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Susan visits with refugees in Uganda
Susan visits with refugees at the Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Uganda.

On the Issues

Foreign Affairs

RECENT CONGRESSIONAL ACTION

Click here (pdf 563kb) to read the letter Susan and her colleagues sent to Secretary of State Clinton regarding the situation in Northern Uganda.  Susan is also a cosponsor of the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (H.R. 2478).

Afghanistan& Pakistan
Susan supports a comprehensive approach to addressing the difficult challenges in both countries.  President Obama’s plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan represents the first comprehensive regional strategy for the United States since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Click here to read President Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The Administration does not focus exclusively on adding U.S. troops—although the Department of Defense will add approximately 21,000 service members in Afghanistan in 2009.  Rather, the Administration’s approach focuses heavily on enhancing non-military steps, such as economic development and coordination among international donors, building local governing structures, building capacity, and reforming the Afghan government. 

Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, Susan does not believe there is a military solution to a conflict rooted in grievances against the central government, ethnic and tribal differences, and the narcotics trade. While Susan supports President Obama’s decision to shift the government’s focus towards Afghanistan, she is concerned that more troops in Afghanistan without sufficient civilian support and aid from our allies could make political gains difficult to achieve.  In addition to training the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, the United States must help the Afghan government address the serious issues faced by the Afghan people.  This includes helping the Afghan government crack down on corruption, building institutions that support the rule of law, and empowering women.

Susan has been very engaged on Afghanistan and has traveled to the region several times to get a first hand knowledge of the realities on the ground.  In May, Susan led a Congressional Delegation of female Members of Congress to get a better understanding of the political and security situation.  The delegation also looked at the role women are playing in Afghan society. Click here to read about Susan’s trip.  She has also worked with her colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee to bring attention to the issue and encourage the White House to define a strategy and goals so that the American people know why we are engaged in a conflict half way around the world. 

  • Click here to read Susan’s letter to General McChrystal about the importance of election security in Afghanistan.

Pakistan
U.S. involvement in Afghanistan is made even more difficult by the crisis in Pakistan. Pakistan represents one of the most difficult foreign policy challenges for the United States.  Pakistan, the world’s sixth most populous nation and second largest Muslim country, is a nuclear power governed by a fragile civilian government threatened by domestic insurgents and foreign terrorists.  Instability in Pakistan could also lead to renewed conflicts with India. 

Susan and her colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee have used several hearings on Pakistan to question U.S. officials and academic experts about how we can assist the civilian government in Islamabad.  Susan supports assisting Pakistani refugees displaced by fighting between the Taliban and the Pakistani Army.  She also firmly believes that any U.S. tactical decisions should be made based on a comprehensive regional approach that helps address the security, development, and governance challenges on the ground.

Iraq

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
In the mid-1960s, Congresswoman Davis had the rare opportunity to live on a kibbutz in Israel and has returned to the region several times since.  While many obstacles to peace still exist, it is Susan’s sincere hope that the future holds peace.  You can count on her to continue pushing all parties in the region to set incremental goals that are achievable and to work to realize and then sustain them.  In addition, Susan will advocate for the assistance and the support needed to return leaders in the Middle East back to negotiations.

Susan continues to believe that strong U.S. leadership and support is the best hope for bringing about a political process that can eventually pave the way for security and peace for the region.  In fact, Susan introduced H. Res. 143 in the 110th Congress to urge the president to appoint a special envoy for the Middle East, because she did not believe that the United States has devoted enough diplomatic resources to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in recent years.  This issue is too important for the United States to not be fully engaged, which is why Susan fully supports President Obama’s decision to appoint former U.S. Senator George Mitchell as special envoy to the Middle East. 

  • To read two letters Susan sent to President Obama on moving the peace process forward Letter 1(PDF 49Kb), Letter 2(PDF 7Mb).
  • Click here to read Susan’s statement on Senator Mitchell’s selection.

Iran
Susan believes that preemptive warfare with Iran, without clear proof of an imminent threat, would be the wrong action given the current international environment.  As many are aware, the United States has been working with allies on the United Nations Security Council to peacefully engage the Iranians on the issue of nuclear enrichment.  While Iran has to date failed to meet the Council’s requirements to avoid sanctions, the very fact that the international community and Iran are engaged in the diplomatic arena and not on the battlefield is encouraging.  Susan remains hopeful that Iran will abide by the terms set forth by the Security Council and that the issue of nuclear enrichment can be solved without military action.

In the 110th Congress, Susan cosponsored H.J. Res. 14 and H.J. Res. 64, resolutions introduced by Rep. Walter Jones and Rep. Neil Abercrombie.  H.J. 14 states that absent an imminent threat to the United States or our interests, the President must receive authorization from Congress prior to initiating any use of military force against Iran. H.J. Res. 64 states that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq.

While the use of military force to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon should be only be considered after all other options have failed, Susan believes that smart sanctions against the Iranian regime are necessary to pressure to Tehran to give up their nuclear ambitions.  In the 111th Congress, Congresswoman Davis cosponsored H.R. 1327, the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act.  H.R. 1327 authorizes state and local government agencies to divest their assets from companies that do business with the Iranian government.  In the 110th Congress, Susan cosponsored H.R. 1400, the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act.  Additionally, Susan has voted in favor of a number of important pieces of legislation aimed at reducing Tehran’s threat to the Middle East and to the United States.

Darfur
Susan is working hard to prevent further atrocities in Darfur and help the region recover from years of strife.  Susan was proud to have voted in favor of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (S. 2271) which bars federal contracts with companies that do business with the Sudanese Government.  It also authorizes states to do the same and to divest assets from the country.  S. 2271 was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives and is now federal law.

The U.S. has been the largest contributor of humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur, having provided over $1 billion.  In June of 2007, Davis voted for the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764) to provide another $949 million for humanitarian assistance in Darfur.  She also voted for the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, H.R. 3127.  This legislation directs the President to block the property and assets of civil and military officials of the Government of Sudan and their family members implicated in the Darfur atrocities.  It also authorizes the President to use force to stop the Darfur genocide, including establishment of a no-fly zone and use of unmanned armed planes.  Susan will continue to work with her colleagues to help end this conflict.

China
Even with the current global economic downturn, the United States’ relationship with China remains one of our most important, yet complex foreign policy challenges.  With a population of over 1.3 billion people and the second largest economy in the world when measured by domestic purchasing power parity, China is poised to become a world power, economically, diplomatically, and militarily.  In recent years, Susan has traveled to China to better understand the opportunities and challenges that have resulted from China’s development.

As a member of the U.S.-China Working Group in the House of Representatives, Susan has been actively engaged on U.S.-China issues that impact San Diegans.  In fact, in the 111th Congress Susan introduced H.R. 2313, the U.S.-China Language Engagement Act, which would make grant funding available to local school agencies for Chinese language instruction.  Improved language training will ensure that our country remains competitive well into the 21st century.  Click here to read Susan’s statement on H.R. 2313 and learn more about this important legislation.

As a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Susan is very concerned about human rights in China.  Whether allegations of abuse against Falun Gong members, or China’s economic relationship with the government in Sudan, Susan believes Congress should continue to exert pressure on China to reform their human rights practices.