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 fol-
lowing 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;
•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 Ad-
vocacy 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 regu-
larly outpaces general inflation; 
Whereas 90 percent of Americans who are under age 65 and 
covered by health insurance currently obtain that insur-
ance 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;
•HRES 352 IH 
Whereas 80 percent of the 50 fastest growing occupations re-
quire 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 compli-
ance 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 busi-
nesses 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 oper-
ations, 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 ex-
pected 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
•HRES 352 IH 
Whereas, according to a study sponsored by the National As-
sociation of Manufacturers and American Council for 
Capital Formation, consumers will face a 61 percent in-
crease in gasoline prices unless the United States imple-
ments a policy to increase the supply of affordable en-
ergy: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
SECTION 1. RECOGNITION OF EXISTING BARRIERS TO 
KEEPING AND CREATING JOBS. 
The House of Representatives recognizes that there 
are existing barriers to keeping and creating jobs in the 
United States, particularly in the following areas: 
(1) Trade restrictions and inequality. 
(2) Bureaucratic red tape. 
(3) Innovation and investment. 
(4) Health care security. 
(5) Lifelong learning. 
(6) Tax burden and complexity. 
(7) Lawsuit abuse and litigation management. 
(8) Energy self-sufficiency and security. 
SEC. 2. NEED FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION. 
The House of Representatives recognizes that im-
proving the competitiveness of the United States economy 
depends on congressional action to remove barriers in the 
areas referred to in section 1.
•HRES 352 IH 
SEC. 3. FEDERAL AGENCY REVIEW OF RULES AND POLI-
CIES. 
The House of Representatives expresses the sense 
that every Federal agency should review its rules and poli-
cies regarding the competitiveness of the United States 
economy.
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