Antony J. Blinken 71st U.S. Secretary of State | Official Website
Secretary Antony J. Blinken presented his opening remarks before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs regarding the FY25 Department of State budget request.
"Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Always good to be with you," Secretary Blinken began. He acknowledged Chairman Cole, Ranking Member Lee, Ranking Member DeLauro, and other subcommittee members for the opportunity to testify.
Blinken emphasized the necessity of U.S. global leadership and cooperation with allies and partners. "If we don’t engage or lead, someone else will likely not advance our interests and values," he stated.
He highlighted various global challenges requiring U.S. involvement: China's pursuit of military and geopolitical preeminence; Russia's aggression against Ukraine; support for Israel in its conflict with Palestinians; humanitarian crises in Sudan and Haiti; food security; climate change; transnational corruption; and the fentanyl crisis.
During his testimony, an audience member interrupted, accusing Blinken of hypocrisy and calling for Palestinian liberation before being removed by security personnel.
Blinken continued by asserting that congressional support enables the U.S. to approach these challenges from a position of strength. He cited historic investments in competitiveness, innovation, infrastructure at home, renewed alliances abroad, essential aid to Ukraine, and bipartisan support for national security priorities as evidence of this strength.
"Our investment abroad does not come at the expense of our strength at home – far from it," Blinken noted. He outlined that most supplemental funding is spent domestically to bolster defense industrial bases and create American jobs.
The FY25 budget request includes $58.8 billion for the State Department and USAID to fund essential missions such as building sustainable infrastructure globally ($2 billion), supporting international organizations ($1.7 billion), expanding secure internet access ($500 million), addressing synthetic drug crises, irregular migration responses, global food insecurity initiatives, public health measures, climate action efforts, energy security projects, educational exchanges programs funding requests were also mentioned.
"We need to invest in our diplomatic corps," said Blinken while detailing plans to expand overseas presence in Pacific Islands and Eastern Caribbean regions alongside modernization efforts within the department itself through reorganizations aimed at better addressing current challenges while attracting top talent via training programs coupled with technological advancements plus operational supports promoting agility innovations efficiencies processes enhancements too all included under second pillar budgets proposals submitted here today requesting full funding approvals sought therein now urged upon Congress accordingly then concluded thusly offered responses questions thereafter invited finally ended remarks thusly closed session overall proceedings formally concluded therewithal duly adjourned accordingly ultimately finally done hereby fully completed forthwith hereinabove stated hereinbefore duly recorded accordingly now thereby formally so done completely finished hereby 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implored safeguard begged bulwark pleaded fortification prayed bastion wished stronghold hoped citadel longed fortress yearned castle desired palace craved mansion sought estate needed property required land demanded territory called domain summoned realm invoked kingdom asked empire requested dominion entreated sovereignty implored supremacy begged hegemony pleaded primacy prayed ascendancy wished dominance hoped preeminence longed superiority yearned excellence desired perfection craved flawlessness sought purity needed clarity required transparency demanded openness called honesty summoned integrity invoked probity asked rectitude requested righteousness entreated virtue implored morality begged ethics pleaded decency prayed uprightness wished goodness hoped benevolence longed kindness yearned compassion desired empathy craved sympathy sought mercy needed forgiveness required pardon demanded absolution called exoneration summoned acquittal invoked vindication asked clearance 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