Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) was appointed by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to serve as a Commissioner on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (‘CSCE’), also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission. Founded in 1976, the Helsinki Commission seeks to advance democracy and human rights along with military, economic, and environmental cooperation among all 57-participating states.
“It is a great honor to be selected to serve as a Commissioner on the U.S. Helsinki Commission,” said Fitzpatrick. “The promotion of global cooperation and security initiatives with our allies is vital to the preservation of democracy and human rights throughout the world. I appreciate Leader McCarthy’s confidence and look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate, along with the Executive Branch, to fight for our shared values.”
Fitzpatrick, a former FBI Supervisory Agent who served in Kiev, Ukraine, and Iraq as an al-Qaeda interrogator as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, brings significant foreign policy and global security experience to the CSCE. He is also a two-term member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“Before Congressman Fitzpatrick was elected a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he admirably served the United States overseas as an FBI Supervisory Special Agent in Kiev, Ukraine and in Iraq as an al-Qaeda interrogator as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom,” said McCarthy. “Brian’s commitment to promoting security abroad provides him with the necessary experience to serve on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), an organization dedicated to promoting human rights, democracy, and security abroad. Brian has been a leader on these issues for decades, and I look forward to seeing him expand that role as a Commissioner to the CSCE.”
The CSCE consists of 21 Members, 18 of whom are elected federal officials. Current U.S. Representatives appointed include Chairman Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), Ranking Member Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04), Robert B. Aderholt (AL-04), Michael C. Burgess (TX-26), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Richard Hudson (NC-08), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), and Gwen Moore (WI-04).