[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 10, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6444-S6452]
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-27. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah urging the opposition of federal 
     legislation that would interfere with a state's authority to 
     direct the transport or processing of horses; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                      House Joint Resolution No. 7

       Whereas, the processing of horses has become a 
     controversial and emotional issue and has resulted in the 
     closing of all horse processing facilities throughout the 
     United States;
       Whereas, federal legislation has been introduced to amend 
     the 1970 Horse Protection Act that would prohibit the 
     shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, 
     possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and 
     other equines for processing and other purposes;
       Whereas, the loss of secondary markets has severely 
     impacted the livestock industry by eliminating the salvage 
     value of horses and has significantly reduced the market 
     value of all horses;
       Whereas, prohibitions regarding the processing of horses 
     have resulted in significant increases in abandoned and 
     starving animals and have had significant economic impact on 
     the entire equine industry;
       Whereas, the increase in unwanted or unusable horses has 
     overwhelmed private animal welfare agencies and the public's 
     ability to care for surplus domestic horses;
       Whereas, the annual number of unwanted or unusable surplus 
     domestic horses in the United States is currently estimated 
     at 100,000 and continues to increase;
       Whereas, issues related to the humane handling and 
     slaughter of surplus domestic horses are best addressed by 
     proper regulations and inspection and not by banning or 
     exporting the issues; and
       Whereas, state agriculture and rural leaders recognize the 
     necessity and benefit of a state's ability to direct the 
     transport and processing of horses: Now, Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah urges 
     the United States Congress to oppose federal legislation that 
     interferes with a state's ability to direct the transport or 
     processing of horses; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, and to the members of Utah's 
     Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-28. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah urging the National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association to abandon the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) 
     structure in favor of a college football playoff system; to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 11

       Whereas, the University of Utah football team finished the 
     2008 football season as the only undefeated football team in 
     Division I-A, with a perfect 13-0 record;
       Whereas, the University of Utah football team capped a 
     season-long string of victories at the Sugar Bowl with an 
     impressive 31-17 win over the University of Alabama, which 
     held the number one ranking in the nation for five weeks;
       Whereas, during the regular season, the Mountain West 
     Conference had three teams in the Top 25 and had a 6-1 record 
     against Pac-10 teams;
       Whereas. in the 2008 season, the University of Utah 
     football team defeated six bowl teams ranked in the Top 25, 
     and won seven games away from home;
       Whereas, as the matter currently stands, the University 
     could go undefeated indefinitely and still not compete for a 
     national title;
       Whereas, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) began in 1998 
     with the intent of crowning a definite national champion;
       Whereas, the BCS relies on a combination of polls and 
     computer rankings to determine which teams play in the BCS 
     national championship game and help set the line-ups for the 
     most prestigious bowl games.
       Whereas, although the BCS may be an improvement over past 
     championship determinations, the system is still widely 
     acknowledged as falling short of its goal of establishing a 
     definitive college football champion;
       Whereas, many experts have candidly criticized the flaws in 
     the BCS system and often use the 2008 University of Utah 
     football team as the strongest argument for the failings of 
     the system; and
       Whereas, a national playoff is the only way to be certain 
     that the team crowned as national champion has earned the 
     designation on the gridiron: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of Utah 
     strongly urges the National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     to abandon the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) structure for 
     determining the Division I-A national football champion in 
     favor of a playoff system so that all can be assured that the 
     best college football team is the one crowned as national 
     champion; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association, the BCS, the 
     University of Utah football team, to the members of Utah's 
     congressional delegation, and to President Barack Obama.
                                  ____

       POM-29. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah expressing support for the current 
     Bureau of Land Management resource management plans and the 
     process used to complete the plans; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 8

       Whereas, because the nation's dependence on foreign sources 
     of energy leaves the economy vulnerable, serious effort must 
     be devoted to decrease the nation's dependency on foreign 
     energy sources;
       Whereas, oil and natural gas form an essential bridge to 
     attaining a future of energy independence sustained by 
     alternative and renewable energy sources;
       Whereas, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Act) 
     mandates that the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
     manage public lands for multiple uses such as outdoor 
     recreation, livestock grazing, energy exploration and 
     production, conservation, and timber production;
       Whereas, the Act establishes that the BLM sustain the 
     health, diversity, and, productivity of public lands for the 
     use and enjoyment of present and future generations;
       Whereas, in making decisions about land use, the Act 
     requires the BLM to develop resource management plans and 
     update them periodically;
       Whereas, these important land use management decision 
     documents require public input and participation;
       Whereas, managing the nation's cherished public lands for 
     multiple uses is a constant challenge;
       Whereas, citizens expect the BLM to provide responsible 
     energy and minerals development, recreational opportunities, 
     appropriate access, and healthy landscapes, while still 
     providing an adequate level of resource protection to ensure 
     that future generations will continue to benefit from and 
     enjoy these areas;
       Whereas, the resource management plan process, developed by 
     the BLM to accomplish these goals, is thorough, deliberative 
     and very public;
       Whereas, resource management plans provide administrative 
     protections to some lands, including major constraints such 
     as no surface occupancy and disturbance timing stipulations;
       Whereas, extensive state and community input is invited and 
     submitted both in writing and through the public hearing 
     process;
       Whereas, resource management plans for the Moab, Richfield, 
     Price, Vernal, Monticello, and Kanab Field Offices recently 
     went into effect after approximately eight years of 
     development and review;
       Whereas, hundreds of thousands of public comments were 
     considered during the Enrolled Copy planning process;
       Whereas, new environmental restrictions included in the 
     resource management plans provide multiple layers of 
     safeguards to prevent environmental damage to sensitive 
     natural resources;
       Whereas, the proposed plans envision maintaining areas open 
     to oil and gas leasing, but also institute protective 
     measures during development like timing limitations, best 
     management practices, and advanced technology to minimize the 
     footprint of developing important resources;
       Whereas, there was no cutting of corners or abridgment of 
     processes in preparing the resource management plans;
       Whereas, due to the strong feelings regarding the use of 
     public lands, every private group and government entity 
     involved in the process would like to see some changes in the 
     outcome, but all groups were heard and their concerns given 
     thoughtful and careful consideration;
       Whereas, the state of Utah and Uintah, Duchesne, Grand, 
     Emery, San Juan, Sevier, Garfield, Kane, Wayne, Piute, and 
     Carbon Counties were cooperating agencies in the BLM's 
     development of the current resource management plans and have 
     interests in preserving the plans;
       Whereas, upon approval of these management plans, the BLM 
     offered for lease parcels of land which had been set aside 
     for several years pending completion of the resource 
     management plans;
       Whereas, leases do not convey an unlimited right to explore 
     or an unlimited right to develop oil and gas resources, but 
     are subject to terms designed to minimize and mitigate the 
     impacts of development;
       Whereas, in addition to proposing an accommodation for the 
     nation's pressing need for energy development, the plans also 
     propose protecting public lands within the six planning areas 
     where there are sensitive natural resources, making these 
     lands off limits to surface disturbing activities and 
     unavailable to oil and gas leasing;
       Whereas, this type of protection would extend to almost one 
     million acres of public land in addition to nearly two 
     million acres of existing wilderness study areas;
       Whereas, a lawsuit has been filed challenging the legality 
     of the BLM's December 19, 2008, sale of oil and gas leases;
       Whereas, the state has been granted permission by the Court 
     to defend its interests in the lawsuit by participating as an 
     intervenor;

[[Page S6445]]

       Whereas, on February 4, 2008, the United States Department 
     of the Interior rejected the bids offered on 77 of the oil 
     and gas leases presented at the December lease sale; and
       Whereas, the lawsuit and the oil and gas lease rejections 
     strike at the heart of a careful, deliberative, lengthy 
     public process to develop resource management plans that 
     would benefit Utahns and the citizens of the United States: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, express strong support for the 
     Federal Bureau of Land Management's resource management plans 
     developed for the Moab, Richfield, Price, Vernal, Monticello, 
     and Kanab, Utah Field Offices, and most particularly for the 
     lengthy, thoughtful, and public process used to develop the 
     plans; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor oppose 
     current actions taken that may contest and delay 
     implementation of the resource management plans; be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor request 
     that the Department of the Interior expedite a review of the 
     77 bid-rejected parcels to determine which may be offered for 
     leasing in the near future; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     United States Department of the Interior, the Federal Bureau 
     of Land Management and its Utah office, the Southern Utah 
     Wilderness Alliance, the Uintah, Duchesne, Grand, Emery, San 
     Juan Sevier, Garfield, Kane, Wayne, Piute, and Carbon County 
     Commissions, the Moab, Richfield, Price, Vernal, Monticello, 
     and Kanab City Councils, the Utah Public Lands Policy 
     Coordination Office, and to the members of Utah's 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-30. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah supporting the establishment of an 
     Alternative Energy Training Center in Beaver County, Utah; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 10

       Whereas, the United States relies heavily on foreign 
     sources of energy;
       Whereas, to sustain economic growth in the state and 
     throughout the nation, it will be necessary to invest 
     resources in all forms of power generation, including 
     traditional sources such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear as 
     well as renewable resources such as geothermal, wind, and 
     solar;
       Whereas, the Utah Renewable Energy Zones Task Force Phase I 
     Report indicates that theoretical potential resources within 
     Utah include 16,500 fifty megawatt solar renewable energy 
     zones, 51 wind renewable energy zones with a combined 
     generating capacity of approximately 9,145 megawatts, and a 
     total of 2,166 megawatts of geothermal development potential, 
     the bulk of which is located in rural Utah;
       Whereas, with the Blundell Geothermal Plant, the newly 
     commissioned Thermo Hot Springs Plant, and the more than 200 
     megawatt First Wind Project which is currently being 
     developed, Beaver County has either under construction or in 
     production close to 300 megawatts of renewable resource 
     generating capacity, and many of the state's most significant 
     undeveloped resources converge in Beaver County;
       Whereas, as renewable generation becomes more widespread in 
     the region, there will be a need to provide training 
     opportunities to people working in that industry;
       Whereas, the Milford High School Technology Department has 
     played a key role in attracting investment in renewable 
     energy generation to the Southwest region of the state and 
     has led the way in preparing young people for promising 
     careers in that industry;
       Whereas, the Southwest Applied Technology College in Cedar 
     City is offering classes related to renewable energy in 
     Milford;
       Whereas, Milford is an ideal site for a certified renewable 
     energy training center because it has a core of leaders who 
     are willing to make the region the center of renewable energy 
     generation in the state and are prepared to meet any energy 
     goal the state sets;
       Whereas, as resource development expands, production of the 
     components of solar generation, wind turbines, and similar 
     equipment also provides opportunities for new and expanded 
     manufacturing businesses in rural Utah where economic 
     development is desperately needed and will increase the need 
     for trained workers;
       Whereas, the construction of utility scale renewable energy 
     projects provides unprecedented economic development 
     opportunities for counties lacking traditional energy 
     producing resources; and
       Whereas, providing a training center in Utah for renewable 
     energy resource technologies and jobs will enable Utahns to 
     better compete for these new energy resource jobs: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     expresses its support for the development and certification 
     of an Alternative Energy Training Center in Beaver County; be 
     it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Beaver County Commission, the Milford High School Technology 
     Department, Utah's Energy Advisor, the State Energy Program, 
     the Southwest Applied Technology College, Rocky Mountain 
     Power, First Wind, Raser Technologies, and to the members of 
     Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-31. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah supporting new nuclear power development in 
     Utah; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 16

       Whereas, Utah and the surrounding western states have 
     experienced increased new electricity demands and have 
     forecasted continued increases over the next several decades;
       Whereas, Utah requires affordable and abundant energy for 
     homes and businesses to maintain and grow its economy;
       Whereas, Utah and the surrounding areas will likely suffer 
     significant financial difficulties without new reliable and 
     affordable electric generating resources being built, adding 
     to and prolonging the depressed economy;
       Whereas, Utah enjoys and continues to rely on cost 
     effective coal fired power plants for 85% of its electric 
     generation;
       Whereas, Utah's ability to build any new significant coal 
     fired power plants is limited;
       Whereas, new emission controls, carbon capture technology, 
     carbon sequestration, and advance coal combustion 
     technologies should be encouraged, but are not projected to 
     be commercially feasible and cost effective for at least 25 
     years;
       Whereas, new natural gas electric generation could increase 
     the volatility of retail electric prices and retail natural 
     gas prices;
       Whereas, hydro power resources are constrained and not 
     expected to expand in capacity;
       Whereas, nationwide nuclear power provides low cost, long 
     term, stable retail and wholesale pricing for customers;
       Whereas, the United States Congress and the United States 
     Nuclear Regulatory Commission worked together to improve the 
     old process for licensing new nuclear power plants;
       Whereas, the new nuclear power plant licensing process 
     presently includes a ``one step'' Combined Operating License 
     (COL) procedure, which combines construction and operating 
     license applications and reviews into a single process;
       Whereas, the new licensing process is more efficient, 
     predictable, and reliable;
       Whereas, three Early Site Permits for new nuclear plants, 
     one of the new licensing processes now in place, have been 
     issued with little or no delays from adjudication;
       Whereas, the estimated time frame to complete a new nuclear 
     COL is five years;
       Whereas, the development of nuclear power plants will 
     provide significant economic benefits to the local, regional, 
     and state populations in the form of many high paying jobs 
     and additional tax revenues;
       Whereas, the construction of a new nuclear facility would 
     inject billion of dollars into Utah's economy in the form of 
     3,500 construction jobs during a two unit construction period 
     spanning up to seven years;
       Whereas, one proposed site in Utah would contribute over $2 
     million in 2009 to the State Institutional Trust Lands Fund;
       Whereas, operations of two new generation units would 
     provide approximately 800 jobs for highly skilled workers 
     over the plant's 60 year projected lifetime;
       Whereas, the needed regulatory and legal framework to 
     deploy safe, secure, and cost competitive nuclear power in 
     Utah is in place;
       Whereas, Utah already has a nuclear reactor at the 
     University of Utah;
       Whereas, the University of Utah Training Research and 
     Isotope Production, General Atomics research reactor in Salt 
     Lake City has been operating safely since 1975;
       Whereas, the United States' nuclear industry has 
     accumulated almost 3,400 reactor years of operation since the 
     first plant started up in 1957 without serious injury or 
     death to a single member of the public;
       Whereas, the current practice of storing spent fuel in wet 
     or dry storage containers at a nuclear power plant has been 
     proven safe since commercial nuclear power began in 1957;
       Whereas, 95% of the energy from a nuclear reactor's spent 
     fuel has significant value and can be reprocessed or recycled 
     for use as fuel in the future when this option is 
     commercialized in the United States;
       Whereas, spent fuel from a nuclear reactor is valuable;
       Whereas, France, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and 
     Germany currently recycle or reprocess spent fuel 
     successfully; and
       Whereas, there is no scientific or safety rationale 
     requiring the near term movement of spent fuel from the power 
     plants where it is generated, and fuel can be safely and 
     securely stored on site for up to 100 years without 
     environmental impacts:, Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah urges 
     that new nuclear power development be pursued within the 
     boundaries of the state; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges that commercial 
     development of new nuclear power be pursued in the state due 
     to its beneficial impact on the economy, fuel 
     diversification, and the environment, and its impressive 
     operational safety and security record, in particular the 
     fact that no member of the public has been seriously injured 
     by operation of the 104 nuclear power plants currently 
     operating in the United States; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature declares that nuclear power 
     has been shown to be a

[[Page S6446]]

     viable cost effective option, that current rate payer 
     protection laws and regulations are sufficient, and that no 
     new legislation or special action is needed for the Public 
     Service Commission to recognize nuclear power as a prudent 
     investment; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes that no 
     appropriations are needed for special committees or programs 
     to determine whether a nuclear power plant can be built in 
     Utah because the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
     will review and adjudicate the licensing, as needed, and 
     nuclear developers will pay for those costs; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature encourages investor-owned 
     and municipally owned utilities and power marketers and 
     traders to consider participating in a nuclear power project 
     in Utah; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes commercial 
     nuclear power plants as market-based, commercially 
     competitive enterprises due to their safety and security 
     record, the science and performance data, and the economic 
     performance of the present power plants; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the United States Secretary of Energy, 
     Governor Huntsman, and to the members of Utah's congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-32. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Utah urging Congress and the 
     Bureau of Reclamation to support development of the Narrows 
     Water Project in Central Utah; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
       Whereas, water is fundamental to the economic base of 
     Central Utah communities, and reliable water storage is 
     necessary for both agricultural and municipal development;
       Whereas, agricultural and municipal interests in Central 
     Utah, including Sanpete County, suffer substantial economic 
     hardship because of the lack of water storage facilities;
       Whereas, in the early 1900s, local, state, and federal 
     government officials acknowledged the need for water storage 
     in Sanpete County and began efforts to develop the Narrows 
     Water Project;
       Whereas, reliable studies by multiple expert water 
     engineering firms have determined the Narrows Water Project 
     to be the least expensive, most cost-effective, and most 
     environmentally sound means of storing water for Sanpete 
     County;
       Whereas, various studies, including a recent independent 
     study by Utah State University, show Sanpete County to be 
     among Utah's most effective users of modern conservation 
     methods to conserve the water that is presently available to 
     the county;
       Whereas, the Bureau of Reclamation recognized the need for 
     water storage in Sanpete County, and as early as the 1930s 
     proposed a plan that would provide water storage for both 
     Sanpete and Carbon Counties;
       Whereas, the component of the Bureau of Reclamation's plan 
     that would provide water storage for Sanpete County was never 
     implemented, initially due to a disruption caused by World 
     War II, and more recently by various questions regarding 
     ownership of the water;
       Whereas, numerous judicial decisions have now clearly 
     established and defined the water rights involved in the 
     Narrows Water Project;
       Whereas, legal agreements between Sanpete County, Carbon 
     County, the state of Utah, and various federal entities have 
     recognized Carbon and Sanpete Counties' water rights from 
     Gooseberry Creek; and
       Whereas, the residents of Sanpete County, at great 
     financial sacrifice, have waited for almost a century for the 
     Narrows Water Project water storage facility that was 
     promised to them: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the state of Utah expresses 
     support for the Narrows Water Project in Central Utah; be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Senate urges Congress and the United 
     States Bureau of Reclamation to support the development of 
     the Narrows Water Project in Central Utah; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Bureau of Reclamation and to Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-33. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah supporting producing hydrogen from coal 
     with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 12

       Whereas, coal is one of Utah's most abundant resources and 
     contributes substantially to Utah's economy;
       Whereas, coal is an affordable base load fuel providing 
     reliable electric power;
       Whereas, demonstration of advanced coal technology for 
     power generation can accelerate the development of the 
     hydrogen energy economy in Utah;
       Whereas, producing hydrogen from coal with carbon capture 
     and sequestration (CCS) for newly permitted developments is 
     one possible technology, among many, that has the potential 
     to reduce carbon emissions and help protect and grow Utah's 
     economy while continuing a strong commitment to a clean 
     environment;
       Whereas, advanced hydrogen from coal technology and CCS 
     technology as proposed for potential next generation power 
     plants in Utah would produce fewer carbon emissions than 
     conventionally fueled power plants;
       Whereas, the new advanced coal technology gasifies coal to 
     produce a mixture of carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and other 
     gases;
       Whereas, the clean burning hydrogen can be used to fuel a 
     power plant and the carbon dioxide can be captured and stored 
     using geologic sequestration technology;
       Whereas, CCS technology provides for the removal of carbon 
     dioxide from fuel gases, reducing emission into the 
     atmosphere;
       Whereas, CCS technology will be crucial to reducing 
     emission of carbon dioxide from newly permitted power plants 
     specifically designed to use CCS technology while still 
     meeting growing energy demand in a responsible manner with 
     domestic fuel;
       Whereas, CCS technology can be important to maintain Utah's 
     position as a leader in energy technology and production;
       Whereas, CCS technology will enable Utah to use its 
     abundant coal resources while still meeting potential new 
     regulations limiting carbon emissions and protecting and 
     creating high-paying jobs in Utah;
       Whereas, Utah's geological characteristics support 
     sequestration technology;
       Whereas, Utah is uniquely positioned to potentially lead 
     and benefit from hydrogen production from coal and CCS 
     technology;
       Whereas, Utah's support of producing hydrogen from coal and 
     CCS technology could place Utah businesses at the forefront 
     of the new hydrogen and carbon economies;
       Whereas, the state welcomes the potential jobs, tax base, 
     economic enhancements and leadership position that could come 
     with supporting advanced coal technology with CCS;
       Whereas, the Public Service Commission should consider 
     authorizing the recovery of cost-effective and prudently 
     incurred costs that reduce carbon emissions;
       Whereas, the Public Service Commission should consider 
     hydrogen production from coal and CCS technology to be a 
     reasonable investment for protecting the long-term interests 
     of Utah's utility rate payers;
       Whereas, the Legislature supports approving cost recovery 
     of cost-effective and prudent investment in these 
     technologies as determined by the Public Service Commission; 
     and
       Whereas, the Legislature supports resolving liability 
     issues stemming from future adverse effects of sequestered 
     carbon and believes the federal government is in the best 
     position to provide a comprehensive liability solution: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     expresses support for producing hydrogen production from coal 
     with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology as a 
     means of strengthening Utah's economy and helping Utah to 
     stand at the forefront of energy production; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Public Service 
     Commission to consider authorizing recovery of cost-effective 
     and prudently incurred costs that reduce carbon emissions and 
     increase Utah's and the nation's energy security; be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature recommends that the Public 
     Service Commission consider hydrogen production from coal and 
     CCS technology to be a reasonable investment for protecting 
     the long-term interests of Utah's utility rate payers; be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature supports approving cost 
     recovery of cost-effective and prudent investment in these 
     technologies as determined by the Public Service Commission; 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature supports balanced 
     consideration and research to explore all technologies that 
     will continue to maximize future use and availability of coal 
     and gas in an environmentally sound manner; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to Utah's 
     Energy Advisor, the State Energy Program, the Public Service 
     Commission, and to the members of Utah's congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-34. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Utah urging Congress and the 
     Bureau of Reclamation to support development of the Narrows 
     Water Project in Central Utah; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                         House Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, water is fundamental to the economic base of 
     Central Utah communities and reliable water storage is 
     necessary for both agricultural and municipal development;
       Whereas, agricultural and municipal interests in Central 
     Utah, including Sanpete County, suffer substantial economic 
     hardship because of the lack of water storage facilities;
       Whereas, in the early 1900s, local, state, and federal 
     government officials acknowledged the need for water storage 
     in Sanpete County and began efforts to develop the Narrows 
     Water Project;
       Whereas, reliable studies by multiple expert water 
     engineering firms have determined the Narrows Water Project 
     to be the least expensive, most cost effective, and most 
     environmentally sound means of storing water for Sanpete 
     County;
       Whereas, various studies, including a recent independent 
     study by Utah State University, show Sanpete County to be 
     among Utah's most effective users of modern conservation 
     methods to conserve the water that is presently available to 
     the county;

[[Page S6447]]

       Whereas, the Bureau of Reclamation recognized the need for 
     water storage in Sanpete County, and as early as the 1930s 
     proposed a plan that would provide water storage for both 
     Sanpete and Carbon Counties;
       Whereas, the component of the Bureau of Reclamation's plan 
     that would provide water storage for Sanpete County was never 
     implemented, initially due to a disruption caused by World 
     War II, and more recently by various questions regarding 
     ownership of the water;
       Whereas, numerous judicial decisions have now clearly 
     established and defined water rights involved in the Narrows 
     Water Project;
       Whereas, legal agreements between Sanpete County, Carbon 
     County, the state of Utah, and various federal entities have 
     recognized Carbon and Sanpete County's water rights from 
     Gooseberry Creek; and
       Whereas, the residents of Sanpete County, at great 
     financial sacrifice, have waited for almost a century for the 
     Narrows Water Project water storage facility that was 
     promised to them: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the state of 
     Utah expresses support for the Narrows Water Project in 
     Central Utah; be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges Congress 
     and the United States Bureau of Reclamation to support the 
     development of the Narrows Water Project in Central Utah; be 
     it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Bureau of Reclamation and to Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-35. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah urging Congress to preserve the exemption 
     for hydraulic fracturing in the Safe Drinking Water Act and 
     to refrain from passing legislation that would remove the 
     hydraulic fracturing exemption; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 17

       Whereas, the United States Congress passed the Safe 
     Drinking Water Act (Act) to assure the protection of the 
     nation's drinking water sources;
       Whereas, since the enactment of the Act, the Environmental 
     Protection Agency (EPA) has never interpreted hydraulic 
     fracturing as constituting ``underground injection'' within 
     the Act;
       Whereas, in 2004, the EPA published a final report 
     summarizing a study to evaluate the potential threat to 
     underground sources of drinking water from hydraulic 
     fracturing of coal bed methane production wells and the EPA 
     concluded that ``additional or further study is not warranted 
     at this time . . .'' and ``that the injection of hydraulic 
     fracturing fluids into coal bed methane wells poses minimal 
     threat'' to underground sources of drinking water;
       Whereas, in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the United 
     States Congress explicitly exempted hydraulic fracturing from 
     the provisions of the Act;
       Whereas, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission 
     (IOGCC) conducted a survey of oil and gas producing states 
     which found that there were no known cases of groundwater 
     contamination associated with hydraulic fracturing;
       Whereas, hydraulic fracturing is currently, and has been 
     for decades, a common operation used in exploration and 
     production by the oil and gas industry in all the member 
     states of the IOGCC without groundwater damage;
       Whereas, approximately 35,000 wells are hydraulically 
     fractured in the United States annually, and close to 
     1,000,000 wells have been hydraulically fractured in the 
     United States since the technique's inception, with no known 
     harm to groundwater;
       Whereas, the regulation of oil and gas exploration and 
     production activities, including hydraulic fracturing, has 
     traditionally been the province of the states;
       Whereas, the Act was never intended to grant to the federal 
     government authority to regulate oil and gas drilling and 
     production operations, such as ``hydraulic fracturing,'' 
     under the Underground Injection Control program;
       Whereas, the member states of the IOGCC have adopted 
     comprehensive laws and regulations to provide safe operations 
     and to protect the nation's drinking water sources, and have 
     trained personnel to effectively regulate oil and gas 
     exploration and production;
       Whereas, production of coal seam natural gas, natural gas 
     from shale formations, and natural gas from tight 
     conventional reservoirs is increasingly important to our 
     domestic natural gas supply and will be even more important 
     in the future;
       Whereas, domestic production of natural gas will ensure 
     that the United States continues on the path to energy 
     independence;
       Whereas, hydraulic fracturing plays a major role in the 
     development of virtually all unconventional oil and gas 
     resources and, in the absence of any evidence that such 
     fracturing has damaged the environment, should not be 
     limited;
       Whereas, regulation of hydraulic fracturing as underground 
     injection under the Act would impose significant 
     administrative costs on the state and substantially increase 
     the cost of drilling oil and gas wells with no resulting 
     environmental benefits; and
       Whereas, regulation of hydraulic fracturing as underground 
     injection under the Act would increase energy costs to the 
     consumer: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     expresses support for maintaining the exemption of hydraulic 
     fracturing in the Safe Drinking Water Act and urges the 
     United States Congress to refrain from passing legislation 
     that would remove the exemption for hydraulic fracturing; be 
     it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, and to the members of Utah's 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-36. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah urging the Environmental Protection 
     Agency to address the problems associated with its 
     configuration of nonattainment areas relating to Utah; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 5

       Whereas, on December 23, 2008, the U.S. Environmental 
     Protection Agency (EPA) published county nonattainment 
     designations for the federal air quality standard (NAAQS) for 
     the fine particulate known as PM2.5;
       Whereas, the EPA designated a total of three PM2.5 
     nonattainment areas within the state;
       Whereas, the first area is Utah County; the second area is 
     Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber Counties and portions of Box 
     Elder and Tooele Counties; and the third area is Cache County 
     and Franklin County, Idaho;
       Whereas, designating areas two and three as nonattainment 
     areas is contrary to the designations originally recommended 
     by the state;
       Whereas, the state has made a strong commitment to 
     conservation and protection of the environment, and Utahns 
     place a high value on the state's natural resources, 
     including clean air;
       Whereas, the state is also growing both in terms of 
     population and businesses that offer jobs to local residents;
       Whereas, Utahns are concerned not only with being good 
     stewards of their natural environment, but also fostering 
     strong economic development;
       Whereas, the state recommendation for designation for 
     certain counties as nonattainment for PM2.5 will lead to an 
     accurate, timely, and fair resolution of PM2.5 nonattainment 
     issues;
       Whereas, the result may create a misperception that Utah 
     has a bigger and more wide-spread air quality problem than is 
     actually true;
       Whereas, the current nonattainment area designations made 
     by the EPA have created several problems that must be 
     rectified as soon as possible;
       Whereas, one of the PM2.5 nonattainment areas designated by 
     the EPA includes all or a portion of five counties, and these 
     overly broad designations should be pared back;
       Whereas, the EPA should not designate areas as 
     nonattainment until it has actual monitoring data justifying 
     such a designation;
       Whereas, in the case of Box Elder and Tooele Counties, it 
     is clear that the designations include areas that have 
     pristine air quality and do not exceed the NAAQS;
       Whereas, for example, the portion of Tooele County 
     designated ``nonattainment'' by the EPA includes the Deseret 
     Peak Wilderness Area within the Stansbury Mountain Range;
       Whereas, air quality in this wilderness area is widely 
     known to be excellent, particularly in and around the 
     pristine areas of the 11,000 foot Deseret Peak;
       Whereas, there is no reason for the EPA to create a 
     nonattainment area in a national wilderness area;
       Whereas, one of the PM2.5 nonattainment areas designated by 
     the EPA includes both Cache County in Utah and Franklin 
     County in Idaho, creating a single nonattainment area with 
     jurisdiction under agencies of two different states, and the 
     EPA further creates a nonattainment area under the 
     jurisdiction of two different EPA regions, Region 8 and 
     Region 10; and
       Whereas, interstate designations should be eliminated and 
     the EPA should either divide the designation into two 
     nonattainment areas or agree that Cache County can be 
     redesignated attainment for PM2.5 on its own, with oversight 
     solely by EPA Region 8, if monitoring data shows that the 
     NAAQS has not been exceeded: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, urge the EPA to adopt the 
     recommendation for PM2.5 designation as proposed by the state 
     of Utah; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     United States Environmental Protection Agency, the members of 
     Utah's congressional delegation, and to the Utah Department 
     of Environmental Quality.
                                  ____

       POM-37. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah expressing strong opposition to any 
     federal legislation that would expand the reach and scope of 
     the Clean Water Act; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 6

       Whereas, over the past 35 years, the federal Clean Water 
     Act, supported by other federal, state, and local laws, has 
     governed the nation's waters and has helped ensure that 
     Americans enjoy the cleanest rivers and lakes in the world;

[[Page S6448]]

       Whereas, this landmark statute, further explained and 
     clarified by subsequent Supreme Court cases, has struck a 
     proper balance between clean water and state, local, and 
     federal regulatory authority and responsibilities, while at 
     the same time recognizing and protecting state primacy over 
     water jurisdiction;
       Whereas, the proposed Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007, 
     H.R. 2421 and S. 1870, and similar legislation, attempts to 
     make extreme changes to the Clean Water Act and threatens to 
     destroy the careful inter-governmental balance that has been 
     the hallmark of the law throughout its long history;
       Whereas, the proposed federal legislation would change 
     federal jurisdiction over water by expanding the definition 
     from ``navigable'' to ``waters of the United States'' over 
     which federal jurisdiction extends;
       Whereas, that language change would allow federal reach to 
     explicitly include ``all interstate and intrastate waters and 
     their tributaries . . .'', essentially establishing under 
     federal law that all wet areas within a state, or areas that 
     have been wet at some time, would fall under federal 
     regulatory authority, including groundwater, ditches, pipes, 
     streets, gutters, desert features, and even pools and 
     puddles;
       Whereas, this legislation would give the United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States 
     Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) authority over ``all 
     interstate and intrastate waters,'' including non-navigable 
     waters, thereby granting to Congress authority far beyond the 
     original scope of the Clean Water Act;
       Whereas, this legislation patently exceeds Congress's 
     constitutional powers, as ``non-navigable'' waters are 
     unlikely to fall under the Commerce Clause, the principle-
     enumerated power upon which Congress has relied for passage 
     of environmental laws;
       Whereas, this legislation would dramatically expand the 
     reach of the federal bureaucracy, would fundamentally erode 
     the ability of state and local governments to manage their 
     own water resources, and would cause an avalanche of new 
     unfunded mandates to envelope state and local governments;
       Whereas, this legislation would essentially grant the EPA 
     and the Corps veto authority over local land use policies, 
     and would grant the EPA and the Corps authority to regulate 
     virtually all activities, private or public, that may affect 
     ``waters of the United States,'' regardless of whether the 
     activity is occurring in, or may impact, water at all;
       Whereas, this legislation would eliminate existing 
     regulatory limitations that allow common sense uses, 
     including prior converted cropland and waste treatment 
     systems, since the proposed definition does not include any 
     regulatory limitations;
       Whereas, this omission is particularly important because 
     the existing rules acknowledge two important limitations 
     covering prior converted cropland and waste treatment systems 
     designed to meet Clean Water Act requirements;
       Whereas, this legislation's expanded definition would 
     burden state and local governments administratively and 
     financially and would thrust unfunded mandates on state and 
     local governments by imposing significant new administrative 
     responsibilities upon them;
       Whereas, this legislation would require changes at the 
     state level by impacting comprehensive land use plans, 
     floodplain regulations, building and special codes, and 
     watershed and storm water plans;
       Whereas, local governments will also be impacted because 
     they are responsible for a number of public infrastructure 
     projects, including water supply, solid waste disposal, road 
     and drainage channel maintenance, storm water detention, 
     mosquito control, and construction projects; and
       Whereas, local government efforts to carry out maintenance 
     of government-owned buildings, including hospitals, schools, 
     and municipal offices, could also be adversely impacted: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, express its strong opposition to 
     any federal legislation that would expand the reach and scope 
     of the Clean Water Act, and express their commitment to the 
     goals and objectives of the original Act to keep our waters 
     clean; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor assert that 
     it is not in the nation's interest to regulate ditches, 
     culverts and pipes, desert washes, dry arroyos, farmland, and 
     treatment ponds as ``waters of the United States'' and 
     therefore subjecting these waters to all of the requirements 
     of federal regulation; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor call upon 
     Congress to preserve the traditional power of states over 
     land and water use and avoid unnecessary alterations to the 
     regulatory reach of the Clean Water Act amendments as 
     proposed in the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 and 
     similar federal legislation; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor express 
     their opposition to enacting the Clean Water Restoration Act 
     of 2007 as proposed, as being without merit or justification 
     based on 35 years of experience under the original Act as 
     modified by court decisions and practice; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, and to the 
     members of Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-38. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah supporting the withdrawal of the United 
     States' World Trade Organization commitments on gambling; to 
     the Committee on Finance.

                      House Joint Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute 
     Resolution Body found the United States to have made a 
     commitment under the General Agreement on Trade in Services 
     (GATS) in the category of ``Other Recreational Services'' 
     that covered gambling services;
       Whereas, the Appellate Body of the WTO acknowledged the 
     importance of ``public morals'' concerns in this WTO dispute 
     and the legitimacy of the United States ``public morals'' 
     defense in this case;
       Whereas, states have considerable authority to regulate and 
     prohibit various forms of gambling;
       Whereas, a number of states communicated with the Office of 
     the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to express 
     their concern about the WTO decision and its implications for 
     public morals and for state regulation of gambling;
       Whereas, the USTR took steps last year to rescind the 
     United States' commitment in ``Other Recreational Services,'' 
     consistent with the wishes of states as expressed through 
     letters and direct communications to USTR, as well as the 
     wishes of Congress as exemplified by the Unlawful Internet 
     Gambling Enforcement Act;
       Whereas, in withdrawing this commitment, the United States 
     had to offer compensatory adjustments in its overall schedule 
     of GATS commitments, providing market access opportunities to 
     United States' trading partners in other sectors;
       Whereas, the United States has signed Free Trade Agreements 
     with a number of nations that are home to major on-line 
     gambling operations;
       Whereas, the London-based Remote Gambling Association has 
     already filed a complaint with the European Union asking that 
     Europe bring a new WTO claim against the United States on 
     gambling; and
       Whereas, the Utah Legislature created the Utah 
     International Trade Commission in 2006 as a legislative 
     commission to address international trade issues: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     expresses its gratitude to the USTR for its forthright 
     position in the WTO gambling commitments dispute, and its 
     willingness to withdraw the United States' commitment under 
     ``Other Recreational Services'' once it was determined that 
     this commitment covered gambling; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     recognizes that this action reflects the increasing 
     responsiveness of the USTR in addressing the legitimate 
     regulatory concerns of states in light of international trade 
     commitments undertaken by the federal government; be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     expresses its concern that the terms of the agreement whereby 
     the United States withdrew the commitment under ``Other 
     Recreational Services'' were withheld from members of 
     Congress, the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee 
     (IGPAC), and state oversight commissions on international 
     trade; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     expresses its concern that the USTR's recent actions are an 
     effort to bypass Congress and IGPAC by proposing a solution 
     outside of the constitutional United States Senate treaty 
     ratification process; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     expresses its concern that United States' trading partners 
     may attempt to bring further claims against federal and state 
     gambling laws under trade and investment agreements that lack 
     the ``public morals'' exception found in the WTO GATS; be it 
     further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     WTO, USTR, Utah Congressional delegation, and members of the 
     U.S. Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees.
                                  ____

       POM-39. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah urging Congress to grant the state of 
     Utah waivers to establish an employer-sponsored work program 
     and other strategies to address illegal immigration in the 
     state; to the Committee on Finance.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, illegal immigration is an increasing concern in 
     many states, including the state of Utah;
       Whereas, recent attempts by Congress to make major reforms 
     in immigration law have stalled;
       Whereas, without definitive direction from the federal 
     government, states are struggling to adequately address the 
     many issues surrounding illegal immigration within their 
     respective borders;
       Whereas, there is an increasing need for state and local 
     governments to address problems associated with illegal 
     immigration, most particularly in the area of job employment;
       Whereas, federal waivers would greatly increase the state 
     of Utah's capacity to address current illegal immigration 
     challenges;
       Whereas, a federal waiver would be required for Utah to 
     institute an employer-sponsored work program providing a two-
     year, renewable guest worker authorization for foreign 
     workers;

[[Page S6449]]

       Whereas, a second waiver is needed to withhold FICA and 
     Medicare revenue and apply it toward the costs of the 
     program;
       Whereas, the proposed employer-sponsored work program will 
     allow for Utah to deal with its current undocumented 
     population in a fair manner;
       Whereas, the employer-sponsored work program would also 
     address Utah's need for both unskilled and skilled laborers 
     while ensuring that all available local workers are given 
     ample opportunity to meet that need;
       Whereas, if granted a waiver, Utah's employer-sponsored 
     work program should require that potential workers register 
     as a worker with the state, be fingerprinted, have their 
     names processed through the Interagency Border Inspection 
     Name Check System, pass a medical exam, be sponsored by their 
     employer, have health and automobile insurance, and have 
     funds withheld by their employer to cover health insurance 
     and the administrative costs of the work program;
       Whereas, through the granting of federal waivers allowing 
     the state to provide the employer-sponsored work program, the 
     state of Utah can address many challenges regarding illegal 
     immigration issues its citizens currently face; and
       Whereas, the employer-sponsored work program combines 
     opportunity with enforcement in a responsible manner: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, urge the United States Congress 
     to grant the state of Utah waivers to implement an employer-
     sponsored work program, and to withhold federal FICA and 
     Medicare revenue and apply it toward the health insurance and 
     other administrative costs of the program; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, United States 
     Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Department 
     of Homeland Security, the President of the United States, the 
     members of Utah's Congressional Delegation, the Utah Labor 
     Commission, and the Utah Department of Workforce Services.
                                  ____

       POM-40. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Utah urging the Government of 
     Turkey to grant the Ecumenical Patriarch international 
     recognition and to respect the property rights and human 
     rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.

                        Senate Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, located in Istanbul, 
     Turkey, is the Sacred See that presides in a spirit of 
     brotherhood over a communion of self-governing churches of 
     the Orthodox Christian world;
       Whereas, the See is led by Ecumenical Patriarch 
     Bartholomew, who is the 269th in direct succession to the 
     Apostle Andrew and holds titular primacy as primus inter 
     pares, meaning ``first among equals,'' in the community of 
     Orthodox churches worldwide;
       Whereas, in 1994, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, along 
     with leaders of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, 
     cosponsored the Conference on Peace and Tolerance, which 
     brought together Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religious 
     leaders for an interfaith dialogue to help end the Balkan 
     conflict and the ethnic conflict in the Caucasus region;
       Whereas, in 1997, the United States Congress awarded 
     Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew the Congressional Gold 
     Medal;
       Whereas, following the terrorist attacks on our nation on 
     September 11, 2001, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gathered 
     a group of international religious leaders to produce the 
     first joint statement with Muslim leaders that condemned the 
     attacks as ``antireligious'';
       Whereas, in October 2005, the Ecumenical Patriarch, along 
     with Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders, cosponsored the 
     Conference on Peace and Tolerance II to further promote peace 
     and stability in southeastern Europe, the Caucasus region, 
     and Central Asia via religious leaders' interfaith dialogue, 
     understanding, and action;
       Whereas, the Orthodox Christian Church, in existence for 
     nearly 2,000 years, numbers approximately 300 million members 
     worldwide with more than 2 million members in the United 
     States;
       Whereas, since 1453, the continuing presence of the 
     Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey has been a living testament 
     to the religious coexistence of Christians and Muslims;
       Whereas, this religious coexistence is in jeopardy because 
     the Ecumenical Patriarchate is considered a minority religion 
     by the Turkish government;
       Whereas, the Government of Turkey has limited the 
     candidates available to hold the office of Ecumenical 
     Patriarch to only Turkish nationals;
       Whereas, from the millions of Orthodox Christians living in 
     Turkey at the turn of the 20th century and due to the 
     continued policies during this period by the Turkish 
     government, there remain less than 3,000 of the Ecumenical 
     Patriarch's flock left in Turkey today;
       Whereas, the Government of Turkey closed the Theological 
     School on the island of Halki in 1971 and has refused to 
     allow it to reopen, thus impeding training for 
     Orthodox Christian clergy;
       Whereas, the Turkish government has confiscated nearly 94% 
     of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's properties and has placed a 
     42% tax, retroactive to 1999, on the Baloukli Hospital and 
     Home for the Aged, a charity hospital run by the Ecumenical 
     Patriarchate;
       Whereas, the European Union, a group of nations with a 
     common goal of promoting peace and the well-being of its 
     peoples, began accession negotiations with Turkey on October 
     3, 2005;
       Whereas, the European. Union defined membership criteria 
     for accession at Copenhagen European Council in 1993, 
     obligating candidate countries to achieve certain levels of 
     reform, including stability of institutions guaranteeing 
     democracy, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for and 
     protection of minorities and human rights;
       Whereas, the Turkish government's current treatment of the 
     Ecumenical Patriarchate is inconsistent with the membership 
     conditions and goals of the European Union;
       Whereas, Orthodox Christians in Utah and throughout the 
     United States stand to lose their spiritual leader because of 
     the continued actions of the Turkish government; and
       Whereas, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the 
     Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, a group of laymen who each 
     have been honored with a patriarchal title, or ``offikion,'' 
     by the Ecumenical Patriarch for their outstanding service to 
     the Orthodox Church, will send an American delegation to 
     Turkey to meet with Turkish government officials, as well as 
     the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, 
     regarding the Turkish government's treatment of the 
     Ecumenical Patriarchate: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the state of Utah urges the 
     Government of Turkey to uphold and safeguard religious and 
     human rights without compromise and cease its discrimination 
     of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate of the state of Utah urges the 
     Government of Turkey to grant the Ecumenical Patriarch 
     appropriate international recognition, ecclesiastic 
     succession, and the right to train clergy of all 
     nationalities, and to respect the property rights and human 
     rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the United States Ambassador to the 
     Republic of Turkey, and to the members of Utah's 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-41. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah urging the Obama Administration to support 
     the efforts of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to meaningfully 
     participate in the specialized agencies of the United 
     Nations; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 5

       Whereas, the mission of the United Nations, as stated in 
     the preamble to the United Nations Charter, is to ``reaffirm 
     faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth 
     of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and 
     of nations large and small'';
       Whereas, similarly, Article 2 of the Universal Declaration 
     of Human Rights states, ``Everyone is entitled to all the 
     rights and freedoms . . ., without distinction of any kind . 
     . . no distinction shall be made on the basis of political, 
     jurisdictional or international status of the country or 
     territory to which a person belongs . . .'';
       Whereas, the global issues addressed by the specialized 
     agencies of the United Nations are closely connected to the 
     well-being of all mankind;
       Whereas, as Taiwan cannot attend the conferences, 
     mechanisms, and activities of the specialized agencies, the 
     welfare of its people, as well as the interests of all 
     humankind, have been seriously jeopardized;
       Whereas, Taiwan has been campaigning for participation in 
     the World Health Organization (WHO) for years, but has been 
     unable to establish direct access to and communication with 
     the WHO regarding disease prevention;
       Whereas, Taiwan is restricted from attending WHO technical 
     conferences and activities and as a result Taiwan can neither 
     acquire the latest medical and health updates nor receive 
     timely assistance when epidemics occur, as was the case with 
     the SARS outbreak;
       Whereas, as early as May 2006, Taiwan announced its 
     decision to comply voluntarily with the International Health 
     Regulations (IHR 2005) that went into effect June 15, 2007;
       Whereas, although Taiwan has repeatedly submitted updates 
     to the WHO about various diseases, the WHO has not responded;
       Whereas, this has been detrimental to the health rights of 
     the 23 million people of Taiwan and foreigners residing in 
     and traveling to Taiwan;
       Whereas, it also creates a weakness in the global epidemic 
     surveillance network which can harm the international 
     community;
       Whereas, being the world's 18th largest economy and the 
     20th largest outbound investor, Taiwan possesses significant 
     economic strength;
       Whereas, Taiwan hopes to share its development experience 
     with many developing nations;
       Whereas, Taiwan is also willing to give back to the world 
     through humanitarian assistance and technical cooperation;
       Whereas, the issues that the specialized agencies of the 
     United Nations system handle tend to be functional and 
     technical in nature; and

[[Page S6450]]

       Whereas, allowing Taiwan's participation with these 
     specialized agencies would be helpful for the two sides of 
     the Taiwan Strait to set aside differences and strengthen 
     cooperation on issues of mutual concern, thereby gradually 
     reducing friction and promoting stability and prosperity in 
     the Asia-Pacific region: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah urges 
     the Obama Administration to support Taiwan and its 23 million 
     people in obtaining appropriate and meaningful participation 
     in the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, 
     including the World Health Organization; be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges that United States 
     policy include the pursuit of an initiative in the 
     specialized agencies of the United Nations system, such as 
     the World Health Organization, which would give Taiwan 
     meaningful participation in a manner that is consistent with 
     the respective organization's requirements; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the United States Secretary 
     of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 
     Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, the members of 
     Utah's congressional delegation, the Government of Taiwan, 
     the United Nations, and the World Health Organization.
                                  ____

       POM-42. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Utah urging the Government of 
     Turkey to grant the Ecumenical Patriarch international 
     recognition and to respect the property rights and human 
     rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.

                         House Resolution No. 2

       Whereas, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, located in Istanbul, 
     Turkey, is the Sacred See that presides in a spirit of 
     brotherhood over a communion of self-governing churches of 
     the Orthodox Christian world;
       Whereas, the See is led by Ecumenical Patriarch 
     Bartholomew, who is the 269th in direct succession to the 
     Apostle Andrew and holds titular primacy as primus inter 
     pares, meaning ``first among equals,'' in the community of 
     Orthodox churches worldwide;
       Whereas, in 1994, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, along 
     with leaders of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, 
     cosponsored the Conference on Peace and Tolerance, which 
     brought together Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religious 
     leaders for an interfaith dialogue to help end the Balkan 
     conflict and the ethnic conflict in the Caucasus region;
       Whereas, in 1997, the United States Congress awarded 
     Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew the Congressional Gold 
     Medal;
       Whereas, following the terrorist attacks on our nation on 
     September 11, 2001, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gathered 
     a group of international religious leaders to produce the 
     first joint statement with Muslim leaders that condemned the 
     attacks as ``antireligious'';
       Whereas, in October 2005, the Ecumenical Patriarch, along 
     with Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders, cosponsored the 
     Conference on Peace and Tolerance II to further promote peace 
     and stability in southeastern Europe, the Caucasus region, 
     and Central Asia via religious leaders' interfaith dialogue, 
     understanding, and action;
       Whereas, the Orthodox Christian Church, in existence for 
     nearly 2,000 years, numbers approximately 300 million members 
     worldwide with more than 2 million members in the United 
     States;
       Whereas, since 1453, the continuing presence of the 
     Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey has been a living testament 
     to the religious coexistence of Christians and Muslims;
       Whereas, this religious coexistence is in jeopardy because 
     the Ecumenical Patriarchate is considered a minority religion 
     by the Turkish government;
       Whereas, the Government of Turkey has limited the 
     candidates available to hold the office of Ecumenical 
     Patriarch to only Turkish nationals;
       Whereas, from the millions of Orthodox Christians living in 
     Turkey at the turn the 20th century and due to the continued 
     policies during this period by the Turkish government, there 
     remain less than 3,000 of the Ecumenical Patriarch's flock 
     left in Turkey today;
       Whereas, the Government of Turkey closed the Theological 
     School on the island of Halki in 1971 and has refused to 
     allow it to reopen, thus impeding training for 
     Orthodox Christian clergy;
       Whereas, the Turkish government has confiscated nearly 94% 
     of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's properties and has placed a 
     42% tax, retroactive to 1999, on the Baloukli Hospital and 
     Home for the Aged, a charity run by the Ecumenical 
     Patriarchate;
       Whereas, the European Union, a group of nations with a 
     common goal of promoting peace and the well-being of its 
     peoples, began accession negotiations with Turkey on October 
     3, 2005;
       Whereas, the European Union defined membership criteria for 
     accession at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, 
     obligating candidate countries to achieve certain levels of 
     reform, including stability of institutions guaranteeing 
     democracy, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for and 
     protection of minorities and human rights;
       Whereas, the Turkish government's current treatment of the 
     Ecumenical Patriarchate is inconsistent with the membership 
     conditions and goals of the European Union;
       Whereas, Orthodox Christians in Utah and throughout the 
     United States stand to lose their spiritual leader because of 
     the continued actions of the Turkish government; and
       Whereas, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the 
     Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, a group of laymen who each 
     have been honored with a patriarchal title, or ``offikion,'' 
     by the Ecumenical Patriarch for their outstanding service to 
     the Orthodox Church, will send an American delegation to 
     Turkey to meet with Turkish governmental officials, as well 
     as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, 
     regarding the Turkish government's treatment of the 
     Ecumenical Patriarchate: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the state of 
     Utah urges the Government of Turkey to uphold and safeguard 
     religious and human rights without compromise and cease its 
     discrimination of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the state of 
     Utah urges the Government of Turkey to grant the Ecumenical 
     Patriarch appropriate international recognition, ecclesiastic 
     succession, and the right to train clergy of all 
     nationalities, and to respect the property rights and human 
     rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the United States Ambassador to the 
     Republic of Turkey, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey 
     to the United States, and to the members of Utah's 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-43. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Utah designating September 2009 as Hydrocephalus 
     Awareness Month, and urges the federal government to create a 
     national registry for collecting comprehensive statistics and 
     data regarding hydrocephalus; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, hydrocephalus is a serious neurological condition 
     characterized by the abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids 
     in the ventricles of the brain;
       Whereas, there is no known cure for hydrocephalus, which 
     affects an estimated one million Americans;
       Whereas, one in every 2,700 infants are born with 
     hydrocephalus;
       Whreas, more than 375,000 older Americans have 
     hydrocephalus, which often remains undetected or incorrectly 
     diagnosed as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's 
     disease;
       Whereas, with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people 
     with hydrocephalus have the opportunity to live full and 
     productive lives;
       Whereas, the standard treatment for hydrocephalus was 
     developed in 1952 and unfortunately carries multiple risks 
     including shunt failure, infection, and over drainage;
       Whereas, each year American taxpayers spend more than $1 
     billion to treat hydrocephalus;
       Whereas, the Hydrocephalus Association is one of the 
     nation's oldest and largest patient and research advocacy and 
     support networks for individuals suffering from 
     hydrocephalus; and
       Whereas, the federal government should create a registry 
     for collecting data and statistics on the impact of 
     hydrocephalus: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the state of Utah designates 
     September 2009 as Hydrocephalus Awareness Month in the state 
     of Utah; be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate of the state of Utah urges the 
     federal government to create a gyrational registry for 
     collecting comprehensive statistics and data regarding 
     hydrocephalus and its impact on American families; be it 
     further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Hydrocephalus Association, the United States Department of 
     Health and Human Services, the Utah Department of Health, and 
     to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-44. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah supporting congressional action related to 
     the Navajo Nation's ability to collect and track child 
     support payments; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

                      House Joint Resolution No. 5

       Whereas, the Navajo Nation is the largest Native American 
     tribe within the boundaries of the United States and is 
     larger than ten of the 50 states;
       Whereas, Navajo children under the age of 18 comprise 
     almost half the total population, and some 61% of Navajo 
     grandparents are responsible for grandchildren under the age 
     of 18;
       Whereas, over half the population of the Navajo Nation 
     lives below the poverty level, an over 40% of persons on the 
     Navajo Nation are unemployed;
       Whereas, collecting child support for children whose 
     parents are able to pay child support may be critical in the 
     health and education of a good portion of Navajo children;
       Whereas, the federal government granted the Navajo Nation 
     and 39 other tribes the ability to collect child support, 
     establish paternity, and enforce child and medical support 
     obligations, but did not grant the Navajo Nation access to 
     information essential for investigation and enforcement;

[[Page S6451]]

       Whereas, the federal government has suggested that some 
     states charge the Navajo Nation for access to important 
     personal files of potential payers of child support;
       Whereas, the Navajo Nation has collected almost $3,000,000 
     in past-due child support and received more than 10,000 
     acknowledgments of paternity for Navajo children; and
       Whereas, the Navajo Nation department of child support 
     enforcement has collected a total of $7,248,237 in child 
     support during fiscal year 2007: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     encourage Utah's congressional delegation to take appropriate 
     steps on behalf of the Navajo Nation to increase its 
     effectiveness in child support collection and enforcement; be 
     it further
       Resolved, That Utah's congressional delegation is urged to 
     encourage the federal government to include the Navajo Nation 
     in a web access pilot program to obtain information critical 
     to collection of child support for Navajo children; be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to:
       (1) the members of Utah's congressional delegation;
       (2) the president of the Navajo Nation;
       (3) the speaker of the house of the Navajo Nation; and
       (4) the secretary of human services for the Navajo Nation.
                                  ____

       POM-45. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Utah opposing the REAL ID Act of 2005 and its 
     implementation of a national identification card; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.

                         House Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, the state of Utah recognizes the Constitution of 
     the United States as the nation's charter of liberty, and 
     that the Bill of Rights enshrines the fundamental and 
     inalienable rights of Americans, including privacy and 
     freedom from unreasonable searches;
       Whereas, each of Utah's duly elected public servants has 
     sworn to defend and uphold the United States Constitution and 
     the Constitution of the state of Utah;
       Whereas, the state of Utah denounces and condemns all acts 
     of terrorism by any entity, wherever the acts occur;
       Whereas, terrorist attacks against Americans, like those on 
     September 11, 2001, have necessitated the crafting of 
     effective laws to protect citizens of the United States and 
     others from terrorist attacks;
       Whereas, any new security measures of federal, state, or 
     local governments should be carefully designed and employed 
     to enhance public safety without infringing on the civil 
     liberties and rights of innocent citizens of Utah and the 
     United States;
       Whereas, Title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 creates a 
     national identification card by requiring that uniform 
     information be placed on every states' driver license, 
     requiring that the information be machine readable in a 
     standard format, and requiring that the card be used for any 
     federal purpose, including air travel;
       Whereas, REAL ID will be a costly unfunded mandate that the 
     Department of Homeland Security estimates will, over the next 
     ten years, cost states 3.9 billion dollars and individuals 
     5.8 billion dollars;
       Whereas, regulations made by the Department of Homeland 
     Security do not adequately address fundamental burdens that 
     the statute imposes on states and individuals, or violations 
     of privacy and constitutional rights;
       Whereas, REAL ID requires the creation of a massive public 
     sector database containing the driver license information on 
     every American with a license, accessible to every state 
     motor vehicle employee and every state and federal law 
     enforcement officer;
       Whereas, REAL ID enables the creation of an additional 
     massive private sector database of driver license information 
     gained from scanning the machine-readable information 
     contained on every driver license;
       Whereas, these public and private databases are certain to 
     contain numerous errors and false information, creating 
     significant hardships for Americans attempting to verify 
     their identity in order to fly, open a bank account, or 
     perform any of the numerous functions required to live in the 
     United States today;
       Whereas, the Federal Trade Commission estimates that 10 
     million Americans are victims of identity theft annually;
       Whereas, these identity thieves are increasingly targeting 
     motor vehicle departments;
       Whereas, REAL ID will facilitate the crime of identity 
     theft by making the personal information of all Americans, 
     including name, date of birth, gender, driver license or 
     identification card number, digital photograph, address, and 
     signature accessible from tens of thousands of locations;
       Whereas, REAL ID requires driver licenses to contain actual 
     home addresses and makes only limited provisions for securing 
     personal information for individuals in potential danger such 
     as undercover police officers and victims of domestic 
     violence, stalking, or criminal harassment;
       Whereas, REAL ID contains no exemption for religion, limits 
     religious liberty, and tramples the beliefs of groups like 
     the Amish and certain Evangelical Christians;
       Whereas, REAL ID contains onerous record verification and 
     retention provisions that place unreasonable burdens on both 
     Utah's Motor Vehicle Division and on third parties required 
     to verify records;
       Whereas, REAL ID will likely place enormous burdens on 
     individuals seeking a new driver license, including longer 
     lines, higher costs, increased document requests, and a 
     waiting period;
       Whereas, REAL ID was passed without sufficient deliberation 
     by Congress and never received a hearing by a congressional 
     committee or any vote solely on its merits;
       Whereas, REAL ID eliminated a process of negotiated 
     rulemaking initiated under the Intelligence Reform and 
     Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which had convened federal, 
     state, and local policymakers, privacy advocates, and 
     industry experts to address the misuse of identity documents;
       Whereas, more than 600 organizations opposed the passage of 
     REAL ID, including the Utah Chapter of the American Civil 
     Liberties Union and the Utah Eagle Forum; and
       Whereas, REAL ID would provide little security benefit and 
     still leave identifications systems open to insider fraud, 
     counterfeit documentation, and database failures: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the state of 
     Utah supports the United States Government's campaign against 
     terrorism and its commitment that the campaign not be waged 
     at the expense of essential civil rights and liberties of the 
     nation's citizens that are protected in the United States 
     Constitution, including the Bill of Rights; be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives opposes any 
     portion of the REAL ID Act that violates the rights and 
     liberties guaranteed under the Utah Constitution or the 
     United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights; be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses its 
     opposition to state legislation, including appropriations, 
     that would further the REAL ID Act in Utah unless the 
     appropriation is used exclusively for the purpose of 
     undertaking a comprehensive analysis of the costs to 
     implement REAL ID, or to mount a constitutional challenge to 
     the Act by the state Attorney General; be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges Utah's 
     congressional delegation to support measures to repeal Title 
     II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 and restore the negotiated 
     rulemaking process established under Section 7212 of the 
     Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004; be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges the 
     Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to not 
     penalize any state or its citizens for failure to comply with 
     the REAL ID Act pending further congressional consideration 
     of whether to repeal the Act and replace it with an act that 
     assists states in strengthening the security of their driver 
     license system without burdening the finances of the states 
     or the rights of the states' drivers; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, the Secretary of the Department of 
     Homeland Security, Governor Huntsman, and the members of 
     Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-46. A resolution adopted by Legislature of the State of 
     Utah expressing support for the construction of a museum and 
     civil liberties learning center in Delta, Utah, for the 
     purposes of preserving and educating about the Topaz 
     Internment Camp site; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 2

       Whereas, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive 
     Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, authorizing the evacuation 
     of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry from their homes in 
     portions of Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, and 
     Arizona to ten remote internment camps in Arkansas, Colorado, 
     Arizona, California, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah;
       Whereas, one of those camps, Topaz, located near Delta, 
     Utah, housed over 11,000 men, women, and children from 
     September 11, 1942, until October 31, 1945, and was Utah's 
     fifth largest city;
       Whereas, over 25,000 Japanese Americans, many from Topaz, 
     served in the United States military during World War II and 
     suffered tremendous casualties while their families were 
     confined in the internment camps;
       Whereas, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Civil 
     Liberties Act of 1988, and President George H.W. Bush issued 
     a letter of apology and redress payments to the survivors of 
     these internment camps;
       Whereas, the Topaz camp site must be preserved and 
     protected as part of the nation's commitment to equal justice 
     for all;
       Whereas, the Topaz Museum Board, a non-profit agency, has 
     raised money to purchase 626 of the 640 acres of the site, 
     has sponsored pilgrimages and teachers' workshops, has 
     conducted Topaz Day for fourth graders in Millard County, has 
     restored a recreation hall from the camp, and collected 
     artifacts and oral histories, in an effort to preserve the 
     site and educate people about the internment of American 
     citizens;
       Whereas, the Topaz site was declared a ``Save America's 
     Treasures'' project in 1999;
       Whereas, the 2006 United States House of Representatives 
     passed HB 1492, which authorized the Secretary of the 
     Interior to create a program within the National Park Service 
     to further protect and provide funding for the ten internment 
     camp sites and other significant related areas;

[[Page S6452]]

       Whereas, Congressman Chris Cannon and Congressman Jim 
     Matheson joined 114 others to co-sponsor HB 1492;
       Whereas, Senator Daniel Inouye introduced S1719 as a 
     companion bill to HB 1492, along with five co-sponsors, 
     including Senator Bob Bennett and Senator Orrin Hatch; and
       Whereas, in 2007 the National Park Service declared the 
     Topaz site to be Utah's thirteenth National Historic 
     Landmark: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah 
     expresses support for the Topaz Museum Board's effort to 
     preserve and protect the site of the Topaz Internment Camp, 
     to build a museum and civil liberties learning center in 
     Delta, Utah, and to educate all citizens about Japanese 
     American internment history, especially Topaz, through 
     artifacts, exhibits, and oral histories; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Topaz Museum Board, former Congressman Chris Cannon, Senator 
     Daniel Inouye, and the members of Utah's Congressional 
     Delegation.

                          ____________________