South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004
H. 4425
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. M.A.Pitts, Duncan, Vaughn, Taylor, Leach and Mahaffey
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ggs\22327htc04.doc
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2004
Currently residing in the House Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions
Summary: WTO and NAFTA Resolution
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
DateBodyAction Description with journal page number
12/3/2003HousePrefiled
12/3/2003HouseReferred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions
1/13/2004HouseIntroduced HJ94
1/13/2004HouseReferred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial ResolutionsHJ94
1/20/2004HouseCommittee report: Favorable Invitations and Memorial ResolutionsHJ12
1/21/2004HouseDebate adjourned HJ20
1/21/2004Scrivener's error corrected
1/22/2004HouseRecommitted to Committee on Invitations and Memorial ResolutionsHJ33
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/3/2003
1/20/2004
1/21/2004
COMMITTEE REPORT
January 20, 2004
H.4425
Introduced by Reps. M.A.Pitts, Duncan, Vaughn, Taylor, Leach and Mahaffey
S. Printed 1/20/04--H.[SEC 1/21/04 3:44 PM]
Read the first time January 13, 2004.
THE COMMITTEE ON
INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H.4425) to express the concern of the members of the General Assembly for South Carolina industry and the jobs it provides and to memorialize the United States Congress and the President of the United States, etc., respectfully
REPORT:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
ROBERT W. LEACH, SR. for Committee.
[4425-1]
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO EXPRESS THE CONCERN OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA INDUSTRY AND THE JOBS IT PROVIDES AND TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO ABROGATE, RESCIND, OR OTHERWISE RENEGOTIATE THIS NATION’S MEMBERSHIP IN OR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE, AND THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly appreciate the work of the members of the United States Congress and of the President of this nation and generally support those individuals in making decisions affecting the country and this State; and
Whereas, the North American Free Trade Agreement was enacted to remove the trade barriers on most goods produced and sold in North America and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was enacted to provide an international forum that encouraged free trade between member states; and
Whereas, the actual impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement is that American factories have closed and moved to other countries where the average wage is lower than that of the United States; and
Whereas, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade has had a negative impact on the economy of the United States because the average wage in America is not competitive with the much lower average wage of some of the other member states; and
Whereas, the United States textile and apparel industries have been disrupted by allowing Vietnam, which is not a member of the World Trade Organization, to enter into the United StatesVietnam Bilateral Agreement, and nearly one million employees in this sector have been damaged nationwide; and
Whereas, South Carolina’s textile sector in the GreenvilleSpartanburg area has already lost nearly eight thousand jobs from January 2001 to February 2003, and the General Assembly’s highest priority is protecting the interests of South Carolina’s citizens and businesses and supporting all efforts to boost the economy of this State; and
Whereas, for the sake of the manufacturing economy of this State and the United States, it is essential for this Congress and President of the United States to abrogate, rescind, or otherwise renegotiate on more favorable terms the North American Free Trade Agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, both of which have adversely affected the economy of this United States. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, express concern for South Carolina industry and the jobs it provides and memorialize Congress and the President of the United States to abrogate, rescind, or otherwise renegotiate this nation’s membership in or relationship with the World Trade Organization, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, the Special Trade Representative, and the members of this State’s congressional delegation.
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