S-2178.1  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8013

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators Benton, Patterson, Morton and Oke

Read first time 03/11/97.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Petitioning Congress to recognize the significant burden to the roadways and border crossings from the North American Free Trade Agreement.

    TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, 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:

    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 North American Free Trade Agreement was entered into by the United States of America with the intention of improving trade relations between the United States, Canada, and Mexico; and

    WHEREAS, Trade with Canada and Mexico has continued to grow, with higher growth in the future likely, related to the free trade agreement; and

    WHEREAS, Increased trade has had significant impact on the highway and other transportation systems of many states, particularly those which border Canada or Mexico and which experience significant through movement; and

    WHEREAS, States have always had a partnership with the Federal government in providing an adequate and safe road system to address the needs of interstate commerce; and

    WHEREAS, The increased trade with Canada has had significant impact on many highway corridors in Washington including Interstate 5, Interstate 90, U.S. 97, and U.S. 395, with increased truck loadings and volumes which are deteriorating pavements quicker and adding to already congested conditions at border crossings and along major trade corridors; and

    WHEREAS, Studies in Washington have shown that up to seventy percent of the Canadian trade on Washington highways passes through the state without serving Washington residents or businesses; and

    WHEREAS, Current state and federal funding is inadequate to address capacity expansion and wear on impacted corridors;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress and the United States Department of Transportation recognize the national interest in and responsibility for interstate commerce, and adopt appropriate laws and policies in federal transportation programs and in the formulas for federal-aid surface transportation funding to address the increased burden on states like Washington impacted by the North American Free Trade Agreement, especially for border crossings and major trade corridors.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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