National Security and Foreign Policy
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We need strong leadership to help navigate these challenges to put the interests of our nation and people first, not politics. That means not only being vigilant and relentless, but also strong and wise. We need to work together to give our military and intelligence agencies the tools they need to keep us safe, and also protect and defend the ideals that define us as the world's greatest democracy.We are living in an extraordinary time in world history. America remains the world's dominant super power with the strongest economy and most powerful military. Many people around the globe are overcoming poverty and new economies and democracies are emerging. But while it is a time of promise, we are also facing serious and dangerous threats. Terrorism, the rise of authorianism across the globe, the spread of nuclear weapons, global pandemics, and climate change are just a few of the major challenges we are up against. At the same time, our planet is becoming a much smaller and more interconnected place with new technologies and global commerce.
Keeping Americans safe is my greatest responsibility as your representative in Congress. And as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, I'm proud to work regularly with Members in both parties to strengthen America's security and global leadership.
More on National Security and Foreign Policy
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, today chaired a hearing on strengthening U.S. engagement in Central Asia. This is the first House Foreign Affairs hearing focused on the region since July 2018.
Axios // Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Ami Bera, Chair of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, and Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding the unjust execution of four pro-democracy activists at the hands of the Burmese military junta:
CSIS
Congressman Bera just returned from a bipartisan CODEL to South Korea. During the trip, Rep. Bera met with the new ROK Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, senior members of the National Assembly, U.S. military officials, senior Embassy staff, and Korean business leaders. Rep. Bera and Members discussed the U.S.-South Korea alliance and the new Yoon Administration. Additionally, Rep. Bera participated in the presidential delegation to South Korea for the inauguration of President Yoon.
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Ami Bera (CA-07) today voted for the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes annual programming and spending for the Department of Defense and other U.S. national security programs. The NDAA passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support and includes four key amendments authored by Representative Bera.
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Ami Bera (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, today released the following statement commending Vice President Kamala Harris and the Biden Administration for announcing new commitments to deepen the United States partnership with Pacific Islands nations
New York Times // Ami Bera
Re "The U.S. Is Losing Its Military Edge in Asia, and China Knows It," by Ashley Townshend and James Crabtree (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, June 15):
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, on the second anniversary of the promulgation of the draconian national security law in Hong Kong, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, and Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, issued the following statement:
WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, yesterday introduced the Indo-Pacific Engagement Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen United States diplomatic and aid presence in the Indo-Pacific.
Financial Times // Demetri Sevastopulo
Democratic and Republican lawmakers will next week introduce legislation to spur the White House to funnel more money to the Indo-Pacific region to help counter China.
Ami Bera, the Democratic chair of the House foreign affairs Asia subcommittee, and Steve Chabot, the top Republican on the panel, hope their Indo-Pacific Engagement Act will narrow the gap between the rhetoric about Asia being a priority region and funding levels.
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of State announcing the launch of the Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative. The program, championed by the late Representative John Lewis, brings together young leaders from India and the United States to advance social justice and civil rights by exploring the life and legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.