Freshman Alabama Congressman Dale Strong stopped short of saying his fellow newcomer in Washington, New York Rep. George Santos, should be removed from office amid revelations that he repeatedly lied to voters about his past and is facing a bevy of investigations.

But Strong, speaking to reporters Thursday at his downtown Huntsville office, said members of Congress had concerns about Santos.

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Strong also said that he has been appointed to the House Committee on Space, Science & Technology. Reports Wednesday said Santos, a Republican from Long Island, had been appointed to the same committee, which will put them in a working relationship.

“I’m going to let the voters in New York decide that,” Strong said when asked if Santos should be a member of Congress. “The big thing is currently he is a member of the United States House of Representatives. He has the same rights that I have. But there are concerns out there from members of Congress. But at this point, he is a member of the United States Congress, and I’m going to be sure he knows the needs of north Alabama and what our capabilities are.”

Santos, of course, has been the most prominent of the 75 House newcomers this year and not for the reasons he would like. He has acknowledged “embellishing” his resume but a growing number of falsehoods have, this week, included reports that his mother – who Santos said was in the World Trade Center south tower on Sept. 11, 2001, during the terrorist attack – was not even in the country until 2003, according to immigration records.

Members of the New York congressional delegation have called for his resignation as well as the chair of the Nassau County Republican Committee, which is in the Long Island district Santos represents.

Santos is perhaps insulated from further pressure to surrender his office given that Republicans hold only a four-vote majority in the House.

Strong said he had spoken to Santos. But unlike he has with some other freshmen members of Congress, Strong said he has not gotten to know Santos.

“I’ve met several members from the New York delegation,” Strong said. “I am aware that Santos is on the Science, Space and Technology committee. But again, that is one that I have not had an opportunity to get to know outside of speaking to. But again, there’s a lot of concerns there from his own delegation and what we have seen to this point. We’re going to keep working through this process. And if Santos is a member, we’re going to continue to work with those who have been elected and let New York make that decision who they want to represent them.”