Concerns have been raised about a private sector proposal to create a “North American Union” between the United States, Mexico and Canada.  Some worry that such a union would effectively erase our borders and erode our sovereignty; and that the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) is its precursor. 

 

On March 23, 2005, President George W. Bush and his Mexican and Canadian counterparts signed the SPP. The Bush Administration has stated that the intent of this partnership is to open up legitimate trade between the countries and to coordinate efforts to combat terrorism and crime, www.spp.gov.

 

The Bush Administration claims that the SPP played a critical role in coordinating the efforts of United States, Mexico and Canada to combat Avian and Pandemic influenza and develop a strategy to reduce market distortions in the steel industry.  They also claim that through the partnership, Mexico and the United States reached an agreement to increase safeguard standards for consumer goods, and the United States and Canada negotiated an open-skies aviation agreement that will remove all economic restrictions on air service between our two nations.

 

The U.S. Commerce Department has stated that the SPP is not a precursor to the North American Union, or any other measure that would reduce American sovereignty, http://www.spp.gov/myths_vs_facts.asp.  While the SPP may have produced a greater degree of cooperation between the U.S. and its neighbors, I will continue to closely monitor its activities so that the administration does not use it as an avenue to cede American rights to Mexico or any other nation.

 

As a Member of Congress, I am sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America.  I will never support any initiative that erodes the freedoms and rights that are granted under it.  Nor will I ever support any initiative that would erode American sovereignty to a foreign nation.