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H. 4170
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Davenport and Lee
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5435cm03.doc
Introduced in the House on May 7, 2003
Introduced in the Senate on May 19, 2003
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on General
Summary: U.S.-Bilateral Agreement on Textiles
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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5/7/2003 House Introduced HJ-24
5/7/2003 House Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
Resolutions HJ-24
5/14/2003 House Committee report: Favorable Invitations and Memorial
Resolutions HJ-36
5/15/2003 House Adopted, sent to Senate HJ-45
5/15/2003 Scrivener's error corrected
5/19/2003 Senate Introduced SJ-7
5/19/2003 Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-7
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
COMMITTEE REPORT
May 14, 2003
H. 4170
S. Printed 5/14/03--H. [SEC 5/15/03 3:24 PM]
Read the first time May 7, 2003.
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4170) to demonstrate the concern of the members of the South Carolina General Assembly for South Carolina's textile industry and to express the opinion of the members that action be taken by the United States Congress, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
ROBERT W. LEACH, SR. for Committee.
TO DEMONSTRATE THE CONCERN OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA'S TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND TO EXPRESS THE OPINION OF THE MEMBERS THAT ACTION BE TAKEN BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO RESCIND THE U.S.-VIETNAM BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON TEXTILES.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly appreciate the work of the members of the United States Congress and of the President of this nation and generally support those individuals in making significant decisions affecting the country and this State; and
Whereas, the United States Congress and the President established an agreement with Vietnam that was effective beginning May 1, 2003, to put quotas on thirty-eight categories of clothing and textiles with the purpose of reducing the importation of goods from Vietnam; and
Whereas, though our national officers were attempting to aid this country's business industries, many local executives feel that the quotas will cause great harm to both clothing and textile manufacturers and lead to a decline in available jobs in South Carolina, after the State's textile sector in the Greenville-Spartanburg area has already lost nearly 8,000 jobs from January 2001 to February 2003; and
Whereas, according to Roger Milliken, Chairman of the Spartanburg, South Carolina-based Milliken & Company and Co-chairman of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition, the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Agreement will "severely damage and further disrupt the U.S. textile and apparel industries and its nearly one million workers nationwide"; and
Whereas, Mr. Milliken also feels that the agreement allows Vietnam, "a nation which is not a member of the World Trade Organization or part of any preferential agreement, to gain an enormous share of the U.S. apparel market", with the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition expecting textile imports to grow to $1.7 billion in this year alone, comparing that to $49 million in 2001 and $952 million in 2002; and
Whereas, the General Assembly's highest priority is protecting the interests of South Carolina's citizens and businesses and supporting all efforts to boost the economy of this State; and
Whereas, the members believe that the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Agreement will destroy the remains of the textile industry in South Carolina and across the nation. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, demonstrate our concern for South Carolina's textile industry and express our opinion that action be taken by the United States Congress and the President of the United States to rescind the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Agreement on textiles.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to President George W. Bush, Senator Ernest F. Hollings, Senator Lindsey Graham, Congressman Henry Brown, Congressman J. Gresham Barrett, Congressman James E. Clyburn, Congressman Jim DeMint, Congressman John Spratt, and Congressman Joe Wilson.
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