TANNER NAMED CHAIR OF U.S. NATO DELEGATION

Important for National Security, Global Diplomacy, Tanner Says

- Will Also Serve on House Foreign Affairs Committee -

WASHINGTON -- Congressman John Tanner will serve as Chairman of the United States delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the civilian arm of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced.

The U.S. delegation, a bipartisan group of U.S. House members, meets regularly with its counterparts from the other 26 NATO member countries to discuss global security, economics and other ongoing NATO operations. The Parliamentary Assembly next meets Feb. 18-20 at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

“I will be honored to lead our delegation in this organization that is critically important as we continue building our nation’s diplomatic relationships on both sides of the Atlantic and working with our allies to strengthen our security at home and abroad,” Tanner said. “The NATO alliance is as important now as it ever has been because of the challenges facing us all as civilized nations.”

Tanner has represented the U.S. on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly since 1998. He served as the organization’s Vice President in 2005 and in November was elected Chairman of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Economics and Security Committee.

Pelosi appointed the Chairmanship in a letter to Congressman Tanner.

“I am writing to formally appoint you to serve as the Chairman of the United States Group of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Thank you for your outstanding leadership,” Speaker Pelosi wrote to Tanner in a Jan. 11 letter. The appointment was also announced during that day’s session of the House of Representatives.

In addition, Tanner was appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which handles NATO-related policy. He will also retain his membership on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Tanner represents Tennessee’s 8^th district in West and Middle Tennessee. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and 26 years in the Tennessee Army National Guard, from which he retired in 2000 at the rank of Colonel. He served on the House Armed Services Committee from 1988-1996.

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Contact: Randy Ford, 202.225.4714