State, Foreign Operations
More on State, Foreign Operations
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, Congressman Harold Rogers (R-KY), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Kay Granger (R-TX), Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today wrote Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to urge decisive and constructive actions to stop incitement of terrorist attacks against Israel.
Full text:
November 20, 2014
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.
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 am very pleased you are at the helm of USAID and appreciate your leadership, as well as the tireless efforts of your colleagues at USAID. The strength of USAID is, and always has been, its dedicated public servants from the top down. As a result of the continued generosity of the American people, USAID remains on the frontlines helping reduce poverty, hunger, and disease while making targeted investments to advance democracy, education, and health.
Ambassador Power, I join Chairwoman Granger in welcoming you today.
I must begin by raising yesterday’s media reports that Palestinian President Abbas applied for recognition from 15 UN conventions and treaties. This reckless effort signals a break down in the peace process, with far-reaching repercussions on the United States’ relationship with the UN and specialized agencies. Madame Ambassador, I hope you will begin your remarks today by discussing the Administration’s response to this news.
Secretary Kerry, I join Chairwoman Granger in welcoming you back to our Subcommittee. Let me also say congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter last week.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee and the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today delivered the following statement on the House floor in support of legislation making loan guarantees available for Ukraine:
“We must come together today on a bipartisan basis to support the people of Ukraine and take a stand against Russia’s aggression and illegal violation of Ukraine’s sovereign and territorial integrity.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on President Obama’s FY 2015 budget request:
“The FY2015 budget and appropriations process offers Congress its best opportunity in years to reject the politics of brinkmanship and crisis management, and instead fulfill our responsibility to invest in our future, create and protect jobs, and support services on which American families rely.
I join Chairwoman Granger in welcoming our distinguished witnesses here today. The challenges you face promoting democracy, civil liberties and basic human rights in repressive and fragile countries are enormous and the results are not always clearly visible.
The seeds of change take time to sow, take root and grow, making it difficult for some of our colleagues to embrace these investments. For example, the fall of the Iron Curtain in the late 80’s and early 90’s was precipitated by 30 years of groundwork.
2013 total enacted level: $53.6 billion
2014 Committee mark: $40.6 billion
2014 Omnibus: $49.0 billion
· $6.52 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), which is $4.68 billion less than the 2013 enacted level.
· $7.99 billion for Diplomatic and Consular Programs, including $1.9 billion for Worldwide Security Protection, which is $1.7 billion less than the 2013 enacted level due to significant carryover from prior year funds.