[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 178 (Thursday, November 7, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6473-S6474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-151. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging the United States Congress to speedily 
     approve the recently negotiated United States-Mexico-Canada 
     Agreement; to the Committee on Finance.

                        Senate Resolution No. 73

       Whereas, The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is 
     a close tri-lateral relationship between the United States, 
     Canada, and Mexico. For more than 25 years, NAFTA has been 
     economically, culturally, and strategically important for all 
     parties; and
       Whereas, NAFTA is significant for the American economy. 
     Trade with Canada and Mexico supports nearly 12 million 
     American jobs, and nearly 5 million of those jobs are 
     supported by increased NAFTA trade. Since the agreement began 
     in 1994, trade with Canada and Mexico has nearly quadrupled 
     to $1.3 trillion, and the two countries buy more than one-
     third of U.S. merchandise exports. U.S. service exports to 
     Canada and Mexico have also tripled, rising from $27.5 
     billion in 1993 to $91.3 billion in 2017, thanks to the trade 
     agreement's new market access and clearer rules; and
       Whereas, Trade with Canada and Mexico is significant to 
     U.S. states. For 43 states, our contiguous international 
     neighbors represent the first or second largest export 
     market, and all but one state counts Canada or Mexico as a 
     top three trading partner. Canada is Michigan's largest 
     export market, and Mexico is Michigan's third largest export 
     market. NAFTA has also contributed to a 300 percent increase 
     in Michigan's agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico; and
       Whereas, Small and medium-sized enterprises in the United 
     States rely on trade with Canada and Mexico to support and 
     grow their business. Canada and Mexico are the top two export 
     destinations for U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises, 
     more than

[[Page S6474]]

     125,000 of which sold their goods and services in Canada and 
     Mexico in 2014; and
       Whereas, Trade among our North American trading partners is 
     made up predominantly of intellectual property (IP)-intensive 
     goods and services that employ millions of Americans in high 
     paying jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic 
     output. However, many of the IP-intensive goods, services, 
     and exchanges through which trade is facilitated did not 
     exist when the agreement was drafted. This situation has 
     resulted in uneven and weak IP enforcement. Stronger 
     enforcement of IP rights will encourage more foreign direct 
     investment and increase gross domestic product; and
       Whereas, The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) 
     creates a 21st Century trade agreement for North America. The 
     renegotiated USMCA has provisions favorable to U.S. 
     autoworkers that would help level the playing field between 
     U.S. and Mexican autoworkers. The updated agreement is also 
     more beneficial to the agricultural sector than NAFTA and 
     will offer a higher degree of certainty and stability to 
     Michigan farmers. The new IP provisions are the most 
     comprehensive of any multilateral U.S. trade agreement and 
     are vastly superior to those included in NAFTA; and
       Whereas, The USMCA is a win for all three countries. 
     Ratification will modernize North American trade, reduce 
     uncertainty by setting the rules for every player, encourage 
     investment and innovation, and support millions of well-
     paying manufacturing jobs. The USMCA will also encourage 
     automotive research and development investments in the United 
     States and ensure that the U.S. automotive industry, which is 
     fundamental to the Michigan economy, remains a leader in the 
     global economy; and
       Whereas, A seamless transition between NAFTA and the USMCA 
     will ensure that none of the benefits in trade accomplished 
     by the integration of the three North American economies will 
     be lost; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Congress of the 
     United States to speedily approve the recently negotiated 
     United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-152. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Michigan urging the United States Congress to increase 
     funding for Sickle cell disease research; to the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 80

       Whereas, Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a disabling inherited 
     blood disorder that causes the production of abnormally 
     shaped (sickled) red blood cells that can stick together and 
     block the flow of blood and oxygen. SCD leads to severe 
     medical problems, including unpredictable episodes of 
     excruciating pain, organ damage, anemia, increased 
     susceptibility to infection, stroke, and decreased life span; 
     and
       Whereas, SCD poses a serious threat to public health. SCD 
     affects approximately 100,000 individuals in the United 
     States, including 1,000 babies born each year. The disease 
     disproportionately impacts people of African, Middle Eastern, 
     and South American descent. In 2016, there were approximately 
     134,000 hospital inpatient stays and nearly 250,000 emergency 
     department visits related to SCD, both leading to increased 
     medical costs, and
       Whereas, There is no universal cure for SCD. Stem cell 
     transplantation is currently the only cure, and it is not 
     necessarily appropriate for all SCD patients. There have been 
     advancements in treating the complications of SCD, but more 
     research is needed to study emerging treatments, including 
     therapies to address the underlying cause of the disease; and
       Whereas, SCD research is underfunded compared to other rare 
     inherited diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. Additional 
     funding for SCD research is imperative to identify new 
     treatments and cures to help patients with SCD and address 
     the public health risks posed by the disease; Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the United States 
     Congress to increase funding for sickle cell disease 
     research; and be it further
       Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and members of the 
     Michigan congressional delegation.
                                  ____

       POM-153. A resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees of 
     the Village of Rhinebeck, New York urging the United States 
     Congress to pass the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend 
     Act; to the Committee on Finance.
       POM-154. A resolution adopted by the Select Board of the 
     Town of North Hampton, New Hampshire urging the United States 
     Congress to pass the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend 
     Act; to the Committee on Finance.
       POM-155. A resolution adopted by the Council of the Town of 
     Red Hook, New York urging the United States Congress to pass 
     the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act; to the 
     Committee on Finance.
       POM-156. A resolution adopted by the Commission of the 
     Caddo Parish, Louisiana urging the United States Congress to 
     protect funding for local public health services and 
     prevention programs made possible by the Prevention and 
     Public Health Fund (PPHF); to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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