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