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| <title> - COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING</title> | |
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| [House Hearing, 116 Congress] | |
| [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] | |
| COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING | |
| ======================================================================= | |
| HEARING | |
| BEFORE THE | |
| COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS | |
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | |
| ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS | |
| FIRST SESSION | |
| __________ | |
| JANUARY 29, 2019 | |
| __________ | |
| Serial No. 116-1 | |
| __________ | |
| Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs | |
| [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] | |
| Available: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/, http:// | |
| docs.house.gov, | |
| or http://www.govinfo.gov | |
| _________ | |
| U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE | |
| 35-359 PDF WASHINGTON : 2019 | |
| COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS | |
| ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York, Chairman | |
| BRAD SHERMAN, California MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas, Ranking | |
| GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York Member | |
| ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey | |
| GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia STEVE CHABOT, Ohio | |
| THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida JOE WILSON, South Carolina | |
| KAREN BASS, California SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania | |
| WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts TED S. YOHO, Florida | |
| DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois | |
| AMI BERA, California LEE ZELDIN, New York | |
| JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas JIM SENSENBRENNER, Wisconsin | |
| DINA TITUS, Nevada ANN WAGNER, Missouri | |
| ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York BRIAN MAST, Florida | |
| TED LIEU, California FRANCIS ROONEY, Florida | |
| SUSAN WILD, Pennsylvania BRIAN FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania | |
| DEAN PHILLPS, Minnesota JOHN CURTIS, Utah | |
| ILHAN OMAR, Minnesota KEN BUCK, Colorado | |
| COLIN ALLRED, Texas RON WRIGHT, Texas | |
| ANDY LEVIN, Michigan GUY RESCHENTHALER, Pennsylvania | |
| ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, Virginia TIM BURCHETT, Tennessee | |
| CHRISSY HOULAHAN, Pennsylvania GREG PENCE, Indiana | |
| TOM MALINOWSKI, New Jersey STEVE WATKINS, Kansas | |
| DAVID TRONE, Maryland MIKE GUEST, Mississippi | |
| JIM COSTA, California | |
| JUAN VARGAS, California | |
| VICENTE GONZALEZ, Texas | |
| Jason Steinbaum, Staff Director | |
| Brendan Shields, Republican Staff Director | |
| C O N T E N T S | |
| ---------- | |
| Page | |
| CONTENTS | |
| Rules of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 116th Congress........ 4 | |
| House Foreign Affairs Committee Professional Staff............... 24 | |
| House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees.............................. 29 | |
| APPENDIX | |
| Hearing Notice................................................... 36 | |
| Hearing Minutes.................................................. 37 | |
| Hearing Attendance............................................... 38 | |
| COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING | |
| TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2019 | |
| House of Representatives, | |
| Committee on Foreign Affairs, | |
| Washington, DC | |
| The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:15 p.m., in | |
| Room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Eliot L. Engel | |
| presiding. | |
| Chairman Engel. We are going to make this abbreviated, | |
| because I understand a vote has been called and there is liable | |
| to be a whole series of votes. So I think we are going to do | |
| this as quickly as we can, as fast as we can. | |
| A quorum is present. Let me start by welcoming all members | |
| to this organizational meeting of the House Foreign Affairs | |
| Committee for the 116th Congress. | |
| We meet today to do a bunch of things, but because of the | |
| votes I propose that we quickly adopt the committee rules and | |
| professional staff member list, and then afterwards we can | |
| introduce the new chairs and ranking members as well as new | |
| committee members. | |
| Pursuant to clause 2(a) of House rule XI, the next order of | |
| business is adoption of the committee's rules for the 116th | |
| Congress. | |
| [The information referred to follows:] | |
| [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] | |
| Chairman Engel. A copy of the proposed rules has been | |
| distributed to each of you in advance. | |
| The changes from the last Congress are relatively minor. We | |
| made some adjustments to the jurisdiction of the subcommittees, | |
| some additions to ensure that our rules conform to the House | |
| rules, and some changes to enhance transparency and oversight. | |
| The proposed rules are a bipartisan product, and I thank | |
| Mr. McCaul for working with me on this package. I would like to | |
| give Mr. McCaul a chance to make any statement he may wish on | |
| the rules. | |
| Mr. McCaul. We are fully in support of the rules package, | |
| and it is my understanding that we will vote on that first and | |
| then make opening statements and introduce the new members. | |
| Chairman Engel. Does any member wish to be recognized? | |
| If not, I move that the proposed rules be adopted as the | |
| rules of the Committee on Foreign Affairs for the 116th | |
| Congress. | |
| All in favor, say aye. | |
| Those opposed, say no. | |
| The ayes have it, and the proposed rules are adopted. | |
| Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the | |
| table and staff are authorized to make technical and conforming | |
| changes to the rules. | |
| The next order of business is to adopt the list of | |
| committee professional staff members, as required by House | |
| rules. | |
| [The information referred to follows:] | |
| [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] | |
| Chairman Engel. You have in your folders the list of staff. | |
| We are very fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated | |
| staff on both sides of the aisle. In particular, I would like | |
| to recognize my staff director, Jason Steinbaum, who most of | |
| you know, and the ranking member's staff director, Brendan | |
| Shields. | |
| Without objection, I move that the committee staff list be | |
| adopted. | |
| OK. So moved. | |
| Thank you, Mr. McCaul, and thank you to all our committee | |
| members. | |
| Let me yield to Mr. McCaul for any remarks he may wish to | |
| make. | |
| Mr. McCaul. Thank you, Chairman Engel. It is a great honor | |
| to serve alongside of you as the lead Republican on the Foreign | |
| Affairs Committee. | |
| This is a historic committee that deals with serious issues | |
| of war and peace. It dates back to the Continental Congress, | |
| where Benjamin Franklin served as its first chairman. | |
| In the next 2 years, America will be met with many | |
| international challenges. Some of these problems are very | |
| familiar; others have yet to materialize. As we sit here today, | |
| we are seeing in real-time the fight for the future of | |
| Venezuela. I know all of you hope there is a peaceful | |
| transition of power and that democracy triumphs over tyranny. | |
| As we confront these challenges, it will be important for | |
| all of us to work together to put forward the best solutions. | |
| As I have always said and always heard Chairman Engel say many | |
| times, partisanship must end at the water's edge. This | |
| committee has enormous responsibilities, and I look forward to | |
| showing the American people that both parties can unite to do | |
| what is best for our country. | |
| Some of my priorities are to confront our adversaries by | |
| taking real steps to counter China and Russia and increase | |
| pressure on Iran and North Korea; bolster engagement with our | |
| allies, including NATO and Israel; enhance our presence and | |
| leadership around the world; expand market access for American | |
| business abroad; reform and streamline the State Department, | |
| with its first comprehensive reauthorization since 2002, and | |
| modernize our foreign aid programs; secure America by combating | |
| human trafficking, transnational organized crime, gangs, and | |
| drug cartels, in addition to enhancing cybersecurity and | |
| counterterrorism measures around the globe; ensure the American | |
| Government is doing all we can to tackle childhood cancer in | |
| the developing worlds, especially in Africa. | |
| There will be times we may not see eye to eye, but in those | |
| instances I look forward to having a respectful and civil | |
| debate. | |
| I would like to take this opportunity to recognize my | |
| subcommittee ranking members and introduce new Republican | |
| members of the committee. | |
| First, the vice ranking member, Representative Ann Wagner, | |
| former Ambassador to Luxembourg. | |
| Congratulations, Ann. | |
| Next, on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, and | |
| International Organizations, Representative Chris Smith, who | |
| has served in Congress for 38 years as a champion of human | |
| rights. | |
| Next, Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, | |
| Representative Ted Yoho, who has become a real leader and a | |
| real expert in this area and this region. | |
| Next, Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment, | |
| Representative Adam Kinzinger, an Air Force veteran who served | |
| in Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
| Next, Middle East, North Africa, and International | |
| Terrorism, Representative Joe Wilson, an Army veteran, father | |
| of four sons who have served our country in the military, and | |
| one of the nicest guys you will meet in Congress. | |
| Next, Oversight and Investigations, Representative Lee | |
| Zeldin, a former attorney who served in Iraq and continues to | |
| serve in the Army Reserves today. | |
| And then finally, Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, | |
| and Trade, Representative Francis Rooney, former Ambassador to | |
| the Holy See. | |
| The new Republican members joining our team are: Ken Buck | |
| from Colorado, former prosecutor with the Department of | |
| Justice, served as chief for the Criminal Division in the U.S. | |
| Attorney's Office; Tim Burchett from Tennessee, former mayor of | |
| Knox County and served 16 years in the State legislature; | |
| Michael Guest from Mississippi, a former district attorney; | |
| Greg Pence--I think we all know his last name very well--from | |
| Indiana, a former Marine and businessman; and Guy Reschenthaler | |
| from Pennsylvania, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the JAG | |
| Corps in Iraq, he also served as a district judge in the | |
| Pennsylvania legislature; Steve Watkins from Kansas, a graduate | |
| of West Point, MIT, and Harvard, combat veteran who served in | |
| Afghanistan; and, last, Ron Wright from my home State of Texas, | |
| who has been involved in politics for 30 years and worked with | |
| Congressman Joe Barton, my dear friend. | |
| I want to congratulate all of you. I am delighted at the | |
| experience we have, particularly the military and veteran | |
| experience and prosecutorial experience in foreign policy. I | |
| know everyone is ready to get to work. | |
| And, with that, Mr. Chairman, let me say what an honor it | |
| is to serve with you, and, above all, I will cherish our | |
| friendship. | |
| With that, I yield back. | |
| Chairman Engel. Thank you very much, Mr. McCaul. | |
| Let me just say at the outset, those of you who have been | |
| on the committee for the past several years know that Chairman | |
| Royce and myself had an extraordinary relationship. We always | |
| said that politics should stop at the water's edge when it | |
| comes to foreign policy, and we conducted ourselves that way. I | |
| believe that the same thing will be true of Mr. McCaul and | |
| myself. | |
| I want to just say that, while people may have differences | |
| of opinion, we can do it in a respectful way and even find out | |
| that maybe with a little bit of tweaking here and there we | |
| could actually agree on most of the things. | |
| I would hope that the traditions from the past 6 years on | |
| the Foreign Affairs Committee will continue with myself and Mr. | |
| McCaul as leaders of the committee. | |
| I am very honored to serve as chairman of this very | |
| important committee, and I hope to continue our longstanding | |
| tradition of bipartisan cooperation to advance American | |
| interests around the world. And previous chairmen from both | |
| parties have been fair, transparent, and inclusive, and my | |
| commitment is that I will follow in their footsteps. | |
| The committee will do good work. It will not shirk its | |
| responsibilities. We will conduct thorough oversight of the | |
| agencies, programs, and policies under our jurisdiction. That | |
| is our constitutional obligation. It is what the American | |
| people expect us to do. | |
| There will be times when we disagree on policy matters, and | |
| that is what democracy is all about, but those disagreements | |
| should not descend into personal animosity. And, as I said, I | |
| look forward to working with Mr. McCaul to set a positive tone | |
| and make sure the voices of all of our members, Democrats and | |
| Republicans alike, are heard. | |
| I would like to now take a moment to introduce our | |
| subcommittee chairs and the new Democratic members of the | |
| committee. | |
| First, the chairs: Brad Sherman will serve as chair of the | |
| Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation. Albio | |
| Sires will serve as chair of the Subcommittee on Western | |
| Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade. Ted Deutch will serve | |
| as chair of the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and | |
| International Terrorism. Karen Bass will serve as the chair of | |
| the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, | |
| and International Organizations. Bill Keating will serve as | |
| chair of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the | |
| Environment. And Ami Bera will serve as chair of the | |
| Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. | |
| The vice chair is Joaquin Castro. He is a valuable member | |
| of the committee and will be a great vice chair. I look forward | |
| to working with him. | |
| Now our new Democratic members. | |
| First, we have Susan Wild, who won a special election to | |
| serve the remaining 2 months of the 115th Congress in the 15th | |
| District of Pennsylvania and now represents the new Seventh | |
| District. Previously, she served as the Allentown city | |
| solicitor. | |
| Next, we have Dean Phillips, a newly elected Member | |
| representing the Third District of Minnesota. He was a | |
| businessman before coming to Congress. | |
| Next. we have another newly elected Minnesotan, Ilhan Omar, | |
| who represents that State's Fifth District. Prior to joining us | |
| on Capitol Hill, she was the assistant minority leader in the | |
| Minnesota House of Representatives. | |
| Next, we have Colin Allred, a newly elected Member | |
| representing the 32d District of Texas. Previously, he served | |
| at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and played | |
| professional football. We can challenge some of the other | |
| committees on that. | |
| He is followed by Andy Levin, a newly elected Member | |
| representing Michigan's Ninth District. Before coming to | |
| Congress, he was a union organizer, human rights activist, and | |
| green energy entrepreneur. | |
| Next, is Abigail Spanberger. She is a newly elected Member | |
| representing the Seventh District of Virginia and previously | |
| served as a CIA case officer. | |
| She is followed by Chrissy Houlahan, a newly elected Member | |
| representing Pennsylvania's Sixth District. She is an Air Force | |
| veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, and educator. | |
| Next, we have Tom Malinowski, another first term Member, | |
| who represents the Seventh District of New Jersey. Previously, | |
| he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human | |
| Rights, and Labor, on the staff of the National Security | |
| Council, and worked at Human Rights Watch. | |
| Next, is David Trone, a newly elected Member representing | |
| Maryland's Sixth District. Previously, he worked at his family | |
| business, a well-known retailer of fine wine and other | |
| beverages. | |
| He is followed by Jim Costa, who is in his seventh term | |
| representing the 16th District of California. He previously | |
| served on this committee, and we are very happy to welcome him | |
| back. | |
| And next, we welcome another Californian, Juan Vargas, who | |
| is now in his fourth term, representing the Golden State's 51st | |
| District of California. Like Jim Costa, he is also returning to | |
| the committee. | |
| Last but not least, we have Vicente Gonzalez, now serving | |
| his second term representing the 15th District of Texas. | |
| [The information referred to follows:] | |
| [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] | |
| Chairman Engel. And now we are done, and we have to go and | |
| vote. So I want to thank everybody. We will see you on the | |
| floor. | |
| The committee is adjourned. | |
| [Whereupon, at 2:28 p.m., the committee was adjourned.] | |
| A P P E N D I X | |
| ---------- | |
| [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] | |
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