnerable position than other states 
     with regard to missiles that could be launched in Asia and 
     Europe; and
       Whereas the people of Alaska recognize the changing nature 
     of the international political structure and evolution and 
     proliferation of missile delivery systems and weapons of mass 
     destruction as foreign states seek the military means to 
     deter the power of the United States in international 
     affairs; and
       Whereas there is a growing threat to Alaska by potential 
     aggressors in these nations and in rogue nations that are 
     seeking nuclear weapons capability and that have 
     sponsored international terrorism; and
       Whereas a National Intelligence Estimate to assess missile 
     threats to the United States left Alaska and Hawaii out of 
     the assessment and estimate; and
       Whereas one of the primary reasons for joining the Union of 
     the United States of America was to gain security for the 
     people of Alaska and for the common regulation of foreign 
     affairs on the basis of an equitable membership in the United 
     States federation; and

[[Page S7949]]

       Whereas the United States plans to field a national missile 
     defense, perhaps as early as 2003; this national missile 
     defense plan will provide only a fragile defense for Alaska, 
     the state most likely to be threatened by new missile powers 
     that are emerging in Northeast Asia; be it
       Resolved That the Alaska State Legislature respectfully 
     requests the President of the United States to take all 
     actions necessary, within the considerable limits of the 
     resources of the United States, to protect on an equal basis 
     all peoples and resources of this great Union from threat of 
     missile attack regardless of the physical location of the 
     member state; and be it further
       Resolved That the Alaska State Legislature respectfully 
     requests that Alaska be included in every National 
     Intelligence Estimate conducted by the United States joint 
     intelligence agencies; and be it further
       Resolved That the Alaska State Legislature respectfully 
     requests the President of the United States to include Alaska 
     and Hawaii, not just the contiguous 48 states, in every 
     National Intelligence Estimate of missile threat to the 
     United States; and be it further
       Resolved That the Alaska State Legislature urges the United 
     States government to take necessary measures to ensure that 
     Alaska is protected against foreseeable threats, nuclear and 
     otherwise, posed by foreign aggressors, including deployment 
     of a ballistic missile defense system to protect Alaska; and 
     be it further
       Resolved That the Alaska State Legislature conveys to the 
     President of the United States expectations that Alaska's 
     safety and security take priority over any international 
     treaty or obligation and that the President take whatever 
     action is necessary to ensure that Alaska can be defended 
     against limited missile attacks with the same degree of 
     assurance as that provided to all other states; and be it 
     further
       Resolved That the Alaska State Legislature respectfully 
     requests that the appropriate Congressional committees hold 
     hearings in Alaska that include defense experts and 
     administration officials to help Alaskans understand their 
     risks, their level of security, and Alaska's vulnerability.
       POM-188. A resolution adopted by General Court of the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage 
     Corridor was established by Congress through the enactment of 
     Public Law 99-647, for the purpose of preserving and 
     interpreting for the educational and inspirational benefit of 
     present and future generations the unique and significant 
     contributions to our national heritage certain historic and 
     cultural lands, waterways, and structures within the 
     Blackstone River Valley of the States of Massachusetts and 
     Rhode Island; and
       Whereas, the Peters River, which begins at the Silver Lake 
     Beach Dam in the town of Bellingham, is a major tributary of 
     the historic Blackstone River; and
       Whereas, it is a historic fact that, at a time when few 
     bridges spanned the Blackstone River, many travelers had to 
     rely on Bellingham's Scott Hill Boulevard, then part of East 
     Bank Road, as a river crossing, tying the town of Bellingham 
     to the other towns of the Blackstone Valley, and at a time 
     when Bellingham residents also operated several mills in the 
     early nineteenth century, providing significant historic and 
     cultural links to the corridor communities; and
       Whereas, Bellingham's commitment to providing open space is 
     demonstrated by the town's purchase of Silver Lake and of 
     land for the development of a town common, achieves another 
     significant requirement for membership in the National 
     Heritage Corridor; and
       Whereas, the town officials and members of the business 
     community in Bellingham have demonstrated significant support 
     for preservation of historic and natural assets of Bellingham 
     and the Blackstone River Valley; and
       Whereas, the addition of Bellingham, a town which abuts the 
     corridor communities of Blackstone and Mendon in 
     Massachusetts and Woonsocket in the State of Rhode Island, to 
     the Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor, would 
     enhance the historic and cultural resources of the existing 
     corridor; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts General Court respectfully 
     urges the President and the Congress of the United States to 
     enact legislation to expand the Blackstone River Valley 
     National Heritage Corridor to include the town of Bellingham 
     within the corridor boundaries; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be transmitted 
     forthwith by the clerk of the Senate to the President of the 
     United States, the Presiding Officer of each branch of the 
     Congress, and to each member thereof from this commonwealth.
       POM-189. A resolution adopted by General Court of the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National 
     Heritage Corridor was established by Congress through the 
     enactment of Public Law 103-449 for the purpose of providing 
     assistance in the development and implementation of 
     integrated cultural, historical, and recreational land 
     resource management programs in order to retain, enhance, and 
     interpret significant features of the lands, water, and 
     structures of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley; and
       Whereas, the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley extends 
     beyond the boundary of the State of Connecticut northward 
     into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts including towns along 
     the French River, a tributary of the Quinebaug, such as 
     Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturbridge, and 
     Webster; and
       Whereas, the Massachusetts communities within the Quinebaug 
     and Shetucket Rivers Valley include nationally significant 
     historic and cultural resources such as Samuel Slater's Mill 
     Village in Webster, the birthplace of Clara Barton in Oxford, 
     the Optical Museum of America in Southbridge, and the 
     nationally known ``Old Sturbridge Village'' in Sturbridge, as 
     well as countless buildings on the National Register of 
     Historic Places; and
       Whereas, the Massachusetts communities include significant 
     natural scenic areas, tourist attractions, and local, State, 
     and Federal recreational sites that would enhance the 
     historic, cultural, and natural resources of the existing 
     corridor; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts General Court respectfully 
     urges the President and the Congress of the United States to 
     enact legislation to expand the Quinebaug and Shetucket 
     Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor to include the towns 
     of Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturbridge, and 
     Webster, within the corridor boundaries; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be transmitted 
     forthwith by the clerk of the Senate to the President of the 
     United States, the Presiding Officer of each branch of the 
     Congress, and to each member thereof from this commonwealth.
                                                                    ____

       POM-190. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Alaska; to the Committee on Finance.

                               Resolution

       Whereas the federal matching rate for the Medicaid program 
     in each state varies from 50 percent to 77 percent based on 
     the relative per capita income of each state; and
       Whereas the use of a simple per capita income figure in the 
     Medicaid program is unfair to the State of Alaska because it 
     ignores the higher cost of living in Alaska, particularly the 
     higher cost of health care services; and
       Whereas this unfair federal funding formula affects not 
     only the state's receipt of federal matching funds for 
     Medicaid but also for the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance 
     Program, child support disbursements, and certain funds under 
     welfare reform; and
       Whereas the federal government has already recognized the 
     higher cost of living in Alaska by adjusting by 25 percent 
     the Medicare nursing facility rates and the federal poverty 
     level figures for the state; and
       Whereas the use of a 25 percent cost-of-living adjustment 
     in the federal formula would reduce the state's general fund 
     Medicaid match from 50 percent to 38 percent, resulting in a 
     savings of $39,249,300 in Medicaid and $646,000 in the Foster 
     Care and Adoption Assistance Program that could be applied to 
     other state purposes without any reductions in Medicaid 
     services or services to children; be it
       Resolved That the Alaska State Legislature respectfully 
     urges the Congress to amend the Social Security Act so that 
     the higher cost of living in Alaska is reflected when per 
     capita income is used in determining the federal share of 
     Medicaid costs in the state.
                                                                    ____

       POM-191. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, born in Brewer, Maine 
     in 1828, was an outstanding soldier, educator, statesman and 
     author during his long and distinguished career; and
       Whereas, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was the living 
     embodiment of Maine character, grit and courage; and
       Whereas, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, as Colonel of the 
     20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, contributed greatly 
     to Union victory at Gettysburg by his heroic defense of 
     Little Round Top on July 2, 1863; and
       Whereas, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, as Major General of 
     the Third Brigade, Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, was 
     selected by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant to preside 
     over the formal surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on 
     April 12, 1865, rendered a salute to the defeated adversary 
     that symbolized hopes for reconciliation of North and South; 
     and
       Whereas, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, as commander of the 
     militia, displayed great statesmanship in averting civil 
     conflict without resort to arms during the 1880 Election 
     Crisis in Maine; and
       Whereas, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a progressive 
     educator who inaugurated a ``new Elizabethan age'' of 
     learning as President of Bowdoin College, represented Maine 
     at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, speaking on ``Maine: Her 
     Place in History,'' represented the United States at the 
     Paris Exposition on education and wrote the classic The 
     Passing of the Armies; and
       Whereas, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is an historical 
     figure of national significance: Now, therefore, be it

[[Page S7950]]

       Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, the Members of the 
     118th Legislature, now assembled in this First Special 
     Session, respectfully recommend and urge the United States 
     Postal Service to issue a stamp honoring Joshua Lawrence 
     Chamberlain; and be it further
       Resolved: That suitable copies of this Memorial, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United 
     States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the Congress of the United 
     States, to each member of the Maine Congressional Delegation 
     and to the Postmaster General of the United States Postal 
     Service.

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