Centennial State News

John W. Hickenlooper and Michael F. Bennet were mentioned in PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS on pages S4612-S4619 covering the 2nd Session of the 117th Congress published on Sept. 14 in the Congressional Record.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

POM-207. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to review and reform the National Flood Insurance Program's pricing methodology known as Risk Rating 2.0; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 84

Whereas, various scientific studies have reported climate change as having an impact on the current increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters; and

Whereas, various scientific studies predict continued increases in the frequency and severity of natural disasters; and

Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reported that flooding is the most common and most expensive type of natural disaster in the United States; and

Whereas, FEMA has reported that one inch of water pooled in a single-story, one thousand square foot home can cause approximately eleven thousand dollars worth of damage; and

Whereas, a home is the most valuable asset owned by many families; and

Whereas, flood insurance is a product designed to mitigate the cost of repairs needed due to flood damage by offering coverage at a rate based on certain risk factors; and

Whereas, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers a maximum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars of flood insurance coverage for residential structures for families of one to four; and

Whereas, beginning October 1, 2021, new flood insurance policies issued by NFIP are subject to the rating methodology known as Risk Rating 2.0; and

Whereas, all flood insurance policies issued by NFIP that are renewed on or after April 1, 2022 are subject to Risk Rating 2.0; and

Whereas, the flood insurance rates for certain families are increasing up to eighteen percent per year; and

Whereas, citizens of the town of Jean Lafitte have elevated their homes but will nevertheless pay higher flood insurance rates under Risk Rating 2.0; and

Whereas, the language used to explain Risk Rating 2.0 in correspondence with policyholders is unclear to laypersons and difficult to understand; and

Whereas, policyholders should receive correspondence explaining Risk Rating 2.0 that utilizes language a policyholder can understand without the assistance of legal counsel; and

Whereas, increased residential flood insurance rates may discourage people from purchasing homes in south Louisiana; and

Whereas, a decrease in demand, as a result of increased flood insurance rates, may discourage individuals and property developers from building new homes in south Louisiana; and

Whereas, increased flood insurance rates may result in homeowners opting to not purchase flood insurance, which would expose them to bearing the full expense of repairing their home if it is damaged by a flood; and

Whereas, many homeowners would be unable to afford to repair their home if it were damaged by a flood and they did not receive flood insurance proceeds; and

Whereas, flood insurance should be affordable to all citizens of Louisiana, including residents of coastal communities in south Louisiana; and

Whereas, congress has oversight authority over federal administrative agencies, including FEMA and NFIP; and

Whereas, the members of the Louisiana congressional delegation have an obligation to effectuate federal legislative changes for the benefit of the citizens of Louisiana.

Therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to review and reform NFIP's pricing methodology known as Risk Rating 2.0; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

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POM-208. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana urging and requesting the President of the United States, the Governor of Louisiana and the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to do everything in their power to halt federal actions resulting in the delay or cancellation of offshore oil and natural gas lease sales and strongly urge the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Biden Administration to expedite actions necessary to comply with the order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to resolve Lease Sale 257 and finalize a new five- year plan for oil and gas leasing on the outer continental shelf; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 43

Whereas, the Gulf of Mexico produces approximately seventeen percent of the U.S. crude oil and five percent of U.S. natural gas while contributing five to eight billion dollars to the federal treasury each year and sends hundreds of millions of dollars to coastal states for coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects; and

Whereas, the oil and gas industry directly supports two hundred forty-nine thousand eight hundred jobs in Louisiana and the oil and gas industry activities represent twenty-six percent of Louisiana's Gross Domestic Product, accounting for nearly four and one half billion dollars in state and local tax revenue in 2019 alone, with fourteen and one half percent of total state taxes, licenses, and fees collected; and

Whereas, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

(BOEM) which regulates offshore lease sales, the Gulf of Mexico continues to be the nation's primary offshore source of oil and gas, generating about ninety-seven percent of all U.S. outer continental shelf (OCS) oil and gas production; and

Whereas, since 2017, Gulf of Mexico lease sales have generated more than one billion dollars from offshore leasing; and

Whereas, since 1953, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior has been required by law to prepare a five-year plan to set a schedule for oil and gas leases in U.S. offshore waters; and

Whereas, it is a lengthy, multi-year regulatory process with multiple stages for public comment, input, and consultation; and

Whereas, the Obama Administration issued a five-year-plan for oil and gas leasing that expires on July 1, 2022; and

Whereas, there are two remaining lease sales for the Gulf of Mexico authorized under the current five-year plan, including Lease Sale 259 and Lease Sale 261; and

Whereas, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) missed the deadline to issue a notice of sale for Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 259 in order to meet the expiration of the current five-year plan; and

Whereas, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, on January 27, 2021, declaring a pause on leasing on federal lands and waters, including the OCS of the Gulf of Mexico; and

Whereas, the U.S. District Court ordered a preliminary injunction on the leasing pause and ordered federal oil and gas lease sales to proceed on June 15, 2021; and

Whereas, the DOI held Lease Sale 257 on November 17, 2021; however, on January 27, 2022, a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia invalidated Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 257 requiring the DOI to reassess the environmental impacts of Lease Sale 257; and

Whereas, the DOI is not appealing the court ruling and therefore there is no indication that leases will be awarded to the offshore companies; and

Whereas, there is no indication that the federal government will hold another Gulf of Mexico offshore lease sale for the duration of President Biden's term; and

Whereas, there is no indication that the DOI is working on the next OCS five year plan; and

Whereas, since December 2019 crude output fell slightly, with a drop of nearly thirteen and one half percent in offshore Gulf of Mexico production; however, demand for oil has climbed nine and eight-tenths percent in the same period; and

Whereas, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA), which allows Gulf states to share in offshore revenue generated from offshore oil activity including bonus bid revenue, is the only reliable source of funding for Louisiana's coastal programs; and

Whereas, over the past five years Louisiana has received between one hundred sixty million and four hundred seven million dollars from bonus bids alone; and

Whereas, it is estimated that the state of Louisiana lost approximately twenty to forty million dollars in 2021 due to the cancelled lease sales and lost bonus bid revenue; and

Whereas, Louisiana depends on GOMESA revenues to fund a fifty billion dollar coastal restoration plan; and

Whereas, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior is required by law to prepare a five-year plan to set a schedule for oil and gas leases in federal offshore waters; and

Whereas, delaying or canceling Gulf of Mexico leasing negatively impacts federal and state revenue, as well as Louisiana businesses and jobs; and

Whereas, drilling contractors will see impacts dropping as many as one quarter of the remaining Gulf of Mexico rigs over the next several years; and

Whereas, every drillship maintains an entire network of staff, supply boats, and other vendors that support roughly one thousand jobs per rig; and

Whereas, the Gulf of Mexico is the safest and cleanest oil produced anywhere in the world; and

Whereas, halting domestic energy development in one of the lowest carbon intensive energy producing regions in the world will shift production and capital investment overseas and undermine decades of environmental progress; and

Whereas, a 2016 Obama Administration study conducted by BOEM concluded that America's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be only slightly affected by leasing decisions on BOEM's offshore leasing program and could result in an increase of GHG emissions in the absence of new OCS leasing due to an increase in importing foreign oil; and

Whereas, the current administration is pursuing a policy that places the U.S. at the mercy of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia to meet our domestic needs, harming our national and economic security; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the president of the United States, the governor of Louisiana and the Louisiana congressional delegation to do everything in their power to halt federal actions resulting in the delay or cancellation of offshore oil and natural gas lease sales and strongly urge the U.S. Department of Interior and the Biden Administration to expedite actions necessary to comply with the order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to resolve Lease Sale 257 and finalize a new five-year plan for oil and gas leasing on the outer continental shelf; and be it further

Resolved, That all efforts should focus on mandated lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico; and be it further

Resolved, That the clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward a copy of this Resolution to the president of the United States, the secretary of the interior, the secretary of energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the White House national climate advisor, the speaker and clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the president pro tempore and secretary of the United States Senate, and the members of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

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POM-209. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Colorado concerning support for Ukraine against Russian aggression; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 22-004

Whereas, The post-war international security order, led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has relied upon diplomacy, peace, and open communication over armed conflict to ensure prosperity and stability for over one billion people for more than 70 years; and

Whereas, Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian people voted overwhelmingly to form a nation independent from Russia, building a democracy and a thriving country grounded in the rule of law; and

Whereas, In 2014, the pro-Western Euromaidan protest movement in Ukraine led to the resignation of authoritarian president Viktor Yanukovych, a brutal ally of Vladimir Putin, ushering in democratically elected leaders who have sought closer ties to the European Union and the United States; and

Whereas, The Russian Federation, seeking to block the free will of the Ukrainian people in their pursuit of security, peace, and prosperity through closer ties to the European Union and the United States, annexed territory from Ukraine in 2014 and instigated, supported, and supplied a deadly separatist war in Eastern Ukraine that has destabilized the region and killed thousands of civilians; and

Whereas, The Russian Federation deployed military assets to support the separatist militias in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, resulting in the reckless missile attack that downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and killed 298 innocent civilians in 2014; and

Whereas, Vladimir Putin intentionally lied to his own people and to the global community to create a false pretext to invade and occupy Ukraine based on lies that Ukraine posed a threat to Russians and that falsely connected Ukraine and its political leaders to Nazism; and

Whereas, The Russian Federation violated international peace and security agreements that sought a peaceful solution in Eastern Ukraine and instead amassed hundreds of thousands of troops on Ukraine's border; and

Whereas, Vladimir Putin has now launched an unjust and unwarranted invasion upon the peaceful nation of Ukraine; and

Whereas, Russian soldiers are currently sweeping through the country, inflicting violence and terror upon millions of civilians and destroying homes, businesses, and properties; and

Whereas, Ukraine is a proud and honorable nation under siege, and the brutality of this unnecessary and violent war is an affront to both international law and common decency; and

Whereas, Ukraine has been a bulwark against Russian military aggression in Europe, and Vladimir Putin has said that his goal is to recreate the Soviet Union and may have intentions to threaten NATO allies with military force; and

Whereas, Vladimir Putin has sought to destabilize countries across Europe and interfere in other countries' elections and democracies, including the United States; and

Whereas, The United States has galvanized the international community and our allies to impose the strongest possible sanctions on Russia and its financial institutions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and

Whereas, Colorado is home to thousands of Ukrainian Americans and to millions who care deeply for and stand strongly in support of the Ukrainian people; and

Whereas, Ukraine deserves the support of every American and the entire international community as it defends itself from this unprovoked Russian invasion, the largest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly:

(1) Proudly stand alongside Ukraine, its people, and its leaders during this horrific and unnecessary war and vow to support Ukraine and hold Russia fully accountable for its catastrophic decision to invade;

(2) Condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Vladimir Putin's violent attack on the people of Ukraine and strongly endorse the swift and severe economic sanctions and stringent export controls that President Biden's administration has imposed on Russia; and

(3) Urge Russia to immediately cease its violent, illegal, and immoral assault upon Ukraine, end the needless bloodshed, and return to diplomacy and the rules-based international order that has ensured peace and prosperity for so many. Be it further

Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, and all members of Colorado's Congressional delegation.

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POM-210. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana encouraging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to take proactive measures to stand firmly against the totalitarian efforts of the world Marxist/communist movement to protect the citizens of our great state and this nation from the leviathan and evil that is the Chinese Communist Party; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 13

Whereas, the initial global Marxist/communist movement was directed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and had as its declared objective, world control; and

Whereas, world hegemony was to be accomplished through aggression, force, violence, and tactics that included fraud, espionage, sabotage, infiltration, subversion, propaganda, terrorism, and treachery; and

Whereas, since the 1991 collapse of the USSR and the Warsaw Pac the hegemonic and totalitarian nation-state of China has become the focal point for the spread of dangerous and tyrannical Marxist, communist, and socialist influences around the globe and has recently aligned with the Russian Federation to act in concert against the West and the rest of the free world, and together they champion tenets of the former Marxist/communist movement; and

Whereas, the direction and control of the world Marxist/ communist movement is now vested in and exercised by the People's Republic of China (PRC); and

Whereas, the PRC, subject to the dictatorial authority of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is actively and surreptitiously furthering the purposes of the world Marxist/ communist movement; and

Whereas, the CCP has established or caused the establishment of various action organizations and ``front'' companies, which are entities that are not free and independent but components of the PRC's apparatus and that are controlled and directed by and subject to the discipline of the dictatorship in the CCP; and

Whereas, the CCP conducts predatory trade practices and is suspected of facilitating the shipment of pirated and stolen goods and technologies, all of which harms Louisiana and American businesses and workers; and

Whereas, the state of Louisiana, as a sovereign political entity under the Constitution of the United States and as a functioning representative state government that is responsible solely to the people of this state under the constitutions of this state and nation, is a most probable and obvious target for those who seek by force, violence, subterfuge, and other unlawful means to overthrow constitutional government, so Louisiana is in perpetual danger of Marxist/communist espionage, infiltration, subversion and sabotage, which would put at risk the state's economy, the international waterway that is the Mississippi River which runs through Louisiana, and these actions will put at risk critical transshipment routes for oil, gas, grain, coal, and chemicals that are all linchpins of the state and nation's economy; and

Whereas, Marxist/communist expansion and ultimately control of a country is characterized by an absolute denial of the right of self-government and by the abolition of those personal liberties which are cherished and held sacred in the state of Louisiana and in the United States of America; and

Whereas, the Legislature of Louisiana highlights the deaths of over seventy million Chinese citizens at the hands of its own state apparatus and dictators, the enslavement and on- going efforts to exterminate the Uyghur people and install Gulag-comparable oppression in the Xinjiang region, the maltreatment of minority citizens including peoples of color, maltreatment of homosexuals, the lack of religious and press freedoms, the persecution of people of faith, and draconian population control measures as the heinous benchmarks of the CCP that must be illuminated as actions the United States and Louisiana will not allow to endanger our great nation and state; and

Whereas, communist action organizations and front companies, as established and utilized in the United States, act under control, direction, and discipline of the CCP and endeavor to carry out the objectives of the world Marxist/ communist movement under the guise of legitimate businesses and academic and political entities; and

Whereas, the world Marxist/communist movement, which, emanating from the CCP and extending to all corners of the globe, aims to bring about the destabilization and subjugation of legitimate and free governments by any available means, including force when called for, and to set up totalitarian dictatorships that suppress liberty and eradicate human rights; and

Whereas, those who unwittingly and/or sophomorically aid the advancement of these aims of the world Marxist/communist movement and who participate in the subversive work of the movement in effect aid in the growth, influence, and detrimental presence of this cancer on liberty that extends from the CCP and are themselves victims of the world Marxist/ communist movement; and

Whereas, by insidious and ruthless tactics such as predatory economic actions, infiltration of institutions of higher learning, sabotage, political party infiltration, propaganda, and subversion, the agents of the world Marxist/ communist movement are attempting to lay the groundwork for the dissolution of the free society that is the United States of America and the state of Louisiana; and

Whereas, by dangerous experiments, including the possible release of deadly pathogens, and the testing and employment of balance-of-power changing weapons, the CCP puts the health and stability of the entire earth at risk; and

Whereas, the world Marxist/communist movement is not a legitimate political effort but is in fact a tyrannical criminal conspiracy with an end goal of the ruination of western civilization and liberal democracy; and

Whereas, because the world Marxist/communist movement constitutes a clear and present danger to the citizens of the state of Louisiana and is an unequivocal enemy of this state and nation, the Congress of the United States and the president of the United States, in order to protect the people of the country and state, to preserve the sovereignty of the state under the Constitutions of the United States and the state of Louisiana, and to guarantee to the state a republican form of government, should enact appropriate legislation recognizing the existence of the Marxist/ communist movement and preventing it from accomplishing its purposes in the state of Louisiana and throughout these United States; and

Whereas, the guarantees of sovereignty and freedom enjoyed by this state and its citizens are certain to vanish if the United States and its constitution are minimized, degraded, or destroyed by the Marxist/communist movement. Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby encourage the Congress of the United States and the president of the United States to take proactive measures to stand firmly against the totalitarian efforts of the world Marxist/ communist movement and to protect the citizens of our great state and this nation from the leviathan and evil that is the Chinese Communist Party; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

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POM-211. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana commending and honoring the pregnancy care centers of Louisiana; encouraging the United States Congress and federal and state government agencies to grant assistance to pregnancy care centers for medical equipment and abstinence education in a manner that does not compromise the centers' mission or religious integrity; expressing the sense of the legislature regarding actions of any national, state, or local groups attempting to prevent pregnancy care centers from effectively serving women and men facing unplanned pregnancies; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 93

Whereas, pregnancy care centers have a considerable and growing impact on the women, men, children, and communities they serve; and

Whereas, pregnancy care centers serve women in Louisiana and across the United States with integrity and passion; there are more than two thousand five hundred pregnancy care centers across the United States that provide comprehensive care to women and men facing unplanned pregnancies by providing resources that meet their physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs; and

Whereas, pregnancy care centers offer women free, confidential, and compassionate services including pregnancy tests, peer counseling, twenty-four hour per day telephone hotlines, childbirth and parenting classes, community health care referrals, and other support services; and

Whereas, many medical pregnancy care centers offer ultrasounds and other medical services and provide information on adoption and adoption referrals to pregnant women; and

Whereas, pregnancy care centers encourage women to make positive life choices by equipping them with complete and accurate information regarding their pregnancy options and the development of their unborn children; and

Whereas, pregnancy care centers provide women with compassionate and confidential peer counseling in a nonjudgmental manner regardless of their pregnancy outcomes; they also provide important support and resources for women who choose childbirth over abortion; and

Whereas, pregnancy care centers ensure that women receive prenatal information and services that lead to the birth of healthy infants, and many centers provide grief assistance for women and men who regret past choices; and

Whereas, many pregnancy care centers also work to prevent unplanned pregnancies by teaching effective abstinence education in public schools; and

Whereas, the federal government and state governments have increasingly recognized the value of the services offered by pregnancy care centers and have designated public funds for such organizations; and

Whereas, pregnancy care centers operate primarily through reliance on the voluntary donations and time of individuals who are committed to caring for the needs of women and promoting and protecting life, and the centers operating in Louisiana are most deserving of the highest recognition for their efforts. Therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend and honor the pregnancy care centers of Louisiana and does hereby strongly support the positive contributions pregnancy care centers make to the lives of women, men, and babies; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the tens of thousands of volunteers and paid staff at pregnancy care centers in Louisiana and across the United States for their compassionate work; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana encourages Congress and federal and state government agencies to grant assistance to pregnancy care centers for medical equipment and abstinence education in a manner that does not compromise the mission or religious integrity of these organizations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature disapproves of the actions of any national, state, or local groups attempting to prevent pregnancy care centers from effectively serving women and men facing unplanned pregnancies; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the governor, the president of the United States, the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America, and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

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POM-212. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress to support the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act and to take such actions as are necessary to compel the United States Food and Drug Administration to fulfill its duties regarding inspection and testing of imported seafood; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 78

Whereas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 2019 the United States imported six billion pounds of edible seafood products, including one and one half billion pounds of shrimp, an increase of nearly six and one half million pounds more than the shrimp imported in 2018; and

Whereas, the 2019 shrimp imports alone, valued at six billion dollars, accounted for twenty-seven percent of the total value of imported seafood that year, which reached twenty-two billion dollars; and

Whereas, it is estimated that over half of the imported seafood consumed in the United States is from aquaculture, or seafood farming, rather than wild-caught; and

Whereas, the United States Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) is responsible for the safety of all fish and fishery products entering the Unite States and sold in Louisiana; and

Whereas, the FDA's seafood safety program is governed by its Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point regulations, which address food safety management through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of the finished product; and

Whereas, FDA regulations are supposed to measure compliance for imported seafood with inspections of foreign processing facilities, sampling of seafood offered for import into the United States, domestic surveillance sampling of imported products, inspections of seafood importers, foreign country program assessments, and the use of information from foreign partners and FDA overseas offices; and

Whereas, in 2011 the FDA was only inspecting two percent of the seafood imported into the United States; and

Whereas, unfortunately 2011 is the last year for which data regarding the percentage of imports inspected is available due to a lack of transparency and inadequate assessment measures; and

Whereas, in 2011 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted that the FDA's assessments of foreign aquaculture operations was limited by the FDA's lack of 1 procedures, criteria, and standards; and ten years later, a 2021 GAO report found that the agency was failing to monitor the effectiveness of its own enforcement policies and procedures; and

Whereas, in contrast, the European Union regularly conducts physical checks of approximately twenty percent of all imported fish products that are fresh, frozen, dry, salted, or hermetically sealed, and for certain fishery products, physical checks are conducted on approximately fifty percent of imports; and

Whereas, the Louisiana State University School of Renewable Natural Resources published a 2020 paper titled

``Determination of Sulfite and Antimicrobial Residue in Imported Shrimp to the USA'', which presented findings from a study of shrimp imported from India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and Ecuador and purchased from retail stores in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and

Whereas, a screening of these shrimp for sulfites and residues from antimicrobial drugs found the following: (1) five percent of the shrimp contained malachite green, (2) seven percent contained oxytetracycline, (3) seventeen percent contained fluoroquinolone, and (4) seventy percent contained nitrofurantoin, all of which have been banned by the FDA in domestic aquaculture operations; and

Whereas, although the FDA requires that food products exposed to sulfites must include a label with a statement about the presence of sulfites, of the forty-three percent of these locally purchased shrimp found to contain sulfites, not one package complied with this labeling requirement; and

Whereas, the drug and sulfite residues included in this screening can be harmful to human health during both handling and consumption and have been known to cause all of the following: liver damage and tumors, reproductive abnormalities, cardiac arrhythmia, renal failure, hemolysis, asthma attacks, and allergic reactions; and

Whereas, the results of this study confirm that existing screening and enforcement measures for imported seafood are insufficient; whatever the percentage of imports inspected may be, seafood is currently being imported that contains unsafe substances that put American consumers at risk; and

Whereas, because imported seafood is not held to the same standards as domestic seafood, domestic fishing industries are put at a distinct and significant disadvantage commercially; and

Whereas, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the average value of Louisiana shrimp fell from three dollars and eighty cents per pound in 1980 to one dollar fifty cents per pound in 2017; and

Whereas, this unfair competition allows foreign competitors to flood the United States market with seafood harvested under intensive farming practices using antimicrobial drugs, while devastating local industries and the coastal communities built around them; and

Whereas, proposed federal legislation cosponsored by Representative Garret Graves of Louisiana titled the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act, originally filed as H.R. 3075 and as incorporated into H.R. 4521 of the 117th Congress, seeks to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices in the international seafood supply chain which contribute to the foregoing inadequacies; and

Whereas, the proposed legislation seeks to enhance monitoring, inspection, data collection, labeling, and transparency related to imported seafood; to improve the ability of United States regulators to enforce these measures; to increase outreach regarding seafood safety and fraud; and to appropriate additional money for improved traceability; and

Whereas, if enacted, the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act could be an essential step towards improving the safety of consumers and the market for domestic fishing industries; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby memorialize the United States Congress to support the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act and to take such actions as are necessary to compel the United States Food and Drug Administration to fulfill its duties regarding inspection and testing of imported seafood; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

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POM-213. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to invest future supplemental funding in the communities of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point located in Jefferson Parish aiding in flood protection and preventing future losses and damages; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 20

Whereas, the population in Jefferson Parish is approximately 429,711; and

Whereas, Jefferson Parish is the third largest parish in Louisiana; and

Whereas, there are approximately 100,179 properties in Jefferson Parish that have a greater than twenty-six percent chance of being severely affected by flooding; and

Whereas, flood risks have increased in Jefferson Parish, and there is an extreme risk of flooding over the next thirty years; and

Whereas, Jefferson Parish has greater overall flood risk than ninety-nine percent of counties across the country; and

Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded a grant to aid in flood mitigation in Jefferson Parish; and

Whereas, the United States Congress and the president of the United States did not include the communities of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point; however, the state of Louisiana received supplemental funding for the parishes of Lafourche, Terrebonne, Orleans, East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa, and parts of Jefferson; and

Whereas, continued investments in flood mitigation are needed to prevent future loss and damage resulting from natural disasters in the communities of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point; and

Whereas, the communities of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point have suffered the adverse effects of the West Closure Complex drainage system and the one hundred-year levees three miles north of the area; and

Whereas, the communities of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point have suffered the adverse effects of the sediment diversion on United States Highway 90 and will suffer from the proposed mid-Barataria sediment diversion; and

Whereas, the extreme risk of flooding in Jefferson Parish has shown the urgent need to invest resources for the communities of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point as a means to protect life and property in the future, as citizens are continuously impacted by the flooding and rebuilding of their homes and lives; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to invest more resources into the communities of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point to aid in future flood damage mitigation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to include the communities of Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point in any future supplemental funding and pre-mitigation funding to provide flood protection and to prevent future losses and damages; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

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POM-214. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Michigan urging the United States Congress to pass legislation that would allow farmers, along with coalitions and trade associations representing farmers, to petition the U.S. International Trade Commission to temporarily waive tariffs on imports of fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients imported from Morocco; to the Committee on Finance.

Senate Resolution No. 139

Whereas, Michigan's agricultural industry is vitally important to the state economy. As our nation's second most diverse agricultural system, it contributes more than $104.7 billion in economic activity annually to the state. More than 800,000 people work in Michigan's agricultural industry, and care for nearly 10 million acres of land; and

Whereas, Fertilizer is a critical agricultural input that is utilized by farmers to provide nutrients to their land and maximize the productivity of their farms. Michigan farmers require access to fertilizers in order to nourish their land and maintain production levels; and

Whereas, The International Trade Commission (ITC) determined that the import of foreign fertilizers injured U.S. manufacturers. As a result, the ITC decided to impose a nineteen percent tariff on imports of fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients from Morocco. The tariffs, which were implemented in early 2021, significantly increased fertilizer prices; and

Whereas, Fertilizer prices in the United States are now at an all-time high. Fertilizer prices had already been increasing due to factors such as rising costs of raw materials and increased demand for inputs. With these tariffs in effect, farmers who were already struggling to compete with rising costs are now faced with an increased financial burden and uncertain future; and

Whereas, Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to rely on imported fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients. For example, more than 95 percent of potash, one of the key components found in fertilizer, is currently imported from outside the U.S.; and

Whereas, Michigan contains the only commercial deposit of natural potash in the U.S. and the highest quality natural potash deposit in the world. The Michigan Legislature recently provided an investment of $50 million to establish potash extraction infrastructure in Michigan. Once completed, this project will help increase domestic supply of this critical mineral, thereby strengthening and securing the supply of high-quality potash for Michigan farmers, in addition to providing hundreds of full-time jobs and boosting Michigan's economy. This will be crucial for the Michigan agricultural industry, as significant supply shortages and skyrocketing costs continue to burden Michigan farmers; and

Whereas, Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would allow a process for individual farmers, along with coalitions and trade associations representing farmers, to petition the ITC to temporarily waive tariffs on imports of fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients. With the price of fertilizer on the rise, this would help alleviate costs for farmers, as Morocco is one of the top five exporters of fertilizer to the United States; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That we urge Congress to pass legislation that would allow farmers, along with coalitions and trade associations representing farmers, to petition the ITC to temporarily waive tariffs on imports of fertilizer and fertilizer ingredients imported from Morocco; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.

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POM-215. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona urging the United States Congress to allow the participation of Romania in the Visa Waiver Program; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

House Concurrent Memorial No. 2008

Whereas, Romania has been a stable and flourishing multiparty democracy since the end of communism in 1989; and

Whereas. Romania has a fast--growing, market--oriented economy and is a major economic partner of the United States; and

Whereas, Romania is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), meets its defense spending benchmarks and is an active player in regional security; and

Whereas, Romania is an important United States regional security ally and is a close partner in the areas of intelligence and joint security; and

Whereas, Romania has been described as a ``stalwart NATO ally'' by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and called a role model ally by senior defense officials; and

Whereas, the Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of approved countries to travel without a visa to the United States for stays of up to 90 days; and

Whereas. despite the close United States-Romanian relationship, Romania remains one of only three European Union countries that are not in the Visa Waiver Program; and

Whereas, Romania's exclusion from the program hampers closer economic, cultural, political and security ties between our two countries. Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress make changes to the Visa Waiver Program to allow Romania to become a participating country.

2. That the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security work closely with Romanian officials to quickly bring Romania into the Visa Waiver Program.

3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona and the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

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POM-216. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin applying to the United States Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the United States Constitution, for the calling of a convention for the limited purpose of proposing an amendment to the United States Constitution to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected as a member of the United States House of Representatives or as a member of the United States Senate; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 18

Whereas, the United States and its citizens would be best served by limiting the terms of members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate; and

Whereas, under Article V of the Constitution of the United States, the Congress, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States; and this application shall be aggregated with the applications from other states to Congress to call a convention to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate for the purpose of attaining the two-thirds of states necessary to require Congress to call a limited convention on this subject, but shall not be aggregated with any other applications on any other subject; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the legislature of the State of Wisconsin herewith respectfully applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention for the limited purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected as a member of the United States House of Representatives or as a member of the United States Senate; and, be it further

Resolved, That the secretary of state of the State of Wisconsin be, and is hereby, directed to forward a proper authenticated copy of this resolution to the President of the Senate of the United States, and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States; and, be it further

Resolved, That this resolution constitutes a continuing application for a convention for proposing an amendment in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until such a convention is convened on the same subject or until the legislature of the State of Wisconsin rescinds this resolution.

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POM-217. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of New Jersey urging the United States Congress to pass a resolution condemning violence against historically Black colleges and universities; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Senate Resolution No. 69

Whereas, In January and February of 2022, at least 30 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were the targets of bomb threats; and

Whereas, On February 7, 2022, House Concurrent Resolution 70 was introduced in the United States House of Representatives condemning the violence and threats of violence against HBCUs; and

Whereas, HBCUs were established throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in response to discriminatory practices that prevented Black Americans from pursuing higher education; and

Whereas, Quality higher educational opportunities are central to economic prosperity and social well-being in the United States, and dedicated educational opportunities for Black Americans are critical to the pursuit of economic and social equality for Black Americans; and

Whereas, HBCUs are a symbol of independence and resilience for the Black community and provide important opportunities to uplift Black Americans; and

Whereas, in 2020, enrollment at HBCUs totaled more than 275,000 students, and HBCUs continuously produce a significant share of the country's Black leaders, innovators and artists, including Vice President Kamala Harris, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Toni Morrison; and

Whereas, Bombings were a common tactic during the Civil Rights Movement to terrorize Black institutions and members of the Black community; and

Whereas, The bomb threats against HBCUs in the initial months of 2022 have disrupted campus environments, obstructed educational opportunities, increased anxiety, and instilled fear in students, faculty, and staff; and

Whereas, in 2019, among single-bias hate crime incidents in the United States, 57.6 percent of victims were targeted due to racial, ethnic, or ancestry bias, and among those victims, 48.5 percent were victims of crimes motivated by the offenders' anti-Black or anti-African-American bias, according to the FBI; and

Whereas, The United States has a duty to protect citizens targeted by race-related hate crimes and prevent the continued perpetration of these crimes; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the United States Congress to pass House Concurrent Resolution 70 and thereby vociferously condemn the threats of violence against HBCUs; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House supports, and respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass, House Concurrent Resolution 70, condemning the violence against historically Black colleges and universities and reaffirming the commitment of the federal government to combat violence against students, faculty, and staff at historically Black colleges and universities.

2. Copies of this resolution. as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.

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POM-218. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Colorado concerning the designation of March 8, 2022, as ``Colorado Aerospace Day''; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Senate Joint Resolution No. 22-005

Whereas, Our nation and the world have significantly benefited from technological and scientific advances resulting from space exploration and aerospace activities; and

Whereas, Colorado ranks first in the nation for aerospace employment concentration; and

Whereas, There are over 34,000 Coloradans who are directly employed in aerospace, with the aerospace cluster supporting over 240,000 jobs; and

Whereas, Colorado is home to the nation's top aerospace companies, including Ball Aerospace, Boeing, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin Space, Maxar Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and United Launch Alliance, and close to 500 additional companies that support the aerospace sector by providing services and developing products, including spacecraft, launch vehicles, satellites, command and control software, sensors, and navigation operations; and

Whereas, Colorado is a strategic location for national space and cyber activity, with five key military commands-- North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the United States Northern Command, the United States Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Space Missile Warning Center, the United States Space Command, and the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command--and three space-related United States Space Force bases--Buckley, Peterson, and Schriever; and

Whereas, The United States Air Force Academy, along with Colorado's colleges and universities, including the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Denver, Colorado Mesa University, and Fort Lewis College, provides access to world-class aerospace- related degrees and offers aerospace companies one of the country's most educated workforces; and

Whereas, Various organizations are key to Colorado's prominence in aerospace, such as the Colorado Space Coalition, a group of industry stakeholders working to grow and promote Colorado as a center of excellence for aerospace; the Colorado chapter of Citizens for Space Exploration, in partnership with the Colorado Space Business Roundtable, whose mission is to promote better understanding of aerospace and its importance in our economy and daily lives, as well as promoting the importance of human space exploration; and the Colorado Space Business Roundtable, an organization that works to convene stakeholders from industry, government, and academia to advance aerospace business and workforce opportunities throughout the state. Together they form the Colorado chapter of the Aerospace States Association, a nonpartisan organization of lieutenant governors and associate members from aerospace organizations and academia who represent states' interests in federal aerospace and aviation policy development. Manufacturer's Edge is a statewide manufacturing assistance center that encourages the strength and competitiveness of Colorado manufacturers by providing on-site technical assistance through coaching, training, consulting, collaboration-focused industry programs, and leveraging government, university, and economic development partnerships; and

Whereas, The Colorado Air and Space Port seeks to serve as America's hub for commercial space transportation, research, and development; this horizontal launch facility will have the potential to become the foundation for a global suborbital transportation network connecting Colorado globally; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly:

(1) Strongly urge and request the government of the United States of America to take action to preserve and enhance American leadership in space, spur innovation, and ensure our continued national and economic security by increasing funding for space exploration and activities, including aggressively pursuing sending United States astronauts and the first woman onto the Moon in the next few years under the Artemis program, which will have its uncrewed test flight this month, sending along with it the Callisto payload, which uses Amazon Alexa and Webex by Cisco to test and demonstrate commercial technology for deep space voice, video, and whiteboarding communications. The Callisto technology demonstration will be integrated into NASA's Orion spacecraft for the agency's Artemis I uncrewed mission. Lockheed Martin Space, which designed and built the Orion spacecraft for NASA in Colorado, is leading the development and integration of the payload;

(2) Recognize and appreciate Colorado's space and aerospace companies and organizations, especially the growing membership and activities of the Colorado chapter of Citizens for Space Exploration, in partnership with the Colorado Space Business Roundtable, whose activities to promote space exploration are helping to increase public understanding and enthusiasm for exploration funding;

(3) Recognize and support our congressional delegation in urging the Department of Defense to reestablish the United States Space Command in Colorado;

(4) Recognize and appreciate the contributions of Colorado's universities, colleges, and national research laboratories to the space and aerospace industries, including their expertise in exploration of the planets and the universe and their space-based Earth observation, like the GOES-T weather satellite that launched this month;

(5) Express our most sincere and deepest appreciation to the men and women working in our military installations in Colorado; and

(6) Hereby declare March 8, 2022, to be ``Colorado Aerospace Day''. Be it further

Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to President Joseph Biden, Jr.; Vice President Kamala Harris; Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy; Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell; Senator John Hickenlooper; Senator Michael Bennet; Congresswoman Diana DeGette; Congressman Joe Neguse; Congresswoman Lauren Boebert; Congressman Ken Buck; Congressman Doug Lamborn; Congressman Jason Crow; Congressman Ed Perlmutter; Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator; Bradley Mims, Deputy Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; Governor Jared Polis; Lieutenant Governor and Co-chair, Colorado Space Coalition, Dianne Primavera; Brigadier General Laura Clellan, The Adjutant General, Colorado National Guard; General James Dickinson, Commander, U.S. Space Command, and Commander, Air Force Space Command; Colonel Marcus Jackson, Buckley Garrison Commander, Buckley Space Force Base; Dr. Christopher Scolese, Director, National Reconnaissance Office; Ross B. Garelick Bell, Executive Director, Aerospace States Association; Thomas E. Zelibor, Chief Executive Officer, Space Foundation; Dr. Ronald M. Sega, Co-chair, Colorado Space Coalition; Michael Gass, Co-chair, Colorado Space Coalition; Bob Cone, Chair, Colorado Space Business Roundtable; Stacey DeFore, Chair, Colorado Citizens for Space Exploration; Jeff Kloska, Director, Colorado Air and Space Port; and Debbie Brown, President, Colorado Space Business Roundtable.

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POM-219. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin applying to the United States Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the United States Constitution, for the calling of a Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 9

Whereas, the Founders of our Constitution empowered state legislators to be guardians of liberty against future abuses of power by the federal government; and

Whereas, the federal government has created a crushing national debt through improper and imprudent spending; and

Whereas, the federal government has invaded the legitimate roles of the States through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent; and

Whereas, the federal government has ceased to live under a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United States; and

Whereas, it is the solemn duty of the States to protect the liberty of our people--particularly for the generations to come--by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a Convention of the States under Article V for the purpose of restraining these and related abuses of power: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the legislature of the State of Wisconsin hereby applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress; and, be it further

Resolved, That for purposes of this joint resolution, the phrase ``limit the power and jurisdiction'' means to restrict and constrain the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and that this joint resolution does not authorize a convention for proposing any amendments that expand federal power or jurisdiction, or that legitimize any current use of federal power that is unauthorized by the original Constitution; and, be it further

Resolved, That the secretary of state is hereby directed to transmit copies of this application to the president and secretary of the United States Senate and to the Speaker and clerk of the United States House of Representatives; to transmit copies to the members of the said Senate and House of Representatives from this state; and also to transmit copies hereof to the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several States, requesting their cooperation; and, be it further

Resolved, That this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at least two- thirds of the several States have made applications on the same subject.

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POM-220. A memorial adopted by the Senate of the State of Colorado urging the United States Congress to adopt comprehensive voting rights legislation to protect the integrity of American democracy and the sacred right to vote; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Senate Memorial No. 22-001

Whereas, Every January we honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his heroic efforts to advance voting rights and we aspire to follow in his footsteps; and

Whereas, No one did more to promote the right to vote for disenfranchised Americans than the civil rights leaders of the 1960s, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Congressman John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Ella Baker; and

Whereas, Until the United States Congress passed the federal ``Voting Rights Act of 1965'', people of color in the United States were frequently subject to poll taxes, literacy tests, and fraud and intimidation, preventing them from exercising their right to cast a ballot; and

Whereas, The United States Senate is considering critical federal elections reform and long overdue updates to the federal ``Voting Rights Act of 1965'' to preserve voting rights for generations to come, in honor of the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis; and

Whereas, Colorado's electoral system serves as an example to the rest of the nation, and in fact the world, of how to expand voter access while protecting electoral integrity through safeguards including risk-limiting audits and signature verification; and

Whereas, In the 2020 election, Colorado had the second highest voter turnout of any state in the nation, and Colorado's largest voting bloc--young people ages 18 to 34-- turned out in record numbers; and

Whereas, Efforts to suppress the vote and disenfranchise Americans who historically have had the least access to the ballot have been on the rise across the country in recent years; and

Whereas, Last year, more than 440 bills with provisions that restrict voting access were introduced in 49 states, including here in Colorado, where legislation was introduced to restrict voters' access to Colorado's vote by mail system, a national model of excellence for election access, security, and integrity; and

Whereas, Last year, 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to voting, including Georgia's Senate Bill 202 and Texas' Senate Bill No. 1, both of which made it more difficult for voters to exercise their fundamental right to vote enshrined in the United States Constitution and the federal ``Voting Rights Act of 1965''; and

Whereas, Falsehoods and conspiracies regarding the integrity of the 2020 election have run rampant in our media and public discourse; and

Whereas, The months-long, coordinated attempt to interfere with the democratic process following the November 2020 election and prevent the peaceful transfer of power by overturning the legitimate results of the presidential election, which culminated at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, serves as a violent reminder of the fragility of our democracy; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado: That we, the members of the Colorado Senate:

(1) Reassert the validity of the 2020 presidential election results as legitimate and verified;

(2) Offer Colorado's premier electoral system as a model for states across the country to adopt in order to increase voter participation while ensuring electoral integrity; and

(3) Call on the United States Congress, and specifically members of the United States Senate, to pass comprehensive voting rights legislation to protect the fundamental right to vote, which has been the cornerstone of our democracy since the founding of our republic. Be it further

Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be sent to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, and all members of the Colorado Congressional delegation.

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POM-221. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to reject the recommendation to close the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center located in Pineville, Louisiana, as recommended by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' report to the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 27

Whereas, the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center provides inpatient medical and surgical, inpatient mental health, community living centers, and outpatient services to veterans in the surrounding area; and

Whereas, the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center serves thousands of veterans a year, including a potential population of more than one hundred thousand veterans and an active patient roster of more than thirty-seven thousand veterans; and

Whereas, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs recommends closing the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center facility and relocating services to community providers; and

Whereas, the closing of the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center will leave veterans with fewer care options; and

Whereas, Alexandria and Central Louisiana have a long history of support for the military and serve as an ideal location for veterans in surrounding communities to receive treatment; and

Whereas, the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a critical institution that should remain operable to better serve the veterans of Louisiana: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessary to reject the report recommendations by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and support the continued operation of the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

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POM-222. A resolution adopted by the Council of the County of Maui, urging the United States Navy to permanently remove and relocate the Bulk Fuel Storage Facility underground storage tanks located at Kapukaki (Red Hill, Oahu); to the Committee on Armed Services.

POM-223. A resolution adopted by the Alpena County Board of Commissioners, Alpena, Michigan, supporting the Line 5 tunnel; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

POM-224. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas opposing any government's actions related to nuclear testing, storage, and waste disposal in the Pacific, and reaffirming everyone's fundamental right to a safe and healthy living environment; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

POM-225. A resolution adopted by the City Commission of the City of Kalamazoo, Michigan, supporting the Medicare for All Act of 2021; to the Committee on Finance.

POM-226. A resolution adopted by the Lauderdale Lakes City Commission, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida encouraging the United States Congress to enact the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019; providing for the adoption of recitals; providing for instructions to the City Clerk; providing an effective date; to the Committee on Finance.

POM-227. A resolution adopted by the City of Oshkosh Common Council, Wisconsin, urging the United States Congress to enact the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act; to the Committee on Finance.

POM-228. A resolution adopted by the Council of the Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio, supporting a prompt and meaningful shift away from fossil fuels in the United States as a necessary cornerstone to any meaningful response to climate change; and further supporting the proposed Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 2307); to the Committee on Finance.

POM-229. A resolution adopted by the City Commission of Miami, Florida, declaring Vladimir Putin and all his allies, oligarchs, and supporters war criminals and personas non grata in the City of Miami; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

POM-230. A resolution adopted by the Council of the County of Maui, Hawaii, condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and supporting peace; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

POM-231. A resolution adopted by the Council of the County of Maui, Hawaii, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

POM-232. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas relative to amending federal laws regarding ``hate crime'' statutes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

POM-233. A resolution adopted by the Council of the County of Maui, Hawaii, urging the United States Secretary of Homeland Security to temporarily waive Jones Act requirements for oil imported to Hawaii; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 148

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