NEW YORK — Throughout history, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has proved instrumental in the development of U.S. foreign policy. At its inception, it served as a link of communication between the Colonies and Europe. The committee was created to build support for the American Revolution abroad while obtaining secret information to aid the Colonies in their break with England. Today, it is one of the House’s most crucial committees influencing the globe. Here are some facts you may not have known:
1. The committee has been through a few transformations and name changes.
First known as the Committee of Correspondence, then as the Committee of Secret Correspondence and finally the Committee on International Relations, the Committee has taken on a few different titles over the centuries before becoming the Foreign Affairs Committee.
2. Its predecessor was first chaired by a Founding Father.
In 1775, Benjamin Franklin was selected to chair the Committee of Correspondence after it was established by the Continental Congress. Its original purpose was to gain intelligence to aid the Colonies in their split from England and generate European support for the independence movement.
3. The Committee is now chaired by Republican Edward R. Royce.
In January 2013, U.S. Representative Royce was chosen to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee. Royce currently serves as Southern California’s congressional representative and also chairs the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.
4. It led to the end of one of history’s greatest institutionalized injustices.
In 1985, the House Budget Committee worked with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to introduce the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1985, although it was limited by President Reagan. In response, the Africa subcommittee passed its own legislation despite a veto from Reagan, adding to economic sanctions. This legislation has been hailed as having ended South Africa’s former Apartheid government.
5. It has been chaired by two U.S. Presidents.
James K. Polk chaired the committee from 1827 to 1831. In 1842, John Quincy Adams became the second and last president to date to serve as the Chair.
6. Business isn’t private.
According to the Committee’s established rules, meetings concerning business transactions including legislation edits may be viewed by the public and hearings are allowed an audience.
7. Chairman Royce is a proponent of free speech abroad.
Royce wrote the Radio Free Asia Act of 1997, increasing broadcasting throughout Asian countries marked by repressive governments including China and North Korea. He also wrote the Radio Free Afghanistan Act of 2001, which opened radio to voices of democracy. This ended the domination of radio by the Taliban.
8. The Committee’s jurisdiction falls over the world’s largest bilateral aid organization…and more.
The Committee is responsible for USAID, as well as the Peace Corps and a long list of additional initiatives including international law, arms control, the promotion of democracy and security and peacekeeping.
9. Its top priorities are ISIS and Syria.
The committee states that its top focus is currently on terrorism, specifically the treat posed by ISIS, and also on the Syrian civil war that continues to unfold. Military and diplomatic actions are being used to combat ISIS, while the committee is also monitoring war crimes and the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
10. The “United Nations and International Aid Organizations” arrives last on the committee’s list of priorities.
Coming in as the 26th and last order of business is the funding given to international aid groups and the monitoring of UN activities. The committee determines the amount of taxpayer dollars given to these organizations while also seeing how they may be reformed and improved in transparency and accountability.
– Amy Russo
Sources: House Committee on Foreign Affairs 1, House Committee on Foreign Affairs 2, House Committee on Foreign Affairs 3, House Committee on Foreign Affairs 4, House Committee on Foreign Affairs 5
Photo: House Republicans