Florida Senate - 2021                            (NP)    SR 2054
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       39-04216-21                                           20212054__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution expressing appreciation for the sister
    3         state relationship and bilateral economic and cultural
    4         ties between the State of Florida and Taiwan.
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, April 10, 2021, marked the 42nd anniversary of the
    7  enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, which codified in law the
    8  basis for continued commercial and cultural relations between
    9  the people of the United States and Taiwan, and
   10         WHEREAS, since November 1, 2012, Taiwan has been a member
   11  of the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which makes two
   12  way travel for business and tourism more convenient, reflecting
   13  the cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, and
   14         WHEREAS, the launch of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 on June 25,
   15  2019, a joint United States-Taiwan collaborative space mission
   16  of a constellation of six satellites designed to enhance the
   17  accuracy of atmospheric weather prediction, has demonstrated the
   18  mutual benefit born of the relations between this country and
   19  Taiwan, and
   20         WHEREAS, the first female president of Taiwan, elected in
   21  2016 and reelected for a second term on January 11, 2020, Dr.
   22  Tsai Ing-wen, was welcomed to the State of Florida in June 2016,
   23  as were the Speaker of Tainan City Council, Kuo Hsin-liang, and
   24  his delegation in February 2020, further enhancing the bilateral
   25  relationship between Taiwan and this state, as well as
   26  strengthening the common values Taiwan shares with this country,
   27  and
   28         WHEREAS, Taiwan participates in international
   29  organizations, including its bid for observer status in the
   30  International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); its
   31  involvement with the World Health Assembly (WHA), the
   32  International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United
   33  Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); and its
   34  membership status in both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
   35  (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and participates,
   36  observes, and cooperates with more than 50 international
   37  organizations, and
   38         WHEREAS, Taiwan was the United States’ ninth-largest
   39  trading partner as of November 2020 and the State of Florida’s
   40  sixth-largest trading partner in Asia, and
   41         WHEREAS, several sisterhood relations exist between the
   42  State of Florida and Taiwan, including the sister relationships
   43  between Miami-Dade County and New Taipei City, formerly Taipei
   44  County; the Port of Miami and the Port of Kaohsiung; the City of
   45  Orlando and Tainan City; the City of Fort Lauderdale, the City
   46  of Miami, and the City of Pensacola and Kaohsiung City; and the
   47  City of Sunny Isles Beach and Hengchun Township, and
   48         WHEREAS, to assist the State of Florida in its fight
   49  against the virus causing COVID-19, Taiwan has donated to the
   50  state and its local governments more than 420,000 medical masks,
   51  demonstrating Taiwan’s commitment to helping its international
   52  partners in need, NOW, THEREFORE,
   53  
   54  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   55  
   56         That the Senate expresses its appreciation for the sister
   57  state relationship between the State of Florida and Taiwan.
   58         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
   59  transmitted to President Tsai Ing-wen through the Taipei
   60  Economic and Cultural Office in Miami and to the Executive
   61  Office of the Governor as a tangible token of the sentiments
   62  expressed herein.