[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5716-S5717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL ESIGN DAY 2010
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COMMEMORATING THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF CHAPLAIN HENRY VINTON PLUMMER
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SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following
resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 576, S. Res.
577, and S. Res. 578.
Without objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions.
[[Page S5717]]
Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to
reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action
or debate, and any statements relating to the resolutions be printed in
the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolutions (S. Res. 576, S. Res. 577, and S. Res. 578) were
agreed to.
The preambles were agreed to.
The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:
S. Res. 576
Whereas the Electronic Signatures in Global and National
Commerce Act (ESIGN) (15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.) was enacted on
June 30, 2000, to ensure that a signature, contract, or other
record relating to a transaction may not be denied legal
effect, validity, or enforceability solely because the
signature, contract, or other record is in electronic form;
Whereas in that Act, Congress directed the Secretary of
Commerce to take all actions necessary to eliminate or
reduce, to the maximum extent possible, the impediments to
commerce in electronic signatures, for the purpose of
facilitating the development of interstate and foreign
commerce; and
Whereas June 30, 2010, marks the 10th anniversary of the
enactment of ESIGN and would be an appropriate date to
designate as ``National ESIGN Day 2010'': Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the designation of a ``National ESIGN Day
2010'';
(2) recognizes the contribution made by Congress in the
Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act
(ESIGN) (15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.) to the adoption of modern
solutions that keep the United States on the leading
technological edge; and
(3) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to facilitating
interstate and foreign commerce in an increasingly digital
world.
S. Res. 577
Whereas Henry Vinton Plummer was born into slavery on July
31, 1844, in Prince George's County, Maryland and escaped
from slavery to serve honorably in the U.S. Navy during the
Civil War;
Whereas Henry Plummer was assigned in 1864 to the Union
gunboat U.S.S. Coeur de Lion, which engaged numerous
Confederate ships trying to run Union blockades in the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries during the Civil War;
Whereas after being honorably discharged from the Navy in
1865, Henry Plummer studied to become a minister, and felt
called to serve again in the United States military;
Whereas in 1866, the 39th Congress passed legislation to
establish African-American military units and stipulated that
a chaplain be assigned to each regiment;
Whereas in July 1884, Henry Plummer was appointed the first
African-American chaplain in the United States Regular Army
with a military rank equivalent of Captain;
Whereas Chaplain Plummer served for more than 10 years with
the Ninth Cavalry and was stationed at Army forts in Kansas,
Wyoming, and Nebraska;
Whereas during his time in uniform, Chaplain Plummer worked
to improve education and voter participation and reduce the
temptation of gambling, drunkenness, and prostitution among
soldiers under his ministry;
Whereas Chaplain Plummer fought racism and other injustices
of the time while serving his country with the Ninth Calvary;
Whereas Chaplain Plummer's records in Fort Riley and Fort
Robinson noted that he performed admirably in his work among
soldiers and in his efforts on behalf of their spiritual
well-being;
Whereas Chaplain Plummer endured racial bias and animosity
throughout his time in uniform, including being denied
officer housing and being forced to live among enlisted
personnel despite holding the Army officer rank equivalent of
Captain;
Whereas in 1894, Chaplain Plummer was court-martialed,
convicted, and dismissed from the Army under circumstances
tainted by racial and personal animus;
Whereas the Army Board for Correction of Military Records
concluded that personal grudges and racial bias were driving
factors that led to Chaplain Plummer's court-martial;
Whereas the Army Board for Correction of Military Records
noted evidence that shows Chaplain Plummer served his country
well and was a highly respected and admired officer;
Whereas in 2005, the Army Board for Correction of Military
Records changed the status of Chaplain Plummer's military
discharge to ``honorable'';
Whereas despite the unfair and racially charged atmosphere
that led to Chaplain Plummer's conviction and discharge, he
continued to ask for reinstatement in the military out of a
desire to serve his country;
Whereas Chaplain Plummer was a devoted family man,
minister, veteran, and community leader committed to the
principles of liberty and opportunity for which the United
States stands; and
Whereas Chaplain Plummer rose from the depths of slavery to
remarkable heights, and led a life of selfless contributions
to his country: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates the life and patriotism of Chaplain Henry
Vinton Plummer;
(2) expresses its admiration for Chaplain Plummer for his
perseverance and resolve in the face of racial oppression in
the military history of the United States; and
(3) congratulates Chaplain Plummer's extended family for
their work to commemorate his life of devotion to helping
others while overcoming tremendous adversity.
S. Res. 578
Whereas the Summer Food Service Program provides healthy,
nutritious meals to an average 2,900,000 children each
weekday during the summer;
Whereas there are 34,700 feeding sites in low-income
neighborhoods located at churches, schools, parks, recreation
centers, and summer camps in all 50 States;
Whereas thousands volunteer at summer feeding sites;
Whereas summer feeding programs play an important role in
providing safe places for children and teenagers to engage in
physical activity and provide educational opportunities to
spur learning during the summer months;
Whereas data from the Department of Agriculture has shown
rates of hunger and food insecurity among school-age children
increase during the summer months;
Whereas of the 19,500,000 children receiving free or
reduced priced meals through the National School Lunch
Program, only 1 in 9 receive meals at a summer feeding site
on an average day;
Whereas there are only 34 summer food sites for every 100
school lunch programs; and
Whereas many low-income, food insecure children in rural
areas lack access to summer feeding locations: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates June 2010 as ``Summer Food Service Program
Awareness Month'';
(2) encourages schools, nonprofit institutions, churches,
parks, recreation centers, and summer camps to sponsor summer
feeding sites in their communities; and
(3) encourages schools, local businesses, nonprofit
institutions, churches, cities, and State governments to
raise awareness of the availability of summer feeding sites
and support efforts to increase participation of children who
might otherwise go without meals if not for the Summer Food
Service Program.
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