[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2241-S2242]
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 68. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan memorializing the Congress of the United States to 
     enact legislation to ensure that amounts credited to the 
     Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used solely for the 
     dredging, infrastructure, operation, and maintenance of 
     federally authorized ports, harbors, and waterways; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                        Senate Resolution No. 97

       Whereas, domestic shippers and importers using Great Lakes 
     and coastal ports pay more than a billion dollars per year in 
     federal harbor maintenance taxes. Congress established the 
     tax to fund harbor operation and maintenance, particularly 
     dredging, at these ports; and
       Whereas, despite a nearly $6 billion balance in the Harbor 
     Maintenance Trust Fund, our nation's dredging needs are not 
     being met. Throughout our nation and particularly in the 
     Great Lakes region, the lack of dredging has forced shippers 
     to operate inefficiently and carry lighter loads, costing 
     them millions of dollars each year; and
       Whereas, the Obama Administration has only budgeted about 
     half of the revenue collected through the harbor maintenance 
     tax for maintaining our nation's harbors. Last year, nearly 
     $1.5 billion were collected from shippers, but only $758 
     million has been allocated for dredging harbors in Michigan 
     and other coastal states; and
       Whereas, during the current turbulent economic conditions, 
     we must make every effort to support economic activity by 
     maintaining the infrastructure necessary for commerce. 
     Essentially by, using harbor maintenance taxes placed in the 
     Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to finance and balance other 
     portions of the federal budget, we are breaking our promise 
     to the shippers paying the tax and hurting our nation's 
     economic recovery; and
       Whereas, current congressional legislation (H.R. 104 and S. 
     412) would ensure that harbor maintenance taxes are only used 
     for their intended purpose to maintain our nation's harbors; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of 
     the United States to enact legislation to ensure that amounts 
     credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used solely 
     for the dredging, infrastructure, operation, and maintenance 
     of federally-authorized ports, harbors, and waterways; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM 69. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana memorializing a request for an 
     amendments convention to be called for the purpose of 
     proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution which shall 
     provide that an increase in the federal debt requires 
     approval from a majority of the legislatures of the separate 
     states; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 87

       Whereas, Article V of the Constitution of the United States 
     provides authority for a convention to be called by the 
     Congress of the United States for the purpose of proposing 
     amendments to the constitution upon application of two-thirds 
     of the legislatures of the several states, an ``amendments 
     convention''; and
       Whereas, the legislature of the state of Louisiana favors 
     the proposal and ratification of an amendment to said 
     constitution which shall provide that an increase in the 
     federal debt requires approval from a majority of the 
     legislatures of the separate states. therefore, be it
       Resolved, Section 1. That, as provided for in Article V of 
     the Constitution of the United States, the legislature of the 
     state of Louisiana herewith respectfully applies for an 
     amendments convention to be called for the purpose of 
     proposing an amendment which shall provide that an increase 
     in the federal debt requires approval from a majority of the 
     legislatures of the separate states.
       Section 2. That the amendments convention contemplated by 
     this application shall be entirely focused upon and 
     exclusively limited to the subject matter of proposing for 
     ratification an amendment to the constitution providing that 
     an increase in the federal debt requires approval from a 
     majority of the legislatures of the separate States.
       Section 3. This application constitutes a continuing 
     application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution 
     of the United States until at least two-thirds of the 
     legislatures of the several states have made application for 
     an equivalently limited amendments convention.
       Section 4. That a certified copy of this application be 
     dispatched by the secretary of state (or other responsible 
     constitutional officer) to the president of the United States 
     Senate, to the speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, to each member of the applicant's delegation 
     to the United States Congress, and to the presiding officers 
     of each house of the several state legislatures, requesting 
     their cooperation in applying for the amendments convention 
     limited to the subject matter contemplated by this 
     application.

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