Senator lindsey runs his meeting, we start here on time too. And well defer our opening comments out of respect to you so you can make your introduction and go on about your business. But you honor us by being here. We thank you for that. And the floor is yours to introduce one of our nominees. Thank you, chairman corker and Ranking Member. Thank you for the opportunity tew peer before the committee on behalf of the president s nominee to serve as the undersecretary of state for management. Hes been my budget director, hes an excellent manager. He has tremendous historical knowledge and coordinate many efficiently. He was born and raised portland, oregon and attended college in san francisco. He remains loyal to his west coast roots. After graduating college, he considered teaching diplomatic history. While he never had a chance to pursue that interest, the opportunity to pursue the role in Foreign Policy will be a great privilege. He began work in the legislative branch in 1989 and served in a variety of puzishzs, including running the office of the Senate Majority leader and serving the Senate Assistant Majority leader as well as now over seeing the Senate Budget committee for the past four years. He is careful in that work, precise in his analysis, thoughtful with others and dogged on behalf of his bosses and their goals. Hes worked for and with republicans and democrats, senators and congressman, and democratic and republican administrations. Hes comfortable working across the partisan divide and building coligdss to bring ledge slasgis across the finish line. As a successful staffer going to a Significant Department position, he will be an ased not just for the department but for congress as well. His understanding of how we work, the appreciation for the challenges we face and his ability to dive in with us as a partnership to fisolutions for r shared responsibility on behalf of americas Foreign Policy. All of that will put us in good stead. He very carefully learning how a law or process works. Examples include his facility with senate rules and precedence. Our budget enforcement regime and the reconciliation process. Ive also mentioned his historical knowledge. Hes also welcome to new information and learning and reflecting it accordingly. I know well have that same aability and talent as he enters the executive branch, learning the operation of the department, the rules under which it works, how it partners across the executive branch and how to best and appropriately carry out its responsibilities on behalf of the secretary and the administration. We all know the makeup of the senate requires senators cooperate with each other and provides many opportunities to learn that lesson and put it into a. I believe that experience will inform ericks ability to work with various stake holders including partners across the federal government and internationally and members and staff that committee and in congress. Erick is also a careful manager whos had responsibility in the senate, several offices with budget formulation and execution, personnel recruitment and retention and supporting professional deinvestments of his staff. The challenges it faces might be larger than managing a Personnel Office or Leadership Office or committee office, but i believe ericks management style will be applicable at the state department too. He can safely handle the new challenges and tooropportunitie will face and confident he will be a confident for our diplomats around the world. So i urge his favorable consideration. Thank you. Well, thank you for being here and as you know youre welcome to go and continue your other duties. I know you have an important meeting this afternoon at 2 30. And again thank you so much for being here. And i think what the it Ranking Member and i have decided. Well give opening comments for both panels now. Does that suit you . So thank you so much for being here. And well see you later today. Yes, sir. Thank you. Now the position senator lindsey was just mentioning is vitally important to the functioning of the department. 14 bureaus and offices report, including Diplomatic Security, consler affairs and overseas building operations. The undersecretary is responsible for the allocation of state department positions, funtds and any other resources required to implement foreign policies of the United States senate. In addition to making the trains run on time at the department, the undersecretary has a critical task of securing our people and families abroad. This is never an easy undertaking but it is particularly challenging given the complexity of our current threat environment. Also in the middle of an extensive reorganization process which will require heavy involvement and leadership from the undersecretary. This department has been concerned from the recent management challenges. I hope our nominee shares our goal of a stronger and more agal state department and i look forward to your cooperation on the authorization bill should you be confirmed. On the next panel of nominees, the ambassador to afghanistan. Ambassador to bahrain and the u. S. Ambassador to the African Development bank. A more concerted effort is for u. S. Interests in afghanistan through a more focussed and formedses diplomacy with afghanistans neighbors and others. The team in kabul must be properly prepared, equipped and led to make the most of the u. S. Efrlt to create Better Outcomes that serve our National Security interests. I believe ambassador bass has that experience and i look forward to hearing how he utilizes oo he plans fooutilize our resources. They host a Critical Military base for our forces in the region. Sadly the country is also facing unrest amongst its majority shia population among the sunni led monarchy. I look forward to hearing from mr. Sib rel about his goals and division for u. S. Engagement in bahrain in this complicated political environment. The African DevelopmentBank Provides resources to developing countries that help them grow their economies, improve their standards of living. If confirmed mr. Dowd would play an Important Role in representing United States interest at a operational level, helping insure money is spent wisely. With that id like to recognize our Ranking Member. Thank you for scheduling this hearing. I want to welcome all four of our nominees. And thank each of them for their willingness to serve our country in critically important positions. It is a great sacrifice for Public Service and we thank you for that. We know the family has to be supportive of thet effort. So we thank the members of the family for being willing to share your Family Member with our country. Its good to see you, member of the senate family. Its always nice to have a member. You get certain privileges, not all, by your assoc yasiation wi the United States senate. The undersecretary of management, it is not a job that often generates flashy headlines. And a quiet way for the prop ee fungszing of our Foreign Policy. I have been struggling over the past several months to understand the management philosophy of the current leadership. Im struggling to understand theres a significant obligation on you as we consider your nomination to help this committee better understand how the administration is thinking about in approaching these issues and helping us work through our concerns as we move forward. I remain deeply concerned that the administrations approach to reorganization of the state department is a search and solution of a problem. It has the appearance of a precooked exercise. Both this committee and the Appropriations Committee have expressed our concerns and made the clear that the road to reorganization runtz through congress. And i want to flag a couple of issues including the way the department handled the rangering and pickling fellows. And the population Refugee Bureau be moved to the department of Homeland Security and the parent lack of filling positions such as secretary for Diplomatic Security. I do not to suggest that real pressing needs for proper Management Guidance at the department. When we see things liking the department seeking to reduce its work force through atrition where critical fungctions and expertise are lost, it suggests not using proper management tools to steer that process. I have concerns about the management of the department. Im hopeful you will be able to reassure this committee on how you intend to bring to bear your experience on functional management and processes for the department. My overriding concern is that without proper management or leadership the United States is at risks of effectively leaving the stage as a global leader. The department of state plays a vital role at the heart of the Foreign Policy by insuring the security of our citizens and supporting our allies and partners around the globe that share the ideals and values of what makes america a unique and exceptional nation. If the department does not function properly, our National Security is at risk. Your job, if confirmed, will be to see that does not happen. So i look forward to the discussion well have during this hearing. I also want to welcome the three nominees that will be on the second panel. Ambassador bass, thank you for being willing to come back for a second hearing before this committee. Usually one is all people can tolerate. So thank you for your willingness to continue to serve our country. I think the president has selected a very well qualified person for this difficult posting. I must express my concern over the long awaited announcement of a southeastern strategy that has raised many questions on what implementation will entail. I devrj from the president on his proposed troop increase and think this ignores the complexity of the situation in afghanist afghanistan. Our approach must be centered around a renewed effort, working with the afghan and regional actors. We also must spur progress for human rights abuses and an end to corruption which undermines the afghans ability to suitable peace. These are the best known ball works that afghan territory could again be used as a base against us or our allies. Ill be announcing the problematic engagements on peace, justice and reconciliation in afghanistan. I hope the committee will have a can comm on afghanistan. Our ambassador will be on the front lines and i welcome the opportunity to hear from you today about your priorities and perspects on how best to approach this task. I believe sustained diplomatic engagement is needed now more than ev. We wont solve this conflict through military engagement alone. And theyre intertwine would political, economic and social issuess. Our most senior diplomat in kabul must move regularly on peace, justice and reconciliation. They have a Long Standing Partnership as well as reversing the spread of isis, counterterrorist financing. I listen on the chairman as he expressed his concerns about bahrain. Thats a key partner the United States. We have counterterrorism interests, military interests and yet theres significant Human Rights Concerns we have of how bahrain treats the shiite population. Our ambassador must take the lead and make it clear we have partners that have important Strategic Interests but they must advance on the way they handle freedoms such as of speech and assembly. This undermines bahrains ability and be a Security Partner and run contrary to u. S. Interests. Finally im pleased to welcome joseph doubt, africa is a continent of great promise but today it is presenting us with great challenges. I notice you have deal making experience in the area of food, infrastructure and transportation that are key priorities for africa today. I believe that will suit you will to the puzishz youve been nominated today. We thank you all four for being here and listening to long opening comments by both of us but we got it all out of the way and now were ready for you. So erick, if you would, take about five minutes to make your comments, any additional materials without objection will be entered into the record and with that present your testimony and thank you for being here. Thank you very much. Good morning. Thank you for the privilege of appearing before the committee. With me this morning are my wife, kathleen and daughters bridget and charlotte. My Public Service as you mentioned earlier as senator for many years on the ledgislative branch and weve all seen congress up close. We thank you very much for that privilege and the privilege extended to us from many different predecessors. Im humbled this morning as serving our nation as undersecretary of state for management. Im pleased in their confidence in me and for nominating me to serve in this capacity. Our nation is engaged on how to confront the challenges we face thp department served to express the voice of vision through the secretary. If confirmed i look forward to taking responsibility for the management family at the department. The 16 bureaus and offices for which the undersecretary is responsible provide the platform for our nations security including Human Resources, budget and finance, training and many other critical fungszs. Our Foreign Policy must be carried out around the world at 275 embassies, consults and other missions on a platform that supports the president s Foreign Policy. While the president does much very well, i know it also faces continued challenges in several areas. For example the staff overseas remains an issue. They continue a strong Construction Program new, secure embassies and consults with 133 new diplomatic facilities completed since 1999. Ultimately a facility is under construction to offer all officers hands on training every five years. Both of these efforts have and will save lives overseas. I expect be to particularly focussed on staff and Facility Security during my tenure if confirmed by the senate. Skuber security is a major concern, especially with the departments world wide presence and extensive data systems. Ill work to insure the department supports our diplomatic e diplomatic oefrts and protects the data. Ive faced the challenges of working to harmonize specific department and agent budgets as well as priorities inside an integrated budget framework. I an tish pate the need for harmony, collaboration and cooperation and this job too, including with congress. The formulation of negotiation for and implementation of Department Spending rest in the office for undersecretary of management. I look forward to partners inside the executive branch to bring the state department s brujets into law and see that theyre faithfully executed. Given the past challenges congress has faced, i hope also we can Work Together to write and enact a durable and long lasting statute for shared priorities of congress and the executive branch. Although the executive branch will be a new environment for me, im confident the lessons ive learned in the senate will serve me well in my new role. During my decades in the enist ive recruited, and assembled staff, identified partnerships and built coalitions and worked strongly on behalf of other staff and other members. Im excited to now work on behalf of the president and the secretary in the department. I look forward to finding new opportunities for Public Service there. If confirmed i will be committed to a continued partnership with the committee and congress in support of a strong and capable department that efkt vlied a vlk vkts for the United States interests around the world. Thank you for the privilege of appearing before you. Im happy to take your questions. Thank you. Ill probably ask a few and retain the rest for later. But thank you for that testimony. Obviously weve begun the process of state Department Authorizations. We feel that its important for us to do that and complete an entire state Department Authorization. Just wondering what your thoughts are after spending decades on the hill relative to that process. Thank you very much for that question. And yes, over the years here i know this committee has worked repeatedly on bringing state Department Authorizations if the to existence, republican majorities, republican administrations. I think in my previous roles on the hill, always worked hard to be supportive of the committee to authorize the full scope and am bt of Department Programs and i expect if i have the opportunity to serve following conformation that it will be robustly engaged with this committee as it works to bring a state Department Authorization through congress and ultimately to signature to the president. You and i have had a good deal of interaction and just on that note sometimes staffers who have been up here for many, many years can take on an a attitude that senators work f