[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 165 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14057-S14064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-222. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to adopting 
     legislation that would provide funding through the Department 
     of Housing and Urban Development in the form of Community 
     Development Block Grants to investor owned utilities for the 
     restoration of electric and gas service damaged by Hurricanes 
     Katrina and Rita; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs.

                        Senate Resolution No. 13

       Whereas, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a category 
     four storm with sustained winds of one hundred and forty 
     miles per hour came ashore in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, 
     near Buras, causing unprecedented flooding and devastation in 
     southeastern Louisiana, including the breach of the levee 
     system and floodwalls of the city of New Orleans, the death 
     of more than a thousand state residents, the displacement and 
     evacuation of hundreds of thousands more, and the widespread 
     loss and destruction of businesses and property; and
       Whereas, on September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita, a category 
     three storm with sustained winds of one hundred and twenty-
     five miles per hour came ashore near the Louisiana/Texas 
     border, causing unprecedented flooding and devastation in 
     southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas, and the 
     widespread loss and destruction of life and property; and
       Whereas, Entergy Corporation (Entergy), through its 
     subsidiaries Entergy Louisiana (ELI), Entergy Gulf States 
     (EGS), and Entergy New Orleans (ENO), is Louisiana's largest 
     electric and gas utility, and the resulting wind and flooding 
     of Hurricane Katrina significantly damaged major portions of 
     Entergy's utility infrastructure; and
       Whereas, in the aftermath of the disaster, Entergy and 
     others worked rapidly to provide emergency and temporary 
     services and is currently working to restore permanent 
     service to all customers in its service territory; and
       Whereas, Entergy estimates that the total restoration costs 
     for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric and 
     gas facilities damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and 
     business continuity costs are estimated to be in the range of 
     $1.1 to $1.4 billion; with the costs to Entergy New Orleans 
     alone to repair its utility infrastructure exceeding four 
     hundred million dollars, not including potential incremental 
     losses; and
       Whereas, safe and reliable electric and gas utility service 
     is vital to the state's post-hurricane recovery efforts, and 
     the state of Louisiana deems it essential to keep Entergy and 
     its subsidiaries as productive and financially viable 
     companies providing safe and reliable electric and gas 
     utility service to the residents and businesses of Louisiana; 
     and
       Whereas, the legislature is committed to the protection of 
     Entergy's residential and business customers from the 
     tremendous costs associated with the necessary rebuilding 
     efforts and in assisting Entergy and its subsidiaries, 
     particularly Entergy New Orleans, in regaining their 
     financial strength and stability so that they will be able to 
     continue providing safe, and reliable service to their 
     customers; and
       Whereas, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
     2001, which caused catastrophic destruction of life and 
     property, loss of an untold number of jobs, and the 
     displacement of many individuals and businesses, the 
     legislature notes that billions of dollars in funds and other 
     forms of essential assistance was provided to the state of 
     New York, and New York City by the federal government; and
       Whereas, the state of Louisiana has suffered similar, if 
     not greater, human and economic losses as a result of 
     hurricanes Katrina and Rita, resulting in devastating loss of 
     life, damage to businesses and property, and destruction of 
     much of Entergy's utility infrastructure in Louisiana; and
       Whereas, the legislature notes that Congress, in Public Law 
     107-206, passed on August 2, 2002, authorized the United 
     States Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide 
     seven hundred and eighty-three million dollars in disaster 
     assistance for damaged properties and businesses, including 
     the restoration of utility infrastructure, and for economic 
     revitalization directly related to the September 11 attacks. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana hereby 
     memorializes the Congress of the

[[Page S14058]]

     United States to take all measures necessary to provide 
     federal financial assistance to aid in rebuilding the 
     investor-owned utility systems that are indispensable to the 
     recovery efforts of the state of Louisiana and the city of 
     New Orleans; and 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-223. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to increasing the coverage limit for a single-family 
     structure under the National Flood Insurance Program from two 
     hundred fifty thousand dollars to five hundred thousand 
     dollars; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 23

       Whereas, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), 
     administered by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 
     makes federally backed flood insurance available in 
     communities that adopt and enforce floodplain management 
     ordinances to reduce further flood losses; and
       Whereas, flood damage, unlike wind damage, is not covered 
     by homeowners' insurance policies but must be purchased 
     separately; and
       Whereas, flood insurance may be purchased through insurance 
     companies and licensed insurance agents; and
       Whereas, the maximum coverage amount for a single-family 
     structure under NFIP is two hundred fifty thousand dollars; 
     and
       Whereas, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the state of 
     Louisiana causing unprecedented and severe flooding and 
     damage to the southern part of the state, devastating the 
     lives of many citizens of the state, and causing damage or 
     destruction of their property; and
       Whereas, a substantial number of those single-family 
     structures which suffered damage or destruction from these 
     recent hurricanes are valued well in excess of two hundred 
     fifty thousand dollars, creating a severe gap between 
     coverage limits and the cost of repairing or replacing such 
     homes. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to increase the 
     coverage limit for a single-family structure under NFIP from 
     two hundred fifty thousand dollars to five hundred thousand 
     dollars; and be it further
       Resolved, that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-224. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to forgive 
     the 3.7 billion dollars that the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency (FEMA) estimates that Louisiana owes FEMA for 
     hurricane relief; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 49

       Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has 
     estimated that the state's cost for Hurricanes Katrina and 
     Rita amount to 3.7 billion dollars; and
       Whereas, Governor Kathleen Blanco has expressed her 
     intention to seek to have this amount reduced, as it far 
     exceeds any expectation of how much the state would be 
     required to pay for hurricane relief; and
       Whereas, Hurricane Katrina has been called the most 
     destructive and costliest natural disaster in the history of 
     the nation, a burden no state has ever had to bear, 
     negatively impacting the state's economy and the earning 
     power of the state's citizens and businesses in countless 
     ways; and
       Whereas, even as the state faces this almost insurmountable 
     challenge, FEMA has presented the state with a bill of 
     proportions such as no state has ever faced, and it is a 
     financial burden that Louisiana is not equipped to handle; 
     and
       Whereas, Louisiana is already facing a tremendous budget 
     shortfall that renders it incapable of repaying this 
     staggering amount of debt; and
       Whereas, the United States government has generously 
     provided a great deal of money to other countries, many of 
     whose debts have been forgiven, and it seems unjust to 
     forgive the debts of other countries but not the debt of 
     taxpaying American citizens; and
       Whereas, in light of how this cost would greatly hinder the 
     state's efforts towards economic recovery, it is appropriate 
     that Congress enact legislation to forgive Louisiana's debt 
     incurred by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to forgive the 3.7 billion dollars that the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that 
     Louisiana owes to FEMA for hurricane relief; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-225. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to create a 
     national wind insurance program to be combined with the 
     National Flood Insurance Program in order to create a 
     national catastrophe insurance program; to the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, Congress created the National Flood Insurance 
     Program (NFIP) in 1968 in response to the rising cost of 
     taxpayer-funded disaster relief for flood victims and the 
     increasing amount of damage caused by floods; and
       Whereas, in the wake of the widespread damage and 
     devastation caused by recent hurricanes, it is only 
     appropriate that Congress consider a similar program that 
     would also provide wind insurance; and
       Whereas, when claim issues are addressed following a 
     hurricane, the separation of damages between wind coverage 
     and flood coverage is potentially contentious and difficult 
     to resolve; and
       Whereas, homeowners in areas that have been stricken by 
     hurricanes face the possibility of being dropped by their 
     homeowners' insurance companies and being unable to obtain 
     future coverage to protect them in the case of future 
     disasters; and
       Whereas, it would be in the best interest of citizens 
     living in storm-prone areas to have the opportunity to 
     participate in a federal catastrophe insurance program. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to create a national wind insurance program 
     to be combined with the National Flood Insurance Program in 
     order to create a national catastrophe insurance program; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-226. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relative to the 
     hydrogen shortage caused by Hurricane Katrina; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                       Senate Resolution No. 169

       Whereas, There are several factories located within the 
     area devastated by Hurricane Katrina that produce hydrogen; 
     and
       Whereas, The aftermath of the hurricane has caused those 
     factories to shut down and has triggered a hydrogen shortage; 
     and
       Whereas, The hydrogen shortage is having a substantial 
     negative impact on the metal industry in the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania and throughout the United States, which industry 
     relies on hydrogen for its manufacturing processes; and
       Whereas, The hydrogen shortage in the United States needs 
     to be addressed by the Congress of the United States. 
     Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United States to take 
     appropriate action to address the hydrogen shortage in the 
     United States due to factory shutdowns caused by the 
     devastation of Hurricane Katrina; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-227. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to urging the 
     Great Lakes Regional Collaboration and the United States 
     Congress to implement the Action Plan to Restore and Protect 
     the Great Lakes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                        Senate Resolution No. 84

       Whereas, Over 40 percent of the Great Lakes are under 
     Michigan's jurisdiction and the Great Lakes contain 95 
     percent of North America's fresh surface water; and
       Whereas, The Great Lakes affect all aspects of life in 
     Michigan and are inextricably linked to Michigan's history, 
     culture, and economy. The Great Lakes have for thousands of 
     years supported native communities' culture and way of life; 
     and
       Whereas, The Great Lakes fuel Michigan's tourism and 
     recreation industry. Recreational fishing alone adds $1.4 
     billion annually to the state's economy; and
       Whereas, The state of Michigan has historically been a 
     leader in protecting the Great Lakes, including efforts to 
     regulate ballast water discharges that could harbor invasive 
     species and to eliminate the disposal of dangerous 
     contaminants in the Great Lakes; and
       Whereas, Despite Michigan's efforts, the Great Lakes are 
     ailing from a multitude of stressors, including aquatic 
     invasive species, toxic contamination of river and lake 
     sediments, partially or inadequately treated sewage 
     discharges, pollution from nonpoint sources, and coastal 
     habitat loss. Combined, these stressors will have long-
     lasting effects on the Great Lakes, Michigan's economy, and 
     our way of life; and
       Whereas, There has been an unprecedented collaborative 
     effort on the part of 1,500 people representing federal, 
     state, and local governments, Native American tribes, 
     nongovernmental entities, and private citizens

[[Page S14059]]

     to develop an Action Plan to Restore and Protect the Great 
     Lakes; and
       Whereas, Implementation of the Action Plan can restore the 
     ecology of the Great Lakes and avert impending environmental 
     threats to the region; and
       Whereas, A recent report by the federal Great Lakes 
     Interagency Task Force has, at the eleventh hour, attempted 
     to change the rules that the Regional Collaboration operated 
     under by recommending that the strategy be constrained by 
     current budget projections; and
       Whereas, The action plan previously developed through the 
     Regional Collaboration includes recommendations that call on 
     the states and federal government to take substantial new 
     steps jointly in the restoration and protection of the Great 
     Lakes; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Great Lakes 
     Regional Collaboration and the United States Congress to take 
     prompt action to finalize, endorse, implement, and invest in 
     the Action Plan to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That we urge the United States Congress to adopt 
     legislation to implement and fully invest in the Action Plan; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That we intend for the state of Michigan to 
     continue its proud tradition of Great Lakes stewardship and 
     fulfill its commitment to restoring the Great Lakes by taking 
     substantial steps and, whenever practical, match federal 
     funding to implement the Action Plan to Restore and Protect 
     the Great Lakes; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this 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, the members of the Michigan congressional 
     delegation, the Great Lakes Commission, the Great Lakes 
     Legislative Caucus, the International Joint Commission, the 
     Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Michigan Office of the 
     Great Lakes, the Michigan Department of Environmental 
     Quality, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
                                  ____

       POM-228. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to 
     extending Louisiana's seaward boundary in the Gulf of Mexico 
     to twelve geographical miles; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8

       Whereas, Louisiana's seaward boundary in the Gulf of Mexico 
     has been judicially determined to be three geographical miles 
     and the United States has jurisdiction past the three 
     geographical miles; and
       Whereas, Congress has the power to amend the Submerged 
     Lands Act of 1953 to allow for the recognition that 
     Louisiana's seaward boundary extends twelve geographical 
     miles into the Gulf of Mexico; and
       Whereas, Louisiana acts as a significant energy corridor 
     vital to the entire United States and provides intersections 
     of oil and natural gas intrastate and interstate pipeline 
     networks which serve as reference for futures markets, such 
     as the Henry Hub for natural gas, the St. James Louisiana 
     Light Sweet Crude Oil, and the Mars Sour Crude Oil contracts; 
     and
       Whereas, Louisiana provides storage for the nation's 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve and is the home of the nation's 
     major import terminal for foreign oil, known as the Louisiana 
     Offshore Oil Port; and
       Whereas, Louisiana and its coastal wetlands provide access 
     to nearly thirty-four percent of the U.S. natural gas supply 
     and nearly twenty-nine percent of the U.S. oil supply; and
       Whereas, the United States' economic growth depends on 
     access to stable supplies of oil and natural gas; and
       Whereas, Louisiana ranks first in crude oil production, 
     including the outer continental shelf production, and ranks 
     second in natural gas production, including the outer 
     continental shelf production; and
       Whereas, in 2001, the state of Louisiana received only one-
     half of one percent of the federal oil and gas revenues off 
     its coast; and
       Whereas, hurricanes Katrina and Rita have shown that the 
     loss of vital oil and gas infrastructure in Louisiana and the 
     Gulf of Mexico has an immediate and direct impact upon the 
     economy and well-being of the entire country and its 
     citizens; and
       Whereas, the hurricanes have shut-in approximately fifty-
     three percent of the daily oil production in the Gulf of 
     Mexico, and shut-in approximately forty-seven percent of the 
     daily gas production in the Gulf of Mexico; and
       Whereas, for the time period of August 26, 2005, through 
     November 3, 2005, the cumulative shut-in of oil production is 
     approximately fourteen percent of the yearly oil production 
     in the Gulf of Mexico, and the cumulative shut-in of gas 
     production is approximately eleven percent of the yearly gas 
     production in the Gulf of Mexico; and
       Whereas, due to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana has 
     suffered loss of life and tremendous devastation to its 
     economy, its citizens, infrastructure, and coastal landscape; 
     and
       Whereas, Louisiana's Revenue Estimating Conference 
     estimates the budget shortfall to be approximately nine 
     hundred seventy million dollars, and the loss of fees and 
     self-generated revenue could increase the shortfall to one 
     billion five hundred million dollars; and
       Whereas, the governor of Louisiana has reduced state agency 
     spending by five hundred million dollars; and
       Whereas, the state has provided ten million dollars from 
     our Rapid Response Fund for short-term, interest-free loans 
     to struggling businesses, and granted the full Interim 
     Emergency Fund in the amount of sixteen million dollars to 
     local governments in order for the governments' vital 
     services to operate; and
       Whereas, Louisiana has paid out approximately three hundred 
     million dollars in unemployment benefits to hurricane 
     affected employees; and
       Whereas, Louisiana has established a Rainy Day Fund that is 
     worth approximately four hundred sixty million dollars, and 
     the state is in the process of using at least one-third of 
     this fund to balance the state budget; and
       Whereas, in this special session the Louisiana legislature 
     along with the governor are considering other options for 
     balancing the budget, increasing revenues, and funding the 
     massive clean-up, rebuilding, and restoration of southern 
     Louisiana; and
       Whereas, hurricanes Katrina and Rita turned approximately 
     one hundred square miles of southeast Louisiana coastal 
     wetlands into open water, and destroyed more wetlands east of 
     the Mississippi River in one month than experts estimated to 
     be lost in over forty-five years; and
       Whereas, monies are desperately needed to fund the state's 
     clean-up, rebuilding, and restoration of southern Louisiana; 
     and
       Whereas, the state of Louisiana and its citizens are in a 
     financial crisis; and
       Whereas, in order to rebuild the state of Louisiana and 
     protect its citizens, the state needs a significant, 
     consistent and ongoing stream of revenue; and
       Whereas, the extension of Louisiana's seaward boundary into 
     the Gulf of Mexico for twelve geographical miles will provide 
     such stream of revenue. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to extend Louisiana's 
     seaward boundary in the Gulf of Mexico to twelve geographical 
     miles; and 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-229. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to allow the 
     Stafford Act to provide for payment of regular pay to 
     essential personnel; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 28

       Whereas, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the state of 
     Louisiana causing severe flooding and damage to the southern 
     region of the state; and
       Whereas, the flooding and damage have adversely affected 
     the state and local government's fiscal budget; and
       Whereas, this effect is having a direct impact on their 
     ability to continue to pay their essential staff; and
       Whereas, the employment of essential staff is necessary for 
     the effectual running of their everyday governmental 
     operations as well as those duties which have occurred as a 
     result of these natural disasters; and
       Whereas, the Stafford Act provides an orderly and 
     continuing means of assistance by the federal government to 
     state and local governments in carrying out their 
     responsibilities to alleviate the suffering and damage 
     resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by assisting with 
     the payment of overtime pay. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as necessary whereby the Stafford Act will allow the payment 
     of regular pay to essential staff; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-230. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to directing the United States Army Corps of 
     Engineers not to engage in dredging activities on the 
     Mississippi River Gulf Outlet and to begin the necessary 
     process to return the waterway to wetlands marsh status; to 
     the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 34

       Whereas, the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), a 
     seventy-six-mile, manmade navigational channel which connects 
     the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of New Orleans along the 
     Mississippi River, was authorized by the United States 
     Congress under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1956 as a 
     channel with a surface width of six hundred fifty feet, a 
     bottom width of five hundred feet, and a depth of thirty-six 
     feet, and it opened in 1965; and
       Whereas, MRGO, which bisects the coastal marshes of St. 
     Bernard Parish and the Chandeleur Sound, was constructed for 
     navigational and economic purposes as a shorter route than 
     the Mississippi River and as an

[[Page S14060]]

     engine of industrial development for St. Bernard Parish and 
     the city of New Orleans; and
       Whereas, since MRGO was completed, the Army Corps of 
     Engineers estimates that the area has lost nearly three 
     thousand two hundred acres of fresh and intermediate marsh, 
     more than ten thousand three hundred acres of brackish marsh, 
     four thousand two hundred acres of saline marsh, and one 
     thousand five hundred acres of cypress swamps and levee 
     forests in addition to major habitat alterations due to 
     saltwater intrusion from the loss of the marshes, which has 
     resulted in dramatic declines in waterfowl and quadruped use 
     of the marshes; and
       Whereas, although the tradeoff for St. Bernard Parish's 
     loss of marsh and habitat was anticipated to have been the 
     resultant economic development, that development has not 
     occurred in the forty years since MRGO opened for navigation; 
     MRGO traffic comprises only three percent of the river 
     traffic and is limited to only barge traffic and generally 
     involves only four passages per day; and
       Whereas, in addition to less than anticipated use of the 
     channel, the costs of maintaining MRGO rises each year, with 
     the cost of dredging now over twenty-five million dollars per 
     year, or more than thirteen thousand dollars for each 
     passage, in addition to the expenditure of millions for 
     shoreline stabilization and marsh protection projects, with 
     an anticipated cost increase of fifty-two percent between 
     1995 and 2005; and
       Whereas, concerns about the environmental impact of the 
     channel began prior to construction with other federal 
     agencies expressing concern about hydrologic models 
     predicting drastic salinity increases and associated loss of 
     interior marsh, and those concerns have continued through the 
     life of the project as indicated by the Louisiana Legislature 
     getting involved as long ago as Senate Concurrent Resolution 
     No. 207 of 1992 in which the legislature asked the Army Corps 
     of Engineers to evaluate the adverse environmental impacts 
     resulting from the operation of MRGO and to determine if 
     there was federal interest in continuing to maintain and 
     operate the channel; and
       Whereas, concerns about the environmental impact increased 
     through the years as evidenced by the fact that in 1998 the 
     ``Coast 2050 Report'' contained closure of MRGO among the 
     consensus recommendations, and the technical committee of the 
     Coastal Wetland Planning, Preservation and Restoration Act 
     Task Force listed closure as one of the highest-ranked 
     strategies for coastal restoration; and
       Whereas, with the waterway increasing from its original 
     authorized dimensions to a surface width of twenty-two 
     hundred feet and a depth of over forty feet, in 1998 the St. 
     Bernard Police Jury voted unanimously to request closure of 
     the waterway because of fears that the dramatic loss of 
     coastal wetlands and marshes caused by MRGO exposed the 
     parish and the communities in the parish to much more severe 
     impacts from the hurricanes and tropical storms that 
     regularly occur in the Gulf of Mexico; and
       Whereas, those concerns were echoed and amplified by 
     scientists, engineers, and citizens throughout the region as 
     reflected in requests from the Louisiana Legislature to 
     Congress in 1999 (SCR No. 266) and again in 2004 (HCR No. 35 
     and HCR No. 68) to close the waterway, and indeed, those 
     concerns proved true in an extremely dramatic fashion on 
     August 29, 2005, when Hurricane Katrina, a strong Category 5 
     hurricane, washed ashore on Louisiana's coast with a tidal 
     surge well in excess of twenty feet; and
       Whereas, there is a growing consensus that the flooding 
     that occurred in St. Bernard Parish and the Lower Ninth Ward 
     of New Orleans was a result of storm surge that flowed up the 
     Mississippi River Gulf Outlet to the point where it converges 
     with the Intracoastal Waterway and that the confluence 
     created a funnel that directed the storm surges into the New 
     Orleans Industrial Canal, where it overtopped the levees 
     along MRGO and the Industrial Canal and eventually breached 
     the levees and flooded into the neighborhoods that lie close 
     to those three waterways, resulting in a yet uncounted number 
     of deaths and rendering sixty-seven thousand residents of St. 
     Bernard Parish and uncounted numbers in the Lower Ninth Ward 
     of New Orleans homeless, without possessions, and unemployed; 
     and
       Whereas, only three weeks later, on September 24, 2005, 
     storm waters from Hurricane Rita surged up the Mississippi 
     River Gulf Outlet and caused additional flooding in St. 
     Bernard Parish and the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, 
     exacerbating the traumatic losses in that area; and
       Whereas, almost immediately after the two storm events, the 
     United States Army Corps of Engineers indicated that it would 
     seek funding to begin dredging MRGO to reestablish the forty-
     foot depth, which caused an enormous outcry of protest from 
     the citizens and public officials from St. Bernard Parish and 
     the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, causing the Corps to 
     postpone a decision as to what the next step would be for the 
     Mississippi River Gulf Outlet; and
       Whereas, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has 
     stated that it has no authorization from congress to close 
     the waterway or to make any attempt to return the coastal 
     wetlands and marshes to their pre-waterway status or even to 
     fill the waterway to allow for the development of marshes and 
     wetlands. Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress and the Louisiana 
     congressional delegation to suspend any current 
     appropriations or authorizations for expenditure of funds to 
     dredge the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, to direct the 
     United States Army Corps of Engineers not to engage in any 
     dredging activities on the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, and 
     to begin the necessary process to return the waterway to 
     wetlands marsh status as close as possible to what it was 
     prior to establishment of the canal; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation and to the chairman of the Mississippi Valley 
     Division of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
                                  ____

       POM-231. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to waive the 
     nonfederal or local portion of any cost-sharing agreement for 
     the funding of a levee reconstruction and improvement 
     project; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 36

       Whereas, on August 29, 2005, and on September 24, 2005, 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, respectively, swept across 
     southeastern Louisiana, demolishing homes, schools, and 
     businesses, obliterating entire communities, and earning 
     their place in history amid the most destructive natural 
     disasters ever measured; and
       Whereas, those charged with the mind-boggling task of 
     rebuilding this storm-ravaged region must essentially begin 
     from scratch, including reworking and improving the complex 
     levee system that will protect the region and its inhabitants 
     from future storms such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and
       Whereas, Hurricane Katrina, which measured as a Category 4 
     storm upon landfall, made painfully clear that it is not 
     enough to rebuild and restore the battered levees to their 
     pre-storm Category 3 level of hurricane protection; the 
     economic recovery of this state depends upon the construction 
     of improved levees that will be able to withstand stronger 
     storms; and
       Whereas, the building of a strong levee and flood 
     protection system will require an enormous investment in the 
     infrastructure of the region, but it will also entice 
     businesses back to the region, reassure insurers that such a 
     disaster will not happen again, and convince residents that 
     they will be safe; and
       Whereas, the strengthening of the levees is critical to the 
     future economic development of the region, but the level of 
     devastation brought about by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has 
     depleted local resources and has initiated a financial crisis 
     that is only expected to intensify; under these circumstances 
     the state and local governments are unable to meet their 
     portion of the cost-sharing agreement for the funding of the 
     levee improvement project; and
       Whereas, in any cost-sharing agreement entered into for the 
     completion of certain projects, including flood control or 
     hurricane protection projects, 33 USC 2213 provides that 
     congress may reduce or offer some other form of financial 
     relief to the nonfederal interest relative to such cost-
     sharing agreements, upon a determination that the nonfederal 
     interest is not financially able to render its portion of 
     cost-sharing responsibilities. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to waive the nonfederal or local portion of 
     any cost-sharing agreement relative to funding of projects 
     for the reconstruction and improvement of the levee system; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That a suitable copy of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the 
     House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States 
     of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
       POM-232. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to review 
     and consideration of revising or eliminating provisions of 
     law which reduce social security benefits for those receiving 
     benefits from the federal, state, or local government 
     retirement systems; to the Committee on Finance.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 22

       Whereas, the Congress of the United States has enacted both 
     the Government Pension Offset (GPO), reducing the spousal and 
     survivor social security benefit and the Windfall Elimination 
     Provision (WEP), reducing the earned social security benefit 
     for persons who also receive federal, state, or local 
     retirement; and
       Whereas, the intent of Congress in enacting the GPO and the 
     WEP provisions was to address concerns that a public employee 
     who had worked primarily in federal, state, and local 
     government employment might receive a public pension in 
     addition to the same social security benefit as a worker who 
     had worked only in employment covered by social security 
     throughout his career; and
       Whereas, the purpose of Congress in enacting these 
     reduction provisions was to provide a disincentive for public 
     employees to receive two pensions; and
       Whereas, the GPO negatively affects a spouse or survivor 
     receiving federal, state, or

[[Page S14061]]

     local government retirement benefits who would also be 
     entitled to a social security benefit earned by a spouse; and
       Whereas, the GPO formula reduces the spousal or survivor 
     social security benefit by two-thirds of the amount of the 
     federal, state, or local government retirement benefit 
     received by the spouse or survivor, in many cases completely 
     eliminating the social security benefit; and
       Whereas, the WEP applies to those persons who have earned 
     federal, state, or local government retirement benefits, in 
     addition to working in covered employment and paying into the 
     social security system; and
       Whereas, the WEP reduces the earned social security benefit 
     using an averaged indexed monthly earnings formula and may 
     reduce social security benefits for such persons by as much 
     as one-half of the uncovered public retirement benefits 
     earned; and
       Whereas, because of these calculation characteristics, the 
     GPO and WEP have a disproportionately negative effect on 
     employees working in lower-wage government jobs, like 
     policemen, firefighters, teachers, and state employees; and
       Whereas, these provisions also have a greater adverse 
     effect on women than on men because of the gender differences 
     in salary that continue to plague our Nation; and
       Whereas, Louisiana is facing a herculean recovery effort 
     which will likely require a reduction in the public 
     workforce, requiring employees of the state and her political 
     subdivisions to leave public service earlier than they 
     perhaps otherwise would, further reducing the amount of money 
     each will receive upon retirement; and
       Whereas, Louisiana is making every effort to improve the 
     quality of life of her citizens and to encourage them to live 
     here life-long as a part of the rebuilding and revitalization 
     of the state. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to review the 
     GPO and WEP social security benefit reductions, and to 
     consider amendments thereto that would lessen or eliminate 
     their effects; and 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-233. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to 
     providing financial assistance to the state necessary to 
     maintain essential public services to the people of Louisiana 
     following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and 
     Rita; to the Committee on Finance.


                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 38

       Whereas, while these events contributed to an immense loss 
     of human life and property, the ramifications continue to 
     affect every citizen of the state; and
       Whereas, the destruction of business, industry, and 
     infrastructure in these areas has severely reduced the 
     state's revenue stream by over one-third; and
       Whereas, the Revenue Estimating Conference projects next 
     year's revenue forecast to show a deficit of nine hundred 
     seventy million dollars, requiring massive budget reductions 
     to comply with the state constitution that requires a 
     balanced budget; and
       Whereas, through executive order and legislative action, 
     state government is making a coordinated effort to balance 
     the budget; and
       Whereas, this deficit of nearly one billion dollars 
     severely curtails the ability of the state to provide 
     essential public services in the areas of health care, 
     education, and infrastructure; and
       Whereas, the budget process demands debilitating cuts to 
     higher education with a total reduction of over sixty-six 
     million dollars of which sixty-one million dollars targets 
     individual colleges and universities; and
       Whereas, health care services such as Medicaid will lose 
     four hundred million dollars in federal matching funds due to 
     reductions in the state's budget, causing a total reduction 
     in health care services for Medicaid eligibles and the 
     uninsured of six hundred thirty-eight million dollars; and
       Whereas, rebuilding state facilities carries a hefty price 
     tag estimated at over two billion dollars; and
       Whereas, the extent of the impact to self-generated revenue 
     sources remains unclear at this time; and
       Whereas, Louisiana, faced with such monumental budget cuts 
     and slow economic recovery, may be unable to repay a 
     staggering debt currently owed to the federal government in 
     matching funds allegedly owed for certain FEMA assistance 
     payments. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to provide financial 
     assistance and extraordinary funding to Louisiana necessary 
     to maintain essential public services during these 
     unfortunate times of diminished revenues and staggering debt; 
     and 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-234. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to encouraging the banking industry to assist senior 
     citizens and disabled persons without identification due to 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with negotiating their Social 
     Security Supplemental Security Income checks; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 47

       Whereas, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita displaced thousands of 
     Louisiana residents, destroyed their homes and lives, and 
     took all of their personal belongings, including their 
     identification; and
       Whereas, senior citizens and disabled persons living in 
     areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are in 
     desperate need of their Social Security Supplemental Security 
     Income checks to purchase basic needs of food, clothing, and 
     shelter; and
       Whereas, it has been problematic for senior citizens and 
     disabled persons without identification due to Hurricanes 
     Katrina and Rita to negotiate their Social Security 
     Supplemental Security Income checks. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     urge and request congress to encourage the banking industry 
     to assist senior citizens and I disabled persons without 
     identification due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with 
     negotiating their Social Security Supplemental Security 
     Income checks; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-235. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to grant for 
     distributions from DROP accounts to active state and local 
     government employees who are members of public retirement 
     systems similar tax relief as that provided to members of 
     qualified retirement plans by the Katrina Emergency Tax 
     Relief Act of 2005 and to permit such distributions from tax-
     qualified plans; to the Committee on Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 15

       Whereas, in response to the devastation of Hurricane 
     Katrina and the terrible economic losses sustained by many 
     citizens on the Gulf Coast, the United States Congress 
     enacted the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act, referred to as 
     KETRA, which granted several kinds of tax relief to Hurricane 
     Katrina victims; and
       Whereas, federal tax laws generally treat any distribution 
     from a qualified retirement plan, a tax-sheltered annuity 
     (403(b) annuity), an eligible deferred compensation plan 
     maintained by a state or local government (governmental 457 
     plan), or an individual retirement arrangement (IRA) as 
     income for the year distributed and provide penalties for 
     early distributions from certain pension plans or funds in 
     the form of a ten percent early withdrawal tax; and
       Whereas, provisions of KETRA legislation include an 
     exception to the ten percent early withdrawal tax in the case 
     of a qualified Hurricane Katrina distribution from certain 
     qualified retirement plans, a 403(b) annuity, or an IRA, and 
     KETRA provides for income attributable to a qualified 
     Hurricane Katrina distribution to be included in income 
     ratably over three years and permits the amount of a 
     qualified Hurricane Katrina distribution to be recontributed 
     to an eligible retirement plan within three years; and
       Whereas, provisions of KETRA do not apply to tax-qualified 
     public retirement systems (401(a) plans) such as the state 
     and statewide retirement systems, under which an employee's 
     contributions are withheld from his pay and do not form a 
     part of his taxable income; and
       Whereas, many active employees of state and local 
     governments in Louisiana are participating in or have 
     completed participation in the deferred retirement option 
     plan of their public retirement system, and such plans, 
     referred to simply as ``DROP'', permit an employee who has 
     reached employment eligibility to continue in employment but 
     to ``retire'' and, instead of receiving his retirement 
     benefit payments, to have such payments paid for up to three 
     years into a designated account which is invested for him 
     with a prohibition on receiving any payments from the account 
     until he terminates employment; and
       Whereas, just like those Hurricane Katrina victims who are 
     permitted by KETRA to access pension funds without tax 
     penalties in this time of dire financial need, many employees 
     of Louisiana state and local governments who have accumulated 
     funds in their DROP accounts truly need to access those funds 
     to meet the costs of devastating economic losses; and
       Whereas, the Louisiana Legislature is considering 
     legislation to allow active employees who are participating 
     in or have completed participation in DROP and who are 
     domiciled in the Katrina core disaster area to receive 
     distributions from their DROP accounts, but such 
     distributions will be subject to tax penalties unless such 
     public employees are granted similar tax relief to that 
     provided for other pension system members by KETRA; and
       Whereas, providing DROP participants the tax relief 
     provided to members of other pension systems would be a fair 
     and effective

[[Page S14062]]

     way of assisting these public servants to deal with the 
     impact Hurricane Katrina has had on their homes and families. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to grant for distributions from DROP 
     accounts to active state and local government employees who 
     are members of public retirement systems similar tax relief 
     as that provided to members of qualified retirement plans by 
     the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 and to permit 
     such distributions from tax-qualified plans; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-236. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to grant to 
     victims of Hurricane Rita similar tax relief as that provided 
     by the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005, and to 
     include distributions from DROP accounts to active state and 
     local government employees who are members of public 
     retirement systems and who are victims of Hurricane Katrina 
     or Hurricane Rita as eligible retirement plan distributions, 
     and to permit such distributions from tax-qualified plans; to 
     the Committee on Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 27

       Whereas, in response to the devastation of Hurricane 
     Katrina and the terrible economic losses sustained by many 
     citizens on the Gulf Coast, the United States Congress 
     enacted the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act, referred to as 
     KETRA, which granted several kinds of tax relief to Hurricane 
     Katrina victims and which has been and will be of great 
     benefit to the victims of Katrina; and
       Whereas, this tax relief legislation includes provisions to 
     allow nonrecognition of income from discharge of certain 
     indebtedness, to remove certain penalties for early 
     withdrawals from, certain pension plans, to provide certain 
     tax credits for employers, to provide special rules for 
     determining earned income when earned income for 2005 is less 
     than the prior year, to suspend limitations on casualty 
     losses, to extend the replacement period for nonrecognition 
     of gain with respect to property compulsorily or 
     involuntarily converted, to provide tax relief for persons 
     providing housing to hurricane victims, to ease restrictions 
     on mortgage revenue bonds, to ease restrictions on charitable 
     contributions for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and to 
     give special treatment to donations of food or books, to 
     increase the mileage rate for charitable use and to exclude 
     certain mileage reimbursements to charitable volunteers, and 
     to grant automatic extension of filing deadlines; and
       Whereas, just as Hurricane Katrina victims will be greatly 
     assisted along the path of recovery by these tax benefits, 
     so, too, victims of Hurricane Rita, many of whom suffered 
     just as significant losses, would be greatly assisted by 
     similar tax relief; and
       Whereas, concerning pension plans, federal tax laws 
     generally treat any distribution from a qualified retirement 
     plan, a tax-sheltered annuity (403(b) annuity), an eligible 
     deferred compensation plan maintained by a state or local 
     government (governmental 457 plan), or an individual 
     retirement arrangement (IRA) as income for the year 
     distributed and provide penalties for early distributions 
     from certain pension plans or funds in the form of a ten 
     percent early withdrawal tax; and
       Whereas, provisions of KETRA legislation include an 
     exception to the ten percent early withdrawal tax in the case 
     of a qualified Hurricane Katrina distribution from certain 
     qualified retirement plans, a 403(b) annuity, or an IRA, and 
     KETRA provides for income attributable to a qualified 
     Hurricane Katrina distribution to be included in income 
     ratably over three years and permits the amount of a 
     qualified Hurricane Katrina distribution to be recontributed 
     to an eligible retirement plan within three years; and
       Whereas, provisions of KETRA do not apply to tax-qualified 
     public retirement systems (401(a) plans) such as the state 
     and statewide retirement systems, under which an employee's 
     contributions are withheld from his pay and do not form a 
     part of his taxable income; and
       Whereas, many active employees of state and local 
     governments in Louisiana are participating in or have 
     completed participation in the deferred retirement option 
     plan of their public retirement system, and such plans, 
     referred to simply as ``DROP'', permit an employee who has 
     reached employment eligibility to continue in employment but 
     to ``retire'' and, instead of receiving his retirement 
     benefit payments, to have such payments paid for up to three 
     years into a designated account which is invested for him 
     with a prohibition on receiving any payments from the account 
     until he terminates employment; and
       Whereas, just like those Hurricane Katrina victims who are 
     permitted by KETRA to access pension funds without tax 
     penalties in this time of dire financial need, many employees 
     of Louisiana state and local governments who have accumulated 
     funds in their DROP accounts truly need to access those funds 
     to meet the costs of devastating economic losses caused by 
     Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita;
       Whereas, the Louisiana Legislature is considering 
     legislation to allow active employees who are participating 
     in or have completed participation in DROP and who are 
     domiciled in the Katrina and Rita core disaster areas to 
     receive distributions from their DROP accounts, but such 
     distributions will be subject to tax penalties unless such 
     public employees are granted similar tax relief to that 
     provided for other pension system members by KETRA; and
       Whereas, providing DROP participants the tax relief 
     provided to members of other pension systems would be a fair 
     and effective way of assisting these public servants to deal 
     with the impact Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita have had 
     on their homes and families. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to grant to victims of Hurricane Rita 
     similar tax relief as that provided by the Katrina Emergency 
     Tax Relief Act of 2005 and to include distributions from DROP 
     accounts to active state and local government employees who 
     are members of public retirement systems and who are victims 
     of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita as eligible retirement 
     plan distributions and to further take such action as 
     necessary to permit such distributions from tax-qualified 
     plans; and Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-237. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to amending the Social Security Act 
     to provide for long-term caregiver benefits; to the Committee 
     on Finance.

                        House Resolution No. 43

       Whereas, A crisis continues to exist in the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania relating to the rapidly escalating costs of 
     health care, especially where individuals suffer from a 
     prolonged illness or disability requiring in-home care; and
       Whereas, Housing and other assistance is often provided to 
     sick or disabled individuals by extended family members, 
     friends or other generous caregivers who patiently attend to 
     them, give them a home and even pay their expenses; and
       Whereas, The cost of providing housing and other assistance 
     to loved ones puts a significant burden on caregivers, 
     especially where caregivers assist individuals for a 
     prolonged period of time; and
       Whereas, The Social Security Act currently provides 
     survivor  benefits to retired or disabled widows, widowers, 
     minor or disabled children and dependent parents 62 years 
     of age or older when an individual dies; and
       Whereas, Persons not deemed eligible for survivor benefits 
     under the Social Security Act carry a financial burden after 
     their loved one is gone; and
       Whereas, Many of these caregivers and their loved ones 
     enlisted in the ranks of the work force for many years and 
     contributed to the Social Security Fund and accordingly would 
     deserve their fair share. Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress to 
     amend the Social Security Act to provide benefits for long-
     term caregivers; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-238. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to allowing subsequent consolidation 
     loans; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 460

       Whereas, The 1998 Amendments to the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (Public Law 105-244) provided for Federal consolidation 
     loans to help students and graduates by reducing the cost of 
     repaying the money that they borrowed to finance their higher 
     education; and
       Whereas, The law provides that a borrower who has a Federal 
     consolidation loan is not eligible for a subsequent Federal 
     consolidation loan except in the narrower circumstances in 
     which he or she has obtained another eligible loan that is to 
     be consolidated with the existing consolidation loan; and
       Whereas, Many students and graduates would benefit from the 
     ability to refinance their student loans more than once in 
     order to secure a lower rate of interest. Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress to 
     amend the 1998 Amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     to allow for subsequent Federal consolidation loans 
     regardless of whether the borrower has obtained a new 
     eligible loan; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, to the presiding officers 
     of each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania.

[[Page S14063]]

     
                                  ____
       POM-239. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to creating a task force, working 
     with State and local government, employers and the health 
     care industry, to develop solutions to rapidly increasing 
     health care cost; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions.
       Whereas, Rapidly increasing health care costs are resulting 
     6 in higher costs for government and other employers; and
       Whereas, These increasing health care costs are resulting 
     in declines in the scope of individual coverage through 
     private plans and through programs such as Medicaid; and
       Whereas, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania recognizes the significant increase in costs 
     to counties and employers in providing health care benefits 
     to their employees; and
       Whereas, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania recognizes the trend for many employers to 
     reduce from the level of benefits offered to their employees, 
     the decreasing availability of affordable health care to 
     American families and the increased vulnerability of parts of 
     our population as cuts are made to Medicaid budgets. 
     Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United 
     States to create a task force, working with State and local 
     government, employers and the health care industry, to 
     develop solutions to rapidly increasing health care costs; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-240. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to 
     mandating that federal contracts awarded for reconstruction 
     of the Gulf Coast region give a preference to local 
     contractors and workers; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 33

       Whereas, the entire Gulf Coast region of the United States 
     of America was devastated and destroyed by the awesome power 
     of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita; and
       Whereas, following the assessment of the destruction caused 
     to the entire Gulf Coast region, President George W. Bush 
     offered a bold and breathtaking promise to rebuild this 
     devastated region; and
       Whereas, in that speech, President George W. Bush proposed 
     that the Congress of the United States create a ``Gulf 
     Opportunity Zone'' which recognizes that the key to both 
     immediate and long-term economic recovery is to spur 
     Americans to invest in the affected area; and
       Whereas, to date, the Congress of the United States of 
     America has committed billions of emergency spending to the 
     affected region, with an early estimate of $200 billion to be 
     spent in the recovery, rebuilding, and revitalization of the 
     entire Gulf Coast region; and
       Whereas, the fruits of the recent recovery have accrued 
     disproportionately to out-of-state corporate profits; and
       Whereas, it is vital that local small businesses be given 
     greater access to federal contracts in order to further 
     assist the area in its economic recovery efforts, Therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to mandate that federal 
     contracts awarded for reconstruction of the Gulf Coast region 
     give a preference to local contractors and workers; and 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-241. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to passing 
     the Family Education Reimbursement Act; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 46

       Whereas, thousands of students were forced to abandon their 
     schools in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and
       Whereas, public, private and charter schools all across the 
     state and nation enrolled these displaced students; and
       Whereas, parents should be empowered to make the best 
     choices for their children and that the communities and 
     schools that have opened their doors to so many students 
     should not be financially punished for that generosity; and
       Whereas, the Family Education Reimbursement Act (H.R. 4097) 
     would provide parents of children displaced by hurricanes 
     Katrina and Rita an opportunity to register with the federal 
     government to create an account in which the federal 
     government would deposit $6,700; and
       Whereas, these account numbers would be given to the school 
     enrolling the displaced child so that the schools could be 
     reimbursed for the child's education; and
       Whereas, these accounts would be accessible to private and 
     charter schools, as well as public schools, that have 
     enrolled these displaced students, often at free or reduced 
     tuition; and
       Whereas, the Family Education Reimbursement Act (H.R. 4097) 
     would allow schools, which welcomed these displaced students 
     to be reimbursed easily and quickly without being forced to 
     navigate complicated federal, state and local bureaucracies 
     to obtain reimbursement. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the 
     Family Education Reimbursement Act (H.R. 4097); and 
     therefore, 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 of the United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-242. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to voting 
     against the repealing of the ``Byrd Amendment''; to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 27

       Whereas, the United States House Committee on Ways and 
     Means by a recorded vote of 22 to 17 reported the Budget, 
     Entitlement Reconciliation Recommendations for Fiscal Year 
     2006; and
       Whereas, the committee recommended to repeal the provision 
     of the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act, commonly 
     known as the ``Byrd Amendment,'' that required collected 
     duties be distributed to eligible domestic producers; and
       Whereas, these duties were collected under antidumping and 
     countervailing duty orders and are required to be paid to 
     eligible producers that initiated the petition which resulted 
     in the imposition of the duties; and
       Whereas, in January, the International Trade Commission 
     ruled that the six countries of China, Ecuador, India, 
     Thailand, Vietnam and Brazil dumped shrimp in the U.S. market 
     at excessively low prices; and
       Whereas, the duties collected from these countries ranged 
     from 2.48 percent to 112.81 percent; and
       Whereas, shrimpers and shrimp processors had until August 
     1, 2005, to apply for payments from the duties imposed on the 
     six countries; and
       Whereas, the shrimpers and shrimp processors will probably 
     not get paid this year, and unfortunately will probably have 
     to wait until next year for any payment; and
       Whereas, due to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the shrimp 
     industry along with other seafood industries have suffered 
     enormous economic and infrastructure losses; and
       Whereas, a preliminary assessment estimates that for the 
     shrimp industry the potential production losses at retail 
     level due to Hurricane Katrina are approximately five hundred 
     thirty-nine million dollars, and due to Hurricane Rita the 
     losses are approximately three hundred eighty million 
     dollars; and
       Whereas, the preliminary assessment estimates that for the 
     shrimp industry the total potential production losses at 
     retail level due to both hurricanes are approximately nine 
     hundred nineteen million dollars; and
       Whereas, the repealing of the ``Byrd Amendment'' would 
     cause further economic loss on the shrimp industry because 
     the shrimpers and shrimp processors will not receive the 
     payments from the duties. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to vote against the 
     repealing of the ``Byrd Amendment;'' and 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-243. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to require 
     all federal jobs that have been lost or relocated due to 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and their associated funding to 
     be restored as soon as possible; to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 38

       Whereas, in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and 
     their associated funding, many employers and employees have 
     had to be temporarily relocated because of damaged 
     facilities; and
       Whereas, it is critical that federal employers return as 
     soon as their facilities are repaired because Louisiana 
     citizens need these jobs, and their return would provide a 
     much- needed boost to the economies of the affected regions; 
     and
       Whereas, such federal employers as the United States 
     Department of Agriculture's National Finance Center and the 
     Space and Naval Warfare Information Technology Center, a pair 
     of federal contracting facilities that employ approximately 
     two thousand four hundred people, have largely resumed 
     operations in New Orleans, but they are not yet up to full 
     capacity, and it must be ensured that they will resume full 
     operations and restore the jobs of all of their employees; 
     and
       Whereas, it is imperative that all of the Louisiana 
     citizens who commute to jobs at the Stennis Space Center in 
     Mississippi be

[[Page S14064]]

     enabled to return to their jobs as quickly as possible; and
       Whereas, it is also of utmost importance that the functions 
     and operations of other significant federal entities, such as 
     the United States Department of Agriculture's Southern 
     Regional Research Center, the United States Marine Corps 
     Reserve Command, the Eighth Coast District Headquarters, and 
     the United States Army Reserve 377th Theater Army Area 
     Command (TAACOM), are fully restored to help ensure the 
     economic recovery of the New Orleans region; and
       Whereas, as Louisiana struggles to recover and rebuild, of 
     primary importance is the employment of its citizens, and it 
     is therefore crucial that congress require federal jobs that 
     have been lost or relocated due to Hurricanes Katrina and 
     Rita and their associated funding to be restored as 
     expeditiously as possible in order to bring about the 
     revitalization of the economies of the regions affected by 
     the storms. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to require all federal jobs that have been 
     lost or relocated due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and 
     their associated funding to be restored as soon as possible, 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation. 

                          ____________________