▶ 0:00:32Try to get it. This one too.
▶ 0:06:46Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs will come to order. Good morning, everybody. I want to welcome you all to the subcommittee's outside witness hearing for fiscal year um we heard uh from several members of the House of Congress on their priorities and requests for fiscal year 26 for the fiscal year 26 bill. I'd like to reiterate a couple of points I made to the members uh during the member day hearing.
▶ 0:07:16When I took over as chairman of this subcommittee in 2023, it it became very clear to me that that the previous was really pushing controversial and divisive policies abroad. I I did it multiple times.
▶ 0:07:31I repeatedly warned uh the Biden officials privately and publicly and and in hearings that just funding things that were controversial or radical uh was not only contrary to US interest, but would also the public's support for foreign Um, and in the I told you so category, we are witnessing the fallout from this. But here's the question. Where do we go from here?
▶ 0:08:00Uh, as we work through the fiscal uh year 26 cycle, I have I'm a firm believer that we got to go to get get back to basics frankly. My expectation is to fund effective accountable programs to support our national security. Uh, many of you are here uh today are instrumental instrumental in that effort.
▶ 0:08:21So, I want to thank all of you uh including all the people who make up the organizations that you represent uh for your efforts to further key priorities uh and policy goals that all Americans all Americans can be proud to So, I look forward to listening to each of you to your remarks and insights as we begin the fiscal year 2026 process.
▶ 0:08:45Now, given the significant interest uh in participating in this hearing uh we and again, there there going to be other organizations that we we're not going to be able to have speak to us today, but but their submissions will be their testimony will be submitted to the record. Now, I'd like to remind our witnesses present today to please, and I know it's not easy, summarize your remarks within 3 minutes. And remember that your full testimony will be included in the record.
▶ 0:09:13We have limited time and a lot of participants and a lot of interest uh I will I will be using the gavel more than usual. Usually, I like to be flexible and we have a great relationship by the way with the members of this subcommittee. Uh, but I want to try to keep us on Uh, I don't expect it, but if there are any disruptions or any uh interruptions by agitators or anybody else, we will have them removed. And we will have them removed quickly.
▶ 0:09:41Uh now, look, I am so thrilled and honored uh to have, I think, the best ranking member that I could ever have. Uh and just so everybody knows, uh uh her and I have have known each other for a many, many years, and we have areas where we disagree, and we have areas where we agree. But but I will tell you, nobody's a a a a tougher advocate uh and a more sincere advocate and a more effective member uh than the ranking member that I'm now going to yield to.
▶ 0:10:13I would say maybe the only agitator might be me. Good point. So So, listen, I you know, I I I have a few things to say, and I do but I wanted just I want to say this because I I'm not happy with what's been going on, obviously, but uh I do want to say this. I have gotten to know this committee, and I know this gentleman for a lot of and I could not think of a better group of people to have to go forward under the circumstances that we have.
▶ 0:10:44Uh but listen, we thank you all for being here. We're convening this hearing at a what I think is a moment of crisis for our nation's foreign policy and humanitarian Those of you who are going to come here today you're uniquely positioned to speak uh if you feel like it uh to the real and devastating consequences of recent decisions that have I that have threatened decades of Cuz we all understand that foreign assistance is not chatter
▶ 0:11:14charity, it's strategy. It's one of the most effective tools that we have to advance America's security, economic strength, and global And yet it it's on it's less it's been less than 1% of the federal budget. And these investments help countries recover from crises, tackle long-term challenges, build resilient and they're not just lifelines for others. They are safeguards for us.
▶ 0:11:43Uh but today we are facing the reckless and unilateral dismantling of USAID USAID and other agencies under this committee's jurisdiction, and uh the Trump administration's decision to gut these institutions without consulting Congress is not only irresponsible, it is illegal. And it's already putting American lives, interests, and global standing at risk. You still sitting with me? He's a patient man.
▶ 0:12:12Uh but listen, I I want to say this. Every administration has the right and the responsibility to evaluate government programs, and we all Everybody here want to make sure that taxpayer dollars are wisely spent. But what we've seen has not been oversight. We've seen a sledgehammer. Uh vital programs being shut down with no explanation, at least to us.
▶ 0:12:35And then some are restarted the next day, and then they're stopped, and uh no process, no coordination, uh after me, that's not the way to run a government. So, um not to to drone on and on, but I I would do want to mention a few more things. Uh programs that prevent extremism has been slashed, for example, in Latin America. We had USAID had been working to prevent youth violence and reduce cartel cartel recruitment. That's gone.
▶ 0:13:05Education programs all over the world Over 260,000 children left without primary source of stability and hope. What does that mean? We know what that means. That means families trapped in poverty, uh increased risk of child labor, worse than worse than health conditions, and entire regions becoming more vulnerable to conflict and extremism.
▶ 0:13:30This the dismantling of our global health treatment programs for over 100 just for example 113,000 people with tuberculosis were What is that going to mean? You know what? We're we're one plane flight away from a pandemic. the the economic programs with Africa being dismantled.
▶ 0:13:54That you know, that in that country is going to be something like 1/3 of of our populate world population in the next 20 years. Uh and Uh what's also very scary to me is when we when we work we walk away from our what is what does that mean? It's a void. It's a void that we're going to see China step in and Russia step in.
▶ 0:14:17Uh how many of you you don't have to raise your hand but if you watched what happened this week in Myanmar and you're watching and you're waiting for the Americans like always do come to the Who is there? China, Russia. Uh so these numbers, these programs they're not abstract. It's about lives I'm hoping Listen, I this is I want to say this again.
▶ 0:14:48I believe this is a very responsible committee. Uh I know I believe and I think we all believe that we have uh we have the three stools of government and Congress has a role and and we have to uh step up to the plate. So, I'm very happy to hear you all today and I just want to say one more thing before I yield back. I know cuz I've talked to so many people who have had contracts either terminated or they think it's going to be terminated.
▶ 0:15:15Uh when you present if you would share that information I would be happy to to know whether you are have been terminated or where you think you're at risk. Uh but let me just say this, there's a lot of fear out there of people who think if they say the wrong thing, the DOJ boys are going to show up. So, I just invite you if there's things that you feel you cannot say today, please come see me in my office and go see these guys, too.
▶ 0:15:45And with that, I thank you, Mr. Chair. You're back. Thank you, distinguished ranking member. I would just want to also note that the vice chairman of the subcommittee is here and thank you for your leadership and for your participation. We'll now go to the first panel. We will begin with Mr. John Nanny with the Rotary International and you are recognized here for 3 minutes. Thank you for being Thank you. Chairman Diaz Balart, ranking member Frankel, and vice chair Edwards, and members of the subcommittee staff.
▶ 0:16:14I'm here today on behalf of thousands of members of Rotary clubs throughout the United States to thank you for the committee's long-standing leadership and encouragement and encourage communicate continued funding to support polio eradication activities. We are seeking $85 million in fiscal year 2026 to protect and further leverage the progress achieved towards ending polio. I'm a Rotarian and one of over 2 million polio survivors in America.
▶ 0:16:45I was paralyzed with polio from my neck down when I was 10 months old, only 6 months before the Salk vaccine was widely tested. I know how polio is a life sentence. I now suffer from severe post post-polio syndrome. I'm confined to this wheelchair for most of my mobility. This issue is po- personal to me and to members of Rotary Club.
▶ 0:17:08Polio eradication has been our top priority since 1985 and we have invested nearly $3 billion dollars, hours of volunteer service. We are proud of our long-standing core collaboration with the United States government, which has achieved incredible results.
▶ 0:17:27We reduced the number of children paralyzed by polio worldwide by 99.9% since 1988, and spared more than 20 people from polio. Continued investment in polio eradication is essential for America's health security, and contributes to making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. As long as As long as polio circulates anywhere in the world, it can infect American citizens.
▶ 0:17:57In 2022, the first case of paralytic polio in decades was confirmed in Rockland County, a community with low immunization coverage. Poliovirus was also detected in wastewater in several counties, including New York City and Long Island. It is vital to protect Americans from the threat of a resurgence.
▶ 0:18:16If we stop now, polio cases could reach up to 200,000 new cases The United States leadership in combating polio showcases a significant science scientific innovation, public health leadership, and global cooperation. The global network of laboratories and trained personnel established for polio helps protect Americans from polio and other deadly infectious diseases, and will do so long after polio's eradicated.
▶ 0:18:47Investing in polio eradication is cost-effective, and would save an estimated $33 billion in health-related costs by the end of this century. While the savings of polio eradication will continue in perpetuity, the United States must vaccinate citizens against polio at a cost of $700 million annually until polio is eradicated. We are at a critical Many have forgotten how terrible polio was.
▶ 0:19:17I'm here as a living reminder as why US undertook polio immuniz- immunization in the first place, to protect its own citizens from this devastating disease. Eradicating polio is just is not just the right thing to do, but a worthwhile investment that serves the American people, an achievement from which Americans and the world will benefit in perpetuity. Thank Thank you, sir. Uh I'm Sean O'Keefe with Catholic Relief Services.
▶ 0:19:47You're recognized, sir, for 3 Thanks so much, Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frank Cole, Vice Chair Edwards, members of the subcommittee. On behalf of Catholic Relief Services, the international relief and development agency of the Catholic community in the United States, thank you for your leadership amid a realignment of US international assistance aimed to make America stronger, safer, and more Over the last few months, we've asked ourselves, "How might CRS bring a Catholic
▶ 0:20:17perspective to this realignment? What lessons can we share as we all get back to first principles underlying the US role in the world?" Today, I stand before you to share a Catholic pro-life vision of international assistance that drives to the common good. A Catholic vision begins with the fundamental understanding that both church institutions and states have a shared responsibility to promote human life and dignity.
▶ 0:20:46The Catholic Church has a moral dignity to respond to our neighbors in need, whether near or far. CRS lives out this teaching by working alongside 1,700 local partners in over 100 countries. But this work alone cannot be left to the church and other civil society groups. Church teaching has long asserted that governments must actively pursue the common good, not just for our own citizens, but for all members of the global family.
▶ 0:21:14A Catholic vision for US international assistance rests on these strong partnerships between the US government, the Catholic Church, as well as other An effective pro-life approach to international assistance must exemplify three core principles. Inherent human solidarity and subsidiarity. So, what does this look like in action?
▶ 0:21:37A commitment to inherent human dignity means investing in life-saving responses, emergency food assistance that keep families from resorting to early child marriage, recruitment by gangs and extremist groups, and forced It also means investing in development programs that help farmers increase yields, improve their potable water infrastructure, and children achieve basic education.
▶ 0:22:02A commitment to solidarity means investing in programs grounded in authentic partnerships with civil society, governments, and the private sector. For the US, it means a approach, not just a government-to-government approach. CRS does this in Ethiopia where US-funded poverty reduction programming aligns with the existing national safety net and public works program.
▶ 0:22:28A commitment to solidarity means investing in local community organizations who have the are closest to the ground and have the best understanding of what to do. In closing, a Catholic vision for US international assistance takes the safer, stronger, and more prosperous framework and responds with yes and. What do I mean by that? US international assistance should indeed make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. We wholeheartedly embrace those goals.
▶ 0:22:55At the same time, the US must be guided by an unwavering commitment to human life and dignity. We live in a world where some families are faced with hunger so stark that they're eating leaves and dirt to survive. I do not say this to evoke pity, but solidarity. To highlight that these families possess the same inherent human dignity as you and I. I'm going to ask you to try to wind down if you don't mind. I apologize, but because we have a lot of folks if you can start winding down. I am. 3 minutes.
▶ 0:23:25If we achieve these goals only to realize that our brothers and sisters are still barely surviving, we must ask ourselves what does it mean to be the most powerful and wealthy nation in the world if we do not use our position to support the life and dignity of our neighbors. Thank you. Thank you. I don't mean to cut him really off, but but we have a lot of folks and and ranking member. Thank you. Thank you both of you.
▶ 0:23:45Just had the same question, which is and if you know uh which of the programs that you have advocated for do you know have been terminated or or you're not receiving money for? I have a Um well, till uh gets to the microphone, I can say I have a list here that we had 74 programs Uh that served 20 million people. Okay. Well, maybe you could put that into the record for us. All right. We can ask that for everybody, right? Yes, I want to Yeah, for everybody.
▶ 0:24:13Um so I don't have to keep repeating myself if you could just tell us. Um basically the unterminate the terminated and we the um portions of uh what what has been appropriated and uh hopefully we can get through that. Okay. Well, Well, if I if I may so let's just let's just uh you're asking that let's let's without objection. So noted, we'll put all those in the record. All right. If everybody if you could just let us know.
▶ 0:24:43So we don't guess. Okay, thanks. Yeah, and that that will be included in the record. Thank you. Uh Jennifer Cervantes with Rio Grande uh Grande Valley uh sugar growers. Thanks for being here. Uh good morning, Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss further how Mexico's violations under the 1944 water treaty have harmed US interests and how this committee can support efforts to enforce the treaty.
▶ 0:25:10My name is Jennifer Safanis and I represent the Rio Grande Valley sugar growers of Santa Rosa, Texas. In February of 2024, our 51-year-old sugarcane cooperative announced its closure as a direct result of Mexico's failure to make annual water deliveries. Without water from Mexico to support growing a sugarcane crop, the grower owners decided to close the mill rather than risk bankruptcy. The closure impacted nearly 100 family farmers, 500 mill employees, and thousands more.
▶ 0:25:38It was the last sugar producer in Texas and one of three sugarcane growing states in the US. All of agriculture has been harmed. Citrus is pulling out trees, vegetables are going unplanted, and grow grow crops now being dryland farmed are half of what they should be. Over the last 4 years, Mexico failed to deliver annually 350,000 acre-feet of water and currently owes over 1 million acre-feet. This is the most significant shortfall in the history of deliveries under the treaty.
▶ 0:26:06Despite this, the Mexican government will not open the dams along the treaty tributaries to share the water supplies. In August of 2022, Mexico held almost 3 million acre-feet, yet gave us none and has since used over 2 million acre-feet of that water. Notably, the Mexican state of Chihuahua has experienced significant crop growth cultivating similar and competing crops to those in the US using our water. They are enhancing their food security and trade while undermining ours.
▶ 0:26:32Unfortunately, previous diplomatic dialogue with Mexico has not held them We ask Congress to institutionalize policies so that current and future administrations enforce the treaty. We support the Department of State providing Congress with meaningful reports on treaty compliance and enforcement. We ask for the State Department to codify internal policies to reflect that Mexico must make annual deliveries.
▶ 0:26:56We also ask that the International Boundary and Water Commission be provided with resources to assist the region in improving its water availability and infrastructure. We thank the committee for the 2024 disaster aid and USDA Secretary Rollins and TDA Commissioner Miller for working so quickly to distribute those funds. Appreciation is extended to President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio for their recent action in denying Mexico's request for water deliveries from the Colorado River in response to Mexico's failures to make water deliveries.
▶ 0:27:27And to our Valley representatives De la Cruz, Congressman Cuellar, Gonzalez and Gonzalez, our Texas senators and the Texas delegation. We appreciate the actions taken by Congress and this subcommittee last Congress to fix this problem and we stand ready to work with you again on the 2026 appropriations. We need our cane farmers to be able to continue their family farms with other crops. Our national food security depends on these family farms. Thank you Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel and the committee for your time. Thank you so much.
▶ 0:27:58Great. Let me thank all of you members of of this panel. And and again any additional information obviously will be submitted for the record. Thank you so very much. We'll now move on to the second panel.
▶ 0:29:08Thank you very much. We'll uh begin with uh Mr. Elliott uh uh Brant from AIPAC. You're recognized, sir. I want to take a a moment to recognize the subcommittee's leadership and long legacy of bipartisan support for the US-Israel relationship.
▶ 0:29:32Chairman, I also want to express our condolences on the loss of your brother, uh a long-standing and extraordinary public servant. I also want to take a moment to honor the memory of Nita Lowey, a friend and a giant from this committee.
▶ 0:29:48Members of Congress, as we sit here today, there are 59 hostages, including five Americans who were ripped from their families by Hamas 544 days ago, who were who continue to be held in the most horrific and deplorable conditions. That reality is an international stain, and every decent individual, organization, and nation should call for their freedom.
▶ 0:30:15But Israel's challenges go well beyond the threat of the terrorist Hamas. No country in the world save Israel is currently facing a seven-front war. Fueling and driving much of that war is the world's leading sponsor of international terror, and a country bent on acquiring nuclear weapons.
▶ 0:30:37And still, in this very dislocated and dangerous region, Israel remains an indispensable and reliable ally that shares both American interests and American values. no ally in the world upgrades American capabilities in the fields of AI, cyber, missile defense, subterranean warfare, autonomous no country offers more to America than Israel
▶ 0:31:07does. We urge this subcommittee to continue to provide $3.3 billion in security assistance to Israel without any additional preconditions. That funding is largely spent in America driving both American interests while creating American jobs.
▶ 0:31:27This investment has allowed Israel to degrade Hamas and Hezbollah, eliminate chemical weapons in Syria, destroy key Iranian military infrastructure, and restore deterrence in Middle East. These results are not only good for Israel, they are good for America. When Israel dismantles terrorists networks and destroys their conventional and non-conventional weapons, Israelis are safer and Americans are safer.
▶ 0:31:56We also urge this subcommittee to continue supporting other important funding, policy, and oversight as outlined in my written testimony, including a robust and bipartisan foreign aid bill, as well as a permanent ban on funding UNRWA, an organization thoroughly and irredeemably corrupted by hate.
▶ 0:32:21In a region fraught with terror and but I'm going to I'm going to ask you again let's be consistent to try to wind it down. I apologize. I want to say thank you for your continued leadership and partnership. Thank the members of this That's the way to do it, right? Thank you. Thank you so much. Uh uh now again, Kiwanis International. I want to make sure that I get your How do I pronounce your last name correctly? Last name is Soderstrom. Soderstrom, okay. With a name like Diaz Balart, I should not have a problem with that one. That's That's an easy one. And you're recognized. Thank you, sir. All right. Thank you, Mr.
▶ 0:32:51Chairman, Mr. Vice Chairman, and the ranking member, and other members of the subcommittee. It's an honor to appear before you this morning to provide testimony on behalf of almost half a million Kiwanis family members in more than 14,000 community-based clubs, more than half of which are in the United States. I appreciate the opportunity to speak in support of the Kiwanis UNICEF program to virtually eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus, and in support of our long-standing, yet evolving work related to iodine deficiency.
▶ 0:33:23We are seeking the support of the committee to recommend $2 million for fiscal year 2026 bill for maternal and neonatal tetanus, and $3.5 million for iodine deficiency. I'm the retired executive director of Kiwanis International, and serve as a volunteer as the executive director emeritus. I've had the privilege of serving Kiwanis members in the United States and in more than 80 countries around the globe. And I've seen the success of both of these global health projects in the field.
▶ 0:33:51And I have been proud to report back to our members on the charitable work, their donations, and this committee's work have supported. And as an American, I have been proud that my government has been an important partner in both of these undertakings. These programs are excellent examples of successful public-private partnerships between our governor, excuse me, our government and its citizens in all 50 states.
▶ 0:34:19I want to thank you and the committee for your long-time bipartisan support of our efforts. Iodine deficiency is the world's leading cause of preventable mental Severe iodine deficiency disorders have been significantly reduced and kept under control through a global effort to edible salt.
▶ 0:34:41Funds provided by the United States through this public-private collaboration with Kiwanis International, UNICEF, and the Iodine Global Network are preventing brain damage and other adverse outcomes for millions of children. But, mild to moderate deficiencies still For over 14 years, Kiwanis and its members have been working to eliminate the deadly disease of maternal and neonatal tetanus, MNT.
▶ 0:35:09Tetanus is a preventable disease that kills one newborn child every 22 The MNT programs provide low-cost maternal maternal and neonatal tetanus vaccines for women of childbearing age, which in turn prevents tetanus and excruciating death in newborn children. Kiwanis members remain committed and very passionate to support both of these global health initiatives.
▶ 0:35:35Now, we believe these initiatives are in the national interest of the United States and consistent with policies related to US humanitarian assistance. So, we ask you to please join us, Kiwanis members across this nation and around the world in continuing to fund and work in these important global health efforts for children. Thank you for your consideration. Thank you so much. Let's see Dan if you can keep on time like your other two members of this panel. Anyway, I'm going to yield back some time.
▶ 0:36:03Again from the IRI, the International Republican Institute. You're recognized. Mr. Chairman. It's terrific to see you, Ranking Member Frankel, Mr. Edwards, your expert staffs. We're very grateful for the chance to speak today on the importance of supporting democracy abroad from within the FY26 appropriations budget.
▶ 0:36:21Members of Congress, members of this committee, three decades ago, the United States invested heavily in helping former Soviet satellite countries in Europe make democratic We assisted them to organize elections, establish legislatures, create multi-party systems, and stand up free The National Endowment for Democracy, the NED, and other forms of US government democracy assistance were our main soft diplomacy tools in opening up Europe along with foreign broadcasting.
▶ 0:36:51Let's fast forward to today. Countries like Poland, Albania, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Romania are important allies and NATO partners. They help us in our efforts to combat terrorism, fight autocracies, and keep America and Americans out of wars. They are also our economic allies, homes to US investments and partnerships. Helping countries become democratic, as you know, Mr. Chairman, does make us safer at home.
▶ 0:37:18It does open economic opportunities for Americans at home. Two outcomes which become less true if dictatorships prevail. If one-party systems like China's prevail. If regime states like Iran and the Taliban continue to censor their people, harm women and girls, and jail political Democracy programs funded through the NED and State DRL promote freedom and individual liberty, which is what the American people believe in and precisely what our adversaries
▶ 0:37:49fear. I don't even need to ask the question, why do China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and other adversaries, why are they actively the recent funding stoppages to US democracy assistance? The question answers itself. In this current fiscal year, Congress funded the National Endowment for Democracy and the Democracy Fund with approximately 1% of its foreign affairs budget, which is close to 1% of the total budget.
▶ 0:38:16I testify today that this 1% of 1% yields the potential to create new democracies and new allies. Ones that won't be enemies, won't side with terrorism and international cartels and criminal organizations, won't prefer the CCP over the USA, and won't force their citizens to flee and crash our borders. Everyone agrees on the need to counter China, Mr. Chairman. Democracy programs are the tip of the soft diplomacy spear for countering China.
▶ 0:38:44These initiatives are low-cost, proven to be effective, and complement the military tools we use to deter Chinese aggression and influence. Thank you all for the chance to speak today. I close by encouraging Congress to support the National Endowment for Democracy and the sharpened programs of the State Department under the Democracy Fund. Thank you. Thank you. And you did do it uh less time. So, uh ranking member. Yeah, thank you. Just two three of you, uh any of the programs that you're advocating for, do you know whether they've been terminated?
▶ 0:39:14In any way? Madam ranking member, um we have no I'm assuming though, Madam ranking member, that you want any information to be submitted to the record. Um okay. Mr. Frankel, we've had uh of our 95 State Department and USAID democracy programs, 90 of them were terminated. Five of them were terminated and then the termination was rescinded, but we've had zero money flow for the five programs that were green-lighted.
▶ 0:39:43So, just what So, what does that impact mean? Were people fired or what what happened to them? What it means is we've closed nearly all of our offices around the world. We had 64. We've terminated uh between 75 and 85% of our staff. How many people is that? You know? Uh overseas, it's hundreds and hundreds of people because most of our teams are in the field on the front lines doing this work to advance American interests. Uh most of them, nearly all of them are now out of business. E- Either of you aware of terminations?
▶ 0:40:16Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry about that. All right. Thank you. Thank you again. Thank you, We'll now proceed to the next panel.
▶ 0:41:20Thank you again the three of you for being here. We will we will begin with Gavi with Dr. Dr. Reckless. Thank you. Chairman Diaz-Balart, ranking member Frankel, and members of the Thank you for the opportunity to speak today on behalf of Gavi, the vaccine With generous support from Congress and the American people, Gavi has helped vaccinate over a billion children in low-income countries, saving close
▶ 0:41:50to 19 million lives. Today, I respectfully request your continued support for a 340 million US dollar appropriation for fiscal year This funding is critical for Gavi's next strategic period. It is critical for immunizing 500 million more children, saving 9 million more lives and expanding access to the world's first malaria vaccine for over 50 million children.
▶ 0:42:19To illustrate why this support matters for the United States, I want to highlight four key points. First, your investment in Gavi strengthens health security. It benefits US interests. We are the only agency in the world which maintains vaccine stockpiles for diseases like Ebola. We prevent health threats from reaching American soil.
▶ 0:42:47Gavi delivers economic benefits to the We are the largest purchaser of US-made Gavi supports jobs in states like California, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Michigan. Over the last 5 years, Congress provided billion US dollars to Gavi.
▶ 0:43:12Gavi, in turn, purchased 4 billion dollars worth of vaccines from American This is a fourfold return on your In the third place, Gavi emphasizes burden-sharing. All countries receiving Gavi support pay a portion of their immunization costs To date, 19 countries have fully graduated from Gavi support and and are now independently sustaining their immunization programs.
▶ 0:43:43This is clear evidence that US investments are building long-term self-reliance within countries. And finally, Gavi's unique public-private partnership model makes it one of the most efficient global health initiatives. We pull demand from 78 countries. We negotiate lower vaccine prices. And we ensure every dollar goes further.
▶ 0:44:08In closing, I'd like to submit that continued US support is essential for global health security. It is essential for advancing America's strength, and prosperity. On behalf of Gavi and the millions of children whose lives depend on the I urge you to fully fund our 2026 funding request. And I want to thank you for your leadership and your commitment.
▶ 0:44:38Thank you so much. Dr. Bickford from the American University of Afghanistan. Thank you, I'm honored to speak to you today on behalf of the American University of which is an example of one of America's most effective instruments for national security and the promotion of peace peace and stability over radicalization and terrorism.
▶ 0:44:59That instrument is Thank you, Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Frankel, it's nice to see for your invitation and for standing by AUAF during our highs and our lows. Um as you know, AUAF remains an inspiration to the 800,000 American men and women who served in Afghanistan.
▶ 0:45:20Their sacrifice matters profoundly to us and our programs are carefully designed to avoid diverting American funds to the Taliban or enabling the Taliban in any way. I offer that AUAF is a model for foreign assistance in the most complex In August 2016, as many will remember, terrorists attacked two terrorists attacked our campus, abducted two AUAF professors.
▶ 0:45:48They killed 13 people, including seven students, injured dozens, and shot a Stanford professor in the back. I'd like to recognize for the committee our alumna Brezhna sitting behind us and to our right, who is a survivor of that attack Uh and whose road to recovery has been nothing short of incredible.
▶ 0:46:10Five years after the attack in August 2021, the Taliban took over our entire 70-acre facility which the United States Yet, thanks to American support, AUAF Working from Education City in Qatar, our American and and international faculty now deliver high-tech high-quality high-tech, high-touch academic and professional degree programs online to more than 1,000 Afghan women and men um including hundreds of women despite
▶ 0:46:40Taliban restrictions. They are determined. Last fall, we received 21,000 applications in 2 days for just 200 scholarships. Hundreds more, still high school age, uh prepared for higher education through our university readiness program which was funded by the State Department until it was terminated this year and not yet We are deeply grateful in contrast that USAID funding for our online undergraduate and graduate degree programs has been restored
▶ 0:47:11at least through June. Our students are back in class, they're working harder than ever, and they join me in thanking the committee for its advocacy and support. Um this is important because AUAF offers a stark ideological contrast to the more than 20 terrorist groups that are resurgent in Afghanistan. I'll just note this, a young man with a college diploma and a chance of a good job does not become a terrorist.
▶ 0:47:35A single educated woman in a household dramatically reduces the chance of radicalization of her male family Um thank you very much to the committee. Uh I urge you to continue support for Thank you. Um I just want to make sure that before we recognize uh Food for Hungry, I just want to make sure that the vice chairman if obviously if you have any questions, when I please just let me know. All right. Yes. Um you're recognized, sir. And again, thank you for being here.
▶ 0:48:05All of you, thank you for being here. Thank you so much, Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, and distinguished members of the Thank you for your leadership and the opportunity to testify today. I am privileged to serve as the president and CEO of Food for the Hungry, a Christian humanitarian organization providing transformational relief and development programs since Food for the Hungry designs, develops, and delivers catalytic solutions that build resilience so that children, families, and communities can flourish.
▶ 0:48:36We're privileged to partner with US churches and faith communities, as well as the private sector and the US government, to deliver vital humanitarian assistance and development programs that restore health, hope, and dignity to individuals in some of the world's hardest places. As an experienced faith-based implementer of US foreign assistance programs, I respectfully ask the subcommittee to provide robust funding in FY26 for critical humanitarian, development, and global food and nutrition programs.
▶ 0:49:05Inspired by our Christian faith at Food for the Hungry and encouraged by Micah 6:8, that says to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God, Food for the Hungry last year was fortunate to reach over 10 million people in 20 countries experiencing extreme poverty and food insecurity.
▶ 0:49:25I've been grateful to lead Food for the Hungry on a journey to reimagine international relief and development and our role in it, questioning long-held assumptions, seeking innovative solutions, and recommitting ourselves to the agile and expert delivery of measurable impact for our shareholders, those we seek to serve.
▶ 0:49:41Through our experience, we've recognized the imperative for a major pivot away from traditional models of poverty reduction and economic development towards a resilience-focused approach that more explicitly focuses on preventing and tackling the converging risks and compounding crises that face the communities we serve and which present challenges to make America safer stronger and more prosperous.
▶ 0:50:08To deliver on resilience for our partner countries and communities and to advance US national interests foreign assistance must move from charitable donation models to investment-minded and asset-based models that clearly articulate returns on investment with an eye on exponential and scalable impact beyond piecemeal transactional projects.
▶ 0:50:28They should cultivate a clear and distinct set of capacities for resilience as intentional components of relief and development solutions and focus on targeted systems reform for resilience in social service delivery, social protection and market strengthening.
▶ 0:50:46And lastly, may say Food for the Hungry has over 150,000 generous Americans and their families who every month donate their hard-earned money to support children and their families who are suffering and who are challenged by We know from this experience that Americans are some of the most generous charitable people in the world and that they want their government to reflect their generosity as well.
▶ 0:51:07I respectfully ask the subcommittee to honor this distinctly American virtue to care for those less fortunate around the globe and continue to provide US government funding for foreign assistance. Thank you so much for your Thank you. Um Madam uh ranking member, you had a Yeah, I did. You recognize has your contract been terminated?
▶ 0:51:29Madam, we one of the contracts um that was terminated related to the COVID-19 support that we got from the United States. Uh but that we received all the money under the contract and the uh and but there are no outstanding uh dues and the money has all been expended.
▶ 0:51:51We have no further information about our larger contract that runs from 2022 to When you say you have no further information, so you don't know whether you are getting the money or not getting the money, is that We have no further information from the I'll give you further information. I don't know, but I think it's just not to vaccinate children is just a disgrace. I just Okay. You might have to reject me anymore.
▶ 0:52:21Let me ask you about the food programs. Are you aware of any of the food programs that are not getting paid or being terminated? Do you have any information on that? Firsthand with Food for the Hungry, we have two food programs supported by the US government. The other have been terminated or in limbo. Um next week we'll terminate about 1,500 staff that are providing that aid. Um we've been carrying the programs with our own private resources. I mentioned Americans are very generous.
▶ 0:52:50We have access to those funds, but we'll have to make a decision very, very soon. So, in in relationship to that, do do you think private charity could replace uh the US aid? Thank you for the question. I think private charity is essential. It's a necessary component, but it takes a coordinated response. No private citizen, foundation, or corporation is to end poverty. It takes uh as leverage with the US government has unprecedented reach and scale that really makes a difference when they collaborate together.
▶ 0:53:20So, I think it's a beautiful combination of the generosity of Americans with the US government that makes the difference. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you all for being here. Thank you all for being here. Thank you. And and thank you all for I know it's not easy to stick into the timeline. I want to thank you all for that. We'll go on to the next panel.
▶ 0:54:31Thank you again. We will start with Ms. Bryant from the Mines Advisory Group. You're recognized for 3 minutes. Thanks for being here. Good morning. Thank you, Chairman Diaz Villar, Ranking Member Frankel, and Vice Chair Edwards. My name is Sherry Bryant. I'm the Executive Director of the Mines Advisory Group here in the US, otherwise known as MAG. MAG works in 40 countries around the world to do two things primarily.
▶ 0:54:56We identify and clear landmines, and we help partner countries manage weapons and ammunition. We've been supported for over 20 years by the State Department Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement. And today I thought I'd share with you a few results from our work in Latin America. In Peru, MAG has worked for over 5 years with the national military and police authorities to help them manage and store their own armament stockpiles.
▶ 0:55:25But we've also helped them destroy illicit weapons taken from drug cartels and gangs. Over the last few years, the results have been somewhat staggering, and include the destruction of over 6 million rounds of ammunition, almost 10,000 weapons, 1,700 tons of explosive ordnance, 1,000 anti-tank guided missiles, and 10 tons of ammonium No doubt, this is just a drop in the bucket in Peru.
▶ 0:55:54In Ecuador, which you know has become one of the most insecure countries in Latin America and one of the primary departure points for drug trafficking, the country has seen a staggering increase of 500% in homicide rates in the last 2 years.
▶ 0:56:1180% of those were the result of So, in Ecuador, we're again working with the the national military and police to stem the flow of illicit weapons, and we think this has a secondary impact on helping prevent illegal migration flows. According to US border control statistics, Ecuadorians represented the fourth largest nationality arrested at the US border last year.
▶ 0:56:42Last week, while visiting Suriname, Secretary Rubio spoke about the importance of supporting law enforcement in their fight against violent drug gangs, and he focused on the need for US support to be sustainable and build capacity. The work that MAG does, building partnerships with defense departments, police forces, is paramount to our work, and building capacity of these partners is a core principle of the organization. Mr.
▶ 0:57:12Chair, while American foreign assistance is in the midst of a fundamental shift, we believe these programs are very much in line with past, present, and future foreign policy priorities. Clearing landmines and limiting criminal access to weapons not only save lives, but it contributes to security and stability, fosters economic prosperity, reduces security threats for the United States, simply put, makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
▶ 0:57:42But, Mr. Chairman, we're playing whack-a-mole here. Providing equipment, capacity, and accountability one armory at a time in just a handful of countries is not In order to achieve the administration's policy goals in the Western Hemisphere, we need continued and hopefully increased support for this sector. Thank you for your time. Thank you uh so much. And now uh Dr.
▶ 0:58:12Kaufman, Whites, is that right? Wittes. Okay. Uh from the National uh Democratic Institute, I should know That's all right. Uh you're right, ma'am. Thanks for being Thank you so much uh Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, Vice Chair Edwards uh for the opportunity to testify today about the critical role that America's democracy support plays in advancing US national security while manifesting Americans' most cherished values.
▶ 0:58:41I'm the president of the National Democratic Institute, and I'm here with my Republican counterpart, Dr. Dan Twining to support $315 million for the National Endowment for Democracy and $345 million for the Democracy Fund, both of which are funded in current law. The values of freedom and democracy that guided our founders are some of the most powerful ideas in human history.
▶ 0:59:07Our freedom and democracy have made America the most powerful nation on Earth, and our support for the freedom of others builds a safer, more prosperous world for Americans and for NDI's programs level the playing field for American businesses, reduce conflict, and advance peace and Most of all, our programs unleash the power of people to make their own governments work for them.
▶ 0:59:35It is the very essence of sovereignty and Where we succeed at strengthening freedom, people live longer, economies grow faster, countries are less likely to collapse in conflict. New opportunities open up for businesses to grow, trade, and invest. And where freedom works, we see less mass migration, less violence, and fewer threats from extremists and adversaries.
▶ 1:00:04We know that freedom works. That's why we have seen in every corner of the world that when people have the choice, they choose democracy. We want every human being to have that choice. America's national security, economic strength, and global leadership are best secured in a world where freedom The United States is facing off against corrupt, violent dictatorships who are undermining democracies around the world for the sake of their
▶ 1:00:34own power and influence at our expense. NDI's work is a strategic investment that benefits Americans and reflects their values. Now, I served previously as the State Department's Director of Foreign Assistance, and I know just how important it is to ensure that foreign assistance delivers results for the American people. I have confidence that our work to advance freedom and democracy meets that mark.
▶ 1:01:01And finally, to answer Congresswoman Frankel's question, the foreign aid freeze cost NDI 70% 7 0% of our program funding. 93 of our 97 awards from the State Department and USAID were terminated. We've lost 3/4 of our field offices, nearly a thousand talented people. But frankly, the impact on our brave and vulnerable partners is far worse.
▶ 1:01:32Mr. Chairman, Mrs. Frankel, I'm so grateful for your strong support in Congress for human rights and And I ask you please to extend the current levels of funding for the National Endowment and for democracy support and restore these critically important tools of American purpose and power. Thank you. Thank you so much and I apologize for butchering your name because I I do know it. Yes. Mr. Collins, with Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, you're recognized for 3 minutes. Thank you.
▶ 1:02:02Thank you. Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, and Vice Chair Edwards, thank you for the opportunity to testify today about one of the United States' most efficient and effective investments in foreign assistance, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Friends is requesting $2 billion in funding for the program in fiscal 2026, the first appropriation year of the Global Fund's eighth replenishment. Mr. Chairman, I want to start by thanking you for your leadership on the Global Fund.
▶ 1:02:31Your fiscal year 2024 allocation to the program sent a clear message to other donors about sustained American commitment and had the direct impact of saving many lives. With the considerable changes taking place in international assistance today, the subcommittee's bill will play a critical role in shaping the future of US global health and health security leadership.
▶ 1:02:53I would argue that the Global Fund should play a foundational role in this future as a driver of burden sharing, transition to country leadership, pandemic preparedness, and life-saving results. Established in 2002, the Global Fund is an international partnership that leverages contributions from governments and the private sector to provide life-saving treatment and prevention for HIV, TB, and malaria with the goal of bringing these epidemics to an end.
▶ 1:03:18Since 2002, the Global Fund partnership has reduced the combined death rate of these three diseases by 63% and saved more than 65 million lives. The Global Fund is America's way of ensuring that we share the burden for global health investments with other donors. Every $1 contributed by the US must be matched by $2 from other donors. The Global Fund also accelerates the path to country independence from aid.
▶ 1:03:43Partner countries are required to demonstrate increasing commitment to financing health as a condition of Global Fund assistance. The organization is highly efficient, keeping operating expenses at just 6.2%. The US has a central role in determining Global Fund policy with a permanent seat on its board. Private sector partners also have a dedicated voting seat on the board and companies partner with the Global Fund in a variety of ways. Investment in the Global Fund protects Americans.
▶ 1:04:13A Lancet study found that more than a third of the Global Fund's investments contribute to pandemic prevention, and response. The Global Fund represents the best of US foreign assistance, results-driven, cost-efficient, market-oriented, partnering with the private sector, and with strong independent oversight. It makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous, and it saves lives. This year, donor countries will make pledges towards the Global Fund's three-year replenishment cycle, and as always, they will look to the United States as an example.
▶ 1:04:44A $2 support level in FY26 is consistent with the United States historically providing 1/3 of Global Fund resources. These are not forever investments. We are on track to win this fight and and transition partner countries to eventually finance their own responses. Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Frankel, thank you for your life-saving support for the Global Fund. Could you What is the relationship between your fund and PEPFAR?
▶ 1:05:12The Global Fund and PEPFAR are uh very work very very closely together. They do strategic planning together at the management level and also on the ground in each country. And they participate in the country planning exercises in every country where they're active. And there's a great deal of uh synergy between the two programs because, you know, in many cases, for example, Global Fund will finance the commodities um and PEPFAR will uh you know, finance health care workers and other and other sorts of pieces.
▶ 1:05:41So, they they really work together Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Appreciate you.
▶ 1:06:43Great. We will start uh uh with Mr. Blake Seltzer. Uh again, thank you for being here and and like everybody else, uh you have 3 minutes thank you for being here and for your testimony. You're recognized, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I want to take this opportunity to thank uh Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, and Vice Ranking uh Vice uh excuse me, Vice chair Edwards for holding this important hearing today. I represent DC Nutrition.
▶ 1:07:13We are a Excuse me, we are a social enterprise based in Rhode Island dedicated to one single goal and that is ending child I also like to thank this subcommittee for the leadership they took last year in including $300 in the fiscal year 24 subcommittee bill state and foreign operations bill for American made ready-to-use therapeutic foods.
▶ 1:07:42We weren't able to get that across the finish line last year, but we're hoping we'll be able to do similar this year in the FY 26 bill. We recognize the fiscal constraints faced by the subcommittee. And as a manufacturing company, we continuously look to find ways to optimize efficiency and serve as many lives and save as many lives as possible through research and innovation. known as Plumpy'nut and I have a packet of it in front of me and you should have one as well.
▶ 1:08:12Thank you very much. Yes. Is a life-saving product. And it this is a miracle product and it's a fortified basically it's a fortified peanut butter. It's used in emergency complex settings and it can save lives. It has the power to rehabilitate 90% of children in just two months. And so the committee's support for this is incredibly We are just one of two producers of RUTF in the United States. The other one is MANA down in Georgia.
▶ 1:08:42And um We do we produce this right here in America. We also use products here in America whether it's peanuts from North Carolina, dry milk from Pennsylvania or sugar from New York. I probably should look into sugar from Florida given the chairman and ranking member, but uh We also work with the farmers and suppliers across more than 25 states, we American shippers and NGOs to provide this life-saving support.
▶ 1:09:09We represent America first and we feed the children of the world at the same time. Mr. Chairman, you stated at the beginning of this hearing the importance of and the one question to ask is whether the work we do makes America safer. Not only does the work we do America make America safer, but it also makes us more prosperous and stronger. We're safer because improving food security leads to national security, reduces conflict and migration.
▶ 1:09:35We're because we create jobs and economic and America's more prosperous because humanitarian organizations in the United buy hundreds of millions of dollars of commodities from American farmers and What we make is not just nice to have for people we serve. It can be the difference between life and death. Today, we produce ready-to-use foods for 26 million children across 65 countries and we're not stopping now.
▶ 1:10:03Malnutrition is the leading cause of death for children under the age of five. It claims a child's life every 11 seconds. And only 1.7 billion dollars could feed 17 million severely malnourished children around the world every year. A mere $100 per child, the cost of one box of RUTF will cover distribution and access to community health care.
▶ 1:10:24While we take great pride in saving the lives of children suffering from acute malnutrition worldwide, the long-term goal needs to be a shift to prevention. At Edesia, we're committed to that shift and we're currently in the process of doubling the capacity of our production thank thankfully to a generous donation from a philanthropic organization. Um and this will help us not only treat children in their suffering malnutrition, but also prevent them from becoming severely malnourished.
▶ 1:10:54Families always remember the American people were the ones there at their greatest need of time and this isn't just a charity, it's American jobs. We know you have tough choices to make and we also know that child malnutrition is 100% preventable. There are many problems this in this world we cannot solve. Malnutrition is not one of them. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to testify Thank you. Thank you. We were just actually I was just trying it here. I don't know if the ranking member did. Not yet. Not yet. Okay. my lunch. Okay. So we're learning.
▶ 1:11:25Ms. Jenkins, thanks for being here and you're recognized. Thank you. Chairman Diaz Balart, ranking member Frankel, and vice chair Edwards, it's an honor to be here to testify before you today in support of the State Department's education and cultural My name is Carol Jenkins and I'm the CEO of the American nonprofit organization World Learning, which is designed and offered international education and exchange programs since 1932.
▶ 1:11:55As a long-standing implementing partner of the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs or ECA, we share President Trump's commitment to making America safer, stronger, and more through exchanges involving some of our most effective and trustworthy diplomats, American citizens themselves.
▶ 1:12:14Therefore, our nationwide community of partners respectfully request no less than 741 million in FY2026 funding for educational and cultural exchanges consistent with the level agreed to in the current continuing resolution.
▶ 1:12:29Allow me to provide a few brief examples to illustrate why exchanges deserve your The International Visitor Leadership Program brings approximately 4,500 distinguished professionals to the US They're vetted by our embassies and these participants gain exposure to American best practices in fields such as counterterrorism, law enforcement, interfaith dialogue and religious freedom and technology.
▶ 1:12:55These programs have facilitated collaboration between foreign and American law enforcement professionals leading to the resolution of an international crime. Another program administered by a different partner tackled the fentanyl crisis by bringing together public and private security experts in Florida, Alabama, and Texas. These exchanges foster new networks and partnerships that enhance the security of our country and the American people.
▶ 1:13:21The International Visitor Leadership Program, along with other citizen diplomacy programs of ECA, promotes collective action on pressing issues and advances American interests. Every dollar of US tax US taxpayer funding allocated to this program generates $11 for local communities in In 2023, international education programs, including ECA's exchanges, generated approximately $44 billion in economic impact
▶ 1:13:51and supported the creation of nearly 400,000 jobs across the country, including in rural American communities. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I respectfully request that you continue to support these vital citizen diplomacy programs that make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous. Thank you. Thank you so much. Now, uh Halo Trust. And I want to thank all of you, by the way, for I know it's tough, but you're sticking to the timeline and and and that makes it better for the folks that are following you.
▶ 1:14:21So, thank you. You're recognized, sir. Thank you for being Now, the the pressure's on time-wise, you understand? Mr. Chairman, ranking member, Mr. Vice Chair, thank you so much for this opportunity. I'm I'm Chris Whatley. I work for the Halo Trust, the world's largest demining organization, and it's an honor to be here to thank you for your support and request that that the committee includes $290 million for the conventional weapons destruction program of the US State Department.
▶ 1:14:48In my role with HALO, I I I I've walked in minefields with in the Solomon Islands where our staff are clearing bombs and shells from the Battle of Guadalcanal that have been killing their own community members for 80 years, and seen those same staff working with the US Department of Defense to help identify the remains of American sailors, soldiers, airmen, and Marines.
▶ 1:15:11Uh I've also been in in minefields in Ukraine where I've seen our brave staff uh working as the the sound of artillery was in the background to urgently clear farmland so that their country can pay for its own defense and so it can feed the world. Conventional weapons destruction programs make America safer. Land mines and other explosives don't just kill civilians in other countries, they also threaten US troops, embassy staff, oil industry workers, and other Americans working in past or present conflict zones.
▶ 1:15:39In addition, the lessons learned from the work we do, because we use uh equipment donated from the US Department of Defense, it's used to make those mine detectors, that equipment, just that much better so that the warfighters can use it in future conflicts to save the lives of American soldiers serving on the front line. Conventional weapons destruction programs make America stronger.
▶ 1:16:02These programs build security partnerships across Asia, Latin America, and Africa because we work with host country militaries, host country uh security forces where the US is competing for access and influence with They also project American soft power as explosive ordnance removal is done by staff who wear American flags on their on their body armor, on their vehicles, and it is this tangible, real, felt, specific, and time-limited intervention
▶ 1:16:32that is visible and it reflects our And conventional weapons destruction programs make America more prosperous. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the price of uh vegetable oil in American supermarkets shot up by 50% overnight because of the role of Ukraine's Clearing that is essential for driving down food prices here at home, but also feeding the rest of the world. Given this, I hope the committee will continue its long leadership in supporting these programs.
▶ 1:17:00They advance American prosperity, they make us stronger, and and they and they represent the best of the United States. It's an honor to be here to support them. Thank you. Thank you very much. Yes, please. Yeah, could any of you have I think you said that you have getting your full funding or not? So, Adesia, we're one of the fortunate ones. We of the of our third current 13 existing USAID contracts, none of them are currently terminated. We had a couple that were overturned.
▶ 1:17:29However, many more, over 5,400 are not as fortunate, 86%. And so, some of the partners that we work with did get contracts terminated and it's and it's not enough just to procure this product. If you don't have partners on the ground to deliver it, you're not going to meet the needs. And so, we really need to support more of the folks that are on the ground doing that. But, we were one of the fortunate ones that do have our our contracts in place. Thank you. Okay, so you have your contracts and you need it delivered.
▶ 1:17:59I want I'm sorry, excuse me, but we don't we have not been paid. We have not received a single dollar since October. How much are you owed? $24 million. Okay, let me This product is for what How long can a child survive on this product? Well, it the child can survive for months it's used for children under five.
▶ 1:18:21And so, the goal of that product is to help the children survive in the months that you provide them that and then graduate them onto different products. Adesia doesn't only produce ready-to-use therapeutic foods, we also produce the next steps, ready-to-use supplemental foods and others that will help graduate them off of our UTF. So, it's an incredibly important product, Right. So, but I was going to just say then what? I mean, how other programs that are feeding children, what's the status?
▶ 1:18:50think a good example for example is Feed the Future. It's a program that I know this committee and others in Congress supported and that really is working to provide money for agriculture development in countries around the world. And you know, the goal I think for all of us is to ultimately reduce dependency on foreign assistance and foreign aid from the United States economically and both and it also creates potential trade partners for us here in America.
▶ 1:19:15So, we are concerned that the dollars for those type of programs are not seen in the in what we're seeing out of the administration currently, but we're hoping that they'll be restored. Okay, so this and have you received your payments yet for No, no, we've not received payments to the 2024. How much are you owed? What's that? How much are you owed? $24 million, yeah. That's like the magic number, is that No, no, it's okay.
▶ 1:19:44But what I will say is a lot of our partners have not, you know, have dis- terminated contracts and so even though ours are not terminated, we still haven't received the money and you know, we have relationships around the world and they've, you know, we it takes a long time to create these relationships and when you can't pay them, it doesn't look good for us. Uh Okay, so it's it's a mess. Got it. It's a bit of a mess, yes. Yeah. Got it. How about your program?
▶ 1:20:10The ECA funded programs have been delayed and there's been some pause on funding, but I'm pleased to say that they're moving forward, but there have been some delays. And how much are you owed? We are we have received most of our payments from ECA. Yes, if not all. And let's see. Um 85% of our funding has been restored and we're very grateful for that and the funding is flowing.
▶ 1:20:35Demining operations have been terminated for the Halo Trust in Afghanistan, in Zimbabwe, in Malawi, and Yemen. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you all. Thank you so much. Thank you for being here. Thank you. We'll go on to the next panel.
▶ 1:21:16And I'll remind folks to please uh turn on your microphones and and speak close to the microphone if possible when when when it's when you're recognized. Mr. Knoll from uh Malaria No More, we will begin with you. Thank you again for being here. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:21:36Uh Chairman Diaz Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, uh members of the subcommittee, my name is Spencer Knoll and I am the director of US policy and advocacy at Malaria No More, an international nonprofit dedicated ending one of humanity's oldest and deadliest diseases.
▶ 1:21:50On behalf of Malaria No More, I respectfully request that the subcommittee provide level funding for the bilateral malaria account uh at $795 million, $2 billion $2 billion to double fund the fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and continue the US government's long-standing support of Ending malaria is central to the US approach to global health that has enjoyed 20 years, as you know, a broad bipartisan consensus focused on saving children and supporting families.
▶ 1:22:18in 2023, malaria killed 597,000 people, the overwhelming majority of them pregnant women and children under five. Ending malaria also with the Trump administration's foreign assistance framework, which prioritizes programs that make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
▶ 1:22:35Secretary Rubio himself underscored in his confirmation hearing how investing in malaria can yield extraordinary dividends for America while strengthening communities and economies in endemic countries and ensuring that today's aid recipients are tomorrow's trading partners.
▶ 1:22:50A recent analysis commissioned by Malaria No More shows that US funding through the President's Malaria Initiative and the Global Fund has generated 90.3 billion dollars in GDP increases in recipient countries, yielding 5.8 times the return on investment in the form of GDP growth.
▶ 1:23:07A similar analysis found that achieving global malaria reduction targets by 2030 would boost international trade by 80.7 billion dollars and increase US exports to endemic countries by 1.5 billion Efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat malaria also serve as an early warning system for infectious diseases. Surveillance and monitoring of malaria because of its focus on detecting and diagnosing fevers helps to stop outbreaks of other deadly diseases like Ebola before they spread and potentially reach the US.
▶ 1:23:38Malaria also threatens the stability of countries of interest to the US like Nigeria, the DRC, Tanzania, and Niger, which are crucial to Africa's security, critical mineral supply, and trade, and which are targets for influence by China, Iran, North Korea, and other malign actors. In the fight against malaria, we know what works.
▶ 1:23:57Proven tools like insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, rapid diagnostic tests, and antimalarials can dramatically reduce malaria deaths, while new mosquito technologies, vaccines, and other US-led innovations offer the promise of finally ending There is no doubt that these programs can be improved, and we look forward to in needed reform discussions with Congress to ensure more targeted, time-bound aid with clear performance benchmarks and a path for a transition from aid to investment.
▶ 1:24:26But continued support for these programs is critical. Sustained US leadership in the fight against malaria is a strategic, economic, and humanitarian imperative, and I urge the subcommittee to continue its support for these life-saving malaria programs. Thank you. Thank you very much. Appreciate your Uh Ms. Yakoubian uh from the Armenia Assembly of America, you are now recognized for 3 minutes. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman Diaz Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, Vice Chair Edwards, and subcommittee committee members.
▶ 1:24:57My name is Talin Yakoubian, and I serve as co-chair of the Armenian Assembly of America. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the US policy and assistance to Armenia and the South We are at a turning point in history. In the wake of a war and forced displacement of 120,000 people from their ancestral lands, the Armenian people and Armenia are facing ongoing existential threats.
▶ 1:25:24Despite hope for peace, Azerbaijan continues to illegally occupy Armenian hold political hostages, conduct sham trials, and erase Armenian cultural heritage, including centuries-old monasteries and churches.
▶ 1:25:44President Aliyev has declared, "We have destroyed Armenia." The United States has a long history of doing the right thing, and it must not look away now. We urge Congress to enforce Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which prohibits aid to Azerbaijan until it ceases its use of force against Armenia. Azerbaijan have has violated this repeatedly.
▶ 1:26:14The waiver must be revoked, and sanctions imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act for human rights There is a long record of Azerbaijan in human rights violations. The assembly also urges the United States to consider steps to reinforce the strategic partnership between the United States and Armenia by providing $50 million in security assistance including defensive weaponry and
▶ 1:26:44training to help Armenia protect its sovereignty. And allocate $250 million in humanitarian assistance to support over persecuted Christians from Nagorno-Karabakh, men, women and 30,000 children who were forced from their lands and homes under a threat of genocide with only what they could carry with them.
▶ 1:27:11And importantly, uphold the right of return for those forcibly displaced. The United States has shown strong support for Israel. We, the millions of American Armenians, ask that you stand with Armenia. The first Christian A beacon of democratic values. Now under siege. The Armenian people who survived genocide in the 20th century now only ask for peace, dignity and the right to exist.
▶ 1:27:41Thank you for your leadership and in answer to Congressman Frankel's question, all USAID programs in Armenia have been terminated. Thank you very Let me ask you again because I did mispronounce your name. Can you please pronounce it again for me actually cuz I I want to make sure that I get it right. Talin Yakubian. Thank you so much. Appreciate that. Mr. Hazen, uh US Overseas Cooperative Development Development Council, you are now recognized. Thank you. Chairman.
▶ 1:28:10Chairman and thank you ranking member Frankel and and vice chairman Edwards. The US Overseas Cooperative Development Council is requesting $50 million for the fiscal 2026 Cooperative Development Program. For more than five decades, Congress has supported the development of cooperatives as part of its foreign assistance program, mainly through the Cooperative Development Program. Cooperative businesses are privately owned by individual members and governed through elected representatives.
▶ 1:28:39They have have measurable positive local economic development and social stability impact and a widespread US-based constituency. Some cooperative businesses, such as Land O'Lakes and Ocean Spray, are household names. And an impressive one in three US citizens are currently members of some type of cooperative. Cooperative have been important instruments in the development of our own country, and it was for this reason that cooperative development is enshrined in the US Foreign Assistance Act.
▶ 1:29:08And that and that there is bipartisan congressionally mandated directed funding for cooperative Despite the successes of the CDP, the alignment with President Trump's foreign policy objectives and strong domestic support support, programs of the Cooperative Development Program were terminated on February 26th. We understand that there may have been circumstances that caused the project reviews to be rushed, and therefore we are asking respectfully for a reconsideration of each of the activities in this program.
▶ 1:29:40OCDC's work has quantified the measurable positive local economic development and social stability impact of cooperatives across four continents through independent research. The studies are linkages to major foreign policy challenges facing the US, such as migration. OCDC's data shows that effective cooperative development reduces economic migration.
▶ 1:30:04In seven countries studied, the research quantified differences between those belong to cooperatives and those that do not. And the data reveals a 10 to 50% measurable economic advantage for the cooperative member. Across the board, cooperative members is generally better off financially, less likely to be poor or very poor, and therefore less likely to migrate for economic reasons.
▶ 1:30:29Cooperative members also have greater social capital, indicating strong ties to their countries, which also reduces the likelihood of migration. The Central America studies completed last year yielded evidence that those who belong to cooperatives are 10 to 11% less likely to migrate to the US than those who are not members.
▶ 1:30:48The bipartisan cooperative development uh directed programs provides the knowledge and assurance that programmatic investment of US resources under the program will achieve the overreaching objectives of a stronger, safer, and more prosperous United States by linking overseas and US markets. The CDP enables the administration to work intelligently and provides transparency and accountability to the American people.
▶ 1:31:13We look forward to collaborating with the State Department to make modifications to the scope and work program to meet current priorities. In the meantime, we'd be pleased to provide any additional information you might require. I thank you in advance for reconsideration of the terminations of the cooperative development programs. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
▶ 1:31:33Yes, I think I don't know if we heard this from the uh Gavi presenter, but it's my understanding that these the vaccines are primarily uh bought from US manufacturers. Is that there has been a lot of US At least I can only speak on the malaria side, but there there has been um both both US-based and and foreign companies involved in the in the development of malaria vaccines, which are procured through Gavi.
▶ 1:32:03Just I wanted to ask you about the the 90.3 billion in recipient GDP over 20 years. With is that the countries that you are Uh so that's that's that's across that's actually um that analysis is is so new that we're still formatting it and we'll be happy to provide it to your office as soon as we can, but um that looks at all US contributions to malaria programs, so it's the US contributions through the bilateral President's Malaria Initiative and uh taking
▶ 1:32:34the the Global Fund which does three diseases looking only at the malaria section of that and then only the US contribution which is 1/3. And and that is yes, that is looking at that pot of money over the the lifespan of those programs. Um the the GDP impact on recipient countries. Um and then there's a separate analysis we have which shows the the impact on trade which is a boost to US exports because there are US companies involved in the in the fight against malaria. Thank you.
▶ 1:33:04Thank you all very much. Thank you for being here. And now the next panel.
▶ 1:33:47We will start with uh Mr. Yaw, Peter Yaw from the Better World Campaign. You will recognize sir. You you have the floor for 3 minutes. Great. Thank you very much uh for the opportunity uh to support United Nations foreign affairs uh spending in FY2026. Let me first begin by acknowledging you, Mr. Chairman, for your long-standing efforts to address severe acute malnutrition and to support Gavi, and ranking member Frankel uh for your strong commitment to protecting the lives of women and girls around the world.
▶ 1:34:15Within the State Department, we request full funding for the contributions to international organizations account and the contributions to international peacekeeping uh activities account, and support for the President's Malaria Initiative, the Global Fund, Gavi, and Global Polio Eradication Activities.
▶ 1:34:33US assessments to the UN regular budget support American interests, including monitoring international compliance with sanctions, targeting terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, and US adversaries such as North Korea. They also fund UN political missions in countries that are undergoing or emerging from conflict such as Colombia and Somalia.
▶ 1:34:54These missions effectively build up governing institutions and help facilitate peace negotiations, which dovetails precisely with President Trump's call to prevent and halt endless Should the US fail to pay its UN regular budget obligations, our country will lose influence and power in the UN and hence dramatically boost the influence to our adversaries such as China and Russia. Our regular budget assessments also help fund the UN Office of Drugs and Crime that combats fentanyl smuggling.
▶ 1:35:24Well, last year I was in Manzanillo, Mexico, where I saw first-hand the training of personnel to surveil ships and screen trucks for chemicals used to make fentanyl. Overdose deaths in the US have dropped by 25% last year, in part due to the international control efforts coordinated by the United Nations. On the global health front, infectious disease outbreaks don't stay within national borders. Our investments in global health care are not just acts of good will.
▶ 1:35:53They are uh national strategic priority that serve as a first line of defense against potential health crises. 2023 marked the first cases of locally transmitted malaria in the United States in 30 years, occurring in Florida, Texas, and Maryland. Right now, mosquitoes capable of spreading malaria are now present in 30 American states. The Global Fund, PEPFAR, and the President's Malaria Initiative will continue to play a critical role in keeping Americans safe.
▶ 1:36:23Due to the long-standing bipartisan support for Gavi and polio eradication efforts, the world stands on the brink of wiping out polio once and for all. Gavi, in particular, is a shining example of foreign aid that is in America's interest and help countries along the journey to self-reliance. Since 2000, Gavi's unique model has successfully transitioned 19 countries to fully fund their own vaccines.
▶ 1:36:45This work would not be possible without the World Health Organization, which has been critical in amplifying America's investments to fight polio, measles, Ebola, and others. They have implemented major reforms over the past 3 years and stand ready to engage in a dialogue with the US on continued American leadership in the organization. Thank you. Thank you very much. And from the Campaign for Education, the Global Campaign for Education, I apologize. Ms. McPherson, you're recognized. Thank you.
▶ 1:37:13On behalf of the Global Campaign for Education US, thank you for the opportunity to present our views on the importance of investing in international basic education programs in the fiscal year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and related programs appropriations bill. Specifically, we urge the subcommittee to recognize the important role that investments in global education play in the strength, security, and prosperity of the United States. And to support $970 million for the Nita M.
▶ 1:37:43Lowey Basic Education Fund, including at least $150 million in funding for the Global Partnership for Education, and $30.4 million in funding for Education Cannot Wait. We want to extend our sincere thanks to Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, and members of the subcommittee for past efforts to protect funding for international basic education programs.
▶ 1:38:06We want to also recognize the recent passing of Chairwoman Lowey, who throughout her distinguished career championed access to quality education, both in the United States and globally. Her legacy will continue to guide us in our mission at GCE-US, and we hope her enduring contributions will inspire and shape the future work of the Bipartisan congressional support for international basic education is critical in ensuring that the US remains a global leader for generations to come.
▶ 1:38:37The number of out-of-school children reached 251 million in 2024, and three out of four children in developing countries cannot read by the age of 10. Yet, the power of education is clear. Starting in the early years, education lays the groundwork for lifelong learning and well-being. The overall return on investment for basic education programs is approximately 10%, and for every extra year of schooling, hourly earnings increase by 9% later in life.
▶ 1:39:08The READ Act, reauthorized by Congress just this past December, makes access to basic education a priority in US foreign assistance efforts. Since its initial passage in 2017, the READ Act has resulted in improved coordination across the US to ensure that resources allocated for international basic education are well spent with significant and meaningful accountability and transparency The current 2024 to 2029 US government strategy on international basic education is an
▶ 1:39:38important tool in this effort, and notes that the US vision is to achieve a world where education systems in partner countries enable all individuals to acquire the education and skills needed to be productive members of society.
▶ 1:39:53We at GCE-US are at the forefront of ensuring that this vision is carried Given the vast experience across our membership, we can confidently say that investments in international basic education programs serve the national interest of the US, making us safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Thank Thank you very much. Yes, make them up.
▶ 1:40:17The education programs around the world, what's happening with them in terms of So, of our 40 or so member organizations, many of them have lost funding due to the foreign aid freeze. Um we are currently doing analysis of the list of terminated and active programs that was currently shared with Congress so that we can better produce some information regarding how many of those programs are education-related so that we can then continue our our Does that I mean are are schools being
▶ 1:40:47shut down or teachers being fired? And then what happens what's happening to the children? Exactly. So, when I talk about the 251 million out-of-school children, that number will certainly increase. And we've been working so diligently with US government support over the years to tackle that number and decrease that number, but we will certainly see that number increase. Mr. Chair, you know, I First I wanted to This is the ending so I just wanted to have the ending, but this is I think this is our last of the series. Okay, this series.
▶ 1:41:16I wanted to thank everybody for being here. I you know, I always tell people I really I come here not I know I'm here as a member of Congress, but really first I'm a grandmother. I have two small grandchildren and to me to hear about programs that are cut on the vaccines and the food and the education is heartbreaking and it is Anybody who knows anything about children is when you keep them out of I mean, you the risks that you take
▶ 1:41:46in terms of where they're going to go in life and is not not It's not a risk that we should take. And so, I'm hoping as we move along, Mr. Chair, that we will take to heart uh and some of some of the information that we've heard here today cuz I know I'm going to tell you this, I will fight hard for our for our children all over the world. And with that, Well, let me let me thank Let me uh let me add my words of gratitude to all of you.
▶ 1:42:17And I and I do understand putting this into 3 minutes is not easy. But speaking for myself, uh and I will tell you that the ranking member, uh the vice chairman, and every member of the subcommittee, we take our job very seriously. And uh this has been very very helpful. So, thank each and every one of you. Obviously, uh this is this is a a format. It's not the only format to stay in touch, as you all know. And we look forward to continue to stay in touch. And uh seeing any other questions or comments?
▶ 1:42:48Yes, Mr. Vice Chairman. Yeah, thank thank you, Mr. Chair and ranking member. I just I just like to say and to all the folks that uh came and visited us today, this this committee has very important work to do. Uh as I listened to all the good work going on around the country, I can't help but think most of this has some real value to uh human humanitarian needs.
▶ 1:43:18But I also reflect back on our new Secretary of State's words where he said that uh if it doesn't make America safer or stronger or more prosperous, then we probably don't need to be doing it. And that makes our job much, much more important, much, much more uh difficult. And so, we've we've got some tough decisions ahead of us. I I certainly appreciate all of you being here with us today. Well, well-stated.
▶ 1:43:45And uh seeing no further comments, questions, the Subcommittee on National Security, State, and Related Programs stands adjourned. Thank you so much.