HR1277: HR1277 Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta; 52nd anniversary; recognize

26 LC 129 0945 House Resolution 1277 By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Neal of the 79th, Bonner of the 73rd, Kelley of the 16th, Paris of the 142nd, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing the 52nd anniversary of the Consulate-General of Ja pan in Atlanta; and for1 other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta has strength ened the cultural,3 political, and economic ties between the Southeast United States and Japan and has worked4 to help and support Japanese citizens and companies in the Southeast; and5 WHEREAS, a long and steady friendship has grown between Georgia and Japan, as shown6 by the establishment of the Office of the State of Georgia in Japan 53 years ago; and7 WHEREAS, Georgia has become a model for welcoming Japanese comp anies to the8 Southeast, and the region has grown to become an indispensable part of the United9 States-Japan relationship; and10 WHEREAS, the Japanese community has thrived together with all o ther communities to11 make Georgia greater; and12 WHEREAS, current trade between Georgia and Japan is $8.33 billion in import and export13 trade; and14 H. R. 1277 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0945 WHEREAS, there are more than 700 Japan affiliated offices now l ocated in Georgia,15 employing 40,000 people; and16 WHEREAS, the consulate-general created Japan Fest in 1986 and h elped grow it into the17 largest Japanese cultural festival in the Southeast; and18 WHEREAS, Americus, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dublin, Macon, a nd Rome have19 sister-city relationships with cities in Japan, making Georgia the state with the highest20 number of Japanese sister cities in the Southeast, and this sta te also has a sister-state21 relationship with Kagoshima Prefecture; and the Port of Savanna h has a sister-port22 relationship with the Port of Shimizu; and23 WHEREAS, nearly 1,000 Georgia public school students are studying the Japanese language,24 thirteen Georgia institutes of higher education have Japanese language programs, and from25 1987-2025, 590 Georgians have participated in Japan's Japanese Exchange and Teaching26 (JET) program; and27 WHEREAS, over 25 members of the Georgia General Assembly and other Georgia officials28 were hosted in the autumn of 2019 on trips to Japan to meet wit h Japanese government,29 business, and cultural officials in order to promote a deeper understanding and to cement ties30 between Japan and Georgia.31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that32 the members of this body recognize the 52nd anniversary of the Consulate-General of Japan33 in Atlanta and the long and steady friendship between this state and Japan and commend the34 efforts of the Consulate-General to strengthen cultural, educational, political, and economic35 ties between Georgia and Japan.36 H. R. 1277 - 2 - 26 LC 129 0945 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized37 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the38 Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta.39 H. R. 1277 - 3 -