Senator Hassan Travels to UK, Israel, Jordan, and Greece as Part of Bipartisan Senate Delegation

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, recently returned from her first overseas delegation  where she and a bipartisan group led by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) participated in meetings in the United Kingdom, Israel, Jordan, and Greece focused on the impacts of U.S. foreign aid to Jordan and Israel and the ability of U.S. support to achieve stability in the Middle East. The delegation also helped reaffirm the United States’ bipartisan commitment to these key national security allies.

During the week, the Senators participated in bilateral meetings with Heads of State and senior government officials including British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, British National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Senator Hassan also received a briefing on Visa Security teams, which consist of trained counter-terrorism professionals who aid the State Department’s consular offices in decision-making about granting U.S. visas to foreign nationals, and the important role they play in the fight against ISIS. Senator Hassan emphasized in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing the importance of Visa Security teams in the fight against terror, including addressing ISIS fighters once the so called “caliphate” truly collapses.

“Jordan, Israel, and the United Kingdom are critical allies when it comes to national security and counter-terrorism issues, and Greece has also long been an important ally of the United States,” Senator Hassan said. “In our bilateral meetings with Heads of State and senior government officials, we reaffirmed the bipartisan commitment the United States has to these alliances and emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between our nations to keep Americans safe, secure, and free.”

In addition to Senator Graham, Senator Hassan was joined by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).

See below for photos of the delegation:

Senator Hassan at the U.S. Embassy in London with (From left to right) Senators Coons, Flake, Cassidy, Gardner, Graham, Cortez Masto, and United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Woody Johnson.

Senator Hassan at a press conference in Jerusalem with (From left to right) Senators Flake, Graham, Cassidy, and Cortez Masto.

Senator Hassan in the Golan Heights overlooking Israel’s border with Syria and Lebanon.

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