By Hunter H.R. No. 789 77R12585 GMW-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1-2 Sister Cities International (SCI) is a nonprofit diplomacy network 1-3 committed to creating and strengthening partnerships and cultural 1-4 understanding between the United States and international 1-5 communities; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Throughout the nation and across the world, SCI has 1-7 been invaluable to fostering cooperation between approximately 1-8 3,500 cities in 156 countries; moreover, it has led local community 1-9 development and volunteer action by motivating and empowering 1-10 private citizens, municipal officials, and business leaders to 1-11 conduct long-term programs of mutual benefit; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Adroitly led by chair Mary Palko and vice chair Gary 1-13 Fickes, the Texas Sister Cities International program and its many 1-14 dedicated volunteers have contributed greatly to establishing these 1-15 global relationships; currently there are 72 cities in the Lone 1-16 Star State linked to 32 foreign countries and 113 foreign cities; 1-17 and 1-18 WHEREAS, All those associated with the Sister Cities 1-19 International initiative have shown an impressive commitment to 1-20 strengthening international understanding and goodwill, and it is a 1-21 privilege to commend them at this time; now, therefore, be it 1-22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 1-23 Legislature hereby commend the significant efforts of the Sister 2-1 Cities International program and applaud all those associated with 2-2 the Texas Sister Cities International program for establishing and 2-3 furthering rewarding relationships between cities in the Lone Star 2-4 State and foreign communities.