Congressman Robert B. Aderholt (Republican-Alabama) became today the 19th member of Congress to join the Congressional Caucus on Macedonia and Macedonian-Americans (Macedonia Caucus). Aderholt is serving his eighth term representing Alabama’s 4th Congressional District, the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) said in a press release.
Congressman Robert B. Aderholt has served as U.S. Representative since 1997. He is a member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which was founded in 1976 and monitors human rights in Central Asia and Europe. Congressman Aderholt is a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, which has jurisdiction over funding the operation of the federal government. Congressman Aderholt is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security and is also a member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration; and the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittees.
"It is a great honor to have longstanding friend of Macedonia, Congressman Aderholt join the Macedonian Caucus. He has been a strong advocate of Macedonia’s NATO membership and we look forward to working with him closely in the future to ensure Macedonia takes its rightful place at the NATO table," said UMD President Metodija A. Koloski. "UMD thanks him wholeheartedly for being a friend of our homeland and the Macedonian-American community."
The Macedonia Caucus serves as a body to maintain and strengthen the positive and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Macedonia. In March 2012, the Macedonia Caucus led an effort gaining support from fifty-four members of Congress, including Congressman Aderholt, to send a joint letter to President Obama urging him to support Macedonia’s NATO membership during the NATO Summit in Chicago.
Congressman Aderholt spoke at two hearings this year in Congress supporting NATO enlargement for Macedonia and the Western Balkans, in January 2012 organized by the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and in April 2012 during a Europe Subcommittee hearing. He questioned U.S. Administration officials and think-tank experts on the impact the 2011 International Court of Justice Macedonia vs. Greece decision should have on Macedonia’s NATO membership.
