[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3317-S3318]
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-81. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to 
     exclude federal reserved water rights from any future 
     designation of federal lands in Arizona; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources.

                   House Concurrent Memorial No. 2004

       Whereas, states are the primary authority for allocating, 
     administering, protecting and developing water resources, and 
     are primarily responsible for water supply planning within 
     their boundaries; and
       Whereas, states have the ultimate say in managing their 
     water resources and are best suited to speak to the unique 
     nature of water law and hydrology, particularly in western 
     states such as Arizona; and
       Whereas, states have primary authority to issue and manage 
     water rights and are responsible for controlling and managing 
     surface water and groundwater located within their 
     boundaries, subject to international treaties, interstate 
     agreements and judicial decrees; and
       Whereas, Congress recognized states as the sole authority 
     over non-navigable waters, including groundwater, and the 
     United States Supreme Court has upheld this authority; and
       Whereas, federal reserved water rights apply to waters 
     within various types of federal land designations, including 
     national parks, national forests and wildlife refuges; and
       Whereas, federal reserved water rights differ from state 
     appropriated water rights and may take priority over the 
     water rights of individuals whose application dates are 
     established later than the date of the federal withdrawal, 
     even if the individuals are using the water at the time of 
     withdrawal; and
       Whereas, the exclusion of federal reserved water rights on 
     any new federal designations in this state would allow 
     Arizona to integrate the federal reserved water rights with 
     the state administratively adjudicated water rights so that 
     water sources can be managed with greater certainty. 
     Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That the United States Congress take steps to require 
     that any new federal areas designated within the State of 
     Arizona not include any water right that prevents the State 
     of Arizona from comprehensively managing its water resources.
       2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State 
     of Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-82. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico requesting the United States 
     Congress pass H.R. 2360 which seeks to establish a Renewable 
     Energy Grant Program within the United States Department of 
     Agriculture (USDA) for the purpose of promoting renewable 
     energy in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of the United 
     States; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                       Senate Resolution No. 1084

       Congressman Ted W. Lieu, the Resident Commissioner of 
     Puerto Rico in Washington D.C., the Hon. Jenniffer Gonzalez-
     Colon, and Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett introduced H. R. 
     2360 on April 25, 2019, which directs the Secretary of 
     Agriculture to establish a Renewable Energy Grant Program for 
     the purpose of awarding funds to not-for-profit entities so 
     they may develop and use renewable energy systems.
       This legislation, which shall be known as the ``Renewable 
     Energy for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Act,'' 
     seeks to promote investment in renewable energy, energy 
     efficiency, energy storage, and microgrid and smart grid 
     projects. The organizations that are awarded these grants may 
     receive technical assistance from the Department of Energy 
     national laboratories. Furthermore, the measure appropriates 
     funds for the Comptroller General of the United States to 
     conduct a study regarding renewable energy and energy 
     efficiency in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of the 
     United States not later than one hundred and eighty (180) 
     days after the date of enactment of the Act. The study shall 
     consider the potential to modify existing electric power 
     systems, use renewable energy sources, expand the use of 
     microgrids, and improve energy resiliency.
       It is worth noting that H.R. 2360 is consistent with the 
     recently approved Act No. 17-2019, known as the ``Puerto Rico 
     Energy Public Policy Act,'' which seeks to transform our 
     electrical system into one that is robust, resilient, 
     reliable, eco-friendly, and affordable, and that serves as 
     the basis for the Island's economic development. Act No. 17, 
     supra, directs the elimination of electric power generation 
     from fossil fuels in Puerto Rico and, for such purpose, 
     establishes a new and ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard 
     that requires that forty percent (40%) energy generation from 
     renewable sources by 2025; sixty percent (60%) by 2040; and 
     one hundred percent (100%) by 2050. In addition, it 
     encourages the use of energy storage technology for all 
     consumer levels, promotes the integration of distributed 
     generation and microgrids, and seeks to attain thirty percent 
     (30%) energy efficiency by 2040.
       However, it is a fact that Puerto Rico and the Virgin 
     Islands are exposed to suffering the consequences of 
     catastrophic hurricanes such as Irma and Maria which left 
     millions of U.S. citizens without electric power service for 
     a long period of time. The passage of these two hurricanes in 
     2017 and the reality of climate change has once again raised 
     awareness of the importance of having an electrical system 
     that is resilient to weather events that have become stronger 
     and more frequent.
       H.R. 2360 complements the efforts made by the Government of 
     Puerto Rico to transform our electrical system and 
     contributes towards achieving one hundred percent (100%) 
     energy generation from renewable sources by 2050, therefore, 
     the Senate of Puerto Rico supports this important initiative.
       Be it resolved by the Senate of Puerto Rico:
       Section 1.--To express the support of the Senate of Puerto 
     Rico to, and request the United States Congress to pass H.R. 
     2360 which seeks to establish a Renewable Energy Grant 
     Program within the United States Department of Agriculture 
     (USDA) for the purpose of promoting renewable energy in 
     Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of the United States of 
     America.
       Section 2.--Upon its approval, a copy of this Resolution 
     translated into English shall be delivered to the leadership 
     of the United States Congress, congress members Ted W. Lieu 
     and Stacey Plaskett, and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto 
     Rico in Washington D.C., Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon.
       Section 3.--This Resolution shall take effect upon its 
     approval.
                                  ____

       POM-83. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     to take such actions as are necessary to review and consider 
     eliminating provisions of federal law which reduce Social 
     Security benefits for those receiving pension benefits from 
     certain federal, state, or local government retirement or 
     pension systems, plans, or funds; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 20

       Whereas, the Congress of the United States of America has 
     enacted both the Government Pension Offset (GPO), reducing 
     the spousal and survivor Social Security benefit, and the 
     Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), reducing the earned 
     Social Security benefits payable to any person who also 
     receives a public pension benefit; and
       Whereas, the GPO negatively affects a spouse or survivor 
     receiving a federal, state, or local government retirement or 
     pension benefit who would also be entitled to a Social 
     Security benefit earned by a spouse; and
       Whereas, the GPO formula reduces the spousal or survivor 
     Social Security benefit by two-thirds of the amount of the 
     federal, state, or local government retirement or pension 
     benefit received by the spouse or survivor, in many cases 
     completely eliminating the Social Security benefit even 
     though their spouses paid Social Security taxes for many 
     years; and
       Whereas, the GPO has a harsh effect on hundreds of 
     thousands of citizens and undermines the original purpose of 
     the Social Security dependent/survivor benefit; and
       Whereas, according to recent Social Security Administration 
     figures, more than half a million individuals nationally are 
     affected by the GPO; and
       Whereas, the WEP applies to those persons who have earned 
     federal, state, or local government retirement or pension 
     benefits, in addition to working in employment covered under 
     Social Security and paying into the Social Security system; 
     and
       Whereas, the WEP reduces the earned Social Security benefit 
     using an averaged indexed monthly earnings formula and may 
     reduce Social Security benefits for affected persons by as 
     much as one-half of the retirement benefit earned as a public 
     servant in employment not covered under Social Security; and
       Whereas, the WEP causes hardworking individuals to lose a 
     significant portion of the Social Security benefits that they 
     earn themselves; and
       Whereas, according to recent Social Security Administration 
     figures, more than one and a half million individuals 
     nationally are affected by the WEP; and
       Whereas, in certain circumstances both the WEP and GPO can 
     be applied to a qualifying survivor's benefit, each 
     independently reducing the available benefit and in 
     combination eliminating a large portion of the total Social 
     Security benefit available to the survivor; and
       Whereas, because of the calculation characteristics of the 
     GPO and the WEP, they have a disproportionately negative 
     effect on employees working in lower-wage government jobs, 
     like policemen, firefighters, teachers, and state employees;
       Whereas, Louisiana is making every effort to improve the 
     quality of life of its citizens and to encourage them to live 
     here lifelong, yet the current GPO and WEP provisions 
     compromise their quality of life; and
       Whereas, the number of people affected by GPO and WEP is 
     growing every day as more and more people reach retirement 
     age; and
       Whereas, individuals drastically affected by the GPO or WEP 
     may have no choice but to return to work after retirement in 
     order to make ends meet, but the earnings accumulated during 
     this return to work can further reduce the Social Security 
     benefits the individual is entitled to; and

[[Page S3318]]

       Whereas, the GPO and WEP are established in federal law, 
     and repeal of the GPO and the WEP can only be enacted by 
     congress: 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 review the Government Pension Offset and 
     the Windfall Elimination Provision Social Security benefit 
     reductions and to consider eliminating or reducing them; 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-84. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine urging the President of the United States 
     and the United States Congress to support the reform of the 
     Social Security offsets of the Government Pension Offset and 
     the Windfall Elimination Provision; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                          House Paper No. 1204

       Whereas, under current federal law, individuals who receive 
     a Social Security benefit and a public retirement benefit 
     derived from employment not covered under Social Security are 
     subject to a reduction in the Social Security benefits; and
       Whereas, these laws, contained in the federal Social 
     Security Act, 42 United States Code, Chapter 7, Subchapter 
     II, Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance 
     Benefits, and known as the Government Pension Offset and the 
     Windfall Elimination Provision, greatly affect public 
     employees, particularly women; and
       Whereas, the Windfall Elimination Provision reduces by a 
     formula the Social Security benefit of a person who is also 
     receiving a pension from a public employer that does not 
     participate in Social Security; and
       Whereas, the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall 
     Elimination Provision are particularly burdensome on the 
     finances of low-income and moderate-income public service 
     workers, such as school teachers, clerical workers and school 
     cafeteria employees, whose wages are low to start; and
       Whereas, the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall 
     Elimination Provision both unfairly reduce benefits for those 
     public employees and their spouses whose careers cross the 
     line between the private and public sectors; and
       Whereas, since many lower-paying public service jobs are 
     held by women, both the Government Pension Offset and the 
     Windfall Elimination Provision have a disproportionately 
     adverse effect on women; and
       Whereas, in some cases, additional support in the form of 
     income, housing, heating and prescription drug and other 
     safety net assistance from state and local governments is 
     needed to make up for the reductions imposed at the federal 
     level; and
       Whereas, other participants in Social Security do not have 
     their benefits reduced in this manner; and
       Whereas, to participate or not to participate in Social 
     Security in public sector employment is a decision of 
     employers, even though both the Government Pension Offset and 
     the Windfall Elimination Provision directly punish employees 
     and their spouses; and
       Whereas, although the Government Pension Offset was enacted 
     in 1977 and the Windfall Elimination Provision was enacted in 
     1983, many of the benefits in dispute were paid into Social 
     Security prior to that time; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and 
     request that the President of the United States and the 
     Congress of the United States work together to support reform 
     proposals that include the following protections for low-
     income and moderate-income government retirees:
       1. Protections permitting retention of a combined public 
     pension and Social Security benefit with no applied 
     reductions;
       2. Protections permanently ensuring that level of benefit 
     by indexing it to inflation; and
       3. Protections ensuring that no current recipient's benefit 
     is reduced by the reform legislation; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United 
     States; the President of the United States Senate; the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States; 
     and each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-85. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania designating May 2019 as 
     ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month'' in 
     Pennsylvania; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
     and Pensions.

                       Senate Resolution No. 122

       Whereas, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is better 
     known as Lou Gehrig's disease; and
       Whereas, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease 
     characterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the upper and 
     lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horn 
     of the spinal cord; and
       Whereas, The initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the 
     skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
       Whereas, As ALS progresses, the patient experiences 
     difficulty in swallowing, talking and breathing; and
       Whereas, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and the 
     patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and
       Whereas, Patients with ALS typically remain alert and are 
     aware of the loss of motor functions and the inevitable 
     outcome of continued deterioration and death; and
       Whereas, ALS affects military veterans at twice the rate of 
     the general population; and
       Whereas, ALS occurs in adulthood, most commonly between 40 
     and 70 years of age, peaking at approximately 55 years of 
     age, and affects both men and women without bias; and
       Whereas, More than 5,000 new ALS patients are diagnosed 
     throughout the nation each year; and
       Whereas, In Pennsylvania there are currently more than 
     1,000 individuals who have been formally diagnosed with ALS; 
     and
       Whereas, The $750,000 in State funding appropriated by the 
     General Assembly for ALS support services for 2018-2019 
     provided services to nearly 1,000 constituents and 
     substantial savings to the State budget and taxpayers; and
       Whereas, The ALS Association reports that on average, 
     patients diagnosed with ALS only survive two to five years 
     from the time of diagnosis; and
       Whereas, ALS has no known cause, prevention or cure; and
       Whereas, ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month'' 
     increases the public's awareness of ALS patients' 
     circumstances and acknowledges the negative impact this 
     disease has on ALS patients and their families and recognizes 
     the research being done to eradicate ALS: Now therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania designate the month of May 2019 as ``Amyotrophic 
     Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month'' in Pennsylvania; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the presiding officers of 
     each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-86. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to 
     enact legislation to provide medical treatment and other 
     benefits for deported veterans of the United States Armed 
     Forces; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Memorial No. 2001

       Whereas, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, 
     at least 239 veterans of the United States armed forces have 
     been deported to at least 34 countries; and
       Whereas, those who have honorably served our country have 
     been denied medical treatment and other benefits from the 
     United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); and
       Whereas, veterans who are deported and who were not seen by 
     a VA doctor for evaluation are not allowed to claim their 
     disabilities; and
       Whereas, veterans who would otherwise seek treatment or 
     post-traumatic stress disorder or other war-related injuries 
     are denied approval unless they are about to die; and
       Whereas, deported veterans have in fact died waiting for 
     approval for medical treatment on the border; and
       Whereas, these men and women have served in the United 
     States armed forces and have earned the right to receive 
     medical treatment and benefits.
       Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That the United States Congress enact legislation 
     provid1ng medical treatment and other benefits for all 
     veterans of the United States armed forces, including those 
     who have been deported.
       2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this memorial to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State 
     of Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-87. A resolution adopted by the County Council of 
     Prince George's County, Maryland memorializing its opposition 
     to any expansion of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and any 
     proposal to transfer the Baltimore-Washington Parkway from 
     the National Park Service; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.
       POM-88. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas 
     relative to pay increases for Members of Congress; to the 
     Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                          ____________________