[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18719-18725]
[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-148. A resolution adopted by the City Council for the 
     City of Okeechobee of the State of Florida urging Congress to 
     appropriate the funds necessary to bring the Herbert Hoover 
     Dike into compliance with current levee safety standards; to 
     the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
                                  ____

       POM-149. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     North Miami of the State of Florida urging Congress to 
     appropriate the funds necessary to bring the Herbert Hoover 
     dike into compliance with current levee protection safety 
     standards; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
                                  ____

       POM-150. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah expressing opposition to the Divine 
     Strake explosive test that is to be conducted in Nevada in 
     2007; to the Committee on Armed Services.
       Whereas, ``Divine Strake'' is the code name for a large 
     high-explosive test to be conducted by the Defense Threat 
     Reduction Agency;
       Whereas, the Pentagon has stated the purpose of the test is 
     to ``determine the potential for future non-nuclear 
     concepts,'' such as high-energy weapons or the simultaneous 
     use of multiple conventional bombs to destroy deeply buried 
     and fortified military targets, as an alternative to 
     detonating a nuclear device;
       Whereas, the test was originally planned to take place June 
     2, 2006 at the site of an existing underground tunnel in the 
     United States Department of Energy Nevada Test Site, but was 
     postponed several times due to legal action, then later 
     delayed until 2007;
       Whereas, the test is scheduled to utilize 700 tons of an 
     ammonium nitrate combined with fuel oil explosive, which is 
     equivalent to 593 tons of TNT;
       Whereas, there is concern that the explosion could stir up 
     nuclear particles, left from previous tests conducted decades 
     earlier at the Nevada test site, into the atmosphere;
       Whereas, in December 2006, the revision to the 
     Environmental Assessment was released, and although the study 
     concluded that there are no health risks to persons outside 
     the blast area, it stated, ``Since suspended natural 
     radionuclides and resuspended fallout radionuclides from the 
     detonation have potential to be transported off of the NTS by 
     wind, they may contribute a radiological dose to the 
     public'';
       Whereas, on January 22, 2006, the Washington County 
     Commission issued a statement opposing the federal 
     government's plan to conduct the test which reads in part, 
     ``The City of St. George has a unique history due to its 
     proximity to the Nevada Nuclear Test Site during the atomic 
     age. . . thousands of early deaths of those living in 
     southern Utah and the surrounding areas have been attributed 
     to nuclear testing during the 1950s and 1960s at the site. 
     Many St. George residents and others have suffered 
     incalculable loss as a result of radioactive fallout exposure 
     from the detonations at the site'';
       Whereas, the Commission added, ``To assure the safety and 
     well-being of our citizenry, these concerns must be carefully 
     studied and evaluated before a decision is made to proceed 
     with the proposed detonation''; and
       Whereas, much more needs to be done to assure that there is 
     never a repeat of the immense suffering endured by citizens 
     of Utah and nearby states due to the nuclear fallout from 
     past tests at the Nevada Test Site. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, express opposition to the Divine 
     Strake high-explosive test to be conducted by the Defense 
     Threat Reduction Agency at the United States Department of 
     Energy Nevada Test Site in 2007. Be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the 
     Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the United States Department 
     of Defense, the United States Department of Energy Nevada 
     Test Site, the Washington County Commission, and to the 
     members of Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-151. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to 
     enact H.R. 1619 or S. 587 to direct the Secretary of the 
     Treasury to mint coins to commemorate the Ford Model T; to 
     the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 78

       Whereas, Michigan's integral role as the heart of the 
     automobile industry in our country and around the world is 
     well established. Nearly 100 years ago, an especially 
     meaningful chapter in this long history began with the 
     opening of the Highland Park Ford Plant that is acknowledged 
     to be the birthplace of the assembly line. In addition, the 
     more than 15 million Model T Fords that were built between 
     1908 and 1927 reshaped the American landscape and our way of 
     life; and
       Whereas, The new age in manufacturing that was born in 
     Michigan and the Model T Ford set in motion changes in how 
     Americans live and how people travel around the world. The 
     rise in the American middle class, the ability to prevail in 
     defense of our nation in world wars, and subsequent 
     technological advances all can be traced in significant 
     measure to the automobile industry that began with the vision 
     and hard work of the pioneer mechanics in Michigan; and
       Whereas, Congress has before it legislation that would 
     require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint not more than 
     500,000 coins to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 
     Model T Ford automobile. Under this legislation, these dollar 
     coins, which would be public tender, would be comprised of 90 
     percent silver and 10 percent copper. The legislation also 
     provides that the money raised by a surcharge above the face 
     value would be distributed to the Motor Cities National 
     Heritage Area through the Automobile National Heritage 
     Partnership and to the Edison Institute. This money would 
     create endowments to support the celebration of the

[[Page 18720]]

     Model T and the preservation of its story through educational 
     programs and displays; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact H.R. 
     1619 or S. 587, to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to 
     mint coins to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Model 
     T Ford; 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-152. A joint resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     State of Tennessee urging Congress to address the economic 
     impact of interchange fees and merchant discount charges and 
     develop clear and concise disclosure to consumers and 
     retailers; to the Committee on Banking,Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 361

       Whereas, consumers are increasingly using credit and debit 
     cards and other electronic transactions to make purchases, 
     and the number of credit and debit card transactions each 
     year now exceeds the number of check transactions; and
       Whereas, payment system networks and technology provide 
     significant economic benefits to merchants and consumers; and
       Whereas, merchants and retailers pay merchant discount 
     fees, including interchange fees, to access payment system 
     networks for credit and debit transactions; and
       Whereas, the fees, policies, and practices of credit card 
     organizations have social and economic consequences for 
     merchants and consumers; and
       Whereas, interchange costs have risen dramatically in 
     recent years and the number of transactions involving 
     interchange fees has grown in volume in recent years due to 
     consumer preference to use credit and debit cards and the 
     expansions in technology facilitating the use of credit card 
     systems; and
       Whereas, American consumers and retailers pay the highest 
     credit card fees in the world, with rates averaging close to 
     2 percent and debit card fees averaging close to 1 percent; 
     and
       Whereas, merchants are required to pay merchant discount 
     fees, including interchange fees, to banks to access credit 
     and debit card payment system networks; and
       Whereas, interchange fees are ultimately passed on to 
     consumers, including those who pay by cash or check, in the 
     form of higher prices; and
       Whereas, it is advantageous to have competitive economic 
     models that assure a highly competitive marketplace; and
       Whereas, with more and more consumers using electronic 
     payment methods, the United States Congress needs to assure a 
     highly competitive and vibrant market that promotes an 
     economic playing field that is fair to consumers, merchants, 
     and card providers alike. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the One Hundred Fifth General 
     Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, that this General Assembly hereby 
     urges the Congress of the United States of America to act 
     expeditiously to address the economic impact of interchange 
     fees and other merchant discount fees and develop clear and 
     concise disclosure to consumers and retailers. Be it further
       Resolved, That this General Assembly strongly urges each 
     member of the Tennessee congressional delegation to utilize 
     the full measure of his or her influence to assess the 
     economic impact of interchange fees and other merchant 
     discount fees. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives is directed to transmit a certified copy of 
     this resolution to the President and the Secretary of the 
     United States Senate; the Speaker and the Clerk of the United 
     States House of Representatives; and to each member of the 
     Tennessee congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-153. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Pennsylvania urging Congress 
     to provide equitable funding to the Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development for the operation of quality affordable 
     housing; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 292

       Whereas, Pennsylvania's public housing authorities are 
     essential in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
       Whereas, Pennsylvania is home to 90 public housing 
     authorities serving an estimated 245,819 residents of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
       Whereas, Pennsylvania's public housing authorities provide 
     high-quality affordable housing to the residents in the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the use of Federal 
     resources and programs; and
       Whereas, Pennsylvania's public housing authorities have 
     successfully assisted residents of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania with moving to work programs and 
     preapprenticeship training, resulting in greater self-
     sufficiency and a reduced burden on Commonwealth resources; 
     and
       Whereas, developments built by Pennsylvania's public 
     housing authorities have in some instances increased the 
     values of neighboring properties and communities in the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by 142%; and
       Whereas, new funding guidelines developed by the United 
     States Department of Housing and Urban Development have 
     resulted in reduced funding for the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania, its public housing authorities and the 
     Pennsylvanians who rely on these services; and
       Whereas, Pennsylvania's public housing authorities are a 
     major employer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and 
     funding cuts from the United States Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development have resulted in drastic layoffs and 
     diminished services to the residents of public housing; 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognize the importance of the 
     quality services, support and housing provided by 
     Pennsylvania's public housing authorities and respectfully 
     urge the Congress to provide equitable funding to the United 
     States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the 
     operation of quality affordable housing; 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-154. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah expressing support for acquiring a 
     second airport surveillance radar facility for the Salt Lake 
     International Airport; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 2

       Whereas, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLCIA) is 
     one of the nation's primary hub airports, is the second 
     largest hub airport for Delta Air Lines and processed over 
     455,000 aircraft operations during 2005 making it the 18th 
     busiest airport in the world, and conservative forecasts 
     project operations to grow to over 634,000 operations by 
     2025;
       Whereas, the Provo Airport is the second busiest airport in 
     Utah with over 175,000 operations a year and was recently 
     designated as the primary reliever to SLCIA by major 
     commercial airlines including Delta, Frontier, and Southwest, 
     a designation that significantly increases the demand on 
     Provo Airport;
       Whereas, the Salt Lake City Terminal/TRACON (terminal radar 
     approach control) facility has responsibility for 
     coordinating the safe and efficient movement of aircraft 
     within the regional airspace but experiences important 
     limitations in the regulation of aircraft using the Provo 
     Airport and airports in surrounding communities;
       Whereas, coordinating air traffic activity within the 
     region is complicated significantly because the mountainous 
     terrain along the Wasatch Front creates a sizeable radar 
     shadow which prevents air traffic controllers from seeing 
     aircraft below 8,000 feet, above ground level, in Utah 
     Valley, while aircraft operating below 500 feet, above ground 
     level, at the Salt Lake City Airport II cannot be seen;
       Whereas, aircraft arriving or departing the Provo Airport 
     and surrounding airports regularly interact with commercial 
     aircraft using SLCIA; when aircraft operating at these 
     airports request entry into SLCIA airspace, air traffic 
     controllers are not able to determine the precise location of 
     the aircraft due to lack of radar coverage; the slower speeds 
     of these aircraft combined with airspace congestion can 
     present safety concerns for commercial airline operations as 
     well as for general aviation;
       Whereas, the lack of ASR-11 (automated surveillance radar) 
     at Provo Airport causes significant delays to take-off and 
     landing operations during poor weather conditions, resulting 
     in a real and significant threat to air safety;
       Whereas, there is no backup radar equipment to provide 
     continuous radar coverage to the surface when existing radar 
     becomes inoperable, and the volume of activity generated by 
     the Delta Air Line hub is closely linked to the efficiency of 
     the entire national air transportation system;
       Whereas, ASR-11 would provide essential redundancy to 
     assure that adequate safety is maintained at all times; and
       Whereas, the radar shadow and the limitations it creates 
     can be corrected by installing a second ASR-11 facility that 
     would be fully integrated with the existing radar at SLCIA 
     and would be optimally located at the Point of the Mountain, 
     providing major safety and efficiency benefits to all of the 
     airports previously mentioned: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, support the critical need to 
     acquire ASR-11 (automated surveillance radar) to provide 
     radar redundancy for the Sale Lake City International 
     Airport, and to achieve full radar coverage for Provo Airport 
     and other general aviation airports. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor request 
     that Utah's Congressional Delegation seek the appropriation 
     of funds in

[[Page 18721]]

     the 2008 FAA Facilities and Equipment budget needed to 
     acquire ASR-11, as well as to finalize site selection and to 
     acquire property to the extent needed for the installation of 
     the system. Be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the 
     city of Provo, the Provo Airport, Delta Air Lines, Frontier 
     Air Lines, Southwest Air Lines, and to the members of Utah's 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-155. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah urging Congress to take action to help 
     stop children and employees from accessing Internet 
     pornography; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, the Internet has become an extremely important and 
     popular means of exchanging information, and is relied upon 
     in Utah for business, education, recreation, and other uses;
       Whereas, many Internet sites contain material that is 
     pornographic, either obscene or inappropriate for children, 
     and a majority of these sites originate within the United 
     States but outside of the state of Utah;
       Whereas, the availability of Internet pornography on the 
     job costs Utah employers significant numbers of work hours, 
     strains employers' computer equipment, reduces productivity, 
     and leads to potentially hostile work environments for men 
     and women;
       Whereas, while the custody, care, and nurturing of children 
     resides primarily with parents, the widespread availability 
     of Internet pornography and the ability of children to 
     circumvent existing filtering technology defeat the best 
     attempts at parental supervision or control;
       Whereas, Internet pornographers use evolving techniques to 
     lure Utah children and others into viewing and purchasing 
     pornographic material, defying existing technology designed 
     to block adult content;
       Whereas, current methods for protecting computers and 
     computer networks from unwanted Internet content are 
     expensive, block more than the intended content, and are 
     easily circumvented;
       Whereas, because children, employees, and others may seek 
     out pornography, warnings and other labels meant to help 
     avoid inadvertent hits on pornographic sites may simply 
     increase the likelihood that these sites will be visited;
       Whereas, credit card verification systems burden credit 
     card companies, are expensive and time consuming to establish 
     and maintain, and inhibit legal speech;
       Whereas, other forms of age verification have not been 
     practicable;
       Whereas, prior Congressional attempts to address children's 
     access to Internet pronography have been held 
     unconstitutional or otherwise have not passed constitutional 
     scrutiny;
       Whereas, prior Congressional attempts to address children's 
     access to Internet pornography have not been based on 
     technology that allows individual Internet users to select 
     what kind of Internet content enters their homes and work 
     spaces;
       Whereas, protecting the physical and psychological well-
     being of Utah's children by shielding them from inappropriate 
     materials is a compelling interest of the Legislature of the 
     State of Utah;
       Whereas, protecting the right of Utah's citizens to control 
     what materials enter their homes and other private property 
     is a compelling interest of the Legislature of the State of 
     Utah;
       Whereas, although the State of Utah has taken rigorous 
     action in an attempt to shield Utah's children from obscenity 
     and other inappropriate adult content, it cannot effectively 
     curb the problems with Internet pornography within its 
     borders without the support of the United States government;
       Whereas, the United States remains in control of the 
     Internet through the Department of Commerce, and the National 
     Telecommunication and Information Association; and
       Whereas, the United States has the ability to create 
     appropriate policies and enforcement tools to effectively 
     deal with these issues: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, strongly urges the United States 
     Congress to take action to help stop children and employees 
     from accessing Internet pornography; be it further
       Resolved, that the Legislature and the Governor strongly 
     urge the United States Congress to seriously consider 
     enacting legislation to facilitate a technology-based 
     solution that allows parents and employers to subscribe to 
     Internet access services that exclude adult content; be it 
     further
       Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, the President of 
     the United States, and the members of Utah's congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-156. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to 
     encourage expansion of existing or the construction of new 
     petroleum refineries to meet increasing energy needs; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 121

       Whereas, The price of petroleum products has been 
     unpredictable. Between December 2006 and the end of February 
     2007, the price of crude oil fluctuated between 62 dollars a 
     barrel and 50 dollars several times. Currently, the world 
     crude oil price exceeds 66 dollars a barrel. Recently, oil 
     futures leapt above 72 dollars a barrel on the New York 
     Mercantile Exchange due to shrinking gasoline supplies and 
     international tensions. Increased refinery capacity would 
     buffer the United States from some of the more volatile price 
     swings that occur during periods of global conflict and which 
     are often outside of our national control; 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 must 
     plan for our future energy needs by incorporating new 
     petroleum refineries into the overall energy policy of the 
     United States; 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. 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 
     its 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 
     increased capacity or the construction of new refineries; and
       Whereas, Constructing new refineries or expanding current 
     facilities would also create new jobs and increase gasoline, 
     fuels, and distillate output--all vital components of 
     strengthening our economy, 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; 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 American Petroleum Institute, and the American 
     Petroleum Industries of Michigan.
                                  ____

       POM-157. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Louisiana urging Congress to pass the Non-Market Economy 
     Trade Remedy Act of 2007; to the Committee on Finance.

                       Senate Resolution No. 119

       Whereas, H.R. 1229, the ``Non-Market Economy Trade Remedy 
     Act of 2007,'' will ensure that the United States 
     countervailing duty law applies to imports from non-market 
     economies; and
       Whereas, the purpose of the countervailing duty law is to 
     offset any unfair competitive advantage that foreign 
     manufacturers or exporters have as a result of subsidies; and
       Whereas, manufacturing is a vital part of the American 
     economy; and
       Whereas, each American manufacturing job results in the 
     creation of approximately four additional jobs; and
       Whereas, since 1997, Louisiana has lost over thirty-nine 
     thousand manufacturing jobs due to unfair trade practices; 
     and
       Whereas, Louisiana's coastal area is home to some of the 
     nation's premiere commercial fisheries, accounting for 30% of 
     the commercial fisheries production of the lower 48 states; 
     and
       Whereas, the Louisiana seafood industry provides an annual 
     economic impact of approximately two billion eight hundred 
     million dollars and over thirty-one thousand jobs; and
       Whereas, the Louisiana seafood industry has lost over 
     eleven thousand jobs and millions of dollars due to illegally 
     subsidized seafood imports and dumping from foreign nations; 
     and
       Whereas, industries that once were the pride of their 
     communities and employed generations of the same family have 
     been shut down resulting from jobs being shifted to foreign 
     nations where labor is cheap and environmental standards are 
     not enforced; and
       Whereas, billions of dollars in wages and millions of jobs 
     are expected to move from the United States to low-cost 
     nations by 2015; and
       Whereas, H.R. 1229, the ``Non-Market Economy Trade Remedy 
     Act of 2007,'' is being considered in Congress to correct the 
     longstanding inequity of trade law, and requires the 
     Department of Commerce to take action

[[Page 18722]]

     in countervailing duty cases in support of American 
     businesses:
       Now therefore, be it Resolved, that the Senate of the 
     Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the 
     United States to vote in favor of H.R. 1229, the ``Non-Market 
     Economy Trade Remedy Act of 2007.'' and; 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-158. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to 
     oppose the South Korea Free Trade Agreement; to the Committee 
     on Finance.

                        House Resolution No. 101

       Whereas, the Bush Administration has negotiated a new free 
     trade agreement with South Korea that fails to protect worker 
     rights and will jeopardize tens of thousands of automotive 
     jobs in the United States; and
       Whereas, this flawed agreement is the largest since the 
     North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and it contains 
     no enforceable protections for workers' rights and will 
     undermine the ability of the government to protect food 
     safety, the environment, and public health; and
       Whereas, this agreement will exacerbate and accelerate the 
     loss of good jobs in the United States manufacturing sector, 
     especially in automobiles, apparel, and electronics. The 
     United States already has a massive trade deficit with South 
     Korea, with a large portion of that deficit in automobiles 
     and automobile parts; and
       Whereas, the agreement will jeopardize thousands of 
     automobile jobs because it opens the United States automobile 
     market further while failing to address the barriers to the 
     sale of United States automobiles in South Korea; and
       Whereas, the United States Trade Representative rejected a 
     very sensible proposal put forward by a bipartisan group of 
     members of Congress to tie any opening of the United States 
     automobile market to concrete benchmarks in United States 
     sales in Korea. Until such benchmarks are set, we do not have 
     confidence that the South Korea Free Trade Agreement is in 
     the best interests of the United States: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States 
     Congress to oppose the South Korea Free Trade Agreement; 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-159. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah urging Congress to pass legislation to 
     resolve federal identity theft and fraud issues; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, identity theft and fraud includes the theft of a 
     person's Social Security number for the purpose of obtaining 
     employment, avoiding child support payments, or for other 
     personal gain;
       Whereas, contributing to the problems are companies that do 
     not have the tools or resources necessary to adequately 
     verify whether or not a Social Security number is fraudulent 
     and companies that are notified of fraudulent Social Security 
     numbers of employees but take no corrective action; and
       Whereas, identity theft and fraud are national problems 
     that must be addressed with additional countermeasure: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, urge the United States Congress 
     to support, work to pass, and vote for legislation that 
     prevents the misuse of a person's Social Security number, 
     whether by an individual or a company. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and Governor urge that the 
     legislation include increased and effective verification 
     requirements by companies, accompanied by the tools and 
     resources necessary to adequately verify whether or not a 
     Social Security number is fraudulent, and increased penalties 
     for individuals who intentionally use fraudulent Social 
     Security numbers to obtain employment, avoid child support 
     obligations, or for other personal gain. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature and the Governor urge that 
     the legislation include increased penalties for companies who 
     repeatedly report wages on employees with fraudulent Social 
     Security numbers. Be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the 
     Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, the Social 
     Security Administration, the Utah Department of Workforce 
     Services, and to the members of Utah's congressional 
     delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-160. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Utah urging Congress to pass the Children's 
     Health Insurance Program; to the Committee on Finance.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, the health of Utah's children is of paramount 
     importance to Utah's families;
       Whereas, poor child health is a threat to the educational 
     achievement, social, and psychological well-being of Utah's 
     children;
       Whereas, protecting the health of our children is essential 
     to the well-being of our youngest citizens and the quality of 
     life in our state;
       Whereas, the Utah's Children's Health Insurance Program 
     (CHIP), which has enrolled 112,119 uninsured children since 
     its inception in 1998, is an integral part of the 
     arrangements for health benefits for the children of Utah;
       Whereas, Utah's CHIP is of great value in preserving child 
     wellness, preventing and treating childhood disease, 
     improving health outcomes, and reducing overall health costs; 
     and
       Whereas, the federal funding available for Utah's CHIP is 
     indispensable to providing health benefits for children of 
     modest means: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah urges 
     the state's congressional delegation to work with the United 
     States Congress to reauthorize the Children's Health 
     Insurance Program (CHIP) in a timely manner to ensure federal 
     funding for CHIP in Utah. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Governor to work 
     with Utah's congressional delegation to ensure that CHIP is 
     reauthorized in a timely manner. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges all components of 
     state government to work together with educators, health care 
     providers, social workers, and parents to ensure that all 
     available public and private assistance for providing health 
     benefits to uninsured children in Utah be used to the maximum 
     extent possible. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Governor to ensure 
     that children who qualify for Medicaid or Utah's CHIP are 
     identified and enrolled. Be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to 
     Governor Huntsman, the Utah Department of Health, the United 
     States Department of Health and Human Services, and to the 
     members of Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-161. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Utah urging support for Taiwan's 
     participation in the World Health Organization; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.

                   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Constitution 
     states that ``The objective of the World Health Organization 
     shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest 
     possible level of health'';
       Whereas, this position demonstrates that the WHO is 
     obligated to reach all peoples throughout the world, 
     regardless of state or national boundaries;
       Whereas, the WHO Constitution permits a wide variety of 
     entities, including nonmember states, international 
     organizations, national organizations, and nongovernmental 
     organizations, to participate in the activities of the WHO;
       Whereas, five entities, for example, have acquired the 
     status of observer of the World Health Assembly (WHA) and are 
     routinely invited to its assemblies;
       Whereas, both the WHO Constitution and the International 
     Covenant of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights declare 
     that health is an essential element of human rights and that 
     no signatory shall impede on the health rights of others;
       Whereas, Taiwan seeks to be invited to participate in the 
     work of the WHA simply as an observer, instead of as a full 
     member, in order to allow the work of the WHO to proceed 
     without creating political frictions and to demonstrate 
     Taiwan's willingness to put aside political controversies for 
     the common good of global health;
       Whereas, this request is fundamentally based on 
     professional health grounds and has nothing to do with the 
     political issues of sovereignty and statehood;
       Whereas, Taiwan currently participates as a full member in 
     organizations like the World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific 
     Economic Cooperation, and several other international 
     organizations that count the People's Republic of China among 
     their membership;
       Whereas, Taiwan has become an asset to all these 
     institutions because of a flexible interpretation of the 
     terms of membership;
       Whereas, closing the gap between the WHO and Taiwan is an 
     urgent global health imperative;
       Whereas, the health administration of Taiwan is the only 
     competent body possessing and managing all the information on 
     any outbreak in Taiwan of epidemics that could potentially 
     threaten global health;
       Whereas, excluding Taiwan from the WHO's Global Outbreak 
     Alert and Response, Network, for example, is dangerous and 
     self defeating from a professional perspective;
       Whereas, good health is a basic right for every citizen of 
     the world and access to the highest standard of health 
     information and services is necessary to help guarantee this 
     right;

[[Page 18723]]

       Whereas, direct and unobstructed participation in 
     international health cooperation forums and programs is 
     therefore crucial, especially with today's greater potential 
     for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases 
     through increased trade and travel;
       Whereas, the WHO sets forth in the first chapter of its 
     charter the objectives of attaining the highest possible 
     level of health for all people;
       Whereas, Taiwan's population of 23 million people is larger 
     than that of three quarters of the member states already in 
     the WHO and shares the noble goals of the organization;
       Whereas, Taiwan's achievements in the field of health are 
     substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy 
     levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates 
     comparable to those in western countries, the eradication of 
     such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the 
     plague, and the first country in the world to provide 
     children with free hepatitis B vaccinations;
       Whereas, Taiwan is not allowed to participate in any WHO-
     organized forums and workshops concerning the latest 
     technologies in the diagnosis, monitoring, and control of 
     diseases;
       Whereas, in recent years, both the Taiwanese Government and 
     individual Taiwanese experts have expressed a willingness to 
     assist financially or technically in WHO-supported 
     international aid and health activities, but have ultimately 
     been unable to render assistance;
       Whereas, the WHO does allow observers to participate in the 
     activities of the organization; and
       Whereas, in light of all the benefits that participation 
     could bring to the state of health of people not only in 
     Taiwan, but also regionally and globally, it seems 
     appropriate, if not imperative, for Taiwan to be involved 
     with the WHO: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the state of Utah, the 
     Governor concurring therein, urges the Bush Administration to 
     support Taiwan and its 23 million people in obtaining 
     appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health 
     Organization. Be it further resolved that the Legislature and 
     the Governor urges that United States' policy should include 
     the pursuit of some initiative in the World Health 
     Organization which would give Taiwan meaningful participation 
     in a manner that is consistent with the organization's 
     requirements. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     President of the United States, the United States Secretary 
     of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 
     majority leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, the members of 
     Utah's congressional delegation, the Government of Taiwan, 
     and the World Health Organization.
                                  ____

       POM-162. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Louisiana commending Congress for passing the Federal Minimum 
     Wage Act of 2007; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 61

       Whereas, the United States Congress passed the Fair Minimum 
     Wage Act of 2007 (Minimum Wage Act) by an overwhelming vote 
     by both Republicans and Democrats; and
       Whereas, the President of the United States signed the 
     Minimum Wage Act into law on May 27, 2007, as part of the 
     U.S. Troop Readiness Veterans Care, Katrina Recovery and Iraq 
     Accountability Appropriations Act; and
       Whereas, the new law amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 
     1938 and gradually raises the federal minimum wage from $5.15 
     per hour to $7.25 per hour over a two year period; and
       Whereas, the Minimum Wage Act was a component of the new 
     Democratic majority's 100-Hour Plan in the United States 
     House of Representatives; and
       Whereas, as part of the new law, $4.8 billion worth of tax 
     breaks are going to be given to small businesses over a ten 
     year period to offset the wage increase; and
       Whereas, the Minimum Wage Act is the first national minimum 
     wage increase in over a decade and provides a wage boost for 
     12.5 million workers nationwide. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 
     does hereby commend President George W. Bush and the Congress 
     of the United States for passing the Federal Minimum Wage Act 
     of 2007. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, the secretary of the 
     United States Senate, and the clerk of the United States 
     House of Representatives.
                                  ____

       POM-163. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Pennsylvania urging Congress 
     to enact improvements to the No Child Left Behind Act of 
     2001; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 345

       Whereas NCLB, reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act (ESEA), was signed into law on January 8, 2002; 
     and
       Whereas, NCLB significantly increased the Federal 
     Government's role in elementary and secondary education; and
       Whereas, NCLB represented the most sweeping changes in 
     Federal education policy in 30 years; and
       Whereas, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania supports the goals of raising student 
     achievement, closing achievement gaps and ensuring that each 
     child has a qualified teacher; and
       Whereas, NCLB, while establishing a rigorous standard for 
     our nation's public schools and a model for assessing school 
     achievement, has produced unintended consequences; and
       Whereas, school districts in the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania have incurred additional costs under NCLB for 
     staff development, certification requirements, testing, data 
     collection, public school choice-related transportation, 
     supplemental education services and other school improvement 
     programs; and
       Whereas, NCLB has resulted in overreliance on standardized 
     testing to the exclusion of other recognized indicators of 
     student achievement; and
       Whereas, NCLB mandates have prevented teachers and 
     paraprofessionals from delivering a comprehensive curriculum; 
     and
       Whereas, the present adequate yearly progress (AYP) 
     structure under NCLB is flawed, resulting in a high AYP 
     failure rate; and
       Whereas, smaller class sizes and community/parent 
     involvement are proven methods of increasing student 
     achievement; and
       Whereas, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's certification 
     process requires individuals to meet high standards and 
     complete a rigorous, thorough course of study; and
       Whereas, federal funding for NCLB Title I (Improving the 
     Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) between 2002 and 
     2005 fell $21.4 billion short of statutorily authorized 
     levels. Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 
     commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress to enact NCLB 
     improvements including:
       State-level development of a research-based school 
     accountability formula incorporating district-level 
     assessments, school-level assessments, performance or 
     portfolio assessments, high school graduation rates and 
     percentage of students participating in dual enrollment or 
     honors, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate 
     courses.
       (2) Support systems instead of sanctions: increased Federal 
     funding for enhanced Federal and State technical assistance 
     and Federal and State improvement plan assistance.
       (3) Differentiated outcomes for schools, with targeted 
     improvement plans for specific subgroups of students.
       (4) Transparent growth models, at the State level, with 
     data used exclusively for instructional, curricular and 
     professional development purposes.
       (5) Valid, reliable assessments for each child that 
     accurately and fairly reflect student, school and school 
     district performance.
       (6) Flexibility relating to test scores of students with 
     disabilities and English Language Learner students: allowing 
     IEP teams to determine appropriate assessment and standards 
     for each child, removing the 1% and 2% limits for alternative 
     assessments and extending to three years the AYP inclusion of 
     test scores of English Language Learner students for whom 
     native language assessments in required core content subjects 
     are not available.
       (7) Restoration of the Class Size Reduction program in 
     place prior to NCLB, whose goals were to provide an optimum 
     class size of 15 students and to foster parent and community 
     involvement by funding initiatives such as adult and family 
     literacy, parenting classes and community engagement 
     programs.
       (8) Defining ``highly qualified teacher'' as any educator 
     who is teaching in his or her assigned area of certification 
     and who has met the licensure/certification requirements set 
     forth in his or her respective state.
       (9) Full funding of all NCLB programs at authorized levels; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Secretary of Education, to the presiding officers of each 
     house of Congress and to each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-164. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Utah urging Congress to 
     suspend or repeal the REAL ID Act; to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                         House Resolution No. 2

       Whereas the implementation of the REAL ID Act intrudes upon 
     the states' sovereign power to determine their own policies 
     for identification, licensure, and credentialing of 
     individuals residing therein;
       Whereas one page of the 428 page 9/11 Commission report 
     that did not give consideration to identification issues, 
     prompted Congress to pass the legislation which created the 
     REAL ID Act, ignoring states' sovereignty and their right to 
     self-governance;
       Whereas the REAL ID Act converts the state driver licensing 
     function into federal law enforcement and national security 
     functions that are outside the purpose and core competency of 
     driver licensing bureaus;
       Whereas the REAL ID Act constitutes an unfunded mandate by 
     the federal government to the states;

[[Page 18724]]

       Whereas the REAL ID Act requires states to confirm their 
     processes of issuing driver licenses and identification cards 
     to federal standards by May 2008;
       Whereas the National Governor's Association, National 
     Conference of State Legislatures, and American Association of 
     Motor Vehicle Administrators predict state compliance with 
     the REAL ID Act provisions will require all of the estimated 
     245 million current driver license and identification card 
     holders in the United States to renew their current identity 
     documents in person by producing three or four identity 
     documents, thereby increasing processing time and doubling 
     wait time at licensing centers;
       Whereas identification-based security provides only limited 
     security benefits because it can be avoided by defrauding or 
     corrupting card issuers and because it gives no protection 
     against people not already known to be planning or committing 
     wrongful acts;
       Whereas the REAL ID Act will cost the states over $11 
     billion to implement according to a recent survey of 47 state 
     licensing authorities conducted by the National Governor's 
     Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, 
     and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators;
       Whereas the use of identification-based security cannot be 
     justified as part of a ``layered'' security system if the 
     costs of the identification ``layer''--in dollars, lost 
     privacy, and lost liberty--are greater than the security 
     identification provides;
       Whereas the ``common machine-readable technology'' required 
     by the REAL ID Act would convert state-issued driver licenses 
     and identification cards into tracking devices, allowing 
     computers to note and record people's whereabouts each time 
     they are identified;
       Whereas a more secure and flexible system of verifying 
     identity may be achieved by less intrusive means to the 
     individual and to states by employing the free market and 
     private sector ingenuity;
       Whereas the requirement that states maintain databases of 
     information about their citizens and residents and then share 
     this personal information with all other states will expose 
     every state to the information security weaknesses of every 
     other state and threaten the privacy of every American;
       Whereas the REAL ID Act wrongly coerces states into doing 
     the federal government's bidding by threatening to refuse 
     noncomplying states' citizens the privileges and immunities 
     enjoyed by other states' citizens;
       Whereas the REAL ID Act threatens the privacy and liberty 
     of those individuals belonging to unpopular or minority 
     groups, including racial and cultural organizations, firearm 
     owners and collectors, faith-based and religious affiliates, 
     political parties, and social movements;
       Whereas Congress passed the REAL ID Act without a single 
     hearing in either house and without an up-or-down vote in 
     either house;
       Whereas the REAL ID Act thus imposes a national 
     identification system through the states, premised upon the 
     threat to national security, but without the benefit of 
     public debate and discourse; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act is determined by the Utah State 
     House of Representatives to be in opposition to the 
     Jeffersonian principles of individual liberty, free markets, 
     and limited government: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Utah House of Representatives urges the 
     United States Congress and the United States Department of 
     Homeland Security to suspend implementation of the REAL ID 
     Act; and be it further
       Resolved, That the REAL ID Act should be repealed outright 
     by the United States Congress to avoid the significant 
     problems it currently poses to state sovereignty, individual 
     liberty, and limited government; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
     Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of 
     the United States House of Representatives, and the members 
     of Utah's congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-165. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Tennessee opposing the implementation of the 
     REAL ID Act of 2005; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                    Senate Joint Resolution No. 248

       Whereas the State of Tennessee recognizes the Constitution 
     of the United States as our charter of liberty and the Bill 
     of Rights as affirming the fundamental and inalienable rights 
     of Americans, including freedom of privacy and freedom from 
     unreasonable searches; and
       Whereas the people of Tennessee recognize that the 
     Constitution of the State of Tennessee affords even greater 
     privacy rights for her citizens than those provided by the 
     Constitution of the United States; and
       Whereas Tennessee has a diverse population whose 
     contributions are vital to the state's economy, culture and 
     civic character; and
       Whereas Tennessee is proud of her tradition of protecting 
     the civil rights and liberties of all her residents, 
     affirming the fundamental rights of all people, and providing 
     more expansive protections than are granted by the 
     Constitution of the United States; and
       Whereas the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-12, 
     creates a national identification card by mandating federal 
     standards for state driver's licenses and identification 
     cards and requires states to share their motor vehicle 
     databases; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act mandates the documents that states 
     must require to issue driver's licenses and requires states 
     to place uniform information on every driver's license in a 
     standard, machine-readable format; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act prohibits federal agencies and 
     federally regulated commercial aircraft from accepting a 
     driver's license or identification card issued by a state 
     that has not fully complied with the act; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act places a costly, unfunded mandate 
     on states, with initial estimates for Tennessee of more than 
     one hundred million dollars, plus the additional burden of 
     millions of taxpayers' dollars in ongoing annual expenses, 
     and a national estimate of more than eleven billion dollars 
     over the five years following its implementation; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act requires the creation of a massive 
     public sector database containing information on every 
     American that is accessible to all motor vehicle employees 
     and law enforcement officers nationwide and that can be used 
     to gather and manage information on citizens. Such activities 
     are not the business or responsibility of government; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act enables the creation of additional 
     massive private sector databases, combining both 
     transactional information and driver's license information 
     gained from scanning the machine-readable information 
     contained on every driver's license; and
       Whereas these public and private databases are likely to 
     contain numerous errors and false information, creating 
     significant hardship for Americans attempting to verify their 
     identities in order to travel on commercial aircraft, open a 
     bank account, or perform any of the numerous functions 
     required to live in the United States today; and
       Whereas the Federal Trade Commission estimates that ten 
     million Americans are victims of identify theft annually, and 
     because identity thieves are increasingly targeting motor 
     vehicle departments, the REAL ID Act will enable the crime of 
     identity theft by making the personal information of all 
     Americans, including date of birth and signature, accessible 
     from tens of thousands of locations; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act requires a driver's license to 
     contain a person's actual home address and makes no exception 
     for individuals in potential danger, such as undercover law 
     enforcement personnel or victims of stalking or criminal 
     harassment; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act contains onerous record 
     verification and retention provisions that place unreasonable 
     burdens on state motor vehicle divisions and on third parties 
     required to verify records; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act will place enormous burdens on 
     citizens seeking new driver's licenses, such as longer lines, 
     increased document requests, higher costs, and a waiting 
     period; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act will place state motor vehicle 
     staff on the front lines of immigration enforcement by 
     forcing state employees to determine federal citizenship and 
     immigration status, excessively burdening both foreign-born 
     applicants and motor vehicle staff; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act passed without sufficient 
     deliberation by Congress and did not receive a hearing by any 
     congressional committee or a vote solely on its own merits, 
     despite opposition from more than six hundred organizations; 
     and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act eliminated a process of negotiated 
     rulemaking initiated under the Intelligence Reform and 
     Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which had convened federal, 
     state and local policymakers, privacy advocates, and industry 
     experts to solve the problem of the misuse of identity 
     documents; and
       Whereas the REAL ID Act provides little security benefit 
     and leaves identification systems open to insider fraud, 
     counterfeit documentation, and database failures; Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the Senate of the one hundred fifth General 
     Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the House of 
     Representatives concurring, that we support the government of 
     the United States in its campaign to secure our country, 
     while affirming the commitment that this campaign not be 
     waged at the expense of the essential rights and liberties of 
     the citizens of this country, nor by placing the added burden 
     of a costly mandate upon the taxpayers of each state; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That it is the policy of the State of Tennessee 
     to oppose any portion of the REAL ID Act that violates the 
     rights and liberties guaranteed under the constitutions of 
     the State of Tennessee and the United States, including the 
     Declaration of Rights and the Bill of Rights; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Tennessee General Assembly urges the 
     Tennessee congressional delegation to support measures to 
     repeal the REAL ID Act; and be it further
       Resolved, That there be no implementation of the REAL ID 
     Act of 2005, unless and until funding for the additional cost 
     associated with same is furnished by the United States 
     government; and be it further

[[Page 18725]]

       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Senate be hereby 
     authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this 
     resolution to the President of the United States, George W. 
     Bush, the United States Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, 
     the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of Congress, and the congressional delegation 
     representing the State of Tennessee in the Congress of the 
     United States.
                                  ____

       POM-166. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging the approval 
     of the placement of a statue of President Gerald R. Ford in 
     the United States Capitol; to the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration.

                        House Resolution No. 148

       Whereas each state is permitted to have two statues of 
     prominent citizens on display in our nation's capitol as part 
     of the National Statuary Hall Collection, which was created 
     by federal law in 1864. This collection is a strong reminder 
     of the heritage we share and the exceptional men and women 
     who have helped shape our nation. Michigan's two statues are 
     of Lewis Cass and Zachariah Chandler, leaders who played 
     pivotal roles in the history of our state and nation; and
       Whereas the federal law governing the National Statuary 
     Hall Collection also provides a procedure for states to 
     replace an existing statue with a new one. This reflects the 
     continuing growth and development of our country. With the 
     recent passing of Gerald R. Ford, Michigan's only president 
     and a man who devoted his entire life to the service of our 
     state and nation, the people of Michigan wish to acknowledge 
     this native son and commence the process of placing a statue 
     of him in the National Statuary Hall Collection; and
       Whereas under the established guidelines, the legislature 
     must adopt a resolution to express formally its support for 
     the statue of the person to be honored and to request the 
     Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve the 
     placement of the statue. The governor must also express 
     support; and
       Whereas under the procedures that govern the replacement of 
     a statue in the collection, the resolution requesting the 
     Joint Committee on the Library of Congress must identify the 
     entity that will select the sculptor and pay for all aspects 
     of the process; and
       Whereas relocating the statue of Zachariah Chandler to 
     Michigan would allow many more Michigan citizens, including 
     young people, to learn more of the life of this exceptional 
     man and his contributions to our state; and
       Whereas Gerald Ford's life of honesty, integrity, and 
     service constitutes one of Michigan's most important 
     contributions to our nation. As a veteran of World War II and 
     Grand Rapids congressman for a quarter century, Gerald Ford, 
     a man of abiding principle and a strong sense of duty, came 
     to the highest office in our land under most difficult 
     circumstances. As the 38th president, Gerald Ford took the 
     oath of office as our country faced a crisis in confidence. 
     Acting with little regard for political expediency, President 
     Ford helped the country heal through his own honesty and 
     trustworthiness. These qualities, long known by the people of 
     Grand Rapids and his colleagues in Congress, left a legacy 
     that stands strong; and
       Whereas the Gerald R. Ford Foundation is committed to the 
     effort to add an image of President Ford to the National 
     Statuary Hall Collection. The Gerald R. Ford Foundation has 
     agreed to serve as the body selecting a sculptor and to fund 
     all of the costs associated with the placement of the new 
     statue and the relocation of the statue of Zachariah Chandler 
     to Michigan; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we request 
     the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve the 
     placement of a statue of President Gerald R. Ford as part of 
     the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States 
     Capitol and to authorize the removal of the statue of 
     Zachariah Chandler and its relocation to Michigan; 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 Joint Committee 
     on the Library of Congress, the members of the Michigan 
     congressional delegation, the Office of the Governor, and the 
     Gerald R. Ford Foundation.
                                  ____

       POM-167. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to 
     enact legislation to improve the health programs available to 
     veterans; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 53

       Whereas, providing medical care for the men and women who 
     risk their lives in defense of our nation is a most important 
     responsibility. While this is always true, the significance 
     of this task should be eminently clear as our armed forces 
     are engaged in battle; and
       Whereas, funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs is 
     determined each year by the Congress as part of discretionary 
     spending. This budget is seriously under funded each year. 
     This chronic under funding has a direct impact on the level 
     of services available to our injured veterans. Currently, 
     nearly 90 percent of federal health care spending is carried 
     out through direct, rather than discretionary funding; and
       Whereas, the Department of Veterans Affairs has the 
     nation's largest health care system, with more than 150 
     hospitals, hundreds of clinics, nursing homes, residential 
     rehabilitation treatment programs, and specialized services 
     to deal with the most horrific and widest range of injuries. 
     Recent rises in demand for health care services have far 
     outpaced spending; and
       Whereas, the American people owe our returning veterans 
     proper health care services to address the injuries they 
     sustain in defense of our freedoms. Quality health care for 
     those injured in service to the country should not be subject 
     to the annual fluctuations of a budget process that is often 
     held hostage to politics. Clearly, the care of our wounded 
     must be a top priority; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact 
     legislation to increase funding for veterans health programs 
     and to reform budget practices to assure that veterans health 
     care needs are addressed by direct rather than discretionary 
     funding; 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.

                          ____________________