[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 96 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8044-S8048]
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-393. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Florida 
     relative to urging Congress to support a National Catastrophe

[[Page S8045]]

     Insurance Program; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs.

                        House Memorials No. 541

       Whereas, during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, the 
     State of Florida was devastated by eight hurricanes and four 
     tropical storms, causing approximately $35 billion in 
     estimated gross probable insurance losses, and
       Whereas, the hurricanes from the 2004 and 2005 hurricane 
     seasons have produced high winds, coastal storm surges, 
     torrential rainfalls, and flooding resulting in significant 
     damage to Florida and the Gulf Coast states, which has 
     resulted in displacement of policyholders from their 
     dwellings, loss of personal belongings and contents, closing 
     of businesses and financial institutions, and temporary loss 
     of employment and has created numerous health and safety 
     issues within our local communities, and
       Whereas, in 1992, Hurricane Andrew resulted in 
     approximately $20.8 billion in insured losses and was 
     previously the costliest catastrophe in the United States, 
     but Hurricane Katrina alone left the Gulf Coast states with 
     an estimated loss of approximately $35 billion, and
       Whereas, natural disasters continually threaten communities 
     across the United States with extreme weather conditions that 
     pose an immediate danger to the lives, property, and security 
     of the residents of those communities, and
       Whereas, the insurance industry, state officials, and 
     consumer groups have been striving to develop solutions to 
     insure mega-catastrophic risks, because hurricanes, 
     earthquakes, tornadoes, typhoons, floods, wildfires, ice 
     storms, and other natural catastrophes continue to affect 
     policyholders across the United States, and
       Whereas, on November 16 and 17, 2005, insurance 
     commissioners from Florida, California, Illinois, and New 
     York convened a summit to devise a national catastrophe 
     insurance plan which would more effectively spread insurance 
     risks and help mitigate the tremendous financial damage 
     survivors contend with following such catastrophes: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida, That 
     the Congress of the United States is urged to support a 
     National Catastrophe Insurance Program. Policyholders require 
     a rational insurance mechanism for responding to the economic 
     losses resulting from catastrophic events. The risk of 
     catastrophes must be addressed through a public-private 
     partnership involving individuals, private industry, local 
     and state governments, and the Federal Government. A national 
     catastrophe insurance program is necessary to promote 
     personal responsibility among policyholders; support strong 
     building codes, development plans, and other mitigation 
     tools; maximize the risk-bearing capacity of the private 
     markets; and provide quantifiable risk management through the 
     Federal Government. The program should encompass:
       (1) Providing consumers with a private market residential 
     insurance program that provides all-perils protection.
       (2) Promoting personal responsibility through mitigation; 
     promoting the retrofitting of existing housing stock; and 
     providing individuals with the ability to manage their own 
     disaster savings accounts that, similar to health savings 
     accounts, accumulate on a tax-advantaged basis for the 
     purpose of paying for mitigation enhancements and 
     catastrophic losses.
       (3) Creating tax-deferred insurance company catastrophe 
     reserves to benefit policyholders. These tax-deferred 
     reserves would build up over time and only be eligible to be 
     used to pay for future catastrophic losses.
       (4) Enhancing local and state government's role in 
     establishing and maintaining effective building codes, 
     mitigation education, and land use management; promoting 
     state emergency management, preparedness, and response; and 
     creating state or multistate regional catastrophic risk 
     financing mechanisms such as the Florida Hurricane 
     Catastrophe Fund.
       ( 5) Creating a national catastrophe financing mechanism 
     that would provide a quantifiable level of risk management 
     and financing for mega-catastrophes; maximizing the risk-
     bearing capacity of the private markets; and allowing for 
     aggregate risk pooling of natural disasters funded through 
     sound risk-based premiums paid in correct proportion by all 
     policyholders in the United States. Be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this memorial be dispatched to the 
     President of the United States, to the President of the 
     United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, and to each member of the Florida 
     delegation to the United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-394. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Massachusetts relative to 
     memorializing the Congress of the United States to provide 
     relief from growing energy costs; to the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, high fuel prices have a negative impact on the 
     standard of living of consumers and high fuel prices have a 
     negative impact on the productivity of businesses; and
       Whereas, according to the United States Department of 
     Energy, Massachusetts citizens pay some of the highest energy 
     prices in the Nation, behind only Hawaii and Washington, DC; 
     and
       Whereas, as of May 12, 2006, AAA reports the current 
     average price of a gallon of gasoline in Massachusetts to be 
     $2.93, up from $2.186 only a year ago; and
       Whereas, as of May 2, 2006, the Massachusetts Division of 
     Energy Resources reported the average price of a gallon of 
     heating oil in Massachusetts to be $2.58, up from $1.91 and 
     $1.49 at this time of the year in 2005 and 2004 respectively; 
     and
       Whereas, home heating and electricity expenditures for 
     Massachusetts residents are expected to be up by over one 
     third this year (October 2005-October 2006), this being an 
     average increase of $700 per family or 0.6 percent of 
     personal income; and
       Whereas, high fuel prices impose an especially high burden 
     on low-income families and the United States Department of 
     Energy found that the average American spends 3.5 percent of 
     their income on energy bills, but low-income households 
     average 14 percent of their income; and
       Whereas, the President's 2006 budget included cuts of some 
     $9.7 million over the next 4 years to the low-income home 
     energy assistance program, which benefits many Massachusetts 
     seniors; and
       Whereas, according to a 2005 National Consumer Law Report, 
     as a result of 3 of the past 4 years having unprecedented 
     heating oil and natural gas prices, Massachusetts' 
     residential consumers have higher averages than they have 
     ever faced and community action agencies are reporting more 
     aggressive collection activities from some utilities as well 
     as encountering greater difficulty negotiating payment plans 
     for low-income customers; and
       Whereas, poor road conditions exacerbate the impact of high 
     fuel costs by reducing fuel economy; and
       Whereas, according to a 2005 United States Department of 
     Transportation report of road conditions reported in 2004, 
     only 1,659 miles of Massachusetts' roads were classified as 
     good to very good compared with 3,748 miles of roads 
     classified as mediocre to poor; and
       Whereas, a report by the American Society of Civil 
     Engineers found that 71 percent of Massachusetts' major roads 
     are in poor or mediocre condition and driving on roads in 
     need of repair costs Massachusetts' motorists $2,300,000,000, 
     or $501 per motorist, annually in extra vehicle repairs and 
     operating costs; and
       Whereas, this same report found that 51 percent of 
     Massachusetts' bridges are structurally deficient or 
     functionally obsolete; and
       Whereas, oil companies have reported record quarterly 
     profits for the first quarter of 2006: Now therefore be it
       Resolved, that the Massachusetts Senate memorializes the 
     Congress and the President of the United States to 
     immediately institute a windfall profits tax on energy 
     companies which have benefited from the current 
     circumstances, the proceeds of which shall be distributed to 
     the States for the purpose of providing relief to motorists, 
     homeowners and businesses through policies and programs that 
     provide direct subsidy to low and moderate income consumers 
     and small businesses, and some of the proceeds may also be 
     used for road and bridge work and programs which promote the 
     development and use of alternative energy and fuels; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions shall be 
     transmitted forthwith by the Clerk of the Senate to the 
     President of the United States, presiding Members of each 
     House of the Congress of the United States, and the Members 
     thereof from the Commonwealth.
                                  ____

       POM-395. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to appropriating sufficient funds for the recovery 
     of the shrimp industry and voting against the repeal of the 
     ``Byrd Amendment''; to the Committee on Finance.

                        House Resolution No. 117

       Whereas, Louisiana is the nation's largest producer of 
     wild-caught shrimp and has the nation's only warm water 
     shrimp cannery; and
       Whereas, before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana 
     generated an estimated one hundred twenty million pounds of 
     wild-caught shrimp and sold approximately nine thousand 
     commercial shrimp gear licenses; and
       Whereas, Louisiana shrimpers constitute the largest 
     community of shrimpers in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico 
     regions; and
       Whereas, due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the shrimp 
     industry suffered devastating economic and infrastructure 
     losses; and
       Whereas, due to the hurricanes, assessments estimate that 
     for the shrimp industry the total potential production lost 
     at the retail level is approximately nine hundred nineteen 
     million dollars; and
       Whereas, the influx of foreign shrimp sold at below market 
     prices causes domestic prices to drop to levels at which 
     domestic producers are unable to survive in the industry; and
       Whereas, the United States House Committee on Ways and 
     Means recommended a repeal of the provision of the Continued 
     Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act commonly known as the ``Byrd 
     Amendment''; and
       Whereas, the ``Byrd Amendment'' required duties to be 
     collected under antidumping and countervailing duty orders 
     and required payment to eligible domestic producers who 
     initiated the petition which resulted in the imposition of 
     the duties; and

[[Page S8046]]

       Whereas, Louisiana was one of the original states to 
     initiate a petition against foreign shrimp producers; and
       Whereas, taking into consideration the potential repeal of 
     the ``Byrd Amendment'' and the effects of Hurricanes Katrina 
     and Rita, the shrimp industry and the state of Louisiana 
     stand to suffer severe financial losses: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the 
     United States to appropriate sufficient funds for the 
     recovery of the shrimp industry. Be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the 
     United States to vote against the repeal of the ``Byrd 
     Amendment''. 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-396. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah relative to supporting the Working Families 
     Economic Development Initiative; to the Committee on Finance.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 23

       Whereas, insufficient income contributes to many of the 
     social and human service needs in our state;
       Whereas, the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) 
     provides tax relief and income support to low-income working 
     families;
       Whereas, the EITC lifts millions of individuals out of 
     poverty each year in the United States by supporting work and 
     self-sufficiency while reducing the need for public 
     assistance;
       Whereas, each year, the EITC helps approximately 130,000 
     households in Utah and brings more than $220,000,000 into 
     Utah's economy;
       Whereas, increasing Utah's utilization of the EITC to the 
     national average would help approximately 40,000 eligible 
     households and bring an additional $80,000,000 into Utah's 
     economy;
       Whereas, an increase of $80,000,000 each year in EITC 
     benefits would generate over $300,000,000 per year in state 
     and local economic activity;
       Whereas, 211 INFO BANK, a community services and referral 
     system, provides callers with tax credit help, including 
     eligibility rules, and directs workers to nearby VITA sites 
     for needed tax forms and assistance; and
       Whereas, increasing EITC utilization represents a highly 
     cost-effective economic development strategy: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of Utah 
     encourages departments of Utah State Government to identify 
     and utilize existing and potential public/private 
     partnerships to inform citizens about the availability of the 
     Federal Earned Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax 
     Assistance programs. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     encourages each state entity to work in partnership with 
     private outreach campaigns to identify and utilize existing 
     communications mechanisms to inform Utahns about the 
     availability of the EITC and VITA programs, which may include 
     state publications, websites, human resource materials and 
     communications, correspondence and forms from the State Tax 
     Commission, targeted printed materials, caseworker and client 
     interactions, and application materials for state assistance 
     and state licenses. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     encourages each state entity to utilize existing state 
     infrastructure, where appropriate, to support EITC outreach 
     and statewide availability of the VITA program, which may 
     include utilizing Department of Workforce Services Employment 
     Centers and other appropriate locations as VITA sites, 
     staffed by trained VITA volunteers, between January and 
     April, encouraging local school districts to integrate EITC 
     outreach and VITA services into their parent involvement and 
     community school efforts, and utilizing economic development 
     tools and negotiations to encourage and support EITC outreach 
     and employment-based VITA sites where appropriate. Be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to each 
     department of Utah State Government.
                                  ____

       POM-397. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah relative to promoting Utah's Legislators 
     Back to School Program; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 2

       Whereas, civic education is a vital tool to promote greater 
     understanding of the legislative process and the role of 
     legislators in representative democracy and to build public 
     trust and confidence;
       Whereas, Utah legislators acknowledge the Constitution of 
     the United States, the supreme law of the land, which 
     establishes a democratic form of government and provides the 
     principle for self government, government by the people;
       Whereas, Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of 
     Independence stated, ``There is but one method of rendering a 
     republican form of government . . . by disseminating the 
     seeds of virtue and knowledge through every part of the state 
     by means of proper places and modes of education . . . and 
     this can be done effectively only by the aid of the 
     legislature'';
       Whereas, Utah legislators, students, teachers, and 
     administrators realize the importance of compromise in 
     reconciling competing interests in a diverse society;
       Whereas, the National Conference of State Legislatures 
     (NCSL) established America's Legislators Back to School 
     Program, a bipartisan program for legislators across the 
     nation to impart greater understanding of the necessity for 
     debate, negotiation, and compromise in the legislative 
     process of developing effective public policy, and to engage 
     future voters and leaders in a dialogue about the value of 
     representative democracy and to adapt to each individual 
     state;
       Whereas, this civic education program helps to instill the 
     values of representative democracy, strengthen the democratic 
     process, and encourage students to play a responsible role in 
     their government; and
       Whereas, Utah legislators have ranked in the top 3% of the 
     nation for participation in this program since 2002: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor recognize 
     Utah's Legislators Back to School Program and urge each 
     member of the Legislature to visit students in classrooms 
     during the school year; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     State Board of Education and the executive director of the 
     National Conference of State Legislatures.
                                  ____

       POM-398. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah relative to the harmful effects of 
     tobacco, alcohol, and drugs on youth; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, 90% of tobacco users start before they reach the 
     legal age of 19;
       Whereas, 74% of adults reported that they had started using 
     alcohol before the legal drinking age of 21;
       Whereas, the average age of beginning tobacco users is 11-
     12 years old;
       Whereas, the average age of first time alcohol users is 12 
     years old;
       Whereas, 1,000 youth try their first cigarette each day;
       Whereas, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of 
     death for 15- 20-year-olds and alcohol is involved in more 
     than half of these fatalities;
       Whereas, approximately 52% of surveyed youth ages 12 to 17 
     who were daily cigarette smokers and 66% of youth who were 
     heavy drinkers also used illicit drugs in the month prior to 
     being surveyed;
       Whereas, these harmful substances negatively effect every 
     aspect of a youth's life as well as the lives of those around 
     them;
       Whereas, once youth have started using tobacco, alcohol, or 
     illicit drugs it is very difficult for them to stop;
       Whereas, these substances cut short the lives and future of 
     many youth by causing death and disease;
       Whereas, tremendous strides have been made in reducing 
     tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use among youth;
       Whereas, there is still more that needs to be done to 
     address this continuing challenge;
       Whereas, for every dollar spent on prevention programs, 
     America saves seven dollars in the cost of public aid, 
     special education, and treatment services;
       Whereas, youth are a resource and a catalyst for change in 
     the lives of youth and have proven to be a critical first 
     line of defense in building resiliency among their peers;
       Whereas, the Weber-Morgan Governing Youth Council and other 
     youth groups are working hard to promote positive lifestyles 
     and combat the negative effects of tobacco, alcohol, and 
     illicit drugs on the lives of youth in Utah; and
       Whereas, the fight against the use of tobacco, alcohol, and 
     illicit drugs must continue, and become even more successful, 
     if youth are to be spared the self-destructive effects of 
     these harmful substances: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, strongly urge educators in 
     Utah's public education system to utilize Prevention 
     Dimensions, the state Safe and Drug Free School curriculum to 
     educate the state's youth concerning substance abuse. Be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor strongly 
     urge the citizens of Utah to increase awareness of the 
     destructive effects of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs on 
     Utah's youth. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor recognize 
     local youth councils and other youth groups for their 
     invaluable efforts in helping to keep their peers from 
     getting caught in the trap of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit 
     drug use, and helping those caught in the grip of these 
     harmful substances. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to each of 
     the state's school districts.
                                  ____

       POM-399. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relative to 
     apologizing to all Native American peoples on behalf of the 
     United States; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 15

       Whereas, throughout history, the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts has been instrumental in the struggle to 
     establish democracy and secure the rights and liberties of 
     Americans; and

[[Page S8047]]

       Whereas, the declaration of rights of the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts was the first enumeration of civil rights and 
     liberties by Americans, which served as a model for the 
     United States Constitution and Bill of Rights; and
       Whereas, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a rich 
     native American history with indigenous tribes such as 
     Massachuset from Suffolk county, the Nipmuc from central 
     Massachusetts, the Stockbridge from Berkshire county and the 
     Wampanoag from Cape Cod and the islands; and
       Whereas, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acknowledges the 
     long history of official depredations and ill-conceived 
     policies by the United States government regarding native 
     American tribes and believes that the Congress of the United 
     States should offer an apology to all native peoples on 
     behalf of the United States; and
       Whereas, the ancestors of today's native peoples have 
     inhabited the land of the present day United States since 
     time immemorial and for thousands of years before the arrival 
     of peoples of European origin; and
       Whereas, the native peoples have for millennia honored, 
     protected and stewarded this land that we cherish; and
       Whereas, the United States government has violated many of 
     the treaties ratified by Congress and other diplomatic 
     agreements with native American tribes; and
       Whereas, despite continuing maltreatment of native peoples 
     by the United States, the native peoples have remained 
     committed to the protection of this great land, as evidenced 
     by the fact that, on a per capita basis, more native people 
     have served in the United States Armed Forces and placed 
     themselves in harm's way in defense of the United States in 
     every major military conflict than any other ethnic group; 
     and
       Whereas, native peoples are endowed by their creator with 
     certain unalienable rights, and that among those are life, 
     liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts Senate hereby urges the 
     Senate and House of Representatives of the United States to 
     pass, pending Senate Joint Resolution 15, apologizing to all 
     native American peoples on behalf of the United States of 
     America; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by 
     the clerk of the Senate to the clerks of the Senate and House 
     of Representatives of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-400. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Kansas relative to extending certain 
     provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 5037

       Whereas, on March 7, 1965, a group of civil rights marchers 
     gathered at the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma, Alabama, and 
     their efforts to advance equal voting rights brought a brutal 
     and bloody response. Eight days later President Johnson 
     called for a comprehensive and effective voting rights bill 
     to guarantee to our citizens the rights contained in the 14th 
     and 15th amendments to the United States constitution. A 
     bipartisan congress approved landmark legislation, and on 
     August 6, 1965, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights 
     Act into law; and
       Whereas, considered one of the most successful pieces of 
     civil rights legislation ever adopted, the act bans literacy 
     tests and poll taxes, outlaws intimidation during the 
     electoral process, authorizes federal election monitors and 
     observers and creates various means for protecting and 
     enforcing racial and language minority voting rights. The act 
     was amended in 1975 to facilitate equal political opportunity 
     for language minority citizens and in 1982 to protect the 
     rights of voters with disabilities; and
       Whereas, despite noteworthy progress from 40 years of 
     enforcement of the act, voter inequities, disparities and 
     obstacles still remain for many minority voters; and
       Whereas, Section 5 of the act is scheduled to expire in 
     2007. This section contains a special enforcement provision 
     targeted at those areas of the country where congress 
     believes the potential for discrimination to be high and 
     prohibits any change affecting voters until the attorney 
     general has determined that the change will not worsen the 
     ability of minority voters to vote. Sections 4(f) and 203 
     will also expire in 2007. These sections require bilingual 
     voting assistance for language minority communities in 
     certain jurisdictions. The language minority provisions apply 
     to four language minority groups: American Indians, Asian 
     Americans, Alaskan natives and persons of Spanish heritage; 
     and
       Whereas, The Voting Rights Act is a critical link in the 
     struggle to enfranchise the politically marginalized. Without 
     reauthorization of these special provisions of the act, 
     America risks a resurgence of voter discrimination: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the House of Representatives of the State of 
     Kansas, the Senate concurring therein, That the Kansas 
     legislature memorializes the Congress of the United States to 
     extend these critical provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 
     1965; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of State provide an enrolled 
     copy of this resolution to the President of the United States 
     Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives and each member of the Kansas legislative 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-401. A joint resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of New 
     Hampshire relative to proposing an amendment to the 
     Constitution concerning eminent domain; to the Committee on 
     the Judiciary.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 25

       Whereas, the phrase ``life, liberty and the pursuit of 
     property'' in the Declaration of Independence was changed to 
     ``Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness'' in order to 
     encompass more fully the natural rights doctrine; and
       Whereas, President Thomas Jefferson, drafter of The 
     Declaration of `` Independence wrote, ``We owe every . . . 
     sacrifice to ourselves, to our federal brethren, and to the 
     world at large to pursue with temper and perseverance the 
     great experiment which shall prove that man is capable of 
     living in a society, governing itself by laws self-imposed, 
     and securing to its members the enjoyment of life, liberty, 
     property, and peace; and further to show, that even when the 
     government of its choice shall manifest a tendency to 
     degeneracy, we are not at once to despair but that the will 
     and watchfulness of its sounder parts will reform its 
     aberrations, recall it to its original and legitimate 
     principles, and restrain it within the rightful limits of 
     self-government''; and
       Whereas, President James Madison, drafter of the 
     Constitution of the United States of America, and of the 
     First Ten Amendments of the Constitution of the United States 
     of America stated: ``Government is instituted to protect 
     property of every sort. . . . This being the end of 
     government . . . that is not a just government, nor is 
     property secure under it, where the property which a man has 
     . . . is violated by arbitrary seizures of one class of 
     citizens for the service of the rest''; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives in 
     General Court convened, That the general court or New 
     Hampshire encourages the Congress to propose an amendment to 
     the Constitution of the United States stating that real 
     property can only be taken by eminent domain for public use 
     such as the construction of forts, government buildings, and 
     roadways; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent by the 
     House clerk to the President of the United States, the Vice 
     President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives, and the New Hampshire 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-402. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Louisiana memorializing the 
     Congress of the United States to adopt an amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States to define marriage in the 
     United States as the union between one man and one woman; to 
     the Committee on the Judiciary.
       Whereas, President Bush recently remarked, After more than 
     two centuries of American jurisprudence, and millennia of 
     human experience, a few judges and local authorities are 
     presuming to change the most fundamental institution of 
     civilization''; and
       Whereas, the efforts of nineteen states to protect 
     traditional marriage by way of a constitutional amendment 
     defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman 
     are a clear sign to the rest of the country and to the United 
     States Congress that the citizens of these states are in 
     support of the traditional definition of marriage; and
       Whereas, an amendment to the Constitution of the United 
     States is the most democratic manner by which to curb the 
     power of judges whose agenda affronts the beliefs of the 
     Founding Fathers of this nation and the will of the American 
     people; and
       Whereas, the United States Senate is scheduled to vote on 
     the Marriage Protection Amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States during the week of June 5, 2006; and
       Whereas, the Marriage Protection Amendment defines marriage 
     in the United States as the union between one man and one 
     woman; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to approve an amendment to 
     the Constitution of the United States that would define 
     marriage as the union between one man and one woman; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana proposes that 
     the legislatures of each of the several states comprising the 
     United States apply to the United States Congress requesting 
     the enactment of an appropriate proposal to amend the 
     Constitution of the United States; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     secretary of the United States Senate, and the clerk of the 
     United States House of Representatives, each member of the 
     Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress, and the 
     presiding officer of each house of each state legislature in 
     the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-403. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine relative to establishing satellite voting 
     for displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas, 9 months ago Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury 
     on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and was one of the cruelest 
     disasters in history; and

[[Page S8048]]

       Whereas, Hurricane Katrina dispersed and displaced people 
     to over 40 states across the country; and
       Whereas, many people are still living in states other than 
     their home states, which will prevent them from being able to 
     participate in elections in their home states; and
       Whereas, it is imperative to protect the voting rights of 
     these citizens; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and 
     request that the President, the Congress of the United States 
     and the United States Department of Justice establish 
     satellite voting places in cities and states where Hurricane 
     Katrina survivors now reside; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, 
     the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives of the United States, the 
     United States Department of Justice and each member of the 
     Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-404. A resolution adopted by the City of Pembroke 
     Pines, Florida relative to supporting no less than $4.3 
     billion in Congressional funding for fiscal year 2007 for the 
     Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG); to the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
       POM-405. A resolution adopted by the Miami-Dade County 
     Board of County Commissioners, Miami-Dade County, Florida 
     relative to creating the Community Workforce Housing 
     Innovation Program; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs.
       POM-406. A resolution adopted by Mendham Borough Council, 
     Morris County, New Jersey, relative to opposing the New York/
     New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan Airspace Redesign 
     proposals; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.
       POM-407. A resolution adopted by the Miami-Dade County 
     Board of County Commissioners, Miami-Dade County, Florida 
     relative to waste tire fees; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.
       POM-408. A resolution adopted by the Town Board of the Town 
     of Blooming Grove, Orange County, New York, relative to the 
     Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-409. A resolution passed by the City of San Jose Human 
     Rights Commission, San Jose, California, relative to urging 
     Congress to approve humane immigration reform; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-410. A resolution adopted by the City Commission of the 
     City of Lauderdale Lakes of the State of Florida relative to 
     congratulating the City of Sunrise for joining the City of 
     Lauderdale Lakes in recommending that Congress support the 
     Voting Rights Act of 1965; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-411. A resolution adopted by the California Veterans 
     Board, State of California relative to opposing certain 
     provisions of H.R. 4297, the ``Tax Relief Extension 
     Reconciliation Act of 2005''; to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs.

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