02 Mar 2005 National Center Statement: National Center for Public Policy Research Statement on Congressional Travel

The National Center for Public Policy Research sponsored and paid for educational trips to Russia and to Great Britain in 1997 and 2000 that included, at our invitation, Congressman Tom DeLay, Mrs. DeLay and Congressional staff members. We were then, and remain, honored that they chose to accept our invitation.

The National Center has sponsored trips by conservative leaders and allies to and from foreign nations since our first year of operation, 1982, and to and from Great Britain since 1985. This is consistent with our mission as an educational foundation that promotes a strong national defense while seeking to develop limited government solutions to public policy problems and communicate them to the American people.

Because our mission is not focused on legislation, most of the trips we have sponsored have not involved elected officials. For example, participants in a June 1997 educational trip we conducted to Russia, a trip very similar to the August 1997 trip Rep. DeLay participated in, included journalists and public policy analysts from non-profit groups.

The trips Rep. DeLay participated in had substantial public policy content. Reports that Rep. DeLay met with the Russian Prime Minister in Moscow and with Lady Thatcher in Britain (among other significant policy meetings) are correct. The National Center for Public Policy Research was careful to pay all the expenses associated with Congressman DeLay’s trip. Reports to the contrary are incorrect.

The National Center for Public Policy Research is a non-profit institution organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We do not have any affiliated 501(c)(4) organizations or 527s.