HJ0028 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0028 LRB094 11716 HSS 43604 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Manufacturing jobs, which build and sustain America's middle class, are disappearing; the United States has lost more than 2 million manufacturing jobs since April 1998; and

WHEREAS, Trade agreements, such as GATT, creating the WTO, and NAFTA, were passed with strong bipartisan support, amidst promises from the leadership of both parties that the benefits would far outweigh the negative effects; and

WHEREAS, Studies based on the government's own figures have estimated 3 million actual and potential jobs lost since the signing of the NAFTA in 1994; in Illinois, an estimated 140,900 manufacturing jobs were lost between July 2000 and June 2003, a decline of 16.2%, or one out of every six manufacturing jobs was lost in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The annual trade deficit has hit a record high of over $450 billion, growing by more than 600 percent in the past 10 years; and

WHEREAS, Our trade deficit with Canada and Mexico has ballooned to nine times its size before NAFTA; since Congress granted China Permanent Normal Trade (PNTR) status in 2000, the U.S. deficit with China has grown more than 20%, by more than $14 billion; and

WHEREAS, The current administration is working on a new trade deal, Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which is expected to be presented to the U.S. Congress in 2005; and

WHEREAS, The tremendous effects of the manufacturing crisis in Illinois are obvious, on the tax base and budgets, on our local, county, and State governments, schools, and public services; and

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the Illinois General Assembly to not only do everything it can to save and attract manufacturing jobs in our State, but legislators must also seriously examine the effects of U.S. trade policy on our State and determine our recommendations to our respective party leadership in Congress; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we will convene a study committee to investigate and hold public hearings about the effects of U.S. trade policy on Illinois jobs and farms; the study committee shall consist of the following: two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall serve as co-chairman; two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall serve as co-chairman; two members of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; six individuals appointed by the Governor from unions representing manufacturing workers in the State, which will include representatives from the United Steelworkers of America; six individuals appointed by the Governor from manufacturing companies in the State; four individuals appointed by the Governor from the Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board; and four individuals appointed by the Governor from the Illinois Manufacturers' Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study committee shall meet at least four times while the General Assembly is in recess, inviting workers, labor unions, employers, academics, and farm and trade experts to testify; the panel shall make recommendations to the Governor and to the U.S. Congressional delegation and the President as to the future direction on trade agreements and what must be done immediately to reverse the continual loss of middle class jobs in our State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the study committee shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses incurred while serving as study committee members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study committee shall file a final report, containing its findings and recommendations, with the Governor and the General Assembly no later than June 30, 2006.