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Wilson Appointed to House Democracy Assistance Commission

May 18, 2005
Today, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) was appointed to the House Democracy Assistance Commission by Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL). The new, bipartisan Commission was established by the House Democracy Assistance Commission Resolution and is comprised of sixteen Members of Congress. "Governments around the world are waking up to the benefits of democracy, and millions of people are becoming free citizens. As the world's oldest democracy, the United States can offer a unique perspective on the day to day processes of free nations," said Wilson. "Throughout the past 15 years, I've worked with members of parliament from Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, India, Germany, Indonesia, Mongolia, as well as other nations. This exchange of information helps new democracies flourish, and I am proud to be a member of this vital commission." Speaker Hastert also made the following comments about the Commission and the appointment of Congressman Wilson: "Our most cherished values here in the United States lie in our democratic ideals of freedom, liberty and justice. They're rights we often take for granted. We forget that in many parts of the world citizens can't vote and dissension carries a huge penalty. For many of our global neighbors, democracy is still a new concept," said Speaker Hastert. "With this commission, we're sending them the expertise of the premier democratic body in the world, the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Wilson is a strong voice for democracy, and I'm glad he has agreed to serve."Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) will chair the Commission, which will work to strengthen democratic institutions by assisting parliaments in emerging democracies. Central to the Commission's work will be the provision of technical expertise enhancing accountability, transparency, legislative independence, and government oversight in foreign parliaments. ###