April 15, 2009

Congressman Gregory Meeks to be a Participant in the Summit of Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad

(WASHINGTON, DC)–Congressman Gregory Meeks will attend the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad April 17-19, 2009, and participate as a panelist in the Private Sector Forum on April 15-16.  At the Summit Congressman Meeks and other leaders from both the public and private sectors and Civil Society throughout the Western hemisphere will discuss strengthening national and hemispheric efforts to address global conflict areas, drug trafficking, poverty, hunger, social exclusion, discrimination and inequality.

The topic for the forum this year is centered on the challenges that are confronting the Western Hemisphere, the deepening global financial crisis and the subsequent national monetary corrections and fiscal stimulus packages being engineered to promote rapid recoveries that protect the most vulnerable sectors and advance social equity. The forum will also focus on growth in business opportunities in infrastructure, information technology, telecommunications and energy, which are major components of our nation’s fiscal recovery packages.

“I am pleased to participate in the 5th Summit of Americas in Trinidad that will bring leaders from across the Americas together to discuss strategic goals and policies to bring about greater opportunities advancement in economic development, employment, healthcare, quality education, energy and the environment. With this collaboration and the support of institutions such as United Nations Organization of American States we will be many steps closer to fulfilling the potential of each and every person in the Western Hemisphere. I plan to take this wealth of information to my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to ensure that we incorporate these goals into legislation that will bring about a better life and opportunity for all,” stated Congressman Gregory Meeks.

Now serving in his sixth full-term, Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. Representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, Meeks' district covers all towns of Southeast Queens, Far Rockaway and Howard Beach. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  Congressman Meeks is the Chairman of the International Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.  He is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), New Democrats Coalition and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).  He serves as the Co-chair of the Malaysia Caucus, Services Caucus, Dialogue Caucus, OAS Caucus and the Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus.

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