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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 188 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 188

   Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the accession of 
Israel to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation 
                            and Development.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 3, 2007

  Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Biden, Mr. Smith, and Mr. 
 Bunning) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the accession of 
Israel to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation 
                            and Development.

Whereas Israel has met the membership criteria for the Organisation for Economic 
        Co-operation and Development (OECD), and has actively sought membership 
        in the body since 2000;
Whereas, in May 2006, the OECD adopted in full the Report by the Working Party 
        on the Implications of Future Enlargement on OECD Governance, stating 
        that expanding membership is vital to the organization;
Whereas the OECD is expected to vote on enlargement and consider new countries 
        for membership at a ministerial meeting in May 2007;
Whereas Israel is the most active nonmember country in the OECD, is a member, 
        observer, or ad hoc observer in 50 working bodies, is party to various 
        OECD declarations, and is already in compliance with multiple OECD 
        standards;
Whereas Israel made significant economic reforms in recent years that grew the 
        private sector and streamlined the public sector, and the Prime Minister 
        of Israel, Ehud Olmert, stated that OECD membership would anchor these 
        reforms and allow additional reforms;
Whereas membership in the OECD would strengthen the position of Israel in the 
        global economy, solidify Israel's transition from an emerging market to 
        an advanced economy, and encourage increased foreign domestic investment 
        in Israel;
Whereas the inclusion of Israel in the OECD would strengthen the OECD because of 
        Israel's high living standard, liberal and stable markets, and 
        commitment to democratic values;
Whereas Israel is a world leader in science and technology and is home to the 
        most high-technology start-up companies, scientific publications, and 
        research and development spending, per capita;
Whereas, in 2006, the World Economic Forum ranked Israel as the world's 15th 
        most competitive economy;
Whereas the accession of Israel to the Convention on the OECD would benefit 
        other OECD member countries because of Israel's leadership in high-
        technology companies and research and development; and
Whereas Israel is a strong ally of the United States and supports the United 
        States in international organizations more consistently than any other 
        country: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) Israel shares the commitment of the United States to, 
        and the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development 
        (OECD) foundational principles of, good government, free 
        markets, and democratic values;
            (2) Israel meets the OECD membership criteria, and is well 
        deserving of membership;
            (3) it is in the interest of the United States to strongly 
        support the accession of Israel to the Convention on the OECD; 
        and
            (4) the United States should strongly advocate for Israel's 
        accession to the Convention on the OECD before and during the 
        OECD ministerial meeting in May 2007 and use all appropriate 
        means to secure Israel's membership in the OECD.
                                 <all>
```