HR 9025

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution expressing Florida's deepest sympathies for
3	and continuing solidarity with Japan in the wake of the
4	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 House of Representatives of the State of
47	Florida:
48
49	That in recognition of the United States' and Florida's
50	close ties to Japan across a broad spectrum, including in the
51	areas of commerce, security, education, and culture, and to
52	express the state's deepest sympathies toward the nation and its
53	people in the wake of their most devastating natural disaster to
54	date, the Florida House of Representatives hereby declares and
55	demonstrates its profound sorrow at the loss of life and its
56	strong bond of friendship and solidarity with the Japanese
57	people as they embark upon their recovery from this tragedy.
58	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
59	presented to Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador Extraordinary and
60	Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America, and to
61	United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a
62	tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.