[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 79 (Friday, June 8, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6007-S6008]
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-91. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Minnesota relative to special education costs; to 
     the Committee on Appropriations.

                            Resolution No. 2

       Whereas, in 1975 the Congress passed Public Law Number 94-
     142, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and 
     provided a national framework for providing free, appropriate 
     public education to all students regardless of the level or 
     severity of disability; and
       Whereas, Congress in its initial passage of the Individuals 
     with Disabilities Education Act declared its intent to fund 
     40 percent of special education costs; and
       Whereas, the federal government's share of funding for 
     special education costs in Minnesota has never exceeded 15 
     percent of total special education costs; and
       Whereas, since the passage of the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act, the states have been primarily 
     responsible for providing funding for special education 
     services; and
       Whereas, special education services are being provided to 
     all eligible children in the state of Minnesota; and
       Whereas, many states, including Minnesota, must provide 
     substantial state funding to fill the gaps left by Congress's 
     unfunded promise; and
       Whereas, the recent increases in federal funds for schools, 
     including the increases in special education funding, have 
     come with substantial mandates and limitations on the use of 
     funds; and
       Whereas, Congress is now currently debating the most 
     effective ways to improve education among the states; and
       Whereas, the federal government is now estimating a surplus 
     of $5,600,000,000,000 over the next ten years: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota, That 
     Congress should speedily adhere to the goal set forth in the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and appropriate 
     to the states significant, genuine assistance to meet the 
     needs of students with disabilities and to relieve schools 
     from the necessity of cross-subsidizing special education 
     revenue with general education revenue. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of State of the State of 
     Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this memorial and 
     transmit them to the President of the United States, the 
     President and Secretary of the Senate, the Speaker and Clerk 
     of the House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and 
     Representatives in Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-92. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Minnesota relative to the improvement and 
     rehabilitation of waterways; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.

                            Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, waterway transportation is the most efficient 
     means of transporting bulk commodities, transports more tons 
     per gallon of fuel than either rail or truck while causing 
     fewer accidents, less noise pollution, and fewer fatalities 
     and traffic delays, provides a positive quality of life to 
     the citizens of Minnesota, and is the most environmentally 
     sound mode of transportation available; and
       Whereas, because of its geographic location, Minnesota is 
     disadvantaged by the distance commodities must travel when 
     transported between Minnesota and domestic and international 
     markets; and
       Whereas, farm products, petroleum, coal, aggregates, 
     fertilizer, salt, iron ore, metal products, and other bulk 
     commodities needed by agriculture, industry, and the public 
     sector are essential components of commerce and vital to the 
     continued health of our national, local, and state economies; 
     and
       Whereas, the inland waterway lock and dam system provides 
     recreational and eco-tourism opportunities to Minnesota, a 
     reliable water source of 25 billion gallons per year for 
     residential and industrial use in the Twin Cities area, and a 
     cooling source for power plants which provide over 4,800 
     Minnesota jobs; and
       Whereas, our transportation infrastructure enables 
     agricultural products and other exported commodities to 
     compete successfully in international markets and leads 
     toward a favorable balance of trade for our national economy; 
     and
       Whereas, our waterway transportation infrastructure shares 
     the public waters with the natural environment; and
       Whereas, the natural environment provides public benefits 
     such as recreation, tourism, domestic and industrial water 
     supply, and scientific and educational opportunities which 
     are also important elements to Minnesota's economy; and
       Whereas, the Upper Mississippi River is a natural resource 
     of statewide, regional, national, and international 
     importance due to its status as one of the largest floodplain 
     areas in the world, its importance as a migratory corridor 
     for 40 percent of all North American Waterfowl and the 
     sanctuary it provides to more than 200 species of threatened, 
     endangered, or rare plants and animals; and
       Whereas, the Great Lakes Seaway serves Minnesota by moving 
     its bulk products to domestic and foreign destinations, 
     amounting to over 65 million tons annually, including 43 
     million tons of Minnesota iron ore to steel mills in 
     Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania; and
       Whereas, although dredging and maintenance of the seaway 
     system is financed by the users, financing of the new Sault 
     Ste. Marie Lock (owned and operated by United States Army 
     Corps of Engineers) will be shared by the federal government 
     and the eight seaway states on a prorated tonnage basis, 
     requiring an estimated $18 million from the state to be paid 
     over a 50-year period; and
       Whereas, the inland waterway system moves 17 million tons 
     of bulk commodities annually between Minnesota and the 
     eastern seaboard and Gulf states, including approximately 10 
     million tons of agricultural products exported through gulf 
     ports; and
       Whereas, dredging and maintenance costs of the inland 
     waterway are paid out of federal funds, and financing of 
     capital improvements to the inland waterway system is 50 
     percent from federal funds and 50 percent from the Inland 
     Waterways Trust Fund, funded by a 20 cent per gallon fuel tax 
     paid by waterway shippers; and
       Whereas, the river industry has been taxed on fuel since 
     1980, and since the Inland Waterways Trust Fund was 
     instituted in 1986, the Upper Mississippi River basin has 
     contributed 40 percent of the funds and received only 15 
     percent return for capital improvements, making the Upper 
     Midwest a tax donor region to the Ohio River valley and 
     others; and
       Whereas, the Port Development Assistance Program is the 
     vehicle to rehabilitate Minnesota's public ports on the 
     Mississippi River and Lake Superior; and
       Whereas, this program updates and improves the operation 
     and efficiency of the ports to keep them viable and 
     competitive; and
       Whereas, the 1996, 1998, and 2000 Minnesota legislatures 
     appropriated funds for this program, and the 2001 legislature 
     will be requested to appropriate an additional $3 million to 
     this program: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Minnesota Legislature supports 
     Minnesota's pro rata participation in financing new 
     construction at the Sault Ste. Marie Lock. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature formally recognizes the 
     Upper Mississippi River as a river of statewide significance 
     for natural, navigational, and recreational benefits. Be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the critical 
     habitat restoration and rehabilitation needs on the Upper 
     Mississippi River. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the importance of 
     inland waterway transportation to Minnesota agriculture and 
     to the economy of the state, the region, and the nation and 
     urges Congress to authorize funding to improve transportation 
     efficiency and restore the ecological values of the Upper 
     Mississippi River System. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature supports the continued 
     funding of the Port Development Assistance Program in 
     recognition of the essential and fundamental contribution the 
     Great Lakes and inland waterway transportation systems make 
     to Minnesota's economy and to sustainable environmental 
     programs. Be it further

[[Page S6008]]

       Resolved, That the Secretary of State of the State of 
     Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this memorial and 
     transmit them to the President and the Secretary of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the chair of the Senate 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 
     Infrastructure, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives 
     in Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-93. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Minnesota relative to amending the Railroad 
     Unemployment Insurance Act; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                            Resolution No. 5

       Whereas, numerous railroad employees have served their 
     country honorably and well in various branches of the armed 
     forces for periods in excess of 20 years; and
       Whereas, these military veterans receive military 
     retirement pay as partial compensation for their long 
     military service; and
       Whereas, if these veterans work for nonmilitary employers 
     they can become eligible for state unemployment benefits in 
     case of layoff and for workers' compensation in case of 
     injury; and
       Whereas, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (United 
     States Code, title 45, section 354(a-1)(ii)) prohibits 
     payment of railroad unemployment benefits or railroad 
     sickness benefits to otherwise eligible railroad employees 
     who are receiving military retirement pay for 20 years or 
     more of military service: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota, That 
     it petitions the United States Congress to promptly amend the 
     Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to allow railroad 
     employees collecting military retirement pay to also be 
     eligible for railroad unemployment and sickness benefits if 
     they otherwise meet the qualifications of these benefit 
     programs. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of State of the State of 
     Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this memorial and 
     transmit them to the President of the United States, the 
     President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives 
     in Congress.

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