Scanlon Returns from Congressional Delegation to Belgium, Ireland, and the United Kingdom
Washington,
May 28, 2022
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) returned on Friday from a bipartisan congressional delegation to Belgium, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The delegation, led by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (MA-01), participated in bilateral meetings and discussions focused on strengthening transatlantic trade relations, deepening strategic partnerships, and underscoring the significance of the Good Friday Agreement. The visit took place during a critical time as the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) continue to negotiate post-Brexit policies and the world responds to Putin’s unlawful war in Ukraine. “It was an honor to join Chairman Neal as part of this bipartisan delegation to reaffirm our congressional commitment to the important relationships the United States shares with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Ireland,” said Rep. Scanlon. “I was proud to represent the Philadelphia region, and PA-05 in particular, during this trip as our region is home to one of the largest populations of Irish Americans in the United States, with extensive cultural and economic ties dating back more than 300 years.” During the first leg of the visit, the delegation was hosted by the European Commission and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels. The House delegation joined a bipartisan Senate delegation at NATO headquarters for briefings and a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, where the group discussed ongoing efforts to support Ukraine in its efforts to repel Putin’s invasion, as well as the addition of Finland and Sweden to NATO. The delegation also met with European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis to discuss finding joint solutions to implement the Northern Ireland Protocol and protect the Good Friday Agreement. Following the UK’s decision to leave the EU in 2020, special arrangements were needed to address the Northern Ireland border — the only part of the UK that shares a land border with an EU country (Republic of Ireland). An agreement between the EU and UK, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol, was signed in 2020 but challenges have arisen in implementation. Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as, for the first time, the Sinn Féin party is poised to assume leadership of the Northern Ireland legislature, and the UK has announced plans to introduce legislation making unilateral changes to the Protocol. The House delegation met with UK and Irish officials from across the political spectrum as part of the United States’ commitment to act as a guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of sectarian violence and established a power-sharing framework for governance. In London, the delegation participated in bilateral meetings with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Trade Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the Good Friday Agreement. Similar meetings were held with President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney in Dublin, as well as with leaders in Belfast from the Alliance Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Fein, Social Democratic and Labour Party, and Ulster Unionist Party. “A key focus of our visit was reaffirming the United States’ commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and urging the EU and UK to negotiate a path forward to resolve difficulties under the Northern Ireland Protocol,” said Rep. Scanlon. “I was pleased to participate in these critical discussions, which will help deepen trade relations with some of our closest partners while finding durable solutions in the post-Brexit trade environment. My colleagues and I want to do all we can to ensure continued stability and prosperity for the entire island of Ireland.” While abroad, the delegation also met with a number of trade representatives in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In 2020, PA-05’s own Penn Terminals established a direct shipping route from Cork, Ireland to Eddystone, PA. As a member of the House Friends of Ireland Caucus and the Philadelphia-area Irish American Business Chamber and Network, Scanlon regularly works with stakeholders in Ireland and Pennsylvania to advance relationships and opportunities between these communities. In light of the ongoing formula shortage in the United States, Scanlon also took the opportunity to visit a factory outside of Dublin that is currently shipping infant formula to the U.S. The factory, which is already licensed by the FDA to sell its formula in the U.S., began ramping up production and sending extra formula shipments a few weeks ago. In addition to supporting legislation designed to address the shortages, which passed the House on May 18, Scanlon has led efforts urging the Biden administration to invoke the Defense Production Act, import more infant formula, and use all available tools to address the shortage. “Earlier this month, I led colleagues in urging President Biden and his administration to use all available tools — including importing more product from abroad — to address the formula shortage in the United States,” said Rep. Scanlon. “It was helpful to meet with representatives from one of the companies stepping up to deliver additional formula to American families in need.” Select photos from the trip are available for media use upon request. Delegation members included:
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