By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com
Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) announced on June 5 that he has been appointed to the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The decision to appoint the veteran congressman was made by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and was later unanimously approved by the U.S. House Democratic Caucus.
“From my time on the Baltimore City Council, fighting to divest city funds from the then-apartheid government of South Africa, to working alongside former President Bill Clinton to bring peace and order in Haiti, I have never shied away from using whatever platform I have had to find solutions to global problems,” stated Mfume.
While serving in this position Mfume will be responsible for oversight and legislation regarding national security developments affecting foreign policy; foreign assistance; the Peace Corps; strategic planning and agreements; war powers, treaties, executive agreements and the deployment and use of United States Armed Forces. He will also be lending his expertise to peacekeeping, peace enforcement; enforcement of United Nations or other international sanctions; arms control and disarmament issues; arms control and disarmament issues and a plethora of other matters.
“This appointment is a tremendous honor and responsibility that I do not take lightly given today’s state of affairs. I look forward to joining my colleagues on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to ensure the United States remains an advocate for peace, security, and equality both at home and abroad,” Mfume shared.
Although this role with the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs is Mfume’s most recent venture in the world of politics, he has a lengthy record when it comes to serving his community and our nation. He’s served as a member of Congress under five presidents, including Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton, Donald J. Trump, and Joseph R. Biden. He is currently working in Congress as a member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and the Congressional Caribbean Caucus.
In addition to this, he has witnessed and served through events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the first Gulf War, the Panamanian incursion (“Operation Just Cause”), U.S. intervention in Haiti (“Operation Uphold Democracy”), attempts to coordinate foreign interference in U.S. elections, the rise of global cyberthreats and the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.
“From the famine in Africa to the strife in the Middle East, there are so many hotspots today that require strong voices for fairness. I have worked tirelessly throughout my life and in many different capacities to address global issues that impact our people,” Mfume shared. “I am eager to utilize my experiences and begin working now as the only Maryland congressperson appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”