January 29, 2019

Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Congress’ Foreign Policy Priorities for 116th Congress

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on priorities ahead for the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the U.S. Congress featuring Chairman Eliot L. Engel (NY-16).

“We’ve seen the President push foreign policy objectives such as withdrawing U.S. forces from Syria or even considering withdrawing from NATO—both of which would be championed across the pond by Russian President Vladimir Putin,” said host Rep. Castro. “We must understand what Congress’ role, especially as we have the Majority in the House of Representatives, will be in holding this Administration accountable and pursuing a foreign policy that is strategic and advances U.S. interests. I sat down with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman and 30-year veteran of Congress Chairman Eliot L. Engel to discuss his vision for the Committee this Congress and how we will approach foreign policy challenges and opportunities such as authorizing the State Department, Venezuela’s political turmoil, continued prospects for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, and U.S.-Saudi relations post-murder of Jamal Khashoggi and so much more.”

“The President thinks that only he's the one who can lead, or show direction, with all these issues. I like to remind him and others that the House of Representatives, the Senate, the legislative branch, we are co-equal branch of government,” said Chairman Engel on the episode. “For instance, it is many, many months since the President and Putin sat down in Helsinki and other places as well. We still have no results, it hasn't been conveyed to us as to what they talked about, or what was agreed upon…The question is, what is going on between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin?”

The episode is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.

Future episodes of the Diplomatic Cable will include discussions with former Council on Foreign Relation’s Max Boot, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, former State Department Cyber Coordinator Chris Painter, and many other experts, practitioners, Members of Congress and American citizens. Episodes will focus on repercussions of U.S. foreign policy in the 116th Congress, the consequences of a rising China, the crisis in American diplomacy and development, cyber diplomacy, and many other issues.

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