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

Wednesday, March 13

Subcommittee Hearing: The Rebalance to Asia: Why South Asia Matters (Part II)

11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Chairman

Invited witnesses include:

Mr. Walter Lohman
Director
Asian Studies Center
The Heritage Foundation

Mr. Vikram Nehru
Senior Associate, Asia Program
Bakrie Chair in Southeast Asian Studies
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Mr. Sadanand Dhume
Resident Fellow
American Enterprise Institute

Mr. Sanjay Puri
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Alliance for U.S. India Business

Chairman Chabot on the hearing: “Two weeks ago, the Administration discussed the strategic importance of South Asia to U.S. interests in the broader Indo-Pacific region. While these assertions were met with bipartisan support, they were followed by few details regarding how the Administration plans to achieve long-term, tangible results in a region of such critical geographical importance. There have no doubt been successes, but there are obvious challenges that need more emphasis. This hearing will examine the Obama Administration’s engagement strategy in the Indian Ocean region, particularly with India, and assess what more the U.S. can do to enhance its relationships, while exploring the broader economic, political, and security objectives in the region as part of the United States’ larger strategy in Asia.”

 

Thursday, March 14

Subcommittee Hearing: U.S. Energy Security: Enhancing Partnerships with Mexico and Canada

9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 14 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere

Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Chairman

Invited witnesses include:

Panel I

The Honorable Lee Terry
Member of Congress

Panel II

Duncan Wood, Ph.D.
Director
Mexico Institute
Wilson Center

Mr. Daniel R. Simmons
Director of Regulatory and State Affairs
Institute for Energy Research

Mr. Kyle Isakower
Vice President, Regulatory and Economic Policy
American Petroleum Institute

Michael A. Levi, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment, and
Director of the Program on Energy Security and Climate Change
Council on Foreign Relations

Chairman Salmon on the hearing: “In our continued goal of enhancing partnerships with Mexico and Canada and achieving energy independence and security, I look forward to this hearing focusing on energy policy in the Western Hemisphere.  Specifically, I hope to delve into the Administration’s continued delay in approving the highly popular Keystone XL pipeline from Canada. Studies show this pipeline will create jobs and increase our energy independence while protecting the environment.  We will also discuss the Administration’s delay in moving forward on delivering an agreement to Congress on the Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement.  This agreement has significant mutual opportunities for both the United States and Mexican economies through the development of oil and gas reservoirs that cross the international maritime boundary between the U.S. and Mexico in the Gulf of Mexico.  The Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement was signed in February of 2012 by the U.S. and Mexico, and the Mexican Senate ratified it in April of 2012.  My goal is to look for ways the Subcommittee and the Administration can work together to move forward policies and agreements that will further our common interests with our neighbors in North American as we collectively seek energy security and independence.”

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

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

###