Chairman Price Leads HDAC Delegation to Partner Nations Lebanon and Liberia

The House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) sent a bipartisan delegation of four House Members to partner countries Lebanon and Liberia from May 25 to June 3, 2007. The trip marked the Commission's sixth congressional delegation since its establishment in 2005. Rep. David Price (D-NC) led the group, which included Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). This was the Commission's second visit to each partner nation.

The HDAC partnership in Lebanon centers on the legislature's role in the budget process, the roles and functions of a parliamentary staff and the development of independent parliamentary information and policy analysis services. In Liberia, the emphasis concentrates on roles and functions of Members, staff organization and functions, the development of a parliamentary resource center and training of library and archives staff.

In Lebanon, the delegation met with their counterparts in the Foreign Affairs, Budget and Finance, Justice and Administration Committees. The delegation also held a meeting with Parliamentary Majority Leader Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri. Outside the Parliament, the delegation met with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

The delegation then visited Liberia, where they began their trip with a meeting with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her Cabinet. The delegation then undertook a full day Member peer-to-peer program. Most of the country's senators and representatives attended one or more of the six sessions.

The program opened with a plenary session with House Speaker Alex Tyler to inaugurate the partnership, at which the Members of Congress talked about the role of the legislature as an independent and co-equal branch of government. Following the plenary, small-group meetings included sessions on role of staff and staff structure, the importance of research and analysis to the Congress, the roles and responsibilities of Members, constituent relations, executive-legislative relations, and the role of committees and professional staff.

U.S. Congressional staff accompanied the delegation to Liberia and held sessions with their counterparts in the Liberian Congress. The Congressional staff discussed how to support a Member's legislative agenda, how to help Members be responsive to their constituents, and the role of committees and professional staff.

Outside the capital of Monrovia, the HDAC delegation visited Tubmanburg, the capital of Bomi County in Liberia. The delegation had the opportunity to observe a town hall meeting with Bomi County legislators and constituents. The delegation also visited with demobilized child soldiers participating in a U.S.-sponsored program to train them with skills for careers and lives outside of conflict.