Foreign Affairs & National Security

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.