STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1604

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 17

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 17 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENDORSING TAIWAN'S INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION, SUPPORTING THE SIGNING OF A UNITED STATES-TAIWAN BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT, AND COMMEMORATING THE RELATIONSHIPS AND EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII AND TAIWAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to endorse Taiwan's international participation, support the signing of a United States-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement, and commemorate the relationships and exchanges between the State of Hawaii and Taiwan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Taipei Economic and Cultural Office; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the United States and Taiwan are both dedicated to promoting democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law, and a free market economy. Your Committee further finds that Hawaii and Taiwan have an established sister-state relationship since 1993, that has developed an enduring and mutually beneficial friendship which has dramatically strengthened trade agreements. Your Committee concludes that because of the valuable contributions of Taiwan on a state, federal, and global scale, it is vital to encourage further international participation, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovative and inclusive economic growth with Taiwan.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 17, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 17, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair