Representative Christopher Shays of the U.S Congress visits to the premises of the PTS

Representative Christopher Shays of the United States Congress this morning paid a visit to the premises of the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. Representative Shays met the Directors of the Administration, International Data Centre and On-Site Inspection Divisions, and toured the International Data Centre Operations Unit. He was briefed on the operations of the Provisional Technical Secretariat, focusing in particular on the monitoring and verification capabilities of the International Monitoring System and the International Data Centre.
Rep. Shays is Vice Chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and Chairman of its Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations. He has been Chairman of this subcommittee since 1999. Under his chairmanship, the subcommittee has held hearings on a wide variety of topics, including counter terrorism strategies, rightsizing the U.S. diplomatic presence abroad, homeland security, and security at nuclear power plants. He is also a member of the Budget and Financial Services committees and the Homeland Security Select Committee. Rep. Shays was accompanied on his visit by a Committee staff member, Dr. Nicholas Palarino.