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SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 102
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AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 1985 Reg.
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By Senators Owen, Rasmussen, Stratton, Metcalf, Conner, Johnson, Patterson and Barr
Read first time 1/21/85 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE HONORABLE BOOTH GARDNER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
WHEREAS, The forest products industry in the State of Washington is in a severe recession; and
WHEREAS, Lumber, logging, and wood products employment has declined dramatically; and
WHEREAS, Lumber, plywood, and shake and shingle prices have declined significantly; and
WHEREAS, Numerous lumber, veneer, and shake and shingle mills have closed in the state; and
WHEREAS, Despite the decline in Washington's forest products industry, the demand for and consumption of forest products has been surprisingly strong; and
WHEREAS, The Canadian forest products industry has taken over traditional Northwest forest product markets by dramatically increased imports of Canadian lumber; and
WHEREAS, The timber in Canada is owned by the Canadian government and provided to Canadian mills far below its true market value and on a noncompetitive basis, which has resulted in subsidized Canadian timber prices; and
WHEREAS, This subsidized Canadian timber has given Canadian producers an unfair advantage over Washington timber producers; and
WHEREAS, Washington's inability to compete with Canadian producers and the resultant declining timber economy has had a devastating effect on communities and families that depend on timber employment; and
WHEREAS, The Washington State Legislature recognizes the emergent nature of the forest products industry decline and the need to work towards an equitable resolution without impairing the long-standing relationship between the state of Washington and neighboring Canada;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that:
(1) The Governor of the State of Washington actively support Congressional efforts to resolve the issue of continuing Canadian forest products imports;
(2) The Washington State delegation to Congress utilize their influence to persuade the members of the Senate and House of Representatives to enact legislation to intensify negotiations for resolving the issue of increasing Canadian forest product imports.
BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each member of Congress from the State of Washington, and the Honorable Booth Gardner, Governor of the State of Washington.