[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 65 (Thursday, May 12, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2970-S2971]
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. 181, S. Res. 
182, and S. Res. 183.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senate will proceed to the consideration of 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 interviewing action or debate, and 
any statements 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, read as follows:

                              S. Res. 181

                      (National MPS Awareness Day)

       Whereas mucopolysaccharidosis (referred to in this 
     resolution as ``MPS'') are a group of genetically determined 
     lysosomal storage diseases that render the human body 
     incapable of producing certain enzymes needed to break down 
     complex carbohydrates;
       Whereas MPS diseases cause complex carbohydrates to be 
     stored in almost every cell in the body and progressively 
     cause cellular damage;
       Whereas the cellular damage caused by MPS--
       (1) adversely affects the human body by damaging the heart, 
     respiratory system, bones, internal organs, and central 
     nervous system; and
       (2) often results in intellectual disabilities, short 
     stature, corneal damage, joint stiffness, loss of mobility, 
     speech and hearing impairment, heart disease, hyperactivity, 
     chronic respiratory problems, and, most importantly, a 
     drastically shortened life span;
       Whereas symptoms of MPS are usually not apparent at birth;
       Whereas, without treatment, the life expectancy of an 
     individual afflicted with MPS begins to decrease at a very 
     early stage in the life of the individual;
       Whereas research has resulted in the development of limited 
     treatments for some MPS diseases;
       Whereas promising advancements in the pursuit of treatments 
     for additional MPS diseases are underway as of the date of 
     agreement to this resolution;
       Whereas, despite the creation of new remedies, the blood-
     brain barrier continues to be a significant impediment to 
     effectively treating the brain, which prevents the treatment 
     of many of the symptoms of MPS;
       Whereas the quality of life of the individuals afflicted 
     with MPS, and the treatments available to those individuals, 
     will be enhanced through the development of early detection 
     techniques and early intervention;
       Whereas treatments and research advancements for MPS are 
     limited by a lack of awareness about MPS diseases; and
       Whereas the lack of awareness about MPS diseases extends to 
     individuals within the medical community;
       Whereas the cellular damage that is caused by MPS makes MPS 
     a model for the study of many other degenerative genetic 
     diseases; and
       Whereas the development of effective therapies and a 
     potential cure for MPS diseases can be accomplished by 
     increased awareness, research, data collection, and 
     information distribution: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates May 15, 2011, as ``National MPS Awareness 
     Day''; and
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of ``National MPS 
     Awareness Day''.

                              S. Res. 182

(Expressing the condolences of the United States to the victims of the 
         devastating tornadoes that touched down in the South)

       Whereas during the month of April 2011, a historic series 
     of powerful storms and tornadoes tracked across the South;
       Whereas preliminary estimates of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration indicate that more than 600 
     tornadoes were produced by storms that occurred across the 
     United States in April 2011;
       Whereas preliminary estimates of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration indicate that 305 tornadoes were 
     produced by storms that occurred across the South during the 
     period of April 25 through 28, 2011;
       Whereas the previous record number of tornadoes occurring 
     during the month of April was 267 tornadoes, which was set in 
     April 1974, and the previous record number of tornadoes 
     during any month was 542 tornadoes, which was set in May 
     2003;
       Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
     estimates that there were at least 358 fatalities as a result 
     of the storms and tornadoes in April 2011;
       Whereas as of the date of approval of this resolution, the 
     number of fatalities resulting from the devastating storms 
     and tornadoes in the State of Alabama is approaching 250;
       Whereas there were 38 fatalities resulting from the 
     devastating storms and tornadoes in the State of Tennessee;
       Whereas tornadoes in the State of Mississippi resulted in 
     at least 35 fatalities, at least 163 injuries, and at least 
     2,500 damaged homes, of which approximately 1,000 were 
     severely damaged or destroyed;
       Whereas as of the date of approval of this resolution, the 
     total number of fatalities in the State of Georgia is at 
     least 15;
       Whereas tornadoes and massive storms in the Commonwealth of 
     Virginia resulted in at least 6 fatalities, destroyed more 
     than 160 homes, and caused damage to more than 800 homes and 
     businesses;
       Whereas a number of tornadoes touched down in the Virginia 
     counties of Gloucester, Goochland, Halifax, Middlesex, 
     Pulaski, Shenandoah, and Washington;
       Whereas in April 2011, devastating storms and at least 30 
     tornadoes resulted in 24 fatalities in the State of North 
     Carolina;
       Whereas the Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado of April 27, 
     2011, which caused at least 65 fatalities and more than 1,000 
     injuries, had a maximum width of 1.5 miles and a track length 
     of 80 miles;
       Whereas Smithville, Mississippi, a town of fewer than 900, 
     lost 15 of its citizens, as well as its post office, school, 
     city hall, most of its churches, and almost every home;

[[Page S2971]]

       Whereas an Enhanced Fujita category 5 (referred to in this 
     preamble as an ``EF5'') tornado is defined by the National 
     Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration as the rarest and most severe type of tornado, 
     with sustained winds of greater than 200 miles per hour and 
     that results in total destruction of well-built, 
     structurally-sound buildings;
       Whereas 3 of the 5 EF5 rated tornadoes recorded in the 
     United states since 2000 occurred as part of the April 25 
     through 28, 2011 tornado outbreak in the States of 
     Mississippi and Alabama;
       Whereas the Washington County, Virginia tornado traveled 
     approximately 14 miles and had a maximum path width of 2 
     miles;
       Whereas the National Weather Service estimates that 40 
     tornadoes hit the State of Tennessee from April 27 through 
     28, 2011;
       Whereas the National Weather Service has confirmed that a 
     total of 15 tornadoes hit the State of Georgia throughout the 
     period of April 25 through 28, 2011, including a powerful EF4 
     tornado which devastated the city of Ringgold, Georgia;
       Whereas dozens of rural communities throughout the South, 
     including in the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, 
     Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina, have been decimated 
     by the devastating storms and tornadoes of April 2011;
       Whereas more than 500 homes were damaged or destroyed in 
     the State of Tennessee as a result of the devastating storms 
     and tornadoes;
       Whereas the massive storms impacted cities and towns in the 
     State of Alabama, including Arab, Berry, Birmingham, Concord, 
     Eclectic, Forkland, Fultondale, Hackleburg, Phil Campbell, 
     Pleasant Grove, Rainsville, and Tuscaloosa;
       Whereas President Obama declared 10 counties in the State 
     of Tennessee to be in a state of major disaster and approved 
     the request made by Governor Haslam for Federal disaster 
     assistance;
       Whereas the tornado that swept from Monroe County, 
     Mississippi into Marion County, Alabama and destroyed 
     Smithville, Mississippi was--
       (1) the sixth deadliest tornado ever recorded in the State 
     of Mississippi;
       (2) the first EF5 tornado recorded in the State of 
     Mississippi since 1966; and
       (3) the first EF5 tornado recorded in the United States 
     since May 2008.
       Whereas the massive storms and tornadoes caused widespread 
     damage in the Georgian counties of Bartow, Catoosa, Cherokee, 
     Coweta, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Greene, Habersham, Harris, 
     Heard, Lamar, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, 
     Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup, Upson, Walker, and 
     White;
       Whereas the massive storms and tornadoes caused widespread 
     damage in the North Carolina counties of Bertie, Bladen, 
     Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, 
     Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Lee Onslow, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, 
     Tyrell, Wake, and Wilson;
       Whereas the tornado that swept from Neshoba County, 
     Mississippi to Noxubee County, Mississippi was just the 
     second EF5 tornado recorded in the State of Mississippi since 
     1966;
       Whereas April 27, 2011, marks the third highest number of 
     tornado-related fatalities occurring in a single day since 
     March 18, 1925, when a series of tornadoes caused 747 
     fatalities across 7 States;
       Whereas as of the date of approval of this resolution, the 
     total number of fatalities resulting from the devastating 
     storms and tornadoes remains unknown;
       Whereas the suffering and distress of thousands of people 
     affected by the storms and tornadoes is ongoing, particularly 
     for those who lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods;
       Whereas immediate humanitarian aid is critically needed in 
     many of the devastated regions;
       Whereas the local emergency responders, National Guard, and 
     many ordinary citizens of the affected regions have risked 
     their lives to save others;
       Whereas throughout the crisis, doctors, nurses, and medical 
     personnel in the affected regions worked expeditiously to 
     ensure that hospitals, medical centers, and triage units 
     provided needed care;
       Whereas many faith-based organizations and other volunteer 
     organizations and charities are supplying the victims of the 
     storms and tornadoes with food, water, and shelter;
       Whereas the Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, 
     Virginia, and North Carolina Emergency Management Agencies, 
     the first responders in the affected communities, and 
     countless volunteers immediately came to the aid of those 
     affected by the storms;
       Whereas the Governor of Alabama, Robert Bentley, the 
     Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, the Governor of 
     Mississippi, Haley Barbour, the Governor of Georgia, Nathan 
     Deal, the Governor of Virginia, Robert McDonnell, and the 
     Governor of North Carolina, Beverly Perdue, reacted swiftly 
     and with great leadership in the immediate aftermath of the 
     destructive storms and tornadoes;
       Whereas President Obama responded quickly and efficiently 
     to approve the requests made by Governors Bentley, Haslam, 
     Barbour, Deal, and Perdue for Federal disaster assistance;
       Whereas in response to the declaration by the President of 
     a major disaster, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency has made federal disaster assistance 
     available for the State of Alabama and elsewhere in the South 
     to assist in local recovery efforts; and
       Whereas thousands of volunteers and government employees 
     from across the United States have committed time and 
     resources to help with recovery efforts: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses the heartfelt condolences of the Senate to 
     the families and friends of those who lost their lives, 
     homes, and livelihoods in the tragic storms and tornadoes of 
     April 2011;
       (2) commends the resiliency and courage of the people of 
     the affected States, including the people of the States of 
     Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, and North 
     Carolina;
       (3) extends the wishes of the Senate for a full recovery 
     for all those who were injured in the storms and tornadoes;
       (4) extends the thanks of the Senate to the forecasters, 
     first responders, firefighters, law enforcement personnel, 
     volunteers, and medical personnel who took quick action to 
     provide warnings, aid, and comfort to the victims of the 
     storms and tornadoes;
       (5) commits to provide the necessary resources and to stand 
     by the people of the affected States, including the people of 
     the States of Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, 
     Virginia, and North Carolina, in the relief, recovery, and 
     rebuilding efforts; and
       (6) stands with the people affected by the storms and 
     tornadoes, including the people of the States of Alabama, 
     Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, and North 
     Carolina, as those people begin the healing process following 
     this terrible event.

                              S. Res. 183

                    (National Police Survivors Day)

       Whereas the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 
     Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C. lists on a Wall of 
     Remembrance the names of more than 19,000 law enforcement 
     officers who have died in the line of duty;
       Whereas in the United States, 1 law enforcement officer is 
     killed every 53 hours;
       Whereas in 2010, 152 law enforcement officers lost their 
     lives in the line of duty;
       Whereas on May 14, 1983, on the eve of the 2nd annual 
     National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, 10 widows of 
     fallen law enforcement officers came together to discuss the 
     lack of support for law enforcement survivors;
       Whereas 1 year later, that discussion led to the formation 
     of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. at the 1st annual 
     National Police Survivors' Seminar, which drew 110 law 
     enforcement survivors from throughout the United States;
       Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. has grown to 
     serve more than 15,000 surviving families of fallen law 
     enforcement officers by providing healing, love, and the 
     opportunity for a renewed life;
       Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. and its 52 
     chapters throughout the United States provide a program of 
     peer support and counseling to law enforcement survivors, 
     help survivors obtain the death benefits to which they are 
     entitled, and sponsor scholarships to enable children and 
     surviving spouses to pursue postsecondary education;
       Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. sponsors a year-
     round series of seminars, meetings, and youth activities, 
     including the National Police Survivors' Seminar during 
     National Police Week, retreats for parents, spouses, and 
     siblings, and programs and summer activities for children;
       Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. helps law 
     enforcement agencies cope with the loss of an officer by 
     promoting the adoption of standardized policies and 
     procedures for line-of-duty deaths; and
       Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. inspires the 
     public to recognize the sacrifices made by law enforcement 
     families by encouraging all citizens of the United States to 
     tie a blue ribbon to their car antenna during National Police 
     Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates May 14, 2011, as ``National Police Survivors 
     Day''; and
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Police Survivors Day'' with appropriate ceremonies 
     to pay respect to--
       (A) the survivors of the fallen heroes of law enforcement; 
     and
       (B) the fallen law enforcement officers who, through their 
     courageous deeds, have made the ultimate sacrifice in service 
     to the community.

                          ____________________