[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14239-14240]
[From the U.S. 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-152. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine relative to the Northeast Interstate Dairy 
     Compact; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas, Maine has nearly 500 dairy farms annually 
     producing milk valued at over $100,000,000; and
       Whereas, maintaining a sufficient supply of Maine-produced 
     milk and milk products is in the best interest of Maine 
     consumers and businesses; and
       Whereas, a University of Connecticut study, done while the 
     Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact has been in existence, 
     concluded that from July 1997 to July 2000, the price of milk 
     to the consumer increased 29 cents of which 4\1/2\ cents went 
     to the farmer; and
       Whereas, Maine is a member of the Northeast Interstate 
     Dairy Compact; and
       Whereas, the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact will 
     terminate at the end of September 2001 unless action is taken 
     by the Congress to reauthorize it; and
       Whereas, the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact's mission 
     is to ensure the continued viability of dairy farming in the 
     Northeast and to assure consumers of an adequate, local 
     supply of pure and wholesome milk and also helps support the 
     Women, Infants and Children program, commonly known as 
     ``WIC''; and
       Whereas, the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact has 
     established a minimum price to be paid to dairy farmers for 
     their milk, which has helped to stabilize their incomes; and
       Whereas, in certain months the compact's minimum price has 
     resulted in dairy farmers receiving nearly 10% more for their 
     milk than the farmers would have otherwise received; and
       Whereas, actions taken by the compact have directly 
     benefited Maine dairy farmers by not diminishing the farmer's 
     share; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and 
     request that the United States Congress reauthorize the 
     Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this Memorial, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, 
     the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States, each 
     member of the United States Congress who sits as chair on the 
     United States House of Representatives Committee on 
     Agriculture or the United States Senate Committee on 
     Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the United States 
     Secretary of Agriculture and each Member of the Maine 
     Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-153. A resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to the Detroit 
     River International Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act; to the 
     Committee on Environmental and Public Works.

                        House Resolution No. 116

       Whereas, The Detroit River is a unique resource in many 
     ways. This historic water route has been a major 
     transportation thoroughfare since long before Europeans 
     arrived, and its role in commerce has been a key part of the 
     economic strength of two nations. In addition to these well-
     documented elements, the Detroit River also hosts great 
     diversity in wildlife and ecological features; and
       Whereas, The lower portions of the Detroit River include 
     shoals, islands, and channels that support a variety of 
     aquatic plants, fish, and wildlife. Although designated an 
     American Heritage River in 1998, the Detroit River is still 
     threatened by environmental practices; and
       Whereas, Congress is considering a measure, H.R. 1230, that 
     would establish the Detroit River International Wildlife 
     Refuge. This bill would provide a mechanism to preserve the 
     character of the area through land acquisition and agreements 
     for cooperative management. Under this legislation, the 
     Secretary of the Interior could acquire land along an 18-mile 
     stretch of the Detroit River. A key component of the proposal 
     is that it does not authorize the taking of land but relies 
     upon willing sellers; and
       Whereas, Establishing the Detroit International Wildlife 
     Refuge along one of the great metropolitan regions in the 
     country is an excellent investment in Michigan's resources; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the 
     Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Establishment 
     Act; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
       Adopted by the House of Representatives, June 26, 2001
                                  ____

       POM-154. A resolution adopted by the House of the General 
     Assembly of Pennsylvania relative to issuing a Coal Miners' 
     Postal Stamp; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 121

       Wheras, Our entire Nation owes our coal miners a great deal 
     more than we could ever repay them for the difficult and 
     dangerous job which they performed so that we could have the 
     fuel we needed to operate our industries and to heat our 
     homes; and
       Whereas, It would be proper and fitting for our Nation to 
     recognize our coal miners, both past and present, for their 
     contributions to this Nation; therefore be it
       Resolved (the Senate concurring), That the general Assembly 
     memorialize the United States Postal Service to issue a 
     postal stamp to honor our coal miners and to commemorate 
     their contributions to our nation and its citizens; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be delivered to 
     the United States Postal Service, to the presiding officers 
     of each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-155. A resolution adopted by the House of the General 
     Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania relative to legislation 
     protecting employees and retirees whose health care plans 
     have been terminated by companies as a result of financial 
     difficulties caused in whole or in part by unfairly traded 
     foreign imports; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 212

       Whereas, In the 1980s the American steel industry 
     experienced an economic crisis due to existing trade policies 
     resulting in steel mill shutdowns, steelworker layoffs and a 
     weakening of the entire steel industry; and
       Whereas, In the early 1990s the American steel industry 
     experienced a period of relative stability; and
       Whereas, In late 1997 and early 1998 the Asian economic 
     crisis and the collapse of the Russian economy produced a 
     flood of manufactured products, including steel, leading to 
     the most serious crisis for the steel industry since the 
     1980s; and
       Whereas, That crisis resulted in the layoffs of 10,000 
     steelworkers, bankruptcy of steel companies, weakening of the 
     entire steel industry and increase in the level of imports 
     deemed ``normal and acceptable'' by the Federal Government; 
     and
       Whereas, In the week ending December 30, 2000, the steel 
     industry operated at less that 65% of capacity, its lowest 
     operating level in 14 years; and
       Whereas, Since the beginning of the Asian economic crisis, 
     14 steel companies have been driven into bankruptcy and many 
     others are on the brink of bankruptcy; and
       Whereas, The bankruptcy and potential bankruptcy of steel 
     companies represents a threat to the health benefits of 
     employees and retirees; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the President and 
     Congress to support and pass legislation establishing a 
     Health Care Benefit Guarantee Corporation similar to the 
     Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation to ensure benefits to 
     those employees and retirees whose health care plans have 
     been terminated by companies as a result of financial 
     difficulties caused in whole or in part by unfairly traded 
     foreign imports; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-156. A resolution adopted by the House of the General 
     Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania relative to domestic 
     violence; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 239

       Whereas, Between 2 and 4 million women each year are 
     victims of domestic violence nationally; and
       Whereas, At least 800,000 Pennsylvanians are victims of 
     domestic violence each year; and
       Whereas, Domestic violence is a health care problem of 
     epidemic proportions; and
       Whereas, Medical professionals have a unique opportunity to 
     intervene in domestic violence as they are often the first 
     resource a battered victim seeks for help; and
       Whereas, Health care providers can be a critical link to 
     safety by offering support, information, education, resources 
     and follow-up services to patients who are identified as 
     victims of domestic violence; and
       Whereas, Approximately only 10% of primary care physicians 
     across the nation routinely screen for partner abuse when a 
     patient is not currently injured; and
       Whereas, The General Assembly recognized the importance of 
     screening patients for

[[Page 14240]]

     symptoms of domestic violence in enacting Act 115 of 1998, 
     which established the Domestic Health Care Response Program; 
     and
       Whereas, Act 115 of 1998 made Pennsylvania the first state 
     in the nation to establish patient screening and advocary 
     programs in hospitals and health care systems; and
       Whereas, The Family Violence Prevention Fund recognized 
     Pennsylvania as the only state to receive an ``A'' grade for 
     laws regarding health care response to domestic violence; and
       Whereas, A team from Pennsylvania has joined teams from 14 
     other states and tribes and the Family Violence Prevention 
     Fund to create innovative and sustainable health care 
     responses to domestic violence on a national level through 
     the National Health Care Standards Campaign; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognize June 12, 2001, as 
     ``National Domestic Violence Health Care Standards Campaign 
     Kick-Off Day'' in Pennsylvania; and be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives encourage 
     Pennsylvanians and health care professionals in this 
     Commonwealth to learn more about the causes, signs, 
     prevention and treatment for domestic violence; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives urge the 
     Congress of the United States to recognize the ``National 
     Domestic Violence Health Care Standards Campaign'' and to 
     promote the screening of patients for domestic violence by 
     health care professionals across the nation; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania.

                          ____________________