TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, 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 transatlantic economy is the largest in the world, encompassing nearly 50 percent of global gross domestic product, and the United States-European Union High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth has called for an agreement to remove constraints to economic growth between the United States and the European Union, resulting in discussion of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and

WHEREAS, Growth of emerging marketplaces across the globe continues to decrease the share of global gross domestic product attributable to the transatlantic economy; and

WHEREAS, Expansion of global trade, especially with member nations of the European Union, is of vital importance to the growth of the economy of the United States, small business participation in the international marketplace, and job creation; and

WHEREAS, Washington state would benefit greatly from the ratification of a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which would create an estimated 17,140 jobs for Washingtonians as a direct result of loosening current burdens on trade and free markets; and

WHEREAS, The European Union purchased Washington goods worth an estimated $8.3 billion, which accounted for 13 percent of Washington's total exported goods in 2012, and services worth $8.5 billion, which accounted for 32 percent of Washington's total exported services in that same year; and

WHEREAS, The successful implementation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will increase exports to the European Union from Washington state by an estimated 25.8 percent; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the United States of America grants the Congress of the United States sole authority in regulating commerce with foreign nations; and

WHEREAS, The negotiation of a successful Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will necessarily be a bipartisan cooperation between state, federal, and foreign governments;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that there be a successful negotiation by the Executive Branch of a mutually beneficial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the United States and the European Union, and that it be ratified by the United States Congress.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, 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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