Washington, D.C. - House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) announced the following upcoming committee events.
Thursday, September 6
Subcommittee Hearing: U.S. Policy Toward Cuba
2 p.m. on Thursday, September 6, in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA), Chairman
Invited witnesses.
The Honorable Kenneth H. Merten
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
U.S. Department of State
The Honorable Peter Bodde
Coordinator
Health Incidents Response Task Force
U.S. Department of State
Charles Rosenfarb, M.D.
Medical Director
Bureau of Medical Services
U.S. Department of State
Mr. Todd Brown
Assistant Director for Countermeasures
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
U.S. Department of State
Brian M. Mazanec, Ph.D.
Acting Director
International Affairs and Trade
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Chairman Cook on the hearing: “The Cuban dictatorship continues to exert destabilizing influence within the Western Hemisphere, most notably in Venezuela and Nicaragua. Through the guise of reforms, it has maintained its Communist system and continued criminalizing dissent and violating the Cuban people’s human rights. While President Obama attempted to normalize relations with Cuba, the Cuban regime remains unwilling to provide greater freedoms for its people. It also failed to protect U.S. diplomats in Havana as required under international law, and today, 26 U.S. diplomats have suffered serious health repercussions while serving in Cuba. I believe the Trump Administration’s Cuba policy shift is important to prevent financing to the Cuban military and urge the Cuban regime to provide greater freedoms for the Cuban people. In addition, the Administration’s expulsion of Cuban diplomats from the U.S., changes to staffing, and convening of an Accountability Review Board were also important steps to protect Americans. This hearing will review the U.S.-Cuba policy, assess progress on democracy and human rights in Cuba, and conduct oversight of the State Department’s efforts related to the attacks on U.S. diplomats in Havana to ensure the safety of U.S. diplomats and continue promoting freedom in Cuba."
Thursday, September 6
Subcommittee Hearing: Tackling Fentanyl: Holding China Accountable
2 p.m. on Thursday, September 6, 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.
Panel I
The Honorable Kirsten D. Madison
Assistant Secretary
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Mr. Paul E. Knierim
Deputy Chief of Operations
Office of Global Enforcement
Drug Enforcement Administration
U.S. Department of Justice
Panel II
Bryce Pardo, Ph.D.
Associate Policy Researcher
RAND Corporation
Daniel Ciccarone, M.D.
Professor of Family and Community Medicine
University of California, San Francisco
Mr. Joseph D. Coronato
Prosecutor
Prosecutor’s Office
Ocean County, New Jersey
Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Countless American citizens, as well as individuals in many countries, have felt the scourge of the opioid epidemic. The global crisis has been exacerbated by the fact that deadly fentanyl is now being exported from China. China’s role in this matter must be brought to light, and Congress must exercise its oversight role to ensure that Beijing doesn’t get a free pass in contributing to the problem."
***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.
