[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 47 (Monday, March 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4324-S4325]
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-69. A resolution adopted by the Borough of Middlesex, 
     State of New Jersey, relative to the releasing of first 
     responder funds to municipalities; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                           *   *   *   *   *

                                  ____

       POM-70. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of New Mexico relative to fully funding the Federal 
     Government's share of special education services in public 
     schools; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                        Senate Joint Memorial 1

       Whereas, since its enactment in 1975, the Federal 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has helped 
     millions of children with special needs receive a quality 
     education and develop to their full capacities; and
       Whereas, the Federal Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act has moved children

[[Page S4325]]

     with disabilities out of institutions and into public school 
     classrooms with their peers; and
       Whereas, the Federal Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act has helped break down stereotypes and dispel 
     ignorance about people with disabilities, thus improving the 
     quality of life and economic opportunity for millions of 
     Americans; and
       Whereas, when the Federal Government enacted the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, it promised to 
     fund up to forty percent of the average per special needs 
     pupil expenditure in public elementary and secondary schools 
     in the United States; and
       Whereas, the Federal Government currently funds, on 
     average, less than fourteen percent of the average per 
     special needs pupil expenditure in public elementary and 
     secondary schools in the United States; and
       Whereas, local school districts and state government end up 
     bearing the largest share of the cost of special education 
     services; and
       Whereas, the Federal Government's failure to adequately 
     fulfill its responsibility to special needs children 
     undermines public support for special education and creates 
     hardship for disabled children and their families; Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Legislature of the State of New Mexico That 
     the President and Congress be urged to fund forty percent of 
     the average per special needs pupil expenditure in public 
     elementary and secondary schools in the United States as 
     promised under the Federal Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act to ensure that all children, regardless of 
     disability, receive a quality education and are treated with 
     the dignity and respect they deserve; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the United States, the President of the 
     United States Senate and the Members of the New Mexico 
     Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-71. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of New Mexico relative to honoring the nations, tribes 
     and pueblos of New Mexico; to the Committee on Indian 
     Affairs.

                           Senate Memorial 18

       Whereas, New Mexico's Nations, Tribes and Pueblos are 
     centuries-old communities that established and continue to 
     employ well-organized tribal self-governing systems; and
       Whereas, the existence and significance of Indian self-
     government and tribal sovereignty over tribal homelands was 
     acknowledged in New Mexico from the outset of European 
     contact as evidenced by the early Spanish Land Grants, the 
     recognition of civil and political rights by the independent 
     Government of Mexico, the United States in the 1848 Treaty of 
     Guadalupe Hidalgo and by the State in its Enabling Act of 
     1910; and
       Whereas, the State has continued to recognize and respect 
     the sovereign tribal governments of New Mexico through many 
     state laws that encourage the use of cooperative agreements 
     that authorize and encourage the Legislative, Executive and 
     Judicial Branches of the New Mexico Government to coordinate 
     and work cooperatively with the Nations, Tribes and Pueblos 
     of New Mexico; and
       Whereas, the Senate celebrates and honors the governments, 
     leadership and contributions of the Nations, Tribes and 
     Pueblos of New Mexico through an annual recognition day know 
     as ``American Indian Day'', occurring this year on February 
     4, 2003; and
       Whereas, the Governor is in the process of executing 
     agreements reaffirming government-to-government relationships 
     between the State and the Nations, Tribes ad Pueblos of New 
     Mexico; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Mexico That it 
     salute and honor the Nations, Tribes and Pueblos of New 
     Mexico by reaffirming its recognition of their status as 
     sovereign governments and the Legislature's commitment to 
     interact with the Nations, Tribes and Pueblos on a 
     government-to-government basis so as to promote 
     intergovernmental cooperation, coordination and communication 
     on all matters; and be it further
       Resolved, That the New Mexico Congressional Delegation be 
     encouraged to support and reaffirm the government-to-
     government relationship between states and tribes and the 
     fundamental principle that Indian Nations, Tribes and Pueblos 
     retain their inherent sovereign rights over their tribal 
     lands except as provided by Congress in an act of law or by 
     the ratification of a treaty; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate express its high regard for the 
     Pueblos, Nations and Tribes of New Mexico and all they have 
     done to strengthen community through their willingness to 
     work cooperatively with the State in many areas such as 
     Taxation, Tourism, Environmental Protection, Social Services 
     Delivery, Health, Education, Gaming and Public Safety; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be transmitted to 
     each of the Nations, Tribes and Pueblos of New Mexico, the 
     President of the United States, the New Mexico Congressional 
     Delegation, the President and President Pro Tempore of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives and the New Mexico Legislative Council.

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