Since I was first elected to Congress, I have had the opportunity to serve on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.  And I have long served on its Asia-Pacific and Middle East and North Africa Subcommittees.

An engaged American foreign policy is a vital part of our success on the world stage.  International cooperation helps achieve our national security objectives through our military alliances and through less formal channels.  Defeating the Islamic State (ISIS), preventing Iran or North Korea from threatening the world with nuclear weapons, and ensuring that countries like Russia and China do not infringe on the territorial sovereignty of their neighbors requires continued communication with our allies abroad.

Trade is also a vital part of foreign policy.  Fairly negotiated trade deals open new markets for American exports and give our small businesses new customers.  These agreements also bring down prices for American consumers.  They must also be properly negotiated to ensure that they put American workers and exporters on a level playing field with foreign competitors.