Press Releases

Today, Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN) released the following statement regarding his trip to Munich, Germany for the Munich Security Conference.

“It was an honor to attend the Munich Security Conference as part of the largest congressional delegation ever to attend the event, led by Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC).  It was an even greater honor to be in the audience as Anderson University’s Dr. Abigail Post received the inaugural John McCain Dissertation Award for her thesis on the importance of moral discourse in international diplomacy.  The state of Indiana and Anderson University are lucky to be home to such an academic leader.  Additionally, it was a privilege to hear fellow Hoosier, Vice President Mike Pence, speak about reaffirming the role of America on the world stage.  The speech offered tough love for our allies regarding NATO defense spending and ensuring that our global partners look west for solutions to problems, not east to China and others.  I thought the Vice President hit the nail on the head with respect to Huawei and similar Chinese telecom companies.  These companies are snakes in the grass who pose a threat to our global economic and security interests and should not be trusted by our allies.”

Background on the Munich Security Conference (MSC) (from official website)

The MSC's objective is to build trust and to contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflicts by sustaining a continuous, curated and informal dialogue within the international security community. Today, the MSC is the world’s leading forum for debating international security policy. The MSC conceives of its conferences as a type of "marketplace of ideas" where initiatives and solutions are developed and opinions are exchanged. It provides a venue for official and non-official diplomatic initiatives and ideas to address the world’s most pressing security concerns. The MSC also offers protected space for informal meetings between officials and thus – as its original motto has it – build peace through dialogue. In addition to its annual flagship conference, the MSC regularly convenes high-profile events on particular topics and regions and publishes the Munich Security Report, an annual digest of relevant figures, maps, and research on crucial security challenges.

Background on John McCain Dissertation Award (from official website)

The John McCain Dissertation Award is awarded annually to up to two outstanding doctoral dissertations for exceptional academic contributions in the field of political science, with an emphasis on the transatlantic relationship. It consists of several components, including participation in Munich Security Conference events and activities, attractive publication options, and a prize sum of up to 20.000 euros. 

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Congressman Jim Banks represents Indiana’s 3^rd Congressional District and serves on the House Armed Services Committee, Committee on Veterans Affairs, and Committee on Education and the Workforce.  All press inquiries may be directed to tw.arrighi@mail.house.gov.