[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6719-S6722]
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-410. A letter from the Society for Radiation Oncology 
     Administrators urging the Senate to add certain medical 
     imaging technologies to the list of procedures for which 
     minimum education and credential standards are currently 
     required; to the Committee on Finance.
       POM-411. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     New Jersey urging Congress to not require purchase of flood 
     insurance based on new flood insurance rate maps; to the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                        Senate Resolution No. 74

       Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is 
     charged with reviewing, revising, and updating flood 
     insurance rate maps Under section 1360 of the ``National 
     Flood Insurance Act of 1968'' (42 U.S.C. s.4101); and
       Whereas, as part of the this charge, through the National 
     Flood Insurance Program's Map Modernization Program, FEMA is 
     conducting a national reassessment of flood insurance rate 
     maps as authorized and funded by the United States Congress; 
     and
       Whereas, FEMA is currently reviewing and revising the maps 
     for the Bayshore area in Monmouth County, and has determined 
     that the existing beach and dune system located along the 
     Raritan Bay in the Borough of Keansburg, Monmouth County, 
     does not comply with the requirements of the National Flood 
     Insurance Program's regulations found at section 65.10 of 
     title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations concerning FEMA 
     Levee Accreditation; and
       Whereas, as a result of FEMA's flood map modernization 
     effort, several thousand residents of the State in the 
     Township of Hazlet, the Borough of Keansburg, the Township of 
     Middletown, and the Borough of Union Beach will be now be 
     required to purchase flood insurance; and
       Whereas, the currently effective maps for the affected area 
     are from 1983, prior to the federal regulations established 
     in 1986 which are the basis for the determination that the 
     area is in non-compliance; and
       Whereas, H.R. 3121, known as the ``Flood Insurance Reform 
     and Modernization Act of 2007,'' currently pending in the 
     United States Senate, would make a number of changes to the 
     National Flood Insurance Program, including prohibiting FEMA 
     from adjusting the chargeable flood insurance premium rate 
     based on an updated flood insurance rate map, or requiring 
     the purchase of flood insurance for a property not subject to 
     such a purchase requirement before the updating of the map, 
     until such time as an updated map is completed for the entire 
     district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers affected by the 
     map: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
       1. This House urges the United States Congress to enact 
     legislation that would prohibit the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency from requiring the purchase of new flood 
     insurance based on revised flood insurance rate maps 
     developed as part of the National Flood Insurance Program's 
     Map Modernization Program so that New Jersey residents do not 
     have to incur the cost of the purchase of flood insurance.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary 
     thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United 
     States, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority 
     Leader of the United States House of Representatives, all 
     members of the United States Congress representing the State 
     of New Jersey, and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency.
                                  ____

       POM-412. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging Congress to reauthorize transportation 
     funding with appropriate recognition of the importance of the 
     Great Lakes' infrastructure to the nation's economy; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                       Senate Resolution No. 194

       Whereas, the future viability of the United States' economy 
     depends on the ability to produce and export marketable 
     products. The state of Michigan is an integral part of the 
     North American manufacturing supply chain, with its 
     international borders and waterways. The Detroit and Port 
     Huron crossings are the busiest land borders in the entire 
     country, bringing $2 trillion in trade value into this 
     country each year; and

[[Page S6720]]

       Whereas, transportation infrastructure support is necessary 
     to facilitate the movement of products back and forth, across 
     our borders and around the country, thus feeding the United 
     States' economy. Michigan's aging transportation 
     infrastructure carries an enormous amount of heavy truck 
     traffic to that end and is in need of structural upgrades and 
     expansion; and
       Whereas, Michigan has been a donor state for transportation 
     dollars for many years. As such, Michigan has subsidized 
     transportation projects in other states to the detriment of 
     state infrastructure and in disproportion to our contribution 
     to the national economy; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize Congress to 
     reauthorize transportation funding with appropriate 
     recognition of the importance of the Great Lakes' 
     infrastructure to the nation's economy; 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 House of Representatives, and the members of the 
     Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-413. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Arizona urging Congress to 
     use as guiding principles the sovereignty of the United 
     States and the best interests of its citizens on matters 
     relating to the adoption of treaties and agreements with 
     foreign governments; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                   House Concurrent Memorial No. 2003

       Whereas, the President and the Congress of the United 
     States during the course of their duties often times enter 
     into treaties and other bilateral and multi-lateral 
     agreements with foreign nations and organizations of foreign 
     nations, such as the Security and Prosperity Partnership of 
     North America: and
       Whereas, some treaties and agreements by intent, error or 
     misinterpretation might have adverse negative effects on the 
     sovereignty and best interests of the citizens of the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, Congressman Virgil Goode, Jr. and 46 cosponsors 
     have introduced House Concurrent Resolution 40 to express 
     ``the sense of Congress that the United States should not 
     engage in the construction of a North American Free Trade 
     Agreement (NAFTA) Superhighway System or enter into a North 
     American Union with Mexico and Canada''; and
       Whereas, the citizens of the United States have 
     historically cherished, fought for and died to protect the 
     sovereignty of the United States; and
       Whereas, the guiding principle behind the foreign policy of 
     the United States of America should always be to advance what 
     is in the best interests of the citizens of the United 
     States, politically, socially and economically. Wherefore 
     your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State 
     of Arizona. the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That, in all matters relating to the adoption of 
     treaties and agreements with foreign governments and 
     organizations of foreign governments, the President and 
     Congress use as guiding principles the maintenance of the 
     historically cherished sovereignty of the United States and 
     the advancement of the best interests of the citizens of the 
     United States, including jobs and wages, in wording that is 
     clear and unequivocal.
       2. That the United States not enter into construction of a 
     North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Superhighway 
     System or enter into a North American Union with Mexico and 
     Canada.
       3. That existing treaties and agreements be publicly and 
     thoroughly reevaluated to ensure compliance with the 
     principles of this memorial.
       4. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and 
     each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-414. A joint resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Colorado relative to support 
     for the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All 
     Forms of Discrimination Against Women; to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.

                   House Joint Resolution No. 08-1009

       Whereas, the United States supports and has been an active 
     participant in the drafting of, and is a signatory to, the 
     United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
     Discrimination Against Women, but the U.S. Senate has failed 
     to ratify the Convention; and
       Whereas, the spirit of the Convention is rooted in the 
     goals of the United Nations and the United States, to affirm 
     faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth 
     of the human person, and in the equal rights of men and 
     women; and
       Whereas, the Convention provides a comprehensive framework 
     for challenging the various forces that have created and 
     sustained discrimination based on gender against one-half of 
     the world's population; and
       Whereas, although women have made major gains in the 
     struggle for equality in social, business, political, legal, 
     educational, and other fields during the past century, there 
     is much yet to be accomplished; and
       Whereas, through its support, leadership, and prestige, the 
     United States can help create a world in which women are no 
     longer discriminated against and have achieved one of the 
     most fundamental of human rights, equality; and
       Whereas, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the 
     Convention and submitted it to the Senate for ratification; 
     and
       Whereas, the U.S. is the only country to have signed but 
     not ratified the convention; and
       Whereas, ratification of the Convention would entitle the 
     United States to join the United Nations Committee on the 
     Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 
     which monitors reports of progress in the treatment of women 
     from the countries that have ratified the Convention; and
       Whereas, as of November, 2007, a total of 185 countries 
     have ratified or acceded to the Convention, and the state 
     legislatures of more than 10 states have endorsed U.S. 
     ratification: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-sixth 
     General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate 
     concurring herein:
       That the members of the Colorado General Assembly support 
     the continuing goals of the United Nations Convention on the 
     Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and 
     strongly urge the United States Senate to ratify the 
     Convention; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to 
     the President of the United States, the Secretary of State of 
     the United States, the President and the Secretary of the 
     U.S. Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives, the Chair and members of the Senate Foreign 
     Relations Committee, and to each member of the Colorado 
     Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-415. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the State of New Hampshire urging the federal government to 
     create a simplified process for short-term admissions to 
     nursing homes for the purpose of respite care; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, an increasing number of elderly and disabled 
     citizens are being cared for in the home, often by family 
     members, and
       Whereas, the home care providers of such persons need time 
     to relax and take care of other responsibilities; and
       Whereas, there is an acute need for safe and appropriate 
     short-term placements where elderly and disabled citizens can 
     stay while their home caregivers have a period of respite 
     from providing home-based care; and
       Whereas, certain nursing homes in New Hampshire would be 
     willing to provide short-term respite care if there was a 
     simplified and streamlined process for such admissions; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives 
     concurring:
       That the general court of new Hampshire hereby urges 
     Congress to develop a simplified and streamlined process for 
     short-term admissions to nursing homes for the purpose of 
     respite care that minimizes, to the greatest extent possible, 
     paperwork and recordkeeping that needs to be completed prior 
     to and during such admissions; and
       That copies of this resolution shall be sent by the senate 
     clerk to the President of the United States, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, the United States 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, and each member of 
     the New Hampshire congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-416. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to 
     provide a federal extension of unemployment benefits for 
     those unemployed workers in the State of Michigan; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 117

       Whereas, our nation, the state of Michigan in particular, 
     has been hard hit by the country's recent recession. Although 
     the overall economy has seen improvement, for states reliant 
     on certain industries the recent years have been 
     characterized by an inordinately high level of unemployment. 
     This situation has been especially difficult in our state's 
     manufacturing and other professional sectors; and
       Whereas, in recognition of the country's unemployment 
     difficulties, the United States Congress has provided federal 
     13-week extensions of unemployment benefits. These extensions 
     have been invaluable in helping working men and women provide 
     the necessities for their families while seeking work. It is 
     only fitting that an extension of benefits be provided to our 
     hard working men and women when, through no fault of their 
     own, these workers are faced with extended periods of 
     unemployment; and
       Whereas, a host of Michigan workers have exhausted their 
     state employment security benefits. Without a federal 
     extension, these people and their families face tremendous 
     financial hardships. Moreover, spiraling energy costs and a 
     continuing slow job market spell disaster for far too many of 
     Michigan's working families. The economic well-being and 
     human dignity that a federal extension can help provide in 
     these troubled economic times are critical; Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to provide a 
     federal extension of unemployment benefits for those 
     unemployed workers in the state of Michigan; and be it 
     further

[[Page S6721]]

       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-417. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to 
     enact the Youth Promise Act; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 310

       Whereas, among the most effective approaches to reducing 
     juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity are 
     those preventing children from turning to crime in the first 
     place--encouraging early childhood home visitation, parental 
     love and education, quality schooling, and proven youth and 
     family development initiatives; and
       Whereas, there are many alternatives to incarcerating youth 
     that have been proven to be more effective in reducing crime 
     and violence at the national, state, local, and tribal 
     levels. Failure to provide for such effective alternatives is 
     a pervasive problem that leads to increased youth, and later 
     adult, crime and violence; and
       Whereas, research funded by the U.S. Department of Justice 
     indicates that gang membership is short-lived among 
     adolescents--with very few youth remaining gang-involved 
     through their adolescent years. This indicates that there are 
     opportunities for intervention; and
       Whereas, over-reliance on incarceration and confinement of 
     youth, particularly in the early stages of delinquent 
     behavior and for nonviolent delinquent behavior, has been 
     shown to increase long-term crime risks; and,
       Whereas, Congress has before it the Youth Prison Reduction 
     through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and 
     Education Act, the Youth PROMISE Act, (H.R. 3846), which 
     seeks to provide for evidence-based and promising practices 
     related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang 
     activity prevention and intervention and to help build 
     individual, family, and community strength to ensure that our 
     youth lead productive, law-abiding, addiction- and gang-free 
     lives; and
       Whereas, the Youth PROMISE Act will provide resources to 
     enable communities with the greatest concentration of 
     juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity to 
     come together to assess unmet needs and implement research-
     based prevention and intervention approaches to promote youth 
     success and community safety; and
       Whereas, the Youth PROMISE Act creates a PROMISE Advisory 
     Panel, which will help the Office of Juvenile Justice and 
     Delinquency Prevention select PROMISE communities. It will 
     also develop standards for the evaluation of juvenile 
     delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and 
     intervention methods carried out under the Youth PROMISE Act. 
     Further, it provides for the collection of data related to 
     the juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity 
     prevention and intervention needs and resources in each 
     designated geographic area in order to facilitate the 
     strategic geographic allocation of resources provided under 
     the act; and
       Whereas, the Youth PROMISE Act establishes grants to enable 
     local and tribal communities, via PROMISE Coordinating 
     Councils, to conduct an objective assessment regarding 
     juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity, 
     resource needs, and community strengths necessary to 
     effectively address juvenile delinquency and criminal street 
     gang activity. Based upon the assessment, the PROMISE 
     Coordinating Councils will develop plans that include a broad 
     array of prevention and intervention programs that are 
     responsive to the specifIcs of the community, account for the 
     cultural and linguistic requirements of the community, and 
     utilize approaches that have been shown effective in reducing 
     the likelihood of a young person becoming involved in or 
     continuing delinquent conduct or criminal street gang 
     activity. Upon completion of the plan, the PROMISE 
     Coordinating Councils may then apply for federal funds to 
     assist with implementation. The act also provides for 
     national evaluations of PROMISE programs and activities; and
       Whereas, the Youth PROMISE Act requires that local units of 
     government or Indian tribes receiving grants shall provide 
     from nonfederal funds, in cash or in-kind, 25 percent of the 
     costs of the activities carried out with such grants; and
       Whereas, the Youth PROMISE Act establishes a National 
     Center for Proven Practices Research, which will collect and 
     disseminate research to PROMISE Coordinating Councils and to 
     the public (including via an Internet website), as well as 
     other information regarding evidence-based promising 
     practices related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street 
     gang activity prevention and intervention. The act also 
     provides the opportunity for regional research partners to 
     assist with developing their assessments and plans; and
       Whereas, The Youth PROMISE Act provides for the hiring and 
     training of Youth-Oriented Policing officers to implement 
     strategic activities to minimize youth crime and 
     victimization and reduce the long-term involvement of 
     juveniles in illicit activities, juvenile delinquency, and 
     criminal street gang activity. The act also establishes a 
     Center for Youth-Oriented Policing, which will be responsible 
     for identification, development, and dissemination to law 
     enforcement agencies the best practices for Youth-Oriented 
     Policing techniques and technologies; and
       Whereas, the Youth PROMISE Act provides additional 
     improvements to current laws affecting juvenile delinquency 
     and criminal street gang activity, including support for 
     youth victim and witness protection programs and extended and 
     increased authorizations for the Juvenile Accountability 
     Block Grant program: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the United States Congress to enact the Youth 
     Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, 
     Intervention, Support, and Education Act, the Youth PROMISE 
     Act; 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-418. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Colorado relative to support 
     for the rotating regional presidential primaries plan; to the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration.

                      House Resolution No. 08-1006

       Whereas, the quadrennial election of the president and vice 
     president of the United States is among the most important 
     civic acts of the voters of the state of Colorado; and
       Whereas, the process leading to the nomination of 
     candidates for president and vice president of the United 
     States should be as open and participatory as possible; and
       Whereas, voter participation will be enhanced, the 
     political process strengthened, and the rights of all the 
     states and their citizens will be protected with a 
     coordinated, orderly, and defined electoral schedule in 
     place; and
       Whereas, the National Association of Secretaries of State 
     (NASS) has created a rotating regional presidential primaries 
     plan that:
       (1) Groups the states into eastern, southern, midwestern, 
     and western regions beginning in 2012;
       (2) Places Colorado in the western region;
       (3) Provides for a lottery to determine which region will 
     begin the sequence of presidential primaries commencing on 
     the first Tuesday in March preceding the presidential 
     election and followed by primaries in each region in 
     numerical order in April, May, and June;
       (4) Ensures that in subsequent presidential election years 
     each region moves up in the sequence and that the western 
     region, in which Colorado would be placed, will vote in the 
     first regional presidential primary every sixteen years; and
       (5) Ensures that states will be able to determine whether 
     they will conduct their elections by a primary or caucus 
     system; and
       Whereas, it would be of great benefit for the state of 
     Colorado to affiliate with the western region and to 
     participate in the NASS rotating regional presidential 
     primary commencing in 2012: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-sixth 
     General Assembly of the State of Colorado, That we, the 
     members of the House of Representatives, support the rotating 
     regional presidential primaries plan endorsed by the National 
     Association of Secretaries of State and encourage Colorado's 
     participation in those regional primaries commencing in 2012; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the 
     President and Vice President of the United States, each 
     member of Colorado's Congressional delegation, the Colorado 
     Secretary of State, the chairs ofthe Colorado Democratic and 
     Republican parties, and the National Association of 
     Secretaries of State.
                                  ____

       POM-419. A joint resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     State of Tennessee urging Congress to adopt a Veterans 
     Remembered Flag to honor all veterans who have served in our 
     country's Armed Forces; to the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 901

       Whereas, there are flags for all branches of the armed 
     services, as well as flags for POWs and MIAs, but there is no 
     flag to honor the millions of former military personnel who 
     have served our nation; and
       Whereas, a flag is a symbol of recognition for a group or 
     an ideal; veterans compose a group and certainly represent an 
     ideal, and surely deserve their own symbol; and
       Whereas, it is estimated that 20,400,000 veterans have 
     served in our nation's, military, comprising a significant 
     portion of our country's population; and
       Whereas, a Veterans Remembered Flag would memorialize and 
     honor all past, present, and future veterans and provide an 
     enduring symbol to support tomorrow's veterans today; and
       Whereas, displaying and flying this flag would honor the 
     lives of millions of men and women who have served our 
     country in times of war, peace, and national crisis; and
       Whereas, the symbolism of this unique flag's design would 
     be all-inclusive and would pay respect to the history of our 
     nation, to all branches of the military, and would serve to 
     honor those who have served or died in the service of our 
     nation; and
       Whereas, in memorializing America's veterans, the Veterans 
     Remembered Flag includes specific symbolism and should be 
     designed in substantially the following form:

[[Page S6722]]

       (a) It depicts the founding of our Nation through the 
     thirteen stars that emanate from the hoist of the flag and 
     march to the large red star, representing our Nation and the 
     five branches of our country's military that defend her: the 
     Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
       (b) The white star indicates a veteran's dedication to 
     service.
       (c) The blue star honors all men and women who have ever 
     served in our country's military.
       (d) The gold star memorializes those who fell defending our 
     Nation.
       (e) The blue stripe which bears the title of the flag 
     honors the loyalty of veterans to our Nation, flag, and 
     government.
       (f) The green field represents the hallowed ground where 
     all rest eternally; and
       Whereas, the Veterans Remembered Flag would serve to honor 
     all veterans who have served in our country's Armed Forces: 
     Now, therefore, be it further
       Resolved, that an enrolled copy of this resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     Speaker and the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, 
     the President and the Secretary of the U.S. Senate, and each 
     member of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation.

                          ____________________