SEC. 7114. THE USE OF ECONOMIC POLICIES TO COMBAT TERRORISM.
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(a) Findings.--Consistent with the report of the National
Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States,
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) While terrorism is not caused by poverty,
breeding grounds for terrorism are created by backward
economic policies and repressive political regimes.
(2) Policies that support economic development and
reform also have political implications, as economic
and political liberties are often linked.
(3) The United States is working toward creating a
Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013 and implementing a
free trade agreement with Bahrain, and free trade
agreements exist between the United States and Israel
and the United States and Jordan.
(4) Existing and proposed free trade agreements
between the United States and countries with
predominantly Muslim populations are drawing interest
from other countries in the Middle East region, and
countries with predominantly Muslim populations can
become full participants in the rules-based global
trading system, as the United States considers lowering
its barriers to trade.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) a comprehensive United States strategy to
counter terrorism should include economic policies that
encourage development, open societies, and
opportunities for people to improve the lives of their
families and to enhance prospects for their children's
future;
(2) one element of such a strategy should encompass
the lowering of trade barriers with the poorest
countries that have a significant population of Muslim
individuals;
(3) another element of such a strategy should
encompass United States efforts to promote economic
reform in countries that have a significant population
of Muslim individuals, including efforts to integrate
such countries into the global trading system; and
(4) given the importance of the rule of law in
promoting economic development and attracting
investment, the United States should devote an
increased proportion of its assistance to countries in
the Middle East to the promotion of the rule of law.
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