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 Energy was published in the Senate section on pages S679-S680 on Feb. 22, 2000.
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-406. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine relative to the Gettysburg National Military Park; to the Committee on Appropriations.
Joint Resolution
Whereas, the United States has a history that reveals the proud tradition and heritage of the American people; and
Whereas, battlefield sites where significant military engagements happened are some of the nation's most important historical sites; and
Whereas, Gettysburg was the site of one of the largest battles in the history of the United States and that battle is considered a turning point for the country in the Civil War; and
Whereas, President Lincoln, in giving his now famous Gettysburg Address dedicating the national cemetery that is located in Gettysburg, acknowledged that he could not adequately dedicate or consecrate the cemetery because ``the brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract''; and
Whereas, Gettysburg National Military Park, created shortly after the battle and funded largely by private donations and various states that belonged to the Union forces, covers thousands of acres and contains hundreds of monuments commemorating the battle; and
Whereas, the National Park Service lacks sufficient funds to adequately maintain and care for the grounds and monuments and is accepting donations to help preserve the park's monuments; and
Whereas, the commitment to preserve and maintain the monuments and grounds of Gettysburg National Military Park is a measure of how we value this nation and its people: Now therefore, be it
Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request that the United States Congress appropriate funds to adequately maintain and preserve the grounds and monuments of Gettysburg National Military Park; and be it further
Resolved: That suitable copies of this Memorial, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States and to each member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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POM-407. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relative to the shortage and cost of home heating oil in the Northeast; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Resolution
Whereas, the recent severe weather in the Northeast part of the country has caused a large increase in the use of home heating oil; and
Whereas, such increase has created a burden on the homeowners, tenants and business people who rely on such oil by adversely affecting their budgets; and
Whereas, such increased costs have been exacerbated by the large increase in the cost of such oil; and
Whereas, such increases have raised the specter of petroleum companies acting in combination to increase profits, fix prices and create artificial shortages: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Massachusetts Senate hereby urges the Congress of the United States and the Governor of the Commonwealth to conduct an investigation and study of the current shortage of home heating oil in the Northeast part of the country and its attendant cost to determine whether such shortage and cost are real and the result of ordinary market forces or whether they are the result of price fixing and artificial manipulation; and urges the Congress to request the Justice Department of the United States to participate in such investigation and study; and also urges the Governor of the Commonwealth to direct the Department of Energy Resources to participate in such investigation and study in order to develop policies to prevent such shortages and cost increases in the future in the Commonwealth; and be it further
Resolved, That in the event that such investigation and study shows that such increase in cost is due to a legitimate shortage of oil in the marketplace, thereafter the Congress shall take action to release into the marketplace an amount of oil from the national reserves that is sufficient to ameliorate the current cost; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted forthwith by the Clerk of the Senate to the Governor of the Commonwealth, to the Presiding Officer of each branch of Congress and to the Members thereof from the Commonwealth.
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POM-408. A concurrent resolution adopted by the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relative to the shortage and cost of home heating oil in the Northeast; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Resolution
Whereas, the recent severe weather in the Northeast part of the country has caused a large increase in the use of home heating oil; and
Whereas, such increase has created a burden on the homeowners, tenants and business people who rely on such oil by adversely affecting their budgets; and
Whereas, such increased costs have been exacerbated by the large increase in the cost of such oil; and
Whereas, such increases have raised the specter of petroleum companies acting in combination to increase profits, fix prices and create artificial shortages; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Massachusetts General Court hereby urges the Congress of the United States to commence an investigation and study of the current shortage of home heating oil in the Northeast part of the country and its attendant cost to determine whether such shortage and cost are real and the result of ordinary market forces or whether they are the result of price fixing and artificial manipulation; and also urges the Congress to request the Justice Department of the United States to participate in such investigation and study; and be it further
Resolved, That in the event that such investigation and study shows that such increase in cost is due to a legitimate shortage of oil in the marketplace, thereafter the Congress shall take action to release into the marketplace an amount of oil from the national reserves that is sufficient to ameliorate the current cost; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Presiding Officer of each branch of Congress and to Members thereof from the Commonwealth.
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