[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 31 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2728-S2729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 318--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
 POSTAGE STAMP SHOULD BE ISSUED IN COMMEMORATION OF DIWALI, A FESTIVAL 
                 CELEBRATED BY PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN

  Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself and Mr. Corzine) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Affairs:
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
expressing the Sense of the Senate that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory 
Commission should issue a postage stamp honoring Diwali.
  Diwali, known colloquially as the ``festival of light,'' is 
celebrated annually in Indian communities worldwide. Diwali marks the 
beginning of the Hindu New Year and signifies the renewal of life for 
all. Traditionally lasting five days, it is common practice for 
celebrants to light small oil lamps, called diyas, and place them 
around the home and pray for health, knowledge, and peace. Light 
represents the triumph of good over evil, and signifies optimism for 
the future.
  Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Eid have already been recognized on 
United States postage stamps. It would be appropriate to add Diwali to 
this distinguished list. It is a holiday about community, family, and 
hope for the future--qualities the Senate should highlight and embrace.

                              S. Res. 318

       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) a postage stamp should be issued by the United States 
     Postal Service in commemoration of Diwali, a festival 
     celebrated by people of Indian origin; and
       (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
     to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 319--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE WITH RESPECT 
   TO THE DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF SPAIN THAT 
                       OCCURRED ON MARCH 11, 2004

  Mr. FRIST (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. 
Allard, Mr. Allen, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, 
Mr. Burns, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. 
Chafee, Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Dayton, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mr. Graham of South 
Carolina, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, 
Mr. Hollings, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. 
Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Lautenberg, Mr.  Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. 
Lott, Mr. Lugar, Mr. McCain, Mr. McConnell, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Miller, 
Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of 
Nebraska, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Reid, Mr. Roberts, Mr. 
Rockefeller, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mr. 
Shelby, Mr. Smith, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, 
Mr. Sununu, Mr. Talent, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, and Mr. 
Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 319

       Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the 
     deadly terrorist attacks against the people of Spain that 
     occurred on March 11, 2004.
       Whereas on March 11, 2004, terrorists detonated a total of 
     10 bombs at 6 train stations in and around Madrid, Spain 
     during morning rush hour, killing more than 190 people and 
     injuring more than 1,200 others;
       Whereas these attacks constitute the worst acts of 
     terrorism ever experienced in Spain;
       Whereas no organization has claimed responsibility for the 
     terrorist attacks;
       Whereas the terrorist organization known as ETA, which has 
     been responsible for the deaths of more than 800 people 
     during its decades long campaign to establish an independent 
     Basque State, is a prime suspect as the perpetrator of these 
     cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent people;
       Whereas officials in Spain initiated another line of 
     investigation to identify the perpetrators of the terrorist 
     attacks after a van was found with detonators and an Arabic-
     language tape of Koranic verses;
       Whereas President Jose Maria Aznar has stated that ``we 
     shall not forget'', bravely declared that Spain would not 
     change its policies because of terrorist pressure, and 
     declared three days of national mourning;
       Whereas the President of the European Parliament has stated 
     that the terrorist attacks are ``a declaration of war on 
     democracy'', Pope John Paul II has described the attacks as 
     ``despicable'', and the United Nations Secretary General Kofi 
     Annan expressed profound shock and indignation over this 
     ``senseless killing of innocent people''; and
       Whereas President George W. Bush has already called 
     President Aznar to offer his condolences and to assure him 
     that ``the United States stands resolutely with Spain in the 
     fight against terrorism in all its forms and against the 
     particular threat that Spain faces from the evil of ETA 
     terrorism'': Now, therefore, be it

[[Page S2729]]

       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses the outrage and shock of the people of the 
     United States over the terrorist attacks that occurred in and 
     around Madrid, Spain on March 11, 2004;
       (2) joins with President Bush in expressing its deepest 
     condolences and pledges to remain shoulder to shoulder with 
     the people of Spain in the war on terrorism;
       (3) expresses its strong solidarity with the people of 
     Spain during their difficult hour, and its deep condolences 
     to the families of the victims of these despicable terrorist 
     attacks;
       (4) calls on all nations to join with the United States in 
     condemning the monstrous attacks on the innocent people of 
     Spain and in attempting to identify the perpetrators of the 
     attacks and bring them to account;
       (5) expresses its readiness to consult with representatives 
     of King Juan Carlos, President Jose Maria Aznar, the Spanish 
     government, the Spanish Cortes, and other public authorities 
     about joint efforts to combat terrorism more effectively;
       (6) commends the United States Embassy in Madrid for its 
     prompt offers of assistance to the Government of Spain, and 
     for its efforts to determine the welfare and whereabouts of 
     United States citizens who may have been affected by the 
     terrorist attacks; and
       (7) urges the executive branch to continue to provide all 
     possible assistance to Spain in order to identify and bring 
     to account the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks that 
     occurred on March 11, 2004, in Madrid and of other terrorist 
     attacks against the people of Spain.
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     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 98--PROVIDING FOR A CONDITIONAL 
                  ADJOURNMENT OR RECESS OF THE SENATE

  Mr. FRIST (for himself and Mr. Daschle) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 98

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That when the Senate recesses or adjourns at the 
     close of business on Thursday, March 11, or Friday, March 12, 
     or Saturday, March 13, or Sunday, March 14, 2004, on a motion 
     offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its 
     Majority Leader or his designee, it stand recessed or 
     adjourned until Monday, March 22, 2004, at 12 noon.

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