Florida Senate - 2013 SCR 1826 By Senator Garcia 38-03131-13 20131826__ 1 Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 A concurrent resolution relating to a joint 3 legislative organization; creating a Joint Legislative 4 Task Force on Turkish and Florida Relations. 5 6 WHEREAS, the Republic of Turkey and the United States are 7 long-standing allies, cherishing the values of freedom, 8 democracy, and human rights, and 9 WHEREAS, in its alliance with the United States, the 10 Republic of Turkey has demonstrated its commitment to world 11 peace and liberty, as well as its tolerance of others in both 12 secular and religious venues, and 13 WHEREAS, more than 15,000 Turkish Americans call Florida 14 home, with more than 2,000 Turkish American businessmen 15 contributing to the state, and 16 WHEREAS, there is significant value in strengthening the 17 relational, business, and cultural ties between Turkey and the 18 United States and facilitating opportunities to connect with 19 community leaders of diverse cultural and faith backgrounds, 20 NOW, THEREFORE, 21 22 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida, the House 23 of Representatives Concurring: 24 25 That a Joint Legislative Task Force on Turkish and Florida 26 Relations is created for the purpose of strengthening and 27 continuing the state’s friendship, business, and cultural ties 28 with the Republic of Turkey and its people. The task force shall 29 be composed of co-chairs appointed by the President of the 30 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 31 respectively, and any member of the Senate and the House of 32 Representatives who wishes to participate as a member of the 33 task force, if appointed by the presiding officer of his or her 34 respective legislative chamber. 35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this concurrent resolution 36 shall take effect upon adoption by the Senate and the House of 37 Representatives and shall govern the Florida Legislature for the 38 remainder of the 2012-2014 term.