Arent Fox Senior Advisor Phil English to Co-Chair the Institute for Representative Government

“IRG is highly effective because of its ability to help bridge the political divide by facilitating a true exchange. It provides a two-way street of foreign officials learning about US government, and US officials learning about other countries’ approaches and perspectives, all in an intensely bipartisan effort,” said Mr. English, who served in the US House of Representatives for 14 years, and has been an IRG board member for eight years. “I’m honored to co-chair IRG to continue the effort to offer professional exchange programs. Taking the learnings from these exchanges – based on a collaborative, collegial approach to representative government – and putting them to practice in the US and in legislators’ home countries benefits us all.”

“Phil is the right Republican to lead our bipartisan effort at this time, due to his deep foreign policy experience and gravitas based on his service in Congress. He tends to look at the world through a global framework, and is expert on global issues, including trade and security,” said Peter M. Weichlein, Executive Director, Institute for Representative Government. “I’m excited to work with Phil and Jim, and know they will bring a focus and an energy to the project that will build on our successes. They embody the bipartisan approach that is central to our efforts.”

IRG Promotes Democratic Governance Globally, Connects Decision-Makers

IRG was founded in 1988 by a group of former Members of Congress to establish a bipartisan, independent means of promoting democracy and governance on a person-to-person level. In its over 25 years of service, IRG has conducted almost 100 programs for nearly 1,000 foreign legislators and officials from all over the world. In 2003, IRG entered into a strategic partnership with the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute to leverage the expertise of the two political party institutes. This partnership helps to ensure that IRG’s study missions are carefully conceptualized, with a nuanced understanding of the local political context.

Mr. English Served in US Congress 14 Years; Co-Chairs Arent Fox Government Relations

While in Congress, Mr. English served as a member of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional representative to the President’s Export Council, and was a legislative leader in the areas of tax, energy, and trade policy. After leaving Congress, Mr. English served as a member of the United States National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which advises the U.S. State Department on educational, scientific, cultural, and communications issues.

Arent Fox’s Government Relations practice is one of the nation’s most experienced, effective, and respected lobbying organizations. The group represents clients before government entities on the federal, state, and local levels to help them achieve their public policy goals.