[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 38 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 38

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                      November 8, 2005.
Whereas Israel has been trying to join the Organisation for Economic Co-
        operation and Development (OECD) since 2000, when it met the OECD's 
        membership requirements relating to industrial and per-capita product 
        criteria;
Whereas in March 2005, OECD Secretary-General Donald Johnston stated that 
        expanding the OECD's membership to include more countries is vital if 
        the group is to remain a forum for discussing global economic policies;
Whereas in 2004, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and then Finance 
        Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent a joint letter to the foreign and 
        finance ministers of the 30 member countries of the OECD, stating that 
        Israel's involvement as a non-member country in the OECD's various 
        committees is increasing, and that Israel meets the economic and 
        institutional criteria required to join the OECD;
Whereas in October 2004, then Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated 
        that joining the OECD was of strategic importance for repositioning 
        Israel's economy from an emerging market to a developed one, adding that 
        membership in the OECD would attract foreign investment;
Whereas in August 2004, the Israel Laboratory Accreditation Authority was 
        invited to become a full member of the OECD Environment Policy 
        Committee, the first committee that Israel has been invited to join as a 
        full member;
Whereas Israel was asked to take part in the OECD's Insurance and Commerce 
        Committees;
Whereas in March 2005, Israel was formally accepted as an observer on the OECD's 
        Financial Statistics Committee, allowing experts from the Bank of Israel 
        and Central Bureau of Statistics to participate in the committee's 
        meetings;
Whereas the World Bank ranks Israel among the 25 countries in which it is 
        easiest to do business;
Whereas Israel's tax burden, encompassing income and property taxes, customs 
        duties, value-added taxes (VAT) and national insurance, is much lower 
        than in most OECD member countries;
Whereas membership in the OECD could enhance Israel's status on the global 
        market and within international financial institutions, lowering the 
        risk factor on foreign loans to Israel;
Whereas Israel's economic and technological standing could potentially benefit 
        OECD member countries in the science and technology, including high-
        technology, sectors;
Whereas in 2003, the World Economic Forum ranked Israel 20th out of 102 
        countries in its Growth Competitiveness Index, and the World Economic 
        Forum's Technology Index ranked Israel 9th, before Canada (11th), Norway 
        (13th), Germany (14th), the United Kingdom (16th), and the Netherlands 
        (18th); and
Whereas Israel is carrying out far reaching economic reforms based on the OECD's 
        recommendations with respect to taxes, labor, competition, capital 
        markets, pension funds, energy, infrastructures, communications, and 
        transport: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) Israel shares the commitment to democratic government and the 
        market economy that is the foundation of the Organisation for Economic 
        Co-operation and Development (OECD);
            (2) Israel meets the OECD's membership requirements and has been an 
        active participant as a non-member country in various OECD activities, 
        such as adherence to the OECD Declaration on International Investment 
        and Multinational Enterprises; and
            (3) the United States Government should support and advocate the 
        accession of Israel to the OECD, including through coordination of 
        efforts with Mexico, Great Britain, and other countries supportive of 
        Israel's membership in the OECD.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.