Francis Rooney named Vice-Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee

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Last week, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Congressman Ed Royce, named Congressman Francis Rooney Vice-Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

In the release, Chairman Royce stated, “I am excited to have Rep. Rooney as our vice chairman. His previous experience as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and as a successful businessman has been valuable in our efforts to counter global threats, and promote peace and American prosperity abroad.”

Congressman Rooney stated, “I am honored to be named Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, especially at such a turbulent and pivotal time. With significant national security concerns related to North Korea, Iran, Russia, and elsewhere, I look forward to working with Chairman Royce, our committee and our national foreign policy resources to define and secure American interests around the world.”

Francis Rooney was elected to represent Florida’s 19th Congressional District in 2016. Prior to serving in Congress, Rooney served as United States Ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2008 in President George W. Bush’s Administration, and as a member of the Advisory Commission on the Panama Canal from 2002 to 2005 and 2008 to 2016.

During his time at the Vatican, Ambassador Rooney represented United States interests in working with the Holy See, which uses moral persuasion and “soft power” diplomacy to combat crises including Islamic-inspired terrorism, human trafficking and medical epidemics.

Prior to serving in Congress, Ambassador Rooney wrote extensively on foreign affairs. In November 2013, Ambassador Rooney published The Global Vatican, a review of the diplomatic relationship between the Holy See and the United States and of the unique nature of Holy See diplomacy. Additionally, Ambassador Rooney has written op-eds on the United States relationship with the Holy See, Latin American politics, the crisis in Venezuela, and fighting

Islamic terrorism. He also co-chaired a study of Latin America published by the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress entitled “Trends in Latin America & Presidential Leadership.”

 As a member of congress, Ambassador Rooney has written about issues relevant to his committee assignments, including Venezuela, United States-Cuba relations, the need for reform at the United Nations, American policy towards Russia, the importance of religious freedom and about fighting Islamic-inspired terrorism.