▶ 0:20:40>> welcome to the subcommittee, which you are an alumni of. I want to welcome our new members and our house -- from ohio. We lost senator mullin, at dhs. I promised mark wayne we would say focused on one of his great passions. Senator schatz is on the way. -- there he is. Great timing.
▶ 0:21:09There will be seven minute rounds, senator collins, then myself, senator schatz, and based on seniority, order of appearance, we will go down the subcommittee. Again, seven minute rounds. Mr. secretary, welcome. I will start, -- opening statement no. It is going to be real quick.
▶ 0:21:39This account is important to me. I have been involved with this account since I have been pretty much in the senate, I'm a fairly hawkish guy. But the 150 account, Mr. secretary. It is the lifeblood for the state department. The men and women for the state department, your charge and direction, are real heroes. They are serving in some dangerous places. Very much like a military diplomacy.
▶ 0:22:08All the men and women of the service, thank you very much for what you do, for showing up in representing our country and our values in some of the most difficult places. To those who serve in the state department, my gratitude and admiration. As to the budget proposal, we will see what number we come out with. The soft power to me is still power. There are limits to hard power and soft power to me.
▶ 0:22:37It has the potential to make us safer in very troubled parts of the world. I have learned one thing, if we can help feed a starving child, you will probably have a good relationship with the mother and the father. And their programs in this account, wasteful and missing the mark, a lot to be cleaned up. Thank you for looking at this and making it more businesslike.
▶ 0:23:06There are some core functions of this account, global health and humanitarian aid that our national security and I look forward to working with senator schatz, the whole crowd here. We have a common view that soft power support. With that, senator schatz. >> thank, secretary for being here.
▶ 0:23:31A year ago, I told you I was willing to make hard trade-offs on funding in order to do a couple of things. Following the evisceration of the enterprise under this administration.
▶ 0:23:49This committee to oversee the implementation and that is how we ensure americans from infectious diseases, to compete abroad, to deter threats to make us less successful. But the bill earlier this year, turning the page and working together to restore some of the vital work that has been abandoned.
▶ 0:24:16Unfortunately, there are concerning signs the administration is still not properly executing foreign assistance. In your opening statement, you said foreign assistance is being brought under the strategic direction of the state department where it belongs. This was a policy choice that some of us were willing to undergo in some of us were brought into kicking and screaming, to be blunt.
▶ 0:24:42But my request to you now that we are a year into this, is we are going to have to walk this. There are a bunch of things we fought hard for in the bipartisan negotiations to enact legislation on this account.
▶ 0:25:00It makes it a little difficult to do it again if we feel that the statutory language that we passed on a bipartisan basis, reflecting bipartisan priorities among them, are still not being implemented.
▶ 0:25:17And so my purpose is to continue the conversation we had yesterday and two or three weeks ago to get serious about neither of us are trying to generate a click here, we are trying to make sure that the law that we enacted is implemented, and now that foreign assistance has been brought under your purview, I want you to assert the authority and execute on the law and what I know is your basic belief that
▶ 0:25:48Foreign assistance when done right projects american power across the globe. But I'm not interested in what hhs thinks, in what someone at omb things, you have been granted extraordinary authority not just as secretary of state, but national security advisor in one of the closest members of the cabinet to the president.
▶ 0:26:09I want to assert your authority and implement the law we have passed because that is the only way we will be able to pass the new bill. It is hard for me to have swallowed a 13% cut and then argue for another bill if the bill we already passed is not being followed. I look forward to a constructive conversation.
▶ 0:26:34Not necessarily lacking any difficulty, but a constructive conversation about those areas in which I think your leadership is needed to implement the bill we have already passed. Thank you very much. >> Mr. secretary. >> thank you. If you don't mind, I know you have a long night ahead. Instead of a seven minute opening, maybe four minutes? >> I don't know anyone would reject to that.
▶ 0:27:04Thank you -- for the opportunity and constructive way in which we have engaged with the committee and staff. We know we have more work to do. I think you have touched upon it. This is always a work in progress. Our goal was always to his -- align foreign assistance with the strategic lever, the strategic interest of the U.S.. We can go through some of that today.
▶ 0:27:31I think we are on our way to doing it, whether it is realigning our assistance going to asia and the western hemisphere than it has historically in the past, whether it is entering into compacts with individual countries, 32 of them that we can strengthen the domestic capacities and national health systems, whether the ability to arrange agreements with the global fund and others to be able to more effectively deliver their donations, the taxpayer dollars of the U.S.
▶ 0:28:01To these entities. I think that has been valuable. There is a process by which money is appropriated in the country that involves us sharing with you a proposal. Having served here, I did not expect you would take up our proposal and pass it as is. I know that congress has an important role in making determinations.
▶ 0:28:28I take the point that the ranking members made about the role that congress plays once it passes that bill and having compliance with those conditions, we will work with those as well after our meeting. I want you to understand, I think this has been misunderstood, the goal of moving these programs, with exception to the food for peace program which is moot -- been moved over to the agriculture department, they are in a better position to deliver on that.
▶ 0:28:54The goals we had was to say what was the foreign policy in our national interest? To ensure that foreign assistance is a part of that strategy, not a standalone strategy of its own that is not coordinated or related to our broader foreign policy and national interests. Even in my time here, I was a supporter for assistance, I believe the best foreign assistance programs end because the country you are helping no longer needs it. We always cite.
▶ 0:29:25South korea used to be a recipient. A massive recipient. At one time their economy was smaller than north korea. Today, they are not only not a recipient, it is the ninth largest economy in the world and they are a donor state. Not every nation has the capability to achieve what they did in that regard, but every nation state has the ability to become more self-sufficient. Many of them ask for that. Many want that.
▶ 0:29:49In my travels and interactions with leaders around the world, they expressed concerns and frustration that in the past, our foreign aid came with massive strings attached, and if you had focused on this or that, or it came with -- >> [protesters speech -- speaking]
▶ 0:30:16Sen. Rubio: And also because I know every country doesn't have the capability to do that. But a lot expressed concerns that often times, we were doing their countries without ngos without coordinating with the government at all. They had their own priorities, their own systems. We were doing what we thought they needed, not what we were asking for. I think that has helped in that regard. We can go through these details. I will stop and save you the time. Do you have a vote-a-rama? Tomorrow?
▶ 0:30:46Sen. Rubio: Then I can go all night. I'm kidding. That is the one part of being in the senate I don't miss. Vote-a-ramas. Thank you. >> you are welcome to attend if you like. >> I will watch on c-span. >> senator collins. >> thank you Mr. chairman. >> it is wonderful to see you.
▶ 0:31:15Sen. Rubio: Thank you for your service in this new post. Mr. secretary, before the military hostilities with iran began, did the department of state and other parts of the government, department of defense, make an assessment on the likelihood that iran would close or interfere with
▶ 0:31:47Sen. Rubio: Commercial traffic in the strait of hormuz? Especially since 20% of the world's oil goes through that narrow passageway?
▶ 0:31:56Sen. Rubio: Yes, not only was it a known risk factor, but efforts against neighboring countries they wanted to punish. All of those factors were understood and weighed when the president made his decision whether or not to do it. He felt it was imperative iran not be able to establish -- and I agree, not be able to establish a conventional shield that they were building with massive number of drones and missiles. They were on their way to getting double what they had.
▶ 0:32:24Sen. Rubio: If they reached the point with so many missiles and so many drones, plus their naval capabilities that existed at the time, iran would say there is nothing you can do about our nuclear program. If you do, we will overwhelm your defenses with the sheer volume of lunches we have, then they can do whatever they want. It was an unacceptable risk, a risk we are running out of time to address. That was weighed against the risk you outlined, not just the strait of hormuz, but the attacks against kuwait and bahrain and uae and saudi arabia, qatar, against that.
▶ 0:32:56Sen. Rubio: The president made a decision that them not having a nuclear weapon above all else had to be the priority. >> is our country working with our allies in the region, or with american oil producers, canadian oil producers, to look to the future on what could be done to mitigate the consequences of such a
▶ 0:33:27Sen. Rubio: Dependence on this particular strait in the future? It was not the first time iran has done this. During their iran, iraq war, we saw iran try to take control of the strait of hormuz.
▶ 0:33:43Sen. Rubio: It is disturbing that nothing was done in the intervening years to try to figure out other alternative routes that could be used, more pipelines, other ways so that iran does not have such an ability to control the strait of hormuz?
▶ 0:34:03Sen. Rubio: There's an existing western pipeline that does not have capacity to make up for what is happening through the straits. And I think the indications are in the aftermath of what is happening, supply lines, where the world is going to be getting its energy will diversify away from the traffic. Through a variety of means, you will see the construction of more infrastructure that goes to the north.
▶ 0:34:34Sen. Rubio: It is a bit less efficient, but I do think you are starting to see the alignment. They are long term projects. I can't exactly tell you how long it takes to build these pipelines. It is not my area of expertise. The second is going to be the existing global capacity will shift. There are markets increasingly seeking to buy U.S. energy, which we can supply and provide. Historically has not made any sense for them because you can get it faster. Given what is happening, increasing interest.
▶ 0:35:06Sen. Rubio: I think you will start to see real-time deliveries from U.S. refiners and producers into the region. The canadians are stepping into that world as well. >> let me switch to a different issue.
▶ 0:35:25Sen. Rubio: Last month, I led a bipartisan letter to you urging the department to release the $600 million appropriated in fiscal year 2025 and 2026, the vaccine alliance. I would ask unanimous consent that the letter, which many members of this subcommittee signed entered into the record. Without objection.
▶ 0:35:54Sen. Rubio: Plays a critical all in preventing the spread around the globe. And protects public health in our country as well by stopping outbreaks before they reach our borders. That is particularly important because it is responding to the ebola outbreak.
▶ 0:36:18Sen. Rubio: Can you update us on the status of funding and when we can expect to see it obligated consistent with clear congressional intent?
▶ 0:36:28Sen. Rubio: I think a number of you are aware of the particulars, but let me share it's a lot better. We took into account the president's directive hhs cross view. A certain preservative used in vaccines, we don't use the vaccines in the U.S., but they are using vaccines around the world. The ask was that they would stop providing these vaccines with that preservative.
▶ 0:36:55Sen. Rubio: But the problem is they have purchased stocks of these vaccines, the millions of dosage,, we have engaged more heavily, people involved to get this resolved, to figure out an outcome with perhaps there is a phased approach. They made us a counter offer. But it is my hope we can bring this to a risk and on the issue of these preservatives.
▶ 0:37:24Sen. Rubio: They make the point in some of these countries, they don't have the same refrigeration system. So they need to have this preservative. Perhaps a way to face our way through that. We will consult hhs on it. We would like to see the problem solved. I think we can. We are certainly going to try because we want it to be solved. >> in the meantime, the U.S. needs to get that money out.
▶ 0:37:52Sen. Rubio: This is the first time the united states has given up its seat on the board in the partnership's history. I don't think that is a good outcome. I hope we can get that money, which is desperately needed.
▶ 0:38:05Sen. Rubio: That was a consequence of us missing that dues payment. In any deal we strike with them, part of it will be we get our seatback and the money comes. We want to deal with this essential issue, and I think we can get there. We have to work on it. >> thank you. Mr. chairman, I know my time has expired. I will submit my questions for the record.
▶ 0:38:30Sen. Rubio: I just want to point out that there are proven high-impact interventions for pregnant women , prenatal vitamins made in the U.S., and a supplement, rutf, made in the united states, that dramatically improve maternal and child health outcomes and something I will be talking further about the public-private
▶ 0:39:01Sen. Rubio: Partnership to get this kind of supplement out to those who need it globally. Thank you. >> senator schatz. >> thank you, chairman. Secretary, my staffer on the emails between your department, hhs and all of the questions have been answered, I know you are a busy guy, I don't know how many hearings you've had, you are probably not totally up to speed. All of those questions have been answered. They committed to find a way forward.
▶ 0:39:35Sen. Rubio: Either way, I just want to make this extremely clear. You and I have a very good relationship, even though we don't agree on a lot of things. The statute itself gives you this authority, not the secretary of hhs or anybody else. The statute itself requires does not authorize you, -- requires you to move this money.
▶ 0:40:03Sen. Rubio: We have had a lot of reassuring conversations and another six weeks, another 10 weeks, another three months passed by. I understand you are having to navigate internal to the administration. But the statute is not unclear by whose authority it is and what you are obliged to do. Can we get a timeframe for moving this money?
▶ 0:40:30Sen. Rubio: >> I want to get this solved, I believe we will get it solved, I will be engaged in getting it solved. Shortly. How is that? I know that some paper came in, maybe it was yesterday, the day before, a counter offer, a proposal. I was informed of it again this morning.
▶ 0:40:54Sen. Rubio: This was a problem I would like to solve, I would think that hhs point about this preservative is not irrelevant and invalid because we don't use it in our country. I want to account for that as well. We will get this solved. >> thank you, you have 2.5 billion dollars in unspent funds we provided from the global fund since fiscal 2024. It was in title iii of the spill for each year. On the U.S.
▶ 0:41:23Sen. Rubio: Aid stuff, we had a disagreement about the kind of programmatic implementation, but it was hard to argue that the government itself did not have the authority to determine who was a recipient of the grant. The global fund has specified in the statute -- you have an internal cap on U.S.
▶ 0:41:53Sen. Rubio: Contributions, it is not statutory. 33% for every one dollar, you will get two non-american dollars. Not required by law, not even necessarily permitted by law. Even under that, there's still 661 million dollars you can move tomorrow morning. This is not a complicated situation with a preservative, the vaccine interagency, this is entirely your authority.
▶ 0:42:20Sen. Rubio: The 660 $1 million available to be moved, those came from your department. I'm just wondering when we can move this money?
▶ 0:42:32Sen. Rubio: We pledged the 33% cap is one I believe the previous administration used as well. Just to be clear, the amount that is plush, there still $600 million -- so I think that will move quickly. Omb will not allow us to move additional funding beyond the 33% cap.
▶ 0:42:58Sen. Rubio: The purpose is is to encourage donations, make it clear the more you click -- give the global fund, the more it can raise, the more it will provide. My understanding under the biden administration, despite additional appropriations, they did not go above the cap they had imposed, the goal is to encourage more donations to match our amount.
▶ 0:43:21Sen. Rubio: I will take it back on the $600 million, that might be an internal bookkeeping matter that needs to move the money to get us to our pledge. We will give more if they raise more. >> let's talk about the usaid closeout, $16 billion in the usaid account tied towards that were terminated from prior years. There's another $3 billion in the bill that president trump signed into law.
▶ 0:43:51Sen. Rubio: What is happening within your department is the 16 billion dollars is sitting there. $3 billion is being used to cover some closeout costs for usaid. What they are saying is they are going to assess, determine the cost of closeout, and after that, whatever is left over could be provided.
▶ 0:44:15Sen. Rubio: 250 million dollars to combat malaria, 300 $30 million to combat hiv/aids, maternal and child health, 135 million dollars for nutrition programs, $150 million to counter tb. You have $3 million that was passed and enacted by president trump and all of us. None of it is moving until we assess the closeout costs.
▶ 0:44:41Sen. Rubio: Then we are saying whatever is left over for contract closeouts is available for malaria and tb and the rest of it. I think that is inverted. You should use the $16 billion from the canceled contracts to close out what you need to closeout. The $3 billion we enacted for specific purposes should be used for those specific purposes. Can I get your attention on that matter? >> Sen. rubio: sure. A couple points, usaid, it is no longer our purview, not even through my engagements. Basically out of omb.
▶ 0:45:13Sen. Rubio: The closeout fund is not just contracts -- some are tied in litigation, some of the money may be needed because these people want to get paid for the contract, and courts are saying we may rule in their favor. In some cases they might. We have to have funds available. They are still estimating the closeout costs. We have been able to get some money. After our conversation, we talked about ebola response.
▶ 0:45:38Sen. Rubio: Omb released -- I think the number is 250 million dollars from that fund for the ebola response. Theoretically the money not needed for the closeout may be given to the state for programming. We want it to be give to the state for programming. We have programming we can put it towards, including outlines you highlighted. >> the whole point was to move aid under the state department. That was your objective.
▶ 0:46:02Sen. Rubio: Now that there is a pile of money still usaid, it strikes me as a little odd he cannot control those dollars, that was the purpose of enacting this kind of new model. First of all, thank you for releasing those ebola dollars. It also demonstrates you are perfectly capable of getting the money released from those closeout funds if you wish. Di would say ebola is an urgent priority, so it was malaria, tb, and hiv-aids.
▶ 0:46:36Sen. Rubio: >> welcome back to your old place of work, Mr.. I hope you like it at your new job.
▶ 0:46:45Sen. Rubio: Some days I like this one better, some days I like the new one better. Tomorrow will not be one of those days. >> he reported last month the issue of arms sales to taiwan, "did not feature prominently" in president trump's meeting with xi.
▶ 0:47:08Sen. Rubio: He also acknowledged china was "upset" by the approval of a $11 billion in sales. Last month, navy tests paused delivery of sales to taiwan that could be your musician's expenditures and send, because "we." but if it is not about struggles
▶ 0:47:41Sen. Rubio: I see, pushed taiwan to spend billions on U.S. weapons all to balk at actually delivering them. As for yourself, you have been clear eyed about the gravity of chinese ambitions and the threat they pose to our interests. You know why the optics of this policy are not great.
▶ 0:48:08Sen. Rubio: What is the administration's calculus and what are you doing to reassure taiwan and U.S. treaty allies in the region they can actually count on her commitment?
▶ 0:48:22Sen. Rubio: A couple points. We don't consult with the chinese on these sales. But we don't consult with them. That is keeping with our long-standing policies, which have not changed. The second point I would make is we just did an $11 billion sale in december. The reason we know the chinese were upset was not because they told us, there were five planes, cross the center line, a very aggressive response. It was the single largest arms sale to taiwan I believe in history, just included in december.
▶ 0:48:50Sen. Rubio: The cumulative amount with larger than four years of biting combined and the six years president obama gave no sales, zero, as president to taiwan. This current one is not on pause, it is under review. It is $14 billion. It has implications on our defense industrial base and what the production will look like in the balance of these other things. It is going through the internal deal w review. I don't think the right terminology is paused, it just continues to be under review as it is being processed.
▶ 0:49:22Sen. Rubio: We did the single largest sale to taiwan in history, that is very substantial. That happened under this administration not very long ago. >> another issue that is probably not real high on your radar, but something I had an interest in for a long time, I've never been able to figure out how to make a difference, and that is democracy in burma.
▶ 0:49:52Sen. Rubio: And last year's budget hearing, I asked about the administration's plan to counter chinese influence in burma. A year later, I still don't see a coherent strategy on that. The department repeatedly declined to obligate funds to implement the burma act. And it soft and its policy toward chinese backed military who just.
▶ 0:50:21Sen. Rubio: So when hong kong's pro-democracy advocates were under attack, you stood by them on principle and because friends of democracy tend to be friends of america. So does the state department have a preference on whether burma is ruled by chinese backed junta or by duly elected civilian leaders?
▶ 0:50:46Sen. Rubio: Or is the policy toward burma agnostic toward values and stable outcomes? >> I don't think our policies will ever be agnostic anywhere in the world. If we had a choice of preference, we would prefer a deal with the democratically elected government one that isthan not. The challenge in burma is the chinese hold a tremendous amount of leverage over that system.
▶ 0:51:11Sen. Rubio: We have tried to search for creative ways with which we can have a relationship with elements within burma. Because both of the regime that is in place, brutal in the way it has governed. So we continue to seek opportunities to change that dynamic and see if the baby steps are in leaps to provide a unique opening and opportunity.
▶ 0:51:39Sen. Rubio: To your fundamental question, ideally, -- and by the way, dealing with democracies not always easy. They change governments. Sometimes a person who got elected is a little less fairly just than the others. Over times, unelected government is much more stable and much more in our interests than otherwise. In some cases, you don't get that option, unfortunately. I'm not saying burma is incapable of democracy.
▶ 0:52:06Sen. Rubio: As the circumstances exist right now, we are still searching for creative, innovative ways in which we can find their way to have some relationships with individuals to make a difference and give them a chance to make that difference. >> I've got time for one more. I appreciate the administration's efforts in the decades long war against america and israel. But I worry our public diplomacy on this has been self-defeating.
▶ 0:52:36Sen. Rubio: We had tools in place since the cold war reached freedom loving people under censorship. They are hosted primarily on the U.S. agency for global media. But even as the president spoke directly to the iranian people, the administration has repeatedly allowed usa gm to withhold funding from the international broadcast education design to help its message reach audiences who are
▶ 0:53:09Sen. Rubio: Under repression. So I would like to hear your view on the usa guarantee organizations like radio florida and the open technology fund.
▶ 0:53:24Sen. Rubio: What is the department doing to leverage and communicate with iranian citizens, and what role should that agency guarantee play in countering censorship and oppression from the prc and china?
▶ 0:53:43Sen. Rubio: The agency is in the purview of this committee. It runs ancillary to the state, but we do not run it or control it. Some had involved appointed by the white house, that appointment was removed by a court decision. All of the decisions they made were also rehearsed. In my role as national security advisor, we are involved in finding a restart to get the program. I believe it has futility in value.
▶ 0:54:11Sen. Rubio: In the 21st century, one of the questions we will ask ourselves is not just to provide broadcasting to these places, but whether we should get more into the access business, meeting using part of that funding and part of that programming not simply to have a radio station, but giving people the tools to circumvent censorship and be able to access news and information from around the world and more importantly, communicate with one another.
▶ 0:54:35Sen. Rubio: One of the things you will find consistently with a totalitarian system is they want them to communicate with one another. It is why russia has started its own internet, its own internal systems. It is why china does not allow american social media platforms to operate, it is why iran shut down the internet. That was one of the first things they did one hostilities began, they don't want their 50 communicating with one another. It was my tool in my toolbox.
▶ 0:55:05Sen. Rubio: In my other capacity, it is when I have given emphasis to and hopefully will have something to bring you that complies with the court order and furthers our national interests. >> thank you Mr. chairman. >> thank you Mr. secretary, it is good to see you. I think you might have been at the same briefing I attended when vladimir putin invaded ukraine. We were asking our experts how long is this war going to last? Some of them suggested two weeks.
▶ 0:55:36Sen. Rubio: Valium people, but they are up against one of the largest militaries in the world. Here we are four and a half years later, the ukrainians are still valiantly, successfully fighting day in and day out. I never had any doubt in my mind whose side I was on, in terms of the war in ukraine. My mother was born in lithuania. I know the russians through the czar and the soviets and history I read, and I know their ambitions and they are not consistent with the valleys of this country.
▶ 0:56:05Sen. Rubio: I'm trying to figure out exactly where we are as a nation when it comes to the war in ukraine. And I think of some specifics. The $400 million that we appropriated to help the ukrainian people fight this war has bounced back and forth. Is it finally resolved, are we going to send it to the ukrainians?
▶ 0:56:25Sen. Rubio: That is going through the interagency process right now. I saw last friday something on it. I think you will see news on that soon. >> that is what secretary hegseth said two or three weeks ago and nothing has happened. Here they are fighting for their lives, faith and ballistic missiles, they don't have the defense that they need, valiantly doing everything they can to save their people. And we are going through some bureaucratic malaise -- I'm not sure what.
▶ 0:56:55Sen. Rubio: >> it is going through the interagency process, there are a couple of stops along the way, they got tied up a little bit. I have seen that as secretary of state, the inter-national security advisor. >> will it be help we can send them quickly that they need?
▶ 0:57:12Sen. Rubio: In particular, the thing we worry about is in the winter. A brutal winter last year, there is indication it could be just as brutal this year. Especially the inability to generate edge -- energy. There is trying to get this resolved and delivered. >> I realize with the strait of hormuz, we found ourselves buying oil from the russians. Is that your understanding?
▶ 0:57:37Sen. Rubio: Treasury has lifted from a short-term basis the sanctions on the sale of some russian oil. Primarily as a trade-off. But designed to get more oil into the market to stabilize global prices. This is not a permanent change to our policy. It is a timely one that was just extended by another 30 days. >> not that long ago, we characterize russia as one of the hard targets in the world for the U.S., are they still? >> is still remains a challenge.
▶ 0:58:07Sen. Rubio: Back to your point, I don't think there is any doubt. In the minds of most observers, and I would say some insider pressure, the invasion of ukraine has been a strategic disaster. They will not achieve the objectives they set out on, they may not even be able to militarily ever achieve the objectives they are demanding now in negotiations. This war has no military solution. It has to have a negotiated settlement to it.
▶ 0:58:33Sen. Rubio: That is the role we have tried to play and it has been difficult because we are not an impartial mediator. We sanction russia and we are providing sold weapons through the perl program, which has remained unimpeded, to the ukrainians. Unfortunately, those talks have stalled in recent months for a variety of reasons. The ukrainians made some battlefield gains in the last month as well.
▶ 0:58:53Sen. Rubio: The russians are losing 5000 -- it is the first conflict according to the department of war, one of the first conflicts ever in which the death rate is higher than the casualty rate on the russian side. The first time ever that you have more deaths and casualties. Right now the ukrainians are fighting, effectively fighting. The role we want to play as if there is a way to negotiate, ultimately the end of this will be negotiated.
▶ 0:59:20Sen. Rubio: But it has been difficult because of the demands both sides have to end it are far apart. >> I would like to take you to what happened last night. 12 hours ago or so. When the russians were attacking ukraine, again killing civilians. While the ukrainians were attacking the russians in st. Petersburg.
▶ 0:59:47Sen. Rubio: They destroyed some of their infrastructure and oil producing facilities. It is especially interesting to vladimir putin because it is a week in the russian davos.
▶ 0:59:58Sen. Rubio: We never attended, but I'm familiar. >> why would the U.S. send an official delegation to the russian davos to talk about economic development in russia?
▶ 1:00:09Sen. Rubio: I'm not aware of the delegation that went. I'm aware of that event, I know they were hosting one. I don't think it would have been a high-level official. >> I'm not sure what level it is, but to think we had anything official, including stephen siegel, the actor, as one of the people representing the U.S., are you familiar with it?
▶ 1:00:28Sen. Rubio: I'm familiar with who he is. Not a government official. Back to your point, I think the broader point, about these attacks, russia has always been capable of the long-range strikes. In kyiv, you have seen the increased intensity. The cranes have been effective against them. That is the one dynamic that has changed.
▶ 1:00:54Sen. Rubio: Ukrainians becoming increasingly effective at long-range strikes deep against critical nodes of the russian economy. One of the things that reminds us why it is important to bring the war to an end, the risk of escalation is real. More than it was two years ago. >> we have a sanctions bill here that might do that. I would like to close with one personal note.
▶ 1:01:17Sen. Rubio: You joined me when you were a member of the senate to bring clean drinking water and sanitation to some of the poorest people on earth, we have reached 76 million people with water, 58 million with sanitation. That program is still on the books, are we going to find it?
▶ 1:01:32Sen. Rubio: We are, about $100 million in total we will spend. On the sanctions bill, I know we have been working with senator graham and others on the office of legal counsel, going back and forth on some language. I think you will get on your bill in terms of what you need to have. >> thank you, senator. Just to pick up on that point.
▶ 1:02:02Sen. Rubio: You have done a great shout for our country. I'm glad you are there. You have been working really hard. It is appreciated by many of us. Secretary rubio, about -- do you agree the blockade has hurt the iranian economy?
▶ 1:02:18Sen. Rubio: Yes, denying them upwards of $300 million of revenue. >> the reason it has hurt their economy is because the economy is basically based around oil and gas sales.
▶ 1:02:30Sen. Rubio: Largely. That would be the core of the revenue. >> do you agree the soft underbelly of the russian economy is oil and gas sales?
▶ 1:02:40Sen. Rubio: Again, that is one of the commodities -- they have agricultural sales, but oil and gas are leading. >> in the bill you just mentioned, which is enormous bipartisan support, to give the president the ability if he chooses, to put tariffs and sanctions on countries that buy cheap russian oil and prop up their economy, you support that concept?
▶ 1:03:03Sen. Rubio: I support having those tools available for the president, especially if we are trying to reach a negotiated agreement. The tools we have at our disposal is a role we can play in this. >> this will come from congress I have our blessing. A better situation. Like china and india, china buys the most oil from russia, the most oil from iran. To our friends in china, if you would stop this it would end both of these wars.
▶ 1:03:34Sen. Rubio: We hope to give you that too soon to the president, thank you for your help to get it done. Do you agree that under our law there is an agreement with iran that the iran nuclear agreement review act would have to come to congress? >> it is a pretty tightly written bill, and so it does have specific requirements about elements of the nuclear program that would have to be noticed to congress.
▶ 1:03:58Sen. Rubio: >> when it comes to any deal that may be entered with iran, and I hope you can, hezbollah is a terrorist organization, correct?
▶ 1:04:10Sen. Rubio: Yes, correct. >> in the future, if ron helps hezbollah, will there be anything in the deal to punish iran for doing that?
▶ 1:04:18Sen. Rubio: That is what we want. The primary thread is the nuclear weapons. That is what we want to be able to fix. They can never have a nuclear weapon. Their ability to exploit terror and finance it in the region -- there could be sanctions just on that. >> october 7 had nothing to do with their nuclear program. It was generated by proxies, killed 1200 israelis, it just shows you the power of these proxies.
▶ 1:04:48Sen. Rubio: Any successful containment of iran would have to contain their proxies like hezbollah. I'm glad you are at that part of the deal. When it comes to the deal itself, the nuclear part to make sure it doesn't have a nuclear weapon, do you agree that without enrichment, you can't make bond material if you don't have the ability to enrich, you cannot make bond material? >> unless someone is willing to sell you 90%.
▶ 1:05:18Sen. Rubio: >> that is not making it, that is buying it. Over 20 countries have peaceful programs that don't enrich. It is my view whatever deal you do with iran, it should not be allowed at all. They will have an agreement, do you agree with that concept?
▶ 1:05:36Sen. Rubio: We have offered it to them. We offered -- access free for yield -- which they declined. >> they won't enrich to make a bomb? They want to continue to enrich to make a bomb?
▶ 1:05:53Sen. Rubio: What they want is a civilian nuclear program. They can have it, the other countries have it. You don't have to enrich -- >> if the past is any indication of the future, they took what was supposed to be a limited civilian program and were able to make a 900 pounds of 60% highly enriched uranium, right?
▶ 1:06:14Sen. Rubio: Approximately. >> they cheat. Will anything make you believe in the future they would cheat for good?
▶ 1:06:22Sen. Rubio: That is what they would have to do with strong verifications. >> the jcpoa allowed enrichment. You agree they had no enrichment capability, it would be hard to cheat because you don't have anything to cheat with.
▶ 1:06:35Sen. Rubio: That is right. >> good. When it comes to cuba, you know what you're talking about. Congratulations on venezuela. They're all you have played to get venezuela from communism, to a friend of america, tell us about why we should care as a nation for the regime and cuba to fall?
▶ 1:07:07Sen. Rubio: >> briefly on venezuela, this is five months ago. We are not where we need to be. A lot more needs to happen and needs to be done. It includes free and fair elections and the conditions for that need to be created. We certainly feel like venezuela no longer poses the threat to our national interest it did five months ago as someone who openly cooperated with narco trafficking cartels and ran with himself. In the case of cuba, the proximity alone makes it.
▶ 1:07:33Sen. Rubio: But you have a failed state 90 miles from our shores that hosts russian and chinese intelligence apparatus in their country, a long history of supporting violent leftist markets -- marxist groups in the region and anti-american groups in the region. A destabilizing force for years. But the failed state friendly to our adversaries is in and of itself a national security situation. I would say this about cuba, we want cuba to be a country to enjoy the things.
▶ 1:08:06Sen. Rubio: All of the caribbean basis for the most part. It is not even run by a government, it is run by -- who controls 70% of the gdp of the country and sitting on $18 billion. Not a single penny of the money that conglomerate generates transfers over to the national treasury. It does not build bridges, roads, schools, does not do any of it. Those are the people that have to agree to normalize cuba.
▶ 1:08:39Sen. Rubio: >> god bless your efforts to do that. Venezuela and cuba going from the communist column to what you are describing is a great advancement for our hemisphere and the people of those countries as well as america. President trump has said after the iran nuclear deal, he wants to expand the abraham accords. Biden and many people in this panel here to try to get saudi arabia to recognize it under biden's watch.
▶ 1:09:08Sen. Rubio: I want to applaud president trump for saying that would be the game changer of all game changers. Can you agree with that?
▶ 1:09:16Sen. Rubio: I do. >> why do they include saudi arabia? Why is that so important?
▶ 1:09:22Sen. Rubio: It is self evident. With regards to the united arab emirates, if you can create the strong economic people to people in the recognition, it creates tight bonds that extend beyond the defense. It extends to economics in ways they are enjoying prosperity. It makes a lot of sense from an economic standpoint.
▶ 1:09:47Sen. Rubio: From the technology sector, it would be beneficial to these countries that would join, and the resources these countries have would be beneficial to israel. We want to expend the abraham accords, it is difficult to do at the moment. We are laying the groundwork. It would be a top priority. >> finally, saudi arabia is different than any other country, the key for the holy sites of islam, the center of islam as we know it.
▶ 1:10:13Sen. Rubio: If they join folks, a lot of other muslim nations will join, north africa will be the biggest change in our lifetime. Senator murray -- >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Secretary. You are not only the secretary of state, you are also the president's national security advisor. Those are both full-time jobs.
▶ 1:10:41Sen. Rubio: Let alone as we have troops deployed in multiple conflicts around the world and the president is threatening to invade cuba. I want to ask you specifically about iran, you are one of a handful of top aides with a seat at the table with the president ultimately deciding to launch the iran war, did you advise the president against the U.S. war?
▶ 1:11:05Sen. Rubio: I will never tell anybody what I advise the president, I agree with it that is a decision he was made. The conventional seat shield and about a year would have been impenetrable. And it would break out to a weapon. >> this is a question that millions of americans are asking how on earth did we get here?
▶ 1:11:35Sen. Rubio: I want to know what you did advise the president. Were you for or against this war? Did you, the secretary of state and national security advisor, have no opinion?
▶ 1:11:44Sen. Rubio: I support the president's decision. But I cannot tell you and will never do -- nobody in my role is ever going to a meeting and say I told the president this -- I cannot do that and I will not do that. It is not wise or fair. The president made the right decision. That is my view. I always have. >> back in march, you said the war would end in weeks, not months.
▶ 1:12:13Sen. Rubio: And here we are in four months, hundreds of troops injured or killed, billions of dollars later. Trump promised everybody he would lower prices and no new wars. Now we have higher prices, new war. Trump promised the american people the war would be fast and decisive. It has been slow and secret and endless. The majority of americans to oppose this conflict. But my constituents are telling me they want child care, health care to be more affordable.
▶ 1:12:43Sen. Rubio: They don't want trump to have $1.5 trillion more for a defense budget to start wars around the globe. I hear that constantly from so many people. Sec. Rubio, diplomacy helps keep us safe here at home. By mitigating conflict, mitigating disease, other global threats.
▶ 1:13:08Sen. Rubio: The budget that you are here to defend, which would/the work to the bone while sending war spending through the roof, makes clear that diplomacy is trump's last priority. And it is not just the budget or the unhinged rants attacking allies like greenland and canada are threatening to end civilizations or trump treating more like a game, the white house posting literal videogame edits as if he were not getting american soldiers injured.
▶ 1:13:37Sen. Rubio: It is also the actions you have taken over the past year. The state department concerned -- concern, to spending foreign aid, advocating leadership. Under your leadership it is deeply concerning things like the state leaving -- left 500 tons of food to rot in ports and it had to be incinerated. Or pushing out thousands of pounds, thousands of dedicated public servants, including families who put country first here and left their home to serve around the world.
▶ 1:14:07Sen. Rubio: Only to be sacked with no reset. I have heard from them. Meanwhile, you were planning to put trump's face on U.S. passports as if that is going to help our image when that is happening. And the hack and slash job you have done for foreign assistance and this budget has not only shattered america's global leadership, it has led to millions of preventable deaths.
▶ 1:14:33Sen. Rubio: Programs have been frozen, rents have been canceled, life-saving work utterly turned upside down. I want to talk about global health, the stakes of life and death are here. Ffr supported pepfar supported testing fewer people than they are before. Hiv-positive moms used to be tested within hours of birth and treatment started immediately for positive cases.
▶ 1:15:03Sen. Rubio: Now babies are not even being tested until they are six weeks old. You are not just cutting resources I just reference but actually cutting the united states out of the conversation on global health threats and leaving all of us less prepared. -- we are in the middle of a deadly ebola epidemic and a hantavirus outbreak.
▶ 1:15:28Sen. Rubio: This administration has halted funding to the world health organization and you are currently withholding nearly $2 billion in fy 25 global health funding that was appropriated with bipartisan support here, signed into law by president trump and expires in less than four months. I know that people funding somehow miraculously started moving when we were seeing bad headlines but what is moving right now is less than 2% of what is available.
▶ 1:15:56Sen. Rubio: So my point is the delay in mobilizing resources has cost us valuable time and let this disease kill more people. And the fact is we already had the support systems in place -- they were in place until this administration destroyed them.
▶ 1:16:17Sen. Rubio: Even as we steer down a crisis caused by this administration's incompetence in my opinion, you are here today to defend a budget that doubles down on that, that is what is really disturbing to me. With a 40% cut to global health programs in this budget.
▶ 1:16:33Sen. Rubio: To my point of view, this budget does not make america great again again, it makes the world sicker and less safe and I am just talking about the cuts that you are proposing with his budget because we cannot ignore the biggest line item in the president's overall budget in front of us which is war, $1.5 trillion for war. Not a cent for child care or make health care more affordable. That's the budget you are here today to defend.
▶ 1:17:02Sen. Rubio: And it spends 1.5 trillion dollars on war. It slashes your department to ribbons. That is what is concerning to me as you come before the committee today to back this request up. It seems to me we are cutting diplomacy and paying defense contractors, and I believe from my point of view -- I know you disagree with me -- but I think this is the wrong way for our country to go. The budget is a statement of values.
▶ 1:17:31Sen. Rubio: I think it is in big question where the values are in this budget. So -- that's where I am.
▶ 1:17:43Sec. Rubio: I don't know if I can get all the topics but I will get most of them. Because I strongly disagree with almost everything that you set. -- said. A couple points, let's talk about the state department. The state department was one of the least impacted.
▶ 1:17:56Sen. Murray: I'm not talking about least impacted.
▶ 1:17:58Sec. Rubio: Let's be frank. Not a single overseas employee from the state department -- the vast majority of the reduction came from a career in civil service. The foreign service and we got rid of the bureaus and put the power on regional bureaus. We already see the impact of it. Let's walk through the programs you pointed to.
▶ 1:18:22Sec. Rubio: Our disaster response today around the world -- we combined those accounts -- is faster than it's ever been and more effective than it's ever been. A reality. We responded to hurricanes in the caribbean -- jamaica and cuba. 3 $1 million in aid to cuba. We have responded to two typhoons in the end of pacific faster than we have ever responded because we combined and consolidated accounts and were able to move quickly in that regard.
▶ 1:18:51Sec. Rubio: You mentioned pepfar, the reality is you have to combine it with all these other programs that were involved. If you look at the numbers for the third quarter of 2026 -- 2025, the exact number of people that were receiving medications were receiving them during that time, and it's going to improve because we are adding innovation to it. There have been recent innovations in in treatments are more effective than some of the legacy programs are available.
▶ 1:19:21Sec. Rubio: It is clear that you are the secretary because you are very good at words --
▶ 1:19:29Sen. Murray: It is clear that you are the secretary because were very good at words. I stand by my statement. I just will.
▶ 1:19:33Sec. Rubio: What was that?
▶ 1:19:34Sen. Murray: I will stand by all the fact that I gave.
▶ 1:19:37Sec. Rubio: But I get a chance to respond, right?
▶ 1:19:39Sen. Murray: My time is up. It is up to the chair.
▶ 1:19:43Sec. Rubio: On the other things you are not talking about, there is a global health company we are entering with 32 countries, 27 of them in africa, basically going to the country saying, we used to give money for health care and maternal care, and we used to have it in a bucket and it was maternal care c1
▶ 1:20:40Sec. Rubio: -- allowing us to become a value-added to the strategy and build the capacity. That is something that has not been talked about. Look at what we've done with ocha -- osha in geneva with her anger pledge of $2 billion in support for the 18 country based crisis level pull funds. This will allow us to respond in a more effective way.
▶ 1:21:04Sec. Rubio: The mobile phone has put out repeated statements thinking the united states for the role we are playing and we are prepared to do more of donors match what we are providing, we are prepared to do more in that regard. The point is this is not about -- this is not about denying or being punitive towards the world but by delivering aid in a more effective and concise and consolidated way that gets more aid to more people faster. We are well on her way to achieving it.
▶ 1:21:33Sec. Rubio: As far as a budget is concerned, we operate under guidance that tells us this is how much you have, tell us what you would do if this is what you get. We present this to you. Having served for a long time, perhaps you missed this point, we always understand there's going to be a congressional process.
▶ 1:21:48Sec. Rubio: You will look at her request and generally ignore it but in many cases add to it or reframe it and we are prepared to work with you as we did last year in the passage of an appropriation bill which we would like to see passed. It gives. . Us the structure that we need in order to carry out these reforms.
▶ 1:22:08Sen. Slotkin: Mr. secretary, I just will tell you -- I appreciate you have words to explain everything from your point of view. I'm talking from reality on the ground and from what I am seeing and hearing and I
▶ 1:23:31Sen. Slotkin: What role does the state department still play? >> our embassies, in some cases we have the department of people embedded in our embassies. Ultimately they will serve as a kinley is point with host countries that are in need of recipients.
▶ 1:23:57Sen. Slotkin: By and large we felt the transfer made sense, representing agricultural states, because at the end of the date of wood for peace program is an american agricultural program to benefit the world. As part of its will of our foreign policy, we fall it would be better executed through the department of agriculture so we commit to doing everything we can to facilitate the transition and implementation.
▶ 1:24:21Sen. Slotkin: >> I assume that would include if food for face funds are -- for peace funds are appropriated in this process, you won't keep it, you are sure as will be utilized at usda. >> yes. We are committed to this is part of our reform. >> yes so we will keep it? >> we don't have any intention on keeping it. You may need to do it that way because of the way you are currently structured.
▶ 1:24:58Sen. Slotkin: >> it needs to be made certain again in the new year that is utilized. >> that will also shift the jurisdiction here. >> that is true. >> let me ask you a question about oil sanctions waiver. I am concerned about the decisions that have been made on three occasions, to issue waivers for russian oil sales. President trump it was right to impose the sanctions last fall.
▶ 1:25:26Sen. Slotkin: The waivers provide moscow with badly needed revenue. And I think make little difference to american consumers in the price of gas. If russia is struggling to make gains on the battlefield, I don't want them to have additional revenue assets to further their cause. Is a difficult thing to negotiate to bring these parties together.
▶ 1:25:53Sen. Slotkin: It's really important for ukraine to have the resources necessary to stay on the battle if the ultimate outcome is a negotiated settlement. >> I acknowledge the trade-off. These are short-term waivers be over the permanent policy in the U.S. remains the sanctions are in place. And the reason for the short term waiver is the trade-off and that is there are some countries around the world depending on where they are located to be dependent on the straits. We are not.
▶ 1:26:22Sen. Slotkin: Countries that are deeply dependent on them and have no other way to get fuel at the shipments are not getting through, this was a short-term sort of decision to make more oil available in the global market to be able to address the needs some of those countries are facing and stabilize global prices akin to the releases you have seen from a couple of places. That is not a permanent change to our policy. >> they have been renewed a couple of times at least and I hope that they will shortly come to a conclusion. >> the first one was 45 days.
▶ 1:26:57Sen. Slotkin: I don't recall of the second one was 30 or 45 days. The baseline policy remains what it was before. At some point the waivers will end unless something dramatic happens to end the war in ukraine. >> in your team of state department officials, our ambassadors that represent the united states and nation around the globe, what is the status of the nominations to fill vacancies? >> not good enough.
▶ 1:27:25Sen. Slotkin: I would like to have more ambassadors. There's a couple reasons why that happens. We have some -- of the person in charge is usually highly capable career present. I understand the need for ambassadors. We have had three complex it is here. The first is the pace of confirmations. We have gotten about 100 confirmations total for the department. There are a few more on the way this week or next week. So that is number one.
▶ 1:27:53Sen. Slotkin: The second is frankly the pace of nominations. We have had some people that have expressed interest and they start going through the vetting process and decide they don't want to do it so they pulled out for a variety of reasons. It's a pretty intensive situation so attracting people on the noncareer site has been problematic in some places that we have gotten good candidates in the pipeline. It sometimes takes months to clear through the paperwork.
▶ 1:28:17Sen. Slotkin: And the third is we are finally working through the career front, the recommendations percolating up, we will have another class of about 30 some oddd career nominees that we will be bringing to the senate shortly that should be able to pass fairly quickly but we agreed I would like to see those numbers look dramatically different.
▶ 1:28:37Sen. Slotkin: >> one more question before my 52 seconds departs, I returned from a trip with a couple of my colleagues recently, on a visit to china, we talked about many things but I just want to raise one, is there any evidence of precursor chemicals coming to mexico or the U.S. that china is serious about diminishing and ending that practice?
▶ 1:29:02Sen. Slotkin: >> I would say remember many of the supply chain -- many of the critical mineral supply chain that have been denied to parts of the world including the united states were theoretical threats 2-3 years ago. It actually happen, they have done it. I think you have to assume that critical dependency on any single source around the world is dangerous.
▶ 1:29:31Sen. Slotkin: It can be disrupted by a pandemic or a strategic counter response or something you do that they don't like. It is an unacceptable risk with 80% of the active ingredients in our pharmaceuticals are so sourced -- still sourced from one place.
▶ 1:29:52Sen. Slotkin: One of our most critical priorities is to diversify where we are getting that including increasing domestic production because the threat may be theoretical today but we have to assume it will not be theoretical one day in a moment of crisis or conflict. >> thank you, secretary. >> senator shaheen. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Good afternoon, secretary rubio. Glad that you are here.
▶ 1:30:15Sen. Slotkin: I jus wantt to follow up a little bit -- I just want to follow up a little bit on the questions of ambassadorial positions. The nominees are not being submitted to us and those nominees who start to go through the process often are not willing to comply with the ethics requirements that require they divest outside holdings.
▶ 1:30:47Sen. Slotkin: The united states has more than 100 vacant ambassador posts. I'm sure you are aware of that. China has 20. Africa alone, 37 of our 51 embassies have no ambassador and china is filling that vacuum. And you just sent over 20 nominees of whom only four are career people. The problem is in the administration.
▶ 1:31:14Sen. Slotkin: I hope that you will begin to take up the slack by appointing more career ambassadors. I want to go back to the question about ukraine. You have rightly recognized peace talks have stalled.
▶ 1:31:34Sen. Slotkin: It's is important to point out negotiations have failed because russia, not ukraine, strung along the administration in its efforts to bring a peace deal and the only way to end the war I thes for president trump and administration to finally put some pressure on vladimir putin and russia. Late last year the russian central bank warned the russian economy was slowing sharply.
▶ 1:32:00Sen. Slotkin: Russia wasn't that and making contingency plans to fund the war effort in ukraine. This is the time for us to increase pressure on russia. What have we done instead of that? We have done exactly what senator moran said. We have lifted the general license and are allowing the russians to make $4 billion a month because of the lifting of the sanctions on its oil.
▶ 1:32:33Sen. Slotkin: I want to also go back to the discussion you had with senator schatz or you talked about $19 billion in closeout for usaid because you rightly pointed out one of the challenges in ukraine is energy costs. And one point $7 billion of that $19 billion is funding fromt he aeeca account which is an account for all nonsecurity, nonhealth related issues for your.
▶ 1:33:25Sen. Slotkin: Because of the attacks by russia. I think it's important to note the increased attacks coming into ukraine from russia. Particularly drone attacks. Are you willing to spend some of those $1.7 billion to address some of the concerns you point out and we agree that ukraine has in fighting this war?
▶ 1:33:50Sen. Slotkin: >> we did last year and anticipate we will do so again but on the point of the chart, the reason why those strikes began to increase is because of the inability to make sufficient gains in the front lines so the only way to impose costs is to punish them deeply. >> which is why now is a time to put pressure on russia because russia is feeling it.
▶ 1:34:11Sen. Slotkin: So let's get them to know the -- get them to the negotiating table and lasting peace in ukraine and that is not going to happen as long as we are pussyfooting around with putin and letting him get away with stringing the president along. >> this president impose additional sections on russia last year. It remains one of the most ancient countries on the planet by the united states.
▶ 1:34:37Sen. Slotkin: Event on the oil in the short-term extension given on the short-term waiver given, the oil was still being sold. They were not making the money they are making now because they had to sell it at a discount. >> if we went after the shadow flick, we would do a much better job of putting pressure on russia's economy. My question is to go back to the $1.7 billion.
▶ 1:35:03Sen. Slotkin: Are you willing to spend that to address the urgent challenges ukraine is facing? >> we anticipate we will do so because we don't want to seek -- see calamity there. Ukraine remains a purchaser under the program paid for through europe. That is ongoing.
▶ 1:35:31Sen. Slotkin: >> the fact is as senator durbin pointed out, we have not put the kind of pressure on russia that would force them to come to the negotiating table. And that is a question I am raising. Maybe -- I hope I understood you to say that you were going to support the graham blumenthal sanctions bill, that I understand that correctly? You as a representative of the administration.
▶ 1:36:00Sen. Slotkin: >> I will follow the lead of the administration's decision. The white house office of legal counsel along with the inner agency has been working with senator graham's office on the details of that bill and providing feedback on things that will be acceptable. That shows an intent. >> we have been working on that bill as well. With senator graham and blumenthal.
▶ 1:36:26Sen. Slotkin: My understanding is we are still waiting after months for the white house to make a decision on whether this is something that will support. >> as recently as yesterday comments came back from one of our agencies, treasury on the bill,, on the broader topic of at the end of the day we have not -- all of her sanctions are on russia and all the aid we have provided has been on the ukrainian side.
▶ 1:36:54Sen. Slotkin: E we we are not an impartial mediator here, we are supporting one side over another. You may think we need to be putting more pressure on russia. >> I clearly think we need to be putting more pressure on russia and I think there is bipartisan agreement in this senate that we should be putting more pressure and the sanctions bill would do that in a way that would force russia to come to the table and finally fulfill the promise that president trump made to end the war on day one, that is what he
▶ 1:37:25Sen. Slotkin: Said when he was running for president and here we are almost a year and a half into the administration and he has let russia and putin off the hook. >> I disagree with that statement. >> we will have to disagree on that.
▶ 1:37:39Sen. Slotkin: >> can tell you at the highest levels of our administration, we have committed an extra near him on a time to the ukrainian situation and trying to resolve it meeting after meeting all around the world many of which I attended myself to bridge differences between the sides, we have not been successful to date but not for lack of trying.
▶ 1:38:01Sen. Slotkin: >> you rightly impose sanctions on luke oil and you have lifted those and you have given russia the ability to continue to fund the war in ukraine. >> the sanctions remain in place, was been granted and is -- granted is a license for a short time. >> we are arguing semantics here. >> it is a trade offer up foreign policy.
▶ 1:38:29Sen. Slotkin: >> they are not being hurt by the sanctions that were put in place. >> there are plenty of other sanctions that are hurting them but I will tell you that in that case, have acknowledge there was a trade-off here between the destabilization of the oil countries in the in the pacific in particular and the decision that was made in the short term on the specific oil. >> accept the cost of a barrel of oil was $100 when you lifted the sanctions and that is still over a hundred dollars. >> -- >> it was intended.
▶ 1:38:59Sen. Slotkin: >> is not just the cause, it was the availability. >> we appreciate you being here. I appreciate the tremendous job that you are doing on the world stage. As secretary. And all the other jobs the administration is doing in a number of different areas. Most of my questions have been answered. I want to talk to you about the U.S. foundation for national security and counterterrorism.
▶ 1:39:27Sen. Slotkin: You are aware that was done when you were here. This committee had a tremendous amount to do with getting that passed. My question is -- it is so important for a number of different reasons, that this area is traditionally mineral rich and things, building a relationship that we need there were so very important.
▶ 1:39:52Sen. Slotkin: What I would like for you to do is we are kind of stuck, not getting organized, if you could commit somebody to work with us to kind of figure out how we need to go forward organizationally so we can go and get up and running. >> I have had four hearings in two days and this one has come up so I assure you we are watching a close look.
▶ 1:40:19Sen. Slotkin: I think there was an initial list that was produced by the personnel office at the white house that that is -- vets all appointments biarritz edition that came from congress -- suggestions that came from congress to produce new names so we can get that word stood up once and for all so I don't have to keep answering questions about the board. >> I think that illustrates it has wide support in congress. >> was here when it passed.
▶ 1:40:50Sen. Slotkin: >> it took a long time to get done. We appreciate that. The other thing I would like to talk to you about is the fulbright scholarship program. I am always amazed and traveling. -- n -- in traveling. You visit everyone from the premonition around town and it's amazing the number of people who have gone through that program. And many other programs where they have come study in the U.S. very familiar with their culture.
▶ 1:41:22Sen. Slotkin: So very helpful you've got that frame of reference. As you start visiting with them. What we would like to do is continue to expand those or continue as we are doing now as we go forward and support those programs. Can you talk a little bit about the importance of those and how we can be helpful? >> you have pointed to the reason why, you see that in multiple realms, not just fulbright.
▶ 1:41:52Sen. Slotkin: Any time a foreign leader or someone prominent in a country has had experiences in the U.S. whether studying at universities or attending one of our military academies or national defense college, training of some sort, it proves to generally be positive and creates a link that is powerful and positive.
▶ 1:42:15Sen. Slotkin: Identifying future leaders of other countries and allowing them to have exposure to U.S. culture and society generally speaking as a positive and something we want to continue to do within the constraints we face which are -- we face budgetarily and otherwise. >> very good. Senator coons. >> thank you, secretary.
▶ 1:42:45Sen. Slotkin: I'm just going to continue this one of many things we have worked out over many years as a U.S. foundation for national security and counterterrorism. Good for animals, but for terrorists -- bad for terrorists, that is lindsey's description of it. I asked if we could count on you on being helpful to swiftly implement it. We have been waiting for a year and a half or the board.
▶ 1:43:13Sen. Slotkin: Can we move this quickly so you can stop being asked questions? >> they fit every nominee for every position and I think there was an early list that fell off. >> there was an early list and then a second list and we have been waiting for months since then and there is significant private sector support that is waiting and beginning to lose confidence because of how long it's taken. This is a very small piece of everything I want to address what it would be great. >> I get the message.
▶ 1:43:45Sen. Slotkin: I've heard it consistently now for four committee hearings. Same thing. We got it. We have to get this thing moved forward and I will do everything in my role at the white house to make sure that we can expedite his appointments.
▶ 1:44:01Sen. Slotkin: >> on rutf and the urgency of releasing funds, if I can be helpful in any way in facilitating, resolving that, I know that is an hhs issue but at the end of the day it is in your hands. I would love to talk to you about nato. The points of article five and nato being one of the most central security commitments. There have been really striking changes.
▶ 1:44:30Sen. Slotkin: I met with a series of parliamentarians from a number of eastern and northern european countries yesterday. On may 1 president trump announced the withdrawal of 5000 troops from germany. 4000 in poland. May 19th the president reversed that decision about the poland deployment but we don't have further details and I learned yesterday about there being no plan to replace the 1000 troops in lithuania.
▶ 1:45:00Sen. Slotkin: As you may know, for americans were killed in lithuania in a training accident. I was at dover air force base to receive their remains and was released on.
▶ 1:45:14Sen. Slotkin: The people of lithuania formed a human chain from where they left to the airport miles and miles to celebrate their service, we have great and close allies in nato but because of comments made by the president and others about greenland and denmark and troop rotations, they really like confidence in us.
▶ 1:45:35Sen. Slotkin: There's a provision that prohibits the administration from lowering the number of troops below 76000 and with the latest troop realignments, we are getting dangerously close, will you commit to following the law and sustaining U.S.
▶ 1:45:49Sen. Slotkin: Troop levels in europe at a minimum of the statutory required and you understand how comments about spain not pulling its weight really don't meet the reality that the overwhelming majority of our nato allies largely because of bipartisan and sustained pressure on them have led them to significantly step up? As peter said a few minutes ago, they are funding all of the weaponry going into ukraine.
▶ 1:46:19Sen. Slotkin: Can we stop scaring nato allies and sustain a regular compliance with the law? >> on the issue of troop deployments, that is not a department function. >> I am the leading democrat on defense and I got nothing out of secretary hegseth. >> I can speak to a few of it. I can speak to it because I am aware of it. A couple of points.
▶ 1:46:49Sen. Slotkin: On some of these rotations that have occurred, the germans were not that exercised about it. It took us back to 2022 numbers. This was ongoing. Was a surprise for the media but they were aware on that front. There was short-term rotational withdrawal but the relations with poland was solid.
▶ 1:47:25Sen. Slotkin: When I will tell you and I can't speak with specificity because it's on our department, is we are constantly reevaluating the force posture all over the world because just as nato wants us to have x number of troops in europe, the indo pacific wants to make sure we are not going to leave south korea or japan and partners in africa for example in nigeria and other places want to know we are committed to the counterterrorism mission and allies in the middle east want to know that we are not going to leave because some base got hit by a drone and in the western hemisphere we have growing cooperation.
▶ 1:47:52Sen. Slotkin: They have to constantly take extra merry but still limited resources and allocate them around the world. I can't speak and details of those alignments. Everything we are doing is -- none of it is being done as a shock or surprise to our allies in nato, they are informed every step of the week.
▶ 1:48:10Sen. Slotkin: >> I will simply share with you that a defense minister and several senior parliamentarians from several nato allies said to me yesterday they were stunned and unaware of the impending departure of a unit in with you anywhere without a follow-on unit or the decisions and announcements about poland. Let's agree nato is critical and we will work harder to make sure they understand.
▶ 1:48:39Sen. Slotkin: Finally getting to yes on the sanctions bill and this is me secretary hegseth delivering the interceptors that zelenskyy is begging us for would put that pressure on. Let me ask you two more things about venezuela and the global health compacts and I will be quick. I was encouraged to hear you say we need to make progress towards elections in venezuela. I could not agree more be I'd recently joined the bipartisan group with senators meeting with maría machado.
▶ 1:49:09Sen. Slotkin: Can you give us any sense of a concrete time on our plan for when the 400 political prisoners will be released and when they will be reforms to the supreme tribunal of justice electoral council and when we can expect elections? >> all are topics we discussed with venezuela every single day. It's a three phase process. We did not want to see civil war. There's more work to be done.
▶ 1:49:41Sen. Slotkin: Part of the recovery is building institutions that make it possible to have an election. It is not just the electoral counsel. You have to have independent media that can operate. That needs to be sustained. Political parties and individuals involved or those in the country have to be able to organize and open offices, field candidates enter the work that it takes to create the conditions for an election.
▶ 1:50:06Sen. Slotkin: It's one of the reasons these direct flights into venezuela were so important because now people can go and interact directly even if they are not yet living full-time. But we have more work to do. Maduro was grabbed five months ago. We've come a long way in five months.
▶ 1:50:27Sen. Slotkin: >> I know you are passionate about democracy, I just hope we will move past this current interim period and towards democracy and free and fair elections energy of the possibilities for in his will and not leave the unfortunate image of putting extraction and oil and gold and emerald's first and the people of and second and I would love to work with you on that. We have no implementation plans.
▶ 1:50:56Sen. Slotkin: Seeing the details would be very helpful. I've long been close to the kenyan people. We are asking them to take on ebola treatment which is getting a very rough reception. There's also real tension in the data details around the health impacts and there's data from state that there is less treatment and testing and loss prevention overall.
▶ 1:51:21Sen. Slotkin: I need to better understand the role of the cdc and how these health compacts will actually achieve the goal of more aid to more people faster. Can you work on these details? >> the implementation as part of the contract. In collaboration with the host government. As plans become available and finalize, you will be able to see that.
▶ 1:51:48Sen. Slotkin: Just to correct one point, we are not actually in kenya to set up treatment for americans -- the one that is been controversial as a misunderstanding, there's facility the canyons are allowing us to open if there are any americans that are exposed -- to potentially expose, they will be transferred to this facility for observation. If they test positive at any time, we will remove them from kenya and send them to the nearest treatment facility either in europe or the united states to be treated for ebola.
▶ 1:52:16Sen. Slotkin: But what's been controversial is no one want to see that people are coming in. >> there's never been a case of ebola in kenya and they don't have the domestic capacity to deal with it and there is alarm that I would love to work with you to address. I will follow-up with you about the offer yesterday to work on siv's. We have thousands stuck in pakistan that were cleared and you have the ability under the partnership with the homeland security secretary to allow those who were vetted to come to the united states. >> on a case-by-case basis.
▶ 1:52:48Sen. Slotkin: >> I urge you to use that to get folks out of afghanistan and pakistan as well as cuts to save countries including the united states. Thank you, Mr. secretary. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Appreciate you being here. Thank you for the job you are doing for our country. It's good to see you on the world stage. I want to begin by thanking the brave servicemembers of the U.S.
▶ 1:53:16Sen. Slotkin: Military who participated in the recent operations in iran and honor the memory of the 13 servicemembers who lost their life, including three alabamians. Major alex kleiner, major arianna s. And technical sergeant ashley pruitt. I know all of alabama and our country stands with me to honor their bravery and ultimate sacrifice. During the operation epic fury, the U.S.
▶ 1:53:43Sen. Slotkin: Carried out and coordinated a campaign of unprecedented scale and success. Prior to the operations, iran refused to meaningfully come to the table with regards to negotiations with nuclear enrichment and terrorist proxies and missile capabilities. I am immensely grateful to president trump for finally doing something about that.
▶ 1:54:07Sen. Slotkin: 47 seven years -- 47 years of terror needed to come to an end and because of his decisive actions we have an opportunity to see that achieved. I belief because of these actions we are in a stronger negotiating posture in this moment in time.
▶ 1:54:25Sen. Slotkin: Any agreement we come to needs to have very clear redlines when it comes to nuclear enrichment and capabilities and weaponization and also iran's network of terrorist proxies. Can you talk to me about how the maximum pressure strategy and approach towards import has actually weakened import -- iran and terrorist proxies and made the U.S. more safe and secure?
▶ 1:54:51Sen. Slotkin: >> I would start with what the purpose of epic fury was and that is to deny the conventional shield of missiles and drones and naval vessels and air defenses that would have allowed them to act with impunity including a nuclear weapon but beyond that. Iran today has no navy or air force. It gives us freedom of operation in the future of the contingency arises.
▶ 1:55:14Sen. Slotkin: They have lost a substantial percentage of the missile launchers and other missile launchers and most importantly a substantial percentage of the defense industrial base. They also don't have the money to rebuild the industrial base rapidly because they don't have the funds because they are being denied those funds through sanctions, enforcement of the sanctions, a bunch of sections on the books, some of which were not being enforced. For the first time I can recall the U.S.
▶ 1:55:42Sen. Slotkin: Has actually seized iranian oil vessels in the end the pacific, five or six of them and denied revenue from those vessels. Although they have many more out there. Where we stand today as they have decided to mine the strait of hormuz and shook drones that move without their permission or paying a toll. The only ships they allow to move through freely are there ships. There is no way that they are going to lawfully try to close a strata for most of where they are doing and not pay a price for it.
▶ 1:56:15Sen. Slotkin: We impose a blockade against the strips and that is the only thing we are blockading. You have seen over the last two nights kinetic action occurring, that is some commercial ship that did not pay a toll and starts to move that comes under attack by a drone, we shoot on the drone. In some cases not only the drone but we hit the launcher of the drone so they can hit the ship a second time.
▶ 1:56:36Sen. Slotkin: The iranians then respond by launching two or three missiles at some base in the region as their response and thus we have seen play out three of the last four nights with regards to this. What we would like to get to is where they agree they will open the straits might they agreed to when the cease-fire was agreed to, and they would agree as part of this that they are prepared to sit down and negotiate an agreement at this of the highly enriched uranium and limits or prohibits the enrichment program
▶ 1:57:07Sen. Slotkin: And in return they would be able to have some -- not all -- but some of the sanctions they are facing for their nuclear program. Potentially waived or reduced. Depending on what they gave. These things will have to be verifiable. The highly enriched uranium, you can verify. The enrichment monitoring is the one that will be critical for any deal to be successful. But they are weekends in the sense that they are losing three to 400 $1 million a day in revenue.
▶ 1:57:35Sen. Slotkin: They struggling to meet payroll and the regime is badly fractured internally to the point where it takes 7-10 days to get an answer to a proposal. >> when talking about an interim agreement, if we look at relieving any kind of financial pressure they are under, however -- are we looking at that and if so can we ensure that it's not going to go to missiles or capability? >> there's no down payment or bonus.
▶ 1:58:05Sen. Slotkin: Was been offered to them is everything that they asked for will be commensurate to what they are willing to give on a deal, it -- the only thing they got is a lifting of our blockade. >> when you talked about uranium and enriched uranium, are you talking about removal of all forms of uranium or just enriched? >> most people are focused on the highly enriched uranium which is anything that is like the 60% for example that we know they still possess.
▶ 1:58:37Sen. Slotkin: That can quickly be turned into 90%. There's some 20% enriched as well but the bulk of what the world is concerned about is the 60%. >> speaking of the maximum pressure strategy, you recently announced new sanctions on cuba's military industrial enterprise and its leaders and state-owned natural resource companies. Cuba's communist regime has been a longtime threat to our entire hemisphere, a destabilizing force.
▶ 1:59:07Sen. Slotkin: Public reporting states cuba has purchased attack drones from russia and china and also host intelligence officers from iran, china and russia. I appreciate president trump's decisive actions with regard to protecting U.S.
▶ 1:59:22Sen. Slotkin: National security and sanctions in your continued efforts to address the threats posed by china, can you speak briefly as to why this maximum pressure campaign is so important and how it can ultimately provide for a new cuba, one that provides freedom and prosperity to the people and safer hemisphere?
▶ 1:59:42Sen. Slotkin: >> was unique about this anxious as they are against the conglomerate that generates revenue in cub and not a single penny goes to benefit the cuban people. The government of cuba cannot go on audit. It is almost a government within a government. A state within a state. That's what we are targeting. Instead of that go into the conglomerate, that's what the cuban people should be allowed to do.
▶ 2:00:10Sen. Slotkin: They should be allowed to be in business in that regard and not allow the state within a state to continue to empower itself at their expense. This is a country that literally does not invest in their own energy plants and never has. Meanwhile they are sitting on $18 billion in this conglomerate of assets they should be using to benefit the cuban people and they are not. Those sanctions are targeted at this conglomerate. >> thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. chairman. >> thank you very much.
▶ 2:00:43Sen. Slotkin: Good to see you. Two days in a row. How about tomorrow? Make it three. [laughter] >> I am almost losing my voice. I did four hours in the house. >> yesterday we were talking about taiwan and you stress there was no change in policy. The administration 100% is supportive of taiwan's democratic republic and their expended participation in international organizations?
▶ 2:01:12Sen. Slotkin: >> yeah, we have advocated for them to have a seat at different forums which they have been denied in the past. Sometimes with success and sometimes not what success. >> I was listening to the tale of the two blockades. The deal on the first stage is they lift the blockade and we lift the blockade and that takes us back to status quo.
▶ 2:01:40Sen. Slotkin: But I believe I have heard you or others say that iran is saying that is not for -- that is not enough for us. We want to unfreeze some of the funds frozen by the united states. I have also heard on the united states' side that we want to make sure that they end their support for proxies which we all want to see.
▶ 2:02:02Sen. Slotkin: There are things other than freeing up the strait of hormuz at our requirements for lifting the blockade at the ports. >> the only reason there's a bucket is because of what they've done with the strait of hormuz -- with the straits. We can never accept the tolling system. If we accept that in the straits, it will become a new status quo and everyone will want to do one.
▶ 2:02:33Sen. Slotkin: The only reason there's a blockade is because they have mined them and are shooting drones at ships. They need to cooperate with the removal of the minds. -- mines. In the blockade comes off. -- then the blockade comes off.
▶ 2:02:50Sen. Slotkin: >> in the end I imagine they will agree to not enrich for a time and then enriched to very low levels and put more highly enriched uranium in some custody that we can verify. And that starts to look a whole lot like the jcpoa. What is different about what you are trying to achieve in terms of nuclear materials?
▶ 2:03:17Sen. Slotkin: >> that is not a position that they got to enrich for some time or at a certain level. That might be what their position will argue for but that is not our position. They can have it without enrichment buried deep in and -- in a mountain somewhere. That is our position and the position we stated at the outset.
▶ 2:03:41Sen. Slotkin: One of the main differences is the limitations on the enrichment to 3.67 would have been expiring this year. Jcpoa would have been expiring right now. We are not interested in something that expires in five or six years, we wanted to be a long term and permanent prohibition because they don't need to enrich. And the other big difference is the removal of the highly enriched uranium which was a factor we think is critical in all of this.
▶ 2:04:03Sen. Slotkin: >> I know you a said permanent -- you said permanent but I also heard the U.S. is looking for a couple decades. >> I am just putting a number out there. I'm not saying this is where the deal will land or they have agreed to this. But if we can get 20 years of zero enrichment, that is substantially better than jcpoa. >> and the world continues to negotiate the future. I take that.
▶ 2:04:31Sen. Slotkin: I will switch to some concerns about the vision bb netanyahu has been expressing support for. A greater israel. In an august, 2025 interview, he said he is on a "historic and spiritual mission" and is "very attached to the vision of greater israel."
▶ 2:05:05Sen. Slotkin: Meanwhile he has finance minister small trench who says there will be an expansion in gaza that will expand borders in lebanon, syria, matt herrmann, parts of the north, south and east. This vision of bb netanyahu driving a vision of greater israel, is that a position that our state department supports?
▶ 2:05:30Sen. Slotkin: >> what you have just described and I am again just going off your words is not the policy of the united states. We have advocated repeatedly and made clear that we want the status quo, meaning that there not be additional actions taken in the west bank that can destabilize the broader situation. Israel has acknowledge they have no territorial claims in lebanon and they're prepared to do so I hope in writing. Have repeatedly stated that.
▶ 2:05:56Sen. Slotkin: We have been involved with syria and southern syria where they argue that they need to establish security code or because they are afraid that will be used by iranian elements of target them. And that's why we've gotten involved with the syrian authorities to find a solution there where israelis don't have to fear that from existing.
▶ 2:06:13Sen. Slotkin: And and on gaza, it is to be governed by and autocratic entity that is being formed as we speak that has police officers and stabilization force that creates conditions for investment so you can actually build an economy there and people don't have to live in rubble the way they do now in many cases. I can speak to the statements people are making. >> let me ask a little bit about the west bank.
▶ 2:06:41Sen. Slotkin: We have seen often the israeli defense force has been more protective of the settlers' aggression and restraining. When I talk with -- talked with netanyahu a couple of years ago, he said our strategy is enclaves.
▶ 2:07:12Sen. Slotkin: Palestinians put into enclaves. Are we exercising our influence to try to discourage the aggressive settler action against palestinian villages? >> we have raised it repeatedly and have told him this is an impediment to some of the other things we are trying to work on which are in israel's interest. They have set up special units in some forces to take on these elements that include everything from settlers but also includes gangs that come over from tel aviv that carry out some of these acts of violence.
▶ 2:07:42Sen. Slotkin: And this needs to be addressed. These images are negative. They are not positive. And it is already a tinderbox over there. The last thing we need is to throw one more match into that fire. >> I appreciate you making that point and I encourage us to press hard because it is a very unjust situation. I wanted to ask for you to press for reporters to be allowed into gaza.
▶ 2:08:07Sen. Slotkin: I think the lack of any sort of transparency makes it difficult for the world to see what is going on. Either to support anyone's arguments about the conditions. The international agencies report that it remains a challenge on nutrition and on medicine and hospital capability. And I think that it would be very helpful to have some
▶ 2:08:34Transparency In Mr. Green: -- in gaza. >> I will take that back. I'm not aware how many journalists are operating inside. I've seen news reports from inside gaza but I don't know how many have not been allowed in. >> I think virtually no international reporters have been allowed and in many palestinian reporters have been killed.
▶ 2:08:56Transparency In Mr. Green: So there's been people getting on their cell phones and taking videos and sharing that as a source of information but I think it is important to have credible international journalists present. >> understood. I will check back on the numbers that have been allowed and who was operating -- is operating. >> thank you. >> secretary rubio, thank you for your service at the state and federal level.
▶ 2:09:22Transparency In Mr. Green: As I am out traveling ohio, I talked to people and imagine high fuel prices. They also mentioned that they don't want iran to have a nuclear weapon. Sounds similar to what you have articulated and the president has articulated as a goal to ending the conflict with iran. The question is, those actors on the other side, who are negotiating with? Do you believe they are negotiating in good faith? >> I would not use the term good faith.
▶ 2:09:53Transparency In Mr. Green: When it comes to the iranian regime, because of our long history with them and everything they've done during that time. >> >there are people you see on television like the former minister -- like the foreign minister and a couple of other folks and these are the ones out there not just doing tv interviews but going to the negotiations. They are not decision-makers, they are implementers.
▶ 2:10:20Transparency In Mr. Green: They have to be run through some system internally that ultimately relies on the signoff of the supreme leader and the council that surrounds him. One of the impediments is every time we communicate to them, a counter offer or change in language, it can take anywhere from four to seven to 10 days to get a response. They have to work through the intricacies of the system.
▶ 2:10:48Transparency In Mr. Green: In the aftermath of epic fury, one of the things that happened is the system internally has been fractured. You have supreme leader that has not been seen publicly who communicates still the written communications release with the iranian system and you have also seen reflections of the official iranian media outlets putting a contradictory statements to what we know the regime is doing or the regime has agreed to or saying someone else. That's proven to be a challenge.
▶ 2:11:17Transparency In Mr. Green: Ultimately in the system they have, any decisions to agree to anything we need to be approved by the supreme leader and the council that surrounds him and the impediment and time has been how long it takes for these individuals to communicate with them and get signoff. >> thank you. We have security partners in the middle east will have been attacked by iran.
▶ 2:11:50Transparency In Mr. Green: Are any of our security partners suggesting a different approach than what is currently being undertaken? >> by and large we have found support. I think one of the countries would say that there's a chance to get the straits open and enter into a serious constraint. I think that is an outcome that would like to see and have encouraged us to pursue.
▶ 2:12:18Transparency In Mr. Green: They understand our redlines and we are not going to get involved in negotiations that will not be fruitful and we are not going to sign on to a good deal. They have been supportive of the efforts we have been undertaking. >> I want to shift to something I feel passionate about and that is doing more made in america. A domestic supply chain for our critical minerals and things that are essential for economic and national security.
▶ 2:12:44Transparency In Mr. Green: Whether that is pharmaceuticals, bullets, bombs, batteries, military equipments, chips, other technology. Having that secure domestic supply chain seems to be pretty important not just for our national security and economic security but also our strength and negotiating with foreign nations -- strengthened negotiating with foreign nations.
▶ 2:13:11Transparency In Mr. Green: If we had a secure domestic supply chain, how much different with the conversation have been with china regarding taiwan? >> not just us. The whole world. It's incredible point of leverage and truly do two things we invented. We basically turned it over to them because businesses in america sold capacity to them or why keep making it here?
▶ 2:13:44Transparency In Mr. Green: We have mapped out all of these dependencies internally through the interagency and we know what they are. We are capable of reversing many of these but it will take a bit of time. We have a plan to do so. We have also globalized this. If you talk to the japanese and south koreans, all of europe, they share the same concern.
▶ 2:14:02Transparency In Mr. Green: Which is why we held a ministerial earlier this year where foreign ministers came from over 30 countries and many signed on to cooperate collectively not unjust sources or access to rare earth minerals but also the ability to process and refine them into usable product to globalize it that way.
▶ 2:14:24Transparency In Mr. Green: 14 countries have bound together to very specifically focus not just on critical minerals and supply chains but the ones necessary to win the ai race in the future. The -- that's been very successful and spearheaded by jacob h. At the state department and an effort that is going to grow.
▶ 2:14:45Transparency In Mr. Green: In addition to that, virtually every foreign engagement I have with the foreign minister, these are the five topics we want to touch upon. Every single one of those critical minerals is a part of it either because they have critical minerals or they want to partner with us on critical minerals where they are having access issues so it has featured prominently in our foreign policy.
▶ 2:15:10Transparency In Mr. Green: >> I believe that the trump administration can do a great service to the nation and the world to if they fix one thing in combination with your work and ambassador greer and sec.
▶ 2:15:26Transparency In Mr. Green: Lutnick, it is to within our timeframe capabilities to get a domestic or secure supply of the supply chain, because it is everything to our national economic security. I will finally make a point, I represent the north coast.
▶ 2:15:48Transparency In Mr. Green: As a great lakes state, I will take note of the fact that in the international commission account, there was a significant reduction in commitment to the great lakes fishery commission, very important to make sure we don't have invasive species and things of the like. I ask that you take a look at that and we will work with you on those particular issues. Very important to our midwestern states. Thank you.
▶ 2:16:27Transparency In Mr. Green: >> you seem to really enjoy this. Two hours, not a stutter or stumble. Don't know get out of this. Invite you back next year. You did a great job, department -- represented your department well. Questions for the record can be submitted by close of business friday, june 12. Ask the department of state testimony under fy 27 budget request be made part of the record. Thank you, well done, Mr.
▶ 2:16:58Transparency In Mr. Green: Secretary. A hearing is adjourned. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]