The Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs will come to order.
I want to welcome everyone to the Subcommittee’s Member Day hearing.
I also want to thank my colleagues for taking time out of their busy schedules to discuss their SFOPS priorities with us.
As we work to develop the FY24 bill, input from colleagues on both sides of the aisle will be welcomed. In fact, it will be vital to get the SFOPS bill across the finish line and signed into law.
With the President’s Budget Request delayed, we have not received testimony on the Administration’s funding priorities.
However, the fiscal environment and rampant domestic spending by the Biden Administration is going to require us to make tough decisions.
The American taxpayer deserves to know where their hard-earned money is going and the results it is achieving.
That is why it is the duty of this subcommittee to scrub every line and justify every dollar of our bill.
There are many bipartisan priorities in the SFOPS bill – from the safety and security of our diplomats abroad and supporting our allies in the Middle East, to combatting HIV/AIDs through PEPFAR and pushing back against threats to freedom and democracy.
There is much to discuss. And I know my colleagues before us today have devoted much time and attention to championing these priorities and are deeply passionate about critical issues around the world.
I look forward to hearing your testimony.
I will now turn to the Ranking Member, Ms. Lee, for her opening statement.
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