WHEREAS, January 26, 2015, marks the 66th 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 this 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 honors the 2015 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, Hunter G. Goodman, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8607,

adopted by the Senate

January 26, 2015

HUNTER G. GOODMAN

Secretary of the Senate