SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1995-8642

By Senators Fraser, Rasmussen, Johnson, Gaspard, Winsley, Fairley, Roach, Sellar, West, Hale, Finkbeiner, Heavey, Strannigan, Spanel, Snyder, Franklin, Kohl, Drew, McAuliffe, Pelz, McDonald, Prentice, Sheldon, Cantu, Smith, Wood, Palmer, Haugen, Hargrove, A. Anderson, Rinehart, Bauer, Wojahn, Owen, Loveland, Newhouse, Swecker, Deccio, Long, Oke, Morton, Schow, Hochstatter, McCaslin and Prince

     WHEREAS,  The state of Washington and Hyogo Prefecture have shared an active sister state relationship for thirty-two years, the longest such relationship in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Several communities in the state of Washington 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, Walla Walla and Sasayama; and

     WHEREAS, The Washington State - Hyogo Prefecture Legislative Friendship Committee 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 state of Washington - Hyogo Prefecture sister state relationship has resulted in numerous educational exchanges, including sister school relationships, such as that of Olympia High School and Yashiro High School, the social science teacher exchange program, and other faculty and student exchange programs which have benefited both of our regions; and

     WHEREAS,  The state of Washington - Hyogo Prefecture sister state relationship has resulted in the opening of the Kobe Trade Office in Seattle, the Washington Village housing project in Sanda City, and the sister port relationship between the Port of Seattle and the Port of Kobe, all of which foster valuable business ties between our regions; and      WHEREAS, The Washington State - Hyogo Prefecture sister state relationship has resulted in cultural exchanges including: the formation of the Hyogo Cultural Center in Seattle, arts exchanges between the Washington State Arts Commission and the Hyogo Prefectural Cultural Association, the Youth Tree Exchange, and the New Leader State Employee Exchange Program, which have enriched the cultures of both the state of Washington and Hyogo Prefecture;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Legislature honors the 32nd anniversary of the sister state relationship between Hyogo Prefecture and the state of Washington; 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.