US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations


Subcommittee on African Affairs

The subcommittee has geographic responsibilities corresponding to those of the Bureau of African Affairs in the Department of State. The subcommittee considers all matters relating to Africa, with the exception of countries bordering on the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt to Morocco, which are under the purview of the Subcommittee on Near Eastern Affairs.


Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs

The geographic scope of the subcommittee extends from China and Mongolia to Burma, inclusive of the mainland of Asia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, Oceania, and the South Pacific Islands.


Subcommittee on European Affairs

The subcommittee deals with matters concerning the continent of Europe except forthose nations under the jurisdiction on the Subcommittee on Central Asia and South Caucasus. Its responsibilities include the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Matters relating to Greenland and the north polar region are also the responsibilities of this subcommittee.


Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection

The Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection has oversight responsibility for United States development policy and foreign assistance programs. It includes U.S. bilateral humanitarian, development, economic, trade and security assistance programs carried out by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and other U.S. agencies, and U.S. voluntary contributions to international organizations providing assistance to foreign nations.


Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Women's Issues

The Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Democracy and Human Rights is responsible for all matters involving international operations and organizations, democracy and human rights. This includes the general oversight responsibility for the U.S. State Department, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the U.S. Foreign Service, and public diplomacy and United States participation in the United Nations, its affiliated organizations, and other international organizations not under the jurisdiction of other subcommittees. Finally, it includes general oversight responsibility for U.S. policy in promoting democracy and human rights abroad.


Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs

This subcommittee deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countriesof the Middle East and Arab North Africa. This subcommittee's geographic responsibilities also encompass U.S. relations with the countries of South and Central Asia, corresponding to the jurisdiction of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the Department of State.


Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Global Narcotics Affairs

The Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs is responsible for United States relations with the nations of the Western Hemisphere, including Canada and the nations of the Caribbean. The subcommittee also deals with boundary matters, and U.S. policy with regard to the Organization of American States. Specific matters within the region that fall within the subcommittees purview are terrorism and non-proliferation; U.S. foreign assistance programs; and the promotion of U.S. trade and exports.

The subcommittee also exercises general oversight over the activities and programs of the Peace Corps and all U.S. foreign policy, programs and international cooperative efforts to combat the flow of illegal drugs or substances.

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*The Chairman and Ranking Member of the full committee are ex officio members of each subcommittee on which they do not serve as members.