Thank you, Chairwoman Granger and Chairman Rogers. It has been a pleasure to work with you on this bill, and I greatly appreciate your continued commitment to our development and diplomacy efforts worldwide.
The agencies and programs funded by this bill are a vital part of our national security and foreign policy. They also directly impact our ability to focus on domestic priorities like rebuilding the middle class and restoring our economy by providing stability and preventing costly security threats abroad.
In the midst of great turmoil in the Middle East, vital U.S. assistance for our close allies - Israel and Jordan - remains robust. With the suspension of peace negotiations and an unreformed Hamas now supporting the Palestinian Authority’s unity government, there is simply no viable partner for peace. Therefore the bill defers funding for this Palestinian unity government. In addition, it continues prior year language on halting anti-Israel incitement, and maintains the current strict conditions on any prospective assistance to the PA, requiring them to demonstrate a commitment to peace, coexistence, and security cooperation with Israel
Our diplomats and development professionals serve on the front lines of our national security strategy and deserve our full support. This bill sustains our commitment to embassy and diplomatic security.
We are also increasing U.S. efforts to combat transnational crime, particularly human trafficking - including minors from Central America - and wildlife poaching. These criminal enterprises continue unabated in many regions, exploit corrupt and weak governments, provide a financing source for terrorists, and prey on young and vulnerable populations.
Robust funding for basic education signals to the Administration that they must prioritize education in their work with other countries, international organizations, and civil society groups. Without the skills to make positive contributions to their societies, uneducated children are powerless to overcome the greater forces that surround them - particularly poverty, conflict, disease, and even terrorism. Education is therefore fundamental to all of our other development goals and remains a moral, economic, and national security imperative.
Our investments in global health programs, including PEPFAR, the Global Fund, TB, malaria, the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative, and nutrition save thousands of lives each year and help stem the tide of dangerous diseases that can threaten our own borders.
While this bill makes many wise investments, it unfortunately contains several odious riders that threaten to impair our ability to meet our objectives abroad. Drastic cuts in funding for family planning, a reinstatement of the global gag rule, and a prohibition on U.S. contributions to UNFPA are three counterproductive policies that obstruct the very goals we all want to achieve-fewer maternal deaths, unintended pregnancies, and abortions.
In addition, the cuts in real terms to USAID’s Operating Expenses could compromise staff morale and expertise at this vital agency.
I will also ask committee members to provide much-needed support for female Peace Corps Volunteers. Under current law, female volunteers have inferior health care coverage, compared to other women representing the United States overseas. I hope you will join me in finally fixing this injustice, as the Senate did last week on a bipartisan basis.
It is my sincere hope that, working with the Senate, we will continue to improve this bill before its enactment.
I want to express my appreciation to Chairwoman Granger for her hard work, and I also want to express my thanks to our staffs for their efforts on this bill: Anne Marie Chotvacs, Craig Higgins, Alice Hogans, Susan Adams, Celia Alvarado, Jamie Guinn, David Bortnick, and Johnnie Kaberle; as well as my staff Steve Marchese, Erin Kolodjeski, Siobhan Hulihan, Sonali Korde, and Marin Stein.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
