Bill Text: NY K00950 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 950 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 4, 2020, as Taiwan Heritage Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-06-10 - adopted [K00950 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00950-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 950

BY: M. of A. Ramos

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        May  4, 2020, as Taiwan Heritage Day in the State of
        New York

  WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan)  share
common ideals and a clear vision for the 21st Century, where freedom and
democracy are the foundation for peace, prosperity, and progress; and

  WHEREAS,  Taiwan  is  a vibrant democracy in which all citizens have
the right to participate freely in the political process,  as  evidenced
by  Taiwan's  seven  direct  presidential elections, which took place in
1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud  to  congratulate  President
Tsai  Ing-wen  and Vice President-elect Lai Ching-te on their victory in
Taiwan's presidential election on January 11, 2020; and

  WHEREAS, The U.S. Congress passed the landmark Taiwan Relations  Act
(TRA)  in  1979 to sustain a close bilateral relationship and to advance
mutual security and commercial interests between the  U.S.  and  Taiwan,
and  the  TRA  along  with Six Assurances have served as cornerstones of
U.S.-Taiwan relations and helped to preserve peace and stability in  the
Taiwan Strait; and

  WHEREAS,  The  United  States and Taiwan share a long-term and close
economic relationship, including $85 billion in bilateral trade in 2019,
making Taiwan the 10th largest trading partner of the United States; and
Taiwan has expressed its wish to sign a Bilateral Trade Agreement  (BTA)
with the United States; and

  WHEREAS,  The  United States has assisted Taiwan in participating in
the World Health Organization (WHO), the  International  Civil  Aviation
Organization  (ICAO), and the International Criminal Police Organization
(INTERPOL),   and   will   continue   supporting   Taiwan's   meaningful
participation in these and other organizations; and

  WHEREAS,  The  State  of  New  York  exported  $898 million worth of
products to Taiwan in 2019,  making  Taiwan  the  18th  largest  foreign
market for the State of New York; and the bilateral trade and investment
have created over 10,000 jobs in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Many of the United States' top 500 companies headquartered
in New York have invested in  Taiwan,  while  more  than  300  Taiwanese
companies  have  invested  in the State of New York, contributing to the
mutually beneficial relationship for decades; and

  WHEREAS, Taiwan has signed mutual driver's license recognition pacts
with 33 U.S. states since 2013,  and  more  than  15,000  Taiwanese  and
American citizens have taken advantage of the above-mentioned pacts, and
were  Taiwan  and  New  York  State  to  enter  into  a driver's license
reciprocity agreement with each other,  this  would  help  increase  the
mobility of international students, businessmen, and academics from both
sides; and


  WHEREAS, The State of New York is home to a thriving overseas ethnic
Chinese  community  which  supports  the  Republic  of  China  (Taiwan),
including the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent  Association  (CCBA),  the
Taiwanese  Chamber of Commerce of New York, Inc., the Chinese Chamber of
Commerce of New York, Inc., and the Taiwanese  American  Association  of
New York, and devotes itself to the harmony and development of the State
of New York; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 4, 2020, as  Taiwan
Heritage Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York; Tsai Ing-wen, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan); Lai
Ching-te,  Vice  President-elect  of the Republic of China (Taiwan); and
Lily Hsu, Ambassador of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office  in  New
York.