[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 136--A BILL 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

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

                              S. Res. 136

       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.

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