Ranking Member Risch and Chairman Menendez Announce SFRC Subcommittee Assignments for 117th Congress

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today announced subcommittee leadership and membership assignments for the 117^th Congress. 

“I am glad to join Chairman Menendez in announcing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee subcommittee chairmen and ranking members for the 117th Congress,” said Ranking Member Risch. “These subcommittee leaders bring an impressive amount of foreign policy knowledge to our committee, and I look forward to working with them to hold hearings and introduce legislation that addresses a wide range of pressing and important global issues.”

“I look forward to working in close coordination with the incoming subcommittee members to chart forward a path of renewal and reengagement for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,” Chairman Menendez said. “From rebuilding the State Department to reestablishing American leadership and alliances, every one of our subcommittees will play an indispensable role in forging a coherent strategy to repair and restore America’s place in the world.” 

Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues 

This subcommittee deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countries of the Western Hemisphere, including Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Cuba, and the other countries in the Caribbean, as well as the Organization of American States. This subcommittee's regional responsibilities include all matters within the geographic region, including matters relating to: (1) terrorism and non-proliferation; (2) crime and illicit narcotics; (3) U.S. foreign assistance programs; and (4) the promotion of U.S. trade and exports. In addition, this subcommittee has global responsibility for transnational crime, trafficking in persons (also known as modern slavery or human trafficking), global narcotics flows, civilian security, democracy, human rights, and global women's issues.

Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation

This subcommittee deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countries in Europe and the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and regional intergovernmental organizations like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (except the states of Central Asia that are within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism). This subcommittee's regional responsibilities include all matters within the geographic region, including matters relating to: (1) terrorism and non-proliferation; (2) crime and illicit narcotics; (3) U.S. foreign assistance programs; and (4) the promotion of U.S. trade and exports. In addition, this subcommittee has global responsibility for regional security cooperation.

Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy

This subcommittee deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countries of East Asia and the Pacific as well as regional intergovernmental organizations like the Association of South East Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. This subcommittee's regional responsibilities include all matters within the geographic region, including matters relating to: (1) terrorism and non-proliferation; (2) crime and illicit narcotics; (3) U.S. foreign assistance programs; and (4) the promotion of U.S. trade and exports. In addition, this subcommittee has global responsibility for international cybersecurity and space policy.

Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism

This subcommittee deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countries of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Central Asia, as well as regional intergovernmental organizations. This subcommittee's regional responsibilities include all matters within the geographic region, including matters relating to: (1) terrorism and non-proliferation; (2) crime and illicit narcotics; (3) U.S. foreign assistance programs; and (4) the promotion of U.S. trade and exports. In addition, this subcommittee has global responsibility for counterterrorism matters.

Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy

This subcommittee deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with countries in Africa (except those, like the countries of North Africa, specifically covered by other subcommittees), as well as regional intergovernmental organizations like the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. This subcommittee's regional responsibilities include all matters within the geographic region, including matters relating to: (1) terrorism and non-proliferation; (2) crime and illicit narcotics; (3) U.S. foreign assistance programs; and (4) the promotion of U.S. trade and exports. In addition, this subcommittee has global responsibility for health-related policy, including disease outbreak and response.

Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development

The subcommittee's responsibilities include all matters involving State Department, USAID, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and Peace Corps management and international operations, bilateral international development policy, and bilateral foreign assistance. This jurisdiction includes the general oversight responsibility for management and operations of the Department of State, USAID, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and the Foreign Service, as well as public diplomacy matters. This subcommittee will have responsibility for reviewing the budget and operations of the State Department and USAID.

Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental Policy

The subcommittee's responsibilities include general oversight responsibility for U.S. multilateral international development policy, multilateral foreign assistance, and all U.S. mandatory and voluntary contributions to international organizations and relationship with such entities, including the U.N. and its affiliated agencies. The subcommittee's responsibilities also include matters related to international monetary policy, including U.S. participation in international financial institutions and trade organizations, U.S. foreign economic policy, including export enhancement and trade promotion, international investment, international trade, protection of intellectual property, and technology transfer, as well as international energy policy and environmental policy, including matters related to the oceans and the Arctic.

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