Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “Democracy and governance promotion efforts are important pieces of securing U.S. interests in the Middle East and North Africa. With countries across the region in different stages of transition and struggling to implement reforms, each U.S.-funded program is facing unique challenges, from host government restrictions on activities to economic, political, and security pressures that impact U.S. administration priorities. This hearing is an opportunity for Members to hear directly from program implementers about impediments to reforms and what Congress and the administration can do to better achieve democracy and governance goals in the region.”

Opening Statements

Witnesses

Mr. Scott Mastic
Vice President for Programs
International Republican Institute
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Mr. Leslie Campbell
Senior Associate and Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa Programs
National Democratic Institute
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Ms. Zeinab Abdelkarim
Regional Director
Middle East and North Africa
International Foundation for Electoral Systems
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Robert Herman, Ph.D.
Vice President for International Programs
Vice President for Emergency Assistance Programs and Multilateral Initiatives
Freedom House
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

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Hearing transcript (PDF)