[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S9136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 146--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEAS OF 
                  NATIONAL TAKE YOUR KIDS TO VOTE DAY

  Mrs. LINCOLN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                            S. Con. Res. 146

       Whereas voting is a civic duty and critical to democracy;
       Whereas voting participation rates in the United States for 
     all age groups have fallen dramatically since 1972;
       Whereas voting participation rates are lower among young 
     voters;
       Whereas only 32 percent of individuals 18 through 24 years 
     of age voted in the last Presidential election;
       Whereas large numbers of young people feel disconnected 
     from government;
       Whereas many younger adults report that they do not know 
     how to vote;
       Whereas, according to a 2002 study by the Council for 
     Excellence in Government, children who go to the polls with 
     their parents are more likely to go to the polls and vote as 
     adults than their peers;
       Whereas parents should talk to their children about the 
     importance of voting;
       Whereas a number of businesses and organizations have 
     designated November 5, 2002, as National Take Your Kids to 
     Vote Day in order to encourage people to vote; and
       Whereas many Americans will go to the polls on November 5, 
     2002, to elect a new Congress: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideas of National Take Your Kids 
     to Vote Day;
       (2) encourages all voting eligible parents with children 
     who are younger than 18 years of age to talk to their 
     children about the importance of voting and, if possible, 
     take their children to the polls; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to conduct 
     appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to promote 
     voting as a family tradition.
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 147--ENCOURAGING IMPROVED COOPERATION WITH 
                  RUSSIA ON ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

  Mr. BURNS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 147

       Whereas Russia, with its vast oil and gas resources, a 
     growing and diverse number of private sector companies, and a 
     renewed commitment to investment by international energy 
     companies, is in a unique position to provide stability to an 
     often volatile and insecure world energy market;
       Whereas on June 6, 2002, Russia was granted market economy 
     status by the United States;
       Whereas the granting of market economy status is mutually 
     beneficial to both Russia and the United States, and both 
     governments should continue to pursue other measures to 
     promote long-term engagement and integration of Russia into 
     the world economy;
       Whereas mutual efforts by Russia and the United States to 
     bring greater stability to world energy markets and to 
     sustain economic growth in both nations is a key way to 
     ensure further engagement and integration of Russia with the 
     world economy;
       Whereas, recognizing Russia's progress on religious freedom 
     and human rights, and its broad range of mechanisms to 
     address remaining concerns, the President has requested that 
     Congress terminate application to Russia of chapter 1 of 
     title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (commonly referred to as 
     ``Jackson-Vanik'') and authorize the extension of normal 
     trade relations to Russia; and
       Whereas both Russia and the United States can play a 
     critical role in supporting regional energy development and 
     energy transportation corridor projects: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) encourages the Governments of Russia and the United 
     States--
       (A) to engage in a dialogue on energy development; and
       (B) to consult widely with the governments of other 
     independent states of the former Soviet Union and with other 
     interested parties to promote exchanges on energy development 
     and to seek support from the broadest cross section of 
     business and civil societies;
       (2) is committed to terminating the application to Russia 
     of chapter 1 of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (commonly 
     referred to as ``Jackson-Vanik'') and to authorizing the 
     extension of normal trade relations to Russia;
       (3) supports the actions of the Russian Duma designed to 
     strengthen international investment in the Russian energy 
     sector, such as--
       (A) actions to permit the full implementation of energy 
     projects on Sakhalin Island and in the Timan-Pechora region, 
     all of which offer unique opportunities to increase the 
     petroleum supplies of the United States and the world; and
       (B) actions to encourage a regulatory and investment 
     framework in Russia to expand Russia's oil and gas export 
     capacities;
       (4) supports the accession of Russia to the World Trade 
     Organization; and
       (5) supports continued high level and sustained exchanges 
     on energy development between the Governments of Russia and 
     the United States and between businesses in the two 
     countries.

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