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2012 -- S 2306 | |
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LC01180 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
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RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON | |
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TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS AT THE AMERICAN CONSULATE IN PONTA DELGADA, | |
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AZORES | |
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Introduced By: Senators DaPonte, Paiva Weed, Nesselbush, Metts, and DeVall | |
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Date Introduced: February 02, 2012 | |
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Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration | |
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WHEREAS, The United States Department of State has indicated that it is currently |
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reviewing its diplomatic missions worldwide and that the U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada, |
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Azores, is under review for possible closure; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1795, the United States has maintained ties of friendship and common |
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purpose with the people of Portugal's Azores Autonomous Region, a group of nine islands |
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spanning 350 miles in the Central Atlantic. The U.S. Consulate in the Azores is the oldest |
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continuously operating U.S. Consulate in the world; and |
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WHEREAS, Annually, 14,000 American citizens travel to the Azores; and |
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WHEREAS, The closure of the U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada would create hardship |
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for American citizens in the Azores as the nearest services for American citizens would be the |
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U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, 950 miles away; and |
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WHEREAS, The Consulate provides full consular services to the many American |
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citizens visiting the Azores, including safeguarding their security and well-being, and |
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administering visa and other consular functions; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition, the Consulate maintains ties of partnership and friendship with |
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our country and the people and government of Portugal's Azores Autonomous Region, and assists |
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educational, commercial, and cultural exchanges between the United States and the Azores, |
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especially in renewable energy and green technology development, business, and tourism; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada has upheld a 200-year tradition of |
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defending American interests and American citizens in the Azores and is an essential resource to |
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the Portuguese-American community of Azorean descent as well as myriad citizens of our state; |
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now, therefore be it |
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RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
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hereby respectfully requests United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to continue |
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operations at, and support for, The U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada, Azores; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the |
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United States Ambassador to Portugal, Allan Katz, and the Rhode Island Congressional |
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Delegation. |
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LC01180 | |
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