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.
The agencies and programs funded by this bill are essential for our own national security, economic prosperity, and global leadership. The breakdown of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the influence of Hamas in the Palestinian unity government, Iran’s continued quest for nuclear weapons, and the recent turmoil in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, Nigeria, South Sudan, Central African Republic, and Venezuela all display vividly this bill’s importance.
I appreciate the Chairwoman’s efforts to include many of my and my colleagues’ priorities in the bill.
Funding for our close ally Israel - the only democracy in the Middle East - remains critical. I also support the funding provided for Jordan, a steadfast ally for peace that continues to be called upon to give haven to refugees fleeing Syria. Not only does this bill defer funding for a Palestinian unity government, it reduces any prospective funding for the Palestinian Authority by an amount equivalent to any PA payments provided to Palestinians in prison for acts of terror against Israel and their families. Funding to the PA would also continue to be limited depending on their efforts to halt anti-Israel incitement, which is particularly important following hateful and anti-Semitic images in Fatah media outlets after the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers. We are all praying for their safe return home.
Let there be no mistake: as long as Hamas rejects the Quartet principles and the existence of the State of Israel, United States funding for this unity government is in jeopardy.
I am pleased that this bill contains robust funding for basic education, which provides children around the world the essential tools to make positive contributions to their societies. Terrorist groups like Boko Haram are fixated on preventing access to education, particularly for girls, because they know that educated young adults better protect themselves from poverty, disease, hunger, and, ultimately,extremism. The heinous kidnapping of Nigerian schoolgirls tragically reminds us that education is a moral, economic, and national security imperative.
Additionally our investments save thousands of lives each year and are critical to the global battle against disease and suffering. This bill reaffirms our commitment to global nutrition; maternal and child health; programs to combat tuberculosis, malaria, and pandemic threats; as well as PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative.
I am, however, frustrated that the bill once again drastically cuts funding for family planning, reinstates the global gag rule, and prohibits the U.S. contribution to the UNFPA. We all want to achieve fewer maternal deaths, fewer unwanted pregnancies, and fewer abortions. Yet these short-sighted policies do the exact opposite - as you have heard me say before. The evidence is clear and unambiguous. It is just astounding to me that this debate continues.
Additionally, the President requested we provide health equity for female Peace Corps Volunteers in this bill. These ambassadors of the American people work in every corner of the world saving and changing lives, yet they are not afforded the same health care access as every other women with federal health coverage. I am disappointed that this inequity was not corrected in the bill.
Lastly, I fear cuts to USAID’s operating expenses -- in real terms -- will adversely impact staffing and erode technical and managerial excellence on complex development programs at a time when such leadership is needed most. I hope we can continue to work together to address this matter as we move through the process.
Again, I thank the Chairwoman for her leadership and commitment to our national security and foreign policy.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
