Reps. Kahn, Ward, Hummel, Taub, Booher, Hansen, Steil, Jones, David Law, Van Regenmorter, Moore, Elsenheimer, Sheltrown, Huizenga, Rocca, Hoogendyk, Acciavatti, LaJoy, Nitz, Green, Farhat, Pastor, Ball, Schuitmaker, Gosselin, Hildenbrand, Proos, Caswell, Stakoe, Gaffney, Mortimer, Accavitti, Brandenburg, Byrnes, Caul, Gleason, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Meyer, Miller, Pavlov, Pearce, Polidori, Sak, Shaffer, Spade and Wojno offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 134.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to require that, whenever possible, countries receiving foreign aid be required to use those resources to purchase American goods and services.

            Whereas, The United States has a long and remarkable record of coming to the aid of countries in need.  This record is exemplified by the $19 billion in humanitarian and financial development assistance our nation donated in 2004.  This sum, which is twice that of any other country, does not take into account private assistance, which is more than double the amount of our official governmental largess.  Indeed, none could argue with the fact that Americans are the most generous people on earth; and

            Whereas, Foreign aid is much more than a reflection of the goodwill of the American people.  It offers the promise of freedom, opportunity, security, and health.  These basic needs are the foundation for democracy and nation-building.  They are also essential to the creation of a market economy.  Indeed, foreign aid and the opening of markets go hand-in-hand; and

            Whereas, Trade and aid are the building blocks of the future.  The link between the two, however, could be much stronger if forged in the spirit of reciprocity and mutual gain.  A key to this important bond would be a requirement that countries receiving our aid take every practicable effort to use those funds to purchase American goods and services.  This would have an immediate impact on both economies, and, in the long run, create lasting relationships and understanding.  There could be no finer outcome to this fair and balanced cooperative approach; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to require that, whenever possible, countries receiving foreign aid be required to use those resources to purchase American goods and services; 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.