[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S317]
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-334. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislative 
     Assembly of the State of Oregon; to the Committee on 
     Appropriations.

                     House Concurrent Resolution 26

       Whereas the triweekly Amtrak Pioneer passenger railroad 
     service between Portland, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho, is vital 
     to the economy of the State of Oregon; and
       Whereas the closure of the Amtrak Pioneer service will 
     leave many people without their only form of transportation; 
     and
       Whereas many people in eastern Oregon rely upon the Amtrak 
     Pioneer service in the harsh winter months when bus and 
     automobile travel is not safe and often not possible; and
       Whereas the closure of the Amtrak Pioneer service will 
     leave many people, especially the elderly and disabled, 
     stranded without adequate transportation to medical services 
     in distant metropolitan areas; and
       Whereas the closure of the Amtrak Pioneer service will have 
     long lasting negative economic and cultural effects on the 
     rural communities that line the route; and
       Whereas the Amtrak Pioneer service has a history and 
     tradition with the people who use the service; now, 
     therefore,
       Be it resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of 
     Oregon:
       (1) The Congress of the United States is respectfully urged 
     to continue to fund the triweekly Amtrak Pioneer passenger 
     railroad service between Portland, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho.
       (2) A copy of this resolution shall be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the President of the Senate of the United 
     States and to each member of the Oregon Congressional 
     Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-335. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislative 
     Assembly of the State of Oregon; to the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources.

                     House Concurrent Resolution 22

       Whereas the State of Oregon relies on its state trust lands 
     to fund schools; and
       Whereas the counties in the State of Oregon rely on federal 
     timber receipts for school funds and vital elements of their 
     infrastructure; and
       Whereas responsible management of natural resources on 
     federal land in this state is important for the economic, 
     social and cultural stability of Oregon's communities; and
       Whereas active forest management is necessary to prevent 
     ecologic degradation by insects, disease and wildfire; and
       Whereas the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
     provides a process for public participation in major federal 
     actions significantly affecting the quality of the human 
     environment; now, therefore,
       Be it resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of 
     Oregon:
       (1) The President and Congress of the United States are 
     urged to take action to prevent the designation of any 
     national monument in the State of Oregon without full public 
     participation and an express Act of Congress.
       (2) The recipients of this resolution shall respond to this 
     Legislative Assembly, conveying their plan to comply with 
     this resolution.
       (3) Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the 
     President and Vice President of the United States, the 
     Secretary of the Interior, the Council on Environmental 
     quality and to each member of the Oregon Congressional 
     Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-336. A resolution adopted by the General Court of the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts relative to Swiss bank 
     accounts; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, Switzerland has established, in accordance with a 
     memorandum of understanding between the Swiss Bankers 
     Association and the World Jewish Congress and World Jewish 
     Restoration Organization, an independent committee on eminent 
     persons to examine the issue of dormant World War II era 
     accounts in Swiss Banks; and
       Whereas, a comprehensive claims resolution process has been 
     established, which includes the publication worldwide of the 
     names of foreign dormant account holders from the World War 
     II era and the creation of a board of trustees of the 
     Independent Claims Resolution Foundation, which is being set 
     up to operate the claims settlement process for resolving 
     claims to said dormant accounts: and
       Whereas, Switzerland has created a nine member Independent 
     Commission of Experts to investigate the complex issues 
     surrounding the fate of assets brought to Switzerland because 
     of National Socialist rule; and
       Whereas, Switzerland has established a special fund for 
     needy victims of the Holocaust/SHOA, which has received 
     contributions from the major Swiss Banks and private sector 
     groups and institutions; and
       Whereas, the Swiss public has organized several efforts to 
     provide assistance to needy Holocaust victims; and
       Whereas, Switzerland--the government, the private sector 
     and the people--have made an overwhelming effort to rectify 
     matters; Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That, the Massachusetts General Court urges the 
     Congress of the United States to continue its diligent 
     efforts in seeking the resolution of the complex issues 
     surrounding these dormant World War II era accounts in Swiss 
     banks; 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 Congress and to the Members thereof 
     from this commonwealth.

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