Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced the following upcoming Committee events.
Wednesday, October 21
Subcommittee Hearing: Burma’s Challenge: Democracy, Human Rights, Peace, and the Plight of the Rohingya
10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include.
Panel I
The Honorable Daniel R. Russel
Assistant Secretary Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
U.S. Department of State
The Honorable Jonathan Stivers
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Asia
U.S. Agency for International Development
Panel II
The Honorable Tom Andrews
President
United to End Genocide
Ms. Jennifer Quigley
President
U.S. Campaign for Burma
Chairman Salmon on the hearing: “In three weeks, Burma will hold its first openly contested election since political reforms began in 2011. Widely viewed by the international community as a benchmark for the country’s democratic transformation, tensions run high on whether the election and subsequent transition will meet the ‘inclusive, transparent, and credible’ standards we’ve set. Continued government-sanctioned persecution and denial of the Rohingya community’s voting, citizenship, and religious freedom rights exacerbate my concern about Burma’s dedication to reform. Additionally, the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, signed this week, left out seven of 15 original ethnic armed groups negotiating, potentially jeopardizing the peace process. Members will have the opportunity to better understand our Administration’s objectives and progress, as well as lingering challenges that both United States and Burma face at this critical time."
Thursday, October 22
Hearing: Words Have Consequences: Palestinian Authority Incitement to Violence
10 a.m. on Thursday, October 22 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include.
Mr. Elliott Abrams
Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies
Council on Foreign Relations
Jonathan Schanzer, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
Mr. David Makovsky
Ziegler Distinguished Fellow
Director
Project on the Middle East Peace Process
Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Chairman Royce on the hearing: “The recent wave of attacks in Jerusalem and throughout Israel is very concerning. The seeds for this violence have been planted in the minds of young Palestinians by their leaders, who for years have incited hatred, undermining prospects for peace. This has to stop. The Palestinian Authority must fulfill its responsibility to restore calm and the incitement must end."
Thursday, October 22
Subcommittee Hearing: Russian Engagement in the Western Hemisphere
2 p.m. on Thursday, October 22 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include.
Mr. Doug Farah
President
IBI Consultants
Vladimir Rouvinski, Ph.D.
Director of the CIES Interdisciplinary Research Center
Universidad Icesi in Colombia
Constantino Urcuyo, Ph.D.
Academic Director
Centro de Investigación y Adiestramiento Político Administrativo in Costa Rica
Mrs. Diana Villiers Negroponte
Public Policy Scholar
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Chairman Duncan on the hearing: “As Russia grows increasingly more assertive globally, it has also been building stronger ties with countries in the Western Hemisphere. Using a vast array of political, economic, military, and asymmetric activities that recall images of the Cold War, Russia has expanded its base of support in our neighborhood. Russia’s presence openly challenges U.S. leadership, influence, and interests in the region. Its engagement emphasizes relationships with undemocratic countries that mock the rule of law and those with close proximity to the U.S. homeland. The growth of Russian criminal organizations operating in the region also presents clear challenges. This hearing will look at the impact to U.S. and regional interests from Russia’s engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in view of Russia’s ongoing aggression in its own neighborhood, violations of arms control treaties, cyber-attacks on U.S. infrastructure, and it’s recent heightening of military activities in Syria."
Thursday, October 22
Subcommittee Hearing: Africa’s Great Lakes Region: A Security, Political, and Humanitarian Challenge
2 p.m. on Thursday, October 22 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 Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State
The Honorable Thomas Perriello
Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa
U.S. Department of State
Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Africa’s Great Lakes region has experienced conflict for decades. Rwanda and Burundi have experienced ongoing ethnic tensions and human rights infringements; the Democratic Republic of the Congo still is plagued by violent militia activity, and the Lord’s Resistance Army is a regional threat. This hearing will provide an update on U.S. Government efforts to address these concerns."
Thursday, October 22
Subcommittee Hearing: North Korea: Back on the State Sponsor of Terrorism List?
2 p.m. on Thursday, October 22 in 2255 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include.
The Honorable Sung Kim
Special Representative for North Korea Policy
U.S. Department of State
Ms. Hilary Batjer Johnson
Deputy Coordinator for Homeland Security, Screening, and Designations
Bureau of Counterterrorism
U.S. Department of State
Chairman Poe on the hearing: “North Korea was taken off the state sponsor of terrorism list in 2008 after reaching an agreement with the international community to halt its nuclear program. Since then, North Korea has launched two nuclear tests and the agreement lies in tatters but North Korea still remains off the list. Pyongyang is a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction, continues to work on its ballistic missile program with Iran, aids and abets terrorist groups, hunts down and assassinates defectors throughout the world, and launches cyber-attacks against US companies and government agencies. Members will have an opportunity to hear from State Department officials regarding North Korea’s illicit activities and ask them directly why the U.S. is still keeping such a rogue actor off of the state sponsors of terrorism list."
Friday, October 23
Subcommittee Hearing: Evaluating the Export-Import Bank in the Global Economy
9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 23 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman
Invited Witnesses Include.
Ms. Diane Katz
Senior Research Fellow in Regulatory Policy
The Institute for Economic Freedom and Opportunity
The Heritage Foundation
Mr. T.J. Raguso
Executive Vice President
International Division
Amgey Bank National Association
Mr. Tyler Schroeder
Financial Analyst
Air Tractor Inc.
Chairman Poe on the hearing: “It has been over three months since the authorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States expired. The Senate voted to revive the bank and the House is set to vote on reauthorization later this month. While some see the Bank as essential for U.S. businesses to compete globally, opponents of the Bank see it as corporate welfare at odds with the free market. The hearing will provide members the opportunity to hear from experts on the issue and gain a better understanding of the ramifications of the Export-Import Bank ahead of the important vote on October 26."
***See foreignaffairs.house.gov for updates.
***All Committee proceedings are webcast live HERE.
