Countries trying to build their own democracies are receiving assistance from the United States through the travel of members of the House Democracy Partnership like Congressman David Price.

Congressman Price, the chairman of the House Democracy Partnership, says the commission works with fourteen emerging or re-emerging democracies to strengthen their parliaments.

The countries where the commission is working have some kind of history of strong-man rule or military, and the institutions of democracy are fragile. The commission is not getting involved with countries that have no history to build on at all, but rather those that are trying to build their parliament.

Price says despite monetary situations, these trips are an investment in America’s foreign policy.  He also says it’s important for our members of Congress to be involved with their counterparts in critical countries.

The House Democracy Partnership is a revival of the efforts Congress made years ago to help countries in Central and Eastern Europe set up parliaments when they emerged from under Communism.