[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 101 (Tuesday, September 5, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8017-S8018]
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-612. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts relative to the Ricky Ray 
     Hemophilia Relief Act of 1998; to the Committee on 
     Appropriations.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, Congress passed the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief 
     Fund Act of 1998; and
       Whereas, the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Act was passed to 
     provide for compassionate payments to individuals with blood-
     clotting disorders, such as hemophilia; and
       Whereas, in its review of the events surrounding the HIV 
     infection of thousands of people with blood-clotting 
     disorders, such as hemophilia, a 1995 study, entitled ``HIV 
     and the Blood Supply'', of the Institute of Medicine found a 
     failure of leadership and inadequate institutional decision-
     making process in the system responsible for ensuring blood 
     safety, concluding that a failure of leadership led to less 
     than effective donor screening, weak regulatory actions and 
     insufficient communication to patients about the risk of 
     AIDS; and
       Whereas, this legislation, named after a teenage 
     hemophiliac who died from AIDS, was enacted to provide 
     financial relief to the families of hemophiliacs who were 
     devastated by the Federal Government's policy failure in the 
     handling of the AIDS epidemic; and
       Whereas, now that the relief bill has been signed into law 
     by the President, Congress has been reticent to fund it; Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts Senate urges the Congress 
     of the United States to fully fund the Ricky Ray Hemophilia 
     Relief Act of 1998 in the year 2000 so that there is no delay 
     between the authorization and

[[Page S8018]]

     timely appropriation of this relief; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be transmitted 
     forthwith by the clerk of the Senate to the President of the 
     United States, the presiding officer of each branch of 
     Congress and the members thereof from this commonwealth.
                                  ____

       POM-616. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts relative to lower gasoline 
     prices; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, the Massachusetts House of Representatives urges 
     the Congress of the United States to take any and all 
     appropriate action to lower gasoline prices; and
       Whereas, gasoline prices have skyrocketed over the past 
     several months, and in some instances, the price per gallon 
     at the pump has increased over 50 percent resulting in 
     gasoline prices that are at historically high levels; and
       Whereas, an undue hardship has been placed upon senior 
     citizens, fixed income earners, and persons dependent upon 
     automobile transportation; and
       Whereas, the inexplicable jump in gasoline prices will 
     increase the cost of public transportation; and
       Whereas, the dramatic rise in gasoline prices has increased 
     the costs of transporting goods, thus increasing the cost of 
     living for not only the residents of the commonwealth, but 
     also for all Americans; Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts House of Representatives 
     urges the Congress of the United States to initiate any and 
     all appropriate actions to lower gasoline prices; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by 
     the clerk of the House of Representatives to the presiding 
     officer of each branch of Congress and to the members thereof 
     from the commonwealth.
                                  ____

       POM-618. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     Commonwealth of Guam relative to clemency; to the Committee 
     on Energy and Natural Resources.

                           Resolution No. 368

       Whereas, Mr. Alejandro T. B. Lizama, known to his friends 
     and the large number of civic and community organizations as 
     ``Al,'' was arrested and sentenced to a year in prison for 
     charges stemming from an incident at the U.S. District Court 
     of Guam; and
       Whereas, ``Al'' is a Historic Preservation Specialist II 
     employed with the Historic Resources Division of the Guam 
     Department of Parks and Recreation, devoting his life work to 
     the study, documentation and preservation of the Chamorro 
     culture through art, research and outreach; and
       Whereas, ``Al,'' during his over twenty-five (25) years of 
     service as an employee of the Guam Department of Parks and 
     Recreation has shared this knowledge with the military and 
     federal community, including those from the Department of the 
     Air Force, the Department of Defense school system, and the 
     Navy Family Service Center, voluntarily conducting ``Welcome 
     to Guam Orientation'' programs and other outreach programs; 
     and
       Whereas, ``Al'' is the recipient of countless certificates 
     of appreciation and commendation, voluntary service awards 
     and certificates of appreciation, including those from Major 
     General Richard T. Swope, USAF Commander, Thirteenth Air 
     Force; Colonel Stephen M. McClain, USAF Commander, 633d Air 
     Base Wing; Commander D. L. Metzig, U.S. Navy, Director of 
     Navy Family Service Center Guam, by direction of the 
     Commander; and Principal Steven Dozier, Guam Department of 
     Defense High School, for his many hours of voluntary service 
     to their Communities;
       Whereas, in 1994 ``Al'' was selected and recognized as one 
     of Ten Employees of the Year in the ``Magnificent Seven 
     Program,'' a prestigious event which recognizes individuals 
     and groups for their achievements and contributions in the 
     service of the government of Guam; and
       Whereas, ``Al'' is one (1) of just four (4) nominees for 
     the 2000 ``Governor's Award of Excellence,'' recognized for 
     his innumerable contributions to the Community over the 
     years, including, but not limited to, volunteering his time 
     to speak to students and members of the Community in outreach 
     programs about the significance of preserving one's culture 
     and past; and
       Whereas, ``Al'' is an accomplished artist whose many 
     donated artworks appear proudly displayed in all parts of the 
     Island; and
       Whereas, ``Al'' was awarded the ``Bronze Star Medal'' for 
     valor, the ``Combat Infantry's Badge'' and other Campaign 
     medals for his patriotic service and achievement during the 
     Vietnam War; and
       Whereas, ``Al'' suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 
     (``PSTD'') and was accepted to participate in the PTSD 
     Residential Rehabilitative Program in Hilo, Hawaii, to deal 
     with the trauma scars acquired during this service to our 
     Country in Vietnam; and
       Whereas, it would be against the interests of both ``Al'' 
     and the Island Community, and would not advance the cause of 
     justice and retribution if he were to be incarcerated for a 
     full year; Now, therefore, be it.
       Resolved, That I MinaBente Singko Na Liheslaturan Guahan 
     does hereby, on behalf of the people of Guam, respectfully 
     request that clemency be granted to Veteran Alejandro T.B. 
     Lizama by President William J. Clinton, that his sentence be 
     commuted and that he be released and returned to Guam; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the Speaker certify, and the Legislative 
     Secretary attests to, the adoption hereof and that copies of 
     the same be thereafter transmitted to the Honorable William 
     J. Clinton, President of the United States of America; to the 
     President of the United States Senate; to the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives; to the Secretary 
     General of the United Nations; to the National Organization 
     for the Advancement of Chamoru People; to the Honorable 
     Congressman Robert A. Underwood, Member of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; and to the Honorable Carl T.C. Gutierrez, I 
     Magalahen Guahan.

                          ____________________