KEITH ELLISON

5Th DISTRICT, MINNESOTA

INANCI

SERVICES COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON CAPITAL MARKETS AND GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERPRISESS

1027

LONGWORTI-I HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515

(202) 2254755

2100

PLYMOUTH AVENUE NORTH MINNEAPOUS, MN 55411

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

eli i~on .hoU Segov TWITtER. @keithellison

July 25, 2011 Representative Peter King 339 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairman King, I respectfully request the opportunity to address the House Committee on Homeland Security at the upcoming hearing entitled: Al-Shabaab: Recruitment and Radicalization within the Muslim American Community and the Threat to the Homeland. As you may know, my congressional district includes the largest Somali community in the United States. For years I have worked closely with this community on a number of issues, including the best ways to reduce the threat of domestic terrorism. The level of collaboration between the Somali community and local and federal law enforcement is so high in my district that Minneapolis is looked to as an international model for cultural absorption and radicalization mitigation. In January my office organized a meeting between law enforcement officials and the Somali community to discuss the best ways to reduce the threat of terrorism from Al Shabaab. These meetings continue on a regular basis. According to one Department of Homeland Security official, Relations between law enforcement agencies and the Somali communities throughout the country have never been better. I would like to share the important work weve done in Minnesotas Fifth Congressional District with the Homeland Security Committee. As is custom, would you allow me to make a brief presentation at the hearing at 10 a.m. on July 27, 2011, as a congressional courtesy? Please noti& Stephen Lassiter on my staff ste hen.lassiter mail.house. ov) at your earliest convenience. Thank you for considering this request. Sincerely,

Keith M. Ellison MEMBER OF CONGRESS

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