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Turner Grills Secretary Hagel on Release of Taliban Leaders

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REP. TURNER: Oh, that's our footnote now. Now the new policy of this administration is, we don't negotiate with terrorists directly?

SECRETARY HAGEL: Well, Congressman, you didn't let me finish.

REP. TURNER: That's what you said.

SECRETARY HAGEL: I did say that. But you cut me off before I could say the other part, that we were dealing with the Taliban.

Washington, D.C.—This evening, in a briefing provided to Congress by the Obama Administration regarding the negotiated release of five senior Taliban leaders, Congressman Turner asked the following question:

"Beyond the issue of lack of notification of Congress and judgment about whether or not this was a good decision for America, I'm very concerned that this action signals a significant shift in the U.S. policy that we do not negotiate with terrorists. Can you tell me any time in the last 40 years when our country has undertaken a swap of this nature with any other non-sovereign state?"

Washington, D.C.—In response to reports that Miamisburg resident, Jeffrey Edward Fowle, has been detained by the government of North Korea, Congressman Michael Turner (OH-10), released the following statement:

"I am deeply troubled by the the detainment of American and Miamisburg resident, Jeffery Edward Fowle, by the authoritarian government of North Korea.

We have been in contact with the State Department and will continue to carefully monitor Fowle's detainment as we await the release of additional information. "

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Dayton, OH – Yesterday afternoon, Congressman Mike Turner stopped an effort to eliminate funding for an economic development program critical to the Dayton community.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Dayton-Cinncinati region had been designated a 'manufacturing community,' giving Dayton preferential application status for $1.3 billion in federal economic development assistance.

Turner led his colleagues in successfully voting down an amendment that would have significantly jeopardized this $1.3 billion and severely limited the chances of Dayton receiving substantial funding for increased manufacturing and development.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mike Turner released a statement following the resignation of Veteran's Affairs Secretary, Eric Shinseki:

"General Shinseki gave 38 years of his life in service to his country and for that we are grateful. However, the problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs are astounding and entirely unacceptable.

General Shinski's resignation is the appropriate first step in correcting the injustice against the millions of men and women who have put their lives on the line to defend this country.

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Mike Turner continued to fight for Southwest Ohio and Wright Patterson AFB in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2015.

This comprehensive legislation includes major provisions authored by Congressman Turner that have a significant impact on WPAFB and our region.

"It was an honor to advocate on behalf of Southwest Ohio and Wright Patterson Air Force Base in this year's 53^rd consecutive NDAA.

This bill is a product of a truly bipartisan effort on the part of the House Armed Services Committee and I'm proud of the work we were able to accomplish for our military and for the American people.