Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Chairwoman Granger.
As I said last week, the Republican budget resolution has led to clear winners and losers in the subcommittee allocations. The State and Foreign Operations bill is $6.1 billion, or 11.3%, less than the President’s request and uses OCO to partially make up for shortfalls imposed by the inadequate allocation.
Our security comes from more than military might. Development and diplomatic initiatives around the world are our best defense against political instability, economic disparity, and widespread poverty.
The State Department and USAID protect our national interests and are continually called upon to respond to spontaneous, unanticipated, or simultaneous crises, including Ebola in West Africa, the refugee crisis in Central America, the earthquake in Nepal, and the devastating conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, all in the last year.
In such a challenging geopolitical landscape, the State Department and USAID unquestionably need funding that is unmet in this bill.
In addition to drastic cuts to family planning and women’s reproductive health, this bill reinstates the global gag rule, and prohibits U.S. contributions to UNFPA. Evidence shows time and again that these programs lead to fewer unwanted pregnancies, fewer abortions and fewer maternal and infant deaths.
Instead of eroding the progress we’ve made on both maternal and child health and access to family planning services, we should focus on expanding quality health care programs so that women can better care for themselves and their families.
This bill also proposes a severe retreat from our engagement with the United Nations, the World Bank, and other multilateral organizations. Our bilateral efforts are strengthened by strong multilateral investments in international organizations such as UNDP, UN WOMEN, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, all of which are completely unfunded in this bill, and UN Peacekeeping, which is capped. These organizations leverage our investments, leading to significantly greater impacts than we can achieve on our own.
Unfortunately this bill also falls short on addressing climate change, which directly affects the safety and economy of the United States and erodes advances we’ve achieved in the developing world.
The bill’s approach to Central America is misguided, failing to address the root problems behind the violence and poverty that stifle these countries. Our efforts must address institutional weaknesses, corruption, and the region’s poor records on human rights, police, and judicial systems.
Like many of the other appropriations bills, this one contains new politically motivated provisions that are purposefully divisive and aimed at literally undercutting the Administration.
The proposed 15% cut to the State Department’s operating funds if officials don’t feed the sham investigation of Benghazi is simply atrocious. If the majority is so focused on transparency and protecting tax-payer dollars, they would be better off cutting the unlimited funding for the Select Committee, which has existed for over a year and produced zero substantive information.
This bill restricts funding to establish a diplomatic presence in Cuba. Through engagement with Cuba, the U.S. is better positioned to press for human rights, civil liberties, and freedom of assembly, speech, and religion - all of which the Cuban people desperately deserve.
Despite shortcomings, there are some positive aspects of the bill. I want to express my deep appreciation for the Chairwoman’s efforts to include as many of my and my colleagues’ priorities as possible, including sustaining our commitment to embassy and diplomatic security and providing robust funding for basic education.
This bill also continues the unwavering support and robust funding for our close ally Israel and $1 billion to support our partner Jordan.
We also reaffirm our commitment to global health investments including 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.
However, I remain gravely worried that the deep cuts will leave us vulnerable to the spread of extremist ideology, substantially weaken our standing in the world, and make it more difficult to achieve our goals on the global stage.
I will be offering a number of amendments to bolster our development and humanitarian efforts, spur economic progress, and improve national security.
Before I close, I want to, again, express my appreciation to the Majority staff: Anne Marie Chotvacs, Craig Higgins, Alice Hogans, Susan Adams - a new mother-, Clelia Alvarado, David Bortnick, Miki Smith and Johnnie Kaberle; as well as my hardworking staff: Steve Marchese, Erin Kolodjeski and Marin Stein. We have a great team.
Thank you.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
