[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 22612-22620]
[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-188. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to requesting the Congress of 
     the United States to enact legislation to provide for federal 
     deployment of the Strategic National Stockpile within Mexico; 
     to the Committee on Armed Services.

                     Senate Concurrent Resolution 2

       Whereas, Created in 1999 to help state and local 
     jurisdictions prepare for a national emergency, the Strategic 
     National Stockpile is a repository of pharmaceuticals and 
     medical supplies administered jointly by the United States 
     Department of Homeland Security and United States Department 
     of Health and Human Services; and
       Whereas, Currently, if an act of bioterrorism occurs within 
     Mexico near the United States border, it is up to each United 
     States border state, including Texas, to request and deploy 
     the Strategic National Stockpile across the border to protect 
     the citizens of the state; and
       Whereas, Procedures for deploying Strategic National 
     Stockpile assets require the affected state governor's office 
     to request deployment from the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention or the Department of Homeland Security; 
     although the assets are transferred to state and local 
     authorities once they arrive at the designated receiving and 
     storage site in the affected state, the stockpile materials 
     remain a federal asset; and
       Whereas, Deployment, which may include a mass antibiotic 
     dispensing operation, requires substantial state and local 
     resources to receive, secure, and distribute Strategic 
     National Stockpile assets; staging and dispensing the assets 
     in another country requires a coordinated, comprehensive 
     approach that is best addressed by the federal government; 
     and
       Whereas, The Homeland Security Act of 2002 charged the 
     United States Department of Homeland Security with defining 
     the goals and performance requirements of the Strategic 
     National Stockpile program as well as managing the actual 
     deployment of assets; critical to the success of this 
     initiative is ensuring capacity at the federal level to 
     respond to binational public health emergencies; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully request the Congress of the United States 
     to enact legislation to provide for federal deployment of the 
     Strategic National Stockpile within Mexico, provided that the 
     Mexican government approves said request pursuant to treaties 
     and other agreements with the United States; 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-189. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly of 
     the State of New Jersey relative to legislation to authorize 
     National Guard members to enroll in Department of Defense 
     managed health care program; to the Committee on Armed 
     Services.

                      Assembly Resolution No. 282

       Whereas, The United States of America is founded on the 
     principle of citizen-soldiers safeguarding our national 
     security, a construct that is as essential today as it was 
     more than 368 years ago when the National Guard was 
     established; and
       Whereas, The oldest military institution in the United 
     States, the National Guard has been, since its founding in 
     1636, a community-based force composed of citizen-soldiers, 
     the members of the Army and Air National Guard serving the 
     nation in time of war and their states in time of domestic 
     emergency; and
       Whereas, As our nation continues to fight the War on 
     Terrorism and our military forces continue to be engaged in 
     operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, we are, more than 
     ever, dependent on the National Guard to defend the United 
     States, both overseas and at home; and
       Whereas, More than 197,000 soldiers of the Army National 
     Guard and 31,000 members of the Air National Guard have been 
     mobilized since September 11, 2001, the largest mobilization 
     of the National Guard since World War II; and
       Whereas, At this time, more than 51,000 Army Guardsmen are 
     on the ground in Iraq and 15,000 are serving in Afghanistan, 
     and sadly, more than 100 National Guard members have made the 
     ultimate sacrifice; and
       Whereas, Whether serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan 
     theaters or at home in the US, National Guard members are 
     operating side-by-side with their active-duty counterparts; 
     and
       Whereas, With a presence in more than 3,000 communities 
     across the nation, the National Guard is also playing a 
     crucial role in homeland security; and
       Whereas, The ``Guard and Reserve Readiness and Retention 
     Act of 2005,'' embodied in S. 337 and H.R. 558, are currently 
     pending before the 109th United States Congress; and
       Whereas, In part, this legislation extends TRICARE 
     coverage, the managed health care system for the U.S. 
     military, on a contributory basis, to all members of the 
     National Guard, regardless of mobilization status; and
       Whereas, In light of their expanded role in military 
     operations overseas and national security at home in our 
     post-9/11 society, a re-evaluation of our nation's commitment 
     to the citizen-soldiers of the National Guard is in order; 
     and
       Whereas, These brave men and women deserve more than our 
     thanks, they deserve more substantial personnel and readiness 
     benefits that ensure the National Guard will continue to 
     attract the best and brightest, from the active-duty 
     component of the military as well as the civilian population; 
     and
       Whereas, The provision of adequate health care coverage to 
     each and every citizen-soldier of the National Guard would 
     repay but a small portion of our nation's debt to these 
     exceptional men and women who are vigilantly defending our 
     homeland, both at home and abroad; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       1. This House calls upon the United States Congress to 
     provide health care benefits for National Guard members and 
     their families by authorizing a member to enroll, on a 
     contributory basis, for individual or family coverage under 
     the TRICARE program, regardless of mobilization status.
       2. This House urges that the United States Congress pass 
     and the President of the United States approve the ``Guard 
     and Reserve Readiness and Retention Act of 2005,'' now 
     pending in the 109th Congress as S. 337 and H.R. 558, which 
     authorizes a member of the National Guard to enroll for 
     individual or family coverage under the TRICARE program, a 
     Department of Defense managed health care program.
       3. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk 
     thereof, shall be transmitted to the Vice President of the 
     United States, the Majority Leader of the United States 
     Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives and to every member of Congress elected from 
     this State.
                                  ____

       POM-190. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to fully funding the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration budget request in 
     support of the Space Exploration Vision for fiscal year 2006; 
     to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                      House Concurrent Resolution

       Whereas, The Legislature of the State of Texas is pleased 
     to pay tribute to National Aeronautics to Space 
     Administration (NASA), whose intrepid explorations of space 
     and important scientific discoveries have inspired and 
     benefited the people of our nation and state; and
       Whereas, The Space Exploration Vision has set a goal of 
     returning the Space Shuttle to flight, completing assembly of 
     the International Space Station, developing the Crew 
     Exploration Vehicle, returning humans to the moon, and 
     pursuing and human exploration of Mars and the solar system; 
     and
       Whereas, NASA's landmark achievement in putting the first 
     man on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong, on July 20, 1969, 
     captured the imagination of people everywhere; and

[[Page 22613]]

       Whereas, This new and major accomplishment ushered in new 
     and exciting technological advances that have benefited our 
     nation's security and cellular communications; NASA has also 
     advanced our health care system through the development of 
     MRI and CAT scan technology, fetal heart monitors, 
     programmable heart pacemakers, and other important medical 
     devices; and
       Whereas, Through education programs like Texas Aerospace 
     Scholars, the NASA Explorer Schools, and the Network of 
     Educator Astronaut Teachers, NASA is nurturing a new 
     generation of explorers and scientists who can contribute to 
     our nation's excellence; and
       Whereas, NASA plays a vital role in the economy of the Lone 
     Star State, by employing nearly 3,000 civil servants and 
     approximately 13,000 contractors at the Johnson Space Center 
     and by awarding almost $4 billion worth of NASA contracts 
     annually; small businesses across Texas with technical 
     challenges have benefited from the support of the aerospace 
     industry, NASA, and the State of Texas' support of the 
     Technology Outreach Program, resulting in new business 
     ventures within the state; and
       Whereas, The Space Exploration Vision has the potential to 
     further drive innovation, development, and advancement in the 
     aerospace and other high technology industries across the 
     nation and in the State of Texas; and
       Whereas, The extraordinary contributions of NASA to science 
     and technology are the pride of our state, and the Space 
     Exploration Vision is truly deserving of legislative 
     recognition; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge all members of the United States 
     Congress to fully fund the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration budget request in support of the Space 
     Exploration Vision, as submitted to the congress for fiscal 
     year 2006, to enable the United States, and the State of 
     Texas, to remain leaders in the exploration and development 
     of space; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the administrator of 
     the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 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-191. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to corporate average fuel 
     economy standards; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 5

       Whereas, California has more than 26 million registered 
     motor vehicles and
       Whereas, California represents at least 12 percent of the 
     light-duty vehicle market in the United States; and
       Whereas, Californians consume more than 18 billion gallons 
     of motor fuel annually; and
       Whereas, A study adopted by the State Energy Resources 
     Conservation and Development Commission (California Energy 
     Commission) and the State Air Resources Board (California Air 
     Resources Board) projects that demand for onroad gasoline 
     fuel will increase by about 1.6 percent annually between now 
     and 2020; that onroad diesel demand will increase by about 
     2.4 percent annually between now and 2020; and that the 
     number of miles that Californians drive is growing at a rate 
     greater than the population growth; and
       Whereas, California's refineries are operating at near 
     capacity, and California is importing more gasoline and 
     diesel fuel annually to meet this growing demand; and
       Whereas; The combination of greater dependence on imported 
     fuels and vulnerability to refinery outages exposes 
     California's economy to more frequent and higher fuel price 
     spikes; and
       Whereas, Fuel price spike vulnerability creates a business 
     climate with diminished certainty about anticipated expenses; 
     and
       Whereas, Petroleum extraction, refining, and use are 
     significant sources of pollution and environmental 
     degradation in California and around the world; and
       Whereas, Motor vehicle fuel economy dramatically affects 
     fuel demand; and
       Whereas, A study adopted by the California Energy 
     Commission and the California Air Resources Board determined 
     that doubling the fuel economy of the nation's light-duty 
     motor vehicle fleet is technically achievable and will result 
     in important reductions in consumer demand for fuel; and
       Whereas, Only the federal government has the authority to 
     require motor vehicle fuel economy improvements through the 
     corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard; and
       Whereas, In recent years, the nationwide motor vehicle 
     fleet fuel economy has declined as motor vehicles have become 
     larger, heavier, and less aerodynamic; and
       Whereas, The United States Congress, through its 
     legislative powers, and the President of the United States, 
     through the President's administrative powers, are in 
     position to require a significant increase in the CAFE 
     standard; and
       Whereas, The National Highway Traffic Safety 
     Administration's current rulemaking raising CAFE standards 
     for light-duty trucks and sport utility vehicles by just 1.5 
     miles per gallon above the 1996 levels, over three years, 
     bringing total requirements far below requirements for 
     passenger cars, is insufficient to address the critical need 
     to improve fuel economy and reduce fuel demand; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California memorializes the Congress and the President of the 
     United States to take necessary action to increase CAFE 
     standards by at least 1.5 miles per gallon per annum until 
     total average fuel economy for the new light-duty motor 
     vehicle fleet sold in California is double today's average; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States, to all Members of the Congress of the United States, 
     and to the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic 
     Safety Administration.
                                  ____

       POM-192. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to establishing a domestic 
     energy policy that will ensure an adequate supply of natural 
     gas, the appropriate infrastructure, and a concerted national 
     effort to promote greater energy efficiency and that will 
     open promising new areas for environmentally responsible 
     natural gas production; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                      Senate Concurrent Resolution

       Whereas, The price of natural gas in the United States is 
     among the highest in the industrial world and continues to 
     show great volatility; and
       Whereas, Abnormally high natural gas prices have been an 
     unanticipated burden on the economy of the United States over 
     the past 18 months; and
       Whereas, The United States is reliant on natural gas in our 
     national energy supply, and forecasts predict a future 
     imbalance between natural gas supply and demand; and
       Whereas, Manufacturers, farmers, small businesses, local 
     governments, and retailers are struggling from the 
     uncertainty in natural gas prices, and thousands of jobs are 
     threatened because many businesses use natural gas as a raw 
     material as well as a source of energy; and
       Whereas, The natural gas imbalance is not a free-market 
     problem; the high price of natural gas is created by 
     governmental policies that increase demand for natural gas 
     while impeding the development of a greater supply of natural 
     gas by discouraging more exploration and production; and
       Whereas, The United States needs policies to encourage and 
     ensure the safe and efficient domestic production and 
     importation of natural gas; and
       Whereas, The State of Texas supports a sound, domestic 
     energy policy; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to enact 
     legislation in the 109th Congress establishing a domestic 
     energy policy that will ensure an adequate supply of natural 
     gas the appropriate infrastructure, and a concerted national 
     effort to promote greater energy efficiency and that will 
     open promising new areas for environmentally responsible 
     natural gas production; 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-193. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly of 
     the State of New Jersey relative to support for the Passaic 
     River Restoration Initiative; to the Committee on Environment 
     and Public Works.

                      Assembly Resolution No. 227

       Whereas, The Passaic River Restoration Initiative (PRRI), a 
     new cooperative approach to restore the Passaic River, will 
     utilize the leadership of the [U.S.] United States Army Corps 
     of Engineers, in partnership with the. [U.S.] United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency, and various concerned 
     federal, state and local agencies; and
       Whereas, The Passaic River and its surrounding wetlands 
     have been degraded as a result of [the State's] commercial 
     growth in the State that brought industrial development to 
     the [Passaic's] shores of the Passaic River and surrounding 
     properties; and
       Whereas, The Passaic River, which traverses New Jersey 
     through Newark, is an ideal pilot [for the proposed PRRI as 
     appropriated by Congress] project to showcase nationally the 
     restoration of urban waterways, wildlife habitat, and one of 
     America's most historic rivers; and
       Whereas, Under the PRRI, the [U.S.] United States Army 
     Corps of Engineers will engage in a cooperative project 
     planning and

[[Page 22614]]

     development process to identify and apply feasible solutions 
     to achieve environmental restoration and economic 
     revitalization of the Passaic River; and
       Whereas, The results of the project development process 
     will be incorporated in a report to Congress from the Chief 
     of Engineers as project implementation will require 
     authorization by Congress; and
       Whereas, The PRRI is related to several other current major 
     federal initiatives, such as those under [Brownfields 
     Redevelopment] brownfields redevelopment, the NY/NJ Harbor 
     Estuary Program, and the Natural Resources Damage Assessment 
     and Restoration Program; and
       Whereas, On April 11, 2000 the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure in the United States House of 
     Representatives approved a resolution authorizing the [U.S.] 
     United States Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the Passaic 
     River Environmental Restoration reconnaissance study, which 
     is currently underway by the [Corps'] New York district of 
     the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and
       Whereas, It is in the best interest of the State to support 
     the enactment of the Passaic River Restoration Initiative in 
     order to restore and preserve [the Passaic River to] healthy 
     environmental and economic conditions in and along the 
     Passaic River; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       1. This House urges the United States Congress to support 
     the Passaic River Restoration Initiative in order to restore 
     and preserve the Passaic River to healthy environmental and 
     economic conditions, and to provide the funding for the 
     federal share of the project development process and the 
     necessary study funds of the [U.S.] United States Army Corps 
     of Engineers to advance the Passaic River Restoration 
     Initiative.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk 
     thereof, shall be transmitted to the Vice President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the 
     United States Senate and the United States House of 
     Representatives, and each member of Congress elected from 
     this State.
       EXPLANATION--Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] 
     in the above bill is not enacted and intended to be omitted 
     in the law. Italic matter that follows the bold brackets is 
     new matter.
                                  ____

       POM-194. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of New Jersey relative to rejecting 
     privatizing Social Security; to the Committee on Finance.

                        Senate Resolution No. 94

       Whereas, Social Security is based on a promise to the 
     American people: if you work hard and contribute to Social 
     Security, you will be able to retire and live in dignity; and
       Whereas, Social Security is the primary source of income 
     for two-thirds of American seniors; and
       Whereas, The State of New Jersey recognizes that over 
     1,363,814 beneficiaries in this State, including 140,693 
     disabled workers and their families, as well as over 100,000 
     children, receive guaranteed Social Security benefits which 
     allow them to live without falling into poverty or suffering 
     from a diminished quality of life because of retirement, 
     disability, or the death of a parent or spouse; and
       Whereas, As of January 2005 (the most recent data 
     available) Social Security benefits for retired workers 
     average only $965.32 per month, which amount is barely 
     sufficient to maintain a decent standard of living in many 
     parts of New Jersey, especially for seniors with relatively 
     high health care costs; and
       Whereas, The U.S. Congress has consistently spent the 
     Social Security surplus on other programs including tax cuts, 
     which has created a long-term funding shortfall; and
       Whereas, In 2001 President George W. Bush created the 
     President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security 
     (referred to in this resolution as the ``Bush Social Security 
     Commission''), naming as Commission members only those who 
     advocated Social Security privatization, and mandating that 
     the proposals put forward by the Commission include 
     privatization of Social Security; and
       Whereas, The Bush Social Security Commission's proposed 
     changes could reduce Social Security benefits to future 
     retirees by as much as 46 percent; and
       Whereas, Under the Bush Social Security Commission's 
     proposal, the cuts in Social Security benefits would apply to 
     all seniors, not just those who choose to participate in 
     privatized accounts; and
       Whereas, The cuts in Social Security benefits could be even 
     deeper if individuals shift funds to privatized accounts; and
       Whereas, Privatization advocates attempt to justify cuts in 
     Social Security benefits by pointing to future projected 
     shortfalls in the Social Security trust fund, but diversion 
     of payroll tax revenues from the trust fund into privatized 
     accounts would substantially accelerate the date by which the 
     Social Security trust fund becomes insolvent; and
       Whereas, In order to avoid accelerating the insolvency of 
     the Social Security trust fund, the Bush Social Security 
     Commission was forced to propose that the Federal Government 
     incur as much as $4,700,000,000,000 in Federal debt (in 
     today's dollars) by 2042; and
       Whereas, The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) 
     predicts that there will be no shortfall until 2052, when 
     Social Security will be able to pay only 80% of recipients' 
     benefits due to insufficient revenue from the payroll tax, if 
     no action is taken in the meantime; and
       Whereas, In the past, the Social Security Trust Fund has 
     encountered similar challenges, including larger projected 
     shortfalls during the 1980's, which were resolved without 
     privatization schemes and without reducing guaranteed 
     benefits for the elderly, the disabled, and children; and
       Whereas, Private accounts would not only reduce guaranteed 
     benefits, but would also speed up the Social Security 
     shortfall, causing recipients to receive reduced benefits by 
     the year 2018 instead of 2052; and
       Whereas, The deep cuts in Social Security benefits proposed 
     by the Bush Social Security Commission could jeopardize the 
     financial security of not only thousands of New Jersey 
     residents but also the security of millions of Americans; and
       Whereas, Under President Bush's proposal, guaranteed Social 
     Security protections to the elderly, disabled, survivors, and 
     children will gradually erode for future generations, driving 
     millions of Americans into poverty and destroying the most 
     successful social insurance program ever created in the 
     United States; and
       Whereas, It is recognized that Social Security faces future 
     challenges, but powerful members in both the President's 
     party and the opposition do not find the solution in 
     privatizing the most successful government program in our 
     nation's history; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
       1. This House respectfully memorializes the Congress of the 
     United States to reject the Social Security privatization 
     proposals of the President's Social Security Commission that 
     would create private accounts, require deep cuts in 
     guaranteed Social Security benefits and lead to excessive 
     federal borrowing.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary of 
     the Senate, shall be transmitted to the presiding officers of 
     the Congress of the United States and each member of New 
     Jersey's Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-195. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to eliminating current caps on 
     funded Medicare resident training positions and related 
     limits on costs per resident used to determine Medicare 
     graduate medical education reimbursement payments and to 
     reexamine the direct and indirect graduate medical education 
     reimbursement rates for graduate medical education in Texas; 
     to the Committee on Finance.

                      Senate Concurrent Resolution

       Whereas, Two major phases comprise the American system of 
     medical education--medical school, consisting of classroom 
     and clinical training, and the several years of graduate 
     medical education completed during a student's residency, 
     typically in an accredited medical education program at a 
     teaching hospital or academic health center; and
       Whereas, Significant funding for this postgraduate training 
     is provided through Medicare's graduate medical education 
     program, whereby the federal government reimburses teaching 
     hospitals and certain other facilities for a portion of the 
     costs associated with operating health education programs; 
     and
       Whereas, Medicare's funding includes two categories of 
     reimbursement payments, direct graduate medical education 
     payments and indirect graduate medical education payments; 
     direct graduate medical education payments cover the costs of 
     resident stipends, salaries for supervising faculty 
     positions, and administrative expenses associated with the 
     residency program; indirect graduate medical education 
     payments cover the increased operating expenses resulting 
     from training residents, such as greater technological needs, 
     longer patient stays, and the ordering of a greater number of 
     tests; and
       Whereas, The amount of Medicare's reimbursement to a 
     teaching hospital is partially determined by the number of 
     full-time equivalent residents enrolled in the facility's 
     graduate medical education program; however, in 1997, the 
     federal Balanced Budget Act considerably reduced the amount 
     of federal support for graduate medical education programs by 
     limiting the number of full-time equivalent residents that 
     hospitals can use in calculating direct graduate medical 
     education payments and indirect graduate medical education 
     payments and by scheduling an estimated 29 percent further 
     reduction in indirect graduate medical education payments 
     over a five-year period; and
       Whereas, The rates of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
     Services payments for direct graduate medical education in 
     Texas are already significantly lower than those in many 
     comparable states, largely based on historical differences, 
     and the potential consequences of these caps and the 
     resulting reductions in federal graduate medical education 
     reimbursement are severe; teaching

[[Page 22615]]

     hospitals and the training they provide to physicians and 
     other health professionals are a critical component of the 
     American health care system--these facilities are the 
     vanguard of medical research and technology and provide a 
     broader range of an increasingly diverse and sicker patient 
     care to population than general hospitals; and
       Whereas, In addition, teaching hospitals are a traditional 
     fixture of the health care ``safety net,'' serving uninsured 
     and underinsured patients; the importance of this service to 
     Texans is evident in light of United States Census Bureau 
     reports indicating that nearly 25 percent of the state's 
     population is not covered by health insurance; and
       Whereas, More specifically, the resident caps threaten the 
     future availability of health care professionals and with the 
     population of the nation aging, the demand for doctors and 
     other health care professionals is increasing; in fact, a 
     2003 study commissioned by the United States Department of 
     Health and Human Services Bureau of Health Professions at the 
     National Center for Health Workforce Analysis forecasts a 
     greater need for physicians and nurses by 2020 if current 
     health care consumption and physician productivity remain 
     constant; and
       Whereas, Furthermore, the study found that the health care 
     workforce is also aging and will retire just as their 
     services are most needed and that the proportion of the 
     population age 18 to 30 is declining, impeding efforts to 
     recruit an adequate number of new health care workers; and
       Whereas, Congress has acknowledged the deleterious effects 
     of the federal Balanced Budget Act caps and made bipartisan 
     efforts to diminish its effect on graduate medical education 
     programs: the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health 
     Insurance Program (SCHIP) Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 
     1999 froze indirect graduate medical education payments for 
     one year and the Medicare prescription Drug, Improvement and 
     Modernization Act of 2003 increased indirect graduate medical 
     education payments slightly for federal fiscal years 2004 and 
     2005; and
       Whereas, Nevertheless, these measures offered only brief 
     and minor reprieves to the dramatic reductions in indirect 
     graduate medical education reimbursement payments and did not 
     directly address the issue of federal caps in resident 
     training positions though, clearly, the caps and the 
     decreased commitment to indirect graduate medical education 
     funding continue to endanger the entire system of medical 
     education in the United States; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully encourage the Congress of the United 
     States to eliminate current caps on funded Medicare resident 
     training positions and related limits on costs per resident 
     used to determine Medicare graduate medical education 
     reimbursement payments and to reexamine the direct and 
     indirect graduate medical education reimbursement rates for 
     graduate medical education in Texas; 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-196. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to port customs revenue; to 
     the Committee on Finance.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 21

       Whereas, The State of California is committed to protecting 
     and preserving its ports, and those employed in and around 
     the ports; and
       Whereas, The state supports the safe and reliable 
     transportation of goods into and through the state; and
       Whereas, California is home to more than 12 percent of the 
     nation's population; and
       Whereas, The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which 
     together transport 43 percent of the nation's trade, 1 
     million cruise passengers, and more than $200,000,000,000 in 
     trade annually, comprise the largest port complex in the 
     United States and the Western Hemisphere; and
       Whereas, California serves as an international commerce 
     gateway between the nation and most of its trade partners 
     and, according to the California Transportation Commission, 
     California moves over $400,000,000,000 in goods annually with 
     a source or destination outside of California; and
       Whereas, Forecasts predict that the amount of trade 
     transported through the state's ports will triple by 2020 if 
     adequate infrastructure improvements are completed; and
       Whereas, California is the single largest trading entity in 
     the United States, and three of the four largest volume 
     container ports in the United States are located in 
     California; and
       Whereas, California ports, harbors, and businesses that 
     depend on federal channels and breakwaters contribute more 
     than $40,000,000,000 per year to national economic output, 
     1.6 million jobs, and approximately $21,000,000,000 annual 
     personal income to the United States economy; and
       Whereas, Federal grants for security upgrades mandated by 
     the United States Department of Homeland Security amount to 
     just over $51,000,000, while it is estimated that these 
     security upgrades will cost California's three major 
     container ports an estimated $200,000,000 to install; and
       Whereas, The American Association of Port Authorities has 
     called for the federal government to provide $400,000,000 in 
     port security funds annually; and
       Whereas, The United States Coast Guard has additionally 
     estimated that it will require $7,300,000,000 in federal 
     funds for its own maritime security duties during 10-year 
     period of 2003 to 2012, inclusive; and
       Whereas, Limited federal port security funds have fallen 
     short of fully funding port security needs throughput the 
     nation; and
       Whereas, On August 25, 2004, Stephen E. Flynn, the Jeanne 
     J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies at 
     the Council on Foreign Relations testified to the House 
     Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on 
     the risk of terrorist attacks, stating that ``the risk of 
     harm is great or greater in the maritime and surface 
     transportation modes''; and
       Whereas, An internal audit report produced by the United 
     States Department of Homeland Security entitled ``Review of 
     the Port Security Grant Program'' criticized the 
     ineffectiveness of the federal port security grant program 
     stating, in part, that the ``current design of the program 
     compromises the program's ability to direct resources toward 
     the nation's highest priorities''; and
       Whereas, A Public Policy Institute of California study 
     entitled, ``Federal Formula Grants and California: Homeland 
     Security,'' has found that California receives only $5 per 
     person to distribute to first responders in the state, while 
     other states, such as Wyoming, received more than $38 per 
     capita in 2004; and
       Whereas, California received only $23.71 per capita in 
     Homeland Security grant funding during fiscal years 2002-03 
     and 2003-04, ranking 44th in the nation; and
       Whereas, Federal port security grants cannot be used for 
     maintenance and operations expenditures related to security, 
     thereby complicating emergency communications and operations 
     duties expected of first responders; and
       Whereas, A number of ports are located on state tidelands 
     and, therefore, must act as stewards of the land and manage 
     those lands in a manner that benefits all Californians; and
       Whereas, A shut down of the ports can result in an 
     estimated loss to the national economy of more than 
     $1,000,000,000 per day, as demonstrated during the shutdown 
     of the west coast ports in 2002; and
       Whereas, California ports are responsible for 
     $8,000,000,000 of the $20,000,000,000 that the United States 
     Customs Service collects annually in fees and duties, and 
     none of that revenue is reinvested in the state's or 
     country's system for moving goods because customs fees are 
     deposited into the General Fund; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Assembly and the 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 increase federal funding for 
     California's ports for infrastructure and security 
     improvements; and be it further
       Resolved, That legislation be enacted, in recognition of 
     the unique role served by ports in California, to ensure a 
     return of an equitable share of the customs revenues 
     generated by, and collected from, this state; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Legislature supports efforts by 
     California's congressional and senate representatives to 
     obtain an equitable share of federal port security and goods 
     movement infrastructure funding and encourages those 
     representatives to support measures that will guarantee that 
     California has the funds necessary to secure and facilitate 
     commercial activity at its many ports; 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, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to 
     each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States, and to the Director of the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
                                  ____

       POM-197. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to Darfur; to the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 6

       Whereas, Sudan's government and southern rebels have come 
     to an historic, long-awaited agreement that ends Africa's 
     longest civil war and brings hope to millions of exiled 
     Sudanese yearning to return home; and
       Whereas, Continued violence in the troubled region of 
     Darfur, Sudan, previously described by the Bush 
     administration as genocide, cast a shadow over the agreement, 
     which does not cover the Darfur conflict; and
       Whereas, Darfur, an area of 256,000 square kilometers 
     constituting the western region of the Sudan, is home to an 
     estimated five million people, a population made up of a 
     complex tribal mix; and

[[Page 22616]]

       Whereas, Large swathes of Darfur have been prone to drought 
     and desertification, intensifying demands on its more fertile 
     lands, making areas of Darfur subject to sporadic intertribal 
     clashes over use of resources in recent decades; and
       Whereas, The government of the Sudan appears to have 
     sponsored a militia composed of a loose collection of 
     fighters, apparently of Arab background, known as the 
     ``Janjaweed''; and
       Whereas, With the active support of the regular army, the 
     Janjaweed have attacked villages, targeting those suspected 
     of supporting the rebels and committing numerous human rights 
     violations; and
       Whereas, The humanitarian consequences of the situation in 
     Darfur are grave, with an estimated 70,000 innocent civilians 
     brutally murdered, and according to the Office of the United 
     Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, an estimated 
     1,600,000 people internally displaced, and more than 200,000 
     people forced from their homes and fleeing to neighboring 
     Chad; and
       Whereas, The government of the Sudan should; at the highest 
     levels, publicly and unequivocally condemn all violations of 
     human rights and international humanitarian law, investigate 
     those violations, and bring the perpetrators to justice; and
       Whereas, The Janjaweed and other militias should be 
     immediately disarmed and disbanded, and humanitarian workers 
     must be given full and unimpeded access to Darfur; and
       Whereas, Refugees and displaced persons should be permitted 
     to return to their lands and homes voluntarily, and should 
     receive restitution or fair compensation for their losses; 
     and
       Whereas, Fundamental human rights must be respected in 
     times of peace and in times of armed conflict; and
       Whereas, The Sudan is a party to several core human rights 
     treaties, including the International Covenant and Civil and 
     Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Convention on the 
     Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), 
     the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the 
     African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That it is the sense of the Legislature 
     of the State of California that the government of the Sudan 
     should, at the highest levels, publicly and unequivocally 
     condemn all actions and crimes committed by the Janjaweed, 
     ensure that all militias are immediately disarmed and 
     disbanded, and pursue a policy of national reconciliation, 
     ending impunity and ensuring the rule of law and the 
     protection of minorities; and be it further
       Resolved, That it is the further sense of the Legislature 
     that humanitarian workers must be given full and unimpeded 
     access to Darfur in order to ensure that there is no blockage 
     in the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That it is the further sense of the Legislature 
     that the government of the Sudan should put in place measures 
     to ensure that human rights abuses, war crimes, and crimes 
     against humanity are not repeated in the future and that the 
     rule of law is restored in Darfur in conformity with 
     internationally agreed standards; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully requests that 
     the President and Congress of the United States continue to 
     take all prudent and necessary steps to ensure that these 
     matters are addressed at the highest levels of the federal 
     government; 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, to each Senator and Representative from 
     California in the Congress of the United States, to the 
     United States Secretary of State, and to the Secretary 
     General of the United Nations.
                                  ____

       POM-198. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Colorado relative to expressing sympathy for the 
     victims of the earthquake and tsunamis that occurred on 
     December 26, 2004, and thanking Coloradans for their generous 
     charitable donations; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                     House Joint Resolution 05-1005

       Whereas, On the morning of December 26, 2004, one of the 
     largest earthquakes in recent memory registering a magnitude 
     of 9.0 occurred undersea in the Indian Ocean, setting off one 
     of the largest tsunamis in recorded history that killed tens 
     of thousands of people in Southeast Asia; and
       Whereas, The tsunamis crossed into the Pacific Ocean and 
     were recorded as far away as New Zealand and along the west 
     coast of South and North America; and
       Whereas, The earthquake and resulting tsunamis affected a 
     large number of countries, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, 
     India, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Maldives, and 
     Somalia; and
       Whereas, At least 150,000 people have lost their lives in 
     East Africa and Southeast Asia in the aftermath of the 
     earthquake and resulting tsunamis; and
       Whereas, Millions of people remain homeless and at risk 
     from disease: and
       Whereas, Thousands of people are still missing, and the 
     death toll continues to grow; and
       Whereas, Aid workers and volunteers are focused on stopping 
     the spread of disease and on delivering food and drinking 
     water to survivors; and
       Whereas, Coloradans have always stepped forward to help in 
     times of need by providing financial, material, and medical 
     assistance; and
       Whereas, The American Red Cross reports that emergency 
     assessment and first-aid teams were on the ground quickly and 
     are working with local groups to support relief efforts; and
       Whereas, The people of Colorado have shown their generosity 
     by donating thus far $4.1 million statewide to the various 
     chapters of the American Red Cross, $3.5 million of which has 
     been donated to the Mile High Chapter of the American Red 
     Cross; and
       Whereas, Chennai, India became Denver's 7th sister city in 
     1984 and has been deeply affected by the tsunamis in that 
     more than 6,000 people in Chennai were killed; and
       Whereas, Local radio and television stations and various 
     local groups are contributing their time and efforts to help 
     provide financial assistance for areas devastated by the 
     tsunamis, including Chennai; and
       Whereas, The United States government has pledged $350 
     million in aid, to meet the overwhelming needs of the tsunami 
     victims; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the sixty-
     fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate 
     concurring herein:
       1. That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, 
     hereby express our sorrow to each of the countries affected 
     by the earthquake and tsunamis and for the terrible loss of 
     life and suffering caused by the earthquake and tsunamis; and
       2. That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, 
     hereby offer our condolences to the victims of the earthquake 
     and tsunamis and their loved ones; and
       3. That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly; 
     hereby express our heartfelt thanks to all Coloradans for 
     their generous charitable donations for the victims of the 
     earthquake and tsunamis, be it further
       That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and to each member of Colorado's 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-199. A Senate Joint Resolution adopted by the 
     Legislature of the State of Colorado relative to a 
     reaffirmation by the Colorado General Assembly of the strong 
     bonds connecting the United States and the State of Israel 
     and an expression by the Colorado General Assembly of support 
     and solidarity with the State of Israel in its struggle 
     against terrorism; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                     Senate Joint Resolution 05-038

       Whereas, On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General 
     Assembly voted to partition the British mandate of Palestine 
     and, by that vote, created the state of Israel; and
       Whereas, On May 14, 1948, the people of the state of Israel 
     proclaimed the establishment of the sovereign and independent 
     state of Israel; and
       Whereas, The United States government recognized the state 
     of Israel just minutes after its declaration of independence 
     and, at that time, established full diplomatic relations with 
     the nascent state; and
       Whereas, The establishment of the state of Israel as a 
     modern homeland for the Jewish people followed the 
     extermination of more than six million European Jews during 
     the Holocaust; and
       Whereas, Since its establishment fifty-seven years ago, the 
     Israeli people have built a modern nation, forged a new and 
     dynamic society, and created a unique and vital economic, 
     cultural, and intellectual life while confronting immense 
     pressures and burdens associated with war, terrorism, 
     ostracism from much of the international community, and 
     economic boycotts; and
       Whereas, In spite of this severe degree of adversity 
     confronting them since 1948, including the War of 
     Independence, the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, and the 
     terrorist attacks of the two Intifadas, the people of the 
     state of Israel have established a vibrant and functioning 
     pluralistic and democratic political system that guarantees 
     fundamental freedoms of speech and of the press, free, fair, 
     and open elections, and respect for the rule of law; and
       Whereas, At great financial and social cost, Israel has 
     absorbed several millions of immigrants from many nations 
     around the world and has made great strides in fully 
     integrating these immigrants into Israeli society; and
       Whereas, For over half a century, the people of the United 
     States and the people of the state of Israel have created and 
     maintained a special relationship based upon mutually shared 
     democratic values, common strategic interests, and the bonds 
     of friendship and mutual respect; and
       Whereas, The bonds connecting the United States and Israel 
     include increased economic

[[Page 22617]]

     ties between the two nations, particularly increased trade 
     between Colorado and Israel as evidenced by the following 
     facts: In 2003, Colorado exported approximately $38 million 
     worth of goods to Israel; total Colorado exports to Israel 
     have exceeded $250 million since 1991; in 2003, Israel ranked 
     as Colorado's 21st leading trade partner; and collaboration 
     between Colorado-based and Israeli business concerns is 
     taking place in, among other things, the areas of advanced 
     technology, telecommunications, and health care; and
       Whereas, The bonds connecting the United States and Israel 
     also include greater collaboration between scientific 
     researchers in both nations, including researchers in 
     Colorado and Israel, and researchers in Colorado and Israel 
     are collaborating on scientific projects involving, among 
     other things, atmospheric science, applied chemistry and 
     physics, medicine, and agriculture; and
       Whereas, The United States also has benefited from the 
     exchange of technology and expertise from Israel in the area 
     of homeland security, providing invaluable benefits to our 
     nation in combating and responding to terrorism; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly 
     of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives 
     concurring herein:
       (1) That we, the members of the General Assembly of the 
     state of Colorado, hereby reaffirm the strong bonds that have 
     connected the people of the United States and the people of 
     the state of Israel together through turbulent times for more 
     than half a century.
       (2) That we commend the people of the state of Israel for 
     their remarkable achievements in building a democratic and 
     pluralistic society in the wake of almost unrelieved 
     adversity spanning the entirety of the nation's existence.
       (3) That we express empathy with the people of the state of 
     Israel as they endure a daily struggle against terrorism and 
     violence and support efforts to bring security to the Jewish 
     and democratic state of Israel.
       (4) That we express outrage against, and in the strongest 
     possible terms condemn, all acts of terror perpetrated 
     against the Israeli people with the intent and effect of 
     murdering Israeli civilians, including women and children.
       (5) That we support the brave efforts of the government and 
     people of Israel in pursuing peace by way of negotiation.
       (6) That we applaud the government of Israel's difficult 
     and painful decision to disengage from Gaza and the northern 
     section of the West Bank in order to advance peace 
     negotiations.
       (7) That we reaffirm the commitment of the American people 
     to a just, lasting, and secure peace for the people of the 
     state of Israel and all of the peoples of the Middle East, be 
     it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to 
     President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, 
     Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, His Excellency Daniel 
     Ayalon, the Ambassador of Israel to the United States, and to 
     each member of Colorado's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-200. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to urging the Congress of the 
     United States to increase the presence of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention in Texas, improve coordination 
     of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programs with 
     those operated by the Texas Department of State Health 
     Services, and increase the amount of federal resources coming 
     into Texas from the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                      House Concurrent Resolution

       Whereas, The State of Texas is the second most populous 
     state in the United States and currently registers more than 
     1,000 births per day; and
       Whereas, Texas has a 1,254-mile international border with 
     the United Mexican States with millions of border crossings 
     and thousands of international flights arriving in Texas each 
     year, and 10 percent of Texans living on the border with 
     Mexico; and
       Whereas, Mexico is the United States' second-largest 
     trading partner and, according to the Center for 
     Transportation Research at The University of Texas at Austin, 
     76 percent of all U.S. trade with, Mexico passes through 
     Texas; and
       Whereas, The nation's food industry has a pivotal role in 
     the health and bio-security of all Americans, and Texas is 
     the nation's second largest agricultural producing state; and
       Whereas, Preventing infectious livestock and plant diseases 
     and protecting our food supply goes a long way toward 
     ensuring both human health and economic stability in Texas 
     and the United States; and
       Whereas, Serving as an infectious disease buffer zone for 
     the rest of the United States, Texas faces a significant 
     burden regarding a number of diseases, with the rate of 
     waterborne diseases such as hepatitis A and amebiasis in the 
     Texas counties bordering Mexico that has, as an example, been 
     reported to be two to three times greater than the statewide 
     average; in 2003, the rate of tuberculosis incidence per 
     100,000 in population was nearly twice that of non-border 
     counties; and
       Whereas, The condition of public health within Texas, 
     particularly along the international border, is clearly 
     critical to that of the entire country; and
       Whereas, With more than 22 million residents, Texas also 
     faces a number of other alarming public health issues, such 
     as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes; in 2003, 
     the Texas Department of Health reported that 39 percent of 
     Texas fourth-graders, 38 percent of eighth-graders, and 61 
     percent of Texas adults were overweight or obese; and
       Whereas, Heart disease and stroke are the number one and 
     number three causes of death in Texas, accounting for 
     approximately 54,000 deaths each year in Texas; and
       Whereas, The Texas Diabetes Council estimates that more 
     than one million adults in Texas have been diagnosed with 
     diabetes and more than 500,000 adults are believed to have 
     undiagnosed diabetes; and
       Whereas, An increased presence and resources from the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could help prevent 
     vaccine-preventable childhood and adult diseases and prevent 
     and control the introduction of lethal diseases such as 
     tuberculosis and SARS, which could potentially lead to 
     catastrophic consequences in terms of morbidity, mortality, 
     health care costs, and statewide impact; and
       Whereas, Partnerships and coordination between the State of 
     Texas and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     could greatly enhance protection against the spread of 
     infectious disease, further obesity prevention activities, 
     and improve early detection, treatment, and self-management 
     of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes; and
       Whereas, Texas' growing population, demographic diversity, 
     and border with the United Mexican States present unique 
     challenges to providing quality health care to its citizens; 
     as a buffer to the remainder of the United States against 
     infectious disease and contamination of the country's food 
     supply, the State of Texas merits additional resources to 
     provide for the health of its residents and, ultimately, to 
     safeguard the health of the entire United States; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby strongly encourage the United States Congress to 
     increase the presence of the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention in Texas, improve coordination of Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention programs with those operated 
     by the Texas Department of State Health Services, and 
     increase the amount of federal resources coming into Texas 
     from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 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 members of the Texas delegation to the 
     Congress with the request that this resolution be officia11y 
     entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the 
     Congress of the United States of America and that copies also 
     be forwarded to the secretary of the United States Department 
     of Health and Human Services and the director of the Centers 
     for Disease Control and Prevention.
                                  ____

       POM-201. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to urging the Congress of the 
     United States to increase funding to the fully authorized 
     level and include advance funds for the Low Income Home 
     Energy Assistance Program and to pursue a more equitable 
     funding allocation formula for the program; to the Committee 
     on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                    House Concurrent Resolution 166

       Whereas, More than four million Texans are at or below 125 
     percent of Federal poverty guidelines, but only 173,323, or 
     4.3 percent, are served by the Federal Low Income Home Energy 
     Assistance Program (LIHEAP), according to the Texas 
     Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), which 
     administers the program in our State; and
       Whereas, Income guidelines for LIHEAP, which provides 
     funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program and the 
     Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program at TDHCA, allow 
     households to have income levels of up to 125 percent of 
     current poverty guidelines; however, based upon 2000 census 
     data, Texas has more than three million persons who are at or 
     below 100 percent of the poverty guidelines; and
       Whereas, Home energy assistance is particularly important 
     in Texas due to the intense heat, which is a critical health 
     threat to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and very 
     young children; in fact, the Texas Department of Health 
     reports that in our State more individuals die due to heart-
     related stress than exposure to excessive cold; and
       Whereas, LIHEAP funds are distributed based on an outdated 
     formula that disproportionately favors heating degree days in 
     northern States over cooling degree days in southern States 
     and does not utilize the most current State-specific 
     population, income, and energy price data; and

[[Page 22618]]

       Whereas, While funding was close to level from Federal 
     fiscal year 2003 to 2005, the recent increase in energy costs 
     has further reduced the already limited number of eligible 
     Texans who can be served by LIHEAP; and
       Whereas, Current appropriations for LIHEAP do not include 
     advance funds, which are vital to ensuring the timely and 
     orderly delivery of services during the period after funding 
     for the program is authorized by Congress and before Texas is 
     notified of its final appropriation level for the program 
     year; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     increase funding to the fully authorized level and include 
     advance funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
     Program and to pursue a more equitable funding allocation 
     formula for the 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-202. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of New 
     Hampshire relative to enacting legislation to make English 
     the official language of the United States; to the Committee 
     on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                     House Concurrent Resolution 6

       Whereas, English is the national language of the United 
     States only by custom, not by law; and
       Whereas, the United States is comprised of individuals from 
     many ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, and 
     continues to benefit from this rich diversity; and
       Whereas, these individuals, although keeping their ethnic 
     background alive, were urged to take advantage of the 
     educational system which taught them the English language and 
     United States history; and
       Whereas, throughout the history of the Unites States, the 
     common thread binding individuals of differing backgrounds 
     has been the English language; and
       Whereas, command of the English language is necessary to 
     participate in, and take full advantage of, the opportunities 
     afforded by life in the United States; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives, the Senate 
     concurring:
       That the New Hampshire general court hereby urges the 
     United States Congress to pass H.R. 997, ``The English 
     Language Unity Act of 2003,'' to establish English as the 
     official language of the United States; and
       That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the 
     President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the President of the United 
     States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States 
     Senate, and to members of the New Hampshire congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-203. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the Legislature of the State of Missouri relative to urging 
     the United States Congress to authorize and appropriate full 
     funding required to establish the Chiropractic Center for 
     Military Research at Logan College of Chiropractic at its 
     campus in Chesterfield, Missouri; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7

       Whereas, musculoskeletal conditions are responsible for 
     approximately 50 percent of all health-related military 
     disability discharges and the most common non-traumatic cause 
     of functional impairment during military operations; and
       Whereas, chiropractic services often are used to treat 
     musculoskeletal conditions, and Congress established 
     chiropractic benefits and services for both active duty 
     military within the U.S. Department of Defense and for 
     veterans within the Veterans' Affairs health care systems; 
     and
       Whereas, doctors of chiropractic practice are in nearly 50 
     military treatment facilities, primarily testing 
     musculoskeletal conditions and slowly are being added to the 
     VA health care system; and
       Whereas, there currently is no enterprise coordinating and 
     guiding collaborative research efforts between preeminent 
     chiropractic colleges, scientists, and the military 
     researchers to address the primary questions surrounding 
     integration of chiropractic into military health care 
     environments; and
       Whereas, there is a critical need to establish a robust, 
     collaborative, national program to address the continued 
     integration of chiropractic health are into the Department of 
     Defense health care systems; and
       Whereas, Logan College of Chiropractic and the Samueli 
     Institute have proposed the establishment of a plan to create 
     a new consortial Chiropractic Center for Military Research in 
     Chesterfield, Missouri, on the campus of Logan College; and
       Whereas, the Center will facilitate development of research 
     capacity in the area of musculoskeletal research, education 
     and training through linkages with researchers and scientists 
     at chiropractic educational institutions with researchers 
     within the Department of Defense and with scientists and 
     researchers at the Samueli Institute; and
       Whereas, the research program to be pursued by the 
     collaborative consortial Chiropractic Center for Military 
     Research will focus special, initial priority consideration 
     on those musculoskeletal conditions that are affecting those 
     active duty military and veterans participating in or 
     returning from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, including the 
     role of chiropractic manipulation in the total care of those 
     with amputations and prosthetics: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the members of the Missouri Senate, Ninety-
     Third General Assembly, First Regular Session, the House of 
     Representatives concurring therein, urge the United States 
     Senate and the United States House of Representatives to 
     authorize and appropriate full funding required to establish 
     the proposed Chiropractic Center for Military Research at 
     Logan College of Chiropractic at its campus in Chesterfield, 
     Missouri; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Missouri Senate be 
     instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this 
     resolution for the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, 
     and each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-204. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to Dr. Dalip S. Saund; to 
     the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, Dr. Dalip S. Saund immigrated to the United States 
     from India at a time when Indian nationals were denied 
     eligibility for American citizenship; and
       Whereas, Thanks to his initiative and the help of Indians 
     in California and New York, Congresswoman Clare Booth Luce 
     and Congressman Emanuel Cellar were convinced to jointly 
     introduce a bill in the United States Congress to allow 
     Indian nationals to become American citizens, and after a 
     long and hard struggle the bill was signed by President 
     Truman on July 3, 1946; and
       Whereas, Though Dr. Saund had started as a farmhand, he 
     obtained a Ph.D. from the University of California at 
     Berkeley; and as a naturalized citizen started taking an 
     active role in the political process of his adopted homeland; 
     and
       Whereas, In June 1950, he won his first political battle 
     when he ran for and won a seat on the Imperial County 
     Democratic Central Committee; and
       Whereas, In November 1950, he was elected as a judge in 
     Westmorland due to his exemplary grassroots campaign, but 
     because he had not been a citizen for one full year the 
     judgeship was denied him; and
       Whereas, In 1952, he ran again for the judgeship against 
     the incumbent and won, serving as judge in Westmorland for 
     four years; and
       Whereas, In October 1955, Dr. Saund became a candidate for 
     Congress from the 29th Congressional District, facing a 
     highly celebrated opponent who had rich supporters and who 
     was a personal friend of the then President of the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, With the help of dedicated volunteers, Dr. Saund 
     carried out an intensive campaign of voter registration, 
     passed out thousands of ``Saund circulars,'' visited 
     thousands of homes, and thus made a definite impact on 
     voters, resulting in the election of the ``first native of 
     Asia'' to the United States Congress on November 6, 1956; and
       Whereas, Today, the population of Asian Americans in the 
     United States is in excess of 10 million, and Asian 
     Americans, and particularly Indian Americans, seeking 
     political office invoke Dr. Saund's name, much the same way 
     as Dr. Saund himself invoked President Lincoln's name, as a 
     source of inspiration and a worthy role model; and
       Whereas, November 6, 2006, marks the 50th anniversary of 
     the historic election of Dr. Saund to the United States 
     Congress; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully memorializes the President and 
     Congress of the United States to urge the Citizens' Stamp 
     Advisory Committee and the United States Postal Service to 
     issue a commemorative stamp to honor the first Asian member 
     of Congress, Dr. Dalip S. Saund; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges all Californians to 
     celebrate September 20 of each year, Dalip S. Saund's 
     birthday, in recognition of his outstanding achievement as 
     the first native of Asia to be elected to Congress; 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, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to 
     each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States, to the Citizens' Stamp 
     Advisory Committee, and to the United States Postal Service.
                                  ____

       POM-205. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to ZIP Codes; to the 
     Committee on

[[Page 22619]]

     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                    Assembly Joint Resolution No. 7

       Whereas, Many communities in California have the advantage 
     and convenience of possessing ZIP Codes that are unique to 
     their respective communities; and
       Whereas, The private development sector measures economic 
     feasibility for investing in local communities based on data 
     collected by ZIP Codes; and
       Whereas, Sales taxes, franchise fees, federal funding, and 
     other city revenue sources are traced through ZIP Codes; and
       Whereas, Cities who share ZIP Codes may lose a portion of 
     their revenue stream to other jurisdictions which the post 
     office recognizes as the primary geographic area for that 
     particular ZIP Code; and
       Whereas, Unique ZIP Codes help to develop a city's identity 
     so that citizens can rightfully participate in their local 
     election processes holding their own elected officials 
     accountable; and
       Whereas, Local political and fiscal accountability is the 
     cornerstone of democracy; and
       Whereas, The ZIP Codes have a wider application than the 
     delivery of mail to the cities in California; and
       Whereas, The United States Postal Service advises residents 
     and businesses to identify their address by post office 
     address rather than city address to ensure proper mail 
     delivery; and
       Whereas, Several cities in California also contain shared 
     ZIP Codes and may not be aware of the negative impact such an 
     arrangement may have on their community; now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Assembly and. the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the United 
     States Postmaster to create ZIP Codes that do not encompass 
     more than one municipality; 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, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the 
     Minority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and 
     Representative from California in the Congress of the United 
     States, and the United States Postmaster.
                                  ____

       POM-206. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to supporting parity for 
     Mexican visitors to the United States by enacting legislation 
     that would allow them the same six-month length of stay 
     afforded to Canadian travelers; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                     House Concurrent Resolution 13

       Whereas, Canadian travelers to the United States may stay 
     in this country for up to six months, while Mexican visitors 
     only recently gained the right to a 30-day stay with a laser 
     visa under an expansion of the United States Visitor and 
     Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program, 
     which previously limited such stays to 72 hours and no more 
     than 25 miles inside the U.S. border; and
       Whereas, Aside from adversely affecting international 
     goodwill between the United States and its neighbors to the 
     north and south by the disparate treatment of their citizens, 
     this disparity also has a negative impact on the economic 
     stability of the U.S.-Mexico border; and
       Whereas, If Mexican tourists, business-
     persons, and other short-term travelers received the same 
     opportunities to visit and do business in the United States 
     as their Canadian counterparts, it would facilitate business 
     between the United States and Mexico, boosting the U.S. and 
     Texas economies; and
       Whereas, El Paso and other Texas border communities that 
     directly benefit from cross-border travel may expect a 
     dramatic increase in local economic development if the length 
     of stay for Mexican nationals with laser visas is extended 
     from 30 days to six months; and
       Whereas, Local community leaders attending a recent 
     gathering of the U.S. Hispanic Chambers of Commerce were 
     assured by U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
     Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson that the Bush Administration 
     supports treating all international guests equally; and
       Whereas, U.S. Senator John Cornyn and U.S. Representative 
     Ruben Hinojosa, both of Texas, introduced legislation in the 
     108th Congress (S. 1908 and H.R. 3488, respectively) to allow 
     Mexican nationals currently admissible under laser visa 
     border crossing regulations to enter the United States as 
     six-month nonimmigrant visitors; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     support parity for Mexican visitors to the United States by 
     enacting legislation that would allow them the same six-month 
     length of stay afforded to Canadian travelers; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies or this resolution to the U.S. Department of 
     Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State and 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-207. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California relative to the 32nd anniversary of 
     Roe v. Wade; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       Whereas, January 22, 2005, is the 32nd anniversary of the 
     historic United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade 
     (1973) 410 U.S. 113, guaranteeing women's reproductive 
     rights, an occasion deserving of celebration and special 
     public commendations; and
       Whereas, The 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade established 
     constitutionally based limits on the power of states to 
     restrict the right of a woman to choose to terminate a 
     pregnancy; and
       Whereas, Roe v. Wade is one of the most significant Supreme 
     Court decisions in the 20th century promoting women's rights; 
     and
       Whereas, Reproductive rights are central to the ability of 
     women to exercise their full rights under federal and state 
     law; and
       Whereas, It is the right of every American woman to 
     determine when, if, and with whom to have children, and how 
     many children to have; and
       Whereas, Women's ability to control their reproductive 
     lives has facilitated their equal participation in the 
     economic and social life of the nation; and
       Whereas, The state should not interfere with a woman's 
     decision to either bear a child or terminate a pregnancy 
     through a safe and legal abortion; and
       Whereas, Women should not be forced into illegal and 
     dangerous abortions, as they often were prior to the Roe v. 
     Wade decision; and
       Whereas, During the first half of the 20th century, illegal 
     abortions accounted for about 50 percent of all maternal 
     deaths; and
       Whereas, Roe v. Wade has significantly reduced the 
     mortality rate for women terminating their pregnancies; and
       Whereas; Roe v. Wade continues to protect the health and 
     freedom of women throughout the United States; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     Califori1ia memorializes the Congress and the President of 
     the United States to protect and uphold the intent and 
     substance of the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision in 
     Roe v. Wade; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit 
     copies of this resolution to the President of the United 
     States and to all Members of the Congress of the United 
     States.
                                  ____

       POM-208. A Senate Joint Memorial adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Colorado relative to proposing an amendment 
     to the United States Constitution requiring that the total 
     amount of all federal appropriations made by Congress for any 
     fiscal year not exceed the total of all estimated federal 
     revenues for that fiscal year; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                      Senate Joint Memorial 05-007

       Whereas, In 1998, the federal budget reported its first 
     surplus, $69 billion, since 1969; and
       Whereas, From 1998 through 2001, the United States 
     experienced 4 surpluses in a row and in 2001, the surplus 
     reached $128 billion; and
       Whereas, The last time the United States had 4 surpluses in 
     a row was over 70 years ago, from 1927-30; and
       Whereas, Since 2001, the budget surpluses, which were 
     projected to continue until 2008, have disappeared, and the 
     total budget deficit for the 2004 fiscal year was about $412 
     billion; and
       Whereas, Due to congressional overspending, the budget 
     deficit for the 2005 fiscal year could be around $394 
     billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office's 
     budgetary projections; and
       Whereas, President Bush's $2.57 trillion dollar budget 
     request estimates a budget deficit of $427 billion, which 
     includes additional funding for the ongoing military 
     operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
       Whereas, President Bush's $427 billion deficit estimate is 
     approximately 17% of the federal budget, which would be the 
     equivalent of a $2.58 billion deficit for the state budget if 
     Colorado's deficit equaled 17% of the state's $15.2 billion 
     budget; and
       Whereas, The federal deficit is expected to remain around 
     $250 billion each year for the next 5 years, unless drastic 
     cuts to programs or significant increases to taxes are made; 
     and
       Whereas, The Congressional Budget Office projects a 
     cumulative deficit of $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years; 
     and
       Whereas, The federal public debt has increased and is now 
     more than $7.6 trillion, an amount equaling approximately 
     $121,000 for each American family or over $25,000 for every 
     man, woman, and child; and
       Whereas, The baby boomer generation will soon retire, 
     leaving less tax revenue and a higher drain on social 
     services; and
       Whereas, In fiscal year 2004, $321 billion was paid in 
     interest on the federal debt,

[[Page 22620]]

     which is 13% of the total federal budget, the third largest 
     expense in the federal budget, according to the National Debt 
     Awareness Center; and
       Whereas, Fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level is 
     lowering our standard of living, destroying jobs, and 
     endangering economic opportunity now and for future 
     generations; and
       Whereas, Continued deficit spending demonstrates an 
     unwillingness or inability of both the federal executive and 
     legislative branches to spend no more than available 
     revenues; and
       Whereas, The federal government's unlimited ability to 
     borrow raises questions about fundamental principles and 
     responsibilities of government, with potentially profound 
     consequences for the nation and its people, making it an 
     appropriate subject for limitation by the Constitution of the 
     United States; and
       Whereas, The Constitution of the United States vests the 
     ultimate responsibility to approve or disapprove 
     constitutional amendments with the people, as represented by 
     their elected state legislatures, and opposition in the 
     United States Congress repeatedly has thwarted the will of 
     the people that a balanced budget amendment to the 
     Constitution be submitted to the states for ratification; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Rersolved by the Senate of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly 
     of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives 
     concurring herein:
       That the General Assembly of the state of Colorado requests 
     the United States Congress to expeditiously pass, and propose 
     to the legislatures of the several states for ratification, 
     an amendment to the United States Constitution requiring 
     that, in the absence of a war or national emergency, the 
     total of all federal appropriations made by Congress for any 
     fiscal year not exceed the total of all estimated federal 
     revenues for that fiscal year; be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this Joint Memorial be sent to the 
     President and Vice President of the United States, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader 
     of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the 
     Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and to each member 
     of Colorado's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-209. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas relative to urging the Congress of the 
     United States and the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
     fulfill the department's goal of providing excellence in 
     patient care by building a veterans hospital in Weslaco, 
     Texas; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                    House Concurrent Resolution 138

       Whereas, Our veterans who live in South Texas have served 
     their country bravely and risked their lives to preserve our 
     country's freedom and democracy, and their sacrifices in our 
     behalf are deserving of a veterans hospital to meet their 
     health care needs; and
       Whereas, Regrettably, South Texas currently lacks adequate 
     health care resources for these proud men and women; the sole 
     outpatient clinic in the eight-county area at the southern 
     tip of Texas has limited hours of operation and must refer 
     patients to other facilities for special tests or treatments; 
     in addition, the nearest veterans hospital to the region with 
     inpatient acute medical and surgical care and extended care 
     is more than 250 miles away in San Antonio; and
       Whereas, Veterans in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy 
     Counties alone number greater than 46,000, and a May 2004 
     report by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) 
     acknowledged the need for improved and expanded medical 
     facilities for veterans in South Texas; and
       Whereas, Despite this assessment, however, the DVA has 
     planned only the addition of 10 contract beds in Harlingen's 
     Valley Baptist Medical Center; and
       Whereas, Weslaco is located in the center of the Rio Grande 
     Valley, less than one hour's drive from McAllen, Harlingen, 
     and Brownsville, making it a convenient site for a hospital 
     to serve the area's veterans; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     respectfully urge the Congress of the United States and the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs to fulfill the department's 
     goal of providing excellence in patient care by building a 
     veterans hospital in Weslaco, Texas, to serve the more than 
     46,000 veterans in South Texas who have bravely defended and 
     served our country; 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 veterans affairs, 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-210. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly of 
     the State of New Jersey relative to rejecting provisions in 
     the President's proposed federal budget that would result in 
     the loss of funding for Veterans' Memorial Homes in New 
     Jersey; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                      Assembly Resolution No. 263

       Whereas, The President's proposed federal budget for fiscal 
     year 2006 contains reductions to veterans' programs that 
     would result in the loss of funding for the Veterans' 
     Memorial Homes in this State; and
       Whereas, The proposed budgetary reductions would hinder 
     this State's ability to operate its three Veterans' Memorial 
     Homes and may result in the closure of one or more of the 
     homes if an alternate funding source is not provided; and
       Whereas, The three Homes currently have a resident 
     population of 812 veterans and the funding reductions 
     contained in the President's budget would [cut that 
     population] reduce the number of veterans eligible for 
     federal funding to 159 [residents]; and
       Whereas, Under the President's proposed budget, the 
     Veterans' Memorial Homes would not meet the criteria for 
     retaining federal matching funds [for] invested in 
     construction, thereby requiring the State to reimburse the 
     federal government for construction costs totaling 
     approximately $53.3 million; and
       Whereas, The proposed reductions to veterans' programs 
     contained in the President's budget would negatively impact 
     New Jersey's ability to care for its veterans; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the General Assembly of the State of New 
     Jersey:
       1. This House urges Congress to reject provisions in the 
     President's proposed federal budget that would result in the 
     loss of funding for Veterans' Memorial Homes in this State.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk 
     of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the 
     President of the United States, the Vice-President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, every member of this State's Congressional 
     delegation and the Governor.
                                  ____

       POM-211. A resolution adopted by the Municipal Legislature 
     of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico relative to the rejection of 
     imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed in 
     Puerto Rico; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                          ____________________