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

Thursday, March 9

Hearing: Undermining Democratic Institutions and Splintering NATO: Russian Disinformation Aims

10 a.m. on Thursday, March 9 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

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

Invited Witnesses Include:

His Excellency Toomas Hendrik Ilves
(Former President of the Republic of Estonia)

The Honorable Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr.
Chairman Emeritus and Distinguished Fellow
The Stimson Center
(Former Assistant Secretary for Political Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State)

Mr. Peter B. Doran
Executive Vice President
Center for European Policy Analysis

The Honorable Daniel Baer
(Former U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe)

Chairman Royce on the hearing: “Russia is waging a broad campaign to undermine democratic states and subvert alliances like NATO.  In addition to invading Ukraine and bombing civilians in Syria, Russia has pumped tens of millions into disinformation and propaganda targeting the U.S. and Europe.  For too long, the U.S. response to Russian aggression has been weak and ineffective – and that has to change.  This hearing will allow us to examine ways to better counter Russia’s weaponization of information and other hostile acts.”

Thursday, March 9

Subcommittee Hearing: Democracy Under Threat in Ethiopia

2 p.m. on Thursday, March 9 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and Internationals Organizations
Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Panel I
Terrence Lyons, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
George Mason University

Panel II
Ms. Seenaa Jimjimo
President
Coalition of Oromo Advocates for Human Rights and Democracy

Mr. Tewodrose Tirfe
Co-Founder
Amhara Association of America

Mr. Guya Abaguya Deki
(Former General Manager, Ethiopian National Association of the Physically Handicapped)

Mr. Yoseph Tafari
Co-Founder
Ethiopian Drought Relief Aid of Colorado

Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Ethiopia has long been an important ally, providing effective peacekeepers and collaborating in the War on Terror.  However, increasingly repressive policies have diminished political space and threaten to radicalize not only the political opposition but also civil society by frustrating their ability to exercise their rights under law.  This hearing will examine the current situation in Ethiopia with an eye toward developing policies to help this nation to reverse an increasingly tense situation in the troubled Horn of Africa.”

 

***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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