[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 10511-10513]
[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-33. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the State of Louisiana memorializing the Congress of the 
     United States to prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to 
     coastal communities, individuals, and businesses by 
     immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act and mandating 
     revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-risk 
     maps; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
     Affairs.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 91

       Whereas, in 2012 Congress re-authorized the National Flood 
     Insurance Program in the Biggert-Waters Act; and
       Whereas, language in the Biggert-Waters Act phases out 
     certain subsidized flood insurance rates, thereby allowing 
     rate increases to the costs of obtaining such flood insurance 
     of either twenty or twenty-five percent a year, depending 
     upon on the property, until properties reach actuarial 
     status; and
       Whereas, at the same time the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency (``FEMA'') issued new flood-risk maps showing that 
     properties not protected by one hundred year flood federal 
     levees would be considered as inadequately safeguarded 
     against floods, with the result that such properties became 
     significantly higher-risk property for the purpose of flood 
     insurance rate premium calculation and elevation 
     requirements; and
       Whereas, the confluence of these two events has resulted in 
     potential economic disaster for coastal communities, 
     businesses, and individuals now faced not only with

[[Page 10512]]

     unaffordable flood insurance premiums but also with the 
     inability to transfer or sell property deemed by FEMA to be 
     at higher risk of flooding; and
       Whereas, legislation and amendments are pending in Congress 
     to delay the premium increases authorized by the Biggert-
     Waters Act for one year to determine the effects of such 
     changes upon the availability, affordability, and 
     sustainability of flood insurance; and
       Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is also 
     now in discussions to reconsider and revise its flood-risk 
     maps to include the effects of locally built levees, pumping 
     stations and floodgates, all of which have been funded, 
     designed and built to provide substantial protection from 
     flooding, and also to develop new maps that more accurately 
     reflect actual area flood risk; and
       Whereas, it is necessary for both Congress and FEMA to take 
     immediate action to prevent pending and unintended economic 
     catastrophe for coastal communities, individuals, and 
     businesses; and
       Whereas, without action by both Congress and FEMA it has 
     been estimated that at least half a million homes and 
     businesses in Louisiana could be severely impacted, and that 
     other coastal communities outside of Louisiana could face 
     similar economic devastation, including communities, 
     individuals, and businesses in New York, New Jersey and other 
     states severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and 
     unintended harm to coastal communities, individuals, and 
     businesses by immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act and 
     mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     flood-risk maps; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and 
     to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United 
     States Congress, and to the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency.
                                  ____

       POM-34. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Louisiana memorializing the Congress of the United States to 
     prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to coastal 
     communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately 
     amending the Biggert-Waters Act and mandating revision of 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-risk maps; to the 
     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

                       Senate Resolution No. 114

       Whereas, in 2012 Congress re-authorized the National Flood 
     Insurance Program in the Biggert-Waters Act; and
       Whereas, language in the Biggert-Waters Act phases out 
     certain subsidized flood insurance rates, thereby allowing 
     rate increases to the costs of obtaining such flood insurance 
     of either twenty or twenty-five percent a year, depending 
     upon the property, until rates reach actuarial status; and
       Whereas, at the same time the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency (FEMA) issued new flood-risk maps showing that 
     properties not protected by one hundred year flood federal 
     levees would be considered as inadequately safeguarded 
     against floods, with the result that such properties became 
     significantly higher-risk property for the purpose of flood 
     insurance rate premium calculation and elevation 
     requirements; and
       Whereas, the confluence of these two events has resulted in 
     potential economic disaster for coastal communities, 
     businesses, and individuals now faced not only with 
     unaffordable flood insurance premiums but also with the 
     inability to transfer or sell property deemed by FEMA to be 
     at higher risk of flooding; and
       Whereas, legislation and amendments are pending in Congress 
     to delay the premium increases authorized by the Biggert-
     Waters Act for one year to determine the effects of such 
     changes upon the availability, affordability, and 
     sustainability of flood insurance; and
       Whereas, FEMA is also now in discussions to reconsider and 
     revise its flood-risk maps to include the effects of locally-
     built levees, pumping stations, and floodgates, all of which 
     have been funded, designed, and built to provide substantial 
     protection from flooding, and also to develop new maps that 
     more accurately reflect actual area flood risk; and
       Whereas, it is necessary for both Congress and FEMA to take 
     immediate action to prevent pending and unintended economic 
     catastrophe for coastal communities, individuals, and 
     businesses; and
       Whereas, without action by both Congress and FEMA, it has 
     been estimated that at least half a million homes and 
     businesses in Louisiana could be severely impacted, and that 
     other coastal communities outside of Louisiana could face 
     similar economic devastation, including communities, 
     individuals, and businesses in New York, New Jersey, and 
     other states severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes 
     the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and 
     unintended harm to coastal communities, individuals, and 
     businesses by immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act and 
     mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     flood-risk maps; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and 
     to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United 
     States Congress, and to the administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency.
                                  ____

       POM-35. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Nevada urging Congress to take certain actions 
     concerning federal public lands in Nevada; to the Committee 
     on Energy and Natural Resources.

                         Joint Resolution No. 5

       Whereas, The Federal Government manages and controls over 
     85 percent of the land in Nevada; and
       Whereas, Nevada has an abundance of natural resources, 
     including vast areas of land suitable for raising livestock 
     and for conservation and general recreational use, large 
     deposits of gold, silver, copper and other minerals, and 
     plentiful renewable resources, including, without limitation, 
     sun, wind and geothermal resources that may be used to 
     generate electricity; and
       Whereas, Many of those renewable resources are located on 
     public lands managed and controlled by the Federal 
     Government; and
       Whereas, Activities that occur on those public lands 
     increase the demand for services provided by the State of 
     Nevada and local governments in Nevada; and
       Whereas, The State of Nevada and local governments in 
     Nevada are limited in their ability to collect taxes or other 
     fees from the Federal Government or from the users of public 
     lands to fund services provided by the State and local 
     governments; and
       Whereas, The Federal Government receives revenue from the 
     licensing and permitting of activities that occur on those 
     public lands, including mining, grazing livestock, general 
     recreational use and generating electricity from renewable 
     resources; and
       Whereas, In recent years, efforts have been made to curtail 
     the practice by the Federal Government of sharing a portion 
     of that revenue with the State of Nevada and local 
     governments, including curtailing the practice of sharing 
     with the counties a portion of the revenue derived from the 
     lease of public lands and royalties from the generation of 
     electricity from geothermal resources; and
       Whereas, Recent legislation introduced in the 111th and 
     112th United States Congress would have, if enacted, required 
     the Secretary of the Interior to establish a leasing program 
     for wind and solar energy development on federal public 
     lands; and
       Whereas, Such legislation would also have required the 
     sharing of a portion of the revenue from the competitive 
     leasing program with the counties from which the revenue is 
     derived, thereby creating a beneficial and meaningful role 
     for counties in Nevada; and
       Whereas, The members of the 113th Congress are now 
     considering the budget submitted by the United States 
     Department of the Interior for federal Fiscal Year 2014, and 
     its possible effects on the counties' share of royalties 
     derived from the generation of electricity from geothermal 
     resources: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada, 
     jointly, That the members of the 77th Session of the Nevada 
     Legislature hereby urge Congress:
       1. To ensure that the public lands in Nevada that are 
     managed and controlled by the Federal Government remain open 
     and accessible to multiple uses, such as raising livestock, 
     mining, conservation, general recreational use and the use of 
     renewable resources, including, without limitation, sun, wind 
     and geothermal resources that may be used to generate 
     electricity; and
       2. To enact legislation ensuring that the State of Nevada 
     and the affected local governments in Nevada receive a 
     portion of the revenue received by the Federal Government for 
     activities conducted on the federal public lands in Nevada 
     and ensuring that such sharing includes, without limitation, 
     the continuation of federal laws and policies whereby local 
     governments receive appropriate rents and royalties for 
     activities which generate electricity from geothermal 
     resources; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Vice President of 
     the United States as the presiding officer of the United 
     States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon 
     passage.
                                  ____

       POM-36. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Louisiana expressing support for the Nagorno Karabakh 
     Republic's efforts to develop as a free and independent 
     nation; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                       Senate Resolution No. 151

       Whereas, Nagorno Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, has 
     historically been Armenian

[[Page 10513]]

     territory, populated by an overwhelming majority of 
     Armenians, which was illegally severed from Armenia by the 
     Soviet Union in 1921 and placed under the newly created 
     Soviet Azerbaijani administration; and
       Whereas, February 20, 1988, marked the beginning of the 
     national liberation movement in Nagorno Karabakh, which 
     inspired people throughout the Soviet Union to stand up 
     against tyranny and for their rights and freedoms, helping to 
     bring democracy to millions and contributing to world peace; 
     and
       Whereas, the United States Congress has repeatedly 
     expressed support for the legitimate freedom aspirations of 
     the people of Nagorno Karabakh; and
       Whereas, on September 2, 1991, the legislature of Nagorno 
     Karabakh declared formation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, 
     in accordance with then acting legislation; and
       Whereas, on December 10, 1991, the people of the Nagorno 
     Karabakh Republic voted in favor of the independence, and on 
     January 6, 1992, the democratically elected legislature of 
     the Republic formally declared independence; and
       Whereas, since proclaiming independence, the Nagorno 
     Karabakh Republic has registered significant progress in 
     democracy building, which has been most recently demonstrated 
     during the July 19, 2012, presidential elections that were 
     assessed by international observers as free and transparent: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 
     hereby encourages and supports the Nagorno Karabakh 
     Republic's continuing efforts to develop as a free and 
     independent nation in order to guarantee its citizens those 
     rights inherent in a free and independent society; and be it 
     further
       Revolved, That the president and Congress of the United 
     States of America are hereby urged to support the self-
     determination and democratic independence of the Nagorno 
     Karabakh Republic and its constructive involvement with the 
     international community's efforts to reach a just and lasting 
     solution to security issues in that strategically important 
     region; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 
     the president of the United States, the secretary of the 
     United States Senate, the clerk of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and to each member of the Louisiana 
     delegation to the United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-37. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the State of Louisiana urging and requesting the Department 
     of Health and Hospitals examine the benefits of routine 
     nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment for 
     those who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition; to 
     the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 41

       Whereas, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators 
     (NBCSL) has established policy promoting the importance of 
     quality nutrition for all Americans in order to maintain 
     healthy, active, independent lifestyles; and
       Whereas, the NBCSL adopted policy supporting increased 
     access to quality nutrition and support for infants and 
     children, as passed by the United States Congress in 
     Resolution HHS-11-19; and
       Whereas, leading health and nutrition experts agree that 
     nutrition status is a direct measure of patient health and 
     that good nutrition and good patient health can keep people 
     healthy and out of institutionalized health care facilities, 
     thus reducing healthcare costs; and
       Whereas, inadequate or unbalanced nutrition, known as 
     malnutrition, is not routinely viewed as a medical concern in 
     this nation, and that malnutrition is particularly prevalent 
     in vulnerable populations, such as older adults, hospitalized 
     patients, or minority populations that statistically shoulder 
     the highest incidences of the most severe chronic illnesses 
     such as diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease; 
     and
       Whereas, illness, injury, and malnutrition can result in 
     the loss of lean body mass, leading to complications that 
     impact good patient health outcomes, including recovery from 
     surgery, illness, or disease; the elderly lose lean body mass 
     more quickly and to a greater extent than younger adults and 
     weight assessment (body weight and body mass index) can 
     overlook accurate indicators of lean body mass; and
       Whereas, the American Nursing Association defines 
     therapeutic nutrition as the administration of food and 
     fluids to support the metabolic processes of a patient who is 
     malnourished or at high risk of becoming malnourished; and
       Whereas, access to therapeutic nutrition is critical in 
     restoring lean body mass such that it resolves malnutrition 
     challenges and, in turn, improves clinical outcomes, reduces 
     health care costs, and can keep people and our communities 
     healthy; and
       Whereas, despite the recognized link between good nutrition 
     and good health, nutritional screening and therapeutic 
     nutrition treatment have not been incorporated as routine 
     medical treatments across the spectrum of health care: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana urges and 
     requests that the Department of Health and Hospitals examine 
     the benefits of routine nutritional screening and therapeutic 
     nutrition treatment for those who are malnourished or at risk 
     for malnutrition, as well as examine the benefits of 
     nutrition screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment as 
     part of the standard for evidenced-based hospital care; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana supports an 
     increased emphasis on nutrition through the reauthorization 
     of the Older Americans Act, as well as for Medicare 
     beneficiaries, to improve their disease management and health 
     outcomes; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana is encouraged 
     that preventive and wellness services, such as counseling for 
     obesity and chronic disease management, are part of the 
     Essential Health Benefits package included in the Patient 
     Protection and Affordable Care Act; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the president of the United States, the vice president of the 
     United States, the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to 
     each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States 
     Congress, and to the secretary of the Department of Health 
     and Hospitals.
                                  ____

       POM-38. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislative 
     Assembly of Puerto Rico relative to requesting the President 
     and the Congress of the United States begin the process to 
     admit Puerto Rico to the Union as a State; to the Committee 
     on Energy and Natural Resources.
                                  ____

       POM-39. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of 
     Santa Ana, California expressing support for comprehensive 
     federal immigration reform and urging the 113th Congress to 
     enact reforms that secure our borders, ensure economic 
     strength, and promote stronger communities; to the Committee 
     on the Judiciary.

                          ____________________