HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 58
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Ashley, Azinger,
Beane, Brown, Browning, Campbell, Evans, Keener, Kominar,
Leggett, Manuel, Perdue, Poling, Proudfoot, Schadler, Shelton,
J. Smith, Staton, G. White, Wright and Yeager)
[Introduced February 27, 2002; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Expressing support for the development of high technology
industries in West Virginia and urging the Attorney General of
West Virginia to seek the early resolution of pending
anti-trust litigation against Microsoft Corporation.
Whereas, The State of West Virginia is uniquely positioned to
participate in the growth and development of new and innovative
high technology industries as a result of the State's highly
developed fiber-optic telecommunications infrastructure, and the
State's current leadership in fostering public/private partnerships
in research on, and development of, sophisticated biometric
software applications and other developing technologies; and
Whereas, West Virginia has been a national leader in
implementing the use of computers in the State's public schools,
and will continue to pursue the most effective uses of high
technology in our public and post-secondary schools; and
Whereas, The high technology sector of the economy of the United States thrives on innovation within a stable and predictable
legal environment; and
Whereas, A pending federal anti-trust action against Microsoft
Corporation, a leader in high technology innovation, has created
instability in high technology markets and has created
uncertainties which impact growth and development of new
technologies by both Microsoft Corporation and its industry
partners; and
Whereas, Microsoft Corporation has expressed its desire to be
a partner in West Virginia's high technology development by making
contributions in West Virginia since 1997 in excess of $5,000,000
in cash and software to community organizations, educational
institutions and human service agencies, including grants to Davis
& Elkins College, Marshall University, the Appalachian Educational
Laboratory, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Parkersburg, the West
Virginia Department of Education and West Virginia University's
College of Education; and
Whereas, Microsoft Corporation's West Virginia contributions
have focused on improving technology access to under-served
communities, strengthening nonprofit entities through technology
assistance and expanding and diversifying West Virginia's technology workforce; and
Whereas, The United States Department of Justice and nine State
Attorney Generals have agreed to settle the pending federal
anti-trust litigation against Microsoft Corporation; and
Whereas, The Legislature of West Virginia desires to express
its support for actions which will encourage the growth and
development of new high technology applications here in West
Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the West Virginia Legislature does hereby express its
support for the development of new high technology industries in
West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Attorney General of West Virginia
is encouraged to seek an early resolution of West Virginia's
participation in the federal anti-trust action against Microsoft
Corporation so that West Virginia may contribute to creating a
stable and predictable legal environment for the continued growth
and development of innovative high technology industries in West
Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Attorney General of West Virginia.