Press Releases
A congressional delegation from the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) traveled to South America from August 15 to 23, 2009, to inaugurate a partnership with the Congress of Peru and discuss the next steps in its three-year-old partnership with the Congress of Colombia. The eight-member delegation was led by HDP Chairman David Price (D-NC) and included HDP Ranking Member David Dreier (R-CA); HDP members Lois Capps (D-CA), Sam Farr (D-CA), and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA); and Reps. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and Brian Bilbray (R-CA).
A congressional delegation from the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) met with parliamentary counterparts from Mongolia, Indonesia and Timor-Leste during an 11-day mission from June 26 to July 6, 2009. Led by HDAC Chairman David Price (D-NC), the six-Member delegation included Reps. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jim Cooper (D-TN), Bob Etheridge (D-NC), Vern Buchanan (R-FL.) and Phil Gingrey (R-GA.). This was the 15th congressional delegation authorized by HDAC.
Kosovo, Peru Expected to Join Partner Nations
Members of Congress making up the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) agreed to offer two new partnerships to the Kosovo Assembly and the Peruvian Congress. Both countries' legislatures are expected to accept the offers in short order.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the demolition of the Iron Curtain along the Austro-Hungarian border, the Government of Hungary as well as leaders of member states of the EU, the U.S., NATO and other international organizations gathered in Budapest on June 27th to celebrate the historic event that made European re-unification possible.
The House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) sent a delegation of three House members to Kabul, Afghanistan from May 22 to June 1, 2008. The trip marked the Commission's eleventh congressional delegation since its establishment in 2005. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) led the delegation, which included Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD). This was the second visit to Afghanistan by an HDAC delegation since 2006.
The House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) sent a delegation of five House members to partner nation Haiti from May 8 to 11, 2009. The trip marked the Commission's fourteenth congressional delegation since its establishment in 2005. Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) led the delegation, which included Reps. David Dreier (R-California), Gwen Moore (D-Wisconsin), Jim McDermott (D-Washington) and Delegate Kilili Sablan (D-Northern Mariana Islands).
Partnering with the Center for Near East and South Asia Strategic Studies at the National Defense University and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the House Democracy Assistance Commission co-sponsored a defense oversight program for 10 Members of the Defense Committee of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
Price, Dreier Reappointed as Chair and Ranking Member
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner announced the appointment of twenty Members of Congress to the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) for the 111th Congress. Congressman David Price (D-NC) was reappointed HDAC Chairman, and Congressman David Dreier (R-CA) was reappointed Ranking Minority Member. Price and Dreier led the initiative that established the Commission in 2005.
The House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) sent a delegation of five House members to Georgia from December 17 to 20, 2008. The trip marked the Commission's 13th congressional delegation since its establishment in 2005. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) led the group, which included Reps. David Dreier (R-CA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Bill Shuster (R-PA).
The House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) sent a delegation of six House members to partner nations Liberia and Kenya, with additional stops in Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mauritania from June 27 to July 7, 2008. The trip marked the Commission's twelfth congressional delegation since its establishment in 2005. Rep. David Price (D-NC) led the delegation, which included Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Mel Watt (D-NC), and Brad Miller (D-NC).