Press Releases

Washington, D.C.  – 2/10/23... Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee released the following statement after the Pentagon reported downing yet another high-altitude craft over Alaska:

“I am deeply disturbed by reports of yet another high-altitude object over American airspace, this time in Alaska. These repeated incursions into our airspace by foreign adversaries are brazen violations of international law and our national sovereignty.

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and having received a classified briefing this week, I am calling for the Biden Administration to provide immediate answers to the American public over the scope and breadth of our adversaries’ high-altitude surveillance programs and present a plan to prevent this from happening moving forward

If this is indeed another aircraft of Chinese origin, President Biden must consider taking additional steps and actions to discourage further incursions, such as economic sanctions against the CCP and the Chinese government or against individuals, including the freezing of assets.

I am hopeful that the Biden administration, in the spirit of bipartisanship displayed during portions of the President’s State of the Union, will work with House Republicans to address these incursions head-on."

New York’s 17th District, which includes all or parts of Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties, is a suburban district located just north of New York City.

###