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Commissioners Appointed for the 112th Congress

WASHINGTON –With the appointment last week of Republican Senators, the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) completes its full complement of 21 Commissioners from the House, the Senate and the Executive Branch. The Commission is responsible for monitoring implementation of human rights, security and economic commitments made by the 56 participating States of the OSCE. For over 30 years, the Commission has been a leader in defending human rights in the OSCE region which has a combined population of over one billion, and is of strategic importance to the United States given longstanding security, trade and cultural ties.

Commission Chairman Representative Chris Smith (NJ-4), citing the depth and diversity of experience of the Helsinki Commission’s Congressional and Executive Branch commissioners, said: “The Commission is well positioned to make a real difference in the lives of those deprived of their human rights and denied their human dignity. We must never lose sight of the human faces that provide the reason for our work, from victims of human trafficking and slain journalists to individuals prevented from freely professing and practicing their faith and victims of a myriad of other human rights violations. I will continue to work closely with my fellow commissioners on a robust agenda firmly rooted in protection of human dignity – the essence of authentic security.”

The Commissioners for the 112th Congress are:

U.S. House of Representatives

Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey

     Chairman

Joseph R. Pitts, Pennsylvania

Robert B. Aderholt, Alabama

Phil Gingrey, Georgia

Michael C. Burgess, Texas

Alcee L. Hastings, Florida

Louise McIntosh Slaughter, New York

Mike McIntyre, North Carolina

Steve Cohen, Tennessee

U.S. Senate

Benjamin L. Cardin, Maryland

     Co-Chairman

Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island

Tom Udall, New Mexico

Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire

Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut

Roger F. Wicker, Mississippi

Saxby Chambliss, Georgia

Marco Rubio, Florida

Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire

Executive Branch

Michael H. Posner, Department of State

Michael C. Camuñez, Department of Commerce

Alexander Vershbow, Department of Defense

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Press Releases

CSCE Leadership Welcomes New Executive Branch Commis...

Nov 07, 2023

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, today announced the appointment of three Executive Branch Commissioners to the Commission. CSCE […]

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Press Releases

Hearing: Has the United Nations Failed Ukraine and t...

Sep 27, 2023

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Has the UN failed Ukraine and the World?

Sep 23, 2023

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Vladimir Kara-Murza: Putin’s Personal Prisoner

Sep 20, 2023

Stream here: HEARING: Vladimir Kara-Murza: Putin’s Personal Prisoner – YouTube Vladimir Kara-Murza, a father, husband, and a freedom fighter, has been in detention for over five hundred days and is currently […]

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United States Demonstrates Global Leadership on Ukra...

Jul 14, 2023

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Helsinki Commission Chair and Co-Chair Lead Delegati...

Jul 10, 2023

WASHINGTON—Helsinki Commission Co-Chair Senator Ben Cardin (MD) and Helsinki Commission Chair Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to the 30th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE […]

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Press Releases

MICHAEL GEFFROY APPOINTED HELSINKI COMMISSION GENERA...

Jun 15, 2023

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Press Releases

Steven Schrage Appointed Helsinki Commission Executi...

Mar 24, 2023

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Announces Hearing on Crowdsourci...

Dec 07, 2022

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Statements

Congressmen Cohen and Wilson Introduce Resolution Re...

Oct 28, 2022

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Condemns Putin’s Attacks o...

Oct 21, 2022

WASHINGTON—In light of Vladimir Putin’s continuing terror attacks on Ukraine, Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), Co-Chairman Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker (MS), and Ranking […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission on Sanctions Extended by Russia ...

May 23, 2022

WASHINGTON—After Saturday’s announcement by the Russian foreign ministry that the latest list of Americans permanently banned from traveling to Russia includes all members of Helsinki Commission leadership, the overwhelming majority […]

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