S-1424.1  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8017

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Snyder and Winsley

Read first time 02/16/2001.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Supporting the federal railroad retirement and survivor's improvement act.

    TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, There is currently pending before the 107th United States Congress legislation to reform and improve railroad retirement system; and

    WHEREAS, This proposed legislation, the "Railroad Retirement and Survivor's Improvement Act" would modernize the administration and financing of the railroad retirement system and thereby benefit nearly three-quarters of a million beneficiaries, including over thirteen thousand beneficiaries in Washington State; and

    WHEREAS, The legislation would provide tax relief for the nation's passenger and freight railroads and improve benefits for the surviving spouses of rail workers; and

    WHEREAS, The improvements sought in this legislation have the support of railroad management, labor organizations, and retiree representatives; and

    WHEREAS, The improvements in the system will be financed by the railroad industry's employers and employees, requiring no taxpayer contributions; and

    WHEREAS, In the 106th Congress, this legislation benefited from broad-based, bipartisan support in both the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully urge favorable consideration of this legislation by the United States Congress and the President of the United States.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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