[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 31, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5678-S5680]
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-164. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     and the United States Department of Agriculture to grant 
     Louisiana a waiver to allow the Louisiana Department of 
     Children and Family Services to remove unhealthy foods from 
     the list of approved foods that may be purchased with 
     Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 105

       Whereas, the USDA allows unhealthy, high fat foods to be 
     purchased with SNAP benefits contributing to the unhealthy 
     lifestyle of our most vulnerable population; and
       Whereas, in Louisiana, approximately forty percent of 
     adults and twenty percent of students in grades nine through 
     twelve are considered obese; and
       Whereas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     reports that obesity is associated with at least thirteen 
     different types of cancer which make up forty percent of all 
     cancers diagnosed; and
       Whereas, children with obesity are more likely to have 
     obesity as adults due to patterns of behavior learned at a 
     young age; and
       Whereas, adults with obesity have a higher risk of 
     developing life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease, 
     type-II diabetes, and cancer; and
       Whereas, in 2019, annual obesity-related medical care costs 
     in the United States were estimated to be nearly one hundred 
     seventy-three billion dollars; and
       Whereas, forty percent of all United States households do 
     not live within one mile of healthy food retailers; and
       Whereas, Louisiana has implemented Greaux the Good, a 
     program that allows SNAP benefit recipients to receive a 
     dollar-for-dollar match on their SNAP benefits, to encourage 
     families to buy more fruits and vegetables while supporting 
     small and local food producers; and
       Whereas, in 2023, an average of nearly forty-three thousand 
     individuals participated in the SNAP program nationwide at a 
     cost of nearly one hundred thirteen billion dollars; and
       Whereas, SNAP was established by federal law to be a 
     cooperative endeavor between a state and the federal 
     government where the program is administered by the state and 
     financed by the federal government; and
       Whereas, in Louisiana, SNAP is administered by the 
     Department of Children and Family Services; and
       Whereas, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 defines 
     ``food'' for the purposes of SNAP as any food or food product 
     for home consumption except alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or 
     hot foods ready for immediate consumption; and
       Whereas, the USDA interprets the Food and Nutrition Act of 
     2008 to allow SNAP benefit recipients to purchase candy, 
     cakes, potato chips, and other unhealthy foods; and
       Whereas, due to the presence of federal law, the Department 
     of Children and Family Services must seek approval from the 
     federal government in the form of a waiver in order to alter 
     the types of food that may be purchased with SNAP benefits. 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress and the United States 
     Department of Agriculture to grant Louisiana a waiver to 
     allow the Department of Children and Family Services to 
     remove unhealthy foods from the foods allowed to be purchased 
     with SNAP benefits; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Department of Children and Family 
     Services shall present the rule waiver to the House and 
     Senate committees on health and welfare prior to submitting 
     the rule waiver the United States Department of Agriculture; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Department of Children and Family 
     Services shall work with medical professional and nutrition 
     experts to determine which foods to remove from the list of 
     approved foods to promote the health of children and families 
     receiving SNAP benefits; and be it further
       Resolved, That copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the governor, the presiding officers of the Senate and the 
     House of Representatives of the Congress of the United 
     States, and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-165. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     to protect consumers from government interference by opposing 
     congressional efforts to prevent surcharges or an extra fee 
     when a customer chooses to pay with a credit card; to the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 102

       Whereas, Americans have developed an exceptionally advanced 
     and innovative payments system through a steadfast focus on 
     private sector leadership that respects the rights of 
     individuals and companies to make their own informed choices 
     about how they pay and are paid; and
       Whereas, the market-based payments approach in this nation 
     responds to the dynamic and diverse needs of American 
     entrepreneurs and consumers rather than operating under 
     static government mandates; and
       Whereas, while other nations import payments technology to 
     run their economy, American companies set the standard of the 
     global payments ecosystem; and
       Whereas, the importance of prioritizing the protection of 
     consumers from government interference that would shift 
     financial transactions to less secure, less innovative, and 
     potentially risky providers who could place consumers and 
     their financial data in a more vulnerable position; and
       Whereas, states should oppose any governmental economic 
     favoritism that would negatively impact consumers, provide 
     less choice and access to popular consumer benefits such as 
     cashback and rewards programs, threaten airline services, or 
     undermine critical payment fraud protections while increasing 
     national security risks; and
       Whereas, the commandeering of the payments system by the 
     government or the central bank threatens personal privacy, 
     innovation, and American economic leadership; and
       Whereas, the United States has the most robust and secure 
     financial system in the world, and a strong network 
     supporting small businesses and protecting consumers; and
       Whereas, more than four hundred eighty-six million credit 
     cards are in use in the United States, with more than one 
     hundred ninety-one million Americans holding at least one 
     credit card; and
       Whereas, states should protect consumers' right to choose 
     their payment methods and pay transparent prices by 
     preventing the addition of a surcharge or an extra fee when a 
     customer chooses to pay with a credit card; and
       Whereas, the credit card payments industry is a healthy and 
     competitive space, and further legislation to impose 
     government-mandated price controls in this area is both 
     unnecessary and harmful to innovation and security; 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     urge the United States Congress to protect consumers from 
     government interference in the free market and any actions 
     that would weaken our national security by opposing 
     congressional efforts to overreach into the wallets of 
     American consumers and small businesses; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-166. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     to provide a long-term solution for the housing crisis 
     suffered by Louisiana residents displaced due to the 
     devastation of Hurricane Ida; to the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 57

       Whereas, Hurricane Ida devastated Louisiana on August 29, 
     2021, destroying property throughout the state, causing many 
     Louisianians to be displaced from their homes; and
       Whereas, after Hurricane Ida, the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency (FEMA) established a program to reimburse 
     the state for costs incurred by providing temporary shelters 
     in the form of campers; and
       Whereas, the federal aid expired in January of 2023; and
       Whereas, the state absorbed the costs of over two million 
     dollars per month after the FEMA benefits expired; and
       Whereas, the state-sponsored Ida Shelters program ended on 
     Tuesday, April 30, 2024, with five hundred fifty-two 
     residents still participating in the program; and
       Whereas, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and 
     Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) has delayed eviction, while 
     considering whether to donate the camper-residences to the 
     respective parishes or offering the residents an opportunity 
     to purchase the campers at their appraised value; and
       Whereas, while GOHSEP's plan may resolve the immediate 
     needs of the displaced residents, a long-term solution rests 
     with the federal government; therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to provide a long-term 
     solution for the housing crisis suffered by Louisiana 
     residents displaced due to the devastation of Hurricane Ida; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the

[[Page S5679]]

     United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House 
     of Representatives and to each member of the Louisiana 
     delegation to the United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-167. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to 
     enact legislation to require congressional, state, and county 
     approval to alter Arizona federal land and to protect Arizona 
     natural resource rights; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                   House Concurrent Memorial No. 2006

       Whereas, Arizona's great strength lies in the value of its 
     public lands and the public's ability to access and use those 
     lands for a variety of recreational uses; and
       Whereas, nearly 50% of all land in Arizona is already under 
     federal management, and the majority of Arizona's lands are 
     restricted from public access and recreation; and
       Whereas, Arizona currently has 18 monument designations, 
     the most of any state, and there are more than 285 million 
     acres of land and marine areas in monument status; and
       Whereas, these monument designations have negatively 
     impacted the state's ability to promote access to public 
     recreation and to develop and maintain critical water 
     resources, manage wildlife, restore habitat and perform 
     wildlife translocations; and
       Whereas, the federal government is unable to financially 
     support and maintain the existing national parks and 
     monuments and often ends up closing or restricting the use of 
     these lands; and
       Whereas, the designation of national monuments and 
     subsequent closure or restricted use of public lands 
     significantly interferes with Arizona's economic well-being; 
     and
       Whereas, the designation of monuments and conservation 
     areas interferes with Arizona's ability to mitigate the risk 
     of wildfire by thinning overly dense forests and adversely 
     affects grazing practices, water conservation and proper soil 
     erosion controls and practices; and
       Whereas, designating an area as a national monument or 
     other special use designation adds additional use 
     restrictions, prevents the multiple use of this land and 
     curbs the use of the land's abundant natural resources; and
       Whereas, the greatest threat to the lands of Arizona is the 
     intrusion and overreach of the federal government.
       Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That the United States Congress enact legislation to 
     protect local economies and to preserve local customs, 
     cultures and historical uses by prohibiting the federal 
     government from establishing, authorizing or declaring any 
     new national monument, national park, wildlife refuge, 
     conservation area, area of critical environmental concern, 
     wild and scenic river, wilderness, wilderness characteristic 
     area or any other federal reservation or special use 
     designation within Arizona's border and from withdrawing or 
     reserving any additional federal mineral, land, water or 
     other national resource rights within Arizona's border, 
     unless with:
       (a) The express authorization of Congress.
       (b) The express authorization of the Arizona State 
     Legislature, while in session.
       (c) The express authorization of the members of the county 
     board of supervisors in all the counties that would be 
     impacted by the designation, withdrawal or reservation.
       2. That a comprehensive economic impact study be completed 
     that analyzes the cumulative, tangible and measurable impacts 
     to the national, state and local economies by the removal of 
     the additional land, water or natural resources from economic 
     production and that demonstrates the removal of these lands, 
     water or natural resources represents the least burdensome 
     and costly method to achieve the desired cultural, historical 
     or environmental protections. The economic impact statement 
     should include an analysis of the impacts to the state and 
     local tax base, including property, income and sales tax.
       3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and 
     each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-168. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the federal government to 
     end its pause on pending approval of liquefied natural gas 
     exports; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 18

       Whereas, the oil and natural gas industry has historically 
     provided thousands of high-paying jobs for Louisianans 
     working in production or transportation of oil and natural 
     gas, generating millions of dollars in annual revenue for 
     state and local programs, and decreasing America's dependence 
     on imported oil; and
       Whereas, recent action by the federal government has 
     temporarily paused pending approvals of liquefied natural gas 
     exports; and
       Whereas, a pause on approvals of liquefied natural gas 
     exports will disrupt the global supply chain, causing 
     national security and national defense problems; and
       Whereas, the demand for fuel is not expected to decrease; 
     and
       Whereas, a decrease in world supply of liquefied natural 
     gas would increase costs and hurt vulnerable populations the 
     most; and
       Whereas, contracts for the purchase of liquefied natural 
     gas are long term, with there being a high importance to not 
     interrupt or disrupt long-term contracts, as doing so could 
     destabilize global markets; and
       Whereas, Louisiana is home to the Haynesville Shale, a 
     massive dry natural gas formation in Northwest Louisiana, and 
     is well positioned to capitalize on the demand side of the 
     industry; and
       Whereas, in Louisiana alone, oil and natural gas activities 
     represent twenty-six percent of Louisiana's gross domestic 
     product, and the industry accounts for over $4 billion in 
     state and local tax revenue; and
       Whereas, Louisiana is home to three of the top eight 
     domestic LNG export terminals with at least three more 
     projects approved and eight more in prefiling or proposed 
     stages; and
       Whereas, the oil and natural gas industry has invested over 
     $108 billion in greenhouse gas mitigating technologies, 
     contributing to a sharp decline in emission of CO2 
     in the United States; and
       Whereas, from 2000 to 2018 emissions declined sixty-seven 
     percent in the United States relative to oil and gas 
     production; and
       Whereas, in the same period of time, carbon dioxide 
     emissions in the rest of the world increased by twenty-nine 
     percent; and
       Whereas, the 2020 Louisiana Emissions Analysis, published 
     by the Consumer Energy Alliance, a leading voice for sensible 
     energy policies for families and businesses, found that 
     emissions declined by seventy-one percent across the state 
     since 1990; and
       Whereas, during that same period of emissions reduction, 
     Louisiana's gross domestic product surged one hundred 
     seventy-seven percent; and
       Whereas, broad and predictable access to offshore oil and 
     natural gas resources will help support and grow more jobs 
     and activity in Louisiana and the Gulf region, reduce 
     America's reliance on overseas imports, and increase revenues 
     to the state and its localities. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     urge and request the administration of President Biden to end 
     its pause on pending approval of liquefied natural gas 
     exports; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana also expresses 
     its support of America's liquefied natural gas production and 
     exportation to the benefit of American consumers and American 
     workers and allows the inherent economic benefits thereof to 
     be fully realized; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the president of the United States, each member of the 
     president's cabinet, and to the members of the capitol press 
     corps.
                                  ____


       POM-169. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Ohio urging the United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw its proposed 
     regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and urging the United 
     States Congress to take action to prevent the regulations 
     from taking effect; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                        House Resolution No. 469

       Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency 
     (USEPA) has proposed new regulations governing greenhouse gas 
     emissions from coal and natural gas-fired power plants; and
       Whereas, The proposed regulations require unachievable and 
     unrealistic timelines to reduce carbon emissions, which will 
     negatively impact the economic viability of new and existing 
     natural gas plants and all but ensure coal power plants will 
     need to shut down by 2035; and
       Whereas, The proposed regulations will require the adoption 
     of new technologies, such as those related to clean hydrogen 
     and carbon capture, that are not yet commercially available 
     and have not been adequately demonstrated as required by the 
     federal Clean Air Act; and
       Whereas, Adoption of the proposed regulations will 
     jeopardize energy reliability and result in more blackouts, 
     higher costs, and greater uncertainty for American families 
     and businesses; and
       Whereas, The proposed regulations exceed USEPA's regulatory 
     authority and grant USEPA vastly expanded powers with major 
     economic and political significance without Congressional 
     assent; and
       Whereas, The proposed regulations disregard the ``major 
     questions doctrine'' raised by recent U.S. Supreme Court 
     rulings and are inconsistent with the text, structure, and 
     context of Section 111 of the federal Clean Air Act; now 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That we, the members of the House of 
     Representatives of the 135th General Assembly of the State of 
     Ohio, urge the USEPA to halt its efforts to adopt the 
     proposed regulations; and be it further
       Resolved, That we, the members of the House of 
     Representatives of the 135th General Assembly of the State of 
     Ohio, urge the United States Congress to enact clear 
     legislation to prevent the USEPA from adopting the proposed 
     regulations; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
     transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to 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, the Administrator of the USEPA, and the news 
     media of Ohio.
     ____


[[Page S5680]]



       POM-170. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress 
     to take such actions as are necessary to preserve patient 
     access to physician care by enacting systemic reform to the 
     Medicare physician payment system and providing an annual 
     inflationary update to physician fees based on the Medicare 
     Economic Index for Medicare physician services; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 104

       Whereas, elderly and disabled patients deserve access to 
     physicians with specialized training and rely on Medicare to 
     supplement the cost of specialized health care; and
       Whereas, individuals who depend on Medicare are at serious 
     risk of losing access to physician care; and
       Whereas, physicians are the only healthcare provider type 
     whose Medicare payments do not automatically receive an 
     annual inflationary update; and
       Whereas, Medicare payments to physicians have been steadily 
     declining relative to inflation and have lagged behind the 
     rate of inflation growth by twenty-six percent since 2001; 
     and
       Whereas, physicians are struggling to keep their practices 
     open due to inflation and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic; 
     and
       Whereas, there have been three consecutive cuts to Medicare 
     within the past three years totaling a ten percent cost 
     reduction; and
       Whereas, the lack of adequate reimbursement and rising 
     practice costs may force physicians to stop treating Medicare 
     patients or close their practices permanently; and
       Whereas, current policies disproportionately impact small, 
     independent, and rural physician practices, as well as those 
     treating low-income or historically minoritized or 
     marginalized patient communities; therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to preserve patient access to physician care 
     by enacting systemic reform to the Medicare physician payment 
     system and providing an annual inflationary update to 
     physician fees based on the Medicare Economic Index for 
     Medicare physician services; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the governor, the presiding officers of the Senate and the 
     House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and 
     to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.
                                  ____
                                  

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