[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5712-S5716]
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-59. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Idaho urging the United States Congress that state 
     funeral be held at such time of the passing of the last World 
     War II Medal of Honor recipient and to honor those who served 
     in World War II; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs.

                     Senate Joint Memorial No. 101

       Whereas, the Medal of Honor is the United States of 
     America's highest and most-prestigious personal military 
     decoration that may be awarded to recognize United States 
     military service members who have distinguished themselves by 
     acts of valor. The Medal of Honor represents the indomitable 
     spirit, determination, selflessness, and gallantry of those 
     who, in the face of overwhelming odds, performed far beyond 
     the call of duty; and
       Whereas, as members of the ``Greatest Generation,'' which 
     represented the character and strength of the State of Idaho 
     and the United States, Captain Arthur Junior Jackson, United 
     States Marine Corps, who served with the 3rd Battalion, 7th 
     Marine Regiment, and Robert Dale Maxwell, United States Army, 
     who served with the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry 
     Division, were both awarded the Medal of Honor during World 
     War II for gallantry, risking their lives, and acting with 
     valor. Both Captain Arthur Junior Jackson and Robert Dale 
     Maxwell, along with Idaho's other Medal of Honor recipient's, 
     are now deceased, leaving only memories of their heroic acts. 
     The stories of these patriots' courage and valor during the 
     war should never be forgotten; and
       Whereas, the President of the United States holds the 
     authority to designate a state funeral. A number of state 
     funerals to honor our war heroes have been held in the past, 
     including the 1921 state funeral for the Unknown Soldier of 
     World War I and the 1964 state funeral honoring General 
     Douglas MacArthur. These state funerals have offered our 
     nation the opportunity to pause, reflect, and honor the 
     service of those individuals and those who served alongside 
     them; and
       Whereas, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipients from 
     World War II are 96-year-old Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, a 
     retired United States Marine Corps warrant officer and United 
     States Department of Veterans Affairs veterans service 
     representative, and 99-year-old Charles H. Coolidge, who 
     served as a United States Army technical sergeant: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the members of the First Regular Session of 
     the Sixty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives concurring therein, that a state funeral 
     be held at such time of the passing of the last World War II 
     Medal of Honor recipient, to honor the last surviving Medal 
     of Honor recipient from World War II, and to honor those who 
     served in World War II, such distinction giving our nation 
     the opportunity to thank those who saved the world from 
     Nazism, fascism, and militaristic imperialism. This national 
     recognition would also serve to honor the 473 service members 
     who were awarded the Medal of Honor for service during World 
     War II, along with the 16 million American men and women who 
     faithfully served our nation, including many Idahoans, during 
     that war, paying a final salute to the millions of men and 
     women of the ``Greatest Generation'' who served our country 
     from 1941 to 1945; Be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is 
     hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this 
     Memorial to the President of the United States, to the 
     President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of Congress, and to the congressional 
     delegation representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of 
     the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-60. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of West Virginia urging the United States 
     Congress that state funeral be held at such time of the 
     passing of the last World War II Medal of Honor recipient and 
     to honor those who served in World War II; to the Committee 
     on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 201

       Whereas, Only 473 Americans were awarded the Congressional 
     Medal of Honor, the nation's highest decoration of valor 
     during World War II, and, as of today, only one of those 
     Americans, West Virginia's own son, Hershel ``Woody'' 
     Williams, remains alive; and
       Whereas, The time is approaching for a final salute to the 
     Medal of Honor recipients from World War II; and
       Whereas, A single state funeral to be held upon the death 
     of the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II 
     would be the perfect vehicle to do so, and it would also 
     provide national recognition to honor all 16 million 
     soldiers, sailors and airmen who served in our armed forces 
     from 1941 to 1945; and
       Whereas, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied 
     Commander in the Pacific theatre, and General Dwight 
     Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of the European theatre, 
     were each honored by the nation with state funerals; and
       Whereas, The selfless, brave men and women who served under 
     them deserve the honor of special recognition at a state 
     funeral to be held upon the death of the last

[[Page S5713]]

     living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II; therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia: That the West 
     Virginia Senate and West Virginia House of Delegates hereby 
     request the President of the United States to designate a 
     single state funeral to be held upon the death of the last 
     living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the West Virginia Senate and West Virginia 
     House of Delegates hereby request the President of the United 
     States to designate a single state funeral to be held upon 
     the death of the last living Medal of Honor recipient from 
     each succeeding American war, that the memory of their deeds 
     may be perpetuated; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates and 
     Clerk of the Senate forward a copy of this resolution to the 
     President of the United States, the Clerk of the United 
     States Senate, the Clerk of the United States House of 
     Representatives, all members of West Virginia's Congressional 
     delegation, and the Governor of West Virginia.
                                  ____

       POM-61. A resolution adopted by the County Council of New 
     Castle, Delaware celebrating the historical nature of the 
     2020 Presidential election and thanking President Biden and 
     Vice President Harris for taking the necessary steps towards 
     a more inclusive government; to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs.
       POM-62. A concurrent resolution adopted by the General 
     Assembly of the State of Ohio urging the United States 
     Congress and the Department of Defense to maintain the C-130 
     fleet at the United States Transportation Command's 2018 
     Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study's Recommendation 
     of 300 aircraft, and to recapitalize the Reserve Component C-
     130H fleet to the C-130J; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 7

       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing of the United States Air 
     National Guard (ANG), originally the 164th Fighter Squadron, 
     was organized in Mansfield, Ohio, on June 20th, 1948; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing closed out its tactical 
     fighter mission in 1976, and the unit converted to the C-130B 
     Hercules aircraft; and
       Whereas, Upgrade to the C-130H was completed in 1991; and
       Whereas, All told, the 179th Airlift Wing has been 
     supporting variations of C-130 aircraft for well over forty 
     years; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing was active during Desert 
     Shield/Storm providing airlift support throughout the 
     Continental United States and Europe; and
       Whereas, The United States Air Force (USAF) did not include 
     Mansfield among eight possible locations for support of the 
     C-130J Super Hercules, the newest version of the C-130, and 
     the only model still in production; and
       Whereas, With its strong record and robust crew, the 179th 
     Airlift Wing in Mansfield plays a crucial role in the 
     vitality of Central Ohio and our national defense; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing has been the recipient of 
     numerous awards, decorations, and recognitions, including the 
     USAF Outstanding Unit Award (twice), the Colonel Alan P. 
     Tappan Memorial Trophy (Outstanding Ohio ANG Unit--seven 
     times), the Curtis N. ``Rusty'' Metcalf Trophy (Outstanding 
     ANG Airlift/Tanker unit), the Major General John J. Pesch 
     Flight Safety Award, the ANG Comptroller Organization of the 
     Year, the Military Airlift Command Outstanding Intelligence 
     Branch of the Year, the ANG Maintenance Effectiveness Award, 
     first runner-up 21AF Outstanding Reserve Forces Unit, and 
     many individual awards and decorations for outstanding 
     performance; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing has participated in 
     humanitarian airlift efforts throughout the world, including 
     Provide Relief/Restore Hope in Somalia, has been involved in 
     Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia, in support of United 
     Nations relief efforts and Operations Joint Guard and Forge 
     in support of NATO operating out of Rhein-Main and Ramstein 
     Air Base, Germany; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing responded to disaster 
     relief tasking in the wake of hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, and 
     Katrina, was tasked to provide airlift support for invading 
     forces in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy, and served 
     as lead unit for the ANG deployment for Operation Southern 
     Watch in support of the Southwest Asia no-fly zone; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing and Mansfield Lahm Airport 
     have a long history working collaboratively with NASA Glenn 
     Research Center's Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, 
     providing critical logistics and operational support; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing provided a chase C-130H to 
     accompany both the Super Guppy's arrival and departure 
     missions, significantly enhancing the safe operation of the 
     Super Guppy in crosswind takeoffs and landings; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing supported NASA's Super 
     Guppy and the Artemis I spacecraft for testing at the 
     Armstrong Test Facility, Space Environments Complex before 
     launching humans to the Moon on the future Artemis II 
     mission; and
       Whereas, NASA Glenn and the State of Ohio partnered to 
     develop a transportation route between the 179th Airlift Wing 
     and NASA Glenn's Armstrong Test Facility to enhance and 
     continue the national capability for testing large spacecraft 
     at this one-of-a-kind test facility; and
       Whereas, The United States Transportation Command's 2018 
     Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study (MCRS) 
     identified that the Theater Airlift Aircraft C-130 fleet size 
     to support the National Defense Strategy in Fiscal Year 2023 
     should be no less than 300 aircraft, and the USAF in its 2021 
     President's Budget indicated it intended to reduce the C-130 
     fleet to 255 aircraft by 2026 and divest the entire C-130H 
     fleet; and
       Whereas, The USAF considered eight ANG C-130H units to 
     receive new C-130J aircraft (eight aircraft per unit) in 
     2021, but only selected three of those units, and the 179th 
     Airlift Wing was not included in the group being considered; 
     and
       Whereas, The USAF awarded Lockheed Martin a $15 billion C-
     130J Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract for its 
     C-130J Super Hercules Program in July of 2020 for a period of 
     five years with an execution period of ten years; and
       Whereas, The 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield, Ohio, 
     possesses the personnel, facilities, experience, and capacity 
     to support the C-130J Super Hercules air craft; and has a 
     significant economic impact of over $80 million per year in 
     the local Mansfield area; and serves as the foundation to 
     support air improvements and a Federal Aviation 
     Administration control tower; now therefore be it
       Resolved, That we, the members of the 134th General 
     Assembly of the State of Ohio, pending the USAF final 
     decision to assign the Information Warfare Wing mission in 
     the Fall of 2021 to one of the two ANG bases under 
     consideration to transition from operating C-130H aircraft to 
     taking on this new mission, urge the Congress of the United 
     States to direct the USAF in the 2022 National Defense 
     Authorization Act to either modernize as necessary the C-130H 
     fleet or recapitalize ANG C-130H units with new C-130J 
     aircraft in keeping with the 2018 U.S. Transportation Command 
     MCRS using the $15 billion previously awarded to Lockheed 
     Martin for the C-130J program; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
     transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 
     United States Secretary of Defense, the President Pro Tempore 
     and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and 
     Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news 
     media of Ohio.
                                  ____

       POM-63. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of New Jersey urging efforts at the state and 
     federal levels to protect minority communities through better 
     regulation of debt settlement companies; to the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 103

       Whereas, The General Assembly recognizes that debt 
     settlement companies, which [claim to] settle, renegotiate, 
     or in some way change the terms of a person's debt to a 
     creditor, [cause] can offer significant [problems for 
     borrowers, often increasing debt while complicating the 
     process of becoming] benefits to consumers wishing to become 
     debt free; and
       Whereas, Debt settlement companies [suggest that they are 
     ``negotiating] negotiate with creditors to settle delinquent 
     debt for less than what is [owed'' and can require that 
     consumers stop making payment,] owed, a process that usually 
     [for] takes two to three years [, while they negotiate a 
     settlement]; and
       Whereas, Stopping payments causes accounts to default, 
     resulting in additional late payments, late fees, and other 
     penalties that will be added to the amount already owed; and
       Whereas, [Debt settlement] Stopping payments will have a 
     negative impact on consumers' credit scores and make it more 
     difficult to access affordable credit, since [debt settlement 
     remains] delinquencies remain on a credit report for [seven] 
     several years and not paying the full amount owed or missing 
     payments [while negotiating a settlement lowers] can result 
     in lower credit scores; and
       Whereas, A fee is normally charged by debt settlement 
     companies to negotiate on a consumer's behalf and can be as 
     much as [20] 18 to 25 percent of the [final settlement] 
     original amount owed, which means a consumer with a $5,000 
     settlement of a $10,000 debt may have an additional [$1,000 
     to $1,250] $1,800 to $2,500 in fees to pay; and
       Whereas, Lenders are under no obligation to accept 
     settlement offers and in fact, some lenders refuse to work 
     with debt settlement companies; and
       Whereas, There can be negative tax consequences from using 
     a debt settlement company, as whatever amount of debt is 
     forgiven may be considered as income and require that the 
     consumer list this amount as income on their tax returns; and
       Whereas, [These companies often disproportionately operate 
     in] It is important to protect minority communities, where 
     individuals and families often have fewer resources to draw 
     on when they come under financial pressure; now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the 
     General Assembly concurring);
       1. The Legislature supports efforts at the state and 
     federal levels that ensure debt settlement companies are 
     subject to basic consumer protections, including licensing, 
     regular examination, and prominent mandatory disclosure.
       2. The Legislature recognizes that these services do not 
     release a consumer from existing debt, and that ceasing to 
     make payments without the consent of the creditor

[[Page S5714]]

     may damage the consumer's credit score and may subject the 
     borrower to collections activities, additional fees, and 
     interest.
       3. The Legislature urges states, including New Jersey, to 
     consider legislation restricting [debt settlement companies'] 
     the making of unsafe or unsustainable loans directly or 
     indirectly to consumers.
       4. The Legislature encourages the federal government to 
     conduct a comprehensive review of its oversight of debt 
     [servicing] settlement companies, to include a review of 
     federal bankruptcy rules; how debt settlement companies act 
     as credit counseling services; the status of these companies 
     as money servicing businesses; and a review of the 
     enforcement of current laws and regulations by the Consumer 
     Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission.
       5. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary 
     of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General 
     Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President of 
     the United States, the Vice President of the United States, 
     members of the United States House of Representatives and 
     United States Senate, the United States Secretary of the 
     Treasury, and to other federal and State government officials 
     as appropriate.
                                  ____

       POM-64. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     New Jersey urging the United States Congress and the 
     President of the United States to create a National 
     Infrastructure Bank; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
     and Urban Affairs.

                        Senate Resolution No. 81

       Whereas, The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 
     stated in its 2017 report card that the United States 
     received a grade of ``D'' regarding the current state of 
     infrastructure, and that $4.6 trillion would be needed to 
     restore the country's infrastructure to a state of good 
     repair. Current funding falls over $2 trillion short of this 
     amount. Urgently needed programs, including passenger transit 
     systems and high-speed rail, broadband, clean water supply 
     systems, power grid upgrades, flood control, and others, are 
     not included; and
       Whereas, The State of New Jersey was given a ``D+'' grade 
     by the ASCE on its most recent report card in 2016. Over 11 
     percent of New Jersey's bridges are labelled as structurally 
     deficient, and most have reached or exceeded their expected 
     lifespan. New Jersey dams are graded as a ``D,'' with 178 
     dams receiving a ``poor'' rating by the New Jersey Bureau of 
     Dam Safety. New Jersey's drinking water infrastructure 
     received a ``C'' grade in 2016, with most systems approaching 
     100 years of age; and
       Whereas, New Jersey levees were graded ``D-'' and roads 
     were graded ``D+;'' 64 percent of State roads are deemed 
     heavily congested; and time spent sitting in traffic 
     increases air pollution and adds hundreds of dollars to 
     commuter costs every year; and
       Whereas, These infrastructure issues are in addition to the 
     critical condition that has developed within the tunnels 
     under the Hudson River that support commerce between New 
     Jersey and Manhattan. These 108-year old tunnels carry 20 
     percent of the national GDP on a daily basis, and the 
     collapse of one or both tunnels would be cataclysmic. 
     Additionally, the bridges carrying trains to the tunnels, the 
     Portal Bridge and others, need urgent repair or outright 
     replacement. These tunnels form a chokepoint, the failure or 
     shutdown of which would have a ripple effect on 
     transportation and commerce throughout New Jersey and the 
     region; and
       Whereas, The United States has previously utilized national 
     banks to direct financing into infrastructure construction, 
     with policies implemented in the administrations of 
     Presidents George Washington, John Quincy Adams, Abraham 
     Lincoln, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Much of the nation's 
     infrastructure at the time, including that in the State of 
     New Jersey, was financed this way; and
       Whereas, A new National Infrastructure Bank can be created 
     to direct $4 trillion to urgently needed infrastructure 
     concerns. This bank can be funded with no new federal 
     appropriations, by exchanging a small portion of Treasury 
     debt, in the amount of $500 billion, for stock in the bank. 
     The new bank, operating as a commercial bank, could lend out 
     $4 trillion to states, counties, municipalities, and other 
     governmental entities at a low interest in order to finance 
     their infrastructure projects; and
       Whereas, Seventeen state legislatures have filed similar 
     resolutions, and three state legislatures have passed 
     resolutions in a bipartisan vote. This policy has been 
     endorsed by many national organizations, including the 
     National Congress of Black Women, National Latino Farmers and 
     Ranchers Trade Association, and the National Federation of 
     Federal Employees; and many local entities, including the 
     Mercer County Board of Freeholders and the Trenton City 
     Council; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
       1. This House respectfully urges the President and Congress 
     of the United States to enact legislation creating a new 
     National Infrastructure Bank to address the infrastructure 
     crisis that has gripped the nation.
       2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary 
     of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate 
     to the President of the United States and to every member of 
     the New Jersey Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-65. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     New Jersey urging the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the 
     monarch butterfly as a threatened species; to the Committee 
     on Environment and Public Works.

                       Senate Resolution No. 102

       Whereas, The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an 
     iconic large orange and black butterfly that is one of the 
     most familiar butterflies in North America; and
       Whereas, Every autumn, millions of monarch butterflies 
     undertake a spectacular multi-generational migration 
     thousands of miles from Canada and the northern United States 
     to Mexico and California, stopping along the way in places 
     like New Jersey, to feed and reproduce; and
       Whereas, Monarch butterfly populations in North America 
     represent the vast majority of all monarch butterflies in the 
     world; and
       Whereas, Monarch butterfly habitat has been drastically 
     reduced and degraded throughout the butterfly's summer and 
     winter ranges by the decline of nectar sources, commercial 
     development, logging, and broader environmental changes; and
       Whereas, One of the major reasons for monarch butterfly 
     population decline is the increased use of pesticides that 
     kill milkweed, the monarch butterfly's preferred plant host; 
     and
       Whereas, Climate change also poses a dire threat to the 
     monarch butterfly, as several scientists have predicted that 
     the monarch butterfly's overwintering habitat in Mexico may 
     be rendered unsuitable by global climate change. and that 
     much of the monarch butterfly's summer range may also become 
     unsuitable due to increasing temperatures; and
       Whereas, Disease and predation also contribute to 
     population decline and major threats facing the monarch 
     butterfly include numerous pathogens, such as viruses, 
     bacteria. and protozoan parasites; and
       Whereas, The monarch butterfly population has declined by 
     more than 90 percent in the past two decades, and is 
     presently near the lowest population ever recorded; and
       Whereas, The federal ``Endangered Species Act'' (16 U.S.C. 
     s. 1531 et seq.) allows a species to be listed as 
     ``threatened'' when it is at risk of becoming endangered in a 
     significant portion of its range; and
       Whereas, Although there are small populations of monarch 
     butterflies throughout the world, the North American monarch 
     butterfly population is significant because without it, the 
     redundancy, resiliency, and representation of the species 
     would be so impaired that the monarch butterfly would become 
     increasingly vulnerable to extinction; and
       Whereas, Numerous other species have been protected under 
     the federal Endangered Species Act that have large ranges and 
     relatively abundant population sizes but have experienced 
     precipitous population decline and face significant threats 
     to their continued existence, such as the gray bat (Myotis 
     grisescens), Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), and piping plover 
     (Charadrius melodus); and
       Whereas, In 2014, a group of conservationists, including 
     the Center for Biological Diversity, the Center for Food 
     Safety, and the Xerces Society, petitioned the Secretary of 
     the United States Department of the Interior, through the 
     United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to protect the 
     monarch butterfly under the federal Endangered Species Act; 
     and
       Whereas, Based on information in that petition, the U.S. 
     Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the monarch 
     butterfly population may warrant federal protection, and 
     began the process of conducting a thorough assessment to 
     determine if the monarch butterfly should be listed as a 
     threatened species; and
       Whereas, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is presently 
     developing a database to capture new, ongoing, and planned 
     conservation efforts for the monarch butterfly, including the 
     enhancement of blooming nectar plant habitats, and to help 
     the agency and its conservation partners assess conditions 
     for the monarch butterfly now and into the future; and
       Whereas, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [anticipates 
     making a listing decision concerning the monarch butterfly in 
     June 2019] announced in December 2020 that listing the 
     monarch butterfly as endangered or threatened under the 
     Endangered Species Act is warranted, but precluded by higher 
     priority listing actions ; and
       Whereas, New Jersey has long supported the preservation of 
     the monarch butterfly, and in 2017, passed two separate 
     pieces of legislation helping to protect the species: the 
     ``Adopt a Monarch Butterfly Waystation Act,'' P.L.2017, c.250 
     (C.13:1B-15.162 et seq.), and the ``Milkweed for Monarchs 
     Act,'' P.L.2017, c.252 (C.13:1B-15.170 et seq.); and
       Whereas, New Jersey values the important role that 
     pollinators, such as the monarch butterfly, play in the 
     ecology of the State and the nation, and there is bi-partisan 
     support in New Jersey for programs and legislation that 
     protect and encourage pollinators and the habitats that 
     support them: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
       1. This House urges the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species 
     under the federal Endangered Species Act.
       2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary 
     of State, shall be transmitted

[[Page S5715]]

     by Secretary of the Senate to the Governor of the State of 
     New Jersey, to the President of the United States, the 
     Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, 
     the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     in the United States Department of the Interior, every member 
     of Congress elected from the State of New Jersey, the 
     Governor of New Jersey, and the Commissioner of the New 
     Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On pages S5714-5715, August 3, 2021, in the bottom right column 
on page S5714 and the top left column on page S5715, the following 
appears: 2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary 
of State, shall be transmitted by Secretary of the Senate to the 
Governor of the State of New Jersey, to the President of the 
United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of 
the Interior, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service in the
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: 2. Copies of this 
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be 
transmitted by Secretary of the Senate to the Governor of the 
State of New Jersey, to the President of the United States, the 
Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the 
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the 
United States Department of the Interior, every member of Congress 
elected from the State of New Jersey, the Governor of New Jersey, 
and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental 
Protection.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 



                                  ____
       POM-66. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine urging the United States Congress and the 
     President of the United States to enact legislation to 
     authorize states to obtain a state universal health care 
     waiver; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 585

       Whereas, the current system of health care coverage in the 
     State does not provide universal coverage for all Maine 
     residents; and
       Whereas, health care coverage is often unaffordable and 
     causes financial strain for many Maine residents; and
       Whereas, every person in the State should have access to 
     affordable and high-quality health care; and
       Whereas, there are significant barriers in federal law that 
     affect the ability of individual states to establish a 
     universal health care plan to provide affordable and high-
     quality health care to all residents; and
       Whereas, these state efforts are also hindered by a lack of 
     federal support and financing to assist states interested in 
     the establishment of a state-based universal health care 
     plan; and
       Whereas, proposed legislation was previously introduced in 
     the 116th Congress, H.R. 5010, the State-Based Universal 
     Health Care Act of 2019, and similar legislation is expected 
     to be reintroduced in the 117th Congress that would establish 
     a federal waiver for states interested in establishing a 
     universal health care plan for residents: now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the 
     people we represent, take this opportunity to respectfully 
     request that the President of the United States and the 
     United States Congress enact legislation to authorize states 
     to obtain a state universal health care waiver; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 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 the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____


       POM-67. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Wyoming requesting the federal government to 
     respect state sovereignty; to review and correct federal 
     actions which infringe upon the right to bear arms; and to 
     recognize the impact of federal land use and natural resource 
     development policies on Wyoming citizens and to collaborate 
     with the state in adopting and implementing the policies; to 
     the Committee on the Judiciary.

                      House Joint Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, a union of sovereign states established a federal 
     government and delegated limited powers to that government;
       Whereas, any question as to whether powers not delegated to 
     the federal government were retained by the states was 
     emphatically answered with the ratification of the tenth 
     amendment;
       Whereas, Wyoming is a sovereign state admitted to the union 
     on an equal footing, in all respects, in accordance with 
     Wyoming's Act of Admission;
       Whereas, the United States Constitution, treaties, federal 
     law and numerous court decisions have recognized that Indian 
     tribes exercise inherent sovereign powers over their members 
     and territory;
       Whereas, the United States supreme court has consistently 
     affirmed that the power of Congress to admit new states, is 
     limited as the ``Union of States, must be equal in power, 
     dignity and authority, each state competent to exert that 
     residuum of sovereignty not delegated to the United States by 
     the Constitution itself.'' Coyle v. Smith, 221 U.S. 559 
     (1911);
       Whereas, the second amendment to the federal Constitution 
     recognizes the right of the people to bear arms and that the 
     right shall not be infringed, and Article 1, Section 24 of 
     the Wyoming Constitution provides that the right of citizens 
     to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state shall 
     not be denied;
       Whereas, Wyoming has been blessed with abundant natural 
     resources which have been developed to create economic 
     prosperity and provide energy independence from foreign 
     nations thereby providing for the peace, safety and happiness 
     of all citizens of the United States;
       Whereas, the federal government has recently taken actions 
     limiting the development of natural resources, in many 
     instances unilaterally through the executive department, 
     without consultation with Congress or the States;
       Whereas, the federal government through Congressional 
     enactments, executive orders, agency regulations and judicial 
     rulings has limited the transfer and ownership of firearms 
     and has provided for the tracking of firearms, which are 
     actions infringing upon the people's rights;
       Whereas, federal laws enacted in accordance with the 
     limited powers delegated by the union of states to the 
     federal government are the supreme law of the land as 
     recognized by the United States and Wyoming Constitutions;
       Whereas, the state of Wyoming is an inseparable part of the 
     federal union;
       Whereas, a more perfect union will not be realized by 
     actions of any single department of the federal government 
     and cannot be forged by acts of a federal government which 
     exceed delegated powers; nor should acts of the federal 
     government be tolerated when exercise of those delegated 
     powers harms the welfare of the citizens of states, even when 
     in complete observance of constitutional limitations; and
       Whereas, all power is inherent in the people and all free 
     governments are founded on their authority. Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved,  By the members of the Legislature of the state 
     of Wyoming:
       Section 1. That the current Executive Department 
     Administration of the federal government and Congress should 
     here and now, and in the future, respect the sovereignty of 
     Wyoming and the other states of our union.
       Section 2. That the federal government not regulate arms at 
     a national level and that the Executive Department of the 
     federal government work with Congress and the states to 
     review and correct federal actions which infringe on the 
     rights conferred by the second amendment to the federal 
     constitution and on the rights of citizens conferred 
     independently by the constitutions of the several states.
       Section 3. That the current Executive Department 
     Administration should respect the critical role that federal 
     lands play in Wyoming's culture, recreation, wildlife, 
     livestock production, mineral development and tourism, and 
     the current Administration and Congress work with the state 
     of Wyoming to develop federal policies land use policies in a 
     manner which recognizes their impacts on Wyoming citizens and 
     implements those policies in a manner consistent with the 
     state's and tribes' cultures.
       Section 4. 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 the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to 
     the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-68. A concurrent resolution adopted by the General 
     Assembly of the State of Ohio urging the United States 
     Congress to enact the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare 
     Parity Act; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                   Senate Concurrent Resoluton No. 1

       Whereas, Throughout the state's and the nation's history, 
     brave Ohioans have answered the call of duty and service, 
     defending our freedoms as members of the United States Armed 
     Forces; and
       Whereas, As a result of the Manhattan Project, the United 
     States conducted the Trinity nuclear test, the first 
     detonation of a nuclear device, in New Mexico on July 16, 
     1945; and
       Whereas, Over two hundred thousand American service 
     members, including Ohioans, participated in above ground 
     nuclear tests between 1945 and 1962, were part of the United 
     States military occupation forces in or around Hiroshima and 
     Nagasaki before 1946, or were held as a prisoner of war in or 
     near Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and
       Whereas, These atomic veterans may have been exposed to 
     radiation as a result or their military service and, due to 
     that exposure, may have developed cancer or other medical 
     conditions; and
       Whereas, Many atomic veterans were prevented by secrecy 
     laws or oaths from seeking medical care or disability 
     compensation from the United States Department of Veterans 
     Affairs for conditions they may have developed as a result of 
     radiation exposure; and
       Whereas, In 1996, the United States Congress repealed the 
     Nuclear Radiation and Secrecy Agreements Act, freeing atomic 
     veterans to describe their military involvement in nuclear 
     testing in order to file for benefits from the United States 
     Department of Veterans Affairs; and
       Whereas, Atomic veterans may be eligible for free medical 
     care from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs 
     and compensation in the form of a partial or full service-
     connected disability allowance, including potential payments 
     to a surviving spouse or children; and
       Whereas, The Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity 
     Act, introduced in the 116th Congress as S. 555 and H.R. 
     1377, included veterans who participated in the cleanup of 
     Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands between January 1, 
     1977, and December 31, 1980, as radiation-exposed veterans 
     for purposes of the Department of Veterans Affairs' 
     presumption of service connection for specified cancers; and
       Whereas, The Ohio Department of Veterans Services provides 
     free assistance to Ohio veterans and their dependents in 
     developing and submitting disability compensation claims to 
     the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; and
       Whereas, The National Association of Atomic Veterans was 
     formed in 1979 to help atomic veterans obtain medical care 
     and assistance; and
       Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper that atomic 
     veterans be recognized for their service and sacrifice to the 
     nation: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That we, the members of the 134th General 
     Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge the United States 
     Congress to enact the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare 
     Parity Act; and be it further

[[Page S5716]]

       Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a duly 
     authenticated copy of this resolution to the Speaker and 
     Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States 
     Senate, and the National Association of Atomic Veterans so 
     that members of Congress, the organization, and other atomic 
     veterans and their families may be apprised of the sense of 
     the General Assembly of the State of Ohio in this matter.
                                  ____

       POM-69. A resolution adopted by the Select Board of the 
     Town of Appleton, Maine urging the United States Congress to 
     enact carbon-pricing legislation to protect Maine from the 
     cost and environmental risks of continued climate inaction; 
     to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

                          ____________________