CapitolWire May 2010 by Bertelsmann Foundation

CapitolWire

Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.

The Brussels Connection to Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, DC 1101 New York Avenue, NW Suite 901 Washington, DC 20005 USA Contact: Tyson Barker Contact: Tyson E-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmanntyson.barker@bertelsmann- foundation.org Tel: (+1) 202.384.1993 Tel: www.bertelsmann-foundation.org

BRUSSELS Résidence Palace Rue de la Loi 155 1040 Brussels, Belgium Contact: Thomas Fischer Contact: Thomas E-mail: E-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmannthomas.fischer@bertelsmannstiftung.de Tel: (+32 2) 280.2830 Tel: www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels

CapitolWire is a joint publication of the Bertelsmann Foundation offices in Washington, DC and Brussels. It connects the European Parliament to Congressional policy and politics, and contributes to a common trans-Atlantic political culture. CapitolWire is an occasional publication that highlights issues, legislation and policymakers relevant to the European Parliament’s legislative cycle. This publication also looks at the Congress from the point of view of European Parliament staffers and offers timely operational analysis.

The US House of Representatives: Ten to Watch KEY POINTS • The 435 members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years in districts based on the population of the state that they represent. As such, the most populous state, California, has 53 representatives in its delegation while the least populous state, Wyoming, has only one representative. All representatives are directly elected. • Congress has the constitutional authority to initiate legislation. Although the president indicates his preferences for a bill, individual members of Congress in the House of Representatives and Senate are responsible for sponsoring a bill. Once passed by Congress, a bill goes to the president for his signature. • The power of party leadership is a driver of the legislative narrative. The ability of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her majority “whips” (deputies) to set the legislative agenda is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of the majority party in Congress. The Secretariat or internal administration of Congress is significantly less important that the Secretariat of the European Parliament.

As the contentious healthcare debate on Capitol Hill winds down, Congressional attention is already turning to other issues on the Obama administration’s agenda. Some of these issues have major implications for the US’s relationship with Europe. Debate over a bill meant to alter substantially the way American financial markets are regulated has now become the focus of policy discussions in the US. With that, the legislative debates in Washington and Brussels are increasingly synchronized. At the same time, Brussels is becoming more aware of the need for the EU to look into cooperating with the US on operational issues on policies such as

financial-services reform, energy, and homeland security.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso’s recent speech about the need for a results-oriented “New Atlanticism” was welcome and heralds a more nuanced understanding of the role that Congress can play in the US-EU relationship. US Vice President Joseph Biden’s May 6th speech in the European Parliament reinforced that message. This inaugural edition of CapitolWire looks at ten members of the US House of Representatives who will have key roles in deepening that relationship.

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ABOUT THE BERTELSMANN FOUNDATION: The Bertelsmann Foundation is a private, nonpartisan operating foundation, working to promote and strengthen trans-Atlantic cooperation. Serving as a platform for open dialogue among key stakeholders, the Foundation develops practical policy recommendations on issues central to successful development of both sides of the ocean.

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (Nevada – 1st District; Democrat) US Chairwoman, Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue Inspiring

CapitolWire Shelley Berkley has represented the Las Vegas area in Congress since 1998. Her notable positions in foreign policy include supporting the invasion The Brussels Connection to Capitol Hill of Iraq in 2002. But she also voted, in 2008, in favor of investigating, as a possible prelude to impeachment, President George W Bush for lying about Iraq. She is known as an outspoken supporter of Israel and has pushed for sanctions on Iran as a means to end its nuclear program. She a voted on more than one occasion for acknowledging the Armenian genocide as official US policy. Berkley has served as the chair of the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD) since 2007. She will co-host the TLD’s next meeting in Spain. The TLD is the body that brings together leaders from the

People. Shaping the Future.

European Parliament’s US delegation and members of Congress engaged in US-European policy. At the October 2009 Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) meeting, Berkley delivered a frank assessment of the TEC’s future and its potential for engaging legislators in the US and Europe more thoroughly. Her voting record on energy and climateBRUSSELS WASHINGTON, change policy demonstratesDC a clear commitment to the use of Palace 1101 New York Avenue, NW renewable energy, conservation and targetsRésidence on CO2 limits. Rue de la Loi 155 Suite 901 She voted forWashington, the House bill1040 sponsored by Brussels, Belgium DCclimate-change 20005 USA Congressmen HenryTyson Waxman and Fischer Contact: Thomas Contact: Barker (California; Democrat) E-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmannEdward Markey (Massachusetts; Democrat).E-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-

foundation.org stiftung.de Tel: (+1) 202.384.1993 Tel: (+32 2) 280.2830 Berkley serves on the House Committee on www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels Foreign Affairs www.bertelsmann-foundation.org

with assignments on the Europe and the Middle East/South Asia Subcommittees. She is a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for US tax and revenueraising policy.

Congressman Russ Carnahan (Missouri – 3rd District; Democrat)

Chairman, Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight; House Foreign Relations Committee Russ Carnahan is the scion of one of the Midwest’s most powerful Democratic political families. His father was governor of Missouri, his mother served as a Missouri senator, and his sister, Missouri’s current secretary of state, is running for senator this year. Representing the southern part of St. Louis and parts of the city’s suburbs, Carnahan was first elected in 2004. Carnahan has demonstrated an acute awareness of the image and perception of the US in the world, and particularly in Europe. He is the founder of the Congressional Caucus on Bosnia, in which he

has been a voice for regional reconciliation (his district has one of the largest contingents of Bosnians outside Bosnia), and founder/ co-chairman of the American Engagement Caucus. He also often speaks on issues related to non-traditional policy areas in the transAtlantic relationship such as R&D, the creation of a high-skilled workforce and best-practices exchange. Carnahan, who also serves as chairman of the International Organizations Subcommittee, is seen as a rising star on Europe. Carnahan is a member of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Transportation Committee and the Committee on Science and Technology. He encourages greater use of universities as incubators of innovation and research, a position that could be relevant areas for dialogue on innovation and R&D initiatives linked to the EU 2020 Strategy.

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Congressman William Delahunt (Massachusetts – 3rd District; Democrat) Chairman, Subcommittee on Europe; House Foreign Relations People. Committee Inspiring

CapitolWire In December 2009, Delahunt assumed the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Europe from retiring Florida Congressman Robert Wexler. The Brussels Connection to Capitol Hill The Subcommittee on Europe serves as a hub for all EUrelated issues in the House. Delahunt held his inaugural hearing on the EU in the post-Lisbon environment. He is also engaged in the reset policy with Russia in coordination with the Obama administration. On Afghanistan, Delahunt has been an outspoken advocate of timetables for withdrawal and has co-sponsored legislation for an exit strategy. His 2010 J Street-

Shaping the Future.

sponsored trip to Israel demonstrated his interest in exploring the relationship between Israel and its European partners, notably Turkey. On other EU-related issues, Delahunt is the author of the Travel Promotion Act, the law recently signed by President Obama that envisions more efforts to attract international tourists to the United BRUSSELS DCfunded by a US$10 States. That WASHINGTON, campaign will be fee on foreigners Résidence Palace New York NW of the visa-waiver entering the 1101 US under theAvenue, auspices program Rue de la Loi 155 Suite 901 (which applies to most Europeans). 1040 Brussels, Belgium Washington, DC 20005 USA Contact: Tyson Barker

Contact: Thomas Fischer

Tel: (+1) 202.384.1993 www.bertelsmann-foundation.org

Tel: (+32 2) 280.2830 www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels

tyson.barker@bertelsmannE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmannDelahunt hasE-mail: announced that he will retire at the end of 2010, foundation.org leaving the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on stiftung.de Europe open.

Congressman Darrell Issa (California – 49th District; Republican) Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform First elected to Congress in 2000, Issa is ranking member of the powerful Committee on Oversight, the Congressional watchdog for administration practices. A long-time supporter of Europe and the trans-Atlantic relationship, Issa has close relationships with many of the continent’s top political leadership in Brussels, Germany and other major European states.

Issa is an established entrepreneur with a deep knowledge of the automotive sector, its regulation, and the role that advanced manufacturing and innovation plays in American and European competitiveness in this industry. In this regard, Issa is at the forefront of a group of Congressman with an awareness of the power of the EU in European affairs and is exploring ways to deepen cooperation between Congress and the EU. He is co-chair of the EU Caucus. Congressman Issa is looking into the possibility of setting up a Congressional EU Commission that would have the ability to coordinate Congressional relations with the European Union across a number of portfolios.

Congressman Elliot Engel (New York – 17th District; Democrat)

Chairman, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere; House Foreign Relations Committee On energy and climate change, Engel is the founder and co-chair of the Oil and National Security Caucus, which seeks clean alternatives to oil. He serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, which is responsible for the US approach to climate change. He supported the House Cap-and-Trade bill in 2009 and the Enviornmental Protection Agency finding in the run-up to Copenhagen. He is widely rumored to be a potential successor to William Delahunt as chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe if Democrats maintain control of the House after the mid-term elections. He is co-chair of the EU Caucus.

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A native of the New York City borough of the Bronx, Engel has represented his urban district since 1989. He chairs the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, but his role and interest in Europe goes back decades. Engel’s role in Balkan policy is well known in Washington and southeastern Europe, where he is seen as a champion of Kosovo and Albania in Congress. He has also been passionately supportive of Cyprus in what he calls “the invasion and occupation” of northern Cyprus by Turkey. He has authored legislation calling for the demilitarization of the island. He also has deep bilateral relations with the Italian and Irish governments.

Congressman Paul Kanjorski (Pennsylvania – 11th District; Democrat)

Chairman, Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Enterprises; Inspiring People. Sponsored Shaping the Future. House Financial Services Committee

CapitolWire Kanjorski, representing the Scranton area of Pennsylvania, has a voting record that reflects pro-labor views. He has The Brussels Connection toonCapitol Hill served the House Financial Services Committee since entering Congress in 1985. As chairman of the Capital Markets Subcommittee, Kanjorski has jurisdiction over the Securities and Exchange Commission and self-regulatory organizations such as the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers, which police the securities markets. Kanjorski contributed significantly to the House-passed Wall Street reform bill in December 2009 with his “too big to fail”

amendment. The amendment aims to prevent future taxpayer

bailouts by empowering federal regulators to control and dismantle financial firms large enough to put the entire American economic system at risk if they were to collapse. Senator Christopher Dodd (Connecticut; Democrat)recently included a slightly modified version of the amendment in the Senate’s financial-regulation bill. Kanjorski hasWASHINGTON, been a strongDC advocate of greater cooperation with BRUSSELS Résidence Palace 1101 New and, York Avenue, NW the European Union in particular, the European Parliament Rue de la Loiinsurance. 155 901 to financial services, especially on questionsSuite related 1040 Brussels, Belgium Washington, DC 20005 USA He traveled to Brussels in September 2009 and has expressed an Contact: Thomas Fischer Contact: Tyson Barker interest in regular coordination with the European Parliament, via E-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann- E-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmannfoundation.org regulation relatedstiftung.de teleconference, on international to banking and Tel: (+1) 202.384.1993 Tel: (+32 2) 280.2830 financial services. www.bertelsmann-foundation.org

www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels

Kanjorski recently helped introduce legislation to make March 2010 Irish-American Heritage Month.

Congressman Scott Garrett (New Jersey – 5th District; Republican)

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises; House Financial Services Committee Elected to Congress in 2002, Garrett is known to be by far the most conservative member of the New Jersey delegation, championing cuts in earmarks and taxes. Garrett was selected earlier this year to serve as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on

Garrett recently introduced, with support from Kanjorski and Committee Ranking Member Spencer Bachus (Alabama; Republican) the United States Covered Bond Act. The legislation aims to create a robust covered-bonds market to add liquidity and certainty to US capital markets. European nations have used covered bonds to provide additional funding options for issuing institutions, and the bonds are a major source of liquidity for many European mortgage markets. The Garrett-Kanjorski-Bachus bill applies this European model to the US market.

Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises for the House Financial Services

Committee. As Ranking Member, he is the top Republican on the subcommittee chaired by Congressman Kanjorski.

Congressman Michael McMahon (New York – 13th District, Democrat) Member, Subcommittee on Europe; House Foreign Affairs Committee McMahon, hailing from the New York City borough of Staten Island, is of German and Irish heritage, and is the only member of Congress fluent in German. He is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of moderate House Democrats committed to pursuing a sensible, fiscally responsible policy agenda. As such, he was one of 38 Democrats to vote in March 2010 against the healthcareoverhaul legislation.

hearing on the Lisbon Treaty, McMahon expressed concern about the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, saying it “could

lead to US retaliation in... a damaging trade dispute in the area of financial services.” He added, however, that he is “encouraged by the work of the Transatlantic Economic Council to promote increased dialogue between legislators on this matter.” As a member of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, McMahon is a strong supporter of strengthened ties between the US and Greece. He issued a statement on the House floor praising the decision of the US Department of Homeland Security to include Greece in its Visa Waiver Program. This allows Greek citizens to travel to and stay in the US for up to 90 days without a visa.

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McMahon sits on the Subcommittee on Europe of the Foreign Affairs Committee. In the subcommittee’s December 15, 2009

Congressman Elton Gallegly (California – 24th District; Republican)

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Europe; House Foreign Affairs Committee Inspiring People. Shaping

CapitolWire Gallegly was elected to Congress in 1986 and has displayed a consistently conservative voting record. He is the Ranking Member on The Brussels Connection to Capitol Hill the Subcommittee on Europe of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. As Ranking Member, he is the top Republican with jurisdiction over matters relating to multilateral institutions, parliamentary conferences and exchanges involving Europe.

the Future.

Gallegly’s efforts on the Foreign Affairs Committee, however, have been aimed at working with Europe to fight terrorism. He introduced and passed major NATO expansion legislation and represented the House of Representatives at the 2002 NATO summit in Prague at the request of President George W Bush. As Ranking Member, Gallegly presided over the December 15, 2009 subcommiteeWASHINGTON, hearing on the Lisbon Treaty, during which he made clear BRUSSELS DC Palace 1101 Newthe Yorkimplementation Avenue, NW that he will monitor of Résidence the treaty to Rue de la Loi 155 Suite 901 determine “its effect on the United States’ relationship with the 1040 Brussels, Belgium Washington, DC 20005 USA sovereign countries in Europe.” particularly Thomasclose Fischer Contact: Tyson Barker He will pay Contact: attention to E-mail: how thetyson.barker@bertelsmanntreaty affects the United States’ military E-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmannfoundation.org stiftung.de relationship with Europe. Tel: (+1) 202.384.1993 www.bertelsmann-foundation.org

Tel: (+32 2) 280.2830 www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels

Congressman Ron Kind (Wisconsin – 3rd District; Democrat) Co-Chair of the EU Caucus

Kind was elected to Congress in 1996. He serves on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. He is also the Democratic chief deputy whip and a co-vice chair of the New Democrat Coalition. Kind is a founding member and co-chair of the Congressional EU Caucus. With several other Congressmen, Kind formed the EU Caucus in 2005 in response to the EU’s increasing role as a political and commercial partner of the United States.

In March 2009, Kind traveled to Brussels as part of a Congressional delegation meeting with EU leaders to discuss international trade issues, the beef industry and security in Afghanistan. He called for global coordination to strengthen international financial institutions, stressed the importance to the US of the European market, and urged more intense efforts to counter the threat of terrorism originating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kind has promoted the importance of the EU Caucus meetings because they “keep the lines of communication open” between US and EU legislators.

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