[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9733-9735]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-37. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of 
     the State of Maine memorializing the President of the United 
     States and Congress of the United States to require expansion 
     of fish hatchery operations; to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation.

                            House Paper 933

       Whereas, the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, is a salmon 
     found in the north Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow 
     into the north Atlantic Ocean, and the fish has historically 
     been an important economic asset to the State of Maine; and
       Whereas, the major rivers of the State once ran thick with 
     salmon traveling upstream to spawn; and
       Whereas, salmon populations have been reduced to nearly 
     undetectable numbers in most rivers in Maine; and
       Whereas, the Federal Government has designated the Atlantic 
     salmon as an endangered species; and
       Whereas, the Federal Government spends millions of dollars 
     annually to restore the species with no significant success; 
     and
       Whereas, there are specific hatchery operations that can 
     improve upon the current results; and
       Whereas, a significant number of salmon originating in 
     Maine are being harvested in a commercial fishery off the 
     west coast of Greenland; and
       Whereas, this fishery is a major obstacle to the 
     restoration of salmon in Maine rivers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the 
     people we represent, take this opportunity to respectfully 
     request that the President and the United States Congress 
     direct the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the 
     National Marine Fisheries Service to expand hatchery 
     operations to rivers in Maine by partnering with the State 
     and with the many non-government organizations that are 
     focused on restoring Atlantic salmon to their historic natal 
     rivers; and be it further
       Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, urge that additional 
     resources be made available to the United States State 
     Department that would assist its efforts through the North 
     Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization convention to help 
     with the curtailment or suspension of the wild Atlantic 
     salmon fishery off the west coast of Greenland; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, that suitable copies of this resolution, duly 
     authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to 
     the Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United 
     States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the 
     Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to 
     each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-38. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan calling on the President of the United States and 
     the Congress of the United States to direct the Army Corps of 
     Engineers to fully support efforts to determine the best 
     long-term solution for preventing Asian carp from entering 
     the Great Lakes and to move decisively to implement a 
     solution; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                        Senate Resolution No. 23

       Whereas, The Great Lakes are one of our nation's great 
     natural wonders. Bordering Michigan and seven other states, 
     these inland seas contain nearly one-fifth of the world's 
     surface fresh water. They support jobs in manufacturing, 
     tourism, recreation, shipping, agriculture, science, 
     engineering, energy, and mining throughout the region. The 
     protection of the Great Lakes is essential to Michigan's 
     state identity and economy as well as national economic 
     growth; and
       Whereas, Asian carp pose an imminent threat to the Great 
     Lakes ecosystem and economy. Asian carp have successfully 
     invaded the Mississippi River basin and now stand only 50 
     miles downstream from the Great Lakes. Asian carp can 
     reproduce rapidly, consume large quantities of food, disrupt 
     local ecosystems, out-compete native fish, and devastate 
     recreational fishing and boating opportunities. There is 
     general scientific consensus that Asian carp will be able to 
     establish populations and thrive in areas of the Great Lakes. 
     Once established, they will be difficult, if not impossible, 
     to control or eradicate. Thus, the federal government has 
     recognized Asian carp as ``the most acute [aquatic invasive 
     species] threat facing the Great Lakes today''; and
       Whereas, A permanent, long-term solution must be identified 
     and implemented to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. 
     While the

[[Page 9734]]

     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Great Lakes and Mississippi 
     River Interbasin Study identified a number of solutions, it 
     stopped short of determining the best option. Regional 
     efforts to reach consensus on a solution, such as those of 
     the Chicago Area Waterway System Advisory Committee, must be 
     supported and recommendations seriously considered; and
       Whereas, The best long-term solution will prevent Asian 
     carp from entering the Great Lakes while preserving as much 
     as possible the current uses of the Chicago area waterways. 
     Although effective Asian carp prevention is paramount and 
     should not be compromised, the value, impacts, and costs to 
     the barge industry must also be taken into account; and
       Whereas, Regardless of the means, immediate and decisive 
     action is required to protect the Great Lakes. The status quo 
     will not prevent irreparable harm. Asian carp could cause 
     billions of dollars in lost revenues and thousands of lost 
     jobs in the $7 billion sports and commercial fishing industry 
     and the $9 billion recreational boating industry. In 
     addition, damage done to the Great Lakes, rivers, and inland 
     lakes by Asian carp would greatly harm our state's viability 
     as an attractive vacation destination, thereby leading to 
     decreased tourism revenue and jobs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we call on the Obama 
     Administration and the Congress of the United States to 
     direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fully support 
     efforts to determine the best long-term solution for 
     preventing Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That we urge the Obama Administration and 
     Congress to provide sufficient funding that will ensure the 
     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moves decisively to implement a 
     solution; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, 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-39. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan memorializing the Congress of the United States to 
     pass legislation that authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers 
     to implement measures at the Brandon Road lock and dam to 
     prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes; to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works.

                        Senate Resolution No. 25

       Whereas, Asian carp are an imminent and serious threat to 
     the health and economy of Michigan and the entire Great Lakes 
     region. Only 50 miles downstream from Lake Michigan, this 
     aquatic invasive species' voracious appetite would disrupt 
     food webs, leaving inadequate food for more desirable species 
     within the Great Lakes, and threatening the $7-billion Great 
     Lakes recreational and commercial fishing industry; and
       Whereas, Current controls in the Chicago area are 
     inadequate to prevent the movement of Asian carp and 
     potential future aquatic invasive species (AIS) between the 
     Great Lakes system and the Mississippi River system. A U.S. 
     Army Corps of Engineer and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
     study has demonstrated that the electrical barriers that 
     provide the front line of protection against carp do not 
     prevent the movement of all fish; and
       Whereas, Control measures implemented at the Brandon Road 
     lock and dam in Joliet, Illinois, would reduce the risk of an 
     Asian carp invasion while maintaining efficient navigation. 
     Composed of representatives from government, industry, 
     business, anglers, and conservation groups, the Chicago Area 
     Waterway System Advisory Committee has recommended the 
     deployment of innovative technologies and the reconfiguration 
     of the locks in a newly-engineered channel at this key 
     location. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun the 
     scoping process for this project; and
       Whereas, Moving forward with design, engineering, and 
     construction of these measures would be a worthwhile short-
     term and longterm investment in the Great Lakes region. While 
     negotiations continue on a permanent long-term solution, 
     these measures would provide additional protection and be 
     consistent with an eventual long-term solution. In addition, 
     this project would serve as a valuable demonstration for 
     technologies that could be implemented in other areas of the 
     country; and
       Whereas, There is a window of opportunity now to protect 
     the Great Lakes, avoid irreparable harm to the system, and 
     prevent decade upon decade of future management costs. Once 
     established, Asian carp would be nearly impossible to 
     eradicate and would join zebra mussels, sea lamprey, and 
     other AIS that Great Lakes governments and businesses spend 
     millions of dollars per year to control. The Brandon Road 
     lock and dam project would be a solid first step in creating 
     greater structural protections for the Great Lakes: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of 
     the United States to pass legislation that authorizes the 
     U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to implement measures at the 
     Brandon Road lock and dam to prevent Asian carp from entering 
     the Great Lakes; 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-40. A resolution adopted by the House of 
     Representatives of the State of Michigan urging the United 
     States Congress to pass legislation that establishes a 
     national, uniform, and scientifically-based label program for 
     genetically modified food; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        House Resolution No. 89

       Whereas, Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have 
     become increasingly prominent in today's grocery marketplace. 
     In recent years, scientists have used genetic engineering 
     techniques to modify the DNA of plants to make them resistant 
     to certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, and 
     chemical treatments. GMOs help increase crop yields, 
     constrain food prices, and vitally support Michigan's 
     agriculture, food processing, and other industries. Commonly 
     found in crops like corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola, 70 to 
     80 percent of the foods Americans eat today contain GMOs. In 
     2014, 100 percent of all sugar, 93 percent of all corn, and 
     91 percent of all soybeans grown in Michigan were produced 
     using GMOs; and
       Whereas, Despite the widespread use of GMOs, there is no 
     federal GMO labeling standard. Absent these rules, some 
     states and localities have developed their own proposals, 
     leading to a patchwork of regulation that can be confusing 
     and possibly misleading to consumers. Moreover, a maze of GMO 
     labeling regulations increases agriculture and food 
     production costs, requiring food companies operating in 
     Michigan to create separate supply chains in each state. 
     Ultimately, this could significantly increase the average 
     price consumers spend at grocery stores, which could average 
     an extra $500 per year according to a Cornell University 
     study; and
       Whereas, Federal legislation must be passed to avoid this 
     patchwork of regulations and the costly ramifications it 
     creates. Legislation like the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling 
     Act H.R. 1599, sponsored by congressmen Pompeo and 
     Butterfield, is a bipartisan solution needed to allow 
     consumers to have access to accurate and consistent 
     information on the products that contain GMOs. A USDA-
     administered certification and labeling program modeled after 
     the USDA organic labeling program for non-GMO foods would 
     ensure that labeling is nationwide, uniform, and 
     scientifically-based: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the 
     Congress of the United States to pass legislation that 
     establishes a national, uniform, and scientifically-based 
     label program for genetically modified food; 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-41. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognizing the month of May 
     2015 as ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month''; to 
     the Committee on the Judiciary.

                       Senate Resolution No. 101

       Whereas, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is better 
     known as Lou Gehrig's Disease; and
       Whereas, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease 
     characterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the upper and 
     lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horn 
     of the spinal cord; and
       Whereas, The initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the 
     skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
       Whereas, As ALS progresses, the patient experiences 
     difficulty in swallowing, talking and breathing; and
       Whereas, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and the 
     patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and
       Whereas, Patients with ALS typically remain alert and aware 
     of their loss of motor functions and the inevitable outcome 
     of continued deterioration and death; and
       Whereas, ALS affects military veterans at twice the rate of 
     the general population; and
       Whereas, ALS occurs in adulthood, most commonly between 40 
     and 70 years of age, peaking at about 55 years of age, and 
     affects both men and women without bias; and
       Whereas, Annually, more than 5,000 new ALS patients are 
     diagnosed throughout the nation; and
       Whereas, In Pennsylvania, there are currently more than 
     1,000 individuals who have been formally diagnosed with ALS; 
     and
       Whereas, The $350,000 in State funding the General Assembly 
     appropriated for ALS support services in the General 
     Appropriation Act of 2014 provided services to more than 900 
     constituents and substantial savings to the State budget and 
     taxpayers; and
       Whereas, The ALS Association reports that on average, 
     patients diagnosed with

[[Page 9735]]

     ALS only survive two to five years from the time of 
     diagnosis; and
       Whereas, ALS has no known cause, prevention or cure; and
       Whereas, ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month'' 
     increases the public's awareness of ALS patients' 
     circumstances and acknowledges the terrible impact this 
     disease has not only on patients but on their families as 
     well and recognizes the research being done to eradicate this 
     horrible disease: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate of Pennsylvania designate the 
     month of May 2015 as ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 
     Awareness Month'' in Pennsylvania; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States, to the presiding officers 
     of each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from 
     Pennsylvania.
                                  ____

       POM-42. A communication from a citizen of the State of 
     Florida memorializing a resolution adopted by the City 
     Council of Tampa supporting the re-establishment of a secure 
     Cuban consulate being located in the City of Tampa, Florida, 
     when relations between the United States and Cuba are 
     appropriately normalized; to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations.
       POM-43. A communication from a citizen of the State of 
     Florida memorializing a resolution adopted by the City 
     Council of Tampa supporting the President of the United 
     States's actions to normalize cultural, humanitarian, 
     economic, and diplomatic relations with Cuba; and urging that 
     when relations between the United States and Cuba are 
     appropriately normalized, the City of Tampa serve as the 
     location for formalizing the re-establishment of diplomatic 
     ties, which may then be referred to as ``The Tampa Accord'' 
     between the United States and Cuba; to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations.

                          ____________________