ENROLLED HOUSE
CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION NO. 1013	By:	Trebilcock of the House

			    and

		Jolley of the Senate

A Concurrent Resolution endorsing the proposition that Taiwan join the United States Visa Waiver Program; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a full-fledged democracy characterized by stability and social order, and Taiwan is the world’s twenty-sixth largest economy, seventeenth largest exporter, eighteenth largest importer, and the fifth largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, with over $391 billion; and

WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan engage in robust bilateral trade, and the United States ranks as Taiwan’s third largest trading partner, and Taiwan is the ninth largest trading partner of the United States; and

WHEREAS, on average, 580,000 people from Taiwan visit the United States each year and Taiwan’s national carriers, China Airlines and EVA Air, currently each have 23 to 24 flights destined for the United States weekly, carrying more than 5,000 passengers daily for business, tourism, study, observation, friends, and family visits; and  

WHEREAS, Taiwan citizens routinely obtain various visas to the United States and return to Taiwan as scheduled, and Taiwan citizens present few, if any, crime or public security issues while in the United States; and

WHEREAS, in 2010, the rejection rate of United States visa applications of Taiwan citizens was only 2.2%, well below the 3% requirement for the United States Visa Waiver Program; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has extended visa waivers to the United States since 1993, and there are more than 100 nations or areas currently granting Taiwan citizens visa waivers, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and the United States Island Territory of Guam.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 53RD OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:

THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature does hereby endorse the proposition that Taiwan join the United States Visa Waiver Program.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Joseph Chen, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston.

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 4th day of May, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Adopted by the Senate the 17th day of May, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate