[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 117 (Wednesday, July 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1468-E1469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      IN SUPPORT OF SISTER CITIES

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 1995
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the 
United States Information Agency and their continued funding of the 
Sister Cities International Program. The USIA is responsible for our 
Government's overseas academic and cultural programs. They conduct a 
variety of activities to promote democratic and free market values and 
to foster international understanding of U.S. policies. The Sister 
Cities Program is a vital part of this effort. I am proud to 
demonstrate my support for this worthwhile cause, and as a former 
mayor, Alexandria, VA, I am pleased to submit for the Record the 
attached letter from the U.S. Conference of Mayors International 
Affairs Committee.

                                  Sister Cities International,

                                                    June 17, 1995.
     An Open Letter to Congress:
       We, the undersigned Mayors of The U.S. Conference of 
     Mayors' International Affairs Committee, urge our elected 
     Representatives and Senators in the United States Congress to 
     preserve important United States Information Agency (USIA) 
     supported programs such as Sister Cities International that 
     enable us to build bridges with communities overseas.
       Through programs supported by the USIA, diverse elements 
     from our communities-business, working people, educators, and 
     many individuals and organizations-have forged strong 
     economic and cultural ties with their international 
     counterparts. These vibrant programs have afforded us the 
     opportunity to create people to people relationships which 
     have brought countless contributions to our communities.
       The special relationships developed as a result of these 
     international partnerships reap tangible returns for the 
     modest resources that are used to sustain them. Across the 
     United States, substantial construction projects, special 
     trade relationships, provided direct access to foreign 
     markets for American goods and services, and increased 
     tourism are just a few of the ways they have boosted our 
     local economies and enhanced international understanding.
       The lives of our citizens and their children, in their 
     homes and in their classrooms, are enriched by interacting 
     with people from our sister cities. It is important for the 
     people of our communities to gain a better understanding of 
     just how interdependent our world is. For some of our 
     citizens this may be the only exposure they will ever receive 
     to people who live in other countries.
       We are united in our belief that for many reasons our 
     communities are strengthened when we are internationally 
     engaged. We 

[[Page E 1469]]
     call upon you to maintain the modest funding USIA currently receives to 
     support these programs.
           Sincerely,
         Patricia S. Ticer, Mayor of Alexandria, VA; Jerry E. 
           Abramson, Mayor of Louisville, KY; Cardell Cooper, 
           Mayor of East Orange, NJ; Susan S. Weiner, Mayor of 
           Savannah, GA; Meyera E. Oberndorf, Mayor of Virginia 
           Beach, VA; Leonard M. Creary, Mayor of Lyndhurst, OH; 
           Kane Ditto, Mayor of Jackson, MS; Mike Johanns, Mayor 
           of Lincoln, NB; Mary Rhodes, Mayor of Corpus Christi, 
           TX; Joseph P. Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport, CT; Saul N. 
           Ramirez, Jr., Mayor of Laredo, TX; Patsy Jo Hilliard, 
           Mayor of East Point, GA; Richard A. Lang, Mayor of 
           Modesto, CA; Raul J. Valdes-Fauli, Mayor of Coral 
           Gables, FL; James S. Whitaker, Mayor of Lynchburg, VA; 
           Jack Geraghty, Mayor of Spokane, WA; Neil G. Giuliano, 
           Mayor of Tempe, AZ; Raul G. Villaronga, Mayor of 
           Killeen, TX; Dennis W. Archer, Mayor of Detroit, MI;
         Norm Coleman, Mayor of St. Paul. MN; Gus Morrison, Mayor 
           of Freemont, CA; Dr. William E. Ward, Mayor of 
           Chesapeake, VA; J. Christian Bollwage, Mayor of 
           Elizabeth, NJ; H. Brent Coles, Mayor of Boise, ID; 
           Gerald Wright, Mayor of West Valley City, UT; Martin J. 
           Chavez, Mayor of Albuquerque, NM; Chuck Hazama, Mayor 
           of Rochester, MN; Ann Azari, Mayor of Fort Collins, CO; 
           Martha S. Wood, Mayor of Winston-Salem, NC; Charles V. 
           Smith, Mayor of Westminster, CA; Robert A. Pastrick, 
           Mayor of East Chicago, IN; Lynn F. Pett, Mayor of 
           Murray, UT; Charles A. DeVaney, Mayor Augusta, GA; 
           Peter A. Clavelle, Mayor of Burlington, VT; and Charles 
           E. Box, Mayor of Rockford, IL.
           

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