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 Department of Interior was published in the Senate section on pages S5261-S5263 on June 26, 2013.
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-33. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Louisiana memorializing the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to coastal communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act and mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-risk maps; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 91
Whereas, in 2012 Congress re-authorized the National Flood Insurance Program in the Biggert-Waters Act; and
Whereas, language in the Biggert-Waters Act phases out certain subsidized flood insurance rates, thereby allowing rate increases to the costs of obtaining such flood insurance of either twenty or twenty-five percent a year, depending upon on the property, until properties reach actuarial status; and
Whereas, at the same time the Federal Emergency Management Agency (``FEMA'') issued new flood-risk maps showing that properties not protected by one hundred year flood federal levees would be considered as inadequately safeguarded against floods, with the result that such properties became significantly higher-risk property for the purpose of flood insurance rate premium calculation and elevation requirements; and
Whereas, the confluence of these two events has resulted in potential economic disaster for coastal communities, businesses, and individuals now faced not only with unaffordable flood insurance premiums but also with the inability to transfer or sell property deemed by FEMA to be at higher risk of flooding; and
Whereas, legislation and amendments are pending in Congress to delay the premium increases authorized by the Biggert-Waters Act for one year to determine the effects of such changes upon the availability, affordability, and sustainability of flood insurance; and
Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is also now in discussions to reconsider and revise its flood-risk maps to include the effects of locally built levees, pumping stations and floodgates, all of which have been funded, designed and built to provide substantial protection from flooding, and also to develop new maps that more accurately reflect actual area flood risk; and
Whereas, it is necessary for both Congress and FEMA to take immediate action to prevent pending and unintended economic catastrophe for coastal communities, individuals, and businesses; and
Whereas, without action by both Congress and FEMA it has been estimated that at least half a million homes and businesses in Louisiana could be severely impacted, and that other coastal communities outside of Louisiana could face similar economic devastation, including communities, individuals, and businesses in New York, New Jersey and other states severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to coastal communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act and mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-risk maps; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress, and to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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POM-34. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Louisiana memorializing the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to coastal communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act and mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-risk maps; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Senate Resolution No. 114
Whereas, in 2012 Congress re-authorized the National Flood Insurance Program in the Biggert-Waters Act; and
Whereas, language in the Biggert-Waters Act phases out certain subsidized flood insurance rates, thereby allowing rate increases to the costs of obtaining such flood insurance of either twenty or twenty-five percent a year, depending upon the property, until rates reach actuarial status; and
Whereas, at the same time the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued new flood-risk maps showing that properties not protected by one hundred year flood federal levees would be considered as inadequately safeguarded against floods, with the result that such properties became significantly higher-risk property for the purpose of flood insurance rate premium calculation and elevation requirements; and
Whereas, the confluence of these two events has resulted in potential economic disaster for coastal communities, businesses, and individuals now faced not only with unaffordable flood insurance premiums but also with the inability to transfer or sell property deemed by FEMA to be at higher risk of flooding; and
Whereas, legislation and amendments are pending in Congress to delay the premium increases authorized by the Biggert-Waters Act for one year to determine the effects of such changes upon the availability, affordability, and sustainability of flood insurance; and
Whereas, FEMA is also now in discussions to reconsider and revise its flood-risk maps to include the effects of locally-built levees, pumping stations, and floodgates, all of which have been funded, designed, and built to provide substantial protection from flooding, and also to develop new maps that more accurately reflect actual area flood risk; and
Whereas, it is necessary for both Congress and FEMA to take immediate action to prevent pending and unintended economic catastrophe for coastal communities, individuals, and businesses; and
Whereas, without action by both Congress and FEMA, it has been estimated that at least half a million homes and businesses in Louisiana could be severely impacted, and that other coastal communities outside of Louisiana could face similar economic devastation, including communities, individuals, and businesses in New York, New Jersey, and other states severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the United States to prevent unnecessary and unintended harm to coastal communities, individuals, and businesses by immediately amending the Biggert-Waters Act and mandating revision of Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-risk maps; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress, and to the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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POM-35. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Nevada urging Congress to take certain actions concerning federal public lands in Nevada; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Joint Resolution No. 5
Whereas, The Federal Government manages and controls over 85 percent of the land in Nevada; and
Whereas, Nevada has an abundance of natural resources, including vast areas of land suitable for raising livestock and for conservation and general recreational use, large deposits of gold, silver, copper and other minerals, and plentiful renewable resources, including, without limitation, sun, wind and geothermal resources that may be used to generate electricity; and
Whereas, Many of those renewable resources are located on public lands managed and controlled by the Federal Government; and
Whereas, Activities that occur on those public lands increase the demand for services provided by the State of Nevada and local governments in Nevada; and
Whereas, The State of Nevada and local governments in Nevada are limited in their ability to collect taxes or other fees from the Federal Government or from the users of public lands to fund services provided by the State and local governments; and
Whereas, The Federal Government receives revenue from the licensing and permitting of activities that occur on those public lands, including mining, grazing livestock, general recreational use and generating electricity from renewable resources; and
Whereas, In recent years, efforts have been made to curtail the practice by the Federal Government of sharing a portion of that revenue with the State of Nevada and local governments, including curtailing the practice of sharing with the counties a portion of the revenue derived from the lease of public lands and royalties from the generation of electricity from geothermal resources; and
Whereas, Recent legislation introduced in the 111th and 112th United States Congress would have, if enacted, required the Secretary of the Interior to establish a leasing program for wind and solar energy development on federal public lands; and
Whereas, Such legislation would also have required the sharing of a portion of the revenue from the competitive leasing program with the counties from which the revenue is derived, thereby creating a beneficial and meaningful role for counties in Nevada; and
Whereas, The members of the 113th Congress are now considering the budget submitted by the United States Department of the Interior for federal Fiscal Year 2014, and its possible effects on the counties' share of royalties derived from the generation of electricity from geothermal resources: Now therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of Nevada, jointly, That the members of the 77th Session of the Nevada Legislature hereby urge Congress:
1. To ensure that the public lands in Nevada that are managed and controlled by the Federal Government remain open and accessible to multiple uses, such as raising livestock, mining, conservation, general recreational use and the use of renewable resources, including, without limitation, sun, wind and geothermal resources that may be used to generate electricity; and
2. To enact legislation ensuring that the State of Nevada and the affected local governments in Nevada receive a portion of the revenue received by the Federal Government for activities conducted on the federal public lands in Nevada and ensuring that such sharing includes, without limitation, the continuation of federal laws and policies whereby local governments receive appropriate rents and royalties for activities which generate electricity from geothermal resources; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to the Vice President of the United States as the presiding officer of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further
Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage.
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POM-36. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Louisiana expressing support for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's efforts to develop as a free and independent nation; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senate Resolution No. 151
Whereas, Nagorno Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, has historically been Armenian territory, populated by an overwhelming majority of Armenians, which was illegally severed from Armenia by the Soviet Union in 1921 and placed under the newly created Soviet Azerbaijani administration; and
Whereas, February 20, 1988, marked the beginning of the national liberation movement in Nagorno Karabakh, which inspired people througheut the Soviet Union to stand up against tyranny and for their rights and freedoms, helping to bring democracy to millions and contributing to world peace; and
Whereas, the United States Congress has repeatedly expressed support for the legitimate freedom aspirations of the people of Nagorno Karabakh; and
Whereas, on September 2, 1991, the legislature of Nagorno Karabakh declared formation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, in accordance with then acting legislation; and
Whereas, on December 10, 1991, the people of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic voted in favor of the independence, and on January 6, 1992, the democratically elected legislature of the Republic formally declared independence; and
Whereas, since proclaiming independence, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has registered significant progress in democracy building, which has been most recently demonstrated during the July 19, 2012, presidential elections that were assessed by international observers as free and transparent: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana hereby encourages and supports the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's continuing efforts to develop as a free and independent nation in order to guarantee its citizens those rights inherent in a free and independent society; and be it further
Revolved, That the president and Congress of the United States of America are hereby urged to support the self-determination and democratic independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and its constructive involvement with the international community's efforts to reach a just and lasting solution to security issues in that strategically important region; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the president of the United States, the secretary of the United States Senate, the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress.
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POM-37. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Louisiana urging and requesting the Department of Health and Hospitals examine the benefits of routine nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment for those who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 41
Whereas, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
(NBCSL) has established policy promoting the importance of quality nutrition for all Americans in order to maintain healthy, active, independent lifestyles; and
Whereas, the NBCSL adopted policy supporting increased access to quality nutrition and support for infants and children, as passed by the United States Congress in Resolution HHS-11-19; and
Whereas, leading health and nutrition experts agree that nutrition status is a direct measure of patient health and that good nutrition and good patient health can keep people healthy and out of institutionalized health care facilities, thus reducing healthcare costs; and
Whereas, inadequate or unbalanced nutrition, known as malnutrition, is not routinely viewed as a medical concern in this nation, and that malnutrition is particularly prevalent in vulnerable populations, such as older adults, hospitalized patients, or minority populations that statistically shoulder the highest incidences of the most severe chronic illnesses such as diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease; and
Whereas, illness, injury, and malnutrition can result in the loss of lean body mass, leading to complications that impact good patient health outcomes, including recovery from surgery, illness, or disease; the elderly lose lean body mass more quickly and to a greater extent than younger adults and weight assessment (body weight and body mass index) can overlook accurate indicators of lean body mass; and
Whereas, the American Nursing Association defines therapeutic nutrition as the administration of food and fluids to support the metabolic processes of a patient who is malnourished or at high risk of becoming malnourished; and
Whereas, access to therapeutic nutrition is critical in restoring lean body mass such that it resolves malnutrition challenges and, in turn, improves clinical outcomes, reduces health care costs, and can keep people and our communities healthy; and
Whereas, despite the recognized link between good nutrition and good health, nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment have not been incorporated as routine medical treatments across the spectrum of health care: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana urges and requests that the Department of Health and Hospitals examine the benefits of routine nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment for those who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition, as well as examine the benefits of nutrition screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment as part of the standard for evidenced-based hospital care; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana supports an increased emphasis on nutrition through the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, as well as for Medicare beneficiaries, to improve their disease management and health outcomes; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana is encouraged that preventive and wellness services, such as counseling for obesity and chronic disease management, are part of the Essential Health Benefits package included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the president of the United States, the vice president of the United States, the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress, and to the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.
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POM-38. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico relative to requesting the President and the Congress of the United States begin the process to admit Puerto Rico to the Union as a State; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
POM-39. A resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Ana, California expressing support for comprehensive federal immigration reform and urging the 113th Congress to enact reforms that secure our borders, ensure economic strength, and promote stronger communities; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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