[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12870-S12871]
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-555. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas 
     relative to the Supreme Court of the United States; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-556. A petition from a citizen of the State of New York 
     relative to the Supreme Court of the United States; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-557. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 78

       Whereas, in 1988, the EPA put into place regulations 
     requiring all underground storage tank systems to meet 
     stricter environmental protection standards. Tank systems 
     installed before 1998 must be upgraded by December 22, 1998, 
     or be removed; and
       Whereas, Many tank owners and operators discovered leaks at 
     their sites when they began upgrading their tank systems. 
     Consequently, Michigan and other states have seen a dramatic 
     increase in the number of known leaking storage tank sites; 
     and
       Whereas, While progress has been made in Michigan and 
     elsewhere on the job of cleaning up affected areas, the task 
     remaining is very large. It presents a serious challenge to 
     most of the states, including Michigan. The primary obstacle 
     to the completion of this endeavor is the high costs facing 
     tank owners and operators to clean up their leaking 
     underground storage tank sites; and
       Whereas, A key element in the massive task of dealing with 
     leaking underground storage tanks is the trust fund created 
     through the Superfund Revenue Act of 1986. Funded by a .1 
     cent per gallon tax on motor fuel, the LUST Trust Fund has a 
     current balance of approximately $1.2 billion. While the .1 
     cent per gallon tax was discontinued for nearly two years, 
     the tax was reinstituted, beginning on October 1, 1997. The 
     fund will take in approximately $200 million annually; and
       Whereas, In spite of the fund's size and in spite of the 
     pressing need for money by the states in order to comply with 
     the December 22, 1998, deadline for cleanup, the fund 
     releases a far lower amount each year than it could 
     distribute. It is estimated that only one-third of the 
     available money has been distributed to the states; and
       Whereas, Accelerating distributions from the trust fund 
     would provide much needed help to the States in achieving the 
     goal of correcting one of our country's most significant 
     environmental problems now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United 
     States to increase the amount of money being distributed to 
     the states from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust 
     Fund, 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.
       Adopted by the House of Representatives, February 17, 1998.
       Adopted by the Senate, September 15, 1998.
                                  ____

       POM-558. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; to the 
     Committee on Appropriations.

[[Page S12871]]

                        House Resolution No. 526

       Whereas, The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program 
     (LIHEAP) is a vital lifeline to low-income families, working 
     poor households, senior citizens and persons with 
     disabilities in meeting their energy needs; and
       Whereas, Low-income families, the elderly and many working 
     poor Pennsylvanians face a continuing energy crisis with 
     energy burdens that well exceed 15% of their household 
     incomes; and
       Whereas, The Federal funding for LIHEAP significantly eases 
     the home energy affordability crisis faced by millions of 
     Americans; and

                           *   *   *   *   *

       Whereas, The total elimination of funding for LIHEAP will 
     threaten the continuation of the Pennsylvania program that is 
     the foundation for providing a modest amount of energy 
     security for low-income Pennsylvanians; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the 
     United States to appropriate at least $1.3 billion for fiscal 
     year 1999-2000 and an advance appropriation of at least $1.3 
     billion for fiscal year 2000-2001 for the Low-Income Home 
     Energy Assistance Program; and be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the 
     United States to reauthorize the LIHEAP program at 
     authorization levels enacted in the Human Services Amendments 
     of 1994 (Public Law 103-252) to ensure that this program more 
     adequately meets the needs of low-income households.

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