Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced the following upcoming Committee events:

Wednesday, February 11

Subcommittee Hearing: State Sponsor of Terror: The Global Threat of Iran

2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Frederick W. Kagan, Ph.D.
Christopher DeMuth Chair and Director
Critical Threats Project
American Enterprise Institute

Mr. Ilan I. Berman
Vice President
American Foreign Policy Council

Mr. Tony Badran
Research Fellow
Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Daniel L. Byman, Ph.D.
Professor
Security Studies Program
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
Georgetown University

Chairman Poe on the hearing: “Iran is the world’s foremost state-sponsor of Terror. They are also the negotiating partner for the P5+1 trying to stop them from acquiring nuclear weapons. You can’t negotiate agreements with terrorists. Iran continues to sponsor and support terror attacks across the globe. They aren’t going to stop with or without nuclear weapons. They continue to sit at the negotiating table and reap the financial benefits, some of it, no doubt, pays for their terror campaign support Assad, Hezbollah, and others.”

 

Thursday, February 12

Subcommittee Hearing: Azerbaijan: U.S. Energy, Security, and Human Rights Interests

1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12 in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Audrey Altstadt, Ph.D.
Fellow
Kennan Institute
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

The Honorable Richard Kauzlarich
Adjunct Professor
School of Public Policy
George Mason University
(Former American Ambassador to Azerbaijan)

Svante Cornell, Ph.D.
Director
Central Asia-Caucasus Institute
School of Advanced International Studies
Johns Hopkins University

Chairman Rohrabacher on the hearing: “Azerbaijan is a country in a tough part of the world; it is surrounded by several countries that are not friendly to its interests.  The United States has worked to help Azerbaijan grow its economy and we are grateful for the security cooperation that has developed. Yet, in the areas of human rights and democracy, progress has not been as steady, and has even backslid. The recent closure of the Baku bureau of Radio Free Europe Radio/ Radio Liberty is not the way to encourage relations between our two nations. This hearing will help identify areas of concern and areas where cooperation could be increased. We will discuss what actions should be taken to ensure continued good relations.”

 

Thursday, February 12

Joint Subcommittee Hearing: The Syrian Humanitarian Crisis: Four Years Later and No End in Sight

1:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 12 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman

Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations

Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Ms. Kelly Tallman Clements
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
U.S. Department of State

Mr. Thomas Staal
Acting Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance
U.S. Agency for International Development

Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “Next month will mark the fourth anniversary since the start of the Syrian conflict. What has resulted is one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises in recent memory. The United States has been at the forefront of the international emergency response, having already sent over $3 billion in U.S. taxpayer money to help meet the needs of the Syrian people and the neighboring countries that have been stretched to their limits as they cope with the fallout. This crisis is not nearing an end any time soon and that is why it is critical that we ensure that we are being good stewards of American taxpayer dollars. We must make sure that this money is being spent properly, efficiently, and most importantly, that the assistance we are providing is not falling into the hands of ISIL or other terrorist groups.”

***See foreignaffairs.house.gov for updates.

***Coverage note: All Foreign Affairs Committee proceedings are webcast live at foreignaffairs.house.gov/live-video-feed.

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