A Look Ahead—July 11-15
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) announced the following upcoming Committee events:
Tuesday, July 12
Hearing: Human Rights Under Siege Worldwide
10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
The Honorable Mark P. Lagon
President
Freedom House
Thomas Farr, Ph.D.
President
Religious Freedom Institute
Ms. Amanda Schnetzer
Director
Human Freedom Initiative
The George W. Bush Institute
Mr. Mark Bromley
Chair
The Council for Global Equality
Chairman Royce on the hearing: “Human rights violations are on the rise around the world. In Iran, the courts carry out public amputations and floggings. In Putin’s Russia, journalists are jailed for exposing government corruption and reporting the facts. In failed states like Syria, we’ve seen abhorrent treatment of civilians, including genocide. We’ve even seen backsliding in respect for human rights among established democracies. These are disturbing trends, and this hearing will seek answers on how the U.S. should respond.”
Tuesday, July 12
Joint Subcommittee Hearing: Pakistan: Friend or Foe in the Fight Against Terrorism?
2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12 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. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
The Honorable Zalmay Khalilzad
Counselor
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Mr. Bill Roggio
Senior Editor
Long War Journal
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Tricia Bacon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
American University
Chairman Poe on the Hearing: “Pakistan’s long history of ties to terrorist groups, including those with American blood on their hands, is well documented. Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), provide support to various terrorist organizations, including the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and the Haqqani network, in a bid to exert influence over Pakistan’s regional rivals. In May 2016, the leader of the Afghani Taliban was killed in a U.S. drone strike while in Pakistan, reinforcing Pakistan’s image as an unquestionable safe haven for terrorist groups. In fact, in the most recent Country Reports on Terrorism, the State Department noted that Pakistan ‘did not take substantial action against the Afghan Taliban or HQN [the Haqqani network.]’ Despite the mounting evidence of Pakistan’s collusion with global terrorism, Pakistan is among the leading recipients of U.S. foreign assistance, with Congress appropriating more than $33 billion to Islamabad since 2002. This hearing will give Members the opportunity to learn more about Pakistan’s longstanding ties to terrorist groups and allow for a more informed reassessment of U.S. foreign policy priorities vis-à-vis Islamabad.”
Chairman Salmon on the Hearing: “The United States has spent tens of billions of taxpayer dollars in aid to Pakistan since 9/11. Now, fifteen years later, Pakistan’s military and intel services are still linked to terrorist organizations and little success has been made to stabilize the region. We must take a closer look at U.S. goals, expectations and our aid spending in the region. In this hearing, we will discuss the Administration’s failed policy toward Pakistan and debate the best way forward.”
Tuesday, July 12
Subcommittee Hearing: Accountability Over Politics: Scrutinizing the Trafficking in Persons Report
2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12 in 2200 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 Susan Coppedge
Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
U.S. Department of State
Chairman Smith on the Hearing: “The State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report, required by the Trafficking Victim’s Protection Act of 2000, has galvanized countries around the world to prosecute traffickers, protect victims and prevent human trafficking—but the report is only as powerful as its accuracy. Tragically, last year’s report inflated tier rankings of ‘friendly’ countries and was a lost opportunity to demand change for suffering victims.”
Wednesday, July 13
Hearing: Countering the Virtual Caliphate: The State Department’s Performance
10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
The Honorable Richard Stengel
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Chairman Royce on the Hearing: “The United States is losing the information war to terrorists like ISIS and Hezbollah. Earlier this year, the administration rebranded the office responsible for counter messaging, but little seems to have changed. A strong, effective information offensive to counter the violent ideology being pushed by ISIS and other terrorists is long overdue. This hearing will give members an opportunity to press the administration’s top public diplomacy official on how the U.S. can be more effective.”
Wednesday, July 13
Subcommittee Hearing: The Castro Regime’s Ongoing Violations of Civil and Political Rights
2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 in 2172 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:
Óscar Elías Biscet, M.D.
President
Lawton Foundation for Human Rights
(Former Cuban political prisoner)
Ms. Sirley Ávila León
Democracy Advocate
Ms. Maria Werlau
President
Free Society Project
Chairman Smith on the Hearing: “This hearing will examine the human rights situation in Cuba, where it seems disregard for civil and political rights has gotten worse, not better, since the President visited the Island. The regime continues to jail and beat political dissidents, with even extrajudicial killings apparently sanctioned. That we are holding it on July 13 is significant, as it is the anniversary of the tugboat massacre of 1994, when 37 victims, including 11 children, were killed by the regime. The Obama Administration cannot allow concerns over its ‘legacy’ to muffle its voice when it should be insisting that the rights of the Cuban people be respected.”
Wednesday, July 13
Subcommittee Hearing: Turkey’s Democratic Decline
2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
Henri J. Barkey, Ph.D.
Director
Middle East Program
The Wilson Center
Fevzi Bilgin, Ph.D.
President
Rethink Institute
Mr. Alan Makovsky
Senior Fellow
Center for American Progress
Chairman Rohrabacher on the Hearing: “In the wake of the June 28th terrorist attack on the Istanbul Airport, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of those who were killed. The United States stands with the people of Turkey as they continue to experience the pain and loss of innocent life at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists.
“As they contend with this death cult mentality, I call on the Turkish leadership to respect the fundamental rights of all of its citizens. I am concerned that Turkey is on the wrong track and is squandering the incredible progress that it has made towards a democratic society.
“While it is right for the United States government to do everything it can to work with Turkish authorities, recent actions by the Turkish President to single out and officially label the movement of Fethullah Gulen as a terrorist group is counterproductive. Likewise, ongoing efforts to marginalize the Kurds, limit media freedom and weaken Turkey’s judiciary should ring alarm bells around the world.”
Thursday, July 14
10:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 14 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman
Measures to be Marked Up Include:
H.R. 4481, Education for All Act of 2016;
H.R. 5094, Stability and Democracy for Ukraine Act;
H.R. 5537, Digital Global Access Policy Act of 2016; and
H.R. ____, the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act of 2016.
Thursday, July 14
2 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
Mr. Thomas Melito
Director
International Affairs and Trade
Government Accountability Office
The Honorable Ann Calvaresi Barr
Inspector General
Office of the Inspector General
United States Agency for International Development
Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the Hearing: “We’re now in the sixth year of the Syrian conflict, which has brought the deaths of hundreds of thousands, caused millions to flee, and has caused millions more to be in dire need of humanitarian assistance. In response to this crisis, the United States has been the single largest contributor of humanitarian assistance, providing over $5 billion. With no end in sight to the Syrian conflict, it is absolutely vital that we ensure that the taxpayer dollars that are used in support of these efforts are being used efficiently and effectively. In continuing with this subcommittee’s ongoing oversight over the U.S. response to the Syrian humanitarian crisis, several of our Members enlisted the GAO to conduct a review of our assistance programs to find out if the State Department and USAID are doing everything possible to mitigate waste, fraud and abuse. This hearing will be an opportunity for GAO to present its findings from the review and also its recommendations to the agencies responsible for overseeing the assistance programs. It’s also an opportunity for Members to hear from the USAID Inspector General regarding USAID programs and potential risks for waste, fraud and abuse.”
Thursday, July 14
Subcommittee Hearing: The Strategic Importance of Building a Stronger U.S.-Caribbean Partnership
2 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include:
Mr. Eric Farnsworth
Vice President
Council of the Americas and Americas Society
Ms. Sally Yearwood
Executive Director
Caribbean-Central American Action
His Excellency Richard Bernal
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs
University of the West Indies in Jamaica
Chairman Duncan on the Hearing: “The Caribbean and the Member States of the CARICOM community are home to many beautiful and popular travel destinations for vacationers and cruisers from all around the world, including many Americans. However, the Caribbean is also a haven for drug and human traffickers, gun smugglers, and other transnational criminal organizations. The United States has worked since 2010 to reduce illicit trafficking, increase public security, and to promote justice reform and combat corruption through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Additionally, the Caribbean has worked with the U.S. in several targeted trade promotion initiatives to reduce poverty and diversify the economies of several of these island nations. This hearing will examine the opportunities and potential the Caribbean presents for U.S. businesses and the strategic importance of building a stronger U.S.-Caribbean partnership.”
Thursday, July 14
Subcommittee Markup: H. Res. 290
2 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 in 2255 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman
Res. 290, Calling for the global repeal of blasphemy laws.
Thursday, July 14
2:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 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:
Panel I
Ms. Karen Christensen
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Consular Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Panel II
Chris Brann, M.D.
(Father of Child Abducted to Brazil)
Ms. Ruchika Abbi
(Mother of Child Abducted to India)
Mr. James Cook
(Father of Children Abducted to Japan)
Ms. Edeanna Barbirou
(Mother of Child Abducted to Tunisia)
Chairman Smith on the Hearing: “International parental child abduction rips children from their homes and whisks them away to a foreign land, alienating them from the love of the American parent left behind. In 2014, Congress rejected the State Department’s ineffective response of ‘quiet diplomacy’ and adopted accountability and action in the Goldman Act, which requires an annual report on abductions and returns, as well as assessment of cooperation by destination countries. The State Department is now more than two months late delivering this report, two months of powerlessness for desperate parents and two months of judges making decisions without the information they need to prevent abduction. This hearing is intended to press the State Department to comply with the Goldman Act immediately and deliver this overdue report.”
***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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