Press Releases

House Foreign Affairs Committee member and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after news broke this morning confirming that the Chinese spy balloon did in fact gather intelligence from sensitive U.S. military locations.

“The fact that China was able to penetrate our airspace and traverse the entire continental United States unimpeded was unconscionable and unacceptable,” said Rep. Lawler. “At the time, the Biden Administration denied that sensitive information had been gathered by the Chinese Communist Party despite it being well known that their spy balloon flew over multiple sensitive U.S. military sites.”

“At the time, several of my House colleagues and I raised concerns and we were told there was ‘no evidence’ of any intelligence having been gathered,” continued Rep. Lawler. “I am deeply perturbed to learn, today, that intelligence was in fact gathered, and it is incumbent on the Biden Administration to explain how this was able to occur, ensure it never happens again, and hold China accountable by whatever means necessary.”

Rep. Lawler is currently on a congressional delegation trip in the Indo-Pacific, meeting with key allies in the region. “I’m proud to be traveling with Chairman McCaul and several of my colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on a bipartisan Congressional Delegation trip to the Indo-Pacific to reaffirm our commitment to peace in the region,” said Rep. Lawler regarding the CODEL. “Repeated aggression by China against the U.S., our security partners, and our allies in the Pacific are exactly why this trip is so necessary.” 

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.