Amended in Senate August 4, 2014

Amended in Assembly June 4, 2014

Amended in Assembly April 21, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 100

Introduced by Assembly Member Alejo

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Bocanegra, begin insert Brown, end insert Campos, Cooley, Daly, Eggman, begin insert Fong, end insert Garcia, Gonzalez, Jones-Sawyer, V. Manuel Pérez, Rendon, Rodriguez, Stone, Wieckowski, and Williams)

(Coauthors: Senators Correa, Hueso, Lara, Leno, Monning, and Torres)

February 19, 2014

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 100—Relative to relations with El Salvador.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 100, as amended, Alejo. Relations with El Salvador.

This measure would encourage the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to work in coordination with the Legislature to develop comprehensive trade promotion and foreign investment activities that encourage stronger economic ties with El Salvador.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, California is currently the eighth largest economy
in the world and depends on international trade, which can be
enhanced by the economic development of foreign trade partners;
and

WHEREAS, More than 4.4 million jobs in California depend
on international trade, with trade-related employment being one
of the strongest growing and well-paying labor sectors in the state;
and

WHEREAS, El Salvador has an emerging global economy with
close cultural and demographic ties to California, providing the
state a unique opportunity to engage in binational economic
development activities; and

WHEREAS, Salvadoran-Americans constitute the second largest
Latino community in California, totaling over one million
throughout the state and 6 percent of all immigrants nationwide;
and

WHEREAS, Salvadoran-American workers in California support
our economy with indispensable labor, which in turn provides
remittances to families in El Salvador, totaling 16.7 percent of El
Salvador’s gross domestic product in 2012, the largest percentage
in any Latin American country; and

WHEREAS, The United States prospered from a $731 million
trade surplus with El Salvador in 2013; and

WHEREAS, El Salvador and California would both benefit
from increased trade, investment, tourism, and business
partnerships; and

WHEREAS, The United States dollar is used as a medium of
exchange in El Salvador, which encourages the United States to
import and export goods and services; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama initiated the Presidential
Policy Directive on Global Development in 2010, which identified
El Salvador as one of four select countries chosen for increased
foreign investment based on their track record of partnering with
the United States, policy performance, and the potential for
continued economic growth; and

WHEREAS, In September 2013, begin delete El Salvador was end delete begin insert the United
States end insert awarded begin insert El Salvador end insert a $277 million grant begin delete by the United
States end delete to improve El Salvador’s competitiveness and productivity
in international markets; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the World Bank lending portfolio in El
Salvador comprises $290 million in commitments for projects
including training services and job placement for poor people in
urban areas, increasing access to the labor market, strengthening
local governments, and improving public education; and

WHEREAS, The begin delete California end delete Legislature recognizes the potential
for mutually beneficial gains resulting from El Salvador’s economic
development and is committed to encouraging exchanges with El
Salvador in order to promote better economic ties through means
including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(a)  Supporting economic development activities of the
Salvadoran foreign consulate trade officials located in California
to establish partnerships to serve as platforms for expanding
California exports and promoting California as a destination for
investment.

(b)  Developing a series of export-related seminars and webinars
on best exporting practices, protecting intellectual property rights,
and utilizing the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic
Development (GO-Biz) support services and other related topics.

(c)  Hosting incoming Salvadoran delegations in order to
promote Californian products and services, encourage foreign
investment, and expand economic exchange.

(d)  Facilitating trade missions to El Salvador to promote
California products and services in prioritized industries; and

WHEREAS, El Salvador is also committed to pursuing mutually
beneficial economic activities with California; now, therefore, be
it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
encourages begin delete Go-Biz, end delete begin insert Go-Biz end insert to work in coordination with the
Legislature to develop and implement comprehensive trade
promotion and foreign investment activities that encourage stronger
economic ties with El Salvador. These activities will identify
opportunities to work with El Salvador and Salvadoran businesses
to support California priority exports to El Salvador and Salvadoran
investments in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the President of El Salvador, President Barack
Obama, and the Governor of California.