[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3360]
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-89. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging the United 
     States Congress to enact legislation preventing federal 
     regulators from sanctioning depository institutions for 
     providing financial services to legitimate marijuana-related 
     businesses in states where marijuana has been legalized; to 
     the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 101

       Whereas, The medical and recreational marijuana industries 
     are continually growing across states in the country, 
     contributing billions of dollars to the economy. Many states 
     have legalized the use of medical and/or recreational 
     marijuana, while additional states may do so in the future; 
     and
       Whereas, Voters of the state of Michigan have approved the 
     legalization of regulated medical and recreational marijuana 
     use; and
       Whereas, Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, 
     creating confusion and uncertainty in banking, taxation, and 
     other matters. Because of the federal prohibition, there is 
     an extreme risk to provide financial services to marijuana-
     related businesses and service providers, resulting in a 
     cash-intensive industry. In turn, it is very difficult for 
     such businesses to accept noncash payments from customers and 
     make noncash payments to employees, suppliers, governments, 
     and others; and
       Whereas, The proliferation of cash in the marijuana 
     industry has given rise to significant public safety risks, 
     including in Michigan's communities. Holding large amounts of 
     cash heightens the risk of robbery and violence; and
       Whereas, Bringing the marijuana sector into the traditional 
     financial services system is in the interest of the state and 
     its residents. This development will increase public safety, 
     grow the economy, and create jobs. Moreover, it will make 
     transacting business with, and collecting taxes from, the 
     marijuana industry easier. The federal government should 
     respect the authority of Michigan and other states that have 
     enacted policies concerning marijuana use; and
       Whereas, The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act 
     of 2019 has been introduced in the U.S. House of 
     Representatives (H.R. 1595) to provide safe harbor from 
     federal regulators for depository institutions that provide 
     financial services to marijuana-related businesses and 
     service providers in states that exercise jurisdiction over 
     the marijuana industry. The measure has received bipartisan 
     support: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the 
     U.S. Congress to enact legislation preventing federal 
     regulators from sanctioning depository institutions for 
     providing financial services to legitimate marijuana-related 
     businesses in states where marijuana has been legalized; 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-90. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to 
     appropriate monies and federal entities to develop solutions 
     to eradicate salt cedars in Arizona waterways; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Memorial No. 2002

       Whereas, the salt cedar tree, also known as the tamarisk, 
     was brought to the United States in the 1800s as an 
     ornamental plant to stabilize soil and control erosion; and
       Whereas, salt cedars are now listed as an invasive species 
     by the United States Department of Agriculture; and
       Whereas, salt cedars spread prolifically by both seed and 
     sprouting, congesting thousands of acres of river land in 
     Arizona; and
       Whereas, the density of salt cedars creates dangerous 
     conditions by congesting flood-prone areas, impeding water 
     flow and exacerbating the impact of flooding; and
       Whereas, by increasing the frequency and intensity of 
     wildfires, salt cedars threaten existing and future 
     infrastructure in surrounding communities; and
       Whereas, this invasive plant out-competes native 
     cottonwood, mesquite and willow and displaces riparian and 
     other wildlife habitats by altering the ecology and hydrology 
     of native systems; and
       Whereas, each salt cedar tree consumes 200 to 300 gallons 
     of water a day, which lowers the water table and creates 
     large deposits of salt in the soil; and
       Whereas, salt cedars negatively impact Arizona's economy by 
     jeopardizing agriculture due to high water usage, tending to 
     obstruct irrigation canals and limiting recreational 
     opportunities; and
       Whereas, eliminating salt cedars will sustain precious 
     water supplies, reduce the risk of environmental disasters, 
     and minimize structural and ecological damage and loss of 
     life.
       Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That the United States Congress appropriate monies to 
     the State of Arizona to eradicate salt cedars from Arizona 
     waterways.
       2. That the United States Department of the Interior and 
     the United States Department of Agriculture develop 
     innovative solutions to control the proliferation of salt 
     cedars.
       3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, 
     the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture 
     and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-91. A resolution adopted by the County Council of 
     Prince George's County, Maryland memorializing its support 
     for additional oversight of major public private partnership 
     agreements; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
       POM-92. A resolution adopted by the Mayor and City 
     Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, urging the 
     United States Congress to approve S. 788, ``The Equality 
     Act,'' which will serve to extend federal anti-discrimination 
     protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) 
     Americans by providing them with equal protection under the 
     law; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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