Reps. Meyer, Byrum, Sheltrown, Julian, Spade, Rivet, Gillard, Stahl, Ehardt, Law, Nitz, Garfield, Brown, Hager, Elkins, Shackleton, DeRossett, Williams, Emmons, Hune, Casperson and Walker offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 151.

            A resolution to urge the United States Trade Representative to refrain from agreeing to any provisions in any bilateral or regional negotiations that are detrimental to United States sugar policy or that threaten the United States sugar industry.

            Whereas, The beet sugar industry has been a contributor to Michigan’s economy for over 100 years; and

            Whereas, The Monitor Sugar Company and Michigan Sugar Company, a grower-owned cooperative, contribute $300 million in base economic impact to the local and state economy and provide 500 full-time and 1,800 part-time jobs; and

            Whereas,  Michigan's 2,000 growers grow sugar beets on 190,000 acres in 18 counties, and in the year 2002 produced 900 million pounds of pure sugar--approximately 11 percent of domestic sugar production; and

            Whereas, Sugar beets provide an important value-added element to Michigan agriculture.  It is also significant that this is an alternative crop, different from others produced in Michigan that are already in surplus; and

            Whereas, The cumulative import potential of the sugar-exporting Free Trade Agreement is 27 million metric tons--three times the United States domestic consumption; and

            Whereas, Eliminating the tariff rate quota of the United States sugar program would render this no-cost program inoperable, and doing so would run counter to the administration's commitment to exclude domestic support programs from these regional and bilateral free trade agreements, and contrary to the will of Congress; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the United States Trade Representative not to agree to any provisions in any bilateral or regional negotiations that are detrimental to United States sugar policy or that threaten the United States sugar industry; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.