datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
III
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 141
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
OCTOBER 14, 1999
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Celebrating One America.
Whereas the United States is a nation of immigrants, whose
270,000,000 inhabitants hail from every corner of the
globe;
Whereas from Ellis Island to the Pacific coast, the United
States has welcomed immigrants seeking freedom and op-
portunity;
HCON 141 RFS
Whereas the United States democratic system of Government
mandates equal protection under the law and the right to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all its citi-
zens;
Whereas the United States endured a civil war for emanci-
pation, and in doing so, formed a permanent union and
a society of equals;
Whereas the United States has outlawed racial, ethnic, and
religious bigotry to create the world’s greatest multicul-
tural society;
Whereas the United States respects the individual and wel-
comes each one’s participation in our democratic society;
Whereas the United States is the preeminent land of oppor-
tunity which rewards hard work, ingenuity, and persever-
ance;
Whereas the ethnic diversity of the United States has pro-
vided an abundance of energy, creativity, and prosperity;
Whereas people in the United States recognize and reward
the contributions of members from every group;
Whereas people in the United States are working to close op-
portunity gaps so that all may share in the great pros-
perity of our Nation;
Whereas people in the United States of all backgrounds have
sacrificed their lives in war to defend the cause of free-
dom for people around the world; and
Whereas people in the United States of African, Asian, Euro-
pean, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Native Amer-
ican backgrounds cherish and celebrate their various na-
tional, ethnic, and religious heritages: Now, therefore, be
it
HCON 141 RFS
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that all
people in the United States should reach out across our
differences in ethnicity, race, and religion to respect each
other and to celebrate, in friendship and unity, one Amer-
ica.
Passed the House of Representatives October 13,
1999.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.
III
Calendar No. 390
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 141
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
OCTOBER 14, 1999
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
NOVEMBER 4, 1999
Reported by Mr. HATCH, without amdendment
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Celebrating One America.
Whereas the United States is a nation of immigrants, whose
270,000,000 inhabitants hail from every corner of the
globe;
Whereas from Ellis Island to the Pacific coast, the United
States has welcomed immigrants seeking freedom and op-
portunity;
Whereas the United States democratic system of Government
mandates equal protection under the law and the right to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all its citi-
zens;
Whereas the United States endured a civil war for emanci-
pation, and in doing so, formed a permanent union and
a society of equals;
HCON 141 RS
Whereas the United States has outlawed racial, ethnic, and
religious bigotry to create the world’s greatest multicul-
tural society;
Whereas the United States respects the individual and wel-
comes each one’s participation in our democratic society;
Whereas the United States is the preeminent land of oppor-
tunity which rewards hard work, ingenuity, and persever-
ance;
Whereas the ethnic diversity of the United States has pro-
vided an abundance of energy, creativity, and prosperity;
Whereas people in the United States recognize and reward
the contributions of members from every group;
Whereas people in the United States are working to close op-
portunity gaps so that all may share in the great pros-
perity of our Nation;
Whereas people in the United States of all backgrounds have
sacrificed their lives in war to defend the cause of free-
dom for people around the world; and
Whereas people in the United States of African, Asian, Euro-
pean, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Native Amer-
ican backgrounds cherish and celebrate their various na-
tional, ethnic, and religious heritages: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that all
people in the United States should reach out across our
differences in ethnicity, race, and religion to respect each
other and to celebrate, in friendship and unity, one Amer-
ica.
HCON 141 RS
Passed the House of Representatives October 13,
1999.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 390
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 141
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Celebrating One America.
NOVEMBER 4, 1999
Reported without amendment
IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 142
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Congress should have the
power to prohibit the desecration of the flag of the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 23, 1999
Mr. STEARNS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Congress
should have the power to prohibit the desecration of
the flag of the United States.
Whereas from Valley Forge to Yugoslavia, in every battlefield
where ever American values have been attacked and
American lives sacrificed, the flag of the United States
has been the shining, indomitable, eternal spirit of Amer-
ican liberty in visual form;
Whereas to desecrate such a symbol is to desecrate the mem-
ory of the thousands of Americans who have sacrificed
their lives to keep that banner flying, intact, and invio-
late; and
Whereas since Americans have fought and died to defend the
flag of the United States, any act of desecration of the
•HCON 142 IH
flag is profoundly offensive to Americans: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the reasoning of the opinion of the United
States Supreme Court leading to the decision in
Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), was flawed;
(2) as a symbol of our Nation, the flag of the
United States is unique and deserves to be treated
with respect of the highest order; and
(3) the Congress should have the power to pro-
hibit the desecration of the flag of the United
States.
Æ
IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 143
Expressing the sense of Congress that Billerica, Massachusetts, should be
recognized as ‘‘America’s Yankee Doodle Town’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 25, 1999
Mr. MEEHAN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Government Reform
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that Billerica, Massachu-
setts, should be recognized as ‘‘America’s Yankee Doodle
Town’’.
Whereas Thomas Ditson, Jr., a Billerica farmer, and a future
member of the Billerica Minuteman Company, was seized
by British soldiers in March of 1775, subsequently tarred
and feathered, and paraded through the streets of Bos-
ton;
Whereas the soldiers accompanying him were said to have
played the tune of ‘‘Yankee Doodle’’, on their fifes and
drums, and to have sung an original verse of the song
which ridiculed his plight;
Whereas the incident inspired outrage among the American
Colonists and served to fan the flames of dissidence;
•HCON 143 IH
Whereas during the Revolutionary War, ‘‘Yankee Doodle’’
was transformed into an anthem of Yankee pride;
Whereas 1 month after the incident that inspired the original
song lyrics, on the fateful day of April 19, 1775, Thomas
Ditson, Jr., did fight with the Billerica Minutemen in
Concord, Massachusetts, at the Battle of Meriam’s Cor-
ner;
Whereas the residents of Billerica celebrate their Revolu-
tionary heritage every year with a ‘‘Yankee Doodle
Homecoming’’ festival, honoring Thomas Ditson, Jr., and
commemorating the role of Billerica in the fight for
American independence; and
Whereas the title ‘‘America’s Yankee Doodle Town’’ was for-
mally adopted by Billerica’s Board of Selectmen in 1988,
and reflects the sense of town pride residents feel in Bil-
lerica’s connection to the song: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that Bil-
lerica, Massachusetts, be recognized as ‘‘America’s Yankee
Doodle Town’’.
Æ
HCON 144 RDS
Whereas Steve Pratt and Peter Wallace, 2 Australian nation-
als, were detained on March 31, 1999, and later accused
of operating and managing a spy ring and being em-
ployed by a spy ring, and Branko Jelen, a citizen of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, was arrested 1 week
later on the same charges;
Whereas on March 30, 1999, CARE International received a
letter of commendation from the Government of the Fed-
eral Republic of Yugoslavia relating to CARE Inter-
national’s humanitarian work in the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia;
Whereas 1 of the 3 men, Steve Pratt, appeared on Serbian
television on April 11, 1999, and he was coerced into say-
ing that he had performed covert intelligence activities;
Whereas the 3 Care International humanitarian workers were
held without access to outsiders for 20 days;
Whereas on May 29, 1999, a Serbian military court dis-
missed every element of the original indictment against
the 3 CARE International humanitarian workers, but
then proceeded to convict the 3 individuals on an entirely
new charge of passing on information to a foreign organi-
zation, namely CARE International, and sentenced Pratt
to 12 years, Jelen to 6 years, and Wallace to 4 years;
Whereas this last charge was introduced at the reading of the
verdict, denying lawyers for the 3 CARE International
humanitarian workers any opportunity to mount an ap-
propriate defense;
Whereas it appears the 3 CARE International humanitarian
workers were convicted of providing ‘‘situation reports’’
to their head office and other CARE International offices
around the world, based on legitimately gathered infor-
III
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 144
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JULY 12, 1999
Received
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Urging the United States Government and the United Na-
tions to undertake urgent and strenuous efforts to secure
the release of Branko Jelen, Steve Pratt, and Peter
Wallace, 3 humanitarian workers employed in the Fed-
eral Republic of Yugoslavia by CARE International, who
are being unjustly held as prisoners by the Government
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Whereas Branko Jelen, Steve Pratt, and Peter Wallace are
3 humanitarian workers employed in the Federal Repub-
lic of Yugoslavia by CARE International, the relief and
development organization, providing food, medicines, and
fuel to more than 50,000 Serbian refugees in Serbia and
to displaced ethnic Albanians in Kosovo;
HCON 144 RDS
mation, necessary to enable CARE International manage-
ment to plan their humanitarian assistance in a rapidly
changing context and to inform CARE International
management of the security situation in which their staff
were working;
Whereas the convictions of the 3 CARE International human-
itarian workers raise serious questions regarding the abil-
ity of humanitarian aid organizations to operate in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, with implications for
their operations in other areas of conflict around the
world;
Whereas the 3 CARE International humanitarian workers
are innocent, having committed no crime, and are being
held as prisoners unjustly;
Whereas the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia needs humani-
tarian workers who feel secure enough to do their work
and who are not at risk of going to prison on false
charges; and
Whereas many leaders around the world have raised the issue
and sought to free the captives, including United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan, former South African
President Nelson Mandela, Finnish President Marti
Ahtisaari, United Nations Commissioner for Human
Rights Mary Robinson, and the Reverend Jesse Jackson:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) urges the United States Government and
the United Nations to undertake urgent and stren-
uous efforts to secure the release of Branko Jelen,
HCON 144 RDS
Steve Pratt, and Peter Wallace, 3 humanitarian
workers employed in the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia by CARE International; and
(2) calls upon the Government of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia to send a positive signal to
the international humanitarian community and to
give these humanitarian workers their freedom with-
out further delay.
Passed the House of Representatives July 12, 1999.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.
IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 145
Expressing congratulations and thanks to United States and NATO troops
for successfully bringing peace to Kosovo and halting the brutal ethnic
cleansing of Kosovar Albanians.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 29, 1999
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. TURNER, Mr.
SPRATT, Ms. CARSON, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. ROMERO-
BARCELO´, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. WYNN, Mr. WEXLER, Ms. KIL-
PATRICK, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. EVANS, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. DAVIS of Florida,
Mr. FROST, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHN-
SON of Texas, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. THOMPSON
of Mississippi, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. BOYD, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. MCDERMOTT,
Mr. LANTOS, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr.
SKELTON, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas,
Mr. DINGELL, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. DEUTSCH, Ms. ESHOO, and Mr. SISI-
SKY) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing congratulations and thanks to United States and
NATO troops for successfully bringing peace to Kosovo
and halting the brutal ethnic cleansing of Kosovar Alba-
nians.
Whereas the United States sent over 37,000 troops as part
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (‘‘NATO’’) de-
ployment to Kosovo;
•HCON 145 IH
Whereas 23,259 of these troops operated 723 United States
aircraft and prepared for the use of ground force, and
14,238 troops conducted naval and marine operations;
Whereas these troops put their own safety at risk, in order
to bring an end to the brutal ethnic cleansing of Kosovar
Albanians;
Whereas United States and NATO forces were successful in
bringing an end to the brutal ethnic cleansing of Kosovar
Albanians in only 11 weeks;
Whereas on June 10, 1999, Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic complied with international demands and with-
drew Yugoslav troops from Kosovo;
Whereas on June 10, 1999, NATO suspended air strikes on
Yugoslavia and announced a withdrawal of Serbian com-
bat troops from Kosovo and the entry of NATO peace-
keeping forces;
Whereas the efforts of United States and NATO troops
brought a successful and swift end to the military conflict
in Kosovo with an air campaign that did not require the
mobilization of ground troops;
Whereas NATO suffered only two noncombat casualties; and
Whereas NATO successfully reached a peace agreement with
Yugoslavia that ends all Yugoslav military action over
Kosovo and the brutal ethnic cleansing of Kosovar Alba-
nians: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress expresses congratulations
and thanks to United States and North Atlantic Treaty
Organization troops for courageously fighting for the safe-
•HCON 145 IH
ty and protection of Kosovar Albanians and successfully
bringing peace to Kosovo.
Æ
•HCON 148 IH
(4) the tax burden on working families has
reached an unsustainable level, with families spend-
ing more on total taxes than on food, clothing, and
shelter combined; it is also evidenced by the fact
that in 1948 the average American family with chil-
dren paid only 4.3 percent of its income to the Fed-
eral Government in direct taxes while today the av-
erage family pays over 20 percent;
(5) the tax code unfairly penalizes savings and
investment by double taxing these activities; and as
a result it reduces the national savings rate, limiting
economic prosperity, job creation, and retirement se-
curity, thus forcing American families to surrender
control of their finances to the Federal Government;
(6) the tax code stifles economic growth by dis-
couraging work and capital formation through exces-
sively high tax rates;
(7) Congress and the President have found it
necessary, on 3 separate occasions, to enact laws to
protect taxpayers from the abuses of the Internal
Revenue Service;
(8) the complexity of the tax code has increased
the number of Internal Revenue Service employees
responsible for administering the tax laws to 98,000,
IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 146
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the imposition of sanctions on
persons under the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1994 regard-
ing exports to India or Pakistan should be imposed only for direct
and material contributions to nuclear weapons and the missiles for deliv-
ering them.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 29, 1999
Mr. PALLONE submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the imposition
of sanctions on persons under the Nuclear Proliferation
Prevention Act of 1994 regarding exports to India or
Pakistan should be imposed only for direct and material
contributions to nuclear weapons and the missiles for
delivering them.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that sanc-
tions should be imposed under section 821 or 824 of the
Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1994 only on
those persons who make direct and material contributions
to the use, development, production, stockpile, or other ac-
•HCON 146 IH
quisition of a nuclear explosive device or of missiles for
delivering a nuclear explosive device, by exporting or fi-
nancing the acquisition of items that can make such con-
tributions.
Æ
IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 147
Commending the decision to grant women in Kuwait the right to vote and
run for elected office.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 29, 1999
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mrs. KELLY,
and Mrs. MALONEY of New York) submitted the following concurrent res-
olution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Commending the decision to grant women in Kuwait the
right to vote and run for elected office.
Whereas His Royal Highness Emir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir
al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti Cabinet have recognized the
right of Kuwaiti women citizens to participate in their
country’s electoral politics beginning in 2003;
Whereas on May 16, 1999, the Emir decreed with the Cabi-
net’s blessing that women should be given the right to
vote and run for the elected national assembly; and
Whereas many men and women in Kuwait have been advo-
cating for human and political rights and full participa-
tion of all citizens in the political process: Now, therefore,
be it
•HCON 147 IH
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress of the United States—
(1) commends His Royal Highness Emir Jabir
al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah of Kuwait for his com-
mitment to Kuwaiti womens’ right to vote and run
for public office, as reflected in his decision on May
16, 1999;
(2) congratulates the women of Kuwait for this
achievement;
(3) urges the Kuwaiti Parliament to strongly
support this landmark decision giving women in Ku-
wait the right to vote and run for elected office, and
which brings honor and respect to the Emir and the
people of Kuwait; and
(4) urges President Clinton to support further
democratic development in the Persian Gulf region.
Æ
IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 149
Expressing the sense of Congress that access to affordable prescription drugs
is critical to the quality of life of older Americans and that coverage
for prescription drugs should be included in the Medicare Program as
soon as possible, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 1, 1999
Ms. STABENOW submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the
Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that access to affordable
prescription drugs is critical to the quality of life of
older Americans and that coverage for prescription drugs
should be included in the Medicare Program as soon
as possible, and for other purposes.
Whereas the Medicare program does not currently provide a
prescription drug benefit, leaving too many seniors in the
United States unable to afford the prescription drugs
they need, often forcing them to choose between medicine
and important daily needs, such as buying food;
Whereas at least one-third of all Americans age 65 and older
pay the entire cost of their medicine at the highest pos-
•HCON 149 IH
sible prices, while many bulk purchasers of drugs, includ-
ing HMO’s and the Federal Government, receive gen-
erous discounts;
Whereas senior citizens in the United States spend roughly
three times as much of their income on health care as do
those under the age of 65;
Whereas the average older American depends on 18 prescrip-
tions a year;
Whereas pharmaceuticals represent the fastest growing sector
of health care costs in the United States;
Whereas medical care has changed dramatically since the in-
ception of Medicare in 1965—conditions that once re-
quired surgery can now be treated with medication—the
program needs to be modernized to better meet these new
realities; and
Whereas the long-term solution to this problem is creating a
prescription drug benefit for the Medicare program: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) senior citizens should not be forced to pay
a large part of their monthly income for prescription
drugs;
(2) a top priority for the available budget sur-
plus should be to strengthen and modernize the
Medicare program for the future, including adding
prescription drug coverage;
•HCON 149 IH
(3) President Clinton should be commended for
introducing a Medicare reform proposal with a pre-
scription drug benefit; and
(4) Congress should consider legislation to ac-
complish this as soon as possible.
Æ
IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 150
To require the posting of the Ten Commandments in the House and Senate
chambers.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 1, 1999
Mr. STEARNS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on House Administration
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To require the posting of the Ten Commandments in the
House and Senate chambers.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Ten Commandments shall be promi-
nently posted for display in the chambers of the House
of Representatives and the Senate of the United States.
Æ
IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 151
Expressing the sense of the Congress that Federal funding for elementary
and secondary teacher training be used first for activities to advance
science, mathematics, and engineering education for elementary and sec-
ondary teachers.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 13, 1999
Mr. COOK submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that Federal funding
for elementary and secondary teacher training be used
first for activities to advance science, mathematics, and
engineering education for elementary and secondary
teachers.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that all
local educational agencies receiving Federal funding for el-
ementary and secondary teacher training or certification
are encouraged to use such funding first for activities to