Foreign Affairs
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I am honored to have a voice in our nation's foreign policy. The United States of America is a shining example of freedom, and has the ability to lead the world by example. Our nation is a generous one, and while the temptation to give money and aid to all corners of the globe is great we must also be proper stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars. Foreign aid, while a noble cause, must be reformed to ensure that money is spent both efficiently and wisely. Additionally, we must begin to shift our aid model from one of direct monetary aid to one of trade. Strong trade has the potential to benefit all and creates a stable economic environment that will lift countries out of needing aid in the first place. A stable economy attracts businesses, which in turn creates jobs. Rather than one country becoming reliant on another, we help them become a member of the world economy. However, we must also always be mindful of any trade negotiation to ensure that our trade agreement does not come at the cost of our sovereignty. It is possible to have commerce with nations without losing your sovereignty to them. I welcome a robust foreign policy that encourages this approach.
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Opening new markets abroad has been a mainstay of U.S. trade policy since WWII. It’s a noble endeavor, but it cannot succeed in isolation in today’s cut-throat international marketplace.
Once America creates a new opportunity with a new trade deal, it must strictly enforce established trade rules to ensure countries don’t erect new roadblocks or game the system to America’s detriment.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ted S. Yoho’s (R-FL-03) re-introduced the State Sponsors of Terrorism Review Enhancement Act for the 115th Congress. This anti-terrorism bill passed the House last year. The bill will quadruple the time - from 6 to 24 months - a designated country must refrain from sponsoring terrorism, before a President, regardless of party, can remove it from the sponsor list. The bill also increases congressional oversight by doubling the time Congress has to review the President’s proposed removal--from 45 to 90 days.
As I noted in this same space earlier this year, I have long been skeptical of how U.S. taxpayer dollars are spent overseas, having heard countless stories of America's generosity being rewarded by wasteful projects and corrupt foreign bureaucrats enriching themselves at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer and robbing their own citizens of those intended benefits.
As I noted in this same space earlier this year, I have long been skeptical of how U.S. taxpayer dollars are spent overseas, having heard countless stories of America’s generosity being rewarded by wasteful projects and corrupt foreign bureaucrats enriching themselves at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer and robbing their own citizens of those intended benefits.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ted S. Yoho’s (R-FL-03) bill, the State Sponsors of Terrorism Review Enhancement Act (H.R. 5484), passed the House. This anti-terrorism bill will quadruple the time - from 6 to 24 months - a designated country must refrain from sponsoring terrorism, before a President, regardless of party, can remove it from the sponsor list. The bill also increases congressional oversight by doubling the time Congress has to review the President’s proposed removal--from 45 to 90 days.
When the United States has friends like Saudi Arabia, who needs enemies?
Last month, Congress released 28 pages of secret documents on possible connections between the Saudi government and the 9-11 hijackers. Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Florida, had long fought for the release of the previously classified pages of the investigation into the 9-11 attacks, in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens.
Last week the Obama administration approved the largest release of detainees from the terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. These fifteen hardened terrorists will be transferred and placed under the custody of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This prisoner release greatly concerns me. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I believe this transfer is reckless and shortsighted.
Florida Republican Ted Yoho is leading the charge on Capitol Hill to delay--and possibly halt--the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Yoho noted on Wednesday that he was against the State Department’s planned $1.15 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia.
The North Florida Republican pointed to Saudi activities in Yemen as to why he was against the arms sale. The Saudis are currently battling Houthi insurgents in Yemen.
Washington D.C. – Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL-03) released the following statement on the one year anniversary of Iran Nuclear Deal.
“One year ago today, the Obama Administration claimed victory for signing a flawed nuclear deal with Iran. Since then, for 365 days, we have watched an Iranian regime thumb their nose at that agreement, America, and the world.
America needs to rethink how we distribute our foreign aid around the world. I came to Congress on the promise of cutting wasteful government spending. There are plenty of examples of the government playing loose with taxpayer money, but none more so than how we spend our foreign aid dollars.