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117-sres-135 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 135 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 24, 2021 Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself, Mr. Menendez , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Whitehouse , Ms. Smith , Mr. Booker , Ms. Cantwell , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Reed , Mr. Van Hollen , Ms. Sinema , Mr. Kaine , Ms. Warren , Mr. Coons , Ms. Hassan , Mrs. Murray , Ms. Duckworth , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Markey , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Brown , Mr. Cardin , Ms. Baldwin , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Casey , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Kelly , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Luján ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of Latinas in the United States.
Whereas the United States celebrates National Women’s History Month every March to recognize and honor the achievements of women throughout the history of the United States; Whereas there are nearly 29,000,000 Latinas living in the United States; Whereas 1 in 6 women in the United States is a Latina; Whereas Latinas have helped shape the history of the United States since its inception; Whereas Latinas contribute to the society of the United States through working in many industries, including business, education, science and technology, medicine, engineering, mathematics, literature and the arts, the military, agriculture, hospitality, and public service; Whereas Latinas serve as essential workers during the COVID–19 pandemic, filling vital positions that keep the economy going and the people of the United States safe; Whereas Latinas come from diverse cultures across North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, and Afro-Latinas face disparities in recognition; Whereas Latinas are dedicated public servants, holding posts at the highest levels of the Federal Government, including the Supreme Court of the United States, Cabinet-level positions, the United States Senate, and the United States House of Representatives; Whereas Latinas make up an estimated 19 percent of women serving in the Armed Forces, and the first Latina to become a general in the Marine Corps reached that rank in 2006; Whereas Latinas are breaking the glass ceiling in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with the first Latina to travel into space doing so during a 9-day Space Shuttle Discovery mission in 1993; Whereas Latinas own more than 2,000,000 businesses, and 18 percent of all women-owned companies in the United States are owned by a Latina; Whereas Latina activists have led the fight for civil rights, including labor rights, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and racial equality; Whereas Latinas create award-winning art and are recipients of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards; Whereas Latina singers and songwriters, like Selena, also known as the Queen of Tejano music, and Celia Cruz, also known as the Queen of Salsa, have made lasting and significant contributions to music throughout the world; Whereas Latinas serve in the medical profession, and the first female and first Hispanic Surgeon General of the United States was appointed in 1990; Whereas Latinas serve as journalists, reporting vital news and information to the public; Whereas Latinas are world-class athletes, representing the United States in the Olympics and other international competitions; Whereas Latinas are paid just 55 cents for every dollar paid to White, non-Hispanic men; Whereas, in the face of societal obstacles, including unequal pay, disparities in education, health care needs, and civil rights struggles, Latinas continue to break through and thrive; Whereas the United States should continue to invest in the future of Latinas to address the barriers they face; and Whereas, by 2060, Latinas will represent ¼ of the female population of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) celebrates and honors the successes of Latinas and the contributions they have made and continue to make to the United States; and (2) recognizes the changes that are still to be made to ensure that Latinas can realize their full potential as equal members of society. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres135is/xml/BILLS-117sres135is.xml |
117-sres-136 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 136 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Braun (for himself, Ms. Ernst , and Mr. Tillis ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the duty of the Senate to abandon Modern Monetary Theory and recognizing that the acceptance of Modern Monetary Theory would lead to higher deficits and higher inflation.
Whereas noted economists from across the political spectrum have warned that the implementation of Modern Monetary Theory (referred to in this preamble as MMT ) would pose a clear danger to the economy of the United States; Whereas, in July 2019, Zach Moller, deputy director of the economic program at Third Way, wrote in a memo the problems associated with MMT, including that— (1) Under an MMT regime, policymakers would need to respond to inflation by doing two of the most unpopular things ever: raising taxes and cutting spending. . . . We can easily imagine divided government’s paralysis to fight inflation: Republicans refusing to raise taxes and Democrats refusing to cut spending. ; (2) MMT ends our central non-political economic manager and markets trust the Federal Reserve and, as a result, businesses and individuals have well-anchored inflation expectations. . . . To solve the challenges higher interest rates create, including a possible interest financing spiral, MMT generally says that the Fed will be tasked with keeping interest rates low by making the Federal government, through the Fed, the consistent (if not the primary) purchaser of bonds. This is a different mission for the Fed than it has now. The Fed would no longer be tasked with intervening to keep prices stable because it would be too busy buying bonds. Bond purchases by the Fed generally increase inflation. Thus, the Fed would no longer be an independent manager of the economy. ; and (3) MMT destroys foreign confidence in America’s finances. . . . Holders of U.S. debt (in the form of treasuries) expect stability in value, a return from their investments, and the ability to be paid back. MMT blows that up. Bondholders would no longer be assured a return on their investment, and it will no longer be as desirable for our creditors to hold U.S. debt. ; Whereas, on May 17, 2019, Joel Griffith, a research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, wrote in an article entitled The Absurdity of Modern Monetary Theory the following: There is no free lunch. We will pay either through the visible burden of direct taxation, the hidden tax of inflation, or higher borrowing costs (as the government competes with businesses for available capital). Such realities might not make for a great stump speech, but facing them squarely now can save us a lot of headaches down the road. ; Whereas, on March 25, 2019, Janet Yellen, former Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, disagreed with those individuals promoting MMT who suggest that you don’t have to worry about interest-rate payments because the central bank can buy the debt , stating: That’s a very wrong-minded theory because that’s how you get hyper-inflation. ; Whereas former Secretary of the Treasury and Director of the National Economic Council Lawrence H. Summers— (1) on March 5, 2019, wrote in an opinion piece in the Washington Post entitled The left's embrace of modern monetary theory is a recipe for disaster that, contrary to the claims of modern monetary theorists, it is not true that governments can simply create new money to pay all liabilities coming due and avoid default. As the experience of any number of emerging markets demonstrates, past a certain point, this approach leads to hyperinflation. ; and (2) on March 4, 2019, said that— (A) MMT is fallacious at multiple levels; (B) past a certain point, MMT leads to hyperinflation; and (C) a policy of relying on a central bank to finance government deficits, as advocated by MMT theorists, would likely result in a collapsing exchange rate; Whereas, on February 26, 2019, Jerome Powell, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, stated: The idea that deficits don’t matter for countries that can borrow in their own currency I think is just wrong. ; Whereas, on February 24, 2019, Matt Bruenig, founder of the People’s Policy Project, wrote in an article entitled What’s the Point of Modern Monetary Theory that the real point of MMT seems to be to deploy misleading rhetoric with the goal of deceiving people about the necessity of taxes in a social democratic system. If successful, these word games might loosen up fiscal and monetary policy a bit in the short term. But insofar as getting government spending permanently up to 50 percent of GDP really will require substantially more taxes in the medium and long term. ; Whereas, on February 21, 2019, Doug Henwood, a journalist and economic analyst, wrote in an article in Jacobin entitled Modern Monetary Theory Isn’t Helping that MMT’s lack of interest in the relationship between money and the real economy causes adherents to overlook the connection between taxing, spending, and the allocation of resources ; Whereas, on January 28, 2019, in a question and answer session with James Pethokoukis of AEIdeas, Stan Veuger, visiting lecturer of economics at Harvard University, stated that, if you take MMTers at their word in the most aggressive sense, then what you would see is a massive debt finance expansion of the welfare state with Medicare for All, with a jobs guarantee, and with concerns about inflation being deferred entirely to elected officials who would have to raise taxes to keep it under control. I think in a scenario like that, we do run a risk of going back to the 1970s pre-Volker style macroeconomics and I think that would be bad. ; Whereas, on January 17, 2019, Michael Strain, Director of Economic Policy Studies at AEI, wrote in an opinion article in Bloomberg entitled Modern Monetary Theory Is a Joke That’s Not Funny that if you thought from the start that the whole idea sounded like lunacy, you were right, even if it’s possible to admit some sliver of sympathy for it ; Whereas Paul Krugman, winner of the 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences— (1) on March 1, 2019, posted on Twitter a point-by-point rebuttal to an article entitled The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy by Stephanie Kelton, which concluded with Krugman tweeting that— (A) Sorry, but this is just a mess. Kelton's response misrepresents standard macroeconomics, my own views, the effects of interest rates, and the process of money creation. ; (B) Otherwise I guess it's all fine. ; and (C) See what I mean about Calvinball? ; and (2) on February 12, 2019, wrote in an opinion piece in the New York Times the following: And debt can’t go to infinity—it can’t exceed total wealth, and in fact as debt gets ever higher people will demand ever-increasing returns to hold it. So at some point the government would be forced to run large enough primary (non-interest) surpluses to limit debt growth. ; Whereas, on November 15, 2019, Jason Fichtner and Kody Carmody of the Bipartisan Policy Center wrote in a report entitled Does the National Debt Matter? A Look at Modern Monetary Theory, or MMT that— (1) deficits do have a role to play in public finance but, as interest rates rise, some private-sector projects no longer make financial sense and are forgone. Crowding out private investment ultimately leads to a misallocation of resources away from their most economically productive use, hampering economic growth. . . . The more we borrow today, the more expensive it will be to continue borrowing in the future. At some point, debt has to be paid back. There is no free lunch. ; (2) MMT underestimates other downside risks of debt and MMT advocates note that inflation is the only restraint on debt-financed spending. This leads some to conclude that under the theory of MMT, debt is not a concern, as governments can simply print more money to pay off debt. Such a theory is roundly rejected by academic economists on both sides of the political spectrum. ; (3) printing money has costs, including a loss of credibility for the government , an inflation risk , and exacerbating exchange rates ; (4) MMT assumes away politics and puts the onus of inflation control on Congress, the institution that lately seems worst-equipped to handle it. The Federal Reserve—which has spent a long time building extensive credibility in its commitment to fight inflation—would be largely sidelined. ; (5) even MMT admits that deficits and debt matter , noting that Stephanie Kelton has stated: I would never take the position that we ought to move forward, passing legislation with no offsets, to do Green New Deals, and Jobs Guarantees, and Medicare for All. In the end, MMT’s arguments largely boil down to a disagreement over how much room there is to borrow without accelerating inflation. ; and (6) it is hard to pin MMT down on anything at all due, in large part, to the fact that prominent supporters of MMT have taken vague, sometimes contradictory positions: When politicians make claims about paying for the Green New Deal through MMT, stay silent, and when economists criticize this view, claim you are being misunderstood. ; Whereas the March 2019 report entitled How Reliable is Modern Monetary Theory as a Guide to Policy? by Scott Sumner and Patrick Horan of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University found that— (1) MMT— (A) has a flawed model of inflation, which overestimates the importance of economic slack; (B) overestimates the revenue that can be earned from the creation of money; (C) overestimates the potency of fiscal policy, while underestimating the effectiveness of monetary policy; (D) overestimates the ability of fiscal authorities to control inflation; and (E) contains too few safeguards against the risks of excessive public debt; and (2) an MMT agenda of having fiscal authorities manage monetary policy would run the risk of— (A) very high debts; (B) very high inflation; or (C) very high debts and very high inflation, each of which may be very harmful to the broader economy; Whereas the January 2020 working paper entitled A Skeptic's Guide to Modern Monetary Theory by N. Gregory Mankiw stated: Put simply, MMT contains some kernels of truth, but its most novel policy prescriptions do not follow cogently from its premises. ; Whereas the January 2019 report entitled Modern Monetary Theory and Policy by Stan Veuger of the American Enterprise Institute warned that hyperinflation becomes a real risk when a government attempts to pay for massive spending by printing money; and Whereas the September 2018 report entitled On Empty Purses and MMT Rhetoric by George Selgin of the Cato Institute warned that— (1) when it comes to the ability of Congress to rely on the Treasury to cover expenditures, Congress is, in 1 crucial respect, more constrained than an ordinary household or business is when that household or business relies on a bank to cover expenditures because, if Congress is to avoid running out of money, Congress cannot write checks in amounts exceeding the balances in the general account of the Treasury; and (2) MMT theorists succeed in turning otherwise banal truths about the workings of contemporary monetary systems into novel policy pronouncements that, although tantalizing, are false: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) realizes that large deficits are unsustainable, irresponsible, and dangerous; and (2) recognizes— (A) that the acceptance of Modern Monetary Theory would lead to higher deficits and higher inflation; and (B) the duty of the Senate to abandon Modern Monetary Theory in favor of mainstream fiscal and monetary frameworks. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres136is/xml/BILLS-117sres136is.xml |
117-sres-137 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 137 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Brown (for himself and Mr. Sullivan ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Supporting the goals of World Tuberculosis Day to raise awareness about tuberculosis.
Whereas, in 2019, nearly ¼ of the global population was infected with the tuberculosis bacterium (referred to in this preamble as TB ); Whereas the World Health Organization (referred to in this preamble as the WHO ) estimates that 10,000,000 people developed TB in 2019, 8.2 percent of whom were also infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (referred to in this preamble as HIV ); Whereas, in 2019, TB killed an estimated 1,408,000 people, causing more deaths worldwide than any other single infectious agent; Whereas, globally in 2019, an estimated 1,200,000 children developed TB, and in 2017, 230,000 children died of TB; Whereas 2/3 of new TB infections in 2019 occurred in 8 countries: India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and South Africa; Whereas TB is a leading killer of people infected with HIV, and 208,000 people with HIV died of TB in 2019; Whereas vulnerable populations also at high risk for developing TB include individuals who are pregnant and newborns; Whereas, in 2018, TB was one of the 6 leading causes of death among adult women between the ages of 15 and 49 in low-income countries; Whereas, in some settings, women with TB can face stigma, discrimination, and ostracization by their families and communities; Whereas the global TB epidemic and the spread of drug-resistant TB present a persistent public health threat to the United States because the disease does not recognize borders; Whereas antibiotic-resistant pathogens are a growing problem worldwide, and drug-resistant TB can occur when the drugs used to treat TB are mismanaged or not made consistently accessible; Whereas studies have demonstrated direct person-to-person transmission of drug-resistant TB; Whereas multi-drug resistant TB (referred to in this preamble as “MDR–TB”) is caused by bacteria with resistance to rifampin and isoniazid, the 2 most potent treatments for TB infection; Whereas, in 2019, according to the 2020 WHO Global Tuberculosis Report, an estimated 3.3 percent of all new TB cases and 18 percent of previously treated cases were MDR–TB or rifampin-resistant TB; Whereas, in 2019, an estimated 465,000 people around the world developed MDR–TB or rifampin-resistant TB, yet only approximately 38 percent of those individuals were identified and treated; Whereas extensively drug-resistant TB (referred to in this preamble as “XDR–TB”) is a rare type of TB that is resistant to nearly all medicines, and therefore can be very difficult and expensive to treat, especially among patients with HIV; Whereas, in 2019, every WHO region reported XDR–TB cases; Whereas, in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this preamble as CDC ) estimated that the average cost of treating a single patient with MDR–TB in the United States was $178,000, and the average cost of treating a patient with XDR–TB was even higher at $553,000, compared with $20,000 to treat a patient with drug-susceptible TB; Whereas, between 2005 and 2007, according to an analysis by CDC, MDR–TB and XDR–TB cases in the United States collectively cost the health care system an estimated $53,000,000; Whereas CDC estimates that costs resulting from all forms of TB in the United States totaled more than $608,000,000 in 2019; Whereas, in a 2000 report, the Institute of Medicine found that a decrease in TB control funding and the spread of HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (commonly referred to as AIDS ) caused a resurgence of TB in the late 1980s and early 1990s; Whereas a total of 8,916 TB cases were reported in the United States in 2019, representing all 50 States and the District of Columbia, and up to 13,000,000 people in the United States are estimated to be living with latent TB infection; Whereas 75 percent of States have reported an increase in the proportion of complex cases of TB in recent years due to factors such as homelessness, HIV infection, drug resistance, substance abuse, refugee status, and other factors; Whereas the rate of TB disease in African Americans is 8 times higher than the rate of disease in White, non-Hispanic Americans, and significant disparities exist among other minorities in the United States, including Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans and Alaska Natives, with approximately 88 percent of all reported TB cases in the United States in 2019 occurring in racial or ethnic minorities; Whereas smoking— (1) greatly increases the risks of contracting TB and infection recurrence; and (2) impairs therapeutic efficacy; Whereas diabetes is a major risk factor for TB, and people with diabetes are more likely to develop and succumb to TB; Whereas bedaquiline is an antibiotic that boosts an MDR–TB patient’s chance of survival from approximately 50 percent to as much as 80 percent, and through a public-private partnership, the United States Agency for International Development (referred to in this preamble as USAID ) provided approximately 105,000 treatments in 110 eligible countries from 2015 through 2019; Whereas Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, a TB vaccine that is known as BCG , provides some protection to infants and young children against serious forms of childhood TB but has had little epidemiologic impact on controlling TB worldwide; Whereas there is a critical need for new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines for controlling the global TB epidemic; Whereas, in September 2018, the United Nations held the first high-level meeting on TB in which 120 countries, including the United States, signed a political declaration committing to accelerating the TB response, including by increasing funding for TB control programs and research and development efforts, with the goal of reaching all affected people with TB prevention and care; Whereas the enactment of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( Public Law 110–293 ; 122 Stat. 2918), and the Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act of 2008 ( Public Law 110–392 ; 122 Stat. 4195) led to a historic United States commitment to support the global eradication of TB, including a commitment to treat 4,500,000 TB patients and 90,000 MDR–TB patients between 2009 and 2013 and to provide additional treatment through coordinated multilateral efforts; Whereas USAID— (1) provides technical assistance to 55 countries and implements bilateral programs in 23 high-burden TB countries that— (A) build capacity; and (B) support the adoption of state-of-the-art TB-related technologies; (2) supports the development of new diagnostic and treatment tools; and (3) supports research to develop new vaccines and other new methods to combat TB; Whereas, in 2018, USAID launched— (1) a new business model entitled Global Accelerator to End Tuberculosis to accelerate progress and build capacity with respect to TB prevention and treatment; and (2) a new mechanism to directly support local organizations in priority countries; Whereas TB incidence in the countries that receive bilateral TB funding from the United States through USAID has decreased by more than 29 percent since 2000; Whereas, according to the Copenhagen Consensus Center, TB prevention programs return $56 for each dollar invested, which is one of the highest returns on investment of any health intervention; Whereas CDC, in partnership with other entities of the United States and individual States and territories— (1) directs the national TB elimination program; (2) coordinates TB surveillance, technical assistance, and prevention activities; and (3) helps to support the development of new diagnostic, treatment, and prevention tools to combat TB; Whereas the National Institutes of Health, through its many institutes and centers, plays the leading role in basic and clinical research on the identification, treatment, and prevention of TB; Whereas the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (referred to in this preamble as the Global Fund ), to which the United States is a top financial donor, provides more than 73 percent of all international financing for TB programs; Whereas, in 2019, Global Fund-supported programs detected and treated more than 5,700,000 cases of TB; Whereas the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic and mitigation efforts put in place as a result of the pandemic have taken a devastating toll on countries with the highest burden of TB disease and on the global TB response, threatening to reverse up to 8 years of progress fighting the disease; Whereas, in 2020, in the 23 high-burden TB countries in which USAID implements bilateral programs, 1,000,000 fewer people with TB had access to diagnosis and treatment, a 23 percent decline from 2019; Whereas, between 2020 and 2025, global projections estimate that the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic will lead to an additional 6,300,000 cases of TB and an additional 1,400,000 TB deaths; and Whereas March 24, 2021, is World Tuberculosis Day, a day that commemorates the date in 1882 on which Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the goals of World Tuberculosis Day to raise awareness about tuberculosis; (2) commends the progress of tuberculosis elimination efforts by entities that include the United States Agency for International Development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and (3) reaffirms the commitment to strengthen the leadership role of the United States in, and the effectiveness of the global response to, the fight to end the tuberculosis epidemic. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres137is/xml/BILLS-117sres137is.xml |
117-sres-138 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 138 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Cotton (for himself, Mr. Boozman , and Ms. Murkowski ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Urging the European Parliament to exempt certain technologies used to detect child sexual exploitation from European Union ePrivacy directive.
Whereas ensuring the safety of children online is a global issue that nations must address together; Whereas the online trafficking of child sexual abuse material (referred to in this preamble as CSAM ) and online enticement of children (also known as grooming ) are pervasive problems that are growing at dramatic rates; Whereas crucial tools in detecting CSAM and grooming online and protecting children using online platforms from child predators are hashing, PhotoDNA, and anti-grooming technologies that are voluntarily used by electronic service providers (referred to in this preamble as ESPs ) to detect, report, and remove CSAM; Whereas the use of hashing, PhotoDNA, and anti-grooming technology by ESPs has generated millions of reports annually to the CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; Whereas the CyberTipline is a global hotline for reports related to child sexual exploitation that was authorized by Congress in 1998; Whereas in 2019, more than 69,000,000 images, videos, and files related to child sexual abuse were reported to the CyberTipline, with more than 3,000,000 of these images, videos, and files related to an offender or child victim in the European Union (referred to in this preamble as the EU ); Whereas in a Communication to the European Parliament, dated July 24, 2020, the European Commission noted, the EU has become the largest host of child sexual abuse material globally (from more than half in 2016 to more than two thirds in 2019) ; Whereas in 2018, an EU Directive extended the scope of prohibitions on processing personal data in the electronic communications sector to cover interpersonal communications, such as messenger services and e-mail; Whereas this EU Directive caused ESPs to lose the legal basis to use hashing, PhotoDNA, and anti-grooming technologies to detect and report CSAM and online enticement of children to the CyberTipline; Whereas this EU Directive took effect on December 21, 2020, without any derogation to exempt the voluntary practice of using these technologies to detect and report distribution of CSAM and enticement of children for sexual abuse; Whereas the prohibition on the use of hashing, PhotoDNA, and anti-grooming technologies will have dire consequences for children in Europe and globally; Whereas, since the EU Directive took effect, reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline from the EU decreased by 51 percent during the 6-week period immediately following the Directive’s implementation compared to the same period in 2020; Whereas it is unclear whether ESPs— (1) will be able to partition the use of hashing, PhotoDNA, and anti-grooming technologies to carve out users in the EU; and (2) will decide to abandon the voluntary use of these technologies in the United States and globally; Whereas since children in the United States can be harmed by online predators in the EU through grooming, enticement, and the dissemination of CSAM images among EU offenders, such material should be detected, reported, and removed; Whereas if the use of hashing, PhotoDNA, and anti-grooming technologies for detecting CSAM and grooming is stopped, the exploitation of children globally will largely go undetected and continue to proliferate; and Whereas Congress agrees with the European Commission that immediate action must be taken to address this issue : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) finds that hashing, PhotoDNA, and anti-grooming technologies are essential in detecting child sexual abuse material and exploitation online, including known and new CSAM, and grooming of children globally; and (2) urges the European Parliament to enact legislation that amends the EU Directive to allow electronic service providers to continue their current voluntary activities of using hashing, PhotoDNA, and anti-grooming technologies for the purpose of detecting child sexual exploitation. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres138is/xml/BILLS-117sres138is.xml |
117-sres-139 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 139 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mr. Warnock , Mr. Peters , Mr. Booker , Mr. Menendez , Ms. Collins , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. King , Mr. Merkley , Mrs. Murray , and Mr. Wyden ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States and designating July 2021 as National Blueberry Month .
Whereas blueberries are a native North American fruit, first managed and harvested as wild blueberries by the native Wabanaki; Whereas wild blueberries continue to be managed and harvested in Maine by farmers including the Wabanaki, as a native, naturally occurring crop; Whereas the pioneering work conducted in New Jersey in the early 1900s by Elizabeth White and Dr. Frederick Coville, a botanist at the Department of Agriculture, to domesticate wild lowbush blueberries resulted in the development of the hybrid for cultivated highbush blueberries; Whereas because of these early efforts, highbush blueberries are large, sweet, juicy berries that can be commercially produced and shipped; Whereas wild blueberries— (1) are small and sweet; and (2) are not planted, but still grow and are harvested where they have naturally occurred for thousands of years; Whereas the blueberry industry in the United States is an important sector of United States agriculture with an annual economic impact of $4,700,000,000; Whereas highbush and wild blueberries have a total harvested area estimated at more than 140,000 acres and are produced in 48 States by nearly 13,185 farms; Whereas blueberry production in the United States has continually increased, with particular growth in the first 2 decades of the 21st century, to reach a harvest of 730,000,000 pounds in 2020; Whereas blueberries are low in fat and a source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals; Whereas blueberries are being studied to examine the role the berries may play in promoting good health in areas such as cardiovascular health, brain health, exercise, insulin response, and gut health; and Whereas blueberries are harvested in the United States from March through early September, with the harvest reaching its peak in July: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates July 2021 as National Blueberry Month ; (2) recognizes the contributions of blueberry growers in the United States and their families; and (3) recognizes that purchasing blueberries grown in the United States supports farmers, jobs, communities, and the economy of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres139is/xml/BILLS-117sres139is.xml |
117-sres-140 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 140 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Warnock (for himself, Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Markey , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Casey , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Carper , Mr. Van Hollen , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Reed , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Kaine , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Brown , Mr. Padilla , Mrs. Murray , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Coons , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Booker , Ms. Cortez Masto , Ms. Baldwin , Ms. Klobuchar , Ms. Warren , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Merkley , and Mr. Ossoff ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the commitment of the Senate to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community.
Whereas, on March 16, 2021, a shooter murdered 8 people and injured 1 in the Atlanta, Georgia region in 3 separate shootings that took place at Asian American-owned spas; Whereas the people of the United States mourn the 8 innocent lives lost—7 of whom were women, 6 of whom were women of Asian descent, and several of whom were immigrants; Whereas the victims included Xiaojie Emily Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Yong Ae Yue, Soon Chung Julie Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Suncha Kim; Whereas 49-year-old Xiaojie Emily Tan, a hardworking mother and the owner of one of the spas, was a dedicated and caring business owner who is survived by her daughter and husband; Whereas 44-year-old Daoyou Feng was an employee who recently began working at one of the spas; Whereas 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun, a newlywed and mother of 2, was at one of the spas to receive a couple’s massage with her husband when her life was cut short; Whereas 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels was a caring husband and United States Army veteran who did maintenance work for one of the spas and is survived by his wife; Whereas 63-year-old Yong Ae Yue was a mother of 2 sons who was known for her kindness and generosity and her love of her pet Shih Tzu; Whereas 74-year-old Soon Chung Julie Park was a mother and grandmother who helped manage one of the spas and helped to prepare meals for the employees; Whereas 51-year-old Hyun Jung Grant was a former elementary school teacher and hardworking single mother who dedicated her life to raising her 2 sons; Whereas 69-year-old Suncha Kim was a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed line dancing and had been married for more than 50 years; Whereas the Georgia shootings came in the midst of an alarming surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents that have caused many Asian Americans across the United States to feel fearful and unsafe; Whereas the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric to refer to COVID–19, such as the Chinese virus , Wuhan virus , and kung flu perpetuate anti-Asian stigma that has resulted in Asian Americans being harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated for the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas, in 2020, anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150 percent in major cities throughout the United States; Whereas, according to a recent report by Stop AAPI Hate, there were nearly 3,800 reported cases of anti-Asian discrimination related to COVID–19 between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021; Whereas 68 percent of reported incidents of anti-Asian hate targeted Asian-American women, a population that has been historically marginalized, sexualized, and fetishized; Whereas, on March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Asian-American leaders in Georgia and reaffirmed their strong commitment to condemning and combating racism, xenophobia, and violence targeting the Asian-American community; and Whereas the people of the United States will always remember the victims of these shootings and stand in solidarity with those affected by this senseless tragedy: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) condemns the heinous and inexcusable acts of gun violence that led to the tragic loss of 8 lives in Georgia on March 16, 2021; (2) condemns any racism and sexism in the choice of the shooter to target Asian American-owned businesses and murder 6 women of Asian descent; (3) honors the memory of the victims, offers heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and recognizes that the healing process will be long and difficult for the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander community and all communities impacted by this tragedy; and (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States Federal Government to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres140is/xml/BILLS-117sres140is.xml |
117-sres-141 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 141 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Bennet (for himself, Mr. Wyden , Ms. Warren , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Merkley , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Booker , Mr. Tester , and Mr. Schatz ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the critical importance of access to reliable, clean drinking water for Native Americans and Alaska Natives and confirming the responsibility of the Federal Government to ensure such water access.
Whereas access to reliable, clean drinking water is an essential human need that is critical to the public health, well-being, educational attainment, and economic development of all communities in the United States; Whereas many countries, along with the United Nations, have recognized the urgency of water access by passing laws or resolutions regarding the human right to water, including recognition of these needs among indigenous peoples and establishing aggressive targets for achieving universal access to this basic service; Whereas access to reliable, clean drinking water has long been a significant problem in many Tribal communities and in many Alaska Native Villages, such that nearly half of all Native American households still do not have access to reliable water sources, clean drinking water, and are significantly more likely than White households to lack indoor plumbing; Whereas reliable, clean drinking water may be unavailable to these households for a number of reasons, including because— (1) there is no piped water system connecting to the house; (2) the water available to the household does not meet minimum protective standards; (3) the water infrastructure is deteriorating or insufficient; or (4) Indian Tribes face challenges in supporting the operation and maintenance needs of existing water infrastructure; Whereas Federal programs administered through the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and other Federal and State agencies have been unsuccessful in developing the infrastructure necessary to provide reliable, clean drinking water for some Tribal communities; Whereas many Indian Tribes have significant unresolved claims for federally reserved water rights, many of which have been unresolved for decades and which may not be resolved for many years to come, due in part to the complex and significant issues typically involved in water rights adjudication and settlements; Whereas the development of water infrastructure in Tribal communities has frequently been conditioned on the settlement of such Tribal reserved water rights, and has been prevented or delayed by continuing uncertainty over the status of Tribal water rights, by the years-long process of Tribal water rights settlements, or by continued conflict over the quantification of Tribal reserved water rights in State water rights adjudications; Whereas the quantity of water that would be required to supply reliable, clean drinking water to provide for the basic needs of the residents of Tribal communities and in Alaska Native Villages are typically only a small fraction of the total quantity of Tribal reserved water rights; Whereas the trust responsibility of the Federal Government to Tribal nations requires the Federal Government to ensure the survival and welfare of Indian Tribes and people, and the failure to provide basic water service cannot be reconciled with this trust responsibility; Whereas the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) affirmed the trust responsibility of the Federal Government to support Tribal self-governance and self-determination, and these goals cannot be fully realized without addressing inequities such as ensuring access to reliable, clean drinking water for every Tribal community; Whereas the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Native American people due to factors including persistent economic disadvantages in Tribal communities and in Alaska Native Villages, racial inequity, lack of access to adequate health care, and lack of public health infrastructure, including access to running water; and Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has provided a stark reminder that access to reliable, clean drinking water to support basic hygiene is a matter of life or death for all citizens of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That— (1) it is the sense of the Senate that— (A) access to reliable, clean drinking water in Tribal communities and in Alaska Native Villages is an essential human need, is critical to the health, well-being, and economic development of people living on such communities and in such villages, and is integral to maintaining the public health of the entire United States; (B) settlement or adjudication of Tribal claims of reserved water rights is not and should not be a prerequisite to the provision of this basic human service to households located in Tribal communities and in Alaska Native Villages, nor should the provision of such basic human services be used to leverage the resolution of Tribal reserved water rights and claims; and (C) the provision of reliable, clean drinking water to support the domestic requirements of Tribal members and Tribal communities is an essential component of the Federal trust responsibility to Indian Tribes; and (2) the Senate— (A) calls upon the Federal Executive Branch to work in collaboration with Tribal governments and with any relevant State and local jurisdictions to expedite the planning, design, development, and operation of the infrastructure necessary to provide reliable, clean drinking water in Tribal communities and in Alaska Native Villages, and to inform Congress of further authorizations and expenditures that may be necessary to meet this objective; (B) calls upon the Federal Executive Branch to employ a whole of government approach to ensure the provision of reliable, clean drinking water to households in Tribal communities and in Alaska Native Villages and to create an interagency task force consisting of high-level representatives from departments and agencies with authority to provide water infrastructure that will work to remove barriers, optimize funding, and make immediate and tangible progress on meeting this objective and report annually to Congress on such progress; and (C) calls upon the Federal Executive Branch, State governments, and affected water agencies to affirmatively support de-coupling the planning, design, development, and operation of such infrastructure from the settlement or adjudication of Tribal reserved water rights, and to support the development of that infrastructure necessary to provide reliable, clean drinking water in Tribal communities independent of such settlements or adjudications. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres141is/xml/BILLS-117sres141is.xml |
117-sres-142 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 142 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Hagerty , Mr. Markey , Mr. Romney , and Mr. Coons ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of the United States-Japan relationship to safeguarding global security, prosperity, and human rights and welcoming the visit of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to the United States.
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is a cornerstone of global peace and stability and underscores the past, present, and future United States commitment to the stability and prosperity of Japan and the Indo-Pacific region; Whereas the United States and Japan established diplomatic relations on March 31, 1854, with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity; Whereas 2021 marks the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II, a conflict in which the United States and Japan were enemies, and the strength of the alliance is a testament to the ability of great nations to overcome the past and to work together to create a more secure and prosperous future; Whereas, January 19, 2021, marked the 61st anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan; Whereas the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (2+2) met on March 16, 2021, in Tokyo and reaffirmed that the U.S.-Japan Alliance remains the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region ; Whereas the American and Japanese people share deeply rooted values of defending freedom, championing economic and social opportunity and inclusion, and respecting the rule of law; Whereas the peoples of Japan and the United States support each other in times of need with Japan being one of the first countries to offer assistance following the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina, and Americans supporting Japan in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, ten years ago this month, through Operation Tomodachi; Whereas the strength of the United States-Japan relationship is due in part to the substantial reservoir of goodwill created by the close ties between the American and Japanese people at the grassroots level, often supported by the governments of the United States and Japan; Whereas there are more than 30,000 United States alumni of the Government of Japan-sponsored Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program, including nearly 200 JET program alumni working at the Department of State; Whereas the Fulbright program has sent nearly 7,500 young Japanese on Fulbright scholarships to the United States since 1952, and there are 37 United States-based Japan-America Society chapters, and the United States and Japan also share more sister city relationships than any other two countries; Whereas the governments and people of the United States and Japan share a commitment to free and open markets, high standards for the free flow of commerce and trade, and the establishment of an inclusive architecture for regional and global trade and development; Whereas the United States and Japan are top trading partners that exchange over $300,000,000,000 worth of goods and services each year, Japan serves as the biggest cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) contributor to the United States and the biggest job creator in the United States manufacturing sector regarding trade, and the United States-Japan bilateral economic relationship is one of strongest in the world; Whereas the United States and Japan are working closely via whole-of-government initiatives, bilateral partnerships, cooperation with like-minded countries, multilateral mechanisms including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and enhanced private-sector engagement to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific and across the globe to catalyze investment in infrastructure, energy, and the digital economy to promote connectivity and economic growth; Whereas United States-Japan economic cooperation has also led to close collaboration in science and technology and promoted shared values in research, including on COVID–19 response, the digital economy, national security-focused investment screening, quantum sciences, artificial intelligence, space exploration, biosciences, collaborative 5G networks, and interoperable approaches for Open RAN (radio access network) technologies; Whereas, following a year of delay due to the COVID–19 pandemic, Japan will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2021, bringing together athletes from around the world in a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit; Whereas a robust and effective trilateral relationship between and among the United States, the ROK, and Japan is critical for joint security and interests in defending freedom and democracy, upholding human rights, championing women’s empowerment, combating climate change, promoting regional and global peace, security, and the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific and across the globe; Whereas a robust and effective trilateral relationship between and among the United States, the ROK, and Japan is critical for joint security and interests in defending freedom and democracy, upholding human rights, championing women’s empowerment, combating climate change, promoting regional and global peace, security, and the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific and across the globe; Whereas the United States welcomes Japan’s successive measures to enhance the role of its Self Defense Forces in securing peace and stability in the region and beyond, including its commitment on collective self defense under Japan’s laws, which strengthens the alliance’s ability to defend Japan and to continue safeguard regional security; Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is essential for ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation, commerce, and overflight in the waters of the East China Sea; Whereas the United States invests significant military resources and capabilities to meet the Alliance’s current and future security challenges and through the U.S.-Japan Host Nation Support framework, the Government of Japan shares the costs of stationing United States forces in Japan; Whereas the United States and Japan, together with Australia and India, form a quadrilateral security cooperation known as the Quad which met on March 12, 2021, and reaffirmed its commitment to a shared vision for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion ; Whereas people-to-people ties between the United States and Japan are long-standing and deep, as exemplified by the gift of the beautiful cherry trees that dot our Nation’s capital from the People of Japan to the People of the United States in 1912, and the cherry blossom festivals currently taking place across our Nation, signifying an unbreakable bond between the two nations; and Whereas, in April 2021, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will visit the United States at the invitation of President Joe Biden: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) welcomes Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to the United States; (2) reaffirms the importance of the United States-Japan alliance for maintaining peace and stability and fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific region and beyond; (3) supports ongoing efforts to further strengthen the United States-Japan alliance, including the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (2+2) to confront threats posed by aggressive actors that threaten the peace and safety of both nations; (4) supports strong cooperation between the United States and Japan in safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation, commerce, and overflight in the East and South China Seas; (5) affirms the Senkaku Islands fall within the scope of Article V of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, and remain opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea or undermine Japan’s administration of these islands; (6) acknowledges Japan’s critical role as the sole East Asian member of the Quad, which commits to a shared vision for a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific region; (7) stands in solidarity with Japan as it seeks justice and accountability for its abductees, and pledges the full support of the United States for Japan in seeking to resolve this issue; (8) recognizes the support of the Government of Japan in addressing global challenges, including COVID–19 challenges, that threaten the health and safety of people everywhere; (9) supports the expansion of academic and cultural exchanges between the United States and Japan, especially efforts to encourage Japanese students to study at universities in the United States, and vice versa, to deepen people-to-people ties; (10) encourages the expansion of collaboration for research and development of new and emerging cyber technologies with Japan, especially to address global challenges posed by the proliferation of digital authoritarianism; (11) promotes deepening the economic and trade ties between the United States and Japan, including the empowerment of women, which is vital for the prosperity of both our nations, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world; and (12) calls for continued cooperation between the governments of the United States and Japan in the promotion of human rights. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres142is/xml/BILLS-117sres142is.xml |
117-sres-143 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 143 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Ms. Hassan (for herself, Mr. Tillis , Ms. Sinema , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Boozman , Mrs. Blackburn , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Brown , and Mr. Tuberville ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs RESOLUTION To honor and recognize the patriotism and service to the United States provided by Veterans Service Organizations during the COVID–19 pandemic.
Whereas, throughout the United States, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic (referred to in this preamble as the pandemic ) has devastated veterans and their families; Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs (referred to in this preamble as the VA ) has tested or treated over 230,000 cases of COVID–19 and has recorded over 10,000 known deaths caused by COVID–19; Whereas over 1,000,000 veterans lost their jobs because of the pandemic, with veteran unemployment reaching nearly 12 percent in April 2020; Whereas many veterans have experienced feelings of isolation and loneliness caused by the public health restrictions needed to curb the spread of COVID–19; Whereas, since their inception, Veterans Service Organizations (referred to in this preamble as VSOs ) have always supported and advocated on behalf of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families; Whereas VSOs have adapted to the unique challenges posed by the pandemic in order to continue to support veterans and advocate for the veteran community; Whereas members of VSOs have fostered a sense of connection and community amid the pandemic by— (1) calling, emailing, or writing to fellow veterans; (2) delivering food and groceries to fellow veterans and their families; and (3) hosting virtual and socially distanced events; Whereas members of VSOs have conducted thousands of peer-wellness checks to combat the ongoing mental health crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic; Whereas VSOs have continued to help veterans access healthcare during the pandemic by— (1) assisting veterans with enrollment in VA healthcare plans; (2) enabling access to telehealth; and (3) providing hundreds of thousands of rides to medical appointments; Whereas VSOs have helped veterans find employment by— (1) connecting veterans to employers; (2) hosting virtual job fairs; and (3) providing online job search resources; Whereas representatives of VSOs have helped hundreds of thousands of veterans navigate a VA benefits claims process that has been changed by the pandemic; Whereas VSOs are playing an essential role in encouraging all veterans to get vaccinated; Whereas members of VSOs are volunteering at vaccination sites across the United States to help their fellow veterans and all other individuals in the United States receive the COVID–19 vaccine; and Whereas VSOs will continue to play an instrumental role representing and supporting the veteran community as the United States moves forward on the path towards recovering from the pandemic: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors and recognizes the patriotism and service to the United States provided by Veterans Service Organizations (referred to in this resolution as VSOs ) during the COVID–19 pandemic; (2) commends efforts by VSOs to improvise and adapt to the challenges posed by COVID–19 to continue to support veterans in need, especially those left most vulnerable by the COVID–19 pandemic; and (3) supports efforts by VSOs to enable veterans, their families, and their caregivers to receive the COVID–19 vaccine. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres143is/xml/BILLS-117sres143is.xml |
117-sres-144 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 144 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Brown (for himself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the week of March 21 through March 27, 2021, as National Poison Prevention Week and encouraging communities across the United States to raise awareness of the dangers of poisoning and promote poison prevention.
Whereas the designation of National Poison Prevention Week was first authorized by Congress and President Kennedy in 1961 in Public Law 87–319 (75 Stat. 681); Whereas National Poison Prevention Week occurs during the third full week of March each year; Whereas, as of February 10, 2021, poison centers have handled more than 838,000 cases related to the COVID–19 pandemic alone and have seen dramatic increases in cases relating to hand sanitizer and household cleaning products; Whereas poison control centers responded to COVID–19 related surges by conducting poison safety and poisoning prevention outreach in a virtual format during the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas the American Association of Poison Control Centers (referred to in this preamble as the AAPCC ) works with the 55 poison control centers in the United States to track— (1) more than 1,000 commonly used household and workplace products that can cause poisoning; and (2) poisonings and the sources of those poisonings; Whereas the National Poison Data System (NPDS) database contains over 447,000 products, ranging from viral and bacterial agents to commercial chemical and drug products; Whereas, in 2019, 2,148,141 people called the poison help line to reach a poison control center; Whereas, in 2019, as reported to the AAPCC, 92 percent of poison exposures reported to local poison control centers occurred in the home; Whereas local poison control centers save the people of the United States $1,800,000,000 in medical costs annually; Whereas the AAPCC and poison control centers partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and State, local, Tribal, and territorial health departments to monitor occurrences of environmental, biological, and emerging threats in communities across the United States, including food poisoning, botulism, and vaping-associated lung injury; Whereas, in the United States, more than 300 children 19 years of age and younger are treated in emergency departments for poisoning every day, and more than 130 children 19 years of age and younger die as a result of being poisoned each year; Whereas, in 2019, children younger than 6 years of age constituted 43 percent of all poison exposures; Whereas, from 2000 to 2018, data from poison control centers revealed a significant increase of an average of 3.4 percent per year in the number of intentional suicide patients who were adolescents 10 to 24 years of age, and that increase disproportionately occurred among females; Whereas, in 2021, poison control centers are seeing an increase in suspected suicides in individuals ranging from 11 to 14 years of age; Whereas, in 2019, more than 114,000 children 19 years of age and younger were treated in an emergency room due to unintended pediatric poisoning, and more than 90 percent of those incidents occurred in the home, most often with blood pressure medications, acetaminophen, laundry packets, bleach, or sedatives or anti-anxiety medication; Whereas there was a 444 percent increase in pediatric magnet ingestion cases reported to United States poison control centers from 2018 to 2019 based on an analysis of the National Poison Data System (NPDS), demonstrating the significant risk of injury from high-powered magnet ingestions; Whereas 70,237 cases of death due to drug overdose were reported in the United States in 2017, and the majority of those cases, approximately 68 percent, involved an opioid; Whereas, in 2019, the most common medications that adults called the poison help line about were prescription and non-prescription pain relievers, household cleaning substances, cosmetics and personal care products, and antidepressants; Whereas pain medications lead the list of the most common substances implicated in adult poison exposures, and are the single most frequent cause of pediatric fatalities reported to the AAPCC; Whereas poison control centers issue guidance and provide support to individuals, including individuals who experience medication and dosing errors; Whereas more than 60 percent of calls to the poison help line are from individuals 20 years of age or older, with more than half of those calls involving patients older than 50 years of age, and a common reason for those calls is therapeutic errors, including questions regarding drug interactions, incorrect dosing route, timing of doses, and double doses; Whereas normal, curious children younger than 6 years of age are in stages of growth and development in which they are constantly exploring and investigating the world around them, and are often unable to read or recognize warning labels; Whereas the AAPCC engages in community outreach by educating the public on poison safety and poisoning prevention, and provides educational resources, materials, and guidelines to educate the public on poisoning prevention; Whereas individuals can reach a poison control center from anywhere in the United States by calling the poison help line at 1-800-222-1222; Whereas, despite regulations of the Consumer Product Safety Commission requiring that a child-resistant package be designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for children under 5 years of age to open, or obtain a harmful amount of the contents, within a reasonable time, children can still open child-resistant packages; and Whereas, each year during National Poison Prevention Week, the Federal Government assesses the progress made by the Federal Government in saving lives and reaffirms the national commitment of the Federal Government to preventing injuries and deaths from poisoning: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the week of March 21 through March 27, 2021, as National Poison Prevention Week ; (2) expresses gratitude for the people who operate or support poison control centers in their local communities; (3) expresses gratitude for frontline workers supporting poison prevention during the COVID–19 pandemic; (4) supports efforts and resources to provide poison prevention guidance or emergency assistance in response to poisonings; and (5) encourages— (A) the people of the United States to educate their communities and families about poison safety and poisoning prevention; and (B) health care providers to practice and promote poison safety and poisoning prevention. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres144ats/xml/BILLS-117sres144ats.xml |
117-sres-145 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 145 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Merkley , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Daines , Mr. Carper , and Mr. Durbin ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating the first week of April 2021 as National Asbestos Awareness Week .
Whereas dangerous asbestos fibers are invisible and cannot be smelled or tasted; Whereas the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can cause significant damage; Whereas asbestos fibers can cause cancer (such as mesothelioma), asbestosis, and other health problems; Whereas symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take between 10 and 50 years to present themselves; Whereas the projected life expectancy for an individual diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months; Whereas little is known about late-stage treatment of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure for those diseases; Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give some patients increased treatment options and may improve the prognoses of those patients; Whereas, although the consumption of asbestos within the United States has been substantially reduced, the United States continues to consume tons of the fibrous mineral each year for use in certain products; Whereas thousands of people in the United States have died from asbestos-related diseases and thousands more die every year from those diseases; Whereas, although individuals continue to be exposed to asbestos, safety measures relating to the prevention of asbestos exposure have significantly reduced the incidence of asbestos-related diseases and can further reduce the incidence of those diseases; Whereas thousands of workers in the United States face significant asbestos exposure, which has been a cause of occupational cancer; Whereas a significant percentage of victims of asbestos-related diseases were exposed to asbestos on naval ships and in shipyards; Whereas asbestos was used in the construction of a significant number of office buildings and public facilities built before 1975; Whereas people in the small community of Libby, Montana, suffer from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, at a significantly higher rate than individuals in the United States as a whole; and Whereas the designation of a National Asbestos Awareness Week will raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates the first week of April 2021 as National Asbestos Awareness Week ; (2) urges the Surgeon General of the United States to warn and educate people about the public health issue of asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their health; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the Office of the Surgeon General. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres145ats/xml/BILLS-117sres145ats.xml |
117-sres-146 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 146 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Portman (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating April 2021 as Second Chance Month .
Whereas every individual is endowed with human dignity and value; Whereas redemption and second chances are values of the United States; Whereas millions of citizens of the United States have a criminal record; Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals return to their communities from Federal and State prisons every year; Whereas individuals returning from Federal and State prisons have paid their debt for committing crimes but still face significant legal and societal barriers (referred to in this preamble as collateral consequences ); Whereas collateral consequences for an individual returning from a Federal or State prison are often mandatory and take effect automatically, regardless of— (1) whether there is a nexus between the crime and public safety; (2) the seriousness of the crime; (3) the time that has passed since the individual committed the crime; or (4) the efforts of the individual to make amends or earn back the trust of the public; Whereas, for individuals returning to their communities from Federal and State prisons, gaining meaningful employment is one of the most significant predictors of successful reentry and has been shown to reduce future criminal activity; Whereas many individuals who have been incarcerated struggle to find employment because of collateral consequences, which are often not directly related to the offenses the individuals committed or any proven public safety benefit; Whereas many States have laws that prohibit an individual with a criminal record from working in certain industries or obtaining professional licenses; Whereas, in addition to employment, education has also been shown to be a significant predictor of successful reentry for individuals returning from Federal and State prisons; Whereas an individual with a criminal record often has a lower level of educational attainment than the general population and has significant difficulty acquiring admission to, and funding for, educational programs; Whereas an individual who has been convicted of certain crimes is often barred from receiving the financial aid necessary to acquire additional skills and knowledge; Whereas an individual with a criminal record— (1) faces collateral consequences in securing a place to live; and (2) is often barred from seeking access to public housing; Whereas collateral consequences prevent millions of individuals in the United States from contributing fully to their families and communities; Whereas collateral consequences can contribute to recidivism, which increases crime and victimization and decreases public safety; Whereas collateral consequences have particularly impacted underserved communities of color and community rates of employment, housing stability, and recidivism; Whereas the inability to find gainful employment and other collateral consequences of conviction inhibit the economic mobility of an individual with a criminal record, which can negatively impact the well-being of the children and families of the individual for generations; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic and economic and public health consequences of the COVD–19 pandemic have made the pursuit of gainful employment and access to community supports more daunting for individuals with a criminal record; Whereas the bipartisan First Step Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–391 ; 132 Stat. 5194) was signed into law on December 21, 2018, to increase opportunities for individuals incarcerated in Federal prisons to participate in meaningful recidivism reduction programs and prepare for their second chances; Whereas the programs authorized by the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( Public Law 110–199 ; 122 Stat. 657)— (1) have provided reentry services to more than 164,000 individuals in 49 States and the District of Columbia since the date of enactment of the Act; and (2) were reauthorized by the First Step Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–391 ; 132 Stat. 5194); Whereas the anniversary of the death of Charles Colson, who used his second chance following his incarceration for a Watergate-related crime to found Prison Fellowship, the largest program in the United States that provides outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, falls on April 21; and Whereas the designation of April as Second Chance Month may contribute to— (1) increased public awareness about— (A) the impact of collateral consequences; and (B) the need for closure for individuals with a criminal record who have paid their debt; and (2) opportunities for individuals, employers, congregations, and communities to extend second chances to those individuals: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates April 2021 as Second Chance Month ; (2) honors the work of communities, governmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, congregations, employers, and individuals to remove unnecessary legal and societal barriers that prevent individuals with criminal records from becoming productive members of society; and (3) calls upon the people of the United States to observe Second Chance Month through actions and programs that— (A) promote awareness of those unnecessary legal and social barriers; and (B) provide closure for individuals with a criminal record who have paid their debt. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres146is/xml/BILLS-117sres146is.xml |
117-sres-147 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 147 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2021 Mr. Braun (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Scott of Florida , and Ms. Ernst ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance RESOLUTION Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security.
Whereas, in September 2020, the total public debt outstanding was more than $26,000,000,000,000, resulting in a total interest expense of more than $371,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; Whereas, in September 2019, the total public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product was about 100 percent; Whereas leaders of the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office have testified that— (1) the growth of the public debt is unsustainable; and (2) Congress must undertake extensive fiscal consolidation to combat that growth; Whereas the last Federal budget surplus occurred in 2001; Whereas, in fiscal year 2020, Federal tax receipts totaled $3,420,000,000,000, but Federal outlays totaled $6,652,000,000,000, leaving the Federal Government with a 1-year deficit of $3,132,000,000,000; Whereas, since the last Federal budget surplus occurred in 2001, Congress— (1) has failed to maintain a fiscally responsible budget; and (2) has had to raise the debt ceiling repeatedly; Whereas the Medicare Board of Trustees projects that the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be depleted in 2026; Whereas the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees project that the Disability Insurance and the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Funds will be depleted in 2026 and 2031, respectively; Whereas heavy indebtedness increases the exposure of the Federal Government to interest rate risks; Whereas the credit rating of the United States was reduced by Standard and Poor’s from AAA to AA+ on August 5, 2011, and has remained at that level ever since; Whereas, without a targeted effort to balance the Federal budget, the credit rating of the United States will continue to fall; Whereas improvements in the business climate in populous countries, and aging populations around the world, will likely contribute to higher global interest rates; Whereas more than $7,000,000,000,000 of Federal debt is owned by individuals not located in the United States, including more than $1,000,000,000,000 of which is owned by individuals in China; Whereas China and the European Union are developing alternative payment systems to weaken the dominant position of the United States dollar as a reserve currency; Whereas rapidly increasing interest rates will squeeze all policy priorities of the United States, including defense policy and foreign policy priorities; Whereas the National Security Strategy of the United States, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, highlights the need to reduce the national debt through fiscal responsibility; Whereas, on April 12, 2018, former Secretary of Defense James Mattis warned that any Nation that can’t keep its fiscal house in order eventually cannot maintain its military power ; Whereas, on March 6, 2018, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats warned: Our continued plunge into debt is unsustainable and represents a dire future threat to our economy and to our national security ; Whereas, on November 15, 2017, former Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta, Ash Carter, and Chuck Hagel warned: Increase in the debt will, in the absence of a comprehensive budget that addresses both entitlements and revenues, force even deeper reductions in our national security capabilities ; and Whereas, on September 22, 2011, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen warned: I believe the single, biggest threat to our national security is debt : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes that the national debt is a threat to the national security of the United States; (2) realizes that persistent, structural deficits are unsustainable, irresponsible, and dangerous; and (3) commits to addressing the looming fiscal crisis faced by the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres147is/xml/BILLS-117sres147is.xml |
117-sres-148 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 148 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 12, 2021 Ms. Warren (for herself, Mr. Tillis , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Kaine , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Warner , and Mr. Rounds ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary April 14, 2021 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of paying tribute to those individuals who have faithfully served and retired from the Armed Forces of the United States, designating April 18, 2021, as Military Retiree Appreciation Day , and encouraging the people of the United States to honor the past and continued service of military retirees to their local communities and the United States.
Whereas there are approximately 2,100,000 retirees of the Armed Forces of the United States who have earned their retirement through career service, a service-connected disability, or both; Whereas military retirees show an unrivaled dedication to service, having faithfully served their country and dedicated much of their lives knowing that at any moment they could be sent anywhere in the world and possibly asked to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend the national security of the United States; Whereas military retirees, through their perseverance and dedication— (1) have proven to be leaders who are resilient, focused, disciplined, well-trained, and well-educated; and (2) bring to lifelong service within their national and local communities the best qualities of citizens in the United States by being dependable, responsible citizens and neighbors; Whereas the qualities of a military retiree often result in positive contributions to— (1) the civilian workforce, as experienced and knowledgeable employees; (2) local educational institutions, as teachers, counselors, and coaches; (3) local government, as elected public servants; and (4) communities, as dedicated and effective volunteers; Whereas the dedication and focus of military retirees helps strengthen and stabilize local communities; and Whereas the contributions of military retirees to their communities are the manifestation of the desire of the retirees to continue their selfless acts of volunteering and their lifelong service to the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates April 18, 2021, as Military Retiree Appreciation Day ; and (2) encourages the people of the United States to honor the past and continued service of military retirees to their local communities and the United States through appropriate ceremonies and other activities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres148ats/xml/BILLS-117sres148ats.xml |
117-sres-149 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 149 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 13, 2021 Mr. Kelly (for himself, Mr. Blunt , and Ms. Sinema ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to support the A–10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft program, also known as the Warthog and A–10C or OA–10C.
Whereas the A–10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft (referred to in this preamble as the A–10 )— (1) has seen action in every major United States Military conflict since the first production A–10 was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in October 1975; and (2) since that time, has received several upgrades that are reflected in the 281 A–10s in service as of the date of adoption of this resolution; Whereas, since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the A–10 has become a preferred close air support platform for ground troops, striking fear in the enemies of the United States and inspiring pride in the members of the Armed Forces; Whereas the A–10, which has been the backbone of the close air support mission of the Air Force for more than 40 years, has proven to be a highly accurate, mobile, and durable weapons-delivery platform that can be used against all ground targets; Whereas the A–10 supports close air support with a variety of forward-firing, free-fall, and precision-guided munitions; Whereas the A–10 is able to perform combat search and rescue, air interdiction, armed reconnaissance, suppression of enemy air defenses, special operations forces support, and countersea operations in low-threat and high-threat environments, day or night; Whereas the A–10 provides the Air Force with an extensive ability to survey the battlefield and then fix, engage, target, and destroy a wide range of mobile and fixed targets as an arsenal aircraft, including tanks and other highly armored vehicles in quantity; Whereas the A–10 was specifically designed with protection from small-arms fire, including self-sealing fuel tanks, redundant flight controls, and a titanium cockpit tub, which has proven vital to the safe return of pilots despite heavy damage from enemy ground fire; Whereas the A–10 has the lowest rate of friendly fire incidents of any combat fighter or bomber; Whereas the A–10 has one of the largest carrying capacities for a fighter-type aircraft and can carry a wide range of munitions and electronic countermeasures without sacrificing air-to-ground capabilities; Whereas the close air support provided by the A–10, which has proven invaluable on the battlefield, is better than the close air support provided by any other fighter aircraft because— (1) the A–10 has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitudes; and (2) the close air support provided by the A–10 is simple and effective; Whereas the slower airspeeds of the A–10 enable longer loiter times, increasing support to troops in contact and battlefield coverage; Whereas, of all combat planes in the arsenal of the United States, the A–10 is the least expensive to operate and purchase; Whereas, while the A–10 flew only 30 percent of the total sorties of the Air Force during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, these aircraft achieved more than half of the confirmed Iraqi equipment losses and fired 90 percent of the precision-guided Maverick missiles; Whereas, during Operation Allied Force in 1999— (1) A–10s destroyed more field-deployed Serbian weaponry than any other allied weapon system; and (2) combat search and rescue support from the A–10 was 100 percent effective, successfully rescuing 1 F–117 pilot and 1 F–16CG pilot; Whereas, during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, the A–10 flew 32 percent of the combat sorties in both theaters, and from 2006 to late 2013, the A–10 flew 19 percent of close air operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; Whereas the A–10 is an effective close air support platform to counter violent extremist organizations, including the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria; Whereas the continuing demands for close air support in Iraq and Afghanistan keep the A–10 a relevant platform, but one that requires upgrades; Whereas, if the A–10 is removed from service, certain gaps in responsive close air support, forward air controller, air interdiction, strike control and reconnaissance, and combat search and rescue support could widen; Whereas the A–10 can be serviced and operated with high sortie rates from austere bases with limited facilities or logistical support near battle areas, including unprepared dirt, grass, and narrow road runways, and from airfields that are too short or rough to handle fast jets; Whereas global power is essential to preserving global security and stability, and the A–10 is essential to ensuring that the United States is able to continue providing unmatched airpower, to gain and maintain air superiority, and to extend its global reach; Whereas the A–10 program supports the Air Force, including the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve; Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, the A–10 is flying in operational combat squadrons at— (1) Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; (2) Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; (3) Moody Air Force Base, Georgia; (4) Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Idaho; (5) Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Indiana; (6) Warfield Air National Guard Base, Maryland; (7) Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan; (8) Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri; (9) Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; and (10) Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea; Whereas the 355th Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, with an inventory of 84 A–10s— (1) has deployed 12 times since September 11, 2001, primarily in support of troops on the ground; and (2) is responsible for training all A–10 pilots; Whereas the 175th Wing at Warfield Air National Guard Base, with an inventory of 21 A–10s, has deployed 6 times since September 11, 2001, primarily in support of troops on the ground; and Whereas the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, with an inventory of 27 A–10s, has deployed 9 times since September 11, 2001, primarily in support of troops on the ground: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to support the A–10 Thunderbolt II program in future fiscal years because— (1) continued support for the A–10 Thunderbolt II program is imperative to the national security of the United States; and (2) the United States cannot afford to risk its national security, or the national security of its allies, by allowing that program to fall short of its vital mission. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres149is/xml/BILLS-117sres149is.xml |
117-sres-150 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 150 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 13, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Honoring the memory of Jereima Jeri Bustamante on the third anniversary of her passing.
Whereas Jereima Jeri Bustamante (referred to in this preamble as Jeri Bustamante ) lived the American Dream; Whereas, after moving from Panama to the United States with her family, Jeri Bustamante— (1) attended Miami Beach Senior High School; and (2) earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Florida International University; Whereas Jeri Bustamante had a tireless work ethic and a passion for communication, and paid for her education by working while enrolled in school; Whereas that tireless work ethic propelled Jeri Bustamante to professional success, beginning with an internship at a Miami television station and culminating in a period of service as press secretary to Governor Rick Scott; Whereas the enthusiasm, compassion, tenacity, and vibrant energy of Jeri Bustamante are greatly missed by her family, friends, and coworkers; Whereas the spirit of Jeri Bustamante lives on through the Jereima Bustamante Memorial Scholarship, which aims to help graduates of Miami Beach Senior High School achieve their goals and pursue the American Dream through a college education; and Whereas April 8, 2021, marks 3 years since the life of Jeri Bustamante was tragically cut short in a fatal boating accident: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors the life and memory of Jereima Jeri Bustamante (referred to in this resolution as Jeri Bustamante ); (2) offers heartfelt condolences to the family, loved ones, and friends of Jeri Bustamante; (3) recognizes that living the American Dream remains possible for any individual who, following the example of Jeri Bustamante, works hard to pursue and achieve a goal; and (4) encourages the recipients of the Jereima Bustamante Memorial Scholarship to carry on the legacy of Jeri Bustamante. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres150is/xml/BILLS-117sres150is.xml |
117-sres-151 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 151 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 13, 2021 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Sanders , Ms. Warren , and Mr. Booker ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Calling on the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take action to lower prescription drug costs.
Whereas the United States is facing a pandemic, and economic crisis, caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) that threatens the health and financial well-being of nearly every family in the United States; Whereas even before the COVID–19 pandemic, consumers and patients in the United States were charged higher prices for prescription drugs than consumers and patients in other countries around the world; Whereas families in the United States continue to face financial hardship from unaffordable out-of-pocket costs and higher premiums that have been exacerbated by an economic crisis and losses in employer-sponsored health coverage; Whereas 8 in 10 individuals in the United States say the cost of prescriptions is unreasonable, and nearly 3 in 10 individuals across the United States are rationing their medicine due to high prescription drug costs; Whereas the prescription drug cost crisis has put families at risk for poor health outcomes, increasing the likelihood of complications from a severe case of COVID–19 for those families; Whereas even before the COVID–19 pandemic, people of color, including Black, Brown, and indigenous people, were disproportionately impacted by high prescription drug costs, which was due in part to a higher prevalence of chronic conditions in those populations that require expensive prescription drugs; Whereas people of color, including Black, Brown, and indigenous people, are dying at much higher rates as a result of COVID–19, and other diseases, for which affordable prescription drugs can and should be available; Whereas any price gouging by pharmaceutical companies is a root cause of health disparities in the United States; Whereas nearly 1 in 3 individuals in the United States facing increased prescription drug costs spend less on basic necessities, including groceries, to account for that increased prescription drug cost; Whereas approximately 25 percent of the monthly premium for a health care consumer in the United States goes to prescription drug costs; Whereas more than 1 in 4 health care consumers decline other medical tests or procedures, or put off a visit to the doctor's office, because of increased prescription drug costs; Whereas pharmaceutical companies abuse monopoly control granted by the Federal Government, in the form of patents and regulatory exclusivities, to limit competition and raise prescription drug costs; Whereas 8 out of 10 new drug patents are for slight modifications to existing drugs, not for innovating new drug products; Whereas 9 out of 10 of the largest pharmaceutical companies spend more on sales and marketing than on researching new drugs; Whereas each of the 356 drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 2010 and 2019 was developed through taxpayer-funded research conducted by the National Institutes of Health; Whereas the 18 pharmaceutical companies on the S&P 500 spent more money on stock buybacks and dividends than on research and development between 2009 and 2018; Whereas the pharmaceutical and medical products industry spent $295,000,000 on lobbying in 2019, more than any other industry and nearly double the next closest industry; Whereas the pharmaceutical industry employs more lobbyists than there are Members of Congress; Whereas the 25 largest pharmaceutical companies in the United States achieve an average profit margin above 20 percent, more than twice the average profit margin of the other 500 largest companies in the United States; Whereas pharmaceutical spending growth in the United States is projected to outpace inflation for the foreseeable future; Whereas pharmaceutical companies raised the price of 245 drugs in the first 5 months of the COVID–19 pandemic, with the average price increase being 23.8 percent; Whereas 61 of the 245 prescription drugs that saw price hikes during the first months of the COVID–19 pandemic were being used to treat COVID–19, and another 30 drugs were undergoing clinical trials for use against that virus; Whereas nearly 9 in 10 adults in the United States said they were concerned the pharmaceutical industry would use the pandemic to raise prescription drug prices; Whereas the United States spends twice as much money on prescription drugs when compared to other economically comparable countries, including Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, despite purchasing fewer drugs per individual; Whereas adults in the United States consistently rank the pharmaceutical industry as their least liked industry, with the industry being ranked less favorably than the oil, banking, and airline industries; Whereas 8 out of 10 adults in the United States say prescription drug costs are unreasonable and driven by the desire for profits by pharmaceutical companies; Whereas the President can license generic competition with patented products when it is in the public interest, including to combat abusive price gouging by large pharmaceutical companies; Whereas the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this preamble as the Secretary ) can require reasonable pricing in return for receiving Federal funding and other support for research and development; and Whereas the President and the Secretary can lower prescription drug prices under existing law and authorities: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the authority of the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this resolution as the Secretary ) to lower prescription drug prices; (2) calls on the President and the Secretary to take administrative action to lower prescription drug prices under existing law and authorities, including— (A) Federal Government use, pursuant to section 1498(a) of title 28, United States Code; (B) march-in rights, pursuant to section 203 of title 35, United States Code; (C) royalty-free rights, pursuant to sections 202(c)(4) and 209(d)(1) of title 35, United States Code; (D) the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, established by section 1115A(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1315a(a)(1) ); and (E) all other existing law and authorities; and (3) encourages the President to use existing law and authorities to align prescription drug prices in the United States with drug prices in other economically comparable countries, including Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres151is/xml/BILLS-117sres151is.xml |
117-sres-152 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 152 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 13, 2021 Mr. Schumer (for himself, Mr. McConnell , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Bennet , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Blunt , Mr. Booker , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Braun , Mr. Brown , Mr. Burr , Ms. Cantwell , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Carper , Mr. Casey , Mr. Cassidy , Ms. Collins , Mr. Coons , Mr. Cornyn , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Daines , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Ernst , Mrs. Feinstein , Mrs. Fischer , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Graham , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Hagerty , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Hickenlooper , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Hoeven , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. King , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Lee , Mr. Luján , Ms. Lummis , Mr. Manchin , Mr. Markey , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Moran , Ms. Murkowski , Mr. Murphy , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Ossoff , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Paul , Mr. Peters , Mr. Portman , Mr. Reed , Mr. Risch , Mr. Romney , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Sasse , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Shelby , Ms. Sinema , Ms. Smith , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Tester , Mr. Thune , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Toomey , Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Warner , Mr. Warnock , Ms. Warren , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the memory of Officer William Francis Billy Evans of the United States Capitol Police for his selfless acts of heroism on the grounds of the United States Capitol on April 2, 2021.
Whereas William Francis Evans was born in North Adams, MA to Howard and Janice Evans; Whereas Officer Evans joined the United States Capitol Police force in March 2003, after graduating from Western New England College in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and completing training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; Whereas Officer Evans served as a member of the First Responder Unit for over 15 years, where his fellow officers referred to him as King of the North; Whereas on the afternoon of April 2, 2021, Officer Evans was killed in the line of duty while protecting the North Barricade at the United States Capitol with fellow Officer Ken Shaver, who was also injured; Whereas Officer Evans is survived by family and loved ones, including his children, Logan and Abigail, and their mother, Shannon Terranova; his mother, Janice; his sister, Julie Kucyn; his brother-in-law, Andrew; his nephew, Timothy and niece Katherine; and aunts, uncles, and cousins; Whereas Officer Evans was a life-long fan and fervent support of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots and cherished time with his children building with Lego, having lightsaber duels, and doing arts and crafts; Whereas Officer Evans and his colleagues at the United States Capitol Police are true national heroes to whom the United States and the Capitol community owe a deep debt of gratitude: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate honors the memory of United States Capitol Police Officer William Francis Billy Evans for the selfless acts of heroism displayed on April 2, 2021, in risking and sacrificing his life in the line of duty.
That the Secretary of the Senate communicate these resolutions to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the deceased.
That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of United States Capitol Police Officer William Francis Billy Evans. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres152ats/xml/BILLS-117sres152ats.xml |
117-sres-153 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 153 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 13, 2021 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Markey , Ms. Cortez Masto , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Brown , Mr. Warnock , Mr. Peters , Ms. Baldwin , Ms. Smith , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Bennet , Ms. Klobuchar , Mrs. Gillibrand , and Ms. Rosen ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2021, as Black Maternal Health Week to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women in the United States are 2 to 3 times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes; Whereas Black women in the United States suffer from life-threatening pregnancy complications, known as maternal morbidities , twice as often as White women; Whereas maternal mortality rates in the United States are— (1) among the highest in the developed world; and (2) increasing rapidly; Whereas the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among affluent countries, in part because of the disproportionate mortality rate among Black women; Whereas Black women are 49 percent more likely than White women to deliver prematurely; Whereas the high rates of maternal mortality among Black women span across— (1) income levels; (2) education levels; and (3) socioeconomic status; Whereas structural racism, gender oppression, and the social determinants of health inequities experienced by Black women in the United States significantly contribute to the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women; Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role in the maternal healthcare experiences and outcomes of Black birthing people; Whereas a fair and wide distribution of resources and birth options, especially with regard to reproductive healthcare services and maternal health programming, are critical to closing the racial gap in maternal health outcomes; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has further highlighted issues within the broken healthcare system in the United States and the harm of that system to Black women and birthing persons by exposing— (1) increased barriers to accessing prenatal and postpartum care, including maternal mental healthcare; (2) the lack of uniform hospital policies permitting doulas and support persons to be present during labor and delivery; (3) inconsistent hospital policies regarding the separation of the newborn from a mother that is suspected positive for COVID–19; (4) complexities in COVID–19 vaccine and therapeutics trials including pregnant and lactating people; (5) increased rates of caesarean section deliveries; (6) shortened hospital stays following delivery; (7) provider shortages and lack of sufficient policies to allow home births attended by midwives; (8) insufficient practical support for delivery of care by midwives, including telehealth access; (9) adverse economic impact on Black mothers and families due to job loss or reduction in income during quarantine and the pandemic recession; and (10) pervasive racial injustice against Black people in the criminal justice, social, and healthcare systems; Whereas, even as there is growing concern about improving access to mental health services, Black women are least likely to have access to mental health screenings, treatment, and support before, during, and after pregnancy; Whereas justice-informed, culturally congruent models of care are beneficial to Black women; and Whereas an investment must be made in— (1) maternity care for Black women and birthing persons, including support of care led by the communities most affected by the maternal health crisis in the United States; (2) continuous health insurance coverage to support Black women and birthing persons for the full postpartum period up to at least 1 year after giving birth; and (3) policies that support and promote affordable, comprehensive, and holistic maternal healthcare that is free from gender and racial discrimination, regardless of incarceration: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate recognizes— (1) that Black women are experiencing high, disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States; (2) that the alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women are unacceptable; (3) that, in order to better mitigate the effects of systemic and structural racism, Congress must work toward ensuring that the Black community has— (A) safe and affordable housing; (B) transportation equity; (C) nutritious food; (D) clean air and water; (E) environments free from toxins; (F) fair treatment within the criminal justice system; (G) safety and freedom from violence; (H) a living wage; (I) equal economic opportunity; (J) a sustained workforce pipeline for diverse perinatal professionals; and (K) comprehensive, quality, and affordable healthcare with access to the full spectrum of reproductive care; (4) that, in order to improve maternal health outcomes, Congress must fully support and encourage policies grounded in the human rights and reproductive justice frameworks that address Black maternal health inequity; (5) that Black women and birthing persons must be active participants in the policy decisions that impact their lives; (6) that, in order to ensure access to safe and respectful maternal healthcare for Black women and birthing persons, Congress must pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021; (7) that Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity to— (A) raise national awareness of the state of Black maternal health in the United States; (B) amplify the voices of Black women and birthing persons, families, and communities; (C) serve as a national platform for— (i) entities led by Black women; and (ii) efforts on maternal health; and (D) enhance community organizing on Black maternal health; and (8) the significance of April 11 through April 17, 2021, as Black Maternal Health Week . | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres153is/xml/BILLS-117sres153is.xml |
117-sres-154 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 154 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 13, 2021 Mr. Van Hollen (for himself and Mr. Hagerty ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Congratulating the people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the centennial of the founding of the Jordanian state.
Whereas the late King Abdullah bin Al Hussein arrived in Amman on March 2, 1921, and began working to establish a political system based on the Arab demand for independence, reaffirming the renaissance approach spearheaded by his father, Al Hussein bin Ali; Whereas the Amirate of Trans-Jordan was established on April 11, 1921; Whereas the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan achieved independence on May 25, 1946; Whereas the United States recognized Jordan as an independent state in a White House announcement on January 31, 1949; Whereas the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have maintained diplomatic relations since 1949, and during this 72-year partnership, the United States and Jordan have continued to develop a close relationship in security, economic development, and counterterrorism cooperation; Whereas the economic partnership between the United States and Jordan was further strengthened by the signing of the United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement on October 24, 2000, which was fully implemented on January 1, 2010; Whereas the United States is committed to Jordan’s stability, prosperity, and security throughout the years, which has been reflected in 3 memoranda of understanding covering fiscal years 2010 through 2022, which demonstrate a strong, multi-year strategic relationship between the 2 countries; Whereas Jordan continues to host 53 nationalities of refugees and is home to the second highest number of refugees per capita globally, with more than 1,300,000 Syrians, 660,000 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-registered refugees, and millions of Palestinian refugees; and Whereas King Abdullah II has been a leading Arab voice in moderation and interfaith dialogue, by spearheading initiatives such as A Common Word and the 2004 Amman Message : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commemorates the centennial of the establishment of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; (2) expresses its profound admiration and gratitude for the friendship of the Jordanian people, who continue to demonstrate great generosity for those in need; (3) shares the hope of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Jordanian people for a more peaceful Middle East; and (4) looks forward to our continued close cooperation with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Jordan on our shared priorities of security, economic development, and humanitarian issues. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres154is/xml/BILLS-117sres154is.xml |
117-sres-155 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 155 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 14, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Bennet , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Markey , Mr. Booker , Mr. Kelly , Ms. Rosen , Mrs. Murray , Ms. Duckworth , Mrs. Feinstein , and Mr. Luján ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Honoring the accomplishments and legacy of César Estrada Chávez.
Whereas César Estrada Chávez was born on March 31, 1927, near Yuma, Arizona; Whereas César Estrada Chávez spent his early years on a family farm; Whereas, at the age of 10, César Estrada Chávez joined the thousands of migrant farm workers laboring in fields and vineyards throughout the Southwest after a bank foreclosure resulted in the loss of the family farm; Whereas César Estrada Chávez, after attending more than 30 elementary and middle schools and achieving an eighth grade education, left school to work full-time as a farm worker to help support his family; Whereas, at the age of 17, César Estrada Chávez entered the United States Navy and served the United States with distinction for 2 years; Whereas, in 1948, César Estrada Chávez returned from military service to marry Helen Fabela, whom he had met while working in the vineyards of central California; Whereas César Estrada Chávez and Helen Fabela had 8 children; Whereas, as early as 1949, César Estrada Chávez was committed to organizing farm workers to campaign for safe and fair working conditions, reasonable wages, livable housing, and the outlawing of child labor; Whereas, in 1952, César Estrada Chávez joined the Community Service Organization, a prominent Latino civil rights group, and worked with the organization to coordinate voter registration drives and conduct campaigns against discrimination in East Los Angeles; Whereas César Estrada Chávez served as the national director of the Community Service Organization; Whereas, in 1962, César Estrada Chávez left the Community Service Organization to establish the National Farm Workers Association, which eventually became the United Farm Workers of America; Whereas, under the leadership of César Estrada Chávez, the United Farm Workers of America organized thousands of migrant farm workers to fight for fair wages, health care coverage, pension benefits, livable housing, and respect; Whereas César Estrada Chávez was a strong believer in the principles of nonviolence practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Whereas César Estrada Chávez effectively used peaceful tactics that included fasting for 25 days in 1968, 25 days in 1972, and 38 days in 1988 to call attention to the terrible working and living conditions of farm workers in the United States; Whereas, through his commitment to nonviolence, César Estrada Chávez brought dignity and respect to the organized farm workers and became an inspiration to and a resource for individuals engaged in human rights struggles throughout the world; Whereas the influence of César Estrada Chávez extends far beyond agriculture and provides inspiration for individuals working to better human rights, empower workers, and advance the American Dream, which includes all people of the United States; Whereas César Estrada Chávez died on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66 in San Luis, Arizona, only miles from his birthplace; Whereas more than 50,000 people attended the funeral services of César Estrada Chávez in Delano, California; Whereas César Estrada Chávez was laid to rest at the headquarters of the United Farm Workers of America, known as Nuestra Señora de La Paz , located in the Tehachapi Mountains in Keene, California; Whereas, since the death of César Estrada Chávez, schools, parks, streets, libraries, and other public facilities, as well as awards and scholarships, have been named in his honor; Whereas more than 10 States and dozens of communities across the United States honor the life and legacy of César Estrada Chávez each year on March 31; Whereas March 31 is recognized as an official State holiday in California, Colorado, and Texas, and there is growing support to designate the birthday of César Estrada Chávez as a national day of service to memorialize his heroism; Whereas, during his lifetime, César Estrada Chávez was a recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Prize; Whereas, on August 8, 1994, César Estrada Chávez was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom; Whereas, on October 8, 2012, President Barack Obama authorized the Secretary of the Interior to establish a César Estrada Chávez National Monument in Keene, California; Whereas President Joseph R. Biden Jr. honored the life and service of César Estrada Chávez by proclaiming March 31, 2021, to be “ César Chávez Day” and by asking all people of the United States to observe March 31 with service, community, and education programs to honor the enduring legacy of César Estrada Chávez; and Whereas the United States should continue the efforts of César Estrada Chávez to ensure equality, justice, and dignity for all people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the accomplishments and example of César Estrada Chávez, a great hero of the United States; (2) pledges to promote the legacy of César Estrada Chávez; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to commemorate the legacy of César Estrada Chávez and to always remember his great rallying cry, ¡Sí, se puede! , which is Spanish for Yes, we can! . | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres155is/xml/BILLS-117sres155is.xml |
117-sres-156 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 156 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 14, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Lankford , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Johnson , and Mr. Hawley ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs RESOLUTION Commending the officers and personnel of Federal, State, and local agencies deployed by air, ground, and marine, and as tactical border security, for their work during the crisis at the Southern border.
Whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection (referred to in this preamble as CBP ) is charged with protecting the borders of the United States and facilitating travel and trade; Whereas President Biden promised a humane approach to immigration but the Biden Administration was woefully unprepared for a surge of migrants from Central America, including a record number of vulnerable, unaccompanied children unlawfully crossing the unsecured United States-Mexico border (referred to in this preamble as the Southern border ); Whereas the Southern border is experiencing a humanitarian crisis with unprecedented numbers of vulnerable individuals attempting to unlawfully enter the United States; Whereas, on March 13, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support a government-wide response effort to address the surge of unlawful crossings at the Southern border; Whereas, in February 2021, 100,441 individuals were apprehended at the Southern border, which is a 28-percent increase from January 2021; Whereas a total of 458,088 individuals were encountered at the Southern border in fiscal year 2020, which is only 61,130 encounters more than the number recorded in the first half of the current fiscal year; Whereas, in all of fiscal year 2020, 33,239 unaccompanied minors were encountered at the Southern border, which is only 3,510 encounters more than the number recorded in the first half of the current fiscal year; Whereas CBP has conducted more than 3,000 daily apprehensions, while still maintaining a posture to secure the border of the Nation and facilitate international trade and travel; Whereas the immigration policies of President Biden are— (1) luring hundreds of thousands of migrants to unlawfully cross the Southern border; (2) leading to an alarming increase in human trafficking and drug smuggling by cartels and transnational criminal organizations; and (3) putting unaccompanied minors at risk of human trafficking, violence, sexual abuse, and separation from the families of the unaccompanied minors; Whereas numerous acts of selfless heroism by CBP agents occur on a daily basis, as the agents face dangerous conditions but continue to risk their lives during a global health pandemic to rescue migrants attempting to unlawfully enter the United States along the Southern border; Whereas the selfless heroism by CBP agents has been on full display as the crisis at the Southern border grows and thousands of aliens attempt to unlawfully enter the United States each day, including recently reported rescues— (1) in February 2021, of a migrant woman from Mexico abandoned by human smugglers and left to die in a freezing winter storm as they attempted to unlawfully enter Texas; (2) in March 2021, of a migrant man and a 2-year-old child swept away by a swift current in a canal as they attempted to unlawfully enter Arizona; (3) in March 2021, of a migrant man who was abandoned by human smugglers unlawfully entering California, remained missing for 8 days, and had to be carried out of the mountainous terrain on the shoulders of a CBP agent; and (4) in March 2021, of a migrant man in severe distress in a remote desert location who was abandoned by human smugglers attempting to unlawfully enter New Mexico and who required serious medical attention; Whereas faced with inadequate Federal resources to manage the surge of illegal border crossings, States along the Southern border have installed their own border protection patrols, such as Arizona Border Strike Force and Operation Lone Star in Texas; and Whereas resources from Federal, State, and local agencies will need to be diverted from other areas to handle the surge of migrants unlawfully entering the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes that there is an ongoing and growing crisis on our Southern border; and (2) commends the men and women of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including Border Patrol personnel, Office of Field Operations personnel, Air and Marine Operations personnel, Office of Trade personnel, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and all support personnel and allies of such agencies from State and local governments for the work of such men and women during the crisis at the Southern border. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres156is/xml/BILLS-117sres156is.xml |
117-sres-157 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 157 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 15, 2021 Mr. Braun (for himself and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the 50th anniversary of hiring Robert Montgomery Bobby Knight as the Head Coach of the men’s basketball team at Indiana University.
Whereas Coach Bobby Knight had a legendary career as a college basketball head coach for more than 40 years, 29 of which were with Indiana University, starting on March 27, 1971; Whereas the success of Coach Knight has led to his induction into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the NCAA ) Hall of Fame and the Indiana University Hoosier Basketball Hall of Fame; Whereas Coach Knight— (1) earned an NCAA National Championship as a player at The Ohio State University in 1960; (2) won 3 NCAA National Championships as the Head Coach of the men's basketball team at Indiana University in 1976, 1981, and 1987; and (3) won a National Invitational Tournament championship as the Head Coach of the men's basketball team at Indiana University in 1979; Whereas, during his 29 years at Indiana University, Coach Knight— (1) coached 11 Big Ten Conference Championship teams; (2) took 24 teams to the NCAA tournament; and (3) earned 8 Big Ten Coach of the Year awards and 4 national coach of the year awards; Whereas the 1975–76 men’s basketball team at Indiana University, which was coached by Coach Knight, is the last team to complete the entire regular season and NCAA tournament without a single loss; Whereas Coach Knight coached the United States men's national basketball team to a gold medal in the 1979 Pan American Games and to a gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games; Whereas Coach Knight had an 80 percent graduation rate for his players, with an astounding 98 percent graduation rate for all players who he coached for at least 4 years, more than twice the average graduation rates for other Division I schools; Whereas, even after 40 years as a head coach, none of the teams coached by Coach Knight were ever cited for a recruiting or academic violation while competing at the highest levels of the sport; Whereas Coach Knight attained 902 wins during his overall head coaching career at the United States Military Academy, Indiana University, and Texas Tech University, by perfecting— (1) the motion offense, which emphasized discipline, teamwork, selflessness, and perimeter passing to control the game and increase the percentage of successful shots; and (2) smothering man-to-man defense; Whereas Coach Knight had a reputation as a passionate player and coach, a man who never accepted defeat, who pushed himself and his teams to achieve, and created a persona in line with the great Vince Lombardi and Woody Hayes; Whereas Coach Knight never focused his coaching on winning a game, but on the effort it took to become a champion, saying The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare ; and Whereas Coach Knight earned the NCAA Naismith Award for Men's Outstanding Contribution to Basketball in 2007: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) Coach Robert Montgomery Bobby Knight set the standard for excellence as a collegiate men's basketball coach at Indiana University; (2) the success of Coach Knight was in turn the success of the entire Indiana University system and a source of continuing pride for the entire State of Indiana; (3) we honor the drive, determination, and character of Coach Knight and all that Coach Knight did in educating and mentoring hundreds of Indiana University players over 3 decades; (4) few can ever achieve greatness, but Coach Knight has propelled young men to touch greatness for at least a moment, giving them experiences and lessons that have shaped their entire lives; and (5) for all the memories, Coach Knight, we give you a heartfelt thank you. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres157ats/xml/BILLS-117sres157ats.xml |
117-sres-158 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 158 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 15, 2021 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Burr ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
Whereas public safety telecommunications professionals play a critical role in emergency response; Whereas the work that public safety telecommunications professionals perform goes far beyond simply relaying information between the public and first responders; Whereas, when responding to reports of missing, abducted, and sexually exploited children, the information obtained and actions taken by public safety telecommunications professionals form the foundation for an effective response; Whereas, when a hostage taker or suicidal individual calls 911, the first contact that individual has is with a public safety telecommunications professional, whose negotiation skills can prevent the situation from worsening; Whereas, during crises, public safety telecommunications professionals, while collecting vital information to provide situational awareness for responding officers— (1) coach callers through first aid techniques; and (2) give advice to those callers to prevent further harm; Whereas the work done by individuals who serve as public safety telecommunications professionals has an extreme emotional and physical toll on those individuals, which is compounded by long hours and the around-the-clock nature of the job; Whereas public safety telecommunications professionals should be recognized by all levels of government for the lifesaving and protective nature of their work; Whereas major emergencies, including natural disasters and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic, highlight the dedication of public safety telecommunications professionals and their important work in protecting the public and police, fire, and emergency medical officials; and Whereas public safety telecommunications professionals are often called as witnesses to provide important testimony in criminal trials: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week; (2) honors and recognizes the important and lifesaving contributions of public safety telecommunications professionals in the United States; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to remember the value of the work performed by public safety telecommunications professionals. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres158is/xml/BILLS-117sres158is.xml |
117-sres-159 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 159 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 15, 2021 Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Daines , Mr. Markey , Mr. Rubio , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Reed , Mr. Portman , Mr. Manchin , Ms. Collins , Ms. Smith , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Warner , Mr. Cotton , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Burr , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Hoeven , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Blunt , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Tillis , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Cassidy , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Boozman , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Coons , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Bennet , Ms. Hassan , Ms. Klobuchar , Ms. Lummis , Mr. Braun , Mr. Young , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Graham , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Carper , Mr. Marshall , and Mr. Tester ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating the week of April 17, 2021, through April 25, 2021, as National Park Week .
Whereas, on March 1, 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park as the first national park for the enjoyment of the people of the United States; Whereas, on August 25, 1916, Congress established the National Park Service with the mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of current and future generations; Whereas the National Park Service continues to protect and manage the majestic landscapes, hallowed battlefields, and iconic cultural and historical sites of the United States; Whereas the units of the National Park System can be found in every State and many territories of the United States and many of the units embody the rich natural and cultural heritage of the United States, reflect a unique national story through people and places, and offer countless opportunities for recreation, volunteerism, cultural exchange, education, civic engagement, and exploration; Whereas visits and visitors to the national parks of the United States are important economic drivers for the economy, responsible for $21,000,000,000 in spending in 2019; Whereas the dedicated employees of the National Park Service carry out their mission to protect the units of the national parks system of the United States so that the vibrant culture, diverse wildlife, and priceless resources of these unique places will endure for perpetuity; and Whereas the people of the United States have inherited the remarkable legacy of the National Park System and are entrusted with the preservation of the National Park System throughout its second century: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates the week of April 17, 2021, through April 25, 2021, as National Park Week ; and (2) encourages the people of the United States and the world to responsibly visit, experience, and support the treasured national parks of the United States while protecting public health during the coronavirus pandemic. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres159ats/xml/BILLS-117sres159ats.xml |
117-sres-160 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 160 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 15, 2021 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Padilla ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commending and congratulating the Stanford University Cardinal women’s basketball team on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's basketball championship.
Whereas, on April 4, 2021, the Stanford University Cardinal women's basketball team won the third National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the NCAA ) Division I women’s basketball championship (referred to in this preamble as the national championship ) in school history by defeating the University of Arizona Wildcats by a score of 54 to 53, completing the season with an overall record of 31-2; Whereas head coach Tara VanDerveer has led the Cardinal to 3 national championship titles during her tenure at Stanford University, as well as 13 NCAA Final Four appearances, 23 Pac-12 regular-season titles, 14 Pac-12 Tournament crowns, and 32 trips to the NCAA Tournament; Whereas senior guard Kiana Williams— (1) led the Cardinal in scoring throughout the regular season with 14 points per game; and (2) was named Most Outstanding Player of the Pac-12 Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, scoring 26 points in the tournament title game; Whereas sophomore guard Haley Jones, named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, showed tenacity and leadership on the journey to the national championship, including by— (1) making a last-minute shot to defeat the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the semi-final game; and (2) scoring 17 points in the national championship game to defeat the University of Arizona Wildcats; Whereas all of the following players should be congratulated for their dedication, teamwork, and display of impressive athletic talent: Francesca Belibi, Cameron Brink, Jenna Brown, Agnes Emma-Nnopu, Lacie Hull, Lexie Hull, Alyssa Jerome, Haley Jones, Hannah Jump, Ashten Prechtel, Jana Van Gytenbeek, Kiana Williams, and Anna Wilson; Whereas behind the players is a team of staff, without whom the players could not have been successful; Whereas the Cardinal displayed confidence and poise, surviving 2 last-second shots to defeat the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and the University of Arizona Wildcats to win the 2021 national championship; Whereas the members of the 2020-2021 Stanford University Cardinal women’s basketball team have continuously pursued excellence in both athletics and academics; Whereas the Cardinal resiliently withstood immense challenges presented by the COVID–19 pandemic, including extended changes to housing and playing accommodations, to post an impressive season of 31 wins and only 2 losses and championship titles in both the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament and the Pac-12 regular season; Whereas the accomplishments of the Cardinal in their 2020-2021 season highlight the persistence, skill, and sportsmanship of the Cardinal; and Whereas the Cardinal represent their loyal fans, current students, and alumni with heart and a commitment to excellence: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commends and congratulates the Stanford University Cardinal on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s basketball championship and completing a successful 2020-2021 season; (2) recognizes the achievements of all players, coaches, and staff who contributed to the success of the Cardinal during the 2020-2021 season; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne; (B) Stanford University Director of Athletics Bernard Muir; and (C) Stanford University women's basketball team head coach Tara VanDerveer. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres160ats/xml/BILLS-117sres160ats.xml |
117-sres-161 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 161 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 15, 2021 Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Cruz , and Mr. Paul ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commending and congratulating the Baylor University Men’s Basketball Team on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s basketball championship.
Whereas, on April 5, 2021, the men’s basketball team of Baylor University won its first National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s basketball championship (referred to in this preamble as the “national championship”) by defeating Gonzaga University by a score of 86–70 and completing the season with an impressive overall record of 28–2; Whereas Head Coach Scott Drew fulfilled a promise he pledged to Baylor fans when he first came to Baylor University in 2003 that he would help lead the Bears to a national championship; Whereas junior guard Jared Butler, named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, exhibited impressive skill and exemplary leadership by leading the Bears through the NCAA Tournament, to the Final Four, and ultimately the national championship; Whereas all of the following players should be congratulated for their teamwork, dedication, and display of impressive athletic talent: Flo Thamba, LJ Cryer, Jordan Turner, Adam Flagler, Mark Vital, Jared Butler, Jackson Moffatt, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Matthew Mayer, MaCio Teague, Zach Loveday, Mark Peterson, Dain Dainja, and Davion Mitchell; Whereas the Baylor Bears displayed impressive skill and poise facing off against the Bulldogs of Gonzaga University, who had beaten the Bears in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the 2018–2019 season; Whereas the men of Baylor University’s 2020–2021 men’s basketball team have continuously pursued excellence not only in athletics, but in academics as well, with multiple student-athletes earning spots on the first and second Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Teams; Whereas the men’s basketball team of Baylor University has embodied fortitude and perseverance throughout this season, overcoming interruptions in play, cancelled games, and other hurdles testing their resolve; Whereas the accomplishments of the Baylor University men’s basketball team’s 2020–2021 season inspire strength, unity, and cooperation in the hearts of Texans from all walks of life across the Lone Star State; and Whereas the Baylor Bears are the pride of their loyal fans, current students, alumni, and the State of Texas: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate congratulates the Bears of Baylor University on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s basketball championship and completing a successful 2020–2021 season. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres161ats/xml/BILLS-117sres161ats.xml |
117-sres-162 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 162 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 15, 2021 Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Cramer ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating April 14, 2021, as National Assistive Technology Awareness Day .
Whereas assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities and older adults; Whereas the term assistive technology service means any service that directly assists an individual with a disability or an older adult in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device; Whereas, in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1 in 4 individuals in the United States, or almost 61,000,000 individuals, has a disability; Whereas, in 2019, the Department of Education reported that there were more than 7,100,000 children with disabilities; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, among adults 65 years of age and older, 2 in 5 have a disability; Whereas assistive technology allows individuals with disabilities and older adults to be included in their communities and in inclusive classrooms and workplaces; Whereas assistive technology devices and services are necessities, not luxury items, for millions of individuals with disabilities and older adults, without which they would be unable to live in their communities, access education, or obtain, retain, and advance gainful, competitive, integrated employment; Whereas the availability of assistive technology in the workplace promotes economic self-sufficiency, enhances work participation, and is critical to the employment of individuals with disabilities and older adults; and Whereas State assistive technology programs support a continuum of services that include— (1) the exchange, repair, recycling, and other reutilization of assistive technology devices; (2) device loan programs that provide short-term loans of assistive technology devices to individuals, employers, public agencies, and others; (3) the demonstration of devices to inform decision making; and (4) State financing to help individuals purchase or obtain assistive technology through a variety of initiatives, such as financial loan programs, leasing programs, and other financing alternatives, that give individuals affordable, flexible options to purchase or obtain assistive technology: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates April 14, 2021, as National Assistive Technology Awareness Day ; and (2) commends— (A) assistive technology specialists and program coordinators for their hard work and dedication to serving individuals with disabilities who are in need of finding the proper assistive technology to meet their individual needs; and (B) professional organizations and researchers dedicated to facilitating the access and acquisition of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities and older adults in need of assistive technology devices. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres162ats/xml/BILLS-117sres162ats.xml |
117-sres-163 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 163 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 15, 2021 Mr. Hagerty (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Relating to the death of the Honorable William Bill Emerson Brock III, former United States Senator for the State of Tennessee.
Whereas William Bill Emerson Brock III (referred to in this preamble as Bill Brock ) was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Whereas Bill Brock began his lifetime of service as a member of the Armed Forces, serving in the Navy from 1953 to 1956; Whereas Bill Brock was a Tennessean who honorably served the State of Tennessee and the United States for more than 50 years; Whereas Bill Brock served 4 terms in the United States House of Representatives, to which he was first elected in 1962; Whereas Bill Brock served with honor and distinction during his 1 term in the United States Senate, to which he was elected in 1971; Whereas Bill Brock served as United States Trade Representative from 1981 to 1985 and as United States Secretary of Labor from 1985 to 1987; Whereas Bill Brock contributed greatly to the Era of Cooperation in Congress between 1971 and 1977, during which major reform was accomplished, including passage of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act ) ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.), all of which passed without opposition votes in the Senate; Whereas Bill Brock was a force in the Republican Party, both nationally, serving as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1977 to 1981, and in the State of Tennessee; Whereas Bill Brock laid the foundation for a long lineage of Republican Members of Congress from Tennessee; and Whereas Bill Brock served the State of Tennessee proudly and left a legacy of exceptional service to those who elected him: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable William Bill Emerson Brock III, former Member of the United States Senate from the State of Tennessee; and (2) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate— (A) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and (B) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable William Bill Emerson Brock III. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres163ats/xml/BILLS-117sres163ats.xml |
117-sres-164 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 164 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 19, 2021 Mr. Daines (for himself, Mr. Lankford , and Mr. Rubio ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the number of justices of the Supreme Court of the United States should remain at 9.
Whereas the first section of the Act entitled An Act to amend the Judicial System of the United States , approved April 10, 1869 (commonly known as the Judiciary Act of 1869 ) (16 Stat. 44; chapter 22), states that the Supreme Court of the United States shall hereafter consist of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices ; Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States has consisted of a Chief Justice and 8 associate Justices for 152 years; Whereas previous attempts to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court of the United States have been rejected and widely condemned by individuals of both political parties; Whereas, in 1937, when former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, a bill that sought to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court of the United States from 9 justices to 15 Justices, he was harshly criticized by both parties and his own Vice President, John Nance Garner; Whereas, the 1937 Senate Judiciary Committee report, in response to the Court-packing plan by President Roosevelt, decried the plan as a needless, futile, and utterly dangerous abandonment of constitutional principle , that [i]ts ultimate operation would be to make this government one of men rather than one of law and that it was a measure, which should be so emphatically rejected that its parallel will never again be presented to the free representatives of the free people of America ; Whereas, during the Trump Administration, Democrats have refused to recognize the legitimacy of nominations made by President Trump to the Supreme Court of the United States and have advocated for packing the Court with additional justices appointed by a future Democrat president; Whereas, in 1983 during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, then-Senator Joe Biden noted that Court packing was a bonehead idea and a terrible, terrible mistake that put in question for an entire decade the independence of the most significant body—including the Congress, in my view—the most significant body in this country, the Supreme Court of the United States of America ; Whereas, in 2005 during a speech on the Senate floor, then-Senator Joe Biden praised members of the Democrat Party for their act of courage in opposing the Court-packing plan of President Roosevelt, which he described as a power grab ; Whereas, in 2019, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stated, I think it was a bad idea when President Franklin Roosevelt tried to pack the Court , and that if anything would make the Court look partisan, it would be that ; Whereas, in 2021, Justice Stephen Breyer urged supporters of court packing to “think long and hard” about undermining the independence of the court, noting that it is imperative the public trust that the court is guided by legal principle, not politics and that structural alteration motivated by the perception of political influence can only feed that latter perception, further eroding that trust ; Whereas the Constitution of the United States is based on the principle of separation of powers to provide for checks and balances on each branch of the Federal Government and expanding the Supreme Court of the United States purely for political advantage threatens the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances established in the Constitution of the United States; Whereas the Federal judiciary is insulated from political influence through lifetime appointments and other measures to preserve its independence and an attempt to expand the Supreme Court of the United States purely for political purposes threatens the independence and integrity of the Supreme Court and, thus, the entirety of the judiciary it oversees; and Whereas any attempt to increase the number of justices of the Supreme Court of the United States or pack the Court would undermine the democratic institutions and destroy the credibility of the highest court in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate opposes any attempt to increase the number of justices of the Supreme Court of the United States or otherwise pack the Court. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres164is/xml/BILLS-117sres164is.xml |
117-sres-165 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 165 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 20, 2021 Mr. Peters (for himself and Ms. Stabenow ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to provide evidence or to release United States citizen Paul Whelan.
Whereas United States citizen Paul Whelan is a resident of Novi, Michigan, and a United States Marine Corps veteran; Whereas Paul Whelan traveled to Moscow for the wedding of a personal friend on December 22, 2018; Whereas Russia's Federal Security Service arrested Paul Whelan at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow on December 28, 2018, and charged him with espionage; Whereas the Federal Security Service has never provided any evidence of supposed wrongdoing; Whereas Paul Whelan was imprisoned in Lefortovo Prison and was held there for more than 19 months after his arrest in pre-trial detention; Whereas the Federal Security Service has not provided any evidence of supposed wrongdoing; Whereas a Moscow court extended Paul Whelan's pre-trial detention multiple times without publicly presenting justification or evidence of wrongdoing; Whereas even Paul Whelan's Federal Security Service-appointed lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said on May 24, 2019, [The Federal Security Service] always roll[s] out what they have, but in this case, we've seen nothing concrete against Whelan in five months. That means there is nothing. ; Whereas the then United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Jon Huntsman, responded on April 12, 2019, to a question about the detention of Paul Whelan, If the Russians have evidence, they should bring it forward. We have seen nothing. If there was a case, I think the evidence would have been brought forward by now. ; Whereas then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 14, 2019, and urged him to ensure United States citizens are not unjustly held abroad; Whereas the Kremlin has refused Paul Whelan full access to his lawyer and the so-called evidence against him, and any evidence he has seen is in Russian, a language Paul does not read or speak; Whereas Lefortovo pre-trial detention facility and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to provide medical treatment for Paul Whelan's medical condition, despite being aware of its worsening state, resulting in emergency surgery on May 29, 2020; Whereas Paul Whelan was wrongfully convicted on June 15, 2020, and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian labor camp by a three-judge panel, in a trial witnessed by United States Ambassador John Sullivan, who referred to it as a mockery of justice due to the denial of a fair trial and the exclusion of defense witnesses; Whereas, in August 2020, on an unknown day because he was moved secretly, Paul Whelan was transferred to camp IK–17, a penal labor camp in Mordovia, where he is forced to work 6 days a week in a garment factory; Whereas Ambassador John Sullivan, while visiting Paul Whelan at the labor camp in Mordovia, stated that Russian authorities … have never shown the world evidence of his guilt, and reiterated his call that the Russian authorities correct this injustice and release Mr. Whelan; and Whereas Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on February 4, 2021, and urged him to release Americans detained in Russia, including Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed, so that they are able to return home to their families in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) implores the Government of the Russian Federation present credible evidence on the allegations against Paul Whelan or immediately release him from imprisonment; (2) implores the Government of the Russian Federation comply with its international treaty obligations and provide unrestricted consular access to Paul Whelan while he remains imprisoned in Russia; (3) calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to provide Paul Whelan and all other political prisoners their constitutionally afforded due process rights and universally recognized human rights; and (4) expresses sympathy to the family of Paul Whelan for this travesty to justice and personal hardship, and expresses hope that their ordeal can soon be brought to a just end. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres165is/xml/BILLS-117sres165is.xml |
117-sres-166 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 166 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 20, 2021 Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Wyden , Ms. Warren , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Blumenthal , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Murphy , Ms. Hirono , Ms. Klobuchar , and Mr. Booker ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works RESOLUTION Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal.
Whereas the October 2018 report entitled Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 ºC by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the November 2018 Fourth National Climate Assessment report found that— (1) human activity is the dominant cause of observed climate change over the past century; (2) a changing climate is causing sea levels to rise and an increase in wildfires, severe storms, droughts, and other extreme weather events that threaten human life, healthy communities, and critical infrastructure; (3) global warming at or greater than 2 degrees Celsius beyond preindustrialized levels will cause— (A) mass migration from the regions most affected by climate change; (B) more than $500,000,000,000 in lost annual economic output in the United States by the year 2100; (C) wildfires that, by 2050, will annually burn at least twice as much forest area in the western United States than was typically burned by wildfires in the years preceding 2019; (D) a loss of more than 99 percent of all coral reefs on Earth; (E) more than 350,000,000 more people to be exposed globally to deadly heat stress by 2050; and (F) a risk of damage to $1,000,000,000,000 of public infrastructure and coastal real estate in the United States; and (4) global temperatures must be kept less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrialized levels to avoid the most severe impacts of a changing climate, which will require— (A) global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from human sources of 40 to 60 percent from 2010 levels by 2030; and (B) net-zero global emissions by 2050; Whereas, because the United States has historically been responsible for a disproportionate amount of greenhouse gas emissions, having emitted 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions through 2014, and has a high technological capacity, the United States must take a leading role in reducing emissions through economic transformation; Whereas the United States is currently experiencing several related crises, with— (1) life expectancy declining while basic needs, such as clean air, clean water, healthy food, and adequate health care, housing, transportation, and education, are inaccessible to a significant portion of the United States population; (2) a 4-decade trend of wage stagnation, deindustrialization, and antilabor policies that has led to— (A) hourly wages overall stagnating since the 1970s despite increased worker productivity; (B) the third-worst level of socioeconomic mobility in the developed world before the Great Recession; (C) the erosion of the earning and bargaining power of workers in the United States; and (D) inadequate resources for public sector workers to confront the challenges of climate change at the Federal, State, and local level; and (3) the greatest income inequality since the 1920s, with— (A) the top 1 percent of earners accruing 91 percent of gains in the first few years of economic recovery after the Great Recession; (B) a large racial wealth divide amounting to a difference of 20 times more wealth between the average White family and the average Black family; and (C) a gender earnings gap that results in women earning approximately 80 percent as much as men, at the median; Whereas climate change, pollution, and environmental destruction have exacerbated systemic racial, regional, social, environmental, and economic injustices (referred to in this preamble as systemic injustices ) by disproportionately affecting indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth (referred to in this preamble as frontline and vulnerable communities ); Whereas, climate change constitutes a direct threat to the national security of the United States— (1) by impacting the economic, environmental, and social stability of countries and communities around the world; and (2) by acting as a threat multiplier; Whereas the Federal Government-led mobilizations during World War II and the New Deal created the greatest middle class that the United States has ever seen, but many members of frontline and vulnerable communities were excluded from many of the economic and societal benefits of those mobilizations; and Whereas the Senate recognizes that a new national, social, industrial, and economic mobilization on a scale not seen since World War II and the New Deal era is a historic opportunity— (1) to create millions of good, high-wage jobs in the United States; (2) to provide unprecedented levels of prosperity and economic security for all people of the United States; and (3) to counteract systemic injustices: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) it is the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal— (A) to achieve the greenhouse gas and toxic emissions reductions needed to stay under 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers; (B) to create millions of good, high-wage union jobs and encourage collective bargaining agreements to ensure prosperity and economic security for all people of the United States; (C) to invest in the infrastructure and industry of the United States to sustainably meet the challenges of the 21st century; (D) to secure for all people of the United States for generations to come— (i) clean air and water; (ii) climate and community resiliency; (iii) healthy food; (iv) access to nature; and (v) a sustainable environment; and (E) to promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth (referred to in this resolution as frontline and vulnerable communities ); (2) the goals described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1) (referred to in this resolution as the Green New Deal goals ) should be accomplished through a 10-year national mobilization (referred to in this resolution as the Green New Deal mobilization ) that will require— (A) building resiliency against climate change-related disasters, such as extreme weather, including by leveraging funding and providing investments for community-defined projects and strategies; (B) repairing and upgrading the infrastructure in the United States, including— (i) by eliminating pollution and greenhouse gas emissions as much as technologically feasible; (ii) by guaranteeing universal access to clean water; (iii) by reducing the risks posed by climate impacts; and (iv) by ensuring that any infrastructure bill considered by Congress addresses climate change; (C) meeting 100 percent of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources, including— (i) by dramatically expanding and upgrading renewable power sources; and (ii) by deploying new capacity; (D) building or upgrading to energy-efficient, distributed, and smart power grids and ensuring affordable access to electricity; (E) upgrading all existing buildings in the United States and building new buildings to achieve maximum energy efficiency, water efficiency, safety, affordability, comfort, and durability, including through electrification; (F) spurring massive growth in clean manufacturing in the United States and removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and industry as much as is technologically feasible, including by expanding renewable energy manufacturing and investing in existing manufacturing and industry; (G) working collaboratively with farmers and ranchers in the United States to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible, including— (i) by supporting family farming; (ii) by investing in sustainable farming and land use practices that increase soil health; and (iii) by building a more sustainable food system that ensures universal access to healthy food; (H) overhauling transportation systems in the United States to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as much as is technologically feasible, including through investment in— (i) zero-emission vehicle and non-motorized alternative modes of transportation infrastructure and manufacturing; (ii) clean, affordable, and accessible public transit; and (iii) high-speed rail; (I) mitigating and managing the long-term adverse health, economic, and other effects of pollution and climate change, including by providing funding for community-defined projects and strategies; (J) removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and reducing pollution by restoring natural ecosystems through proven low-tech solutions that increase soil carbon storage, such as land preservation and afforestation; (K) restoring and protecting threatened, endangered, and fragile ecosystems through locally appropriate and science-based projects that enhance biodiversity and support climate resiliency; (L) cleaning up existing hazardous waste sites and abandoned sites and ensuring economic development and sustainability on those sites; (M) identifying other emission and pollution sources and creating solutions to remove them; and (N) promoting the international exchange of technology, expertise, products, funding, and services, with the aim of making the United States the international leader on climate action and to help other countries achieve a Green New Deal; (3) a Green New Deal must be developed through transparent and inclusive consultation, collaboration, and partnership with frontline and vulnerable communities, labor organizations, worker cooperatives, civil society groups, academia, and businesses; and (4) to achieve the Green New Deal goals and mobilization, a Green New Deal will require— (A) providing and leveraging, in a way that ensures that the public receives appropriate ownership stakes and returns on investment, adequate capital (including through community grants, public banks, and other public financing), technical expertise, supporting policies, and other forms of assistance to communities, organizations, Federal, State, and local government agencies, and businesses working on the Green New Deal mobilization; (B) ensuring that the Federal Government takes into account the complete environmental and social costs and impacts of emissions through— (i) existing laws; (ii) new policies and programs; and (iii) ensuring that frontline and vulnerable communities shall not be adversely affected; (C) providing resources, training, and high-quality education, including higher education, to all people of the United States, with a focus on frontline and vulnerable communities, so that all people of the United States may be full and equal participants in the Green New Deal mobilization; (D) making public investments in the research and development of new clean and renewable energy technologies and industries; (E) directing investments to spur economic development, deepen and diversify industry and business in local and regional economies, and build wealth and community ownership, while prioritizing high-quality job creation and economic, social, and environmental benefits in frontline and vulnerable communities, and deindustrialized communities, that may otherwise struggle with the transition away from greenhouse gas intensive industries; (F) ensuring the use of democratic and participatory processes that are inclusive of and led by frontline and vulnerable communities and workers to plan, implement, and administer the Green New Deal mobilization at the local level; (G) ensuring that the Green New Deal mobilization creates high-quality union jobs that pay prevailing wages, hires local workers, offers training and advancement opportunities, and guarantees direct replacement of lost wages, health care, retirement, and other benefits for workers affected by the transition; (H) guaranteeing a job with a family-sustaining wage, adequate family and medical leave, paid vacations, and retirement security to all people of the United States; (I) strengthening and protecting the right of all workers to organize, unionize, and collectively bargain free of coercion, intimidation, and harassment; (J) strengthening and enforcing labor, workplace health and safety, antidiscrimination, and wage and hour standards across all employers, industries, and sectors; (K) enacting and enforcing trade rules, procurement standards, and border adjustments with strong labor and environmental protections— (i) to stop the transfer of jobs and pollution overseas; and (ii) to grow domestic manufacturing in the United States; (L) ensuring that public lands, waters, and oceans are protected and that eminent domain is not abused; (M) obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of indigenous peoples for all decisions that affect indigenous peoples and their traditional territories, honoring all treaties and agreements with indigenous peoples, and protecting and enforcing the sovereignty and land rights of indigenous peoples; (N) ensuring a commercial environment where every businessperson is free from unfair competition and domination by domestic or international monopolies; and (O) providing all people of the United States with— (i) high-quality health care; (ii) affordable, safe, and adequate housing; (iii) economic security; and (iv) clean water, clean air, healthy and affordable food, and access to nature. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres166is/xml/BILLS-117sres166is.xml |
117-sres-167 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 167 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 21, 2021 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Tillis , Mr. McConnell , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Booker , Mr. Crapo , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Markey , Mr. Rubio , and Mr. Cornyn ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of Countering International Parental Child Abduction Month and expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should raise awareness of the harm caused by international parental child abduction.
Whereas thousands of children in the United States have been abducted from the United States by parents, separating those children from their parents who remain in the United States; Whereas it is illegal under section 1204 of title 18, United States Code, to remove, or attempt to remove, a child from the United States or to retain a child (who has been in the United States) outside of the United States with the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of parental rights; Whereas 10,836 children were reported abducted from the United States between 2009 and 2019; Whereas, during 2019, 1 or more cases of international parental child abduction involving children who are citizens of the United States were identified in 102 countries around the world; Whereas the United States is a party to the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, done at The Hague, October 25, 1980 (TIAS 11670) (referred to in this preamble as the Hague Convention on Abduction ), which— (1) supports the prompt return of wrongly removed or retained children; and (2) calls for all participating parties to respect parental custody rights; Whereas the majority of children who were abducted from the United States have yet to be reunited with their custodial parents; Whereas, between 2015 and 2019, Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates were identified under the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 ( 22 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.) as engaging in a pattern of noncompliance (as defined in section 3 of such Act ( 22 U.S.C. 9101 )); Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States has recognized that family abduction— (1) is a form of child abuse with potentially devastating consequences for a child , which may include negative impacts on the physical and mental well-being of the child; and (2) may cause a child to experience a loss of community and stability, leading to loneliness, anger, and fear of abandonment ; Whereas, according to the 2010 Report on Compliance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction by the Department of State, an abducted child is at risk of significant short- and long-term problems, including anxiety, eating problems, nightmares, mood swings, sleep disturbances, [and] aggressive behavior ; Whereas international parental child abduction has devastating emotional consequences for the child and for the parent from whom the child is separated; Whereas the United States has a history of promoting child welfare through institutions including— (1) in the Department of Health and Human Services, the Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families; and (2) in the Department of State, the Office of Children’s Issues of the Bureau of Consular Affairs; Whereas the Coalition to End International Parental Child Abduction, through dedicated advocacy and regular testimony, has highlighted the importance of this issue to Congress and called on successive administrations to take concerted action to stop international parental child abduction and repatriate kidnapped United States children; Whereas Congress has signaled a commitment to ending international parental child abduction by enacting— (1) the International Child Abduction Remedies Act ( 22 U.S.C. 9001 et seq.); (2) the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993 ( Public Law 103–173 ), which enacted section 1204 of title 18, United States Code; and (3) the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 ( 22 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.); Whereas the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 543, 112th Congress, agreed to on December 4, 2012, condemning the international abduction of children; Whereas the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 431, 115th Congress, agreed to on April 19, 2018, to raise awareness of, and opposition to, international parental child abduction; Whereas the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 23, 116th Congress, agreed to on April 11, 2019, to raise awareness of the harm caused by international parental child abduction; Whereas Congress calls upon the Department of State to fully utilize the tools available under the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014 ( 22 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.) to negotiate, and make publicly available, bilateral agreements or memorandums of understanding— (1) with countries not party to the Hague Convention on Abduction to resolve abduction and access cases; and (2) regarding open abduction and access cases predating the Hague Convention on Abduction with countries that have thereafter become a party to the Hague Convention on Abduction; Whereas all 50 States and the District of Columbia have enacted laws criminalizing parental kidnapping; Whereas, in 2019, the Prevention Branch of the Office of Children’s Issues of the Department of State— (1) fielded more than 5,400 inquiries from the general public relating to preventing a child from being removed from the United States; and (2) enrolled more than 4,500 children in the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program, which— (A) is one of the most important tools of the Department of State for preventing international parental child abduction; and (B) allows the Office of Children’s Issues to contact the enrolling parent or legal guardian to verify whether the parental consent requirement has been met when a passport application has been submitted for an enrolled child; Whereas the Department of State cannot track the ultimate destination of a child through the use of the passport issued by the Department of State if the child is transported to a third country after departing from the United States; Whereas a child who is a citizen of the United States may have another nationality and may travel using a passport issued by another country, which— (1) increases the difficulty of determining the whereabouts of the child; and (2) makes efforts to prevent abduction more critical; Whereas, during 2019, 220 children were returned to the United States, and an additional 118 cases were resolved in other ways; and Whereas, in 2019, the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Prevention Branch of the Office of Children’s Issues of the Department of State, enrolled 363 children in the Prevent Abduction Program, which is aimed at preventing international parental child abduction through coordination with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers at the airport, seaport, or land border ports of entry (POE) on intercepting the child before departure: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes and observes Countering International Parental Child Abduction Month during the period beginning on April 1, 2021, and ending on April 30, 2021, to raise awareness of, and opposition to, international parental child abduction; and (2) urges the United States to continue playing a leadership role in raising awareness about the devastating impacts of international parental child abduction by educating the public about the negative emotional, psychological, and physical consequences to children and parents victimized by international parental child abduction. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres167is/xml/BILLS-117sres167is.xml |
117-sres-168 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 168 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 21, 2021 Mr. Blunt (for himself and Mr. Hawley ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men’s basketball team on winning the 2021 NCAA Men’s Division II National Championship.
Whereas, on March 27, 2021, the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men's basketball team (in this preamble referred to as the Bearcats ) clinched their third National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II National Championship in 5 years in a landslide 80–54 victory over the West Texas A&M University Buffaloes; Whereas the Bearcats should be proud of their University’s storied history dating back to the inception of the school in 1905; Whereas the Bearcats should be commended for their success and perseverance throughout the 2020–2021 season despite uncertainty during the coronavirus outbreak; Whereas the Bearcats' victory marked the men’s basketball team’s second consecutive national championship, cementing the Bearcats’ place atop NCAA Division II men’s basketball; Whereas the West Texas A&M University Buffaloes should also be commended on their efforts and success throughout an unprecedented season during the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas the city of Evansville, Indiana, and the NCAA should be commended for their efforts in providing a safe environment for the student athletes and staff during the championship tournament; Whereas the Bearcats went 3–0 during the championship tournament with an average margin of victory of 26 points; Whereas the Bearcats clinched a first round victory against West Liberty by a score of 98–77; Whereas the Bearcats clinched a second round victory against Flagler by a score of 77–46; Whereas the Bearcats claimed their title as back-to-back national champions by defeating West Texas A&M by a score of 80–54; Whereas Ryan Hawkins should be commended for his role in the Bearcats' national championship victory by scoring a game-high 31 points while securing 18 rebounds; Whereas 3 additional starting members of the Bearcats, Wes Dreamer, Trevor Hudgins, and Luke Waters, each scored in the double digits in the championship game and should be commended for their scoring efforts; Whereas Wes Dreamer and Ryan Hawkins should each be commended for achieving a double-double in the championship game by scoring and rebounding in the double digits; Whereas Ryan Hawkins and Trevor Hudgins should be celebrated for their selection to the Elite Eight All-Tournament Team; Whereas Ryan Hawkins should further be recognized for being named as the Elite Eight’s Most Outstanding Player; Whereas the entire Bearcats roster should be commended for their 50 percent field goal percentage and 47 percent 3-point shooting; Whereas the entire Bearcats roster contributed to the national championship victory, including Spencer Schomers, Diego Bernard, Jaran Richman, Isaiah Jackson, Wes Dreamer, Byron Alexander, Trevor Hudgins, Mitch Mascari, Daric Laing, Ryan Hawkins, Christian Stanislav, Luke Waters, and Daniel Abreu; Whereas the entire Bearcats coaching staff contributed to the national championship victory, including Ben McCollum, Zach Schneider, Xavier Kurth, Dray Starzl, Nick Peters, Justin Dickerson, Sam Hawley, and Landon Graver; and Whereas the Bearcats back-to-back national championships provide a sense of excitement and pride to the City of Maryville and Bearcat nation across Missouri: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats men's basketball team and the entire University, Mayor of Maryville Benjamin Lipiec, University President Dr. John Jasinski, Governor Mike Parson, and fans of the Bearcats on their national championship; and (2) respectfully directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the President of Northwest Missouri State University; (B) head coach Ben McCollum; and (C) Mayor Benjamin Lipiec. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres168ats/xml/BILLS-117sres168ats.xml |
117-sres-169 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 169 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 21, 2021 Mr. Braun (for himself and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the life and legacy of William Robert Bobby Slick Leonard.
Whereas William Robert Bobby Slick Leonard was born on July 17, 1932, in Terre Haute, Indiana; Whereas Mr. Leonard was a stand-out basketball player while attending Gerstmeyer Technical High School in Terre Haute, Indiana; Whereas Mr. Leonard went on to play basketball for the Indiana University Hoosiers men's basketball team (referred to in this preamble as the Hoosiers ) in Bloomington, where he— (1) helped lead the Hoosiers to 2 Big Ten titles in 1953 and 1954; and (2) hit the game winning free throw in the championship game to clinch the 1953 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's basketball championship title for the Hoosiers; Whereas Mr. Leonard was named a third-team All-American in 1953 and a second-team All-American in 1952; Whereas, in 1952, Mr. Leonard was named the Most Valuable Player of the Hoosiers; Whereas Mr. Leonard was captain of the Hoosiers during the 1953-1954 season; Whereas Mr. Leonard served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956; Whereas Mr. Leonard was selected by the Baltimore Bullets with the first pick of the second round, the tenth overall pick, of the 1954 National Basketball Association (referred to in this preamble as the NBA ) draft; Whereas, after being drafted in 1954, Mr. Leonard went on to play 7 years of professional basketball in the NBA, 5 years for the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers and 2 years for the Chicago Packers, who were renamed the Zephyrs in 1962; Whereas Mr. Leonard led the NBA in games played (72) during the 1956-57 season, and finished sixth in the NBA in assists per game (5.4) during the 1961-62 season; Whereas Mr. Leonard was named an NBA All-Star in 1963; Whereas Mr. Leonard coached the Chicago Zephyrs and Baltimore Bullets from 1962 to 1964; Whereas Mr. Leonard became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers, who were then part of the American Basketball Association (referred to in this preamble as the ABA ), in 1968, holding the position for nearly 12 years, the last 4 years of which the franchise was in the NBA; Whereas Mr. Leonard led the Pacers to ABA championships in the 1969-70, 1971-72, and 1972-73 seasons, in addition to 2 other championship appearances, all prior to the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976; Whereas Mr. Leonard had a total of 529 wins as head coach of the Pacers; Whereas, as a head coach in the ABA, Mr. Leonard— (1) won 69 playoff games, a league record; and (2) was the winningest coach in the history of the league; Whereas, when the State known as the basketball capital of the world was close to losing the Indiana Pacers due to financial problems, Mr. Leonard and his wife Nancy held a telethon and, through small contributions from fans, were able to raise the funds to save the team and keep the Pacers in Indiana; Whereas Mr. Leonard was selected as the greatest coach in the history of the ABA; Whereas Mr. Leonard returned to the Pacers in 1985 as a color commentator, first for television and then on radio with Mark Boyle; Whereas the trademark phrase of Mr. Leonard was Boom, Baby! , which— (1) Mr. Leonard said when a member of the Pacers made a 3-point shot; and (2) inspired the hearts of basketball fans in the Hoosier State and across the United States; Whereas, in 1982, Mr. Leonard became the first individual to be inducted into the Indiana University Sports Hall of Fame; Whereas Mr. Leonard was also inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the Indiana Sports Writers and Broadcasters Hall of Fame; Whereas, in 2014, Mr. Leonard was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach; Whereas, on April 13, 2021, Mr. Leonard passed away at the age of 88; Whereas Pacers fans will remember Mr. Leonard as— (1) the spirit of the Pacers franchise , as aptly put by Herb Simon, the owner of the Pacers; and (2) the embodiment of basketball and an Indiana icon , as aptly put by Eric Holcomb, the Governor of Indiana; and Whereas Mr. Leonard is survived by his wife, their 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors the life and legacy of William Robert Bobby Slick Leonard, including the dedication of Mr. Leonard— (A) to the game of basketball, including the promotion of the game across the United States; and (B) in particular, to the game of basketball, the players, and the fans in the Hoosier State; (2) recognizes— (A) the historical, economical, and cultural significance and impact Mr. Leonard had on the City of Indianapolis (referred to in this resolution as the City ) and the State of Indiana (referred to in this resolution as the State ); (B) that without the dedication and contributions to sports and entertainment throughout the City and the State that Mr. Leonard and his wife were able to give, the City nor State would not have such a wonderful reputation or ability to attract the largest sporting events in the world, including— (i) the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament and Final Four; (ii) the National Basketball Association All-Star Game; and (iii) the Super Bowl; and (3) shows gratitude and thankfulness— (A) to the lifetime of sporting memories Mr. Leonard helped provide to the City and the State; and (B) to the impact Mr. Leonard had on the development and growth of the City. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres169ats/xml/BILLS-117sres169ats.xml |
117-sres-170 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 170 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 21, 2021 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Ms. Smith , Mr. Schumer , Mr. McConnell , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Bennet , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Blunt , Mr. Booker , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Braun , Mr. Brown , Mr. Burr , Ms. Cantwell , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Carper , Mr. Casey , Mr. Cassidy , Ms. Collins , Mr. Coons , Mr. Cornyn , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Daines , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Ernst , Mrs. Feinstein , Mrs. Fischer , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Graham , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Hagerty , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Hickenlooper , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Hoeven , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. King , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Lee , Mr. Luján , Ms. Lummis , Mr. Manchin , Mr. Markey , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Moran , Ms. Murkowski , Mr. Murphy , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Ossoff , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Paul , Mr. Peters , Mr. Portman , Mr. Reed , Mr. Risch , Mr. Romney , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Sasse , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Shelby , Ms. Sinema , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Tester , Mr. Thune , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Toomey , Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Warner , Mr. Warnock , Ms. Warren , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Relating to the death of Walter Frederick Mondale, former Vice President of the United States.
Whereas Walter Fritz Mondale, the late former Vice President of the United States, was born in Ceylon, Minnesota, to Claribel Mondale and the Reverend Theodore S. Mondale; Whereas Walter Mondale, after attending Macalester College, graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and, after serving in the United States Army during the Korean War, obtained his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School; Whereas Walter Mondale married Joan Adams, with whom he raised 2 sons and a daughter; Whereas Walter Mondale was appointed to be Minnesota Attorney General by Governor Orville Freeman in 1960 and was elected to a full term 2 years later; Whereas, while serving as Minnesota Attorney General, Walter Mondale led a group of 22 State attorneys general to submit a brief to the Supreme Court of the United States in support of the right to counsel in the landmark case Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963), which the Supreme Court of the United States decided unanimously; Whereas Minnesota Governor Karl Rolvaag appointed Walter Mondale to the United States Senate, filling the seat left vacant by Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey when he resigned after being elected Vice President of the United States; Whereas, as a United States Senator, Walter Mondale prioritized addressing civil rights, including introducing the Fair Housing Act of 1968 ( Public Law 90–284 ; 82 Stat. 73), landmark legislation protecting individuals from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or sex when they are buying or renting a home, getting a mortgage, or seeking housing assistance, and championing title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ( Public Law 92–318 ; 86 Stat. 235) to provide more educational opportunities for women; Whereas, in the Senate, Walter Mondale was a tireless advocate for children, ranging from his key authorship of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 ( Public Law 93–427 ) and his support for family services to his work to make a college education more affordable; Whereas Walter Mondale was selected by Jimmy Carter to be his running mate and the candidate for vice president and, after winning the 1976 presidential election, was inaugurated as the 42nd Vice President of the United States; Whereas Walter Mondale defined the role of the modern vice presidency as one that serves as the president’s ultimate advisor and governing partner; Whereas Walter Mondale was nominated to be the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1984 and chose Geraldine Ferraro to be his running mate, the first woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket in the country’s history; Whereas Walter Mondale served his country again as Ambassador to Japan and Special Envoy to Indonesia; Whereas, throughout his career, Walter Mondale was a tireless public servant who believed in finding solutions and who, as he once described, worked on the idea that government can be an instrument for social progress ; Whereas central to Walter Mondale’s public service mission was a dedication to mentoring the next generation of leaders, many of whom who serve our country today; Whereas Walter Mondale passed away on April 19, 2021; and Whereas the Nation is indebted to Walter Mondale, a truly distinguished American: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) extends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Walter Mondale; (2) acknowledges Walter Mondale's lifetime of service to the United States as a lawyer, Minnesota Attorney General, United States Senator, Vice President of the United States, United States Ambassador to Japan, Special Envoy to Indonesia, and the first presidential candidate from a major party to select a woman, Geraldine Ferraro, as his running mate; (3) commends Walter Mondale for fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith; and (4) when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Walter Mondale. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres170ats/xml/BILLS-117sres170ats.xml |
117-sres-171 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 171 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. Lankford ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the International Olympic Committee should correct the Olympic records for Jim Thorpe for his unprecedented accomplishments during the 1912 Olympic Games.
Whereas Wa-Tho-Huk or Bright Path , known as James Francis Thorpe or Jim Thorpe of the Thunder Clan of the Sac and Fox Nation, was born May 22, 1887, on the Reservation of the Sac and Fox Nation in Prague, Oklahoma, and died March 28, 1953, in Lomita, California; Whereas Jim Thorpe attended the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania and established his amateur football record playing halfback, defender, punter, and place-kicker while a student and was subsequently chosen as Walter Camp’s First Team All-American Half-Back in 1911 and 1912; Whereas prior to the 1912 Olympic Games, Jim Thorpe placed second in the pentathlon at the Amateur Athletic Union National Championship Trials in Boston, Massachusetts; Whereas Jim Thorpe represented the United States as an enrolled member of the Sac and Fox Nation, the largest of 3 federally recognized Tribes of Sauk and Meskwaki (Fox), in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden; Whereas at the 1912 Olympic Games, he won a Gold Medal in the pentathlon, became the first athlete from the United States to win a gold medal in the decathlon, in which he set a world record, and became the only athlete in Olympic history to win both the pentathlon and the decathlon during the same year; Whereas at the time Jim Thorpe won 2 Gold Medals in the 1912 Olympic Games, and not until 1924 under the Indian Citizenship Act, Native Americans were not recognized as citizens of the United States; Whereas Native Americans were not granted the right to vote in every State until 1957; Whereas Jim Thorpe was a founding father of professional football, playing with the Canton Bulldogs, which was the team recognized as world champion in 1916, 1917, and 1919, the Cleveland Indians, the Oorang Indians, the Rock Island Independent, the New York Giants, and the Chicago Cardinals; Whereas, in 1920, Jim Thorpe was named the first president of the American Professional Football Association, now known as the National Football League; Whereas Jim Thorpe was voted America’s Greatest All- Around Male Athlete and chosen as the greatest football player of the half-century in 1950 by an Associated Press poll of sportswriters; Whereas Jim Thorpe was named the Greatest American Football Player in history in a 1977 national poll conducted by Sport Magazine; Whereas because of his outstanding athletic achievements, Jim Thorpe was the first Native American inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, the Professional Football Hall of Fame, the Helms Professional Football Hall of Fame, the National Native American Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame; Whereas the Amateur Athletic Union of 1973 restored the amateur status of Jim Thorpe for the years 1909 through 1912; Whereas the International Olympic Committee returned duplicates of gold medals won by Jim Thorpe to his family in 1982, but did not list him as the sole gold medal winner for his achievements during the 1912 Olympic Games; and Whereas the failure of the International Olympic Committee to update the records regarding Jim Thorpe disregards the unprecedented achievements of one of the best athletes in the history of the United States, the only athlete in Olympic history to win both the pentathlon and the decathlon during the same year, the first Native American athlete to win Olympic gold medals for the United States, and the contributions of the Sac and Fox Nation in the history of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that the International Olympic Committee, through the president of the Committee, should officially recognize the unprecedented athletic achievements of Jim Thorpe as the sole gold medalist in the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon events and correct these inaccuracies in the official Olympic books. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres171is/xml/BILLS-117sres171is.xml |
117-sres-172 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 172 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Booker , Mr. Padilla , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Warnock , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Markey , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Menendez , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Warner , Mr. Casey , Mr. Bennet , Ms. Warren , Ms. Smith , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Carper , and Mrs. Murray ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Declaring racism a public health crisis.
Whereas, since its founding, the United States has had a longstanding history and legacy of racism, mistreatment, and discrimination against African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and other people of color; Whereas the United States ratified over 350 treaties with sovereign indigenous communities, has broken the promises made in such treaties, and has historically failed to carry out its trust responsibilities to Native Americans, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, as made evident by the chronic and pervasive underfunding of the Indian Health Service and Tribal, Urban Indian, and Native Hawaiian health care, the vast health and socioeconomic disparities faced by Native American people, and the inaccessibility of many Federal public health and social programs in Native American communities; Whereas people of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, who became Americans through conquest, were subject to, but never full members of the polity of the United States and experienced widespread discrimination in employment, housing, education, and health care; Whereas the immoral paradox of slavery and freedom is an indelible wrong traced throughout the history of the United States, as African Americans lived under the oppressive institution of slavery from 1619 through 1865, endured the practices and laws of segregation during the Jim Crow Era, and continue to face the ramifications of systemic racism through unjust and discriminatory structures and policies; Whereas, before the enactment of the Medicare program, the United States health care system was highly segregated, and, as late as the mid-1960s, hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices throughout Northern and Southern States complied with Jim Crow laws and were completely segregated by race—leaving Black communities with little to no access to health care services; Whereas, between 1956 and 1967, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Education Fund litigated a series of court cases to eliminate discrimination in hospitals and professional associations; Whereas the landmark case Simkins v. Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, 323 F.2d 959 (1963), challenged the Federal Government’s use of public funds to expand, support, and sustain segregated hospital care, and provided justification for title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Medicare hospital certification program—establishing Medicare hospital racial integration guidelines that applied to every hospital that participated in the Federal program; Whereas, in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, which concluded that White racism is responsible for the pervasive discrimination and segregation in employment, education, and housing, resulting in deepened racial division and continued exclusion of Black communities from the benefits of economic progress; Whereas language minorities, including Latinos, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders, were not assured non-discriminatory access to federally funded services, including health services, until the signing of Executive Order 13166 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d–1 note; relating to improving access to services for persons with limited English proficiency) in 2000; Whereas the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( Public Law 111–148 ; 124 Stat. 119)— (1) included provisions to expand the Medicaid program and—for the first time in the United States—established a Federal prohibition against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs, building on other Federal civil rights laws; and (2) required reporting to Congress on health disparities based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability; Whereas several Federal programs have been established to address some, but not all, of the health outcomes that are disproportionately experienced by communities of color, including sickle cell disease, tuberculosis, infant mortality, and HIV/AIDS; Whereas the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion works to raise awareness of health disparities faced by minority populations in the United States, including Native Americans, Asian Americans, Black Americans, and Latino Americans, aiming to reduce risk factors for groups affected by such health disparities; Whereas the United States health care system and other economic and social structures remain fraught with racism and racial, ethnic, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and class biases that lead to health inequity and health disparities; Whereas life expectancy rates for Black and Native American people in the United States are significantly lower than those of White people in the United States; Whereas disparities in health outcomes are exacerbated for LGBTQIA+ people of color; Whereas disparities in health outcomes are worsened for people of color with disabilities due to bias and inequitable access to health care; Whereas several States with higher percentages of Black, Latino, and Native American populations have not expanded their Medicaid programs—continuing to disenfranchise minority communities from access to health care to this day; Whereas 16 States have failed to take advantage of the Federal option to expand access to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to lawfully residing immigrant children within the first 5 years of lawful status, and 26 States have failed to do so for similarly situated pregnant women; Whereas, between 2016 and 2018, the child uninsured rate increased from 4.7 percent to 5.5 percent and the Latino child uninsured rate increased from 7.7 percent to 8.1 percent, and children of color are far more likely to be uninsured than White children; Whereas a climate of fear and confusion for immigrant families due to the public charge rule discourages such families from enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program; Whereas Pacific Islanders from the Freely Associated States experience unique health disparities resulting from United States nuclear weapons tests on their home islands, but such people have been categorically denied access to Medicaid and other Federal health benefits; Whereas the United States has historically facilitated outsider status toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as the authorization of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which resulted in profound economic, social, and psychological burdens for the people impacted; Whereas the history and persistence of racist and non-scientific medical beliefs are associated with ongoing racial disparities in treatment and health outcomes; Whereas implicit racial and ethnic biases within the health care system have an impact on the quality of care experienced by communities of color, such as the undertreatment of pain in Black patients; Whereas the historical context of unethical practices and abuses experienced by Black patients and research participants, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, serve as symbols of the Black community’s mistrust of the medical system; Whereas women of color continue to face attacks, documented throughout history, on their prenatal, maternal, and reproductive health and rights; Whereas enslaved Black women were forced to endure egregiously unethical and cruel treatment, as subjects of insidious medical experiments, to advance modern gynecology; Whereas, through the late 1960s and early 1980s, physicians routinely sterilized people of color, performing excessive and medically unnecessary procedures on patients of color without their informed consent; Whereas Black and Native American women are 2 to 4 times more likely than White women to suffer severe maternal morbidity or die of pregnancy-related complications, and implicit racial biases and lower quality care are contributing factors to the health care disparities that lead to these outcomes; Whereas Black and Native American infants are twice as likely to die as White infants, and the Black infant mortality rate in the United States is higher than in 97 countries worldwide; Whereas researchers have developed the analytical framework of weathering to describe how the constant stress of racism leads to poor health outcomes for Black Americans; Whereas the daily experience of racism is associated with stress, depression, and anxiety, and may cause physiological reactivity or contribute to chronic health conditions; Whereas racism is linked to mental health challenges for children and adolescents; Whereas children of color are overrepresented in the United States child welfare system, and up to 80 percent of children in foster care enter State custody with significant mental health challenges; Whereas disparities in educational access and attainment, along with racism experienced in the educational setting, affect the trajectory of academic achievement for children and adolescents, and ultimately impact health and racial inequities in school discipline, which has long-term consequences for children; Whereas racism and segregation in the United States contribute to poor health outcomes by segregating Black, Latino, and Native American communities from opportunity; Whereas, for decades, discriminatory housing practices, such as redlining, systemically excluded people of color from housing, robbing them of capital in the form of low-cost, stable mortgages and opportunities to build wealth, and the Federal Government used its financial power to segregate renters in newly built public housing; Whereas environmental injustices, such as proximity and exposure to toxic waste or hazardous air pollutants, continue to harm the health of communities of color, low-income communities, and Indigenous communities around the United States; Whereas social inequities such as differing access to quality health care, healthy food and safe drinking water, safe neighborhoods, education, job security, and reliable transportation affect health risks and outcomes; Whereas, during the COVID–19 pandemic, the effects of racism and discrimination are seen in COVID–19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates—disproportionately high among Black, Latino, and Native American populations compared to the overall population—exacerbating health disparities and highlighting barriers to care for Black, Latino, and Native American patients across the United States; Whereas discrimination and harassment relating to the COVID–19 pandemic is on the rise, particularly discrimination and harassment directed towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community; Whereas, because of racial and ethnic disparities, people of color are more likely to have pre-existing, preventable, and chronic conditions, which lead to higher COVID–19 morbidity and mortality rates; Whereas people of color are overrepresented in the number of people in the United States living under poor air quality conditions, which can increase the likelihood of COVID–19 morbidity and mortality; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has worsened barriers for Black, Latino, and Native American households that suffer from disproportionately higher rates of food insecurity; Whereas Black and Latino workers make up a disproportionate number of frontline workers, are less likely to receive paid sick leave or have the ability to work from home, and have been excluded from many forms of relief readily available to other groups; Whereas people of color are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems and face a higher risk of contracting COVID–19 within prison populations and detention centers due to the over-incarceration of people of color; Whereas, during the COVID–19 pandemic, an increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in Asian Americans being harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated for the pandemic; Whereas communities of color continue to bear the burdens of inequitable social, economic, and criminal justice policies, practices, and investments that cause deep disparities, hurt, harm, danger, and mistrust; Whereas over 40 percent of Latinos report being discriminated against or harassed because they are Hispanic; Whereas approximately 24 percent of the Latino population in the United States identifies as Afro-Latino and is thus potentially subject to both race and national origin discrimination; Whereas, because of racism, Black people in the United States share a unique set of challenges and experiences that require heightened levels of awareness and risk while performing everyday tasks—such as jogging in neighborhoods, driving while Black, or playing in a park—that are not experienced by other populations; Whereas Black people in the United States are 3 times more likely to be killed by police than White people in the United States, and police violence is the 6th leading cause of death for young Black men; Whereas the police brutality and violence experienced by Black people in the United States adversely impacts mental health among Black communities; Whereas Black communities led the United States in mourning the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, and countless other Black Americans—calling for justice and long-term changes to dismantle systems of oppression; Whereas, throughout the history of the United States, people of color have been at the forefront of civil rights movements for essential freedoms, human rights, and equal protection for marginalized groups and continue to fight for racial and economic justice today; Whereas a public health issue is defined as meeting the following 4 criteria: (1) The condition affects many people, is seen as a threat to the public, and is continuing to increase. (2) The condition is distributed unfairly. (3) Preventive measures could reduce the effects of the condition. (4) Those preventive measures are not yet in place; Whereas racism meets the criteria of a public health crisis, and public health experts agree; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention— (1) declared racism a serious threat to public health; and (2) acknowledged the need for additional research and investments to address this serious issue; Whereas a Federal public health crisis declaration defines racism as a pervasive health issue and alerts the people of the United States to the need to enact immediate and effective cross-governmental efforts to address the root causes of institutional racism and their downstream impacts; and Whereas such declaration requires the response of the Government to engage significant resources to empower those communities that are impacted: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the resolutions drafted, introduced, and adopted by cities and localities across the United States declaring racism a public health crisis; (2) declares racism a public health crisis in the United States; (3) commits to— (A) establishing a nationwide strategy to address health disparities and inequity across all sectors in society; (B) dismantling systemic practices and policies that perpetuate racism; (C) advancing reforms to address years of neglectful and apathetic policies that have led to poor health outcomes for communities of color; and (D) promoting efforts to address the social determinants of health—especially for Black, Latino, and Native American people in the United States, and other people of color; and (4) places a charge on the people of the United States to move forward with urgency to ensure that the United States stands firmly in honoring its moral purpose of advancing the self-evident truths that all people are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres172is/xml/BILLS-117sres172is.xml |
117-sres-173 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 173 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Cruz , and Mr. Rubio ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Commending the actions of Cuban democracy and human rights activist José Daniel Ferrer García and the pro-democracy and human rights group, the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), to uphold fundamental freedoms in Cuba and condemning Cuba’s brutal authoritarian Communist regime.
Whereas José Daniel Ferrer García is a Cuban democracy and human rights activist who has worked tirelessly to ensure fundamental freedoms for the Cuban people; Whereas José Daniel Ferrer García was born in Cuba on July 29, 1970, in Santiago de Cuba and has spent most of his adult life fighting for Cubans to have a voice in the matters of their own country and against Cuba’s brutal authoritarian Communist dictatorship; Whereas Cuba’s authoritarian Communist regime retaliated against José Daniel Ferrer García over decades by repeatedly imprisoning, beating, and torturing him and constantly threatening and harassing his family and members of the pro-democracy and human rights group that he founded, the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU); Whereas, in March 2021, Cuba’s brutal authoritarian Communist regime committed the latest human rights violation against José Daniel Ferrer García and members of UNPACU, as Cuban security forces harassed them, kept them from meeting, and blocked their attempts to distribute aid, food, and medical care to fellow desperate residents of Santiago de Cuba; Whereas, on March 20, 2021, José Daniel Ferrer García and other courageous members of UNPACU began a hunger strike to protest the constant harassment, human rights violations, and the police siege of the headquarters of UNPACU in Santiago de Cuba; Whereas the hunger strike underscored the importance of defending the right of the members of UNPACU to deliver food and medication to a group of approximately 250 residents of Santiago de Cuba as the need for aid, food, medicine, and basic necessities has risen during the global pandemic; and Whereas, on April 10, 2021, José Daniel Ferrer García and several activists from UNPACU ended the hunger strike after 21 days after Cuban security forces lifted the police siege on the headquarters of UNPACU in Santiago de Cuba: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commends the actions of José Daniel Ferrer García and his unyielding resolve to advance democracy and defend freedoms and human rights for the Cuban people; (2) honors the vital contribution and humanitarian efforts of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and all of its members for their tireless work to defend fundamental freedoms and human rights in Cuba; (3) condemns the repression of José Daniel Ferrer García and other brave Cuban activists; (4) condemns Cuba’s brutal authoritarian Communist dictatorship and demands an end to the suffering of the Cuban people and the impunity of the regime's human rights abusers, including Miguel Díaz-Canel and Raúl Castro; (5) calls for the international community to stand with the Cuban people and against Cuba’s authoritarian Communist regime for infringing on the freedom of thought, expression, assembly, association, and prosperity of the Cuban people; and (6) commends the courage of the pro-democracy movement and activists in Cuba for risking everything to bring freedom to the Cuban people. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres173is/xml/BILLS-117sres173is.xml |
117-sres-174 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 174 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Ms. Stabenow (for herself and Mr. Thune ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating April 2021 as Parkinson’s Awareness Month .
Whereas Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease and the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States; Whereas, although there is inadequate data on the incidence and prevalence of Parkinson’s disease, the disease is estimated to affect between 500,000 and 1,000,000 individuals in the United States, with that number expected to more than double by 2040; Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Parkinson’s disease is the 15th leading cause of death in the United States; Whereas millions of individuals in the United States are greatly impacted by Parkinson’s disease, including the caregivers, family members, and friends of individuals living with Parkinson’s disease; Whereas research suggests that the cause of Parkinson’s disease is a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but the exact cause of the disease in most individuals is still unknown; Whereas, as of March 2021, there is no objective test or biomarker with which to diagnose Parkinson’s disease; Whereas there is no known cure or drug to slow or halt the progression of Parkinson’s disease, and available treatments are limited in their ability to address the medical needs of patients and remain effective over time; Whereas the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease vary from person to person and may include— (1) tremors; (2) slowness of movement and rigidity; (3) problems with gait and balance; (4) disturbances in speech and swallowing; (5) cognitive impairment and dementia; (6) mood disorders; and (7) a variety of other nonmotor symptoms; Whereas volunteers, researchers, caregivers, and medical professionals are working to improve the quality of life of— (1) individuals living with Parkinson’s disease; and (2) the families of those individuals; and Whereas increased research, education, and community support services are needed— (1) to find more effective treatments; and (2) to provide access to quality care to individuals living with Parkinson’s disease: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates April 2021 as Parkinson’s Awareness Month ; (2) supports the goals and ideals of Parkinson’s Awareness Month; (3) continues to support research to find better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease; (4) recognizes the individuals living with Parkinson’s disease who participate in vital clinical trials to advance the knowledge of the disease; and (5) commends the dedication of the organizations, volunteers, researchers, and millions of individuals across the United States who are working to improve the quality of life of— (A) individuals living with Parkinson’s disease; and (B) the families of those individuals. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres174is/xml/BILLS-117sres174is.xml |
117-sres-175 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 175 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Mr. Luján submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.
Whereas the week of April 5, 2021, is National Public Health Week; Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2021 is Building Bridges to Better Health ; Whereas the goal of National Public Health Week in 2021 is to recognize the contributions of public health in— (1) improving the health of the people of the United States; and (2) achieving health equity; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, the United States and the global community are responding to the COVID–19 pandemic, which requires support for— (1) a robust public health infrastructure and workforce; (2) State, territorial, local, and Tribal health departments, health care workers, public health laboratories, and first responders; (3) diagnostic testing of new and potential COVID–19 cases and activities related to epidemiology and public health data; (4) complying with appropriate social distancing and quarantine recommendations; (5) relieving financial burdens for individuals in the United States hurt by the COVID–19 pandemic, including through public health emergency leave; (6) State Medicaid programs and community health centers to ensure care for vulnerable populations; (7) collaboration among the Federal Government, State and local governments, schools, businesses, and employers to support public health measures to decrease community spread of COVID–19; (8) investments in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which support infectious disease outbreak preparedness and critical public health infrastructure for State and local health departments and public health laboratories; (9) a comprehensive effort to ensure a successful COVID–19 vaccination campaign that boosts access to vaccines for vulnerable populations and trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness; and (10) efforts to address racism as a public health crisis and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities related to COVID–19 deaths, vaccine access and testing, and important health outcomes outside of the pandemic such as maternal mortality; Whereas, in 2020, the life expectancy for the population of the United States dropped a full year, which is the largest drop in life expectancy since 1943; Whereas many of the leading causes of death for individuals in the United States result from chronic conditions, which are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health challenges; Whereas there are significant differences in the health status of individuals living in the most healthy States and those living in the least healthy States, including differences in obesity rates, the prevalence of chronic disease, and the prevalence of infectious disease; Whereas racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States continue to experience disparities in the burden of illness and death, as compared with the entire population of the United States; Whereas violence is a leading cause of premature death and it is estimated that more than 7 individuals per hour die a violent death in the United States; Whereas deaths from homicides cost the economy of the United States billions of dollars and the violence of homicides can cause social and emotional distress, community trauma, injury, disability, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder; Whereas emergency department visits for suicidal thoughts or self-harm increased 25.5 percent between January 2017 and December 2018, with substantial increases occurring in younger age groups; Whereas an estimated 1 in 7 children in the United States experiences child abuse and neglect, which imposes an annual lifetime economic burden of approximately $428,000,000,000 on the population of the United States; Whereas, despite significant progress in reducing the infant mortality rate in the United States to a historic low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, in 2017 the infant mortality rate in the United States greatly varies among States; Whereas women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States at a higher rate than in many other developed countries and an estimated 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable; Whereas Black mothers experience a maternal mortality rate 3 to 4 times higher than White mothers; Whereas 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States during the 12-month period ending May 2020, the highest level ever recorded during a 12-month period; Whereas cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths every year, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke; Whereas the percentage of adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes has decreased from 20.9 percent of the population in 2005 to 13.7 percent of the population in 2018; Whereas, in 2020, according to data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey 19.6 percent of high school students (3,020,000 students) and 4.7 percent of middle school students (550,000 students) reported current e-cigarette use; Whereas data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that in 2020 almost 40 percent of high school e-cigarette users were using an e-cigarette on 20 or more days out of the month and almost a quarter of high school e-cigarette users were using e-cigarettes every day, indicating a strong dependence on nicotine among youth; Whereas in the past 2 decades heat-related mortality for older persons has almost doubled, reaching a record high 19,000 deaths in 2018; Whereas, from 2018 to 2019, the United States spent nearly $13 per person on climate change adaptation in the health sector, far less than what is needed to prevent the growing health impacts of climate change; Whereas, in 2016, fine particulate air pollution led to more than 64,000 premature deaths in the United States and Black and Hispanic individuals in the United States were disproportionately impacted; Whereas public health organizations use National Public Health Week to educate public policymakers and public health professionals on issues that are important to improving the health of the people of the United States; Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in disease prevention can result in significant savings in health care costs; Whereas vaccination is one of the most significant public health achievements in history and has resulted in substantial decreases in— (1) the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; and (2) health care costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health spending contributes to a— (1) 6.9 percent decrease in infant deaths; (2) 3.2 percent decrease in deaths related to cardiovascular disease; (3) 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due to diabetes; and (4) 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related deaths; Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, mitigate, and recover from the impact of a full range of health threats, including— (1) disease outbreaks, such as the COVID–19 pandemic; (2) natural disasters, such as wildfires, flooding, and severe storms; and (3) other disasters, including disasters caused by human activity and public health emergencies; Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners outside of the health sector, including city planners, transportation officials, education officials, and private sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors can influence health outcomes; Whereas in communities across the United States, individuals are changing the way they care for their health by avoiding tobacco use, eating healthier, increasing physical activity, and preventing unintentional injuries at home and in the workplace; and Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and the prevention of disease and injury can continue to transform a health system focused on treating illness into a health system focused on preventing disease and injury and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week; (2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, the Federal Government, States, Tribes, municipalities, local communities, and individuals in preventing disease and injury; (3) recognizes the role of public health in— (A) preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID–19 pandemic; (B) mitigating short-term and long-term impacts of infectious disease outbreaks on the health and wellness of individuals in the United States; (C) addressing social and other determinants of health, including health disparities experienced by minority populations; and (D) improving the overall health of individuals and communities in the United States; (4) encourages increased efforts and resources to— (A) improve the health of individuals in the United States; and (B) make the United States, in 1 generation, the healthiest Nation in the world by— (i) providing greater opportunities to improve community health and prevent disease and injury; and (ii) strengthening the public health system and workforce in the United States; and (5) encourages the people of the United States to learn about the role of the public health system in improving health across the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres175is/xml/BILLS-117sres175is.xml |
117-sres-176 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 176 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Mr. Johnson (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen , and Mr. Risch ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Urging all parties in Georgia to seek prompt implementation of the agreement signed on April 19, 2021, and reaffirming the support of the Senate for Georgia, the territorial integrity of Georgia, and the aspirations of Georgians to join the Euro-Atlantic community.
Whereas, on April 9, 1991, Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union, and on March 24, 1992, the United States and Georgia established formal diplomatic relations; Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has been reaffirmed by the international community and numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions; Whereas, at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) recognized the aspirations of Georgia to join NATO and agreed that Georgia would become a member of the Alliance; Whereas, on January 9, 2009, the United States and Georgia signed the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, affirming the close relationship between the United States and Georgia based on the shared principles of democracy, free markets, defense and security cooperation, and cultural exchanges; Whereas Georgia has made significant contributions to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and remains the largest troop contributor among NATO partners to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan; Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and condemns the continued occupation by the Russian Federation of the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia; Whereas, in March 2020, the United States and several embassies of European countries in Georgia brokered an agreement among the major political parties in Georgia, which included changes to the electoral system and called on all sides to address the appearance of political interference in the judicial system; Whereas, on June 29, 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted constitutional amendments, establishing a more proportional electoral system and promoting greater political pluralism in future parliaments; Whereas the United States Embassy in Tbilisi applauded Georgia's electoral reforms and urged the Parliament of Georgia to pass additional legislation that fully incorporates all of the recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) and urged Georgian authorities to effectively implement such legislation; Whereas, on October 31, 2020, Georgia held its first parliamentary elections since adopting the electoral reforms in June 2020; Whereas the OSCE/ODIHR limited election observation team detailed a number of flaws and partially or completely unimplemented OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, but also concluded that the first round of the October 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia was competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected ; Whereas the United States Embassy in Tbilisi shared the OSCE/ODIHR’s assessment of the first round of elections and stressed the importance of fully addressing the deficiencies noted by the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Preliminary Report before the second round of elections in November 2020; Whereas the Georgian opposition refused to recognize the legitimacy of the October 2020 elections, boycotted the second round of elections, called for public voter intimidation of anyone voting in the second round of elections, and declined to take their seats in parliament; Whereas, on February 23, 2021, Georgian authorities entered the headquarters of United National Movement (UNM) and arrested its leader Nikanor Melia on a bail violation; Whereas, on March 23, 2021, the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate held a hearing on Georgia to examine the political situation and to highlight the actions that the Government of Georgia and the opposition could take in order to resolve the impasse and move the country forward; Whereas, in that hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent testified that the Russian Federation uses its illegal occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, economic leverage, cyber attacks, and disinformation to try to force Georgia to abandon its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and to sow division and distrust ; Whereas, at the same hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary Kent testified, Georgia has real work to do in strengthening its democracy … Georgia’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law is a fundamental element of our strategic relationship, as well as the precondition for the country’s further progress. ; and Whereas international mediation efforts to resolve the political impasse in Georgia led to an agreement signed on April 19, 2021, by representatives of several political parties and individual Members of Parliament: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) calls on Georgian Dream, United National Movement, and the other parties elected to the Parliament of Georgia to fully implement the compromise proposed by European Council President Michel on April 18, 2021, and signed on April 19, 2021; (2) calls on all elected Members of Parliament to take their seats in parliament and begin work without further delay on the challenges facing Georgia, including consequences of the COVID–19 pandemic, a weakened economy, and challenging regional dynamics; (3) calls on the Government of Georgia to institute systemic reforms, developed through an inclusive and transparent consultation process with stakeholders, to ensure that the judicial system is impartial and independent and not used for political or partisan ends, including by fully adopting and implementing the recommendations of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (commonly known as the Venice Commission ) and other experts; (4) calls on the Government of Georgia to institute inclusively and transparently developed systemic electoral reforms to address the underlying causes of the political impasse and avoid a recurrence of such a crisis, including by fully adopting and implementing the recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR); (5) recognizes that the political situation in Georgia has been exacerbated by the efforts of the Russian Federation to sow chaos throughout Georgia, including the illegally occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; (6) expresses concern that impediments to strengthening Georgia's democratic institutions and processes will slow its progress toward achieving its aspiration of Euro-Atlantic integration and strengthening its economy and could result in conditions placed on United States assistance to Georgia; and (7) emphasizes that the United States supports a more robust democracy in Georgia, with governing institutions that demonstrate integrity, checks and balances, transparency, the capacity to counter Russian and other malign influence, and the ability to achieve the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the people of Georgia. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres176is/xml/BILLS-117sres176is.xml |
117-sres-177 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 177 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Whitehouse , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Cassidy , Ms. Hassan , Ms. Ernst , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Coons , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Tillis , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Young , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Manchin , Mr. Braun , Mr. Daines , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Boozman , Ms. Lummis , and Mr. Peters ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating April 2021 as Financial Literacy Month .
Whereas, according to the 2019 report entitled Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 37 percent of adults in the United States cannot cover an unexpected expense of $400; Whereas, according to the 2019 report entitled “How America Banks: Household Use of Banking and Financial Services” by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, approximately 5.4 percent of households in the United States are unbanked and, therefore, have limited or no access to savings, lending, and other basic financial services; Whereas, according to the 2020 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey final report of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling that was conducted prior to COVID–19 lockdowns— (1) a majority (62 percent) of adults in the United States had credit card debt during the 1-year period ending on the date of publication of the report; (2) over 2/5 (43 percent) of adults in the United States carry credit card debt from month to month; and (3) approximately 47 percent of adults in the United States maintain a budget; Whereas, according to the statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the fourth quarter of 2020 entitled Household Debt and Credit — (1) outstanding household debt in the United States has been increasing steadily since 2013 and was $414,000,000,000 higher than at the end of 2019; and (2) outstanding student loan balances have more than doubled in the last decade to approximately $1,560,000,000,000; Whereas, according to the 2020 report entitled Survey of the States: Economic and Personal Finance Education in Our Nation’s Schools , by the Council for Economic Education— (1) only 25 States require students to take an economics course as a high school graduation requirement; and (2) only 21 States require students to take a personal finance course as a high school graduation requirement, either independently or as part of an economics course; Whereas, according to the Gallup-HOPE Index, in 2016 only 57 percent of students in the United States had money in a bank or credit union account; Whereas expanding access to the safe, mainstream financial system will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure options for managing finances and building wealth; Whereas quality personal financial education is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared— (1) to manage money, credit, and debt; and (2) to become responsible workers, heads of household, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens; Whereas increased financial literacy— (1) empowers individuals to make wise financial decisions; and (2) reduces the confusion caused by an increasingly complex economy; Whereas a greater understanding of, and familiarity with, financial markets and institutions will lead to increased economic activity and growth; and Whereas, in 2003, Congress— (1) determined that coordinating Federal financial literacy efforts and formulating a national strategy is important; and (2) in light of that determination, passed the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act ( 20 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.), establishing the Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates April 2021 as Financial Literacy Month to raise public awareness about— (A) the importance of personal financial education in the United States; and (B) the serious consequences that may result from a lack of understanding about personal finances; and (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the people of the United States to observe Financial Literacy Month with appropriate programs and activities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres177ats/xml/BILLS-117sres177ats.xml |
117-sres-178 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 178 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Mr. Wyden (for himself and Mr. Merkley ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the life and legacy of award-winning children’s author Beverly Cleary.
Whereas Beverly Atlee Cleary was born Beverly Atlee Bunn to Chester Lloyd Bunn and Mable Atlee Bunn on April 12, 1916, in McMinnville, Oregon; Whereas Beverly Cleary grew up on her family's farm near Yamhill, Oregon, and titled her 1988 memoir A Girl From Yamhill ; Whereas Beverly Cleary moved north to Portland, Oregon, with her family when she was 6 years old; Whereas Beverly Cleary attended grade school in Portland and graduated from Grant High School in 1934; Whereas Beverly Cleary attended Chaffey College in Ontario, California, and then graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1938; Whereas, in 1939, Beverly Cleary earned a master's degree in library science from what was then the School of Librarianship at the University of Washington; Whereas, in 1940, Beverly Cleary eloped with Clarence Cleary, whom Beverly Cleary met while studying at the University of California, Berkeley; Whereas Beverly Cleary worked as a children’s librarian in Yakima, Washington, and later at an Army hospital in Oakland, California; Whereas, in 1950, William Morrow published the first book by Beverly Cleary, Henry Huggins , which is about the adventures of a young boy who lived on Klickitat Street in Northeast Portland, Oregon, and was the first book in the Henry Huggins series; Whereas, in 1955, William Morrow published the first book in the Ramona series, Beezus and Ramona , which is about 9-year-old Beatrice Beezus Quimby and her 4-year-old sister, who, like Henry Huggins, also lived on Klickitat Street in Northeast Portland, Oregon; Whereas Beverly Cleary’s books earned praise for engaging young readers and capturing the world as children saw and understood it; Whereas Beverly Cleary wrote more than 40 children’s books, which sold more than 85,000,000 copies by enchanting readers of all ages with the adventures of Ramona, Henry, and many other memorable characters; Whereas Beverly Cleary’s books continue to resonate with audiences across the United States, sparking the imagination of countless children and instilling a lifelong love of reading; Whereas Beverly Cleary won numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including— (1) the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1975 for substantial contributions to children’s literature; (2) a Newbery Honor in 1978 for Ramona and Her Father ; (3) a National Book Award in 1981 for Ramona and Her Mother ; (4) a Newbery Honor in 1982 for Ramona Quimby, Age 8 ; (5) a Newbery Medal in 1984 for Dear Mr. Henshaw ; (6) the Library of Congress Living Legend award in 2000 for her creative contributions to American life; and (7) the National Medal of Arts in 2003, the highest award given to artists by the United States Government; and Whereas Beverly Cleary died on March 25, 2021, at the age of 104, leaving a behind a legacy of relatable characters and skillful storytelling: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors the life and legacy of award-winning children’s author Beverly Cleary, including— (A) the lifelong commitment of Beverly Cleary to brightening the lives of children; and (B) the outstanding contributions of Beverly Cleary to children’s literature; (2) expresses its profound regret at the announcement of the passing of beloved author Beverly Cleary; (3) extends its sympathy to the family of Beverly Cleary; (4) recognizes Beverly Cleary as one of the most significant and successful authors of the 20th century; and (5) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of Beverly Cleary. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres178ats/xml/BILLS-117sres178ats.xml |
117-sres-179 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 179 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 22, 2021 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mr. McConnell ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION To make temporary appointments to the Select Committee on Ethics.
That (a) for matters before the Select Committee on Ethics involving Preliminary Inquiry Case Numbers 30094 and 30226, and subsequent action by the Committee with respect to these matters, if any, the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) and the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) shall be replaced by the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Luján) and the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman). The Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Schatz) shall act as Chairman and the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch) shall act as Vice Chairman for those matters only. (b) The membership of the Select Committee on Ethics shall be unchanged with respect to all matters before that Committee other than the matters referred to in subsection (a). | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres179is/xml/BILLS-117sres179is.xml |
117-sres-180 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 180 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 27, 2021 Ms. Hassan (for herself, Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Casey , Ms. Collins , Ms. Ernst , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Kaine , and Ms. Smith ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of the week of April 26 through April 30, 2021, as National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week .
Whereas there are more than 1,000,000 specialized instructional support personnel serving the schools and students of the United States, including— (1) school counselors; (2) school social workers; (3) school psychologists; and (4) other qualified professional personnel, such as— (A) school nurses; (B) psychologists; (C) social workers; (D) occupational therapists; (E) physical therapists; (F) art therapists; (G) dance and movement therapists; (H) music therapists; (I) speech-language pathologists; and (J) audiologists; Whereas specialized instructional support personnel provide school-based prevention and early intervention services to reduce barriers to learning; Whereas specialized instructional support personnel work with teachers, school leaders, and parents to ensure that all students are successful in school; Whereas specialized instructional support personnel encourage multidisciplinary collaboration to promote student and school success; Whereas specialized instructional support personnel provide educational, social, emotional, and behavioral interventions and activities that support— (1) student learning; and (2) teaching; Whereas specialized instructional support personnel help to create environments that are safe, supportive, and conducive to learning; Whereas safe and supportive school environments are associated with improved academic performance; Whereas specialized instructional support personnel support— (1) student communication; (2) the development of social skills by students; (3) the physical wellness of students; (4) the physical development of students; and (5) the behavioral, emotional, and mental health of students; and Whereas specialized instructional support personnel serve all students who struggle with barriers to learning: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of April 26 through April 30, 2021, as National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week ; (2) recognizes that specialized instructional support personnel implement evidence-based practices to improve student outcomes; (3) commends— (A) those individuals who work as specialized instructional support personnel; and (B) the individuals and organizations that support the efforts made by specialized instructional support personnel to promote and improve the availability of specialized instructional support services; (4) encourages Federal, State, and local policymakers to work together to raise awareness of the importance of specialized instructional support personnel in school climate and education efforts; (5) recognizes the important role of specialized instructional support personnel in efforts to improve mental health, reduce drug use, and improve overall community safety for students; and (6) encourages experts to share best practices so that others can replicate the success of those experts. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres180ats/xml/BILLS-117sres180ats.xml |
117-sres-181 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 181 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2021 Mr. Blunt (for himself and Mr. Casey ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Honoring the life and legacy of Carl Lutz.
Whereas Carl Lutz was born on March 30, 1895, in Walzenhausen, Switzerland, but moved to the United States as a young man; Whereas Carl Lutz became a diplomat, eventually serving at the Swiss consulate in what was then Mandatory Palestine; Whereas, in 1942, Carl Lutz was transferred to Budapest, Hungary, where he— (1) served as the Swiss vice consul until the end of World War II; and (2) represented countries that had severed diplomatic relations with Hungary because of its German alliance; Whereas Carl Lutz, upon arrival in Budapest, began to work to help Jews receive Swiss diplomatic protection so they could flee Nazi persecution; Whereas, in 1944, Carl Lutz received permission to issue protective papers to save 8,000 Jews from deportation, which Lutz determined to mean 8,000 families, not 8,000 individuals; Whereas Carl Lutz extended Swiss protection to 76 buildings that operated as safe houses for Jewish refugees seeking protection, including a department store called the Glass House, which served as a refuge for up to 3,000 Jews and as a headquarters for the Zionist underground; Whereas, in November 1944, Carl Lutz and his wife, Trudi Lutz, joined a death march to various concentration camps, pulling Jews out of the line to issue as many protective papers as possible; Whereas, at the end of World War II, Carl Lutz and his coconspirators, including his wife, his staff, and the Zionist underground members, saved over 50,000 Jews, which was half of the surviving Jewish population of Budapest; and Whereas the United States is deeply indebted to Carl Lutz, who was responsible for the largest civilian rescue mission of Jews during World War II: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors the life and legacy of Carl Lutz; (2) recognizes that the heroic effort of Carl Lutz went above and beyond the call of duty to save the Hungarian Jews condemned to die because he believed it to be a matter of conscience ; and (3) expresses deep appreciation to Carl Lutz on behalf of the United States for facilitating the largest civilian rescue mission of Jews during World War II, saving over 50,000 Jews through the protective papers and documentation he issued. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres181is/xml/BILLS-117sres181is.xml |
117-sres-182 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 182 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2021 Mr. Wicker submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing the late Gilbert Metz, the last Holocaust survivor who lived in Mississippi, and commending all educators who teach about the Holocaust and all genocide.
Whereas April 7, 2021, marked the international observance of Yom Hashoah, also known as Holocaust Memorial Day , a day to remember and mourn the millions who died during the Holocaust of World War II; Whereas Gilbert Metz, born in France and inmate 184203 in Auschwitz and Dachau, was liberated from Dachau on April 29, 1945, and moved to Natchez, Mississippi; Whereas the Mississippi Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 104 titled A Concurrent Resolution Commending Gilbert Metz As Mississippi’s Only Holocaust Survivor on April 4, 1998, which recognized Gilbert Metz as Mississippi’s only Holocaust survivor; Whereas Gilbert Metz, the last Holocaust survivor in Mississippi, passed away on December 17, 2007, and is survived by his 3 children, Sylvain Metz, Helene Johnson and her husband, Mark, and Lawson Metz and his wife, Kay, 5 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 4 great- and step-great-grandchildren; Whereas awareness of the Holocaust is declining, as more than 1 in 5 Millennials and Generation Z individuals in the United States are unaware of the Holocaust or are not sure if they have heard of the Holocaust; and Whereas educators throughout the United States and the world have committed to teaching about the Holocaust and all genocide to ensure that these atrocities are never forgotten, even as those who endured these dark chapters in human history are no longer with us: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes and honors the late Gilbert Metz as the last survivor of the Holocaust in Mississippi; (2) recognizes the declining awareness and knowledge of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust; and (3) commends all educators in the United States and the world who teach about the Holocaust and all genocide. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres182is/xml/BILLS-117sres182is.xml |
117-sres-183 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 183 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2021 Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Rubio , Mr. Durbin , and Mr. Boozman ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Condemning the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.
Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020, Congress declared that it— (1) deplored the religious persecution by the Government of Iran of the Baha’i community; and (2) would hold the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the Baha’i Faith; Whereas according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2017 annual report, Since 1979, [Iranian] authorities have killed or executed more than 200 Baha’i leaders, and more than 10,000 [Baha’i] have been dismissed from government and university jobs [in Iran] ; Whereas the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (A/RES/75/191), dated December 16, 2020, expresses serious concern about— (1) ongoing severe limitations and increasing restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief ; (2) restrictions on the establishment of places of worship ; (3) undue restrictions on burials carried out in accordance with religious tenets ; (4) attacks against places of worship and burial ; and (5) other human rights violations, including but not limited to harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detention, and incitement to hatred that leads to violence against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities ; Whereas, on January 29, 2020, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom condemned an Iranian court order allowing authorities to confiscate properties owned by Baha’is in the village of Ivel in Mazandaran Province ; Whereas the Iran section of the Department of State’s 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom states that— (1) The government bars Baha’is from all government employment and forbids Baha’i participation in the governmental social pension system. Baha’is may not receive compensation for injury or crimes committed against them and may not inherit property. A religious fatwa from the supreme leader encourages citizens to avoid all dealings with Baha’is. ; (2) Baha’is and those who advocated for their rights reported Baha’is continued to be major targets of social stigma and violence, and perpetrators reportedly continued to act with impunity. Even when arrested, perpetrators faced diminished punishment following admissions that their acts were based on the religious identity of the victim. ; (3) There continued to be reports of non-Baha’is dismissing or refusing employment to Baha’is, sometimes in response to government pressure, according to [the Baha’i International Community] and other organizations monitoring the situation of the Baha’is. ; and (4) According to media and NGO reports, Baha’is continued to face charges that included insulting religious sanctities, corruption on earth, propaganda against the system, espionage and collaboration with foreign entities, and actions against national security. Charges also included involvement with the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), a university-level educational institution offering mainly distance learning, that the government considered illegal. ; Whereas, on March 11, 2020, the Department of State released the 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which states that Iranian authorities barred Bahai students from higher education ; Whereas the Baha’i International Community documented a more than 50-percent increase in hate propaganda directed against the Baha’is in the 12-month period ending in August 2020 compared to prior years with more than 9,500 such articles, videos, or web pages appearing in Iranian government-controlled or government-sponsored media; Whereas the Government of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, done at New York December 19, 1966, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, done at New York December 16, 1966, and is in violation of its obligations under such covenants; Whereas section 105 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 ( 22 U.S.C. 8514 ) authorizes the President to impose sanctions on individuals who are responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Iran or their family members on or after June 12, 2009 ; and Whereas the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–158 ) amends and expands the authorities established under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–195 ) to sanction Iranian human rights abusers: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) condemns the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; (2) calls on the Government of Iran— (A) to immediately release the imprisoned or detained Baha'is and all other prisoners held solely on account of their religion; (B) to end its state-sponsored campaign of hate propaganda against the Baha’is; and (C) to reverse state-imposed policies denying equal opportunities to higher education, earning a livelihood, due process under the law, and the free exercise of religious practices; (3) calls on the President and the Secretary of State, in cooperation with responsible nations— (A) to immediately condemn the Government of Iran’s continued violation of human rights; and (B) to demand the immediate release of prisoners held solely on account of their religion; and (4) urges the President and the Secretary of State to utilize available authorities to impose sanctions on officials of the Government of Iran and other individuals directly responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against the Iranian Baha’i community. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres183is/xml/BILLS-117sres183is.xml |
117-sres-184 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 184 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2021 Mr. Murphy (for himself and Mr. Cassidy ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating the week of May 2, 2021, through May 8, 2021, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week .
Whereas many people with serious, chronic mental illness, such as schizophrenia and other schizoaffective disorders, bipolar disorder, or severe depression, require treatment with medications that work as dopamine receptor blocking agents (referred to in this preamble as DRBAs ), including antipsychotics; Whereas many people who have gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroparesis, nausea, and vomiting also require treatment with DRBAs; Whereas, while ongoing treatment with DRBAs can be lifesaving, for some people it can also lead to Tardive Dyskinesia; Whereas Tardive Dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is characterized by random, involuntary, and uncontrolled movements of different muscles in the face, trunk, and extremities; Whereas, in some cases, Tardive Dyskinesia may— (1) cause people to experience movement of the arms, legs, fingers, and toes; (2) affect the tongue, lips, and jaw; and (3) cause swaying movements of the trunk or hips and may impact the muscles associated with walking, speech, eating, and breathing; Whereas Tardive Dyskinesia can develop months, years, or decades after a person starts taking DRBAs and even after they have discontinued use of those medications; Whereas not everyone who takes a DRBA develops Tardive Dyskinesia, but if Tardive Dyskinesia develops it is often persistent; Whereas common risk factors for Tardive Dyskinesia include advanced age and alcoholism or other substance use disorders; Whereas postmenopausal women and people with a mood disorder are also at higher risk of developing Tardive Dyskinesia; Whereas a person is at higher risk for Tardive Dyskinesia after taking DRBAs for 3 months, but the longer the person is on these medications, the higher the risk of developing Tardive Dyskinesia; Whereas studies suggest that the overall risk of developing Tardive Dyskinesia after taking DRBAs is between 10 and 30 percent; Whereas it is estimated that over 500,000 people in the United States suffer from Tardive Dyskinesia; Whereas, according to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, 1 in every 4 patients receiving long-term treatment with an antipsychotic medication will experience Tardive Dyskinesia; Whereas years of difficult and challenging research have resulted in recent scientific breakthroughs, with 2 new treatments for Tardive Dyskinesia approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services; Whereas Tardive Dyskinesia is often unrecognized and patients suffering from the illness are commonly misdiagnosed; Whereas regular screening for Tardive Dyskinesia in patients taking DRBA medications is recommended by the American Psychiatric Association; Whereas patients suffering from Tardive Dyskinesia often suffer embarrassment due to abnormal and involuntary movements, which leads them to withdraw from society and increasingly isolate themselves as the disease progresses; Whereas caregivers of patients with Tardive Dyskinesia face many challenges and are often responsible for the overall care of the Tardive Dyskinesia patient; Whereas the Senate can raise awareness of Tardive Dyskinesia in the public and medical community: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates the week of May 2, 2021, through May 8, 2021, as “Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week”; and (2) encourages each individual in the United States to become better informed about and aware of Tardive Dyskinesia. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres184is/xml/BILLS-117sres184is.xml |
117-sres-185 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 185 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Braun , and Mr. Lee ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs RESOLUTION Requesting that the President transmit to the Senate not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the possession of the President relating to the Administration’s discussions and plans to assess, mitigate, and prevent growing inflation.
Whereas the Federal debt and rising inflation is a real crisis that hurts real Americans; Whereas the national debt of the United States is $27,900,000,000,000; Whereas this represents $223,441 in debt per taxpayer; Whereas in March President Biden and Democrats in Congress pushed through a wasteful $1,900,000,000,000 COVID spending bill that will further increase the Federal debt to $30,000,000,000,000; Whereas the Biden Administration and Democrats in Congress continue to push massive spending proposals that would contribute to inflation, which increases the cost of everyday goods and disproportionately affects low-income and fixed-income families; Whereas the cost of everyday purchases, like diapers and groceries, are increasing while home prices and rents continue to rise; Whereas food and gasoline prices have risen significantly over the past year, up 3.5 percent and 23 percent, respectively, in March 2021, according to the Consumer Price Index; Whereas the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index increasing 2.6 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, over the year, the fastest increases in nearly a decade; Whereas several notable economists have expressed concern about the impact of the Biden Administration’s massive Federal spending, with warnings that a stimulus-fueled surge in consumer spending could revive a 1970s-style escalation in wages and prices that could cripple the economy in the years to come; Whereas the New York Times reported on April 13, 2021, that officials and aides at the White House and the Department of the Treasury have for months held private meetings to discuss inflation and conducted in-depth internal analyses for senior officials and President Biden; Whereas the content and conclusions of these secret meetings and working groups have not been disclosed and made available to the public; Whereas the New York Times also reports that Mr. Biden’s aides are sufficiently worried about the risk of spending fueling inflation that they shaped his infrastructure proposal, which has yet to be taken up by Congress, to funnel out $2.3 trillion over eight years, which is slower than traditional stimulus. ; Whereas the Biden Administration continues to refuse to address or acknowledge the effects of rising inflation on American families, despite indications that inflation could significantly increase this year; and Whereas the partisan actions of the Biden Administration have real life consequences for Americans: Now, therefore, be it
That the President is requested to transmit to the Senate not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the possession of the President relating to the Administration’s discussions and plans to mitigate and prevent growing inflation, including a detailed timeline of events and participants as well as any correspondence, reports, presentations, notes, or memorandum produced in preparation for, during, or as a result of these activities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres185is/xml/BILLS-117sres185is.xml |
117-sres-186 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 186 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2021 Mr. Romney (for himself and Mr. Murphy ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the humanitarian work of Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amaral e Abranches to save the lives of French Jews and other persons during the Holocaust.
Whereas Nazi Germany invaded France on May 10, 1940, and after brief but intense hostilities, secured the surrender of France on June 22, 1940; Whereas, as a consequence of the Nazi conquest, the lives of French Jews and Jewish and non-Jewish persons of other nationalities seeking refuge in France were put in grave and imminent danger; Whereas many thousands of those persons fled to Bordeaux, France, and elsewhere in southwest France, seeking to traverse Spain and escape to Portugal; Whereas, in 1939, the Government of Portugal under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar issued Circular 14, which sharply restricted the availability of visas to displaced persons; Whereas the Consul General of Portugal in Bordeaux was Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amaral e Abranches; Whereas, in June 1940, confronting a humanitarian crisis and in defiance of Circular 14, Sousa Mendes, assisted principally by his diplomatic colleagues Jose de Seabra, Manuel de Vieira Braga, and Emile Gissot, issued without charge tens of thousands of visas, including thousands to fleeing Jews; Whereas Sousa Mendes reportedly stated, I declare that I shall give, free of charge, a visa to whosoever shall request it. My desire is to be with God against Man rather than with Man and against God. ; Whereas those visas, as well as Sousa Mendes’ personal intervention at the border between France and Spain, enabled the refugees to reach safety in Portugal; Whereas, in July 1940, the Government of Portugal under Oliveira Salazar responded by recalling Sousa Mendes, dismissing Sousa Mendes later from active diplomatic service, and subjecting him to economic retribution and subsequent ostracism; Whereas, in 1941, Sousa Mendes explained, In truth, I disobeyed, but my disobedience does not dishonor me. I chose to defy an order that to me represented the persecution of true castaways who sought with all their strength to be saved from Hitler's wrath. Above the order, for me, was God's law, and that's the one I have always sought to adhere to without hesitation. The true lesson of Christianity is to love one's neighbor. ; Whereas, in 1954, Sousa Mendes died penniless in Lisbon, Portugal, under the cloud of the discipline imposed for his defiance; Whereas, in 1966, Yad Vashem recognized Sousa Mendes as a Righteous Among the Nations for his selfless efforts to save Jewish lives at personal risk to himself, making Sousa Mendes the first of a number of diplomatic rescuers to be so honored; Whereas, in 1988, the United States Senate passed Senate Resolution 270, 100th Congress, agreed to June 23, 1988, to commemorate Sousa Mendes’ humanitarian efforts; Whereas, in 1986, President of Portugal Mario Soares posthumously rehabilitated Sousa Mendes, decorating Sousa Mendes as an Officer of the Order of Liberty; Whereas, in 1988, the Parliament of Portugal posthumously granted Sousa Mendes the status of Ambassador; Whereas, in 1995, President of Portugal Mario Soares posthumously bestowed on Sousa Mendes the Grand Cross of the Order of Christ; Whereas, in 2017, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa posthumously bestowed on Sousa Mendes Portugal's highest honor, the Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty; Whereas, in 2020, the Parliament of Portugal unanimously voted to memorialize Sousa Mendes in the National Pantheon in Lisbon; and Whereas, in 2020, on the 80th anniversary of his heroism, the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad initiated commemorations in honor of Sousa Mendes in Bordeaux, France, and Portugal: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors and salutes the humanitarian and principled work of Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amaral e Abranches, Consul of Portugal in Bordeaux, France, for acting with great courage and at personal risk to issue transit visas to French Jews and other persons, sparing them from Nazi occupation and the Holocaust, thus saving many thousands of innocent lives; and (2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit copies of this resolution to— (A) the President; and (B) the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres186ats/xml/BILLS-117sres186ats.xml |
117-sres-187 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 187 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2021 Ms. Baldwin (for herself and Mr. Johnson ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the University of Wisconsin Badgers on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Ice Hockey Championship.
Whereas, on March 20, 2021, the University of Wisconsin Badgers won the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Ice Hockey Championship and finished the season with an impressive record of 17-3-1; Whereas the University of Wisconsin Badgers senior forward Daryl Watts scored a spectacular game-winning goal in overtime to give the Badgers a 2 to 1 victory over the Northeastern University Huskies in the national championship game; Whereas the University of Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Team won their 6th national title, adding to championship seasons in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2019; Whereas the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Ice Hockey Championship was cancelled due to the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas the University of Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Team won back-to-back national championships for the second time in program history, having also won in 2006 and 2007; Whereas the following players should be congratulated for their hard work and dedication in representing the University of Wisconsin: Kennedy Blair, Breanna Blesi, Grace Bowlby, Natalie Buchbinder, Britta Curl, Delaney Drake, Lacey Eden, Chayla Edwards, Jane Gervais, Teagan Grant, Dara Greig, Katie Kotlowski, Cami Kronish, Nicole Lamantia, Casey O’Brian, Brette Pettet, Maddie Posick, Caitlin Schneider, Grace Shirley, Sophie Shirley, Mayson Toft, Daryl Watts, Makenna Webster, and Maddi Wheeler; Whereas the University of Wisconsin Badgers were guided by a superb coaching staff of Mark Johnson, Dan Koch, Jackie Crum, Mark Greenhalgh, Sis Paulsen, Stefanie Arndt, Jim Snider, Justin Kakuska, AJ Harrison, and Billy Breider; Whereas the University of Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Head Coach Mark Johnson was named the U.S. College Hockey Online ( USCHO ) Coach of the Year and has coached the Badgers for 18 seasons, producing 539 wins and 6 national championships to become the all-time winningest coach in the history of college women’s hockey; Whereas the University of Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Team— (1) also captured the 2021 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Conference’s regular season and tournament championships; (2) featured 4 players who earned USCHO All-American honors at the end of the season: Daryl Watts, Grace Bowlby, Sophie Shirley, and Lacey Eden; and (3) has had a long history of players, past and present, who also represent the University of Wisconsin on the international and Olympic stage; Whereas the players and staff persevered through the challenges presented by the COVID–19 pandemic, including the cancellation of games and limited attendance at LaBahn Arena in order to protect the health and safety of the players, staff, and loyal fans throughout the State of Wisconsin; and Whereas the Badgers Women’s Hockey Team has brought great pride and honor to the University of Wisconsin and its alumni, loyal fans, and the State of Wisconsin: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the University of Wisconsin Badgers on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Ice Hockey Championship; (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, and staff who contributed to this unprecedented championship season; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate prepare an official copy of this resolution for presentation to— (A) the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, Rebecca Blank; (B) the Athletic Director of the University of Wisconsin, Barry Alvarez; and (C) the Head Coach of the University of Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Team, Mark Johnson. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres187ats/xml/BILLS-117sres187ats.xml |
117-sres-188 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 188 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 28, 2021 Mr. Marshall (for himself, Mr. Daines , Mr. Braun , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Moran , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Hagerty , and Mr. Lankford ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing appreciation and recognition for the Trump Administration for the creation of Operation Warp Speed and the historic development of a COVID–19 vaccine.
Whereas COVID–19 has infected more than 28,000,000 people in the United States and taken the lives of more than 500,000; Whereas, on May 15, 2020, President Trump unveiled Operation Warp Speed, the nationwide effort to accelerate development of an effective COVID–19 vaccine; Whereas Operation Warp Speed successfully deliver[ed] by the end of [2020] a vaccine at scale to treat the American people ; Whereas Operation Warp Speed, to date, has supported the authorization of 3 COVID–19 vaccines in 9 months, rather than years; Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services partnered together to support the development, manufacturing, delivery, and administration of such COVID–19 vaccines; Whereas the Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, praised the Trump Administration for the unprecedented success of Operation Warp Speed including that multiple safe and effective COVID–19 vaccines got done in 11 months from when we first knew about this virus [which] is at least 5 years faster than it's ever been before ; Whereas, on October 16, 2020, the Trump Administration and Operation Warp Speed announced a public-private partnership to leverage the expertise of certain private sector entities to distribute and administer COVID–19 vaccines to nursing homes and long-term care facilities as quickly as possible, protecting the most at-risk populations in the United States; Whereas, on December 8, 2020, President Trump signed an Executive Order prioritizing access for the people of the United States to the COVID–19 vaccines purchased by the United States Government; Whereas, on December 11, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the first vaccine for emergency use to prevent COVID–19; Whereas, on December 14, 2020, an intensive care unit nurse in New York City became the first person to receive the COVID–19 vaccine in the United States; Whereas Operation Warp Speed helped to support development, manufacturing, and distribution of vaccines, including procuring an initial 400,000,000 doses of COVID–19 vaccines, contract options that the Biden Administration is reportedly levergaing to purchase additional doses; Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by the time President Trump left office, more than 21,000,000 doses of a COVID–19 vaccine had been administered in the United States; Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on January 20, 2021, the last day in office for President Trump, 1,511,443 doses of a COVID–19 vaccine were administered, setting the United States on pace to meet the initial goal of the Biden Administration to administer 100,000,000 vaccines within the first 100 days of the Biden presidency; and Whereas the rapid development and deployment of COVID–19 vaccines has helped the United States combat the spread of COVID–19, protect at-risk populations in the United States, and begin the process of reopening the schools, offices, and public spaces of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the accomplishments of the Trump Administration and Operation Warp Speed in supporting the development of COVID–19 vaccines; and (2) expresses sincere gratitude to President Trump and his Cabinet for the vital contributions of Operation Warp Speed to supporting public health. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres188is/xml/BILLS-117sres188is.xml |
117-sres-189 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 189 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. McConnell (for himself and Mr. Paul ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the University of Kentucky’s Women's Volleyball Team for winning the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Volleyball Championship.
Whereas, on April 24, 2021, in Omaha, Nebraska, the women’s volleyball team of the University of Kentucky won its first National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Volleyball Championship by defeating the University of Texas in a 4-set victory; Whereas the players, coaches, and staff of the University of Kentucky displayed hard work and dedication in a challenging pandemic season concluding the year with 24 wins, only 1 loss, and their 4th consecutive Southeastern Conference title; Whereas Madison Lilley, Alli Stumler, and Avery Skinner were selected for the all-tournament team; Whereas Madison Lilley was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and the National Player of the Year; Whereas head coach Craig Skinner was named Coach of the Year and has earned a NCAA Tournament berth every year during his 16 years with the program; Whereas all of the coaching and support staff of the University of Kentucky Wildcats deserve congratulations, including Craig Skinner, Anders Nelson, Carly Cramer, Kristen Sanford, Katy Poole, Jake Romano, Nathan Matthews, Dr. Kimberly Kaiser, Dr. Scott D. Mair, Dr. Kyle Smoot, Dr. Rob Hosey, Kathrin Eiserman, John Spurlock, Damian Black, Chris Shoals, Zach Ball, Faith Wise, and Bryce Penick; Whereas all of the following players should be congratulated for their teamwork, sportsmanship, and display of impressive athletic talent, including— (1) Bella Bell; (2) Maddie Berezowitz; (3) Gabby Curry; (4) Sophie Fischer; (5) Elise Goetzinger; (6) Madison Lilley; (7) Kendyl Paris; (8) Reagan Rutherford; (9) Cameron Scheitzach; (10) Avery Skinner; (11) Madi Skinner; (12) Alli Stumler; (13) Azhani Tealer; (14) Lauren Tharp; and (15) Riah Walker; and Whereas the University of Kentucky Wildcats are the pride of the students, alumni, and loyal fans of the University and the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the University of Kentucky Wildcats for— (A) winning the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Volleyball Championship; and (B) completing a successful 2020–2021 season; and (2) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate prepare an official copy of this resolution for presentation to— (A) the President of the University of Kentucky, Dr. Eli Capilouto; (B) the Athletics Director of the University of Kentucky, Mitch Barnhart; and (C) the Head Coach of the University of Kentucky Women's Volleyball Team, Craig Skinner. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres189ats/xml/BILLS-117sres189ats.xml |
117-sres-190 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 190 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Wicker , Mr. Peters , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Tester , Mr. Moran , Mr. Markey , Mr. Luján , Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Baldwin , and Ms. Klobuchar ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Recognizing 50 years of service by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, commonly known as Amtrak.
Whereas, on October 30, 1970, Congress enacted the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 ( Public Law 91–518 ; 84 Stat. 1327), which created the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (commonly known and referred to in this preamble as Amtrak ) to assume the responsibility of providing the United States with nationwide passenger rail service, which began on May 1, 1971; Whereas May 1, 2021, marks 50 years since the date Amtrak began providing passenger rail service to individuals in the United States; Whereas Amtrak connects over 500 communities across 46 States, the District of Columbia, and 3 Canadian Provinces; Whereas, in 2019, Amtrak provided over 32,000,000 trips, the highest yearly ridership in its history; Whereas the total annual economic impact of Amtrak and the passengers it serves across the United States exceeds $8,000,000,000; Whereas Amtrak has formed valuable partnerships with 17 States to operate 28 regionalized routes, which resulted in 15,400,000 trips in 2019; Whereas Amtrak operates 15 long-distance routes that resulted in 4,600,000 trips in 2019; Whereas the Acela and the Northeast Regional, 2 services of Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor, provided 12,500,000 trips in 2019; and Whereas Amtrak provides a number of essential services and public benefits, which include— (1) serving as the only source of public transportation in many rural communities; (2) employing approximately 16,000 people and supporting tens of thousands of additional jobs in the communities it serves; and (3) because Amtrak is 47 percent more energy efficient than car travel and 33 percent more energy efficient than air travel (as measured by passenger miles), providing an environmentally friendly way to travel: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate recognizes— (1) 50 years of service by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (commonly known and referred to in this resolution as Amtrak ); (2) the need for safe and affordable national passenger rail service in the United States; (3) that Amtrak provides a vital connection for both urban and rural communities throughout the United States and, in the process, contributes to the economic growth of those communities; and (4) that the restoration and expansion of the services that Amtrak provides is in the interest of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres190is/xml/BILLS-117sres190is.xml |
117-sres-191 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 191 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Peters (for himself, Mrs. Fischer , Ms. Cantwell , and Mr. Wicker ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.
Whereas, each year, the underground utility infrastructure of the United States, including pipelines, electric, gas, telecommunications, water, sewer, and cable television lines, is jeopardized by unintentional damage caused by those who fail to locate underground utility lines prior to digging; Whereas some utility lines are buried only a few inches underground, making the lines easy to strike, even during shallow digging projects; Whereas digging prior to locating underground utility lines often results in unintended consequences, such as service interruption, environmental damage, personal injury, and even death; Whereas the month of April marks the beginning of the peak period during which excavation projects are carried out around the United States; Whereas, in 2002, Congress required the Department of Transportation and the Federal Communications Commission to establish a 3-digit, nationwide, toll-free number to be used by State One Call systems to provide information on underground utility lines; Whereas, in 2005, the Federal Communications Commission designated 811 as the nationwide One Call number for homeowners and excavators to use to obtain information on underground utility lines before conducting excavation activities; Whereas the 1,700 members of the Common Ground Alliance, who are dedicated to ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services, promote the national Call Before You Dig campaign to increase public awareness about the importance of homeowners and excavators calling 811 to find out the exact location of underground utility lines; Whereas the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 ( Public Law 112–90 ; 125 Stat. 1904) affirmed and expanded the One Call program by eliminating exemptions given to local and State government agencies and their contractors regarding notifying One Call centers before digging; Whereas, according to the Common Ground Alliance’s 2019 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report published in October 2020, there were an estimated 532,000 instances of excavation-related damage to underground facilities in the United States during 2019, a 4.5-percent increase from the Common Ground Alliance's 2018 estimate; Whereas the Common Ground Alliance conducted a survey in 2020 and found that 50 percent of the more than 1,800 respondents were aware of 811, the highest level since the survey was first conducted in 2008; Whereas the Common Ground Alliance estimated that the societal costs of excavation-related damage to buried utilities were $30,000,000,000 in 2019, including costs for facility repair, property damage, medical bills, and costs to the surrounding businesses affected by the resulting utility outages; and Whereas the Common Ground Alliance has designated April as National Safe Digging Month to increase awareness of safe digging practices across the United States and to celebrate the anniversary of 811, the national Call Before You Dig number: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month; (2) encourages all homeowners and excavators throughout the United States to call 811 before digging; and (3) encourages all damage prevention stakeholders to help educate homeowners and excavators throughout the United States about the importance of calling 811 before digging. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres191is/xml/BILLS-117sres191is.xml |
117-sres-192 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 192 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Ms. Ernst (for herself and Mr. Peters ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of May 2021 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month .
Whereas motorcycling is a great United States tradition enjoyed by an estimated 30,000,000 people annually, representing approximately 11 percent of the population; Whereas motorcycles are a valuable component of the transportation mix; Whereas motorcycles are fuel-efficient and decrease congestion while having little impact on our Nation’s transportation infrastructure; Whereas the motorcycling community promotes rider safety education, licensing, and motorcycle awareness; Whereas the motorcycling community is committed to decreasing motorcycle crashes through training and safety education, personal responsibility, and increased public awareness; Whereas approximately 91 percent of motorcycles are operated on highways in conjunction with other vehicles; Whereas motorcyclist deaths occur more frequently than fatalities in passenger vehicles; Whereas motorcycle awareness is beneficial to all road users and will help decrease motorcycle accidents; and Whereas the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration promotes Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to encourage riders to be properly licensed, receive training, wear personal protective equipment, such as helmets, jackets, boots, and gloves, and to remind all riders and motorists to always share the road: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of May 2021 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month ; (2) recognizes the contribution of motorcycles to the transportation mix; (3) encourages motorcycle awareness by all road users; (4) recognizes that motorcyclists have a right to the road and that all motorists should safely share the roadways; (5) encourages rider safety education, training, and proper gear for safe motorcycle operation; and (6) supports the goals of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres192is/xml/BILLS-117sres192is.xml |
117-sres-193 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 193 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Cornyn , Ms. Smith , and Ms. Hassan ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of the week of May 2, 2021, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and the day of May 9, 2021, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day .
Whereas children in the United States were already experiencing a public health crisis regarding mental and behavioral health before the additional challenges of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic; Whereas a 2013 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that mental disorders affect between 13 and 20 percent of children in a given year and cost approximately $247,000,000,000 annually; Whereas the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly ½ of adolescents aged 13 to 18 years old will experience some form of a mental disorder; Whereas, in 2019, over 11 percent of children ages 3 to 17 years old received treatment or counseling from a mental health professional, according to the United States Census Bureau; Whereas suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24 years old, and 90 percent of those individuals have an underlying mental illness; Whereas, during the COVID–19 pandemic, increased isolation and collective trauma have led to an increase in demand for mental health services for children, with the proportion of mental health-related visits to emergency rooms for children increasing from approximately 24 to 31 percent between 2019 and 2020; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has also laid bare the inequities in our mental health delivery system for all populations, and such inequities have disproportionately impacted children and adults who have been exposed to adverse childhood experiences prior to and during the pandemic; and Whereas the stigma of accessing mental and behavioral health services persisted before the COVID–19 pandemic, and acknowledging this public health crisis and creating awareness as early as possible is as important as ever: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of the week of May 2, 2021, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and the day of May 9, 2021, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day ; (2) recognizes the importance of connecting children with appropriate mental and behavioral health services and supports; (3) seeks to create awareness regarding the additional challenges children and their families have faced during the COVID–19 pandemic due to isolation from family and peers, exposure to traumas, and barriers to mental and behavioral health services and supports; (4) supports programs and services aimed at expanding access to care, building resiliency, and addressing trauma; and (5) appreciates and extends its gratitude to family members, friends, educators, mental and behavioral health service providers, and others in their support for children’s mental health and well-being. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres193is/xml/BILLS-117sres193is.xml |
117-sres-194 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 194 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Risch , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Braun , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Crapo , Ms. Smith , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Manchin , Ms. Collins , Mrs. Murray , and Mr. Wicker ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Celebrating the 149th anniversary of Arbor Day.
Whereas Arbor Day was founded on April 10, 1872, to recognize the importance of planting trees; Whereas Arbor Day is a time to recognize the importance of trees and an opportunity for communities to gather and plant for a greener future; Whereas Arbor Day is observed in all 50 States and across the world; Whereas participating in Arbor Day activities promotes civic participation and highlights the importance of planting and caring for trees and vegetation; Whereas such activities provide an opportunity to convey to future generations the value of land and stewardship; Whereas working forests have contributed to an increase in the number of trees planted in the United States and are sustainably managed, with less than 2 percent of working forests nationally harvested each year; Whereas a key factor in preventing forest conversion and deforestation is keeping forests productive; Whereas working forests are a critical part of a nature-based solution to climate change, and by providing a continuous cycle of growing, harvesting, and replanting, active forest management maximizes the ability to sequester and store carbon and improves forest resilience; Whereas private forests play an important role in conserving at-risk and declining species, and collaborative conservation efforts can benefit species while also helping to keep forests as forests; Whereas sustainably grown wood can be used in a wide variety of resilient infrastructure and building applications—from traditional timber framing to high-tech bridges to high-rise buildings made of mass timber—and as a natural, renewable, and biodegradable material, substituting wood for other materials in buildings and bridges could significantly decrease global carbon emissions; Whereas the Arbor Day Foundation and the Tree City USA program have been committed to greening cities and towns across the country since 1976, and in that time, more than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA; Whereas Tree City USA communities are home to more than 143,000,000 people in the United States who are dedicated to core standards of sound urban forestry management and who dedicate resources and time to urban forestry initiatives, which helps make their communities and our country a better place to live; Whereas National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday of April each year; and Whereas April 30, 2021, marks the 149th anniversary of Arbor Day: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes April 30, 2021, as National Arbor Day ; (2) celebrates the 149th anniversary of Arbor Day; (3) supports the goals and ideals of National Arbor Day; and (4) encourages the people of the United States to participate in National Arbor Day activities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres194is/xml/BILLS-117sres194is.xml |
117-sres-195 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 195 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Inhofe (for himself, Mr. Lankford , Mr. Boozman , and Mr. Cotton ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works RESOLUTION Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.
Whereas June 5, 2021, marks the 50th anniversary of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (referred to in this preamble as MKARNS ); Whereas, in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1946 ( Public Law 79–525 ), Congress authorized the Army Corps of Engineers (commonly referred to as the Corps ) to undertake comprehensive improvements on the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers, which served as the foundation of the MKARNS; Whereas the MKARNS opened for full use in December 1970, which, after over 20 years and $1,200,000,000, was the largest civil works project undertaken by the Corps at the time; Whereas President Richard M. Nixon officially dedicated the MKARNS on June 5, 1971, at a ceremony at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, Oklahoma; Whereas the MKARNS is named for United States Senator John L. McClellan of Arkansas and former Oklahoma Governor and United States Senator Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma, who advocated for the creation of an expansive, inland waterway system; Whereas the MKARNS is 445 river miles long, with 18 locks and dams, spans from Catoosa, Oklahoma, to the Mississippi River, and serves commerce from a 12-State region consisting of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, and Idaho; Whereas the MKARNS provides year-round, accessible inland waterway transportation to 5 public ports, 50 private port terminals, and over 90 industries; Whereas, on an annual basis, the MKARNS provides for $8,500,000,000 in sales impacts, $1,600,000,000 in transportation cost savings, and $289,000,000 in business taxes; Whereas the MKARNS contributes to 56,000 full- and part-time jobs, and 20 percent of all jobs in the United States are linked to waterborne commerce supported by the inland waterway system; Whereas, on average, 11,000,000 tons of commodities with a value upwards of $4,000,000,000 travels on the MKARNS annually, with sand, gravel, rock, chemical fertilizer, iron, and steel accounting for nearly 60 percent of all waterborne commerce; Whereas there are 4 designated Foreign-Trade Zones along the navigation system at the public ports at Catoosa, Muskogee, Little Rock, and Pine Bluff; Whereas the MKARNS allows for the lowest-cost and most environmentally friendly method of moving goods, with 1 barge transporting the equivalent of 15 jumbo railcars and 60 large semi-trailers; Whereas, in 2015, the Corps upgraded the classification of the MKARNS from Connector to Corridor on the National Marine Highway, designated the MKARNS as a high-use waterway system, and labeled the MKARNS as Marine Highway 40; Whereas Congress authorized multiple uses for the MKARNS, including navigation, flood control, hydropower, recreation, water supply, and wildlife conservation; Whereas, through the end of 2020, Arkansas River Basin projects, including the MKARNS, are estimated to have cumulatively prevented nearly $16,000,000,000 in flood damages in the Arkansas River Basin region; Whereas there are 15 hydropower plants on the MKARNS which provide low-cost power to 7,000,000 people and produce 2,500,000 kilo-watt-hours per year; Whereas inland waterways provide many recreational opportunities, such as fishing, boating, and hiking, and over 4,000 recreational vessels lock through the MKARNS and 5,400,000 people visit Corps-operated recreation areas along the MKARNS annually; Whereas modernization of the MKARNS will empower future economic development, promote freight mobility, expand agricultural exports and oil and gas development, and relieve congestion on our roads and bridges; Whereas the increased backlog in critical maintenance causes the economic uncertainty of complete navigation disruption on the MKARNS, which would cost beneficiaries up to $2,000,000 per day; Whereas Congress authorized the MKARNS to be deepened to 12 feet in 2003, and approximately 90 percent of the MKARNS is already 12-feet deep; Whereas the capacity of each barge could be increased by 200 tons for each additional foot of draft, increasing the overall freight capacity of the MKARNS by 40 percent and resulting in over $250,000,000 in increased business sales annually; and Whereas Oklahoma, Arkansas, the surrounding region, and the entire Nation have benefitted, and will continue to benefit, greatly from the MKARNS: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors 2021 as the 50th anniversary of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System; (2) recognizes that investments in inland waterway navigation infrastructure are an investment in the long-term strength and security of the United States economy; and (3) commits to completing the deepening of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System from 9 feet to 12 feet. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres195is/xml/BILLS-117sres195is.xml |
117-sres-196 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 196 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Daines (for himself, Mr. Tester , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Luján , Mr. Schatz , Ms. Murkowski , and Mr. Crapo ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating May 5, 2021, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls .
Whereas, according to a study commissioned by the Department of Justice, in some Tribal communities, American Indian women face murder rates that are more than 10 times the national average murder rate; Whereas, according to the most recently available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2017, homicide was the sixth leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native females between 1 and 44 years of age; Whereas little data exist on the number of missing American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States; Whereas, on July 5, 2013, Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, was reported missing by her family in Lame Deer, Montana; Whereas the body of Hanna Harris was found 5 days after she went missing; Whereas Hanna Harris was determined to have been raped and murdered, and the individuals accused of committing those crimes were convicted; Whereas the case of Hanna Harris is an example of many similar cases; and Whereas Hanna Harris was born on May 5, 1992: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates May 5, 2021, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls ; and (2) calls on the people of the United States and interested groups— (A) to commemorate the lives of missing and murdered American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women whose cases are documented and undocumented in public records and the media; and (B) to demonstrate solidarity with the families of victims in light of those tragedies. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres196ats/xml/BILLS-117sres196ats.xml |
117-sres-197 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 197 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Blunt (for himself and Mr. Hawley ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2021, as Silver Star Service Banner Day .
Whereas the Senate has always honored the sacrifices made by the wounded and ill members of the Armed Forces; Whereas the Silver Star Service Banner has come to represent the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who were wounded or became ill in combat in the wars fought by the United States; Whereas the Silver Star Families of America was formed to help the people of the United States remember the sacrifices made by the wounded and ill members of the Armed Forces by designing and manufacturing Silver Star Service Banners and Silver Star Flags for that purpose; Whereas the sole mission of the Silver Star Families of America is to evoke memories of the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and veterans on behalf of the United States through the presence of a Silver Star Service Banner in a window or a Silver Star Flag flying; Whereas the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and veterans on behalf of the United States should never be forgotten; and Whereas May 1, 2021, is an appropriate date to designate as Silver Star Service Banner Day : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of May 1, 2021, as Silver Star Service Banner Day ; and (2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe Silver Star Service Banner Day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres197ats/xml/BILLS-117sres197ats.xml |
117-sres-198 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 198 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Brown (for himself, Ms. Collins , Mr. Kaine , Ms. Hirono , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Warren , Mr. Whitehouse , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Manchin , Mr. Booker , Mr. King , Mr. Casey , Ms. Smith , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Murphy , Ms. Klobuchar , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Peters , Mr. Braun , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Young , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , and Mr. Carper ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the roles and contributions of the teachers of the United States in building and enhancing the civic, cultural, and economic well-being of the United States.
Whereas education and knowledge are the foundation of the current and future strength of the United States; Whereas teachers and other education staff have earned and deserve the respect of their students and communities for the selfless dedication of the teachers and staff to community service and the futures of the children of the United States; Whereas school communities, teachers, and other education staff have risen to the occasion to support their students and communities amid the significant challenges posed by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic, including by— (1) coordinating remote and hybrid learning; (2) supporting the mental health of students; (3) providing meals to students in need; and (4) distributing technology to students; Whereas the purposes of National Teacher Appreciation Week, celebrated from May 3, 2021, through May 7, 2021, are— (1) to raise public awareness of the unquantifiable contributions of teachers; and (2) to promote greater respect and understanding for the teaching profession; and Whereas students, schools, communities, and a number of organizations representing educators are recognizing the importance of teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) thanks the teachers of the United States; and (2) promotes the profession of teaching and the contributions of educators by encouraging students, parents, school administrators, and public officials to recognize National Teacher Appreciation Week. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres198ats/xml/BILLS-117sres198ats.xml |
117-sres-199 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 199 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Warnock (for himself, Mr. Grassley , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Markey , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Casey , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Carper , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Reed , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Kaine , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Brown , Mr. Padilla , Mrs. Murray , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Coons , Mr. Menendez , Ms. Cortez Masto , Ms. Baldwin , Ms. Klobuchar , Ms. Warren , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Merkley , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Ossoff , Ms. Smith , Mr. Cardin , and Mr. Booker ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the commitment of the Senate to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
Whereas, on March 16, 2021, a shooter murdered 8 people and injured 1 in the Atlanta, Georgia region in 3 separate shootings that took place at Asian American-owned spas; Whereas the people of the United States mourn the 8 innocent lives lost—7 of whom were women, 6 of whom were women of Asian descent, and several of whom were immigrants; Whereas the victims included Xiaojie Emily Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun González, Paul Andre Michels, Yong Ae Yue, Soon Chung Julie Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Suncha Kim; Whereas 49-year-old Xiaojie Emily Tan, a hardworking mother and the owner of one of the spas, was a dedicated and caring business owner who is survived by her daughter and husband; Whereas 44-year-old Daoyou Feng was an employee who recently began working at one of the spas; Whereas 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun González, a newlywed and mother of 2, was at one of the spas to receive a couple’s massage with her husband when her life was cut short; Whereas 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels was a caring husband and United States Army veteran who did maintenance work for one of the spas and is survived by his wife; Whereas 63-year-old Yong Ae Yue was a mother of 2 sons who was known for her kindness and generosity and her love of her pet Shih Tzu; Whereas 74-year-old Soon Chung Julie Park was a mother and grandmother who helped manage one of the spas and helped to prepare meals for the employees; Whereas 51-year-old Hyun Jung Grant was a former elementary school teacher and hardworking single mother who dedicated her life to raising her 2 sons; Whereas 69-year-old Suncha Kim was a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed line dancing and had been married for more than 50 years; Whereas the Georgia shootings came in the midst of an alarming surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents that have caused many Asian Americans across the United States to feel fearful and unsafe; Whereas the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric, whether related to the COVID–19 pandemic or not, is completely unacceptable and should be condemned by all people of the United States; Whereas, in 2020, anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150 percent in major cities throughout the United States; Whereas, according to a recent report by Stop AAPI Hate, there were nearly 3,800 reported cases of anti-Asian discrimination related to COVID–19 between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021; Whereas 68 percent of reported incidents of anti-Asian hate targeted Asian American women, a population that has been historically marginalized, sexualized, and fetishized; Whereas, on March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Asian American leaders in Georgia and reaffirmed their strong commitment to condemning and combating racism, xenophobia, and violence targeting the Asian American community; and Whereas the people of the United States will always remember the victims of these shootings and stand in solidarity with those affected by this senseless tragedy: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) condemns the heinous and inexcusable acts of gun violence that led to the tragic loss of 8 lives in Georgia on March 16, 2021; (2) condemns any racism and sexism in the choice of the shooter to target Asian American-owned businesses and murder 6 women of Asian descent; (3) honors the memory of the victims, offers heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and recognizes that the healing process will be long and difficult for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and all communities impacted by this tragedy; and (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States Federal Government to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres199ats/xml/BILLS-117sres199ats.xml |
117-sres-200 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 200 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Durbin , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Warnock , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Scott of Florida , Ms. Ernst , Mr. Wicker , Ms. Collins , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Romney , Mr. Moran , Mr. Young , Mr. Cassidy , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Portman , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Risch , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Ossoff , and Ms. Hassan ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Condemning recent hate crimes committed against Asian American and Pacific Islanders.
Whereas following the spread of COVID–19 in 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in hate crimes and violence against Asian American and Pacific Islanders; Whereas between March 19, 2020, and February 28, 2021, there have been 3,795 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate incidents and crimes reported from all 50 States, United States territories, and the District of Columbia; Whereas during this timeframe, race has been cited as the primary reason for discrimination, making up over 90 percent of incidents; Whereas roughly 36 percent of these incidents took place at a business and more than 2,000,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander businesses have contributed to the diverse fabric of American life; Whereas during this time, Asian American and Pacific Islander youth under 20 years old make up approximately 13 percent of victims; Whereas during this time, Asian American and Pacific Islander elderly over 60 years old make up approximately 7 percent of victims; Whereas, on January 28, 2021, Vicha Ratanapakdee died from injuries after being horrifically attacked in front of his home; Whereas the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles has warned Thai people in California to be on their guard following the killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee; Whereas, on March 16, 2021, the following 8 people were murdered in 3 Asian American-owned spas in Atlanta, Georgia: Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun González, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, and Yong Ae Yue; Whereas 6 of the Americans killed in Atlanta on March 16, 2021, were women of Asian descent – Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, and Yong Ae Yue; Whereas 1 of the Americans killed in Atlanta on March 16, 2021, was a veteran who served in the United States Army – Paul Andre Michels; and Whereas Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made significant contributions to American culture: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) affirms that the United States stands united in condemning and denouncing any and all anti-Asian and Pacific Islander sentiment in any form; (2) condemns all manifestations or expressions of racism, and anti-Asian and Pacific Islander or ethnic intolerance; (3) calls on the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate to strongly consider holding a hearing related to the surge in violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; (4) applauds the Department of Justice’s commitment to conduct a 30-day review of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which will seek to improve the Federal Government’s capacity to track and identify hate incidents, review civil enforcement authorities, and assess whether additional money is needed to support law enforcement’s response to the surge in violence; and (5) calls on Federal law enforcement officials, working with State and local officials— (A) to expeditiously and vigorously investigate all reports of Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes in the United States; (B) to work to improve the reporting of Asian American and Pacific Islander hate crimes; and (C) to hold the perpetrators of those crimes accountable and bring the perpetrators to justice. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres200ats/xml/BILLS-117sres200ats.xml |
117-sres-201 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 201 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Portman (for himself, Mr. Durbin , Ms. Warren , Mr. Sanders , Mr. King , and Mr. Schatz ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration RESOLUTION Amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to enable the participation of absent Senators during a national crisis.
1. Participation of absent Senators during a national crisis Rule XII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by adding at the end the following: 5. Senators may use technology that has been approved by the Secretary of the Senate and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate as reliable and secure to cast their votes from outside of the Senate Chamber if the majority leader or his or her designee and the minority leader or his or her designee jointly determine that an extraordinary crisis of national extent exists in which it would be infeasible for Senators to cast their votes in person. If such a crisis is determined to exist, Senators may cast votes under this paragraph during the 30-day period beginning on the date on which such determination is made, unless such period is extended for one or more additional 30-day periods by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn. During such period, Senators participating remotely and using approved technology to cast their votes under this paragraph shall be deemed present for purposes of establishing the presence of a quorum. The determination made under this paragraph shall not rely on any decision of any other branch of the United States Government. The majority leader or his or her designee and the minority leader or his or her designee shall submit at the beginning of the first session of each Congress an order for designees of each caucus in the case of such a crisis. . | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres201is/xml/BILLS-117sres201is.xml |
117-sres-202 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 202 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Collins , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Booker , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Cardin , and Mr. Coons ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating May 7, 2021, as United States Foreign Service Day in recognition of the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States, and honoring the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty.
Whereas the Foreign Service of the United States (referred to in this preamble as the Foreign Service ) was established through the enactment of the Act entitled An Act for the reorganization and improvement of the Foreign Service of the United States, and for other purposes. , approved May 24, 1924 (43 Stat. 140, chapter 182) (commonly known as the Rogers Act of 1924 ), and is now celebrating its 97th anniversary; Whereas the Rogers Act of 1924 established a career organization based on competitive examination and merit promotion; Whereas, in 2021, just less than 16,000 men and women of the Foreign Service are serving at home and abroad; Whereas Foreign Service personnel are supported by more than 60,000 locally engaged staff in nearly 300 embassies and consulates, who provide unique expertise and crucial links to host countries; Whereas Foreign Service personnel comprise employees from the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the United States Agency for Global Media; Whereas the diplomatic, consular, communications, trade, development, security, public diplomacy, and numerous other functions that Foreign Service personnel perform constitute the first and most cost-effective instrument of the United States to protect and promote United States interests abroad; Whereas the men and women of the Foreign Service and their families are increasingly exposed to risks and danger, even in times of peace, and many have died in the service of the United States; Whereas employees of the Foreign Service work daily— (1) to ensure the national security of the United States; (2) to provide assistance to United States citizens overseas; (3) to preserve peace, freedom, and economic prosperity around the world; (4) to promote the ideals and values of the United States, internationally recognized human rights, freedom, equal opportunities for women and girls, rule of law, and democracy; (5) to promote transparency, provide accurate information, and combat disinformation; (6) to cultivate new markets for United States products and services and develop new investment opportunities that create jobs in the United States and promote prosperity; (7) to promote economic development, reduce poverty, end hunger and malnutrition, fight disease, combat international crime and illegal drugs, and address environmental degradation; and (8) to provide emergency and humanitarian assistance to respond to crises around the world; Whereas, in response to the unprecedented global COVID–19 pandemic, all of the foreign affairs agencies of the United States have worked tirelessly to support the people of the United States, often placing their own safety and well-being at risk; Whereas the foreign affairs agencies and the American Foreign Service Association have observed Foreign Service Day in May for many years; and Whereas it is both appropriate and just for the United States as a whole to recognize the dedication of the men and women of the Foreign Service and to honor the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the loyal pursuit of their duties and responsibilities representing the interests of the United States and of its citizens: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States for their dedicated and important service to the United States; (2) calls on the people of the United States to reflect on the service and sacrifice of past, present, and future employees of the Foreign Service of the United States, wherever they serve, with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and (3) designates May 7, 2021, as United States Foreign Service Day to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Foreign Service of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres202is/xml/BILLS-117sres202is.xml |
117-sres-203 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 203 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Young (for himself and Mr. Braun ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Condemning the horrific attack in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 15, 2021, and expressing support and prayers for all of those impacted by that tragedy.
Whereas, on April 15, 2021, a mass shooting took place in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the FedEx Ground Plainfield Operations Center; Whereas the people of the United States mourn the 8 innocent lives lost in that unthinkable tragedy: Matthew Alexander, Samaria Blackwell, Amarjeet Kaur Johal, Jasvinder Kaur, Amarjit Sekhon, Jaswinder Singh, Karli Smith, and John Weisert; Whereas the people of the United States express gratitude for the heroic actions of the men and women of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, who courageously responded to the attack and saved countless lives; Whereas the people of the United States express appreciation and gratitude for all of the first responders who quickly responded to the attack and the professionals and volunteers who cared for the injured; Whereas the people of the United States continue to pray for the individuals who were wounded in the attack and continue to recover; Whereas the entire Indianapolis community—and all Hoosiers—united in support of the victims and their families; and Whereas the people of the United States will always remember the victims of this attack and stand in solidarity with those affected by this senseless tragedy: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) condemns the senseless attack that led to the tragic loss of 8 lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Thursday, April 15, 2021; (2) honors the memory of the victims who were killed; (3) expresses hope for a full and speedy recovery and pledges continued support for the individuals injured in the attack; (4) offers heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the Indianapolis community and the families, friends, and loved ones affected by the tragedy; and (5) honors the selfless and dedicated service of— (A) the medical professionals and other individuals who cared for the victims in the community of Marion County, Indiana; (B) the emergency response teams and law enforcement officials who responded to the call of duty; and (C) the law enforcement officials who continue to investigate the attack. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres203is/xml/BILLS-117sres203is.xml |
117-sres-204 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 204 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2021 Mr. Marshall submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration RESOLUTION Establishing a Select Committee on the Outbreak of the Coronavirus in China.
1. Establishment of Select Committee on the Outbreak of the Coronavirus in China There is established a select investigative committee of the Senate, to be known as the Select Committee on the Outbreak of the Coronavirus in China (referred to in this resolution as the select committee ), to investigate the outbreak of the COVID–19 virus in or around Wuhan, China. 2. Membership (a) Composition The select committee shall be composed of not more than 12 Senators, of whom 6 shall be appointed by the Majority Leader and 6 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader. (b) Chairperson; vice-Chairperson The Majority Leader shall designate 1 member of the select committee as the chairperson of the select committee, and the Minority Leader shall designate 1 member of the select committee as the vice-chairperson of the select committee. (c) Exemption For purposes of paragraph 4 of rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, service of a Senator as a member or chairperson of the select committee shall not be taken into account. (d) Vacancies Any vacancy in the select committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 3. Investigation and report (a) Investigation The select committee shall conduct a full and complete investigation and study regarding— (1) identification of the source of the COVID–19 virus and the route of human-to-human transmission beginning in or around Wuhan, China; (2) secret research and gain-of-function zoonic research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (referred to in this section as WIV ); (3) training operations and safety standards at the WIV; (4) cases of researchers at the WIV laboratory becoming sick or demonstrating COVID–19-like symptoms in 2019 or 2020; (5) cables and other communications from 2017 to 2021 from employees of the Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding activities and research at the WIV; (6) response from officials of the Department of State and National Security Council in Washington, DC to the cables and other communications described in paragraph (5); (7) funding distributed to the WIV by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institutes of Health, and institutions of higher education of the United States; (8) funding of gain-of-function research by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the 2014–2017 moratorium on such research; (9) research and possible leaks from the Wuhan Center for Disease Control; (10) information regarding efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to silence journalists and doctors, destroy samples of the COVID–19 virus, and block United States and other foreign investigators, including investigations surrounding the Chinese Communist Party's misinformation campaign through social media, traditional news outlets, and other propaganda outlets; (11) the origination of claims that the pandemic spread from a seafood market in Wuhan, China and the closure and sanitation of the market; (12) actions taken by the World Health Organization, including actions taken by Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other World Health Organization officials, to spread Chinese misinformation and the failure of the World Health Organization to meet the Organization's charter to prevent the international spread of disease; and (13) the impact of failing to shut down travel in and out of Wuhan, China, the Hubei province, and greater China. (b) Reports The select committee— (1) shall issue a final report to the Senate of its findings from the investigation and study described in subsection (a) by not later than 1 year after the date of adoption of this resolution; and (2) may issue to the Senate such interim reports as the select committee determines necessary. 4. Authorities and powers (a) In general For the purposes of this resolution, the select committee is authorized in its discretion— (1) to make investigations into any matter within its jurisdiction; (2) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of the Senate; (3) to employ personnel; (4) to hold hearings; (5) to sit and act at any time or place during the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate; (6) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, papers, and documents; (7) to take depositions and other testimony; (8) to procure the services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof, in accordance with section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 ( 2 U.S.C. 4301(i) ); and (9) with the prior consent of the government department or agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and Administration, to use on a reimbursable basis the services of personnel of any such department or agency. (b) Oaths The chairperson of the select committee or any member thereof may administer oaths to witnesses. (c) Subpoenas A subpoena authorized by the select committee— (1) may be issued under the signature of the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, or any member of the select committee designated by the chairperson; and (2) may be served by any person designated by the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, or other member signing the subpoena. (d) Committee rules The select committee shall adopt rules (not inconsistent with the rules of the Senate and in accordance with rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate) governing the procedure of the select committee, which shall include addressing how often the select committee shall meet, meeting times and location, type of notifications, notices of hearings, duration of the select committee, and records of the select committee after committee activities are complete. 5. Termination The select committee shall terminate on the day after the date the report required under section 3(b)(1) is submitted. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres204is/xml/BILLS-117sres204is.xml |
117-sres-205 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 205 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2021 Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Booker , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Boozman , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mrs. Capito , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Braun , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Brown , Mr. Markey , Mr. Padilla , and Mr. Sullivan ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month in April 2021, which include bringing attention to the health disparities faced by minority populations of the United States such as American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.
Whereas the origin of National Minority Health Month is National Negro Health Week, established in 1915 by Dr. Booker T. Washington; Whereas the theme for National Minority Health Month in 2021 is Vaccine Ready ; Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services has set goals and strategies to enhance and protect the health and well-being of the people of the United States; Whereas a study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, entitled The Economic Burden of Health Inequalities in the United States , concludes that, between 2003 and 2006, the combined cost of health inequalities and premature death in the United States was $1,240,000,000,000; Whereas African American women were as likely to have been diagnosed with breast cancer as non-Hispanic White women, but African American women were about 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic White women between 2012 and 2016; Whereas African American women lose their lives to cervical cancer at more than twice the rate of non-Hispanic White women; Whereas African American men are 70 percent more likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic White men; Whereas Hispanics are twice as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to suffer from end-stage renal disease caused by diabetes, and are 30 percent more likely to die of diabetes, than non-Hispanic Whites; Whereas the HIV diagnosis rate among Hispanic men is more than 3 times the HIV diagnosis rate among non-Hispanic White men; Whereas the HIV diagnosis rate among Hispanic women is 4 times the HIV diagnosis rate among non-Hispanic White women; Whereas, in 2018, although African Americans represented only 13 percent of the population of the United States, African Americans accounted for 42 percent of new HIV diagnoses; Whereas, in 2018, African American youth accounted for an estimated 51 percent, and Hispanic youth accounted for an estimated 27 percent, of all new HIV diagnoses among youth in the United States; Whereas, in 2016, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were 1.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than non-Hispanic Whites; Whereas, in 2018, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites; Whereas Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are 10 percent more likely to die from cancer than non-Hispanic Whites; Whereas, although the prevalence of obesity is high among all population groups in the United States, 48 percent of American Indian and Alaska Natives, 51 percent of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, 48 percent of African Americans, 45 percent of Hispanics, 37 percent of non-Hispanic Whites, and 12 percent of Asian Americans older than 18 years old were obese (not including overweight); Whereas Asian Americans accounted for 30 percent of chronic Hepatitis B cases, and non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 13.5 percent of chronic Hepatitis B cases; Whereas of the children diagnosed with perinatal HIV in 2017, 65 percent were African American, 9 percent were Hispanic, and 14 percent were non-Hispanic White; Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services has identified heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes as 4 of the 10 leading causes of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives; Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives die from diabetes, alcoholism, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide at higher rates than other people in the United States; Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have a life expectancy that is 5.5 years shorter than the life expectancy of the overall population of the United States; Whereas African American women die from childbirth or pregnancy-related causes at a rate that is 3 to 4 times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic White women; Whereas African American infants are 3.8 times more likely to die due to complications related to low birth weight than non-Hispanic White infants; Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native infants are more than twice as likely as non-Hispanic White infants to die from sudden infant death syndrome; Whereas American Indian and Alaska Natives have an infant mortality rate twice as high as that of non-Hispanic Whites; Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native infants are 2.7 times more likely to die from accidental deaths before their first birthday than non-Hispanic White infants; Whereas sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States, occurring in approximately 1 out of every 365 African American births and 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic births; Whereas 10.9 percent of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, 6.3 percent of Asian Americans, 8.8 percent of Hispanics, 8.7 percent of African Americans, and 14 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives received mental health treatment or counseling in the past year, compared to 18.6 percent of non-Hispanic Whites; Whereas the 2019 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report found African Americans and American Indians and Alaska Natives received worse care than non-Hispanic Whites for about 40 percent of quality measures, Hispanics and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders received worse care than non-Hispanic Whites for 33 percent of quality measures, and Asian Americans received worse care than non-Hispanic Whites for nearly 30 percent of quality measures; Whereas nearly 30 percent of reported COVID–19-related cases are among Hispanics compared to less than 50 percent comprising non-Hispanic Whites; Whereas nearly 3.5 times more American Indians and Alaska Natives, 2.9 times more Hispanics, and 2.8 times more African Americans were hospitalized due to COVID–19 compared to non-Hispanic Whites; Whereas significant differences in social determinants of health can lead to poor health outcomes and declines in life expectancy; and Whereas community-based health care initiatives, such as prevention-focused programs, present a unique opportunity to use innovative approaches to improve public health and health care practices across the United States and to reduce disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month in April 2021, which include bringing attention to the health disparities faced by minority populations in the United States, such as American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres205ats/xml/BILLS-117sres205ats.xml |
117-sres-206 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 206 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2021 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Durbin , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Whitehouse , Mrs. Shaheen , and Mr. Wyden ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of the week of April 18 through April 24, 2021, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
Whereas crime and victimization in the United States have significant, and sometimes life shattering, impacts on victims, survivors, and communities across the United States; Whereas research suggests that there are several million violent victimizations each year in the United States, yet less than half of all violent crimes are ever reported to police; Whereas crime victims and survivors need and deserve support and access to services to help them cope with the physical, psychological, financial, and other adverse effects of crime; Whereas Congress has recognized the importance of supporting crime victims and survivors through the passage of legislation concerning this important issue, including— (1) the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 ( 34 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.); (2) the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 34 U.S.C. 12291 et seq.); (3) the Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016 ( Public Law 114–236 ; 130 Stat. 966); (4) the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act ( 42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.); (5) the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.); (6) the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act ( 34 U.S.C. 21701 et seq.); (7) the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–299 ; 132 Stat. 4383); (8) the Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis, and Nila Lynn Crime Victims’ Rights Act ( Public Law 108–405 ; 118 Stat. 2261); and (9) the Justice for All Act of 2004 ( Public Law 108–405 ; 118 Stat. 2260); Whereas crime can touch the life of any individual, regardless of the age, race, national origin, religion, or gender of that individual; Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on individuals, families, schools, and communities by protecting the rights of crime victims and survivors; Whereas crime victims and survivors in the United States, and the families of those victims and survivors, need and deserve support and assistance to help cope with the often devastating consequences of crime; Whereas, since Congress adopted the first resolution designating Crime Victims Week in 1985, communities across the United States have joined Congress and the Department of Justice in commemorating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to celebrate a shared vision of a comprehensive and collaborative response that identifies and addresses the many needs of crime victims and survivors and the families of those victims and survivors; Whereas the Senate applauds the work of crime victims advocates to ensure that all crime victims and survivors, and the families of those victims and survivors, are— (1) treated with dignity, fairness, and respect; (2) offered support and services, regardless of whether the victims and survivors report crimes committed against them; and (3) recognized as key participants within the criminal, juvenile, Federal, and Tribal justice systems in the United States when the victims and survivors report crimes; and Whereas the Senate recognizes and appreciate the continued importance of— (1) promoting the rights of, and services for, crime victims and survivors; and (2) honoring crime victims and survivors, and the individuals who provide services for those victims and survivors: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports— (A) the designation of the week of April 18 through April 24, 2021, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week; and (B) the theme of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2021, Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities. , which emphasizes the importance of leveraging community support to help crime victims and survivors; (2) recognizes that crime victims and survivors, and the families of those victims and survivors, should be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect; (3) applauds the work carried out by thousands of victim assistance organizations and agencies that serve crime survivors at the local, State, Federal, and Tribal levels; (4) remains committed to funding programs authorized by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 ( 34 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.) and the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 34 U.S.C. 12291 et seq.), among other Federal programs, which help thousands of public, community-based, and Tribal victim and survivor assistance organizations and agencies that provide essential, and often life-saving, services to millions of crime victims throughout the United States; and (5) encourages the observance of the 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims' Rights Week with appropriate public awareness, education, and outreach activities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres206ats/xml/BILLS-117sres206ats.xml |
117-sres-207 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 207 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2021 Mr. Lee (for himself, Mr. Tillis , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Daines , Mr. Risch , Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Blunt , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Hawley , Ms. Ernst , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Braun , and Mr. Grassley ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating the week beginning November 8, 2021, as National Pregnancy Center Week to recognize the vital role that community-supported pregnancy centers play in saving lives and serving women and men faced with difficult pregnancy decisions.
Whereas, for more than 100 years, young women facing unplanned pregnancies have found support from charitable organizations ranging from Catholic Charities and Jewish maternity homes to the Salvation Army; Whereas many charitable organizations banded together on November 13, 1971, to form the first United States association of nonprofit organizations dedicated to rescuing as many lives as possible from abortion; Whereas, as of 2019, there were approximately 2,700 pregnancy centers (also known as pregnancy care and resource centers ) in the United States; Whereas women in every part of the United States turn to pregnancy centers for help, hope, and healing; Whereas pregnancy centers are local, nonprofit organizations that provide vital and compassionate support to women and men faced with difficult pregnancy decisions; Whereas pregnancy centers reach almost 2,000,000 people each year through a combination of client services, including— (1) pregnancy tests; (2) ultrasound and medical services; (3) options counseling and education; and (4) parenting and childbirth classes; Whereas the estimated value of services provided in 2019 to women and men of all ages and backgrounds was nearly $270,000,000; Whereas some pregnancy centers offer specific medical services, including— (1) consultation with a licensed medical professional; (2) a limited ultrasound for pregnancy confirmation; and (3) testing for sexually transmitted infections and diseases; Whereas the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates— (1) provides life-affirming pregnancy centers with legal counsel, education, and training; (2) has assisted hundreds of pregnancy centers in becoming medical clinics; and (3) has represented nearly 1,300 pregnancy centers that currently operate as medical clinics; Whereas more than 53,000 people in the United States volunteer at community-supported pregnancy centers each year; Whereas more than 2,130 medical pregnancy centers provide a limited ultrasound at little or no cost to women; Whereas, in 2019, more than 476,000 ultrasounds were performed at medical pregnancy centers; Whereas pregnancy centers understand that pregnancy can be emotional for mothers and fathers, and the compassionate staff and trained volunteers of pregnancy centers— (1) provide each patient with educational materials; and (2) offer each patient emotional support and care to help each patient through difficult situations; Whereas close to 86 percent of pregnancy centers in the United States offer specialized parenting education— (1) through direct services on premises; or (2) in nearby churches, schools, or other locations; Whereas nearly every pregnancy care and resource center provides clients with material support for pregnancy and infant care, which may include— (1) maternity clothing; (2) baby clothes and furniture; (3) housing assistance; or (4) nutritional counseling and resources; Whereas pregnancy centers— (1) do not discriminate based on age, race, nationality, creed, religious affiliation, disability, or arbitrary circumstances; and (2) take special care to provide help to underserved minority populations; Whereas pregnancy centers have committed to engaging fathers so that they can acquire the skills necessary to become involved and responsible fathers; Whereas Care Net-affiliated pregnancy centers have saved more than 823,000 babies since 2008; Whereas Heartbeat International reports that the Abortion Pill Rescue Network has saved more than 2,000 lives; Whereas, in the last 12 years, 8 of 10 women considering abortion when they entered a Care Net-affiliated pregnancy care and resource center ended up choosing life; Whereas, in the last 12 years, Care Net-affiliated pregnancy centers— (1) provided 1,300,000 free ultrasound scans; (2) provided parenting support and education to 1,100,000 individuals; (3) provided material resources to more than 1,700,000 individuals; and (4) administered 3,200,000 pregnancy tests; Whereas the 24-hour Option Line of Heartbeat International— (1) helps carry out a mission of reaching and rescuing as many lives as possible around the world through an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy centers; and (2) answers questions by phone, text, email, or chat before connecting an individual with the individual's local pregnancy center, where the individual will receive 1-on-1, compassionate, caring support; Whereas Heartbeat International has made contact with over 4,000,000 women and men through the Option Line; Whereas the Care Net Pregnancy Decision Line is the only national hotline that provides immediate pregnancy decision coaching by highly trained coaches; Whereas Heartbeat International reports the existence of approximately 450 maternity homes in the United States; Whereas Care Net, Heartbeat International, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, and other groups issued a statement entitled Our Commitment of Care and Competence , which— (1) addresses issues including— (A) scientific and medical accuracy; (B) truth in advertising; (C) compassion; (D) nondiscrimination; (E) patient confidentiality; (F) staff training; and (G) a consistent life ethic; and (2) expands the determination of the pregnancy help movement to comply with applicable legal requirements regarding— (A) employment; (B) fundraising; (C) financial management; (D) taxation; (E) medical licensure; and (F) operation standards; and Whereas less than 10 percent of the income of pregnancy centers in the United States is derived from governmental sources, which ensures that pregnancy centers— (1) minimize burdens on each taxpayer; and (2) engage local communities to provide sustainable support: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates the week beginning November 8, 2021, as National Pregnancy Center Week ; (2) supports the important work of pregnancy centers across the United States; (3) appreciates and recognizes the thousands of volunteers and staff of pregnancy centers in the United States who give millions of hours of service each year to women and men who are faced with difficult pregnancy decisions; and (4) recognizes the importance of— (A) protecting life; and (B) assisting women and men in need as they bring children into the world. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres207is/xml/BILLS-117sres207is.xml |
117-sres-208 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 208 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2021 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Wicker , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Brown , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Daines , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Hoeven , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Luján , Mr. Manchin , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Peters , Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Sinema , Ms. Smith , Mr. Tester , Mr. Van Hollen , and Mr. Wyden ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2021.
Whereas, beginning in 1991, National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Recognition Day for Nurses , through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing; Whereas National Nurses Week is a time of year to reflect on the important contributions that nurses make to provide safe, high-quality health care; Whereas nurses serve on the front lines, risking their lives treating the injured and sick during wartime, natural disasters, and public health emergencies, including the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting to protect the lives of individuals under their care; Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of the health care profession, with an estimated population of more than 4,000,000 registered nurses in the United States; Whereas nurses are leading in the delivery of quality care in a transformed health care system that improves patient outcomes and safety; Whereas the Future of Nursing report of the Institute of Medicine has called for the nursing profession to meet the call for leadership in a team-based delivery model; Whereas, when nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of patient complications and lengthy hospital stays decreases, resulting in cost savings; Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and the work of nurses encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry, including clinical research, health systems and outcomes research, and nursing education research; Whereas nurses provide care that is sensitive to the cultures and customs of individuals across the United States; Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership to eliminate health care disparities that exist in the United States; Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health infrastructure, promoting healthy lifestyles and educating communities on disease prevention and health promotion; Whereas nurses help inform and educate, and work closely with, legislators to improve— (1) the education, retention, recruitment, and practice of all nurses; and (2) the health and safety of the patients for whom the nurses care; Whereas there is a need— (1) to strengthen nursing workforce development programs at all levels, including the number of doctorally prepared faculty members; and (2) to provide education to the nurse research scientists who can develop new nursing care models to improve the health status of the diverse population of the United States; Whereas nurses touch the lives of the people of the United States through every stage of life; and Whereas nursing has been voted the most honest and ethical profession in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, as founded by the American Nurses Association; (2) recognizes the significant contributions of nurses to the health care system in the United States; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe National Nurses Week with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of nurses to the everyday lives of patients. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres208is/xml/BILLS-117sres208is.xml |
117-sres-209 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 209 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2021 Mr. Durbin (for himself and Ms. Collins ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the work and contributions of doulas towards improving pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes.
Whereas doulas can play an important role in— (1) maternal care; and (2) addressing maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States; Whereas doula support includes continuous non-clinical 1-on-1 emotional, physical, and informational support around the time of birth, including during pregnancy and postpartum; Whereas doulas empower mothers with information about pregnancy and childbirth; Whereas studies have shown that doula-assisted mothers are 4 times less likely to have a low birth weight baby, and 2 times less likely to experience complications during pregnancy; Whereas research indicates that, with the support of doulas, women are— (1) more likely to have vaginal births; and (2) less likely to require epidural anesthesia; Whereas, in 2013, the Expert Panel on Improving Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services identified providing coverage for continuous doula support during labor as a potential strategy to enhance maternal and infant care management; Whereas the presence of a doula during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum helps foster shared decision-making for birthing women by facilitating communication between women and their providers; Whereas a doula provides continuous support during labor and delivery and can alert hospital staff to signs and symptoms of complications that require immediate medical attention, thus lowering the risk of escalating complications for the mother and baby; Whereas access to doula support services, especially in underserved communities, may contribute to— (1) improved birth outcomes, both physically and emotionally; and (2) lower health care costs by reducing the risk of— (A) low birth weight babies; (B) complications that might otherwise go unnoticed; (C) low-risk cesarean deliveries; and (D) epidural anesthesia; Whereas training members of underserved communities to become doulas and support mothers in their own communities can— (1) help provide employment opportunities for improving maternal health; and (2) build trust and reduce adverse consequences of racial bias for pregnant and postpartum women of color; and Whereas community-based maternal health care models, including doula support services, in collaboration with obstetrical care, show great promise in improving, and reducing disparities in, maternal health outcomes: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the important role of doulas in providing respectful, responsive care to all women, including women in underserved communities who lack access to maternal health services; (2) acknowledges that doula support services provide continuous physical and emotional support to help mothers achieve healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries and recoveries; (3) urges greater recognition for the important role that doulas play in— (A) supporting improved pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes, including maternal mental health; (B) reducing health care costs and working towards the elimination of health disparities; and (C) overcoming barriers for assisting low-income women of color and women in rural areas with access to health and social supports; (4) designates the week beginning May 9, 2021, as Doula Week to raise awareness for, and advocate for the benefits of, doulas and the support services doulas provide; and (5) recognizes the importance of access to doula support services, especially in underserved communities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres209ats/xml/BILLS-117sres209ats.xml |
117-sres-210 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 210 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2021 Mr. Graham (for himself, Ms. Sinema , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Coons , Ms. Warren , Mr. Markey , Mr. Rubio , and Mr. Warnock ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating July 21, 2021, as Glioblastoma Awareness Day .
Whereas approximately 13,000 new cases of glioblastoma will be diagnosed in the United States in 2021; Whereas glioblastoma is— (1) the most common malignant, cancerous brain tumor, accounting for approximately half of all primary malignant brain tumors; and (2) the most aggressive, complex, difficult to treat, and deadly type of brain tumor; Whereas it is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals in the United States will succumb to glioblastoma every year; Whereas the 5-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 7.2 percent and the median length of survival for glioblastoma patients is only 8 months; Whereas glioblastoma is described as a disease that affects the essence of self , as the treatment and removal of glioblastoma presents significant challenges due to the uniquely complex and fragile nature of the brain, the primary organ in the human body that controls not only cognitive ability but also the actions of every organ and limb; Whereas, relative to other types of cancers, brain cancer has— (1) the highest per-patient initial cost of care, with an annualized mean net cost of care approaching $150,000; and (2) the highest annualized mean net costs for last-year-of-life care, with a cost of between $135,000 and $210,000 per patient, depending on the age and gender of a patient; Whereas, although research advances may fuel the development of new treatments for glioblastoma, challenging obstacles to accelerating progress toward new treatments for glioblastoma remain and there are no screening or early detection methods; Whereas, although glioblastoma was first described in medical and scientific literature in the 1920s, and despite its devastating prognosis, only 4 drugs and 1 medical device have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat glioblastoma since the 1920s and the mortality rates associated with glioblastoma have changed little during the past 30 years; Whereas, as a promising first step since the first Glioblastoma Awareness Day, the National Cancer Institute established the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (referred to in this preamble as GTN ) in 2020, as part of a national infrastructure to enhance and support the discovery and development of glioblastoma therapies, with an initial $6,000,000 available for multi-institutional GTN teams to drive therapeutic agents through pre-clinical studies and early-phase clinical trials necessary to rapidly evaluate potential treatments to advance toward cures and improved quality of life; and Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of glioblastoma, including awareness of both— (1) the urgent unmet medical needs of glioblastoma patients; and (2) the opportunities for research and treatment advances for glioblastoma: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates July 21, 2021, as Glioblastoma Awareness Day ; (2) encourages increased public awareness of glioblastoma; (3) honors the individuals who have lost their lives to glioblastoma, a devastating disease, or are currently living with it; (4) supports efforts to develop better treatments for glioblastoma that will improve the long-term prognosis and quality of life of individuals diagnosed with the disease; (5) expresses its support for the individuals who are battling brain tumors, as well as the families, friends, and caregivers of those individuals; (6) urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research, which is a promising means of advancing the understanding and treatment of glioblastoma; and (7) encourages continued investments in glioblastoma research and treatments, including through the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network and other existing brain tumor research resources. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres210ats/xml/BILLS-117sres210ats.xml |
117-sres-211 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 211 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2021 Ms. Sinema (for herself, Mr. Lankford , Mr. Peters , Mr. Portman , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Romney , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Ossoff , and Mr. Cardin ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that, during Public Service Recognition Week, public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the United States.
Whereas the week of May 2 through May 8, 2021, has been designated as Public Service Recognition Week to honor employees of the Federal Government and State and local governments and members of the uniformed services; Whereas millions of public servants have worked and continue to work to help the United States overcome the challenges from the COVID–19 pandemic, allowing essential services to continue and playing a critical role in protecting public health and safety; Whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides an opportunity to recognize and promote the important contributions of public servants and to honor the diverse men and women who meet the needs of the United States through work at all levels of government and as members of the uniformed services; Whereas millions of individuals work in government service and as members of the uniformed services, in every State, county, and city across the United States and in hundreds of cities abroad; Whereas public service is a noble calling involving a variety of challenging and rewarding professions; Whereas the ability of the Federal Government and State and local governments to be responsive, innovative, and effective depends on the outstanding performance of dedicated public servants; Whereas the United States continues to reaffirm the critical importance of public service employees in responding to public health and economic challenges; Whereas the United States is a great and prosperous country, and public service employees contribute significantly to that greatness and prosperity; Whereas the United States benefits daily from the knowledge and skills of the highly trained individuals who work in public service; Whereas public servants— (1) fight disease, including COVID–19, and promote better health; (2) promote economic stability and growth; (3) defend the freedom of the people of the United States and advance the interests of the United States around the world; (4) provide vital strategic support functions to the Armed Forces and serve in the reserve components of the Armed Forces; (5) fight crime and fires; (6) ensure equal access to secure, efficient, and affordable mail service; (7) deliver benefits under the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), including benefits under the Medicare program under title XVIII of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); (8) protect the environment and parks in the United States; (9) enforce laws guaranteeing equal employment opportunity and healthy working conditions; (10) defend and secure critical infrastructure; (11) help the people of the United States respond to and recover from natural disasters, pandemics, and terrorist attacks; (12) teach and work in schools and libraries; (13) develop new technologies and explore the Earth, the Moon, and space to improve our knowledge on how the world changes; (14) improve and secure transportation systems; and (15) assist veterans of the Armed Forces; Whereas members of the uniformed services and civilian employees at all levels of government— (1) make significant contributions to the general welfare of the United States; and (2) are on the front lines in the fight to defeat terrorism and other threats to the security of the United States, and maintain homeland security; Whereas public servants work in a professional manner to build relationships with other countries and cultures in order to better represent the interests and promote the ideals of the United States; Whereas public servants alert Congress and the public to government waste, fraud, and abuse, and dangers to public health; Whereas the individuals serving in the uniformed services, as well as the skilled trade and craft employees of the Federal Government who provide support to their efforts— (1) are committed to doing their jobs regardless of the circumstances; and (2) contribute greatly to the security of the United States and the world; Whereas public servants have bravely fought in armed conflicts in the defense of the United States and its ideals and deserve the care and benefits they have earned through their honorable service; Whereas public servants— (1) have much to offer, as demonstrated by their expertise and innovative ideas; and (2) serve as examples by passing on institutional knowledge to train the next generation of public servants; and Whereas the week of May 2 through May 8, 2021, marks the 37th anniversary of Public Service Recognition Week: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of the week of May 2 through May 8, 2021, as Public Service Recognition Week ; (2) commends public servants for their outstanding contributions to the United States during Public Service Recognition Week and throughout the year, especially during the ongoing COVID–19 crisis; (3) salutes government employees and members of the uniformed services for their unyielding dedication to, and enthusiasm for, public service; (4) honors government employees and members of the uniformed services who have given their lives and health in service to their communities, States, Tribes, and the United States; (5) calls upon a new generation to consider a career in public service as an honorable profession; (6) encourages efforts to promote public service careers at every level of government; and (7) supports efforts to promote an efficient and effective public service that serves the people of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres211ats/xml/BILLS-117sres211ats.xml |
117-sres-212 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 212 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2021 Mr. Rounds (for himself, Ms. Sinema , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Coons , Mr. Kelly , Mr. King , and Mr. Peters ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration RESOLUTION Establishing a McCain-Mansfield Fellowship Program in the Senate.
1. McCain-Mansfield Fellowship Program (a) Definitions In this resolution— (1) the term eligible military veteran means a veteran, as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code, that meets any eligibility requirements established by the Secretary for participation in the program under this section; and (2) the term Sergeant at Arms means the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate. (b) Establishment of fellowship program (1) In general From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Sergeant at Arms shall establish a program through which eligible military veterans may apply for and participate in a fellowship position in the personal office of a Senator. (2) Designation The program established under paragraph (1) shall be referred to as the McCain-Mansfield Fellowship Program . (3) Establishment of an office The Sergeant at Arms shall establish, in the Office of the Sergeant at Arms, an office to administer the McCain-Mansfield Fellowship Program. The office shall develop a process through which— (A) Senators who wish to participate in the McCain-Mansfield Fellowship Program may notify the Sergeant at Arms; and (B) eligible military veterans may apply for a McCain-Mansfield Fellowship. (c) Duration, number, distribution, and amount of fellowships (1) Duration A McCain-Mansfield Fellowship shall be for a 2-year period. (2) Number and distribution of fellowships Subject to the availability of appropriations— (A) the Sergeant at Arms shall award not more than 100 McCain-Mansfield Fellowships; and (B) the Sergeant at Arms shall distribute the McCain-Mansfield Fellowships under this section for an award period in a manner that provides not less than 1 Fellowship position for each Senator wishing to participate in the program. (3) Amount of financial assistance The Sergeant at Arms shall determine the stipend or other financial assistance appropriate for each particular McCain-Mansfield Fellowship position under this section, depending on the duties of the position and the recommendations from the Senator offering the position. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres212is/xml/BILLS-117sres212is.xml |
117-sres-213 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 213 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Risch , Mr. Markey , and Mr. Romney ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of the United States-Republic of Korea relationship to safeguarding peace security and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond, and welcoming the visit of President Moon Jae-in to the United States.
Whereas the United States-Republic of Korea alliance is the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region and is critical to close coordination to face the challenges posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and address future security challenges; Whereas the United States-Republic of Korea alliance is rooted in mutual trust, shared values, intertwined economic interests, and generations of people-to-people ties through friendship, family, and community that, taken together, provides a foundation for one of the strongest, most interoperable, and dynamic bilateral alliances in the world; Whereas the United States and Korea established diplomatic relations on May 22, 1882, with the signing of the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation; Whereas, on October 1, 1953, the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea (5 U.S.T. 2368) was signed in Washington with ratification advised by the Senate on January 26, 1954, and the shared commitment to recognize an armed attack on either of the Parties as dangerous to the peace and security of the other and to act to meet the common danger in accordance with [each’s] constitutional processes remains in force today; Whereas the United States assures its ironclad security commitment to the Republic of Korea, including the United States extended deterrent underpinned by the full range of United States capabilities; Whereas the United States-Republic of Korea alliance was forged in blood, with 1,789,000 United States soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines serving in theater during the war, of whom 36,574 paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in defense of freedom in the Republic of Korea, including 7,174 Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) soldiers, and over 7,500 members of the United States Armed Forces remain classified by the Department of Defense as missing in action; Whereas casualties of the Republic of Korea were more than 217,000 soldiers killed, more than 291,000 wounded, and over 1,000,000 civilians killed or missing; Whereas 2021 marks the 68th anniversary of the cessation of hostilities in the Korean War and the signing of the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953, which remains in force today and that by its terms has neither formally ended the Korean War nor constituted a permanent settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula; Whereas, according to section 2 of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act ( Public Law 114–230 ; 130 Stat. 947), a Wall of Remembrance is currently being added to the Korean War Veterans Memorial with the names of those that died in theater, are listed as missing, or were prisoners of war, and would also list the number of members of the KATUSA who were killed in action, wounded in action, prisoners of war, or are listed as missing in action; Whereas the Republic of Korea, in an extraordinary gesture of lasting gratitude, has contributed to the construction of the Wall of Remembrance, which will serve as an eternal reminder for generations to come of the sacrifices made by the United States and Republic of Korea alliance in defense of freedom and regional security; Whereas the United States-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2) met on March 18, 2021, in Seoul and reaffirmed that the ROK-U.S. Alliance, forged in blood on the battlefield 70 years ago, serves as the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region ; Whereas a new, six-year Special Measures Agreement (SMA) was initialed on the same day in the presence of the secretaries and ministers and was later signed on April 8, 2021; Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea are committed to pursuing closely coordinated diplomatic efforts through a shared strategy to achieve the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula; Whereas Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States-Republic of Korea relationship is rooted in mutual trust, in shared values, deeply intertwined economic interests, and, of course—and maybe most important—generations of family and community ties and having one another’s back in the most difficult times ; Whereas Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated the United States-Republic of Korea alliance is ironclad and among the strongest bilateral, interoperable, and dynamic alliances in the world , further stating that the United States remains fully committed to the defense of the Republic of Korea, using the full range of U.S. capabilities, including our extended deterrent ; Whereas, on April 2, 2021, the United States-Republic of Korea-Japan Trilateral National Security Advisors meeting took place at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and also on May 5, 2021, a Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ meeting took place in London to consult on the United States’ review of its North Korea policy and to discuss issues of common concern including Indo Pacific security ; Whereas, according to the joint press statement, the national security advisors shared their concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirmed their commitment to address and resolve these issues through concerted trilateral cooperation towards denuclearization and further agreed on the imperative for full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions by the international community, including North Korea, preventing proliferation, and cooperating to strengthen deterrence and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula ; Whereas a robust and effective trilateral relationship between and among the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan is critical for joint security and interests in defending freedom and democracy, upholding human rights, promoting peace, security, and the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific and across the globe, championing women’s empowerment, and combating and adapting to complex environmental challenges; Whereas Secretary Blinken said during a March 17, 2021, meeting with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong that the authoritarian regime in North Korea continues to commit systematic and widespread abuses against its own people. We must stand with people demanding their fundamental rights and freedoms and against those who repress them. ; Whereas the American and Korean people share deeply rooted values of defending freedom, championing economic and social opportunity and inclusion, upholding human rights, and respecting the rule of law; Whereas the Republic of Korea is the United States sixth largest goods trading partner with $134,000,000,000 in total (two way) goods trade and $34,600,000,000 in total services trade for a combined $168,600,000,000 during 2019 and, according to the Department of Commerce, United States exports of goods and services to the Republic of Korea supported an estimated 358,000 United States jobs in 2015; Whereas the Republic of Korea is one of the United States top sources of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which totaled $61,800,000,000 in 2019 (up 9.2 percent over the previous year) and supports more than 74,000 United States jobs in key sectors including auto components, industrial equipment, consumer electronics, software and IT services, renewable energy, and electronic components that are all critical to helping protect the United States supply chain as well as foster leadership in a green technology future; Whereas the Republic of Korea made significant contributions to the global community in combating COVID–19, including the manufacture and export of Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT–PCR) test kits to the United States Government and various state governments, as well as the donation of 2,000,000 masks to help fill shortages in hospitals most impacted by COVID–19 and an additional 500,000 masks that were distributed to Korean War veterans throughout the United States; Whereas the strength of the United States-Republic of Korea relationship is due in large part to the nearly 2,000,000 Korean Americans that have made significant contributions to every facet of American society and leadership to now include four members of the House of Representatives, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Young Kim of California, Marilyn Strickland of Washington, and Michelle Steel of California; and Whereas, in May 2021, President Moon Jae-in will visit the United States at the invitation of President Joe Biden: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) welcomes President Moon Jae-in to the United States; (2) reaffirms the importance of the United States-Republic of Korea relationship as the linchpin to safeguarding peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region; (3) reaffirms United States extended deterrence commitments to the Republic of Korea, and that the United States will continue to ensure that its policy and posture reflects the requirements of extended deterrence; (4) supports ongoing efforts to further strengthen, broaden, and deepen the ironclad United States-Republic of Korea alliance, including the United States-Korea Security Consultative Committee (2+2) to confront threats to the peace and safety of both nations, and to stand together for the common values and shared interests that unite us; (5) calls for continued cooperation between the Governments of the United States and the Republic of Korea in the promotion of human rights; (6) commits to continuing and expanding United States-Republic of Korea medical, scientific, and vaccine collaboration, particularly since cooperation between the two countries has saved countless lives during the COVID–19 pandemic; (7) recognizes the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea in addressing global challenges, including COVID–19 challenges, that threaten the health and safety of people everywhere; (8) encourages, as written in the Joint Statement of the 2021 United States-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2), mutually-reinforcing and future-oriented cooperation across a wide range of areas ; (9) calls for close coordination to achieve the denuclearization of the DPRK and the establishment of a permanent and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula; (10) appreciates President Moon’s commitment to diplomacy, including through his signing of the joint Republic of Korea-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea April 27, 2018, Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula; (11) encourages close cooperation among the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan to address shared challenges; and (12) appreciates the Government and people of the Republic of Korea for their extraordinary contribution to the Wall of Remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and extends well wishes for the groundbreaking ceremony during President Moon Jae-in’s visit. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres213is/xml/BILLS-117sres213is.xml |
117-sres-214 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 214 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2021 Ms. Collins (for herself, Ms. Sinema , Mr. Casey , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Braun , Mr. Warnock , and Ms. Rosen ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of May 13, 2021, as National Senior Fraud Awareness Day to raise awareness about the increasing number of fraudulent scams targeted at seniors in the United States, to encourage the implementation of policies to prevent those scams from happening, and to improve protections from those scams for seniors.
Whereas millions of individuals age 65 or older (referred to in this preamble as seniors ) in the United States are targeted by scams each year, including Social Security impersonation scams and Internal Revenue Service impersonation scams, sweepstakes scams, romance scams, computer tech support scams, grandparent scams, debt collection scams, home improvement scams, fraudulent investment schemes, pet scams, and identity theft; Whereas other types of fraud perpetrated against seniors include Medicare impersonation fraud, health care fraud, health insurance fraud, counterfeit prescription drug fraud, funeral and cemetery fraud, anti-aging product fraud, telemarketing fraud, and internet fraud; Whereas scammers are, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, exploiting the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic to prey on seniors through a variety of scams, including Economic Impact Payment scams, vaccine scams, test kit scams, contact tracing scams, work-from-home scams, and COVID–19 vaccine survey scams; Whereas the Government Accountability Office has estimated that seniors lose a staggering $2,900,000,000 each year to an ever-growing array of financial exploitation schemes and scams; Whereas, since 2013, the Fraud Hotline of the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate has received more than 10,000 complaints reporting possible scams from individuals in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Whereas the ease with which criminals contact seniors through the internet and telephone increases as more creative schemes emerge; Whereas, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2020 released by the Federal Trade Commission, people age 60 or older reported losing $592,000,000 to fraud in 2020, with a median loss for victims age 80 or older of $1,300, nearly 4 times the median amount lost by those victims between the ages of 50 and 59; Whereas senior fraud is underreported by victims due to shame, stigma, and lack of information about where to report fraud; and Whereas May 13, 2021, is an appropriate day to establish as National Senior Fraud Awareness Day : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of May 13, 2021, as National Senior Fraud Awareness Day ; (2) recognizes National Senior Fraud Awareness Day as an opportunity to raise awareness about the barrage of scams that individuals age 65 or older (referred to in this resolution as seniors ) in the United States face in person, by mail, on the phone, and online; (3) recognizes that law enforcement, consumer protection groups, area agencies on aging, and financial institutions all play vital roles in— (A) preventing the proliferation of scams targeting seniors in the United States; and (B) educating seniors about those scams; (4) encourages— (A) the implementation of policies to prevent scams targeting seniors; and (B) the improvement of efforts to protect seniors from those scams; and (5) honors the commitment and dedication of the individuals and organizations that work tirelessly to fight against scams targeting seniors. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres214ats/xml/BILLS-117sres214ats.xml |
117-sres-215 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 215 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2021 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Durbin , Ms. Murkowski , Mr. Markey , Mr. Scott of Florida , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Sullivan , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Risch , Mr. Coons , Ms. Ernst , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. King , Mr. Cassidy , Ms. Duckworth , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Ms. Sinema , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Casey , Mr. Moran , Mr. Manchin , Ms. Collins , Mr. Tester , Mr. Boozman , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Thune , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Warnock , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Braun , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Burr , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Young , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Brown , Mr. Toomey , Mr. Carper , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Daines , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Lee , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Booker , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Warner , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Blunt , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Shelby , Mr. Tuberville , Ms. Lummis , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Portman , Mr. Romney , Mr. Hagerty , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Paul , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Sasse , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Graham , Mr. McConnell , and Mr. Cruz ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating the week of May 9 through May 15, 2021, as National Police Week .
Whereas Federal, State, local, and Tribal police officers, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officers across the United States are charged with— (1) protecting and serving their communities and the public; (2) pursuing justice for all individuals; and (3) performing the duties of a law enforcement officer with fidelity to the constitutional and civil rights of the public the officers serve; Whereas law enforcement officers swear an oath to uphold the public trust even though, through the performance of the duties of a law enforcement officer, the officers may become targets for senseless acts of violence; Whereas, through a pandemic and at the cost of their own lives, law enforcement officers have continued to bravely meet the call of duty to ensure the security of their neighborhoods and communities; Whereas the resolve to service is clearly demonstrated by law enforcement officers across the United States who have tragically fallen ill as a result of, or passed away due to complications from, COVID–19 contracted in the line of duty; Whereas, in 1962, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy signed Public Law 87–726 ( 36 U.S.C. 136 ) (referred to in this preamble as the Joint Resolution ), which authorizes the President to proclaim May 15 of every year as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of the Federal, State, and local officers who have been killed, disabled, or otherwise injured in the line of duty; Whereas the Joint Resolution also authorizes the President to designate the week in which Peace Officers Memorial Day falls as National Police Week; Whereas the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, dedicated on October 15, 1991, is the national monument to honor those law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty; Whereas Peace Officers Memorial Day, 2021, honors the 306 law enforcement officers, who served with valor, dignity, and integrity, killed in the line of duty in 2020, including— (1) Raymond C. Abear; (2) Daniel R. Abramovitz; (3) Olufela A. Adebiyi; (4) Agustin Aguilar, Jr.; (5) Louis H. Aguirre; (6) Tab T. Ali; (7) L. Dale Allen; (8) Jared M. Allison; (9) Keith S. Allison; (10) Michael H. Ambrosino; (11) Cornelius B. Anderson; (12) Alexander A. Arango; (13) Levi K. Arnold, Sr.; (14) Jane A. Ash; (15) George B. Baker; (16) Richard M. Barry; (17) Kejuane A. Bates; (18) Shannon S. Bennett; (19) Kendle G. Blackburn; (20) James H. Blair; (21) Tamarris L. Bohannon; (22) Thomas E. Booz; (23) Raymond A. Boseman; (24) Lebouath A. Boua; (25) Jairo A. Bravo; (26) Brad A. Briscoe; (27) Mark C. Brown; (28) Lemuel D. Bruce, Jr.; (29) Joseph J. Bullock; (30) Jose A. Buso; (31) Jorge Cabrera; (32) Irving G. Callender; (33) Craig L. Capolino; (34) Robert A. Cardona; (35) Christopher D. Carney; (36) Gregory S. Carnicle; (37) Carlo J. Cayabyab; (38) Dudley J. Champ; (39) Angela D. Chavers; (40) Ismael Z. Chavez; (41) Andrew D. Clark; (42) Michael W. Clegg; (43) Coy D. Coffman, Jr.; (44) Harry M. Cohen; (45) James D. Coleman; (46) Donafay Collins; (47) Kevin D. Collins; (48) Michael A. Conners; (49) James M. Cornacchia; (50) Efren Coronel; (51) Charlie J. Cortez; (52) Kaitlin M. Cowley; (53) Larry D. Crom; (54) Christopher D. Cronin; (55) Christopher M. Cunningham, Sr.; (56) Jennifer M. Czarnecki; (57) James L. Dancy; (58) William J. Darnell; (59) Norman O. Daye, Jr.; (60) Angel M. de la Fuente; (61) Roel de la Fuente; (62) Timothy P. de la Fuente; (63) Lyle G. Denny; (64) Thomas W. Devlin; (65) Anthony H. Dia; (66) Jose A. Diaz-Ayala; (67) Marco DiFranco; (68) William E. Doubraski; (69) Paul P. Dunn; (70) Stephen C. Dutton; (71) Mark R. Eckenrode; (72) Christopher L. Elder; (73) Stanley C. Elrod; (74) Kurtis J. Enget; (75) Terrence A. Engle; (76) Tiffany Victoria B. Enriquez; (77) Christopher E. Ewing; (78) Kenneth D. Foley; (79) Maurice C. Ford; (80) Randall C. French; (81) Frank L. Gagliano; (82) Tracy A. Gaines; (83) Herbert J. Garcia; (84) José A. García Vázquez; (85) William R. Garner; (86) Edelmiro Garza, Jr.; (87) Steven M. Gaudet, Jr.; (88) Maria Gibbs; (89) Andrew J. Gillette; (90) Raul A. Gomez; (91) Marco A. Gonzales; (92) Jonathon K. Goodman, Sr.; (93) Michael H. Grannis; (94) Kaia L. Grant; (95) Gail S. Green-Gilliam; (96) Rickie Groves; (97) Lawrence A. Guarnieri; (98) Claude W. Guillory; (99) Damon C. Gutzwiller; (100) Parnell L. Guyton; (101) Mark A. Hall, Sr.; (102) Robert J. Hall; (103) Jacob W. Hancher; (104) Kenneth W. Harbin; (105) Ryan P. Hendrix; (106) Michael L. Henry, Jr.; (107) Marylou P. Hernandez-Armer; (108) Tyler A. Herndon; (109) L. Mario Herrera; (110) Avery D. Hillman; (111) Curt Holland; (112) Charles E. Holt III; (113) Cody N. Holte; (114) Jeffrey C. Hopkins; (115) Glenn D. Hutto, Jr.; (116) Kenny B. Ingram; (117) Thomas M. Inman; (118) Anthony T. Jackson, Sr.; (119) Domingo Jasso III; (120) Benjamin M. Jenkins; (121) Aubrey T. Johnson, Jr.; (122) Cassie M. Johnson; (123) Craig V. Johnson; (124) Eric T. Johnson; (125) Te’Juan F. Johnson; (126) Waldis V. Johnson; (127) Antoine P. Jones; (128) Jerry W. Jones; (129) Lynn D. Jones; (130) Jason W. Judd; (131) William C. Jumper, Jr.; (132) Kaulike S. G. Kalama; (133) Ethan R. Kaskin; (134) Julian L. Keen, Jr.; (135) David W. Kellywood; (136) Craig L. King; (137) James T. Kirk; (138) Jason M. Knox; (139) Christopher S. Korzilius; (140) Philip Kraverotis; (141) John J. Kuhar, Jr.; (142) Jeremy C. LaDue; (143) Joseph W. Lange; (144) Shirley J. Lanning; (145) Ernest Leal, Jr.; (146) Breann R. Leath; (147) Destin S. Legieza; (148) Justin C. Lenz; (149) Kenneth R. Lester; (150) Erik L. Lloyd; (151) Marshall L. London, Jr.; (152) Anthony J. Lucanto; (153) Nathan J. Lyday; (154) Harold F. MacGilvray, Jr.; (155) Brian L. Magee; (156) Jose P. Marquez; (157) Clifford W. Martin, Sr.; (158) Glenn T. F. Martinez; (159) Lionel Q. Martinez, Jr.; (160) Miguel A. Martínez Ortiz; (161) Wyatt C. Maser; (162) Alan D. McCollum; (163) Bronc J. McCoy; (164) Richard McCoy; (165) Christopher B. McDonnell; (166) Anthony C. McGrew: (167) Adam S. McMillan; (168) Brian K. McNair; (169) Kenneth R. Meisel; (170) Jon M. Melvin; (171) Juan Menchaca, Jr.; (172) Maria L. Mendez; (173) Daniel L. Mendoza III; (174) Frank R. Milillo, Sr.; (175) Steven A. Minor; (176) Bobby R. Montgomery; (177) Angelanette Moore; (178) Titus T. Moore; (179) Jose C. Mora, Jr.; (180) Gabe Morales; (181) Johan Mordan; (182) William T. Morris; (183) Berisford A. Morse; (184) Michael S. Mosher; (185) Dale E. Multer; (186) Eric K Murray; (187) Alfonso H. Murrieta; (188) Benny N. Napoleon; (189) Mikkos L. Newman; (190) Ronald Newman; (191) Charles E. Norton; (192) Jose M. Novoa; (193) Daniel G. Oaks; (194) Richard W. O'Brien, Jr.; (195) James R. O’Connor IV; (196) Thomas A. Ogungbire; (197) Dennis R. Oliver, Jr.; (198) Nicholas D. O'Rear; (199) Andy Ornelas; (200) S. Renee Padgett; (201) Leroy G. Palmer; (202) Omar E. Palmer; (203) Donald E. Parker; (204) Jonathan D. Parnell; (205) Betty A. Pascarella; (206) AlTerek S. Patterson; (207) Luis O. Peña, Jr.; (208) Corey Pendergrass; (209) Nelson Perdomo; (210) Ricardo Perez-Ortiz; (211) Alexander R. Pettiway, Jr.; (212) Jason K. Phan; (213) Sypraseuth Phouangphrachanh; (214) Dylan S. Pickle; (215) Kietrell M. Pitts; (216) Jack V. Polimeni; (217) Harold L. Preston; (218) Dale T. Provins, Jr.; (219) Nancy Puca; (220) Charles O. Pugh II; (221) Justin R. Putnam; (222) Allan F. Ray; (223) Stephen L. Raymond; (224) Aldemar Rengifo, Jr.; (225) Nicholas L. Reyna; (226) John A. Rhoden; (227) M. Wayne Rhodes; (228) Donna M. Richardson-Below; (229) Richard Rios; (230) Sheila J. Rivera; (231) George B. Robare; (232) Charles E. Roberts III; (233) Oscar W. Rocha; (234) Rodrick L. Rodgers; (235) Mayra M. Rodríguez-Burgado; (236) Robert W. Rogers; (237) Mark J. Romutis; (238) Enrique J. Rositas, Jr.; (239) LaKiya L. Rouse; (240) Caleb D. Rule; (241) Alex Ruperto; (242) Nolan J. Sanders; (243) Jose A. Santana; (244) Lucas G. Saucedo, Jr.; (245) Dean M. Savard; (246) Jeffrey A. Scalf; (247) Justin R. Schaffer; (248) David L. Schmidt; (249) Raymond J. Scholwinski; (250) Francesco S. Scorpo; (251) Brent W. P. Scrimshire; (252) Robert W. Sealock; (253) Bryant Searcy; (254) Jeffery W. Sewell; (255) Jonathan P. Shoop; (256) Jason N. Shuping; (257) James M. Skernivitz; (258) Christopher A. Smith; (259) Jeremy D. Smith; (260) Patrick D. Snook; (261) John D. Songy; (262) Joseph Spinosa; (263) Steven Splan; (264) Caleb H. Starr; (265) Philip E. Street; (266) Donald K. Sumner; (267) Robert C. Sunukjian; (268) Jarid D. Taylor; (269) Kenterrous D. Taylor; (270) Oscar J. Temores; (271) Marcus Thomas; (272) Virgil L. Thomas; (273) Katherine M. Thyne; (274) Kevin P. Trahan; (275) Richard C. Treadwell; (276) Marvin W. Trejo; (277) Johnny R. Tunches; (278) Herschel R. Turner, Jr.; (279) Eric J. Twisdale; (280) Brendan P. Unitt; (281) Randy M. Vallot; (282) Gary L. Walker; (283) James Walker, Jr.; (284) Travis C. Wallace; (285) Christopher R. Walsh; (286) Daniel G. Walters; (287) Lowery Ware, Sr.; (288) Marshall L. Waters, Jr.; (289) Allan J. Weber; (290) Lee R. Weber; (291) James W. Weston, Jr.; (292) Anthony L. White; (293) Sheldon G. Whiteman; (294) Richard E. Whitten; (295) Kelvin D. Wilcher; (296) Charlie Williams, Jr.; (297) Keith D. Williams, Sr.; (298) Sharon M. Williams; (299) Stephen P. Williams; (300) Dwight E. Willis; (301) Jackson R. Winkeler; (302) Richard A. Wright; (303) Ching K. Yan; (304) Sheena D. Yarbrough-Powell; (305) Terrell D. Young; and (306) Joseph M. Youse; and Whereas, since the beginning of 2021, 119 law enforcement officers from across the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates the week of May 9 through May 15, 2021, as National Police Week ; (2) expresses strong support for law enforcement officers across the United States in the efforts that those officers undertake to build safer and more secure communities; (3) recognizes the need to ensure that law enforcement officers have the equipment, training, and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the officers and the public they serve; (4) recognizes the law enforcement community for the continual selfless acts of sacrifice and bravery carried out by the members of that community; (5) recognizes that, even through a pandemic and at the cost of their own lives, law enforcement officers continue to show up and serve their neighborhoods and communities; (6) acknowledges that police officers and other law enforcement personnel, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, should be remembered and honored; (7) expresses condolences to the loved ones of each law enforcement officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty; and (8) encourages the people of the United States to observe National Police Week with appropriate ceremonies and activities that promote awareness of the vital role that law enforcement officers perform in service to the United States and the communities in which those officers serve. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres215ats/xml/BILLS-117sres215ats.xml |
117-sres-216 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 216 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2021 Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mrs. Hyde-Smith ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry RESOLUTION Recognizing the 150th anniversary of Alcorn State University, the oldest public historically Black land-grant university in the United States.
Whereas May 13, 2021, marks the 150th anniversary of Alcorn State University— (1) the oldest public historically Black land-grant university in the United States; and (2) the second-oldest State-supported university in the State of Mississippi; Whereas the university now known as Alcorn State University was founded on May 13, 1871, in Lorman, Mississippi, as a result of efforts in the State to educate the descendants of formerly enslaved individuals; Whereas Alcorn State University derives its name from the sitting Governor of Mississippi at the time of its founding, James L. Alcorn; Whereas Hiram R. Revels, following his time in civic life as a United States Senator for the State of Mississippi, the first African-American Senator in the history of the United States, served as the first president of Alcorn State University; Whereas Alcorn State University consistently ranks among the top 25 historically Black colleges and universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report; Whereas Alcorn State University— (1) provides a valuable education in various programs of study, including agriculture, arts, sciences, business, and education; and (2) offers the only nursing program available at a historically Black college and university in the State of Mississippi; Whereas a residential living option on the campus of Alcorn State University, the Medgar Wiley Evers Heritage Village, pays tribute to Medgar Evers, the civil rights leader and 1952 graduate of Alcorn State University; Whereas Alcorn State University alumnus Steve McNair led a decorated career in the National Football League (referred to in this preamble as the NFL ), which began when he was drafted third overall in the 1995 NFL draft, the highest draft selection for an offensive player from a historically Black college and university in the history of the NFL; and Whereas the successes of Alcorn State University are tied to the dedicated leadership and faculty who devote their careers to preparing future generations for excellence in academics and athletics: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the 150th anniversary of Alcorn State University, the oldest public historically Black land-grant university in the United States; and (2) celebrates the invaluable contributions of Alcorn State University to higher education in the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres216is/xml/BILLS-117sres216is.xml |
117-sres-217 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 217 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 17, 2021 Mr. Inhofe (for himself, Mr. Cardin , Mr. Carper , and Mrs. Capito ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating the week of May 16 through May 22, 2021, as National Public Works Week .
Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and services are of vital importance to the health, safety, and well-being of the people of the United States; Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, including engineers and administrators, who represent State and local governments throughout the United States; Whereas public works professionals design, build, operate, and maintain the transportation systems, water infrastructure, sewage and refuse disposal systems, public buildings, sanitation and waste management systems, and other structures and facilities that are vital to the people and communities of the United States; Whereas public works professionals have played, and will continue to play, a key role in helping the United States recover from the COVID–19 pandemic; and Whereas understanding the role that public infrastructure plays in protecting the environment, improving public health and safety, contributing to economic vitality, and enhancing the quality of life of every community of the United States is in the interest of the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates the week of May 16 through May 22, 2021, as National Public Works Week ; (2) recognizes and celebrates the important contributions that public works professionals make every day to improve— (A) the public infrastructure of the United States; and (B) the communities that public works professionals serve; and (3) urges individuals and communities throughout the United States to join with representatives of the Federal Government and the American Public Works Association in activities and ceremonies that are designed— (A) to pay tribute to the public works professionals of the United States; and (B) to recognize the substantial contributions that public works professionals make to the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres217ats/xml/BILLS-117sres217ats.xml |
117-sres-218 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 218 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 17, 2021 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Warnock , Ms. Ernst , Ms. Rosen , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Wyden , Mrs. Capito , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Casey , Mr. Brown , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Blunt , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Coons , and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system, and encouraging Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of children in the foster care system.
Whereas National Foster Care Month was established more than 30 years ago— (1) to bring foster care issues to the forefront of the national focus; (2) to highlight the importance of permanency for every child; and (3) to recognize the essential role that foster parents, social workers, and advocates have in the lives of children in foster care throughout the United States; Whereas all children deserve a safe, loving, and permanent home; Whereas the primary goal of the foster care system is to ensure the safety and well-being of children while working to provide a safe, loving, and permanent home for each child; Whereas there are approximately 424,000 children living in foster care; Whereas there were approximately 251,000 youth that entered the foster care system in 2019, while more than 122,000 youth were awaiting adoption at the end of 2019; Whereas more than 86,000 children entered foster care in 2019 due to parental drug abuse; Whereas children of color are more likely to stay in the foster care system for longer periods of time and are less likely to be reunited with their biological families; Whereas foster parents— (1) are the front-line caregivers for children who cannot safely remain with their biological parents; (2) provide physical care, emotional support, and education advocacy; and (3) are the largest single source of families providing permanent homes for children leaving foster care to adoption; Whereas, compared to children in foster care who are placed with nonrelatives, children in foster care who are placed with relatives have more stability, including fewer changes in placements, have more positive perceptions of their placements, are more likely to be placed with their siblings, and demonstrate fewer behavioral problems; Whereas some relative caregivers receive less financial assistance and fewer support services than do foster caregivers; Whereas an increased emphasis on prevention and reunification services is necessary to reduce the number of children that enter or re-enter the foster care system; Whereas the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic has created additional challenges for youth and families in the child welfare system, including delays in permanency, economic hardship, and disruptions in education; Whereas over 20,000 youth aged out of foster care in 2019 without a legal permanent connection to an adult or family; Whereas children who age out of foster care lack the security or support of a biological or adoptive family and frequently struggle to secure affordable housing, obtain health insurance, pursue higher education, and acquire adequate employment; Whereas foster care is intended to be a temporary placement, but children remain in the foster care system for an average of 19 months; Whereas, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 35 percent of children in foster care experience more than 2 placements while in foster care, which often leads to disruption of routines and the need to change schools and move away from siblings, extended families, and familiar surroundings; Whereas youth in foster care are much more likely to face educational instability, with 1 study showing that 75 percent of foster youth experienced an unscheduled school change during a school year, compared to 21 percent of youth not in foster care; Whereas children entering foster care often confront the widespread misperception that children in foster care are disruptive, unruly, and dangerous, even though placement in foster care is based on the actions of a parent or guardian, not the child; Whereas 30 percent of children in foster care are taking at least 1 anti-psychotic medication, and 34 percent of those children are not receiving adequate treatment planning or medication monitoring; Whereas, according to a 2018 study, due to heavy caseloads and limited resources, the average annual turnover rate for child welfare workers is between 14 percent and 22 percent; Whereas States, localities, and communities should be encouraged to invest resources in preventative and reunification services and postpermanency programs to ensure that more children in foster care are provided with safe, loving, and permanent placements; Whereas, in 2018, Congress passed the Family First Prevention Services Act ( Public Law 115–123 ; 132 Stat. 232), which provided new investments in prevention and family reunification services to help more families stay together and ensure that more children are in safe, loving, and permanent homes; Whereas Federal legislation over the 3 decades preceding the date of adoption of this resolution, including the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 ( Public Law 96–272 ; 94 Stat. 500), the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 ( Public Law 105–89 ; 111 Stat. 2115), the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 ( Public Law 110–351 ; 122 Stat. 3949), the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act ( Public Law 112–34 ; 125 Stat. 369), and the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act ( Public Law 113–183 ; 128 Stat. 1919), provided new investments and services to improve the outcomes of children in the foster care system; Whereas May 2021 is an appropriate month to designate as National Foster Care Month to provide an opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments of the child welfare workforce, foster parents, the advocacy community, and mentors for their dedication and accomplishments and the positive impact they have on the lives of children; and Whereas much remains to be done to ensure that all children have a safe, loving, nurturing, and permanent family, regardless of age or special needs: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of May 2021 as National Foster Care Month; (2) recognizes National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges that children face in the foster care system; (3) encourages Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of children in the foster care system; (4) acknowledges the unique needs of children in the foster care system; (5) recognizes foster youth throughout the United States for their ongoing tenacity, courage, and resilience while facing life challenges; (6) acknowledges the exceptional alumni of the foster care system who serve as advocates and role models for youth who remain in foster care; (7) honors the commitment and dedication of the individuals who work tirelessly to provide assistance and services to children in the foster care system; (8) supports the designation of May 31, 2021, as National Foster Parent Appreciation Day; (9) recognizes National Foster Parent Appreciation Day as an opportunity— (A) to recognize the efforts of foster parents to provide safe and loving care for children in need; and (B) to raise awareness about the increasing need for foster parents to serve in their communities; and (10) reaffirms the need to continue working to improve the outcomes of all children in the foster care system through parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and other programs designed— (A) to support vulnerable families; (B) to invest in prevention and reunification services; (C) to promote adoption in cases where reunification is not in the best interests of the child; (D) to adequately serve children brought into the foster care system; and (E) to facilitate the successful transition into adulthood for children that age out of the foster care system. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres218ats/xml/BILLS-117sres218ats.xml |
117-sres-219 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 219 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2021 Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Young , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Braun , Ms. Smith , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Booker , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Grassley , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Tillis , and Mr. Lankford ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating May 18, 2021, as CASA/GAL Volunteers' Day .
Whereas Court Appointed Special Advocate (referred to in this preamble as CASA ) and Guardian ad Litem (referred to in this preamble as GAL ) volunteers are trained and qualified to advocate nationwide for the best interests of children before courts in cases with allegations of abuse or neglect; Whereas more than 424,000 children in the United States enter the foster care system, through no fault of their own, due to allegations of abuse or neglect and rely on adults to advocate on their behalf; Whereas children of color are more likely to stay in the foster care system for longer periods of time and are less likely to be reunited with their biological families; Whereas CASA and GAL volunteers, appointed by a judge— (1) provide the court with the comprehensive and objective information the court needs to make the most well-informed decisions and help ensure positive outcomes for children and youth; and (2) take time to build meaningful and authentic relationships with such children and youth; Whereas CASA and GAL communities across the country remain committed to the recruitment and retention of volunteers who reflect the diversity of the children they serve; Whereas research shows that when a caring and consistent adult like a CASA or GAL volunteer is assigned to a case, outcomes are strengthened for children and families, a higher number of services are ordered, and children are significantly less likely to reenter the child welfare system, perform better academically and behaviorally, and have higher levels of hope; Whereas, in January 1974, Congress enacted the Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.); Whereas the Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act provides financial assistance to States for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect and includes a requirement that in every case a GAL must be appointed to represent the best interest of the child; Whereas such GAL requirement was subsequently amended to provide that the GAL may be an attorney or a court-appointed special advocate; and Whereas, today, CASA and GAL volunteers span 49 States and the District of Columbia, including 948 State organizations and local programs, and more than 96,000 volunteers offer their services to nearly 277,000 children, youth, and families: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates May 18, 2021, as National CASA/GAL Volunteers’ Day ; and (2) commends and celebrates CASA and GAL volunteers for their dedication and hard work in advocating for the best interests of children so that every child who has experienced abuse or neglect can be safe, have a permanent home, and have the opportunity to thrive. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres219is/xml/BILLS-117sres219is.xml |
117-sres-220 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 220 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2021 Ms. Hirono (for herself, Ms. Murkowski , and Mr. Kaine ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Calling upon the United States Senate to give its advice and consent to the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Whereas the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in December 1982 and entered into force in November 1994 to establish a treaty regime to govern activities on, over, and under the world’s oceans; Whereas the UNCLOS builds on four 1958 Law of the Sea conventions to which the United States is a party, namely the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Convention on the High Seas, the Convention on the Continental Shelf, and the Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas; Whereas the UNCLOS and an associated 1994 agreement relating to implementation of the treaty were transmitted to the Senate on October 6, 1994, and, in the absence of Senate advice and consent to ratification, the United States is not a party to the treaty or the associated 1994 agreement; Whereas the treaty has been ratified by 167 parties, which includes 166 countries and the European Union, but not the United States; Whereas the United States, like most other countries, maintains that coastal States under the UNCLOS have the right to regulate economic activities in their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), but do not have the right to regulate foreign military activities in their EEZs; Whereas the treaty’s provisions relating to navigational rights, including navigational rights in EEZs, reflect the diplomatic position of the United States on the issue dating back to the adoption of the UNCLOS in 1982; Whereas becoming a party to the treaty would codify the United States current position of recognizing the provisions within the UNCLOS as customary international law; Whereas becoming a party to the treaty would give the United States standing to participate in discussions relating to the treaty and thereby improve the ability of the United States to intervene as a full party to disputes relating to navigational rights and to defend United States interpretations of the treaty’s provisions, including those relating to whether coastal States have a right under the UNCLOS to regulate foreign military activities in their EEZs; Whereas relying on customary international norms to defend United States interests in those issues is not sufficient, because customary international law is not universally accepted and is subject to change over time based on state practice; Whereas relying on other countries to assert claims on behalf of the United States at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague is woefully insufficient to defend and uphold United States sovereign rights and interests; Whereas the Permanent Court of Arbitration, in the July 12, 2016, ruling on the case In the Matter of the South China Sea Arbitration, stated that the Tribunal forwarded to the Parties for their comment a Note Verbale from the Embassy of the United States of America, requesting to send a representative to observe the hearing , and the Tribunal communicated to the Parties and the U.S. Embassy that it had decided that ‘only interested States parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea will be admitted as observers’ and thus could not accede to the U.S. request ; Whereas, on November 25, 2018, the Russian Federation violated international norms and binding agreements, including the UNCLOS, in firing upon, ramming, and seizing Ukrainian vessels and crews attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait; Whereas, on May 25, 2019, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled in a vote of 19–1 that [t]he Russian Federation shall immediately release the Ukrainian naval vessels Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yani Kapu, and return them to the custody of Ukraine and that [t]he Russian Federation shall immediately release the 24 detained Ukrainian servicemen and allow them to return to Ukraine , demonstrating the Tribunal’s rejection of the Russian Federation’s arguments in that matter in relation to the Law of the Sea; Whereas, despite the Tribunal’s ruling aligning with the position of the United States Government on the November 25, 2018, incident, the continued nonparticipation of the United States in the UNCLOS limits the ability of the United States to effectively respond to the Russian Federation’s actions and to any potential future violations by the Russian Federation and any other signatory of UNCLOS; Whereas the current Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Lloyd Austin, stated that the United States has long treated the UNCLOS’s provisions related to navigation and overflight as reflective of longstanding and customary international law. Our military already acts in a manner consistent with these rights and freedoms, so accession to the Convention will not impact the manner in which we conduct our operations , in response to a question for the record from Senator Hirono on January 21, 2021; Whereas the current Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Gilday, stated that becoming a party to the Convention would reinforce freedom of the seas and the navigational rights vital to our global force posture in the world’s largest maneuver space. Joining the Convention would also demonstrate our commitment to the rule of law, and strengthen our credibility with other Convention parties , in response to advance policy questions on July 30, 2019, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the current Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Gilday, further stated that acceding to the Convention would strengthen our strategic position on issues pertaining to the [South China Sea and the Arctic]. The United States would have increased credibility when responding to excessive maritime claims and militarization efforts in the South China Sea. With respect to the Arctic, becoming a party to the Convention would allow the U.S. to position itself to safeguard access for the purposes of maritime traffic, resource exploitation, and other human activities, while ensuring other states comply with the law of the sea , in response to advance policy questions on July 30, 2019, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the current Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C. Aquilino, stated that there’s really two main reasons [to ratify the UNCLOS]: as the group gets together, it would be certainly beneficial if we had a seat at the table when there were discussions occurring as it applied to potential adjustments and the interpretations of those international laws and the second reason is it puts us in an increased position of credibility … we adhere to the UNCLOS treaty in our operations, and it would make our position much stronger if we were signatories , on March 23, 2021, at his nomination hearing before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, General Glen VanHerck, stated, It would be [in the interests of the United States to accede to the UNCLOS because] it gives us a better posture, a seat at the table, more credibility when we work many of the issues that we have to work around the globe with allies, partners, and potential competitors , on March 16, 2021, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, General Glen VanHerck, further stated in regard to United States ratification of the UNCLOS that as Russia takes over the Arctic Council in May [2021], it’s never been more crucial for us with our like-minded nations and allies and partners that we come to agreement to not allow Russia and China to exploit any seams and gaps , on March 16, 2021, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, General Glen VanHerck, stated I support the accession to UNCLOS. I think it puts us in a more strategic position when we address these issues internationally, globally, with competitors or our allies and partners as well , on April 14, 2021, before the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; Whereas the Commander, United States European Command, General Tod Wolters, answered in the affirmative under questioning from Congressman Joe Courtney on whether General Wolters supported the United States becoming a full participant to the UNCLOS, on April 15, 2021, before the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; Whereas the past Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip S. Davidson, stated that our accession to the UNCLOS would help our position legally across the globe and would do nothing to limit our military operations in the manner in which we’re conducting them now , on April 17, 2018, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip S. Davidson, further stated, I’m on record saying that [ratification of the UNCLOS] would be good for us, I think we would be hard-pressed to find a Navy Admiral that’s said otherwise , on March 9, 2021, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Commander of United States Pacific Command, retired Admiral Harry B. Harris, stated I believe that UNCLOS gives Russia the potential to, quote, unquote ‘own’ almost half of the Arctic Circle, and we will not have that opportunity because of, we’re not a signatory to UNCLOS , on March 15, 2018, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Commander of United States Pacific Command, Admiral Harry B. Harris, stated I think that by not signing onto it that we lose the credibility for the very same thing that we’re arguing for , and which is the following—accepting rules and norms in the international arena. The United States is a beacon—we’re a beacon on a hill but I think that light is brighter if we sign on to UNCLOS , on February 23, 2016, at a hearing before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, stated that the UNCLOS treaty guarantees rights such as innocent passage through territorial seas; transit passage through, under and over international straits; and the laying and maintaining of submarine cables , and the convention has been approved by nearly every maritime power and all the permanent members of the UN Security Council, except the United States , on February 16, 2012, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, further stated, Our notable absence as a signatory weakens our position with other nations, allowing the introduction of expansive definitions of sovereignty on the high seas that undermine our ability to defend our mineral rights along our own continental shelf and in the Arctic. and that the Department strongly supports the accession to UNCLOS, an action consistently recommended by my predecessors of both parties , on February 16, 2012, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford, stated, The Convention provides legal certainty in the world’s largest maneuver space. , that access would strengthen the legal foundation for our ability to transit through international straits and archipelagic waters; preserve our right to conduct military activities in other countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) without notice or permission; reaffirm the sovereign immunity of warships; provide a framework to counter excessive maritime claims; and preserve or operations and intelligence-collection activities , and joining the Convention would also demonstrate our commitment to the rule of law, strengthen our credibility among those nations that are already party to the Convention, and allow us to bring the full force of our influence in challenging excessive maritime claims , on July 9, 2015, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford, further stated that by remaining outside the Convention, the United States remains in scarce company with Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and Syria and by failing to join the Convention, some countries may come to doubt our commitment to act in accordance with international law , on July 9, 2015, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Thomas J. Donahue, stated that we support joining the Convention because it is in our national interest—both in our national security and our economic interests , becoming a party to the Treaty benefits the U.S. economically by providing American companies the legal certainty and stability they need to hire and invest , and companies will be hesitant to take on the investment risk and cost to explore and develop the resources of the sea—particularly on the extended continental shelf (ECS)—without the legal certainty and stability accession to LOS provides , on June 28, 2012, before the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; Whereas the past President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Thomas J. Donahue, further stated that the benefits of joining cut across many important industries including telecommunications, mining, shipping, and oil and natural gas , and joining the Convention will provide the U.S. a critical voice on maritime issues—from mineral claims in the Arctic to how International Seabed Authority (ISA) funds are distributed , on June 28, 2012, before the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; Whereas the past Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, retired Admiral Paul Zukunft, stated on February 12, 2016, With the receding of the icepack, the Arctic Ocean has become the focus of international interest. , All Arctic states agree that the Law of the Sea Convention is the governing legal regime for the Arctic Ocean … yet, we remain the only Arctic nation that has not ratified the very instrument that provides this accepted legal framework governing the Arctic Ocean and its seabed. , and Ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention supports our economic interests, environmental protection, and safety of life at sea, especially in the Arctic Ocean. ; Whereas the past Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John M. Richardson, stated that acceding to the Convention would strengthen our credibility and strategic position , and we undermine our leverage by not signing up to the same rule book by which we are asking other countries to accept , on July 30, 2015, in his nomination hearing before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John M. Richardson, further stated that becoming a part of [the UNCLOS] would give us a great deal of credibility, and particularly as it pertains to the unfolding opportunities in the Arctic , and this provides a framework to adjudicate disputes , on July 30, 2015, in his nomination hearing before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and Whereas the past United States Special Representative of State for the Arctic and former Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Robert Papp, Jr., stated that as a non-party to the Law of the Sea Convention, the U.S. is at a significant disadvantage relative to the other Arctic Ocean coastal States , those States are parties to the Convention, and are well along the path to obtaining legal certainty and international recognition of their Arctic extended continental shelf , and becoming a Party to the Law of the Sea Convention would allow the United States to fully secure its rights to the continental shelf off the coast of Alaska, which is likely to extend out to more than 600 nautical miles , on December 10, 2014, before the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) affirms that it is in the national interest for the United States to become a formal signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), done at Montego Bay December 10, 1982; (2) urges the United States Senate to give its advice and consent to the ratification of the UNCLOS; and (3) recommends the ratification of the UNCLOS remain a top priority for the Federal Government, the importance of which was most recently underscored by the strategic challenges the United States faces in the Asia-Pacific, the Arctic, and the Black Sea regions. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres220is/xml/BILLS-117sres220is.xml |
117-sres-221 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 221 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Cornyn ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the Cinco de Mayo holiday.
Whereas May 5, or Cinco de Mayo in Spanish, is celebrated each year as a date of importance by Mexican and Mexican-American communities; Whereas the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates May 5, 1862, the date on which Mexicans defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla, one of the many battles that the Mexican people won in their long and brave fight for independence, freedom, and democracy; Whereas the victory of Mexico over France at Puebla represented a historic triumph for the Mexican government during the Franco-Mexican war fought between 1861 and 1867 and bolstered the resistance movement; Whereas the success of Mexico at the Battle of Puebla reinvigorated the spirits of the Mexican people and provided a renewed sense of unity and strength; Whereas the French army, which had not experienced defeat against any of the finest troops of Europe in more than half a century, sustained a disastrous loss at the hands of an outnumbered and ill-equipped, but highly spirited and courageous, Mexican army; Whereas the courageous spirit that Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza and his men displayed during that historic battle can never be forgotten; Whereas, in a larger sense, Cinco de Mayo symbolizes the right of a free people to self-determination, just as Benito Juarez, the president of Mexico during the Battle of Puebla, once said, El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz , meaning respect for the rights of others is peace ; Whereas the sacrifice of Mexican fighters was instrumental in keeping Mexico from falling under European domination while, in the United States, the Union Army battled Confederate forces in the Civil War; Whereas Cinco de Mayo serves as a reminder that the foundation of the United States was built by people from many countries and diverse cultures who were willing to fight and die for freedom; Whereas Cinco de Mayo also serves as a reminder of the close ties between the people of Mexico and the people of the United States; Whereas Cinco de Mayo encourages the celebration of a legacy of strong leaders and a sense of vibrancy in communities; and Whereas Cinco de Mayo serves as a reminder to provide more opportunity for future generations: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the historic struggle of the people of Mexico for independence and freedom, which Cinco de Mayo commemorates; and (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres221is/xml/BILLS-117sres221is.xml |
117-sres-222 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 222 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2021 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Grassley , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Smith , Mr. Padilla , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Menendez , Ms. Hassan , Ms. Klobuchar , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Durbin , and Mr. Whitehouse ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
Whereas the Senate is committed to the awareness, prevention, and deterrence of sexual violence affecting individuals in the United States; Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this preamble as the CDC ), 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience sexual or physical violence and stalking by an intimate partner; Whereas, according to the 2019 Child Maltreatment Report of the Department of Health and Human Services, child protection service agencies throughout the United States substantiated, or found strong evidence to indicate that, 60,927 children under 18 years of age were victims of sexual abuse that year; Whereas children and young adults are at significant risk of experiencing sexual assault, as up to 69 percent of sexual assault victims are under 34 years of age; Whereas sexual violence is a burden for many individuals who serve in the Armed Forces, and the Department of Defense estimates that approximately 20,500 members of the Armed Forces, including approximately 13,000 women and 7,500 men, experienced some form of contact or penetrative sexual assault during 2018; Whereas, due to the unprecedented challenges presented by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic, including mandatory stay-at-home orders, the needs of sexual assault victims have become even more complex and challenging; Whereas, according to a March 2020 survey by the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, 62 percent of rape crisis centers have a waiting list for counseling services, 35 percent lack a therapist on staff, and 40 percent of programs have an increased demand for services since the beginning of the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas the American Journal of Emergency Medicine reported a 10 to 30 percent increase in reports of family violence since the beginning of the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas sexual assault does not discriminate on any basis and can affect any individual in the United States; Whereas sexual violence may take many forms, including acquaintance, stranger, spousal, and gang rape, incest, child sexual abuse, elder sexual abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation of disabled persons and members of the LGBTQ community, commercial sex trafficking, sexual harassment, and stalking; Whereas studies have suggested that the rate at which American Indians and Alaska Natives experience sexual violence is significantly higher than for other populations in the United States; Whereas, according to a 2010 CDC survey, approximately 1 in 8 lesbian women (13 percent or 214,000), nearly half of all bisexual women (46 percent or 1,500,000), and 1 in 6 heterosexual women (17 percent or 19,000,000) have been raped in their lifetime; Whereas, according to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, in addition to the immediate physical and emotional costs, sexual assault has numerous adverse consequences, which can include post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, major depression, homelessness, eating disorders, and suicide; Whereas, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey, an average of only 34 percent of rapes or sexual assaults in the United States were reported to law enforcement agencies; Whereas many sexual assaults are not reported to law enforcement agencies, and many States have restrictive criminal statutes of limitations, which enable many perpetrators to evade punishment for their crimes; Whereas advances in deoxyribonucleic acid (commonly known as DNA ) technology have enabled law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute the perpetrators in tens of thousands of previously unsolved sexual assault cases; Whereas incarceration of sexual assault perpetrators can prevent perpetrators from committing additional crimes; Whereas national, State, territorial, and Tribal coalitions, community-based rape crisis centers, and other organizations across the United States are committed to— (1) eliminating sexual violence through prevention and education; and (2) increasing public awareness of sexual violence and the prevalence of sexual violence; Whereas important partnerships have been formed among criminal and juvenile justice agencies, health professionals, public health workers, educators, first responders, and victim service providers; Whereas thousands of volunteers and staff at rape crisis centers, State coalitions against sexual assault, and nonprofit organizations across the United States play an important role in making crisis hotlines and other services available to survivors of sexual assault; Whereas free, confidential help is available to all victims and survivors of sexual assault through— (1) the victim service programs of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (commonly known and referred to in this preamble as RAINN ), including the National Sexual Assault Hotline— (A) by telephone at 800–656–HOPE; and (B) online at https://hotline.rainn.org; and (2) more than 1,500 sexual assault service providers across the United States; Whereas the victim service programs of RAINN, including the National Sexual Assault Hotline, helped a total of 60,437 victims receive help in May and June of 2020, up 18 percent from the same time period in 2019; Whereas the Department of Defense provides the Safe Helpline, Safe HelpRoom, and Safe Helpline mobile application, each of which provide support and help to members of the Department of Defense community— (1) by telephone at 877–995–5247; and (2) online at https://SafeHelpline.org; Whereas individual and collective efforts reflect the dream of the people of the United States— (1) for individuals and organizations to actively work to prevent all forms of sexual violence; and (2) for no victim of sexual assault to be unserved or feel that there is no path to justice; and Whereas April 2021 is recognized as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month : Now, therefore, be it
That— (1) it is the sense of the Senate that— (A) National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month provides a special opportunity to— (i) educate the people of the United States about sexual violence; and (ii) encourage— (I) the prevention of sexual assault; (II) improvement in the treatment of survivors of sexual assault; and (III) the prosecution of perpetrators of sexual assault; (B) it is appropriate to properly acknowledge survivors of sexual assault and to commend the volunteers and professionals who assist those survivors in their efforts to heal; (C) national and community organizations and private sector supporters should be recognized and applauded for their work in— (i) promoting awareness about sexual assault; (ii) providing information and treatment to survivors of sexual assault; and (iii) increasing the number of successful prosecutions of perpetrators of sexual assault; and (D) public safety, law enforcement, and health professionals should be recognized and applauded for their hard work and innovative strategies to ensure perpetrators of sexual assault are held accountable; and (2) the Senate supports the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres222ats/xml/BILLS-117sres222ats.xml |
117-sres-223 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 223 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2021 Ms. Smith (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the city of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, on its 100th anniversary.
Whereas the city of Columbia Heights is a first-ring suburb of Minneapolis situated in the southern part of Anoka County; Whereas Columbia Heights was established as a village in 1898 and incorporated as a city in 1921; Whereas Columbia Heights is now home to a diverse population, which brings together cultures from all across the world; Whereas Columbia Heights was designated in 2006 by community stakeholders and city officials as the City of Peace ; Whereas Columbia Heights is a city that embraces ethnic and cultural differences so that all its citizens may live in peace; Whereas Columbia Heights was named an All-America City recipient in 2016; Whereas Columbia Heights prides itself in being a place where families can thrive; Whereas Columbia Heights has a small-town feel while still striving towards the goals of a big city; and Whereas, on July 21, 2021, the Columbia Heights will celebrate 100 years of incorporation: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate congratulates Columbia Heights, Minnesota on its 100th anniversary. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres223ats/xml/BILLS-117sres223ats.xml |
117-sres-224 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 224 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2021 Mr. Heinrich (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Booker , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Markey , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Wyden , Ms. Rosen , Ms. Warren , Mr. Luján , and Mr. King ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States must seize the opportunity to create millions of jobs, become a net exporter of clean energy, and secure a better, more equitable future by accelerating the electrification of households, buildings, and businesses in the United States, modernizing the United States electricity grid, and continuing on the path towards decarbonizing electricity generation in the United States by 2035.
Whereas the United States enjoys an abundance of clean energy resources, world-class research facilities, cutting-edge industrial capabilities, and an unrivaled culture of entrepreneurship and technological innovation; Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, technology exists to power the majority of energy systems in the United States with zero-emission electricity; Whereas achieving widespread electrification— (1) will reduce the overall energy needs of the United States economy by up to 50 percent; and (2) can substantially decrease overall consumer energy costs while maintaining the same or better lifestyles for individuals and families in the United States; Whereas national and subnational economies around the world, including in the United States, are engaged in a fundamental transition away from energy systems based on fossil fuels to zero-emission energy systems; Whereas the United States has the opportunity to become a clean energy superpower, and in the process has the opportunity— (1) to become a net exporter of bulk zero-emission electricity and of products made with zero-emission electricity; (2) to capture new and expanding power and technology markets; (3) to benefit from the ongoing global transition away from fossil fuel energy towards widespread electrification using zero-emission electricity; and (4) to become an international leader in the production and adoption of zero-emission vehicles; Whereas climate change caused by human activities, especially by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, represents a serious, present, and growing threat— (1) to human health, security, and economic well-being; and (2) to the environment; Whereas low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the harmful effects of climate change and air pollution, including being at a higher risk of experiencing— (1) severe floods, droughts, and wildfires; (2) economic dislocation; and (3) significant health problems, including pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer; Whereas transitioning the energy systems of the United States to zero-emission electricity would— (1) drastically reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in the United States; (2) improve air and water quality throughout the United States; and (3) improve numerous health conditions associated with the burning of fossil fuels for millions of individuals in the United States; Whereas the work required to electrify the economy of the United States would produce millions of high-paying, sustainable jobs that would— (1) be created throughout the United States, including in urban, rural, suburban, and Tribal communities; and (2) require directly translatable skills from individuals who, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, hold jobs in— (A) the fossil fuel industry; (B) the construction and building industry; (C) the electricity industry, including residential and commercial electricians; and (D) the automotive industry; Whereas the average household in the United States spends, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, approximately $4,500 per year on energy, including $2,000 per year on vehicle fuel; Whereas, with supportive policy, households in the United States can save up to half of their annual energy costs by electrifying their household energy systems, including through— (1) the installation of— (A) rooftop or distributed photovoltaic solar and home battery systems; (B) electric heat pumps and electric heat pump water heaters; and (C) electric household appliances; and (2) the purchase of electric vehicles; Whereas many low- and moderate-income families in the United States lack access to credit and financing options that would enable those families to install money-saving electrified household energy systems; Whereas reaping the benefits of electrification could be made more accessible and cost-effective for individuals in the United States, so that the access and costs compare more favorably with other countries, by— (1) reducing the up-front capital outlays typically required; and (2) decreasing the cost of local permitting and regulations for rooftop solar and other distributed renewable energy generation in the United States; Whereas investments in energy efficiency programs can— (1) reduce the size and cost of electric heating systems; (2) help increase systemic resiliency to periods of extreme temperature; and (3) in addition to other investments in infrastructure, help improve the ability of the electric power grid to serve peak electric demand; Whereas utility-scale wind and solar installations are among the lowest-cost sources of electricity available in the United States; Whereas additional interregional high-voltage direct-current electricity transmission capacity— (1) is critical to the development of new clean energy generation; and (2) can help ensure reliable and consistent electricity supply; and Whereas supporting rapid electrification and innovation in all sectors of the United States economy while transitioning to zero-emission electricity production using proven generation technologies is one of the fastest, most efficient ways to reduce United States greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the average energy bills of people of the United States, and create millions of good-paying jobs to put individuals in the United States back to work in response to the COVID–19 pandemic: Now, therefore be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) the United States must seize the opportunity to create millions of jobs, become a net exporter of clean energy, and secure a better, more equitable future by accelerating the electrification of households, buildings, and businesses in the United States, modernizing the United States electricity grid, and continuing on the path towards decarbonizing electricity generation in the United States by 2035; (2) the goals described in paragraph (1) are consistent with, and should be achieved through, efforts that prioritize the objectives of— (A) creating millions of good-paying jobs, with collective bargaining agreements, and advancing a thriving, equitable economy with an expanded middle class; (B) maintaining the global leadership of the United States in innovation; (C) ensuring that not less than 40 percent of the benefits of Federal investments in electrification efforts flow to historically marginalized communities and individuals disproportionately affected by the health and environmental impacts of fossil fuels; (D) rehiring through place-based policies, retraining, and certifying, for electrification and clean energy jobs, individuals that, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, hold jobs in the fossil fuel industry (referred to in this resolution as energy veterans ); (E) advancing strong labor and safety standards throughout the supply chain by using certain Federal provisions, including— (i) chapter 83 of title 41, United States Code (commonly known as the Buy American Act ); and (ii) subchapter IV of chapter 31 of part A of subtitle II of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the Davis-Bacon Act ); (F) decreasing the harmful health and environmental impacts of climate change, which fall disproportionately on low-income people and communities of color in the United States; (G) ensuring access to low-cost, reliable electricity for individuals, families, and businesses, while recognizing and addressing the infrastructural challenges in rural and Tribal communities; (H) modernizing the electric power grid of the United States and its operations to increase the security, resilience, reliability, fairness, and flexibility of the electric power grid; (I) transforming existing industries in the United States into 21st century industries that use and produce clean energy; and (J) enhancing the national security of the United States, including the cybersecurity of the electric power grid; and (3) to succeed, the goals described in paragraph (1) and the objectives described in paragraph (2) should be accomplished through efforts that— (A) electrify the activities of high-emissions sectors, such as the residential and commercial construction, transportation, and industrial sectors, including by— (i) supporting and incentivizing the residential and commercial deployment of electric technologies, including battery storage systems, electric heat pumps, electric induction stoves, electric vehicle chargers, and electric water heaters; (ii) supporting the expansion of residential, commercial, and public electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including in rural areas and low- and moderate-income communities; (iii) supporting the widespread electrification of public transportation systems, including the expansion of public transportation systems in rural and suburban communities; and (iv) investing in research, development, demonstration, and deployment programs for electrification of key industrial processes; (B) increase the deployment of zero-emission electricity resources, including by— (i) expanding investment in zero-emission electricity generation; (ii) lowering the permitting and hardware costs, and streamlining the process, of installing distributed energy systems; (iii) improving the permitting and leasing processes for zero-emission electricity generation facilities on public land and offshore waters within the jurisdiction of the United States; and (iv) ending subsidies for fossil fuel development on both public and private land; (C) invest in energy efficiency programs paired with electrification measures, including household weatherization and high efficiency electric heating and cooling systems; (D) expand interregional transmission capacity and planning to promote widespread and reliable zero-emission electrification; (E) adopt and expand the use of technologies and processes that will make the electric power grid more resilient, reliable, and efficient; (F) improve commercial, infrastructural, and manufacturing capacity for zero-emission electrification, including by— (i) identifying and encouraging best practices for organizing electrification markets across communities and streamlining local regulations and permitting requirements; (ii) upgrading home-load centers to support the power supply necessary for widespread household electrification; (iii) setting national standards for electrification projects that align electrification markets across jurisdictions, while still allowing for private sector innovation and technological advances; and (iv) expanding and electrifying manufacturing facilities so that the United States can produce and export products made with clean energy; (G) increase the available financing for zero-emission electrification supporting technologies at all scales, from utility-scale power stations and transmission lines to individual homes and businesses, including by— (i) providing seed funding for a clean energy and sustainability accelerator that will leverage public and private investment in zero-emission electricity across the United States; (ii) adopting policies to increase available financing for distributed zero-emission electricity generation, especially by low- and moderate-income households and individuals historically denied access to credit; (iii) increasing financial incentives at the Federal, State, and local levels for domestic manufacturing of electric appliances, vehicles, technologies, and systems; and (iv) creating accessible financing mechanisms to make electrification projects affordable for all households, including for both homeowners and renters, across rural, urban, suburban, and Tribal communities across the United States; (H) expand access to, and increase the quality of, higher education, vocational training, and certification programs for workers contributing to the goals described in paragraph (1) and the objectives described in paragraph (2) with an emphasis on— (i) ensuring and encouraging access to those programs for— (I) low-income individuals; and (II) people of color; (ii) eliminating gender-based and race-based pay gaps; (iii) protecting the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively; and (iv) rehiring through place-based policies and retraining of energy veterans; (I) facilitate the modernization of Federal, State, and local building, electric, and other codes to encourage the adoption of low-cost zero-emission electricity resources, including through grant and technical assistance programs; (J) invest in achieving full access to zero-emission electricity for rural and Tribal communities through a combination of new transmission and distribution, and new generation, such as through distributed solar and microgrids; (K) pursue a Federal Government-wide approach to zero-emission electrification; (L) increase understanding of the health impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution created by fossil fuel appliances and electricity generation, especially on the most vulnerable members of society; (M) invest in research, development, and demonstration on the efficient use, recycling, and waste management of materials used in clean energy technologies, including the sustainable sourcing and recycling of critical minerals used in the technologies; and (N) increase research, development, and demonstration funding for the next generation of cutting-edge zero-emission electricity resources, deployment techniques, and grid modernization technologies. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres224is/xml/BILLS-117sres224is.xml |
117-sres-225 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 225 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 19, 2021 Mr. Sanders (for himself, Ms. Warren , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Carper , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Markey , Mr. Ossoff , and Mr. Leahy ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the value of Palestinian and Israeli lives and urging an immediate cease-fire and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Whereas every Palestinian life matters; and Whereas every Israeli life matters: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) urges an immediate cease-fire to prevent— (A) any further loss of life; and (B) further escalation of conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories; and (2) supports diplomatic efforts— (A) to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; (B) to uphold international law; and (C) to protect the human rights of Israelis and Palestinians. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres225is/xml/BILLS-117sres225is.xml |
117-sres-226 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 226 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 19, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Braun , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Cotton , Ms. Ernst , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Young , Ms. Lummis , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Hagerty , Mr. Thune , Mr. Moran , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Sullivan , and Mr. Daines ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States supports Israel, our greatest ally in the region, and its right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.
Whereas the United States designated Hamas as a terrorist organization on October 8, 1997; Whereas Hamas, a terrorist organization, seized power of Gaza in 2007; Whereas Hamas continues to control Gaza and to work alongside other terror groups to attack Israeli civilians, while refusing to recognize Israel or to attempt to negotiate peace; Whereas in May of 2021, Hamas and its Palestinian terrorist allies in Gaza, which are funded by Iran, have launched the largest barrage of rockets into Israel in decades, targeting Israeli civilians and cities, including Jerusalem, Israel’s capital; Whereas the State of Israel is a key ally and a strategic partner of the United States; Whereas, since Israel’s founding in 1948, Congress has repeatedly expressed our Nation’s unwavering commitment to the security of Israel; and Whereas cooperation between Israel and the United States is of great importance: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) opposes the escalating and indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas against Israel; (2) mourns the loss of innocent life caused by Hamas’ rocket attacks; (3) urges continued and steadfast support for Israel, because we have no greater ally in our efforts to preserve peace and secure our interests in the Middle East; (4) affirms its unwavering commitment to our ally, Israel, and its right to defend itself and its civilians against terror by whatever means necessary to stop the murder of Israeli citizens and foreign nationals residing in Israel; (5) supports and stands with Israel as it defends its people from these reprehensible terrorist attacks; and (6) reaffirms its strong support for Israel’s right to peace and security. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres226is/xml/BILLS-117sres226is.xml |
117-sres-227 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 227 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 20, 2021 Mr. Braun submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Honoring the 100th anniversary of the creation of Wonder Bread in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Whereas Wonder Bread became a dietary staple for the people of the United States, becoming synonymous with lunch time for school children, diners on highways, and cafeterias in our factories and military bases, and it is part of the collective experience of living in the United States; Whereas Wonder Bread was developed by the Taggart Baking Company; Whereas Wonder Bread was founded in 1905 by brothers Alexander and Joseph Taggart and Alexander’s son, Alexander Jr.; Whereas the company’s main factory was located at 18–28 North New Jersey Street in Indianapolis, Indiana; Whereas Alexander and Joseph were immigrants from the Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea, and their company became the largest bread bakery in the State of Indiana, producing over 300,000 loaves of bread per week; Whereas people in the United States were turning away from home baked bread and purchasing their bread due to its convenience and affordability; Whereas soft bread was desirable, leading the company to develop a bread with an even texture, soft crust, and a resiliency that enabled butter, jam, and peanut butter to be easily spread upon it; Whereas Elmer Cline, the Taggart Vice President for merchandising development, came up with the name Wonder Bread and the colorful balloons on the packaging after watching a hot air balloon race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Whereas Wonder Bread was sold to the Continental Baking Company in 1925, and subsequently combined the standardized 1.5 pound loaves with the Otto Frederick Rohwedder invention for slicing newly baked bread in the factory and the Henri Sevigne machine that wrapped the loaves in waxed paper to ensure freshness, expanding the Wonder Bread identity, deliverability, and storage capability; Whereas Wonder Bread’s popularity greatly expanded after World War II, leading to a Government request to enhance Wonder Bread with vitamins and minerals to enable the company to advertise its nutritional qualities as well as its convenience; Whereas Wonder Bread became a major sponsor of renowned children’s television shows, and as a result, children from across the country embraced the bread even more; Whereas the creation and rising popularity of Wonder Bread coincided with a new industrial era where factories produced food with uniform size and weight, and its pre-sliced convenience and being wrapped in resealable packaging made Wonder Bread an icon in the United States; and Whereas Wonder Bread was not associated with a particular ethnic group, religion, or region of the country and was something new that all people of the United States were experiencing together as something that symbolized the collective experience of the post-war United States and all its possibilities: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) while the Wonder Bread brand has been purchased by multiple companies in the last century, it will always be associated with Indianapolis, Indiana, where the Taggart brothers first developed it; (2) the influence of the production, packaging, and advertising of Wonder Bread set a standard for an entire industry; (3) Wonder Bread's story of being created by immigrants, combining with other innovations to create something entirely new, and embracing new means of advertising and distribution all combined to make the story of Wonder Bread unique to the United States; (4) Wonder Bread, and its immediate association with childhood, is a touchstone for all people of the United States, a product that is iconic to our culture, and a symbol of the age in which it was developed; and (5) the 100th anniversary of the launching of Wonder Bread is a moment to celebrate United States heritage and the innovation of the people of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres227is/xml/BILLS-117sres227is.xml |
117-sres-228 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 228 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 20, 2021 Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Portman , Mr. Booker , Mr. Heinrich , Ms. Hirono , Ms. Collins , and Mr. Burr ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating May 15, 2021, as Kids to Parks Day .
Whereas the 11th annual Kids to Parks Day will be celebrated on May 15, 2021; Whereas the goals of Kids to Parks Day are to— (1) promote healthy outdoor recreation and responsible environmental stewardship; (2) empower young people; and (3) encourage families to get outdoors and visit the parks and public land of the United States; Whereas, on Kids to Parks Day, individuals from rural, suburban, and urban areas of the United States can be reintroduced to the splendid National, State, and neighborhood parks located in their communities; Whereas communities across the United States offer a variety of natural resources and public land, often with free access, to individuals seeking outdoor recreation; Whereas the people of the United States, young and old, should be encouraged to lead more healthy and active lifestyles; Whereas Kids to Parks Day is an opportunity for families to take a break from their busy lives and enjoy a day of active, wholesome fun; and Whereas Kids to Parks Day will— (1) broaden an appreciation for nature and the outdoors in young people; (2) foster a safe setting for independent play and healthy adventure in neighborhood parks; and (3) facilitate self-reliance while strengthening communities: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates May 15, 2021, as Kids to Parks Day ; (2) recognizes the importance of outdoor recreation and the preservation of open spaces for the health and education of the young people of the United States; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe Kids to Parks Day with safe family trips to parks. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres228ats/xml/BILLS-117sres228ats.xml |
117-sres-229 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 229 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 24, 2021 Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Ms. Collins ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the devastating attack on a girls’ school in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 8, 2021, and expressing solidarity with the Afghan people.
Whereas, on May 8, 2021, a car bomb and several other mechanisms were detonated at the front gates of the Sayed Ul-Shuhada High School in Kabul, killing more than 85 people, many of whom were girls attending the school; Whereas the attack took place as the girls and their families prepared to celebrate Eid al-Fitr; Whereas the school provides education to the Dasht-e Barchi neighborhood, an underserved area of Kabul where many members of the Hazara minority community live; Whereas the Hazara in Dasht-e Barchi have been the target of extremist violence for many years; Whereas, on March 12, 2020, assailants attacked a maternity hospital in Dasht-e Barchi, killing 24 people including 2 newborn babies, mothers, and members of the hospital staff; Whereas 1 of those killed in the attack on the hospital was Maryam Noorzad— (1) who was a midwife serving the Hazara community; (2) who dedicated her life to providing access to healthcare to women in remote parts of Afghanistan; (3) who was murdered after refusing to leave the bedside of a patient in labor; and (4) whose bravery was recognized by the Department of State with an honorary International Women of Courage award; Whereas Afghan girls were restricted from accessing an education under the Taliban, forcing some girls to dress up as boys in order to attend secret schools and continue their education; Whereas, according to a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence— (1) there are approximately 3,500,000 girls among the 9,000,000 children who are enrolled in school in Afghanistan; (2) only 17 percent of girls in rural parts of Afghanistan attend school, while 45 percent of girls in urban areas in Afghanistan attend school; (3) 80 percent of Afghan women older than 15 years of age are illiterate; and (4) schools are increasingly being forced to close due to rising insecurity; Whereas the education of girls is a necessary requirement for any country to achieve long-term stability and peace; Whereas the attack coincides with an escalation of violence in Afghanistan, perpetrated by the Taliban, the Islamic State of Iraq, and the Levant (ISIS) and other terrorist organizations; and Whereas the recent escalation in violence has disproportionately impacted women, who have been targeted while working as reporters, administering vaccines, serving in prominent positions, and helping their communities: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) extends its heartfelt condolences to, and stands with, the people of Afghanistan and the Hazara community; (2) condemns all forms of violence against women and girls in Afghanistan; (3) supports United States and international efforts to ensure that girls in Afghanistan are able to safely attend school; (4) affirms that the United States should continue to provide assistance to support the rights of women and girls to achieve an education; (5) calls on the Government of Afghanistan to support girls’ education and to ensure that girls are able to safely attend school; (6) calls for international condemnation of violence against Afghan women and girls; and (7) asks the international community to devote the resources and attention necessary to provide for the continued safe education of girls in Afghanistan. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres229is/xml/BILLS-117sres229is.xml |
117-sres-230 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 230 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 24, 2021 Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Bennet , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Braun , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Cruz , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Young , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Toomey , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Booker , Mr. Rubio , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Carper , Mr. Hagerty , and Mr. McConnell ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of charter schools across the United States for making ongoing contributions to education, and supporting the ideals and goals of the 22nd annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 9 through May 15, 2021.
Whereas charter schools are public schools that do not charge tuition and enroll any student who wants to attend, often through a random lottery when the demand for enrollment is outmatched by the supply of available charter school seats; Whereas high-performing public charter schools deliver a high-quality public education and challenge all students to reach their potential for academic success; Whereas public charter schools promote innovation and excellence in public education; Whereas public charter schools throughout the United States provide millions of families with diverse and innovative educational options for the children of those families; Whereas high-performing public charter schools and charter management organizations are increasing student achievement and attendance rates at institutions of higher education; Whereas public charter schools are authorized by a designated entity and— (1) respond to the needs of communities, families, and students in the United States; and (2) promote the principles of quality, accountability, choice, high-performance, and innovation; Whereas, in exchange for flexibility and autonomy, public charter schools are held accountable by the authorizers of the charter schools for improving student achievement and for sound financial and operational management; Whereas public charter schools are required to meet the student achievement accountability requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) in the same manner as traditional public schools; Whereas public charter schools often set higher expectations for students, beyond the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), to ensure that the charter schools are of high quality and truly accountable to the public; Whereas 44 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico have public charter schools; Whereas, as of the 2018–2019 school year, more than 7,500 public charter schools served approximately 3,300,000 children; Whereas enrollment in public charter schools grew from 400,000 students in 2001 to 3,300,000 students in 2019, a more than eightfold increase in 18 years; Whereas in the United States— (1) in 241 school districts, more than 10 percent of public school students are enrolled in public charter schools; and (2) in at least 29 school districts, at least 30 percent of public school students are enrolled in public charter schools; Whereas public charter schools improve the achievement of students enrolled in the charter schools and collaborate with traditional public schools to improve public education for all students; Whereas public charter schools— (1) give parents the freedom to choose public schools; (2) routinely measure parental satisfaction levels; and (3) must prove the ongoing success of the charter schools to parents, policymakers, and the communities served by the charter schools or risk closure; Whereas a 2015 report from the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University found significant improvements for students at urban charter schools, and, when compared to peers in traditional public schools, each year those students completed the equivalent of 28 more days of learning in reading and 40 more days of learning in math; Whereas a 2020 study from the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University found greater academic gains for students in charter schools than for students in traditional public schools who took the reading and math assessments administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in fourth and eighth grade between 2005 and 2017, and African American and low-income students attending charter schools were almost 6 months ahead of their peers in reading and math compared with students in traditional public schools over the 12-year span of the study; Whereas parental demand for charter schools is high, and there was nearly 5 percent growth in charter school enrollment between the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 school years; and Whereas the 22nd annual National Charter Schools Week is scheduled to be celebrated the week of May 9 through May 15, 2021: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the students, families, teachers, leaders, and staff of public charter schools across the United States for— (A) making ongoing contributions to public education; (B) making impressive strides in closing the academic achievement gap in schools in the United States, particularly in schools with some of the most disadvantaged students in both rural and urban communities; and (C) improving and strengthening the public school system throughout the United States; (2) supports the ideals and goals of the 22nd annual National Charter Schools Week, a week-long celebration to be held May 9 through May 15, 2021, in communities throughout the United States; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to hold appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities during National Charter Schools Week to demonstrate support for public charter schools. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres230ats/xml/BILLS-117sres230ats.xml |
117-sres-231 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 231 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 24, 2021 Mr. Rubio (for himself, Mr. Reed , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Casey , Mr. Braun , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Marshall , and Mrs. Fischer ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of May 17, 2021, as DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day to raise awareness of and encourage research on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors and pediatric cancers in general.
Whereas diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (referred to in this preamble as DIPG ) tumors regularly affect 130 to 300 children in the United States each year; Whereas brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death among children; Whereas DIPG tumors are the leading cause of pediatric brain cancer deaths; Whereas, with respect to a child who is diagnosed with a DIPG tumor and receives treatment for a DIPG tumor, the median amount of time that the child survives after diagnosis is only 9 months; Whereas, with respect to an individual who is diagnosed with a DIPG tumor, the rate of survival 5 years after diagnosis is approximately 2 percent; Whereas the average age at which a child is diagnosed with a DIPG tumor is between 5 and 10 years, resulting in a life expectancy approximately 70 years shorter than the average life expectancy in the United States; and Whereas the prognosis for children diagnosed with DIPG tumors has not improved over the past 50 years: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports— (A) designating May 17, 2021, as DIPG Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day ; and (B) efforts to— (i) better understand diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors; (ii) develop effective treatments for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors; and (iii) provide comprehensive care for children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors and their families; and (2) encourages all individuals in the United States to become more informed about— (A) diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumors; (B) pediatric brain cancer in general; and (C) challenges relating to research on pediatric cancers and ways to advance such research. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres231ats/xml/BILLS-117sres231ats.xml |
117-sres-232 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 232 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 25, 2021 Mr. Hawley (for himself, Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Cruz , Ms. Ernst , Mr. Braun , Mr. Daines , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Cramer , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Cassidy , and Mr. Hagerty ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that acts of violence against Jewish people in the United States and around the world and the poisonous rhetoric from politicians and others promoted by the media that has helped inspire such violence is condemnable and has no place in society.
Whereas Jews across the United States have been threatened, cursed at, spit on, burned, and physically attacked in at least 193 antisemitic acts of violence during the first week of the 2021 conflict between Israel and Palestinians; Whereas pro-Palestinian protestors threatened, shoved, and threw fireworks at bystanders in the Diamond District of Midtown Manhattan, an area with many Jewish-owned businesses; Whereas pro-Palestinian protestors punched, threw objects, and directed antisemitic slurs at a group of Jewish men eating at a restaurant in Los Angeles; Whereas convoys of trucks bearing Palestinian flags drove through London shouting through loudspeakers: F__ the Jews , F__ their mothers , F__ their daughters , and Rape their daughters ; Whereas an elderly Jewish man was beaten with sticks by a mob at a pro-Palestinian protest in Toronto; Whereas a Member of Congress called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an ethno-nationalist on the floor of the House of Representatives and in a tweet accused the Israeli military of committing war crimes; Whereas, after the announcement of a ceasefire in Israel, a Member of Congress tweeted, The Israeli military’s occupation continues. The blockade continues. The ethnic cleansing continues. ; Whereas a Member of Congress described Israel in a tweet as an apartheid state ; and Whereas a Member of Congress tweeted that the Israeli military response to Palestinian terrorist attacks was killing babies, children and their parents and that Palestinians are being massacred : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) condemns hatred and violence against Jews; (2) denounces the poisonous anti-Israel rhetoric of elected officials that has inflamed hatred and inspired escalating violence against Jews; (3) rejects the biased, incomplete, and inaccurate information promulgated by the news media in the United States about Israel and the Government of Israel’s efforts to protect its citizens from terrorism; (4) celebrates the innumerable contributions of American Jews to our Nation, culture, values, and way of life; and (5) reaffirms its intent to ensure that Jews in the United States— (A) are treated with dignity and respect; and (B) receive the full protection of the law owed to them as citizens of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres232is/xml/BILLS-117sres232is.xml |
117-sres-233 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 233 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 25, 2021 Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Kaine ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of a National Bike Month and in appreciation of cyclists and others for promoting bicycle safety and the benefits of cycling.
Whereas there are more than 57,000,000 adult cyclists in the United States; Whereas recreational cycling is a safe, low-impact, aerobic activity for all ages; Whereas when an individual cycles as a form of regular exercise, it may benefit the individual’s health; Whereas 870,000 people of the United States choose to commute by bicycle to work; Whereas many communities in the United States officially recognize May 21st as Bike to Work Day ; Whereas bicycle tourism contributes billions of dollars annually to the United States economy; Whereas community leaders across the country in partnership with local officials have explored ways to increase access to outdoor bicycle recreation activities; Whereas outdoor bicycle recreation became even more important during the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas a National Bike Month would provide an opportunity to educate United States citizens about the importance of bicycle safety and the health benefits of cycling; and Whereas the month of May has officially been celebrated as National Bike Month by the League of American Bicyclists and the majority of the international cycling community since 1956: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) United States citizens should observe a National Bike Month to educate citizens of the United States about the importance of bicycle safety and the health, transportation, and recreational benefits derived from cycling; (2) health and transportation professionals and organizations should promote bicycle safety and the benefits of cycling; and (3) United States citizens should applaud the millions of cyclists in the United States and the national and community organizations, individuals, volunteers, and professionals associated with cycling for promoting bicycle safety and the benefits of cycling. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres233is/xml/BILLS-117sres233is.xml |
117-sres-234 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 234 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 25, 2021 Mr. Lankford (for himself and Mr. Inhofe ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Whereas in the early 1900s many Black individuals and families settled throughout Oklahoma, setting up vibrant communities and dozens of all-Black towns. These individuals came looking for new opportunities, freedom, and a chance for a better life; Whereas the most famous and prosperous of these Black communities was in Tulsa’s Greenwood District; Whereas O.W. Gurley, a wealthy Black business owner, moved to Tulsa in 1906 and purchased tracts of land sold primarily to Black individuals and families. The land stretched from Pine Street to the north to Archer Street on the south and Detroit Avenue on the west and the Midland Valley rail line on the east; Whereas segregation and the inaccessibility of resources led O.W. Gurley and others to open a variety of commercial establishments, including rooming houses, grocery stores, barber shops, beauty salons, restaurants, clothiers, pharmacies, movie theaters, dance halls, pool halls, confectioneries, jitney services, and professional offices (such as for doctors, lawyers, dentists, and accountants); Whereas the Greenwood District became a thriving community where Black business owners, schools, and churches flourished and, by the late 1910s, it was the wealthiest Black community in the United States; Whereas churches such as Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, First Baptist Church North Tulsa, Paradise Baptist Church, Metropolitan Baptist Church, and others became central to the family life and culture of the Greenwood District; Whereas the Greenwood District became home to prominent professionals such as Dr. A.C. Jackson, who was known as the most skilled Black surgeon in the United States, and prominent attorney B.C. Franklin; Whereas Ellis Walker Woods, who walked more than 500 miles from Memphis to Oklahoma, answered the call for African-American teachers and became the first principal of Booker T. Washington High School; Whereas, by 1921, the community was home to thousands of Black residents who lived and worked in the most prosperous Black community in the United States; Whereas the community earned the name the Negro Wall Street of America (later, simply known as the Black Wall Street ) from the famed African-American author and educator, Booker T. Washington; Whereas, as the opportunities for Black families grew, the community began to attract more Black families, business owners, well-educated professionals, and individuals fleeing racial oppression and discrimination in other States; Whereas the town of Tullahassee, Oklahoma, founded in 1883, is regarded as one of the oldest surviving historically Black towns of Indian Territory; Whereas the area where Tullahassee was founded was originally part of the Creek Nation and the town had an established school by 1850; Whereas the town of Langston, Oklahoma, was founded in 1890 and named after John Mercer Langston, an African-American educator and Member of the House of Representatives from Virginia; Whereas, 7 years later, the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature established the Colored Agricultural and Normal University (referred to in this preamble as CANU ), which would later be renamed Langston University. The university has grown from 41 students in 1897 to more than 3,000 in 2021; Whereas prominent Oklahomans such as Melvin Tolson, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, Clara Luper, E. Melvin Porter, Frederick Moon, Marques Haynes, Zelia Breaux, Isaac W. Young, Inman Page, and Zella Black Patterson resided in Langston or called CANU home; Whereas the town of Tatums, Oklahoma, founded in 1895, was named after brothers Lee B. Tatum and Eldridge Doc Tatum and found prosperity in 1929 when oil wells were drilled; Whereas Norman Studios filmed Black Gold, a silent film, in Tatums and enlisted the citizens of the town and Marshal L. B. Tatums to be featured in the movie; Whereas the town of Taft, Oklahoma, founded in 1902 on land allotted to Creek Freedman, changed its name from Twine to Taft to honor the then Secretary of War, later President, William Howard Taft. The town had a thriving business sector with 3 general stores, a drugstore, a brickyard, a soda pop factory, 2 hotels, and a bank; Whereas the town of Grayson, Oklahoma, brimmed with 5 general stores, 2 blacksmiths, 2 drug stores, a cotton gin, and a physician soon after it was founded in 1902. Originally known as Wildcat, the town changed its name in 1909 to honor the Creek Chief George W. Grayson; Whereas the town of Boley, Oklahoma, established in 1903 and named after J.B. Boley, a railroad official of the Fort Smith and Western Railway, grew to be one of the wealthiest and largest Black towns in Oklahoma; Whereas, only 5 years after being founded, Booker T. Washington visited Boley and wrote about the prosperity he had witnessed; Whereas, in 2021, Boley still carries on their standing tradition of a Black community-based rodeo, now the oldest of its kind in the Nation; Whereas the town of Rentiesville, Oklahoma, founded in 1903, was developed on 40 acres owned by William Rentie and Phoebe McIntosh; Whereas John Hope Franklin, a prominent scholar of African-American history, was born in Rentiesville in 1915; Whereas Franklin and his family later moved to Tulsa where Franklin graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, survived the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and went on to become one of Oklahoma’s most decorated historians; Whereas the town of Clearview, Oklahoma, founded in 1903 along the tracks of the Fort Smith and Western Railroad, was widely known for their baseball team; Whereas, in the summer, people from surrounding counties would come to watch the baseball team play, turning the railroad tracks into substitute bleachers; Whereas the town of Brooksville, Oklahoma, founded in 1903, was originally named Sewell. The town was renamed in 1912 to honor the first Black man in the area, A. R. Brooks; Whereas, soon after the town of Brooksville was established, Rev. Jedson White founded the St. John’s Baptist Church; Whereas George W. McLaurin, who was the first Black graduate at the University of Oklahoma, taught at the local school in Brooksville; Whereas the town of Red Bird, Oklahoma, founded in 1907 along the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway, was built on land allotted to the Creek Nation; Whereas E. L. Barber was one of the original developers of the town of Red Bird, the first justice of peace of the town, and an early mayor; Whereas, before Red Bird officially became a town, Barber had organized the First Baptist Church in 1889, which grew to be the largest church in Red Bird; Whereas the town of Summit, Oklahoma, founded in 1910 along the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway, grew because of the town’s railway depot; Whereas Rev. L. W. Thomas organized the St. Thomas Baptist Church in the town of Summit and the congregation met without a building for 6 years until the congregation came together to build the church, which still stands in 2021; Whereas the town of Vernon, Oklahoma, founded in 1911 on Tankard Ranch in the Creek Nation, was home to many trailblazers such as Ella Woods, who was the first postmaster, and Louise Wesley, who established the first school and church in the town; Whereas, before the community of Vernon built the New Hope Baptist Church in 1917, the congregation conducted services underneath a tree. New Hope Baptist Church still stands in 2021 after more than 100 years; Whereas the town of Lima, Oklahoma, founded in 1913 along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, came together as a community to improve their town. Together, they built the Mount Zion Methodist Church in 1915, which still stands in 2021; Whereas, the history of these historically Black towns is interwoven into the history of the State of Oklahoma and the residents of these towns have achieved great successes and faced tremendous challenges; Whereas the stories of the Black towns and communities in Oklahoma are inextricably linked to the events of May 30 to June 1, 1921, in the Greenwood District of North Tulsa, Oklahoma; Whereas, on May 30, 1921, a young Black man named Dick Rowland was in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, and entered the Drexel Building to use the only bathroom in the area available to Black people; Whereas an incident occurred on the elevator between Dick Rowland and Sarah Paige, the elevator operator, and Sarah Paige screamed; Whereas, after a police investigation, the next day Dick Rowland was detained at the Tulsa Police Department for questioning before being moved to the Tulsa Courthouse for additional security; Whereas, on May 31, 1921, the Tulsa Tribune released a sensationalist story claiming that a young Black male had attacked a White girl; Whereas that story and long-simmering tensions in the city led to a large group of White individuals surrounding the courthouse to demand that Dick Rowland be released so that he could be lynched; Whereas a group of Black men traveled to the courthouse to help defend Dick Rowland from the angry mob; Whereas, after a scuffle at the downtown Tulsa courthouse, White rioters pursued Black men to the Greenwood District and the violence escalated; Whereas houses and businesses were looted and burned throughout the Greenwood District and attacks lasted well into the next day before being quelled by the Oklahoma City National Guard; Whereas, in less than 24 hours, 35 city blocks were destroyed by fires and 6,000 African-American individuals were detained; Whereas, out of the 23 churches that were located in the Greenwood area prior to the 1921 Massacre, only 13 churches survived and only 3 churches were able to be rebuilt after being destroyed: Paradise Baptist Church, Mount Zion Baptist Church, and Vernon AME Church; Whereas, outside of the massacre area, 5 churches were able to rebuild after being destroyed; Whereas, the Black citizens in Tulsa began rebuilding the Greenwood District immediately, with Church services resuming the following Sunday; Whereas this new Black Wall Street reached an economic peak in the mid-1940s but subsequently declined for many reasons that undermined the economic foundation of the community; Whereas, almost 100 years later, the residents and businesses in the Greenwood District carry on the legacy of resilience and determination; Whereas Greenwood is home to thousands of individuals and families who make important contributions to their city and the United States and there are countless minority-owned businesses in Greenwood that drive the local economy; Whereas there is still much work to do to heal the community and ensure all people in Greenwood have the promise of a brighter tomorrow; and Whereas Greenwood is a community still scarred by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, but not defined by it: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) acknowledges that the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was the worst race massacre in the history of the United States; (2) recognizes that because of the worst race massacre in the history of the United States, several hundred Black residents of the Greenwood District were killed and thousands were made homeless overnight, and the most prosperous Black community in the United States was decimated; (3) urges that the history of what happened in Tulsa during the course of those 2 days in 1921 be taught in the schools of the United States in a factual and accurate manner; (4) recognizes the important work of groups such as the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, and others who work tirelessly to ensure the story of the Greenwood District is accurately told and remembered; (5) believes that while significant progress has been made in the 100 years since the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, there is still work to be done towards racial reconciliation, which can only be accomplished through open, respectful, and frank dialogue; (6) encourages families of all races to invite families of different races to their homes to have discussions on race, with parents setting examples for their children on how to engage in a conversation that will build better understanding of, and respect for, people of different races; (7) believes that the significance of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the complete history of the Greenwood District warrant the placement of the area on the National Registry of Historical Places and urges the Department of Interior to work with the community to accomplish this as soon as possible; (8) hopes that the 100th anniversary weekend is a moment for the country to look to Tulsa to see how racial relations have changed during the last 100 years, to celebrate improvements, and to reflect upon the areas where more work is needed; (9) urges all people of the United States to continue seeking greater understanding, dialogue, and closer connections to people of different races; and (10) recognizes the need to help the remaining 13 Black towns in Oklahoma to preserve their historic legacy of political freedom and ensure their stories are known to future generations of Oklahomans and people of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres234ats/xml/BILLS-117sres234ats.xml |
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