[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 19 (Monday, February 28, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S867]
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-416. A resolution adopted by the Council of the Borough 
     of Ship Bottom, NJ relative to the disposal of dredge 
     materials at the Mud Dump site; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.
       POM-417. A petition from a citizen of the District of 
     Columbia relative to the District of Columbia Housing 
     Authority Act of 1999; to the Committee on Governmental 
     Affairs.
       POM-418. A resolution adopted by the National Conference of 
     Insurance Legislators Executive Committee relative to the 
     Federalism Act; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
       POM-419. A resolution adopted by the Municipal Assembly of 
     San Juan, PR relative to Vieques, PR; to the Committee on 
     Armed Services.

                             Resolution 35

       Whereas, The Municipal Assembly of San Juan approved a 
     resolution the 29 of April of 1999 requiring the United 
     States Navy to cease immediately and permanently all military 
     practices, bombardments and exercises in Vieques, as well as 
     their total withdrawal from that island, returning to the 
     people of Puerto Rico the lands that the Navy now occupies.
       Whereas, The Assembly recognizes that the military 
     practices, exercises, and bombardments in Vieques and its 
     surroundings have been continuous during the last 50 years, 
     affecting the 9,300 residents of that Municipality 
     negatively;
       Whereas, In addition to the continuous threat to the 
     safety, health and human life that these military exercises 
     mean in Vieques, they have had a harmful effect on the 
     environment as a whole and in particular, on marine life and 
     the natural beauty of this island.
       Whereas, In an historical effort of solidarity regarding 
     the suffering of the people of Vieques, the political, 
     religious, and civic leadership of Puerto Rico, came together 
     with the purpose of calling for the immediate cease of all 
     military exercises by the Navy on soil and beaches of Vieques 
     and for the unconditional and immediate exit of the Navy from 
     this island-municipality, and hereby petition President, Hon. 
     William Jefferson Clinton to that effect.
       Whereas, The Mayor of San Juan, Hon. Sila M. Calderon, has 
     made a particular effort to this effect as have other Puerto 
     Rican leaders in Puerto Rico and in the United States.
       Whereas, President Clinton has received pressures from the 
     Pentagon and certain congressional leaders favoring the 
     permanency of the Navy on Vieques, and has disappointed the 
     people of Puerto Rico who had placed their hope in him. 
     President Clinton emitted a decision, which permits the Navy 
     to continue with their war exercises in Vieques for 
     approximately five years. This decision does not establish a 
     specific date for the absolute and total exit of the Navy 
     from Vieques.
       Whereas, The action taken by President Clinton is 
     unacceptable to this City Council, as it is for all the 
     Puerto Rican people who are allied in brotherhood with the 
     people of Vieques: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the San Juan City Council:
       Section 1, To express strong rejection of the President of 
     the United States, Hon. William Jefferson Clinton's decision 
     on the case of Vieques; to support the actions accomplished 
     by the Puerto Rican leadership and in particular by the 
     people of Vieques, for the Navy to leave that territory as 
     soon as possible without imposing conditions; to support the 
     negotiations of the Mayor of San Juan, Hon. Sila M. Calderon, 
     in connection with this matter; and to urge the members of 
     congress and elected officials of New York and other states 
     to join the people of Puerto Rico in this effort.
       Section 2, To send a copy of this resolution, duly 
     translated to the English Language, to the President of the 
     United States, Hon. William Jefferson Clinton; to the 
     Congress, and to the press.
       Section 3, This resolution will come into effect 
     immediately after its approval.

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