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, February 25

Hearing: Advancing U.S. Interests in a Troubled World: The FY 2016 Foreign Affairs Budget

10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 25 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited Witnesses Include:

The Honorable John F. Kerry
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State

Chairman Royce on the hearing: “Over the past year, the United States has been challenged by ever more crises that threaten international stability and our national security.  The U.S. must have a clear strategy that is backed by the efficient and effective use of our resources.   As we’ve seen, a foreign policy that is always reactive is a failure in leadership.  This hearing will provide Committee Members with an opportunity to press Secretary Kerry for an explanation of the Obama Administration’s foreign policy spending priorities for the next year.”

Thursday, February 26

Subcommittee Hearing: Across the Other Pond: U.S. Opportunities and Challenges in the Asia Pacific

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

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

Invited Witnesses Include:

Karl D. Jackson, Ph.D.
C.V. Starr Distinguished Professor of Southeast Asia Studies
Director of the Asian Studies Program
Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Van Jackson, Ph.D.
Visiting Fellow
Center for a New American Security

Mr. Matthew P. Goodman
William E. Simon Chair in Political Economy
Senior Adviser for Asian Economics
Center for Strategic and International Studies

Chairman Salmon on the hearing: “As the Administration flounders on its pivot to Asia, this subcommittee will examine ways we can proactively contribute to our nation’s economic and political shift to the region. 2015 will be an important year for the Asia-Pacific, especially as it is one of the most dynamic, diverse, and strategically important regions in the world. 2015 will be marked by numerous anniversaries, major U.S. engagement programs, upcoming state visits from Asian leaders, and the potential passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. At the same time, there continue to be sparks of instability and unrest, including a hostile North Korea, a proactive but coercive China, and political transitions in Southeast Asia. As the United States continues to ‘rebalance’ to the region, it is paramount to discuss opportunities and challenges for U.S. engagement in the region. The hearing will map out major regional economic priorities and lingering or latent security concerns in Asia.”

Thursday, February 26

Subcommittee Hearing: The President’s New Cuba Policy and U.S. National Security

10 a.m. on Thursday, February 26 in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Mr. Chris Simmons
Editor
Cuba Confidential

Mr. Fernando Menéndez
Senior Fellow
Center for a Secure Free Society

José Azel, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate
Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies

University of Miami
The Honorable Dennis K. Hays
Director
The Emergence Group

Chairman Duncan on the hearing: “In 1982, Cuba was designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism for providing critical support to many terrorist organizations. Today, given the links between Cuba and China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia and the close proximity to the U.S. homeland, I am deeply concerned about the U.S. national security implications of the Administration’s Cuba policy change. Cuba continues to support terrorist organizations, and it was caught red-handed proliferating weapons to North Korea as recently as last year. Cuba has also been stunningly successful in espionage against the U.S., in trafficking U.S. national security secrets to hostile regimes, and in benefiting from a criminal pipeline spanning Cuba to Florida. This hearing will examine the U.S. national security implications of the President’s Cuba policy change and potential vulnerabilities to Americans as a result.”

Thursday, February 26

Joint Subcommittee Hearing: The Shame of Iranian Human Rights

2 p.m. on Thursday, February 26 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 Middle East and North Africa
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Mr. Shayan Arya
Central Committee Member
Constitutionalist Party of Iran (Liberal Democrat)

Mr. Mohsen Sazegara
President
Research Institute on Contemporary Iran

Chairman Smith on the hearing:  “In spite of the fact that the Iranian regime continues to imprison Americans and detain many of its own citizens for simply exercising their fundamental rights, its leaders want the world to lift sanctions and simply trust them with nuclear capabilities.  At this hearing witnesses will testify about the current Iranian Government’s horrific human rights record, which includes killings, unlawful imprisonments and torture, and the refusal to respect the basic freedoms of speech, assembly and religion. As the administration continues to negotiate with some of the world’s worst human rights abusers, we must remember that concessions to regimes with terrible records of cruelties and human rights violations undermine American moral leadership and the values upon which our country is founded.”

***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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