S-0787.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8011
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Senators Sheahan, T. Sheldon, Stevens, Morton, Honeyford, Hochstatter and Oke
Read first time 02/19/1999. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.
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, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:
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, Unilateral trade sanctions have placed a heavy burden on American farmers and the American economy; and
WHEREAS, United States unilateral trade sanctions deprive American wheat-growing families of access to eleven percent of the world grain trade; and
WHEREAS, Direct economic losses for wheat producers have ranged from three hundred million dollars to over five hundred million dollars annually for the past three years; and
WHEREAS, The losses are not merely confined to wheat, in that growers of peas, lentils, barley, and many other crops have been affected as well; and
WHEREAS, Unilateral sanctions impose a severe penalty upon United States agriculture and upon the consuming public of the sanctioned country, while providing market protection for our competitors; and
WHEREAS, Unilateral sanctions that limit commercial, government-assisted, or humanitarian movement of agricultural products have proven to be ineffective mechanisms to further United States foreign policy goals; and
WHEREAS, Farmers across America were grateful for the swift passage of emergency federal legislation granting a one-year waiver of sanctions against two major trading partners, Pakistan and India, for credit sales of agricultural commodities, products, medicine, and medical equipment; and
WHEREAS, That emergency legislation prevented the financial calamity we face from becoming worse yet, greater long-term steps must be taken if America's farm families are to survive.
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that all current unilateral sanctions pertaining to agricultural exports be eliminated, except in cases of compelling national emergency or declaration of war; that in the future the United States refrain from the use of unilateral sanctions other than in the case of war or for national security reasons; that all current sanctions be made subject to economic analysis and review, and ineffective measures be discarded, and time limits applied for the review of continued current sanctions measures; that any executive branch embargo of United States agricultural commodities and products be subject to the review of Congress; that a new framework be put in place to set policies for the future use of unilateral sanctions; that sanctions be created with specific sunset provisions; and that legislation be approved to implement a producer-compensation program based on the negative impact of sanctions on the sale of agricultural products due to the exports and income hurt due to the imposition of unilateral economic sanctions or embargoes.
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, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.
--- END ---