--- title: HR 664. Delegation from Wexford, Ireland; visit to the Georgia State Capitol; honor collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr664 cite_as: HR 664, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr664 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr664.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr664/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71517 date: 2025-03-20 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr663.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr665.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr664.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 664 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-20 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - James Burchett text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR664/2025 upstream_id: 2012226 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia-Ireland relations - ceremonial resolution - Georgia Southern University - international trade partnerships --- # HR 664. Delegation from Wexford, Ireland; visit to the Georgia State Capitol; honor ## Text 25 LC 112 3427 House Resolution 664 By: Representative Burchett of the 176th A RESOLUTION Honoring the esteemed delegation from Wexford, Ireland, upon th eir visit to the Georgia1 State Capitol; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia and County Wexford, Ireland, share a long-standing history3 of cultural, economic, and educational exchange, fostering mutu al understanding and4 goodwill between our peoples; and5 WHEREAS, this year, 2025, marks the 180th anniversary of the first commercial voyage of6 a Wexford vessel, the barque Dunbrody, to the Port of Savannah; and7 WHEREAS, the people of Wexford County have made significant contributions to Georgia's8 history, heritage, and prosperity, strengthening the ties between our great state and the nation9 of Ireland; and10 WHEREAS, the delegation from Wexford County, Ireland, visiting the Georgia State Capitol11 represents a distinguished group of leaders, including governme nt officials, business12 representatives, cultural ambassadors, and members of the Irish diaspora; and13 H. R. 664 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3427 WHEREAS, this visit serves to further enhance the strong relationship between Georgia and14 Wexford, promoting economic development, cultural enrichment, a nd educational15 collaboration for the benefit of both regions; and16 WHEREAS, Georgia Southern University and Wexford County Council have developed a17 significant partnership that fosters academic exchange and research collaboration, providing18 students and faculty with opportunities for cross-cultural engagement and learning; and19 WHEREAS, Georgia Southern University is the first public university in the United States20 to establish a learning center in Ireland; and21 WHEREAS, since opening, Georgia Southern University's Wexford Campus has provided22 high-impact experiential learning opportunities to over 300 und ergraduate and graduate23 students across a range of disciplines; and24 WHEREAS, Georgia Southern University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with25 South East Technological University in Ireland that enables a strategic research partnership26 centered on coastal sustainability and resilience and advanced manufacturing engineering;27 and28 WHEREAS, Georgia Southern University, the Savannah Economic Development Authority,29 Wexford County Council, and Wexford Enterprise Center are the f ounding partners of30 TradeBridge, an economic development initiative that facilitate s trade and investment31 between the Coastal Georgia region and the Southeast Ireland region; and32 H. R. 664 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3427 WHEREAS, Wexford County Council welcomed members of the Georgia House of33 Representatives to Wexford in September 2024, marking a significant milestone in fostering34 deeper economic, educational, and cultural ties between Georgia and Ireland; and35 WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to welcome our honored guests and express our deepest36 appreciation for the friendship and partnership that Georgia and Wexford County continue37 to share.38 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that39 the members of this body honor the distinguished delegation from Wexford County, Ireland,40 upon their visit to the Georgia State Capitol, extend their heartfelt hospitality, and express41 their sincere hope for continued collaboration and friendship between Georgia and Ireland.42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized43 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the44 delegation from Wexford County, Ireland.45 H. R. 664 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution formally welcomes a visiting delegation from Wexford, Ireland to the State Capitol and recognizes long-standing economic and educational ties between Georgia and Wexford County. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives welcoming a delegation of officials, business leaders, and cultural representatives from Wexford County, Ireland during their visit to the State Capitol. It recounts the history between Georgia and Wexford, including the 180th anniversary of a Wexford trading ship's first voyage to Savannah, and highlights partnerships such as Georgia Southern University's learning center in Wexford and the TradeBridge economic development initiative connecting Coastal Georgia and southeast Ireland. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Wexford delegation as a keepsake of the honor. ### What it does - Formally honors the visiting delegation from Wexford County, Ireland on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the delegation. - Recites the history of Georgia-Wexford ties, including university partnerships and a trade initiative, without creating any new legal requirement or funding. ### Who it affects The delegation from Wexford County, Ireland, is the direct honoree. The resolution also references Georgia Southern University, the Savannah Economic Development Authority, Wexford County Council, and Wexford Enterprise Center as partners in the relationships it describes. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal force and changes no Georgia law, but it publicly recognizes and reinforces cultural, educational, and economic ties between Georgia and Wexford County, including university exchange programs and trade cooperation. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe the history and current partnerships between Georgia and Wexford County, including Georgia Southern University's Wexford campus and the TradeBridge trade initiative. - The resolved clause states the House's intent to honor the delegation and express hope for continued collaboration between Georgia and Ireland. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to the delegation. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-20) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-20) - Sponsors: James Burchett - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71517 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr664.md?full=1