Senators Clarke, Brater and Allen offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 217.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the New Partnership for Development Act.

            Whereas, International trade and cooperation are vital components of our world economy. Fair and responsible trade practices are a key to helping assure continued economic growth and mutual prosperity. A measure currently before the Congress of the United States, the New Partnership for Development Act (H.R. 3905), would encourage enhanced American trade with some of the world's poorest countries, and, at the same time, create real incentives for promoting civil liberties, labor rights, and environmental stewardship. Clearly, by creating new economic partnerships and promoting social and political stability in fledgling nations, this bill would pay tremendous benefits for years to come; and

            Whereas, Indeed, the New Partnership for Development Act offers significant trade incentives, including duty-free status for products coming from some of our least developed countries. In return for these generous trade incentives, these trading partners must assure that they are making significant efforts toward protecting and promoting basic human rights; fair labor practices, including protections against child labor, unsafe working conditions, and unfair collective bargaining practices; and environmental responsibility. In addition, these countries would be encouraged to allow monitoring of their efforts to safeguard human rights and environmental protection, and a new federal compliance director would be designated to provide effective oversight; and

            Whereas, As advances in communication, technology, and transportation make our world more and more interconnected, the international marketplace continues to grow in importance. The adoption of the New Partnership for Development Act would provide a market-based approach that would help assure that this growth will develop in a responsible and socially acceptable manner; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we hereby memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the New Partnership for Development Act; 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.