February 16, 2022

House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact Holds Hearing on Renewing American Engagement with International Organizations

WASHINGTON – This week, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact held a hearing under the leadership of Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) to examine the U.S. State Department’s multilateral approach for the United States to reestablish key relationships with international organizations, including the United Nations. 

The witness for this week’s hearing was Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele Sison, who oversees the State Department’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO). IO is responsible for advancing American leadership and national interests through its work with the United Nations and other multilateral organizations. 

“As the United States rebuilds our international reputation, renewed engagement with international organizations is key to achieve our foreign policy goals,” said Chairman Castro. “During this week’s hearing, Assistant Secretary Sison shared important insights about how our involvement with these organizations can counter rising Chinese influences and protect the interests of the United States and our allies. I appreciate the Assistant Secretary’s cooperation with this hearing, and I hope it was the first of many opportunities for the House Foreign Affairs Committee to learn from the Bureau of International Organization Affairs about its work and priorities.” 

During the hearing, Chairman Castro pressed Assistant Secretary Sison to seek out a determination from the State Department on the legality of the current “Title 42” order, which summarily expels individuals at the U.S. Southern border in a manner inconsistent with international norms. In response, Assistant Secretary Sison reiterated the State Department’s commitment to ensuring safe, orderly, and humane migration, and pledged to share Chairman Castro’s concerns about the use of Title 42 with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and with the senior leadership of the State Department. 

In additional questioning, Chairman Castro asked Assistant Secretary Sison to speak to the State Department’s engagement with the Israeli government on the issue of UNESCO membership, as well as the importance of renewed U.S. participation in the organization. In 2011, following UNESCO’s admission of Palestine as a member, the United States stopped paying dues to UNESCO and eventually withdrew in full. In their fiscal year 2022 budget request, the Biden administration requested a waiver from current U.S. restrictions to allow our nation to rejoin UNESCO.   

In response to Chairman Castro’s question, Assistant Secretary Sison explained that participation in UNESCO would allow the United States to contribute to international standard-setting on emerging technology, artificial intelligence, and other key issues. Ambassador Sison further noted that in the absence of U.S. leadership in UNESCO, China and other nations have become increasingly assertive in attempting to shape international standards in a way that runs contrary to democratic norms. 

To read Assistant Secretary of State Sison’s opening statement, click here. 

To view the hearing in full, click here.