Jordan Times
Sunday, November 7, 2004
US congressional delegation
begins visit today
By Rami Abdelrahman
AMMAN — A US congressional delegation from the House of Representatives' Ways
and Means Committee will arrive today for talks with senior officials on the
prospects for advancing US interests in the region with a focus on trade,
investment and security.
Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-California) is leading the congressional
delegation on “a fact-finding mission” through several countries in North
Africa, the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.
US Embassy Press Attach? Justin Siberil said the visit would strengthen
understanding of the US-Jordan bilateral relationship, and would allow the
committee to observe the outcomes of US assistance to the Kingdom.
The mission also allows members to explore further the recent recommendation by
the US National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (the
“9/11 Commission”) to encourage economic development in the region through trade
agreements.
Committee members Nancy Johnson (R-Connecticut), Michael McNulty (D-New York),
Phil English (R-Pennsylvania) and Ron Lewis (R-Kentucky) will accompany Thomas
during the visit.
Created in 1789, Ways and Means is the oldest standing committee in Congress.
Due to its broad jurisdiction on critical issues — involving economic policy,
international trade, welfare, social security, Medicare and healthcare policy —
the committee occupies a pivotal place in the House committee system. In
addition to legislating, the committee exercises broad oversight authority in
all these areas.
The delegation was planning to visit the United Arab Emirates, but postponed
that segment of the trip out of respect for the period of mourning for the
president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Ben Sultan Al Nahyan, who passed away last
week.
Some of the countries the delegation will visit are potential candidates for
free trade agreements with the United States. Jordan already has a Free Trade
Agreement and the Qualifying Industrial Zones Agreement in place, whereas other
countries have established Trade and Investment Framework Agreements with the
United States.