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“INTRODUCTION OF THE ADVANCE DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2005” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E349-E350 on March 3, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE ADVANCE DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2005
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HON. TOM LANTOS
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, March 3, 2005
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, earlier today, my good friend and co-
chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Frank Wolf, introduced the Advance Democratic Values, Address Nondemocratic Countries, and Enhance (ADVANCE) Democracy Act of 2005. I am delighted to be the principal Democratic cosponsor of this bill. This landmark legislation, which we have been working on for more than a year, was developed in response to ideas that have emerged from outside the government, especially the thoughts and writings of Mark Palmer, who was the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary from 1986 to 1989 during that country's amazingly swift transition from totalitarianism to freedom.
Mr. Speaker, Hungary, where I was born, faced the twin scourges of fascism and communism in the 20th century. Somehow I survived both of these soul-killing political systems and came to the United States, which was then a beacon of hope for those of us living in the darkness of Stalinist-controlled Central Europe.
As a Member of Congress in the intervening years, and as founding co-
chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, I have dedicated myself to the cause of human rights, working to eliminate the threats posed by the vestiges of fascism and the encroachment of totalitarianism in this world. It has been my privilege to help promote democracy around the globe--a tradition started by President Wilson at the beginning of the last century and enshrined as a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy since the Carter administration.
In the last few years, we have seen all too clearly how the lack of democracy can create safe havens for nihilistic forces that do not value human life, and this lack of democracy can help extremism flourish.
But recently we also have been given fresh reason for optimism. Who would have predicted in the summer of 2004 that the rule of law would prevail in Ukraine and an ``Orange Revolution'' would force the creeping influence of authoritarianism to retreat to the East? And just last month, who would have predicted that Syria would begin to lose its grip so quickly on the people of Lebanon?
We must do more to show that the United States is on the side of those who want peaceful change toward democracy and fundamental freedoms, and we must devise new ways to work with our friends around the globe to fan the embers of freedom.
That is what our new bill seeks to do. We are starting by proposing reforms to the State Department and other parts of the U.S. Government so that promoting democracy is a fundamental and central component of our foreign policy. This legislation:
Declares that it is the policy of the United States to promote freedom and democracy as a fundamental component of U.S. foreign policy, to see an end to dictatorial and other non-democratic forms of government, and to strengthen alliances with other democratic countries to better promote and defend shared values and ideals.
Establishes in statute the Under Secretary for Global Affairs with a strong mandate to promote democracy and fundamental freedoms; expands the duties of the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor to specifically include democracy promotion; and enhances the Human Rights and Democracy Fund controlled by that Bureau.
Establishes a new Office of Democracy Movements and Transitions and separate Regional Democracy Hubs to be points of contact for democracy movements and to promote democratic transitions and democratic consolidation, and creates a Democracy Promotion Advisory Board to provide outside expertise to the Department of State on democracy promotion and to conduct a study on the efficiency and effectiveness of current U.S. democracy assistance.
Requires the Secretary of State to prepare an annual report on democracy that will include a specific action plan, developed in consultation with local organizations, individuals and movements, to promote and achieve transition to democracy in non-democratic countries.
Provides for U.S. embassies to be ``islands of freedom'' and encourages U.S. ambassadors to promote democracy in non-democratic countries, including by meeting with representatives of democracy movements and speaking out on democracy and human rights in such countries, particularly at universities.
Provides training for State Department personnel on democracy promotion and links promotion and performance awards to effective advocacy and promotion of democracy, particularly in non-democratic countries.
Establishes a Congressional Democracy Award for U.S. government officials who have made an extraordinary effort to promote democracy.
Provides for increased efforts to work with other democratic countries to promote democracy including bilaterally, with the UN and related organizations, the Community of Democracies, and the new Democracy Transition Center being established by European counties in Hungary.
Requires translation of the annual report on democracy, the country reports on human rights practices, the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, and the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, and requires the creation of a democracy and human rights Internet web site collecting these and other materials related to the promotion of democracy and human rights.
Let me be clear--there are many fine members of the Foreign Service at the Department of State and many dedicated civil servants that are relentless on issues of promoting democracy and protecting human rights, but we can do better. We hope that this legislation will change the Department's culture into one that focuses on freedom, not feel good relationships, and will give a framework and direction to our diplomats as they pursue the promotion of democracy around the world.
Mr. Speaker, in 1956, Hungary was in the midst of a national uprising. The Hungarian people had a real hope of freedom from the yoke of Soviet-installed communism. Then the West stood by while the Soviet Union invaded and extinguished the sparks of revolution in one aggressive wave.
In 1989, we did not make that mistake. The United States and our democratic friends and allies stood with the Hungarian people and helped them and others confront their communist masters and achieve freedom.
The central question of today is whether we will stand with the reformers, as we did in 1989, or stand by as the oppressors take action against them. This legislation will help ensure that we make the right choice and stand with the reformers.
Make no mistake, the achievement of universal democracy is not an easy task, and we have no illusions about that. But as the only remaining superpower and the beacon of hope for so many people around the globe even now, the United States must find a way to promote democracy in this complex world. It in our own interest, it is consistent with our principles and our history, and it is the right thing to do.
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