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June 23, 2014 Volume 7, No. 11 "Make no mistake, ISIL is a threat to Iraq and the enre region. And the United States is responding to that threat. But our efforts will only be successful if Iraqi leaders rise above their differences and come around and embrace a polical plan that defines Iraq’s future through the polical process, not through insurgency and conflict. That will require diplomacy and it will require willpower, leadership, decisions by those who really hold Iraq’s future in their hands. And we will be working very, very hard on all of this." --Secretary John Kerry, in his remarks with Prime Minister John Key Follow State throughout the week at: Secretary Kerry Visits Iraq Latest Press Releases... This Week’s Hearings & Nominations Thursday, June 26 at 2:00pm | 419 Dirksen Nominees to Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, Alfonso E. Lenhardt and to U.S. Executive Director of the African Development Bank Marcia Denise Occomy will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Travel Information RECENTLY-ANNOUNCED TRAVEL WARNINGS (FOR FULL LIST CLICK HERE): HONDURAS KENYA IRAQ RECENT TRAVEL ALERTS (FOR FULL LIST CLICK HERE): THAILAND CONSTITUENT TRAVEL: Americans who are planning to travel overseas should access the most up-to-date information at Travel.State.Gov. U.S. travelers are also encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to ensure they receive breaking e-notifications security and safety updates about their destination. Enrollment also ensures we know how to reach them in the event of an emergency. Country Specific Information Foreign Embassies & Consulates United States Agency for International Development State Telephone Directory/Country Offices Bureau of Consular Affairs Congressional Website U.S. Embassy Websites, Key Officers at Posts Abroad Key Contacts Bureau of Legislative Affairs Contacts Correspondence for the Secretary of State and other State Department officials may be sent electronically to [email protected]. Please send Hearing, Transcripts and QFRs to [email protected]. Office of the Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs (202) 647-4204; (202) 647-1050 Assistant Secretary Julia Frifield Principal-Deputy Assistant Secretary Thomas Sullivan Senate and House Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary for Senate Affairs: Chad Kreikemeier (202-647-8733) Deputy Assistant Secretary for House Affairs: Joel Rubin (202-647-1656) Special Adviser/Legislative Counsel: Carol Schwab (202-647-2140) Director for Senate Affairs: Alexandra Costello (202-647-4463) Director for House Affairs: Nuku Ofori (202-647-9379) Special Advisor for House Affairs: Laura Rodriquez (202-647-3033) Legislative Director: Erik Pederson (202-647-2233) Nominations/Treaties: Rob Fallon (202-647-4243) Regional, Global and Functional Affairs Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional, Global and Functional Affairs: Alan Lang (202-647-9037) Regional Staff Director: Jim Wayman (202-647-8134) Global/Functional Staff Director: Alan Lang (202-647-9037) Appropriations Adviser for House: Jennifer Chartrand (202-647-1902) Adviser for Senate: Paul Rademacher (202-647-1963) Legislative Operations: For consular queries - [email protected] Acting Executive Director: Linda Barnett (202-647-1714) House Liaison Office, Room B-330 Rayburn House Office Building, (202-226-4640); Director: Scott Feeken (202-226-4644) Deputy Director: Nick Psyhos (202-226-4642) Consular Liaison: Lisa Gisvold (202-226-4641) Senate Liaison Office, Room 189 Russell Senate Office Building, (202-228-1602/1603) Director: Marlene Menard (202-228-1602) Deputy Director: Nick Psyhos (202-228-1603) Consular Liaison: Scott Boswell (202-228-1605) Congressional Travel Office (e-mail: [email protected]; fax: 202-203-7700) Director: Barbara Fleck (202-453-8506) Deputy Director: Quin Lewis (202-203-7475) Congressional Correspondence Unit Fax: (202-647-1618) Chief: Cynthia Andrews (202-647-1882) "The stop in Baghdad has a couple of key themes. First of all, to emphasize our highest-level commitment to Iraq during this time of crisis...And it’s also an opportunity for the Secretary to do person-to- person diplomacy with the key leaders and the key blocs as they work towards forming a new government along the constitutional timeline that they’re on.” Read more… “The prime minister and I are in full agreement that the best way to bring economic growth and new jobs to both of our shores is to finalize the Trans-Pacific Partnership...It’s about creating a set of rules that will bring other nations to the table to race to the top in the standards by which we do global business.” Learn More... Secretary Kerry meets with Prime Minister Key Latest Press Releases... International Travel Tips for Summer As you, your Members, and your constituents prepare for the busy summer travel season, the Department has three important reminders for their international trips. 1) Americans should check the expiration dates of their passports and their children’s passports before making travel plans. Some countries will not allow travelers to enter if their U.S. passports will expire in less than six months. For complete information on foreign entry requirements, refer to the Country Specific Information pages on www.travel.state.gov. 2) The Department can assist Americans who have to replace a lost or stolen passport. Inside the United States, they should contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to report a lost or stolen passport. Outside the United States, they should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate; contact information for any embassy or consulate is available at www.usembassy.gov. Once they report their U.S. passport as lost or stolen it cannot be used for travel. Border officials will not permit them to enter a country if they attempt to use a travel document which has been reported lost or stolen. 3) If your Member or a staffer in the Member’s personal or committee office is participating in an official trip, keep in mind that many foreign governments require visas for official travelers. Foreign embassies or consulates may deny, reject, delay or return visa applications that are not filled out properly or that are not accompanied by their required supplemental information. The easiest way to find up to-date information about visas for official travel is to visit other countries’ websites. Secretary Kerry Announces The 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report “Whether it is a young girl trapped in a brothel or a woman enslaved as a domestic worker or a boy forced to sell himself on the street or a man abused on a fishing boat, the victims of these crimes all have names, all had families. And they each have been robbed of the right to lead their lives the way that they might choose to for themselves...Now, I know that sometimes it’s difficult to see how or where somebody might be able to make a difference, but nothing should give us more hope than the courage of those who stand up and say loudly and clearly: We’re going to stop this. No more, never again.” Read more…
