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, April 22 

Hearing: Nuclear Agreement with Iran: Can’t Trust, Can We Verify?

10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited Witnesses Include:

Mr. Charles Duelfer
Chairman
Omnis, Inc.
(Former Chairman, UN Special Commission on Iraq [UNSCOM])

The Honorable Stephen G. Rademaker
National Security Advisor
Bipartisan Policy Center
(Former Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control & Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, U.S. Department of State.)

Mr. David Albright
Founder and President
Institute for Science and International Security

Chairman Royce on the hearing: “In announcing a nuclear framework agreement with Iran, President Obama declared that ‘If Iran cheats, the world will know.’  But just this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader asserted that Iran wouldn’t allow international inspectors access to its military facilities.  The issue of inspections and verification will be key to how Congress views any final nuclear agreement.  Will inspectors have quick, unimpeded, go-anywhere, anytime access?  Who can they interview; what documents can they review; can they take environmental samples?  All of these major issues still need to be resolved.  Iran’s record of clandestine activity and intransigence prevents holding any trust whatsoever in Iran.  At this hearing, the Committee will hear from former top weapons inspectors and experts to learn what it would take for the Administration’s bold assertion on verification to be credible.”

Wednesday, April 22

Subcommittee Hearing: Accountability and Transformation: Tier Rankings in the Fight Against Human Trafficking

1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 in 2200 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:

The Honorable Mark Lagon
President
Freedom House
(Former Ambassador-at-Large for Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State)

Mr. Matt Smith
Executive Director
Fortify Rights

Fr. Shay Cullen
President/Chief Executive Officer
PREDA Foundation

Chairman Smith on the hearing: “The continued credibility—and ongoing success—of the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report rests on accurate assessments of government efforts around the world to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and hold traffickers accountable over the preceding year. This report, required by the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and used by parliamentarians, law enforcement officials, and advocates globally, spurs them to demand real, measurable change in countries struggling to fight slavery. Wednesday’s hearing will evaluate government efforts in countries such as China—which was prematurely upgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List in 2014—as well as Burma, Malaysia, and Thailand, which must each do their part to fight interrelated regional trafficking. Several African countries are also facing automatic downgrade unless they have radically changed their records in the last year. Finally, we will also hear from a faith-based NGO about the day-to-day challenges and successes of anti-trafficking work in the Philippines. Correct tier designations matter, and put governments on notice that the eradication of human trafficking is a U.S. priority. Perhaps most importantly, correct designations acknowledge the suffering of trafficking victims who long to be free.”    

Wednesday, April 22

Subcommittee Hearing: Poaching and Terrorism: A National Security Challenge

3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited Witnesses Include:

Ms. Judith G. Garber
Acting Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Oceans and International and Environmental and Scientific Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Mr. Robert Dreher
Associate Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Chairman Poe on the hearing: “Wildlife trafficking, especially elephant and rhino poaching, is a critical national security issue. Terrorist groups and criminal gangs are decimating Africa’s most precious resource and making a killing. Under-resourced and under-trained, African officials have not been up to the task of stopping this scourge. Weak penalties for the most egregious offenders are not a deterrent to what has become an easy and financially rewarding illicit enterprise. This hearing will press the Administration on their anti-wildlife trafficking strategy to see if it’s up to this enormous and urgent challenge.”

Thursday, April 23

Markup: H.R. 237, H.R. 907, H.R. 1493, H.R. 1567, and H. Res. 50

10 a.m. on Thursday, April 23 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Bills to be marked up include:

H.R. 237, FTO Passport Revocation Act of 2015

H.R. 907, United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015

H.R. 1493, Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act

H.R. 1567, Global Food Security Act of 2015

H. Res. 50, Calling for the release of Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who was captured by Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine and has been held illegally in a Russian prison since July 2014

Thursday, April 23

Subcommittee Hearing: The U.S. Rebalance in East Asia: Budget Priorities for FY 2016  

1 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

The Honorable Daniel R. Russel
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
U.S. Department of State

The Honorable Jonathan Stivers
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Asia
U.S. Agency for International Development

Chairman Salmon on the hearing: “The future of the United States as a Pacific power is inextricably linked with East Asia. The region encompasses many of the greatest opportunities for our country, but what remains to be seen is what shape this future will take.  Because some of the greatest challenges for the United States also come from East Asia, reaching a positive outcome on issues such as land use, trading relationships, regional security concerns, and others depends on the effective allocation of U.S. funding. To this end, our hearing will investigate the Administration’s FY 2016 budget request from the Department of State and the Agency for International Development for activities in East Asia.  We will discuss how U.S. expenditures in the region can ensure the future we want to see.”

***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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