Walz Appointed to Congressional-Executive Commission on China

Press Release

WALZ APPOINTED TO CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA

Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Rep. Tim Walz to serve on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The exclusive Commission includes nine members from the House of Representatives and nine from the Senate, as well as five senior Administration officials appointed by President Bush.

"I am honored to be chosen to serve on this exclusive Commission," said Walz. "It is extremely important that America continues to pay close attention to human rights in China and that we are careful about further expansion of our trade relationship with China. There is great potential in China for our ag producers and for other industries, but we must ensure that we act in a measured and conscientious way in order to realize that full potential without losing additional American jobs."

"Tim Walz will provide the commission with a strong voice on the U.S.-China relationship. His extensive background working in China and his knowledge of the Chinese people will be great assets as Congress moves forward on the crucial issues facing our two countries," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

During the late 1980s, Walz was one of the first government-sanctioned American high school educators to teach in China. After returning from China, Rep. Walz created a nonprofit called Educational Travel Adventures, Inc. through which he and his wife Gwen accompanied hundreds of students on annual educational trips to China.

The China Commission was created by Congress in 2000 and is tasked with monitoring human rights and the development of the rule of law in China. The Commission reports its findings annually to the President and to the Congress. Representative Sander Levin (D-MI) and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) are the current co-chairs of the Commission.

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