[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 22, 1994

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, Congressman Ben Gilman joins me today in 
paying tribute to the National Endowment for Democracy [NED], which is 
celebrating its 10th anniversary.
  NED's founders and many of its friends will gather in the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs on March 23 to recognize NED's decade of work on 
behalf of democratic institutions throughout the world. The March 23 
event will also give the friends of NED an opportunity to talk to the 
chairman of the Endowment's board, John Brademas, a former colleague of 
ours from Indiana, and Carl Gershman, NED's president.
  During NED's brief existence, its programs have reached over 80 
countries, drawing upon the commitment and expertise of large numbers 
of Americans. NED programs have helped democracys around the world to 
develop free markets, defend worker rights, establish political 
parties, organize public policy forums, create independent media 
outlets, protect the rule of law, and promote interethnic 
understanding. NED, its core grantees representing labor, business, and 
the two major political parties, as well as scores of other grantees, 
have worked hard to build democracy from the grassroots.
  NED's work in support of free institutions has earned the praise of 
the world's leading democrats, among them Vaclav Havel, Lech Walesa, 
Oscar Arias, Elena Bonner, Fang Lizhi, Frederick Chiluba, Vytautus 
Landsbergis, the Dalai Lama, Sali Berisha, and many others.
  One of NED's most important qualities has been its bipartisanship, 
initially reflected in the politically diverse group of Americans who 
came together just over a decade ago to found the Endowment. Indeed, 
many distinguished Americans have been involved in this effort. 
Certainly no tribute to the National Endowment for Democracy would be 
complete without a recognition of the signal contribution of our former 
colleague, Dante Fascell, NED's ``founding father'' and first chairman. 
Dante can take pride that his vision of an organization working to 
promote America's highest ideals abroad has been more than fulfilled. 
We also want to commend John Brademas and Carl Gershman for the 
excellent leadership they are providing the Endowment.
  Mr. Speaker, there are, unfortunately, some voices declaring that 
with the cold war over, we no longer need concern ourselves with the 
outcomes of struggles for freedom abroad. But one clear message of 
recent events in Russia, Bosnia, and elsewhere is that supporting 
democracy remains one of the most effective means of promoting 
America's national interests. As we salute the National Endowment for 
Democracy for its 10 years of service to our country, we should also 
resolve to continue to support NED and other organizations as they 
carry out their important mandate of promoting democracy, building 
democratic institutions, and improving respect for the rule of law and 
human rights.

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