Jurisdiction -- U.S.Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

MEMBERSHIP AND JURISDICTION

OF SUBCOMMITTEES

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON

FOREIGN RELATIONS

111th Congress 1st Session

UNITED STATES SENATE

FEBRUARY 2009

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts Chairman

David McKean, Staff Director

Kenneth A. Myers, Jr., Republican Staff Director

JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

(Excerpted from Rules of the Committee)

Rule 1 — Jurisdiction

(a) Substantive. — In accordance with Senate Rule XXV.1(j)(1), the jurisdiction of the Committee shall extend to all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects:

1. Acquisition of land and buildings for embassies and legations in foreign countries.

2. Boundaries of the United States.

3. Diplomatic service.

4. Foreign economic, military, technical, and humanitarian assistance.

5. Foreign loans.

6. International activities of the American National Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

7. International aspects of nuclear energy, including nuclear transfer policy.

8. International conferences and congresses.

9. International law as it relates to foreign policy.

10. International Monetary Fund and other international organizations established primarily for international monetary purposes (except that, at the request of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, any proposed legislation relating to such subjects reported by the Committee on Foreign Relations shall be referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs).

11. Intervention abroad and declarations of war.

12. Measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to safeguard American business interests abroad.

13. National security and international aspects of trusteeships of the United States.

14. Ocean and international environmental and scientific affairs as they relate to foreign policy.

15. Protection of United States citizens abroad and expatriation.

16. Relations of the United States with foreign nations generally.

17. Treaties and executive agreements, except reciprocal trade agreements.

18. United Nations and its affiliated organizations.

19. World Bank group, the regional development banks, and other international organizations established primarily for development assistance purposes.

The Committee is also mandated by Senate Rule XXV.1(j)(2) to study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to the national security policy, foreign policy, and international economic policy as it relates to foreign policy of the United States, and matters relating to food, hunger, and nutrition in foreign countries, and report thereon from time to time.

(b) Oversight. — The Committee also has a responsibility under Senate Rule XXVI.8, which provides that “. . . each standing Committee . . . shall review and study, on a continuing basis, the application, administration, and execution of those laws or parts of laws, the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of the Committee.”

(c) “Advice and Consent” Clauses. — The Committee has a special responsibility to assist the Senate in its constitutional function of providing ``advice and consent'' to all treaties entered into by the United States and all nominations to the principal executive branch positions in the field of foreign policy and diplomacy.

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

MEMBERSHIP AND JURISDICTION OF SUBCOMMITTEES

(January 24, 2009)

(The chairman and ranking member of the full committee are ex officio members of each subcommittee on which they do not serve as members.)

(Subcommittees are listed in the order of chairmen's seniority within the full committee.)

SUBCOMMITTEE ON WESTERN HEMISPHERE, PEACE CORPS
AND GLOBALNARCOTICS AFFAIRS

Christopher J. Dodd, Chairman

John Barrasso, Ranking Member

Jurisdiction:

This subcommittee deals with U.S. relations with the nations of the Western Hemisphere, including Canada and the nations of the Caribbean. The subcommittee also deals with boundary matters, and U.S. policy with regard to the Organization of American States. This subcommittee's responsibilities include all matters within the geographic region relating to (1) terrorism and non-proliferation; (2) U.S. foreign assistance programs; and (3) the promotion of U.S. trade and exports.

This subcommittee also exercises general oversight over (1) all of the activities and programs of the Peace Corps; and (2) all U.S. foreign policy, programs and international cooperative efforts to combat the flow of illegal drugs or substances.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NEAR EASTERN AND SOUTH
AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS

Robery P. Casey Jr, Chairman

James E. Risch, Ranking Member

Jurisdiction:

This subcommittee deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countries of the Middle East and Arab North Africa. This subcommittee's geographic responsibilities also encompass U.S. relations with the countries of South and Central Asia, corresponding to the jurisdiction of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the Department of State.

This subcommittee's responsibilities include all matters within the geographic region relating to: (1) terrorism and non-proliferation; (2) crime and illicit narcotics; (3) U.S. foreign assistance programs; and (4) the promotion of U.S. trade and exports.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS

Russell D. Feingold, Chairman

Johnny Isakson, Ranking Member

Jurisdiction:

The subcommittee has geographic responsibilities corresponding to those of the Bureau of African Affairs in the Department of State. It considers all matters concerning U.S. relations with countries in Africa, with the exception of countries bordering on the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt to Morocco, which are under the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS

Jim Webb, Chairman

Republican Leader Designee, Ranking Member

Jurisdiction:

The subcommittee has geographic responsibilities corresponding to those of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department of State and considers all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countries of that region. It also considers matters related to regional organizations such as the Association of South East Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS,
DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GLOBAL WOMENS ISSUES

Barbara Boxer, Chairman

Roger F. Wicker, Ranking Member

Jurisdiction:

The subcommittee's responsibilities include all matters involving international operations and organizations, and democracy and human rights. This jurisdiction includes the general oversight responsibility for the Department of State, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the Foreign Service, and public diplomacy. It also includes oversight responsibility for United States participation in the United Nations, its affiliated organizations, and other international organizations not under the jurisdiction of other subcommittees. Finally, it includes general oversight responsibility for U.S. policy in promoting democracy and human rights abroad.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

Jeanne Shaheen, Chairman

Jim DeMint, Ranking Member

Jurisdiction:

The subcommittee deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countries on the continent of Europe (except the states of Central Asia that are within the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs), and with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Matters relating to Greenland and the northern polar region are also the responsibility of this subcommittee.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE, ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, AND
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Robert Menendez, Chairman

Bob Corker, Ranking Member

Jurisdiction:

The subcommittee's responsibilities include general oversight responsibility for U.S. development policy and foreign assistance programs. It includes U.S. bilateral humanitarian, development, economic, trade and security assistance programs carried out by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and other U.S. agencies, and U.S. voluntary contributions to international organizations providing assistance to foreign nations.

It also includes matters related to: (1) international monetary policy, including U.S. participation in international financial institutions; (2) U.S. foreign economic policy, including export enhancement and trade promotion; and (3) international investment, protection of intellectual property, and technological transfer.

Finally, the subcommittee is responsible for matters related to international energy security and international environmental protection, including the oceans and space.