[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Pages 28507-28508]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL BE BEAR AWARE AND WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP MONTH

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EXPRESSING SYMPATHY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THUNDERSTORMS IN ILLINOIS, IOWA, 
                     MINNESOTA, OHIO AND WISCONSIN

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed en bloc to 
the consideration of the following Calendar items: No. 444 and No. 445.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolutions by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 347) designating May 2008 as 
     ``National Be Bear Aware and Wildlife Stewardship Month''.
       A resolution (S. Res. 346) expressing heartfelt sympathy 
     for the victims of the devastating thunderstorms that caused 
     severe flooding during August 2007 in the States of Illinois, 
     Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolutions.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment to the 
resolution, where applicable, be agreed to; that the resolutions, as 
amended, if amended, be agreed to en bloc; the amendment to the 
preamble, where applicable, be agreed to; the preambles, as amended, if 
amended, be agreed to, en bloc; that the title amendment to S. Res. 346 
be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be laid on the table, en 
bloc, the consideration of these items appear separately in the Record, 
and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 347) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 347

       Whereas wildlife and wildlife viewing enrich the shared 
     outdoor heritage of the people of the United States;
       Whereas it is possible to enjoy wildlife in a way that is 
     prudent, safe, and educational and that has minimal adverse 
     effects on wildlife;
       Whereas the people of the United States should be aware of 
     the potential for conflict between humans and wildlife;
       Whereas the people of the United States should learn the 
     safety and stewardship techniques that can prevent such 
     conflicts;
       Whereas some groups, such as the Center for Wildlife 
     Information and State and Federal wildlife associations, in 
     cooperation with State and Federal wildlife and land 
     management agencies, have taken important proactive steps to 
     create educations toolkits and design programs to educate 
     outdoor enthusiasts; and
       Whereas educational efforts can raise awareness of the 
     potential for such conflict, help minimize such conflict, and 
     promote the responsible enjoyment of wildlife: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates May 2008 as ``National 
     Be Bear Aware and Wildlife Stewardship Month''.


                              S. Res. 346

  The Senate proceed to consider the resolution (S. Res. 346) 
expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the devastating 
thunderstorms that caused severe flooding during August 2007 in the 
States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and for other 
purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary 
with an amendment and an amendment to the preamble.
  [Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]

                              S. Res. 346

  [Whereas, during August 2007, severe thunderstorms were responsible 
for bringing as much as 18 inches of torrential rain to parts of the 
States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, resulting in 
devastating floods;
  [Whereas these storms tragically took the lives of 14 people;
  [Whereas these storms injured countless other people, damaged or 
destroyed thousands of homes, and devastated businesses and 
institutions;
  [Whereas, on August 21, 2007, the Governor of Minnesota declared 
Fillmore, Houston, Steele, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona Counties, 
Minnesota, to be in a state of disaster as a result of these storms, 
and subsequently Dodge and Jackson Counties, Minnesota, received a 
Federal major disaster declaration as well;
  [Whereas, on August 20 and 21, 2007, the Governor of Wisconsin 
declared Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, Sauk, and Vernon Counties, 
Wisconsin, to be in a state of disaster as a result of these storms;
  [Whereas, on August 22, 2007, and in the days following, the Governor 
of Iowa declared Allamakee, Appanoose, Boone, Calhoun, Cherokee, Davis, 
Humboldt, Mahaska, Montgomery, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Union, Van Buren, 
Wapello, Wayne, Webster, and Winneshiek Counties, Iowa, to be in a 
state of disaster as a result of these storms;
  [Whereas, on August 22, 2007, the Governor of Ohio declared Allen,

[[Page 28508]]

Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, Van Wert, and 
Wyandot Counties, Ohio, to be in a state of disaster as a result of 
these storms;
  [Whereas, on August 24, 2007, and in the days following, the Governor 
of Illinois declared Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Lake, LaSalle, Kane, 
Knox, McHenry, Warren, and Will Counties, Illinois, to be in a state of 
disaster as a result of these storms;
  [Whereas President Bush declared 8 counties in Minnesota, 8 counties 
in Ohio, 14 counties in Wisconsin, 6 counties in Illinois, and 14 
counties in Iowa to be major disaster areas as a result of these 
storms, and individuals and families, State and local Governments, and 
certain private nonprofit organizations in these areas became eligible 
for individual or public Federal disaster assistance or both;
  [Whereas numerous individuals and entities have selflessly and 
heroically given of themselves and their resources to aid in the 
disaster relief efforts; and
  [Whereas the catastrophic injury, death, and damage in Illinois, 
Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin would have been even worse in the 
absence of local relief efforts: Now, therefore, be it]
       Whereas, during August 2007, severe thunderstorms were 
     responsible for bringing as much as 18 inches of torrential 
     rain to parts of the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, 
     Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, resulting in devastating 
     floods;
       Whereas these storms tragically took the lives of at least 
     20 people;
       Whereas these storms injured countless other people, 
     damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, and devastated 
     businesses and institutions;
       Whereas, on August 20, 2007, the Governor of Oklahoma 
     declared Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Comanche, 
     Cotton, Custer, Dewey, Grady, Jefferson, Kingfisher, Kiowa, 
     Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, 
     Okmulgee, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Stephens, and 
     Washita Counties, Oklahoma, to be in a state of emergency as 
     a result of these storms;
       Whereas, on August 21, 2007, the Governor of Minnesota 
     declared Fillmore, Houston, Steele, Olmsted, Wabasha, and 
     Winona Counties, Minnesota, to be in a state of disaster as a 
     result of these storms, and subsequently Dodge and Jackson 
     Counties, Minnesota, received a Federal major disaster 
     declaration as well;
       Whereas, on August 20 and 21, 2007, the Governor of 
     Wisconsin declared Crawford, La Crosse, Richland, Sauk, and 
     Vernon Counties, Wisconsin, to be in a state of disaster as a 
     result of these storms;
       Whereas, on August 22, 2007, and in the days following, the 
     Governor of Iowa declared Allamakee, Appanoose, Boone, 
     Calhoun, Cherokee, Davis, Humboldt, Mahaska, Montgomery, Palo 
     Alto, Pocahontas, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne, Webster, 
     and Winneshiek Counties, Iowa, to be in a state of disaster 
     as a result of these storms;
       Whereas, on August 22, 2007, the Governor of Ohio declared 
     Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, 
     Van Wert, and Wyandot Counties, Ohio, to be in a state of 
     disaster as a result of these storms;
       Whereas, on August 24, 2007, and in the days following, the 
     Governor of Illinois declared Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, 
     Lake, LaSalle, Kane, Knox, McHenry, Warren, and Will 
     Counties, Illinois, to be in a state of disaster as a result 
     of these storms;
       Whereas President Bush declared 8 counties in Minnesota, 8 
     counties in Ohio, 22 counties in Oklahoma, 14 counties in 
     Wisconsin, 6 counties in Illinois, and 14 counties in Iowa to 
     be major disaster areas as a result of these storms, and 
     individuals and families, State and local Governments, and 
     certain private nonprofit organizations in these areas became 
     eligible for individual or public Federal disaster assistance 
     or both;
       Whereas numerous individuals and entities have selflessly 
     and heroically given of themselves and their resources to aid 
     in the disaster relief efforts; and
       Whereas the catastrophic injury, death, and damage in 
     Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin 
     would have been even worse in the absence of local relief 
     efforts: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the 
     devastating thunderstorms that caused severe flooding during 
     August 2007 in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, 
     [Oklahoma,] and Wisconsin;
       (2) conveys gratitude to the local, State, and Federal 
     officials and emergency personnel who responded swiftly to 
     the crisis, including emergency management teams in each of 
     the affected States, Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland 
     Security, and David Paulison, Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency;
       (3) recognizes the generous and selfless support of 
     citizens, local businesses, the American Red Cross, the 
     United Way, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army; and
       (4) reaffirms support for helping the victims of the 
     flooding rebuild their homes and lives.
  The amendment (No. 3471) was agreed to, as follows:


                           AMENDMENT NO. 3471

            (Purpose: To amend the title of the resolution)

       Amend the title to read as follows: ``Expressing heartfelt 
     sympathy for the victims of the devastating thunderstorms 
     that caused severe flooding during August 2007 in the States 
     of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, 
     and for other purposes.''

  The resolution (S. Res. 346), as amended, was agreed to.
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, as amended, reads as 
follows:
  (The resolution will be printed in a future edition of the Record.)

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