Jackson Congratulates Liberia on Presidential Election

Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations and Export Financing, today said, "I am encouraged by today's presidential election in Liberia, the first since the civil war ended two years ago. I hope that Liberia will continue on the path of peace, political stability, and economic prosperity."

In 2003, after Charles Taylor was removed from office, Congressman Jackson and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) successfully included $200 million in funding to be used for humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping operations and democracy promotion in the Foreign Operations spending bill.

"Much has been made of recent expansions of democracy throughout the world. I am glad to see Liberia join countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East in the movement towards greater democracy and freedom. I pledge to do all that I can to make sure that the United States maintains assistance to Liberia so that economic and political progress continues," Jackson concluded.