[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 24451-24459]
[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-196. A resolution adopted by the California-Pacific 
     Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church relative to 
     the repeal of discriminatory laws; to the Committee on Armed 
     Services.
       POM-197. A resolution adopted by the Commission of the City 
     of Hollywood, Florida, supporting the Energy Efficiency 
     Promotion Act; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.
       POM-198. A resolution adopted by the Council of the Town of 
     Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, supporting resolution number 
     2007-430 of the governing board of the South Florida Water 
     Management District; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.
       POM-199. A resolution adopted by the Commission of the City 
     of Pompano Beach, Florida, urging Congress to appropriate 
     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-200. A resolution adopted by the Council of the Town of 
     Davie, Florida, urging Congress to appropriate 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-201. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Long Beach, California, urging Congress to enact the Employee 
     Free Choice Act; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions.
       POM-202. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas urging Congress to provide drought 
     relief to Texas; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
     and Forestry.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 67

       Whereas, the State of Texas continues to endure substantial 
     economic losses due to a prolonged drought that has crippled 
     the state for nearly two years; the loss of crops and 
     livestock and drought-induced fires have left the state's 
     farmers and ranchers in desperate need of continued federal 
     assistance to offset the losses suffered as a result of this 
     natural disaster; and
       Whereas, the drought has cost the state nearly $2.5 billion 
     in total crop loss, more than $1 billion of which is 
     attributed to a decrease in the cotton harvest, the state's 
     number one cash crop; in addition, the latest forecasts for 
     2006 show the state's wheat harvest has decreased by more 
     than 60 percent, corn production is down by 26 percent, 
     soybean production has decreased by more than 30 percent, and 
     the state's production of peanuts and sorghum is expected to 
     be down by 40 percent; and
       Whereas, an estimated $1.6 billion in livestock losses, as 
     well as the rising cost of hay and supplemental feed, have 
     forced any ranchers to sell their cattle earlier than 
     anticipated, which will undoubtedly cause a decrease in the 
     beef supply for several years; all told, the total 
     agricultural loss to the state stands at more than $4 
     billion; and
       Whereas, this dire economic impact is shared by the 
     businesses that support the agriculture community, 
     specifically those in rural areas, where projections estimate 
     the loss to be nearly $8 billion; the businesses affected 
     include those that provide equipment or machinery, supplies, 
     feed, and professional services such as veterinarians; and
       Whereas, adding insult to injury, the drought has resulted 
     in more than 21,000 fires, burning in excess of two million 
     acres between January and November, 2006, and contributing to 
     the loss of 5,000 miles of fence and 5,000 cattle in the 
     Panhandle alone; the fires 1n the northern regions of the 
     state have certainly contributed to the diminution in hay 
     production, and the United States Department of Agriculture 
     (USDA) estimates that 77 percent of Texas' hay production was 
     lost during the same period; and
       Whereas, to alleviate this financial burden, the Texas 
     Department of Agriculture will administer a total of $16.1 
     million in assistance received from the USDA to eligible 
     livestock producers in 216 drought-stressed counties, but 
     with more than $12 billion in total economic loss as a direct 
     result of the drought, more assistance is needed; the 
     devastation to crops and livestock in the number two 
     agricultural state in the nation has put a financial strain 
     on Texas farmers and ranchers, and it is imperative that the 
     federal government continue to assist the individuals and 
     families that have suffered during this time; now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     provide further drought relief to Texas; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial 
     to the Congress of the United States of America.

[[Page 24452]]

     
                                  ____
       POM-203. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     require the Department of Agriculture to conduct a study and 
     report on the nutritional value of the country's school 
     lunches; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
     Forestry.

                        House Resolution No. 11

       Whereas, we, as a people, must not feed our children fatty 
     and sugary foods on a daily basis because it leads to obesity 
     and diabetes; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That State 
     Representative Monique D. Davis and the rest of the House of 
     Representatives urge the Congress of the United States of 
     America to require the United States Department of 
     Agriculture to conduct a study and report on the nutritional 
     value of the country's school lunches; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
     delivered to the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, 
     the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and each 
     member of the Illinois congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-204. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging the federal 
     government to meet all of the financial obligations of the GI 
     Bill; to the Committee on Armed Services.

                        House Resolution No. 123

       Whereas, on June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt 
     signed the ``Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944'', better 
     known as the ``GI Bill of Rights''; and
       Whereas, the bill at first was the subject of intense 
     debate and parliamentary maneuvering, but has since been 
     recognized as one of Congress' most important acts; and
       Whereas, during the past five decades, the law has made 
     possible the investment of billions of dollars in education 
     and training for millions of veterans, and the nation has in 
     return earned many times that investment in increased taxes 
     and a dramatically changed society; and
       Whereas, the law also made possible the loan of billions of 
     dollars to purchase homes for millions of veterans and helped 
     to transform the majority of Americans from renters to 
     homeowners; and
       Whereas, the 1944 GI Bill provided six benefits: education 
     and training; loan guarantees for a home, farm, or business; 
     unemployment pay; job-finding assistance; top priority for 
     building materials for VA hospitals; and military review of 
     dishonorable discharges; the home loan program is the only 
     feature of the original bill that is still in force; and
       Whereas, the original GI Bill ended in 1956, but subsequent 
     GI Bills have continued the original bill's education and 
     training benefits; the bill currently in effect is the 
     Montgomery GI Bill, which provides benefits for veterans who 
     served after July 1, 1985, and for military reservists; and
       Whereas, in signing the original GI Bill, President 
     Roosevelt stated that the Bill ``gives emphatic notice to the 
     men and women in our armed forces that the American people do 
     not intend to let them down''; and
       Whereas, our servicemen and women have sacrificed much for 
     our country, and continued funding of GI Bill benefits is 
     imperative to ensure that they are treated with the respect 
     they deserve: Therefore be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, that we urge 
     the federal government to meet all of the financial 
     obligations of the GI Bill; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to 
     President George W. Bush, federal Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs Jim Nicholson, each member of the Illinois 
     Congressional delegation, and the Director of the Illinois 
     Department of Veterans' Affairs.
                                  ____

       POM-205. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging Congress to enact H.R. 2927; to the Committee 
     on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                        Senate Resolution No. 89

       Whereas, H.R. 2927 sets tough fuel economy standards 
     without off ramps or loopholes, by requiring separate car and 
     truck standards to meet a total fleet fuel economy between 32 
     and 35 mpg by 2022--an increase of as much as 40 percent over 
     current fuel economy standards--and requires vehicle fuel 
     economy to be increased to the maximum feasible level in the 
     years leading up to 2022; and
       Whereas, H.R. 2927, while challenging, will provide 
     automakers more reasonable lead time to implement technology 
     changes in both the near and long term. Model year 2008 
     vehicles are already available today, and product and 
     manufacturing planning is done through model year 2012. H.R. 
     2927 recognizes the critical need for engineering lead times 
     necessary for manufacturers to make significant changes to 
     their fleets; and
       Whereas, H.R. 2927 respects consumer choice by protecting 
     the important functional differences between passenger cars 
     and light trucks/SUVs. Last year, 2006, was the sixth year in 
     a row that Americans bought more trucks, minivans, and SUVs 
     than passenger cars because they value attributes such as 
     passenger and cargo load capacity, four-wheel drive, and 
     towing capability that most cars are not designed to provide; 
     and
       Whereas, While some would like fuel economy increases to be 
     much more aggressive and be implemented with much less lead 
     time, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards must be 
     set at levels and in time frames that do not impose economic 
     harm on the manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and others in 
     the auto industry; and
       Whereas, Proponents of unrealistic and unattainable CAFE 
     standards cite Europe's 35 mpg fuel economy, without ever 
     mentioning Europe's $6 per gallon gasoline prices, the high 
     sales of diesel vehicles, the high proportion of Europeans 
     driving manual transmission vehicles (80 percent in Europe 
     vs. 8 percent in the U.S.), the significant differences in 
     the size mix of vehicles, or that trucks and SUVs are 
     virtually nonexistent among Europe households; and
       Whereas, Proponents of unreasonable CAFE standards claim 
     they will save consumers billions, but they neglect to talk 
     about the upfront costs of such changes to the manufacturers 
     of meeting unduly strict CAFE standards--more than $100 
     billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety 
     Administration--which will lead to vehicle price increases of 
     several thousand dollars; and
       Whereas, Proponents of unrealistic CAFE standards ignore 
     the potential safety impacts of downsized vehicles on 
     America's highways and overlook the historical role and 
     critical importance of manufacturing plants to our national 
     and economic security. They seem unconcerned about threats to 
     the 7.5 million jobs that are directly and indirectly 
     dependent on a vibrant auto industry in the United States; 
     and
       Whereas, H.R. 2927 is a reasonable bill that balances a 
     number of important public policy concerns. The bill 
     represents a tough but fair compromise that deserves serious 
     consideration and support: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United 
     States Congress to enact H.R. 2927, which responsibly 
     balances achievable fuel economy increases with important 
     economic and social concerns, including consumer demand; 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-206. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     support funding for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery 
     Program; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                        House Resolution No. 395

       Whereas, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program 
     (UPARR) is a matching federal grant program administered by 
     the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior; 
     and
       Whereas, the purpose of the program is to provide funding 
     for the rehabilitation of parks and recreation areas in 
     cities and urban communities; and
       Whereas, since the establishment of the program in 1978, 
     approximately 1500 individual grants totaling more than 
     $270,000,000 have been made to eligible cities and counties; 
     and
       Whereas, no funds have been appropriated under UPARR for 
     the past 5 years; and
       Whereas, urban park development is essential for economic 
     revitalization, environmental stewardship, and public 
     recreation; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we urge 
     the Congress of the United States of America to support 
     funding for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
     delivered to the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, 
     the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and each 
     member of the Illinois congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-207. A joint resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     State of California urging Congress to reauthorize and fund 
     the federal Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
     Determination Act of 2000; to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 3

       Whereas, from 1908 to 2000, counties in the United States 
     received 25 percent of the revenues generated on national 
     forest lands in lieu of lost tax revenues that could have 
     been generated had these lands remained in private hands; and
       Whereas, in the 1990s, the volume and value of timber 
     harvested on national forest lands was dramatically reduced, 
     which led Congress to enact the federal Secure Rural Schools 
     and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, which provided 
     a six-year guarantee payment option that was independent of 
     the revenue generated on the national forest lands; and
       Whereas, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
     Determination Act of 2000, as extended by the United States 
     Troop

[[Page 24453]]

     Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq 
     Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public Law 110-28), 
     will expire on September 30, 2007, which would create a lapse 
     in funding to critical programs in schools and counties 
     across the United States, including California, in the coming 
     years; and
       Whereas, rural schools are dependent on federal revenue-
     sharing programs, including federal forest payments, for 
     maintaining vital educational services and programs, and to 
     ensure an equitable education for all students; and
       Whereas, many of California's county public works programs 
     will be crippled without stable, predictable, long-term 
     funding from the act, causing the local road network to 
     suffer long-term degradation and putting communities at risk 
     for public safety emergencies due to cuts in staffing and 
     operational activities; and
       Whereas, a number of efforts are being made in both the 
     Untied States House of Representatives and the United States 
     Senate to fully reauthorize the act through 2011, and the 
     Legislature strongly supports these efforts; now therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California respectfully urges the 110th Congress to 
     reauthorize and fund the federal Secure Rural Schools and 
     Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to provide a long-
     term, stable source of funding for schools and counties to 
     maintain vital programs prior to September 30, 2007, to avoid 
     any interruption in county services and school operations; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to 
     each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-208. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     support and pass the Great Lakes Water Protection Act; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                        House Resolution No. 602

       Whereas, the Great Lakes are the World's single largest 
     source of fresh surface water and contain about 90% of the 
     water supply for the United States; and
       Whereas, fresh water is limited in quantity and highly 
     susceptible to contamination; and
       Whereas, an estimated 24,000,000,000 gallons of sewage are 
     dumped into the Great Lakes each year due to city sewer 
     overflow; and
       Whereas, water pollution contributes to elevated levels of 
     E. coli bacteria and can result in contaminated drinking 
     water and unsafe beach conditions; and
       Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection Agency 
     estimates that each year between 1,800,000 and 2,500,000 
     Americans become sick from drinking polluted water; and
       Whereas, measures exist to eliminate sewage dumping into 
     the Lakes and the City of Chicago has already taken steps to 
     reduce the amount of sewage reaching Lake Michigan by 
     creating a system of tunnels to direct sewer overflow to 
     large storage reservoirs; and
       Whereas, the Great Lakes Water Protection Act, introduced 
     in the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 2907, would 
     increase fines for sewage dumping, use penalty revenues to 
     fund habitat and wetland projects, and increase public 
     disclosure of dumping incidents; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we urge 
     the U.S. Congress to support and pass the Great Lakes Water 
     Protection Act in an effort to clean up the Great Lakes; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
     delivered to the President pro tempore of the United States 
     Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and to each member of the Illinois 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-209. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the State of Michigan urging Congress to provide funding for 
     the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 10

       Whereas, communities surrounding Saginaw Bay face 
     significant environmental and economic challenges. Saginaw 
     Bay is one of the most polluted areas in the Great Lakes. 
     Historic and ongoing inputs of excessive nutrients, toxic 
     contaminants, and overabundant sediments exacerbated by low 
     water levels have led to the proliferation of undesirable 
     nuisance plants and algae, degradation of shoreline areas, 
     loss of fishery habitant, and impairment of fish and wildlife 
     populations; and
       Whereas, Saginaw Bay remains a vital resource for about 
     500,000 residents who use its waters and shoreline for 
     recreation, drinking water, and other activities. The public 
     health and safety of these residents and the economic 
     vitality of local communities are threatened by the ongoing 
     environmental problems facing Saginaw Bay. Increased 
     coordination and partnerships with local leaders and citizens 
     directly affected by Saginaw Bay's health are needed to 
     restore the bay and realize its full potential as a vibrant 
     coastal area; and
       Whereas, the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative (SBCI) will 
     support innovative regional approaches for enhancing resource 
     protection, improving environmental quality, and expanding 
     local tourism and economic development within the Saginaw Bay 
     coastal area. With appropriate funding, the initiative will 
     create new partnerships among federal, state, and local 
     groups and enhance local participation and responsibility in 
     resolving environmental and economic challenges and 
     determining the future of Saginaw Bay; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United 
     States to provide funding for the Saginaw Bay Coastal 
     Initiative; 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-210. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas urging Congress to enact legislation to 
     eliminate the 24-month Medicare waiting period for 
     participants in Social Security Disability Insurance; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 35

       Whereas, created in 1965, the federal Medicare program 
     provides health insurance coverage for more than 40 million 
     Americans; although most of those enrolled in Medicare are 
     senior citizens, approximately six million enrollees under 
     the age of 65 have qualified because of permanent and severe 
     disability, such as spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, 
     cardiovascular disease, cancer, or other illness or disorder; 
     and
       Whereas, despite the physical and financial hardships 
     wrought by these conditions and the fact that Social Security 
     Disability Insurance (SSDI) is designed for individuals with 
     a work history who paid into the social security system 
     before the onset of their disability, federal law mandates a 
     24-month waiting period from the time a disabled individual 
     first receives SSDI benefits to the time Medicare coverage 
     begins; a prerequisite to Medicare, the SSDI program itself 
     delays benefits for five months while the person's disability 
     is determined--effectively creating a 29-month waiting period 
     for Medicare; and
       Whereas, this restriction affects a significant number of 
     Americans in need; as of January 2002, there were 
     approximately 1.2 million disabled individuals who qualified 
     for SSDI and were awaiting Medicare coverage, many of whom 
     were unemployed because of their disability; consequently, 
     under these conditions, by the time Medicare began, an 
     estimated 77 percent of those individuals would be poor or 
     nearly poor, 45 percent would have incomes below the federal 
     poverty line, and close to 40 percent would be enrolled in 
     state Medicaid programs; and
       Whereas, furthermore, it has been estimated that as many as 
     one-third of the individuals currently awaiting coverage may 
     be uninsured and likely to incur significant medical care 
     expenses during the two-year waiting period, often with 
     devastating consequences; studies indicate that the uninsured 
     are likely to delay or forgo needed care, leading to 
     worsening health and even premature death, and the American 
     Medical Association has determined that death rates among 
     SSDI recipients are highest in the first 24 months of 
     enrollment; and
       Whereas, eliminating the 24-month waiting period not only 
     would prevent worsening illness and disability for SSDI 
     beneficiaries, thereby reducing more costly future medical 
     needs and potential long-term reliance on public health care 
     programs, but could also save the Medicaid program as much as 
     $4.3 billion at 2002 program levels, including nearly $1.8 
     billion in savings to states and $2.5 billion in federal 
     savings that would help offset a substantial portion of the 
     accompanying increase in Medicare expenditures; and
       Whereas, recognizing the consequences of the waiting period 
     to those suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), 
     or Lou Gehrig's disease, the 106th United States Congress 
     passed H.R. 5661 in 2000 and eliminated the requirement for 
     enrollees diagnosed with the disease; in passing H.R. 5661, 
     the Congress acknowledged the enormous difficulties faced by 
     those diagnosed with severe disabilities and established 
     precedent for the exception to be extended to all the 
     disabled on the Medicare waiting list; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to enact 
     legislation to eliminate the 24-month Medicare waiting period 
     for participants in Social Security Disability Insurance; 
     and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and the president of the Senate of the United States 
     Congress, and all the members of the Texas delegation to the 
     Congress with the

[[Page 24454]]

     request that this resolution be officially entered in the 
     Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the 
     United States of America.
                                  ____

       POM-211. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     pass H.R. 1279; to the Committee on Finance.

                        House Resolution No. 480

       Whereas, according to U.S. Census Bureau data for 2004, 
     18%, or 51,200,000 people in the U.S. are persons with 
     disabilities; and
       Whereas, according to data from the 2004 American Community 
     Survey, 12.4%, or 1,400,000 people in Illinois are persons 
     with disabilities; and
       Whereas, by 2030, 1,200,000 individuals nationwide with 
     developmental disabilities will be over the age of 60; and
       Whereas, in the U.S., 35% of people with a mental illness 
     or developmental disability live with caregivers between ages 
     of 40-60, and 25% live with caregivers over the age of 60; 
     and
       Whereas, 1 in 6 people provide care for a chronically ill, 
     older adult, friend or relative with a disability without 
     public funds; and
       Whereas, currently more than 50% of all direct support 
     positions, often known as caregivers, personal assistants or 
     homecare aides, turn over every year in the U.S.; in 
     Illinois, turnover in residential and vocational settings is 
     nearly 70%, with an estimated cost ranging from $2,000 to 
     $5,000 to replace a direct support worker; the high turnover 
     results in vacancies, puts unfair demands on remaining 
     workers and, most importantly, negatively impacts the quality 
     and consistency of support to people with disabilities and 
     mental illness; and
       Whereas, poor wages and heavy job demands have caused this 
     crisis; in 2005, a report by the Illinois Direct Support 
     Professional Workforce Initiative, using data from multiple 
     studies, found that the average annual income for direct 
     support professionals in residential settings, vocational 
     settings, and in-home and respite settings ranged from 
     $18,366 to $22,651; the current federal poverty level for a 
     family of four is $20,650; and
       Whereas, it is essential that people with disabilities and 
     mental illness have access to support that allows them to 
     live and work in the communities of their choice; and
       Whereas, in order to stabilize and increase the number of 
     direct support professionals in the workforce, the wages and 
     benefits of direct support professionals must be improved and 
     made equitable among long term support options; and
       Whereas, Medicaid is the single-largest payor of long-term 
     support and services for people with disabilities; enhanced 
     Federal Medicaid matching funds should be available to assist 
     states committed to addressing wage differentials among 
     direct support professionals by increasing the wages of 
     direct support professionals and supporting and improving the 
     stability of the direct support professional workforce; and
       Whereas, the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and 
     Security Act of 2007, as introduced in the U.S. House of 
     Representatives in H.R. 1279, would provide a voluntary 
     option to states to receive additional Medicaid funding to 
     reimburse community-based organizations to raise the wages of 
     direct support professionals; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we urge 
     the Congress of the United States to support and pass H.R. 
     1279 so that states will have additional options to raise the 
     wages of direct support professionals; and be it further
       Resolved, That we encourage the State of Illinois to take 
     advantage of this option should it become available; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent 
     to George W. Bush and each member of the Illinois delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-212. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     pass the Savings for Working Families Act; to the Committee 
     on Finance.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 51

       Whereas, for the second year in a row, the national 
     personal savings rate remains below zero; and
       Whereas, a negative savings rate in the United States has 
     not occurred since the Great Depression; and
       Whereas, nationally, one in five families have a negative 
     net worth; about one-third of low-income households and more 
     than one-tenth of moderate-income households report having no 
     financial assets at all; and
       Whereas, the United States Congress has reintroduced 
     legislation in the 110th Congress creating the Savings for 
     Working Families Act that would ensure that our nation's 
     savings and ownership policies assist working-poor families 
     by enabling them to save, build wealth, and enter the 
     financial mainstream through the use of Individual 
     Development Accounts; and
       Whereas, Individual Development Accounts help low-income 
     families build assets for buying a first home, receiving 
     post-secondary education, or starting or expanding a small 
     business; and
       Whereas, the President of the United States included 
     funding for 900,000 Individual Development Accounts in his 
     2007 budget request, and, meanwhile, the Congress, in a bi-
     partisan effort, gathered 68 co-sponsors (35 Democrats and 33 
     Republicans) on the bill; and
       Whereas, the Savings for Working Families Act creates a tax 
     credit for financial institutions that match the savings of 
     the working poor through Individual Development Accounts; and
       Whereas, financial institutions offering Individual 
     Development Accounts will be reimbursed through a federal tax 
     credit for all matching funds, up to $500 per year for four 
     years, and receive a tax credit of $50 per account per year 
     for account management; and
       Whereas, those who save in an Individual Development 
     Account must complete financial education from a nonprofit 
     organization prior to the asset purchase; therefore be it
       Resolved, by The House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, the Senate 
     Concurring Herein,
       That the Illinois General Assembly urges the members of the 
     Illinois delegation to the United States Congress to give 
     full consideration to the passage of the Savings for Working 
     Families Act as represented in House Resolution 1514; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent 
     to each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-213. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico expressing its support of the 
     financing of the State Children's Health Insurance Program 
     through available federal funds; to the Committee on Finance.

                       Senate Resolution No. 3259

       The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), 
     Public Law 105-33, as amended, and known as the Balanced 
     Budget Act of 1997, provides block grants to states for 
     health care insurance coverage for uninsured children under 
     18 years of age and who fall on or below 200% of the poverty 
     level established by the Federal Government (FPL) or as 
     established by the state governments. The states may provide 
     this coverage by expanding Medicaid benefits, by expanding or 
     creating a children's health insurance program or by a 
     combination of both.
       In June 1998, the Health Care Finance Administration 
     (HCFA), presently known as the Centers for Medicare and 
     Medicaid Services (CMS), authorized the implementation of the 
     State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in Puerto 
     Rico. This new program constitutes an expansion of the 
     Medical Assistance Program (MEDICAID), which originally 
     established the Program for a ten (10) year period, which 
     concludes in August 2007.
       The Children's Health Insurance Program provides coverage 
     to children between the ages of 0-18 who fall below 200% of 
     the poverty level and not eligible for Medicaid and who do 
     not have private medical insurance because their parents' 
     income does not allow for it.
       The Children's Health Insurance Program provides preventive 
     service, hospitalization services, medical services, surgical 
     services, mental health services, diagnostic tests, clinical 
     laboratory tests, outpatient rehabilitation services, dental 
     services, pharmacy services and ambulance services. It also 
     offers childcare services from birth to 18 years of age, 
     including vaccinations according to their age. It further 
     provides physical, mental, dental health and nutrition 
     education and counseling. The Medical Assistance Program of 
     the Department of Health of Puerto Rico receives a grant 
     through legislation of the United States Congress that is 
     matched in fifty percent with state funds; from the total 
     funds, an amount of up to 15 percent may be used for the 
     administration of the Program and the remainder is 
     distributed for the payment of direct services to patients.
       The SCHIP must be reauthorized by the Federal Government on 
     or before September 2007, in order for it to be able to 
     continue operating and providing services to millions of 
     children in the United States, including those of Puerto 
     Rico. It further provides $48.1 million in benefits (a 23% 
     increase since 2006) to low income children who do not meet 
     the Medicaid requirements. Although Puerto Rico does not 
     receive parity, as the other states do, these funds have 
     benefited low income children.
       The Senate of Puerto Rico recognizes the importance of the 
     SCHIP in Puerto Rico for the welfare of children, for the 
     prevention and treatment of childhood diseases, and for 
     reducing the general costs of health care. It also exhorts 
     the Government of Puerto Rico to use all resources available 
     so that the children of our Island who are under the poverty 
     level may have access to these health services.


              BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF PUERTO RICO:

       Section 1.--To express the support of the Senate of Puerto 
     Rico to the financing of the State Children's Health 
     Insurance Program (SCHIP) through available federal funds, 
     and to exhort the United States Congress to assure an 
     increase in federal funds for the SCHIP, including the 
     territories, as well as Puerto Rico.
       Section 2.--A copy of this Resolution translated into 
     English, shall be remitted to

[[Page 24455]]

     the President of the United States, to the Leaders of the 
     Minority and Majority in both Chambers of Congress, to the 
     Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and to the 
     Resident Commissioner in Washington.
       Section 3.--This Resolution shall take effect immediately 
     after its approval.
                                  ____

       POM-214. A joint resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program; to 
     the Committee on Finance.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 26

       Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Illinois regards 
     the health of our children to be of paramount importance to 
     families in our State; and
       Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Illinois regards 
     poor child health as a threat to the educational achievement 
     and social and psychological well-being of the children of 
     our State; and
       Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Illinois considers 
     protecting the health of our children to be essential to the 
     well-being of our youngest citizens and the quality of life 
     in our State; and
       Whereas, the Legislature considers the All Kids Program, 
     which is currently providing health coverage to approximately 
     160,000 children, to be an integral part of the arrangements 
     for health benefits for the children of the State of 
     Illinois; and
       Whereas, the Legislature recognizes the value of the All 
     Kids Program in preserving child wellness, preventing and 
     treating childhood disease, improving health outcomes, and 
     reducing overall health costs; and
       Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Illinois considers 
     the federal funding available for the All Kids Program to be 
     indispensable to providing health benefits for children of 
     modest means: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, the Senate 
     concurring herein, That we urge the members of the Illinois 
     delegation to the United States Congress to ensure that the 
     Congress timely reauthorizes the State Children's Health 
     Insurance Program (SCHIP) to ensure federal funding for the 
     All Kids Program; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature proclaims that all 
     components of State government should 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 this 
     State be used to the maximum extent possible; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That a suitable copy of this solution be sent to 
     each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-215. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     enact legislation to repeal the Government Pension Offset and 
     the Windfall Elimination Provision from the Social Security 
     Act; to the Committee on Finance.

                        House Resolution No. 134

       Whereas, the federal Social Security Act includes two 
     provisions, the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall 
     Elimination Provision, that reduce the Social Security 
     benefits payable to persons who are entitled to benefits 
     under the public retirement systems of the State under 
     certain conditions; and
       Whereas, these provisions penalize individuals who dedicate 
     the majority of their productive years to public service to 
     the State of Illinois, including educators, police officers, 
     and firefighters; and
       Whereas, these provisions take away benefits that public 
     employees or their spouses have earned by paying into the 
     Social Security system; and
       Whereas, these provisions often leave public employees 
     facing poverty in their retirement; and
       Whereas, the State of Illinois is benefited by the 
     recruitment of the best and most able individuals for public 
     employment, but is hindered from doing so because of the 
     offset penalties; and
       Whereas, these provisions discourage individuals from 
     moving from private sector employment into positions of 
     public employment: Therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we 
     encourage and support action by the Congress of the United 
     States to enact legislation to repeal the Government Pension 
     Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision from the Social 
     Security Act, or reduce the effects thereof; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to 
     President George W. Bush and to each member of the Illinois 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-216. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall 
     Elimination Provision from the Social Security Act; to the 
     Committee on Finance.

                       House Resolution No. 0134

       Whereas, The Federal Social Security Act includes two 
     provisions, the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall 
     Elimination Provision, that reduce the Social Security 
     benefits payable to persons who are entitled to benefits 
     under the public retirement systems of the State under 
     certain conditions; and
       Whereas, These provisions penalize individuals who dedicate 
     the majority of their productive years to public service to 
     the State of Illinois, including educators, police officers, 
     and firefighters; and
       Whereas, These provisions take away benefits that public 
     employees or their spouses have earned by paying into the 
     Social Security system; and
       Whereas, These provisions often leave public employees 
     facing poverty in their retirement; and
       Whereas, The State of Illinois is benefited by the 
     recruitment of the best and most able individuals for public 
     employment, but is hindered from doing so because of the 
     offset penalties; and
       Whereas, These provisions discourage individuals from 
     moving from private sector employment into positions of 
     public employment: Therefore be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we 
     encourage and support action by the Congress of the United 
     States to enact legislation to repeal the Government Pension 
     Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision from the Social 
     Security Act, or reduce the effects thereof; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to 
     President George W. Bush and to each member of the Illinois 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-217. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to 
     increase efforts to provide assistance in the Darfur region 
     of Sudan; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                        House Resolution No. 59

       Whereas, over the past few years, the government of Sudan 
     and the government-backed militia have carried out a campaign 
     of murder, rape, and terror in the Darfur region. More than 
     1.5 million people are estimated to have been displaced from 
     their homes, while tens of thousands of civilians have been 
     killed or pushed into disease and malnutrition. A 2004 cease-
     fire agreement has proven ineffective, and the conditions for 
     those who have been displaced can only be described as a 
     nightmare; and
       Whereas, the United States, the United Nations, the African 
     Union, and other nations and organizations have largely 
     ignored the grave human rights violations and suffering that 
     are taking place. The situation in the Darfur region is 
     acknowledged to be ethnic cleansing and may amount to 
     genocide; and
       Whereas, while the United States and other countries have 
     tried to bring a halt to the suffering, a greater sense of 
     urgency needs to be brought to these efforts. Our country 
     must do all it can to influence the leadership of the United 
     Nations to increase the number of troops on the ground to 
     protect civilians and to bring pressure on the Sudanese 
     government to halt its illegal and immoral acts. Clearly, the 
     United States must play a leadership role in working with 
     other nations, the United Nations, and the African Union in 
     the effort to bring relief to this region of sorrows: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States and the United 
     States State Department to increase efforts to halt the 
     violence and to provide humanitarian assistance to the 
     victims of the atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the Office of the President of the United States, the United 
     States Secretary of State, 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-218. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to 
     enact legislation to prohibit federal funds from going to any 
     business or entity that works with the Sudanese government; 
     to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                        House Resolution No. 63

       Whereas, with casualties running in the hundreds of 
     thousands and millions displaced, the humanitarian crisis in 
     the Darfur region of the Sudan has defied solution for many 
     years. The heartbreaking atrocities being carried out by the 
     Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militia, which were 
     acknowledged to be genocide by the Bush administration in 
     2004, clearly cannot be brought to a halt by diplomatic means 
     or by the weight of criticism from around the world; and
       Whereas, with each report of tribal massacre, rape, and 
     unspeakable cruelty, the need for effective action grows. 
     Many are reminded of the pressures that were brought to bear 
     upon the South African system of apartheid a generation ago 
     by a rising tide of economic sanctions from the United States 
     and other countries; and
       Whereas, it is long past time for the United States to put 
     in place formal measures to

[[Page 24456]]

     halt the flow of American dollars to any entity or business 
     that works with the Sudanese government in any capacity other 
     than those that are purely humanitarian or peacekeeping in 
     nature. Government contracts and pension funds must not be 
     going to businesses or entities operating in the Sudan. 
     American businesses dealing with the Sudanese government 
     should disclose their actions. It is a moral imperative that 
     we must make every possible effort to stop the atrocities so 
     that a long-term solution to the region's problems can be 
     found: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact 
     legislation to prohibit federal funds from going to any 
     business or entity that works with the Sudanese government in 
     any capacity other than solely humanitarian or peacekeeping 
     efforts; 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-219. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Rhode Island urging Congress 
     to fulfill its funding commitments under the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                       House Resolution No. 5227

       Whereas, more than thirty years ago, the Congress of the 
     United States enacted the Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) with a commitment of 
     forty percent (40%) federal funding for the costs to local 
     school districts and states to carry out the mandates of the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (``IDEA''); and
       Whereas, in 1994, the Congress of the United States 
     recognized their ``commitment of forty percent (40%) federal 
     funding'' was not being met, and states were only being 
     federally funded at a rate of eight percent (8%).
       Whereas, the federal appropriation of 10 billion dollars 
     for the 2004 federal fiscal year funded only eighteen and 
     sixty-five hundredths percent (18.65%), and the 10.6 billion 
     dollars for FY 2005 covers only about nineteen percent (19%) 
     of the special education tab. For FY 2006, funding was only 
     at seventeen and eight-tenths percent (17.8%) of the national 
     average per pupil expenditure, still well below the forty 
     percent (40%) federal contribution commitment; and
       Whereas, local school districts in Rhode Island and 
     throughout the United States are mandated to meet the 
     spiraling costs of carrying out the provisions of IDEA; and
       Whereas, the failure of the Congress of the United States 
     to fully fund its original commitment of forty percent (40%) 
     federal funding has placed a severe burden upon local school 
     districts to meet the costs of the federal mandate, resulting 
     in an insufferable burden upon local taxpayers and diversion 
     of funds from other education programs, thus lessening the 
     quality of education; and
       Whereas, more than thirty years after the enactment of 
     IDEA, it is time that the Congress of the United States 
     appropriate the funds necessary to fully fund its original 
     commitment to provide forty percent (40%) federal funding of 
     the costs incurred carrying out the provisions of IDEA: Now, 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, That this House of Representatives of the State 
     of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby 
     memorializes the Congress of the United States to fulfill the 
     original commitment of the Congress of the United States to 
     provide for forty percent (40%) federal funding to local 
     school districts to carry out the mandates of the Individuals 
     with Disabilities Education Act; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is 
     authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of 
     this resolution to: (1) each member of the Rhode Island 
     delegation in the Congress of the United States; (2) the 
     President of the United States; (3) the President of the 
     Senate in the Congress of the United States; (4) the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives in the Congress of the United 
     States; (5) the Chairmen of the Health, Education, Labor and 
     Pensions Committees in the Senate in the Congress of the 
     United States; and (6) the Chairmen of the Education and the 
     Workforce Committees in the House of Representatives in the 
     Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-220. A joint resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     State of California urging Congress to renew the Special 
     Statutory Funding Program for Type I Diabetes Research; to 
     the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 8

       Whereas, diabetes is a chronic, debilitating disease 
     affecting every organ system; and
       Whereas, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which 
     a person's pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that 
     enables people to get energy from food; and
       Whereas, Type 1 diabetes is a nonpreventable and so far 
     incurable chronic disease that is one of the most prevalent 
     diseases affecting children; and
       Whereas, Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which a 
     person's body still produces insulin but is unable to use it 
     effectively; and
       Whereas, Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects the 
     African-American, Latino, Native American, and Pacific 
     Islander communities; and
       Whereas, diabetes affects nearly 21 million American and 
     over two million Californians and is on the rise; and
       Whereas, diabetes is the most costly chronic disease, 
     costing the California health care system over 12 billion per 
     year; and
       Whereas, the complications from diabetes have devastating 
     effects, such as kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, 
     amputation, heart attack and stroke; and
       Whereas, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in 
     California; and
       Whereas, caring for diabetic students in public schools has 
     further complicated the lives of parents, students, and 
     school staff alike; and
       Whereas, diabetes has significant indirect economic costs 
     in lost production estimated over $37 billion nationwide; and
       Whereas, researching a cure for type 1 diabetes will assist 
     in curing type 2 diabetes and many other autoimmune diseases; 
     and
       Whereas, finding a cure for diabetes will be far more cost 
     effective than life-long treatment and will improve the 
     quality of life and life expectancy of millions of Americans; 
     and
       Whereas, funding for the federal Special Statutory Funding 
     Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research, as mandated by Section 
     330B of the Public Health Service Act, ends with the 2008 
     fiscal year; and
       Whereas, funding for the Special Diabetes Program for 
     Indians, as mandated by Section 330C of the Public Health 
     Service Act, ends with the 2008 fiscal year: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of 
     California proclaims its intention to develop a state-funded 
     program for diabetes research; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California 
     urges the President and Congress of the United States to 
     renew the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 
     Diabetes Research and the Special Diabetes Program for 
     Indians; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     and each Senator and Representative from California in the 
     Congress of the United States.
                                  ____

       POM-221. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     consider certain issues while contemplating reauthorization 
     of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 396

       Whereas, the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 
     (NCLB) requires reauthorization in 2007: Therefore be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we urge 
     the United States Congress to address the following concerns 
     when considering the reauthorization of NCLB:
       (1) allow states the flexibility to use growth model 
     assessment models to enhance existing measures of student 
     progress;
       (2) provide flexibility in program implementation with 
     respect to varying student and teacher needs related to 
     diversity of geography, wealth, and background;
       (3) revise assessment guidelines for special needs students 
     so that such students are more fairly assessed considering 
     their specific individualized education programs and, 
     therefore, better served;
       (4) resolve other contradictions between NCLB and the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);
       (5) address issues arising from students who are counted in 
     multiple groups when determining adequate yearly progress;
       (6) allow schools to offer, and provide full funding for, 
     important supplemental education services before schools are 
     forced to offer choice;
       (7) provide greater flexibility when determining the sizes 
     of groups regarding assessment subgroups;
       (8) school improvement grants must be funded so that the 
     sanctions placed on schools will result in improved student 
     achievement and the reversal of negative trends;
       (9) seek greater consistency in state certification 
     criteria and the federal ``highly qualified'' designation;
       (10) the highly qualified teacher provisions of NCLB 
     require clarification, greater flexibility regarding 
     alignment with state certification, and appropriate, 
     specific, technical assistance in order to ensure compliance; 
     and
       (11) resident school districts of special needs students 
     attending private schools must pay for IDEA services 
     delivered at a private school; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
     delivered to President of the

[[Page 24457]]

     United States George W. Bush, United States Secretary of 
     Education Margaret Spellings, and each member of the Illinois 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-222. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     pass legislation that would allow not-for-profit 
     organizations and family members to mail without charge on 
     two days of every month; to the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 622

       Whereas, legislation has been introduced in previous years 
     to provide free mailing privileges for letters and packages 
     to American troops overseas; two bills have been introduced 
     into the 109th Congress--H.R. 923 and H.R. 2874 (H.R. 2874 
     supersedes H.R. 887, a very similar bill introduced by former 
     Representative Harold Ford on February 17, 2005); and
       Whereas, H.R. 923, the Mailing Support to Troops Act of 
     2005 (introduced on February 17, 2005 by Representative 
     Fossella, with 71 current cosponsors), in its original form 
     would allow family members of service personnel to mail 
     letters and packages free of charge to active members of the 
     military serving in Afghanistan or Iraq and to servicemen and 
     women hospitalized as a result of disease or injury suffered 
     in Afghanistan or Iraq; mailers would need only to write on 
     the envelope or box, ``Free Matter for Member of the Armed 
     Forces of the United States'', or words to that effect 
     specified by the Postal Service (USPS); mail matter that 
     contains any advertising would specifically be excluded; H.R. 
     923 would authorize appropriations to reimburse USPS for its 
     extra expenses in transporting such mail; H.R. 923 was 
     referred to the Committee on Government Reform; and
       Whereas, H.R. 2874, the Supply Our Soldiers Act of 2005, 
     was introduced by Representative Ford on June 14, 2005, and 
     had 31 cosponsors; it would attempt to make it easier for 
     families and charities to ship letters and packages to 
     soldiers serving in combat zones; soldiers mobilizing for 
     overseas duty would be given an allotment of special stamps 
     (equivalent in value to $150 per calendar quarter) that they 
     can send to their loved ones, or to selected charities, to 
     allow them to send letters and packages without further 
     postage to the service members; there would be a 10-pound 
     limit on packages sent to individuals; the Postal Service 
     would be reimbursed by the Defense Department for providing 
     this service, and Section 3 of the bill would authorize 
     appropriations to the Defense Department for this purpose and 
     for any other expenses it incurs; by putting individual 
     service men and women into the authorization chain for the 
     mail they receive this bill would avoid the problem of 
     subsidizing unsolicited mail to the troops; additionally, by 
     capping the allotment per service member, it would mitigate 
     potential stress on the military postal system; H.R. 2874 was 
     referred to the Committees on Armed Services and Government 
     Reform; and
       Whereas, on September 29, 2005, the House Committee on 
     Government Reform marked up H.R. 923, and in doing so, 
     accepted an amendment in the nature of a substitute that 
     adopted the core concept, as well as the title, of H.R. 2874; 
     as amended and ordered to be reported by voice vote of the 
     Committee, H.R. 923 requires the Department of Defense, in 
     consultation with the Postal Service, to establish a one-year 
     program under which qualified members of the armed services 
     would receive a monthly voucher that can be redeemed, by 
     their families or friends, to pay the postal expenses of 
     sending one letter or parcel (weighing up to 15 pounds) to 
     the service member; the Department of Defense would reimburse 
     the Postal Service for the postal benefits provided by the 
     vouchers; Committee Chairman Tom Davis said that the 
     substitute language had the approval of Representative 
     Fossella, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Postal 
     Service; the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 
     nearly all of the about 145,000 American service personnel 
     who would be eligible for the postage benefit would take 
     advantage of it, and assigned it a budget cost of $30 million 
     over fiscal years 2006 and 2007; and
       Whereas, the language of H.R. 923 was added by the House 
     Armed Services Committee as Sections 575, 576 (``Funding''), 
     and 577 (``Duration'') to H.R. 5122, the Sonny Montgomery 
     National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal Year 2007; H.R. 
     5122 was passed by the House on May 11, 2006; on June 22, 
     2006, the Senate substituted its own defense authorization 
     language for the House language and passed H.R. 5122; the 
     Senate version does not contain the postal benefits 
     authorized in the House bill, so whether the language 
     survives is now a matter to be decided by the conference 
     committee; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we urge 
     the Congress of the United States to pass legislation that 
     would allow not-for-profit organizations and family members 
     to mail without charge, twice per month, on the first and 
     15th day of each month, letters and packages to members of 
     the U.S. Armed Services in combat zones; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
     delivered to the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, 
     the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and each 
     member of the Illinois congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-223. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     support a constitutional amendment to allow foreign-born 
     citizens to run for President; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 71

       Whereas, many Americans adopt children from countries and 
     raise them in the United States; and
       Whereas, these foreign-born children automatically become 
     United States citizens upon adoption; and
       Whereas, we tell these children that we live in a free 
     society where men and women have equal rights and equal 
     worth, that they control their own destinies, and that their 
     opportunities are limitless; then these children are denied 
     the ability to seek the highest office in the land, because 
     of the circumstances of their birth; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we urge 
     the United States Congress to support a constitutional 
     amendment to allow foreign-born citizens to run for President 
     of the United States; and be it further
       Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
     presented to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, 
     the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the 
     House of Representatives, and to each member of the Illinois 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-224. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Missouri urging Congress to 
     repeal the REAL ID Act; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 20

       Whereas in May 2005, the United States Congress enacted the 
     REAL ID Act of 2005 as part of the Emergency Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and 
     Tsunami Relief Act (PL 109-13), which was signed by President 
     Bush on May 11, 2005, and which becomes effective May 11, 
     2008; and
       Whereas some of the requirements of the REAL ID Act are 
     that states shall:
       (1) Issue a driver's license or state identification card 
     in a uniform format, containing uniform information, as 
     prescribed by the federal Department of Homeland Security;
       (2) Verify the issuance, validity, and completeness of all 
     primary documents used to issue a driver's license, such as 
     those showing that the bearer is a United States citizen or a 
     lawful alien, a lawful refugee, or a person holding a valid 
     visa;
       (3) Provide for secure storage of all primary documents 
     that are used to issue a federally approved driver's license 
     or state identification card;
       (4) Provide fraudulent document recognition training to all 
     persons engaged in issuing driver's licenses or state 
     identification cards; and
       (5) Issue a driver's license or state identification card 
     in a prescribed format if it is a license or card that does 
     not meet the criteria provided for a federally approved 
     license or identification card; and
       Whereas use of the federal minimum standards for state 
     driver's licenses and state-issued identification cards will 
     be necessary for any type of federally regulated activity for 
     which an identification card must be displayed, including 
     flying in a commercial airplane, making transactions with a 
     federally licensed bank, entering building, or making 
     application for federally supported public assistance 
     benefits, including Social Security; and
       Whereas some of the intended privacy requirements of the 
     REAL ID Act, such as the use of common machine-readable 
     technology and state maintenance of a database that can be 
     shared with the United States government and agencies of 
     other states, may actually make it more likely that a 
     federally required driver's license or state identification 
     card, or the information about the bearer on which the 
     license or card is based, will be stolen, sold, or otherwise 
     used for purposes that were never intended or that are 
     criminally related than if the REAL ID Act had not been 
     enacted; and
       Whereas these potential breaches in privacy that could 
     result directly from compliance with the REAL ID Act may 
     violate the right to privacy secured in the Missouri 
     Constitution, for thousands of residents of Missouri; and
       Whereas the American Association of Motor Vehicle 
     Administrators, the National Governors' Association, and the 
     National Conference of State Legislatures have estimated, in 
     an impact analysis dated September 2006, that the cost to the 
     states to implement the REAL ID Act will be more than $11 
     billion over 5 years, and it is estimated that the 
     implementation of the REAL ID Act will cost Missouri millions 
     to fully implement the Act, none of such costs being paid for 
     by the federal government; and

[[Page 24458]]

       Whereas for all of these reasons, the American Association 
     of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the National Governors' 
     Association, and the National Conference of State 
     Legislatures, in a letter dated March 17, 2005, to the 
     majority and minority leaders of the United States Senate, 
     opposed the adoption of the REAL ID Act, but the opposition 
     of those groups, and the groups' request that Congress rely 
     on driver's license security provisions already passed by 
     Congress in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention 
     Act of 2004, was largely ignored by Congress; and
       Whereas the regulations that are to be adopted by the U.S. 
     Department of Homeland Security to implement the requirements 
     of the REAL ID Act have yet to be adopted and, in reality, 
     will probably not become effective until the Spring of 2007, 
     effectively giving the states only one year in which to 
     become familiar with the implementing regulations and comply 
     with those regulations and the requirements of the REAL ID 
     Act; and
       Whereas the mandate to the states, through federal 
     legislation that provides no funding for its requirements, to 
     issue what is, in effect, a national identification card 
     appears to be an attempt to ``commandeer'' the political 
     machinery of the states and to require the states to be 
     agents of the federal government, in violation of the 
     principles of federalism contained in the Tenth Amendment to 
     the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the United 
     States Supreme Court in New York v. United States, 488 U.S. 
     1041 (1992), United States v. Lopez, 514 U.S. 549 (1995), and 
     Priniz v. United States, 521 U.S. 898 (1997):
       Whereas state legislatures in Georgia, Massachusetts, 
     Montana, New Mexico, New Hampshire, and Washington, have, 
     through legislation or resolutions, opposed the 
     implementation of the REAL ID Act; and
       Whereas the Missouri General Assembly affirms its 
     abhorrence of and opposition to global terrorism, and affirms 
     its commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil 
     liberties of all Missouri residents and opposes any measures, 
     including the REAL ID Act, that unconstitutionally infringe 
     upon those civil rights and civil liberties: now therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the members of the House of Representatives, 
     Ninety-Fourth General Assembly, First Regular Session, the 
     Senate concurring therein, hereby calls on Congress to repeal 
     the REAL ID Act; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of 
     Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed 
     copies of this resolution and 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 Missouri.
                                  ____

       POM-225. A joint resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois supporting the 
     campaign against terrorism; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

                        Joint Resolution No. 27

       Whereas, the State of Illinois recognizes the Constitution 
     of the United States as our charter of liberty and that the 
     Bill of Rights enshrines the fundamental and inalienable 
     rights of Americans, including the freedoms of privacy and 
     from unreasonable searches; and
       Whereas, each of Illinois' duly elected public servants has 
     sworn to defend and uphold the United States Constitution and 
     the Constitution of the State of Illinois; and
       Whereas, the State of Illinois denounces and condemns all 
     acts of terrorism by any entity, wherever the acts occur; and
       Whereas, terrorist attacks against Americans, such as those 
     that occurred on September 11, 2001, have necessitated the 
     crafting of effective laws to protect citizens of the United 
     States and others from terrorist attacks; and
       Whereas, any new security measures of federal, state, and 
     local governments should be carefully designed and employed 
     to enhance public safety without infringing on the civil 
     liberties and rights of innocent citizens of Illinois and the 
     United States; and
       Whereas, the federal Real ID Act of 2005 creates a national 
     identification card by requiring uniform information be 
     placed on every state drivers' license, requiring this 
     information to be machine-readable in a standard format and 
     requiring this card for any federal purpose including air 
     travel; and
       Whereas, Real ID will be a costly unfunded mandate on the 
     State with the National Governors' Association, the National 
     Conference of State Legislators, and the American Association 
     of Motor Vehicle Administrators estimating that Real ID will 
     cost at least $11 billion nationally over the next 5 years; 
     and
       Whereas, Real ID requires the creation of a massive public 
     sector database containing the drivers' license information 
     on every American, accessible to every state motor vehicle 
     employee and state and federal law enforcement officer; and
       Whereas, Real ID enables the creation of an additional 
     massive private sector database of drivers' license 
     information gained from scanning the machine-readable 
     information contained on every driver's license; and
       Whereas, these public and private databases are certain to 
     contain numerous errors and false information, creating 
     significant hardship for Americans attempting to verify their 
     identity in order to fly, 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 10 
     million Americans are victims of identity theft annually and 
     these thieves are increasingly targeting motor vehicle 
     departments, Real ID will enable the crime of identity theft 
     by making the personal information of all Americans including 
     name, date of birth, gender, driver's license or 
     identification card number, digital photograph, address, and 
     signature accessible from tens of thousands of locations; and
       Whereas, Real ID requires the drivers' licenses to contain 
     actual home addresses in all cases and makes no provision for 
     securing personal information for individuals in potential 
     danger such as undercover police officers and victims of 
     stalking or criminal harassment; and
       Whereas, Real ID contains no exemption for religion, limits 
     religious liberty, and tramples the beliefs of groups such as 
     the Amish and some Evangelical Christians; and
       Whereas, Real ID contains onerous record verification and 
     retention provisions that place unreasonable burdens on both 
     state Driver Services offices and on third parties required 
     to verify records; and
       Whereas, Real ID will likely place enormous burdens on 
     consumers seeking a new driver's license including longer 
     lines, higher costs, increased document requests, and a 
     waiting period; and
       Whereas, Real ID will put under-resourced motor vehicle 
     administration staff on the front lines of immigration 
     enforcement by forcing them to determine citizenship status, 
     increasing the potential for discrimination based on race and 
     ethnicity, and placing an excessive burden on foreign-born 
     license applicants and motor vehicle staff; and
       Whereas, Real ID was passed without sufficient deliberation 
     by Congress and never received a hearing by any Congressional 
     committee or any vote solely on its own merits; and
       Whereas, Real ID eliminated a process of negotiated 
     rulemaking initiated under the Intelligence Reform and 
     Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which had convened federal, 
     state, and local policy makers, privacy advocates, and 
     industry experts to solve the problem of misuse in identity 
     documents; and
       Whereas, more than 600 organizations opposed the passage of 
     Real ID including the American Civil Liberties Union of 
     Illinois; and
       Whereas, Real ID would provide little security benefit and 
     still leave identification systems open to insider fraud, 
     counterfeit documentation, and database failures: Therefore 
     be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, the Senate 
     concurring herein, That the Illinois General Assembly 
     supports the Government of the United States in its campaign 
     against terrorism and affirms the commitment of the United 
     States that the campaign not be waged at the expense of 
     essential civil rights and liberties of citizens of this 
     country that are protected in the United States Constitution 
     and the Bill of Rights; and be it further
       Resolved, That the members of the Illinois General Assembly 
     oppose any portion of the Real ID Act that violates the 
     rights and liberties guaranteed under the Illinois 
     Constitution or the United States Constitution, including the 
     Bill of Rights; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Illinois General Assembly urges the 
     Illinois Congressional delegation in the United States 
     Congress to support measures to repeal the Real ID Act of 
     2005; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to 
     President George W. Bush, Attorney General Alberto R. 
     Gonzales, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, Senator Richard 
     Durbin, Senator Barack Obama, and each of the members of the 
     Illinois Congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-226. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     enact legislation making each federal election day a national 
     holiday; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                        House Resolution No. 50

       Whereas, citizen participation in the electoral process is 
     the cornerstone of our American democracy; and
       Whereas, unfortunately, the rate of voter turnout for 
     elections in this country has declined over the years and is 
     lower than the rate enjoyed by some other democracies around 
     the world; and
       Whereas, Germany and Italy, for instance, have experienced 
     a growth in their percentages of voter participation since 
     making their election days national holidays; and
       Whereas, making each federal election day a national 
     holiday in the United States would make it easier for 
     Americans to get to the polls, and election authorities would 
     find a greater number of election workers and accessible 
     buildings available; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State

[[Page 24459]]

     of Illinois, That we urge the United States Congress to 
     enact, and the President to approve, legislation making each 
     federal election day a national holiday; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be presented to 
     the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
     States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of 
     the United States Senate, and each member of the Illinois 
     congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-227. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois urging Congress to 
     do what is necessary to ensure that returning veterans get 
     the best in healthcare; to the Committee on Veterans' 
     Affairs.

                        House Resolution No. 375

       Whereas, a significant growth in Post-Traumatic Stress 
     Disorder (PTSD) has been identified over the past few years 
     with the escalation of combat veterans returning home from 
     the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts; nation-wide calls for 
     more assistance for those returning with mental issues as a 
     result of combat have been growing, and this resolution is in 
     response to those calls; and
       Whereas, as of January 2007, more than 1.6 million U.S. 
     service men and women had served in Afghanistan and Iraq; and
       Whereas, in October 2005, the U.S. Department of Veterans 
     Affairs reported that more than 430,000 U.S. soldiers have 
     been discharged from the military following service in 
     Afghanistan and Iraq; more than 119,000 have sought help for 
     medical or mental health issues from the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs to date; and
       Whereas, in January 2006, the Journal of the American 
     Medical Association reported that 35% of Iraq Veterans have 
     already sought help for mental health concerns; a 2003 New 
     England Journal of Medicine Study found that more than 60% of 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans 
     showing symptoms of PTSD were unlikely to seek help due to 
     fears of stigmatization or loss of career advancement 
     opportunities; and
       Whereas, in 2005, the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     reported that 18% of Afghanistan Veterans and 20% of Iraq 
     Veterans in their care were suffering from some type of 
     service-connected psychological disorder; and
       Whereas, the Department of Veterans Affairs has seen a 
     tenfold increase in PTSD cases in 2006; according to the VA, 
     more than 37,000 Vets of Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering 
     from mental health disorders, and more than 16,000 have 
     already been diagnosed with PTSD; and
       Whereas, according to the Army, since March 2003, at least 
     45 U.S. soldiers and 9 Marines have committed suicide in 
     Iraq; at least 20 soldiers and 23 Marines have committed 
     suicide since returning home, though exact numbers are not 
     available; and
       Whereas, the United States Congress is currently 
     considering H.R. 612, H.R. 1538, S. 713, and H.R. 1268, which 
     address the tragic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder situation 
     among our returning veterans; therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That our 
     returning veterans deserve the very best in healthcare, 
     including mental care, and that both the Federal Government 
     and State Governments must work together to provide this 
     healthcare; and be it further
       Resolved, That the State of Illinois wishes to be a model 
     State for the medical care that we offer to our returning 
     soldiers in joint partnership with the Federal Government; 
     and be it further
       Resolved, That we urge Congress to act on H.R. 612, H.R. 
     1538, S. 713, and H.R. 1268 for the safety and well-being of 
     our returning veterans who face mental illness caused by 
     their fulfillment of their duties; and be it further
       Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent 
     to the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the U.S. 
     Senate, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the U.S. House 
     of Representatives, the Illinois Congressional Delegation, 
     and the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' 
     Affairs.
                                  ____

       POM-228. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature 
     of the State of Texas urging Congress to support the Belated 
     Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 
     2005; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

                   House Concurrent Resolution No. 16

       Whereas, the United States Merchant Marine is made up of a 
     fleet of ships used for commercial transport during peace 
     time and as an auxiliary to the United States Navy during 
     times of war; and
       Whereas, the members of the U.S. Merchant Marine served the 
     United States bravely in World War II, suffering the highest 
     casualty rate of any branch of the military; in spite of 
     their dedicated and heroic service, these men and women are 
     not considered veterans under the Social Security Act, 
     thereby denying them the financial support in their later 
     years that is afforded to those whom they served alongside in 
     war time; and
       Whereas, merchant mariners are considered military 
     personnel in times of war and have an illustrious history of 
     defending this country that started with contributing to 
     American independence by disrupting the British supply chain 
     during the Revolutionary War; and
       Whereas, the Merchant Marine ranks during World War II were 
     filled through campaigns by the War Shipping Administration 
     and military recruiters, served under the auspices of the 
     military, included transferred members from other branches of 
     the military, and instructed by their commanders about the 
     critical, patriotic importance of service on troop and supply 
     ships; and
       Whereas, the delivery of tanks, aircraft, jeeps, gasoline, 
     medicine, and food rations by the Merchant Marine to troops 
     in every theater of World War II was integral to the Allies' 
     victory; and
       Whereas, despite accolades from then General Dwight D. 
     Eisenhower and President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the vital 
     military contribution and service in every invasion from 
     Normandy to Okinawa, the merchant mariners were excluded from 
     the GI Bill of Rights enacted in 1945, and for 43 years the 
     U.S. government denied them benefits ranging from housing to 
     health care until Congress awarded them veterans' status in 
     1988--too late for 125,000 mariners to benefit, roughly half 
     of those who had served; moreover, these merchant mariners 
     continue to be denied veterans' benefits under the Social 
     Security Act; and
       Whereas, the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of 
     World War II Act of 2005 appropriately honors the service of 
     World War II merchant mariners and attempts to rectify the 
     previous denial of financial benefits by providing a monthly 
     monetary benefit, from the U.S. Department of Veterans 
     Affairs, for each Merchant Marine World War II veteran, or 
     surviving spouse, and bestowing veteran status upon them 
     under the Social Security Act, qualifying these brave 
     individuals for Social Security veterans' benefits: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to 
     support the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of 
     World War II Act of 2005; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the president of the 
     United States, to the speaker of the house of representatives 
     and the president of the senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to 
     the congress with the request that this resolution be 
     officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial 
     to the Congress of the United States of America.

                          ____________________