[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2448-S2451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 312--COMMENDING THE BRAVERY OF THE INITIAL RESPONDERS
IN THE BALTIMORE HARBOR WATER TAXI ACCIDENT OF MARCH 6, 2004
Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Sarbanes) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 312
Whereas on Saturday, March 6, 2004, a water taxi overturned
in Baltimore Harbor during a sudden and vicious storm;
Whereas 25 passengers were thrown into the Harbor, into
frigid 43 degree water, with little chance of survival;
Whereas tragically, 1 person died and 3 people are presumed
to be dead;
Whereas if not for the immediate action of the initial
responders, more lives would certainly have been lost;
Whereas the initial responders demonstrated extraordinary
bravery in their heroic response in rescuing the passengers;
Whereas after noticing the accident, the initial responders
rushed to the scene, piloting their vessel to the accident
site and immediately diving into the frigid waters in their
street clothes and boots to help those clinging for their
lives;
Whereas the initial responders not only saved those
clinging to the boat for survival but used their exceptional
skills and ingenuity to elevate the capsized boat to rescue
those passengers trapped beneath;
Whereas the team of initial responders worked together to
pull the passengers out of the water, identify those who
needed immediate medical attention, turn the Fort McHenry
Drill Hall into a triage center to identify the victims who
were most in need, and provide all with dry clothing and warm
blankets;
Whereas it was a team effort to rescue and save those
stranded in the freezing Chesapeake waters that involved
rescuers in the water, on the pier, and at Fort McHenry;
Whereas we commend the courage and resolution of Maryland's
outstanding initial responders whose quick reaction to this
terrible accident saved lives; and
Whereas we praise these initial responders--the Navy
Reservists, Coast Guard, Maritime Fire Department, Baltimore
Fire Department, Bowleys Quarters Search and Rescue Team, and
the emergency medical team--who worked together as a team to
rescue people and save lives: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) pays tribute to the victims of this terrible accident
and expresses its condolences to their families;
(2) commends the initial responders in the Baltimore water
taxi accident of March 6, 2004, for their bravery, quick
thinking, courage, and ingenuity in rescuing the passengers
of the water taxi that capsized after a sudden and vicious
storm swept over the Baltimore Harbor; and
(3) commends the team of initial responders for this
extraordinary demonstration of their ongoing commitment and
dedication to saving lives.
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 313--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ENCOURAGING
THE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT OF AMERICANS IN WORLD AFFAIRS AND URGING THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TO COORDINATE WITH IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS IN CREATING
AN ONLINE DATABASE OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND RELATED
OPPORTUNITIES
Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. Hagel) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 313
Whereas many polls and studies have indicated that the
United States needs to do a
[[Page S2449]]
better job of building personal and institutional
relationships with peoples and nations around the world in
order to combat anti-American sentiment;
Whereas broad bipartisan consensus in favor of
strengthening United States public diplomacy emerged during
2003 in both Houses of Congress and in various reports,
including reports of the Council on Foreign Relations, the
General Accounting Office, the Advisory Commission on Public
Diplomacy, the Heritage Foundation, and the Advisory Group on
Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World;
Whereas in November 2003, NAFSA: Association of
International Educators warned that Americans' lack of
knowledge of the world represents a national liability in the
fight against terrorism;
Whereas international exchange programs, which have
assisted in extending American influence in the world by
educating the world's leaders, are suffering from a decline
in funding and policy priority;
Whereas the number of United States university-level
students studying abroad in 2001-2002 was 160,920,
representing just over 1 percent of United States students;
Whereas \2/3\ of United States students studying abroad
study in Western Europe (18.7 percent in the United Kingdom
alone), although 95 percent of the world population growth in
the next 50 years is expected to occur outside Western
Europe;
Whereas the number of scholarships for foreign students
studying at United States institutions has dropped from
20,000 a year in the 1980s to 900 in 2003;
Whereas there are 29,400,000 retired workers in the United
States as of June 2003, meaning that there are many older
Americans who have the talent, maturity, and time to
volunteer their services abroad;
Whereas the average American college graduate who has
studied 1 of the less commonly taught languages reaches no
more than an intermediate level of proficiency in the
language, which is insufficient to meet national security
requirements; and
Whereas there are hundreds of well-established
organizations in the United States that implement educational
and professional exchanges, international volunteering, and
related programs, and the efforts of those organizations
could readily be expanded to reach out to more Americans:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This resolution may be cited as the ``People-to-People
Engagement in World Affairs Resolution''.
SEC. 2 SENSE OF SENATE.
It is the sense of the Senate--
(1) to urge the Secretary of State to coordinate with
implementing partners in creating an online database that
provides information on how Americans can take advantage of--
(A) international exchange programs of the Department of
State, the Department of Education, and other Federal
Government and non-government entities;
(B) volunteer opportunities with organizations that assist
refugees and immigrants in the United States;
(C) opportunities to host international students and
professionals in the United States;
(D) sister-city organizations in the United States;
(E) international fairs and cultural events in the United
States; and
(F) foreign language learning opportunities;
(2) to challenge Americans to become more engaged in
international affairs and more aware of peoples and
developments outside the United States; and
(3) to encourage Americans to seize 1 or more opportunities
toward this end, by such means as--
(A) participating in a professional or cultural exchange;
(B) studying abroad;
(C) volunteering abroad;
(D) working with an immigrant or refugee group;
(E) hosting a foreign student or professional;
(F) participating in a sister-city program; and
(G) learning a foreign language.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am pleased to submit the People-to-
People Engagement in World Affairs resolution with my esteemed
colleague, Senator Chuck Hagel.
In the 1960s, during a troubled and divisive time for our country,
President John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to ``ask not what your
country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.'' Today,
the need is even more urgent for Americans to be active participants
both in the United States and abroad.
This People-to-People Engagement in World Affairs resolution is a
call to Americans to look beyond our borders to engage with the wider
world at an individual, human level. It encourages Americans to seize
opportunities to engage in the global arena--through participating in a
professional or cultural exchange; studying or volunteering abroad;
working with an immigrant or refugee group in the United States;
hosting a foreign student or professional; participating in a sister-
city program; and/or learning a foreign language.
It also asks the Secretary of State to coordinate with implementing
partners in creating an online database that lists these opportunities
for Americans.
In today's world, our challenges and opportunities are global in
nature. Terrorism, the greatest threat to our national security,
crosses all national boundaries and feeds off the gaps in intelligence
and communication created by borders. Other important issues, such as
the proliferation of WMD, human trafficking, poverty, environmental
degradation, and diseases from HIV/AIDS to polio also have little
regard for borders. These challenges require international cooperation,
and Americans at all levels of society are instrumental in finding and
achieving meaningful solutions.
This resolution encourages Americans to forge relationships with
people outside of the United States to change not only how Americans
view and act in the world, but how others view Americans. Presently,
anti-Americanism is growing at a startling rate. According to the Pew
Research Center, negative views of the United States among Muslims,
which were once limited to the Middle East, have spread to populations
in places like Nigeria and Indonesia. A growing percentage of Muslims
see serious threats to Islam by the United States. Majorities in seven
of eight Muslim populations surveyed express worries that the U.S.
might become a military threat to their countries. And these disturbing
trends hold strong even beyond the Muslim world.
This is dangerous for a number of reasons. Anti-Americanism
undermines our ability to work effectively with other countries on our
global problems. In addition, in our fight against terror, anti-
Americanism can create a steady supply of recruits for terrorist
networks, intent on our destruction. These terrorist networks have
unfairly blamed the United States for the unemployment, the poverty and
the powerlessness that so many around the world experience on a daily
basis. They feed off erroneous perceptions of Americans, distorting our
image to achieve their own objectives.
Americans must combat these misperceptions and turn mistrust into
understanding. If we don't define ourselves to the people of the world,
we run the risk that terrorist will continue to make America a
scapegoat for other nation's ills. In order to show the world who
Americans really are, diplomacy must occur at all levels of society and
not only through U.S. government representatives. Artists, scholars,
teachers, nurses, doctors, and business people all have a role in
shaping this image and in presenting a different American face to the
world.
Many Americans have been engaged for decades. In my own State of
Wisconsin, my constituents have demonstrated altruism and curiosity
daily. They have worked in the Peace Corps, trained dairy farmers in
South America and Eastern Europe, participated in sister-city exchanges
with the former Soviet Union, traveled to refugee camps in Thailand and
hosted international students. Through these activities, my
constituents have fought stereotypes and created openings for greater
trust and cooperation. The need is greater now than ever before for
more Americans to become involved.
I have been approached by Americans of all ages and all economic
backgrounds to ask me how they can become more involved. This
resolution is a response to those Americans and a challenge to many
more to define our times and to shape our world. The creation of the
online database as part of this resolution will assist Americans in
finding the best way for them personally to participate. Americans will
use their enthusiasm and curiosity to engage in the world where they
can--through tutoring children, through assisting refugees who come to
our country, through professional training, and through showing concern
for the well-being of other outside of the United States.
This resolution is a challenge to Americans to make connections in
their own way--to listen and show respect for others and their way of
life. Americans can bridge the gap between
[[Page S2450]]
this powerful nation and people around the world who feel frustrated
and powerless. We can change perceptions, change minds, and change the
world we live in.
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 314--COMMEMORATING AND HONORING PRESIDENT BORIS
TRAJKOVSKI
Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Biden) submitted the
following resolution which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 314
Whereas President Boris Trajkovski of the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia played a vital role in efforts to
promote peace, stability, and democratic reform in his
country and throughout Southeast Europe;
Whereas President Trajkovski was tragically killed on
Thursday, February 26, 2004, when a plane carrying the
President and 8 others crashed in southern Bosnia;
Whereas the people elected Boris Trajkovski to serve as
President in November 1999, and inaugurated him as the second
Macedonian President on December 15, 1999;
Whereas President Trajkovski led the country during a
tumultuous period in Southeast Europe, working with the
international community to accommodate refugees following the
crisis in neighboring Kosovo in 1999, and playing a
significant role in the signing of the Ohrid Framework
Agreement in 2001;
Whereas President Trajkovski promoted the rule of law and
respect for human rights, and encouraged economic, judicial,
and military reforms necessary to move the country toward
membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the
European Union; and
Whereas the Macedonian government continues to work to join
Europe's democratic institutions, and peace and stability in
the country is critical to the broader region of Southeast
Europe: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) offers its condolences and deepest sympathy to the
people of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the
family of President Boris Trajkovski, and the families of the
other crash victims during this difficult period;
(2) recognizes the courageous leadership and the
significant role that President Trajkovski played in efforts
to promote peace, stability, and reform, including his work
to secure the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement; and
(3) encourages the Macedonian government to continue
efforts to implement the Ohrid Peace Agreement, and to move
forward with reforms necessary to join the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization and the European Union.
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 315--DESIGNATING MARCH 8, 2004, AS ``INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY''
Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Cantwell, Mr.
Lautenberg, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Levin, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Graham of South
Carolina, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Bayh, Mrs.
Murray, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Crapo,
Mr. Dayton, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Feingold) submitted the
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 315
Whereas all over the world women are contributing to the
growth of economies, participating in the world of diplomacy
and politics, and improving the quality of the lives of their
families, communities, and nations;
Whereas discrimination continues to deny women full
political and economic equality and is often the basis for
violations of women's basic human rights;
Whereas worldwide, the lives and health of women and girls
continue to be endangered by violence that is directed at
them simply because of their gender;
Whereas worldwide, violence against women includes rape,
genital mutilation, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating
violence, honor killings, sexual trafficking in women, dowry-
related violence, female infanticide, sex-selection abortion,
forced pregnancy, forced sterilization, and forced abortion;
Whereas the World Health Organization asserts that domestic
violence causes more deaths and disability among women
between ages 15 and 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic
accidents, and war;
Whereas 130,000,000 girls and young women have been
subjected to female genital mutilation, and it is estimated
that 10,000 girls are at risk of being subjected to this
practice in the United States and more than 160,000 girls and
women in immigrant communities in the United States may have
been victims of the traditional practice of female genital
mutilation or are at risk of being subjected to it;
Whereas worldwide, at least 1 in 3 women has been beaten or
sexually abused in her lifetime;
Whereas 1 in 6 women in the United States has experienced
an attempted or completed sexual assault and 1 in 5 women
reported she had been raped or physically or sexually
assaulted in her lifetime;
Whereas in the United States, a woman is battered, usually
by her intimate partner, every 15 seconds;
Whereas over 300,000 women each year experience intimate
partner violence during their pregnancy;
Whereas more than 3 women are murdered by their husbands or
boyfriends in the United States every day;
Whereas nearly 25 percent of American women report being
raped or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse,
cohabiting partner, or date at some time in their lifetime;
Whereas in the United States, battering is the leading
cause of injury to women between ages 15 and 44;
Whereas it is estimated that 1 in 5 adolescent girls in the
United States becomes a victim of physical or sexual abuse,
or both, in a dating relationship;
Whereas worldwide, 20 to 50 percent of women experience
some degree of domestic violence during marriage;
Whereas worldwide, women account for \1/2\ of all cases of
HIV/AIDS, approximately 42,000,000, and in countries with
high HIV prevalence, young women are at a higher risk than
young men of contracting HIV;
Whereas worldwide, sexual violence, including marital rape,
has been announced as a major cause of the rapid spread of
HIV/AIDS among women;
Whereas \2/3\ of the world's nearly 1,000,000,000
illiterate individuals are women;
Whereas worldwide, girls are less likely to complete school
than boys;
Whereas \2/3\ of children denied primary education are
girls;
Whereas in most countries, women work approximately twice
the unpaid time men do;
Whereas about 3 in 10 households are maintained by women
with no husband present;
Whereas rural women produce more than 55 percent of all
food grown in developing countries;
Whereas women comprise almost 15 percent of the active
duty, reserve, and guard units of the United States Armed
Forces;
Whereas it is estimated that women and girls make up more
than 70 percent of the 1,300,000,000 poorest people in the
world;
Whereas women work \2/3\ of the world's working hours, and
produce \1/2\ of the world's food, yet earn only 1 percent of
the world's income, and own less than 1 percent of the
world's property;
Whereas worldwide women still earn less, own less property,
and have less access to education, employment, and health
care than do men;
Whereas between 75 and 80 percent of the world's 27,000,000
refugees are women and children;
Whereas illegal trafficking worldwide for forced labor,
domestic servitude, or sexual exploitation involves between
1,000,000 and 2,000,000 women and children each year, of whom
50,000 are transported to the United States;
Whereas as many as 750,000 women and children have been
trafficked into the United States over the last decade;
Whereas March 8 has become known as International Women's
Day for the last century, and is a day on which people, often
divided by ethnicity, language, culture, and income, come
together to celebrate a common struggle for women's equality,
justice, and peace;
Whereas the dedication and success of those working all
over the world to end violence against women and girls and
fighting for equality should be recognized; and
Whereas the people of the United States should be
encouraged to participate in International Women's Day: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates March 8, 2004, as International Women's Day;
(2) reaffirms its commitment to--
(A) ending discrimination and violence against women;
(B) ensuring the safety and welfare of women; and
(C) pursuing policies that guarantee the basic rights of
women both in the United States and in the world; and
(3) requests that the President issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States to observe
``International Women's Day'' with appropriate programs and
activities.
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 316--DESIGNATING APRIL 2004 AS ``FINANCIAL LITERACY
MONTH''
Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Corzine, Mr.
Santorum, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Schumer,
Mr. Levin, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Durbin, Mr.
Inouye and Mr. Crapo) submitted the following resolution; which was
considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 316
Whereas only 26 percent of 13- to 21-year olds reported
that their parents actively taught them how to manage money;
Whereas a 2002 survey by the National Council on Economic
Education found that a decreasing number of States include
personal finance in their education standards
[[Page S2451]]
for students in kindergarten through grade 12;
Whereas a 2002 study by the Jump$tart Coalition for
Personal Financial Literacy found that high school seniors
know even less about credit cards, retirement funds,
insurance, and other personal finance basics than high school
seniors did 5 years ago;
Whereas 55 percent of college students acquire their first
credit card during their first year in college, and 83
percent of college students have at least 1 credit card;
Whereas personal savings as a percentage of personal income
decreased from 7.5 percent in the early 1980s to 2.3 percent
in the first 3 quarters of 2003;
Whereas today more than 42,000,000 people in the United
States participate in 401(k) plans;
Whereas a 2002 Retirement Confidence Survey found that only
32 percent of workers surveyed have calculated how much money
they will need to save for retirement;
Whereas only 30 percent of those surveyed in a 2003
Employee Benefit Trend Study are confident in their ability
to make the right financial decisions for themselves and
their families, and 25 percent have done no specific
financial planning;
Whereas between 25,000,000 and 56,000,000 adults are
unbanked, i.e., not using mainstream, insured financial
institutions;
Whereas millions of people in the United States derive
great benefits from the wide variety of products and services
offered by the financial services industry in the United
States, and such financial products and services allow
individuals and families to build homes, start businesses,
finance educations, buy cars, and meet the everyday needs of
everyday life;
Whereas expanding access to the mainstream financial system
provides individuals with lower cost, safer options for
managing their finances and building wealth;
Whereas a greater understanding and familiarity with
financial markets and institutions will lead to increased
economic activity and growth;
Whereas financial education has been linked to lower
delinquency rates for mortgage borrowers, higher
participation and contribution rates in retirement plans,
improved spending and saving habits, higher net worth, and
positive knowledge, attitude, and behavior changes;
Whereas financial literacy empowers individuals to make
wise financial decisions and reduces the confusion of an
increasingly complex economy;
Whereas personal financial management skills and life-long
habits develop during childhood;
Whereas personal financial education is essential to ensure
that individuals are prepared to manage money, credit, and
debt, and become responsible workers, heads of households,
investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens; and
Whereas Congress found it important enough to ensure
coordination of Federal financial literacy efforts and
formulate a national strategy that it established the
Financial Literacy and Education Commission in 2003 and
designated the Office of Financial Education of the
Department of the Treasury to provide support for the
Commission: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates April 2004 as ``Financial Literacy Month''
to raise public awareness about the importance of financial
education in the United States and the serious consequences
that may be associated with a lack of understanding about
personal finances; and
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation
calling on the Federal Government, States, localities,
schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities,
and the people of the United States to observe the month with
appropriate programs and activities.
______
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 97--RECOGNIZING THE 91ST ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA
Mr. SARBANES (for himself and Ms. Mikulski) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary:
S. Con. Res. 97
Whereas The Garden Club of America is holding its 91st
annual meeting in Washington, D.C. April 24 through 27, 2004;
Whereas The Garden Club of America has 195 member clubs in
40 States and the District of Columbia, representing more
than 17,000 members;
Whereas since its founding in 1913, The Garden Club of
America has become a recognized leader in the fields of
horticulture, conservation, historic preservation, and civic
improvement, and an influential organization in the
protection of America's environment; and
Whereas in our Nation's Capital, The Garden Club of America
was instrumental in the founding of the National Arboretum,
the development of the Archives of American Gardens at the
Smithsonian Institution, and the creation and installation of
the Butterfly Habitat Garden which now graces The National
Mall at the National Museum of Natural History: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That Congress commends The Garden Club of
America for the many contributions it has made in our
Nation's Capital and in communities across the United States,
and sends its best wishes on the occasion of its 91st annual
meeting in Washington, D.C., April 24 through 27, 2004.
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, today I am submitting legislation
together with Senator Mikulski that would recognize the achievements of
The Garden Club of America on the occasion of its 91st annual meeting
in Washington, DC, from April 24 through 27, 2004. This meeting in our
Nation's Capital is especially significant because it occurs here only
once every twenty-five years. This legislation recognizes and honors
The Garden Club and the work of its 17,000 members to improve our
country.
Since its founding in 1913, The Garden Club of America has grown to
include 195 member clubs in 40 States and the District of Columbia. It
is a recognized leader in the fields of horticulture, conservation,
historic preservation, civic improvement, and has significant influence
in the protection of America's environment.
Right here in the District of Columbia we can witness the results of
The Garden Club's labor. Indeed it played an instrumental role in the
founding of the National Arboretum and the development of the Archives
of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution.
Perhaps even more importantly, The Garden Club has become a
significant impetus for community service across the United States. The
scope of The Garden Club of America goes well beyond its numerous
publications, its public plant and flower shows, and its national
medalists. It is a source for the exchange of ideas and a platform for
the betterment of our communities across this great country. The
purpose of The Garden Club of America is to stimulate the knowledge and
love of gardening, but also to share the advantages of association
through educational meetings, conferences, correspondence, and
publications, and to improve the quality of the environment through
conservation and civic improvement.
As a Marylander I know first hand of the contributions The Garden
Club of America has made to our State. Ladew Topiary Gardens is a prime
example of the edification and enjoyment that stems from the support of
The Garden Club of America. Since 1971, Ladew Gardens has used its 22
acres of gardens to educate children, entertain families, and promote
the importance of beautiful landscapes within our communities. Every
spring and summer, hundreds of families congregate in the gardens to
enjoy the Sunday concerts, afternoon picnics, and self-guided
educational nature walks. And every year, hundreds of families leave
the gardens with an exhilarated appreciation for America's outdoors,
and an enriched desire to conserve that beauty.
The Garden Club of America has asked for very little in return for
its dedication to America's beautiful landscapes. I am submitting this
legislation today in the hope that we in the Congress can recognize
this significant contribution as The Garden Club of America holds its
annual meeting here in our Nation's Capital. I urge my colleagues in
the Senate to join me in supporting this legislation.
____________________