Foreign Affairs & National Security
As a former Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Eshoo has a deep understanding of the threats America faces. She has consistently advocated for policies to keep Americans safe by advancing smart diplomacy, strengthening our alliances, ensuring the U.S. military remains the most capable in the world, and investing in technology to keep our intelligence-gathering capabilities the best in the world.
Rep. Eshoo also recognizes that the United States has a special responsibility to be a global leader and engage with other countries to safeguard human rights, encourage democracy to flourish, alleviate humanitarian crises, and improve development and trade. American global leadership is especially important in an era marked by emboldened authoritarian regimes around the world.
Standing with Ukraine
On February 24th Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by land, sea, and air, triggering the worst security crisis in Europe since World War II. Russia’s unprovoked assault on Ukraine is an attack on democracy and a grave violation of human rights and international law.
Congresswoman Eshoo has voted for every bill to provide security assistance to Ukraine as they defend their democracy, and she will continue to. As of July 22, 2022, the U.S. has provided approximately $7.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, including the following weapons and military equipment:
- Over 26,500 anti-tank weapons
- 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft weapons
- Over 800 armed drones
- Over 500 military vehicles
- Over 10,000 small arms and grenade launchers
- Over 59 million rounds of small arms ammunition
- 126 howitzer cannons and more than 260,000 artillery rounds
- 20 military helicopters
- 18 patrol boats
- 75,000 sets of body armor and helmets
- Tactical secure communications systems
- Satellite imagery services
- Counter-artillery and air surveillance radar systems
- Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protective equipment
- Medical supplies
As Russia continues its brutal onslaught against Ukraine, Rep. Eshoo remains deeply committed to providing maximum U.S. support for Ukraine with robust security assistance, lifesaving humanitarian aid, and crippling sanctions on the Putin regime.
Human Rights in Vietnam
Despite its strategic partnership with the U.S., the Vietnamese government is a repressive regime that imprisons dissidents, activists, and journalists. As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and as the representative of a vibrant Vietnamese American community in Silicon Valley, Rep. Eshoo has consistently advocated for human rights and civil liberties for the Vietnamese people.
Rep. Eshoo is a cosponsor of the Vietnam Human Rights Act, bipartisan legislation to hold the Vietnamese government accountable for human rights abuses. Specifically, the bill restricts foreign assistance to the Vietnamese government until human rights benchmarks are met, imposes sanctions on Vietnamese officials complicit in atrocities, and authorizes foreign aid to civil society groups working to secure the release of Vietnamese prisoners of conscience.
Supporting Armenia’s Democracy
As one of two Members of Congress of Armenian descent and a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus since the day she entered Congress, Rep. Eshoo has worked for decades to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia relationship. She has consistently supported efforts to increase U.S. foreign aid to Armenia and Artsakh; prevent the destruction of Armenian cultural sites; expand demining efforts in the region; and suspend U.S. security assistance to Azerbaijan in light of their aggression against Armenia.
In October 2019, Rep. Eshoo led the successful bipartisan effort in the House to end 100 years of official U.S. silence by passing the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The resolution passed by a vote of 405 to 11, strengthening America’s standing as a leader on human rights and giving closure to the families of the victims, including Rep. Eshoo’s family.
Advancing a Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
As a steadfast supporter of the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel, Rep. Eshoo recognizes that a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is critical to protecting the dignity and security of both Israelis and Palestinians. Throughout her service in Congress, Rep. Eshoo has advocated for a two-state solution to bring peace to the region by establishing an independent state for the Palestinian people alongside a secure State of Israel. Congresswoman Eshoo is a cosponsor of the Two State Solution Act which provides funding to promote diplomacy and peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians with the goal of accelerating progress toward a two-state solution.
Protecting Ethnic and Religious Minorities in the Middle East
Ethno-religious minorities in the Middle East have been subjected to ethnic strife and the ravages of war. In Iraq, ancient Christian people once numbered more than 1.5 million, but today are fewer than 250,000. As a human rights advocate and the daughter of immigrants who fled religious persecution in this part of the world, Rep. Eshoo has been a leader in bringing attention to the plight of religious minorities in the Middle East.
In 2018, Rep. Eshoo led a successful effort with Congressman Chris Smith to pass the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation to provide relief to survivors of the ISIS-perpetrated genocide against vulnerable religious and ethnic groups in Iraq and Syria. Since the bill was signed into law, the State Department has utilized its authority under the law to support organizations that are working directly with survivors on the ground.
More on Foreign Affairs & National Security
Washington, DC – Today, Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06), and Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-28) introduced a resolution condemning the atrocities and violations of the Geneva Conventions committed by Azerbaijan against Armenian servicemembers and civilians.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) traveled to Armenia on September 16th as part of a Congressional delegation to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Armenia relationship. The delegation was led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the Republic of Armenia. Eshoo and Rep. Jackie Speier are the only two Members of Congress of Armenian descent.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), one of two Congressmembers of Armenian descent, delivered the following remarks at a press conference with Speaker Alen Simonyan of the Armenian National Assembly in Armenia:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed Rep. Anna G. Eshoo’s (D-CA) bipartisan resolution condemning the Burmese military for perpetrating gross violations of human rights against the Burmese people, a year after the coup on February 1, 2021.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Reps. Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) and Mike Doyle (PA-18) led a letter criticizing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai for failing to enforce the Commission’s rules to clearly identify Russian propaganda aired on U.S. radio stations.