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This edition of CapitolWire looks at those members of the 113th Congress who will wield significant influence over trans-Atlantic affairs.
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Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USA
Contact: Tyson [email protected](+1) 202.384.1993www.bfna.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, Belgium
Contact: Thomas [email protected](+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Brussels Connection to Capitol Hill
CapitolWire
KEY POINTS
• The113thCongressisthemostdiverseinhistory.Forthefirsttime,whitemenaretheminorityamongDemocratsintheHouseofRepresentatives.
• The435membersoftheHouseofRepresentativesareelectedeverytwoyears.Thenumberofastate’srepresentatives—andthecongressionaldistrictstheyrepresent—isbasedonthepopulationofthatstate.The100membersoftheSenateareelectedeveryfouryears.Eachstatehastwosenatorsregardlessofpopulation.Allrepresentativesaredirectlyelected.
• SeventeenpercentoftherepresentativesintheHouseand14percentofthesenatorswerenewlyelectedorappointedtothe113thCongress.Theyareknownas“freshmanmembers”.
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TheBertelsmannFoundationisaprivate,nonpartisanoperatingfoundation,workingtopromoteandstrengthentrans-Atlanticcooperation.Servingasaplatformforopendialogueamongkeystakeholders,theFoundationdevelopspracticalpolicyrecommendationsonissuescentraltosuccessfuldevelopmentofbothsidesoftheocean.
©Copyright2013,BertelsmannFoundation.Allrightsreserved.
The new 113th Congress is little changed from its predecessor. The Republicans remain the majority in the House, and the Democrats still control the Senate. The legislature, however, is
more diverse than ever, boasting 101 women, 45 African-Americans, 38 Hispanic or Latinos, 13 Asian-Americans or Pacific Islanders and seven openly gay or bisexual members.
As the 113th Congress reaches its fifth month in power, many of the initiatives that failed in the 112th are encountering renewed resistance. Issues such as the Farm Bill, cybersecurity legislation and sequestration remain stuck due to partisanship.
The Senate confirmation process of presidential cabinet members has also been a victim of political gridlock. Republicans stalled many key nominations such as former
Senator Hagel’s to be defense secretary.
With the recent announcement of Michael Froman to serve as US trade representative and Penny Pritzker to be commerce secretary, the president has only one cabinet-level appointment left to name, that for the Small Business Administration.
As they deal with the ongoing nomination process, the House and Senate are also endeavoring to tackle controversial issues
such as gun control and immigration. Passing trade-promotion authority is also on the agenda as the administration pursues trade agreements with the European Union and Asian-Pacific countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
This edition of the CapitolWire highlights ten key members of the House and Senate who will drive policy toward Europe in the years ahead.
CapitolWire is a joint publication of the Bertelsmann Foundation offices in Washington, DC and Brussels. It connects the European Parliament
to Congressional policy and politics, and contributes to a common trans-Atlantic political culture. CapitolWire is an occasional publication that
highlights issues, legislation and policymakers relevant to the European Parliament’s legislative cycle. This publication also looks at the Congress
from the point of view of European Parliament staffers and offers timely operational analysis.
The 113th Congress:Who’s Who for Europe
Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USAContact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann-
foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, BelgiumContact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-
stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
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Congressman Ed Royce has been a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs since he entered office in 1993. He is now committee chairman, having replaced Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Florida – 27th District, Republican), who vacated the seat due to term limits. He previously served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. During his 11 terms in office, Royce has written more than 350 posts on his blog, Foreign Intrigue, which focuses on international relations.
His priorities as Foreign Affairs Committee chairman include putting greater pressure and attention on nuclear proliferation, specifically as that relates to Iran and North Korea. He views Europe as an important partner in
halting nuclear proliferation and has praised the efforts of European companies and the EU in sanctioning the Iranian government. On February 27, Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (see below) introduced the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act H.R. 850, which extends economic sanctions against Iran. The bill increases the pressure on European actors to ensure Iran is not using the European Central Bank’s payment system to dodge current sanctions
As a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, Royce is also active on anti-terrorism financial issues. He founded the Congressional Anti-Terror Finance Task Force and serves as its co-chairman.
Congressman Ed Royce (California – 39th District, Republican)Chairman,HouseCommitteeonForeignAffairs
Congressman Eliot Engel became ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee after serving as the top Democrat on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. Engel has a strong personal interest in US policy in the Western Balkans and is an advocate for Kosovo’s autonomy. Earlier this year, on the country’s fifth anniversary of independence, he highlighted the efforts of the EU-sponsored Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue and called for Kosovo to continue to be a priority for the US and Europe. A street in Pecć, Kosovo was named after him, reflecting his numerous efforts on the controversial country’s behalf.
Engel is also a strong supporter of Israel. In March, he was one of the two Democratic members of Congress to travel with President Obama on his first trip to Israel since entering the Oval Office.
Congressman Engel also serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Subcommittee on Health, and the Subcommittee on Energy and Power. He formerly served as co-chairman of the EU Caucus. This congressional member organization, however, has not yet been re-established in the 113th Congress.
Congressman Eliot Engel (New York – 16th District, Democrat)RankingMember,HouseCommitteeonForeignAffairs
Congressman Rohrabacher replaced former Congressman Dan Burton as chairman of the subcommittee and expanded its scope to include “emerging threats”, an area in which he has shown great interest. Congressman Rohrabacher has been a powerful voice for strengthening democracy and combating terrorism worldwide during his 13 terms in Congress. In February, he introduced a bipartisan resolution calling for the release of Dr. Shakil Afridi, who is jailed in Pakistan for assisting the US with locating Osama bin Laden. Rohrabacher has been outspoken and, at times, has made controversial remarks on Afghanistan, China and the September 11, 2012 Benghazi attacks.
The subcommittee has held four hearings focusing mainly on emerging threats. Following the Boston Marathon bombings, the subcommittee held a joint hearing with the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade on Islamist extremism in Chechnya. Rohrabacher also serves as a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment as well as vice chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (California – 48th District, Republican) Chairman,SubcommitteeonEurope,EurasiaandEmergingThreats,HouseForeignAffairsCommittee
Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USAContact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann-
foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, BelgiumContact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-
stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
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Elected in 2013, Congressman Keating is the son of Irish immigrants. He has strong European cultural ties, and his district is home to one of the largest Irish-American and Portuguese-American populations. He is a member of the Congressional Friends of the Irish National Caucus and the House Portuguese Caucus.
In addition to supporting increased cultural and diplomatic ties with Europe, Keating has voiced support for further engagement with European leaders on issues of common interest, such as cybersecurity and democracy promotion. He is also an advocate of strengthening the trans-Atlantic economic
relationship, specifically through a trade agreement.
His subcommittee’s jurisdiction over emerging threats aligns well with his previous work as a district attorney. Keating is also a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies; the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence; and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Congressman William “Bill” Keating (Massachusetts – 9th District, Democrat) RankingMember,SubcommitteeonEurope,EurasiaandEmergingThreats,HouseCommitteeonForeignAffairs
Congressman Diaz-Balart follows a line of political activists in his family. He holds the seat vacated by his brother, former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and is the son of the late Cuban politician, Rafael Diaz-Balart. The congressman is a strong conservative and supports continuing the embargo on Cuba.
Following former Chairman Cliff Stearns’ (Florida – 6th District, Republican) defeat in the 2012 primary elections, Diaz-Balart was appointed TLD chairman. One of his main priorities is to continue educating Congressional members on the importance of the trans-Atlantic dialogue, especially in the aftermath of the Lisbon Treaty. He hopes to
focus discussion on issues that the US and EU can solve together.
Trans-Atlantic cooperation is not a new concept to the Congressman as he is co-chairman of the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus. In December 2012, he issued a joint statement with Member of the European Parliament Antonio López-Istúriz (EPP – Spain) that was critical of Nicaragua’s elections.
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida – 25th District, Republican)Chairman,TransatlanticLegislators’Dialogue(TLD)
Congressman Paulsen is in his third term in the 113th Congress. His committee has jurisdiction over tax, healthcare and trade policy. He also serves as one of ten members from the Senate and House of Representatives on the Joint Economic Committee, which counsels Congress on generating economic growth and job creation.
As a member of the Free Trade Working Group, Paulsen was an early and strong supporter of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). He quickly became House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp’s point person on TTIP. In summer 2012, he was the co-author of a bipartisan letter, to President Obama that encouraged stronger trans-Atlantic cooperation. The
letter was signed by 51 representatives. On February 15, Paulsen introduced a resolution supporting the administration’s pursuit of trade negotiations with the European Union.
In early April, he helped chair a bipartisan meeting on enhancing trans-Atlantic trade. Attendees comprised a delegation of European Parliament members, including INTA Chairman Vital Moreira, and House Ways and Means Committee members. Paulsen recently authored an op-ed with Congressman Richard Neal (Massachusetts – 1st District, Democrat) calling the TTIP a “golden opportunity” to boost jobs and growth.
Congressman Erik Paulsen (Minnesota – 3rd District, Republican)Member,HouseCommitteeonWaysandMeans
Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USAContact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann-
foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, BelgiumContact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-
stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
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Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez became Foreign Relations chair following John Kerry’s departure to become secretary of state. Menendez is Cuban-American and the first Latino chair of the committee. He was previously chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee.
The committee has held at least one hearing a week while in session since early March. Most of these have focused on Asia, Syria and national security threats, though one recent hearing focused on US-EU economic relations.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Menendez will also have a role in passing trade-promotion authority and in discussions on the TTIP. He is also a member of the Senate Banking Committee.
Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez (New Jersey – Democrat) Chairman,SenateForeignRelationsCommittee
A member of the Foreign Relations Committee since joining the Senate in the 110th Congress, Senator Corker replaced Senator Richard “Dick” Lugar (Indiana – Republican), who gained a strong reputation as a foreign-policy expert, particularly on nonproliferation issues and relations with Europe.
Corker plans to address a wide range of topics with European partners, from NATO burden-sharing to the EU-Ukraine Framework Agreement. He is pushing the administration to provide Congress with more information about the cancellation of the fourth phase of the White House’s plan to deploy missile interceptors to Europe. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced the cancellation in March, saying that “restructuring” was behind
the decision to terminate the European program and move 14 missile interceptors to Alaska to counter increased threats from North Korea. Corker supports expanding the arsenal in Alaska, yet seeks answers about the administration’s inability to follow through with the European Phased Adaptive Approach.
Corker will be a vocal supporter of the TTIP. In an editorial for Bloomberg, he endorsed President Obama’s pursuit of the Partnership, noting its potential benefits for his state.
Senator Robert “Bob” Corker (Tennessee – Republican)RankingMember,SenateForeignRelationsCommittee
Senator Murphy was elected to the Senate in November 2012, having previously served three terms in the House of Representatives.
As chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia, he has emphasized the importance of US-EU trade and its potential to spur growth. In particular, he seeks to update US and EU export policies to help boost the trans-Atlantic economy and create jobs. He believes this can be accomplished through the TTIP.
Since assuming the chairmanship, he has met with numerous European representatives, including a delegation of members of the European Parliament with INTA Chairman
Vital Moreira and D-US Chairman Christian
Ehler. The delegation visited Washington, DC in early April. Recently, he met with Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Leonid Kozhara.
Senator Christopher Murphy (Connecticut – Democrat)Chairman,SubcommitteeonEuropeandEurasia,SenateForeignRelationsCommittee
Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USAContact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann-
foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, BelgiumContact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-
stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
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Senator Johnson comes to the Subcommittee on European Affairs after serving as the ranking Republican on the Committee on Foreign Relations’ Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
As a former CEO, he has a special interest in business relations and sees successful TTIP negotiations as a priority. In February 2013, he signed a letter to the president urging the administration to pursue an agreement with the European Union that eliminated barriers in all sectors, including agriculture and services. The letter was spearheaded by Senators Rob Portman (Republican – Ohio) and Bill Nelson (Democrat – Florida).
Johnson is also the ranking Republican on the Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin – Republican)RankingMember,SubcommitteeonEuropeandEurasia,SenateForeignRelationsCommittee
