Foreign Policy

Rebecca Kheel A Democratic lawmaker said Thursday that he plans to introduce an amendment to the annual defense policy bill that would block the Trump administration from using military bases to house children immigrating illegally who have been forcibly separated from their parents. "It's heartless and shameful that the Trump administration is ripping families apart and even considering keeping kids who are separated from their parents at the border on U.S. military bases," Rep. Gerry Connolly... Read more

Following recent press reports that the Trump administration is considering housing children who are separated from their families at the border on U.S. military bases, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) announced he would offer an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that prohibits this cruel policy. “It’s heartless and shameful that the Trump administration is ripping families apart and even considering keeping kids who are separated from their parents at the border on U.S. milit... Read more

Today, Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Ami Bera (D-CA), members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to National Security Advisor John Bolton urging the Trump Administration to reverse its retreat on global health security. In the past week, the top official responsible for global health security at the National Security Council, Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer, was forced out and the team supporting that portfolio has been disbanded. In addition, the White House has propo... Read more

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, delivered the following remarks at today’s press conference with Democratic Leader Pelosi on the President’s decision to withdraw the United States from of the Iran nuclear agreement. Video is available here, courtesy of Blue Virginia. “I want to make two points. President Trump’s decision to abrogate and withdraw from the Iran agreement, in my opinion constitutes one of the most sordid and reckless acts b... Read more

Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran deal: “With today’s unilateral retreat, the President is now responsible for the fallout of the Iran deal. All of our allies, including President Macron and Chancellor Merkel, pointed out that the agreement is working and warned that it would be deeply destructive for the U.S. to withdraw. “By all accounts, Iran is in com... Read more

Rachel Oswald President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he would reimpose sanctions on Iran, dealing a likely fatal blow to the 2015 multinational nuclear deal and upsetting European countries, Democrats and even some Republicans. But though Trump’s action is aimed at punishing Iran, it is anger from U.S. allies, especially France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, that could most affect the United States in the coming weeks and months. Speaking at the White House, Trump said he would not sign a ... Read more

Today, Representatives John Yarmuth (KY-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), David Price (NC-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Peter Welch (VT-AL), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) released the statement below regarding the ongoing violence in Gaza: “We are deeply concerned by the violence and the tragic loss of life along the border of Gaza. As strong supporters of Israel and advocates for a two-state solution to the Israeli... Read more

Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, Vice Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to pardon Scooter Libby: “First, Sheriff Arpaio. Now, President Trump pardons Scooter Libby. This is a perversion of the pardon power and an instrument for obstruction of justice. The President is sending a clear signal to others that he will reward obstruction of justice. This is a sad moment for our democracy and justice syst... Read more

Louise Radnofsky and Peter Nicholas President Donald Trump said Friday he has pardoned a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. “I don’t know Mr. Libby,” said Mr. Trump, “but for years I have heard that he has been treated unfairly. Hopefully, this full pardon will help rectify a very sad portion of his life.” Mr. Libby, now 67 years old, was convicted in 2007 of lying to a grand jury and obstructing justice in a case that involved the leaking of the identity o... Read more

Mike Lillis Democrats are lashing out at the notion that President Trump and GOP leaders may seek to eliminate some of the funding increases in the enormous 2018 spending package adopted less than two weeks ago. Republicans have come under fire in their districts during the spring recess after supporting the $1.3 trillion omnibus bill, which provides a huge bump in both defense and domestic spending, adding hundreds of billions of dollars to federal deficits. In response, Trump and Majority Lea... Read more