71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
 
                            Enrolled
 
                     Senate Joint Memorial 2
 
Sponsored by Senator GORDLY; Senator GEORGE, Representative
  NELSON (at the request of Economic Justice Action Group)
 
 
  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, within the federal political system of the United
States, the states are the units of government closest to and
most representative of the people of the United States; and
  Whereas the elected officials of the states are able to
understand and respond to the needs and problems of their
constituents and to develop laws and regulations that fit local
circumstances within their states and regions; and
  Whereas recent and proposed international trade agreements
appear to conflict with and could invalidate existing and future
state laws relating to economic development in urban and rural
communities, agriculture and food safety, taxation, land use
control, natural resource conservation, access to courts, labor
and human rights, business licenses, competition policy and
consumer protection; and
  Whereas foreign corporations and foreign investors are using
provisions in these agreements to challenge existing laws in
several states; and
  Whereas, under current State Point of Contact procedures of the
United States Trade Representative, members of state legislatures
are not directly involved in formulating or overseeing provisions
in trade agreements that impact their lawmaking authority; now,
therefore,
 
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
 
  That the leaders of the United States Senate and the United
States House of Representatives are respectfully urged to empower
select committees in each chamber to study proposed and recently
approved international trade agreements to determine the extent
to which provisions in these agreements conflict with state
lawmaking powers; and be it further
  Resolved, That these select committees should be directed to
hold hearings throughout the United States to discuss their
findings with state and local elected officials within the states
and with citizens and to determine the effect of these agreements
on local communities and local governments; and be it further
  Resolved, That a copy of this memorial shall be sent to the
Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and to each member of the Oregon Congressional
Delegation.
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Enrolled Senate Joint Memorial 2 (SJM 2-A)                 Page 1
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                Adopted by Senate April 23, 2001
 
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                                       Secretary of Senate
 
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                                       President of Senate
 
 
                                  Adopted by House May 10, 2001
 
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                                        Speaker of House
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Enrolled Senate Joint Memorial 2 (SJM 2-A)                 Page 2