HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1010 FILED ON: 1/14/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3133
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Brendan P. Crighton
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolution:
Resolutions to urge the Congress of the United States to reject the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Brendan P. Crighton | 11th Essex | 1/14/2015 |
Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr. | 28th Middlesex | 12/19/2019 |
Denise Provost | 27th Middlesex | 12/19/2019 |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 12/19/2019 |
RoseLee Vincent | 16th Suffolk | 12/19/2019 |
Ellen Story | 3rd Hampshire | 12/19/2019 |
Paul McMurtry | 11th Norfolk | 12/19/2019 |
Paul W. Mark | 2nd Berkshire | 12/19/2019 |
Thomas M. McGee | Third Essex | 12/19/2019 |
James J. O'Day | 14th Worcester | 12/19/2019 |
Michelle M. DuBois | 10th Plymouth | 12/19/2019 |
Gailanne M. Cariddi | 1st Berkshire | 12/19/2019 |
Jay D. Livingstone | 8th Suffolk | 12/19/2019 |
Walter F. Timilty | 7th Norfolk | 12/19/2019 |
Theodore C. Speliotis | 13th Essex | 12/19/2019 |
Robert F. Fennell | 10th Essex | 2/4/2015 |
Sean Garballey | 23rd Middlesex | 12/19/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1010 FILED ON: 1/14/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3133
By Mr. Crighton of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by resolutions, House, No. 3133) of Brendan P. Crighton and others for the adoption of resolutions memorializing the Congress of the United States to reject the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. Veterans and Federal Affairs. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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Resolutions to urge the Congress of the United States to reject the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
Whereas, The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed free trade agreement currently being negotiated by twelve nations, including the United States. While the draft text includes traditional free trade elements, the TPP moves exponentially beyond the realm of removing or lessening import tariffs, export subsides, and other barriers to the free exchange of goods. In fact, only five of the twenty-nine released draft chapters pertain to these trade issues, leaving the balance to non-trade matters that mar the standard of consumer protections, financial regulations, and internet freedoms that Americans demand; and
Whereas, The trade agreement, as drafted, would adversely revise regulations across the board and reduce access to some goods. TPP would retract numerous U.S. regulations and health safeguards aimed at improving and protecting our environment for the 21st century. Moreover, the trade agreement would relocate millions of American jobs in a turbulent economy to other nations, decrease our access to affordable medicine, increase the volume of unsafe food and goods in American markets, and roll back regulatory safeguards many nations, including the United States, have adopted to restore financial stability; and
Whereas, The widely-publicized plan for certification would undermine Congress' responsibility to conduct a full public review and approval and flies in the face of the long-standing principle of democratic transparency. With the support of the president's administration, senators have proposed using "fast-track" legislation that, if enacted, would limit debate on the TPP, prevent amendments to the agreement, and require an up-or-down vote by both chambers within ninety days. This plan would exacerbate Congress' historically low influence over the language negotiated by the United States Trade Representative. Congress must not abdicate its responsibility to ensure any approved agreement advances the best interests of the American citizenry; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Congress of the United States to reject the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the United States Trade Representative, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation.