Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Encyclopedia
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent U.S. Government agency
Independent agencies of the United States government
Independent agencies of the United States federal government are those agencies that exist outside of the federal executive departments...

 created by Congress in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE commitments. It was established in 1976 pursuant to Public Law No. 94-304.

The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. House of Representatives, nine members from the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

, and one member each from the Departments of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...

, Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

, and Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...

. The positions of Chairman and Co-Chairman 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 toward the OSCE and the participating States and takes part in its execution, including through Member and staff participation on official U.S. Delegations to OSCE meetings and in certain OSCE bodies. Members of the Commission have regular contact with parliamentarians, government officials, 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; publishes a periodic Digest with up-to-date information on OSCE developments and Commission activities; and organizes official delegations to participating States and OSCE meetings to address and assess democratic, economic, and human rights developments firsthand.

Commissioners, 112th Congress

Majority Minority
House members
  • Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey, Chairman
  • Joseph R. Pitts
    Joseph R. Pitts
    Joseph R. "Joe" Pitts is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lancaster and includes much of Amish country...

    , Pennsylvania
  • Robert B. Aderholt, Alabama
  • Phil Gingrey
    Phil Gingrey
    John Phillip "Phil" Gingrey, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is located in the northwestern suburbs of Atlanta.-Early life, education and career:...

    , Georgia
  • Michael C. Burgess
    Michael C. Burgess
    Michael Clifton Burgess, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003, and a member of the Tea Party Caucus.-Early life, education, and early career:...

    , Texas
  • Alcee L. Hastings, Florida, Ranking Member
  • Louise McIntosh Slaughter
    Louise McIntosh Slaughter
    Louise McIntosh Slaughter is the U.S. Representative for New York's 28th congressional district, serving since 1993, and Chair of the House Rules Committee from 2007 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Rochester and Buffalo and includes parts of Erie,...

    , New York
  • Mike McIntyre
    Mike McIntyre
    Douglas Carmichael "Mike" McIntyre II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party....

    , North Carolina
  • Steve Cohen
    Steve Cohen
    Stephen Ira Cohen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Tennessee's 9th district includes almost three-fourths of Memphis. Cohen is Tennessee's first Jewish congressman....

    , Tennessee
  • Senate members
  • Benjamin L. Cardin, Maryland, Co-Chairman
  • Sheldon Whitehouse
    Sheldon Whitehouse
    Sheldon Whitehouse is the junior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...

    , Rhode Island
  • Tom Udall
    Tom Udall
    Thomas Stewart "Tom" Udall is the junior United States Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party. He had represented as a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999. Udall was elected as the junior United States senator from New Mexico on November 4, 2008,...

    , New Mexico
  • Jeanne Shaheen
    Jeanne Shaheen
    Jeanne Shaheen is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the Senior United States Senator from New Hampshire. The first woman in U.S. history to be elected as both a Governor and U.S. Senator, she was the first woman to be elected Governor of New Hampshire, serving from...

    , New Hampshire
  • Richard Blumenthal
    Richard Blumenthal
    Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....

    , Connecticut
  • Roger F. Wicker, Mississi, Ranking Member
  • Saxby Chambliss
    Saxby Chambliss
    Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative ....

    , Georgia
  • Marco Rubio
    Marco Rubio
    Marco Antonio Rubio is the junior United States Senator from Florida . A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives ....

    , Florida
  • Kelly Ayotte
    Kelly Ayotte
    Kelly A. Ayotte is the junior United States Senator from New Hampshire and a member of the Republican Party. She earlier served as the Attorney General of New Hampshire.-Early life, education and career:...

    , New Hampshire

  • Executive Branch
    • Michael H. Posner, Department of State
    • Alexander Vershbow, Department of Defense
    • Michael C. Camuñez, Department of Commerce

    United States Code Reference

    Title 22, Chapter 45
    Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; establishment
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Function and duties of Commission
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Commission membership
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Testimony of witnesses, production of evidence; issuance of subpena; administration of oaths
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Report relating to Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Commission report to Congress; periodic reports; expenditure of appropriations
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Appropriations for Commission
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Commission staff
    http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/22C45.txt. Printing and binding costs
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