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

Thursday, April 26
Markup: H.R. ____, Department of State Authorization Act of 2018

10 a.m. on Thursday, April 26, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Measures to be marked up include:

H.R. ____, Department of State Authorization Act of 2018

Thursday, April 26
Subcommittee Hearing: Mass Migration in Europe: Assimilation, Integration, and Security

1 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited witnesses include:

Victor Davis Hanson, Ph.D.
Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow
Hoover Institution
Stanford University

Marta Vrbetic, Ph.D.
Global Fellow
Global Europe Program
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Mr. Robin Simcox
Margaret Thatcher Fellow
Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom
Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy
The Heritage Foundation

Chairman Rohrabacher on the hearing: “In 2015 Europe was hit by a wave of more than one million migrants. While that event shocked Europe, the shock has been exacerbated by subsequent nearly unrestricted immigrant waves. Historically, Europe addressed the challenge to integrate and accept migrant communities going back to their days as colonial empires. Today, some EU Member States are accepting large numbers of migrants, whereas others will not. Most of the immigrants from outside Europe come from vastly different cultures and religious affiliations. While the States accepting migrants allow for integration, the aim, the need, for full cultural assimilation has disappeared resulting in divided societies. America needs to take notice as this may be a harbinger for the future, with negative consequences for NATO, and a seriously divided European Union. This hearing will provide Members an opportunity to better understand the dynamics now at work within European immigration policies and the future of Europe.”  

Thursday, April 26
Joint Subcommittee Hearing: Grading Counterterrorism Cooperation with the GCC States

2 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

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

Invited witnesses include:

Ms. Katherine Bauer
Blumenstein-Katz Family Fellow
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

David Andrew Weinberg, Ph.D.
Washington Representative for International Affairs
Anti-Defamation League

Ms. Leanne Erdberg
Director
Countering Violent Extremism
U.S. Institute of Peace

Chairman Poe on the hearing: “For many years, the Gulf States were problematic partners when it came to counting terrorism. The high profile status of GCC citizens, particularly Saudis, in al-Qaeda during the September 11, 2001 attacks indicated that our historic Gulf allies were taking insufficient action to restrain extremism that emanated for their lands. After nearly two decades of U.S. engagement with all GCC countries on issues of counterterrorism and counter terror finance, progress has definitely been made. However, terrorist financing and extremist messaging remain prevalent in the region. As the fight against ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other Sunni jihadists continues, we must acknowledge where our Gulf partners are making constructive contributions and where they still must improve.”

Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “Middle East counterterrorism cooperation has left a lot to be desired over the years, with some of our most important partners too often failing to stop their citizens from financing, inciting, and participating in terrorism. The recent rift between Qatar and its neighbors is exposing Doha’s destructive support for certain groups and ideologies as well as shining a brighter light on all of our partners’ efforts to combat violent extremism. This hearing is an opportunity for our members to examine the state of GCC counterterrorism, how they can take a more active role in the region and beyond, and any leverage the United States has to push them to improve.”

 

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

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