WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday is leading a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to Ireland and the United Kingdom. The lawmakers will meet with officials in London and Dublin to discuss securing peace in Northern Ireland, the war in Ukraine, strategic implications of AUKUS, and transatlantic coordination on competition with China. Members of the delegation include U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and U.S. Representatives David Joyce (R-Ohio), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).

“As someone who represents a large Irish-American community in Connecticut and as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I’m proud to have organized this bipartisan, bicameral delegation to Ireland and the United Kingdom. This visit is an opportunity to reaffirm Congress’s commitment to strengthening transatlantic cooperation on trade, technology, and competition with China as well as the bipartisan interest in securing peace in Northern Ireland. I look forward to meeting with government officials and members of civil society in London and Dublin this week to discuss these important issues,” said Murphy.

“This bipartisan congressional delegation reaffirms the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom and strengthens our country’s deep relationship with Ireland. I look forward to meeting with U.K. and Irish officials to discuss the lasting peace brought about by the Good Friday Agreement in the quarter-century since its signing and how we can bolster the transatlantic alliance to support Ukraine against Russian brutality, counter China’s malign activities throughout the world, and increase trade between our respective partner nations,” said Coons.

“As a proud Irish-American, I look forward to embarking on this bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to Ireland and the United Kingdom. Through meetings with local government officials, industry leaders, and the community, we plan to have productive conversations on how to strengthen our bilateral cooperation and build upon the 25 years of peace in Northern Ireland that was secured through the signing of the Good Friday Agreement,” said Joyce.

“My goal is to convey to our strong allies Congress’ bipartisan support for shared values & interests, particularly regarding support for Ukraine, competition with China, and upholding the Good Friday Agreement,” said Auchincloss.

“The United Kingdom and Ireland are among our oldest allies, with whom we share a common bond - including a common culture, history, legal and political traditions, and, most importantly, a shared commitment to the preservation and promulgation of freedom. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the only freshman member on the Helsinki Commission, I have been proud to engage in dialogue with partners from both nations and from across Europe to strengthen our bonds as we work together. The steadfast partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States extinguished fascism, brought down the Iron Curtain, and helped usher in a new era of peace and freedom. Now, the partnership between our two states, along with Ireland and our partners across Europe, is needed more than ever to preserve the peace and freedom that so many sacrificed to forge. I’m honored to be joining bipartisan colleagues in the House and Senate for a delegation trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and I look forward to our continuing partnership to keep the peace in Northern Ireland, protect democracy in Ukraine, combat China’s aggression across the Indo-Pacific, and build a safer, freer, more prosperous future for the sons and daughters of all nations,” said Lawler.

In April, Murphy released a video commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Earlier this year, Murphy met with Irish Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris, and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.  

###