[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 30 (Thursday, March 4, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1129-S1131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH
______
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS WEEK
______
SUPPORTING THOSE AFFECTED BY THE NATURAL DISASTERS ON MADEIRA ISLAND
______
IRAQI PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
______
READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate
resolutions: S. Res. 434, S. Res. 435, S. Res. 436, S. Res. 437, and S.
Res. 438.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There being no objection, the
Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc.
Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions
to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
The resolutions were agreed to.
The preambles were agreed to.
The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:
S. Res. 434
Whereas several national dental organizations have observed
February 2010 as Children's Dental Health Month;
Whereas Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old Marylander, died on
February 25, 2007, of complications resulting from untreated
tooth decay;
Whereas the passing of Deamonte Driver has led to increased
awareness nationwide about the importance of access to high-
quality, affordable preventative care and treatment for
dental problems;
Whereas the primary purpose of Children's Dental Health
Month is to educate parents, children, and the public about
the importance and value of oral health;
Whereas Children's Dental Health Month showcases the
overwhelmingly preventable nature of tooth decay and
highlights the fact that tooth decay is on the rise among the
youngest children in the Nation;
Whereas Children's Dental Health Month educates the public
about the treatment of childhood dental caries, cleft-palate,
oral facial trauma, and oral cancer through public
[[Page S1130]]
service announcements, seminars, briefings, and the pro bono
initiatives of practitioners and academic dental
institutions;
Whereas Children's Dental Health Month was created to raise
awareness about the importance of oral health; and
Whereas Children's Dental Health Month is an opportunity
for the public and health professionals to take action to
prevent childhood dental problems and improve access to high-
quality dental care: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate expresses support for Children's
Dental Health Month and honors the life of Deamonte Driver.
____
S. Res. 435
Whereas multiple sclerosis can impact men and women of all
ages, races, and ethnicities;
Whereas more than 400,000 people in the United States live
with multiple sclerosis;
Whereas approximately 2,500,000 people worldwide have been
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis;
Whereas it is estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000
children and adolescents are living with multiple sclerosis;
Whereas every hour of every day, someone is newly diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis;
Whereas the exact cause of multiple sclerosis is still
unknown;
Whereas the symptoms of multiple sclerosis are
unpredictable and vary from person to person;
Whereas there is no laboratory test available that
definitively defines a diagnosis for multiple sclerosis;
Whereas multiple sclerosis is not genetic, contagious, or
directly inherited, but studies show that there are genetic
factors that indicate that certain individuals are
susceptible to the disease;
Whereas multiple sclerosis symptoms occur when an immune
system attack affects the myelin in nerve fibers of the
central nervous system, damaging or destroying it and
replacing it with scar tissue, thereby interfering with, or
preventing the transmission of, nerve signals;
Whereas in rare cases, multiple sclerosis is so progressive
that it is fatal;
Whereas there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis;
Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition, an affiliation of
multiple sclerosis organizations dedicated to the enhancement
of the quality of life for all those affected by multiple
sclerosis, recognizes and celebrates Multiple Sclerosis
Awareness Week;
Whereas the mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition is
to increase opportunities for cooperation and provide greater
opportunity to leverage the effective use of resources for
the benefit of the multiple sclerosis community;
Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition recognizes and
celebrates Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week during 1 week in
March every year;
Whereas the goals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week are
to invite people to join the movement to end multiple
sclerosis, encourage everyone to do something to demonstrate
a commitment to moving toward a world free of multiple
sclerosis, and to acknowledge those who have dedicated their
time and talent to help promote multiple sclerosis research
and programs; and
Whereas in 2010, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week is
recognized during the week of March 8th through March 14th:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis
Awareness Week;
(2) encourages States, territories, and possessions of the
United States and local communities to support the goals and
ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week;
(3) encourages media organizations to participate in
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week and help educate the public
about multiple sclerosis;
(4) commends the efforts of the States, territories, and
possessions of the United States and local communities that
support the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness
Week;
(5) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of the people
of the United States to combating multiple sclerosis by
promoting awareness about the causes and risks of multiple
sclerosis, and by promoting new education programs,
supporting research, and expanding access to medical
treatment; and
(6) recognizes all people in the United States living with
multiple sclerosis, expresses gratitude to their family
members and friends who are a source of love and
encouragement to them, and salutes the health care
professionals and medical researchers who provide assistance
to those living with multiple sclerosis and continue to work
to find cures and improve treatments.
____
S. Res. 436
Whereas on February 20, 2010, a powerful storm hit Madeira
Island, the largest of the islands that comprise the Madeira
Autonomous Region of Portugal, resulting in a series of
devastating flash floods and mudslides;
Whereas the storm caused boulders, trees, and earth to be
hurled against buildings, carried away vehicles, and washed
away roads and bridges on the south side of Madeira Island,
an area that includes Funchal, the capital of the Madeira
Autonomous Region;
Whereas 42 people have lost their lives, 151 people have
received treatment for injuries at the main hospital in
Funchal, and hundreds of people have been displaced;
Whereas the storm destroyed a large portion of the water
and communication infrastructure on Madeira Island;
Whereas Jose Socrates, the Prime Minister of Portugal, has
promised ``all necessary aid'' to Madeira, and Alberto Joao
Goncalves Jardim, the President of the Madeira Autonomous
Region, has consulted with European Commission President Jose
Manuel Barroso to seek further assistance;
Whereas a Portuguese Navy frigate has dispatched troops to
Madeira Island, with Portuguese divers and a medical team
also arriving to offer emergency assistance;
Whereas the Government of Portugal has announced 3 days of
national mourning for those who lost their lives in this
disaster;
Whereas the United States is providing assistance through
the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the United
States Agency for International Development;
Whereas there are approximately 400 citizens of the United
States on Madeira Island, with United States officials
continually working to ensure their safety and well-being;
and
Whereas a community of approximately 1,500,000 Portuguese-
Americans, strongly represented in the States of Rhode Island
and Massachusetts, maintain deep and enduring ties with
Portugal and Madeira Island: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) mourns the loss of life and expresses its deepest
condolences to the families of those killed and injured by
floods and mudslides resulting from the storm that hit
Madeira Island on February 20, 2010;
(2) expresses solidarity between the people of the United
States and Madeira, recognizing the historical ties between
Portuguese-Americans, Portugal, and the Madeira Autonomous
Region; and
(3) applauds the courageous rescue efforts of fire,
medical, and military personnel and other volunteers in
response to the flooding and mudslides.
____
S. Res. 437
Whereas on February 27th, 2009, President Obama declared
that the United States' ``clear and achievable goal'' is ``an
Iraq that is sovereign, stable, and self-reliant'' and that
the United States will achieve that goal by working ``to
promote an Iraqi government that is just, representative, and
accountable'';
Whereas in December 2009, Iraq's elected officials ended
months of deadlock, passed a new election law, and scheduled
parliamentary elections for March 7, 2010;
Whereas nearly 100,000 American soldiers, sailors, airmen
and Marines continue to serve in Iraq, marking the United
States' largest current overseas deployment;
Whereas Iraq's future sovereignty, stability, and democracy
is threatened by serious internal and external challenges,
including--
(1) continuing attempts by Al Qaeda in Iraq to perpetrate
mass casualty terrorist attacks intended to paralyze the
Iraqi state and reignite sectarian violence;
(2) some surrounding countries' malign and destabilizing
interference in Iraq's internal affairs and their incomplete
diplomatic recognition of Iraq;
(3) unresolved disputes over internal boundaries, including
the City of Kirkuk;
(4) incomplete reintegration of Sunni Arab communities in
Iraq; and
(5) ongoing incidents of civil and human rights abuses in a
diverse, multiconfessional society;
Whereas while the United States appreciates the profound
conviction of the Iraqi people to ensure that the Ba'ath
party never returns to power in Iraq, the process by which
scores of candidates have been disqualified from
participating in the March 7, 2010 elections--
(1) has not met international standards of electoral
transparency and fairness;
(2) was interpreted by many Iraqis as politically
motivated; and
(3) risks diminishing participation in elections;
Whereas the United States has a clear, strong, and enduring
national interest in helping the people of Iraq to establish
a stable, representative, and democratic state;
Whereas the United States committed, in the Agreement
Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq
On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from Iraq and the
Organization of Their Activities during Their Temporary
Presence in Iraq (referred to in this resolution as the
``Status of Forces Agreement'') signed in November 2008, to
redeploy--
(1) all combat forces from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009;
and
(2) all United States forces from Iraq by December 31,
2011;
Whereas United States combat forces successfully redeployed
from Iraq's cities by June 30, 2009, in accordance with the
Status of Forces Agreement, and are likely to early out
further reductions in the number of United States military
forces in Iraq during the months after the March 7, 2010
elections;
Whereas the United States and Iraq agreed in the Strategic
Framework Agreement, also signed in November 2008, to
``continue to foster close cooperation concerning defense and
security arrangements'';
Whereas the March 7, 2010 elections and the subsequent
government formation process will mark a period of
exceptional importance for the future of Iraq;
Whereas Iraq conducted provincial elections in January 2009
that were free from widespread violence and the results of
which
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were recognized as legitimate by the international community
and the Iraqi people;
Whereas several of Iraq's main electoral blocs have
committed to a Code of Conduct meant to ensure fair,
transparent, and inclusive elections:
Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) reaffirms the United States' strong commitment to
building a robust, long-term partnership with Iraq that
strengthens Iraq's security, stability, economy, and
democracy;
(2) recognizes the United States' clear and enduring
interest in partnering with the people of Iraq in building a
stable, representative, successful, democratic state;
(3) urges the Administration--
(A) to devote continued, high-level attention and support
for the people and Government of Iraq toward these goals, in
particular during the critical months after the March 7, 2010
elections;
(B) to work with the international community to provide all
necessary support for Iraqi elections, including technical
support for Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission and
assistance for domestic and international monitoring;
(4) calls upon all parties within Iraq--
(A) to ensure that the March 7, 2010 parliamentary
elections are free, fair, inclusive, and without violence or
intimidation; and
(B) to refrain from rhetoric or actions that might undercut
the legitimacy of such elections or inflame communal
tensions;
(5) urges the countries surrounding Iraq--
(A) to refrain from exercising malign and destabilizing
interference in Iraq's internal affairs; and
(B) to allow the people of Iraq to determine their own
future;
(6) calls for the timely formation of an inclusive,
effective, and representative new Iraqi government after the
March 7, 2010 parliamentary elections;
(7) reaffirms that, while United States military forces
redeploy from Iraq in the months after the March 7, 2010
elections, the United States must remain engaged in
partnering with the people of Iraq to help them in building a
stable, representative, and successful democratic state;
(8) expresses gratitude to the men and women of the United
States Armed Forces, the Foreign Service, and other Federal
Government agencies, for their service, sacrifices, and
heroism in Iraq; and
(9) commends the people of Iraq for--
(A) the courage they have shown;
(B) the sacrifices they have endured; and
(C) the hard-won gains they have made in fighting
terrorism, finding peace, and building democracy.
____
S. Res. 438
Whereas reading is a basic requirement for quality
education and professional success, and is a source of
pleasure throughout life;
Whereas the people of the United States must be able to
read if the United States is to remain competitive in the
global economy;
Whereas Congress, through the No Child Left Behind Act of
2001 (Public Law 107-110) and the Reading First, Early
Reading First, and Improving Literacy Through School
Libraries programs, has placed great emphasis on reading
intervention and providing additional resources for reading
assistance; and
Whereas more than 50 national organizations concerned about
reading and education have joined with the National Education
Association to use March 2, the anniversary of the birth of
Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, to celebrate
reading: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates March 2, 2010, as ``Read Across America
Day'';
(2) honors Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, for his
success in encouraging children to discover the joy of
reading;
(3) honors the 13th anniversary of Read Across America Day;
(4) encourages parents to read with their children for at
least 30 minutes on Read Across America Day in honor of the
commitment of the Senate to building a Nation of readers; and
(5) encourages the people of the United States to observe
the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the
absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
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