Ranking Member Lee Statement at Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Member Day Hearing

2023-03-08 11:43
Statement

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Chair of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's Fiscal Year 2024 Member Day Hearing:

Good morning.  I want to welcome and thank each of my distinguished colleagues for attending SFOPS Member Day and testifying. We will receive the FY24 budget request from the Administration this week. However, it is important to also hear directly from Members on their priorities for the FY24 State and Foreign Operations bill.

The diplomacy, development, humanitarian, and security assistance programs funded through this bill are critical to supporting the poorest and most vulnerable people, including women and children, as well as mitigating crises such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and preparedness and the war in Ukraine.

Distinguished colleagues, I’m sure we can all agree that today’s international challenges are immense and often complex. Whether it’s alleviating starvation and food insecurity, advancing women’s empowerment, tackling global health crises, securing our partners and vulnerable countries from the malign influence of authoritarianism, increasing staff diversity and equity within our own agencies—just to name a few—these challenges necessitate Congress to cooperate and work together in a bipartisan manner.  It is important for this subcommittee to understand the global challenges that are reaching to your home districts. 

At the end of the day, I believe Congress will work together across the aisle, alongside the Administration and our multilateral partners, to provide for programs that protect the American people and their security and uphold our development and foreign policy priorities.

These hearing are the first step.  I look forward to hearing your testimonies.  Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

118th Congress