[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 136 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 136

   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should 
  initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with the 
                          country of Georgia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 7, 2009

     Mr. Kerry (for himself and Mr. Lugar) submitted the following 
       resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should 
  initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with the 
                          country of Georgia.

Whereas Georgia has been developing its democratic and market-economy 
        institutions for over a decade;
Whereas the pace of democratic and economic reforms has accelerated dramatically 
        since the Rose Revolution of 2003;
Whereas the democratically elected Government of Georgia has worked aggressively 
        to combat corruption and increase transparency and accountability in 
        government institutions, and should continue to do so;
Whereas Georgia has implemented a number of economic reforms, particularly in 
        its tax and regulatory regimes;
Whereas such reforms were designed to encourage entrepreneurship and small 
        business development;
Whereas Georgia's economic reforms have spurred strong economic growth and 
        foreign direct investment;
Whereas the August conflict with Russia nearly halted Georgia's economic growth, 
        depleted public resources, drove up unemployment, and left a severe 
        humanitarian crisis in its wake;
Whereas the global financial crisis has further hindered growth and investment 
        in Georgia;
Whereas strong economic growth and investment would provide the necessary 
        resources for Georgia to recover quickly from the devastation of the 
        August conflict, as well as to further strengthen democratic 
        institutions and solidify public support for democratic governance;
Whereas a vibrant, stable democracy in the Caucasus region is in the interest of 
        the United States;
Whereas Georgia's position along energy transit routes is of strategic 
        importance to the United States;
Whereas Georgia has aggressively sought integration into Euro-Atlantic 
        institutions;
Whereas closer engagement with Georgia through trade negotiations would 
        encourage even greater reform in Georgia and build its capacity to 
        further modernize and liberalize its economy;
Whereas Georgia is a member of the World Trade Organization; and
Whereas pursuant to an agreement between Congress and the Bush Administration 
        reached on May 10, 2007, the United States is committed to assisting its 
        trading partners in efforts to improve standards of environmental and 
        labor protections: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the United States 
should initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with 
Georgia.
                                 <all>