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.
Vo
______________________________
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