S-3338               _______________________________________________

                                   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8425

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                        1989 First Special Session

By Senators Bluechel and Hayner

Read first time 5/7/89 and referred to Committee on Boost.

WHEREAS, The State of Washington and the Pacific Northwest have been richly endowed with enterprising citizens, rich natural resources, and a strategic location between the world's most dynamic economies of the Pacific Rim and Atlantic Seaboard Nations; and

          WHEREAS, The rapid growth in global competition has promoted the development of economic cooperation between nations and regions including the European Community, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the United States and Canada; and

          WHEREAS, The United States/ Canada Free Trade Agreement has greatly enhanced the ability of the states and provinces to cooperate on issues of trade, commerce, and related matters; and

          WHEREAS, The Pacific Northwest states and provinces have traditionally cooperated on a wide range of issues of mutual interest including the establishment of environmental and economic agreements; and

          WHEREAS, The Pacific Northwest region, which has a population in excess of thirteen million, holds tremendous potential for greater cooperation that would be of benefit to its citizens, businesses, and the general economy particularly in such areas as tourism, higher education, energy, agriculture, and financial services to name but a few; and

          WHEREAS, The size of the region's population and total gross product would make the Pacific Northwest a major economic force in global markets;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Legislature of the State of Washington in conjunction with other participating states and provinces shall undertake a Pacific Northwest exploratory conference on the 26th through 28th of October 1989; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the conference shall study and review the feasibility of greater cooperation among these states and provinces and endeavor to build upon those areas of mutual interest; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be forwarded by the Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to legislative leadership and the governor or premier in each of the following states and provinces:  Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, and Alberta.