[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10604-S10612]
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-309. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of California relative to Social 
     Security; to the Committee on Finance.

[[Page S10605]]

                        Senate Resolution No. 15

       Whereas, For 60 years social security has provided a stable 
     platform of retirement, disability, and survivor annuity 
     benefits to protect working Americans and their dependents; 
     and
       Whereas, The American and world economies continue to 
     encounter periods of high uncertainty and volatility that 
     make it as important as ever to preserve a basic and 
     continuous safety net of protections guaranteed by our 
     society's largest repository of risk, the federal government; 
     and
       Whereas, Social security affords protections to rich and 
     poor alike. No citizen, no matter how well off today, can say 
     that tomorrow's adversities will not create future 
     dependency; and
       Whereas, Average life expectancies are increasing greatly 
     and people are commonly living into their 80's and 90's, 
     making it more important than ever that each of us be fully 
     protected by defined retirement benefits; and
       Whereas, Medical scientists are daily discovering more 
     creative ways to preserve the lives of the profoundly 
     disabled, thus making it more important than ever that each 
     of us be protected against the risks of our own dependency, 
     against the risk of becoming a burden to relatives, and 
     against the risk of succumbing to a disability unrelated to 
     the duration of life; and
       Whereas, The lives of wage earners and their spouses are 
     seldom coterminous. One spouse often outlives the other by 
     decades, making it crucial to preserve a secure base of 
     protection for family members dependent on a wage earner who 
     may die or become disabled; and
       Whereas, The children of working Americans require 
     protection against the untimely death or disability of their 
     wage-earning parents, contingencies that are too often 
     uncovered by working Americans and their employers; and
       Whereas, The costs of administering social security are 
     less than 1 percent of the benefits delivered; and
       Whereas, The single purpose of social security is to 
     provide a strong, simple, and efficient form of basic 
     insurance against the adversities of old age, disability, and 
     dependency; and
       Whereas, Social security was founded on the sanctity of 
     work and the preservation of family integrity in the face of 
     death or disability; and
       Whereas, Social security, in current form, reinforces 
     family cohesiveness and enhances the value of work in our 
     society; and
       Whereas, Congress currently has proposals to shift a 
     portion of social security contributions from insurance to 
     personal investment accounts for each wage earner; and
       Whereas, Social security, our largest and most fundamental 
     insurance system, should not be splintered into 
     individualized stock accounts. Social security cannot fulfill 
     its protective function if it must also create and manage 
     millions of small risk-bearing investments out of a stream of 
     contributions intended as insurance. Private accounts cannot 
     be substituted for social security without eroding basic 
     protections for working families. For these protections to be 
     strong, they must be insulated from economic uncertainty and 
     be backed by the entity best capable of spreading risk, the 
     American government; and
       Whereas, The diversion of contributions to private 
     investment accounts would dramatically increase financial 
     shortfalls to the social security trust fund and require 
     major reductions in the defined benefits upon which millions 
     of Americans depend. To administer 150,000,000 separate 
     investment accounts would create an ever proliferating 
     bureaucracy. The resulting expense and the cost of converting 
     each account to an annuity upon retirement would consume much 
     of the profit, or exacerbate the loss, realized by each 
     participant; and
       Whereas, It is an entirely different question whether part 
     of the social security trust fund should be diversified into 
     investments other than government bonds. For the fund to 
     invest collectively in a broad selection of equities and 
     private bonds may well increase returns over time and thus 
     enhance the capacity of the fund to meet its obligations to 
     pay benefits as presently defined. The central management for 
     those investments would be a minor expense compared to the 
     staggering cost of overseeing millions of splintered 
     accounts. Central investment also preserves the spreading of 
     risk across the entire spectrum of social security 
     participants. Individualized accounts, by contrast, would 
     create an array of winners and losers, thus converting part 
     of our retirement system into a national lottery. Those who 
     become disabled, those who must retire early, and dependents 
     with the earliest and greatest need would receive the least 
     in return. The system would be perversely contrary to basic 
     principles of insurance and risk distribution; and
       Whereas, Diverting social security contributions to private 
     accounts is redundant to existing programs. Through 
     amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Congress has 
     created a full menu of provisions by which working Americans 
     and their employers may contribute by choice to tax-sheltered 
     accounts that are open to the opportunities and exposed fully 
     to the risks of our speculative and vigorous investment 
     markets. One-half of American families are already covered by 
     these recently created systems; now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the 
     federal government is respectfully requested to take 
     appropriate steps to encourage workers and their employers to 
     save or invest for retirement to supplement the basic 
     benefits of the Social Security Program, but not as a 
     substitute for the core protections that are vital to 
     American working families; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     the Majority Leader of the Senate, and each Senator and 
     Representative from California in the Congress of the United 
     States.
                                  ____

       POM-310. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of California relative to Domestic Violence 
     Awareness Month; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7

       Whereas, Home should be a place of warmth, unconditional 
     love, tranquility, and security; however, for many Americans, 
     home is tainted with violence and fear; and
       Whereas, Domestic violence is much more than the occasional 
     family dispute; and
       Whereas, According to the United States Department of 
     Health and Human Services, domestic violence is the single 
     largest cause of injury to American women, affecting 
     6,000,000 women of all racial, cultural, and economic 
     backgrounds; and
       Whereas, According to data published by the California 
     Department of Justice in 1996, 624 incidents of domestic 
     violence were reported, on average, every day in California. 
     According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 
     one in three adult women are physicially assaulted by a 
     partner during adulthood; and
       Whereas, According to the United States Department of 
     Labor, 1,000,000 people are assaulted and injured every year 
     as a result of workplace violence, 1,000 people are killed 
     every year due to workplace violence, and 30 percent of 
     battered women lose their jobs due to harassment at work by 
     abusive husbands or boyfriends; and
       Whereas, More than one-half of the number of women in need 
     of shelter from an abusive environment may be turned away 
     from a shelter due to lack of space; and
       Whereas, Women are not the only targets of domestic 
     violence; young children, elderly persons, and men are also 
     victims in their own homes; and
       Whereas, Emotional scars are often permanent; and
       Whereas, A coalition of organizations has emerged to 
     confront this crisis directly. Law enforcement agencies, 
     domestic violence hotlines, battered women and children's 
     shelters, health care providers, churches, and the volunteers 
     that serve those entities are helping the effort to end 
     domestic violence; and
       Whereas, It is important to recognize the compassion and 
     dedication of the individuals involved in that effort, 
     applaud their commitment, and increase public understanding 
     of this significant problem; and
       Whereas, The first Day of Unity was celebrated in October 
     1981 and was sponsored by the National Coalition Against 
     Domestic Violence for the purpose of uniting battered women's 
     advocates across the nation in an effort to end domestic 
     violence; and
       Whereas, That one day has grown into a month of activities 
     at all levels of government, aimed at creating awareness 
     about the problem and presenting solutions; and
       Whereas, The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was 
     proclaimed in October 1987; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the 
     Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby 
     proclaims the month of October 1999, as Domestic Violence 
     Awareness Month; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to the President of the United States, the 
     Governor of the State of California, the Director of the 
     United States Department of Health and Human Services, and to 
     each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-311. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to Medicare; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, Many health maintenance organizations (HMOs) have 
     thrown the Medicare system into a state of turmoil by 
     withdrawing coverage of Medicare enrollees at the end of 
     1998; and
       Whereas, Thousands of HMO patients in California are now in 
     a state of panic and confusion regarding their future ability 
     to access health care services, including pharmacy benefits, 
     at a reasonable cost; and
       Whereas, In California, 39 percent of Medicare enrollees, 
     or approximately 1.5 million patients, are served by HMOs, 
     more than double the national average; and
       Whereas, In recent years, HMOs have aggressively and 
     successfully recruited the elderly into their Medicare health 
     plans with promises to provide more benefits than standard 
     fee-for-service Medicare coverage, including allowances for 
     prescription drugs, hearing aids, and eyeglasses; and
       Whereas, Each year HMOs participating in the Medicare 
     managed care program are required to notify  the federal 
     Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) whether

[[Page S10606]]

     they will renew their contracts for the following year; 
     and
       Whereas, This year, numerous HMOs have notified HCFA that 
     they will not renew their contracts for next year, or will 
     reduce the areas that they currently serve, with these 
     withdrawals and service area reductions adversely affecting 
     more than 400,000 beneficiaries across the nation, and over 
     40,000 Medicare patients in California; and
       Whereas, The Inspector General of the United States 
     Department of Health and Human Services has discovered that 
     HMOs have been receiving more than $1 billion annually in 
     overpayments from the Medicare Trust Fund, because HMOs are 
     inflating administration costs dedicated to marketing, 
     executive salaries and fringe benefits, legal fees, and other 
     overhead costs; and
       Whereas, The inspector general has recommended that these 
     funds be recovered from HMOs and dedicated to providing 
     Medicare beneficiaries with added health benefits, including 
     prescription drugs; and
       Whereas, Many Medicare patients not served by HMOs purchase 
     Medicare supplement insurance, also known as Medigap 
     coverage, which fills in the gaps in Medicare coverage and 
     offers patients the most flexibility in choosing doctors and 
     hospitals, and premiums for Medigap insurance have increased, 
     on average, 35 percent since 1994; and
       Whereas, Under the federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997, 
     seniors enrolled in a Medicare HMO that terminates its 
     services are eligible to purchase specified Medigap insurance 
     coverage, regardless of their health status, but the last day 
     to take advantage of this guaranteed access is March 4, 1999; 
     and
       Whereas, Disabled individuals who qualify for Medicare, but 
     are younger than 65 years of age, are not guaranteed access 
     to Medigap coverage under a federal interpretation of federal 
     law, and will need special assistance to secure health care 
     services after they are abandoned by their HMOs; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully 
     memorializes the Federal Government to take immediate and 
     appropriate steps to ensure that persons abandoned by 
     Medicare HMOs have access to other HMO or Medigap policies 
     that cover prescription drugs and to establish stopgap 
     measures to ensure that HMOs do not further restrict coverage 
     areas or benefits until the larger issue of the Medicare HMO 
     payment mechanism is further examined or refined; and be in 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes 
     the Federal Government to rescind its determination that 
     disabled persons under 65 years of age enrolled in HMOs do 
     not have the same guaranteed rights to Medigap policies as 
     all other Medicare enrollees; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes 
     the President of the United States to issue an Executive 
     order directing his administration to work closely and 
     coordinate with California and other states to guide and 
     assist Medicare enrollees who are abandoned by their HMOs to 
     find new Medicare coverage, either in the form of another HMO 
     that serves the abandoned region, or through Medigap 
     coverage, until appropriate federal legislation is enacted to 
     address permanently these types of dislocations that 
     adversely affect Medicare patients; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     the majority leader of the Senate, each Senator and 
     Representative from California in the Congress of the United 
     States, and Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the 
     Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration.
                                  ____

       POM-312. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State or California relative to the U.S. Coast Guard 
     Training Facility (TRACEN) Petaluma; to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                      Sente Joint Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, The United States Coast Guard is presently 
     assessing its training structure for cost-effectiveness and 
     is considering consolidating or closing one or two of its 
     five training centers including the United States Coast Guard 
     Training Center (TRACEN) Petaluma in the rural community of 
     Two Rock, California; and
       Whereas, TRACEN Petaluma is the only Coast Guard training 
     facility on the west coast, while the Coast Guard maintains 
     four other training centers on the eastern seaboard; and
       Whereas, In the case of a prolonged national emergency, a 
     Coast Guard training facility on the west coast has both 
     logistic and strategic value to the service's two-ocean 
     mission and to national security; and
       Whereas, The mild California coastal climate makes it 
     possible for TRACEN Petaluma to conduct outdoor exercises 
     year round; and
       Whereas, The Coast Guard has invested more than $50 million 
     in TRACEN Petaluma since its inception, including $29 million 
     to construct a state-of-the-art electronics and 
     telecommunications training facility; and
       Whereas, The rural community of Two Rock is dependent on 
     TRACEN Petaluma for the continued existence of its 
     neighborhood school and for fire and emergency services; and
       Whereas, TRACEN Petaluma contributes $24.9 million annually 
     to the North Bay economy in an areas that has been severely 
     impacted by military base closures; and
       Whereas, The closings of veterans hospitals in California 
     have increased the dependence of retired military on the 
     health services available at the TRACEN Petaluma medical 
     facility; and
       Whereas, TRACEN Petaluma also houses essential non-Coast 
     Guard training activities for police, fire, and emergency 
     personnel and rangers employed by local, state, and federal 
     agencies operating throughout the region; and
       Whereas, These entities have no other place to continue 
     their training activities in the near future; and
       Whereas, TRACEN Petaluma has a tradition of excellence 
     recognized by the Coast Guard, a well-earned reputation for 
     community involvement, and a legacy of environmental 
     stewardship;
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature believes the 
     continued operation of the United States Coast Guard Training 
     Center (TRACEN) Petaluma is beneficial to the critical public 
     safety and national security mission of the United States 
     Coast Guard, and to the people and economy of California; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes 
     the President and the Congress of the United States, and the 
     United States Coast Guard to continue the operation of the 
     United States Coast Guard Training Facility (TRACEN) Petaluma 
     through increased utilization of its facilities and more 
     efficient use of the Coast Guard's east coast facilities; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States, and to the United States Coast 
     Guard.
                                  ____

       POM-313. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to human rights; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, The legacy of war in Afghanistan has had a 
     devastating impact on the civilian population; and
       Whereas, The warring factions in Afghanistan have routinely 
     violated the rights of women and girls; and
       Whereas, There has been a marked increase in human rights 
     violations against women and girls since the Taliban militia 
     seized the City of Kabul in September 1996; and
       Whereas, Afghan women are now forbidden to work outside of 
     the home. Prior to the Taliban takeover, women worked outside 
     of the home in various professions; and
       Whereas, Seventy percent of school teachers, 50 percent of 
     civilian government workers, and 40 percent of doctors in 
     Kabul were women; and
       Whereas, Afghan girls and women are prohibited from 
     attending schools and universities. Before the takeover, 50 
     percent of the students in Afghanistan were women; and
       Whereas, Afghan women are forbidden from appearing outside 
     the home unless accompanied by a close male relative; and
       Whereas, Access to health care has been denied to the 
     majority of Afghan women and girls. This is a result of 
     prohibiting male doctors from examining women, prohibiting 
     women doctors from practicing, and limiting the health 
     facilities available to women; and
       Whereas, Afghan women are required to be covered from head 
     to toe in a shroud, with only a narrow mesh opening through 
     which to see, when they leave their homes. Likewise, they are 
     not allowed to wear shoes that make any noise when they walk; 
     and
       Whereas, Homes and other buildings in which Afghan women or 
     girls might be present must have their windows painted so no 
     female can be seen from outside; and
       Whereas, Afghan women have been whipped, beaten, shot at, 
     and, a times, killed for not adhering to these restrictions; 
     and
       Whereas, The Secretary of State of the United States, the 
     United Nations, and the Physicians for Human Rights have 
     reported that the Taliban's targeting of women and girls for 
     discrimination and abuse has created a health and 
     humanitarian disaster; and
       Whereas, The International Red Cross and the United Nations 
     estimate that more than 500,000 people in the City of Kabul, 
     approximately two-thirds of the residents of that city, 
     depend on international aid to survive; and
       Whereas, Afghanistan recognizes international human rights 
     conventions such as the Covenant on the Rights of the Child, 
     the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
     Discrimination Against Women, and the International Covenant 
     on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, all of which 
     espouse respect for basic human rights of all individuals 
     without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, or gender; and
       Whereas, Denying women and girls the right to education, 
     employment, access to adequate health care, and direct access 
     to humanitarian aid runs counter to international human 
     rights conventions; and
       Whereas, Peace and security in Afghanistan can only be 
     realized with the full restoration for all human rights and 
     fundamental freedom, the voluntary repatriation

[[Page S10607]]

     of refugees to their homeland in safety and dignity, and the 
     reconstruction of Afghanistan; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California urges the President of the United States and 
     Congress to take the necessary action to ensure the rights of 
     women and girls in Afghanistan are not systematically 
     violated, and urges a peaceful resolution to the situation in 
     Afghanistan that restores the human rights of Afghan women 
     and girls; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States, to the 
     Secretary of State of the United States, to the President of 
     the United States, and to the Secretary General of the United 
     Nations.
                                  ____

       POM-314. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to the main San Gabriel 
     groundwater basin; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 8

       Whereas, The Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin is the 
     principal source of drinking water for approximately 1.4 
     million people who live in southern California; and
       Whereas, The economy of the San Gabriel Valley is dependent 
     upon the availability of a safe, reliable source of water for 
     the residents and businesses in the region; and
       Whereas, The groundwater supply in the Main San Gabriel 
     Groundwater Basin is contaminated by both volatile organic 
     compounds and inorganic chemicals, including perchlorate, 
     that can be dangerous to human health, and
       Whereas, The presence of perchlorate contamination is 
     directly associated with the production of solid rocket fuels 
     and explosives related to the defense and national security 
     of the United States of America; and
       Whereas, The contaminated groundwater in the Main San 
     Gabriel Groundwater Basin is now spreading toward Los Angeles 
     County's Central Groundwater Basin; and
       Whereas, The spreading of contaminated groundwater into the 
     massive Central Groundwater Basin will adversely affect the 
     drinking water of over half of Los Angeles County; and
       Whereas, The health and economy of the entire southern 
     California region may be devastated by the continued presence 
     and possible spreading of contaminated groundwater; and
       Whereas, Perchlorate contamination of drinking water is a 
     serious health-related problem in other areas of the United 
     States outside southern California; and
       Whereas, The application of treatment technology in the 
     Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin may be used as a model for 
     areas in the United States with similar contamination 
     problems; and
       Whereas, All stakeholders affected by the contaminated 
     groundwater have joined together to support a comprehensive 
     plan to treat the contaminated groundwater and reclaim the 
     Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin for the storage of a safe, 
     reliable drinking water source; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully 
     memorializes the President and Congress of the United States 
     to enact legislation to make available necessary funds to 
     implement groundwater remediation in the Main San Gabriel 
     Groundwater Basin; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President, to 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority 
     leader of the Senate, and each Senator and Representative 
     from California in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-315. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to an Orange County 
     commissary; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 9

       Whereas, The federal military base realignment and closure 
     (BRAC) process will lead to the closing of the United States 
     Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) at El Toro, California, in 
     June 1999, and the impending closure of its commissary in 
     September 2000; and
       Whereas, Over 1,000 active duty military personnel from all 
     services will remain in the vicinity of MCAS at El Toro after 
     the base closes; and
       Whereas, Over 120,000 military retirees reside in the 
     Orange County vicinity of MCAS at El Toro and are active 
     customers of the commissary located there; and
       Whereas, The active duty military personnel, members of the 
     National Guard and reserves, and military retirees presently 
     entitled to commissary privileges at MCAS at El Toro will 
     suffer from a decreased quality of life and increased 
     financial burdens if the commissary is closed; and
       Whereas, The closure of the commissary will eliminate over 
     100 jobs; and
       Whereas, The closest alternative commissaries are: March 
     Air Force Base, Riverside, approximately 90 miles round-trip 
     from El Toro; Camp Pendleton, United States Marine Corps, 
     Oceanside, approximately 110 miles round-trip from El Toro; 
     and Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, approximately 80 
     miles round-trip from El Toro; and
       Whereas, These alternative locations pose a substantial 
     hardship by requiring travel from one to two hours to use 
     these facilities; and
       Whereas, Four other bases in the State of California, March 
     Air Force Base, Fort Ord, the Presidio of San Francisco, and 
     McClellan Air Force Base, have been closed, but their 
     exchange and commissary facilities have remained open; and
       Whereas, United States Senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne 
     Feinstein; United States Representatives, Christopher Cox, 
     Gary Miller, Ed Royce, and Loretta Sanchez; State Senators, 
     Joe Dunn, Ross Johnson, John Lewis, and Bill Morrow; Assembly 
     Members, Dick Ackerman, Pat Bates, Scott Baugh, Marilyn 
     Brewer, Bill Campbell, Lou Correa, and Ken Maddox; and the 
     Orange County Board of Supervisors, as the Local 
     Redevelopment Authority (LRA), whose members are Cynthia 
     Coad, James Silva, Charles Smith, Todd Spitzer, and Thomas 
     Wilson, all support the continued operation of the commissary 
     after base closure and have so petitioned the United States 
     Secretary of Defense; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully requests the President and Congress 
     of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the 
     Chairpersons of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Naval 
     Operations, and the Marine Commandant to take immediate 
     action to authorize the continued operation of a commissary 
     in Orange County after the closure of the United States 
     Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro; and be it further,
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States, the 
     Secretary of Defense, the Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of 
     Staff, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Marine Commandant, 
     and the Commissary Operating Board.
                                  ____

       POM-316. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to the Older Americans Act 
     of 1965; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 10

       Whereas, the federal Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
     Sec. 3001 et seq.) expired in October 1995, although funding 
     for its programs has been authorized since that date on an 
     annual basis; and
       Whereas, The congressional appropriations staff continue to 
     stress the tight spending caps on discretionary programs 
     imposed by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-
     33); and
       Whereas, A substantial number of seniors living in the 
     State of California will be at risk if there are significant 
     reductions in allocated funds for Older Americans Act 
     programs; and
       Whereas, Further delay in the reauthorization of the 
     federal Older Americans Act of 1965 will erode the capacity 
     of the act's various structures to deliver services to meet 
     the needs of older Americans; and
       Whereas, The federal Older Americans Act of 1965 should 
     immediately be reauthorized to preserve the aging network's 
     role in home- and community-based services, maintain the 
     advocacy and consumer directed focus on the act, and give 
     area agencies on aging increased flexibility in planning and 
     delivering services to vulnerable older Americans; and
       Whereas, the federal Older Americans Act of 1965 should be 
     funded in the same manner in which the act has been funded 
     for the past 33 years; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes the President and the 
     Congress of the United States to enact legislation that would 
     reauthorize the federal Older Americans Act of 1965 without 
     further delay; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-317. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to housing; to the Committee 
     on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 12

       Whereas, There are 240,000 people in California residing in 
     federally assisted project-based Section 8 housing units. 
     Forty-four percent of Section 8 residents are elderly, and 
     the median income of Section 8 residents is $9,300. Without 
     Section 8 and comparable assistance, many of these households 
     will become homeless; and
       Whereas, The Department of Housing and Urban Development 
     (HUD) has typically provided all capital and operating 
     subsidies for public housing. In 1974 Congress created the 
     new housing production program known as the Section 8 New 
     Construction and Substantial Rehabilitation Program, under 
     which HUD typically provided a 20-year commitment for rental 
     subsidies that assured owners a specified level of rental 
     income; and
       Whereas, Property owners may convert their properties to 
     market-based housing

[[Page S10608]]

     when their Section 8 contracts expire with HUD. Dramatic rent 
     increases occurring in a number of housing markets in this 
     state have already inspired many property owners to opt out 
     of Section 8 subsidies, thus eliminating vast resources for 
     low-income housing and potentially increasing levels of 
     homelessness throughout the state. In California, owners of 
     approximately 10,500 formerly affordable HUD units have 
     converted to market rate use in the past two years; and
       Whereas, Every county in California has buildings with 
     project-based Section 8 units, and will be severely affected 
     by the loss of affordable units. The largest concentrations 
     are in Los Angeles County, the San Francisco Bay Area, San 
     Diego, and Sacramento; and
       Whereas, Recent federal housing policy and budget decisions 
     have led to uncertainty over the current federally assisted 
     housing inventory in California. Those decisions will place 
     increasing demands on the financial and administrative 
     resources of the state to maintain that housing inventory; 
     and
       Whereas, The federal fiscal year 1999 budget provides 
     insufficient funding to preserve most of the below market 
     housing stock; and
       Whereas, The federal fiscal year 2000 budget will need $1.3 
     billion in additional budget authority to fund all contract 
     extensions on current Section 8 projects. HUD's initiative to 
     provide $100 million to increase contract rents at below 
     market properties was rejected by the Office of Management 
     and Budget; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California memorializes the President and Congress of the 
     United States and the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development to establish policies and funding priorities that 
     will ensure the preservation of the inventory of federally 
     assisted housing in California; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States, and to the 
     Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
                                  ____

       POM-318. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to former military base 
     property; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 13

       Whereas, The President of the United States and the 
     Secretary of Defense have announced that they will ask 
     Congress for the authority to transfer former military base 
     property to local communities at no cost if the local 
     communities use the property for job-generating economic 
     development; and
       Whereas, These no-cost economic development conveyances 
     would minimize time-consuming property appraisals and 
     negotiations, thereby speeding property transfers and reuse 
     of these properties, and reducing the Department of Defense's 
     costs to maintain and operate excess property; and
       Whereas, The Department of Defense is organizing a base-
     reuse ``Red Team'' to develop plans to implement the new 
     economic development conveyances, with an emphasis on a rapid 
     and smooth transition of property to productive reuse; and
       Whereas, Proposed federal legislation would forgive lease 
     payments for communities that have already entered into 
     agreements with the Department of Defense, including 
     communities in California; and
       Whereas, This proposed legislation would benefit the State 
     of California, which suffered disproportionately, compared to 
     other states, by base closures in 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995; 
     and
       Whereas, California shouldered 60 percent of the net cuts 
     in military personnel as a result of those base closures, 
     despite the fact that the state had just 15 percent of 
     military personnel before the cuts began; and
       Whereas, California suffered the closure or realignment of 
     29 bases, losing more than 186,000 jobs and almost $9.6 
     billion in economic activity; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the California Legislature 
     respectfully memorializes Congress and the President of the 
     United States to enact legislation to transfer former 
     military base property to local communities at no cost if the 
     local communities use the property for job-generating 
     economic development, and to forgive lease payments for 
     communities that have already entered into agreements with 
     the Department of Defense; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 
     each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-319. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to Filipino veterans' 
     benefits; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 6

       Whereas, The Philippine Islands became a United States 
     possession in 1898 when they were ceded from Spain following 
     the Spanish-American War and remained a possession of the 
     United States until 1946; and
       Whereas, In 1934, Congress passed Public Law 73-127, the 
     Philippine Independence Act, that set a 10-year timetable for 
     the eventual independence of the Philippines and in the 
     interim established a Commonwealth of the Philippines with 
     certain powers over its internal affairs; and
       Whereas, The granting of full independence ultimately was 
     delayed for two years until 1946 because of the Japanese 
     occupation of the islands from 1942 to 1945; and
       Whereas, During the interval between 1934 and the final 
     independence in 1946, the United States retained certain 
     sovereign powers over the Philippines, including the right, 
     upon order of the President of the United States, to call 
     into the service of the United States Armed Forces all 
     military forces organized by the Commonwealth government; and
       Whereas, President Roosevelt invoked this authority by 
     Executive order of July 26, 1941, bringing the Philippine 
     Commonwealth Army into the service of the United States Armed 
     Forces of the Far East under the command of Lieutenant 
     General Douglas MacArthur; and
       Whereas, Two hundred thousand Filipino soldiers, driven by 
     a sense of honor and dignity, battled under United States 
     Command after 1941 to preserve our liberty; and
       Whereas, Filipino gallantly served at Bataan and 
     Corregidor, giving their toil, blood, and lives so as to 
     provide the United States valuable time to rearm materiel and 
     men to launch the counteroffensive in the Pacific war; and
       Whereas, There are four groups of Filipino nationals who 
     are entitled to all or some of the benefits to which United 
     States veterans are entitled. These are:
       (1) Filipinos who served in the regular components of the 
     United States Armed Forces.
       (2) Regular Philippine Scouts, called ``Old Scouts,'' who 
     enlisted in Filipino-manned units of the United States Army 
     prior to October 6, 1945.
       (3) Special Philippine Scouts, called ``New Scouts,'' who 
     enlisted in the United States Armed Forces between October 6, 
     1945, and June 30, 1947, primarily to perform occupation duty 
     in the Pacific following World War II.
       (4) Members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army who on July 
     26, 1941, were called into the service of the United States 
     Armed Forces. This group includes organized guerrilla 
     resistance units that were recognized by the United States 
     Army; and
       Whereas, The first two groups, Filipinos who served in the 
     regular components of the United States Army and Old Scouts, 
     are considered United States veterans and are generally 
     entitled to the full range of United States veterans' 
     benefits; and
       Whereas, The other two groups, New Scouts and members of 
     the Philippine Commonwealth Army, are eligible for certain 
     benefits, and some of these benefits are paid at lower than 
     full rates. United States veterans' medical benefits for 
     the four groups of Filipino veterans vary depending upon 
     whether the person resides in the United States or the 
     Philippines; and
       Whereas, The Old Scouts were created in 1901 pursuant to 
     the act of February 2, 1901, that authorized the President of 
     the United States ``to enlist natives [of the Philippines] . 
     . . for service in the Army, to be organized as scouts . . . 
     or as troops or companies, as authorized by this Act, for the 
     regular Army''; and
       Whereas, Prior to World War II, these troops assisted in 
     the maintenance of domestic order in the Philippines and 
     served as a combat-ready force to defend the Philippine 
     Islands against foreign invasion; and
       Whereas, During the war, they participated in the defense 
     and retaking of the islands from Japanese occupation. The 
     eligibility of Old Scouts for benefits based on military 
     service in the United States Armed Forces, including 
     veterans' benefits, has long been established; and
       Whereas, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs 
     operates a comprehensive program of veterans' benefits in the 
     Republic of the Philippines, including the operation of a 
     United States Department of Veterans Affairs office in 
     Manila; and
       Whereas, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs 
     does not operate a program of this type in any other country; 
     and
       Whereas, The program in the Philippines evolved because the 
     Philippines were a United States possession during the period 
     1898-1946, and many Filipinos have served in the United 
     States Armed Forces, and because the preindependence 
     Commonwealth Army of the Philippines was called into the 
     service of the United States Armed Forces during World War II 
     (1941-1945); and
       Whereas, Our nation, however, has failed to meet the 
     promise made to those Filipino soldiers who fought as 
     American soldiers during World War II; and
       Whereas, Many Filipino veterans have been discriminated 
     against by the classification of their service as not being 
     service rendered in the United States Armed Forces for 
     purposes of benefits from the United States Department of 
     Veterans Affairs; and
       Whereas, All other nationals, even foreigners, who served 
     in the United States Armed Forces have been recognized and 
     granted full rights and benefits, but the Filipinos who 
     actually were American nationals at that time were and are 
     still denied recognition and singled out for exclusion, and 
     this treatment is unfair and discriminatory; and
       Whereas, On October 20, 1996, President Clinton issued a 
     proclamation honoring the

[[Page S10609]]

     nearly 100,000 Filipino veterans of World War II, soldiers of 
     the Philippine Commonwealth Army, who fought as a component 
     of the United States Armed Forces alongside Allied Forces for 
     four long years to defend and reclaim the Philippine Islands, 
     and thousands more who joined the United States Armed Forces 
     after the war; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes the President and 
     Congress of the United States to take action necessary to 
     honor our country's moral obligation to provide Filipino 
     veterans with the military benefits that they deserve, 
     including, but not limited to, holding related hearings, and 
     acting favorably on legislation pertaining to granting full 
     veterans' benefits to Filipino veterans of the United States 
     Armed Forces; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.
       POM-320. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to the safe return of 
     prisoners of war captured by Yugoslav armed forces in 
     Macedonia; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 11

       Whereas, California stands behind our armed forces whenever 
     soldiers are in harm's way in the name of freedom and 
     liberty; and
       Whereas, Many valiant Californians join the United States 
     Armed Forces to uphold freedom and liberty throughout the 
     world; and
       Whereas, One such brave individual, Staff Sergeant Andrew 
     A. Ramirez, exemplifies the best qualities of California's 
     commitment to freedom and liberty; and
       Whereas, Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Ramirez was taken 
     prisoner by Yugoslav Armed Forces while he, Staff Sergeant 
     Christopher Stone, and Specialist Steven Gonzales were on a 
     peace mission in Macedonia; and
       Whereas, Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Ramirez originates from 
     East Los Angeles in the 24th Senate District; and
       Whereas, Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Ramirez joined the United 
     States Army in July 1992 and is a cavalry scout in B Troop of 
     the Fourth Cavalry of the First Infantry Division who was 
     stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany, prior to deployment in 
     Macedonia; and
       Whereas, Communities in California and especially East Los 
     Angeles anxiously await the safe release of Staff Sergeant 
     Andrew A. Ramirez, Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone, and 
     Specialist Steven Gonzales captured by the Yugoslav Armed 
     Forces; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California commend Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Ramirez, Staff 
     Sergeant Christopher Stone, and Specialist Steven Gonzales 
     for courageously executing their duties as members of the 
     United States Armed Forces; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully urges the 
     President of the United States and the United States Congress 
     to do all that is within their power to secure and expedite 
     the safe return of Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Ramirez, Staff 
     Sergeant Christopher Stone, and Specialist Steven Gonzales 
     captured by the Yugoslav Armed Forces in Macedonia; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.
       POM-321. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Colorado relative to the Federal Unified Gift 
     and Estate Tax; to the Committee on Finance.

                      Senate Joint Memorial 99-004

       Whereas, The Federal Unified Gift and Estate Tax, or 
     ``Death Tax'', generates a minimal amount of federal revenue, 
     especially considering the high cost of collection and 
     compliance and in fact has been shown to decrease federal 
     revenues from what they might otherwise have been; and
       Whereas, This federal Death Tax has been identified as 
     destructive to job opportunity and expansion, especially to 
     minority entrepreneurs and family farmers; and
       Whereas, This federal Death Tax causes severe hardship to 
     growing family businesses and family farming operations, 
     often to the point of partial or complete forced liquidation; 
     and
       Whereas, Critical state and local leadership assets are 
     unnecessarily destroyed and forever lost to the future 
     detriment of their communities through relocation or 
     liquidation; and
       Whereas, Local and state schools, churches, and numerous 
     charitable organizations would greatly benefit from the 
     increased employment and continued family business leadership 
     that would result from the repeal of the federal Death Tax; 
     now, therefore,
       Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-second General 
     Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of 
     Representatives concurring herein:
       That the Congress of the United States is hereby 
     memorialized to immediately repeal the Federal Unified Gift 
     and Estate Tax.
       Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Memorial 
     be sent to the President of the United States, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, the President of 
     the United States Senate, and each member of the Colorado 
     congressional delegation.
       POM-322. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to McGregor Range, Fort Bliss, 
     TX; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 133

       Whereas, Future military threats to the United States and 
     its allies may come from technologically advanced rogue 
     states that for the first time are armed with long-range 
     missiles capable of delivering nuclear, chemical, or 
     biological weapons to an increasingly wider range of 
     countries; and
       Whereas, The U.S. military strategy requires flexible and 
     strong armed forces that are well-trained, well-equipped, and 
     ready to defend our nation's interests against these 
     devastating weapons of mass destruction; and
       Whereas, Previous rounds of military base closures combined 
     with the realignment of the Department of the Army force 
     structure has established Fort Bliss as the Army's Air 
     Defense Artillery Center of Excellence, thus making McGregor 
     Range, which is a part of Fort Bliss, the nation's principal 
     training facility for air defense systems; and
       Wheares, McGregor Range is inextricably linked to the 
     advanced missile defense testing network that includes Fort 
     Bliss and the White Sands Missile Range, providing, 
     verifying, and maintaining the highest level of missile 
     defense testing for the Patriot, Avenger, Stinger, and other 
     advanced missile defense systems; and
       Whereas, The McGregor Range comprises more than half of the 
     Fort Bliss installation land area, and the range and its 
     restricted airspace in conjunction with the White Sands 
     Missile Range, is crucial to the development and testing of 
     the Army Tactical Missile System and the Theater High 
     Altitude Area Defense System; and
       Whereas, The high quality and unique training capabilities 
     of the McGregor Range allow the verification of our military 
     readiness in air-to-ground combat, including the Army's only 
     opportunity to test the Patriot missile in live fire, 
     tactical scenarios, as well as execute the ``Roving Sands'' 
     joint training exercises held annually at Fort Bliss; and
       Whereas, The Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986 requires 
     that the withdrawal from public use of all military land 
     governed by the Army, including McGregor Range, must be 
     terminated on November 6, 2001, unless such withdrawal is 
     renewed by an Act of Congress: now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby support the U.S. Congress in ensuring that the 
     critical infrastructure for the U.S. military defense 
     strategy be maintained through the renewal of the withdrawal 
     from public use of the McGregor Range land beyond 2001, and, 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered into the Congressional Record as a 
     memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.
       POM-323. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to the Texas Gulf Coast; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                      House Concurrent Resolution

       Whereas, One of Texas' richest and most diverse areas is 
     that of the Gulf Coast; the Coastal Bend abounds with 
     treasures for all, and every year thousands of visitors flock 
     to its beaches and wetlands to enjoy the sun, fish the 
     waters, appreciate its unique scenery and wildlife, and 
     bolster their spirits simply by being near such awe-inspiring 
     beauty; and
       Whereas, In addition to $7 billion per year generated by 
     coastal tourism, the area is also home to half of the 
     nation's petrochemical industry and over a quarter of its 
     petroleum refining capacity; and
       Whereas, Coastal tourism, the petrochemical and petroleum 
     industries, a robust commercial and recreational fishing 
     trade, and significant agricultural production make this 
     region a vital economic and natural resource for both the 
     state and the nation; and
       Whereas, Like other coastal states located near offshore 
     drilling activities, Texas provides workers, equipment, and 
     ports of entry for oil and natural gas mined offshore; while 
     these states derive numerous benefits from the offshore 
     drilling industry, they also face great risks, such as 
     coastline degradation and spill disasters, as well as the 
     loss of nonrenewable natural resources; and
       Whereas, Although state and local authorities have worked 
     diligently to conserve and protect coastal resources, 
     securing the funds needed to maintain air and water quality 
     and to ensure the existence of healthy wetlands and beaches 
     and protection of wildlife is a constant challenge; and
       Whereas, The federal Land and Water Conservation fund was 
     established by Congress in 1964 and has been one of the most 
     successful and far-reaching pieces of conservation and 
     recreation legislation, using as its funding source the 
     revenues from oil and gas activity on the Outer Continental 
     Shelf; and

[[Page S10610]]

       Whereas, The game and nongame wildlife resources of this 
     state are a vital natural resource and provide enjoyment and 
     other benefits for current and future generations; and
       Whereas, The federal government has received more than $120 
     billion in offshore drilling revenue during the past 43 
     years, only five percent of which has been allotted to the 
     states; it is fair and just that Texas and other coastal 
     states should receive a dedicated share of the revenue they 
     help generate; and
       Whereas, Several bills are currently before the United 
     States Congress that would allocate a portion of federal 
     offshore drilling royalties to coastal states and local 
     communities for wildlife protection, conservation, and 
     coastal impact projects; and
       Whereas, States and local communities know best how to 
     allocate resources to address their needs, and block grants 
     will provide the best means for distributing funds; and
       Whereas, These funds would help support the recipients' 
     efforts to renew and maintain their beaches, wetlands, urban 
     waterfronts, parks, public harbors and fishing piers, and 
     other elements of coastal infrastructure that are vital to 
     the quality of life and economic and environmental well-being 
     of these states and local communities; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     pass legislation embodying these principles; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial 
     to the Congress of the United States of America.
       POM-324. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to the Kerrville Veterans 
     Administration Medical Center; to the Committee on Veteran's 
     Affairs.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 112

       Whereas, the Kerrville Veterans Administration Medical 
     Center, which consistently ranks high among Texas-based 
     veterans' hospitals, is a ``veteran-friendly'' facility 
     offering the very best of medical care and an outstanding 
     corps of affiliated physicians, nurses, and support 
     personnel; and
       Whereas, it is a valuable regional resource and a comfort 
     to the many thousands of military retirees who have settled 
     in the Texas Hill Country both for the allure of those 
     environs and the close proximity in their older age to the 
     expertise of highly qualified health practitioners; and
       Whereas, the Kerrville institution has a long and 
     successful history; begun in 1919, it opened its doors two 
     years later after fund-raising by the American Legion and 
     appropriations from the 37th Legislature; the federal 
     government bought the facility from the state in 1926, 
     eventually to incorporate it within the Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center System; and
       Whereas, over the last 10 years, the U.S. Department of 
     Veterans Affairs has spent almost $20 million upgrading the 
     center, installing the most modern equipment and enhancing 
     its ability to treat and attend our veterans in a manner 
     reciprocating their service in behalf of this nation; and
       Whereas, absent a policy reversal, the center will be 
     phased out for extended hospital care by May 1999, and will 
     keep intensive care patients for only 24 hours before 
     transferring them to another Department of Veterans Affairs 
     medical center in San Antonio or, if that is full, to private 
     hospitals in the Bexar County area; and
       Whereas, given the investment in and improvements to the 
     center in the past decade, these diminutions of service seem 
     both a waste of money and federal resources and a creation of 
     geographic inconvenience for veterans in Kerr County and 
     surrounding communities;
       Whereas, the continued vitality of the Kerrville Veterans 
     Administration Medical Center as a first-class hospital is an 
     issue of importance not only to the people of Kerrville and 
     the Hill Country region but also to Texas generally because 
     of its strategic role in meeting the health needs of the 
     citizens of this state; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully request the Congress of the United States 
     to ensure the future of the Kerrville Veterans Administration 
     Medical Center by providing that it be fully funded, staffed, 
     and utilized, and by restoring and promoting the health 
     rights and benefits of the Texas veterans who are its 
     prospective patrons; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial 
     to the Congress of the United States of America.
                                  ____

       POM-325. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to the Social Security Trust 
     Fund; to the Committee on Finance.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 249

       Whereas, by 2032, the federal Social Security Trust Fund 
     will likely be unable to meet its obligations, and 
     comprehensive reform is necessary to ensure its viability 
     both for present and future beneficiaries; and
       Whereas, legislation on the subject is anticipated in the 
     106th Congress, and with the Federal Government searching for 
     avenues to restore solvency to the failing fund, attention 
     has turned to the option of mandated coverage for newly hired 
     employees of previously noncovered state and local 
     governments; and
       Whereas, such governments were initially excluded from 
     Social Security participation when the system was established 
     in 1935, as it was considered unconstitutional for the 
     Federal Government to tax counterpart governments at the 
     state and local levels; and
       Whereas, consequently, Texas state and local governments 
     established independent retirement plans to meet the needs of 
     their employees, and local government participation in Social 
     Security remains optional, although state employees are now 
     covered by both Social Security and state retirement plans; 
     and
       Whereas, mandating coverage on newly hired employees of 
     previously noncovered governments, according to the Social 
     Security Advisory Council, would extend the solvency of the 
     Social Security Trust Fund by a mere two years; and
       Whereas, such mandated coverage would result in a tax 
     increase of 6.2 percent each for local government employees 
     and local government employers, for a combined tax increase 
     of 12.4 percent; and
       Whereas, there currently are over 562,000 noncovered public 
     employees in Texas, including public school teachers and 
     administrators, public safety officers, and large numbers of 
     city, county, and special district employees; and
       Whereas, estimates prepared by the Texas Association of 
     Public Employees Retirement Systems project a cost of at 
     least $6.87 billion to Texas local government employers, 
     particularly school districts, and newly hired workers over 
     the first 10 years of implementation; and
       Whereas, city and county governments, in order to pay the 
     new federal tax, might have no choice but to reduce services 
     such as law enforcement, fire protection, libraries, public 
     health, programs for senior citizens and the disabled, parks 
     and recreation, and refuse collection and recycling; and
       Whereas, school districts would experience a new source of 
     pressure toward increasing property taxes, and local 
     government retirement plans generally might need to be 
     reduced due to the cost imposed by mandatory Social Security 
     coverage; and
       Whereas, the proposed new tax is a shift of a federal 
     burden to local communities to solve a federal problem that 
     our state and local governments had no hand in creating, and 
     under which there would be no benefit paid to Texas workers 
     for more than a generation; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States and urge 
     the President of the United States in the strongest possible 
     terms to refrain from the inclusion of mandatory Social 
     Security coverage for presently noncovered state and local 
     government employees in any Social Security reform 
     legislation; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and the President of the Senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the Congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial 
     to the Congress of the United States of America.
                                  ____

       POM-326. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to veteran's benefits; to the 
     Committee on Appropriations.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 141

       Whereas, military veterans who have served their country 
     honorably and who were promised and earned health care and 
     compensation and pension benefits from the federal government 
     through the Department of Veterans Affairs are now in need of 
     these benefits due to advancing age; and
       Whereas, the proposed budget for the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs Veterans Health Administration has for the fourth 
     consecutive year proposed a straight-line budget for veterans 
     health care that falls short of the needed funds to counter 
     soaring medical care inflation and other costs associated 
     with the aging veterans population; and
       Whereas, the proposed budget calls for the elimination of 
     nearly 8,000 full-time employees from veterans health care, 
     which further threatens veterans health care service by 
     placing a greater strain on patient services and further 
     endangers the quality of care for the sick and disabled 
     veterans of this nation; and
       Whereas, the processing of claims for service-connected 
     compensation and pension benefits by the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration has also 
     suffered from inadequate budgets resulting in backlogs in 
     claims processing ranging in the hundreds of thousands; and
       Whereas, the substantial backlog of service-connected 
     compensation and pension

[[Page S10611]]

     claims by the Veterans Benefits Administration has been a 
     serious and persistent problem resulting in extended waits 
     for veterans and their families to receive decisions 
     concerning application for needed benefits; and
       Whereas, it is necessary to enact legislation to provide 
     funding necessary to properly deliver earned health care and 
     compensation and pension benefits to the aging veterans 
     population of our nation; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     maintain its commitment to the veterans of America and their 
     families by providing sufficient funding to the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs to address the above concerns; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, that the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, the president of the senate and speaker of the 
     house of representatives of the United States Congress, and 
     all members of the Texas delegation to the congress with the 
     request that this resolution be officially entered in the 
     Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the 
     United States of America.
                                  ____

       POM-327. A resolution adopted by the Town Board of the Town 
     of North Hempstead, New York relative to the proposed 
     ``Mandatory Gun Show Background Check Act''; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.
       POM-328. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Cincinnati, Ohio relative to the Community Reinvestment Act; 
     to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
       POM-329. A resolution adopted by the International 
     Association of Official Human Rights Agencies relative to the 
     Federal Fair Housing Act; to the Committee on Appropriations.
       POM-330. A resolution adopted by the National Conference of 
     Insurance Legislators relative to multiple employer welfare 
     arrangements and association health plans; to the Committee 
     on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
       POM-331. A resolution adopted by the National Conference of 
     Lieutenant Governors relative to the Visa Waiver Pilot 
     Program; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-332. A resolution adopted by the Pan Macedonian 
     Association, Inc. relative to the ``Macedonia'' name issue; 
     to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-333. A resolution adopted by the Pan Macedonian 
     Association, Inc. relative to developments in the Balkans; to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-334. A petition from a citizen of the State of 
     Minnesota relative to the human rights of Eritreans in 
     Ethiopia; to the committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-335. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Naples, Florida relative to the Kosovo situation; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-336. A resolution adopted by the Pacific Fishery 
     Management Council relative to the recovery of wild Snake 
     River salmon and steelhead; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public works.
       POM-337. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to federal transportation 
     funds; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 6

       Whereas, the allocation of federal transportation funds was 
     reformed under the federal Transportation Equity Act for the 
     21st Century (P.L. 105-178), commonly known as TEA-21, in a 
     manner that greatly increases the share of federal 
     transportation dollars that states are eligible to receive; 
     and
       Whereas, the recent surge in the federal transportation 
     fund, spurred by unexpected gas tax and car sales tax 
     revenues, would mean that states would receive an additional 
     eight hundred fifty-eight million dollars ($858,000,000) 
     above and beyond the amount of funds that was expected under 
     last year's agreement; and
       Whereas, California's share of that transportation fund 
     surplus would be one hundred twenty-one million dollars 
     ($121,000,000) in additional funds under the TEA-21 formulas, 
     which funds could be used for much needed transportation 
     projects; and
       Whereas, the United States Department of Transportation has 
     proposed diverting the eight hundred fifty-eight million 
     dollar surplus to federal programs; and
       Whereas, State and local governments are best qualified to 
     evaluate the specific transportation needs of their state 
     local area; and
       Whereas, the additional federal transportation funds could 
     be used for projects such as road construction, reduction of 
     traffic congestion, and air quality improvements; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the Congress 
     and the President of the United States to use the framework 
     established under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
     Century when allocating federal transportation funds to 
     California; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-338. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to women in sports; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 20

       Whereas, when the California Interscholastic Federation 
     (CIF) was formed in 1914, girls' physical education did not 
     include interscholastic sports teams; and
       Whereas, in 1964, the CIF Federated Council adopted a set 
     of bylaws for girls' interscholastic sports that stated that 
     schools and school districts may organize girls' sports 
     teams; and
       Whereas, by the 1967-68 school year, almost half of 
     California's secondary schools conducted CIF girls' 
     interscholastic athletic program of some degree; and
       Whereas, in 1972, the United States Congress enacted Title 
     IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and
       Whereas, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 
     (hereafter Title IX) states, in part, as follows: ``No person 
     in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded 
     from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be 
     subjected to discrimination under any education program or 
     activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . .''; 
     and
       Whereas, prior to the enactment of Title IX, many schools 
     refused to admit girls and women to, or imposed strict limits 
     on their participation in, a wide range of sports; and
       Whereas, since the enactment of Title IX, the participation 
     and interest of girls and women in sports has soared. Only 
     300,000 girls participated in California high school sports 
     prior to Title IX; today the number is in excess of 2.37 
     million; and
       Whereas, title IX governs overall equity of opportunity in 
     athletics, including areas such as equipment and supplies, 
     travel, support services, and scholarships; and
       Whereas, scholarship opportunities are an important way 
     that educational institutions meet the needs and interests of 
     student athletics; and
       Resolved, That the CIF and California high schools and 
     colleges are to be commended for the progress made already, 
     and to encourage further efforts by all to meet the challenge 
     of equality in sports and the greatest fulfillment of the 
     hopes and dreams of girls and women in our school; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That programs and projects that emphasize girls' 
     and women's confidence building through fitness and physical 
     challenges in sports and outdoor adventure, such as the 
     Women's Sports Foundation, Girl Teams Adventure Training, 
     Okinawan Karate, and the 50's Plus Fitness Association, be 
     commended for their positive impact in carrying forward the 
     fitness message for girls and women; and be it further
       Resolved, That parents, families, businesses, women 
     athletes who serve as positive role models, and all others 
     who have contributed to girls' and women's leadership and 
     team player skills through sports and fitness activities are 
     to be commended; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California, 
     on June 23, 1999, commemorates the 27th Anniversary of Title 
     IX, commends the movement toward increased equality and fair 
     treatment of female athletes, and praises the goals of 
     greater opportunities in sports for girls and young women in 
     California; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-339. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to poisonous and noxious 
     weeds; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, poisonous and noxious weeds are spreading 
     throughout the State of California due to the use of straw 
     for soil-erosion control and road construction by California 
     agencies, such as the Department of Transportation 
     (CALTRANS), the Department of Fish and Game, and the 
     Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, by federal 
     agencies, such as the United States Forest Service and the 
     United States Bureau of Land Management, and by other 
     federal, state, and county agencies; and
       Whereas, the grazing capacity of animals, wildlife habitat, 
     and native plant species is being destroyed through the use 
     of straw for these purposes; and
       Whereas, it is in the best interest of the state for these 
     agencies to use materials that are not detrimental to our 
     wildlife, domestic animals, and plant species; and
       Whereas, California-grown rice straw is produced in an 
     aquatic environment and cannot coexist with the yellow star 
     thistle and other terrestrial noxious weeds of concern; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, Jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes all government agencies, 
     particularly the United States Forest Service, the United 
     States Bureau of Land Management, CALTRANS, the Department of 
     Fish and Game, and the Department of Forestry and Fire 
     Protection, to abstain from using nonnative plant material 
     and encourage the use of weed-free straw or California-grown 
     rice straw in any of their programs within California; and be 
     it further

[[Page S10612]]

       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States, the United 
     States Forest Service, and the United States Bureau of Land 
     Management, and to the Director of Transportation, the 
     Director of Fish and Game, and the Director of Forestry and 
     Fire Protection.
                                  ____

       POM-340. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to cold storms in 
     California; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
       Whereas, the cold storms and consequent frost damage that 
     occurred in this state during December 1998 have affected 
     virtually every geographic area of the state; and
       Whereas, small businesses and farming entities have 
     suffered actual physical damage and significant economic 
     losses; and
       Whereas, the residents of this state have suffered 
     substantial losses as a result of the cold storms and frost 
     damage and have financial and practical needs equal to or 
     greater than other areas that have been declared as federal 
     natural disaster areas; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the legislature of the State of 
     California hereby respectfully memorializes the President of 
     the United States to declare the affected portions of 
     California as a federal natural disaster areas as a result of 
     the cold storms and consequent frost damage that occurred in 
     December 1998; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and the Vice 
     President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House 
     of Representatives, and each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.

                          ____________________