July 25, 2018

HDI Board Chairman Dr. Al Khalafalla and Executive Director Joseph Merante visited Capitol Hill Thursday July 19 and Wednesday July 25 for a series of meetings with Members of the U.S. Congress. Dr. Khalafalla and Mr. Merante met with Senator James E. Risch (R-ID), Representative Daniel T. Kildee (D-MI), Representative Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Representative Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH), Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Representative Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL). HDI Chairman briefed the Members on upcoming programs and discussed outcomes of HDI’s most recent programs in Africa.

The Members all expressed a desire to take part in HDI’s upcoming international delegations. They said that HDI’s programs are extremely useful in keeping them informed on issues of importance to U.S. foreign and trade policy. In the last ten years, HDI has organized programs for over 250 Members and 400 Senior Congressional Staff to the United Nations and countries in the Middle East, Africa, the former Soviet Union, the Caribbean and Asia. These programs have led to improved relations between the United States and the countries visited. HDI Congressional programs have also led to increased trade and business relations as well as to increased cultural and academic exchanges.