Russia and the United States maintain one of the most important, critical and strategic foreign relations in the world. Both nations have shared interests in nuclear safety and security, nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and space exploration. Due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, relations became very tense after the United States imposed sanctions against Russia. Russia placed the United States on a list of “unfriendly countries”, along with Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, European Union members, NATO members (except Turkey), Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Micronesia and Ukraine.

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The Russia category has related posts on government agencies and departments and  committees and their Chairs.

The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the nation’s foreign policy and international relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nations, its primary duties are advising the U.S. president, administering diplomatic missions, negotiating international treaties and agreements, and representing the U.S. at the United Nations.

The department is headquartered in the Harry S Truman Building, a few blocks from the White House, in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C.; “Foggy Bottom” is thus sometimes used as a metonym.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, and analyzing national security information from around the world, primarily through the use of human intelligence (HUMINT) and conducting covert action through its Directorate of Operations.

As a principal member of the United States Intelligence Community (IC), the CIA reports to the Director of National Intelligence and is primarily focused on providing intelligence for the President and Cabinet of the United States. Following the dissolution of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) at the end of World War II, President Harry S. Truman created the Central Intelligence Group under the direction of a Director of Central Intelligence by presidential directive on January 22, 1946, and this group was transformed into the Central Intelligence Agency by implementation of the National Security Act of 1947.

Source: Wikipedia

Mission:  
The Committee on Foreign Relations is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. It is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid programs; funding arms sales and training for national allies; and holding confirmation hearings for high-level positions in the Department of State.

House counterpart: Foreign Affairs Committee

Democratic Members (Minority):
Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire – Ranking Member
Chris Coons, Delaware
Chris Murphy, Connecticut
Tim Kaine, Virginia
Jeff Merkley, Oregon
Cory Booker, New Jersey
Brian Schatz, Hawaii
Chris Van Hollen, Maryland
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois

Republican Members (Majority):
Jim Risch, Idaho – Chair
Pete Ricketts, Nebraska
Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania
Steve Daines, Montana
Rand Paul, Kentucky
John Barrasso, Wyoming
Ted Cruz, Texas
Bill Hagerty, Tennessee
Tim Scott, South Carolina
Mike Lee, Utah
Rick Scott, Florida
John Curtis, Utah
John Cornyn, Texas

Featured Video: 
Renewable Energy Transition: A Case Study of How International Collaboration on Offshore Wind Techno

Current Position: US Senator since 2009
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: Governor from 2006 – 2007; Lt. Governor from 2003 – 2009

Other Positions:  
Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

taught criminal law at Boise State University, and in 1970 was elected as Ada County prosecuting attorney. In 1974, he was elected to the Idaho Senate, where he represented the 21st legislative district from 1974 to 1988. In 1995, Governor Phil Batt appointed Risch to represent the 18th legislative district in the state Senate; he held the position until 2002.

Quotes:
Jim Risch, currently serving a third term as Idaho’s 28th Senator, holds a longstanding commitment to public service and a passion for good government. Known for “pragmatic decision-making,” Risch is what his peers call a “no-nonsense, get-the-job-done leader” with more than four decades of experience in elected office. He has been recognized by the National Journal as the “Most Conservative” Senator in the United States Senate.

Full Interview: Idaho Sen. Jim Risch discusses COVID-19 vaccine, presidential election

Mission:  
The Committee was created by the Senate in 1976 to “oversee and make continuing studies of the intelligence activities and programs of the United States Government,” to “submit to the Senate appropriate proposals for legislation and report to the Senate concerning such intelligence activities and programs,” and to “provide vigilant legislative oversight over the intelligence activities of the United States to assure that such activities are in conformity with the Constitution and laws of the United States.”

House counterpart: Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Democratic Members (Minority):
Mark Warner, Virginia (Vice Chair)
Ron Wyden, Oregon
Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
Angus King, Maine[20]
Michael Bennet, Colorado
Kirsten Gillibrand, New York

Republican Members (Majority):
Tom Cotton, Arkansas (Chair)
Jim Risch, Idaho
Susan Collins, Maine
Tom Cotton, Arkansas
John Cornyn, Texas

Featured Video: 
Senate intelligence committee holds hearing on threats worldwide

Current Position: US Senator since 2009
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Positions: Governor from 2002 – 2006; Venture Capital from 1989 – 2001

Other Positions:
Vice Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee
Vice Conference Chair, Senate Democrats

Featured Quotes:
“Senator Warner is committed to strengthening our national security both at home and abroad, and he believes a strong and engaged United States is fundamental to securing our national interests around the world.”

When he left the Governorship in 2006, Virginia was ranked as the best state for business, the best managed state, and the best state in which to receive a public education.

What is the Cybersecurity Caucus? 1:23 5/10/2021

 The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has jurisdiction over bills, programs, and investigations concerning the foreign affairs of the United States.

Senate counterpart: Committee on Foreign Relations

Subcommittees:

• Africa
• Europe
• Indo-Pacific
• Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia
• Western Hemisphere
• Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations
• Oversight and Accountability

Chair: Michael McCaul, Texas (R)
Ranking Member: Gregory Meeks, New York (D)

Majority Staff Director: Brendan Shields
Minority Staff Director: Sophia Lafargue
Meeting Location: HVC-210, Capitol Visitors Center, House Side, Second Floor, Room 210; (202) 226-8467

Featured Video: Secretary Blinken: The Biden Administration’s Priorities for U.S. Foreign Policy – March 10, 2021
Web Links

Current Position: US Representative of NY District 5 since 1998
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 1993 – 1998
Other Positions:   Ranking member, Foreign Affairs Committee
District: Queens

Gregory W. Meeks is a lawyer who  has served his district for seventeen year tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the last Congress, Meeks’s district included most of southeastern Queens, including Jamaica, Laurelton, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, The Rockaways, and the John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Current:  US Representative of TX District 10 since 2005
Affiliation: Republican
Leadership: Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee 
District: stretches from the northwestern portion of the Greater Houston region to the Greater Austin region.
Next Election: 

History:  McCaul chaired the House Committee on Homeland Security during the 113th, 114th, and 115th Congresses. 

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from San Antonio’s Trinity University in 1984 and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University. McCaul also completed a Senior Executive Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School. McCaul worked as an attorney and federal prosecutor before entering politics. He was the Chief of Counterterrorism and National Security for Texas’s branch of the US Attorney’s office, and also worked under the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section. After he left, McCaul took a position as a Deputy Attorney General in 1999 with the Texas Attorney General’s Office and served in this capacity until 2002.

Featured Quote: 
It’s time for the Texas Dems to get back to Texas and stop their charade. Thanks to @PeteSessions
for standing up for Texans who value truth and transparency in their elections. #txleg

Featured Video:  McCaul joins KXAN’s “State of Texas” to discuss recent cyberattacks & the semiconductor shortage

The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence oversees the United States Intelligence Community, though it does share some jurisdiction with other committees in the House, including the Armed Services Committee for some matters dealing with the Department of Defense and the various branches of the U.S. military.

Senate Counterpart: Select Committee on Intelligence

Subcommittees:

• Central Intelligence Agency Subcommittee
• National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee
• Defense Intelligence & Overhead Architecture Subcommittee
• National Security Agency & Cyber Subcommittee
• Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee

Chair: Mike Turner, OH-10 (R)
Ranking Member: Jim Himes, CT-04 (D)

Deputy Staff Director: Michael Calcagni
Minority Staff Director: Jeffrey Lowenstein
Meeting Location: Capitol Visitor Center HVC-304 US Capitol Building Washington, DC 20515-6415;  (202) 225-4121- Majority and (202) 225-7690 Minority

Featured Video: Open Hearing on World Wide Threats – April 15, 2021
Web Links

Current Position: US Representative of OH 10th District since 2003
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2014 – 2016; US Senator; Mayor of Dayton from 1994 – 2002
District:  southwestern Ohio and consists of Montgomery County, Greene County, and a portion of Clark County.  
Upcoming Election:

He practiced law with local firms and businesses in the Dayton area before entering politics. He also practiced law during the brief time between his service as mayor of Dayton and as a member of Congress.

Turner served as the president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly[1] from 2014 to 2016.

Featured Quote: 
Ranking Members @RepMikeRogersAL& @JimInhofe released the following statement after receiving a letter from the Nuclear Weapons Council outlining their concerns with President Biden’s budget request for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

“YOU GUYS WANNA BE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF HISTORY?” Mike Turner on Impeachment Hearing Day 5

Current Position: US Representative of CT House District 4 since 2009
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: Banker from 1995 – 2006
Other positions: Subcommittee on Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research
District:  largely suburban and extends from Bridgeport, the largest city in the state, to Greenwich – an area largely coextensive with the Connecticut side of the New York metropolitan area. The district also extends inland, toward Danbury and toward the Lower Naugatuck Valley 
Upcoming Election:

Featured Quote: 
People are calling the Child Tax Credit “Biden Bucks.” But given the years of tireless work @RosaDeLauro
did on this, it SHOULD be called “DeLauro Dinero.”

 
Representative Jim Himes: ‘No, We Are Not Socialists’ | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC