BIANNUAL MEETING TO DISCUSS TRANSPORT SECURITY, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, SOVEREIGN DEBT CRISIS

WASHINGTON, NOV. 29, 2011 – As Chairman of the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD) leading the U.S. delegation, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Sixth) arranged to hold the group’s biannual meeting in Jacksonville after the first meeting was held in Europe.  “Among the issues for the TLD are transportation security and economic growth, and as an international transportation hub with its port and other facilities Jacksonville offers an ideal location for this meeting,” said Stearns.  “Other issues set for discussion are financial markets, agriculture, cyber-security, data protection, and counterterrorism.”

The TLD is a biannual parliamentary exchange between Members of Congress and Members of the European Parliament.   As with previous dialogues, the TLD reasserts the importance of regular and open discussion on various political, social, economic and environmental challenges that affect the citizens of America and Europe.

The TLD meeting starts Friday December 2, 2011 with welcoming remarks by Chairman Stearns and Chairman Elmar Brok, Member of the European Parliament, at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville.  Work sessions will be held throughout Saturday and on Sunday, with the delegates visiting JAXPORT after the work session on transport security. The TLD session concludes with a Joint Statement signing and a press opportunity Sunday at 12:30 PM in River Terrace 2 of the Hyatt, 225 East Coastline Drive.  This session includes 17 delegates representing the European Parliament and eight members of the U.S. Congress, including Rep. Corrine Brown, Rep. Ander Crenshaw, and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida.