[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 48 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3549-S3550]
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-11. A resolution approved by the Westchester County, 
     New York Board of Legislators urging Congress to establish a 
     National Clean and Safe Water Trust fund to provide regular 
     infrastructure funding; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                           Resolution No. 11

       Whereas, many of our nation's water pipes and sewers were 
     installed in the early part of the 20th century, some as far 
     back as the Civil War; and
       Whereas, as water systems age and population grows, more 
     and more leaks develop and sewage overflows into our streams, 
     rivers, lakes and ocean, creating serious public health 
     hazards; and
       Whereas, many communities do not even have sanitary sewer 
     systems and are forced to rely on failing individual septic 
     systems; and
       Whereas, public health agencies issued more than 20,000 
     warnings against swimming at beaches on U.S. coasts in 2005, 
     and a majority of beach closings are due to sewage overflows 
     and malfunctioning sewage plants; and
       Whereas, the Environmental Protection Agency's 2000 
     Progress in Water Quality Report finds that America could 
     experience stream impairments that predate achievement of 
     secondary treatment standards by 2016 if improvements are not 
     made; and
       Whereas, the Water Infrastructure Network, the 
     Environmental Protection Agency, and other government 
     agencies report that the cost of presently known wastewater 
     infrastructure construction needs total between $300 billion 
     and $450 billion; and
       Whereas, the federal government has cut the main source of 
     funding for clean water year after year; and
       Whereas, the National Research Council recently warned that 
     more water-borne disease outbreaks will occur if substantial 
     investments are not made to improve our water pipes and 
     systems; and
       Whereas, the President has called for a comprehensive 
     economic recovery package to assist state and local 
     governments in meeting infrastructure needs while stimulating 
     the economy and creating jobs; and
       Whereas, there are federal trust funds for other major 
     national investment needs like highways and airports, yet the 
     federal government has yet to establish a trust fund to 
     protect something all people need to survive: water; Now 
     therefore be it.
       Resolved, That the Westchester County Board of Legislators, 
     requests that the incoming Administration prioritize funding 
     for water filtration and distribution and wastewater and 
     stormwater infrastructure in any economic stimulus package; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Westchester County Board of Legislators, 
     urges Congress to establish a National Clean and Safe Water 
     Trust Fund to provide regular infrastructure funding; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the Clerk of the Board forward a copy of 
     this Resolution to President Barack Obama, Vice President 
     Joseph Biden, New York State Governor David Paterson, United 
     States Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, 
     and United States Representatives Eliot Engel, Nita Lowey, 
     and John Hall, so that the intent of this Honorable Board be 
     widely known.
                                  ____

       POM-l2. A resolution adopted by the City of Pembroke Pines, 
     Florida supporting the passage and adoption of an amendment 
     to the Federal regulations allowing for the issuance of tax-
     exempt bonds to help cities fund their pension obligations; 
     to the Committee on Finance.

                          Resolution No. 3214

       Whereas, in recent years the City of Pembroke Pines, 
     Florida (hereinafter referred to as the ``City'') has issued 
     bonds to help fund its pension obligations; and
       Whereas, under the current federal regulatory scheme, such 
     bonds are taxable, which results in a higher cost to the City 
     than if they were tax exempt; and
       Whereas, the City incurs an additional cost of 
     approximately twenty-five percent (25%) as a result of 
     issuing taxable bonds rather than tax-exempt bonds; and
       Whereas, allowing for a tax-exemption for the issuance of 
     bonds to fund its pension obligations will result in 
     significant savings to the City, and its taxpayers, 
     particularly at a time when the financial stability of cities 
     and counties throughout the State of Florida, as well as the 
     U.S. economy as a whole, is in a period of uncertainty; and
       Whereas, the City Commission deems it to be in the best 
     interests of the citizens and residents of the City to 
     support an amendment to the federal regulations, as well as 
     any other regulations on the State level, allowing for the 
     issuance of tax-exempt bonds to help cities fund their 
     pension obligations. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the City Commission of the city of Pembroke 
     Pines, Florida, That:
       Section 1. The foregoing ``Whereas'' clauses are hereby 
     ratified and confirmed as being true and correct and are 
     hereby made a specific part of this Resolution.
       Section 2. The City Commission of the City of Pembroke 
     Pines, Florida hereby supports an amendment to the federal 
     regulations allowing for the issuance of tax-exempt bonds to 
     help cities fund their pension obligations.
       Section 3. All resolutions or parts of resolutions on in 
     conflict herewith be, and the same are hereby repealed to the 
     extent of such conflict.
       Section 4. If any clause, section, other part or 
     application of this Resolution is held by any court of 
     competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, in 
     part or application, it shall not affect the validity of the 
     remaining portions or applications of this Resolution.
       Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective 
     immediately upon its passage and adoption.

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