[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 120 (Friday, September 20, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S8982]]
                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 329--AUTHORIZING THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER 
  OF THE SENATE TO ASCERTAIN AND SETTLE CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF ANTHRAX 
                     EXPOSURE IN THE SENATE COMPLEX

  Mr. DODD submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 329

       Resolved, That (a) the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of 
     the Senate--
       (1) in accordance with such regulations as the Committee on 
     Rules and Administration may prescribe, may consider and 
     ascertain any claim incident to service by a Member, officer, 
     or employee of the Senate for any damage to, or loss of, 
     personal property, for which the Member, officer, or employee 
     has not been reimbursed, resulting from the anthrax incident 
     of October 15, 2001, or the related remediation efforts 
     undertaken from such date through March 15, 2002; and
       (2) may, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration and in accordance with the provisions of 
     section 3721 of title 31, United States Code, determine, 
     compromise, adjust, and settle such claim in an amount not 
     exceeding $4,000 per claimant.
       (b) Claimants shall file claims pursuant to this resolution 
     with the Sergeant at Arms not later than December 31, 2002.
       (c) Any compromise, adjustment, or settlement of any such 
     claim pursuant to this resolution shall be paid from the 
     contingent fund of the Senate on a voucher approved by the 
     chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration.
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   SENATE RESOLUTION 330--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2002, AS 
                        ``FAMILY HISTORY MONTH''

  Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Allard, Mr. Allen, Mr. 
Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Burns, 
Mr. Byrd, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Cleland, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Dayton, Mr. 
DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Feingold, Mr. 
Fitzgerald, Mr. Frist, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Helms, Mr. 
Hutchinson, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lott, Ms. 
Mikulski, Mr. Miller, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Nelson 
of Florida, Mr. Reid, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. 
Schumer, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. 
Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Voinvoich, Mr. 
Wyden, and Ms. Landrieu) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 330

       Whereas it is the family, striving for a future of 
     opportunity and hope, that reflects our Nation's belief in 
     community, stability, and love;
       Whereas the family remains an institution of promise, 
     reliance, and encouragement;
       Whereas we look to the family as an unwavering symbol of 
     constancy that will help us discover a future of prosperity, 
     promise, and potential;
       Whereas within our Nation's libraries and archives lie the 
     treasured records that detail the history of our Nation, our 
     States, our communities, and our citizens;
       Whereas individuals from across our Nation and across the 
     world have embarked on a genealogical journey by discovering 
     who their ancestors were and how various forces shaped their 
     past;
       Whereas an ever-growing number in our Nation and in other 
     nations are collecting, preserving, and sharing genealogies, 
     personal documents, and memorabilia that detail the life and 
     times of families around the world;
       Whereas 54,000,000 individuals belong to a family where 
     someone in the family has used the Internet to research their 
     family history;
       Whereas individuals from across our Nation and across the 
     world continue to research their family heritage and its 
     impact upon the history of our Nation and the world;
       Whereas approximately 60 percent of Americans have 
     expressed an interest in tracing their family history;
       Whereas the study of family history gives individuals a 
     sense of their heritage and a sense of responsibility in 
     carrying out a legacy that their ancestors began;
       Whereas as individuals learn about their ancestors who 
     worked so hard and sacrificed so much, their commitment to 
     honor their ancestors' memory by doing good is increased;
       Whereas interest in our personal family history transcends 
     all cultural and religious affiliations;
       Whereas to encourage family history research, education, 
     and the sharing of knowledge is to renew the commitment to 
     the concept of home and family; and
       Whereas the involvement of National, State, and local 
     officials in promoting genealogy and in facilitating access 
     to family history records in archives and libraries are 
     important factors in the successful perception of nationwide 
     camaraderie, support, and participation: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of October 2002, as ``Family 
     History Month''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 144--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
   THE PRESIDENT SHOULD POSTHUMOUSLY AWARD THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF 
                      FREEDOM TO HARRY W. COLMERY

  Mr. ROBERTS (for himself and Mr. Brownback) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

       Whereas the life of Harry W. Colmery of Topeka, Kansas, was 
     marked by service to his country and its citizens;
       Whereas Harry Colmery earned a degree in law in 1916 from 
     the University of Pittsburgh and, through his practice of 
     law, contributed to the Nation, notably by successfully 
     arguing two significant cases before the United States 
     Supreme Court, one criminal, the other an environmental legal 
     dispute;
       Whereas during World War I, Harry Colmery joined the Army 
     Air Service, serving as a first lieutenant at a time when 
     military aviation was in its infancy;
       Whereas after World War I, Harry Colmery actively 
     contributed to the growth of the newly formed American Legion 
     and went on to hold several offices in the Legion and was 
     elected National Commander in 1936;
       Whereas in 1943, the United States faced the return from 
     World War II of what was to become an active duty force of 
     15,000,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines;
       Whereas Harry Colmery, recognizing the potential effect of 
     the return of such a large number of veterans to civilian 
     life, set out to craft legislation seeking to ensure that 
     these Americans who had fought for the democratic ideals of 
     the Nation and to preserve freedom would be able to fully 
     participate in all of the opportunities the Nation provided;
       Whereas in December 1943, Harry Colmery crafted the initial 
     draft of the legislation that became the Servicemen's 
     Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the GI Bill of 
     Rights;
       Whereas the GI Bill of Rights is credited by veterans' 
     service organizations, economists, and historians as the 
     engine that transformed postwar America into a more 
     egalitarian, prosperous, and enlightened Nation poised to 
     lead the world in the 21st century;
       Whereas since its enactment, the GI Bill of Rights has 
     provided education or training for approximately 7,800,000 
     men and women, including 2,200,000 in college, 3,400,000 in 
     other schools, 1,400,000 in vocational education, and 690,000 
     in farm training;
       Whereas as a result of the benefits available to veterans 
     through the initial GI Bill, the Nation gained over 800,000 
     professionals as the GI Bill transformed these veterans into 
     450,000 engineers, 238,000 teachers, 91,000 scientists, 
     67,000 doctors, and 22,000 dentists;
       Whereas 2,100,000 World War II veterans purchased homes 
     through the GI Bill;
       Whereas President Truman established the Presidential Medal 
     of Freedom in 1945 to recognize notable service during war 
     and in 1963 President Kennedy reinstated the medal to honor 
     the achievement of civilians during peacetime;
       Whereas pursuant to Executive Order 11085, the Medal of 
     Freedom may be awarded to any person who has made an 
     especially meritorious contribution to ``(1) the security or 
     national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, 
     or (3) cultural or other significant public or private 
     endeavors''; and
       Whereas Harry Colmery, noted for his service in the 
     military, in the legal sector, and on behalf of the Nation's 
     veterans, clearly meets the criteria established for the 
     Presidential Medal of Freedom: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
     President should posthumously award the Presidential Medal of 
     Freedom to Harry W. Colmery of Topeka, Kansas.

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