[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 131 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H8820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO ENTER INTO FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE 
SULTANATE OF OMAN--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. 
                            DOC. NO. 109-60)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message 
from the President of the United States; which was read and, together 
with the accompanying papers, without objection, referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed:
To the Congress of the United States:
  Consistent with section 2105(a)(1)(A) of the Trade Act of 2002, 
(Public Law 107-210) (the ``Trade Act''), I am pleased to notify the 
Congress of my intention to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 
with the Sultanate of Oman.
  The Agreement will generate export opportunities for U.S. companies, 
farmers, and ranchers, help create jobs in the United States, and help 
American consumers save money while offering them more choices. 
Entering into an FTA with Oman will build on the FTAs that we already 
have with Israel, Jordan, and Morocco, as well as the FTA that we have 
concluded with Bahrain, and will be an important step on the path to 
fulfilling my vision of developing economic growth and democracy in the 
Middle East and creating a U.S.--Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 
2013.
  Consistent with the Trade Act, I am sending this notification at 
least 90 days in advance of signing the FTA. My Administration looks 
forward to working with the Congress in developing appropriate 
legislation to approve and implement this Agreement.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, October 17, 2005.

                          ____________________