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Washington, DC – Congressman Bill Shuster is pleased to announce that he has been appointed as a member of the House Democracy Assistance Commission, also known as the Drier-Price Commission.
“Helping emerging democracies around the world not only helps spread freedom and liberty, it also helps America forge strong diplomatic relationships and improves our image across the world,” Shuster added. “I am pleased to be involved in this noble effort.”
Since its creation by the House of Representatives in 2005, the House Democracy Assistance Commission has been tasked with strengthening democratic institutions by assisting parliaments in emerging democracies. The Commission provides important technical expertise aimed at enhancing accountability, transparency, legislative independence, and government oversight in foreign parliaments.
“The early stages of democracy can be extremely difficult for many nations. That’s why many of these nations look to the United States for guidance on how their institutions of government should be established,” Shuster added. “We have a responsibility to help them in their efforts. I am honored to have the opportunity to join the Commission and assist these parliaments tackle the issues that lie between them and a free and accountable democratic government.”
"I'm very proud of the work that this Commission began in the last Congress," said California Congressman David Dreier, who served as the Commission’s first Chairman. "We are already seeing the great benefits that these partnerships are producing. I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow HDAC colleagues in our efforts to advance the spread of democracy around the globe."
The Commission assists parliaments in developing democracies throughout the world. In 2006, the Commission partnered with the governments of Afghanistan, Lebanon, Kenya, Indonesia, the Republic of Georgia, East Timor, and Macedonia. For 2007, the Commission will partner with Colombia, Haiti, Liberia, Mongolia and Ukraine.
Commission Members and their staff work in Washington and on site in partner countries to build the capacity of democratic institutions and work with elected officials to strengthen the building blocks of effective, independent national legislatures, such as budgetary analysis, legislative research, and oversight of the executive branch. The Commission is unique in its peer‑to‑peer, legislature‑to‑legislature method of democracy building. |
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