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H. 4868

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Davenport, Vaughn, Pinson, Barfield, J. Brown, Clark, Coates, Moody-Lawrence, Owens and Rice
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ggs\22489htc04.doc

Introduced in the House on March 2, 2004
Currently residing in the House Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions

Summary: Protecting domestic manufacturing and jobs

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3/2/2004  House   Introduced HJ-32
    3/2/2004  House   Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial 
                        Resolutions HJ-32

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

3/2/2004

TO MEMORIALIZE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE VIGOROUS AND IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO STRENGTHEN DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING, ENTER INTO NO FURTHER AGREEMENTS THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE THE OFFSHORING OF MORE UNITED STATES MANUFACTURING JOBS, AND TO TAKE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE OR NEGATE ILLEGAL AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES.

Whereas, more than 2.5 million manufacturing jobs have been lost in the past three years, including 323,000 in textiles and apparel, while at the same time imports from China have soared to record levels; and

Whereas, the U.S. trade deficit is expected to exceed $530 billion in 2003, the largest trade deficit ever recorded by any country in history; and

Whereas, this job-destroying deficit has been exacerbated by the fact that other governments, such as China, employ unfair and illegal trade practices, including currency manipulation and state subsidies to their manufacturing base in the form of nonperforming loans and tax rebate schemes that distort trade; and

Whereas, U.S. trade policy is encouraging relentless outsourcing of U.S. jobs and U.S. wealth and as a consequence, the united textile industry believes that the United States should take vigorous and immediate actions to strengthen domestic manufacturing, preserve U.S. manufacturing jobs, and reduce the trade deficit significantly; and

Whereas, the united textile industry further believes that the United States should enter into no further agreements that would encourage the offshoring of yet more U.S. manufacturing jobs and production and take actions necessary to eliminate or negate the illegal and unfair trade practices mentioned above; and

Whereas, in relation to specific textile issues, the united textile industry requests that the U.S. commit to the continuation of quota restraints on Chinese imports of textiles and apparel and to support enhancements to an extension of the Berry Amendment and other federal buy-American purchase requirements; and

Whereas, the united textile industry further requests that the U.S. oppose free-trade agreements that contain unnecessary loopholes to the requirement to use signatory fiber, yarn, thread, fabric, and fabric dyeing, finishing and printing; and

Whereas, the U.S. is also asked to oppose any reduction of U.S. textile and apparel tariffs through the World Trade Organization and any weakening of U.S. trade laws regarding unfair trade practices; and

Whereas, full enforcement of U.S. trade laws is supported by the united textile industry to aggressively address illegal trade activities and remedy violation. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, memorialize Congress and the President of the United States to take vigorous and immediate actions to strengthen domestic manufacturing, enter into no further agreements that would encourage the offshoring of more U.S. manufacturing jobs, and to take actions necessary to eliminate or negate illegal and unfair trade practices.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and each member of this state's congressional delegation.

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