hyperdemocracy/usc-textversion huggingface dataset:
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 523 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 25, 2019 Mr. Bilirakis submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of National Public Safety Aviation Day.

Whereas, for over 65 years, airplanes and helicopters have been an important part of public safety efforts in communities throughout the United States; Whereas professional public safety aircrews and pilots have flown millions of hours protecting persons and property, often under hazardous and dangerous conditions; Whereas public safety agencies have long recognized the value of utilizing airborne assets; Whereas professional public safety aircrews recognize the importance of aviation safety during their missions; and Whereas July 26 would be an appropriate date to designate as National Public Safety Aviation Day: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the designation of National Public Safety Aviation Day; (2) recognizes the men and women who fly public safety missions to protect people and property in the United States; and (3) encourages the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe National Public Safety Aviation Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 524 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 25, 2019 Mr. Clay submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling on the United Arab Emirates to immediately end any form of human rights violations against political prisoners and prisoners of free speech, and for other purposes.

That the House of Representatives— (1) calls on the United Arab Emirates to immediately end any form of human rights violations, such as torture, the denial of access to health care, or the absence of fair trials, committed against political prisoners or individuals imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of speech; (2) calls for the immediate closure, with or without the prior withdrawal of forces of the United Arab Emirates from Yemen, of any secret jail under the control of the United Arab Emirates in Yemen; and (3) expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that any individual, including any member of the armed services, of the United Arab Emirates involved in war crimes against prisoners or torture should be appropriately prosecuted by that country.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 528 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 25, 2019 Mr. Pascrell (for himself and Mr. King of New York ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 as Campus Fire Safety Month.

Whereas student-related housing fires in Texas, Oregon, Illinois, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, and other schools across the country have tragically cut short the lives of some of the youth of the Nation; Whereas, since January 2000, at least 175 people, including students, parents, and children have died in college-related fires; Whereas approximately 87 percent of these deaths have occurred in off-campus occupancies; Whereas a majority of the students across the Nation live in off-campus occupancies; Whereas a number of fatal fires have occurred in buildings where the fire safety systems have been compromised or disabled by the occupants; Whereas it is recognized that automatic fire alarm systems and smoke alarms provide the necessary early warning to occupants and the fire department of a fire so that appropriate action can be taken; Whereas it is recognized that automatic fire sprinkler systems are a highly effective method of controlling or extinguishing a fire in its early stages, protecting the lives of the building’s occupants; Whereas many students are living in off-campus occupancies, Greek housing, and residence halls that are not adequately protected with automatic fire sprinkler systems and automatic fire alarm systems or adequate smoke alarms; Whereas it is recognized that fire safety education is an effective method of reducing the occurrence of fires and reducing the resulting loss of life and property damage; Whereas students are not routinely receiving effective fire safety education throughout their entire college career; Whereas it is vital to educate the future generation of the Nation about the importance of fire safety behavior so that these behaviors can help to ensure their safety during their college years and beyond; and Whereas by developing a generation of fire-safe adults, future loss of life from fires can be significantly reduced: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the establishment of Campus Fire Safety Month; (2) encourages schools and municipalities across the country to provide educational programs to all students throughout the school year; and (3) encourages schools and municipalities to evaluate the level of fire safety being provided in both on- and off-campus student housing and take the necessary steps to ensure fire-safe living environments through fire safety education, installation of fire suppression and detection systems and smoke alarms and the development and enforcement of applicable codes relating to fire safety.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 530 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2019 Mr. Green of Texas (for himself and Mr. Schweikert ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the amount of the Members’ Representational Allowance should be increased in response to increasing threats against Members of the House.

Whereas, on January 8, 2011, a gunman opened fire at a congressional event in Tucson, Arizona, critically wounding Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killing a congressional staff member and five members of the public; Whereas, on June 14, 2017, a gunman with a rifle and sidearm opened fire on at least seventeen Members of Congress, several staff, United States Capitol Police officers, and members of the public in Alexandria, Virginia; Whereas, in a hearing on July 16, 2019, Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund stated that threats against Members of Congress are increasing at a record pace this Congress; and Whereas every Member of the House of Representatives is in dire need of additional security in response to these increased threats to themselves, their families, and their staff: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the amount of the Members’ Representational Allowance should be increased by such amount as is necessary to protect Members of the House (including the Delegates and Resident Commissioner to the Congress), as well as members of the public who are present when Members are in public venues, from increasing threats.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 533 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2019 Mr. Rouda submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Recognizing the accomplishments of professional surfer and surfwear executive Danny Kwock.

Whereas Danny Kwock was born in 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii; Whereas, at age 8, Danny Kwock began surfing in Waikiki, Hawaii; Whereas, at age 12, Danny Kwock moved to Newport Beach, California, and began surfing at the Wedge; Whereas Danny Kwock joined the Western Surfing Association, the longest running amateur surfing association in the United States, in Huntington Beach, California; Whereas while attending high school in Newport Beach, Danny Kwock signed sponsorship deals with Quiksilver, Rip Curl, and McCoy Surfboards; Whereas Danny Kwock was one of the leaders of the California New Wave surfers in the late 1970s and early 1980s; Whereas, in 1986, Danny Kwock was named Marketing Director for Quiksilver; Whereas Danny Kwock helped develop the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest at Waimea Bay, Hawaii, that was first held in 1984; Whereas Danny Kwock helped develop the Men Who Ride Mountains contest at Maverick’s, one of the wildest, heaviest, most dangerous big-wave spots on Earth, first held in 1999 in California; Whereas Danny Kwok helped bring future world surfing champions Kelly Slater and Lisa Andersen to the Quiksilver team; and Whereas, in 2002, Kwock was named President of Quicksilver’s new Quicksilver Entertainment division: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives recognizes the accomplishments of professional surfer and surfwear executive Danny Kwock and his important role in establishing coastal Orange County as a focal point of the surf industry.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 534 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2019 Mr. Rouda submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Open of Surfing.

Whereas the 60th U.S. Open of Surfing will take place from July 27 to August 4, 2019, in Huntington Beach, California; Whereas the surfing competition has taken place annually in Huntington Beach since 1959; Whereas the U.S. Open of Surfing attracts hundreds of thousands of people to Huntington Beach every year; Whereas Huntington Beach is known as Surf City USA ; Whereas the competition, formerly called the West Coast Surfing Championship, the United States Surfing Championships, and Ocean Pacific Pro, established its current name in 1994; Whereas the U.S. Open of Surfing awards a $10,000 first place prize, one of the largest prize purses in the industry; Whereas the competition serves as a World Surf League qualifier; Whereas the entire event is free and open to the public and includes activities such as customization workshops, onsite surfboard shaping, art installations, and more; Whereas the event was extended to include other action sports, including skateboarding and BMX; Whereas Jack Haley and Linda Benson were the first champions of the competition in 1959, in the male and female categories, respectively; Whereas Corky Carroll won the competition in 1966, 1967, and 1969, and later became the first professional surfer as well as the first surfer offered paid endorsements; Whereas Joyce Hoffman, after winning the U.S. Open of Surfing four times, became the first internationally recognized female surfer; Whereas notable surfers are inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame and to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame as part of the event; Whereas the local hero award is presented to a surfer who has resided in Huntington Beach for at least 10 years or has graduated from the Huntington Union School District, has contributed to Huntington surfing culture, and has been a finalist in surfing competitions; Whereas the 2019 class of inductees into the Surfing Walk of Fame and the Surfer’s Hall of Fame are Derek Ho and Joel Tudor (as Surf Champions), Reynolds Renny Yater (Surf Pioneer), Jeff Divine and Art Brewer (Surf Culture), Courtney Conlogue (Woman of the Year), Sam Hawk (Local Hero), and Don MacAllister (Honor Roll); and Whereas the event brings approximately $16,000,000 in revenue to the Huntington Beach economy and approximately $20,000,000 in revenue to the Orange County economy annually: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives recognizes the 60th anniversary of the annual U.S. Open of Surfing as a significant event for the global surfing community and for the important role it plays in the economy of Huntington Beach.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 535 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2019 Mrs. Torres of California (for herself and Mr. Rutherford ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing August 6, National Night Out, the national coming together of Americans all over the Nation to unite and promote public safety.

Whereas on the first Tuesday of August, our Nation will observe National Night Out, a day to cultivate a better relationship between residents of a community and their local law enforcement, and to promote public safety; Whereas the participation in National Night Out by over 38,000,000 neighbors in over 16,000 communities across the United States for over 36 years is unparalleled; Whereas the relationship between local law enforcement and the residents which they are sworn to protect and serve has improved immensely; Whereas general awareness of public safety has improved, because of the continued efforts of communities to meet their law enforcement officers and participate in National Night Out activities; Whereas prominent figures, such as former Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and former Vice President Joe Biden, have recognized the impact that National Night Out has made across the Nation, bringing all Americans closer together to achieve a common goal of community cohesiveness and public safety; and Whereas National Night Out not only includes Americans on the mainland, but includes those in United States territories and military bases to ensure all are included in the effort of community building and public safety awareness: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) encourages law enforcement departments to use National Night Out to improve relationships with the communities they serve; (2) encourages public safety departments to inform communities— (A) how to most effectively contact their 911 responders and emergency service providers; and (B) how they carry out their duties; and (3) recognizes the impact that has been made for the past 36 years in communities all over the United States of America by National Night Out in creating a more united country by fostering relationships between residents, neighbors, and local law enforcement, and promoting public safety awareness.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 537 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 2, 2019 Mr. Harder of California submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding United States policy recognizing the Assyrian Genocide.

Whereas the Ottoman Empire committed the crime of genocide against the Assyrian people, killing at least 300,000 innocent Assyrians during the time of the First World War; Whereas Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term genocide in 1944, drew on the history of the Assyrian Genocide in his seminal work that guided the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide; Whereas the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–441 ) establishes that atrocities prevention represents a United States national interest, and affirms that it is the policy of the United States to pursue a United States Government-wide strategy to identify, prevent, and respond to the risk of atrocities by strengthening diplomatic response and the effective use of foreign assistance to support appropriate transitional justice measures, including criminal accountability, for past atrocities ; Whereas the resilience and endurance of the Assyrian people is still commendable and praiseworthy, despite being victims of an ethnocide that is being continued by the Islamic State; Whereas American families continue to feel the effects of the Assyrian Genocide, including families that have never been reunited since; Whereas recognition and commemoration of a genocide is critical to efforts to prevent both future genocides and further harm to the group upon which the genocide was committed; and Whereas the Assyrian Genocide remains unrecognized by many countries and organizations across the globe, including the United States: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that it is the policy of the United States to— (1) commemorate the Assyrian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance; (2) reject efforts to enlist, engage, or otherwise associate the United States Government with denial of the Assyrian Genocide or any other genocide; (3) call upon the Republic of Turkey to officially recognize the Assyrian Genocide; and (4) encourage education and public understanding of the facts of the Assyrian Genocide, including the United States role in the humanitarian relief effort, and the relevance of the Assyrian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 539 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 16, 2019 Mr. Carson of Indiana (for himself, Mr. Baird , Mr. Banks , Mrs. Brooks of Indiana , Mr. Bucshon , Mr. Hollingsworth , Mr. Pence , Mr. Visclosky , and Mrs. Walorski ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of The American Legion.

Whereas The American Legion was founded on March 15, 1919; Whereas Congress chartered The American Legion on September 16, 1919; Whereas, in 2019, The American Legion celebrates 100 years of serving veterans of the Armed Forces, their families, and communities; Whereas The American Legion is the largest wartime veterans service organization in the United States; Whereas The American Legion is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has approximately 2,000,000 members of the Armed Forces and veterans in its membership; Whereas The American Legion has counted among its members 10 Presidents of the United States; Whereas The American Legion has played a vital role in advocating for veterans’ affairs, including the passage of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly known as the G.I. Bill ) (58 Stat. 284, chapter 268) and the creation of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Whereas The American Legion has shown steadfast dedication to improving local communities, contributing approximately 3,700,000 volunteer community service hours annually and millions of dollars in college scholarships to students across the United States; Whereas the 100th anniversary of The American Legion is in 2019; Whereas the mantra of The American Legion’s 100th anniversary, Legacy of the last 100 years and Vision for the next 100 , is an apt description of the contributions of The American Legion to life in the United States throughout 100 years of service and mutual helpfulness; and Whereas the 101st National Convention of The American Legion will be held August 23 through August 29, 2019, in Indianapolis, Indiana: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) honors the vital role The American Legion has played in the United States; (2) recognizes that The American Legion has been a cornerstone of life in the United States from the local to the Federal level and serves as a constant reminder of the inestimable contributions the members of the Armed Forces have made to enrich life in the United States during and after their service; and (3) celebrates the continued position of The American Legion as an inextinguishable beacon of community, responsibility, honor, and service.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 541 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 16, 2019 Ms. Norton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of August 22, 2019, as national Chuck Brown Day and honoring his contributions to music and to the District of Columbia.

Whereas Chuck Brown is known as the Godfather of Go-Go because he was the major architect of the musical genre known as go-go, a unique mix of funk, soul, and Latin party sounds; Whereas Chuck Brown, who was born on August 22, 1936, and passed away at the age of 75 on May 16, 2012, was a resident of the District of Columbia most of his life; Whereas Chuck Brown, who taught himself to play guitar, became a virtuoso singer, songwriter, guitarist, and band leader; Whereas Chuck Brown’s go-go beat gave the District of Columbia a musical identity of its own and reminds the Nation that the District of Columbia has always been the hometown of talented artists, among them Duke Ellington and Marvin Gaye; Whereas Chuck Brown’s musical catalogue spans 22 studio albums over 3 decades; Whereas Chuck Brown’s hit Bustin’ Loose , with his group, the Soul Searchers, was the top song on the Billboard Top 100 R&B Chart for 4 weeks in 1979; Whereas Chuck Brown earned a Grammy nomination in 2010 for the song Love , from his album entitled We Got This , and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 2005; Whereas Chuck Brown’s go-go has been passed from generation to generation with undiminished popularity; Whereas Chuck Brown influenced jazz, rap, and go-go musicians, such as the bands Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, and Experience Unlimited (also known as E.U.); Whereas Chuck Brown was so committed to securing statehood and equal voting rights for the residents of the District of Columbia that he played a concert on a very hot, humid day on the United States Capitol Grounds in 2010; Whereas the District of Columbia has named a street located near the historic, modernized Howard Theatre for Chuck Brown; Whereas the District of Columbia has named a park located at 2901 20th Street, NE, for Chuck Brown; Whereas go-go serves as the soundtrack for the Don’t Mute D.C. movement; Whereas Chuck Brown is admired for having risen from humble beginnings and overcoming time in prison to become a devoted father and family man; Whereas Chuck Brown was a great, multitalented musician who brought joy through his music, never stopping until his death; and Whereas August 22, 2019, is Chuck Brown’s birthday: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives supports the designation of Chuck Brown Day and honors Chuck Brown’s contributions to music and to the District of Columbia.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 542 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 27, 2019 Ms. Bass submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 as National Kinship Care Month .

Whereas in September 2019, National Kinship Care Month is observed; Whereas nationally 7,700,000 children are living in kinship care with grandparents or other relatives; Whereas nationally more than 139,017 kinship children in foster care are placed with grandparents or other relatives, with more than 2,600,000 kinship children supported outside of the foster care system; Whereas grandparents and other relatives are increasingly providing caring homes for children because of the opioid crisis; Whereas grandparents and other relatives residing in urban, rural, and suburban households in every county of the United States have stepped forward out of love and loyalty to care for children during times in which biological parents are unable to do so; Whereas kinship caregivers provide safety, promote well-being, and establish stable households for vulnerable children; Whereas kinship care enables a child— (1) to maintain family relationships and cultural heritage; and (2) to remain in the community of the child; Whereas kinship care is a national resource that provides loving homes for children at risk; Whereas kinship caregivers face daunting challenges to keep countless children from entering foster care; Whereas the House of Representatives is proud to recognize the many kinship care families in which a child is raised by grandparents or other relatives; Whereas the House of Representatives wishes to honor the many kinship caregivers who throughout the history of the United States have provided loving homes for parentless children; Whereas National Kinship Care Month provides an opportunity to urge people in every State to join in recognizing and celebrating kinship caregiving families and the tradition of families in the United States to help raise children; and Whereas much remains to be done to ensure that all children have a safe, loving, nurturing, and permanent family, regardless of age or special needs: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the designation of National Kinship Care Month ; (2) encourages Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families; (3) honors the commitment and dedication of kinship caregivers and the advocates and allies who work tirelessly to provide assistance and services to kinship caregiving families; and (4) reaffirms the need to continue working to improve the outcomes of all vulnerable children through parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), and other programs designed— (A) to support vulnerable families; (B) to invest in prevention and reunification services; and (C) to ensure that extended family members who take on the role of kinship caregivers receive the necessary support.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 544 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 30, 2019 Mr. Green of Texas (for himself, Mr. Carson of Indiana , Ms. Tlaib , and Ms. Omar ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing Islam as one of the great religions of the world.

Whereas the word Islam means submission to the will of God and peace ; Whereas the primary scripture of Islam is the Quran; Whereas Muslims consider the Quran in its original Arabic to be the book of divine guidance; Whereas, although its roots go back further, scholars typically date the revelation of Islam to the seventh century; Whereas Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity; Whereas Islam is the fastest growing religion of the world; Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,800,000,000 Muslims worldwide; Whereas Islam contains in itself the essential principles of all earlier religions; Whereas Islam is a strongly monotheistic religion with the worship of one God as its central theme; Whereas Islam is a complete system of strong moral convictions that promote peace, equality, and social justice; Whereas Islam encourages service to humanity; Whereas Islam teaches abstaining from worldly desires in favor of spiritual achievements; Whereas Islam instills a genuine love of God; Whereas the fundamental Muslim practices are known as the Five Pillars of Islam; Whereas the five pillars are shahadah (declaration of faith), salat (daily prayers), zakat (giving of alms), sawm (fasting in Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca); Whereas the five daily prayers remove any barriers between believers praying in congregations and helps one refrain from committing sins; Whereas the obligatory charity purifies a person from selfishness and encourages empathy to the poor; Whereas fasting in Ramadan promotes self-restraint and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide; Whereas the pilgrimage to Mecca serves as a unifying force in Islam by bringing followers of diverse background together in religious celebration; Whereas Muslims consider Islam to be a way of life; and Whereas carrying out these obligations provides the framework of a Muslim’s life, and weaves their everyday activities and their beliefs into a single cloth of religious devotion: Now, therefore, be it

That in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 546 In the House of Representatives, U. S., December 3, 2019 RESOLUTION Disapproving the Russian Federation’s inclusion in future Group of Seven summits until it respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors and adheres to the standards of democratic societies.

Whereas, in 2014, Russia illegally occupied Ukraine’s Crimea region and parts of eastern Ukraine; Whereas these actions are in direct violation of fundamental principles of international law, as well as the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum; Whereas, in 1998, the Group of Seven invited Russia to join the group in an effort to encourage continued political and economic reforms in Russia; Whereas, in March 2014, the Group of Eight suspended Russia as a direct result of its actions in Ukraine, and instead continued as the Group of Seven; Whereas, on April 3, 2014, President Barack Obama signed into law the Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014, which states that it is the policy of the United States that the continued participation of the Russian Federation in the Group of Eight (G–8) nations should be conditioned on the Government of the Russian Federation respecting the territorial integrity of its neighbors and accepting and adhering to the norms and standards of free, democratic societies as generally practiced by every other member nation of the G–8 nations. ; Whereas, since 2014, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has continued to violate international law in Ukraine’s Crimea region and elsewhere, and has continued to undermine democracy and human rights both at home and abroad; and Whereas, on August 26, 2019, President Donald Trump, announced his intention to invite the President of Russia to next year’s Group of Seven summit: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) reiterates its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; (2) condemns Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine, including the illegal occupation of Crimea and ongoing destabilization of eastern Ukraine; (3) condemns the Kremlin’s assaults on democratic societies worldwide, including in the United States and other Group of Seven countries; (4) reaffirms its full support for the suspension of Russia from the Group of Eight; (5) calls on all leaders of the Group of Seven to oppose the readmission of Russia unless and until it has ended its occupation of all of Ukraine’s sovereign territory, including Crimea, and halts its attacks on democracies worldwide; and (6) disapproves of Russia’s inclusion in future Group of Seven summits until it respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors and adheres to the standards of democratic societies.

Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 546 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 30, 2019 Mr. Sires (for himself, Mr. Pallone , Mr. Pascrell , Mr. Gallego , Ms. Hill of California , and Mr. Cohen ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Disapproving the Russian Federation’s inclusion in future Group of Seven summits until it respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors and adheres to the standards of democratic societies.

Whereas, in 2014, Russia illegally occupied Ukraine’s Crimea region and parts of eastern Ukraine; Whereas these actions are in direct violation of fundamental principles of international law, as well as the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum; Whereas, in 1998, the Group of Seven invited Russia to join the group in an effort to encourage continued political and economic reforms in Russia; Whereas, in March 2014, the Group of Eight suspended Russia as a direct result of its actions in Ukraine, and instead continued as the Group of Seven; Whereas, on April 3, 2014, President Barack Obama signed into law the Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014, which states that it is the policy of the United States that the continued participation of the Russian Federation in the Group of Eight (G–8) nations should be conditioned on the Government of the Russian Federation respecting the territorial integrity of its neighbors and accepting and adhering to the norms and standards of free, democratic societies as generally practiced by every other member nation of the G–8 nations. ; Whereas, since 2014, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has continued to violate international law in Ukraine’s Crimea region and elsewhere, and has continued to undermine democracy and human rights both at home and abroad; and Whereas, on August 26, 2019, President Donald Trump, announced his intention to invite the President of Russia to next year’s Group of Seven summit: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) reiterates its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; (2) condemns Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine, including the illegal occupation of Crimea and ongoing destabilization of eastern Ukraine; (3) condemns the Kremlin’s assaults on democratic societies worldwide, including in the United States and other Group of Seven countries; (4) reaffirms its full support for the suspension of Russia from the Group of Eight; (5) calls on all leaders of the Group of Seven to oppose the readmission of Russia unless and until it has ended its occupation of all of Ukraine’s sovereign territory, including Crimea, and halts its attacks on democracies worldwide; and (6) disapproves of Russia’s inclusion in future Group of Seven summits until it respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors and adheres to the standards of democratic societies.
IV 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 549 In the House of Representatives, U. S., December 9, 2020 RESOLUTION Reaffirming the commitment to media diversity and pledging to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to develop common ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media diversity.

Whereas the principle that an informed and engaged electorate is critical to a vibrant democracy is deeply rooted in our laws of free speech and underpins the virtues on which we established our Constitution, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity * * * ; Whereas having independent, diverse, and local media that provide exposure to a broad range of viewpoints and the ability to contribute to the political debate is central to sustaining that informed engagement; Whereas it is in the public interest to encourage source, content, and audience diversity on our Nation’s shared telecommunications and media platforms; Whereas the survival of small, independent, and diverse media outlets that serve diverse audiences and local media markets is essential to preserving local culture and building understanding on important community issues that impact the daily lives of residents; Whereas research by the American Society of News Editors, the Radio Television Digital News Association, the Pew Research Center, and others has documented the continued challenges of increasing diversity among all types of media entities; Whereas with increasing media experience and sophistication, it is even more important to have minority participation in local media to ensure a diverse range of information sources are available and different ideas and viewpoints are expressed to strengthen social cohesion among different communities; and Whereas the constriction in small, independent, and diverse media outlets and limited participation of diverse populations in media ownership and decisionmaking are combining to negatively impact our goal of increasing local civic engagement and civic knowledge through increased voter participation, membership in civic groups, and knowledge of local political and civil information: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) reaffirms its commitment to diversity as a core tenet of the public interest standard in media policy; and (2) pledges to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to develop common ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media diversity.

Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 550 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 10, 2019 Mr. Payne (for himself and Mr. Bilirakis ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Expressing support of the designation of September 2019 as Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month.

Whereas peripheral artery disease affects nearly 20,000,000 Americans, with an estimated 200,000 Americans that are from disproportionately minority communities; Whereas peripheral artery disease is a chronic condition that causes narrowing or blockage of blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs; Whereas the primary cause of peripheral artery disease is the buildup of plaque in the arteries; Whereas African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with peripheral artery disease and up to three times as likely to have an amputation; Whereas if not properly diagnosed, peripheral artery disease can lead to nontraumatic lower limb amputations; Whereas unnecessary amputations drastically reduce the quality of life for peripheral artery disease patients; and Whereas educating people on the risks of peripheral artery disease and encouraging early screenings are crucial to preventing unnecessary amputations: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the goals and ideals of Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month; and (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate awareness and educational activities.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 551 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 10, 2019 Mr. Wittman submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor RESOLUTION Emphasizing the importance of addressing participation in career and technical education.

Whereas the national economy relies on workers who possess analytical and practical skills; Whereas there are 16 career clusters within career and technical education to include: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Arts, Audio and Video Technology, and Communications; Business, Management and Administration; Education and Training; Finance; Government and Public Administration; Health Science; Hospitality and Tourism; Human Services; Information Technology; Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security; Manufacturing; Marketing, Sales, and Service; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics; Whereas between 2012 and 2022, there will be over 50,000,000 job openings for career and technical education graduates, 30 percent of the jobs will be newly created positions; Whereas there will be 68 percent more job openings in infrastructure-related fields over the next 5 years than there are individuals training to fill them; Whereas career and technical education jobs exist in both the public and private sector; Whereas career and technical education graduates are more likely to be employed than others with academic credentials, and are more likely to work in their field of study; Whereas the United States has 30,000,000 jobs providing an average income of $55,000 per year that do not require a bachelor’s degree but require some level of postsecondary education; Whereas students participating in career and technical education have a lower probability of dropping out of high school and a higher probability of graduating on time; Whereas the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) serves as the primary Federal law focused on supporting and developing career and technical education; and Whereas Congress recognized the importance of career and technical education by passing the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act ( Public Law 115–224 ), reauthorizing the Perkins Act, which supports program improvement in secondary and postsecondary career and technical education programs in all States and territories: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the importance of career and technical education in preparing students to enter the workforce; (2) recognizes the technical skills and soft skills developed through career and technical education programs; (3) recognizes that the public and private sector must work with schools to further develop curriculum and internship and apprenticeship opportunities for students; and (4) supports educators, school officials, counselors, and parents promoting career and technical education as a respected career option for students.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 552 In the House of Representatives, U. S., October 22, 2019 RESOLUTION Calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to provide evidence of wrongdoing or to release United States citizen Paul Whelan.

Whereas United States citizen Paul Whelan is a resident of Novi, Michigan, and a United States Marine Corps veteran; Whereas Paul Whelan traveled to Moscow for the wedding of a personal friend on December 22, 2018; Whereas Russia’s Federal Security Service arrested Paul Whelan at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow on December 28, 2018, and charged him with espionage; Whereas Paul Whelan was imprisoned in Lefortovo Prison and continues to be held there more than 8 months after his arrest; Whereas the Federal Security Service has not provided any evidence of supposed wrongdoing; Whereas a Moscow court has extended Paul Whelan’s pre-trial detention multiple times without publicly presenting justification or evidence of wrongdoing; Whereas officials from the United States Embassy in Moscow have routinely had their topics of discussion with Paul Whelan severely limited by the Federal Security Service; Whereas even Paul Whelan’s Federal Security Service-appointed lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said on May 24, 2019, [The Federal Security Service] always roll[s] out what they have, but in this case, we’ve seen nothing concrete against Whelan in five months. That means there is nothing. ; Whereas the United States Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, responded on April 12, 2019, to a question about the detention of Paul Whelan, If the Russians have evidence, they should bring it forward. We have seen nothing. If there was a case, I think the evidence would have been brought forward by now. ; and Whereas Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 14, 2019, and urged him to ensure United States citizens are not unjustly held abroad: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to present credible evidence on the allegations against Paul Whelan or immediately release him from detention; (2) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to provide unrestricted consular access to Paul Whelan while he remains in detention; (3) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to ensure Paul Whelan is afforded due process and universally recognized human rights; (4) encourages the President and the Secretary of State to continue to press the Government of the Russian Federation at every opportunity and urge the Russian Government to guarantee a fair and transparent judicial process without undue delay in accordance with its international legal obligation; and (5) expresses sympathy to the family of Paul Whelan and expresses hope that their ordeal can soon be brought to an end.

Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.
IV 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 552 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 11, 2019 Ms. Stevens (for herself, Mr. Walberg , Mr. Levin of Michigan , Mr. Kildee , Mrs. Dingell , Mr. Keating , Mr. Huizenga , Mr. Upton , Mr. Moolenaar , Mr. King of New York , Mrs. Lawrence , Ms. Slotkin , and Mr. Bergman ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to provide evidence of wrongdoing or to release United States citizen Paul Whelan.

Whereas United States citizen Paul Whelan is a resident of Novi, Michigan, and a United States Marine Corps veteran; Whereas Paul Whelan traveled to Moscow for the wedding of a personal friend on December 22, 2018; Whereas Russia’s Federal Security Service arrested Paul Whelan at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow on December 28, 2018, and charged him with espionage; Whereas Paul Whelan was imprisoned in Lefortovo Prison and continues to be held there more than eight months after his arrest; Whereas the Federal Security Service has not provided any evidence of supposed wrongdoing; Whereas a Moscow court has extended Paul Whelan’s pre-trial detention multiple times without publicly presenting justification or evidence of wrongdoing; Whereas officials from the United States Embassy in Moscow have routinely had their topics of discussion with Paul Whelan severely limited by the Federal Security Service; Whereas even Paul Whelan’s Federal Security Service-appointed lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said on May 24, 2019, [The Federal Security Service] always roll[s] out what they have, but in this case, we’ve seen nothing concrete against Whelan in five months. That means there is nothing. ; Whereas the United States Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, responded on April 12, 2019, to a question about the detention of Paul Whelan, If the Russians have evidence, they should bring it forward. We have seen nothing. If there was a case, I think the evidence would have been brought forward by now. ; and Whereas Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 14, 2019, and urged him to ensure United States citizens are not unjustly held abroad: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to present credible evidence on the allegations against Paul Whelan or immediately release him from detention; (2) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to provide unrestricted consular access to Paul Whelan while he remains in detention; (3) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to ensure Paul Whelan is afforded due process and universally recognized human rights; (4) encourages the President and the Secretary of State to continue to press the Government of the Russian Federation at every opportunity and urge the Russian Government to guarantee a fair and transparent judicial process without undue delay in accordance with its international legal obligation; and (5) expresses sympathy to the family of Paul Whelan and expresses hope that their ordeal can soon be brought to an end.