[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4] [Senate] [Pages 4800-4801] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]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-287. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relative to the reduction in troop strength of the Army National Guard and proposed cuts in the force structure of the Air National Guard; to the Committee on Armed Services. Senate Resolution 229 Whereas, on January 18, 2006, the Secretary of the Army announced a plan to eliminate 6 combat brigades from the Army National Guard nationwide and to reduce the authorized troop strength of the Army National Guard from 350,000 to 333,000; and Whereas, substantial cuts in the force structure of the Air National Guard may be proposed as part of the Federal budget and Quadrennial Defense Review processes; and Whereas, our nation and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania rely on the National Guard like never before to fight the global war on terrorism and to respond to domestic emergencies; and Whereas, the National Guard offers tremendous capabilities as an essential part of our nation's total force for national defense while at the same time being available to the Governor to respond to emergencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and Whereas, the National Guard costs less than 5 percent of our nation's defense budget but provides the only military force shared by the Federal Government and the states; and Whereas, the proposed elimination of combat brigades from the Army National Guard represents a shortsighted and ill- advised approach that will adversely affect national defense, homeland security and the ability to respond to state emergencies; and Whereas, the 3 combat brigades of Pennsylvania's 28th Keystone Division have served with distinction at home and abroad since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States; and Whereas, the Army has recognized the capabilities of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard by designating the 56th Brigade as the first and only Army National Guard Stryker Brigade Combat team in the nation; and Whereas, major elements of Pennsylvania's 2nd Brigade Combat Team are currently deployed to one of the most dangerous areas of Iraq, the 55th Brigade deployed to Europe in Operation Keystone after the 9/11 attacks, and elements of the 56th Brigade deployed to Kosovo; and Whereas, in response to Hurricane Katrina, virtually the entire 56th Brigade and other elements of the Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard deployed to the Louisiana Gulf Coast region on short notice and provided vital emergency support; and Whereas, the 3 combat brigades of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard are aligned to provide emergency response to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's 3 regions; and Whereas, more than 4,000 airmen of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard have performed close to 8,000 individual deployment events since 9/11, including initial war fighting support to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom while supporting Operation Noble Eagle protecting our sovereign airspace at home; and Whereas, major changes to the branch, organization or allotment of National Guard units require the approval of the Governor as commander-in-chief; therefore be it Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the President and Congress of the United States to maintain the combat capabilities and force structure of the National Guard; and be if further Resolved, That the Senate urge the Secretary of Defense to reconsider and withdraw the proposed elimination of 6 combat brigades from the Army National Guard; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, to the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania. ____ POM-288. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey relative to enacting the ``School Energy Crisis Relief Act''; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senate Resolution 13 Whereas, the ``School Energy Crisis Relief Act,'' established in S.1997 and H.R. 4158, authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Energy to create a federal program of energy assistance grants to public school districts; and Whereas, the ``School Energy Crisis Relief Act'' is designed to award school energy grants to the school districts that have experienced the highest percentage' increase or expenditure increase in transportation and heating fuel costs among all school districts in each state for a specific time period during the 2005-2006 school year, in comparison to the same time period during the 2004-2005 school year; and Whereas, many public agencies across the country are struggling to cope with a dramatic, unexpected surge in their energy [[Page 4801]] costs, with schools facing an additional burden in that they operate large fleets of buses and heat large, sprawling buildings, and urban school districts are especially burdened by some of the nation's oldest, and often least, energy- efficient buildings; and Whereas, these unanticipated energy costs are a great challenge, and many public school boards throughout the United States are facing a choice between paying their higher energy bills or cutting instructional staff and programs; and Whereas, the ``School Energy Crisis Relief Act'' would allow the U.S. Secretary of Energy to award grants to public school districts that are among the top 10 percent of all districts in their' state for numbers or percentages of children counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 US.C. 6333(c)); and Whereas, the grant amounts would be awarded based on the population of children between the ages 5 and 17 of that state according to the most recent federal decennial census, in comparison to all other states, as well as the regional cost of transportation and heating fuel in comparison with the average national cost, as determined by the most recent statistical data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration; and Whereas, it is in the best interest of this State to support the enactment of the ``School Energy Crisis Relief Act,'' in order to reduce the financial burden of higher heating and transportation costs affecting our Public school districts' now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey: 1. The Senate of the State of New Jersey memorializes the U.S. Congress and President to enact S. 1997 and H.R. 4158, the ``School Energy Crisis Relief Act,'' which establishes a federal program of energy assistance grants to local school districts. 2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the, President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the President and the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority leaders of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State. ____ POM-289. A resolution adopted by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, Bergen County, State of New Jersey relative to denouncing the sale of six major United States port operations to Dubai Ports World; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. ____ POM-290. A resolution adopted by the Township of Belleville, State of New Jersey, entitled ``Resolution Opposing Governmental Approval or Approval by the Committee on Foreign Investments for the Sale of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports World''; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. ____________________