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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The United States of America has always been the 
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world leader in pushing for free trade, which is a hallmark of 
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our capitalistic society; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Free trade only thrives where there is a level 
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playing field of government regulations between trading 
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partners; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Free trade agreements and policies of the United 
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States with other nations have severely affected United States 
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manufacturing industries and the workers the industries 
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employ; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Participation by the United States in 
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international trade organizations may imperil the success of 
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United States manufacturing; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Between January 2000 and November 2004, Illinois 
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lost approximately 143,000 manufacturing jobs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Manufacturing jobs in the United States have 
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plunged from 19.3 million in 1980 to only about 14.6 million 
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today, in large part because of these types of trade issues; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Foreign nations, such as China, have engaged in a 
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wide range of unfair trading practices, including the 
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manipulation of currency, subsidization of industries, and the 
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dumping of below-cost subsidized products into the United 
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States market; and

 
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    WHEREAS, United States manufacturers cannot compete with 
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foreign companies who pay a fraction of the salaries paid to 
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United States manufacturing employees, provide no health 
 


 






SR0138
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benefits to their workers, do not have to comply with safety 
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and environmental regulations, pay no pensions, and receive 
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government subsidies; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Congress of 
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the United States to place a moratorium on new free trade 
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agreements, to investigate and review current free trade 
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agreements and policies of the United States, to investigate 
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and review participation of the United States with 
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international trade organizations, and to ensure that the 
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agreements, policies, and participation are in the best 
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interests of the citizens of Illinois and the United States; 
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and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the 
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President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the 
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United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the 
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Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the 
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Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and to each 
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member of the Illinois congressional delegation.