Recognizing the 23rd Winter Meeting of the Osce Parliamentary Assembly

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 23rd Winter Meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) which begins this week in Vienna, Austria.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the largest regional security organization in the world and possesses the vital goal of promoting stability, peace, human rights, and democracy across North America and Eurasia. The OSCE traces its roots back to the 1970s and has since grown to include 57 member countries across three continents, many of which are former Soviet states looking to continue their transition into robust, healthy democracies.

The flagship political institution of this organization is the OSCE PA, which gathers as many as 323 legislators from across the OSCE region several times a year to discuss the most pressing issues facing the transatlantic community. Amidst global upheavals, the OSCE PA gives member states a place to use debate and dialogue to express the interests of the people, identify conflicts and commonalities, and pursue common-sense approaches to achieve global goals.

For the past four years, I have served as Chair of the OSCE PA's General Committee on Political Affairs and Security, known as the First Committee. This committee is focused on addressing critical security challenges across the OSCE region. The work of the OSCE PA as a whole and the work of this committee [in particular] have never been more imperative than they are today. In the wake of renewed great power conflict and rising international tensions--trends made most apparent in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine--the United States and all freedom-loving countries must recommit to our shared democratic values and continue to push back against Putin and all those who seek to trample freedom around the world.

While I regret that I cannot be in Vienna for this year's Winter Meeting, I know the OSCE PA will continue its great work in my absence. I thank all in the Assembly, especially my friends President Pia Kauma, Secretary General Roberto Montella, and First Committee Rapporteur Laurynas Kasciunas, for all they do to keep this institution vibrant and strong. I look forward to joining my OSCE PA colleagues in Bucharest, Romania this summer for the Annual Session of the OSCE PA.

Mr. Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the OSCE, its Parliamentary Assembly, and its many participating states and parliamentarians, and to thank them for all they do to help foster peace and stability around the globe.

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