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 S905-S907 on Feb. 13, 2018.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
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-167. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorializing its support of the Department of Energy's proposed Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
House Resolution No. 576
Whereas, Electric generation power plants in this Commonwealth that participate in the wholesale electric markets strengthen competition and enhance the resilience and reliability of the bulk power and transmission systems and are vital to the public interest; and
Whereas, The nation's and this Commonwealth's economy, environment and security depend on a reliable, resilient electric grid powered by an ``all of the above'' mix of energy generation resources, including traditional baseload generation that is produced from long-term fuel sources located onsite; and
Whereas, The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, whose mission is to assure the reliability and security of North America's bulk power system, in a May 2017 letter to United States Secretary of Energy Rick Perry warned that ``premature retirements of fuel-secure baseload generating stations reduces resilience to fuel supply disruptions''; and
Whereas, The recent United States Department of Energy Staff Report to the Secretary on Electricity Markets and Reliability made clear that resiliency must be addressed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and there is an ``urgent need for clear definitions of reliability- and resilience-enhancing attributes and should quickly establish the market means to value or the regulatory means to provide them''; and
Whereas, The 2014 polar vortex exposed problems with the resiliency of the electric grid when PJM Interconnection struggled to meet demand for electricity because a significant amount of generation was not available to run due to weather-related outages; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania's fuel-secure baseload generation plants employ thousands of workers in high-paying jobs and contribute significantly to State and local economies; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania's coal industry, including coal power plants, is a vital contributor to the State's economy, providing support through direct, indirect and induced impacts, including approximately 36,100 full and part-time jobs, and $4.1 billion in total value added to the Commonwealth's economy; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania's nuclear industry, including nuclear power plants, is a vital contributor to the State's economy, providing support through direct, indirect and induced impacts, including approximately 15,900 in-State full time jobs and $2 billion to the Commonwealth's gross domestic product, and $69 million in net State tax revenues annually; and
Whereas, In addition to the reliability, security, grid resilience and economic attributes, Pennsylvania's fuel-secure baseload coal plants have made significant investments to meet increased environmental standards, helping to improve air and water quality in the Commonwealth; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania is also home to unique fuel-secure coal generation sources that use waste coal as a fuel-source, employing 3,800 Pennsylvania residents and producing 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy, also helping to remove approximately 200 million tons of refuse coal from mine scarred land in Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, In addition to the reliability, security, grid resilience and economic attributes, Pennsylvania's fuel-secure baseload nuclear power plants also provide more than 93% of this Commonwealth's emissions-free electricity and are the only emissions-free, predictable and reliable electric generation source; and
Whereas, Pennsylvania's diverse portfolio of fuel-secure baseload generation resources are vital to our Commonwealth's economic competitiveness, natural environment and public health and safety; and
Whereas, It is in the public interest that fuel-secure baseload generation resources be properly compensated for providing these positive attributes and under the current design of the wholesale electric markets, prices are set-in a manner that undervalues fuel-secure generation resources; and
Whereas, The Secretary of Energy has proposed, for consideration by FERC, a Grid Resilience Pricing Rule with the goal of ensuring our nation's energy security: Therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acknowledge the grid resilience and reliability benefits that fuel-secure baseload electricity generation resources provide to the residents, businesses and economy of this Commonwealth and assert that fuel-secure baseload generation resources receive proper compensation for these positive attributes; and be it further
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania agree with the goals of the United States Department of Energy's proposed Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule and urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to swiftly implement policies and approve tariff provisions to ensure fuel-secure baseload electricity generation resources receive proper compensation for all of the positive attributes they provide our nation's and this Commonwealth's electric system; and be it further
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, while expressing support for FERC's swift action to ensure the positive attributes provided by fuel-secure baseload generation resources receive proper compensation in the wholesale market, will continue to exercise the General Assembly's authority to make energy policy consistent with the health, safety and welfare of our residents; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, United States Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, FERC Commissioners, the presiding officers of each house of Congress, each member of Congress from Pennsylvania and the Board of Managers of PJM Interconnection.
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POM-168. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislative Assembly of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico requesting the United States Congress and the United States Department of the Interior to take necessary actions to provide for the updating of the various topographic and hydrographic maps of Puerto Rico; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S. Con. Res. 1
statement of motives
The United States Geological Survey (hereinafter, the USGS) is a scientific organization that provides unbiased information on the health of our ecosystems and the environment; the natural hazards that threaten us; the natural resources, based on the impact of climate change and land use; and the core science systems that allow us to provide timely, relevant, and useful information.
As the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological science mapping agency, the USGS collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific knowledge on the condition of the natural resources and any problems and issues related thereto. The agency's diverse scientific knowledge enables it to conduct large-scale multidisciplinary investigation, and to provide unbiased scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. Likewise, the USGS works in conjunction with other federal agencies as well as the private sector through official memoranda of understanding and memoranda of agreement in order to fulfill the agency's scientific mission.
The services offered by the USGS are of utmost importance for Puerto Rico. The maps drawn by this entity are used for multiple purposes, such as the identification of drainage basins and the topography, land classification, localization, and the location of water resources, properties, delimitation, etc.
As a matter of fact, the USGS's plans are part of the requirements of the permit process carried out by the government agencies of Puerto Rico. However, the aforementioned maps are not up to date and most of them date back to many decades. As expected, our Island and its topography have been altered in the last forty (40) or fifty
(50) years; therefore, it is necessary to amend and update said maps.
The USGS keeps evolving and, in 2010, the agency made changes to its structure in order to focus on or pay special attention to natural hazards. For such reason, the importance of the accuracy in the records or documents that the agency provides must be recognized. Regarding the USGS's maps of our Island, it is essential that these maps are updated in order to avoid issues in future developments and make an orderly land planning feasible.
In view of these circumstances and through this Concurrent Resolution, this Legislative Assembly hereby requests the United States Congress and the pertinent federal agencies to provide for the updating of the various topographic and hydrographic maps of our Island.
Be it resolved by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico:
Section 1.--To request the United States Congress and the United States Department of Interior to take the necessary administrative and legislative actions in order to provide for the updating of the various topographic and hydrographic maps of our Island.
Section 2.--It is hereby provided that a certification on this Concurrent Resolution shall be issued immediately to be delivered to the United States Congress and the United States Department of the Interior.
Section 3.--This Concurrent Resolution shall be translated into English to be delivered as provided in Section 2.
Section 4.--This Concurrent Resolution shall take effect immediately after its approval.
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POM-169. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislative Assembly of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico memorializing the Assembly's opposition to H.R. 4202, the ``Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act'', to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S. Con. Res. 28
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
The sport of cockfighting began in Puerto Rico in the 17th century, when it was officially established on April 5, 1770 by the decree of Spanish governor Don Miguel de Muesas. At that time, cockfighting was already a pastime in most European countries. It was so popular that, during the reign of King Henry VIII, cockfights were held in the Palace of Whitehall, in the courtyards and interiors of churches, and even in the British Parliament. Likewise, cockfights were so popular in France that they adopted the gamecock as their national symbol.
In the United States, some presidents were fans of the sport, among them, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln who was known as ``Honest Abe'' due to being a good pit judge. In fact, for many years, it was acceptable and encouraged in the United States for a gentleman to raise game fowls and be an expert at the sport.
Over the years, cockfight bans began appearing all across the Nation. In 1898, the sport was banned after Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States of America, but underground cockfights continued. However, as a result of the fight put up by the third President of the Senate of Puerto Rico, the Honorable Rafael Martinez-Nadal, who was a fan of the sport and defended this Island tradition, then Governor of Puerto Rico, Robert Gore, repealed the ban and promulgated legislation which recognized cockfighting as a legitimate sport in the Island.
As a result of the above mentioned, the rule of law has recognized that the sport of cockfighting has been part of our culture and traditions. According to Jose S. Alegria,
``the sport of cockfighting was a leveler that made a gentleman out of all those who visited the pits, regardless of their standing in society.'' This sport is known as the
``gentlemen's sport,'' because the people who follow the same keep their word during the competitions, without the need for a contract or a similar document for such purposes.
Although this sport has millions of fans in dozens of countries around the world, Puerto Rico is still considered
``the Mecca'' of cockfighting. The sport is so well established that, unlike many other sports on the Island, cockfighting does not require subsidies from the Government of Puerto Rico. Moreover, it is estimated to generate over twenty-seven thousand (27,000) direct and indirect jobs. Likewise, this sport greatly impacts Puerto Rico's tourism because we receive visitors from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and other countries who travel to the Island to partake in the sport of cockfighting.
Since its beginnings in Puerto Rico, the sport of cockfighting has faced great challenges and has overcome them. In 2007, the Federal Government passed the Animal Welfare Act[sic], Pub. Law 110-22 which classified as a felony the transport, sale, and purchase of tools and paraphernalia relating to this activity, among other things. At that time, the territories and places where cockfighting was legal were excluded from the application of the Act.
However, HR 4202 was introduced on November 1 of this year, jeopardizing the continuity of this sport in Puerto Rico. On this occasion, the express intent of the bill is to extend the total ban against animal fighting set forth in the
``Animal Welfare Act'' to the United States territories. Moreover, it prohibits the purchase, sale, or transportation of accessories to be used in cockfights, and even imposes penalties of imprisonment. The congress members who introduced this measure consider these types of fights animal cruelty.
It is worth noting that the sport of cockfighting in Puerto Rico is well regulated. For instance, safety measures are taken to guarantee that participating gamecocks wear the same spurs and are of the same age, weight, and bet. Furthermore, pit judges are empowered to stop the fight if they notice either excessive punishment or that a gamecock is not fit to continue fighting. Once the fight is over, both gamecocks are examined by specialized staff and treated accordingly for their prompt recovery. Hence, it is evident that our industry has taken measures to ensure the protection of gamecocks.
The enactment of HR 4202 shall threaten a century-old practice that is deeply rooted in our culture, history, and traditions. Moreover, said bill shall affect various components of our economy that provide services related to this sport, such as veterinarians, game fowl breeders, agricultural stores, and trophies and awards manufacturers, among others. For all of the foregoing, the Legislative Assembly is compelled to firmly and unequivocally reject the enactment of HR 4202, since it does not take into account the adverse effect that such bill shall have on Puerto Rico's economy and culture.
Be it Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico:
Section 1.--To express the firm and unequivocal repudiation and opposition of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico to HR 4202 of the United States House of Representatives that seeks to apply the ``Animal Welfare Act'' to United States territories and, consequently, prohibits cockfights in Puerto Rico.
Section 2.--A certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution translated into English shall be delivered to the members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress and to the President of the United States of America.
Section 3.--This Concurrent Resolution shall take effect upon its approval.
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POM-170. A resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan urging the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and other agencies to continue efforts to prevent the introduction of new aquatic species into the Great Lakes from the Chicago area waterway system and to consider new research and technologies; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
House Resolution No. 21
Whereas, The Great Lakes and the people, industries, and communities that depend on them have suffered significant harm from the introduction of aquatic invasive species. Studies indicate that past invasions by sea lampreys, zebra mussels, and other aquatic species likely cost the Great Lakes region more than $100 million annually, with impacts on fishing, power generation, manufacturing, municipal drinking water systems, tourism, and recreation; and
Whereas, The introduction of new aquatic invasive species remains a real and imminent threat. Bighead and silver carp are less than 50 miles from Lake Michigan. If they were to invade the Great Lakes, they could displace native species, disrupt fisheries, and injure boaters, negatively impacting the $7 billion Great Lakes sport fishery and $5 billion Great Lakes boating industry; and
Whereas, There are ongoing efforts by the state of Michigan, the other Great Lakes states, and the federal government to prevent the introduction of bighead and silver carp and other new aquatic invasive species. Among other actions, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources employs active enforcement, outreach, education, and monitoi ing for bighead and silver carp while the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other federal agencies work to prevent bighead and silver carp from reaching the Great Lakes; and
Whereas, New research and technologies can enhance action already being taken to prevent and control aquatic invasive species. Ozone, carbon dioxide, hot water, sound, and microparticles have all shown promise in preventing an invasion and are being actively studied. Restoring native fish populations may also help support a healthy fish community and provide ecosystem resiliency to limit the spread of aquatic invasive species: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we encourage the President and Congress of the United States, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies to continue efforts to prevent the introduction of new aquatic species, specifically bighead, silver, and black carp, into the Great Lakes from the Chicago Area Waterway System; and be it further
Resolved, That we encourage the open consideration of new research and the development of new technologies that may provide innovative and effective methods to prevent and control aquatic invasive species; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, President of the United States Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, members of the Michigan congressional delegation, Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the commanders of the United States Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division and Mississippi Valley Division, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the other members of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee.
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POM-171. A resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Jackson County, Mississippi, supporting continued and increased exploration and production of the Gulf of Mexico, and urging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to finalize a 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Program that maintains and expands access to Gulf of Mexico energy resources; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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