[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 78 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EXPANDING DEMOCRACY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 2006

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an upcoming 
event that should be of interest to my colleagues. The Democratic 
Pacific Union was founded in August 2005 and its Pacific Congressional 
Caucus (Taiwan Chapter) was inaugurated on May 20, 2006. Chaired by 
Taiwan Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien, the Taiwan Chapter has been very 
active in promoting democracy, peace and prosperity through the 
publication of the Democratic Pacific Union Quarterly, the scheduling 
of regional meetings in the East and the West Pacific regions, the 
initiation of the Pacific Economic Advisory Group and the Pacific 
Congressional Caucus project.
  I commend Chair Lu Hsiu-lien of the Democratic Pacific Union for her 
hard work and applaud the Taiwan Chapter for all its initiatives on 
behalf of the Democratic Pacific Union in their pursuit of a stronger 
democratic process.
  The Taiwan Chapter will also sponsor a symposium on congressional 
reform this summer in Taipei from August 12-14. The symposium will 
discuss the relationships between legislature and democracy, the 
electoral process, rules and campaign finance. As the world's strongest 
democracy, the United States can contribute greatly to this event. I 
urge my colleagues to attend this symposium and share their knowledge 
and expertise with fellow lawmakers from the Pacific region.

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