[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 93 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1842-S1843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-20. A resolution from the House of Representatives of 
     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico expressing its enthusiastic 
     support for the agreement entered into by the House of 
     Representatives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the 
     Forum of Presidents of the Legislative Bodies of Central 
     America and the Caribbean Basin (FOPREL), which provides for 
     the establishment of a FOPREL branch office in Puerto Rico; 
     establish the rules and objectives of said office; provide 
     for the duties and operations of the branch office; for the 
     purpose of strengthening the cooperation among the various 
     parliaments that are members of this International Body and 
     cementing ties among all Latin American peoples; among 
     others; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                        House Resolution No. 987

       Laws are the vehicle that implements the will of the People 
     and establish the foundation for a progressive, inclusive, 
     and democratic society. The role of parliaments, which are 
     the institutions that best represent the power of citizens 
     within the government structure, is to create legal 
     frameworks that are innovative, efficient, and consistent 
     with the goal of creating the necessary conditions to meet 
     the challenges faced in a modern society. Thus, a 
     parliamentary system is not just an internal mechanism that 
     each country can use to find answers, but one that can be 
     used to exchange experiences and ideas with other legislative 
     bodies in order to face the challenges of the 21st century in 
     a comprehensively and thoroughly.
       The Forum of Presidents of the Legislative Bodies of 
     Central America, the Caribbean Basin and Mexico (FOPREL, 
     Spanish acronym) is the highest inter-parliamentary 
     organization in the Central American, Caribbean Basin, and 
     Mexico region. Its mission is to be: (i) a space for 
     political dialogue, (ii) an organization that promotes inter-
     parliamentary diplomacy, (iii) a Forum to reach agreements on 
     regional legislative initiatives directed at strengthening 
     national legislation, (iv) a facilitator for the generation 
     of knowledge and to strengthen the parliamentary sphere, (v) 
     a nexus between the legislative, executive, and judicial 
     powers, civil society, and multilateral organizations, (vi) 
     an inter-parliamentary network that promotes the sharing of 
     experiences, good practices, and technical and financial 
     cooperation; and (vi) an institution for the formation of 
     alliances geared towards achieving common goals. Therefore, 
     FOPREL has the authority to enter into agreements with 
     parliaments within and without the region as well as to enter 
     into cooperation agreements with other institutions in order 
     to support its projects and programs.
       FOPREL's Charter establishes that the institution ``may 
     open branch offices in all countries that are full members of 
     the Forum in order to implement and create programs and 
     projects that contribute to capacity building and strengthen 
     the ties between the aforementioned parliaments and 
     International Organizations.'' FOPREL's ``2022-2027 
     Institutional Development Plan'' states that ``branch offices 
     shall be established in the countries that are members of 
     FOPREL and such offices shall be granted the institutional 
     tools necessary for their administration and operation.''
       During FOPREL's 25th Special Meeting held on November 26, 
     2021, in the Dominican Republic, an agreement was reached to 
     ``create a FOPREL branch office within the House of 
     Representatives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that shall 
     serve as a liaison between Puerto Rico and the countries of 
     the Caribbean Basin that are members of FOPREL.'' The new 
     office shall undertake, administer, and carry out projects to 
     further FOPREL's institutional goals, and shall serve as a 
     liaison between Puerto Rico, the countries of the Caribbean 
     Basin and all other full and observer members of FOPREL.
       This Legislative Assembly believes that the establishment 
     of a FOPREL branch office on our Island shall enable Puerto 
     Rico to join in progressive conversations on different topics 
     and challenges and provide Puerto Rico with access to answers 
     and solutions that shall, in turn, allow for the development 
     and drafting of more effective, sensible, and appropriate 
     legislation to address the needs of Puerto Rican society.
       Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of Puerto 
     Rico:
       Section 1.--To express our enthusiastic support for the 
     agreement entered into by the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Forum of Presidents of 
     the Legislative Bodies of Central America and the Caribbean 
     Basin (FOPREL) at the 25th Extraordinary Meeting held on 
     November 26, 2021, which provides for the establishment of a 
     FOPREL branch office in Puerto Rico for the purpose of 
     strengthening cooperation among the different parliaments 
     that are members of this International Body and cementing 
     ties among all Latin American peoples.
       Section 2.--A branch office of the Forum of Presidents of 
     the Legislative Bodies of Central America, the Caribbean 
     Basin and Mexico (FOPREL) is hereby established within the 
     House of Representatives, in the city of San Juan, Puerto 
     Rico.
       Section 3.--FOPREL branch office shall be subject to 
     FOPREL's regulatory framework, depending hierarchically and 
     administratively on the Permanent Secretary, as provided in 
     Articles 9, 10, and 11 of the Institutional Bylaws, adopted 
     in the 24th Special Meeting of the International Body held on 
     August 10, 2021.
       Section 4.--FOPREL branch office, in coordination with the 
     FOPREL's Permanent Secretary shall enact bylaws to provide 
     for its operation and management. Furthermore, it shall take 
     legal and administrative actions as appropriate for its 
     efficient operation as an International Parliamentary Body in 
     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
       Section 5.--FOPREL branch office may undertake, administer, 
     and carry out projects to further FOPREL's institutional 
     goals, as well as to collaborate as necessary in any and all 
     processes at the request of the House of Representatives upon 
     authorization of FOPREL's Permanent Secretary.
       Section 6.--The FOPREL branch office's work agenda 
     includes, but is not limited to:
       (a) Facilitating and promoting actions within the framework 
     of Collaboration Agreement No. 2021-003 which is the 
     governing instrument of the Institutional Fellowship and 
     Collaboration Alliance between the House of Representatives 
     of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Chamber of 
     Deputies of the Dominican Republic, entered into under 
     Resolution No. RE-VVV-01-28112021.
       (b) Developing a Regional Program for Inter Parliamentary 
     Action and the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals, 
     as provided in Resolution No. RE-XXXIX-04-25022021.
       (c) Serving as a liaison between the countries of the 
     Caribbean Basin and all other full and observer members of 
     FOPREL.
       (d) Addressing all other matters assigned by FOP REL.
       Section 7.--Upon its approval, a copy of this Resolution 
     shall be delivered to the Forum of Presidents of the 
     Legislative Bodies of Central America, the Caribbean Basin 
     and Mexico (FOPREL) as well as to each member thereof. 
     Furthermore, this Resolution shall be translated into English 
     and delivered to the President of the United States and the 
     leadership of the United States Congress.
       Section 8.--This Resolution shall take effect upon its 
     approval.
                                  ____

       POM-21. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly 
     of the State of Tennessee urging state agencies to expand 
     comprehensive cardiovascular screening programs to allow for 
     earlier identification of patients at risk of cardiovascular 
     events; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 44

       Whereas, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of 
     death in the United States; and,
       Whereas, in the United States, approximately 21 million 
     patients have been diagnosed with atherosclerotic 
     cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and are at risk of a 
     cardiovascular event, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; 
     and,
       Whereas, the Mayo Clinic states that ASCVD is linked to the 
     buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, and the risk of 
     associated events can be modified by lowering low-density 
     lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); and
       Whereas, in 2016, nearly 70 million adults in the United 
     States had higher than recommended LDL-C levels; and
       Whereas, 43.1 million people in the United States are 
     currently treated with lipid-lowering therapies to manage 
     cardiovascular risk; and
       Whereas, only 20 percent of people with ASCVD who are 
     taking statins, one of the

[[Page S1843]]

     leading lipid-lowering therapies, actually achieve healthy 
     levels of LDL-C; and
       Whereas, the total direct and indirect cost of ASCVD in the 
     United States was $555 billion in 2016 and is projected to 
     climb to $1.1 trillion by 2035, according to the American 
     Heart Association; and
       Whereas, in Tennessee, 579,200 adults have been told by a 
     health professional that they had angina, a stroke, a heart 
     attack, or coronary heart disease, which are some of the 
     manifestations of ASCVD; and
       Whereas, in Tennessee, 10,491 people had ASCVD as an 
     underlying cause of death; and
       Whereas, in Tennessee, 280,700 adults reported experiencing 
     a heart attack in their lifetime, and 243,600 adults reported 
     experiencing a stroke in their lifetime; and
       Whereas, Tennessee spends an estimated $3.41 billion on 
     direct medical expenses for ASCVD care each year; now, 
     therefore;
       Be it resolved by the Senate of the One Hundred Thirteenth 
     General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, That we urge state agencies to 
     expand comprehensive cardiovascular screening programs to 
     allow for earlier identification of patients at risk of 
     cardiovascular events; and be it further
       Resolved, That we urge state agencies to explore ways to 
     collaborate with federal and national agencies to establish 
     or expand comprehensive cardiovascular screening programs; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That we urge an update of the State's 
     cardiovascular plan to accelerate quality improvements in the 
     care rendered to these patients such that screening, 
     treatment, monitoring, and improved health outcomes are 
     achieved.
       Resolved, That we support the creation of policies to 
     decrease the rising number of deaths of Americans as a result 
     of ASCVD; and be it further
       Resolved, That a certified copy of this resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice 
     President of the United States, the members of the Tennessee 
     Congressional Delegation, and other federal and state 
     government officials and agencies as appropriate.

                          ____________________