Connie Morella: “That was a nice beginning of our annual meeting. I'm now privileged to report to Congress about the activities of the…”

“That was a nice beginning of our annual meeting. I'm now privileged to report to Congress about the activities of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress since our last meeting in July of 2012. Our association is bipartisan. You've heard that over and over again, and you know that as you see the people who are here and listen to the words that have been spoken. It was chartered by Congress in 1983, and the purpose of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress is to promote public service and strengthen democracy abroad and in the United States. About 600 former Senators and Representatives belong to the association. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents are united in this organization in their desire to teach about Congress and the importance of representative democracy. We're proud to have been chartered by Congress, and we receive no funding from Congress. All the activities, which we're about to describe, are financed by our membership dues, programs, specific grants and sponsors, or via our fundraising dinner. Our finances are sound, our projects are fully funded, and our most recent audit by an outside accountant came back with a clean bill of financial health. Not bad, aye? It's been a very successful, active, rewarding year. We have continued our work serving as a liaison between the current Congress and legislatures overseas.…”