[Congressman Jim Saxton - News Release]
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:  February 13, 2003
PR-12-03
CONTACT: JEFF SAGNIP HOLLENDONNER
(609) 261-5801
www.house.gov/saxton
 
Saxton Unveils French Air Show Bill
18 members sign on as original cosponsors on House Resolution
Aimed at French Anti-U.S. Position on Iraqi Disarmament
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jim Saxton was joined today by a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, including Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Duncan Hunter (R-CA), and Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) of the newly created House Homeland Security Committee, in introducing a House resolution that discourages the U.S. government and American corporations from participating in the 2003 Paris Air Show in June.

"We are sending a strong signal to Americans who would travel to the Paris Air Show, to U.S. companies who participate in the show and to our own U.S. Air Force which flies in the show, that we as a nation should avoid attending the show if France continues to oppose the United States and its allies in facing off with Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction," said Saxton, who is heading up the newly created House Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee. "We want to send a clear message to the government of France: the United States and our allies have been there for France in that country's darkest hours. We expect a reasonable degree of support in the war on terrorism." 
The resolution was circulated in the House this week, and introduced late this afternoon. Saxton expects strong support from other like-minded Members on the House floor.

Saxton is a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. From 2000-2002, Saxton was named by the House Speaker to chair the HASC Special Oversight Panel on Terrorism. He has been a voice in Congress warning of the threat of terrorism for more than 15 years. Congressman Saxton has been long engaged on issues of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
 
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