[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3690-S3693]
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-165. A resolution adopted by the Senate of Louisiana 
     urging and requesting the Federal Reserve Board, the office 
     of the comptroller of the currency, the Federal Deposit 
     Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection 
     Bureau, the National Credit Union Administration, and the 
     office of financial institutions to refrain from enacting or 
     adopting laws, rules, regulations, or guidance that restricts 
     the ability of banks, savings and loan associations, savings 
     banks, credit unions, trust companies, or payment processors 
     from offering products or services to the fossil fuel 
     industry; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.

                       Senate Resolution No. 203

       Whereas, the fossil fuel industry contributes to the 
     economy of the state and to the prosperity of its citizens; 
     and
       Whereas, the fossil fuel industry produces consumer-ready 
     resources, continues to create thousands of jobs for our 
     workforce, and remains committed to the safety of our 
     communities and the preservation of the environment; and
       Whereas, in recent years the fossil fuel industry has been 
     unfairly denied financing by large lenders; and
       Whereas, four of the six largest United States banks, 
     Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, and 
     Wells Fargo and Company, have pledged over the past year to 
     end funding for new drilling and exploration projects; and
       Whereas, in order to be successful in the fossil fuel 
     industry, businesses rely on banks, credit unions, and other 
     financial institutions for funding. Therefore, be it.
       Resolved that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 
     memorializes the Congress of the United States and urges and 
     requests the Federal Reserve Board, the office of the 
     comptroller of the currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance 
     Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the 
     National Credit Union Administration, and the office of 
     financial institutions to refrain from enacting rules or 
     regulations that restrict the ability of banks, savings and 
     loan associations, savings banks, credit unions, trust 
     companies, or payment processors from offering products or 
     services to the fossil fuel industry; and be it further.
       Resolved that a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the

[[Page S3691]]

     United States House of Representatives, each member of the 
     Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress, the 
     chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, the acting comptroller 
     of the currency of the office of the comptroller of the 
     currency, the chairman of the board of directors of the 
     Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the director of the 
     Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the National Credit 
     Union Administration Board, and the commissioner of the 
     office of financial institutions.
                                  ____

       POM-166. A resolution adopted by the Senate of Louisiana 
     urging and requesting the Federal Reserve Board, the office 
     of the comptroller of the currency, the Federal Deposit 
     Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection 
     Bureau, the National Credit Union Administration, and the 
     office of financial institutions to refrain from enacting or 
     adopting laws, rules, regulations, or guidance that restricts 
     the ability of banks, savings and loan associations, savings 
     banks, credit unions, trust companies, or payment processors 
     from offering products or services to the fossil fuel 
     industry; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.

                       Senate Resolution No. 223

       Whereas, the fossil fuel industry contributes to the 
     economy of the state and to the prosperity of its citizens; 
     and
       Whereas, the fossil fuel industry produces consumer-ready 
     resources, continues to create thousands of jobs for our 
     workforce, and remains committed to the safety of our 
     communities and the preservation of the environment; and
       Whereas, in recent years the fossil fuel industry has been 
     unfairly denied financing by large lenders; and
       Whereas, several of the largest United States banks, 
     Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and Morgan Stanley, 
     have pledged over the past year to end funding for new 
     drilling and exploration projects; and
       Whereas, in order to be successful in the fossil fuel 
     industry, businesses rely on banks, credit unions, and other 
     financial institutions for funding. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 
     memorializes the Congress of the United States and urges and 
     requests the Federal Reserve Board, the office of the 
     comptroller of the currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance 
     Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the 
     National Credit Union Administration, and the office of 
     financial institutions to refrain from enacting rules or 
     regulations that restrict the ability of banks, savings and 
     loan associations, savings banks, credit unions, trust 
     companies, or payment processors to offer products or 
     services to the fossil fuel industry. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, each 
     member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States 
     Congress, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, the 
     acting comptroller of the currency, the chairman of the board 
     of directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
     the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the 
     National Credit Union Administration Board, and the 
     commissioner of the office of financial institutions.
                                  ____

       POM-167. A resolution from the House of Representatives of 
     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico supporting the congressional 
     bill H.R. 7409, known as the ``Territorial Relief Under 
     Sustainable Transitions for Puerto Rico Act of 2022'' (Trust 
     for Puerto Rico Act of 2022), introduced by Congressman 
     Ritchie Torres, that would amend the Puerto Rico Oversight, 
     Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) in order to 
     facilitate the termination of the Financial Oversight Board 
     after certification of a balanced budget for two consecutive 
     fiscal years; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 764

       Over the past decades, Puerto Rico's economic growth has 
     experienced a deceleration that has resulted in the loss of 
     competition in the private sector and a severe financial 
     crisis in the governmental sector.
       The Island's economic recession began in 2006. However, it 
     should be noted that the financial crisis precedes it, 
     because previous government administrations issued debt 
     amounting to billions of dollars to finance budget deficits, 
     thus presenting to the Island the illusion of a balanced 
     budget, as provided by our Constitution. It is worth noting 
     that a $45 billion debt was issued between 2000 and 2012. 
     Approximately half of the money was used to finance budget 
     deficits and to defray the government's payroll expense and 
     spending.
       We must remember that the financial crisis broke that 
     started during the first decade of the 21st century led to 
     the subsequent enactment of the Puerto Rico Oversight, 
     Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) and the 
     creation of the Financial Oversight Board, hereinafter the 
     ``Board,'' for the purpose of managing Puerto Rico's 
     finances.
       Ever since PROMESA and the Board became effective in 2016, 
     the government of Puerto Rico has maneuvered to meet the 
     financial requirements imposed within this new reality. Under 
     PROMESA, the territorial government must approve a balanced 
     budget for four (4) consecutive fiscal years in order to 
     require the termination of the Board. Given this scenario, it 
     must be noted that, since the Board began operations, the 
     first balanced budget was approved by the current Legislative 
     Assembly for fiscal year 2021-2022.
       In view of this context, and given the imposition of an 
     antidemocratic body such as the Financial Oversight Board, 
     Congressman Ritchie Torres started this initiative to amend 
     PROMESA in order to reduce the required number of balanced 
     budgets to four (4) to just two (2). Furthermore, this 
     measures establishes that the Board shall be terminated 90 
     days after the certification of the second balanced budget. 
     Thus, any ambiguity within the statute in effect regarding 
     the Board's termination is eliminated.
       This House of Representatives believes that the bill 
     introduced by Congressman Ritchie Torres (H.R. 7409, better 
     known as ``Trust for Puerto Rico Act of 2022'') provides a 
     mechanism to restore power to the people of Puerto Rico, and 
     consequently, to its democratically elected officials. 
     Liberty and democracy are two pillars of our government and 
     our goal must be to strengthen them; therefore, we are duty-
     bound to promote and support policies aimed at its 
     attainment. It is time to raise our voices and join in any 
     effort that seeks to restore the people of Puerto Rico's 
     control and power over its finances as soon as possible.
       For all of the foregoing, this House of Representatives 
     expresses its firm support to congressional bill H.R. 7409, 
     known as the ``Territorial Relief Under Sustainable 
     Transitions for Puerto Rico Act of 2022'' (Trust for Puerto 
     Rico Act of 2022), introduced by Congressman Ritchie Torres. 
     This bill would amend the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, 
     and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) in order to facilitate 
     the termination of the Financial Oversight Board after the 
     certification of a balanced budget for two consecutive fiscal 
     years.
       Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of Puerto 
     Rico:
       Section 1.--The House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico hereby expresses its firm support 
     to congressional bill H.R. 7409, known as the ``Territorial 
     Relief Under Sustainable Transitions for Puerto Rico Act of 
     2022'' (Trust for Puerto Rico Act of 2022), introduced by 
     Congressman Ritchie Torres, that would amend the Puerto Rico 
     Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) 
     in order to facilitate the termination of the Financial 
     Oversight Board after the certification of a balanced budget 
     for two consecutive fiscal years.
       Section 2.--A copy of this Resolution shall be translated 
     into the English language and delivered to the President of 
     the United States of America, Joseph R. Biden and the 
     leadership of the United States Congress.
       Section 3.--This Resolution shall take effect upon its 
     approval.
                                  ____

       POM-168. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Hawaii urging the United States Congress and Hawaii's 
     congressional delegation to support legislation establishing 
     medicare for all; to the Committee on Finance.

                       Senate Resolution No. 201

       Whereas, Hawaii's residents deserve high quality health 
     care; and
       Whereas, the economic vitality of Hawaii is closely linked 
     to the physical well-being of its residents; and
       Whereas, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 
     pandemic led to record levels of unemployment and the loss of 
     employer-sponsored health insurance for hundreds of thousands 
     of Hawaii's workers; and
       Whereas, according to a University of Michigan study 
     published in 2010, Native Hawaiians are far more likely to 
     suffer an early death in comparison to Caucasians; and
       Whereas, people often delay needed medical treatments due 
     to an inability to pay for health care costs, which further 
     jeopardizes the health of those individuals; and
       Whereas, these individuals are significantly more likely to 
     develop serious illness if they contract COVID-19; and
       Whereas, managed care and other market-based reforms have 
     failed to contain health care costs, resulting in medical 
     problems and cost burdens for working families; and
       Whereas, under a single-payer health care system, 
     nonmedical expenses nationwide could be reduced to 
     approximately six to eight percent of total health care 
     costs, saving more than one trillion dollars; and
       Whereas, Medicare for All would provide national health 
     insurance without copayments and deductibles for every person 
     in the United States for all necessary medical care, 
     including prescription drugs, hospital visits, surgical and 
     outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency 
     services, reproductive care, dental and vision services, and 
     long-term care; now, therefore, Be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the United 
     States Congress and Hawaii's congressional delegation are 
     urged to support legislation establishing Medicare for All; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, President of the United States Senate, and 
     members of the Hawaii congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-169. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Hawaii affirming Hawaii's

[[Page S3692]]

     ongoing commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate 
     Agreement, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 
     and endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty; 
     to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                        Senate Resolution No. 95

       Whereas, the scientific consensus is clear that human 
     activities are primarily responsible for accelerating global 
     climate change, and that the climate crisis now represents 
     one of the preeminent threats to global civilization; and
       Whereas, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 
     (IPCC) reported in 2018 that we must achieve net zero in 
     greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by the middle of this century 
     in order to have a reasonable chance of limiting global 
     warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and
       Whereas, the IPCC released its Sixth Assessment Report from 
     Working Group II, which was approved by one hundred ninety-
     five member states, in February 2022, and the summary for 
     policy makers notes that there is high confidence that ``the 
     rise in weather and climate extremes has led to some 
     irreversible impacts as natural and human systems are pushed 
     beyond their ability to adapt''; and
       Whereas, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio 
     Guteres, responded, ``The IPCC is an atlas of human suffering 
     . . . according to current commitment, global emissions are 
     set to increase almost 14 percent . . . . It will destroy any 
     chance of keeping 1.5 alive . . . coal and other fossil fuels 
     are choking humanity''; and
       Whereas, the UN Human Rights Council in 2021 adopted 
     landmark legislation, Resolution 48/13, recognizing a clean, 
     healthy and sustainable environment is a human right; and
       Whereas, changes in Hawaii's climate are already being 
     felt, as evidenced by rising sea levels, coastal inundation, 
     ocean warming as well as coral bleaching, heightened risk of 
     wild fires, and increasing severe storms; and
       Whereas, the entire community is impacted by the health and 
     safety risks of fossil fuel expansion, particularly those who 
     also face socioeconomic and health inequities, including low-
     income families, those experiencing homelessness, people of 
     color and indigenous peoples, youth, seniors, those 
     experiencing mental and physical disabilities, and people 
     with health conditions; and
       Whereas, youth and future generations have the most to lose 
     from a lack of immediate action to stop fossil fuel expansion 
     as they face major and lifelong health, ecological, social, 
     and economic impacts from prolonged and cumulative effects of 
     climate change, including food and water shortages, 
     infectious diseases, and natural disasters; and
       Whereas, the Paris Climate Agreement is silent on coal, 
     oil, and gas, an omission with respect to the supply and 
     production of fossil fuels (the largest source of GHGs) that 
     needs to be collectively addressed by other means; and
       Whereas, the Glasgow Climate Pact improved incrementally 
     only calling for a phase down not a phase out of coal; and
       Whereas, global governments and the fossil fuel industry 
     are currently planning to produce about one hundred twenty 
     percent more emissions by 2030 than what is needed to limit 
     warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avert catastrophic climate 
     disruption, and such plans risk undoing the work of the State 
     to reduce GHG emissions; and
       Whereas, the fossil fuel industry is currently claiming 
     over fifty percent of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic 
     recovery funding from senior levels of government in the G20, 
     thereby siphoning away recovery funding badly needed by 
     cities and other industries; and
       Whereas, the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure 
     and expanded reliance on fossil fuels exposes communities to 
     untenable risks to public health and safety at the local and 
     global levels; and
       Whereas, the economic opportunities presented by a clean 
     energy transition far outweigh the opportunities presented by 
     an economy supported by expanding fossil fuel use and 
     extraction; and
       Whereas, the community is committed, as part of the climate 
     emergency response, to a just energy transition and to 
     ambitious investments in the green infrastructure and 
     industries that will create jobs and rapidly decarbonize the 
     economy; and
       Whereas, Hawaii recognizes that it is the urgent 
     responsibility and moral obligation of wealthy fossil fuel 
     producers to lead in putting an end to fossil fuel 
     development and to manage the decline of existing production; 
     and
       Whereas, a new global initiative is underway calling for a 
     Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that would end new 
     fossil fuel exploration and expansion, phase out existing 
     production in line with the global commitment to limit 
     warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and accelerate equitable 
     transition plans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that this body 
     affirms the State's ongoing commitment to the goals of the 
     Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development 
     Goals, and the GHG reduction targets as called for by the 
     IPCC, and pledges to meet its proportionate greenhouse gas 
     reductions under the Paris Climate Agreement; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the State and each county are requested to 
     formally endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation 
     Treaty; and be it further
       Resolved, That the U.S. government is urged to support the 
     initiative for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the United Nations Secretary General and High 
     Commissioner for Human Rights, President and Vice President 
     of the United States, President Pro Tempore of the United 
     States Senate, Majority and Minority Leaders of the United 
     States Senate, Speaker and Minority Leader of the United 
     States House of Representatives, members of the Hawaii 
     congressional delegation, Governor, and Mayor of each county.
                                  ____

       POM-170. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Hawaii urging the President of the United States to issue a 
     presidential directive ordering federal agencies to report 
     disaggregated Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander data in 
     compliance with the Office of Management and Budget 
     Statistical Directive No. 15; to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs.

                        Senate Resolution No. 82

       Whereas, racial and ethnic data play a critical role in 
     identifying disparities, monitoring programs for civil rights 
     compliance, informing public policy development, and guiding 
     funding priorities; and
       Whereas, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs has 
     adopted over thirty resolutions since 2005 that either cited 
     disaggregated data in support of Native Hawaiian issues, 
     honored Native Hawaiian-serving institutions and community 
     members that contributed or safeguarded Native Hawaiian data, 
     or urged government agencies at the federal, state, and local 
     levels to provide data disaggregating Native Hawaiians and 
     other Pacific Islanders, including Resolutions 2020-42, 2019-
     46, 2013-16, 2012-12, 2010-20, and 2008-35; and
       Whereas, the federal Office of Management and Budget 
     revised Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 in 1997, 
     separating the ``Asian and Pacific Islander'' category into 
     the ``Asian'' and ``Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific 
     Islander'' categories; and
       Whereas, numerous data reports at the local, state, and 
     federal level continue to fail to report disaggregated Native 
     Hawaiian data as detailed in ``Data Justice: About Us, By Us, 
     For Us,'' issued by the Hawai'i Budget and Policy Center and 
     Papa Ola Lokahi on March 5, 2021; and
       Whereas, the importance of urging government agencies to 
     improve data collection and reporting practices and access to 
     disaggregated Native Hawaiian data has been recognized by the 
     Legislature through the resolution titled, ``Recognizing the 
     importance of 21st Century Data Governance and Fact-Based 
     Policymaking'', and by the City and County of Honolulu 
     through the resolution titled, ``Urging the State of Hawaii 
     and the City and County of Honolulu to Disaggregate Racial 
     Data Collection and Reporting Beyond Federal Minimum 
     Standards''; and
       Whereas, California Government Codes 8310.5 and 8310.7, 
     explicitly require California state agencies to collect data 
     for each major Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander group, 
     including ``Hawaiians'', separate from ``Samoans'', 
     ``Tongans'', ``Fijians'', and ``Chamorros''; and
       Whereas, Hawaii and California have released disaggregated 
     Native Hawaiian COVID-19 case and death data that identified 
     disparities between Native Hawaiians and other Pacific 
     Islander groups, which has contributed to the justification 
     of more culturally tailored and effective services; and
       Whereas, numerous federal agencies fail to utilize a 
     ``Native Hawaiian & Pacific lslander'' category when 
     reporting data from critical surveys, such as the United 
     States Department of Education's Early Childhood Longitudinal 
     Survey and the United States Department of Health and Human 
     Services' National Health Interview Survey, among others; and
       Whereas, article II, section 1, clause 1, of the United 
     States Constitution vests in the President the discretion to 
     issue federal directives for the purpose of managing 
     executive branch resources; and
       Whereas, the Office of Management and Budget is an office 
     within the Executive Office of the President of the United 
     States; now, therefore, be it,
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the 
     President of the United States is urged to issue a 
     presidential directive ordering federal agencies to report 
     disaggregated Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander data in 
     compliance with the Office of Management and Budget 
     Statistical Policy Directive No. 15; and be it further
       Resolved, That the President of the United States is urged 
     to issue a presidential directive ordering federal agencies 
     to take all appropriate steps to fully comply with Office of 
     Management and Budget Statistical Policy Directive No. 15; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President and Vice President of the Unites 
     States; Director of Management and Budget; Deputy Assistant 
     to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and 
     Pacific Islander Senior Liaison; Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services; Executive Director of the White House 
     Initiative on Asian Americans, Native

[[Page S3693]]

     Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; Governor; Chairperson of the 
     Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and 
     Office of the Mayor for each county.
                                  ____


       POM-171. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Hawaii urging the State and each county to adopt the Global 
     Pact for the environment to achieve the United Nations Paris 
     Agreement and the 2030 Development Agenda, and to 
     specifically adopt the United Nations sustainable development 
     goals, numbers 13 through 17; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                        Senate Resolution No. 94

       Whereas, the State is recognized as a global partner and 
     local leader in promotion of human rights and protection of 
     the earth through its consistent acceptance of global 
     standards that better serve our islands and the world; and
       Whereas, Hawai`i is guided by traditional Kanaka Maoli 
     values and emerging international human rights principles to 
     generate positive policy encouraging prevention and 
     precaution regarding the planet; and
       Whereas, in September 2015, the United Nations General 
     Assembly adopted the historic ``Transforming our world: the 
     2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'' (2030 Development 
     Agenda), which is a comprehensive, compassionate, creative, 
     and courageous plan of action to end poverty, protect the 
     planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and 
     prosperity; and
       Whereas, the 2030 Development Agenda includes seventeen 
     sustainable development goals, one hundred sixty-nine 
     targets, and two hundred thirty indicators upon which general 
     agreement has been reached to measure, monitor, and mobilize 
     to achieve these goals and targets; and
       Whereas, goals 13 through 17 of the United Nations 
     sustainable development goals are vital to protecting the 
     State's land and people and should be adopted as local policy 
     and governing principles for local government entities and 
     other organizations; and
       Whereas, goals 13 through 17 of the United Nations 
     sustainable development goals are the following, 
     respectively:
       (1) Take urgent action to combat climate change and its 
     impacts;
       (2) Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and 
     marine resources for sustainable development;
       (3) Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of 
     terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat 
     desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and 
     halt biodiversity loss;
       (4) Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for 
     sustainable development, provide access to justice for all 
     and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions 
     at all levels; and
       (5) Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize 
     the global partnership for sustainable development; and
       Whereas, in December 2015, parties to the United Nations 
     Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as 
     Conference of the Parties, adopted the Paris Agreement that 
     further limited the allowable temperature increase to 1.5 
     degrees Celsius to protect our Pacific neighbors; and
       Whereas, Hawai`i continues to partner with other states, 
     territories, and nation-states with the ``We Are Still In'' 
     movement; and
       Whereas, the Pacific islands in the Pacific Islands Forum 
     for Oceania have undertaken creative campaigns to partner 
     with the United Nations' specialized agency programs and 
     funding, as well as participating in the United Nations' 
     major forums, including the High-Level Political Forum on 
     Sustainable Development, which focuses on the United Nations 
     sustainable development goals; and
       Whereas, the Global Pact for the Environment (Global Pact) 
     is an initiative led by the hosts of the United Nations 
     Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris to address 
     the fragmented nature and inconsistent implementation of 
     international environmental law by enumerating fundamental 
     climate change principles in one legally binding framework 
     for current and future generations for equity and equality; 
     and
       Whereas, the Global Pact will serve as a cornerstone in 
     international human rights and environmental law and create a 
     more coherent global environmental governance; and
       Whereas, the Global Pact addresses the challenges posed by 
     environmental degradation in the context of sustainable 
     development and induces a greater degree of uniformity for 
     environmental laws in all states; and
       Whereas, the Global Pact consists of over two dozen 
     articles that cover a variety of topics and ideas to consider 
     for implementation, including:
       (1) The right to an ecologically sound environment;
       (2) The duty to take care of the environment;
       (3) Integration and sustainable development;
       (4) Intergenerational equity;
       (5) Prevention;
       (6) Precaution;
       (7) Environmental damages;
       (8) Polluter-pays;
       (9) Access to information;
       (10) Public participation;
       (11) Access to environmental justice;
       (12) Education and training;
       (13) Research and innovation;
       (14) The role of non-state actors and subnational entities;
       (15) The effectiveness of environmental norms;
       (16) Resilience;
       (17) Environmental non-regression;
       (18) Cooperation;
       (19) Armed conflicts;
       (20) The diversity of national situations;
       (21) Monitoring implementation of the Pact; and
       (22) Other topics focusing on the Secretariat, signature, 
     ratification, acceptance, approval, entry into force, 
     denunciation, and depositary; and
       Whereas, the Global Pact provides an agenda based upon the 
     articles for grassroots and global action to generate the 
     political will to protect the planet today and tomorrow; and
       Whereas, the State desires to promote sustainable 
     development where each generation can satisfy its needs 
     without compromising the capability of future generations to 
     meet their needs to respect the balance and integrity of the 
     Earth's and Hawai`i's fragile ecosystem; and
       Whereas, Hawai`i emphasizes the vital role of women to 
     achieve the United Nations sustainable development goals and 
     the necessity to promote gender equality and empowerment of 
     wahine for global general well-being; and
       Whereas, Hawai`i is already involved in international 
     initiatives to protect the planet and the Oceania region by 
     actively participating in many United Nations annual sessions 
     and meetings and by partnering with United Nations 
     specialized agencies, programs, and funds, including 
     partnering with the United Nations Office of the High 
     Commissioner for Human Rights and participating in the United 
     Nations Environment Programme; and
       Whereas, in Hawai`i, college, community, and capitol 
     dialogues on the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Development 
     Agenda, among other climate change topics, continue to 
     generate genuine insight that contributes to Voluntary Local 
     Reviews, which are voluntary reports to the United Nations on 
     local progress on implementing the United Nations sustainable 
     development goals; and
       Whereas, local opportunities for the State's youth to learn 
     about and participate in climate change initiatives include 
     opportunities at colleges and universities that provide input 
     on achieving the Global Pact, with a focus on research and 
     innovation, and participation in a Hawai`i human rights and 
     resilience process; now, therefore, Resolved, By the Senate 
     of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, 
     Regular Session of 2022, that the State and each county are 
     urged to adopt the Global Pact to achieve the United Nations 
     Paris Agreement and the 2030 Development Agenda, and to 
     specifically adopt the United Nations sustainable development 
     goals, numbers 13 through 17; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Global Pact should be embraced and that 
     protection of nature should be the centerpiece of the State's 
     policies and practices; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the United Nations Secretary General and High 
     Commissioner for Human Rights, President and Vice President 
     of the United States, President Pro Tempore of the United 
     States Senate, Majority and Minority Leaders of the United 
     States Senate, Speaker and Minority Leader of the United 
     States House of Representatives, each member of Hawai`i's 
     congressional delegation, Governor, and mayors of each county 
     of Hawai`i.
                                  ____

       POM-172. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas 
     relative to enactment of federal legislation allowing the 
     general public 96 hours to examine bills or resolutions; to 
     the Committee on Rules and Administration.

                          ____________________