▶ 0:26:54Chair Risch: The foreign relations committee of the united states senate will come to order. We have a hearing this morning on four the president's nominees and we welcome you and your families and we welcome everyone who has come to listen. Glad to have you here. The way this will work as I will make an opening statement and yield to the distinguished ranking member thune do likewise.
▶ 0:27:20Chair Risch: After that, we will hear from each of the nominees and I asked that you keep the remarks to five minutes and if -- and then we will opening up -- open it up to a round of questions. With that, thank you, to all of you and your families and the families play an important role. We all know that and their support is obviously important to everyone. So, let us starts.
▶ 0:27:53Chair Risch: Your job is an important job, for criminal organizations on the money laundering and trafficking that they commit close threats to our communities and undermine international security. You have a real opportunity to help our foreign partners dismantle these groups and I am grateful that president trump is redoubling efforts including his recent actions in the caribbean and any cooperation. Excuse me.
▶ 0:28:23Chair Risch: Which will significantly improve the success of these measures. I hope to hear how you will ensure the bureau plays an active role in strengthening cooperation with our allies. [coughing] something. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the U.S.
▶ 0:28:47Chair Risch: And vietnam and our economic and diplomatic relations only continue to grow, most notably with president trump's most recent trade agreement, and even as the relationship grows, vietnam has strengthened its relationship with china and russia. Vietnam's defense and energy cooperation with russia is particularly trout -- troubling which -- because it funds a war machine in ukraine.
▶ 0:29:14Chair Risch: I'm and look -- I am looking forward to your thoughts and the boost to diplomacy in vietnam and you should know that this committee has passed a large number of nominees this year and I want to thank you for your work to make that possible. As ambassador at large for counterterrorism you will be protecting americans from terror groups who look to harm us and other innocent communities.
▶ 0:29:40Chair Risch: Sadly the previous administration's failed afghanistan withdrawing open borders put americans at risk. The tragic november attack in D.C. was a reminder that afghanistan serves as a terror haven to groups and inspiration to individuals who wish to harm americans. You must do everything we can to prevent problems. We shouldn't -- ensure that terrorists do not get a hold of american dollars and that is why we have tried to passed a no tax dollars for terror act.
▶ 0:30:15Chair Risch: Afghanistan is not the only source of radical islamic cleric is him. Al qaeda and isis run rampant in the who these -- houthis around the red sea and syria and iraq remain difficult. I look forward to hearing your plans for bolstering america's counterterrorism capabilities. Since sri lanka's crisis, the government has made process and reaffirms.
▶ 0:30:44Chair Risch: If it continues down the path the country will be well-positioned for U.S. private sector investment and enhance diplomatic relations. Like vietnam they have pursued ties with china. As it seeks to draw foreign investment, china's influence over critical infrastructure and energy sectors is concerning. I understand that sri lanka is learning their lesson.
▶ 0:31:08Chair Risch: I hear that they are interested in finally breaking free of china and I look forward to hearing your goals for this if confirmed and where you plan to push back against the influence in sectors that undermine a free and open indo pacific. With that thank you to all of the nominees and your family is and I will now turn it over to the distinguished ranking member, who does better than I will.
▶ 0:31:31Sen. Shaheen: My voice might be a little bit better. Thank you and good morning to our nominees and thank you for your willingness to serve and welcome to your families and supporters. Mr. chairman, I want to begin what we have members of the committee by expressing my concerns about those on social media targeting staffers of this committee for work in ways that are not even accurate.
▶ 0:32:02Sen. Shaheen: I hope that we will all push back against efforts to target anybody who is working for this committee. It is one thing to target us, we are public figures, but to target staffers in ways that are detrimental hurts the committee and our operations and is not acceptable. Given the environment of political violence we are in, I think it is troubling. I hope that everyone will push back against those kinds of remarks on social media.
▶ 0:32:31Chair Risch: I agree with that. We are bigger targets so you think they would want to go to us. We can take it.
▶ 0:32:41Sen. Shaheen: Thank you. I am pleased that we have three career diplomats before us today. However of the 91 nominees that we have processed, only 10 have been career nominees and yet we have 85 posts with absent or confirmed investors and we are seeing natural disasters and political instability grow around the world.
▶ 0:33:05Sen. Shaheen: It is not in any american's interest to leave our embassies without the appropriate leadership so we need to do better. One of those vital posts is the bureau of international and -- narcotics and law enforcement. They helped dismantle fentanyl labs and strengthen foreign courts to keep violent criminals from fleeing to the united states and disrupt monetary laundering pipelines that threatened -- that help gangs.
▶ 0:33:35Sen. Shaheen: I imagine that you would agree that these efforts are all in our national interest. And yet the administration has fired 40 employees at the bureau, cut more than 200 program and wants to slash the budget by 83%. If confirmed, how would you continue to protect americans with such drastic cuts to the department?
▶ 0:33:58Sen. Shaheen: And, I have the same concerns about the efforts that fall under the post that you are nominated for, the counterterrorism coordinator. I am pleased that we are considering a career public servant with a long track record. Among other responsibilities the coordinator's work includes training foreign partners to stop isis and al qaeda recruiting networks.
▶ 0:34:26Sen. Shaheen: Cutting terrorist financing pipelines that try to enter the U.S. financial systems and tracking terrorist plots overseas before they target americans at home. Given that the administration cut the bureau by more than half in its organization, if confirmed I want to hear how you will make up for those cuts. China's influence is a major challenge in our mission in vietnam. The post you have been nominated for.
▶ 0:34:53Sen. Shaheen: I hope you will speak about how his confirmed he will work to expand semi conductor supply chains to reduce american dependence on china, and how you would counter beijing's maritime coercion that threaten the shipping. And if confirmed as ambassador to sri lanka, how will you support disaster relief efforts in the wake of the recent cyclone given the recent dismantling of usaid.
▶ 0:35:21Sen. Shaheen: Our retreat from humanitarian and basic relief efforts not only leads to serious human consequences around the world like creates a vacuum that china and others are not only eager to fail but have already begun to fail. On a related note, as you know I am concerned about the inability to deliver timely food and nutrition assistance globally.
▶ 0:35:44Sen. Shaheen: Congress has set expectations in the food for peace act and annual appropriations bills that sustain life saving food assistance. But 14 of the 16 programs have been caught, and this gap has real strategic and political consequences, not just around the world but are farmers at home. Because food insecurity drives migration and conflict. These are serious challenges and I hope we can address them on a bipartisan basis.
▶ 0:36:12Sen. Shaheen: I look forward for hearing -- to hearing from our witnesses today.
▶ 0:36:15Chair Risch: Thank you very much. Let us hear from our witnesses. If you could keep it to about five minutes and include anything you would like in the record. So, let us start with you. Senator cornyn wanted to introduce you and when he gets here we will let him introduce you. In the meantime, why don't you take it?
▶ 0:36:36Mr. Weiland: I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member for holding for this hearing. I will stick to one idea that the republicans and democrats agree on, brevity. I would also like to thank president trump and secretary rubio for entrusting me with his nomination. I would not be here without those mentors and role models that instilled in me from an early age a strong sense of civic obligation.
▶ 0:37:03Mr. Weiland: Those are people first and foremost like my parents, my mom and dad. But, the mentors also include people like senators john cornyn and lamar alexander, ambassador marianne blendon, and the monks and lay factory at the cistercian prep school in irving, texas. I would like to thank my wife, my aunts, uncles, and my young children, who are in the audience.
▶ 0:37:31Mr. Weiland: My kids are a good segue, because when I think about the job I have been nominated for, I try to keep young people in mind. Inside the bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, my colleagues see two troubling patterns. First, adolescents abroad recruited by criminal games -- gangs online that become adept at using weapons like machetes and m-16s that help sell and move illicit drugs.
▶ 0:38:03Mr. Weiland: Second, americans in the same age bracket, teenagers in D.C., dallas and detroit, they ingest substances smuggled across the southern border and the pills or powders slow down their heart rates until they take their last breath. Our job is to disrupt criminal enterprises driving both trends.
▶ 0:38:26Mr. Weiland: The bureau assist police forces, border guards, coe's guards and national guards, so you can say it is in the business of guarding. The most important thing it guards is U.S. national security. If confirmed my mission would be to execute the president and secretary rubio's vision of prosperity to americans, meaning degrading the capabilities and dismantling the structures of narco terrorists groups pushing poison into the united states and stemming the flow of
▶ 0:38:57Mr. Weiland: Fentanyl and other deadly substances that are fellow citizens are dying from. It means maintaining america's strategic advantage in the law enforcement space so that our adversaries and competitors do not make inroads in places pivotal to our future. This is personal to me. After college I moved to mexico where I saw what the absence of a durable rule of law looks like. The country as a paradise, its natural beauty, culture, and warmth of its people.
▶ 0:39:26Mr. Weiland: But when my -- but when a friend of mine bribe a police officer, the united states and its criminal justice system for all of its challenges suddenly seemed far away. Back in taxes, people were dying. Two guys I played high school football with gone, their lives vanquished by drugs that they might not have known they were taking.
▶ 0:39:48Mr. Weiland: I started to see that not only has a tragedy but an injustice, the fact that the cartels pay no price and they profit off american customers' weakness, confuse and ignorance and that they collude with chinese chemical brokers whose government fames blamelessness and drug traffickers lost their -- launch their products and illegally cross a border into a country not their own with the explicit purpose of harming our fellow american citizens.
▶ 0:40:17Mr. Weiland: That righteous indignation that says enough is enough is what motivates me. It is encouraging to say that in certain respects that the guys are winning. Overdose deaths have fallen which is a credit not only to congress but also the executive branch, officials, state, and local authorities plus overseas partners.
▶ 0:40:37Mr. Weiland: We have a long way to go before the scourge of -- of synthetic drugs in the terrorists that profit from them are kept at bay and that is the effort that I hope to contribute. Thank you for considering me for this position and I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:40:51Chair Risch: Thank you. Senator cornyn would you like to say a few words? >> I know it is unorthodox.
▶ 0:41:00Chair Risch: We are familiar. Go ahead.
▶ 0:41:04Sen. Cornyn: . I guess we are used to the unorthodox these days. Thank you. I was tied up in the judiciary committee so I appreciate your patience. This is not the first time that I have had the pleasure of introducing one of my staff alumni before this committee and I am happy to do so again today.
▶ 0:41:25Sen. Cornyn: It is always a joy for me to see the development and sing the praises of my former staff and it is impressive to see where they have ended up. Today I have the pleasure of introducing a fellow texan, president trump's nominee to serve as the assistant for the bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement affairs.
▶ 0:41:52Sen. Cornyn: As he just stated, he has seen firsthand the devastation of the drug crisis here in the united states, and paired with his background and experience, I have no doubt that he is the perfect -- person for this difficult job. He served as my chief speech writer from 2017 until 2018 and heaven knows I needed a lot of help. That is the tip of the iceberg of the broad portfolio of impressive accomplishments.
▶ 0:42:20Sen. Cornyn: He earned a jd from harvard and served as a law clerk in the office of jonathan mitchell and the office of budget policy or rick perry. Among other roles within our state. That we both carl josh kaul home.
▶ 0:42:37Sen. Cornyn: After working for me in the senate he's worked in multiple capacities in the stake -- state department including the office of policy, planning and the commission on unalienable rights before he worked for the house committee on foreign affairs under chairman michael mccaul. There is more than just his professional achievements.
▶ 0:42:58Sen. Cornyn: He has a beautiful family and his wife might not only be his better half but ties for the brains in the family, as she is also an accomplished graduate of harvard law school. His -- he is dad to two young children who are with us today I think, over there.
▶ 0:43:17Sen. Cornyn: A proud texan and devout catholic, he credits his education from cistercian prep in dallas, for forming him to be the p up -- the person he is today.
▶ 0:43:31Sen. Cornyn: He goes out of his way to mentor fellow graduates from his alma mater and other young texans in exile who work here in what I call the forward operating base in hostile territory known as washington, D.C., and he has a particular knack for bringing them together. Having seen his character and commitment to serving his country, I am sure he will do great things at the state department and I want to congratulate him on his nomination and I look forward to supporting his nomination.
▶ 0:44:01Chair Risch: Thank you. Well done. Let us hear from you next.
▶ 0:44:07Ms. Wicks: Chairman, ranking member and distinguished members of this committee, it is an honor to appear before you today as the nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to the socialist republic of vietnam. I would like to thank president trump and secretary rubio for the trust that they are placed with me. I am joined by my husband, george, and a few close friends.
▶ 0:44:34Ms. Wicks: My parents, gary and elizabeth and my daughter are here in spirit from minnesota and scotland respectively. As well as other relatives and friends. I am grateful to all for their ongoing support. I am deeply appreciative of my white house and state department colleagues for everything they have done to support my nomination.
▶ 0:44:57Ms. Wicks: I am a midwest girl at heart growing up in minnesota with public school teacher parents who instilled in me the values of hard work and public service. My government career began more than 31 years ago with the U.S. army at the garrison in korea. It took me to hawaii and fort belvoir, virginia.
▶ 0:45:24Ms. Wicks: In 2003, I joined the state department serving in offices before becoming the director of the office of presidential appointments. There I guided and advanced about 1000 candidates for state department leadership positions, requiring the advice and consent of the senate and presidential appointment. It is a privilege to be on the other side where you now.
▶ 0:45:49Ms. Wicks: The president and secretary are clear about indo pacific's geopolitical and strategic importance. With vietnam being one of our most important partners in the region. A strong, independent, and resilient vietnam is in the united states' best interest. Just 30 years ago our countries established diplomatic relations.
▶ 0:46:14Ms. Wicks: In 2020 three, we elevated bilateral ties to a comprehensive stage of partnership. If confirmed, I will advocate for most for U.S. interests in this vibrant relationship, focusing on defense and security operation, trade and investment in people to people ties. The strength of our military cooperation builds on extensive efforts to address the legacies of the vietnam war.
▶ 0:46:44Ms. Wicks: With congressional support, the united states partnered with vietnam to remove unexploded ordnance and provide assistance to persons with disabilities and address stocks and contamination.
▶ 0:46:58Ms. Wicks: For decades vietnam ordered the repatriation of a thousand for american soldiers remains and if confirmed, I will support the continuation of these critical war legacy programs. Security cooperation extends to shared interest and regional stability. By countering global threats and aggressive behavior in the south china sea.
▶ 0:47:26Ms. Wicks: The second dialogue held advanced joint interest and efforts to strengthen law enforcement and to obstruct transnational crime such as scam operations in southeast asia that defraud america as of billion's of dollars annually.
▶ 0:47:45Ms. Wicks: If confirmed I will make every effort to deepen security cooperation and ensure that efforts are targeted, effective and aligned with key strategic priorities that benefit the american people. Bilateral trade with vietnam has grown a normal -- enormously in recent years and the opportunity for shared growth is significant and the trade relationship is in balance.
▶ 0:48:14Ms. Wicks: I would promote equitable market access for U.S. goods and services including technology, energy and agricultural products, support the development of resilient and diversified supply chains and encourage vietnamese investments in the united states. The balance between american and vietnamese people are robust. Vietnamese americans are the fourth largest population in the united states.
▶ 0:48:42Ms. Wicks: Tourism and student programs are trending upward. Vietnam's human rights records continues to be of concern with reports of harassment, arrests, and convictions. If confirmed I will urge the government of vietnam to respect freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and religion. I will do everything I can to ensure the safety and welfare of the united states citizens in vietnam, and the people serving the mission in vietnam.
▶ 0:49:13Ms. Wicks: Through open dialogue we will continue to advance regional security, share prosperity and our bilateral relationship. I look forward to collaborating with mission vietnam's expert team and partnering with congress to deliver results on behalf of the american people. One final note, my thoughts are with the vietnamese people as they recover from deadly storms and drains resulting in devastating floods and landslides.
▶ 0:49:43Ms. Wicks: Thank you for your consideration of my nomination and I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:49:47Chair Risch: Thank you. And our appreciation of this committee both sides for the work that you have done over the years with helping us. No one knows better than you the dealing with the appointments and people's issues past and present, mostly passed, it can be very challenging. We appreciate the work you've done. Thank you so much.
▶ 0:50:11Mr. Meyer: Chairman, ranking member and distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today as president trump's nominee to be the united states ambassador to sri lanka. I am honored by this domination and grateful to president trump and secretary rubio for the trust and confidence they have shown. If confirmed, I look forward to working closely with this committee to advance U.S.
▶ 0:50:41Mr. Meyer: Foreign policy interests in sri lanka. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my family, to my wife, our daughters for their unwavering support and optimism throughout our career in the foreign service. They are currently at our posting in the oslo and met each of our moves as well as my long absences with endless love, resilience, and grace.
▶ 0:51:09Mr. Meyer: I am profoundly grateful to my parents, watching from california, from their steadfast and enduring love, support, and guidance which inspire me every day. It has been an honor and privilege the last 24 years to serve alongside the men and women of the united states foreign service. Our most important duty is to protect U.S. citizens and U.S. interests abroad. If confirmed, my top priority would be to ensure the safety and security of all U.S.
▶ 0:51:41Mr. Meyer: Citizens in sri lanka. First, I want to acknowledge the devastating impact of the cyclone and tragic loss of over 600 people. And the hundreds more that remain missing. And the hundreds of thousands displaced. I should also highlight embassy colombo's efforts to support sri lanka in one of the largest and most challenging natural disasters it has faced.
▶ 0:52:08Mr. Meyer: The united states committed 2 million dollars in urgent's assistance and leverage the military's strategic airlift capability is to support relief efforts. The U.S. response speaks to our strong and enduring partnership with sri lanka. Sri lanka sits astride some of the world's busiest shipping lanes and the indian ocean with U.S. navy vessels and two thirds of the world's crude oil regularly transiting the waters.
▶ 0:52:39Mr. Meyer: Its strategic location makes it a focal point for U.S. efforts to promote a fair and open -- free and open indo pacific and counter adversarial influences, including china's growing presence. If confirmed, I will lead government and industry partners to promote and protect U.S. security and commercial interests in the indian ocean region.
▶ 0:53:04Mr. Meyer: Safeguarding waterways and ports for trade, locking in commercial opportunities for U.S. companies and supporting sri lanka's maritime and economic sovereignty are key aspects of my vision for enhancing our bilateral ties. From the economic and political crisis of 2022 to the recent natural disaster, sri lanka is a resilient country, poised to become a regional economic leader.
▶ 0:53:35Mr. Meyer: In the next year, the port of colombo stands to double cargo capacity, highlighting the significant and strategic opportunities that lie in the ports. Logistics, and shipping centers. If confirmed I will continue to encourage the government of sri lanka to adopt economic reforms that improve its business climate for U.S. companies and strengthen U.S.-sri lanka economic ties.
▶ 0:54:04Mr. Meyer: Sri lanka's proximity to global maritime lanes also calls for close collaboration in promoting a secure indo pacific region. Our defense and law enforcement partnerships are critical to addressing security challenges, including assisting in disaster relief, countering transnational crime and trafficking, enhancing maritime domain awareness and safeguarding the maritime
▶ 0:54:35Mr. Meyer: Sovereignty and port security. If confirmed, I will work to deepen our shared commitment to an open, secure and prosperous indo pacific region and foster sri lanka's role as an emerging regional security partner. If confirmed, I look forward to leading, developing and empowering our talented interagency team to implement a foreign policy that makes america safer, stronger and more prosperous.
▶ 0:55:05Mr. Meyer: I also pledged to work closely with you to support our growing strategic partnership with sri lanka. I am grateful to this committee for its consideration and I look forward to its questions. Thank you.
▶ 0:55:18Chair Risch: Thank you. You are up.
▶ 0:55:21Mr. Logerfo: Chairman, ranking member, distinguished members of this committee. It is an honor to appear before you today as president trump's nominee to be the coordinator for counterterrorism and investor at large at the department of state. I am grateful to president trump and secretary rubio for their trust and confidence.
▶ 0:55:45Mr. Logerfo: If confirmed, I will work with this committee and with congress to advance administration counterterrorism priorities and to ensure the safety and security of the united states and our interests. I would like to thank my family, friends, and colleagues. I am joined by my wife, and our son, who is an undergraduate at the university of florida.
▶ 0:56:10Mr. Logerfo: And lewis, a high school student at arlington, virginia for their support including our time together on overseas missions as well by two unaccompanied tours in iraq. I would also like to express love and appreciation to my parents frank and judith for their support but for raising me to understand that its american citizens we all have the opportunity to reach our god-given potential in the greatest country on earth.
▶ 0:56:40Mr. Logerfo: I would like to thank my mentors and teachers at boston college high school, especially nicholas for setting me on the right path. For over 25 years in the foreign service, I have had the privilege of advancing american privilege on challenging assignments usually on the backdrop of significant terrorists threats.
▶ 0:57:01Mr. Logerfo: I joined the foreign sort of door service before the september 11 attacks and I've seen our success as their american heroism, and sacrifice as well as setbacks and lessons learned. The trump administration is committed to preventing a major terrorists attack on the homeland and has advanced safety and security abroad by implementing peace through strength.
▶ 0:57:22Mr. Logerfo: The administration's focuses on destroying and disrupting terrorist networks and holding state sponsors accountable, the curing our borders and degrading the capacity of terrorist groups . If confirmed I will work to advance the trump administration's principle that america first does not mean america alone. We have strong counterterrorism partnerships across the globe.
▶ 0:57:49Mr. Logerfo: I will deepen these relationships to advance american interests and expand burden sharing by those partners. The terrorist threat we face is different from what we faced with the september 11 attacks. Isis and al qaeda recruit and radicalize and encourage their followers across the globe to conduct attacks in their home countries. The new year's day attack in new orleans was a stark reminder of the persistent reach, capabilities and ambitions.
▶ 0:58:19Mr. Logerfo: In addition to the global network, antisemitism and antigovernment animus have become significant motivating factors in the terrorists threat environment. President trump announced in his inaugural speech that the administration would confront the narco terrorists wreaking havoc in the homeland and across the western hemisphere and secretary rubio has designated 14 cartels and gains as foreign terrorists organizations.
▶ 0:58:47Mr. Logerfo: In addition, although iran has been greatly weekends, the proxies including hezbollah and hamas continue to destabilize the middle east and show interest in expanding their reach to other regions. As we execute president trump's national security memorandum and exert maximum pressure on iran and terrorist proxies, we will remain focused on planning globally against U.S.
▶ 0:59:14Mr. Logerfo: Officials, journalists, jewish targets and iranian dissidents in the united states. If confirmed, I will perform the role of counterterrorism coordinator in the letter and spirit of the duties described in section 2301 of public what law 105. ---177 seven. Working within the interagency in my diplomatic counterparts to advance the policy to keep our country safe and secure.
▶ 0:59:45Mr. Logerfo: I will ensure that our foreign assistant resources are spent wisely on effective programs to keep america safe and that every program is thoroughly vetted and reviewed and properly briefed to congress. If confirmed by commit to working with you to ensure that congress is regularly informed and consulted on the bureau of counterterrorism's efforts to advance administration priorities.
▶ 1:00:09Mr. Logerfo: Chairman and ranking member I appreciate your consideration and thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.
▶ 1:00:16Chair Risch: Thank you and we will start with a round of questions. By the members. I want to start with you. Focusing on sri lanka for a minute. You know what the chinese did to sri lanka with airport has become a poster child around the world for why people should not do business with china. It appears that sri lanka has learned its lesson from that, and that is a pretty bitter pill to swallow.
▶ 1:00:46Chair Risch: Are you in agreement that they are trying to move away from china, is that your perception?
▶ 1:00:52Mr. Meyer: Thank you for that important question. We have a very open and transparent relationship with sri lanka and bilateral relationship should be open and transparent.
▶ 1:01:08Mr. Meyer: And if I am confirmed, I look forward to working with the government of sri lanka to ensure that they assert their sovereignty, and that includes over ports, as you have mentioned, the chinese constructed a large port, so it is essential that we work with sri lanka as -- and that can -- that include security cooperation and other areas.
▶ 1:01:38Chair Risch: The chinese hooked sri lanka with the money, obviously. That is usually what it is all about. You think they have learned their lesson on that? They took terrible advantage.
▶ 1:01:52Mr. Meyer: They did. And I believe that sri lanka has expressed interest in working closer with the united states. One of the things we have been encouraging them to do and if I am confirmed, I would do so as well be cut -- is that they continue along their path and their commitments in their imf program because economic sovereignty and independence is important as well.
▶ 1:02:21Mr. Meyer: And if they can stick to reforms, this will create opportunities for increased U.S. investment and companies to invest in sri lanka, which will strengthen our ties with sri lanka.
▶ 1:02:33Chair Risch: Thank you. Your portfolio is probably as big and broad is anyone sitting here. And a difficult one at that. As we have continued to squeeze particularly isis up in the syria northeast and syria region, more and more isis has migrated.
▶ 1:02:59Chair Risch: And it is apparent that to do business to squeeze them and go after them, even to operate is not only complicated but pretty dangerous for america. What are your thoughts on that? What are your ideas pressing forward in this way?
▶ 1:03:18Mr. Logerfo: Thank you for that question and you are right broadly. We have had success against isis like defeating the territorial caliphate in syria. We have taken decisive action in working with partners to address the threat in central asia and afghanistan and pakistan. We are and we will always take decisive action to protect american interests.
▶ 1:03:46Mr. Logerfo: I think this is an area where we have to focus on burden sharing with our partners in the region and with our european partners. When we share risk we need to share a burden and we also need to share resources.
▶ 1:04:03Mr. Logerfo: We are building and have built over the past few years with benin and togo who are all facing threats from affiliates and isis, and we will look forward to developing the relationship if confirmed.
▶ 1:04:22Mr. Logerfo: And then with our european friends this is frankly geographically more proximate to them and I would expect that we could advance more collaboration and partnership with partners from the european continent.
▶ 1:04:35Chair Risch: I appreciate your thoughts. Senator shaheen?
▶ 1:04:40Sen. Shaheen: Thank you. As identified in my opening remarks, there have been another -- a number of car -- cuts to the bureau that will have a significant impact on the work of the bureau.
▶ 1:05:03Sen. Shaheen: So, can you talk about how you will effectively operate given those program cuts and the number dealing with the budget that is 80% less than in previous years?
▶ 1:05:14Mr. Weiland: Thank you for that question. Before I get to your answer, I wanted to commend you on what you have done in new hampshire regarding reducing overdose deaths. You know, 14 -- one thing we point to his overdose deaths across the U.S. falling. But that is more complicated because in certain states it is rising drastically and in other states it is falling.
▶ 1:05:42Mr. Weiland: New hampshire over the last year, meth and fentanyl overdoses declined which is a testament to everything you have done as well as folks on the local level.
▶ 1:05:51Sen. Shaheen: Thank you and let me comment because I think you are right. It has been the result of more than 10 years of work at the state and local level with federal support from treatment and recovery programs, from making sure that narcan is available to people throughout the state and working with law enforcement, schools and mental health agencies.
▶ 1:06:16Sen. Shaheen: As you know it is really requiring of a comprehensive approach and that is one reason I am concerned about the loss at iml -- inl of support staff and programming.
▶ 1:06:31Mr. Weiland: What the president budget's, which came over to you all and which will deliver and make decisions on. I think the cuts you are referring to forced inl to do is to take a hard look at its programming. Over the years there has been a temptation to slap the counter narcotics label onto programming and assume that the programs are effective.
▶ 1:06:58Mr. Weiland: And what we saw in the early days of this administration when we started scrutinizing programming was that often times own internal analysis showed that these programs are ineffective. So what we tried to do was to streamline and to cut where we were not seeing the results that we needed to see. And then obviously to continue to fund the programs that we thought were most effective.
▶ 1:07:21Sen. Shaheen: One of the other areas that you have done good work is with ukraine and helping to address corruption in that country. And, to work with their civilian security and law enforcement organizations. I support that excellent work.
▶ 1:07:41Sen. Shaheen: Again, I was concerned that there were real cuts to the rule of law programming, and can you speak to why that is and how you can continue to ensure that U.S. supports anticorruption work.
▶ 1:07:56Mr. Weiland: I think the first priority up president trump when it comes to ukraine is to end the war and stop the killing. What we have done our work -- or what the bureau has done is to continue to fund hard security programs like mobile firing teams that are so pivotal in preventing attacks on civilian infrastructure in ukraine. That takes a variety of forms but ammunition, weaponry, armored vehicles and the like.
▶ 1:08:28Mr. Weiland: All of that has continued. We are continuing to fund some of the entities like the investigative and prosecutorial entities inside of ukraine that are taking a hard look at corruption internally and are so pivotal to ensuring a fair playing ground for american businesses operating in the country as well.
▶ 1:08:54Mr. Weiland: I think that the corruption and the hard security programs have continued. One area that might have been scaled back slightly is for example in the war crimes area, and that is a result of our conversations with the europeans. The e.u. And u.k. Are eager to take on more of that burden. As a result, we found it prudent to not be duplicative and redundant of what our partners were doing.
▶ 1:09:22Sen. Shaheen: I am glad you are here to -- you are still committed to the efforts. You are the senior bureau official when the trump administration negotiated a deal to send 200 venezuelan deportees to the prison in el salvador. There are incredible reports of human rights abuses including torture, and sexual violence committed against them.
▶ 1:09:47Sen. Shaheen: Do you approve providing 4.7 million dollars to continue this kind of deal taking prisoners and then torturing them?
▶ 1:09:56Mr. Weiland: Senator, we have a very productive working relationship with el salvador.
▶ 1:10:03Sen. Shaheen: I am not questioning the working relationship. I am questioning spending money to send detainees to el salvador to a prison where they are mistreated.
▶ 1:10:14Mr. Weiland: Respectfully, the state department is not in the business of deportations and I would refer you to dhs regarding that. What we did send was 4.7 million dollars to address anti-crime. And criminal justice needs inside el salvador. At the time when I was senior bureau official none of that money had been spent. The country is under strict obligations to report on how they are using those funds.
▶ 1:10:45Mr. Weiland: There is no indication thus far as far as I am aware of that any of it has gone to the prison to which you alluded.
▶ 1:10:50Sen. Shaheen: Can I get your commitments that if you are confirmed that you will ensure that there is an investigation into how deportees are being handled at the prison and that none of our taxpayer money is going to provide support for the el salvador unions to torture -- el salvadorians to torture the prison?
▶ 1:11:14Mr. Weiland: I would be happy to follow-up.
▶ 1:11:16Sen. Shaheen: Thank you.
▶ 1:11:17Chair Risch: Senator ricketts.
▶ 1:11:20Sen. Ricketts: Thank you to our nominees and thank you to your families as well because you know you will not be able to serve without family support and we appreciate your service to our country. The defense p.o.w. Mia county aid -- counting agency has one of the more solemn duties that our nation provides, and that is bringing home americans who have not return home.
▶ 1:11:45Sen. Ricketts: We saw this commitment again as the U.S.-vietnamese teams did a difficult underwater operation to account for 1500 still missing americans from the vietnam war. The work is carried out in two world-class facilities, one of which is in hawaii and the other one in nebraska and it is a deep source of pride for the state to participate in that.
▶ 1:12:12Sen. Ricketts: When I visited the facility as governor I saw firsthand the professionalism and reverence that the nebraskans bring to this mission. Families across the country depend on this works in nebraska is honored to play a role in fulfilling our nation's promise to those who served. As ambassador, how will you help strengthen the cooperation with the vietnamese government to support this recovery mission?
▶ 1:12:40Ms. Wicks: Senator, thank you for that question, and also thank you for the time you spent with me talking about the U.S.-vietnamese relationship earlier. I think the more -- the war legacy programs of which you outlined is one of them.
▶ 1:13:02Ms. Wicks: It is certainly one of the foundational efforts that led to the reestablishment of our relationship 30 years ago. Certainly, if I am confirmed I will continue to promote and advocate. And, reaffirm the commitment that other senior government leaders have made to our american people.
▶ 1:13:34Ms. Wicks: Those impacted by the vietnam war, as well as our counterparts in vietnam.
▶ 1:13:39Sen. Rickett: Thank you. Further our -- on our relationship with vietnam. Agriculture is the heart and soul of our state. The farmers and ranchers drive the state economy exporting 47 billion dollars in domestic products in 2024. For nebraska, trade is the backbone of the economy and job creation and a way for communities to continue to thrive.
▶ 1:14:07Sen. Rickett: The opportunity for my state and southeast asia is enormous. Vietnam's imports have surged with corn and soybeans up 35%. And nebraska beef is gaining a growing with the announced trade, america has a 20% tariff on vietnamese tears while limiting almost all vietnamese nontariff barriers on american products.
▶ 1:14:36Sen. Rickett: His strength and cooperation and includes a $2.9 billion pledge for purchase of U.S. agricultural commodities. With an effective pro america trade agreement framework there is no better moment for our investor to promote export opportunities for nebraska farmers. What would you do to help the trade agreement framework get across the finish line so our farmers and ranchers can benefit from the?
▶ 1:15:04Ms. Wicks: Thank you for that question. I agree with you that the ongoing negotiations on the trade framework are a very positive step. I look forward to supporting, if confirmed, however I can. The specific negotiations are being conducted by the U.S. trade representative.
▶ 1:15:30Ms. Wicks: If confirmed, I will do everything I can to support and enable those negotiations to continue and an agreement to be finalized.
▶ 1:15:37Sen. Ricketts: What kind of concrete steps can you take to expand nebraska's access to the vietnamese market for exports? Things like corn, soybeans, other agricultural products.
▶ 1:15:50Ms. Wicks: Thank you for the question, senator. I am aware that certainly we have a number of delegations from different states to include nebraska, to vietnam.
▶ 1:16:06Ms. Wicks: I believe that is a very beneficial step for that communication and open channels of discussion to occur between the people on the ground, so to speak, those representing various states with their counterparts in vietnam.
▶ 1:16:23Sen. Ricketts: When I was governor I let a trade mission in 2019. Dan was the ambassador and he did a fantastic job. I look forward to you doing the same when you were in the role in vietnam as well. Thank you very much.
▶ 1:16:41Chair Risch: Senator kaine.
▶ 1:16:44Sen. Kaine: Congratulations to the witnesses. I want to follow-up about budget cuts in the inl realm. Were you involved in discussions in your capacity at state about the shrinking of the iml budget, and 80% cut to the division's budget? >> I was not involved in the 80% cut.
▶ 1:17:14Sen. Kaine: Your awareness of the rationale, we were looking at programs that succeeded in y succeeded in and the ones I didn't.
▶ 1:17:27Mr. Weiland: I was involved in the review of programming for sure. I was not involved in discussions about the overall top line budget numbers. As part of the foreign assistance review that secretary rubio begin when he took office, I was involved in looking along with every security and foreign assistance -- a comprehensive analysis of the programming.
▶ 1:17:55Mr. Weiland: I was this -- involved in discussions with our ambassadors overseas.
▶ 1:18:05Sen. Kaine: The budget I believe was about $5 billion in december of 2020 before the current presidential proposals with an 80% cut of that budget.
▶ 1:18:11Mr. Weiland: The current president's budget request is about $125 million.
▶ 1:18:19Sen. Kaine: From $5 billion to one hundred 20 $5 million.
▶ 1:18:23Mr. Weiland: That does not include the prior year funds. We have a pipeline.
▶ 1:18:29Sen. Kaine: Let me move on. What is the current status of the caribbean based security commission?
▶ 1:18:37Mr. Weiland: I have not been in the bureau since june but as far as I know it continues to fund a variety of caribbean programs. The administration is quite supportive of that.
▶ 1:18:49Sen. Kaine: Here's a concern we have and I will stated for the record. The administration's commitment to a counter narcotics effort. The military actions in the caribbean and pacific against venezuela is getting a lot of attention. The iml budget has been significantly cut.
▶ 1:19:10Sen. Kaine: The president has pardoned editorialists -- notorious .narco traffickers I have a deep understanding of the damage he caused to that country. He was prosecuted and convicted of leading a cartel that traffic to more than 400 tons of cocaine into the united states and received a 45 year prison sentence. The president pardoned him.
▶ 1:19:42Sen. Kaine: That would normally not be in the state department's remit to offer opinions upon pardons. That is a doj thing. Because this was a head of state were you involved in any discussions at the state department about the wisdom of pardoning this individual and what message you might send with respect to our counter narcotics mission in the americas?
▶ 1:20:02Mr. Weiland: I was not. I do not work on central american issues.
▶ 1:20:09Sen. Kaine: Have you been involved in the preparation of national security strategy the president and his team released last thursday?
▶ 1:20:15Mr. Weiland: The drafting? No sir.
▶ 1:20:20Sen. Kaine: Discussions with respect to items dealing with the americas?
▶ 1:20:23Mr. Weiland: Everyone at the state department, we have all been in discussions regarding the strategy once it was released. When it comes to the western hemisphere, the key phrase I picked up on was in list and expand. The president made it clear he wants to enlist cooperation of our partners throughout the region to carry out --
▶ 1:20:45Sen. Kaine: I'm glad you said partners. The key phrase is the monroe doctrine, which I found very puzzling. The monroe doctrine was a doctrine that was not about america's nations as partners. It was about the U.S. dominating the americas and try to keep european nations out. You would not mention little big horn and a celebration of indigenous persons.
▶ 1:21:12Sen. Kaine: If you are trying to send a message to the americas about the relationships we want to have and you call it a new monroe doctrine or a corollary to the monroe doctrine, you are starting up with your foot in a deep bucket with nations in the region with whom we have partnerships and others we would like to. Have you lived in latin america?
▶ 1:21:35Mr. Weiland: Yes, I have.
▶ 1:21:35Sen. Kaine: I think anybody who has probably understands how challenging referencing the monroe doctrine is if you are trying to partner with those nations. Mr. logerfo, have you been at all involved in the discussions with the white house about the listing of designated terrorist organizations for purposes of the military strikes? That label is well known.
▶ 1:22:03Sen. Kaine: I cannot talk about it because what I know is from classified. Were you involved in discussions about who to designate as a deed to -- dto that could be subject to military strikes?
▶ 1:22:17Mr. Logerfo: Thank you for the question. You are asking about domestic terror organizations?
▶ 1:22:25Sen. Kaine: No. Designated terror organizations. Stay clear of classified material. The office of legal advisor at state has issued a legal opinion about the legality of military action against certain groups in international waters. I have questions about the legal rationale but I'm not asking about that. There is a designation of certain groups that could be subject to military action as part of that legal opinion.
▶ 1:22:57Sen. Kaine: The term used is designated terrorist organization. My question of you is, were you involved in discussions about who should be listed as a dto?
▶ 1:23:06Mr. Logerfo: No.
▶ 1:23:08Sen. Kaine: I yield back.
▶ 1:23:10Chair Risch: Senator merkley.
▶ 1:23:14Sen. Merkley: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Ms. wicks, I wanted to follow-up about the partnership with vietnam over the world legacy project. -- war legacy projects.
▶ 1:23:35Sen. Merkley: I supported what senator lee he forged in terms of our work to provide dna help to return martyrs back to their families, to clean up the remnants of the high contamination at the airbases, to continue to help identify and collect cluster munitions that were left over from the war, and to assist in the treatment of individuals who were affected either by those munitions exploding or by the agent orange. Those programs.
▶ 1:24:07Sen. Merkley: Do support those programs?
▶ 1:24:09Ms. Wicks: Thank you for that question. Yes, all of those legacy programs you mentioned are things that I commit to supporting and furthering that partnership.
▶ 1:24:22Sen. Merkley: Thank you. They really provided the foundation for the restoration of a lot of respect and economic partnership and all sorts of other ways in the mequon delta -- mekong delta. We would like to see that economic partnership thrive and see a lot of factories that may be located in china now moved to vietnam. I thank you.
▶ 1:24:53Sen. Merkley: I appreciate that. Mr. weiland, you were originally assigned to lead the usaid transition at the start of the -- is that correct?
▶ 1:25:06Mr. Weiland: My primary responsibility were for the state department transition team.
▶ 1:25:12Sen. Merkley: When secretary rubio was here he said that the weekend that the aid was fed into the wood chipper he was happily involved canceling some 500 contracts. Were you involved in that all?
▶ 1:25:30Mr. Weiland: I was not.
▶ 1:25:32Sen. Merkley: Is the strategy of shutting down usaid suddenly stem from work you had laid out? Was at a strategy you had proposed were supported?
▶ 1:25:47Mr. Weiland: I was not aware of that strategy.
▶ 1:25:48Sen. Merkley: Until it occurred?
▶ 1:25:51Mr. Weiland: Correct.
▶ 1:25:53Sen. Merkley: Right now we urge other governments to strengthen the rule of law and followed due process. That is certainly relevant to the position you are nominated for. Yet we have carried out these 22 lethal strikes on suspected drug boats in the last few months. An x or judicial killing of over 80 people without arrest or due process or investigation. -- extrajudicial killing.
▶ 1:26:26Sen. Merkley: How can we expect others to respect the rule of law when we are plainly violating it?
▶ 1:26:31Mr. Weiland: Thank you for that question, senator merkley. I'm not here speaking in a legal capacity so I cannot comment on the article to analysis -- article ii analysis. I will say that I think if you were growing up in mexico city or ecuador where car bombs are going off now, or you lived outside rio de janeiro and they
▶ 1:27:03Mr. Weiland: Were rated because of the gangs -- raided because of the gangs, I think he would welcome a more aggressive approach to a persistent problem these folks have grown up with. That is the sentiment that is reflected in conversations I have had with leadership in foreign countries throughout the region.
▶ 1:27:20Sen. Merkley: Interesting. A lot of folks one is to be able to dismantle those networks. When the coast guard stopped the boat, investigates it, finds drugs, provides the evidence, rest the individuals, interrogates them -- arrests individuals, interrogates them, find out information about the networks, they are able to do much more to dismantle those networks then conducting an extrajudicial killing on a small boat in the middle of the
▶ 1:27:50Sen. Merkley: Caribbean. One of the wood is legal and effective rather than what is illegal and ineffective?
▶ 1:27:56Mr. Weiland: I think president trump is made clear this is a multidimensional problem. The strikes in the caribbean are one facet of this. What inl is involved in is strategic decision-making regarding foreign dollars. Both while I was in the bureau and since I left it has continued to fund projects and partners throughout latin america, both in heart security needs and also training and the like.
▶ 1:28:27Mr. Weiland: There is no indication that will not continue. That is what I'm here to interview for an continue. -- and continue.
▶ 1:28:36Sen. Merkley: I asked why it makes sense to do something that is illegal and ineffective rather than what is legal and effective. We did not receive a direct answer. Disappointingly so.
▶ 1:28:48Chair Risch: Let me help you out.
▶ 1:28:53Sen. Merkley: If you weigh in on my question, I will weigh in on yours. Is that fair.
▶ 1:28:59Chair Risch: Which question?
▶ 1:29:03Sen. Merkley: It's your turn.
▶ 1:29:03Chair Risch: I'm not going to ask any questions. The president is determined through legal advice that we have spent hours and hours and hours sitting through that the attacks in the caribbean are absolutely, totally in 100% legal under U.S. law and international law.
▶ 1:29:22Chair Risch: In addition, we have received considerable evidence that the effectiveness of when he puts $50 million worth of drugs on the floor the ocean, there are thousands of lives saved in the united states. Those of the reasons for the attacks. That is what the record should reflect. I understand you have a different opinion on it and I appreciate that.
▶ 1:29:44Sen. Merkley: You said I could weigh in.
▶ 1:29:47Chair Risch: Feel free.
▶ 1:29:49Sen. Merkley: It is well understood that the drugs, if they are being interdicted which is unclear because the administration has no evidence to present the american public . That is a channel used to supply europe. Honduras and columbia provide the U.S. -- the president's pardon the kingpin who designed the cocaine superhighway and provided over 400 tons of deadly drugs to american citizens.
▶ 1:30:20Sen. Merkley: That is hardly a campaign to protect america. It is hardly in america first effort. It is doing the opposite.
▶ 1:30:26Chair Risch: To make sure that the record is clear, I'm the only member that sits on the intelligence committee. I'm a senior republican and have sat there for 17 years. I cannot tell you how or what the methods and means are. We have seen absolutely, total, 100% conclusive evidence that the boats that were sunk were carrying illegal drugs and they have wound up on the floor of the ocean.
▶ 1:30:52Sen. Merkley: Could you explain why that has not been presented to the american public?
▶ 1:30:58Chair Risch: It's classified. If it's produced, methods and means -- we collect intelligence through various measures and means. If they will do this, and I urge them to continue to do this, they cannot disclose the methods and means for their efforts would be frustrated.
▶ 1:31:14Sen. Merkley: It is very clear that there was evidence collected it would have been bragged about.
▶ 1:31:18Chair Risch: If this is illegal -- it's simple. File the suit. You do it before breakfast every day.
▶ 1:31:26Sen. Merkley: I hope you read the constitution that the ability to declare war comes from congress, not from the president and the founders were emphatic the issue of conducting war should never be invested in a single person. This is a staging that is setting up not to strikes in the caribbean but preparation for a strike on land. The president has said he intends to conduct strikes on land. He has closed the airspace over venezuela.
▶ 1:31:52Sen. Merkley: We have not held a hearing in this committee, the foreign affairs committee on this very important foreign affairs issue. I asked that we do so.
▶ 1:32:01Chair Risch: You and I have common ground in that only the united states congress can declare war and participate in the war. This is not a war. It is kinetic action that every president has used over the years without a declaration of war from congress. Senator van hollen.
▶ 1:32:20Sen. Van Hollen: I have read the classified legal opinion and I have to say is a lot of legal gobbledygook which I do not think makes the case will stop -- makes the case. Mr. weiland, have you read this report? Have you had a chance to read that?
▶ 1:32:46Mr. Weiland: I do not believe so.
▶ 1:32:47Sen. Van Hollen: This came out last month in its report by human rights watch. It documents the torture and abuse of the venezuelans who we sent. It talks about sexual violence, torture and inhumane prison conditions. I listened to your conversation with senator shaheen.
▶ 1:33:14Sen. Van Hollen: You were part of the state department team that entered into the agreement with the government of el salvador to take and imprison these venezuelans, correct?
▶ 1:33:27Mr. Weiland: I was not involved in any deportations.
▶ 1:33:31Sen. Van Hollen: The agreement that was signed, were you a part of that?
▶ 1:33:32Mr. Weiland: I was involved in decision to send 4.7 million dollars to el salvador to address anti-crime and criminal justice needs.
▶ 1:33:41Sen. Van Hollen: Did you sign the agreement?
▶ 1:33:43Mr. Weiland: I did.
▶ 1:33:44Sen. Van Hollen: I have the agreement right here. It does say that these funds are to be used to help cover the cost of detention and prisons, does it not?
▶ 1:33:55Mr. Weiland: It allows that. It is not exclusive to those.
▶ 1:34:00Sen. Van Hollen: Are you saying no moneys have been used for that purpose? None of the $4.7 million?
▶ 1:34:09Mr. Weiland: There is no medication. I have not been in the office since june of this year. I cannot speak to a conversation to a conversations have had with the el salvador ins since that time.
▶ 1:34:20Sen. Van Hollen: You knew there was a risk these venezuelans would be transferred to these prisons in el salvador and would be abused or tortured, didn't you?
▶ 1:34:28Mr. Weiland: No, senator. I am familiar with the salvadoran peoples' overwhelming support for the president --
▶ 1:34:35Sen. Van Hollen: That is not my question. You knew that there was a risk. Let me refer you to the 2023 state department human rights report. Have you ever looked at that?
▶ 1:34:51Mr. Weiland: I am familiar with the human rights report but I would point to internal inl procedures that strictly scrutinize funding decisions. For example, any money the salvadoreans would like to use for a secure unit of the government or law enforcement entity, they have to notify us 30 days in advance for vetting. They have to provide extensive financial reporting delineating exactly how they are using that $4.7 million.
▶ 1:35:22Mr. Weiland: The agreement you referenced has a provision that expressively mandates adherence to international human rights treaties and conventions, including --
▶ 1:35:30Sen. Van Hollen: I have got it right here, thank you. The question was based on the state department's own 2023 human rights reports which says there are harsh and life-threatening prison conditions in el salvador's prisons, you knew there was a risk that these individuals would be tortured, did you not? Did you think there was no risk they would be tortured?
▶ 1:35:55Mr. Weiland: Prisons throughout latin america can be rough places, just like american prisons can be. After speaking with --
▶ 1:36:04Sen. Van Hollen: Mr. chairman, I want you to read this report that just came out. Then get back to me and say whether these are acceptable prison conditions anywhere in the world.
▶ 1:36:14Mr. Weiland: I would be happy to.
▶ 1:36:16Sen. Van Hollen: You keep referencing with the agreement says and I have read the agreement. Wouldn't you agree you have an obligation to the U.S. government -- the U.S. government has an obligation to determine whether or not these moneys are going for purposes that violate international humanitarian -- international law or represent gross violations of human rights?
▶ 1:36:39Mr. Weiland: The agreements requires strict reporting about all the uses of the funds. I commit that I will follow up with the salvadoreans to get the information.
▶ 1:36:51Sen. Van Hollen: You cannot contract out your legal responsibility to the government of el salvador, can you?
▶ 1:36:58Mr. Weiland: I'm not sure.
▶ 1:36:59Sen. Van Hollen: You can ask them to report to you but do you not have a legal obligation to make an independent determination of your own as to whether or not these moneys are being used in violation of the lahey laws?
▶ 1:37:15Mr. Weiland: If it's going to law enforcement entities, we have to do vetting.
▶ 1:37:20Sen. Van Hollen: The agreement anticipates that it will go to help with the prisons. I would just say, Mr. chairman, this is a very sordid chapter in american foreign policy.
▶ 1:37:35Sen. Van Hollen: All of us want to make sure we deal with drug running and whatever it may be but there are many independent reports, as you know, including by the cato institute that determined that many individuals who sat here, who were sent to this prisoner actually in the united states illegally. -- legally. Many had absolutely zero criminal record. Yet they end up in secot and get tortured according to this most recent report.
▶ 1:38:07Sen. Van Hollen: It's unfortunate the united states has been complicit in what I see is a gross violation of human rights.
▶ 1:38:11Chair Risch: Senator rosen.
▶ 1:38:15Sen. Rosen: I want to thank the witnesses for testifying today. For your willingness to serve. I will talk a little about syria and his support for reintegration -- from syria, excuse me. Mr. logerfo, there are 30,000 people being held in detention camps in northeast syria.
▶ 1:38:41Sen. Rosen: The iraqi government has led by example and repatriating approximately 20,000 of its citizens from these facilities. I hope other countries will follow iraq's leadership. The facilities have been and continue to be breeding grounds for extremism, radicalization. That's why it is so important that repatriation and reintegration from these camps is done thoughtfully and coupled with the radicalization programs to avoid creating new counterterrorism threats. Mr.
▶ 1:39:11Sen. Rosen: Logerfo, do you think the U.S. should play a role in supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of iraqis and syrians returning to their communities of origin?
▶ 1:39:23Mr. Logerfo: Senator rosen, thank you for the question. It is good to see you again. President took the historic step of recognizing the syrian government, as you know, and lifting sanctions to turn the page on the assad regime which fell just about one year ago today.
▶ 1:39:42Mr. Logerfo: Over the last two years through some very exceptional diplomacy, united states and partners have been able to help facilitate the repatriation of about 35,000 or 40,000 --
▶ 1:39:58Sen. Rosen: Do I have your commitment if confirmed to strengthen and work with me to strengthen ct programming that supports syrian and iraqi nationals returning?
▶ 1:40:12Mr. Logerfo: Yes, senator rosen.
▶ 1:40:12Sen. Rosen: I have a lot to talk about. I want to talk about the office of the security coordinator. Mr. weiland, the office of the security coordinator plays a key role in the west bank by helping the capacity of the palestinian authority security forces by facilitating coordination between israeli and pac cutie forces.
▶ 1:40:35Sen. Rosen: Inl in addition -- it keeps both palestinians and israelis safe. Mr. weiland, how would you letter osc programming to help achieve mutually beneficial security objectives for both israel and the palestinian authority?
▶ 1:40:59Mr. Weiland: Thank you for the question, senator rosen. It's an important one. I've had the opportunity to speak directly with general funds funenzel. Keys rotating out shortly. I look forward to working closely with his successor. I believe that the passive has done good work in the west bank with the help of I and l --inl.
▶ 1:41:31Mr. Weiland: It has raided a refugee camp in the activated ied's, collective weaponry, cash, etc. They have done some good work. I have no doubt that -- can continue.
▶ 1:41:46Sen. Rosen: I have another question for you about women, peace and security and limitation. I have serious concerns about this administration's lack of commitment to implementing the core tenets of women, peace and security act. It's bipartisan legislation led by ranking member shaheen and supported by then senator rubio.
▶ 1:42:10Sen. Rosen: During your time is a senior bureau official or during your tenure at the wha, have you received guidance from secretary rubio or any other state department senior official on whether you should continue implementing the vps? -- wps?
▶ 1:42:27Mr. Weiland: We are under guidance to go after the biggest victimizers and tear risers of women worldwide, which are the drug cartels and narco terrorists that operate throughout the hemisphere and globally. We are certainly following up on that and using our programming to do exactly that.
▶ 1:42:51Sen. Rosen: If confirmed, will inl implement programs that align with the wps principles like increasing women's participation in law enforcement and how do you think inl should promote law enforcement efforts to address gender-based violence?
▶ 1:43:07Mr. Weiland: I think the best way to defend and protect women is to continue aggressive attempts to dismantle the criminal networks that operate around the world. We will use our funds to do that, both through hard equipment and three training programs.
▶ 1:43:21Sen. Rosen: I look forward to working with you on that. It isn't just violent criminals that abused women across the world. People pray on vulnerable women for many reasons. We need to address it from all areas. Thank you. >> thank you. Mr. logerfo, I want to ask some questions about the muslim brotherhood.
▶ 1:43:47Sen. Rosen: The president issued an executive order establishing it is the policy of the united states to cooperate with its regional partners to a lemonade the capabilities and operations of muslim brotherhood chapters designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Because they because their activities threaten american civilians in the labonte another parts of the middle east, and the safety and stability of our regional partners.
▶ 1:44:12Sen. Rosen: As you know, the president and executive orders are part of a broader bottoms up strategy to designate muslim brotherhood chapters and then evaluate designating for global muslim brotherhood. I have been pushing such designations my entire senate career and I strongly support president trump's efforts here. If confirmed, you would be responsible for helping the implement and enforce and expand his directives on the brotherhood. Let's begin very basically.
▶ 1:44:42Sen. Rosen: Describe your understanding of the role that the muslim brotherhood plays in promoting violent jihad.
▶ 1:44:48Mr. Logerfo: Thank you for that question. I think we have a historic opportunity to work with you, with your team. If confirmed, I will do that to address the muslim brotherhood. I think we are 100% on the same page.
▶ 1:45:09Mr. Logerfo: To get your question about the muslim brotherhood, what we have seen over the years, over decades, and as secretary rubio said, we have concerns with the muslim brotherhood, concerns with their support of the october 7 attack, concerns of activity in lebanon, egypt, jordan. That is the basis for the executive order.
▶ 1:45:35Mr. Logerfo: Working with you I will characterize this as that group is the first step. We will look and continue to look at the bureau of counterterrorism. This is our statutory mandate, to look for the capacity and capability of making additional designations in accordance with the law. I have read your bill. I look forward to working with you on advancing our efforts against the muslim brotherhood.
▶ 1:46:04Sen. Cruz: Do you believe the muslim brotherhood poses a threat to the national security of the united states?
▶ 1:46:10Mr. Logerfo: Yes.
▶ 1:46:12Sen. Cruz: Lets pivotal away to what is happening here in congress. As I said earlier, and as you observed, I have been pushing to designate the muslim brotherhood for more than a decade now. I have introduced legislation to do so in all but one congress since I was elected. This congress introduced a version of my bill, the muslim brotherhood terrace designation act that uses the same bottoms up approach that is in president trump's executive order.
▶ 1:46:41Sen. Cruz: It has bipartisan support in both chambers. Last week, frustratingly, the house version of my bill was advanced but terminally weakened by the house floor and affairs committee -- foreign affairs committee. They took out the designation part of the act. The senate should do better and we should move the full bill on our side.
▶ 1:47:04Sen. Cruz: Some public reports and statements have claimed house members, including house republicans did not believe congress should have a role in crafting sanctions which are to be implement it by the executive. I find that argument to be specious. I have the vast majority of this committee does as well. -- I know the vast majority of the committee does as well.
▶ 1:47:24Sen. Cruz: We have implicit and explicit expectations that executive officials will work with and when appropriate even defer to this committee on issues of foreign policy, including sanctions and including the designation of terrorist groups. What is your view of the role that congress plays on these issues, including on initiatives like mine to designate the muslim brotherhood as a terrorist group?
▶ 1:47:47Mr. Logerfo: Thank you for your question. I fully respect congress's article one authority in making laws, including with respect to foreign terror organizatio designations. Whatever legislation is passed I will faithfully execute if I am confirmed.
▶ 1:48:07Sen. Cruz: Thank you. Final question. What element of this debate that continues to surprise me -- I don't think the american people even in congress -- I don't think they appreciate the degree to which our allies support acknowledging and designating the muslim brotherhood is a terrorist organization.
▶ 1:48:29Sen. Cruz: As you know, jordan, egypt, saudi arabia, the uae, bahrain, kenya have all already designated the muslim brotherhood as a terrorist organization. These are our allies and partners in the middle east and africa. There is a pernicious narrative that doing the same thing they have done designating the muslim brotherhood will somehow alienate these partners. Describe how you would work with our allies to counter the brotherhood's malign activities?
▶ 1:48:59Mr. Logerfo: Thank you for the question. I can say that in a previous capacity our efforts to designate the irgc, designations of other countries and hezbollah and hamas in the western hemisphere, that approach is pretty intense diplomacy. It requires a lot of legwork.
▶ 1:49:26Mr. Logerfo: I talk with our chiefs across australia and saw the news about what australia did with respect to the irgc. I would template that and get the muslim brotherhood using that diplomatic approach that is working and there is more work to be done. I would template that in our efforts with the muslim brotherhood.
▶ 1:49:48Chair Risch: Thank you for witnesses. We appreciate your willingness to serve in your appearance here today. Before closing I will add any letters of support or otherwise to the committee regarding these matters to be added to the record. I will note for the information members the record will remain open until close of business tomorrow, december 12, for members to submit questions. I would appreciate if you would get it back quickly. It will help of your confirmation.
▶ 1:50:18Chair Risch: With that, this meeting is adjourned.