Reps. Boyle, Pfluger Join CSGG As New House Co-Chairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

BOYLE, PFLUGER JOIN CONGRESSIONAL STUDY GROUP ON GERMANY AS NEW HOUSE CO-CHAIRS 

Washington, DC — Today, the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) announced that U.S. Representatives Brendan Boyle (D-PA) and August Pfluger (R-TX) will serve as the new House Co-Chairs of FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Germany (CSGG). They will help lead the group alongside their U.S. Senate counterparts, Tim Scott (R-SC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

"I am honored to be selected to serve as the new House Democratic Co-Chair of FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Germany,” said Boyle. “I look forward to strengthening Congress’ relationship with our friends in the Bundestag, in hopes of bringing our countries even closer together. Having worked alongside numerous Bundestag members over the years—both within my capacity as Chair of the Congressional EU Caucus and a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly—I can personally attest to the importance of these interpersonal relationships with our transatlantic allies.”

Pfluger said, “I am honored to co-chair the Congressional Study Group on Germany with Rep. Brendan Boyle. A strong relationship between the United States and Germany is vital to successful campaigns in defense, a strong global economy, and lasting energy security. I look forward to working together with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to foster collaboration between the U.S. and Germany and ultimately strengthen both countries.” 

“As FMC’s longest running Congressional Study Group, for decades the Congressional Study Group on Germany has helped to rebuild and strengthen the U.S. relationship with the German government, business leaders, and people. Our work has helped Congress cement a strong economic and security alliance with Europe’s largest democracy and economic powerhouse,” said the Honorable L.F. Payne, FMC President. “On behalf of FMC, I welcome Congressmen Boyle and Pfluger to the group and look forward to seeing the success of the group under their leadership.”

Boyle has represented eastern Philadelphia and previously its Montgomery County suburbs in Congress since 2015. He currently serves on the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, as well as the House Budget Committee, where he focuses on fiscal, tax, and healthcare issues. He is also co-founder and co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, which prioritizes policies that create good-paying jobs for working-class Americans and that invest in rebuilding the United States’ infrastructure.

Pfluger has represented a geographically large district in West Texas, spanning from outside Fort Worth to Midland and Odessa, since 2021. As an Air Force Veteran, Pfluger brings his national security expertise to his positions on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee, where he serves as Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism. He also focuses on issues surrounding energy security and agriculture.

The Congressional Study Group on Germany was launched in 1983 as a forum for current U.S. congressional and foreign leaders to candidly discuss the vital issues of the day, to strengthen transatlantic relationships, and allow leaders to develop deeper understandings of our allies abroad.

To achieve these goals, CSGG organizes annual Study Tours to Germany for Members of Congress and senior congressional staff to meet their legislative counterparts, facilitates the annual Congress-Bundestag Seminar, and hosts German legislators and other leaders in America for its biannual Election Battleground program. Additionally, CSGG convenes regular roundtable discussions on Capitol Hill with diplomatic officials, key business leaders, and decisionmakers from civil society.

The CSGG House Co-Chairs positions were previously held by Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL), who is leaving Congress shortly to head the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the late Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN), who passed away in a tragic car accident in August.

Payne continued, “I sincerely thank Congressman Deutch for his years of commitment and dedication to the Congressional Study Group on Germany. He has been a model co-chair and I wish him nothing but the absolute best with his new venture; I know he will do great things at the American Jewish Committee.” 

“Congressman Brendan Boyle is a thoughtful policymaker and trusted colleague, and I am thrilled to see him take over as the next House Co-Chair of the FMC Congressional Study Group on Germany,” said Deutch. “His steadfast commitment to bolstering the U.S. relationship with Germany and the broader transatlantic relationship will be instrumental in the continued success of the Study Group. It was also a great privilege for me to learn alongside my late colleague, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. Congressman August Pfluger will be a great partner in this important work, and I have no doubt that together, the new co-Chairs will deepen Congress’ knowledge of our important ally and of the region.”

FMC is a non-advocacy, nonpartisan group founded in 1970 and chartered by Congress in 1983. It is a voluntary alliance of Former U.S. Senators and Representatives, working to strengthen Congress in the conduct of its Constitutional responsibility through promoting a collaborative approach to policy making; and to deepening the understanding of our democratic system.

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