Explanation of Absence for Official Travel

Floor Speech

SPEECH OF
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the official U.S. House calendar indicating that last votes for today would conclude at 3 p.m. I committed to travel to Sana'a, Yemen at the invitation of the National Defense University's Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies to address a conference of senior officials of the Government of Yemen on the subject of establishing a national security strategy. The Department of Defense is paying for my travel to this official event. I have attached the letter of invitation for inclusion in the Congressional Record.

My absence means I will not be present to vote on H.R. 1, the continuing resolution that will fund the federal government through September 30, 2011. My opposition to H.R. 1 has been very public and it was my intention to vote against the harmful and ill advised bill that hurts communities, families, and puts America's most vulnerable at even greater risk.

With regard to my amendment to H.R. 1 to prohibit Department of Defense sponsorship of NASCAR, I would have voted in favor.

National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies,

Washington, DC, January 25, 2010.

Hon. Betty McCollum,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congresswoman McCollum: Following up on our fruitful conversation the other day, I would like to invite you to participate as a speaker at a Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies sponsored National Security Seminar to be held in Sana'a, Yemen on Saturday February 19, 2011.

The seminar will bring together up to 800 Yemeni officials, from ministries of the Yemeni government. In addition, members of the Yemeni parliament will attend and you will be introduced by a senior parliamentarian. Military students from the Military High Academy, a Yemeni version of our National Defense University will also attend. The purpose of the Seminar is to help build strategic capacity on a whole of government basis within the Yemeni government.

As we discussed, I would ask that you participate in a session on bilateral Yemen-U.S. relations. This session will follow remarks by U.S. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein. The Yemeni Bi-Lateral speaker is Dr. Hussein Al-Amri who is a former Yemeni Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1994-2001), a current member of the Shura Council since 2001 and a Professor of modern and contemporary history at Sana'a University. You will have approximately 15 minutes for remarks.

DoD regulation permits us to offer you coach fare air travel, per diem and lodging. The NESA Center contact for support is my Executive Assistant, Ms. Kelly Cure at (202) 685-4127 or curek@ndu.edu.

Your knowledge and insights as a member of Congress and your interest in Yemen will add great value to this important event. I thank you for your willingness to participate.

Sincerely,

Ambassador James A. Larocco,

Director, NESA Center.

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