[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 44 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 44

Condemning the People's Republic of China for its socially unacceptable 
  business practices, including the manufacturing and exportation of 
unsafe products, casual disregard for the environment, and exploitative 
                         employment practices.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2009

Mr. Poe of Texas (for himself, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Burton of Indiana, 
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Wilson of 
 South Carolina, Mr. Wolf, Ms. Fallin, and Mr. McHenry) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Condemning the People's Republic of China for its socially unacceptable 
  business practices, including the manufacturing and exportation of 
unsafe products, casual disregard for the environment, and exploitative 
                         employment practices.

Whereas millions of toys were imported into the United States from the People's 
        Republic of China and recalled in 2007 after the discovery that the 
        paint on the toys contained high levels of lead;
Whereas in the 110th Congress the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4040, the 
        Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act, by a 407-0 vote;
Whereas the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act bans any product 
        containing more than the specified safe level of lead that poses a 
        threat to the consumer's health and well-being;
Whereas Americans expect that their trading partners are responsible, ethical, 
        and diligent in providing high quality and safe products, especially 
        those used by children;
Whereas the Food and Drug Administration issued an import alert in March 2007 
        authorizing the detention of any wheat gluten imports from the Chinese 
        firm Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company of Peixian, 
        China, whose wheat gluten, an ingredient used in commercial pet foods, 
        was contaminated with the chemical melamine, which is used in the 
        manufacture of plastics and as a slow-release fertilizer, and led to the 
        deaths of pets in the United States;
Whereas the People's Republic of China continually pollutes the air and water to 
        extreme levels in the production of its goods, often to irreversible 
        levels;
Whereas the People's Republic of China is a member of the world community with a 
        social responsibility to provide basic human rights to its citizens;
Whereas, in June 2007, it was discovered that hundreds of people, including 
        women and children, were forced to work in brick kilns, suffering from 
        beatings and confinement; and
Whereas workers in the People's Republic of China often have wages withheld and 
        are exposed to dangerous machinery and chemicals, such as lead, and 
        unsafe working conditions: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the People's Republic of China for producing 
        unsafe products for sale;
            (2) condemns the People's Republic of China for its 
        disregard for the environment;
            (3) condemns the People's Republic of China for exploiting 
        workers;
            (4) encourages United States merchants to suspend the 
        importation of goods from China and sales of those goods until 
        reforms of these abuses are made; and
            (5) encourages United States parents to carefully consider 
        the ``Made in China'' label when purchasing toys for their 
        children due to potential high levels of toxic materials that 
        may cause serious injury or death.
                                 <all>