[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4822-S4823]
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-72. A concurrent resolution by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of New Hampshire relative to a 
     peaceful and rapid resolution of the conflict between India 
     and Pakistan relative to the state of Jammu and Kashmir; to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                     House Concurrent Resolution 16

       Whereas, the people of the former Princely State of Jammu 
     and Kashmir have for the past 55 years been subjected to 
     documented and unspeakable human rights abuses, including the 
     execution of civilians, the rape and burning of women, the 
     immolation and mutilation of children, the deliberate 
     shelling of civilians by military artillery, and the torture 
     and murder of political detainees; and
       Whereas, 2 wars between India and Pakistan, in 1965 and 
     1971, failed to justly resolve either the issue of self-
     determination or the ongoing and egregious violations of 
     human rights; and
       Whereas, the threat of nuclear war between India and 
     Pakistan has reached unprecedented levels because of the 
     volatility of the issues attendant to the accession of 
     Kashmir; and
       Whereas, resolution of this conflict, the cessation of 
     atrocities, and the reduction of the threat of nuclear war is 
     unquestionably in the best interests of the people of the 
     state of New Hampshire, the United States of America, and the 
     world community of nations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 
     concurring:
       That the New Hampshire general court, fully mindful of the 
     sacred obligation embodied in our state motto, ``Live Free or 
     Die,'' respectfully requests that the United States Senate 
     and the United States House of Representatives immediately 
     initiate hearings to discern all relevant facts and 
     circumstances attendant to the Kashmiri conflict so as to 
     facilitate its just, peaceful, and rapid resolution; to bring 
     a cessation of atrocities against the people of Jammu and 
     Kashmir; and to minimize the threat of nuclear war in 
     Southwest Asia; and
       That the New Hampshire general court hereby calls upon all 
     parties to this conflict to adhere to the principles of the 
     United Nations Charter on Human Rights forthwith, and grant 
     observers from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch 
     free and unrestricted access to the entire State of Jammu and 
     Kashmir to monitor the status of human rights therein; and
       That copies of this resolution be sent by the house clerk 
     to the President of the United States, the Vice President of 
     the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and the New Hampshire congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-73. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Michigan relative to federal transit funding 
     for highways and transit programs; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, Michigan faces a difficult task in maintaining a 
     transportation network that meets the many needs of the 
     individuals and businesses of this state. This challenge is 
     made more difficult because of the fact that Michigan 
     receives in return from the federal government far less in 
     highway funding than we send to Washington; and
       Whereas, under the provisions of the Transportation Equity 
     Act for the 21st Century, Michigan currently receives 
     approximately 90.5 cents in return for every highway dollar 
     we send to the federal government. While this is a notable 
     improvement

[[Page S4823]]

     from the amounts received in prior years, it remains 
     inadequate for our state's considerable overall 
     transportation needs. In the area of transit, the deficiency 
     of funding received from Washington is much more severe, with 
     Michigan receiving only about 50 cents for each dollar we 
     send through taxes; and
       Whereas, this shortfall will present significant problems 
     to certain aspects of our transportation infrastructure. As 
     discussions take place on future funding mechanisms and the 
     next federal transportation funding bill, it is imperative 
     that a fairer approach be developed: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the senate (the house of representatives 
     concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United 
     States to establish a minimum rate of return of 95 percent of 
     Michigan's federal transportation funding for highway and 
     transit programs; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-74. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan relative to the United States Coast Guard Cutter 
     Bramble; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.

                        Senate Resolution No. 21

       Whereas, Since its launch in 1943, the United States Coast 
     Guard Cutter Bramble has served our nation in a variety of 
     capacities. Following its six decades of service, the 180-
     foot buoy tender is scheduled for decommissioning in the 
     spring of 2003; and
       Whereas, The people of Port Huron, the home port of the 
     Bramble since 1975, feel a strong sense of identity with the 
     vessel. As a result, local citizens are working hard to make 
     the cutter a permanent educational and historical resource of 
     Port Huron by securing title and ownership for the Port Huron 
     Museum of Arts and History. Members of the community have 
     expressed a commitment to renovating the Bramble for its new 
     role and maintaining it for the future; and
       Whereas, The history of the missions undertaken by the 
     Bramble will serve as a visible reminder of the many ways the 
     Coast Guard serves our nation. The cutter's work during World 
     War II, its journey through Arctic waters and the Bering 
     Straits to the Atlantic in 1957, and its long years working 
     to secure navigation and safety along the Great Lakes will 
     provide invaluable lessons for visitors, especially children; 
     and
       Whereas, Legislation has been introduced in Congress to 
     provide for the Coast Guard to convey the Bramble to the Port 
     Huron Museum of Arts and History after decommissioning: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the senate, That we memorialize the Congress of 
     the United States to enact legislation to provide for the 
     United States Coast Guard to transfer ownership of the 
     decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Bramble to the Port Huron 
     Museum of Arts and History; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-75. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of South Dakota relative to memorializing the 
     Congress to refrain from acquiring certain additional land 
     for Wind Cave National Park; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 1019

       Whereas, the United States Congress is considering 
     legislation to add more than 5,500 acres to Wind Cave 
     National Park; and
       Whereas, Wind Cave National Park, located in the southern 
     Black Hills, is the location of one of the longest and most 
     complex cave systems in the United States and includes 28,000 
     acres of mixed-grass prairies and pine forests that provide 
     habitat for bison, deer, elk, and many other species; and
       Whereas, the proposed addition would involve the purchase 
     of similar adjacent, private land; and
       Whereas, residents of Custer and Fall River counties by a 
     large margin do not support the proposed purchase of 
     additional property for Wind Cave National Park; and
       Whereas, the proposed purchase would reduce property tax 
     revenues to Custer County and the Hot Springs School 
     District, and federal payments in lieu of taxes would not be 
     sufficient to make up for the loss; and
       Whereas, the National Park Service prohibits hunting in 
     Wind Cave National Park and would prohibit hunting in the 
     additional areas to be purchased, and the National Park 
     Service does not have a strong record in the area of wildlife 
     management; and
       Whereas, the purchase price for the proposed additional 
     acres is higher than warranted and would drive the price of 
     land in the area beyond the reach of agricultural producers: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-
     eighth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate 
     concurring therein, That the South Dakota Legislature does 
     not support the proposed purchase of additional land for an 
     expansion of Wind Cave National Park currently under 
     consideration by the United States Congress. The Legislature 
     urges Congress to refrain from making the purchase and to 
     allocate the resources intended for the purchase to more 
     appropriate purposes.
                                  ____

       POM-76. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Parish of 
     Ascension of the State of Louisiana relative to establishing 
     a national energy policy; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                          ____________________