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.

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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

 Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) with USIP President Lise Grande

What Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Means for the Indo-Pacific

April 5, 2022

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.

Lise Grande (top left); Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) U.S. Representative from Illinois (top right); Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) U.S. Representative from Nebraska (bottom center)

Nuclear Security Policy in an Era of Strategic Competition

July 28, 2021

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.

Panel

Addressing China’s Economic and Military Coercion in the Indo-Pacific

June 21, 2019

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.

Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA), left, and Lee Zeldin (R-NY), right, talk with U.S. Institute of Peace President Nancy Lindborg, May 10, 2019.

Diplomacy and Development in a Complex Global Landscape

May 10, 2019

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. 

Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL), Nancy Lindborg, and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA)

Soft Power in a Sharp Power World: Countering Coercion and Information Warfare

November 28, 2018

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. 

Chris Stewart (R-UT), Nancy Lindborg, and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)

China: Managing Conflict and Competition

September 27, 2018

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.

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Countering Illicit Funding of Terrorism: A Congressional Approach

April 17, 2018

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.