Two members of the Florida delegation will stay at the top of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., announced he is staying as the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. South Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen remains the chairwoman of the subcommittee.
"The recent terrorist attacks in Paris serve as a stark reminder that what happens in the Middle East is of enormous consequence to the security of the United States and our allies around the world, Deutch said on Wednesday. As ranking member I will continue to vigorously promote our interests in the region, from defeating ISIL's terrorist campaign to kill innocents around the world and alleviating the devastating human rights crisis in Syria to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and protecting the security of our ally Israel. I am grateful to earn the support of my colleagues and look forward to working across the aisle with my friend and subcommittee chairman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, to address the many challenges that await us in the 114th Congress."
Deutch will also serve on the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats.
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, kept Ros-Lehtinen, who led the GOP on the committee and chaired it from 2011-2013. Term-limited on the full Foreign Affairs Committee, Ros-Lehtinen moved over to chair the subcommittee in 2013.
I am pleased to announce this excellent roster of subcommittee chairmen for the 114th Congress, Royce said in December when he kept Ros-Lehtinen in her post. During my past two years as chairman of the committee, Ive had the opportunity to work closely with each of these dedicated members. We have worked well together and accomplished a great deal within the committee.
In the next two years, we will continue to work together as a team to fulfill the important mission of this committee, pressing for policies to make our nation safer and more prosperous, tackling the many global challenges, including Irans nuclear program, ISIS, and Russia, Royce added. I am looking forward to a productive 114th Congress.
Ros-Lehtinen and Deutch have often worked together on Middle Eastern issues, defending Israel and opposing Iran, the Islamic State, Hamas and other terrorist groups.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
