IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1210 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 23, 2010 Mr. Kennedy (for himself and Mr. Langevin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Honoring the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council on the celebration of its 25th anniversary.

Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is a nonprofit corporation registered with the Internal Revenue Service and was authorized as the State-designated regional tourism development agency for the Blackstone Valley of Rhode Island; Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council represents the cities of Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket, and the towns of Cumberland, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Smithfield, Glocester, and Burrillville; Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council was the first destination in the world to receive the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Ulysses Prize for innovative contributions to tourism policy, tourism sustainable planning, environment protection, and new technologies; Whereas in 2008, the World Travel and Tourism Council, recognized the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council with their Tourism for Tomorrow Destination Award, one of the most prestigious sustainable tourism development awards in the world; Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council seeks to create a unique sense of place through social, economic, and physical development for Blackstone Valley residents, and in turn, create a destination for visitors; Whereas the Blackstone Valley is uniquely equipped to tell the story of colonization, religious freedom, industrialization, immigration, the gilded age, pollution, poverty, urban decay, and of rebirth and sustainable redevelopment; Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council works closely with public and private partnerships, works as an interpreter and educator of the history and ecology of the Blackstone River, and works closely on community development projects with cities and towns; Whereas the Blackstone River Valley has significant importance to the United States and the State of Rhode Island in that the region because it is the actual birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution that began in 1790 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, when Samuel Slater began textile manufacturing in Pawtucket in a wooden mill on the banks of the Blackstone River; and Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council operates on the philosophy of taking a positive leadership role in initiating exciting, innovative, and inventive tourism development products, projects, and programs: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)commends the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council for its tireless work to tell the story of the Blackstone Valley and develop the region’s economy; and (2)honors the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council for celebrating its 25th anniversary.