US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I contact the Senate Foreign Relations Committee?

Majority
Phone: (202) 224-4651
Fax: (202) 228-3612
Address: 444 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Minority

Phone: (202) 224-6797
Fax: (202) 228-0836
Address: 446 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

How can I get the email address and telephone number of a Committee staffer?

You can call the main offic e at 202-224-4651 and we can transfer your call and forward a message to staffers, but unfortunately cannot give out email addresses or direct line numbers. You would have to receive that information from the staffer.

Who are the Committee Chairman and Ranking Member?

Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) is the Committee Chairman and Senator G. Richard Lugar (R-IN) is the Ranking Member.

What subcommittees are under the Senate Foreign Relations Committee?

There are seven subcommittees under the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They are:

  • Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women’s Issues
  • Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Global Narcotics Affairs
  • Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection
  • Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs
  • Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
  • Subcommittee on European Affairs
  • Subcommittee on African Affairs
Where can I find upcoming hearings?

Go to the Senate Foreign Relations home page or click on the “Hearings” link.  You will immediately see any upcoming hearings and are even able to filter by hearing type, ex. business meeting, nomination hearing, etc.

Are all hearings open to the public?

No.  Our website will note if a meeting is classified and thus closed to the public.  Seating is limited for an open hearing and access will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Where do I find the time, location, and witnesses who will testify in a hearing, and the witness testimony?

All this information is posted on our website.  You can find it on our “Hearings” page.  Witness testimony will be posted to the website after the hearing has finished.

If I am unable to physically attend a hearing, what are my options?

You can watch a live feed on our website by clicking on “Live Webcast” on our home page. If you missed the live webcast, all hearings are recorded and can be watched at a later time.  Go to the “Hearings” page and locate the hearing you would like to watch.  Click on it and select the link to view the archived webcast.

Where can I find the transcript for a hearing and how soon are they available?

You can find printed hearing transcripts on GPO’s website http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=foreignrelations Transcripts are posted as soon as they are available, however due to the editing process, this can be anywhere from 2-4 months after the original hearing date.

Can I obtain a recording of a hearing?

No, you cannot obtain a recording of the hearing, however you can watch an archived hearing by going to the home page and clicking on the “Hearings” link and select and older hearing you would like to watch.

How can I check the status of a treaty, executive report, or other Committee action?

The best way to check the status of a Committee action is to locate the identifying bill number and run a search for it at: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php (Useful tip: Click on the link that reads “All Congressional Action” after running the search)

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