As part of our Congressional Staff Exchange Program, JCIE hosted a lunchtime discussion featuring two alumni of the program; Allen Klump, Chief of Staff, Jeff Duncan (2015 exchange) and Ian Nicholson, Advisor/Investigator, Finance Committee Chairman Senator Ron Wyden (2017 exchange). The discussion was moderated by JCIE/Japan Research Fellow, Dr. Ryo Sahashi, and was attended by more than two dozen participants from from DC-based Japanese businesses, think tanks, academia, and other US-Japan focused organizations.

The discussions focused on what to expect from the 118th Congress with the Republicans in control of the House after the 2022 midterm elections, including the outlook for foreign policy. The speakers touched on a variety of issues on trade, energy, regulatory issues, and other policy issues and highlighted areas for bipartisan cooperation as well as where there may be tension between House Republicans and the Biden Administration. Speakers touched on the significance of the Inflation Reduction Act and on implications of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for Japanese business investment in the United States. They also discussed the impact of the Biden administration’s agenda on foreign aid oversight and climate change.