[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 22357-22361]
[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-281. A resolution adopted by the Macomb County Board of 
     Commissioners of the State of Michigan relative to the 
     Midwestern Headquarters of the Department of Homeland 
     Security; to the Committee on Finance.
                                  ____

       POM-282. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to prescription drug coverage 
     in the federal Medicare program; to the Committee on Finance.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 101

       Whereas, advances in the effectiveness of prescriptive 
     medication have substantially improved the quality of health 
     care in the United States; a key component of prevention 
     health care, prescription drugs help patients live healthier, 
     longer, and more productive lives without the need for costly 
     long-term acute care; and
       Whereas, since the passage of the Social Security Act of 
     1965, which originally authorized Medicare, the increased use 
     of new and improved prescription drugs has changed the 
     delivery of health care in the United States; nonetheless, of 
     the more than 40 million people enrolled in Medicare, one-
     third have no prescription drug coverage, and the limited 
     coverage available to the remaining two-thirds of Medicare 
     beneficiaries is often inadequate to meet their needs; and
       Whereas, comprehensive reform of the Medicare program is 
     necessary to provide affordable care for the elderly and 
     disabled who suffer from chronic disease and comorbidity; the 
     private sector has established a model for successful reforms 
     by negotiating discounts on prescription drugs and by 
     coordinating care with disease management, drug utilization 
     review, and patient education programs, all of which aid in 
     ameliorating medical problems; and
       Whereas, despite the growing needs of the Medicare 
     population, the United States Congress has thus far failed to 
     remedy the inadequacies of the Medicare program; effective 
     reform would adopt the successful strategies of the private 
     sector and use the marketplace to foster competition among 
     private plans, maintaining the financial viability of the 
     program and offering greater choice of quality coverage to 
     seniors and the disabled; and
       Whereas, instead, the lack of a prescription drug benefit 
     in particular has forced states to supplement Medicare by 
     providing medicine to vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries 
     through state Medicaid programs; this ``dually eligible'' 
     population, those who qualify for federal Medicare and state 
     Medicaid, accounts for 42 percent of Medicaid drug 
     expenditures nationwide; and
       Whereas, the situation is critical in Texas, where the 
     Congressional Budget Office reported the enactment of a 
     Medicare drug benefit would mean a savings of nearly $2 
     billion in Medicaid funds between 2005 and 2012; alarmingly, 
     the costs to state Medicaid programs are expected to increase 
     as the non-elderly disabled and the elderly over age

[[Page 22358]]

     85 who are most likely to be dually eligible are the fastest 
     growing populations within Medicare; and
       Whereas, with state Medicaid programs already facing 
     serious budgetary constraints that threaten to restrict 
     patients' access to needed medical care and prescription 
     drugs, it is more important than ever that the Congress enact 
     a Medicare prescription drug benefit as quickly as possible: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully request that the Congress of the United 
     States enact financially sustainable, voluntary, universal, 
     and privately administered outpatient prescription drug 
     coverage as part of the federal Medicare program; 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 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-283. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to the Government Pension 
     Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP); to 
     the Committee on Finance.

                        Joint Resolution No. 29

       Whereas, the State Teachers' Retirement System has a higher 
     contribution rate than, and benefits commensurate to, the 
     Social Security system; and
       Whereas, the State Teachers' Retirement System is not 
     coordinated with the federal Social Security system; and
       Whereas, the Social Security Act includes two offsets, the 
     Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination 
     Provision, that reduce the Social Security benefits payable 
     to persons who are entitled to benefits under other public 
     retirement systems, under certain conditions; and
       Whereas, public employees in California who do not pay into 
     Social Security incur substantial reductions in their federal 
     Social Security benefits even if they otherwise qualify for 
     those benefits through prior employment for which they paid 
     into Social Security, or as surviving spouses through their 
     spouses' Social Security eligibility; and
       Whereas, these offsets discourage individuals with prior 
     work experience from seeking teaching positions; and
       Whereas, every child is entitled to be taught by a fully 
     credentialed teacher, but California has had a significant 
     shortage of teachers credentialed in the subjects they are 
     assigned to teach; and
       Whereas, the recruitment and retention of teachers from 
     other states who are entitled to Social Security benefits 
     upon retirement is also undermined by these offsets; and
       Whereas, legislation to remedy the Government Pension 
     Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision have been 
     introduced in the 107th Congress by members of the California 
     Congressional delegation and received bipartisan support from 
     a majority of the California delegation in the 106th 
     Congress: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly: That the Legislature of the State of 
     California requests the Congress of the United States to 
     enact legislation to remove the onerous effects of the 
     Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination 
     Provision of the Social Security Act, and further, the 
     Legislature of the State of California requests President 
     George W. Bush to support and sign that legislation; 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, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to 
     each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-284. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to bringing peace and security to Cyprus; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 36

       Whereas, this year marks the twenty-seventh anniversary of 
     the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus; and
       Whereas, the Republic of Cyprus has been divided and 
     occupied by foreign forces since 1974 in violation of United 
     Nations resolutions; and
       Whereas, the international community and the United States 
     government have repeatedly called for the speedy withdrawal 
     of all foreign forces from the territory of Cyprus; and
       Whereas, there are internationally acceptable means to 
     resolve the situation in Cyprus, including the 
     demilitarization of Cyprus and the establishment of a 
     multinational force to ensure the security of both 
     communities in Cyprus; and
       Whereas, a peaceful, just, and lasting solution to the 
     Cyprus problem would greatly benefit the security and the 
     political, economic, and social well-being of all Cypriots, 
     as well as contribute to improved relations between Greece 
     and Turkey; and
       Whereas, the United Nations has repeatedly stated the 
     parameters for such a solution, most recently in United 
     Nations Security Council Resolution 1217, which was adopted 
     on December 22, 1998, with United States support; and
       Whereas, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1218, 
     also adopted on December 22, 1998, calls for reduction of 
     tensions in the island through a staged process aimed at 
     limiting and then substantially reducing the level of all 
     troops and armaments in Cyprus, ultimately leading to the 
     demilitarization of the Republic of Cyprus; and
       Whereas, President Bush wholeheartedly supported Resolution 
     1218 and committed himself to taking all necessary steps to 
     support a sustained effort to implement it: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the house of representatives (the senate 
     concurring), That we memorialize the President and the 
     Congress of the United States to work to implement United 
     Nations resolutions to bring peace and security to Cyprus; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That 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 the Michigan 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-285. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Hawaii relative to a center for the health, 
     welfare, and education of children, youth, and families; to 
     the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 123

       Whereas, the Millennium Young People's Congress held in 
     Hawaii in October 1999, demonstrated the value of a 
     collective global vision by and for the children of the world 
     and the need for a forum for international discussion of 
     issues facing all children and youth; and
       Whereas, children and youth are the key to world peace, 
     sustainability, and productivity in the next millennium; and
       Whereas, the health, welfare, and education of children and 
     families are part of the basic foundation and values shared 
     globally that should be provided for all children and youth; 
     and
       Whereas, the populations of countries in Asia and the 
     Pacific Rim are the largest and fastest growing segment of 
     the world's population with young people representing the 
     largest percentage of that population; and
       Whereas, Hawaii's location in the middle of the Pacific Rim 
     between Asia and the Americas, along with a diverse culture 
     and many shared languages, provides an excellent and 
     strategic location for meetings and exchanges as demonstrated 
     by the Millennium Young People's Congress, to discuss the 
     health, welfare, and rights of children as a basic foundation 
     for all children and youth, and to research pertinent issues 
     and alternatives concerning children and youth, and to 
     propose viable models for societal application: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-
     first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 
     2002, the Senate concurring, that the United Nations is 
     respectfully requested to consider the establishment in 
     Hawaii of a Center for the Health, Welfare, and Education of 
     Children, Youth and Families for Asia and the Pacific; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the President of the United States and the 
     United States Congress are urged to support the establishment 
     of the Center; and be it further
       Resolved, That the House and Senate Committees on Health 
     convene an exploratory task force to develop such a proposal 
     for consideration by the United Nations; and be it further
       Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 
     Resolution be transmitted to the Secretary General of the 
     United Nations, the President of the United States, the 
     President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the President of the 
     University of Hawaii, the President of the East West Center, 
     the President of the United Nations Association in Hawaii, 
     and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-286. An act passed by the General Assembly of the State 
     of Maryland relative to the Department of Planning of the 
     State of Maryland; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
                                  ____

       POM-287. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of New Hampshire relative to the Low Income Home 
     Energy Assistance Program; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                      Concurrent Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, New Hampshire's federal allocation of the Low 
     Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is used to 
     operate the statewide fuel assistance program, which provides 
     benefits to qualified New Hampshire residents, such as low-
     income elderly, disabled, and low-income working households, 
     to assist with paying their energy bills during the winter 
     season. The fuel assistance program also helps New Hampshire 
     residents

[[Page 22359]]

     in a hearing emergency by securing an emergency delivery of 
     fuel, delaying a shut-off notice, or referring individuals to 
     another source of assistance; and
       Whereas, fuel costs for this winter have proven to be 
     higher than expected and higher than last winter, while the 
     average temperature thus far this winter has been colder than 
     usual; and
       Whereas, during the 2001-2002 heating season, New Hampshire 
     received $13.2 million in LIHEAP funds based upon a $1.7 
     billion federal appropriation. With these funds, New 
     Hampshire assisted 24,876 low-income households, but was not 
     able to provide full benefits to all income-eligible seniors 
     and working poor families that requested assistance; and
       Whereas, New Hampshire's fuel assistance program made 
     numerous programmatic changes prior to this winter to further 
     maximize federal LIHEAP dollars this winter season, including 
     reducing income eligibility levels and reducing benefits 
     amounts. In spite of these efforts, sufficient federal funds 
     do not exist to serve all eligible New Hampshire residents 
     who request assistance; and
       Whereas, states are developing new and innovative ways to 
     stretch available program resources, including the use of 
     pre-purchase programs during the summer months that are not 
     adequately supported by the current program legislation; and
       Whereas, last winter many low-income residents 
     unnecessarily suffered and took extreme and dangerous 
     measures to stay warm. Results of a 2002 winter survey of New 
     Hampshire's low-income residents identified disturbing facts 
     which include that 16.4 percent of the over 900 respondents, 
     many of whom are elderly, disabled, facing severe medical 
     problems, or caring for small children, used dangerous 
     alternatives to heat their homes, such as space heaters or 
     ovens. Another 7.3 percent of the respondents indicated they 
     went without medical care or medicine; and
       Whereas, the current authorization level, set at $2 
     billion, is not sufficient to meet the current need for 
     program assistance as a result of rising unemployment and 
     poverty levels and continuing volatility in energy pricing; 
     and
       Whereas, uncertainty in appropriations due to the lack of 
     advance funding has made it more difficult for the states to 
     set program eligibility levels and take advantage of program 
     buying opportunities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives 
     concurring, That the general court hereby urges the New 
     Hampshire congressional delegation to support:
       I. Extending LIHEAP's authorization through fiscal year 
     2008;
       II. Maintaining the current funding formula and hold-
     harmless provisions in order to maintain-adequate funding 
     levels for the region's programs;
       III. Increasing the authorization level to $3.4 billion; 
     and
       IV. Allowing states to draw-down funds prior to the start 
     of the winter heating season in order to take advantage of 
     pre-purchase and other discount programs; and
       That copies of this resolution be forwarded by the senate 
     clerk to the President of the United States, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, the President of 
     the United States Senate, and the members of the New 
     Hampshire congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-288. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to the Texas border with 
     Mexico and border health issues; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 21

       Whereas, the United States and the United Mexican States 
     share a border of 2,000 miles from Brownsville, Texas, to San 
     Diego, California; the four states of the United States and 
     the six states of the United Mexican States along the border 
     are home to more than 75 million residents, an increase of 
     about 11 million since 1990; and
       Whereas, a significant percentage of these 10 states' 
     population resides in the 44 United States counties and 80 
     Mexican municipalities adjacent to the border, where rapid 
     population growth is putting great pressure on an already 
     inadequate infrastructure and straining the border region 
     past its economic limits and resources, the tragic effects of 
     which have broad repercussions on the health of residents in 
     both countries; and
       Whereas, setting the stage for many of the health problems 
     of the border is the standard of living of many in the 
     region; more than a third of United States border families 
     live at or below the federal poverty guideline, and an 
     estimated 350,000 people live in colonias, unzoned, semirural 
     communities with no access to public drinking water or 
     wastewater facilities; and
       Whereas, such deficiencies in public works have increased 
     the risk of exposure to pollution and water-borne 
     contaminants since many of the primary sources of water along 
     the border are contaminated by sewage and pollution from 
     agricultural and industrial sources; according to the United 
     States Health Resources and Services Administration, 122 
     million liters of raw sewage are dumped into the Tijuana, 
     New, and Rio Grande rivers daily, and a series of studies 
     conducted by several United States and Mexican agencies, 
     including the Texas Department of Health, monitored sites 
     along the Rio Grande and found chemicals such as PCBs, 
     cyanide, mercury, and lead at significant levels; and
       Whereas, beyond the effects of population, poverty, and 
     pollution, many of the health concerns endemic to the border 
     region are exacerbated by a lack of access to primary care 
     and preventive medicine; uneven distribution of hospitals and 
     physicians, inadequate transportation, limited immunizations, 
     and a shortage of bilingual health care providers contribute 
     to otherwise preventable health problems; and
       Whereas, several standard health indicators reflect the 
     shortcomings of the health care system along the border; the 
     incidence of hepatitis A and tuberculosis is two to three 
     times the national average, and measles, HIV/AIDS, and 
     various infectious diseases disproportionately threaten the 
     population of the border region as compared to the United 
     States as a whole; and
       Whereas, due to these and many other concerns and in an 
     effort to provide international leadership to optimize health 
     and quality of life along the United States-Mexico border, an 
     agreement between the United States secretary of health and 
     human services and the secretary of health of the United 
     Mexican States created the United States-Mexico Border Health 
     Commission in 2000; and
       Whereas, the crises of health along the border are myriad 
     and profound, with complications arising from cultural, 
     economic, and geographic conditions unique to the region; 
     although the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission 
     has made great progress in promoting health and reducing 
     health disparities, strategic planning and comprehensive 
     study are critical for the commission to fulfill its mission 
     to provide the tools necessary for the future well-being of 
     the border populations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to 
     request that the United States Department of Health and Human 
     Services fund a benchmark study coordinated by the United 
     States-Mexico Border Health Commission and conducted by 
     universities from the border area of each of the adjoining 
     border states in both the United States and the United 
     Mexican States to engage each state's health policy with 
     respect to the border health issues and goals outlined in 
     Healthy Border 2010/Frontera Saludable 2010, a border-wide 
     program of health promotion and disease prevention that 
     defines an agenda for improving health in the United States-
     Mexico border region; and be it further
       Resolved, That the study also address early intervention 
     and preventive strategies; water and wastewater issues; 
     immunization; behavioral health issues, including nutrition 
     and exercise; elimination of health disparities among the 
     border population; and response to disaster and disease 
     outbreak; 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, to the secretary of the United States Department of 
     Health and Human Services, and to 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-289. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to human cloning; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 354

       Whereas, the advances of science have taken our society to 
     a challenging frontier. The highly publicized cases of 
     animals being cloned are harbingers of decisions our society 
     will face when the technology reaches the point where human 
     cloning is possible. The rapid pace of advancement leads many 
     to believe human cloning will soon be possible; and
       Whereas, cloning is often mentioned in connection with 
     research in a variety of areas. Those discussing the 
     possibilities of human cloning do so without detailing the 
     horrific aspects of this procedure, especially the number of 
     failed cloning procedures for every cloning that succeeds. 
     Most importantly, some advocates of cloning ignore the grave 
     moral implications involved in this life and death issue; and
       Whereas, there are profound problems with the concept of 
     human cloning. The process itself often involves the 
     discarding of living cells and the destruction of 
     unsuccessful clones. It is most disturbing to think that a 
     company could routinely kill cloned embryos after extracting 
     certain desired cells. The concept of human cloning evokes 
     images of human experimentation from the Nazi era. In 
     addition to these moral issues, there are also many who worry 
     that cloning may lead to serious genetic problems and 
     ultimately threaten public health; and
       Whereas, there is legislation currently pending in Congress 
     that seeks to prohibit

[[Page 22360]]

     all human cloning. This bill, S. 1899, unlike others that 
     provide certain exceptions allowing cloning for research 
     purposes, recognizes the seriousness of the problems created 
     by cloning and the moral implications. A true ban of all 
     human cloning needs to be in place: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact 
     legislation to ban all human cloning. We call on Congress to 
     enact S. 1899 and reject other bills that purport to ban 
     human cloning but provide for research using cloned cells; 
     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-290. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to the Child Modeling 
     Exploitation Prevention Act of 2002; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 14

       Whereas, according to a sample survey of the nearly 24 
     million school-aged children that were on-line regularly in 
     1999, roughly one in five received a sexual solicitation; 
     remarkably, fewer than 10 percent of these sexual 
     solicitations were ever reported to authorities; and
       Whereas, unfortunately, as the Internet has revolutionized 
     access to information, sharing of ideas, and global 
     communication, it also has provided a vast landscape for the 
     machinations of sexual predators; the United States Customs 
     Service reports there are an estimated 100,000 websites 
     involved in some way with child pornography, and arrests, 
     indictments, and convictions for possession of child 
     pornography transported across borders have climbed steadily 
     since 1992, doubling several times during the last 10 years; 
     and
       Whereas, among the websites charging users to view images 
     of children in suggestive poses are those that have become 
     known as exploitive child modeling sites; where legitimate 
     child modeling websites market the talent of the model, 
     exploitive child modeling features compromising visual 
     depictions of children without a direct or even indirect 
     purpose of marketing an actual product other than the images 
     of the minor; and
       Whereas, the anonymous nature of communicating through the 
     Internet allows pedophiles to deceitfully contact and 
     personally interact with these child models, providing 
     opportunity to develop on-line relationships and thereby 
     increasing the chances of aggressive solicitations for 
     meeting in person; and
       Whereas, more than 70 percent of convicted pedophiles have 
     accessed child pornography or exploitive child modeling 
     websites as a means of sexual gratification, and the very 
     operators of these sites, while defending their legitimacy, 
     admit that pedophiles are likely frequent visitors; and
       Whereas, legislation is now before the 107th Congress that 
     would protect children's opportunities to develop legitimate 
     modeling careers and at the same time protect them from 
     exploitation at the hands of website operators: 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 Child Modeling Exploitation Prevention Act of 2002; 
     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 291. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of New Jersey relative to National 
     Senior Citizen's Day; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                        Senate Resolution No. 48

       Whereas, it is desirable to increase the nation's awareness 
     of the accomplishments and experiences of the senior citizens 
     of our country; and
       Whereas, senior citizens 65 years of age and older are an 
     increasing segment of the population, currently comprising 
     12% of the nation's population, and 13% of New Jersey's 
     population; and
       Whereas, younger generations benefit from the honoring and 
     remembrance of the accomplishments, experiences and wisdom 
     which senior citizens have amassed during their lives; and
       Whereas, senior citizens are deserving of a day of 
     recognition honoring their numerous contributions to society 
     and their survival through wartimes as well as their 
     endurance of many hardships: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey,
       1. The Congress and the President of the United States are 
     respectfully memorialized to enact legislation honoring all 
     the senior citizens of the United States by designating May 
     15th as National Senior Citizen's Day.
       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 President of the United 
     States, the Secretary of Health and Human Services of the 
     United States, the presiding officers of the United States 
     Senate and the House of Representatives, and each of the 
     members of the Congress of the United States elected from the 
     State of New Jersey.
                                  ____

       POM-292. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to immigration status and 
     benefits for surviving spouses and children; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 156

       Whereas, according to the United States Department of 
     Defense there are more than 37,000 legal, permanent residents 
     serving on active duty in our armed forces; tragically, the 
     military hostilities in Iraq have already claimed the lives 
     of six of these noncitizen soldiers; and
       Whereas, it is a remarkable display of loyalty to the 
     ideals of a democracy and freedom that these brave young men 
     and women defend our country against aggression overseas 
     despite not being recognized as U.S. citizens and not being 
     able to share in the full rights and privileges enjoyed by 
     our fellow Americans; and
       Whereas, the United States Congress has the opportunity to 
     help these brave residents and the surviving spouses and 
     children of those killed in action to gain U.S. citizenship 
     and benefits by enacting House Bill H.R. 1685 and House Bill 
     H.R. 1275, the Citizenship for America's Troops Act; and
       Whereas, House Bill H.R. 1685 makes the surviving spouse 
     and children of a person who has been granted posthumous 
     citizenship through death while on active-duty service during 
     times of military hostility eligible for immigration status 
     and benefits; and
       Whereas, the Citizenship For America's Troops Act reduces 
     from three years to two years the amount of military service 
     required for legal, permanent residents to qualify for U.S. 
     citizenship, and exempts them from paying all of the fees 
     required by the naturalization application process; and
       Whereas, the Citizenship For America's Troops Act also 
     allows the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to 
     conduct citizenship interviews and oath ceremonies for 
     military personnel at embassies, consulates, and overseas 
     military installations rather than requiring such interviews 
     and ceremonies to take place within the United States; and
       Whereas, on July 3, 2002, President Bush signed an 
     executive order to provide expedited naturalization for 
     aliens and noncitizen nationals serving honorably on active-
     duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States during 
     the war on terrorism; and
       Whereas, the executive order designated September 11, 2001, 
     as the first day of a period of time in which exceptions from 
     the usual requirements for naturalization were initiated; and
       Whereas, given that this period of time has not been closed 
     or terminated by a related executive order, the Congress 
     should take this window of opportunity to honor the desires 
     of the legal, permanent noncitizens who, in fighting global 
     terrorism on our behalf, have demonstrated a willingness to 
     die for a country they cannot yet fully claim as their own: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully request the Congress of the United States 
     to enact House Bill H.R. 1685, relating to providing 
     immigration status and benefits for surviving spouses and 
     children, and House Bill H.R. 1275, the Citizenship For 
     America's Troops Act; 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 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-293. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of New 
     Hampshire relative to Italian-American citizens of the United 
     States during World War II; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 27

       Whereas, more than 500,000 Italian-Americans served in 
     World War II for the United States of America; and
       Whereas, recently it has become known that up to 600,000 
     members of the families of those who served in World War II 
     were placed under wartime restrictions which included random 
     arrests and searches of their person and property, curfews, 
     forced relocation, so-called ``prohibited zones,'' and 
     internment camps; and
       Whereas, these individuals were placed under such 
     restrictions solely based on their Italian-American heritage; 
     and
       Whereas, Italian-Americans nationwide were affected by 
     these wartime restrictions; and

[[Page 22361]]

       Whereas, the United States government has acknowledged the 
     wartime campaign against Japanese-Americans, but to date has 
     ignored the plight of Italian-Americans affected by wartime 
     decrees; and
       Whereas, the full extent of the United States government's 
     wartime restrictions on Italian-Americans is not known 
     because the Federal Bureau of Investigation refuses to 
     declassify World War II documents describing the nature of 
     these events; and
       Whereas, the United States Department of Justice is 
     conducting an inquiry for the purpose of documenting the 
     mistreatment of Italian-Americans during World War II: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 
     concurring,
       That the United States Department of Justice complete its 
     inquiry into the mistreatment of Italian-Americans during 
     World War II with all due speed and release the results of 
     such inquiry to the public; and
       That the Federal Bureau of Investigation take the necessary 
     steps to allow public access to the documents regarding the 
     mistreatment of Italian-Americans during World War II; and
       That copies of this resolution shall be sent by the house 
     clerk to the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, 
     the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
     chairpersons of the Judiciary Committees of the United States 
     House of Representatives and Senate, and the New Hampshire 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-294. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of New Jersey relative to National 
     Grandparents Day; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                        Senate Resolution No. 50

       Whereas, in 1979, Congress approved House Joint Resolution 
     No. 244, which authorized and requested the President to 
     issue annually a proclamation designating the first Sunday of 
     September following Labor Day of each year as ``National 
     Grandparents Day''; and
       Whereas, in 1994, Congress approved Senate Joint Resolution 
     No. 198, which recognized that grandparents bring a 
     tremendous amount of love to their grandchildren's lives, 
     deepen a child's roots, strengthen a child's development and 
     often serve as the primary caregiver for their grandchildren 
     by providing stable and supportive home environments, and 
     designated 1995 as the ``Year of the Grandparent''; and
       Whereas, in making these designations Congress acknowledged 
     the important role grandparents play within families and 
     their many contributions which enhance and further the value 
     of families and their traditions, and recognized that public 
     awareness of and appreciation for grandparents' many 
     contributions should be strengthened; and
       Whereas, for both ``National Grandparents Day,'' and the 
     `year of the Grandparent'' in 1995, Congress called on the 
     people of the United States and interested groups and 
     organizations to observe the day and year with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities; and
       Whereas, despite the acknowledgment of the tremendous 
     contributions grandparents make to their families' lives, the 
     permanent designation of a day to observe ``National 
     Grandparents Day,'' the year-long designation of 1995 as the 
     ``Year of the Grandparent,'' as well as the call for 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities, the actual observance 
     of appropriate ceremonies and activities has been lacking; 
     and
       Whereas, a wholehearted national effort to encourage people 
     and organizations to celebrate ``National Grandparents Day'' 
     by planning appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities 
     would go a long way to commemorate and honor the wonderful 
     and vital contributions that grandparents make to the lives 
     of their families: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey,
       1. The Congress and President of the United States are 
     respectfully memorialized to make a wholehearted national 
     effort to encourage people and organizations to celebrate 
     ``National Grandparents Day'' by planning appropriate 
     programs, ceremonies and activities that commemorate and 
     honor the wonderful and vital contributions that grandparents 
     make to the lives of their families.
       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 President of the United 
     States, the Secretary of Health and Human Services of the 
     United States, the presiding officers of the United States 
     Senate and the House of Representatives, and each of the 
     members of the Congress of the United States elected from the 
     State of New Jersey.

                          ____________________