Florida Senate - 2022 (NP) SR By Senator Rodriguez 39-02424A-22 20221970__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Senate Resolution A resolution expressing appreciation for the sister state relationship and bilateral economic and cultural ties between the State of Florida and Taiwan. 4

WHEREAS, April 10, 2022, marks the 43rd anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, which codified in law the basis for continued commercial and cultural relations between the people of the United States and Taiwan, and

WHEREAS, since November 1, 2012, Taiwan has been a member of the United States Visa Waiver Program, which makes two -way travel for business and tourism more convenient, reflecting the cooperation between the United States and Taiwan , and

WHEREAS, the launch of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 on June 25, 14 2019, a joint United States-Taiwan collaborative space mission of a constellation of six satellites designed to enhance the accuracy of atmospheric weather prediction, has demonstrated the mutual benefit born of the relations between this co untry and Taiwan, and

WHEREAS, the first female president of Taiwan, elected in 20 and reelected for a second term on January 11, 2020, Dr. 21 Tsai Ing-wen, was welcomed to this state in June 2016, as were the Speaker of Tainan City Council, Kuo Hsin-liang, and his delegation the following month, further enhancing the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and this state, as well as strengthening the common values that Taiwan shares with this country, and

WHEREAS, in November 2021, Taiwan became the United States ’ 37 eighth largest trading partner and the State of Florida’s sixth largest trading partner in Asia, and

WHEREAS, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the sister state relationship shared between the State of Florida and Taiwan, and

WHEREAS, several sister city relationships exist between Florida and Taiwan, such as between Miami-Dade County and New Taipei City, formerly Taipei County; the Port of Miami and the Port of Kaohsiung; the City of Orlando and Tainan City; the City of Fort Lauderdale, the City of Miami, and the City of Pensacola and Kaohsiung City; the City of Sunny Isles Beach and Hengchun Township; the City of Doral and the Xizhi District of New Taipei City; the City of Kissimmee with Hualien City and Miaoli City; 50 the City of North Miami Beach and the Pingzhen District of Taoyuan City; and the City of Tavares and the Xindian District of New Taipei City, and

WHEREAS, to assist the State of Florida in its fight against the virus causing COVID-19, Taiwan has donated to the state and its local governments more than 420,000 medical masks, 56 demonstrating Taiwan’s commitment to helping its international partners in need,

NOW, THEREFORE, 58 Florida Senate - 2022 (NP) SR 1970 39-02424A-22 20221970__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 59