[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 116 (Thursday, July 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4805-S4806]
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-110. 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-111. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Hawaii urging the United States Congress to embrace the 
     Aarhus Convention and make protection of the environment and 
     decision-making on environmental policies the centerpiece of 
     national debate and practice; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                        Senate Resolution No. 99

       Whereas, Hawai'i is recognized as a global partner and 
     local leader in promoting human rights to create a culture of 
     democracy, rule of law, and protection of the planet through 
     its adoption of global and regional standards to guide 
     decision-making processes; and
       Whereas, Hawai'i is guided by traditional Hawaiian values 
     and emerging international human rights visions to generate 
     good governance and ensure participation in policymaking and 
     protection of our islands and the planet; and
       Whereas, in September 2015, the United Nations General 
     Assembly adopted the historic 2030 Development Agenda 
     entitled ``Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for 
     Sustainable Development'', a comprehensive, compassionate, 
     creative, and courageous plan of action to end poverty, 
     protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace 
     and prosperity; and
       Whereas, in December 2015, the United Nations Framework 
     Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties agreed to 
     the Paris Agreement, calling for the first time to limit 
     future increases in the global average temperature to 1.5 
     degrees Celsius; and
       Whereas, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 
     Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in 
     Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental 
     Matters (Aarhus Convention) is an important instrument for 
     achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 
     Agenda; and
       Whereas, the Aarhus Convention consists of numerous 
     articles covering ideas and coordinating implementation 
     including the following:
       (1) Access to Environmental Information;
       (2) Collection and Dissemination of Environmental 
     Information;
       (3) Public Participation in Decisions on Specific 
     Activities;
       (4) Public Participation Concerning Plans, Programmes and 
     Policies Relating to the Environment;
       (5) Public Participation During the Preparation of 
     Executive Regulations and/or Generally Applicable Legally 
     Binding Normative Instruments; and
       (6) Access to Justice; and
       Whereas, the parties to the Aarhus Convention:
       (1) Aimed to further accountability of and transparency in 
     decision-making and to strengthen public support for 
     decisions on the environment;
       (2) Recognized that that the public needs to be aware of 
     procedures for participation in environmental decision-
     making, have free access to the political process, and know 
     how to exercise that access;
       (3) Recognized the importance of respective roles for 
     individual citizens, non-governmental organizations, and the 
     private sector in environmental protection; and
       (4) Desired to promote environmental education to further 
     the understanding of the environment and sustainable 
     development and to encourage widespread public awareness of 
     and participation in decisions affecting the environment and 
     sustainable development; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, that by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature 
     of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that this 
     body engages, endorses, accepts, and adopts the Aarhus 
     Convention; and be it further
       Resolved, that the Congress of the United States is 
     requested to embrace the Aarhus Convention and make 
     protection of the environment and decision-making on 
     environmental policies the centerpiece of national debate and 
     practice; and be it further
       Resolved, that certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, Vice 
     President of the United States, Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, President Pro Tempore of the United 
     States Senate, Majority Leader of the United States House of 
     Representatives, Minority Leader of the United States House 
     of Representatives, Majority Leader of the United States 
     Senate, Minority Leader of the United States Senate, 
     Hawai'i's congressional delegation, Governor, mayor of each 
     county, Secretary General of the United Nations, United 
     Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Chairs of 
     Hawai'i's Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation 
     Commission.
                                  ____

       POM-112. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Texas urging the United States Congress to enact legislation 
     to consolidate disaster recovery housing funding into a 
     single Disaster Housing Response and Recovery Block Grant; to 
     the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                       Senate Resolution No. 816

       Whereas, Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast on August 
     25, 2017, causing an estimated $125 billion in damage; and
       Whereas, The second most destructive storm in American 
     history, the hurricane impacted approximately 30 percent of 
     the population of Texas, destroying homes, damaging 
     infrastructure, and displacing thousands of families along 
     the coast; and
       Whereas, The Federal Emergency Management Agency received 
     nearly 800,000 applications from affected Texans for some 
     form of assistance; as many as 83 percent of the people whose 
     homes flooded did not have flood

[[Page S4806]]

     insurance, creating unprecedented demand for state and 
     federal disaster recovery assistance; and
       Whereas, The FEMA application process is so duplicative and 
     confusing, and the United States Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development regulations are so complex, that many 
     survivors give up trying to navigate the system and, 
     therefore, receive no assistance; and
       Whereas, Consolidating funding for recovery housing 
     programs into a single Disaster Housing Response and Recovery 
     Block Grant would increase efficiency, save taxpayer dollars, 
     and speed the recovery process by combining FEMA's short-term 
     programs and HUD's long-term programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th 
     Legislature, hereby respectfully urge the United States 
     Congress to enact legislation to consolidate disaster 
     recovery housing funding into a single Disaster Housing 
     Response and Recovery Block Grant; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the secretary of the senate forward official 
     copies of this resolution to the president of the United 
     States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and 
     to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with 
     the request that this resolution be entered in the 
     Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the 
     United States of America.
                                  ____

       POM-113. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Hawaii urging the United States Congress to amend federal law 
     to ensure that victims of sexual harassment and sexual 
     assault who might otherwise be forced into arbitration and 
     silence instead have access to the courts; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.

                        Senate Resolution No. 11

       Whereas, access to the judicial system, whether federal or 
     state, is a fundamental right of all Americans that should 
     extend fully to persons who have been subjected to sexual 
     harassment and sexual assault; and
       Whereas, many employers require their employees, as a 
     condition of employment, to sign arbitration agreements 
     mandating that sexual harassment claims be resolved through 
     arbitration instead of judicial proceedings; and
       Whereas, arbitration requirements are often set forth in 
     clauses found within the fine print of lengthy employment 
     contracts, and that these clauses are typically presented in 
     boilerplate ``take-it-or-leave-it'' fashion by employers; and
       Whereas, additional concerns arise from the secrecy 
     requirements of arbitration clauses, which disserve the 
     public interest by keeping both the harassment complaints and 
     any settlements confidential; and
       Whereas, the prevalence of mandatory arbitration clauses 
     and the associated secrecy requirements create a culture of 
     silence that protects serial perpetrators at the cost of 
     their victims; and
       Whereas, the United States Senate and House of 
     Representatives are considering legislation to address the 
     issue of forced arbitration and secrecy in sexual harassment 
     and sexual assault cases, and enable the victims of such 
     egregious misconduct to seek redress in the courts; and
       Whereas, the Hawaii Women's Legislative Caucus applauds the 
     female members of the United States Senate and House of 
     Representatives who are working in a bipartisan fashion to 
     craft and advance this important legislation: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the 
     State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that members of the 
     United States Congress are respectfully requested to amend 
     federal law to ensure that victims of sexual harassment and 
     sexual assault who might otherwise be forced into arbitration 
     and silenced instead have access to the courts; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, President Pro Tempore of the United States 
     Senate, members of each state's congressional delegation, and 
     Governor.
                                  ____

       POM-114. 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 authorize the 
     garnishment of veterans' disability benefits to fulfill child 
     support obligations; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 7

       Whereas, Civil Code Article 224 provides that parents are 
     obligated to support, maintain, and educate their child, and 
     the obligation to educate a child continues after minority as 
     provided by law; and
       Whereas, 5 CFR Part 581, Subpart A provides which moneys 
     received by a civilian employee for services rendered to a 
     governmental entity are subject to garnishment for the 
     purpose of enforcing the legal obligations of obligors to 
     provide child support; and
       Whereas, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 659, the United States 
     consents to the withholding and garnishing of income of an 
     individual for the enforcement of the individual's child 
     support and alimony obligations; and
       Whereas, 42 U.S.C. 659 further provides that the federal 
     government will allow under certain circumstances the 
     garnishment of service-connected disability compensation paid 
     by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to former members of the 
     armed forces for the purpose of enforcing child support and 
     alimony obligations; and
       Whereas, in Rose v. Rose, 481 US 619 (1987), the Supreme 
     Court held that not only could a state consider the amount of 
     disability benefits received by a veteran in setting the 
     amount of child support, but also, once a child support 
     obligation had been created, the veteran's disability 
     benefits could be used to satisfy that obligation; and
       Whereas, in the same case, Justice Marshall, quoting the 
     legislative record, describes the purpose of veterans' 
     disability benefits as compensation for impaired earning 
     capacity and ``to provide reasonable and adequate 
     compensation for disabled veterans and their families''; and
       Whereas, as of February 2019, the current total for child 
     support arrears in Louisiana is $1,923,958,949.00 and less 
     than one percent of that amount has been collected; and
       Whereas, adequate child support is vital to the well-being 
     of children and families in our state: Therefore, be it
       Resolved That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to authorize the garnishment of veterans' 
     disability benefits to fulfill child support obligations; 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-115. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas 
     relative to prohibiting any potential employer from requiring 
     disclosure of an employment applicant's Social Security 
     number until a conditional or firm offer of employment is 
     formally made to that candidate; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.
       POM-116. A resolution adopted by the Township Council of 
     the Township of Mahwah, New Jersey, recognizing June 7, 2019, 
     as National Gun Violence Awareness Day; to the Committee on 
     the Judiciary.

                          ____________________