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, July 9

Hearing: Spotlighting Human Rights in Southeast Asia

10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

The Honorable Lorne W. Craner
President Emeritus
The International Republican Institute
(Former Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State)

The Honorable Tom Andrews
President and Chief Executive Officer
United to End Genocide
(Former United States Representative)

Ms. Janet Nguyen
Supervisor, First District
Orange County Board of Supervisors

Thang D. Nguyen, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Boat People SOS

Chairman Royce on the hearing:  “The right to freedom of religion, speech, and assembly are treasured universal rights. Unfortunately, many countries across Southeast Asia deny their citizens these rights, often cracking down severely on those who express any form of dissatisfaction with their government.  In Vietnam, those that choose to speak out against the one-party communist government are often imprisoned or beaten.  In Burma, Rohingya Muslims and other minorities continue to face unprecedented state-sponsored discrimination that has resulted in widespread violence, death, and other forms of abuses.   Hun Sen has stolen another election in Cambodia, refusing to recognize the will of his country for a new government.  This hearing will examine this too-common abuse of human rights in Southeast Asia and explore how the United States can do a better job bringing about positive change.”

Thursday, July 10

Hearing: The Future of International Civilian Nuclear Cooperation

9:45 a.m. on Thursday, July 10 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Mr. Henry D. Sokolski
Executive Director
Nonproliferation Policy Education Center

Mr. Daniel S. Lipman
Executive Director
Supplier Programs
Nuclear Energy Institute

Mr. Leonard S. Spector
Executive Director
Washington, DC, Office
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies

Chairman Royce on the hearing:  “Civilian nuclear cooperation agreements, the legal framework for U.S. nuclear commerce with other countries, are not only vital to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, but essential to the competitiveness of the U.S. civilian nuclear industry and our efforts to create jobs here at home. Congress has the responsibility to ensure that these objectives are met.  This hearing will examine how these important agreements can best advance U.S. interests and if changes are needed in current U.S. policy.”

Thursday, July 10

Subcommittee Hearing: Human Rights Vetting: Nigeria and Beyond

2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations

Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman

Invited Witnesses Include:

Colonel Peter Aubrey, USA, Retired
President
Strategic Opportunities International

Ms. Lauren Ploch Blanchard
Specialist in African Affairs
Congressional Research Service

***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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