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






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 38

Expressing support for the accession of Israel to the Organization for 
             Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 2005

 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Crowley, and Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of 
Virginia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the accession of Israel to the Organization for 
             Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Whereas Israel has been trying to join the Organization 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 2004, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and 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, 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 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 
        Organization 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.
                                 <all>