STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1919-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 2

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THIS BODY TO ENDORSE THE PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN AS AN OBSERVER IN THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION; SUPPORTING THE FURTHER PROGRESS ON THE UNITED STATES-TAIWAN INITIATIVE ON 21ST-CENTURY TRADE, A SPEEDY CONCLUSION TO THIS NEGOTIATION, AND ENCOURAGING THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE TO COMMENCE NEGOTIATIONS TO ENTER INTO A BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT WITH TAIWAN; AND SUPPORTING THE STATE OF HAWAII'S THIRTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF SISTER-STATE RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN AND COMMEMORATING THE FORTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Legislature to endorse the participation of Taiwan as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, International Civil Aviation Organization, World Health Organization, and International Criminal Police Organization; support the further progress on and speedy conclusion to the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade; encourage the United States Trade Representative to commence negotiations to enter into a bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan; and support the State's thirty-first anniversary of sister-state relations with Taiwan the forty-fifth anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.

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

Your Committee finds that the United States and Taiwan are bonded by a shared commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and a free market economy. Your Committee concludes that it is critical to strengthen the ties between Taiwan and the United States by assisting Taiwan on a global stage, developing stronger United States-Taiwan trade initiatives, and supporting Hawaii's sister-state relationship with Taiwan.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 2, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair