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• Defeating Terrorism in Syria: A New Way Forward, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, February 14, 2017

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  This is the hearing compilation for the February 14, 2017 hearing "Defeating Terrorism in Syria: A New Way Forward" before the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. From the statement of Hassan Hassan: "Stability in Syria is an important national security interest for the United States. Much of Syria is a geographic space controlled or dominated by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The country borders key regional partners. The persistent refugee crisis threatens the stability of Europe. The two-pronged threat of international terrorism, emanating from both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, is fuelled by the continuing conflict. Despite the grim situation in the country, the US government has an opportunity to stem the challenges presented by the two international terrorist organisations and their enablers. [...] The strategy I am proposing is a baseline. It requires minimal American commitment, building on what the US is already doing in Syria against the Islamic State, without which any fight against jihadism is doomed to fail. Pre-existing resources and hard power should be supplemented with a policy that deliberately immunizes the liberated areas from falling back to extremist forces. This strategy is not an invitation for American occupation or long-term 'nation-building' that President Donald Trump has explicitly criticized. Instead, it is both realistic and essential, expanding on battlefield victories already scored over the last two-and-a-half years of Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State in northern, eastern and southern Syria." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Hassan Hassan, Frederic C. Hof, and Melissa Dalton.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2017-02-14
• U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to Syria: Minimizing Risks and Improving Oversight, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, July 14, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the July 14, 2016 hearing "U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to Syria: Minimizing Risks and Improving Oversight" before the House Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa. From the statement of Thomas Melito: "The conflict in Syria has created a complex humanitarian challenge. As of May 2016, the United Nations (UN) reported that 13.5 million people inside Syria have been affected by the conflict and are in need of humanitarian assistance, such as food, shelter, and medicine. Since the start of the conflict in March 2011, the United States, through the Department of State (State) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided over $5 billion in humanitarian assistance, about half of which has been provided for assistance to people inside Syria. USAID provides funds to UN organizations and also works through nongovernmental organizations (NGO) inside Syria, while State works through three main partners--two UN organizations and one public international organization. U.S. humanitarian assistance is part of a broader international response. Since 2013, the United States has consistently led global funding efforts--for example, the United States provided more than a quarter of the total international funding for the 2015 Syria humanitarian response." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas Melito and Ann Calvaresi Barr.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2016-07-14
• Sri Lanka's Democratic Transition: A New Era for the U.S.-Sri Lanka Relationship, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 9, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the June 9, 2016 hearing "Sri Lanka's Democratic Transition: A New Era for the U.S.-Sri Lanka Relationship," before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Lisa Curtis: "There has been a rapid turn-around in U.S.--Sri Lankan relations in the past 18 months since President Maithripala Sirisena took power. Passage of the 19th amendment just a little over a year ago was a milestone on the path back to democracy. The democratic reform process is enabling closer relations between the U.S. and Sri Lanka, whose geographic position at the maritime crossroads of Asia and the Middle East has become more significant with China's rise. In addition, the Sri Lankan government's decision to co-sponsor a U.N. Human Rights Council Resolution that called for post-war reconciliation and an investigation of alleged war crimes was a promising step, kindling hopes for a genuine accountability process that would help foster national unity and reconciliation. The human rights community noted that the adoption of the resolution could mark a turning point for human rights in Sri Lanka. However, nine months after the adoption of the U.N. resolution, there is concern that the human rights reform process has stalled, and that the government is squandering an opportunity to reconcile the country and address Tamil grievances in a way that ensures that Sri Lanka will never again become embroiled in civil war. [...] Steps toward devolution--which lie at the heart of the ethnic question--will be impossible unless the government engages in a major campaign to build public support for the constitutional changes, especially among the Sinhalese population in the south. Many Tamil observers doubt that the government is committed to pushing for such consequential changes, and believe, instead, that the push for constitutional reform may be a whitewash set up for failure." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Lisa Curtis, Kara L. Bue, and Nimmi Gowrinathan.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2016-06-09
• FY 2017 Budget Priorities for East Asia: Engagement, Integration, and Democracy, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 19, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the April 19, 2016 hearing, "FY 2017 Budget Priorities for East Asia: Engagement, Integration, and Democracy," before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Daniel R. Russel: The 'Rebalance' to the Asia-Pacific reflects a profound recognition that our nation's security and prosperity will be largely defined by events and developments in the region over the next century. Home to the world's largest and fastest growing economies, East Asia and the Pacific offers growing opportunities and challenges for U.S. strategic interests. Harnessing Asia's growth and dynamism is central to American economic and strategic interests. The President's $1.5 billion FY 2017 budget request for East Asia and the Pacific reflects this recognition. The overall request includes $873 million in foreign assistance and $646.1 million for diplomatic engagement. This funding allows us to maintain a strong presence as a preeminent trade and investment partner, security guarantor, and supporter of democracy and good governance throughout the region." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Daniel R. Russel, and Jonathan Stivers.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2016-04-19
• U.S.-Russia Relations in the Aftermath of the Georgia Crisis, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, September 9, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Howard L. Berman, "Today, we consider the future of United States relations with Russia in the aftermath of the crisis that erupted with sudden ferocity in the Republic of Georgia 5 weeks ago. But before looking ahead, we also need to look back more than 5 weeks to understand what role United States policy toward Russia and Georgia played in setting the stage for these events. Over the last few months, the international community watched with increasing concern as the Russian Government sought to provoke Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili through an escalating series of questionable legal and military actions. Russia established official ties with the separatist government in Abkhazia, issuing passports and citizenship to its residents. Then Moscow dispatched a military jet to down a Georgian reconnaissance craft, and it deployed railway troops to Abkhazia under dubious pretenses. When this failed to stimulate a reaction from the Georgians, the Russians sought to destabilize South Ossetia instead. On August 8th, the world watched the sad climax of months of provocation. Television screens were filled with the sickening juxtaposition of Russian tanks rolling across Georgian soil while the world celebrated peace and harmony during the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. President Saakashvili's decision to take Russia's bait and engage militarily was a terrible blunder. But before we render too harsh a judgment, consider the intensifying provocations that the Georgian Government faced, including reports of ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2008-09-09
• Energy in the Americas, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, July 31, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the Subcommittee,"It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to today's hearing entitled, 'Energy in the Americas.' I am pleased to have Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Dan Sullivan here with us. We have met several times. I appreciate his good work in so many different areas. And I look forward, Mr. Sullivan, to your testimony. The New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman, recently wrote an article entitled, '9/11 and 4/11.' In this column, Friedman argues that since 2000, the United States has faced two major crises, 9/11 and 4/11. We all know what 9/11 is. Unfortunately, I was just in my other committee, Energy and Commerce, and we were having a Health Subcommittee hearing on 9/11 with Mayor Bloomberg and others talking about persistent health problems that first responders and others have as a result of the tragedy of 9/11. But what is 4/11? Well, that, says Mr. Friedman, was when gasoline prices in the United States crossed $4.11. Friedman contends that history judges us on how we respond to crises and whether we will respond to the energy crisis today. With gas prices so high, even though it has dropped a pittance in the past week or so, and consumers demanding answers, I decided to hold this hearing to look at the role of the Western Hemisphere in the production and supply of energy and whether the region holds any of the answers we are seeking. The most obvious feature of the energy profile of the Western Hemisphere is that it is the leading energy supplier to the United States. Most people think that we get most of our oil from the Middle East; it is not true. It comes right from the Western Hemisphere. Canada, the number one exporter to the United States, supplies us more oil than Saudi Arabia, who is number two on the list. Numbers three and four are Mexico and Venezuela, respectively, and they round out the list of nations which send the United States over 1 million barrels of oil per day. Combined with other 2 countries, our region supplies just above 50 percent of our total oil imports. That is right: Contrary to popular opinion, as I just mentioned, the majority of our imported oil comes from the Western Hemisphere, not the Middle East."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2008-07-31
• Impeachment Inquiry of President Trump: House Chairmans' Letter Conveying Grave Concerns About President's Actions with Respect to the House of Representatives' Impeachment Inquiry

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  This document contains a letter from the members of the House Committees on Intelligence, Oversight and Reform, and Foreign Affairs conveying "grave concerns with the unprecedented actions of President Donald Trump and his Administration with respect to the House of Representative's impeachment inquiry."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  Engel, Eliot L.; Schiff, Adam B.; Cummings, Elijah E.

  2019-10-03
• Gangs and Crime in Latin America, Testimony of Detective First Class Kelly L. Smith, Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, One Hundred and Ninth Congress, April 20, 2005

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  From the 'Timeline Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) Gang in Howard County' section: "As we have seen with many other immigrant communities, a small element of the population turns to criminal activity. Often they start out by preying on members of their own community. Much of this crime goes unreported. In the case of the Hispanic Community we have seen an increased presence of a gang known as Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13. We first began hearing about MS-13 around 1999 at area gang information sharing meetings. By 2000, we knew that MS-13 were prevalent in Northern Virginia and also in our bordering counties of Montgomery and Prince George's. In 2001, our first known MS-13 member was arrested in Howard County. The following year (2002) we began arresting multiple MS-13 members that we committing crimes within Howard County. In 2003, we handled our first graffiti case involving Mara Salvatrucha and the number of reports and arrests continued to increase. By 2004, we were investigating MS-13 members for major crimes including rape, robbery and assault. During the past four years we have documented 57 incidents and identified 55 MS-13 members that have either been arrested or involved in criminal activity within Howard County. We have also seen an increase in the number of MS-13 members living within our community."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2005-04-20
• United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs [website]

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  This is the website of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, which is "responsible for oversight and legislation relating to: foreign assistance (including development assistance, Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Millennium Challenge Account, HIV/AIDS in foreign countries, security assistance, and Public Law 480 programs abroad); the Peace Corps; national security developments affecting foreign policy; strategic planning and agreements; war powers, treaties, executive agreements, and the deployment and use of United States Armed Forces; peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and enforcement of United Nations or other international sanctions; arms control and disarmament issues; the United States Agency for International Development; activities and policies of the State, Commerce and Defense Departments and other agencies related to the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act including export and licensing policy for munitions items and technology and dual-use equipment and technology; international law; promotion of democracy; international law enforcement issues, including narcotics control programs and activities; Broadcasting Board of Governors; embassy security; international broadcasting; public diplomacy, including international communication, information policy, international education, and cultural programs; and all other matters not specifically assigned to a subcommittee." This site includes such resources as committee information, hearings, news and various subcommittees.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Questions for the Record submitted to Assistant Secretary Bergner by Chairman Tom Lantos, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, October 5, 2007

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  This is a list of questions posed by Congressman Tom Lantos to Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of State in reference to the U.S.-India Agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation. The following is taken from the document, "Dear Chairman Lantos: I am writing in response to your letter of October 5, 2007, concerning Congressional review of the recently-initialed U.S.-India Agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation (the "123" agreement). The Department welcomes the opportunity to answer any questions that members of the Foreign Affairs Committee may have concerning the agreement. To that end, please find enclosed the Department's responses to the 45 Questions for the Record that you submitted with your letter. Thank you for raising your concerns, as well as. those of the other members of your committee, on this important issue. Thank you also for your personal interest in, and support of, the overall Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. We look forward to working with you to secure passage of the 123 Agreement when it is submitted to Congress."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  Lantos, Tom

  2007-10-05
• Remarks on the House Floor of Chairman Berman at the start of debate on H.R. 7081, to Approve the United States-India Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation [September 26, 2008]

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  The following remarks were made by Congressman Howard L. Berman on the floor of the House during the debate on H.R. 7081, to approve the U.S. --India Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation. "Mr. Speaker, I'm a strong advocate of closer U.S.-India ties, including peaceful nuclear cooperation. I voted for the Hyde Act, which established a framework for such cooperation today. The bill before us today will approve the U.S.-India Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation. Under the Hyde Act of two years ago, Congress was to have 30 days to review the agreement before beginning consideration of a privileged resolution of approval. Instead, the Agreement is now before us in the waning days before adjournment. We can approve the Agreement now, with the oversight safeguards built into this bill, or wait until the next Congress and start over..."

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  Berman, Howard L. (Howard Lawrence), 1941-

  2008-09-26
• Briefing on Iraq and Hearing on the International Relations Budget for Fiscal Year 2008: Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, January 11 and February 7, 2007

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  From the opening statement of Condoleezza Rice: "President Bush's fiscal year 2008 international affairs budget for the Department of State, USAID, and other foreign affairs agencies, totals $36.2 billion. The President's budget also requests $6 billion in supplemental funding for the year 2007, to support urgent requirements that are not funded in the annual budget cycle. This supplemental request includes $1.18 billion for additional operating costs of the Department of State and other agencies largely related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also includes $4.81 billion to meet urgent new foreign assistance needs in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon, as well as peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance in Sudan Somalia, and other countries in need." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Condoleezza Rice, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Robert Wexler, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Edward R. Royce.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2007
• Foreign Assistance Reform: Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, April 23 and June 25, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Howard L. Berman: "This year our committee will review our foreign assistance program to look at what actions are needed to achieve coherence and effectiveness in the U.S. foreign assistance framework. We will hold a series of hearings on various aspects of foreign assistance reform such as rebuilding U.S. civilian, diplomatic and development agencies, the role of the military in delivery and shaping foreign assistance, and improving America's image around the world. These efforts will help inform the committee on the direction that Congress and the next administration should take in reforming the U.S. foreign assistance." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Howard L. Berman, Lael Brainard, Steven Radelet, Raymond C. Offenheiser, Jim T. Kolbe, J. Brian Atwood, M. Peter McPherson, Gene Green, Sheila Jackson Lee, Jeff Fortenberry, and Donald A. Manzullo.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2008
• Bucharest Summit and the Way Forward for NATO: Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Europe, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, April 23, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Robert Wexler: "Today's hearing comes on the heels of NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization]'s Bucharest Summit where the alliance addressed many of the most pressing security challenges facing the United States, Canada and our European allies. As a strong supporter of NATO, I was heartened to see that our allies joined together in the summit declaration reaffirming their support for enlargement and agreeing to further strengthen the collective capability of the alliance to meet the existing and emerging 21st century threats. Despite the language contained in the declaration, I remain concerned that our differences between us and some of our NATO allies, particularly on the issues of Ukraine and Georgia's relationships with NATO, the Bush administration's missile defense plan, energy security and NATO's relations with Russia, as well as the alliance's mission in Afghanistan, have yet to be determined and ironed out." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Daniel Fried, Daniel P. Fata, and Robert Wexler.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2008
• New Beginning for the U.S.-South Korea Strategic Alliance, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, April 23, 2008

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  From the opening statement of Eni F.H. Faleomavaega: "Today's hearing is entitled, 'A New Beginning for the U.S.-South Korea Strategic Alliance.' The choice of title is not accidental. This hearing follows on the heels of a successful visit to Washington last week by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak who assumed office on February 25. President Lee chose the United States as his destination for his first official overseas trip. President Lee also became the first South Korean head of state to be invited to join the United States President at Camp David. During President Lee's visit there were several noteworthy accomplishments that will have a tremendous effect on the U.S.-South Korean Strategic Alliance and relationship. Among those included the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the Visa Waiver Program, the agreement of the full importation of United States beef into South Korea, and support for the elevation of South Korea's foreign military sales status to that of NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] plus three." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alexander A. Arvizu, Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, Donald A. Manzullo, Edward R. Royce, and Dan Burton.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2008
• Serial No. 112-3: The United Nations: Urgent Problems That Need Congressional Action, Briefing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, January 25, 2011

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  From the opening statement of Jean Schmidt: "Here's some simple math: With no strings attached, we pay all contributions that the United Nations assesses to us--22 percent of their annual budget--plus billions more every year. According to the OMB [Office of Management and Budget], in Fiscal Year 2009, the U.S. contributed well over $6 billion to the U.N.--at a time of high unemployment, skyrocketing deficits, crushing debt, and other great economic and fiscal challenges to our nation. What have we gotten in return from the U.N.? Here are a few examples. The U.N. Development Program [UNDP] fired a whistle-blower who revealed that the United Nations Development Program's office in North Korea was not being managed properly, and was being exploited by Kim Jong Il's regime. In 2008, a Senate subcommittee found that: The U.N. Development Program's local staff was selected by the regime, and UNDP paid staff salaries directly to the regime--in foreign currency--with no way to know the funds weren't being diverted to enrich the regime; UNDP prevented proper oversight and undermined whistleblower protections by limiting access to its audits and refusing to submit to the U.N. Ethics Office's jurisdiction; the regime used its relationship with UNDP to move money outside North Korea; and UNDP transferred funds to a company tied to an entity designated by the U.S. as North Korea's financial agent for weapons sales. The UNDP briefly pulled out of North Korea, but now they're back, and this time they can select staff from a list of three candidates hand-picked by the regime, not just one candidate. That's what passes for reform at the U.N." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jean Schmidt, Brett Schaefer, Claudia Rosett, Hillel C. Neuer, Peter Yeo, Mark Quarterman, Robert Appleton, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2011
• Joint Subcommittee Hearing: After the Withdrawal: The Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Part III), Held Before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, One Hundred and Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, December 10, 2014

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  This is the testimony compilation from the hearing titled "Joint Subcommittee Hearing: After The Withdrawal: The Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Part III)" held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The following is from the opening statement of Steve Cabot: "Afghanistan has seen many changes this year, both promising and unfortunately worrying in many instances as well. On the positive end of things, the bilateral security agreement was finally signed in September which I'm hopeful will both lay out and secure the U.S. role in the post 2014 Afghanistan. Also somewhat encouraging, is the relative clarity we have of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, at least for the next couple of years." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Steve Cabot, Jarret Blanc, Donald L. Sampler, and James Soiles.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2014-12-10
• Iranian Challenge: Hearing Before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, March 6, 2007

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  From the testimony of R. Nicholas Burns: "Thank you, Chairman Lantos, Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen, and distinguished Members of the Committee for this opportunity to discuss our strategy to address the profound challenges Iran poses to our national security interests. We face a complex, interconnected set of four crises in the Middle East: the need to achieve a stable and democratic Iraq, to strengthen the democratically elected government of Lebanon, to block Iran's nuclear and regional ambitions, and to establish the foundation for a final peace between the Israeli and the Palestinian people. This region is now the area of greatest importance for the U.S. worldwide, and critical interests are engaged in all of these areas. But beyond our responsibility to help stabilize Iraq, nothing is more vital to the future of America's role in the Middle East than addressing the challenges posed by the radical regime in Iran, whose public face is the vitriolic President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: R. Nicholas Burns and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2007
• Decline in America's Reputation: Why?

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  This report from the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight is the first of three reports on "America's International Image" relating to its decline and its impact on U.S. national interests. "Since [September 11, 2001], polls conducted by the U.S. Government and respected private firms have revealed a precipitous decline in favorability toward the United States and its foreign policy. The generally positive ratings from the 1950's to 2000 moved to generally negative after 2002. As the very first witness in a 10-hearing series with pollsters and regional analysts told the Subcommittee--'We have never seen numbers this low.' […] While the United States can't base its foreign policies on opinion polling-- either at home or abroad--this consistently negative view of U.S. foreign policy is both a liability and a sign that something has gone seriously awry. What happened? Why, as the question is often posed, do they hate us?"

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2008-06-11
• Serial No. 112-189: Benghazi and Beyond, Part I: What Went Wrong on September 11, 2012 and How to Prevent it from Happening at Other Frontline Posts: Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, November 15, 2012

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  From the opening statement of Michael Courts: "My testimony today is primarily based on a GAO [Government Accountability Office] report that was issued in November 2009, examining the Department of State's (State) Bureau of Diplomatic Security (Diplomatic Security). Since the 1998 embassy attacks in East Africa, U.S. civilian officials posted overseas have faced increasing threats to their safety and security, and facilities in high threat locations have faced numerous attacks. In September, the U.S. consulate compound in Benghazi, Libya, was breached and sustained mortar fire. Tragically, the U.S. Ambassador and three other U.S. officials were killed. […] We conducted the underlying performance audits in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits The Bureau's mission, to ensure a safe environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy, involves activities such as the protection of people, information, and property overseas, and dignitary protection and passport and visa fraud investigations domestically. My testimony also includes work we have subsequently performed to follow up on the implementation of the report's recommendations. I will discuss (1) the growth of Diplomatic Security's missions and resources, (2) the challenges Diplomatic Security faces in conducting its work, and (3) the status of GAO's recommendation concerning Diplomatic Security." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael Courts; William Young; James Jay Carafano; and Ronald E. Neumann.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2012-11-15
• Central and Eastern Europe: Assessing the Democratic Transition, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, July 25, 2007

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  From the opening statement of Tom Lantos: "A leadership vacuum in Western Europe, coupled with our own country's preoccupation with Iraq, left neither neighboring powers like Germany or France nor the United States willing or able to exert positive influences. Western European leaders, such as Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder, were more interested in using anti-Americanism and nationalism to consolidate their own political support at home and in European institutions than in joining us in building open, democratic and tolerant societies in Central and Eastern Europe." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tom Lantos, Charles Gati, Martin Sletzinger, Zeyno Baran, John Boozman, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Donald A. Manzullo.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2007
• Global Efforts to Fight Ebola, Held Before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, One Hundred and Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, September 27, 2014

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  This is the testimony compilation from the hearing titled "Global Efforts to Fight Ebola" held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. The following is from the statement of Anthony S. Fauci: "The ongoing public health crisis in West Africa demands a major amplification of efforts to identify and isolate infected individuals, perform contact tracing, and provide personal protective equipment for healthcare workers involved in the treatment of infected individuals. This still remains the time-proven approach to controlling and ultimately ending the epidemic. However, there is also a critical need to develop improved diagnostics, as well as safe and effective therapeutics and vaccines for Ebola since there are no such FDA-approved interventions available at this time. In the regard, NIAID [National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases] has a longstanding commitment to advancing research to combat Ebola while ensuring the safety and efficacy of potential medical countermeasures such as treatments and vaccines." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chris Smith, Ed Royce, Anthony S. Fauci, Luciana Borio, Nancy Lindborg, Beth P. Bell, Kent Brantly, Chinua Akukwe, Ted Alemayhu, and Dougbeh Chris Nyan.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2014-09-17
• Ukraine Under Siege, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session

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  This is a testimony compilation from the March 4, 2015 hearing "Ukraine Under Siege," held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Edward R. Royce: "To date, the actions taken by the U.S. and our EU allies -- including economic sanctions, aid, and diplomatic isolation -- have not checked Putin. Indeed, over the past year, he has become bolder -- even menacing NATO countries as he seeks to divide the alliance. The Obama Administration and our European allies have put hope in diplomatic and ceasefire arrangements. But it is not working. […] This isn't U.S. leadership. Moscow is also undermining Ukraine's economy. Today, Russia is using its natural gas and other energy sources for political coercion and to generate economic chaos. Ukraine is facing an economic precipice and desperately needs help. Meanwhile, Russia is winning the battle on the airwaves. Its propaganda offensive is aimed at sowing confusion and undermining opposition to its aggression in Ukraine and elsewhere. But we are barely in the game of countering this. As I told the Secretary last week, I'd like to see more Administration support for the effort Mr. Engel and I have undertaken to reform our international broadcasting. The Broadcasting Board of Governors is broken. If we can't begin to change minds, then the struggle over Ukraine today will become a generational struggle for the future of all of Eastern Europe. Ukraine's fate has security implications for us well beyond its borders. It is time for strong and unwavering support of Ukraine. Now." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Victoria Nuland.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2015-03-04
• FY 16 Budget Request: Assessing U.S. Foreign Assistance Effectiveness, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, March 17, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation of the March 17, 2015 hearing "FY 16 Budget Request: Assessing U.S. Foreign Assistance Effectiveness," held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Edward R. Royce: "When it comes to development, the right policies matter, far more than the dollars and cents. These are the principles this Committee promoted through the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which I helped write 15 years ago, and plan to help reauthorize this year. And these are the principles that guided the founding of the MCC [Millennium Challenge Corporation]. By working with poor but relatively well-governed countries; by recognizing sound policies; and by committing to the principles of transparency and accountability, MCC 'is' putting countries on the path toward graduation. Today MCC is requesting the ability to enter into 'compacts' that would advance regional economic integration and trade. I am pleased to be working with Ms. Bass on this. However, MCC must stay true to its roots and not dilute its rigorous selection criteria, a constant concern. Meanwhile, USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] has established itself as a global leader in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. From the devastating earthquake in Gujrat to the deadly Ebola epidemic in West Africa, USAID typically responds first." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alfonso E. Lenhardt and Dana J. Hyde.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2015-03-17
• Advancing U.S. Interests in a Troubled World: The FY 2016 Foreign Affairs Budget, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 25, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation of the February 25, 2015 hearing "Advancing U.S. Interests in a Troubled World: The FY 2016 Foreign Affairs Budget," held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the statement of Secretary of State John Kerry: "Last month, in his State of the Union Address, President Obama said that we 'lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; [and] when we don't let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents.' It is with that guidance in mind that we submit our budget to you this year and ask for its fair consideration and approval. We do so at a time and in a world that is marked both by stark tragedy and by great promise, a world where America's role is critical as are the resources that only Congress can provide. So we ask for your help. America must lead, but cannot do so on the cheap. The money we devote to the entire range of foreign policy programming, everything from embassy security to our counter-terrorism and nonproliferation initiatives, amounts to only about one percent of the federal budget, yet it may impact fifty percent of the history that will be written about this era. So we all have a job -- to do everything we can, working together, to shape that history in ways that advance our nation's interests and uphold the values of the people we represent." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Kerry.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2015-02-25
• Serial No. 113-196: Subcommittee Hearing: Human Rights Vetting: Nigeria and Beyond, Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, July 10, 2014

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  This is from the July 10, 2014 hearing on "Human Rights Vetting: Nigeria and Beyond" held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Chris Smith: "As we all know Boko Haram has significantly accelerated its acts of mass murder and abduction in Nigeria, requiring a more robust and affective response from the government of Nigeria and friends like the United States. According to the most recent report by the internal displaced monitoring center and the Norwegian refugee council, there are now some 3.1 million Nigerian Internally Displaced Persons, or IDPs, more than every other country in the world except for Syria and Columbia. The UN High Commissioner of Refugees estimates that there are now more than 10,000 Nigerian refugees in Niger and Cameroon." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chris Smith, Peter Aubrey, Lauren Ploch Blanchard, Elisa Massimino, Stephen Rickard, and Sarah Margon.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2014
• Serial No. 113-75: Nanotechnology: From Laboratories to Commercial Products, Hearing Before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Research and Technology, Committee on Science, Space and Technology, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, May 20, 2014

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  This is from the May 20, 2014 hearing, "Nanotechnology: From Laboratories to Commercial Products," before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Research and Technology. From the Hearing Charter Purpose statement: "The purpose of this hearing is to examine the current state of nanotechnology research and development (R&D) as well as future opportunities and challenges. In addition, the hearing will discuss policy issues surrounding nanotechnology applications and activities, federal funding levels for nanotechnology R&D, and key legislative initiatives including the interagency National Nanotechnology Initiative (NI)." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Larry Bucshon, Daniel Lipinski, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Timothy Persons, Lloyd Whitman, Keith Stevenson, Mark Hersam, and Les Ivie.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2014
• Countering ISIS: Are We Making Progress?, Held Before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs,One Hundred and Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, December 10, 2014

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  This is the testimony compilation from the hearing titled "Countering ISIS: Are We Making Progress?" held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The following is from the opening statement of Ed Royce: "After four months of the U.S. led air campaign in Iraq and Syria, ISIS still controls essentially the same amount of territory as it did in the summer. One reason for this is the limited nature of the effort. We have conducted only about 1,000 airstrikes to date or 250 per month the vast majority being inside Iraq, leaving ISIS' vast haven in Syria relatively unchallenged. This is a very slow pace. Consider that Desert Storm averaged 1,000 combat sorties per day. Moreover, the Committee is concerned by reports that targeting has been micromanaged from the White House. But even with this flawed air campaign, Kurdish and Iraqi Security Forces have pushed ISIS out of specific, key infrastructure areas such as the Mosul and Haditha dams. More coalition air attacks would mean more ISIS defeats. Another pillar of the Administration effort is to provide training and weapons t o U.S. partners on the ground in Iraq and Syria. Yet, in Syria, U.S. backed groups have seen no increase in support in the past several months. In fact, these Syrian groups have suffered from dire ammunition shortages in the past several weeks, in addition to not being supplied with the heavy weapons they need to fight ISIS, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda affiliates and the Assad regime." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ed Royce, and Brett McGurken.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2014-12-10
• Demanding Accountability: Evaluating the 2015 'Trafficking in Persons Report', Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, November 4, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation of the November 4, 2015 hearing "Demanding Accountability: Evaluating the 2015 'Trafficking in Persons Report'," held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the joint testimony submitted on behalf of U.S. Department of State Deputies Kari A. Johnstone, Alex Lee, and James Caruso: "Throughout the year, Department experts worked with foreign governments and civil society to collect data and objectively assess each government's efforts to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking laid out in the TVPA [Trafficking Victims Protection Act]. Using this comprehensive factual analysis, and in accordance with the minimum standards, countries were assigned a tier ranking -- Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch List, or Tier 3. As is standard practice in the Department, tier ranking decisions went through an extensive and rigorous process that reflects coordination and dialogue within the Department and helps to make the report as objective and accurate as possible. […] As always, the tier rankings reflect government efforts to increase prosecutions, improve protections, and enhance prevention efforts to combat modern slavery, not the extent of human trafficking in any particular country. We saw tangible progress in many places in the world: many governments adopted new anti-trafficking laws or strengthened existing laws, strengthened their law enforcement efforts to convict and punish traffickers, increased inter-governmental coordination to combat human trafficking by establishing senior-level bodies and enacting national action plans, and improved victim protection measures. […] Much work remains, and all of us must continue to improve our efforts to fight this crime." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kari Johnstone, James Caruso, Alex Lee, and Mark Lagon.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2015-11-04
• Drug Resistant Tuberculosis: The Next Global Health Crisis? Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, December 8, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation of the December 8, 2015 hearing "Drug Resistant Tuberculosis: The Next Global Health Crisis?" held before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the testimony of Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden: "The spread of MDR [multi-drug resistant] TB [tuberculosis] and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB is a global health security concern worldwide, threatening decades of progress in TB prevention and control. Even in countries with a low TB burden such as the United States, MDR TB cases strain the public health system. It is a struggle to fund and maintain a steady supply of the very expensive drugs needed for these cases that are rare in the United States. I know from firsthand experience how critical it is that we address the looming crisis of drug-resistant TB immediately by helping vulnerable nations build capacity in core public health competencies: tracking disease, building strong laboratory systems, setting up responsive Emergency Operations Centers, and training a public health workforce." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas Frieden, Ariel Pablos-Mendez, and Eric P. Goosby.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs

  2015-12-08