| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution in support of the establishment of a Free |
| 3 | Trade Agreement between the United States and Colombia. |
| 4 |
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| 5 | WHEREAS, Florida, the United States' seventh-largest |
| 6 | exporter in 2006, with goods exports totaling $38.5 billion, has |
| 7 | a global reputation as a gateway to the Americas and a vital |
| 8 | stake in global markets, and |
| 9 | WHEREAS, a Free Trade Agreement with Colombia offers |
| 10 | valuable opportunities for the United States to enhance its |
| 11 | competitive edge in the global economy by lowering the barriers |
| 12 | that its own exporters face in these markets, and |
| 13 | WHEREAS, over 150,000 Colombians are estimated to be living |
| 14 | in Florida, and |
| 15 | WHEREAS, over a quarter of a million Colombians visit |
| 16 | Florida annually, contributing $321 million to Florida's economy |
| 17 | in 2006, and |
| 18 | WHEREAS, in 2006, Florida's exports to Colombia accounted |
| 19 | for 23 percent of the United States' exports to Colombia, and |
| 20 | WHEREAS, goods exports from Florida increased by over 15 |
| 21 | percent in 2006, leading to the gross domestic product growth of |
| 22 | 4.2 percent, and totaled $38.5 billion, representing 5.4 percent |
| 23 | of Florida's gross domestic product, and |
| 24 | WHEREAS, in 2007, Florida's exports to Colombia surpassed |
| 25 | $2 billion, increasing by 31 percent over the previous year, and |
| 26 | WHEREAS, agriculture exports, service exports, foreign |
| 27 | investment, and imports all contribute significantly to |
| 28 | Florida's economy and employment base, and |
| 29 | WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of |
| 30 | Agriculture, Florida's agricultural exports reached $1.7 billion |
| 31 | in 2006, maintaining 17,420 Florida jobs, both on and off the |
| 32 | farmlands, and |
| 33 | WHEREAS, since 2002, homicides of trade unionists in |
| 34 | Colombia have fallen by more than 86 percent, and |
| 35 | WHEREAS, over 40,000 terrorists in Colombia have |
| 36 | demobilized under President Alvaro Uribe, and |
| 37 | WHEREAS, approval of the United States-Colombia Trade |
| 38 | Promotion Agreement will enhance the vitality of Florida's |
| 39 | economy, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 40 |
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| 41 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 42 | Florida: |
| 43 |
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| 44 | That the House of Representatives supports the |
| 45 | establishment of a Free Trade Agreement between the United |
| 46 | States and Colombia. |