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 S3945-S3946 on May 15, 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-515. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to the observance of the centennial of the Organic Act; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
House Concurrent Resolution No. 27
Whereas, on January 17, 1898, the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown; and
Whereas, on July 7, 1898, the Republic of Hawaii was annexed by the United States by a Joint Resolution of Annexation; and
Whereas, after annexation, United States President William McKinley appointed, pursuant to the Joint Resolution, five commissioners to recommend to Congress ``such legislation concerning the Hawaiian Islands as they shall deem necessary or proper''; and
Whereas, the five commissioners were United States Senators Shelly M. Cullom, chairman, and John T. Morgan; United States Representative Robert R. Hitt; and Hawaii residents Sanford B. Dole, and Walter F. Frear; and
Whereas, the commissioners held meetings and hearings in Honolulu and the neighbor islands in the fall of 1898; and
Whereas, on December 6, 1898, President William McKinley of the United States transmitted the report of the Hawaiian Commission, appointed pursuant to the ``joint resolution to provide for annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the United States,'' approved July 7, 1898; together with a copy of the civil and penal laws of Hawaii; and
Whereas, on April 30, 1900 the Congress of the United States passed the Organic Act; and
Whereas, the Organic Act provided for a government for the Territory of Hawaii; and
Whereas, the Hawaiian Islands consisted of the following islands: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, Kahoolawe, Molokini, Lehua, Kaula, Nihoa, Necker, Laysan, Gardiner, Lisiansky, Ocean, French Frigates Shoal, Palmyra, Brooks Shoal, Pearl and Hermers Reef, Gambia Shoal and Dowsett and Maro Reef; and
Whereas, under the laws of the Kingdom of Hawaii, the Crown lands were declared to be inalienable; and
Whereas, under the Organic Act, the Crown lands were declared to be public domain and ``subject to alienation and other uses as provided by law''; and
Whereas, On July 9, 1921 the Congress of the United States enacted the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act; and
Whereas, On March 18, 1959 the Congress of the United States enacted An Act to Provide for the Admission of the State of Hawaii into the Union; and
Whereas, in December 1999, representatives of the Department of Interior held reconciliation discussions within the Native Hawaiian communities regarding the unlawful overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the Senate concurring, That the centennial anniversary of the passage of the Organic Act is hereby commemorated; and be it further
Resolved, That members of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature, ``Express Aloha'' to the Native Hawaiian community on this centennial event that saddens many Native Hawaiians; and be it further
Resolved, That all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, are encouraged to gather with the Native Hawaiian community at Iolani Palace on April 30, 2000, commemorating the centennial of the Organic Act; and be it further
Resolved, That this Concurrent Resolution serve as a reminder to the United States Congress of its involvement in the creation of the Organic Act; and be it further
Resolved, That this Concurrent Resolution serve as an invitation to President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America and the Congress of the United States to gather with the Native Hawaiian community at Iolani Palace on April 30, 2000, commemorating the Centennial of the Organic Act or at their earliest convenience; and be it further
Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, the Attorney General of the United States, the United States Secretary of the Interior, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, Hawaii's Congressional delegation, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the governor of each state, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court, and each member of the House of Representatives of the State of Hawaii.
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POM-516. A resolution adopted by the House of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relative to the financial structure of the Coal Act; to the Committee on Finance.
House Resolution No. 374
Whereas, Pennsylvania is a coal-producing and coal-consuming state that has benefited tremendously from the hard, dangerous work of retired coal miners; and
Whereas, The United States Government entered into a contract with coal miners in 1946 that created the United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds; and
Whereas, This contract was signed in the White House in a ceremony with President Harry Truman; and
Whereas, A Federal commission established by Secretary of Labor Elizabeth Dole concluded in 1990:
``Retired coal miners have legitimate expectations of health care benefits for life; that was the promise they received during their working lives and that is how they planned their retirement years. That commitment should be honored''; and
Whereas, This promise became law in 1992 when the Congress of the United States passed and President George Bush signed the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act (the Coal Act); and
Whereas, The Coal Act reiterated the promise of lifetime health benefits for retired coal miners and their dependents; and
Whereas, Congress intended the Coal Act to:
``(1) remedy problems with the provision and funding of health care benefits with respect to the beneficiaries of multiemployer benefit plans that provide health care benefits to retirees in the coal industry;
(2) allow for sufficient operating assets for such plans; and
(3) provide for the continuation of a privately financed self-sufficient program for the delivery of health care benefits to the beneficiaries of such plans''; and
Whereas, Certain court decisions have eroded the financial structure Congress put in place under the Coal Act; and
Whereas, These court decisions have placed the continued provision of health benefits to retired coal miners in jeopardy; and
Whereas, the President has included in his proposed budget
$346 million in general Federal funds over ten years to protect the long-term integrity of the Combined Benefit Fund for Retired Miners and their Dependents; therefore be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the President and the Congress of the United States to work together to enact legislation to reform the financial structure of the Coal Act by providing for an annual transfer of general Federal funds to the combined benefit fund addressing the shortfall created by the above-mentioned court cases; and be it further
Resolved, That, in accordance with the contract of 1946, the health care benefits promised to retired coal miners be continued, preserved and ensured; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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