[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7037-S7038]
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-249. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     and the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to take such 
     actions as are necessary to require the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency to grant Louisiana full federal funding for 
     disaster expenses associated with Hurricane Laura or to grant 
     Louisiana the ability to utilize alternative sources of 
     federal funding as needed, matching funds if full federal 
     funding is not provided; to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs.

                   Hosue Concurrent Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, Hurricane Laura was one of the most powerful 
     storms to hit Louisiana in recorded history; and
       Whereas, Hurricane Laura's exceptionally strong winds left 
     a scar of damage across our state spanning from the Gulf 
     Coast to our northern border; and
       Whereas, while loss and damage totals are still being 
     compiled, the projections across all states impacted by 
     Hurricane Laura are expected to be in the tens of billions of 
     dollars and Louisiana was undoubtedly the state that suffered 
     the brunt of the storm's impact; and
       Whereas, between the worldwide slump in oil prices and the 
     COVID-19 pandemic shuttering businesses across the state and 
     withering the state's previously strong tourism revenues, 
     Louisiana's economic prospects for the current and ensuing 
     fiscal years were already strained before Hurricane Laura 
     wreaked her havoc; and
       Whereas, before Hurricane Laura arrived, Louisiana was 
     already expecting a budget shortfall for the next fiscal year 
     totaling hundreds of millions of dollars; and
       Whereas, the strain of providing for the health and safety 
     of its citizens while also meeting the matching fund 
     requirements for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 
     assistance in recovering and rebuilding from Hurricane Laura 
     could cripple our state fiscal resources and infrastructure 
     in the next few years; and
       Whereas, according to the Congressional Research Service, 
     as of early 2013, over the prior twenty-four years, cost-
     share adjustments had been made for major disaster 
     declarations two hundred and forty-four times, including for 
     Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, Gustav, and Sandy; and
       Whereas, Louisiana's request to have the state matching 
     portion of its federal disaster assistance waived is not 
     unprecedented and would provide much-needed relief to a state 
     struggling with this year's unexpected hardships. Therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress and the Louisiana 
     Congressional Delegation to take such actions as are 
     necessary to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     to grant Louisiana full federal funding for disaster expenses 
     associated with Hurricane Laura or to grant Louisiana the 
     ability to utilize alternative sources of federal funding as 
     needed matching funds if full federal funding is not 
     provided; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana Congressional 
     Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-250. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     and the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to take such 
     actions as are necessary to require the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency to grant Louisiana full federal funding for 
     disaster expenses associated with Hurricane Laura or to grant 
     Louisiana the ability to utilize alternative sources of 
     federal funding as needed, matching funds if full federal 
     funding is not provided; to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, Hurricane Laura was one of the most powerful 
     storms to hit Louisiana in recorded history; and
       Whereas, Hurricane Laura's exceptionally strong winds left 
     a scar of damage across our state spanning from the Gulf 
     Coast to our northern border; and
       Whereas, while loss and damage totals are still being 
     compiled, the projections across all states impacted by 
     Hurricane Laura are expected to be in the tens of billions of 
     dollars and Louisiana was undoubtedly the state that suffered 
     the brunt of the storm's impact; and
       Whereas, between the worldwide slump in oil prices and the 
     COVID-19 pandemic shuttering businesses across the state and 
     withering the state's previously strong tourism revenues, 
     Louisiana's economic prospects for the current and ensuing 
     fiscal years were already strained before Hurricane Laura 
     wreaked her havoc; and
       Whereas, before Hurricane Laura arrived, Louisiana was 
     already expecting a budget

[[Page S7038]]

     shortfall for the next fiscal year totaling hundreds of 
     millions of dollars; and
       Whereas, the strain of providing for the health and safety 
     of its citizens while also meeting the matching fund 
     requirements for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 
     assistance in recovering and rebuilding from Hurricane Laura 
     could cripple our state fiscal resources and infrastructure 
     in the next few years; and
       Whereas, according to the Congressional Research Service, 
     as of early 2013, over the prior twenty-four years, cost-
     share adjustments had been made for major disaster 
     declarations two hundred and forty-four times, including for 
     Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, Gustav, and Sandy; and
       Whereas, Louisiana's request to have the state matching 
     portion of its federal disaster assistance waived is not 
     unprecedented and would provide much-needed relief to a state 
     struggling with this year's unexpected hardships. Therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress and the Louisiana 
     Congressional Delegation to take such actions as are 
     necessary to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     to grant Louisiana full federal funding for disaster expenses 
     associated with Hurricane Laura or to grant Louisiana the 
     ability to utilize alternative sources of federal funding as 
     needed matching funds if full federal funding is not 
     provided; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana Congressional 
     Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-251. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Senate to 
     take such actions as are necessary to confirm the President 
     of the United States' nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett 
     to the United States Supreme Court to fill the seat of the 
     late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 23

       Whereas, the United States of America was founded on the 
     precepts of freedom, liberty, justice, and diversity; and
       Whereas, a primary mission of the United States Senate is 
     to ensure that the judiciary maintains integrity; and
       Whereas, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has served on the United 
     States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since 2017; 
     and
       Whereas, Amy Coney Barrett was born in New Orleans, 
     Louisiana, and grew up in Metairie, Louisiana; after 
     graduating from St. Mary's Dominican High School in 1990, she 
     attended Rhodes College and graduated magna cum laude in 1994 
     with a bachelor of arts degree in English literature; she 
     then studied law at Notre Dame Law School, graduating first 
     in her class summa cum laude in 1997 with a juris doctorate 
     degree and serving as executive editor of the Notre Dame Law 
     Review; and
       Whereas, upon completion of her law school studies, Amy 
     Coney Barrett served as judicial law clerk for Judge Laurence 
     Silberman of the United States Court of Appeals for the 
     District of Columbia Circuit from 1997 to 1998 and Justice 
     Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court from 1998 
     to 1999; and
       Whereas, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has worked in both private 
     trial and appellate litigation in Washington, D.C.; during 
     this time, she also worked for more than fifteen years in 
     academia, including at her alma mater, Notre Dame Law School, 
     and has been published in several prominent journals 
     including the Columbia Law Review, Virginia Law Review, and 
     Texas Law Review; and
       Whereas, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has earned accolades and 
     bipartisan praise for her character and work ethic and has 
     demonstrated a steadfast dedication to upholding the United 
     States Constitution as written and not legislating from the 
     bench; her excellent judicial record shows she will protect 
     the rights of Americans and defend the rule of law. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Senate to take such actions as 
     are necessary to confirm the nomination of Judge Amy Coney 
     Barrett to the United States Supreme Court; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and to the Honorable 
     Bill Cassidy and the Honorable John Kennedy.
                                  ____

       POM-252. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Senate to 
     take such actions as are necessary to confirm the President 
     of the United States' nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett 
     to the United States Supreme Court to fill the seat of the 
     late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 23

       Whereas, the United States of America was founded on the 
     precepts of freedom, liberty, justice, and diversity; and
       Whereas, a primary mission of the United States Senate is 
     to ensure that the judiciary maintains integrity; and
       Whereas, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has served on the United 
     States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since 2017; 
     and
       Whereas, Amy Coney Barrett was born in New Orleans, 
     Louisiana, and grew up in Metairie, Louisiana; after 
     graduating from St. Mary's Dominican High School in 1990, she 
     attended Rhodes College and graduated magna cum laude in 1994 
     with a bachelor of arts degree in English literature; she 
     then studied law at Notre Dame Law School, graduating first 
     in her class summa cum laude in 1997 with a juris doctorate 
     degree and serving as executive editor of the Notre Dame Law 
     Review; and
       Whereas, upon completion of her law school studies, Amy 
     Coney Barrett served as judicial law clerk for Judge Laurence 
     Silberman of the United States Court of Appeals for the 
     District of Columbia Circuit from 1997 to 1998 and Justice 
     Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court from 1998 
     to 1999; and
       Whereas, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has worked in both private 
     trial and appellate litigation in Washington, D.C.; during 
     this time, she also worked for more than fifteen years in 
     academia, including at her alma mater, Notre Dame Law School, 
     and has been published in several prominent journals 
     including the Columbia Law Review, Virginia Law Review, and 
     Texas Law Review; and
       Whereas, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has earned accolades and 
     bipartisan praise for her character and work ethic and has 
     demonstrated a steadfast dedication to upholding the United 
     States Constitution as written and not legislating from the 
     bench; her excellent judicial record shows she will protect 
     the rights of Americans and defend the rule of law. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Senate to take such actions as 
     are necessary to confirm the nomination of Judge Amy Coney 
     Barrett to the United States Supreme Court; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and to the Honorable 
     Bill Cassidy and the Honorable John Kennedy.

                          ____________________