[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7703]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           IRI CONTINUES TO PROMOTE FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 2004

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have previously 
expressed my support for the International Republican Institute's (IRI) 
outstanding work in Iraq, Eastern Europe, and Africa and want to 
reiterate my support as IRI celebrates its 20th anniversary. Tonight, 
IRI led by president George Folsom will celebrate this auspicious 
occasion during its 2004 Freedom Dinner at which IRI will present the 
Freedom Award for advancing democracy to Dr. Condeleeza Rice, the 
National Security Advisor, and honor the late Sergio de Mello, the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who was killed in 
Iraq.
  I also want to focus on the unique opportunities which IRI provides 
for Americans to share the skills they have honed on campaign trails 
and in the halls of Congress with their counterparts in developing 
democracies. Volunteers from across the U.S. augment IRI's operations 
in over 56 countries by conducting specialized training missions on 
crafting campaign finance laws, strengthening political participation 
among women and youth, and implementing political polling. 
Additionally, IRI frequently sends volunteers to serve on election 
observation missions. Recently, my own Chief of Staff, Eric Dell 
returned from an election observation mission in Macedonia where he 
worked with IRI professionals from across the globe.
  Mr. Speaker, IRI's use of volunteers builds goodwill for the U.S. as 
Americans assist men and women overseas to strengthen political parties 
and democratic institutions. For example, interactions between a city 
administrator from rural South Carolina and a mayor in Malawi can go 
far in breaking misconceptions about the U.S. and about the prognosis 
for democracy in Africa. IRI volunteers demonstrate to newly elected 
parliamentarians in Eastern Europe that building democratic 
institutions is not only a goal of U.S. government officials but that 
it is the desire of the American people. I hope that my colleagues and 
their staffers consider participating in IRI training missions as one 
of the best opportunities to play a critical role in implementing U.S. 
foreign policy.

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