ENROLLED SENATE
RESOLUTION NO. 76	By:	Stanislawski, Aldridge, Allen, Anderson, Ballenger, Barrington, Bass, Bingman, Boggs, Branan, Brecheen, Brinkley, Brooks, Brown, Burrage, Coates, Crain, Dahm, David, Ellis, Fields, Ford, Garrison, Griffin, Halligan, Holt, Ivester, Johnson (Constance), Johnson (Rob), Jolley, Justice, Loveless, Marlatt, Mazzei, McAffrey, Newberry, Paddack, Schulz, Sharp, Shaw, Shortey, Shumate, Simpson, Sparks, Standridge, Sykes, Treat and Wyrick

A Resolution celebrating the thirty-fourth anniversary of the Sister-State relationship between the State of Oklahoma and Taiwan; welcoming the Honorable Director General Steve Hsia to the Oklahoma State Senate; welcoming Taiwan's interest in participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and endorsing the proposition that Taiwan signs the Bilateral Investment Agreement and Free Trade Agreement with the United States, and participates as an observer in the International Civil Aviation Organization; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan share an important relationship that is supported by our common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a commitment to a free market economy; and

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma and Taiwan initiated a Sister-State Agreement on July 25, 1980, have enjoyed the benefits of the bonds of friendship and goodwill since that time, and now prepare to celebrate their 34th anniversary in 2014; and

WHEREAS, the United States ranks as Taiwan's third largest trading partner and Taiwan is the 12th largest trading partner of the United States.  Bilateral trade in goods and services between the United States and Taiwan reached $63 billion in 2012; and

WHEREAS, negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between the authorities on Taiwan and the United States are an important step toward strengthening bilateral trade and paving the way for entering into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between our economies, thereby increasing Oklahoma's exports to Taiwan and creating greater bilateral investment and technical collaboration through tariff reduction and trade facilitation measures; and

WHEREAS, Steve Hsia assumed his post as Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston on March 27, 2013, and he graciously visited the Oklahoma State Senate on April 10, 2013, and visited the Senate again in April 2014.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 54TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate celebrates the 34th anniversary of the Sister-State relationship between the State of Oklahoma and Taiwan.

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate welcomes the Honorable Steve Hsia, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Texas, to the Oklahoma State Senate.

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate welcomes Taiwan's great interest in participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and endorses the proposition that Taiwan signs the Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, and participates as an observer in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to the Honorable Steve Hsia, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Texas.

Adopted by the Senate the 22nd day of April, 2014.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________