Ambassador Otto J. Reich, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Testimony to House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Washington, DC
October 10, 2002
?The U.S.-Dominican relationship is more robust than ever. An estimated one million Dominicans (1 in 9) live in the United States (centered in and around New York) and are estimated to contribute over $1.8 billion annually to the Dominican economy through remittances.?
?Despite rough patches over the first two years of his term, President Hipolito Mej?a dominates the Dominican political scene.?
?Over the next five years, USAID will provide approximately $20 million in assistance under its democracy building program.?
?In May 2002, with our strong encouragement, President Mej?a promulgated new money laundering legislation. The U.S. recently provided laptop computers for use by the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU). How well these efforts will pan out remains to be seen and we continue to monitor them.?
?U.S. assistance has been allocated to USAID?s anti-corruption program for the past five years.?
Testimony to House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Washington, DC
October 10, 2002
?The U.S.-Dominican relationship is more robust than ever. An estimated one million Dominicans (1 in 9) live in the United States (centered in and around New York) and are estimated to contribute over $1.8 billion annually to the Dominican economy through remittances.?
?Despite rough patches over the first two years of his term, President Hipolito Mej?a dominates the Dominican political scene.?
?Over the next five years, USAID will provide approximately $20 million in assistance under its democracy building program.?
?In May 2002, with our strong encouragement, President Mej?a promulgated new money laundering legislation. The U.S. recently provided laptop computers for use by the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU). How well these efforts will pan out remains to be seen and we continue to monitor them.?
?U.S. assistance has been allocated to USAID?s anti-corruption program for the past five years.?