[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 107 (Friday, July 27, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8346-S8348]
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 lien on the table as indicates:

       POM-157. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to the 
     federal Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income 
     Persons and the Low-Income House Energy Assistance program; 
     to the Committee on Appropriations.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 140

       Whereas, the areas served by electric and gas utilities in 
     Louisiana and throughout the South have poverty levels that 
     are higher than the national average, with many customers 
     being unable to afford utility service without sacrificing 
     other necessities such as medicine and food; and
       Whereas, disconnection of electric and gas service presents 
     health and safety risks, particularly for the elderly, 
     disabled, and small children residing in the substandard, 
     poorly insulated, energy-inefficient housing that is 
     prevalent in this region; and
       Whereas, the federally funded WAP and LIHEAP are the 
     nation's largest, most comprehensive effective residential 
     energy efficiency and bill payment assistance programs, 
     serving as a vital safety net during periods of escalating 
     and volatile energy prices; and
       Whereas, the state agencies and community-based 
     organizations that administer WAP and LIHEAP and distribute 
     the funds on behalf of those eligible and in need have 
     demonstrated their capability to accomplish both energy 
     efficiency services and bill payment assistance when these 
     programs are adequately funded and assured of continued 
     existence for a reasonable number of years; and
       Whereas, the Fiscal Year 2002 Bush Administration proposed 
     budget call for continuing LIHEAP funding at the same, 
     inadequate levels as was provided during the past year, $1.4 
     billion nationally, an amount that was recently recognized as 
     vastly insufficient by the United States Senate; and
       Whereas, it is a matter of utmost importance and urgency to 
     persuade both houses of the Congress of the United States to 
     take swift and bold action to increase and release to the 
     states the funding for WAP and LIHEAP: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to act at once to 
     provide for advanced and increased funding of the 
     Weatherization Assistance program for Low-Income Persons and 
     he Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, so as to enable 
     the programs to engage in planning their work more 
     efficiently and engaging and retaining qualified employees. 
     Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-158. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to the 
     sale of crawfish and catfish imported from Asia and Spain; to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 143

       Whereas, Louisiana's crawfish and catfish industries are 
     vital to the well-being of this state and its citizens; and
       Whereas, these industries are facing a serious economic 
     crisis due to the availability of inexpensive crawfish and 
     catfish imported from Asia and Spain; and
       Whereas, crawfish from China began appearing in the United 
     States market in the early 1990s; however, they had no 
     significant impact at the time because the amount of 
     available Chinese crawfish was not enough to seriously affect 
     the supply and demand associated with Louisiana's crawfish 
     industry; and
       Whereas, in 1993 and 1994 there was a substantial increase 
     in the amount of Chinese crawfish, which harmed Louisiana 
     industry, and crawfish are produced in China at a lower cost 
     than is possible in Louisiana which allows their sale at 
     prices with which Louisiana producers cannot compete; and
       Whereas, Louisiana is also experiencing a similar problem 
     with crawfish arriving from Spain being offered for sale at a 
     low price; and
       Whereas, since Louisiana crawfish farmers cannot compete 
     with those in China and Spain, the crawfish plants are in 
     danger of closing, which is devastating to Louisiana because 
     it is difficult to re-open the plants because the crawfish 
     peelers have sought other employment, and it is virtually 
     impossible to replace that labor component of the Louisiana 
     crawfish industry; and
       Whereas, in response to the problem, the Federal Trade 
     Commission recently imposed a duty on Chinese crawfish, which 
     has allowed Louisiana fishermen and suppliers to compete with 
     Chinese fishermen and suppliers; and
       Whereas, nevertheless, crawfish suppliers are presently 
     circumventing the duty and are still providing crawfish at a 
     much lower price, so the threat to the Louisiana industry 
     continues; and
       Whereas, the Catfish industry in Louisiana is experiencing 
     similar problems caused by imported Catfish from Vietnam and 
     Spain; and
       Whereas, between 1993 and 1999, the amount of Catfish 
     exported from Vietnam increased from sixteen thousand five 
     hundred tons to twenty-four thousand tons, and capital 
     investments in Catfish production in the Mekong Delta have 
     continued to grow dramatically: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to assist the Federal 
     Trade Commission in preventing the sale of crawfish and 
     catfish imported from Asia and Spain at prices with which 
     Louisiana producers cannot compete. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-159. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to the 
     federal-aid highway program; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 152

       Whereas, legislation is pending introduction in congress to 
     allow states to opt out of the federal-aid highway program; 
     and
       Whereas, those states opting out would be required to 
     replace the federal gasoline tax with a state gasoline tax; 
     and
       Whereas, five states have laws in effect which would 
     automatically increase the state gasoline tax should the 
     federal gasoline tax be reduced; and
       Whereas, if Louisiana were authorized to levy the gasoline 
     tax, it could control more of the revenues and would be less 
     subject to certain efforts by the federal government to 
     control state policy: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Louisiana Legislature does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to adopt legislation 
     authorizing states to opt out of the federal-aid highway 
     program. Be it further,
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-160. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to Section 
     527 of the Internal Revenue Code; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 188

       Whereas, Congress passed the Full and Fair Political 
     Disclosure Act and the President

[[Page S8347]]

     signed it into law (Public Law 106-230) to require public 
     disclosure of political activities of organizations that 
     usually do not disclose their expenditures or contributions; 
     and
       Whereas, Rep. David Vitter has introduced H.R. 527 (also 
     known as the Vitter Bill) to correct and clarify P.L. 106-230 
     by reducing duplicative and burdensome federal reporting and 
     disclosure requirements placed on state and local political 
     candidates, their campaign committees, and state political 
     parties; and
       Whereas, H.R. 527 relieves individuals and groups from 
     filing pursuant to Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code 
     if their sole intention is to influence the election of state 
     and local public officers or officers in a state or local 
     political organization and if the state and local 
     contribution and expenditure reporting requirements relating 
     to selections, nominations, elections, and appointments to 
     such offices provide that the reports are publicly available; 
     and
       Whereas, H.R. 527 would not exempt any political committee 
     from the requirements if it spent even one dollar on a 
     federal election, including congressional races, or failed to 
     abide by state and local contribution and expenditure 
     reporting requirements; and
       Whereas, H.R. 527 exempts state and local political 
     committees because the law is geared toward the federal 
     election cycle which usually does not conform to state and 
     local reporting requirements; and
       Whereas, H.R. 527 establishes an exemption for state and 
     local political committees similar to the exemption for 
     federal political organizations that report to the Federal 
     Elections Commission; and
       Whereas, H.R. 527 intends to leave intact the intent of 
     P.L. 160-230 as a response to stealth political action 
     committees that were able to raise and spend unlimited 
     amounts of money for political advocacy without having to 
     disclose the sources and amounts of donations, all while 
     enjoying tax-exempt status: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Louisiana Legislature does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to support House 
     Resolution 527 making changes to Section 527 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code to exempt certain state and local political 
     committees which are required to report contributions and 
     expenditures pursuant to local or state law. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-161. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     the State of Louisiana relative to the Bayou Lafourche 
     restoration and diversion project from the Mississippi River; 
     to the Committee on Appropriations.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 198

       Whereas, until 1904, Bayou Lafourche carried about fifteen 
     percent of the flow of the Mississippi River and provided 
     vital nourishment for thousands of acres of coastal swamps 
     and marshes throughout the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins; 
     and
       Whereas, after the bayou was sealed off from the 
     Mississippi River in 1904 to prevent flooding, these marshes 
     began to deteriorate and salt water began to encroach inland; 
     and
       Whereas, diverting river water into our coastal basins is 
     the best tool we have to create a sustainable coast; and
       Whereas, Bayou Lafourche provides the sole source of 
     drinking water for about two hundred thousand citizens of 
     Louisiana; and
       Whereas, during the drought year of 2000, Bayou Lafourche 
     became contaminated by salt water as far north as the 
     Lockport water treatment plant, making the water hazardous to 
     drink; and
       Whereas, since 1996, the Breaux Act program has been 
     investigating the feasibility of a project that would restore 
     Bayou Lafourche by removing sediment that currently clogs the 
     channel and by introducing about one thousand cubic feet per 
     second of river water into Bayou Lafourche at Donaldsonville 
     on a continuous basis, without flood risk to local residents; 
     and
       Whereas, the project has been proposed as a means of 
     nourishing eight-six thousand acres of coastal marshes by 
     reintroducing river water into a vast area that has been cut 
     off from the river by levees; and
       Whereas, the final design of the project should accommodate 
     the reasonable concerns of landowners regarding erosion and 
     property damage; and
       Whereas, this one thousand cubic feet per second diversion 
     project would also prevent the future saltwater contamination 
     of municipal and industrial freshwater intakes; and
       Whereas, this project would provide critical benefits to a 
     large area of coastal marshes, it would restore the current 
     sluggish, choked bayou to a flowing, healthy ecosystem, and 
     it would provide a continuous supply of high quality fresh 
     water for municipal and industrial needs into the future: 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Louisiana Legislature does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to support, with 
     funding, the expeditious implementation of the proposed Bayou 
     Lafourche restoration and diversion project from the 
     Mississippi River. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the 
     House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States 
     of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-162. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to the pending 
     charter boat moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                        House Resolution No. 114

       Whereas, the charter fishing industry in Louisiana is in 
     its infancy but has begun a period of healthy growth which 
     can only be beneficial to the state's overall economic 
     development and the capture of tourist dollars; and
       Whereas, the Gulf States Fishery Management Council voted 
     this spring to send to the National Marine Fisheries Service 
     a recommendation for a three-year moratorium on the issuance 
     of new charter vessel permits for reef and coastal migratory 
     pelagic fishing; and
       Whereas, the genesis of the recommended moratorium was 
     concerned about the area of the Gulf of Mexico near Florida 
     where the charter industry is much more mature, much more 
     widespread, and has created a situation where there are too 
     many boats with too many fishermen competing for too few 
     fish; and
       Whereas, the charter industry in Louisiana exists in a 
     significantly different environment, one where there is not 
     an overabundance of permitted charter boat captains and where 
     there is an abundance of habitat and fish which should result 
     in a productive charter industry; and
       Whereas, a productive and expanding charter industry would 
     be of great benefit to the economic health of the state, a 
     benefit that would be denied the state of Louisiana if the 
     moratorium were adopted and new charter captains would not be 
     eligible for permitting: Therefore, be it,
       Resolved, That the Louisiana House of Representatives does 
     hereby memorialize the Louisiana congressional delegation and 
     the United States Congress to express its desire to the 
     National Marine Fisheries Service that the pending charter 
     boat moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico not be implemented. Be 
     it further,
       Resolved, That if a moratorium is considered by the 
     National Marine Fisheries Service, that the moratorium be 
     limited to the eastern Gulf of Mexico with an authorization 
     for continued expansion of the industry in the western Gulf 
     of Mexico where there are no issues of overcrowding. Be it 
     further,
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to 
     each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation and to 
     the presiding officers of the United States House of 
     Representatives and the United States Senate.
                                  ____

       POM-163. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to 
     international child slavery; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                        House Resolution No. 128

       Whereas, it is with great moral indignation and deepest 
     concern that the Legislature of Louisiana learns of the 
     continued use internationally of such an unspeakable practice 
     as child slavery; and
       Whereas, despite current efforts to end the practice of 
     trafficking in child slaves, the trade remains a serious 
     problem, particularly in West and Central Africa where this 
     most disturbing practice has been on the rise; and
       Whereas, currently thousands of children as young as six 
     years of age are trafficked across borders into slavery to 
     work long hours in harsh conditions as domestic servants, as 
     farm and plantation laborers, and as sellers in markets; and
       Whereas, while parents living in some of the poorest 
     countries on the planet are on occasion wiling to sell their 
     children for as little as fourteen dollars, often in the 
     belief that their children will receive education and 
     prosperous employment, the vast majority of these children 
     become slaves usually laboring on coffee and cocoa 
     plantations; and
       Whereas, during long-distance transportation over land and 
     sea, these children face arduous and sometimes fatal journeys 
     riddled with hardships such as ships that lack sufficient 
     supplies of food and fresh drinking water; and
       Whereas, through a 1998-1999 research and interview project 
     funded by the United Kingdom National Lottery Charities 
     Board, Enfants Solidaires d' Afrique et du Monde, a 
     nongovernmental organization in Benin, found that child 
     slaves transported across the border between Benin and Gabon 
     were subjected to fourteen- to eighteen-hour work days, heavy 
     work, and oftentimes sexual abuse including rape and forced 
     prostitution; and
       Whereas, interviews by American media reporters in Sudan 
     have revealed a similar pattern of torments, including forced 
     marches, sexual abuse and mutilation, and violent beatings 
     among slaves; and
       Whereas, many destination countries of child slave 
     trafficking have failed to take the necessary steps to end 
     the exploitation of children in slavery or other abusive 
     labor; and
       Whereas, diplomatic collaboration between nongovernmental 
     organizations and all national governments is important for 
     developing long-term strategies for eliminating trafficking 
     of child slaves and rehabilitating children who have suffered 
     from this practice; and

[[Page S8348]]

       Whereas, national governments, and particularly the United 
     States government, should ratify and encourage implementation 
     of key measures protecting children, such as the United 
     Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to ensure that 
     children are protected against slavery, should work to ensure 
     that the United Nations International Convention Against 
     Transnational Organized Crime includes a protocol to prevent, 
     suppress, and punish the practice of trafficking in slaves, 
     and should urge the United Nations to adopt a specific year 
     as the International Year Against Trafficking in Human Beings 
     to focus attention on the issue; and
       Whereas, governments may curb the practice of child slavery 
     internationally via economic tactics, such as embargoes on 
     products and countries that use child slavery and urging 
     action on the part of industries to purchase directly from 
     plantations where they can ensure that growers implement core 
     international labor standards, particularly those banning 
     forced labor and illegal child labor, and by collaborating 
     with other countries to ensure that international labor 
     standards regarding slavery are enforced throughout such 
     countries; and
       Whereas, having repealed the terrible and horrific practice 
     of slavery within our own borders with the Emancipation 
     Proclamation and the thirteenth amendment to our 
     constitution, the United States unequivocally opposes slavery 
     in all forms and universally endorses the freedom and dignity 
     of every human being; and
       Whereas, in the true and compassionate knowledge that every 
     child deserves the opportunity to live the life of a child 
     without subjection to the burdens of injustice, child slavery 
     can only be deemed insufferable and repugnant: Therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the 
     United States Congress and the President of the United States 
     to institute and enforce legislation and diplomatic action 
     toward the eradication of child slavery internationally. Be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of both houses of the United States 
     Congress, to the members of the Louisiana delegation to the 
     United States Congress, and to President George W. Bush.
                                  ____

       POM-164. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to the OCS oil 
     and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico; to the Committee 
     on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 149

       Whereas, it has been almost four years since the 
     environmental impact statement was prepared for the Oil and 
     Gas Lease Sales 169, 172, 175, 178, and 182 in the Gulf of 
     Mexico; and
       Whereas, as a result of public testimony in response to 
     that EIS, there was recognition of the significant impact 
     which will be felt relative to the infrastructure in offshore 
     activity focal points such as Port Fourchon and LA Highway 1 
     through Lafourche Parish; and
       Whereas, at the present time, forty of the forty-five deep 
     water rigs working in the Gulf of Mexico are being serviced 
     through Port Fourchon as are many of the rigs located on the 
     OCS, with the accompanying increase in land traffic and 
     inland waterway traffic, all primarily through Lafourche 
     Parish; and
       Whereas, efforts have so far failed to develop plans to 
     mitigate these present and well-documented impacts while 
     efforts to increase the number of leases in the gulf continue 
     with no apparent effort to provide mitigation for current or 
     increased impacts: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Louisiana Legislature does hereby memorialize the U.S. 
     Congress to direct the Mineral Management Service to develop 
     a plan for impact mitigation relative to the OCS oil and gas 
     lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to 
     the presiding officer of each house of the U.S. Congress, to 
     each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation, and to 
     the director of the Minerals Management Service.

                          ____________________