***See important planning note/RSVP requirement for media***

Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, will convene a hearing to examine the terrorist advance in Iraq, led by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and the U.S. response:.  The hearing, entitled “Terrorist March in Iraq: The U.S. Response” will begin at 10 a.m.
 
Chairman Royce on the hearing: “The terrorist expansion in Iraq is not a surprise.  It has developed steadily over the past two years.  In the past year, the Iraqis have urgently requested additional U.S. counterterrorism assistance in the form of drone or air strikes against terrorist camps, and the Obama Administration declined.  Now this al-Qaeda offshoot has overrun a large part of Iraq, as well as Syria, and threatens to kill and capture even more people than it already has.  Stronger than ever, this terrorist group is also plotting against the U.S. homeland.  This hearing will examine the reasons behind the Administration’s decision not to adequately address this problem months ago and what it plans to do going forward.”
 
What:
Hearing:  Terrorist March in Iraq: The U.S. Response
 
When:
10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23
 
Where:
2172 Rayburn House Office Building
 
Witnesses:
Mr. Brett McGurk
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
U.S. Department of State
 
Ms. Elissa Slotkin
Performing the Duties of the Principle Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
U.S. Department of Defense

**Important planning note/RSVP requirement for press covering hearing**

The hearing will be webcast at foreignaffairs.house.gov.
 
The hearing room will likely not be able to accommodate all members of the media wishing to cover the hearing from the press viewing area.
 
Only Congressionally credentialed members of the media will be allowed access to the press viewing area in the committee hearing room and must RSVP to their respective Press Gallery by 5pm TODAY, July 22.
 
All television crews must RSVP to the House Radio TV Gallery at 202-225-5214.
 
Gallery contact information:
 
House Radio/TV Gallery:  202-225-5214
House Periodical Gallery:  202-225-2941
House Daily Press Gallery:  202-225-3945  
Photographer Gallery:  202-224-6548

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