Foreign Affairs

In the realm of foreign affairs, I am committed to ensuring U.S. national security, promoting free trade, defending our allies, protecting U.S. sovereignty, and fighting for religious freedom. 

U.S. National Security 

The threats we face as a nation are significant.  They include Iran’s terror-sponsorship, hegemonic desires, and ballistic missile and space programs, North Korea’s nuclear program Russia’s provocations and expansionism, and radical Islamist threats.  As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am actively tracking these threats and engaging to counter them.

Promoting Free Trade

I led the effort to express concern, with my colleagues, regarding the EU Commission’s guidelines that would restrict trade with Israel through boycott, divestment, or sanctions.  These guidelines are part of a politically motivated BDS campaign against Israel that single out Israel for discriminatory treatment.  Such treatment not only unfairly targets Israel, but also undermines decades of efforts to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

I recently chaired a Member Roundtable discussion on the U.S. – Israel economic partnership and sought information on ways to facilitate this partnership through scientific, technological, healthcare, cyber, space, agricultural and environmental collaboration on research and development.  These efforts improve American quality of life, create jobs, and bolster our economy.

Defending our Allies

The United States has a moral obligation to defend our allies in the Middle East, specifically Israel, and to work with those that are partners with us in fighting the threats we face as a nation.  Many countries are endangered by terrorism and we should seek to strengthen those assisting us and suffering from the attacks carried out against and threatening their citizens. 

Protecting U.S. Sovereignty

The increased recognition of international institutions in favor of the historic influence of our national government is concerning. 

As co-chairman and founder of the House Sovereignty Caucus, I am committed to protecting both the legal and territorial concept memorialized in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. I will protect and defend our nation from those who would imperil America by ill-conceived international agreements.  

Congressmen Lamborn and Jeff Duncan of South Carolina,  Co-Chairs of the House Sovereignty Caucus, host former UN Ambassador John Bolton for a briefing attended by nearly 100 Members of Congress and congressional staff.  Ambassador Bolton discussed potential threats to American Sovereignty and what we must do to protect our country from the encroachment of international organizations.

Fighting for Religious Freedom

Religious Freedom is a fundamental tenant of the United States Constitution and a well-established principle of international law.

I believe that preserving the religious freedom of all people is critical to the peace and stability of our entire world.  For example, it is essential that we seek to ensure that all people have the freedom to debate issues without being branded heretics or blasphemers and punished.  Without individual rights to religious freedom, including the right to change one’s beliefs, we ensure the world is a dangerous, tyrannical and rigid place.  Religious freedom is the lynchpin of the paradigm of democracy and freedom.

Viktor Frankl once commented, recalling his time in a Nazi concentration camp, “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the man who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.  They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedom: to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way...” 

Preserving religious freedom is about preserving such human freedom.  

Major Legislation 

As a Member of Congress, I pledge to stand strong against any measure that would undermine the economic freedom or safety of our international friends. Here is a summary of some of the efforts I have undertaken to stand up for our allies as well as ensure religious freedom abroad:

H.R. 1164 – Taylor Force Act

I introduced H.R. 1164, the Taylor Force Act, to end the Palastinian Authority’s “martyr payments” policy, more accurately termed “pay-to-slay.” The act, named in honor and memory of the son of Stuart and Robbi Force, sets conditions for American taxpayer aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Former U.S. Army officer and combat veteran Taylor Force was murdered in a Palestinian stabbing attack in Tel Aviv in March 2016. Force, a Vanderbilt University graduate student, had been visiting Israel as part of a school-organized spring break trip in March 2016 when he was caught up in the attack that left ten others wounded. Relatives of Force’s killer, Bashar Masalha, are among the beneficiaries of the PA’s payments policy.

"The vote for the Taylor Force Act on the House Floor today is an important statement from America against terrorism,” said Rep. Doug Lamborn. "In Taylor's memory, we must stop sending aid money to an entity that rewards his murderer's family and prevents any future injustice. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to vote 'yes' on this bill and hold the Palestinian Authority accountable for financing terrorism.”- Doug Lamborn

H.R. 1572 – Boycott Our Enemies not Israel Act
I introduced this legislation which opposes restrictive trade practices, or boycotts, against countries that are friendly to the United States or against any U.S. person..

H.R. 4555 – Non-Discrimination of Israel in Labeling Act
This bill, which I introduced, secures Israel’s right to label its products, including in the settlements, which protects both Palestinian and Israeli interests and jobs.

Read my op-ed: “Why Is Obama Using Labeling of Israeli Goods to Pressure the Jewish State?” in the Algemeiner

H.R. 1649 – Partnering to Detect and Defeat Tunnels Act
This bill counteracts terrorist threats by creating a partnership between the U.S. and Israel to develop and deploy anti-tunnel technologies.

H.Con.Res. 128 – A Joint Resolution of Congress with the Senate - Expressing the sense of Congress that:

• a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process can only come through direct, bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians;
• the U.N. cannot be a truly neutral arbiter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and
• the United States should veto any U.N. Security Council resolution that inserts the Security Council into the peace process, unilaterally recognizes a Palestinian state, makes declarations concerning Israeli controlled territories, or dictates terms and a time line for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Read my op-ed: “We Must Protect our Middle Eastern Allies” in the Washington Examiner

H.R. 1150 – Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2015
I cosponsored this landmark piece of legislation that strengthens religious freedom initiatives across all U.S. programs and projects. This bill advances global religious freedom through training, diplomatic efforts, counterterrorism, foreign assistance, and stronger political responses to violations of religious freedom worldwide.

H.Con.Res 75 – Expressing the sense of Congress that those who commit or support atrocities against Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities, including Yezidis, Turkmen, Sabea-Mandeans, Kaka’e, and Kurds, and who target them specifically for ethnic or religious reasons, are committing, and are hereby declared to be committing, “war crimes”, “crimes against humanity”, and “genocide.”

Sponsored and Cosponsored Israel Legislation

H.R. 6389 - Taylor Force Act

H.R. 4555 - Non-Discrimination of Israel in Labeling Act

H.Con.Res. 128 - Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to exercise its veto in the United Nations Security Council on resolutions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

H.R. 6208 - Combating European Anti-Semitism Act of 2016

H.R. 4514 - Combating BDS Act of 2016

H.R. 1349 - United States-Israel Anti-Tunnel Defense Cooperation Act

H.R. 114 - Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2015

H.R.277 - Defend Israel by Defunding Palestinian Foreign Aid Act of 2015

H.Con.Res 129 - Expressing support for the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust victims live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years, and urging the Federal Republic of Germany to continue to reaffirm its commitment to this goal through a financial commitment to comprehensively address the unique health and welfare needs of vulnerable Holocaust victims, including home are and other medically prescribed needs. 

H.Res 729 - Expressing support for the expeditious consideration and finalization of a new, robust, and 
long-term Memorandum of Understanding on military assistance to Israel between the 
United States Government and the Government of Israel.

Sponsored and Cosponsored Foreign Affairs Legislation

H.R. 6176 - Export Control Reform Act

H.R. 4522 - PLO Accountability Act

H.R. 4633 - Sanctioned Iranian Entities Oversight Act of 2016

H.R. 5119 - No 2H2O from Iran Act

H.R. 5181 - Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016

H.R. 907 - United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015

H.R. 4448 - State Sanctions Against Iranian Terrorism Act

H.R. 4038 - American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015

H.R. 22 - FAST Act

H.R. 955 - To Authorize assistance and sustainment to the military and national security forces of Ukraine

Related Items

• Letter about Jerusalem Recognition 
• Letter to Trump on Israel Visit, Recognition, Relocation of the Embassy 
• Letter to Secretary Tillerson - Taylor Force Act 
• Montenegro Election Letter 2016 
• Veto Override - JASTA