House Resolution 8 - Introduced HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8 BY UPMEYER , PAULSEN , SODERBERG , LOFGREN , ROGERS , BERRY , KELLEY , LANDON , DRAKE , and MASCHER A Resolution congratulating the Republic of China 1 (Taiwan) on its inclusion in the United States Visa 2 Waiver Program; supporting Taiwan’s efforts to 3 secure entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership; and 4 reaffirming support for Taiwan’s participation in 5 the International Civil Aviation Organization, and 6 for strengthening sister-state ties between Iowa and 7 Taiwan. 8 WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan), marking 9 its centennial in 2011 and entering into its second 10 century in 2012 as the world’s 19th-largest economy, 11 has achieved economic and social stability, has been 12 lauded in the last two decades as a beacon of democracy 13 for Asia, has dramatically improved its record on human 14 rights, and has taken great steps forward to enter the 15 world arena as a trusted partner; and 16 WHEREAS, Taiwan gained membership in the United 17 States Visa Waiver Program, and is the 37th country 18 to receive visa-free travel privileges to the United 19 States and only the 5th Asian country with visa-free 20 status, behind Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and 21 Brunei; and as a result, more Taiwanese will travel to 22 the United States for business and tourism, increasing 23 the spending of tourist dollars and facilitating 24 business, trade, and investment in the United States, 25 thus contributing to the national and local economies 26 and strengthening bilateral ties with the individual 27 -1- LSB 1572HH (5) 85 jr/rj 1/ 3

H.R. 8 states, including Iowa; and 1 WHEREAS, Taiwan in 2011 ranks as the United States’ 2 10th-largest trading partner in the world, serving as 3 the United States’ 15th-largest export market overall, 4 and the 6th-largest market for U.S. agricultural goods, 5 as well as the 14th-largest market for Iowa goods, 6 worth $125.1 million in 2011, an increase of 18 percent 7 above Iowa’s exports to Taiwan in 2010; and 8 WHEREAS, Taiwan’s imports of goods continue to 9 contribute to Iowa’s economy since the September 2011 10 visit of the Taiwan Agricultural Goodwill Mission to 11 the United States, which included a delegation visit 12 to Des Moines and signing of Letters of Intent for 13 Iowa-grown corn and soybeans through 2013; and 14 WHEREAS, Taiwan, seeking greater regional 15 integration in the Asia-Pacific region and promotion 16 of bilateral investment and trade relations with the 17 United States, welcomes the opportunity presented 18 by the United States’ announcement at the 2011 19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting 20 of the United States’ intent to not only join the 21 Trans-Pacific Partnership, the proposed 21st-century 22 trade agreement between the United States and eight 23 other Asia-Pacific Rim countries, but to expand the 24 membership in the future to include other countries, 25 such as Taiwan; and 26 WHEREAS, aviation safety has become a major global 27 concern since 2001, and even though Taiwan is a key 28 air transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region, with 29 more than one million flights passing through the 30 -2- LSB 1572HH (5) 85 jr/rj 2/ 3

H.R. 8 Taipei Flight Information Region, and with one of 1 the world’s largest airport cargo volumes passing 2 through the Taoyuan International Airport, yet Taiwan 3 is not a member of the International Civil Aviation 4 Organization; NOW THEREFORE, 5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That 6 the House of Representatives congratulates the Republic 7 of China (Taiwan) on gaining inclusion in the United 8 States Visa Waiver Program; supports Taiwan’s efforts 9 to secure entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership, 10 along with the United States and other friendly 11 Asia-Pacific Rim countries, and to promote bilateral 12 investment and trade relations with the United States; 13 reaffirms its support for the participation of Taiwan 14 in the International Civil Aviation Organization; 15 and supports strengthening Taiwan-Iowa sister-state 16 relations, friendship, and exchanges; and 17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the 18 House of Representatives is hereby directed to send a 19 copy of this Resolution to United States Secretary of 20 State John Kerry; Secretary General Raymond Benjamin 21 of the International Civil Aviation Organization; 22 President Ma Ying-jeou of the Republic of China 23 (Taiwan); and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office 24 in Chicago, Illinois. 25 -3- LSB 1572HH (5) 85 jr/rj 3/ 3