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

Wednesday, September 26
Hearing: Genocide Against the Burmese Rohingya

10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 26, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited witnesses:

Ms. Greta Van Susteren
Host
Plugged In with Greta Van Susteren
Voice of America

Mr. Stephen Pomper
Program Director
United States
International Crisis Group

Chairman Royce on the hearing: “Evidence of Burma’s genocide against the Rohingya continues to grow. Thousands of men, women and children have been slaughtered, entire villages have been burned and bulldozed, and more than 700,000 have been forced to flee their homes. The administration has tools at hand to hold Burmese officials accountable. This hearing is an opportunity for members to examine the latest developments in this crisis and review the action that’s needed to help stop the violence.

Wednesday, September 26
Subcommittee Hearing: China’s Repression and Internment of Uyghurs: U.S. Policy Responses

2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), Chairman

Invited witnesses:

Adrian Zenz, Ph.D.
Lecturer in Social Research Methods
European School of Culture and Theology

Mr. Nury Turkel
Chairman of the Board 
Uyghur Human Rights Project

Justin Jacobs, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of History
American University

Chairman Yoho on the hearing: “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is executing a horrific campaign against religious and ethnic minorities in China’s Northwest, involving systemic religious and cultural oppression, mass internment in ‘re-education’ centers, and the creation of a dystopian high-tech police state. The dire situation in the Xinjiang region has been described as ‘cultural genocide’ and ‘ethnic cleansing.’ To pursue a disturbing and distasteful vision of ‘ethnic harmony,’ the Party has criminalized the Muslim faith of the Uyghurs, formerly the region’s majority population. A state-driven internal colonization effort has reduced the concentration of Uyghurs in the area, and government incentives promote intermarriage with majority Han Chinese. Everyday people are subjected to an invasive and oppressive security program, involving forced genetic sampling, AI surveillance, a heavy militarized police presence, and drastically reduced information, communications, and travel. Astoundingly, at least hundreds of thousands, and as many as millions of people are being detained in rapidly-growing concentration camps. This hearing will provide Members an opportunity to discuss these atrocities with experts on the situation in Xinjiang, receive an update on the latest developments, and discuss policy options.”

Wednesday, September 26
Subcommittee Hearing: Countering Iranian Proxies in Iraq

2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26, in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman

Invited witnesses:

Mr. Behnam Ben Taleblu
Research Fellow
Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Kimberly Kagan, Ph.D.
President
Institute for the Study of War

Mr. Michael Pregent 
Senior Fellow
Hudson Institute

The Honorable Barbara Leaf
Rosenblatt Distinguished Visiting Fellow
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Chairman Poe on the hearing: “Iran’s growing influence across the Middle East presents a major threat to the United States and its interests. In Iraq in particular, Tehran’s proxies pose a serious challenge to ensuring ISIS remains defeated and maintaining stability in the country as it rebuilds. With dangerous militias that are loyal to Iran, such as Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, gaining more political power in Baghdad, there are real concerns that Iraq could descend again into sectarian conflict or become a client state to Tehran. This hearing will examine Iran’s malign influence in Iraq and consider if more militias backed by Iran should be considered for terrorism sanctions.”

Thursday, September 27
Markup: H. Res. 1006, H. Res. 1052, H.R. 1567, H.R. 4591, H.R. 5273, H.R. 6018, and H.R. 6413

10 a.m. on Thursday, September 27, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Measures to be marked up include:

H. Res. 1006, Condemning the deteriorating situation in Venezuela and the regional humanitarian crisis it has caused, affirming support for the legitimate National Assembly and the Supreme Court, and urging further regional action in support of democracy in Venezuela.

H. Res. 1052, Affirming United States-Australia cooperation on space research, exploration, and utilization.

H.R. 1567, United States-Mexico Economic Partnership Act, To promote economic partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico.

H.R. 4591, Preventing Iranian Destabilization of Iraq Act of 2017, To impose sanctions with respect to Iranian persons that threaten the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq.

H.R. 5273, Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act of 2018, To reduce global fragility and violence by improving the capacity of the United States to reduce and address the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in pilot countries, and for other purposes.

H.R. 6018, Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2018, To establish an interagency program to assist countries in the Sahel, Maghreb, and adjacent regions of Africa to improve immediate and long-term capabilities to counter terrorist threats, and for other purposes.

H.R. 6413, STOP Organ Trafficking Act, To combat trafficking in human organs, and for other purposes.

Thursday, September 27
Subcommittee Hearing: U.S. Policy Toward Syria (Part I)

1:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited witnesses:

Ms. Hanin Ghaddar
Friedmann Visiting Fellow
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Mr. Nicholas Heras
Fellow
Middle East Security Program
Center for a New American Security

Ms. Mona Yacoubian
Senior Advisor for Syria
Middle East and North Africa
U.S. Institute of Peace

Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “This hearing is an opportunity for Members to hear from experts on the latest developments in Syria as well as recommendations for U.S. policy. While Assad’s planned offensive in Idlib is on hold for the moment, the regime, with its allies Russia and Iran, continue to increase their control over Syria as a whole, raising questions about the implications for U.S. interests and the viability of the administration’s strategy for countering Iran. After signing a deal for additional military cooperation with Assad last month, Iran is showing no signs of leaving Syria anytime soon. The U.S. needs a comprehensive and coherent strategy for Syria that rolls back Iranian influence in the Middle East.”

Thursday, September 27
Subcommittee Hearing: Europe and Eurasia: Ensuring Resources Match Objectives

2 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chairman

Invited witnesses:

The Honorable Brock Bierman
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Europe and Eurasia
U.S. Agency for International Development

Ms. Janine Wynne
Acting Coordinator
Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia
U.S. Department of State

Ms. Emilia Puma
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Ms. Ann Marie Yastishock
Deputy Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Asia
U.S. Agency for International Development 

Chairman Rohrabacher on the hearing: “This annual budget review hearing will provide a crucial opportunity to review State and USAID’s budget proposals in the geographical jurisdiction of the Subcommittee. It is our duty as Members of the Subcommittee to ensure that U.S. spending in Europe and Central Asia is aligned with U.S. national interests, in general, and the President’s National Security Strategy, in particular. I welcome the testimony of our State and USAID officials to justify to Congress the Administration’s request for $37.8 billion for the FY2019 international affairs budget.”

Thursday, September 27
Subcommittee Hearing: China’s War on Christianity and Other Religious Faiths

2 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, in 2255 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited witnesses:

Panel I
Tenzin Dorjee, Ph.D.
Commissioner
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 

Panel II
Mr. Bob Fu
Founder and President
ChinaAid 

Thomas Farr, Ph.D.
President
Religious Freedom Institute 

Chairman Smith on the hearing: “China under Xi Jinping has been engaged in a race to the bottom when it comes to religious persecution. We have rightfully called out the Chinese government for its repression against Uyghur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists. We must also hold Xi Jinping and his government accountable for their war against Christianity–a religion to which many people throughout China are increasingly turning.”

 

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

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

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