Cliff Stearns: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and we are just delighted that you took the time to come speak with us. David, thank you very…”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and we are just delighted that you took the time to come speak with us. David, thank you very much for that excellent report. I very much look forward to your remarks during lunch today. My colleagues, as all of you know, our most active programming involves current Members of Congress from both parties and from both Chambers and, of course, our Congressional Study Groups. We conduct programs focussing on Europe and Asia. We bring current Members of Congress together with their peers and legislatures overseas, and we work with our Department of State to talk about representative democracy with audiences overseas, also. Via the Former Members Association, I have met with numerous groups of legislators from other democracies who come to Washington for a better understanding of our representative government, our form of democracy, and what is going on politically in the United States and on Capitol Hill. These conversations and meetings are always a two-way street, and I learn as much, if not more, from our visitors as they do from me. Our Association has a longstanding partnership with a great NGO called Legacy International, bringing young professionals from the Middle East and North Africa to the United States. Our most recent group completed their 6-week D.C. stay earlier in the year and was composed of young professionals from Tunisia and Morocco.…”