[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HOUSE DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE COMMISSION RESOLUTION

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                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2005

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was pleased to vote in support of 
the resolution (H. Res. 135) sponsored by U.S. Representative David 
Dreier from California. Adoption of this measure will establish the 
House Democracy Assistance Commission.
  This new internal commission of House members will work closely with 
our legislative counterparts in other fledgling democracies to 
encourage the development of democratic processes and institutions. In 
addition, it will expand information exchanges and the sharing of 
first-hand knowledge of the inner workings of functioning democracies. 
Finally, this new commission will provide recommendations to the 
Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development on what 
types of material assistance, such as modem automation, information 
technology, and library systems will most help our counterpart 
parliamentarians to more effectively perform their vital tasks of 
representation and democratic participation.
  The work that this commission will perform has already been validated 
in prior similar efforts. Between 1990 and 1996, the informal ``Frost-
Solomon Task Force'' provided invaluable technical assistance and 
equipment to Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Russia. 
The creation of this new commission will build upon that solid 
precedent in enhancing democratic institution-building where democratic 
engagement and republican government are new to what had previously 
been undemocratic societies.

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