[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 109 (Thursday, July 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6199-S6200]
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-131. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Louisiana urging Congress to oppose the creation of a new 
     consumer regulatory agency for FDIC insured institutions; to 
     the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                       Senate Resolution, No. 147

       Whereas, H.R. 4173 and S. 3217 are sweepingly broad bills 
     pending in conference in the United States Congress that 
     would restructure the financial regulatory system; and
       Whereas, both measures would create a new Consumer 
     Financial Protection Agency/Bureau with overly broad powers 
     that would have complete authority over Louisiana banks and 
     thrifts with respect to writing future consumer regulations; 
     and
       Whereas, although improvements can and should be made to 
     further protect consumers from unscrupulous practices, the 
     creation of an enormous, new federal bureaucracy is the wrong 
     approach because it will harm both Louisiana banks and their 
     customers; and
       Whereas, Louisiana banks and thrifts will be subject to 
     greatly increased regulation and compliance costs, which will 
     hamper their ability to effectively serve their customers' 
     needs; and
       Whereas, this increased regulatory burden will likely lead 
     to increased costs of obtaining credit for consumers and 
     overall less access to financial products and services; and
       Whereas, the vast majority of FDIC insured institutions, 
     especially Louisiana banks and thrifts, did not contribute to 
     the financial crisis, yet would be subject to the broad 
     jurisdiction of this proposed agency; and
       Whereas, Louisiana banks and thrifts are already heavily 
     regulated and examined on a regular basis for compliance with 
     existing consumer laws and safety and soundness; and
       Whereas, this new proposed agency, which has no experience 
     as a bank regulator, would likely create a mountain of new 
     regulation that is one sided in its focus without balancing 
     bank safety and soundness considerations of the financial 
     institution; and
       Whereas, this will put Louisiana banks and thrifts in a 
     position where they must try to comply with conflicting 
     mandates that ultimately could put their businesses at risk; 
     and
       Whereas, creating another layer of bureaucracy in the 
     banking industry also does not address the gaps in regulation 
     that exist with respect to non-bank lenders; and
       Whereas, the Obama administration itself has acknowledged 
     that 94% of the high-cost mortgage loans that have so damaged 
     our economy were made by non-bank financial companies; and
       Whereas, with this in mind, Congress should concentrate on 
     improving the supervision and examination of such non-bank 
     institutions rather than adding to an already large 
     regulatory compliance structure for banks and thrifts. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to oppose the creation of a 
     new consumer regulatory agency for FDIC insured institutions. 
     Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and 
     to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United 
     States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-132. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Louisiana urging the federal government to explore creating a 
     federal entity to oversee and enforce federal, state, and 
     local safety regulations on all deep-water drilling rigs; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                       Senate Resolution No. 136

       Whereas, the safety of all individuals working on deep-
     water drilling rigs is paramount and a top priority; and
       Whereas, after a tragedy like the Deepwater Horizon, 
     governments at every level need to look at ways to 
     incorporate new ideas and rules to prevent similar tragedies 
     from happening again; and
       Whereas, after the attacks on September 11, 2001, the 
     federal government created the Transportation Security 
     Administration and the office of law enforcement, Federal Air 
     Marshal Service, to address the security issues that were 
     highlighted by the attacks; and
       Whereas, it is necessary for the well-being of this state 
     and this country to have deep-water drilling rigs operating 
     in the absolute safest manner possible; and
       Whereas, the implementation of a federal entity whose sole 
     job is to oversee the safety of all deep-water drilling rigs 
     is a necessary and appropriate step in light of the Deepwater 
     Horizon tragedy; and
       Whereas, this federal entity may operate in a similar 
     fashion to the Federal Air Marshal Service, with a federal 
     employee stationed on every deep-water drilling rig.
       Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 
     does hereby urge and request the federal government explore 
     creating a federal entity to oversee and enforce federal, 
     state, and local safety regulations on all deep-water 
     drilling rigs. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     secretary Ken Salazar, the United States Department of the 
     Interior, and to each member of the Louisiana Congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-133. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Louisiana urging the Department of Commerce to establish a 
     foreign trade zone in the Delta region of Louisiana; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                       Senate Resolution No. 125

       Whereas, foreign-trade zones, established under the 
     Foreign-Trade Zone Act of 1934, are secure areas under United 
     States Customs and Border Protection supervision that are 
     free-trade zones; and
       Whereas, usual formal entry procedures and payments of 
     duties are not required on foreign merchandise entering the 
     zone unless it enters the territory for domestic consumption, 
     at which point the importer generally has the choice of 
     paying duties at the rate of either the original foreign 
     materials or the finished product; and
       Whereas, domestic goods moved into the zone for export may 
     be considered exported upon admission to the zone for the 
     purpose of excise tax rebates and drawback; and
       Whereas, qualified public or private corporations may 
     operate facilities within the zone; and
       Whereas, foreign-trade zones offer several commercial 
     advantages, such as the following:
       (1) Customs and Border Protection duty and federal excise 
     taxes, if applicable, are paid when merchandise is 
     transferred from the zone for consumption;
       (2) Goods may be exported from the zone free of duty and 
     excise tax;
       (3) Customs of Border Protection security requirements 
     provide protection against theft;
       (4) Merchandise may remain in the zone indefinitely; and
       Whereas, the Mississippi River is a strategic asset to 
     international manufacturers; and
       Whereas, Act No. 347 of the 2007 Regular Session of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana enacted Louisiana Revised Statutes 
     3:33, the Delta Develop Initiative; and
       Whereas, Act 347 defined the ``Delta Region'' to include 
     Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, 
     Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, Richland, 
     Tensas, and West Carroll parishes, a cross roads intersection 
     of the Mississippi River and the 1-20 corridor that connects 
     the South Central United States from Dallas, Texas to 
     Atlanta, Georgia; and
       Whereas, a proposed foreign-trade zone in the Delta region 
     could consolidate marine, rail and base transport; offer 
     industrial storage facilities; provide light assembly, 
     warehousing and logistics services; and provide inbound and 
     outbound connections to rail, truck, air, and barge 
     transportation. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 
     does hereby urge and request the United States Department of 
     Commerce to establish a foreign trade zone in the Delta 
     region of Louisiana. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, 
     each member of the Louisiana Congressional delegation, and 
     the governor of Louisiana.
       POM-134. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging Congress to continue to 
     support and invest in the National Cancer Institute Community 
     Cancer Centers Program; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 122

       Whereas, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community 
     Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) began in 2007 to provide 
     community cancer centers and their patients across the United 
     States better access to the most advanced cancer research; 
     and
       Whereas, NCI estimates that the vast majority of cancer 
     patients (about 85 percent) are treated at community 
     hospitals in or near the communities in which they live and 
     only about 15 percent of U.S. cancer patients are diagnosed 
     and treated at the nation's major academic-based cancer 
     centers; and
       Whereas, many patients choose community hospitals because 
     they are close to family, friends, and jobs, whereas 
     treatment at the major cancer centers may require long 
     commutes or extended stays away from home; and
       Whereas, the NCCCP extends NCI programs into local 
     communities, giving patients easier access to state-of-the-
     art cancer care and clinical trial opportunities; and
       Whereas, the NCI Community Cancer Centers Program has 
     formed a national network of community cancer centers to 
     expand cancer research and deliver the most advanced cancer 
     care to more Americans in the communities where they live; 
     and
       Whereas, the Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and 
     Mary Bird Perkins was one of only 16 community cancer 
     programs in the country selected to participate in the NCI 
     Community Cancer Centers Program because of its proven 
     medical leadership, phenomenal community outreach and 
     experience in conducting clinical trials; and
       Whereas, the Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and 
     Mary Bird Perkins was the

[[Page S6200]]

     only cancer program in Louisiana, and the only program in the 
     Gulf South, selected for the NCI Community Cancer Centers 
     Program; and
       Whereas, the NCI Community Cancer Centers Program is 
     designed to create a community-based cancer center network to 
     support basic, clinical and population-based research 
     initiatives, addressing the full cancer care continuum from 
     prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship 
     through end-of-life care; and
       Whereas, the seven major focus areas of the NCI Community 
     Cancer Centers Program are to reduce cancer healthcare 
     disparities, improve quality of care, increase participation 
     in clinical trials, enhance cancer survivorship and 
     palliative care services, participate in biospecimen research 
     initiatives to support personalized medicine, expand use of 
     electronic health records and connect to cancer research data 
     network and enhance cancer advocacy; and
       Whereas, the sixteen initial pilot hospitals have made 
     considerable progress toward achieving the major program 
     goals and are defining for NCI what it takes to build a 
     national network of community hospitals that are fully 
     engaged in cancer research and offer the latest evidence-
     based, multidisciplinary care to diverse populations in their 
     home communities; and
       Whereas, funding from the American Recovery and 
     Reinvestment Act helped the NCI Community Cancer Centers 
     Program expand from its original pilot network of sixteen to 
     thirty hospitals in twenty-two states. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to continue to support and 
     invest in the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer 
     Centers Program, a vital and innovative program that is 
     transforming the way cancer care is delivered across the 
     nation. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of 
     the United States House of Representatives and to each member 
     of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-135. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging Congress to adopt and submit 
     to the states for ratification the Parental Rights Amendment 
     to the Constitution of the United States; to the Committee on 
     the Judiciary.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 38

       Whereas, the right of parents to direct the upbringing and 
     education of their children is a fundamental right protected 
     by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution 
     of Louisiana; and
       Whereas, our nation has historically relied first and 
     foremost upon parents to meet the real and constant needs of 
     children; and
       Whereas, the interests of children are best served when 
     parents are free to make child-rearing decisions about 
     education, religion, and other areas of a child's life 
     without state interference; and
       Whereas, the United States Supreme Court, in Wisconsin v. 
     Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972), held that ``This primary role of 
     the parents in the upbringing of their children is now 
     established beyond debate as an enduring American 
     tradition''; and
       Whereas, however, in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 
     (2000), six justices of the United States Supreme Court filed 
     opinions on the nature and enforceability of parental rights 
     under the Constitution of the United States; and
       Whereas, the number of written opinions in Troxel v. 
     Granville has created confusion and ambiguity about the 
     fundamental nature of parental rights in the laws and society 
     of the several states; and
       Whereas, H. J. Res. 42 and S.J. Res. 16 were introduced 
     during the First Session of the 111th Congress to provide for 
     an amendment to the United States Constitution to prevent 
     erosion of the enduring American tradition of treating 
     parental rights as fundamental rights, and the legislation 
     states:
       ``Section One: The liberty of parents to direct the 
     upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental 
     right.
       Section Two: Neither the United States nor any State shall 
     infringe upon this right without demonstrating that its 
     governmental interest as applied to the person is of the 
     highest order and not otherwise served.
       Section Three: No treaty may be adopted nor shall any 
     source of international law be employed to supersede, modify, 
     interpret, or apply to the rights guaranteed by this 
     article''; and
       Whereas, this amendment would add explicit text to the 
     Constitution of the United States to forever protect the 
     rights of parents as they are now enjoyed, without 
     substantive change to current state or federal laws 
     respecting these rights; and
       Whereas, the enumeration of these rights in the text of the 
     Constitution of the United States would preserve these rights 
     from being infringed upon by shifting ideologies and 
     interpretations of the United States Supreme Court. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, that the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to adopt and submit to the 
     states for ratification the Parental Rights Amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States. Be it further
       Resolved, that a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and 
     to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United 
     States Congress.

                          ____________________