Foreign Affairs

Our nation is faced with a variety of challenges abroad; below are my views on a number of issues that I continue to monitor in Congress.
Combating Religious Persecution
As a former pastor, I am deeply concerned about the persecution of religious minorities throughout the world. Throughout my time in Congress I have supported measures to enhance religious freedoms, including the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, which was signed into law and strengthens our efforts to address growing religious persecution and violent extremism around the world.
I have also supported measures to combat religious persecution and human rights violations in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region. In 2020, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, which would impose sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for these human rights abuses.
Russia
Russia's invasion of Ukraine warrants decisive consequences. The United States and our allies must present a posture of strength against Russia's unprovoked aggression. Additionally, Michigan has witnessed unacceptable Russian aggression with the wrongful detainment of fellow Michigander, Paul Whelan, who has fortunately been released and reunited with his family after over 5 years in captivity.
The strategy of the United States and our allies must include comprehensive solutions and correct root causes of Putin's aggression, not simply reactionary measures.
China
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations with China more than 40 years ago, the United States has sought a constructive relationship with China. However, over the years, China has chosen a path of economic aggression and has sought to assert its power and influence around the world.
To monitor China’s growing presence on the world stage, in the 118th Congress, I voted in support of H. Res. 11, which established a bipartisan Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. The establishment of this committee has helped to ensure American leadership on the world stage while holding China accountable by providing policy recommendations to prevent supply chain threats, help the U.S. lead in emerging technologies, bolster our national security, maintain our energy independence, and grow our economy in order to better compete against China.
Afghanistan
During the Afghanistan War, I advocated for commonsense measures to save American lives and provide resources to increase the safety of our troops in the region. President Biden’s bungled withdrawal and reliance on the Taliban for security assistance put the lives of American service members at risk. This tragically resulted in 13 American service members losing their life due to a suicide bombing. In response to the mishandled withdrawal from Afghanistan, I offered an amendment signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 to boost our national security by evaluating the military capabilities of the Taliban post-withdrawal and its ability to assist other adversaries with those resources.
Israel
Since Israel’s founding, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to Israel’s security and has maintained close defense and diplomatic cooperation. In 2016 the House supported and then PresidentObama signed into law a long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on military assistance to Israel, which will provide security assistance to Israel for ten years.
On October 7, 2023, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists began attacking Israel via air, sea, and ground killing over one thousand Israelis and kidnapping hundreds more. Hamas has committed unspeakable acts of violence, and we must continue to stand with Israel as they defend themselves.
Iran
Iran continues its efforts to undermine vital U.S. interests and cause instability around the globe. We must hold Iran accountable through a maximum pressure approach and eliminate Iran’s ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons. The United States must secure a deal to fully dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, which will uphold the security of the American people and our allies around the world.
Monitoring Rogue Nations
Congress must stand firm against provocations that threaten the security of our citizens and our allies around the world. The rhetoric and the aggressive actions by North Korea are unacceptable and the United States must take every action to work with our foreign partners and put tremendous economic pressure on the Kim regime to deter them from their nuclear weapons ambitions and undermine global security.
United Nations Accountability
I remain concerned about the efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations (UN) system. In the past, I have cosponsored legislation that would give the U.S. greater say over how our tax dollars are spent at the United Nations. Additionally, any U.S. foreign policy initiative should protect our freedoms at home and abroad.
Foreign Aid
U.S. foreign assistance is not a right, and as a federal legislator, I seriously consider all foreign aid requests to ensure taxpayer resources are being used effectively and in a manner that strengthens our nation’s interest abroad. The level of waste is staggering and unacceptable. I will continue to support efforts to improve oversight and shine a light on how American tax dollars are being misspent.
LEGISLATION
03/25/2025 – Cosponsor: H. Res. 166 - Expressing support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran, and condemning violations of human rights and state-sponsored terrorism by the Iranian Government
02/26/2025 – Cosponsor: H.R.1422 - Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act
02/26/2025 – Cosponsor: H.R.1229 - United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act
07/10/2023 – Cosponsor: H.R.855 - Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act
06/12/2023 – Cosponsor: H.R.3792 - U.S.-Israel Partnership and Abraham Accords Enhancement Act
06/13/2023 – Cosponsor: H.R.3152 - Fight CRIME Act
06/12/2023 – Cosponsor: H.R.3774 - SHIP Act
04/28/2023 – Cosponsor: H.Res.346 - Reaffirming the support of the United States to our strongest ally in the region, Israel, and recognizing the authoritarian and extremist regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a threat to Israel, the region, the United States, and global stability
03/30/2023 – Cosponsor: H.Res.272 - Calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to immediately release United States citizen Paul Whelan
02/02/2023- Cosponsor: H.R.809 - Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act
06/15/2022 – Cosponsor: H.R.7223 - COI Elimination Act
04/28/2022 – Cosponsor: H.R.7479 - To provide a means for Congress to prevent an organization's designation as a foreign terrorist organization from being revoked by the Secretary of State
04/01/2022 – Cosponsor: H.Res.1020 - Condemning the Biden administration's plans for seeking to remove sanctions on the oppressive Maduro regime and negotiating with Iran in response to the crisis in Ukraine, and instead calling for Congress and the administration to support the production of American energy
03/08/2022 – Cosponsor: H.R.6894 - No Energy Revenues for Russian Hostilities Act
03/01/2022 – Cosponsor: H.R.2718 - Maximum Pressure Act
02/28/2022 – Cosponsor: H.R.6858 - American Energy Independence from Russia Act
02/28/2022 – Cosponsor: H.R.6742 - Never Yielding Europe's Territory (NYET) Act
01/19/2022 – Cosponsor: H.R.6367 - Guaranteeing Ukrainian Autonomy by Reinforcing its Defense (GUARD) Act
12/23/2021 – Cosponsor: H.Res.744 - Condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
11/17/2021 – Cosponsor: H.R.6004 - Upholding the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Law Act
08/24/2021 – Cosponsor: H.Res.607 - Condemns President Biden's failure to heed the advice of military and intelligence advisors about the speed and nature of the Taliban offensive, leading to a disorganized, chaotic, and abrupt evacuation of United States personnel and Afghan allies.
07/21/2021 – Cosponsor: H.R.2748 - Israel Relations Normalization Act
07/20/2021 – Cosponsor: H.Res.214 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran must cease enriching uranium to 20 percent purity and abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
07/01/2021 – Cosponsor: H.Res.500 - Condemning the Chinese Communist Party for 100 years of gross violations of human rights and standing with the Chinese people in their struggle for liberty.
06/30/2021 – Cosponsor: H.R.4273 - Deferred Removal for Iraqi Nationals Including Minorities Act
04/20/2021 – Cosponsor: H.Res.336 - Calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to provide evidence or to release United States citizen Paul Whelan.
VIDEOS
12/08/2022 - Walberg: I'm Heartbroken for Paul Whelan's Family
03/07/2022 – Walberg Calls to Open Up Domestic Energy Production
09/28/2021 – Walberg Warns of Reliance on Russian Oil
07/28/2021 – Walberg Urges Biden Admin to Speed Up Passport Backlog
04/23/2021 – Walberg Calls on Russia to Release Michigander Paul Whelan
01/09/2020 – Walberg: The World if a Safer Place with Soleimani Gone