May 28, 2009

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks in Colombia, for Afro-Colombian Commission Recommendations and in El Salvador and Honduras with Secretary Clinton

(WASHINGTON, DC)–Congressman Gregory Meeks will take part in a CODEL to Colombia, El Salvador and Honduras from May 28 – June 2, 2009.  Congressman Meeks will be joined in Colombia by representatives from Phelps Stokes, Rainbow Push Coalition, National Urban League and Good Works Foundation in Colombia. The Afro-Colombian Commission was created in October of 2007 with the purpose of identifying critical barriers that hinder Afro-Colombian development and to make recommendations to the national government on policies that will promote social and economic progress.

The delegation will participate in the formal presentation by Vice President Santos of the Afro-Colombian Commission recommendations to address the plight of Afro-Colombians. The delegation will also travel to Tumaco, Colombia to visit USAID funded projects and see firsthand the military and social challenges in the region.

Congressman Meeks will join Secretary of State Clinton in El Salvador for the presidential inauguration of Mauricio Funes on June 1st. In addition, Congressman Meeks will join Secretary Clinton in Honduras for the Organization of American States General assembly on June2 where Cuba is expected to be a focal point on the agenda.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity to witness the completion of the Afro-Colombian Commission and the official presentation of the recommendations for the betterment of the Afro-Colombian people who are so often caught in the cross fire of violent conflict,” stated Congressman Gregory Meeks.

Now serving in his sixth full-term, Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. Representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, Meeks' district covers all towns of Southeast Queens, Far Rockaway and Howard Beach. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  Congressman Meeks is the Chairman of the International Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.  He is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), New Democrats Coalition and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).  He serves as the Co-chair of the Malaysia Caucus, Services Caucus, Dialogue Caucus, OAS Caucus and the Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus.

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