State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (113th Congress)
[[{"fid":"69","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Nita Lowey","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Nita Lowey"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"full","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Nita Lowey","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Nita Lowey"}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"alt":"Rep. Nita Lowey","title":"Rep. Nita Lowey","height":"100","width":"73","style":"float: left;","class":"media-element file-full","data-delta":"1"}}]]Nita Lowey (NY), Ranking Member
Barbara Lee (CA)
José Serrano (NY)
Jurisdiction
Diplomacy and Development
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Peace Corps
Department of State
United States Agency for International Development
Export and Trade
Export-Import Bank
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Trade and Development Agency
Department of the Treasury
International Affairs Technical Assistance
International Financial Institutions
Related Agencies and Programs
African Development Foundation
The Asia Foundation
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Center for Middle Eastern-Western Dialogue Trust Fund
East-West Center
Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program
Inter-American Foundation
Israeli Arab Scholarship Program
National Endowment for Democracy
United States Institute of Peace
Commissions
Border Environment Cooperation Commission
Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
Commission on International Religious Freedom
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China
International Boundary Commission
International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico
International Fisheries Commissions
International Joint Commission
United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission
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.
Mr. Secretary, I have often said ‘peace in my lifetime,' and I strongly support your efforts to facilitate a two-state agreement that ensures security for our ally Israel. Understanding there are very difficult issues yet to be resolved, we look forward to your assessment of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee and the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today delivered the following statement on the House floor in support of legislation making loan guarantees available for Ukraine:
"We must come together today on a bipartisan basis to support the people of Ukraine and take a stand against Russia's aggression and illegal violation of Ukraine's sovereign and territorial integrity.
"Since last November, the world has watched with growing alarm as the hopes and democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people were met with violent crackdowns against activists, harassment of journalists and restrictive legislation limiting basic democratic freedoms. The bloody images from the City Square and rising death toll are horrific.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on President Obama's FY 2015 budget request:
"The FY2015 budget and appropriations process offers Congress its best opportunity in years to reject the politics of brinkmanship and crisis management, and instead fulfill our responsibility to invest in our future, create and protect jobs, and support services on which American families rely.
"I commend President Obama for a budget request that keeps faith with discretionary spending levels set in the Bipartisan Budget Act, yet recognizes that the federal government can and must do more to achieve significant economic goals in research, education, manufacturing, and skills training. We must reject a single-minded focus on austerity, which has unnecessarily slowed our economic recovery while starving our economic future.
I join Chairwoman Granger in welcoming our distinguished witnesses here today. The challenges you face promoting democracy, civil liberties and basic human rights in repressive and fragile countries are enormous and the results are not always clearly visible.
The seeds of change take time to sow, take root and grow, making it difficult for some of our colleagues to embrace these investments. For example, the fall of the Iron Curtain in the late 80's and early 90's was precipitated by 30 years of groundwork.
2013 total enacted level: $53.6 billion
2014 Committee mark: $40.6 billion
2014 Omnibus: $49.0 billion
· $6.52 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), which is $4.68 billion less than the 2013 enacted level.
· $7.99 billion for Diplomatic and Consular Programs, including $1.9 billion for Worldwide Security Protection, which is $1.7 billion less than the 2013 enacted level due to significant carryover from prior year funds.
· $8.44 billion for Global Health, which is $37 million less than the 2013 enacted level but $380 million more than the post-sequester level.
· $2.51 billion for Development Assistance, which is $13 million less than the 2013 enacted level but $115 million more than the post-sequester level.