U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (FL-22) issued this statement after being re-elected Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism:

"I’m honored and grateful that my colleagues elected me Chairman of the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee. This region is critically important to America’s national security, and there are many high-priority issues that demand Congress’ attention.

"In my subcommittee, we will continue to lift up voices of people suffering in conflicts or fighting for their basic freedoms and stand up for the protection of fundamental human rights from Egypt to Saudi Arabia. We will focus critical attention on humanitarian crises and support diplomatic efforts to end conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Libya.

“We will build on the Abraham Accords to further regional cooperation, enhance our relationship with Israel, restore life-saving assistance to the Palestinian people, and work to preserve the two-state solution that will bring peace and prosperity to both peoples. We will support diplomacy as the best path to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and we will counter Iran’s malign activities from Iraq to Lebanon.

“We will seek to strengthen alliances that further our national security interests while recognizing that, after the last four years, we need a serious rebalancing of many of our regional relationships. We will support our strategic partners in the Gulf, but we will be clear-eyed in our approach, press for accountability, and not compromise our American values. In that vein, we will exercise Congressional oversight of arms sales. 

“Under our global counterterrorism jurisdiction, the subcommittee will focus attention on the growing threat of white supremacist terrorism and ensure our government’s counterterrorism policy reflects the current threat environment.

“In coordination with President Biden and Secretary Blinken, this subcommittee will support efforts to rebuild the State Department, reengage with the world through diplomacy, lead with American values, and make sure human rights is at the forefront of our foreign policy.”