Volume 150, No. 60 covering the 2nd Session of the 108th Congress (2003 - 2004) 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 S4831-S4836 on May 4, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
POM-397. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Washington relative to the State's military bases; to the Committee on Armed Services.
Senate Joint Memorial 8039
Whereas, the Department of Defense's military installations in Washington State play a vital role in the defense of the United States of America and its citizens and residents, both providing a power projection platform ideally situated geographically and by providing leadership within the military through innovation in transformational efforts; and
Whereas, the military installations in Washington State are striving to perform their current missions as efficiently and effectively as possible and to improve their ability to contribute to the defense of the nation for the long term; and
Whereas, the majority of major conflicts of the 20th century have been in or around the Pacific Ocean, including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the emerging threats of the 21st century are in that same area; and
Whereas, each of the military installations in Washington performs vital strategic functions, including the only homeport for Trident Ballistic Missile Submarines on the Pacific Coast, the only torpedo manufacturing facility in the nation, the only deep draft military shipyard on the Pacific Coast, a major base for C-17 aircraft, the sole Air Force Survival School in the nation, the only major Army installation west of the Rocky mountains capable of large scale troop deployment, and the base with the highest number of VFR flying days of any Naval Air Station in the United States; and
Whereas, Washington State has an excellent working relationship at both the state and local level with each of the military installations, demonstrated in part by the numerous partnerships among the military and local governments and private and nonprofit sectors in providing services to both military and civilian personnel, by involvement of military installations in state and local land use, transportation and other planning, and by the ongoing community support to the military personnel and their families; and
Whereas, the military's presence, in all forms, contributes greatly to the economy, security, and social fabric of Washington State as one of the largest employers in the state, a significant purchaser of goods, services, and construction from the private sector, and a source of leadership in state, local, and community organizations; and
Whereas, Washington State consistently provides a high quality of life to military personnel stationed in our state, evidenced by the large number of terminal postings to bases in Washington State, additionally, our state benefits from the large number of skilled and talented military personnel and their families who remain in or return to Washington after leaving active duty; and
Whereas, the Washington State Legislature recognizes the importance of the Department of Defense's military installations within Washington State, both to the defense of the United States and the vitality of Washington as an economy and a people;
Now, Therefore, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the President, Congress, and the Department of Defense will recognize the strategic importance of these bases to our Nation's security and not make them victims of this round of the Base Realignment and Closure process.
Your Memorialists further pray that the military facilities in Washington state will continue to serve in the defense of our nation for many years to come; be it
Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United State, the Secretary of the Department of Defense, the President of the Untied States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.
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POM-398. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Washington relative to The 211 Act, HR 3111, and SB 1630; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House Joint Memorial 4040
Whereas, tens of thousands of Washington State residents have a need to access a variety of human and social service needs each day, ranging from appropriate child care to affordable housing, support for a homebound parent to food or crisis counseling for teen parents; and
Whereas, thousands of different local, regional, and statewide organizations in Washington State, both public and private, provide services that respond to these needs; and
Whereas, it is often extremely difficult and time consuming for residents to identify and access available services; and
Whereas, the process of connecting those living and working in Washington State with needed services can be simplified by the establishment of a 211 telephone dialing option; and
Whereas, the local, regional, and statewide providers of human and social services would benefit from the more accurate and timely information about needs and resources around the state that is connected by 211 services; and
Whereas, seventy million Americans (23% of the United States population) have access to 211 service in 83 communities nationwide; and
Whereas, Washington Information Network 211 seeks to create a statewide 211 system using existing information and referral providers; and
Whereas, in 2003 the Washington State Legislature overwhelmingly supported and passed an act supporting 211 development and implementation for the residents of our state; and
Whereas, 211 service will soon be available in Clark County and King County, providing 211 access to over 2,000,000 people in Washington State; and
Whereas, 4,000,000 residents in rural and economically depressed areas of Washington State will not have access to 211 service until such time that sustainable public funding is secured; and
Whereas, philanthropic contributions already support the majority of costs associated with 211 development for Washington State; and
Whereas, Congress recognizes the value and broad public benefits of 211 through the inclusion of 211 service in the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002; and
Whereas, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Representative Jay Inslee, Representative Jim McDermott, and Representative Rick Larsen from our fair state of Washington are cosponsors of Senate Bill 1630 and House Resolution 3111;
Now, therefore, your memorialists respectfully pray that Congress immediately pass the Calling for 211 Act, HR 3111 and SB 1630: be it
Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.
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POM-399. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine relative to the exemption of the Passamaquoddy Tribe from certain provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Joint Resolution
We, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the Second Special Session, most respectfully present and petition the Congress of the United States as follows:
Whereas, the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 establishes federal responsibility to conserve marine mammals and established a moratorium on the taking and importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products; and
Whereas, the act gave certain exemptions to take marine mammals to Indian, Aleut and Eskimo people who live in Alaska and dwell on the coast of the North Pacific Ocean or the Arctic Ocean, if the taking is done in a nonwasteful manner and is for subsistence purposes or for creating and selling authentic native handicrafts and clothing; and
Whereas, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Maine, the first to see the rising sun each day, has the largest reservation in the State, situated on the west branch of the St. Croix River, which leads into the sea; and
Whereas, the Passamaquoddy Tribe has used marine mammals, such as porpoises and seals, for cultural, subsistence, ceremonial, medicinal and commercial uses in its long history in the area, and still do to a certain extent today; and
Whereas, at the time the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 was written, the Passamaquoddy Tribe had not been federally recognized and could not seek exemption from the act. In the late 1970s, federal recognition came, followed by the Maine Indian Land Claims Case, which defined a special relationship between the State of Maine and the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation; and
Whereas, it was agreed that these tribes would have authority over their own internal matters on the reservations. At the same time, it was agreed that they would continue the trust relationship with the Federal Government that had been recognized during the 1970s; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people of the State, in view of the trust that the Passamaquoddy Tribe has in the Federal Government, respectfully urge and request that the Congress of the United States give serious consideration to giving the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine a cultural exemption from the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as was done for the Alaskan Indian, Aleut and Eskimo peoples; and be it further
Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate and to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each member of the Marine Congressional Delegation.
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POM-400. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to the use of 75-foot crib carrier log hauling equipment; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House Resolution No. 168
Whereas, in the logging industry, an important industry for the state of Michigan, the crib carrier for log hauling offers an advancement that can increase the stability of loads with a new design for how the logs are arranged. In a highly competitive industry like lumbering, the new equipment represents significant progress; and
Whereas, current federal law places a 70-foot limit on the length of trucks, although a waiver has permitted the use of 75-foot equipment over the past couple of years. Until federal laws and regulations permit the use of a 75-foot truck length, sanctions will prevent the use of safer truck-trailer combinations; and
Whereas, the 75-foot equipment offers distinct safety measures not available through the 70-foot limit currently in place. Most importantly, the crib arrangement makes the load more secure, with added protection against a shifting cargo. This enhances safety along Michigan's roads; now, therefore, bit it
Resolved by the house of representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States and the United States Department of Transportation to permit the use of 75-foot crib carrier log hauling equipment; 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 United States Department of Transportation.
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POM-401. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan relative to a minimum rate of return of Michigan's Federal Transportation Funding; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House Resolution No. 198
Whereas, from 1956 to 2001 Michigan residents paid $1.71 billion dollars more in gas tax money to the federal government than they received in return. Only three states have a worse return rate than Michigan for that period; and
Whereas, Michigan faces a difficult task in maintaining a transportation network that meets the many needs of the individuals and businesses of this state. This task is made much more formidable by the continuing inequity of the percentage of funds returned to the state; and
Whereas, the federal road funding act, the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21), expired on February 29, 2004; and
Whereas, the House Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, signed by President Bush on February 29, 2004, extends highway, safety, transit, and other programs until April 30, 2004; and
Whereas, the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate each have bills pending to authorize a new funding system for the states; and
Whereas, in 2003, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1, House Concurrent Resolution No. 5, and House Resolution No. 9 all memorialized the Congress of the United States to establish a minimum rate of return of 95 percent of Michigan's federal transportation funding for highway and transit programs. As the federal government works on the next budget, it is imperative that this issue be kept before policymakers at every level to achieve this long overdue measure of equity, now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the house of representatives, That we hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to establish a minimum return rate of 95 percent of Michigan's federal transportation funding for highway and transit programs to bring greater fairness to the federal funding of transportation needs in Michigan; and be it further
Resolved, That we further memorialize Congress to act before the beginning of the 2004 road construction season; 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-402. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky relative to the Lewis and Clark National Historical Trail; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Resolution
Whereas, in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson gained approval to form an expeditionary group to explore the Western territory of the United States; and
Whereas, the ``Corps of Discovery,'' led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, embarked upon its epic adventure in April, 1805, which at its conclusion returned invaluable information relative to the peoples, wildlife, flora, and geography of the Western territory; and
Whereas, 2003 marked the bicentennial celebration of the embarkation of the Lewis and Clark Expedition; and
Whereas, Congress has seen fit to create the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail; and
Whereas, H.R. 2327 introduced by United States Representative Goode and S. 2018 introduced by United States Senator Bunning, now pending in the 108th Congress of the United States, seek to extend the boundaries of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail; and
Whereas, the extension of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail would make the trail the largest in the national parks system; and
Whereas, an extended Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail would serve to continue the celebration of the Lewis and Clark bicentennial celebration; and
Whereas, the extension of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail would provide enhanced educational possibilities for all; and
Whereas, the extension of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail would generate an increase in tourism and tourism revenue in the states where the trail runs; and
Whereas, the proposed extension of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail would include specific sites in the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
Section 1. The House of Representatives does hereby acknowledge the historic importance of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and encourages each and every member of the respective chambers of the Congress of the United States to cosponsor H.R. 2327 and S. 2018 of the 108th Congress of the United States to extend the length of the trail.
Section 2. The House of Representatives encourages the subsequent passage of H.R. 2327 and S. 2018 of the 108th Congress of the United States.
Section 3. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution of Jeff Trandahl, Clerk of the House of Representatives, United States Capitol, Room H154, Washington, D.C. 20515-6601 and to Emily Reynolds, Secretary of the Senate, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510, for distribution to the members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, respectively.
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POM-403. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the States of Ohio relative to the Abandoned Mine Land Fund; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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House Concurrent Resolution No. 31
Whereas, since 1800, substantial mining has occurred in Ohio, providing fuel for the United States' industrial revolution and support for two world war efforts. The mining industry also has been a major employer of the state's citizens for many of the years since 1800. However, the cumulative effects of past mining have caused significant environmental problems; and
Whereas, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 created the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program to help protect public health and safety and to restore lands and waters adversely affected by mining practices employed prior to August 3, 1977. The Program is funded by fees on coal production, which are deposited by the United States Secretary of the Interior into the Abandoned Mine Land Fund. As of March 31, 2003, more than $6.7 billion in fees have been deposited into the Fund, of which more than $1.4 billion remains to be appropriated to the states. The $1.4 billion includes more than $938 million in state and Indian tribal share funds. Ohio's state share is more than $22 million; and
Whereas, the expenditure of abandoned mine land funds on various reclamation projects by the twenty-three states and three Indian tribes that have federally approved abandoned mine reclamation programs has significantly improved public health and safety and the environment. In addition, that expenditure has provided an estimated 6,000 jobs and $130 million in economic benefits to the Appalachian region of Ohio alone; and
Whereas, authority to collect the fee for abandoned mine reclamation is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2004, eliminating additional revenue for the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program. However, $6.6 billion worth of identified health and safety problems remain nationally, including 203 million in inventoried problems in Ohio such as abandoned strip mines, mine openings, landslides, and flooding. In addition to these nationally identified health and safety problems, 1,300 miles of Ohio streams polluted by acid mine drainage and potential subsidence from 6,000 abandoned underground mines exist; and
Whereas, the people living in the country's mining regions, including Ohio's mining region, have the right to a safe environment, including clean drinking water and healthy streams in viable communities; now therefore be it
Resolved, that we, the members of the 125th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge Congress to reauthorize abandoned mine land fee collection authority for a minimum of twelve years, commencing October 1, 2004, to disperse state and tribal shares of annual fee collections each year without appropriation, and, in keeping faith with the goals of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, to provide eligible states and Indian tribes their lawful shares of the unappropriated balance in the Abandoned Mine Land Fund, after due consideration for the United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund, so that they may further protect public health and safety and enhance the environment of their states and tribal lands; and to consider reevaluating the administration of the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program and the Abandoned Mine Land Fund; and be it further
Resolved, that the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to the President Pro Tempore and the Secretary of the United States Senate, to the members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and to the news media of Ohio.
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POM-404. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky relative to the construction of Interstate 66 through the Purchase Area of Western Kentucky; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Resolution
Whereas, Kentucky lies in the heart of our nation and at the crossroads of the industrial North, the Eastern Seaboard, and the burgeoning Sunbelt; and
Whereas, transportation of goods and persons by ground has become increasingly important to the economy of our great nation; and
Whereas, the U.S. Interstate Highway System is one of the greatest engineering accomplishments in the history of mankind and has made our nation's system of highways the best in the world; and
Whereas, with its location on both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, the Purchase Area of Western Kentucky is situated at a crucial point in America's intermodal transportation system; and
Whereas, plans are underway for the development of Interstate 66, with a projected route through Southern Kentucky; and
Whereas, current changes in these plans have resulted in Interstate 66 ending at Interstate 24 before it enters the Purchase Area; and
Whereas, the extension of this route through the Purchase Area and into Missouri is crucial to fully realizing the benefits of an intermodal transportation system utilizing interstate highways, rail lines, and the many Kentucky riverports in the area; and
Whereas, it is vital that our national leaders understand the importance and urgency of this situation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
Section 1. The members of this body, both individually and collectively, urge the United States Congress to plan for and fund the design and construction of Interstate 66 through the Purchase Area of Kentucky and into Missouri.
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Clerk of the United States Senate, the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of Kentucky's Congressional delegation.
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POM-405. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky relative to the construction of Interstate 66 through the Purchase Area of Western Kentucky; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Resolution
Whereas, Kentucky lies in the heart of our nation and at the crossroads of the industrial North, the Eastern Seaboard, and the burgeoning Sunbelt; and
Whereas, transportation of goods and persons by ground has become increasingly important to the economy of our great nation; and
Whereas, the U.S. Interstate Highway System is one of the greatest engineering accomplishments in the history of mankind and has made our nation's system of highways the best in the world; and
Whereas, with its location on both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, the Purchase Area of Western Kentucky is situated at a crucial point in America's intermodal transportation system; and
Whereas, plans are underway for the development of Interstate 66, with a projected route through Southern Kentucky; and
Whereas, current changes in these plans have resulted in Interstate 66 ending at Interstate 24 before it enters the Purchase Area; and
Whereas, the extension of this route through the Purchase Area Counties of McCracken and Ballard and into Missouri is crucial to fully realizing the benefits of an intermodal transportation system utilizing interstate highways, rail lines, and the many Kentucky riverports in the area; and
Whereas, it is vital that our national leaders understand the importance and urgency of this situation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
Section 1. The members of this body, both individually and collectively, urge the United States Congress to plan for and fund the design and construction of Interstate 66 from Interstate 24 through McCracken and Ballard counties in Kentucky and into Missouri, with a bridge over the Mississippi River near Wickliffe.
Section 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Clerk of the United States Senate, the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, each member of Kentucky's Congressional delegation, and to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Maxwell C. Bailey.
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POM-406. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to the Great Lakes Controlled Data Collection and Monitoring Act; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
House Resolution No. 128
Whereas, the Great Lakes constitute a critically important resource for our nation. The long-term health of this vast and complicated freshwater network is fundamental to the quality of life through its impact on public health, commerce, transportation, and recreation; and
Whereas, the ongoing challenge of protecting the Great Lakes is complicated by the many threats the lakes face, the number of units of government within its basin, and inconsistencies in how data on the water is gathered, assessed, and acted upon; and
Whereas, in spite of the efforts of many public entities committed to protecting the Great Lakes, there is insufficient and inconsistent data on the impact that restoration efforts are having on water quality. The lack of data was confirmed by the General Accounting Office in a May 2003 report. Without reliable information, it is impossible to determine to what extent the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between our nation and Canada is progressing or whether federal and state water quality standards and programs are effective; and
Whereas, legislation is pending in Congress that would directly address the issue of how data on the Great Lakes is collected and assessed. The Great Lakes Controlled Data Collection and Monitoring Act, H.R. 2668, would direct the Great Lakes National Program Office of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop, implement, monitor, and report on indicators of water quality and related environmental factors in the Great Lakes. The legislation also authorizes appropriations to carry out this much-needed work; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Great Lakes Controlled Data Collection and Monitoring Act; 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-407. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to the gap between services offered to children in kinship care arrangements and services offered to children in foster care situations; to the Committee on Finance.
House Resolution No. 27
Whereas, the 2000 Census confirmed the trend that increasing numbers of children are being raised by grandparents. In many of these situations, a grandparent or other relative is raising one or more children as an alternative to foster placement. While such situations offer many advantages to children and save the state a considerable amount of money, public policies recognizing these realities are inadequate; and
Whereas, there is a serious gap between the level of services offered to children in kinship care situations and those in foster care arrangements. While some children in kinship care can be eligible for support through the TANF program, the level of assistance through child-only grants is notably lower; and
Whereas, the gap between assistance offered to poor children being raised by a family member rather than a foster family is especially evident in eligibility for food programs, specifically school lunch programs. Indeed, the potential for harm to children living in situations where access to good nutrition is not assured represents a serious threat in our society. Addressing this problem by increasing access to school lunch programs for children living in kinship care arrangements is most appropriate; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to address the gap between services offered to children in kinship care arrangements and services offered to children in foster care situations, specifically by extending access to free school lunch programs for more children living in kinship care; 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-408. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Utah relative to urging Congress to consider withdrawing the United States from the United Nations; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
House Joint Resolution 3
Whereas, the United States is known for its compassionate people who are generous and kind in caring for the needs of those in other countries and whose resources are used worldwide to alleviate hunger and poverty;
Whereas, United States military forces are called upon to bear the brunt of any conflicts that may arise, which costs the lives of many American armed forces members, while other nations stay on the sidelines;
Whereas, the United States provides the largest share of the financial burden for the United Nations, amounting to hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars each year which could be used to address many of the nation's own needs;
Whereas, many of the countries who are members of the United Nations are not only unfriendly to the United States, but also support ideas and interests that are detrimental to the United States;
Whereas, member nations that are among the worst human rights violators are members of, and even chair, the committee to investigate human rights violations while the United States is denied membership;
Whereas, the secretary-general of the United Nations, as well as most other leaders and committee chairs, are chosen from nations who do not share the values of the United States, but this nation is expected to follow their decisions and programs;
Whereas, the United States was founded, and the constitution was created, for the purpose of protecting freedoms and God-given rights and for protecting the nation's values and way of life;
Whereas, the United States was created to be independent from, not subject to, the laws and rules of other nations;
Whereas, the United Nations has further imperiled the sovereignty of the United States' military serving abroad by adopting an International Criminal Court, which violates both the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the United States Constitution;
Whereas, the International Criminal Court has no legitimate authority and lacks any body of laws by which to adjudicate cases since the authority to enact laws rests with sovereign nations;
Whereas, the International Criminal Court merges the functions of prosecutor and adjudicator into one office, which is contrary to the United States Constitution;
Whereas, the International Criminal Court fails to provide any appeal from adjudication at the trial level and fails to provide for a trial by jury;
Whereas, the International Criminal Court fails to provide that the accused be confronted by his or her accusers, providing instead for the use of hearsay evidence;
Whereas, the International Criminal Court fails to provide for the accused the right to compel the production of witnesses;
Whereas, the International Criminal Court allows evidence obtained from the accused by compulsion;
Whereas, the International Criminal Court denies other fundamental rights recognized in the constitutional jurisprudence of the United States;
Whereas, even though the United States has not signed the agreement to abide by the decisions of the International Criminal Court, when two-thirds of the member nations sign, it will be binding on all members,
Whereas, the United States Constitution, which provides America with the greatest form of government known to humankind, and which was made possible and protected by much sacrifice and bloodshed throughout the nation's history, is not recognized as a governing document by the United Nations;
Whereas, the continual use of the nation's resources and armed forces to enforce its resolutions and to police the world as a result of failed United Nations peace overtures may eventually weaken the United States to the point where it can no longer defend its freedoms;
Whereas, the absolute failure of the United Nations to support the United States in the war against terrorism in Iraq is but the latest affront to the citizens of the United States; and
Whereas, the United States has more to lose than it can gain by continuing as a member of the United Nations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That because the United Nations exercises power and authority to override the sovereignty and self determination of the people of our Nation the Legislature of the state of Utah respectfully but firmly requests that the United States Congress consider dissolving the membership of the United States in the United Nations, thereby freeing the nation from a large financial burden and retaining the nation's sovereignty to decide what is best for the nation and determine what steps it considers appropriate as the leader of the free world in full control of its armed forces and destiny: be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States, and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.
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POM-409. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Tennessee relative to United States government uniforms and equipment; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 64
Whereas, it is with great pride and honor that the hardworking employees of American factories craft the uniforms and equipment that clothe and protect the members of the United States government; and
Whereas, to take that privilege away from those Americans who ceaselessly toil to fulfill their patriotic duty to the men and women who serve our fine country is a grievous insult to the American people; and
Whereas, on October 28, 2002, Fechheimer Brothers Manufacturing Company in Martin learned that one of its largest accounts, the United States Postal Service, had certified a new supplier of postal uniforms, San Francisco Knitting Mills--one that cuts costs by manufacturing the product outside the United States; and
Whereas, according to a memo from Fechheimer President and CEO, Brad Kinstler, San Francisco Knitting Mills is ``the first manufacturer to venture outside of the U.S. to make products for the postal market,'' an action which may result in setting a dangerous precedent; and
Whereas, the Fechheimer-Martin plant, formerly Martin Manufacturing Company, is one of four plants owned by the Fechheimer Corporation of Cincinnati; and
Whereas, three of the plants: Martin, Tennessee; Jefferson, Pennsylvania; and Grantsville, Maryland; manufacture uniform shirts. The corporation's plant in Hodgenville, Kentucky manufactures uniform trousers; and
Whereas, twenty percent of the Fechheimer Brothers Manufacturing Company's annual production consists of the postal service's purchases; the loss of the contract with the postal service could result in massive layoffs at the plant, possibly up to twenty percent of the company's 200 workers, which would then put a crimp in the local economy; and
Whereas, plant manager Marc Lemacks describes Fechheimer Brothers Manufacturing Company as the ``Cadillac of the industry,'' a corporation that consistently provides its clients and customers with quality products and service; and
Whereas, Mr. Lemacks is aware of no complaints from the United States Postal Service in regards to the uniforms produced by his company; instead, he fears the postal service's decision to change suppliers is based on an attempt to secure a lower price with an offshore company; and
Whereas, not only will transferring production of postal service uniforms to another country rob the American people of their jobs and livelihoods, but it will result in a decrease in revenue to the American government through the loss of taxes paid by American workers; and
Whereas, it is crucial that the production of uniforms and equipment for United States government workers remain in American factories, for the producing and wearing of American-made products strengthens the morale of both government and civil service workers, boosts the country's economy, and manifests the pride of the American government toward its citizens: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the One Hundred Third General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the House of Representatives concurring, That we respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to resolve this important issue and require that government uniforms and equipment be manufactured in the United States, thus saving the jobs of myriad Americans and strengthening the national economy: be it further
Resolved, That appropriate copies of this resolution be transmitted forthwith to the President of the United States, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, and to each member of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation.
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POM-410. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine relative to the protection of civil liberties and the security of the United States; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Joint Resolution
Whereas, the State of Maine recognizes that the Constitution of the United States is our charter of liberty and that the Bill of Rights enshrines the fundamental and inalienable rights of Americans, including the freedoms of religion, speech, assembly and privacy; and
Whereas, each of Maine's duly elected public servants has sworn to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Maine; and
Whereas, the State of Maine denounces and condemns all acts of terrorism, wherever occurring; and
Whereas, attacks against Americans such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001 have necessitated the crafting of effective laws to protect the public from terrorist attacks; and
Whereas, any new security measures of federal, state and local governments should be carefully designed and employed to enhance public safety without infringing on the civil liberties and rights of any citizen of the State of Maine and the nation; and
Whereas, matters relating to immigration are primarily federal in nature; and
Whereas, certain provisions of the ``Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001,'' commonly referred to as the USA PATRIOT Act, allow the Federal Government more liberally to detain and investigate citizens and engage in surveillance activities that may violate or offend the rights and liberties guaranteed by our state and federal constitutions; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That We, the Members of the Maine State Legislature reaffirm our sworn oaths to defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Maine and our solemn commitment to continue to protect and champion the rights and liberties of Maine citizens that are guaranteed under the state and federal constitutions, including freedom of expression; the right to free access to public information; freedom of association, including the ability to attend meetings without being monitored or belong to an organization without fear of reprisal; freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, including wiretapping and monitoring of medical records and library records; due process protections, including protection against detention without charges or targeting based on race, religion, ethnicity or national origin; and the right to property, including protection against seizure or freezing of assets; and be it further
Resolved, That the Maine State Legislature urges the Federal Government to continue to exercise its jurisdiction over immigration matters and encourages the Federal Government to work cooperatively with the states to provide assistance and training necessary to protect our country; and be it further
Resolved, That laws passed by the United States Congress to specifically combat the threat of international terrorism should not be used in conducting domestic law enforcement; and be it further
Resolved, That the Maine State Legislature implores the United States Congress to review provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act and other measures that may infringe on civil liberties and ensure any pending and future federal measures do not infringe on Americans' civil rights and liberties; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon our United States Representatives and Senators to monitor the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act and related federal actions and, if necessary, repeal those sections of the USA PATRIOT Act and related federal measures that may infringe upon fundamental rights and liberties as recognized in the United States Constitution and its amendments; and be it further
Resolved, That official copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable John Ashcroft, Attorney General of the United States; the Honorable John E. Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine; Richard Cheney, President of the United States Senate; Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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POM-411. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislature of the State of Washington relative to a postage stamp commemorating American coal miners; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
House Joint Memorial 4007
Whereas, since the birth of this country, our nation owes our coal miners a debt we could never begin to repay for the difficult and dangerous job they perform so we could have the fuel we need to operate our industries and heat our homes; and
Whereas, the energy needs of communities throughout the nation have been met due to the hard work and dedication of American coal miners; and
Whereas, millions of workers toiled in the nation's coal mines over the last century, risking both life and limb to fuel the nation's economic expansion, and through their manual labor made possible the technological conveniences of modern American life, though those contributions to the nation's welfare are generally unknown to the public; and
Whereas, during the last century, over 100,000 coal miners have been killed in mining accidents in the nation's coal mines, and 3,500,000 coal miners have suffered nonfatal injuries; and
Whereas, 100,000 coal miners have contracted Black Lung Disease as a direct result of their toil in the nation's coal mines; and
Whereas, coal provides 50 percent of the nation's electricity and is an essential fuel for industries such as steel, cement, chemical, food, and paper; and
Whereas, coal miners keep the nation supplied with an energy resource that produces electricity for the lowest cost, when compared to fuels other than nuclear, and which makes possible the country's unmatched productivity and prosperity; and
Whereas, coal miners provide a vital pool of labor with the expertise to produce energy supplies from vast national coal reserves, which serves to buffer the country from a dangerous dependence on foreign energy fuels; and
Whereas, the United States has a demonstrated coal reserve of more than 500,000,000,000 tons, with an estimated 275,000,000,000 tons of recoverable reserves which, at current production rates, represents about 275 years of recoverable coal reserves; and
Whereas, these coal reserves represent about 95 percent of all fossil fuel reserves in the United States, about one-fourth of the world's known coal reserves; and
Whereas, approximately two-thirds of all coal mined in the United States is transported by rail, making coal the largest single source of freight revenue for United States' railroads; and
Whereas, transportation by railroad provided jobs for thousands of workers who built the infrastructure, maintained it, and loaded and unloaded coal; and
Whereas, it would be proper and fitting for our nation to recognize our coal miners, both past and present, for their contributions to this nation; and
Whereas, coal mining continues to be the economic engine for many communities, providing jobs to areas with little economic diversity; and
Whereas, coal mining provides an economic benefit far beyond its direct revenue, including billions of dollars in economic output and household earnings and hundreds of thousands of jobs in other industries; now, therefore, your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Postal service issue a postage stamp commemorating American coal miners, which would hold the promise of illustrating a colorful and historically rich segment of society for the benefit of school children, stamp collectors, educators, and the public; be it
Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the United States Postmaster General, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the United States Postal Service, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.
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POM-412. A concurrent resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Louisianas relative to funding for the National Recovery Training Institute in Louisiana; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
House Concurrent Resolution No. 18
Whereas, there is a need for national support in the addiction recovery community to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for individuals in addiction recovery; and
Whereas, HopeNetworks is requesting federal funding to establish a National Recovery Training Institute in Louisiana; and
Whereas, the institute would provide technology resources to aid in the development of tools to be used by recovering communities for enpowerment, long-term sobriety, and recovery; provide education to recovering communities across the nation; provide education and awareness to stakeholders such as policymakers, business leaders, and the faith community; and provide technology and job training scholarships for person in early recovery to learn job skills and life skills while at the institute; and
Whereas, the socioeconomic impact of addiction is more than four hundred forty billion dollars every year to the United States; and
Whereas, the National Recovery Training Institute in Louisiana will serve as a public health, education, and training center for millions of people across the United States: Therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Louisiana Legislature does hereby memorialize the United States Congress to allocate funding for the creation of the National Recovery Institute; be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.
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