[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNITION OF 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP MANITOWOC, 
                     WISCONSIN AND KAMOGAWA, JAPAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 30, 2003

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Manitowoc, 
Wisconsin, and Kamogawa, Japan, on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary 
of the formation of their sister city relationship. On August 3, 1993, 
Mayor Kevin Crawford and Mayor Toshio Honda signed a Sister City 
Agreement in order to forge a long-term relationship between the two 
cities. This anniversary marks a decade of great friendship that has 
touched the lives of thousands of people in a positive way and has 
provided years of joy through the bonds that have been created.
  Since 1993, Mayor Honda has brought several delegations to Manitowoc 
and Mayor Crawford has led friendship visits to Kamogawa. Several other 
groups, including civil servants and student musicians, have also 
traveled between the two cities. On the 8th Anniversary of the 
agreement, Kamogawa delegates planted cherry blossom trees at several 
Manitowoc locations as living symbols of this growing relationship. 
Manitowoc reciprocated by planting sugar maple trees in Kamogawa.
  The sister city relationship has been supported by the many 
industries in the City of Manitowoc that rely on Japan as a major 
market for their products. One out of six jobs in Wisconsin exists 
because of export trade. One of the objectives of the partnership has 
been to ``internationalize'' the youth of both cities and prepare them 
to be part of the global community. Through the summer student exchange 
program, which was initiated in 1995, students from each city spend 20 
days with each other in homes in Manitowoc and then Kamogawa learning 
to appreciate their respective customs and culture.
  This year, in honor of their 10th Anniversary, Mayor Crawford again 
traveled to Kamogawa in early September and Mayor Honda will visit 
Manitowoc in October.
  Today these two cities share one of the most vibrant sister city 
relationships in the nation. They are to be commended for encouraging 
and promoting goodwill between the United States and Japan. Therefore, 
it is fitting that Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Kamogawa, Japan, receive 
special recognition and appreciation on the occasion of this most 
memorable anniversary.

                          ____________________