PRINTER'S NO. 1286

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 226 Session of 2007

        INTRODUCED BY COHEN, SURRA, LEVDANSKY, JOSEPHS, BELFANTI,
           BLACKWELL, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CASORIO, GIBBONS, HENNESSEY,
           HORNAMAN, JAMES, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, MURT, MYERS, PALLONE,
           PETRONE, READSHAW, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH AND YOUNGBLOOD,
           APRIL 18, 2007

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
           APRIL 18, 2007

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Establishing a Select Committee on Trade Policy; providing for a
     2     report; and requesting that the Governor provide copies of
     3     all international trade agreement proposals.

     4     WHEREAS, International trade has a significant impact upon
     5  this Commonwealth's economy, affecting job growth in employment
     6  related directly and indirectly to trade, affecting unemployment
     7  due to expanding foreign businesses and impacting the
     8  competition and costs of goods to consumers; and
     9     WHEREAS, The Federal Government provides copies of
    10  international trade agreements to governors for their comments;
    11  and
    12     WHEREAS, As many agreements take effect in a timely fashion,
    13  there is a need for state governments to make rapid analysis and
    14  comment on matters involving these agreements; and
    15     WHEREAS, The conditions imposed in some international trade
    16  agreements have the ability to supersede state laws and state

     1  court decisions; and
     2     WHEREAS, North Carolina, Maine, California and Washington
     3  have established legislative committees to oversee international
     4  trade as states are recognizing their role in influencing trade
     5  policies; therefore be it
     6     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives establish a
     7  Select Committee on Trade Policy to study trade policies and to
     8  develop a mechanism for rapid legislative responses to proposed
     9  trade agreements; and be it further
    10     RESOLVED, That the Select Committee report its findings and
    11  recommendations on legislative oversight and participation in
    12  trade policies to the House of Representatives no later than
    13  November 30, 2008; and be it further
    14     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives request that the
    15  Governor provide the Select Committee with copies of all
    16  international trade agreement proposals.










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