Embassy
of Jordan - Washington, DC
Information Bureau
Contact 202-265-1606
www.jordanembassyus.org
March 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Congressional Friends of Jordan Caucus Launched
WASHINGTON, DC, 6 March 2008, At a lunch today with
Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania
Al-Abdullah and His Highness Prince Zeid Raad,
Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Charles Boustany
(R-LA), Brian Baird (D-WA) and Jeff Fortenberry
(R-NE) announced the formation of the Congressional
Friends of Jordan Caucus.
For decades, the United States and the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan have been allies and friends. The
new bipartisan caucus seeks to strengthen bilateral
relations between Jordan and the US. The caucus will
be co-chaired by Congressmen Schiff and Boustany,
and Congressmen Baird and Fortenberry (R-NE) will
serve as vice-chairs.
“We have great appreciation for the friendship and
solidarity that our good friends in the US have
shown us,” said His Majesty King Abdullah II. “The
strength of our partnership is nowhere better
reflected than during my meetings in the chambers of
the US Congress.”
“It was an honor and pleasure to meet with Their
Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania
Al-Abdullah today, and I appreciate their commitment
to the close friendship between our nations,” Schiff
said. “I also want to thank them for their support
of this new caucus, and I look forward to finding
ways to work together with Jordan to advance our
shared interests and build on our relationship.”
“Jordan remains a key ally of the US, and we hope
the caucus will help to further strengthen this
relationship,” Boustany said. “We have a common
vision – peace and stability in the Middle East. I
look forward to working together towards this noble
goal.”
“The Congressional Friends of Jordan Caucus provides
a great opportunity for members of Congress to build
ties with Jordan, a country that for decades has
been a positive visionary on the fronts of
democratic reform, women’s rights, and economic
development in the Middle East,” said Congressman
Baird. “I have great admiration for the King and
Queen of Jordan and their entire nation, and will
continue to develop one-on-one relationships with
business and community leaders in Jordan to help
strengthen the friendship between our two great
nations.”
“Jordan is an invaluable friend to the United
States,” Fortenberry said. “It was a distinct honor
to host King Abdullah II today at the formal
introduction of the Congressional Friends of Jordan
Caucus, which I believe will provide an excellent
opportunity to strengthen our nations’ efforts to
foster peace, stability, and opportunity throughout
the Middle East.”
The Congressional Friends of Jordan Caucus will work
to educate and to inform Members on issues related
to our bilateral relationship with Jordan. The
mission of the Caucus is to support a strong
relationship between Jordan and the United States
and to facilitate the exchange of ideas between
Members of the House of Representatives and
Jordanian officials.
Caucus members noted that Jordan has played an
important role in advancing peace between Israel and
the Palestinians and accommodating more than half a
million Iraqi refugees who have fled violence in
Iraq, as well as supporting security and stability
in its eastern neighbor.
Jordan Information Bureau
202-265-1606
jordaninfo1@aol.com
