Spotlight on Foreign Policy As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Rep. Welch has sought to visit the regions in which the United States is actively engaged – both diplomatically and militarily. In 2009, Welch participated in three Congressional delegation missions: in February to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kuwait and Qatar; in June to Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; and in November to Pakistan. In his first term in office, he also visited Iraq and Afghanistan.

"At a time when America finds itself embroiled in two wars, one thing is clear: it is time for the United States to return to a responsible foreign policy and end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. By reengaging with countries around the world – both allies and adversaries – the United States can promote its interests first through diplomacy and tackle tough international issues like terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change and poverty. America must remain strong and protect its national security, but we have always been strongest when we have worked constructively with the international community."

Rep. Welch's Recent Work on Foreign Policy

Rutland Herald: 'Delegation condemns Middle East violence'

September 18, 2012

Members of Vermont's congressional delegation are joining in the condemnation of last week's killing of four American officials in Libya — while Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy cautioned that it is at times impossible to guarantee the safety of Americans working in some parts of the world.

Leahy, who chairs the Senate subcommittee that determines funding levels for State Department operations, noted that the annual legislatio... Read More

Rutland Herald: 'US probes tax on companies doing rebuilding'

June 25, 2012

A government watchdog is looking into Afghanistan's practice of taxing U.S. companies involved in America's multibillion-dollar effort to rebuild the war-torn nation.

The office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction will audit fees charged contractors by Kabul for supplies, materials and other items imported into Afghanistan or bought there, according to an inspector general memo obtained by The Asso... Read More

Welch applauds SIGAR audit of Afghan government practice of taxing U.S. assistance

June 20, 2012

Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) today applauded news that the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has begun an audit of the practice by the Afghan government of taxing U.S. companies delivering aid to the war-torn country.

In a joint statement, Welch and Jones said, “This is a step in the right direction. We’re hopeful this audit will and bring to an end the absurd practice... Read More

Washington Post: ' US to audit Afghan practice of taxing those helping rebuild the country'

June 20, 2012

A government watchdog is looking into Afghanistan's practice of taxing U.S. companies involved in America's multibillion-dollar effort to rebuild the war-torn nation.

The office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction will audit fees charged contractors by Kabul for supplies, materials and other items imported into Afghanistan or bought there, according to an inspector general memo obtained by The Asso... Read More

The Hill: 'Lawmakers laud DOD audit of Afghan taxes on US aid '

June 20, 2012

The Defense Department's top investigator overseeing Afghanistan reconstruction is looking into how and why Kabul has been taxing American companies supporting the reconstruction effort.

The DOD audit investigation by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has been a long time coming for two House lawmakers.

"This is a step in the right direction. We're hopeful this audit will and bring t... Read More

• May 15, 2012 — Welch bill to prevent Afghanistan from taxing U.S. aid coming to House floor tomorrow

• May 15, 2012 — WCAX: 'Welch wants taxes on aid to Afghanistan stopped'

• March 8, 2012 — VPR: 'Welch Calls For Financial Sanctions Before Military Action In Iran'

• March 1, 2012 — VPR: 'Leahy, Welch Say Travel Helps Them Shape Policy'

• February 24, 2012 — New York Times: 'Senators Urge Castro to Release American'

• February 22, 2012 — Welch and colleagues urge Obama to use strategic oil reserve to ease gas prices

• February 22, 2012 — CNBC: 'Lawmakers to Obama: tamp down fuel prices with oil stocks'

• February 9, 2012 — VPR: 'Welch Weighs In On Iran'

• January 17, 2012 — Bennington Banner: 'Welch: Energy tied to security'

• December 13, 2011 — Blurt: 'Welch Joins Last-Minute Call to Strip Indefinite-Detention Provision from Defense Bill'

• December 7, 2011 — Wall Street Journal: 'House Lawmaker Introduces Contractor Debarment Bill'

• December 7, 2011 — Welch introduces bipartisan bill to tackle contractor corruption

• November 14, 2011 — Bennington Banner: 'Welch: U.S. troops focus on handing over reins to Afghans'

• November 14, 2011 — Burlington Free Press: 'Rep. Welch: Focus in Afghanistan is now transition'

• November 11, 2011 — Times Argus: 'Afghanistan mission shifting, Welch says'

• October 24, 2011 — Talking Points Memo: 'Dem Rep. Peter Welch To Obama: Libya Should Pay U.S. Back'

• June 6, 2011 — Burlington Free Press: 'War in Afghanistan war finds Welch allied with conservatives in Congress'

• June 2, 2011 — Bennington Banner: 'Welch, ally make case for getting out of Afghanistan'

• May 27, 2011 — The Huffington Post: 'Afghanistan Withdrawal Measure Falls Just 12 Votes Short Of Passage In Congress'

• May 26, 2011 — House votes on Welch amendments to end the war in Afghanistan

• May 25, 2011 — Roll Call: 'Defense Bill Opens Anti-War Talk'

• May 24, 2011 — VPR News: 'Welch Calls Nation Building In Afghanistan "A Failure"'

• May 23, 2011 — Welch and Chaffetz continue bipartisan push to end the war in Afghanistan

• May 23, 2011 — As he returns to Washington, Welch announces initiatives to end the war in Afghanistan, chart a new anti-terrorism policy and check executive war powers

• May 10, 2011 — The Huffington Post: 'Bipartisan Lawmakers Push Obama On Afghanistan Withdrawal'

• May 10, 2011 — Vermont Public Radio: 'Welch Leading Effort To Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan'

• May 10, 2011 — Talking Points Memo: 'Bipartisan Group Urges Obama To Use OBL Raid As Example And End War In Afghanistan'

• May 10, 2011 — The Hill: 'Bipartisan House group to Obama: Pull troops from Afghanistan now'

• May 10, 2011 — VPR News: 'Welch Leading Effort To Withdraw Troops From Afghanistan'

• May 9, 2011 — Welch and Chaffetz lead bipartisan House group urging Obama to pull out of Afghanistan and recalibrate anti-terrorism strategy

• April 12, 2011 — National Public Radio: 'Accusations Of Corruption Rampant In Afghanistan'

• April 4, 2011 — After troubling reports of graft and money laundering, Welch wants Kabul Bank and Afghan officials looked into

• March 22, 2011 — Brattleboro Reformer: 'Peace Corps marks 50'

• March 7, 2011 — Welch and Jones introduce bipartisan bill to stop Afghanistan from taxing US aid

• September 16, 2010 — Wall Street Journal: "US House Passes Bill Cracking Down On Contractor Corruption"

• September 15, 2010 — House passes Welch bill cracking down on contractor corruption

• September 8, 2010 — VPR News: "Welch Sees Need For New Policy In Afghanistan"

• September 7, 2010 — Bennington Banner: "Welch still has doubts about Afghan military aims"

• September 7, 2010 — Times Argus: "Welch: Vt. forces in Afghanistan serving well, but face daunting task"

• September 1, 2010 — Burlington Free Press: "Vermont Rep. Welch heading back to Afghanistan"

• July 28, 2010 — Oversight Committee advances Welch bill banning contractors convicted of bribery

• May 25, 2010 — Blurt, the Seven Days Blog: "Bribe a Foreign Official? No Federal Contracts for You!"

• May 24, 2010 — Welch introduces bill to ban federal contractors convicted of bribing foreign officials

• January 26, 2010 — Burlington Free Press: "Vermont Guard soldiers in training, good spirits"

• December 14, 2009 — Vermont Delegation Nominates 29 Outstanding Young Vermonters To United States Service Academies

• December 7, 2009 — Burlington Free Press: "Vermont Guard departs for training"

• December 6, 2009 — Photo Album: "Rep. Welch delivers remarks at Vermont Guard Deployment Ceremony"

• December 6, 2009 — Photo Album: "Rep. Welch delivers remarks at Vermont Guard Deployment Ceremony"

• December 2, 2009 — Bennington Banner: "Vermont lawmakers skeptical on troop surge"

• December 2, 2009 — VPR: "Afghanistan Plan Draws Concern From Vt. Delegation"

• December 2, 2009 — Welch reacts to President Obama’s Afghanistan address

• November 13, 2009 — Burlington Free Press: "In Pakistan, Welch calls for more diplomacy"

• November 12, 2009 — Bennington Banner: "Welch questions troop buildup in Afghanistan"

• November 12, 2009 — Times Argus: "Welch wants Blackwater probed"

• November 12, 2009 — Seven Days: "Welch Seeks Probe of Blackwater in Wake of Bribery Charges"

• November 11, 2009 — Welch calls for Blackwater investigation by House Oversight Committee

• October 29, 2009 — Video: Rep. Welch salutes Vermont National Guard

• October 29, 2009 — WCAX: "Welch Wishes Soldiers Good Bye on House Floor"

• September 29, 2009 — Barre Montpelier Times Argus: "Welch opposes more troops for Afghanistan"

• April 15, 2009 — Welch announces $792,000 grant for Vermont National Guard

• April 8, 2008 — Vermont Congressional delegation objects to General Petraeus’ call for open-ended U.S. role in Iraq

• January 28, 2008 — Welch responds to President Bush’s “State of the Union” address

• January 24, 2008 — Welch slams DHS decision to end ‘oral declarations’ at Northern border

• January 6, 2008 — Welch to make congressional trip to Iraq, Middle East

• December 17, 2007 — Leahy, Welch lead congressional efforts to pass compact

• November 14, 2007 — House passes bill requiring troop withdrawal to begin in 30 days

• October 16, 2007 — Welch slams Bush administration for obstructing oversight, House approves measure on abuse of classification process

• October 14, 2007 — Reps. Welch, Murphy, and Duncan demand answers on Blackwater on profits, role in Iraq and Afghanistan

• October 11, 2007 — Welch leads House effort against U.S. sanctioned torture

• September 13, 2007 — Cong. Delegation Responds to President Bush’s ‘Stay the course’ Strategy in Iraq

• September 10, 2007 — Welch responds to Petraeus testimony, military solution will not solve Iraq’s civil war

• September 5, 2007 — Welch reacts to GAO Iraq report

• July 17, 2007 — House passes reform to alleviate passport backlogs

• July 12, 2007 — ‘President must be forced to change course,’ says Welch before major Iraq vote

• May 23, 2007 — Welch statement opposing Iraq war funding in supplemental

• May 1, 2007 — Welch responds to President's veto

• April 26, 2007 — Vermont Congressional Delegation Hits President's Threatened Veto of Iraq Withdrawal Timetable

• April 25, 2007 — Welch urges subpoena of Secretary of State Rice

• April 23, 2007 — Op-ed: "A Tale of Two Wars"

• April 20, 2007 — Vermont Delegation Statement on Impeachment

• April 19, 2007 — Welch briefs Bush at White House, says “We must end this war”

• April 3, 2007 — Welch appointed to Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group

• March 26, 2007 — Welch to make congressional trip to Iraq and Afghanistan

• March 23, 2007 — House votes to impose date certain to end Iraq war

• March 19, 2007 — As war enters fifth year, Welch says Bush's failed Iraq policy must be challenged

• February 16, 2007 — House vote a 'clear and bipartisan vote of no confidence' in President's Iraq policy, says Welch

• February 13, 2007 — Welch delivers statement on ending Iraq War

• February 6, 2007 — Welch questions Bremer on mismanagement of Iraq reconstruction

• February 5, 2007 — Bush budget misguided, fiscally reckless, and continues failed Iraq policy

• January 19, 2007 — Welch backs legislation calling for troop redeployment, roadblock to war escalation

• January 10, 2007 — Welch opposes President Bush on troop escalation

• May 10, 2001 — Reforming American Foreign Policy