Ireland

WHEREAS, Ireland and the state of Washington have built, and 1
continue to build, an exceptional and prosperous relationship, 2
driving transatlantic economic and technological growth, fostering 3
cultural exchange and celebration, sharing the value of the dignity 4
and worth of every person, and demonstrating leadership in working on 5
policies that increase energy efficiency and promote long-term 6
economic and workforce growth; and 7
WHEREAS, The Washington State Senate recognize the significance 8
of the relationship between the United States and Ireland, and 9
between Washington state and Ireland; and 10
WHEREAS, With honor, respect, and acknowledgment, the Washington 11
State Senate notes that the people of Washington and the people of 12
Ireland share a tremendous and enduring connection, established in 13
1847 and sustained across generations to present day, between the 14
country of Ireland and the Choctaw and Navajo Nations, among the 15
first peoples of our nation's land whose culture, tradition, and 16
leadership are essential to the success and prosperity of our 17
countries; and 18
WHEREAS, The Washington State Senate express profound gratitude 19
for and deep admiration of this shared history with Ireland, shaped 20
by our people's self-determination to strengthen civic and labor 21
opportunities that continue to inform modern approaches today; and22
SENATE RESOLUTION
8673
By Senators Orwall, Short, Cleveland, Slatter, Valdez, and Hasegawa
p. 1 8673
WHEREAS, The strong relationship established in 1986 between 1
the cities of Galway, Ireland and Seattle, Washington, allows 2
our people to exchange and celebrate our culture and values 3
through trade, tourism, educational exchange programs, and 4
collaboration on projects that meaningfully improve the health 5
and wellness of Seattle and Galway residents; and 6
WHEREAS, As a global hub for technology in the twenty-first 7
century and a distinguished host to internationally renowned 8
companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, Ireland has 9
demonstrated exceptional initiative, innovation, and vision in 10
the global technology sector; and 11
WHEREAS, This partnership will enable us to build upon our 12
shared accomplishments and commitment to drive meaningful change 13
together and pave the way for continued innovation, expanded 14
opportunity, and sustainable economic growth; and 15
WHEREAS, Our collective stewardship in energy efficiency and 16
technological advancement has driven significant progress in the 17
development and implementation of clean technologies, creating 18
over 100,000 jobs combined and true progress towards a cleaner 19
and healthier future; and 20
WHEREAS, The products exchanged between the people of 21
Washington state and Ireland, including aerospace technology, 22
agriculture, and energy, exceeding one billion dollars annually, 23
underscore our unified commitment to promoting long-term 24
economic development; 25
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State 26
Senate affirm our commitment to partnership, fostering of 27
economic and technological advancement and trade, honoring of 28
cultures, and strengthening our bond with the people of Ireland 29
to unite and solve common and modern challenges that allow our 30
people to thrive and prosper from solutions that create positive 31
and lasting impact for us all. 32
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate, 33
do hereby certify that this is a true and 34
correct copy of Senate Resolution 8673, 35
adopted by the Senate 36
p. 2 8673
February 3, 2026 1
SARAH BANNISTER 2
Secretary of the Senate 3
p. 3 8673