*EPF408 07/17/2003
Text: Lawmakers Introduce Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus
(Reps. Jennifer Dunn, Calvin Dooley to co-chair caucus) (1210)

A new congressional caucus officially started up July 16, one that will seek to expand economic ties between the United States and its long-time ally Australia.

Representatives Calvin Dooley (Democrat of California) and Jennifer Dunn (Republican of Washington) will be the co-chairs of the new caucus, known as the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus.

The caucus aims to promote "a deeper cultural understanding between our nations -- one that will enhance our mutual security and strengthen our economic ties," according to a news release from Dunn's office.

The two allies have fought together in conflicts from World War I and World War II, through Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War, to the ongoing war against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The two nations also have a flourishing trade relationship, and the United States and Australia are in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement, a news release from Dunn's office notes.

"Last year, every state in the nation exported goods to Australia," Dunn's news release says. "In 2002, Washington State led in exports to Australia, with a total of $2.6 billion ($2,600 million)."

The Washington State Republican is the vice chairwoman of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.

Dooley said that the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus "will help strengthen the U.S.-Australian friendship by creating a bi-partisan forum within the Congress to focus on shared economic and political goals."

"This caucus will also help focus members on a potential free trade agreement with Australia, joining two of the largest economies in the world," the California Democrat said.

Dooley serves on both the House Agriculture Committee and the House Resources Committee. He is a co-founder of the New Democrat Coalition.

The seven-term California Democrat is one of the leading House Democrats promoting an aggressive pro-trade agenda, according to his congressional web site.

Dooley was honored by the Washington International Trade Foundation with its Distinguished Service Award for his leadership in the House on expanding U.S. access to foreign markets, including China.

The caucus has 42 members so far, including Representative Phil Crane (Republican of Illinois), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. His subcommittee would be the first to deal with any legislation on a free trade agreement reached between Australia and the United States.

Another prominent lawmaker in the caucus is Representative Doug Bereuter (Republican of Nebraska). Bereuter, who first came to Congress in 1978, serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on International Relations.

The Nebraska Republican also is the Vice Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy and National Security, and is the vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security.

The web site of the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus is http://www.house.gov/dunn/FOACaucus/index.htm

Following are the texts of the press releases from Dunn's and Dooley's offices:

(begin text)

U.S. REP. JENNIFER DUNN TO CO-CHAIR NEW CAUCUS

Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus Launches With Broad Bi-Partisan Support

July 16, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) today announced the formation of the new, bi-partisan Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus. Chaired by Congresswoman Dunn and Congressman Calvin Dooley (D-CA), the new group creates a vibrant forum dedicated to growing the important friendship between the United States and Australia. The Caucus will strive to disseminate important information to key policy makers with the intention of promoting a deeper cultural understanding between our nations - one that will enhance our mutual security and strengthen our economic ties.

"Today we stand-by-side - with one voice - to reinforce the importance of our friendship and offer broad bi-partisan support to help strengthen our relationship and identify new areas of collaboration between our two countries," said Congresswoman Dunn during the press conference that marked the kick-off of the Caucus. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to co-chair this important forum that is sure to prove to be vital in fostering the increased prosperity of freedoms between our nations."

Currently, the United States and Australia are close economic partners. In 2001, Australian companies' direct investment in the US totaled $23 billion and Australian assets employed more than 83,000 American workers. The US and Australia are in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement. Last year, every state in the nation exported goods to Australia. In 2002, Washington State led in exports to Australia, with a total of $2.6 billion. With almost one in three jobs related to trade in our state, the Australian market offers the potential for job creation and economic growth in Washington.

(end text of Dunn press release)

(begin text of Dooley press release)

DOOLEY CO-CHAIRS "FRIENDS OF AUSTRALIA" CAUCUS

July 16, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cal Dooley (CA20-Fresno) today introduced the newly formed Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus at a bipartisan press conference. Dooley and Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-WA), the two co-chairs, today launched the caucus with forty Members of Congress.

"The Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus will help strengthen the U.S. - Australian friendship by creating a bi-partisan forum within the Congress to focus on shared economic and political goals," Dooley said. "This caucus will also help focus members on a potential free trade agreement with Australia, joining two of the largest economies in the world."

The Friends of Australia Caucus will focus on issues and disseminate information that promotes a deeper cultural understanding, enhances our mutual security and strengthens our economic ties. For more than fifty years the United States and Australia have enjoyed a close relationship, often joining forces in mutual efforts to increase global security.

Along with announcing the formation of the Friends of Australia Caucus, Dooley also highlighted a new report - produced by American-Australian Free Trade Agreement Coalition (AAFTAC) and the Business Roundtable (BRT) - detailing the benefits of a potential US-Australia free trade agreement (FTA). The report found that two-way trade between the United States and Australia totaled $28 billion in 2002. The report also notes that an FTA with Australia would join more than 304 million consumers in a combined market worth more than $10 trillion, which is close to one-third of the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"I have always supported liberalizing trade because it opens more markets for American goods and services and creates greater opportunities for American businesses and workers and Australia is no different," Dooley said. "In fact, my home state of California exported close to $2 billion worth of goods to Australia last year alone, the second largest export total in the country. Engaging in an FTA with Australia will certainly increase trade opportunities for California and the United States."

Reps. Dooley and Dunn were joined at the press conference today by the Australian Ambassador to the United States, Michael Thawley, and Business Roundtable Vice President for International Trade Brigitte Gwyn.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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