[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 37 (Friday, March 27, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2718-S2719]
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-372. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on 
     Appropriations.

                       Senate Resolution No. 147

       Whereas, The Great Lakes are unique and priceless 
     resources. In addition to their importance as the world's 
     most accessible source of fresh water, this network of inland 
     seas plays pivotal roles in transportation and in the 
     economies of the bordering states and Ontario; and
       Whereas, A key component of Michigan's maritime 
     infrastructure is our system of small harbors. These harbors 
     are in jeopardy of losing the federal funding that provides 
     for maintenance through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 
     Corps of Engineers has reportedly informed the Michigan 
     Department of Natural Resources that it plans to eliminate 
     funds for small harbor dredging and maintaining seawalls and 
     docks. For many years, the federal government and the state 
     have operated a partnership in keeping the small harbors. 
     While these are not major contributors to commercial 
     interests, the nearly fifty small harbors presently in 
     jeopardy are very important to boating and fishing activities 
     in this state. Boating and fishing represent as much as one 
     fifth of the state's tourism industry, a fundamental part of 
     our economy; and
       Whereas, Another federal program in danger of being 
     eliminated or inadequately funded is the work of combating 
     the sea lamprey in the Great Lakes. This species is a 
     persistent threat to fishing. Individual states should not be 
     required to bear this economic burden alone. The federal 
     government has underfunded the lamprey control program to an 
     extent that forces Michigan to spend much more than it should 
     to deal with a problem facing several states and our 
     neighbors in Canada; and
       Whereas, if the federal government abandons its commitments 
     in the areas of small harbor maintenance and lamprey control, 
     the ultimate result will be higher costs and more 
     difficulties for the region's economy and countless 
     communities. To eliminate or seriously cut federal investment 
     in the Great Lakes is a short-sighted approach to take; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of 
     the United States to provide full funding for harbor 
     maintenance and lamprey control in the Great Lakes and to 
     urge other Great Lakes states to join in this effort; 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, the members of the 
     Michigan congressional delegation, and the legislatures and 
     governors of the other states bordering the Great Lakes.
                                                                    ____

       POM-373. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of New Hampshire; to the Committee 
     on Finance.

                          House Resolution 55

       Whereas, the forests of New Hampshire are one of the 
     state's most valuable natural resources, providing wood and 
     timber products, wildlife habitat, recreational 
     opportunities, clean air and water, and scenic vistas 
     throughout the state; and
       Whereas, there are more than 80,000 owners of forestland in 
     New Hampshire; and
       Whereas, the forest products industry is the third largest 
     sector of the state's manufacturing economy, employing over 
     15,000 individuals and providing economic benefits to 
     communities throughout the state; and
       Whereas, the ice storm of January 1998 had a significant 
     effect upon the forests of New Hampshire by damaging hundreds 
     of thousands of acres of timberland; and
       Whereas, the storm caused financial loss to landowners 
     throughout the state estimated in the tens of millions of 
     dollars; and
       Whereas, the downed or damaged trees present long-term 
     threats to the state's forests from increased danger of fire 
     and insect and disease outbreaks; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives: That the New 
     Hampshire house of representatives hereby urges landowners of 
     the State to take all necessary and responsible actions to 
     protect forests from future threats of fire and insect and 
     disease outbreaks; and
       That the New Hampshire house of representatives hereby 
     urges municipalities to work closely with landowners, 
     foresters, loggers, and arborists to provide for the removal 
     of storm-damaged timber in a timely, efficient, and safe 
     manner; and
       That the New Hampshire House of Representatives urges 
     landowners of the state to utilize wood from the ice storm of 
     1998 in the State's biomass plants and pulpwood plants; and
       That the New Hampshire house of representatives hereby 
     commends the New Hampshire congressional delegation for their 
     efforts to assure federal assistance to the State's 
     landowners and forest industry in the form of low-interest 
     loans and cost-share programs that encourage responsible land 
     stewardship; and
       That the New Hampshire house of representatives hereby 
     encourages the New Hampshire congressional delegation to 
     strive to provide tax incentives that recognize the economic 
     loss suffered as a result of the ice storm of 1998; and
       That copies of this resolution, signed by the speaker of 
     the house of representatives, be forwarded by the clerk of 
     the House of Representatives to the President of the United 
     States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to 
     each member of the New Hampshire congressional delegation, 
     and to the state library.
                                                                    ____

       POM-374. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of New

[[Page S2719]]

     Hampshire; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

                          House Resolution 53

       Whereas, the state of New Hampshire has in place more 
     rigorous statutes for the disclosure of campaign finances 
     than the federal government of the United States of America; 
     and
       Whereas, the disclosure of campaign finances is of major 
     importance to the bond of trust between our citizenry and our 
     federal and state governments, and to the deterrence of 
     government corruption; and
       Whereas, the gap between federal and state laws in the 
     disclosure of campaign finances and the assertion of federal 
     sovereignty in this area has meant that our state candidates 
     for the federal offices of United States Representative and 
     Senator have not abided by the same high standards we require 
     of state and local candidates; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives: That the house of 
     representatives of New Hampshire hereby urges the United 
     States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, a bill 
     requiring at least as much disclosure of finances by federal 
     candidates as the state from which the candidate seeks 
     election requires of its state and local candidates; and
       That the house of representatives of New Hampshire hereby 
     urges all New Hampshire candidates for federal office to 
     respect the spirit of our laws by voluntary compliance with 
     the state's disclosure laws as spelled out in RSA 664:6-7; 
     and
       That copies of this resolution, signed by the speaker of 
     the house of representatives, be forwarded by the house clerk 
     to the President of the United States, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, and to each member of the New Hampshire 
     congressional delegation; and
       That copies of this resolution be made available to all 
     candidates for federal office by the secretary of state.

                          ____________________