House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) released the below statement in response to today’s release of the State Department’s 2016 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. The report catalogues modern-day slavery throughout the world, ranking 188 countries from Tier 1 to Tier 3, the lowest category, in which countries may face U.S. sanctions. Amid alarming human rights conditions in some parts of Asia, the Middle East and Africa, more governments were downgraded than upgraded in this year’s rankings.

President Obama’s Special Envoys for Guantanamo Bay Closure made statements to the committee about detainee releases that contradict administration assessments. Rather than explain or correct its testimony, the administration chose to ignore our formal inquiry. That’s unacceptable.

The Obama administration failed on multiple levels before, during and after the Benghazi attack. Making matters worse, senior officials then misled the American people about what happened. They refused to tell the truth.

Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) released the following statement in response to the announcement by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi that Fallujah has been liberated from ISIS control: “I applaud Prime Minister Abadi and the Iraqi security forces for successfully liberating Fallujah from ISIS. The Iraqi security forces led […]

“The FATF’s decision is a sobering reminder that Iran remains a state sponsor of terrorism, and a threat to the U.S. and global financial systems. The idea – driven by Secretary Kerry and President Obama – that Iran is ‘open for business’ is straight out of fantasyland."

I am pleased to see the administration is taking steps to promote internet access in developing countries. Internet access provides a lot of opportunities. In the developing world, it drives economic growth and bolsters democracy, transparency and human rights. The legislation I introduced this week, the Digital GAP Act, will build on the administration’s efforts and will help more people in developing countries get access to the many opportunities the internet offers.

America’s special relationship with Great Britain endures. This vote will not change that.

Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued a statement supporting the administration’s decision to impose sanctions against an individual who has contributed to the ongoing political crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The announcement comes after Chairman Royce joined members of the committee in introducing bipartisan legislation (H. Res. 780), led by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), urging President Obama to sanction individuals who undermine the DRC constitution or impede a peaceful democratic transition.

*Subcommittee markup postponed* **Full Committee markup postponed**

An unfortunate irony in the effort to combat ISIS recruitment online is that the United States – the world’s leader in technological innovation – is hardly in the game. To protect Americans at home and abroad, this must change.