[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 155 (Thursday, October 22, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7462-S7470]
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-78. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urging the United States 
     Congress to take all necessary action to prohibit any force 
     structure changes, to prohibit any transfer of AH-64 Apache 
     helicopters from the National Guard, and maintain the Army 
     National Guard at 350,200 soldiers until the National 
     Commission on the Future of the Army has reported its 
     findings to Congress in February 2016; to the Committee on 
     Armed Services.

                       Senate Resolution No. 149

       Whereas, The United States Army plans to transfer all 
     National Guard AH-64 Apache helicopters to active duty as 
     part of the United States Army's Restructuring Initiative; 
     and
       Whereas, The United States Army has marked Pennsylvania's 
     55th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) for inactivation; and
       Whereas, The 55th ABCT is headquartered in Scranton, 
     extends over the eastern portion of Pennsylvania and 
     approximately 3,500 Pennsylvanians serve with the 55th ABCT; 
     and
       Whereas, Congress established the National Commission on 
     the Future of the Army, which is tasked with completing an 
     independent study on the proper size, force mixture and force 
     generation requirements for the army, and this commission is 
     required to report its findings during February 2016; and
       Whereas, This comprehensive assessment will provide 
     Congressional members the opportunity to review and legislate 
     in response to the commission's recommendations; and
       Whereas, There are 24 AH-64 Apache helicopters authorized 
     for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PAARNG) with a 
     significant portion of the allotment stationed at the John 
     Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport; and
       Whereas, Transferring the Apache helicopters would result 
     in the loss of 350 part-time personnel from the 1-104th 
     Attack Battalion and the stationing of PAARNG is an important 
     economic driver in the Johnstown area with an estimated 
     impact of nearly $45 million; and
       Whereas, The economic necessity and the maintenance of 
     critical national defense units in the Johnstown area, 
     including the 1-104th Attack Battalion PAARNG and its 
     complement of Apache helicopters, dictates that the United 
     States Army reverse its decision to redeploy the helicopters; 
     and
       Whereas, Units from the 55th ABCT have deployed multiple 
     times since 9/11, including deployments to Kosovo, Kuwait, 
     Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan and units from the brigade have 
     earned multiple Navy Unit Commendations and Meritorious Unit 
     Commendations; and
       Whereas, The army's current force proposals reduce the 
     total Army National Guard end strength from 350,200 to 
     342,000 during fiscal year 2016, and further, from 342,000 to 
     335,000 during fiscal year 2017; and
       Whereas, Since 2000, the army has cut the Army National 
     Guard by 14 Brigade Combat Teams and increased the active 
     army by 12 Brigade Combat Teams, which have resulted in a 
     shift from the majority of force structure residing with the 
     Army National Guard to the majority of the force structure 
     contained within the active army; and
       Whereas, The geographical location of Pennsylvania in 
     relation to the entire northeast corridor places the 
     Pennsylvania National Guard in a strategically accessible 
     position that can effectively respond at the Federal and 
     State level when needed for domestic emergencies or armed 
     conflicts; and
       Whereas, The National Guard represents the best economic 
     value for the United States validated by the Department of 
     Defense stating in 2013 that a drilling guardsman is about 
     15% the cost of an active component soldier; and
       Whereas, When Title 10 mobilized duty, a national guard 
     soldier only cost 80 to 95% as much as an active component 
     soldier: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved (the House of Representatives concurring), That 
     the General Assembly urge the United States Army to reverse 
     its decision to deactivate the 55th Armored Brigade Combat 
     Team and to reverse its decision to transfer any National 
     Guard AH-64 Apache helicopters to active duty; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the General Assembly urge Congress to take 
     all necessary action to prohibit any force structure changes, 
     to prohibit any transfer of AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 
     National Guard, and maintain the Army National Guard at 
     350,200 soldiers until the National Commission on the Future 
     of the Army has reported its findings to Congress in February 
     2016; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense 
     and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-79. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urging the President of the 
     United States and the United States Congress to consider 
     imposing tariffs on imported anthracite coal in order to 
     preserve American jobs; to the Committee on Finance.

                        Senate Resolution No. 54

       Whereas, The anthracite coal industry accounts for more 
     than 1,000 Pennsylvania jobs; and

[[Page S7463]]

       Whereas, The anthracite coal industry contributes $200 
     million to the Pennsylvania economy; and
       Whereas, Pennsylvania anthracite coal production accounts 
     for 2 million tons annually; and
       Whereas, Pennsylvania coal fueled a large part of the 
     Industrial Revolution and the industrial efforts which helped 
     to win two world wars; and
       Whereas, Government-sponsored anthracite coal production in 
     China, Russia and Ukraine provides unfair competition with 
     domestically mined anthracite coal by providing government 
     subsidies which reduce their prices far below market rates: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania urge the President and the Congress of the 
     United States to consider imposing tariffs on imported 
     anthracite coal in order to preserve American jobs; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States and to the presiding 
     officers of each house of Congress and to each member of 
     Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-80. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Delaware memorializing a 
     commitment to the strong and deepening relationship between 
     Taiwan and Delaware, to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page S7463, October 22, 2015, in the first column, the 
following language appears: POM--80. A resolution adopted by the 
House of Representatives of the State of Delaware memorializing a 
commitment to the strong and deepening relationship between Taiwan 
and Delaway, to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: POM--80. A 
resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of 
Delaware memorializing a commitment to the strong and deepening 
relationship between Taiwan and Delaware, to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


                        House Resolution No. 17

  Whereas, Taiwan and the United States are long-standing friends 
with a shared historical relationship and dearly cherished values of 
freedom, democracy, and human rights; and
  Whereas; 2015 marks the 15th anniversary of the sister-state 
relationship between Delaware and Taiwan; and
  Whereas, for the past 14 years, the sister-state relationship with 
Taiwan has been strengthened through the efforts of the Taipei 
Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) resulting in 
better mutual understanding; and
  Whereas, Taiwan is the United States' tenth largest trading 
partner, with the two-way trade volume between the United States and 
Taiwan reaching $67 billion in 2014, and the United States is 
Taiwan's second largest trading partner; and
  Whereas, Taiwan signed an agreement with Delaware to recognize 
driver's licenses issued by each side on June 11, 2014, reflecting 
the friendship, trust, and cooperation between two sides, and 
benefitting the people of Taiwan and Delaware in terms of travel and 
business; and
  Whereas, Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFA) are an 
important channel for dialogue on trade and investment issues 
between the United States and Taiwan, it not only helps to forge a 
closer relationship but also boosts Taiwan's chances to participate 
the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Now, therefore, be it
  Resolved by the House of Representatives of the 148th General 
Assembly of the State of Delaware, That we hereby reaffirm our 
commitment to the strong and deepening relationship between Taiwan 
and Delaware; and be it further
  Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President 
of the United States, the President of the United States Senate; and 
the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

       POM-81. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California memorializing the United States 
     Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act of 1965 
     forthwith, with adequate funding to reflect the growing 
     populations of Americans who benefit from the act's programs 
     and services; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
     and Pensions.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 8

       Whereas, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment 
     of the Older Americans Act of 1965; and
       Whereas, During the past 50 years, the implementation of 
     the Older Americans Act of 1965 has contributed to the 
     economic well-being of millions of older Americans, and has 
     improved the quality of life for those individuals; and
       Whereas, One of the key elements contributing to the 
     successful implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965 
     has been the establishment of an aging network composed of 
     local area agencies on aging, providers of congregate and 
     home-delivered nutrition, and many other community service 
     providers; and
       Whereas, The federal Administration on Aging in the United 
     States Department of Health and Human Services was created by 
     the Older Americans Act of 1965, and has been empowered to 
     act as an effective advocate for the concerns and needs of 
     older individuals; and
       Whereas, The Older Americans Act of 1965 serves as a model 
     for the development of community-based services, including 
     services that provide alternatives to the 
     institutionalization of older individuals; and
       Whereas, Some of the programs authorized under the Older 
     Americans Act of 1965 were created to address the specific 
     concerns of those older Americans with the greatest social 
     and economic needs, especially minority older Americans; and
       Whereas, Many services under the Older Americans Act of 
     1965, including long-term care ombudsman and legal services 
     providers, have acted as powerful advocates for older 
     individuals; and
       Whereas, The Older Americans Act of 1965 has brought 
     together thousands of dedicated professionals and volunteers 
     and has provided inspiration to those individuals; and
       Whereas, Services authorized under the Older Americans Act 
     of 1965 have provided important part-time community service 
     employment opportunities for low-income older individuals; 
     and
       Whereas, Many older individuals, and those who serve them, 
     have benefited greatly from the research, training, and 
     education that programs established under the Older Americans 
     Act of 1965 have provided; and
       Whereas, Some of the programs under the Older Americans Act 
     of 1965 were designed to address the special needs of older 
     Native Americans; and
       Whereas, In recognition of the changing needs of a rapidly 
     aging society, the Older Americans Act of 1965 has been 
     periodically amended; and
       Whereas, The Older Americans Act of 1965 served as the 
     foundation for an effective human services policy for 
     millions of Americans as the United States entered the 21st 
     century: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California and the 
     Senate of the State of California. jointly, That the 
     Legislature recognizes the 50th anniversary of the enactment 
     of the Older Americans Act of 1965, and the successful 
     implementation of that act; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature applauds the many and varied 
     contributions at all levels of the aging network fostered by 
     the Older Americans Act of 1965; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature affirms support for the 
     Older Americans Act of 1965, and the primary goals of that 
     act of providing services to maintain the dignity of older 
     Californians, and promoting the independence of those 
     individuals; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature memorializes the United 
     States House of Representatives and the United States Senate 
     to reauthorize the Older Americans Act of 1965 forthwith, 
     with adequate funding to reflect the growing populations of 
     Americans who benefit from the act's programs and services; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the 
     United States Senate, and to each Senator and Representative 
     from the State of California in the Congress of the United 
     States.
                                  ____

       POM-82. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois affirming support 
     for the Older Americans Act of 1965; and urging the United 
     States Congress to reauthorize the act; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 561

       Whereas, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment 
     of the Older Americans Act of 1965; during the past 50 years, 
     the implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965 has 
     contributed to the economic well-being of millions of older 
     Americans and has improved the quality of life for those 
     individuals; and
       Whereas, One of the key elements contributing to the 
     successful implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965 
     has been the establishment of an aging network composed of 
     local area agencies on aging, providers of congregate and 
     home-delivered nutrition, and many other community service 
     providers; and
       Whereas, The United States Department of Health and Human 
     Services' Administration on Aging was created by the Older 
     Americans Act of 1965; the agency has been empowered to act 
     as an effective advocate for the concerns and needs of older 
     individuals; and
       Whereas, The Older Americans Act of 1965 serves as a model 
     for the development of community-based services, including 
     services that provide alternatives to the 
     institutionalization of older individuals; and
       Whereas, Some of the programs authorized under the Older 
     Americans Act of 1965 were created to address the specific 
     concerns of those older Americans with the greatest social 
     and economic needs, especially minority older Americans; and
       Whereas, Many services under the Older Americans Act of 
     1965, including long-term care ombudsman and legal services 
     providers, have acted as powerful advocates for older 
     individuals; and
       Whereas, Services authorized under the Older Americans Act 
     of 1965 have also provided important part-time community 
     service employment opportunities for low-income older 
     individuals; and
       Whereas, Many older individuals, and those who serve them, 
     have benefited greatly from the research, training, and 
     education that programs established under the Older Americans 
     Act of 1965 have provided; and
       Whereas, During Fiscal Year 2015, Illinois Area Agencies on 
     Aging will serve an estimated 515,700 persons 60 and over, 
     accounting for 22% of the 2.3 million seniors in Illinois; 
     the agencies will also develop and coordinate comprehensive 
     systems of home and community-based services to enable older 
     adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities to live in the 
     least restrictive setting and avoid unnecessary hospital 
     readmissions and placements in long term care facilities; and

[[Page S7464]]

       Whereas, Thirteen Area Agencies on Aging in Illinois 
     collaborate with 179 provider agencies to provide a myriad of 
     home and community-based services for older adults and their 
     caregivers, including information and assistance for older 
     adults to help them make informed decisions about programs, 
     benefits, and services and live independently for as along as 
     possible, transportation programs, in-home services, home-
     delivered meals, congregate meals, Multi-Purpose Senior 
     Centers, recreation programs, legal assistance, health 
     promotion and disease prevention, and evidence-based health 
     promotion programs; and
       Whereas, In recognition of the changing needs of a rapidly 
     aging society, the Older Americans Act of 1965 has been 
     periodically amended and reauthorized; and
       Whereas, The Older Americans Act of 1965 served as the 
     foundation for an effective human services policy for 
     millions of Americans as the United States entered the 21st 
     century: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Ninth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we 
     affirm our support for the Older Americans Act of 1965 and 
     the primary goals of the Act of providing services to 
     maintain the dignity of older Illinoisans and promoting the 
     independence of those individuals; and be it further
       Resolved, That we urge Congress to reauthorize the Older 
     Americans Act of 1965 without delay and with adequate funding 
     to reflect the growing populations of Americans who benefit 
     from the Act's programs and services; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
     delivered to the President and Vice President of the United 
     States, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States 
     Senate, and the members of the Illinois congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-83. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to the Armenian Genocide of 
     1915-1923, and calling upon the President of the United 
     States and the United States Congress to formally and 
     consistently reaffirm the historical truth that the 
     atrocities committed against the Armenian people constituted 
     genocide; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 2

       Whereas, Armenians have resided in Asia Minor and the 
     Caucasus for approximately four millennia, and have a long 
     and rich history in the region, including the establishment 
     of many kingdoms, and despite Armenians' historic presence, 
     stewardship, and autonomy in the region, Turkish rulers of 
     the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey subjected 
     Armenians to severe and unjust persecution and brutality, 
     including wholesale massacres beginning in the 1890s; and
       Whereas, The Armenian nation was subjected to a systematic 
     and premeditated genocide officially beginning on April 24, 
     1915, at the hands of the Young Turk Government of the 
     Ottoman Empire from 1915-1919 and continued at the hands of 
     the Kemalist Movement of Turkey from 1920-1923 whereby over 
     1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were 
     slaughtered or marched to their deaths in an effort to 
     annihilate the Armenian nation in the first genocide of 
     modern times, while thousands of surviving Armenian women and 
     children were forcibly converted and Islamized, and hundreds 
     of thousands more were subjected to ethnic cleansing during 
     the period of the modern Republic of Turkey from 1924-1937; 
     and
       Whereas, During the genocides of the Christians living in 
     the Ottoman Empire and surrounding regions, which occurred 
     during the first one-half of the 20th century, 1.5 million 
     men, women, and children of Armenian descent, and hundreds of 
     thousands of Assyrians, Greeks, and other Christians, lost 
     their lives at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish Empire and 
     the Republic of Turkey, constituting one of the most 
     atrocious violations of human rights in the history of the 
     world; and
       Whereas, These crimes against humanity also had the 
     consequence of permanently removing all traces of the 
     Armenians and other targeted people from their historic 
     homelands of more than four millennia, and enriching the 
     perpetrators with the lands and other property of the victims 
     of these crimes, including the usurpation of several thousand 
     churches; and
       Whereas, In response to the genocide and at the behest of 
     President Woodrow Wilson and the United States State 
     Department, the Near East Relief organization was founded, 
     and became the first congressionally sanctioned American 
     philanthropic effort created exclusively to provide 
     humanitarian assistance and rescue to the Armenian nation and 
     other Christian minorities from annihilation, who went on to 
     survive and thrive outside of their ancestral homeland all 
     over the world and specifically in this state; and
       Whereas, Near East Relief succeeded, with the active 
     participation of the citizens from this state, in delivering 
     $117 million in assistance, and saving more than one million 
     refugees, including 132,000 orphans, between 1915 and 1930, 
     by delivering food, clothing, and materials for shelter, 
     setting up refugee camps, clinics, hospitals, and orphanages; 
     and
       Whereas, The Armenian nation survived the genocide despite 
     the attempt by the Ottoman Empire to exterminate it; and
       Whereas, Adolf Hitler, in persuading his army commanders 
     that the merciless persecution and killing of Jews, Poles, 
     and other people would bring no retribution, declared, ``Who, 
     after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the 
     Armenians?''; and
       Whereas, On November 4, 1918, immediately after the 
     collapse of the Young Turk regime and before the founding of 
     the Republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923, the 
     Ottoman Parliament considered a motion on the crimes 
     committed by the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP): ``A 
     population of one million people guilty of nothing except 
     belonging to the Armenian nation were massacred and 
     exterminated, including even women and children.'' The 
     Minister of Interior at the time, Fethi Bey, responded by 
     telling the Parliament: ``It is the intention of the 
     government to cure every single injustice done up until now, 
     as far as the means allow, to make possible the return to 
     their homes of those sent into exile, and to compensate for 
     their material loss as far as possible''; and
       Whereas, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk made a historic admission in 
     an interview published in the Los Angeles Examiner on August 
     1, 1926: ``These leftovers from the former Young Turk Party, 
     who should have been made accountable for the lives of 
     millions of our Christian subjects who were ruthlessly 
     driven, en masse, from their homes and massacred''; and
       Whereas, The Parliamentary Investigative Committee 
     proceeded to collect relevant documents describing the 
     actions of those responsible for the Armenian mass killings 
     and turned them over to the Turkish Military Tribunal. CUP's 
     leading figures were found guilty of massacring Armenians and 
     hanged or given lengthy prison sentences. The Turkish 
     Military Tribunal requested that Germany extradite to Turkey 
     the masterminds of the massacres who had fled the country. 
     After German refusal, they were tried in absentia and 
     sentenced to death; and
       Whereas, Unlike other people and governments that have 
     admitted and denounced the abuses and crimes of predecessor 
     regimes, and despite the Turkish government's earlier 
     admissions and the overwhelming proof of genocidal intent, 
     the Republic of Turkey inexplicably and adamantly has denied 
     the occurrence of the crimes against humanity committed by 
     the Ottoman and Young Turk rulers for many years, and 
     continues to do so a full century since the first crimes 
     constituting genocide occurred; and
       Whereas, Those denials compound the grief of the few 
     remaining survivors of the atrocities, desecrate the memory 
     of the victims, cause continuing pain to the descendants of 
     the victims, and deprive the surviving Armenian nation, both 
     on individual and collective levels, of their ancestral land, 
     property, culture, heritage, financial assets, and population 
     growth; and
       Whereas, The Republic of Turkey has escalated its 
     international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, 
     maintained its blockade of Armenia, and increased its 
     pressure on the small but growing movement in Turkey 
     acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and seeking justice for 
     this systematic campaign of destruction of millions of 
     Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and other Christians upon their 
     biblical-era homelands; and
       Whereas, Those citizens of Turkey, both Armenian and non-
     Armenian, who continue to speak the truth about the Armenian 
     Genocide, such as human rights activist and journalist Hrant 
     Dink, continue to be silenced by violent means; and
       Whereas, There is continued concern about the welfare of 
     Christians in the Republic of Turkey, their right to worship 
     and practice freely, and the legal status and condition of 
     thousands of ancient Armenian churches, monasteries, 
     cemeteries, and other historical and cultural structures, 
     sites, and antiquities in the Republic of Turkey; and
       Whereas, The United States is on record as having 
     officially recognized the Armenian Genocide in the United 
     States government's May 28, 1951, written statement to the 
     International Court of Justice regarding the Reservations to 
     the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime 
     of Genocide, through President Ronald Reagan's April 22, 
     1981, Proclamation No. 4838, and by congressional legislation 
     including House Joint Resolution 148 adopted on April 9, 
     1975, and House Joint Resolution 247 adopted on September 12, 
     1984; and
       Whereas, Even prior to the Convention on the Prevention and 
     Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the United States has a 
     record of having sought to justly and constructively address 
     the consequences of the Ottoman Empire's intentional 
     destruction of the Armenian people, including through United 
     States Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 adopted on February 9, 
     1916, United States Senate Resolution 359 adopted on May 11, 
     1920, and President Woodrow Wilson's November 22, 1920, 
     decision entitled, ``The Frontier between Armenia and 
     Turkey,'' which was issued as a binding arbitral award, yet 
     has not been enforced to this date despite its legally 
     binding status; and
       Whereas, President Barack Obama entered office ``calling 
     for Turkey's acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide'' and on 
     April 24, 2013, and similarly on April 24, 2014, he further 
     stated, ``A full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts 
     is in all of our interests. Peoples and nations grow 
     stronger, and build a more just and tolerant future, by 
     acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the 
     past''; and
       Whereas, California is home to the largest Armenian-
     American population in the

[[Page S7465]]

     United States, and Armenians living in California have 
     enriched our state through their leadership and contribution 
     in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts, 
     many of whom have family members who experienced firsthand 
     the horror and evil of the Armenian Genocide and its ongoing 
     denial; and
       Whereas, Every person should be made aware and educated 
     about the Armenian Genocide and other crimes against 
     humanity, and this state has been at the forefront of 
     encouraging and promoting a curriculum relating to human 
     rights and genocide in order to empower future generations to 
     prevent the recurrence of genocide; and
       Whereas, April 24, 1915, is globally observed and 
     recognized as the commencement of the Armenian Genocide and 
     April 24, 2015, will mark the centennial anniversary since 
     the commencement of the Armenian Genocide; and
       Whereas, Armenians in this state and throughout the world, 
     have not been provided with justice for the crimes 
     perpetrated against the Armenian nation despite the fact that 
     a century has passed since the crimes were first committed; 
     and
       Whereas, The Armenian people, in this state and elsewhere, 
     remain resolved and their spirit continues to thrive a 
     century after their near annihilation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature hereby designates 
     the year of 2015 as ``State of California Year of 
     Commemoration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Armenian 
     Genocide of 1915-1923'' and in doing so, intends, through the 
     enactment of legislation, that the Armenian Genocide is 
     properly commemorated and taught to its citizens and visitors 
     through statewide educational and cultural events; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates April 24, 
     2015, as ``State of California Day of Commemoration of the 
     Centennial Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-
     1923''; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature commends its conscientious 
     educators who teach about human rights and genocide, and 
     intends for them, through the enactment of legislation, to 
     continue to enhance their efforts to educate students at all 
     levels about the experience of the Armenians and other crimes 
     against humanity; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature hereby commends the 
     extraordinary service which was delivered by Near East Relief 
     to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and the Assyrian 
     Genocide, including thousands of direct beneficiaries of 
     American philanthropy who are the parents, grandparents, and 
     great-grandparents of many Californian Armenians and 
     Assyrians, and pledges its intent, through the enactment of 
     legislation, to working with community groups, nonprofit 
     organizations, citizens, state personnel, and the community 
     at large to host statewide educational and cultural events; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature deplores the persistent, 
     ongoing efforts by any person, in this country or abroad, to 
     deny the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully calls upon the 
     President of the United States and the United States Congress 
     to formally and consistently reaffirm the historical truth 
     that the atrocities committed against the Armenian people 
     constituted genocide; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature calls on the President of 
     the United States to work toward equitable, constructive, 
     stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to 
     each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States, to the Governor of California, 
     to every member of the California State Legislature, and to 
     the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
                                  ____

  

       POM-84. A resolution adopted by the City Council of New 
     Orleans, Louisiana, recognizing August 6, 2015, as the 50th 
     anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; 
     to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-85. A resolution adopted by the Michigan Senate 
     encouraging the United States Forest Service to issue the 
     owners of privately-held hunting camps on leased acres within 
     the Ottawa National Forest special use authorization under 
     the Recreation Residence Program; to the Committee on 
     Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                        Senate Resolution No. 79

       Whereas, Starting in the late 1950s, Michigan residents 
     were offered an opportunity to lease privately-owned land 
     from the Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) to build 
     recreational hunting camps. In 1991, the UPPCO announced 
     intentions to sell the land currently under lease to an 
     intermediary who would simultaneously sell the land to the 
     United States Forest Service (USFS). Existing leaseholders 
     were offered an option to sign a 25-year, nonrenewable lease 
     on the land that was to be sold or to immediately vacate the 
     property. The leases were signed in March of 1992, and the 
     United States Forest Service (USFS) took control of the land 
     in June 1992. The land currently under private lease accounts 
     for less than 1,100 acres in the Ottawa National Forest; and
       Whereas, Hundreds of people have experienced the wonders of 
     Michigan's great outdoors at these hunting camps. The Ottawa 
     National Forest is almost one million acres of rolling hills, 
     lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. Those who 
     lease land in the forest have built outdoor recreational 
     traditions with their families. The hunting camps allow them 
     to experience the seclusion and isolated environment of the 
     Ottawa National Forest while engaging in varied recreational 
     activities, including hunting, fishing, canoeing, and 
     snowshoeing; and
       Whereas, The USFS has informed leaseholders that leases 
     will not be renewed at the end of 2016 because it is national 
     policy not to lease national forest land to individuals. The 
     holders of the active leases will have 90 days after the 
     leases expire to remove the hunting cabins and return the 
     land to its natural state; and
       Whereas, The expiration of the leases will hurt local 
     economies in Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties. It will result 
     in over $35,000 in lost lease fee revenue to the townships 
     and almost $10,000 in tax revenue to the counties. Even a 
     greater loss will be realized by local businesses, including 
     gas stations, grocery stores, hardware stores, and 
     restaurants that benefit from the patronage of the camp 
     families; and
       Whereas, The expiration of the leases will eliminate refuge 
     for people from the occasionally harsh and unexpected shifts 
     in weather conditions. The Ottawa National Forest covers a 
     large area in the western Upper Peninsula. Camp owners often 
     leave their cabins or outbuildings unlocked to the relief of 
     individuals stranded in the woods who have sought shelter. A 
     Boy Scout troop once sheltered at the Twin Pines camp after 
     being caught in a storm, and a group of snowmobilers is known 
     to regularly rest at one of the camps; and
       Whereas, The USFS Recreation Residence Program provides 
     private citizens an opportunity to own single-family cabins 
     in designated areas of national forests. Currently, 15,570 
     recreation residences occupy national forest system lands 
     throughout the country; and
       Whereas, Although the National Forest Service placed a 
     moratorium on the establishment of new tracts under the 
     Recreation Residence program in 1968, the authority to issue 
     special use authorization under the Recreation Residence 
     program remains in federal regulations (36 CFR Part 251). 
     Therefore, lifting that moratorium for the limited purpose of 
     establishing a Recreation Residence tract in the Ottawa 
     National Forest and issuing special use authorization permits 
     is possible and would allow the many families currently 
     leasing in the Ottawa National Forest an opportunity that is 
     provided to thousands of people elsewhere in the country; and
       Whereas, Converting to the Recreation Residence Program 
     would maintain a tax base for local governments, provide 
     continuing support for the local economy, and ensure that 
     hunting and recreational traditions held so dear by Michigan 
     residents continue to be experienced in the Ottawa National 
     Forest: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we encourage the United States 
     Forest Service to issue the owners of privately-held camps on 
     leased acres within the Ottawa National Forest special use 
     authorization under the Recreation Residence Program; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Chief of the United States Forest Service and the members 
     of the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-86. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana memorializing the United States 
     Congress to take such actions as are necessary to regulate 
     airline baggage fees and processes for consumers as it 
     relates to transportation of passenger luggage and passenger 
     delays resulting from lost, damaged, or delayed luggage; to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 207

       Whereas, deregulation of the airline industry in the United 
     States began more than three decades ago in 1978; and
       Whereas, a consequence of deregulation was the elimination 
     of federal control over many airline business practices, 
     including pricing and domestic route selection; and
       Whereas, though deregulation limits federal control of 
     airline business practices generally, the federal government 
     continues to legislate and enforce certain consumer 
     protections for airline passengers; and
       Whereas, the United States Congress largely determines the 
     degree to which certain rights of airline passengers are 
     codified in law or developed through regulatory rulemaking; 
     and
       Whereas, since deregulation, the primary means of 
     competition amongst airlines has progressively centered on 
     price, not service; and
       Whereas, certain concerns for passengers of airlines 
     include increasing baggage fees and passenger delays 
     resulting from lost, damaged, or delayed passenger luggage; 
     and
       Whereas, the airline industry began to charge passengers a 
     checked baggage fee per bag to curtail rising jet fuel costs 
     and to supplement marginal revenue during times of economic 
     decline; and
       Whereas, as a result of increasing airline baggage fees 
     charged by airlines for checked luggage, passengers are 
     encouraged to increase the contents of carry-on luggage to 
     avoid the extra cost of baggage fees; and

[[Page S7466]]

       Whereas, increased carry-on luggage of boarding airline 
     passengers may be correlated to the claims of lost, damaged, 
     or delayed passenger luggage, because passengers are 
     oftentimes asked to check carry-on luggage at the boarding 
     gate, which may require passengers to wait for such luggage 
     after deboarding an aircraft, or luggage and contents may 
     become damaged during the process of fitting carry-on luggage 
     onto boarded aircrafts; and
       Whereas, although checked luggage may be lost, damaged, or 
     delayed for a variety of reasons, baggage handling systems, 
     airline negligence, and the act of luggage offloading to 
     accommodate extra fuel have also been discussed as reasons 
     for lost, damaged, or delayed passenger luggage; and
       Whereas, the aforementioned concerns of airline passengers 
     are issues of consumer protection for which the United States 
     Congress has the constitutional power to address and 
     determine fair and reasonable solutions through codified law 
     or regulatory rulemaking: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to regulate airline baggage fees and 
     processes for consumers as it relates to transportation of 
     passenger luggage and passenger delays resulting from lost, 
     damaged, or delayed luggage; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-87. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana memorializing the United States 
     Congress and the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to take 
     such actions as are necessary to rectify the revenue sharing 
     inequities between coastal and interior energy producing 
     states; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 167

       Whereas, since 1920, interior states have been allowed to 
     keep fifty percent of the oil, gas, and coal production 
     revenues generated in their states from mineral production on 
     federal lands within their borders, including royalties, 
     severance taxes, and bonuses; and
       Whereas, coastal states with onshore and offshore oil and 
     gas production face inequities under the federal energy 
     policies because those coastal states have not been party to 
     this same level of revenue sharing partnership with the 
     federal government; and
       Whereas, coastal energy producing states have a limited 
     partnership with the federal government that provides for 
     them to retain very little revenue generated from their 
     offshore energy production, energy that is produced for use 
     throughout the nation; and
       Whereas, in 2006 congress passed the Gulf of Mexico Energy 
     Security Act (GOMESA) that will fully go into effect in 2017; 
     an act that calls for a sharing of thirty-seven and five 
     tenths percent of coastal production revenues with four gulf 
     states with a cap of $500 million per year; and
       Whereas, the Fixing America's Inequities with Revenues 
     (FAIR) Act would have addressed the inequity suffered by 
     coastal oil and gas producing states by accelerating the 
     implementation of GOMESA as well as by gradually lifting all 
     revenue sharing caps but the legislation died with the close 
     of the previous congress; and
       Whereas, with the state and its offshore waters taken 
     alone, Louisiana is the ninth largest producer of oil in the 
     United States in 2014 while including offshore oil from 
     federal waters, it was the second largest oil producer in the 
     country; and when taken alone Louisiana was the fourth 
     largest producer of gas in the United States in 2013 while 
     including the Gulf of Mexico waters, it was the second 
     largest producer in the United States; and
       Whereas, with nineteen operating refineries in the state, 
     Louisiana was second only to Texas as of January 2014 in both 
     total and operating refinery capacity, accounting for nearly 
     one-fifth of the nation's total refining capacity; and
       Whereas, Louisiana's contributions to the United States 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve with two facilities located in 
     the state consisting of twenty-nine caverns capable of 
     holding nearly three hundred million barrels of crude oil; 
     and
       Whereas, with three onshore liquified natural gas 
     facilities, more than any other state in the country, and the 
     Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the nation's only deepwater oil 
     port, Louisiana plays an essential role in the movement of 
     natural gas from the United States Gulf Coast region to 
     markets throughout the country; and
       Whereas, it is apparent that Louisiana plays an essential 
     role in supplying the nation with energy and it is vital to 
     the security of our nation's energy supply, roles that should 
     be recognized and compensated at an appropriate revenue 
     sharing level; and
       Whereas, the majority of the oil and gas production from 
     the Gulf of Mexico enters the United States through coastal 
     Louisiana with all of the infrastructure necessary to receive 
     and transport such production, infrastructure that has for 
     many decades damaged the coastal areas of Louisiana, an 
     impact that should be compensated through appropriate revenue 
     sharing with the federal government; and
       Whereas, because Louisiana is losing more coastal wetlands 
     than any other state in the country, in 2006 the people of 
     Louisiana overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment 
     dedicating revenues received from Outer Continental Shelf oil 
     and gas activity to the Coastal Protection and Restoration 
     Fund for the purposes of coastal protection, including 
     conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and 
     infrastructure directly impacted by coastal wetland losses; 
     and
       Whereas, the state of Louisiana has developed a science-
     based ``Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast'' 
     which identifies and prioritizes the most efficient and 
     effective projects in order to meet the state's critical 
     coastal protection and restoration needs; and
       Whereas, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority 
     is making great progress implementing the projects in the 
     ``Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast'' with 
     all available funding, projects that are essential to the 
     protection of the infrastructure that is critical to the 
     energy needs of the United States; and
       Whereas, in order to properly compensate the coastal states 
     for the infrastructure demands that result from production of 
     energy and fuels that heat and cool the nation's homes, 
     offices, and businesses and fuel the nation's transportation 
     needs, revenue sharing for coastal states needs to be at the 
     same rate as interior states that produce oil, gas, and coal: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to treat mineral and gas production in the 
     Gulf Coastal states in a manner that is at least equal to 
     onshore oil, gas, and coal production in interior states for 
     revenue purposes; and to rectify the revenue sharing 
     inequities between coastal and interior energy producing 
     states in order to address the nationally significant crisis 
     of wetland loss in the state of Louisiana; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-88. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Missouri calling on the President of the 
     United States to support the increased importation of oil 
     from Canadian oil sands and to approve the newly routed 
     TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline to reduce our oil dependency 
     on unstable governments, and to support and facilitate 
     permitting for oil production off the northern coast of 
     Alaska to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and spur 
     investment in the American economy; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 15

       Whereas, high oil prices are having a major detrimental 
     impact on families, farms, and businesses in Missouri and are 
     likely to undercut the prospects for an economic recovery; 
     and
       Whereas, the United States currently imports almost half of 
     its oil and petroleum products, making it dependent on 
     foreign sources and subject to interruptions and price 
     fluctuations stemming from geopolitical forces; and
       Whereas, such instability has damaging consequences both 
     for our economy and our national security; and
       Whereas, the United States Geological Survey estimates a 
     resource of up to 27 billion barrels of oil in the Chukchi 
     and Beaufort seas of Alaska, providing a vast domestic oil 
     reserve, but opposition and regulatory hurdles are keeping 
     energy producers from accessing these resources; and
       Whereas, the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline project seeks 
     to link expanded oil production from the Canadian oil sands 
     to refineries in the United States and to facilitate the flow 
     of oil from the Dakotas to the Gulf Coast, thereby decreasing 
     our dependence on oil from outside of North America; and
       Whereas, Canada is a close friend and ally, with whom we 
     share links of infrastructure and energy networks and other 
     ties, so that dollars spent on Canadian oil will likely 
     contribute to the success of the American economy; and
       Whereas, the TransCanada pipeline project is projected to 
     create construction and manufacturing jobs in the United 
     States, adding billions of dollars to the United States 
     economy: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the members of the House of Representatives 
     of the Ninety-eighth General Assembly, First Regular Session, 
     the Senate concurring therein, hereby call upon President 
     Barack Obama and administration officials to:
       (1) Support the increased importation of oil from Canadian 
     oil sands and to approve the newly routed TransCanada 
     Keystone XL pipeline to reduce our oil dependency on unstable 
     governments, strengthen ties with an important ally, and 
     create jobs for American workers;
       (2) Support and facilitate permitting for oil production 
     off the northern coast of Alaska to decrease our dependence 
     on foreign oil and spur investment in the American economy; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of 
     Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed 
     copies of this resolution for President Barack Obama, Vice

[[Page S7467]]

     President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, United 
     States House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, and 
     each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-89. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana memorializing the United States 
     Congress to take such actions as are necessary to reestablish 
     a right-of-way through the Lake Ophelia National Wildlife 
     Refuge in order to provide access to property owned by the 
     Avoyelles Parish School Board; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 228

       Whereas, Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge, located in 
     Avoyelles Parish and named for its most prominent water body, 
     the 350-acre Lake Ophelia that was at one time a channel of 
     the nearby Red River, was established in 1988 to protect the 
     Mississippi and Red River floodplain ecosystem; and
       Whereas, due to its location in east-central Louisiana, 
     this area is prime waterfowl hunting territory influenced by 
     both the Mississippi and Central Flyways which are the 
     highways in the sky for bringing millions of duck and geese 
     each spring and fall to the area; and
       Whereas, another species found in the Avoyelles Parish area 
     is the Louisiana black bear which was listed as threatened 
     within its historic range of southern Mississippi, Louisiana, 
     and east Texas under the Endangered Species Act on January 7, 
     1992, due to extensive habitat loss and modification, as well 
     as human-related mortality; and
       Whereas, Louisiana currently supports three core bear 
     populations; the Tensas River Basin population in the north, 
     the upper Atchafalaya River Basin population in central 
     Louisiana, and the coastal population in the southern 
     Atchafalaya River Basin; and
       Whereas, the Black bear management efforts in Louisiana by 
     both the state and the federal agencies have had a great deal 
     of success with a likely result that the central Louisiana 
     and northern Louisiana populations expanding towards each 
     other through the area set aside for the Lake Ophelia 
     National Wildlife Refuge; and
       Whereas, because of the likelihood that the two populations 
     will merge in the area, the Department of the Interior has 
     designated a certain parcel of land in the Lake Ophelia 
     National Wildlife Refuge as a Black bear habitat which in 
     turn has prevented ingress and egress to a six hundred forty 
     acre tract owned by the Avoyelles Parish School Board; and
       Whereas, through the years, this sixteenth-section land 
     owned by the Avoyelles Parish School Board has been available 
     for public hunting, camping, and other recreational 
     activities, activities from which there has been great 
     economic benefit to Avoyelles Parish; and
       Whereas, without these outdoor activities, businesses in 
     Avoyelles Parish that rely on recreational activities in the 
     area including hunting, fishing, and camping for their income 
     have been and will continue to be negatively impacted by the 
     loss of access to the acreage owned by the Avoyelles Parish 
     School Board; and
       Whereas, simply having the Department of the Interior allow 
     a limited right-of-way access to the school board owned land 
     will solve the problem: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to reestablish a right-of-way through the 
     Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge in order to provide 
     access to property owned by the Avoyelles Parish School 
     Board; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-90. A resolution adopted by the Michigan Senate urging 
     the United States Congress to restore Great Lakes Restoration 
     Initiative funding to 300 million dollars for fiscal year 
     2016; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                        Senate Resolution No. 42

       Whereas, the Great Lakes are a critical resource for our 
     nation, supporting the economy and a way of life in Michigan 
     and the other seven states with the Great Lakes region. The 
     Great Lakes hold 20 percent of the world's surface freshwater 
     and 95 percent of the United States' surface freshwater. This 
     globally significant freshwater resource provides drinking 
     water for more than 30 million people and is an economic 
     driver that supports jobs, commerce, agriculture, 
     transportation, and tourism throughout the region; and
       Whereas, The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) 
     provides essential funding to restore and protect the Great 
     Lakes. This funding has support long overdue efforts to clean 
     up toxic pollution, reduce runoff from cities and farms, 
     combat invasive species like the Asian carp, and restore fish 
     and wildlife habitat. Since 2010, the federal government has 
     invested nearly $2 billion in more then 2,000 projects 
     through the GLRI. Over its first five years, the GLRI has 
     provided more then $280 million for 580 projects in Michigan 
     alone; and
       Whereas, GLRI projects are making a significant difference. 
     They have restored more than 115,000 acres of fish and 
     wildlife habitat; opened up fish access to more then 3,400 
     miles of rivers; helped implement conservation programs on 
     more than 1 million areas of farmland; and accelerated the 
     cleanup of toxic hotspots. In Michigan, GLRI funding has been 
     instrumental in removing contaminated sediments from Muskegon 
     Lake, the River Raisin, and the St. Mary's River, restoring 
     habitat along the St. Clair River, Cass River, Boardman 
     River, and the Keweenaw Peninsula; and developing improved 
     methods for sea lamprey control; and
       Whereas, While this is a significant investment, there is 
     still more work to be done with numerous ready-to-go projects 
     that need funding. Toxic algal blooms, beach closings, fish 
     consumption advisories, and the presence of contaminated 
     sediments continue to limit the recreational and commercial 
     use of the Great Lakes. The 2014 shutdown of the city of 
     Toledo's drinking water system due to a toxic algal bloom, 
     forcing more than a half million people to find another 
     source of drinking water, is just one example of how much 
     still needs to be done; and
       Whereas, Proposed cuts to GLRI funding would jeopardize the 
     momentum from a decade of unprecedented regional and 
     bipartisan cooperation. The FY 2016 executive budget 
     recommends a $50 million cut in federal funding to $250 
     million. This cut would be a shortsighted, cost-saving 
     measure with long-term implications. Restoration efforts will 
     only become more expensive and more difficult if they are not 
     addressed in the coming years: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Congress of the 
     United States to restore Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 
     funding to $300 million for fiscal year 2016; 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-91. A resolution adopted by the Michigan Senate 
     opposing the United States Environmental Protection Agency's 
     efforts to study or commission a study that could lead to 
     regulations on grills and barbecues; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                        Senate Resolution No. 56

       Whereas, Barbecues are an American tradition enjoyed by 
     families from all walks of life across the country. Whether 
     tailgating for a football game, hosting a backyard get-
     together, or just grilling a summer meal, barbecues are a 
     quintessentially American experience and an opportunity to 
     eat and socialize with family and friends; and
       Whereas, Cooking outdoors on a grill during the summer 
     saves electricity. Using a grill prevents the release of heat 
     into the kitchen and other living spaces. while cooking 
     indoors heats up a kitchen, forcing cooling systems. such as 
     the refrigerator and air conditioner, to work harder and use 
     more energy; and
       Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency 
     (EPA), our nation's environmental regulatory agency, has 
     funded a University of California-Riverside student project 
     to develop preventative technology to reduce emissions from 
     residential barbecues. By funding this project, the EPA is 
     apparently intent on finding a solution to a problem that 
     does not exist and demonstrating an unnecessary interest and 
     concern over the impact of backyard barbecues on public 
     health: and
       Whereas, Based on the EPA's past practices, today's study, 
     no matter how small, is a concern to Michiganders and 
     Americans, as it is inevitably the first step towards 
     tomorrow's regulation of this American pastime. To fulfill 
     its mission to protect human health and the environment, the 
     EPA's primary tool has been, and continues to be, regulatory 
     mandates that I time and again ignore the financial. 
     economic, and social burdens to the state and the country. 
     The regulation of barbecues would be the latest, egregious 
     example of overreach by the EPA; and
       Whereas, Funding such a study is a poor use of taxpayer 
     dollars. In the face of record national debts, annual budget 
     deficits, and other profound problems the country is facing, 
     surely the federal government can better use our resources 
     than on a study of grills and backyard barbecues: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we oppose the United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to study or 
     commission a study that, if consistent with the agency's past 
     practices, many fear will serve as the first step towards the 
     regulation of grills and barbecues: and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection 
     Agency and the members of the Michigan congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-92. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts promoting a multilateral 
     approach to the potential crisis in the Dominican Republic; 
     to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                              Resolutions

       Whereas, Massachusetts, the first cradle of liberty, has a 
     long history of diverse activism and advocacy regarding the 
     issue of equality and civil rights; and
       Whereas, The connection between Massachusetts and Haiti 
     dates back to the civil

[[Page S7468]]

     war during which time U.S. Senator Charles Sumner, who served 
     Massachusetts from 1852 to 1874, fought for the passage of 
     federal legislation in 1862 which enabled the United States 
     of America to recognize Haiti as a sovereign nation; and
       Whereas, In 1871, in recognition of his diplomatic work on 
     this issue, president of Haiti Nissage Saget presented 
     Senator Sumner with a gold medal on behalf of the Haitian 
     people, which currently resides in the Massachusetts state 
     house in Boston; and
       Whereas, Despite their shared history and geographical 
     proximity, Haiti and the Dominican Republic have often faced 
     challenging diplomatic relations; and
       Whereas, In September 2013, the constitutional court of the 
     Dominican Republic issued a ruling that would denaturalize 
     people born in the Dominican Republic after 1929 whose 
     parents were noncitizens, the majority of whom are Dominicans 
     of Haitian descent; and
       Whereas, The constitutional court's ruling effectively 
     stripped these persons of their identity and affiliation with 
     the Dominican Republic, rendering them stateless and 
     subjecting them to the risk of deportation from the country 
     of their birth; and
       Whereas, In May 2014, the Dominican Republic passed special 
     law 169-14, which required persons affected by the 2013 
     constitutional court's decision to be re-recognized as 
     citizens or apply to gain state recognition based on their 
     birth status and year; and
       Whereas, The deadlines set forth in the 2014 naturalization 
     law allowed for only a fraction of this population to be re-
     recognized thereby rendering tens of thousands of Dominicans 
     of Haitian descent vulnerable to deportation, discrimination 
     and loss of livelihood; and
       Whereas, Later that same year, in response to a ruling by 
     the inter-American court of human rights deeming the 2013 and 
     2014 actions of the Dominican Republic to be in violation of 
     the American convention to which the Dominican Republic is 
     party, the Dominican Republic's constitutional court declared 
     the country would no longer recognize the authority of the 
     inter-American court; and
       Whereas, Both the rulings of the constitutional court and 
     special law 169-14 have further separated Dominicans of 
     Haitian descent from the larger Dominican community; and
       Whereas, The majority of Dominicans of Haitian descent, 
     threatened by deportation, have no family or support networks 
     in Haiti nor are they fluent in French or Haitian creole; and
       Whereas, Article 15 of the universal declaration of human 
     rights, of which the Dominican Republic and the United States 
     of America are signatories, states that, ``no one shall be 
     arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right 
     to change his nationality''; and
       Whereas, Recognizing the impact that this crisis will have 
     on all nations in the western hemisphere, the Caribbean 
     community and Common Market Secretariat (Caricom) has called 
     for a moratorium on this law; and
       Whereas, At the urging of other concerned nations, the 
     organization of American states sent a special mission to the 
     Dominican Republic and Haiti in order to investigate the 
     situation between the two countries to prepare a report for 
     the secretary general of the organization of American states; 
     and
       Whereas, A broad coalition of humanitarian, academic, 
     legal, political and civil rights groups from across 
     Massachusetts, including but not limited to: the Irish 
     International Immigrant Center, Haitian Americans United, 
     Inc., Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Catholic 
     Charities' Haitian Multi-service Center of Boston, as well as 
     the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti call for 
     immediate action by the Dominican government to reverse the 
     effects of the constitutional court rulings and special law 
     169-14: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts general court requests the 
     U.S. State department and the U.S. Secretary of State to 
     pursue a multilateral approach to promptly address the 
     potential crisis in the Dominican Republic that could render 
     tens of thousands of dominicans of haitian descent stateless; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be transmitted 
     forthwith by the clerk of the Senate to the President of the 
     United States of America, the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the United States Congress, Secretary of 
     State John Kerry and United States Ambassador to the 
     Dominican Republic James Brewster.
                                  ____

       POM-93. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts supporting the friendship 
     between Massachusetts and Taiwan in the international 
     community; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                              Resolutions

       Whereas, The United States and Taiwan share an important 
     relationship supported by common values of freedom, 
     democracy, rule of law and a free market economy; and
       Whereas, President Ma Ying-Jeou has worked to uphold 
     democratic principles in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of 
     Taiwan's more than 23 million people, promote Taiwan's 
     international standing and to strengthen relations between 
     the United States and Taiwan; and
       Whereas, The Commonwealth has enjoyed a close friendship 
     with Taiwan, marked by strong bilateral trade, educational 
     and cultural exchange, scientific and technological 
     development and tourism; and
       Whereas, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods 
     to Taiwan of which the Commonwealth exported $825 million in 
     commodities, mostly in machinery, computer and electronic 
     products and chemicals; and
       Whereas, the United States has maintained and developed its 
     robust commercial ties with Taiwan and Taiwan is the tenth 
     largest trading partner of the United States while the United 
     States is Taiwan's largest foreign investor, Taiwan has 
     worked to enter a bilateral investment agreement to further 
     enhance its trade and investment relations with the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, Taiwan has been a member of the United States visa 
     waiver program since November 1, 2012, reflecting the 
     cooperation between the United States and Taiwan and making 
     travel for business and tourism more convenient; and
       Whereas, Taiwan has made significant contributions toward 
     peace in the region through discussions regarding the use of 
     resources in the surrounding seas and has worked diligently 
     to propose East and South China Sea Peace Initiatives; and
       Whereas, Taiwan is a key transport hub in the Asia-Pacific 
     region and has jurisdiction over the 176,000 square nautical 
     miles of the Taipei flight information region and has 
     attended the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, 
     assembly as a special guest since 2013; and
       Whereas, Taiwan is committed to ICAO standards and seeks to 
     expand its meaningful participation in the ICAO, including 
     attending technicai and regional meetings and related 
     activities; and
       Whereas, Taiwan strives to be included in the work of the 
     United Nations framework convention on climate change and has 
     expressed a keen interest in the global effort to address 
     climate change: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts General Court hereby 
     reaffirms the friendship between the Commonwealth and Taiwan; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted 
     forthwith by the clerk of the Senate to the President of the 
     United States, to the presiding officer of each branch of 
     Congress and the members thereof from the Commonwealth, to 
     the Honorable Charles D. Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth, 
     to the Honorable Ma Ying-Jeou, President of Taiwan and Scott 
     Lai, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Office in the City of Boston.
                                  ____

       POM-94. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana memorializing the United States 
     Congress to take such actions as are necessary to work to 
     adopt policies that will help with the stability and the 
     viability of the domestic shrimp industry, including support 
     for the Imported Seafood Safety Standards Act; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 225

       Whereas, consumption of seafood is one of the fastest 
     growing areas of our nation's food supply with shrimp being 
     one of the most consumed seafood products in the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, over three-fourths of the seafood consumed in the 
     United States is imported from other countries around the 
     world with shrimp as the leading fresh or frozen product 
     imported into the United States accounting for about twenty-
     eight percent of all seafood imports by weight; and
       Whereas, most of the shrimp consumed in the United States 
     is grown in man-made ponds along the coasts of Thailand, 
     Vietnam, Ecuador, and other tropical countries rather than 
     being harvested from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico; and
       Whereas, the countries that produce most of the shrimp 
     consumed worldwide support their shrimp hatcheries with large 
     state subsidies to keep the price of their shrimp lower than 
     the prices that our domestic Gulf of Mexico shrimpers need to 
     charge in order to just break even; and
       Whereas, the Tariff Act of 1930, a law originally 
     introduced to protect farmers from imports, allows United 
     States industries to ``petition the government for relief 
     from imports that benefit from subsidies provided through 
     foreign government programs''; and
       Whereas, the United States Department of Commerce launched 
     an investigation in 2013 to determine whether there was 
     sufficient evidence to support the claim that the seven 
     largest shrimp-producing countries were subsidizing their 
     shrimp industries, an investigation that will run 
     concurrently with the International Trade Commission's (ITC) 
     examination of whether the subsidies are causing significant 
     injury to United States producers with both investigations 
     needing to call for countervailing duties before any 
     penalties could be applied; and
       Whereas, in September 2013, the ITC voted to throw out the 
     shrimp countervailing duty case based on the fact that injury 
     to the domestic industry was not proven, thus removing the 
     possibility of a countervailing duty and terminating the 
     shrimp subsidy investigation against Ecuador, China, India, 
     Malaysia, and Vietnam; and
       Whereas, the ITC's decision has had a devastating impact on 
     the domestic shrimp industry, including the shrimpers 
     trawling the Gulf of Mexico and landing their shrimp at 
     Louisiana docks; and
       Whereas, without relief from the unfair foreign competition 
     undercutting the domestic shrimp prices, the prices that 
     shrimpers

[[Page S7469]]

     are getting at the dock have dropped over fifty percent from 
     last year making it almost impossible for shrimpers to earn 
     enough money to provide for their families; and
       Whereas, the Imported Seafood Safety Standards Act 
     introduced in the United States Senate by Louisiana Senator 
     David Vitter is being supported by the American Shrimp 
     Processors Association and it specifically targets foreign 
     food imported into the United States with hopes of tightening 
     testing standards, increasing inspection standards on foreign 
     imported seafood, requiring placement of United States safety 
     standards for foreign exporters, and increasing severe 
     penalties for exporters who fail food safety inspections, 
     ultimately benefitting the American shrimp industry: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to work to adopt policies that will help 
     with the stability and the viability of the domestic shrimp 
     industry including support for the Imported Seafood Safety 
     Standards Act; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-95. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging the United States Congress to enact 
     legislation that requires uniform and science-based food 
     labeling nationwide; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 59

       Whereas, In the absence of a federal genetically modified 
     organism (GMO) labeling standard, some states and localities 
     have developed a patchwork of labeling proposals that can be 
     confusing and misleading to consumers. Multiple local 
     regulations increase agriculture and food production costs, 
     requiring food companies operating in Michigan to create 
     separate supply chains to be developed for each state; and
       Whereas, GMOs are found in 70 to 80 percent of the foods we 
     eat and play a vital role in maintaining Michigan's 
     agriculture, food processing, and other industries. In 2014, 
     100 percent of all sugar beets, 93 percent of all corn, and 
     91 percent of all soybeans grown in Michigan were genetically 
     modified; and
       Whereas, A maze of regulations would cripple interstate 
     commerce throughout the food supply and distribution chain 
     and ultimately increase grocery prices for consumers by 
     hundreds of dollars each year. A Cornell University study 
     found that a patchwork of state labeling laws would increase 
     food costs for a family by an average of $500 per year; and
       Whereas, On July 23, 2015, the U.S. House of 
     Representatives passed bipartisan legislation--the Safe and 
     Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599)--to avoid this 
     patchwork of regulations and the costly challenges it 
     creates; and
       Whereas, Senate passage of the Safe and Accurate Food 
     Labeling Act will allow consumers to have access to accurate 
     and consistent information on products that contain GMOs by 
     ensuring that labeling is national, uniform, and science-
     based. The bill also establishes a United States Department 
     of Agriculture (USDA)-administered certification and labeling 
     program, modeled after the USDA National Organic Program for 
     non-GMO, organic foods: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States 
     Congress to enact legislation that requires uniform and 
     science-based food labeling nationwide; 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-96. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California commemorating the 43rd anniversary of 
     Title IX, and commending the national movement toward 
     increased equality and fair treatment of all students; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 23

       Whereas, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a 
     federal law that specifically states that no person in the 
     United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from 
     participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected 
     to discrimination under any education program or activity 
     receiving federal financial assistance; and
       Whereas, All public and private elementary schools and 
     secondary schools, school districts, colleges, and 
     universities receiving any federal funding must comply with 
     Title IX; and
       Whereas, Title IX requires equal access in recruitment, 
     admissions, counseling, financial assistance, discipline, 
     employment, and athletics; protection from sex-based 
     harassment; and equitable treatment of pregnant and parenting 
     students; and
       Whereas, Prior to the enactment of Title IX, many women and 
     girls faced discrimination and limited opportunities in 
     athletics, academics, and extracurricular activities; and
       Whereas, Discrimination on the basis of sex can include 
     sexual harassment or sexual violence, including rape, sexual 
     assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion; and
       Whereas, Title IX has been used as a basis in a number of 
     complaints alleging sexual violence on college campuses, as 
     sexual violence interferes with a student's right to receive 
     education free from discrimination; and
       Whereas, Of the 109 colleges and universities under 
     investigation by the United States Department of Education 
     for their handling of sexual violence cases, 11 are located 
     in California; and
       Whereas, Title IX, which governs educational equity 
     generally, is widely known for ensuring equal access to women 
     and girl athletes; and
       Whereas, The members of the United States Women's National 
     Soccer Team, which is ranked #2 in the world and continues to 
     make our nation proud, all played collegiate level soccer; 
     and
       Whereas, Title IX regulations require that pregnant and 
     parenting students have equal access to schools and 
     activities, and that all separate programs for pregnant or 
     parenting students be completely voluntary; and
       Whereas, Title IX has been the basis for California laws 
     that protect graduate students from discrimination on the 
     basis of pregnancy in research projects in California 
     universities, laws requiring affirmative consent, and current 
     legislation requiring lactation accommodations in California 
     schools; and
       Whereas, The educational equity guaranteed in Title IX does 
     not solely apply to women. It protects everyone from sex-
     based discrimination, regardless of real or perceived sex, 
     gender identity, or gender expression; and
       Whereas, Although Title IX has increased opportunities for 
     girls and women in academics, sports, and other educational 
     activities, it has not yet achieved the goal of full 
     equality: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature urges Californians 
     to continue to work together to achieve the goals set by 
     Title IX of increased opportunities for girls and women in 
     academics, sports, and other educational activities; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California, 
     on June 23, 2015, commemorates the 43rd anniversary of Title 
     IX, and commends the national movement toward increased 
     equality and fair treatment of all students; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-97. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California urging the President of the United 
     States and the United States Congress to craft a balanced and 
     workable approach to reduce incentives for and minimize 
     unnecessary patent litigation while ensuring that legitimate 
     patent enforcement rights are protected and maintained; to 
     the Committee on the Judiciary.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 9

       Whereas, The principle of intellectual property is 
     enshrined in the United States Constitution, specifically 
     under clause 8 of Section 8 of Article I of the United States 
     Constitution, which empowers Congress to ``promote the 
     Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited 
     Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their 
     respective Writings and Discoveries''; and
       Whereas, A robust patent system is critical to promote 
     economic growth and innovation and ensure just compensation 
     for the labor and proliferation of beneficial ideas and 
     innovations; and
       Whereas, California accounts for 25 percent of the nation's 
     patents; and
       Whereas, The state recognizes and respects the importance 
     of patent protections and patent enforcement rights to 
     driving continued research, investment, technological 
     innovation, and job creation across multiple sectors of our 
     economy; and
       Whereas, Small businesses depend on patents to secure 
     investments, and firms with fewer than 25 employees hold 
     nearly one-quarter of United States-held patents in 
     innovative emerging technologies; and
       Whereas, Enforcement of legitimate patent rights is 
     essential to promoting an innovation environment that fuels 
     economic growth; and
       Whereas, There is increasing concern about litigation by 
     predatory Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs), which are built 
     on a rent-seeking business model that exploits the patent 
     legal system for financial gain without producing or 
     manufacturing anything of value for society; and
       Whereas, Many PAEs attain ambiguous patents with the sole 
     intent of filing patent infringement lawsuits. PAEs assert 
     these patents against businesses of all sizes and in all 
     industries, often years after the product has become standard 
     and widely used; and
       Whereas, PAEs rarely earn successful judgments in court, 
     underscoring the questionable merits of these particular 
     patent cases. However, given the high cost and risks 
     associated with patent litigation, most defendants choose to 
     settle in order to avoid further financial loss. Indeed, many 
     PAEs will offer royalty settlements below market value in 
     order to encourage settlement and avoid trial; and

[[Page S7470]]

       Whereas, Predatory PAEs have a detrimental impact on the 
     economy and innovation. PAE activities cost businesses $29 
     billion directly, mostly borne by small- and medium-sized 
     businesses; and
       Whereas, The growth of patent litigation is directly tied 
     to aggressive PAEs in recent years. In 2010, PAEs were 
     responsible for 29 percent of patent litigation, and by 2012 
     PAEs represented 62 percent of all patent suits; and
       Whereas, The California economy is especially vulnerable to 
     lawsuits directed at information technology patents; and
       Whereas, Federal legislation is necessary to prevent and 
     deter abusive patent litigation; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President 
     and the Congress of the United States to craft a balanced and 
     workable approach to reduce incentives for and minimize 
     unnecessary patent litigation while ensuring that legitimate 
     patent enforcement rights are protected and maintained; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the 
     House of Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority 
     Leader of the Senate, and each member of the California 
     delegation to the United States Congress.
                                  ____

  

       POM-98. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California urging the United States Congress to 
     further amend the GI Bill of Rights to make benefits 
     available to veterans for use as startup capital in the 
     establishment of first businesses; to the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 7

       Whereas, Men and women of the State of California volunteer 
     to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States in greater 
     numbers than those from any other state; and
       Whereas, California is currently home to more than 
     1,800,000 veterans of our Armed Forces; and
       Whereas, California veterans have been grateful recipients 
     of the financial support of their fellow Americans through 
     the Veterans Administration and the GI Bill; and
       Whereas, The Congress of the United States passed, and 
     President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed, the GI Bill of Rights 
     in 1944 to support our veterans of World War II in their 
     transition back to civilian life; and
       Whereas, The Congress of the United States in 2008 added 
     significant new benefits for those who enlisted to serve the 
     nation in the wake of the attacks on the United States on 
     September 11, 2001; and
       Whereas, Up to 10 percent of veterans choose to start, run, 
     and own their own businesses; and
       Whereas, Over 30 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and other fronts on the 
     war against terrorism are receiving disability ratings from 
     the federal Veterans Administration; and
       Whereas, More than five million Americans, including over 
     one-half million Californians, served in those conflicts; and
       Whereas, The State of California is the recognized national 
     leader in the establishment and success of veteran business 
     owner procurement support programs, and
       Whereas, Veteran businesses make a significant contribution 
     to the state's economy and serve as a source of employment 
     for fellow veterans; and
       Whereas, Finding enough capital to successfully launch a 
     new business or buy an existing business is the largest 
     challenge that new business owners face: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature requests that the 
     Congress of the United States of America further amend the GI 
     Bill of Rights to make benefits available, with all 
     appropriate safeguards, to all veterans for use as startup 
     capital in the establishment of first businesses; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to 
     each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States.

                          ____________________