H.R. No. 1045

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, For decades, the United States and Taiwan have fostered an important relationship that has been of mutual economic, cultural, and strategic benefit; and

WHEREAS, The 22nd-largest economy in the world, Taiwan is the 10th-largest trading partner of the United States, and in 2016, bilateral trade in goods and services between the two nations reached $65.3 billion; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan is also the largest per capita importer of U.S. farm products in the world and continues to pursue biennial agricultural procurement missions to the United States to sign multibillion-dollar supply deals, and each year since 2013, it has dispatched a delegation to the SelectUSA Investment Summit; and

WHEREAS, In recent years, travel from Taiwan to the United States has increased substantially as a result of significant efforts from both nations to promote tourism and encourage exchanges; those efforts include Taiwan joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2012, EVA Air launching its direct Taipei-to-Houston route in 2015, and the United States and Taiwan signing a joint statement on an international expedited traveler initiative in 2016; in addition, Taiwan serves as an important hub to other Asian destinations, and its national Civil Aeronautics Administration annually provides services for over 1.5 million controlled flights that carry a total of 58 million passengers; and

WHEREAS, Texas has specifically benefited from economic and cultural ties to Taiwan that are nurtured by a vibrant Sister State relationship; state exports to Taiwan were valued at more than $4.2 billion in 2016, making Taiwan the fifth-largest Asian export market for Texas, and some 38,000 jobs in the Lone Star State are supported by companies affiliated with Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, American exports to Taiwan, combined with Taiwan's investment in the United States, support more than 330,000 good-paying jobs in our country; both nations could realize further economic gains by establishing a free trade agreement and enhancing the platforms of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and the Digital Economy Forum; and

WHEREAS, Since its ratification, the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 has been the cornerstone of relations between the United States and Taiwan; both countries have further affirmed their essential economic and security partnership by working together to address global challenges in such areas as international humanitarian assistance, public health, and technology under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, which was established in June 2015; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan is the only full-fledged democracy in the Chinese-speaking world; the results of its 2016 presidential election marked both the country's third peaceful transition of power since 1996 and first transition of the national legislative majority since 1949, proving that Taiwan would be a worthy member of the Community of Democracies; and

WHEREAS, As nontraditional security threats increase in the 21st century, myriad people would benefit from Taiwan's inclusion and participation in the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the World Health Assembly (WHA); and

WHEREAS, Greater participation by Taiwan in international agreements and organizations will contribute immeasurably to its prosperity, thereby heightening the synergies created through the close and dynamic commercial partnership between Taiwan and the United States; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby express its support for the expansion of Taiwan's role in the international community; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives hereby:

(1) encourage Taiwan to negotiate a free trade agreement with the United States;

(2) commend the signing of a joint statement on an international expedited traveler initiative between the United States and Taiwan; and

(3) express support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in INTERPOL, ICAO, UNFCCC, and WHA; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the 29th anniversary of the Sister State relationship between Texas and Taiwan be commemorated, and that Louis M. Huang, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, be commended for his contributions toward enhancing cooperation between the Lone Star State and Taiwan; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston as an expression of the sentiment of the Texas House of Representatives.

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______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1045 was adopted by the House on May 4, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House