Foreign Affairs

I was disturbed that President Trump hosted at the White House a leader who has subverted democracy in his country and suppressed freedom of the press and civil institutions. 

I join in celebrating the seventy-first anniversary of the rebirth of a Jewish state in the ancient homeland of the Jewish people.  Israel has been a marvel to the world, weaving from a history of adversity a miraculous tapestry of resilience, innovation, and the steadfast pursuit of the ancient prophets’ dream of peace and justice on Earth. 

Iran continues to be a malign actor in its region and around the world, sowing instability in Syria and Yemen, positioning forces across Israel’s northern border, supporting violent terrorism, and threatening the United States and our allies.

I am disappointed that Senate Republicans chose to vote against overriding the President’s veto of the War Powers Act resolution and continue U.S. involvement in Yemen, which is contributing to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe there. 

Today, we observe the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a tragedy that claimed the lives of 1.5 million people.

In the wake of the removal of Omar al-Bashir, it is crucial that the United States work to promote a peaceful transfer of power to the Sudanese people, who deserve self-determination and freedom

I want to congratulate Mr. Khanna, specifically, for his leadership, Mrs. Jayapal, and Mr. Pocan.

Mr. Speaker, I take no back seat to my support for Israel for half a century. I rise in opposition to this cynical, political ploy.

Today, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (NY-16), House Foreign Affairs Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights Subcommittee Chairwoman Karen Bass (CA-37), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Rep. John Sarbanes (MD-03), Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Rep. Anthony Brown (MD-04), and House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Rep. David Trone (MD-06) in sending a letter to President Trump asking that he take action immediately to prevent several thousand Liberians with Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) status from being deported from the country. 

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) announced today that the House will vote next Thursday, March 28, on a resolution introduced by Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-04), Chair of the Equality Caucus’s Transgender Equality Task Force, which rejects President Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military and urges the Department of Defense to not reinstate a discriminatory policy.  

Exploiting anti-Semitism for partisan advantage is dangerous and wrong. 

The attack on the mosques in Christchurch was an attack against all humanity. It was meant to instill fear in Muslims and immigrants, an effort rooted in vile hatred.

Hamas and its Iranian patrons must not be permitted to threaten the peace of Israel’s cities and communities with rockets and tunnels.

WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor today in support of a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report should be made public to the American people and Congress. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video:
 

Today, President Trump learned an important lesson about diplomacy.  Negotiations with foreign tyrants cannot be undertaken without substantial preparation, and they cannot be reduced to optics.

We are outraged that Nicolás Maduro continues to block the entry of food and medical supplies into Venezuela. Through authoritarianism, corruption, and incompetence, Nicolás Maduro and his kleptocratic regime have created a massive humanitarian crisis both inside Venezuela and throughout the Americas.

I am deeply concerned by President Trump’s announcement today that he intends to withdraw the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty unilaterally. 

I am cosponsoring this resolution today because the American people and their Representatives in Congress deserve the opportunity to weigh in on our nation’s involvement in the conflict in Yemen.

It is unconscionable that a President of the United States would sit in the White House and say that Iran and its proxies ought to be allowed to take up positions on the borders of our closest regional allies.  

The principled resignation of Secretary Mattis is stark evidence of the dangerous and irresponsible defense and foreign policies being pursued by President Trump.

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) sent the following letter today to Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to bring S.J. Res. 54 and S.J. Res. 69 to the House Floor for immediate consideration to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen and hold the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The campaign being perpetrated against the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar must be called what it is: a genocide.

On August 14, I joined House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel, House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith, and Rep. Ro Khanna on a letter requesting that the House receive a briefing on the situation in Yemen and American involvement there. 

President Trump’s defense of the Saudi regime undermines our security.  Our nation’s principles constitute the bedrock of our security.