SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1995-8607

By Senators Fraser, Winsley, Rasmussen, Roach, Wojahn, C. Anderson, Hale, Spanel, Heavey, Haugen, Johnson, Oke, Sellar, Newhouse, Snyder, Gaspard and Kohl

     WHEREAS,  Hyogo Prefecture, Japan has been struck by the most severe earthquake in Japan since 1952; and

     WHEREAS, The loss of life and property damage has placed a heavy burden on the people of Hyogo and its government; and

     WHEREAS, Washington State has itself experienced, first hand, the heavy losses wrought by earthquakes in the past; and

     WHEREAS, Washington State has maintained a valuable and active sister state relationship with Hyogo Prefecture for more than thirty years, the oldest such relationship in the United States, which has resulted in innumerable friendships, business, educational, and cultural relationships between our two areas; and

     WHEREAS, Several communities in Washington State and Hyogo Prefecture have active sister community relationships, including: Auburn and Kasuga, Kent and Kaibara, Kittitas County and Sanda City, Olympia and Yashiro, Pullman and Kasai City, Renton and Nishiwaki, Seattle and Kobe, Sequim and Yamasaki, Spokane and Nishinomiya, and Walla Walla and Sasayama; and

     WHEREAS, The Washington State - Hyogo Prefecture Legislative Friendship Association was founded one year ago by the Washington State Legislature to foster a continued exchange of friendship and information between our two Legislative bodies; and

     WHEREAS, The people of Washington State have a special sense of friendship with and, therefore, a profound sympathy for, the people of Hyogo in their time of sorrow and loss; and

     WHEREAS, The people of Washington State stand by to offer any needed assistance if asked;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate hold a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of the earthquake in Japan; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate extend its expression of profound sympathy and support to Governor Toshitami Kaihara, the Prefectural Assembly, and the people of Hyogo; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Governor Toshitami Kaihara, Mr. Kanbe Hajimu, Speaker of the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, President Isami Hirazawa of the Japan-America Friendship League of Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, and to Mr. Takeo Tarahata of the Hyogo Cultural Center located in Seattle.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1995-8607,

adopted by the Senate January 20, 1995.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate