ERLC endorses democracy promotion bill

By Tom Strode - Mar 15, 2005

The ERLC is promoting legislation designed to expand democracy globally, especially through the arms of the U.S. State Department.

The ERLC called for passage of the Advance Democratic Values, Address Non-democratic Countries and Enhance (ADVANCE) Democracy Act. The legislation is S. 516 in the Senate and H.R. 1133 in the House.

The bill would confirm an essential ingredient of America’s foreign policy is the promotion of freedom and human rights, as well as support for democracy movements in totalitarian states. Among its other provisions, the ADVANCE Democracy Act would:

  • Create an Office of Democracy Movements and Transitions in the State Department and an advisory board of external experts to provide counsel and to study the effectiveness of U.S. democratic assistance.
  • Establish the position of under secretary for Global Affairs with the assignment of advancing liberty and add democracy promotion to the responsibilities of the assistant secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

The ERLC’s Barrett Duke called the ADVANCE Democracy Act an “exciting piece of legislation that will change the world.”

Duke said he is grateful for the bill’s “peaceful promotion” of democracy movements. “It will bring the great energy and non-military resources of the United States to the aid of those who long for democracy in their own nations,” he said.

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