[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 157 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10066-S10069]
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-436. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Alaska urging Congress to pass legislation to open the 
     coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil 
     and gas exploration, development, and production; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                           Senate Resolution

       Whereas, in 16 U.S.C. 3142 (sec. 1002 of the Alaska 
     National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA)), the 
     United States Congress reserved the right to permit further 
     oil and gas exploration, development, and production within 
     the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and
       Whereas the oil and gas industry, the state, and the United 
     States Department of the Interior consider the Arctic coastal 
     plain to have the highest potential for discovery of very 
     large oil and gas accumulations on the continent of North 
     America, estimated to include as much as 10,000,000,000 
     barrels of recoverable oil and significant amounts of natural 
     gas; and
       Whereas, while new oil and natural gas field developments 
     on the North Slope of Alaska, such as Alpine, Northstar, and 
     West Sak, may temporarily slow the decline in production, 
     only giant coastal plain fields have the theoretical 
     capability of increasing the production volume of Alaska oil 
     and gas to a significant degree; and
       Whereas the state's future energy independence would be 
     enhanced with additional natural gas production from the 
     North Slope of Alaska, including what are expected to be 
     significant gas reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife 
     Refuge, and the development of those reserves would enhance 
     the economic viability of the proposed Alaska Natural Gas 
     Pipeline; and
       Whereas the proposed Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline and the 
     Trans Alaska Pipeline System are transportation facilities 
     that will be and are national assets that are integral to 
     satisfying the present and future needs of the United States; 
     and
       Whereas the ``1002 study area'' is part of the coastal 
     plain located within the North Slope Borough, and many of the 
     residents of the North Slope Borough, who are predominantly 
     Inupiat Eskimo, are supportive of development in the ``1002 
     study area''; and
       Whereas enhancements in technology can be used in a manner 
     that minimizes the area within the refuge that is used for 
     exploration and development, while providing the nation with 
     a needed supply of oil and gas; and
       Whereas the oil and gas industry is using innovative 
     technology and environmental practices in the new field 
     developments at Alpine and Northstar, and those techniques 
     are directly applicable to operating on the coastal plain and 
     would enhance environmental protection beyond traditionally 
     high standards; and
       Whereas the oil and gas industry has shown at Prudhoe Bay, 
     as well as at other locations along the Arctic coastal plain, 
     that it is capable of conducting oil and gas activity without 
     adversely affecting the environment or wildlife populations; 
     and
       Whereas opening the coastal plain of the Arctic National 
     Wildlife Refuge now allows sufficient time for planning 
     environmental safeguards, development, and national security 
     review; and
       Whereas the state will ensure the continued health and 
     productivity of the Porcupine caribou herd and the protection 
     of land, water, and wildlife resources during the exploration 
     and development of the coastal plain of the Arctic National 
     Wildlife Refuge; and
       Whereas 8,900,000 of the 19,000,000 acres of the refuge 
     have already been set aside as wilderness; and

[[Page S10067]]

       Whereas the 1,500,000-acre coastal plain of the refuge 
     makes up only eight percent of the 19,000,000-acre refuge, 
     and the development of the oil and gas reserves in the 
     refuge's coastal plain would affect an area of only 2,000 to 
     7,000 acres, which is less than one-half of one percent of 
     the area of the coastal plain; and
       Whereas the continued competitiveness and stability of the 
     state and its economy require that the Senate consider 
     national trends toward renewable energy development; and
       Whereas the Senate encourages the use of revenue from any 
     development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for the 
     development of renewable energy resources in the state; be it
       Resolved, That the Senate urges the United States Congress 
     to pass legislation to open the coastal plain of the Arctic 
     National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration, 
     development, and production, and that the Senate is adamantly 
     opposed to further wilderness or other restrictive 
     designation in the area of the coastal plain of the Arctic 
     National Wildlife Refuge; and be it further
       Resolved, That the oil and gas exploration, development, 
     and production be conducted in a manner that protects the 
     environment and the naturally occurring population levels of 
     the Porcupine caribou herd on which the Gwich'in and other 
     local residents depend, that uses directional drilling and 
     other advances in technology to minimize the development 
     footprint in the ``1002 study area,'' and that uses the 
     state's workforce to the maximum extent possible; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Senate urges the United States Congress 
     to pass legislation opening the ``1002 study area'' for oil 
     and gas development while continuing to work on measures for 
     increasing the development and use of renewable energy 
     technologies; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate opposes any unilateral reduction 
     in royalty revenue from exploration and development of the 
     coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and any 
     attempt to coerce the State of Alaska into accepting less 
     than the 90 percent of the oil, gas, and mineral royalties 
     from the federal land in Alaska that was promised to the 
     state at statehood.
                                  ____

       POM-437. A joint resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     State of Colorado concerning state implementation plan 
     credits for remote vehicle emissions testing programs; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                     Senate Joint Resolution 08-014

       Whereas Colorado's IM 240 enhanced emissions inspection and 
     repair program was enacted to comply with the federal ``Clean 
     Air Act'' program requirements of the federal Environmental 
     Protection Agency (EPA) and is included in the Colorado State 
     Implementation Plan approved by the EPA; and
       Whereas the use of remote sensing technology has been 
     determined to be effective in identifying automobile tailpipe 
     emissions that are cleaner than necessary to achieve 
     compliance with the IM 240 program, and a remote sensing 
     rapid screen program is currently being implemented in the 
     Denver metropolitan area; and
       Whereas pursuant to House Bill 06-1302, the Colorado 
     Department of Public Health and Environment is conducting a 
     pilot program to determine whether remote sensing technology 
     can effectively identify high-emitting vehicles in a full-
     scale program; and
       Whereas the high-emitter pilot program is anticipated to be 
     completed no later than July 2010; and
       Whereas the implementation of a remote sensing rapid screen 
     program, coupled with a high-emitter identification and 
     repair program, could result in a more efficient and cost-
     effective means of achieving greater vehicle emissions 
     reductions than the current IM 240 enhanced emissions 
     inspection and repair program; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-sixth General Assembly 
     of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives 
     concurring herein: That, at the conclusion of Colorado's 
     high-emitter pilot program, the EPA is urged to quickly 
     complete its evaluation of whether the high-emitter 
     identification and repair program, coupled with the rapid 
     screen program, may receive state implementation plan 
     emission reduction credits equivalent to those received for 
     the IM 240 enhanced emissions inspection and repair program; 
     be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to 
     the President of the United States, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, each member of Colorado's Congressional 
     delegation, and the Administrator of the EPA.
                                  ____

       POM-438. A joint memorial adopted by the Senate of the 
     State of Colorado memorializing Congress to restore funding 
     for the federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance 
     Grant Program; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                      Senate Joint Memorial 08-001

       Whereas the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant 
     Program is the largest justice assistance grant provided to 
     states, and it funds state and local government efforts in a 
     broad range of activities such as drug treatment and 
     enforcement, criminal reentry initiatives, crime prevention, 
     and corrections activities; and
       Whereas the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant 
     Program provides vital criminal justice funding for states 
     because its flexible grant purposes permit states to innovate 
     in a wide variety of criminal justice programs based on 
     shifting community needs; and
       Whereas forty percent of the moneys from the Edward Byrne 
     Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are sent to local 
     law enforcement agencies in counties and municipalities and 
     sixty percent of the moneys are distributed through the state 
     governments; and
       Whereas grants may be used to provide personnel, equipment, 
     training, technical assistance, and rehabilitation of 
     offenders who violate state and local laws; and
       Whereas grants may also be used to provide assistance, 
     other than compensation, to victims of offenders; and
       Whereas from 2003-07, Colorado's Edward Byrne Memorial 
     Justice Assistance Grant Program funding has been reduced 
     from a high of $8,013,014 in 2003 to $4,304,517 in 2007, a 
     fifty-five percent reduction; and
       Whereas in the federal ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
     2008'', Pub. L. 110-161, that was signed into law in December 
     2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant 
     Program was cut by sixty-seven percent from $520,000,000 in 
     federal fiscal year 2007 to $170,000,000 in federal fiscal 
     year 2008; and
       Whereas the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant 
     Program currently funds the following programs at the 
     following levels in the state of Colorado:
       The 20th JAG Initiative: Probation Department, 20th 
     Judicial District--$117,952
       Mental Health Institute Initiative: Colorado State Public 
     Defender's Office--$69,154
       Sex Offender Registration and DNA Project: Colorado 
     Department of Corrections--$60,515
       Girls Enhanced Treatment and Transition Services: Colorado 
     Division of Youth Corrections--$135,775
       CrossPoint Enhanced and Intensive Outpatient Program: 
     University of Colorado Health Sciences Center--$113,603
       Gender-Specific Treatment for Women Offenders: University 
     of Colorado Health Sciences Center--$157,328
       Violent Criminal Apprehension Project: Colorado Department 
     of Corrections--$68,750
       Evaluation of the SOA-R: Colorado Division of 
     Mental Health--$82,386
       Differentiated TX for Domestic Violence Offenders: 
     University of Colorado at Denver--$66,391
       Developing a Placement Tool for Juvenile Sex Offenders: 
     Colorado Judicial Department, State Court Administrator--
     $20,000
       Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP) Evaluation: Colorado 
     Judicial Department, State Court Administrator--$29,906
       CSP Resource and Incident Mapping Project: Colorado State 
     Patrol--$149,310
       CBI Case Management System Business Plan Development: 
     Colorado Bureau of Investigation--$75,000
       Improving the Effective Administration of Justice: Colorado 
     State Governor's Office--$69,882
       Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT): City of 
     Glenwood Springs, Police Department--$69,214
       Montezuma County Drug Task Force: District Attorney's 
     Office, 22nd Judicial District--$76,000
       West Metro Drug Task Force: Jefferson County, Sheriffs 
     Department--$76,000
       Summit County Drug Enforcement: Summit County, Sheriffs 
     Office--$58,564
       Larimer County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force: City 
     of Fort Collins, Police Services--$85,500
       16th Judicial District Drug Task Force: District Attorney's 
     Office, 16th Judicial District--$58,332
       Eagle County Drug Task Force: Eagle County, Sheriffs 
     Office--$85,500
       San Luis Valley Drug Task Force: City of Alamosa, Police 
     Department--$93,970
       Eastern Colorado Plains Drug Task Force: Yuma County, 
     Sheriffs Department--$147,628
       Crisis Communication Throw Phone Project: Teller County, 
     Sheriffs Department--$10,000
       Delta/Montrose Drug Task Force: City of Montrose, Police 
     Department--$44,530
       GRAMNET: City of Craig, Police Department--$90,245
       Project Snow Blower: Lake County, Sheriffs Department--
     $35,345
       Canon City-Fremont County Drug Task Force: City of Canon 
     City, Police Department--$59,040
       Metro Gang Task Force: City of Aurora, Police Department--
     $100,000
       South Metro Drug Task Force: Arapahoe County, Sheriffs 
     Department--$66,293
       Boulder County Drug Task Force: Boulder County, Sheriffs 
     Department--$95,000
       Weld County Task Force: City of Greeley, Police 
     Department--$114,091
       North Metro Task Force: City and County of Broomfield, 
     Police Department--$118,750
       Prisoner Transport Partitions: Bent County, Sheriffs 
     Department--$1,420
       Hazardous Materials Safety Initiative: Town of Dillon, 
     Police Department--$12,000
       Internet Sexual Predators Adjunct: District Attorney's 
     Office, 1st Judicial District--$35,000
       Tribal Court Drug Screening and Security: Southern Ute 
     Indian Tribe--$50,975
       Chinook West: Town of Nederland--$22,708
       Ignacio Social Responsibility Training: Town of Ignacio--
     $34,715
       Mentoring Program for the Brown Center: Montrose County, 
     Health and Human Services--$22,660

[[Page S10068]]

       Reintegration and Recovery Preparation Program: El Paso 
     County, Sheriff's Office--$132,400
       Transition Program: Mesa County, Sheriff's Department--
     $74,675
       Correctional Counseling Program: Logan County, Sheriff's 
     Department--$10,000
       Pilot Crisis Intervention Team Case Management Program: 
     City of Colorado Springs, Police Department--$86,204
       Substance Abuse Evaluation, Testing, and Treatment: City of 
     Arvada, Municipal Court--$6,000
       Arapahoe County Aftercare Program: Arapahoe County, 
     Sheriff's Department--$68,414
       Finger/Palm Print Database: Arapahoe County, Sheriff's 
     Department--$44,650
       A Ten-Co. Partnership/Supervised Pretrial Release: 
     Jefferson County, Criminal Justice Planning--$23,790
       Technical Evidence Equipment: Larimer County, Coroner/
     Medical Examiner--$3,200
       Pueblo Police Department Technological Upgrade: City of 
     Pueblo, Police Department--$39,758
       Mobile Command Center: City of La Junta, Police 
     Department--$29,650
       Mobile Communication and Safety Upgrade: Town of Ault, 
     Police Department--$53,515
       Technology Improvement Program: City of Westminster, Police 
     Department--$83,087
       Western Elbert County Emergency Operations Center: Town of 
     Elizabeth, Police Department--$18,154
       Enhanced Traffic Safety: City of Dacono, Police 
     Department--$3,005
       4 Wheel Drive Vehicle Requisition: Town of Kiowa, Police 
     Department--$5,500
       Emergency Power and Fuel: Town of Elizabeth, Police 
     Department--$2,889
       Acquisition of LIDAR Speed Measuring Device: Town of 
     Frederick, Police Department--$3,000
       Crackdown on Underage Drinking: Mineral County, Sheriff's 
     Office--$3,000
       Weapons Safe, Vehicle Maintenance and Supplies: Town of 
     Blanca, Marshal's Office--$3,000
       Traffic Accident Reduction Project: Logan County, Sheriff's 
     Department--$3,750
       Speed Enforcement Program: Montezuma County, Sheriff's 
     Department--$5,500
       Longmont Domestic Violence Awareness Program: City of 
     Longmont, Police Department--$3,000
       Operation Snapshot: City of Brighton, Police Department--
     $3,336
       Safer Community Through Traffic Control: City of Monte 
     Vista, Police Department--$2,817
       Equipment Supplies for Professional Development: Summit 
     County, Sheriffs Office--$3,750
       Enhanced School Security Monitoring: City of Lamar, Police 
     Department--$5,400
       Officer Safety and Communications: Kit Carson County, 
     Sheriffs Department--$5,082
       Project Quick Shot: Lake County, Sheriffs Department--
     $4,000
       Emergency Incident Response: Dolores County, Sheriffs 
     Department--$3,538
       Securing Radar Equipment for Patrol: Montrose County, 
     Sheriffs Office--$2,970
       High Quality Camera and Digital Imaging Computer: City of 
     Silverthorne, Police Department--$3,750
       Communications Upgrade--2007: Town of Minturn, Police 
     Department--$3,249
       800 MGz Radio Purchase: City of Fountain, Police 
     Department--$3,600
       Efficiency Equipment Request: Sedgwick County, Sheriffs 
     Office--$4,300
       Community Policing Enhancement: Town of San Luis, Police 
     Department--$3,750
       Supplies and Operating Needs: Town of Granby, Police 
     Department--$3,319
       Night Vision Devices: City of Montrose, Police Department--
     $1,164
       Vehicle Computer Project: Town of Mancos, Marshal's 
     Office--$3,469
       Low Profile LED Lightbars: Town of Vail, Police 
     Department--$3,600
       Community Safety: Reducing Speeds on Main Street: City of 
     Frisco, Police Department--$3,500
       Traffic Safety Program: Town of Winter Park, Police 
     Department--$3,750
       Support for Probation Services: Southern Ute Indian Tribe--
     $3,750
       Sheriff Patrol Enhancement: Archuleta County, Sheriffs 
     Department--$4,820
       MDT Interoperability Upgrade: Town of Gilcrest, Police 
     Department--$3,583
       Computer 2008: City of Ouray, Police Department--$3,200
       Major Crime Scene Readiness: City of Brush, Police 
     Department--$3,275
       Meeting the Demands of Substantial Growth: Yuma County, 
     Sheriffs Department--$3,168
       Upgrades for Public and Officer Safety: Town of Fowler, 
     Police Department--$4,580
       Mobile Technology Upgrade: Town of Empire, Police 
     Department--$2,608
       Patrol Rifle Project: Town of Victor, Police Department--
     $2,000
       Patrol Car Computers: Town of Cedaredge, Marshal's Office--
     $3,750
       Community Safety Compliance and Security Enhancement: 
     Conejos County, Sheriffs Department--$4,653
       Residential/School Zone Speed Reduction Program: City of 
     Eagle, Police Department--$5,220
       Vehicle Replacement: Town of Hugo, Marshal's Office--$6,000
       Improving Auxiliary Capacity: City of Estes Park, Police 
     Department--$5,000
       Interoperability and Data Sharing: Town of Milliken, Police 
     Department--$3,750; and
       Whereas the Colorado state budget, like other state 
     budgets, is facing a shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year 
     and cannot fill the funding gap left by the federal cut in 
     programs currently funded by the Edward Byrne Memorial 
     Justice Assistance Grant Program; and
       Whereas this drastic cut in funding will result in the 
     dissolution or discontinuance of many law enforcement and 
     criminal justice programs; and
       Whereas programs that are shut down due to lack of funding 
     cannot simply be restarted when the funding returns because 
     there are informants, ties to the community, and personnel 
     that will be lost with the funding shortfall; so as a result, 
     programs must be rebuilt from scratch; and
       Whereas by law, the federal Department of Justice, which is 
     responsible for distributing the moneys for the Edward Byrne 
     Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, cannot write 
     checks to local law enforcement agencies for less than 
     $10,000; therefore any state or local entity that received 
     less than $30,000 in the federal fiscal year 2007 will 
     receive no moneys in the federal fiscal year 2008; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-sixth General Assembly 
     of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives 
     concurring herein: (1) That we, the members of the Colorado 
     General Assembly, urge Congress to restore funding for the 
     Edward Bryne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and 
     thereby continue the financial support that is critical to 
     enabling local law enforcement agencies to continue 
     protecting the lives and property of citizens in their 
     communities; and (2) That we urge Colorado's congressional 
     delegation to support funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial 
     Justice Assistance Grant Program through emergency 
     supplemental spending bill legislation. Be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Joint Memorial be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of 
     the United States Senate, the Majority Leader and the 
     Minority Leader of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and the members of Colorado's Congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-439. A joint resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     State of Colorado concerning endorsement of the federal 
     ``Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007''; to 
     the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                     Senate Joint Resolution 08-015

       Whereas men and women serving in the United States Armed 
     Forces put their lives on hold in order to serve and protect 
     our country and, as such, deserve a tangible expression of 
     our gratitude; and
       Whereas the federal ``Post 9/11 Veterans Educational 
     Assistance Act of 2007'' seeks to expand the list of 
     educational benefits offered to United States military 
     service men and women who have served in the Armed Forces 
     since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and
       Whereas the proposed legislation amends the GI Bill that 
     was passed in the 1940s after World War II to help Veterans 
     readjust to civilian life and to enable them to pursue 
     education and training upon their return from military 
     service; and
       Whereas occupational instability is only one of several 
     postwar readjustment problems with which veterans have 
     struggled since their military service, as reported by the 
     National Vietnam Veterans' Readjustment Study; and
       Whereas it is of paramount importance that the federal 
     government extend provisions of educational assistance to 
     military personnel serving in the post-9/11 era to help 
     offset the postwar readjustment problems endured by so many 
     veterans to this day; and
       Whereas several military and veterans groups, such as the 
     Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United 
     States (EANGUS), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the 
     Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and the Air Force 
     Sergeants Association (AFSA), have voiced support for the 
     proposed legislation; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-sixth General Assembly 
     of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives 
     concurring herein:  (1) That we, the members of the Colorado 
     General Assembly, support the federal ``Post 9/11 Veterans 
     Educational Assistance Act of 2007''; and (2) That we 
     encourage members of Congress to adopt this legislation in 
     order to enable our country's military service men and women 
     to pursue their educational goals so they can further enrich 
     lives. Be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to 
     Colorado's Congressional delegation, each member of the 
     United States Senate, the United Veterans Committee of 
     Colorado, and Jim Webb, United States Senator for Virginia.
                                  ____

       POM-440. A resolution adopted by the California State Lands 
     Commission relative to supporting the enactment by Congress 
     of the Ocean Conservation, Education, and National Strategy 
     for the 21st Century Act (HR 21); to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
       POM-441. A collection of petitions forwarded by the Benefit 
     Security Coalition relative to establishing a more equitable 
     method of computing cost of living adjustments for Social 
     Security benefits; to the Committee on Finance.

[[Page S10069]]

       POM-442. A collection of petitions from a Polish-American 
     organization relative to concerns regarding Social Security 
     benefits and the Windfall Elimination Provision; to the 
     Committee on Finance.
       POM-443. A report from the United Nations World Tourism 
     Organization entitled ``Destination Management and Marketing: 
     Two Strategic Tools to Ensure Quality Tourism''; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-444. A communication from the Latvian Saeima 
     (Parliament) relative to the Republic of Latvia's 
     independence day; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-445. A communication from the Parliamentary Assembly of 
     the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 
     relative to the Astana Declaration and adopted resolutions; 
     to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-446. A resolution from the Mayor and City Council of 
     the City of North Miami Beach relative to granting temporary 
     protective status to Haitians in the United States; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-447. A letter from a private citizen relative to Native 
     Americans and the healthcare system; to the Committee on 
     Indian Affairs.

                          ____________________