[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6731-6734]
[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-34. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Arkansas relative to the Railroad 
     Retirement and Survivors Improvement Act; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 1008

       Whereas, the Railroad Retirement and Survivors Improvement 
     Act of 2000 was approved in a bipartisan effort by 391 
     members of the United States House of Representatives in the 
     106th Congress, including the entire Arkansas delegation to 
     Congress; and
       Whereas, more than eighty United States Senators, including 
     both Arkansas' Senator Tim Hutchinson and Senator Blanche 
     Lincoln, signed letters of support for this legislation in 
     2000; and
       Whereas, the bill now before the 107th Congress modernizes 
     the railroad retirement system for its 748,000 beneficiaries 
     nationwide, including over 10,000 in Arkansas; and
       Whereas, railroad management, labor and retiree 
     organizations have agreed to support this legislation; and
       Whereas, this legislation provides tax relief to freight 
     railroads, Amtrak and commuter lines; and
       Whereas, no outside contributions from taxpayers are needed 
     to implement the changes called for in this legislation; and
       Whereas, all changes will be paid for from within the 
     railroad industry, including a full share by active 
     employees: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the eighty-
     third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, the Senate 
     concurring therein, That the General Assembly urges the 
     United States Congress to support and enact the Railroad 
     Retirement and Survivors Improvement Act in the 107th 
     Congress. Be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent by the 
     Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the President 
     of the United States, the President of the United States 
     Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and all members of the Arkansas 
     Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-35. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Arkansas relative to the 
     availability of funds to prevent catastrophic damage from 
     wildfires; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 1035

       Whereas, the ice storms of December 13 and 25, 2000, 
     ravaged thousands of acres of private and public forests in 
     Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas; and
       Whereas, President Clinton declared sixty-seven (67) 
     Arkansas counties as federal disaster areas for the purposes 
     of providing early financial assistance to cities and 
     counties to help with their most urgent ice storm-caused 
     health and safety problems; and
       Whereas, these early funds do not provide for the critical 
     treatment and restoration work needed to prevent catastrophic 
     wildfires on the private and public forestlands of Arkansas; 
     and
       Whereas, if these lands go untreated, the ten-fold increase 
     in fuel loadings may result in major conflagrations that 
     destroy private and public property and threaten the health 
     and safety of countless Arkansans; and
       Whereas, supplemental appropriation requests detailing the 
     need by program area and the work that would be accomplished 
     were sent by agency field officers to their agency 
     headquarters in Washington, D.C.: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the eighty-
     third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, the Senate 
     concurring therein, That the Arkansas General Assembly urges 
     the President of the United States and the United States 
     Congress to take all reasonable action necessary to provide 
     adequate and timely funding to the federal agencies 
     responsible for the treatment and restoration work on these 
     lands. Be it further
       Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution, the Chief 
     Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to the President of the United States, to 
     the presiding officers of the United States Senate and the 
     United States House of Representatives, and to each member of 
     the Arkansas congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-36. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Arkansas relative to prescription 
     drugs; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 1027

       Whereas, the price of prescription drugs in the United 
     States has increased significantly in each of the past 
     several years; and
       Whereas, a large percentage of the people who cannot afford 
     to buy drugs needed to maintain a reasonable quality of life 
     are children and the elderly who have no means to improve 
     their financial situation; and
       Whereas, many people in this country must make a choice of 
     buying food or buying the drugs they need; and
       Whereas, the states have very limited ability to take the 
     necessary action to assure that prescription drugs are 
     available and affordable to those who need them and only the 
     U.S. Congress has the authority to accomplish this goal, now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the eighty-
     third General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, the Senate 
     concurring therein:
       That the Arkansas General Assembly hereby urges the United 
     States Congress to take all reasonable action to assure that 
     prescription drugs are available and affordable to all 
     citizens. Be it further
       Revolved, That upon adoption of this resolution, the Chief 
     Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit a copy 
     hereof to the President of the United States, to the 
     presiding officers of the United States Senate and the U.S. 
     House of Representatives, and to each member of the Arkansas 
     Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-37. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of the 
     State of Arkansas relative to Special Education; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 1044

       Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 
     eighty-third General Assemble of the State of Arkansas, the 
     Senate concurring therein:
       That the United States Congress is urged to review, with 
     the goal of reducing, the paperwork created by federal laws 
     and regulations related to special education.
       Be it further Resolved, That upon adoption of this 
     resolution, with the Senate concurring therein, the Chief 
     Clerk of the Arkansas House of Representatives shall transmit 
     copies to the presiding officer of the United States Senate 
     and the United States House of Representatives, and to each 
     member of the Arkansas congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-38. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Massachusetts relative to 
     benefits for all retired career military personnel; to the 
     Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
       Whereas, American servicemen and women have dedicated their 
     lives and careers to protect the rights we all enjoy; and
       Whereas, in serving our country, career military personnel 
     endured hardships, deprivation and threats of death, 
     disability and long separations from their families; and
       Whereas, integral to the success of our military forces are 
     those military personnel who have made careers of defending 
     our great Nation during times of both war and peace from the 
     revolutionary war to present day; and
       Whereas, there exists a gross inequity in the Federal 
     Statutes that denies equal rights to disabled career military 
     who seek to receive Veterans Administration disability 
     compensation concurrent with the receipt of earned military 
     pay; and
       Whereas, legislation has been introduced in the United 
     States Congress to remedy this inequity applicable to career 
     military personnel dating back to the nineteenth century; and
       Whereas, the injustice concerns those who are retired, are 
     denied concurrent receipt of hard earned military retirement 
     pay and Veterans Administration awards for service-connected 
     disabilities; and
       Whereas, career military earn retirement benefits based on 
     longevity for honorable

[[Page 6732]]

     and faithful service and rank at the time of retirement; and
       Whereas, Veterans Administration compensations serve a 
     different purpose from longevity retired pay and are intended 
     to compensate for pain, suffering, disfigurement, chemicals, 
     wound injuries and loss of earning ability, with a minimum 
     requirement of 90 days active duty; and
       Whereas, the prevailing idea that military retirement pay 
     is free is false as there is a contribution to retirement pay 
     which is calculated to reduce military base pay and 
     retirement pay by 7 per cent when pay and allowances are 
     computed and approved by Congress; and
       Whereas, traditionally, a career military person receives a 
     lower pay and retirement than his or her civilian counterpart 
     and has invested a life of hardships and long hours without 
     the benefit of overtime pay and with a lack of freedom of 
     expression through the unions; and
       Whereas, the Veterans Administration awards to disabled 
     veterans with a 30 percent disability or more an allowance 
     for each dependent and the allowance is increased with the 
     amount of disability; and
       Whereas, the Department of Defense deducts the entire 
     amount of a dependent's allowance, essentially leaving a 
     disabled military retiree without a dependent's allowance, 
     thereby extending the discrimination to families of military 
     longevity retirees; and
       Whereas, it is unfair to require disabled military retirees 
     to fund their own Veterans Administration compensation by 
     deductions on a dollar-for-dollar basis to the Department of 
     Defense; and
       Whereas, no such deduction applies to similarly situated 
     federal civil service or congressional retirement benefits to 
     receive Veterans Administration compensation; and
       Whereas, a statutory change is necessary to correct this 
     injustice and discrimination in order to insure that 
     America's commitment to national and international goals will 
     be matched by the same allegiance to those who sacrificed on 
     behalf of those goals; now therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Massachusetts Senate respectfully urges 
     the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to 
     provide parity of benefits to all retired career military 
     personnel; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted 
     forthwith by the Clerk of the Senate to the President of the 
     United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairmen of the 
     Armed Forces Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee, 
     the House and Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, the 
     presiding officer of each branch of Congress and to the 
     members thereof from the commonwealth.
                                  ____

       POM-39. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of Guam 
     relative to Federal funds for upgrades in education, water, 
     and hospital; to the Committee on Appropriations.

                           Resolution No. 27

       Whereas, Guam's tourism-based economy has been suffering 
     over the last few years due to the Asian economic crisis, 
     resulting in government budget shortfalls, an increased 
     government deficit, layoffs of many private and public sector 
     employees, and an unemployment rate that may be as high as 
     twenty percent (20%); and
       Whereas, such economic reversal and a high unemployment 
     rate would be considered an economic disaster in most parts 
     of the United States; and
       Whereas, Guam's water and sewer infrastructure has 
     deteriorated over the years to the point where it is no 
     longer sufficient to support the Island's growing population; 
     and where it is badly corroded and in disrepair in some 
     areas, resulting in a costly waste of water, costly spot 
     repairs, and low or no water pressure in some areas of the 
     Island; and
       Whereas, Guam's population has grown beyond the capacity of 
     its school facilities, resulting in the overcrowding and 
     deterioration of existing school facilities, a condition that 
     is a detriment to the education of the Island's youth, and 
     ultimately is detrimental to all aspects of the local 
     community; and
       Whereas, the Guam Memorial hospital, Guam's only hospital 
     and emergency care facility, is also badly in need of upgrade 
     and expansion, to the point where many patients must be sent 
     to off-Guam facilities for emergency or specialized care at 
     great expense to the government and local families, an 
     expense that many families cannot afford; and
       Whereas, Guam's tourism industry, which faces an uphill 
     struggle to recovery after a prolonged slump, is in need of 
     an economic boost and an upgrade in infrastructure and 
     facilities; and
       Whereas, the United States economy has seen a tremendous 
     boom in the last decade, whilst the Federal Government has 
     seen budget surpluses unprecedented in recent times, with the 
     budget surplus for Fiscal Year 2000 expected to be One 
     Hundred Seventy Billion Dollars ($170,000,000,000) and the 
     surplus through 2010 predicted by President Clinton to be 
     Seven Hundred Forty-six Billion Dollars ($746,000,000,000); 
     and
       Whereas, Guam has made its contribution to the political 
     security and stability of the United States that has helped 
     to nurture this vibrant economic growth by giving up a large 
     portion of its small land mass to the U.S. Department of 
     Defense for military installations, which were critical to 
     American security for decades, now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That I Mina'Bente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan 
     does hereby, on behalf of the people of Guam, respectfully 
     request that the United States Congress appropriate One 
     Hundred Ninety-three Million Dollars ($193,000,000) to the 
     government of Guam for the following purposes:
       (1) Forty-eight Million Dollars ($48,000,000) to build 
     eight (8) new elementary schools in the Villages of Dededo, 
     Yigo, Tamuning, Mangilao, Barrigada, Yona, Sinajana, Agat and 
     Mongmong-Toto-Maite;
       (2) Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) to build one (1) 
     new middle school in Dededo, which is by far the most 
     populated village on Guam;
       (3) Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000) to build one (1) 
     new high school in Northern Guam, which has deteriorating and 
     dangerously crowded schools in Tamuning and Yigo that suffer 
     from teen violence and other problems as a result of the lack 
     of attention that comes from overcrowded schools;
       (4) Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000) for the Guam 
     Waterworks Authority to improve a badly corroded and leaking 
     sewer and water infrastructure that results in low water 
     pressure in many areas, wasting water resources daily and 
     incurring large numbers of manpower hours fixing spot leaks 
     that surface;
       (5) Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) for upgrading and 
     expanding facilities at the Guam Memorial Hospital, which is 
     insufficient, as Guam's only hospital and emergency care 
     facility, to provide for vital health care services to people 
     on Guam, who must seek prohibitively expensive care off-Guam, 
     as well as providing health care to the people of Micronesia 
     who have been granted access to Guam's medical infrastructure 
     due to the compacts of free association entered into by the 
     United States of America and these Pacific Nations; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the United States Congress and the President 
     of the United States delegate the Officer In Charge of 
     Construction (``OICC'') of the U.S. Naval command on Guam, 
     otherwise known as Commander Naval Forces Marianas, to 
     oversee all aspects of infrastructure construction detailed 
     herein, inclusive of contract management, procurement, etc.; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the United States Congress is requested to 
     stipulate as a condition of this funding, in legislation, a 
     detailed deficit reduction plan for Guam which the government 
     of Guam shall adhere to for the purpose of eliminating the 
     deficit in the General Fund of the government of Guam within 
     seven (7) years; and be it further.
       Resolved, That the Speaker certify, and the Legislative 
     Secretary attests to, the adoption hereof and that copies of 
     the same be thereafter transmitted to the Honorable George W. 
     Bush, President of the United States; to the Honorable 
     Richard B. Cheney, President of the United States Senate; to 
     the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives; to the Honorable Robert A. 
     Underwood, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; and 
     to the Honorable Carl T.C. Gutierrex, I Magalahen Guahan.
                                  ____

       POM-40. A resolution adopted by the Legislative of Guam 
     relative to reparations for Guam victims of World War II; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                         Resolution No. 26 (LS)

       Whereas, the people of Guam who endured World War II, and 
     their families, attempted in vain for years to obtain just 
     war reparations for the wartime grievances suffered by the 
     Chamorros, who are the native inhabitants of Guam; and
       Whereas, while many other peoples received war reparations 
     from Japan, such as the people of the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Marianas and the Republic of the Philippines, the 
     people of Guam have yet to receive proper atonement and 
     justice for the personal suffering, the widespread 
     destruction of personal property, the obliteration of homes, 
     businesses and farms, the loss of family members and loved 
     ones, and the humiliation of occupation by an enemy military 
     power; and
       Whereas, the government of the United States of America has 
     totally exonerated the government of Japan from making any 
     war reparations to the people of Guam through a post-war 
     agreement with Japan; and
       Whereas, after years of suffering followed by years of 
     waiting for just atonement, war reparations to the people of 
     Guam are long overdue; now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That I MinaBente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan does 
     hereby, on behalf of the people of Guam, respectfully request 
     that Guam's Delegate to the U.S. Congress reintroduce 
     previous legislation to obtain proper war reparations for 
     Guam victims of World War II; and be it further
       Resolved, That I MinaBente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan does 
     hereby, on behalf of the people of Guam, respectfully request 
     that the Chairman of the United States House of 
     Representatives Committee on Judiciary hold a hearing on the 
     aforementioned war reparations legislation at the earliest 
     possible date; and be it further

[[Page 6733]]

       Resolved, That the Speaker certify, and the Legislative 
     Secretary attests to, the adoption hereof and that copies of 
     the same by thereafter transmitted to the Honorable Richard 
     B. Cheney, President of the United States Senate; to the 
     Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives; and to the Chairman of the United 
     States House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary; to 
     the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources 
     Committee; to the Honorable Robert A. Underwood, Member of 
     the U.S. House of Representatives; to the Honorable Carl T.C. 
     Gutierrez, I Magalahen Guahan.
                                  ____

       POM-41. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of Guam 
     relative to amending the 1950 Organic Act of Guam; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                         Resolution No. 22 (LS)

       Whereas, some of the most vital services provided by the 
     government of Guam are the public health services, including 
     the services of Guam's public hospital, the Guam Memorial 
     Hospital; and
       Whereas, without an efficient and well-run hospital and 
     public health service, the health and well-being of the 
     people of Guam are in severe danger, and the lives of the 
     people of Guam are in jeopardy; and
       Whereas, without an efficient and well-run hospital and 
     public health service, many people on Guam are faced with the 
     grim prospect of looking to off-Guam health facilities to 
     provide life-saving treatment; and
       Whereas, the cost of travel to facilities that provide such 
     life-saving treatment can be prohibitive, especially for many 
     of our people without the means; and in addition, the health 
     of people in severe cases may not withstand the travel; and
       Whereas, the current language of the Organic Act of Guam in 
     regards to the administration of the public health services 
     is restrictive, preventing creative and sensible solutions to 
     the management problems of the Guam Memorial Hospital and 
     other public health services; and
       Whereas, amending the Organic Act of Guam to allow the laws 
     of Guam to govern the public health and hospital services, as 
     the United States Congress did with the public education 
     system on Guam, would be a more accountable and less 
     restrictive solution; and
       Whereas, such a solution has the potential to revitalize 
     and streamline Guam's public health and hospital, and 
     therefore has the potential to improve public health on Guam 
     and save the lives of people who depend on such vital 
     services; and
       Whereas, the importance of such a life-saving and health-
     improving solution cannot be overstated, and action should 
     not be delayed any further; now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That I MinaBente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan does 
     hereby, on behalf of the people of Guam, respectfully request 
     the Congress of the United States of America amend Paragraph 
     (a) of Sec. 1421g of Title 48 of the United States Code (1950 
     Organic Act of Guam) to read as follows:
       ``(a) Public Health Services. Subject to the laws of Guam, 
     the Government of Guam shall establish, maintain, operate or 
     contract public health services on Guam, including hospitals, 
     dispensaries and quarantine stations, at such places on Guam 
     as may be necessary, and shall promulgate quarantine and 
     sanitary regulations for the protection of Guam against the 
     importation and spread of disease.''; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Speaker certify, and the Legislative 
     Secretary attests to, the adoption hereof and that copies of 
     the same be thereafter transmitted to the Honorable George W. 
     Bush, President of the United States; to the Honorable 
     Richard B. Cheney, President of the United States Senate; to 
     the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives; to the Honorable Robert A. 
     Underwood, Member of the U.S. House of Representative; and to 
     the Honorable Carl T.C. Gutierrez, I Magalahen Guahan.
                                  ____

       POM-42. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of Guam 
     relative to the change of the 1950 Organic Act of Guam to 
     require a balanced budget; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                         Resolution No. 24 (LS)

       Whereas, the government of Guam is in dire financial 
     straits, due in part, to an economy which has suffered 
     tremendously as a result of the Asian economic slump and the 
     reduction of the U.S. military presence on Guam; and
       Whereas, Guam's expenditures have, on most occasions, 
     exceeded the availability of revenues; and
       Whereas, as result, the government of Guam has built a 
     large deficit in its General Fund; and
       Whereas, such deficit is detrimental to the ability of the 
     government of Guam to provide consistent and required service 
     to the people of Guam, as well as make an adequate investment 
     in developing infrastructure; and
       Whereas, although we look forward to an increase in 
     economic activity on Guam, resulting in higher revenues, the 
     only true solution to Guam's perennial financial problems is 
     to exercise restraint in spending; and
       Whereas, although a requirement for a balanced budget 
     exists in local legislation, no such requirement exists in 
     the 1950 Organic Act of Guam; and
       Whereas, until such time as the people of Guam adopt their 
     own constitution, the 1950 Organic Act of Guam serves in its 
     stead; and
       Whereas, an amendment to the 1950 Organic Act of Guam 
     requiring a balanced budget for the government of Guam will 
     assist Guam in making changes essential to the long term 
     financial health of our government, now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That I Mina'Bente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan 
     does hereby, on behalf of the people of Guam, respectfully 
     request that the United States Congress amend the 1950 
     Organic Act of Guam to require a balanced budget for the 
     government of Guam in each fiscal year; and be it further
       Resolved, That exception to this requirement should be 
     permissible only in the event of an official declaration by 
     the President of the United States of Guam as a disaster 
     area; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Speaker certify, and the Legislative 
     Secretary attests to, the adoption hereof and that copies of 
     the same be thereafter transmitted to the Honorable George W. 
     Bush, President of the United States; to the Honorable 
     Richard B. Cheney, President of the United States Senate; to 
     the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives; to the Chairman of the House 
     Committee on Natural Resources; to the Chairman of the Senate 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; to the Honorable 
     Robert A. Underwood, Member of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; and to the Honorable Carl T.C. Gutierrez, I 
     Maga'lahen Guahan.
                                  ____

       POM-43. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of Guam 
     relative to a human rights issue; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                         Resolution No. 58 (LS)

       Whereas, the most important principles and precepts in the 
     founding and formation of our great American Nation and 
     democracy are guarantees of protection of life, liberty and 
     the pursuit of happiness for every man, woman and child, 
     regardless of race, color, national origin or religious 
     preference; and
       Whereas, the fundamental right to freedom of religious 
     belief and worship is severely restricted in the People's 
     Republic of China; and
       Whereas, Mr. Zhang Hongbao, fearful for his personal well-
     being because of his spiritual beliefs, fled China, seeking 
     personal safety and asylum on Guam; and
       Whereas, because Mr. Zhang Hongbao's arrival on Guam is 
     classified as an ``unauthorized entry,'' requiring the 
     intervention of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization 
     Service (``INS''), he has been detained for over one (1) 
     year; and
       Whereas, Mr. Zhang Hongbao's confinement on Guam is 
     inconsistent with the traditional Chamorro belief that 
     freedom is fundamental to life itself, representing an 
     embarrassment to the People of Guam since the injustice 
     continues on our Island, the westernmost stanchion of 
     American democracy and religious tolerance, which serves as 
     the Pacific gateway for the great message of Lady Liberty: 
     ``Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning 
     to breathe free, . . . I hold my lamp beside the golden 
     door''; now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That I Mina'Bente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan, in 
     keeping with the precepts and principles which make America's 
     belief in fundamental human rights, calls for the immediate 
     and unconditional release of Mr. Zhang Hongbao from 
     detention; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Speaker certify, and the Legislative 
     Secretary attests to, the adoption hereof and that copies of 
     the same be thereafter transmitted to the Honorable George W. 
     Bush, President of the United States; to the Honorable Colin 
     Powell, Secretary of the U.S. Department of State; to the 
     Honorable John Ashcroft, U.S. Attorney General; to the 
     Honorable Richard Cheney, President of the United States 
     Senate; to the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the 
     U.S. House of Representatives; to the Honorable Robert A. 
     Underwood, Guam's Delegate to the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; and to the Honorable Carl T.C. Gutierrez, I 
     Maga'lahen Guahan.
                                  ____

       POM-44. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Indiana relative to the Railroad 
     Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act; to the Committee 
     on Finance.

                  Houses Concurrent Resolution No. 17

       Whereas, The Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement 
     Act of 2000 is designed to improve significantly both the 
     financing and benefits of railroad retirement and to increase 
     industry responsibility for the part of the program that is 
     similar to a private pension plan;
       Whereas, The Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement 
     Act of 2000 was approved in a bipartisan effort by 391 
     members of the United States House of Representatives in the 
     106th Congress, including nine of the ten members of the 
     Indian congressional delegation;
       Whereas, More than 80 United States Senators, including 
     Indiana Senators Richard

[[Page 6734]]

     Lugar and Evan Bayh, signed letters of support for the 
     legislation in 2000;
       Whereas, The bill, now before the 107th Congress, 
     modernizes the railroad retirement system for 748,000 
     beneficiaries nationwide, including over 15,000 in Indiana;
       Whereas, Railroad management, labor, and retiree 
     organizations have agreed to support this legislation;
       Whereas, This legislation provides tax relief to freight 
     railroads, Amtrak, and commuter lines;
       Whereas, This legislation provides benefit improvements for 
     suviving spouses of rail workers who under current law suffer 
     deep cuts in income when the rail retiree dies;
       Whereas, No outside contributions from taxpayers are needed 
     to implement the changes called for in this legislation; and
       Whereas, All changes will be from within the railroad 
     industry including a full share by active employees; 
     Therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the General 
     Assembly of the State of Indiana, the Senate concuring;
       Section 1, That the Indiana General Assembly urges the 
     United States Congress to support the Railroad Retirement and 
     Survivors' Improvement Act in the 107th Congress.
       Section 2, That the Principal Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives transmit copies of this resolution to the 
     President of the United States, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and all members of the Indiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-45. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of the 
     Legislature of the State of Indiana relative to honoring 
     former Congressman Lee Hamilton; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                     House Concurrent Resolution 22

       Whereas, Lee H. Hamilton was born in Daytona Beach, 
     Florida, April 20, 1931;
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton was raised in Evansville, 
     Indiana, but considers Nashville, Indiana, his hometown;
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton received his bachelor's 
     degree from DePauw University in 1952 and his Doctor of 
     Jurisprudence Degree from Indiana University in 1956;
       Whereas, While attending college, Congressman Hamilton 
     excelled not only in the classroom but also on the basketball 
     court;
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton was first elected to Congress 
     in 1964 from Indiana's 9th District;
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton served in the House of 
     Representatives from 1965 until 1999;
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton faithfully represented the 
     citizens of Indiana's 9th District for 34 years--17 
     Congressional terms;
       Whereas, Once in office he walked a moderate line on social 
     and economic issues, but was a strong advocate of U.S. 
     international involvement;
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton also earned a reputation as 
     one of the Democratic Party's most thoughtful leaders in the 
     realm of foreign policy;
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton was chairman of the House 
     Intelligence Committee, the House chairman of the Iran-Contra 
     Committee from 1987 to 1988, and chairman of the House 
     Foreign Affairs Committee from 1993 to 1996;
       Whereas, When the Republicans became the majority in the 
     House, Hamilton became the ranking Democrat on the House 
     Foreign Affairs Committee;
       Whereas, While serving in Congress, he received numerous 
     public service awards, including the Paul H. Nitze Award for 
     Distinguished Authority on National Security Affairs, the 
     Philip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service, the 
     Indiana Humanities Council Lifetime Achievement Award, and 
     the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress 
     Statesmanship Award;
       Whereas, Although Congressman Hamilton has left Congress, 
     he has not gone very far;
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton was named the director of the 
     Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in 
     Washington, D.C., which is the federally supported 
     institution on international affairs that ``mixes the world 
     of ideas with the world of policy'';
       Whereas, Congressman Hamilton will also serve as the 
     director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University; and
       Whereas, Accomplishments such as Congressman Hamilton's 
     deserve special recognition: Therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the General 
     Assembly of the State of Indiana, the Senate concurring:
       Section 1. That the Indiana General Assembly urges Congress 
     to rename the Federal Building in New Albany, Indiana, in 
     honor of former Congressman Lee Hamilton.
       Section 2. That the Principal Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives transmit a copy of this resolution to former 
     Congressman Hamilton, the President of the United States, the 
     President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and members of the 
     Indiana congressional delegation.

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