A Congressional reception welcoming Italian Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata to the United States was held at the U.S. Capitol on March 16, 2010. The event was hosted by the National ItalianAmerican Foundation under the auspices of the Frank J. Guarini Public Policy Forum and the Italian American Congressional Delegation.  

Present was a large contingent of the Italian American Congressional Delegation, including Representatives Pat Tiberi and Bill Pascrell, co-chairmen of the Delegation for the 111th Congress, and Representatives Robert Aderholt, John Boccieri, Marcy Kaptur, John Mica, Steve Scalise, and former Rep. Mike Ferguson.

NIAF President Joseph V. Del Raso, Esq. welcomed NIAF's leadership, including  Robert E. Carlucci, Paul Chiapparone, Joseph Della Ratta, Hon. Louis J. Freeh, Patricia de Stacy Harrison, Dr. John Rosa.   Del Raso thanked Hon. Frank J. Guarini, NIAF chairman emeritus, for his friendship and generosity over the past three decades and for endowing the Foundation's Public Policy Forum, which bears his name.

Frank Guarini introduced the evening's guest of honor, Ambassador Terzi. At the podium Reps. Tiberi and Pascrell discussed the importance of our two great nations and asked the group to lean on the Italian American Congressional Delegation. The Ambassador spoke about Italy as a privileged partner of the United States and Italian Americans as a fundamental part of U.S. culture, economics, and political life. He singled out the work of Fiorello La Guardia, Mario Cuomo, Geraldine Ferraro, Rudy Giuliani and Honorable Nancy Pelosi, the first Italian American to serve asthe Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He also outlined how our economies are linked by a close interdependence and noted that many Italian companies have successfully settled in the U.S.  According to the Ambassador, the Italian language should be considered a vital component of our legacy.  He congratulated NIAF's leadership for its financial commitment in support of the Advanced Placement Exam in Italian as well as the Foundation's determination and confidence in this project.   He closed with the announcement of the upcoming 150thanniversary of Italian Unification in 2011.  "The year 1861 marked a long struggle toward independence and would be best celebrated by bringing our two nations together," Amb. Terzi remarked.

WHAT: The National Italian American Foundation and the Italian American Congressional Delegation reception welcoming Italian Ambassador to the United States, Hon. Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata
WHEN: March 16, 2010
WHERE: United States Capitol, Visitor Center, Room HVC-201

Pictured starting from top, Ambassador Giulio Terzi; Roberta Marcenaro and Giulio Terzi; Joseph DelRaso and Giulio Terzi, Louis Freeh and Francesco Isgro; Italian American Congressional Delegation and NIAF Board Members.

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