[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 5, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E715]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF NON-STOP TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHTS 
         BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. NANETTE DIAZ BARRAGAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 2019

  Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, as Co-Chair of the Congressional 
Croatian Caucus, I rise today to bring attention to a very special 
milestone scheduled to take flight this coming Friday. On June 7, 2019, 
for the first time in twenty-eight years, non-stop transatlantic air 
travel will occur between the United States and the Republic of 
Croatia. American Airlines will have the honor of transporting 
passengers directly from Philadelphia International Airport to 
Dubrovnik International Airport in Croatia.
  This event is especially momentous to me because my congressional 
district is home to the largest concentration of Croatians living in 
the United States. In fact, several of my constituents from San Pedro, 
California, will be on hand in Philadelphia to witness the inaugural 
flight and celebrate this exciting partnership with fellow Croatians, 
Croatian government officials, diplomats, and prominent civic leaders 
from Philadelphia.
  The return to direct non-stop air service is yet another example of 
the United States' strong economic and political relationship with 
Croatia, a very important NATO ally. For me and my constituents, this 
new chapter will not only enhance these relationships but create 
opportunities to connect our communities and cultures. With this in 
mind, I am including in the Record a letter from Steven Rukavina, 
President of the National Federation of Croatian Americans, to 
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney underscoring the significance of this 
first flight from Philadelphia and the strengthened relationship that 
will result between our two countries.
  I wish this new endeavor between the United States and Croatia every 
success and look forward to one day soon being a passenger on this 
flight.

                                   National Federation of Croatian


                                Americans Cultural Foundation,

                                     Washington, DC, May 10, 2019.
     Hon. Jim Kenney,
     Mayor, Philadelphia, PA.
       Dear Mayor Kenney: On behalf of the National Federation of 
     Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCA), and as a proud 
     resident of Philadelphia, please allow me to share with you a 
     quickly approaching milestone for our City.
       The Croatian American community is so pleased that we will 
     see the Croatian flag raised at City Hall on Friday, June 
     7th. Of course, we are thrilled that you and so many of 
     Philadelphia's civic and business leaders will attend the 
     Croatian gala celebration at the National Constitutional 
     Center on June 6th, too.
       These events will salute the first commercial non-stop 
     flight in twenty-eight years from the United States to 
     Croatia, which will depart Philadelphia International Airport 
     on the evening of June 7. This historic American Airlines 
     flight will touch down on Croatia's Adriatic coast in the 
     City of Dubrovnik the next morning. I must say that I am very 
     honored to be able to fly on this inaugural flight that 
     night.
       The non-stop flights that will follow will directly connect 
     our World Heritage City of Philadelphia to the City of 
     Dubrovnik--which is known as the ``Pearl of the Adriatic'' 
     and which has also been included as a UNESCO World Heritage 
     site since 1979. This important Croatian city holds historic 
     relevance as a significant Mediterranean port and sea power 
     since the 13th century. Dubrovnik flourished really well 
     throughout the 15th and 17th centuries and was lauded 
     internationally for its skilled diplomacy and wealth! It is 
     also historic and coincidental that the Republic of Ragusa--
     an aristocratic maritime republic that once included 
     Dubrovnik--was one of the first political entities to 
     recognize the independence of the United States of America in 
     the 1770s.
       In the coming years tourism between our two countries will 
     only grow, and Americans will be able to further engage in 
     the rich culture and history of Croatia. These newly 
     inaugurated American Airlines non-stop flights will 
     specifically allow Philadelphians the ease and comfort of 
     non-stop travel to the Adriatic Coast. This will prompt many 
     in our City to take a unique trip that they may not have 
     before considered. This kind of unprecedented access will 
     also draw many tourists to visit Philadelphia, too, as the 
     departure city for their travels to and from Croatia.
       The Croatian American community has also held a significant 
     place in the history of the State of Pennsylvania. Croatian 
     American immigration helped to significantly propel the steel 
     industry in the western part of our Pennsylvania during the 
     Second Industrial Revolution. Significantly, the Croatian 
     Fraternal Union of America (CFU), which is now headquartered 
     in Monroeville PA, will celebrate its 125th anniversary from 
     September 21-25 in Pittsburgh.
       The special bond between the U.S. and Croatia has been 
     further strengthened during the past ten years with Croatia's 
     2009 ascension into full membership in the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization (NATO). This multilateral Euro-Atlantic 
     security alliance membership and treaty, now has only further 
     cemented the strong bilateral relationship between our two 
     nations over the last ten years.
       Looking to the future--with Croatia assuming the Presidency 
     of the European Union in January, 2020--we hope to build on 
     the success of these important air flight activities 
     beginning in June via additional global-oriented events 
     within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during 2020, 
     especially in our City of Philadelphia.
       We applaud all your efforts to promote Philadelphia as a 
     global destination for tourism, for international business 
     growth, and now as a bridge to the City of Dubrovnik, another 
     World Heritage site with a special bond to our historic 
     American city!
           Sincerely,

                                               Steve Rukavina,

                                 President, National Federation of
     Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation.

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