STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1773

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 87

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 87 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO CREATE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE OUTDATED FAST TRACK TRADE AUTHORITY SYSTEM SO THAT UNITED STATES TRADE AGREEMENTS ARE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED USING A MORE DEMOCRATIC, INCLUSIVE MECHANISM THAT ENSHRINES THE PRINCIPLES OF FEDERALISM AND STATE SOVEREIGNTY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to protect states' rights in the establishment of trade agreements by requesting the United States Congress to replace the Fast Track Trade Authority system (Fast Track) with a system that requires the prior informed consent of state legislatures before states are bound to the nontariff terms of any trade agreement that affects state regulatory authority.

 

     Public Citizen, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii State AFL-CIO supported this concurrent resolution.

 

     Your Committee finds that Fast Track is a procedural device established by former President Nixon which allows the executive branch to negotiate and sign agreements and write conforming federal legislation while excluding a meaningful role for Congress, the public, and state and local officials affected by the agreements.  The current grant of Fast Track Trade Authority expires in July 2007.  This concurrent resolution seeks replacement of Fast Track with a more democratic and accountable trade negotiation process.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 87 and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair