House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently appointed a member of Arizona’s congressional delegation to a commission that’s independent of the federal government. The body has members from the legislative and executive branches.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego has been picked for the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is often called the Helsinki Commission, after the city where a nonbinding diplomatic deal was made in 1975.
The goal 40 years ago was to cut tension between the old Soviet Union and 34 Western nations. Now 57 countries are part of the effort to address human rights, security and economic issues.
In an emailed statement, Gallego called the commission’s work critical. Citing his combat experience as a Marine in Iraq, the Democrat said he’s eager to rebuild international ties that frayed during the Trump administration.
