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 U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S4200-S4202 on June 16, 2015.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:
POM-37. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine memorializing the President of the United States and Congress of the United States to require expansion of fish hatchery operations; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House Paper 933
Whereas, the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, is a salmon found in the north Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic Ocean, and the fish has historically been an important economic asset to the State of Maine; and
Whereas, the major rivers of the State once ran thick with salmon traveling upstream to spawn; and
Whereas, salmon populations have been reduced to nearly undetectable numbers in most rivers in Maine; and
Whereas, the Federal Government has designated the Atlantic salmon as an endangered species; and
Whereas, the Federal Government spends millions of dollars annually to restore the species with no significant success; and
Whereas, there are specific hatchery operations that can improve upon the current results; and
Whereas, a significant number of salmon originating in Maine are being harvested in a commercial fishery off the west coast of Greenland; and
Whereas, this fishery is a major obstacle to the restoration of salmon in Maine rivers: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to respectfully request that the President and the United States Congress direct the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to expand hatchery operations to rivers in Maine by partnering with the State and with the many non-government organizations that are focused on restoring Atlantic salmon to their historic natal rivers; and be it further
Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, urge that additional resources be made available to the United States State Department that would assist its efforts through the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization convention to help with the curtailment or suspension of the wild Atlantic salmon fishery off the west coast of Greenland; and be it further
Resolved, that suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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POM-38. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Michigan calling on the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States to direct the Army Corps of Engineers to fully support efforts to determine the best long-term solution for preventing Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes and to move decisively to implement a solution; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Senate Resolution No. 23
Whereas, The Great Lakes are one of our nation's great natural wonders. Bordering Michigan and seven other states, these inland seas contain nearly one-fifth of the world's surface fresh water. They support jobs in manufacturing, tourism, recreation, shipping, agriculture, science, engineering, energy, and mining throughout the region. The protection of the Great Lakes is essential to Michigan's state identity and economy as well as national economic growth; and
Whereas, Asian carp pose an imminent threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy. Asian carp have successfully invaded the Mississippi River basin and now stand only 50 miles downstream from the Great Lakes. Asian carp can reproduce rapidly, consume large quantities of food, disrupt local ecosystems, out-compete native fish, and devastate recreational fishing and boating opportunities. There is general scientific consensus that Asian carp will be able to establish populations and thrive in areas of the Great Lakes. Once established, they will be difficult, if not impossible, to control or eradicate. Thus, the federal government has recognized Asian carp as ``the most acute [aquatic invasive species] threat facing the Great Lakes today''; and
Whereas, A permanent, long-term solution must be identified and implemented to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study identified a number of solutions, it stopped short of determining the best option. Regional efforts to reach consensus on a solution, such as those of the Chicago Area Waterway System Advisory Committee, must be supported and recommendations seriously considered; and
Whereas, The best long-term solution will prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes while preserving as much as possible the current uses of the Chicago area waterways. Although effective Asian carp prevention is paramount and should not be compromised, the value, impacts, and costs to the barge industry must also be taken into account; and
Whereas, Regardless of the means, immediate and decisive action is required to protect the Great Lakes. The status quo will not prevent irreparable harm. Asian carp could cause billions of dollars in lost revenues and thousands of lost jobs in the $7 billion sports and commercial fishing industry and the $9 billion recreational boating industry. In addition, damage done to the Great Lakes, rivers, and inland lakes by Asian carp would greatly harm our state's viability as an attractive vacation destination, thereby leading to decreased tourism revenue and jobs: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we call on the Obama Administration and the Congress of the United States to direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fully support efforts to determine the best long-term solution for preventing Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes; and be it further
Resolved, That we urge the Obama Administration and Congress to provide sufficient funding that will ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moves decisively to implement a solution; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, 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-39. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Michigan memorializing the Congress of the United States to pass legislation that authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to implement measures at the Brandon Road lock and dam to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Senate Resolution No. 25
Whereas, Asian carp are an imminent and serious threat to the health and economy of Michigan and the entire Great Lakes region. Only 50 miles downstream from Lake Michigan, this aquatic invasive species' voracious appetite would disrupt food webs, leaving inadequate food for more desirable species within the Great Lakes, and threatening the $7-billion Great Lakes recreational and commercial fishing industry; and
Whereas, Current controls in the Chicago area are inadequate to prevent the movement of Asian carp and potential future aquatic invasive species (AIS) between the Great Lakes system and the Mississippi River system. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineer and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study has demonstrated that the electrical barriers that provide the front line of protection against carp do not prevent the movement of all fish; and
Whereas, Control measures implemented at the Brandon Road lock and dam in Joliet, Illinois, would reduce the risk of an Asian carp invasion while maintaining efficient navigation. Composed of representatives from government, industry, business, anglers, and conservation groups, the Chicago Area Waterway System Advisory Committee has recommended the deployment of innovative technologies and the reconfiguration of the locks in a newly-engineered channel at this key location. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun the scoping process for this project; and
Whereas, Moving forward with design, engineering, and construction of these measures would be a worthwhile short-term and longterm investment in the Great Lakes region. While negotiations continue on a permanent long-term solution, these measures would provide additional protection and be consistent with an eventual long-term solution. In addition, this project would serve as a valuable demonstration for technologies that could be implemented in other areas of the country; and
Whereas, There is a window of opportunity now to protect the Great Lakes, avoid irreparable harm to the system, and prevent decade upon decade of future management costs. Once established, Asian carp would be nearly impossible to eradicate and would join zebra mussels, sea lamprey, and other AIS that Great Lakes governments and businesses spend millions of dollars per year to control. The Brandon Road lock and dam project would be a solid first step in creating greater structural protections for the Great Lakes: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to pass legislation that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to implement measures at the Brandon Road lock and dam to prevent Asian carp from entering 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, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
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POM-40. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging the United States Congress to pass legislation that establishes a national, uniform, and scientifically-based label program for genetically modified food; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
House Resolution No. 89
Whereas, Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have become increasingly prominent in today's grocery marketplace. In recent years, scientists have used genetic engineering techniques to modify the DNA of plants to make them resistant to certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, and chemical treatments. GMOs help increase crop yields, constrain food prices, and vitally support Michigan's agriculture, food processing, and other industries. Commonly found in crops like corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola, 70 to 80 percent of the foods Americans eat today contain GMOs. In 2014, 100 percent of all sugar, 93 percent of all corn, and 91 percent of all soybeans grown in Michigan were produced using GMOs; and
Whereas, Despite the widespread use of GMOs, there is no federal GMO labeling standard. Absent these rules, some states and localities have developed their own proposals, leading to a patchwork of regulation that can be confusing and possibly misleading to consumers. Moreover, a maze of GMO labeling regulations increases agriculture and food production costs, requiring food companies operating in Michigan to create separate supply chains in each state. Ultimately, this could significantly increase the average price consumers spend at grocery stores, which could average an extra $500 per year according to a Cornell University study; and
Whereas, Federal legislation must be passed to avoid this patchwork of regulations and the costly ramifications it creates. Legislation like the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act H.R. 1599, sponsored by congressmen Pompeo and Butterfield, is a bipartisan solution needed to allow consumers to have access to accurate and consistent information on the products that contain GMOs. A USDA-administered certification and labeling program modeled after the USDA organic labeling program for non-GMO foods would ensure that labeling is nationwide, uniform, and scientifically-based: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Congress of the United States to pass legislation that establishes a national, uniform, and scientifically-based label program for genetically modified food; 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-41. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognizing the month of May 2015 as ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month''; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Senate Resolution No. 101
Whereas, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease; and
Whereas, ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by degeneration of cell bodies of the upper and lower motor neurons in the gray matter of the anterior horn of the spinal cord; and
Whereas, The initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
Whereas, As ALS progresses, the patient experiences difficulty in swallowing, talking and breathing; and
Whereas, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy and the patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and
Whereas, Patients with ALS typically remain alert and aware of their loss of motor functions and the inevitable outcome of continued deterioration and death; and
Whereas, ALS affects military veterans at twice the rate of the general population; and
Whereas, ALS occurs in adulthood, most commonly between 40 and 70 years of age, peaking at about 55 years of age, and affects both men and women without bias; and
Whereas, Annually, more than 5,000 new ALS patients are diagnosed throughout the nation; and
Whereas, In Pennsylvania, there are currently more than 1,000 individuals who have been formally diagnosed with ALS; and
Whereas, The $350,000 in State funding the General Assembly appropriated for ALS support services in the General Appropriation Act of 2014 provided services to more than 900 constituents and substantial savings to the State budget and taxpayers; and
Whereas, The ALS Association reports that on average, patients diagnosed with ALS only survive two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and
Whereas, ALS has no known cause, prevention or cure; and
Whereas, ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month'' increases the public's awareness of ALS patients' circumstances and acknowledges the terrible impact this disease has not only on patients but on their families as well and recognizes the research being done to eradicate this horrible disease: Now therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate of Pennsylvania designate the month of May 2015 as ``Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month'' in Pennsylvania; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, to the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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POM-42. A communication from a citizen of the State of Florida memorializing a resolution adopted by the City Council of Tampa supporting the re-establishment of a secure Cuban consulate being located in the City of Tampa, Florida, when relations between the United States and Cuba are appropriately normalized; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
POM-43. A communication from a citizen of the State of Florida memorializing a resolution adopted by the City Council of Tampa supporting the President of the United States's actions to normalize cultural, humanitarian, economic, and diplomatic relations with Cuba; and urging that when relations between the United States and Cuba are appropriately normalized, the City of Tampa serve as the location for formalizing the re-establishment of diplomatic ties, which may then be referred to as ``The Tampa Accord'' between the United States and Cuba; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
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