[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11500-S11505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 470--HONORING THE LIFE OF ASTRONAUT LEROY GORDON
COOPER, JR.
Mr. INHOFE submitted the following resolution; which was considered
and agreed to:
S. Res. 470
Whereas Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., was born on March 6,
1927, in Shawnee, Oklahoma;
Whereas Gordon Cooper served as a colonel in the United
States Air Force and was selected as one of the original
Project Mercury astronauts in April of 1959;
Whereas the 7 original Project Mercury astronauts helped to
inspire generations of scientists and engineers;
Whereas, when Gordon Cooper piloted the Faith 7 spacecraft
on the final operational mission of Project Mercury from May
15 to May 16, 1963, he traveled a total of 546,167 statute
miles and became the first astronaut from the United States
to spend more than a day in space;
Whereas, when Gordon Cooper served as command pilot on the
8-day 120-orbit Gemini 5 mission that began on August 21,
1965, he and pilot Charles Conrad established a new
[[Page S11501]]
space endurance record by traveling a distance of 3,312,993
miles in an elapsed time of 190 hours and 56 minutes;
Whereas Gordon Cooper was the first man to go into space
for a second time;
Whereas Gordon Cooper served as backup command pilot for
the Gemini 12 mission and as backup commander for the Apollo
10 flight;
Whereas Gordon Cooper logged 222 hours in space and retired
from the Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration in 1970;
Whereas the special honors Gordon Cooper received during
his lifetime included the Air Force Distinguished Flying
Cross, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Distinguished Service Medal, and the John F. Kennedy Trophy;
and
Whereas Gordon Cooper passed away at his home in Ventura,
California, on October 4, 2004, at the age of 77: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate honors the life of astronaut
Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr.
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, many people may not be aware of Oklahoma's
significant history in aviation, or that I am the only commercially
licensed pilot in the Senate and have a passion for flying.
Since 1910, beginning with Charles F. Willard who only flew a few
hundred yards in a south Oklahoma City field, Oklahomans have been
flying.
The following year, Clyde Cessna, an automobile dealer from Enid who
later formed the Cessna Aircraft Company, flew his mono-wing airplane
near Jet, OK.
Such early flights in Oklahoma continued and in 1929 perhaps one of
the most notable aviation events occurred in Waynoka, Oklahoma, where
Charles Lindbergh stopped on the first transcontinental passenger air
and rail service.
By 1931, Wiley Post, from Maysville, OK, gained international
recognition when he flew around the world in a little over eight days.
In July 1991, I had the honor of recreating Post's trip on its 60th
Anniversary.
However, Oklahoma's aviation history does not stop there. On November
2, 1929, 26 licensed women pilots founded what was known as the Ninety-
Nine Club, or the Ninety-Nines. It was called so at the suggestion of
its first president, Amelia Earheart, because of the 117 licensed women
pilots in America who were contacted about joining the club, only 99
actually joined. The South Central Section of the Ninety-Nine Club
comprising several states including Oklahoma, has through the years,
issued several publications and in 1962, Mary Lester of the Oklahoma
Chapter created a new version of the Club's publication, the Ninety-
Nine News. Currently, the Ninety-Nine Club is an international
organization of licensed women pilots from 35 countries, with its
international headquarters at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma
City.
Today I rise to introduce a resolution to honor the life and work of
another Oklahoman in this long line of aviation who served our country
by fearlessly dedicating his life to space travel and exploration.
Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., frequently called ``Gordo'', who passed
away at his home on October 4, was often known as the first astronaut
from the United States to spend more than a day in space. He was born
in Shawnee, OK on March 6, 1927 and joined the Marines during World War
II. He then transferred to the Air Force in 1949 and graduated from the
Air Force Institute of Technology with a degree in aeronautical
engineering in 1956.
After graduating, Cooper became attracted to the space program as an
elite test pilot for the Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base in
California. During his career, he logged more than 7,000 hours of
flying, including 4,000 hours flying jets. He also flew commercial and
general aviation planes and helicopters.
Cooper seemed to be born in the right place at the right time--with
the right abilities. In 1958, the National Aeronautical and Space
Administration, NASA, announced its new endeavor, Project Mercury, with
three goals in mind: to place a spacecraft carrying a person into
orbital flight around the Earth, to investigate a person's performance
capabilities and his/her ability to function in space, and to recover
the person and spacecraft safely. NASA began searching for people,
especially military test pilots, who were willing and capable of
enduring such a dangerous mission. They focused on finding military
test pilots because they seemed to experience similar conditions to
those of space.
On April 1, 1959, it was announced that Cooper was chosen, along with
Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra,
Jr., and Deke Slayton not only as one of the seven Project Mercury
astronauts, but as one of America's first astronauts. These seven men
made history with this project as they laid the groundwork for future
space flights.
On May 15 and 16, 1963, Cooper piloted Faith 7, the flight that ended
the operational phase of Project Mercury. During this mission, he
orbited the Earth 22 times and logged more time in space than all
previous five Mercury astronauts combined. He also became known as the
first American astronaut to sleep in orbit, as well as on the launch
pad.
Shortly thereafter, Cooper received the NASA Distinguished Service
Medal from President John F. Kennedy at a White House ceremony.
In August 1965, Cooper commanded the 8 day Gemini 5 mission with
Charles Conrad. On this mission, Cooper set a new space endurance
record, covering 120 revolutions and 3,312,993 miles in 190 hours, 56
minutes and 3 seconds and became the first man to make a second orbital
flight.
Overall, during his two space flights, Cooper logged 225 hours, 15
minutes and 3 seconds. He also served as backup command pilot for
Gemini 12 and backup commander for Apollo X. He was the last American
astronaut to orbit the Earth for an entire orbit by himself.
After receiving an honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Oklahoma
City University in 1967, Cooper retired from the Air Force and NASA as
a colonel in 1970. However, his involvement with space did not end
after his retirement. He served as a consultant to several companies
related to aerospace, electronics, and energy fields, and was vice
president for research and development for Walt Disney Enterprises,
Inc. Cooper also devoted part of his life to studying UFOs, and wrote
Leap of Faith based on his experiences as a pilot and astronaut.
Even though we have lost this great American hero, his legacy and
passion for exploring space live on through continued space ventures
such as the Ansari X Prize. The famed $10 million X Prize was recently
awarded to the team of SpaceShipOne, whose pilot, Brian Binnie, broke
an August 22, 1963 altitude record by going 69.6 miles above Earth's
surface, ironically, on October 4, the same day of Cooper's passing.
I am pleased that my good friend and colleague Congressman Cass
Ballenger has led the way in honoring the life and service of this
great space pioneer. I know that Mr. Ballenger shares my passion of
aviation and space exploration and hope that we will continue to build
on the progress and sacrifice made by men like Gordon Cooper.
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 471--AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING OF TRIBUTES AND OTHER
RELATED MATERIALS IN HONOR OF THE LATE SENATOR PAUL SIMON
Mr. DURBIN submitted the following resolution; which was considered
and agreed to:
S. Res. 471
Resolved, That there be printed as a Senate document a
compilation of tributes and other related materials
concerning the Honorable Paul Simon, late a Senator from the
State of Illinois.
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 472--TO HONOR THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA ON THE FIRST
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROSE REVOLUTION
Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Biden, and Mr.
Hagel) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to:
S. Res. 472
Whereas, on November 23, 2004, the people of Georgia will
celebrate the first anniversary of the Rose Revolution, the
peaceful and bloodless protests that followed parliamentary
elections deemed to be fraudulent;
Whereas following the resignation of President Eduard
Shevardnadze, Interim President Nino Burdzhanadze worked
diligently to restore order and to prepare Georgia for a new
Presidential election;
Whereas after a free, fair, and democratic election was
held, Mikheil Saakashvili was
[[Page S11502]]
sworn into office on January 25, 2004, as President of
Georgia;
Whereas President Saakashvili visited the United States
Congress earlier this year and delivered a strong message of
peace, stability, democracy, political reform, and economic
opportunity;
Whereas Georgia is a small but strategically situated
country located in the Caucasus, and is of additional
interest to the United States because of the oil and gas
pipelines now being constructed from Baku, Azerbaijan to the
port of Ceyhan, Turkey;
Whereas Georgia has also become a key player in the global
war on terrorism by combating members of al Qaeda and other
Muslim terrorist organizations, denying them sanctuary in
remote areas such as the Pankisi Gorge, and working with the
United States to help train border guards;
Whereas Georgia has recently increased its commitment of
troops in Iraq and its contributions to help build peace and
democracy in Afghanistan and Kosovo;
Whereas the United States supports Georgia's efforts to
peacefully reestablish government control, security, and
political stability in regions such as Abkhazia and South
Ossetia;
Whereas the United States congratulates the Government of
Georgia on the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Adjara
and welcomes the restoration of democracy and political
stability in that region; and
Whereas the United States supports representative
democracy, political stability, economic growth, and peace in
Georgia and throughout the Caucasus region: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, that the Senate--
(1) congratulates the people of Georgia on the first
anniversary of the Rose Revolution, the peaceful and
bloodless protests that followed parliamentary elections
deemed to be fraudulent, and for their commitment to
democracy, peace, stability, and economic opportunity;
(2) commends President Mikheil Saakashvili for his vision
of, and commitment to, a peaceful and democratic Georgia, the
rule of law, an open market economy, regional cooperation,
and closer integration into western institutions;
(3) supports the sovereignty, independence, territorial
integrity, and democratic government of Georgia; and
(4) supports continued assistance to the people and
Government of Georgia to help them consolidate the democratic
process in their country.
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 473--URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO ENSURE A
DEMOCRATIC, TRANSPARENT, AND FAIR ELECTION PROCESS FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL
RUN-OFF ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 21, 2004
Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Smith, Mr. Lieberman, Mr.
Graham of South Carolina, Mr. Hagel, and Mr. Biden) submitted the
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 473
Whereas the establishment of a democratic, transparent, and
fair election process for the 2004 Presidential election in
Ukraine and of a genuinely democratic political system are
prerequisites for that country's full integration into the
Western community of nations as an equal member, including
into organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO);
Whereas the Government of Ukraine has accepted numerous
specific commitments governing the conduct of elections as a
participating state of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including provisions of the
Copenhagen Document;
Whereas the election of Ukraine's next President will
provide an unambiguous test of the extent of the Ukrainian
authorities commitment to implement these standards and build
a democratic society based on free elections and the rule of
law;
Whereas the second round of the Presidential election takes
place against the backdrop of past elections and
improprieties in the first round of the election, which did
not fully meet international standards;
Whereas it is the duty of government and public authorities
of Ukraine at all levels to act in a manner consistent with
all laws and regulations governing election procedures, and
to ensure free and fair elections throughout the entire
country, including preventing activities aimed at undermining
the free exercise of political rights;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires a
period of political campaigning conducted in an environment
in which administrative action, violence, intimidation, or
detention do not hinder the parties, political associations,
and the candidates from presenting their views and
qualifications to the citizenry, including organizing
supporters, conducting public meetings and events throughout
the country, and enjoying unimpeded access to television,
radio, print, and Internet media on a non-discriminatory
basis;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires that
citizens be guaranteed the right and effective opportunity to
exercise their civil and political rights, including the
right to vote and the right to seek and acquire information
upon which to make an informed vote, free from intimidation,
undue influence, attempts at vote buying, threats of
political retribution, or other forms of coercion by national
or local authorities or others;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires
government and public authorities to ensure that candidates
and political parties enjoy equal treatment before the law
and that government resources are not employed to the
advantage of individual candidates or political parties;
Whereas a genuinely free and fair election requires the
full transparency of laws and regulations governing
elections, multiparty representation on election commissions,
and unobstructed access by candidates, political parties, and
domestic and international observers to all election
procedures, including voting and vote counting in all areas
of the country;
Whereas increasing control and manipulation of the media by
national and local officials and others acting at their
behest raise grave concerns regarding the commitment of the
Ukrainian authorities to free and fair elections;
Whereas efforts by the national authorities in Ukraine to
limit access to international broadcasting, including Radio
Liberty and the Voice of America, represent an unacceptable
infringement on the right of the Ukrainian people to
independent information;
Whereas efforts by national and local officials of Ukraine
and others acting at their behest to impose obstacles to free
assembly, free speech, and a free and fair political campaign
have taken place in Donetsk, Sumy, and elsewhere in Ukraine
without condemnation or remedial action by the Government of
Ukraine;
Whereas numerous substantial irregularities have taken
place in recent Ukrainian parliamentary by-elections in the
Donetsk region and in mayoral elections in Mukacheve, Romny,
and Krasniy Luch;
Whereas intimidation, violence, and fraud during the April
18, 2004, mayoral election in Mukacheve, Ukraine, represent a
deliberate attack on the democratic process;
Whereas in the period leading to the first round of the
Presidential election, the government power structures used
state resources such as schools, state factories, hospitals,
and public transport systems to force students, state
workers, and citizens who rely on state services for their
livelihood to campaign against their will for the government-
backed candidate;
Whereas there was notable partisan engagement of security
services, military, and local police in support of the
government-backed candidate;
Whereas there was a failure of national and local state-
owned and private electronic media to provide impartial and
fair coverage of, or access to, opposition candidates;
Whereas some election commission members affiliated with
opposition candidates were dismissed from their duties just
prior to election day;
Whereas there was collaboration with a foreign government
to allow a foreign President to appear in Ukraine and express
his opinions on one of the candidates just days before
election day, in an effort to influence the vote, and a
military parade, which was held in Kyiv 3 days prior to the
election, was clearly an effort to intimidate voters; and
Whereas in the first round of the Presidential election in
Ukraine that occurred on October 31, 2004, international
observers noted fraud and other significant problems,
including poorly maintained voter lists, which resulted in
people being denied their right to vote, as well as many
additional names on voter rolls for which no accounting could
be made, prevalent interference by unauthorized persons into
the electoral process, and credible reports of busing of
voters among oblasts and polling stations for the purpose of
multiple voting: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) acknowledges and welcomes the strong relationship
formed between the United States and Ukraine since the
restoration of Ukraine's independence in 1991;
(2) recognizes that a precondition for the full integration
of Ukraine into the Western community of nations, including
as an equal member in institutions such as the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO), is its establishment of a
genuinely democratic political system;
(3) expresses its strong and continuing support for the
efforts of the Ukrainian people to establish a full
democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights in
Ukraine;
(4) urges the Government of Ukraine to guarantee freedom of
association and assembly, including the right of candidates,
members of political parties, and others to freely assemble,
to organize and conduct public events, and to exercise these
and other rights free from intimidation or harassment by
local or national officials or others acting at their behest;
(5) urges the Government of Ukraine to meet its
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
commitments on democratic elections and to address issues
previously identified by the Office of Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE in its
final reports on the 2002 parliamentary elections and the
1999 Presidential elections, such as illegal interference by
public authorities in the campaign and a high degree of bias
in the media;
[[Page S11503]]
(6) urges the Ukrainian authorities to ensure--
(A) the full transparency of election procedures before,
during, and after the second round of the 2004 Presidential
election;
(B) free access for Ukrainian and international election
observers;
(C) multiparty representation on all election commissions;
(D) unimpeded access by all parties and candidates to
print, radio, television, and Internet media on a non-
discriminatory basis;
(E) freedom of candidates, members of opposition parties,
and independent media organizations from intimidation or
harassment by government officials at all levels, including
selective tax audits and other regulatory procedures, and in
the case of media, license revocations, and libel suits;
(F) a transparent process for complaint and appeals through
electoral commissions and within the court system that
provides timely and effective remedies;
(G) vigorous prosecution of any individual or organization
responsible for violations of election laws or regulations,
including the application of appropriate administrative or
criminal penalties;
(H) remedies to all improprieties reported in the first
round of the Presidential election in Ukraine, including--
(i) the replacement at a polling station of any Territorial
Election Commission member found to have engaged in fraud;
(ii) a complete review of voter lists in each polling
station in order to correct inaccuracies;
(iii) equal time on state media and equal access to private
media for the two runoff candidates; and
(iv) immediate prosecution of individuals who have violated
the election law;
(7) further calls upon the Government of Ukraine to
guarantee election monitors from the ODIHR, other
participating states of the OSCE, Ukrainian political
parties, representatives of candidates, nongovernmental
organizations, and other private institutions and
organizations, both foreign and domestic, unobstructed access
to all aspects of the election process, including unimpeded
access to public campaign events, candidates, news media,
voting, and post-election tabulation of results and
processing of election challenges and complaints;
(8) urges the President to fully employ the diplomatic and
other resources of the Government of the United States to
encourage the Government of Ukraine to ensure that the
election laws and procedures of Ukraine are faithfully
adhered to by all local and national officials, by others
acting at their behest, and by all candidates and parties,
during and subsequent to the Presidential campaign and
election-day voting;
(9) strongly encourages the President to clearly
communicate to the Government of Ukraine, to all parties and
candidates in Ukraine, and to the people of Ukraine the high
importance attached by the Government of the United States to
this Presidential campaign as a central factor in determining
the future relationship between the two countries;
(10) strongly encourages the President to consider visa
bans and other targeted sanctions on those responsible for
encouraging or participating in any efforts to improperly
influence the outcome of the election, whether through direct
or indirect involvement; and
(11) pledges its enduring support and assistance to the
people of Ukraine for the establishment of a fully free and
open democratic system, the creation of a prosperous free
market economy, the establishment of a secure independence
and freedom from coercion, and Ukraine's assumption of its
rightful place as a full and equal member of the Western
community of democracies.
______
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 147--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE ITS STATUTORY
AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, IN
PARTICULAR THE PERIODIC NATIONAL AND WORLD BOY SCOUT JAMBOREES
Mr. NELSON of Florida submitted the following concurrent resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services:
S. Con. Res. 147
Whereas the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on
February 8, 1910, and received a Federal charter on June 15,
1916, which is codified as chapter 309 of title 36, United
States Code;
Whereas section 30902 of title 36, United States Code,
states that it is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to
promote, through organization, and cooperation with other
agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and
others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach them
patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues;
Whereas, since the inception of the Boy Scouts of America,
millions of Americans of every race, creed, and religion have
participated in the Boy Scouts, and the Boy Scouts currently
uses more than 1,200,000 adult volunteers to serve more than
4,700,000 young people;
Whereas the Department of Defense and members of the Armed
Forces have a long history of supporting the activities of
the Boy Scouts of America and individual Boy Scout troops in
the United States, and section 2606 of title 10, United
States Code, authorizes the Department of Defense to
cooperate with and assist the Boy Scouts of America in
establishing and providing facilities and services for
members of the Armed Forces and their dependents, and
civilian employees of the Department of Defense and their
dependents, at locations outside the United States;
Whereas sections 4682, 7541, and 9682 of title 10, United
States Code, authorize the Department of Defense to sell, and
in certain cases donate, obsolete or excess material to the
Boy Scouts of America to support its activities; and
Whereas, under section 2554 of title 10, United States
Code, the Department of Defense is authorized to make
military installations available to, and to provide
equipment, transportation, and other services to, the Boy
Scouts of America to support national and world gatherings of
Boy Scouts at events known as Boy Scout Jamborees: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the
Department of Defense should continue to exercise its long-
standing statutory authority to support the activities of the
Boy Scouts of America, in particular the periodic national
and world Boy Scout Jamborees.
______
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 148--HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTION OF
YOGI BHAJAN, A LEADER OF THE SIKHS, AND EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE
SIKH COMMUNITY ON HIS PASSING
Mr. BINGAMAN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Con. Res. 148
Whereas the Sikh faith was founded in the northern section
of the Republic of India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak,
who preached tolerance and equality for all humans;
Whereas the Sikh faith began with a simple message of
truthful living and the fundamental unity of humanity, all
created by one creator who manifests existence through every
religion;
Whereas the Sikh faith reaches out to people of all faiths
and cultural backgrounds, encourages individuals to see
beyond their differences, and to work together for world
peace and harmony;
Whereas Siri Singh Sahib Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa
Yogiji, known as Yogi Bhajan to hundreds of thousands of
people worldwide, was born Harbhajan Singh Puri on August 26,
1929, in India;
Whereas at age 8, Yogi Bhajan began yogic training, and 8
years later was proclaimed by his teacher to be a master of
Kundalini Yoga, which stimulates individual growth through
breath, yoga postures, sound, chanting, and meditation;
Whereas during the turmoil over the partition between
Pakistan and India in 1947, at the age of 18, Yogi Bhajan led
his village of 7,000 people 325 miles on foot to safety in
New Delhi, India, from what is now Lahore, Pakistan;
Whereas Yogi Bhajan, before emigrating to North America in
1968, served the Government of India faithfully through both
civil and military service;
Whereas when Yogi Bhajan visited the United States in 1968,
he recognized immediately that the experience of higher
consciousness that many young people were attempting to find
through drugs could be alternatively achieved through
Kundalini Yoga, and in response, he began teaching Kundalini
Yoga publicly, thereby breaking the centuries-old tradition
of secrecy surrounding it;
Whereas in 1969, Yogi Bhajan founded ``Healthy, Happy, Holy
Organization (3HO)'', a nonprofit private educational and
scientific foundation dedicated to serving humanity,
improving physical well-being, deepening spiritual awareness,
and offering guidance on nutrition and health, interpersonal
relations, child rearing, and human behavior;
Whereas under the direction and guidance of Yogi Bhajan,
3HO expanded to 300 centers in 35 countries;
Whereas in 1971, the president of the governing body of
Sikh Temples in India gave Yogi Bhajan the title of Siri
Singh Sahib, which made him the chief religious and
administrative authority for Sikhism in the Western
Hemisphere, and subsequently the Sikh seat of religious
authority gave him responsibility to create a Sikh ministry
in the West;
Whereas in 1971, Sikh Dharma was legally incorporated in
the State of California and recognized as a tax-exempt
religious organization by the United States, and in 1972,
Yogi Bhajan founded the ashram Sikh Dharma in Espanola, New
Mexico;
[[Page S11504]]
Whereas in 1973, Yogi Bhajan founded ``3HO SuperHealth'', a
successful drug rehabilitation program that blends ancient
yogic wisdom of the East with modern technology of the West;
Whereas in June 1985, Yogi Bhajan established the first
``International Peace Prayer Day Celebrations'' in New
Mexico, which still draws thousands of participants annually;
Whereas Yogi Bhajan traveled the world calling for world
peace and religious unity at meetings with leaders such as
Pope Paul VI; Pope John Paul II; His Holiness the Dalai Lama;
the President of the former Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, Mikhail Gorbachev; and two Archbishops of
Canterbury;
Whereas Yogi Bhajan wrote 30 books and inspired the
publication of 200 other books through his teachings, founded
a drug rehabilitation program, and inspired the founding of
several businesses;
Whereas Sikhs and students across the world testify that
Yogi Bhajan exhibited dignity, divinity, grace, commitment,
courage, kindness, compassion, tolerance, wisdom, and
understanding;
Whereas Yogi Bhajan taught that in times of joy and sorrow
members of the community should come together and be at one
with each other; and
Whereas before his passing on October 6, 2004, Yogi Bhajan
requested that his passing be a time of celebration of his
going home: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes that the teachings of Yogi Bhajan about
Sikhism and yoga, and the businesses formed under his
inspiration, improved the personal, political, spiritual, and
professional relations between citizens of the United States
and the citizens of India;
(2) recognizes the legendary compassion, wisdom, kindness,
and courage of Yogi Bhajan, and his wealth of accomplishments
on behalf of the Sikh community; and
(3) extends its condolences to Inderjit Kaur, the wife of
Yogi Bhajan, his 3 children and 5 grandchildren, and to Sikh
and ``Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization (3HO)'' communities
around the Nation and the world upon the death on October 6,
2004, of Yogi Bhajan, an individual who was a wise teacher
and mentor, an outstanding pioneer, a champion of peace, and
a compassionate human being.
Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues,
Senators Domenici and Cornyn, to introduce a resolution honoring the
life of Yogi Bhajan. Yogi Bhajan, the chief religious and
administrative authority for Sikhism in the West, died in Espanola, NM,
on October 6, 2004, at the age of 75. Born Harbhajan Singh Puri on
August 26, 1929, in Northern India, now Pakistan, he began yogic
training at age 8 and was proclaimed a master of Kundalini Yoga by age
16. After the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, his family
migrated to New Delhi, India, where he continued his education. after
graduating from Punjab University in economics, he worked for India's
Internal Revenue Service and later became head of customs at the New
Delhi Airport.
Yogi Bhajan introduced thousands around the world to Sikhism, a
religion that carries the message of truthful living and the
fundamental unity of humanity, and reaches out to people of all
backgrounds to work together for world peace. When he came to North
America in 1968, he recognized that the experience sought by many young
people through drugs could be alternatively achieved through Kundalini
Yoga, which stimulates individual growth through breath, chanting, and
meditation among other components. Breaking the centuries old tradition
of secrecy surrounding Kundalini Yoga, he began teaching it publicly.
Soon after, he founded the Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization (3HO), a
nonprofit private educational and scientific foundation with 300
centers in 35 countries, dedicated to improving physical well-being,
deepening spiritual awareness, and offering guidance on matters of
health and heart. He later founded 3HO SuperHealth, a successful drug
rehabilitation program, blending ancient yogic wisdom of the East with
the modern technology of the West. SuperHealth was accredited by the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization and
received its highest commendation. In 1973 it distinguished itself as
being in the top 10 percent of all treatment programs throughout the
United States. In 1989 Yogi Bhajan met with then President Mikhail
Gorbachev and established addiction treatment programs in Russia based
on the 3HO SuperHealth model. Currently a pilot project of SuperHealth
is being formed by the Punjab State Government in India. He taught Yoga
in Toronto and Los Angeles and finally founded a Sikh Dharma community
in Espanola, NM. In 1971, the president of the governing body of Sikh
Temples in India gave Yogi Bhajan the title of chief religious and
administrative authority for Sikhism in the Western Hemisphere. About
250,000 Sikhs now reside across the United States, including a
community of about 500 families in Northern New Mexico.
Yogi Bhajan wrote 30 books and inspired 200 more through his
teaching, and inspired the founding of several businesses, including
Akal Security Inc. He had an inclusive view of the world's major
religions and considered all of them valid. Throughout his lifetime, he
traveled the world and met with world leaders such as Pope John Paul II
and the Dalai Lama to discuss world peace and religious unity. In June
1985, Yogi Bhajan established the first International Peace Prayer Day
Celebration in New Mexico that stills draws thousands of participants
annually.
After the events of 9/11/01, Yogi Bhajan reached out to Sikhs across
America, encouraging and helping them to educate their fellow citizens
about Sikhs, and to work with law enforcement and community leaders to
help them protect Sikh populations. His efforts have helped contribute
to the opening of some major law enforcement agencies to Sikh
employees, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Yogi
Bhajan established links to human rights advocates nationwide, working
to make sure that the issue of Sikh identity is understood and
respected. When Balbir Singh Sodhi was murdered in Phoenix 5 days after
9/11 because of his beard and turban, Yogi Bhajan worked with community
and government leaders in Arizona to help raise awareness about the
Sikh community there.
Yogi Bhajan is survived by his wife, Inderjit Kaur; two sons, Ranbir
Singh and Kulbir Singh; a daughter, Kamaljit Kaur; and five
grandchildren. He will be missed by his family, followers and his
friends, and his contribution to the cause of world peace will be
remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
______
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 149--COMMENDING THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AND ITS EMPLOYEES FOR ITS DEDICATION AND
HARD WORK DURING HURRICANES CHARLEY, FRANCES, IVAN, AND JEANNE
Mr. HOLLINGS (for himself, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Lott, and Mr.
Breaux) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
considered and agreed to:
S. Con. Res. 149
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's National Weather Service consistently
provides critical forecasts and warnings about severe weather
to the Nation's citizens;
Whereas 4 hurricanes, Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne,
recently hit the State of Florida, an event which has not
occurred since 4 hurricanes struck Texas in 1886;
Whereas Hurricane Jeanne was the fourth hurricane in 6
weeks to hit the United States mainland;
Whereas the employees of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Tropical Prediction Center/
National Hurricane Center and the employees of key Southern
Region Weather Forecast Offices worked tirelessly and under
great pressure to provide the most up to date information to
the public, the media, and emergency management officials
during Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne;
Whereas the employees of the National Hurricane Center
conducted approximately 1,128 live television and radio
interviews as well as 1,480 telephone briefings to the media
and others during Hurricane Frances;
Whereas the forecasts and information from the National
Hurricane Center provided notice for the evacuation of
millions of residents in the line of Hurricanes Charley,
Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne and warnings to the residents of
Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana;
Whereas the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's
Hurricane Research Division at the Atlantic Oceanographic and
Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, Florida conducts the
research needed to improve hurricane forecasts and went on
flights in and around hurricanes to gather and improve data
that goes into the National Hurricane Center's forecasts,
watches, and warnings to protect lives and property;
Whereas the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, New
Jersey developed, carefully monitors, and continues to
improve the National Weather Service's operational hurricane
model used to determine where the storms are likely to go;
[[Page S11505]]
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's Marine and Aviation Operation's Hurricane
Hunters logged over 300 hours of operational hours of flight
time through and above the storms to assist the National
Hurricane Center in tracking Hurricanes Charley, Frances,
Ivan, and Jeanne;
Whereas the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the
403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command at Keesler Air
Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi, logged 739 hours of flight
time through and around the storms to assist the National
Hurricane Center in tracking Hurricanes Charley, Frances,
Ivan, and Jeanne;
Whereas the Hurricane Liaison Team, a joint National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Federal Emergency
Management Agency partnership, provided support to the 25
different media outlets operating out of the National
Hurricane Center;
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's Hydrometeoro- logical Prediction Center
provided rainfall forecasts and hurricane track guidance to
the National Hurricane Center;
Whereas the National Weather Service's National Data Buoy
Center, in partnership with the United States Coast Guard,
worked expediently after Hurricane Charley to fix data buoys
that proved critical for forecasts of Hurricane Frances,
Ivan, and Jeanne;
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's National Ocean Service provided storm surge
predictions and hydrographic information support to Federal
partners before, during, and after Hurricanes Charley,
Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne;
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's National Environmental Satellite Data and
Information Service provided images of Hurricane Frances
every 5 minutes over a 4-day period, an unprecedented number
of images for hurricane tracking;
Whereas the Southern, Eastern, and Central Region Weather
Forecast Offices of San Juan, Miami, Tampa Bay, Key West,
Melbourne, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Atlanta, Birmingham,
Huntsville, Mobile, Morristown, Charleston, Morehead City,
Wilmington, Wakefield, and Taunton provided up-to-the-minute
local details for residents throughout Hurricanes Charley,
Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne;
Whereas employees from other offices within the Southern
Region provided additional support to key Weather Forecast
Offices directly impacted by Hurricanes Charley, Frances,
Ivan, and Jeanne;
Whereas more than 7,000 watches, warnings, advisories, and
other statements were issued by key local Weather Forecast
Offices during Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne;
Whereas the Southeast River Forecast Center provided
critical river flooding forecast information to Federal,
State, and private partners during Hurricanes Charley,
Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne and accurately predicted the amount
of excessive rainfall over the Southeastern United States
several days in advance; and
Whereas the hurricane season continues through November,
and all these employees continue tracking new tropical
depressions approaching the United States coast: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) commends the employees of the National Weather Service,
especially the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane
Center, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and National
Data Buoy Center; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Aircraft Operations Center at MacDill Air
Force Base, Tampa, Florida; the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance
Squadron of the 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command
at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi; the Hurricane
Liaison Team; the National Ocean Service; and the National
Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service, for
their extraordinary dedication and hard work during
Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne;
(2) commends the Southern, Eastern, and Central Region
Weather Forecast Offices of San Juan, Miami, Tampa Bay, Key
West, Melbourne, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Atlanta,
Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Morristown, Charleston,
Morehead City, Wilmington, Wakefield, Taunton, Lake Charles,
New Orleans, Jackson, Nashville, and Houston for their
extraordinary dedication and hard work during Hurricanes
Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne;
(3) commends the employees of the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research, especially the Hurricane Research
Division;
(4) thanks the commercial and media meteorologists for
their contributions in disseminating the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration forecasts and warnings to the
public; and
(5) expresses its support for the ongoing hard work and
dedication of all who provide accurate and timely hurricane
forecasts.
____________________