President Luis Abinader received on Wednesday, 15 September 2021 at the Presidential Palace United States congressmen Albio Sires (New Jersey) and Mark Green (Tennessee). They were introduced by their colleague, Dominican-born US Congressman Adriano Espaillat (New York) and Dominican Ambassador to the United States Sonia Guzmán. The meeting lasted for an hour and a half at the Presidential Palace. Foreign Relations Minister Roberto Álvarez and Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza participated in the meeting.
The visit took place within the framework of the objective of strengthening the ties between the Dominican Republic and the United States. The congressmen came after including a 2-day stopover in the Dominican Republic in their tour of the region.
Congressman Sires of the Democratic Party serves on three Committees of the US House of Representatives. These are: Foreign Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Budget. On the Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Sires is the Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee and serves on the Europe and Eurasia Subcommittee. He is focused on improving human rights and freedoms across the globe and building international partnerships to improve US security.
Mark Green represents Tennessee’s 7th District. He serves on the House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis. In addition, Green serves as ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration, and International Economic Policy.
As reported, the legislators came to learn first-hand about the situation of the country and the region. Upon their departure, the congressmen, one Republican and two Democrats, highlighted the adequate management of the Abinader administration in economic matters, the fight against corruption and the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have known the President since 2011 and I am very proud of what he has done in a short time, such as his fight against corruption and against Covid,” stated Sires. We also talked about how to improve the economic situation in the Dominican Republic, as reported by the Presidency. He also pointed out that the relationship between the two countries continues to progress as it has been doing so far.
Mark Green, of the Republican Party, said that it is a great honor to visit the Dominican Republic to promote the relationship between both nations and take it to another level, creating opportunities, security and development in the region.
Meanwhile, Senator Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat, informed that the legislators took this opportunity to also talk about near-shoring and the great capacity that this country and others in Latin America and the Caribbean have to produce many of the items needed to face the pandemic.
“We are very happy to see the progress that is being seen here with the pandemic, which has been handled very well, because the numbers speak for themselves. We are also pleased to see the growth of the economy that is moving forward,” Espaillat stated.
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Presidency
House – Albio Sires
House – Mark Green
16 September 2021