[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 171 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6839-S6841]
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-85. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Oklahoma urging the United States Congress, 
     pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution, to 
     call a convention of the states for the purpose of proposing 
     amendments to the United States Constitution related to 
     balancing the federal budget, imposing fiscal restraints on 
     the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction 
     of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office 
     for its officials and for members of Congress; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 23

       Section 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be codified 
     in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
       This Resolution shall be known and may be cited as the 
     ``United States Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn Resolution of 2021''.
       Whereas, the founders of the Constitution of the United 
     States, through the enactment of Article V, 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, by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the 
     United States through a convention of

[[Page S6840]]

     the states under Article V of the United States Constitution 
     to place clear restraints on these and related abuses of 
     power; and
       Whereas, the citizens of the State of Oklahoma believe that 
     it is in the best interest of the people of the United States 
     to amend the United States Constitution in order to adopt a 
     balanced budget amendment and to address the areas of 
     overreach of the federal government; and
       Whereas, as early as 1976, the Thirty-fifth Oklahoma 
     Legislature enacted House Joint Resolution No. 1049, calling 
     for an Article V Convention for the purpose of preparing and 
     submitting to the states an amendment ``requiring, in the 
     absence of a national emergency, that the total of all 
     federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal 
     year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal 
     revenue for that fiscal year''; and
       Whereas, the Thirty-fifth Oklahoma Legislature acknowledged 
     in House Joint Resolution No. 1049 the critical need for a 
     federal balanced budget amendment with the prophetic 
     statement ``believing that fiscal irresponsibility at the 
     federal level, with the inflation which results from this 
     policy, is the greatest threat which faces our nation, we 
     firmly believe that constitutional restraint is necessary to 
     bring the fiscal discipline needed to restore fiscal 
     responsibility''; and
       Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of Article V of the 
     Constitution of the United States, each state may request 
     Congress to provide for a convention to propose amendments.
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of 
     the 1st session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature:
       Section 2. The Oklahoma Legislature hereby makes two 
     separate applications to Congress, under the provisions of 
     Article V of the Constitution of the United States. The first 
     such application is set forth in Sections 3 through 6 of this 
     resolution. The second such application is set forth in 
     Sections 7 through 10 of this resolution.
       Section 3. The Oklahoma Legislature hereby applies to 
     Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the 
     Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a 
     convention of the states limited to proposing an amendment to 
     the Constitution of the United States requiring that, in the 
     absence of a national emergency, the total of all federal 
     appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may 
     not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for 
     that fiscal year, together with any related and appropriate 
     fiscal restraints.
       Section 4. The Secretary of State is hereby directed to 
     transmit copies of this application to the President and 
     Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk 
     of the United States House of Representatives and members of 
     the United States Senate and House of Representatives from 
     this state; also, to transmit copies hereof to the presiding 
     officers of the legislative houses in several states 
     requesting their cooperation.
       Section 5. This application is to be considered as covering 
     the same subject matter as the presently outstanding balanced 
     budget applications from other states including, but not 
     limited to, previously adopted applications from Alabama, 
     Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
     Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, 
     Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New 
     Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
     South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia; and 
     this application shall be aggregated with same for the 
     purpose of attaining the two-thirds (2/3) of states necessary 
     to require the calling of a convention, but shall not be 
     aggregated with any applications on any other subject.
       Section 6. 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 (2/3) of the several states have made applications on 
     the same subject. It supersedes all previous applications by 
     this Legislature on the same subject.
       Section 7. The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma hereby 
     applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the 
     Constitution of the United States, 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 for members of Congress.
       Section 8. This application shall be aggregated with the 
     applications of the various states and, together with any 
     future applications, for a convention for the specific and 
     exclusive purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution 
     of the United States limited to the purposes stated herein.
       Section 9. The Secretary of State is hereby directed to 
     transmit copies of this application to the President and 
     Secretary of the United States Senate and to the Speaker and 
     Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to 
     transmit copies to the members of the United States Senate 
     and United States House of Representatives from this state, 
     and to transmit copies hereof to the presiding officers of 
     each of the legislative houses in the several states, 
     requesting their cooperation.
       Section 10. 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 (2/3) of the several states have made applications on 
     the same subject.
                                  ____

       POM-86. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Oklahoma urging the United States Congress, 
     pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution, to 
     call a convention of the states for the purpose of proposing 
     amendments to the United States Constitution related to 
     balancing the federal budget, imposing fiscal restraints on 
     the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction 
     of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office 
     for its officials and for members of Congress; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 23

       Section 1. NEW LAW--A new section of law not to be codified 
     in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
       This Resolution shall be known and may be cited as the 
     ``United States Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn Resolution of 2021''.
       Whereas, the founders of the Constitution of the United 
     States, through the enactment of Article V, 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, by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the 
     United States through a convention of the states under 
     Article V of the United States Constitution to place clear 
     restraints on these and related abuses of power; and
       Whereas, the citizens of the State of Oklahoma believe that 
     it is in the best interest of the people of the United States 
     to amend the United States Constitution in order to adopt a 
     balanced budget amendment and to address the areas of 
     overreach of the federal government; and
       Whereas, as early as 1976, the Thirty-fifth Oklahoma 
     Legislature enacted House Joint Resolution No. 1049, calling 
     for an Article V Convention for the purpose of preparing and 
     submitting to the states an amendment ``requiring, in the 
     absence of a national emergency, that the total of all 
     federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal 
     year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal 
     revenue for that fiscal year''; and
       Whereas, the Thirty-fifth Oklahoma Legislature acknowledged 
     in House Joint Resolution No. 1049 the critical need for a 
     federal balanced budget amendment with the prophetic 
     statement ``believing that fiscal irresponsibility at the 
     federal level, with the inflation which results from this 
     policy, is the greatest threat which faces our nation, we 
     firmly believe that constitutional restraint is necessary to 
     bring the fiscal discipline needed to restore fiscal 
     responsibility''; and
       Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of Article V of the 
     Constitution of the United States, each state may request 
     Congress to provide for a convention to propose amendments. 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of 
     the 1st Session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature:
       Section 2. The Oklahoma Legislature hereby makes two 
     separate applications to Congress, under the provisions of 
     Article V of the Constitution of the United States. The first 
     such application is set forth in Sections 3 through 6 of this 
     resolution. The second such application is set forth in 
     Sections 7 through 10 of this resolution.
       Section 3. The Oklahoma Legislature hereby applies to 
     Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the 
     Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a 
     convention of the states limited to proposing an amendment to 
     the Constitution of the United States requiring that, in the 
     absence of a national emergency, the total of all federal 
     appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may 
     not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for 
     that fiscal year, together with any related and appropriate 
     fiscal restraints.
       Section 4. The Secretary of State is hereby directed to 
     transmit copies of this application to the President and 
     Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk 
     of the United States House of Representatives and members of 
     the United States Senate and House of Representatives from 
     this state; also, to transmit copies hereof to the presiding 
     officers of the legislative houses in several states 
     requesting their cooperation.
       Section 5. This application is to be considered as covering 
     the same subject matter as the presently outstanding balanced 
     budget applications from other states including, but not 
     limited to, previously adopted applications from Alabama, 
     Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
     Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, 
     Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New 
     Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
     South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia; and 
     this application shall be aggregated with same for the 
     purpose of attaining the two-thirds (2/3) of states necessary 
     to require the calling of a convention,

[[Page S6841]]

     but shall not be aggregated with any applications on any 
     other subject.
       Section 6. 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 (2/3) of the several states have made applications on 
     the same subject. It supersedes all previous applications by 
     this Legislature on the same subject.
       Section 7. The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma hereby 
     applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the 
     Constitution of the United States, 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 for members of Congress.
       Section 8. This application shall be aggregated with the 
     applications of the various states and, together with any 
     future applications, for a convention for the specific and 
     exclusive purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution 
     of the United States limited to the purposes stated herein.
       Section 9. The Secretary of State is hereby directed to 
     transmit copies of this application to the President and 
     Secretary of the United States Senate and to the Speaker and 
     Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to 
     transmit copies to the members of the United States Senate 
     and United States House of Representatives from this state, 
     and to transmit copies hereof to the presiding officers of 
     each of the legislative houses in the several states, 
     requesting their cooperation.
       Section 10. 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 (2/3) of the several states have made applications on 
     the same subject
                                  ____


       POM-87. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas 
     relative to opposing legislation resulting in the United 
     States becoming a cashless society; to the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
       POM-88. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas 
     relative to federal elections; to the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration.

                          ____________________