[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 62 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5003-S5004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 353--DESIGNATING MAY 2004 AS ``OLDER AMERICANS' 
                                MONTH''

  Mr. CRAIG submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 353

       Whereas today's older Americans are living longer, 
     healthier, and more productive lives than any other time in 
     our history, and;
       Whereas older Americans exemplify the theme of ``Aging 
     Well, Living Well'' by continuing to give their time to our 
     communities, their knowledge to our children, their 
     experience to our workplace, and their wisdom to all of us, 
     and;
       Whereas there are now more than 50,000 people in the United 
     States 100 years old or older, and;
       Whereas more than 47 million Americans are now 60 years old 
     or older, and;
       Whereas the opportunities and challenges that await our 
     Nation require our Nation to continue to commit to the goal 
     of improving the quality of life for all older Americans;
       Whereas it is appropriate for our Nation to continue the 
     tradition of designating the month of May as a time to 
     celebrate the contributions of older Americans and to 
     rededicate its effort to respect and better serve older 
     Americans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates May 2004, as `Older Americans Month';

[[Page S5004]]

       (2) commends the President on the issuance of his 
     proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
     observe such month with appropriate ceremonies and activities 
     that publicly reaffirm our gratitude and respect for older 
     Americans.

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
honoring May as Older Americans' Month.
  I am here today to celebrate May as Older Americans' Month. Since 
1963, May has been the official month during which we pay tribute to 
the contributions of our 47 million older Americans. It is during this 
month that we, as a Nation, recognize older Americans for their 
service, hard work and sacrifice that helped assure us the freedom and 
security which we continue to cherish.
  This year's theme of ``Aging Well, Living Well'' reflects the 
lifestyle and attitude of today's older Americans. Not only should we 
take this time to show our appreciation and respect for America's 
seniors, but also to acknowledge that seniors of today and tomorrow 
will continue making significant contributions to our communities 
through their wisdom and experience, in the workplace, in civic 
leadership and in our homes. They gave, they give, and they will 
continue to give to this country.
  I am committed to working hard on behalf of our seniors. As the 
Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, we have pursued an 
ambitious agenda. The committee has examined issues including the 
Medicare law, long-term care policy, internet fraud, Social Security, 
assistive technology, the Older Americans Act, and healthy aging.
  In addition, this year I believe we have special reason to celebrate. 
Last year, Congress passed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, 
and Modernization Act of 2003. I am especially pleased that we are now 
able to provide prescription drug benefits to those seniors most in 
need. This is an important step in putting Medicare on a more modern 
and secure footing as the 77-million-strong Baby Boomer generation 
moves closer to retirement age.
  Our commitment to America's seniors must continue beyond this one 
month of special recognition. With re-authorization of the Older 
Americans' Act on the horizon, we have an opportunity to focus on the 
needs of today's seniors, and the challenges that the baby boomer 
generation will bring. It is also an opportunity to design an act that 
promotes seamlessness and one that works well with other programs and 
initiatives to promote non-institutional care, maximizing successful 
outcomes, and empower older Americans to optimize autonomy and 
independence and one that promotes ``Aging Well and Living Well.''.
  Seniors are living longer, healthier, and more productive lives than 
any other time in our history. In the tradition of Older Americans' 
Month, I am submitting a resolution in the Senate calling on the people 
of the United States to observe the month of May 2004 as Older 
Americans' Month and to encourage all Americans to promote awareness 
through ceremonies, programs, and other activities that promote 
acknowledgment, gratitude, and respect for American seniors.
  I ask all of you to celebrate with me Older Americans' Month this 
May.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 354--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE ABU 
   GHRAIB PRISON MUST BE DEMOLISHED TO UNDERSCORE THE UNITED STATES' 
          ABHORRENCE OF THE MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS IN IRAQ

  Mr. CRAIG (for himself and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:
       Whereas the Abu Ghraib prison was used by Saddam Hussein to 
     execute and torture thousands of men, women, and children;
       Whereas Saddam and his Special Security Organization 
     oversaw the execution of thousands of political prisoners;
       Whereas the Abu Ghraib prison is notoriously known as a 
     death chamber by the Iraqi people;
       Whereas the Abu Ghraib prison is arguably the largest and 
     most feared prison in the Arab world;
       Whereas it is widely known that one of Saddam's sons, in 
     one day, ordered the execution of 3000 prisoners at the 
     prison;
       Whereas the recent reports of atrocities and abhorrent 
     mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison are 
     un-American, do not represent our values, and have sent the 
     wrong message about the United States' intentions in Iraq;
       Whereas the American people will not tolerate the 
     mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners;
       Whereas the American people view this prison as a symbol of 
     evil, and where past cruel torture and mistreatment occurred;
       Whereas the American people would like to rid the world of 
     this evil place where past, and unfortunately current 
     reported mistreatment has occurred; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the Abu 
     Ghraib prison, also known as the Baghdad Central Detention 
     Center, be completely demolished as an expression and 
     symbolic gesture that the American people will not tolerate 
     the past and current mistreatment of prisoners.
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 SENATE RESOLUTION 355--TO AUTHORIZE THE PRODUCTION OF RECORDS BY THE 
           COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

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

                              S. Res. 355

       Whereas, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation has been conducting an inquiry into the 
     potential use of banned performance-enhancing drugs by U.S. 
     Olympic sport athletes;
       Whereas, the Committee has received requests from both the 
     U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that 
     the latter gain access to records of the Committee's inquiry;
       Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United 
     States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no 
     evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate 
     can, by administrative or judicial process, be taken from 
     such control or possession but by permission of the Senate; 
     and
       Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or 
     in the possession of the Senate is needed for the promotion 
     of justice, the Senate will take such action as will promote 
     the ends of justice consistent with the privileges of the 
     Senate: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 
     acting jointly, are authorized to provide to the U.S. Anti-
     Doping Agency the documents subpoenaed by the Committee 
     regarding the potential use of banned performance-enhancing 
     drugs by U.S. Olympic sport athletes.
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 104--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
 KIDS LOVE A MYSTERY IS A PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES LITERACY AND SHOULD BE 
                               ENCOURAGED

  Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                            S. Con. Res. 104

       Whereas knowledge, wisdom, and children are the greatest 
     assets of a democracy;
       Whereas books enable one generation to pass on its 
     knowledge and wisdom to the next;
       Whereas learning to read is one of the greatest privileges 
     the Nation extends to its children;
       Whereas children most often choose mysteries as their 
     favorite books;
       Whereas the Mystery Writers of America sponsors Kids Love a 
     Mystery, an outreach program designed to bring mystery 
     writers and children together to encourage literacy and the 
     love of reading; and
       Whereas the Mystery Writers of America recognizes the value 
     in celebrate the importance of reading for children: Now, 
     therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) Kids Love a Mystery is a program that helps promote 
     literacy and reading and should be supported and encouraged; 
     and
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation encouraging 
     the people of the United States and interested groups to 
     promote Kids Love a Mystery with appropriate programs and 
     activities.

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