[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAS AND THE 
                            AMERICAS SOCIETY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Americas Society 
and Council of the Americas, based in my congressional district, on 
their 40th anniversary.
  I believe the work of these organizations is invaluable in educating 
all of us about matters related to the Western Hemisphere. The Americas 
Society promotes cultural understanding through an exchange of ideas 
among writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and the general public. 
The Council of the Americas promotes open markets, democracy and the 
rule of law, through active engagement with U.S. and hemispheric 
governments.
  Founded by David Rockefeller in 1965 as a private sector parallel to 
President Kennedy's Alliance for the Americas initiative, the Council 
of the Americas/Americas Society is now in its 40th anniversary year.
  During the past 40 years, the Americas Society has promoted many of 
the great cultural achievements of the Western Hemisphere by showcasing 
Latin artists, musicians, and authors and contributing to the vibrant 
cultural diversity of New York City and especially my district.
  I am also pleased to note the organization's commitment to arts 
education, which I believe is a crucial component of school curricula 
not only in New York, but across the country. By exposing New York 
City's underprivileged children to the music of the Americas, the 
Americas Society helps to instill a lifelong appreciation of music.
  We must continue to strengthen relations among the nations in the 
Western Hemisphere. Like the Council of the Americas, I strongly 
support democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and I commend the 
Council for its promotion of these ideals in U.S. policy in the Western 
Hemisphere.
  Under the leadership of Chairman William Rhodes and President and CEO 
Susan Segal in New York, the Council of the Americas and the Americas 
Society have raised their profile significantly, adding new value to 
members while becoming even more active in the hemispheric policy 
debate. As consistent advocates for constructive engagement of the 
Western Hemisphere countries, the Americas Society and the Council of 
the Americas are contributing to peace, democratic stability, and 
shared prosperity in the Americas.
  Today, Hispanic Americans are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. 
population. They are making dynamic contributions to the U.S. economy 
and culture. As the U.S. population becomes more and more diverse, it 
will be even more important to foster deeper cultural understandings 
and cross-border cooperation.
  I congratulate the Council of the Americas and Americas Society on 
their 40th anniversary.

                          ____________________