2012 -- H 7321

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LC01118

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS AT THE AMERICAN CONSULATE IN PONTA DELGADA,

AZORES

     Introduced By: Representatives Melo, San Bento, Tomasso, Nunes, and Lima

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2012

     Referred To: House read and passed

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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 House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests United States Secretary of State Hillary

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Rodham Clinton to continue operations at, and support for, The U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada,

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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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LC01118

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