[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4343-S4346]
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-61. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                       House Joint Memorial 4004

       Whereas, Prostate cancer is the second most common form of 
     cancer in men; and
       Whereas, The American Cancer Society estimates that, in 
     1998, in the United States, approximately two hundred ten 
     thousand new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed and 
     approximately forty-two thousand American men died of 
     prostate cancer; and
       Whereas, With an estimated nine million American men 
     currently afflicted, prostate cancer amounts to an epidemic 
     in the United States; and
       Whereas, African-American men have the highest incidence of 
     prostate cancer of any population of men in the world today; 
     and
       Whereas, The number of prostate cancer cases successfully 
     diagnosed has increased significantly over the past thirty-
     five years, partly as a result of the widespread use of 
     improved screening techniques, including screening for the 
     prostate cancer antigen; and
       Whereas, Awareness needs to be strengthened, to alert men 
     of ages fifty and above to the risk of and treatments for 
     prostate cancer; and
       Whereas, Significantly more research is needed to determine 
     the causes and most effective treatments for prostate cancer; 
     and
       Whereas, The National Prostate Cancer Coalition, a network 
     of prostate cancer patients' advocates and support 
     organizations, has presented five hundred thousand signatures 
     to the United States Congress and the President, urging 
     increased research funding for prostate cancer: Now, 
     therefore
       Your Memorialists respectively pray that the United States 
     support increased federal funding for prostate cancer 
     research; be it
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of 
     the United States, the President of the United States Senate, 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member 
     of Congress from the State of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-62. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                       House Joint Memorial 4014

       Whereas, Strokes are the leading cause of death in the 
     United States of America; and
       Whereas, Strokes are also the leading cause of disability 
     in the United States; and
       Whereas, The American Heart Association estimates that in 
     this year alone in the United States approximately six 
     hundred thousand strokes will occur, and that approximately 
     two hundred thousand deaths will ensue as a result of these 
     strokes; and
       Whereas, The incidence of stroke in young people is 
     increasing in the United States; and
       Whereas, African-Americans have the highest incidence of 
     stroke of any segment of the population in the United States; 
     and
       Whereas, While the ability to treat strokes in the last 
     decade has increased significantly in the United States, a 
     great deal of work must still be done, especially in the 
     areas of diagnosis, emergency treatment, and prevention; and
       Whereas, Awareness of stroke risk and symptoms needs to be 
     heightened among all Americans so that we will be alert to 
     this risk; and
       Whereas, Although it is the third leading cause of death in 
     the United States, stroke risk in 1998 received the least 
     amount of federal research funds of the five major diseases; 
     and
       Whereas, The American Heart Association is launching a 
     nine-month, concerted effort to alert members of Congress 
     about the urgent need and responsibility for more funding for 
     stroke research; Now therefore
       Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the members of 
     Congress increase federal funding for stroke research; be it
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable William j. Clinton, President of 
     the United States, the President of the United States Senate, 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member 
     of Congress from the State of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-63. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Nebraska; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                       Legislative Resolution 27

       Whereas, the Wood River Flood Control Project will divert 
     Wood River flood water around the southern edge of Grand 
     Island and carry the flood water from the Wood River to the 
     Platte River; and
       Whereas, $11,800,000 was authorized for the Wood River 
     Flood Control Project through the 1996 Water Resources 
     Development Act, which was to include $6,040,000 in federal 
     funds; and
       Whereas, in 1998, the Omaha District of the Army Corps of 
     Engineers revised its estimates for the project to 
     $17,353,000, including $9,969,000 to be contributed by the 
     federal government. Since the cost increase is greater than 
     twenty percent, congressional legislation to reauthorize the 
     project is required; and
       Whereas, an estimated 1,755 home and business structures in 
     southern Grand Island, with a total value of $219 million, 
     would be protected by the flood control project; and
       Whereas, the flood control project would also protect 5,385 
     acres of irrigated farmland and 7,000 to 8,000 acres of 
     grassland; and
       Whereas, the Nebraska Legislature proposes to the Congress 
     of the United States that procedures be instituted for 
     congressional legislation to include appropriate 
     authorization for the Wood River Flood Control Project in 
     Grand Island, Nebraska; and
       Whereas, prompt action is essential to decrease future 
     flooding risks, the Nebraska Legislature requests the support 
     and assistance of Congress in permitting this flood control 
     project to move forward in a timely manner: Now therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Members of the Ninety-Sixth Legislature of 
     Nebraska, First Session:
       1. That the Nebraska Legislature requests that the Congress 
     of the United States appropriate the necessary funds to 
     complete the Wood River Flood Control Project.
       2. That the Clerk of the Legislature shall send copies of 
     this resolution to the Secretary of State, to the Nebraska 
     Congressional Delegation, to the Clerk of the United States 
     House of Representatives, and to the Secretary of the United 
     States Senate.
                                  ____

       POM-64. A joint resolution by the Legislature of the State 
     of Washington; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.

[[Page S4344]]

                       House Joint Memorial 4011

       Whereas, The Federal Communications Commission, pursuant to 
     the Telecommunications Act of 1996, has implemented a 
     universal service fund program to provide discounts on the 
     cost of telecommunications services to schools and libraries; 
     and
       Whereas, On May 8, 1997, the Commission determined that 
     schools and libraries that join consortia that include 
     entities other than ``public sector (governmental) entities'' 
     may not take advantage of the universal service fund program 
     unless the services purchased by the consortia are based on 
     tariffed rates; and
       Whereas, This requirement effectively prevents schools and 
     libraries from participating in consortia with nonprofit 
     independent baccalaureate institutions without losing the 
     advantages of the leveraged purchasing, economies of scale, 
     and efficiencies that are the very rationale for such 
     consortia; and
       Whereas, Washington state has sought to leverage the 
     state's purchasing power in its procurements of 
     telecommunications and information services, and obtain the 
     lowest prices for telecommunications services for 
     universities, colleges, schools, and libraries;
       Whereas, The Washington Legislature in 1996 authorized and 
     funded the development of the K-20 Educational 
     Telecommunications Network, a sixty-two million dollar state-
     wide backbone network intended to link K-12 school districts, 
     educational service districts, public and private 
     baccalaureate institutions, public libraries, and community 
     and technical colleges; and
       Whereas, This network will provide the consortium of 
     Washington colleges, schools, and libraries with enhanced 
     function and increased efficiencies in their use of 
     telecommunications services; and
       Whereas, Washington state is home to several outstanding 
     nonprofit independent baccalaureate institutions, including 
     Antioch University, Cornish College of the Arts, Gonzaga 
     University, Heritage College, Northwest College, Pacific 
     Lutheran University, St. Martin's College, Seattle 
     University, Seattle Pacific University, University of Puget 
     Sound, Walla Walla College, Whitman College, and Whitworth 
     College, that are not ``public sector (governmental) 
     entities''; and
       Whereas, These institutions each year prepare thousands of 
     students for jobs in Washington state, and their graduates 
     comprise more than twenty-five percent of the state's school 
     teachers; and
       Whereas, The Washington Legislature has recognized the 
     important public service that these institutions perform; and
       Whereas, The Washington Legislature has recognized that the 
     public interest would be served by their inclusion in the K-
     20 Educational Telecommunications Network; and
       Whereas, On July 16, 1997, the Washington Department of 
     Information Services petitioned the Federal Communications 
     Commission to clarify universal service program eligibility 
     for schools and libraries that participate in 
     telecommunications consortia with nonprofit independent 
     colleges; and
       Whereas, The Commission has not responded to that petition 
     in more than eighteen months; and
       Whereas, The state continues to delay the inclusion of 
     nonprofit independent baccalaureate institutions in the K-20 
     Educational Telecommunications Network out of concern that 
     doing so may render the network services provided to schools 
     and libraries ineligible for universal service discounts; and
       Whereas, Such continued delay is detrimental to the 
     interests of the state; Now, therefore
       Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the members of the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     United States Senate; and members of the Subcommittee on 
     Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection, Committee 
     on Commerce, United States House of Representatives, urge the 
     Federal Communications Commission to address promptly the 
     matters raised in the Department of Information Service's 
     Petition for Reconsideration, and find that schools and 
     libraries may participate with independent colleges in 
     consortia to procure telecommunications services at below-
     tariffed rates without losing their eligibility for universal 
     service discounts; be it
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of 
     the United States, the members of the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the United States Senate, and 
     members of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and 
     Consumer Protection, Committee on Commerce, United States 
     House of Representatives, the President of the United States 
     Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each 
     member of Congress from the State of Washington, and the 
     members of the Federal Communications Commission.
                                  ____

       POM-65. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Finance.

                       Concurrent Resolution 107

       Whereas, New Jersey and 45 other states, as well as Puerto 
     Rico and the District of Columbia, are scheduled to receive 
     some $206 billion from the nation's five largest cigarette 
     manufacturers as a result of the settlement, which was 
     formally agreed to on November 23, 1998, between these 
     tobacco companies and the plaintiff states of their 
     respective actions against these companies to recover the 
     costs incurred by the states in connection with tobacco-
     related diseases, in addition to the states of Florida, 
     Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas that will receive monies 
     from these companies as a result of individual settlements 
     which they reached with the companies of their respective 
     actions; and
       Whereas, The monies received by New Jersey and the other 
     plaintiff states from the tobacco companies constitute a 
     return of their state taxpayer dollars, which was the result 
     of their own efforts and expense, and which should not be 
     siphoned off by the federal government through a reduction in 
     federal Medicare payments to the states or by any other 
     means; and
       Whereas, The monies recovered by the states from the 
     tobacco companies should be available for the states to use 
     as they deem to be in the interest of their own citizens and 
     according to their own needs, and in keeping with the terms 
     of the national tobacco settlement or individual state 
     settlements reached with the tobacco companies; and
       Whereas, The federal government should not be able to 
     recover its Medicaid costs associated with tobacco-related 
     diseases without pursuing its own action against the tobacco 
     companies and expending its own resources for that purpose; 
     and
       Whereas, Legislation is currently pending in the Congress 
     of the United States as H.R. 351, sponsored by Representative 
     Bilirakis (R-Florida), which would preclude action by the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services to recoup any portion 
     of the tobacco settlement funds received by the various 
     states as an overpayment under the Medicaid program: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the 
     General Assembly concurring):
       1. The Legislature respectfully memorializes the Congress 
     of the United States to pass, and the President of the United 
     States to sign into law. H.R. 351 or similar legislation 
     which would ensure that the federal government will not seek 
     to recoup any monies recovered by the states from the tobacco 
     companies a as result of the national tobacco settlement or 
     individual state settlements.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General 
     Assembly and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the 
     Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the 
     United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 
     presiding officers of the United States Senate and House of 
     Representatives, and each of the members of the United States 
     Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.
       POM-66. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Kansas; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 5017

       Whereas, The agricultural heritage and economy of the State 
     of Kansas is dependent upon the harvest, storage and 
     transportation of grain; and
       Whereas, There are 785 grain elevators in Kansas and 65,000 
     farms in Kansas, many of which are family-owned operations; 
     and
       Whereas, Kansas grain elevators are valued neighbors to and 
     located in close proximity to homes, schools, farms and 
     businesses in most of all Kansas' communities; and
       Whereas, Kansas grain elevators, feed mills, processors and 
     growers are committed to protecting the health and safety of 
     applicators and workers and the wellbeing of the public; and
       Whereas, Grain elevators are located in Kansas communities 
     near railroads and highways to facilitate the transportation 
     of grain; and
       Whereas, Kansas is a leader in the Nation and in the World 
     in grain production; and
       Whereas, Kansas grain elevators, feed mills, processors and 
     growers are committed to producing an adequate safe and high 
     quality food supply for domestic and world consumers; and
       Whereas, Treaties and established trade relations may 
     require pest-controlled grain before grain can be exported; 
     and
       Whereas, Insect pests in grain without fumigation treatment 
     could create health risks and reduce the quality of the grain 
     marketed from Kansas; and
       Whereas, Aluminum and magnesium phosphide are cost-
     effective fumigants used both by commercial elevators and 
     farmers in the storage of grain in Kansas; and
       Whereas, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
     acknowledged few, if any, viable alternatives to the use of 
     aluminum and magnesium phosphide exist for fumigation to 
     control pests in stored grain; and
       Whereas, The current label restrictions for aluminum and 
     magnesium phosphide provide for the safe and effective use of 
     the product; and
       Whereas, The State of Kansas practices rigorous enforcement 
     of the label restrictions on fumigants, ensures adequate 
     training of certified applicators and conducts a fumigation 
     and grain storage project to inspect the use of fumigants; 
     and
       Whereas, Restrictions in the use of fumigations in grain 
     storage and transportation should be based only on sound 
     scientific reasoning, available technology and accurate 
     analysis of risk level and avoid raising undue public alarm 
     over unsubstantiated or inconsequential risk: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of 
     Kansas, the Senate concurring therein, That the Congress of 
     the United

[[Page S4345]]

     States direct the EPA to curtail implementation of new 
     restrictions from its reregistration eligibility decision 
     (RED) on phosphine gas that would require a 500-foot buffer 
     zone and other restrictions that effectively preclude the use 
     of aluminum or magnesium phosphide in most Kansas grain 
     storage facilities and grain transportation; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That Congress direct the EPA to ensure that risk 
     mitigation allowances for aluminum and magnesium phosphides 
     are clearly demonstrated as necessary to protect human 
     health, are based upon sound science and reliable 
     information, are economically and operationally reasonable 
     and will permit the continued use of these products in 
     accordance with the label; and
       Whereas, The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) was 
     signed into law on August 3, 1996; and
       Whereas, The FQPA institutes changes in the types of 
     information the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 
     required to evaluate in the risk assessment process for 
     establishing tolerances for pesticide residues in food and 
     feed; and
       Whereas, The FQPA was to assure that pesticide tolerances 
     and policies are formulated in an open and transparent 
     manner; and
       Whereas, The FQPA further emphasizes the need for reliable 
     information about the volume and types of pesticides being 
     applied to individual crops and what residues can be 
     anticipated on these crops; and
       Whereas, Risk estimates based on sound science and reliable 
     real-world data are essential to avoid misguided decisions, 
     and the best way for the EPA to obtain this data is to 
     require its development and submission by the registrant 
     through the data call-in process; and
       Whereas, The implementation of FQPA by the EPA could have a 
     profound negative impact on domestic agriculture production 
     and on consumer food prices and availability; and
       Whereas, The possibility of elimination of these products 
     will result in fewer pest control options for the United 
     States and Kansas and significant disruption of successful 
     integrated pest management programs which would be 
     devastating to the economy of our state and jeopardize the 
     very livelihood of many of our agricultural producers; and
       Whereas, The absence of reliable information will result in 
     fewer pest control options for urban and suburban uses, with 
     potential losses of personal property and increased costs for 
     human health concerns: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas, the House of 
     Representatives concurring therein, That the EPA should be 
     directed by Congress to immediately initiate appropriate 
     administrative rulemaking to ensure that the policies and 
     standards it intends to apply in evaluating pesticide 
     tolerances are subject to thorough public notice and comment 
     prior to final tolerance determinations being made by the 
     agency; and
       Be it further resolved, That the EPA use sound science and 
     real-world data from the data call-in process in establishing 
     realistic models for evaluating risks; and
       Be it further resolved, That the United States Department 
     of Agriculture (USDA) establish FQPA as a priority and that 
     EPA be required to have reliable pesticide residue data and 
     other FQPA data on the specific crop affected by any proposed 
     restriction, before, EPA imposes restriction of a pesticide 
     under FQPA; and
       Be it further resolved, That the EPA should be directed by 
     Congress to implement the FQPA in a manner that will not 
     disrupt agricultural production nor negatively impact the 
     availability, diversity and affordability of food; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That Congress should immediately conduct 
     oversight hearings to ensure that actions by EPA are 
     consistent with FQPA provisions and Congressional intent; and
       Be it further resolved, That the Secretary of State be 
     directed to send enrolled copies of this resolution to the 
     President of the United States, the administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the Secretary of the United States 
     Department of Agriculture and to each member of the Kansas 
     Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-67. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                       Joint Resolution No. 1373

       Whereas, children's rights require special protection and 
     continuous improvement all over the world, as well as calling 
     for the development and education of children in conditions 
     of peace and security; and
       Whereas, the United Nations has proclaimed that the period 
     of childhood is entitled to special care and assistance; and
       Whereas, the child should grow up in a family environment 
     with happiness, love and understanding; and
       Whereas, the child should be fully prepared to live the 
     life of an individual in society; and
       Whereas, the child should be brought up with dignity in a 
     spirit of peace, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity; 
     and
       Whereas, in all countries of the world, there are children 
     living in exceptionally difficult conditions; and
       Whereas, it is important to have international cooperation 
     in order to improve the living conditions of children in 
     every country, in particular in the developing countries; and
       Whereas, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the 
     Child has broken all records as the most widely ratified 
     human rights treaty in history; and
       Whereas, the convention is the most rapidly and widely 
     adopted human rights treaty in history with 191 States 
     Parties; and
       Whereas, only 2 countries have not ratified this agreement, 
     Somalia and the United States; and
       Whereas, the uniqueness of the treaty is that it is the 
     first legally binding international instrument to incorporate 
     the full range of children's human rights, which include 
     civil and political rights as well as their economic, social 
     and cultural rights, thus giving all rights equal emphasis; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, request the President 
     of the United States and the United States Congress to ratify 
     the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; 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; the President of the United States Senate; the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States; 
     the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan; each Member 
     of the Maine Congressional Delegation; the Speaker of the 
     House or the equivalent officer in the 49 other states; and 
     the President of the Senate or the equivalent officer in the 
     49 other states.
                                  ____

       POM-68. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Georgia; to the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                       Senate Resolution No. 1241

       Whereas, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance 
     Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller General, and the 
     Office of Thrift Supervision proposed a ``Know Your 
     Customer'' section of the Bank Secrecy Act on December 7, 
     1998, which seeks to determine the banking characteristics of 
     its customers; and
       Whereas, the ``Know Your Customer'' regulations will 
     require banks to learn and recognize a customer's normal and 
     expected transactions; and
       Whereas, the ``Know Your Customer'' regulations will 
     require banks to obtain knowledge regarding the legitimate 
     activities of their customers; and
       Whereas, the ``Know Your Customer'' regulations will 
     require banks to report any unusual or suspicious 
     transactions to as yet to be determined FDIC agencies 
     existing suspicious activity reporting regulation; and
       Whereas, there are already sufficient regulations in place 
     to ensure that financial crimes are detected, and the ``Know 
     Your Customer'' regulations are not needed and are in fact 
     dangerous to a society where privacy is valued; and
       Whereas, the ``Know Your Customer'' regulations constitute 
     a clear violation of banking patrons privacy and therefore, 
     must not be allowed to pass in any form. Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this body 
     encourage the Congress of the United States to act swiftly to 
     prevent the passage of any such legislation under the ``Know 
     Your Customer'' designation; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate is authorized 
     and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this 
     resolution to the President of the United States, the 
     President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the directors of the 
     Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
     the Office of the Comptroller General, the Office of Thrift 
     Supervision, and all members of the Georgia Congressional 
     Delegation.
                                  ____


                       Senate Resolution No. 128

       Whereas, the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) was 
     signed into law on August 3, 1996, by President Clinton; and
       Whereas, the FQPA establishes new safety standards that 
     pesticides must meet to be newly registered or to remain on 
     the market; and
       Whereas, the FQPA requires the Environmental Protection 
     Agency (EPA) to ensure that all pesticide tolerances meet 
     these new FQPA standards by reassessing one-third of the 
     9,700 existing pesticide tolerances by August, 1999, and all 
     existing tolerances within ten years; and
       Whereas, the FQPA institutes changes in the types of 
     information the EPA is required to evaluate in the risk 
     assessment process for establishing tolerances for pesticide 
     residues in food and feed; and
       Whereas, the FQPA was designed to ensure that pesticide 
     tolerances and policies are formulated in an open and public 
     manner; and
       Whereas, the FQPA further emphasizes the need for reliable 
     information about the volume and types of pesticides being 
     applied to individual crops and what residues can be 
     anticipated on these crops; and
       Whereas, risk estimates based on sound science and 
     reliable, real-world data are essential to avoid misguided 
     decisions, and the best way for the EPA to obtain this data 
     is to require development and submission of such data by the 
     registrant through the data call-in process; and
       Whereas, the ill considered implementation of FQPA by the 
     EPA could have a profound negative impact on domestic 
     agricultural production and on consumer food prices and 
     availability; and

[[Page S4346]]

       Whereas, the possibility of elimination of these products 
     will result in fewer pest control options for the United 
     States and Georgia and significant disruption of successful 
     integrated pest management programs which would in turn be 
     devastating to the economy of our state and jeopardize the 
     very livelihood of many of our agricultural producers; and
       Whereas, the absence of reliable information is expected to 
     result in fewer pest control options for urban and suburban 
     uses, with potential losses of personal property, damage to 
     valuable recreational areas and managed green space, and 
     increased human health concerns. Now therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this body urge 
     Congress to direct the EPA to immediately initiate 
     appropriate public administrative guidance or rule-making to 
     ensure that the policies, standards, and procedures it 
     intends to apply in reassessing existing pesticide tolerances 
     are subject to thorough public notice and comment prior to 
     final tolerance determinations being made by the agency; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That Congress should direct the EPA to use sound 
     science and real-world data from the data call-in process in 
     establishing realistic models for evaluating risks; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That Congress should direct the EPA to implement 
     the FQPA in a manner that will not disrupt agricultural 
     production nor negatively impact the availability, diversity, 
     and affordability of food, threaten public health, nor 
     diminish the quality of valuable recreational areas and 
     managed green spaces; and be it further
       Resolved, That Congress should immediately conduct 
     oversight hearings to ensure that actions by EPA are 
     consistent with FQPA provisions and congressional intent; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate is authorized 
     and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this 
     resolution to the Georgia congressional delegation, the EPA 
     Administrator, Vice President Al Gore, and the Secretary of 
     Agriculture.
                                  ____

       POM-69. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the Commonwealth of Virginia; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 407

       Whereas, Virginia ranks second in the nation in the amount 
     of municipal waste imported from other states, and the 
     tonnage imported is likely to increase as other states close 
     landfills; and
       Whereas, the negative impacts of truck, rail, and barge 
     traffic and litter, odors, and noise associated with waste 
     imports occur not just at the location of final disposal but 
     also along waste transportation routes; and
       Whereas, current landfill technology has the potential to 
     fail, leading to long-term cleanup and other associated 
     costs; and
       Whereas, the importation of waste runs counter to the 
     repeatedly expressed strong desire of Virginia's citizens for 
     clean air, land, and water and for the preservation of 
     Virginia's unique historic and cultural character, and it is 
     essential to promote and preserve these attributes; and
       Whereas, the Commonwealth has demonstrated the ability to 
     attract good jobs and to promote sound economic development 
     without relying on the importation of garbage; and
       Whereas, in 1995, 23 state governors wrote to the Commerce 
     Committee of the United States House of Representatives 
     urging passage of legislation allowing states and localities 
     the power to regulate waste entering their jurisdictions; and
       Whereas, legislation is pending before the Commerce 
     Committee of the United States House of Representatives that 
     would provide states and localities with the authority to 
     control the importation of waste, a power that is essential 
     to the public health, safety, and welfare of all citizens of 
     Virginia; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, 
     That the Congress of the United States be urged to enact 
     legislation giving states and localities the power to control 
     waste imports into their jurisdictions, including the 
     following provisions: (i) a ban on waste imports in the 
     absence of specific approval from the disposal site host 
     community and governor of the host state; (ii) authorization 
     for governors to freeze solid waste imports at 1993 levels; 
     (iii) authorization for states to consider whether a disposal 
     facility is needed locally when deciding whether to grant a 
     permit; and (iv) authorization for states to limit the 
     percentage of a disposal facility's capacity that can be 
     filled with waste from other states; and, be it
       Resolved further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, the President of the United States 
     Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional 
     Delegation in order that they may be apprised of the sense of 
     the Virginia General Assembly in this matter.

                          ____________________