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Mark Temnycky
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches the six-month mark, pressure is mounting on the Biden administration to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. The move enjoys bipartisan backing in Congress and is seen by supporters as a proportionate response to mounting evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed his reluctance to confirm the designation, while Moscow has warned that any such step would represent a diplomatic "point of no return" in relations between Russia and the United States.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) is leading a bipartisan group of Members in sending letters to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) highlighting the ways in which proteins made using plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation (together, "alternative proteins") may be a powerful tool in combatting both hunger and climate change around the world.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) led a bipartisan group of Members in introducing the Russia is a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act. Rep. Lieu introduced the bill, which will deem Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism for invading and attacking Ukraine, with Reps. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Jared Golden (D-ME), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ).
Alexander Ward, Andrew Desiderio, and Quint Forgey
FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY –– Five House members will imminently introduce legislation to officially designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, putting them and Congress on a collision course with the secretary of State, who argues only he can slap that label on a country.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) are calling for the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate whether U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice in his recent political advertisement. The Members, who are both veterans, note that Mr. Greitens' advertisement promotes violence against political opponents, contains potential inaccuracies about Mr. Greitens' military service and falsely implies his candidacy was endorsed by the DoD.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for FY23. The NDAA that passed the House includes bold reforms to address and mitigate civilian harm in military operations, expand support for service members and their families, and increase diversity in the defense and national security space.
Jon Temin
America's partners around the world must have a serious case of whiplash. The past 20 years have seen U.S. foreign policy ricochet from unilateralism to "leading from behind," from the isolationism of America First to an attempt to restore our diplomacy and global partnerships all at once. Foreign policy priorities always shift when the White House changes hands, but these swings are now more pronounced and jeopardize the credibility of U.S. commitments abroad.
Chris Galford
U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Ken Calvert (R-CA), co-chairs of the California Aerospace Caucus, sent a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III last week, urging for the permanent relocation of the U.S. Space Force (USSF) upcoming Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) headquarters to either Los Angeles Air Force Base or the Vandenburg Space Force Base.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan California Aerospace Caucus, led a letter to U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III calling for the U.S. Space Force's (USSF) Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) permanent headquarters to be located at either the Los Angeles Air Force Base or the Vandenberg Space Force Base, both of which are in California.
WASHINGTON – Congressmen Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced a resolution expressing the House of Representatives' expectation of the Government of Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, to comply with the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocol. As Russia continues their malign campaign and senseless attacks on Ukraine, it is imperative that any Ukrainian soldiers and legitimate International Legion members captured are treated humanely as in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.