SENATE RESOLUTION
8687
By Senators Dhingra, Chase, Kuderer, Liias, Nelson, Saldaña, Palumbo, and Hunt
WHEREAS, January 26, 2018, marks the sixty-ninth Republic Day in India, celebrating the adoption of the Constitution of the world's largest democracy; and
WHEREAS, India achieved independence from British rule through peaceful and nonviolent resistance; and
WHEREAS, The Indian Constitution asserts equality before law, and declares "that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India"; and
WHEREAS, Washington state has many cultural and economic ties to India, including over sixty thousand Indian-Americans living in the state; and
WHEREAS, Indian-Americans are small business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs of Washington companies, including the founding officers of many Seattle-based tech companies; and
WHEREAS, These businesses provide useful services, resources, and jobs to the people of this state; and
WHEREAS, Indian-Americans have been emigrating to the West Coast since the nineteenth century, working in our most vital industries including agriculture, logging, and trade; and
WHEREAS, Indian-Americans serve selflessly in our armed forces and in law enforcement, as well as contribute profoundly to the health care industry and Washington's institutions of higher education;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the 2018 Republic Day as a symbol of the shared values of democracy and liberty, between the nation of India and both the State of Washington and the United States of America.
I, Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate,
do hereby certify that this is a true and
correct copy of Senate Resolution 8687,
adopted by the Senate
January 26, 2018
BRAD HENDRICKSON
Secretary of the Senate