S10754 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 20, 2008 

States, and other nations worked side-byside to fight the wildfires; 

Whereas members of the National Guard 

from California and other States provided essential support to the firefighting effort; and 

Whereas the people of California and the 

United States recognize the steadfast dedication of the firefighters throughout the ongoing fire suppression and subsequent repair 

and rebuilding efforts: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) commends the firefighters and emergency workers from California, 41 other 

States, and other nations for their courageous actions and sacrifices in fighting 

wildfires in California; 

(2) supports the continued work of firefighters to protect National Forest System 

land, other public lands, and private property from further damage; 

(3) praises the people of California for their 

great courage in the face of the fires; and 

(4) extends heartfelt sympathy to the people who have lost loved ones, homes, and 

businesses in the wildfires. 

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SENATE RESOLUTION 715—EXTENDING THE AUTHORITY FOR 

THE SENATE NATIONAL SECURITY WORKING GROUP 

Mr. REID submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to: 

S. RES. 715 

Resolved, That Senate Resolution 105 of the 

One Hundred First Congress, 1st session 

(agreed to on April 13, 1989), as amended by 

Senate Resolution 149 of the One Hundred 

Third Congress, 1st session (agreed to on October 5, 1993), as further amended by Senate 

Resolution 75 of the One Hundred Sixth Congress, 1st session (agreed to on March 25, 

1999), as further amended by Senate Resolution 383 of the One Hundred Sixth Congress, 

2d session (agreed to on October 27, 2000), as 

further amended by Senate Resolution 355 of 

the One Hundred Seventh Congress, 2d session (agreed to on November 13, 2002), as further amended by Senate Resolution 480 of 

the One Hundred Eighth Congress, 2d session 

(agreed to November 20, 2004), and as further 

amended by Senate Resolution 625 of the One 

Hundred Ninth Congress, 2d Session (agreed 

to on December 6, 2006), is further amended 

in section 4 by striking ‘‘2008’’ and inserting 

‘‘2010’’. 

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SENATE RESOLUTION 716—ACKNOWLEDGING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND GOALS OF 

THE YOUTH IMPACT PROGRAM 

Mr. VITTER submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary: 

S. RES. 716 

Whereas many at-risk young men in the 

inner cities of the United States face a challenging and uncertain future; 

Whereas the future success of at-risk 

young men can be greatly enhanced through 

sustained mentorship; 

Whereas effective working partnerships between and within the public and private sectors can have a lasting and positive impact 

on the future of at-risk young men; 

Whereas participation in organized sports 

has provided a creative and disciplined outlet and a path to a better life for many atrisk young men; 

Whereas the Youth Impact Program combines the disciplines of football, mentoring, 

and academics in partnerships between local 

National Football League franchises and universities to promote discipline, learning, and 

positive values; 

Whereas the Youth Impact Program is a 

community-based program that has proven 

its value over the past 2 years in raising the 

outlook and aspirations of at-risk young 

men and has provided at-risk young men 

greater exposure to academics, core values, 

and life skills; 

Whereas the Youth Impact Program provides year-round mentoring to its participants, a proven formula for building success; 

Whereas the National Football League, the 

National Football League Players Association, the University of Southern California, 

and Tulane University have provided critical 

support to the Youth Impact Program; 

Whereas the Youth Impact Program will be 

expanded to 3 additional cities in partnership 

with local National Football League franchises and universities; 

Whereas the Youth Impact Program seeks 

to establish a presence in each city with a 

local National Football League franchise; 

and 

Whereas under the vision and leadership of 

Mr. Riki Ellison, the founder of the Youth 

Impact Program, a 10-year veteran of the National Football League, a 3-time Super Bowl 

champion, and a University of Southern 

California alumnus, the Youth Impact Program has expanded from a regional program 

to a program with a growing national presence: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) congratulates Mr. Riki Ellison for his 

leadership and vision in founding the Youth 

Impact Program; 

(2) recognizes the ongoing and significant 

contributions of the National Football 

League, the University of Southern California, and Tulane University to the Youth 

Impact Program; and 

(3) encourages the expansion of the Youth 

Impact Program to inner cities across the 

United States. 

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SENATE RESOLUTION 717—DESIGNATING DECEMBER 13, 2008, AS 

‘‘WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA 

DAY’’ 

Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Ms. 

SNOWE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Comittee on the Judiciary: 

S. RES. 717 

Whereas, more than 15 years ago, the 

Worcester Wreath Company, a for-profit 

business in Harrington, Maine, began a tradition of donating, transporting, and overseeing the placement of Maine balsam fir 

holiday wreaths on the graves of the fallen 

heroes at Arlington National Cemetery each 

December; 

Whereas, since the Worcester Wreath Company began that tradition, through the hard 

work and generosity of the people involved 

in the Wreaths Across America project, hundreds of thousands of wreaths have been sent 

to more than 200 national cemeteries and 

veterans’ memorials in all 50 states; 

Whereas, in December 2008, the Patriot 

Guard Riders, a motorcycle and motor vehicle group dedicated to patriotic events, with 

more than 65,000 members nationally, will 

continue their tradition of escorting a tractor-trailer full of donated wreaths from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery; 

Whereas hundreds of volunteers participate 

in the escort each December; 

Whereas Morrill Worcester, President of 

Worcester Wreath Company, has been nominated for, and received, several awards for 

his humble service and exemplary patriotism 

to our Nation through this project; and 

Whereas Wreaths Across America will continue this proud legacy on December 13, 2008: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) designates December 13, 2008, as 

‘‘Wreaths Across America Day’’; 

(2) honors Wreaths Across America, the 

Worcester Wreath Company, Morrill Worcester, the Patriot Guard Riders, and all other 

companies and individuals involved in this 

worthy legacy; and 

(3) recognizes the sacrifices our veterans 

and service members and their families have 

made, and continue to make, for our great 

Nation. 

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SENATE RESOLUTION 718—DESIGNATING NOVEMBER 30, 2008, AS 

‘‘DRIVE SAFER SUNDAY’’ 

Ms. CHAMBLISS (for himself, Mrs. 

LINCOLN, and Mr. ISAKSON) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Comittee on the Judiciary: 

S. RES. 718 

Whereas motor vehicle travel is the primary means of transportation in the United 

States; 

Whereas everyone driving on the roads and 

highways needs to do so more safely to reduce deaths and injuries resulting from 

motor vehicle accidents; 

Whereas, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing 

a seat belt saved 15,434 lives in 2004, 15,632 

lives in 2005, and 15,383 lives in 2006; 

Whereas Secretary of Transportation Mary 

Peters has urged all people of the United 

States to understand the life-saving importance of wearing a seat belt and has encouraged motorists to drive safely, not just during the holiday season, but each time they 

get behind the wheel; and 

Whereas the Sunday after Thanksgiving is 

the busiest highway traffic day of the year: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) encourages— 

(A) high schools, colleges, universities, administrators, teachers, primary schools, and 

secondary schools to launch campus-wide 

educational campaigns to urge students to 

drive safely; 

(B) national trucking firms to alert truck 

drivers to focus on driving safely on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and to publicize the 

importance of the day using Citizen’s Band 

(‘‘CB’’) radios and truck stops across the 

United States; 

(C) clergy to remind members to travel 

safely en route to religious services and 

gatherings; 

(D) law enforcement personnel to remind 

drivers and passengers to drive safely on the 

Sunday after Thanksgiving; and 

(E) all people of the United States to use 

the Sunday after Thanksgiving as an opportunity to educate themselves about highway 

safety; and 

(2) designates November 30, 2008, as ‘‘Drive 

Safer Sunday’’. 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with SENATE