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117-sres-235 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 235 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 25, 2021 Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Graham ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating May 15, 2021, as National MPS Awareness Day .
Whereas mucopolysaccharidosis (referred to in this preamble as MPS ) are a group of genetically determined lysosomal storage diseases that render the human body incapable of producing certain enzymes needed to break down complex carbohydrates; Whereas MPS diseases cause complex carbohydrates to be stored in almost every cell in the body, which progressively leads to cellular damage; Whereas the cellular damage caused by MPS— (1) adversely affects the human body by damaging the heart, lungs, bones, central nervous system, and other internal organs; and (2) often results in intellectual disabilities, short stature, corneal damage, joint stiffness, loss of mobility, speech and hearing impairment, heart disease, hyperactivity, chronic respiratory problems, and, most painfully, a drastically shortened life span; Whereas symptoms of MPS are usually not apparent at birth; Whereas, without treatment, the life expectancy of an individual afflicted with MPS begins to decrease at a very early stage in the life of that individual; Whereas research has resulted in the development of limited treatments for some MPS diseases; Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, promising advancements in the pursuit of treatments for additional MPS diseases are underway; Whereas, despite the creation of new remedies, the blood-brain barrier continues to be a significant impediment to effectively treating the brain, which prevents the treatment of many of the symptoms of MPS; Whereas the quality of life of individuals afflicted with MPS and the treatments available to those individuals will be enhanced through the development of early detection and early intervention techniques; Whereas treatments for and research advancements relating to MPS are limited by a lack of awareness about MPS diseases; Whereas the lack of awareness about MPS diseases extends to individuals within the medical community; Whereas the cellular damage caused by MPS makes MPS a model for the study of many other degenerative genetic diseases; and Whereas the development of effective therapies and a potential cure for MPS diseases can be accomplished by increased awareness, research, data collection, and information distribution: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates May 15, 2021, as National MPS Awareness Day ; and (2) supports the goals and ideals of National MPS Awareness Day. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres235ats/xml/BILLS-117sres235ats.xml |
117-sres-236 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 236 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 25, 2021 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mr. McConnell ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION To authorize testimony, documents, and representation in United States v. Wornick .
Whereas, in the case of United States v. Wornick , Cr. No. 20–106, pending in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, the prosecution has requested the production of testimony and, if necessary, documents from Bailey McCue, an employee of the office of former Senator Cory Gardner; Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 704(a)(2) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. §§ 288b(a) and 288c(a)(2), the Senate may direct its counsel to represent current and former employees of the Senate with respect to any subpoena, order, or request for testimony or documents relating to their official responsibilities; Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may, by the judicial or administrative process, be taken from such control or possession but by permission of the Senate; and Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may promote the administration of justice, the Senate will take such action as will promote the ends of justice consistent with the privileges of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it
That Bailey McCue, an employee of the office of former Senator Cory Gardner, and any other employee of the former Senator's office from whom relevant evidence may be necessary, are authorized to testify and produce documents in the case of United States v. Wornick , except concerning matters for which a privilege should be asserted. 2. The Senate Legal Counsel is authorized to represent Senator Gardner and any employees of his former office in connection with the production of evidence authorized in section one of this resolution. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres236ats/xml/BILLS-117sres236ats.xml |
117-sres-237 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 237 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 25, 2021 Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Hagerty , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Cotton , and Mr. Rubio ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Approving of the sales of defense items to Israel notified to Congress on May 5, 2021.
Whereas, in the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), Congress reaffirmed that it is the policy of the United States to facilitate the common defense of the United States and friendly countries by entering into international arrangements with those countries through authorized sales of defense items; Whereas, in the Arms Export Control Act, Congress established that it is the sense of the Congress that all such sales be approved only when they are consistent with the foreign policy interests of the United States ; Whereas section 36(c) of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2776(c) ) requires that the President transmit to the leaders and relevant committees of Congress certifications for proposed licenses for the export of certain defense items to Israel in the amount of $100,000,000 or more; Whereas, on May 5, 2021, the Department of State transmitted to Congress certifications pursuant to section 36(c) of the Arms Export Control Act for exports to Israel of defense items valued in excess of $800,000,000, including munitions and defensive systems; and Whereas, on January 19, 2021, in testimony to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, now-Secretary of State Blinken emphasized that the incoming Presidential administration’s commitment to Israel’s security is sacrosanct and this is something that [now-President Biden] feels very strongly and that the foundation of our relationship is support for Israel’s security : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) finds that the sales of defense items to Israel notified to Congress by the Department of State on May 5, 2021, are consistent with the foreign policy interests of the United States; and (2) approves of those sales. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres237is/xml/BILLS-117sres237is.xml |
117-sres-238 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 238 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2021 Mr. Tuberville (for himself, Ms. Ernst , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Warnock , Ms. Lummis , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Braun , Mr. Hagerty , and Mr. Hoeven ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing and honoring the sacrifices and accomplishments of the Greatest Generation.
Whereas over 16,000,000 individuals in the United States served in the Armed Forces during World War II; Whereas, of the over 16,000,000 men and women who served the United States during World War II, over 400,000 lost their lives fighting for the freedoms and liberties individuals in the United States hold dear; Whereas factory workers across the United States produced the weapons, vehicles, and other materiels essential to the victorious triumph of the United States and the Allied Powers in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters; Whereas, during World War II, individuals in the United States— (1) bought war bonds to support the immense cost of the war; (2) planted victory gardens; and (3) donated tires, pots and pans, and any other spare parts to be used by the Armed Forces; Whereas, during World War II, the United States unified in ways never seen before, ensuring victory for the United States and the Allied Powers; Whereas, having borne the high cost of freedom, the Greatest Generation devoted themselves in record numbers following World War II— (1) to continued service in the Armed Forces; (2) to the industry of the United States; and (3) to public service as elected officials across the United States; Whereas, in their post-World War II roles, the Greatest Generation became known for their unswerving patriotism, holding to values such as placing— (1) duty above personal gain; (2) cooperation before conflict; and (3) the needs of country first; and Whereas those values, forged by the war of their youth but never forgotten, drove the Greatest Generation to guide the United States to heights of prosperity, generosity, peace, and influence never before achieved by any nation to grace the face of the Earth: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes and honors the sacrifices and accomplishments of the Greatest Generation, who contributed to the success of the United States and the Allied Powers during World War II; and (2) encourages all individuals in the United States— (A) to celebrate the Greatest Generation; and (B) to remember the way the Greatest Generation united under extreme enemy threat and at great risk to themselves to protect the freedom and liberty afforded to all individuals in the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres238is/xml/BILLS-117sres238is.xml |
117-sres-239 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 239 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Risch ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov.
Whereas 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov (referred to in this preamble as Dr. Sakharov ), who was born on May 21, 1921; Whereas, although the work of Dr. Sakharov as a nuclear physicist earned him international respect and renown, his great genius and gift to history was to give voice to a global yearning for human rights and fundamental freedoms; Whereas, in 1968, in an act of great courage and conscience, Dr. Sakharov published his treatise, Thoughts On Progress, Peaceful Coexistence, And Intellectual Freedom , in which he— (1) offered a comprehensive vision for peace and progress; (2) broke with the Soviet establishment over human rights; and (3) opened himself up to years of official and state-sponsored retaliation; Whereas, in 1970, Dr. Sakharov helped found the Committee on Human Rights in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (referred to in this preamble as the USSR ), which documented human rights abuses in the USSR; Whereas the advocacy of Dr. Sakharov for human rights at home and abroad was grounded in, and emerged from, his work for peace and against nuclear weapons proliferation; Whereas, in his 1975 Nobel Prize acceptance speech, delivered by his wife Yelena Bonner because the USSR had barred him from attending the ceremony, Dr. Sakharov expressed his hope in a final victory of the principles of peace and human rights and the liberation of all prisoners of conscience everywhere ; Whereas the Nobel Peace Prize Committee called Dr. Sakharov the spokesman for the conscience of mankind ; Whereas the Government of the USSR exiled Dr. Sakharov and Yelena Bonner to the closed city of Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod, Russia) in retaliation for the advocacy of Dr. Sakharov against the USSR invasion of Afghanistan, which he later called a war of annihilation, a terrible sin ; Whereas President Reagan proclaimed May 21, 1983, as National Andrei Sakharov Day, an occasion for the people of the United States to reaffirm that, despite attempts at repression, the ideals of peace and freedom will endure and ultimately triumph ; Whereas Mikhail Gorbachev released Dr. Sakharov and Yelena Bonner from exile in December 1986, one of the most significant steps in implementing a loosening of political controls under perestroika and glasnost; Whereas, in 1989, Dr. Sakharov became a deputy of the Congress of People Deputies, the first legislative body in the USSR that permitted debate, which used the moral authority of Dr. Sakharov to try to democratize Soviet political processes, including an end to 1-party rule; Whereas the courageous efforts of Dr. Sakharov against totalitarian repression in the USSR inspired political reforms that swept Europe throughout 1989; Whereas, on his death in 1989, the White House noted that the voice of Dr. Sakharov was an important dimension in the contemporary changes under way in Soviet society , changes that would culminate 2 years later in the collapse of the USSR and Soviet Communism; and Whereas the work Dr. Sakharov began remains unfinished, which is evidenced by the May 18, 2021, cancellation by authorities of the Moscow Sakharov Center’s exhibit marking the centenary of the life of Dr. Sakharov: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the historical significance of the contributions made by Dr. Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov (referred to in this resolution as Dr. Sakharov ) in the promotion of human dignity and political freedom in his own country and around the world; (2) recognizes that the example set by Dr. Sakharov has inspired millions around the world working to promote democratic principles; and (3) expresses support for democracy and human rights activists around the world, especially in Russia, who embody the principles and values practiced by Dr. Sakharov. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres239is/xml/BILLS-117sres239is.xml |
117-sres-240 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 240 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2021 Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Rubio ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Affirming the role of the United States in improving access to quality, inclusive public education and improved learning outcomes for children and adolescents, particularly for girls, in the poorest countries through the Global Partnership for Education.
Whereas access to quality education reduces poverty, advances economic prosperity, improves peace and security, and strengthens public health; Whereas the United Nations reported that 1,600,000,000 learners in more than 190 countries were affected by the closure of educational institutions at the peak of the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas prior to the COVID crisis, the 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report, an annual accountability tool on the status of education internationally, found that an estimated 258,000,000 children and adolescents are out of school worldwide, with girls and children with disabilities more likely to be out of school in most of the developing world; Whereas a 2019 UNICEF Report found that only one in every five children in low-income countries has access to preprimary education; Whereas a 2019 World Bank Report found that more than half of all children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read a simple story by age 10; Whereas a 2020 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report found that children and adolescents with a sensory, physical, or intellectual disability are two and a half times more likely to have never been in school than their peers without disabilities; Whereas a 2018 UNICEF Report found that one in three children and adolescents are out of school in countries affected by conflict or disaster; Whereas a 2020 UNHCR Report found that almost half of school-age refugee children are out of school and, of the refugee children who do start primary school, less than half make it to secondary school; Whereas a 2018 World Bank Report found that 12 years of quality education for every girl would boost economies by as much as $30 trillion in increased lifetime earnings and that each year of secondary education for girls reduces the likelihood of marriage before the age of 18 by five percentage points or more; Whereas the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) was founded in 2002 as the only public-private global partnership exclusively dedicated to education in the world’s poorest countries; Whereas GPE-eligible countries are home to more than 1,000,000,000 children and adolescents, which represent 82 percent of out-of-school children; Whereas GPE focuses on improving education at a systems level, aligning partners behind each government’s education sector plan, to leverage the profound transformations required to deliver at least one year of preschool and 12 years of quality education for every child; Whereas GPE works in the countries with the greatest need, targets the hardest to reach children, and can respond quickly to emergencies; Whereas educational continuity helps partners keep their education systems functioning through wars, displacement crises, climate disasters and health emergencies, including the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas GPE is a proven and effective aid delivery mechanism that complements the United States Government’s bilateral basic education programs by fostering coordination among all key partners, supporting the development and implementation of strong national education sector plans, and building on the commitment of developing country governments to expand quality educational opportunities for children in an equitable manner; Whereas the United States is among the leading supporters of GPE, is represented on the GPE Board of Directors, and currently serves the critical role of Coordinating Agent in eight GPE partner countries; Whereas United States Government Strategy on Basic Education, Fiscal Years 2019 through 2023, resolves to leverage GPE to advance its goal of achieving a world where education systems in partner countries enable all individuals to acquire the education and skills needed to be productive members of society; Whereas GPE is working with Education Cannot Wait, at global and country level, to develop optimized approaches to advance UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 and provide inclusive and equitable quality education for all, especially the most marginalized children in crisis situations; Whereas primary enrollment for girls has increased by 65 percent and almost three-quarters of partner countries have achieved gender parity in school completion; Whereas in 40 percent of partner countries, GPE’s partnership supports one or more activities relating to children with disabilities; Whereas GPE is the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID–19 response, mobilizing over $500,000,000 to ensure continued learning, school reopenings, and recovery; Whereas GPE support incentivized governments to save more than $6,000,000,000 through more efficient education spending, freeing up more funds to invest in education for the most marginalized; Whereas more than 60 percent of GPE’s spending is in countries affected by conflict or fragility, and GPE helped these countries to increase their primary school completion rates from 58 percent in 2002 to 68 percent in 2018; Whereas GPE’s 5-year strategic plan calls for leveraging and further developing innovative finance mechanisms to get every child learning, and extends a strong commitment to gender equality and inclusion across all workings of the partnership, including a new funding window that will raise an additional $250,000,000 for girls’ education; and Whereas with support from donors, GPE will enable 175,000,000 primary-age children to learn, reach 140,000,000 students with professionally trained teachers, get 88,000,000 more children in school, more than half of them girls, and save $16,000,000,000 through more efficient spending: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) affirms the leadership and commitment of the United States Government to improving access to quality, inclusive public education and improved learning outcomes for the poorest and most marginalized children and adolescents worldwide, which promotes global stability, economic prosperity, and poverty elimination; (2) supports the vision, mission, and goals of GPE 2025 to appropriately mobilize partnerships and investments that transform education systems in developing countries, leaving no one behind; (3) recognizes that United States Government investments in bilateral basic education are complemented by GPE’s education systems-level approach and partnership building; (4) calls on the United States to engage in multiyear pledges to allow GPE to maximize its impact in supporting governments to provide quality, inclusive public education to children around the world and to leverage contributions from other countries and donors; and (5) calls on the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to commit to promoting children and adolescents attending school and learning throughout the world in accordance with the 2021 to 2025 GPE strategic period. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres240is/xml/BILLS-117sres240is.xml |
117-sres-241 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 241 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Rubio , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Coons , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Markey , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Schatz , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Casey , Mr. Cramer , and Mr. Boozman ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing widening threats to freedom of the press and free expression around the world, and reaffirming the vital role that a free and independent press plays in informing local and international audiences about public health crises, countering misinformation and disinformation, and furthering discourse and debate to advance healthy democracies in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2021.
Whereas Thomas Jefferson, who championed the necessity of a free press for a thriving democratic society, wisely declared, Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost. ; Whereas Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in Paris on December 10, 1948, states, Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. ; Whereas, in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the third day of May of each year to be World Press Freedom Day — (1) to celebrate the fundamental principles of freedom of the press; (2) to evaluate freedom of the press around the world; (3) to defend the media against attacks on its independence; and (4) to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives while working in their profession; Whereas the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009 ( Public Law 111–166 ) expanded the examination of the freedom of the press around the world in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices published by the Department of State; Whereas, on December 18, 2013, and December 18, 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 68/163 and Resolution 74/157, respectively, on the safety of journalists and the problem of impunity, unequivocally condemning all attacks on, and violence against, journalists and media workers, including torture, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and intimidation and harassment in conflict and nonconflict situations; Whereas the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and various State constitutions protect freedom of the press in the United States; Whereas the United States Government has used the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–328 ) to place targeted visa and economic restrictions on individuals, including for their roles in the targeted killings of journalists; Whereas, in an effort to combat attacks against journalists, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken recently announced a new policy allowing the Department of State to impose visa restrictions on individuals who, acting on behalf of a foreign government, are believed to have been directly engaged in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities, including those that suppress, harass, surveil, threaten, or harm journalists, activists, or other persons perceived to be dissidents for their work; Whereas the 2021 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, warns that the COVID–19 pandemic illustrates the negative factors threatening the right to reliable information and amplifies the many crises that threaten media freedom and pluralism; Whereas the Freedom in the World 2021 report, published by Freedom House, noted that 2020 was an especially hazardous year for democracy, during which less than 20 percent of the world’s population [then lived] in a Free country, the smallest proportion since 1995 ; Whereas, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists— (1) at least 30 journalists were killed in 2020, 21 of whom were singled out in retaliation for their work, an increase from 10 murders in 2019; (2) Mexico, Afghanistan, and the Philippines had the most retaliatory killings in 2020; (3) at least 274 journalists were behind bars in relation to their work on December 1, 2020, marking the fifth consecutive year that at least 250 journalists were imprisoned globally; (4) China, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for nearly half of all jailed journalists worldwide; (5) journalists around the world have been targeted by sophisticated spyware products that pose a severe risk to their safety and the safety of their sources; and (6) the world’s most censored countries include Eritrea, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, China, Vietnam, Iran, Equatorial Guinea, Belarus, and Cuba; Whereas the Government of China has unleashed an onslaught of attacks on press freedom in China and Hong Kong, including through— (1) state-sponsored censorship and disinformation campaigns limiting access to information about the novel coronavirus, including through its censorship of virus-related keywords on social media platforms; (2) attacks on press freedom in Hong Kong, including the passage of the National Security Law, which poses an existential threat to the city’s tradition of press freedom, and the arrest and subsequent conviction of Jimmy Lai, owner of Hong Kong’s largest media outlet, Apple Daily, and an outspoken democracy advocate; (3) arrests or other repressive actions against independent journalists and others in mainland China attempting to share uncensored news or opinion about the COVID–19 outbreak, including the detention of citizen journalist Chen Qiushi, who remains incommunicado; and (4) the detention of journalists critical of the Government of China, including Chen Jieren, who was sentenced to 15 years in 2020, following 2 years of incommunicado detention, after blogging about allegations of corrupt local officials; Whereas Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with— (1) militant groups targeting at least 4 journalists for murder in retaliation for their work in 2020; and (2) at least 4 media workers killed in early 2021; Whereas Belarus has witnessed sweeping attacks against the press since Alexander Lukashenka’s fraudulent election in August 2020, where since the beginning of 2020, nearly 550 journalists and media workers have been harassed, assaulted, imprisoned, or otherwise retaliated against for their work, including— (1) Katsiaryna Barysevich, a physician, and Artsyom Sarokin, a journalist, who were respectively charged with 6 months and 2 years in a penal colony (on charges of disclosing medical data and instigating a crime, respectively) for disclosing information about a protestor who was killed during a crackdown on demonstrations against President Lukashenka; (2) Katerina Borisevich, a journalist charged with 6 months in prison after contradicting official statements about the cause of death of a protester; and (3) Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Daria Chultsova, journalists sentenced to 2 years in prison (on charges of violating public order) for filming live coverage of the violent dispersal of a protest against President Lukashenka; Whereas Reporters Without Borders asserts that press freedom in [Burma] has been set back ten years in ten days after the February 2021 military coup, during which— (1) at least 40 journalists were arrested, including BBC journalist Aung Thura and Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw; (2) media workers were forced into hiding and confronted censorship, harassment, internet blocks, beatings, interrogations, threats, and injuries at the hands of the military; and (3) multiple independent media outlets had to cease operations or close altogether or had their licenses revoked by the military; Whereas Cuba remains a highly restricted environment for independent media, marked by internet restrictions and constant harassment of journalists and news outlets, including— (1) independent journalist Yoel Suarez, who was summoned to a police station in March 2021 for the second time in 2 months as a result of his work; (2) Iliana Hernandez, who was charged with illegally possessing journalistic equipment in January 2020; (3) Luz Escobar, a journalist who was repeatedly barred by security forces from leaving her home; (4) an official notice from the Cuban Ministry of Labor and Social Security in February reiterating the longstanding government policy that bars independent journalists activities and the independent publishing of edition of newspapers, tabloids and magazines in any format ; and (5) a March 2020 raid on the office of the Instituto Cubano por la Libertad de Expression y Prensa (ICLEP) publication Paginas Villarenas, during which Cuban Government authorities confiscated equipment and detained multiple journalists; Whereas Egypt’s restrictions on the media have accelerated under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi since 2013, with at least 27 journalists imprisoned during 2020, including— (1) Esraa Abdelfattah, who has attempted multiple hunger strikes to protest her torture and mistreatment while detained; (2) Shimaa Samy, who was detained on charges of joining a terrorist organization, spreading false news, and misusing social media for his work; (3) Hisham Abdel Aziz, an Al Jazeera journalist on the verge of losing his eyesight following untreated glaucoma while in prison; and (4) Mahmoud Abou Zeid, who was released after 5 years in prison, but remains subject to a 5-year probation term that requires him to spend the hours of 6:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m. at a police station every night; Whereas assaults on press freedom in El Salvador imperil its fragile democracy and include both verbal attacks on journalists by political leaders and use of state power to intimidate independent media, such as— (1) the ongoing criminal investigation against outlet El Faro, which was launched after it reported damaging information about the administration; and (2) the online attacks and threats to journalists from the outlet Revista Factum, which has been banned from press conferences at the presidential residence; Whereas, according to Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House, Indian authorities have recently imposed internet and communication blackouts, detained and charged journalists covering political demonstrations, and called for the temporary blockage of journalists and media accounts on Twitter; Whereas Iran remains a hostile environment for the press, where media workers are subjected to summons, arrests, and unjust sentences, including— (1) investigative journalist Ruhollah Zam, who was executed on December 4, 2020, after being disappeared in October 2019 and charged with corruption on earth for his reporting; (2) freelance journalist Fariborz Kalantari, who was sentenced on February 7, 2021, to 7 years in prison and 74 lashes for using his telegram channel to circulate articles about corruption charges brought against the ex-Vice President’s brother; and (3) editor of weekly Agrin Rozh, Mahmoud Mahmoudi, who was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Sanandaj after issuing an open letter calling for the release of detained Kurdish activists; Whereas Reporters Without Borders reported that Mexico was the world’s deadliest country for journalists outside of a war zone in 2020, where reporters covering stories on political corruption and organized crime are frequently assaulted and murdered, including— (1) Ruben Pat, a local news website editor who was gunned down on the street after requesting urgent protection when one of his reporters, Jose Guadalupe Chan Dzib, was murdered; and (2) Mario Leonel Gomez Sanchez, a journalist who was murdered in the southern state of Chiapas after covering cases of increased violence and alleged corruption implicating municipal officials; Whereas, on March 1, 2021, the Day of the Journalist in Nicaragua, 470 journalists from around the world signed a letter denouncing years of persecution of journalists in Nicaragua, which has included news outlets forced to close and individual journalists being threatened, harassed, sued, surveilled, jailed, and forced into exile, including— (1) Miguel Ángel Gahona, who was shot in April 2018 while filming riots; and (2) Miguel Mora, Director of 100% Noticias, and journalist Lucia Pineda, who were arrested in April 2018 and subsequently tortured; Whereas Honduras remains one of the Western Hemisphere’s deadliest countries for journalists, where those working for opposition media or who are outspoken critics of the government are subjected to harassment, intimidation, and death threats by the country’s security forces and its affiliates, including— (1) freelance journalist Luís Alonzo Almendares, who was killed by 2 unidentified individuals in Comayagua in September 2020; and (2) radio journalist Pedro Arcángel Canelas, who was shot and killed in the rural department of Olancho in December 2020; Whereas media workers face heightened dangers in Russia, where more than 210 rights infractions took place during protests following the arrest of opposition leader Alexander Navalny in January and February 2021, and wide-spread harassment, censorship, and state-driven retaliation are commonplace, including in the cases of— (1) Sergei Smirnov, who was sentenced to 25 days in jail after sharing a joke on Twitter that called for rallies in support of Navalny ; (2) Dmitry Nikitin, who was detained while covering a protest; (3) Elena Kostyuchenko, a journalist detained after covering a protest in Sochi; (4) Ivan Kleimenov, a freelance photographer who was severely beaten by police with a stun gun while covering a protest, and consequently sentenced to 10 days in jail; (5) Ivan Safronov, a former investigative journalist arrested in July 2020 on politically motivated charges of treason; and (6) Svetlana Prokopieva, a correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Echo of Moscow, who was found guilty of inciting terrorism and fined 500,000 rubles after reporting on the suicide of a 17-year-old inside a Federal Security Service building; Whereas in the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, Ukrainian journalists and bloggers have repeatedly been threatened, arrested, and tortured for resisting Russian occupation, such as the detention of Crimean journalist Vladyslav Yesipenko and Crimean Tatar journalists Osman Arifmemetov, Rustem Sheikhaliev, and Remzi Bekirov; Whereas the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has concluded that the murder of Washington Post journalist and American resident Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018 was approved by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman; Whereas the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia maintains an especially hostile environment towards journalists through systematic and arbitrary arrests, torture and inhumane or degrading treatment, lengthy pre-trial detentions, political persecution, and conditional release restrictions, which inhibit reporters and columnists from traveling or returning to their professional work post-detention, including— (1) Maha Al-Rafidi Al-Qahtani, a journalist and writer arrested in September 2019, held in solitary confinement, and physically abused while in prison; (2) Redha Al-Boori, a writer and journalist detained for almost 2 years in an unknown location; (3) Khadija Al-Harbi, a Saudi feminist writer and online commentator arrested alongside her husband, journalist and blogger Thumar Al-Marzouqi, while in the late stages of pregnancy; and (4) Saleh Al-Shehi, a noted anti-corruption columnist sentenced to 5 years in prison in 2018 for insulting the royal court , who died 3 weeks after his release from prison; Whereas the battle for a free press continues to be fought in Southeast Asia, where– (1) Bangladeshi journalists have repeatedly been arrested and charged under the Digital Security Act, some of whom have been subjected to torture and one of whom died in custody; (2) Steven Gan, the Editor-in-Chief of the news organization Malaysiakini, was interrogated after readers left comments criticizing Malaysia’s judiciary on a Mayalysiakini article reporting on a court’s lifting of a coronavirus lockdown; (3) Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa has been targeted by the Filipino Government’s aggressive campaign against independent media after her reporting on President Duterte’s war on drugs ; (4) Thum Ping Tjin, founder and director of New Naratif, a democracy-focused media organization, was detained by Singaporean police after being accused of publishing unauthorized and illegal paid advertisements on Facebook during the July election campaign; and (5) Vietnamese journalists Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, and Le Huu Minh Tuan were each sentenced to more than 10 years in prison; Whereas press freedom continues to face challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, including in— (1) Ethiopia, where journalist Lucy Kassa was questioned by unidentified men on her reporting of the Government of Ethiopia’s armed conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and whose house was ransacked; (2) Cameroon, where journalist Samuel Wazizi was arrested for his reporting and held incommunicado for nearly one year before the government announced that he had died in custody; (3) Ghana, where Manasseh Azure Awuni received death threats as a result of his reporting on the Ghanaian election; (4) Nigeria, where the press faces a climate of permanent violence and journalists, including Omoyele Sowore, have been spied on, attacked, arbitrarily arrested, or even killed ; (5) South Sudan, where reporter Bullen Alexander was detained without cause for 4 days while covering the University of Juba’s student protests and Christopher Allen was killed with impunity and without investigation while reporting on the civil war; and (6) Zimbabwe, where journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono was abducted from his home and sentenced 45 days with an iron leg chain for his live-streaming of protests and investigative reporting; Whereas the Turkish Journalists’ Association reported that— (1) in 2020— (A) 1 out of every 4 Turkish journalists was subjected to physical violence; (B) 1 out of every 2 Turkish journalists were threatened; and (C) 1 out of every 5 Turkish journalists faced trial (often on fabricated terrorism charges); and (2) Turkey is maintaining its standing as— (A) 1 of the world’s most oppressive environments for press freedom; and (B) 1 of the world’s leading jailers of journalists; Whereas the Government of Venezuela continues to target independent media outlets, attacking freedom of expression and severely limiting Venezuelan access to accurate information with at least 7 different media outlets targeted in 2021, including an incident in January 2021 where government officials entered the studio of the independent news station Venezolanos por la Información in Caracas without a warrant, seized their work equipment, and threatened the journalists with arrest if they continued to report; Whereas, under the auspices of the United States Agency for Global Media, the United States Government provides financial assistance to several editorially independent media outlets, including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and the Middle East Broadcast Networks— (1) which report and broadcast news, information, and analysis in critical regions around the world; and (2) whose journalists regularly face harassment, fines, and imprisonment for their work; and Whereas the freedom of the press— (1) is a key component of democratic governance, activism in civil society, and socioeconomic development; and (2) enhances public accountability, transparency, and participation in civil society and democratic governance: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) declares that a free press— (A) is a central component of free societies, democratic governance, and contributes to an informed civil society, and government accountability; (B) helps expose corruption, and enhances public accountability and transparency of governments at all levels; and (C) disseminates information essential to improving public health and safety; (2) expresses concerns about threats to press freedom and freedom of expression around the world; (3) recognizes and commends journalism’s role in providing trusted, accurate, and timely information and in holding governments and leaders accountable to citizens; (4) is dismayed that, under cover of the COVID–19 pandemic, many governments have restricted the work of journalists reporting on the public health crisis and on peaceful protests on a variety of issues; (5) pays tribute to journalists who made tremendous sacrifices, including the loss of their lives, in the pursuit of truth and justice; (6) condemns all actions around the world that suppress freedom of the press; (7) calls for the unconditional and immediate release of all imprisoned journalists; (8) reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the press to efforts of the United States Government to support democracy, mitigate conflict, and promote good governance domestically and around the world; and (9) calls on the President and the Secretary of State— (A) to preserve and build upon the leadership of the United States on issues relating to freedom of the press, on the basis of the protections afforded the American people under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; (B) to transparently investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks against journalists; and (C) to promote the respect and protection of freedom of the press around the world. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres241is/xml/BILLS-117sres241is.xml |
117-sres-242 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 242 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2021 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Duckworth , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Booker , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Markey , Mr. Carper , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Menendez , Ms. Smith , Mr. Casey , Mr. Merkley , and Mrs. Murray ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of June 4, 2021, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and June 2021 as National Gun Violence Awareness Month .
Whereas, each year in the United States, more than— (1) 38,500 individuals are killed and 85,000 individuals are wounded by gunfire; (2) 14,000 individuals are killed in homicides involving guns; (3) 23,000 individuals die by suicide using a gun; and (4) 480 individuals are killed in unintentional shootings; Whereas, since 1968, more individuals have died from guns in the United States than have died on the battlefields of all the wars in the history of the United States; Whereas 2020 was one of the deadliest years on record for the United States, with an estimated 19,300 individuals killed in gun homicides or nonsuicide-related shootings, a 25-percent increase over 2019; Whereas unintentional shooting deaths by children increased by nearly 1/3 , comparing incidents in March to December of 2020 to the same months in 2019; Whereas, by 1 count, in 2020 in the United States, there were 610 mass shooting incidents in which at least 4 individuals were killed or wounded by gunfire; Whereas, every year in the United States, more than 3,000 children and teens are killed by gun violence and 15,000 children and teens are shot and wounded; Whereas approximately 8,800 individuals in the United States under the age of 25 die because of gun violence annually, including Hadiya Pendleton, who, in 2013, was killed at 15 years of age in Chicago, Illinois, while standing in a park; Whereas, on June 4, 2021, to recognize the 24th birthday of Hadiya Pendleton (born June 2, 1997), individuals across the United States will recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day and wear orange in tribute to— (1) Hadiya Pendleton and other victims of gun violence; and (2) the loved ones of those victims; and Whereas June 2021 is an appropriate month to designate as National Gun Violence Awareness Month : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports— (A) the designation of National Gun Violence Awareness Month and the goals and ideals of that month; and (B) the designation of National Gun Violence Awareness Day , in remembrance of the victims of gun violence; and (2) calls on the people of the United States to— (A) promote greater awareness of gun violence and gun safety; (B) wear orange, the color that hunters wear to show that they are not targets, on National Gun Violence Awareness Day ; (C) concentrate heightened attention on gun violence during the summer months, when gun violence typically increases; and (D) bring community members and leaders together to discuss ways to make communities safer. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres242is/xml/BILLS-117sres242is.xml |
117-sres-243 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 243 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2021 Mr. Casey (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Warnock , Ms. Collins , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Braun , Ms. Warren , Mr. Burr , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Rubio , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Scott of Florida , and Mrs. Gillibrand ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating May 2021 as Older Americans Month .
Whereas President John F. Kennedy first designated May as Senior Citizens Month in 1963; Whereas, in 1963, only approximately 17,778,000 individuals living in the United States were 65 years of age or older, approximately 1/3 of those individuals lived in poverty, and few programs existed to meet the needs of older individuals in the United States; Whereas, in 2020, there were more than 55,659,365 individuals who were 65 years of age or older in the United States, and those individuals accounted for 16.9 percent of the total population of the United States; Whereas, during the COVID–19 pandemic over 449,000 individuals in the United States who were 65 years of age or older have died due to COVID–19. Additionally over 183,000 residents and workers in long-term care facilities have succumbed to the virus; Whereas approximately 10,800 individuals in the United States turn 65 years of age each day; Whereas, in 2020, more than 9,015,549 veterans of the Armed Forces were 65 years of age or older; Whereas older individuals in the United States rely on Federal programs, such as programs under the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), including the Medicare program under title XVIII of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) and the Medicaid program under title XIX of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), for financial security and high-quality affordable health care; Whereas the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) provides— (1) supportive services to help individuals in the United States who are 60 years of age or older maintain maximum independence in the homes and communities of those individuals; and (2) funding for programs, including nutrition services, transportation, and care management, to assist more than 10,851,164 older individuals in the United States each year; Whereas, in 2020, an estimated 6,317,000 individuals in the United States who were 65 years of age or older continued to work as full-time, year-round employees; Whereas older individuals in the United States play an important role in society by continuing to contribute their experience, knowledge, wisdom, and accomplishments; Whereas older individuals in the United States play vital roles in their communities and remain involved in volunteer work, the arts, cultural activities, and activities relating to mentorship and civic engagement; and Whereas a society that recognizes the success of older individuals and continues to enhance the access of older individuals to quality and affordable health care will— (1) encourage the ongoing participation and heightened independence of older individuals; and (2) ensure the continued safety and well-being of older individuals: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates May 2021 as Older Americans Month ; and (2) encourages the people of the United States to provide opportunities for older individuals to continue to flourish by— (A) emphasizing the importance and leadership of older individuals through public recognition of the ongoing achievements of older individuals; (B) presenting opportunities for older individuals to share their wisdom, experience, and skills with younger generations; and (C) recognizing older individuals as valuable assets in strengthening communities across the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres243ats/xml/BILLS-117sres243ats.xml |
117-sres-244 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 244 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2021 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Blunt ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Providing for members on the part of the Senate of the Joint Committee on Printing and the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library.
That the following named Members be, and they are hereby, elected members of the following joint committees of Congress: Joint Committee on Printing: Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. King, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Blunt, and Mr. Wicker. Joint Committee of Congress on the Library: Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Warner, Mr. Blunt, and Mr. Shelby. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres244ats/xml/BILLS-117sres244ats.xml |
117-sres-245 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 245 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2021 Mr. Warnock (for himself, Mr. Ossoff , 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 , 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. 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 , Ms. Warren , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator David Henry Gambrell.
Whereas David Henry Gambrell was born on December 20, 1929, to Smythe Gambrell and Kathleen Hagood Gambrell in Atlanta, Georgia; Whereas David Henry Gambrell graduated from Davidson College in 1949, and received his Juris Doctorate, with honors, from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1952; Whereas, following his graduation from Harvard Law School, David Henry Gambrell served in the Army Reserve; Whereas David Henry Gambrell served as a Georgia-based lawyer for nearly 60 years, and, in 1963, co-founded the law firm that became Gambrell and Stolz; Whereas, during his long legal career, David Henry Gambrell was elected— (1) in 1965, to serve as the President of the Atlanta Bar Association; and (2) in 1967, to serve as the President of the State Bar of Georgia; Whereas, in 1970, David Henry Gambrell served as Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party; Whereas, in 1971, David Henry Gambrell was appointed by the then-Governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, to fill the unexpired term of United States Senator Richard B. Russell, where he served as a member of what were then known as the Committee on Banking, the Committee on Aeronautics and Space, and the Select Committee on Small Business of the Senate; Whereas David Henry Gambrell served on several nonprofit boards and commissions, including— (1) the Atlanta Legal Aid Society; (2) the Atlanta Mission; (3) Habitat for Humanity; (4) the Carter Center; and (5) the Buckhead Coalition; Whereas David Henry Gambrell was a proud Georgian who traveled to all 159 counties in the State, enjoying its unique wildlife and agriculture and its most valuable resource, its people; and Whereas, on May 6, 2021, at the age of 92, David Henry Gambrell passed away, leaving behind his wife Jeanne, his 4 loving children, 5 grandchildren, and a legacy of steadfast love for the people of Georgia: Now, therefore, be it
That— (1) the Senate— (A) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of David Henry Gambrell; (B) honors the life and legacy of the late Senator David Henry Gambrell for his— (i) accomplishments as a devout legal professional; and (ii) unwavering dedication to Georgia as a Senator and civil servant; (C) proclaims that David Henry Gambrell— (i) embodied the lively spirit of Georgia; and (ii) worked for more than 60 years to ensure that every Georgian could thrive; and (D) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate— (i) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and (ii) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of David Henry Gambrell; and (2) when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of David Henry Gambrell. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres245ats/xml/BILLS-117sres245ats.xml |
117-sres-246 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 246 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Braun , and Mrs. Blackburn ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that Critical Race Theory serves as a prejudicial ideological tool, rather than an educational tool, and should not be taught in K–12 classrooms as a way to teach students to judge individuals based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Whereas Critical Race Theory seeks to portray the United States not as a united Nation of people, families, and communities striving for a common purpose, but rather a Nation of many victimized groups based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin; Whereas Critical Race Theory’s teachings stand in contrast to the overarching goal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prevent discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in the United States; Whereas William Jacobson, a Cornell University professor, created criticalrace.org to highlight the over 200 universities across the Nation with Critical Race Theory programming; Whereas, while present on college and university campuses for decades, Critical Race Theory has increasingly infiltrated our Nation’s elementary and secondary school classrooms in recent years; Whereas Critical Race Theory serves to resegregate institutions of education and balkanize students into groups by race and ethnicity; Whereas efforts to indoctrinate Critical Race Theory into United States school children are designed to eventually transform the United States by stigmatizing its economic system and creating a hatred of all its institutions; Whereas Critical Race Theory founder Derrick Bell has stated that most critical race theorists are committed to a program of scholarly resistance, and most hope scholarly resistance will lay the groundwork for wide-scale resistance ; Whereas Critical Race Theory serves to reinforce the soft bigotry of low expectations by substituting systemic racism as the determining factor in academic achievement gaps rather than the ongoing failure of policymakers and the education system to provide students of color necessary educational opportunities; Whereas Critical Race Theory has manifested itself in various damaging ways in United States elementary and secondary schools; Whereas the 1619 Project, which puts slavery, not the ideal of equality, at the center of our Nation’s storyline and has been widely debunked by historians across the ideological spectrum, is nevertheless being taught in 4,500 classrooms across the country; Whereas the California Department of Education (CDE) Foundation, in partnership with over 30 education organizations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, developed A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction toolkit that promotes the concept that White supremacy manifests itself through the focus on finding the right answers, thereby discouraging teachers from requiring students to show their work or consider ways there could be 2 answers to a problem; Whereas, in 2017, the Seattle Public School Board directed the Ethnic Studies Task Force to develop an ethnic studies curriculum, which defined ethnic studies as a way to counteract systems of oppression, such as patriarchy and capitalism; Whereas the Madison Metropolitan School District is requiring staff to participate in a mandatory 21 hours of professional development that claim practices such as teachers leading a classroom, keeping a class on schedule, and the term student are a part of White, Western thought and are racist; Whereas students at a Las Vegas charter school were required to take a year-long virtual Sociology of Change course where assignments required students to reveal their race, gender, sexual orientation, and disabilities and then determine if oppression or privilege were a part of those identities, allegedly without any accommodations if a student had a conscientious objection to the course; Whereas, in October 2020, the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education voted to change discriminatory grading practices and no longer requires students to turn in their homework on time in order to be an anti-racist school district ; Whereas, while students should learn how to actively engage in civil society, Critical Race Theory often advocates for action civics , which in some school districts has resulted in students being taught how to engage in disruptive protests without as much concern for teaching the fundamentals of how government works and why; Whereas, according to the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, just over half of all individuals in the United States cannot name all 3 branches of Government, and 76 percent of eighth grade students scored at or below proficient in civics on the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment; Whereas State legislators across the country have introduced bills to prevent schools from teaching that— (1) the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist; and (2) on account of an individual’s race or gender, they may be responsible for actions committed in the past; Whereas, on January 19, 2021, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights posted a webinar to provide an overview on how racially exclusive practices are prohibited under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), but the Department of Education has since archived the webinar and labeled it as not for reliance ; and Whereas, on January 22, 2021, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights reportedly suspended a finding that an Illinois school district violated title VI of the Civil Rights Act when it segregated students and staff, directed teachers to treat students differently based on their race, and endorsed racially charged messages: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) condemns racism in all forms and calls on the people of the United States to eliminate racism and defend the civil rights of all individuals, including within our Nation’s education system; (2) calls on the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and State attorneys general to assist schools in being compliant with existing civil rights laws and to investigate and enforce the law when appropriate; (3) supports the actions taken by States and communities to implement policies and practices to protect the rights of parents and guardians to know what their children are being taught; (4) calls on States and communities to support curriculum transparency policies that make elementary and secondary education curriculum materials accessible, including online, to parents, guardians, and the public for review before the use of such materials; (5) recognizes that open enrollment and school choice policies allow students to access the school, and thereby the curriculum, which the parent or guardian believes is best positioned to educate the student; (6) condemns State and local educational agencies that facilitate or expend resources on education and professional development exercises that focus on ostracizing 1 individual or group from another; (7) condemns the practice of requiring teachers to receive Critical Race Theory education in order to be certified as a teacher; and (8) urges State and local educational agencies to ensure that students are taught civics education to learn— (A) the core tenants of the United States Government, the Constitution of the United States, and the rule of law; and (B) that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination by race, color, or national origin. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres246is/xml/BILLS-117sres246is.xml |
117-sres-247 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 247 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Ms. Hirono (for herself, Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Booker , Mr. Brown , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Carper , Mr. Casey , Mr. Coons , Ms. Cortez Masto , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Durbin , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Kaine , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Markey , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Padilla , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Schatz , Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Smith , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Warner , Ms. Warren , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Kelly ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States.
Whereas the people of the United States join together each May to pay tribute to the contributions of generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the history of the United States; Whereas the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States is inextricably tied to the story of the United States; Whereas the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community is an inherently diverse population, composed of more than 45 distinct ethnicities and more than 100 language dialects; Whereas, according to the Bureau of the Census, the Asian-American population grew faster than any other racial or ethnic group over the last decade, surging nearly 72 percent between 2000 and 2015; Whereas there are approximately 22,000,000 residents of the United States who identify as Asian and approximately 1,600,000 residents of the United States who identify as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, making up nearly 7 percent of the total population of the United States; Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month because the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the first transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants; Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code, officially designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month and requests the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; Whereas on April 30, 2021, President Biden issued a proclamation on Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, recognizing the history, achievements, and diversity of Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and the systemic barriers to economic justice, health equity, educational attainment, and personal safety experienced by many in the Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander community; Whereas 2021 marks several important milestones for the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, including— (1) the 45th anniversary of Presidential Proclamation 4417, dated February 19, 1976 (41 Fed. Reg. 7741), in which President Gerald Ford formally rescinded Executive Order 9066 (7 Fed. Reg. 1407; relating to authorizing the Secretary of War to prescribe military areas) and condemned the incarceration of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents of Japanese ancestry during World War II; (2) the 65th anniversary of the election to the House of Representatives of Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian American, first Indian American, and first Sikh American elected to Congress; (3) the 75th anniversary of the passage of the amendments made by the Act of July 2, 1946 (commonly known as the Luce–Cellar Act of 1946 ) (60 Stat. 416, chapter 534), which allowed Filipinos and Indians to immigrate to the United States and become naturalized United States citizens; (4) the 75th anniversary of the passage of the First Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act, 1946 ( Public Law 79–301 ; 60 Stat. 6), and the Second Supplemental Surplus Appropriation Rescission Act, 1946 ( Public Law 79–391 ; 60 Stat. 221), which stripped military benefits from Filipino World War II veterans in the service of the United States Armed Forces; (5) the 100th anniversary of the first premier in a United States film of an Asian-American woman, Anna May Wong, in Bits of Life ; and (6) the 120th anniversary of the arrival of Peter Ryu, the first Korean immigrant in the United States; Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made significant contributions to the United States at all levels of the Federal Government and in the United States Armed Forces, including— (1) Daniel K. Inouye, a Medal of Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient who, as President pro tempore of the Senate, was the highest-ranking Asian-American government official in the history of the United States; (2) Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American Congressman; (3) Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color and Asian-American woman to be elected to Congress; (4) Hiram L. Fong, the first Asian-American Senator; (5) Daniel K. Akaka, the first Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry; (6) Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian-American member of a Presidential cabinet; (7) Elaine L. Chao, the first Asian-American woman member of a Presidential cabinet; and (8) Kamala D. Harris, the first woman and the first Asian American to hold the Office of the Vice President; Whereas, in 2021, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a bicameral caucus of Members of Congress advocating on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, is composed of 75 Members, including 18 Members of Asian or Pacific Islander descent; Whereas, in 2021, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are serving in State and Territorial legislatures across the United States in record numbers, including in— (1) the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; and (2) the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Whereas, in 2021, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders honorably serve throughout the Federal judiciary; Whereas, since January 2020, the increased use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric related to the 2019 novel coronavirus ( COVID–19 ) has perpetuated an anti-Asian stigma and has resulted in a dramatic increase in reports of hate crimes and incidents against individuals of Asian descent; Whereas there remains much to be done to ensure that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have access to resources and a voice in the Government of the United States and continue to advance in the political landscape of the United States; and Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month provides the people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of, and to understand the challenges faced by, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States; and (2) recognizes that Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of and strengthen the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres247is/xml/BILLS-117sres247is.xml |
117-sres-248 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 248 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Mr. Hagerty (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing and celebrating the 225th anniversary of the entry of the State of Tennessee into the United States as the 16th State.
Whereas, on June 1, 1796, Congress created the State of Tennessee from the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio , or more commonly known as the Southwest Territory; Whereas the State of Tennessee earned the nickname The Volunteer State after the involvement of the State in the War of 1812, when many Tennesseans volunteered for the war effort and General Andrew Jackson led troops from the State to victory in the Battle of New Orleans; Whereas the motto of the State of Tennessee, officially adopted by the State in 1987, is Agriculture and Commerce , which is taken from the wording used on the State seal; Whereas the State of Tennessee is naturally divided into 3 grand divisions, which include— (1) the Blue Ridge Mountains of east Tennessee; (2) the Cumberland Plateau and the foothills and basin of middle Tennessee; and (3) the low plains of west Tennessee; Whereas the official flag of the State of Tennessee, which was adopted by the General Assembly on April 17, 1905, contains 3 pure white stars representing the 3 grand divisions of the State bound together by a circle of blue symbolizing the indissoluble trinity ; Whereas the State of Tennessee has produced 3 presidents of the United States, including— (1) Andrew Jackson; (2) James K. Polk; and (3) Andrew Johnson; Whereas, over the years, the State of Tennessee has become a cultural, diverse, and vibrant State that celebrates its bright past through agriculture, music, art, food, faith, historical attractions, nature, and its people; Whereas, on August 18, 1920, the State of Tennessee became the 36th and final State necessary to ratify the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which gave women the right to vote; Whereas, from Mountain City to Memphis, the State of Tennessee pioneered many musical genres, including— (1) bluegrass; (2) country; (3) blues; (4) gospel; and (5) rock and roll; Whereas the State of Tennessee produces products known around the world, including— (1) Tennessee whiskey; (2) hot chicken; and (3) Tennessee barbecue; Whereas June 1, 2021, marks the 225th anniversary of the attainment of statehood by the State of Tennessee; and Whereas this 225th anniversary is a monumental occasion to rejoice and commemorate the achievements of the great State of Tennessee: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate recognizes and celebrates the 225th anniversary of the entry of the State of Tennessee into the United States as the 16th State. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres248is/xml/BILLS-117sres248is.xml |
117-sres-249 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 249 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Moran , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Cotton , Ms. Ernst , and Ms. Hirono ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Honoring women in the United States for their service in World War II and recognizing the role of Representative Edith Nourse Rogers in establishing the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and the Women's Army Corps.
Whereas during World War II (referred to in this preamble as the War ), despite social stigmas against women serving in uniform, women in the United States served in the Armed Forces in vast numbers; Whereas Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts introduced legislation to create the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (referred to in this preamble as the WAAC ) in May 1941, which was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 15, 1942; Whereas the first director of the WAAC, Oveta Culp Hobby, was sworn in on May 16, 1942, and shortly thereafter began the process of recruiting women to join the WAAC, which garnered over 35,000 applications for an anticipated 1,000 available positions; Whereas the first recruits for the newly created WAAC arrived at the first training center on July 20, 1942, with 125 enlisted women and 440 officer candidates, 40 of whom were Black; Whereas, during the War, women serving in the Army in the WAAC and the Women’s Army Corps (referred to in this preamble as the WAC ) performed duties traditionally performed by men; Whereas, in unspoken recognition of the value of their services, the Army removed the auxiliary status of the WAAC units in 1943, which gave women all of the rank, privileges, and benefits of male soldiers; Whereas almost 1/2 of the members of the WAC during the War served in the Army Air Forces as officers and enlisted personnel, with duties including radio operator, photographer, and flight clerk; Whereas 7,315 of those members of the Army Air Forces WAC were serving overseas in all theaters of the War in January 1945; Whereas, at the end of the War, 657 women were honored for their service in the WAAC and the WAC, receiving medals and citations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, the Soldiers’ Medal for heroic action, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star; Whereas, in 1946, the Army requested that Congress establish the WAC as a permanent part of the Army, perhaps the single greatest indication of the value of women in the Army to the effort of the United States in the War; Whereas, during the War, women served with the Army Air Forces in the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, the Women’s Flying Training Detachment, and the Women Air Force Service Pilots (referred to in this preamble as WASPs ); Whereas women serving with the Army Air Forces— (1) ferried planes from factories to airfields; (2) performed test flights of repaired aircraft towed targets used in live gunnery practice; and (3) performed a variety of other duties traditionally performed by men; Whereas women pilots flew more than 70 types of military aircraft, from open-cockpit primary trainers to P–51 Mustangs, B–26 Marauders, and B–29 Superfortresses; Whereas, from September 10, 1942, to December 20, 1944, 1,074 WASPs flew an aggregate 60,000,000 miles in wartime service; Whereas, although WASPs were promised military classification, they were classified as civilians, and the 38 WASPs who died in the line of duty were regrettably buried without military honors; Whereas WASPs did not receive official status as military veterans until March 1979, when WASP units were formally recognized as components of the Air Force; Whereas, during the War, women in the Navy served in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (referred to in this preamble as WAVES ); Whereas, approximately 90,000 WAVES served the Navy in a variety of capacities and in such numbers that, according to a Navy estimate, enough sailors were freed for combat duty to crew the ships of 4 major task forces, each including a battleship, 2 large aircraft carriers, 2 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, and 15 destroyers; Whereas WAVES who served in naval aviation taught instrument flying, aircraft recognition, celestial navigation, aircraft gunnery, radio, radar, air combat information, and air fighter administration, but were not allowed to be pilots; Whereas, at the end of the War, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal stated that members of the WAVES have exceeded performance of men in certain types of work, and the Navy Department considers it to be very desirable that these important services rendered by women during the war should likewise be available in postwar years ahead ; Whereas, during the War, women served in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve; Whereas more than 23,000 women served at shore establishments of the Marine Corps, and by the end of the War, 85 percent of the enlisted personnel assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps were women; Whereas, during the War, women were assigned to over 200 different specialties in the Marine Corps and, by performing those duties, freed other Marines for active duty to fight; Whereas, during the War, women served in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (referred to in this preamble as SPARs ); Whereas more than 10,000 women volunteered for service with the Coast Guard during the period from 1942 through 1946, and when the Coast Guard was at the peak of its strength during the War, 1 out of every 16 members of the Coast Guard was a SPAR; Whereas the SPARs who attended the Coast Guard Academy were the first women in the United States to attend a military academy; Whereas, by the end of the War, more than 400,000 women had served the United States in military capacities; Whereas those women who served, despite their merit and the recognized value and importance of their contributions to the effort of the United States during the War— (1) were not given status equal to their male counterparts; and (2) struggled for years to receive the appreciation of Congress and the people of the United States; Whereas those women helped to catalyze the social, demographic, and economic evolutions that occurred after the War and that continue to this day; and Whereas those pioneering women are owed a great debt of gratitude for their service to the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors the women who served the United States in military capacities during World War II; (2) commends those women who, through a sense of duty and willingness to defy stereotypes and social pressures, performed military assignments to aid the war effort, allowing for more combat capacity; (3) recognizes that those women, by serving with diligence and merit, not only opened up opportunities for women that had previously been reserved for men, but also contributed vitally to the victory of the United States and the Allies in World War II; and (4) honors the contributions of Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers and her fellow Members of Congress who supported the establishment of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and the Women’s Army Corps. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres249is/xml/BILLS-117sres249is.xml |
117-sres-250 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 250 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Mr. Risch submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Condemning the rise in anti-Semitism incidents globally since terrorists in the Gaza Strip triggered several days of violence against Israel on May 10, 2021.
Whereas there has been a concerning rise in the number of verbal, physical, and online attacks against Jewish communities since violence broke out between Israel and terrorists in the Gaza Strip on May 10, 2021; Whereas, in a recent statement, Anti-Defamation League President, Jonathan A. Greenblatt, remarked, as violence between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, we are witnessing a dangerous and drastic surge in anti-Jewish hate. We are tracking acts of harassment, vandalism, and violence as well as a torrent of online abuses. ; Whereas anti-Semitic incidents have been reported against Jewish communities around the world, including in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, and North America; Whereas a particularly high rate of anti-Semitic attacks have been reported in Europe since violence broke out between Israel and the designated foreign terrorist organization Hamas, with synagogues, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and Jewish community centers being vandalized in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain; Whereas a similar rise in global, anti-Jewish crimes took place during the 2014 Gaza War, when Hamas fired some 4,500 rockets at Israel over the span of 50 days, endangering the lives of countless civilians; Whereas, in response to an unprecedented rise in anti-Semitic crimes in the United Kingdom, like the assault against Rabbi Rafi Goodwin in North London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson rightly reaffirmed his support for the United Kingdom's Jewish community; Whereas pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Canada have compared Israel with the Nazis, used anti-Semitic slurs, violently targeted pro-Israel demonstrators with rocks, and displayed posters calling for Death to Israel , and protestors in Spain displayed desecrated Israeli flags with swastikas imposed onto the Star of David; Whereas, at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the Netherlands, attendants reportedly referred to Prime Minister Mark Rutte as cancer Jew and shouted Heil Hitler ; Whereas, since violence broke out between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip earlier this month, numerous Jewish community centers, nongovernmental organizations, and synagogues have come under attack in Germany, and in some cases received threats regarding the intent to commit physical harm; Whereas, in Argentina, a Jewish community building was vandalized with graffiti saying we are going to kill you , and Jewish rats , and swastika crosses were imposed onto sidewalks; Whereas the rise of anti-Israel groups and voices in the United States has contributed to increased anti-Semitism in, and outside, the United States; Whereas this rhetoric has fueled support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement which represents a financial, political, and economic manifestation of anti-Semitism against Israel; and Whereas the people and Government of the United States stand strongly with our Israeli allies and reaffirm Israel's right to self-defense against threats emanating from United States-designated foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) condemns expressions of anti-Semitism being reported around the world, including those taking place in the United States; (2) rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms, and reaffirms its commitment to understanding, tolerance, and equality; (3) stands by Jewish communities around the world as they face unacceptable levels of risk based on extremist views; (4) reaffirms our strong support for our Israeli allies, who faced numerous attacks from Iran-backed militants in the Gaza Strip; (5) calls on the President to urgently appoint a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism at the Department of State to help coordinate United States policy regarding anti-Semitic crimes around the world; and (6) condemns the BDS movement for contributing to the rise of anti-Semitism. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres250is/xml/BILLS-117sres250is.xml |
117-sres-251 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 251 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Mr. Daines submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate on future international arms control agreements.
Whereas the United States and the former Soviet Union signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (commonly referred to as the INF Treaty ), which entered into force on June 1, 1988, for the purposes of strengthening international peace and security and avoiding the devastating consequences of nuclear war; Whereas the INF Treaty required the United States and the former Soviet Union, the 2 dominant world powers at the time, to eliminate their ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (between 300 and 3,400 miles) by an implementation deadline of June 1, 1991; Whereas, by that deadline, both countries destroyed a total of 2,692 short- and intermediate-range missiles, with the former Soviet Union destroying 1,846 such missiles and the United States destroying 846 such missiles; Whereas the United States upheld the terms of the INF Treaty for more than 3 decades; Whereas the Russian Federation violated the terms of the INF Treaty by developing, producing, and testing the SSC–8/9M729, a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) with a range of 2,500 kilometers; Whereas, in December 2019, the United States withdrew from the INF Treaty upon finding the Russian Federation in material breach of the treaty, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization concurring in the finding; and Whereas, during the period in which the INF Treaty was in effect, the People’s Republic of China developed, produced, and tested an arsenal of an estimated 200 intermediate-range, 150 medium-range, 250 short-range, and 54 ground-launched ballistic missiles: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that any international arms control agreement entered into by the United States that limits the number of allowable nuclear-capable missiles must— (1) be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate; and (2) include the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres251is/xml/BILLS-117sres251is.xml |
117-sres-252 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 252 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Ms. Rosen (for herself, Mr. Lankford , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Blunt , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Carper , Mr. Moran , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Daines , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Peters , Mr. Portman , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Cardin , Ms. Collins , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Cramer , Ms. Sinema , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Risch , Mr. Markey , Mr. Hoeven , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Braun , Mr. King , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Schumer , Ms. Murkowski , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Thune , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Reed , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Booker , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Coons , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Casey , Ms. Ernst , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Hickenlooper , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Romney , Mrs. Murray , and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Unequivocally condemning the recent rise in antisemitic violence and harassment targeting Jewish Americans, and standing in solidarity with those affected by antisemitism, and for other purposes.
Whereas antisemitism remains a serious and growing danger for Jews in the United States and around the world; Whereas, in May 2021, antisemitic incidents and rhetoric have surged in the United States and around the world as hostilities between Hamas and Israel escalated; Whereas, since the beginning of 2021, there has been an increase in acts of antisemitism, including— (1) individuals in London calling for Jewish daughters to be raped ; (2) a German synagogue being pelted with rocks; (3) an attack on Jewish diners in Los Angeles, California; (4) fireworks hurled at a crowd in New York City, New York; (5) synagogues in Tucson, Arizona, and Skokie, Illinois, being vandalized; (6) Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's claim in an interview that Israel controls the media and has deep pockets, perpetuating an antisemitic conspiracy theory; and (7) Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s invocation of the blood libel myth, which has historically been used to justify violence against Jews; Whereas such antisemitic incidents are part of a broader increase in the number and intensity of antisemitic incidents in the United States and around the world, as evidenced by— (1) studies by the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry, finding that violent antisemitic attacks worldwide rose 18 percent in 2019 and shifted online in 2020 during the COVID–19 pandemic, which resulted in antisemitic conspiracy theories related to the pandemic proliferating; and (2) hate crime statistics collected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, demonstrating— (A) a 14-percent increase in antisemitic hate crimes in the United States in 2019; and (B) that Jewish Americans were the target of 60.2 percent of all religiously motivated hate crimes in 2019, despite accounting for 2 percent of the population of the United States; Whereas Holocaust denial and distortion, including intentional efforts to excuse or minimize the impact of the Holocaust, dishonors those who were persecuted and murdered and reinforces the need for advancing accurate Holocaust education globally; Whereas, over the course of the past decade, Holocaust distortion has grown in intensity; Whereas protecting the history of the Holocaust and recognizing and confronting Holocaust denial and distortion is critical to preventing antisemitism; Whereas Jewish houses of worship are increasingly targets of violent attacks in the United States, as evidenced by the deadly assaults on synagogues in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2018 and Poway, California, in 2019; Whereas, in October 2020, the Department of Homeland Security warned that racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists—specifically white supremacist extremists—will remain the most persistent and lethal threat in the [United States] Homeland ; Whereas the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security provides critical funding to support physical security enhancements to Jewish organizations and institutions, including synagogues, that are at high risk of a terrorist attack or targeted violence; Whereas the United States has played a crucial leadership role in combating antisemitism internationally, including by working to promote Holocaust education, improve the safety and security of at-risk Jewish communities, combat online radicalization, ensure foreign public officials and faith leaders condemn antisemitic discourse, and strengthen foreign judicial systems in their prosecution of antisemitic incidents; Whereas section 59 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 ( 22 U.S.C. 2731 ) establishes the Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism of the Department of State, which is headed by an individual who has the rank of ambassador and reports directly to the Secretary of State, to develop and implement policies and projects to combat global antisemitism by working closely with foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society; and Whereas the Never Again Education Act ( 36 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 116–141 ), which was signed into law on May 29, 2020, expands United States Holocaust Memorial Museum education programming, requires the museum to develop and nationally disseminate accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to improve awareness and understanding of the Holocaust, and authorizes various Holocaust education program activities to engage prospective and current teachers and educational leaders: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) unequivocally condemns the recent rise in antisemitic violence and harassment targeting Jewish Americans, and stands in solidarity with those affected by antisemitism; (2) recommits to combating antisemitism in all forms; (3) calls on elected officials, faith leaders, and civil society leaders to denounce and combat all manifestations of antisemitism; (4) urges the President to— (A) continue the leadership role of the United States in combating antisemitism internationally, including by nominating a qualified Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism and engaging intergovernmental organizations to ensure that the anti-discrimination efforts of the organizations include combating antisemitism; (B) advance accurate Holocaust education and counter Holocaust denial and distortion, including by fully implementing the Never Again Education Act ( 36 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 116–141 ); (C) ensure the physical security of Jewish institutions and organizations, including by requesting sufficient resources for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security to keep at-risk houses of worship, schools, and community centers safe from terrorist attacks and other forms of antisemitic violence; and (D) produce an analysis that accounts for the level and scope of the threat that antisemitism poses to the people of the United States; and (5) urges Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fully participate in the data collection process of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in order to improve antisemitic hate crime data collection. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres252is/xml/BILLS-117sres252is.xml |
117-sres-253 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 253 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mrs. Capito , Mr. Blumenthal , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Cramer , and Mr. Rounds ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of May 2021 as National Cancer Research Month .
Whereas, in 2021, in the United States— (1) cancer remains one of the most pressing public health concerns; (2) an estimated 1,898,160 individuals are expected to be diagnosed with cancer; and (3) an estimated 608,570 individuals are expected to die from cancer; Whereas 39 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime; Whereas cancer in the United States— (1) as of the date of adoption of this resolution, is the second most common cause of disease-related death; and (2) may become the primary cause of disease-related death; Whereas the incidence of cancer is expected to grow significantly, reaching 2,300,000 cases per year by 2030; Whereas racial and ethnic minorities, as well as low-income, rural, and elderly populations, continue to suffer disproportionately in cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality; Whereas the term cancer refers to more than 100 diseases that collectively represent, in the United States— (1) the leading cause of death for individuals under the age of 85; (2) the second leading cause of death for all individuals; and (3) the leading cause of disease-related death among children ages 1 to 14; Whereas the most recent projection indicates that the overall cancer-attributed costs to the United States would increase more than 30 percent between 2015 and 2030 to a cost of more than $245,000,000,000; Whereas the investment the United States has made in cancer research has— (1) yielded substantial advances in cancer research and cancer treatment; and (2) has saved and improved millions of lives; Whereas advancements in understanding the causes, mechanisms, diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of cancer have— (1) led to cures for many types of cancer; and (2) converted other, non-curable types of cancer into manageable chronic conditions; Whereas the 5-year survival rate for all types of cancer was more than 67 percent between 2011 and 2017; Whereas more than 16,900,000 survivors of cancer were living in the United States in 2019; Whereas therapies and effective screening tools for some types of cancer remain elusive, and some cancers, including pancreatic, liver, lung, ovarian, and brain cancer, continue to have— (1) extraordinarily high mortality rates; and (2) 5-year survival rates, for all stages of cancer combined, that are typically less than 50 percent; Whereas partnerships among research scientists, the general public, survivors of cancer, patient advocates, philanthropic organizations, industry, and Federal, State, and local governments have led to advanced breakthroughs for patients with cancer, including early detection tools that have increased survival rates and a better quality of life for survivors of cancer; Whereas precision medicine holds great promise in treating many forms of cancer; Whereas researchers have learned a substantial amount about cancer diagnoses, treatment, and prevention from the 8 percent of patients who enroll in clinical trials; Whereas clinical trials are a key part of medical research, and inclusive clinical trials with diverse participation among gender, racial, and ethnic populations— (1) are important in achieving a comprehensive analysis of cancer; and (2) lead to more effective treatments that improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities; Whereas advances in cancer research have had significant implications for the development of COVID–19 vaccines and the treatment of other costly diseases, such as arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and HIV/AIDS; Whereas 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act of 1971 ( Public Law 92–218 ; 85 Stat. 778), which created the National Cancer Program and strengthened the National Cancer Institute (referred to in this preamble as the NCI ) in leading the mission of the United States to conquer cancer; and Whereas the NCI— (1) serves as an incubator for preeminent cancer researchers; (2) has created 71 NCI-designated cancer centers; and (3) awards research grants for projects that will lead to innovative treatments and groundbreaking cures: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of May 2021 as National Cancer Research Month ; (2) recognizes the importance of cancer research and the invaluable contributions of cancer researchers in the United States and around the world who are dedicated to the conquest of eliminating cancer; and (3) continues to support cancer research as a national and international priority to eventually eliminate the more than 100 diseases that are referred to as cancer. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres253is/xml/BILLS-117sres253is.xml |
117-sres-254 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 254 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 27, 2021 Mr. Luján (for himself and Mr. Portman ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness Month .
Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 ( COVID–19 ) public health emergency has taken a toll on the mental well-being of the people of the United States and may be stressful for many people of the United States; Whereas the people of the United States have witnessed how fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and contribute to strong emotions in both adults and children; Whereas the Joint Economic Committee of Congress released a report in October of 2020 on COVID–19 and how it has worsened the mental health crisis in the United States; Whereas the September 2020 Census Bureau survey found that 37 percent of adults in the United States reported symptoms of anxiety or depression disorder, triple the percentage reported in 2019; Whereas the August 14, 2020, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this preamble CDC ) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report stated that— (1) symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during the period of April to June of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019; and (2) during late June 2020— (A) 40 percent of adults in the United States reported struggling with mental health or substance use; (B) nearly 31 percent experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression; (C) 26 percent experienced symptoms of trauma- and stressor-related disorders ( TSRD ); (D) 13 percent started or increased substance use; and (E) nearly 11 percent seriously considered suicide; (3) 25 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years old reported they started or had increased substance use during the pandemic, compared to 13 percent of all adults; (4) 26 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years old reported thoughts of suicide, compared to 11 percent of all adults; (5) nearly 41 percent of Hispanic respondents reported symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depressive disorder, nearly 35 percent experienced COVID–19 related TSRD, and nearly 22 percent increased substance use to cope with pandemic stress and emotions; (6) nearly 30 percent of Black, non-Hispanic respondents reported symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depressive disorder, more than 30 percent experienced COVID–19 related TSRD, and more than 18 percent increased substance use to cope with pandemic stress and emotions; and (7) 18 percent of Asian, non-Hispanic respondents reported symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depressive disorder, 22 percent experienced COVID–19 related TSRD, and more than 6 percent increased substance use to cope with pandemic stress and emotions; Whereas according to the American Psychological Association, in 2020— (1) nearly 1 in 5 adults saw their mental health worsen in the last year; and (2) 61 percent of adults stated they could have used more emotional support than they received over the prior 12 months; Whereas there was a 1,000-percent increase in text messages in April 2020 on a Federal text emergency hotline for people in emotional distress; Whereas according to the Pew Research Center, more than one-third of people in the United States have experienced high levels of psychological distress at some point during the extended period of social distancing; Whereas the Census Bureau 2020 Household Pulse Survey found that— (1) in December 2020, 47 percent of women reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder compared to 38 percent of men; and (2) as of December 2020, 56 percent of young adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder; Whereas the November 13, 2020, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that between March 2020 and October 2020 there was a 24-percent increase nationwide in mental health related emergency room visits among children between the ages of 5 and 11 and a 31-percent increase among those between 12 and 17, compared with the same period in 2019; Whereas 74 percent of LGBT people stated that worry and stress from the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health, compared to 49 percent of those who are not LGBT; Whereas the February 5, 2021, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that current symptoms of depression were reported 59 percent more frequently by Hispanic adults than by White, non-Hispanic adults; Whereas a survey found that in May 2020, 20 percent of Latinos surveyed were experiencing anxiety and 15.7 percent of Latinos were experiencing increased stress due to the COVID–19 pandemic and lockdown; Whereas, from June 2020 to September 2020, 93 percent of health care workers were experiencing stress, 86 percent were experiencing anxiety, 76 percent reported exhaustion and burnout, 75 percent said they were overwhelmed, and 39 percent said they did not feel like they had adequate emotional support; Whereas, in 2020, a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis found that 42 percent of essential workers surveyed reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, 25 percent started or increased substance use to cope with stress or emotions related to COVID–19, and 22 percent considered suicide in the past 30 days; and Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness Month : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of Mental Health Awareness Month to remove the stigma associated with mental illness and place emphasis on scientific findings regarding mental health recovery; (2) declares mental health a national priority; (3) recognizes mental well-being is equally as important as physical well-being for citizens, communities, schools, businesses, and the economy in the United States; (4) applauds the coalescing of national, State, local, medical, and faith-based organizations in working to promote public awareness of mental health and providing critical information and support during this pandemic to individuals and families affected by mental illness; and (5) encourages all to draw on Mental Health Awareness Month as an opportunity to promote mental well-being and awareness, ensure access to appropriate services and care, and support overall quality of life for those living with mental illness. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres254is/xml/BILLS-117sres254is.xml |
117-sres-255 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 255 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 28 (legislative day, May 27), 2021 Mr. Coons (for himself and Mr. Braun ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating May 2021 as ALS Awareness Month .
Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (referred to in this preamble as ALS ) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord; Whereas the life expectancy for an individual with ALS is between 2 and 5 years after the date on which the individual receives an ALS diagnosis; Whereas ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, gender, or socioeconomic boundaries; Whereas ALS may affect any individual in any location; Whereas the cause of ALS is unknown in up to 90 percent of cases; Whereas approximately 10 percent of cases have a strong known genetic driver; Whereas, on average, the period between the date on which an individual first experiences symptoms of ALS and the date on which the individual is diagnosed with ALS is more than 1 year; Whereas the onset of ALS often involves muscle weakness or stiffness, and the progression of ALS results in the further weakening, wasting, and paralysis of— (1) the muscles of the limbs and trunk; and (2) the muscles that control vital functions, such as speech, swallowing, and breathing; Whereas ALS can strike individuals of any age, but it predominantly strikes adults; Whereas it is estimated that tens of thousands of individuals in the United States have ALS at any given time; Whereas, based on studies of the population of the United States, slightly more than 5,600 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year, and 15 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each day; Whereas, between 2015 and 2040, the number of ALS cases around the world is expected to increase by nearly 70 percent; Whereas the majority of individuals with ALS die of respiratory failure; Whereas, in the United States, military veterans may be up to twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS than the general public; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, there is no cure for ALS; Whereas the spouses, children, and family members of individuals living with ALS provide support to those individuals with love, day-to-day care, and more; and Whereas an individual with ALS, and the caregivers of such an individual, can be required to bear significant costs for medical care, equipment, and home care services for the individual as the disease progresses: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates May 2021 as ALS Awareness Month ; (2) affirms the dedication of the Senate to— (A) ensuring individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (referred to in this resolving clause as ALS ) have access to effective treatments as soon as possible; (B) identifying risk factors and causes of ALS to prevent new cases; (C) empowering individuals with ALS to engage with the world in the way they want; (D) reducing the physical, emotional, and financial burdens of living with ALS; and (E) ensuring all individuals with ALS and their caregivers receive high quality services and supports that benefit them; and (3) commends the dedication of the family members, friends, organizations, volunteers, researchers, and caregivers across the United States that are working to improve the quality and length of life of ALS patients and the development of treatments and cures that reach patients as soon as possible. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres255ats/xml/BILLS-117sres255ats.xml |
117-sres-256 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 256 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 28 (legislative day, May 27), 2021 Mr. Marshall (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need to conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine the origins of COVID–19.
Whereas COVID–19 has taken the lives of nearly 3,500,000 individuals around the world; Whereas understanding the origins of the COVID–19 pandemic is essential to addressing our vulnerabilities and preventing future crises; Whereas, in May 2020, the World Health Assembly did not authorize a comprehensive investigation into the origins of COVID–19, and instead passed a significantly limited compromise resolution, with Chinese government support, which did not explicitly include in its scope the possibility of a research-related accident; Whereas the 2020 World Health Assembly resolution and its terms of reference, which were negotiated privately between the World Health Organization (in this preamble referred to as WHO ) and Chinese authorities, handed the Chinese government control over the joint-study process by giving the Chinese government veto power over which international experts were allowed to participate in the joint study and by agreeing that most primary research would be carried out by Chinese teams without ensuring broad access to primary data by international experts; Whereas, as a result of these terms, the significant structural, procedural, and analytical shortcomings of the joint study, and the severe restrictions imposed by Chinese authorities, the WHO-convened joint study into the origins of COVID–19 was prevented from providing a balanced consideration of the multiple theories of the origin of COVID–19; Whereas only 4 of the 313 pages of the joint-study team report and its annexes addressed the possibility of a laboratory accident, and no thorough examination of the lab incident hypothesis was carried out by the joint-study team; Whereas some of the international experts on the joint-study team stated that they lacked the means and resources to properly investigate the research-related accident hypothesis, and they were neither able nor meant to do such a full investigation but instead were acting as a study review group ; Whereas WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented on March 30, 2021, the day the joint-study report was released, I do not believe that [the joint-study team's] assessment [of a possible lab incident] was extensive enough. Further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions … potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts, which I am ready to deploy. ; Whereas the WHO Director-General further commented, As far as WHO is concerned all hypotheses remain on the table … We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do … It is clear that we need more research across a range of areas, which will entail further field visits. ; Whereas the March 30, 2021 Joint Statement on the WHO-convened COVID–19 Origins Study by the United States and 13 other countries recognized the severe shortcomings of the joint-study process and called for a transparent and independent analysis and evaluation, free from interference and undue influence. ; Whereas, in spite of the devastation the COVID–19 pandemic has caused in the United States and around the world, no process currently exists to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the source of COVID–19; Whereas such an investigation is essential for ensuring this type of crisis never happens again for the benefit of all people, all nations, and future generations: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) a comprehensive investigation to determine the origins of COVID–19 must be conducted by the World Health Organization immediately, with access to all relevant records, samples, and personnel in China, and that such investigation must fully explore all possible sources of the COVID–19 pandemic, including exclusively natural zoonosis in the wild, human contamination in an animal farm, and a research-related accident; (2) the United States delegation to the World Health Assembly should, in concert with allies and partners around the world, work to ensure that an international scientific investigation into the origins of COVID–19, with full access to all relevant records, samples, and personnel in China, will be authorized by the World Health Assembly and implemented with extreme urgency; and (3) should such a full investigation not be authorized by the 2021 World Health Assembly, then the United States Government should immediately begin planning a comprehensive and data-driven investigation into the COVID–19 pandemic origins, in concert with willing partner governments and experts around the world. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres256ats/xml/BILLS-117sres256ats.xml |
117-sres-257 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 257 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 28 (legislative day, May 27), 2021 Mrs. Capito (for herself and Mr. Manchin ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commending and congratulating the Marshall University Thundering Herd men’s soccer team for winning the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s soccer national championship.
Whereas, on May 17, 2021, the Marshall University Thundering Herd men’s soccer team (in this preamble referred to as the Thundering Herd ) defeated the Indiana University Hoosiers by a score of 1 to 0 in overtime in the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association (in this preamble referred to as the NCAA ) Division I national championship game; Whereas the 2020 NCAA Division I national championship is the first national championship in the history of the men’s soccer program at Marshall University and the University’s first Division I championship in any sport; Whereas the Thundering Herd is the first active member of the Conference USA to win a NCAA national championship in any sport; Whereas the 2020 NCAA men’s soccer season was moved from the fall of 2020 to the spring of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic; Whereas the Thundering Herd overcame the adversity of the season, finishing with a record of 13 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws; Whereas the Thundering Herd were the Conference USA regular season champions, earning the team a bid to the NCAA tournament; Whereas the number 10 seeded Thundering Herd won 4 games in the NCAA tournament leading up to the national championship game, by defeating the number 23 seeded Fordham University, the number 1 seeded Clemson University, the number 8 seeded Georgetown University, and the number 16 seeded University of North Carolina; Whereas Jamil Roberts scored his third game-winning goal in the NCAA Tournament in the 98th minute of the national championship game, solidifying the Thundering Herd’s victory and earning him the title of the NCAA Tournament’s Offensive Most Outstanding Player; Whereas Nathan Dossantos, Vinicius Fernandes, Max Schneider, and Vitor Dias of Marshall University were named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team; Whereas in 4 years as head coach, Chris Grassie took the team from missing the Conference USA Tournament in his first season to becoming the 2020 national champions; and Whereas Coach Grassie has rallied the Sons and Daughters of Marshall University around the soccer program, thus transforming Marshall University into a soccer school: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commends the Marshall University Thundering Herd men’s soccer team (in this resolution referred to as the Thundering Herd ) for winning the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men’s soccer national championship; (2) recognizes the players, coaches, and staff of the Thundering Herd; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the President of Marshall University, Jerome A. Gilbert; and (B) the head coach of the Thundering Herd, Chris Grassie. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres257ats/xml/BILLS-117sres257ats.xml |
117-sres-258 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 258 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 28 (legislative day, May 27), 2021 Mr. Warner (for himself, Mr. Kaine , Mr. Reed , Mr. Inhofe , 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. Johnson , 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. 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. Warnock , Ms. Warren , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the life and work of Senator John W. Warner.
Whereas John William Warner was born on February 18, 1927, to John and Martha Warner; Whereas John Warner began his service to the nation by enlisting in the Navy at the age of 17 to serve in World War II and was discharged as a Petty Officer 3rd class and was commissioned in the Marines during the Korean War, reaching the rank of Captain; Whereas John Warner, using benefits from the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly known as the “G.I. Bill”) (58 Stat. 284, chapter 268), attended Washington & Lee University and the University of Virginia Law School and maintained a life-long love of the Lexington and Charlottesville communities, who encouraged and supported the completion of his educational pursuits; Whereas, in 1960, John Warner continued in public service when he went to work in the Eisenhower White House and later was tasked with serving as an advance-man for Vice President Nixon during his presidential campaign; Whereas, in 1969, John Warner was nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to serve as Under Secretary of the Navy and later Secretary of the Navy; Whereas, in 1976, John Warner served as the Director of the American Revolution Bicentennial; Whereas, in 1978, John Warner was elected to the Senate; Whereas John Warner retired from the Senate in 2009, having won 5 consecutive statewide elections and after having served as the second-longest serving Senator in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia; Whereas, for 30 years, John Warner represented the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States with honor and distinction in the Senate, building consensus and bridging divides on critical national security and domestic policy issues; Whereas John Warner spent his entire career in the Senate as a member of the Committee on Armed Services, including serving for years as the Chairman and Ranking Member of that Committee; Whereas John Warner served as— (1) Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence; (2) Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration; (3) a senior member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works; and (4) a member of the Committees on— (A) Homeland Security and Government Affairs; (B) Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and (C) Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Whereas, throughout his career in the Senate, John Warner championed the needs of the men and women serving in the United States military and of veterans; Whereas, through pay increases, enhanced military health care benefits, support for the Department of Defense medical research programs, enacting the TRICARE for Life program under section 1086(d) of title 10, United States Code and the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 ( 38 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.; Public Law 110–252 ), John Warner recognized that a first-class military depended on the well-being of the remarkable men and women who stepped into service as well as their families; Whereas John Warner recognized the importance of diversity and led by example, such as by— (1) having his Senate staff led by strong women for more than 20 years; (2) recommending for nomination and successfully seeking the confirmation of the first woman to serve on the Federal bench in the history of Virginia; (3) recommending for nomination and successfully securing the confirmation of the first African American to serve on the Federal district court in the history of Virginia; and (4) recommending for nomination and successfully securing confirmation of the first African American to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the history of the court; Whereas John Warner had a personal passion and love of the outdoors that began as a young boy fishing on the Shenandoah River and some of his proudest achievements legislatively were ones to conserve sensitive and historic lands in Virginia by expanding and establishing new national parks, national wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and completing the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Virginia; Whereas John Warner was dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Virginians and all people of the United States, recognizing that our transportation systems were critical components fostering economic growth and personal safety; Whereas, by supporting transportation infrastructure such as highways, bridges, airports, mass transit, bus systems, and, particularly, the extension of the Metro rail system, John Warner contributed to safe travel of the people of the United States, expanded economic opportunities, and connected rural and urban communities; Whereas, from leading the regional efforts to build a new Woodrow Wilson bridge and expand Metro Rail to Dulles Airport, to advocating for transportation research at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and safety measures such as the use of seat belts and air bags, John Warner was fully committed to improving the quality of life for all on the roadways of the United States; Whereas John Warner fully recognized the value of an education and supported significantly increased funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) and funding under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.), and he proudly played a lead role in writing the Teacher Tax Relief Act, which provided a deductible tax benefit for teachers in the United States; Whereas, while Senator Warner served proudly as a member of the Republican party, Senator Warner was committed to putting country before politics; and Whereas, on May 25, 2021, at the age of 94, Senator John Warner passed away, leaving behind his beloved wife, Jeanne, his 3 children—Virginia, Mary, and John—and numerous Warner Brother & Sister staffers who loved him dearly and served him loyally: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) notes with deep sorrow and solemn mourning the death of Senator John William Warner; (2) extends heartfelt sympathy to the entire family of Senator John Warner and those who knew and loved him; (3) honors and, on behalf of the United States, expresses deep appreciation for the outstanding and important service of Senator John Warner to his country; (4) 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 Senator John Warner; and (5) when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator John William Warner. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres258ats/xml/BILLS-117sres258ats.xml |
117-sres-259 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 259 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 8, 2021 Mr. Markey (for himself and Mr. Romney ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Remembering the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and condemning the continued and intensifying crackdown on human rights and basic freedoms within the People’s Republic of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, by the Chinese Communist Party, and for other purposes.
Whereas, on April 15, 1989, peaceful demonstrators gathered in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing to mourn the death of former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Hu Yaobang, who was compelled to resign in 1987 for expressing support of students demanding political reform; Whereas, throughout April and May 1989, peaceful demonstrations continued in Tiananmen Square and in an estimated 400 cities across China; Whereas, by May 17, 1989, an estimated 1,000,000 Chinese citizens from all walks of life, including students, government employees, journalists, workers, police officers, and members of the armed forces, gathered peacefully in Tiananmen Square to call for democratic reforms; Whereas the peaceful demonstrators of 1989 called upon the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to eliminate corruption, accelerate economic and political reform, and protect human rights, particularly the freedoms of expression and assembly; Whereas, on May 20, 1989, the Government of the PRC declared martial law; Whereas, during the late afternoon and early evening hours of June 3, 1989, the CCP leadership sent armed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops and tanks into Beijing and surrounding streets; Whereas, on the night of June 3, 1989, and continuing into the morning of June 4, 1989, PLA soldiers, at the direction of CCP leadership, fired indiscriminately into crowds of peaceful protestors, killing and injuring thousands of demonstrators and other unarmed civilians; Whereas the Government of the PRC continues to censor any mention of the crackdown centered on Tiananmen Square, prevent the victims from being publicly mourned and remembered, and harass, detain, and arrest those who call for a full, public, and independent accounting of the wounded, dead, and those imprisoned for participating in the spring 1989 demonstrations; Whereas the sovereignty of Hong Kong transferred from the United Kingdom to the PRC in 1997 under the terms of the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong (in this resolution referred to as the “Joint Declaration”), which guaranteed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will “enjoy a high degree of autonomy” and committed the PRC to keep the “social and economic systems in Hong Kong” unchanged through 2047; Whereas the Joint Declaration states that “[r]ights and freedoms, including those of the person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of travel, of movement, of correspondence, of strike, of choice of occupation, of academic research and of religious belief will be ensured by law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” and that those rights are reiterated in chapter III of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; Whereas the people of Hong Kong have held an annual Tiananmen Square vigil since 1990, which has been the only such mass gathering on Chinese territory because commemorations are banned in mainland China; Whereas, on June 4, 2020, thousands of people in Hong Kong defied a ban by the Hong Kong Police Force and gathered at the city’s annual June 4 vigil to memorialize the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre; Whereas, on June 30, 2020, China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee flagrantly undermined the high degree of autonomy guaranteed to Hong Kong in the Joint Declaration and Basic Law by passing and imposing upon Hong Kong the oppressive and intentionally vague Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the “national security law”); Whereas the central Government of PRC and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government have since used the national security law to suppress democratic voices in Hong Kong, including by barring candidates from standing for election and by arresting pro-democracy activists and opposition leaders; Whereas, on March 11, 2021, China’s National People’s Congress adopted the “Decision of the National People’s Congress on Improving the Electoral System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, thereby further restricting Hong Kong’s electoral freedom and democratic representation; Whereas, on May 6, 2021, a Hong Kong judge sentenced several Hong Kong pro-democracy activists to between 4 and 10 months in jail for participating in the unauthorized Tiananmen Square vigil in June 2020; Whereas, on May 27, 2021, the Hong Kong Police Force officially banned the June 4 vigil for the second consecutive year, citing a ban on large gatherings in light of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic; Whereas, on May 27, 2021, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed legislation amending local election laws to bring them in line with the China’s National People’s Congress’ March 11, 2021, “Decision of the National People’s Congress on Improving the Electoral System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”; Whereas June 4, 2021, marks the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre; Whereas the Government of the PRC has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang; and Whereas the Government of the PRC continues to violate the human rights of pro-democracy activists, members of ethnic minorities, including individuals in the Tibetan regions, religious believers, human rights lawyers, citizen journalists, and labor union leaders, among many others seeking to express their political or religious views or ethnic identity in a peaceful manner: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) expresses its deepest respect for and solidarity with the families and friends of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned for participating in the pro-democracy demonstrations during the spring of 1989, and with those who have continued to suffer for their fight to publicly mourn the Tiananmen Square massacre victims; (2) reaffirms its support for those who continue to work for political reform, rule of law, and protections for human rights in China; (3) condemns the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its continued human rights abuses, including suppressing peaceful political dissent and ethnic and religious minorities; (4) calls on the Government of the People’s Republic of China to— (A) cease censoring information and discussion about the Tiananmen Square massacre; (B) invite and cooperate with a full and independent investigation into the Tiananmen Square massacre by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; (C) uphold its international legal obligations to Hong Kong under the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong ( Joint Declaration ) and cease undermining Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy; and (D) allow those participants in the Tiananmen demonstrations who fled overseas or reside outside of China after being blacklisted for their peaceful protest activity to return to China without risk of retribution; (5) calls on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the relevant authorities in the Government of the People’s Republic of China to— (A) respect and uphold the personal rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and the independence of Hong Kong’s legal system; (B) restore independent democratic representation to the people of Hong Kong in line with the One Country, Two Systems arrangement set forth in the Joint Declaration and its implementing document, the Basic Law; and (C) allow those living in exile for engaging in pro-democracy activities to return to Hong Kong without fear of detention or other repercussions; (6) calls on the United States Government and members of Congress to mark the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, including through meetings with participants of the Tiananmen Square protests who live outside of China and the families and friends of the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre based outside China; and (7) supports ongoing peaceful movements for human rights in China and of the people in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres259is/xml/BILLS-117sres259is.xml |
117-sres-260 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 260 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 8, 2021 Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mr. Merkley ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Remembering the 32nd anniversary of the violent repression of peaceful protests centered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and expressing the sense of the Senate condemning the Government of the People's Republic of China's ongoing denial of basic rights and fundamental freedoms.
Whereas, during the spring of 1989, an estimated 1,000,000 people engaged in Tiananmen Square protests and staged similar protests in over 400 Chinese cities, including among many others, students, workers, academics, journalists and government employees; Whereas the peaceful demonstrations of 1989 called upon the Government of the People’s Republic of China ( China ) to eliminate corruption, accelerate economic and political reform, and protect human rights, particularly the freedoms of expression and assembly, issues that have become more acute in United States-China relations 32 years later; Whereas, on June 4, 1989, troops of the People’s Liberation Army, at the behest of Chinese Communist Party leadership, attacked Tiananmen Square to repress demonstrators, crushing defenseless protestors with tanks and firing on them indiscriminately, killing hundreds or possibly thousands of individuals; Whereas, since June 4, 1989, the Government of China censors any mention of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, even the date it occurred, and imprisons and harasses its own citizens who attempt to discuss or peacefully commemorate Tiananmen Square protests and their violent suppression; Whereas the Tiananmen Mothers—a group in China composed of parents and family members of individuals killed on or around June 4, 1989—have annually called upon the Government of China to reveal the full truth of what transpired, and some members of this group have passed away without obtaining justice and accountability for their family members who were killed in 1989; Whereas people of mainland China and Macau are again barred this year from commemorating the lives lost and the legacy of the 1989 massacre, and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China ( Hong Kong ) is using pandemic restrictions as a pretext for denying the vigil organizers a permit to gather; Whereas the Government of China continues to view the demands of the Tiananmen protesters, including democracy, transparency, rights protections, and freedom of speech, as threats to the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party’s hold on political power; Whereas the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre is a poignant milestone, particularly as the autonomy of Hong Kong and freedoms guaranteed to the people of Hong Kong have been crushed by the Government of China's imposition of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on June 30, 2020; Whereas the people of Hong Kong have peacefully commemorated the Tiananmen massacre each year faithfully in large numbers; Whereas, starting in 2020, the Hong Kong Police Force has blocked the annual candlelight vigil to commemorate Tiananmen; Whereas Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms have been blatantly denied by the actions of the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of China, particularly over the past several years, with disqualifications of elected members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, blocking citizens from running for office, failing to address the petitions of the Hong Kong people, banning a political party advocating Hong Kong independence, failing to address excessive use of force by police, and criminalizing peaceful political activities through the use of spurious charges of subversion, collusion with a foreign country or with external elements, and secession ; Whereas reforms to Hong Kong’s legislative council ended any semblance of electoral democracy in Hong Kong by requiring the nomination of candidates by the Election Committee, which previously only elected the Chief Executive, reducing the number of directly elected seats from 35 to 20, and requires vetting by a screening committee of the patriotism of any candidate, defined as allegiance to the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of China and often interpreted as support for the Chinese Communist Party; Whereas the political turmoil in Hong Kong is the result of actions of the Government of Hong Kong and the Government of China, including the arbitrary arrests and sentencing of peaceful protesters, including well-known democracy advocates such as Joshua Wong, Martin Lee, Jimmy Lai, Lee Cheuk Yan, Margaret Ng, Albert Ho, Leung Kwok-hung, Au Nok-hin, Figo Chan, and others; Whereas, on May 6, 2021, four Hong Kong pro-democracy activists—Joshua Wong, Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen, and Jannelle Leung—were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for participating in last year’s Tiananmen Square vigil; Whereas the arbitrary arrests of Hong Kong residents for participating in peaceful rallies and vigils, which is a violation of the rights guaranteed to the residents of Hong Kong by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong, done at Beijing on December 19, 1984 (the Sino-British Declaration ), should be considered by the international community to be the arbitrary detention of political prisoners for the purposes of applying sanctions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 ( Public Law 116–76 ) and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act ( Public Law 116–149 ); Whereas China’s National People’s Congress has imposed national security legislation with respect to Hong Kong in contravention of the procedures outlined in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (the Basic Law ); Whereas that legislation has nullified the independence of Hong Kong’s judiciary and its tradition of rule of law by suspending due process and trial by jury for cases deemed issues of national security; Whereas the implementation of that legislation has effectively destroyed Hong Kong’s autonomy in direct violation of the Sino-British Declaration; Whereas the National Security Law is in direct conflict with the rights guaranteed to the people of Hong Kong by virtue of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Hong Kong is made subject by way of the Basic Law; Whereas the United States Department of State, pursuant to the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 ( Public Law 102–383 ) and the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 ( Public Law 116–76 ), determined that Hong Kong no longer manifests a high degree of autonomy distinct from mainland China; Whereas vague national security laws are used widely in mainland China to imprison or arbitrarily detain dissidents, rights defenders, civil society advocates, religious leaders and adherents, former party members, and persons from ethnic groups whose religious freedom, linguistic rights, and political expression are heavily restricted by Chinese authorities; Whereas human rights, democracy, and religious freedom advocates continue to be imprisoned, arbitrarily detained, disappeared and held incommunicado in undisclosed locations, and abducted across international borders under vague national security laws and other criminal charges in mainland China, including Gao Zhisheng, Gui Minhai, Xing Wangli, Jiang Tianyong, Wu Gan, Qin Yongmin, Zhou Shifeng, Yu Wensheng, Wang Yi, and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died in state custody nearly four years ago; Whereas the Chinese Communist Party and the Government of China used the tools of state power to silence whistleblowers at the onset of the COVID–19 pandemic, including doctors such as the late Li Wenliang, journalists, lawyers, scientists, and concerned citizens, and has subsequently imprisoned some of these individuals, including Zhang Zhan, who was sentenced to four years in prison on account of her whistleblowing activity, and Chen Zhaozhi, who has been detained for over a year on account of COVID–19 related social media posts; Whereas the United States Congress, particularly in recent years, has passed numerous measures articulating the longstanding and bipartisan commitment to human rights in China, including— (1) the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–328 ; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note); (2) the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2017 ( Public Law 115–198 ); (3) the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–330 ); (4) the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 ( Public Law 116–76 ); (5) the Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2019 (Public 116–149); (6) the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act (Public 116–145); and (7) the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 ( Public Law 116–260 ); Whereas, on this day, we stand in solidarity with Chinese human rights lawyers, labor and free speech advocates, Christians and other religious groups, and those distinct ethnic groups who face persecution, such as Tibetans, who continue to face severe restrictions and a concerted state effort to erase Tibetan Buddhism, the Tibetan language, and Tibetan traditional culture; Whereas, on this day, we condemn the ongoing campaign of genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the Chinese Communist Party and the Government of China against Uyghurs as well as other Muslim ethnic groups who live in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, more than 1,000,000 of whom have been forced into mass internment camps, suffering a range of human rights abuses including being tortured, sexually assaulted, forced to renounce their religion and pledge allegiance to the Government of China, coerced into state-run programs of forced labor, separated from their families, and forced to undergo abortion and sterilization procedures; and Whereas, on this day, we remember the words of the late Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo, who said there is no force that can put an end to the human quest for freedom, and China will in the end become a nation ruled by law, where human rights reign supreme : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commemorates the Tiananmen protests and their violent suppression until such time as citizens of China are able to do so freely and publicly everywhere across their country; (2) expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, imprisoned, or exiled for their participation in the pro-democracy demonstrations during the spring of 1989; (3) calls on the Government of China to allow those Tiananmen demonstration participants currently living in exile in the United States and other countries to return to China without risk of repercussions or retribution to themselves, their families, or their allies; (4) condemns the use of violence, torture, harassment, and arbitrary detention as a means to repress the legitimate aspirations of the people of China to speak and associate freely, including to petition the government and challenge the policies and ideology of the Chinese Communist Party; (5) calls on the Government of China to release all prisoners of conscience, including prisoners detained because of their participation in Tiananmen Square commemorations or actions calling for the type of political reforms and rights protections pursued by those who gathered in Tiananmen Square in 1989 and including over one million Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; (6) condemns the forced imposition of national security legislation with respect to Hong Kong; (7) calls upon the President to continue to use existing authorities to hold accountable Hong Kong officials, including Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and Government of China officials for crushing Hong Kong’s autonomy and guaranteed rights; and (8) calls upon the President to build an international coalition to demand that the Government of China adhere to its international agreements and human rights obligations. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres260is/xml/BILLS-117sres260is.xml |
117-sres-261 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 261 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 8, 2021 Mr. Brown (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Smith , Mr. King , Mr. Markey , Mr. Carper , Ms. Cantwell , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Reed , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Murphy , Ms. Warren , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Manchin , Mr. Schumer , Ms. Hirono , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Booker , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Sanders , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Kaine , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Padilla , Ms. Rosen , Ms. Hassan , Ms. Klobuchar , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Warnock , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Warner , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Casey , Mr. Coons , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Luján , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Hickenlooper , Mr. Tester , Mr. Ossoff , Mr. Peters , Ms. Sinema , and Mr. Schatz ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing June 2021 as LGBTQ Pride Month .
Whereas individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this preamble as LGBTQ ) include individuals from— (1) all States, territories, and the District of Columbia; and (2) all faiths, races, national origins, socioeconomic statuses, disability statuses, education levels, and political beliefs; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States have made, and continue to make, vital contributions to the United States and to the world in every aspect, including in the fields of education, law, health, business, science, research, economic development, architecture, fashion, sports, government, music, film, politics, technology, literature, and civil rights; Whereas the coronavirus disease 2019 (referred to in this preamble as COVID–19 ) pandemic compounds the systemic inequality that LGBTQ individuals face in the healthcare, employment, and housing systems in the United States, leading to a disparate impact on LGBTQ individuals; Whereas the persistent failure of Federal and State officials to collect full and accurate data on sexual orientation and gender identity, particularly in the current COVID–19 pandemic, causes tremendous harm to LGBTQ individuals in the United States, who remain largely invisible to the government entities entrusted with ensuring their health, safety, and well-being; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States serve on the front lines during the COVID–19 pandemic as doctors, nurses, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders in all States and the District of Columbia; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States serve, and have served, the United States Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Marines honorably and with distinction and bravery; Whereas a decades-long Federal policy, known as the Lavender Scare , threatened and intimidated Federal public servants from employment due to their sexual orientation, alleging LGBTQ individuals posed a threat to national security, preventing many more from entering the workforce; Whereas an estimated number of more than 100,000 brave service members were discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States between the beginning of World War II and 2011 because of their sexual orientation, including the discharge of more than 13,000 service members under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in place between 1994 and 2011; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States serve, and have served, in positions in the Federal Government and State and local governments, including as members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries, Governors, mayors, and city council members; Whereas the demonstrators who protested on June 28, 1969, following a law enforcement raid of the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ club in New York City, are pioneers of the LGBTQ movement for equality; Whereas, throughout much of the history of the United States, same-sex relationships were criminalized in many States, and many LGBTQ individuals in the United States were forced to hide their LGBTQ identities while living in secrecy and fear; Whereas, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry and acknowledged that [n]o union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family ; Whereas Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (referred to in this preamble as AIDS ) has disproportionately impacted LGBTQ individuals in the United States, due in part to a lack of funding and research devoted to finding effective treatment for AIDS and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (referred to in this preamble as HIV ) during the early stages of the HIV and AIDS epidemic; Whereas gay and bisexual men and transgender women of color have a higher risk of contracting HIV; Whereas the LGBTQ community has maintained its unwavering commitment to ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States face disparities in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and many other areas central to the pursuit of happiness in the United States; Whereas 28 States have no explicit ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, housing, or public accommodations, and 34 States have no explicit ban on discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in education; Whereas LGBTQ youth are at increased risk of— (1) suicide; (2) homelessness; (3) becoming victims of bullying, violence, or human trafficking; and (4) developing mental health illnesses, including anxiety and depression; Whereas only 13 States and the District of Columbia have explicit policies in place to protect foster youth from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity; Whereas LGBTQ youth of color are overrepresented in child welfare and juvenile justice systems; Whereas the LGBTQ community has faced discrimination, inequality, and violence throughout the history of the United States; Whereas State legislatures across the country have introduced and passed harmful legislation directly targeting LGBTQ youth, particularly transgender youth, and their ability to participate in athletic activities and obtain access to healthcare; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States, in particular transgender individuals, face a disproportionately high risk of becoming victims of violent hate crimes; Whereas members of the LGBTQ community have been targeted in acts of mass violence, including— (1) the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, where 49 people were killed; and (2) the arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 24, 1973, where 32 people died; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States face persecution, violence, and death in many parts of the world, including State-sponsored violence; Whereas in the several years preceding 2019, hundreds of LGBTQ individuals around the world were arrested and, in some cases, tortured or even executed because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in countries and territories such as Chechnya, Egypt, Indonesia, and Tanzania; Whereas, in May 2019, Taiwan became the first place in Asia to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples; Whereas, since June 2019, Ecuador, Northern Ireland, and Costa Rica have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples, the most recent country-wide extensions of those rights in the world; Whereas the LGBTQ community holds Pride festivals and marches in some of the most dangerous places in the world, despite threats of violence and arrest; Whereas, in 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (division E of Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2835) into law to protect all individuals in the United States from crimes motivated by their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States have fought for equal treatment, dignity, and respect; Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States have achieved significant milestones, ensuring that future generations of LGBTQ individuals in the United States will enjoy a more equal and just society; Whereas, despite being marginalized throughout the history of the United States, LGBTQ individuals in the United States continue to celebrate their identities, love, and contributions to the United States in various expressions of Pride; Whereas Pride is a celebration of visibility in spite of marginalization, and the LGBTQ community will continue to observe this significant cultural practice even though physical Pride celebrations may be compromised in June 2021 due to the health and safety needs of all individuals involved; Whereas, in June 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that existing civil rights laws prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community; and Whereas LGBTQ individuals in the United States remain determined to pursue full equality, respect, and inclusion for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this resolution as LGBTQ ) individuals in the United States and around the world; (2) acknowledges that LGBTQ rights are human rights that are to be protected by the laws of the United States and numerous international treaties and conventions; (3) supports efforts to ensure the equal treatment of all individuals in the United States, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity; (4) supports efforts to ensure that the United States remains a beacon of hope for the equal treatment of individuals around the world, including LGBTQ individuals; and (5) encourages the celebration of June as LGBTQ Pride Month in order to provide a lasting opportunity for all individuals in the United States— (A) to learn about the discrimination and inequality that the LGBTQ community endured, and continues to endure; and (B) to celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQ community throughout the history of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres261is/xml/BILLS-117sres261is.xml |
117-sres-262 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 262 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 8, 2021 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mr. McConnell ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION To authorize testimony, documents, and representation in United States v. Dodd .
Whereas, in the case of United States v. Dodd , Cr. No. 18–243, pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, the prosecution has requested the production of testimony, and, if necessary, documents from Laura Bowen, an employee of the Senate Post Office, a department of the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms; Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 704(a)(2) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. §§ 288b(a) and 288c(a)(2), the Senate may direct its counsel to represent current and former employees of the Senate with respect to any subpoena, order, or request for testimony or documents relating to their official responsibilities; Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may, by the judicial or administrative process, be taken from such control or possession but by permission of the Senate; and Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may promote the administration of justice, the Senate will take such action as will promote the ends of justice consistent with the privileges of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it
That Laura Bowen and any other current or former employee of the Senate Post Office from whom relevant evidence may be necessary are authorized to testify and produce documents in the case of United States v. Dodd , except concerning matters for which a privilege should be asserted. 2. The Senate Legal Counsel is authorized to represent any current or former employee of the Senate Post Office in connection with the production of evidence authorized in section one of this resolution. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres262ats/xml/BILLS-117sres262ats.xml |
117-sres-263 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 263 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 8, 2021 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mr. McConnell ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION To authorize testimony, documents, and representation in United States v. Taylor .
Whereas, in the case of United States v. Taylor , Cr. No. 21–6, pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, the prosecution has requested the production of testimony and, if necessary, documents from Nicole Meservey, an employee of the office of Senator Mark Warner; Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 704(a)(2) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. §§ 288b(a) and 288c(a)(2), the Senate may direct its counsel to represent current and former employees of the Senate with respect to any subpoena, order, or request for testimony or documents relating to their official responsibilities; Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may, by the judicial or administrative process, be taken from such control or possession but by permission of the Senate; and Whereas, when it appears that evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may promote the administration of justice, the Senate will take such action as will promote the ends of justice consistent with the privileges of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it
That Nicole Meservey, an employee of the office of Senator Mark Warner, and any other current or former employee of the Senator's office from whom relevant evidence may be necessary, are authorized to testify and produce documents in the case of United States v. Taylor , except concerning matters for which a privilege should be asserted. 2. The Senate Legal Counsel is authorized to represent Senator Warner and any current or former employees of his office in connection with the production of evidence authorized in section one of this resolution. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres263ats/xml/BILLS-117sres263ats.xml |
117-sres-264 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 264 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 9, 2021 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Ms. Lummis , Mr. Braun , Mr. Cramer , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , and Mr. Tillis ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of protecting freedom of speech, thought, and expression.
Whereas freedom of speech is one of the most basic values of the United States; Whereas the ability of all people of the United States to speak, protest, and express their opinions publicly is central to the democratic process and to a free society; Whereas the principles of the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression are under attack by people with the desire and means to suppress opinions that those people regard as offensive or contrary to prevailing dogmas; Whereas efforts to stifle debate and silence dissenters are compounded by cancel culture, a movement to impose severe social and economic sanctions on those who express unpopular opinions; Whereas the freedom of speech should not be dictated by the majority, nor should it be restricted to the freedom to discuss uncontroversial topics; Whereas the freedom of speech includes the freedom to express views that are unpopular, controversial, and even offensive; Whereas these attacks on the freedom of speech have resulted in a chilling effect on free expression and created fear of social, economic, and deadly retaliation; Whereas the stifling of free expression and the resulting fear has exacerbated social tensions and divided the people of the United States; Whereas, in January 2018, a student at Liberty High School in Oregon was suspended for wearing a shirt that supported President Donald Trump; Whereas, in January 2018, authorities from the People’s Republic of China pressured Marriot International to fire an employee for using the company’s social media account to like a Twitter post from a Tibetan separatist group; Whereas, in July 2018, the People’s Republic of China pressured airline companies from the United States to alter their websites to recognize the country’s claim to the island of Taiwan; Whereas, in October 2019, Blizzard Entertainment temporarily banned Ng Wai Chung from their esports tournament for wearing a mask supporting protests in Hong Kong; Whereas, in October 2019, Blizzard Entertainment temporarily banned an American University esports team from their competition for displaying a sign critical of the company and supporting protests in Hong Kong; Whereas, in October 2019, authorities in the People’s Republic of China pressured Daryl Morey, the general manager of the Houston Rockets basketball team, to apologize for expressing support on Twitter for protests in Hong Kong; Whereas, in September 2020, the University of Southern California placed Professor Greg Patton on leave after explaining a word in the Mandarin language that is pronounced similarly to an offensive word in English during his lecture; Whereas, in December 2020, opinion editor Adam Rubenstein resigned from the New York Times 6 months after he faced backlash from the staff of the New York Times for editing an opinion piece by Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas; and Whereas, in February 2021, Lucasfilm fired actress Gina Carano after she authored a social media post calling on people not to hate their neighbors for their political views: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate recognizes that freedom of expression and freedom of speech are sacred ideals of the United States and should protect the freedom to peacefully express thoughts and opinions without fear. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres264is/xml/BILLS-117sres264is.xml |
117-sres-265 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 265 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 9, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the memory of the victims of the heinous attack at the Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016.
Whereas, on June 12, 2016, a gunman inspired by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria targeted the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where he killed 49 innocent victims and wounded dozens more in a despicable attack; Whereas the attack at the Pulse nightclub was an attack on the LGBTQ community, the Hispanic community, the City of Orlando, the State of Florida, and the United States; Whereas the Orlando community continues to mourn the tragic loss of life, but has demonstrated remarkable strength, unity, and resilience in the aftermath of the horrendous event; Whereas June 12 is designated as Pulse Remembrance Day in the State of Florida to honor the victims and survivors of the senseless attack; Whereas the people of the United States continue to pray for those affected by the tragedy; and Whereas June 12, 2021, marks 5 years since the lives of the 49 innocent victims were tragically cut short by the senseless act of terrorism: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commemorates the 49 victims killed in the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, and offers heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones, and friends of the victims; (2) honors the dozens of survivors of the attack and pledges continued resolve to stand against terrorism and hate; and (3) expresses gratitude to the brave law enforcement and emergency medical personnel who responded to the attack. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres265ats/xml/BILLS-117sres265ats.xml |
117-sres-266 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 266 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 9, 2021 Mr. Daines (for himself, Mr. Markey , and Mr. Van Hollen ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of May 2021 as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month .
Whereas more than an estimated 84,000 individuals will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in the United States in 2021, and an estimated 87,240 individuals in the United States were diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in 2020; Whereas, in the United States, brain tumors are the— (1) leading cause of death from cancer in children who are under 14 years of age and teens who are under 19 years of age; and (2) third leading cause of death from cancer in young adults who are between 20 and 39 years of age; Whereas the average 5-year survival rate for an individual in the United States following the diagnosis of a primary malignant brain tumor is only 36 percent; Whereas it is estimated that 18,600 individuals in the United States will die as a result of a malignant brain tumor in 2021; Whereas brain tumors may be malignant or benign but can be life-threatening in either case; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, approximately 700,000 individuals in the United States are living with a brain tumor; Whereas treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the fact that more than 130 types of brain tumors exist; Whereas the treatment and removal of brain tumors present significant challenges due to the uniquely complex and fragile nature of the brain; Whereas brain tumors affect the primary organ in the human body that controls not only cognitive ability, but the actions of every other organ and limb in the body, leading to brain tumors being described as a disease that affects the whole individual; Whereas brain tumor research is supported by a number of private, nonprofit research foundations and by Federal medical research institutions; Whereas basic research may fuel advancements and development of new treatments for brain tumors; Whereas obstacles to the development of new treatments for brain tumors remain, and there are limited strategies for the screening or early detection of brain tumors; Whereas, despite the high number of individuals diagnosed with a brain tumor every year and the devastating prognoses for those individuals, only 5 drugs and 1 medical device are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat brain tumors; Whereas the mortality rates associated with brain tumors have changed little during the 30-year period preceding the date of introduction of this resolution; Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of brain tumors, including the difficulties associated with research on brain tumors and the opportunities for advances in brain tumor research and treatment; and Whereas May 2021, during which brain tumor advocates nationwide unite in awareness, outreach, and advocacy activities, is an appropriate month to recognize as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of May 2021 as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month ; (2) encourages increased public awareness of brain tumors to honor the individuals who have lost their lives to a brain tumor or currently live with a brain tumor diagnosis; (3) supports efforts to develop better treatments for brain tumors that will improve the quality of life and the long-term prognoses of individuals diagnosed with a brain tumor; (4) expresses its support for individuals who are battling brain tumors, as well as the families, friends, and caregivers of those individuals; and (5) urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research, which is a promising means of advancing understanding of, and treatment for, brain tumors. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres266ats/xml/BILLS-117sres266ats.xml |
117-sres-267 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 267 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 10, 2021 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Braun , and Ms. Rosen ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating June 12, 2021, as Women Veterans Appreciation Day .
Whereas, throughout every period of the history of the United States, women have proudly served the United States to secure and preserve freedom and liberty for— (1) the people of the United States; and (2) the allies of the United States; Whereas women have formally been a part of the United States Armed Forces since the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901 but have informally served the United States since the inception of the United States military; Whereas women have served the United States honorably and with valor, including— (1) as soldiers disguised as males during the American Revolution and the Civil War; (2) as nurses during World War I and World War II; and (3) as combat helicopter pilots in Afghanistan; Whereas, as of April 2020, women constitute approximately 17 percent of United States Armed Forces personnel on active duty, including— (1) 21 percent of active duty personnel in the Air Force; (2) 20 percent of active duty personnel in the Navy; (3) 15 percent of active duty personnel in the Army; (4) 9 percent of active duty personnel in the Marine Corps; and (5) 15 percent of active duty personnel in the Coast Guard; Whereas, as of April 2020, women constitute nearly 21 percent of personnel in the National Guard and Reserves; Whereas, as of April 2020, women comprise nearly 25 percent of the personnel in the National Guard and Reserves activated to support COVID–19 response efforts; Whereas, in 2020— (1) the population of women veterans reached 2,000,000, which represents an exponential increase from 713,000 women veterans in 1980; and (2) women veterans constitute more than 10 percent of the total veteran population; Whereas an estimated 1 in 4 women veterans enrolled in the healthcare system of the Department of Veterans Affairs report having experienced military sexual trauma (MST) during their military service; Whereas the United States is proud of, and appreciates, the service of all women veterans who have demonstrated great skill, sacrifice, and commitment to defending the principles upon which the United States was founded and which the United States continues to uphold; Whereas women veterans have unique stories and should be encouraged to share their recollections through the Veterans History Project, which has worked since 2000 to collect and share the personal accounts of wartime veterans in the United States; and Whereas, by designating June 12, 2021, as Women Veterans Appreciation Day , the Senate can— (1) highlight the growing presence of women in the Armed Forces and the National Guard; and (2) pay respect to women veterans for their dutiful military service: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate designates June 12, 2021, as Women Veterans Appreciation Day to recognize the service and sacrifices of women veterans who have served valiantly on behalf of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres267is/xml/BILLS-117sres267is.xml |
117-sres-268 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 268 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 14, 2021 Mr. Marshall (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Cornyn , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Crapo , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Risch , Mr. King , Mr. Grassley , Ms. Smith , Mr. Braun , Mr. Luján , Ms. Collins , and Ms. Klobuchar ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry June 24, 2021 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of June 2021 as National Dairy Month to recognize the important role dairy plays in a healthy diet and the exceptional work of dairy producers in being stewards of the land and livestock.
Whereas the United States dairy industry serves as a key driver in the national food system and supports the people of the United States both nutritionally and economically; Whereas the 2020–2025 United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans finds that healthy dietary patterns feature dairy products, as such products provide essential nutrients which keep the people of the United States healthy and serve as a leading source of— (1) calcium, which helps maintain strong bones and aids in heart function; and (2) vitamin D, which aids in calcium absorption; Whereas the 2020–2025 United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans finds that some products sold as “milks” made from plants may be consumed as a source of calcium, but most plant products are not nutritionally similar to milk from dairy cows; Whereas the 2020–2025 United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides daily recommendations for key age groups, including— (1) 3 cup-equivalents of dairy products for pre-teens, teenagers, and adults; (2) 2 1/2 cups for children 4 to 8 years of age; and (3) 2 cups for children 2 to 4 years of age; Whereas studies have shown that following these daily recommendations leads to improved bone health and reduced risk of— (1) osteoporosis, which is a condition where bones become more fragile over time and more prone to fractures; and (2) cardiovascular diseases, which are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels that lead to heart attacks and strokes and are among the leading causes of death in the United States; Whereas individuals who are lactose intolerant can choose low-lactose and lactose-free dairy products; Whereas 42 percent of individuals in the United States are below their estimated average requirement for calcium intake, and 94 percent are below such requirement for vitamin D intake; Whereas a global study of more than 136,000 adults from 21 countries found that consuming at least 2 servings of dairy products per day is associated with lower risk for heart disease, stroke, and death; Whereas the annual all-inclusive expense of providing care for osteoporotic fractures among Medicare beneficiaries was an estimated $57,000,000,000 in 2018, and is expected to increase to over $95,000,000,000 by 2040; Whereas, when broken down by individual, in the year following a fracture, all-cause health care costs exceeded $30,000, of which an average of $3,000 was paid by the patient; Whereas Congress authorized dairy products as eligible foods under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children program under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 ), which safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets; Whereas Congress authorized the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ), which helps low-income working families, low-income seniors, and people with disabilities access nutritious foods, including dairy products; Whereas the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement provided new opportunities and continued supporting the access of high-quality United States products to 2 valuable export markets; Whereas dairy production efficiently and affordably provides essential nutrients, while only contributing to 1.3 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States; Whereas, between 1944 and 2007, the United States dairy industry produced 59 percent more milk and reduced its carbon footprint by 63 percent with 79 percent fewer cows; Whereas, in 2020, the average dairy cow in the United States produced 23,777 pounds (or 44,463 cups) of milk per year, an increase of 11.5 percent from 2011; Whereas milk is produced in all 50 States on 31,657 licensed dairy farms, with California, Wisconsin, Idaho, New York, and Texas serving as the top 5 producers, producing 53 percent of the United States dairy; and Whereas the United States dairy industry directly and indirectly provides $753,000,000,000 in total economic impact to the United States and supports 3,300,000 jobs: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of June 2021 as National Dairy Month to recognize— (A) the important role dairy plays in a healthy diet; (B) the exceptional work of dairy producers in being stewards of the land and livestock; and (C) the economic impact of the United States dairy industry; and (2) encourages the people of the United States to visit with dairy producers to learn more about agriculture and the vital role dairy producers play in our global food system. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres268ats/xml/BILLS-117sres268ats.xml |
117-sres-269 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 269 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 15, 2021 Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Wicker , Ms. Rosen , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Blunt , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Brown , Mr. Burr , Mr. Carper , Mr. Casey , Mr. Cassidy , Ms. Collins , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Cruz , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Hagerty , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Hawley , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Johnson , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Lee , Mr. Markey , Mr. Menendez , Mr. Moran , Mr. Murphy , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Ossoff , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Paul , Mr. Portman , Mr. Risch , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Warner , Ms. Warren , Mr. Young , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Thune , Ms. Stabenow , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Reed , and Mr. Warnock ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating June 19, 2021, as Juneteenth Independence Day in recognition of June 19, 1865, the date on which news of the end of slavery reached the slaves in the Southwestern States.
Whereas news of the end of slavery did not reach the frontier areas of the United States, in particular the State of Texas and the other Southwestern States, until months after the conclusion of the Civil War, more than 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863; Whereas, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free; Whereas African Americans who had been slaves in the Southwest celebrated June 19, commonly known as Juneteenth Independence Day , as inspiration and encouragement for future generations; Whereas African Americans from the Southwest have continued the tradition of observing Juneteenth Independence Day for more than 150 years; Whereas Juneteenth Independence Day began as a holiday in the State of Texas and is now celebrated in 48 States and the District of Columbia as a special day of observance in recognition of the emancipation of all slaves in the United States; Whereas Juneteenth Independence Day celebrations have been held to honor African-American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures; Whereas the faith and strength of character demonstrated by former slaves and the descendants of former slaves remain an example for all people of the United States, regardless of background, religion, or race; Whereas slavery was not officially abolished until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States in December 1865; and Whereas, over the course of its history, the United States has grown into a symbol of democracy and freedom around the world: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates June 19, 2021, as Juneteenth Independence Day ; (2) recognizes the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day to the United States; (3) supports the continued nationwide celebration of Juneteenth Independence Day to provide an opportunity for the people of the United States to learn more about the past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped the United States; and (4) recognizes that the observance of the end of slavery is part of the history and heritage of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres269ats/xml/BILLS-117sres269ats.xml |
117-sres-270 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 270 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 15, 2021 Mr. Kelly (for himself and Ms. Sinema ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary June 24, 2021 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to with an amended preamble RESOLUTION Honoring the memory of the fallen heroes of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew.
Whereas the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew (referred to in this preamble as the Granite Mountain Hotshots ) was organized within the Prescott, Arizona, Fire Department; Whereas the Granite Mountain Hotshots was originally formed in 2002 as a fuels mitigation crew, but later transitioned to a hotshot crew in 2008, becoming the first municipal hotshot crew in the United States; Whereas the mission of the Granite Mountain Hotshots was to perform physically demanding fireline work in hazardous conditions, on difficult terrain, and in extreme heat; Whereas, on June 28, 2013, lightning ignited the Yarnell Hill Fire on a ridge west of the community of Yarnell, Arizona; Whereas, on June 30, 2013, 19 firefighters of the Granite Mountain Hotshots gave their lives battling the Yarnell Hill Fire in Yavapai County, Arizona, including— (1) Eric Marsh, 43, who served as the superintendent of the Granite Mountain Hotshots; (2) Jesse Steed, 36; (3) Clayton Whitted, 28; (4) Robert Caldwell, 23; (5) Travis Carter, 31; (6) Christopher MacKenzie, 30; (7) Travis Turbyfill, 27; (8) Andrew Ashcraft, 29; (9) Joe Thurston, 32; (10) Wade Parker, 22; (11) Anthony Rose, 23; (12) Garret Zuppiger, 27; (13) Scott Norris, 28; (14) Dustin DeFord, 24; (15) William Billy Warneke, 25; (16) Kevin Woyjeck, 21; (17) John Percin, Jr., 24; (18) Grant McKee, 21; and (19) Sean Misner, 26; Whereas the Yarnell Hill Fire resulted in— (1) the largest wildland firefighter loss of life in 80 years; (2) the sixth deadliest firefighter tragedy in the history of the United States; and (3) the greatest loss of life for fire services in the United States since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; Whereas, on July 9, 2013, thousands of people attended a memorial service held in Prescott Valley, Arizona, including then-Vice President Joseph R. Biden and representatives from more than 100 hotshot crews from across the United States; and Whereas the memory of each fallen firefighter is honored at the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park, which was dedicated in 2016: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors the memory of the fallen heroes of the Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew of the Prescott, Arizona, Fire Department; (2) extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the surviving families of the 19 firefighters lost in the line of duty; and (3) commends the bravery and sacrifice made by these fallen wildland firefighters in the service of their communities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres270ats/xml/BILLS-117sres270ats.xml |
117-sres-271 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 271 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 15, 2021 Mr. Cruz (for himself and Mr. Barrasso ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Affirming that the United States supports the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum and the Eastern Mediterranean gas pipeline.
Whereas, on January 14, 2019, the representatives from Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority convened in Cairo, Egypt to discuss establishing the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF); Whereas, on December 20, 2019, the United States Congress passed the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (title II of division J of Public Law 116–94 ), which states it is the policy of the United States to promote and deepen energy security cooperation and development between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel and to support the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline; Whereas, on January 2, 2020, Israel, Greece, and Cyprus signed an agreement to build an Eastern Mediterranean pipeline to connect the Eastern Mediterranean energy market to southern Europe; Whereas, on January 16, 2020, Egypt hosted a forum with representatives of Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority to finalize the framework for launching the EMGF; Whereas, on September 23, 2020, the six member states of the EMGF held a signing ceremony that formally transformed the forum into a regional intergovernmental organization based in Cairo, Egypt; Whereas, on December 16, 2020, the United Arab Emirates joined the EMGF and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the UAE will contribute to the forum’s activities to serve strategic interests and enhance cooperation and partnership between the forum countries ; Whereas, on March 1, 2021, the EMGF Statute entered into force; Whereas, on March 9, 2021, the EMGF accepted France as a member; Whereas the United States and the European Union are permanent observers of the EMGF; Whereas a vibrant regional gas market will promote prosperity and provide a sustainable path for economic development; Whereas the EMGF promotes technical and market collaboration in energy, including by ensuring a competitive price for natural gas, the development of new energy technologies, and increased cooperation on cyber security; Whereas the EMGF and the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline will provide European nations with robust energy alternatives and decrease reliance on the Russian Federation; Whereas the United States has been a steadfast supporter of the creation of the EMGF as well as the agreement between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus to support the completion of the Eastern Mediterranean pipeline; Whereas Dan Brouillette, then-United States Secretary of Energy, notes the immense benefits that natural gas will bring to the region, but to growing markets around the world ; Whereas Frank Fannon, then-United States Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, echoes that energy resources are a catalyst for cooperation ; Whereas George Lakkotrypis, then-Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus, said that U.S. support in creating an Eastern Mediterranean corridor is profound and solid ; Whereas Tarek El-Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Arab Republic of Egypt, stated, The EMGF will be acknowledged throughout history as a unique and bold endeavor, since it aspires to become an exemption to the historic norm of perceiving our current and prospective energy wealth as a motivation for conflict ; Whereas Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, stated that the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline is a pipeline for peace and cooperation between the peoples of the region ; Whereas Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Energy of the State of Israel, said the EMGF brings regional cooperation with Arab and European countries, the first of its kind in history ; Whereas Hala Zawati, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, stated, Within the Eastern Mediterranean and utilizing our gas resources and infrastructure—cooperating and working together, given all the challenges, became a must. We believe that this platform will serve to enhance dialogue between countries to reach a clear regional vision, a vision that translates into policies for a sustainable regional gas market in the Eastern Mediterranean. ; and Whereas the EMGF is part of a growing network of regional agreements and frameworks that provide the basis for long-term peace and cooperation on vital issues related to diplomatic engagement, collective security, economic growth, and energy development, including the Abraham Accords, signed on September 15, 2020, by the United States, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) celebrates the establishment of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum and congratulates the members for their success in building an international forum to advance Eastern Mediterranean energy; (2) commends the members for demonstrating a commitment to multilateral cooperation leading to mutual economic and energy security; (3) recognizes the historical significance of Jewish, Arab, and Christian peoples working together to advance prosperity and security within the region; (4) notes the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean pipeline in enhancing European energy security and decreasing reliance on Russian energy exports; and (5) calls on all states to support the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum and the Eastern Mediterranean Pipeline. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres271is/xml/BILLS-117sres271is.xml |
117-sres-272 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 272 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 16, 2021 Mr. Heinrich submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing support for health and wellness coaches.
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers chronic diseases to be the public health challenge of the 21st century ; Whereas decades of research have linked lifestyle factors, such as inactivity, poor diet, tobacco smoking, and sustained stress, with increased risk for major illnesses and death; Whereas the costs associated with the treatment of many chronic diseases are high and often preventable; Whereas a health and wellness coach is a new type of healthcare worker who serves as a supportive mentor to motivate individuals to make positive health choices and move toward specific wellness goals; Whereas health and wellness coaches support clients in achieving good health— (1) based on the goals of each client; and (2) in a manner consistent with the treatment plan recommended by a healthcare provider for the client; Whereas health and wellness coaches assist clients in making healthy lifestyle changes by encouraging them— (1) to use insight; (2) to use personal strengths and resources; (3) to set goals; (4) to create action steps; and (5) to hold themselves accountable; Whereas health and wellness coaches play a vital role in improving individual wellness that complements, and does not replace, the work of healthcare professionals; and Whereas an increasing number of studies demonstrate how health and wellness coaches help— (1) to improve individual health and wellness; and (2) to reduce healthcare costs: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate supports the efforts of the health and wellness coaches of the United States in their important work to improve the health and wellness of the people of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres272is/xml/BILLS-117sres272is.xml |
117-sres-273 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 273 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 16, 2021 Mr. Daines (for himself, Mr. Peters , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. King , Mr. Cramer , Ms. Klobuchar , and Mr. Heinrich ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating June 2021 as Great Outdoors Month .
Whereas hundreds of millions of individuals in the United States participate in outdoor recreation annually; Whereas Congress enacted the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016 ( Public Law 114–249 ; 130 Stat. 999) to assess and analyze the outdoor recreation economy of the United States and the effects attributable to the outdoor recreation economy on the overall economy of the United States; Whereas the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, updated in September 2020 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, shows that outdoor recreation generated more than $788,000,000,000 in economic output in 2019, comprising approximately 2.1 percent of the current-dollar gross domestic product; Whereas the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account shows that, in 2019, the outdoor recreation sector experienced faster growth in real gross output, compensation, and employment than the overall economy of the United States, while also providing 5,200,000 jobs across the United States; Whereas the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 ( Public Law 116–6 ; 133 Stat. 13) encouraged the Department of Commerce to continue its work with the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account; Whereas the Great American Outdoors Act provides billions of dollars over the next 5 years to help improve infrastructure on public lands and waters and expand access to outdoor recreation for all people of the United States; Whereas regular outdoor recreation is associated with economic growth, positive health outcomes, and better quality of life; Whereas many outdoor recreation businesses are small businesses, which have been heavily impacted by the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas outdoor recreation businesses are cornerstones of rural communities and outdoor recreation is part of the national heritage of the United States; and Whereas June 2021 is an appropriate month to designate as “Great Outdoors Month” to provide an opportunity to celebrate the importance of the great outdoors: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates June 2021 as Great Outdoors Month ; and (2) encourages all individuals in the United States to responsibly participate in recreation activities in the great outdoors during June 2021 and year-round. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres273ats/xml/BILLS-117sres273ats.xml |
117-sres-274 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 274 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 17, 2021 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Tester , Ms. Lummis , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Thune , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Risch , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Inhofe , and Mr. Marshall ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating July 24, 2021, as National Day of the American Cowboy .
Whereas pioneering men and women, recognized as cowboys , helped to establish the American West; Whereas the cowboy embodies honesty, integrity, courage, compassion, respect, a strong work ethic, and patriotism; Whereas the cowboy spirit exemplifies strength of character, sound family values, and good common sense; Whereas the cowboy archetype transcends ethnicity, gender, geographic boundaries, and political affiliations; Whereas the cowboy, who lives off the land and works to protect and enhance the environment, is an excellent steward of the land and its creatures; Whereas cowboy traditions have been a part of American culture for generations; Whereas the cowboy continues to be an important part of the economy through the work of many thousands of ranchers across the United States who contribute to the economic well-being of every State; Whereas millions of fans watch professional and working ranch rodeo events annually, making rodeo one of the most-watched sports in the United States; Whereas membership and participation in rodeo and other organizations that promote and encompass the livelihood of cowboys span every generation and transcend race and gender; Whereas the cowboy is a central figure in literature, film, and music and occupies a central place in the public imagination; Whereas the cowboy is an American icon; and Whereas the ongoing contributions made by cowboys and cowgirls to their communities should be recognized and encouraged: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates July 24, 2021, as National Day of the American Cowboy ; and (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres274is/xml/BILLS-117sres274is.xml |
117-sres-275 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 275 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 17, 2021 Mr. Kaine (for himself, Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Markey , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Booker , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Warner , Mr. Casey , Mr. Whitehouse , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Durbin , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Coons , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Merkley , and Mr. Cardin ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs RESOLUTION Acknowledging and apologizing for the mistreatment of, and discrimination against, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who served the United States in the Armed Forces, the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service.
Whereas the Federal Government discriminated against and terminated hundreds of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (referred to in this preamble as LGBT ) individuals who served the United States in the Armed Forces, the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service (referred to in this preamble as civilian employees ) for decades, causing untold harm to those individuals professionally, financially, socially, and medically, among other harms; Whereas Congress enacted legislation, led oversight hearings, and issued reports and public pronouncements against LGBT military service members, Foreign Service members, and civilian employees; Whereas the policy that led to the discharge and systematic screening of gay, lesbian, and bisexual military service members was codified in a 1949 decree by the newly consolidated Department of Defense, which mandated that homosexual personnel, irrespective of sex, should not be permitted to serve in any branch of the Armed Forces in any capacity and prompt separation of known homosexuals from the Armed Forces is mandatory ; Whereas the Federal Government maintained policies to drive hundreds of thousands of LGBT military service members, who honorably served the United States in uniform, including many who were fighting in wars around the world, from its military ranks; Whereas, in 1993, Congress enacted the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 ( Public Law 103–160 ; 107 Stat. 1547), which contained the so-called Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that prohibited lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service members from disclosing their sexual orientation while they served in the Armed Forces; Whereas, despite the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, LGBT military service members continued to be investigated and discharged solely on the basis of the sexual orientation of those military service members; Whereas historians have estimated that at least 100,000 military service members were forced out of the Armed Forces between World War II and 2011 simply for being LGBT, while countless others were forced to hide their identities and live in fear while serving; Whereas, although the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy was intended to allow qualified citizens to serve in the Armed Forced regardless of their sexual orientation, the policy was inherently discriminatory against LGBT military service members because it prohibited those service members from disclosing their sexual orientation; Whereas, with the enactment of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 ( 10 U.S.C. 654 note; Public Law 111–321 ), Congress joined military leaders in acknowledging that lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service members serve the United States just as bravely and well as other military service members; Whereas the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 ( 10 U.S.C. 654 note; Public Law 111–321 ) and the 2016 policy shift of the Department of Defense, which permitted transgender individuals to enlist and openly serve in the Armed Forces, has made the Armed Forces stronger and more effective; Whereas military leaders have likewise acknowledged that, in addition to lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service members, transgender service members also serve the United States just as bravely and well as other service members; Whereas, under the pressures of the Cold War, and at the instigation and lead of Congress, the Federal Government also pursued anti-LGBT policies, which resulted in tens of thousands of LGBT civilian employees being terminated; Whereas the Department of State began investigations into employees for alleged homosexual activity as early as the 1940s; Whereas following Senator Joseph McCarthy’s targeting of gay employees in the Department of State in 1950, the Senate held hearings on The Employment of Homosexuals and other Sex Perverts in the Government , which— (1) led to the issuance of a widely read report that falsely asserted that gay people posed a security risk because they could be easily blackmailed; and (2) found that gay people were unsuitable employees because one homosexual can pollute a Government office ; Whereas, in response to Senator McCarthy's allegations against gay people, the Department of State increased its persecution of lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees; Whereas more than 1,000 Department of State employees were dismissed due to their sexual orientation, and many more individuals were prevented from joining the Department of State due to discriminatory hiring practices; Whereas thousands of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals served honorably in the Department of State as Foreign Service officers, Foreign Service specialists, civil servants, and contractors, upholding the values, and advancing the interests, of the United States even as the country discriminated against them; Whereas the effort to purge gay and lesbian employees from the Federal Government was codified in 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10450 (18 Fed. Reg. 2489; relating to security requirements for Government employment), which— (1) defined perversion as a security threat; and (2) mandated that every civilian employee and contractor pass a security clearance; Whereas, over many decades, the Federal Government, led by security officials in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Civil Service Commission (referred to in this preamble as the CSC ), and nearly every other agency of the Federal Government, investigated, harassed, interrogated, and terminated thousands of lesbian, gay, and bisexual civilian employees for no other reason than the sexual orientation of those employees; Whereas these discriminatory policies by the Federal Government, the largest employer in the United States, encouraged similar efforts at the State and local level, particularly in higher education and the private sector; Whereas, in 1969, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in Norton v. Macy, 417 F.2d 1161 (1969) that— (1) homosexual conduct may never be the sole cause for dismissal of a protected civilian employee; and (2) the potential embarrassment stemming from the private conduct of a civilian employee may not affect the efficiency of the Federal civil service; Whereas, despite the decision in Norton v. Macy, the CSC continued its efforts to rid the Federal Government of gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees until 1973, when the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in Society for Individual Rights, Inc. v. Hampton, 63 F.R.D. 399 (1973) that the exclusion or discharge from Federal civil service of any lesbian, gay, or bisexual person because of prejudice was prohibited; Whereas many Federal Government agencies, including the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of State, none of which were subject to the rules of the CSC, continued to harass and seek to exclude lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals from their ranks until 1995, when President Bill Clinton issued Executive Order 12968 ( 50 U.S.C. 3161 note; relating to access to classified information), which barred the practice of denying a Federal Government security clearance solely on the basis of sexual orientation; Whereas transgender military service members, Foreign Service members, and civilian employees continued to be harassed and excluded from Federal civil service until 2014, when President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13672 (79 Fed. Reg. 42971; relating to further amendments to Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government, and Executive Order 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity), which prohibited the Federal Government and Federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; Whereas, on January 9, 2017, Secretary of State John Kerry issued a formal apology for the pattern of discrimination against LGBT Foreign Service members and civilian employees at the Department of State; Whereas, despite persecution and systematic mistreatment by the Federal Government beginning in the early 1940s though the 1990s, including what historians have labeled as the Lavender Scare , LGBT individuals have never stopped honorably serving the United States; Whereas LGBT individuals continued to make significant contributions to the United States through their work as clerks and lawyers, surgeons and nurses, Purple Heart recipients and Navy Seals, translators and air traffic controllers, engineers and astronomers, teachers and diplomats, rangers and Postal Service workers, and advisors and policy makers; Whereas other countries throughout the world, including some of the closest allies of the United States, have apologized for similarly discriminating against LGBT military service members, Foreign Service members, and civilian employees; and Whereas, in order for the United States to heal and move forward, the Federal Government must accord all LGBT individuals who were discriminated against by, wrongfully terminated by, and excluded from serving in the Armed Forces, the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service the same acknowledgment and apology: Now, therefore, be it
1. Acknowledgment The Senate— (1) acknowledges and condemns the discrimination against, wrongful termination of, and exclusion from the Federal civil service, the Foreign Service, and the Armed Forces of the thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (referred to in this section as LGBT ) individuals who were affected by the anti-LGBT policies of the Federal Government; (2) on behalf of the United States, apologizes to— (A) the affected LGBT military service members, Foreign Service members, veterans, and Federal civil service employees; and (B) the families of those service members, veterans, and Federal civil service employees; and (3) reaffirms the commitment of the Federal Government to treat all military service members, Foreign Service members, veterans, and Federal civil service employees and retirees, including LGBT individuals, with equal respect and fairness. 2. Disclaimer Nothing in this resolution— (1) authorizes or supports any claim against the United States; or (2) serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres275is/xml/BILLS-117sres275is.xml |
117-sres-276 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 276 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 17, 2021 Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mr. Scott of Florida ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the University of Florida Gators for winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Tennis Championship.
Whereas, on May 22, 2021, the University of Florida Gators Men’s Tennis Team (referred to in this preamble as the Gators ) won the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the NCAA ) Division I Men’s Tennis Championship; Whereas the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship is the first NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship the Gators have won; Whereas the Gators defeated Baylor University’s Men’s Tennis Team in the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship; Whereas this marks the 42nd national title for the University of Florida Gators Athletics programs; Whereas men’s tennis is the 15th sport in which the University of Florida has won a national title; Whereas the University of Florida is 1 of 2 programs in the Nation to win at least 1 national championship in every fully contested season since the 2008–2009 season; Whereas the championship victory clinching match was won by Ben Shelton, son of Gators Head Coach Bryan Shelton; Whereas Gators player Blaise Bicknell— (1) holds a perfect record in dual matches in his career; and (2) is the fourth player in Gators history to go undefeated in dual matches; Whereas Gators Head Coach Bryan Shelton— (1) is the fifth coach across all NCAA sports to coach a men’s and women’s national championship winning team; and (2) the first coach in NCAA history to lead a men's program and women's program to a NCAA Division I Tennis Championship; and Whereas the following entire Gator roster and coaching staff contributed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship victory: Associate Head Coach Tanner Stump, Volunteer Assistant Coach Scott Perelman, and student athletes Andy Andrade, Brian Berdusco, Blaise Bicknell, Josh Goodger, Will Grant, Lukas Greif, Johannes Ingildsen, Sam Riffice, Ben Shelton, and Duarte Vale: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the University of Florida Gators Men’s Tennis Team and the students, alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees of the University of Florida, for winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Tennis Championship; and (2) respectfully directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the President of the University of Florida, Kent Fuchs; (B) the Athletic Director of the University of Florida, Scott Stricklin; and (C) the Head Coach of the University of Florida Gators Men’s Tennis Team, Bryan Shelton. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres276ats/xml/BILLS-117sres276ats.xml |
117-sres-277 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 277 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 17, 2021 Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mrs. Hyde-Smith ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the University of Mississippi Rebels women's golf team on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's golf championship.
Whereas, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, the University of Mississippi Rebels women's golf team won the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the NCAA ) Division I women's golf championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona; Whereas, on winning the 2021 NCAA Division I women's golf championship, the University of Mississippi women's golf team became the first women's team in University history to win an NCAA national championship; Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team claimed the first NCAA national championship in a team sport for the University since the football team won the 1962 NCAA Division I football championship; Whereas the appearance of the University of Mississippi women's golf team in the NCAA Division I women's golf championship was the first appearance in an NCAA national championship game for an athletics team of the University since 1995; Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team defeated the second place Oklahoma State University Cowgirls 4–1 in match play; Whereas Chiarra Tamburlini secured a 6-and-5 win, the largest margin of victory in NCAA championship match history; Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team was under the leadership of 2020 Southeastern Conference (referred to in this preamble as the SEC ) Coach of the Year Kory Henkes and Assistant Coach Zack Byrd; Whereas Coach Kory Henkes has led the University of Mississippi women's golf team to incredible success during her 6 seasons at the helm, including last season, when she led the program to 4 team tournament titles and set the record for most wins in a single season; Whereas Julia Johnson was named a first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC; Whereas Kennedy Swann was named second-team All-SEC, with the national championship bringing her career record in match play to 10–2; Whereas members of the University of Mississippi women's golf team have been honored by various awards throughout the 2020–2021 season, including the selection of Julia Johnson to represent the United States in the Arnold Palmer Cup; Whereas the University of Mississippi now boasts 26 total NCAA national championships; Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team was ranked 5th in the United States by Golfweek and the Golfstat Team Rankings; Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team, composed of Julia Johnson, Kennedy Swann, Chiarra Tamburlini, and teammates McKinley Cunningham, Ellen Hume, Ellen Hutchinson-Kay, Andrea Lignell, Macy Somoskey, and Smilla Sonderby displayed outstanding dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the 2020–2021 season; and Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team has brought great pride and honor— (1) to the University of Mississippi; (2) to loyal fans of the University of Mississippi; and (3) to the entire State of Mississippi: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the University of Mississippi women's golf team, including the athletes, coaches, faculty, students, and alumni of the University of Mississippi, on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's golf championship; (2) recognizes the University of Mississippi for its excellence as an institution of higher education; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, Dr. Glenn Boyce; (B) the Athletic Director of the University of Mississippi, Keith Carter; and (C) the head coach of the University of Mississippi women's golf team, Kory Henkes. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres277ats/xml/BILLS-117sres277ats.xml |
117-sres-278 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 278 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 17, 2021 Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Moran ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the 75th anniversary of United Spinal Association, a leading national advocacy organization that is dedicated to promoting the independence and enhancing the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and neurological disorders, including veterans, and providing support and information to their loved ones, care providers, and personal support networks.
Whereas, in 1946, a group of returning veterans from World War II in New York, New York, formed the organization now known as United Spinal Association to address the needs of paralyzed veterans; Whereas, in 1948, members of this organization advocated for and secured the first accessible housing bill in the United States (the Act of June 19, 1948 (62 Stat. 500; Public Law 80–702 )), which provided Federal funds for the building of accessible homes for paralyzed veterans; Whereas, in 1968, members of this organization advocated for the passage of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), which guarantees equal access to federally funded buildings and facilities for wheelchair users and all people of the United States with disabilities; Whereas, in 1970, James J. Peters, who would later lead United Spinal Association, exposed the deplorable conditions that paralyzed Vietnam veterans faced at the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital with an article in LIFE magazine, leading the Veterans Administration to establish a national spinal cord injury service office to address the needs of paralyzed veterans and the renovation of the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital, which was later named for Peters; Whereas, in 1985, New York City settled a lawsuit initiated by United Spinal Association, agreeing to make all city buses, key subway stations and commuter rail stations, and all new transit stations accessible to wheelchair users, and New York City established a paratransit system for people unable to use mass transit, leading to a model that would be incorporated as part of the transportation provisions of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); Whereas, regardless of a person’s level of abilities, United Spinal Association seeks to build an inclusive world that— (1) removes barriers, particularly for wheelchair users; (2) embraces the talents of all people with disabilities to achieve their full potential; and (3) provides people with disabilities equal opportunities to pursue their interests and dreams; Whereas United Spinal Association continues to support and advocate on behalf of more than 2,000,000 people in the United States living with spinal cord injuries or neurological disorders, as well as veterans, through— (1) proven programs and services, and nurturing innovative self-reliance, advocacy, and leadership; (2) empowering its members, their loved ones, care providers, and stakeholders with resources, one-on-one assistance, and peer support; (3) promoting independence through employment opportunities and inclusion into mainstream society; and (4) advocating for greater disability rights, including access to health care, rehabilitation, mobility equipment, transportation, community services, and the built environment; and Whereas the legacy of James J. Peters, who once described the straightforward strategy in advocating for people in the United States with disabilities as simply refusing to accept no for an answer, is alive and well throughout United Spinal Association: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes that throughout 75 years of service, United Spinal Association has made significant contributions to the lives of people in the United States with disabilities, including veterans; (2) honors United Spinal Association for its continued role in supporting and advocating for people with spinal cord injuries and neurological disorders, as well as all veterans; and (3) commemorates 2021 as the 75th anniversary of the founding of United Spinal Association. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres278ats/xml/BILLS-117sres278ats.xml |
117-sres-279 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 279 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 17, 2021 Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Cassidy ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating June 21, 2021 through June 25, 2021, as National Cybersecurity Education Week .
Whereas, according to a 2017 projection, the United States will face a shortage of 1,800,000 cybersecurity workers by 2022; Whereas recent cyberattacks on the United States have highlighted the cybersecurity workforce shortage in the United States that— (1) poses a threat to the national security of the United States; (2) jeopardizes the economy of the United States; (3) puts the digital privacy of the United States at risk; and (4) threatens the critical infrastructure of the United States; Whereas expanding cybersecurity education opportunities is important to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage and prepare the United States for ongoing and future national security threats; Whereas cybersecurity education can provide learning and career opportunities for kindergarten through grade 12 students across the United States, as well as bolster the capacity of the domestic workforce to defend the United Sates and secure the economy of the United States; Whereas, in 2020, introduced as part of the Providing Resources for Ongoing Training and Education in Cyber Technologies Act of 2020 and enacted as part of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( Public Law 116–283 ), Congress authorized the Cybersecurity Education Training Assistance Program, a Department of Homeland Security initiative to provide cybersecurity career awareness, curricular resources, and professional development to elementary and secondary schools; and Whereas ensuring access to cybersecurity education for all students in the United States regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or geographic location will expand opportunities for good-paying jobs in high-demand fields: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates June 21, 2021 through June 25, 2021, as National Cybersecurity Education Week ; (2) encourages the people of the United States to acknowledge the importance of cybersecurity education; (3) encourages educational and training institutions to increase the understanding and awareness of cybersecurity education at such institutions; and (4) commits to— (A) raising awareness about cybersecurity education; and (B) taking legislative actions to address cybersecurity education expansion and address the cybersecurity workforce shortage. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres279is/xml/BILLS-117sres279is.xml |
117-sres-280 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 280 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 17, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Cruz ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Supporting a stable Colombia and opposing any threat to democracy in Colombia.
Whereas Colombia is among the oldest standing democracies in Latin America; Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with Colombia in 1822; Whereas Colombia is a constitutional republic where the people of Colombia hold the power and elect representatives to exercise that power; Whereas, after many years of violence and armed conflict, in 2021 Colombia is the strongest ally to the United States in Latin America; Whereas, with the support of the United States, Colombia has transformed itself between 2001 and 2021 from a volatile and near-failed state into a rich democracy with a growing free market economy; Whereas May 15, 2022, will mark the 10-year anniversary of the entry into force of the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, which has supported economic growth and employment opportunities in both Colombia and the United States; Whereas the United States maintains support for Colombia in response to the COVID–19 pandemic, including provision of excess vaccine doses to help revitalize the economy of Colombia; Whereas presidential and legislative elections were held in Colombia in 2018, and the people of Colombia elected Iván Duque Márquez president in a second round of elections that impartial international observers considered free and fair and the most peaceful in decades; Whereas the United States and Colombia share a commitment to promoting security, prosperity, human rights, and democracy in Colombia and across the Western Hemisphere; Whereas, in recent years, the Government of Colombia has taken courageous steps to enforce the law, stop drug traffickers, and rein in foreign terrorist organizations like the National Liberation Army (referred to in this preamble as the ELN ) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (referred to in this preamble as the FARC ); Whereas the United States continues to support the efforts of the Government of Colombia for peace, including protection of vulnerable populations such as Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, support for human rights defenders, provision of greater educational opportunities, increases in public and private investments, especially in rural areas, and respect for human rights and the rule of law; Whereas the United States maintains a strong commitment to cooperating with the Government of Colombia to investigate, arrest, and prosecute members of transnational criminal organizations and to dismantle terrorist groups like the ELN, the FARC, and Hezbollah, whose illicit activities, specifically narcotrafficking, devastate the citizens of Colombia and Latin America; Whereas, since 2016, the United States has provided more than $1,000,000,000 in direct and indirect support to peace implementation in Colombia; Whereas Colombia is an essential partner of the United States in continuing efforts to support the courageous people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom, democracy, and economic prosperity against the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro by generously hosting and providing aid to nearly 1,800,000 citizens of Venezuela as of June 2021 and by providing them essential services such as healthcare and education; Whereas, in February 2021, President Duque issued temporary protective status with work authorization to citizens of Venezuela living in Colombia; Whereas the leadership of the Government of Colombia during the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has been critical in organizing regional support for Interim President Juan Guaidó, as well as in denouncing the dictatorship of Maduro and helping implement policies to isolate his narcoterrorist regime, specifically through the Lima Group and the Organization of American States; Whereas the security situation in Colombia has improved significantly between 2000 and 2021, but the migrant influx from Venezuela and the economic effects of the COVID–19 pandemic have hurt the economy of Colombia, creating unique challenges for Colombia that demand action and support from strong democratic allies like the United States; Whereas freedom of speech, freedom to peacefully assemble, and other human rights are inalienable, and any acts of excess force against peaceful protesters should be condemned and investigated; and Whereas enemies of freedom, such as the communist regime of Raul Castro in Cuba and the Maduro regime in Venezuela, exploit and abuse the vulnerable and individuals simply asking for their voices to be heard by promoting violent unrest, vandalism, and destruction of property: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) declares its firm commitment to Colombia, the strongest ally of the United States in Latin America; (2) opposes any effort to undermine the democracy or sovereignty of Colombia; (3) encourages the international community to stand for democracy in Colombia and to condemn any efforts to undermine that democracy; (4) condemns any regime in any country, such as Cuba, Venezuela, or Iran, that gives aid to terrorist groups in Colombia by providing training, weapons, or funding, or by hosting those groups within the borders of the nation-state; (5) strongly condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated on June 15, 2021, and attributed to the National Liberation Army by the Duque administration, against the military base of the 30th Army Brigade of Colombia in Cúcuta, Colombia, the northeastern border city near Venezuela, where United States soldiers were present, at least 36 people were injured, and infrastructure of the military base was destroyed; (6) condemns any blockade of essential goods and services, including imports or transports of medicine or food, and strongly condemns all violence or attacks against innocent citizens of Colombia or their private property or businesses; (7) recognizes that a stable and prosperous Colombia serves United States interests in Latin America; and (8) reemphasizes the shared democratic values of Colombia and the United States through free and fair elections with the peaceful participation of all political leaders and parties, accompanied by credible local and international observers, including in the presidential elections in Colombia in 2022. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres280is/xml/BILLS-117sres280is.xml |
117-sres-281 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 281 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 22, 2021 Mrs. Murray (for herself and Mr. Burr ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and its critical role in America’s biomedical research strategy by advancing biomedical research and the mission of the National Institutes of Health, the world’s premier biomedical research agency.
Whereas Congress chartered the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (referred to in this preamble as the FNIH ) to support the mission of the National Institutes of Health (referred to in this preamble as the NIH ), which is to advance research in pursuit of fundamental knowledge that will lead to better health outcomes for all; Whereas June 26, 2021, marks 25 years since FNIH commenced its work to improve health outcomes for the people of the United States by facilitating groundbreaking research and catalyzing innovation and discovery to answer the toughest scientific questions; Whereas FNIH is recognized by Congress, NIH, and the biomedical community as a model for aligning public and private partners around a common cause that advances breakthrough biomedical discoveries and improves the quality of people's lives; Whereas, among the hundreds of programs FNIH has facilitated, the Grand Challenges in Global Health partnership, founded in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, achieved scientific breakthroughs against deadly diseases in the world’s poorest countries and elevated the role of FNIH as a leader in building alliances for biomedical research; Whereas FNIH, NIH, and the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services launched the Accelerating Medicines Partnership as a public-private collaboration to pursue new methods to develop diagnostics and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia; Whereas the FNIH created a new model for clinical trials through initiatives to fight breast cancer and lung cancer, continues to bring together partners to identify, develop, and qualify biomarkers to improve drug discovery and regulatory decision making, and recognizes and supports trailblazing researchers, some of whom have won other prestigious scientific prizes, including the Nobel Prize; Whereas FNIH supports caregivers of NIH Clinical Center patients through the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge, a temporary residence for caregivers whose close presence helps to sustain patients who volunteer for NIH research that was constructed and is maintained by the FNIH on the NIH campus; Whereas FNIH answered NIH’s call to action to address the largest pandemic in a century by launching and coordinating the Accelerating COVID–19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines ( ACTIV ) initiative in partnership with numerous government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and biopharmaceutical companies to accelerate the most promising COVID–19 vaccines and treatments; and Whereas FNIH remains an indispensable institution to the biomedical research mission of the NIH and the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and its critical role in advancing biomedical research and the mission of the National Institutes of Health, the world’s premier biomedical research agency; (2) applauds the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health for its leadership and ongoing efforts to advance human health outcomes through innovative public-private partnerships that achieve groundbreaking biomedical research results; (3) commends the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health for its efforts to address the COVID–19 pandemic through the Accelerating COVID–19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines initiative and accelerate the development of the most promising treatments and vaccines for COVID–19; and (4) reiterates that the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, is a vital and essential component of biomedical research strategy of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres281is/xml/BILLS-117sres281is.xml |
117-sres-282 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 282 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 22, 2021 Ms. Hassan (for herself, Mr. Paul , Mr. Carper , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Peters , Mr. Lankford , Ms. Sinema , Mr. Braun , Ms. Warren , Mr. Portman , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Cardin , and Mr. Romney ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing July 1, 2021, as the 100th anniversary of the Government Accountability Office and commending the service of the Government Accountability Office to Congress and the United States.
Whereas the General Accounting Office, predecessor to the Government Accountability Office (referred to in this preamble as the GAO ), opened its doors on July 1, 1921, following the enactment of the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921 ( Public Law 67–13 ; 42 Stat. 20); Whereas the need, identified by Congress following World War I, for more information and better control of expenditures made by the Federal Government was filled by the creation of the independent GAO; Whereas Congress provided the GAO with a broad mandate— (1) to investigate how Federal dollars are spent; and (2) to review all Federal expenditures; Whereas, as the size and expenditures of the Federal Government grew during the Great Depression and World War II, the GAO became overwhelmed with fiscal audits, which pushed Congress to amend the authority of the GAO to enable it to assist Federal agencies with improving their accounting and spending controls; Whereas Congress amended the authority of the GAO to expand its work beyond financial audits to performance audits to determine how Federal agencies and programs performed and met their objectives in the wake of the Great Society programs of the late 1960s; Whereas the GAO shifted its priorities in the late 1900s and early 2000s— (1) to highlight high risk areas for Federal Government waste and operation failures; and (2) to work to improve Federal financial management and budgeting; Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, the GAO is known around the world as a leader and source of objective, nonpartisan information on government operations through its work examining cost, effectiveness, and other factors related to the success of Federal programs; Whereas, in addition to its field offices across the United States, the GAO operates field offices around the world to make it easier to access and monitor Federal Government operations that extend across the globe; Whereas the GAO employs approximately 3,200 people and has been recognized as being one of the top workplaces in the Federal Government for several years by its multi-disciplinary workforce, which includes analysts, auditors, lawyers, economists, scientists, actuaries, law enforcement and security personnel, healthcare experts, and education, public policy, computer science, and cybersecurity personnel, among others; Whereas the GAO averaged a $165 return on every $1 invested in the GAO between fiscal years 2016 and 2020 as a result of Federal agencies and Congress acting on recommendations made by the GAO; Whereas the financial benefit to the Federal Government resulting from the work of the GAO totaled— (1) in fiscal year 2020, $77,600,000,000; and (2) in the past 20 years combined, over $1,200,000,000,000; and Whereas, in addition to serving as the preeminent independent government watchdog agency in the world, the GAO provides additional services, which include— (1) writing legal opinions at the request of Congress or in response to a bid protest; (2) authoring resources and standards for auditors around the world; (3) operating a hotline for the public to report waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement of government funds; and (4) providing testimony before Congress on a multitude of topics: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Government Accountability Office (referred to in this resolution as the GAO ) on July 1, 2021; (2) commends the GAO for 100 years of service to Congress and the United States as the preeminent independent government watchdog agency in the world; (3) offers its continued support to allow the GAO— (A) to fulfill its mandates as required by law; (B) to respond to requests made by Members of Congress; and (C) to aid the Federal Government in improving its stewardship of taxpayer dollars; (4) recognizes Eugene Dodaro, the Comptroller General and head of the GAO as of the date of adoption of this resolution, and the dedicated and professional staff of the GAO who work diligently to produce fact-based reports, thoughtful recommendations, and sound legal decisions; and (5) will continue to partner with the GAO in the pursuit of its mission— (A) to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities; and (B) to help improve the performance and accountability of the Federal Government for the benefit of the people of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres282ats/xml/BILLS-117sres282ats.xml |
117-sres-283 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 283 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 23, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Leahy , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Coons , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Booker , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Markey , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Warnock , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Hirono , Ms. Klobuchar , Ms. Smith , Mr. Brown , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Schatz , and Mr. Reed ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Reaffirming the importance of the United States to promoting the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons.
Whereas June 20 is observed as World Refugee Day , a global event to acknowledge the courage, resilience, and determination of individuals and families who are forced to flee their homes due to persecution; Whereas December 14, 2020, signified 70 years since the founding of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Whereas July 28, 2021, is the 70th anniversary of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, signed in Geneva on July 28, 1951, which defines the term refugee and outlines the rights of refugees and the legal obligations of states to protect them; Whereas, in 2020, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees— (1) there were more than 82,400,000 forcibly displaced people worldwide, the worst displacement crisis in recorded history, including 26,400,000 refugees, more than 48,000,000 internally displaced people, and 4,100,000 people seeking asylum; (2) on average, 1 out of every 95 people worldwide was a refugee, an internally displaced person, or a person seeking asylum; (3) 11,200,000 people were newly displaced due to recent conflict or persecution; (4) 68 percent of the world’s refugees came from Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Burma; (5) 2,600,000 Afghan refugees were displaced worldwide, making them one of the world’s largest and longest-running displaced populations; (6) more than 50 percent of the population of Syria, at least 13,500,000 people, were displaced, either across the international border or within Syria, which represents the largest displacement crisis in the world today; (7) children accounted for 30 percent of the world's population but 42 percent of all forcibly displaced people, millions of whom were unable to access basic services, including education; and (8) 86 percent of all refugees were hosted by developing nations, and less than 1 percent of vulnerable refugees in need of resettlement had the opportunity to resettle because sufficient numbers of places do not exist; Whereas refugees are major contributors to local economies and served as critical frontline health professionals and essential workers combating the COVID–19 pandemic worldwide; Whereas the United States has an obligation to provide humanitarian protection to refugees, as well as interpreters, translators, and others in Afghanistan who served alongside United States and NATO troops, diplomats, and development workers; Whereas the United States supports the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to increase protection for LGBTQI+ refugees overseas and to support global resettlement of LGBTQI+ refugees; and Whereas the United States Refugee Admissions Program, which was established over 40 years ago, is a lifesaving solution crucial to global humanitarian efforts, strengthens global security, advances United States foreign policy goals, supports regional host countries, and assists individuals and families in need: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of millions of refugees, including the education of refugee children and displaced persons, who flee war, persecution, or torture in search of peace, hope, and freedom; (2) recognizes those individuals who have risked their lives working, either individually or for nongovernmental organizations and international agencies, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide lifesaving assistance and protection for people displaced around the world; (3) underscores the importance of the United States Refugee Admissions Program as a critical tool for the United States Government to strengthen national and regional security and encourage international solidarity with host countries; (4) calls upon the Secretary of State and United States Ambassador to the United Nations to— (A) continue providing robust funding for refugee protection overseas and resettlement in the United States; (B) uphold the United States international leadership role in responding to displacement crises with humanitarian assistance, and restore its leadership role in the protection of vulnerable refugee populations that endure sexual violence, human trafficking, persecution and violence against religious minorities, forced conscription, genocide, and exploitation; (C) work in partnership with the international community to find solutions to existing conflicts and prevent new conflicts from beginning; (D) continue supporting the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to advance the work of nongovernmental organizations to protect refugees regardless of their country of origin or religious beliefs; (E) continue to alleviate pressures on frontline refugee host countries that absorb the majority of the world’s refugees through humanitarian and development support; and (F) respond to the global refugee crisis by meeting robust refugee admissions goals; and (5) reaffirms the goals of World Refugee Day and reiterates the strong commitment of the United States to protect the millions of refugees who live without material, social, or legal protections. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres283is/xml/BILLS-117sres283is.xml |
117-sres-284 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 284 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Braun (for himself and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the 125th Anniversary of the Indiana Veterans' Home.
Whereas Indiana has a proud tradition of honoring its veterans and those who serve our country; Whereas 3 out of 4 Hoosiers of eligible age served in the Civil War; Whereas 1 out of every 10 Union Army soldiers enlisted from Indiana, and only 1 State, Delaware, provided more soldiers in the Civil War based on per capita population than Indiana; Whereas the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is located in the center of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana, and when it was dedicated in 1902, the only monument taller in the United States was the Washington Monument; Whereas, in 1886, at the annual encampment of the Department of Indiana Grand Army of the Republic ( G.A.R. ) held in Indianapolis, Indiana, Department Commander David N. Foster urged the G.A.R. to establish a State soldiers' home in Indiana to care for the disabled Union Veteran Soldiers; Whereas intensive lobbying by the G.A.R. resulted in the Indiana General Assembly of 1888 resolving to found a home for veterans, and in 1890, work toward the home began; Whereas a committee was founded to find a suitable location for the home, with a member-at-large and 1 member from each congressional district, including James R. Carnahan (at large), W.H. Tucker, David N. Foster, C.J. Murphy, D.F. Spees, Andrew Fite, H.B. Martin, U.D. Cole, A.O. Marsh, C.M. Travis, W.S. Haggard, D.B. McConnell, Jacob J. Todd, and Jasper E. Lewis; Whereas, in the summer of 1892, the committee decided to formally recommend 187 wooded acres in Lafayette, Indiana, as the location of the Indiana State Soldiers’ Home (also known as the Indiana Veterans' Home ) (referred to in this preamble as the Home ); Whereas the City of Lafayette and the County of Tippecanoe agreed to donate 200 acres of ground and $5,633 for the Home; Whereas General Richard P. DeHart, a local veteran and business man, donated a 2,000 foot strip of riverfront property, which is now known as the Tecumseh Trails Park, to the Home; Whereas the committee, having secured a location, prepared a bill to be presented to the Indiana General Assembly for the establishment and maintenance of the Home; Whereas, due to lack of time, the bill failed to pass the Indiana Senate, but in 1895, the Indiana General Assembly unanimously passed a bill to create the Home and appropriated $75,000 for its buildings; Whereas, on February 23, 1895, Governor Claude Matthews signed the bill, and it became law; Whereas the Governor appointed 5 men as the first Board of Trustees of the Home to work without compensation other than their actual traveling expenses; Whereas the Indiana General Assembly appropriated $61,723.61 to be used in building an old men's home, a chapel, and an addition to the dining room, constructing sewers, furnishing the different buildings, graveling streets, roads, and sidewalks, and purchasing a pump, a dynamo, and a fire apparatus; Whereas, by 1900, numerous buildings had been erected for the use of the residents of the Home, and the applications for residence at the Home were far greater than its facilities were capable of handling; Whereas, on October 31, 1900, there were 9 State buildings, 39 county cottages, 5 cottages built by the G.A.R., 1 cottage built by the Woman’s Relief Corps of Indiana ( W.R.C. ), 1 cottage each built by the John A. Logan and Marsh B. Taylor W.R.C. of Lafayette, and 1 cottage built by the John A. Logan Circle, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic of Lafayette; Whereas, in addition to these buildings, the Home built a public restaurant, Commandant's home, Surgeon's cottage, and combination carpenter and paint shop; Whereas, in addition to the sums donated for the buildings, the W.R.C. and Ladies of the G.A.R. throughout the State gave $1,326.25 to furnish rooms and cottages in the Home; Whereas, in his written history of Tippecanoe County from 1909, General Richard P. DeHart wrote of the Home, If one ever doubted that America appreciates and cares for her defenders, a visit to this beauty spot of Indiana will convince them that not only in times of peril and war does she care for her brave soldiery, but that now after forty years have come and gone, she still seeks to show these old and infirm men that she wishes them all the peace and comfort possible to provide for them, at any cost. ; Whereas peak census was reached in the 1910s when the Home housed over 1,400 residents and another 200 staff members; Whereas the Home operated as its own little town, complete with a hospital, electric light plant, bakery, fire department, and an assembly hall with a seating capacity for 600 people; Whereas census in the 1920s had declined to the average number of residents numbering in the 1,000s; Whereas this state of affairs continued, and, by 1950, it was apparent that the Home needed a major revamping; Whereas this revamping resulted in the destruction of almost all of the original buildings, and today only 5 structures remain from the earlier years of the Home, including the Commandant’s home, the Administration Building, the Lawrie Library, the bus station, and the cemetery chapel; Whereas 9 acres of the Home's land were listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1974, including 4 original buildings—the Commandant's home, the library, the Administration Building, and the post exchange; Whereas, in addition, a collection of approximately 165 oil portraits and charcoal drawings of Civil War generals and important political figures, painted by Captain Alexander Lawrie, are housed in the library and add a major cultural dimension to the Home; Whereas, in 1974, the Home became a licensed healthcare facility; Whereas, on June 4, 1976, the Home’s name was officially changed from the Indiana State Soldiers’ Home to the Indiana Veterans’ Home, and the title of the chief administrator was changed from Commandant to Superintendent; Whereas, in 1976, the construction of Ernie Pyle Hall, MacArthur Hall, and Mitchell Hall began and continued until completion in 1982; Whereas, in 2009, the Commandant’s Row buildings were placed under the authority of the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs and the Home; Whereas census has declined over the decades as Civil War veterans passed, but the Home has averaged 200 residents annually, ranging between 120 to 265 residents from the 1970s to the present; Whereas the Home is operated by the State of Indiana to care for honorably discharged Indiana veterans and their spouses and Gold Star parents; Whereas there is no wartime service requirement in order to be eligible to apply for admission to the Home, and the Home accepts all periods of service; Whereas the Home is a full-service care facility, offering a complete array of on-site services for its residents; Whereas the Home currently boasts a small museum of historical artifacts related to various wars, as well as artifacts from the Home’s history; Whereas the Home provides quality care for veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star parents; Whereas there are currently 3,000 graves in the Home's cemetery, which serves as the final resting place for its residents and their spouses who chose internment there; and Whereas the Home has played a vital role in assisting Hoosier Veterans and their families in their time of need: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) the Indiana Veterans’ Home has been, and continues to be, an example of Hoosiers’ dedication to their veterans, especially those who served in the Civil War; (2) the Indiana Veterans’ Home, along with the other State-owned and managed war memorials throughout Indianapolis and Indiana, including the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, highlights Hoosiers’ appreciation for the service of its veterans; (3) the Indiana Veterans’ Home continues a strong tradition of providing care to Hoosier veterans at the beautiful property located in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and offering a historical glimpse into the past with its museum and the notable nearby physical locations; and (4) the Indiana Veterans’ Home should be recognized for its 125 years of care to the veterans of Indiana and their families at this beautiful and historically significant property in the State. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres284ats/xml/BILLS-117sres284ats.xml |
117-sres-285 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 285 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Booker , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Durbin , and Ms. Duckworth ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Honoring the lives and legacies of the Radium Girls .
Whereas Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium in 1898, sparking a craze for radium-infused consumer goods in the early 20th century; Whereas many entrepreneurs touted radium’s supposedly limitless curative properties, even as some scientists began to report serious health hazards associated with the element; Whereas the Radium Girls were teenaged girls and young women who, starting in 1917, worked in United States factories painting watch dials and airplane instruments using glow-in-the-dark, radium-infused paint; Whereas the early Radium Girls painted watches and instruments that United States troops relied on during World War I; Whereas the majority of the Radium Girls worked for corporations located in Orange, New Jersey, Ottawa, Illinois, and Waterbury, Connecticut; Whereas the Radium Girls primarily came from working-class backgrounds and some were first- and second-generation Americans; Whereas, in several instances, the radium corporations’ leadership knew that the element could be harmful to human health, but they did not inform the Radium Girls of the risks or implement basic safety standards; Whereas, in many cases, the radium corporations’ management encouraged the Radium Girls to keep their paintbrush tips moist and as fine as possible by putting the paint-covered brushes between their lips, a technique known as lip-pointing ; Whereas, due to lip-pointing, many of the early Radium Girls ingested extremely harmful quantities of radium; Whereas the Radium Girls breathed in radium-infused dust and touched radium-infused paint, and they often glowed by the end of the workday due to the radioactive paint on their clothes and skin; Whereas many of the Radium Girls began to experience mysterious health problems, including necrosis (rotting) of the jaw, cancer, anemia, bone fractures, and infertility; Whereas many of the Radium Girls were eventually plagued by debilitating physical pain and severe disabilities; Whereas an unknown number of the approximately 4,000 Radium Girls died prematurely or experienced the devastating health effects of radium poisoning; Whereas some physicians and dentists initially dismissed the Radium Girls’ hypothesis that their illnesses were linked to their occupations; Whereas, in some cases, the radium corporations conspired with members of the medical community to conceal the origins of the Radium Girls’ illnesses and smear their reputations; Whereas a number of the Radium Girls, in different States, fought to secure justice for themselves, their families, and their colleagues by suing the radium corporations; Whereas the Radium Girls’ difficult and prolonged legal battles and often horrific medical conditions drew national attention; Whereas some of the Radium Girls who challenged the radium corporations were shunned by their communities for harming the reputation of a prominent local employer; Whereas many of the surviving Radium Girls volunteered to participate in scientific studies on the effects of radium on the human body; Whereas investigations of the Radium Girls’ illnesses led to the creation of the new scientific field of human radiobiology; Whereas the Federal Government relied on data from the Radium Girls’ cases to develop safety standards for radium and other radioactive materials for factory workers, medical personnel, and scientists, including the workers and scientists of the Manhattan Project; Whereas some of the Radium Girls and their families received either no compensation or only meager compensation related to their harmful exposure to radium and their contributions to science; Whereas the Radium Girls’ highly publicized case was among the first in which the courts held an employer responsible for the safety and health of its workers; Whereas the Radium Girls’ struggle for justice was a turning point in the movement to protect workers’ safety and ultimately spurred Congress to enact critical occupational health reforms; and Whereas many workers in the United States today are still fighting for a safe and equitable workplace: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) honors the Radium Girls and their determination to seek justice in the face of overwhelming obstacles; (2) recognizes the invaluable contributions of the Radium Girls to developing modern workplace safety laws and standards; and (3) reaffirms the commitment of the Federal Government to protecting the health and safety of all workers in the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres285is/xml/BILLS-117sres285is.xml |
117-sres-286 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 286 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Wicker , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Cotton , and Mr. Sullivan ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Urging the Biden Administration to work with Congress to ensure that the United States military has sufficient resources.
Whereas the United States faces numerous national security threats from around the world, including from the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic Republic of Korea, and international terrorist and crime networks aided by United States enemies, such as the Republic of Cuba and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Whereas the United States is engaged in a new Cold War with the People’s Republic of China, which is— (1) building up its military to defeat the United States; (2) stealing United States intellectual property and jobs; (3) harassing neighboring Asian countries and United States allies and partners; (4) committing genocide against the Uyghurs; and (5) denying basic rights to the people of Hong Kong; Whereas the People’s Republic of China is focused on world domination through oppression and communist rule; Whereas, according to prominent research institutions, including the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Chinese Communist Party has increased its defense spending more than 700 percent during the last decade, with an additional 6.8 percent increase anticipated in the current fiscal year; Whereas security and foreign policy experts widely acknowledge that— (1) the People’s Republic of China is not forthcoming or transparent with information related to military spending; and (2) China’s military spending may be considerably higher than its reported figures; Whereas the National Defense Strategy Commission, in its report, Providing for the Common Defense: The Assessment and Recommendation of the States, recommended, in accordance with the testimony of Secretary Mattis and Chairman Dunford in 2017, that Congress increase the base defense budget at an average rate of three to five percent above inflation through the Future Years Defense Program and perhaps beyond ; Whereas, when considering the inflation crisis he has created, President Biden’s proposed defense budget would be insufficient to address— (1) new and mounting threats to United States national security and to our allies; and (2) the need for sufficient military support to deter our enemies and maintain the most lethal fighting force in the world; Whereas President Biden’s proposed budget request includes $715,000,000,000 for the Department of Defense, which is well below the funding needed to keep pace with inflation, while the President’s nondefense discretionary spending request represents an increase of almost 20 percent compared to the current fiscal year; Whereas, in the Department of Defense’s fiscal year 2021 Future Years Defense Program, the projected request for the Department of Defense in fiscal year 2022 was targeted at $722,000,000,000, which is $7,000,000,000 higher than President Biden’s actual defense budget request for fiscal year 2022; Whereas President Biden’s defense budget— (1) does not provide adequate resources to deter or defeat United States enemies; (2) does not even keep up with inflation; and (3) does not restore our military readiness that was diminished by budget cuts and the sequester under President Barack Obama, which arbitrarily reduced defense spending across the board; Whereas the lack of sufficient funding will require the Department of Defense to choose between— (1) providing for United States servicemembers’ compensation and benefits; (2) providing for United States forces’ modernization and readiness needs; and (3) any other priorities that the Biden Administration chooses to pursue; and Whereas President Biden’s level of defense spending— (1) harms the United States long-term strategic competition against the People’s Republic of China and other adversaries; and (2) weakens our standing on the global stage: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate urges the Biden Administration to work with Congress to ensure that the United States military has all the necessary resources to build and sustain the overwhelming military might that the United States expects and deserves. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres286is/xml/BILLS-117sres286is.xml |
117-sres-287 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 287 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. King ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States must continue to demonstrate leadership to achieve significant reforms to the rules of the World Trade Organization in order to promote the advancement of truly developing countries.
That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) although the United States finds value and usefulness in the World Trade Organization in fulfilling the needs of the United States and other free and open economies in the 21st century, significant reforms at the World Trade Organization are needed; and (2) the United States must continue to demonstrate leadership to achieve reforms that restore the effectiveness of the rules of the World Trade Organization for special and differential treatment to ensure those rules promote advancement for truly developing countries, rather than becoming tools for globally competitive countries, such as the People’s Republic of China, to engage in protectionism and market distortions. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres287is/xml/BILLS-117sres287is.xml |
117-sres-288 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 288 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Hoeven (for himself and Mr. Cramer ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, North Dakota.
Whereas, in late June 2011, the city of Minot, North Dakota, and surrounding communities were inundated by widespread flooding; Whereas high soil moisture content, above-average snow pack, and persistent spring and summer precipitation produced record-level flooding throughout the Souris River Basin; Whereas, in June 2011, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority informed communities downstream that “reservoirs [had] no capacity to store further inflows”; Whereas, on June 22, 2011, following continued releases from upstream reservoirs, water began to overtop levees in the city of Minot, resulting in a mandatory evacuation and the displacement of 11,000 Minot residents; Whereas nearly 11,500 acres in Ward County were covered in 2 to 15 feet of water, impacting nearly 4,800 structures; Whereas the river’s flow peaked at 27,000 cubic feet per second, resulting in almost as much water moving through Minot in June 2011 as in the entire year of 1976, which was the previous all-time annual flow record; Whereas, on June 26, 2011, the river crested at 1,561.72 feet above sea level, a Minot record; Whereas the floodwater destroyed 4,100 homes, 250 businesses, and numerous schools, parks, churches, and other public infrastructure at a cost of as much as $1,000,000,000; Whereas floodwater created national security concerns by temporarily blocking access to some intercontinental ballistic missile facilities operated by personnel at Minot Air Force Base; Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided more than 1,500 temporary housing units to address the agency’s third largest housing mission in its history to date; Whereas the people of Minot and surrounding communities demonstrated resilience and worked together to help their fellow neighbors in a time of need; Whereas Federal, State, and local officials and agencies coordinated to provide immediate recovery assistance; Whereas Congress provided hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster relief and recovery funding to assist the city of Minot and the surrounding region; Whereas the people of Minot and surrounding communities continue to deal with the effects of the flood, including efforts to construct permanent flood protection in the Minot area; and Whereas 2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, North Dakota: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, North Dakota; (2) expresses sympathy to people in the Souris River Basin and condolences to the families who lost their homes or businesses; (3) commends the resilience of the people in the Souris River Basin and their commitment to recovery and rebuilding; and (4) expresses gratitude and appreciation to State and local leaders, first responders, and the North Dakota National Guard for protecting the people of the Souris River Basin. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres288is/xml/BILLS-117sres288is.xml |
117-sres-289 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 289 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Cramer , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Rubio , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Braun , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Hoeven , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Leahy , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Cassidy , and Mrs. Blackburn ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating June 2021 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2021, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day .
Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States— (1) risk their lives to protect the freedom, health, and welfare of the people of the United States; and (2) deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; Whereas, since the events of September 11, 2001, nearly 2,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have deployed overseas and served in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq; Whereas the current generation of men and women in the Armed Forces has sustained a high rate of operational deployments, with many members of the Armed Forces serving overseas multiple times, placing those members at high risk of enduring traumatic combat stress; Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat stress can lead to severe and chronic post-traumatic stress responses, which are commonly referred to as post-traumatic stress disorder (referred to in this preamble as PTSD ) or post-traumatic stress injury; Whereas many men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before September 11, 2001, live with mental health needs from post-traumatic stress and remain at risk for responses to that stress; Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses remain unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress and the persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions; Whereas post-traumatic stress significantly increases the risk of post-traumatic stress responses, including anxiety, depression, homelessness, substance abuse, and suicide, especially if left untreated; Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that— (1) between 11 and 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom have post-traumatic stress in a given year; (2) approximately 12 percent of veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War have post-traumatic stress in a given year; and (3) approximately 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era have had post-traumatic stress in their lifetimes; Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress as a mental health disorder create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment; Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans service organizations, and the private and public medical community have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic stress and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, but many challenges remain; Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress can help eliminate stigma attached to the mental health issues of post-traumatic stress; Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to eliminate the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, including— (1) an examination of how post-traumatic stress is discussed in the United States; and (2) a recognition that post-traumatic stress is a common injury that is treatable; Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress responses can diminish complications and avert suicides; Whereas post-traumatic stress— (1) can result from any number of stressors other than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, natural disasters, or global pandemics; and (2) affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United States annually; Whereas traumatic events such as the COVID–19 pandemic could— (1) increase the number of individuals impacted by post-traumatic stress; or (2) exacerbate the responses of post-traumatic stress; Whereas the diagnosis of PTSD was first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and more accurately understand and treat survivors of physical and psychological trauma, including veterans who had endured severe traumatic combat stress; Whereas the word disorder can perpetuate the stigma associated with combat stress, so the more general term post-traumatic stress is often preferred; and Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day raises public awareness about issues relating to post-traumatic stress, reduces the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, and helps ensure that individuals suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates— (A) June 2021 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month ; and (B) June 27, 2021, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day ; (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and the entire medical community to educate members of the Armed Forces, veterans, the families of members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress; (3) supports efforts by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to foster— (A) cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress; and (B) understanding that personal interactions can save lives and advance treatment; (4) welcomes the efforts of the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Department of Veterans Affairs and local Vet Centers (as defined in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United States Code) to provide assistance to veterans who are suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress; (5) encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and women of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress; (6) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic stress on the spouses and families of members of the Armed Forces and veterans; and (7) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to— (A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (B) the Secretary of Defense. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres289is/xml/BILLS-117sres289is.xml |
117-sres-290 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 290 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Cruz (for himself, Ms. Lummis , Mr. Moran , Mr. Wicker , Ms. Collins , and Mrs. Blackburn ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Encouraging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review and update its guidance relating to mask wearing in confined places.
Whereas individuals in the United States have sacrificed immensely since the beginning of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic in March 2020, including by avoiding travel to see friends and family; Whereas science shows that individuals fully vaccinated against COVID–19 are protected against asymptomatic infection, and thus very unlikely to spread the disease; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance relating to mask wearing in confined places for fully vaccinated individuals, allowing individuals to no longer wear a mask in such instances; Whereas extending this mask guidance to allow fully vaccinated individuals to travel on public transportation networks throughout the United States, including through commercial aviation, without the need to wear a mask would be instrumental in helping the economic recovery of the United States by boosting travel and benefitting the travel and tourism industries without sacrificing public health; and Whereas allowing fully vaccinated passengers to travel, including by commercial aviation, without wearing a mask would incentivize a greater number of individuals to receive the COVID–19 vaccine: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) encourages the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review and update its guidance relating to mask wearing in confined places to clarify that individuals fully vaccinated against COVID–19 no longer need to wear a mask on public transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems; and (2) believes the Transportation Security Administration should update its mask requirements, to be consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, to permit fully vaccinated individuals to travel on all transportation networks throughout the United States without wearing a mask. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres290is/xml/BILLS-117sres290is.xml |
117-sres-291 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 291 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. Lankford ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Congratulating the University of Oklahoma Sooners softball team on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s College World Series.
Whereas, on June 10, 2021, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma Sooners softball team (referred to in this preamble as the Sooners ) won the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's College World Series; Whereas, after losing the first game in the championship series, the Sooners won 2 consecutive games to beat Florida State University; Whereas the Sooners, over the 46-year history of the University of Oklahoma softball program— (1) have won 5 Women's College World Series championships, including 3 championships in the past 5 years; and (2) have competed in 13 Women's College World Series; Whereas the 2021 national championship for the Sooners builds on the strong tradition of success for the University of Oklahoma athletics department, the teams of which have delivered 39 team national championships and 295 conference titles throughout the rich history of the department; Whereas the Sooners were the best team in the United States during the 2021 season, having never lost consecutive games all season and maintaining a perfect record in their home stadium to finish the season with 56 wins and 4 losses; Whereas, during the 2021 season, the Sooners set records for team batting average, team slugging percentage, on-base percentage, home runs, and runs scored on their way to a fifth national championship; Whereas Giselle G Juarez was named Most Outstanding Player of the Women's College World Series, throwing 218 pitches and 2 complete games to sweep the Florida State Seminoles in the final 2 games of the championship series; Whereas Jocelyn Alo was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the Jim Thorpe Oklahoma Athlete of the Year, hitting 34 home runs and maintaining a 0.475 batting average during the 2021 season; Whereas the Sooners players should be applauded for their outstanding contributions to the University of Oklahoma, to the achievement of winning a national championship, and to the sport of softball, including Rylie Boone, Kinsey Koeltzow, Grace Lyons, Shannon Saile, Taylon Snow, Paige Knight, Olivia Rains, Kinzie Hansen, Nicole Mendes, Mackenzie Donihoo, Macy McAdoo, Brooke Vestal, Nicole May, Jana Johns, Grace Green, Lynnsie Elam, Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, Raylee Pogue, Zaida Puni, Giselle Juarez, Alanna Thiede, and Jocelyn Alo; Whereas the Sooners coaches should be applauded for their outstanding leadership of the University of Oklahoma softball program and their role in guiding and mentoring young women at the University of Oklahoma, including Patty Gasso, Jennifer Rocha, JT Gasso, Erin Arevalo, Kelsey Arnold, and Sydney Romero; Whereas head coach Patty Gasso has become a distinguished coach and leader in the softball community, which is evidenced by her— (1) leading the Sooners to each of the 5 national championships in the history of the University of Oklahoma softball program; and (2) racking up more than 1,300 wins in her coaching career at the University of Oklahoma; Whereas the second game in the championship series was viewed by more than 2,600,000 people, setting a new viewership record for the Women’s College World Series; and Whereas the Sooners bring pride to the State of Oklahoma and the entire softball community: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commends the University of Oklahoma Sooners softball team on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s College World Series; (2) recognizes the excellence and dedication of all coaches, support staff, and players whose contributions led to the victory in the 2021 Women’s College World Series; (3) celebrates alongside the students and faculty of the University of Oklahoma and Sooner fans around the United States; and (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) Joseph Harroz, Jr., President of the University of Oklahoma; (B) Joseph Castiglione, Director of Athletics and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletic Programs of the University of Oklahoma; and (C) Patty Gasso, head coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners softball team. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres291is/xml/BILLS-117sres291is.xml |
117-sres-292 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 292 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. Burr ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating July 9, 2021, as “Collector Car Appreciation Day” and recognizing that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States.
Whereas many people in the United States maintain classic automobiles as a pastime and do so with great passion and as a means of individual expression; Whereas the Senate recognizes the effect that the more than 100-year history of the automobile has had on the economic progress of the United States and supports wholeheartedly all activities involved in the restoration and exhibition of classic automobiles; Whereas the collection, restoration, and preservation of automobiles is an activity shared across generations and across all segments of society; Whereas thousands of local car clubs and related businesses have been instrumental in preserving a historic part of the heritage of the United States by encouraging the restoration and exhibition of such vintage works of art; Whereas automotive restoration provides well-paying, high-skilled jobs for people in all 50 States; and Whereas automobiles have provided the inspiration for music, photography, cinema, fashion, and other artistic pursuits that have become part of the popular culture of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates July 9, 2021, as Collector Car Appreciation Day ; (2) recognizes that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States; (3) encourages the people of the United States to engage in events and commemorations of Collector Car Appreciation Day in accordance with public health guidelines; and (4) recognizes that Collector Car Appreciation Day events and commemorations create opportunities for collector car owners to educate young people about the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of the United States, including through the collection and restoration of collector cars. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres292ats/xml/BILLS-117sres292ats.xml |
117-sres-293 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 293 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Grassley , Mr. Risch , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Tillis , Ms. Hassan , and Mr. Hawley ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating June 26, 2021, as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking .
Whereas the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 269,000,000 individuals used illicit drugs worldwide in 2018, a 30 percent increase from 2009; Whereas the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 35,600,000 individuals globally suffered from substance use disorders in 2018; Whereas the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration reported that, in 2019, 35,800,000 individuals aged 12 or older used an illicit drug in the United States in the past month, and 21,600,000 individuals aged 12 or older needed substance abuse treatment in the past year; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) estimated that a record 91,862 individuals died from drug overdoses between October 2019 and October 2020; Whereas, according to the CDC, opioids are the main driver of drug overdose deaths in the United States, with synthetic opioids, such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, causing approximately 73 percent of opioid-involved overdose deaths; Whereas CDC data indicates that drug overdose deaths have increased during the coronavirus pandemic; Whereas the National Institute of Drug Abuse estimates that illicit drug use costs the United States $193,000,000,000 annually in healthcare costs, crime, and lost productivity; Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration reports that drug trafficking fuels the drug overdose epidemic in the United States and can lead to violence in communities throughout the country and the world; Whereas the Department of State reports that the illicit drug trade can undermine the rule-of-law and fuel corruption; and Whereas the United Nations General Assembly established June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking : Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) encourages access to prevention, treatment, and recovery programs for individuals with substance use disorders, including access to medication-assisted treatment; (2) commends the efforts of law enforcement agencies and officers to detect, curtail, and prevent drug trafficking and production domestically and internationally; (3) applauds the work of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges who work to connect individuals with a substance use disorder to treatment facilities; (4) supports research into treatments for substance use disorders; (5) encourages greater international cooperation to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and transnational criminal organizations involved in the illicit drug trade; (6) supports efforts to unravel financial networks that enable the illicit drug trade; (7) calls on other United Nations Member States to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking ; and (8) designates June 26, 2021, as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking . | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres293ats/xml/BILLS-117sres293ats.xml |
117-sres-294 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 294 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Ms. Cortez Masto , Ms. Warren , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Luján , and Ms. Hirono ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing the month of June as Immigrant Heritage Month , a celebration of the accomplishments and contributions immigrants and their children have made in making the United States a healthier, safer, more diverse, prosperous country, and acknowledging the importance of immigrants and their children to the future successes of the United States.
Whereas the United States is stronger when all individuals have the opportunity to live up to their full potential; Whereas about 15 percent of health care workers in the United States are immigrants, including (in order of highest percentage of health care workers who are foreign born)— (1) 29 percent of physicians; (2) 25 percent of nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides; (3) 24 percent of dentists; (4) 20 percent of pharmacists; (5) 19 percent of dental assistants; (6) 15 percent of medical assistants; (7) 15 percent of registered nurses; (8) 15 percent of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses; (9) 12 percent of dieticians and nutritionists; and (10) 12 percent of optometrists; Whereas immigrants working in a health care occupation range from those granted temporary protected status under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1254a ) or deferred action pursuant to the memorandum of the Department of Homeland Security entitled “Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children” issued on June 15, 2012, (referred to in this preamble as “DACA”) to naturalized United States citizens; Whereas more than 12 percent of such immigrants (310,000 individuals) are humanitarian migrants, including refugees, asylees, special immigrant visa holders, and Cuban and Haitian entrants; Whereas 50,000 DACA recipients perform critical roles in the health care industry; Whereas immigrants working in health care professions serve throughout the United States, and often in rural or underserved communities; Whereas the medical students, residents, and physicians who rely on DACA for their ability to practice medicine provide medical care to approximately 4,600 patients a year; Whereas immigrants have filled approximately 1/3 of physician roles in the United States each year for the 10 years prior to 2021; Whereas the Association of American Medical Colleges attested to the Supreme Court that the health care system of the United States relies on immigrant health care providers; Whereas, in response to COVID–19, immigrants are putting their own lives on the line to save lives every day, working as diagnostic and treatment practitioners, physician assistants, physicians, nurses, health aides, nursing assistants and orderlies, health care support workers, medical students and residents, and health technologists and technicians; Whereas more than 5,200,000 undocumented immigrants, including more than ½ of all DACA recipients (400,000 individuals) and the majority of Temporary Protected Status holders (more than 220,000 individuals) are considered essential critical infrastructure workers; Whereas immigrant essential workers, including first-responders, health care workers, agricultural workers and meat packers, child care providers, and hospitality and transportation workers, have heroically helped provide medical care, food, shelter, and comfort to the people of the United States impacted by COVID–19; Whereas undocumented immigrants alone contribute an estimated $228,000,000,000 of spending power annually to the United States economy, after the payment of $49,000,000,000 of combined Federal, State, and local taxes each year; Whereas the majority of farm workers in the United States are immigrants, and regardless of politics, have been deemed essential workers in order to maintain a safe food supply for the United States during the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas immigrants have served in the Armed Forces since the founding of the United States, and have fought in every major conflict in the history of the United States, including the Civil War, World Wars I and II, and conflicts in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq; Whereas immigrants have put their lives on the line to protect the ideals of the United States and democracy, as well as lives of the people of the United States, by serving as translators and interpreters for the Armed Forces, and performing sensitive and trusted activities for United States military personnel stationed with the International Security Assistance Force; Whereas immigrants who serve in emerging industries with pronounced labor shortages in the United States, such as artificial intelligence, that rely on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this preamble as STEM ) skills, not only bolster the economy but also enhance national security and global leadership; Whereas when immigrants have a trusting relationship with local law enforcement, they have reported crime and have worked with police on neighborhood crime reduction strategies; Whereas more immigrants reside in the United States than any other country in the world and represent almost every country in the world, contributing to the rich diversity in the United States of people, cultures, cuisine, literature, art, language, academia, music, media, fashion, and customs; Whereas the United States is more diverse than ever before in its history, with greater shares of immigrants from countries such as India, China (including those born in Hong Kong and Macao, but not Taiwan), the Philippines, El Salvador, Vietnam, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, and Guatemala, and an increase of 79 percent since 2000 of Black immigrants from across the African continent, the Caribbean, Jamaica, and Haiti; Whereas Black immigrants and their children make up roughly 1/5 of the overall Black population in the United States (18 percent); Whereas in response to recent civil unrest in the United States, immigrants of all backgrounds have pledged their support to fight racial injustice, hand-in-hand with Black immigrants, to fight for accountability from law enforcement and the criminal justice system and to demand that law enforcement protect people, regardless of their skin color; Whereas celebrating the racial, ethnic, linguistic, and religious differences of immigrants has resulted in a unified, patriotic, and prosperous United States; Whereas immigration has long been one of the greatest competitive advantages of the United States; Whereas immigrants of all skill levels have helped make the economy of the United States the strongest in the world, complementing existing businesses in the United States in times of need and founding successful businesses of their own; Whereas, although only accounting for 13.7 percent (nearly 45,000,000 people) of the total population of the United States, more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, which has created $4,200,000,000,000 in annual revenue and employ millions of people of the United States; Whereas 64.5 percent of immigrants aged 16 and older were employed, as opposed to 60.0 percent of native-born people of the United States; Whereas immigrants are entrepreneurial, self-starters who create their own opportunity and employment opportunities for others, with 11.8 percent of employed immigrants being self-employed compared to 8.9 percent of employed, native-born people of the United States; Whereas immigrant-owned businesses provide jobs across the United States, creating more jobs through entrepreneurial activity than they fill; Whereas immigrants are more likely to have advanced degrees than native-born people of the United States; Whereas the high-skilled immigration system of the United States has not been updated in more than 25 years and is now outdated and overburdened, putting global leadership of the United States at risk; Whereas national security experts agree that it is essential for the United States to maintain its military exceptionalism by being the leader in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cyber, quantum, robotics, directed energy, and hypersonic weapons, which are all STEM fields where immigrants fill dangerous labor shortages in the United States; Whereas due to population aging and longer life expectancy of the population in the United States requiring an increase in health care workers, immigrants are expected to fill a crucial need in the future health care of the United States, keeping the people of the United States healthy; Whereas in just 20 years, meaningful immigration policy reform could reduce the Federal deficit by approximately $1,000,000,000,000, contributing to greater economic stability and safety; Whereas over the course of the next decade, immigration policy reform would result in the creation of 3,230,000 new jobs, keeping the United States more economically sound; Whereas future population growth in the United States will require increased immigration, and by increasing immigration substantially, will keep the United States economically competitive with China and other global economies, and reduce future fiscal imbalances for popular programs like programs under the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ); and Whereas continued integration of immigrants from around the world that encourages and facilitates a pathway to citizenship, economic and social mobility, and civic engagement, will perpetuate the prosperity of the United States and reinforce the patriotism all people of the United States feel for the United States, no matter the color of skin, country of origin, or religious background of the person: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes June 2021 as Immigrant Heritage Month in honor of the contributions immigrants and their children have made to the United States throughout its history; (2) pledges to celebrate immigrant contributions to, and immigrant heritages in, each State; (3) welcomes immigrants presently in the United States and individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States to contribute to the health, safety, diversity, and prosperity of the United States by finding their place in the vibrant, multiethnic, and integrated society of the United States; (4) encourages the people of the United States to work with their immigrant neighbors and colleagues to advance the current and future well-being of the United States; and (5) commits to working with fellow Members of Congress, the executive agencies that administer immigration laws and policies, and the President to promote smart and just immigration policy for immigrants presently in the United States, their families, and individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States in the future. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres294is/xml/BILLS-117sres294is.xml |
117-sres-295 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 295 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Grassley (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating June 15, 2021, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and the month of June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month .
Whereas, in 2021, approximately 55,000,000 residents of the United States, or about 1 in every 6 individuals, have attained the age of 65; Whereas elder abuse remains a challenging problem and can come in many different forms, often manifesting as physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and social media abuse; Whereas elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation have no boundaries and cross all racial, social, class, gender, and geographic lines, according to the Elder Justice Coalition; Whereas more than 1 in 10 individuals in the United States over the age of 60 have been subjected to abuse each year, with many such victims enduring abuse in multiple forms, according to the American Journal of Public Health; Whereas most reported cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults take place within private homes, and approximately 90 percent of the perpetrators in elder financial exploitation cases are family members or other trusted individuals, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association; Whereas research suggests that elderly individuals in the United States who experience cognitive impairment, physical disabilities, or isolation are more likely to become the victims of abuse than those who do not experience cognitive impairment, physical disabilities, or isolation; Whereas other risk factors for elder abuse can include low social support, poor physical health, and experience of previous traumatic events, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse; Whereas close to half of elderly individuals who suffer from dementia will experience abuse during their lifetime, according to the Department of Justice; Whereas only a small fraction of elder abuse cases are reported to the authorities; Whereas, on June 15, 2021, which was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the United States mourned the loss of a disturbing number of older people in the United States, who perished in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities during the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas, the COVID–19 pandemic also has led to the emergence of new scams against older adults, including those related to vaccines; Whereas, there has been an increase in hate crimes committed against older, Asian Americans during the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas, Congress recently passed and the President signed 2 measures that make nearly $400,000,000 available for implementation of Elder Justice Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3a et seq.) initiatives, the largest funding stream related to such initiatives in the history of the Act; and Whereas Congress, in passing the Elder Justice Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3a et seq.), the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. ), the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act ( 34 U.S.C. 21701 et seq. ), the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 ), and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 ), recognized the importance of protecting older people of the United States against abuse and exploitation: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates June 15, 2021, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and the month of June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month ; (2) recognizes— (A) judges, lawyers, adult protective services professionals, law enforcement officers, social workers, health care providers, advocates for victims, and other professionals and agencies for their efforts to advance awareness of elder abuse; (B) the important work of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council, which has continued through the previous 2 Administrations and involves 14 different Federal agencies; (C) the essential work done by adult protective services personnel, who regularly came to the assistance of victims, investigated reports of abuse, and actively prevented future victimization of older people in the United States, especially during the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic as the social isolation of elderly individuals due to stay-at-home orders only increased the risk of abuse and neglect; and (D) the importance of supporting State long-term care ombudsman programs, which help prevent elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, where infection prevention and control deficiencies pose persistent challenges; (3) applauds the work of the Elder Justice Coalition, and its members, whose efforts to increase public awareness of elder abuse have the potential to increase the identification and reporting of this crime by the public, professionals, and victims, and can act as a catalyst to promote issue-based education and long-term prevention; and (4) encourages— (A) members of the public and professionals who work with older adults to act as catalysts to promote awareness and long-term prevention of elder abuse— (i) by reaching out to local adult protective services agencies, State long-term care ombudsman programs, and the National Center on Elder Abuse; and (ii) by learning to recognize, detect, report, and respond to elder abuse; (B) private individuals and public agencies in the United States to continue work together at the Federal, State, and local levels to combat abuse, neglect, exploitation, crime, and violence against vulnerable adults, including vulnerable older adults, particularly in light of limited resources for vital protective services; and (C) those Federal agencies with responsibility for preventing elder abuse to fully exercise such responsibilities to protect older adults, whether living in the community or in long-term care facilities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres295is/xml/BILLS-117sres295is.xml |
117-sres-296 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 296 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2021 Mr. Daines submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Remembering, as the world acknowledges the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, the countless lives the Chinese Communist Party has destroyed and the people currently living in fear of its tyrannical ambitions.
Whereas the Chinese Communist Party will observe its centenary on July 1, 2021, with a series of celebrations commemorating its history and accomplishments toward improving the standing of China as a world power; Whereas untold millions of Chinese citizens became casualties of the Chinese Communist Party's quest for power, enduring severe loss and suffering in what amounts to humanity's worst atrocities since World War II; Whereas, during the Yan'an Rectification Movement from 1942 to 1945, more than 10,000 people were killed as the Chinese Community Party attempted to attack and replace intellectuals with people who supported the Communist ideology; Whereas, during the Chinese Land Reform of 1949 to 1953, an estimated 4,700,000 landowners were murdered in order to redistribute land to peasantry; Whereas, during the Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries from 1950 to 1952, an estimated 712,000 people were executed for their political views and 1,300,000 more were sentenced to labor reform ; Whereas, during the Three-anti Campaign in 1951 and the Five-anti Campaign in 1952, Mao Zedong humiliated, terrorized, exiled, imprisoned, and killed thousands of political opponents and capitalists, weakening the economies of the major urban centers of China; Whereas, during the Sufan Movement from 1955 to 1957, the Chinese Communist Party carried out a purge of hidden counterrevolutionaries, arresting an estimated 214,000 people and executing approximately 53,000 people; Whereas, during the Anti-Rightist Campaign from 1957 to 1959, approximately 550,000 people suffered exile, imprisonment, and execution as Mao Zedong conducted a purge of rightists, credited for creating the modern one-party state of China; Whereas, during the Great Chinese Famine from 1959 to 1961, an estimated 30,000,000 people died as a result of the policy of the Chinese Communist Party, which prioritized industrialization over agriculture, remembered today as one of the greatest man-made disasters in human history; Whereas, during the Socialist Education Movement from 1963 to 1965, an estimated 5,000,000 people were persecuted and 77,560 were executed for their political beliefs; Whereas, during the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4, 1989, an estimated 10,000 protestors were arrested or killed by the People’s Liberation Army after the Chinese Communist Party declared martial law; Whereas, since the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997, the Chinese Communist Party has increasingly undermined the autonomy and judicial independence of Hong Kong, resulting in a series of deadly protests and demonstrations; Whereas, as of June 2021, an estimated 1,000,000 Uighur Muslims are subject to mass detention and torture, including electric shock, waterboarding, beatings, rape, forced sterilization, forced prostitution, stress positions, forced administration of unknown medication, cold cells, and organ harvesting in re-education camps in the Xinjiang province of China; Whereas, as of June 2021, an estimated 150,000 Tibetan Buddhists live in exile in India and Nepal, 62 years after their leader, the Dalai Lama, sought refuge from a Chinese uprising in Tibet; and Whereas, as of June 2021, the Chinese Communist Party exerts increasing political, military, economic, and social pressure on Taiwan in order to undermine its freedom and independence: Now, therefore, be it
That it is the sense of the Senate that, as the world acknowledges the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1, 2021, the Senate solemnly remembers the countless lives the Chinese Communist Party has destroyed and the people currently living in fear of its tyrannical ambitions. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres296is/xml/BILLS-117sres296is.xml |
117-sres-297 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 297 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 12, 2021 Mr. Schatz (for himself and Ms. Hirono ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing and commemorating Native Hawaiian Delegate Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole’s lifelong advocacy on behalf of Hawai‘i and the Native Hawaiian people on the 100th anniversary of his paramount congressional achievement—the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920.
Whereas Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole was born on March 26, 1871, in Kōloa, Kaua‘i in the Kingdom of Hawai‘i, the youngest of 3 sons to High Chief David Kahalepouli Pi‘ikoi and Princess Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike; Whereas, in 1883, Kūhiō was named a Prince by royal proclamation of his uncle, King Kalākaua; Whereas Prince Kūhiō attended St. Alban’s College and O‘ahu College in Honolulu, St. Matthew’s Military School in San Mateo, California—where he and his brothers were the first to introduce the sport of surfing in the United States—and the Royal Agricultural College in Gloucestershire, England; Whereas Prince Kūhiō served in the Kingdom of Hawai‘i’s Ministry of Interior and Customs, and later became a close confidant and advisor to the Kingdom of Hawai‘i’s last reigning monarch, Queen Lili‘uokalani; Whereas, on January 17, 1893, a group of armed sugar planters, descendants of missionaries, and financiers, from the United States and Europe deposed the Hawaiian monarchy, and imprisoned Queen Lili‘uokalani; Whereas a United States Minister thereafter extended diplomatic recognition to the Provisional Government, without the consent of the Native Hawaiian people or the lawful Government of Hawai‘i, and in violation of international law and the treaties between the 2 nations; Whereas, on July 4, 1894, the Provisional Government reorganized as the Republic of Hawai‘i and adopted a constitution prohibiting many Native Hawaiians and citizens of Asian descent from voting, which frustrated Prince Kūhiō; Whereas, after failing to annex Hawai‘i to the United States by treaty, the United States took the unprecedented step of annexing Hawai‘i by Joint Resolution on July 7, 1898; Whereas, on April 30, 1900, President McKinley signed the Act of April 30, 1900 (31 Stat. 141, chapter 339) (commonly known as the Hawaii Organic Act ), formally establishing Hawai‘i as a territory of the United States, even though the Native Hawaiian people never directly relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people or over their national lands to the United States, either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum; Whereas, in 1902, Prince Kūhiō won his first bid for Congress with considerable Native Hawaiian support, and continued to serve as Hawai‘i’s delegate from 1903 to 1921; Whereas, upon arriving in Washington, DC, Prince Kūhiō encountered racial prejudice and a general lack of knowledge about Hawai‘i and the Hawaiian people on the continent, including in Congress and the executive branch; Whereas the Governor of the Territory of Hawai‘i proclaimed that Prince Kūhiō engaged in the rough and tumble of public discussion and politics with a vigor, sincerity, and general spirit of good sportsmanship that established the merits of his leadership among all elements … [and] [h]e was loyal, courageous, sincere, and his personal integrity was never attacked even by inference ; Whereas Prince Kūhiō worked tirelessly to protect and perpetuate the Native Hawaiian people and their culture by re-establishing the Royal Order of Kamehameha I in 1903, founding the ‘Ahahui Pu‘uhonua O Nā Hawai‘i (Hawaiian Protective Organization) in 1914 alongside other Native Hawaiian political leaders, and helping form the Hawaiian Civic Clubs in 1918; Whereas Prince Kūhiō, as a Member of Congress, secured a $27,000,000 appropriation to improve and expand Pearl Harbor, facilitated construction of the Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse, established a Hawai‘i National Park covering land on Kīlauea, Mauna Loa, and Haleakalā, shaped the foundation for Hawai‘i’s modern government structure by instituting the county system still in place today, sponsored the first bill for Hawai‘i’s statehood in 1919, and lent his support to a territorial women’s suffrage bill; Whereas Prince Kūhiō established a homesteading program for Native Hawaiians through his historic legislative accomplishment, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 (42 Stat. 108, chapter 42); Whereas Prince Kūhiō was appointed as the first member of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, which continues to manage certain public lands, known as Hawaiian home lands, for homesteading purposes, and served the Native Hawaiian people in that role until the time of his death; and Whereas the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 (42 Stat. 108, chapter 42) amended the Act of April 30, 1900 (31 Stat. 141, chapter 339) (commonly known as the Hawaii Organic Act ) to set aside roughly 200,000 acres across the Hawaiian Islands for exclusive homesteading by eligible Native Hawaiians and continues to guide the Federal Government’s fulfillment of its trust responsibilities to Native Hawaiians as a distinct and unique indigenous people with a historical continuity to the original inhabitants of the Hawaiian archipelago: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes and commemorates Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole, a Native Hawaiian Delegate from Hawai‘i and lifelong advocate for Hawai‘i and the Native Hawaiian people, including his work to pass the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 (42 Stat. 108, chapter 42); (2) commits itself to affirming and upholding the special political and trust relationship that Congress established between the United States and the Native Hawaiian people through more than 150 separate statutes; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to celebrate Prince Kūhiō’s legacy and the 100th anniversary of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 (42 Stat. 108, chapter 42). | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres297is/xml/BILLS-117sres297is.xml |
117-sres-298 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 298 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 13, 2021 Ms. Stabenow submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating July 15, 2021, as National Leiomyosarcoma Awareness Day and the month of July 2021 as National Sarcoma Awareness Month .
Whereas sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that— (1) arises in the connective tissue of the body; and (2) accounts for approximately 1 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers; Whereas the National Institutes of Health designates sarcoma, which contains approximately 70 different subtypes, as a rare form of cancer; Whereas sarcomas are largely resistant to current chemotherapy agents, immunotherapy agents, and radiation therapies, posing a formidable challenge for researchers and specialists; Whereas sarcoma subtypes largely have not benefitted from immunotherapies because of the complexity of the DNA, genomes, and mutations associated with the many variations in the sarcoma subtype landscape; Whereas leiomyosarcoma (referred to in this preamble as LMS ) is a malignant, aggressive subtype of sarcoma derived from smooth muscle cells typically of uterine, gastrointestinal, or soft tissue origin that can metastasize to the bone, spine, brain, and liver; Whereas the National Institutes of Health classifies LMS, which encompasses at least 4 different LMS subtypes, as a rare disease, accounting for approximately 15 percent of all sarcomas; Whereas LMS primarily affects adults without regard to gender; Whereas, with respect to LMS— (1) research and clinical trials remain complicated; and (2) survival and longevity remain difficult; Whereas multidisciplinary care coordination teams, because of their expertise and experience, are critical to the health of sarcoma and LMS patients; Whereas sarcoma and LMS research will— (1) allow medical professionals to improve the quality of care for affected patients; (2) lead to better clinical outcomes; and (3) promote longer survival for patients; and Whereas increased education and awareness about sarcoma and LMS will contribute to the well-being of the communities of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates July 15, 2021, as National Leiomyosarcoma Awareness Day ; (2) designates the month of July 2021 as National Sarcoma Awareness Month ; (3) recognizes the challenges faced by sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma patients; and (4) commends the dedication of organizations, volunteers, researchers, and caregivers across the United States working to improve the quality of life of sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma patients and their families. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres298is/xml/BILLS-117sres298is.xml |
117-sres-299 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 299 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 13, 2021 Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Cotton ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Center for Toxicological Research.
Whereas, in 1971, President Richard Nixon established the National Center for Toxicological Research (referred to in this preamble as the NCTR ) in Jefferson, Arkansas, as part of the Food and Drug Administration (referred to in this preamble as the FDA )— (1) to provide scientific proof that United States consumers are protected from toxic chemicals, drugs, and other agents; and (2) when appropriate, to determine safe levels of substances in consumer goods; Whereas the FDA is responsible for— (1) regulating domestically produced and imported food, cosmetics, drugs, vaccines, blood, biologics, medical devices, radiation-emitting products, animal and veterinary products, and tobacco products; and (2) overseeing— (A) the safety of every life in the United States; and (B) more than $1,000,000,000,000 worth of consumer goods, which are estimated to include $466,000,000,000 in food sales, $275,000,000,000 in drug sales, $60,000,000,000 in cosmetic sales, and $18,000,000,000 in vitamin supplement sales; Whereas the NCTR is a research institution— (1) housed in more than 1,000,000 square feet of facilities, including 123 laboratories across 30 buildings, in Jefferson, Arkansas; (2) that has 680 employees who reside in 17 counties across the State of Arkansas; and (3) that contributes approximately $70,000,000 to the local, State, and national economies, including investments of approximately $10,000,000 annually via construction, maintenance, and renovation projects that stimulate the local economy; Whereas, in 2011, the FDA and the State of Arkansas composed a framework for a formal working relationship to foster stronger partnerships, leverage vital resources, and operate collaboratively to promote efficiency that has been continually renewed and supported by both parties; Whereas the NCTR has a long history of providing scientific advice and training to researchers in government, academia, and industry at local, State, national, and international levels, which is exemplified by— (1) training Ph.D. candidates and other researchers from universities in the State of Arkansas; (2) collaborating with university researchers throughout the State of Arkansas; and (3) providing millions of dollars in funding for university research throughout the State of Arkansas; Whereas the mutual benefits between the NCTR and the State of Arkansas can only continue if the NCTR remains robustly supported by the Federal Government; Whereas the benefits of the NCTR were heightened during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic when the Director of the NCTR, Dr. William Slikker, worked with the State of Arkansas to rapidly provide critical COVID–19 testing equipment to the Arkansas Department of Health; and Whereas the NCTR will hold a 50th anniversary celebration on August 11, 2021, in Jefferson, Arkansas: Now, therefore, be it—
That the Senate— (1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the National Center for Toxicological Research; and (2) recognizes the significance of the contributions made by the National Center for Toxicological Research and its relationship with the State of Arkansas. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres299is/xml/BILLS-117sres299is.xml |
117-sres-300 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 300 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 14, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Honoring the memories of the victims of the building collapse in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021, and the bravery and selfless service of the individuals who responded to the building collapse.
Whereas, on Thursday, June 24, 2021, portions of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside, Florida, catastrophically collapsed; Whereas, in the aftermath of the devastating collapse— (1) one of the largest rescue and recovery operations in the history of the United States commenced to locate scores of residents who were unaccounted for and believed to be in the collapsed building; (2) first responders from across the State of Florida immediately answered the call of duty, including firefighters, uniformed police officers, rescue and recovery crews, emergency medical technicians, physicians, nurses, and others rushing to save the lives of individuals trapped in the building; (3) international rescue crews and emergency support organizations from Israel and Mexico responded to the site to aid in the search and recovery efforts; (4) National Urban Search and Rescue Response System task forces from Florida, Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as emergency specialists from California, deployed to Surfside, Florida, to provide critical support; (5) numerous volunteer organizations and individuals from across the United States and around the world responded to Surfside, Florida, to support the community and provide aid, resources, and assistance to individuals in need; and (6) teams worked tirelessly around the clock to rescue survivors and recover the remains of individuals killed in the tragic collapse; Whereas the building collapse in Surfside, Florida, led to significant injuries and the heartbreaking loss of life; and Whereas this devastating building collapse has been met with an overwhelming outpouring of support from the people of the United States and people throughout the world, who continue to pray for the victims, their families, and all individuals affected by this tragedy: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commends the bravery and selfless service demonstrated by the local, State, national, and international teams of first responders deployed in the aftermath of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021; (2) commemorates the lives lost in the tragic building collapse and offers heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones, and friends of the victims; and (3) expresses sincere gratitude to the countless organizations and individuals offering resources, support, and comfort to the survivors and community in Surfside, Florida. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres300ats/xml/BILLS-117sres300ats.xml |
117-sres-301 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 301 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 14, 2021 Mr. Boozman (for himself, Mr. Cotton , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Rubio , Ms. Klobuchar , and Mr. Coons ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Program.
Whereas August 1, 2021, marks the 75th anniversary of President Harry S. Truman signing into law the Act of August 1, 1946 (60 Stat. 754, chapter 723) (commonly known as the Fulbright Act of 1946 ); Whereas the Fulbright Program was established by Senator James William Fulbright of Arkansas for the promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science ; Whereas the Fulbright Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State; Whereas the Fulbright Program provides approximately 8,000 grants annually and, as of 2021, operates in more than 160 countries, including 49 that have established cost-sharing binational commissions; Whereas approximately 1,300 institutions of higher education in the United States, both public and private, host students at home and send scholars abroad; Whereas current Fulbright students and scholars hail from all 50 States and 2 United States territories, and approximately a quarter are from minority or underrepresented populations; Whereas approximately 400,000 individuals from across the globe have benefitted from this unique opportunity; Whereas alumni of the Fulbright Program include 60 Nobel Prize laureates, 75 MacArthur Foundation fellows, 89 recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, 39 current or former heads of state or government, 16 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, 5 members of Congress, and a former Secretary General of the United Nations; Whereas, on April 21, 2016, an American elm was planted on the grounds of the United States Capitol in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Fulbright Program; and Whereas the Fulbright Program promotes United States higher education abroad and remains a valuable diplomatic tool: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Program; (2) encourages the President and the Secretary of State to work with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State to support the work of the Fulbright Program; (3) congratulates all past and present recipients of Fulbright awards; and (4) calls on students, scholars, and professionals around the world to seek out opportunities to engage with each other and promote international good will. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres301is/xml/BILLS-117sres301is.xml |
117-sres-302 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 302 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 14, 2021 Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. Durbin ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources RESOLUTION Congratulating and honoring Argonne National Laboratory on 75 years of scientific excellence.
Whereas, in 2021, Argonne National Laboratory celebrates the 75th anniversary of the date on which the Laboratory was chartered on July 1, 1946; Whereas Argonne National Laboratory accelerates science and technology by empowering pivotal discoveries, supporting innovative collaborations, and managing powerful facilities and tools, all of which help drive the prosperity and security of the United States; Whereas Argonne National Laboratory pioneered the peaceful use of nuclear energy starting in 1942, revolutionized medical diagnostic tools with the first ultrasound in 1957, designed safer energy sources, such as the Integral Fast Reactor in 1982, and drove electric vehicle development with the nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide cathode battery in 2001; Whereas Argonne National Laboratory manages for the Department of Energy 5 Office of Science user facilities and 1 Office of Nuclear Energy facility, serving approximately 6,700 researchers from across the country and around the world; Whereas development of advanced energy storage technology at Argonne National Laboratory will assist the United States in achieving the goal of a carbon-neutral economy by 2050; Whereas Argonne National Laboratory will help maintain the scientific leadership of the United States with the upgrade of the Advanced Photon Source and installation of the Aurora exascale supercomputer; Whereas research of quantum information science at Argonne National Laboratory will increase communication advancements and create new economic and national security opportunities; Whereas domestic and international industry come to Argonne National Laboratory to collaborate with its diverse, world-class community of talent on cutting-edge science and technology; Whereas over 475 students annually pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics internships at Argonne National Laboratory, contributing to the next generation of scientists and engineers for the United States; and Whereas Argonne National Laboratory has a distinguished legacy of discovery upon which it continues to build future innovations: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates and honors Argonne National Laboratory on the 75th anniversary of its charter; and (2) wishes the Argonne National Laboratory continued success in helping the people of the United States unlock new scientific and technological frontiers that secure its energy future. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres302is/xml/BILLS-117sres302is.xml |
117-sres-303 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 303 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 15, 2021 Mr. Rubio (for himself, Mr. McConnell , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Graham , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Daines , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Tillis , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Braun , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Moran , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Blunt , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Risch , Mr. Inhofe , and Mrs. Hyde-Smith ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Supporting the people of Cuba in their demands for freedom and the fulfillment of basic needs and condemning the Communist regime in Cuba.
Whereas, on July 11, 2021, thousands of people in Cuba raised their voices against socialism, tyranny, and oppression; Whereas the Cuban people, tired of living under a brutal dictatorship, peacefully protested against the Communist regime throughout Cuba, from major cities such as Havana, Santiago, and Santa Clara to small towns and villages; Whereas protesters have assembled at the headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba chanting, Cuba isn’t yours! , We are not afraid! , Freedom! , and Homeland and Life ; Whereas these protests are only the latest in the Cuban people’s long struggle for freedom, which has included— (1) the Christian Liberation Movement, which has advocated for political change in Cuba since 1987; (2) the 1994 Maleconazo uprising in Havana, during which thousands of protesters rose up against the disastrous economic policies of the Communist regime in Cuba; (3) the Varela Project, which, in 1998, proposed a law advocating for democratic political reforms within Cuba; (4) the Ladies in White movement, founded in 2003 by the wives and relatives of those imprisoned by the regime; and (5) the San Isidro Movement, which was formed by artists, journalists, and academics in 2018 to protest the restrictions imposed by the Communist regime in Cuba on the Cuban people’s right to free expression; Whereas, since 1959, the Communist regime in Cuba has repressed political and economic freedoms, including by— (1) preventing Cubans from owning private property and using property stolen from Cuban-Americans, many of whom are now United States citizens; (2) forcing Cubans employed at foreign firms to register with a state employment agency that confiscates the bulk of their earnings; and (3) restricting the access of the Cuban people to the internet by using equipment and systems produced and installed by entities controlled by the Chinese Communist Party; Whereas the Communist regime in Cuba has not acted to preserve the lives and well-being of the Cuban people during the COVID–19 pandemic and left Cubans in dire need of food, medicine, and other basic necessities; Whereas the Communist Party of Cuba has for years sought to silence those it considers its political opponents through the use of police harassment, forced detainment, and torture, including— (1) dismissing and disparaging Oswaldo Paya, founder of the Christian Liberation Movement, and obstructing a credible investigation into the questionable circumstances of his death in a car crash in 2012; (2) imprisoning 75 dissidents, journalists, and human rights advocates during the Black Spring in Cuba in 2003; (3) imprisoning Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU); (4) arresting journalist Camila Acosta in March 2021 for sharing information on Facebook; (5) detaining Ivan Hernandez Carrillo, an independent labor union leader, multiple times; (6) imprisoning journalist Roberto Quinones Haces; and (7) detaining the leaders of the San Isidro Movement, including Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, Esteban Lazaro Rodriguez Lopez, Maykel Osorbo, and many others; Whereas the Communist regime in Cuba has been responsible for numerous atrocities against those that stood up for the rights of the Cuban people, including the extrajudicial assassinations of innocent civilians and activists by firing squad and other brutal methods, such as during the Tugboat Massacre of 1994 and the shoot-down of the Brothers to the Rescue aircraft in 1996; Whereas the Communist regime in Cuba is taking steps to silence protesters and their message by shutting down internet access throughout Cuba, including by seizing and assaulting photographer Ramon Espinosa; Whereas the Communist regime in Cuba has already taken steps to violently suppress protests, including deploying heavily armed troops and tear gas to disperse protesters; Whereas hundreds of Cubans have been wounded by that use of violence by the Communist regime in Cuba, and 67 individuals have been arrested by the regime; Whereas Miguel Diaz-Canel has openly called for bloodshed to quell the protests by calling on revolutionary citizens to battl[e] in the streets ; Whereas the Communist regime in Cuba has for years resisted the efforts of the United States and its allies to bring freedom to Cuba, including by— (1) threatening the mass deportation of people in order to destabilize local government services in the United States; (2) harboring terrorists and fugitives from the United States wanted for committing violent crimes in the United States; and (3) jamming the radio broadcasts of Radio and TV Marti, which provide critical information on the outside world to the Cuban people; and Whereas, since 1959, the United States has stood steadfastly in support of the freedom of the Cuban people: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) expresses support for the people of Cuba on their courageous efforts to advance freedom and democracy in Cuba; (2) calls on Cuban security forces to respect the fundamental rights of the Cuban people to peacefully protest while raising their voices and demanding Libertad ; (3) calls on the Communist regime in Cuba to immediately release all political prisoners and calls for the end of acts of repression and arbitrary imprisonment of members of the opposition, artists, and journalists; (4) calls on the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces to refrain from physical violence and any other acts of repression against the people of Cuba; (5) urges the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean allies— (A) to express their solidarity with all the Cuban people; (B) to speak out against the repression of the freedom-loving people of Cuba; (C) to condemn acts of violence against the Cuban people by the military and security forces of Cuba; and (D) to cease cooperation with the murderous and corrupt Communist regime in Cuba; (6) urges President Biden to coordinate an international effort through— (A) calling a meeting of the United Nations Security Council; (B) engaging the European Union and the Organization of American States (OAS) to condemn the oppression of the Cuban people by the Communist regime in Cuba; and (C) leading the effort to impose multilateral sanctions on the regime and against those violating the human rights of the protesters; and (7) encourages President Biden and the Secretary of State to publicly condemn the violence, arbitrary arrests, persecution, threats, and intimidation against the people of Cuba. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres303is/xml/BILLS-117sres303is.xml |
117-sres-304 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 304 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 15, 2021 Mr. Merkley (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating July 2021 as Plastic Pollution Action Month .
Whereas plastic pollution represents a global threat that will require individual and collective action, both nationally and internationally, to address; Whereas, since the 1950s, over 8,000,000,000 tons of plastic have been produced worldwide; Whereas, in the United States— (1) just 9 percent of plastic waste is sorted for recycling; and (2) less than 3 percent of plastic waste is recycled into a similar quality product; Whereas a recent study found that, despite the United States only accounting for 4 percent of the global population in 2016, in that same year the United States— (1) generated 17 percent of all plastic waste; and (2) ranked third among all countries contributing to coastal plastic pollution; Whereas single-use plastics account for at least 40 percent of the plastic produced every year; Whereas over 12,000,000 tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year from land-based sources alone; Whereas, if no action is taken, the flow of plastics into the ocean is expected to triple by 2040; Whereas studies estimate that there are between 15,000,000,000,000 and 51,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the oceans; Whereas, globally, 100,000 marine mammals die every year as a result of plastic pollution; Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, directly impact human health; Whereas studies suggest that, every week, humans swallow the amount of plastic that is in a credit card; Whereas taking action to reduce plastic use, collect and clean up litter, and reuse and recycle more plastics will lead to less plastic pollution; Whereas, every July, people challenge themselves to reduce their plastic footprint through Plastics Free July ; Whereas, during the International Coastal Cleanup in 2020, nearly 950,000 people across the globe cleaned up over 10,000 tons of plastic from beaches; Whereas switching to reusable items instead of single-use items can prevent waste, save water, and reduce litter; and Whereas July 2021 is an appropriate month to designate as Plastic Pollution Action Month to recommit to taking action, individually and as a country, to reduce plastic pollution: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates July 2021 as Plastic Pollution Action Month ; (2) recognizes the dangers to human health and the environment posed by plastic pollution; and (3) encourages all individuals in the United States to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild the environment by responsibly participating in activities to reduce plastic pollution in July 2021 and year-round. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres304is/xml/BILLS-117sres304is.xml |
117-sres-305 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 305 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 15, 2021 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Durbin , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Brown , and Ms. Klobuchar ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing the contributions of African Americans to the musical heritage of the United States and the need for greater access to music education for African-American students and designating June 2021 as African-American Music Appreciation Month.
Whereas spirituals, ragtime, blues, jazz, gospel, classical composition, and countless other categories of music have been created or enhanced by African Americans and are etched into the history and culture of the United States; Whereas the first Africans transported to the United States came from a variety of ethnic groups with a long history of distinct and cultivated musical traditions, brought musical instruments with them, and built new musical instruments in the United States; Whereas spirituals were a distinct response to the conditions of African slavery in the United States and expressed the longing of slaves for spiritual and bodily freedom, for safety from harm and evil, and for relief from the hardships of slavery; Whereas jazz, arguably the most creative and complex music that the United States has produced, combines the musical traditions of African Americans in New Orleans with the creative flexibility of blues music; Whereas masterful trumpeters Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis achieved national and international recognition with the success of West End Blues by Louis Armstrong in the 1920s and So What by Miles Davis in the late 1950s; Whereas Thomas Dorsey, the father of gospel music, used his composing talents to merge sacred and secular styles that created a revolution in music; Whereas talented jazz pianist and vocalist Nathaniel Adams Coles recorded more than 150 singles and sold more than 50,000,000 records; Whereas the talent of Ella Fitzgerald, a winner of 13 Grammys, is epitomized by a rendition of “Summertime”, a bluesy record accompanied by melodic vocals; Whereas Natalie Cole, the daughter of Nathaniel Adams Coles, achieved musical success in the mid-1970s as a rhythm and blues artist with the hits This Will Be and Unforgettable ; Whereas, in the 1940s, bebop evolved through jam sessions, which included trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and the alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, that were held at clubs in Harlem, New York, such as Minton's Playhouse; Whereas earlier classical singers such as Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, one of the first widely known African-American vocalists, and other early African-American singing pioneers, including Nellie Mitchell Brown, Marie Selika Williams, Rachel Walker Turner, Marian Anderson, and Flora Batson Bergen, paved the way for the female African-American concert singers who have achieved great popularity during the last 50 years; Whereas the term rhythm and blues originated in the late 1940s as a way to describe recordings marketed to African Americans and replaced the term race music ; Whereas lyrical themes in rhythm and blues often encapsulate the African-American experience of pain, the quest for freedom, joy, triumphs and failures, relationships, economics, and aspiration and were popularized by artists such as Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Etta James, and Otis Redding; Whereas soul music originated in the African-American community in the late 1950s and early 1960s, combines elements of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues, and jazz, and was popularized by artists such as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Bill Withers, and Jackie Wilson; Whereas Motown, founded as a record label in 1959, evolved into a distinctive style known for the Motown Sound , a blend of pop and soul musical stylings made popular by prominent Black artists such as Marvin Gaye, James Mason, and Mary Wells; Whereas, in the early 1970s, the musical style of disco emerged and was popularized by programs such as Soul Train and by artists such as Donna Summer; Whereas reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s and incorporates some of the musical elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, mento, calypso, and African music, and was popularized by artists such as Bob Marley; Whereas rock and roll was developed from African-American musical styles such as gospel and rhythm and blues and was popularized by artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, and Jimi Hendrix; Whereas rap, arguably the most complex and influential form of hip-hop culture, combines blues, jazz, and soul and elements of the African-American musical tradition with Caribbean calypso, dub, and dance hall reggae; Whereas the development and popularity of old-style rap combined confident beats with wordplay and storytelling, highlighting the struggle of African-American youth growing up in underresourced neighborhoods; Whereas contemporary rhythm and blues, which originated in the late 1970s and combines elements of pop, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, hip hop, gospel, and electronic dance music, was popularized by artists such as Whitney Houston and Aaliyah; Whereas Prince Rogers Nelson, who was known for electric performances and a wide vocal range, pioneered music that integrated a wide variety of styles, including funk, rock, contemporary rhythm and blues, new wave, soul, psychedelia, and pop; Whereas a recent study by the Department of Education found that only 28 percent of African-American students receive any kind of arts education; Whereas African-American students scored the lowest of all ethnicities in the most recent National Assessment for Educational Progress arts assessment; Whereas students who are eligible for the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. ) have significantly lower scores on the music portion of the National Assessment for Educational Progress arts assessment than students who are ineligible for that program, which suggests that students in low-income families are disadvantaged in the subject of music; Whereas a recent study found that— (1) nearly 2/3 of music ensemble students were White and middle class, and only 15 percent of those students were African American; and (2) only 7 percent of music teacher licensure candidates were African American; and Whereas students of color face many barriers to accessing music education and training, especially students in large urban public schools: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes— (A) the contributions of African Americans to the musical heritage of the United States; (B) the wide array of talented and popular African-American musical artists, composers, songwriters, and musicians who are underrecognized for contributions to music; (C) the achievements, talent, and hard work of African-American pioneer artists and the obstacles that those artists overcame to gain recognition; (D) the need for African-American students to have greater access to, and participation in, music education in schools across the United States; and (E) Black History Month and African-American Music Appreciation Month as an important time— (i) to celebrate the impact of the African-American musical heritage on the musical heritage of the United States; and (ii) to encourage greater access to music education so that the next generation may continue to greatly contribute to the musical heritage of the United States; and (2) designates June 2021 as African-American Music Appreciation Month . | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres305is/xml/BILLS-117sres305is.xml |
117-sres-306 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 306 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 15, 2021 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mr. McConnell ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION To authorize representation by the Senate Legal Counsel in the case of Jennifer Grappell v. Alberto M. Carvalho, et al.
Whereas, Senator Marco Rubio has been named as a defendant in the case of Jennifer Grappell v. Alberto M. Carvalho, et al. , Case No. 21–cv–22016, currently pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida; Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 704(a)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. §§ 288b(a) and 288c(a)(1), the Senate may direct its counsel to defend Members of the Senate in civil actions relating to their official responsibilities: Now therefore, be it
That the Senate Legal Counsel is authorized to represent Senator Rubio in the case of Jennifer Grappell v. Alberto M. Carvalho, et al. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres306ats/xml/BILLS-117sres306ats.xml |
117-sres-307 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 307 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 20, 2021 Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mrs. Hyde-Smith ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the Mississippi State University baseball team on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I baseball championship.
Whereas, on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the Mississippi State University baseball team won the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble as the NCAA ) College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska; Whereas, by defeating Vanderbilt University 9-0, the Mississippi State University baseball team became the first team in Mississippi State University history to win an NCAA National Championship, wrapping it in maroon and white; Whereas the Mississippi State University baseball team has appeared in 3 consecutive NCAA College World Series, totaling 12 appearances in school history; Whereas on June 20, 2021, the Mississippi State University baseball team recorded 21 strikeouts, which set an NCAA College World Series single-game team record; Whereas Will Bednar was named the 2021 NCAA College World Series Most Outstanding Player; Whereas catcher Logan Tanner, first baseman Luke Hancock, shortstop Lane Forsythe, outfielders Tanner Allen and Rowdey Jordan, and pitcher Will Bednar were named to the 2021 NCAA College World Series All-Tournament Team; Whereas Tanner Allen was named the 2021 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and the 2021 American Baseball Coaches and Rawlings Sporting Goods National Player of Year; Whereas Head Coach Chris Lemonis was named the 2021 National Coach of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper; Whereas Chris Lemonis is the first Division I head coach to reach the NCAA College World Series in his first 2 seasons as head coach of a program in the Super Regional era and just the fifth all-time in NCAA history; Whereas Dudy Noble Field at Polk-DeMent Stadium on the campus of Mississippi State University holds the NCAA Division I baseball on-campus attendance record and regularly attracts record crowds; Whereas the Mississippi State University baseball team under the leadership of Head Coach Chris Lemonis displayed outstanding dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the 2020–2021 season; and Whereas the Mississippi State University baseball team has brought great pride and honor— (1) to Mississippi State University; (2) to loyal fans of Mississippi State University; and (3) to the entire State of Mississippi: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the Mississippi State University baseball team, including the athletes, coaching staff, administration, faculty, students, and alumni, on winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I baseball championship; (2) recognizes Mississippi State University for its excellence as an institution of higher education; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the President of Mississippi State University, Dr. Mark Keenum; (B) the Athletic Director of Mississippi State University, John Cohen; and (C) the Head Coach of the Mississippi State University baseball team, Chris Lemonis. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres307ats/xml/BILLS-117sres307ats.xml |
117-sres-308 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 308 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 20, 2021 Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Marshall ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commending and congratulating the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons football team for winning the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association football National Championship.
Whereas, on Saturday, June 5, 2021, the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons football team (in this preamble referred to as the Blue Dragons ) defeated the Snow College Badgers by a score of 29 to 27 in the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association (in this preamble referred to as the NJCAA ) National Championship game; Whereas the 2021 NJCAA National Championship is the first in the history of the Blue Dragons’ football program; Whereas the Blue Dragons were the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference regular season champions; Whereas the Blue Dragons finished the 2021 season with a perfect 8-0 record; Whereas, during the championship game, the Blue Dragons overcame a 14 point deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter; Whereas quarterback C.J. Ogbonna entered the game in the third quarter to lead the Blue Dragons on 3-straight scoring drives to take the lead; Whereas linebacker Tre Pinkney intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Blue Dragons; Whereas Tye Edwards, Ivan Thomas, Kingsley Ugwu, Aric Harris, Jurriente Davis, and Roterius Torrence were named as NJCAA All-Americans; and Whereas first-year Head Coach Drew Dallas was named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commends the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons football team for winning the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association football National Championship; (2) recognizes the players, coaches, and staff of the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons football team; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the President of Hutchinson Community College, Carter File; (B) the Athletic Director of Hutchinson Community College, Josh Gooch; and (C) the Head Coach of the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons football team, Drew Dallas. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres308ats/xml/BILLS-117sres308ats.xml |
117-sres-309 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 309 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 21, 2021 Mr. Braun (for himself, Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Marshall , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Risch , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Hoeven , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Hagerty , and Mr. Rounds ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Whereas the United States was founded on principles of religious freedom by the Founders, many of whom were deeply religious; Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States embodies principles intended to guarantee freedom of religion through the free exercise thereof and by prohibiting the Government from establishing a religion; Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, and first published in the September 8, 1892, issue of The Youth's Companion; Whereas, in 1954, Congress added the words under God to the Pledge of Allegiance; Whereas, for more than 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance has included references to the United States flag, to the United States having been established as a union under God , and to the United States being dedicated to securing liberty and justice for all ; Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance; Whereas the Senate of the 117th Congress believes that the Pledge of Allegiance is a constitutional expression of patriotism; Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain general references to God ; Whereas, in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004), the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case in which the Ninth Circuit concluded that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by a public school teacher violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit subsequently concluded that— (1) the previous opinion of that court in Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003) was no longer binding precedent; (2) case law from the Supreme Court of the United States concerning the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States had subsequently changed after the decision in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004); and (3) Congress, in passing the new version of the Pledge of Allegiance, had established a secular purpose for the use of the term under God ; and Whereas, in light of those conclusions, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school teachers: Now, therefore, be it
That— (1) the Pledge of Allegiance has been a valuable part of life for the people of the United States for generations; and (2) the Senate strongly defends the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres309ats/xml/BILLS-117sres309ats.xml |
117-sres-310 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 310 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 21, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Rubio , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Risch , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Coons , Mr. Booker , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Brown , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Warner , Mr. Cardin , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Warnock , and Mr. Luján ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Expressing solidarity with Cuban citizens demonstrating peacefully for fundamental freedoms, condemning the Cuban regime’s acts of repression, and calling for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained Cuban citizens.
Whereas, on July 11, 2021, thousands of Cuban citizens took to the streets to peacefully protest and to call for respect for basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the end of the dictatorship in Cuba; Whereas the demonstrations were the largest protests witnessed on the island in 25 years, with courageous Cuban men, women, and youth taking to the streets in at least 50 different cities and towns across every province to affirm a deep aspiration for democratic change and to denounce the regime’s corruption; Whereas the nationwide protests represent the full diversity of Cuban society, with demonstrators proudly proclaiming Patria y Vida! (Homeland and Life!) and calling for libertad (liberty); Whereas the demonstrations in Cuba follow months of severe shortages of food and basic medicine, frequent power outages, record high rates of transmission of COVID–19, and the Cuban regime’s ineffective response, in addition to the Cuban regime’s continued repression and arbitrary imprisonment of citizens, peaceful activists, and artists; Whereas, despite the authoritarian regime’s blocking of internet service to prevent the spread of information about the demonstrations, Cubans witnessed examples of their compatriots demanding change in their country and courageously joined the growing protests; Whereas, despite the peaceful nature of the demonstrations, Miguel Díaz-Canel incited violence among Cubans and encouraged his supporters to attack peaceful protestors, declaring in a televised address, the order to fight has been given—into the streets and pledged his supporters’ lives: Over our dead bodies. We are prepared to do anything ; Whereas Díaz-Canel has sought to delegitimize peaceful protesters, crudely stating they constitute a small group of vulgar criminals that are paid to be disruptive; Whereas Díaz-Canel sought to blame the endemic problems causing so much human suffering by the Cuban people on outside forces instead of on the Cuban regime’s long-standing corruption, mismanagement, and theft of public resources; Whereas the Cuban regime’s domestic security apparatus, including military and police, were recorded on video violently repressing peaceful Cuban citizens, including by using live ammunition and attacking journalists; Whereas numerous reports indicate deaths of and injuries to Cuban protestors at the hands of the regime’s security forces, including instances of police firing live ammunition into crowds and at least one documented police beating that led to a civilian death; Whereas independent Cuban civil society groups have reported that hundreds of individuals have been arrested, detained, or are missing; Whereas defying regime repression, continued internet shutdowns, and illegal searches of the homes of activists and protestors, Cuban men, women, and youth continued to peacefully protest throughout the island on Monday, July 12, using social media to organize themselves and document acts of regime repression; Whereas international human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, have long condemned the Cuban regime for violating human rights and fundamental freedoms; and Whereas for years the Cuban regime has exported its authoritarian methods to Venezuela, sending intelligence personnel to assist Venezuelan security forces as they repressed similar peaceful protests calling for democratic change: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) expresses its strong solidarity with the people of Cuba in their desire to live in a free and democratic country with uncensored access to information, justice, and economic prosperity; (2) condemns the violence ordered by Miguel Díaz-Canel against peaceful protesters as violations of internationally recognized human rights that does nothing to address Cuba’s challenges; (3) calls on Cuban forces— (A) to respect the Cuban people’s exercise of freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and other universal human rights; (B) to refrain from restricting internet access and connectivity in the country; and (C) to permit Cuban citizens to freely communicate on digital platforms, as is their fundamental right; (4) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained Cuban citizens and all Cuban political prisoners; (5) calls on members of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, and Cuba’s National Revolutionary Police Force to refrain from violently repressing peaceful protesters and committing other human rights violations; and (6) urges democratic governments and legislatures in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean— (A) to pledge their support for freedom and democracy in Cuba; and (B) to speak out against the repression of demonstrators in Cuba. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres310is/xml/BILLS-117sres310is.xml |
117-sres-311 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 311 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 21, 2021 Mr. Cassidy (for himself and Mr. Kennedy ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-garde.
Whereas Miss Zaila Avant-garde is a 14-year-old from Harvey, Louisiana; Whereas Miss Avant-garde is the first winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee from the State of Louisiana; Whereas the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest and longest-running educational promotion in the United States and is administered by the E.W. Scripps Company and local sponsors, most of whom publish daily and weekly newspapers; Whereas the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee began with competitors from across the United States, American Samoa, the Bahamas, Canada, Europe, Guam, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and each competitor had qualified for the contest by winning locally sponsored spelling bees; Whereas Miss Avant-garde is the first African American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee; Whereas Miss Avant-garde has spent most of her days spelling around 13,000 words per day, yet has still found time to become an accomplished basketball player and holds 3 Guinness World Records; Whereas Miss Avant-garde survived several rounds of fierce competition this year and won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling murraya ; and Whereas the achievement of Miss Avant-garde brings an immense sense of pride to her hometown of Harvey and the entire State of Louisiana: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate congratulates the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-garde. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres311ats/xml/BILLS-117sres311ats.xml |
117-sres-312 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 312 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 21, 2021 Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mr. Scott of Florida ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the Tampa Bay Lightning on winning the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
Whereas, on July 7, 2021, the Tampa Bay Lightning (referred to in this preamble as the Lightning ) won the 2021 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Final; Whereas the 2021 Stanley Cup Final is the third Stanley Cup Final won by the Lightning in the 30 years that the franchise has competed in the National Hockey League; Whereas the 2021 Stanley Cup Final directly follows the victory of the Lightning in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final; Whereas, en route to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning won the Prince of Wales Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history by defeating the Florida Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the New York Islanders; Whereas the Lightning defeated the 2021 Clarence S. Campbell Bowl champions, the Montreal Canadiens, in the Stanley Cup Final, clinching the series with 4 wins and only 1 loss; Whereas millions of fans watched the Lightning during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs as the franchise won the Stanley Cup Final for the third time; Whereas Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy— (1) led all goaltenders in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs with 5 shutouts; and (2) won the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs; Whereas Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov was the leader in points and assists in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs; and Whereas the following entire Lightning roster contributed to the Stanley Cup victory: Alex Barre-Boulet, Erik Cernak, Anthony Cirelli, Fredrik Claesson, Blake Coleman, Ross Colton, Callan Foote, Christopher Gibson, Barclay Goodrow, Yanni Gourde, Victor Hedman, Tyler Johnson, Mathieu Joseph, Boris Katchouk, Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov, Patrick Maroon, Ryan McDonagh, Curtis McElhinney, Ondrej Palat, Brayden Point, Jan Rutta, David Savard, Luke Schenn, Mikhail Sergachev, Gemel Smith, Steven Stamkos, Mitchell Stephens, Ben Thomas, Andrei Vasilevsky, and Daniel Walcott: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the Tampa Bay Lightning (referred to in this resolution as the Lightning ), and the loyal fans of the Lightning, on becoming the 2021 National Hockey League Stanley Cup champions; and (2) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the Chairman and Governor of the Lightning, Jeff Vinik; (B) the Vice President and General Manager of the Lightning, Julien BriseBois; and (C) the head coach of the Lightning, Jon Cooper. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres312ats/xml/BILLS-117sres312ats.xml |
117-sres-313 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 313 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 21, 2021 Mr. Hoeven (for himself and Mr. Cramer ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, North Dakota.
Whereas, in late June 2011, the city of Minot, North Dakota, and surrounding communities were inundated by widespread flooding; Whereas high soil moisture content, above-average snow pack, and persistent spring and summer precipitation produced record-level flooding throughout the Souris River Basin; Whereas, in June 2011, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority informed communities downstream that “reservoirs [had] no capacity to store further inflows”; Whereas, on June 22, 2011, following continued releases from upstream reservoirs, water began to overtop levees in the city of Minot, resulting in a mandatory evacuation and the displacement of 11,000 Minot residents; Whereas nearly 11,500 acres in Ward County were covered in 2 to 15 feet of water, impacting nearly 4,800 structures; Whereas the river’s flow peaked at 27,000 cubic feet per second, resulting in almost as much water moving through Minot in June 2011 as in the entire year of 1976, which was the previous all-time annual flow record; Whereas, on June 26, 2011, the river crested at 1,561.72 feet above sea level, a Minot record; Whereas the floodwater destroyed 4,100 homes, 250 businesses, and numerous schools, parks, churches, and other public infrastructure at a cost of as much as $1,000,000,000; Whereas floodwater created national security concerns by temporarily blocking access to some intercontinental ballistic missile facilities operated by personnel at Minot Air Force Base; Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided more than 1,500 temporary housing units to address the agency’s third largest housing mission in its history to date; Whereas the people of Minot and surrounding communities demonstrated resilience and worked together to help their fellow neighbors in a time of need; Whereas Federal, State, and local officials and agencies coordinated to provide immediate recovery assistance; Whereas Congress provided hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster relief and recovery funding to assist the city of Minot and the surrounding region; Whereas the people of Minot and surrounding communities continue to deal with the effects of the flood, including efforts to construct permanent flood protection in the Minot area; and Whereas 2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, North Dakota: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, North Dakota; (2) expresses sympathy to people in the Souris River Basin and condolences to the families who lost their homes or businesses; (3) commends the resilience of the people in the Souris River Basin and their commitment to recovery and rebuilding; and (4) expresses gratitude and appreciation to State and local leaders, first responders, and the North Dakota National Guard for protecting the people of the Souris River Basin. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres313ats/xml/BILLS-117sres313ats.xml |
117-sres-314 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 314 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 22, 2021 Mr. Romney (for himself, Mr. Bennet , Mr. Hagerty , Mr. Coons , and Ms. Klobuchar ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commemorating the past success of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams and supporting the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams in the 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Whereas, for 125 years, the Olympic Movement has worked to build a better and more peaceful world by educating young people through amateur athletics, bringing together athletes from many countries in friendly competition, and forging new relationships bound by friendship, solidarity, and fair play; Whereas the 2020 Olympic Games will take place in Tokyo, Japan, from July 23, 2021, to August 8, 2021, and the 2020 Paralympic Games will take place in Tokyo, Japan, from August 24, 2021, to September 5, 2021; Whereas, at the 2020 Olympic Games, 206 countries will compete in more than 330 events in nearly 40 disciplines, and at the 2020 Paralympic Games, more than 165 countries will compete in events in 22 disciplines; Whereas the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams have won 1,974 gold medals, 1,685 silver medals, and 1,536 bronze medals, totaling 5,195 medals, during the past Olympic and Paralympic Games; Whereas the United States plans to send 613 athletes to participate in the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including a record 329 women; Whereas the people of the United States stand united in respect for and admiration of the members of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams and the athletic accomplishments, sportsmanship, and dedication to excellence of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams; Whereas the many accomplishments of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of many others, including individuals on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the National Governing Bodies of Sport and the many administrators, coaches, and family members who provided critical support to the athletes; Whereas the United States Government is grateful to Japan for hosting the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games; Whereas Japan successfully hosted the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first ever Olympic Games to be held in Asia, as a symbol of Japanese postwar reconstruction and a catalyst for economic growth and technological development; Whereas Japan successfully hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo and the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano; Whereas the people of the United States take great pride in the qualities of commitment to excellence, grace under pressure, and goodwill toward competitors exhibited by the athletes of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams; and Whereas the Olympic Movement celebrates competition, fair play, and the pursuit of glory, elevating the eternal qualities of the human spirit to the world stage: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports proceeding with the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in a safe and secure environment; (2) commends the Government of Japan and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in their efforts to commit tremendous resources to provide a safe and secure environment for the athletes competing in the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games; (3) applauds the athletes and coaches of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams and their families who support them; (4) supports the athletes of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams in their endeavors at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan; and (5) supports the goals and ideals of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres314ats/xml/BILLS-117sres314ats.xml |
117-sres-315 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 315 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 22, 2021 Mr. Wicker (for himself, Ms. Hirono , Mrs. Gillibrand , Ms. Warren , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Cassidy , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , and Ms. Cantwell ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Commending the service of Hamilton-class Coast Guard cutters and the officers and crew who served on them.
Whereas the first Hamilton-class cutter was the United States Coast Guard Cutter (referred to in this preamble as USCGC ) Hamilton, which was placed in full commission on March 18, 1967; Whereas USCGC Mellon, USCGC Chase, USCGC Dallas, USCGC Boutwell, USCGC Sherman, USCGC Gallatin, USCGC Morgenthau, USCGC Rush, USCGC Munro, USCGC Midgett, and USCGC Jarvis completed the class of high endurance cutters and were 1 of the most highly versatile and capable vessels at the time of their construction at Avondale Shipyards in Louisiana; Whereas Hamilton-class cutters courageously supported multiple peacetime and wartime operations during their time in active service, including Operation Market Time, Operation Urgent Fury, Operation Vigilant Sentinel, Operation Deny Flight, and Operation Iraqi Freedom; Whereas Hamilton-class cutters conducted illegal narcotics interdictions totaling 3,300,000 pounds and $23,600,000,000 in market value, including the interdiction conducted by USCGC Hamilton and USCGC Sherman of the M/V Gatun, which discovered 20 metric tons of illegal narcotics with an estimated street value of $600,000,000 for the largest narcotics interdiction in United States history at the time; Whereas Hamilton-class cutters have saved thousands of lives during search and rescue operations at sea, including the rescue conducted by USCGC Boutwell and USCGC Mellon of all 520 passengers and crew of the M/S Prinsendam, 1 of the largest at-sea rescues in Coast Guard history; Whereas Hamilton-class cutters received excellent shoreside support at Coast Guard homeports in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, and Washington, allowing the cutters to perform admirably past their service life; Whereas the Mississippi-built National Security Cutter replaced the Hamilton-class cutter to continue the storied success of high endurance Coast Guard cutters at sea; Whereas USCGC Douglas Munro, formerly known as USCGC Munro, decommissioned on April 24, 2021, ending over 54 years of service of Hamilton-class cutters to the United States; Whereas Coast Guard cutters remain a vital component of United States capability across the globe in serving to protect life at sea, deterring illicit activity, and ensuring the continuance of the international rules-based order at all levels of the competition continuum; Whereas the increasing global complexity and expanding demand for Coast Guard services necessitates the best people, modern technology, resilient infrastructure, and highly capable assets; and Whereas Congress must recognize the importance of maximizing afloat readiness for the Coast Guard by supporting personnel, investing in mission-enabling technologies, and modernizing assets: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the success of the Hamilton-class cutters in service to the United States; (2) commends the officers and crew of Hamilton-class cutters for their technical excellence, accomplishments, professionalism, and sacrifices; (3) supports the role of Coast Guard cutters and their importance to national security, law enforcement at sea, and homeland defense; and (4) applauds the Coast Guard for continuing to advance the capabilities of the fleet with the National Security Cutter to adapt to the growing need for a global Coast Guard presence. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres315is/xml/BILLS-117sres315is.xml |
117-sres-316 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 316 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 22, 2021 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mr. McConnell ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION To authorize representation by the Senate Legal Counsel in the case of AO Alfa-Bank v. John Doe, et al.
Whereas, in the case of AO Alfa-Bank v. John Doe, et al. , Case No. 50–2020–CA–006304, pending in the 15th Judicial Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, Florida, the plaintiff has issued two subpoenas for deposition testimony and document production to Thomas Kirk McConnell, a staff member of the Committee on Armed Services; Whereas the plaintiff has presented those Florida court subpoenas to the District of Columbia Superior Court, which has issued the subpoenas under local law, Case No. 2021–02459; Whereas, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 704(a)(2) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, 2 U.S.C. §§ 288b(a) and 288c(a)(2), the Senate may direct its counsel to represent committees and current and former employees of the Senate with respect to any subpoena, order, or request for testimony or documents relating to their official responsibilities; and Whereas, by the privileges of the Senate of the United States and Rule XI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, no evidence under the control or in the possession of the Senate may, by the judicial or administrative process, be taken from such control or possession but by permission of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it
That Senate Legal Counsel is authorized to represent the Committee on Armed Services and Thomas Kirk McConnell in this matter to seek to quash the subpoenas. 2. Elizabeth King, Majority Staff Director of the Committee on Armed Services, is authorized to provide a limited declaration sufficient to demonstrate the applicability of the Speech or Debate Clause privilege in this matter, without waiving the Committee's privilege. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres316ats/xml/BILLS-117sres316ats.xml |
117-sres-317 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 317 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 22, 2021 Ms. Baldwin (for herself and Mr. Johnson ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation July 27, 2021 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Congratulating the Milwaukee Bucks, and the fans of the Milwaukee Bucks around the world, on winning the 2021 National Basketball Association championship.
Whereas, on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, the Milwaukee Bucks (referred to in this preamble as the Bucks ) won the 2021 National Basketball Association (referred to in this preamble as the NBA ) championship by defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals by a score of 105 to 98, winning the series 4 games to 2; Whereas the Bucks won— (1) the second NBA championship in the history of the franchise; (2) their first round of the NBA playoffs by defeating the Miami Heat 4 games to 0; (3) their Eastern Conference semi-finals match-up against the Brooklyn Nets 4 games to 3; and (4) the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 4 games to 2; Whereas every member of the 2020–2021 Bucks played a key role in the quest for a championship, including— (1) Giannis Antetokounmpo; (2) Thanasis Antetokounmpo; (3) Elijah Bryant; (4) Pat Connaughton; (5) Mamadi Diakite; (6) Donte DiVincenzo; (7) Bryn Forbes; (8) Jrue Holiday; (9) Justin Jackson; (10) Brook Lopez; (11) Sam Merrill; (12) Khris Middleton; (13) Jordan Nwora; (14) Bobby Portis; (15) Jeff Teague; (16) Axel Toupane; and (17) P.J. Tucker; Whereas the entire Bucks organization deserves congratulations for this historic achievement, including— (1) the owners of the Bucks, Marc Lasry, Wes Edens, Jamie Dinan, and Michael Fascitelli; (2) the General Manager of the Bucks, Jon Horst; and (3) the head coach of the Bucks, Mike Budenholzer; Whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo, for the first time, was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals, in which he— (1) averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game; and (2) shot 61.8 percent from the field per game; Whereas, in the championship-clinching Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo— (1) scored 50 points, shooting 64 percent from the field and making 17 of 19 free throws; (2) had 14 rebounds; and (3) blocked 5 shots; Whereas Bucks forward Khris Middleton, the first NBA player to begin his career in the Development League and subsequently become an NBA All-Star, which Middleton became in the 2018–2019 season, had an impactful performance throughout the NBA Finals, including a crucial mid-range shot with 1 minute remaining in Game 6; Whereas the Bucks won their first NBA championship in 50 years, when NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson brought a title to Milwaukee in 1971; Whereas the Bucks, who won the 2021 NBA championship in 6 games, fulfilled the prophecy of Bucks legend Brandon Jennings, who, in 2013, began the Bucks in 6 rallying cry; and Whereas the fans in the Deer District showed up, game after game, to cheer on the Bucks in large numbers outside Fiserv Forum: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) congratulates the Milwaukee Bucks (referred to in this resolution as the Bucks ), and the loyal fans of the Bucks, on winning the 2021 National Basketball Association championship; (2) recognizes the historic achievement of the entire Bucks organization, including the players, coaches, and staff, for a victorious season; and (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A) the head coach of the Bucks, Mike Budenholzer; (B) the owners of the Bucks, Marc Lasry, Wes Edens, Jamie Dinan, and Michael Fascitelli; and (C) the General Manager of the Bucks, Jon Horst. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres317ats/xml/BILLS-117sres317ats.xml |
117-sres-318 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 318 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 26, 2021 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Padilla , and Mr. Sullivan ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry July 30, 2021 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of July 2021 as American Grown Flower and Foliage Month .
Whereas cut flower and foliage growers in the United States are hard-working, dedicated individuals who bring beauty, economic stimulus, and pride to their communities and the United States; Whereas the people of the United States have a long history of using flowers and foliage grown in the United States to bring beauty to important events and express affection for loved ones; Whereas consumers spend over $35,000,000,000 each year on floral products, including cut flowers, garden plants, bedding, and indoor plants; Whereas, each year, an increasing number of households in the United States purchase fresh cut flowers and foliage from more than 16,000 florists and floral establishments; Whereas the annual per capita spending on floral products by consumers in the United States is almost $108; Whereas the people of the United States increasingly want to support domestically produced foods and agricultural products and would prefer to buy locally grown flowers and foliage whenever possible, yet a majority of domestic consumers do not know where the flowers and foliage they purchase are grown; Whereas, in response to increased demand, the Certified American Grown logo was created in July 2014 in order to educate and empower consumers to purchase flowers and foliage from domestic producers; Whereas millions of stems of domestically grown flowers and foliage are now Certified American Grown ; Whereas domestic flower and foliage farmers produce thousands of varieties of flowers and foliage across the United States, such as peonies in Alaska, Gerbera daisies in California, lupines in Maine, tulips in Washington, lilies in Oregon, larkspur in Texas, and leatherleaf in Florida; Whereas the top flower and foliage varieties with the highest production in the United States are tulips, Gerbera daisies, lilies, gladiolas, roses, and leatherleaf; Whereas people in every State have access to domestically grown flowers and foliage, yet only 20 percent of flowers and foliage sold in the United States is domestically grown; Whereas the domestic cut flower and foliage industry— (1) creates a substantial economic impact daily; and (2) supports hundreds of growers, thousands of small businesses, and tens of thousands of jobs in the United States; Whereas most domestic cut flowers and foliage are sold in the United States within 24 to 48 hours after harvest and last longer than flowers shipped longer distances; Whereas flowers and foliage grown domestically enhance the ability of the people of the United States to festively celebrate weddings and births and honor those who have passed; Whereas flower and foliage giving has been a holiday tradition in the United States for generations; Whereas flowers and foliage speak to the beauty of motherhood on Mother’s Day and to the spirit of love on Valentine’s Day; Whereas flowers and foliage are an essential part of other holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa; Whereas flowers and foliage help commemorate the service and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces on Memorial Day and Veterans Day; and Whereas the Senate encourages the cultivation of flowers and foliage in the United States by domestic flower and foliage farmers: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) supports the designation of July 2021 as American Grown Flower and Foliage Month ; (2) recognizes that purchasing flowers and foliage grown in the United States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and economy of the United States; (3) recognizes that growing flowers and foliage in the United States is a vital part of the agricultural industry of the United States; (4) recognizes that cultivating flowers and foliage domestically enhances the ability of the people of the United States to festively celebrate holidays and special occasions; and (5) urges all people of the United States to proactively showcase flowers and foliage grown in the United States in order to show support for— (A) the flower and foliage farmers, processors, and distributors in the United States; and (B) the agricultural industry of the United States overall. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres318ats/xml/BILLS-117sres318ats.xml |
117-sres-319 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 319 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 26, 2021 Mr. Johnson submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of July 2021 as National Sarcoma Awareness Month .
Whereas sarcoma is a cancer of connective tissues, such as nerves, muscles, joints, fat, bones, and blood vessels, that can arise anywhere in the body; Whereas, in the United States— (1) 16,000 individuals are diagnosed with sarcoma each year; (2) more than 7,000 individuals die from sarcoma each year; and (3) 50,000 individuals struggle with sarcoma at any 1 time; Whereas, each year, 1 percent of cancers diagnosed in adults and 20 percent of cancers diagnosed in children are sarcoma; Whereas more than 70 subtypes of sarcoma have been identified; Whereas sarcoma is often misdiagnosed and underreported; and Whereas July 2021 would be an appropriate month to designate as National Sarcoma Awareness Month— (1) to raise awareness about sarcoma; and (2) to encourage more individuals in the United States to get properly diagnosed and treated: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate supports the designation of July 2021 as National Sarcoma Awareness Month . | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres319is/xml/BILLS-117sres319is.xml |
117-sres-320 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 320 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 26, 2021 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Blunt ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Authorizing the taking of a photograph in the Senate Chamber.
That rule 13.1 of the United States Senate Chamber and Galleries Regulations (prohibiting the taking of pictures in the Senate Chamber) be temporarily suspended for the sole and specific purpose of permitting the Senate Photographic Studio to photograph the Senate in actual session on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. 2. The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate is authorized and directed to make the necessary arrangements therefore, which arrangements shall provide for a minimum of disruption to Senate proceedings. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres320ats/xml/BILLS-117sres320ats.xml |
117-sres-321 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 321 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 27, 2021 Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Mr. Markey , Mr. Wyden , Mr. King , Ms. Klobuchar , and Mr. Luján ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2050.
Whereas roadway fatalities kill tens of thousands of people in the United States each year; Whereas, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (referred to in this preamble as NHTSA ), 38,680 lives were lost in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 and all of the deaths were preventable; Whereas more than 100 people lose their lives on a typical day on the roadways of the Nation, with traffic crashes being the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 25; Whereas alcohol-impaired driving crashes are a leading killer on the roadways of the Nation, with 10,142 lives lost to alcohol-impaired driving in 2019, according to NHTSA; Whereas, according to NHTSA, in 2019, 3,142 people died in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers and an estimated additional 424,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers; Whereas, according to NHTSA, 6,205 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes the United States in 2019, representing a 13-percent increase in the last 5 years; Whereas, according to NHTSA, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased by 44 percent from 2010 to 2019; Whereas, according to the National Complete Streets Coalition at Smart Growth America, the pedestrian fatality rate for American Indian and Alaska Native people is 221 percent higher than that of White, non-Hispanic people in the United States, and Black people were struck and killed by drivers at an 82 percent higher rate than White, non-Hispanic people in the United States; Whereas, according to NHTSA, a total of 843 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2019, representing a 36-percent increase in the last 10 years; Whereas independent research in 2015 found that motor vehicle crash death rates were as much as 4.3 times greater for those at the bottom of the education spectrum than those at the top; Whereas, according to NHTSA, motorcycles represented only 3 percent of all registered vehicles, but accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities and 17 percent of all occupant fatalities in 2019; Whereas, according to NHTSA, in 2019, 45 percent of motor vehicle traffic fatalities occurred on rural roads, despite only 30 percent of miles traveled occurring on rural roads; Whereas, according to NHTSA, seatbelts saved 14,955 lives in 2017 but lack of universal seatbelt usage costs the economy of the United States $10,000,000,000 annually; Whereas, according to NHTSA, in 2019, 47 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who died in a motor vehicle crash were unrestrained, while 86 percent of occupants who survived a motor vehicle crash were restrained; Whereas, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, increasing speed limits over the last 25 years have led to approximately 37,000 deaths; Whereas, according to NHTSA, speeding accounted for 26 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2019; Whereas, according to Consumer Reports, existing safety technologies could cut road fatalities in half if such technologies were made standard on all vehicles, saving approximately 20,000 lives annually; Whereas roadway fatalities and injuries rose during the COVID–19 pandemic and remain a persistent killer on the roadways of our Nation; Whereas, a deep history of inequalities in the United States continues to impact transportation systems, with low-income neighborhoods experiencing more than twice as many pedestrian fatalities as neighborhoods with the highest incomes, according to the National Complete Streets Coalition at Smart Growth America; Whereas too many families in the United States have been personally affected by preventable crashes; and Whereas a data-driven safe systems approach is proven to be effective at reducing traffic fatalities and injuries, including through taking into account all aspects of the transportation environment and not requiring a single actor to be responsible for traffic safety: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commits to advancing policies that will end roadway fatalities by 2050; (2) calls on Congress and the Department of Transportation to commit to working together to achieve zero roadway fatalities by the year 2050; (3) supports efforts to address disparities and other equity-related issues related to transportation safety; (4) calls on the Department of Transportation, and the agencies within the Department of Transportation, to improve data gathering and tracking of traffic crashes and other issues related to transportation safety; (5) calls on the Department of Transportation, and the agencies within the Department of Transportation, to commit to the implementation of proven countermeasures and interventions to prioritize transportation safety; (6) recognizes the need for a safe systems approach in United States transportation to improve access, safety, and mobility; and (7) supports the use of the term crash and not accident when describing traffic incidents and encourages all United States Government agencies to use this term. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres321is/xml/BILLS-117sres321is.xml |
117-sres-322 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 322 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 27, 2021 Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Wicker , and Mr. Tillis ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Reaffirming the alliance between the United States and Bulgaria, congratulating Bulgaria on its July 11, 2021 parliamentary elections, and calling for continued progress in Bulgaria towards combating corruption, respecting the freedom of the press, and protecting minority rights.
Whereas Bulgaria, which is an original signatory of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, done at Helsinki August 1, 1975 (commonly known as the Helsinki Final Act )— (1) has transitioned from a Cold War-era, Soviet satellite to a multi-party democracy with a market economy; and (2) remains an active and constructive participant in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); Whereas because of its progress on the institutionalization of democratic systems and economic reforms, Bulgaria joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004 and the European Union in 2007; Whereas Bulgaria is a steadfast ally of the United States in an area of strategic importance to the United States; Whereas bilateral security cooperation between the United States and Bulgaria is deep and growing stronger, including through the October 2020 signing of a 10-year defense cooperation roadmap, and regular United States military training conducted in Bulgaria, including at the Novo Selo Training Area; Whereas Bulgaria has contributed approximately 21,000 troops to various NATO missions; Whereas Bulgaria is on track to consistently reach defense spending of at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product by 2024; Whereas the international observers representing the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concluded that Bulgaria’s July 11, 2021, parliamentary elections were competitive with fundamental freedoms generally respected ; Whereas, on July 8 and 9, 2021, Bulgaria hosted the annual summit meeting of the Three Seas Initiative, a unique region-led undertaking launched in 2015 to create a political platform and investment fund to promote transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure connectivity across its 12 member states (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia); Whereas Bulgaria’s continued progress has been threatened by multiple internal challenges, including corruption, and Bulgaria is consistently among the lowest-ranked European Union member states in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index; Whereas Bulgaria was ranked 112th out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders 2021 World Press Freedom Index, which is the lowest position of any European Union country; Whereas, on March 10, 2021, a Reporters Without Borders expert stated, Press freedom has reached an impasse in Bulgaria and independent media are on the brink of disappearing , citing political interference with public broadcasters, and the abuse of privately owned media for political purposes, among other concerns; Whereas Bulgaria is an attractive, low-cost investment destination with a talented, tech-savvy labor pool, but has problems with endemic corruption, including in large infrastructure projects and in the energy sector; Whereas, on June 2, 2021, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–328 ; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note) against 3 Bulgarian individuals and 64 associated entities, while the Department of State announced visa bans on 5 former Bulgarian Government officials due to corruption; Whereas religious pluralism has long been a positive feature of Bulgarian society, though the Muslim community still encounters obstacles in its quest to reclaim property and build new houses of worship in Sofia; Whereas the Romani community faces systemic discrimination in Bulgaria, including discrimination in access to education, rights to residency, and access to voting, and Romani settlements faced particularly harsh restrictions as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas Bulgaria has withheld its support for neighboring North Macedonia to open accession talks with the European Union; and Whereas America’s most successful and enduring relationships are built on shared values: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) reaffirms its commitment to the historic partnership between the United States and Bulgaria and to advance democracy, prosperity, and security in Bulgaria; (2) congratulates the Bulgarian people on the successful conduct of the July 11 parliamentary elections; (3) declares its support for the Three Seas Initiative; (4) urges Bulgarian authorities to redouble efforts to address corruption, sustain and protect a healthy independent media, and protect the rights of all minority groups in Bulgaria, in line with its commitments to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; (5) encourages Bulgaria to support the aspirations for European Union membership of neighboring North Macedonia; (6) supports Bulgaria’s efforts to diversify its energy sources to minimize the malign influence of dominant suppliers; and (7) affirms its intent to continue to support Bulgaria’s efforts in these areas, including through the application of a wide range of supportive measures, such as— (A) targeted Global Magnitsky Sanctions, as and when appropriate; and (B) support for independent journalism, including through the recently returned Radio Free Europe Bulgarian Service, which excels in investigative reporting. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres322is/xml/BILLS-117sres322is.xml |
117-sres-323 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 323 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 27, 2021 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Coons , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Durbin , and Mr. Leahy ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the 75th anniversary and the importance of the Lanham Act by designating the month of July as National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month .
Whereas July 5, 2021, marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the registration and protection of trademarks used in commerce, to carry out the provisions of certain international conventions, and for other purposes”, approved July 5, 1946 (commonly known as the “Lanham Act” or the “Trademark Act of 1946”) ( 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq. ) by President Harry S. Truman; Whereas the Lanham Act provided the foundation for modern Federal trademark protection, creating legal rights and remedies for brand owners suffering from trademark infringement, helping consumers make informed choices by reducing confusingly similar products, and making the marketplace more fair, competitive, and safe for all; Whereas the Lanham Act was named for the primary sponsor, Representative Fritz Lanham of Texas, who recognized a need to “protect legitimate business and the consumers of the country” and created a uniform Federal framework to protect the trademarks of businesses, including logos, words, phrases, names, packaging, scents, shapes, and colors; Whereas the Lanham Act has enabled the United States Patent and Trademark Office to administer a strong and effective Federal trademark registration system that helps trademark and brand owners safeguard their investments, while protecting consumers from confusion and deception in the marketplace and in commerce; Whereas the Lanham Act has been cited by the United States Supreme Court in more than 50 decisions and by Federal and State courts across the United States in more than 54,000 decisions; Whereas, in 2019, approximately 58,200,000 trademarks were in force around the world; Whereas an estimated 9,200,000 trademark registrations recorded worldwide in 2019 alone, an 18.9 percent increase on the previous year’s total; Whereas the Lanham Act has provided more than 7 decades of protection for the consumers and industries of the United States, which is of growing importance given the explosion of counterfeiting activity associated with the growth of both global commerce and electronic commerce (commonly referred to as ‘‘e-commerce’’); Whereas counterfeit products undermine laws, including the Lanham Act, that serve to safeguard consumers and brand owners against deceptive products in the marketplace and create profits for organized crime gangs at the expense of companies and governments; Whereas counterfeiters use deceptive practices to entice consumers to purchase counterfeit goods; Whereas the deceptive tactics of counterfeiters and their counterfeit products pose actual and potential harm to the health and safety of United States citizens, especially the most vulnerable consumers in society, such as senior citizens and children; Whereas counterfeit products threaten the United States economy and job creation, given that intellectual property is a key value generator, is an enabler of success in competitive markets, and promotes innovation and drives sustained economic growth; Whereas, according to a report issued on April 18, 2021, by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, as of 2019 the manufacturing, trade, and consumption of counterfeit products is on the rise and trade in counterfeit products accounts for 3.3 percent of global trade, or approximately $500,000,000,000; Whereas brand owners, including corporations and medium-sized and small businesses, collectively spend billions of dollars annually to remove counterfeit products from the marketplace, including the online marketplace, in an effort to safeguard consumers from counterfeit products and protect the innovation, reputation, and goodwill invested in their trademarked products and services; Whereas there is a need to support the efforts of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center to minimize counterfeit activity and educate consumers about the illegal activities that consumer money might support when consumers knowingly or unknowingly purchase counterfeit products; Whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection is experiencing an unprecedented volume of counterfeit products being imported into domestic commerce, primarily through the use of e-commerce and delivery in small packages; Whereas the Congressional Trademark Caucus is actively working to raise awareness of the value of trademarks and the impact of trademarks on the national and State economies, as well as the threat posed by counterfeit products in undermining the safeguards that trademark protections provide for consumers and brand owners alike; Whereas many governmental and nongovernmental entities, including Federal enforcement agencies, the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, State enforcement agencies, and consumer groups, share responsibility for, and dedicate substantial resources towards, educating the people of the United States about the potential harms that can arise from counterfeit products in the marketplace; and Whereas recognition and commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Lanham Act serves as a means of educating the people of the United States about the importance of further raising awareness of the dangers counterfeit products pose to consumer health and safety: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Act entitled “An Act to provide for the registration and protection of trademarks used in commerce, to carry out the provisions of certain international conventions, and for other purposes”, approved July 5, 1946 (commonly known as the “Lanham Act” or the “Trademark Act of 1946”) ( 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq. ) by President Harry S. Truman; (2) designates the month of July 2021 as National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month ; (3) supports the goals and ideals of National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month to educate the public and raise public awareness about the actual and potential dangers counterfeit products pose to consumer health and safety; (4) affirms the continuing importance and need for comprehensive Federal, State, and private sector-supported education and awareness efforts designed to equip the consumers of the United States with the information and tools they need to safeguard against illegal counterfeit products in traditional commerce, internet commerce, and other electronic commerce platforms; (5) encourages the people of the United States to observe and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Lanham Act with appropriate anti-counterfeiting education and awareness activities; and (6) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to combating counterfeiting by promoting awareness about the actual and potential harm of counterfeiting to consumers and brand owners and by promoting new education programs and campaigns designed to reduce the supply of, and demand for, counterfeit products. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres323ats/xml/BILLS-117sres323ats.xml |
117-sres-324 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 324 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 27, 2021 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Wyden , Ms. Ernst , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Peters , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Carper , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Markey , Ms. Collins , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Johnson , Ms. Baldwin , Mrs. Blackburn , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Moran , Ms. Sinema , Ms. Hassan , and Mr. Warnock ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating July 30, 2021, as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day .
Whereas, in 1777, before the passage of the Bill of Rights, 10 sailors and Marines blew the whistle on fraud and misconduct that was harmful to the United States; Whereas the Founding Fathers unanimously supported the whistleblowers in words and deeds, including by releasing government records and providing monetary assistance for the reasonable legal expenses necessary to prevent retaliation against the whistleblowers; Whereas, on July 30, 1778, in demonstration of their full support for whistleblowers, the members of the Continental Congress unanimously passed the first whistleblower legislation in the United States that read: Resolved, That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge (legislation of July 30, 1778, reprinted in Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Worthington C. Ford et al. (Washington, DC, 1904–37), 11:732); Whereas whistleblowers risk their careers, jobs, and reputations by reporting waste, fraud, and abuse to the proper authorities; Whereas, in providing the proper authorities with lawful disclosures, whistleblowers save the taxpayers of the United States billions of dollars each year and serve the public interest by ensuring that the United States remains an ethical and safe place; and Whereas it is the public policy of the United States to encourage, in accordance with Federal law (including the Constitution of the United States, rules, and regulations) and consistent with the protection of classified information (including sources and methods of detection of classified information), honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, and other crimes to the appropriate authority at the earliest time possible: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates July 30, 2021, as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day ; and (2) ensures that the Federal Government implements the intent of the Founding Fathers, as reflected in the legislation passed on July 30, 1778 (relating to whistleblowers), by encouraging each executive agency to recognize National Whistleblower Appreciation Day by— (A) informing employees, contractors working on behalf of the taxpayers of the United States, and members of the public about the legal right of a United States citizen to blow the whistle to the appropriate authority by honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, or other crimes; and (B) acknowledging the contributions of whistleblowers to combating waste, fraud, abuse, and violations of laws and regulations of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres324ats/xml/BILLS-117sres324ats.xml |
117-sres-325 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 325 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 28, 2021 Ms. Warren (for herself, Mrs. Fischer , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Blumenthal , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Van Hollen , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Booker , Mr. Padilla , Ms. Sinema , Mr. Cardin , Mrs. Feinstein , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Markey , Mr. Peters , and Mr. Lankford ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of September 2021 as PCOS Awareness Month .
Whereas polycystic ovary syndrome (referred to in this preamble as PCOS ) is a common health problem among women and girls involving a hormonal imbalance; Whereas there is no universal definition of PCOS, but researchers estimate that between 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 women in the United States are affected by the condition; Whereas, according to a 2004 study, the annual burden of PCOS in the United States is an estimated $4,360,000,000, and this figure pertains to only the reproductive years of women and does not consider the cost of other comorbidities, including obstetrical complications, or the cost of metabolic morbidities in post-menopause or adolescence; Whereas PCOS can affect girls at the onset of puberty and throughout the remainder of their lives; Whereas the symptoms of PCOS include infertility, irregular or absent menstrual periods, acne, weight gain, thinning of scalp hair, excessive facial and body hair growth, numerous small ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, and mental health problems; Whereas women with PCOS have higher rates of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders, and are at greater risk for suicide; Whereas adolescents with PCOS often are not diagnosed, and many have metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and endometrial cancer at a young adult age; Whereas PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility; Whereas PCOS in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, miscarriage, and fetal and infant death; Whereas women with PCOS are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, and heart disease (the leading cause of death among women); Whereas women with PCOS have a more than 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes before the age of 40; Whereas women with PCOS may be at a higher risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and their risk for developing endometrial cancer is 3 times higher than women who do not have PCOS; Whereas research has found genetic evidence of a link between depression and PCOS; Whereas research has indicated PCOS shares a genetic architecture with metabolic traits, as evidenced by genetic correlations between PCOS and obesity, fasting insulin, type 2 diabetes, lipid levels, and coronary artery disease; Whereas adolescents with PCOS are at markedly increased risk for type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart disease; Whereas PCOS negatively alters metabolic function independent of, but exacerbated by, an increased body mass index (BMI); Whereas an estimated 50 percent of women with PCOS are undiagnosed and many remain undiagnosed until they experience fertility difficulties or develop type 2 diabetes or other cardiometabolic disorders; Whereas the cause of PCOS is unknown, but researchers have found strong links to a genetic predisposition and significant insulin resistance, which affects up to 70 percent of women with PCOS; and Whereas there is no known cure for PCOS: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes polycystic ovary syndrome (referred to in this resolution as PCOS ) as a serious disorder that impacts many aspects of health, including cardiometabolic, reproductive, and mental health, and quality of life; (2) expresses support for the designation of September 2021 as PCOS Awareness Month ; (3) supports the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness Month, which are— (A) to increase awareness of, and education about, PCOS and its connection to comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and mental health disorders, among the general public, women, girls, and health care professionals; (B) to improve diagnosis and treatment of PCOS; (C) to disseminate information on diagnosis, treatment, and management of PCOS, including prevention of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and eating disorders; and (D) to improve quality of life and outcomes for women and girls with PCOS; (4) recognizes the need for further research, improved treatment and care options, and a cure for PCOS; (5) acknowledges the struggles affecting all women and girls afflicted with PCOS in the United States; (6) urges medical researchers and health care professionals to advance their understanding of PCOS to improve research, diagnosis, and treatment of PCOS for women and girls; and (7) encourages States, territories, and localities to support the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness Month. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres325is/xml/BILLS-117sres325is.xml |
117-sres-326 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 326 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 28, 2021 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Rubio , and Mr. Kaine ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Peru.
Whereas July 2021 marks two centuries of Peru’s independence from Spain, an occasion also referred to as Las Fiestas Patrias ; Whereas Peru’s proclamation of independence in July 1821 marked a historical turning point at a time when countries in the hemisphere were collectively on a quest for independence and freedom; Whereas Peru’s Act of Independence was written by Manuel Pérez de Tudela—a prominent Peruvian attorney and patriot—and took place in Lima on July 15, 1821; Whereas, on July 28, 1821, José Francisco de San Martín—an Argentine General who helped propel independence movements in the region and who played a pivotal role in Peru’s independence—proclaimed at the Plaza de Armas, Since this moment, Peru is free and independent by the general will of the people and by justice of their cause that God defends. Long live the Homeland! Long live freedom! Long live independence! ; Whereas the road to Peru’s independence consisted of a long and arduous process, initiated decades prior through the various uprisings of mestizo and indigenous populations who protested their oppression and sought to improve their rights and livelihoods; Whereas Peru’s proclamation of independence marked the beginning of the people of Peru’s quest to establish a government committed to advancing the democratic rights and prosperity of its citizens; Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with Peru in 1827 and today both countries enjoy a strategic partnership based on shared democratic values and interests of democratic governance, the rule of law, security, economic prosperity, and human rights; Whereas the bonds of association and friendship between the peoples of the two countries have been strengthened by the large number of Peruvians who have migrated to the United States where they make significant contributions to both the United States and Peru; and Whereas Peruvians and Peruvian Americans residing in the United States have enriched and added to the United States way of life in the social, economic, and political arenas, and Peru’s rich identity and heritage have become an integral part of the cultural tapestry of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) commemorates the 200th anniversary of the independence of Peru; (2) recognizes the historical significance of Peru’s independence in the Western Hemisphere and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the people of Peru in their quest for further development, stability, and prosperity; (3) expresses support for the principles of democratic governance to which the people of Peru are committed; and (4) celebrates the contributions that Peruvians and Peruvian Americans have made in the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres326is/xml/BILLS-117sres326is.xml |
117-sres-327 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 327 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 28, 2021 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Risch , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Rubio , Ms. Ernst , and Mr. Braun ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration RESOLUTION Amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to require inflationary impact statements in committee reports.
That paragraph 11 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraph (c) as subparagraph (d); (2) by inserting after subparagraph (b) the following: (c) Each committee report shall also contain a detailed analytical statement as to whether, and the extent to which, the increased budget authority, outlays, or revenue produced by the enactment of the bill or joint resolution into law may have an inflationary impact on prices and costs in the operation of the national economy. The statement shall also include whether, and the extent to which, the inflationary impact would affect the purchasing power of low and middle income families. ; and (3) in subparagraph (d), as so redesignated, by striking subparagraphs (a) and (b) and inserting subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c) . | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres327is/xml/BILLS-117sres327is.xml |
117-sres-328 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 328 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 29, 2021 Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mr. Manchin ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating August 1, 2021, as “Gold Star Children's Day”.
Whereas the recognition of Gold Star Families in the United States dates back to World War I, when the families of fallen service members displayed a service flag in the window of their homes with a gold star; Whereas, in 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law legislation declaring Gold Star Mother’s Day, a national observance honoring the mothers of fallen service members annually on the last Sunday of September; Whereas, since 2010, the Senate has honored Gold Star Spouses by resolution annually on April 5, recognizing the unique sacrifices made by spouses of fallen service members; Whereas thousands of sons and daughters of military families have lost mothers or fathers who served in the Armed Forces and also deserve national recognition for the burden and legacy they carry; and Whereas no date has existed to specifically recognize the children of fallen service members of the United States as part of a national debt of gratitude that the people of the United States owe to the service members who sacrificed all in protecting the freedom of the United States and the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates August 1, 2021, as Gold Star Children’s Day ; (2) honors the sacrifices and hardships of the children of fallen service members; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe Gold Star Children’s Day in support of children of the fallen men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres328ats/xml/BILLS-117sres328ats.xml |
117-sres-329 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 329 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 29, 2021 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mrs. Blackburn ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Amending the eligibility criteria for the Senate Employee Child Care Center.
1. Senate Employee Child Care Center (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Board means the Board of Directors of the Center; (2) the term Center means the Senate Employee Child Care Center; (3) the term Congressional employee means a Congressional employee, as defined in section 2107 of title 5, United States Code, who is not an employee of the Senate or an employee of the Center; (4) the term employee of the Senate has the meaning given that term in section 207(e)(9) of title 18, United States Code; and (5) the term Federal employee means an employee, as defined in section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, who is not an employee of the Senate, an employee of the Center, or a Congressional employee. (b) Reimbursement For fiscal year 2022, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of the Senate shall, from amounts in the appropriations account Miscellaneous Items within the contingent fund of the Senate, reimburse the Center for the cost of the basic pay paid to the Executive Director and the cost of the basic pay paid to the Assistant Director of the Center. (c) Enrollment (1) In general As a condition of receiving reimbursement under subsection (b), not later than 120 days after the date on which no parent or guardian of a child enrolled at the Center is serving in a position as an employee of the Senate, an employee of the Center, a Congressional employee, or a Federal employee, the Center shall terminate the enrollment of the child at the Center. (2) Order As a condition of receiving reimbursement under subsection (b), the Center shall provide enrollment— (A) first, to a child of an individual serving as a Senate employee or as an employee of the Center; (B) second, to a child of an individual serving as a Congressional employee; and (C) third, if there is an enrollment slot available in the Center, no child of an individual serving as an employee of the Senate, as an employee of the Center, or as a Congressional employee accepts the slot, and no currently enrolled child is ready to transition to the class in which the slot is available, to a child of an individual serving as a Federal employee. (3) Effective date; application (A) In general Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of adoption of this resolution. (B) Application to employees separating from service before effective date For purposes of applying paragraph (1) to a parent or guardian of a child enrolled at the Center who ceases serving in a position as a Congressional employee, an employee of the Center, or Federal employee before the date on which paragraph (1) takes effect, the parent or guardian shall be deemed to have separated from such service on the date on which paragraph (1) takes effect. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres329ats/xml/BILLS-117sres329ats.xml |
117-sres-330 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 330 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 29, 2021 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Ms. Lummis , Mr. Schumer , Mr. McConnell , Ms. Baldwin , 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 , 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 Relating to the death of the Honorable Mike Enzi, former Senator for the State of Wyoming.
Whereas Mike Enzi was born in Bremerton, Washington, where his father was serving in the naval shipyards during World War II, and was raised in Thermopolis and Sheridan, Wyoming; Whereas Mike Enzi, who never ceased his involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, was an Eagle Scout and a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award; Whereas Mike Enzi earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from George Washington University in 1966 and a master's degree in retail marketing from the University of Denver in 1968; Whereas Mike Enzi served in the Wyoming Air National Guard from 1967 to 1973; Whereas, in 1969, Mike Enzi married Diana Buckley, who then moved to Gillette, Wyoming, together to— (1) expand his father’s shoe business, NZ Shoes; (2) raise their 3 children, Amy, Brad, and Emily; and (3) spend time as the proud grandparents of Megan, Allison, Trey, and Lilly; Whereas Mike Enzi was an accomplished fly fisherman, having achieved, in 2015, the dream of every fly fisherman by completing his Wyoming Cutt-Slam ; Whereas, in 1974, Mike Enzi began his more than 40 years of elected public service on behalf of the people of Wyoming, including— (1) 2 terms as Mayor of Gillette; (2) 2 terms as a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives; (3) 2 terms as a member of the Wyoming Senate; and (4) 4 terms as a member of the United States Senate, where he served for 24 years after first being elected in 1996; Whereas Mike Enzi served as Chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and, in 2015, became the first accountant to chair the Committee on the Budget of the Senate, where he worked to enact comprehensive tax reform; Whereas Mike Enzi championed— (1) efforts to ensure a quality education for all; and (2) initiatives to improve workforce development; Whereas Mike Enzi expanded access to affordable, quality health care and spearheaded the most significant pension reform in 30 years, securing the retirements of millions of individuals in the United States; Whereas Mike Enzi focused on— (1) the soaring national debt; (2) reforming the Federal budget process; (3) improving mine safety; (4) helping end the AIDS epidemic in Africa; (5) passing legislation to improve mental health parity; and (6) championing Wyoming and coal country; Whereas Mike Enzi followed the 80/20 rule when legislating, focusing efforts on passing legislation on the 80 percent of an issue on which agreement could be reached; Whereas Mike Enzi successfully passed more than 100 bills that were signed into law; Whereas Mike Enzi served with intelligence, dignity, and grace, and never wavered in his commitment to God, family, country, and Wyoming; and Whereas Mike Enzi was known by many as the moral compass of the Senate, and lived by the mission statement, Doing What Is Right, Doing Our Best, Treating Others as They Wish to be Treated : Now, therefore, be it
That— (1) the Senate— (A) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Mike Enzi, former Senator for the State of Wyoming; and (B) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate— (i) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and (ii) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Mike Enzi; and (2) when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Mike Enzi. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres330ats/xml/BILLS-117sres330ats.xml |
117-sres-331 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 331 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 29, 2021 Mr. Schumer (for himself, Mr. Cassidy , and Mr. Padilla ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating August 11, 2021, as Hip Hop Celebration Day , designating August 2021 as Hip Hop Recognition Month , and designating November 2021 as Hip Hop History Month .
Whereas, on August 11, 1973, at a Back To School Jam organized by his sister Cindy Campbell and held at the recreation room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York, Clive DJ Kool Herc Campbell introduced his innovative style of disk jockeying and, together with the master of ceremonies engaging the crowd with rap on the microphone while partygoers known as B-boys and B-girls danced, introduced a new style, later known as Hip Hop , which combined the elements of a disk jockey (commonly known as a DJ ), a master of ceremonies (commonly known as an MC ), music, art, fashion, and dance; Whereas, from its humble beginnings in New York City, the music, lyricism, dance, fashion, and art of Hip Hop has become a culture, now found in communities across the United States, and has long been a worldwide phenomenon; Whereas the art and culture of Hip Hop is an original American creation; Whereas Hip Hop and other genres of music, such as jazz from New Orleans, Louisiana, blues from Mississippi, country from the South, and gospel, soul, rock and roll, and indigenous music from across the United States, have all transcended boundaries; Whereas the Hip Hop genre has been reinvented often over the years since 1973, reflecting the State, city, and region of the music, from G-funk and Hyphy on the West Coast, to Bass and Trap in the South, to Drill in the Midwest, to many other sounds from coast to coast and from abroad, including the New School, which continues that trend; Whereas Hip Hop artists and supporters, originally of African heritage, now transcend many different ages, ethnicities, religions, locations, political affiliations, and socioeconomic statuses, which demonstrates the melting-pot quality of Hip Hop art and culture; Whereas the art and culture of Hip Hop have been adapted in many innovative forms that are inspirational, challenging, humorous, thought-provoking, and spiritual; Whereas Hip Hop has provided opportunities for extracurricular activities, youth counseling, creative outlets, physical fitness, vocabulary exercises, poetry, analytical thinking, entertainment, employment, and economic impact, and has become an industry that generates more than a billion dollars annually; Whereas Hip Hop art, education, and culture have positive effects on society; Whereas, on August 11, 2021, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop Celebration Day; Whereas, during the month of August 2021, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop Recognition Month; and Whereas, during the month of November 2021, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop History Month: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) designates August 11, 2021, as Hip Hop Celebration Day ; (2) designates the month of August 2021 as Hip Hop Recognition Month ; (3) designates the month of November 2021 as Hip Hop History Month ; (4) recognizes the contributions of Hip Hop to art and culture; (5) encourages Senators to plan appropriate activities that support the objective of the Back to School Jam of August 11, 1973; and (6) encourages local governments in the United States to build partnerships with local Hip Hop entities and other members of the creative arts and music communities. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres331ats/xml/BILLS-117sres331ats.xml |
117-sres-332 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 332 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 30, 2021 Mr. Ossoff (for himself and Mr. Warnock ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Honoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 75th anniversary of its establishment and expressing deep gratitude on behalf of the people of the United States to the scientists, disease detectives, career civil servants, and support staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for their dedication to protecting the health, safety, and security of the United States and to strengthening public health in the United States and abroad.
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this preamble as the CDC ), based in Atlanta, Georgia, was established by the United States Government on July 1, 1946, initially to prevent the spread of malaria in the United States, and soon became the premier public health agency of the United States; Whereas, because medical epidemiologists were scarce in the United States prior to the establishment of the CDC, disease surveillance became the cornerstone of the mission of service of the CDC to the States; Whereas, since 1946, the scientists, disease detectives, career civil servants, and support staff of the CDC have worked every day to combat diseases like malaria, yellow fever, smallpox, polio, influenza, and Ebola; Whereas the Epidemic Intelligence Service of the CDC has trained disease detectives at home and abroad, producing some of the top epidemiologists in the world; Whereas the CDC has played a vital role in implementing high-profile and innovative programs, including the President’s Malaria Initiative, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and the Global Health Security Agenda, helping save millions of human lives; Whereas the staff of the CDC were instrumental in global efforts to effectively eradicate smallpox in 1980 and are currently working to eliminate polio worldwide; Whereas the CDC has spent decades building public health infrastructure and capacity around the world to detect, respond to, and contain outbreaks of deadly diseases like Zika and Ebola; Whereas the CDC assisted with disaster relief in Haiti, partnering with the Haitian public health ministry to respond to the cholera outbreak after the devastating 2010 earthquake; Whereas the CDC has an established record of working to improve access to cancer screenings and treatment, prevent child malnutrition, protect workers, reduce developmental disabilities and birth defects, prevent injuries, and protect the public from dangerous environmental exposures; Whereas the National Asthma Control Program of the CDC funds programs for States, schools, and nongovernmental organizations to help train professionals and educate people living with asthma and their families; Whereas the CDC has worked to end the opioid overdose crisis by funding efforts to improve data collection about opioid use and implement evidence-based strategies to save lives; Whereas a core principle of public health is that every person should be able to reach his or her full health potential, and the CDC seeks to remove barriers to health linked to race or ethnicity, education, income, location, or other social factors, including vital work to improve health equity; Whereas the CDC employs more than 23,000 employees around the world, supporting the agency's 24/7 mission of saving lives and protecting people from health threats; Whereas political leaders of the United States should support and empower the public health experts at the CDC and other leading national health agencies to guide with science during public health crises; and Whereas the strength and efficacy of the public health system of the United States and the response of the United States to the COVID–19 pandemic depends upon the leadership, expertise, and professionalism of the CDC staff who continue working tirelessly to fight COVID–19 and provide science-based guidance to protect families and save lives in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this resolution as the CDC ); (2) declares its deep gratitude on behalf of the people of the United States to the scientists, disease detectives, career civil servants, and support staff at the CDC for their dedication to fighting diseases and working every day to combat the COVID–19 pandemic; (3) urges Federal agencies, State and local governments, and organizations nationwide to study and incorporate the evidence-based public health guidance and recommendations provided by the CDC; (4) expresses its confidence in the scientific method, evidence-based policymaking, and the medical and public health professions, including the scientific field of epidemiology; and (5) honors the contributions of the CDC staff for their leadership and dedicated public service to protecting the health, safety, and security of the United States, and to strengthening public health in the United States and abroad. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres332is/xml/BILLS-117sres332is.xml |
117-sres-333 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 333 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 30, 2021 Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mr. Peters , 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 , 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. 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 , 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 the Honorable Carl Levin, former Senator for the State of Michigan.
Whereas Carl Levin was born on June 28, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Detroit public schools; Whereas, in 1956, Carl Levin earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Whereas, in 1959, Carl Levin— (1) graduated from Harvard Law School; (2) was admitted to the State Bar in Michigan; and (3) began practicing law in Detroit; Whereas, in 1961, Carl Levin married Barbara Halpern, who raised 3 daughters together: Kate, Laura, and Erica; Whereas Carl Levin was the proud grandfather of 6 grandchildren; Whereas, in 1964, Carl Levin began his more than 50 years in public service as a tireless advocate for the people of Michigan, including serving as— (1) the Assistant Attorney General and General Counsel for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission from 1964 to 1967; (2) Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan and Chief Appellate Defender for the City of Detroit from 1968 to 1969; (3) a member of the Detroit City Council from 1969to 1973 and as president of the Detroit City Council from 1975 to 1977; and (4) a Senator from 1979 to 2015, serving the people of the State of Michigan in the United States Senate for 36 years; Whereas Carl Levin served on— (1) the Committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and (2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; Whereas Carl Levin was a leader on military and national security issues during his time in the Senate, serving as the Chair of the Committee on Armed Services from 2001 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2015, during which he— (1) led countless annual bipartisan defense authorization bills through the Senate; (2) fought to eliminate fraud and waste in the Department of Defense; and (3) was a tireless champion for service members and their families; Whereas Carl Levin was a firm believer in government oversight, serving as the chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate from 2001 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2015, during which he— (1) led dozens of major investigations to protect families in the United States from abusive credit card practices; (2) took on major corporations and financial institutions who were gaming the system at the expense of hardworking taxpayers; and (3) held bad actors accountable for their wrongdoing; Whereas the family of Carl Levin is one that is devoted to public service, including— (1) his older brother, Sander Levin, who served in Congress with Carl Levin and who represented Michigan in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 2019; and (2) his nephew, Andy Levin, who is, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, representing Michigan’s 9th congressional district in the House of Representatives; Whereas Carl Levin was— (1) the longest-serving Senator in the history of the State of Michigan; and (2) the longest-serving Jewish Senator in the history of the United States; Whereas the USS Carl M. Levin (DDG–120), a Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was named in honor of Carl Levin; Whereas, following his retirement from the Senate, Carl Levin returned to Michigan to work in private practice and help establish the Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School to promote and advance fact-based, bipartisan government oversight; and Whereas Carl Levin will be remembered as an honorable and honest public servant, with an endless intellect, work ethic, and integrity, known for achieving collaboration and compromise: Now, therefore, be it
That— (1) the Senate— (A) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Carl Levin, former Senator for the State of Michigan; (B) extends heartfelt condolences to the entire family of the Honorable Carl Levin and all those who knew and loved him; and (C) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate— (i) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and (ii) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Carl Levin; and (2) when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Carl Levin. | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres333ats/xml/BILLS-117sres333ats.xml |
117-sres-334 | III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 334 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 3, 2021 Ms. Warren (for herself, Mr. Markey , and Mr. Heinrich ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Memorializing those impacted by and lost to the COVID–19 virus.
Whereas the first Monday in March is an appropriate day to be recognized as COVID–19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day ; Whereas COVID–19 (SARS–CoV–2), a novel coronavirus, is a deadly illness caused by a virus that can transmit from person to person; Whereas, in 2020, COVID–19 began to spread throughout the world, creating a global pandemic that has had a catastrophic impact on human life, communities in the United States, and the United States economy; Whereas, in March 2020, communities in every State began to experience increased loss of life and families lost fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, and neighbors from the virus; Whereas, beginning in 2020, many across the United States were, and continue to be, personally impacted by COVID–19, including mourning their loved ones and neighbors or suffering from the unknown long-term health implications of the virus; Whereas, by the end of July 2021, there had been more than 34,733,631 known cases of the virus in the United States and more than 600,000 people tragically lost their lives; Whereas COVID–19 has had a disproportionate impact on low-income communities and communities of color, with higher rates of infection and death, exacerbating inequities already prevalent in our systems that must addressed throughout the United States; Whereas public servants, frontline and essential workers, and health care professionals took selfless actions to protect their neighbors and communities, support struggling local economies, and find innovative ways to provide services; Whereas local, State, Tribal, and Federal Government entities provided critical support to businesses, communities, and the people of the United States in need; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic continues to have an impact on the United States and countries around the world; and Whereas each life lost to COVID–19, each inequity and broken system brought to light, and each sacrifice made shall never be forgotten: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate— (1) will memorialize those lost to the COVID–19 virus; (2) recognizes the suffering of those who contracted the COVID–19 virus and survived but carry with them the unknown health side effects; and (3) expresses support for the designation of the first Monday in March as COVID–19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day . | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117sres334is/xml/BILLS-117sres334is.xml |
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