[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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