[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 64 (Monday, May 22, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4885-S4891]
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:

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 109

       POM-321. 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 adopt the 
     Senate Appropriations Committee amendment for fishing 
     industry recovery under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
     Conservation and Management Act to H.R. 4939 making emergency 
     supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2006; to the Committee on Appropriations.
       Whereas, Louisiana's fishing industry is second only to 
     Alaska's in terms of volume with annual landings in excess of 
     1.2 billion pounds valued at more than three hundred nine 
     million dollars; and
       Whereas, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in August and 
     September of 2005 virtually destroyed the fishing industry in 
     the state of Louisiana, which resulted in the United States 
     Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Guiterrez, issuing a formal 
     fishery failure and fishery resource disaster declaration on 
     September 9, 2005, as a result of Hurricane Katrina and a 
     second such declaration on October 4, 2005, as a result of 
     Hurricane Rita; and
       Whereas, the United States Congress is currently working on 
     development of the Katrina Supplemental Appropriations Act to 
     which the Senate Appropriations Committee attached an 
     amendment from the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration for $1.085 billion for 
     ``Operations, Research, and Facilities'' under the Magnuson-
     Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with such 
     funds to remain available until September 30, 2008; and
       Whereas, such appropriation is to be used for all aspects 
     of the fishing industry including technical assistance for 
     the states from the National Marine Fisheries Service for 
     oyster bed and shrimp ground rehabilitation; assistance from 
     the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 
     rebuilding coastal communities; planning efforts to reduce 
     capacity and effort; seafood promotion for Gulf seafood; job 
     retraining for displaced fisheries workers; replacement of 
     fishing gear; reestablishment of docks, icehouses, fuel 
     centers, processing and marine support facilities, piers, and 
     warehouses; replacement of private infrastructure other than 
     vessels; and research and cleanup and repaid activities; and
       Whereas, such funding is vital to the recovery of the 
     fishing industry in Louisiana and, indeed, to the recovery of 
     coastal Louisiana generally; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to adopt the Senate Appropriations Committee 
     amendment for fishing industry recovery under the Magnuson-
     Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to H.R. 4939 
     making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2006; 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-322. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to

[[Page S4886]]

     taking such actions as are necessary to expedite the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) reimbursement process 
     and to make the reimbursement of accrued interest on loans 
     part of its public assistance grants; to the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 13.

       Whereas, FEMA awards public assistance grants to state and 
     local governments, Indian tribes, and certain private 
     nonprofit organizations; and
       Whereas, public assistance grants provide supplemental 
     federal disaster assistance for debris removal, emergency 
     protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or 
     restoration of publicly owned facilities and facilities of 
     certain private nonprofit organizations damaged by disasters; 
     and
       Whereas, since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, more than one 
     billion nine hundred million dollars have been allocated for 
     public assistance grants, which equals the amount allocated 
     to Florida in 2004 following its four hurricanes; and
       Whereas, due to the extreme time delay in the receipt of 
     these grants, certain organizations have taken out loans in 
     order to stay in operation; and
       Whereas, loans have also been used to fund the restoration 
     of infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions; and
       Whereas, the organizations' loans have been accruing 
     interest which is not reimbursable through the public 
     assistance grants; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to expedite the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency's (FEMA) reimbursement process and to make the 
     reimbursement of accrued interest on loans part of its public 
     assistance grants; 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-323. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to requesting the President of the United States to 
     direct the United States Attorney General and the Chairman of 
     the Federal Trade Commission to investigate all potential 
     price gouging, price fixing, collusion, and other 
     anticompetitive practices related to gasoline prices; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                        House Resolution No. 182

       Whereas, rapidly rising gasoline prices are rippling 
     through the American economy and creating difficult financial 
     situations for individual families and businesses. With crude 
     oil prices hitting $75 per barrel--an increase of more than 
     40 percent in less than a year--the country faces a great 
     challenge. While there are numerous factors behind the 
     escalating prices of oil to record levels, there are valid 
     concerns across the country that there could be instances in 
     which prices are being artificially increased in some 
     situations because of activities that are not related solely 
     to market forces; and
       Whereas, the path from the oil field to the consumer is a 
     long one. Refining, distribution, marketing, and storage are 
     all processes that must operate above suspicion in order to 
     assure the American people that the prices they pay are 
     honest. Worries over price gouging, collusion, or other 
     illegal activities can seriously undermine the public's 
     trust; and
       Whereas, it is essential that all efforts be made to ensure 
     integrity in this critically important element of our 
     economy. The United States Attorney General and the Federal 
     Trade Commission should take the lead in protecting the 
     public from illegal activities. This vigilance must extend to 
     refining; transportation of fuel by pipelines, marine 
     vessels, and trucks; storage and marketing, including at the 
     wholesale level; and commodity trading; and
       Whereas, American consumers have every right to expect that 
     markets are fair and that their governmental agencies and 
     personnel are doing all they can to eliminate all illegal 
     activities, including artificial spot shortages; Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     respectfully request the President of the United States to 
     direct the United States Attorney General and the Chairman of 
     the Federal Trade Commission to investigate all potential 
     price gouging, price fixing, collusion, and other 
     anticompetitive practices related to gasoline prices; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Office of the President of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-324, 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 formulate 
     a sound energy policy that will provide for the long-term 
     economic and national security needs of the United States of 
     America; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 116

       Whereas, a constant, dependable supply of affordable energy 
     is absolutely essential to the continued success and well-
     being of our nation; and
       Whereas, the provision of adequate energy supplies is 
     dependent on a rational energy policy which promotes 
     conservation, prevents unreasonable taxation that would 
     inhibit the competitiveness of United States energy producers 
     against foreign-owned firms, and allows the full development 
     of domestic energy sources in an ecologically sound manner; 
     and
       Whereas, the windfall profits tax has proven itself to be 
     an impediment to domestic energy production, a barrier to the 
     competitiveness of United States energy companies in the 
     world market, and an unfair penalty on investors; and
       Whereas, the windfall profits tax is a direct cause of 
     unnecessarily high retail energy prices and increased 
     dependence on foreign oil; and
       Whereas, our national security and economic growth is 
     imperiled by our growing dependence on foreign energy 
     supplies, which could be reduced by the development of a wide 
     array of domestic energy sources; and
       Whereas, the exploration and development of all viable 
     energy reserves in the United States is critical not only to 
     our national economy but also to the redevelopment of the 
     Gulf Coast economies decimated by natural disaster; and
       Whereas, a report by the Investors Action Foundation 
     indicates that a windfall profits tax would have a severe, 
     negative economic impact on public employee trust funds which 
     could lose as much as two hundred fifty-one million dollars a 
     year in foregone gains; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take, with all due 
     haste, such actions as are necessary to formulate a sound 
     energy policy that will provide for the long-term economic 
     and national security needs of the United States of America, 
     which actions should include opposing any effort to establish 
     a windfall profits tax; 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-325. A House Joint Memorial adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Idaho relative to demanding that the Federal 
     Lands Recreation Act be repealed and that no recreational 
     fees authorized under the Federal Lands Recreation 
     Enhancement Act be imposed to use federal public lands in the 
     state; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                      House Joint Memorial No. 14

       Whereas, the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, H.R. 
     3283, 108th United States Congress, was introduced in the 
     United States House of Representatives and would have 
     authorized the United States Forest Service, the United 
     States Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and 
     Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the United 
     States Bureau of Reclamation to charge visitor fees for 
     recreation on publicly owned lands; and
       Whereas, H.R. 3283 was not voted on separately in the 
     United States House of Representatives and was not introduced 
     in, did not have hearings in, and was not approved by the 
     United States Senate, but instead was attached to the omnibus 
     spending bill, H.R. 4818, by the 108th United States 
     Congress, as an appropriation rider; and
       Whereas, the 108th United States Congress enacted H.R. 
     4818, and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act is now 
     codified as 16 U.S.C. sections 6801 through 6814; and
       Whereas, the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 
     includes criminal penalties and is substantive legislation 
     that fundamentally changes the way public land in the state 
     is funded and managed; and
       Whereas, the concept of paying fees to use public land is 
     contrary to the idea that public land belongs to the people 
     of the state and is land where every person is granted access 
     and is welcome, a concept that has been and should remain in 
     place; and
       Whereas, recreational fees constitute double taxation and 
     bear no relationship to the actual costs associate with 
     recreational use such as hiking, picnicking, observing 
     wildlife, or scenic driving on state roads and public rights-
     of-way; and
       Whereas, the fees imposed by the Federal Lands Recreation 
     Enhancement Act are a regressive tax that places an undue 
     burden on the people living in rural areas adjacent to or 
     surrounded by large areas of federal land and discriminates 
     against lower-income and working Idahoans by placing 
     financial obstacles in the way of their enjoyment of public 
     land; and
       Whereas, the public land access fees in the Federal Lands 
     Recreation Enhancement Act are controversial and are opposed 
     by hundreds of organizations, several state legislatures and 
     millions of rural Americans; and
       Whereas, the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 
     establishes an interagency pass that may be used to cover 
     entrance fees and recreational amenity fees for federal 
     public land and water, disregarding the substantially 
     different ways in which national parks and other federal 
     public land are managed and funded; and
       Whereas, the limited means of expressing opposition to and 
     the lack of public debate in the implementation of the fee 
     program raises the concern that some citizens may be deterred 
     from visiting and enjoying public land in the state and 
     throughout the United States; and
       Whereas, tourism is an important industry to the state, and 
     the imposition of recreational use fees will have a negative 
     effect

[[Page S4887]]

     on state and local economies; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the members of the Second Regular Session of 
     the Fifty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate concurring therein, that the 
     Legislature of the State of Idaho demands that the Federal 
     Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which was enacted on 
     December 8, 2004, be repealed and that no recreational fees 
     authorized under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 
     be imposed to use federal public land in the state; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed 
     to forward a copy of this Memorial to be sent to the 
     Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the 
     Honorable Richard B. Cheney, Vice-President of the United 
     States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Gale 
     Norton, United States Secretary of the Interior; the 
     Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; the Honorable Ted Stevens, President Pro 
     Tempore of the U.S. Senate, the Honorable William H. Frist, 
     Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Harry Reid, 
     Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable John 
     Boehner, Majority Leader of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader 
     of the U.S. House of Representatives; and the congressional 
     delegation representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of 
     the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-326. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan relative to memorializing the President of the 
     United States and the United States Congress to take prompt 
     action to provide relief from high gas prices; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        Senate Resolution No. 61

       Whereas, the average price for unleaded regular gasoline is 
     71 cents per gallon higher than this time last year; and
       Whereas, this is the highest price gasoline has been since 
     immediately after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The President 
     has instructed the Federal Trade Commission, the Justice 
     Department, and the Energy Department to investigate whether 
     the price of gasoline has been unfairly manipulated; and
       Whereas, the average price for a barrel of oil recently 
     topped $75.00 for the first time in history. The President 
     has called on Congress to take back some of the billions of 
     dollars in tax incentives given to energy companies that are 
     not needed in the face of record profits due to high oil 
     prices; and
       Whereas, this per-barrel price is approaching the 
     inflation-adjusted highs of the late 1970s and early 1980s; 
     and
       Whereas, Michigan's manufacturing, agricultural, and 
     tourism economies are negatively impacted by rising fuel 
     costs; and
       Whereas, the Legislature appropriated funds for the 
     Department of Agriculture to add Motor Fuel Quality 
     inspectors and to increase the number of gas pump inspections 
     in the state of Michigan. These inspections help decrease the 
     chance that consumers are being gouged at the pump and should 
     continue so that our citizens get what they pay for; and
       Whereas, there are many factors that have contributed to 
     the recent rise in gasoline pump prices. A significant 
     element is the dozens of gasoline formulations that 
     refineries must produce to meet environmental standards 
     nationwide, as well as the switch from winter to summer 
     gasoline blends; and
       Whereas, to address these concerns, the President has 
     ordered a temporary suspension of environmental rules for 
     gasoline so that refineries can meet consumer demand more 
     cost effectively, which should in turn dampen prices at the 
     pump; and
       Whereas, while our nation's refining capacity has been 
     stagnant for 30 years, our total energy demand has increased 
     by 40 percent. This is due in part to the problems of a large 
     bureaucratic permitting process that has made it extremely 
     difficult to site and construct new refineries; and
       Whereas, new refineries could increase gasoline supplies 
     and lower gasoline prices for consumers. It may be helpful 
     for Michigan to identify what state government barriers exist 
     that hamper our ability to site new refineries or to enhance 
     our existing refinery capacity; and
       Whereas, legislation to support increased exploration and 
     production of domestic oil and gas reserves has been debated 
     by Congress. Such development would decrease our dependence 
     on foreign sources of oil and meet the nation's future energy 
     needs; and
       Whereas, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was established to 
     guard against any major supply disruption. The President 
     ordered the deferment of deposits into the reserve to leave 
     more oil on the market to meet consumer demand, which should 
     in turn dampen prices at the pump; and
       Whereas, one approach to solving America's energy problems 
     is to invest in alternative forms of energy. The President 
     signed the National Energy Policy Act of 2005, which 
     authorizes billions of dollars to promote the production and 
     use of alternative transportation fuels and to enhance 
     domestic energy production. By supporting the production and 
     use of ethanol, biodiesel, and other alternative fuels, our 
     nation will enhance its security by becoming less dependent 
     on foreign sources of oil, Now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States 
     Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade 
     Commission to immediately investigate all potential price 
     gouging, price fixing, and other anti-competitive practices 
     related to gasoline prices as directed by the President of 
     the United States; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Congress to act on the 
     President's call to roll back government assistance and tax 
     breaks for oil companies; and be it further
       Resolved, That we support the President's actions to 
     temporarily suspend environmental rules for gasoline to more 
     quickly and efficiently make the switch to summer gasoline 
     and thereby dampen gasoline prices at the pump; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the President of the United 
     States and the United States Congress to increase efforts to 
     decrease the nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy 
     by increasing domestic oil and gas exploration and 
     production; and be it further
       Resolved, That we support the President's actions to defer 
     deposits into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which could 
     increase supply and dampen prices at the pump; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the President of the United 
     States and the United States Congress to increase their 
     support for the development of alternative forms of energy, 
     including ethanol, biodiesel, blended fuels, and other 
     alternative fuels; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Governor to divest state 
     investments in oil companies that she feels have made 
     unseemly profits; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Governor to investigate 
     why it took more than a year and a half for her 
     administration to utilize money provided by the Legislature 
     to increase gasoline pump inspections and deploy new 
     inspectors in a proactive manner. Michigan consumers continue 
     to overpay by hundreds of millions of dollars at the pump 
     while the administration continues a reactive inspection 
     program rather than a proactive inspection program that could 
     protect consumers from paying for more gas than they are 
     receiving; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Governor to instruct the 
     Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to examine 
     Michigan regulations to identify barriers to increasing 
     refinery capacity in Michigan and to make recommendations to 
     lower and remove such barriers; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Governor to investigate 
     the barriers to the redevelopment of Michigan oil and gas 
     reserves and to make recommendations to lower and remove such 
     barriers; 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, and the Office of the Governor.
                                  ____

       POM-327. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan relative to memorializing the President of the 
     United States and the United States Congress to take prompt 
     action to provide relief from high gas prices and to call on 
     the Governor of the State of Michigan to investigate 
     potential effects of state government policies that may add 
     to the price of gasoline in Michigan; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources.

                       Senate Resolution No. 123

       Whereas, the average price for unleaded regular gasoline is 
     71 cents per gallon higher than this time last year; and
       Whereas, this is the highest price gasoline has been since 
     immediately after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The President 
     has instructed the Federal Trade Commission, the Justice 
     Department and the Energy Department to investigate whether 
     the price of gasoline has been unfairly manipulated; and
       Whereas, the average price for a barrel of oil recently 
     topped $75.00 for the first time in history. The President 
     has called on Congress to take back some of the billions of 
     dollars in tax incentives given to energy companies that are 
     not needed in the face of record profits due to high oil 
     prices; and
       Whereas, this per-barrel price is approaching the 
     inflation-adjusted highs of the late 1970s and early 1980s; 
     and
       Whereas, Michigan's manufacturing, agricultural, and 
     tourism economies are negatively impacted by rising fuel 
     costs; and
       Whereas, the Legislature appropriated funds for the 
     Department of Agriculture to add Motor Fuel Quality 
     inspectors and to increase the number of gas pump inspections 
     in the state of Michigan. These inspections help decrease the 
     chance that consumers are being gouged at the pump and should 
     continue so that our citizens get what they pay for; and
       Whereas, there are many factors that have contributed to 
     the recent rise in gasoline pump prices. A significant 
     element is the dozens of gasoline formulations that 
     refineries must produce to meet environmental standards 
     nationwide as well as the switch from winter to summer 
     gasoline blends; and
       Whereas, to address these concerns, the President has 
     ordered a temporary suspension of environmental rules for 
     gasoline so that refineries can meet consumer demand more 
     cost effectively, which should in turn dampen prices at the 
     pump; and

[[Page S4888]]

       Whereas, while our nation's refining capacity has been 
     stagnant for 30 years, our total energy demand has increased 
     by 40 percent. This is due in part to the problems of a large 
     bureaucratic permitting process that has made it extremely 
     difficult to site and construct new refineries; and
       Whereas, new refineries could increase gasoline supplies 
     and lower gasoline prices for consumers. It may be helpful 
     for Michigan to identify what state government barriers exist 
     that hamper our ability to site new refineries or to enhance 
     our existing refinery capacity; and
       Whereas, legislation to support increased exploration and 
     production of domestic oil and gas reserves has been debated 
     by Congress. Such development would decrease our dependence 
     on foreign sources of oil and meet the nation's future energy 
     needs; and
       Whereas, Strategic Petroleum Reserve was established to 
     guard against any major supply disruption. The President 
     ordered the deferment of deposits into the reserve to leave 
     more oil on the market to meet consumer demand, which should 
     in turn dampen prices at the pump; and
       Whereas, one approach to solving America's energy problems 
     is to invest in alternative forms of energy. The President 
     signed the National Energy Policy Act of 2005, which 
     authorizes billions of dollars to promote the production and 
     use of alternative transportation fuels and to enhance 
     domestic energy production. By supporting the production and 
     use of ethanol, biodiesel and other alternative fuels, ``our 
     nation'' will enhance its security by becoming less dependent 
     on foreign sources of oil; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States 
     Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade 
     Commission to immediately investigate all potential price 
     gouging, price fixing, and other anti-competitive practices 
     related to gasoline prices as directed by the President of 
     the United States; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Congress to act on the 
     President's call to roll back government assistance and tax 
     breaks for oil companies; and be it further
       Resolved, That we support the President's actions to 
     temporarily suspend environmental rules for gasoline to more 
     quickly and efficiently make the switch to summer gasoline 
     and thereby dampen gasoline prices at the pump; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the President of the United 
     States and the United States Congress to increase efforts to 
     decrease the nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy 
     in by increasing domestic oil and gas exploration and 
     production; and be it further
       Resolved, That we support the President's actions to defer 
     deposits into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which could 
     increase supply and dampen prices at the pump; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the President of the United 
     States and the United Sates Congress to increase their 
     support for the development of alternative forms of energy, 
     including ethanol, biodiesel, blended fuels, and other 
     alternative fuels; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Governor to divest state 
     investments in oil companies that she feels have made 
     unseemly profits; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Governor to investigate 
     why it took more than a year and a half for her 
     administration to utilize money provided by the Legislature 
     to increase gasoline pump inspections and deploy new 
     inspectors in a proactive manner. Michigan consumers continue 
     to overpay by hundreds of millions of dollars at the pump 
     while the administration continues a reactive inspection 
     program rather than a proactive inspection program that could 
     protect consumers from paying for more gas than they are 
     receiving; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Governor to instruct the 
     Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to examine 
     Michigan regulations to identify barriers to increasing 
     refinery capacity in Michigan and to make recommendations to 
     lower and remove such barriers; and be it further
       Resolved, That we memorialize the Governor to investigate 
     the barriers to the redevelopment of Michigan oil and gas 
     reserves and to make recommendations to lower and remove such 
     barriers; 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, and the Office of the Governor.
                                  ____

       POM-328. 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 ensure 
     that any United States Army Corps of Engineer project 
     restoring barrier islands protecting Terrebonne and Timbalier 
     Bays redefine and narrow Whiskey Pass, Little Pass, Wine 
     Island Pass, and Cat Island Pass using hardened material; to 
     the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 108

       Whereas, current techniques of restoring barrier islands 
     use fine materials from water bottoms to rebuild the 
     shoreline of the islands, but a hardened material would not 
     as easily erode back into the sea and both techniques work 
     hand in hand and are applicable; and
       Whereas, Louisiana's barrier islands are the primary line 
     of defense against waves and storm surge from the Gulf of 
     Mexico and protect our extensive estuarine system and the 
     mainland marshes; and
       Whereas, barrier islands help keep one of the nation's most 
     productive fisheries vibrant, provide habitat to wildlife, 
     and furnish storm protection for homes, roads, waterways, and 
     oil industry infrastructure; and
       Whereas, these barrier islands provide valuable habitat for 
     migratory birds, nesting shorebirds and waterfowl, and 
     aquatic nursery habitats for fish and shellfish; and
       Whereas, restoration is critical to sustaining the barrier 
     islands and reducing mainland marsh loss; and
       Whereas, the erosion and breaching of barrier islands 
     reduces their effectiveness in preventing storm surges from 
     reaching mainland marshes and results in increased wave 
     damage to bay marshes; and
       Whereas, Louisiana, which contains forty percent of the 
     wetlands in the forty-eight contiguous states, is losing 
     between twenty-five and thirty-five square miles of valuable 
     marine habitat a year, mainly due to erosion, subsidence, and 
     other forces; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby, 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to ensure that any United States Army Corps 
     of Engineer project restoring barrier islands protecting 
     Terrebonne and Timbalier Bays redefine and narrow Whiskey 
     Pass, Little Pass, Wine Island Pass, and Cat Island Pass 
     using hardened material or rocks; 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-329. 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 
     facilitate the construction of a storm surge barrier at Port 
     Fourchon; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 107

       Whereas, in August and September of 2005, the state's coast 
     was visited by two devastating hurricanes, Katrina and Rita, 
     respectively; and
       Whereas, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita laid massive 
     destruction all along the southern coast of this state, from 
     St. Bernard Parish to Cameron Parish; and
       Whereas, the state's oil and gas infrastructure did not 
     escape the wrath of these two hurricanes, suffering major 
     damages to many of the rigs and platforms located in the Gulf 
     of Mexico and to inland processing facilities; and
       Whereas, Hurricane Katrina halted oil and gas production 
     along the coast of Louisiana, the source for twenty-five 
     percent of the country's crude oil production; and
       Whereas, such percentage indicates the importance of the 
     industry not only to the state, but to the nation as a whole; 
     and
       Whereas, the effects of the destruction and damages felt by 
     the oil and gas industry were not confined to this state, but 
     were felt across the country; and
       Whereas, such widespread effect mandates that the federal 
     government take a leading role in protecting the oil and gas 
     industry from future destruction; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions, 
     including funding, as are necessary to facilitate the 
     construction of a storm surge barrier at Port Fourchon; 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-330. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to urging and requesting the Social Security 
     Administration to accept a notarized document to suffice as 
     independent verification for evidence of age; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 90

       Whereas, in December 2005, the Social Security 
     Administration changed its procedures for accepting 
     ``evidence of age'' for newborns; and
       Whereas, the Social Security Administration is required to 
     independently verify all documents submitted by United States 
     born individuals requesting an original social security card 
     unless the request for a social security number is submitted 
     through the enumeration at birth process; and
       Whereas, according to the Social Security Administration, 
     independent verification requires contacting the hospital 
     where the child was born to determine whether a document 
     submitted by an applicant is authentic; and
       Whereas, prior to Hurricane Katrina most newborns in 
     Louisiana were issued social security numbers through 
     Louisiana's enumeration at birth process; and
       Whereas, birth certificates were filed with the Louisiana 
     Office of Vital Records by Louisiana hospitals shortly after 
     birth; and
       Whereas, if requested by the parents, the Louisiana Office 
     of Vital Records would provide the Social Security 
     Administration

[[Page S4889]]

     with the necessary information used to issue social security 
     numbers; and
       Whereas, since Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Office of 
     Vital Records has experienced severe disruption in services 
     including the ability to process birth certificates; and
       Whereas, consequently, many infants born prior to, during, 
     and after Hurricane Katrina have not been issued social 
     security numbers through the enumeration at birth process; 
     and
       Whereas, since it is unknown when the Louisiana Office of 
     Vital Records will return to normal operations and the 
     enumeration at birth process is fully restored, parents have 
     begun applying for social security numbers for their newborns 
     at local social security offices throughout the state; and
       Whereas, prior to the new social security regulations, 
     parents could use an original verification of birth issued by 
     the hospital, as evidence of age, to apply for a social 
     security number for their newborns; and
       Whereas, with the new social security requirements, the 
     social security office must independently verify with 
     hospitals the authenticity of each verification of birth 
     given; and
       Whereas, this new requirement mandates that hospital staff 
     spend extreme amounts of time re-verifying the birth of every 
     infant applying for a social security number; and
       Whereas, since Hurricane Katrina, Woman's Hospital alone 
     has delivered more than three thousand five hundred infants: 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     urge and request the Social Security Administration to accept 
     a notarized document to suffice as independent verification 
     for evidence of age; and Be it further
       Resolved, That a suitable copy of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the vice president of the medical staff at 
     Woman's Hospital and each member of the Louisiana 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-331  A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to 
     redirecting and making available to Louisiana federal 
     contingency funds that were set aside through the Temporary 
     Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Response and 
     Recovery Act of 2005 to be drawn by states receiving and 
     hosting residents of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi that 
     were displaced by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita which 
     remains unused; to the Committee on Finance.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 41

       Whereas, the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina are 
     still impacting the lives of many persons forced to evacuate; 
     and
       Whereas, Congress passed the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
     Families (TANF) Emergency Response and Recovery Act of 2005 
     to give host states access to two billion dollars to help 
     hurricane victims scattered across the country due to the 
     results of the recent hurricanes; and
       Whereas, this act increased the amount of the state family 
     assistance grants and provided immediate access to TANF 
     contingency funds to ensure families in crisis had access to 
     immediate assistance; and
       Whereas, this act allows host states providing services to 
     evacuees to apply for contingency funds until August 31, 
     2006; and
       Whereas, more than five months after the contingency funds 
     were set aside for host states to access, few states have 
     requested the additional aid; and
       Whereas, billions of unclaimed dollars of federal disaster 
     aid for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita evacuees go 
     unused even when many of those affected are still in need of 
     immediate assistance; and
       Whereas, the unclaimed and unused federal disaster aid 
     funds could be put to immediate use in the hurricane ravaged 
     states to meet the needs of many families and improve their 
     lives; Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to redirect and make 
     available to Louisiana federal Contingency funds that were 
     set aside through the Temporary Assistance For Needy Families 
     (TANF) Emergency Response and Recovery Act of2005 to be drawn 
     by states receiving and hosting residents of Louisiana, 
     Alabama, and Mississippi that were displaced by Hurricane 
     Katrina and Hurricane Rita which remain unused; 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-332. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to providing 
     states with the necessary funding to implement the goals of 
     the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and other education-
     related programs and to offer states waivers or exemptions 
     from related regulations when federal funding for elementary 
     and secondary education is decreased; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 60

       Whereas, the State of Hawaii has long pursued the goal of 
     improving the academic performance of all students, 
     especially those of minority racial and ethnic backgrounds, 
     lower economic status, and limited English proficiency, and 
     those with learning disabilities or challenges; and
       Whereas, the State of Hawaii, therefore, applauds the 
     President of the United States and Congress for setting the 
     same goals in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and 
     emphasizing the urgency in closing the achievement gaps for 
     these students; and
       Whereas, the No Child Left Behind Act has encouraged some 
     needed changes in public education and was initially 
     accompanied by relatively large increases in federal funding 
     for public elementary and secondary education; and
       Whereas, the increases in federal funding since the first 
     year of implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act have 
     been minimal and insufficient to meet its requirements; and
       Whereas, the federal government has decreased funding for 
     programs implementing the No Child Left Behind Act in fiscal 
     year 2006 by almost $800,000,000, and for overall public 
     education by $606,000,000, including cuts of more than 
     $165,000,000 from postsecondary education and over 
     $20,000,000 from programs for students with disabilities: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Hawaii 
     Legislature urges the President of the United States and 
     United States Congress to make a serious commitment to 
     improving the quality of the nation's public schools by 
     substantially increasing its funding for implementation of 
     the No Child Left Behind Act, the Higher Education Act, the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and other 
     education-related programs; and be it further
       Resolved, That the State of Hawaii requests that in any 
     year that federal funding for public elementary and secondary 
     education is decreased, the President, United States 
     Congress, and the United States Department of Education 
     create flexibility in No Child Left Behind Act requirements 
     through the use of state waivers, exemptions, or other 
     mechanisms; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     United States Secretary of Education, and Hawaii's 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-333. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to urging the 
     United States Congress to support changes to the No Child 
     Left Behind Act of 2001; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 61

       Whereas, the National Conference of State Legislatures 
     created a special task force (Task Force) that spent ten 
     months conducting a comprehensive, bipartisan review of the 
     No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; and
       Whereas, this review identified a number of changes that 
     must be made to the No Child Left Behind Act for it to become 
     a positive impetus to school improvement and ensure that 
     young people will learn at their full potential; and
       Whereas, the Task Force drafted forty-three recommendations 
     outlining these necessary changes to provide useful, workable 
     requirements for schools, many of which could be easily 
     incorporated into the No Child Left Behind Act; and
       Whereas, the four key Task Force recommendations include: 
     (1) removing obstacles that block state education innovations 
     and undermine programs that were succeeding prior to the 
     passage of the No Child Left Behind Act; (2) providing the 
     federal financial assistance necessary for states to meet No 
     Child Left Behind Act classroom goals; (3) removing the 
     ``one-size-fits-all'' student performance measurements in 
     favor of more sophisticated systems that measure progress on 
     an individualized basis; and (4) recognizing that individual 
     schools face special challenges, and that significant 
     differences exist between rural and urban schools: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Hawaii 
     State Legislature strongly urges the Congress of the United 
     States to support the worthwhile recommendations of the 
     National Conference of State Legislatures special task force 
     on revisions to the No Child Left Behind Act; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and 
     Hawaii's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-334. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to increasing 
     funds for federal education initiatives and affording more 
     flexibility to states in relation to the No Child Left Behind 
     Act; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                       Senate Resolution No. 103

       Whereas, all children, regardless of race, income, 
     ethnicity, or disability, deserve a quality public education; 
     and
       Whereas, the nation's states are charged with the 
     constitutional responsibility of providing public schools 
     that help all children achieve their full potential; and
       Whereas, states have a strong history of innovation, 
     leading education reforms, and responding to the unique needs 
     of their schools and communities; and
       Whereas, states have long supported the worthy goals of the 
     federal No Child Left Behind Act to improve academic 
     achievement,

[[Page S4890]]

     provide quality teachers, and increase accountability at all 
     levels; and
       Whereas, while a stated goal of NCLB is to provide 
     flexibility for states to improve academic achievement and 
     close achievement gaps, the Task Force on NCLB found that 
     little flexibility has been granted to states to implement 
     NCLB; and
       Whereas, the best way for the federal government to make 
     education a national priority is to support states in their 
     continuing efforts to raise student achievement by investing 
     in the core building blocks of educational improvement, 
     including:
       (1) A quality classroom environment that provides students 
     with quality teachers, smaller classes, up-to-date books and 
     materials, and tools for technology;
       (2) Opportunities for increased parent and community 
     involvement that recognize the crucial role that parents and 
     the community play in student success;
       (3) Standard that support, not undermine, state and local 
     education reform efforts that set high expectations, 
     demonstrate clear results, and establish comprehensive and 
     rigorous curricula;
       (4) Accurate measures of student achievement that provide 
     schools with a better gauge of student performance by relying 
     on a broader range of measures, including graduation, 
     attendance and dropout rates, classroom grades, and student 
     progress, in addition to test scores; and
       (5) Improved measures of accountability that focus on 
     results. rather than the process, provide support and 
     incentives rather than mandates and punishments, and direct 
     sufficient resource to the students and schools most in need; 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the 
     President of the United States and the United States Congress 
     are urged to fulfill their commitment to improving the 
     quality of the nation's public schools by substantially 
     increasing funding for NCLB, the Higher Education Act, the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and other 
     education-related programs; and be it further
       Resolved, That the State of Hawaii respectfully requests 
     that the President of the United States, United States 
     Congress, and United States Department of Education provide 
     waivers, exemptions, or other flexibility to help the states 
     with the requirements of NCLB for any year that federal 
     funding for public elementary and secondary education is 
     reduced; and be it further
       Resolved, That the State of Hawaii encourages other states 
     to pass similar resolutions; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, President 
     of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, Secretary of the United States 
     Department of Education, and members of Hawaii's 
     Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-335. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan relative to adding social studies to the testing 
     requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                       Senate Resolution No. 108

       Whereas, Every generation of Americans has relied on the 
     public schools to prepare young people to be responsible 
     stewards of our national legacy, entrepreneurial economic 
     competitors, and active participants in civic life. The 
     founders believed that well-educated citizens were crucial to 
     a free society; and
       Whereas, Citizens of the twenty-first century face 
     unprecedented challenges, including adapting to widely 
     diverse communities and workplaces, economic competition on a 
     global scale, applying rapidly evolving technologies, 
     managing scarce natural resources, and revolving political 
     and cultural conflicts; and
       Whereas, The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires 
     rigorous assessment of the core academic subject of reading, 
     mathematics, and science. Success in dealing with the 
     challenges of the twenty-first century require mastering the 
     core disciplines of the social sciences, including civics, 
     government, economics, history, and geography, as well as 
     reading, mathematics, and science; and
       Whereas, Assessing or measuring proficiency in some but not 
     all of the academic subjects necessary for a successful 
     education results in a lack of equitable measurement data of 
     student achievement. This limits accountability for the 
     responsible delivery of the untested academic subjects as 
     well as leading to less instructional attention, fewer 
     resources, and less emphasis on the social studies 
     curriculum: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United 
     States Congress to add civics, government, economics, 
     history, and geography to the testing requirements of the No 
     Child Left Behind Act of 2001; 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, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-336. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to providing flexible funding to help states and 
     local communities clean up and deal with the disastrous 
     effects of clandestine methamphetamine labs; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 209

       Whereas, There is a meth epidemic in the United States, and 
     it is having a devastating effect on our country. Meth abuse 
     is causing social, economic, and environmental problems. 
     Children residing in homes with meth labs live in danger and 
     often suffer from neglect and abuse. Meth production costs 
     citizens and governments millions of dollars for a variety of 
     reasons, including law enforcement costs, drug treatment for 
     offenders, cleanup of production sites, and placement of 
     endangered children; and
       Whereas, Meth labs leave behind a toxic mess of chemicals 
     and pose a significant danger to communities. The manufacture 
     of one pound of methamphetamine results in six pounds of 
     waste. These wastes include corrosive liquids, acid vapors, 
     heavy metals, solvents, and other harmful materials that can 
     disfigure skin or cause death. Hazardous materials from meth 
     labs are typically disposed of illegally and may cause severe 
     damage to the environment; and
       Whereas, Between 1992 and 2004, the number of clandestine 
     meth lab-related cleanups increased from 394 to over 10,000 
     nationwide. The cost of cleaning up clandestine labs in FY 
     2004 was approximately $17.8 million; and
       Whereas, States and local governments are bearing the 
     burden of funding the clean up efforts. Many local 
     communities are finding and seizing meth labs. But the lab 
     sites remain dangerous to the public because neither the 
     state or the local community has adequate funding to clean 
     them up; and
       Whereas, Federal funding that is supposed to help states 
     and local communities bear the burden of cleaning up meth 
     labs is narrowly crafted and many states and local 
     communities are finding it difficult to qualify; and
       Whereas, Federal legislation, such as the Clean, Learn, 
     Educate, Abolish, Neutralize, and Undermine Production 
     (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act, introduced in the United 
     States House of Representatives, and the Combat Meth Act of 
     2005, introduced in the United States Senate, contain funding 
     for meth lab cleanup; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the United States Congress to provide funding for 
     meth lab clean up and ensure that the criteria to qualify for 
     the funds is broad enough that states and local communities 
     in the midst of the meth epidemic can access the funds; 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, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-337. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to using flexibility in the implementation of rules 
     to allow use of an enhanced drivers license under the Western 
     Hemisphere Travel Initiative which requires all citizens of 
     any age of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to 
     have a passport or other secure documentation to enter or re-
     enter the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 188

       Whereas, The Michigan-Canada crossing is the busiest border 
     crossing in North America, including commerce, tourism, 
     trade, workers, and students, averaging hundreds of millions 
     of dollars in trade value per day in Michigan alone and 
     hundreds of billions of dollars per year across the entire 
     northern border. There are 10 land ports of entry between 
     Canada and Michigan, and in 2004 over 21 million passenger 
     vehicles crossed at just five of those ports. In 2004, there 
     were 58,000 daily border crossings to and from Michigan and 
     Canada; and
       Whereas, The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a 
     proposal developed by the United States Department of 
     Homeland Security and the United States Department of State, 
     to require that all citizens of any age entering or re-
     entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda, 
     have in their possession a passport or other secure 
     documentation as the only acceptable documentation required 
     by law as of December 31, 2007; and
       Whereas, This proposal could have a devastating economic 
     impact on Michigan by slowing commerce and tourism. The 
     costly ($97 for each adult and $82 for each child) and 
     cumbersome process of obtaining a passport may discourage 
     many families, entrepreneurs, and tourists from traveling 
     across the border. Many residents in border regions would be 
     discouraged from taking spontaneous trips across the border. 
     It is projected that the total number of persons crossing the 
     border would decline, subsequently causing financial 
     difficulties for bridge and tunnel operators along the border 
     who largely depend on toll revenue to undertake maintenance 
     and improvement projects. It is estimated that the impact of 
     this policy would be economically devastating to Michigan 
     because Canada remains Michigan's primary export market, with 
     $175 billion worth of merchandise goods exchanged during 2004 
     alone; and
       Whereas, This proposal could end an 80-year period of trust 
     between the United

[[Page S4891]]

     States and Canada that allowed for seamless cross-border 
     trade and travel and the opportunity for education and 
     employment exchanges; and
       Whereas, Protecting our borders is critical to ensuring 
     homeland security, and alternative means of establishing a 
     traveler's identity and nationality should be thoroughly 
     examined by the Departments of Homeland Security and State. 
     One such alternative that would be much cheaper and less 
     cumbersome could involve an identification code on driver's 
     licenses issued in Michigan: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the President and the Congress of the United 
     States to use flexibility in the implementation of rules to 
     allow use of an enhanced drivers license under the Western 
     Hemisphere Travel Initiative which requires all citizens of 
     any age of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to 
     have a passport or other secure documentation to enter or re-
     enter the United States; 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, and the members of the Michigan 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-338. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to enacting legislation restricting protests at 
     funerals; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 226

       Whereas, More than 100 military funerals nationwide have 
     been besieged with protesters in the past three years. 
     Protesters have trespassed on the solitude and dignity of 
     grieving families, who want nothing more than to bury their 
     husbands, wives, sons, and daughters in peace and solemnity. 
     Espousing perverse and hateful language and placards, these 
     protesters celebrate the slaying of our nation's heroes; and
       Whereas, No family member, on the blackest day of their 
     life, should have to confront such premeditated viciousness, 
     which is solely calculated to deepen the anguish of 
     bereavement. Under such circumstances, the family's right to 
     privacy outweighs any supposed free speech concerns; and
       Whereas, The United States Congress is considering 
     legislation to restrict protests at funerals at national 
     cemeteries for 60 minutes before or after a funeral. The 
     measure would also restrict protesters to remain 500 feet or 
     more from the grave site or from individuals they are 
     protesting: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the United States Congress to enact legislation 
     restricting protests at funerals; 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, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.

                          ____________________