[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 2, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10969-S10970]
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-255. A resolution adopted by the Town Board of the Town 
     of Southampton of the State of New York relative to the 
     Nuclear Security Act of 2001; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.

                             Resolution 869

       Whereas, the Town of Southampton is approximately 24 miles 
     from the Millstone II nuclear power facility in Connecticut; 
     and
       Whereas, an accident or terrorist act upon the Millstone 
     nuclear facility resulting in the release of radioactive 
     materials into the air could have grave consequences on our 
     Town; and
       Whereas, federal legislation has been proposed in the 
     Senate entitled the Nuclear Security Act of 2001--Federal 
     Protection of Nuclear Reactors (S. 1746), introduced by 
     Senator Harry Reid and co-sponsored by Senator Hillary 
     Clinton to address situations like the one we are now facing; 
     and
       Whereas, a companion bill H.R. 3382 has been introduced in 
     the House of Representatives by Representative Ed Markey; and
       Whereas, both these bills contain provisions that include: 
     the federalization of nuclear power plant security forces; 
     the revision of design criteria for nuclear reactors to 
     include threats equivalent to the events of September 11, 
     2001, or the use of explosive devices or other modern 
     weaponry; the development of a security plan to prevent 
     disruption of operations or radioactive releases to protect 
     spent fuel pools, to place spent fuel in dry cask storage, 
     and to require background security checks; bi-annual force-
     on-force exercises to assure that the plant can protect 
     itself from an assault or infiltration from terrorists; 
     distribution of potassium iodide stockpiles in a 50 mile 
     radius of a nuclear power plant with plans for distribution 
     in the event of an accident; emergency planning exercises 
     within a 50 mile zone around a nuclear power plant once every 
     three years and public reporting on the results of the 
     planning exercises; a surcharge on nuclear power generation 
     of up to 1 mil per kilowatt hour plus federal appropriations 
     to fund the security forces and security plans; authorization 
     to deploy the National Guard, Coast Guard, and to restrict 
     air space around reactors in the event of war or national 
     emergency, to be funded through federal appropriations; and 
     now therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Town Board of the Town of Southampton 
     supports the passage of the Nuclear Security Act of 2001 and 
     House Bill H.R. 3382; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     following: Hon. Richard Cheney, Vice President, and President 
     of the Senate, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
     Washington D.C. 20500; and Hon. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of 
     the House of Representatives, 2369 Rayburn HOB, Washington, 
     D.C. 20515.
                                  ____

       POM-256. A resolution adopted by the Assembly of the State 
     of New York relative to the United Nations Convention on the 
     Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 
     Treaty; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                         Legislative Resolution

       Whereas, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination 
     of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was adopted by 
     the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 1979, and 
     became an international treaty on September 3, 1981; and
       Whereas, the Convention establishes a worldwide commitment 
     to combat discrimination and violence against women and girls 
     around the world; and
       Whereas, as of May of 2001, 168 nations, including all 
     members of the United Nations in the industrialized world 
     except the United States, have ratified or acceded to the 
     Convention provisions, leaving the United States among a 
     small minority of countries, including Afghanistan, North 
     Korea, Iran and Sudan, which have not; and
       Whereas, the spirit of the Convention is rooted in the 
     basic principles of the United States, to affirm faith in 
     fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the 
     human person, and in the equal rights of men and women; and
       Whereas, because more than ever, in recent months, the 
     United States has taken a leading role in the promotion of 
     democracy and freedom around the world, it is essential to 
     set such an example here at home; and
       Whereas, the Convention is critical to the restoration of 
     human rights for women in Afghanistan, as it has been for 
     protecting rights of women in countries as diverse as Uganda, 
     Colombia, Brazil and South Africa, including citizenship 
     rights for women in Botswana and Japan, inheritance rights in 
     Tanzania, and property rights in Costa Rica; and

[[Page S10970]]

       Whereas, the Convention provides a comprehensive framework 
     for eliminating the various forces that have created and 
     sustained discrimination based on sex against half the 
     world's population; and
       Whereas, although women have made major gains in the 
     struggle for equality in social, business, political, legal, 
     educational and other fields in this century, there is much 
     yet to be accomplished, and through its support, leadership 
     and prestige, the United States can help create a world where 
     women are no longer discriminated against and may achieve one 
     of the most fundamental human rights, equality; and
       Whereas, the United States has long been a world leader in 
     the promotion of women's rights, and its ratification of the 
     Convention will confirm to its citizens and to citizens of 
     the world that this country unequivocally supports the 
     participation of women in politics, economics and society, at 
     home and throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That this Legislative Body pause in its 
     deliberations to strongly urge President George W. Bush and 
     Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to place this treaty, the 
     United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
     Discrimination Against Women, in the highest category of 
     priority, in order to accelerate the treaty's passage through 
     the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the 
     full United States Senate, with the goal of the United States 
     Ratification; and be it further
       Resolved, That this Legislative Body exhort the United 
     States Foreign Relations Committee to pass this treaty 
     favorably out of Committee; and be it further
       Resolved, That this Legislative Body strongly urges the 
     Senate of the United States to ratify the United Nations 
     Convention's continuing goals; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Resolution, suitably 
     engrossed, be transmitted to President George W. Bush, 
     Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, President of the Senate 
     Richard B. Cheney, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations 
     Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and all members of the New 
     York State Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-257. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine relative to Homeland Security costs; to 
     the Committee on the Judiciary.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas, the tragic events that occurred on September 11, 
     2001 resulted in a horrific loss of thousands of lives as 
     hijacked planes crashed into the Pentagon, into a field in 
     the countryside of Pennsylvania and into both towers of the 
     World Trade Center in New York City, resulting in their total 
     collapse; and
       Whereas, these planned assaults on our nation were 
     perpetrated by terrorists who sought to harm us, our freedoms 
     and our way of life, but ironically the events of September 
     11, 2001 have resulted in a national unity not seen since 
     World War II; and
       Whereas, funded by deep pockets overseas, the terrorists 
     were able to take advantage of us by infiltrating and 
     accessing our airports, towns and cities to plan their 
     attacks and have shown us clearly that there are enemies of 
     our way of life both at home and abroad; and
       Whereas, to protect our citizenry, our infrastructure, our 
     cities and our highways and to keep our free society, we need 
     to change certain security measures in many parts of our 
     nation on a day-to-day basis; and
       Whereas, new guidelines of security all across the country 
     are being planned, such as increased security personnel and 
     equipment, increased public safety response, heightened 
     surveillance and intelligence gathering, improved medical 
     preparedness, shelter improvements and improved emergency 
     medical staff; and
       Whereas, the costs for hour homeland security have already 
     begun to take their toll on states' budgets across the nation 
     with added marine security costs, higher expenses in human 
     services and bureaus of health and increased transportation 
     and public utility costs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge 
     that the Federal Government be responsible for these 
     increased costs that the states are bearing; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and 
     the President of the United States Senate and to each Member 
     of the Maine Congressional Delegation.

                          ____________________