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Politics

Francis Rooney Continues to Focus on Foreign Policy

March 2, 2018 - 6:00am
Francis Rooney
Francis Rooney

Freshman U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., continues to polish his foreign policy credentials as Peter Witting, the German ambassador to the U.S., is scheduled to visit Southwest Florida on Friday.

Rooney, the vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, invited Witting to the district. They will tour a company with connections to Germany and meet business leaders and officials at a lunch roundtable.

“We are honored to welcome Ambassador Witting on his visit to Florida,” Rooney said this week. “Southwest Florida has a rich German history and is home to over 100,000 people of German heritage. Many German owned businesses have expanded into our region which have positively impacted our economy and have created strong community partnerships. We strive to continue cultivating these mutually beneficial relationships. In addition to the business sector, Southwest Florida recreation and tourism sectors benefit greatly from our German friends and I look forward to the Ambassador meeting some of these business owners and residents today.”

“It is great to be back in Florida with its large German community,” Witting said. “I am very grateful for Congressman Rooney’s invitation. Germany and the United States - that's not only a strong political alliance. It is first and foremost a friendship between its people. I experience this every day during my work: from Americans studying in Berlin, to the Germans working, living, and enjoying the sun on the shores of Florida. This friendship makes our alliance so strong!”

Despite being a freshman, Rooney has taken a leading role on international issues for House Republicans. Rooney sat on the Advisory Commission on the Panama Canal from 2002 to 2005 and 2008 to 2016, only taking a break to serve as then President George W. Bush’s ambassador to the Holy See. Last year, before he was named vice chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rooney tackled several topics including writing a column for the Daily Caller, calling for major reforms to the United Nations, and focusing on Latin American issues.

In early November, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, replaced U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., with Rooney. Yoho already had his hands full as chairman of the U.S. House Asia and Pacific Subcommittee. 

“I am excited to have Rep. Rooney as our vice chairman,” Royce announced when he made the selection. “His previous experience as the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and as a successful businessman has been valuable in our efforts to counter global threats, and promote peace and American prosperity abroad.”

 “I am honored to be named vice chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, especially at such a turbulent and pivotal time,” Rooney said. “With significant national security concerns related to North Korea, Iran, Russia, and elsewhere, I look forward to working with Chairman Royce, our committee and our national foreign policy resources to define and secure American interests around the world.”

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