[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 31 (Monday, March 20, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1459-S1461]
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-430. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Maine relative to the entry of 
     China into the World Trade Organization; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, the nation of China has taken steps to become a 
     member of the World Trade Organization; and
       Whereas, membership in the World Trade Organization would 
     give China recognition and status as an equal, legitimate 
     partner with other countries in world trade; and
       Whereas, China has an abysmal record of human rights, 
     imprisoning those who attempt to engage in legitimate 
     political opposition and oppressing those whose religious or 
     political beliefs differ from those of the regime; and
       Whereas, China ignores the rights of its workers and 
     intimidates and imprisons those who seek to improve labor 
     conditions in the country; and
       Whereas, China's neighbors consider it a military threat; 
     and
       Whereas, the World Trade Organization, through its 
     promotion of global markets, promotes multinational 
     corporations that exploit child labor and sponsor sweatshops 
     and poor working conditions; and
       Whereas, the World Trade Organization has not shown itself 
     to be a champion of reform in member countries; and
       Whereas, membership in the World Trade Organization would 
     increase import of cheap textiles, made inexpensive by the 
     low pay and poor working conditions of Chinese laborers; and
       Whereas, these cheap textile imports would unfairly compete 
     with and would harm Maine's shirt, textile and manufacturing 
     industries; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully request 
     that the members of the

[[Page S1460]]

     Congress of the United States vote against any proposal to 
     grant permanent normal trade relations status to China, which 
     is a precursor to the granting of World Trade Organization 
     membership, and take whatever other actions is in their power 
     to deny membership in the World Trade Organization to the 
     nation of China; 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, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the Congress of the United 
     States; and to each member of the Maine Congressional 
     Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-431. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Maine relative to the Strategic 
     Petroleum Reserve; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, there are 325,000 households in the State of Maine 
     dependent upon heating oil; and
       Whereas, the retail price of heating oil has doubled in the 
     last year; and
       Whereas, the supply of heating oil is well below demand, 
     creating a critical shortage; and
       Wheareas, 8 weeks of the heating season remain; now 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, request the President 
     of the United States, the Congress of the United States and 
     the Secretary of Energy to release fuel from the Strategic 
     Petroleum Reserve for sale to critically affected regions; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That policies necessary to help with the 
     emergency delivery and distribution of this fuel to 
     refineries be implemented, with priority of sale given to 
     critically affected regions; and be it further
       Resolved, That policies conducive to the establishment of a 
     home heating oil reserve for the benefit of the Northeast 
     Region be implemented; 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, 
     each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation and the 
     Honorable William Richardson, Secretary of Energy.
                                  ____

       POM-432. A resolution adopted by the Ocean County (NJ) 
     Board of Health relative to disposal of contaminated 
     materials in the Atlantic Ocean at the Mud Dump site; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Pubic Works.
       POM-433. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to tuberculosis 
     testing and research; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                        House Resolution No. 288

       Whereas, The spread of bovine tuberculosis in Michigan has 
     reached a critical level, threatening the viability of the 
     livestock and dairy industry in this state; and
       Whereas, The United States Department of Agriculture is 
     poised to revoke Michigan's TB-free status, thereby requiring 
     the testing of all cattle in the state; and
       Whereas, The testing of all cattle in the state will not be 
     possible with currently available resources and the lack of 
     existing facilities; and
       Whereas, No known vaccination exists to prevent cattle from 
     acquiring bovine tuberculosis, and the only method to control 
     the spread of the disease is through the slaughter of the 
     infected animal; and
       Whereas, The policy of the United States Department of 
     Agriculture is to require the destruction of the entire herd, 
     even if only one animal in the herd is infected; and
       Whereas, Current indemnification rates for the destruction 
     of cattle are inadequate, placing an extreme burden on 
     livestock owners; and
       Whereas, The Michigan House of Representatives is leading a 
     coordinated and committed effort with Michigan farmers, 
     hunters, and business owners to eradicate bovine tuberculosis 
     in this state and restore Michigan's TB-free status; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to provide 
     funding for the construction of a diagnostic laboratory at 
     Michigan State University to handle the increased testing 
     requirements resulting from a loss of Michigan's TB-free 
     status; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize Congress to fund initiatives 
     at Michigan State University to study the spread of bovine 
     tuberculosis through crops and soil; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize Congress to provide increased 
     indemnification for the destruction of cattle and federally 
     subsidized loans for the replacement of destroyed herds; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional 
     delegation, the Secretary of the United States Department of 
     Agriculture, and other appropriate administration officials.
                                  ____

       POM-434. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of West Virginia relative to local 
     television satellite signals; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                        Senate Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, Current telecommunications legislation pending in 
     the United States Congress will set national policy for 
     decades to come for all Americans; and
       Whereas, Current legislation will authorize the 
     retransmission of local television signals by satellite; and
       Whereas, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) companies have 
     testified before Congress that they only intend to retransmit 
     certain local television broadcast signals within certain 
     local television markets, those being highly populated urban 
     markets where the infrastructure will support a for-profit 
     venture; and
       Whereas, More than fifty million households in small- and 
     medium-sized markets must be treated as equals to their urban 
     counterparts. These citizens pay the same taxes and deserve 
     the same news, weather, emergency forecasts and community-
     building programs that larger urban areas will be receiving; 
     and
       Whereas, Sixteen states, including West Virginia, are not 
     included in any satellite company's initial plans to provide 
     ``local-into-local'' service; therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That the Senate hereby urges the 
     United States Congress to adopt legislation that will 
     establish loan guarantee programs or other mechanisms for the 
     delivery of local satellite signals to markets otherwise not 
     receiving local satellite signals; and, be it
       Further resolved, That the purposes of such national 
     legislation will be to guarantee the delivery by satellite of 
     over-the-air local television stations to small- and medium-
     sized markets to ensure the ``digital divide'' is not made 
     wider by national satellite policy; and, be it
       Further resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to 
     forward a copy of this resolution to the Clerk of the United 
     States House of Representatives and the Secretary of the 
     United States Senate for distribution to the members of each 
     legislative chamber.
                                  ____

       POM-435. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Alabama relative to the United 
     Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
     Discrimination Against Women; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination 
     of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was adopted by 
     the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 1979, and 
     became an international treaty on September 3, 1981; and
       Whereas, the convention established a comprehensive 
     framework addressing women's rights within political, 
     cultural, economic, social, and family contexts that serves 
     to strengthen the existing body of standards respecting 
     fundamental human rights by providing a uniform and universal 
     definition of discrimination; and
       Whereas, the convention has already demonstrated its value 
     by serving as the instrument by which women in Sri Lanka and 
     Zambia have improved their status; and
       Whereas, in 1992, Sri Lanka adopted a charter that was 
     based on the convention and which guaranteed women equal 
     status; in 1985, Zambia also ratified the convention and in 
     1991 extended its Bill of Rights to cover sex discrimination; 
     and
       Whereas, as of June 1997, 161 nations had ratified the 
     convention's provisions; and
       Whereas, although the United States is considered a world 
     leader in the protection of basic human rights, supports and 
     has a position of leadership in the United Nations, and was 
     an active participant in the drafting and is a signatory of 
     the convention, the United States is one of the few nations 
     that has not ratified the treaty; and
       Whereas, although women have made progress in the struggle 
     for equality in the political, cultural, economic, social, 
     and family contexts, there is much more to be accomplished; 
     and through its support, leadership, and prestige, the United 
     States can help create a world where women are no longer 
     discriminated against and would achieve one of the most 
     fundamental of human rights, that of equality; now therefore,
       Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 
     Legislature of Alabama, That we urge the United States Senate 
     to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of 
     All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and to support the 
     convention's continuing goals.
       Be it further resolved, That a copy of this resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     Secretary of State of the United States, the President of the 
     United States Senate, and every member of the Alabama 
     Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-436. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Alabama relative to the United 
     Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
     Discrimination Against Women; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination 
     of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was adopted by 
     the

[[Page S1461]]

     United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 1979, and 
     became an international treaty on September 3, 1981; and
       Whereas, the convention established a comprehensive 
     framework addressing women's rights within political, 
     cultural, economic, social, and family contexts that serves 
     to strengthen the existing body of standards respecting 
     fundamental human rights by providing a uniform and universal 
     definition of discrimination; and
       Whereas, the convention has already demonstrated its value 
     by serving as the instrument by which women in Sri Lanka and 
     Zambia have improved their status; and
       Whereas, in 1992, Sri Lanka adopted a charter that was 
     based on the convention and which guaranteed women equal 
     status; in 1985, Zambia also ratified the convention and in 
     1991 extended its Bill of Rights to cover sex discrimination; 
     and
       Whereas, as of June 1997, 161 nations had ratified the 
     convention's provisions; and
       Whereas, although the United States is considered a world 
     leader in the protection of basic human rights, supports and 
     has a position of leadership in the United Nations, and was 
     an active participant in the drafting and is a signatory of 
     the convention; the United States is one of the few nations 
     that has not ratified the treaty; and
       Whereas, although women have made progress in the struggle 
     for equality in the political, cultural, economic, social, 
     and family contexts, there is much more to be accomplished; 
     and through its support, leadership, and prestige, the United 
     States can help create a world where women are no longer 
     discriminated against and would achieve one of the most 
     fundamental of human rights, that of equality; now therefore,
       Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 
     Legislature of Alabama, That we urge the United States Senate 
     to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of 
     All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and to support the 
     convention's continuing goals.
       Be it further resolved, That a copy of this resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     Secretary of State of the United States, the President of the 
     United States Senate, and every member of the Alabama 
     Congressional Delegation.

                          ____________________