Reps. Miller, Bennett, Gillard, Kehrl, Cushingberry, Vagnozzi, Polidori, Wojno, Angerer, Espinoza, Alma Smith, Condino, Gleason, Plakas, Hopgood, Donigan, Accavitti, Farrah, Clack, Anderson, Adamini, Brown, Williams, Phillips, Waters, Bieda, Meisner, Mayes, Leland, Hunter, Lemmons, Jr., Kathleen Law and Lemmons, III offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 111.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

            Whereas, A proposal is pending to finalize a new trade agreement involving the United States and several Central American countries.  The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) would alter the way our nation trades with the countries of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; and

            Whereas, Leaders of several industry groups in the United States, including workers, have expressed serious reservations over the prospect of CAFTA going into effect.  While the example of what has happened to certain segments of the economy of the United States in the wake of the North American Free Trade Agreement is often cited in arguments against CAFTA, there are many other reasons individuals and groups are opposed to CAFTA; and

            Whereas, Major problems identified by CAFTA opponents include concerns that the agreement would increase domination by agricultural monopolies, with serious costs to family farming in the United States; that the agreement does not provide adequate safeguards of internationally recognized standards for labor, public health, and the environment; that the agreement will speed up the loss of American jobs in many areas; and that the agreement ignores the fact that the economies of the other member countries could not support the purchase of American goods; and

            Whereas, The state of the United States economy, which is adjusting to the impact of outsourcing and uncertainties in the areas of energy and foreign currencies, is precarious.  Approving the CAFTA proposal would further jeopardize our country and its workers; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.