71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 3964
 
                     House Joint Memorial 27
 
Sponsored by Representative STARR; Representatives BROWN, CLOSE,
  KRUSE, T SMITH, WITT, ZAUNER
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Urges leaders of Congress to support renewal of fast-track
negotiating authority of President of United States.
 
                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
  of America, in Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas United States Presidents used fast-track negotiating
authority from 1974 to 1994 to negotiate trade agreements that
reduced foreign taxes on American exports and provided United
States consumers with a broad selection of goods and services at
competitive prices; and
  Whereas the President of the United States has been without
fast-track negotiating authority since 1994; and
  Whereas fast-track negotiating authority is an important tool
that allows the President to negotiate and implement agreements
with other countries that lower foreign trade barriers, open
markets and rebalance trade relationships to ensure more
reciprocal benefits; and
  Whereas, under fast-track negotiating authority, trade
agreements are submitted to Congress for an up or down vote under
rules that bar committee or floor amendments and therefore
fast-track negotiating authority neither gives the President a '
blank check' to negotiate trade agreements nor undermines the
constitutional prerogatives of Congress; and
  Whereas, if the President cannot wield fast-track negotiating
authority, countries will not initiate serious trade negotiations
with the United States because fast-track negotiating authority
ensures that an accord negotiated in good faith will not be
changed later by Congress; and
  Whereas the free trade agreements achieved under fast-track
negotiating authority have produced tangible benefits for the
United States economy; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The leaders of the United States Senate and House of
Representatives are respectfully urged to support and work to
 
implement renewal of the President's fast-track negotiating
authority.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the Senate
Majority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
each member of the Oregon Congressional Delegation.
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