[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7612-7621]
[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-292. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to funding fully the Select Michigan Agriculture 
     Program through the United States Department of Agriculture; 
     to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

                        House Resolution No. 181

       Whereas, the Michigan Department of Agriculture introduced 
     the Select Michigan campaign in the Grand Rapids area to 
     encourage Michigan residents to purchase locally grown and 
     produced foods. Recently expanded to the Detroit area, the 
     program uses posters, banners, and stickers in Michigan 
     grocery stores and farmers' markets to identify locally grown 
     food products. Since 2001, the Select Michigan program has 
     highlighted the numerous Michigan-grown products available in 
     the state, including apples, asparagus, blueberries, 
     cherries, chestnuts, corn, dry beans, honey, maple syrup, 
     peaches, and strawberries; and

[[Page 7613]]

       Whereas, access to fresh and nutritious food products is 
     vital to the health and well-being of Michigan residents. 
     Michigan farms, which are second in the nation in the 
     diversity of agricultural products grown, provide residents 
     with a wide variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables. 
     Identifying and marketing these products to the local 
     population enables residents to support Michigan's 
     agricultural industry, which contributes significantly to 
     Michigan's economic well-being. The impact of Michigan's 
     agriculture on our economy is estimated to be $60.1 billion 
     annually and growing; and
       Whereas, in 2001, a one-time block grant of $3.75 million 
     from the United States Department of Agriculture provided 
     support to launch the Select Michigan program. The program is 
     able to continue due to a unique funding partnership 
     involving the private sector and the federal government. 
     However, to ensure all Michigan residents have access to 
     fresh and nutritious locally grown food products and allow 
     the Select Michigan program to expand to encompass the state, 
     full funding of this program by the federal government is 
     necessary: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives. That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to fund fully 
     the Select Michigan agricultural program through the United 
     States Department of Agriculture; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-293. A concurrent memorial adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Arizona 
     relative to enacting a 2007 Farm Bill that is supportive of 
     the specialty crop industry; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry.

                     House Concurrent Memorial 2001

       Whereas, the fruit, vegetable and tree nut production in 
     the United S1ates accounts for $35 billion in farmgate value, 
     or 33 percent of farm cash receipts, and with the addition of 
     nursery and greenhouse production, overall specialty crops 
     account for 51 percent of farmgate value; and
       Whereas, in Arizona, fruit, vegetable and tree nut 
     production represents a $1 billion industry representing over 
     35 percent of Arizona's farm cash receipts; and
       Whereas, the fruit, vegetable and tree nut industry is a 
     critical and growing component of United States agriculture, 
     deserving of full and equal consideration as other 
     agricultural sectors in the Farm Bill; and
       Whereas, the fruit, vegetable and tree nut industry does 
     not seek direct program payments to growers, but rather 
     places its emphasis on building the long-term competitiveness 
     and sustainabi1ity of United States fruit and vegetable 
     production; and
       Whereas, government investment in the competitiveness and 
     sustainability of the United States fruit and vegetable 
     industry will produce a strong return on investment for all 
     of America, not just farmers, by expanding access and 
     availability of safe, wholesome, healthy and affordable 
     fruits and vegetables. The Farm Bill will be a critical 
     component in reaching the mandate of doubling fruit and 
     vegetable consumption called for in the USDA/HHS 2005 Dietary 
     Guidelines; and
       Whereas, with the government's mandate that domestic 
     producers meet the very highest standards in environmental 
     regulation, labor and other areas comes the responsibility to 
     help those producers achieve cost-effective compliance 
     through government investment in this agriculture industry to 
     create a fair, level playing field with international 
     competitors who do not face the regulatory burdens of United 
     States producers; and
       Whereas, without appropriate assistance, United States 
     fruit, vegetable and tree nut production will relocate to 
     less restrictive foreign growing areas; and
       Whereas, a thriving and competitive United States fruit, 
     vegetable and tree nut industry will support strong growth in 
     export markets and improve our agricultural balance of trade 
     in order to realize the goal of increasing exports; and
       Whereas, it is critical that federal policy and resources 
     support efforts to remove the many existing international 
     trade barriers that continue to block United States fruit, 
     vegetable and tree nut exports. Wherefore your memorialist, 
     the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the 
     Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That the United States Congress recognize the importance 
     of the specialty crop industry in the development of the 2007 
     Farm Bill.
       2. That the United States Congress support the priorities 
     of the specialty crop industry in the 2007 Farm Bill.
       3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State 
     of Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-294. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine relative to memorializing the Secretary of 
     the Navy to honor the gift of 1,000 acres known as the 
     Brunswick Commons bestowed in 1719 by Pejepscot Proprietors 
     to the Town of Brunswick forever and return it to the town at 
     no cost; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                            Joint Resolution

       We, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and 
     Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled 
     in the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and 
     petition the Honorable Gordon R. England, the Secretary of 
     the Navy, as follows:
       Whereas, nearly 300 years ago, in 1719, the Pejepscot 
     Proprietors donated 1,000 acres of land in the township of 
     Brunswick to be laid out as a ``general perpetual commonage 
     to ye town of Brunswick forever''; and
       Whereas, the Town of Brunswick accepted the gift in 1774 
     and laid out the 1,000 acres that would come to be known as 
     Brunswick Commons. In 1783 a deed was conveyed to the town 
     selectmen, and the land became property of the town forever; 
     and
       Whereas, an 1816 survey was recommended by the Town Commons 
     committee as the correct survey of the land, and in 1891 
     granite monuments were placed to mark the boundaries of the 
     deeded land; and
       Whereas, the Federal Government took the majority of 
     Brunswick Commons to build the Brunswick Naval Air Station, 
     which served this nation well during World War II. Five of 
     the original granite markers of the Brunswick Commons are 
     within the boundary of the current base; and
       Whereas, the base was deactivated after World War II in 
     1946 and recommissioned in 1951 and has been active since 
     that date, providing support to the United States military as 
     a vital part of America's defense system; and
       Whereas, Brunswick Naval Air Station was targeted for 
     decommissioning in the latest round of federal base closings, 
     with the direction that the base be sold to the highest 
     bidder instead of returning the land to its original use as 
     described by deed; and
       Whereas, the original deed clearly meant for this land to 
     be for the common good of the Town of Brunswick and, while 
     the subsequent use of the land for Brunswick Naval Air 
     Station was important for our national security, the Town of 
     Brunswick and the people of Maine feel strongly that, since 
     the Federal Government no longer has need of this land, it 
     should be returned to its original source; and
       Whereas, the Town of Brunswick declared in 1968 the full 
     1,000 acres of the Brunswick Commons to be an Historic 
     Landmark, and the Town of Brunswick and the people of the 
     State of Maine seek to make the original Brunswick Commons 
     whole again, at no cost to the Town of Brunswick: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the 
     people we represent, respectfully urge and request that 
     Secretary England do all in his power to see that the land 
     deeded to the people of Brunswick be returned to the people 
     of Brunswick at no cost, now that the Federal Government no 
     longer wants this historical tract of land; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable Gordon R. England, the Secretary of the Navy, 
     the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States and each 
     Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-295. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to authorizing 
     and appropriating funds to allow all members of the armed 
     forces reserve component to access the TRICARE program; to 
     the Committee on Armed Services.

                        Senate Resolution No. 92

       Whereas, Army National Guard members are fulfilling 
     commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and the Sinai, with 
     members of the Hawaii Army National Guard having recently 
     served in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
       Whereas, presently almost half of all service personnel 
     deployed in Iraq are members of the reserve components of the 
     United States armed forces, including members of the National 
     Guard and Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps Reserves; 
     and
       Whereas under present law, for every ninety day period on 
     active duty, a member of the reserve component receives one 
     year of cost-share TRICARE health benefits if the member 
     agrees to serve that year with a reserve component; and
       Whereas, while well-intentioned, this measure does not go 
     far enough to solve the problem of medical readiness that 
     exists in the reserve component and can affect the 
     mobilization and deployment of intact reserve component 
     units; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of 
     the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the 
     Congress of the United States is urged to authorize and 
     appropriate funds to allow all members of the reserve 
     component to access TRICARE health benefit coverage on a 
     cost-share basis, without restrictions; and be it further

[[Page 7614]]

       Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be 
     transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 
     Secretary of Defense, members of Hawaii's congressional 
     delegation, the Governor, and the Adjutant General.
                                  ____

       POM-296. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to amend the 
     Stafford Act to allow the use of emergency funds under the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency for stabilization and 
     restoration of barrier islands; to the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 62

       Whereas, the Stafford Act is the federal act which 
     authorizes uses of federal emergency funds under the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with such authorized uses 
     including re-establishment of vital and necessary 
     infrastructure such as utilities, roads, levees, and other 
     hurricane protection structures, hospitals, and facilities 
     needed to house public agencies responsible for necessary 
     public services; and
       Whereas, coastal communities are dependent on the 
     protection that barrier islands provide from storms 
     originating off the coast, including the winds and storm 
     surges associated with storms; and
       Whereas, the storms from which the barrier islands soften 
     the blow for coastal communities are not only hurricanes but 
     include severe thunderstorms, tropical storms, and of course, 
     hurricanes; and
       Whereas, stabilization and re-establishment of barrier 
     islands is an essential infrastructure need for coastal 
     communities in the same manner as re-establishment of 
     electricity, water, sewerage, and roads; therefore, such work 
     on barrier islands should qualify for use of emergency funds 
     under the Stafford Act: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to amend the Stafford Act to allow the use 
     of emergency funds under the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency for stabilization and restoration of barrier islands; 
     be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-297. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Washington relative to section 5 of the Marine 
     Mammal Protection Act of 1972 being preserved to continue 
     protecting Puget Sound for current and future citizens of 
     Washington and the United States to enjoy; to the Committee 
     on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                       House Joint Memorial 4031

       Whereas, Puget Sound provides significant economic and 
     natural resource benefits to the citizens of Washington and 
     the United States; and
       Whereas, the state of Washington has adopted an oil spill 
     prevention program with a zero spills strategy to protect the 
     natural beauty of and economic benefits provided by Puget 
     Sound; and
       Whereas, the national marine fisheries service has listed 
     the orca whale, Puget Sound chinook salmon, and Hood Canal 
     summer chum under the federal endangered species act, 
     bringing the total number of species listed as threatened, 
     endangered, or candidate species on state and federal lists 
     to forty; and
       Whereas, in 1977, Senator Warren Magnuson declared that: 
     ``The waters of Puget Sound, and the attendant resources, are 
     indeed a major national environmental treasure. Puget Sound 
     ought to be strictly protected; its resources ought not to be 
     threatened. Since tanker accidents are directly related to 
     the amount of tanker traffic, there should not be an 
     expansion of traffic over what now presently exists.'';
       Whereas, the Magnuson Amendment has protected Puget Sound 
     waters from oil spill risks for twenty-eight years by 
     limiting the amount of oil delivered to Washington refineries 
     by tanker to the quantity used by Washington consumers; and
       Whereas, the Washington State Department of Ecology 
     reported in 2004 that approximately six hundred tankers a 
     year enter Washington waters, and additional tanker traffic 
     would significantly increase the likelihood of oil spills in 
     Puget Sound; and
       Whereas, the Magnuson Amendment has effectively limited 
     tankers headed for refineries at Anacortes and Cherry Point 
     near Ferndale by prohibiting federal agencies from issuing 
     permits for the construction or expansion of dock or related 
     facilities unless that expansion was necessary to meet 
     increased Washington state demand;
       Now, therefore, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that 
     section 5 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (33 
     U.S.C. Sec. 476) be preserved to continue protecting Puget 
     Sound for current and future citizens of Washington and the 
     United States to enjoy; be it
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the 
     United States, the Secretary of the United States Department 
     of Commerce, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of 
     Congress from the State of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-298. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Louisiana relative to enacting 
     the ``Domestic Energy Production through Offshore Exploration 
     and Equitable Treatment of State Holdings Act of 2006''; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        Senate Resolution No. 19

       Whereas, the state of Louisiana currently receives only a 
     small percentage of royalties for oil and gas production in 
     federal waters off the coast of Louisiana; and
       Whereas, other states in the United States receive fifty 
     percent of royalties for oil and gas production on federal 
     lands; and
       Whereas, this current policy creates an inequity and 
     results in Louisiana not receiving its fair and equitable 
     share of royalty payments; and
       Whereas, Louisiana has a greater need than other states to 
     protect its state, its citizens and its infrastructure from 
     coastal erosion and the effects associated with such coastal 
     erosion, such as the impacts from hurricanes and tropical 
     storms; and
       Whereas, prior to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana 
     accounted for thirty percent of the commercial fisheries 
     production of the lower forty-eight states, and ranked second 
     in the nation for recreational harvest of saltwater fish; and
       Whereas, prior to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana 
     produced more than eighty percent of the nation's offshore 
     oil and gas supply while providing billions of dollars each 
     year to the Federal treasury; and
       Whereas, the United States has consistently received the 
     economic benefits from the coast of Louisiana without 
     Louisiana receiving its fair share of these benefits; and
       Whereas, H.R. 4761 will provide the state of Louisiana up 
     to seventy-five percent of oil and gas royalties produced off 
     the coast of Louisiana; and
       Whereas, these monies generated by the enactment of H.R. 
     4761 will provide billions of dollars for Louisiana over the 
     next few decades which can be used for coastal restoration 
     and protection; and
       Whereas, leaders throughout Louisiana from Congressman 
     Bobby Jindal, who introduced the bill, to Governor Kathleen 
     Blanco who endorsed it, have come forward to urge its 
     passage: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 
     memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact H.R. 
     4761, the ``Domestic Energy Production through Offshore 
     Exploration and Equitable Treatment of State Holdings Act of 
     2006''; be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and 
     to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United 
     States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-299. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan 
     relative to encouraging expansion of existing, or the 
     construction of new petroleum refineries in the United States 
     and to urging the petroleum industry to construct new 
     refineries to meet our increasing energy needs; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 67

       Whereas, the price of petroleum products has been rising 
     out of control. Currently, the world crude oil price remains 
     near 60 dollars a barrel, practically 30 dollars more than 
     this time last year. Additionally, the national average price 
     of regular gasoline is about 38 cents per gallon more than 
     last year and diesel is almost 54 cents per gallon more than 
     this time last year; and
       Whereas, there has not been a new oil refinery built in the 
     United States in nearly 30 years. Yet, in the intervening 
     years, the total energy demand in the United States has grown 
     by about 40 percent. According to the United States Energy 
     Information Administration, the projected petroleum demand 
     between 2003 and 2025 will increase by 30 percent. We need to 
     plan for our future energy needs by incorporating new 
     petroleum refineries into the United States' overall energy 
     policy; and
       Whereas, recent major investments in the Marathon Refinery 
     located in the City of Detroit, Michigan's only refinery, 
     will increase the output by about 28 percent, from 74,000 
     barrels per day to over 102,000 barrels per day. Securing 
     Marathon's investment of $300 million was made possible 
     through the collaborative efforts of Marathon, the city of 
     Detroit, and the state of Michigan. Marathon's commitment to 
     Michigan and the collaboration with the city and state to 
     create a renaissance zone encompassing the refinery 
     illustrates the type of creative solutions that can be used 
     to promote the construction of new refineries; and
       Whereas, constructing new refineries would also create new 
     jobs and increase gasoline, fuels, and distillate output--all 
     vital components of strengthening our economy.

[[Page 7615]]

     Michigan is well placed to locate a new refinery due to our 
     proximity with Canada, this country's largest source of 
     imported petroleum. Moreover, Michigan's highly skilled labor 
     force could adapt to employment in the refinery industry; 
     now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to establish a 
     national energy policy that promotes the expansion of 
     existing or construction of new petroleum refineries in the 
     United States. We also urge the leaders of the petroleum 
     industry to construct new refineries to meet our increasing 
     energy needs; and be it further
       Resolved, That it is our intention to work with local 
     governments to identify appropriate locations for new 
     refineries in Michigan communities that have a recognized 
     commitment to job growth and this industry; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, the members of the 
     Michigan congressional delegation, the United States 
     Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department 
     of Energy, the Michigan Petroleum Institute, and the American 
     Petroleum Industries of Michigan.
                                  ____

       POM-300. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to memorializing Congress to 
     reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 382

       Whereas, substantial coal mining has occurred in 
     Pennsylvania for more than 130 years, and the industry has 
     been a significant employer of our citizens for most of these 
     years; and
       Whereas, abandoned mines pose hazards in Pennsylvania of 
     dangerous shafts, mountains of black waste, scarred 
     landscapes, acidic drainages polluting more than 3,000 miles 
     of our streams. and other hazards threatening human health 
     and safety and depressing local economies; and
       Whereas, at least 44 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties are 
     affected by abandoned coal mines; and
       Whereas, abandoned mines and abandoned mine lands create 
     negative impacts on local economies by destroying 
     recreational opportunities, lowering land values, leaving 
     desolate communities once the mines are exhausted and ruining 
     sites for further residential, forestry, commercial or 
     agricultural uses; and
       Whereas, reclamation of abandoned mine sites can add to the 
     economy by creating jobs, increasing community pride, 
     increasing property values, decreasing stress-related costs 
     through streambased recreation, restoring the health of the 
     environment and providing future sites for commercial or 
     industrial endeavors; and
       Whereas, Congress established the Abandoned Mine 
     Reclamation Fund under Title IV of the Surface Mining Control 
     and Reclamation Act of 1977 to reclaim areas abandoned before 
     1977 and the modern environmental standards requiring mine 
     operators to reclaim their sites; and
       Whereas, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 
     1977 imposed on coal operators a fee of 35 cents per ton on 
     surface I mined coal and 15 cents per ton on underground 
     mined coal to provide a source of revenue for the Abandoned 
     Mine Reclamation Fund to help finance the reclamation and 
     remediation of lands mined prior to 1977; and
       Whereas, the collection of fees on mined coal applied to 
     the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund under Title IV of the 
     Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 was set to 
     expire on June 30, 2005, but is currently under extension to 
     October 30, June 30, 2006; and
       Whereas, Pennsylvania has relied upon the Abandoned Mine 
     Reclamation Fund as a primary source of money to clean up 
     toxic mine water in our water supplies, restore land, 
     extinguish mine fires and eliminate other dangerous abandoned 
     mine hazards: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly 
     of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress 
     of the United States to reauthorize the collection of fees on 
     mined coal at the current levels to provide continued funding 
     to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to address abandoned 
     mine hazards, pollution and scarred landscapes in 
     Pennsylvania and other States.
                                  ____

       POM-301. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to 
     immediately close the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet and to 
     request that the Louisiana congressional delegation file the 
     necessary legislation to accomplish this closure; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 38

       Whereas, the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), a 
     seventy-six-mile-long, man-made navigational channel which 
     connects the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of New Orleans, was 
     authorized by the United States Congress under the Rivers and 
     Harbors Act of 1956 as a channel with a surface width of six 
     hundred fifty feet, a bottom width of five hundred feet, and 
     a depth of thirty-six feet, and it opened in 1965; and
       Whereas, since MRGO was completed, the United States Army 
     Corps of Engineers estimates that the area has lost nearly 
     three thousand two hundred acres of fresh and intermediate 
     marsh, more than ten thousand three hundred acres of brackish 
     marsh, four thousand two hundred acres of saline marsh, and 
     one thousand five hundred acres of cypress swamps and levee 
     forests in addition to major habitat alterations due to 
     saltwater intrusion from the loss of the marshes, which has 
     resulted in dramatic declines in waterfowl and quadruped use 
     of the marshes; and
       Whereas, the costs of maintaining MRGO rise each year, with 
     the cost of dredging now over twenty-five million dollars 
     annually, or more than thirteen thousand dollars for each 
     vessel-passage, in addition to the expenditure of millions 
     for shoreline stabilization and marsh protection projects, 
     with an anticipated cost increase of fifty-two percent 
     between 1995 and 2005; and
       Whereas, concerns about the environmental impact have 
     increased through the years as evidenced by the fact that in 
     1998 the ``Coast 2050 Report'' contained closure of MRGO 
     among the consensus recommendations, and the technical 
     committee of the Coastal Wetland Planning, Preservation and 
     Restoration Act Task Force listed closure as one of the 
     highest-ranked strategies for coastal restoration; and
       Whereas, in 1998 the St. Bernard Police Jury voted 
     unanimously to request closure of the waterway because of 
     fears that the dramatic loss of coastal wetlands and marshes 
     caused by MRGO exposed the parish and the communities in the 
     parish to much more severe impacts from the hurricanes and 
     tropical storms that regularly occur in the Gulf of Mexico; 
     and
       Whereas, those concerns were echoed and amplified by 
     scientists, engineers, and citizens throughout the region as 
     reflected in requests from the Louisiana Legislature to 
     congress in 1999 (SCR No. 266) and again in 2004 (HCR No. 35 
     and HCR No. 68) to close the waterway, and indeed, those 
     concerns proved true in an extremely dramatic fashion on 
     August 29, 2005, when Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana's 
     coast with a tidal surge well in excess of twenty feet; and
       Whereas, there is a growing consensus that the flooding 
     that occurred in St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans East, and 
     the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans was a result of storm 
     surge that flowed up MRGO to the point where it converges 
     with the Intracoastal Waterway and that the confluence 
     created a funnel that directed the storm surge into the New 
     Orleans Industrial Canal, where it overtopped the levees 
     along MRGO and the Industrial Canal and eventually breached 
     the levees and flooded into the neighborhoods that lie close 
     to those three waterways, resulting in more than eleven 
     hundred deaths in the Greater New Orleans area, including one 
     hundred twenty-eight deaths in St. Bernard Parish, destroying 
     over twenty-four thousand homes, and rendering more than 
     sixty-seven thousand residents of St. Bernard Parish and 
     uncounted numbers in New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth 
     Ward of New Orleans homeless, without possessions, and 
     unemployed; and
       Whereas, in addition to destroying homes, the flood waters 
     washed away churches and other places of worship, schools, 
     businesses, community centers, recreational facilities, 
     utility and transportation infrastructure, in short the very 
     fabric of society was decimated in these communities; and
       Whereas, only three weeks later, on September 24, 2005, 
     storm waters from Hurricane Rita surged up MRGO and caused 
     additional flooding in St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans East, 
     and the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, exacerbating the 
     traumatic losses in that area; and
       Whereas, since the two hurricanes caused such widespread 
     damage in St. Bernard Parish and New Orleans, congress has 
     declined to appropriate further funds for dredging MRGO; and
       Whereas, some engineers have opined that the current base 
     along MRGO was damaged to the point that it will not support 
     a Category 3 levee in the future; and
       Whereas, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has 
     stated that it has no authorization from congress to close 
     the waterway or to fill the waterway to allow for the 
     development of marshes and wetlands; and
       Whereas, as the only entity which can authorize the 
     waterway to be closed and which can enable the 
     reestablishment of our essential coastal wetlands, the United 
     States Congress must come to the aid of the citizens of 
     Louisiana, particularly those of St. Bernard Parish and New 
     Orleans by authorizing the immediate closure of MRGO; and
       Whereas it is the responsibility of the Louisiana 
     delegation to file the necessary legislation to accomplish 
     the immediate closure of MRGO: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to immediately close the Mississippi River 
     Gulf Outlet: and be it further

[[Page 7616]]

       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     urge and request the Louisiana congressional delegation to 
     file the legislation necessary to accomplish this closure: 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-302. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of New Jersey relative to enacting 
     the ``Solid Waste Environmental Regulation Clarification 
     Affecting Railroads Act of 2005''; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                        Senate Resolution No. 14

       Whereas, a [conflict in] provision of Federal law [and 
     policy] has resulted in the operation of certain solid 
     wastehandling facilities located on railroad property to go 
     unregulated; that certain Federal laws, notably the ``Solid 
     Waste Disposal Act,'' should apply to the operation of these 
     facilities; that [,unfortunately,] a broad-reaching Federal 
     railroad statute [forbids] has been interpreted by some 
     courts as forbidding environmental regulatory agencies from 
     overseeing the safe handling of trash at these sites; and 
     that these unintended consequences require the attention of 
     and swift action by the United States Congress in enacting S. 
     1607, the ``Solid Waste Environmental Regulation 
     Clarification Affecting Railroads Act of 2005''; and
       Whereas, the Federal railroad law in question was enacted 
     most recently in the ``Interstate Commerce Commission 
     Termination Act of 1995'' to protect the operation of 
     interstate rail service; that this law grants literally 
     ``exclusive'' jurisdiction over rail transportation, and 
     activities incident thereto, to the Federal Surface 
     Transportation Board; that the Board is limited to only a 
     passive role in ensuring that rail facilities are operated 
     with minimal detriment to the public health and safety; and 
     that these sites require active environmental regulation in 
     the same manner that Federal and State environmental 
     regulatory agencies regulate the operation of conventional 
     solid waste handling, processing, transfer and disposal 
     facilities; and
       Whereas, the recent proliferation of solid waste rail 
     transfer facilities has affected the ability of State and 
     local governments in New Jersey and elsewhere to engage in 
     environmentally sound long-term solid waste management 
     planning and enforcement; and that, nevertheless, these 
     agencies are still responsible for responding to accidents 
     and incidents occurring at these facilities; and
       Whereas, the [State] New Jersey Department of Environmental 
     Protection (DEP) fined New York Susquehanna and Western 
     (NYS&W) Railway Corporation $2.5 million for environmental 
     violations associated with the operation of five solid waste 
     transfer sites in North Bergen; that as a result. of seven 
     investigations conducted from November 2004 to July 2005, DEP 
     determined that NYS&W illegally operates five sites which 
     load solid waste from trucks to rail cars; that one of the 
     sites handles bulk shipments of soil and other State 
     regulated waste associated with specific site remediation 
     projects, while the remaining sites are open dumps that 
     handle construction and demolition waste; and that DEP 
     [cites] cited NYS&W with violating New Jersey's solid waste 
     and air pollution laws at all five sites by loading solid and 
     hazardous waste materials outdoors, failing to regularly 
     clean areas in which solid waste is handled and failing to 
     contain, collect and dispose of wastewater; and that the 
     District Court of New Jersey based on the Federal railroad 
     law has temporarily restrained DEP from enforcing its solid 
     waste regulations; and
       Whereas, in addition, DEP cited NYS&W for spilling 
     hazardous waste, failing to contain litter and debris, and 
     accumulating unprocessed waste in the area surrounding the 
     facilities; that NYS&W also failed to control insects and 
     rodents and emitted odor, dust and solid waste particles into 
     the outdoor atmosphere in quantities resulting in air 
     pollution; and that, notwithstanding the foregoing, it has 
     been argued that Federal railroad law preempts enforcement 
     actions such as this, even though the Surface Transportation 
     Board has never [clarified whether it even has] asserted 
     jurisdiction over the processing and sorting of solid waste 
     at a rail facility; and
       Whereas, constructing a transfer station in a former 
     junkyard site in Elwood, a hamlet in Mullica Township, 
     Atlantic County, a proposal by the Southern Railroad of New 
     Jersey, is being resisted for health and safety reasons and 
     challenged by the Pinelands Commission to respect 
     requirements and protections accorded the Pinelands National 
     Reserve under Federal and State statutes; and the District 
     Court of New Jersey has granted the State of New Jersey a 
     preliminary injunction. ordering that the Pinelands 
     Commission has jurisdiction over the proposed construction; 
     and
       Whereas, the enactment of S. 1607 would ensure that 
     Congress' intent was not to subvert the policies of the 
     ``Solid Waste Disposal Act'' and other Federal and State 
     environmental laws covering the handling of garbage; and that 
     this bill's underlying purpose is to clarify that the true 
     intent of Congress in passing the solid waste law and the 
     ``Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995'' is 
     to ensure that these laws work in tandem to provide for a 
     robust, environmentally responsible rail system: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
       1. This Senate Resolution memorializes Congress to enact S. 
     1607, the ``Solid Waste Environmental Regulation 
     Clarification Affecting Railroads Act of 2005,'' in order to 
     address the unregulated sorting and processing of waste 
     materials at rail facilities.
       2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by 
     the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary 
     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.
                                  ____

       POM-303. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Washington relative to enacting the ``Kidney Care 
     Quality Improvement Act of 2005; to the Committee on Finance.

                       House Joint Memorial 4023

       Whereas, four hundred thousand Americans have irreversible 
     kidney failure, a condition called ``End Stage Renal 
     Disease'' (ESRD). ESRD is fatal unless a patient receives 
     either dialysis or kidney transplantation. Since 
     transplantation is limited due to the shortage of donor 
     organs, seventy-five percent of ESRD patients must undergo 
     regular and on-going dialysis treatment for the rest of their 
     lives. In Washington State approximately 16,000 residents 
     have ESRD; and
       Whereas, today's ESRD patients are older and sicker due 
     primarily to the aging of the population, and the growing 
     incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure, fueled by the 
     obesity epidemic. ESRD disproportionately impacts African-
     American and Hispanic individuals; and
       Whereas, most patients with ESRD lack access to education 
     programs about their disease that would allow them to make 
     informed choices about their treatment and learn important 
     self-management skills to improve their quality of life; and
       Whereas, according to the most recent data available, less 
     than one percent of all ESRD patients use home dialysis 
     because of the barriers patients face in accessing this 
     option. Home dialysis can improve a patient's quality of life 
     by allowing him or her to remain employed and participate in 
     other activities that promote well-being; and
       Whereas, there is no coordinated effort between federal and 
     state governments, health care professionals, dialysis 
     providers, educators, patient advocates to develop programs 
     to identify members of high-risk populations and develop 
     culturally appropriate community-based approaches for 
     improving the treatment of chronic kidney disease, which 
     would lead to fewer cases of ESRD; and
       Whereas, since 1972, Congress made a commitment to ESRD 
     patients by providing coverage for the lifesaving therapy and 
     dialysis, through the Medicare program. Medicare provides for 
     the care of approximately seventy-five percent of patients 
     receiving dialysis. Improvements are needed to continue to 
     ensure access to high quality treatment for ESRD patients. 
     Better care for patients means a better quality of life, 
     improved rehabilitation, fewer medications, and fewer 
     hospitalizations; and
       Whereas, the rate paid by Medicare for ESRD services is the 
     only Medicare prospective payment system without an annual 
     update mechanism to adjust for increases. This means 
     providers must ask Congress for increases rather than relying 
     on the Department of Health and Human Services to make 
     routine, data-driven decisions on payment adequacy. In the 
     past twelve years, there have been only two increases in the 
     ESRD composite rate, totaling 3.6 percent, to cover 
     inflation, new technologies, and other costs, such as nurses' 
     salaries. When adjusted for inflation, the average Medicare 
     payment for dialysis treatment has been reduced from $138 in 
     1973 to $38 in 2000. The program is no longer sustainable 
     under the current reimbursement structure;
       Now, therefore, your Memorialists respectfully request that 
     the United States House of Representatives and the United 
     States Senate enact H.R. 1298 and S. 635, known as the 
     ``Kidney Care Quality Act of 2005.'' The Act will modernize 
     and update treatment of ESRD by adding Medicare coverage for 
     kidney disease patient education services, improve the home 
     dialysis benefit, and provide for an annual update for the 
     Medicare ESRD composite rate. A demonstration project for an 
     outcomes-based ESRD reimbursement system, as well as a study 
     of barriers to accessing the home dialysis benefit, will lead 
     to future improvements in delivery of care. A chronic kidney 
     disease demonstration project will increase public awareness 
     about the disease, with the goal of lowering the number of 
     persons who will need kidney dialysis: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable

[[Page 7617]]

     George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President 
     of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State 
     of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-304. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Washington relative to the ``Diabetes Self-
     Management Training Act''; to the Committee on Finance.

                       House Joint Memorial 4038

       Whereas, diabetes is now widely recognized as one of the 
     top public health threats facing our nation today and affects 
     more than 18 million Americans. In 2002, diabetes accounted 
     for 132 billion dollars in direct and indirect health care 
     costs; and
       Whereas, diabetes now affects nearly 1.4 million Washington 
     residents: Over 298,000 people in Washington have been 
     diagnosed with diabetes; over 126,000 people have undiagnosed 
     diabetes; and over 963,000 people have prediabetes; and
       Whereas, people who have diabetes need skills to manage 
     their diabetes and skills to help them stay active in their 
     lives. This training is central to diabetes prevention and 
     care; and
       Whereas, chronic disease self-management programs have a 
     proven success rate, allowing persons with diabetes to better 
     control their diabetes; and
       Whereas, persons living with diabetes who are properly 
     trained with self-management skills are better able to 
     prevent the deadly complications of diabetes, which can 
     include heart disease, stroke, blindness, lower extremity 
     amputation, and kidney failure; and
       Whereas, certified diabetes educators are highly trained 
     multidisciplinary health care professionals dedicated to 
     delivering quality diabetes self-management training; and
       Whereas, evidence has shown that access to a certified 
     diabetes educator improves the management of diabetes, a 
     chronic illness that requries a high level of maintenance; 
     and
       Whereas, certified diabetes educators teach people with 
     diabetes how to maintain the daily rigors of diet, exercise, 
     meal planning, medication monitoring, healthy coping skills, 
     and other factors necessary to control the disease; and
       Whereas, certified diabetes educators are also on the front 
     line of the efforts to promote prevention of diabetes; and
       Whereas, Congress recognized the value of diabetes self-
     management training when it began covering the benefit in the 
     Balanced Budget Act of 1997. At that time, most certified 
     diabetes educators worked in a hospital setting and were able 
     to bill Medicare for their services through the hospital's 
     provider number. Unfortunately, during these tough economic 
     times, hospitals are closing their diabetes education 
     programs at a rate of two to five per month. This leaves 
     diabetes educators without an avenue to provide or bill for 
     diabetes education--services which are desperately needed to 
     keep up with the growing number of people diagnosed with 
     diabetes each day; and
       Whereas, certified diabetes educators have received 
     extensive training in diabetes management. They have met all 
     criteria for initial certification, including a prerequisite 
     qualifying professional credential in a specified health care 
     profession, have professional practice experience in diabetes 
     self-management training that includes one thousand hours of 
     diabetes teaching, have passed a national examination offered 
     by a certifying body recognized as entitled to grant 
     certification to diabetes educators, and are required to 
     renew the certification every five years;
       Now, therefore, your Memorialists respectfully request that 
     the United States House of Representatives and the United 
     States Senate enact Senate Bill 626 and House Bill 3612, 
     known as the ``Diabetes Self-Management Training Act.'' The 
     Act will increase access to diabetes care by adding certified 
     diabetes educators to the current list of Medicare providers, 
     thereby making certified diabetes educators billable 
     providers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 
     transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the 
     United States, the President of the United States Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of 
     Congress from the State of Washington.
                                  ____

       POM-305. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to reviewing and considering eliminating provisions 
     of law which reduce social security benefits for those 
     receiving benefits from federal, state, or local government 
     retirement systems; to the Committee on Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 63

       Whereas, the Congress of the United States has enacted both 
     the Government Pension Offset (GPO), reducing the spousal and 
     survivor social security benefit, and the Windfall 
     Elimination Provision (WEP), reducing the earned social 
     security benefit for persons who also receive federal, state, 
     or local retirement; and
       Whereas, the intent of congress in enacting the GPO and the 
     WEP provisions was to address concerns that a public employee 
     who had worked primarily in federal, state, and local 
     government employment might receive a public pension in 
     addition to the same social security benefit as a worker who 
     had worked only in employment covered by social security 
     throughout his career; and
       Whereas, the purpose of congress in enacting these 
     reduction provisions was to provide a disincentive for public 
     employees to receive two pensions; and
       Whereas, the GPO negatively affects a spouse or survivor 
     receiving federal, state, or local government retirement 
     benefits who would also be entitled to a social security 
     benefit earned by a spouse; and
       Whereas, the GPO formula reduces the spousal or survivor 
     social security benefit by two-thirds of the amount of the 
     federal, state, or local government retirement benefit 
     received by the spouse or survivor, in many cases completely 
     eliminating the social security benefit; and
       Whereas, the WEP applies to those persons who have earned 
     federal, state, or local government retirement benefits, in 
     addition to working in covered employment and paying into the 
     social security system; and
       Whereas, the WEP reduces the earned social security benefit 
     using an averaged indexed monthly earnings formula and may 
     reduce social security benefits for such persons by as much 
     as one-half of the uncovered public retirement benefits 
     earned; and
       Whereas, because of these calculation characteristics, the 
     GPO and WEP have a disproportionately negative effect on 
     employees working in lower-wage government jobs, like 
     policemen, firefighters, teachers, and state employees; and
       Whereas, these provisions also have a greater adverse 
     effect on women than on men because of the gender differences 
     in salary that continue to plague our nation; and
       Whereas, Louisiana is making every effort to improve the 
     quality of life of her citizens and to encourage them to live 
     here lifelong: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to review the 
     GPO and WEP social security benefit reductions and to 
     consider eliminating them; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation and to the school boards of Beauregard, Calcasieu, 
     Rapides, and Vernon parishes.
                                  ____

       POM-306. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Illinois relative to enacting a 
     prescription drug benefit for senior citizens that is run by 
     the Medicare program itself; to the Committee on Finance.

                       Senate Resolution No. 630

       Whereas, the Medicare prescription drug benefit enacted in 
     2003 took effect January 1, 2006, in the form of competing 
     ``Medicare Part D'' plans sold by private insurance 
     companies; and
       Whereas, senior citizens are choosing from a wide array of 
     private plans in each geographic area, with a confusing 
     variety of designs and formularies; and
       Whereas, the law states that a Medicare plan's formulary 
     must cover just one brand-name drug and one generic drug in 
     each therapeutic category--a minimal requirement that will 
     make it difficult for an older person to find all the drugs 
     he/she takes in a single plan; and
       Whereas, the drug plans will be allowed to switch the drugs 
     in their formularies on a regular basis, making it likely 
     that many seniors will sign up for a plan that covers a drug 
     they take, only to find out a few months later that the drug 
     is no longer covered by their plan; and
       Whereas, the drug plans will bargain with the drug 
     companies for lower prices, but instead of being required to 
     pass the discounts on to seniors, they will be allowed to use 
     the savings for advertising and overhead costs, or to 
     increase their profits; and
       Whereas, private drug plans will be unable to bargain 
     effectively, because the Medicare market will be divided 
     among hundreds of plans, diminishing the negotiating power of 
     the huge Medicare population; and
       Whereas, a drug benefit that's run by the Medicare program 
     itself, rather than private insurance, could be given the 
     authority to negotiate prices on behalf of all 44 million 
     beneficiaries--resulting in enormous buying power and the 
     ability to get the lowest prices possible; and
       Whereas, this was born out by a recent study conducted by 
     Families USA (September 2005), which found that the lowest 
     drug prices negotiated by the private sponsors of the 2004/
     2005 Medicare discount cards far exceeded the low prices 
     routinely negotiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs on 
     behalf of the nation's veteran population; and
       Whereas, seniors would not only benefit by the lower prices 
     of a Medicare-run drug plan, but many would find a Medicare 
     choice much less confusing than having to choose the most 
     appropriate plan from among the dozens being marketed by 
     private insurers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Ninety-Fourth General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois, That

[[Page 7618]]

     we call upon the United States Congress to enact a drug 
     benefit for senior citizens that is run by the Medicare 
     program itself; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, each member of the Illinois 
     Congressional delegation, the Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, and the President of the United 
     States Senate.
                                  ____

       POM-307. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Kentucky relative to supporting democracy in Ethiopia 
     through foreign policy efforts; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.

                               Resolution

       A resolution to encourage the President and the United 
     States Congress to support democracy in Ethiopia through 
     foreign policy efforts.
       Whereas, the people of Ethiopia have developed and 
     nourished a proud and distinguished culture that has endured 
     for more than three millennia; and
       Whereas, Ethiopia and the United States have had a long and 
     productive friendship for many years; and
       Whereas, the hope for democratic institutions was created 
     in Ethiopia following the 1991 overthrow of the Communist 
     regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam by a group that became the 
     Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), 
     under the leadership of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi; and
       Whereas, the ascendance of the EPRDF led instead to 
     nondemocratic, one-party rule where democratic symbols such 
     as a free press and elections are used but are manipulated by 
     Meles's government for their own ends; and
       Whereas, elections were held on May 15, 2005, and the 
     turnout of voters was as high as an estimated ninety percent 
     (90%), with voters waiting in line for up to seventeen (17) 
     hours to cast their votes; and
       Whereas, despite a large turnout of electors in which many 
     voted for the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity 
     and Democracy (CUD), the EPRDF government quickly declared 
     that it had been reelected to power; and
       Whereas, facing protests from high schoolers and college 
     students sympathetic with various oppositions parties, 
     government security forces fired on the demonstrators, 
     killing more than eighty (80) people and injuring more than 
     one hundred (100) others; and
       Whereas, Tesfaye Adane Tara, an opposition politician 
     elected to parliament in the May elections was shot to death, 
     allegedly by security forces; and
       Whereas, human rights groups in Ethiopia alleged that more 
     than three thousand (3,000) people were rounded up and 
     detained following the violence in June of 2005, being held 
     without charges and without constitutional protections of due 
     process; and
       Whereas, violence erupted again in early November of 2005; 
     resulting in the death of at least forty-eight (48) people 
     and injuries to hundreds of individuals, including women and 
     children; and
       Whereas, leaders of the opposition parties were once again 
     detained and charged with treason, an offense punishable by 
     death; and
       Whereas, as many as twenty-five hundred (2,500) opposition 
     supporters and some opposition party election observers were 
     held in remote detention centers; and
       Whereas, the Meles government has arrested numerous 
     journalists and closed all independent newspapers in 
     Ethiopia; and
       Whereas, reports by Human Rights Watch indicate that the 
     violence is not relegated just to the urban areas, but that 
     checkpoints have been set up throughout the rural areas of 
     the country, in the Oromia and Amhara regions where minority 
     groups are prevalent and international observers are not 
     located; and
       Whereas, European Union election observers have condemned 
     the 2005 election results as not meeting the international 
     standard for genuine democratic elections and have reported 
     undemocratic control of the media, a general climate of 
     intimidation and human rights violations against opposition 
     supporters, as well as first-hand accounts of the violence; 
     and
       Whereas, many Ethiopians still look to the Western 
     democracies for their greatest hope, encouraging countries 
     that donate foreign aid to intervene and place pressure on 
     the Meles government to follow through with their promised 
     democratic institutions and constitutional protections; and
       Whereas, Britain suspended further aid to Ethiopia after 
     the June violence; and
       Whereas, members. of the United States Congress have called 
     on the Bush Administration to condition any further economic 
     and military assistance on substantial improvements in these 
     matters; and
       Whereas, House Resolution 4423, sponsored by Representative 
     Christopher H. Smith, has been introduced in the United 
     States House of Representatives and calls for the 
     consolidation of security, human rights, democracy, and 
     economic freedom in Ethiopia; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the General 
     Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
       Section 1. The House of Representatives urges the United 
     States Congress to continue to encourage the formation of 
     democratic institutions, multiparty participation, free 
     elections, respect for fundamental human rights, and 
     constitutional protections for all citizens in Ethiopia.
       Section 2. The House of Representatives encourages the 
     United States Congress to pass House Resolution 4423 as a 
     means for encouraging appropriate action towards freedom and 
     democracy in Ethiopia.
       Section 3. The House of Representatives encourages the 
     President and United States Department of State to use every 
     possible means at their command to examine our country's 
     foreign policies toward Ethiopia for ways to encourage 
     democratic institutions, multiparty participation, free 
     elections, respect for fundamental human rights, and 
     constitutional protections for all citizens in Ethiopia.
       Section 4. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is 
     hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the 
     Honorable George W. Bush, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
     Washington, D.C. 20500; the Honorable Richard Cheney, Vice 
     President, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500; 
     the Honorable Condoleeza Rice, 2201 C Street, N.W., 
     Washington, D.C. 20520; His Excellency Kassahun Ayele, 
     Embassy of Ethiopia, 3506 International Drive, N.W., 
     Washington, D.C. 20008; the Honorable Dennis Hastert, Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives, 235 Cannon House Office 
     Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; the Honorable Mitch 
     McConnell, 361-A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, 
     D.C. 20510; the Honorable Jim Bunning, 316 Hart Senate Office 
     Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; the Honorable Ben Chandler, 
     1504 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; 
     the Honorable Geoff Davis, 1541 Longworth House Office 
     Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; the Honorable Ron Lewis, 
     2418 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; 
     the Honorable Anne Northup, 2459 Rayburn House Office 
     Buiiding, Washington, D.C. 20515; the Honorable Harold 
     Rogers, 2406 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 
     20515; the Honorable Ed Whitfield, 301 Cannon House Office 
     Building, Washington, D.C. 20515.
                                  ____

       POM-308. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to enacting legislation to provide 
     additional funding for research in order to find a treatment 
     and a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 616

       Whereas, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is better 
     known as Lou Gehrig's disease; and
       Whereas, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease 
     characterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the lower 
     motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horns of the 
     spinal cord; and
       Whereas, The initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the 
     skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
       Whereas, as ALS progresses, the patient experiences 
     difficulty in swallowing, talking and breathing; and
       Whereas, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy, and the 
     patient becomes a functional guadriplegic; and
       Whereas, ALS does not affect a patient's mental capacity, 
     so a patient remains alert and aware of the loss of motor 
     functions and the inevitable outcome of continued 
     deterioration and death; and
       Whereas, ALS occurs in adulthood, most commonly between the 
     ages of 40 and 70, with the peak age about 55, and affects 
     men two to three times more often than women; and
       Whereas, More than 5,600 new ALS patients are diagnosed 
     annually; and
       Whereas, It is estimated that 30,000 Americans may have ALS 
     at any given time; and
       Whereas, On average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive 
     two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and
       Whereas, Research indicates that military veterans are at a 
     50% or greater risk of developing ALS than those who have not 
     served in the military; and
       Whereas, ALS has no known cause, prevention or cure; and
       Whereas, ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness 
     Month'' will increase public awareness of ALS patients' 
     circumstances, acknowledge the terrible impact this disease 
     has on patients and families and recognize the research for 
     treatment and cure of ALS; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognize the month of May 2006 
     as ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Month'' in 
     Pennsylvania; and be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives urge the 
     President and Congress of the United States to enact 
     legislation to provide additional funding for ALS research; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, to the Vice President of 
     the United States, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, to the members of Congress

[[Page 7619]]

     from Pennsylvania and to the United States Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services.
                                  ____

       POM-309. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to remove 
     the TRIO programs Upward Bound and Talent Search from the 
     list of programs to be eliminated in the 2007 budget and to 
     memorialize congress to continue the funding of such 
     programs; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 24

       Whereas, the term ``TRIO'' was coined by the late 1960s in 
     reference to a series of federal educational opportunity 
     programs created as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's 
     ``War on Poverty''; and
       Whereas, funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act 
     of 1965, the TRIO programs have expanded and improved over 
     the decades to provide a wide range of services to help 
     students overcome class-related, social, and cultural 
     barriers to higher education; and
       Whereas, the president's 2007 budget proposal requests the 
     nationwide elimination of two TRIO programs, Upward Bound and 
     Talent Search; and
       Whereas, Upward Bound, the goal of which is to increase the 
     rates at which participants enroll in and graduate from 
     postsecondary education institutions, provides vital support 
     to participants in their preparation for college entrance, 
     and serves high school students from low-income families, 
     high school students from families in which neither parent 
     holds a bachelor's degree, and low-income, first-generation 
     military veterans who are preparing to enter postsecondary 
     education; and
       Whereas, Talent Search, the goal of which is to increase 
     the number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who 
     complete high school and enroll in the postsecondary 
     educational institution of their choice, provides academic, 
     career, and financial counseling to its participants and 
     encourages them to graduate from high school and also serves 
     high school dropouts by encouraging them to complete their 
     education; and
       Whereas, Upward Bound and Talent Search are two essential 
     programs that provide crucial services to students, such as 
     instruction in core curriculum subjects, academic advising, 
     tutorial services, mentoring programs, assistance in 
     completing college and financial aid applications, and 
     support in preparing for college entrance exams; and
       Whereas, it is in the best interest of the Nation's 
     students that Upward Bound and Talent Search, two outstanding 
     TRIO programs, be continued because they have made, and will 
     continue to make, significant contributions toward the 
     improvement of education in the nation and toward ensuring 
     that as many students as possible receive every opportunity 
     afforded by a quality education in the United States of 
     America. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to remove the TRIO programs Upward Bound and 
     Talent Search from the list of programs to be eliminated in 
     the 2007 budget and does hereby memorialize congress to 
     continue the funding of such programs. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-310. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to ensure 
     that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United 
     States Army Corps of Engineers break up large federal 
     disaster recovery contracts in Louisiana so that small, 
     locally owned businesses can compete for and be awarded such 
     contracts; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the state of 
     Louisiana causing severe flooding and damage to the southern 
     part of the state that has threatened the safety and security 
     of the citizens of the affected areas of the state of 
     Louisiana; and
       Whereas, the destruction caused by these devastating storms 
     damaged public works, such as levees, bridges, and highways, 
     and spread debris over a wide area of the southern part of 
     the State; and
       Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the 
     United States Army Corps of Engineers have control over a 
     great percentage of the contracts to repair levees, remove 
     debris, and provide for transportation of trailers and other 
     important activities vital to the restoration and 
     revitalization of the affected areas of Louisiana; and
       Whereas, for the most part, these contracts have been 
     awarded to large companies with the result being that small 
     local companies have been shut out of the process; and
       Whereas, it is likely that breaking up these large 
     contracts would make it more likely that smaller businesses 
     can be competitive in the bid process; and
       Whereas, the awarding of contracts to smaller Louisiana 
     businesses would help to jump start Louisiana post-Katrina 
     economy and help the devastated areas and their people to 
     quicken the pace of recovery. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to ensure that the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency and the United States Army Corps of 
     Engineers break up large federal disaster recovery contracts 
     in Louisiana so that small, locally owned businesses can 
     compete for and be awarded such contracts. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-311. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Illinois relative to supporting 
     the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005; to 
     the Committee on the Judiciary.

                       Senate Resolution No. 578

       Whereas, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 
     2005 (S. 1033 and H.R. 2330) would require the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security to develop and implement a National 
     Strategy for Border Security, establish a H-5A essential 
     worker visa program for low-skilled workers, and exempt 
     immediate relatives of U.S. citizens from the annual cap on 
     family-sponsored immigrant visas; and
       Whereas, the United States House of Representatives passed 
     H.R. 4437 that would criminalize the undocumented, their 
     employers, and asylum-seekers alike, tear apart families, and 
     needlessly devastate our economy; and
       Whereas, the United States of America was founded by 
     immigrants who traveled from around the world to seek a 
     better life; and
       Whereas, the United States has an undocumented population 
     of 11 million immigrants, including half a million in 
     Illinois; and
       Whereas, Illinois immigrants fill key roles in our economy 
     such as paying taxes, including contributions to Social 
     Security that they cannot receive back, raising families, and 
     contributing to our schools, churches, neighborhoods, and 
     community; and
       Whereas, our current immigration system contributes to long 
     backlogs, labor abuses, countless deaths on the border, and 
     vigilante violence and is in dire need of reform to meet the 
     challenges of the 21st century; and
       Whereas, any comprehensive reform must involve a path to 
     citizenship for these hardworking immigrants, as well as 
     reunification of families and a safe and orderly process for 
     enabling willing immigrant workers to fill essential jobs in 
     our economy and ensure full labor rights; and
       Whereas, the immigration initiative severely punishes 
     illegal employment practices while creating a path to earned 
     permanent legal states for individuals who have been working 
     in the United States, paying taxes, obeying the law, and 
     learning English, and protecting workers by ensuring the 
     right to change jobs, join a union, and report abusive 
     employment situations; and
       Whereas, modernizing our antiquated and dysfunctional 
     immigration system will uphold our nation's basic values of 
     fairness, equal opportunity, and respect for the law; 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Ninety-Fourth General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we urge the Illinois 
     Congressional Delegation and all of Congress to support ``The 
     Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005'' (S. 1033 
     and H.R. 2330), which allows every hardworking, law-abiding 
     individual to achieve the American Dream; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be delivered to 
     the President of the United States, the President of the 
     Senate, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority and 
     Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives, and each 
     member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-312. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Illinois relative to a private 
     bill in the United States Congress that was introduced by 
     Congressman Bobby Rush in September 2005 on behalf of the La 
     Familia group; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                       Senate Resolution No. 523

       Whereas, United States citizen children throughout Illinois 
     and the nation are being separated from either their father 
     or mother because of our broken immigration laws; this causes 
     great emotional and financial harm to these children and 
     violates the right to family unity; and
       Whereas, the thirty-five families, which come from nearly 
     all of the congressional districts in Illinois and are known 
     as La Familia Latina Unida (La Familia), represent families 
     separated, or threatened by the prospect of separation, by 
     the broken immigration laws and regulations that span the

[[Page 7620]]

     State of Illinois; these individuals are mothers or fathers 
     of U.S. citizen children and are married, in most cases, to 
     U.S. citizen spouses; the hardship claimed in each case is 
     the hardship on these U.S. citizens that has occurred due to 
     the separation or imminent separation of their families; and
       Whereas, these thirty-five families, including their one 
     hundred U.S. citizen children, have waged a courageous public 
     campaign on their own behalf and on behalf of similarly 
     affected families throughout the nation; the hardship faced 
     by these families is both economic and emotional; and
       Whereas, H.R. 3856, a private bill in the United States 
     Congress, was introduced by Congressman Bobby Rush in 
     September of this year on behalf of the La Familia group; 
     this bill would confer legal status on the mothers or fathers 
     of these families and allow for their permanent unification; 
     and
       Whereas, the immigration cases that are represented 
     encompass a range of human and legal situations that will be 
     highly instructive to the immigration debate in the U.S. 
     Senate; in many of these cases, the individuals have 
     presented themselves fully and completely through the process 
     dictated and have been denied because of the rule that 
     restricts travel to their country of origin in family 
     emergencies, even though they have fully presented themselves 
     in their required applications; and
       Whereas, due to the difference in House and Senate rules 
     relating to private bills, the introduction of a companion 
     bill in the U.S. Senate will provide for the more immediate 
     security of these families and allow them to continue their 
     public testimony, a testimony vitally in the public interest 
     in the midst of the upcoming debate over reform of 
     immigration laws; and
       Whereas, support for the private bill in the House and 
     Senate does not represent support for any particular 
     immigration reform bill; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the Senate of the Ninety-fourth General 
     Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we strongly recommend 
     passage of H.R. 3856 and the introduction of its companion in 
     the U.S. Senate; and be it further
       Resolved, That we encourage the United States Congress to 
     take action on federal immigration reform, which would 
     provide for family unification as part of part of 
     comprehensive immigration reform; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
     forwarded to the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, the President pro tempore of the United 
     States Senate, and to each member of the Illinois 
     Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-313. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisiana 
     relative to taking such actions as are necessary to secure 
     our nation's borders, identify and deport immigration 
     violators, preclude automatic citizenship for children born 
     of such violators, and revise the work visa program; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 33

       Whereas, we support legal immigration to our country and 
     acknowledge the tremendous contributions made by legal 
     immigrants throughout our history to our economy and society; 
     and
       Whereas, we must strengthen the Border Patrol to stop 
     illegal crossing and must equip the Border patrol with the 
     tools, technologies, structures, and sufficient force 
     necessary to secure the border; and
       Whereas, it is estimated that eleven million citizens of 
     other countries have entered and currently remain in the 
     United States in violation of applicable immigration and 
     naturalization laws; and
       Whereas, the ability of such persons to illegally enter and 
     remain in the United States presents a grave risk to the 
     security of the United States; and
       Whereas, in many instances the resources of national, 
     state, and local governmental entities are overburdened and 
     depleted or exhausted by attempts to deal with and meet the 
     needs of such persons after they illegally enter the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, border security and immigration law enforcement 
     are critical elements in America's national security; and
       Whereas, strengthening the capacity of law enforcement to 
     apprehend persons entering our country illegally is essential 
     to protecting the sovereignty of the United States; and
       Whereas, immigration enforcement training needs to be 
     provided to state and local law enforcement agencies to 
     strengthen their enforcement of immigration laws; and
       Whereas, withholding United States citizenship from 
     children born to illegal aliens will remove another incentive 
     to enter our country illegally; and
       Whereas, all employers in the United States should be held 
     responsible for hiring illegal aliens and be subjected to 
     substantial fines for doing so; and
       Whereas, working or residing illegally in our country must 
     not estab1ish welfare rights or benefits of any kind; and
       Whereas, respect for the rule of law is a bedrock principle 
     of our country, our culture, and our posterity; and
       Whereas, elected leaders across the country are constantly 
     and vigorously confronted with demands that appropriate 
     legislative action be taken to address and resolve the 
     problems of illegal immigration. Therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions 
     as are necessary to provide appropriate authority and teams 
     to accomplish the following:
       (1) Effectively secure the borders of the United States 
     against illegal immigration and all other illegal crossings, 
     using our military if necessary.
       (2) Identify all persons who are currently in the United 
     States in violation of immigration and naturalization laws 
     and arrange for their return to their country of origin as 
     expeditiously as reasonably possible.
       (3) Preclude automatic citizenship for children born in the 
     United States to persons in the United States in violation of 
     immigration and naturalization laws.
       (4) After effectively closing our borders to illegal entry, 
     revise our present work visa program to remove the means by 
     which it is abused, requiring a reliable means of tracking 
     entry and exit and continually verifying the identity and 
     location of each such worker, and providing no amnesty or 
     preference for those persons presently in the United States 
     illegally. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the Congress of the United States of 
     America land to each member of the Louisiana congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-314. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan relative to providing funding to help states and 
     local communities clean up and address the disastrous effects 
     of clandestine methamphetamine labs; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                       Senate Resolution No. 101

       Whereas, There is a meth epidemic in the United States, and 
     it is having a devastating effect on our country. Meth abuse 
     is causing social, economic, and environmental problems. 
     Children residing in homes with meth labs live in danger and 
     often suffer from neglect and abuse. Meth production costs 
     citizens and governments millions of dollars for a variety of 
     reasons, including law enforcement costs, drug treatment for 
     offenders, cleanup of production sites, and placement of 
     endangered children; and
       Whereas, Meth labs leave behind a toxic mess of chemicals 
     and pose a significant danger to communities. The manufacture 
     of one pound of methamphetamine results in six pounds of 
     waste. These wastes include corrosive liquids, acid vapors, 
     heavy metals, solvents, and other harmful materials that can 
     disfigure skin or cause death. Hazardous materials from meth 
     labs are typically disposed of illegally and may cause severe 
     damage to the environment; and
       Whereas, Between 1992 and 2004, the number of clandestine 
     meth lab-related cleanups increased from 394 to over 10,000 
     nationwide. The cost of cleaning up clandestine labs in FY 
     2004 was approximately $17.8 million; and
       Whereas, States and local governments are bearing the 
     burden of funding the cleanup efforts. Many local communities 
     are finding and seizing meth labs. The lab sites remain 
     dangerous to the public, however, because neither the state 
     or the local community has adequate funding to clean them up; 
     and
       Whereas, The Combat Meth Act of 2005, which was recently 
     signed into law as a part of the USA Patriot Improvement and 
     Reauthorization Act of 2005, authorizes cleanup funding, but 
     only for areas designated ``Meth Hot Spots.'' The meth 
     epidemic is a national crisis, however, and scores of states 
     and local governments across the country are in dire need of 
     funding to help clean up clandestine labs; now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United 
     States Congress to provide funding for meth lab cleanup that 
     is available to all states and local governments that are in 
     the midst of the meth epidemic; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-315. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania relative to increasing the penalties imposed 
     upon a person who vandalizes a national war memorial; to the 
     Committee on the Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 628

       Whereas, The Civil War is the bloodiest and most tragic war 
     in which this country has ever engaged, and indisputably its 
     worst conflagration occurred July 1 through 3, 1863, in 
     Gettysburg; and
       Whereas, there were more than 52,000 human casualties 
     during this three-day event, and nearly every Civil War unit 
     for the North and for the South was engaged; and
       Whereas, in the years following the war and continuing 
     through the 1990s with the 1993 dedication of the Friend to 
     Friend Memorial, war memorials have been erected by

[[Page 7621]]

     private donations, publicly dedicated and maintained by the 
     National Park Service as testimony of the sacrifices made by 
     those who fought at Gettysburg; and
       Whereas, on February 15, 2006, three Civil War monuments on 
     the Gettysburg Battlefield were vandalized heinously, one 
     representing the 114th PVI Pennsylvania monument and two 
     others representing New York and Massachusetts; and
       Whereas, this vandalism demonstrates that present penalties 
     are insufficient to deter such actions; therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the 
     United States to increase the minimum fines and other minimum 
     penalties for vandalizing a national war memorial; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each 
     member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-316. A resolution adopted by the Council of the Borough 
     of Roselle Park, State of New Jersey relative to opposing New 
     York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan Airspace Redesign 
     proposals of the Federal Aviation Administration; to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
                                  ____

       POM-317. A resolution adopted by the Township Committee of 
     the Township of Winfield, State of New Jersey relative to 
     opposing New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan 
     Airspace Redesign proposals of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.
                                  ____

       POM-318. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Gretna, State of Louisiana relative to enacting the 
     ``Domestic Energy Production through Offshore Exploration and 
     Equitable Treatment of State Holdings Act of 2006''; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
                                  ____
                                  

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