Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/497

 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—NOV. 19, 1999 113 STAT. 2015 Whereas from Ellis Island to the Pacific coast, the United States has welcomed immigrants seeking freedom and opportunity; Whereas the United States democratic system, of Government mandates equal protection under the law and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all its citizens; Whereas the United States endured a civil war for emancipation, and in doing so, formed a permanent union and a society of equals; Whereas the United States has outlawed racial, ethnic, and religious bigotry to create the world's greatest multicultural society; Whereas the United States respects the individual and welcomes each one's participation in our democratic society; Whereas the United States is the preeminent land of opportunity which rewards hard work, ingenuity, and perseverance; Whereas the ethnic diversity of the United States has provided an abundance of energy, creativity, and prosperity; Whereas people in the United States recogjiize and reward the contributions of members from every group; Whereas people in the United States are working to close opportunity gaps so that all may share in the great prosperity of our Nation; Whereas people in the United States of all backgrounds have sacrificed their lives in war to defend the cause of freedom for people around the world; and Whereas people in the United States of African, Asian, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Native American backgrounds cherish and celebrate their various national, ethnic, and religious heritages: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring). That it is the sense of the Congress that all people in the United States should reach out across our differences in ethnicity, race, and religion to respect each other and to celebrate, in friendship and unity, one America. Agreed to November 19, 1999. ELECTRONIC COMMERCE—PERMANENT BAN ON Nov. i9, 1999 TARRIES AND TAXIilS [H.con.Res.i90] Whereas electronic commerce is not bound by geography and its borders are not easily discernible; Whereas transmissions over the Internet are made through packetswitching, making it impossible to determine with any degree of certainty the precise geographic route or endpoints of specific Internet transmissions and infeasible to separate domestic from foreign Internet transmissions; Whereas inconsistent and inadministrable t<ixes imposed on Internet activity by subnational and national governments threaten not only to subject consumers, businesses, and other users

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