[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2309-S2311]
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-279. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to authorizing the development of a 
     secure electronic balloting system for active duty military 
     personnel; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                        House Resolution No. 411

       Whereas, the United States and the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania are obligated to ensure that servicepersons 
     participate in the very democracy they are fighting to 
     defend; and
       Whereas, the National Defense Committee has recently 
     completed a survey of the nation's 7,838 election offices; 
     and
       Whereas, twenty-eight and four tenths percent of persons 
     who applied for a military absentee ballot in the November 
     2004 election were disenfranchised because their ballots 
     could not be received, executed and returned in a timely 
     fashion; and
       Whereas, the National Defense Committee is recommending 
     that the Congress authorize the development of an electronic 
     balloting system for active duty military personnel: 
     Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress to authorize 
     the development of a secure electronic balloting system for 
     our active duty military personnel; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy 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.
                                  ____

       POM-280. 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 
     the Federal Emergency Management Agency to honor the 
     preferences of local governing authorities in determining the 
     location of temporary housing sites; to the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 5

       Whereas, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has established a number 
     of temporary housing sites consisting of trailer homes for 
     thousands of displaced families; and
       Whereas, there has been much disagreement as to the 
     appropriate locations of these temporary housing sites; and
       Whereas, local governing authorities must be permitted to 
     make the final determination as to whether or not a FEMA 
     trailer community is established within their respective 
     parishes and municipalities; and
       Whereas, it is imperative that the power to accept or 
     refuse the placement of a FEMA temporary housing site rests 
     with the citizens of the community in question and not with 
     FEMA; and
       Whereas, citizens, through the power of the local elected 
     governing authorities that represent them, should be 
     empowered to either allow or disallow the establishment of 
     FEMA trailer sites in their communities: 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 the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency to honor the preferences of local governing 
     authorities in determining the location of temporary housing 
     sites; 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 acting director of FEMA.
                                  ____

       POM-281. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to supporting the CORRIDORone 
     regional rail proposal and encouraging its support by 
     counties and municipalities in the region of the CORRIDORone 
     project; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.

                        House Resolution No. 565

       Whereas, transportation planning efforts in south central 
     Pennsylvania should incorporate a regional planning 
     perspective to ensure that economic development efforts are 
     enhanced with linkages to regional development initiatives; 
     and
       Whereas, regionwide efforts must encompass a vision for the 
     future to most wisely accommodate future growth needs, 
     including means of transportation; and
       Whereas, transportation systems in south central 
     Pennsylvania should include multimodal forms of 
     transportation to ensure that the full breadth of options, 
     including rail, bus and others, are made available to 
     citizens for the most efficient means of travel; and
       Whereas, it is extremely important to preserve the existing 
     rail rights-of-way throughout the region and this 
     Commonwealth; and
       Whereas, the intersection known as the Lemoyne Connection 
     will provide additional

[[Page S2310]]

     freight rail efficiency for Norfolk Southern's rail 
     operations in the region, as well as a multimodal commuter 
     connection in Cumberland County for the CORRIDORone commuter 
     rail project; and
       Whereas, by 2020 south central Pennsylvania is expected to 
     experience a 27% growth in population and a 44% growth in 
     employment; and
       Whereas, further regionwide economic development efforts 
     will extend only to the extent that these efforts can be 
     strengthened and supported by modes of transportation to 
     efficiently access jobs, meeting places for businesses and 
     conventions and historical and cultural points of interest; 
     and
       Whereas, air quality and traffic congestion are projected 
     to worsen as road traffic increases and linked forms of mass 
     transit would positively impact air quality and congestion; 
     and
       Whereas, the proposed CORRIDORone project would establish 
     an affordable, easily accessed, regional rail network with 
     connections among the communities of Lancaster, Harrisburg 
     and Carlisle and later expanding to CORRIDORtwo communities 
     of York, Hershey and Lebanon, while providing a connection to 
     the Keystone service line for travel east of Lancaster; and
       Whereas, the CORRIDORone project would link multimodal 
     forms of transit including intrastate and interstate rail, 
     bus and international air to provide the most comprehensive 
     and efficient means of travel in the region, providing 
     greater access for business and recreational travel while 
     encouraging tourism and other economic development efforts; 
     and
       Whereas, the CORRIDORone project would provide a cost-
     efficient form of transportation expansion with the cost of 
     41 miles of regional rail equivalent to the cost of only 
     three miles of roadway construction; and
       Whereas, Capital Area Transit has completed all of the 
     studies required by the Federal Transit Administration, and 
     the results show that a regional commuter rail system is the 
     most efficient and effective mass transit alternative for the 
     region; and
       Whereas, the CORRIDORone project is 93% complete, through 
     the preliminary engineering and environmental phases; and
       Whereas, SAFETEA-LU, the Federal transportation 
     legislation, included CORRIDORone Phase I (Lancaster to 
     Harrisburg to Cumberland County--Hampden/Sporting Hill) for 
     Final Design and Construction and provided authorization for 
     alternatives analysis and preliminary engineering for Phase 
     II--Cumberland County (Hampden/Sporting Hill to Carlisle); 
     and
       Whereas, the United States Congress has appropriated 
     $7,404,157 to the CORRIDORone project; and
       Whereas, the Commonwealth has budgeted in Act 47 of 1997 
     and Act 40 of 2004 a total of $41 million to the CORRIDORone 
     project; and
       Whereas, Section 2002 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L. 
     177, 22 No. 175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, 
     as amended May 6, 1970 (P.L. 356, No. 120), set forth the 
     powers and duties of the Department of Transportation 
     (PENNDOT). Among those 25 powers are:
       (1) To develop and maintain a continuing, comprehensive and 
     coordinated transportation planning process.
       (2) To develop programs designed to foster efficient and 
     economical public transportation services in the State.
       (3) To prepare plans for the preservation and improvement 
     of the commuter railroad system.
       (4) To prepare and develop plans and programs for all modes 
     of urban transportation, including in addition to commuter 
     rail and motor bus, rapid rail; trolley coach, surface rail, 
     corridor rail and other innovative modes of urban 
     transportation.
       (5) To coordinate the transportation activities of the 
     department with those of other public agencies and 
     authorities.
       (6) To superintend, supervise and control the work of 
     constructing, reconstructing, maintaining and repairing State 
     designated highways and other transportation facilities and 
     rights-of-way;
       Whereas, the PENNDOT Strategic Agenda adopted in July 2004 
     stated a vision that promotes ``customer driven, intermodal 
     transportation system and services that enhance the quality 
     of life in Pennsylvania'' and a mission statement that says: 
     ``Through the active involvement of customers, employees and 
     partners, PENNDOT provides services and a safe intermodal 
     transportation system that attracts businesses and residents 
     and stimulates Pennsylvania's economy''; and
       Whereas, the PENNDOT Strategic Focus Areas adopted by the 
     Rendell Administration include safety, quality of life, 
     mobility, management and productivity and system 
     preservation. This document seeks innovative management of 
     our transportation system and services and improved access 
     and mobility, ensuring that people and goods can move 
     efficiently, and it guides the management of our assets and 
     processes with funding and resources prioritized for the 
     preservation and betterment of all systems and services; and
       Whereas, revenue for local matching funds for the 
     CORRIDORone project has been received from Cumberland County, 
     Dauphin County, Lancaster County and 12 boroughs, 11 
     townships and more than 50 businesses throughout the region; 
     and
       Whereas, the local Municipal Planning Organization (MPO)--
     Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS)--has endorsed and 
     funded the CORRIDORone project and has included the project 
     in its 30-year plan; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives support the 
     continued planning efforts for the CORRIDORone proposal as it 
     could provide a needed regional linkage for economic 
     development efforts; and be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives encourage the 
     Governor and the Secretary of Transportation to do everything 
     possible to preserve the CORRIDORone right-of-way options and 
     future extensions as provided in the preliminary Engineering 
     and Environmental Analysis; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Governor, to the Secretary of Transportation, to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania and to the President of 
     Norfolk Southern Railroad Corporation.
                                  ____

       POM-282. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan relative to taking steps to improve access to 
     fertility preservation options for cancer patients; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 72

       Whereas, approximately 130,000 people under the age of 45 
     are diagnosed with cancer each year. At least 90 percent of 
     patients within this age group will undergo potentially 
     sterilizing treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or 
     radiation; and
       Whereas, survivorship rates have dramatically increased 
     over the years expanding the life expectancy of 71 percent of 
     cancer patients by at least five years beyond the diagnosis 
     of their disease. The long-term consequences of cancer 
     treatment, such as infertility, are of increasing concern to 
     patients since they are highly likely to survive their 
     cancer. The diagnosis of infertility can be as devastating 
     for many patients as the cancer diagnosis itself; and
       Whereas, successful fertility preservation options for men 
     and women include sperm banking, oocyte (egg) freezing, and 
     ovarian and testicular tissue freezing. Many cancer patients 
     are given the option of taking steps to preserve their 
     fertility before their potentially sterilizing cancer 
     treatment begins. However, many others do not take these 
     steps because they were not informed by their health care 
     professionals that their fertility is at risk, or, if they 
     are informed of the risk, they are generally not counseled on 
     their fertility preservation options; and
       Whereas, unrelated factors such as marital status or poor 
     prognosis should not preclude certain patients from being 
     informed about their fertility risks and options. The 2003-
     2004 President's Cancer Panel Report recognized that 
     comprehensive written and verbal information regarding 
     fertility side effects and fertility preservation options for 
     all reproductive-age patients should be provided before 
     treatment; and
       Whereas, the great state of Michigan has an active, 
     productive cancer survivor population, demonstrating that a 
     cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. We should do 
     everything possible to make fertility preservation options 
     available for cancer patients: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United 
     States Congress and the United States Department of Health 
     and Human Services to take steps to improve access to 
     fertility preservation options for cancer patients by 
     endeavoring to:
       (A) encourage research that will strengthen fertility 
     preservation options for cancer patients;
       (B) continue to consider ways to improve access to 
     fertility preservation options for cancer patients; and
       (C) raise awareness about the fertility side effects and 
     fertility preservation options for cancer patients; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the Michigan 
     Congressional delegation and the United States Department of 
     Health and Human Services.
                                  ____

       POM-283. 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 enact 
     legislation to change ZIP codes in Jefferson Parish and to 
     assign the new ZIP codes to the main post office in Metairie; 
     to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 67

       Whereas, when the United States Postal Service first 
     instituted the ZIP code system, Old Jefferson was designated 
     as 70121, a New Orleans ZIP code number; and
       Whereas, then when the city of Harahan built a post office 
     in its city hall, it was assigned the 70123 ZIP code, another 
     New Orleans ZIP code number; and
       Whereas, the 70123 ZIP code, as expanded, now covers the 
     area of River Ridge as well as the city of Harahan; and
       Whereas, when the new post office was built on Citrus 
     Boulevard in Jefferson, it was also assigned the 70123 ZIP 
     code; and
       Whereas, the ZIP code directory issued by the United States 
     Postal Service and used by businesses nationwide reports all 
     ZIP codes beginning with ``701'' as having a New Orleans 
     address; and
       Whereas, this misidentification and confusion of the 
     locations of businesses in ZIP

[[Page S2311]]

     codes 70121 and 70123, including the businesses located in 
     Elmwood Industrial Park which employ more than thirty-five 
     thousand people, have caused numerous mailing and taxation 
     problems for these companies; and
       Whereas, many insurance companies impose higher premium 
     rates attributable to properties in New Orleans on residents 
     of Jefferson Parish in the ZIP code areas 70121 and 70123; 
     and
       Whereas, mail addressed to homes and businesses having ZIP 
     code 70121 or 70123 was held up for more than a month in the 
     aftermath of Hurricane Katrina because of the effect that the 
     storm had on the operations of the United States Postal 
     Service in New Orleans: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary, due to the many problems that have occurred 
     in Jefferson Parish with the ZIP codes 70121 and 70123, to 
     enact legislation to change the ZIP code in Jefferson Parish 
     in the area currently covered by the United States Postal 
     Service ZIP code 70121 to 70021 and to change the ZIP code in 
     Jefferson Parish in the area currently covered by the United 
     States Postal Service ZIP code 70123 to 70023 and also to 
     assign the new ZIP codes to the main post office in Metairie; 
     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-284. 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 reduce by 
     twenty-five percent the amount of outstanding federal student 
     loan debt of any college graduate who resides in certain 
     areas of Louisiana most affected by Hurricane Katrina or 
     Hurricane Rita for at least five consecutive years 
     immediately following graduation and to memorialize congress 
     to provide for the establishment of conditions and 
     requirements for such debt reduction; to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 48

       Whereas, certain areas of Louisiana that were impacted by 
     Hurricane Katrina or Rita or both have suffered a great loss 
     in population due to the ravages of these catastrophic 
     storms; and
       Whereas, it is imperative that people from Louisiana and 
     beyond are provided with incentives to reside in the great 
     state of Louisiana, and one such incentive could be the 
     reduction of certain student loan debt; and
       Whereas, drawing college graduates to the hurricane-
     affected areas of Louisiana would be one step toward 
     restoring the areas' populations, and populating these areas 
     with college-educated citizens could bring positive impacts 
     to the areas due to their ability to use the skills and 
     knowledge acquired through their educations to help the areas 
     to rebuild; and
       Whereas, it is appropriate to ask congress to establish 
     such a loan forgiveness program as part of a collective 
     effort to restore the population of certain areas of 
     Louisiana following the historic hurricanes of 2005: 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to reduce by twenty-five percent the amount 
     of outstanding federal student loan debt of any col1ege 
     graduate who resides for at least five consecutive years 
     immediately fol1owing graduation in any parish in Louisiana 
     which has been designated pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as eligible for 
     individual assistance or individual assistance and public 
     assistance as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita 
     and to memorialize congress to provide for the establishment 
     of conditions and requirements for such debt reduction; 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-285. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to revising the requirement that 
     applicants for hunting and fishing licenses provide their 
     Social Security numbers; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 461

       Whereas, Section 5536 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, 
     (Public Law 105-33, 111 Stat. 251) amended Federal law to 
     require each state to have in place laws requiring applicants 
     for recreational licenses (hunting and fishing) to provide 
     their Social Security numbers; and
       Whereas, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has inplemented 
     this Federal mandate through the amendatory act of December 
     16, 1997 (P.L. 549, No.58), to 23 Pa.C.S.; and
       Whereas, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly supports 
     all effective mechanisms to encourage payment of child 
     support obligations; and
       Whereas, requiring applicants for hunting and fishing 
     licenses to provide their Social Security numbers does not 
     appear to enhance effective enforcement of child support 
     obligations inasmuch as hunting and fishing license records 
     are not retrievable by reference to the Social Security 
     numbers; and
       Whereas, the vast majority of hunting and fishing licenses 
     are not sold by government agencies but are sold by private 
     businesses ranging in size from large department stores to 
     small bait and outdoor shops; and
       Whereas, Imposing the requirement to collect Social 
     Security number information on the businesses that sell 
     hunting and fishing licenses unduly complicates the license 
     issuance transaction; and
       Whereas, many purchasers of hunting and fishing licenses 
     object to disclosure of their Social Security numbers to the 
     private businesses that sell these licenses; and
       Whereas, the legitimate privacy concerns expressed by many 
     purchasers of hunting and fishing licenses from private 
     businesses need to be addressed; and
       Whereas, collection of Social Security numbers from 
     applicants for hunting and fishing licenses does not aid in 
     effective enforcement of child support obligations but does 
     unduly inconvenience both the sellers and purchasers of these 
     licenses and raises legitimate concerns about protection of 
     personal information: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the President and 
     Congress of the United States to eliminate the requirement 
     that states must require applicants for hunting and fishing 
     licenses to provide their Social Security numbers.
                                  ____

       POM-286. 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 amend the 
     Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to recognize state law 
     authorizing legal continuances for members of the legislature 
     during legislative sessions and to adopt a substantially 
     similar rule in federal court; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 29

       Whereas, Louisiana R.S. 13:4163 provides that during 
     sessions of the legislature, if the presence of a member of 
     the legislature is required in any criminal case, civil case, 
     or administrative proceeding, his service shall constitute 
     peremptory cause for the continuance of any type of 
     proceeding upon the timely filing of a motion for 
     continuance; and
       Whereas, this statute dates back over one hundred years and 
     was devised as a way to satisfy the compelling demands and 
     responsibilities incumbent upon a part-time legislator, who 
     usually must have a career outside of public service in order 
     to make a living; and
       Whereas, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not have such 
     a provision for a continuance, but many state legislators 
     have business before federal courts which may significantly 
     interfere with their responsibilities as representatives of 
     the people during legislative sessions; and
       Whereas, during this time of statewide emergency due to 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the duties and responsibilities 
     on legislators have been especially demanding: Therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to amend the Federal Rules of Civil 
     Procedure to recognize state law authorizing legal 
     continuances for members of the legislature during 
     legislative sessions and to enact substantially similar rules 
     for federal court; and be if 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.

                          ____________________