A Look Ahead: House Foreign Affairs Committee
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced the following upcoming Committee events:
Tuesday, April 9
Subcommittee Hearing: Chen Guangcheng and Gao Zhisheng: Human Rights in China
2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman
Invited witnesses include:
Mr. Chen Guangcheng
Chinese human rights activist
Pastor Bob Fu
Founder and President
ChinaAid Association
Ms. Geng He
Wife of Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng
Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Chen Guangcheng, the blind activist attorney who championed the rights of victims of forced abortions in China and whose daring escape to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing captivated the attention of the world, will be giving his first in person hearing testimony since arriving in the United States. His testimony will focus on the grave human rights abuses taking place in China, and current mistreatment of his own nephew, Chen Kegui. Ms. Geng He will also testify to the situation of her husband, Gao Zhisheng, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer now imprisoned for three years in retaliation for his efforts to defend and promote human rights.”
Thursday, April 11
10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 11 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman
Invited witnesses include:
The Honorable Anh “Joseph” Cao
Former Member of Congress
Mr. Vo Van Ai
President
Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and Que Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam
Ms. Anna Buonya
Spokesperson
Montagnard Human Rights Organization
Ms. Danh Bui
Sister of a victim of human trafficking
Mr. Tien Tran
Victim of religious persecution at the Con Dau Parish
Mr. John Sifton
Advocacy Director for Asia
Human Rights Watch
Chairman Smith on the hearing: “This hearing will examine the ongoing human rights abuses the Government of Vietnam perpetrates upon its own citizens, particularly the deeply troubling violations of religious and ethnic rights as well as ongoing government complicity in human trafficking,” said Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith. “The testimony of our distinguished witnesses will provide compelling evidence that the State Department should assertively raise during the U.S.-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue scheduled to take place the following day. The Subcommittee also will critically examine Vietnam’s announcement of its candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term.”
Thursday, April 11
Joint Subcommittee Hearing: Breaking the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nexus
2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 in 2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Chairman
Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman
Invited witnesses include:
The Honorable R. James Woolsey
Chairman
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
(Former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency)
Mr. Henry D. Sokolski
Executive Director
Nonproliferation Policy Education Center
(Former Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy, U.S. Department of Defense)
Mr. David Albright
Founder and President
Institute for Science and International Security
Chairman Chabot on the hearing: “As tensions continue to rise on the Korean Peninsula and the U.S. strengthens its missile defense posture, North Korea’s ongoing provocative war-like activities have reached a threat level we haven’t seen since the 1990s. The dangers of North Korea’s behavior, however, extend far beyond Asia’s borders as it continues to serve as one of the Middle East’s most intrepid and resilient weapons suppliers. North Korea has branded itself as a one-stop shop for rogue states, violating all international rules and circumventing sanctions to supply missile and nuclear technologies in exchange for the oil, cash, and weapons it needs to maintain its virulent regime. The enduring relationship between North Korea, Iran and Syria needs more attention and this hearing is an important step in exposing this dangerous network and the broader risks it poses to international security and nonproliferation efforts.”
Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “With North Korea’s threats to attack the U.S. and its allies, Iran’s vow to continue to pursue its uranium enrichment with ‘more rigor’, and the concern of WMDs in Syria falling in the wrong hands, it is necessary to have a hearing that will examine the threats posed by these rogue regimes and their ever growing relationship. This hearing will examine the nexus between the regimes of Iran, Syria, and North Korea, their triangle of proliferation, and their efforts to achieve their goals of threatening our national security and the security of our allies. These regimes provide technical, material and financial support to each other, skirting international penalties and threatening to ignite a global nuclear arms race. This hearing is both timely and necessary so that we can examine how the Administration plans to address these very real threats, and what lessons can be learned from past mistakes.”
Chairman Poe on the hearing: “North Korea, Iran and Syria have all proven to be dangerous and devious actors. Their shared pursuit of nuclear weapons should be met with unified and consistent opposition from the United States and our allies. The world will become a much more dangerous place if the nuclear ambitions of these three rogue nations become a reality. Complacency is not an option.”
Thursday, April 11
Subcommittee Hearing: Energy Opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean
3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 in 2200 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Chairman
Invited witnesses include:
Panel I
The Honorable Carlos Pascual
Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Mr. Matthew M. Rooney
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Panel II
Mr. Jorge R. Piñon
Associate Director
Latin America and the Caribbean Program
Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy
Mr. Eric Farnsworth
Vice President
Council of the Americas and Americas Society
The Honorable David L. Goldwyn
President and Founder
Goldwyn Global Strategies
Chairman Salmon on the hearing: “Access to affordable and reliable energy is critical to economic development and job creation. As we hold our second hearing on energy development in the Western Hemisphere, we shift our focus to Latin America and the Caribbean. We are looking forward to exploring opportunities to further enhance partnerships on energy development with our regional neighbors to bring prosperity and stability to all the countries in our hemisphere.”