Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should work expand membership in the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization and should urge the People's Republic of China to enter into immediate negotiations to join that agreement, and for other purposes.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 30, 2005

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the government of the United States should strive to expand membership in the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization (WTO); (2) the government should seek commitments from the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to enter into immediate negotiations to accede to the Agreement, in accordance with commitments made by China in 2001 upon joining the WTO; (3) the government should seek a commitment from the PRC to suspend implementation of its law on government procurement, pending the conclusion of such negotiations; (4) the government should seek commitments from the PRC and other countries that are not yet members of the Agreement to implement the principles of openness, transparency, fair competition based on merit, nondiscrimination, and accountability in their government procurement as embodied in that Agreement; and (5) the President should direct all appropriate U.S. officials to raise these concerns with appropriate PRC officials and other trading partners.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15] · D–NY

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Johnson, Nancy L. [R-CT-5]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jul 1, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Jun 30, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jun 30, 2005
Introduced in House
Jun 30, 2005
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 30, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Con.Res.203 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.203, 109th Congress: Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should work expand membership in the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization and should urge the People's Republic of China to enter into immediate negotiations to join that agreement, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/203

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-06-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hconres203/BILLS-109hconres203ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:45:43Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Con.Res.203 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Con.Res.203 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.203, 109th Congress: Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should work expand membership in the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization and should urge the People's Republic of China to enter into immediate negotiations to join that agreement, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/203

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-06-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hconres203/BILLS-109hconres203ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:45:43Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.203 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Con.Res.203 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.203, 109th Congress: Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should work expand membership in the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization and should urge the People's Republic of China to enter into immediate negotiations to join that agreement, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/203

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-06-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hconres203/BILLS-109hconres203ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:45:43Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.203 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Con.Res.203 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.203, 109th Congress: Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should work expand membership in the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization and should urge the People's Republic of China to enter into immediate negotiations to join that agreement, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/203

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-06-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hconres203/BILLS-109hconres203ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:45:43Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.203 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.