e-News 4/2/15

• View From the Middle East: Increasing Instability and Violence
• Helping Egypt Fight Terror Groups
• Reminder: Deadline Approaching for Congressional Art Competition
• Salute: Montclair – one of the best Main Streets in America.

View From the Middle East: Increasing Instability and Violence

At this writing, I am returning to the United States after joining House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and a delegation of senior committee leaders on a fact-finding trip to key Middle East nations.  Among other stops, we visited Riyadh, Baghdad, Amman and Tel Aviv.  Our talks focused on our combined efforts to address the threats posed by ISIL and Iran’s rising influence in the region. 

Looking at the increasing instability and violence in the region, we also discussed the critical need for an overarching strategy to defeat the rising terrorist threat.  Most important, we agreed the United States must show strong leadership!

Helping Egypt Fight Terror Groups

A week after receiving a letter from members of the official Congressional delegation I led to Egypt last month, President Obama released military assistance aid to Egypt that was suspended after the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.  President Obama called Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi on Tuesday to tell him the U.S. would finally be sending 12 F-16 fighter jets, 20 missiles and up to 125 Abrams tank kits.

Our letter, sent last week, read:

“Mr. President, we certainly understand your wish for Egypt to move towards a true democracy and we share your desire to encourage constructive behavior.  However, in this case, we believe that our nation provides unrestricted assistance to many nations that are far less of a strategic partner than Egypt. We fear that if these restrictions remain in place and if these weapons systems are not delivered, Egypt will be forced to look elsewhere for assistance and will form relationships with partner nations that may be worrisome to our national security interests in the region.”

Beyond this argument, we must never forget that Egypt is on "our team," fighting every day against Islamist groups in Libya and Sinai.  They need this counterterrorism assistance!

Read more about our trip in the Observer-Tribune here.

Reminder: Deadline Approaching for Congressional Art Competition

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. 

The deadline for art submissions in our 11^th Congressional District isApril 17. Works of art must be received at my Morristown office: 30 Schuyler Place, Morristown NJ, 07960 by 5 pm.

We are planning a reception honoring the contestants at the Morris Museum, April 27, 2015 (5:30pm-7:30pm).

Specific guidelines and release forms for students can be found here.  Please contact my Morristown office at 973-984-0711 should you have any questions.

Salute: Montclair – one of the best Main Streets in America.

Congratulations to the Montclair Center Business Improvement District, a nonprofit that works to bolster and promote the township's downtown district, named one of three 2015 winners of the National Main Street Center's Great American Main Street Award!

Read the story here.