[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 45 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2059-S2060]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY

  Mr. REID. 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. 120, S. Res. 
121, S. Res. 122, and S. Res. 123.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senate will proceed to the resolutions en bloc.
  Mr. REID. 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 
that any statements relating to these resolutions be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolutions were agreed to.
  The preambles were agreed to.
  The resolutions, with their preambles, are as follows:

                              S. Res. 120

   Recognizing the 1 year anniversary of the April 2, 2010, fire and 
       explosion at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington.

       Whereas the State of Washington, the community of 
     Anacortes, the Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company, and the 
     United Steelworkers experienced a tragedy on April 2, 2010, 
     when a fire occurred at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, 
     Washington;
       Whereas 7 workers died as a result of the tragedy: Daniel 
     J. Aldridge, Matthew C. Bowen, Donna Van Dreumel, Matt 
     Gumbel, Darrin J. Hoines, Lew Janz, and Kathryn Powell;
       Whereas the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard 
     Investigation Board continues to investigate and review the 
     April 2, 2010, refinery fire, and procedures and processes to 
     prevent future tragedies from occurring;
       Whereas the Washington State Department of Labor and 
     Industries issued a Citation and Notice of Assessment 
     covering 44 violations of State workplace safety and health 
     regulations at the Anacortes work site (which are being 
     appealed); and
       Whereas the fire and explosion at the Tesoro refinery is a 
     reminder of the dangerous nature of refinery operations 
     around the Nation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses sincere condolences to the families, loved 
     ones, United Steelworkers, fellow workers, and the Anacortes 
     community concerning the tragedy at the Tesoro refinery in 
     Anacortes, Washington;
       (2) honors Daniel J. Aldridge, Matthew C. Bowen, Donna Van 
     Dreumel, Matt Gumbel, Darrin J. Hoines, Lew Janz, and Kathryn 
     Powell; and
       (3) expresses support for the efficient and safe operation 
     of our Nation's oil refineries.

                              S. Res. 121

        Designating April 2011 as ``Financial Literacy Month''.

       Whereas according to the Federal Deposit Insurance 
     Corporation, at least 25.6 percent of households in the 
     United States, or close to 30,000,000 households with 
     approximately 60,000,000 adults, are unbanked or underbanked 
     and, subsequently, have missed opportunities for savings, 
     lending, and basic financial services;
       Whereas according to the 2010 Consumer Financial Literacy 
     Survey Final Report of the National Foundation for Credit 
     Counseling, 34 percent of adults in the United States, or 
     more than 77,000,000 adults living in the United States, gave 
     themselves a grade of C, D, or F on their knowledge of 
     personal finance;
       Whereas according to the National Bankruptcy Research 
     Center, the number of personal bankruptcy filings reached 
     1,500,000 in 2010, the highest number since 2005;
       Whereas the 2010 Retirement Confidence Survey conducted by 
     the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that only 16 
     percent of workers were ``very confident'' about having 
     enough money for a comfortable retirement, a sharp decline in 
     worker confidence from the 27 percent of workers who were 
     ``very confident'' in 2007;
       Whereas according to a 2010 ``Flow of Funds'' report by the 
     Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, household 
     debt stood at $13,400,000,000,000 at the end of the third 
     quarter of 2010;
       Whereas according to the 2010 Retirement Confidence Survey 
     conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, less 
     than half of workers (46 percent) in the United States have 
     tried to calculate how much they need to save for retirement;
       Whereas according to the 2010 Consumer Financial Literacy 
     Survey Final Report of the National Foundation for Credit 
     Counseling, 28 percent, or nearly 64,000,000 adults, admit to 
     not paying all of their bills on time;
       Whereas according to the 2010 Consumer Financial Literacy 
     Survey Final Report of the National Foundation for Credit 
     Counseling, 3 in 10 adults in the United States, or more than 
     68,000,000 individuals, report that they have no savings, and 
     only 24 percent of adults in the United States are now saving 
     more than they did a year ago because of the current economic 
     climate;
       Whereas according to the 2010 Consumer Financial Literacy 
     Survey Final Report of the National Foundation for Credit 
     Counseling, only 43 percent of adults keep close track of 
     their spending, and more than 11,000,000 adults do not know 
     how much they

[[Page S2060]]

     spend on food, housing, and entertainment, and do not monitor 
     their overall spending;
       Whereas according to the sixth Council for Economic 
     Education biennial Survey of the States 2009: Economic, 
     Personal Finance, and Entrepreneurship Education in Our 
     Nation's Schools, only 21 States require students to take an 
     economics course as a high school graduation requirement, and 
     only 19 States require the testing of student knowledge in 
     economics;
       Whereas according to the sixth Council for Economic 
     Education biennial Survey of the States 2009: Economic, 
     Personal Finance, and Entrepreneurship Education in Our 
     Nation's Schools, only 13 States require students to take a 
     personal finance course either independently or as part of an 
     economics course as a high school graduation requirement;
       Whereas according to the Gallup-Operation HOPE Financial 
     Literacy Index, while 69 percent of American students 
     strongly believe that the best time to save money is now, 
     only 57 percent believe that their parents are saving money 
     for the future;
       Whereas expanding access to the mainstream financial system 
     will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure 
     options for managing finances and building wealth;
       Whereas quality personal financial education is essential 
     to ensure that individuals are prepared to manage money, 
     credit, and debt, and to become responsible workers, heads of 
     households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and 
     citizens;
       Whereas increased financial literacy empowers individuals 
     to make wise financial decisions and reduces the confusion 
     caused by an increasingly complex economy;
       Whereas a greater understanding of, and familiarity with, 
     financial markets and institutions will lead to increased 
     economic activity and growth;
       Whereas, in 2003, Congress found it important to coordinate 
     Federal financial literacy efforts and formulate a national 
     strategy; and
       Whereas, in light of that finding, Congress passed the 
     Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act of 2003 
     (Public Law 108-159; 117 Stat. 2003) establishing the 
     Financial Literacy and Education Commission and designating 
     the Office of Financial Education of the Department of the 
     Treasury to provide support for the Commission: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 2011 as ``Financial Literacy Month'' 
     to raise public awareness about--
       (A) the importance of personal financial education in the 
     United States; and
       (B) the serious consequences that may result from a lack of 
     understanding about personal finances; and
       (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, 
     schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the people 
     of the United States to observe the month with appropriate 
     programs and activities.

                              S. Res. 122

           Honoring the life and legacy of Elizabeth Taylor.

       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor, a world-renowned actress and 
     activist whose legendary career spanned 7 decades, passed 
     away on March 23, 2011;
       Whereas with the death of Elizabeth Taylor, the State of 
     California and the United States lost 1 of the most talented 
     entertainers, philanthropists, and humanitarians in the 
     United States;
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor was born on February 27, 1923, in 
     London, England to American parents;
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor and her family moved to the United 
     States, settling in the State of California, just prior to 
     the start of World War II;
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor started acting at the age of 10 
     and became a star at a young age;
       Whereas the hard work and dedication of Elizabeth Taylor 
     earned her numerous acting roles in film, television, and 
     theater;
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor became 1 of the most successful 
     and sought after actresses in the world;
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor received 2 Best Actress Academy 
     Awards for her work in ``BUtterfield 8'' and ``Who's Afraid 
     of Virginia Woolf?'', and she became the first woman to earn 
     a 7-figure paycheck for appearing in a film;
       Whereas many films that feature Elizabeth Taylor, including 
     ``A Place in the Sun'', ``Raintree Country'', ``Giant'', and 
     ``Cat On A Hot Tin Roof'', have become classic films 
     appreciated by generations of moviewatchers;
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor used her fame to raise awareness 
     and advocate for people affected by HIV/AIDS;
       Whereas, at a time when HIV/AIDS was largely an unknown 
     disease and those who were affected by HIV/AIDS were 
     ostracized and shunned, Elizabeth Taylor called for and 
     demonstrated compassion by publicly holding the hand of her 
     friend and former costar, Rock Hudson, after he had announced 
     that he had AIDS;
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor testified before Congress saying, 
     ``It is my hope that history will show that the American 
     people and our leaders met the challenge of AIDS rationally 
     and with all the resources at their disposal, for our sake 
     and that of all humanity.'';
       Whereas, in 1985, Elizabeth Taylor became the Founding 
     National Chairman for the American Foundation for AIDS 
     Research (commonly known as ``amfAR'');
       Whereas, in 1991, Elizabeth Taylor founded the Elizabeth 
     Taylor AIDS Foundation to provide direct support to those 
     suffering from the disease;
       Whereas the extensive efforts of Elizabeth Taylor have 
     helped educate the public and lawmakers about the need for 
     research, treatment, and compassion for those suffering from 
     HIV/AIDS;
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor is survived by her children 
     Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria 
     Burton, as well as 10 grandchildren and 4 great-
     grandchildren; and
       Whereas Elizabeth Taylor was truly a legend who touched the 
     lives of generations of people of the United States and 
     millions worldwide with both her inner and outer beauty: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and honors the courageous, compassionate 
     leadership and many professional accomplishments of Elizabeth 
     Taylor; and
       (2) offers its deepest condolences to her family.

                              S. Res. 123

Commending ACHIEVA on its 60th anniversary of providing strong advocacy 
 for and innovative services to children and adults with disabilities 
     and the families of those children and adults in the State of 
  Pennsylvania and designating the week of March 26 through April 2, 
       2011, as ``Celebrating ACHIEVA's 60th Anniversary Week''.

       Whereas ACHIEVA, formerly known as Arc Allegheny, is the 
     premier provider of lifelong support and advocacy services 
     for children and adults with disabilities and the families of 
     those children and adults in Western Pennsylvania;
       Whereas more than 10,000 children and adults with 
     disabilities and the families of those children and adults 
     rely on ACHIEVA to provide early intervention, family 
     support, advocacy, respite, vocational, recreational, 
     residential, protective, and future planning services;
       Whereas the innovative services provided by ACHIEVA have 
     been featured as models and best practices by State, local, 
     and national media and have been replicated nationally and 
     internationally;
       Whereas the traditional family values espoused by ACHIEVA 
     coupled with the best practice services provided by ACHIEVA 
     propel ACHIEVA to the top tier of organizations providing 
     support for people with disabilities;
       Whereas ACHIEVA has been the leader in Western Pennsylvania 
     in advocating for and protecting the rights of children and 
     adults with disabilities;
       Whereas family members of children with disabilities 
     founded ACHIEVA in 1951 as a means of protecting the rights 
     of their sons and daughters to live fulfilling and inclusive 
     lives in their respective communities;
       Whereas the dreams of the founders of ACHIEVA continue to 
     provide the focused mission and vision that drive all of the 
     work ACHIEVA carries out on behalf of its constituents; and
       Whereas the dedicated volunteers who have provided 
     organizational leadership to ACHIEVA and the dedicated staff 
     members of ACHIEVA who support children and adults with 
     disabilities and the families of those children and adults 
     also deserve to be honored on the 60th Anniversary of 
     ACHIEVA: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends ACHIEVA on its 60th anniversary of providing 
     strong advocacy for and innovative services to children and 
     adults with disabilities and the families of those children 
     and adults in the State of Pennsylvania; and
       (2) designates the week of March 26 through April 2, 2011, 
     as ``Celebrating ACHIEVA's 60th Anniversary Week''.

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