Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is a permanent joint committee with members from both chambers of Congress. Unlike temporary conference committees that reconcile specific bills, this committee conducts ongoing research, analysis, and oversight without reporting legislation to the floor. Its mandate is to monitor and encourage compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other commitments of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) across 57 countries in Europe, Eurasia, and North America. The commission specifically focuses on human rights, military security, and economic cooperation in the region. The committee is led by Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) and includes nine members from the Senate, nine from the House, and three executive branch officials. The commission remains active in its oversight role, recently holding hearings and briefings on topics including NATO deterrence, Ukraine's defense supply chains, human rights abuses in Georgia, and nuclear security issues.