Former Senator Tom Daschle and former Representative Jim Kolbe at The Hill:
As current board members of the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, strengthening legislative institutions against authoritarian influences around the world is critical to advance democracy. Over the last four decades, our groups have worked in more than 150 countries with thousands of parliamentary leaders and staff to enhance their ability to make policy, represent their constituents, and establish accountable and responsive legislatures.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of one of the most important ways we do that with the House Democracy Partnership. It is an investment in the promise of democracy and an opportunity for people around the world to develop solutions to common challenges they face as legislators or staff. We carry out this mission on behalf of the House Democracy Partnership with support from the Agency for International Development.Established under the bipartisan vision of Representative David Price and former Representative David Dreier, the House Democracy Partnership has engaged more than 4,400 parliamentary members and staff around five continents working with legislatures to promote effective government and strengthen institutions. The House Democracy Partnership is the flagship program for diplomacy for our members of Congress as well as a bulwark against encroaching authoritarianism. It continues to flourish today under the vision of Price and Representative Vern Buchanan.
As former members of Congress, we can attest to the significant impact that the House Democracy Partnership has had over the last 15 years and the platform it provides for champions of our values around the world. Its success with these efforts are vast, from working with parliaments to fight corruption in Latin America, to launching public hearings in Mongolia, and creating ethics frameworks and bolstering budget mechanisms in Kenya. The House Democracy Partnership has held its first ever parliamentary forum for leaders, which convened speakers from more than a dozen countries to develop solutions to shared global challenges.