Utah Legislature passes resolution urging U.S. support for Taiwan’s Visa Waiver Program and UN participation

The Utah Senate on Feb. 25 passed House Joint Resolution 43, a joint resolution urging the U.S. administration to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program and to seek Taiwan’s meaningful participation in United Nations specialized agencies. Senator Knudson introduced visitors from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco and read the resolution on the floor.

The resolution cites international examples and data presented on the floor: floor text referenced a roughly 2.2 percent visa-refusal rate for Taiwan in fiscal year 2010 (below the Visa Waiver Program threshold), testimony that other countries that extended visa waivers saw sizable increases in Taiwanese visitors and trade, and arguments that Taiwan’s participation in certain U.N. agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization improves international cooperation on aviation standards.

"The legislature of the State of Utah urges the Obama administration to support Taiwan's inclusion in The United States Visa Waiver Program and its meaningful participation in the United Nations Specialized Agencies," Senator Knudson read on the floor. Senator Dayton added a brief floor comment praising Taiwan's resilience: "Hooray for Taiwan," he said.

The resolution passed the Senate by recorded vote (23–0) and was signed in open session; it will be returned to the House for the Speaker's signature and transmitted as a copy to U.S. officials and Taiwanese representatives per the resolve language on the floor.