2007 Montana Legislature HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25 INTRODUCED BY D. RICE   A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA OPPOSING ANY EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT A TRINATIONAL POLITICAL, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY AMONG THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND MEXICO; OPPOSING THE SECURITY AND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH AMERICA AND INITIATIVES PURSUED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THREATEN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE UNITED STATES; OPPOSING A NORTH AMERICAN UNION; AND OPPOSING THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMEN T SUPERHIGHWAY SYSTEM.        WHEREAS, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America was launched in March of 2005 as a trilateral effort among the United States, Canada, and Mexico to share information and streamline traffic across shared borders; and      WHEREAS, in meeting Security and Prosperity Partnership initiatives, the security and prosperity ministers are examining opportunities to open the borders between the United States, Canada, and Mexico; and      WHEREAS, the gradual creation of such a North American Union from a merger of the United States, Mexico, and Canada would be a direct threat to the Constitution and national independence of the United States and imply an eventual end to national borders within North America; and      WHEREAS, according to the Department of Commerce, United States trade deficits with Mexico and Canada have significantly widened since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); and      WHEREAS, the economic and physical security of the United States is impaired by the potential loss of control of its borders attendant to the full operation of NAFTA; and      WHEREAS, a NAFTA Superhighway System from the west coast of Mexico through the United States and into Canada has been suggested as part of a North American Union and the broader plan to advance the Security and Prosperity Partnership; and      WHEREAS, it would be particularly difficult for Americans to collect insurance from Mexican companies that employ Mexican drivers involved in accidents in the United States, which would increase the insurance rates for American drivers; and      WHEREAS, future unrestricted foreign trucking into the United States can pose a safety hazard due to inadequate maintenance and inspection and can act collaterally as a conduit for the entry into the United States of illegal drugs, illegal human smuggling, and terrorist activities; and      WHEREAS, a NAFTA Superhighway System would be funded by foreign consortiums and controlled by foreign management, which threatens the sovereignty of the United States; and      WHEREAS, the Security and Prosperity Partnership aims to integrate United States laws with Mexico and Canada on a broad range of issues such as e-commerce, transportation, environment, health, agriculture, financial services, and national security, which may lead to negative changes in United States administrative laws; and      WHEREAS, state and local governments throughout the United States would be negatively impacted by the Security and Prosperity Partnership or a North American Union process, such as an open borders vision, eminent domain takings of private property along potential superhighways, and increased law enforcement problems along such superhighways; and      WHEREAS, this trilateral partnership to develop a North American Union has never been presented to Congress as an agreement or treaty and has had virtually no congressional oversight; and      WHEREAS, initiatives advancing the Security and Prosperity Partnership will lead to the erosion of United States sovereignty and could lead to integrated continental court systems and currency; and      WHEREAS, United States policy, not foreign consortiums, should be used to control our national borders and to ensure that national security is not compromised.   NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:      That the Montana Legislature urge the President and the Congress of the United States to withdraw the United States from any further participation in the Security and Prosperity Partnership, any efforts to implement a trinational political, governmental entity among the United States, Canada, and Mexico, or any other efforts used to accomplish any form of a North American Union.      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Montana Legislature urge the President and the Congress of the United States not to engage in the construction of a North American Free Trade Agreement Superhighway System.      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent by the Secretary of State to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the United States Secretary of Commerce, and each member of the United States Congress. - END -