[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE WITH RESPECT TO POLIO

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 266 and the Senate 
proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 266) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate with respect to Polio.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, and any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 266) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 266

       Whereas polio has caused millions of casualties through 
     history, paralyzing millions and killing untold numbers of 
     others;
       Whereas polio remains a public health threat in today's 
     world, despite being easily preventable by vaccination;
       Whereas polio is now limited to 10 countries, with the 
     distinct possibility that it can be once and forever 
     extinguished as an affliction on mankind by ensuring the 
     vaccination of all children in these countries under the age 
     of 5;
       Whereas a Global Polio Eradication Initiative exists that 
     seeks to once and forever end polio as an illness, which 
     includes efforts underway by the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention; and
       Whereas the United States has the capacity to act to speed 
     the eradication of polio by assisting in the targeting of its 
     few remaining reservoirs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses serious concern about the continuing threat 
     posed by polio;
       (2) encourages the United Nations and its component 
     agencies, the private sector, private voluntary organizations 
     and non-governmental organizations, concerned States, and 
     international financial institutions to act with haste and 
     manifold dedication to eradicate polio as soon as possible; 
     and
       (3) calls upon the United States government to continue its 
     contribution to the multilateral effort to eradicate polio, 
     including closely monitoring laboratory stocks of the polio 
     virus.

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