[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21945]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATIONS TO PARTNERS OF THE AMERICAS ON THEIR 40 YEAR 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 2004

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, in 1963 President John F. Kennedy launched the 
Alliance for Progress, a program of government-to-government economic 
cooperation across the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, he called 
for the creation of a parallel people-to-people initiative and the 
Partners of the Alliance was established the following year. After its 
founding, the idea of engaging in citizen-to-citizen programs under the 
direct participation and leadership of the people of the Americas led 
to the Alliance's re-organization in the private sector. With this 
change in status also came a new name: Partners of the Americas.
  Today Partners of the Americas celebrates 40 years of bringing 
together citizen volunteers, their institutions and communities from 
throughout the Americas to address shared concerns of economic, social 
and cultural development. Partners' commitment to building on these 
enduring relationships among people of Latin America, the Caribbean and 
the U.S. is what makes Partners truly unique. These relationships 
fostered by Partners help spark creative ideas, cultivate friendship 
and ultimately, produce positive change.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Partners of the Americas on its 
work over the past 40 years. Partners embraces the wonderful diversity 
of the Western Hemisphere and plays a crucial role in building cross-
cultural understanding, inspiring hope and creating opportunity. I know 
others join me in wishing Partners of the Americas continued success in 
their service to citizens of the Western Hemisphere.

                          ____________________