[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 27, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3832-S3834]
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-49. A resolution adopted by the California State Lands 
     Commission urging the Senate to pass Senate Resolution 151; 
     to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       Whereas, U.S. Senators Boxer and Feinstein have introduced 
     S. 151 to prohibit new oil and gas leasing in federal waters 
     off California; and

[[Page S3833]]

       Whereas, California's 1,100 mile coastline, with its 
     beautiful beaches, wild cliffs, abundant fish stocks and 
     fragile environment is a national treasure and a valuable 
     state resource, which is at the heart of a tourist industry 
     that generates nearly five billion dollars in state and local 
     taxes each year; and is the heart of the state's $43 billion 
     ocean economy; and
       Whereas, the citizens of California have long opposed new 
     oil and gas drilling off their coastline and support 
     protecting the fragile and valuable coastal environment over 
     development of the relatively small amounts of oil and gas 
     offshore California; and
       Whereas, California initiated protection of its coast from 
     oil and gas development when the California Legislature in 
     1955 and 1963, prohibited oil and gas leasing in the State 
     waters off Monterey and Santa Cruz counties and portions of 
     Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, and 
     Mendocino Counties; and
       Whereas, the California State Lands Commission has not 
     issued any offshore oil and gas lease for new areas since the 
     1969 spill from a well in Federal waters off Santa Barbara 
     that released over three million gallons of crude oil, 
     coating Santa Barbara County's ocean beaches; and
       Whereas, the California Legislature continued the State's 
     efforts to restrict oil and development in its own waters by 
     enacting the California Coastal Sanctuary Act in 1994, which 
     codified the Commission's earlier administrative prohibition 
     of new offshore leases and created a statutory statewide 
     coastal sanctuary that prohibits future oil and gas leasing 
     in all State coastal waters, from Mexico to the Oregon 
     border, in perpetuity; and
       Whereas, the U.S. Congress has protected California 
     coastline from expanded offshore drilling for more than 
     twenty years, renewing this protection in the form of a 
     legislative moratorium contained in the annual appropriations 
     bill for the Department of the Interior; and
       Whereas, the need for new oil development can be reduced by 
     improving automobile fuel efficiency and energy efficiency, 
     utilizing and further researching renewable energy and 
     alternative fuels, and fully funding energy conservation and 
     efficiency programs, including solar and renewables, 
     weatherization, and other initiatives; thus increasing energy 
     independence and reducing the reliance on foreign oil; and
       Whereas, in spite of the steady opposition to new oil and 
     gas leasing off California, various proposals have been made 
     in the last five years to end the federal moratorium or to 
     take steps, such as oil and gas inventories, that are 
     intended to lead to new leasing; and
       Whereas, the Commission has adopted six resolutions since 
     2001 supporting the existing moratorium on new federal leases 
     and opposing the new initiatives to open the California coast 
     to new oil and gas development and leases; and
       Whereas, S. 151, recently introduced by Senator's Boxer and 
     Feinstein would permanently ban new oil and gas leasing in 
     federal waters, consistent with the state's own prohibition 
     of new leasing in state waters; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the California State Lands Commission, That it 
     supports S. 151 and the prohibition it proposes for new oil 
     and gas leases in federal waters off California and urges 
     Congress to adopt this measure; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Congress of the United States and the 
     Federal government be encouraged to explore options to 
     increase energy independence and reduce reliance on foreign 
     oil, such as incentives to improve energy efficiency, 
     requirements to improve automobile fuel efficiency, provide 
     funding for research into renewable energy and alternative 
     fuels, and fully funding energy conservation and efficiency; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Commission's Executive Officer transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Governor of California, to the 
     Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to 
     the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of 
     Representatives, to the Chairs and Ranking Minority Members 
     of the House Committee on Natural Resources, the House 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Senate Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources, and the Senate Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works and to each Senator and 
     Representative from California in the Congress of the United 
     States.
                                  ____

       POM-50. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     urging Congress to enact the Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier 
     Act; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                        House Resolution No. 17

       Whereas, two species of Asian carp are on the verge of 
     invading the Great Lakes. Silver carp and bighead carp have 
     advanced up the Mississippi River since their escape from 
     southern fish farms in the early 1980s, and now have been 
     identified within miles of Lake Michigan in the Illinois 
     River near Chicago; and
       Whereas, Asian carp pose a significant risk to the ecology 
     and economy of the Great Lakes region. Asian carp can grow as 
     large as 100 pounds and are voracious feeders. They compete 
     with native fish for food and degrade water quality by 
     disturbing sediments. They could become a dominant species in 
     the Great Lakes, threatening a $4.5 billion commercial and 
     recreational fishery. Silver carp can also jump up to 10 feet 
     out of the water when disturbed, posing a risk to 
     recreational boaters; and
       Whereas, Asian carp are the latest in a long line of exotic 
     species to threaten the Great Lakes. Over 180 exotic species 
     have invaded the Great Lakes since European settlement. The 
     most harmful exotic species, zebra mussels and sea lampreys, 
     have cost an estimated $100 million per year to control 
     during the 1990s. Scientists project that Asian carp could 
     have a similar impact on the Great Lakes; and
       Whereas, the only thing preventing the movement of Asian 
     carp into the Great Lakes is a temporary electrical barrier 
     in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal operated by the United 
     States Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, the Army Corps 
     and the state of Illinois are constructing a permanent 
     electrical barrier to replace the temporary barrier; and
       Whereas, to date, over $12 million has been spent on 
     construction and operation of the electrical barriers. To 
     help match federal funding, the state of Michigan has 
     contributed nearly $70,000 toward the completion of the 
     permanent electrical barrier; and
       Whereas, current funding is insufficient to complete 
     construction of the permanent barrier and only finances 
     operation of the temporary barrier through the first half of 
     fiscal year 2007. In addition, there is no funding to 
     renovate the temporary barrier as a permanent backup to the 
     new barrier; and
       Whereas, The Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act (H.R. 553 
     and S. 336) would provide funds to upgrade the current 
     barrier and complete construction of the permanent barrier; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the United States Congress to enact the Great 
     Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act (H.R. 553 and S. 336) to protect 
     the Great Lakes from Asian carp; 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-51. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of 
     Kentucky urging Congress to repeal the Government Pension 
     Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                        House Resolution No. 45

       Whereas, the intent of Congress in the enactment of the 
     Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination 
     Provision (WEP) was to protect the Social Security program 
     and eliminate perceived abuses in the payment of dual 
     benefits to certain beneficiaries; and
       Whereas, the GPO and WEP, have resulted in devastating, 
     unintended consequences for hundreds of thousands of teachers 
     and other public employees nationwide; and
       Whereas, the GPO affects teachers and other public 
     employees in Kentucky and other states who are participants 
     in public retirement systems but who do not participate in 
     the Social Security retirement program; and
       Whereas, under the GPO, a teacher who receives benefits 
     under the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System will suffer at 
     least a two-thirds reductions in the Social Security survivor 
     benefits the teacher would otherwise receive from a spouse's 
     private-sector earnings; and
       Whereas, teachers in fifteen states, including Kentucky, do 
     not participate in the Social Security program; and
       Whereas, the WEP reduces the Social Security benefits of a 
     teacher or other public employee who has participated and 
     received earnings sufficient to qualify for Social Security 
     retirement benefits as well as the benefits procured under 
     the Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System or other public 
     retirement system; and
       Whereas, the GPO and WEP unfairly target public employees, 
     especially our highly valued teachers who sacrifice lucrative 
     earnings in the private sector to educate our children; and
       Whereas, Kentucky has a significant teacher shortage and 
     loses more than 2000 teachers annually to retirement and must 
     actively recruit new teachers to meet growing enrollment 
     demands; and
       Whereas, a federal proposal to repel both the GPO and WEP, 
     the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007, has been introduced 
     in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and 
     clearly indicates an awareness and acknowledgment of the 
     devastating impact of these provisions on teachers and other 
     public employees; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
       Section 1. The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth 
     of Kentucky urges the Congress of the United States to enact 
     the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007 or similar 
     legislation to repeal the GPO and WEP provisions of the 
     Social Security law.
       Section 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall 
     transmit copies of this Resolution to the President and Vice 
     President of the United States to the Speaker of the U.S. 
     House of Representatives, the Majority Floor Leader of the 
     U.S. Senate, and

[[Page S3834]]

     to each Senator and Representative from the Commonwealth of 
     Kentucky in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-52. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     urging the President and Congress to appropriate additional 
     funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; to 
     the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 33

       Whereas, Home heating is a fundamental necessity in 
     northern climate states during the months from October 
     through March, However, low-income households in Michigan and 
     across the nation struggle to pay for this basic necessity. 
     High energy bills in winter force many low-income households 
     into difficult situations, such as forgoing medicine or food 
     in order to pay energy bills or putting themselves in danger 
     by using stoves and portable heaters to provide warmth; and
       Whereas, In the early 1980s, Congress recognized the need 
     for heating and other home energy assistance when it enacted 
     legislation to create the Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
     Program (LIHEAP). The LIHEAP program has become a crucial 
     safety net for low-income households and families across the 
     nation, especially in northern climate states. LIHEAP 
     assistance has helped millions of families keep their homes 
     at safe and healthy temperatures; and
       Whereas, Last year Congress appropriated a record level 
     $3.2 billion in LIHEAP funding. In spite of this, only a 
     fraction of eligible low income households received 
     assistance. According to the United States Department of 
     Health and Human Services, last winter only 15 percent of 38 
     million eligible low-income households actually received 
     assistance from the LIHEAP program; and
       Whereas, This year, with the adoption of a September 29th, 
     continuing resolution, Congress has appropriated only $1.98 
     billion for LIHEAP. The President's proposed FY 2008 budget 
     calls for funding to be reduced further to $1.78 billion. 
     Under these funding proposals, it is estimated that Michigan 
     will receive as much as $47 million dollars less than last 
     year. This will surely mean that state energy assistance 
     programs will be forced to shut down programs and turn needy 
     people away. Last year, even with the record level funding, 
     only 35 percent of eligible low-income households in Michigan 
     received LIHEAP assistance; and
       Whereas, such inadequate LIHEAP funding could be disastrous 
     for Michigan. The state is struggling through one of the 
     nation's worst economic situations. Currently, nearly one 
     third of Michigan households are at or below 60 percent of 
     the state's median income, and the unemployment rate, which 
     is already much higher than the national average, keeps 
     growing. Clearly, such tough economic times coupled with a 
     cold, harsh winter, and high heating fuel prices, make LIHEAP 
     funding vital for the state of Michigan; now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives. That we urge the 
     President and the Congress of the United States to 
     immediately increase funding for LIHEAP to at least last 
     year's level of $3.2 billion; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Office of 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-53. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     urging Congress to enact the Employee Free Choice Act; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 21

       Whereas, In 1935, the United States established, by law, 
     that workers must be free to form unions. The freedom to form 
     or join a union is internationally recognized as a 
     fundamental human right; and
       Whereas, Union membership provides workers better wages and 
     benefits, and protection from discrimination and unsafe 
     workplaces. Unions benefit communities by strengthening tax 
     bases, promoting equal treatment, and enhancing civic 
     participation; and
       Whereas, Even though on paper America's workers have the 
     freedom to choose for themselves whether to have a union, in 
     reality, workers across the nation are routinely denied that 
     right. More than 40 million United States workers say they 
     would join a union now if they had the opportunity; and
       Whereas, When the right of workers to form a union is 
     violated, wages fall, race and gender pay gaps widen, 
     workplace discrimination increases, and job safety standards 
     disappear; and
       Whereas, Many thousands of workers in our country are 
     routinely threatened, coerced, or fired each year because 
     they try to form a union. Most violations of workers' freedom 
     to choose a union occur behind closed doors, and each year 
     millions of dollars are spent to frustrate workers' efforts 
     to form unions; and
       Whereas, A worker's fundamental right to choose a union is 
     a public issue that requires a public policy solution, 
     including legislative remedies; and
       Whereas, The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800) has been 
     introduced in the United States Congress in order to restore 
     workers' freedom to join a union; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the United States Congress to enact the Employee 
     Free Choice Act, which would authorize the National Labor 
     Relations Board to certify a union as the bargaining 
     representative when a majority of employees voluntarily sign 
     authorizations designating that union to represent them; 
     provide for first contract mediation and, arbitration; and 
     establish meaningful penalties for violations of a worker's 
     freedom to choose a union; 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-54. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan urging the President and 
     Congress to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy 
     Assistance Program and to facilitate the establishment of 
     programs that provide information about responsible energy 
     use; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 10

       Whereas, Each winter, public and private programs offering 
     help to low-income families trying to heat their homes 
     usually find their budgets stretched thin; and
       Whereas, Fortunately, there is a federally funded program 
     that provides energy assistance to low-income households. The 
     Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a 
     federal block grant program that provides billions of dollars 
     annually to help low-income households pay energy bills. 
     LIHEAP funds have averted numerous tragedies by enabling 
     needy families to keep their homes at healthy and safe 
     temperatures during the bitter cold months of winter; and
       Whereas, Utility companies, government agencies, and 
     nonprofit organizations often make information available to 
     low-income families to help reduce their heating bills. Such 
     information often recognizes the need for reducing home 
     energy costs through the use of conservation technologies and 
     flexible bill payment practices designed to help empower low-
     income consumers to pay their utility bills on a discounted 
     basis; and
       Whereas, Coordinated and efficient consumer education 
     programs of federal, state, and local agencies could help 
     consumers take responsibility for their winter heating bills. 
     Educational programming on things such as how to set proper 
     temperatures in the home, the use of programmable 
     thermostats, tips on household budgeting, how to weatherize a 
     home, and energy efficiency training could better prepare 
     low-income households with the skills needed to control their 
     winter heating costs; and
       Whereas, The President's proposed budget for next year 
     would reduce the percentage of eligible needy families that 
     receive LIHEAP assistance. The President is requesting only 
     $1.782 billion for LIHEAP in FY 2008. This is far less than 
     the $5.1 billion that is authorized for the program under the 
     U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 and a dramatic 44 percent 
     reduction from FY 2006 funding levels. According to the 
     National Energy Assistance Directors' Association (NEADA), 
     the President's proposed cut to LIHEAP would force states to 
     eliminate energy assistance to more than a million 
     households; and
       Whereas, The President's proposal would hit Michigan 
     particularly hard. No other northern climate state is 
     suffering through such tough economic times. Michigan 
     finished last year with one of the nation's worst 
     unemployment rates, second only to Mississippi. Since 2003, 
     the unemployment rate in Michigan has exceeded the national 
     rate by an ever-widening margin. As the number of unemployed 
     persons in the state grows, so, too, does the number of 
     households seeking energy assistance. In spite of this, under 
     the President's proposal, it is estimated that the state 
     would receive nearly $50 million less than it did last year. 
     Clearly, we should educate customers on how to use energy 
     wisely and we should adequately fund the LIHEAP program to 
     ensure that low-income families in Michigan and across the 
     nation receive the help they need during the bitter cold 
     months of winter; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the President 
     and the Congress of the United States, particularly the 
     Michigan congressional delegation and the chairman of the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce, to do all they can to 
     provide additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy 
     Assistance Program and facilitate the establishment of 
     programs that provide information on responsible energy use; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Office of 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.

                          ____________________