[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12324-12328]
[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-44. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Nevada urging Congress to pass the Marketplace 
     Fairness Act; to the Committee on Finance.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 5

       Whereas, In the case of National Bellas Hess, Inc. v. 
     Department of Revenue, 386 U.S. 753 (1967), the United States 
     Supreme Court held, in relevant part, that Congress alone has 
     the power to regulate and control the taxation of commerce 
     which is conducted between a business that is located within 
     one state, and a customer who is located in another state and 
     who communicates with and purchases from the business using 
     only remote means; and
       Whereas, The United States Supreme Court established in 
     Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, 504 U.S. 298 (1992), that a 
     state government cannot, of its own accord, require out-of-
     state retailers to collect sales tax on sales within the 
     state; and
       Whereas, The United States Supreme Court also announced in 
     Quill that Congress could exercise its authority under the 
     Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution to decide 
     whether, when and to what extent the states may require 
     collection of sales tax on remote sales; and
       Whereas, The State of Nevada and municipalities within this 
     State receive significant operating revenue from sales taxes 
     collected by brick-and-mortar businesses and online vendors 
     with a nexus to the State and from use taxes on purchases 
     made online through vendors without a brick-and-mortar 
     location in the State; and
       Whereas, Remittance of use taxes not collected by a vendor 
     from online purchases puts an undue burden and widely unknown 
     obligation on consumers; and
       Whereas, The unequal taxation schemes as between online and 
     traditional retailers create a disadvantage for Nevada-based 
     retailers, who are rooted and invested in the Nevada 
     community and employ residents of this State; and
       Whereas, The tax collection loophole for online retailers 
     deprives local governments of revenue that could be used to 
     fund necessities such as schools, police and fire 
     departments, and other important infrastructure; and
       Whereas, The Marketplace Fairness Act, S. 336, 113th Cong. 
     (2013), and H.R. 684, 113th Cong. (2013), proposes to provide 
     states with the authority to require out-of-state retailers, 
     such as online and catalog retailers, to collect and remit 
     sales tax on purchases shipped into the state; and
       Whereas, The State of Nevada has enacted the Simplified 
     Sales and Use Tax Administration Act, chapter 360B of NRS, 
     which is in compliance with the Marketplace Fairness Act, S. 
     336, 113th Cong. Sec. 2 (2013) and H.R. 684, 113th Cong. 
     Sec. 2 (2013): Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada, 
     Jointly, That the members of the 77th Session of the Nevada 
     Legislature urge Congress to pass the Marketplace Fairness 
     Act without delay; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate 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, 
     each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation and the 
     Executive Director of the Department of Taxation; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon 
     passage.
                                  ____

       POM-45. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Nevada expressing support for wild horses and 
     burros in Nevada; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 1

       Whereas, Wild horses and burros are an integral part of the 
     ecosystem and rangelands of the United States and the State 
     of Nevada; and
       Whereas, Wild horses and burros helped to build this nation 
     and are living symbols of freedom and our American Western 
     heritage, as represented by the depiction of wild horses on 
     the Nevada State quarter; and
       Whereas, Wild horses and burros are natural resources and 
     cultural assets, and have the potential to promote tourism 
     and job creation in this State; and
       Whereas, Building eco-sanctuaries that enable the public to 
     view and photograph wild

[[Page 12325]]

     horses and burros may provide a much needed boost to the 
     Nevada economy; and
       Whereas, Wild horses and burros depend on the 
     understanding, cooperation and fairness of all interested 
     parties: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada, 
     Jointly, That the Nevada Legislature:
       1. Supports the preservation and protection of our iconic 
     wild horses and burros in the State of Nevada as living 
     symbols of freedom, the pioneer spirit of the West and 
     America's heritage, as well as valuable natural resources and 
     cultural assets;
       2. Supports the development of wild horse and burro related 
     ecotourism in the State of Nevada;
       3. Encourages the State Department of Agriculture to enter 
     into cooperative agreements with local wild horse and burro 
     advocacy groups pursuant to NRS 569.031 concerning wild 
     horses and burros living on private lands that are under the 
     jurisdiction of the State Department of Agriculture; and
       4. Encourages a spirit of cooperation, collaboration and 
     fairness among wild horse and burro advocacy groups, private 
     land owners and the State Department of Agriculture; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate 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, 
     each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation, the 
     Governor and the Director of the State Department of 
     Agriculture; and be it further
       Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon 
     passage.
                                  ____

       POM-46. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to 
     amend the Clean Air Act and to fully consider the impact of 
     the new regulations; to the Committee on Environment and 
     Public Works.

                    Senate Concurrent Memorial 1001

       To the Congress of the United States of America:
       Your memorialist respectfully represents:
       Whereas, the Clean Air Act is a federal law designed to 
     minimize air pollution nationwide; and
       Whereas, the Clean Air Act requires the Environmental 
     Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce regulations intended to 
     protect the public from air pollutants believed to be 
     hazardous to public health; and
       Whereas, in 1970, Congress amended the Clean Air Act by 
     mandating comprehensive state and federal regulations for 
     both stationary and non-stationary sources of pollution; and
       Whereas, the 1970 amendments dramatically expanded the 
     EPA's regulatory authority; and
       Whereas, additional amendments adopted in 1990 expanded the 
     Clean Air Act by allowing the EPA to address acid rain, ozone 
     depletion, gasoline formulation and evaporative emissions; 
     and
       Whereas, in April 2009, the EPA issued an endangerment 
     finding, declaring that current and future greenhouse gas 
     emissions pose a serious threat to public health and safety, 
     allowing the agency to regulate carbon dioxide emissions; and
       Whereas, as written, the Clean Air Act gives states, not 
     the federal government, the primary role in establishing and 
     carrying out plans to comply with EPA regulations; and
       Whereas, as written, the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to 
     consider the economic impact of its proposed regulations; and
       Whereas, in spite of these provisions, recent actions by 
     the EPA reflect a disturbing and legally questionable shift 
     away from state and towards federal primacy; and
       Whereas, these actions include the EPA's recent rejection 
     of Arizona's State Implementation Plan for Regional Haze, 
     which may cost Arizona consumers as much as one billion 
     dollars for new technology that will make an imperceptible 
     improvement in air quality compared to the state's plan; and
       Whereas, while Americans support efforts to improve air 
     quality, such efforts should be carefully balanced to ensure 
     that the cost of new regulations on the economy do not exceed 
     potential benefits; and Wherefore your memorialist, the 
     Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives 
     concurring, prays:
       1. That the United States Congress amend the Clean Air Act 
     to further clarify that the states, not the EPA, have the 
     primary role in developing plans for regulating air 
     pollutants and fully consider the impact of new regulations 
     on the state and national economy before approval or 
     implementation of new regulations.
       2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State 
     of Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-47. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislative 
     Assembly of the State of Oregon urging Congress to increase 
     investment in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and 
     Clean Water State Revolving Fund; to the Committee on 
     Environment and Public Works.

                         House Joint Memorial 7

       To the President of the United States and the Senate and 
     the House of Representatives of the United States of America, 
     in Congress assembled:
       We, your memorialists, the Seventy-seventh Legislative 
     Assembly of the State of Oregon, in legislative session 
     assembled, respectfully represent as follows:
       Whereas generations of Oregonians have enjoyed access to 
     safe, reliable and accessible public water, but a lack of 
     investment in critical water systems that are relied upon to 
     bring clean, accessible water to communities and the aging of 
     public water infrastructure pose significant threats to the 
     quality, safety, reliability and accessibility of public 
     water; and
       Whereas water is widely viewed in Oregon as a public trust 
     to be managed for the common good of the public at large; and
       Whereas approximately 80 percent of Oregon residents get 
     their drinking water from public water systems; and
       Whereas the federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 
     1996 created the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the 
     purpose of assisting states with funding to ensure safe 
     public drinking water; and
       Whereas in 2010 the Department of Human Services determined 
     that $44 million would be needed in order to fund projects 
     for protecting existing sources of public drinking water in 
     Oregon; and
       Whereas in 2010 the final amount of funding from the 
     Drinking Water State Revolving Fund available for use on 
     Oregon priority projects was $9,752,311, representing less 
     than 25 percent of the amount needed; and
       Whereas according to the United States Environmental 
     Protection Agency, approximately 45 percent of the investment 
     needs in Oregon for public water infrastructure are in 
     communities with a population of less than 10,000; and
       Whereas the Title VI provisions of the federal Clean Water 
     Act created the Clean Water State Revolving Fund in 1987 for 
     the purpose of assisting states with funding to ensure clean 
     water resources and wastewater systems and treatment 
     facilities for the public; and
       Whereas in 2011 the Department of Environmental Quality 
     determined that $380,821,000 will be needed in order to fully 
     fund projects for maintaining clean water resource programs 
     and wastewater systems and treatment facilities to protect 
     the public and Oregon water resources; and
       Whereas in 2011 the funding from the Clean Water State 
     Revolving Fund predicted to be available for use on Oregon 
     priority projects was $23,017,000, representing six percent 
     of the amount needed; and
       Whereas 50 percent of Oregon priority projects for funding 
     from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund would serve 
     communities with a population of less than 5,000; and
       Whereas the current levels of funding for the Drinking 
     Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State 
     Revolving Fund are not sufficient to ensure that Oregon's 
     public drinking water and wastewater systems and treatment 
     facilities are maintained and protected to benefit the health 
     and safety of Oregon residents and benefit Oregon water 
     resources;
       Whereas investing in Oregon's public drinking water and 
     wastewater systems and treatment facilities will create and 
     support family wage jobs for Oregon workers; and
       Whereas according to the National Utility Contractors 
     Association, for every $1 billion that is invested nationally 
     in water infrastructure, almost 27,000 jobs are created; and
       Whereas it is critical for Oregon students to have access 
     to safe and clean drinking water; and
       Whereas there is currently no dedicated federal funding 
     available for updating and repairing drinking water systems 
     in public schools; and
       Whereas protecting the public drinking water and wastewater 
     systems and treatment facilities in the nation's communities 
     is of crucial importance and requires an ongoing federal 
     funding commitment: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of 
     Oregon:
       (1) The Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly of the State 
     of Oregon urges the Congress of the United States of America 
     to increase investment in the Drinking Water State Revolving 
     Fund to upgrade and repair the nation's aging public drinking 
     water systems in order to ensure that all citizens have 
     access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water.
       (2) The Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly urges the 
     Congress of the United States to increase investment in the 
     Clean Water State Revolving Fund to upgrade and repair the 
     nation's aging public water and wastewater treatment systems 
     in order to ensure the health and safety of the nation's 
     urban and rural environments and water resources.
       (3) The Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly urges the 
     Congress of the United States to ensure that federal funding 
     is available for public water systems in both large and small 
     communities and ensure that dedicated funding is made 
     available for updating and repairing drinking water systems 
     in the nation's public schools.

[[Page 12326]]

       (4) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President 
     and Vice President of the United States, to the Senate 
     Majority Leader, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and to each member of the Oregon 
     Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-48. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of California memorializing the President and 
     Congress of the United States to enact appropriate 
     legislation reauthorizing the federal Older Americans Act of 
     1965; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 4

       Whereas, In 2006, Congress reauthorized the federal Older 
     Americans Act of 1965 in its entirety, effective through the 
     2011 fiscal year; and
       Whereas, The federal Older Americans Act of 1965 has not 
     been reauthorized since 2006, although it was updated in 2009 
     and funding for its programs has been authorized since that 
     date on an annual basis; and
       Whereas, The congressional appropriations staff continue to 
     stress the tight spending caps on discretionary programs 
     imposed by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; and
       Whereas, A substantial number of older Americans living in 
     the State of California will be at risk if there are 
     significant reductions in allocated funds for the programs 
     funded by the act; and
       Whereas, Further delay in the reauthorization of the 
     federal Older Americans Act of 1965 will erode the capacity 
     of the act's various structures to deliver services to meet 
     the needs of older Americans; and
       Whereas, The federal Older Americans Act of 1965 should 
     immediately be reauthorized to preserve the aging network's 
     role in home- and community-based services, maintain the 
     advocacy and consumer directed focus of the act, and give 
     area agencies on aging increased flexibility in planning and 
     delivering services to vulnerable older Americans; and
       Whereas, The federal Older Americans Act of 1965 should be 
     funded in the same manner in which the act has been funded 
     for the past 48 years: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of 
     California, jointly, That the Legislature memorializes the 
     President and the Congress of the United States to enact 
     appropriate legislation that would reauthorize the federal 
     Older Americans Act of 1965; 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, to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the 
     Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, to each 
     Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of 
     the United States, and to the author for appropriate 
     distribution.
                                  ____

       POM-49. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Illinois relative to urging 
     the Congress of the United States, the President of the 
     United States, and the United States Department of Education 
     to consider communities in the State of Illinois as Promise 
     Neighborhoods; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
     and Pensions.

                       House Resolution No. 0154

       Whereas, The Promise Neighborhoods program was founded in 
     2010 on the premise of significantly improving the 
     educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth 
     in distressed communities by providing access to great 
     schools and strong systems of community support to aid in the 
     transition from childhood to career; and
       Whereas, The Promise Neighborhoods grant program consists 
     of planning grants and implementation grants; and
       Whereas, The United States Department of Education proposed 
     to fund Promise Neighborhoods through the legislative 
     authority of the Fund for the Improvement of Education 
     Program in 2010; the level and allocation of planning and 
     implementation funds are contingent upon each fiscal year's 
     final budget; and
       Whereas, The Promise Neighborhoods grant program is 
     expected to continue in 2013 with another round of 
     applications and award winners: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-
     Eighth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, that we 
     urge the Congress of the United States, the President of the 
     United States, and the United States Department of Education 
     to consider communities in this State, including communities 
     in the City of Chicago, as Promise Neighborhoods and award 
     grants as such; 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, each member 
     of the Illinois congressional delegation, the President of 
     the United States, and the U.S. Secretary of Education.
                                  ____

       POM-50. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to 
     protest against the closure of the Cherrybell Postal 
     Processing and Distribution Center; to the Committee on 
     Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

                     House Concurrent Memorial 2007

       To the Members of the United States Congress:
       Your memorialist respectfully represents:
       Whereas, the Cherrybell Postal Processing and Distribution 
     Center (Cherrybell) serves the entire southern portion of 
     Arizona covering the counties of Pima, Santa Cruz and 
     Cochise. Currently, Southern Arizona is facing a potential 
     economic downfall due to the initial decision made by the 
     United States Postal Service Board of Governors to close 
     Cherrybell; and
       Whereas, more than 1.8 million people and 23,197 businesses 
     use the Cherrybell postal services. According to United 
     States Postal Service officials, over 3 million pieces of 
     mail go through Cherrybell each day as it is the 15th largest 
     facility serving the 33rd largest population area in our 
     nation. Thus, the processing and sorting operations at 
     Cherrybell that are being proposed to be moved to Phoenix 
     affect approximately 280 jobs in Southern Arizona; and
       Whereas, Southern Arizona, which includes both the Tohono 
     O'odham nation and Pasqua Yaqui tribal lands, encompasses the 
     California and Arizona border at Yuma south to Nogales, 
     across to Douglas and Bisbee in Cochise County and the 
     military installations located at Fort Huachuca and Davis 
     Monthan, depends on the Cherrybell Post office; and
       Whereas, Council Member Richard Fimbres went on record 
     opposing the closure of Cherrybell Post Office and requested 
     that the Tucson City Council work directly with Tucson's 
     congressional delegation and community members to frame a 
     campaign to protect the vital jobs at Cherrybell; and
       Whereas, Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, objects to 
     the closure of Cherrybell and firmly believes this change 
     will clearly impact the activities of the state and county 
     elections officials in Arizona and will cause a detrimental 
     impact to voters. The information provided to the public by 
     the United States Postal Services is based entirely on 
     economic considerations with no apparent regard for the 
     impact of the change on the fundamental right to vote of all 
     citizens and, in particular, the significant additional 
     detrimental impact to Native American voters in the region; 
     and
       Whereas, 600 people attended the public hearing, which was 
     scheduled three days after Christmas, and 6,000 people wrote 
     letters and signed online petitions urging the United States 
     Postal Service Board of Governors not to close Cherrybell.
       Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:
       1. That the Congress of the United States protest the 
     proposed closing of Cherrybell Postal Processing and 
     Distribution Center.
       2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State 
     of Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-51. A memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State 
     of Arizona urging the United States to propose an amendment 
     to the Constitution of the United States to provide rights to 
     victims of crime; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                          House Memorial 2002

       To the Congress of the United States of America:
       Your memorialist respectfully represents:
       Whereas, criminal defendants are afforded numerous federal 
     rights and procedural protections; and
       Whereas, victims of crime are not afforded any federal 
     constitutional rights or protections; and
       Whereas, the people of this state believe in the individual 
     rights and liberties of all persons and have amended the 
     Constitution of Arizona to provide crime victims with rights, 
     and yet it is clear that without federal constitutional 
     rights, crime victims' rights are less meaningful and 
     enforceable.
       Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of 
     the State of Arizona, prays:
       1. That the Congress of the United States propose to the 
     people an amendment to the Constitution of the United States 
     that provides rights to crime victims and that embodies the 
     following principles:
       (a) The right to be informed of and not excluded from any 
     public proceedings relating to the crime.
       (b) The right to be heard regarding any release from 
     custody.
       (c) The right to consideration for the safety and privacy 
     of the victim, the victim's interest in avoiding unreasonable 
     delay and the victim's interest in restitution.
       (d) The right to be heard regarding any negotiated plea or 
     sentence.
       (e) The right to receive notice of release or escape.
       2. That any amendment to the Constitution of the United 
     States to establish rights for crime victims grant standing 
     to victims of crime to assert all rights established by the 
     Constitution.
       3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona 
     transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the 
     United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House 
     of

[[Page 12327]]

     Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of 
     Arizona.
                                  ____

       POM-52. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Nevada urging Congress to enact comprehensive 
     immigration reform; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                     Senate Joint Resolution No. 15

       Whereas, The United States is predominantly a nation of 
     immigrants that draws strength from the diversity of its 
     residents; and
       Whereas, Hardworking persons who aspire to become citizens 
     of the United States have contributed to the prosperity of 
     the State of Nevada in extraordinary ways through the years; 
     and
       Whereas, The operation of a strong and vibrant democracy is 
     likely to be impeded unless all men and women, regardless of 
     their race, creed, color, ethnicity or birthplace, are able 
     to participate meaningfully in the political process with 
     full rights and the equal protection attendant thereto; and
       Whereas, We believe in the human dignity of all residents 
     of the United States, regardless of their immigration status, 
     and recognize the importance of the many contributions that 
     immigrants have made to the social and economic fabric of 
     Nevada; and
       Whereas, A comprehensive approach to fixing our broken 
     immigration system would strengthen the economy of our State 
     and our nation, and would free aspiring citizens to make even 
     greater contributions to our communities, our State and our 
     nation; and
       Whereas, We support immigration reform that keeps families 
     together, upholds our values as a nation, promotes economic 
     growth and provides long-term solutions to the current 
     problems resulting from our immigration system; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must include a 
     significant reduction in the often unreasonable wait times 
     and arbitrary rules that keep families separated from their 
     loved ones; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must include a 
     realistic pathway to citizenship for all hardworking and 
     taxpaying aspiring citizens who live in this country and meet 
     reasonable requirements; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must provide a 
     mechanism for aspiring citizens who have grown up in this 
     country to become citizens and be better able to fully 
     contribute to our joint future; and
       Whereas, The reform of our nation's immigration system must 
     occur in a thoughtful manner which builds the strength and 
     unity of working people, and guarantees the same rights, 
     obligations and basic fairness for all workers, no matter 
     their country of birth or origin; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must include a 
     new temporary worker program that provides for strict 
     compliance with the labor standards and wage and hour 
     requirements of the United States, portability of work visas 
     so that workers may change jobs and the ability of workers to 
     petition for permanent residency; and
       Whereas, The enforcement provisions which accompany 
     comprehensive immigration reform must restore respect for the 
     law by promoting strict adherence to our nation's values, 
     including due process, civil and human rights, accountability 
     and proportionality; and
       Whereas, The focus of law enforcement, both within and at 
     the borders of the United States, should be to prevent 
     criminals, and those persons attempting to enter the country 
     for the purpose of doing harm to this nation, from entering 
     or remaining in the United States; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must include a 
     funding stream to address the entire spectrum of fiscal 
     impacts that will be experienced by state governments as a 
     result of programs for guest workers, earned legalization and 
     increases in the number of immigrants; and
       Whereas, Our federal elected officials must create an 
     immigration process that strengthens our nation's economy and 
     allows aspiring citizens to continue making contributions to 
     our communities, our State and our nation: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada, 
     Jointly, That the members of the 77th Session of the Nevada 
     Legislature hereby urge Congress to enact comprehensive 
     immigration reform as outlined in this resolution which 
     addresses: (1) earned legal residency accompanied by a clear 
     path to citizenship; (2) the future immigration of families 
     and workers; (3) improved immigration enforcement and border 
     security that is consistent with our nation's values; and (4) 
     a funding stream to address the entire fiscal impacts on 
     state governments; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, 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-53. A joint memorial adopted by the General Assembly of 
     the State of Colorado urging Congress to adopt comprehensive 
     immigration reform; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                      Senate Joint Memorial 13-003

       Whereas, Unlike most nations, America has a long and rich 
     heritage of generous immigration laws; and
       Whereas, Many employers are faced with an insufficient 
     number of visas for workers to support the needs of the 
     United States economy, with arbitrary visa caps creating 
     backlogs, frequent exploitation by employers through wage and 
     workplace violations, and inadequate government 
     infrastructure to efficiently administer our numerous guest 
     worker programs; and
       Whereas, Colorado's identity is defined by its promise of 
     equal opportunity, esteem for diversity and commitment to 
     innovation; and
       Whereas, Coloradans have prospered because of the 
     contributions of hardworking immigrants who aspire to 
     citizenship; and
       Whereas, We believe in the human dignity of all Colorado 
     residents, regardless of immigration status, and recognize 
     the importance of immigrants' many contributions to the 
     social and economic fabric of the state of Colorado; and
       Whereas, Becoming a citizen of the United States means 
     taking a solemn oath to uphold our nation's Constitution and 
     to forsake allegiance to other nations; and
       Whereas, Citizenship is the legal embodiment and symbol of 
     full membership and participation in society that should be 
     encouraged for all who can meet the lawful standards for 
     citizenship; and
       Whereas, Keeping families together not only is the correct 
     and moral thing to do but is also good for the economy 
     because families provide a base of support that increases 
     worker productivity and spurs entrepreneurship; and
       Whereas, It is universally recognized that adequate border 
     security is a fundamental prerequisite for successful and 
     lasting immigration reform; and
       Whereas, America's current immigration system is widely 
     recognized as dysfunctional because it harms our economy and 
     does not reflect Colorado's values; and
       Whereas, A well-designed and efficiently enforced 
     immigration system is a federal responsibility, and a 
     comprehensive approach to solve our broken immigration system 
     would strengthen Colorado's and the nation's economy and 
     would free aspiring citizens to make an even greater 
     contribution to our communities; and
       Whereas, The federal government's inability to enact 
     immigration reform has created severe economic, cultural, and 
     political strains in communities across Colorado and has led 
     to a patchwork of state laws that inadequately address 
     immigration-related problems; and
       Whereas, Immigration reform must occur in a comprehensive, 
     thoughtful manner that builds the strength and unity of 
     working people, keeps families together wherever possible, 
     and guarantees the same rights, obligations, and basic 
     fairness for all lawful workers, no matter where they come 
     from; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must provide a 
     fair, equitable, and realistic mechanism for aspiring 
     citizens who have grown up in this country to become citizens 
     and be able to fully contribute to our joint future; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must update the 
     legal immigration system so that the future flow of legal 
     guest workers more realistically matches our nation's labor 
     needs and is structured to protect the employment, wages, and 
     working conditions of U.S. and lawful immigrant workers; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must strengthen 
     the small business workforce and customer base, reward 
     initiative with the American promise of opportunity, promote 
     productivity, reduce red tape, and strengthen the American 
     economy; and
       Whereas, Any new guest worker visa program must provide for 
     strict compliance with United States labor standards and wage 
     and hour standards, portability of visas so that workers can 
     change jobs under prescribed circumstances, and the ability 
     for workers to petition for permanent residency; and
       Whereas, Comprehensive immigration reform must aim to 
     reduce the unreasonable wait times and overly complex rules 
     that keep families unreasonably separated from their loved 
     ones; and
       Whereas, Colorado citizens support a comprehensive 
     immigration reform that keeps families together wherever 
     possible, upholds our values as a state and nation, promotes 
     small business and economic growth, and provides long-term, 
     practicable and enforceable solutions to our broken 
     immigration system: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly 
     of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives 
     concurring herein:
       That we urge the 113th Congress to enact comprehensive 
     immigration reform as outlined in this Joint Memorial; and be 
     it further

[[Page 12328]]

       Resolved, That a copy of this Joint Memorial shall be 
     delivered to the U.S. Speaker of the House, President of the 
     U.S. Senate, members of Colorado's Congressional delegation, 
     members of Colorado's General Assembly, and the Governor of 
     Colorado.
                                  ____

       POM-54. A joint resolution adopted by the City of Sumter, 
     Sumter County Council, and Sumter School District of the 
     State of South Carolina supporting the preservation of tax-
     exempt municipal bonds; to the Committee on Finance.
       POM-55. A resolution adopted by the Board of Education of 
     the Mentor Exempted Village School District of the State of 
     Ohio urging Congress and the Administration to mitigate 
     across-the-board cuts to education that are scheduled to 
     occur March 1, 2013; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions.
       POM-56. A resolution adopted by the Municipal Assembly of 
     San Juan, Puerto Rico expressing the San Juan Municipal 
     Legislature's deepest rejection of the application of the 
     death penalty by the United States District Court for the 
     District of Puerto Rico; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       POM-57. A resolution adopted by the Governing Body of the 
     City of Santa Fe, New Mexico expressing support for the 
     Uniting American Families Act; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.
       POM-58. A resolution adopted by the Board of Aldermen of 
     the Town of Carrboro, North Carolina supporting the Uniting 
     American Families Act and the inclusion of LGBT families in 
     comprehensive immigration reform; to the Committee on the 
     Judiciary.

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