[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3732-3735]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 312--COMMENDING THE BRAVERY OF THE INITIAL RESPONDERS 
      IN THE BALTIMORE HARBOR WATER TAXI ACCIDENT OF MARCH 6, 2004

  Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Sarbanes) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 312

       Whereas on Saturday, March 6, 2004, a water taxi overturned 
     in Baltimore Harbor during a sudden and vicious storm;
       Whereas 25 passengers were thrown into the Harbor, into 
     frigid 43 degree water, with little chance of survival;
       Whereas tragically, 1 person died and 3 people are presumed 
     to be dead;
       Whereas if not for the immediate action of the initial 
     responders, more lives would certainly have been lost;
       Whereas the initial responders demonstrated extraordinary 
     bravery in their heroic response in rescuing the passengers;
       Whereas after noticing the accident, the initial responders 
     rushed to the scene, piloting their vessel to the accident 
     site and immediately diving into the frigid waters in their 
     street clothes and boots to help those clinging for their 
     lives;
       Whereas the initial responders not only saved those 
     clinging to the boat for survival but used their exceptional 
     skills and ingenuity to elevate the capsized boat to rescue 
     those passengers trapped beneath;
       Whereas the team of initial responders worked together to 
     pull the passengers out of the water, identify those who 
     needed immediate medical attention, turn the Fort McHenry 
     Drill Hall into a triage center to identify the victims who 
     were most in need, and provide all with dry clothing and warm 
     blankets;
       Whereas it was a team effort to rescue and save those 
     stranded in the freezing Chesapeake waters that involved 
     rescuers in the water, on the pier, and at Fort McHenry;
       Whereas we commend the courage and resolution of Maryland's 
     outstanding initial responders whose quick reaction to this 
     terrible accident saved lives; and
       Whereas we praise these initial responders--the Navy 
     Reservists, Coast Guard, Maritime Fire Department, Baltimore 
     Fire Department, Bowleys Quarters Search and Rescue Team, and 
     the emergency medical team--who worked together as a team to 
     rescue people and save lives: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) pays tribute to the victims of this terrible accident 
     and expresses its condolences to their families;
       (2) commends the initial responders in the Baltimore water 
     taxi accident of March 6, 2004, for their bravery, quick 
     thinking, courage, and ingenuity in rescuing the passengers 
     of the water taxi that capsized after a sudden and vicious 
     storm swept over the Baltimore Harbor; and
       (3) commends the team of initial responders for this 
     extraordinary demonstration of their ongoing commitment and 
     dedication to saving lives.
                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 313--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ENCOURAGING 
  THE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT OF AMERICANS IN WORLD AFFAIRS AND URGING THE 
SECRETARY OF STATE TO COORDINATE WITH IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS IN CREATING 
   AN ONLINE DATABASE OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND RELATED 
                             OPPORTUNITIES

  Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. Hagel) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 313

       Whereas many polls and studies have indicated that the 
     United States needs to do a better job of building personal 
     and institutional relationships with peoples and nations 
     around the world in order to combat anti-American sentiment;
       Whereas broad bipartisan consensus in favor of 
     strengthening United States public diplomacy emerged during 
     2003 in both Houses of Congress and in various reports, 
     including reports of the Council on Foreign Relations, the 
     General Accounting Office, the Advisory Commission on Public 
     Diplomacy, the Heritage Foundation, and the Advisory Group on 
     Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World;
       Whereas in November 2003, NAFSA: Association of 
     International Educators warned that Americans' lack of 
     knowledge of the world represents a national liability in the 
     fight against terrorism;
       Whereas international exchange programs, which have 
     assisted in extending American influence in the world by 
     educating the world's leaders, are suffering from a decline 
     in funding and policy priority;
       Whereas the number of United States university-level 
     students studying abroad in 2001-2002 was 160,920, 
     representing just over 1 percent of United States students;
       Whereas \2/3\ of United States students studying abroad 
     study in Western Europe (18.7 percent in the United Kingdom 
     alone), although 95 percent of the world population growth in 
     the next 50 years is expected to occur outside Western 
     Europe;
       Whereas the number of scholarships for foreign students 
     studying at United States

[[Page 3733]]

     institutions has dropped from 20,000 a year in the 1980s to 
     900 in 2003;
       Whereas there are 29,400,000 retired workers in the United 
     States as of June 2003, meaning that there are many older 
     Americans who have the talent, maturity, and time to 
     volunteer their services abroad;
       Whereas the average American college graduate who has 
     studied 1 of the less commonly taught languages reaches no 
     more than an intermediate level of proficiency in the 
     language, which is insufficient to meet national security 
     requirements; and
       Whereas there are hundreds of well-established 
     organizations in the United States that implement educational 
     and professional exchanges, international volunteering, and 
     related programs, and the efforts of those organizations 
     could readily be expanded to reach out to more Americans: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This resolution may be cited as the ``People-to-People 
     Engagement in World Affairs Resolution''.

     SEC. 2 SENSE OF SENATE.

       It is the sense of the Senate--
       (1) to urge the Secretary of State to coordinate with 
     implementing partners in creating an online database that 
     provides information on how Americans can take advantage of--
       (A) international exchange programs of the Department of 
     State, the Department of Education, and other Federal 
     Government and non-government entities;
       (B) volunteer opportunities with organizations that assist 
     refugees and immigrants in the United States;
       (C) opportunities to host international students and 
     professionals in the United States;
       (D) sister-city organizations in the United States;
       (E) international fairs and cultural events in the United 
     States; and
       (F) foreign language learning opportunities;
       (2) to challenge Americans to become more engaged in 
     international affairs and more aware of peoples and 
     developments outside the United States; and
       (3) to encourage Americans to seize 1 or more opportunities 
     toward this end, by such means as--
       (A) participating in a professional or cultural exchange;
       (B) studying abroad;
       (C) volunteering abroad;
       (D) working with an immigrant or refugee group;
       (E) hosting a foreign student or professional;
       (F) participating in a sister-city program; and
       (G) learning a foreign language.

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am pleased to submit the People-to-
People Engagement in World Affairs resolution with my esteemed 
colleague, Senator Chuck Hagel.
  In the 1960s, during a troubled and divisive time for our country, 
President John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to ``ask not what your 
country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.'' Today, 
the need is even more urgent for Americans to be active participants 
both in the United States and abroad.
  This People-to-People Engagement in World Affairs resolution is a 
call to Americans to look beyond our borders to engage with the wider 
world at an individual, human level. It encourages Americans to seize 
opportunities to engage in the global arena--through participating in a 
professional or cultural exchange; studying or volunteering abroad; 
working with an immigrant or refugee group in the United States; 
hosting a foreign student or professional; participating in a sister-
city program; and/or learning a foreign language.
  It also asks the Secretary of State to coordinate with implementing 
partners in creating an online database that lists these opportunities 
for Americans.
  In today's world, our challenges and opportunities are global in 
nature. Terrorism, the greatest threat to our national security, 
crosses all national boundaries and feeds off the gaps in intelligence 
and communication created by borders. Other important issues, such as 
the proliferation of WMD, human trafficking, poverty, environmental 
degradation, and diseases from HIV/AIDS to polio also have little 
regard for borders. These challenges require international cooperation, 
and Americans at all levels of society are instrumental in finding and 
achieving meaningful solutions.
  This resolution encourages Americans to forge relationships with 
people outside of the United States to change not only how Americans 
view and act in the world, but how others view Americans. Presently, 
anti-Americanism is growing at a startling rate. According to the Pew 
Research Center, negative views of the United States among Muslims, 
which were once limited to the Middle East, have spread to populations 
in places like Nigeria and Indonesia. A growing percentage of Muslims 
see serious threats to Islam by the United States. Majorities in seven 
of eight Muslim populations surveyed express worries that the U.S. 
might become a military threat to their countries. And these disturbing 
trends hold strong even beyond the Muslim world.
  This is dangerous for a number of reasons. Anti-Americanism 
undermines our ability to work effectively with other countries on our 
global problems. In addition, in our fight against terror, anti-
Americanism can create a steady supply of recruits for terrorist 
networks, intent on our destruction. These terrorist networks have 
unfairly blamed the United States for the unemployment, the poverty and 
the powerlessness that so many around the world experience on a daily 
basis. They feed off erroneous perceptions of Americans, distorting our 
image to achieve their own objectives.
  Americans must combat these misperceptions and turn mistrust into 
understanding. If we don't define ourselves to the people of the world, 
we run the risk that terrorist will continue to make America a 
scapegoat for other nation's ills. In order to show the world who 
Americans really are, diplomacy must occur at all levels of society and 
not only through U.S. government representatives. Artists, scholars, 
teachers, nurses, doctors, and business people all have a role in 
shaping this image and in presenting a different American face to the 
world.
  Many Americans have been engaged for decades. In my own State of 
Wisconsin, my constituents have demonstrated altruism and curiosity 
daily. They have worked in the Peace Corps, trained dairy farmers in 
South America and Eastern Europe, participated in sister-city exchanges 
with the former Soviet Union, traveled to refugee camps in Thailand and 
hosted international students. Through these activities, my 
constituents have fought stereotypes and created openings for greater 
trust and cooperation. The need is greater now than ever before for 
more Americans to become involved.
  I have been approached by Americans of all ages and all economic 
backgrounds to ask me how they can become more involved. This 
resolution is a response to those Americans and a challenge to many 
more to define our times and to shape our world. The creation of the 
online database as part of this resolution will assist Americans in 
finding the best way for them personally to participate. Americans will 
use their enthusiasm and curiosity to engage in the world where they 
can--through tutoring children, through assisting refugees who come to 
our country, through professional training, and through showing concern 
for the well-being of other outside of the United States.
  This resolution is a challenge to Americans to make connections in 
their own way--to listen and show respect for others and their way of 
life. Americans can bridge the gap between this powerful nation and 
people around the world who feel frustrated and powerless. We can 
change perceptions, change minds, and change the world we live in.
                                 ______
                                 

   SENATE RESOLUTION 314--COMMEMORATING AND HONORING PRESIDENT BORIS 
                               TRAJKOVSKI

  Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Biden) submitted the 
following resolution which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 314

       Whereas President Boris Trajkovski of the Former Yugoslav 
     Republic of Macedonia played a vital role in efforts to 
     promote peace, stability, and democratic reform in his 
     country and throughout Southeast Europe;
       Whereas President Trajkovski was tragically killed on 
     Thursday, February 26, 2004, when a plane carrying the 
     President and 8 others crashed in southern Bosnia;

[[Page 3734]]

       Whereas the people elected Boris Trajkovski to serve as 
     President in November 1999, and inaugurated him as the second 
     Macedonian President on December 15, 1999;
       Whereas President Trajkovski led the country during a 
     tumultuous period in Southeast Europe, working with the 
     international community to accommodate refugees following the 
     crisis in neighboring Kosovo in 1999, and playing a 
     significant role in the signing of the Ohrid Framework 
     Agreement in 2001;
       Whereas President Trajkovski promoted the rule of law and 
     respect for human rights, and encouraged economic, judicial, 
     and military reforms necessary to move the country toward 
     membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the 
     European Union; and
       Whereas the Macedonian government continues to work to join 
     Europe's democratic institutions, and peace and stability in 
     the country is critical to the broader region of Southeast 
     Europe: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) offers its condolences and deepest sympathy to the 
     people of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the 
     family of President Boris Trajkovski, and the families of the 
     other crash victims during this difficult period;
       (2) recognizes the courageous leadership and the 
     significant role that President Trajkovski played in efforts 
     to promote peace, stability, and reform, including his work 
     to secure the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement; and
       (3) encourages the Macedonian government to continue 
     efforts to implement the Ohrid Peace Agreement, and to move 
     forward with reforms necessary to join the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization and the European Union.
                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 315--DESIGNATING MARCH 8, 2004, AS ``INTERNATIONAL 
                             WOMEN'S DAY''

  Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. 
Lautenberg, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Levin, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Graham of South 
Carolina, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Bayh, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Crapo, 
Mr. Dayton, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Feingold) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 315

       Whereas all over the world women are contributing to the 
     growth of economies, participating in the world of diplomacy 
     and politics, and improving the quality of the lives of their 
     families, communities, and nations;
       Whereas discrimination continues to deny women full 
     political and economic equality and is often the basis for 
     violations of women's basic human rights;
       Whereas worldwide, the lives and health of women and girls 
     continue to be endangered by violence that is directed at 
     them simply because of their gender;
       Whereas worldwide, violence against women includes rape, 
     genital mutilation, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating 
     violence, honor killings, sexual trafficking in women, dowry-
     related violence, female infanticide, sex-selection abortion, 
     forced pregnancy, forced sterilization, and forced abortion;
       Whereas the World Health Organization asserts that domestic 
     violence causes more deaths and disability among women 
     between ages 15 and 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic 
     accidents, and war;
       Whereas 130,000,000 girls and young women have been 
     subjected to female genital mutilation, and it is estimated 
     that 10,000 girls are at risk of being subjected to this 
     practice in the United States and more than 160,000 girls and 
     women in immigrant communities in the United States may have 
     been victims of the traditional practice of female genital 
     mutilation or are at risk of being subjected to it;
       Whereas worldwide, at least 1 in 3 women has been beaten or 
     sexually abused in her lifetime;
       Whereas 1 in 6 women in the United States has experienced 
     an attempted or completed sexual assault and 1 in 5 women 
     reported she had been raped or physically or sexually 
     assaulted in her lifetime;
       Whereas in the United States, a woman is battered, usually 
     by her intimate partner, every 15 seconds;
       Whereas over 300,000 women each year experience intimate 
     partner violence during their pregnancy;
       Whereas more than 3 women are murdered by their husbands or 
     boyfriends in the United States every day;
       Whereas nearly 25 percent of American women report being 
     raped or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, 
     cohabiting partner, or date at some time in their lifetime;
       Whereas in the United States, battering is the leading 
     cause of injury to women between ages 15 and 44;
       Whereas it is estimated that 1 in 5 adolescent girls in the 
     United States becomes a victim of physical or sexual abuse, 
     or both, in a dating relationship;
       Whereas worldwide, 20 to 50 percent of women experience 
     some degree of domestic violence during marriage;
       Whereas worldwide, women account for \1/2\ of all cases of 
     HIV/AIDS, approximately 42,000,000, and in countries with 
     high HIV prevalence, young women are at a higher risk than 
     young men of contracting HIV;
       Whereas worldwide, sexual violence, including marital rape, 
     has been announced as a major cause of the rapid spread of 
     HIV/AIDS among women;
       Whereas \2/3\ of the world's nearly 1,000,000,000 
     illiterate individuals are women;
       Whereas worldwide, girls are less likely to complete school 
     than boys;
       Whereas \2/3\ of children denied primary education are 
     girls;
       Whereas in most countries, women work approximately twice 
     the unpaid time men do;
       Whereas about 3 in 10 households are maintained by women 
     with no husband present;
       Whereas rural women produce more than 55 percent of all 
     food grown in developing countries;
       Whereas women comprise almost 15 percent of the active 
     duty, reserve, and guard units of the United States Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas it is estimated that women and girls make up more 
     than 70 percent of the 1,300,000,000 poorest people in the 
     world;
       Whereas women work \2/3\ of the world's working hours, and 
     produce \1/2\ of the world's food, yet earn only 1 percent of 
     the world's income, and own less than 1 percent of the 
     world's property;
       Whereas worldwide women still earn less, own less property, 
     and have less access to education, employment, and health 
     care than do men;
       Whereas between 75 and 80 percent of the world's 27,000,000 
     refugees are women and children;
       Whereas illegal trafficking worldwide for forced labor, 
     domestic servitude, or sexual exploitation involves between 
     1,000,000 and 2,000,000 women and children each year, of whom 
     50,000 are transported to the United States;
       Whereas as many as 750,000 women and children have been 
     trafficked into the United States over the last decade;
       Whereas March 8 has become known as International Women's 
     Day for the last century, and is a day on which people, often 
     divided by ethnicity, language, culture, and income, come 
     together to celebrate a common struggle for women's equality, 
     justice, and peace;
       Whereas the dedication and success of those working all 
     over the world to end violence against women and girls and 
     fighting for equality should be recognized; and
       Whereas the people of the United States should be 
     encouraged to participate in International Women's Day: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 8, 2004, as International Women's Day;
       (2) reaffirms its commitment to--
       (A) ending discrimination and violence against women;
       (B) ensuring the safety and welfare of women; and
       (C) pursuing policies that guarantee the basic rights of 
     women both in the United States and in the world; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     ``International Women's Day'' with appropriate programs and 
     activities.
                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 316--DESIGNATING APRIL 2004 AS ``FINANCIAL LITERACY 
                                MONTH''

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Corzine, Mr. 
Santorum, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Schumer, 
Mr. Levin, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Inouye, and Mr. Crapo) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 316

       Whereas only 26 percent of 13- to 21-year olds reported 
     that their parents actively taught them how to manage money;
       Whereas a 2002 survey by the National Council on Economic 
     Education found that a decreasing number of States include 
     personal finance in their education standards for students in 
     kindergarten through grade 12;
       Whereas a 2002 study by the Jump$tart Coalition for 
     Personal Financial Literacy found that high school seniors 
     know even less about credit cards, retirement funds, 
     insurance, and other personal finance basics than high school 
     seniors did 5 years ago;
       Whereas 55 percent of college students acquire their first 
     credit card during their first year in college, and 83 
     percent of college students have at least 1 credit card;
       Whereas personal savings as a percentage of personal income 
     decreased from 7.5 percent in the early 1980s to 2.3 percent 
     in the first 3 quarters of 2003;
       Whereas today more than 42,000,000 people in the United 
     States participate in 401(k) plans;

[[Page 3735]]

       Whereas a 2002 Retirement Confidence Survey found that only 
     32 percent of workers surveyed have calculated how much money 
     they will need to save for retirement;
       Whereas only 30 percent of those surveyed in a 2003 
     Employee Benefit Trend Study are confident in their ability 
     to make the right financial decisions for themselves and 
     their families, and 25 percent have done no specific 
     financial planning;
       Whereas between 25,000,000 and 56,000,000 adults are 
     unbanked, i.e., not using mainstream, insured financial 
     institutions;
       Whereas millions of people in the United States derive 
     great benefits from the wide variety of products and services 
     offered by the financial services industry in the United 
     States, and such financial products and services allow 
     individuals and families to build homes, start businesses, 
     finance educations, buy cars, and meet the everyday needs of 
     everyday life;
       Whereas expanding access to the mainstream financial system 
     provides individuals with lower cost, safer options for 
     managing their finances and building wealth;
       Whereas a greater understanding and familiarity with 
     financial markets and institutions will lead to increased 
     economic activity and growth;
       Whereas financial education has been linked to lower 
     delinquency rates for mortgage borrowers, higher 
     participation and contribution rates in retirement plans, 
     improved spending and saving habits, higher net worth, and 
     positive knowledge, attitude, and behavior changes;
       Whereas financial literacy empowers individuals to make 
     wise financial decisions and reduces the confusion of an 
     increasingly complex economy;
       Whereas personal financial management skills and life-long 
     habits develop during childhood;
       Whereas personal financial education is essential to ensure 
     that individuals are prepared to manage money, credit, and 
     debt, and become responsible workers, heads of households, 
     investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens; and
       Whereas Congress found it important enough to ensure 
     coordination of Federal financial literacy efforts and 
     formulate a national strategy that it established the 
     Financial Literacy and Education Commission in 2003 and 
     designated the Office of Financial Education of the 
     Department of the Treasury to provide support for the 
     Commission: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 2004 as ``Financial Literacy Month'' 
     to raise public awareness about the importance of financial 
     education in the United States and the serious consequences 
     that may be associated with a lack of understanding about 
     personal finances; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the Federal Government, States, localities, 
     schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, 
     and the people of the United States to observe the month with 
     appropriate programs and activities.
                                 ______
                                 

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 97--RECOGNIZING THE 91ST ANNUAL MEETING OF 
                       THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA

  Mr. SARBANES (for himself and Ms. Mikulski) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 97

       Whereas The Garden Club of America is holding its 91st 
     annual meeting in Washington, D.C. April 24 through 27, 2004;
       Whereas The Garden Club of America has 195 member clubs in 
     40 States and the District of Columbia, representing more 
     than 17,000 members;
       Whereas since its founding in 1913, The Garden Club of 
     America has become a recognized leader in the fields of 
     horticulture, conservation, historic preservation, and civic 
     improvement, and an influential organization in the 
     protection of America's environment; and
       Whereas in our Nation's Capital, The Garden Club of America 
     was instrumental in the founding of the National Arboretum, 
     the development of the Archives of American Gardens at the 
     Smithsonian Institution, and the creation and installation of 
     the Butterfly Habitat Garden which now graces The National 
     Mall at the National Museum of Natural History: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress commends The Garden Club of 
     America for the many contributions it has made in our 
     Nation's Capital and in communities across the United States, 
     and sends its best wishes on the occasion of its 91st annual 
     meeting in Washington, D.C., April 24 through 27, 2004.

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, today I am submitting legislation 
together with Senator Mikulski that would recognize the achievements of 
The Garden Club of America on the occasion of its 91st annual meeting 
in Washington, DC, from April 24 through 27, 2004. This meeting in our 
Nation's Capital is especially significant because it occurs here only 
once every twenty-five years. This legislation recognizes and honors 
The Garden Club and the work of its 17,000 members to improve our 
country.
  Since its founding in 1913, The Garden Club of America has grown to 
include 195 member clubs in 40 States and the District of Columbia. It 
is a recognized leader in the fields of horticulture, conservation, 
historic preservation, civic improvement, and has significant influence 
in the protection of America's environment.
  Right here in the District of Columbia we can witness the results of 
The Garden Club's labor. Indeed it played an instrumental role in the 
founding of the National Arboretum and the development of the Archives 
of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution.
  Perhaps even more importantly, The Garden Club has become a 
significant impetus for community service across the United States. The 
scope of The Garden Club of America goes well beyond its numerous 
publications, its public plant and flower shows, and its national 
medalists. It is a source for the exchange of ideas and a platform for 
the betterment of our communities across this great country. The 
purpose of The Garden Club of America is to stimulate the knowledge and 
love of gardening, but also to share the advantages of association 
through educational meetings, conferences, correspondence, and 
publications, and to improve the quality of the environment through 
conservation and civic improvement.
  As a Marylander I know first hand of the contributions The Garden 
Club of America has made to our State. Ladew Topiary Gardens is a prime 
example of the edification and enjoyment that stems from the support of 
The Garden Club of America. Since 1971, Ladew Gardens has used its 22 
acres of gardens to educate children, entertain families, and promote 
the importance of beautiful landscapes within our communities. Every 
spring and summer, hundreds of families congregate in the gardens to 
enjoy the Sunday concerts, afternoon picnics, and self-guided 
educational nature walks. And every year, hundreds of families leave 
the gardens with an exhilarated appreciation for America's outdoors, 
and an enriched desire to conserve that beauty.
  The Garden Club of America has asked for very little in return for 
its dedication to America's beautiful landscapes. I am submitting this 
legislation today in the hope that we in the Congress can recognize 
this significant contribution as The Garden Club of America holds its 
annual meeting here in our Nation's Capital. I urge my colleagues in 
the Senate to join me in supporting this legislation.

                          ____________________