Generations of American leaders from across the political spectrum have supported the goal of a bipartisan foreign policy. USIP advances this objective in part through its signature series of Bipartisan Congressional Dialogues. USIP brings together leaders from both political parties for public discussions to develop solutions to the nation’s most urgent national security and foreign policy challenges. In each dialogue of the series, Republican and Democratic members of Congress join USIP leaders to discuss their shared interest in a specific foreign policy challenge and examine ways to address the problem.
Bipartisan Congressional Dialogues have tackled such pressing national security topics as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s growing international impact, strategies to prevent violent conflict through stabilization and deterrence, protecting human rights, and advancing international religious freedom around the globe.
This bipartisan dialogue series furthers USIP’s congressional mission to reduce violent conflict abroad in accordance with America’s national interests, approaches and values. USIP, an institute that symbolizes the United States’ commitment to peace, provides a unique and nonpartisan foreign policy forum for these important and timely discussions.
Past Events
Advancing Human Rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
Representatives Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and Young Kim (R-CA) discussed the bipartisan congressional response to the Chinese government’s human rights abuses against Uyghurs at USIP’s eighteenth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Rep. Wexton serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and Rep. Kim serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
What Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Means for the Indo-Pacific
Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, discussed how the Russian invasion of Ukraine impacts the Indo-Pacific and how the U.S. and its allies and partners can further support the Ukrainian people and deter a similar conflict in Asia at USIP’s seventeenth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue.
From Stabilization to Prevention: Changing the U.S. Strategy on Violent Conflict
Representatives Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Peter Meijer (R-MI), both members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, discussed how they are elevating the role of conflict prevention in U.S. foreign policy and ensuring that lessons from past U.S. stabilization missions are incorporated into future planning at USIP's sixteenth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue.
Nuclear Security Policy in an Era of Strategic Competition
Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Bill Foster (D-IL), co-chairs of Congressional Nuclear Security Working Group, discussed nuclear security policy in an era of strategic competition at USIP’s fifteenth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Rep. Fortenberry serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, and Rep. Foster serves on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Advancing International Religious Freedom
Representatives John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), honorary co-chairs of the 2020 National Prayer Breakfast, discussed their focus on international religious freedom at USIP’s fourteenth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Rep. Moolenaar serves on the House Appropriations Committee and Rep. Suozzi serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Next Era of U.S.-Pacific Islands Engagement
Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Ted Yoho (R-FL), co-founders of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, discussed rising U.S. engagement in the Pacific Islands at USIP’s thirteenth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Rep. Case is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Rep. Yoho is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Congressional Perspectives on U.S.-China Relations
Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Darin LaHood (R-IL), co-chairs of the U.S.-China Working Group, discussed shifting congressional views on the U.S.-China relationship at USIP’s twelfth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Rep. Larsen serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Rep. LaHood serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.
What’s Next for Democracy and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan?
Representatives Susan Davis (D-CA) and Martha Roby (R-AL), co-leaders of the annual congressional Mother’s Day visit to Afghanistan, discussed the importance of democracy and women’s rights in Afghanistan at USIP’s eleventh Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Rep. Davis serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Rep. Roby serves on the House Appropriations Committee.
Forty Years On: What’s Next for U.S.-China Relations?
Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Darin LaHood (R-IL), Co-Chairs of the U.S.-China Working Group, discussed security and trade issues facing the U.S.-China relationship at USIP’s tenth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Rep. Larsen serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Rep. LaHood serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Addressing China’s Economic and Military Coercion in the Indo-Pacific
Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and John Rutherford (R-FL), members of the House Appropriations Committee, discussed how the U.S. can address China’s power projection and coercion in the Indo-Pacific at USIP’s ninth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Reps. Case and Rutherford are both members of the House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee and recently traveled to the Indo-Pacific region.
Diplomacy and Development in a Complex Global Landscape
Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA) and Lee Zeldin (R-NY), leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, discussed how U.S. diplomacy and development are working to achieve America’s goals and adapt to the changing global landscape at USIP’s eighth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Rep. Bera is the chairman and Rep. Zeldin is the ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, which oversees U.S. diplomacy and development.
Soft Power in a Sharp Power World: Countering Coercion and Information Warfare
Former U.S. ambassadors Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) discussed their views on how soft power tools can and should be used to counter sharp power employed by global adversaries at USIP’s seventh Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue on Wednesday, November 28. Rep. Rooney is the vice chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. Rep. Beyer is the vice ranking member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and former U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
China: Managing Conflict and Competition
Representatives Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) discussed preserving U.S. national security interests with China’s growing international influence at USIP’s sixth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Both representatives are members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs. Stewart serves on the House Intelligence Committee and Ruppersberger is a former ranking member of the committee.
Wildlife Poaching and Trafficking: Combating a Source of Terrorist Funding
Representative Ed Royce (R-CA) and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) discussed how African conservation helps economies and hinders crime at USIP's fifth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Representative Royce is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senator Coons is a Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Russia: 21st Century Disruptor in Europe
Representatives Francis Rooney (R-FL) and Bill Keating (D-MA) discussed “Russia: 21st Century Disruptor in Europe” at USIP’s fourth Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Both Representatives are Members of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats.
North Korea and the Fine Print of a Deal
Representatives Steve Russell (R-OK) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) discussed the ongoing negotiations with North Korea, their potential outcomes and the continuing role of Congress for the third event in the Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Representative Russell serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Representative Lieu serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and both Representatives are veterans.
Countering Illicit Funding of Terrorism: A Congressional Approach
Representatives Steve Pearce (R-NM) and Jim Himes (D-CT) discussed evolving cybersecurity threats to U.S. interests at USIP’s second Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue on a bipartisan approach to evolving cybersecurity threats. Representatives Pearce and Himes are both Members of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance, and Representative Pearce is the Chairman of this Subcommittee.
Human Rights: The Foundation for Peace
Representatives Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and James P. McGovern (D-MA) discussed how rights violations foment violence at USIP's inaugural Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue. Representatives Hultgren and McGovern are co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.