HR0425 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0425 LRB103 34544 LAW 64378 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Taiwan, the Republic of China (R.O.C.) on the occasion of the 112th anniversary of its National Day; and

WHEREAS, The United States and Taiwan, R.O.C. have maintained a close friendship based on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, Public Law 96-8 96th Congress, which celebrates its 44th anniversary in 2023; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, R.O.C. is the 9th largest trading partner of the U. S. as well as the 13th largest export market and 8th largest import market, with bilateral trade totaling US$ 135.6 billion in 2022; and

WHEREAS, On July 25, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, H.R. 1176, to reaffirm that the U.S. will oppose any efforts by the People's Republic of China to interfere with Taiwan, R.O.C.'s ability to conduct diplomacy and participate in international organizations; and

WHEREAS, On August 7, 2023, the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden, and the U.S. and Taiwan, R.O.C. will continue to hold talks on bilateral economic and trade issues through Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFA), Technology, Trade and Investment Collaboration Frameworks (TTIC), and Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogues (EPPD) to jointly advance the bilateral partnership between the two nations as well as to foster a more resilient, just, and flourishing economy for the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, R.O.C. and the State of Illinois established sister-state relations through an agreement signed by Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and Taiwan Governor Dr. Lien Chan in 1992; and

WHEREAS, The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago, formerly called the Consulate General of the Republic of China in Chicago, was originally established in 1930 and officially renamed in 1994; and

WHEREAS, TECO in Chicago, currently led by Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei, has multiple divisions providing services, including its Consular Division, Education Division, Economic Division, Press Division, and the Cultural Center of TECO; and

WHEREAS, TECO in Chicago's jurisdiction includes seven states in the Midwest, which are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, R.O.C. will observe its 112th National Day on October 10, 2023; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Taiwan, the Republic of China (R.O.C.) on the 112th anniversary of its National Day, and we commend the work of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Director General Dennis Yen-Feng Lei of the TECO in Chicago as an expression of our esteem and respect.