Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel issued the following statement after a majority of Democrats on the Foreign Affairs Committee agreed to support his candidacy to become Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“I am honored by the show of support I have received from my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee.  I owe a debt of gratitude to them for their trust and their respect.  Having the people whose opinions on foreign policy I respect greatly rally behind my efforts to become Ranking Member is humbling.  For the last several years, Howard Berman has been our leader on the Committee, and the loss of his expertise on foreign policy will be felt throughout the Congress.  I plan to carry on in his tradition.  

After my many years on the Committee, serving as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, I have built strong relationships with key members of the Administration and leaders around the world.   I plan to provide a steady, consensus-driven style reflective of all voices in our party, and to work in a bipartisan manner whenever possible.

The bottom line is our committee needs to be focused on promoting American interests around the world, supporting our allies, confronting our enemies and investigating incidents whenever they arise.  I look forward to the challenge, and I am seeking the rest of my Democratic colleagues to follow the lead of the majority of the committee by presenting me the opportunity to follow the lead of my friend and colleague Howard Berman.”

The members of the Foreign Affairs Committee who have given support to Rep. Engel are: Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI).

XXX