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.
We all agree we must make it impossible for Iran to make a nuclear bomb, but the clock is ticking on reaching a final agreement. Do we have a set of hard requirements - a bottom line - that we need in order to get to an agreement? I remain skeptical of Iran’s intentions, especially given their unyielding position against any dismantlement of their nuclear infrastructure. Will any final agreement prohibit Iran from having a heavy water reactor, advanced centrifuges, or require Fordow be closed?
Additionally, I hope you will address our relationships with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, two important allies in the Gulf. While the U.S. cannot compromise our principles, we must acknowledge the difficult and volatile circumstances in the region while working to ensure our actions do not alienate our longstanding strategic partners.
With regard to Syria, there seems to be a stalemate. Destruction of chemical weapons has not occurred per the agreed upon schedule. The Assad regime continues to commit despicable atrocities against innocent civilians. Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey are massively burdened under the strain of refugees. Please tell us about contingency planning in light of the very real potential of a completely destabilized region and renewed sectarian violence in Iraq.
In Afghanistan and Pakistan, as the Administration considers reducing our military foot print, I hope you can reassure us about our ability to sustain the gains in security, health, education, and women’s and girls’ empowerment so that countless lives will not have been lost in vain.
Last week, the House worked quickly to pass Chairman Rogers’ and my loan guarantee bill to support Ukraine. It appears the markets are already punishing Russia, and actions by the IMF and EU may soon exacerbate the repercussions. While Russia’s overarching foreign policy goals are not entirely clear, I hope to hear details on the prospects for de-escalating this crisis, the future of the United States’ relationship with Russia, and the impact on both negotiations with Iran and the situation in Syria.
Mr. Secretary, it is clear that the Administration’s robust diplomacy and development request is needed now more than ever before to address these challenges and countless other global priorities. Our investments in education, health, women’s political participation, climate change, food security, public diplomacy, bilateral family planning assistance, and UNFPA activities - to name just a few - improve lives, expand economic opportunity, and inherently make us more secure.
That is why I urge you to rectify one critical shortfall in the budget request - the failure to prioritize international basic education. I’ll state the obvious: it is fundamental to all other development outcomes. It is the cornerstone of strong, stable societies. No country has reached sustained economic growth without achieving near universal primary education. Health and child survival, poverty reduction, and women’s advancement all leap forward with a strong educational foundation. With 57 million primary school aged children around the world out of school, our job simply is not done.
With great respect for your wisdom, integrity, and hard work, thank you again for joining us.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
