Volume 153, No. 161 covering the of the 110th Congress (2007 - 2008) 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 S13258-S13261 on Oct. 23, 2007.
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-235. A resolution adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Miami-Dade County of the State of Florida commending the Florida officials who provided for the installation of guardrails along bodies of water and in roadway medians; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
POM-236. A resolution adopted by the Board of County Commissioners for Miami-Dade County of the State of Florida urging the Florida Legislature to designate West Flagler Street from 13 Avenue to 14 Avenue as Father Emilio Vallina Avenue; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
POM-237. A resolution adopted by the Iberville Parish Council of the State of Louisiana urging Congress to vote in favor of H.R. 1229, the ``Non-Market Economy Trade Remedy Act of 2007''; to the Committee on Finance.
POM-238. A resolution adopted by the Edina City Council of the State of Minnesota endorsing the United Nations principle of the Responsibility to Protect; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
POM-239. A resolution adopted by the Gretna City Council of the State of Louisiana expressing its support for the implementation of legislation that would improve and eliminate barriers contained in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
POM-240. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to implement food policies that promote healthy food, farms, and communities by encouraging local production of fruits and vegetables by specialty crop farmers; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
House Resolution No. 156
Whereas, the federal Farm Bill traditionally provides crop subsidies to corn, wheat, soybean, and cotton farmers, and less than 40 percent of all United States farmers and ranchers actually receive any kind of subsidy from the federal government. However, there are many different kinds of farmers, both in Michigan and nationwide, growing nutritious and affordable fruits and vegetables that are vital to the health and well-being of Americans. Government support must emphasize nutritious, affordable, and locally available foods; and
Whereas, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(the 2002 Farm Bill) encourages institutions participating in the school lunch program to purchase locally produced foods for school meals. While the real price of fruits and vegetables has increased by 40 percent since 1985, the cost of junk foods and sodas has declined by as much as 20 percent. We need to encourage the choice of fresh fruits and vegetables by purchasing locally grown produce and other foods, thereby supporting local farmers and benefiting students in need of high quality, nutritious food products. However, the USDA continues to discourage efforts by schools and other institutions to develop these important programs. The USDA claims that 7 CFR 3016.60(c) clearly prohibits the use of state or local geographic preferences and that all purchases are to be made competitively; and
Whereas, the Community Food Projects, a federally funded program designed to fight food insecurity through development of local food projects, promotes self-sufficiency of low-income communities. Grants from this program support urban nonprofits and urban residents in growing fresh vegetables in their neighborhoods. Funding is also used to provide entrepreneurship training to urban farmers, again encouraging local specialty crop farmers in Michigan. However, maintaining current funding for the Community Food Projects is important to promoting healthy, locally grown foods in low-income communities; and
Whereas, the emphasis on traditional crops in the allocation of farm subsidies has resulted in a loss of fruit and vegetable farmers as well as a decrease in the acreage of specialty crop farmland used for farming nationwide. At the current rate, Michigan will lose 15 percent of its agricultural land by 2040, including 25 percent of the acreage used to grow fruit and 36 percent of the acreage used to grow dry beans. The Michigan House of Representatives supports the federal government encouraging and providing programs and assistance to farm operations that grow fruits and vegetables including but not limited to asparagus, cherries, apples, carrots, beets, lettuce, celery, squash, potatoes, peppers, pumpkins etc: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we encourage Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture to implement food policies that promote healthy food, farms, and communities by encouraging local production of fruits and vegetables by specialty crop farmers; 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, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
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POM-241. A resolution adopted by the California State Lands Commission expressing its support for legislation which would reduce pollution from marine vessels that use the nation's ports; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Resolution
Whereas, California's 1,100 mile coastline, with its beautiful beaches, wild cliffs, abundant fish stocks and fragile environment is a national treasure and a valuable state resource, which is at the heart of a tourist industry that generates nearly five billion dollars in state and local taxes each year; and is central to the state's $46 billion ocean economy; and
Whereas, the California State Lands Commission has jurisdiction over the state-owned tide and submerged lands below the mean high tide line out to three miles from the coast as well as the lands underlying California's bays, lakes, and rivers; and
Whereas, the Commission is charged with managing these lands pursuant to the Public Trust Doctrine, common law that requires these lands to be used for commerce, fishing, navigation, recreation, and environmental protection; and
Whereas, the impacts of air pollution affect the public trust values of the lands under the Commission's jurisdiction and the utility of these lands to the public, future generations, and the environment; and
Whereas, most commercial goods imported to the United States come through our nation's ports by means of marine vessels; and
Whereas, California is home to the busiest ports in the nation, with large volumes of international goods entering through the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland, which rank as the first, second, and fourth busiest ports in the country, respectively; and
Whereas, in 2004, 1,900 ships visited California's ports, 87% of which were foreign vessels, and it is estimated that freight volume will more than double in the Los Angeles region over the next 20 years; and
Whereas, marine vessels at California's ports emit large amounts of diesel particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides
(NOx), and sulfur oxides (SOx), and
Whereas, most marine vessels use high emitting diesel bunker fuel, a low quality petroleum, high in sulfur, that is capable of producing approximately 50 times more haze-forming pollutants than the dirtiest trucks on our nation's highways; and
Whereas, bunker fuel used by marine vessels contains, on average, 27,000 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur, compared to the 15 ppm of sulfur allowed in diesel fuel used by heavy-duty trucks in the U.S.; and
Whereas, the pollutants emitted from burning bunker fuel cause environmental problems such as smog, soot, acid rain and global climate change, as well as damaging health effects such as asthma and cancer--as reported by the California Air Resource Board's Emission Reduction Plan for Ports and Goods Movement, air pollution from California's ports is the cause of 750 premature deaths each year; and
Whereas, in 2006, Maersk, Inc., which operates the largest container terminal in the Los Angeles harbor, voluntarily switched all 37 of its cargo ships to low-sulfur fuel, proving that it is feasible for marine vessels to use environmentally safer fuels, and
Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a delay until December 2009 to adopt new emission and fuel regulations for big ocean ship propulsion engines and there is no assurance that the rules will be adopted by then or that they will be strict enough to significantly reduce air pollution; and
Whereas, the United Nations International Maritime Organization has before it a proposal, supported by the EPA, World Shipping Council, Pacific Maritime Shipping Association, and U.S. Coast Guard, to develop, among other things, stringent new standards on sulfur content in fuel used by marine vessels; however, it is uncertain if enough nations will support this proposal; and
Whereas, the Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act bill, introduced by Senators Boxer and Feinstein through S. 1499, and Congresswoman Solis through H.R. 2548, seeks to regulate the emissions of domestic and foreign-flagged marine vessels entering or leaving U.S. ports or offshore terminals; and
Whereas, specifically, the Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act, if passed, will mandate the EPA to set limits on the sulfur content of fuel used by these vessels, if they are within a certain distance from the coast (for the west coast, it is 200 miles), to no more than 1,000 ppm beginning December 31,2010, unless the EPA determines that such a limit is not technically feasible, in which case there will be an interim limit of 2,000 ppm; and
Whereas, the Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act, if passed, will also mandate the EPA to establish standards for new and in-use engines in marine vessels that will require the maximum degree of emission reduction for PM, NOx, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide achievable by no later than January 1, 2012; therefore, be it
Resolved by the California State Lands Commission, that it supports the Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act (S. 1499 and H.R. 2548), which would reduce the emissions of air pollutants from marine vessels, including foreign-flagged vessels, entering or leaving U.S. ports or offshore terminals; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission's Executive Officer transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Governor of California, to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, to the Chairs and Ranking Minority Members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.
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POM-242. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to address the recent approval of increased pollution by British Petroleum into the Great Lakes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
House Resolution No. 172
Whereas, Lake Michigan is a national treasure and a vital natural resource shared by four states in trust for the entire nation. Lake Michigan is a drinking water source for millions of people and a recreational haven for swimming, fishing, and boating in all the states. Tourism and recreation based around Lake Michigan are worth billions of dollars each year to these states' economies; and
Whereas, Michigan and the other states bordering Lake Michigan rely on the federal Clean Water Act to limit polluted discharges originating from other states. Pollution originating from any state can negatively affect the public health and economy of the other states that use Lake Michigan water. Improving and preserving Lake Michigan's water quality are imperative to support the many uses of its water; and
Whereas, despite provisions in the federal Clean Water Act that prohibit degradation of water quality, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management approved, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency concurred with, a permit that allows the British Petroleum (BP) refinery in Whiting, Indiana, to increase significantly the dumping of industrial pollutants into Lake Michigan. These discharges threaten other uses of Lake Michigan water and are inconsistent with regional efforts to clean up the Great Lakes; and
Whereas, this decision sets a poor precedent for the future. States could approve increased pollution discharges to interstate waters for industries that economically benefit that state at the expense of other states that rely on that water: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Congress of the United States and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to address the recent approval of increased pollution by British Petroleum into 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, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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POM-243. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to enact H.R. 2927, which responsibly balances achievable fuel economy increases with important economic and social concerns; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
House Resolution No. 165
Whereas, H.R. 2927 sets tough fuel economy standards without off ramps or loopholes, by requiring separate car and truck standards to meet a total fleet fuel economy between 32 and 35 mpg by 2022--an increase of as much as 40 percent over current fuel economy standards--and requires vehicle fuel economy to be increased to the maximum feasible level in the years leading up to 2022; and
Whereas, H.R. 2927, while challenging, will provide automakers more reasonable lead time to implement technology changes in both the near and long term. Model year 2008 vehicles are already available today, and product and manufacturing planning is done through Model Year 2012. H.R. 2927 recognizes the critical need for engineering lead times necessary for manufacturers to make significant changes to their fleets; and
Whereas, H.R. 2927 respects consumer choice by protecting the important functional differences between passenger cars and light trucks/SUVs. Last year, 2006, was the sixth year in a row that Americans bought more trucks, minivans, and SUVs than passenger cars, because they value attributes such as passenger and cargo load capacity, four-wheel drive, and towing capability that most cars are not designed to provide; and
Whereas, while some would like fuel economy increases to be much more aggressive and be implemented with much less lead time, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards must be set at levels and in time frames that do not impose economic harm on the manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and others in the auto industry; and
Whereas, proponents of unrealistic and unattainable CAFE standards cite Europe's 35 mpg fuel economy, without ever mentioning Europe's $6 per gallon gasoline prices, the high sales of diesel vehicles, the high proportion of Europeans driving manual transmission vehicles (80 percent in Europe vs. 8 percent in the U.S.), the significant differences in the size mix of vehicles, or that trucks and SUVs are virtually nonexistent among Europe households; and
Whereas, proponents of unreasonable CAFE standards claim they will save consumers billions, but they neglect to talk about the upfront costs of such changes to the manufacturers of meeting unduly strict CAFE standards--more than $100 billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration--which will lead to vehicle price increases of several thousand dollars; and
Whereas, proponents of unrealistic CAFE standards ignore the potential safety impacts of downsized vehicles on America's highways and overlook the historical role and critical importance of manufacturing plants to our national and economic security. They seem unconcerned about threats to the 7.5 million jobs that are directly and indirectly dependent on a vibrant auto industry in the United States. They also seem unconcerned about maintaining CAFE rules that require the continuance of small car production in the United States; and
Whereas, H.R. 2927 is a reasonable bill that balances a number of important public policy concerns. The bill represents a tough but fair compromise that deserves serious consideration and support: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to enact H.R. 2927, which responsibly balances achievable fuel economy increases with important economic and social concerns, including consumer demand; 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-244. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Michigan urging Congress to extend the H2B returning worker exemption permanently; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Senate Resolution No. 96
Whereas, seasonal workers are a key component of our state's and our nation's tourism and recreation industries. Annually, thousands of young men and women use seasonal employment to begin their journey on the path to a career. Many tourism areas, however, do not have the populations necessary to fill all the seasonal jobs available. In Michigan, for example, world-renowned Mackinac Island hires up to 4,500 seasonal workers each year. Its 500 year-around residents cannot begin to supply the workforce necessary for peak-season employment levels; and
Whereas, foreign workers supplement the seasonal staff needs in a host of our tourism and recreation destinations. Many of these employees are in our country under the H2B visa program; and
Whereas, all workers under the H2B visa program are here legally, are tracked by the federal government to ensure they are doing the work their visa is intended for, and are paid under federally prescribed wage scales; and
Whereas, Congress took action to help alleviate problems with the H2B visa program by capping the number of visas available at 66,000, but also exempting workers who already held an H2B visa. This action ensures that there is enough of a workforce available for those industries that depend on seasonal workers; and
Whereas, there is a sunset in the law on the federal level that would remove the returning worker exemption. As of September 30, 2007, every returning worker will again be considered a new worker and be forced to apply under the 66,000 visa limit. This cap had been reached for each of the previous few years before Congress took action, just as the national economy has surged and more and more people are traveling. The cap also distorted hiring patterns across the nation, as employers are forced to put on workers far beyond service needs to help assure that they will have the employees they need when their season begins; and
Whereas, legislation has been introduced in Congress to revise the H2B visa program. The measure would extend the H2B returning worker exemption by removing the sunset language from current law. Clearly, this is an issue that needs prompt action: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to continue exempting returning workers allowed into this country under the H2B visa program by passing H.R. 1843; 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 Michigan congressional delegation.
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POM-245. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to continue exempting returning workers from the cap on H2B visas; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
House Resolution No. 183
Whereas, seasonal workers are an essential component of the tourism and recreational industries of our state and nation. Even though thousands of young people use seasonal employment to begin their journey on the path to a career, many tourism areas do not have the populations necessary to fill all the seasonal jobs available. In Michigan, for example, Mackinac Island hires up to 4,500 seasonal workers each year. The island's 500 year-round residents cannot supply the workforce necessary for peak season employment levels; and
Whereas, foreign workers supplement the seasonal staff needs in a host of our tourism and recreation destinations. Many of these employees are in our country under the H2B visa program; and
Whereas, all workers under the H2B visa program are here legally, are tracked by the federal government to ensure they are doing the work prescribed under their visa, and are paid under federally prescribed wage scales; and
Whereas, according to the Michigan Travel Commission, the travel and tourism industry is a $17.5 billion industry in the state of Michigan, contributing $971 million annually to the state treasury. This industry is dependent upon seasonal workers in order to do business; and
Whereas, recently, the Congress of the United States took action to help alleviate problems with the H2B visa program by capping the number of visas available at 66,000 but also exempting workers who already have H2B visas. This action ensured that there is enough of a workforce available for those industries that depend on seasonal workers; and
Whereas, currently, there is a sunset in the law at the federal level that would remove the returning worker exemption. As of September 30, 2007, every returning worker would again be considered a new worker and be forced to apply under the 66,000 visa limit. This cap had been reached for each of the previous few years before Congress took action, just as the national economy has surged and more and more people are traveling. This cap also distorted hiring patterns across the nation, as employers are forced to put on workers far beyond service needs to help assure that they will have the employees they need when their season begins; and
Whereas, legislation has been introduced in the Congress of the United States to revise the H2B visa program. The measure would extend the H2B returning worker exemption by removing the sunset language from current law. Clearly, this is an issue that needs prompt action: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to continue exempting returning workers from the cap on H2B visas; 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-246. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to reestablish medical care for certain veterans whose income and disability status disqualified them for medical care as of January 17, 2003; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
House Resolution No. 175
Whereas, we have been at war for nearly six years since the September 11th terrorist attacks on our soil. During this time, American military personnel have served around the world in combat. The wounds and illnesses that they may endure as the result of this service in our defense could affect them for a lifetime. It is our responsibility as a nation to honor their service and sacrifice by doing all we can to restore their health and opportunities in civilian life; and
Whereas, beginning January 17, 2003, veterans with income above certain levels and who have no service-connected disability have been ineligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care. These Priority 8 category veterans may lack other sources of health care, and so ineligibility for VA health care could be a threat to their long-term health. Even veterans without evident war-related injuries or illnesses could have hidden health issues that can evolve into serious problems. Infections or viruses from serving in foreign lands might not reveal themselves until later in life. In addition, veterans with combat wounds such as traumatic brain injury (TSI) from blast effects or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may not display symptoms for years. Without early access to the VA healthcare system, veterans may not have the benefits of medical monitoring and early intervention in developing health issues; and
Whereas, Congress has before it two bills that would restore VA eligibility to these Priority 8 veterans under current standards with income levels too high and no service-connected disability. In the House of Representatives, HR 463 would restore this eligibility, while in the Senate, S 1147 has been introduced. We owe it to our veterans to act on this legislation to ensure that any long-term problems that may not be currently evident can be identified and treated in a timely manner. Providing quality health care is part of our duty as a nation to our veterans, and there is no excuse for failing to right this mistake: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to reestablish medical care for certain veterans whose income and disability status disqualified them for Department of Veterans Affairs medical care as of January 17, 2003; 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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