Reps. Gonzales, Accavitti, Adamini, Anderson, Bieda, Brown, Cushingberry, Donigan, Espinoza, Farrah, Gleason, Hopgood, Kathleen Law, Lipsey, McDowell, Meisner, Miller, Plakas, Polidori, Rocca, Sak, Sheltrown, Alma Smith, Virgil Smith, Spade, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Waters, Wojno, Zelenko and Byrum offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 168.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact bipartisan legislation that creates the position of Chief Trade Prosecutor within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to enforce our trade agreements and to eliminate the illegal trade practices of other countries.

            Whereas, Failure to enforce our trade agreements has cost the United States millions of jobs over the past 15 years. In Michigan alone, tens of thousands of these jobs were lost due to a trade imbalance with countries like China; and

            Whereas, This trade imbalance with China is due in part to anti-competitive actions taken by China's government, including illegal direct subsidies, export tax rebates and lack of enforcement against counterfeit goods. Despite China's repeated and widespread violations of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, our government has failed to file complaints with the WTO to stop these violations; and

            Whereas, The creation of a Chief Trade Prosecutor within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative would help reduce illegal trade practices. The Trade Prosecutor would be given the authority to investigate illegal trade and recommend the prosecution of cases before the WTO. The Prosecutor would be able to stand up to our trading partners and make sure they are following the law and protecting the standards of free and fair trade; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact bipartisan legislation that creates the position of Chief Trade Prosecutor within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to enforce our trade agreements and to eliminate the illegal trade practices of other countries; and be it further

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