[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 177 (Tuesday, December 8, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8486-S8492]
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-109. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging the United States Congress to enact 
     legislation for the purpose of enhancing hunting, fishing, 
     recreational shooting, and other outdoor recreational 
     opportunities, as well as strengthen conservation efforts 
     nationwide; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                       Senate Resolution No. 109

       Whereas, To this day, conservation is funded primarily by 
     sportsmen and women. This

[[Page S8487]]

     American System of Conservation Funding is a user pays-public 
     benefits approach that includes excise taxes on hunting, 
     fishing, and boating equipment. This strategy is widely 
     recognized as the most successful model of fish and wildlife 
     management funding in the world; and
       Whereas, Through the pursuit of their outdoor passions, 
     sportsmen and women support hundreds of thousands of jobs and 
     contribute billions to our economy annually through salaries, 
     wages, and product purchases; and
       Whereas, The United States Congress has worked on several 
     pieces of legislation over the years to boost a number of key 
     conservation priorities that are supported by millions in the 
     outdoor recreational community; and
       Whereas, Currently pending legislation in both the U.S. 
     House and Senate would create or renew several important 
     programs that are vital to the continued conservation of our 
     natural resources, the health of America's local economies, 
     and the enhancement and protection of our time-honored 
     outdoor pastimes. Known as the Sportsmen's Heritage and 
     Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406) and the 
     Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act (S. 405), these bills contain a 
     broad array of bipartisan measures, including the 
     Recreational Fishing and Hunting Opportunities Act; the 
     Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act; 
     the Target Practice and Marksmanship & Training Support Act; 
     and the Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act; and
       Whereas, A complementary piece of pro-sportsmen legislation 
     also exists in the U.S. House, called the Sportsmen's 
     Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Enhancement (SCORE) Act 
     (H.R. 3173). It shares several similar titles with the SHARE 
     Act and Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act. Provisions in the SCORE 
     Act include: the National Fish Habitat Initiative Sense of 
     Congress, the Federal Lands Transaction Facilitation Act 
     reauthorization, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act 
     reauthorization, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
     reauthorization, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation 
     Act reauthorization, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife 
     Program Act reauthorization, and the Making Public Lands 
     Public authorization; and
       Whereas, By renewing or creating these programs, these 
     bills will enhance opportunities for hunters, anglers, 
     recreational shooters, and other outdoor recreation 
     enthusiasts, improve access to public lands, and help boost 
     the outdoor recreation economy. Conserving our fish and 
     wildlife resources and their habitats and ensuring that 
     future generations have access to public lands and continued 
     recreational opportunities are of great importance and are 
     bipartisan issues: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States 
     Congress to enact legislation for the purpose of enhancing 
     hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other outdoor 
     recreational opportunities, as well as strengthen 
     conservation efforts 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-110. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging the President 
     of the United States and the United States Congress to 
     support the National Breast Cancer Coalition's goal of 
     knowing how to end breast cancer by 2020; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 144

       Whereas, Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition and breast cancer 
     prevention advocates across the country are joining their 
     collective voices in the call for an end to breast cancer. 
     State level advocates in conjunction with the National Breast 
     Cancer Coalition (NBCC) are undertaking the challenge 
     referred to as Breast Cancer Deadline 2020; and
       Whereas, Breast Cancer Deadline 2020, created by the NBCC 
     has set the goal and developed a strategic plan to know how 
     to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020. NBCC developed a 
     blueprint that involves research, access and influence. This 
     includes leveraging financial resources, ensuring individuals 
     at risk have access to information and medical care; and 
     harnessing the influence of leaders in government and 
     industry; and
       Whereas, Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-
     skin cancer in women in the United States. Michigan counties 
     have some of the highest incidences of breast cancer in the 
     country. This disease affects women of all ages, claimin 'yes 
     of thousands each year; and
       Whereas, The advancement of the NBCC strategic plan for 
     eradicating this disease is imperative. This plan focuses on 
     prevention, including how to prevent the often fatal 
     metastasis of cancer once it is detected. All elements of the 
     NBCC strate ic plan are necessary to find an end to this 
     disease: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the 
     President and the Congress of the United States to support 
     the National Breast Cancer Coalition's goal of knowing how to 
     end breast cancer by 2020; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, 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-111. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan 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 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-112. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging the United States Senate to concur with the 
     United States House of Representatives and repeal the 
     country-of-origin labeling regulations; to the Committee on 
     Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                        Senate Resolution No. 87

       Whereas, The United States and Canada have the largest 
     trading relationship in the world, with bilateral trade 
     valued at $759 billion in 2014, an association that benefits 
     the

[[Page S8488]]

     economies of both countries. Michigan's merchandise exports 
     to Canada in 2014 were valued at $25.4 billion, and 259,000 
     Michigan jobs depend on trade and investment with Canada; and
       Whereas, The U.S. has implemented mandatory country-of-
     origin labeling (COOL) rules requiring meats sold at retail 
     stores to be labeled with information on the source of the 
     meat. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has repeatedly ruled 
     that COOL discriminates against imported livestock and is not 
     compliant with international trade obligations. Due to the 
     WTO rulings, the U.S. may be subject to $3.6 billion in 
     retaliatory tariffs sought by Canada and Mexico; and
       Whereas, COOL regulations also jeopardize the viability of 
     the U.S. packing and feeding industries. The additional $500 
     million in annual compliance costs could lead to significant 
     job losses and plant closures with potentially devastating 
     impacts to local and state economies. All this for an issue 
     the United States Department of Agriculture has clearly 
     indicated is not about food safety; and
       Whereas, The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2393 
     to repeal the mandatory labeling for certain meats in June 
     2015 with 300 votes, showing a strong recognition across 
     party lines, as well as regionally, that COOL must be 
     repealed. However, the U.S. Senate appears less inclined to 
     repeal the COOL requirement, risking the American economy to 
     billions of dollars in retaliatory tariffs: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States 
     Senate to concur with the United States House of 
     Representatives and repeal the country-of-origin labeling 
     regulations; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-113. 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 support legislation 
     which will provide a comprehensive solution to allow banks 
     and credit unions to perform financial services for cannabis 
     businesses without federal retribution; to the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 25

       Whereas, Cannabis use for medical purposes is legal in 23 
     states and is legal for recreational purpose in four states 
     and in the District of Columbia. The expansion of cannabis 
     businesses across the United States requires action from 
     Congress and the federal government; and
       Whereas, While many states have laws permitting various 
     degrees of commercial activity using cannabis, it remains 
     illegal under federal law. The conflict between federal and 
     state laws has left financial institutions serving cannabis-
     related businesses on uncertain legal ground. Banks and 
     credit unions are concerned that providing financial services 
     for businesses selling a product that is illegal under 
     federal law exposes them to possible charges of money 
     laundering and drug trafficking; and
       Whereas, Federal laws, including the Controlled Substances 
     Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and the Annunzio-Wylie Anti-Money 
     Laundering Act, prohibit financial institutions from 
     providing financial services to cannabis and hemp businesses. 
     Directives from federal regulatory agencies such as the 
     Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
     the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of 
     the Comptroller of the Currency also prohibit bankers from 
     accepting deposits from cannabis or hemp businesses; and
       Whereas, In February 2014, the United States Treasury's 
     Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, in 
     coordination with the United States Department of Justice, 
     also issued a memo outlining expectations for compliance with 
     the Bank Secrecy Act. Despite this progress, remaining 
     uncertainties under current federal as still prevent banks 
     and credit unions from accepting cannabis-based businesses as 
     customers; and
       Whereas, The medical, retail, and hemp agricultural 
     businesses are unable to accept credit or debit cards from 
     customers because electronic payments are handled through the 
     banking system. Therefore, transactions must be conducted in 
     cash. Further, these businesses cannot deposit cash from 
     sales into financial institutions. This is a major problem in 
     California as many businesses now have hundreds of thousands 
     of dollars in cash at their locations, which poses a public 
     safety risk to businesses, employees, and customers; and
       Whereas, The lack of financial services makes paying taxes 
     to local governments and the California State Board of 
     Equalization a challenge because tax payments must be made in 
     cash by cannabis-related businesses, leading to hundreds of 
     thousands of dollars in cash being brought directly into 
     government offices. It is difficult for the State Board of 
     Equalization to audit cash-based businesses, especially when 
     records of wholesale transactions are not available; and
       Whereas, Cannabis businesses cannot easily comply with 
     California tax laws, which has led to a significant 
     underpayment of revenue owed the state. In response, the 
     State Board of Equalization launched the Cannabis Compliance 
     Pilot Project in January 2015 to help determine both the 
     degree of noncompliance with state tax law and the amount of 
     lost tax revenue. However, state efforts alone cannot solve 
     the problem: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully urges 
     the President and Congress to support legislation which will 
     provide a comprehensive solution to allow banks and credit 
     unions to perform financial services for cannabis businesses 
     without federal retribution. The current system that requires 
     cash-based transactions poses a risk to public safety and 
     leads to reduced collection of taxes; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and the Vice 
     President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House 
     of Representatives, to the Minority Leader of the House of 
     Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the 
     Minority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and 
     Representative from California in the Congress of the United 
     States.
                                  ____

  

       POM-114. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California urging the United States Congress to 
     permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water 
     Conservation Fund; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
     Works.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 27

       Whereas, The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was 
     created by Congress in 1965 as a bipartisan commitment for 
     protection of natural areas, water resources, cultural 
     heritage, and outdoor recreational opportunities throughout 
     the country; and
       Whereas, Over the 50 years since the LWCF was created, 
     billions of dollars in funding have been provided to protect 
     valuable land and water resources, including, but not limited 
     to, parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wildlife habitat, and 
     recreational opportunities. These investments have resulted 
     in the permanent protection of nearly five million acres of 
     public lands and working landscapes; and
       Whereas, Despite being chronically underfunded, the LWCF 
     has had several positive conservation and recreation impacts 
     throughout the country, has protected lands in each state, 
     and has supported over 41,000 state and local park projects; 
     and
       Whereas, Since its inception, the LWCF has delivered over 
     $2 billion to California, and has provided hundreds of 
     millions of dollars more for projects through its matching 
     fund program; and
       Whereas, The LWCF has helped conserve some of California's 
     most treasured and iconic natural resources in each region of 
     the state, including, but not limited to, Lake Tahoe, the 
     Mojave Desert, Point Reyes National Seashore, the Headwaters 
     Forest Reserve, the San Diego and Don Edwards San Francisco 
     Bay National Wildlife Refuges, working forests in the Sierra 
     Nevada, and Central Valley wetlands; and
       Whereas, The LWCF has provided funding for outdoor 
     recreational and park programs benefitting underserved youth 
     and others in urban and rural communities throughout the 
     state, and has established a critical federal partnership 
     with state and local parks and communities; and,
       Whereas, Forest Legacy Program grants are also funded 
     through the LWCF to protect working forests, which support 
     jobs and sustainable forest operations and enhance wildlife 
     habitat, water quality, and recreation. The Forest Legacy 
     Program grants have provided $12 million in federal funds, 
     which along with matching funds have provided a total of $62 
     million in investments in California forests; and
       Whereas, The LWCF is critical to the quality of life in 
     California. The LWCF protects watersheds and drinking water 
     supplies; provides sustainable jobs in urban and rural 
     communities; protects the economic asset that federal, state, 
     and local public lands represent; conserves natural areas, 
     wildlife habitats, and open space from urban parks to large 
     landscapes; improves access for sportsmen, sportswomen, and 
     recreationists to natural lands; stimulates local economies 
     and jobs that support tourism and outdoor recreation sectors; 
     preserves wetlands, forests, and watersheds; and provides 
     state and local grants to support healthy communities; and
       Whereas, According to the Outdoor Industry Association, 
     active outdoor recreation supports $85.4 billion of consumer 
     spending and 723,000 jobs in California, which annually 
     generates $27 billion in wages and salaries and $6.7 billion 
     in state and local tax revenue; and
       Whereas, The United States Census Bureau reports that each 
     year 7.4 million people engage in outdoor recreation in 
     California, which contributes over $8 billion of wildlife-
     related recreation spending to the state economy; and
       Whereas, Despite the LWCF's successes, many more lands and 
     resources remain vulnerable and in critical need of 
     investment, and many urban and rural populations remain 
     underserved; and
       Whereas, The LWCF will expire if not reauthorized by 
     Congress before September 30, 2015: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature urges Congress to 
     permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water 
     Conservation Fund; 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

[[Page S8489]]

     the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States, and to the 
     author for appropriate distribution.
                                  ____

       POM-115. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging the United States Congress to restore Great 
     Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to $300 million 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 within 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 supported 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 than 2,000 
     projects through the GLRI. Over its first five years, the 
     GLRI has provided more than $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 than 3,400 
     miles of rivers; helped implement conservation programs on 
     more than 1 million acres 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-16. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California urging the President of the United 
     States to encourage the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services to adopt policies to repeal the current and upcoming 
     discriminatory donor suitability policies of the United 
     States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding blood 
     donations; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 16

       Whereas, Since 1983, the United States Food and Drug 
     Administration (FDA), an agency under the United States 
     Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has prohibited 
     the donation of blood by any man who has had sex with another 
     man (MSM) at any time since 1977; and
       Whereas, in December 2014, based on recommendation from the 
     HHS Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and 
     Availability, the FDA announced its intent to promulgate 
     regulations to allow an MSM to donate blood only if he has 
     not been sexually active for the past 12 months. Despite 
     these recent steps toward a policy change, a double standard 
     would still exist under the policy as it is proposed to be 
     revised because it would still treat gay and bisexual men 
     differently from heterosexual men; and
       Whereas, California law prohibits discrimination against 
     individuals on the basis of actual or perceived sex, sexual 
     orientation, gender identity. and gender-related appearance 
     and behavior, and
       Whereas, Spain, Italy, Russia, Mexico, and Portugal have 
     adopted blood donor policies that measure risk against a set 
     of behaviors sexual and otherwise, rather than the sex of a 
     person's sexual partner or partners; and
       Whereas, The FDA does not allow gay and bisexual men in 
     committed relationships to donate blood because, while one 
     partner may be monogamous, that individual cannot guarantee 
     that the other partner is monogamous. The FDA does not apply 
     this same logic to heterosexual relationships, which in 
     effect discriminates against gay and bisexual men; and
       Whereas, a 12-month deferral policy for gay and bisexual 
     men to donate blood is overly stringent given the scientific 
     evidence, advanced testing methods, and the safety and 
     quality control measures in place within the different FDA-
     qualified blood donating centers. The techniques can identify 
     within 7 to 10 days with 99.9 percent accuracy whether or not 
     a blood sample is HIV-positive, and the chance of the blood 
     test being inaccurate within the 10-day window is about 1 in 
     2,000,000; and
       Whereas, The General Social Survey conducted by NORC by 
     NORC at the University of Chicago estimates that 8.5 percent 
     of men in the United States have had at least one male sexual 
     partner since 18 years of age, 4.1 percent of men report at 
     least one male sex partner in the last 5 years, and 3.8 
     percent report a male sex partner in the last 12 months; and
       Whereas, An estimated 45.4 percent of men (54 million) in 
     the United States are eligible to donate blood, but only 8.7 
     percent of eligible men actually do. There are 15.7 million 
     donations of blood per year made by 9.2 million donors, 
     yielding approximately 1.7 donations per donor; and
       Whereas, The Williams Institute of the University of 
     California at Los Angeles School of Law estimates that, based 
     on the population of eligible and likely donors among the MSM 
     community, lifting the federal lifetime deferral policy on 
     blood donation by an MSM would result in 4.2 million newly 
     eligible male donors, of which 360,600 would likely donate, 
     generating 615,300 additional pints of blood. Applying 
     national estimates to the California population, the 
     Institute further estimates that lifting the ban on MSM blood 
     donations would add an additional 510,000 eligible men to the 
     current blood donor pool, of which 43,917 would likely 
     donate, resulting in an additional 74,945 donated pints in 
     California: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the California State Legislature 
     calls upon the President of the United States to encourage 
     the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and 
     Human Services to adopt policies to repeal the current and 
     upcoming discriminatory donor suitability policies of the 
     United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding 
     blood donations by men who have had sex with another man and, 
     instead, direct the FDA to develop science-based policies 
     such as criteria based on risky behavior in lieu of sexual 
     orientation; 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 Secretary of the United States 
     Department of Health and Human Services, 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.
                                  ____

       POM-117. 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 CMOs 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

[[Page S8490]]

       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-118. 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 take steps to reform 
     the outdated and inadequate Official Poverty Measure to 
     better reflect poverty and the unmet needs demonstrated by 
     the Supplemental Poverty Measure; to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 22

       Whereas, The Official Poverty Measure is determined by the 
     United States Census Bureau and is instrumental in 
     determining an individual's eligibility for a number of 
     government programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition 
     Assistance Program; Medicaid; School Lunch Program; Women, 
     Infants, and Children Program; Housing Assistance; and 
     others; and
       Whereas, The method we use today was developed in 1964 by 
     Mollie Orshansky of the Social Security Administration; and
       Whereas, Orshansky's method used before-tax cash income to 
     deterimine a family's resources, which was then compared to a 
     poverty threshold; and
       Whereas, In determining this poverty threshold, Orshansky 
     used a food plan developed by the federal Department of 
     Agriculture that was designed for ``temporary or emergency 
     use when funds are low,'' and then multiplied the cost of the 
     plan by three because, at the time, a family typically used 
     about a third of their income on food; and
       Whereas, Other than minor changes, the method has remained 
     the same over time, despite significant economic and 
     governmental changes, including the introduction of Medicare 
     and Medicaid, the shift from a manufacturing to a service 
     economy, welfare reform of the 1990s, and the general 
     stagnation of wages; and
       Whereas, The Official Poverty Measure is a one-size-fits-
     all policy that leads to a distorted perception of poverty 
     and an inefficient allocation of resources to fight poverty; 
     and
       Whereas, The Official Poverty Measure has failed to 
     accurately measure poverty because it has not kept up with 
     the changes to our economy and social science research; and
       Whereas, The Official Poverty Measure does not take into 
     account that families no longer spend one-third of their 
     income on food; they currently spend between 5 to 10 percent; 
     and
       Whereas, The Official Poverty Measure does not account for 
     noncash transfers, such as the Supplemental Nutrition 
     Assistance Program or Medicaid, as income; and
       Whereas, The Official Poverty Measure does not account for 
     variations in cost of living in different regions of our 
     country; and
       Whereas, Low-income working families in California are 
     especially disadvantaged by the Official Poverty Measure due 
     to our state's high cost of living, which results in the 
     denial of federally funded assistance to families living 
     above the federal poverty line, but who are unable to meet 
     their basic needs; and
       Whereas, The Official Poverty Measure does not account for 
     the increase in child care expenses due to the rise in the 
     workforce participation of both parents; and
       Whereas, The Official Poverty Measure does not account for 
     variations in health care coverage and out-of-pocket medical 
     costs; and
       Whereas, Historically, there has been widespread agreement 
     among analysts, advocates, and policymakers that the Official 
     Poverty Measure is inadequate, leading to a 1990 
     Congressional appropriation that was made for an independent 
     scientific study on a new calculation method; and
       Whereas, This study was performed by The National Academy 
     of Sciences, which established the Panel on Poverty and 
     Family Assistance. The panel released a report in 1995 
     entitled ``Measuring Poverty: A New Approach'' which 
     established guidelines for creating a new method; and
       Whereas, Fifteen years later, in 2010, the Interagency 
     Technical Working Group on Developing a Supplemental Poverty 
     Measure and the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor 
     developed an alternative poverty measure known as the 
     Supplemental Poverty Measure; and
       Whereas, The Supplemental Poverty Measure was designed to 
     take into account changes in the United States economy over 
     time, cost-of-living variations in different parts of the 
     country, and the changing role of government; and
       Whereas, The Supplemental Poverty Measure more accurately 
     measures poverty by using a basic set of goods that includes 
     food, clothing, shelter, and utilities, adjusted to reflect 
     the needs of different family types and to account for 
     geographic differences in living costs to establish what is 
     known as a poverty threshold; and
       Whereas, The Supplemental Poverty Measure defines family 
     resources as the value of cash income from all sources, plus 
     the value of noncash benefits, including nutrition 
     assistance, subsidized housing, home energy assistance, tax 
     credits, and other benefits that are available to buy the 
     basic bundle of goods, minus the necessary expenses for 
     critical goods and services not included in the thresholds; 
     and
       Whereas, Necessary expenses include income taxes, Social 
     Security payroll taxes, childcare and other work-related 
     expenses, child support payments, and contributions toward 
     the cost of medical care and health insurance premiums or 
     out-of-pocket medical costs; and
       Whereas, The Supplemental Poverty Measure offers a more 
     accurate measure of poverty than the general Official Poverty 
     Measure; and
       Whereas, The use of the Official Poverty Measure can have a 
     detrimental effect on policies to combat poverty because it 
     results in less efficient and less accurately targeted 
     policies and expenditures; and
       Whereas, It is vital that we implement a fair poverty 
     measure that allows us to efficiently allocate resources and 
     focus on regions and populations that need help the most; and
       Whereas, Given the numerous inadequacies of the Official 
     Poverty Measure as a tool to accurately target and 
     efficiently allocate antipoverty resources, the Supplemental 
     Poverty Measure should guide the reform and updating of the 
     Official Poverty Measure for administrative purposes in 
     determining financial eligibility for programs intended to 
     reduce poverty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California jointly, That the Legislature of California urges 
     the President and the Congress of the United States to take 
     steps to reform the outdated and inadequate Official Poverty 
     Measure to better reflect poverty and the unmet needs 
     demonstrated by the Supplemental Poverty Measure; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies' of this resolution to the President and the 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, to the Governor of California, 
     and to the author of this resolution.
                                  ____

       POM-119. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California memorializing August 6, 2015, as the 
     50th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 
     1965, and urging the United States Congress and the President 
     of the United States to continue to secure citizens right to 
     vote and remedy any racial discrimination in voting; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13

       Whereas, Signed into law on August 6, 1965, by President 
     Lyndon B. Johnson, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a 
     landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States; 
     and
       Whereas, One hundred and forty-five years ago, in 1870, 
     Congress ratified the 15th Amendment, which declared that the 
     right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on the basis of 
     race, color, or previous condition of servitude; and
       Whereas, By 1910, violence and intimidation resulted in 
     nearly all black citizens being disenfranchised and removed 
     from the voter rolls in the former Confederate States, 
     undermining the promise of equal protection under the law; 
     and
       Whereas, Native American, Latino, and Asian American/
     Pacific Islander communities experienced similar attempts to 
     disenfranchise citizens in their communities throughout the 
     United States; and
       Whereas, Between 1870 and 1965, voters faced, ``first-
     generation barriers,'' such as poll taxes, literacy tests, 
     vouchers of ``good character,'' disqualification for ``crimes 
     of moral turpitude'', and other tactics intended to keep 
     African Americans from the polls on Election Day; and
       Whereas, During the 1920s, African Americans in Selma, 
     Alabama formed the Dallas County Voters League (DCVL). During 
     the 1960s in partnership with organizers from the Student 
     Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the DCVL held registration 
     drives and classes to help African Americans in Dallas County 
     pass the literacy tests required to register to vote. On 
     March 7th, 1965, the first march from Selma to Montgomery 
     took place. The march, nicknamed ``Bloody Sunday'' for the 
     horrific attack on unarmed marchers by armed police, was 
     broadcast nationwide and led to a national outcry for the 
     passage of the Voting Rights Act, and
       Whereas, Often regarded as one of the most effective civil 
     rights laws, the Voting Rights Act was passed with the intent 
     to ban discriminatory voting policies at all levels of 
     government; and
       Whereas, The Voting Rights Act is credited for the 
     enfranchisement of millions of minority voters as well as the 
     diversification of the electorate and legislative bodies 
     throughout all levels of government; and
       Whereas, Before Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act was 
     added in 1975, language minorities were disenfranchised from 
     the electoral process. Section 203 required certain 
     jurisdictions to provide registration or voting notices, 
     forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials and 
     information regarding the electoral process in the language 
     of the applicable minority group; and
       Whereas, In June of 2013, the Supreme Court struck down key 
     sections of the Voting Rights Act that were designed to 
     prevent discriminatory voting policies that can 
     disenfranchise minority voters; and

[[Page S8491]]

       Whereas, Despite 50 years of progress, racial minorities 
     continue to face voting barriers in jurisdictions with a 
     history of discrimination; and
       Whereas, To build a stronger and more cohesive state and 
     nation, we must continue to help advance the cause of voter 
     equality and equal access to the political process for all 
     people in order to protect the rights of every American and
       Whereas, We must continue to educate the next generation 
     about the importance of civic engagement in our communities: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature recognizes August 
     6, 2015, as the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Voting 
     Rights Act of 1965, and recognizes the significant progress 
     made by the Voting Rights Act to protect every citizen's 
     right to vote; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature honors and remembers those 
     who struggled and died for this freedom; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Congress and the 
     President of the United States to continue to secure 
     citizens' right to vote and remedy any racial discrimination 
     in voting; 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 United States 
     Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-120. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California memorializing the United States 
     Congress to ban the sale or display of any Confederate flag, 
     including the Confederate Battle Flag, on federal property 
     and encourage states to ban the use of Confederate States of 
     America symbolism from state flags, seals, and symbols, and 
     would encourage the donation of Confederate artifacts to 
     museums; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 26

       Whereas, According to the 1860 United States Census, the 
     United States population was 31,443,321. The total number of 
     slaves in the Lower South was 2,312,352, comprising 47 
     percent of the total population, and the total number of 
     slaves in the Upper South was 1,208,758, comprising 29 
     percent of the total population; and
       Whereas, South Carolina had a clear Black majority from 
     about 1708 through most of the 18th century. By 1720, there 
     were approximately 18,000 people living in South Carolina and 
     65 percent of those were African American slaves. South 
     Carolina's slave population grew to match the success of its 
     rice culture. Whereas in 1790, there were slightly more 
     Whites than Blacks, with 140,178 Whites and 108,806 Blacks 
     living in South Carolina. By 1860, the Black population had 
     grown, with 291,300 Whites and 412,320 Blacks, to nearly 
     double the White population; and
       Whereas, The Southern United States, including the States 
     of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, 
     Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, Virginia, 
     and South Carolina, seceded, from the greater union in 1860 
     to join the Confederate States of America under President 
     Jefferson Davis and General Robert E. Lee; and
       Whereas, The symbolism of the Confederate flag when the 
     states seceded in 1860 represented, in its personification, 
     secession and treason; and
       Whereas, The first official national flag of the 
     Confederacy, often called the Stars and Bars, was flown from 
     March 4, 1861, to May 1, 1863, inclusive. The Stars and Bars 
     flag was adopted March 4, 1861, in the first temporary 
     national capital of Montgomery, Alabama, and was raised over 
     the dome of that first Confederate Capitol; and
       Whereas, At the First Battle of Manassas, the first battle 
     of the Civil War, the similarity between the Stars and Bars 
     and the Stars and Stripes caused confusion and military 
     problems. Regiments carried flags to help commanders observe 
     and assess battles in the warfare of the era. At a distance, 
     the two national flags were hard to tell apart. In addition, 
     Confederate regiments carried many other flags, which added 
     to the possibility of confusion; and
       Whereas, After the battle, General Pierre Gustave Toutant 
     Beauregard, a prominent general of the Confederate States 
     Army during the Civil War, wrote that he was resolved then to 
     have the Confederate flag changed if possible, or to adopt 
     for his command a ``battle flag,'' the Stars and Bars, that 
     would be entirely different from any state or federal flag. 
     His aide William Porcher Miles, the former chair of the 
     Committee on the Flag and Seal, described his rejected 
     national flag design to Beauregard. Miles also told the 
     Committee on the Flag and Seal about the general's complaints 
     and request for the national flag to be changed. The 
     committee rejected this idea by a four to one vote, after 
     which Beauregard proposed the idea of having two flags. He 
     described the idea in a letter to his commander General 
     Joseph E. Johnston: ``How would it do for us to address the 
     War Dept. on the subject for a supply of Regimental or badge 
     flags made of red with two blue bars crossing each other 
     diagonally on which shall be introduced the stars, . . . We 
     would then on the field of battle know our friends from our 
     enemies''; and
       Whereas, Although the soldiers of the Confederacy were 
     never tried by the United States government after the Civil 
     War, Jefferson Davis and General Robert E. Lee were indicted 
     and later acquitted of all charges by President Andrew 
     Johnson as he left office in 1869; and
       Whereas, After the Civil War ended, groups such as the Ku 
     Klux Klan were formed to promote White supremacy and racial 
     hatred. The Ku Klux Klan, perhaps the most infamous, was one 
     of the first groups to continue using the Confederate flag 
     after the war. The Ku Klux Klan rallied others still vexed 
     after the war to instill fear and spout hate against freed 
     African Americans; and
       Whereas, The flag was later resurrected in the 1950s to 
     rally resistance to the Civil Rights movement and support the 
     South's desire to maintain segregation and further the 
     policies of Jim Crow; and
       Whereas, In South Carolina the Confederate flag was moved 
     to the top of their State Capitol building in 1962, after 
     President John F. Kennedy called on the Congress of the 
     United States to end poll taxes and literacy tests for 
     voting, and the United States Supreme Court struck down 
     segregation in public transportation; and
       Whereas, According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 
     there are 788 ``hate groups'' in the United States. Of these, 
     57 are located in the State of California, which is the 
     highest of any state. There are a total of 283 of these hate 
     groups in the former Confederate states. Nineteen of these 
     hate groups reside in South Carolina. Of these 19 hate 
     groups, 16 use the Confederate flag as one of their symbols. 
     These hate groups include the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis, and 
     Neo-Confederates; and
       Whereas, African Americans make up 15.6 percent of the 
     population of the United States, or 45 million people, but in 
     2013, they were victims of one-third of all hate crimes in 
     the United States, which is the highest number of any group 
     in America; and
       Whereas, On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof went to Emanuel AME 
     Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and opened fire during 
     a Wednesday Bible study, killing nine of the church's 
     attendees; and
       Whereas, Over the last five years, friends of Dylann Roof 
     had seen him become increasingly aligned with White 
     supremacist ideologies. They observed his behavior becoming 
     more fanatical than that of the most notorious hate groups in 
     his native South Carolina. Dylann Roof believed that it was 
     up to him to do the work that other hate groups were failing 
     to do. Dylann Roof believed that African Americans were 
     ``stupid and violent'' people and viewed Hispanics and 
     Latinos as the ``enemy''; and
       Whereas, Dylann Roof has been photographed on various 
     occasions with the same Confederate flag that many of these 
     hate groups proudly display; and
       Whereas, Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed by Public 
     Policy Polling believe that the shooting attack at Emanuel 
     AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, was a hate crime 
     and 34 percent surveyed believe it was a form of terrorism; 
     and
       Whereas, Since the end of the Civil War, private and 
     official use of the Confederacy's flags, and of flags with 
     derivative designs, has continued and generated 
     philosophical, political, cultural, and racial controversy in 
     the United States. These include flags displayed in states, 
     cities, towns, counties, schools, colleges, or universities, 
     or by private organizations, associations, or by individuals; 
     and
       Whereas, In some American states the Confederate flag is 
     given the same protection from burning and desecration as the 
     United States flag. It is protected from being publicly 
     mutilated, defiled, or otherwise cast in contempt by the laws 
     of five states: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and 
     South Carolina. However, laws banning the desecration of any 
     flag, even if technically remaining in effect, were ruled 
     unconstitutional in 1989 by the United States Supreme Court 
     in Texas v. Johnson and are not enforceable; and
       Whereas, In 2000, South Carolina passed a bill to remove 
     the Confederate flag from the top of the state house dome. It 
     had been placed there since the early 1960s by an all-White 
     South Carolina Legislature to mark the 100th anniversary of 
     the Civil War. The flaw was moved to the north end of the 
     state house as part of a compromise. However, to this day, 
     there have been protests to have the flag removed from there 
     as well; and
       Whereas, To many groups, especially African Americans, the 
     Confederate flag is a symbol of hate, racism, exclusion, 
     oppression, and violence. Its symbolism and history are 
     directly linked to the enslavement, torture, and murder of 
     millions of African Americans; and
       Whereas, Today, as in the past, public display of the 
     Confederate flag is believed to instill fear, intimidation, 
     and a direct threat of violence towards others, though a 
     minute number of groups disagree, claiming that the 
     Confederate flag commemorates Southern heritage; and
       Whereas, In 2014, the State of California, through the 
     enactment of Assembly Bill 2444, became the first state to 
     ban the state sale and display of the Confederate flag. The 
     State of California may not sell or display the Battle Flag 
     of the Confederacy, also referred to as the Stars and Bars, 
     or any similar image, or tangible personal property inscribed 
     with that image unless the image appears in a book, digital 
     medium, or state museum that serves an educational or 
     historical purpose; and
       Whereas, On June 22, 2015, Governor Nikki Haley of South 
     Carolina called upon her

[[Page S8492]]

     state to remove the Confederate flag from the capitol grounds 
     in the wake of the Emanuel AME Church shooting: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of California 
     encourages the United States Congress to identify the states 
     that have a Confederate symbol embedded into their state's 
     flag; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature memorializes the United 
     States Congress to encourage states to ban the use of the 
     former Confederate States of America symbolism and seals from 
     all state flags, seals, and symbols; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature memorializes the United 
     States Congress to ban the sale and display of any 
     Confederate flag, including the Confederate Battle Flag, on 
     federally owned properties and buildings and to urge those 
     states that sell or display the flag at their capitols to 
     have the flag removed; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the United States 
     Congress to encourage businesses to urge their states to take 
     down any Confederate flag, including the Confederate Battle 
     Flag, from their capitols; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the donation of 
     any effects representing the former Confederate States of 
     America to local, state, and national museums; 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 Minority Leader of the House of 
     Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the 
     Minority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and 
     Representative from California, and to the governors of the 
     southern states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, 
     Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South 
     Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
                                  ____

       POM-121. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan opposing 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; 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 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-122. A resolution passed by the City Council of San 
     Jose, California, urging the United States Congress to pass 
     H.R. 2140, the ``Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2015'', to hold 
     individuals who commit egregious human rights violations 
     accountable by imposing financial and travel sanctions upon 
     those citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and 
     their family members, who are complicit in human rights abuse 
     committed in Vietnam; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
       POM-123. A resolution passed by the City Council of 
     Sebastopol, California urging passage of meaningful, common 
     sense gun control measures; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                          ____________________