[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 55 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3605-S3612]
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-491. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislation of 
     the State of Idaho relative to the Northern Rockies 
     Protection Act; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                       House Joint Memorial No. 6

       Whereas, on February 2, 1999, H.R. 488, known as the 
     ``Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act,'' was introduced 
     in the U.S. House of Representatives;
       Whereas, the Act is far reaching and would designate 
     wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national park and 
     preserve study areas, wildland recovery areas, and biological 
     connecting corridors in five northwest states: Idaho, 
     Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming;
       Whereas, the Act would create over eighteen million acres 
     of new wilderness alone, approximately five million acres of 
     which would be in Idaho, more than in any other state;
       Whereas, the Act also designates over a million acres along 
     the Idaho-Oregon border as the Hells Canyon/Chief Joseph 
     National Preserve;
       Whereas, the Act, a concept presented by the Montana-based 
     environmental group, the

[[Page S3606]]

     Alliance for the Wild Rockies, was first introduced in 1992 
     to oppose a bill designating wilderness areas only in the 
     state of Montana;
       Whereas, the members of the Idaho congressional delegation 
     opposed the Act in 1992 and continue to oppose it now;
       Whereas, the Act is also opposed by the majority of 
     representatives in the Congress from the other affected 
     states: Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming;
       Whereas, the lands addressed by the Act closely resemble 
     those at issue in President Clinton's current roadless lands 
     initiative, which is also opposed by the state of Idaho and 
     the Idaho congressional delegation;
       Whereas, setting aside so much acreage in Idaho as 
     wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national park and 
     preserve study areas, wildland recovery areas, and biological 
     connecting corridors would severely reduce employment and 
     income in many areas of the state in which it is difficult to 
     replace the lost money by other means, and would landlock 
     thousands of acres of state endowment land, thereby reducing 
     funds for public education in Idaho. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, that we 
     urge the Congress of the United States to oppose H.R. 488, 
     known as the ``Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.'' 
     Be it further
       Resolved, that the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, that we 
     urge the Congress of the United States to oppose H.R. 488, 
     known as the ``Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.'' 
     Be it further
       Resolved, that the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, support 
     natural resource planning and environmental management 
     featuring site-specific management decisions made by local 
     decision-makers, local citizens and parties directly and 
     personally affected by land and resource management 
     decisions. Be it further
       Resolved that the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed 
     to forward a copy of this Memorial to the President of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 
     Congress, and the congressional delegation representing the 
     state of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-492. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to additional de facto wilderness 
     in Idaho; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                       House Joint Memorial No. 7

       Whereas, Idaho is a state which has sixty-six percent of 
     its landmass controlled by the federal government; and
       Whereas, access to Idaho's public lands is a vital part of 
     Idaho's natural resource economy as well as an important part 
     of our citizens heritage, recreation and enjoyment; and
       Whereas, Idaho currently has 4,081,315 acres of wilderness 
     which is sufficient; and
       Whereas, President Clinton has proposed to establish 
     another nine million acres of defacto wilderness in Idaho by 
     declaring certain public lands in the state to be roadless; 
     and
       Whereas, Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne requested a longer 
     comment period for Idaho citizens to study and comment on the 
     roadless plan and his request was summarily denied by the 
     United States Forest Service; and
       Whereas, the state of Idaho has been compelled to initiate 
     a lawsuit to protect its interests in Idaho land designated 
     as public; and
       Whereas, roadless areas prevent access to the forests of 
     Idaho and negatively affect forest health by preventing 
     intervention in disease, insect infestations and fire 
     suppression. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, that the 
     Congress of the United States is urged to pass legislation 
     negating any Presidential Executive Order President Clinton 
     may issue regarding additional defacto wilderness and 
     instructing the United States Forest Service and the Bureau 
     of Land Management to maintain roads and access into the 
     public lands in Idaho. Be it further
       Resolved that the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed 
     to forward a copy of this Memorial to the President of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 
     Congress, and the congressional delegation representing the 
     State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-493. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to extending the deadline on the 
     notice of intent to solicit comments on two draft 
     environmental impact statements, one set of draft rules and a 
     draft environmental assessment; to the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources.

                     Senate Joint Memorial No. 105

       Whereas, on October 19, 1999, the United States Forest 
     Service announced a vast ``rulemaking process to propose the 
     protection of the remaining roadless areas within the 
     National Forest System.'' 64 FR 56306. This rulemaking 
     purportedly includes two draft environmental impact 
     statements, at least one set of draft rules, and a draft 
     environmental assessment; and
       Whereas, the Notice of Intent (NOI) solicits comments ``on 
     the scope of the analysis that should be conducted'' and ``on 
     the identification of alternatives to the proposal'' that 
     will be set out in this multitude of documents. The NOI then 
     provides prospective commentators with slightly more than 
     sixty days to comment on this enormous and poorly defined 
     proposal. The NOI is an unacceptable affront to the promise 
     of meaningful public participation that is the centerpiece of 
     the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and
       Whereas, more than forty million acres of land in the West 
     could be affected by the actions contemplated in the NOI. A 
     permanent moratorium on Forest Service road development will 
     have a devastating impact on timber communities in the West. 
     The proposed moratorium will destroy attempts to develop 
     recreational economies in the West and deny access to huge 
     areas of the West to all but the able-bodied. The sum, the 
     moratorium will deny thousands of citizens the opportunity to 
     use, enjoy and benefit from the land; and
       Whereas, the process used by the Forest Service to consider 
     such a potentially severe decision must reflect absolute 
     fairness and deliberation. The NOI demonstrates neither of 
     those traits. No specific proposals are identified. No 
     preliminary findings are referenced; and
       Whereas, these failures violate one of NEPA's primary 
     objectives of encouraging and facilitating ``public 
     involvement in decisions which affect the quality of the 
     human environment.'' 40 CFR 1500.2(d); and
       Whereas, the NOI states that it ``initiates the scoping 
     process.'' 64 FR 56307. However, the NOI does not identify 
     ``the significant issues related to [the] proposed action,'' 
     as is required by federal regulations. 40 CFR 1501.7. The NOI 
     does does not encourage ``the participation of affected 
     federal, state and local agencies'' and the regulations 
     implementing NEPA anticipate. 40 CFR 1501.7(a)(1); and
       Whereas, the ambiguity and confusion that characterize the 
     NOI are compounded by the fact that the comment period is so 
     brief. Title II 40 CFR 1501.8(b)(1)(i)-(viii) specifically 
     set out considerations that the Forest Service should be 
     using in determining the time limits for soliciting comments 
     on the NOI.
       ``(b) The agency may:
       (1) Consider the following factors in determining time 
     limits:
       (i) Potential for environmental harm.
       (ii) Size of the proposed action.
       (iii) State of the art of analytic techniques.
       (iv) Degree of public need for the proposed action, 
     including the consequences of delay.
       (v) Number of persons and agencies affected.
       (vi) Degree to which relevant information is known and if 
     not known the time required for obtaining it.
       (vii) Degree to which the action is controversial.
       (viii) Other time limits imposed on the agency by law, 
     regulations or executive order.''; and
       Whereas, it should be obvious that all of these factors 
     support a careful, deliberate, consideration of the 
     environmental impacts of the proposed permanent moratorium. 
     The expedited deadline in the NOI is completely inconsistent 
     with 40 CFR 1501.8(b); and
       Whereas, in an October 28, 1999, letter to forest service 
     managers, Mike Dombeck, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service 
     suggested that the Forest Service is attempting to complete 
     the environmental analysis of a permanent moratorium in a 
     ``short time frame.'' The U.S. Forest Service should not be 
     trying to ramrod a decision that will shut down forty million 
     acres of western lands into ``a short time frame.'' You 
     should be honoring the spirit, not to mention the clear 
     mandate, of NEPA by providing meaningful opportunity for 
     public participation and careful, principled, environmental 
     analysis; and
       Whereas, the closing date for public comments was set for 
     December 20, 1999. With decisions on the management of over 
     forty million acres of land in the West at stake, the time is 
     clearly not adequate time for officials to thoroughly review 
     and analyze the proposal, and to provide the Forest Service 
     with informed and substantive comment. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives concurring therein, that we respectfully 
     request that the U.S. Forest Service extend the deadline to 
     submit comments on the NOI by one hundred twenty days. An 
     expedited consideration of this request is appreciated. Be it 
     further
       Resolved that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is 
     hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this 
     Memorial to the President of the United States, the Chief of 
     the United States Forest Service, President of the Senate and 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress, and 
     the congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho 
     in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-494. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to a United States Forest Service 
     proposed rule regarding forest service land and resource 
     management planning; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

[[Page S3607]]

                     Senate Joint Memorial No. 106

       Whereas, the United States Forest Service (USFS) published 
     in the Federal Register on October 5, 1999, a proposed rule 
     regarding forest service land and resource management 
     planning; and
       Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Idaho advocates 
     improvements to the forest planning regulations; and
       Whereas, the USFS needs to simplify, clarify and otherwise 
     improve the planning process as well as reduce the burdensome 
     and costly procedural requirements, and strengthen 
     collaborative relationships with the public and other 
     governmental entities; and
       Whereas, the USFS organic act calls for multiple use in 
     managing the national forests with meaningful public input; 
     and
       Whereas, the proposed rules are inconsistent with the 
     legislative direction for multiple uses and high-level 
     sustained yield outputs of the renewable timber resource; and
       Whereas, timber production must remain a primary use in the 
     National Forest System; and
       Whereas, the proposed rules would alter the multiple use 
     and sustained yield mandate prescribed by Congress. Moreover, 
     they reverse the multiple use priorities set by Congress by 
     subordinating timber production to achievement of biological 
     diversity and similar ecosystem goals; and
       Whereas, no other law provides authority for the Forest 
     Service to alter the course of management and primary 
     purposes set by Congress for management of the National 
     Forest System; and
       Whereas, the proposed rules lack commitment to carrying out 
     economic multiple uses; and
       Whereas, the proposed rules fail to provide direction on 
     which plan revisions and amendments require environmental 
     impact statements. Procedures and standards should be revised 
     for significant plan amendments; and
       Whereas, the proposed rules provide no effective date for 
     the adoption of an amendment or plan revision. Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives concurring therein, that we request the 
     United States Forest Service not move forward with final rule 
     based on the October 5, 1999, proposal. Ecological 
     sustainability must start looking at current conditions of 
     the national forests and determining the desired future 
     conditions, which should be healthy forests for the American 
     people to use and enjoy. There should be aggressive, active 
     management, rather than passive management, to restore the 
     health of all land identified as being high risk to insect 
     and disease infestation and/or catastrophic wildfire. 
     Prohibiting management puts our forests at risk to insects, 
     diseases and fire. These proposed rules will cause greater 
     damage to our forests in the long run. Be it further
       Resolved, that the Legislature of the State of Idaho 
     encourages the agency to readdress its entire approach to 
     ecosystem management. The agency needs to streamline and 
     clarify the forest planning and decision-making processes, 
     strengthen relationships with the public, ensure long-term 
     sustainability of forest ecosystems, and promote adaptive 
     management. The proposed rules cannot accomplish these 
     critical goals in its current form. Ecosystem management and 
     forest planning cannot be successful if the process becomes 
     the goal. Ecosystem management must instead be considered a 
     tool to accomplish the goals which are set in law and through 
     the development of forest plans. Be it further
       Resolved that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is 
     hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this 
     Memorial to the President of the United States, President of 
     the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 
     Congress, and the congressional delegation representing the 
     State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-495. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to the Bureau of Land Management 
     actions relating to grazing in Owyhee County; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                     Senate Joint Memorial No. 107

       Whereas, a developing scenario in Owyhee County has been 
     brought to the attention of the Legislature, and it is 
     appropriate that public attention be drawn to this situation 
     as representative of other similar events occurring in Idaho; 
     and
       Whereas, the Bureau of Land Management is charged with 
     management of lands in Owyhee County known as the Cliffs 
     Allotment; and
       Whereas, the BLM has notified holders of grazing permits in 
     the Cliffs Allotment that the grazing season will be reduced 
     by two and one-half months which is a 53% reduction in the 
     grazing allotment; and
       Whereas, the area is managed to meet a requirement of six 
     inch stubble height at the end of the grazing season, a goal 
     which the BLM says has not been met despite photographic 
     evidence and independent monitoring to the contrary; and
       Whereas, federal law requires one year's notice before any 
     significant reduction in grazing is ordered, a requirement 
     which has clearly not been met in this case; and
       Whereas, a reduction of the size now contemplated would 
     effectively put five ranching families, with a long history 
     in the Cliffs Allotment and evidence of management efforts 
     which have actually improved the conditions of the allotment, 
     out of business; and
       Whereas, the BLM is acting with callous disregard of the 
     local economy, the law, and the best interests of the land 
     and the people of Idaho; and
       Whereas, the BLM must be brought to recognize and consider 
     all of the interests which are indigenous to the locale 
     including the legitimate goals of citizens who make their 
     living off the land. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives concurring therein, that we join together 
     with the citizens of Owyhee County in their grievance against 
     the untenable action of the Bureau of Land Management in 
     limiting grazing permits with a reduction of the grazing 
     season by two and one-half months. Further, we urge 
     thoughtful reconsideration not only of this decision, but the 
     accumulating body of management decisions made by the Bureau 
     of Land Management which are resulting in further reductions 
     in the resources available to Idahoans who live off the land. 
     Be it further
       Resolved that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is 
     hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this 
     Memorial to the Director of the Idaho Office of the Bureau of 
     Land Management, the President of the Senate and the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives of Congress, and the 
     congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in 
     the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-496. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to agreements made at the Idaho-
     Canada Summit regarding agriculture; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                       House Joint Memorial No. 9

       Whereas, on January 19 and 20, 2000, an agricultural summit 
     was held in Boise, Idaho, involving representatives from the 
     governments of the United States and Canada, the provinces of 
     Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, and the states of Idaho, 
     Oregon, Washington and Montana, and representatives from the 
     beef and potato industries of those provinces and states; and
       Whereas, through discussions, and the exchange of 
     information and briefings from government and industry, a 
     dialogue was initiated and consensus reached in certain areas 
     of mutual concern; and
       Whereas, both the Alberta and Idaho conference attendees 
     agreed that they would communicate points of agreement to 
     their national governments through a formal communication, 
     which this memorial embodies and constitutes. Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, that we 
     support the agreements made at the Idaho-Canada Summit, and 
     urge the United States Congress and the United States trade 
     representative to meet with the Canadian government to review 
     and reconcile their statistics concerning the cattle and beef 
     industry, so that the industries on both sides of the border 
     have access to accurate, comparable and timely data. Be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the states and provinces involved in the 
     Pacific Northwest Cattle Project meet and develop a 
     consistent set of cattle statistics and a single methodology 
     for gathering and reporting these statistics, and also 
     improve communication through regional meetings, tours and 
     exchanges. Be it further
       Resolved, That the United States Department of Agriculture 
     and Agriculture Canada work towards the removal of federal 
     certificates and federal endorsement requirements for the 
     movement of cattle between Canada and the United States 
     within the Northwest region. Be it further
       Resolved, That the states and provinces involved should be 
     encouraged to expand the Pacific Northwest Cattle Project for 
     feeder cattle from six months to twelve months access and 
     expand the project to include other classes of cattle. Be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed 
     to forward a copy of this Memorial to the President of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 
     Congress, and the congressional delegation representing the 
     State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-497. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to shipments of potatoes between 
     the United States and Canada; to the Committee on Finance.

                       House Joint Memorial No. 8

       Whereas, on January 19 and 20, 2000, an agricultural summit 
     was held in Boise, Idaho, involving representatives from the 
     governments of the United States and Canada, the provinces of 
     Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the states of Idaho, 
     Oregon, Washington and Montana, and representatives from the 
     beef and potato industries of those provinces and states;
       Whereas, through discussions, the exchange of information 
     and briefings from government, industry and university 
     personnel, a dialogue was initiated and consensus reached in 
     certain areas of mutual concern;
       Whereas, both the Alberta and Idaho conference attendees 
     agreed that they would

[[Page S3608]]

     communicate points of agreement to their national governments 
     through a formal communication, which this memorial embodies 
     and constitutes. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, That we 
     support the agreements made at the Idaho-Canada Summit, and 
     urge the United States Congress and the United States trade 
     representative to urge the government of Canada to remove the 
     prohibition on bulk shipment of potatoes between the United 
     States and Canada; and to recognize that United States 
     Department of Agriculture marketing orders should be 
     considered as a quality assurance measure and not as a 
     technical trade barrier. Be it further
       Resolved, That the United States government should make 
     every effort to quickly harmonize and equalize laboratory 
     testing of potatoes so that there is mutual acceptance of 
     each country's respective test results. Be it further
       Resolved, That the dialogue initiated during these meetings 
     should be continued through further meetings of smaller 
     working groups comprised of industry, state and provincial 
     representatives and that their recommendations should be 
     given great weight by their respective national governments. 
     Be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed 
     to forward a copy of this Memorial to the President of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 
     Congress, and the congressional delegation representing the 
     state of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-498. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to full deductibility from 
     federal income taxes of health insurance premiums for 
     individuals, the self-employed small groups; to the Committee 
     on Finance.

                     Senate Joint Memorial No. 108

       Whereas, the Health Insurance Premiums Task Force was 
     established to identify, explore and address causes of the 
     alarming increase in the costs of health insurance; and
       Whereas, in the course of its examination the task force 
     received extensive information, data and testimony from 
     consumers, employers and representation of the health care 
     industry, including carriers, agents, pharmaceutical 
     manufacturers, pharmacists, hospitals, physicians and other 
     health care providers; and
       Whereas, the task force found that federal and state 
     reforms and mandates, including those requiring guaranteed 
     issue of insurance policies in the individual and small group 
     insurance markets, have created a segment of high risk 
     individuals who must be insured, causing the entire 
     population, and particularly the healthy, to pay much more 
     for health insurance; and
       Whereas, the task force further found that the dramatic 
     increase in premium rates has driven expanding numbers of 
     healthy individuals into the ranks of the uninsured, 
     resulting in even greater costs to insurers to provide 
     required coverage for the high risk unhealthy population, and 
     greater costs to the remaining insured population; and
       Whereas, the task force also determined that costs to 
     provide health care and treatment for uninsured individuals 
     is another significant factor in the high cost of health 
     insurance; and
       Whereas, the task force concluded that among other possible 
     solutions, providing full deductibility from federal income 
     taxes of health insurances premiums for individuals, the 
     self-employed and small employers would bring the healthy 
     back into the insured market, lower costs to employers who 
     must provide coverage, reduce the uninsured population, and 
     restore a balance of risk in the market that will make health 
     insurance more affordable and accessible. Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives concurring therein, That federal 
     legislation be enacted providing full deductibility from 
     federal income taxes of health insurance premiums for 
     individuals, the self-employed and small groups. Be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is 
     hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this 
     memorial to the President and Vice President of the United 
     States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of Congress, the congressional 
     delegation representing the state of Idaho in the Congress of 
     the United States, the President of the Senate and the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives of each State 
     Legislature, and to the presidential candidates.
                                  ____

       POM-499. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois relative to Social 
     Security; to the Committee on Finance.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 32

       Whereas, Social Security provides American workers and 
     their families with universal, contributory, wage-related, 
     inflation-adjusted benefits in the event of the retirement, 
     disability or death of a wage earner; and
       Whereas, Social Security is more than a retirement program, 
     it is a family program; without Social Security, about 54 
     percent of the population aged 65 and over, and more than 15 
     million beneficiaries overall, would be living in poverty; 
     about 98 percent of children under age 18 can count on 
     monthly cash benefits if a working parent dies; seven and a 
     half million Americans with disabilities currently benefit 
     from the program; and
       Whereas, throughout its existence as a federal program, 
     Social Security's trustees and administrators have carefully 
     modified the benefit and financing structure to ensure the 
     program's viability in light of demographic and economic 
     developments; and
       Whereas, congressional leaders and the President are 
     seeking to engage the American people in a dialogue about 
     Social Security that could lead toward enactment of 
     bipartisan legislation ensuring Social Security's long-term 
     solvency; and
       Whereas, Social Security is not in crisis and, without any 
     changes, could pay full benefits until 2032 and 75 percent of 
     benefits thereafter based on the most recent projections of 
     the Social Security Board of Trustees; and
       Whereas, the long-term solvency of Social Security can be 
     ensured for future generations with measured and timely 
     adjustments to the program made by Congress; and
       Whereas, the federal Medicare program provides health care 
     for the nation's citizens who qualify for Medicare benefits; 
     and
       Whereas, Medicare benefits are the subject of reform 
     discussions in the United States Congress; and
       Whereas, participants in the federal Medicare program do 
     not currently enjoy full coverage for prescription 
     medication; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the ninety-first general 
     assembly of the State of Illinois, the House of 
     Representatives concurring herein, That the Congress of the 
     United States of America is hereby petitioned to preserve 
     Social Security as a contributory social insurance system 
     where risk is pooled among all workers and participation is 
     mandatory within a covered group; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Congress of the United States of America 
     be urged to ensure the long-term financial viability of 
     Social Security, as described above, and restore public 
     confidence in the future of the program; and be it further
       Resolved, That Social Security must continue as a federal 
     program, having a unified program allows for the portability 
     of benefits, disability and family support protections, and 
     maximum retirement security for low and moderate wage 
     earners; and be it further
       Resolved, That we urge the Congress of the United States of 
     America to provide full benefit coverage for prescription 
     medication under the federal Medicare program; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
     delivered to the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and 
     each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-500. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of West Virginia relative to the Internal 
     Revenue Code; to the Committee on Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 68

       Whereas, The State of West Virginia has an aggregate 
     unfunded liability in its pension programs of some four 
     billion dollars; and
       Whereas, The Governor of West Virginia has proposed to the 
     West Virginia Legislature and the West Virginia Legislature 
     has enacted Senate Bill 175 providing for the issuance of 
     pension bonds to fund the retirement plans of the State of 
     West Virginia and to fix the amortization of the current, 
     unfunded liability; and
       Whereas, If all of the bonds to be issued pursuant to this 
     legislation could be issued as ``tax-exempt'' bonds, so that 
     the income received therefrom by the holders of said bonds 
     were exempt from federal income taxes, then the bonds could 
     be issued at substantially lower interest rates than they 
     will pay as taxable bonds, resulting in the savings of tens 
     of millions of dollars to the citizens of West Virginia; and
       Whereas, In this area of large federal budgetary surpluses, 
     it seems reasonable that the United States of America could 
     take this modest action to assist West Virginia, whose 
     citizens, while being patriotic Americans, still enjoy lower 
     per capita incomes than do the citizens of most other sister 
     states; therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia: That the West 
     Virginia Legislature does hereby respectfully request that 
     the United States Congress will enact appropriate legislation 
     to amend the Internal Revenue Code to permit the pension 
     bonds to be issued and sold as ``tax-exempt'' bonds, so that 
     the income received from said bonds by the holders thereof 
     would be exempt from federal income taxes; and, be it
       Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the West Virginia House 
     of Delegates is directed to forward copies of this resolution 
     to the Clerk of the United States Senate and the Clerk of the 
     United States House of Representatives and to the members of 
     the West Virginia Congressional Delegation including The 
     Honorable Robert C. Byrd, The Honorable John D. Rockefeller, 
     IV, The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan, The Honorable Robert E. 
     Wise, Jr. and The Honorable Nick Joe Rahall, II.
                                  ____


[[Page S3609]]

       POM-501. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to Mortgage 
     Revenue Bonds; to the Committee on Finance.

                       Senate Resolution No. 139

       Whereas, State and local governments sell tax-exempt 
     Mortgage Revenue Bonds (MRBs) and pass on the interest 
     savings in discount mortgages to low income first-time home 
     buyers for rehabilitation and energy improvements for 
     existing homes, and to older home owners to use to draw on 
     their home equity for living costs; and
       Whereas, Each state's annual supply of MRBs is grouped 
     under a more than 12-year-old limit with tax-exempt bonds for 
     industrial development, public-private partnerships for 
     municipal services, redevelopment of blighted areas, and 
     student loans. This limit is $50 per state resident and has 
     never been adjusted for inflation. Last session, the federal 
     Omnibus Appropriations Act contained partial, phased-in cap 
     relief, but it does not take full effect until 2007; and
       Whereas, Since 1986, when the limit was enacted, the 
     economy has doubled in size, home prices for first-time 
     buyers have nearly doubled, and inflation has increased by 50 
     percent. As a result, MRBs have lost nearly 50 percent of 
     their purchasing power. Moreover, the bond limit is 
     curtailing Michigan's ability to meet its housing needs; and
       Whereas, More than 67 percent of low and moderate income 
     renters desperately want to own their own homes. Yet, 
     millions of teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and 
     industrial, service, and agriculture workers are denied the 
     opportunity of home ownership because their incomes are 
     insufficient; and
       Whereas, MRBs have made first-time home ownership possible 
     for 2 million low-income families, about 125,000 every year. 
     A typical MRB mortgage saves as much as $100 a month in 
     comparison to a conventional mortgage. MRBs also provide low-
     income workers with down payment and closing cost assistance; 
     and
       Whereas, Raising the bond limit would cost just over $1 
     billion of the $143 billion budget surplus the Congressional 
     Budget Office projects over the next 5 years. These 
     additional bonds will create thousands of jobs and generate 
     billions in wages and tax revenues, paying back a significant 
     portion of their cost to the United States Department of 
     Treasury; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of 
     the United States to enact legislation to increase the state 
     ceiling on Mortgage Revenue Bonds and index it in accordance 
     with the Consumer Price Index; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, 
     the President of the United States Senate, and members of the 
     Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-502. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia relative to protecting senior 
     assets from liquidation to meet the eligibility requirements 
     for federal medical and long-term care benefits; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 163

       Whereas, throughout our nation's history, older generations 
     of Americans have contributed greatly to the prosperity of 
     the United States; and
       Whereas, older Americans have always recognized the value 
     of the economic freedoms that our forefathers fought to 
     ensure; and
       Whereas, older Americans have always been leaders in the 
     realms of business and industry, serving as mentors and 
     teachers to ensure that younger generations would have the 
     knowledge and skills to carry on; and
       Whereas, throughout their toil and enduring commitment to 
     the principles of freedom, older Americans have laid the 
     foundation for the economic prosperity and financial security 
     of all Americans; and
       Whereas, during the early years of the twentieth century, 
     the current generation of older Americans have worked hard to 
     ensure that their families and communities could continue to 
     enjoy this financial security for generations to come; and
       Whereas, they endured the struggle of the Great Depression, 
     undergoing countless hardships as they rebuilt this nation, 
     by the sweat of their brows, both economically and 
     spiritually; and
       Whereas, they fought in wars to preserve the liberties that 
     have enabled our nation to earn its place as the economic 
     leader in the world; and
       Whereas, throughout those hardships, the current generation 
     of older Americans learned to appreciate the importance of 
     preserving assets--the homes, land, durable goods, and ``nest 
     eggs'' they had managed to hold onto despite the economic 
     challenges they had faced; and
       Whereas, today, these personal assets help them maintain 
     the dignity, independence, and health they so cherish as 
     Americans; and
       Whereas, with nursing home care now costing an average of 
     $40,000 to $50,000 per year, long-term care expenses can have 
     a catastrophic effect on families, wiping out a lifetime of 
     savings; and
       Whereas, steps need to be taken to inform the public about 
     the financial risks posed by rapidly increasing long-term 
     care costs and about the need for families to plan for their 
     long-term care; and
       Whereas, the federal laws governing the rules of 
     qualification for federal medical and long-term care benefits 
     force many older Americans to liquidate their assets, 
     including their homes and life savings; and
       Whereas, these confiscatory policies impose unjust and 
     inequitable burdens on older Americans who have contributed 
     so much to our economic security; and
       Whereas, widespread use of private long-term care insurance 
     has the potential to protect families from the catastrophic 
     costs of long-term care services while, at the same time, 
     easing the burden on the federal government to provide 
     medical and long-term care benefits; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, 
     That the Congress of the United States be urged to protect 
     senior assets from liquidation to meet the eligibility 
     requirements for federal medical and long-term care benefits; 
     and be it
       Resolved further, That the Congress of the United States be 
     urged to ensure that persons who purchase long-term care 
     insurance policies will be able to protect their assets equal 
     in value to the policy purchased; and be it
       Resolved finally, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, the President of the United States 
     Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional 
     Delegation in order that they may be apprised of the sense of 
     the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.
                                  ____

       POM-503. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to increased Medicare 
     reimbursements; to the Committee on Finance.

                     Senate Joint Memorial No. 109

       Whereas, alarming increases in the costs of health care and 
     health insurance have caused a health care crisis of epidemic 
     proportions;
       Whereas, the Idaho Health Insurance Premiums Task Force was 
     established to identify, explore and address the causes of 
     this crisis; and
       Whereas, in the course of its examination the task force 
     received extensive information, data and testimony from 
     consumers, employers, and representatives of the health care 
     industry, including carriers, agents, pharmaceutical 
     manufacturers, pharmacists, hospitals, physicians and other 
     health care providers; and
       Whereas, the task force found that among the factors 
     contributing to inflated health care and insurance costs are 
     an aging population, new and more expensive technologies, 
     advancements in drug therapy and greater reliance upon costly 
     designer pharmaceuticals, as well as increasing consumer 
     demand, utilization and expectations with respect to health 
     care services; and
       Whereas, the task force further determined that 
     reimbursements to providers for health care services 
     furnished to patients receiving Medicare are significantly 
     below the actual costs to the provider to furnish these 
     health care services; and
       Whereas, providers are finding it necessary to recoup 
     losses incurred to serve Medicare patients from other 
     sources, including shifting costs to non-Medicare patients, 
     which leads to higher claims expenses to insurers and 
     increased premium rates to the insured; and
       Whereas, some providers are no longer taking Medicare 
     patients because of the providers' inability to recover their 
     costs, thus reducing provider availability and limiting 
     access to health care for many who are most in need of health 
     care services. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives concurring therein, That federal 
     legislation be enacted to increase Medicare reimbursements to 
     levels allowing providers to fully recover the actual costs 
     of providing necessary health care services to Medicare 
     eligible patients. Be it further
       Resolved, That the members of the Idaho Legislature 
     respectfully suggest that if the President and Congress are 
     sincere in their resolve to find solutions to the health care 
     crisis they should start by funding Medicare at appropriate 
     levels. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is 
     hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this 
     memorial to the President of the United States, to the 
     President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of Congress, to the congressional delegation 
     representing the state of Idaho in the Congress of the United 
     States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of each State Legislature, and to 
     the presidential candidates.
                                  ____

       POM-504. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to the Coeur d'Alene Basin; to 
     the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                     Senate Joint Memorial No. 111

       Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection Agency 
     (EPA) continues to engage in unilateral actions regarding 
     efforts to expand the existing twenty-one square mile 
     Superfund site to include the entire 1,500 square mile Coeur 
     d'Alene River Basin; and
       Whereas, the EPA staff members working on Coeur d'Alene 
     Basin issues continue to disregard the views of Idaho's 
     citizens and elected officials; and
       Whereas, the EPA has already spent many millions of dollars 
     in the Coeur d'Alene

[[Page S3610]]

     Basin outside the existing Superfund site without any 
     meaningful cleanup to date; and
       Whereas, the EPA has undertaken the steps to complete a 
     Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) even though 
     the basin is not listed on the national priorities list; and
       Whereas, the state of Idaho has been previously granted the 
     leadership role in the Human Health Risk Assessment portion 
     of the RI/FS; and
       Whereas, the EPA efforts to bifurcate the RI/FS process 
     appear detrimental to current settlement discussions among 
     all of the parties; and
       Whereas, the state of Idaho, the Governor and the Director 
     of the Department of Environmental Quality, have taken the 
     leadership role in development of a plan to remediate the 
     problems in the basin and have actively gained support of 
     local units of government, local citizens, tribal members and 
     responsible parties. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives concurring therein, That we strongly 
     support efforts by the Idaho Department of Environmental 
     Quality to assert and maintain the leadership role in 
     designing and implementing a solution to the multiple 
     dilemmas in the Coeur d' Alene Basin. Be it further
       Resolved, That we request the Environmental Protection 
     Agency to use its authority to support efforts by the Idaho 
     Department of Environmental Quality to resolve this problem 
     and to refrain from any strategic delays, unilateral 
     decisions or media manipulation. Be it further
       Resolved, That we request a letter be sent from the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to the 
     Region 10 office of the EPA instructing the region to fully 
     support and cooperate with the Governor of the State of Idaho 
     and the Director of the Idaho Department of Environmental 
     Quality in reaching a settlement in these matters. Be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is 
     hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this 
     Memorial to the President of the United States, to the 
     Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of Congress, and the congressional 
     delegation representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of 
     the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-505. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Virginia relative to the Southern 
     Dairy Compact and the federal Clean Water Act; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 255

       Whereas, the dairy industry is an essential agricultural 
     activity of the South, and dairy farms and associated 
     suppliers, marketers, processors, and retailers are an 
     integral component of the region's economy; and
       Whereas, the ability of dairy producers to provide a 
     stable, local supply of pure, wholesome milk is a matter of 
     great importance to the health and welfare of the 
     Commonwealth and region; and
       Whereas, milk is Virginia's number two livestock commodity 
     in terms of cash receipts, and dairy farms are an integral 
     part of the Commonwealth's rural communities; and
       Whereas, the United States has lost two-thirds of its dairy 
     farms since 1975; and
       Whereas, because of the perishable nature of milk and the 
     fact that milk production is capital intensive and generates 
     a low profit margin based on equity, dairy farmers are 
     uniquely vulnerable to fluctuations in market prices; and
       Whereas, the price of milk dropped forty percent on one 
     month during the spring of 1999; and
       Whereas, recognizing the interstate character of the 
     southern dairy industry, Virginia and several other southern 
     states have enacted the Southern Dairy Compact, for the 
     purpose of taking such steps as are necessary to ensure the 
     continued viability of dairy farming in the South, and to 
     assure consumers of an adequate, local supply of pure and 
     wholesome milk; and
       Whereas, Congress has not yet approved the Southern Dairy 
     Compact; and
       Whereas, the federal Clean Water Act requires states to 
     develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), which must be 
     approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency 
     (EPA); and
       Whereas, TMDLs are written plans and analyses established 
     to ensure that a particular impaired water body will attain 
     and maintain water quality standards; and
       Whereas, the EPA may require that Virginia's TMDLs impose 
     requirements on farmers to control nonpoint source pollution; 
     and
       Whereas, both the failure of Congress to approve the 
     Southern Dairy Compact and the threat of environmental 
     regulation of farms add to the uncertain future of dairy 
     farming in Virginia; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, 
     That Congress be urged to protect Virginia's dairy industry 
     by approving the Southern Dairy Compact and ensuring that the 
     federal Clean Water Act is implemented in a way that does not 
     place an undue burden on farmers; and, be it
       Resolved further, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, the President of the United States 
     Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional 
     Delegation in order that they may be apprised of the sense of 
     the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.
                                  ____

       POM-506. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to water quality goals; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                      House Joint Memorial No. 10

       Whereas, the state of Idaho is fully committed to achieving 
     and maintaining water quality for public use and recreation 
     and the protection and aquatic ecosystem; and
       Whereas, substantial progress has already been made toward 
     this objective nationwide through the investment of almost 
     one trillion dollars by the municipal and industrial sectors 
     of the economy and an effective federal, state and local 
     partnership with the private sector, in which the states have 
     primary and lead authority; and
       Whereas, the state's direct experience demonstrates that 
     achievement of water quality goals depends upon the use of 
     sound science and quality of data, an interative approach to 
     water quality management, a commitment to accommodating 
     economic development, and careful investment of limited 
     resources to maximize environmental benefits, and broad-based 
     public support; and
       Whereas, the state's direct experience also demonstrates 
     that the remaining water quality challenges are complex, 
     difficult and site-specific, requiring tailored solutions, 
     better science and monitoring data; and
       Whereas, the state has many effective regulatory and 
     cooperative programs underway that are achieving better and 
     greater protection of water quality that can be achieved with 
     a prescriptive federal approach; and
       Whereas, Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, pertaining 
     to total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), is but one of the many 
     tools that the state and local government have to assure 
     effective water quality management and is not always the most 
     efficient and effective; and
       Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 
     recently proposed TMDL regulations exceed their authority; 
     impose upon the states many new prescriptive, costly, 
     unattainable and often unnecessary requirements; position the 
     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to arbitrarily take over 
     state program activities; and halt economic development in 
     many waters far into the future; and
       Whereas, the proposed regulations impose ``unfunded 
     mandates'' on the state agencies; and
       Whereas, the proposed regulations circumvent the state-
     based best management practices approach under Section 319 of 
     the Clean Water Act to managing nonpoint source runoff from 
     land-based activities, such as forestry, and superimpose a 
     federal regulatory program on millions of landowners, 
     reversing more than two decades of precedent under the Clean 
     Water Act; and
       Whereas, the proposed regulations contain inconsistent and 
     vague terminology that will lead to more state and federal 
     litigation and misallocation of resources while stifling 
     creativity and development of more cost-effective 
     approaches at the state level. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, That the 
     United States Environmental Protection Agency should, in 
     partnership with the states, reconsider and significantly 
     revise its TMDL proposed regulations and guidance, while 
     taking a more reasonable approach that:
       1. Recognizes the limits of the TMDL statutory tool and 
     relies on the many effective approaches states have 
     undertaken under the Clean Water Act and other statutory 
     authorities in partnership with local government, federal 
     agencies and the private sector;
       2. Uses Section 303(e) rather than Section 303(d) to 
     inventory water quality generally and establishes a more 
     focused basis for listing of waters under Section 303(d);
       3. Provides states the ability to deal, in the most 
     reasonable, cost-effective manner possible, with complex or 
     difficult water quality situations, such as where legacy 
     pollutants, air deposition and nonpoint sources contribute to 
     impairment;
       4. Provides fair and workable procedures for issuing new or 
     renewed permits, which allow flexibility in making reasonable 
     progress in reducing loadings, without imposing unnecessary 
     restrictions stifling economic growth;
       5. Postpones the April 2000 listing of 303(d) waters for 
     which TMDLs will be required until two years after 
     promulgation of changes to the existing regulations;
       6. Is performance based, enabling states to take 
     alternative ``functionally equivalent'' approaches through 
     regulatory and other means states deem appropriate so long as 
     their water quality standards will be achieved; and
       7. Focuses the federal government on the priority need for 
     better funding of state monitoring and watershed technical 
     assistance. Be it further
       Resolved That we request the congressional authorizing 
     committees and other interested committees to conduct 
     comprehensive hearings on the proposed rules and the Section 
     303(d) program in general, and ensure that a comprehensive 
     analysis of the economic and program impacts of the entire 
     TMDL program is completed; and be it further

[[Page S3611]]

       Resolved That due to the continued proliferation of 
     lawsuits, court orders and consent decrees that are placing 
     an onerous burden on many states, the U.S. Environmental 
     Protection Agency should support state efforts to renegotiate 
     those requirements based on improvements made to the national 
     program. Be it further
       Resolved That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed 
     to forward a copy of this Memorial to the President of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 
     Congress, and the congressional delegation representing the 
     state of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-507. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Idaho relative to the establishment of an Idaho 
     State Veterans Cemetery; to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 46

       Whereas, Idaho is the only state in the nation without a 
     state or federally-supported cemetery for its wartime 
     veterans; and
       Whereas, Thirty-two states currently have, or are planning, 
     the construction of a state cemetery; and
       Whereas, Idaho World War II veterans are dying at an 
     alarming rate and deserve to be laid to rest in a field of 
     honor befitting their sacrifices; and
       Whereas, the federal government will commit funding for one 
     hundred percent of planning, construction and support 
     equipment costs for the establishment of a state veterans 
     cemetery for Idaho; and
       Whereas, the state of Idaho is obligated to provide the 
     land and perpetual funding for operation and maintenance of 
     the cemetery; and
       Whereas, a land donor has committed sufficient acreage in 
     the Hidden Hollow subdivision of Boise, Idaho, located north 
     of Dry Creek Cemetery, west of old Highway 55; and for the 
     purposes of applicable taxes, the real property, when 
     accepted by the state of Idaho, shall be considered a gift 
     with the understanding that the property shall revert to the 
     donor if a veterans cemetery is not constructed on such 
     property; and
       Whereas, funding for the continued operation and 
     maintenance of the state veterans cemetery shall be derived 
     from veterans motor vehicle license plates; and
       Whereas, preliminary estimates gained through proposed bids 
     for operation and maintenance of the cemetery are less than 
     one hundred thousand dollars annually. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, That we 
     support the establishment and perpetual maintenance and 
     operation of an Idaho state veterans cemetery. Be it further
       Resolved That it is the intent of the Legislature that two 
     hundred thousand dollars be appropriated for fiscal year 2001 
     for cemetery design, and that such amount be reimbursed to 
     the state of Idaho by the federal Veterans Administration. Be 
     it further
       Resolved That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed 
     to forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of 
     Congress, and the congressional delegation representing the 
     state of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-508. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington relative to the National World War II 
     Veterans' Memorial; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
       Whereas, The people of the State of Washington, have 
     dedicated a wonderful World War II memorial to honor our 
     committed citizens who lived and died through this period of 
     history to ensure freedom and prosperity to future 
     generations; and
       Whereas, The people of the State of Washington wish to 
     participate with the Congress at the national level to add 
     their sincere thanks to all American veterans of World War II 
     for their courage, patriotism, and sacrifice;
       Now, therefore, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that 
     the Congress accept the support of the people of the State of 
     Washington for the National World War II Veterans' Memorial, 
     a most well-deserved and worthy project.
       Be it resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of 
     the United States, the President of the United States Senate, 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member 
     of Congress from the State of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-509. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Cincinnati, Ohio relative to redefinition of Federal Aviation 
     Administration district boundaries; to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-510. A resolution adopted by the Counsel of the City of 
     Cincinnati, Ohio relative to implementation of voluntary 
     noise mitigation measures at the Kenton County Airport; to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-511. A resolution adopted by the Counsel of the City of 
     Cincinnati, Ohio relative to implementation of noise 
     mitigation measures in historic structures, places of 
     worship, education and public accommodation in the Ohio/
     Kentucky/Indiana region; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.
                                  ____

       POM-512. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois relative to submission to 
     the states for their ratification an amendment to the 
     Constitution to restrict the ability of the Supreme Court to 
     mandate any state or political subdivision of the state to 
     levy or increase taxes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                       Senate Resolution No. 216

       Whereas, Unfunded mandates by the United States Congress 
     and the executive branch of the federal government 
     increasingly strain already tight state government budgets if 
     the states are to comply; and
       Whereas, To further compound this assault on state 
     revenues, federal district courts, with the blessing of the 
     United States Supreme Court, continue to order states to levy 
     or increase taxes to supplement their budgets to comply with 
     federal mandates; and
       Whereas, The court's actions are an intrusion into a 
     legitimate legislative debate over state spending priorities 
     and not a response to a constitutional directive; and
       Whereas, The Constitution of the United States of America 
     does not allow, nor do the states need, judicial intervention 
     requiring tax levies or increases as solutions to potentially 
     serious problems; and
       Whereas, This usurpation of legislative authority begins a 
     process that over time could threaten the fundamental concept 
     of separation of powers that is precious to the preservation 
     of the form of our government embodied by the Constitution of 
     the United States of America; and
       Whereas, Fifteen states, including Alabama, Alaska, 
     Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, 
     Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, 
     Tennessee and Utah, have petitioned the United States 
     Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States of America that reads as follows:
       ``Neither the Supreme Court nor any inferior court of the 
     United States shall have the power to instruct or order a 
     state or political subdivision thereof, or an official of 
     such state or political subdivision, to levy or increase 
     taxes.''; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Ninety-First General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois, That this legislative body 
     respectfully requests and petitions the Congress of the 
     United States to propose submission to the states for their 
     ratification an amendment to the Constitution of the United 
     States of America to restrict the ability of the United 
     States Supreme Court or any inferior court of the United 
     States to mandate any state or political subdivision of the 
     state to levy or increase taxes; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of 
     the United States Senate, the Secretary of the United States 
     Senate, the Clerk of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and the members of the Illinois 
     Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-513. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois relative to the 2000 
     Census; to the Committee on Government Affairs.

                        Senate Resolution No. 39

       Whereas, The U.S. Constitution requires an actual 
     enumeration of the population every ten years, and entrusts 
     Congress with overseeing all aspects of each decennial 
     enumeration; and
       Whereas, The sole constitutional purpose of the decennial 
     census is to apportion the seats in Congress among the 
     several states; and
       Whereas, An accurate and legal decennial census is 
     necessary to properly apportion U.S. House of Representatives 
     seats among the 50 states and to create legislative districts 
     within the states; and
       Whereas, An accurate and legal decennial census is 
     necessary to enable states to comply with the constitutional 
     mandate of drawing state legislative districts within the 
     states; and
       Whereas, Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, in 
     order to ensure an accurate count and to minimize the 
     potential for political manipulation, mandates an ``actual 
     enumeration'' of the population,which requires a physical 
     headcount of the population and prohibits statistical 
     guessing or estimates of the population; and
       Whereas, Title 13, Section 195 of the U.S. Code, consistent 
     with this constitutional mandate, expressly prohibits the use 
     of statistical sampling to enumerate the U.S. population for 
     the purpose of reapportioning the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; and
       Whereas, Legislative redistricting conducted by the states 
     is a critical subfunction of the constitutional requirement 
     to apportion representatives among the states; and
       Whereas, The United States Supreme Court, in No. 98-404, 
     Department of Commerce, et al. v. United States House of 
     Representatives, et al., together with No. 98-564, Clinton, 
     President of the United States, et al. v. Glavin, et al. 
     ruled on January 25, 1999, that the Census Act prohibits the 
     Census Bureau's proposed uses of statistical sampling in 
     calculating the population for purposes of apportionment; and
       Whereas, In reaching its findings, the United States 
     Supreme Court found the use

[[Page S3612]]

     of statistical procedures to adjust census numbers would 
     create a dilution of voting rights for citizens in 
     legislative redistricting, thus violating legal guarantees of 
     ``one-person, one-vote''; and
       Whereas, Consistent with this ruling and the constitutional 
     and legal relationship of legislative redistricting by the 
     states to the apportionment of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives, the use of adjusted census data would raise 
     serious questions of vote dilution and violate ``one-person, 
     one-vote'' legal protections, thus exposing the State of 
     Illinois to protracted litigation over legislative 
     redistricting plans at great cost to the taxpayers of the 
     State of Illinois, and likely result in a court ruling 
     invalidating any legislative redistricting plan using census 
     numbers that have been determined in whole or in part by the 
     use of random sampling techniques or other statistical 
     methodologies that add or subtract persons to the census 
     counts based solely on statistical inference; and
       Whereas, Consistent with this ruling, no person enumerated 
     in the census should ever be deleted from the census 
     enumeration; and
       Whereas, Consistent with this ruling, every reasonable and 
     practical effort should be made to obtain the fullest and 
     most accurate count of the population as possible, including 
     appropriate funding for state and local census outreach and 
     education programs, as well as a provision for post census 
     local review; therefore; be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Ninety-First General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we call on the Bureau 
     of the Census to conduct the 2000 decennial census consistent 
     with the aforementioned United Supreme Court ruling and 
     constitution mandate, which require a physical headcount of 
     the population and bars the use of statistical sampling to 
     create or in any way adjust the count; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Illinois Senate opposes the use of P.L. 
     94-171 data for state legislative redistricting based on 
     census numbers that have been determined in whole or in part 
     by the use of statistical inferences derived by means of 
     random sampling techniques or other statistical methodologies 
     that add or subtract persons to the census counts; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Illinois Senate demands that it receive 
     P.L. 94-171 data for legislative redistricting identical to 
     the census tabulation data used to apportion seats in the 
     U.S. House of Representatives consistent to the 
     aforementioned United States Supreme Court ruling and 
     constitutional mandate, which require a physical headcount of 
     the population and bars the use of statistical sampling to 
     create or in any way adjust the count; and be if further
       Resolved, That the Illinois Senate urges Congress, as the 
     branch of government assigned the responsibility of 
     overseeing the decennial enumeration, to take whatever steps 
     are necessary to ensure that the 2000 decennial census is 
     conducted fairly and legally; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be presented to 
     the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the 
     Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, the Vice President of the 
     United States, and the President of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-514. A resolution adopted by the Council of Bar Harbor 
     Village, Florida relative to the redevelopment of Homestead 
     Air Force Base as Homestead Regional Airport; to the 
     Committee on Armed Services.

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