Volume 160, No. 111 covering the 2nd Session of the 113th Congress (2013 - 2014) 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 S4553-S4557 on July 16, 2014.
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-303. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of California calling upon the Congress and the President of the United States to stabilize the federal Highway Trust Fund by developing a long-term plan to promote adequate federal Highway Trust Fund revenues; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 24
Whereas, A safe, efficient, and reliable surface transportation network is vital to California's future economic growth, quality of life, and security; and
Whereas, Inadequate investment in California's highway and bridge infrastructure system is having a dramatic impact on the citizens of California, causing them to spend too much time idling on increasingly congested roads and bridges rather than with their families; and
Whereas, The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), that authorized the federal highway and public transportation programs, will expire September 30, 2014; and
Whereas, The federal Highway Trust Fund and its user fee-based revenue stream supports all federal investment in highway and bridge improvements and the vast majority of the federal public transportation program; and
Whereas, The federal Highway Trust Fund experienced revenue shortfalls in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 that created uncertainty about federal surface transportation investment commitments; and
Whereas, The United States Department of Transportation will begin slowing reimbursements to states for already approved federal-aid projects as early as July of this year to preserve a positive balance in the federal Highway Trust Fund; and
Whereas, The Congressional Budget Office reports the federal Highway Trust Fund will be unable to support any new highway or public transportation spending in the 2015 fiscal year absent congressional action to increase trust fund revenues; and
Whereas, Eliminating federal highway and public transportation investment in one year would threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide and severely disrupt California's long-term transportation improvement plans: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges timely action by the President and the Congress of the United States to stabilize the federal Highway Trust Fund by developing a long-term plan to promote adequate federal Highway Trust Fund revenues that achieves all of the following:
(a) Continues an appropriate role for the federal government in sustaining a viable national transportation system.
(b) Contributes to deficit reductions and economic growth.
(c) Ensures the integrity of the surface transportation program and resists funding diversions that have been harmful to public support.
(d) Allows the Congress to pass a reauthorization of the federal highway and public transportation programs before MAP-21 expires; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.
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POM-304. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of North Carolina urging the United States Congress to pass legislation to protect the Corolla wild horses so that they can survive as a free-roaming wild herd for future generations to enjoy; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
House Resolution 1257
Whereas, the Corolla wild horses living along the Outer Banks of Currituck County, North Carolina, are descendants of horses brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers and colonists beginning in the 16th century; and
Whereas, the Corolla wild horses are known as Colonial Spanish Mustangs; and
Whereas, these Colonial Spanish Mustangs have played a significant role in the history and culture of North Carolina's coastal area for hundreds of years; and
Whereas, in 2009, the General Assembly adopted these Colonial Spanish Mustangs as the official horse of the State of North Carolina; and
Whereas, the Corolla wild horses freely roam 7,500 acres of public and private land in Currituck County; and
Whereas, the Corolla wild horses have been managed through a public-private partnership that includes representatives of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of North Carolina, Currituck County, and the Corolla Wild Horse Fund; and
Whereas, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is insisting that no more than 60 horses be allowed in the herd; and
Whereas, world-renowned genetic scientists have determined that a herd of at least 110 horses, with a target population of 120 to 130 horses is necessary to maintain the genetic viability of the Corolla herd; and
Whereas, 110 to 130 horses is well within the carrying capacity of the land the Corolla wild horses roam; and
Whereas, the Corolla wild horses are a critical component of the heritage and economy of Currituck County: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives:
Section 1. This body urges Congress to pass legislation to protect the Corolla wild horses so that they can survive as a free-roaming wild herd for future generations to enjoy.
Section 2. The Principal Clerk shall transmit certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore and the Secretary of the United States Senate, and the members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation.
Section 3. This resolution is effective upon adoption.
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POM-305. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts expressing its support for the people of Nigeria, especially the parents and families of the girls abducted by certain individuals, and calling for the immediate and safe return of the girls; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Resolutions
Whereas, as many as 234 female students, the majority of whom are between 16 to 18 years of age, were kidnapped by armed men from the government girls secondary school in the Federal Republic of Nigeria on April 14, 2014 and efforts by the United States to aid in their rescue are underway;
Whereas, Militants burned down several buildings, then shot at soldiers and police who were guarding the school; and
Whereas, Public secondary schools in Nigeria have been subjected to many attacks in 2014, resulting in hundreds of students being killed; and
Whereas, the militant group known as Boko Haram has taken responsibility for this mass kidnapping; and
Whereas, United Nations has declared that girls' education is a major challenge in Nigeria and, according to the world economic forum's global gender gap index, Nigeria is ranked 106 out of 136 countries based on women's economic participation, educational attainment and political empowerment; and
Whereas, the United States Senate has affirmed that women and girls must be allowed to go to school without fear of violence and unjust treatment so that they can take their rightful place as equal citizens of and contributors to the world; and
Whereas, the Massachusetts Senate has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women and girls, to ensuring the safety, welfare and education of women and girls and to pursuing policies that guarantee the rights of women and girls: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Massachusetts Senate hereby expresses its strong support for the people of Nigeria, especially the parents and families of the girls abducted by Boko Haram and calls for the immediate and safe return of the girls; 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 the Commonwealth.
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POM-306. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Michigan urging the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and the Congress of the United States to invoke the participation of the International Joint Commission under Article IX, Article X, or both, of the Boundary Waters Treaty to evaluate the proposed underground nuclear waste repository in Ontario, Canada, and similar facilities; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senate Resolution No. 151
Whereas, Ontario Power Generation is proposing to construct an underground, long-term burial facility for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station. This site is less than a mile inland from the shore of Lake Huron; and
Whereas, Placing a permanent nuclear waste burial facility so dose to the Great Lakes shoreline is a matter of serious concern for the inhabitants of the Great Lakes states and provinces. A leak or breach of radioactivity from this waste facility could damage the ecology of the lakes. Tens of millions of United States and Canadian citizens depend on the lakes for drinking water, fisheries, tourism, recreation, and other industrial and economic uses; and
Whereas, Michigan recognizes the duty of the legislative branch of government to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens and the state's natural resources. Article IV, Section 50 of the Michigan Constitution authorizes the Legislature to regulate atomic energy in view of the safety and general welfare of the people. Article IV, Section 51 declares that the public health and general welfare of the people of the state are matters of primary public concern, while Article IV, Section 52 requires the Legislature to provide for the protection of the air, water, and other natural resources of the state from pollution, impairment, and destruction; and
Whereas, The Michigan Legislature has recognized the inherent dangers of siting a radioactive waste storage facility near the shores of the Great Lakes. Under Public Act No. 204 of 1987, the final siting criteria for a radioactive waste facility containing the same types of waste as would be stored at the proposed Ontario repository includes a prohibition on siting it within 10 miles of one of the Great Lakes, the Saint Mary's River, Detroit River, St. Clair River, or Lake St. Clair; and
Whereas, The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) is a binational agreement to address critical environmental health issues in the Great Lakes region, with the overall purpose of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes. Article 6 of the GLWQA acknowledges the importance of anticipating, preventing, and responding to threats to the Great Lakes and recognizes that a nuclear waste facility sited close to the Greg Lakes shoreline could lead to a pollution incident or could have a significant cumulative impact on the waters of the Great Lakes; and
Whereas, The 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty recognizes the immense importance of the Great Lakes as a shared resource between the United States and Canada. The wisdom of the Treaty drafters is reflected in the creation of the International Joint Commission (IJC), composed of three members from the United States and three members from Canada, to act as impartial watchdogs over the boundary waters between the countries. Under Article IX of the Treaty, questions or matters of difference between the countries involving their rights, obligations, or interests along their common frontier may be referred to the IJC for examination and report, upon the request of either country. Under Article X, the IJC may be asked to make a binding decision on an issue of difference between the two countries, upon the consent and referral by both the United States and Canada; and
Whereas, The IJC has frequently been asked to weigh in on major topics of concern to the Great Lakes region. In 1912, a few years after the Treaty's ratification, the IJC was asked to examine and report on the extent, causes, and location of pollution in the boundary waters and to recommend remedies and pollution prevention strategies. In 1999, the IJC was asked to study the international export of bulk supplies of Great Lakes water. The IJC provides an objective and international forum to study Great Lakes issues that affect both countries: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and the Congress of the United States to invoke the participation of the International Joint Commission under Article IX, Article X, or both, of the Boundary Waters Treaty to evaluate the proposed underground nuclear waste repository in Ontario, Canada, and similar facilities; and be it further
Resolved, That we urge the other Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces to adopt appropriate regulations to protect the Great Lakes region from radioactive waste and to petition their respective federal governments to engage the IJC under Article IX, Article X, or both, of the Boundary Waters Treaty to evaluate the proposed underground nuclear waste repository in Ontario, Canada, and similar facilities; and be it further
Resolved, That we urge the Prime Minister of Canada and the Canadian Parliament to suspend the Joint Review Panel process convened by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to decide whether to grant Ontario Power Generation a license to construct the underground nuclear waste repository so that it can receive input from the IJC, the Great Lakes Commission, and the state of Michigan; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Canada, the United States Secretary of State, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the Speaker of the Canadian Senate, the Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, and the governors or premiers and the legislative majority leaders in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Quebec.
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POM-307. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of North Carolina urging the United States Congress to enact legislation that will lead to the recognition of World War II Coastwise Merchant Mariners as veterans of the United States Armed Forces; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
House Resolution 1256
Whereas, during World War II, United States Merchant Mariners who served along the coastline of the United States, and were known as Coastwise Merchant Mariners, helped to transport materials, including food, clothing, and weapons, to members of the United States Armed Forces serving on three continents; and
Whereas, the Coastwise Merchant Mariners bravely performed their duties even as they were in danger of attack from German U-boats operating along our nation's coastal waters; and
Whereas, many of the Coastwise Merchant Mariners were elderly, handicapped, women, and underage children who stepped forward in the time of a national crisis to ensure that the members of the United States Armed Forces were sufficiently supplied as they fought enemy forces; and
Whereas, because of administrative rules and decisions made by the United States Navy, many Coastwise Merchant Mariners who served during World War II were not recognized as veterans and thus were not eligible for the veterans benefits they had earned; and
Whereas, in the years following World II, as a result of some changes in federal law and federal rules and regulations, some of the Coastwise Merchant Mariners previously denied veterans benefits were finally recognized as veterans and therefore entitled to the same benefits as other veterans of the United States Armed Forces; and
Whereas, despite the past recognition of some Coastwise Merchant Mariners as veterans, as many as 30,000 Coastwise Merchant Mariners may never get that recognition due to the documentation required to prove their service during World War II; and
Whereas, through no fault of these courageous individuals, much of the documentation proving they served their country during World War II as Coastwise Merchant Mariners has been lost or destroyed or was never recorded; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1. The House of Representatives honors the brave men, women, and children who valiantly served our country as Coastwise Merchant Mariners during World War II.
SECTION 2. The House of Representatives urges Congress to do the following:
(1) Conduct congressional inquiries into (i) the lack of recognition given to the World War II Coastwise Merchant Mariners who were lost in action without having been recognized by our nation as veterans and (ii) the reason World War II Coastwise Merchant Mariners records that are known to exist have not been moved to the National Records Center for use by families and researchers in accordance with agreements between the National Archives and Records Administration and the Department of Defense.
(2) Enact legislation that expands the types of acceptable documentation that Coastwise Merchant Mariners may use to prove their service during World War II, and to thereafter require that those who can provide the documentation be finally recognized as veterans entitled to the accompanying benefits.
SECTION 3. The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation, and the news media of North Carolina.
SECTION 4. This resolution is effective upon adoption.
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POM-308. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania expresging support for the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and calling on the United States and the European Union to continue to work together to support a peaceful resolution to the crisis; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senate Resolution No. 284
Whereas, A democratic, prosperous and independent Ukraine is in the national interest of the United States; and
Whereas, Closer relations with the European Union (EU) through the signing of an Association Agreement will promote democratic values, good governance and economic opportunity in Ukraine; and
Whereas, Millions of Ukrainian citizens support closer relations with Europe and the signing of an Association Agreement; and
Whereas, The Government of Ukraine has declared integration with Europe a national priority and has made significant progress toward meeting the requirements for the Association Agreement; and
Whereas, Ukraine has the sovereign right to enter into voluntary partnerships of its choosing, in keeping with its interests; and
Whereas, Ukraine's closer relations with the EU do not threaten any other country and will benefit both Ukraine and its neighbors; and
Whereas, On November 21, 2013, following several months of intense outside pressure, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly suspended negotiations on the Association Agreement one week before it was due to be signed at the EU's Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania; and
Whereas, This reversal of stated government policy precipitated demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv as well as in cities throughout the country; and
Whereas, The demonstrators were overwhelmingly peaceful and have sought to exercise their constitutional rights to freely assemble and express their oppositions to President Yanukovych's decision, as well as their support for greater government accountability and closer relations with Europe; and
Whereas, On November 30, 2013, police violently dispersed peaceful demonstrators in Kyiv's Independence Square, resulting in many injuries and the arrest of several dozen individuals; and
Whereas, On December 9, 2013, police raided three opposition media outlets and the headquarters of an opposition party; and
Whereas, On December 11, 2013, despite President Yanukovych's statement the previous day that he would engage in talks with the opposition, police attempted to forcibly evict peaceful protesters from central locations in Kyiv; and
Whereas, United States, European and other leaders, as well as three former presidents of Ukraine, urged restraint, warned against the use of violence against peaceful protesters and called for dialogue with the opposition to resolve the current political and economic crisis; and
Whereas, On January 16, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament passed, and President Yanukovych signed, legislation which severely limited the right of peaceful protest, constrained freedom of speech and the independent media and unduly restricted civil society organizations; and
Whereas, The passage of these undemocratic measures and President Yanukovych's refusal to engage in substantive dialogue with opposition leaders precipitated several days of violence and resulted in several deaths and hundreds of injuries, as well as numerous allegations of police brutality; and
Whereas, In the face of spreading demonstrations, Ukrainian Government representatives and opposition leaders entered into negotiations which on January 28, 2014, resulted in the resignation of the Prime Minister and his cabinet and the repeal of most of the antidemocratic laws from January 16, 2014; and
Whereas, On February 20, 2014, Ukrainian security forces, including heavily armed snipers, fired on demonstrators in Kyiv, leaving dozens dead and the people of Ukraine reeling from the most lethal day of violence since the Soviet era, and many of President Yanukovych's political allies, including the major of Kyiv, resigned from his governing Party of Regions to protest the bloodshed; and
Whereas, On February 22, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament found President Yanukovych unable to fulfill his duties, exercised its constitutional powers to remove him from office and set an election for May 25, 2014, to select his replacement; and
Whereas, On March 2, 2014, Russian troops invaded the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, seizing control of the peninsula, border crossings, government and administrative buildings, key infrastructure and surrounding Ukrainian military bases; and
Whereas, The military intervention by the Russian Federation in Crimea is a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity; and
Whereas, On March 16, 2014, Crimea held a referendum on seceding from Ukraine and acceding to the Russian Federation, which violated the Ukrainian constitution, occurred under duress of Russian military intervention and was not recognized by the international community; and
Whereas, On March 20, 2014, the Russian parliament noted to annex Crimea and Russian President Putin signed the treaty of accession annexing Crimea to the Russian Federation; and
Whereas, On April 7, 2014, protesters occupied government buildings in Ukraine's eastern cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv; and
Whereas, On April 18, 2014, the United States, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union agreed at talks in Geneva on steps to de-escalate the crisis in eastern Ukraine; and
Whereas, On April 22, 2014, Ukraine's acting president ordered the relaunch of military operations against pro-Russian militants in the east after two men were found tortured to death in the Donetsk region; and
Whereas, On May 25, 2014, Ukraine held a presidential election, but most polling stations in the east remained closed; and
Whereas, Pedro Poroshenko was elected President and vowed to bring ``peace to a united and free Ukraine''; and
Whereas, The Senate greatly values the warm and close relationship the United States has established with Ukraine since that country regained its independence in 1991: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania express support for the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate call on the United States and the European Union to continue to work together to support a peaceful resolution to the crisis and to continue to support the desire of millions of Ukrainian citizens for closer relations with Europe through finalizing the signing of an Association Agreement, as well as for a democratic future; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate condemn the unprovoked and illegal Russian military seizure and annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate urge the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian opposition parties and all protesters to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid confrontation and call on the Government of the Ukraine to live up to its international obligations and respect and uphold the democratic rights of its citizens, including the freedom of assembly and expression, as well as the freedom of the press; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate urge all parties to engage in constructive, sustained dialogue in order to find a peaceful solution to Ukraine's current political and economic crisis; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of the resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the presiding officers of each house of Congress and each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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POM-309. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging the Congress of the United States to approve the Presidents budget proposal to provide 35 million dollars to help communities process evidence from untested sexual assault kits; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
House Resolution No. 382
Whereas, Sexual violence continues to plague our nation and destroy lives. Women and girls are the vast majority of victims, and nearly one in five women, or about 22 million, have been raped during their lifetimes. Men and boys are also at risk and one in 71 men, or about 1.6 million, have been raped during their lifetimes. Nearly one-half of all female rape survivors were raped before I8 years of age, and over one-quarter of male rape survivors were raped before 10 years of age; and
Whereas, Effective collection of forensic evidence is of paramount importance to successfully prosecuting sex offenders, as is performing sexual assault forensic exams in a sensitive, dignified, and victim-centered manner. Sexual assault forensic examinations are intrusive, lengthy, and complex medical examinations that take an average of three to four hours. A victim who agrees to a sexual assault forensic exam reasonably expects evidence collected from that exam, also referred to as a rape kit, to be analyzed; and
Whereas, The federal government has estimated that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in police and crime storage facilities across the country in what is known as the rape kit backlog. Crime labs have struggled over the past decade to meet the demand for DNA testing for all types of crimes. With demand continuing to outpace capacity--the Joyful Heart Foundation estimates that every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted in the U.S.--the backlog in testing evidence collected from sexual assault forensic exams will likely continue to grow; and
Whereas, Untested sexual assault kits mean lost opportunities to develop DNA profiles, search for matches, link cold cases, and bring justice and resolution to the victim. DNA can help identify unknown offenders and when the offender is known, it can result in ``cold hits'' connecting the known suspect to other crimes. Failure to test evidence collected from a sexual assault kit in a timely manner can be tragic, from expired statutes of limitation that preclude prosecution even if a suspect is later identified, to additional rape and murder victims of serial rapists; and
Whereas, Local jurisdictions that have attempted to alleviate the rape kit backlog have impressive results to show for their efforts. With federal funding, the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney's Office along with the Detroit Police Department, has begun to address a backlog of more than 10,000 rape kits. Among those first 1,600 kits tested, there were 455 matches in the DNA database, including matches linking to crimes committed in 22 other states and the District of Columbia. The Prosecutor's Office identified 127 potential serial rapists and obtained 14 convictions of potential serial rapists who are lied to rapes reported in 12 other states and the District of Columbia; and
Whereas, Testing sexual assault kits provides essential evidence. But, equally essential is the investigation and prosecution of identified perpetrators, without which survivors arc denied justice, rapists remain free to assault with impunity, and our communities continue to suffer emotionally and economically; and
Whereas, Reducing the rape kit backlog is a national concern requiring a national response. Federal funding is crucial to help communities in Michigan and other states to test and follow up on untested sexual assault kits: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge Congress of the United States to approve President Obama's budget proposal to provide $35 million to help communities process evidence from untested sexual assault kits; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of the 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-310. A joint resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado designating the month of October as
``Safe Schools Month''; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Senate Joint Resolution 14-031
Whereas, Colorado is committed to ensuring safe schools for all students, from early learning to higher education; and
Whereas, Safe schools provide an environment where effective teaching and learning can take place so that all education goals can be achieved; and
Whereas, Safe schools interface with the larger community by providing safe havens and distribution centers in the event of greater community crisis; and
Whereas, Each school day, Colorado school personnel are accountable for the safety of over 875,000 students, or about one-sixth of the total population of the state; and
Whereas, Educators and school personnel are the first responders in the schools, on the routes to and from school, on field trips, and at school-related events; and
Whereas, Schools face a broad range of safety-related threats, including human-caused hazards, technological hazards, and natural hazards; and
Whereas, Schools must adopt guiding principles of readiness and all-hazards emergency management, including prevention, mitigation, protection, preparedness, response, and recovery, in addressing these threats; and
Whereas, Educators and school personnel must communicate, coordinate, and collaborate with professional responders and other community partners in applying these guiding principles; and
Whereas, Schools must keep pace with improvements and changes in safe schools design, crime prevention through environmental design, security systems, communications, information management, training programs, and other resources related to school safety; and
Whereas, Schools must continually evaluate and update policies, standard operating procedures, memoranda of understanding, best practices, lessons learned, and fundraising activities related to school safety; and
Whereas, Schools can improve safety by making sure that climates are welcoming and that responses to misbehavior are fair, non-discriminatory and effective through training staff, engaging families and community partners, and deploying resources to help students develop the social, emotional, and conflict resolution skills needed to avoid and de-escalate problems; and
Whereas, The mission of the Colorado School Safety Resource Center is to assist educators, emergency responders, community organizations, school mental health professionals, parents, and students in creating safe, positive, and successful school environments for Colorado students in all K-12 and higher education schools; and
Whereas, In 2013, the Colorado School Safety Resource Center published nearly 800 announcements in its monthly newsletters on school safety-related topics such as training, grant information, prevention and protection resources, current research and statistical resources, and youth-specific information; and
Whereas, The members of the General Assembly believe that a yearly commemorative month devoted to school safety and a safe school climate can encourage activities that provide awareness about school safety topics: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly:
(1) Believe that establishing a commemorative month devoted to school safety and school climate can foster awareness about these important topics affecting our state's children and educators;
(2) Designate October as ``Safe Schools Month'' in Colorado; and
(3) Encourage all educators, community partners, first responders, subject matter experts, members of the private sector, the media, and other stakeholders to coordinate their activities with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center and to help promote a culture of school safety and positive school climate, and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States; Vice President Joe Biden; United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; United States Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson; United States Attorney General Eric Holder; the office of the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services; United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel; United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx; Gina McCarthy, Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency; the Honorable John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado; Executive Director, Colorado Department of Higher Education, Lt. Gov. Joseph A. Garcia; Kristin D. Russell, Colorado Secretary of Technology and State Chief Information Officer, Governor's Office of Information Technology; Robert Hammond, Commissioner of Education, Colorado Department of Education; Scott Newell, Director, Division of Capital Construction, Colorado Department of Education; Sarah Mathew, Director, Office of Health and Wellness, Colorado Department of Education; Richard Kaufman, Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education; Nancy McCallin, President, Colorado Community College System; John W. Suthers, Attorney General, Colorado Department of Law; Susan Payne, Director, Safe2Tell; Kathy E. Sasak, Interim Executive Director, Colorado Department of Public Safety; Paul Cooke, Director, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control; Kevin R. Klein, Director, Division of Homeland Security Emergency Management; Colonel Scott Hernandez, Chief, Colorado State Patrol; Christine R. Harms, Director, Colorado School Safety Resource Center; Reggie Bicha, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Human Services; Dr. Larry Wolk, Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; John Salazar, Commissioner of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Agriculture; Donald E. Hunt, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Transportation; and to each member of Colorado's Congressional delegation.
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POM-311. A joint memorial adopted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado urging the United States Congress to provide statutory relief to grant Colorado research institutions the authority to conduct controlled clinical and objective medical research trials regarding marijuana's medical efficacy; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Senate Joint Memorial 14-006
Whereas, Colorado is in a unique situation regarding marijuana use in this country; and
Whereas, Colorado's constitution authorizes the legal use of marijuana for both medical and private adult use, but the use of marijuana is still illegal under federal law; and
Whereas, Because marijuana use has been illegal under federal law since 1937, there is limited modern, scientific-based research regarding the medical use of marijuana; and
Whereas, Without medical research, most information regarding marijuana's medical efficacy is limited in clinical or scientific evidence and is anecdotal or observational; and
Whereas, Several marijuana extracts seem to demonstrate significant benefits for pain control, treatment of childhood epileptic seizures, and other beneficial effects, often with fewer side effects than prescription drugs, and without use dependence; and
Whereas, Colorado has an unprecedented opportunity to provide the United States with scientific-based, peer-reviewed clinical medical research that could lead to a medical consensus regarding marijuana's medical efficacy to treat a number of chronic and debilitating medical conditions; and
Whereas, Colorado is proposing to spend up to $10 million studying marijuana's medical efficacy in Senate Bill 14-155; and
Whereas, Federal law currently significantly restricts state research institutions that receive federal funding from conducting controlled clinical trials regarding marijuana's medical efficacy: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
That the United States Congress is hereby memorialized to provide statutory relief to grant Colorado research institutions the authority to conduct controlled clinical and objective medical research trials regarding marijuana's medical efficacy, and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this Joint Memorial be sent to each member of the Colorado Congressional delegation, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the president of the United States Senate.
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