[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 89 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7429-S7432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

       POM-463. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to the 
     National Finance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana; to the 
     Committee on Governmental Affairs.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 47

       Whereas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been 
     the forerunner in the application of computer technology in 
     managing administrative functions; and
       Whereas, in 1973, the USDA established the National Finance 
     Center in New Orleans to provide consolidated payroll, 
     personnel, and voucher and invoice payment systems and 
     services to numerous government agencies; and
       Whereas, today the National Finance Center in New Orleans 
     also provides systems and support services for several 
     government-wide processes, including the Federal Retirement 
     Thrift Savings Plan; and
       Whereas, the National Finance Center has become an asset 
     not only to the government, but also the Greater New Orleans 
     Area; and
       Whereas, the National Finance Center in New Orleans employs 
     over twelve hundred local federal employees; and
       Whereas, the National Finance Center in New Orleans has 
     recently been criticized by the Federal Retirement Thrift 
     Investment Board (FRTIB), which oversees the Thrift Savings 
     Plan; and
       Whereas, the National Finance Center in New Orleans has 
     dedicated over four hundred federal employees to the Thrift 
     Savings Plan, who are responsible for answering phone calls 
     from plan participants, processing loans, sending out 
     statements, and maintaining the computer information systems; 
     and
       Whereas, at the request of the FRTIB, the National Finance 
     Center in New Orleans installed a new and untested mainframe 
     computer in order to manage the more than three million one 
     hundred thousand plan participants accounts; and
       Whereas, due to the flawed computer system, a problem that 
     exceeded the scope of work performed by the National Finance 
     Center's employees, numerous problems were encountered by the 
     Thrift Savings Plan participants; and
       Whereas, the problems were so serious that the National 
     Finance Center became the subject of congressional hearing 
     which questioned the center's ability to effectively manage 
     the Thrift Savings Plan; and
       Whereas, as a result of these inquiries, more than four 
     hundred federal employees of the National Finance Center are 
     experiencing a profound loss of moral as they face a future 
     of increasing job uncertainty due to the recent press attacks 
     which have reflected poorly upon their personal work 
     performances; and
       Whereas, prior to the installation of this new, untested, 
     and flawed mainframe computer by the FRTIB, the National 
     Finance Center in New Orleans had enjoyed a long history of 
     exemplary service and a solid reputation for its ability to 
     effectively serve the needs of its customers: Therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to support and expand the 
     operations of the National Finance Center in New Orleans, 
     including the renewal of its contract with the Federal 
     Retirement Thrift Investment Board. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and 
     to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United 
     States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-464. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Kentucky relative to legislation to establish English as 
     the official language of the United States; to the Committee 
     on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 242

       Whereas, the United States of America is composed of 
     individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic 
     backgrounds, and continues to benefit from its rich 
     diversity; and
       Whereas, throughout the history of the United States, the 
     common thread binding individuals of different backgrounds 
     has been the English language; and
       Whereas, declaring English as the official language is 
     essential for uniting Americans who now speak more than 329 
     languages by providing a common means of communication; and
       Whereas, U.S. immigrants would be encouraged to learn 
     English in order to use government services and to 
     participate in the democratic process; and
       Whereas, learning English would be beneficial to immigrants 
     who become United States Citizens because studies of Census 
     data show that an immigrant's income rises about 30 percent 
     as a result of learning English, leading to the realization 
     of the American dream of increased economic opportunity and 
     the ability to be a productive member of society; and
       Whereas, in New York City schools, 54 percent of students 
     who entered English as a Second Language programs in 
     kindergarten scored above the 50th percentile in reading when 
     they reached the 7th grade, compared with under 40 percent 
     for students who entered bilingual programs at the same time; 
     and in mathematics, the gap was even greater, 70 percent 
     versus 51 percent; and
       Whereas, the 2000 U.S. Census revealed that 21.3 million 
     Americans, eight percent of the population, are classified as 
     ``limited English proficient,'' a 52 percent increase from 
     1990, and more than double the 1980 total; and
       Whereas, the United States Government's efforts make it 
     easy for immigrants to function in their native languages has 
     not only proven to be expensive for American taxpayers, it 
     has served to keep immigrants linguistically isolated, 
     excluding them from the American ``melting pot'' which truly 
     unites us as a people; and
       Whereas, in 1983 the late Senator S. I. Hayakawa, an 
     immigrant himself, founded U.S. English, Incorporated, a 
     group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the 
     English language in the United States, declaring that 
     ``English is the key to full participation in the 
     opportunities of American life''; and
       Whereas, President Theodore Roosevelt stated that ``We have 
     room for but one language here, and that is the English 
     language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our 
     people out as Americans''; and
       Whereas, official English legislation does not mean 
     ``English only'' because it does not prohibit government 
     agencies from using other languages when there is a 
     compelling public interest for doing so, such as protecting 
     public health and safety, assuring equality before the law, 
     promoting tourism, teaching foreign languages, providing for 
     national defense, and many other legitimate, common sense 
     needs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
       Section 1. That the Kentucky House of Representatives urges 
     the Congress of the United States of America to enact 
     legislation establishing English as the official language of 
     the United States of America.
       Section 2. That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
     is directed to mail a copy of this Resolution to the Clerk of 
     the United States Senate, the Clerk of the United States 
     House of Representatives, and to each member of Kentucky's 
     Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-465. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii 
     relative to legislation to provide access prescription drugs 
     by allowing purchase of prescription drugs from Canada and 
     other countries that meet federal safety requirements; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 47

       Whereas, the cost of prescription drugs has risen steadily 
     in recent years, affecting consumers, businesses or 
     employers, and public programs, while the pharmaceutical 
     industry has been named as the most profitable among the 
     Fortune 500 Companies in 2002; and
       Whereas, Americans pay more for prescription drugs than in 
     any other industrialized nation; in Canada, for example, a 
     three-month supply of the best selling prescription drug 
     Lipitor is thirty-seven percent cheaper; Paxil is 
     approximately fifty percent cheaper; Vioxx is fifty-eight 
     percent cheaper; and the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal is 
     eighty percent cheaper; and
       Whereas, in May 2003, Hawaii's Attorney General joined 
     thirty-seven other attorneys general in a letter to Congress, 
     seeking relief for consumers from the high cost of 
     prescriptions and pointing out that the high cost of many 
     brand-name prescription drugs makes lifesaving medications 
     out of reach for many individuals; and
       Whereas, the federal Food and Drug Administration has 
     refused to certify as safe for reimportation prescription 
     medication from Canada and other foreign countries, which 
     would allow United States citizens, state and county 
     governments, and businesses access to prescription drugs at 
     much lower prices; and
       Whereas, to justify its refusal, the Food and Drug 
     Administration contends that reimportation from other 
     countries could jeopardize consumer safety because 
     pharmaceuticals from other countries will not be subject to 
     the same requirements imposed by the United States; and
       Whereas, a number of governors and mayors already are 
     taking steps to provide prescription drugs from Canada to 
     state employees, retirees, and residents; and
       Whereas, in recent legislation, Congress authorized drug 
     reimportation from Canada, giving United States Health and 
     Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson the authority to 
     grant exceptions to allow states to purchase Canadian drugs 
     for state employees and retirees; and
       Whereas, it is likely, however, that the practice of 
     reimportation will remain illegal;

[[Page S7430]]

     for example, Secretary Thompson quickly denied Illinois 
     Governor Rod Blagojevich's request for an exemption, 
     declaring that he would waive federal regulations only if he 
     could guarantee the safety of prescription drugs from Canada; 
     and
       Whereas, recent research indicates that Canada's drug 
     approval system is as stringent as that of the United States 
     and pharmacy practices in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba 
     and Ontario were deemed equal to or superior to pharmacy 
     practice in Illinois; and
       Whereas, there is pending federal legislation that will 
     enable the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada 
     and other industrialized countries that can meet regulatory 
     requirements to ensure that consumers and government agencies 
     have access to safe prescription drugs at reasonable costs: 
     Now be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-
     second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2004, That members of Congress, including Hawaii's 
     congressional delegation, are urged to establish as an 
     immediate priority the passage of legislation that makes 
     safe, affordable prescription drugs accessible to all United 
     States residents through reimportation and other means, 
     including requesting the cooperation of the United States 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug 
     Administration; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug 
     Administration, and members of Hawaii's delegation to the 
     United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-466. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii 
     relative to the Employee Free Choice Act; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 195

       Whereas, in 1935, the United States established, by law, 
     that workers must be free to form unions; and
       Whereas, the freedom to form or join a union is 
     internationally recognized as a fundamental human right; and
       Whereas, union membership provides workers better wages and 
     benefits, and protection from discrimination and unsafe 
     workplaces; and
       Whereas, unions benefit communities by strengthening tax 
     bases, promoting equal treatment, and enhancing civic 
     participation; and
       Whereas, workers want to organize, but are unable to, since 
     more than forty million United States workers say they would 
     join a union now if they had the opportunity; and
       Whereas, even though, on paper, America's workers have the 
     freedom to choose for themselves whether to have a union, in 
     reality, workers across the nation are routinely denied that 
     right; and
       Whereas, when the right of workers to form a union is 
     violated, wages fall, race and gender pay gaps widen, 
     workplace discrimination increases, and job safety standards 
     disappear; and
       Whereas, many thousands of America's workers are routinely 
     threatened, coerced, or fired each year because they attempt 
     to form a union; and
       Whereas, most violations of workers' freedom to choose a 
     union occur behind closed doors and each year millions of 
     dollars are spent to frustrate workers' efforts to form 
     unions; and
       Whereas, a worker's fundamental right to choose a union is 
     a public issue that requires public policy solutions, 
     including legislative remedies; and
       Whereas, the Employee Free Choice Act (S. 1925 and H.R. 
     3619) has been introduced in the United States Congress in 
     order to restore workers' freedom to join a union; and
       Whereas, the Employee Free Choice Act has received broad 
     bipartisan support with over two hundred congressional 
     members as co-sponsors; and
       Whereas, at its March 17 meeting, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO 
     Executive Board unanimously endorsed the Employee Free Choice 
     Act: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-
     second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2004, the Senate concurring. That the Legislature supports 
     the Employee Free Choice Act (S. 1925 and H.R. 3619), which 
     would:
       (1) Authorize the National Labor Relations Board to certify 
     a union as the bargaining representative when a majority of 
     employees voluntarily sign authorizations designating that 
     union to represent them;
       (2) Provide for first contract mediation and arbitration; 
     and
       (3) Establish meaningful penalties for violations of a 
     worker's freedom to choose a union; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges Hawaii's congressional 
     delegation to support the Employee Free Choice Act and to 
     impel the United States Congress to pass this measure to 
     protect America's workers and preserve their freedom to 
     choose for themselves whether or not to form a union; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and the members of Hawaii's congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-467. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii 
     relative to the No Child Left Behind Act; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 42

       Whereas, Hawaii commends President George W. Bush and the 
     No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 for pursuing the laudable 
     goals of increasing student performance and closing the 
     achievement gap; and
       Whereas, these are the same goals that states have been 
     pursuing on their own behalf for years--well before the 
     introduction of No Child Left Behind; and
       Whereas, many aspects of this law, however, are misplaced 
     and too prescriptive for the State and impose specific 
     requirements on state education agencies; and
       Whereas, many of the mandates inherent in No Child Left 
     Behind will impose costs on the State above what it is 
     receiving in federal money and could undermine current 
     programs and policies; and
       Whereas, it is unrealistic to require that all subgroups of 
     students--those with disabilities, limited English 
     proficiency--and ethnic and economically disadvantaged 
     backgrounds--reach one hundred percent proficiency or 
     adequate yearly progress, based on the same measures and 
     standards; and
       Whereas, it is unfair to identify a school as 
     underperforming based upon the results of one subgroup, 
     without taking into consideration the school's overall 
     performance; and
       Whereas, using a value-added model, based upon the growth 
     of individual students from grade to grade, may be more 
     appropriate for states and should be an acceptable option; 
     and
       Whereas, identifying an entire school as under-performing 
     based solely on the ninety-five per cent participation 
     requirement for testing is inappropriate and will cause major 
     negative implications to the Hawaii school system; and
       Whereas, requiring all teachers and paraprofessionals to 
     meet a ``highly qualified'' definition is inappropriate for a 
     state as remote as Hawaii and threatens to exacerbate current 
     teacher shortages; and
       Whereas, Hawaii is not in the proximity of other states 
     that would allow the State to recruit ``highly qualified'' 
     teachers from other areas; and
       Whereas, each state is required to expand the frequency and 
     scope of student testing to include testing of all students 
     in reading or language arts and mathematics each year in 
     grades three through eight, beginning in the 2005-2006 school 
     year, and to adopt standards for the teaching of science and 
     develop and administer science assessments by the 2007-2008 
     school year; and
       Whereas, if a Title I (federally funded compensatory 
     education program for low-income and at-risk students) school 
     fails to make ``adequate yearly progress'', then certain 
     consequences will follow. If the failure is:
       (1) For two consecutive years, then the state department of 
     education must: (a) give parents the option of transferring 
     their children to another school, including a charter school, 
     at the beginning of the third year, that has not been 
     identified as needing improvement; and (b) provide technical 
     assistance to help the school improve student performance and 
     make adequate yearly progress;
       (2) For three consecutive years, then the state department 
     of education must give parents whose children remain at a 
     school that has been identified as needing improvement the 
     option of obtaining supplemental educational services 
     (e.g., tutoring and other enrichment services that are in 
     addition to instruction provided during the school day) 
     for their children at the beginning of the fourth year;
       (3) For four consecutive years, then the department must: 
     (a) replace some school staff; (b) implement a new 
     curriculum; (c) decrease the school's management authority; 
     (d) appoint an outside adviser; (e) extend the school day or 
     year; or (f) restructure the internal organization of the 
     school; and
       (4) For five consecutive years, then the department must 
     implement one of the following alternative governance 
     arrangements in accordance with the school's restructuring 
     plan: (a) reopen the school as a charter school; (b) replace 
     all or more of the school's staff; or (c) turn management of 
     the school over to a private company; and
       Whereas, according to the Department of Education's 
     statistics for the 2002-2003 school year, one hundred sixty-
     seven of Hawaii's two hundred seventy-six schools, or nearly 
     sixty-one percent, fell short of the federal requirements 
     inherent in No Child Left Behind; and
       Whereas, as testing requirements increase, teacher 
     requirements come into affect, and adequate yearly progress 
     benchmarks are raised, the likelihood will increase that more 
     and more schools will not be able to meet these mandates; and
       Whereas, there is a realistic possibility that all schools 
     in Hawaii will fall short of the federal mandates within the 
     first several years of the law's implementation; and
       Whereas, the State commends the federal government for 
     providing increased levels of federal resources to states for 
     education; and
       Whereas, Hawaii relies on federal aid for education, but is 
     concerned that accepting funds related to No Child Left 
     Behind will put the State in the precarious situation of

[[Page S7431]]

     having to spend its own money in order to meet the mandates 
     of the law: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-
     Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2004, That this body requests Congress to amend the No Child 
     Left Behind Act of 2001 to include waivers to help states 
     meet the requirements of this law. Specifically, this body 
     requests a waiver from deeming a school as failing based 
     solely on participation rates; and be it further
       Resolved, That the State requests the President and 
     Congress to provide the State with sufficient funding 
     necessary to meet the mandate to leave no child behind; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to President George W. Bush, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the members of Hawaii's congressional 
     delegation, the Chairperson of the Board of Education and the 
     Superintendent of Education.
                                  ____

       POM-468. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to the No Child Left Behind Act; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 13

       Whereas, on January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush 
     signed into law the ``No Child Left Behind Act'' of 2001 
     (NCLB), which requires the development of state educational 
     standards, tests to measure against those standards, and 
     collection and reporting of testing data; and
       Whereas, NCLB contains several very expensive mandates for 
     which Congress has not provided adequate funds to the states; 
     and
       Whereas, costs to individual states associated with NCLB 
     mandates result from implementing assessment and 
     accountability systems, data collection, teacher quality 
     requirements, and new standards for paraprofessionals, among 
     additional factors; and
       Whereas, many of the mandates inherent in NCLB inflict 
     costs of the states above what they receive in federal money, 
     and unfunded mandates included in NCLB represent a serious 
     imposition on individual states; and
       Whereas, any federal mandate for which there are 
     insufficient funds provided is sure to divert resources away 
     from other laudable objectives of individual states; and
       Whereas, adequate federal funding is a necessity if states 
     are to fully meet the goals of NCLB. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     urge and request the United States Congress to provide 
     sufficient funding for full implementation of the ``No Child 
     Left Behind Act'' of 2001. Be it further
       Resolved, That a suitable copy of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the president of the United States Senate, 
     and each member of Louisiana's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-469. A resolution adopted by the Board of Commissioners 
     of the County of Cook of the State of Illinois relative to 
     the renewal of the federal ban on military-style assault 
     weapons; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-470. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii 
     relative to visa processing capacity in the consular section 
     of the United States Embassy in Seoul in the Republic of 
     Korea; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                      House Concurrent Resolution

       Whereas, Hawaii remains one of the premier visitor 
     destinations in the world and tourism remains the backbone of 
     Hawaii's economy; and
       Whereas, the United States and the Republic of Korea have a 
     long history of friendly relations; and
       Whereas, the Republic of Korea has been a trusted ally for 
     over fifty years, is a major trading partner of the United 
     States, and is the thirteenth largest economy in the world; 
     and
       Whereas, January 13, 2003 marked the centennial of the 
     first arrival of Koreans in the United States; and
       Whereas, in the past, the number of visitors from the 
     Republic of Korea had reached as high as 100,000 annually; 
     and
       Whereas, however, this number has drastically decreased, in 
     part, due to new security requirements prompted by the 
     terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, and the fact that the 
     Republic of Korea is not among the Asian countries currently 
     included in the Visa Waiver Program for visitor entry into 
     the United States; and
       Whereas, in fact, among the Asian countries, only Japan and 
     Singapore currently benefit from the Visa Waiver Program 
     through which citizens from those countries may enter the 
     United States without needing to obtain visitor visas; and
       Whereas, due to increased security it has become much more 
     difficult for citizens of the Republic of Korea, especially 
     those living outside the capital city of Seoul, to obtain 
     visitor visas that allow travel to the United States; and
       Whereas, as part of the required security measures, the 
     Republic of Korea is in the process of installing the 
     equipment needed to enable passports to be machine-readable; 
     and
       Whereas, while the Republic of Korea is doing its part in 
     facilitating the processing of travel requirements for its 
     citizens, the United States should do its part in 
     facilitating visitors from the Republic of Korea to travel to 
     this country: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-
     second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2004, the Senate concurring, That the Legislature urges the 
     members of Hawaii's congressional delegation to introduce 
     federal legislation to provide additional resources to expand 
     visa processing capacity in the Consular Section of the 
     United States Embassy in Seoul in the Republic of Korea, and 
     to include the Republic of Korea in the Visa Waiver Program; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the members of Hawaii's 
     congressional delegation, the President of the United States, 
     the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, 
     the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
     States Senate, the Secretary of State, the Secretary for 
     Homeland Security, and the Governor.
                                  ____

       POM-471. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to a 
     Veterans Clinic in Jennings, Louisiana; to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 60

       Whereas, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs 
     has conducted a Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced 
     Services (CARES) Commission Report to enhance the health care 
     services for veterans dated February 2004; and
       Whereas, the goal of CARES is to make a recommendation to 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on realignment and 
     reallocation of Veterans Affairs health care facilities over 
     the next twenty years, focused on accessibility and cost 
     effectiveness, and involved input from veterans, and their 
     families; and
       Whereas, the CARES Commission did not recommend the closure 
     of the Jennings Community Based Outpatient Clinic; and
       Whereas, the Director of the Veterans Medical Center in 
     Alexandria recommended to the CARES Commission to relocate 
     the Jennings Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) to Lake 
     Charles, Louisiana, in order to reduce veteran travel; and
       Whereas, the Jennings CBOC facility was constructed by the 
     Jennings American Legion Hospital and leased by the Veterans 
     Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Alexandria for ten years with 
     two years remaining as a special use facility by the Veterans 
     Affairs utilizing Veterans Affairs specifications; and
       Whereas, the Jenning CBOC has become a centrally located 
     Veterans Affairs clinic with easy access off of Interstate 10 
     to provide health care services to veterans of southwest 
     Louisiana; and
       Whereas, Louisiana Reserve military forces and National 
     Guard have been activated to preserve freedom, combat 
     terrorism, and enhance human rights in Iraq and Afghanistan; 
     and
       Whereas, the proposed closure of Jennings CBOC is a 
     negative signal to our loyal, dedicated, Louisiana military 
     forces in combat who will need community health care in the 
     future; and
       Whereas, the United State Department of Veterans Affairs 
     has entered into a twenty year cooperative agreement with the 
     state of Louisiana to construct a veterans nursing home in 
     Jennings, Louisiana, located between the only two American 
     Legion Hospitals in the United States within a few miles of 
     Jennings CBOC; and
       Whereas, veterans in southwest Louisiana and in the nursing 
     home would benefit from the close proximity of an outpatient 
     clinic in Jennings that would provide specialized health care 
     in addition to primary care, instead of requiring those 
     disabled World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf War veterans 
     to travel over a four hour round trip for specialized health 
     care services at VAMC Alexandria; and
       Whereas, veterans in the Lake Charles area use the Jennings 
     CBOC and due to the high volume of southwest Louisiana 
     veterans using the Jennings CBOC, another CBOC is required in 
     Lake Charles as recommended by the Director of VAMC 
     Alexandria to the CARES Commission; and
       Whereas, the Jennings CBOC is approximately halfway between 
     the Lafayette CBOC and the proposed Lake Charles CBOC, by 
     enhancing the Jennings CBOC to include specialized health 
     care for 66,159 veterans would significantly reduce the time 
     of travel for southwest Louisiana veterans who would 
     otherwise spend over four hours traveling to the middle of 
     Louisiana at VAMC Alexandria. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana hereby 
     memorializes the United States Congress to continue the 
     operation of the Jennings CBOC by providing primary health 
     care, and expand Veterans Affairs health care services to 
     offer enhanced specialized health care at the centrally 
     located Jennings CBOC, between Lafayette and Lake Charles, 
     Louisiana, to reduce the travel of disabled southwest 
     Louisiana veterans. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of 
     the United States House of Representatives and to each member 
     of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-472. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State

[[Page S7432]]

     of Hawaii relative to Filipino World War II Veterans and 
     their families; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 97

       Whereas, in recognition of the courage and loyalty of the 
     Filipino troops who fought alongside our armed forces in the 
     Philippines during World War II, the United States Congress 
     enacted legislation in 1990 that provided a waiver from 
     certain immigration and naturalization requirements for those 
     Filipino veterans; and
       Whereas, as a result of that legislation, many of those 
     Filipino veterans have become proud citizens and residents of 
     this country; and
       Whereas, because the 1990 legislation did not go far enough 
     in extending those immigration and naturalization benefits to 
     the children of those veterans, the result has been years 
     long separations between the veterans and their children 
     remaining in the Philippines awaiting the issuance of 
     immigrant visas; and
       Whereas, on November 21, 2003, H.R. 3587 was introduced in 
     the United States House of Representatives to amend the 
     Immigration and Naturalization Act to give priority in the 
     issuance of immigration visas to the sons and daughters of 
     Filipino World War II veterans who are or were naturalized 
     citizens of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, That the President of the United 
     States and the United States Congress are urged to support 
     the passage of H.R. 3587 into law; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United 
     States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and 
     the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-473. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii 
     relative to benefits for Filipino veterans of World War II; 
     to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 258

       Whereas, on December 8, 1941, thousands of Filipino men and 
     women responded to President Roosevelt's call for help to 
     preserve peace and democracy in the Philippines; and
       Whereas, during the dark days of World War II, nearly 
     100,000 soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army provided 
     a ray of hope in the Pacific as they fought alongside United 
     States and Allied forces for four long years to defend and 
     reclaim the Philippine Islands from Japanese aggression; and
       Whereas, thousands more Filipinos joined U.S. Armed Forces 
     immediately after the war and served in occupational duty 
     throughout the Pacific Theater; and
       Whereas, valiant Filipino soldiers fought, died, and 
     suffered in some of the bloodiest battles of World War II, 
     defending beleaguered Bataan and Corregidor, and thousands of 
     Filipino prisoners of war endured the infamous Bataan Death 
     March and years of captivity; and
       Whereas, their many guerrilla actions slowed the Japanese 
     takeover of the Western Pacific region and allowed U.S. 
     forces the time to build and prepare for the allied 
     counterattack on Japan; and
       Whereas, Filipino troops fought side-by-side with U.S. 
     forces to secure their island nation as the strategic base 
     from which the final effort to defeat Japan was launched; and
       Whereas, President William J. Clinton proclaimed October 
     20, 1996, as a day honoring the Filipino Veterans of World 
     War II, recalling the courage, sacrifice, and loyalty of 
     Filipino veterans of World War II in defense of democracy and 
     liberty; and
       Whereas, for decades after their heroic service under the 
     command of their leaders and General Douglas MacArthur, these 
     men and women of Filipino-American national heritage were 
     denied the benefits and privileges provided to their American 
     compatriots who fought side-by-side with them; and
       Whereas, the Rescission Act of 1946 withdrew the U.S. 
     veteran's status of Filipino World War II soldiers, thereby 
     denying them the benefits and compensation received by their 
     American counterparts and soldiers of more than sixty-six 
     other U.S. allied countries, who were similarly inducted into 
     the U.S. military; and
       Whereas, the Rescission Act discriminated against 
     Filipinos, making them the only national group singled out 
     for denial of full U.S. veterans status and benefits; and
       Whereas, the passage of S. 68, now pending in the United 
     States Senate, would extend full and equitable benefits, 
     particularly health benefits, to Filipino veterans, 
     considering their advanced age and poor health; and
       Whereas, S. 68 proposes to amend Title 38 of the United 
     States Code, to improve benefits for Filipino veterans of 
     World War II and for the surviving spouses of those veterans; 
     and
       Whereas, S. 68 would increase the rate of payment of 
     compensation benefits to certain Filipino veterans, 
     designated in Title 38 United States Code section 107(b) and 
     referred to as New Philippine Scouts, who reside in the 
     United States and are United States citizens or lawful 
     permanent resident aliens; and
       Whereas, S. 68 would further increase the rate of payment 
     of dependency and indemnity compensation of surviving spouses 
     of certain Filipino veterans; and
       Whereas, S. 68 would further make eligible for full 
     disability pensions certain Filipino veterans who reside in 
     the United States and are United States citizens or lawful 
     permanent resident aliens; and
       Whereas, S. 68 would further mandate the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to provide hospital and nursing home care 
     and medical services for service-connected disabilities for 
     any Filipino World War II veteran who resides in the United 
     States and is a United States citizen or lawful permanent 
     resident alien; and
       Whereas, S. 68 would further require the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs to furnish care and services to all Filipino 
     World War II veterans for service-connected disabilities and 
     nonservice-connected disabilities residing in the Republic of 
     the Philippines on an outpatient basis at the Manila VA 
     Outpatient Clinic: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-
     Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2004, the Senate concurring, That the United States Congress 
     is respectfully urged to support the passage of S. 68 to 
     improve benefits for certain Filipino veterans of World War 
     II; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the members of the Hawaii Congressional 
     delegation, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

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