ICAS Bulletin
Institute for Corean-American Studies, Inc.
The Hon Curt Weldon
United States Congressman
to address
The North Korean Issues
ICAS Spring Symposium: Humanity, Peace and Secuirty
May 19, 2004 Wednesday 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM
United States Rayburn House Office Building
Room RHOB 2200
Capitol Hill, Washington
D C 20515
Dear Friend:
We are pleased to share with you that The Hon Curt Weldon will
address "The North Korean Issues" at the ICAS Spring Symposium 2004.
Congressman Curt
Weldon represents the Seventh Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Currently
serving his ninth term, Weldon is the most senior Republican in the Pennsylvania
Delegation. A Member of the House of Representatives since 1987, Curt has taken
leadership roles on a wide variety of issues, ranging from national security to
the environment.
A senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Weldon
served six years as the Chairman of the Military Research and Development Subcommittee,
overseeing the development and testing of key military systems, weapons programs,
and technologies that fulfill military needs. Curt has used that position to become
the leading House supporter of a national missile defense to protect America's families
and communities. He now serves as the Vice Chairman of the full Committee as well
as Chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. Curt's role will ensure
that our service men and women are adequately prepared for duty in the high-tech
world of the 21st century.
Weldon, a major in Russian Studies, has made improving
relations with Russia one of his major efforts in the House. Curt has worked with
Russian leaders on a variety of issues, including efforts to improve Russia's energy
supply, correct environmental damage, and protect both nations from ballistic missile
attack. He is the founder of the Duma-Congress Study Group. This bilateral parliamentary
exchange helps coordinate legislative efforts in the Russian Duma and the Congress
which fosters a better working relationship between the two nations. Recently,
Curt co-authored a comprehensive framework designed to improve the state of relations
between the two countries. Titled "A New Time, A New Beginning", his proposal makes
recommendation for cooperative efforts in eleven different areas ranging from defense
and national security to space exploration and scientific research.
As a member
of the Science Committee, Weldon is one of the most outspoken advocates for the
environment and protection of our oceans. Weldon's "Oceans Agenda" legislation passed
the Congress in 1995, increasing funding for oceanographic research projects. Curt
is a champion of environmental concerns as the only House Republican on the Migratory
Bird Conservation Commission which approves funding for our wildlife refuges and
wetlands preservation. Weldon is a member of Global Legislators for a Balanced
Environment (GLOBE) where he serves as Chairman of the Oceans Protection Task Force.
Curt also serves as United States Vice-President on the Advisory Committee on the
Protection of the Sea (ACOPS).
Born and raised in a blue-collar family, Weldon
understands the issues that affect America's working men and women. In Congress,
Curt has been a tireless advocate of issues important to working class families.
He co-authored the Family Medical Leave Act, pushed for the extension of unemployment
benefits, has consistently supported raising the minimum wages, opposed the North
American Free Trade Agreement and voted for historic across-the-board tax cuts.
Weldon was born in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania on July 22, 1947, the youngest of
nine children. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from West Chester University
in 1969.
Prior to becoming a Member of Congress, Curt worked as an educator at
local schools in Delaware County and volunteered as a firefighter in Marcus Hook.
As mayor of the Marcus Hook Borough, in which he was nominated twice on both Republican
and Democratic ballots, he led the fight to revive the small town that was home
to the violent and destructive Pagan motorcycle gang. Utilizing his teaching and
public safety skills, Weldon moved on to serve as the Director of Training and Manpower
Development for a large corporation.
Prior to the terrorist attacks on America,
Curt was an outspoken advocate of bolstering defenses, assisting first responders,
and improving intelligence gathering capabilities. As a member of the Select Committee
on Homeland Security and founder of the Homeland Security Caucus, Weldon is a frequent
keynote speaker at various defense and national security conferences across the
country. Curt is a regular guest on national news and television programs, is the
author of letters and opinion papers for various news sources, and teaches advanced
courses at local colleges and universities.
Weldon resides with his wife Mary
Gallagher Weldon and their five children in Thornbury Township, Pennsylvania.
Other
confirmed speakers, to date, include Michael J Green (Special Assistant to the
President for National Security Affairs and Senior Director for Asian Affairs at
the National Security Council, The White House); Lawrence R Klein (ICAS Distinguished
Fellow; Benjamin Franklin Professor Economics Emeritus University of Pennsylvania;
Nobel Laureate), Sook Jong Lee (Senior Research Fellow, Sejong Institute, Seoul;
Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution), David S Maxwell (Colonel, U S Army Special
Forces, National War College, National Defense University) and Masaharu Nakagawa
(MP, Democratic Party, Japan; Secretary General, Democratic Party Diet Members'
Federation on North Korean Refugees and Humanitarian Issue). Thank you.
Regards,
Sang Joo Kim / signed
Sr. Fellow & Executive Vice President
ICAS
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