A Look Ahead—February 8-12
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) announced the following upcoming Committee events:
Wednesday, February 10:
Hearing: From Iraq and Syria to Libya and Beyond: The Evolving ISIL Threat
10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
The Honorable Brett McGurk
Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL
U.S. Department of State
Chairman Royce on the hearing: “ISIS is far from defeated. In the wake of the Paris and San Bernardino attacks, ISIS’s brutality and violence continues to spread. This important hearing will provide members an opportunity to press the administration’s top official for ISIS policy, following his recent visit to Syria, on the progress of the anti-ISIS coalition and the need for a broad, overarching strategy to defeat these terrorists.”
Wednesday, February 10:
Joint Subcommittee Hearing: The Global Zika Epidemic: Emerging in the Americas
1:15 p.m. on Wednesday February 10 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
Tom Frieden, M.D.
Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
Director
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Honorable Ariel Pablos-Mendez, M.D.
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Global Health
U.S. Agency for International Development
Chairman Smith on the hearing: “The Zika virus has been known to the global health community since 1947 when it was discovered in a remote area of Uganda. Over the next six decades, it spread slowly in Africa, south Asia and the Pacific islands. However, in the last two years, Zika infections have exploded in the Americas, even as infections continue elsewhere. This hearing will examine manifestations of the disease, means of transmission, programs to control infection vectors and the effort to find reliable vaccines, diagnostics and treatments. We will hear from leading U.S. health officials to analyze the danger to Americans and the world community and detail the U.S. response.”
Chairman Duncan on the hearing: “With the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Zika Virus to be a global public health emergency, this hearing is very important to furthering public awareness about the virus’ origin, spread, and implications. While Zika has been found in countries around the globe, its active spread in the Americas is alarming where 28 countries and territories have reported Zika cases since last year – many of them in the thousands. In particular, the threats to pregnant women and their unborn children are deeply concerning. Multiple countries have urged women to delay pregnancy due to the link between Zika and the birth defect microcephaly. This situation has also prompted a push for more abortion access. As a Christian who believes that every person – including the unborn child – is made in the image of God and therefore has inherent worth, these calls for greater access to abortion are heartbreaking. It is my hope that this hearing will provide greater clarity in how to fight and protect against Zika while simultaneously caring well for women, promoting life for the unborn, and assisting countries with early intervention therapies to treat babies born with special needs.”
Wednesday, February 10:
Subcommittee Hearing: After San Bernardino: The Future of ISIS-Inspired Attacks
2 p.m. on Wednesday February, 10 in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
General Jack Keane, USA, Retired
Chairman of the Board
Institute for the Study of War
The Honorable Alberto M. Fernandez
Vice President
Middle East Media Research Institute
Christopher Swift, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
Georgetown University
Chairman Poe on the hearing: “The attack in San Bernardino was the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. The Administration’s efforts to protect U.S. citizens from the ISIS threat is lacking. Our air strikes are limited, a political solution is still a distant dream, and ISIS is becoming more and more advanced at launching international attacks. From countering online radicalization to fighting ISIS on the ground in Iraq and Syria, we need a comprehensive strategy that will defeat and not just contain ISIS.”
Thursday, February 11
Hearing: Iran Nuclear Deal Oversight: Implementation and its Consequences
10 a.m. on Thursday, February 11 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
The Honorable Stephen D. Mull
Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation
U.S. Department of State
Mr. John Smith
Acting Director
Office of Foreign Assets Control
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Chairman Royce on the hearing: “As President Obama presses forward with this deeply flawed nuclear deal with Iran, the House Foreign Affairs Committee continues to work diligently and aggressively to provide oversight for the American people. This hearing will seek answers on the flow of sanctions relief, Iran’s illicit missiles program and continued support for terrorism, and efforts to ensure Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Thursday, February 11
Subcommittee Markup: H. Res. 148
1:45 p.m. on Thursday, February 11 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman
Bills to be marked up include:
Thursday, February 11
Subcommittee Hearing: Jordan: A Key U.S. Partner
2 p.m. on Thursday, February 11 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
The Honorable Gerald M. Feierstein
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Ms. Paige Alexander
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for the Middle East
U.S. Agency for International Development
Ms. Fatema Z. Sumar
Regional Deputy Vice President
Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America
Department of Compact Operations
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “Jordan is an important ally that plays a strategic role for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. By standing on the front lines in the fight against ISIS, continuing to support over a million Syrian refugees, as well as being an important partner for peace with Israel, Jordan’s contributions reflect a commitment our two nations share for promoting stability and security throughout the region. As such an important ally, the U.S. must continue to seek ways to ensure Jordan has the capability to defend itself while also supporting its economy, its people and its refugee population. This hearing will allow Members of the Subcommittee to examine our current policy toward Jordan and determine where improvements can be made in the bilateral relationship to ensure that the Kingdom can remain a strong and vibrant partner for the U.S. in the region.”
Thursday, February 11
Subcommittee Hearing: The Future of U.S.-Taiwan Relations
2 p.m. on Thursday, February 11 in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
Panel I
Ms. Susan A. Thornton
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Panel II
Mr. Randall Schriver
President and Chief Executive Officer
Project 2049 Institute
Ms. Bonnie Glaser
Senior Adviser for Asia
Director of China Power Project
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Chairman Salmon on the hearing: “On January 16th of this year, Taiwan held yet another free and fair democratic election. Dr. Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was successful in her campaign for presidency, and the DPP also took the majority in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan. The United States remains firm in its resolve to support Taiwan’s democratic society and open-market economy. In this hearing, we will explore Taiwan's new leadership and implications for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, and investigate avenues of continued support of Taiwan under a Tsai administration.”
***See foreignaffairs.house.gov for updates.
***All Committee proceedings are webcast live HERE.
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