June 14, 2016: Congressional Record publishes “PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS”

Friday, Sep 24, 2021 @ 7:14pm By EP News Wire Reports

Volume 162, No. 94 covering the 2nd Session of the 114th Congress (2015 - 2016) 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 S3855-S3860 on June 14, 2016.

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-174. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to enact the resilient Federal Forests Act; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1011

Whereas, national forest lands are the largest single source of water in the United States and, in some regions of the west, contribute nearly 50% of the overall water supply: and

Whereas, the unhealthy state of these forests has resulted in catastrophic wildfires that are threatening the reliability, volume and quality of water for tens of millions of Americans; and

Whereas, severe drought and record-breaking wildfire seasons have highlighted the need for the implementation of a process that would require and provide for the United States Forest Service to accelerate restoration work in our national forests, which would protect critical headwaters and make forest lands more resilient against prolonged dry conditions, insect infestation and fire; and

Whereas, failure to take quick action will result in a continued increase in the frequency and intensity of destructive wildfires, impacting the nation's water resources for decades at considerable cost to stakeholders and United States taxpayers; and

Whereas, the customs, cultures and economic well-being of our local communities, as well as important historic and cultural aspects of our local heritage, are being ignored, which adversely affects the lives and jobs of the people of the United States and devastates local and state economies; and

Whereas, on June 4, 2015, Representative Bruce Westerman introduced H.R. 2647, the Resilient Federal Forests Act. The bill passed in the House on July 9, 2015 and was transmitted to the Senate, where it died in committee; and

Whereas, the Resilient Federal Forests Act expedites and improves forest management activities through a collaborative process, resulting in the protection of water resources.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress enact the Resilient Federal Forests Act.

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.

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POM-175. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to act to prohibit Federal agencies from recommending and identifying Arizona's public lands as wilderness areas without express congressional consent; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1014

Whereas, through federal land management planning and associated guidelines, federal agencies are recommending and identifying Arizona's public lands as wilderness areas; and

Whereas, these administratively recommended wilderness areas circumvent congressional intent and lack full and appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses; and

Whereas, the identification of these de facto wilderness areas has resulted in significant restrictions on public access and recreation, paralyzing restrictions on the Arizona Game and Fish Department's ability to manage wildlife and potentially catastrophic restrictions on vegetation and habitat improvement projects, including fire management activities; and

Whereas, the conservation of wildlife resources is the trust responsibility of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and this responsibility extends to all lands within Arizona to ensure abundant wildlife resources for current and future generations; and

Whereas, the designation of Arizona's public lands as wilderness areas has resulted in the erosion of the Arizona Game and Fish Department's ability to comply with its federal mandate to proactively recover threatened and endangered species; and

Whereas, according to federal land management agency guidelines, an administratively recommended wilderness area must be managed to ``protect and maintain the social and ecological characteristics that provide the basis for wilderness recommendation'' in perpetuity or until Congress takes action to formally designate the area as a wilderness area; and

Whereas, allowable activities within administratively recommended wilderness areas will be left to the discretion of federal staff and deciding officers, resulting in even greater restrictions and limitations than those formally vetted and designated by Congress; and

Whereas, congressionally designated wilderness provides clearer guidance for management and coordination with this state, specific processes for wildlife management exemptions and direction for collaboration via existing state agreements and guidelines; and

Whereas, administratively recommended wilderness areas circumvent the spirit of NEPA and congressional intent and lack transparency; and

Whereas, with the implementation of federal land management plans, recommended wilderness areas constitute a significant and immediate change in management without a fully disclosed impact analysis required by NEPA; and

Whereas, the federal land management plans lack full NEPA disclosure of potential impacts to this state and the public, assurances protecting this state's ability to proactively manage wildlife and fulfill its public trust responsibility, including specific management activities, and analyses of the cumulative impacts of further loss of public lands that provide for S.C.M. 1014 multiple-use and wildlife-related recreational and economic opportunities; and

Whereas, the areas being recommended as wilderness were not included within the original wilderness designations with purposeful intent by Congress; and

Whereas, the subsequent expansion of previously designated wilderness is an overreach of the federal agencies and disingenuous to the public, subverting original collaboration, coordination, negotiation and agreements; and

Whereas, the federal agency planning documents suggest that no significant management action or recommendation to Congress will take place before further NEPA analyses are completed. Within the recently released Prescott and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest recommended wildernesses, the United States Forest Service indicates that these areas are simply preliminary administrative recommendations and that further NEPA analyses are necessary. However, in transmittal letters, the United States Forest Service states that ``the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the . . . Forest's Revised Resource Management Plan contains the NEPA analysis necessary to support a legislative proposal.'' This is an egregious lack of transparency.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the Congress of the United States act to prohibit federal agencies from recommending and identifying Arizona's public lands as wilderness areas without express congressional consent.

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POM-176. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Iowa calling upon the United States Congress, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the President of the United States, and this country's future President of the United States and administration, to continue to support the renewable fuel standard in order to encourage American energy production and to strengthen rural communities; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Senate Resolution 118

Whereas, in accordance with the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-58, as amended by the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Pub. L. No. 110-140, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to the long-term policy of increasing the domestic production of clean renewable fuels according to a renewable fuel standard, referred to as the

``RFS''; and

Whereas, the RFS is one of the single most successful energy policies in our nation's history; and

Whereas, the RFS is a federal policy that requires a minimum percentage of motor fuel sold in our nation to contain renewable fuels; and

Whereas, under the RFS, renewable fuels have access to a retail market in the face of a vertically integrated petroleum market; and

Whereas, the RFS represents a congressional promise to American biofuels producers, farmers, communities, and investors that the blend levels of the RFS will increase each year; and

Whereas, this congressional policy supporting the RFS will continue to build the long-term capacity of the renewable fuels industry and will encourage the development of new types of clean fuels; and

Whereas, the RFS helps support over 73,000 jobs in agriculture, biofuels production, and associated businesses in Iowa; and

Whereas, the renewable fuels industry in Iowa helps pay $5 billion in wages annually to this state's employment force; and

Whereas, renewable fuels create additional markets for Iowa farmers with more than 47 percent of Iowa's corn supply supporting ethanol production: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the Iowa Senate calls upon the Congress of the United States, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the President of the United States, and this country's future President of the United States and administration, to continue to support the RFS in order to encourage American energy production and to strengthen rural communities; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the President and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and to the members of Iowa's congressional delegation.

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POM-177. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana memorializing the United States Congress to designate the Louisiana Highway 8/Louisiana Highway 28 corridor in Louisiana as Future Interstate 14; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 90

Whereas, Interstate 14 (I-14), also known as the ``14th Amendment Highway'', the Gulf-Coast Strategic Highway, and the Central Texas Corridor is a proposed interstate highway from Texas to Georgia; the original conceptual western terminus of the highway was from Natchez, Mississippi, and later from I-49 near Alexandria, Louisiana, extending east through the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, ending at Augusta, Georgia or North Augusta, South Carolina; and

Whereas, advocates of the Gulf-Coast Strategic Highway proposed extending I-14 to the I-10 near Fort Stockton and the junction of US 277 and I-10 near Sonora, Texas; and

Whereas, the proposal for the 14th Amendment Highway has its origins in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); and

Whereas, the study and planning of I-14 has continued because of support and interest from both the Congress and the associated state highway departments; and,

Whereas, the I-14 corridor provides a national strategic link to numerous major military bases and major Gulf Coast and Atlantic ports used for overseas deployments in six states from Texas to South Carolina; and

Whereas, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, signed by President Obama on December 14, 2015, officially assigned the Future I-14 designation to the US 190 Central Texas Corridor; and

Whereas, congressional advocacy for the legislation spiked following the post-logistics controversies; the act included the 14th Amendment Highway and the 3rd Infantry Division Highway; the legislation did not provide funding for either highway; and

Whereas, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) currently has no funding identified beyond the Phase II studies to support long-range planning, environmental review or construction which must be initiated at the state or regional level with any further direction from the Congress; and

Whereas, the 14th Amendment Highway and the Gulf-Coast Strategic Highway concepts continued through active studies to the present as local and state interest began to surface and support in the Congress, FHWA and, most importantly, in the associated state highway departments, all the key ingredients necessary to successfully justify funding any proposed federal-aid highway project; and

Whereas, the FHWA issued its report on the 14th Amendment Highway to the Congress in 2011 and made recommendation for further environmental and feasibility sub-studies; however, little action to fund these studies advanced in Congress after 2011; and

Whereas, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) also conducted the US 190/IH-10 Feasibility Study in 2011, which concluded that it was justified to upgrade US 190 to a divided four-lane arterial highway based on current traffic projections to 2040, but that upgrading US 190 to a full freeway through Texas was only justified if the 14th Amendment Highway is actually constructed from Louisiana to Georgia; and

Whereas, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has not endorsed designation of ``Future I-14'' in Louisiana as proponents of the Gulf-Coast Strategic Highway presented the LA 8/LA 28 corridor as a conventional four lane highway; and DOTD is pursuing its development of the LA 8/LA 28 corridor, having completed LA 28 between Alexandria and Fort Polk, and having included the relocation of LA 28 south of Alexandria in Priority A of the Statewide Transportation Plan and the section from Archie to Vidalia in Priority B of the Statewide Transportation Plan; and

Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Louisiana recognizes that the designation of the LA 8/LA 28 corridor in Louisiana as Future I-14 is vital as a national strategic link to numerous major military bases and major Gulf Coast and Atlantic ports used for overseas deployments in six states from Texas to South Carolina: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the United States to designate the Louisiana Highway 8/Louisiana Highway 28 corridor in Louisiana as Future Interstate 14; 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.

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POM-178. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to enact the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1008

Whereas, on April 13, 2015, Representative Bill Shuster introduced H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act; and

Whereas, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act protects landowners from intrusive government regulation and ensures the protection of personal property; and

Whereas, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act came in response to efforts by the Obama Administration, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to implement the Clean Water Rule, which vastly expands the federal government's ability to regulate waterways; and

Whereas, the final rule became effective on August 28, 2015; and

Whereas, the final rule is far too broad, allowing the federal government to regulate everything from puddles of rainwater to agricultural irrigation systems; and

Whereas, the final rule allows waters that have traditionally been off limits to federal regulation to be subject to the rulemaking process of the EPA and the Clean Water Act; and

Whereas, the State of Arizona is one of 27 states that have brought legal challenges against the Clean Water Rule and successfully obtained a nationwide stay barring the rule's enforcement; and

Whereas, if passed by Congress, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act would require the EPA and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to develop a new rule that takes into consideration all public comments received on the matter as well as input received from state and local governments.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the Congress of the United States enact the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act.

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POM-179. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reinstate the previous ozone concentration standard of 75 parts per billion; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1007

Whereas, on October 1, 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reduced the national ambient air quality standards for ground-level ozone from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb: and

Whereas, the State of Arizona will have great difficulty in implementing this new ozone concentration standard due to factors that are outside of this state's control, including its proximity to California, extreme heat and intense summer sunshine; and

Whereas, before the implementation of the new ozone concentration standard, the EPA reported that 358 counties in the nation would violate a standard of 70 ppb based on monitoring data from 2011 through 2013; and

Whereas, nonattainment area designations will limit economic and job growth by restricting new and expanded industrial and manufacturing facilities, imposing emission ``offset'' requirements on new and modified major sources of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emissions, constraining oil and gas extraction and raising electricity prices for industries and consumers; and

Whereas, low-income and fixed-income citizens will bear the brunt of higher energy costs and utility bills; and

Whereas, air quality continues to improve, and nitrogen oxide emissions are already down to 60% nationwide since 1980, which, after adjusting for economic growth, implies a 90% reduction in emission rates from the relatively uncontrolled 1990 rates for nitrogen oxide-emitting sources; and

Whereas, average ozone concentrations have decreased significantly in both urban and rural areas over the past two decades in response to state and federal emission control programs; and

Whereas, instead of giving states enough time to meet the previous ozone concentration standard of 75 ppb through ongoing emission reduction programs, the EPA moved the goalpost by imposing a lower standard; and

Whereas, reinstating the previous ozone concentration standard of 75 ppb would provide for continued air quality improvement throughout the nation as emission reduction programs under EPA regulations are implemented.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Environmental Protection Agency reinstate the previous ozone concentration standard of 75 ppb.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the President of the United States, 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.

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POM-180. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to oppose the implementation of certain rules for existing electric utility generating units; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1016

Whereas, the Clean Air Act (CAA) is a federal law designed to protect air quality nationwide; and

Whereas, jurisdiction to implement the CAA lies primarily with the states; and

Whereas, in 1970, Congress enacted the CAA, mandating comprehensive state and-federal regulations for both stationary and nonstationary sources of pollution; 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

Whereas, on October 23, 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published final rules in the Federal Register regulating greenhouse gas emissions from existing electric utility generating units, also known as the Clean Power Plan; and

Whereas, the EPA has issued a proposed federal plan that will be imposed on existing electric utility generating units in the State of Arizona if the State of Arizona does not adopt its own plan implementing the Clean Power Plan regulating greenhouse gas emissions; and

Whereas, the EPA's Clean Power Plan exceeds the agency's legal authority to require reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units under Section 111(d) of the CAA and interferes with the electric system of Arizona; and

Whereas, addressing greenhouse gas emissions under Section 111(d) is a discretionary duty of the EPA as outlined in the CAA; and

Whereas, devoting resources to discretionary duties like regulating greenhouse gas emissions takes resources away from nondiscretionary duties that are better suited to protect the public health and safety in the near term; and

Whereas, it is important to Arizona's economy to have a diverse energy portfolio that provides reliable and affordable electric service to Arizona residents and businesses while also protecting the public health and safety; and

Whereas, fossil fuels, including coal and natural gas, provide an abundant and affordable domestic energy source that is important to Arizona's economy and enhance the availability and reliability of electric service; and

Whereas, the EPA's final Clean Power Plan impedes the ability of this state to oversee its own electricity supply and transmission system; and

Whereas, the EPA's Clean Power Plan will have adverse impacts on the customs, culture, history, heritage and economies of this state and local communities.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress oppose the implementation of rules for existing electric utility generating units that exceed the EPA's legal authority under Section 111(d) of the CAA and interfere with the prerogative of'Arizona to regulate electricity and ensure an affordable and reliable supply of electricity for its citizens.

2. That the United States Congress oppose the implementation of rules for existing electric utility generating units that do not recognize the primary role of states in establishing and implementing plans to achieve emissions reductions for existing units under Section 111(d) of the CAA.

3. That the United States Congress exercise oversight over the EPA to ensure that the primary role of states in establishing and implementing plans to achieve emissions reductions from existing electric utility generating units under Section 111(d) of the CAA is respected.

4. That the Governor and the Attorney General of the State of Arizona take appropriate actions to uphold this state's responsibilities with respect to the CAA and defend this state against overreaching regulations.

5. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit a copy of this Memorial to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Governor of the State of Arizona and the Attorney General of the State of Arizona.

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POM-181. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to enact the Stopping EPA Overreach Act; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1015

Whereas, the Stopping EPA Overreach Act seeks to prevent the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from exceeding its statutory authority in ways that were not contemplated by the United States Congress; and

Whereas, in the Stopping EPA Overreach Act, the State of Arizona urges Congress to find that:

(1) The EPA has exceeded its statutory authority by promulgating regulations that were not contemplated by Congress in the authorizing language of the statutes enacted by Congress;

(2) The EPA was correct not to classify greenhouse gases as pollutants prior to 2009;

(3) No federal agency has the authority to regulate greenhouse gases under current law; and

(4) No attempt to regulate greenhouse gases should be undertaken without further congressional action; and

Whereas, the Stopping EPA Overreach Act should clarify that federal agencies do not have the authority to regulate climate change or global warming, thereby voiding certain EPA rules, and requires the Administrator of the EPA to provide an analysis of any regulation, rule or policy that describes its impacts on employment and jobs in the United States before proposing or finalizing that regulation, rule or policy; and

Whereas, any federal agency seeking to promulgate a regulation, rule or policy should be required to provide the cost-benefit analysis and peer-reviewed science that were used in proposing the regulation, rule or policy; and

Whereas, penalties should be imposed for knowingly providing false information as support for a proposed regulation, rule or policy; and

Whereas, the people of Arizona fully support the Stopping EPA Overreach Act.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress enact the Stopping EPA Overreach Act.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.

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POM-182. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the President of the United States, United States Congress, and the United States Secretary of State to secure the safe release of Robert Levinson from Iran; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

House Concurrent Memorial 2010

Whereas, it is a time-honored tradition that the United States of America strives to ensure that all United States citizens held captive overseas are returned safely to their families and loved ones; and

Whereas, Robert Levinson honorably served the United States as a law enforcement officer in both the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and

Whereas, Robert Levinson was taken captive on the Kish Island in Iran on March 9, 2007; and

Whereas, several Americans who have been held captive in Iran were recently released, but Robert Levinson was not among them; and

Whereas, it is a duty and obligation of the United States to Robert Levinson and his family to ascertain his whereabouts and secure his safe release.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the President of the United States the United States Congress, the United

States Secretary of State and all public officials under their charge follow the policy of the United States as stated in United States Senate Concurrent Resolution 16:

It is the policy of the United States that--

(1) [T]he Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran should immediately . . . cooperate with the United States Government to locate and return Robert Levinson; and

(2) [T]he United States Government should undertake every effort using every diplomatic tool at its disposal to secure

[his] immediate release.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States, the Secretary of State of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.

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POM-183. A memorial adopted by the Senate of the State of Arizona urging that each member of Congress from the State of Arizona cosponsor legislation similar to House Concurrent Resolution 75, support other congressional efforts to aid victims of the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East and encourage the United States government to take greater concrete action to end the genocide; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Senate Memorial 1001

Whereas, Christians, Yazidis and other religious minorities in the Middle East are being subjected to systematic and violent persecution at the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other terrorist groups; and

Whereas, these people are being murdered, kidnapped, sexually abused, tortured and victimized in other ways that violate the laws of their own nations, the international community and the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Convention); and

Whereas, the victims of this brutal persecution are being specifically targeted based on their religious or ethnic affiliation with the intent to facilitate the annihilation or forced migration of communities with long-standing ties to their region; and

Whereas, the Convention defines ``genocide'' as killing members of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, causing them serious bodily or mental harm, intentionally enforcing living conditions designed to cause the partial or total physical destruction of the group, preventing births within the group or transferring the children of the group to another group with the intent to destroy the group in total or in part; and

Whereas, the Convention holds that genocide is a crime that governments are obligated to prevent and for which perpetrators are to be held responsible; and

Whereas, the United States Commission on Religious Freedom, the Hudson Institute for Religious Freedom, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Pope Francis, Hillary Clinton and many other organizations and religious and political leaders have called on the United States to recognize the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East as genocide; and

Whereas, the United States Congress has introduced House Concurrent Resolution 75, Senate Resolution 340 and at least five other bills designed to recognize the genocide and facilitate expedited support and aid for Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East; and

Whereas, the designation of the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East as genocide has real, practical policy implications and can help expedite various solutions to the crisis; and

Whereas, the Members of the Senate of the State of Arizona officially recognize the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East as genocide.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, prays:

1. That each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona cosponsor legislation similar to House Concurrent Resolution 75, support other congressional efforts to aid victims of the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East and encourage the United States government to take greater concrete action to end the genocide.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.

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POM-184. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging that the United States Congress continue to take action to prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty or other similar treaties that would interfere with the Second Amendment rights of United States citizens; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1013

Whereas, United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2117, which was adopted on September 26, 2013, ``[c]alls for Member States to support weapons collection, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, as well as physical security and stockpile management programmes by United Nations peacekeeping operations where so mandated''; and

Whereas, the UN Arms Trade Treaty strives to place a global ban on the import and export of small firearms, affecting all private gun owners in the United States, and to implement an international gun registry on all private guns and ammunition; and

Whereas, Senator James Inhofe introduced an amendment to the budget in 2013 that would prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty ``[t]o uphold Second Amendment rights and prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty,'' which passed on a 53-46 vote.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress continue to take action to prevent the United States from entering into the UN Arms Trade Treaty or other similar treaties that would interfere with the Second Amendment rights of United States citizens.

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POM-185. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana recognizing May 2016 as

``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month'' and memorializing the United States Congress to enact legislation to provide additional funding for research for the treatment and cure of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 119

Whereas, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease; and

Whereas, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horns of the spinal cord; and

Whereas, the initial symptom of ALS is usually weakness of the skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and

Whereas, as ALS progresses, the patient typically experiences difficulty in swallowing, talking, and breathing; and

Whereas, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and the patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and

Whereas, ALS does not affect the mental capacity of the patient, such that the patient remains alert and aware of surroundings and aware of the loss of motor functions and the inevitable outcome of continued deterioration and death; and

Whereas, on average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive only two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and

Whereas, despite the catastrophic consequences of a diagnosis of ALS, the disease currently has no known cause, means of protection, or cure; and

Whereas, research indicates that military veterans are at a sixty percent greater risk of developing ALS than those who have not served in the military; and

Whereas, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has promulgated regulations to establish a presumption of service connection for ALS thereby presuming that the development of ALS was incurred or aggravated by a veteran's service in the military; and

Whereras, a national ALS registry, administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is currently identifying cases of ALS in the United States and may become the largest ALS research project ever undertaken; and

Whereas, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month increases the awareness of the circumstances of living with ALS and acknowledges the terrible impact this disease has, not only on the patient receiving such a diagnosis, but also on his family and community; and

Whereas, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month also increases awareness of research being done to eradicate this dire disease: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize May 2016 as ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month''; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to provide additional funding for research for the treatment and cure of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to 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-186. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to protest the proposed closing of the Tucson Postal Processing and Distribution Center and take any action necessary to fully restore operations of this vital postal facility; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1009

Whereas, the Tucson 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

(USPS) 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 USPS 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. The processing and sorting operations at Cherrybell that are 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, Southern Arizona is home to many military veterans who depend on the USPS both for timely delivery of medical prescriptions and for employment, as the USPS employs more veterans than any entity other than the United States Department of Defense; and

Whereas, in an extensive community survey conducted in 2015, 84% of individuals and 86% of businesses reported a noticeable delay in mail delivery due to the partial closure of Cherrybell; and

Whereas, Tucson City Council Member Richard Fimbres went on record opposing the closure of Cherrybell and requested that the 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 that, due to the higher number of voters each year on the permanent early voting list, 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 USPS is based entirely on economic considerations with no apparent regard for the impact of the change on the fundamental right of all citizens to vote and, in particular, the significant additional detrimental impact to Native American voters in the region; and

Whereas, the people of Arizona applaud the efforts of United States Representative Martha McSally and the other members of the Arizona Congressional Delegation, including Representatives Trent Franks, Ann Kirkpatrick, Matt Salmon, Paul Gosar, Ruben Gallego, Kyrsten Sinema and Raul Grijalva, who have asked for more detailed and complete information regarding the proposal Cherrybell closure; and

Whereas, thousands of people have written letters and signed online petitions urging the USPS Board of Governors not to close Cherrybell.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the Congress of the United States protest the proposed closing of the Tucson Postal Processing and Distribution Center and take any action necessary to fully restore operations of this vital postal facility.

____

POM-187. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to act to increase the number of United States Customs and Border Protection personnel at the ports of entry in Arizona; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1006

Whereas, the United States Customs and Border Protection

(CBP) is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the United States while facilitating lawful international travel and trade; and

Whereas, as the world's first full-service border entity, CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity; and

Whereas, the need to increase the number of CBP personnel in the Tucson sector along the border between the United States and Mexico is critical to increasing border safety and security as well as to ensuring economic stability in our border communities; and

Whereas, increasing the number of CBP personnel who work at the ports of entry in Arizona will enhance the economic stability in our border communities and will increase border security between the United States and Mexico; and

Whereas, an integrated approach to securing the border and increasing economic stability along the border and in our border communities is important to residents living along the border and in our border communities; and

Whereas, increasing the number of CBP personnel at the ports of entry in Arizona will allow increased commercial traffic and will result in increased economic growth and stability for Arizona; and

Whereas, all of the benefits of increased economic stability in Arizona can be realized if the workload capacity at each port of entry is increased, which would result in less congestion and delay; and

Whereas, increasing the number of CBP personnel at the ports of entry in Arizona should be part of the infrastructure improvements that are occurring at the ports of entry; and

Whereas, the establishment of a safe and secure border is a crucial component of national security.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That, in order to secure the border between the United States and Mexico, to enhance the safety and security of people and their property in the currently unsecure regions of the border and to increase economic growth and stability for the residents of Arizona, the United States Congress act to increase the number of CBP personnel at the ports of entry in Arizona.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit a copy 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-188. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to enact the Dine College Act of 2015; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1017

Whereas, this state and the Navajo Nation maintain a government-to-government relationship, and the Navajo people residing in this state are citizens of both Arizona and the Navajo Nation; and

Whereas, in 1968, the Navajo Nation established Navajo Community College, which later became Dine College, to provide access to higher education to the Navajo people; and

Whereas, Dine College's flagship campus is located in Tsaile, Arizona, and there are community campuses in Tuba City, Chinle and Window Rock; and

Whereas, Dine College has dual credit agreements with school districts and schools throughout Arizona, including Red Mesa Unified School District #27, Chinle Unified School District #24, Ganado Unified School District, St. Michaels High School, Window Rock Unified School District #8, Many Farms High School, Kayenta Unified School District, Pinon Unified School District #4, Greyhills Academy High School, Tuba City High School, Leupp Schools, Inc. and Phoenix Union High School District; and

Whereas, this state provides support to Dine College through its Navajo Nation, Dine College-State of Arizona funding compact, the tribal college dual credit funding program and Proposition 301 monies; and

Whereas, the United States Congress passed the Navajo Community College Act, the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978 and the Navajo Nation Higher Education Act of 2008, which collectively provide for maintenance, operation and construction funding for Dine College; and

Whereas, Representative Ann Kirkpatrick introduced the Dine College Act of 2015 ``to fulfill the United States Government's trust responsibility to serve the higher education needs of the Navajo people and to clarify, unify, and modernize prior Dine College legislation,'' and Dine College has requested that Senator Jeff Flake introduce a United States Senate companion bill; and

Whereas, this state stands in support of the passage of the Dine College Act of 2015.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the Congress of the United States enact the Dine College Act of 2015.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the Governor of the State of Arizona, 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-189. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to direct the appropriate federal agencies to secure the borders of the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Senate Concurrent Memorial 1012

Whereas, the United States is in the midst of a border crisis; and

Whereas, the sheriffs serving along the borders of the United States are in the epicenter of this crisis; and

Whereas, the porous borders of the United States have resulted in the smuggling of contraband and illegal drugs, the exploitation of human beings and the infiltration of subversives bent on doing harm to this country; and

Whereas, federal law mandates border security; and

Whereas, the quality of life normally enjoyed by the citizens of the United States is being jeopardized by an unsecure border, which enables transnational criminals and their accomplices to prey on the citizens of the United States: and

Whereas, border security must be a stand-alone priority for the federal government; and

Whereas, violence against public officials, law enforcement and rival drug and human trafficking groups in Mexico continues to escalate and cross international boundaries; and

Whereas, the reduction of the federal government's prosecution of the criminal element places the citizens of the United States in harm's way, leaving the burden on local governments to bear the costs associated with the apprehension, prosecution and incarceration of this criminal element; and

Whereas, elected sheriffs have a statutory duty to protect and secure the freedoms and liberties of United States citizens and must do so with or without the help of their federal law enforcement partners and policymakers; and

Whereas, working with limited budgets and staffing, sheriffs along the southwestern border of the United States and sheriffs across the nation struggle to find ways to enhance the quality of life and safety of those they serve and to deter those who cross our borders to promote their criminal activities; and

Whereas, local governments are cognizant of the need to bring relief to United States citizens who are impacted by the lack of border security; and

Whereas, without aggressive prosecution of all of those who breach the border and commit criminal acts, the border will continue to serve as an open opportunity for the criminal element to exploit by entering the United States to prey on this country and its citizens.

Wherefore, your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress direct the appropriate federal agencies to do the following:

(a) Fully secure all of the borders of the United States.

(b) Fully reimburse sheriffs for the costs associated with the housing of illegal aliens who are being charged with state crimes.

(c) Return to the original guidelines as set forth in Operation Streamline for the prosecution of persons crossing the United States border illegally.

____

POM-190. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to direct the American Legion to expand its membership eligibility to include all honorably discharged military veterans; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

House Concurrent Memorial 2009

Whereas, according to the American Legion, the organization was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. As the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, the American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security and providing support to fellow servicemembers and veterans; and

Whereas, the American Legion limits membership eligibility to those who have served federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces during the World War I era, World War II era, Korean War era, Vietnam War era, Lebanon/Grenada era, Panama era or Persian Gulf War era and who have been honorably discharged or are still serving: and

Whereas, all honorably discharged military veterans deserve the opportunity to participate in the American Legion.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress direct the American Legion to expand its membership eligibility to include all honorably discharged military veterans.

____

POM-191. A concurrent memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to adopt legislation similar to the Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

House Concurrent Memorial 2006

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, thousands of veterans have been exposed to Agent Orange and other chemical agents during the course of their service to the United States; and

Whereas, today, many of the children and grandchildren of veterans are suffering serious health issues that are related to the veterans' exposure to chemical agents; and

Whereas, the people of the United States owe it to their veterans to better understand the impacts of these exposures in order to guarantee that the children and grandchildren of veterans receive appropriate treatment; and

Whereas, the full effects of exposure to dangerous chemicals such as Agent Orange is still unknown, and a national research center is needed to further study the impact these exposures have on veterans, their children and their grandchildren; and

Whereas, the Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 is a critical step in protecting the veterans of the United States.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress adopt legislation similar to H.R. 1769 and S. 901, the Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015, that would establish in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs a national center for research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of the descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during service in the armed forces of the United States that are related to that exposure.

____

POM-192. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas relative to an amendment to the United States Constitution; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

____________________

SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 162, No. 94

June 14, 2016: Congressional Record publishes “PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS”

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