Report Title:

Support Renewal of the President's Fast-Track Negotiating Authority.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, since 1974, Presidents have used fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements that reduced foreign taxes on American exports and provided American consumers with a broad selection of goods and services at competitive prices; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has been without fast-track authority since 1994; and

WHEREAS, fast-track is an important tool that allows the President to negotiate and implement agreements with other countries to lower foreign trade barriers, open markets, and rebalance trade relationships on more reciprocal terms; and

WHEREAS, under fast-track authority, trade agreements are submitted to Congress for an up or down vote under rules barring committee or floor amendments; and

WHEREAS, fast-track authority does not give the President a blank check to negotiate trade agreements, nor does it undermine the constitutional prerogatives of Congress; and

WHEREAS, if the President cannot wield fast-track authority, no country will initiate serious trade negotiations with the United States; and

WHEREAS, fast track guarantees that trade accords negotiated in good faith with the President will not be changed later by Congress; and

WHEREAS, the free trade agreements achieved under fast-track authority have produced tangible benefits for the American economy; and now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the House of Representatives concurring, that members of Hawaii's delegation to the Congress of the United States are respectfully urged to support and work to implement renewal of the President's fast-track negotiating authority; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.