Mfume brings wealth of knowledge and experience to the Committee during a time of high alert at home and abroad.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) announced his appointment to the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The appointment was made by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries after the U.S. House Democratic Caucus approved the unanimous Democratic Steering and Policy Committee recommendation to add Mfume to the Committee.
“When it comes to understanding the many dynamics of U.S. foreign policy, experience is invaluable, and my good friend and colleague Representative Mfume is in no short supply. Some of the most pivotal events in foreign affairs have occurred during Rep. Mfume’s tenure in Congress, and our Committee will be well served by the insights and perspectives he brings. On behalf of all Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, we gladly welcome him,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“The Foreign Affairs Committee is so very important because whether you live in Baltimore or Botswana – we are all citizens of the same world. That world today is not the world that we were born into; it is changing rapidly, and it requires advocates who believe in human rights and democracy," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “From the unrest in Haiti, to the famine in Africa, and strife in the Middle East, there are so many hotspots today that require strong voices for fairness. I have worked tirelessly throughout my life and in many different capacities to address global issues. Whether it was fighting alongside Nelson Mandela to end apartheid in South Africa or working to protect democracies in Haiti and the Caribbean, I am eager to utilize my experiences and begin working now as the only Maryland congressperson appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee," he concluded.
Jurisdiction of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee
The Full Committee is responsible for oversight and legislation relating to:
national security developments affecting foreign policy;
foreign assistance;
the Peace Corps;
strategic planning and agreements;
war powers, treaties, executive agreements, and the deployment and use of United States Armed Forces;
peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and enforcement of United Nations or other international sanctions;
arms control and disarmament issues;
the United States Agency for International Development;
activities and policies of the State, Commerce and Defense Departments and other agencies related to the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act including export and licensing policy for munitions items and technology and dual-use equipment and technology;
international law;
promotion of democracy;
international law enforcement issues, including narcotics control programs and activities;
Broadcasting Board of Governors;
embassy security;
international broadcasting; and
public diplomacy, including international communication, information policy, international education, and cultural programs.
Congressman Mfume Background in Foreign Affairs
Congressman Mfume has served as a member of Congress under five presidents, including Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, Donald J. Trump, and Joseph R. Biden.
Through this service, Congressman Mfume witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the first Gulf War, the Panamanian incursion (“Operation Just Cause”), U.S. intervention in Haiti (“Operation Uphold Democracy”), attempts to coordinate foreign interference in U.S. elections, the rise of global cyberthreats, and was very active in the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.
This rare continuum of experiences provides Representative Mfume with a reservoir of observations, understandings, experiences, insights, and reference points to be of service to the Foreign Affairs Committee in the 118th Congress.
He is currently an active member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and the Congressional Caribbean Caucus.
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