U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) Selected by President Barack Obama to Travel to Summit of the Americas
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) was selected by President Barack Obama to travel to the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow.
Rep. Meek, who will serve as a member of the House delegation, will travel with President Obama aboard Air Force One on Thursday en route to the Summit of the Americas. Their first stop before arriving to the Summit of the Americas will be in Mexico City, Mexico to discuss trade, economic competitiveness and security with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
“From the first Summit of the Americas held in Miami to this Summit held in Trinidad and Tobago, Florida plays an integral role in the future of the Americas. As the Gateway to the Americas, Florida must be at the forefront at promoting Caribbean and Latin American partnership through shared cooperation and strong alliances. I look forward to working alongside President Obama, and the Congressional delegation to this Summit, comprised of committee chairmen, chairwomen and senior U.S. Senators and Representatives,” said Rep. Kendrick Meek.
Throughout his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, Rep. Meek has been highly involved in international affairs. In 2007, Rep. Meek was appointed to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Furthermore, Rep. Meek is active on issues of trade and supports the economic development of the United States’ allies through trade that is fair to the environment and to the laborers both here in the U.S. and abroad. During the previous 110th Congress, Congressman Meek sat on the Trade Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee. Also, Rep. Meek is a known proponent of lessening travel restrictions to Cuba and promoting democracy on the island dictatorship.
Other Members of Congress that were selected by Congressional leadership to attend the Summit of the Americas and are traveling with President Obama are: Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee; Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee; Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and chair of the Small Business Committee; Rep. Xavier Becerra, vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus; and Rep. Sam Farr, a member of the Appropriations Committee.
The Summit of the Americas brings together the 34 democratically-elected leaders of the Western Hemisphere to exchange ideas and opinions on the main political, economic, social and security challenges facing the Hemisphere and to develop strategies and solutions to collectively address these challenges. The theme for this year’s summit is “Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability.”
U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17th Congressional District of Florida which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves as the lone Democratic Floridian sitting on the House Committee on Ways and Means.
U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17th Congressional District of Florida which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves as the lone Floridian sitting on the House Committee on Ways and Means, and also sits on the House Armed Services Committee.
