[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21987-21991]
[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-258. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to antiterrorism funding; to 
     the Committee on Appropriations.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 31

       Whereas, The heinous terrorist attacks on the World Trade 
     Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, have deeply 
     impacted the fabric of American life, provided a wakeup call 
     to every American's awareness of the nation's vulnerability 
     to terrorists attacks, and changed Americans' lives forever; 
     and
       Whereas, Californians are gravely concerned about the 
     continued threat of violence and their own personal safety; 
     and
       Whereas, The takeover of airplane flights by unconscionable 
     terrorists has increased the need for security by state and 
     local governments at all airports and public facilities, 
     including water systems, hospitals, bridges, and dams; and
       Whereas, Recent horrific incidents of sending anthrax 
     through the mail, other threats of bioterrorism, and hoaxes 
     have increased

[[Page 21988]]

     demands upon public services, including public health 
     departments and laboratories, public safety and fire 
     protection agencies, hospitals, and emergency rooms, and 
     state and local emergency response agencies; and
       Whereas, City and county governments have experienced an 
     increased awareness and demand from the general public for 
     more public services in the area of public health and safety; 
     and
       Whereas, Cities and counties have appropriated millions of 
     dollars for increased response and preparedness for potential 
     terrorist threats and anticipate the need for additional 
     funds to continue these efforts; and
       Whereas, In this period of economic uncertainty and 
     unprecedented need for enhanced local public safety and 
     health services, cities and counties cannot afford these 
     increased costs of security without additional funding; and
       Whereas, There may be continued terrorism activities in 
     California. For example, in San Diego County investigations 
     revealed that some of the hijackers of September 11, 2001, 
     were training in San Diego training facilities in preparation 
     for the attacks; and
       Whereas, Public safety officials require specialized 
     training at all levels and local governments have seen an 
     increased demand for additional personnel to effectively 
     protect and serve citizens in the event of a major local 
     incident; and
       Whereas, Hazardous material teams lack the specialized 
     equipment and protective gear to deal with bioterrorism and 
     new public health threats; and
       Whereas, Due to the continued bioterrorism threats and 
     hoaxes, public health departments need additional staff to 
     increase their surveillance activities for the identification 
     of biological and chemical threats at the earliest possible 
     stage; and
       Whereas, Local health departments are the early warning 
     system in the defense against bioterrorism; local health 
     departments rely on strong linkages with other county 
     agencies including emergency medical services, hospitals, 
     county outpatient services, laboratories, mental health 
     departments, and environmental health agencies in preparing 
     for and responding to disasters; and
       Whereas, The budgets of many public health departments have 
     been neglected for several years, and in order to assure an 
     adequate response, if necessary, to any potential 
     bioterrorism threat, public health infrastructure needs 
     significant investment of state and federal resources. For 
     example, Orange County has identified the need for $2.1 
     million for public health infrastructure and training in 
     order for their public health system to respond to a public 
     health crisis; and
       Whereas, Local governments have already encountered budget 
     overruns of 13 percent in public safety, with the City of Los 
     Angeles alone incurring security costs in excess of $11 
     million in the first two and one-half months following 
     September 11, 2001; and
       Whereas, Santa Clara County alone has already appropriated 
     $5 million for additional public safety services since 
     September 11, 2001, and expects to spend an additional $7 
     million by June 30, 2002; and
       Whereas, Cities and counties estimate over $1 billion in 
     additional one-time and ongoing funding needs and the State 
     of California anticipates expenditures of at least $500 
     million in 2002; and
       Whereas, Local governments and the state are financially 
     suffering from an economic recession and lack the funds to 
     provide the required additional services and equipment; and
       Whereas, Congress has approved a total of $8.3 billion for 
     homeland defense in the emergency supplemental allocation 
     sent to the President for his signature; and
       Whereas, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California and Senator 
     Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York have together proposed 
     supplemental federal funding to assist state and local 
     governments in security, prevention, and preparedness; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes the President and the 
     Congress of the United States to enact legislation to provide 
     funds to states and local governments to provide the 
     necessary security and relief measures to protect local 
     citizens from terrorism; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President 
     of the United States, and to each Senator and Representative 
     from California in the Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-259. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of New Jersey relative to increasing 
     the minimum allotment for the Food Stamp Program; to the 
     Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                        Senate Resolution No. 25

       Whereas, The minimum monthly allotment for one-person and 
     two-person households under the federal Food Stamp Program is 
     currently $10, which is the same amount as was established by 
     the ``Food Stamp Act of 1977''; and
       Whereas, The amount of food that could be purchased in 1977 
     for $10 costs $29.19 in 2001; the amount of food that can be 
     purchased in 2001 for $10 only cost $3.43 in 1977; and
       Whereas, The ``Mickey Leland Memorial Domestic Hunger 
     Relief Act,'' which was enacted in 1990, amended the Food 
     Stamp Act to annually adjust the minimum monthly allotment, 
     with the result rounded to the nearest $5, in accordance with 
     annual adjustments to other elements of the Food Stamp 
     Program; and
       Whereas, The ``Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
     Reconciliation Act of 1996'' amended the Food Stamp Act to 
     remove the provision for annual adjustments to the minimum 
     monthly allotment; and
       Whereas, Annual cost-of-living adjustments are currently 
     made to maximum monthly allotments and income eligibility 
     standards for the Food Stamp Program; and
       Whereas, The maximum monthly income, minus deductions 
     allowable within the program, for eligibility for the Food 
     Stamp Program is $696 for one-person households and $938 for 
     two-person households; one-person households with a monthly 
     income between $400 and $696 and two-person households with a 
     monthly income between $760 and $938 are eligible for no more 
     than the $10 minimum monthly allotment; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
       1. This House urges the Congress of the United States to 
     increase the minimum monthly allotment for one-person and 
     two-person households under the federal Food Stamp Program 
     from $10 to $25 and require that the minimum be adjusted 
     annually in accordance with changes in the federal cost-of-
     living.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary of 
     the Senate, shall be forwarded to the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, the presiding officers of the Congress of the 
     United States and each member of New Jersey's Congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-260. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to stronger 
     protections for Lake St. Clair, the Heart of the Great Lakes; 
     to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                       Senate Resolution No. 131

       Whereas, By any measure, Lake St. Clair is a critical 
     component of the Great Lakes system. It is the source of 
     drinking water for millions of Americans and Canadians and a 
     vital element of the region's commercial, recreational, and 
     transportation resources; and
       Whereas, Even within the Great Lakes network, Lake St. 
     Clair is unique in its value through its wetlands, its great 
     variety of fish and plant species, and the range of habitats 
     it holds. It is an unsurpassed treasure for boaters and 
     anglers; and
       Whereas, In spite of its clear importance to the health of 
     millions of people and the quality of the water system that 
     is the most valuable in the world, Lake St. Clair has been 
     harmed by several environmental problems, including spills, 
     beach closings, and invasive species. Resources to address 
     all of these needs are badly needed; and
       Whereas, Congress is considering a measure, House 
     Resolution 121, which calls for increased efforts to protect 
     Lake St. Clair and affirms the central role that it plays as 
     the Heart of the Great Lakes. Clearly, this is a designation 
     that is appropriate not only because of Lake St. Clair's 
     shape and location, but also because of its commercial, 
     environmental, and recreational significance to our nation; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the State, That we memorialize Congress to 
     adopt House Resolution 121 to endorse stronger protections 
     for Lake St. Clair, the Heart of the Great Lakes; 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-261. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to the Protect Children from 
     E-Mail Smut Act of 2001; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 13

       Whereas, A 2000 sample survey of 1,501 of the nearly 24 
     million school-aged children regularly using the Internet in 
     the United States found that approximately one out of every 
     four children in that sample had experienced unwanted 
     exposure to sexual images while on-line; and
       Whereas, The development of the Internet is widely regarded 
     as the most profound change in the way people communicate 
     since the invention of the printing press, but as remarkable 
     as it may be, there are risks to children that are unique to 
     such a pervasive and accessible medium; with the development 
     of newer and increasingly invasive technologies that can 
     deliver or disguise unwanted material through direct 
     marketing e-mails, or ``spam'' mailings, the risks are even 
     more pronounced and difficult to detect; and
       Whereas, Compounding the challenge of protecting minors 
     from inappropriate material on-line is the fact that children 
     often

[[Page 21989]]

     understand more about the Internet than their parents, 
     teachers, and other caregivers; in addition, common sense 
     measures used to secure a child's environment and the 
     ``physical world'' are not feasible in cyberspace; and
       Whereas, In a bipartisan effort to address these concerns, 
     congress passed the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA) 
     and the Child Online Protection Act (COPA) and, in doing so, 
     criminalized Internet transmission of indecent materials to 
     minors; however, the Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that certain 
     provisions of the CDA were unconstitutional and in 2002 
     upheld a district court's temporary injunction against 
     enforcement of COPA on the same grounds; and
       Whereas, Recognizing the need to make children's on-line 
     experiences safe, educational, and entertaining while 
     honoring constitutional safeguards, the 107th Congress is 
     considering legislation that would address specific questions 
     posed by the Supreme Court without discouraging the evolution 
     of the Internet or violating the First Amendment; and
       Whereas, Modeled after existing law that regulates the 
     identification of sexually explicit advertisements sent via 
     U.S. mail, House Resolution 2472 requires the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology to prescribe an 
     electronic tag that would identify sexually oriented messages 
     and allow parents to use the filtering tools already 
     available on e-mail programs to block messages bearing the 
     tag; the legislation is a balanced and realistic solution to 
     the complexities of protecting free speech and children on-
     line; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     enact the Protect Children From E-Mail Smut Act of 2001; and, 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas Secretary of State forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the Senate of the United States 
     Congress, and all the members of the Texas delegation to the 
     Congress with the request that this resolution be officially 
     entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the 
     Congress of the United States of America.
                                  ____

       POM-262. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of New 
     Hampshire relative to the Telemarketing Sales Rule and the 
     Know Your Caller Act of 2001; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                     House Concurrent Resolution 21

       Whereas, telephone subscribes in New Hampshire and 
     throughout the country receive innumerable telephone calls 
     from various telemarketers operating in this country and in 
     other countries; and
       Whereas, many telephone subscribers are annoyed by the 
     relentless calling at the most inconvenient times during the 
     day, and other such subscribers have received calls from 
     unscrupulous telemarketers and have been victims of their 
     fraudulent practices; and
       Whereas, the Telemarketing Sales Rule and Know Your Caller 
     Act of 2001 are intended to protect subscribers from 
     unscrupulous telemarketers and to maintain the privacy and 
     harmonious nature of American homes; and
       Whereas, the Telemarketing Sales Rule requires 
     telemarketers to maintain a list of telephone subscribers who 
     do not wish to receive any further calls from a particular 
     seller; provides for penalties in amounts as high as $10,000 
     per violation; and allows the Federal Trade Commission, 
     states, and private persons to enforce such provisions; and
       Whereas, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 also 
     requires that telemarketers abide by ``do-not-call'' requests 
     from consumers as well as restricts telemarketing calling 
     hours, mandates identification of the telephone solicitor, 
     and includes both a private right of action and a right of 
     action by states; and
       Whereas, the Know Your Caller Act of 2001 strengthens the 
     consumer protections of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act 
     by preventing telemarketers from blocking caller 
     identification information, by requiring telemarketers to 
     provide such information when they have the capability of 
     doing so, and by prohibiting telemarketers from using 
     information on ``do-not-call'' lists for any other marketing 
     purpose; and
       Whereas, since telemarketers can evade state laws 
     restricting telephone solicitation through interstate 
     operation, federal regulation and enforcement actions are 
     needed to control residential telemarketing practices; now 
     therefore be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 
     concurring:
       That the general court urges the state attorneys general 
     and the Federal Trade Commission to vigorously enforce the 
     provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule that require 
     telemarketers to cease from calling telephone subscribers who 
     have previously requested to be placed on a list of 
     subscribers who do not wish to receive any further calls from 
     that telemarketer and to assess the appropriate penalties for 
     violation of such provisions; and
       That the general court urges the United States Congress to 
     pass the Know Your Caller Act of 2001, which will provide 
     telephone subscribers with additional protection from 
     telemarketing abuses and annoyances; and
       That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the 
     presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America, to each member of the New Hampshire congressional 
     delegation, to the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, 
     to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and 
     to the president of the National Association of Attorneys 
     General.
                                  ____

       POM-263. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to reopening La Linda Bridge 
     as a border crossing; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 186

       Whereas, In 1962, Pub. L. No. 87-525 authorized the 
     construction of an international bridge across the Rio Grande 
     to join Heath Canyon in Texas with the village of La Linda, 
     Coahuila, Mexico, for the purpose of transporting refined ore 
     into the United States from nearby mills in Mexico and to one 
     day facilitate the movement of tourists interested in 
     visiting the Sierra del Carmen mountain areas across from Big 
     Bend National Park; and
       Whereas, Since the bridge was constructed, the Texas 
     Department of Transportation has, without interruption, 
     maintained Farm-to-Market Road 2627 as a paved two-lane 
     highway for a 28-mile stretch connecting the bridge to United 
     States Highway 385, which leads from that junction southward 
     to Big Bend National Park and northward 40 miles to Marathon 
     and United States Highway 90; and
       Whereas, La Linda Bridge, also known as the Hallie 
     Stillwell Memorial Bridge, is still in place and is in good 
     repair but cannot be crossed by vehicles or pedestrians 
     because of barriers and the placement of ``no trespassing'' 
     signs at the bridge since 1997 pursuant to orders issued by 
     the governments of the United States of America and the 
     Republic of Mexico; and
       Whereas, The La Linda international crossing is the only 
     bridge structure in place and the only point of entry 
     authorized by public law between the United States ports of 
     entry at Presidio and Del Rio, a distance of 385 miles; and
       Whereas, The principal owner of the United States section 
     of the international bridge at La Linda, the National Parks 
     Conservation Association, is prepared to donate its interest 
     in the bridge and associated properties to the State of Texas 
     through the General Land Office so that the bridge may be 
     reopened and operated as a legal border crossing; and
       Whereas, The tourism industries serving scenic and 
     recreational areas joined by this bridge, including the Big 
     Bend mountains of Texas and the Sierra del Carmen mountains 
     of Northwest Coahuila, wish to promote, accommodate, and 
     economically benefit from cross-border tourism but are unable 
     to implement those objectives if the La Linda crossing is not 
     functioning; and
       Whereas, The safety of tourists wishing to enjoy the area, 
     the binational scientific cooperation called for under 
     existing international agreements, and the security and 
     public safety of communities and citizens on both sides of 
     the international border would be enhanced by a functioning 
     border crossing at La Linda; and
       Whereas, The State of Coahuila and the commissioners court 
     of Brewster County, respectively represented by the Instituto 
     de Turismo and the Big Bend Border Council and joined by a 
     coalition of local residents and the Big Bend National Park 
     Superintendent, have twice requested that the Binational 
     Bridges and Border Crossings working group, which is convened 
     semiannually by the United States Department of State and the 
     Mexican Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, take the 
     necessary actions to have the bridge and border crossing at 
     La Linda reopened by the United States and Mexican federal 
     governments; and
       Whereas, The working group, composed of United States and 
     Mexican federal authorities responsible for authorizing 
     international ports of entry and required inspections along 
     the international boundary, will convene again in the coming 
     months to consider action on either reopening the bridge at 
     La Linda or ordering its removal; and
       Whereas, It is in the economic, cultural, and security 
     interest of the State of Texas and the homeland security 
     interest of the United States of America to have a 
     functioning border crossing station under the management and 
     control of trained and equipped law enforcement and public 
     safety officials in the extensive area known as the Big Bend; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby express its support and encouragement for the 
     reopening of the bridge and border crossing at La Linda to 
     accommodate trade and tourism between Texas and Coahuila, 
     Mexico, and to better protect residents of both countries and 
     secure the protection of our nation from threats that might 
     be associated with the illegal crossing of individuals or 
     materials with a lethal intent; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the legislature hereby urge the General Land 
     Office to proceed expeditiously with the due diligence needed 
     to

[[Page 21990]]

     make a determination regarding acceptance of an ownership 
     interest in La Linda Bridge by the State of Texas; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the legislature hereby urge that the 
     governor, the Texas Department of Transportation, the 
     secretary of state, the Department of Public Safety of the 
     State of Texas, the Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas 
     Department of Economic Development, the Texas Historical 
     Commission, and other appropriate state agencies render 
     encouragement and assistance to the General Land Office as it 
     proceeds in this matter and render encouragement and 
     assistance as well to Brewster County and to private and 
     public advocates for tourism in the Big Bend in their efforts 
     to develop a regional tourism economy in conjunction with a 
     reopened bridge at La Linda; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the legislature hereby call upon the United 
     States Department of State to communicate the interest of the 
     State of Texas in this matter to the government of the 
     Republic of Mexico and to all other parties participating in 
     decisions relating to either reopening or removing the bridge 
     at La Linda; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the legislature hereby respectfully 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to initiate 
     whatever actions are needed to reopen La Linda Bridge as a 
     border crossing; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all members of the Texas delegation to the 
     congress with the request that this resolution be officially 
     entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the 
     Congress of the United States of America.
                                  ____

       POM-264. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to the history of a slave quarters 
     located on the site of the planned Liberty Bell Pavilion; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 490

       Whereas, A portion of the proposed location of the planned 
     Liberty Bell Pavilion in Philadelphia is located on the 
     historic site of the residence of United States Presidents 
     George Washington and John Adams prior to the construction of 
     the White House in Washington, D.C.; and
       Whereas, This property, referred to as the President's 
     House, included other complexes such as slave quarters and 
     icehouses; and
       Whereas, The land previously occupied by the slave quarters 
     will be partially covered by the newly built facility; and
       Whereas, The Liberty Bell is recognized as a symbol of the 
     American Revolution; and
       Whereas, The Liberty Bell became famous when abolitionists 
     fighting to rid the nation of slavery adopted it as their 
     symbol; and
       Whereas, The inscription on the Liberty Bell became the 
     rally cry for opponents of slavery; and
       Whereas, It is important to maintain a permanent 
     acknowledgment of the rich history of the affected area, 
     especially the history associated with the slave quarters; 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the National Park Service 
     to facilitate the placement of a permanent commemorative 
     plaque recognizing the site of the slave quarters and to work 
     for continuing recognition of this history site; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the National Park 
     Service, the United States Senate, the presiding officers of 
     each house of Congress, each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania and the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.
                                  ____

       POM-265. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to legislation that would ban bear baiting on 
     federal lands; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 82

       Whereas, Michigan, along with other states throughout the 
     country, has been very successful in its wildlife management 
     strategies. While there is always more progress to be made, 
     the increasing numbers of game animals and effective control 
     of wildlife populations in Michigan and other states reflect 
     the wisdom of local management of wildlife and hunting 
     matters; and
       Whereas, Congress is considering legislation, H.R. 1472, 
     that would require the adoption and enforcement of 
     regulations that would prohibit the intentional feeding of 
     bears on federal lands in order to end what is known as 
     ``bear baiting''; and
       Whereas, Of the states that allow bear hunting, Michigan is 
     one of several that permit bear baiting. The experience in 
     Michigan and the other states that permit bear baiting is 
     that this technique is a valuable and highly effective 
     wildlife management tool. The voters of Michigan 
     overwhelmingly rejected a 1996 ballot proposal that included 
     a ban of bear baiting. Bear baiting is part of an overall 
     strategy that effectively controls the bear population and 
     does so more humanely than hunting techniques that may result 
     in higher rates of injuries for the animals. This mechanism 
     has clearly allowed Michigan to keep the bear population at 
     appropriate levels; and
       Whereas, Michigan is a state that includes extensive 
     federal lands. The citizens of our state have used these 
     lands respectfully, and our state's hunting and fishing 
     management efforts have enhanced these lands over the years. 
     Michigan's proven effectiveness in dealing with wildlife 
     management challenges should not be negated by federal 
     control of the matter of bear hunting; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States not to enact 
     any legislation that would ban bear baiting on federal lands; 
     and be if 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-266. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relative to 
     nuclear power; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                       Senate Resolution No. 211

       Whereas, Pennsylvania's nine nuclear power reactors have 
     proven to be reliable sources of electricity to Pennsylvania 
     citizens and businesses, producing 36% of the electricity 
     generated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
       Whereas, Congress enacted the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 
     1982 and directed the Department of Energy to establish a 
     program for the management of the nation's high-level waste, 
     including used nuclear fuel, and for its permanent disposal 
     in a deep geologic repository; and
       Whereas, More than $7 billion has been spent on scientific 
     testing and studies of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, showing that 
     the proposed site is an ideal repository to safely contain 
     the nation's used nuclear fuel, with a capacity sufficient to 
     meet all foreseeable storage needs; and
       Whereas, Studies of Yucca Mountain have yielded the 
     scientific information necessary for a decision by the United 
     States Secretary of Energy that there are no technical or 
     scientific issues to prevent Yucca Mountain from serving as a 
     permanent repository and clearly support the recommendation 
     by the Secretary to the President of the United States to 
     proceed on licensing a permanent repository at Yucca 
     Mountain; and
       Whereas, Since 1983, consumers of electricity from the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have committed nearly $1.5 
     billion to the Federal Nuclear Waste Fund to finance site 
     assessment and nuclear waste management; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania urge Congress to sustain the President's 
     affirmative decision on Yucca Mountain's suitability as a 
     permanent Federal repository for used nuclear fuel; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President and Vice President of the United States, to the 
     United States Secretary of Energy, to the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives and to each member of 
     Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-267. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relative to 
     Pennsylvania's veterans; to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs.

                       Senate Resolution No. 229

       Whereas, Pennsylvania's veterans have faithfully and 
     honorably served this nation and this Commonwealth in times 
     of peace and times of war; and
       Whereas, There are approximately 1.2 million veterans of 
     the United States armed services living in the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania today; and
       Whereas, More than 500,000 of these veterans are 65 years 
     of age or older; and
       Whereas, By virtue of the honorable service they have 
     provided, veterans are entitled to certain benefits; and
       Whereas, Medical, surgical and rehabilitative services, 
     such as the Veterans Health Administration's cancer program, 
     diabetes program, kidney diseases program and the pharmacy 
     benefits management program, are of particular importance to 
     this Commonwealth's aging veteran population; and
       Whereas, These benefits are provided by the United States 
     Department of Veterans Affairs through a network of Veterans 
     Health Administration centers, outpatient clinics, community-
     based outpatient clinics and veterans centers; and
       Whereas, Even though Federal funding for medical services 
     and administration for veterans in Pennsylvania has 
     increased, many of the facilities located throughout this 
     Commonwealth still lack the necessary resources to provide 
     for the veterans who need and richly deserve these services; 
     and
       Whereas, There are 12 to 24 month waiting lists at many 
     Veterans Health Administration facilities in Pennsylvania; 
     and
       Whereas, These waiting lists will only lengthen and the 
     level of service will only

[[Page 21991]]

     lessen unless funding for these services in Pennsylvania 
     increase to a level that matches needs; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania memorialize the President and Congress of the 
     United States to reexamine the level of funding for veterans 
     medical services in order to provide timely, high-quality 
     service to veterans of United States military services; 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 to each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-268. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to the Second Regiment United States 
     Sharpshooters, Company C, during the Civil War; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 534

       Whereas, At the suggestion of Hiram Berdan, a New York 
     inventor and eventual Colonel of Volunteers, that the best 
     marksmen in the North be organized into two distinct units, 
     the United States Sharpshooters were raised and mustered into 
     action by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861; and
       Whereas, These men were to be armed with the most reliable 
     rifles and employed as scouts and skirmishers, with each 
     applicant having to pass a shooting test to prove his worth; 
     and
       Whereas, At Orange Court House, the Sharpshooters engaged 
     some Confederate Cavalry, easily pushing them off the field, 
     but the advancing Confederate Infantry forced the 
     Sharpshooters off the field and into the camp of their 
     reserves, the Second Wisconsin; and
       Whereas, The Sharpshooters fell in on General Gibbon's left 
     and engaged the Confederates, pushing them off the field for 
     good; and
       Whereas, The exploits of this decorated group were rivaled 
     by few as they fought Confederates across the Rappahannock 
     River to the plains of Manassas, through Antietam and 
     Chancellorsville and eventually to the fields of Gettysburg; 
     and
       Whereas, At Gettysburg the men of Company C were chosen to 
     be the color company of the entire Second Regiment; and
       Whereas, They fought valiantly and courageously, helping to 
     defeat the Confederates at the Battles of Big and Little 
     Round Top; and
       Whereas, The men of Company C and all who served with them 
     in the Second Regiment United States Sharpshooters served 
     this nation with honor; and
       Whereas, There is no monument recognizing the efforts of 
     the men of Company C at Gettysburg National Military Park; 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the National Park Service 
     to erect a monument befitting their sacrifices; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     each member of Congress from Pennsylvania; to Fran P. 
     Mainella, Director, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, 
     Washington DC 20240; and to John A. Latschar, Superintendent, 
     Gettysburg . . .

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