State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (114th 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)
Dutch Ruppersberger (MD)
Grace Meng (NY)
David Price (NC)
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
Thank you, Chairwoman Granger and our full committee chairman, Mr. Rogers. I appreciate your efforts to include many of my and my colleagues’ priorities in the bill.
I also want to express my appreciation to the Majority staff: Anne Marie Chotvacs, Craig Higgins, Alice Hogans, Susan Adams, Clelia Alvarado, David Bortnick, Dean Koulouris and Johnnie Kaberle; as well as my staff: Steve Marchese, Erin Kolodjeski who just had a baby boy, Matt Washington, and Marin Stein.
I am deeply troubled both by the allocation for this bill, which is $595 million below last year, and the failure to maintain regular order. The Minority did not officially receive the allocation for the State & Foreign Operations bill until after 10 of the 12 appropriations bills had subcommittee markups.
Despite these serious frustrations, I remain hopeful we can still find common ground on this essential national security bill.
WASHINGTON - 394 Members of Congress signed a bipartisan letter urging President Obama to veto possible upcoming one-sided initiatives in the United Nations concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Administrator Smith, I welcome you, again, to the helm of USAID, and I am pleased to have you here today. USAID continues to play an indispensable role in spearheading global development efforts, and I’m sure we’ll see even greater achievements under your leadership.
Given unprecedented levels of humanitarian needs around the world today, you face the unenviable task of guiding U.S. response efforts on nearly every continent.
With this in mind, I have concerns regarding whether the Fiscal Year 17 budget request will provide USAID the necessary resources to implement current programs and prepare for new or unanticipated challenges.
First, I’m pleased with the proposed increases for malaria and GAVI. However I do not understand the cuts to nutrition and tuberculosis programs when nearly 800 million people worldwide suffer from malnutrition, and TB claims more than 1.5 million lives per year.
Secretary Lew, I join Chairwoman Granger in welcoming you here today, and I thank you for your service to our country.
The President’s 2017 budget request reflects the importance of our continued investments in international financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, which offer a cost-effective way to leverage taxpayer dollars and promote our own economic and national security interests.
Additionally, the Treasury Department leads the world in disrupting terrorist financing networks, enforcing sanctions against violators of international norms, and providing technical assistance to countries serious about strengthening their own financial management and accountability systems. Your Department plays a central role in these vital efforts, and I look forward to hearing from you on how the request would further these important undertakings.
Secretary Kerry, it’s a pleasure to welcome you before our Subcommittee. Since you were sworn into office, the world has witnessed unprecedented levels of turmoil, requiring strong U.S. leadership on many fronts.
Chief among them is the Middle East.
I commend your attempts to bring about a cease-fire in Syria. However, as recent events prove, this requires the cooperation of Russia and Iran.
I look forward to hearing your estimation of what it will take for both countries to work with the international community to end the senseless bloodshed and atrocities of the Assad regime and, specifically, whether we have the leverage to end the conflict.
To continue on Iran, despite differing opinions on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it must be vigilantly enforced in combination with other sustained efforts to prevent Iran from ever developing nuclear weapons.