[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 38 Engrossed in House (EH)]
H. Res. 38
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
November 8, 2005.
Whereas Israel has been trying to join the Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development (OECD) since 2000, when it met the OECD's
membership requirements relating to industrial and per-capita product
criteria;
Whereas in March 2005, OECD Secretary-General Donald Johnston stated that
expanding the OECD's membership to include more countries is vital if
the group is to remain a forum for discussing global economic policies;
Whereas in 2004, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and then Finance
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent a joint letter to the foreign and
finance ministers of the 30 member countries of the OECD, stating that
Israel's involvement as a non-member country in the OECD's various
committees is increasing, and that Israel meets the economic and
institutional criteria required to join the OECD;
Whereas in October 2004, then Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated
that joining the OECD was of strategic importance for repositioning
Israel's economy from an emerging market to a developed one, adding that
membership in the OECD would attract foreign investment;
Whereas in August 2004, the Israel Laboratory Accreditation Authority was
invited to become a full member of the OECD Environment Policy
Committee, the first committee that Israel has been invited to join as a
full member;
Whereas Israel was asked to take part in the OECD's Insurance and Commerce
Committees;
Whereas in March 2005, Israel was formally accepted as an observer on the OECD's
Financial Statistics Committee, allowing experts from the Bank of Israel
and Central Bureau of Statistics to participate in the committee's
meetings;
Whereas the World Bank ranks Israel among the 25 countries in which it is
easiest to do business;
Whereas Israel's tax burden, encompassing income and property taxes, customs
duties, value-added taxes (VAT) and national insurance, is much lower
than in most OECD member countries;
Whereas membership in the OECD could enhance Israel's status on the global
market and within international financial institutions, lowering the
risk factor on foreign loans to Israel;
Whereas Israel's economic and technological standing could potentially benefit
OECD member countries in the science and technology, including high-
technology, sectors;
Whereas in 2003, the World Economic Forum ranked Israel 20th out of 102
countries in its Growth Competitiveness Index, and the World Economic
Forum's Technology Index ranked Israel 9th, before Canada (11th), Norway
(13th), Germany (14th), the United Kingdom (16th), and the Netherlands
(18th); and
Whereas Israel is carrying out far reaching economic reforms based on the OECD's
recommendations with respect to taxes, labor, competition, capital
markets, pension funds, energy, infrastructures, communications, and
transport: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(1) Israel shares the commitment to democratic government and the
market economy that is the foundation of the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD);
(2) Israel meets the OECD's membership requirements and has been an
active participant as a non-member country in various OECD activities,
such as adherence to the OECD Declaration on International Investment
and Multinational Enterprises; and
(3) the United States Government should support and advocate the
accession of Israel to the OECD, including through coordination of
efforts with Mexico, Great Britain, and other countries supportive of
Israel's membership in the OECD.
Attest:
Clerk.