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 Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S14485-S14487 on Nov. 15, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:
POM-247. A resolution adopted by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission at their annual meeting relative to the opinions of the oil and gas producing states on certain matters; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
POM-248. A resolution adopted by the Atlanta World War II Round Table urging Congress to add words to the inscription on the World War II Memorial; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
POM-249. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to reauthorize Amtrak funding and support states in their efforts to expand passenger rail service; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House Resolution No. 107
Whereas, passenger rail service has historically focused on long distance routes. States may provide shorter, regional service if the state pays most of the cost. Fourteen states, including Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin, provide funding support to Amtrak to support in-state and regional passenger rail systems; and
Whereas, ridership on these shorter, regional routes has increased dramatically in the past two years. Ticket sales on Midwest intercity rail lines have reached record numbers. In Michigan, ridership has risen by 31 percent on the Blue Water passenger train and 20 percent on the Wolverine passenger train over the past two years. The state hopes to add passenger rail service between Detroit and Ann Arbor. Expanded passenger rail service is being promoted as a solution to rising oil prices, pollution, and increased highway congestion; and
Whereas, states would like federal assistance in funding the shorter passenger rail services. Federal matching dollars are provided for other transportation modes, and states would like to see a similar program for in-state and regional passenger rail projects. Senate Bill 294, currently before the United States Senate, would provide $19.2 billion in reauthorization funds to Amtrak and provide grants to state projects: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize Congress to reauthorize Amtrak funding and support states in their efforts to expand passenger rail service; 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-250. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of New York urging Congress to eliminate the expiration period of the Federal Do Not Call Registry; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Senate No. 3582
Whereas, the Do Not Call Registry was established in the State of New York in 2000 to protect citizens from unwanted sales calls; it was made more effective in 2003, when it merged with the National Do Not Call Registry; and
Whereas, the National Do Not Call Registry provides citizens across the state and country with the privacy they deserve and adequate penalties for businesses which violate that privacy by persisting with unwanted phone calls; and
Whereas, the merging of the two Do Not Call Registries has effectively protected New York State residents from bothersome and unwanted phone solicitations for the last five years; and
Whereas, due to the five year expiration of the National Do Not Call Registry, many of the first enrollees will soon again be vulnerable to telephone solicitations unless they re-enroll: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to urge the New York State Congressional Delegation to eliminate the 5-year expiration date and make the National Do Not Call Registry permanent; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each member of the Congress of the United States from the State of New York.
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POM-251. A resolution adopted by the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments expressing the Council's support for improved vehicle fuel economy; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Resolution
Whereas, H.R. 2927 sets tough fuel economy standards without off ramps or loopholes, by requiring separate car and truck standards to meet a total fleet fuel economy between 32 and 35 mpg by 2022--an increase of as much as 40 percent over current fuel economy standards--and requires vehicle fuel economy to be increased to the maximum feasible level in the years leading up to 2022; and
Whereas, H.R. 2927, while challenging, will provide automakers more reasonable lead time to implement technology changes in both the near- and long-term. Model year 2008 vehicles are already available today, and product and manufacturing planning is done through Model Year 2012. H.R. 2927 recognizes the critical need for engineering lead times necessary for manufacturers to make significant changes to their fleets; and
Whereas, H.R. 2927 respects consumer choice by protecting tie important functional differences between passenger cars and light trucks/SUV's. Last year, 2006, was the sixth year in a row that Americans bought more trucks, minivans, and SUVs than passenger cars, because they value attributes such as passenger and cargo load capacity, four-wheel drive, and towing capability hat most cars are not designed to provide; and
Whereas, while some would like fuel economy increases to be much more aggressive and be implemented with much less lead time, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards must be set at levels and in time frames that do not impose economic harm on the manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and others in the auto industry; and
Whereas, proponents of unrealistic and unattainable CAFE standards cite Europe's 35 mpg fuel economy, without ever mentioning Europe's $6 per gallon gasoline prices, the high sales of diesel vehicles, the high proportion of Europeans driving manual transmission vehicles (80 percent in Europe vs. 8 percent in the U.S.), the significant differences in the size mix of vehicles, or that trucks and SUVs are virtually nonexistent among European households; and
Whereas, proponents of unreasonable CAFE standards claim they will save consumers billions, but they neglect to talk about the upfront costs of such changes to the manufacturers of meeting unduly strict CAFE standards--more than $100 billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration--which will lead to vehicle price increases of several thousand dollars; and
Whereas, proponents of unrealistic CAFE standards ignore the potential safety impacts of downsized vehicles on America's highways and overlook the historical role and critical importance of manufacturing plants to our national and economic security. They seem unconcerned about threats to the 7.5 million jobs that are directly and indirectly dependent on a vibrant auto industry in the United States; and
Whereas, H.R. 2927 is a reasonable bill that balances a number of important public policy concerns. The bill represents a tough but fair compromise that deserves serious consideration and support: Now therefore be it
Resolved, by the Council of State Governments Midwestern Legislative Conference, That we memorialize the United States Congress to enact H.R..1927, which responsibly balances achievable fuel economy increases with important economic and social concerns, including consumer demand; and be it further
Resolved, That this resolution be submitted to the President of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the members of the congressional delegations of all Midwestern Legislative Conference states.
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POM-252. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Pennsylvania urging Congress to override the President's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007; to the Committee of Finance.
House Resolution No. 447
Whereas, the highly successful State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), created by the Federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997, has enabled states to provide health care coverage to more than 6 million uninsured low-income children in this country; and
Whereas, through the program's enhanced Federal match funding, Pennsylvania is currently helping to provide health care coverage to more than 164,000 low-income children who do not qualify for Medicaid and would otherwise be uninsured; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania led the nation in launching the first Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 1992 and provided the model for Federal support of all states; and
Whereas, in 2006, Pennsylvania continued its leadership by expanding affordable health care coverage to uninsured children through its Cover All Kids program; and
Whereas, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, H.R. 976, is a bipartisan compromise plan to reauthorize the SCHIP program, which expired on September 30, 2007, and to expand coverage to an additional 3.8 million children; and
Whereas, on October 3, 2007, the President of the United States vetoed H.R. 976, citing philosophical differences with regard to the expansion of the program; and
Whereas, this veto will severely hamper Pennsylvania's efforts to help more than 133,000 remaining uninsured children obtain access to health care coverage; and
Whereas, it is critical that this legislation be enacted to ensure affordable health care coverage for all uninsured children: Therefore be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania condemn the veto by the President of the United States of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007; and be it further
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United States to override the veto; 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-253 A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging Congress to override the President's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program; to the Committee on Finance.
House Resolution No. 201
Whereas, since 1997, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCRIP) has provided health insurance for children under age 19 from low income families who are not eligible for Medicaid. The program allocated over $40 billion for SCRIP through 2007 to states that provided matching funds to plan a SCRIP program, to expand their Medicaid program, or to implement a combined program relying on Medicaid and separate private plans; and
Whereas, the compromise SCHIP bill passed by Congress was vetoed by President Bush. This bipartisan measure would have reauthorized the program and added $35 billion over the next five years to cover 10 million children, including the 6.6 million currently covered and 4 million additional uninsured children; and
Whereas, the number of uninsured children declined by 26.6%, resulting in nearly 79,000 more children having health care coverage than ten years ago. MI Child has operated in conjunction with the Medicaid program to provide a much-needed safety net for Michigan's children; and
Whereas, an override of this veto is crucial to providing access to health care for millions of children. Expansion of this successful program is long overdue and strongly supported by the American people. Politics and misplaced priorities should not supersede a bipartisan solution to protect the health and lives of our most vulnerable citizens--innocent children: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to override the President's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); 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-254. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Pennsylvania expressing support for ``National Food Safety Education Month''; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
House Resolution No. 398
Whereas, in 1994, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's (NRAEF) International Food Safety Council created ``National Food Safety Education Month'' as an annual campaign; and
Whereas, the purpose of ``National Food Safety Education Month'' is to strengthen food safety education and training among persons in the restaurant and food service business and to educate the public on the safe handling and preparation of food; and
Whereas, there are more than 200 known foodborne diseases caused by viruses, toxins and metals and usually stemming from the improper handling, preparation or storage of food; and
Whereas, bacteria are the common cause of the foodborne illness; and
Whereas, foodborne illness costs the United States economy billions of dollars each year in lost productivity, hospitalization, long-term disability and even death; and
Whereas, the United States Department of Agriculture estimated that in 2000 medical costs and losses in productivity resulting from five bacterial foodborne pathogens was $6.9 billion; and
Whereas, it is estimated that in 2001 the annual cost of salmonellosis caused by the Salmonella bacteria was $2.14 billion, including medical costs, the cost of time lost from work and the cost or value of premature death; and
Whereas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates that in the United States, there are 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths per year due to consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms; and
Whereas, numerous cases have occurred in the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: 2007--Salmonella from peanut butter in 44 states, 425 cases; 2006--E. coli in eight states from fresh spinach, 205 cases, including 3 deaths; and 2003--hepatitis A from Chi-Chi's sourced green onions in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, up to 2,000 cases of salmonellosis occur each year in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, following four simple steps, consumers can keep food safe from bacteria: clean--wash hands and surfaces often; separate--do not cross-contaminate; cook--cook to proper temperature; and chill--refrigerate promptly: Therefore be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania express full and enthusiastic support for ``National Food Safety Education Month'' in September 2007; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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POM-255. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Michigan urging Congress to provide for the construction and maintenance of a national cemetery in Michigan's Upper Peninsula; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Senate Resolution No. 102
Whereas, a measure of the respect our nation accords the men and women who protect us through their military service is how we treat our veterans long after they have finished their military duty. The network of national cemeteries under the administration of the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is a most appropriate expression of the respect a grateful citizenry holds for those who have worn the nation's uniforms and faced grave perils to safeguard our freedoms; and
Whereas, ever since President Lincoln signed legislation during the Civil War to create national cemeteries as final resting places ``for soldiers who have died in the service of the country,'' this network of cemeteries has grown. Today, there are 141 national cemeteries, with 125 under the VA National Cemetery Administration. New facilities are regularly developed; and
Whereas, despite the growth in the number of national cemeteries, including the addition of the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly that opened in 2005, veterans in our Upper Peninsula remain very far from any such facility. In fact, the nearest national cemeteries are hundreds of miles away, near Milwaukee and Minneapolis. This distance presents a significant obstacle for the families of many veterans. We should do all we can to make this measure of honor and respect more readily available to all veterans: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to provide for the construction and maintenance of a national cemetery in Michigan's Upper Peninsula; 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 Department of Veterans Affairs.
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