[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 146 (Friday, October 17, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12836-S12837]
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-295. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to low-interest loans for military personnel called 
     to active duty; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                        House Resolution No. 283

       Whereas, The recent events in our country have served to 
     remind us of the degree to which our nation relies upon the 
     sacrifices of our men and women in the military. With the 
     call to active duty of thousands of members of National Guard 
     and reserve units for overseas deployment and an increasing 
     range of domestic security assignments, it is clear that our 
     military strength is rooted in both the professional ranks 
     and those working in civilian life while serving as ready 
     reserves; and
       Whereas, The men and women called to active duty to help 
     the country respond to a crisis such as we have faced since 
     September 11, 2001, do so at great cost to their families 
     and, often, their careers. The uncertain length of the 
     activation in the current situation can make the return to 
     active duty a devastating blow to the finances of a family or 
     a small business. When the person called to duty is the 
     primary breadwinner in a family, for example, as is often the 
     case, the family can face many difficulties. The mortgage 
     payments, food and utility bills, and costs of raising 
     children do not go away when the regular paycheck is replaced 
     by a military paycheck that is usually far less; and
       Whereas, While it would be impossible to cover the entire 
     burden facing many families, it would be helpful for the 
     federal government to do all it can to address this issue. A 
     low-interest loan program for those whose active duty pay is 
     less than civilian levels can provide short-term help with 
     the monthly bills. For families who have sent someone to 
     fight terrorism, whether overseas or on assignments at 
     airports or border crossings, this would be an appropriate 
     step to take: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the house of representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to provide a 
     program of low-interest loans for military personnel called 
     to active duty; 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-296. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Vermont relative to the Vermont 
     National Guard; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                          Senate Resolution 19

       Whereas, within days of the September 11, 2001, terrorist 
     attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, the nation's 
     governors activated National Guard soldiers and airmen to 
     augment security at 422 of the nation's international 
     airports; and
       Whereas, in true state-federal partnership, National Guard 
     forces are providing aerial port security under the command 
     and control of the sovereign states, territories, and the 
     District of Columbia and the federal government is funding 
     such duties ``in the service of the United States'' under 
     title 32 of the United States Code, section 502(f), 
     hereinafter referred to as ``title 32 duty''; and
       Whereas, title 32 duty has been used, inter alia, for more 
     than twenty years for National Guard full-time staffing; for 
     National Guard support for local, state, and federal law 
     enforcement agencies under governors' counter-drug plans for 
     more than twelve years; for National Guard civil support team 
     technical assistance for local first responders for more than 
     two years; and for aerial port security following the attacks 
     of September 11; and of particular note, the National Guard 
     counter-drug program has long included title 32 support for 
     United States Customs, Border Patrol, and Immigration and 
     Naturalization Service activities at United States ports of 
     entry; and
       Whereas, in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, 
     increased security and inadequate federal staffing have 
     limited the flow of persons, goods, and services across our 
     nation's borders, and these factors have contributed to a 
     serious weakening of the American and Canadian economies, 
     especially in states such as Vermont; and
       Whereas, the governors of northern tier border states wrote 
     President Bush in November 2001 offering to provide title 32 
     National Guard augmentation for United States Customs, Border 
     Patrol, and Immigration and Naturalization Service operations 
     at United States ports of entry, and such relief could have 
     been, and still can be, effected within days of acceptance by 
     the federal government; and
       Whereas, there is still no relief at our borders due to 
     inaction on the governors' offer of title 32 National Guard 
     assistance and conflicting Department of Defense proposals to 
     federalize the National Guard or otherwise enhance border 
     security with active duty military personnel instead of title 
     32 National Guard members; and
       Whereas, federalizing the National Guard under title 10 
     U.S.C. would degrade the combat readiness of units from which 
     guardsmen would be mobilized, interfere with effective state 
     force management, and prevent personal accommodations for 
     soldiers and their civilian employers; and
       Whereas, stationing federal military forces at the United 
     States-Canada border would be an unprecedented unilateral 
     action by the United States; and
       Whereas, the nation's border states need prompt relief 
     which can best be provided by title 32 National Guard forces 
     being deployed to assist lead federal agencies at the borders 
     ``in the service of the United States'', but under continued 
     state command and control; and
       Whereas, the Vermont State Senate opposes federalization of 
     the National Guard or assignment of federal military forces 
     for United States border security: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That the Senate of the State of 
     Vermont respectfully requests that Congress assures prompt 
     augmentation of lead federal agencies at the borders by 
     accepting the governors' offer of National Guard forces under 
     state command and control pursuant to 32 U.S.C. sec. 502(f), 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to 
     send copies of this resolution to the Honorable George W. 
     Bush, President of the United States, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State 
     of Vermont.
                                  ____

       POM-297. A resolution adopted by the City Council of the 
     City of Friendswood of the State of Texas relative to the 
     Corps of Engineers General Reevaluation Report on Clear 
     Creek; to the Committee on Armed Services.
       POM-298. A resolution adopted by the California State Lands 
     Commission opposing inclusion in any energy bill of a 
     requirement that the Department of the Interior prepare a 
     comprehensive inventory of oil and gas resources in the outer 
     continental shelf and use harmful seismic testing; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       POM-299. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington relative to cleanup of the Hanford 
     Reservation; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works.

                  Engrossed Senate Joint Memorial 8023

       Whereas, The Hanford Reservation in Southeast Washington 
     state presents an unprecedented environmental cleanup 
     challenge resulting from decades of defense production that 
     served to bring an early end to World War II and to keep our 
     nation safe during the Cold War years; and
       Whereas, The Hanford Reservation is located near the 
     Columbia River, which irrigates our farmland and is the 
     lifeblood of Washington state; and
       Whereas, It is imperative that cleanup of the Hanford 
     Reservation be sustained and completed as expeditiously as 
     possible to preserve the integrity of the environment and the 
     safety of generations to come; and
       Whereas, Significant cleanup progress is being made at 
     Hanford, including decommissioning and deactivating more than 
     35 buildings; resolving safety issues associated with 
     Hanford's 177 underground waste storage tanks; stabilizing 
     plutonium in the Plutonium Finishing Plant; moving spent 
     nuclear fuel out of the K-Basins and away from the river to 
     safer storage in the central plateau; shipping transuranic 
     waste to New Mexico for permanent storage; and moving 600,000 
     tons of contaminated soil away from the river; and
       Whereas, The President's proposed fiscal year 2003 budget 
     threatens the cleanup effort and jeopardizes the Department 
     of Energy's ability to comply with federal and state laws and 
     meet the compliance commitments set forth in the Tri-Party 
     Agreement between the State of Washington, The United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States 
     Department of Energy; and
       Whereas, Budget-driven delays in Hanford cleanup activities 
     will compromise the success of the project resulting in 
     greater costs to taxpayers, another in a string of broken 
     promises, and public outrage at this continuing, unaddressed 
     threat to public health and the environment; Now, therefore
       Your Memorialists respectfully pray that you fully fund the 
     needs of a sustained environmental cleanup in keeping with 
     federal and state laws and the Tri-Party Agreement, and 
     providing for the protection of the great Columbia River and 
     the citizens of the state of Washington, be it
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the 
     United States, the Secretary of the United States Department 
     of Energy, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of 
     Congress from the State of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-300. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Washington relative to support for an oil spill 
     prevention tugboat in the Strait of Juan de Fuca; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                       Senate Joint Memorial 8004

        Whereas, The marine waters located in the Strait of Juan 
     de Fuca between the State of Washington and Canada are some 
     of the

[[Page S12837]]

     most pristine and diverse marine waters in the United States 
     and include irreplaceable natural resources; and
        Whereas, The area includes such national treasures as the 
     Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and the Olympic 
     National Park, for which the Federal government acts as the 
     trustee thereof; and
        Whereas, The area is home to five federally recognized 
     Indian reservations for which the Federal government has the 
     responsibility of protecting treaty rights over tribal 
     fishing; and
        Whereas, The area is the habitat for several threatened 
     and endangered species as designated by the Federal 
     government; and
        Whereas, The marine waters are used by a large portion of 
     the Federal government's strategic naval fleet, which poses a 
     risk of oil spills; and
        Whereas, The marine waters are used for transportation of 
     petroleum products that are used to meet the energy needs in 
     the Western United States; and
        Whereas, These marine waters are of great environmental 
     and economic importance to not only the State of Washington, 
     but also to the people of Canada and the United States; and
        Whereas, The marine vessel traffic on these waters 
     presents risks of accidents and oil spills that would be 
     devastating to the environment and to the economy; and
        Whereas, The safety of these waters is currently 
     substantially improved on a temporary basis by an oil spill 
     prevention tugboat stationed at the westward end of the 
     Strait, the cost of which is currently borne solely by the 
     State of Washington: Now, therefore
       Your memorialists respectfully pray that Congress 
     appropriate sufficient budgetary support to permanently 
     station an oil spill prevention tugboat, of adequate size, 
     and with rescue, fire fighting, spill response, and 
     lifesaving capabilities, at the westward end of the Strait of 
     Juan de Fuca, be it
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the 
     United States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of 
     Congress from the State of Washington.
                                  ____


       POM-301. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to the Great Lakes, Great Lakes States; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                        House Resolution No. 265

       Whereas, the Great Lakes states have taken many steps to 
     protect the lakes. Most recently, Annex 2001 to the Great 
     Lakes Charter has demonstrated the concern of the people of 
     this region that the stewardship for this fresh water 
     resource must remain where it belongs--with the people of the 
     Great Lakes; and
       Whereas, the Great Lakes governors work closely with one 
     another and their Canadian provincial counterparts on 
     protecting the Great Lakes on a wide range of issues related 
     to water management and a host of economic matters that 
     strongly influence the lakes. This cooperation mirrors the 
     shared stake in the quality of the lakes and reflects the 
     appropriateness of policies that clearly affirm the authority 
     of the Great Lakes Governors pursuant to the Great Lakes 
     Charter; and
       Whereas, Federal law states: It is hereby determined and 
     declared to be in the public interest that (1) title to and 
     ownership of the lands beneath navigable waters within the 
     boundaries of their respective states and the natural 
     resources with such lands and water and (2) the right and 
     power to manage, administer, lease, develop, and use the said 
     lands and natural resources all in accordance with applicable 
     state law be, and they are hereby, subject to the provisions 
     hereof, recognized, confirmed, established, and vested in and 
     assigned to the respective states or the persons who were on 
     June 5, 1950, entitled thereto under the law of the 
     respective states in which the land is located, and the 
     respective granters, lessees, or successors in interest 
     thereof; and
       Whereas, the Great Lakes states have demonstrated that we 
     are an effective and efficient manager of Great Lakes water 
     resources. We implore the federal government to continue to 
     allow the Great Lakes states the ability to control the Great 
     Lakes: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the house of representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to increase 
     protections for the Great Lakes and to affirm the authority 
     of the Great Lakes governors on matters or the usage of Great 
     Lakes waters; 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.
     Adopted by the House of Representatives, January 24, 2002
                                  ____

       POM-302. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to restoration and protection of the Great Lakes; to 
     the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                        House Resolution No. 187

       Whereas, The waters of the Great Lakes constitute a 
     resource of the utmost importance of the future of our 
     nation, as they interact with the international community. 
     The quality and quantity of this fresh water treasure are 
     vital to the health and commercial well-being of millions of 
     Americans; and
       Whereas, Congress over the years has provided support for 
     numerous projects and conserve our natural resources, with 
     the most recent being legislation to fund the restorationm of 
     the Everglades and the South Florida ecosystem. This 
     legislation includes several billion dollars in funding to 
     the state of Florida. While the Everglades and the South 
     Florida ecosystem are clearly a unique resource, the Great 
     Lakes ecosystem has a prevailing international and national 
     economic significance due to the shipping of raw materials, 
     industrial products, and food, not to mention being the home 
     of 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water, and 95 
     percent of the United States' fresh surface water; and
       Whereas, With the Great Lakes at the heart of American 
     industrial and agricultural production, and the source of 
     recreation for millions, the United States of America must do 
     all it can to assure the viability of the health of the 
     lakes: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the house of representatives, That we call upon 
     the Congress of the United States to fund the Great Lakes 
     Basin with similar appropriations that have been afforded the 
     Florida Everglades and the South Florida ecosystem; 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 Representative, the members of the 
     Michigan congressional delegation, and the United States 
     Secretary of the Interior.
                                  ____

       POM-303. A notification from the Lietenant Governor of the 
     State of Alaska of the State's gratitude and support for the 
     war on terrorism and for efforts to support democracies and 
     promote peace wordwide; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                          ____________________