assistance and the cost of that assistance, and alternative initiatives that would accomplish the same end as concurrent receipt of military retired pay and disability compensation;

(3) the Secretary of Defense should submit legislation that he considers appropriate;

(4) upon receiving such report, the committees of jurisdiction, working with the Committees on the Budget of the House of Representatives and the Senate, should consider appropriate legislation; and

(5) the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget should report not later than 30 days after the date of adoption of this resolution to the Committees on the Budget on the risk that provision of full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and disability compensation would reduce the surplus below the level of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund.

SEC. 315. FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PAY.

(a) FINDINGS.-Congress finds the following:

(1) Members of the uniformed services and civilian employees of the United States make significant contributions to the general welfare of the Nation.

(2) Increases in the pay of members of the uniformed services and of civilian employees of the United States have not kept pace with increases in the overall pay levels of workers in the private sector, so that there now exists

(A) a 32 percent gap between compensation levels of Federal civilian employees and compensation levels of private sector workers; and

(B) an estimated 10 percent gap between compensation levels of members of the uniformed services and compensation levels of private sector workers.

(3) The President's budget proposal for fiscal year 2002 includes a 4.6 percent pay raise for military personnel.

(4) The Office of Management and Budget has requested that Federal agencies plan their fiscal year 2002 budgets with a 3.6 percent pay raise for civilian Federal employees.

(5) In almost every year during the past 2 decades, there have been equal adjustments in the compensation of members of the uniformed services and the compensation of civilian employees of the United States.

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.-It is the sense of Congress that rates of compensation for civilian employees of the United States should be adjusted at the same time, and in the same proportion, as are rates of compensation for members of the uniformed services.

SEC. 316. SALES TAX DEDUCTION.

(a) FINDINGS.-Congress finds that—

(1) in 1986 the ability to deduct State sales taxes was eliminated from the Federal tax code;

(2) the States of Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming, Washington, Florida, Nevada, and South Dakota have no State income tax;

(3) the citizens of those seven States continue to be treated unfairly by paying significantly more in taxes to the Government than taxpayers with an identical profile in different States because they are prohibited from deducting their State sales taxes from their Federal income taxes in lieu of a State income

May 22, 2001 [H. Con. Res. 76]

(4) the design of the Federal tax code is preferential in its treatment of States with State income taxes over those without State income taxes;

(5) the current Federal tax code infringes upon States' rights to tax their citizens as they see fit in that the Federal tax code exerts unjust influence on States without State income taxes to impose on their citizens;

(6) the current surpluses that our Government holds provide an appropriate time and opportunity to allow taxpayers to deduct either their State sales taxes or their State income taxes from their Federal income tax returns; and

(7) over 50 Members of the House of Representatives have cosponsored legislation to restore the sales tax deduction option to the Federal tax code.

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.-It is the sense of Congress that the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Finance should consider legislation that makes State sales tax deductible against Federal income taxes.

Agreed to May 10, 2001.

KENNEDY CENTER PERFORMANCES-CAPITOL
GROUNDS AUTHORIZATION

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZING USE OF EAST FRONT OF CAPITOL GROUNDS

FOR PERFORMANCES SPONSORED BY KENNEDY CENTER. In carrying out its duties under section 4 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76j), the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in cooperation with the National Park Service (in this resolution jointly referred to as the "sponsor"), may sponsor public performances on the East Front of the Capitol Grounds at such dates and times as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate may approve jointly.

SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL.-Any performance authorized under section 1 shall be free of admission charge to the public and arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress, under conditions to be prescribed by the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board.

(b) ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES.-The sponsor shall assume full responsibility for all liabilities incident to all activities associated with the performance.

SEC. 3. EVENT PREPARATIONS.

(a) STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT.-In consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the Architect of the Capitol shall provide upon the Capitol Grounds such stage, sound amplification devices, and other related structures and equipment as may be required for a performance authorized under section 1.

(b) ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.-The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board may make such additional arrangements as may be required to carry out the performance.

SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of the restrictions contained in section 4 of the Act of July 31, 1946 (40 U.S.C. 193d; 60 Stat. 718), concerning sales, advertisements, displays, and solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, with respect to a performance authorized by section 1.

SEC. 5. EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.

A performance may not be conducted under this resolution after September 30, 2001.

Agreed to May 22, 2001.

SOAP BOX DERBY RACES-CAPITOL GROUNDS

AUTHORIZATION

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF SOAP BOX DERBY RACES ON CAPITOL

GROUNDS.

The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association (in this resolution referred to as the "Association") shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, soap box derby races, on the Capitol Grounds on June 23, 2001, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate may jointly designate.

SEC. 2. CONDITIONS.

The event to be carried out under this resolution shall be free of admission charge to the public and arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress, under conditions to be prescribed by the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board; except that the Association shall assume full responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident to all activities associated with the event. SEC. 3. STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT.

For the purposes of this resolution, the Association is authorized to erect upon the Capitol Grounds, subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol, such stage, sound amplification devices, and other related structures and equipment as may be required for the event to be carried out under this resolution.

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board are authorized to make any such additional arrangements that may be required to carry out the event under this resolution.

SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of the restrictions contained in section 4 of the Act of July 31, 1946 (40 U.S.C. 193d; 60 Stat. 718), concerning sales, advertisements, displays, and solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well as other

May 22, 2001

[H. Con. Res. 79]

May 22, 2001 [H. Con. Res. 87]

May 25, 2001 [H. Con. Res. 139]

restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, with respect to the event to be carried out under this resolution.

Agreed to May 22, 2001.

2001 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN-CAPITOL GROUNDS AUTHORIZATION

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF RUNNING OF D.C. SPECIAL OLYMPICS
LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN THROUGH CAPITOL
GROUNDS.

On June 1, 2001, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate may jointly designate, the 2001 District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run (in this resolution referred to as the "event") may be run through the Capitol Grounds as part of the journey of the Special Olympics torch to the District of Columbia Special Olympics summer games at Gallaudet University in the District of Columbia.

SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITY OF CAPITOL POLICE BOARD.

The Capitol Police Board shall take such actions as may be necessary to carry out the event.

SEC. 3. CONDITIONS RELATING TO PHYSICAL PREPARATIONS.

The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe conditions for physical preparations for the event.

SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of the restrictions contained in section 4 of the Act of July 31, 1946 (40 U.S.C. 193d; 60 Stat. 718), concerning sales, advertisements, displays, and solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, with respect to the event.

Agreed to May 22, 2001.

CHRISTIANITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA— 1700TH ANNIVERSARY

Whereas the Armenian people have lived in their homeland for more than 3,000 years and created a unique civilization;

Whereas two of Jesus Christ's own disciples, Saint Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew, introduced Christianity in Armenia and were the original founders of the Armenian Church;

Whereas in 301 A.D., Saint Gregory the Illuminator Christianized the entire country of Armenia, was consecrated the first Catholicos of Armenia, and baptized King Drtad of Armenia as a Christian;

Whereas in 301 A.D., King Drtad declared Christianity to be the official religion of Armenia, making it the first Christian state in the world;

Whereas Armenian Church leaders opened schools, cared for the sick and needy, and created alphabets for Armenia and Georgia to make the Scriptures more accessible to the people;

Whereas Armenians' devotion to God led them to create distinctive styles of manuscript illumination, architecture, sculpture, and textiles, that are recognized as masterpieces of Christian art and as major contributions to world art;

Whereas the Armenian Church has persevered in its faith throughout the past 17 centuries in cultures that were hospitable to it and others that were hostile;

Whereas the Armenian Church actively participates in ecumenical bodies and movements, uniting Christians of all denominations world-wide;

Whereas more than 100 communities throughout the United States will celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the acceptance of Christianity in Armenia with special worship and ecumenical services; Whereas in celebration of the 1700th anniversary, His Holiness Karekin II will visit the United States;

Whereas the 1700th anniversary is an appropriate occasion to celebrate the ideals and values shared by the people of the United States, the people of Armenia, and the Armenian Church in America;

Whereas representatives of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths, including representatives of the Armenian Church, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., will celebrate an ecumenical prayer service on May 30, 2001, at the Catholic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary;

Whereas the Armenian Church, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. have chosen the theme "Walking Together in the Light of Our Lord" as the message to embrace the ecumenical spirit of brotherhood on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary; and Whereas the Armenian Church has established parishes throughout the United States and has contributed to the quality of religious life in this Nation: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress

(1) congratulates the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the acceptance of Christianity in Armenia;

(2) welcomes His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, on his visit to the United States; and

(3) joins with the people of Armenia, the Armenian Church in America, and His Holiness Karekin II in celebrating the ideals and values they share with the people of the United States.

Agreed to May 25, 2001.