[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2568-S2569]
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-361. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                        Senate Resolution No. 66

       Whereas, Our country is in the midst of remarkable change 
     in the amount and the variety of information communicated 
     across the spectrum of radio frequencies. The communications 
     age is having an effect on all Americans. Radio frequencies 
     are a finite resource used to handle news, information, 
     entertainment, education, vital services, and commercial 
     activity. Computers, cell phones, television and radio, and 
     emergency equipment compete for access to the spectrum of 
     radio frequencies; and
       Whereas, As the federal government, through the Federal 
     Communications Commission, allocates space on the spectrum, 
     it is critical that local police and fire operations have 
     enough access to handle the communications challenges of 
     saving lives in emergency situations. This has long been a 
     point of concern for those closest to public safety issues. 
     The FCC last allocated channels for public safety in 1987. 
     Since that time, the number of communications devices and 
     capacity needs have exploded. During crisis situations, for 
     example, heavy use of cellular phones in a disaster area can 
     impede the lifesaving work of emergency personnel; and
       Whereas, Authorities need space on the radio frequency 
     spectrum not only for voice communications, but also for 
     transmitting fingerprints, mugshots, medical information, and 
     other data. Without adequate access to communications, the 
     results in a specific incident or community will one day 
     result in a disaster that is entirely preventable if we act 
     wisely today; now, therefore, be it.
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of 
     the United States to ensure that pubic safety agencies are 
     allotted sufficient access to radio frequency space; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                                                    ____

       POM-362. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly of 
     the State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                       Assembly Resolution No. 11

       Whereas, In recognition of the fact that the maintenance of 
     high-quality potable water is essential to safeguard the 
     health and welfare of the nation's citizens, the federal 
     government enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
     s.300f et al.); and
       Whereas, The State of New Jersey enacted the ``Safe 
     Drinking Water Act'' in 1977, empowering the Department of 
     Environmental Protection to assume primary enforcement 
     responsibility under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and 
     to adopt and enforce additional State rules and regulations 
     to purify drinking water prior to its consumption by the 
     public; and
       Whereas, It was recently discovered that the drinking water 
     in parts of Ocean County, most notably in Toms River and 
     Dover Township, contain a SAN trimer that is a by-product 
     from the manufacturing of a plastic, styrene acrylonitrile 
     copolymer, from the manufacturing of a plastic, styrene 
     acrylonitrile copolymer, from the chemicals styrene and 
     acrylonitrile; and
       Whereas, Although acrylonitrile, through scientific 
     analysis, has been associated with certain brain and central 
     nervous system cancers, and styrene is listed in the federal 
     regulations as a substance that must be tested for in public 
     drinking water supplies, there are no drinking water 
     standards for the various substances created when these two 
     independently hazardous substances are combined; and
       Whereas, The abnormally high incidence of cancer, 
     especially in children, in the Toms River area of Ocean 
     County, coupled with the identification of high levels of a 
     potentially carcinogenic substance in that area's drinking 
     water supply, have created an urgent need for additional 
     action; and
       Whereas, Further testing is necessary to determine the 
     effects of the SAN trimer by-product on human health and to 
     establish a federal standard, the exceedance of which would 
     result in immediate remediation efforts; now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       1. This House memorializes the Congress of the United 
     States and the United States Environmental Protection Agency 
     to establish a safe drinking water standard for the SAN 
     trimer by-product of manufacturing processes using styrene 
     and acrylonitrile.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk 
     thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the 
     United States Senate and the United States House of 
     Representatives, each member of Congress elected from the 
     State of New Jersey, the Administrator of the United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency, the Region II Administrator 
     of that agency, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department 
     of Environmental Protection, and the Commissioner of the New 
     Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
                                                                    ____

       POM-363. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Finance.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas, the Government of the United States of America, 
     the Government of Canada and the Government of Mexico 
     resolved in 1993 to implement the provisions of the North 
     American Free Trade Agreement, commonly referred to as NAFTA; 
     and
       Whereas, an objective of the North American Free Trade 
     Agreement is to eliminate barriers to trade in, and 
     facilitate the cross-border movement of, goods and services 
     between the territories of the parties and to promote 
     conditions of fair competition in the free trade area; and
       Whereas, despite the free trade agreement and the worldwide 
     tendency toward more open borders, there remains a barrier 
     gravely affecting trade along the Maine-New Brunswick border; 
     and
       Whereas, the barrier concerns the disparity created by the 
     tax-free personal allowance exemptions of the United States 
     and Canada. Currently, Canadians are permitted to bring $50 
     in American purchases back to Canada in any 24-hour period. 
     The United States, however, allows a $200 exemption for 
     Canadian purchases; and
       Whereas, steps need to be taken to achieve parity between 
     Maine and the Province of New Brunswick to ensure that Maine 
     businesses are able to compete in Canada; now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, recommend and urge 
     the Congress of the United States to act upon the current 
     barrier affecting trade along the Maine-New Brunswick border; 
     and be it further
       Resolved: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the 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 the United States Trade 
     Representative, Charlene Barshefsky, and to each Member of 
     the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                                                    ____

       POM-364. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, 1998 begins on a rare note of cautious hope for 
     Northern Ireland, as multi-party talks aimed at achieving a 
     lasting peace in the North have recommenced; and
       Whereas, the American people have a deep and abiding 
     interest in the ongoing Northern Ireland peace process, to 
     the extent that the current peace talks are chaired by 
     special envoy and former U.S. Senator George Mitchell at the 
     behest of President Clinton; and
       Whereas, the Northern Ireland peace process is of 
     particular concern to the citizens of Massachusetts, owing to 
     the Commonwealth's unique bonds with Ireland and all 32

[[Page S2569]]

     counties that comprise historical Ireland, forged over 
     centuries; and
       Whereas, citizens of Massachusetts and their elected 
     representatives have an honorable tradition of speaking out 
     against inequality and intolerance wherever they occur in the 
     world, including South Africa, Burma, and the People's 
     Republic of China; and
       Whereas, the Massachusetts General Court and its members 
     have long been staunch advocates for peace and justice in 
     Northern Ireland, with Massachusetts being the first State in 
     the Union to embrace and ratify the MacBridge Principles, a 
     set of guidelines designed to fight job discrimination and 
     secure economic justice for the minority citizens of Northern 
     Ireland; and
       Whereas, it is universally recognized that permanent peace 
     in Northern Ireland must be built upon the foundation stones 
     of equality, liberty, justice, and democracy, all basic 
     principles embodied in such documents as the United States 
     Constitution and Bill of Rights, in domestic and 
     international law and treaties, and in basic concepts of fair 
     play and equity; and
       Whereas, such a blueprint for a just and equitable society 
     now exists in the form of the Charter for Change, a document 
     conceived by concerned citizens of Northern Ireland as a 
     vehicle to achieve and ensure basic rights for all citizens 
     of Northern Ireland; and
       Whereas, tenets of the Charter for Change include such 
     fundamental and necessary reforms as overhaul of the judicial 
     system and reformulation of the police department; and
       Whereas, the Charter for Change seeks a Northern Ireland 
     where minority and majority citizens may enjoy full human 
     rights and the fruits of their labors in an environment free 
     from fear or reprisal, all prerequisites for ensuring that 
     any peace agreement emerging from the current talks may be a 
     long-lasting one: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts Senate welcomes and 
     endorses the Charter for Change as a democratic concept that 
     points the way to and can be a catalyst for peace, justice, 
     and reconciliation in Ireland, and urges the President and 
     the Congress of the United States to join in endorsing the 
     Charter for Change; 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 Officer of each branch of 
     Congress and to the Members thereof from this Commonwealth.
                                                                    ____

       POM-365. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 197

       Whereas, Rapid advancement in technology and science are 
     bringing serious challenges to conventional thinking about 
     humankind's ability to manipulate the most basic building 
     blocks of life. As a result, we face critical decisions on 
     central moral questions. The application of cloning 
     technologies holds profound implications for our society and 
     the entire world. The 1997 news of the cloned sheep in 
     Scotland and the recent announcement by a Chicago scientist 
     of plans to create a cloned human being demonstrate the 
     urgency of addressing this issue; and
       Whereas, In June 1997, the National Bioethics Advisory 
     Commission issued a series of recommendations. This group of 
     prominent scholars, scientists, and ethicists presented a 
     unanimous finding that it is ``. . . morally unacceptable for 
     anyone to attempt to create a child'' with the technology of 
     cloning used to create the cloned sheep known as Dolly. The 
     President has called for implementation of the commission's 
     recommendation, particularly its call for the enactment of 
     legislation to prohibit cloning of human life; and
       Whereas, In response to the disturbing implications of 
     creating human beings through cloning, nineteen European 
     nations signed an agreement to prohibit the genetic 
     reproduction of human beings. The international community 
     expressed deep concerns over the moral issues and the 
     scientific implications of possible effects on the character 
     of the human species; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact 
     legislation to prohibit the cloning of human beings; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                                                    ____

  

       POM-366. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Labor and Human 
     Resources.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas, the State of Maine has suffered one of the worst 
     natural disasters in its history; and
       Whereas, 800,000 people have been without power for a week 
     or more; and
       Whereas, the need for emergency assistance is growing; and
       Whereas, the State of Maine is seeking every avenue of 
     assistance possible; and
       Whereas, the State of Maine is still responding to the 
     emergency and is preparing to start the recovery process; and
       Whereas, the United States Government has a $300,000,000 
     Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency 
     fund set aside to ensure that unique demands for assistance 
     be addressed in situation such as the one being experienced 
     in the State of Maine; and
       Whereas, the United States Government through its LIHEAP 
     emergency fund assisted other states that have experienced 
     similar disasters; and
       Whereas, the State of Maine's situation is equally 
     compelling, due to the widespread loss of electricity and 
     severe weather; and
       Whereas, the State of Maine is requesting assistance from 
     the United States Government for its low-income households 
     through the LIHEAP emergency fund; and
       Whereas, the State of Maine requests that the United States 
     Government act quickly so that it may make the most efficient 
     use of the funds and can assist families that have been 
     affected by this disaster; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge the 
     President of the United States to release from the Low-Income 
     Home Energy Assistance Program emergency funds to assist the 
     citizens of Maine during their current crisis; 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 and the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States 
     and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                                                    ____

       POM-367. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on 
     Labor and Human Resources.

                       Senate Resolution No. 112

       Whereas, Our country has made significant strides in 
     revamping our system of welfare. Through landmark federal 
     legislation and the leadership and cooperation of the states, 
     disincentives have been replaced by workfare opportunities to 
     help people gain self-sufficiency; and
       Whereas, The application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to 
     recipients who are placed in jobs, whether in subsidized or 
     unsubsidized work, is proper. Further, welfare recipients 
     ought not be used to supplant existing workers. However, 
     welfare recipients who are receiving training such as planned 
     work experience, job shadowing, mentoring, and cooperative 
     education activities and are not receiving monetary 
     compensation are not employees of the state. They are 
     beneficiaries who are being introduced to the world of work; 
     and
       Whereas, The new federal provisions on assistance require 
     those able to work to move to employment and/or training. 
     However, this effort is hampered by a recent ruling by 
     federal labor officials. In April 1997, the United States 
     Department of Labor ruled that a host of labor laws, 
     regulations, and taxes apply to welfare recipients as well as 
     to other employees. This policy is a major blow to welfare 
     reform efforts; and
       Whereas, The Department of Labor ruling is harmful to 
     recipients who do not receive compensation for their 
     participation in training programs or community service. It 
     would be much more realistic and fairer to extend an 
     exemption to these people for a period of time not to exceed 
     one year; and
       Whereas, Subjecting welfare/workfare employment to the same 
     laws and regulations as other employees is counterproductive 
     to the ultimate aims of encouraging all people to seek work 
     and encouraging employers to provide meaningful opportunities 
     for these men and women. The requirements of the Fair Labor 
     Standards Act, Social Security taxes, unemployment insurance 
     benefits, and prevailing wage provisions will not open more 
     doors to people needing work. Instead, these provisions make 
     it much easier for recipients and employers alike to abandon 
     a partnership that holds great promise for our nation. There 
     are clearly other means to protect these workfare 
     participants without jeopardizing the advances we are making 
     in replacing welfare with work; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of 
     the United States to overturn the ruling of the United States 
     Labor Department that subjects workfare/welfare recipients to 
     the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other 
     regulations as the ruling affects recipients who do not 
     receive compensation for their participation in training 
     programs or community service projects. We urge that the 
     ruling be modified to permit these recipients with an 
     exemption for a period of time not to exceed one year; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.

                          ____________________