S-4124.1  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8025

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State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Gardner, Spanel and Morton

Read first time 01/27/2000.  Referred to Committee on Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions.

Encouraging the free flow of goods and people across the United States/Canadian border.

    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 border between the United States and Canada is the longest undefended border in the world; and

    WHEREAS, "As Children of a Common Mother," the United States and Canada share not only a common heritage, but also common values and common interests; and

    WHEREAS, Canada is one of Washington's top trading partners, second only to Japan; and

    WHEREAS, Blaine, Washington, is the third busiest vehicle crossing and fourth busiest commercial vehicle crossing along the length of the United States/Canadian border; and

    WHEREAS, The value of goods traveling either way between Canada and the United States at the four western Washington border crossings - Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, Lynden, and Sumas - amounts to more than 11.7 billion dollars a year, or 32 million dollars a day; and

    WHEREAS, The volume of goods moving across Washington's other border crossings at Oroville, Danville, Laurier, and Boundary also continue to increase; and

    WHEREAS, Section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 inadvertently required time-consuming reporting by Canadians leaving Canada bound for the United States and again as they return to Canada; and

    WHEREAS, Enforcement of the mandates of Section 110 along the United States/Canadian border will cause unconscionably long delays, require extraordinarily expensive development of, and investment in, technology and infrastructure, and will not significantly reduce illegal immigration, improve drug enforcement, or protect from terrorism; and

    WHEREAS, Numerous attempts to repeal Section 110 have so far been unsuccessful; and

    WHEREAS, It is imperative that any unreasonable, unnecessary, and ineffective rules that hinder the free passage of people and goods between the United States and Canada be removed;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States immediately repeal Section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, and therefore encourage the continued free flow of people and goods across the United States/Canadian border.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That the Legislature encourage local, state, provincial, and federal governments of both countries to work together to open our borders further to make the passage of people and goods safe and efficient, thus creating an even stronger, more lasting bond between our people; and

    BE IT FURTHER 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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