12-R078

2012 -- S 2306

Enacted 02/02/12

S E N A T 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: Senator Daniel DaPonte

Date Introduced: February 02, 2012

     WHEREAS, The United States Department of State has indicated that it is currently

reviewing its diplomatic missions worldwide and that the U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada,

Azores, is under review for possible closure; and

     WHEREAS, Since 1795, the United States has maintained ties of friendship and common

purpose with the people of Portugal's Azores Autonomous Region, a group of nine islands

spanning 350 miles in the Central Atlantic. The U.S. Consulate in the Azores is the oldest

continuously operating U.S. Consulate in the world; and

     WHEREAS, Annually, 14,000 American citizens travel to the Azores; and

     WHEREAS, The closure of the U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada would create hardship

for American citizens in the Azores as the nearest services for American citizens would be the

U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, 950 miles away; and

     WHEREAS, The Consulate provides full consular services to the many American

citizens visiting the Azores, including safeguarding their security and well-being, and

administering visa and other consular functions; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, the Consulate maintains ties of partnership and friendship with

our country and the people and government of Portugal's Azores Autonomous Region, and assists

educational, commercial, and cultural exchanges between the United States and the Azores,

especially in renewable energy and green technology development, business, and tourism; and  

     WHEREAS, The U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada has upheld a 200-year tradition of

defending American interests and American citizens in the Azores and is an essential resource to

the Portuguese-American community of Azorean descent as well as myriad citizens of our state;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to continue

operations at, and support for, The U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada, Azores; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the

United States Ambassador to Portugal, Allan Katz, and the Rhode Island Congressional

Delegation.

=======

LC01180

=======