[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 95 (Friday, June 8, 2018)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E807] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HONORING PRESIDENT KEN WOLLACK OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE ______ HON. DAVID E. PRICE of north carolina in the house of representatives Friday, June 8, 2018 Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), who is stepping down after a career in foreign affairs, journalism, and politics that has spanned 46 years. An Illinois native and graduate of Earlham College, Ken broke into national politics as a member of the national staff of the McGovern presidential campaign in 1972. From 1973 to 1980 he was legislative director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He then became a co-editor of the Middle East Policy Survey, a Washington- based newsletter, and wrote regularly on foreign affairs for the Los Angeles Times. Ken joined NDI as executive vice president in 1986 and was elected president by the Institute's board of directors in 1993. He has now led the Institute for more than two-thirds of its history, working on five continents to strengthen political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, promote citizen participation, and champion openness and accountability in government. Through his years of service, Ken has testified before numerous congressional committees and has appeared on national television and radio as a trusted authority on world affairs. He has served on various task forces sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Brookings Institution, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Center for U.S. Global Engagement, and the Atlantic Council. He currently serves on USAID's Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid, sits on the Commission on Presidential Debates' Board of Directors, and was chairman of the development program of the U.S. Committee for the United Nations. In a speech given at the 10th Anniversary of Georgetown University's Masters Program in Democracy and Governance Ken reflected, ``I confess to be an incurable optimist who for 32 years has worked in the optimism business.'' His optimism and tireless dedication to promoting and protecting democracy, good governance, and human rights have earned respect and appreciation across the political spectrum in our country and abroad. I have been honored to work with Ken and the entire team at NDI in implementing this hopeful vision through the bipartisan work of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP). From the time HDP began its work in 2005, NDI and its partner organization within the National Endowment for Democracy, the International Republican Institute (IRI), have been indispensable partners in strengthening legislative institutions in twenty emerging or reemerging democracies--ranging from Indonesia and Kenya to Ukraine, Georgia, Peru, Tunisia, and Sri Lanka. HDP has engaged member-to-member and staff-to-staff, while NDI and IRI have helped us organize workshops and exchange visits and have carried out mentoring and consultation aimed at improved legislative practice day- to-day in our partner countries. This work simply could not have occurred without steadfast leadership from Ken. We have learned a great deal from him and have been strengthened and sustained by his unfailing support. I will forever be grateful to him. It is a pleasure, Mr. Speaker, to join with friends and colleagues in commending Ken for his remarkable career and for the commitment he has shown to our country's highest ideals and purposes. In turn, he has enjoyed the steadfast support and love of his wife Leslie, his daughters Lauren and Alison, and his grandson, Cooper. We thank Ken Wollack for his exemplary service and wish him and his family well as he begins the next chapter in his life. ____________________