[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13373]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   FARGO-MOORHEAD, ALL-AMERICAN CITY

 Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise to congratulate the City of 
Fargo, North Dakota, on its recent selection with neighboring Moorhead, 
Minnesota, as an All-American City by the National Civic League.
  This is a prestigious but well deserved honor. The Fargo-Moorhead 
metro area is one of the most vital and fastest growing in the Upper 
Great Plains. The region is home to three highly respected colleges and 
universities. It is a major medical and commercial center. And in 
recent years, the area has seen remarkable growth in high technology.
  But modern infrastructure and economic vitality are only part of the 
story of this award. Fargo was recently ranked the best medium-sized 
city in America in which to raise children. It offers the sort of civil 
society with safe streets, strong families, and functioning and 
responsive government that comes to mind when people all over this 
country think of what it means to live in America's heartland.
  It was pleasant news but no surprise that Fargo-Moorhead was one of 
10 communities that were winners in the national All-America City 
competition, hosted by the National Civic League. The league could not 
have chosen better.
  As I have discussed on the Senate floor, recent storms dumped over 
seven inches of rain on Fargo in just over seven hours, inundating the 
city and causing hundreds of millions of dollars of damage. These 
torrential rains have also meant something else, however--another 
chance for the area's residents to show their resilience, compassion, 
and community spirit. Already, Fargo-Moorhead is coming back, stronger 
than ever.
  Mr. President, I would like to pay special tribute to the cooperation 
between Fargo and its sister city to the east, Moorhead. Rather than a 
basis for rivalry, the proximity and common experience of Fargo and 
Moorhead have proven compelling rationales for cooperation. The joint 
award to Fargo and Moorhead of All-America City honors recognizes the 
daily cooperation and friendship that characterizes relations between 
these neighboring communities.
  Numerous volunteers invested thousands of hours of work in 
preparations for the recent competition, and deserve sincere thanks. 
Let me make special note of the efforts of Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness 
and Moorhead Mayor Morris Lanning for their leadership and vision. In 
helping to make this award a reality, they are allowing the nation to 
see what we in North Dakota and Minnesota have known for years--that 
Fargo-Moorhead is shining example of the American dream made reality, a 
truly All-America City.
  Again, on behalf of the United States Senate, I offer my most sincere 
congratulations to Fargo and Moorhead for being recognized as an All-
America City.

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