By Hunter of Taylor, Luna, Dukes, Serna H.C.R. No. 142 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, In 1979 the governments of the United States of 1-2 America and the Republic of China on Taiwan terminated their 1-3 official diplomatic relationship; and 1-4 WHEREAS, In the absence of official diplomatic relations, our 1-5 two nations currently address one another diplomatically via the 1-6 Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, an entity established by the 1-7 government of the Republic of China on Taiwan, and the American 1-8 Institute in Taiwan, which is administered by the United States 1-9 Department of State; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The Republic of China on Taiwan has long been a 1-11 friend of the State of Texas and has entered into a sister state 1-12 relationship with Texas to underscore that friendship; and 1-13 WHEREAS, In support of this friendship and in an effort to 1-14 promote trade between the State of Texas and the Republic of China 1-15 on Taiwan, the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan has 1-16 provided to the Texas Department of Commerce office in Taipei rent 1-17 subsidies valued at over $45,000; and 1-18 WHEREAS, the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan 1-19 provides distinctive license plates to official representatives of 1-20 the government of the United States serving in the Republic of 1-21 China on Taiwan; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Vehicles owned by the Taipei Economic and Cultural 1-23 Office in Texas and vehicles owned by official representatives of 2-1 the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan are currently 2-2 issued fee-exempt license plates reading "Texas Exempt"; now, 2-3 therefore, be it 2-4 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-5 does hereby direct the Texas Department of Transportation to issue 2-6 fee-exempt license plates with the words "Foreign Organization" 2-7 imprinted upon them to vehicles owned by the Taipei Economic and 2-8 Cultural Office located in Texas and to employees of the Taipei 2-9 Economic and Cultural Office who are official representatives of 2-10 the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan.