A call to action from Duncan Hunter
As you may know, President Bush will travel to Montebello, Canada to
meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and President Felipe
Calderon of Mexico at the "North American Leaders’ Summit" on August
20-21. The White House has announced that, while there, "The leaders
will review progress and continued cooperation under the Security and
Prosperity Partnership, as well as discuss hemispheric and global
issues."
Unfortunately, the inclusion of the Security and Prosperity Partnership
(SPP) on the summit’s agenda portends further, ominous progress towards
the creation of a North American Union (NAU) that threatens to sap
American sovereignty and undermine the constitutional character of our
government.
First launched by President Bush, then-Mexican President
Vicente Fox and then-Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, on March 23,
2005, the SPP has been stealthily advanced under the framework of "a
dialogue to increase security and enhance prosperity among the three
countries." As the three leaders announced at the outset, "The SPP is
not an agreement nor is it a treaty."
Instead, the SPP is an executive branch initiative - one that has
neither been approved by Congress nor even subjected to close oversight
by either house. It has, nevertheless, resulted in the creation of
dozens of working groups involving officials from the United States,
Canada and Mexico who generally meet behind closed doors for the purpose
of "harmonizing" the laws and regulations of the three countries.
The secretiveness of this initiative is such that the public interest
organization Judicial Watch has been forced to use the Freedom of
Information Act to get information about the activities of these working
groups. Just one of the many worrisome implications of the SPP appears
to be the prospect that the newly "harmonized" border and transportation
arrangements will facilitate the shipment of more Chinese goods from
Mexico into the United States - with significant implications for U.S.
national security as well as the preservation of American jobs.
Another indication of the troubling way in which the Security and
Prosperity Partnership is being advanced without proper public debate
and scrutiny can be found in the recently defeated Senate immigration
bill. Language that would have approved the SPP was mysteriously
inserted into both the Senate and House versions of that legislation as
part of an amendment that few of us had a chance to review.
Last week, for the first time, the House formally addressed the SPP. I
offered an amendment barring Treasury Department officials from
participating in these close-hold trilateral negotiations. The
amendment was adopted by an overwhelming and bipartisan vote, 362-63.
The outcome of the vote on my amendment suggests that there is real
concern about the SPP. But, in the absence of a specific legislative
target, such opposition will be, at best, diffused. At worst, it will
be wholly inadequate to stop further movement by the SPP negotiators
towards unacceptable outcomes - including, ultimately, a North American
Union.
The upcoming summit provides Members of Congress an opportunity to serve
notice on President Bush that we expect to be consulted and our approval
sought for any understandings and accords concerning the SPP. I hope
you will join me in signing the attached joint letter for this purpose.
If you would like to sign the letter, please contact Lorissa
Bounds.
Lorissa Bounds
Legislative Director
Office of Rep. Duncan Hunter
2265 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
office: 202-225-5672
fax: 202-225-0235) by Friday, Aug. 3.
Sincerely,
Duncan Hunter (R-52)
