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

Wednesday, July 11
Hearing: Advancing U.S. Interests in the Western Hemisphere

10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 11, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited witnesses include:

The Honorable Kenneth H. Merten
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Ms. Sarah-Ann Lynch
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean
U.S. Agency for International Development 

Chairman Royce on the hearing: “Latin America and the Caribbean are home to some of our fastest-growing trade partners, but many parts of the region continue to struggle with violence, corruption and criminal organizations. Ongoing turmoil in Venezuela and Nicaragua, and the migration crisis in Central America, must be addressed. This hearing will give members of the committee an opportunity to question the administration about efforts to increase engagement and promote vital U.S. interests in the region.”

Wednesday, July 11
Joint Subcommittee Hearing: China’s Predatory Trade and Investment Strategy

2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

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

Invited witnesses include:

Derek Scissors, Ph.D.
Resident Scholar
American Enterprise Institute

Robert D. Atkinson, Ph.D.
President
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Mr. William Alan Reinsch
Scholl Chair in International Business
Center for Strategic and International Studies 

Chairman Poe on the hearing: “For too long China’s predatory trade and investment policies have given Beijing an unfair advantage in the global economic sphere.  Despite its membership in the World Trade Organization, the communist regime has wielded protectionist trade barriers, currency manipulation, and forced technology transfers to bolster its domestic economy and squeeze out foreign companies. Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative is another example of China’s relentless drive to become a world power by imposing unsustainable debt on vulnerable economies eager for investment. This hearing will allow members to learn more about China’s efforts to cheat the international economic system and explore potential policy countermeasures.”

Chairman Yoho on the hearing: “The Administration’s intent to rework the U.S.-China trade relationship is welcome, because China’s predatory economic and industrial policies have gone unanswered for too long.  These practices are designed to leech the benefits of the economic openness the world has offered to China, while avoiding the obligations of the global trading system. Through policies such as ‘Made in China 2025,’ Xi Jinping is using these unfair practices to target the high-tech industries that the United States’ economy will depend on in the future. We must ensure that U.S. actions to bring fairness and reciprocity to U.S.-China trade go beyond the imbalances of today and safeguard our future competitiveness and prosperity. In this hearing, we’ll do just that.”

Thursday, July 12
Subcommittee Hearing: Nicaraguan Crisis: Next Steps to Advancing Democracy

*(See below for information on markup of H. Res. 981 immediately following hearing.)

2 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA), Chairman

Invited witnesses include:

The Honorable Carlos Trujillo
U.S. Permanent Representative
Organization of American States

The Honorable Michael Kozak
Senior Advisor and Senior Bureau Official
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
U.S. Department of State

Ms. Barbara Feinstein
Deputy Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean
U.S. Agency for International Development

Chairman Cook on the hearing: “For far too long, Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo have trampled on Nicaragua’s democratic institutions. Their corruption and greed for power have enriched themselves at the expense of their people. Today, the Nicaraguan people have said no more. They yearn for freedom and an opportunity for true democracy. Despite efforts to pursue a peaceful resolution to the crisis, Ortega continues to unleash his security forces on his people, leaving at least 140 dead. The Trump Administration’s recent actions  applying visa restrictions on Nicaraguan officials involved in these human rights abuses is warranted and important. However, the U.S. and the region must do more. This hearing will examine the crisis and the U.S. approach to advance freedom and democracy in Nicaragua.”

*Thursday, July 12
Subcommittee Markup: H. Res. 981

Markup will begin immediately following the conclusion of the above hearing.

Approximately 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA), Chairman

Measure to be marked up include:

H. Res. 981, Condemning the violence, persecution, intimidation, and murders committed by the Government of Nicaragua against its citizens.

Thursday, July 12
Subcommittee Hearing: Combating Tuberculosis in Southern Africa

3 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 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 include:

The Honorable Deborah L. Birx, M.D.
U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator
U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy
U.S. Department of State

Ms. Irene Koek
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator
Global Health Bureau
U.S. Agency for International Development

Rebecca Martin, Ph.D.
Director 
Center for Global Health 
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Tuberculosis, particularly MDR and XDR, poses a significant challenge to Southern Africa. TB is the number one infectious disease killer in the world and an MDR/XDR TB outbreak would be absolutely devastating. It is critical for Congress to help our partners in Southern Africa tackle this problem.”

 

***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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