SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1997-8649

By Senators Fraser, Winsley, Rasmussen, Roach, Johnson, Franklin and Wojahn

      WHEREAS, The State of Washington and Hyogo Prefecture have shared an active sister-state relationship for thirty-four 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; and Walla Walla and Sasayama; and

      WHEREAS, The Washington State-Hyogo Prefecture Legislative Friendship Committee was founded three years 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 that have benefitted both of our regions; and

      WHEREAS, The State of Washington-Hyogo Prefecture sister-state relationship has resulted in the opening of the Hyogo Cultural Center in Seattle; the Washington Village housing project in Sanda City; the sister-port relationship between the Port of Seattle and the Port of Kobe; and the Evergreen State College-Kobe College of Commerce (Kobe Shodai) exchange relationship, all of which foster valuable friendship and 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; and

      WHEREAS, Our common experiences with major natural disasters, such as the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Mt. St. Helens volcanic eruption, have led to the valuable sharing of emergency response information; and

      WHEREAS, The respect for the environment and waters that we share has increased our concern for the prevention of and response to oil spills; 

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate welcome and honor the delegation of Hyogo legislators to our state and our country; and

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

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1997-8649,

adopted by the Senate April 4, 1997.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate