Volume 144, No. 35 covering the 2nd Session of the 105th Congress (1997 - 1998) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S2568-S2569 on March 25, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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-361. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Senate Resolution No. 66
Whereas, Our country is in the midst of remarkable change in the amount and the variety of information communicated across the spectrum of radio frequencies. The communications age is having an effect on all Americans. Radio frequencies are a finite resource used to handle news, information, entertainment, education, vital services, and commercial activity. Computers, cell phones, television and radio, and emergency equipment compete for access to the spectrum of radio frequencies; and
Whereas, As the federal government, through the Federal Communications Commission, allocates space on the spectrum, it is critical that local police and fire operations have enough access to handle the communications challenges of saving lives in emergency situations. This has long been a point of concern for those closest to public safety issues. The FCC last allocated channels for public safety in 1987. Since that time, the number of communications devices and capacity needs have exploded. During crisis situations, for example, heavy use of cellular phones in a disaster area can impede the lifesaving work of emergency personnel; and
Whereas, Authorities need space on the radio frequency spectrum not only for voice communications, but also for transmitting fingerprints, mugshots, medical information, and other data. Without adequate access to communications, the results in a specific incident or community will one day result in a disaster that is entirely preventable if we act wisely today; now, therefore, be it.
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to ensure that pubic safety agencies are allotted sufficient access to radio frequency space; 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.
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POM-362. A resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Assembly Resolution No. 11
Whereas, In recognition of the fact that the maintenance of high-quality potable water is essential to safeguard the health and welfare of the nation's citizens, the federal government enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. s.300f et al.); and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey enacted the ``Safe Drinking Water Act'' in 1977, empowering the Department of Environmental Protection to assume primary enforcement responsibility under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and to adopt and enforce additional State rules and regulations to purify drinking water prior to its consumption by the public; and
Whereas, It was recently discovered that the drinking water in parts of Ocean County, most notably in Toms River and Dover Township, contain a SAN trimer that is a by-product from the manufacturing of a plastic, styrene acrylonitrile copolymer, from the manufacturing of a plastic, styrene acrylonitrile copolymer, from the chemicals styrene and acrylonitrile; and
Whereas, Although acrylonitrile, through scientific analysis, has been associated with certain brain and central nervous system cancers, and styrene is listed in the federal regulations as a substance that must be tested for in public drinking water supplies, there are no drinking water standards for the various substances created when these two independently hazardous substances are combined; and
Whereas, The abnormally high incidence of cancer, especially in children, in the Toms River area of Ocean County, coupled with the identification of high levels of a potentially carcinogenic substance in that area's drinking water supply, have created an urgent need for additional action; and
Whereas, Further testing is necessary to determine the effects of the SAN trimer by-product on human health and to establish a federal standard, the exceedance of which would result in immediate remediation efforts; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House memorializes the Congress of the United States and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to establish a safe drinking water standard for the SAN trimer by-product of manufacturing processes using styrene and acrylonitrile.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, each member of Congress elected from the State of New Jersey, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Region II Administrator of that agency, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
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POM-363. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine; to the Committee on Finance.
Joint Resolution
Whereas, the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Canada and the Government of Mexico resolved in 1993 to implement the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement, commonly referred to as NAFTA; and
Whereas, an objective of the North American Free Trade Agreement is to eliminate barriers to trade in, and facilitate the cross-border movement of, goods and services between the territories of the parties and to promote conditions of fair competition in the free trade area; and
Whereas, despite the free trade agreement and the worldwide tendency toward more open borders, there remains a barrier gravely affecting trade along the Maine-New Brunswick border; and
Whereas, the barrier concerns the disparity created by the tax-free personal allowance exemptions of the United States and Canada. Currently, Canadians are permitted to bring $50 in American purchases back to Canada in any 24-hour period. The United States, however, allows a $200 exemption for Canadian purchases; and
Whereas, steps need to be taken to achieve parity between Maine and the Province of New Brunswick to ensure that Maine businesses are able to compete in Canada; now, therefore, be it
Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, recommend and urge the Congress of the United States to act upon the current barrier affecting trade along the Maine-New Brunswick border; and be it further
Resolved: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, to the United States Trade Representative, Charlene Barshefsky, and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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POM-364. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Resolution
Whereas, 1998 begins on a rare note of cautious hope for Northern Ireland, as multi-party talks aimed at achieving a lasting peace in the North have recommenced; and
Whereas, the American people have a deep and abiding interest in the ongoing Northern Ireland peace process, to the extent that the current peace talks are chaired by special envoy and former U.S. Senator George Mitchell at the behest of President Clinton; and
Whereas, the Northern Ireland peace process is of particular concern to the citizens of Massachusetts, owing to the Commonwealth's unique bonds with Ireland and all 32 counties that comprise historical Ireland, forged over centuries; and
Whereas, citizens of Massachusetts and their elected representatives have an honorable tradition of speaking out against inequality and intolerance wherever they occur in the world, including South Africa, Burma, and the People's Republic of China; and
Whereas, the Massachusetts General Court and its members have long been staunch advocates for peace and justice in Northern Ireland, with Massachusetts being the first State in the Union to embrace and ratify the MacBridge Principles, a set of guidelines designed to fight job discrimination and secure economic justice for the minority citizens of Northern Ireland; and
Whereas, it is universally recognized that permanent peace in Northern Ireland must be built upon the foundation stones of equality, liberty, justice, and democracy, all basic principles embodied in such documents as the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, in domestic and international law and treaties, and in basic concepts of fair play and equity; and
Whereas, such a blueprint for a just and equitable society now exists in the form of the Charter for Change, a document conceived by concerned citizens of Northern Ireland as a vehicle to achieve and ensure basic rights for all citizens of Northern Ireland; and
Whereas, tenets of the Charter for Change include such fundamental and necessary reforms as overhaul of the judicial system and reformulation of the police department; and
Whereas, the Charter for Change seeks a Northern Ireland where minority and majority citizens may enjoy full human rights and the fruits of their labors in an environment free from fear or reprisal, all prerequisites for ensuring that any peace agreement emerging from the current talks may be a long-lasting one: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Massachusetts Senate welcomes and endorses the Charter for Change as a democratic concept that points the way to and can be a catalyst for peace, justice, and reconciliation in Ireland, and urges the President and the Congress of the United States to join in endorsing the Charter for Change; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted forthwith by the clerk of the Senate to the President of the United States, the Presiding Officer of each branch of Congress and to the Members thereof from this Commonwealth.
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POM-365. A resolution adopted by the House of the Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
House Resolution No. 197
Whereas, Rapid advancement in technology and science are bringing serious challenges to conventional thinking about humankind's ability to manipulate the most basic building blocks of life. As a result, we face critical decisions on central moral questions. The application of cloning technologies holds profound implications for our society and the entire world. The 1997 news of the cloned sheep in Scotland and the recent announcement by a Chicago scientist of plans to create a cloned human being demonstrate the urgency of addressing this issue; and
Whereas, In June 1997, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission issued a series of recommendations. This group of prominent scholars, scientists, and ethicists presented a unanimous finding that it is ``. . . morally unacceptable for anyone to attempt to create a child'' with the technology of cloning used to create the cloned sheep known as Dolly. The President has called for implementation of the commission's recommendation, particularly its call for the enactment of legislation to prohibit cloning of human life; and
Whereas, In response to the disturbing implications of creating human beings through cloning, nineteen European nations signed an agreement to prohibit the genetic reproduction of human beings. The international community expressed deep concerns over the moral issues and the scientific implications of possible effects on the character of the human species; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to prohibit the cloning of human beings; 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.
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POM-366. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine; to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Joint Resolution
Whereas, the State of Maine has suffered one of the worst natural disasters in its history; and
Whereas, 800,000 people have been without power for a week or more; and
Whereas, the need for emergency assistance is growing; and
Whereas, the State of Maine is seeking every avenue of assistance possible; and
Whereas, the State of Maine is still responding to the emergency and is preparing to start the recovery process; and
Whereas, the United States Government has a $300,000,000 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency fund set aside to ensure that unique demands for assistance be addressed in situation such as the one being experienced in the State of Maine; and
Whereas, the United States Government through its LIHEAP emergency fund assisted other states that have experienced similar disasters; and
Whereas, the State of Maine's situation is equally compelling, due to the widespread loss of electricity and severe weather; and
Whereas, the State of Maine is requesting assistance from the United States Government for its low-income households through the LIHEAP emergency fund; and
Whereas, the State of Maine requests that the United States Government act quickly so that it may make the most efficient use of the funds and can assist families that have been affected by this disaster; now, therefore, be it
Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge the President of the United States to release from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program emergency funds to assist the citizens of Maine during their current crisis; and, be it further
Resolved: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States and the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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POM-367. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the State of Michigan; to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Senate Resolution No. 112
Whereas, Our country has made significant strides in revamping our system of welfare. Through landmark federal legislation and the leadership and cooperation of the states, disincentives have been replaced by workfare opportunities to help people gain self-sufficiency; and
Whereas, The application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to recipients who are placed in jobs, whether in subsidized or unsubsidized work, is proper. Further, welfare recipients ought not be used to supplant existing workers. However, welfare recipients who are receiving training such as planned work experience, job shadowing, mentoring, and cooperative education activities and are not receiving monetary compensation are not employees of the state. They are beneficiaries who are being introduced to the world of work; and
Whereas, The new federal provisions on assistance require those able to work to move to employment and/or training. However, this effort is hampered by a recent ruling by federal labor officials. In April 1997, the United States Department of Labor ruled that a host of labor laws, regulations, and taxes apply to welfare recipients as well as to other employees. This policy is a major blow to welfare reform efforts; and
Whereas, The Department of Labor ruling is harmful to recipients who do not receive compensation for their participation in training programs or community service. It would be much more realistic and fairer to extend an exemption to these people for a period of time not to exceed one year; and
Whereas, Subjecting welfare/workfare employment to the same laws and regulations as other employees is counterproductive to the ultimate aims of encouraging all people to seek work and encouraging employers to provide meaningful opportunities for these men and women. The requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Social Security taxes, unemployment insurance benefits, and prevailing wage provisions will not open more doors to people needing work. Instead, these provisions make it much easier for recipients and employers alike to abandon a partnership that holds great promise for our nation. There are clearly other means to protect these workfare participants without jeopardizing the advances we are making in replacing welfare with work; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to overturn the ruling of the United States Labor Department that subjects workfare/welfare recipients to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other regulations as the ruling affects recipients who do not receive compensation for their participation in training programs or community service projects. We urge that the ruling be modified to permit these recipients with an exemption for a period of time not to exceed one year; 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.
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