PRINTER'S NO. 11
No. 11 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, JANUARY 23, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JANUARY 23, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Noting with great concern the current conflict between the
2 United States Navy and the citizens of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
3 WHEREAS, Tensions continue to rise in Puerto Rico over the
4 Navy's presence in Vieques; and
5 WHEREAS, Many residents object to the Navy using an inhabited
6 part of the island for target practice with live munitions since
7 1941; and
8 WHEREAS, Demonstrations against the military's presence in
9 Vieques spread throughout Puerto Rico in April 1999 when a
10 United States Marine Corps jet dropped two 500-pound bombs off
11 target, killing a civilian guard working on the bombing range;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, A pact between the former Puerto Rican Governor and
14 the White House to delay withdrawal of the Navy until 2003 is
15 not in accord with the general consensus in Puerto Rico; and
16 WHEREAS, A special commission appointed by former Governor
17 Pedro Rosello concluded that the military training had caused
1 disastrous economic and environmental damage to the island; and
2 WHEREAS, The commission also concluded the human and
3 constitutional rights of more than 9,300 residents of Vieques
4 had been violated; and
5 WHEREAS, Continued training exercises have made residents
6 anxious about their safety, stifled the island's fledgling
7 tourism and lowered the general quality of life; and
8 WHEREAS, News reports last February reported an accidental
9 firing of 263 shells tipped with depleted uranium and raised
10 health concerns among people already reeling from unexplained
11 high rates of cancer; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
13 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania call for a repudiation of the
14 agreement reached last year to allow the Navy to resume firing
15 training on the island of Vieques; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representative request that the
17 President issue an executive order for the immediate cessation
18 of bombing on the island range; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
20 the President, the presiding officers of each house of Congress
21 and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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