Congressman Cohen Named Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), who has served on the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) since March 2011, was named Co-Chairman of the Commission by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The CSCE is also known as the Helsinki Commission.

Speaker Pelosi made the announcement this morning:

"As House Speaker, it is my honor to appoint as Helsinki Commission Co-Chair Congressman Steve Cohen: a longtime and respected leader on civil rights and opportunity. In his decade serving on the Commission, Congressman Cohen has been a powerful voice for peace, security and human rights around the world. Now, as Co-Chair, his strong leadership, together with my other appointments, will strengthen and advance the Commission's work to promote these cherished values and increase cooperation among the nations and people across the Atlantic. On behalf of the House of Representatives, I am confident that Congressman Cohen will be an outstanding successor to the late Chair, our beloved Congressman Alcee Hastings."

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"America's role in the world is shaped by diplomacy and a clear-eyed foreign policy. I have been proud to be a member of the Helsinki Commission, helping shape foreign policy in our relations with our European allies, for more than a decade. I appreciate Speaker Pelosi's trust in my abilities to work with European parliamentarians during this time of increasing autocracy and Russian aggression. It is an additional honor to succeed the late, great Alcee Hastings. It was Congressman Hastings who recommended my appointment to the Commission to Speaker Pelosi. I look forward to working closely with Chairman Cardin, fellow commissioners, and our OSCE partners to find strength in our shared values, and will work to promote democracy and human rights from this position."

Chairman Cohen succeeds the late Alcee Hastings of Florida as Co-Chairman. Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland is the Senate Co-Chairman.

Congressman Cohen spoke at a virtual meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) this morning.

The Helsinki Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine members from the U.S. House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce. The positions of Chair and Co-Chair are shared by the House and Senate and rotate every two years, when a new Congress convenes. A professional staff assists the Commissioners in their work.

The Commission contributes to the formulation of U.S. policy on the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and takes part in its execution, including through Member and staff participation on U.S. Delegations to OSCE meetings and in certain OSCE bodies. Members of the Commission have regular contact with parliamentarians, government officials, non-government organizations (NGOs), and private individuals from other OSCE participating States.

The Commission convenes public hearings and briefings with expert witnesses on OSCE-related issues; issues public reports concerning implementation of OSCE commitments in participating States; and organizes official delegations to participating States and OSCE meetings to address and assess democratic, economic, security and human rights developments firsthand.

In addition to Congressman Cohen's Helsinki Chairmanship, he is a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties; a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and a member of the Natural Resources Committee.