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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas is the nation's leading trade state, and its |
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future prosperity depends on bolstering trade among our North |
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American partners; and |
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WHEREAS, The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which |
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awaits ratification by the U.S. Congress, will create a more level |
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playing field for American workers, ensure opportunities for trade |
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in U.S. services, and benefit farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness; |
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moreover, it modernizes protections for intellectual property, |
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promotes collaboration in tackling cybersecurity, and ensures that |
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digital trade data can be transferred cross-border with protections |
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for the global digital ecosystem; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas exports totaled $315 billion in 2018; the |
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state accounts for almost 20 percent of the nation's trade total, |
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and 45 percent of Lone Star exports are destined for Mexico and |
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Canada; more than 90 percent of Texas exporters are small |
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businesses, and the USMCA cuts red tape, making it easier for them |
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to tap into foreign markets; approximately 44 percent of our |
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state's agricultural products are exported, and the agreement |
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provides enhanced market access for eggs, poultry, dairy, and |
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certain food crops; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2017, Texas energy exports to Canada and Mexico |
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totaled almost $17 billion; the USMCA will promote the stability of |
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this industry by preserving and expanding market integration for |
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greater certainty, efficiency, and interregional investment; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas has more U.S. ports of entry than any other |
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state, and Laredo and El Paso are the two busiest trade stations |
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doing business with Mexico; while offering new commitments for |
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market access, the USMCA also addresses nontariff barriers related |
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to trade in remanufactured goods and import and export licensing; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Nearly one million jobs in Texas are supported by |
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trade with Mexico and Canada; experts calculate that failure to |
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ratify the USMCA could result in the loss of as many as 300,000 of |
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those jobs; as North America has become more economically |
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integrated, a collaborative approach to trade is absolutely |
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necessary to protect American jobs and workers while fostering |
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innovation; and |
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WHEREAS, The trade landscape has shifted dramatically over |
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the past two decades, and the USMCA is designed to adapt to the new |
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terrain by strengthening our nation's export capabilities and |
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setting the standard for global trade agreements that will spur |
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continued economic dynamism for years to come; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby respectfully urge the U.S. Congress to unite in |
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bipartisan support for the ratification of the United |
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States-Mexico-Canada Agreement; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward official copies of |
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this resolution to the president of the United States, to the |
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president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the |
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members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that |
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this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |
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Parker |
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Craddick |
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Cain |
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Zerwas |
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Anchia |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1160 was adopted by the House on May |
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10, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 131, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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