Florida Senate - 2011                            (NP)    SR 2210
       
       
       
       By Senator Sobel
       
       
       
       
       31-04785-11                                           20112210__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution expressing Florida’s deepest sympathies
    3         for and continuing solidarity with Japan in the wake
    4         of the country’s recent disaster.
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, on March 11, 2011, an 8.9-magnitude offshore
    7  earthquake struck northeastern Japan and, as the most intense
    8  quake ever recorded for the region, unleashed destructive
    9  tsunamis minutes later, wreaking horrific devastation and
   10  indeterminate loss of life in the area, and
   11         WHEREAS, the State of Florida has enjoyed a strong
   12  relationship with Japan in the areas of finance, commerce,
   13  culture, security, and education, and
   14         WHEREAS, with trade steadily increasing, Japan is currently
   15  one of the state’s two leading foreign investors, recently
   16  averaging $4.16 billion; Japanese companies employ an estimated
   17  21,000 people in Florida in areas such as wholesale trade,
   18  retail trade, and manufacturing; Florida exports approximately
   19  $781 million in goods and services to Japan, including civilian
   20  aircraft, motor vehicles, office machines, citrus, and
   21  fertilizer; and, at an average of $3.9 billion, the state
   22  imports more from Japan than any other country except China,
   23  mostly in motor vehicles and aircraft, communications equipment,
   24  machinery, and medical supplies, and
   25         WHEREAS, through cooperative efforts such as the Status of
   26  Forces Agreement (SOFA) and various other agreements, the Armed
   27  Forces of the United States work closely with Japan in defense
   28  coordination, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian relief
   29  efforts, intelligence sharing, and mutual military support, an
   30  alliance that continues to promote security and peace in the Far
   31  East region and throughout the world, and
   32         WHEREAS, the number of American students studying in Japan
   33  has increased 57 percent over the course of the decade, and, as
   34  a result, Japan grants more student visas to Americans than to
   35  any other non-Asian country; conversely, the number of Japanese
   36  students currently in the United States approaches 25,000, and
   37         WHEREAS, with Japanese travelers accounting for almost two
   38  thirds of visitors from Asia to the United States in 2005, both
   39  the United States and Florida owe much of their success in
   40  tourism to the citizens of Japan, and
   41         WHEREAS, the people of Florida have been moved by the news
   42  of the losses and suffering of the people of Japan and, through
   43  their representatives, wish to express their feelings of
   44  sympathy and solidarity, NOW, THEREFORE,
   45  
   46  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   47  
   48         That in recognition of the United States’ and Florida’s
   49  close ties to Japan across a broad spectrum, including in the
   50  areas of commerce, security, education, and culture, and to
   51  express the state’s deepest sympathies toward the nation and its
   52  people in the wake of their most devastating natural disaster to
   53  date, the Florida Senate hereby declares and demonstrates its
   54  profound sorrow at the loss of life and its strong bond of
   55  friendship and solidarity with the Japanese people as they
   56  embark upon their recovery from this tragedy.
   57         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
   58  presented to Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador Extraordinary and
   59  Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America, and to
   60  United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a
   61  tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.