Congressman Mike Turner has been named Chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) by House Speaker John Boehner.
Congressman Mike Turner has been named Chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) by House Speaker John Boehner. Turner will serve as the United States’ lead parliamentary representative, heading a delegation of 11 House members for the 112th Congress. This appointment along with Turner’s service as Chairman of the House Armed Services’ Strategic Forces Subcommittee, makes him a key advocate for transatlantic missile defense and other strategic initiatives of importance to our allies. Appointed to the NATO PA in the 111th Congress, Turner continues to serve as the Vice-Chair of the NATO PA’s Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environmental Security.“Having been a member of the NATO PA as well as serving on the House Armed Services Committee, I know how valuable our relationships are with our allies in Europe. I am honored to continue to strengthen those relationships during the 112th Congress,” said Turner.
Founded in 1955 shortly after the establishment of NATO, the Parliamentary Assembly serves as the consultative interparliamentary organization for the North Atlantic Alliance and regional nations. The Assembly focuses on parliamentary-level understanding of key security issues and works towards consensus building and a broader transparency of NATO policies through the issuing of policy papers and discussion forums.
“Congressman Turner has been an important advocate for missile defense and other strategic initiatives which ensure our nation’s security. I’m pleased to appoint him to this position and know that he will work to effectively support our commitment to our NATO allies,” noted Speaker Boehner.
The NATO PA consists of 257 delegates from the 28 NATO member countries. Delegates from 14 associate countries; the European Parliament; 4 regional partner and Mediterranean associate member countries; as well as parliamentary observers from 7 other countries and 3 inter-parliamentary assemblies also take part in its proceedings. Delegates to the Assembly are nominated by their parliaments according to their national procedures.