Foreign Affairs

As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, I’ve made strengthening America’s role on the world stage one of my highest priorities in Congress.

From supporting our allies and regional partners abroad to expanding the Abraham Accords, cutting off Iran’s funding for terrorism, and reforming the State Department to ensure our diplomats are equipped for 21st-century challenges, I’ve focused on delivering results that protect American interests and promote stability.

Below is an overview of the work I’m doing as Subcommittee Chairman and as a member of the full House Foreign Affairs Committee.

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Leading On the Middle East & North Africa

In January 2025, I was honored to be named Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over the Middle East and North Africa region, as well as oversight of key State Department bureaus, including Near Eastern Affairs, Counterterrorism, and Management.

As Chairman, I’ve led hearings and advanced legislation focused on:

• Strengthening the U.S.-Israel alliance and expanding the Abraham Accords

• Confronting the Iranian regime and its proxies

• Improving the effectiveness and accountability of the State Department and its foreign service officer trainings

• Enhancing counter-intelligence training for our Diplomatic Security corps

• Supporting partners like Ukraine and Moldova against Russian aggression

• Addressing threats from China against Taiwan and our Indo-Pacific partners

Standing with Israel and Expanding the Abraham Accords

Israel is our closest ally in the Middle East, and America’s commitment to its security must remain ironclad. I’ve consistently fought to strengthen that partnership and build on the historic Abraham Accords.

I authored the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act, signed into law in 2023, to establish a dedicated position at the State Department to expand and deepen these normalization agreements. I’ve also chaired hearings on expanding the Abraham Accords and further integrating Israel in the Middle East, including through economic initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

In addition, I’ve led bipartisan efforts to combat antisemitism, combat bias against Israel at the UN, and push for the replacement of UNRWA with more accountable humanitarian assistance.

Confronting Iran and Cutting Off Its Terror Funding

Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. That’s why I authored two major pieces of legislation that became law:

• The Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act, which targets countries and entities that help Iran sell its oil and fund terrorism.

• The Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act, which specifically cracks down on Chinese financial institutions that process transactions involving Iranian oil and bankroll the regime’s aggression.

These bills force stronger secondary sanctions on Iran’s enablers and hit the regime where it hurts. Its ability to finance Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other proxies.

I also introduced the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act, which passed the House earlier this Congress. This legislation provides authorities to sanction essentially any individual or entity that enables the Iranian oil trade. 

Further, I introduced the Iran Internet Freedom, Human Rights, and Accountability Act of 2026 to combat the Iranian regime’s repressive human rights abuses they commit against their own people.

Strengthening Security in the Indo-Pacific and Confronting China

The Chinese Communist Party poses a serious long-term threat to American national security and global stability. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I’ve focused on strengthening our Indo-Pacific alliances, supporting Taiwan, protecting critical infrastructure, and holding the CCP accountable.

My first congressional international trip was to the Indo-Pacific, where I traveled to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan and saw firsthand the importance of our alliances and the growing threats facing the region. I’ve carried that work forward by introducing the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act, which would examine a NATO-style collective security framework among the United States and our Indo-Pacific allies and partners to strengthen deterrence against Chinese and North Korean aggression.

I also led the bipartisan Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act to protect the undersea cables that connect Taiwan and the global economy from sabotage and other gray-zone threats. The legislation would strengthen monitoring, intelligence sharing, rapid response, and cooperation with our allies.

I’ve consistently supported Taiwan’s defense and international standing and have backed bipartisan legislation defending the rights, religious freedom, and cultural heritage of the Tibetan people. I’ve also worked to hold China accountable for enabling Iran, including through the SHIP Act and other sanctions targeting Chinese purchases and facilitation of Iranian oil.

I also introduced the PRC Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers Moratorium Act to block financial firms tied to the CCP from operating in American markets. The CCP has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to exploit economic and financial systems to undermine American interests. New Yorkers deserve confidence that U.S. institutions handling their hard-earned dollars are free from the influence and coercion of the CCP.

America must remain strong, united with our allies, and prepared to deter aggression. I will continue working to ensure the United States leads in the Indo-Pacific and that the CCP understands that threats to our allies and partners will be met with strength.

Reforming the State Department and Strengthening American Diplomacy

This Congress, the House Foreign Affairs Committee took a comprehensive look at State Department operations, including the training of our diplomatic corps. As the Subcommittee Chairman with jurisdiction over key management and counterterrorism functions, I’ve played a central role in this effort.

In 2025, Congress passed multiple of my bills in support of these efforts. This includes the Modernize Diplomatic Security Training Act, the Safe Embassies Act, and legislation to reform the entire Management Bureau at the State Department. Each of these bills will help streamline State Department operations to ensure the safety and efficiency of our diplomatic work and foreign operations.

My Foreign Service Modernization Act, the first comprehensive update to the Foreign Service Act in over 45 years, passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee with strong bipartisan support. I’ve also introduced and advanced bipartisan bills to improve oversight of foreign aid spending so American taxpayers know how their dollars are being used and how programs can deliver real results.

Supporting Our Allies and Advancing American Interests

Beyond the Middle East, I’ve been a consistent voice for supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, strengthening partnerships in Europe, and countering Chinese influence across the globe. I have always voted in support of U.S. assistance to Ukraine, maintaining our NATO commitments, and enhancing sanctions against the Putin regime. 

Additionally, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Moldova Caucus, I’ve worked to help Moldova resist Russian pressure and build greater independence. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan POWER Moldova Act, legislation designed to strengthen Moldova’s energy security by tracking progress on key energy milestones, encouraging cooperation with the U.S. Departments of State and Energy, and promoting the development of more reliable, diversified energy sources. Helping Moldova reduce its dependence on Russian energy is essential to protecting its democracy and reinforcing its role as a strategic partner of the United States. 

A Principled, Results-Driven Foreign Policy

American foreign policy should never be about ideology or endless wars. It should be about protecting our national security, standing with democratic allies, deterring our adversaries, and advancing peace through strength. As Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, I will continue to fight for a foreign policy that puts American interests first, strengthens our alliances, and ensures the United States remains the leader of the free world.