[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4548-S4549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 269--DESIGNATING JUNE 19, 2021, AS ``JUNETEENTH 
 INDEPENDENCE DAY'' IN RECOGNITION OF JUNE 19, 1865, THE DATE ON WHICH 
   NEWS OF THE END OF SLAVERY REACHED THE SLAVES IN THE SOUTHWESTERN 
                                 STATES

  Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Rosen, Ms. 
Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Brown, Mr. Burr, 
Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Collins, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. 
Cramer, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hagerty, 
Ms. Hassan, Mr. Hawley, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Johnson, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Lee, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Moran, Mr. Murphy, 
Mrs. Murray, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Paul, Mr. Portman, Mr. Risch, 
Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Warner, Ms. 
Warren, Mr. Young, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Thune, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Capito, 
Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Reed, and Mr. 
Warnock) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 269

       Whereas news of the end of slavery did not reach the 
     frontier areas of the United States, in particular the State 
     of Texas and the other Southwestern States, until months 
     after the conclusion of the Civil War, more than 2\1/2\ years 
     after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation 
     Proclamation on January 1, 1863;
       Whereas, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major 
     General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, with 
     news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free;
       Whereas African Americans who had been slaves in the 
     Southwest celebrated June 19, commonly known as ``Juneteenth 
     Independence Day'', as inspiration and encouragement for 
     future generations;
       Whereas African Americans from the Southwest have continued 
     the tradition of observing Juneteenth Independence Day for 
     more than 150 years;
       Whereas Juneteenth Independence Day began as a holiday in 
     the State of Texas and is now celebrated in 48 States and the 
     District of Columbia as a special day of observance in 
     recognition of the emancipation of all slaves in the United 
     States;
       Whereas Juneteenth Independence Day celebrations have been 
     held to honor African-American freedom while encouraging 
     self-development and respect for all cultures;
       Whereas the faith and strength of character demonstrated by 
     former slaves and the descendants of former slaves remain an 
     example for all people of the United States, regardless of 
     background, religion, or race;
       Whereas slavery was not officially abolished until the 
     ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States in December 1865; and
       Whereas, over the course of its history, the United States 
     has grown into a symbol of democracy and freedom around the 
     world: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 19, 2021, as ``Juneteenth Independence 
     Day'';
       (2) recognizes the historical significance of Juneteenth 
     Independence Day to the United States;
       (3) supports the continued nationwide celebration of 
     Juneteenth Independence Day to provide an opportunity for the 
     people of the United States to learn more about the past and 
     to better understand the experiences that have shaped the 
     United States; and
       (4) recognizes that the observance of the end of slavery is 
     part of the history and heritage of the United States.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 270--HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE FALLEN HEROES OF THE 
               GRANITE MOUNTAIN INTERAGENCY HOTSHOT CREW

  Mr. KELLY (for himself and Ms. Sinema) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 270

       Whereas the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``Granite Mountain 
     Hotshots'') was organized within the Prescott, Arizona, Fire 
     Department;
       Whereas the Granite Mountain Hotshots was originally formed 
     in 2002 as a fuels mitigation crew, but later transitioned to 
     a hotshot crew in 2008, becoming the first municipal hotshot 
     crew in the United States;
       Whereas the mission of the Granite Mountain Hotshots was to 
     perform physically demanding fireline work in hazardous 
     conditions, on difficult terrain, and in extreme heat;
       Whereas, on June 28, 2013, lightening ignited the Yarnell 
     Hill Fire on a ridge west of the community of Yarnell, 
     Arizona;
       Whereas, on June 30, 2013, 19 firefighters of the Granite 
     Mountain Hotshots gave their lives battling the Yarnell Hill 
     Fire in Yavapai County, Arizona, including--
       (1) Eric Marsh, 43, who served as the superintendent of the 
     Granite Mountain Hotshots;
       (2) Jesse Steed, 36;
       (3) Clayton Whitted, 28;
       (4) Robert Caldwell, 23;
       (5) Travis Carter, 31;
       (6) Christopher MacKenzie, 30;
       (7) Travis Turbyfill, 27;
       (8) Andrew Ashcraft, 29;
       (9) Joe Thurston, 32;
       (10) Wade Parker, 22;
       (11) Anthony Rose, 23;
       (12) Garret Zuppiger, 27;
       (13) Scott Norris, 28;
       (14) Dustin DeFord, 24;
       (15) William ``Billy'' Warneke, 25;
       (16) Kevin Woyjeck, 21;
       (17) John Percin, Jr., 24;
       (18) Grant McKee, 21; and
       (19) Sean Misner, 26;
       Whereas the Yarnell Hill Fire resulted in--
       (1) the largest wildland firefighter loss of life in 80 
     years;
       (2) the sixth deadliest firefighter tragedy in the history 
     of the United States; and
       (3) the greatest loss of life for fire services in the 
     United States since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
     2001;
       Whereas, on July 9, 2013, thousands of people attended a 
     memorial service held in Prescott Valley, Arizona, including 
     then-Vice President Joseph R. Biden and representatives from 
     more than 100 hotshot crews from across the United States; 
     and
       Whereas the memory of each fallen firefighter is honored at 
     the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park, which was 
     dedicated in 2016: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--

[[Page S4549]]

       (1) honors the memory of the fallen heroes of the Granite 
     Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew of the Prescott, Arizona, 
     Fire Department;
       (2) extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the 
     surviving families of the 19 firefighters lost in the line of 
     duty; and
       (3) commends the bravery and sacrifice made by these fallen 
     wildland firefighters in the service of their communities.
                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 271--AFFIRMING THAT THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS THE 
   EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN GAS FORUM AND THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN GAS 
                                PIPELINE

  Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Mr. Barrasso) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 271

       Whereas, on January 14, 2019, the representatives from 
     Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and the 
     Palestinian Authority convened in Cairo, Egypt to discuss 
     establishing the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF);
       Whereas, on December 20, 2019, the United States Congress 
     passed the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy 
     Partnership Act of 2019 (title II of division J of Public Law 
     116-94) , which states it is the policy of the United States 
     to promote and deepen energy security cooperation and 
     development between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel and to support 
     the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline;
       Whereas, on January 2, 2020, Israel, Greece, and Cyprus 
     signed an agreement to build an Eastern Mediterranean 
     pipeline to connect the Eastern Mediterranean energy market 
     to southern Europe;
       Whereas, on January 16, 2020, Egypt hosted a forum with 
     representatives of Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and 
     the Palestinian Authority to finalize the framework for 
     launching the EMGF;
       Whereas, on September 23, 2020, the six member states of 
     the EMGF held a signing ceremony that formally transformed 
     the forum into a regional intergovernmental organization 
     based in Cairo, Egypt;
       Whereas, on December 16, 2020, the United Arab Emirates 
     joined the EMGF and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi 
     said ``the UAE will contribute to the forum's activities to 
     serve strategic interests and enhance cooperation and 
     partnership between the forum countries'';
       Whereas, on March 1, 2021, the EMGF Statute entered into 
     force;
       Whereas, on March 9, 2021, the EMGF accepted France as a 
     member;
       Whereas the United States and the European Union are 
     permanent observers of the EMGF;
       Whereas a vibrant regional gas market will promote 
     prosperity and provide a sustainable path for economic 
     development;
       Whereas the EMGF promotes technical and market 
     collaboration in energy, including by ensuring a competitive 
     price for natural gas, the development of new energy 
     technologies, and increased cooperation on cyber security;
       Whereas the EMGF and the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline 
     will provide European nations with robust energy alternatives 
     and decrease reliance on the Russian Federation;
       Whereas the United States has been a steadfast supporter of 
     the creation of the EMGF as well as the agreement between 
     Israel, Greece, and Cyprus to support the completion of the 
     Eastern Mediterranean pipeline;
       Whereas Dan Brouillette, then-United States Secretary of 
     Energy, notes the ``immense benefits that natural gas will 
     bring to the region, but to growing markets around the 
     world'';
       Whereas Frank Fannon, then-United States Assistant 
     Secretary of State for Energy Resources, echoes that ``energy 
     resources are a catalyst for cooperation'';
       Whereas George Lakkotrypis, then-Minister of Energy, 
     Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus, 
     said that ``U.S. support in creating an Eastern Mediterranean 
     corridor is profound and solid'';
       Whereas Tarek El-Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral 
     Resources of the Arab Republic of Egypt, stated, ``The EMGF 
     will be acknowledged throughout history as a unique and bold 
     endeavor, since it aspires to become an exemption to the 
     historic norm of perceiving our current and prospective 
     energy wealth as a motivation for conflict'';
       Whereas Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, 
     stated that the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline ``is a 
     pipeline for peace and cooperation between the peoples of the 
     region'';
       Whereas Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Energy of the State of 
     Israel, said the EMGF ``brings regional cooperation with Arab 
     and European countries, the first of its kind in history'';
       Whereas Hala Zawati, Minister of Energy and Mineral 
     Resources of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, stated, 
     ``Within the Eastern Mediterranean and utilizing our gas 
     resources and infrastructure--cooperating and working 
     together, given all the challenges, became a must. We believe 
     that this platform will serve to enhance dialogue between 
     countries to reach a clear regional vision, a vision that 
     translates into policies for a sustainable regional gas 
     market in the Eastern Mediterranean.''; and
       Whereas the EMGF is part of a growing network of regional 
     agreements and frameworks that provide the basis for long-
     term peace and cooperation on vital issues related to 
     diplomatic engagement, collective security, economic growth, 
     and energy development, including the Abraham Accords, signed 
     on September 15, 2020, by the United States, Israel, the 
     United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the establishment of the Eastern 
     Mediterranean Gas Forum and congratulates the members for 
     their success in building an international forum to advance 
     Eastern Mediterranean energy;
       (2) commends the members for demonstrating a commitment to 
     multilateral cooperation leading to mutual economic and 
     energy security;
       (3) recognizes the historical significance of Jewish, Arab, 
     and Christian peoples working together to advance prosperity 
     and security within the region;
       (4) notes the strategic importance of the Eastern 
     Mediterranean pipeline in enhancing European energy security 
     and decreasing reliance on Russian energy exports; and
       (5) calls on all states to support the Eastern 
     Mediterranean Gas Forum and the Eastern Mediterranean 
     Pipeline.

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