[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12141-12147]
[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-262. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to Medicare 
     coverage of oral cancer drugs; to the Committee on Finance.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 65

       Whereas, cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and 
     mortality in the State of Hawaii and throughout the Nation; 
     and
       Whereas, cancer is disproportionately a disease of the 
     elderly, with more than half of all cancer diagnoses 
     occurring in persons age 65 or older, who are thus dependent 
     on the federal Medicare program for provision of cancer care; 
     and
       Whereas, treatment with anti-cancer drugs is the 
     cornerstone of modern cancer care, elderly cancer patients 
     must have access to potentially life-extending drug therapy, 
     but the Medicare program's coverage of drugs is limited to 
     injectable drugs or oral drugs that have an injectable 
     version; and
       Whereas, the nation's investment in biomedical research has 
     begun to bear fruit with a compelling array of new oral anti-
     cancer drugs that are less toxic, more effective and more 
     cost-effective than existing therapies, but, because such 
     drugs do not have an injectable equivalent, they are not 
     covered by Medicare; and
       Whereas, non-coverage of these important new products 
     leaves many Medicare beneficiaries confronting the choice of 
     either substantial out-of pocket personal costs or selection 
     of more toxic, less effective treatments that are covered by 
     the program; and
       Whereas, Medicare's failure to cover oral anti-cancer drugs 
     leaves at risk many beneficiaries suffering from blood-
     related cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, as well 
     as cancers of the breast, lung, and prostate; and
       Whereas, certain Members of the United States Congress have 
     recognized the necessity of Medicare coverage for all oral 
     anti-cancer drugs and introduced legislation in the 107th 
     Congress to achieve that result (H.R. 1624; S. 913), now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, That the Congress of the United 
     States in respectfully requested to enact legislation 
     requiring the Medicare program to cover all oral anticancer 
     drugs; and be it further.
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United 
     States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, 
     members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of the 
     Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
                                  ____

       POM-263. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to the Federal 
     Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.

                       Senate Resolution No. 211

       Whereas, In 1934, Federal Prison Industries (FPI) was 
     created as a wholly owned government corporation. Today, FPI 
     operates 103 factories, with over 21,000 inmate workers and 
     annual sales of more than $500 million per year. The 
     operation offers over 150 products. FPI enjoys significant 
     advantages over private manufacturers making similar products 
     because of government procurement policies, including a 
     ``mandatory source'' requirement for government agencies; and
       Whereas, With obvious personnel and benefits advantages 
     over private sector firms, there is a clear penalty to 
     employers and workers under the current situation. Some of 
     the most respected companies in many fields suffer 
     significantly from the unfair competition from FPI; and
       Whereas, In Michigan, the impact of current FPI policies 
     has been strongly felt by many working families. Last year, 
     Michigan lost thousands of manufacturing jobs; and
       Whereas, Congress is presently considering a measure that 
     would bring comprehensive reforms to the operations of FPI. 
     The Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act 
     would address directly the present unfair government 
     purchasing policies. This legislation, H.R. 1577, includes 
     specific requirements that FPI would have to follow to 
     achieve fairness and promote the training of inmates. Under 
     the Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act, 
     FPI would compete for contracts in a manner that minimizes 
     unfair advantages and ensures that government agencies get 
     the best value for taxpayer dollars. The legislation also 
     includes numerous accountability measures, increased emphasis 
     on preparing inmates for a return to society, and enhanced 
     restitution for victims of crime; and
       Whereas, A more appropriate approach to prisoner-based 
     manufacturing will not only bring fairness to the marketplace 
     and thousands of America's working families, but it also will 
     enhance the federal corrections system; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of 
     the United States to enact the Federal Prison Industries 
     Competition in Contracting 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.
                                  ____

       POM-264. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to veterans 
     benefits to Filipino veterans of the United States Armed 
     Forces; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                        Senate Resolution No. 26

       Whereas, the Philippine Islands, as a result of the 
     Spanish-American War, were a possession of the United States 
     between 1898 and 1946; and
       Whereas, in 1934, the Philippine Independence Act (P.L. 73-
     127) set a ten-year timetable for the eventual independence 
     of the Philippines and in the interim established a 
     government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines with 
     certain powers over its own internal affairs; and
       Whereas, the granting of full independence ultimately was 
     delayed for two years until 1946 because of the Japanese 
     occupation of the islands from 1942 to 1945; and
       Whereas, between 1934 and the final independence of the 
     Philippine Islands in 1946, the United States retained 
     certain sovereign powers over the Philippines, including the 
     right, upon order of the President of the United States, to 
     call into the service of the

[[Page 12142]]

     United States Armed Forces all military forces organized by 
     the Commonwealth government; and
       Whereas, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, by Executive 
     order of July 26, 1941, brought the Philippine Commonwealth 
     Army into the service of the United States Armed Forces of 
     the Far East under the command of Lieutenant General Douglas 
     MacArthur; and
       Whereas, under the Executive Order of July 26, 1941, 
     Filipinos were entitled to full veterans benefits; and
       Whereas, approximately 200,000 Filipino soldiers, driven by 
     a sense of honor and dignity, battled under the United States 
     Command after 1941 to preserve our liberty; and
       Whereas, the vast majority of American soldiers who opposed 
     the Japanese invasion of the Philippines from December 1941, 
     through March 1942, were Filipinos, who gallantly fought down 
     the length of the Bataan peninsula, and endured unbearable 
     hardships during the siege of Corregidor; and
       Whereas, following the surrender of Corregidor, Filipino 
     soldiers, isolated from the rest of the world with only the 
     hope that American forces might someday return, courageously 
     waged guerrilla warfare against the Japanese occupation; and
       Whereas, Filipino soldiers fought bravely alongside 
     returning Allied forces to liberate the Philippines and 
     restore order in the war-torn islands until the official end 
     of hostilities in 1947; and
       Whereas, there are four groups of Filipino nationals who 
     are entitled to all or some of the benefits to which United 
     States veterans are entitled;
       (1) Filipinos who served in the regular components of the 
     United States Armed Forces;
       (2) Regular Philippine Scouts, called ``Old Scouts'', who 
     enlisted in Filipino-manned units of the United States Army 
     prior to October 6, 1945; and prior to World War II, these 
     troops assisted in the maintenance of domestic order in the 
     Philippines and served as a combat-ready force to defend the 
     islands against foreign invasion, and during the war, they 
     participated in the defense and retaking of the islands from 
     Japanese occupation;
       (3) Special Philippine Scouts, called ``New Scouts'', who 
     enlisted in the United States Armed Forces between October 6, 
     1945, and June 30, 1947, primarily to perform occupation duty 
     in the Pacific following World War II; and
       (4) Members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army who on July 
     26, 1941, were called into the service of the United States 
     Armed Forces, including organized guerrilla resistance units 
     that were recognized by the United States Army;
       Whereas, the first two groups, Filipinos who served in the 
     regular components of the United States Armed Forces and Old 
     Scouts, are considered United States veterans and are 
     generally entitled to the full range of United States 
     veterans benefits; and
       Whereas, the other two groups, New Scouts and members of 
     the Philippine Commonwealth Army, are eligible for certain 
     veterans benefits, some of which are lower than full veterans 
     benefits; and
       Whereas, United States veterans medical benefits for the 
     four groups of Filipino veterans vary depending upon whether 
     the person resides in the United States or the Philippines; 
     and
       Whereas, the eligibility of Old Scouts for benefits based 
     on military service in the United States Armed Forces has 
     long been established; and
       Whereas, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs 
     operates a comprehensive program of veterans benefits in the 
     present government of the Republic of the Philippines, 
     including the operation of a federal Department of Veterans 
     Affairs office in Manila; and
       Whereas, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs does 
     not operate a program of this type in any other country; and
       Whereas, the program in the Philippines evolved because the 
     Philippine Islands were a United States possession during the 
     period 1898-1946, and many Filipinos have served in the 
     United States Armed Forces, and because the preindependence 
     Philippine Commonwealth Army was called into the service of 
     the United States Armed Forces during World War II (1941-
     1945); and
       Whereas, our nation has failed to meet the promises made to 
     those Filipino soldiers who fought as American soldiers 
     during World War II; and
       Whereas, Congress passed legislation in 1946 limiting and 
     precluding Filipino veterans that fought in the service of 
     the United States during World War II from receiving most 
     veterans benefits that were available to them before 1946; 
     and
       Whereas, many Filipino veterans have been unfairly treated 
     by the classification of their service as not being service 
     rendered in the United States Armed Forces for purposes of 
     benefits from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs; and
       Whereas, other nationals who served in the United States 
     Armed Forces have been recognized and granted full rights and 
     benefits, but the Filipinos, American nationals at the time 
     of service, are still denied recognition and singled out for 
     exclusion, and this treatment is unfair and discriminatory; 
     and
       Whereas, on October 20, 1996, President Clinton issued a 
     proclamation honoring the nearly 100,000 Filipino veterans of 
     World War II, soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 
     who fought as a component of the United States Armed Forces 
     alongside allied forces for four long years to defend and 
     reclaim the Philippine Islands, and thousands more who joined 
     the United States Armed Forces after the war; now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the 
     President and the Congress of the United States are 
     respectfully requested in the 107th Congress to take action 
     necessary to honor our country's moral obligation to provide 
     these Filipino veterans with the military benefits that they 
     deserve, including, but not limited to, holding related 
     hearings, and acting favorably on legislation pertaining to 
     granting full veterans benefits to Filipino veterans of the 
     United States Armed Forces; and be it further
       Resolved, that certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     Hawaii's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-265. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Hawaii relative to the establishment of a sister-state 
     relationship between the State of Hawaii of the United States 
     of America and the Municipality of Tianjin in the People's 
     Republic of China; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                        Senate Resolution No. 99

       Whereas, Tianjin, a city in northeastern China, is one of 
     four municipalities under the direct control of the central 
     government of the People's Republic of China, and in 2001 had 
     a population slightly over 10,000,000; and
       Whereas, the city is made up of 13 districts, five 
     counties, 126 villages, 93 towns, and 133 street communities; 
     and
       Whereas, the history of Tianjin begins with the opening of 
     the Sui Dynasty's Big Canal (581-617 AD). Beginning in the 
     mid-Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Tianjin became the nexus for 
     the transport of foodstuffs and silk between south and north 
     China. During the Ming Dynasty (1404 AD), the city figured 
     prominently as a military center. In 1860, its importance as 
     a business and communications center began to grow; and
       Whereas, Tianjin is known as the Bright Diamond of Bohai 
     Gulf and is the gateway to China's capital of Beijing. 
     Tianjin is one of China's biggest business and industrial 
     port cities and, in north China, is the biggest port city. 
     Tianjin now ranks second in importance and size in terms of 
     industry, business, finance, and trade in the north. Its 
     industrial production and trade volume is second only to 
     Shanghai in the south; and
       Whereas, the city's traditional industries include mining, 
     metallurgy, machine-building, chemicals, power production, 
     textiles, construction materials, paper-making, foodstuffs, 
     shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, petroleum 
     exploitation and processing, tractor production, fertilizer 
     and pesticide production, and watch, television, and camera 
     manufacturing; and
       Whereas, in 1994, Tianjin's economic goal was to double its 
     gross national product by the year 2003. With its 1997 gross 
     national product reaching RMB 124 billion yuan (about RMB 
     8.26 yuan to US$ 1), Tianjin is poised to reach that goal. By 
     the end of 1998, 12,065 foreign-owned companies were 
     established in Tianjin that invested a total of RMB 21.017 
     billion yuan (about US$ 2.5 billion). About RMB 9.291 billion 
     yuan (about US$ 1.1 billion) of that amount was used for 
     development of Tianjin; and
       Whereas, in the past, business and other forms of 
     industrial enterprises were primarily state-owned throughout 
     China. However, under on-going nationwide reform, the 
     proportion of businesses that are state-owned is being 
     reduced. In Tianjin, the percentage of state-owned 
     enterprises in 1997 was 35.7 per cent versus 16.6 per cent 
     for collective ownership, and 47.7 per cent for other forms, 
     including private ownership. In the retail sector, the 
     respective proportions were 23.7 per cent, 17.3 per cent, and 
     59 per cent, respectively; and
       Whereas, Tianjin has a broad science and technology base 
     upon which to build, for example, it is home to 161 
     independent research institutions (117 local and 44 
     national). Aside from its several universities and colleges, 
     Tianjin has six national-level laboratories and 27 national 
     and ministerial-level technological test centers and has 
     plans to increase its science and technology educational 
     goals; and
       Whereas, in 1984, the State Council issued a directive to 
     establish the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area 
     (TEDA), situated some 35 miles from Tianjin. Recently, some 
     3,140 foreign-invested companies have located to TEDA with a 
     total investment of over US$ 11 billion; and
       Whereas, at present, TEDA has developed four pillar 
     industries: electronics and communications, automobile 
     manufacturing and mechanization, food and beverages, and bio-
     pharmacy, and is promoting four new industries: information 
     software, bioengineering, new energies, and environmental 
     protection; and
       Whereas, in 1996, TEDA began offering a technology 
     incubator to help small and medium-sized enterprises with 
     funding, tax

[[Page 12143]]

     breaks, personnel, etc. Within the TEDA high-tech park, 
     Tianjin offers preferential treatment in the form of funding, 
     land fees, taxes, and facilities (such as water, gas, and 
     heating). Residential and other services, shopping, and 
     educational and recreation facilities are either already in 
     place or are being planned; and
       Whereas, for the eleven months ending November 2001, total 
     exports from TEDA was US$ 3.53 billion, of which foreign-
     funded enterprises accounted for US$ 3.49 billion while total 
     foreign investment in TEDA amounted to US$ 2.3 billion; and
       Whereas, Hawaii has been, since its early days, the 
     destination of many Chinese immigrants who have helped to 
     develop the State and its economy; and
       Whereas, compared to the rest of the country, Hawaii is 
     advantageously situated in the Pacific to better establish 
     and maintain cultural, educational, and economic 
     relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, 
     especially the People's Republic of China; and
       Whereas, the new century we have embarked upon has been 
     described by some as the ``century of Asia'' or the ``China's 
     century''; and
       Whereas, like Tianjin, Hawaii is also striving to diversify 
     its economy by expanding into environmentally clean high-
     technology industries including medical services and 
     research; and
       Whereas, the State also emphasizes the importance of higher 
     education in order to create a solid foundation and workforce 
     to serve as the basis from which to launch initiatives in 
     high-technology development; and
       Whereas, both Hawaii and Tianjin share many common goals 
     and values as both work towards achieving their economic and 
     educational objectives in the new century, and the people of 
     the State of Hawaii desire to form a mutually beneficial 
     relationship between the State of Hawaii and the municipality 
     of Tianjin to share our knowledge and experiences in order to 
     better assist each other in reaching our goals; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, That Governor 
     Benjamin Cayetano, of the State of Hawaii, or his designee, 
     be authorized and is requested to take all necessary actions 
     to establish a sister-state affiliation with the municipality 
     of Tianjin of the People's Republic of China; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Governor or his designee is requested to 
     keep the Senate of the State of Hawaii fully informed of the 
     process in establishing the relationship, and involved in its 
     formalization to the extent practicable; and be it further
       Resolved, That the municipality of Tianjin be afforded the 
     privileges and honors that Hawaii extends to its sister-
     states and provinces; and be it further
       Resolved, That if by June 30, 2007, the sister-state 
     affiliation with the municipality of Tianjin of the People's 
     Republic of China has not reached a sustainable basis by 
     providing mutual economic benefits through local community 
     support, the sister-state affiliation shall be withdrawn; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States, the 
     Governor of the State of Hawaii, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, Hawaii's congressional delegation, and the 
     President of the People's Republic of China and the Mayor of 
     the municipality of Tianjin through the Los Angeles Consulate 
     General of the People's Republic of China.
                                  ____

       POM-266. A Senate concurrent resolution adopted by the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to the 
     establishment of a sister-state relationship between the 
     State of Hawaii of the United States of America and the 
     Municipality of Tianjin in the People's Republic of China; to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 161
       Whereas, Tianjin, a city in northeastern China, is one of 
     four municipalities under the direct control of the central 
     government of the People's Republic of China, and in 2001 had 
     a population slightly over 10,000,000; and
       Whereas, the city is made up of 13 districts, five 
     counties, 126 villages, 93 towns, and 133 street communities; 
     and
       Whereas, the history of Tianjin begins with the opening of 
     the Sui Dynasty's Big Canal (581-617 AD). Beginning in the 
     mid-Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Tianjin became the nexus for 
     the transport of foodstuffs and silk between south and north 
     China. During the Ming Dynasty (1404 AD), the city figured 
     prominently as a military center. In 1860, its importance as 
     a business and communications center began to grow; and
       Whereas, Tianjin is known as the Bright Diamond of Bohai 
     Gulf and is the gateway to China's capital of Beijing. 
     Tianjin is one of China's biggest business and industrial 
     port cities and, in north China, is the biggest port city. 
     Tianjin now ranks second in importance and size in terms of 
     industry, business, finance, and trade in the north. Its 
     industrial production and trade volume is second only to 
     Shanghai in the south; and
       Whereas, the city's traditional industries include mining, 
     metallurgy, machine-building, chemicals, power production, 
     textiles, construction materials, paper-making, foodstuffs, 
     shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, petroleum 
     exploitation and processing, tractor production, fertilizer 
     and pesticide production, and watch, television, and camera 
     manufacturing; and
       Whereas, in 1994, Tianjin's economic goal was to double its 
     gross national product by the year 2003. With its 1997 gross 
     national product reaching RMB 124 billion yuan (about RMB 
     8.26 yuan to US$ 1), Tianjin is poised to reach that goal. By 
     the end of 1998, 12,065 foreign-owned companies were 
     established in Tianjin that invested a total of RMB 21.017 
     billion yuan (about US$ 2.5 billion). About RMB 9.291 billion 
     yuan (about US$ 1.1 billion) of that amount was used for 
     development of Tianjin; and
       Whereas, in the past, business and other forms of 
     industrial enterprises were primarily state-owned throughout 
     China. However, under on-going nationwide reform, the 
     proportion of businesses that are state-owned is being 
     reduced. In Tianjin, the percentage of state-owned 
     enterprises in 1997 was 35.7 per cent versus 16.6 per cent 
     for collective ownership, and 47.7 per cent for other forms, 
     including private ownership. In the retail sector, the 
     respective proportions were 23.7 per cent, 17.3 per cent, and 
     59 per cent, respectively; and
       Whereas, Tianjin has a broad science and technology base 
     upon which to build, for example, it is home to 161 
     independent research institutions (117 local and 44 
     national). Aside from its several universities and colleges, 
     Tianjin has six national-level laboratories and 27 national 
     and ministerial-level technological test centers and has 
     plans to increase its science and technology educational 
     goals; and
       Whereas, in 1984, the State Council issued a directive to 
     establish the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area 
     (TEDA), situated some 35 miles from Tianjin. Recently, some 
     3,140 foreign-invested companies have located to TEDA with a 
     total investment of over US$ 11 billion; and
       Whereas, at present, TEDA has developed four pillar 
     industries: electronics and communications, automobile 
     manufacturing and mechanization, food and beverages, and bio-
     pharmacy, and is promoting four new industries: information 
     software, bioengineering, new energies, and environmental 
     protection; and
       Whereas, in 1996, TEDA began offering a technology 
     incubator to help small and medium-sized enterprises with 
     funding, tax breaks, personnel, etc. Within the TEDA high-
     tech park, Tianjin offers preferential treatment in the form 
     of funding, land fees, taxes, and facilities (such as water, 
     gas, and heating). Residential and other services, shopping, 
     and educational and recreation facilities are either already 
     in place or are being planned; and
       Whereas, for the eleven months ending November 2001, total 
     exports from TEDA was US$ 3.53 billion, of which foreign-
     funded enterprises accounted for US$ 3.49 billion while total 
     foreign investment in TEDA amounted to US$ 2.3 billion; and
       Whereas, Hawaii has been, since its early days, the 
     destination of many Chinese immigrants who have helped to 
     develop the State and its economy; and
       Whereas, compared to the rest of the country, Hawaii is 
     advantageously situated in the Pacific to better establish 
     and maintain cultural, educational, and economic 
     relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, 
     especially the People's Republic of China; and
       Whereas, the new century we have embarked upon has been 
     described by some as the ``century of Asia'' or the ``China's 
     century''; and
       Whereas, like Tianjin, Hawaii is also striving to diversify 
     its economy by expanding into environmentally clean high-
     technology industries including medical services and 
     research; and
       Whereas, the State also emphasizes the importance of higher 
     education in order to create a solid foundation and workforce 
     to serve as the basis from which to launch initiatives in 
     high-technology development; and
       Whereas, both Hawaii and Tianjin share many common goals 
     and values as both work towards achieving their economic and 
     educational objectives in the new century, and the people of 
     the State of Hawaii desire to form a mutually beneficial 
     relationship between the State of Hawaii and the municipality 
     of Tianjin to share our knowledge and experiences in order to 
     better assist each other in reaching our goals; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, That Governor Benjamin Cayetano, 
     of the State of Hawaii, or his designee, be authorized and is 
     requested to take all necessary actions to establish a 
     sister-state affiliation with the municipality of Tianjin of 
     the People's Republic of China; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Governor or his designee is requested to 
     keep the Legislature of the State of Hawaii fully informed of 
     the process in establishing the relationship, and involved in 
     its formalization to the extent practicable; and be it 
     further

[[Page 12144]]

       Resolved, That the municipality of Tianjin be afforded the 
     privileges and honors that Hawaii extends to its sister-
     states and provinces; and be it further
       Resolved, That if by June 30, 2007, the sister-state 
     affiliation with the municipality of Tianjin of the People's 
     Republic of China has not reached a sustainable basis by 
     providing mutual economic benefits through local community 
     support, the sister-state affiliation shall be withdrawn; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to President of the United States, 
     the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives, Hawaii's congressional delegation, and 
     the President of the People's Republic of China and the Mayor 
     of the municipality of Tianjin through the Los Angeles 
     Consulate General of the People's Republic of China.
       POM-267. A Senate concurrent resolution adopted by the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to the 
     acquisition by the United States National Park Service of 
     Kahuku Ranch for expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes National 
     Park and of Ki'ilae Village for expansion of Pu'uhonua O 
     Honaunau National Historical Park; to the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 36

       Whereas, the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island 
     consists of 217,000 acres and is one of only two national 
     parks in this State; and
       Whereas, the Volcanoes National Park attracts about 
     1,500,000 visitors each year who enjoy the natural beauty of 
     the lava fields, native forests, and ocean cliffs; and
       Whereas, a large parcel of land lying to the south and west 
     of the Volcanoes National Park known as Kahuku Range 
     consisting of 117,000 acres has come up for sale; and
       Whereas, the Kahuku Ranch parcel contains outstanding 
     geological, biological, cultural, scenic, and recreational 
     value, and is the sole habitat for at least four threatened 
     and endangered bird species endemic to Hawaii; and
       Whereas, the National Park Service since 1945 has 
     recognized that the property contained nationally significant 
     resources and in fact, in its 175 Master Plan, the National 
     Park Service identified the property as a ``potential 
     addition to improve the geological, ecological, and scenic 
     integrity of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park''; and
       Whereas, the 181-acre Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National 
     Historical Park was established in 1961 to save a sacred lace 
     of refuge that for centuries offered sanctuary to any who 
     reached its walls; and
       Whereas, adjacent to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau are the remains 
     of Ki'ilae, an ancient Hawaiian settlement dating back to the 
     late 12th or early 13th centuries, and which remained active 
     until about 1930, making it one of the last traditional 
     Hawaiian villages to be abandoned; and
       Whereas, significant portions of this ancient Hawaiian 
     village remain outside of national park boundaries; and
       Whereas, including these lands within the boundaries of 
     Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park has been a goal 
     of park management for more than three decades; and
       Whereas, the park's 1972 Master Plan identified Ki'ilae 
     Village as a proposed boundary extension and in 1992, a 
     Boundary Expansion Study completed for the park called for 
     adding the ``balance of Ki`ilae Village''; and
       Whereas, within the Ki`ilae lands the National Park Service 
     is seeking to acquire, more than 800 archaeological sites, 
     structures, and features have been identified, including at 
     least twenty-five caves and ten heaiu, more than twenty 
     platforms, twenty-six enclosures, over forty burial features, 
     residential compounds, a holua slide, canoe landing sites, a 
     water well, numerous walls, and a wide range of agricultural 
     features; and
       Whereas, in June 2001; Senator Inouye and Senator Akaka 
     introduced a bill to authorize the addition of the Ki`ilae 
     Village lands to Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historical 
     Park and in October 2001, this bill passed the United States 
     Senate and it is anticipated that the authorization bill will 
     pass the House of Representatives as well; and
       Whereas, these acquisitions offer an opportunity rarely 
     imagined because they would give the National Park Service an 
     excellent chance to expand and protect native plants and 
     archaeological sites from destruction; and
       Whereas, these opportunities can benefit current and future 
     generations of residents and tourists, because expansion of 
     Volcanoes National Park and Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National 
     Historical Park will preserve more open space, add to the 
     natural environment, protect affected native species, and 
     preserve cultural and historical sites; and
       Whereas, in January 2001, the National Park Service held a 
     series of public meetings to receive comments from the public 
     regarding possible purchase of Kahuku Ranch and Ki`ilae 
     Village, and the nearly 400 people in attendance at the 
     meetings expressed overwhelming support and endorsement; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, That the Legislature supports the 
     acquisition by the United states National Park Service of 
     Kahuku Ranch for expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes National 
     Park and of Ki`ilae Village for expansion of Pu`uhonua O 
     Honaunau National Historical Park; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the National 
     Park Service, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to 
     the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-268. A Senate concurrent resolution adopted by the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to urging 
     adequate financial impact assistance to providing services to 
     citizens of the freely associated states who reside in the 
     State of Hawaii; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 127

       Whereas, the Compact of Free Association is an agreement 
     established in 1986 between the United States and the 
     Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the 
     Marshall Islands, and in 1994 with the Republic of Palau; and
       Whereas, under the Compact, the United States provides 
     direct economic assistance, federal services, and military 
     protection to these nations, in exchange for defense rights; 
     and
       Whereas, the U.S. State Department should consider the 
     impact of Freely Associated States citizens on Hawaii during 
     this year's renegotiation of the compacts; and
       Whereas, citizens of these Freely Associated States (FAS) 
     are also allowed to freely enter the United States without a 
     visa or other immigration requirements; and
       Whereas, drawn by the promise of better medical care and a 
     better education for their children, over 6,000 Freely 
     Associated States citizens have migrated to and are currently 
     residing in Hawaii; and
       Whereas, the Compact's enabling legislation authorizes 
     federal compensation for impact costs incurred by United 
     States areas, including Hawaii; and
       Whereas, the 1996 federal welfare reform act cut off access 
     to federal welfare and medical programs forcing citizens of 
     these Freely Associated States to rely on state aid; and
       Whereas, the cost of supporting FAS citizens, largely in 
     healthcare and education, was $86 million between 1996 and 
     2000; and
       Whereas, FAS students have higher costs than other students 
     due to poor language and other skills; and
       Whereas, due to FAS students entering and leaving school a 
     few times each year their integration into the school system 
     is difficult; and
       Whereas, since the Compact went into effect in 1986 until 
     2001, the State spent over $64 million to educate FAS 
     citizens and their children in our public schools, $10 
     million in 2000 alone; and
       Whereas, FAS citizens continue to have a fast-growing 
     impact on our public school system; and
       Whereas, last year, the number of FAS students in our 
     primary and secondary public schools increased by 28%, 
     resulting in costs to the State of over $13 million for the 
     academic year, bringing the total cost since 1988 to about 
     $78 million; and
       Whereas, during the academic school year 2001-2002, the 
     University of Hawaii lost over $1.2 million in tuition 
     revenue as a result of students from the Federated States of 
     Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the 
     Republic of Palau paying resident rather than non-resident 
     tuition; and
       Whereas, inadequate and delayed federal compensation to 
     Hawaii's education system will be at a cost to our own 
     children, and contributes to Hawaii being substantially below 
     many other states in per pupil expenditures for its public 
     school children in kindergarten through 12th grade; and
       Whereas, state Medicaid payments for FAS citizens from 1998 
     to 2001 totaled $12.4 million; and
       Whereas, the financial stability and viability of private 
     hospitals and medical providers is threatened by staggering 
     debts and write-offs resulting from medical services to FAS 
     citizens, in spite of state Medicaid reimbursements; and
       Whereas, the Queen's Medical Center alone has incurred 
     operating losses of $16 million between 1995 and 1999, and is 
     owed over $11 million by Compact of FAS nations; and
       Whereas, community health centers estimate an annual cost 
     of $420,000 for services to FAS residents; and
       Whereas, the Department of Health has also been 
     significantly impacted by the cost of public health services 
     to FAS immigrants with $967,000 spent on screening 
     vaccination and treatment of communicable diseases and 
     $190,000 spent for immunization and outreach by public health 
     nurses; and
       Whereas, FAS citizens may face unfair criticism and refusal 
     of medical services from medical providers; and
       Whereas, inadequate and delayed federal compensation 
     threaten to overwhelm Hawaii's health care systems, leading 
     to potential cutbacks in services and personnel that would 
     impact all of Hawaii's citizens; and
       Whereas, it is imperative that Hawaii be granted immediate 
     and substantial federal assistance to meet these mounting 
     costs; and

[[Page 12145]]

       Whereas, Guam has been asking for--and receiving--financial 
     impact assistance for the last ten years; and
       Whereas, the fact that Micronesians should qualify for 
     federal benefits, while residing in Hawaii and the rest of 
     the United States, can best be summed up by the resolution 
     which was passed on September 9, 2001, in Washington, D.C., 
     by a national group called Grassroots Organizing for Welfare 
     Leadership supporting the insertion of language in all 
     federal welfare, food, and housing legislation because 
     Micronesians are eligible for these and other benefits as 
     ``qualified non-immigrants'' residing in the United States; 
     and
       Whereas, the United States government is not owning up to 
     its responsibility for what the United States did to the 
     Micronesian people by refusing them food stamps and other 
     federal benefits when they came to Hawaii and the rest of 
     United States seeking help; and
       Whereas, the excuse being used by the U.S. government to 
     deny any aid to the Micronesians in the U.S. is the word 
     ``nonimmigrant'' used in the Compact of Free Association to 
     describe Micronesians who move to Hawaii and the U.S.; and
       Whereas, on Dec. 7, 1993, then President Bill Clinton 
     formed an Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments 
     which documented human radiation experiments; and
       Whereas, based on some of these documents, researchers 
     indicate that all of Micronesia was affected, not just the 
     Marshall Islands; and
       Whereas, it is the intent of this Resolution to encourage 
     the responsible entities to implement the provisions of the 
     Compact of Freely Associated States, which authorizes compact 
     impact funds to be made available to states that welcome and 
     provide services to the people of the Federated States of 
     Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of 
     Palau, because most of the FAS citizens that come to Hawaii 
     do so for medical problems related the United States' 
     military testing of nuclear bombs; and
       Whereas, Micronesians are recruited to serve in the U.S. 
     military and ``aliens'' are not similarly recruited into the 
     U.S. military; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, That the Bush Administration and 
     the U.S. Congress are requested to appropriate adequate 
     financial impact assistance for health, education, and other 
     social services for Hawaii's Freely Associated States 
     citizens; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Bush Administration and the U.S. 
     Congress are requested to insert language in all federal 
     welfare, food, and housing legislation which says that 
     Micronesians are eligible for federal food stamps, welfare, 
     public housing, and other federal benefits as ``qualified 
     nonimmigrants'' residing in the United States; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Bush Administration and the U.S. 
     Congress are requested to restore FAS citizens' eligibility 
     for federal public benefits, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and 
     food stamps; and be it further
       Resolved, That Hawaii's congressional delegates are 
     requested to assure financial reimbursements, through the 
     establishment of a trust, escrow, or set-aside account, to 
     the State of Hawaii for educational, medical, and social 
     services and to Hawaii's private medical providers who have 
     provided services to Freely Associated States citizens; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United 
     States, United States State Department, President of the 
     United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, members of Hawaii's congressional 
     delegation, Governor, Attorney General, Superintendent of 
     Education, Director of Health, Director of Agriculture, 
     Director of Human Services, Grassroots Organizing for Welfare 
     Leadership, Micronesians United, United Church of Christ, 
     Hawaii Conference of Churches, United Methodist Church of 
     Honolulu, national negotiating teams of the Compact of Free 
     Association, and Presidents and Hawaii Consulates of the 
     Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall 
     Islands, and Republic of Palau.
                                  ____

       POM-269. A Senate resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii relative to supporting the acquisition by 
     the United States National Park Service of Kahuku Ranch for 
     expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and of 
     Ki'ilae Village for expansion of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau 
     National Historical Park; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                       Senate Resolution, No. 16

       Whereas, the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island 
     consists of 217,000 acres and is one of only two national 
     parks in this State; and
       Whereas, the Volcanoes National Park attracts about 
     1,500,000 visitors each year who enjoy the natural beauty of 
     the lava fields, native forests and ocean cliffs; and
       Whereas, a large parcel of land lying to the south and west 
     of the Volcanoes National Park known as Kahuku Ranch 
     consisting of 117,000 acres has come up for sale; and
       Whereas, the Kahuku Ranch parcel contains outstanding 
     geological, biological, cultural, scenic, and recreational 
     value, and is the sole habitat for at least four threatened 
     and endangered bird species endemic to Hawaii; and
       Whereas, the National Park Service since 1945 has 
     recognized that the property contained nationally significant 
     resources and in fact, in its 1975 Master Plan, the National 
     Park Service identified the property as a ``potential 
     addition to improve the geological, ecological, and scenic 
     integrity of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park''; and
       Whereas, the 181-acre Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National 
     Historical Park was established in 1961 to save a sacred 
     place of refuge that for centuries offered sanctuary to any 
     who reached its walls; and
       Whereas, adjacent to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau are the remains 
     of Ki'ilae, an ancient Hawaiian settlement dating back to the 
     late 12th or early 13th centuries, and which remained active 
     until about 1930, making it one of the last traditional 
     Hawaiian villages to be abandoned; and
       Whereas, significant portions of this ancient Hawaiian 
     village remain outside of national park boundaries; and
       Whereas, including these lands within the boundaries of 
     Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park has been a goal 
     of park management for more than three decades; and
       Whereas, the park's 1972 Master Plan identified Ki'ilae 
     Village as a proposed boundary extension and in 1992, a 
     Boundary Expansion Study completed for the park called for 
     adding the ``balance of Ki'ilae Village''; and
       Whereas, within the Ki'ilae lands the National Park Service 
     is seeking to acquire, more than 800 archeological sites, 
     structures, and features have been identified, including at 
     least twenty-five caves and ten heaiu, more than twenty 
     platforms, twenty-six enclosures, over forty burial features, 
     residential compounds, a holua slide, canoe landing sites, a 
     water well, numerous walls, and a wide range of agricultural 
     features; and
       Whereas, in June 2001, Senator Inouye and Senator Akaka 
     introduced a bill to authorize the addition of the Ki'ilae 
     Village lands to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical 
     Park and in October 2001, this bill passed the United States 
     Senate and it is anticipated that the authorization bill will 
     pass the House of Representatives as well; and
       Whereas, these acquisitions offer an opportunity rarely 
     imagined because they would give the National Park Service an 
     excellent change to expand and protect native plants and 
     archaeological sites from destruction; and
       Whereas, these opportunities can benefit current and future 
     generations of residents and tourists, because expansion of 
     Volcanoes National Park and Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National 
     Historical Park will preserve more open space, add to the 
     natural environment, protect affected native species, and 
     preserve cultural and historical sites; and
       Whereas, in January 2001, the National Park Service held a 
     series of public meetings to receive comments from the public 
     regarding possible purchase of Kahuku ranch and Ki'ilae 
     Village, and the nearly 400 people in attendance at the 
     meetings expressed overwhelming support and endorsement; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, That this body 
     supports the acquisition by the United States National Park 
     Service of Kahuku Ranch for expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes 
     National Park and of Ki'ilae Village for expansion of 
     Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the Director of the National Park Service, the 
     President of the United States Senate, the speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and to the members of 
     Hawaii's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-270. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Alaska relative to the construction and operation of 
     the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline route; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                       Legislative Resolve No. 50

       Whereas the Alaska North Slope (ANS) has the largest known, 
     discovered natural gas resources, estimated to be 35 trillion 
     cubic feet, in the United States and estimated, undiscovered 
     gas resources in excess of 100 trillion cubic feet; and
       Whereas demand for natural gas in the lower 48 states is 
     expected to experience record growth, rising from 
     approximately 22 trillion feet a year in 2000 to 30-35 
     trillion cubic feet a year in 2020, with some experts 
     predicting demand to be as large as 50 trillion cubic feet a 
     year in 2020; and
       Whereas the lower 48 states have an inadequate resource 
     base to meet this expected demand, and experts expect that 
     more natural gas will have to be imported from Canada and 
     from other countries in the form of liquefied natural gas 
     (LNG); and
       Whereas the near record drilling in the last two years in 
     the lower 48 failed to provide any significant gas supply 
     increase and many experts are questioning whether other

[[Page 12146]]

     United States frontier areas like the deepwater Gulf of 
     Mexico will be able to deliver material new gas supplies and, 
     therefore, more imports may be required than previously 
     thought; and
       Whereas it is important for the United States to have a 
     reliable and affordable source of domestic natural gas for 
     its citizens and businesses, and for national security, 
     especially given the recent tragic events; and
       Whereas energy supply disruptions have significant negative 
     effect on the United States economy, including the losses of 
     tens of millions of United States jobs; and
       Whereas, if the United States imports significant amounts 
     of LNG, it can be subjected to the market power of the 
     exporting country through mechanisms such as embargoes and 
     price making; and
       Whereas ANS is one of the few known locations in the United 
     States that can supply significant natural gas supplies to 
     the lower 48 for years to come; and
       Whereas, given these supply and demand projections, several 
     companies and entities have studied different pipeline 
     routes, including a ``northern'' route, running off the shore 
     of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the Beaufort Sea to 
     the Mackenzie Delta and south through Canada to the lower 48; 
     a ``southern'' route along the Alaska Highway through Canada 
     to the lower 48; and an ``LNG'' route adjacent to the Trans 
     Alaska Pipeline System pipeline to Valdez and LNG tankers for 
     delivery to California; and
       Whereas, in 1976, Congress passed the Alaska Natural Gas 
     Transportation Act of 1976 (ANGTA) authorizing the President 
     to select a route to transport natural gas from ANS to the 
     lower 48 and providing procedures to expedite the 
     construction and operation of the selected route; and
       Whereas, in 1977, following lengthy public hearings and 
     negotiations with Canada, the President issued a decision 
     (``President's Decision'') choosing the southern route and 
     selecting the predecessor of a consortium of pipeline 
     companies headed by Foothills Pipe Lines, Ltd. (Pipeline 
     Companies'') to construct and operate the Alaska segment of 
     the project; and
       Whereas the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team 
     (``Producers'') has proposed new federal enabling legislation 
     that is currently being debated in the United States Senate; 
     and
       Whereas the Majority Leader of the United States Senate has 
     introduced the Energy Policy Act of 2002, which contains the 
     Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2002 (``Pipeline Act''); 
     and
       Whereas the Pipeline Act is not opposed by the Pipeline 
     Companies, and they desire certain amendments to the ANGTA to 
     modernize it; and
       Whereas ANGTA granted the State of Alaska ``authoriz[ation] 
     to ship its royalty gas on the approved transportation system 
     for use within Alaska and . . . to withdraw such gas from the 
     interstate market for use within Alaska,'' which rights will 
     be impaired if a northern route is followed; and
       Whereas President Carter's decision in support of the 
     southern route explicitly recognized that it could ``supply 
     the energy base required for long-term economic development'' 
     within Alaska and it could supply natural gas to communities 
     within Alaska along the route as well as other Alaska 
     communities through local distribution lines, and these 
     potential benefits will be lost if a northern route is 
     followed; and
       Whereas the United States Senate has concurred with the 
     United States House of Representatives to oppose the northern 
     route and has expressed its support for the southern route; 
     and
       Whereas the southern route presents the United States with 
     petrochemical extraction opportunities in the United States 
     while the northern route does not; and
       Whereas a northern route pipeline could not easily be 
     expanded to increase the volume of gas when needed; and
       Whereas the southern route provides petrochemical 
     extraction opportunities in the United States and other 
     marketing opportunities for ANS gas, including gas to liquids 
     (GTL) and LNG, to the West Coast or Asia; and
       Whereas it is widely recognized that maximum benefit to 
     Alaskans from the commercialization of ANS natural gas lies 
     in market exposure for that gas, opportunities for in-state 
     use of the natural gas, and for participation by Alaskans in 
     construction, maintenance, and operation of the gas pipeline 
     transportation project, and the recovery of revenue by the 
     state from the development, transport, and sale of ANS gas 
     reserves; and
       Whereas the Alaska State Legislature has expressed a 
     preference for the expedited construction and operation of a 
     natural gas pipeline along a southern route and has 
     authorized funds to conduct various studies regarding a 
     natural gas pipeline, including the study of in-state natural 
     gas demand, natural gas supply, a natural gas fiscal system, 
     and the effect of natural gas sales on the Prudhoe Bay 
     reservoir; and
       Whereas the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature 
     established the Joint Committee on Natural Gas Pipeline 
     (``Joint Committee'') to take whatever action may be 
     appropriate to ensure that the best interests of the state 
     are protected; and
       Whereas it is vital for the continued exploration and 
     development of natural gas resources on the ANS that oil and 
     gas companies that do not have an ownership interest in the 
     pipeline (``Explorers'') have access to it on fair and 
     reasonable terms and have the ability to seek expansion of 
     the pipeline when economically and technically feasible; and 
     the Joint Committee adopted recommendations supporting 
     enactment of these provisions in federal law; and
       Whereas it is vital for the economic development of Alaska 
     that Alaskans and Alaska businesses have access to gas from 
     the pipeline on a fair and reasonable basis, and that the 
     Regulatory Commission of Alaska participate with the Federal 
     Energy Regulatory Commission to develop methods to provide 
     for such access; and the Joint Committee adopted 
     recommendations supporting enactment of these provisions in 
     federal law; and
       Whereas the Joint Committee has issued various 
     recommendations requesting that Congress reaffirm the 
     validity of ANGTA and modernize it; and
       Whereas natural gas prices in the lower 48 states 
     periodically fluctuate below those required to adequately 
     cover investment; and
       Whereas governmental involvement, including tax incentives, 
     is essential and quite common on major projects to enable 
     private enterprises to undertake the risks; be it
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature strongly urges 
     the President of the United States, the United States 
     Congress, and appropriate federal officials to actively 
     support the expeditious construction and operation of a 
     natural gas pipeline through Alaska along a southern route; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature strongly urges 
     passage during the first half of 2002 of the Alaska Gas 
     Producers Pipeline Team's federal enabling legislation, so 
     long as it contains a provision similar to that in H.R. 4 
     banning the over-the-top route and the following amendments:
       (1) provisions for Alaskans and Alaska businesses that 
     ensure they have access to the pipeline for in-state 
     consumption and value-added manufacture on a fair and 
     reasonable basis and that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska 
     is part of the process in determining that access;
       (2) provisions for access to the pipeline by Explorers on a 
     fair and reasonable basis, including a proper open season 
     with fair and reasonable tariffs, and that provide that they 
     and the State have the ability to obtain expansion of the 
     pipeline if economically and technologically feasible;
       (3) provisions for the reaffirmation of the validity of the 
     Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 and the 
     modernization of that Act as necessary;
       (4) provisions for federal financial incentives, including 
     accelerated depreciation and an income tax credit that is 
     designed to provide mitigation of long-term natural gas price 
     risks and the risks associated with funding the large capital 
     costs of the project; the amount of any tax credit should be 
     limited in operation to periods when natural gas prices are 
     extremely low and recovered when natural gas prices are high; 
     and
       (5) specific provisions declaring that the content of 
     amendments (1)--(4) is not intended to exclude supply of 
     Alaska North Slope natural gas to markets in the form of LNG 
     or GTL.
                                  ____

       POM-271. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regarding the 
     Valley Forge National Historical Park; to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources.

                       Senate Resolution No. 155

       Whereas, in the winter of 1777-1778 General George 
     Washington and the Continental Army camped at Valley Forge to 
     be close to the British Army occupying the City of 
     Philadelphia; and
       Whereas, during this encampment the volunteer citizen 
     soldiers endured great hardships such as cold, hunger, 
     disease and poor lodging, and they were badly equipped and 
     supplied; and
       Whereas, about 2,000 soldiers died from pneumonia, typhoid, 
     dysentery and other diseases; and
       Whereas, at Valley Forge the leadership of General George 
     Washington helped hold together this group of citizen 
     soldiers; and
       Whereas, through the training of General Washington and 
     Baron von Steuben these ill-equipped volunteers were 
     marshaled into an effective fighting force which helped 
     defeat a military power, the British, at Yorktown in 1783; 
     and
       Whereas, the first State park was founded at Valley Forge 
     in 1893; and
       Whereas, Govenor Samuel Pennypacker of Pennsylvania 
     compared a visit to Valley Forge to a pilgrimage and urged 
     every American to visit the site; and
       Whereas, Valley Forge has been visited by Presidents of the 
     United States and numerous dignitaries from around the world; 
     and
       Whereas, in 1975, as part of the United States Bicentennial 
     Celebration, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania conveyed the 
     Valley Forge State Park to the United States Government; and
       Whereas, Act 1975-53 authorizing the conveyance said the 
     land was to be used for ``historical purposes''; and

[[Page 12147]]

       Whereas, the development of land privately owned within 
     Valley Forge National Historical Park boundaries would 
     violate the spirit of the conveyance from the Commonwealth to 
     the United States Government; and
       Whereas, the Secretary of the Interior has the authority to 
     acquire privately held property within the boundaries of the 
     Park; therefore be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that locating a large housing 
     development within the boundaries of the Valley Forge 
     National Historical Park is against the spirit of the 
     original conveyance to the Federal Government approved by the 
     Commonwealth; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania strongly urge the Secretary of the Interior to 
     exercise authority under Public Law 94-337 and acquire the 
     land to be developed; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United States to 
     appropriate moneys sufficient for the purchase of this 
     property; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, to the presiding officers 
     of each house of Congress and each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania and to the Secretary of the Interior.
                                  ____

       POM-272. A Senate joint resolution adopted by the 
     Legislature of the State of Maine regarding Acadia National 
     Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                            Joint Resolution

       We, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and 
     Twentieth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in 
     the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and 
     petition the President of the United States and the Congress 
     of the United States, as follows:
       Whereas, Acadia National Park is Maine's most visited 
     natural destination, with approximately 3 million annual 
     visits, and is one of the most heavily used parks in the 
     National Park System; and
       Whereas, Acadia National Park is among the most beautiful 
     places in Maine and its Atlantic shore represents 25% of the 
     Maine coastline that is available for public use and 
     enjoyment; and
       Whereas, Acadia National Park generates $132,000,000 in 
     direct economic benefits to the Mount Desert Island region 
     and many additional millions of dollars in indirect benefits 
     throughout Maine, making the park's 45,000 acres of land and 
     easements among the most economically productive natural 
     assets in the State; and
       Whereas, Acadia National Park has conducted a rigorous 
     financial analysis leading to a business plan that 
     demonstrates an average operating annual budget that supplies 
     only 47% of what is needed to operate the park in compliance 
     with laws and regulations; and
       Whereas, Acadia National Park's annual operating budget 
     shortfall is the 3rd largest calculated to date in the 40 
     national parks that have undertaken business plans; and
       Whereas, Acadia National Park's total annual operating 
     budget need is approximately $14,000,000, and additional 
     millions of dollars are needed for anticipated park 
     operations at Schoodic Point; and
       Whereas, Acadia National Park has 121 full-time equivalent 
     employees but needs 230 full-time equivalent employees to 
     execute the park's mission in accordance with laws and 
     regulations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge the 
     President of the United States and the Congress of the United 
     States to increase the annual budget of Acadia National Park 
     to amounts that will meet the park's full operational needs, 
     including the needs of Schoodic Point; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the President of the 
     Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the United States and to each Member of 
     the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-273. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine relative to Cuba; to the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                            Joint Resolution

       We, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and 
     Twentieth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in 
     the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and 
     petition the Congress of the United States as follows:
       Whereas, the relationship between the United States and 
     Cuba has long been marked by tension and confrontation, and 
     further heightening this hostility is the 40-year-old United 
     States trade embargo against the island nation that remains 
     the longest-standing embargo in modern history; and
       Whereas, there has been significant change in relations 
     between Cuba and the United States since 1962, when the 
     prohibitive trade sanctions were imposed; and
       Whereas, the export ban was imposed during a period of much 
     fear caused by the threat of nuclear attack due to the Cold 
     War between the former Soviet Union and other communist 
     regimes and the United States; and
       Whereas, that threat no longer exists and it is no longer 
     United States policy to prohibit trade with a communist 
     country, as we already have heavy trade with China and are 
     establishing trade with countries like Vietnam; and
       Whereas, with complete normalization of trade relations, 
     Cuba could become a $1 billion market for United States 
     agricultural producers within 5 years, making it our 3rd 
     largest market in the Americas after Mexico and Canada; and
       Whereas, agriculture in Maine has developed into a diverse 
     industry and could greatly benefit from the market 
     opportunities that free trade with Cuba would provide. Maine 
     is the largest producer of brown eggs and wild blueberries in 
     the world and ranks 8th in the nation in the production of 
     potatoes and 2nd in the production of maple syrup. It ranks 
     2nd in New England in milk and livestock production; and
       Whereas, rather than depriving Cuba of agricultural 
     products, the United States trade embargo succeeds only in 
     driving Cuba's purchasers to competitors in other countries 
     that have no trade restrictions; and
       Whereas, the United States has much to gain by trading with 
     Cuba, not only in agriculture but also in many other sectors 
     of the economy and culture; and
       Whereas, the Cuban people also have much to gain and are 
     more likely to move toward liberty as they see our way of 
     life and the success of our free market system: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, urge the Congress of 
     the United States to lift trade sanctions and establish 
     permanent, normal trade relations with Cuba; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, 
     and to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives of the United States and each 
     Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.

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