BILL NUMBER: ACR 100	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2014

   Relative to relations with El Salvador.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 100, as introduced, Alejo. Relations with El Salvador.
   This measure would extend an invitation to the people of El
Salvador to join California and commit to the development of programs
to foster social, economic, educational, scientific, and cultural
programs in order to strengthen the democratization process and
economic development of El Salvador and to promote economic ties and
to improve international understanding and goodwill.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, El Salvador and California are economic centers for
commercial, industrial, and financial business; and
   WHEREAS, Salvadoran-Americans constitute the second largest Latino
community in California, numbering close to 600,000 throughout the
State and 6 percent of all immigrants nationwide; and
   WHEREAS, El Salvador and California share common cultural ties,
similar early history during the Spanish colonization, and strong
family ties among sectors of their populations, and the Cities of Los
Angeles and San Francisco have the largest concentration of
Salvadoran-Americans in California; and
   WHEREAS, Although El Salvador and California share a great deal in
common, they are sufficiently different that both would benefit from
increased trade, investment, tourism, cultural, educational, and
scientific exchanges; and
   WHEREAS, California's educational and academic communities,
through casework and research studies carried out by prestigious
research institutions, have recognized the significant economic,
cultural migratory, and political contributions of the
Salvadoran-American community in California; and
   WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of California is committed
to encouraging relationships and exchanges between California and
other regions of the world in order to promote better economic ties,
understanding, and cultural relations; and
   WHEREAS, Salvadoran-American workers in California support our
economy with indispensable labor, which in turn provides remittances
in El Salvador, totaling 16.7 percent of El Salvador's gross domestic
product in 2012, the largest percentage in any Latin county; and
   WHEREAS, The United States prospered from a $692.6 million trade
surplus with El Salvador in 2013; and
   WHEREAS, El Salvador has been recognized by President Obama's
Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development as one of four
select countries chosen based on data indicating economic gains
resulting from increased foreign investment and trade between both
nations; and
   WHEREAS, Establishing a relationship between El Salvador and
California would help achieve these goals, and would stimulate and
facilitate additional mutually beneficial exchanges in cities such as
Los Angeles and San Salvador; and
   WHEREAS, El Salvador is committed to developing a cooperative
relationship with California; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California,
on behalf of the people of the State of California, hereby extends an
invitation to the people of El Salvador to join California and
commit to the development of programs to foster social, economic,
educational, scientific, and cultural programs in order to strengthen
the democratization process and economic development of El Salvador
and to promote economic ties and improve international understanding
and goodwill; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President of the El Salvador and the Governor
of California.