Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a committee business meeting during which members approved 10 pieces of legislation and five nominations.
“The committee had a productive business meeting today during which we moved forward a number of important pieces of legislation and State Department nominees,” said Risch. “I am particularly glad that members of the committee supported the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, a version of the bill I authored and have been working to pass in the Senate for quite some time. Amid new reports that the Assad regime and its Russian backers may again be using chemical weapons against innocent civilians in Syria, it is as important as ever that this bill moves to the president’s desk. With nearly half a million lives lost, and millions more displaced from their homes, we must do more to ensure the Assad regime and its backers are held to account for the atrocities they’ve perpetrated.
“Additionally, I am pleased that my resolution condemning the horrific terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka will move to the full Senate. The U.S. stands by the people and nation of Sri Lanka, and will always defend religious freedom across the globe.
“The committee also passed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 at a critical time, as China continues to illegally detain more than a million of its own citizens in prison camps.
“Finally, this committee favorably reported the Venezuela Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development Act, which authorizes significant resources for humanitarian assistance for the Venezuelan people who continue to suffer under Maduro’s unlawful regime. It supports their efforts to restore democratic order, and also strengthens our administration’s capacity to punish individuals actively subverting the constitutional order in Venezuela and engaging in gross human rights violations.”
Full list of legislation passed in the meeting is below, and will be available onforeign.senate.gov.
LEGISLATION:
1. S. 178, Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019, with an amendment
2. S. 249, A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes, with an amendment
3. S. 1025, Venezuela Emergency Relief, Democracy Assistance, and Development Act of 2019, with an amendment
4. S. 1340, A bill to authorize activities to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for other purposes, with an amendment
5. H.R. 31, Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, with an amendment
6. S. Res. 74, A resolution marking the fifth anniversary of Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity by honoring the bravery, determination, and sacrifice of the people of Ukraine during and since the Revolution, and condemning continued Russian aggression against Ukraine, with an amendment
7. S. Res. 81, A resolution calling for accountability and justice for the assassination of Boris Nemstov, with amendments
8. S. Res. 135, A resolution expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the Senate for the acts of heroism and valor by the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the June 6th, 1944, amphibious landing at Normandy, France, and commending those individuals for leadership and bravery in an operation that helped bring an end to World War II, with an amendment
9. S. Res. 184, A resolution condemning the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, offering sincere condolences to the victims, to their families and friends, and to the people and nation of Sri Lanka, and expressing solidarity and support for Sri Lanka, with amendments
10. S. Res. 188, A resolution encouraging a swift transfer of power by the military to a civlian-led political authority in the Republic of the Sudan, and for other purposes, with amendments
NOMINATIONS:
11. Mr. Jeffrey L. Eberhardt, of Wisconsin, a Career Member of the Senior Executive Service, to be Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation, with the rank of Ambassador
12. Ms. Bridget A. Brink, of Michigan, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Slovak Republic
13. Mr. Kenneth A. Howery, of Texas, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Sweden
14. Colonel Matthew S. Klimow, USA, Retired, of New York, a Career Member of the Senior Executive Service, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Turkmenistan
15. Mr. John Jefferson Daigle, of Louisiana, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Cabo Verde
FSO LISTS:
16. Kenneth H. Merten, et al., dated March 25, 2019 (PN 519)
17. Lisa Anne Rigoli, dated April 10, 2019 (PN 604)
18. Timothy Ryan Harrison, et al., dated April 10, 2019 (PN 607)
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