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Home My WebLink AboutCorrespondence - BOCCWashington State Legislature The President Donald J. Trump The White House Washington, DC 20500 The Honorable U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Sen. Mitch McConnell Majority Leader United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Mr. President, Honorable Speaker Pelosi, Honorable Majority Leader McConnell: Thank you for your leadership in the negotiations and consideration of the U.S.-Mexico- Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will serve as an update for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We; the undersigned, elected legislators of the Washington State Legislature, representing a statewide population of more than 7.41 million people, respectfully ask for the expeditious ratification of the USMCA by Congress to ensure continued free, fair, open and mutually beneficial trade with our northern and southern border neighbors. Washington state, in particular, has an enormous vested interest in the successful ratification of this important and historic agreement. Our geographic location on the West Coast, with the.unique deep -water inlet of Puget Sound, has given our state the advantage of creating and utilizing the busiest shipping ports in the United States. With $86 billion in yearly exports, we are, in fact, the most trade dependent state in the nation, responsible for one in every four jobs in Washington. Washington is the top apple producer in the nation, accounting for more than $7 billion in direct, indirect and induced economic activity annually. We ship more apples to Mexico (12.3 million boxes) and Canada (6.3 million boxes) than any other country. Washington is one of the top four leading wheat -producing states in the nation, and one of the largest export destinations for our wheat is Mexico. Legislative Building •Olympia, WA 98504-0482 Second to China, Canada is our largest trade partner, accounting for nearly 11 percent of our global trade destinations totaling more than $5.5 billion of our exports annually. Mexico is not far behind, contributing to $1.6 billion for products that range from agriculture (wheat, wine, fruit, and dairy) to aerospace, software and electronics products, and other goods manufactured in Washington state. Continued, uninterrupted trade with Canada and Mexico is vital to Washington state's economy and to the jobs that support thousands of our citizens and their families. That is why we believe the USMCA is one of the most important agreements for the economic viability of Washington state. We also believe it would create the long-term certainty needed to ensure future sustainability of our export markets to Canada and Mexico. Our state has much to lose with any hesitation of ratification because we are indeed, so dependent upon foreign trade. Therefore, we formally request the United States Congress immediately ratify the U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Respectfully, i ft/It// Sen/Mark Schoesler, R — 911 Legislative District e . J.T. Wilcox, R — 2nd egislative District Senate Minority Leader use Minority Leader WA State Senate WA State House of Representatives John Lovick, D — 441" Legislative District Speaker pro tempore WA State House of Representatives A000 - Sen. Doug E► f'cksen, R — 42"d District WA State Senate R . Jaqueline Maycumber, R — 7 I District WA State House of Representatives r." Rep. Joe Schmick, R — 94" District WA State House of Representatives cam-. Sen. Barbara Bailey, R — 00' D' trio WA State Senate Rep. Sharon Shewmake, D — 42nd District WA State I louse of Representatives Rcp. Luanne Van Werven, R — 42nd District WA State House of Representatives 9AWVI*, Rep. Bill A4in, R — 8"' District WA State House of Representatives Mary Dye, R — 91h District W tate House of Representatives Rep. Dave Paul, Ph.D., D — 10`h District WA State House of Representatives Se . Judy .,nick, R — I i" District WA State Senate p Jake Fey, D — 27ih strict State House of Representatives Sen. Keith 1.. Wagoner, R 39i6 District WA State Senate Sen. P1 Kuderer, D -481h District WA State Senate Rep. Cin Ryu, —32" strict ale WA Stou ofReoresentatives Sen. Ihnda Wilson, R— 17`h District WA State Senate Se�Fortunato." District WA State Senate A - "' F Sen. Mike Padden, R 4"' District WA State Senate Gina M sb ker, R — 14"' District W State use of Representatives S . JimHo Byford, 15"' District State Senate Rep. Tom Dent, R— 13"' District WA State House of Representatives Rep. Sharon Wylie, D j9" District WA State House of Rentatives CwtwMus. ;�� Rep. Carol lick, R — 39"' District WA State of Representatives Rep. Vandana Slatter, D —48" District WA State House of Representatives en. .is ell. D-41" District WA Stat enate � ,� G". l -61-t Rep. Bruce Chandler, 151^ District WA State House of Representatives Rep. Kelly Chambers, R — 25's District WA State House of R�f�istnict lives 414 p..arry Hoff, R — 18 tate House of Representatives NepGaeTarleton, D — 36°i District WA State House of Representatives SIGNATURE PRINTED NAME LOCATION OF FARM PRODUCTS GROWN A) StyctF tdAL I�Me �o IA -t i ►2 1, K (ti Mte Barbara Vasquez From: Randy/Michele Kiesz <mrkiesz@centurytel.net> Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2019 5:52 PM To: Barbara Vasquez Subject: USMCA Letter to President Attachments: Legislature letter to Pres.-USMCA.pdf, Signature page.docx Good afternoon, I spoke to Commissioner Stevens at the CRPAG meeting this morning in Ellensburg about a letter to President Trump and the 2 Congressional Leaders that Representative Mary Dye drafted in support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), signed by many of her legislator co-workers. In addition, she is hoping to get signatures of the 4 county commissioners and as many of the farmers in the Columbia Basin Project area as possible to forward to the White House next week. If you wish to be included in this piece of history, please sign the attached signature page and scan and email back to me. I will forward to Rep. Dye's office for her to scan into a formal attachment. Thank you for your support and feel free to call if you have any questions. Michele Kiesz 509-660-0407 I RECEIVED JUN 2 1 2019 i GRANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS