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 S6355-S6361 on July 8, 2002.
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-262. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to Medicare coverage of oral cancer drugs; to the Committee on Finance.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 65
Whereas, cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the State of Hawaii and throughout the Nation; and
Whereas, cancer is disproportionately a disease of the elderly, with more than half of all cancer diagnoses occurring in persons age 65 or older, who are thus dependent on the federal Medicare program for provision of cancer care; and
Whereas, treatment with anti-cancer drugs is the cornerstone of modern cancer care, elderly cancer patients must have access to potentially life-extending drug therapy, but the Medicare program's coverage of drugs is limited to injectable drugs or oral drugs that have an injectable version; and
Whereas, the nation's investment in biomedical research has begun to bear fruit with a compelling array of new oral anti-cancer drugs that are less toxic, more effective and more cost-effective than existing therapies, but, because such drugs do not have an injectable equivalent, they are not covered by Medicare; and
Whereas, non-coverage of these important new products leaves many Medicare beneficiaries confronting the choice of either substantial out-of pocket personal costs or selection of more toxic, less effective treatments that are covered by the program; and
Whereas, Medicare's failure to cover oral anti-cancer drugs leaves at risk many beneficiaries suffering from blood-related cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, as well as cancers of the breast, lung, and prostate; and
Whereas, certain Members of the United States Congress have recognized the necessity of Medicare coverage for all oral anti-cancer drugs and introduced legislation in the 107th Congress to achieve that result (H.R. 1624; S. 913), now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Congress of the United States in respectfully requested to enact legislation requiring the Medicare program to cover all oral anticancer drugs; and be it further.
Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent 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, members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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POM-263. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to the Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Senate Resolution No. 211
Whereas, In 1934, Federal Prison Industries (FPI) was created as a wholly owned government corporation. Today, FPI operates 103 factories, with over 21,000 inmate workers and annual sales of more than $500 million per year. The operation offers over 150 products. FPI enjoys significant advantages over private manufacturers making similar products because of government procurement policies, including a
``mandatory source'' requirement for government agencies; and
Whereas, With obvious personnel and benefits advantages over private sector firms, there is a clear penalty to employers and workers under the current situation. Some of the most respected companies in many fields suffer significantly from the unfair competition from FPI; and
Whereas, In Michigan, the impact of current FPI policies has been strongly felt by many working families. Last year, Michigan lost thousands of manufacturing jobs; and
Whereas, Congress is presently considering a measure that would bring comprehensive reforms to the operations of FPI. The Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act would address directly the present unfair government purchasing policies. This legislation, H.R. 1577, includes specific requirements that FPI would have to follow to achieve fairness and promote the training of inmates. Under the Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act, FPI would compete for contracts in a manner that minimizes unfair advantages and ensures that government agencies get the best value for taxpayer dollars. The legislation also includes numerous accountability measures, increased emphasis on preparing inmates for a return to society, and enhanced restitution for victims of crime; and
Whereas, A more appropriate approach to prisoner-based manufacturing will not only bring fairness to the marketplace and thousands of America's working families, but it also will enhance the federal corrections system; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act; 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-264. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to veterans benefits to Filipino veterans of the United States Armed Forces; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Senate Resolution No. 26
Whereas, the Philippine Islands, as a result of the Spanish-American War, were a possession of the United States between 1898 and 1946; and
Whereas, in 1934, the Philippine Independence Act (P.L. 73-127) set a ten-year timetable for the eventual independence of the Philippines and in the interim established a government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines with certain powers over its own internal affairs; and
Whereas, the granting of full independence ultimately was delayed for two years until 1946 because of the Japanese occupation of the islands from 1942 to 1945; and
Whereas, between 1934 and the final independence of the Philippine Islands in 1946, the United States retained certain sovereign powers over the Philippines, including the right, upon order of the President of the United States, to call into the service of the United States Armed Forces all military forces organized by the Commonwealth government; and
Whereas, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, by Executive order of July 26, 1941, brought the Philippine Commonwealth Army into the service of the United States Armed Forces of the Far East under the command of Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur; and
Whereas, under the Executive Order of July 26, 1941, Filipinos were entitled to full veterans benefits; and
Whereas, approximately 200,000 Filipino soldiers, driven by a sense of honor and dignity, battled under the United States Command after 1941 to preserve our liberty; and
Whereas, the vast majority of American soldiers who opposed the Japanese invasion of the Philippines from December 1941, through March 1942, were Filipinos, who gallantly fought down the length of the Bataan peninsula, and endured unbearable hardships during the siege of Corregidor; and
Whereas, following the surrender of Corregidor, Filipino soldiers, isolated from the rest of the world with only the hope that American forces might someday return, courageously waged guerrilla warfare against the Japanese occupation; and
Whereas, Filipino soldiers fought bravely alongside returning Allied forces to liberate the Philippines and restore order in the war-torn islands until the official end of hostilities in 1947; and
Whereas, there are four groups of Filipino nationals who are entitled to all or some of the benefits to which United States veterans are entitled;
(1) Filipinos who served in the regular components of the United States Armed Forces;
(2) Regular Philippine Scouts, called ``Old Scouts'', who enlisted in Filipino-manned units of the United States Army prior to October 6, 1945; and prior to World War II, these troops assisted in the maintenance of domestic order in the Philippines and served as a combat-ready force to defend the islands against foreign invasion, and during the war, they participated in the defense and retaking of the islands from Japanese occupation;
(3) Special Philippine Scouts, called ``New Scouts'', who enlisted in the United States Armed Forces between October 6, 1945, and June 30, 1947, primarily to perform occupation duty in the Pacific following World War II; and
(4) Members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army who on July 26, 1941, were called into the service of the United States Armed Forces, including organized guerrilla resistance units that were recognized by the United States Army;
Whereas, the first two groups, Filipinos who served in the regular components of the United States Armed Forces and Old Scouts, are considered United States veterans and are generally entitled to the full range of United States veterans benefits; and
Whereas, the other two groups, New Scouts and members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, are eligible for certain veterans benefits, some of which are lower than full veterans benefits; and
Whereas, United States veterans medical benefits for the four groups of Filipino veterans vary depending upon whether the person resides in the United States or the Philippines; and
Whereas, the eligibility of Old Scouts for benefits based on military service in the United States Armed Forces has long been established; and
Whereas, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs operates a comprehensive program of veterans benefits in the present government of the Republic of the Philippines, including the operation of a federal Department of Veterans Affairs office in Manila; and
Whereas, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs does not operate a program of this type in any other country; and
Whereas, the program in the Philippines evolved because the Philippine Islands were a United States possession during the period 1898-1946, and many Filipinos have served in the United States Armed Forces, and because the preindependence Philippine Commonwealth Army was called into the service of the United States Armed Forces during World War II (1941-1945); and
Whereas, our nation has failed to meet the promises made to those Filipino soldiers who fought as American soldiers during World War II; and
Whereas, Congress passed legislation in 1946 limiting and precluding Filipino veterans that fought in the service of the United States during World War II from receiving most veterans benefits that were available to them before 1946; and
Whereas, many Filipino veterans have been unfairly treated by the classification of their service as not being service rendered in the United States Armed Forces for purposes of benefits from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs; and
Whereas, other nationals who served in the United States Armed Forces have been recognized and granted full rights and benefits, but the Filipinos, American nationals at the time of service, are still denied recognition and singled out for exclusion, and this treatment is unfair and discriminatory; and
Whereas, on October 20, 1996, President Clinton issued a proclamation honoring the nearly 100,000 Filipino veterans of World War II, soldiers of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, who fought as a component of the United States Armed Forces alongside allied forces for four long years to defend and reclaim the Philippine Islands, and thousands more who joined the United States Armed Forces after the war; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the President and the Congress of the United States are respectfully requested in the 107th Congress to take action necessary to honor our country's moral obligation to provide these Filipino veterans with the military benefits that they deserve, including, but not limited to, holding related hearings, and acting favorably on legislation pertaining to granting full veterans benefits to Filipino veterans of the United States Armed Forces; and be it further
Resolved, that certified 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 Hawaii's congressional delegation.
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POM-265. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Hawaii relative to the establishment of a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii of the United States of America and the Municipality of Tianjin in the People's Republic of China; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senate Resolution No. 99
Whereas, Tianjin, a city in northeastern China, is one of four municipalities under the direct control of the central government of the People's Republic of China, and in 2001 had a population slightly over 10,000,000; and
Whereas, the city is made up of 13 districts, five counties, 126 villages, 93 towns, and 133 street communities; and
Whereas, the history of Tianjin begins with the opening of the Sui Dynasty's Big Canal (581-617 AD). Beginning in the mid-Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Tianjin became the nexus for the transport of foodstuffs and silk between south and north China. During the Ming Dynasty (1404 AD), the city figured prominently as a military center. In 1860, its importance as a business and communications center began to grow; and
Whereas, Tianjin is known as the Bright Diamond of Bohai Gulf and is the gateway to China's capital of Beijing. Tianjin is one of China's biggest business and industrial port cities and, in north China, is the biggest port city. Tianjin now ranks second in importance and size in terms of industry, business, finance, and trade in the north. Its industrial production and trade volume is second only to Shanghai in the south; and
Whereas, the city's traditional industries include mining, metallurgy, machine-building, chemicals, power production, textiles, construction materials, paper-making, foodstuffs, shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, petroleum exploitation and processing, tractor production, fertilizer and pesticide production, and watch, television, and camera manufacturing; and
Whereas, in 1994, Tianjin's economic goal was to double its gross national product by the year 2003. With its 1997 gross national product reaching RMB 124 billion yuan (about RMB 8.26 yuan to US$ 1), Tianjin is poised to reach that goal. By the end of 1998, 12,065 foreign-owned companies were established in Tianjin that invested a total of RMB 21.017 billion yuan (about US$ 2.5 billion). About RMB 9.291 billion yuan (about US$ 1.1 billion) of that amount was used for development of Tianjin; and
Whereas, in the past, business and other forms of industrial enterprises were primarily state-owned throughout China. However, under on-going nationwide reform, the proportion of businesses that are state-owned is being reduced. In Tianjin, the percentage of state-owned enterprises in 1997 was 35.7 per cent versus 16.6 per cent for collective ownership, and 47.7 per cent for other forms, including private ownership. In the retail sector, the respective proportions were 23.7 per cent, 17.3 per cent, and 59 per cent, respectively; and
Whereas, Tianjin has a broad science and technology base upon which to build, for example, it is home to 161 independent research institutions (117 local and 44 national). Aside from its several universities and colleges, Tianjin has six national-level laboratories and 27 national and ministerial-level technological test centers and has plans to increase its science and technology educational goals; and
Whereas, in 1984, the State Council issued a directive to establish the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area
(TEDA), situated some 35 miles from Tianjin. Recently, some 3,140 foreign-invested companies have located to TEDA with a total investment of over US$ 11 billion; and
Whereas, at present, TEDA has developed four pillar industries: electronics and communications, automobile manufacturing and mechanization, food and beverages, and bio-pharmacy, and is promoting four new industries: information software, bioengineering, new energies, and environmental protection; and
Whereas, in 1996, TEDA began offering a technology incubator to help small and medium-sized enterprises with funding, tax breaks, personnel, etc. Within the TEDA high-tech park, Tianjin offers preferential treatment in the form of funding, land fees, taxes, and facilities (such as water, gas, and hearing). Residential and other services, shopping, and educational and recreation facilities are either already in place or are being planned; and
Whereas, for the eleven months ending November 2001, total exports from TEDA was US$ 3.53 billion, of which foreign-funded enterprises accounted for US$ 3.49 billion while total foreign investment in TEDA amounted to US$ 2.3 billion; and
Whereas, Hawaii has been, since its early days, the destination of many Chinese immigrants who have helped to develop the State and its economy; and
Whereas, compared to the rest of the country, Hawaii is advantageously situated in the Pacific to better establish and maintain cultural, educational, and economic relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, especially the People's Republic of China; and
Whereas, the new century we have embarked upon has been described by some as the ``century of Asia'' or the ``China's century''; and
Whereas, like Tianjin, Hawaii is also striving to diversify its economy by expanding into environmentally clean high-technology industries including medical services and research; and
Whereas, the State also emphasizes the importance of higher education in order to create a solid foundation and workforce to serve as the basis from which to launch initiatives in high-technology development; and
Whereas, both Hawaii and Tianjin share many common goals and values as both work towards achieving their economic and educational objectives in the new century, and the people of the State of Hawaii desire to form a mutually beneficial relationship between the State of Hawaii and the municipality of Tianjin to share our knowledge and experiences in order to better assist each other in reaching our goals; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, That Governor Benjamin Cayetano, of the State of Hawaii, or his designee, be authorized and is requested to take all necessary actions to establish a sister-state affiliation with the municipality of Tianjin of the People's Republic of China; and be it further
Resolved, That the Governor or his designee is requested to keep the Senate of the State of Hawaii fully informed of the process in establishing the relationship, and involved in its formalization to the extent practicable; and be it further
Resolved, That the municipality of Tianjin be afforded the privileges and honors that Hawaii extends to its sister-states and provinces; and be it further
Resolved, That if by June 30, 2007, the sister-state affiliation with the municipality of Tianjin of the People's Republic of China has not reached a sustainable basis by providing mutual economic benefits through local community support, the sister-state affiliation shall be withdrawn; and be it further
Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Hawaii's congressional delegation, and the President of the People's Republic of China and the Mayor of the municipality of Tianjin through the Los Angeles Consulate General of the People's Republic of China.
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POM-266. A Senate concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to the establishment of a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii of the United States of America and the Municipality of Tianjin in the People's Republic of China; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 161
Whereas, Tianjin, a city in northeastern China, is one of four municipalities under the direct control of the central government of the People's Republic of China, and in 2001 had a population slightly over 10,000,000; and
Whereas, the city is made up of 13 districts, five counties, 126 villages, 93 towns, and 133 street communities; and
Whereas, the history of Tianjin begins with the opening of the Sui Dynasty's Big Canal (581-617 AD). Beginning in the mid-Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Tianjin became the nexus for the transport of foodstuffs and silk between south and north China. During the Ming Dynasty (1404 AD), the city figured prominently as a military center. In 1860, its importance as a business and communications center began to grow; and
Whereas, Tianjin is known as the Bright Diamond of Bohai Gulf and is the gateway to China's capital of Beijing. Tianjin is one of China's biggest business and industrial port cities and, in north China, is the biggest port city. Tianjin now ranks second in importance and size in terms of industry, business, finance, and trade in the north. Its industrial production and trade volume is second only to Shanghai in the south; and
Whereas, the city's traditional industries include mining, metallurgy, machine-building, chemicals, power production, textiles, construction materials, paper-making, foodstuffs, shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, petroleum exploitation and processing, tractor production, fertilizer and pesticide production, and watch, television, and camera manufacturing; and
Whereas, in 1994, Tianjin's economic goal was to double its gross national product by the year 2003. With its 1997 gross national product reaching RMB 124 billion yuan (about RMB 8.26 yuan to US$ 1), Tianjin is poised to reach that goal. By the end of 1998, 12,065 foreign-owned companies were established in Tianjin that invested a total of RMB 21.017 billion yuan (about US$ 2.5 billion). About RMB 9.291 billion yuan (about US$ 1.1 billion) of that amount was used for development of Tianjin; and
Whereas, in the past, business and other forms of industrial enterprises were primarily state-owned throughout China. However, under on-going nationwide reform, the proportion of businesses that are state-owned is being reduced. In Tianjin, the percentage of state-owned enterprises in 1997 was 35.7 per cent versus 16.6 per cent for collective ownership, and 47.7 per cent for other forms, including private ownership. In the retail sector, the respective proportions were 23.7 per cent, 17.3 per cent, and 59 per cent, respectively; and
Whereas, Tianjin has a broad science and technology base upon which to build, for example, it is home to 161 independent research institutions (117 local and 44 national). Aside from its several universities and colleges, Tianjin has six national-level laboratories and 27 national and ministerial-level technological test centers and has plans to increase its science and technology educational goals; and
Whereas, in 1984, the State Council issued a directive to establish the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area
(TEDA), situated some 35 miles from Tianjin. Recently, some 3,140 foreign-invested companies have located to TEDA with a total investment of over US$ 11 billion; and
Whereas, at present, TEDA has developed four pillar industries: electronics and communications, automobile manufacturing and mechanization, food and beverages, and bio-pharmacy, and is promoting four new industries: information software, bioengineering, new energies, and environmental protection; and
Whereas, in 1996, TEDA began offering a technology incubator to help small and medium-sized enterprises with funding, tax breaks, personnel, etc. Within the TEDA high-tech park, Tianjin offers preferential treatment in the form of funding, land fees, taxes, and facilities (such as water, gas, and heating). Residential and other services, shopping, and educational and recreation facilities are either already in place or are being planned; and
Whereas, for the eleven months ending November 2001, total exports from TEDA was US$ 3.53 billion, of which foreign-funded enterprises accounted for US$ 3.49 billion while total foreign investment in TEDA amounted to US$ 2.3 billion; and
Whereas, Hawaii has been, since its early days, the destination of many Chinese immigrants who have helped to develop the State and its economy; and
Whereas, compared to the rest of the country, Hawaii is advantageously situated in the Pacific to better establish and maintain cultural, educational, and economic relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, especially the People's Republic of China; and
Whereas, the new century we have embarked upon has been described by some as the ``century of Asia'' or the ``China's century''; and
Whereas, like Tianjin, Hawaii is also striving to diversify its economy by expanding into environmentally clean high-technology industries including medical services and research; and
Whereas, the State also emphasizes the importance of higher education in order to create a solid foundation and workforce to serve as the basis from which to launch initiatives in high-technology development; and
Whereas, both Hawaii and Tianjin share many common goals and values as both work towards achieving their economic and educational objectives in the new century, and the people of the State of Hawaii desire to form a mutually beneficial relationship between the State of Hawaii and the municipality of Tianjin to share our knowledge and experiences in order to better assist each other in reaching our goals; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, That Governor Benjamin Cayetano, of the State of Hawaii, or his designee, be authorized and is requested to take all necessary actions to establish a sister-state affiliation with the municipality of Tianjin of the People's Republic of China; and be it further
Resolved, That the Governor or his designee is requested to keep the Legislature of the State of Hawaii fully informed of the process in establishing the relationship, and involved in its formalization to the extent practicable; and be it further
Resolved, That the municipality of Tianjin be afforded the privileges and honors that Hawaii extends to its sister-states and provinces; and be it further
Resolved, That if by June 30, 2007, the sister-state affiliation with the municipality of Tianjin of the People's Republic of China has not reached a sustainable basis by providing mutual economic benefits through local community support, the sister-state affiliation shall be withdrawn; and be it further
Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to President of the United States, the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Hawaii's congressional delegation, and the President of the People's Republic of China and the Mayor of the municipality of Tianjin through the Los Angeles Consulate General of the People's Republic of China.
POM-267. A Senate concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to the acquisition by the United States National Park Service of Kahuku Ranch for expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and of Ki'ilae Village for expansion of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 36
Whereas, the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island consists of 217,000 acres and is one of only two national parks in this State; and
Whereas, the Volcanoes National Park attracts about 1,500,000 visitors each year who enjoy the natural beauty of the lava fields, native forests, and ocean cliffs; and
Whereas, a large parcel of land lying to the south and west of the Volcanoes National Park known as Kahuku Range consisting of 117,000 acres has come up for sale; and
Whereas, the Kahuku Ranch parcel contains outstanding geological, biological, cultural, scenic, and recreational value, and is the sole habitat for at least four threatened and endangered bird species endemic to Hawaii; and
Whereas, the National Park Service since 1945 has recognized that the property contained nationally significant resources and in fact, in its 175 Master Plan, the National Park Service identified the property as a ``potential addition to improve the geological, ecological, and scenic integrity of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park''; and
Whereas, the 181-acre Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park was established in 1961 to save a sacred lace of refuge that for centuries offered sanctuary to any who reached its walls; and
Whereas, adjacent to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau are the remains of Ki'ilae, an ancient Hawaiian settlement dating back to the late 12th or early 13th centuries, and which remained active until about 1930, making it one of the last traditional Hawaiian villages to be abandoned; and
Whereas, significant portions of this ancient Hawaiian village remain outside of national park boundaries; and
Whereas, including these lands within the boundaries of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park has been a goal of park management for more than three decades; and
Whereas, the park's 1972 Master Plan identified Ki'ilae Village as a proposed boundary extension and in 1992, a Boundary Expansion Study completed for the park called for adding the ``balance of Ki`ilae Village''; and
Whereas, within the Ki`ilae lands the National Park Service is seeking to acquire, more than 800 archaeological sites, structures, and features have been identified, including at least twenty-five caves and ten heaiu, more than twenty platforms, twenty-six enclosures, over forty burial features, residential compounds, a holua slide, canoe landing sites, a water well, numerous walls, and a wide range of agricultural features; and
Whereas, in June 2001; Senator Inouye and Senator Akaka introduced a bill to authorize the addition of the Ki`ilae Village lands to Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park and in October 2001, this bill passed the United States Senate and it is anticipated that the authorization bill will pass the House of Representatives as well; and
Whereas, these acquisitions offer an opportunity rarely imagined because they would give the National Park Service an excellent chance to expand and protect native plants and archaeological sites from destruction; and
Whereas, these opportunities can benefit current and future generations of residents and tourists, because expansion of Volcanoes National Park and Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park will preserve more open space, add to the natural environment, protect affected native species, and preserve cultural and historical sites; and
Whereas, in January 2001, the National Park Service held a series of public meetings to receive comments from the public regarding possible purchase of Kahuku Ranch and Ki`ilae Village, and the nearly 400 people in attendance at the meetings expressed overwhelming support and endorsement; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Legislature supports the acquisition by the United states National Park Service of Kahuku Ranch for expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and of Ki`ilae Village for expansion of Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park; and be it further
Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the National Park Service, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.
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POM-268. A Senate concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to urging adequate financial impact assistance to providing services to citizens of the freely associated states who reside in the State of Hawaii; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 127
Whereas, the Compact of Free Association is an agreement established in 1986 between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and in 1994 with the Republic of Palau; and
Whereas, under the Compact, the United States provides direct economic assistance, federal services, and military protection to these nations, in exchange for defense rights; and
Whereas, the U.S. State Department should consider the impact of Freely Associated States citizens on Hawaii during this year's renegotiation of the compacts; and
Whereas, citizens of these Freely Associated States (FAS) are also allowed to freely enter the United States without a visa or other immigration requirements; and
Whereas, drawn by the promise of better medical care and a better education for their children, over 6,000 Freely Associated States citizens have migrated to and are currently residing in Hawaii; and
Whereas, the Compact's enabling legislation authorizes federal compensation for impact costs incurred by United States areas, including Hawaii; and
Whereas, the 1996 federal welfare reform act cut off access to federal welfare and medical programs forcing citizens of these Freely Associated States to rely on state aid; and
Whereas, the cost of supporting FAS citizens, largely in healthcare and education, was $86 million between 1996 and 2000; and
Whereas, FAS students have higher costs than other students due to poor language and other skills; and
Whereas, due to FAS students entering and leaving school a few times each year their integration into the school system difficult; and
Whereas, since the Compact went into effect in 1986 until 2001, the State spent over $64 million to educate FAS citizens and their children in our public schools, $10 million in 2000 alone; and
Whereas, FAS citizens continue to have a fast-growing impact on our public school system; and
Whereas, last year, the number of FAS students in our primary and secondary public schools increased by 28%, resulting in costs to the State of over $13 million for the academic year, bringing the total cost since 1988 to about
$78 million; and
Whereas, during the academic school year 2001-2002, the University of Hawaii lost over $1.2 million in tuition revenue as a result of students from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau paying resident rather than non-resident tuition; and
Whereas, inadequate and delayed federal compensation to Hawaii's education system will be at a cost to our own children, and contributes to Hawaii being substantially below many other states in per pupil expenditures for its public school children in kindergarten through 12th grade; and
Whereas, state Medicaid payments for FAS citizens from 1998 to 2001 totaled $12.4 million; and
Whereas, the financial stability and viability of private hospitals and medical providers is threatened by staggering debts and write-offs resulting from medical services to FAS citizens, in spite of state Medicaid reimbursements; and
Whereas, the Queen's Medical Center alone has incurred operating losses of $16 million between 1995 and 1999, and is owed over $11 million by Compact of FAS nations; and
Whereas, community health centers estimate an annual cost of $420,000 for services to FAS residents; and
Whereas, the Department of Health has also been significantly impacted by the cost of public health services to FAS immigrants with $967,000 spent on screening vaccination and treatment of communicable diseases and
$190,000 spent for immunization and outreach by public health nurses; and
Whereas, FAS citizens may face unfair criticism and refusal of medical services from medical providers; and
Whereas, inadequate and delayed federal compensation threaten to overwhelm Hawaii's health care systems, leading to potential cutbacks in services and personnel that would impact all of Hawaii's citizens; and
Whereas, it is imperative that Hawaii be granted immediate and substantial federal assistance to meet these mounting costs; and
Whereas, Guam has been asking for--and receiving--financial impact assistance for the last ten years; and
Whereas, the fact that Micronesians should qualify for federal benefits, while residing in Hawaii and the rest of the United States, can best be summed up by the resolution which was passed on September 9, 2001, in Washington, D.C., by a national group called Grassroots Organizing for Welfare Leadership supporting the insertion of language in all federal welfare, food, and housing legislation because Micronesians are eligible for these and other benefits as
``qualified non-immigrants'' residing in the United States; and
Whereas, the United States government is not owning up to its responsibility for what the United States did to the Micronesian people by refusing them food stamps and other federal benefits when they came to Hawaii and the rest of United States seeking help; and
Whereas, the excuse being used by the U.S. government to deny any aid to the Micronesians in the U.S. is the word
``nonimmigrant'' used in the Compact of Free Association to describe Micronesians who move to Hawaii and the U.S.; and
Whereas, on Dec. 7, 1993, then President Bill Clinton formed an Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments which documented human radiation experiments; and
Whereas, based on some of these documents, researchers indicate that all of Micronesia was affected, not just the Marshall Islands; and
Whereas, it is the intent of this Resolution to encourage the responsible entities to implement the provisions of the Compact of Freely Associated States, which authorizes compact impact funds to be made available to states that welcome and provide services to the people of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau, because most of the FAS citizens that come to Hawaii do so for medical problems related the United States' military testing of nuclear bombs; and
Whereas, Micronesians are recruited to serve in the U.S. military and ``aliens'' are not similarly recruited into the U.S. military; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Bush Administration and the U.S. Congress are requested to appropriate adequate financial impact assistance for health, education, and other social services for Hawaii's Freely Associated States citizens; and be it further
Resolved, That the Bush Administration and the U.S. Congress are requested to insert language in all federal welfare, food, and housing legislation which says that Micronesians are eligible for federal food stamps, welfare, public housing, and other federal benefits as ``qualified nonimmigrants'' residing in the United States; and be it further
Resolved, That the Bush Administration and the U.S. Congress are requested to restore FAS citizens' eligibility for federal public benefits, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and food stamps; and be it further
Resolved, That Hawaii's congressional delegates are requested to assure financial reimbursements, through the establishment of a trust, escrow, or set-aside account, to the State of Hawaii for educational, medical, and social services and to Hawaii's private medical providers who have provided services to Freely Associated States citizens; and be it further
Resolved, That certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, United States State Department, President of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, Governor, Attorney General, Superintendent of Education, Director of Health, Director of Agriculture, Director of Human Services, Grassroots Organizing for Welfare Leadership, Micronesians United, United Church of Christ, Hawaii Conference of Churches, United Methodist Church of Honolulu, national negotiating teams of the Compact of Free Association, and Presidents and Hawaii Consulates of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau.
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POM-269. A Senate resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii relative to supporting the acquisition by the United States National Park Service of Kahuku Ranch for expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and of Ki'ilae Village for expansion of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Senate Resolution, No. 16
Whereas, the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island consists of 217,000 acres and is one of only two national parks in this State; and
Whereas, the Volcanoes National Park attracts about 1,500,000 visitors each year who enjoy the natural beauty of the lava fields, native forests and ocean cliffs; and
Whereas, a large parcel of land lying to the south and west of the Volcanoes National Park known as Kahuku Ranch consisting of 117,000 acres has come up for sale; and
Whereas, the Kahuku Ranch parcel contains outstanding geological, biological, cultural, scenic, and recreational value, and is the sole habitat for at least four threatened and endangered bird species endemic to Hawaii; and
Whereas, the National Park Service since 1945 has recognized that the property contained nationally significant resources and in fact, in its 1975 Master Plan, the National Park Service identified the property as a ``potential addition to improve the geological, ecological, and scenic integrity of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park''; and
Whereas, the 181-acre Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park was established in 1961 to save a sacred place of refuge that for centuries offered sanctuary to any who reached its walls; and
Whereas, adjacent to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau are the remains of Ki'ilae, an ancient Hawaiian settlement dating back to the late 12th or early 13th centuries, and which remained active until about 1930, making it one of the last traditional Hawaiian villages to be abandoned; and
Whereas, significant portions of this ancient Hawaiian village remain outside of national park boundaries; and
Whereas, including these lands within the boundaries of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park has been a goal of park management for more than three decades; and
Whereas, the park's 1972 Master Plan identified Ki'ilae Village as a proposed boundary extension and in 1992, a Boundary Expansion Study completed for the park called for adding the ``balance of Ki'ilae Village''; and
Whereas, within the Ki'ilae lands the National Park Service is seeking to acquire, more than 800 archeological sites, structures, and features have been identified, including at least twenty-five caves and ten heaiu, more than twenty platforms, twenty-six enclosures, over forty burial features, residential compounds, a holua slide, canoe landing sites, a water well, numerous walls, and a wide range of agricultural features; and
Whereas, in June 2001, Senator Inouye and Senator Akaka introduced a bill to authorize the addition of the Ki'ilae Village lands to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park and in October 2001, this bill passed the United States Senate and it is anticipated that the authorization bill will pass the House of Representatives as well; and
Whereas, these acquisitions offer an opportunity rarely imagined because they would give the National Park Service an excellent change to expand and protect native plants and archaeological sites from destruction; and
Whereas, these opportunities can benefit current and future generations of residents and tourists, because expansion of Volcanoes National Park and Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park will preserve more open space, add to the natural environment, protect affected native species, and preserve cultural and historical sites; and
Whereas, in January 2001, the National Park Service held a series of public meetings to receive comments from the public regarding possible purchase of Kahuku ranch and Ki'ilae Village, and the nearly 400 people in attendance at the meetings expressed overwhelming support and endorsement; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, That this body supports the acquisition by the United States National Park Service of Kahuku Ranch for expansion of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and of Ki'ilae Village for expansion of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park; and be it further
Resolved, That certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the National Park Service, the President of the United States Senate, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.
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POM-270. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Alaska relative to the construction and operation of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline route; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Legislative Resolve No. 50
Whereas the Alaska North Slope (ANS) has the largest known, discovered natural gas resources, estimated to be 35 trillion cubic feet, in the United States and estimated, undiscovered gas resources in excess of 100 trillion cubic feet; and
Whereas demand for natural gas in the lower 48 states is expected to experience record growth, rising from approximately 22 trillion feet a year in 2000 to 30-35 trillion cubic feet a year in 2020, with some experts predicting demand to be as large as 50 trillion cubic feet a year in 2020; and
Whereas the lower 48 states have an inadequate resource base to meet this expected demand, and experts expect that more natural gas will have to be imported from Canada and from other countries in the form of liquefied natural gas
(LNG); and
Whereas the near record drilling in the last two years in the lower 48 failed to provide any significant gas supply increase and many experts are questioning whether other United States frontier areas like the deepwater Gulf of Mexico will be able to deliver material new gas supplies and, therefore, more imports may be required than previously thought; and
Whereas it is important for the United States to have a reliable and affordable source of domestic natural gas for its citizens and businesses, and for national security, especially given the recent tragic events; and
Whereas energy supply disruptions have significant negative effect on the United States economy, including the losses of tens of millions of United States jobs; and
Whereas, if the United States imports significant amounts of LNG, it can be subjected to the market power of the exporting country through mechanisms such as embargoes and price making; and
Whereas ANS is one of the few known locations in the United States that can supply significant natural gas supplies to the lower 48 for years to come; and
Whereas, given these supply and demand projections, several companies and entities have studied different pipeline routes, including a ``northern'' route, running off the shore of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the Beaufort Sea to the Mackenzie Delta and south through Canada to the lower 48; a ``southern'' route along the Alaska Highway through Canada to the lower 48; and an ``LNG'' route adjacent to the Trans Alaska Pipeline System pipeline to Valdez and LNG tankers for delivery to California; and
Whereas, in 1976, Congress passed the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 (ANGTA) authorizing the President to select a route to transport natural gas from ANS to the lower 48 and providing procedures to expedite the construction and operation of the selected route; and
Whereas, in 1977, following lengthy public hearings and negotiations with Canada, the President issued a decision
(``President's Decision'') choosing the southern route and selecting the predecessor of a consortium of pipeline companies headed by Foothills Pipe Lines, Ltd. (Pipeline Companies'') to construct and operate the Alaska segment of the project; and
Whereas the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team
(``Producers'') has proposed new federal enabling legislation that is currently being debated in the United States Senate; and
Whereas the Majority Leader of the United States Senate has introduced the Energy Policy Act of 2002, which contains the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2002 (``Pipeline Act''); and
Whereas the Pipeline Act is not opposed by the Pipeline Companies, and they desire certain amendments to the ANGTA to modernize it; and
Whereas ANGTA granted the State of Alaska ``authoriz[ation] to ship its royalty gas on the approved transportation system for use within Alaska and . . . to withdraw such gas from the interstate market for use within Alaska,'' which rights will be impaired if a northern route is followed; and
Whereas President Carter's decision in support of the southern route explicitly recognized that it could ``supply the energy base required for long-term economic development'' within Alaska and it could supply natural gas to communities within Alaska along the route as well as other Alaska communities through local distribution lines, and these potential benefits will be lost if a northern route is followed; and
Whereas the United States Senate has concurred with the United States House of Representatives to oppose the northern route and has expressed its support for the southern route; and
Whereas the southern route presents the United States with petrochemical extraction opportunities in the United States while the northern route does not; and
Whereas a northern route pipeline could not easily be expanded to increase the volume of gas when needed; and
Whereas the southern route provides petrochemical extraction opportunities in the United States and other marketing opportunities for ANS gas, including gas to liquids
(GTL) and LNG, to the West Coast or Asia; and
Whereas it is widely recognized that maximum benefit to Alaskans from the commercialization of ANS natural gas lies in market exposure for that gas, opportunities for in-state use of the natural gas, and for participation by Alaskans in construction, maintenance, and operation of the gas pipeline transportation project, and the recovery of revenue by the state from the development, transport, and sale of ANS gas reserves; and
Whereas the Alaska State Legislature has expressed a preference for the expedited construction and operation of a natural gas pipeline along a southern route and has authorized funds to conduct various studies regarding a natural gas pipeline, including the study of in-state natural gas demand, natural gas supply, a natural gas fiscal system, and the effect of natural gas sales on the Prudhoe Bay reservoir; and
Whereas the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature established the Joint Committee on Natural Gas Pipeline
(``Joint Committee'') to take whatever action may be appropriate to ensure that the best interests of the state are protected; and
Whereas it is vital for the continued exploration and development of natural gas resources on the ANS that oil and gas companies that do not have an ownership interest in the pipeline (``Explorers'') have access to it on fair and reasonable terms and have the ability to seek expansion of the pipeline when economically and technically feasible; and the Joint Committee adopted recommendations supporting enactment of these provisions in federal law; and
Whereas it is vital for the economic development of Alaska that Alaskans and Alaska businesses have access to gas from the pipeline on a fair and reasonable basis, and that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska participate with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to develop methods to provide for such access; and the Joint Committee adopted recommendations supporting enactment of these provisions in federal law; and
Whereas the Joint Committee has issued various recommendations requesting that Congress reaffirm the validity of ANGTA and modernize it; and
Whereas natural gas prices in the lower 48 states periodically fluctuate below those required to adequately cover investment; and
Whereas governmental involvement, including tax incentives, is essential and quite common on major projects to enable private enterprises to undertake the risks; be it
Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature strongly urges the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and appropriate federal officials to actively support the expeditious construction and operation of a natural gas pipeline through Alaska along a southern route; and be it further
Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature strongly urges passage during the first half of 2002 of the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team's federal enabling legislation, so long as it contains a provision similar to that in H.R. 4 banning the over-the-top route and the following amendments:
(1) provisions for Alaskans and Alaska businesses that ensure they have access to the pipeline for in-state consumption and value-added manufacture on a fair and reasonable basis and that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska is part of the process in determining that access;
(2) provisions for access to the pipeline by Explorers on a fair and reasonable basis, including a proper open season with fair and reasonable tariffs, and that provide that they and the State have the ability to obtain expansion of the pipeline if economically and technologically feasible;
(3) provisions for the reaffirmation of the validity of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 and the modernization of that Act as necessary;
(4) provisions for federal financial incentives, including accelerated depreciation and an income tax credit that is designed to provide mitigation of long-term natural gas price risks and the risks associated with funding the large capital costs of the project; the amount of any tax credit should be limited in operation to periods when natural gas prices are extremely low and recovered when natural gas prices are high; and
(5) specific provisions declaring that the content of amendments (1)--(4) is not intended to exclude supply of Alaska North Slope natural gas to markets in the form of LNG or GTL.
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POM-271. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regarding the Valley Forge National Historical Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Senate Resolution No. 155
Whereas, in the winter of 1777-1778 General George Washington and the Continental Army camped at Valley Forge to be close to the British Army occupying the City of Philadelphia; and
Whereas, during this encampment the volunteer citizen soldiers endured great hardships such as cold, hunger, disease and poor lodging, and they were badly equipped and supplied; and
Whereas, about 2,000 soldiers died from pneumonia, typhoid, dysentery and other diseases; and
Whereas, at Valley Forge the leadership of General George Washington helped hold together this group of citizen soldiers; and
Whereas, through the training of General Washington and Baron von Steuben these ill-equipped volunteers were marshaled into an effective fighting force which helped defeat a military power, the British, at Yorktown in 1783; and
Whereas, the first State park was founded at Valley Forge in 1893; and
Whereas, Govenor Samuel Pennypacker of Pennsylvania compared a visit to Valley Forge to a pilgrimage and urged every American to visit the site; and
Whereas, Valley Forge has been visited by Presidents of the United States and numerous dignitaries from around the world; and
Whereas, in 1975, as part of the United States Bicentennial Celebration, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania conveyed the Valley Forge State Park to the United States Government; and
Whereas, Act 1975-53 authorizing the conveyance said the land was to be used for ``historical purposes''; and
Whereas, the development of land privately owned within Valley Forge National Historical Park boundaries would violate the spirit of the conveyance from the Commonwealth to the United States Government; and
Whereas, the Secretary of the Interior has the authority to acquire privately held property within the boundaries of the Park; therefore be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that locating a large housing development within the boundaries of the Valley Forge National Historical Park is against the spirit of the original conveyance to the Federal Government approved by the Commonwealth; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly urge the Secretary of the Interior to exercise authority under Public Law 94-337 and acquire the land to be developed; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United States to appropriate moneys sufficient for the purchase of this property; 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 each member of Congress from Pennsylvania and to the Secretary of the Interior.
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POM-272. A Senate joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine regarding Acadia National Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Joint Resolution
We, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twentieth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States, as follows:
Whereas, Acadia National Park is Maine's most visited natural destination, with approximately 3 million annual visits, and is one of the most heavily used parks in the National Park System; and
Whereas, Acadia National Park is among the most beautiful places in Maine and its Atlantic shore represents 25% of the Maine coastline that is available for public use and enjoyment; and
Whereas, Acadia National Park generates $132,000,000 in direct economic benefits to the Mount Desert Island region and many additional millions of dollars in indirect benefits throughout Maine, making the park's 45,000 acres of land and easements among the most economically productive natural assets in the State; and
Whereas, Acadia National Park has conducted a rigorous financial analysis leading to a business plan that demonstrates an average operating annual budget that supplies only 47% of what is needed to operate the park in compliance with laws and regulations; and
Whereas, Acadia National Park's annual operating budget shortfall is the 3rd largest calculated to date in the 40 national parks that have undertaken business plans; and
Whereas, Acadia National Park's total annual operating budget need is approximately $14,000,000, and additional millions of dollars are needed for anticipated park operations at Schoodic Point; and
Whereas, Acadia National Park has 121 full-time equivalent employees but needs 230 full-time equivalent employees to execute the park's mission in accordance with laws and regulations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States to increase the annual budget of Acadia National Park to amounts that will meet the park's full operational needs, including the needs of Schoodic Point; and be it further
Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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POM-273. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Maine relative to Cuba; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Joint Resolution
We, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twentieth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the Congress of the United States as follows:
Whereas, the relationship between the United States and Cuba has long been marked by tension and confrontation, and further heightening this hostility is the 40-year-old United States trade embargo against the island nation that remains the longest-standing embargo in modern history; and
Whereas, there has been significant change in relations between Cuba and the United States since 1962, when the prohibitive trade sanctions were imposed; and
Whereas, the export ban was imposed during a period of much fear caused by the threat of nuclear attack due to the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and other communist regimes and the United States; and
Whereas, that threat no longer exists and it is no longer United States policy to prohibit trade with a communist country, as we already have heavy trade with China and are establishing trade with countries like Vietnam; and
Whereas, with complete normalization of trade relations, Cuba could become a $1 billion market for United States agricultural producers within 5 years, making it our 3rd largest market in the Americas after Mexico and Canada; and
Whereas, agriculture in Maine has developed into a diverse industry and could greatly benefit from the market opportunities that free trade with Cuba would provide. Maine is the largest producer of brown eggs and wild blueberries in the world and ranks 8th in the nation in the production of potatoes and 2nd in the production of maple syrup. It ranks 2nd in New England in milk and livestock production; and
Whereas, rather than depriving Cuba of agricultural products, the United States trade embargo succeeds only in driving Cuba's purchasers to competitors in other countries that have no trade restrictions; and
Whereas, the United States has much to gain by trading with Cuba, not only in agriculture but also in many other sectors of the economy and culture; and
Whereas, the Cuban people also have much to gain and are more likely to move toward liberty as they see our way of life and the success of our free market system: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That We, your Memorialists, urge the Congress of the United States to lift trade sanctions and establish permanent, normal trade relations with Cuba; and be it further
Resolved, That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, and to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States and each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.
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