IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 352

Providing that the House of Representatives will focus on removing barriers 

to competitiveness of the United States economy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 11, 2005

Mr. TIAHRT (for himself, Mr. DELAY, and Mr. BOUSTANY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 

the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, 

for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 

for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 

committee concerned 

RESOLUTION

Providing that the House of Representatives will focus on 

removing barriers to competitiveness of the United States 

economy.

Whereas the economy of the United States is part of a global 

economy in which domestic industries face ever stronger 

competition from foreign industries; 

Whereas growth in exports accounts for one-sixth of all 

growth in the United States economy; 

Whereas approximately 1 in 5 factory jobs in the United 

States depends directly on international trade; 
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•HRES 352 IH 

Whereas American farmers export 1 in 3 acres of their crops, 

and exports generate nearly 25 percent of farmers’ gross 

sales; 

Whereas the estimated total regulatory burden on United 

States business is more than $850 billion per year; 

Whereas, according to a study sponsored by the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, government 

regulations cost firms with fewer than 20 employees 60 

percent more per employee than the cost to firms with 

more than 500 employees; 

Whereas the Office of Management and Budget recently 

found that for every dollar of direct budget expenditure 

devoted to regulatory activity, the private sector spends 

$45 to comply with regulations; 

Whereas high-technology industries are driving economic 

growth around the world, as shown by the fact that the 

global market for high-technology goods is growing at a 

faster rate than the rate for other manufactured goods; 

Whereas more than 1 million American jobs are dependant 

upon research and development spending in the United 

States; 

Whereas the cost of medical care in the United States regularly outpaces general inflation; 

Whereas 90 percent of Americans who are under age 65 and 

covered by health insurance currently obtain that insurance through employers; 

Whereas 85 percent of jobs in the United States today are 

classified as skilled jobs and in 1950, only 20 percent of 

jobs were so classified; 
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Whereas 80 percent of the 50 fastest growing occupations require education beyond high school; 

Whereas, despite spending $60 billion per year on training, 

60 percent of United States companies are prevented 

from upgrading technologically by the low educational 

and technical skill levels of their workforce; 

Whereas, in 2003, American taxpayers spent an estimated 

$203.5 billion to comply with the Federal income tax 

code, enough to buy more than 5 million new luxury 4-

door sedans at retail price and by 2007, annual compliance costs are projected to rise to $244 billion; 

Whereas the tax compliance burden is twice as much for 

businesses with fewer than 20 employees as it is for businesses with more than 500 employees; 

Whereas the cost of frivolous litigation in the United States 

exceeds $230 billion per year, an amount equal to more 

than $2,000 per American household; 

Whereas the cost of liability defense is approximately 

$150,000 per year for each small business, money that 

could be spent to hire additional employees, expand operations, or improve health care coverage; 

Whereas, in 2002, trial lawyers received approximately $40 

billion from litigation, more than the annual revenues of 

Microsoft and Intel, and twice the revenue of Coca-Cola; 

Whereas total energy consumption in the United States is expected to increase more rapidly than domestic energy 

supply through at least 2025; 

Whereas the Energy Information Administration projects 

that net imports will constitute 36 percent of total 

United States energy consumption in 2025, as compared 

with only 26 percent in 2002; and 
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Whereas, according to a study sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers and American Council for 

Capital Formation, consumers will face a 61 percent increase in gasoline prices unless the United States implements a policy to increase the supply of affordable energy: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved,

2 SECTION 1. RECOGNITION OF EXISTING BARRIERS TO 

3 KEEPING AND CREATING JOBS. 

4 The House of Representatives recognizes that there 

5 are existing barriers to keeping and creating jobs in the 

6 United States, particularly in the following areas: 

7 (1) Trade restrictions and inequality. 

8 (2) Bureaucratic red tape. 

9 (3) Innovation and investment. 

10 (4) Health care security. 

11 (5) Lifelong learning. 

12 (6) Tax burden and complexity. 

13 (7) Lawsuit abuse and litigation management. 

14 (8) Energy self-sufficiency and security. 

15 SEC. 2. NEED FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION. 

16 The House of Representatives recognizes that im17 proving the competitiveness of the United States economy 

18 depends on congressional action to remove barriers in the 

19 areas referred to in section 1. 
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1 SEC. 3. FEDERAL AGENCY REVIEW OF RULES AND POLI2 CIES. 

3 The House of Representatives expresses the sense 

4 that every Federal agency should review its rules and poli5 cies regarding the competitiveness of the United States 

6 economy.

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