[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23802]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON DEMOCRACY CONGRESS TAIPEI, 
                                 TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the legislators from 
Pacific Rim countries who will assemble this weekend in Taiwan to 
explore the role of Congresses in democratic governments. 
Representatives from 20 Pacific Rim Countries are meeting under the 
auspices of the Democratic Pacific Union (DPU).
  The DPU is a regional organization of Pacific nations that is 
promoting democracy and peace within that region, in addition to 
enhancing the multilateral relationships of the participating nations. 
I applaud the Taiwanese who took the initiative to establish the DPU 
and its sister organization, the Pacific Congress, I wish the DPU much 
success in continuing to strengthen the democracies and the vital 
regional alliances of its Member countries.

                          ____________________