Foreign Affairs
In a time when war and conflict rage on every continent, I strongly believe that through dialogue and engagement we can make this world a cleaner, a greener, and a more peaceful place for generations to come.
The 5th Congressional District of Georgia boasts many outstanding collegiate, business, and cultural international exchange programs. One of the best ways to understand our neighbors is through people-to-people exchanges. Every year, I host a multicultural festival in Atlanta to highlight our diversity, explore our similarities, and celebrate our differences.
I am fully committed to making sure that we create a more peaceful global family. Since coming to Congress, I have been arrested four times for civil disobedience – twice at the South African Embassy protesting against apartheid, and twice protesting genocide in Darfur. We must stay vigilant in condemning violence and human rights abuses and responding to humanitarian disasters in every corner of the world -- from the Horn of Africa to human trafficking in the streets of Atlanta.
The fight for peace, democracy, equality, and liberty around the world is a never ending process. We must push others to achieve this standard, but remain vigilant about our own work. This is why I introduce a U.S. Recommitment to International Civil and Human Rights Resolution, which calls on the U.S. to ratify key, core, United Nations, and International Labour Organization conventions.
In addition to being a founding Member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, I am also a Member of the following foreign affairs Congressional organizations -
- The Out of Afghanistan Caucus
- The Congressional Human Rights Caucus
- The Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking
- The Democratic Israel Working Group
- The Bipartisan Taskforce on Non-Proliferation
- The Caucus on Hellenic Issues
- The Congressional Caucus on Indian and Indian Americans
- The Pakistan Caucus
- The Turkey Caucus
- The Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus
- The Global Road Safety Caucus
- The Congressional Black Caucus Afro-Latino Working Group
- The Congressional Black Caucus Foreign Affairs Taskforce
More on Foreign Affairs
Today President Obama announced an historic agreement with Iran negotiated by Secretary Kerry, Secretary Moniz, and the other P5+1 nations. Over the next few months, I look forward to reviewing the details of the proposed agreement with my congressional colleagues.
Today in a marathon mark-up of the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act (TPA) of 2015 in the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Lewis sought to amend the TPA to clarify and strengthen the instructions on labor and human protections, and it establishes an appropriate process to add human rights legislation to an implementing bill. In many nations where Americans trade, workers and citizens suffer human rights and labor violations that are illegal in this country. Lewis made this statement on behalf of his amendment that would use the influence of the U.S.
"During this holy weekend for many religious devotees, I watched in horror as the details of the massacre in Kenya unfolded. My thoughts and prayers are with the Garissa University College students, parents, and employees who are devastated by this senseless violence.
Rep. John Lewis along with several of his colleagues spoke at a press conference in Washington today following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to both houses of the U.S. Congress. He made these remarks in response to the prime minister's address:
In this Congress, I take a backseat to no one in my commitment and support of Israel and the American Jewish community. On many occasions, we have worked side-by-side to strengthen our democracy and fight for equality and justice in this country. That commitment will not change.
"I am a strong supporter of President Obama's decision to begin normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba. I am relieved by this shift in U.S. policy because it is long overdue. It was the right thing to do. It was the moral choice, and I am glad the President had the courage to do it.
"The Ebola crisis in Africa is devastating. Thousands of people have died, and thousands more are dying. As members of the world community, we cannot shut our doors and turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. Closing our borders will not cut our connection with the rest of humanity.
WASHINGTON—“Today is not a day for celebration, but a time when this nation should reflect upon the true meaning of our involvement in Iraq. We can take heart in the fact that the most brutal aspects of this conflict seem to be coming to an end. And we continually marvel at the courage and bravery of our young men and women in uniform who face the hardest responsibility we can imagine. They deserve our honor and our enduring allegiance.
After a moving ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland led by the President of the United States Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who received the remains of four Americans killed recently in an attack against the American consulate in Libya, Rep. John Lewis made this statement:
“President Barack Obama presented an inspiring vision of the future to the Congress and the American people tonight. An America built to last should certainly be the hope of every member of Congress and every citizen of this nation.