Austin Scott: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize and commend the NATO School for its critical support of NATO's efforts…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize and commend the NATO School for its critical support of NATO's efforts to promote global peace, stability and security. As a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I have seen firsthand and I have been a part of and supported the many great efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to maintain security and favorable relations between not only the NATO member states but with those states that are outside of the region and our 28-nation Alliance. Mr. Speaker, for over 60 years, NATO has been the foundation in maintaining trans-Atlantic security and defense. It has successfully defended the territories of its North American and European member states from numerous external threats while promoting democracy and its values throughout the Western World and Eurasia. Since NATO's beginning, the NATO School in Germany has served as a premier operational-level education and training facility and has supplemented the knowledge, skills and experience of over 185,000 officers, noncommissioned officers, and civilians from NATO-allied and partner nations. Mr. Speaker, I have visited the NATO School personally during a recent trip to Germany, and I have seen firsthand the extraordinary and effective job that they are doing. As NATO continues to evolve and transform to address 21st century threats, the NATO School's importance is all the more emphasized.”