▶ 0:07:14Welcome, everyone, to today's fiscal year 2027 subcommittee markup of the national security department of state and related programs. Appropriations bill. Let me start by thanking chairman kohl for his invaluable leadership on the appropriations of the appropriations committee and for his commitment, his commitment to ensuring that congress upholds its responsibility to provide the tools necessary to safeguard our national security.
▶ 0:07:39I also want to thank my friend, uh, and I'll I'll I'll I'll say more about her during the full committee markup. Uh, lois frankel, uh, ranking member delauro as well. Uh, and all the members, members of the subcommittee for your ideas and your insight, which were really instrumental in developing this bill. Excuse me.
▶ 0:07:59The bill before us is the next step in our historic efforts to strengthen our national security while reducing spending under chairman cole's leadership and with the support of our colleagues, this republican majority has delivered nearly $12 billion in responsible cuts to spending under the purview of the subcommittee since 2023.
▶ 0:08:24The fy 27 bill continues this effort with an additional $2.7 billion in cuts from the enacted level. Now, the greatest long term threat to our stability, to our country's stability and to our security is the debt. And this bill makes disciplined, disciplined decisions to to continue reining in spending.
▶ 0:08:50Yet our national security priorities are funded at or above prior year levels. The bill maintains $1.8 billion for partners in the indo-pacific, including $500 million in military assistance for taiwan and robust funding for the philippines and our partners in the pacific island countries.
▶ 0:09:14It provides unwavering support for israel and fully funds the united states israel memorandum of understanding by providing $3.3 billion in security assistance. Other key partners and allies in the middle east, such as jordan, egypt, continue to be strongly supported.
▶ 0:09:33Now recognizing the valuable partnerships in the western hemisphere, which continue to expand and realign under the leadership of president trump and secretary marco rubio, secretary of state marco rubio. The bill increases support for our friends and allies such as paraguay, argentina and costa rica.
▶ 0:09:56As part of this effort, the bill increases funds to counter narcotics and related law enforcement efforts, including investments to combat the trafficking of fentanyl, which has devastated every community in america. It also continues strong support for a democratic transition to freedom for the people of cuba, venezuela and nicaragua.
▶ 0:10:23The bill supports the america first opportunity fund, which enhances the united states leverage abroad and enables a rapid response to crisis or to strategic opportunities. It continues the national security investment program account, which supports efficient, targeted deployment of programs that support the united states of america's national security interests.
▶ 0:10:49Now, last year, the subcommittee focused on how to responsibly transition pepfar. Uh, that program that we all know so much about back to partner countries that are capable, those that are capable and ready. Pepfar is a great success story, but most of us, I think, agree that the program, frankly, like any program should, should not just go on forever and ever and ever in perpetuity.
▶ 0:11:17So working alongside the administration, countries are now committing significant sums of their own resources as part of the america the america first global health strategy. So again, enabling this committee to responsibly reduce funding while achieving the same outcomes.
▶ 0:11:36Just as critical as what the bill funds is, what it does not fund and how it strengthens conditions, priorities, oversight, and demands accountability. Accountability for every dollar spent.
▶ 0:11:54The bill prohibits funds to the people's republic of china and the communist chinese party, and prohibits funds to other countries from being used to repay debt owed by those countries to china. It also requires opposition to lending to the prc within the multilateral development banks.
▶ 0:12:16The bill continues a a key provision adopted in the prior year, which blocks assistance to anyone that supports finances or facilitates the operation of the cuban ministry of the revolutionary armed forces or the ministry of interior.
▶ 0:12:32It continues the prohibition on all assistance to the taliban and puts america first by withholding funds from mexico until it delivers water owed owed to the united states in accordance with the terms of the 1944 water treaty. Assess funding for the united nations is cut by $1.8 billion. Now here's also some, I think, key issues. No funds are included for the united nations.
▶ 0:13:00Regular budget and funds are prohibited to the world health organization. The united nations commission of inquiry against israel, the united nations relief and works agency, commonly known as unwra, the now named united nations human rights council, the office of high commissioner for human rights, the international criminal court and the international court of justice.
▶ 0:13:30Just to start, the bill also includes a provision to help provide justice justice for victims murdered in the october 7th terrorist attack, including, by the way, 50 american citizens by requiring full accountability for the unrest, staff involved in that vicious, cowardly, grotesque attack.
▶ 0:13:53In addition, the bill includes a new provision cutting off funds to any international organization that refuses to cooperate with inspector general, with the inspector general and the inspector general's investigation on whether or into whether october 7th terrorists are on its staff, a key measure from last year's house bill, which was enacted in the fy 26 final bill, is
▶ 0:14:26Maintained, requiring the secretary of state to consider the un voting record of countries in determining the allocation of funds. The bill supports full implementation of key executive orders that reflect a clear commitment to national sovereignty, secure borders, limited government and american values, including those related to restoring free speech and ending censorship, ending dei programs, and many
▶ 0:14:57Others. And finally, the bill maintains all long standing pro-life provisions prohibiting funds to the un population fund and prohibiting funds being spent in contravention of the president's policy in protecting life in foreign assistance.
▶ 0:15:14These measures, alongside enhanced oversight and transparency, ensure ensure american taxpayer dollars do not fund abortions, a policy that americans overwhelmingly support. Now, again, I want to thank all of you, all of the members of this committee, uh, for your invaluable contributions to this bill. I none of this would be possible.
▶ 0:15:40You all know that without, frankly, the remarkable staff that we have on both sides, republican and democrat. And to all of you, thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your sleepless nights and hard work. Uh, now with that, with that, uh, before I recognize the distinguished ranking member, we do have a birthday girl here today, and I don't know if she's going to be upset if we wish her a happy birthday to miss torres. So happy birthday.
▶ 0:16:10Alright, okay. Let me now recognize my dear friend, uh, person who, uh, while we have disagreements, is honorable. She's tough, but she's honorable. She's straightforward. And it's a privilege to work with my ranking member. Uh, miss lois frankel. >> thank you very much. Uh, it is an honor to serve as the ranking member to this committee, and, uh, I agree. I just want to say this. I'm going to offer a little bit different analysis.
▶ 0:16:38We do agree on many things. I disagree on some, but I do appreciate what's been a bipartisan, uh, history of this committee. And this is really this, I think this is a really good committee. And we were able to reach a good agreement, uh, the best we could. Uh, last year. Um, I'm going to also thank you. Thank you to the majority staff, our staff here, the democratic staff. Fantastic.
▶ 0:17:05To my ranking member, our chairman of the committee who you, uh, Mr. cole, thank you so much for your professionalism and your courtesy. It's really a pleasure to to work with you. And, uh, of course, all the members.
▶ 0:17:21Alright, so before I get into the details of this f 27 national security and department of state bill, I want to go over the here and now because it is somewhat concerning, even frightening, uh, because we are considering this bill against a backdrop of last year's reckless and careless dismantling of usaid, the cancellation of billions of dollars in essential programs, the firing of hundreds of dedicated public servants, and
▶ 0:17:52Reports that this resulted in millions, not a few, but millions of deaths due to disease and starvation. And now I think we worry a hollowed out state department lacks the capacity, expertise and, frankly, the will to carry out the development humanitarian programs that it was never built to manage. And I hope we can get more information on that as we go along.
▶ 0:18:17Uh, programs that congress directed and funded, support for women's leadership and economic empowerment, peace building, water and sanitation, food security and family planning are being ignored. Uh, we are failing our efforts to stop the spread of disease right now, as we sit here, uh, the administration is withholding the funding from gavi organization that protects children around the world from malaria, polio, yellow fever, and more.
▶ 0:18:47And that has prevented more than 20 million deaths since 2000. We appropriated $600 million on a bipartisan basis last two years. Not one single dollar has been released because of it's been upheld or held up by this anti-vaccine obsession of rfk. What is he butting in to the state department with his nonsense?
▶ 0:19:14Uh, and as a result, we've actually even lost our seat at gabby's board. Uh, we have been on another note. We've been we've been strong arming partners into signing global health agreements, including holding funded funding hostage due to unrelated demands, like transactional demands, like we need your critical minerals if you want this money.
▶ 0:19:37Uh, and although we are claiming, uh, that programs that pepfar are up and running, uh, while life saving medications, prevention services remain out of reach, especially for girls, this is also very troubling.
▶ 0:19:52And, uh, we're witnessing a sweeping and deadly expansion of the mexico city policy now applied across almost all nonmilitary assistance and all partners taking a disastrous policy and expanding it in so-called diversity and inclusion, lgbt services and gender ideology. Uh, the administration is also using our funding, this committee to advance a very twisted immigration agenda.
▶ 0:20:22For example, we're hearing reports that, uh, more than a thousand afghan allies, people who risked their lives to support U.S. forces, including my son, who served in afghanistan, not to make it too personal, uh, are currently supported by the state department and now being forced to choose between between returning to afghanistan or relocating to the democratic republic of congo, a country that's facing
▶ 0:20:54Its own humanitarian crisis. In every single day, there is a new story about the united states coercing countries to accept third party deportees. Uh. According to a senate report, the us spent $32 million that we appropriated in this bill in payments to foreign governments with records of corruption and human rights abuses, such as equatorial guinea and el salvador, to take deportees who have no relationship to these
▶ 0:21:26Countries. And in the middle of this chaos, chaos, it's disconcerting that we are marking up our bill without a single hearing with the state secretary of state and without assurance that this administration is actually effectively spending the funds that we've already provided. All right. So now getting on to the bill. I know that you were waiting for that. Uh, I had to listen to you. >> but that's fine. >> he is a lot more dramatic, I will admit.
▶ 0:21:56Uh, uh, you know, this is a bill that's supposed to project american leadership through diplomacy, development, and humanitarian aid, but instead it's pulling back at exactly the wrong time. Uh, after four years of cuts totaling over 14 billion, a staggering 23%, this bill does another cut, a little under 3 billion. And at the same time, uh, president trump is requesting billions of dollars more for war.
▶ 0:22:25And I want to be clear, we cannot bomb our way to lasting peace, security, and prosperity. Uh, and I've said this before, I'm going to say it again. And I know there are gentlemen and maybe some women who have served the military. I thank you for that. My son was served in the marines, was deployed to do wars. And I know it's important for the military to remain strong, but bombs and drones responds to threats. They do not prevent them. Soft power does.
▶ 0:22:54And that's what this committee is about. Uh, diplomacy prevents costly and deadly war. Global health programs stop outbreaks before they reach our shores. Food aid and development programs reduce desperation that fuels extremism and migration. Alliances ensure we do not face threats alone. And this bill walks away from that strategy.
▶ 0:23:18It eliminates funding for the united states and un peacekeeping at a time when participation in multilateral organizations could not be more important, it claws back $1 billion in humanitarian assistance at a time of widespread crisis and conflict and migration is sudan, ukraine and the middle east, where the latest regional war makes matters worse.
▶ 0:23:38This bill prohibits funding for unfpa, cuts family planning and reinstates an expanded global global gag rule threatening the health and women globally and shattering their chances for success. It's yours. It's zeros out funding for strategic, strategic soft power tools that the us institute of peace, the inter-american foundation and the us african development foundation.
▶ 0:24:03And it does nothing to help our already short staffed diplomats, global health experts and humanitarian responders while they're forced to do more with less. This is not leadership. It's reckless and makes us less safe because when we retreat from soft power and I know that we have members on this committee who know this well, we create vacuums and our adversaries like china are already filling them in.
▶ 0:24:30This should not be a choice between strength or restraint. It's about being smart and strong. Security. Home is only possible with effective, robust engagement abroad as well as, uh, our ranking member yesterday, our own domestic, uh, funding, which we're not talking about today. If we want to stay for america and a more stable world, we need both. We need the strength of our military and the power of our leadership. This bill fails that test. We can and we must do better.
▶ 0:25:00I do believe that we will do better. But in the meantime, as this is written. I'll be a no. Is that a surprise? Okay, I yield back. >> thank to my my dear friend. Uh, and I do, I, I, we have a great working relationship. Um, I'm now honored to recognize, uh, the remarkable leader of the full committee, the distinguished chairman of the committee, Mr. cole, for your remarks, sir. You're recognized.
▶ 0:25:31>> thank you very much, Mr. chairman. I want to make a couple of unscripted, which always bothers my press secretary. Unscripted and off the the the grid sort of remarks. And then I'll I'll move to my formal things. First of all, I want to tell all of you on both sides of the committee, and particularly you and the ranking member, um, how much I watch all these committees very carefully and whether we can get anything done really depends on the relationship between the chairman and the ranking member.
▶ 0:26:01And the two of you have a wonderful relationship and a productive one where you can differ and stay friends and chart to find the areas that in common we can go forward. If we have differences. That's fair enough. Um, and, uh, you know, Mr. chairman and ranking member, as I watching and listening to your opening remarks, I'm looking around the room and people are smiling and laughing. Uh, because that means coming to work in this subcommittee is something they enjoy doing and feel is very valuable.
▶ 0:26:30So that's a, a reflection on both of you and a credit to you. Now, uh, Mr. chairman, anytime I hear you talking, I always think about the appropriations committee. I think, well, you know, we kind of run on three things when we're meeting. We run on cuban coffee. Uh, when we're done with the meetings and we're evaluating what happened, what to do next, we do that over cigars and bourbon.
▶ 0:26:57Uh, and I want to thank you for participating robustly in two of those three. Uh, but it's, uh, it's true. I mean, the committee has to have a culture as well as, uh, just operate by things. And the two of you, uh, you know, help make this a good and productive culture. Second, I remember when you became chairman of this committee, Mr. chairman, and you changed the name.
▶ 0:27:20Uh, I remember thinking, okay, well, you know, swaps has been around a long time, but the change you made, uh, reflected the changes you've made inside this committee. Uh, you know, it has become much sharper and more focused, uh, in terms of working with our friends and frankly, confronting our adversaries. Uh, so that change has been, I think, an important one. And I think it reflects an american first point of view. That doesn't mean america alone.
▶ 0:27:51That doesn't mean america. No, no, but it does mean putting our own interests first and those of our allies and understanding who our friends in the world are and who simply is not our friend and not going to be our friend. But it's certainly going to take advantage of our generosity, uh, when and if they can. And you've reminded us of that. You've also added a focus that we have not had for a long time on the western hemisphere. Uh, and this is our neighborhood.
▶ 0:28:20And honestly, this is the historic home of many of our own people from other parts of this hemisphere. And knowing that their interest in this country, but beyond this country, in their former home is important. It's not our interests are not just eurocentric anymore. Uh, and they're not just the indo pacific because we have a challenge in the indo pacific. Uh, a great power challenge.
▶ 0:28:45It's in our neighborhood with, uh, what's happening in places like cuba and venezuela, uh, and trying to play a constructive role in those areas. So I just want to thank you. I think you've been a genuinely historic chairman of an important subcommittee. We're usually absorbed much more with domestic affairs than we are internationally.
▶ 0:29:06And you shifted the focus to the country, you and the ranking member, uh, you know, in ways that are very, very productive to the interests of the united states. So thank you for that. Now back to the formal remarks. Uh, I want to thank chairman diaz-balart and thank the ranking member. Certainly my good friend, ranking member delora and all the members of the subcommittee for being here this morning.
▶ 0:29:28Our work on today's fiscal year 2027, national security department of state and related programs appropriations bill is a critical step toward further strengthening america's leadership on the world stage while upholding fiscal discipline. This legislation reflects a clear eyed and unapologetic approach to our security and diplomacy efforts. It leaves no doubt that the united states will lead with purpose and strength at home and abroad.
▶ 0:29:58Because america first does not mean america alone. The measure reinforces support for key allies while sharpening our overall focus. And I want to pause there and tell you and the ranking member of the full committee and I have traveled, uh, together in places where the influence of this committee, jordan and egypt and saudi arabia is really felt and really appreciated.
▶ 0:30:28And the changes that the two of you have made in terms of sharing critical allies, that we will be there with them. Uh, you know, it was really reflected in the ranking members I visit, which was on the eve of the election and was meant to project the idea of whatever our domestic differences, we work together in terms of advancing critical interests around the world. You have done that on this subcommittee. Uh, and that's to your credit, and your distinguished staff's credit and your members.
▶ 0:30:56Uh, so again, this reinforces support for our allies. We put american values into action by defending human rights, protecting religious liberty, and maintaining long standing pro-life safeguards. Just as importantly, it cuts off ineffective and misaligned programs, uh, investing only in high impact missions that strengthen our security, economy and global standing.
▶ 0:31:21Freedom and democracy are not just ideals, they are priorities we actively defend through this legislation. Chairman diaz-balart has proven that when we move away from unfocused spending and toward targeted strategy, american leadership is stronger and more effective. So I want to thank him. I want to thank his distinguished ranking member, uh, and the majority and minority staff for their work on this bill. It's an exceptional piece of work, and I look forward to its consideration. With that. Mr. chairman, I yield back. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:31:51Um, look, so many people in the press and others were saying that the fy 26 bills were never going to get done. And it it was because of the leadership of of Mr. cole and the distinguished ranking member who I'm going to recognize. Now, I've I've said that to both. >> of you. I've been very kind privately. >> and I will again say it publicly. So, uh, it's just a privilege to recognize the distinguished ranking member of the full committee, Mr. laurel, for her statement. >> thank you very, very much, Mr. chairman, and I thank you.
▶ 0:32:22And ranking member franco, uh, and the chair of the full committee, Mr. cole, who indeed is a, is a good friend. And, uh, it was a great trip. And I note in this, in this bill that there would, in regional efforts and applaud what we're doing with regard, as I say, that particularly to jordan, which is a very fragile economy. And we have, uh, maintained our commitment, uh, to, uh, to, to jordan and I, and I applaud, uh, I applaud you all for that.
▶ 0:32:50Uh, let me also say a thank you to the subcommittee staff. Aaron etzkorn, lori mignon on the minority side and counterparts on the majority. Uh, thank you all for your very, very hard work. Um, I will be nothing but frank about my views of the bill. I think you know what you anticipate. Um, this bill continues the trump administration's my view, abdication of american global leadership.
▶ 0:33:18It cuts humanitarian assistance, it slashes global health programs, it reneges on our commitments to our partners and as surrenders our global influence, uh, to our adversaries. Since he took office, president trump has stumbled from one self-created international crisis to another.
▶ 0:33:36He dismantled much of our foreign policy and development infrastructure, leaving partners scrambling and our diplomats already stretched too thin, struggling to explain why the united states would abandon its commitments. He began a trade war with our closest allies, raising prices for american consumers and isolating us on an international stage.
▶ 0:34:02I would just say that the president has made enemies out of our good friends and our allies. He dismantled usaid, severing lifelines of food and medical aid around the world and leading to a catastrophic death toll around the world. That's where my colleague, the ranking member of the subcommittee talks about soft power. When you go abroad, we all of you have.
▶ 0:34:28And, you know, being, uh, in, uh, in israel and going to some of the, uh. Palestinian, uh, areas and you see a bag of flour that says usaid, it now the letters are going to be in chinese or it's going to be from the soviet union, uh, from russia.
▶ 0:34:55There's no longer a soviet union, but soft power is, is what connects us with the rest of the world. He openly threatened to invade greenland, a threat which our closest nato allies took so seriously that they made physical preparations to defend against a us military operation.
▶ 0:35:17He has made a policy of extrajudicial killings in the caribbean and pacific, blowing up fishing boats and then accusing the people he killed of smuggling drugs while presenting no evidence. And he started a war with iran. It's a war of choice and not necessity, that has sent gas prices skyrocketing by 40% and has no discernible objective, no strategic vision and no end in sight.
▶ 0:35:45The trump doctrine is failure followed by failure, alienating our allies while aiding our adversaries. This bill continues that pattern. This bill does not provide any funding for the un regular budget, abandoning one of the longest standing institutions devoted to global peace. Uh, a number of members on this committee went to new york, to the un and met with the ambassador not that long ago.
▶ 0:36:14The ambassador told us of how important us participation is to the success of the un and the mission of the un, and we have abandoned that. And I'll just point out unicef, my god, unicef, it's about the millions and millions of children around the world that, in fact, we will abandon. Undermining the un only erodes our global influence.
▶ 0:36:41It also shortchanges american businesses who receive upwards of $2.1 billion in un contracts, which is more than our dues. I just have to, uh, reinforce what the ranking member said about the gavi vaccine alliance. We appropriated $600 million. And what's happened there, for your knowledge, is that where this is a state foreign operations issue?
▶ 0:37:10It has been punted over to hhs under the jurisdiction of robert kennedy junior, who is an anti-vaxxer. So the money is being held up to provide vaccines to, again, millions, millions of children around the world. And hhs has no jurisdiction over this.
▶ 0:37:40And for this subcommittee, we ought to reclaim that jurisdiction and appropriate that money in the way that republicans and democrats said that it should be spent. This bill cuts funding for global health programs, particularly in the areas of reproductive health, global health security, making us more vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks that originate abroad. Pandemics do not respect international borders. It is in our best interest to prevent contain them before they reach our shores.
▶ 0:38:09But these cuts impede our ability to be able to do that. The bill threatens women's health around the globe, blocking any funds from going to the un population fund. Unfpa is dedicated to reducing maternal mortality, including working to eliminate obstetric fistula, an issue I care deeply about.
▶ 0:38:31Um, uh, preventing gender based violence, extending family planning to women and girls everywhere by failing to provide any funding for unfpa, the conditions under which millions of women around the world live will only become worse. And eliminating this funding is a moral failure. The bill also eliminates all funding for the us institute for peace, the inter-american foundation, and the us african development foundation.
▶ 0:39:01Each of these programs strengthen our influence abroad, enable us to prevent crises before they arise, and build relationships with the next generation of global leaders. Taken together, the cuts in this bill surrender a great deal of global influence to our adversaries.
▶ 0:39:20For every step backwards we take on a world stage, they take a step forward, continually defunding the institutions that support america's international presence will have serious and lasting consequences. In little more than a year, the trump administration has squandered decades of american global influence. This bill hinders our ability to reclaim any of it for years to come.
▶ 0:39:44It is remarkable the distance between how much we are willing to devote to war, and how little we can spare for peace. I encourage my colleagues to oppose this bill. Work with democrats. Let's craft a funding bill that strengthens american international leadership, not weakens it. Thank you. And I yield back. >> I thank the distinguished ranking member. Any other members wish to make opening remarks. Um, Mr.
▶ 0:40:13Quigley, actually, miss meng, I'm sorry. Let me recognize miss ming first. You're recognized. >> thank you. Chair diaz-balart and ranking member franco. Uh, my constituents in queens are facing an affordability crisis.
▶ 0:40:33Instead of addressing it, the president cut taxes for billionaires and is now proposing we spend $1.5 trillion on our military budget, paid for with cuts to health care and food assistance programs that help working americans. He even said the other day, quote, it's not possible for us to take care of daycare, medicaid, medicare, all these individual things. We have to take care of one thing military protection. Mr.
▶ 0:41:03Chairman, I don't think we need a $1.5 trillion military budget. I certainly don't think we should be cutting health care, food assistance and our national security budget to pay for it. In fact, it may shock my constituents to learn that, according to estimates, we have likely spent more on the iran war over 40 days than this bill proposes that we spend on programs that prevent war over the course of a whole year.
▶ 0:41:32This bill proposes a 6% cut to our national security budget, further cementing america's retreat from the world while ceding ground to our adversaries and threatening our national security. It would also rescind an additional $1 billion in life saving humanitarian aid. According to estimates.
▶ 0:41:53Existing aid cuts, including the destruction of usaid, have already led to more than 760,000 preventable deaths and are projected to cause up to 23 million preventable deaths by 2030. After this administration's attacks on birth control. This bill would further harm the world's women and girls by cutting life saving international family planning programs.
▶ 0:42:19I'm also deeply troubled that this bill further entrenches the administration's new expanded global gag rules, which treat women, minority communities and lgbtq, plus communities like america's enemies. These communities look to america as a beacon for freedom and human rights, while our worst adversaries target and repress them. We should not do their bidding.
▶ 0:42:46We can't cut programs that keep people healthy, safe, and fed to prioritize a military budget that has already received record funding. For these reasons and others, I cannot support this bill as written. I hope we will work to improve it through the markup process. Thank you and I yield back. >> thank you so much. Any other member wish to make opening remarks? Okay, miss torres? >> uh, thank you. Chairman.
▶ 0:43:16Uh, in this subcommittee, we have always known that america alone is not america first. But we see in president trump's budget money for war, but not for peace. And I see in our bill a choice to put isolation over influence and chaos over the rule of law. We have a war spiraling out of control with no end in sight.
▶ 0:43:42And in this subcommittee, we have an opportunity to fund peace. It is an opportunity to fund partnerships, an opportunity to fund economic growth and safety that will help america for a generation. But the bill before us fails to fund key international commitments, including the un general budget.
▶ 0:44:08If we don't pay our dues, if we don't take our seat at the table and demand it, the global conversation goes without us. This is what the un ambassador told us. We open the door and surrender our influence to china and russia at international organizations. That's not strength. That's a surrender.
▶ 0:44:32This bill fails to put the us institute for peace, a self-explanatory name as a priority. As someone who has spent a career fighting for accountability in the northern triangle, I am disappointed by the strategic blindness in. In this text, this bill completely defunds the international. The inter-american foundation.
▶ 0:45:00We should be talking about results, not rhetoric in el salvador, guatemala, honduras and mexico. The iaf guarantees grantees successfully reduce youth participation in narco trafficking, criminal activity, and migration.
▶ 0:45:19One program alone successfully reduced criminal activity among participants by 90%, a proven, cost effective defense against the the migration and crime we claim to want to stop eradicating the programs that reduce narco trafficking. While this administration pardons, pardons, and releases convicted narco traffickers.
▶ 0:45:41And former president of honduras juan orlando hernandez, convicted, by the way, by a jury of americans, is a complete slap in the face to our constituents who've lost loved ones, to addiction. To my colleagues across the aisle, american businesses are coming to us behind closed doors because they're terrified.
▶ 0:46:04They cannot invest in a hemisphere where the rule of law is a suggestion and where an attorney general can weaponize a personal vendetta into a criminal trial, as is the case in guatemala. The bill says it focuses on latin america, but I find the latin america section deeply disappointing.
▶ 0:46:29We need a bill that fights corruption, upholds the rule of law, and includes in the bill text important limits on funds to ensure that we are not turning over taxpayer dollars to corrupt individuals, and that provisions that were once bipartisan in championed by senator rubio. This is what he worked on and that I worked on with him.
▶ 0:46:54Without these safeguards, we are essentially asking american taxpayers to write a blank check to corrupt autocrats who view our foreign aid as a personal slush fund chairman. This bill abandons the values that we've spent decades building in a bipartisan way provisions that were standard last year, provisions that should endure regardless of who holds power.
▶ 0:47:25We have been they have been stripped, stripped out without justification. It leaves our embassies understaffed, our partners abandoned, and our borders more vulnerable by gutting the programs that address the root causes of instability. I can't support the bill that compromises our national security and our moral standing. And I oppose this measure, and I yield back. >> thank you so very much.
▶ 0:47:54Anybody else, uh, would like to be recognized, Mr. quigley? You're recognized, sir. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. I know most of you, uh, traveled with many of you. Mr. edwards and I traveled to ukraine in the most enlightening, uh, trip. Mr. chairman, you and I have been to poland, to the islands. Dominican, uh, across the world. I'm starting to think that we are witnessing the same things, but we're seeing something different. Uh, we all grew up with the notion of, uh.
▶ 0:48:22I'll believe it when I see it. I'm starting to think it's it's now I'll see it when I, when I believe it, uh, that we react so differently to what's happening here. It's almost frightening.
▶ 0:48:38Um, so I think the sense of isolationism, uh, the cooling and withdrawal from nato, the issues with usaid, which have already been pointed out, terrifying our friends, canadian tourism to the united states has just plummeted in chicago and everywhere. It's if we can't get along with canada, who who are we going to get along with?
▶ 0:49:03Um, and I'm sure the people of ukraine don't feel particularly warm and fuzzy with us. So. Maybe it's time to look back at someone who had the greatest perspective of understanding our place in the world when it mattered most. In my favorite presidential speeches were always the shortest ones, right? Lincoln at gettysburg. Who remembers who edward everett was because he spoke for two hours there.
▶ 0:49:30But fdr's last inaugural was at the white house, at the south portico, and he only spoke for six minutes, 556 words. But I think he captured the essence of this moment as well as he captured the essence of that time and all he had been through with the isolationist.
▶ 0:49:50He reminded us that we have learned that we can't live alone at peace, and that our own well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations. Far away. We must live as men, not ostriches, and that we have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community. And finally, he quoted emerson by saying, the only way to have a friend is to be one. I'm not sure we have many friends.
▶ 0:50:23Having served on the intel committee for nine years now, I will tell you, the smallest countries in the world are invaluable to us. And that synergy, that relationship is so important, while seemingly unimportant, when we think of, well, we're going to prioritize each of these dollars. We remind. Remember what secretary mattis said if you cut the state department, you better buy me more bullets. I don't think we can buy enough bullets to keep ourselves safe.
▶ 0:50:49If we are indeed ostriches in the world. Thank you. >> I want to thank the gentleman. Anyone else have an opening statement? Uh, seeing nobody else, uh, also seeing no amendments, um, at this time, then I would recognize the distinguished vice chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. edwards, for the purpose of making a motion. Thank you, Mr. chair. I move the bill be favorably reported to the full committee. The question is on the motion.
▶ 0:51:21Uh, those in favor will signify by saying I, I those opposed? No, no, uh, the ayes have it recorded vote has been, uh, has been requested. Uh, all those in favor, please raise your hand for the recording vote. Raise your hand for a recorded vote. Thank you. Uh, sufficient number of sufficient number of hands. Uh, the clerk will record. A vote has been ordered. The clerk will call the roll.
▶ 0:51:54>> Mr. alford. Mr. alford, I Mr. cisco. Mr. I Mr. diaz-balart. I Mr. diaz-balart, I. Mr. edwards. Mr. edwards, I miss. Fraenkel. No, miss fraenkel, no. Miss letlow. Miss letlow I miss meng. No miss meng, no. Mr. mulliner, Mr. mulliner I. Mr. quigley. Mr. quigley. No. Mr. taylor. Mr.
▶ 0:52:26Rosenthaler, I miss. Torres. No. Miss. Torres, no. Mr. cole. Mr. cole, I miss delauro. No. Mr. miss delauro. No. >> does any member wish to record the vote? Does not. Or change their vote. Uh, the clerk will tally. On this vote. The yeas are eight. The nos are five.
▶ 0:52:56The bill is favorably reported to full committee. I ask unanimous consent that the staff be permitted to make technical and conforming changes to the bill and report, uh, without objection. So ordered copies of the bill and the report. Excuse me. Copies of the bill and report with technical and conforming changes will be delivered to all full committee members as offices, no later than three business days before the full committee. Uh, with that, thank everyone very much. And that concludes today's markup.
▶ 0:53:25Thank you so much. The committee now stands adjourned. >> thank you.
▶ 1:10:06It will come to order. I want to welcome everyone to the subcommittee markup of the fy 27 agriculture, rural development, food and drug administration, and related agencies appropriations bill. I'm pleased to be joined by our subcommittee ranking member, Mr. bishop, full committee chairman cole, ranking member delauro, and members of the subcommittee.
▶ 1:10:23For fiscal year 27, the subcommittee's discretionary allocation for the usda, the fda and the commodity futures trading commission is 26.27 billion 380 million, or 1.4% decrease from fiscal year 26 enacted level. This bill is below enacted spending levels, even though it includes funding for the cftc, which was funded via the financial services and general government bill last fiscal year.
▶ 1:10:50In a setting of $2 trillion deficits, these modest spending reductions are necessary. In fact, spending is our problem, not revenue. Cbo projects. Once again, federal revenue to increase in fy 26. This legislation reflects a clear conservative commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring that america's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities remain a top priority and that all americans have access to a safe food and drug supply.
▶ 1:11:19This legislation builds on the successful efforts of the trump administration to root out fraud, waste and abuse, shrink the federal bureaucracy, and make usda programs more farmer friendly. It sets usda on a responsible and sustainable spending path that will make both the department and our nation stronger. Under president trump and secretary rollins leadership, every taxpayer dollar will be spent in the pursuit of putting all american farmers and ranchers first.
▶ 1:11:49I'd like to highlight a few areas where this legislation supports the administration's efforts to refocus the department on its core mission by prioritizing essential functions in a fiscally responsible manner. The bill provides 1.16 billion for the animal and plant health inspection service, aphis, to support the department's efforts to protect our producers from high path avian influenza. New world screwworm and other foreign, plant and animal diseases.
▶ 1:12:16The legislation continues to invest in the delivery of farm programs, disaster assistance, and crop insurance to farmers by prioritizing funding for farmer facing functions. Following the budget request, the bill moves 50 million of farm service agency it funds from fsa to the office of the chief information officer to continue to invest in and implement usda's one farmer one file initiative.
▶ 1:12:43After accounting for this transfer of funds, the bill increases overall funding for fsa staff, including for county office staff. The bill provides $8 billion for wick, 4% higher than last year's mark, and allows wick participants to purchase fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits and vegetables, making all affordable options available.
▶ 1:13:06The bill provides important investments in critical agricultural research that will keep our producers on the cutting edge of technology and production practices. We maintain funding for usda's flagship competitive grant program, the agriculture and food research initiative, and protect capacity funding for our land grant universities to ensure our farmers and ag workforce remains competitive with china.
▶ 1:13:31This legislation continues to fund vital rural development programs, including critical infrastructure, investments in water and wastewater systems and housing programs, as well as increasing the loan authority for the business and industry and rural electric programs due to increased demand for the fda.
▶ 1:13:53The bill provides 3.36 billion in direct appropriations and with increased user fees, fda has a total budget of 7.1 billion to enable the agency to keep food, drugs and medical devices safe and effective, as well as advancing the make america healthy again initiatives highlighted in the president's budget. I appreciate the productive conversations ranking member bishop and I have had on this bill.
▶ 1:14:17I believe credible evaluation of this legislation will conclude that it balances the funding needs of the usda, fda, and cftc while being responsible stewards of our constituents hard earned tax dollars. As Mr. bishop has said, this is a good faith effort to meet the moment and there are critical things that warrant support. We want to keep working with the minority as we move towards full committee markup next week.
▶ 1:14:41Finally, I want to thank the staff on the subcommittee and would note that the subcommittee received approximately 10,000 member requests touching every agency under our jurisdiction. We've attempted to address both republican and democrat member requests within the available budget through community project funding, programmatic funding, and bill and report language. I look forward to working with all of you as the bill moves forward, and I ask for your support for this legislation.
▶ 1:15:10Now, I'll recognize the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. bishop, for his opening remarks. >> good morning, and thank you, doctor harris. Before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the life of our colleague and my friend of long standing, my agriculture comrade in arms, former house agriculture committee chairman and faithful member of our georgia delegation, representative david scott, who passed away on
▶ 1:15:41Yesterday. His unwavering commitment to public service and tireless work to improve rural communities. 1890 land grant universities and agriculture at large is greatly appreciated by the committee and by people all across the country. I will miss him dearly and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and his staff. And Mr.
▶ 1:16:02Chairman, if I would like to ask if we could have a moment of silence in out of respect for representative scott. Thank you. Will miss him and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and with the staff.
▶ 1:16:29The agriculture, rural development fda related agencies bill is of vital importance to farmers and rural communities across the nation. It also provides the resources that are necessary for america's food and drug safety. It affects every single american, every single day.
▶ 1:16:51Today, we gather to mark up the fy 2027 bill, a bill that is not as robust or constructive as I would prefer, but nonetheless a good faith effort to meet the needs of agricultural producers and our rural neighbors. Our subcommittee staff has worked under an unusually short time frame. Given the very recent budget requests from the president.
▶ 1:17:15And so I do want to take a moment to acknowledge martha foley, pam miller, alex swan, marie walter and all of the work that has gone into last week's hearing and into this bill as well. I'd also like to thank my personal staff, tanisha bouma and hayk, for their untiring efforts.
▶ 1:17:35I'm pleased, doctor harris, that this bill largely rejects the disastrous cuts and in some cases, program eliminations put forth by the administration in the usda budget request. The bill does continue 2026 funding levels for all rural housing programs, and maintains funding for low income seniors in the commodity food supplemental program, and it serves our strategic interests around the world by keeping food for peace.
▶ 1:18:06In mcgovern, mcgovern-dole programs intact. The bill also provides sufficient funding for our school meals and flexibility for rural electric programing. Is the bill perfect? Absolutely not. The fy 2027 bill before us today drastically cuts fruit and vegetable benefits for over 5 million hungry women, infants and children, and it reduces funding for emergency food assistance.
▶ 1:18:35It eliminates the healthy food financing initiative, and it fails to help school districts with the equipment needed to cook real food. I'm happy to work with doctor harris to make america healthy again by bringing these programs back. This bill also cuts staff at the agencies that our farmers rely on most the farm service agency, rural development and nrc's.
▶ 1:19:01During a period of economic crisis in farm country. Water and wastewater grants are cut nearly in half for the smallest and poorest rural communities, which makes no sense. We still have rural neighbors living with clay pipes and without access to sewer service. Trust me, they're in my district. And yours too.
▶ 1:19:26Clean water and working wastewater systems are basic human need, not a privilege. This critical infrastructure is a quality of life issue. My colleagues across the aisle seem obsessed with the border in november 2024, but will not provide the basic utilities that texas border residents. American citizens need.
▶ 1:19:49Colonias often lack running water, have substandard housing, and rely on failing septic tanks. Yet this bill cuts water and wastewater funding to these neighborhoods, as well as alaska and hawaii residents. Unfortunately, rural broadband is cut by 20%. Rural business development is cut by almost 30%, and rural energy programs are cut by 50%.
▶ 1:20:16Rural america needs help now more than ever, and I hope that we can improve this bill as the appropriations process continues. I'm also disappointed that the majority is once again offering caustic writers that have nothing to do with how our ag producers keep this country fed and clothed with the highest quality, the most abundant, uh, the most affordable food and fiber in the world.
▶ 1:20:44In fact, these writers simply take the focus away from agriculture and distract us from the real issues. Overall, I appreciate your solid effort, doctor harris, to work diligently and collaboratively on this bill, and I look forward to our further conversations and discussion. And with that, I yield back. >> thank you very much.
▶ 1:21:09And I'll just note it's, uh, it's great that a physician and a lawyer work together because. Uh, thank you, Mr. bishop. Now turn to the distinguished chairman of the committee, Mr. cole, for any remarks he may have. >> thank you very much, Mr. chairman, and thank you, ranking member bishop, and certainly my good friend, ranking member delora.
▶ 1:21:31And to all the members here today, uh, our subcommittee markups continue this morning with fiscal year 2027 agriculture, rural development, food and drug administration and related agencies bill. We all recognize a simple truth when american agriculture is strong, america is strong. This bill delivers on that. It supports farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, and invests in research to keep the U.S. competitive. The measure also includes important action to protect us enterprise.
▶ 1:22:03I'm particularly pleased with the steps taken to bolster national security by addressing foreign influence in agricultural transactions and improving oversight of overseas drug manufacturing. The health and well-being of americans remains central to this measure. We strengthen rural development, protect access to nutrition programs, and reinforce the integrity of critical food and medical supply chains.
▶ 1:22:26And just as importantly, this bill restores focus and accountability by cutting wasteful programs, eliminating vital biden era regulations, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly and with purpose. This measure puts american producers, consumers, and communities first and supports a strong agricultural economy, protects public health and reinforces long term prosperity.
▶ 1:22:53I thank chairman harris for his leadership in crafting this bill, and I appreciate the partnership of ranking member bishop as well. And certainly I'm very grateful for the hard work of the majority and minority staff. I look forward to advancing this bill out of subcommittee. And with that, Mr. chairman, I yield back. >> thank you, Mr. cole. I'll now recognize the ranking member of the full committee, miss delauro, for any remarks she may have. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Thank you, ranking member bishop.
▶ 1:23:22Uh, and my friend, uh, chairman cole, uh, if I could just associate myself with the comments of the ranking member, um, on the loss of our wonderful colleague, congressman david scott.
▶ 1:23:35I had the opportunity to work with david, um, on farm bills over the years, and I served as the chair of the agriculture subcommittee and, uh, was a really a pleasure to work with someone deeply, deeply committed to rural communities and to the farm community in this in this nation. So in fond memory of our friendship.
▶ 1:23:57Um, I also want to say a thank you to the subcommittee staff, to martha foley, marie gualtieri and alex swan and the minority side and the counterparts of the majority as well, uh, for the unbelievable hard work that, um, these folks provide to, to all of us. Um, I oppose the bill that is before the subcommittee today.
▶ 1:24:18It would raise costs on american farmers and working families while cutting off crucial support for rural communities across the country. This bill makes substantial cuts to food vouchers specifically for women, children and infants, nearly 7 million of whom received assistance through this program in 2025. These are families with small children who are doing their best to make ends meet as a cost of groceries go up with no end in sight.
▶ 1:24:47This food voucher program offers relief to those who struggle today to put food on the table, and we know that people are struggling to put food on the table. The program also supports the farmers and grocers who grow and sell their fruits and vegetables that these families can buy with their vouchers. Cutting back on this assistance will have a cascading economic impact that leaves everyone worse off.
▶ 1:25:11The bill cuts the food for peace program by $300 million, a 25% cut compared to 2026. It denies hungry children around the globe access the assistance they desperately need, but it deprives our farmers of the additional revenue that they earn when they grow food to support the program.
▶ 1:25:36And I would just say, if you don't want to consider the hungry children around the world, I would hope you would care about what happens to us farmers and, um, that you want to make sure that they are, um, justly being able to, uh, scratch out a living. This bill cuts grant funding for waste and water development programs in rural communities. More than 2.2 million americans do not have access to basic plumbing and running water in their homes.
▶ 1:26:07And this problem is more pronounced in rural communities. The point of these grants is to help address that issue. Instead, the bill slashes funding for these efforts by $62 million, leaving more and more americans without access to the basic necessities of life. We should all expect in the united states. The bill also eliminates the rural utility services. Their high energy cost grants.
▶ 1:26:30The bill cuts loans under the rural energy for america program by 50%, while eliminating all grant funding. This program was created to help bring down energy costs for farmers, small businesses and rural communities. More than 25,000 projects have been funded through this program, helping people across all 50 states reduce their energy costs, and over two thirds of grants have gone to republican led districts.
▶ 1:26:59Yet the republican bill we are considering today decimates the program, raising energy costs for their own constituents all across the country. The bill does nothing to further protect our infants and better ensure infant formula safety. Even in the wake of the by heart botulism outbreak that surprised regulators and scared parents over the last few months.
▶ 1:27:20This bill leaves behind specialty crop specialty crops, family and small farmers while doing nothing to tackle the big agribusinesses that terrorize our farm economy and increase costs for the american consumer. Lastly, this bill includes a variety of divisive policy writers.
▶ 1:27:39It eliminates protections for small meat and poultry producers, a gift to their larger corporate competitors, and it retreads partizan culture war provisions that have been stripped out of previous ag fda bills, which discriminate against same sex couples. In its current form, this bill raises costs for american farmers, takes food away from hungry families, cuts off support for rural communities and loudly bangs the divisive culture war drums.
▶ 1:28:09Once again, I encourage my colleagues to oppose this legislation and work with democrats to fix the many serious problems it contains. As a footnote, I would just say, and I say this to you, Mr. chairman, you made the point in your opening that we have a spending problem versus a revenue problem. If you take a look at the new itep report that shows 88 of our biggest industries pay zero taxes to the united states, we're talking about some $861 billion.
▶ 1:28:41I submit to you that if we track that down and we provided that kind of enforcement, we would indeed have the funding to deal with some of these, uh, programs that now have been eliminated. In fact, as you've heard me say before, we have a revenue problem and not a spending problem. Thank you. And I yield back. >> thank you, miss laura. At this time, does any member of the subcommittee wish to be recognized for opening remarks?
▶ 1:29:13Do any members wish to be recognized for amendments? Seeing no amendments, I'd like to recognize Mr. franklin, vice chairman of the subcommittee, for the purpose of making a motion. >> thank you. Chairman. I move the bill be favorably reported. The full committee. >> question is on the motion. All those in favor say I, I those opposed? No. No opinion of the chair. The ayes have it. >> Mr. chairman. A recorded vote. >> recorded vote has been requested.
▶ 1:29:41All those in favor of recorded vote, raise your hand a sufficient number and support. A recorded vote is ordered. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. aderholt, Mr. aderholt, I. Mr. bishop, Mr. bishop no. Mr. klein, Mr. klein, I. Mr. cole. Mr. cole, I miss. Delauro. >> no. >> miss. Delauro. No. Mr. franklin. Mr. franklin, I miss gluesenkamp perez. Miss gluesenkamp. Perez. No. Doctor harris.
▶ 1:30:11Doctor harris, I miss henson. Miss henson, I miss kaptur. No miss kaptur. No. Miss letlow. Miss letlow, I. Mr. molenaar, Mr. molenaar, I. Mr. newhouse. Mr. newhouse, I miss. Pingree. No. Miss pingree, no. Miss underwood, miss. Underwood. No. Mr. valadao. Mr. valadao, I miss wasserman schultz, miss wasserman schultz.
▶ 1:30:42No. >> any member wish to record their vote or change their vote. >> your mic on. >>? The clerk will tally. Ten votes being I, seven votes being nay.
▶ 1:31:10The ayes have it and the subcommittee mark is passed. I ask unanimous consent that the staff be permitted to make technical and conforming changes to the bill and report. Without objection, so ordered copies of the bill and report with the technical and conforming changes will be delivered to all full committee members office no later than three business days before the full committee markup, which I think means it has to be delivered tomorrow. Thank you.
▶ 1:31:39The committee now stands adjourned.