State, Foreign Operations

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, Congressman Harold Rogers (R-KY), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Kay Granger (R-TX), Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today wrote Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to urge decisive and constructive actions to stop incitement of terrorist attacks against Israel.

Full text:

November 20, 2014

His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas
Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee
President of the Palestinian National Authority
Al Muqata'a, Ramallah West Bank

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you, Chairwoman Granger and Chairman Rogers. It has been a pleasure to work with you on this bill, and I greatly appreciate your continued commitment to our development and diplomacy efforts worldwide.

The agencies and programs funded by this bill are a vital part of our national security and foreign policy. They also directly impact our ability to focus on domestic priorities like rebuilding the middle class and restoring our economy by providing stability and preventing costly security threats abroad.

Thank you, Chairwoman Granger, not only for your continued bipartisan approach to this bill but also for your friendship. It is a pleasure to work with you. Thank you, also, to the full committee chairman, Mr. Rogers, for the bill allocation's recognition of the importance of foreign assistance and diplomacy.

I also want to express my appreciation for the hard work of our staffs: Anne Marie Chotvacs, Craig Higgins, Alice Hogans, Susan Adams, Clelia Alvarado, Jamie Guinn, David Bortnick, and Johnnie Kaberle; as well as my staff: Steve Marchese, Erin Kolodjeski, Siobhan Hulihan, Sonali Korde, and Marin Stein.

I am very pleased you are at the helm of USAID and appreciate your leadership, as well as the tireless efforts of your colleagues at USAID. The strength of USAID is, and always has been, its dedicated public servants from the top down. As a result of the continued generosity of the American people, USAID remains on the frontlines helping reduce poverty, hunger, and disease while making targeted investments to advance democracy, education, and health.

Ambassador Power, I join Chairwoman Granger in welcoming you today.

I must begin by raising yesterday's media reports that Palestinian President Abbas applied for recognition from 15 UN conventions and treaties. This reckless effort signals a break down in the peace process, with far-reaching repercussions on the United States' relationship with the UN and specialized agencies. Madame Ambassador, I hope you will begin your remarks today by discussing the Administration's response to this news.

This is a highly distressing development because the United Nations plays an integral and indispensable role in maintaining international peace and security, promoting economic and social development, alleviating hunger, championing human rights and supporting efforts to address humanitarian crises.

Secretary Kerry, I join Chairwoman Granger in welcoming you back to our Subcommittee. Let me also say congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter last week.

Our country is fortunate to have your thoughtful, effective, and respected leadership with so many grave challenges around the world, from the crisis in Syria to the Middle East Peace Process; from nuclear negotiations with Iran to human rights abuses; and, of course, urgent concerns in Ukraine. Today we expect updates and insight into how your budget request will address these and other threats to peace, stability, and security.