Senators Bieda, Young, Ananich, Hertel and Gregory offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 20.

A resolution to urge the Congress of the United States to oppose the fast‑tracking of the proposed Trans‑Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.

Whereas, The state of Michigan calls upon our elected officials in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to oppose S. 1900 and H.R. 3830 and any similar legislation that would keep trade policymaking behind closed doors. These bills fail to restructure the misguided and failed trade negotiating policies of the past. In opposing the fast-tracking of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, we are preserving the separation of powers and ensuring Congress has the opportunity to examine and debate provisions of trade deals that fail to meet trade negotiating objectives. Fast-tracking the Trans‑Pacific Partnership fails to incorporate congressional and public participation. By opposing these bills and other fast-track legislation, it will increase access to U.S. trade policymaking, trade proposals, and negotiating strength for elected state officials and members of the public; and

Whereas, Traditional fast-track trade negotiating authority has effectively shut state and local governments out of the process, which limits our ability to influence the discussions to ensure that Michigan can participate in the benefits of trade. It ensures negotiations occur behind closed doors, with minimal transparency, empowering the few while ignoring traditional democratic, participatory rule, and lawmaking processes. It limits the opportunity for states and their citizens to correct shortcomings in the negotiation process by not making the text public until it is final, when it can no longer be improved. Additionally, it prohibits amendments to trade deals and their underlying legislation and strictly limits the time allowed for congressional debate. The people of Michigan have the best chance to benefit from pending trade and investment agreements only if the process by which they are negotiated undergoes swift and strong reform; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Congress of the United States to oppose the fast-tracking of the proposed Trans-Pacific free trade agreements; S. 1900 and H.R. 3830 and any similar legislation that would keep trade policymaking behind closed doors and otherwise fail to restructure the misguided and failed trade negotiating policies of the past; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the United States Trade Representative, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.