FEATURED

CONGRESS DISCUSSES CITIZEN SECURITY
IN CENTRAL AMERICA & MEXICO

In the wake of increased violence in Mexico and the landmark Central American Security Conference in Guatemala, members of Congress discussed violence and crime in the region with various high-level policy experts and government officials on July 13 at an event organized by the Dialogue. In the words of one participant, the issue of citizen security has become an “existential crucible” for Mexico and Central America. MORE

ABOUT

The Dialogue's Congressional Program seeks to engage members of Congress and Congressional staff members on key policy issues concerning the Western Hemisphere and increase the presence of regional voices in U.S. foreign policy debates. The Dialogue regularly holds private dinner discussions with its Congressional Members Working Group on Capitol Hill as well as gatherings of its Congressional Staff Working Group. Additionally, Dialogue experts are often called upon to testify in Congressional hearings and provide their analysis of hemispheric developments.

STAFF

Michael Shifter, President
Joan Caivano, Deputy to the President/Director of Special Projects
Rachel Schwartz, Program Assistant
Elizabeth Wagner, Intern

For more information, contact Rachel Schwartz at rschwartz@thedialogue.org or (202) 463-2572.

CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS WORKING GROUP

The Congressional Members Working Group on the Americas (CMWG) is a regular closed-door dinner forum that brings members of Congress together with senior U.S. and Latin American government officials, key staff of international organizations, and leading independent policy experts to exchange ideas on the most important issues in Western Hemisphere affairs. SEE LIST OF RECENT PARTICIPANTS

CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONIES

Inter-American Dialogue staff and members are frequently called to testify at congressional hearings on a range of hemispheric policy topics. See their statements from recent hearings below.

• Michael Shifter testified before the House Committee on Foreign Relations on February 2, 2012 at a hearing entitled, "Ahmadinejad's Tour of Tyrants and Iran's Agenda in the Western Hemisphere."
  
• Peter Hakim testified before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 10, 2010. The hearing was entitled, "US Policy Toward the Americas in 2010 and Beyond."
• Michael Shifter testified before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on July 10, 2009. The hearing was entitled, "The Crisis in Honduras."
• Peter Hakim testified before the House Foreign Relations Committee on March 11, 2009. The hearing was entitled, "The Summit of the Americas: A New Beginning for U.S. Policy in the Region?"
• Daniel Erikson testified before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on June 12, 2008. The hearing was entitled, "The New Challenge: China and the Western Hemisphere."
• Manuel Orozco testified before the U.S. Congress and U.S. Helsinki Commission on April 24, 2008. The hearing was entitled, “Crossing Borders, Keeping Connected: Women, Migration and Development in the OSCE Region.”
• Michael Shifter testified before the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 10, 2008. The hearing was entitled, "Crisis in the Andes: The Border Dispute Between Colombia and Ecuador, and Implications for the Region."
• Marifeli Pérez-Stable testified before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 5, 2008. The hearing was entitled, "With Castro Stepping Down, What’s Next for Cuba and the Western Hemisphere."

MORE CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONIES

This group is modeled on the Dialogue’s Congressional Members Working Group on the Americas. It meets periodically for briefings and roundtable discussions on issues of topical importance with selected experts, administration and other policy leaders, and visiting dignitaries. The purpose of these meetings is to facilitate informed policy dialogue on issues of importance to Congress.

EVENTS

• Countering Criminal Violence in Central America: US Policy Responses, April 26, 2012.
• Congressional Staff Roundtable: Countering Criminal Violence in Central America, April 13, 2012.
  
• Crime, Violence, and Citizen Security in Central America and Mexico, July 14, 2011.
• Obama's Trip to Latin America, March 10, 2011.
• The State of the OAS, May 12, 2010. 
• A Conversation on Haiti, April 28, 2010
• Drug Policy in the Americas, December 9, 2009.
• The Honduran Crisis, October 21, 2009.
• U.S.-Cuba Policy, June 24, 2009.
• Security Challenges Facing Central America, June 9, 2009.
• The Summit of the Americas, April 8, 2009
• U.S.-Mexico Relations, March 31, 2009.
• Challenges Facing Afro-Colombians, September 17, 2008.
• Trade and Investment in the Americas: Twelfth Annual CAF Conference, September 10-11, 2008.
• Trade and Poverty in Latin America, May 14, 2008.
• Challenges Facing Afro-descendants in Latin America, April 9, 2008.
• The Mérida Initiative, January 29, 2008. 
• U.S.-Cuba Policy, January 23, 2008.
• The Mérida Initiative, January 29, 2008.
• U.S.-Cuba Policy, January 23, 2008.
• Mérida Initiative: The View from Capitol Hill, January 14, 2008.
• Remittance Flows to Latin America, November 13, 2007.
• Press Freedom in Latin America, October 23, 2007.
• U.S.-Colombia Relations, October 17, 2007.
• Trade and Investment in the Americas: Annual CAF Conference, September 4-5, 2007.
• U.S. Aid Programs in Latin America, July 17, 2007.
• Border Security and Immigration Reform, June 26, 2007. 
• Plan Colombia and the US-Colombia FTA: Perspectives from Colombian Civil Society, June 13, 2007.

 MORE PROGRAM EVENTS