Secretary of State John Kerry to Testify Before Congress; U.S. Considering New Sanctions Related to the Ongoing Situation in Ukraine; A New Trade Promotion Authority Bill is Imminent

By Squire Patton Boggs on February 23, 2015 Posted in US Executive Branch

State Department’s FY 2016 Budget Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to testify this week before Congress on the Department’s FY 2016 Budget request and U.S. interests abroad. The hearings will be held: On Tuesday, 24 February before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; On Wednesday, 25 February before the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and On … Continue Reading

The White House Hosts a Countering Violent Extremism Summit; Washington Closely Monitoring the Situation in Ukraine; Congress is in Recess

By Squire Patton Boggs on February 17, 2015 Posted in US Executive Branch

Upcoming Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Summit U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Director Nicholas Rasmussen reported last week that 20,000 foreign fighters are joining ISIL and other extremist organizations. Secretary of State John Kerry also observed that thousands of extremist fighters have been killed in Syria and in Iraq, including many foreign fighters. This week, the White House … Continue Reading

Congress Focuses on Ukraine, Iran, Syria and Boko Haram; President Obama hosts German Chancellor Merkel

By Squire Patton Boggs on February 9, 2015 Posted in US Executive Branch

Russia/Ukraine Crisis Last Thursday, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Kyiv and met with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko. While seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine, Secretary Kerry said the United States would not “close [its] eyes” to Russian tanks and fighters crossing Ukraine’s borders. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François … Continue Reading