Washington, D.C. - Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) announced the following upcoming Committee events.
Thursday, June 16
Markup: H.R. 5484, H.R. 4481, H.R. 5208, H.R. 5332
9:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 16 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman
*Measures to be Marked Up Include.
H.R. 5484, State Sponsors of Terrorism Review Enhancement Act;
H.R. 4481, Education for All Act of 2016 ;
H.R. 5208, North Korea State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act of 2016 ; and
H.R. 5332, Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2016.
Thursday, June 16
Subcommittee Hearing: The Global Religious Freedom Crisis and Its Challenge to U.S. Foreign Policy
12:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 16 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.
Panel I
The Honorable David N. Saperstein
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
U.S. Department of State
Panel II
Robert P. George, Ph.D.
McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence
Princeton University
(Former Chairman, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Zuhdi Jasser, M.D.
President
American Islamic Forum for Democracy
(Former Vice-Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Chairman Smith on the hearing: “International religious freedom remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time. In some parts of the world this fundamental freedom is constantly and brutally under siege, posing direct challenges to U.S. global interests. It is no coincidence that the worst violators of religious freedom globally are often those who are the worst threats to the U.S., those who wish to do Americans the most harm, and those who most want to tear down the pillars of tolerant and democratic societies. Religious freedom diplomacy has developed under three administrations of both parties; sadly our nation has had little effect curbing the rise of persecution, anti-Semitism, and religion-based violence. It is worth asking why. This hearing will ask not only what the State Department is doing regarding religious freedom, but what can be done better. It will ask where are the persecution flashpoints around the world and what can the U.S. do better to address one of the great crises of the 21st century."
***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.
