Alan Lowenthal to co-chair new Congressional Cambodia Caucus

Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, and Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, this week aounced the creation of a Congressional Cambodia Caucus, with the two congressmen serving as co-chairs.

The representatives say the caucus will aid members of Congress interested in Cambodian politics, as well as broaden America’s relationship with the Southeast Asian nation.

Lowenthal is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. He represents Long Beach, which is the largest Cambodian community outside that country.

“As the representative of so many Cambodian Americans, many of whom still have deep coections to Cambodia, I feel it is critical that Congress do everything it can to ensure that the United States continues to serve as a positive influence on Cambodia as it works to fully integrate into the inteational community,” Lowenthal said in a news release.

Chabot is the former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and is considered a leading Cambodia expert in Congress.

According to a news release, Lowenthal and Chabot met March 17 with U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Bill Heidt during the Caucus’ inaugural meeting. Heidt issued an update America-Cambodia relations and the Cambodian govement’s response to American requests for the foreign govement to respect its citizens’ democratic freedoms.

“The Cambodian Caucus offers a real opportunity for Congress and members of the public to vigorously discuss a full range of issues important to Cambodia’s development, and it will strengthen our bilateral relationship,” Lowenthal said in a written statement.