Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) is part of the Presidential delegation attending the Summit of the Americas in Colombia this weekend.  At the request of the White House, Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is traveling with President Obama on Air Force One to Cartagena and will be part of the President’s official delegation at the regional summit.

“The Western Hemisphere faces many common regional challenges, from drugs and crime, to poverty and social inequality, to promoting jobs and economic growth.  President Obama's presence at the Summit signifies the importance the United States places on the region and the need to expand cooperation with our friends in, and throughout, the Hemisphere.  As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, I have maintained a great deal of contact with leaders of this region, and I believe this summit provides a unique opportunity for the United States to forge a closer relationship with our neighbors in Latin America and the Caribbean.  I am honored to join the President in these efforts.  Our presence here, especially that of the President, shows we are committed to remain engaged with our neighbors to the south,” said Rep. Engel.

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