[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5097-S5102]
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-43. 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 support Israel; to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 96

       Whereas, the United States and Israel maintain a special 
     relationship based on

[[Page S5098]]

     shared democratic values, common strategic interests, and 
     bonds of friendship and mutual respect; and
       Whereas, the United States regards Israel as a trusted ally 
     and vital strategic partner in the Middle East; and
       Whereas, the state of Louisiana believes that the United 
     States of America should remain a strong and unequivocal 
     supporter of Israel and its right to defend itself and should 
     condemn violence against the people of Israel; and
       Whereas, the people of Israel have been persecuted 
     throughout history, and there are still those who express a 
     desire for the destruction of Israel; and
       Whereas, Israel faces continued threats to its safety and 
     security today from others in the Middle East region; and
       Whereas, the people of Louisiana recognize the 
     contributions of Israel to humankind; support the people of 
     Israel and their right to live in freedom and to defend their 
     land and their nation; and extend best wishes to the state of 
     Israel and to the Israeli people for a peaceful and 
     prosperous future: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to support Israel; 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-44. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Wyoming memorializing its support of Taiwan; to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                      House Joint Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, Taiwan, the United States, and the State of 
     Wyoming share a historical and close relationship marked by 
     strong bilateral trade, cultural exchange, and tourism; and
       Whereas, Taiwan shares with the United States and the State 
     of Wyoming the common values of freedom, democracy, human 
     rights, and the rule of law; and
       Whereas, on March 5, 1984, the State of Wyoming adopted 
     Taiwan as Wyoming's sister state; and
       Whereas, the United States ranks as Taiwan's second largest 
     trading partner, Taiwan ranks as the United States' eleventh 
     largest `goods' trading partner, and bilateral trade between 
     the United States and Taiwan reached an estimated ninety-four 
     billion five hundred million dollars ($94,500,000,000.00) in 
     2018; and
       Whereas, Taiwan and the State of Wyoming have enjoyed a 
     long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect 
     of further growth; and
       Whereas, in 2012, the United States officially included 
     Taiwan in its Visa Waiver Program, allowing Taiwan's citizens 
     to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 
     ninety (90) days without being required to obtain a visa, and 
     the program has and will continue to increase tourism and 
     business between Taiwan and the United States, particularly 
     Wyoming, with the prospect of welcoming more Taiwanese 
     travelers to the United States each year; and
       Whereas, the United States beef exports to Taiwan are 
     beneficial to Wyoming and help forge a closer relationship 
     between the State of Wyoming and Taiwan; and
       Whereas, Taiwan's President, Tsai Ing-wen, has worked 
     tirelessly to uphold democratic principles in Taiwan, to 
     ensure the freedom and prosperity of Taiwan's twenty-three 
     million (23,000,000) citizens, to promote Taiwan's 
     international standing as a stable and responsible member of 
     the international community, to increase participation in 
     international organizations, to support societally 
     disadvantaged groups in Taiwan, and to further stabilize, 
     improve and strengthen relations between the United States 
     and Taiwan; and
       Whereas, Taiwan, as a willing and contributing member of 
     the world community, has made countless contributions of 
     technical and financial assistance in the wake of natural 
     disasters worldwide: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Members of the Legislature of the State of 
     Wyoming:
       Section 1. That Wyoming reaffirms its commitment to the 
     strong and deepening relationship between Taiwan and the 
     State of Wyoming.
       Section 2. That Wyoming supports Taiwan's appropriate 
     participation in international organizations that improve the 
     health, safety, and well-being of Taiwan.
       Section 3. That Wyoming supports the previous United States 
     presidential administrations' historic diplomatic efforts to 
     recognize Taiwan.
       Section 4. That Wyoming welcomes the opportunity for the 
     United States and the state of Wyoming to deepen the 
     economic, educational and cultural bonds with Taiwan.
       Section 5. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States, to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the United States Congress, to 
     Wyoming's Congressional Delegation, to Taiwan President Tsai 
     Ing-wen and to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, 
     Seattle, Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-45. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan memorializing its support for the Burmese 
     communities of Battle Creek and Springfield in supporting 
     democracy and opposing military coups; to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.

                        Senate Resolution No. 13

       Whereas, On February 1, Myanmar's military seized control 
     of the nation's government and detained the democratically 
     elected civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi and other 
     prominent members of the ruling National League for Democracy 
     (NLD) were taken into custody at gunpoint. The U.S. State 
     Department has officially declared the takeover a coup 
     d'etat; and
       Whereas, Since taking power, the military has assailed the 
     basic rights of a free society, including the freedoms of 
     speech, assembly, and religion, and the right to petition the 
     government for redress of grievances. Prominent members of 
     civil society, including monks and artists, have been 
     detained while other activists have gone into hiding out of 
     fear that they would be targeted, Soldiers have indicated 
     those who participate in protests would be arrested; and
       Whereas, These freedoms, along with the right to free and 
     fair elections, are crucial to any free society. This coup 
     d'etat threatens Myanmar's recent progress after 
     transitioning out of military rule and holding its first 
     elections in 2015: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we stand with the Burmese 
     communities of Battle Creek and Springfield in supporting 
     democracy and opposing military coups; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the members of the Michigan congressional 
     delegation, and the Burma Center.
                                  ____


       POM-46. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of Rockland 
     County, New York memorializing its support for Israel's right 
     to exist and to take such actions as may be necessary to 
     defend itself against outside attacks; to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.
       POM-47. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress and 
     the President of the United States to secure the southern 
     border; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs.

                 Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1011

       Whereas, the southern border consists of 1,954 miles of 
     varied terrain, including deserts, rugged mountainous areas, 
     forests and coastal areas: and
       Whereas, officially established in 1924 by an act of 
     Congress in response to increasing illegal immigration, the 
     United States Border Patrol has primary responsibility for 
     securing the border between ports of entry: and
       Whereas, Border Patrol agents patrol international land 
     borders and waterways to detect and prevent the illegal 
     trafficking of people, narcotics and contraband into the 
     United States: and
       Whereas, the southern border of the United States is 
     experiencing unprecedented numbers of individuals attempting 
     to enter the country illegally: and
       Whereas, there has been a major increase in both 
     apprehensions and expulsions on the southwest border with 
     Border Patrol agents making approximately 168,000 arrests at 
     the border in March of 2021, compared with approximately 
     71,000 in December of 2020: and
       Whereas, many people are smuggled into the United States, 
     by ``coyotes'' and criminal syndicates, in abusive, cruel and 
     unsafe conditions, many times under false promises: and
       Whereas, in January through March of 2021, the Border 
     Patrol encountered more than 19,000 unaccompanied minors; and
       Whereas, the Border Patrol is holding over 3,000 children 
     in detention, a record high; and
       Whereas, an uncontrolled border is a security and 
     humanitarian crises, endangering the safety of American 
     citizens with the harmful threat of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and 
     subjecting unaccompanied minors to poor conditions; and
       Whereas, the Biden administration has halted construction 
     of a southern border wall, and there are numerous unfinished 
     sections in Arizona; and
       Whereas, the Biden administration is not working 
     collaboratively nor in good faith with local law enforcement 
     agencies and other state leaders to address issues related to 
     the border; and
       Whereas, Governor Ducey in April of 2021 declared a state 
     of emergency along Arizona's southern border and is sending 
     Arizona National Guard troops to support local law 
     enforcement there: Therefore be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House 
     of Representatives concurring:
       1. That the Members of the Legislature call on the 
     President and Congress to take immediate and decisive action 
     to secure the southern border and stymie the security and 
     humanitarian crises associated with any further illegal 
     immigration and to as quickly as possible shore up the 
     southern border by completing the southern border wall.
       2. That the Members of the Legislature support the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate 
     in creating a joint border security advisory commission to 
     provide a forum where testimony can be taken regarding the 
     international border between Arizona and Mexico,

[[Page S5099]]

     analyze border crossing statistics and related crime 
     statistics, recommend methods to increase border security and 
     address other related issues to this international border.
       3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit a copy of this Resolution to the President of the 
     United States, 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-48. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of North Dakota urging federal authorities to 
     observe and respect the principles of federalism and limits 
     on federal power prescribed by the Constitution of the United 
     States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 3029

       Whereas, the Constitution of the United States delegates 
     certain enumerated powers to the federal government and 
     reserves all others, unless prohibited by the Constitution, 
     to the states and to the people; and
       Whereas, the principle of limited federal authority is the 
     cornerstone of state and federal relations in the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, vigilant protection of the appropriate, historic, 
     constitutional authority of states within the United States 
     of America is foundational to our American form of government 
     and critical to the sustaining of our freedoms; and
       Whereas, the State of North Dakota long has been a champion 
     of state prerogatives and state authority under the 
     Constitution; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of North Dakota, 
     the Senate Concurring Therein:
       That the sixty-seventh Legislative Assembly, while 
     recognizing the important role of the federal government in 
     protecting the basic rights of all our citizens, urges 
     federal authorities to observe and respect the principles of 
     federalism and limits on federal power prescribed by the 
     Constitution of the United States; and be it further
       Resolved, That the State of North Dakota hereby does affirm 
     the primacy of state authority with respect to those powers 
     not expressly delegated to the federal government; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the State of North Dakota calls upon state 
     and federal officials representing North Dakota to 
     collaborate in their efforts to respect, advocate, and defend 
     the principles of federalism and protect the freedom and 
     authority of this state and its people, under the 
     Constitution; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of State forward copies of 
     this resolution to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.; the 
     Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and President Pro Tempore 
     of the United States Senate; the Speaker and Minority Leader 
     of the United States House of Representatives; each member of 
     the North Dakota Congressional delegation, the Governor of 
     North Dakota, the Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and 
     President Pro Tempore of the North Dakota Senate; and the 
     Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Speaker of the North 
     Dakota House of Representatives.
                                  ____

       POM-49. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of West Virginia urging the United States 
     Congress to call a convention of the states, under the 
     authority reserved to the states in Article V of the United 
     States Constitution, limited to proposing amendments to the 
     Constitution of the United States to set a limit on the 
     number of terms that a person may be elected as a member of 
     the United States House of Representatives or as a member of 
     the United States Senate; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 9

       Whereas, The Legislature of West Virginia hereby makes an 
     application to Congress, as provided by Article V of the 
     Constitution of the United States, to call a convention 
     limited to proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States to set a limit on the number of terms that a 
     person may be elected as a member of the United States House 
     of Representatives, and to set a limit on the number of terms 
     that a person may be elected as a member of the United States 
     Senate; and
       Whereas, This application shall be considered as covering 
     the same subject matter as the applications from other states 
     to Congress to call a convention to set a limit on the number 
     of terms that a person may be elected to the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States and the 
     Senate of the United States; and this application shall be 
     aggregated with same for the purpose of attaining the two-
     thirds of states necessary to require Congress to call a 
     limited convention on this subject, but shall not be 
     aggregated with any other applications on any other subject; 
     and
       Whereas, This application constitutes a continuing 
     application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution 
     of the United States until the legislatures of at least two-
     thirds of the several states have made applications on the 
     same subject; therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia: That the 
     Legislature hereby urges Congress to call a convention of the 
     states, under the authority reserved to the states in Article 
     V of the United States Constitution, limited to proposing 
     amendments to the Constitution of the United States to call a 
     convention limited to proposing an amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States of America to set a limit 
     on the number of terms that a person may be elected as a 
     member of the United States House of Representatives or as a 
     member of the United States Senate; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to 
     forward copies of this resolution to the President and 
     Secretary of the Senate of the United States and to the 
     Speaker, Clerk, and Judiciary Committee Chairman of the House 
     of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, and 
     copies to the members of the said Senate and House of 
     Representatives from this state; also to forward copies 
     thereof to the presiding officers of each of the legislative 
     houses in the several states, requesting their cooperation.
                                  ____

       POM-50. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging the United States Congress and the President 
     of the United States to oppose H.R. 1 and similar harmful 
     election policy measures; to the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration.

                        Senate Resolution No. 25

       Whereas, Free and fair elections are vital to our country 
     but only possible with prudent laws in place. Our electoral 
     system must be safeguarded from fraud and irregularities, 
     including laws that enhance the possibility and probability 
     for such harms; and
       Whereas, Introduced in Congress, H.R. 1 of 2021 would 
     enshrine into law many misguided election policies. H.R. 1 
     would impede the maintenance of accurate voter registration 
     lists and the enforcement of sensible voter identification 
     standards. Additionally, the legislation would greatly enable 
     the practice of ballot harvesting, which is currently illegal 
     in our state. These and other provisions in H.R. 1 would 
     greatly undermine the integrity of our elections; and
       Whereas, H.R. 1 represents a massive federal overreach into 
     state election policy. The U.S. Constitution empowers state 
     legislatures to set election laws, and each state knows best 
     how to conduct its elections. H.R. 1 is an unwanted and 
     unnecessary federal power grab that infringes on state 
     authority to administer elections and threatens local 
     control; and
       Whereas, On March 7, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an 
     executive order that unnecessarily expands the federal 
     government's role in voter registration activities that are 
     best handled by states and wrongly directs federal resources 
     into other election matters; and
       Whereas, Election reform efforts should focus on ensuring 
     that the system is safe, secure, and fair. Citizens deserve 
     to know that the outcome of elections are free from fraud and 
     irregularities; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States 
     Congress and the President of the United States to oppose 
     H.R. 1 and similar harmful election policy measures; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, 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-51. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona memorializing its opposition to any 
     federal action infringing on Arizona's Constitutional power 
     to manage, control, and administer elections; to the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 2023

       Whereas, the Constitution of the United States vests power 
     in the states to manage, control and administer each state's 
     own election laws; and
       Whereas, the power over elections was preserved explicitly 
     for the states by the Constitution; and
       Whereas, this power was not delegated to the states by the 
     federal government; and
       Whereas, rare exceptions in the Constitution, such as the 
     Elections Clause, the Fifteenth Amendment, the Nineteenth 
     Amendment, the Twenty-fourth Amendment and the Twenty-sixth 
     Amendment, do not extinguish the constitutional presumption 
     that states have the constitutional power to set the terms of 
     administering the election, designating electors and 
     establishing other laws and protocols related to the 
     election; and
       Whereas, the Elections Clause of the Constitution was 
     intended to prevent the states from suffocating the existence 
     of the government of the United States, and no such 
     contemplated effort has occurred; and
       Whereas, the Elections Clause was to be sparingly used to 
     intrude on state power to manage, control and administer 
     state elections; and
       Whereas, House Resolution 1 (H.R. 1), a bill introduced in 
     the United States Congress, would obliterate the 
     constitutional arrangement between the states and the 
     government of the United States by usurping the 
     constitutional power of states to manage, control and 
     administer state elections by prohibiting various practices 
     and mandating others such as forcing states to conduct an 
     election over an extended period of time, prohibiting states 
     from maintaining voter rolls free from error and obsolete 
     information and forcing states to accept an elector who does 
     not register to vote in advance, mandates related to mail 
     voting, prohibitions against regulating ballot harvesting and 
     scores of other intrusions into the power of states to 
     manage, control and administer their elections; and

[[Page S5100]]

       Whereas, H.R. 1 strikes at the very heart of the 
     arrangement that gave rise to this nation, namely that states 
     are sovereign and free from interference and the intrusion of 
     power from the government of the United States absent clear 
     constitutional authorization. Therefore be it
       Resolved, By the House of Representatives of the State of 
     Arizona, the Senate concurring:
       1. That the Members of the Legislature oppose any attempt 
     by the federal government to usurp, or otherwise interfere 
     with, the state legislative sovereign authority over the 
     management, control and administration of elections.
       2. That the Members of the Legislature oppose H.R. 1 and 
     any subsequent enactment of the terms of this proposal and 
     implore the Members of the United States House of 
     Representatives and the United States Senate to oppose the 
     same.
       3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit a copy of this Resolution to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, each Member of Congress from the State of 
     Arizona and each Speaker of the House of the Representatives 
     and each President Senate of the other state legislatures.
                                  ____

       POM-52. A memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State 
     of Arizona urging the United States Congress to provide 
     funding to assist service members of the United States Armed 
     Forces who are survivors of sexual assault; to the Committee 
     on Veterans' Affairs.

                        House Memorial No. 2001

       To the Congress of the United States of America:
       Your memorialist respectfully represents:
       Whereas, the United States Department of Defense's annual 
     report on sexual assault in the military, which was provided 
     to Congress in 2020, stated that there continues to be 
     extensive sexual harassment and sexual assault in the United 
     States armed forces: and
       Whereas, statistics on military sexual assaults mentioned 
     in the report show that the majority of service member sexual 
     assault survivors are between the ages of 17 and 24 and work, 
     train or live in close proximity to their alleged attackers; 
     and
       Whereas, sexual assaults in the military continue to be 
     underreported even as reporting rates have quadrupled over 
     the last decade; and
       Whereas, United States armed forces service members who 
     survive military sexual assault should be supported by the 
     United States Department of Defense's judicial and medical 
     systems at the time of service and be educated on available 
     services once they have separated from the military; and
       Whereas, service members who have honorably served in the 
     United States armed forces should be provided with the 
     services they have earned to assist with the trauma of 
     military sexual assault. Wherefore your memorialist, the 
     House of Representatives of the State of
       Arizona, prays:
       1. That the United States Congress support the survivors of 
     military sexual assault through funding and gender-specific 
     health transition training.
       2. That the United States Congress provide funding to the 
     United States Department of Veterans Affairs for extensive 
     outreach to those service members who are separating from the 
     armed forces and provide continued funding for modernizing 
     Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense 
     health records.
       3. 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-53. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Hawaii urging the United States Congress to 
     grant additional authority to the Federal Communications 
     Commission to stop unwanted and illegal robocalls; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 45

       Whereas, receipt of unwanted telephone calls is among the 
     most frequent complaints received by the Federal 
     Communications Commission from consumers nationwide; and
       Whereas, unwanted calls include automated telemarketing or 
     solicitation calls that deliver a recorded message, also 
     known as robocalls; and
       Whereas, recently, robocalls have been combined with a 
     process called ``spoofing'', by which robocalls appear to 
     originate from local, often legitimate, numbers to trick 
     consumers into answering the robocalls; and
       Whereas, as technology continues to evolve, the number of 
     robocalls and spoofing continues to grow; and
       Whereas, under the Federal Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009, 
     individuals are prohibited from transmitting misleading or 
     inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, 
     cause harm, or wrongly obtain anything of value; and
       Whereas, despite the fact that the Federal Communications 
     Commission has initiated new policy initiatives to combat 
     robocalls and spoofing, additional measures need to be 
     implemented to combat this growing problem; and
       Whereas, the United States Congress should pass legislation 
     that provides the Federal Communications Commission with the 
     tools and resources it needs to combat robocalls and 
     spoofing; and
       Whereas, the Federal Communications Commission encourages 
     consumers to file a complaint with the Federal Communications 
     Commission when a robocall is received; and
       Whereas, although the Federal Communications Commission 
     uses social media and the Internet to reach consumers, the 
     Federal Communications Commission should use all means 
     available to provide consumers with the information necessary 
     to file a complaint; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the House of Representatives of the Thirty-
     first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2021, the Senate concurring, that the United States Congress 
     is urged to grant additional authority to the Federal 
     Communications Commission to stop unwanted and illegal 
     robocalls; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the President Pro Tempore of the 
     United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, members of the Hawaii congressional 
     delegation, and Chair of the Federal Communications 
     Commission.
                                  ____

       POM-54. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Hawaii urging the United States Congress, 
     Federal Aviation Administration, and Hawaii Department of 
     Transportation to take every action necessary to address 
     rapidly increasing safety risks and community disruption 
     resulting from insufficient regulation of tour helicopter and 
     small aircraft operations throughout Hawaii skies; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 81

       Whereas, the volume and extent of tour helicopter and small 
     aircraft operations throughout Hawaii's skies have rapidly 
     increased in the past decade; and
       Whereas, with such increases, the safety risks to 
     helicopter and small aircraft passengers, and to the Hawaii 
     residents and visitors that the helicopters and small 
     aircraft fly over daily, have rapidly increased; and
       Whereas, tour helicopters and small aircraft in Hawaii's 
     skies, through noise, vibration, and visual impacts, have 
     increasingly disrupted residential, business, and industrial 
     communities; state and national parks, such as Hawaii 
     Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park; defense 
     areas, such as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; cemeteries and 
     areas of solemnity, such as the National Memorial Cemetery of 
     the Pacific and Pearl Harbor National Memorial; and areas of 
     critical infrastructure; and
       Whereas, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 
     which is the federal agency responsible for investigating 
     aircraft collisions and making recommendations on improving 
     the safety of aircraft operations, found that Hawaii tour 
     helicopter and small aircraft operations accounted for nearly 
     seventeen percent of the nationwide accidents that prompted 
     investigations by the NTSB over the last five years; and
       Whereas, within a ten-month period alone, twenty-three 
     lives were lost through the following tour helicopter and 
     small aircraft collisions in the State:
       (1) on April 29, 2019, a tour helicopter crashed into a 
     residential neighborhood in Kailua, Oahu, killing three 
     people;
       (2) On June 21, 2019, a commercial small aircraft crashed 
     at Mokuleia, Oahu, killing eleven people;
       (3) On December 27, 2019, a tour helicopter crashed on 
     Kauai, killing seven people; and
       (4) On February 22, 2020, a commercial small aircraft 
     crashed at Mokuleia, Oahu, killing two people; and
       Whereas, over the past decade, tour helicopters and small 
     aircraft have been involved in several other incidents that, 
     while not fatal, nevertheless constituted severe risks to the 
     passengers, residents, and visitors on the ground; and
       Whereas, these disruptions and crashes are largely the 
     result of a lack of effective federal regulations and a lack 
     of self-regulation in the tour helicopter and small aircraft 
     industry; and
       Whereas, effective regulations to eliminate or mitigate 
     ground disruptions would place restrictions on the time, 
     routes, altitude, and frequency of helicopter and small 
     aircraft operations; and
       Whereas, communities would be safer and would face fewer 
     disruptions from tour helicopter and small aircraft 
     operations if existing federal acts and regulations, 
     including the following, were used to their full extent:
       (1) The National Park Air Tour Management Act of 2000, as 
     amended, which requires operators conducting commercial air 
     tours over national parks to operate pursuant to an air tour 
     management plan issued by the Federal Aviation Administration 
     (FAA) and National Park Service, or in lieu of such a plan, 
     pursuant to a voluntary agreement with the agencies;
       (2) The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990, which 
     establishes the FAA's authority over airport owners' noise 
     restrictions; and
       (3) Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 50, which 
     regulates the FAA's airport noise compatibility planning 
     programs; and
       Whereas, the United States Court of Appeals for the 
     District of Columbia Circuit, in the case of In Re: Public 
     Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Hawaii 
     Coalition Malama Pono in May 2020, ordered the FAA and 
     National Park Service to bring all required national parks 
     into compliance with the National Park Air Tour Management 
     Act of 2000, including Hawaii Volcanoes

[[Page S5101]]

     National Park and Haleakala National Park, within two years; 
     and
       Whereas, the FAA largely asserts that it has exclusive 
     jurisdiction over regulating the nation's airspace and 
     aircraft operations, which means that the FAA, not the State, 
     has the sole power and responsibility to establish and 
     enforce restrictions that would prevent tour helicopter and 
     small aircraft operations from disrupting communities; and
       Whereas, although the NTSB has made various safety 
     recommendations to the FAA that would apply to tour 
     helicopter and small aircraft operations, the board is still 
     waiting for an acceptable response from the FAA on a number 
     of the recommendations; and
       Whereas, following the April 29, 2019, crash in Kailua, the 
     Chair of the NTSB stated that ``each crash underscores the 
     urgency of improving the safety of charter flights by 
     implementing existing [NTSB] safety recommendations'', and 
     called for small aircraft flight safety improvements; and
       Whereas, the FAA is currently in the process of archiving 
     the Hawaii Air Tour Common Procedures Manual and replacing it 
     with a new regulatory process for determining when and how 
     tour flights can deviate below fifteen hundred feet in 
     altitude, which they are otherwise required to be above; and
       Whereas, the FAA, Hawaii Department of Transportation, some 
     Hawaii tour helicopter companies, and other interested 
     stakeholders have formed the Hawaii Air Noise and Safety Task 
     Force with the stated intent of addressing increasing safety 
     and community disruption concerns, but are not fully engaging 
     and responding to public concerns in determining regulatory 
     or voluntary changes in operations; and
       Whereas, an increasing number of elected officials and 
     community organizations have expressed growing concern with 
     safety risks and community disruption arising from tour 
     helicopter and small aircraft operations; and
       Whereas, Ed Case, Representative for the First 
     Congressional District of Hawaii, has introduced legislation 
     in the United States House of Representatives, H.R. No. 389, 
     117th Congress (First Session 2021) with a short title of the 
     ``Safe and Quiet Skies Act''; and
       Whereas, if enacted, H.R. No. 389 would, in pertinent part:
       (1) Prohibit commercial air tours from operating over or 
     within a half mile of especially sensitive locations;
       (2) Require the FAA to require the use of automatic 
     dependent surveillance-broadcast out equipment during the 
     entire operation of a commercial air tour;
       (3) Require the FAA to prohibit pilots from undertaking any 
     activities other than flying the aircraft, including 
     monitoring video equipment or narrating, during the operation 
     of a commercial air tour;
       (4) Impose minimum altitude requirements and noise 
     restrictions on commercial air tours;
       (5) Authorize state and local jurisdictions to impose 
     additional requirements on commercial air tours;
       (6) Require the FAA to implement any recommendations issued 
     by the NTSB concerning operators of commercial aircraft on 
     which the FAA has not provided an acceptable response to the 
     board; and
       (7) Require the FAA to subject commercial air tour 
     operators to certain regulations relating to commercial 
     aircraft operators, instead of regulations relating to non-
     commercial aircraft operators; and
       Whereas, on January 31, 2020, the United States Senate 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation released a 
     report entitled, ``Whistleblower Allegations of Misconduct at 
     the FAA Flight Standards District Office in Honolulu, 
     Hawaii'', outlining multiple whistleblower claims of 
     inadequate safety regulation of tour helicopters, 
     specifically including those involved in the fatal crashes in 
     Kailua on April 29, 2019, and on Kauai on December 27, 2019; 
     and
       Whereas, the Honolulu City Council and nineteen of Oahu's 
     neighborhood boards have taken official actions to urge the 
     federal government to act to address the disruptions and 
     dangers posed by tour helicopter and small aircraft 
     operations; and
       Whereas, the lack of effective federal regulations and the 
     lack of effective self-regulation by the tour helicopter and 
     small aircraft industry pose a significant and growing threat 
     to the safety, health, and well-being of the nation and the 
     State; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the House of Representatives of the Thirty-
     first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2021, the Senate concurring, that the United States Congress, 
     FAA, and Hawaii Department of Transportation are urged to 
     take every action necessary to address rapidly increasing 
     safety risks and community disruption resulting from 
     insufficient regulation of rapidly increasing operations of 
     tour helicopters and small aircraft throughout Hawaii skies; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the United States Congress is urged to 
     promptly enact the proposed Safe and Quiet Skies Act; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the Hawaii Department of Transportation and 
     FAA are urged to pursue existing remedies to limit community 
     disruption through the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 
     and title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 150; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the FAA is urged to:
       (1) Implement any recommendations issued by the NTSB 
     concerning operators of commercial aircraft on which the FAA 
     has not provided an acceptable response to the Board;
       (2) Fully implement, in concert with the National Park 
     Service, the requirements of the National Park Air Tour 
     Management Act of 2000 with respect to all applicable Hawaii 
     parks and other relevant areas as required by the United 
     States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; 
     and
       (3) Immediately and fully investigate whistleblowers' 
     claims with respect to the Honolulu Flight Standards District 
     Office's implementation of safety requirements; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Hawaii Air Noise and Safety Task Force 
     is urged to immediately respond substantively to public 
     safety and community disruption concerns with clear changes 
     to operations to reduce time, place, and manner of 
     operations; and be it further
       Resolved, That federal, state, and county elected and 
     administration officials are urged to pursue these actions, 
     the enactment of legislation to authorize state and local 
     governments to regulate helicopter and small aircraft 
     operations, and all other actions that will enhance safety 
     and prevent community disruption by Hawaii tour helicopter 
     and small aircraft operations; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of the 
     United States House of Representatives; Majority Leader of 
     the United States Senate; members of Hawaii's congressional 
     delegation; United States Secretary of Transportation; 
     Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; Manager 
     of the Honolulu Flight Standards District Office of the 
     Federal Aviation Administration; Chair of the National 
     Transportation Safety Board; Director of the National Park 
     Service; Governor; Hawaii Director of Transportation; mayor 
     of each county; chair of each neighborhood board; and co-
     chairs of the Hawaii Air Noise and Safety Task Force.
                                  ____

       POM-55. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas 
     relative to national security; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.
       POM-56. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Louisiana urging the United 
     States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to 
     compel the Federal Aviation Administration to protect the 
     rights of consumers by setting consistent standards across 
     airlines for passenger baggage and other ancillary fees; to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                        House Resolution No. 221

       Whereas, the United States Congress largely determines the 
     degree to which certain rights of airline passengers are 
     codified in law or developed through regulatory rulemaking; 
     and
       Whereas, in 2008, the first major United States carrier 
     imposed a fee for checked baggage; and
       Whereas, all major carriers now charge an additional fee 
     for checked baggage with the exception of Southwest airlines 
     subject to weight requirements; and
       Whereas, airlines have been under financial pressure to 
     offset the cost of rising fuel prices, and many airlines now 
     charge excess baggage fees for checking one or more pieces of 
     luggage, with some even charging for carry-ons; and
       Whereas, in 2018, several airlines raised the fee for the 
     first checked bag from twenty-five to thirty dollars, which 
     amounts to a twenty percent increase; and
       Whereas, airlines' bag and reservation fee collections have 
     increased every year for more than a decade; and
       Whereas, airlines' bag fees have exceeded one billion every 
     quarter for more than three years with the exception of the 
     second through fourth quarters in 2020 due to the pandemic; 
     and
       Whereas, in 2019, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics 
     reported that airlines collectively generated eight billion 
     six hundred million in baggage and other ancillary fees; and
       Whereas, in 2019, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics 
     reported that airlines collectively generated two billion 
     eight million in reservation change fees; and
       Whereas, many airline passengers have expressed concerns 
     over baggage policies that are inconsistent across airlines; 
     and
       Whereas, airline baggage fees have become progressively 
     more confusing, complicated, and expensive; and
       Whereas, although baggage fees are displayed on the 
     airlines' websites, consumers report that additional hidden 
     fees are not mentioned; and
       Whereas, certain airlines charge up to forty-five dollars 
     for carry-on bags and have additional complications; and
       Whereas, airline baggage fees can vary depending on when 
     and where passengers add bags; and
       Whereas, one of the top ten customer complaints about the 
     airline industry is hidden charges and cost; and
       Whereas, the aforementioned concerns of airline passengers 
     are issues of consumer protection for which the United State 
     Congress has the constitutional power to address and 
     determine fair and reasonable solutions through codified law 
     and regulatory rulemaking: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana does

[[Page S5102]]

     hereby memorialize the United States Congress to take such 
     actions as are necessary to work with the Federal Aviation 
     Administration to set consistent standards across airlines 
     for baggage and other ancillary fees that are reasonable and 
     proportional to the cost of services to eliminate airlines' 
     potential for price gouging; and be it further
       Resolved, That the United State Congress should consider 
     enacting legislation that addresses the issues of 
     transparency by mandating that airlines disclose hidden fees 
     so that consumers can obtain an all inclusive airfare price; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the United State Congress should also 
     consider legislation that prohibits airlines from charging 
     fees on carry-on baggage which meets existing restrictions on 
     the weight, size, and number of bags; and be it further
       Resolved, That the United State Congress should consider 
     directing the appropriate federal agency to conduct an audit 
     on airlines' policies relative to baggage and other ancillary 
     fees; 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 United States Congress and to each 
     member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-57. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Missouri urging the United States Congress to 
     resist any attempt to increase the number of Justices on the 
     United States Supreme Court; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6

       Whereas, an independent United States Supreme Court is an 
     essential clement of America's system or checks and balances 
     that protects our constitutional rights; and
       Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has been composed 
     of nine Justices for more than 150 years; and
       Whereas, the President of the United States and Congress 
     should be prohibited from undermining the independence of the 
     Supreme Court by changing the number of Justices on the 
     Supreme Court: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the members of the Missouri Senate, One 
     Hundred First General Assembly, First Regular Session, the 
     House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby urge the 
     United States Congress to resist any attempt to increase: the 
     number of Justices on the United States Supreme Court; and be 
     it further
       Resolved That the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to 
     prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for the 
     President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives and the members of the 
     Missouri Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-58. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Missouri applying to the United States 
     Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the United 
     States Constitution, for the calling of a convention of the 
     states limited to proposing amendments to the United States 
     Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal 
     government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal 
     government, and limit the terms of office for its officials 
     and members of Congress; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, the Founders of our Constitution empowered state 
     legislators to be guardians of liberty against future abuses 
     of power by the federal government; and
       Whereas, the federal government has created a crushing 
     national debt through improper and imprudent spending; and
       Whereas, the federal government has invaded the legitimate 
     roles of the states through the manipulative process of 
     federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great 
     extent; and
       Whereas, the federal government has ceased to live under a 
     proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, it is the solemn duty of the states to protect the 
     liberty of our people--particularly for the generations to 
     come--to propose amendments to the United States Constitution 
     through a convention of states under Article V to place clear 
     restraints on these and related abuses of power; and
       Whereas, the Ninety-Ninth General Assembly of Missouri, 
     First Regular Session, adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 
     No. 4. which contained an application for an Article V 
     Convention to propose constitutional amendments identical to 
     those proposed in this resolution. but provided that the 
     application would expire five years after the passage of 
     Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the members of the Missouri Senate, One 
     Hundred First General Assembly, First Regular Session, the 
     House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby apply to 
     Congress, under the provisions or Article V of the United 
     States Constitution, for the calling of a convention of the 
     states limited to proposing amendments to the United States 
     Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal 
     government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal 
     government, and limit the terms of office for its officials 
     and members of Congress; and be it further
       Resolved, That the General Assembly adopts this application 
     with the following understandings (as the term 
     ``understandings'' is used within the context of 
     ``reservations, understandings, and declarations''):
       (1) An application to Congress for an Article V convention 
     confers no power on Congress other than to perform a 
     ministerial function to ``call'' for a convention;
       (2) This ministerial duty shall be performed by Congress 
     only when Article V applications for substantially the same 
     purpose are received from two-thirds of the legislatures of 
     the several states;
       (3) The power of Congress to ``call'' a convention solely 
     consists of the authority to name a reasonable time and place 
     for the initial meeting of the convention;
       (4) Congress possesses no power whatsoever to name 
     delegates to the convention, as this power remains 
     exclusively within the authority of the legislatures of the 
     several states;
       (5) Congress possesses no power to set the number of 
     delegates to be sent by any states;
       (6) Congress possesses no power whatsoever to determine any 
     rules for such convention;
       (7) By definition, a Convention of States means that states 
     vote on the basis of one state, one vote;
       (8) A Convention of States convened pursuant to this 
     application is limited to consideration of topics specified 
     herein and no other;
       (9) The General Assembly of Missouri may recall its 
     delegates at any time for breach of their duties or 
     violations of their instructions pursuant to the procedures 
     adopted in this resolution;
       (10) Pursuant to the text of Article V, Congress may 
     determine whether proposed amendments shall be ratified by 
     the legislatures of the several states or by special state 
     ratification conventions. The General Assembly of Missouri 
     recommends that Congress specify its choice on ratification 
     methodology contemporaneously with the call for the 
     convention;
       (11) Congress possesses no power whatsoever with regard to 
     the Article V convention beyond the two powers acknowledged 
     herein;
       (12) Missouri places express reliance on prior legal and 
     judicial determinations that Congress possesses no power 
     under Article I relative to the Article V process, and that 
     Congress must act only as expressly specified in Article V; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That this application hereby repeals, rescinds, 
     cancels, renders null and void, and supercedes the 
     application to the Congress of the United States for a 
     convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United 
     States by this state in Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4 as 
     adopted by the Ninety-Ninth General Assembly, First Regular 
     Session; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to 
     prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the 
     President and Secretary of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of 
     Representatives, each member of the Missouri Congressional 
     delegation, and the presiding officers of each of the 
     legislative houses in the several states requesting their 
     cooperation.

                          ____________________