[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 491 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 491

           Supporting the use of fair trade certified coffee.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 17, 2002

 Mr. Stark (for himself, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Brown of 
 Ohio, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. McKinney, Ms. Lee, Ms. 
  Millender-McDonald, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Doggett, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. 
   Farr of California) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the 
 Committees on House Administration and the Judiciary, for a period to 
      be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Supporting the use of fair trade certified coffee.

Whereas in the context of the global economy, consumer choices affect 
        communities and the environment throughout the world;
Whereas most small-scale coffee farmers who receive local market prices for 
        their harvests can not meet their costs of production and are therefore 
        forced into a cycle of poverty and debt;
Whereas dire poverty is prevalent in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other 
        areas of the world;
Whereas large-scale, nonsustainable coffee farming leads to environmental 
        problems, such as the contamination of air and water supplies from 
        pesticide poisoning and the extinction of some bird species due to the 
        destruction of their habitats;
Whereas fair trade certified coffee is coffee that has been purchased without 
        the participation of intermediate dealers and at a minimum price per 
        pound of $1.26, and therefore enables small-scale farmers to sustain 
        their farms and to avoid debt;
Whereas TransFair USA, a nonprofit organization, is a fair trade certification 
        organization in the United States, has certified over 13,000,000 pounds 
        of fair trade coffee since its founding in 1998, and has worked with 
        more than 130 companies to generate more than $10,000,000 in additional 
        income for small coffee farmers;
Whereas other organizations also have certification standards, some of which 
        exceed those of TransFair USA;
Whereas TransFair USA encourages the cultivation of coffee under organic 
        conditions and under shade canopies which preserve trees and birds;
Whereas with the profits generated from receiving a fair price, farmers can 
        invest in community development, health care, education, and 
        environmental responsibility; and
Whereas the Congress, the executive branch, and the judiciary have a 
        responsibility to set a high standard of ethics with regard to their 
        economic activities and, therefore, to ensure that the goods and 
        services they purchase are produced in the fairest manner possible: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the United States House of Representatives recommends 
        the restriction of coffee purchases by all executive, 
        legislative, and judicial branch offices and entities to brands 
        that are fair trade certified; and
            (2) the Congress, the executive branch, and the judiciary 
        should provide information to the public about the importance 
        of fair trade certified coffee.
                                 <all>