WHEREAS, The state of Washington is widely regarded as the most trade intensive state in the nation, with one out of every three or four jobs dependent on international trade; and
     WHEREAS, The volume of Washington's trade continues to increase greatly, with exports of $38 billion in 2005 and exports valued at $45 billion estimated in 2006; and
     WHEREAS, The state of Washington trades with nations all over the world and new markets continue to emerge constantly; and
     WHEREAS, The benefit from Washington's interactions with the rest of the world is much more than economic, but also provides great cultural and educational enrichment to our citizens; and
     WHEREAS, The residents of the state of Washington's primary formal connection to other nations and economies is through the foreign official representatives serving in the state; and
     WHEREAS, The foreign official representatives work tirelessly to act as a conduit between the state of Washington and the region they represent: Educating and assisting Washington constituents and promoting the two regions to each other; and
     WHEREAS, The foreign consuls in the state of Washington, who are accredited by the United States Department of State, are members of the Consular Corps, as defined under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, and is currently composed of 36 head of post members; and
     WHEREAS, The Consular Association of Washington was formed in 1997 as a voluntary membership organization for members of the Consular Corps of Washington, foreign trade organizations, and others; and
     WHEREAS, The membership of the Consular Association is currently the 36-member countries of the Consular Corps plus the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, in addition to emeritus and ex officio members; and
     WHEREAS, The Consular Association facilitates its membership to meet to discuss questions of mutual interest, develop and maintain friendships, fosters contact with regional United States authorities at the federal, state, and city levels, with other local organizations, and with the community at large; and
     WHEREAS, The foreign official representatives in the state of Washington build strong connections between the communities of Washington state and the communities in their regions by developing educational, medical, and cultural exchange programs, increased tourism, and trade and goodwill missions; and
     WHEREAS, The foreign official representatives provide great benefit to the citizens and businesses of the state of Washington with their unflagging efforts to strengthen the bonds between our regions;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize and honor the economic, cultural, and other contributions of the foreign official representatives in the state of Washington and the unique and beneficial nature of the functions they serve; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the members of the Consular Association of Washington state.