The subcommittee on straight foreign operations and related programs will come to order. Administrator green. Thank you for joining us today. I really do want to thank you for your stewardship with u. S. Aid during very difficult times and for the dedication of our Development Professionals. U. S. Aid helps the world do you need a kleenex . We are all carrying them around. U. S. Aid helps the worlds most vulnerable assist in recovery from natural disasters and humanitarian crises, and supports countriess efforts to strengthen governance, rule of law, and human rights. This isnt just the right thing to do. It strengthens our National Security and advances american interests. And you certainly have your work cut out for you. There are more than 70 million refugees and displaced people around the world, which is fueled by conflict, natural rate does fasters, and climate change. Ebola continues to simmer in the democratic republic of congo while the Novel Coronavirus outbreak threatens to become a pandemic. Despite significant progress on our development priorities, we are currently off track to meet the Uns Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Our development and humanitarian efforts are our best hope to tackle these issues. This is why congress has disregarded this administrations last week budget requests, instead providing sufficient resources to effectively and efficiently fund some of our most critical Foreign Policy priorities. The administrations fiscal year 2021 budget request includes funding for several Development Initiatives that we support, such as womens Economic Empowerment, investments to strengthen emerging private sectors and Global Health security. However, the administration cannot be successful in these initiatives if we under more defined basics, which is exactly what the proposed 20 cut to our foreign assistance programs would do. For example, if enacted, this request would cut basic education by 66 and Family Planning by 59 . Now, the administration certainly cannot seriously believe that millions of women can achieve Economic Empowerment if they are unable to read, right, do math, or control the timing and number of children they have. Any benefit from an increase in Global Health security would surely be offset by the proposed 34 cut to all other Global Health programs. Instead of requesting funding and implementing policies to ensure u. S. Aid can be successful, the administration seems intent on putting every possible barrier in your way. This is certainly true of the expansion of the global gag rule, the kim casten determination against unfpa, an unfair stigmatization of multilaterals as wasteful and working against u. S. Interests. The administrations multiple policy reviews have also lead to program delays and suspension of assistance. The subcommittee has always believed that our National Security is stronger when defense, diplomacy and development are equally funded. Without robust funding for development and humanitarian programs, the u. S. Will fail to maintain our position as a leader on the global stage. This will not only harm the worlds most vulnerable, it puts u. S. Lives at risk, reduces our influence. We cannot and will not allow this to happen. So, again, i want to thank you for testifying today, and i look forward to your discussion and our discussions. And before we move to your testimony, let me turn to mr. Rogers, the Ranking Member, who is committed to these issues and has worked very hard as a partner. Please, go forward with your opening statement. Thank you. Thank you madam chair. And welcome, mister ambassador. We appreciate your being here to discuss the budget and your spending plans. And our review of your work at the agency. Let me start by once again acknowledging the good work that you are doing that usaid and the collaborative manner in which you do it. These are not easy times. To be engaged in international development. The challenging operating environments from insecurity continue to mount as to the needs of those we aim to help. I salute your dedicated cadre of Development Professionals that too often are working in or near very dangerous circumstances. Your leadership and experience, especially as having served as an ambassador, and coincidentally in this body, comes at a critical time because you are already keenly aware of the risks our Foreign Service officers face in carrying out their duties. In these uncertain times, i want you to know that i am grateful for your leadership at the usaid and you have my support for whatever that means. Turning to the matter at hand, the president s budget request for fiscal 21 is nearly a 20 cut from fiscal 20 budget enacted budget. I suspect this proposed cut will be handled in a manage in a manner similar to pray years. I look forward to working with the chairwoman in the weeks ahead on a bill that provides more appropriate levels of funding to address the serious global challenges that we are confronted with this year. However, there are a few notable improvements in parts of the budget that deserve mention, including prioritized funding for the endopacific strategy countering chinese, russian and iranian malign influence, and a focus on strengthened engagement with the private sector. I hope you address this copy us as we go along this morning as well as how you see the role of usaid in afghanistan as we enter this new chapter in our engagement there. I am also interested to hear more about how usaid has and will respond to the coronavirus out break. As you know, we have been working hard on a supplemental appropriations bill to help in this regard and i hope and trust we will pass that through the house this week. I was which chairman of the full chairman of the very Point Committee when we worked on the a ball outbreak in west africa and also when the zika hit. Having inaudible the supplementals to address those outbreaks through the congress, i knew, when i became chair of this subcommittee that i wanted to create a pod of funding that could be tapped quickly to address an emerging Health Threat abroad. That is how we ended up with the emergency reserves that you are able to draw from and last week for your initial response. I am sure that the months ahead will not be easy in combatting this current outbreak but i hope you will keep us informed and let us know what we can do to help in this global effort. There are more priorities that i will address when its time for questions. In closing, with this opening statement, let me once again thank you and the men and women of the usa i. D. , for your hardworking commitment to the service we thank you. Thank you, and i will be calling on members based on seniority of members that were present when the hearing was called to order. I will alternate between the majority and minority. Each members are asked to keep their questions to five minutes per round. But first, administrative green, will be happy to place your full testimony into the record, if you would like to proceed by summarizing your oral statement that would be fine. Or perceived as you wish, and i want to make sure you leave enough time to get everyones questions, thank you. Thank you madam chair Ranking Member rodgers and members of the subcommittee. I do welcome this opportunity to summarize my testimony, but also to express my appreciation for your ongoing support particularly for men and women and professionals of usaid around the world, as you know theyre working among trying circumstances. The president s budget requests approximately 19. 6 billion dollars for usaid with their leadership role and National Security imperatives on the world stage id like to begin by discussing some of the latest developments of some of our putin few more pressing issues like the drc the usaid continues to the government response of the ebola outbreak. There is solid progress to report. There are no new confirmed courses cases last week. The first time that has happened since the response. To be clear, the outbreak is not over. Ongoing security threats could still unravel the progress nonetheless, there is reason to be optimistic. Of course one of the administrations very highest priorities its taking on the threat posed by the coronavirus. Last month secretary pompeo announced that the u. S. Government will contribute up to 100 Million Dollars to help stem the spread of the disease internationally. That includes, 37 million as was referenced and for the usaid and other affected countries. Including Surveillance Lab testings public messaging campaigns. We are also setting up personal protective equipment to a number of countries. There is still much we dont know about the disease. It is worth noting that usaid has invested more than 1. 1 billion dollars in Global Health security since 2009. Those investments have helped improve the capacity to prevent and respond to emerging diseases and threats like the coronavirus. From natural crises to many crises, there is yemen. In many ways the Worlds Largest humanitarian disaster. It has forced us to plan for partial suspension of programs in the countrys north. The harassing aid workers, imposing numerous obstacles to service delivery. We cannot tolerate our assistance being impeded or averted. We must take action to end the interference, or else we will be forced to limit wearing what we provide. In northwest syria, recent operations by syrian and Russian Security forces, have displaced nearly 1 Million People from a glib in limbo. A recent Security Council decision means in effect, that un agencies can no longer use one of the only three entry points into the northeast eastern syria, dangerously constricting a humanitarian lifeline. On a brighter note, last october usaid signed its first Bilateral Agreement with venezuela and decades. It enables us to expand our support with independent media, Civil SocietyNational Assembly and the government won guaido. It also allows us to provide Additional Support once a democratic transition occurs. Request for venezuela includes 205 Million Dollars from me as tfsas Global Health funds for that important work. We are all hopeful that we get to that day, when such funds can be expended and invested. And a related note i can want to take thank the subcommittee for their work in columbia. The visit by your staff to our mission was deeply appreciated by our teams there. In the sahel, security conditions continue to deteriorate. Un estimates and burkina faso, for example, 4000 people have been displaced every single day since the year began. Usaid is providing humanitarian assistance to those in need, trying to help stabilize violent effected various and also counter extremist messaging. I want to take a moment and highlight two successes as we talk about some of the challenges. There are great opportunities and progress that we can report on in india, we hope to soon welcome the establishment of a new u. S. India Development Foundation that will enable us to serve in a more catalytic role and help the government more effectively mobilize domestic resources towards areas of ongoing need. And albania there are similar progress. Minister eddie rahm and tell me less obedient doesnt need more money, he needs more Technical Assistance and knowledge as it takes on corruption. We hope to soon see a you as albania transparency academy, which will help foster a culture of transparency and accountability in the countrys governing institutions. Our ongoing work to bring transformation to the agency is becoming more tangible than ever. With your support, we have now legally established the bureaus resilience and Food Security, humanitarian assistance and conflict prevention and stabilization. We hope they will soon be joined by the proposed bureau for policy resources and performance. The concept known for which were still waiting congressional can currency. It is the most important remaining piece of our transformation, and i look forward to continuing to work with you to answer any questions that you might have. Religious freedom isnt merely in american value, as we all. No it is a human right. Sadly, religious plurality and the freedom to openly practice ones fate remains under threat and many countries. We are continuing to support communities in Northern Iraq and across the middle east as they recover from isis brutality. The request includes 150 Million Dollars to maintain and expand that work. We use those resources to assist communities of all faiths. Faith discrimination or persecution wherever it occurs. We are also committed to helping countries struggling to provide high quality education for their children and youth. Madam chair, given your announced retirement plans, i wanted to take a moment to offer a note of admiration. For your time in congress, youve promoted the transformative power of education. You have also paid special attention to children living and conflict in crisis situations and you have worked tirelessly to provide them with access to Educational Services your work has created tools and rallied resources that provide hope for generation at great risk. Youll be stepping away from congress, not yet, that your legacy will live on to the millions of people whose lives you have lifted. It is only one of the reasons you will always be my favorite jewish mother. Members, i appreciate your support, your guidance, your council, and madam chair, again it has been an honor to work here before. You thank you and i welcome your questions. Thank you very much mister ambassador. First of all, i appreciate you very youre very kind words. As you know, this has been, really, an opportunity to serve and to do many good things, and it has really been a special opportunity for me to work with you. We are fortunate to have a person with your integrity, your commitment, your knowledge in this position, and there are still many more months left. We can do a lot of good things together, so thank you again for your kind words. Now, i have many concerns. As does this committee. So much for the efforts. laughs so i will begin with afghanistan, because. It has been 17 years i believe, is that correct . And i am very concerned that the recently signed Peace Agreement with the taliban could undermine the more than 30 billion dollars the subcommittee has provided since 2002. To help promote the rights of women and girls, strengthen institutions, good governments, and increase access to quality education. Now, under the Peace Agreement, can you share with us what is usas role, well our programs continue, will there be any significant changes to usaid or presents and programming. I have a second part but i will let you respond to the first. Thank you madam chair. I cant tell you that i know all the terms of the Peace Agreement yet, and obviously we are at the front end of it i think secretary pompeo has put it very well. We are at the moment of opportunity for the people of afghanistan and their leaders. What i can tell you from the you as a ig perspective is that in addition to focusing on the commissions necessary for peace and applying the lessons that we have learned from these years, we are dedicated to implementing the goals in our country strategy, including womens empowerment and educational opportunity, particularly Higher Education opportunity. As we have spoken many times, the future of afghanistan, the sustainable Bright Future for afghanistan is dependent upon increasing the role of women in the economy, in community leadership, and obviously that is very hard to do if those Educational Opportunities go away. So we continue to be dedicated to those goals. Now, can you ensure us, or assure us, that the investments made to strengthen the rights of women and girls, and increase access to education can be maintained . For example, the subcommittee has demonstrated strong bipartisan support for the American University in afghanistan. Will our assist assistance to a you a f continue under the Peace Agreement . Let me break that apart into two pieces if i can first, in terms of overall the goals that we have shared, on womens empowerment and Educational Opportunities can. What i can guarantee for you as we will continue to pursue those goals. We can never guarantee the outcomes, we can guarantee the effort. With respect to auaf, as we have talked about before, auaf has been operating under an extended cooperative agreement. The terms of which run out in may however, they have been granted a no cost extension which takes them into the summer. They have been invited to compete for competitive funding, which is out there. It is procurement sensitive and im not even sure of all those who have applied, but i can tell you that the goals of Higher Education opportunity remain as important to us today as they ever have been. I just wonder if the administration in orchestrating these Peace Agreements is consulting with you at all . Are they looking for any assurance