RICHARDSON, Texas (June 11, 2002) - U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, will speak on the United States' responsibilities as a global power in the 21st century Saturday, June 22, at 2 p.m. in Room 1.112 of the Conference Center at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD).

        Weldon's lecture is free and open to the public.

        The 54-year-old Weldon has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987 and currently is serving his eighth term in Congress. He is chairman of the Armed Services Procurement Subcommittee and previously served six years as chairman of the Military Research and Development Subcommittee. Weldon also serves on the House Science Committee and the House Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China.

       Weldon's congressional district is just outside Philadelphia in the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania. Weldon majored in Russian studies and is deeply interested in foreign affairs. But he also is active in domestic issues and co-authored the Family Medical Leave Act.

        "Congressman Curt Weldon is one of the most pro-education, technically astute and globally
minded political leaders in the United States," said Da Hsuan Feng, vice president for research and graduate education at UTD. "Add that with his being the head of one of the most powerful subcommittees of the House Armed Services Committee and his presentation becomes more than merely a stimulating lecture; it will provide insight into how some of the government leadership is thinking."

About UTD

        The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor , enrolls more than 7,000 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students. The school's freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university's Web site at www.utdallas.edu.