Meeks voted chair of powerful Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks was voted chair of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee. Eagle file photo by David Brand

By David Brand

Veteran Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks became the first African American to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, following a vote by Democratic members of Congress Thursday.

Meeks, an 11-term representative, defeated Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro for the post. He takes over from Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel, who lost his Democratic primary to newly elected Rep. Jamaal Bowman in June. 

“I’m extremely honored to be elected Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The new era of US foreign policy will not be just a return to normal, but an opportunity to broaden the committee focus and forge new coalitions to address global challenges,” Meeks said in a statement.

Meeks said he will work to shift foreign policy following four years of fractured relationships with other countries under President Donald Trump. 

“Not only will we need to re-engage with a world that has felt the marked absence of US global leadership, but we must also rethink traditional approaches to foreign policy,” he said. 

“We will return as partners to our European allies, but we will also need to build new multilateral relationships in the Western Hemisphere and Africa,” he added. “We can only address the systemic challenges posed by Moscow and Beijing with the help of like-minded friends.

Meeks said he supports reentering the Iran Nuclear Deal and the World Health Organization, while tackling “the existential crisis of climate change.”

“In pushing further on the fight for human rights across the world, we must lead by humble example with the weight of US moral credibility,” he said.