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

Tuesday, October 27

Subcommittee Hearing: The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom

12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Panel I

The Honorable David N. Saperstein
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
U.S. Department of State

Panel II

Robert P. George, Ph.D.
Chairman
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Chairman Smith on the hearing: “The world is witnessing a global religious freedom crisis that poses a direct challenge to U.S. interests in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The stakes are too high and the suffering too great to downplay religious freedom.  This hearing will examine religious freedom restrictions and religion-related violence since the passage of the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), which was supposed to establish this fundamental freedom as a critical element of U.S. foreign policy. It will address what the State Department is doing to address religious freedom persecution, one of the first great crises of the 21st century.”  

Tuesday, October 27

Subcommittee Hearing: Examining the Syrian Humanitarian Crisis from the Ground (Part II)

2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27 in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

The Honorable Anne C. Richard
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
U.S. Department of State

The Honorable León Rodríguez
Director
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “Two weeks ago, Members heard from representatives from NGOs and implementing partners that are on the ground in and around Syria helping to bring aid and assistance to those who have been impacted by the Syrian conflict. What we heard was that, while the U.S. has been leading the way in its response to the humanitarian needs of millions of Syrian refugees and the surrounding host countries, there are still plenty of ways we can improve our response to make it more effective and efficient. Next week, we will hear from administration officials responsible for coordinating the U.S. government’s response to the Syrian humanitarian crisis and hope to hear how the administration intends on implementing its plan going forward, and what, if any, adjustments have been made to ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used with maximum effectiveness.”

 

Wednesday, October 28

Markup: H.R. 2845, African Growth and Opportunity Act Enhancement Act of 2015

10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman

 

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

***All Committee proceedings are webcast live HERE.

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