WEBVTT 00:00.610 --> 00:02.554 this hearing of the Senate Foreign 00:02.554 --> 00:04.832 Relations Committee will come to order . 00:07.640 --> 00:10.620 MR . Secretary welcome , pleased to see 00:10.620 --> 00:12.842 you before the committee . Again , it's 00:12.842 --> 00:14.953 nice to see the Secretary engage on a 00:14.953 --> 00:17.120 regular basis and we appreciate that . 00:17.740 --> 00:19.962 And even though we may not always agree 00:19.962 --> 00:21.851 on everything , I appreciate your 00:21.851 --> 00:23.962 proactively making yourself available 00:23.962 --> 00:26.420 to discuss the budget . It sends an 00:26.420 --> 00:28.420 important signal about the value of 00:28.420 --> 00:30.420 transparency in our two branches of 00:30.420 --> 00:32.642 government , working together on behalf 00:32.642 --> 00:35.200 of the american people . I'm also 00:35.200 --> 00:37.311 pleased to note that after four years 00:37.311 --> 00:39.533 in which this committee on a bipartisan 00:39.533 --> 00:41.422 basis greeted the foreign affairs 00:41.422 --> 00:43.760 budget proposals with various tones of 00:43.770 --> 00:46.690 incredulity . Today we have a serious 00:46.700 --> 00:49.480 budget proposal that if enacted would 00:49.480 --> 00:51.591 represent the largest increase to the 00:51.591 --> 00:53.813 regular international affairs budget in 00:53.813 --> 00:57.420 more than a decade . That's not to say 00:57.420 --> 00:59.587 that we will see eye to eye on all the 00:59.587 --> 01:01.642 specific components to be sure , but 01:01.642 --> 01:03.753 we're looking forward to a robust and 01:03.753 --> 01:06.070 substantive discussion after a year 01:06.080 --> 01:07.802 during which the international 01:07.802 --> 01:09.913 community has been shaken to its core 01:09.913 --> 01:11.969 by the covid pandemic . It should be 01:11.969 --> 01:13.913 clear to everyone that an ounce of 01:13.913 --> 01:16.240 prevention is worth a pound of cure in 01:16.240 --> 01:18.740 both public health and an international 01:18.740 --> 01:21.050 affairs and especially where the two 01:21.060 --> 01:23.610 intersect . I was pleased to see the 01:23.610 --> 01:25.666 administration's recent announcement 01:25.666 --> 01:27.721 that we will be leading on the world 01:27.721 --> 01:29.443 stage by providing vaccines to 01:29.443 --> 01:31.350 countries desperately in need . 01:31.940 --> 01:34.162 Although I believe we should prioritize 01:34.162 --> 01:36.051 countries who embrace fundamental 01:36.051 --> 01:38.690 democratic freedoms and rights for the 01:38.690 --> 01:40.690 international community to work for 01:40.690 --> 01:42.730 americans for fundamental universal 01:42.730 --> 01:45.170 values of human rights , democracy and 01:45.170 --> 01:47.340 equitable prosperity . The United 01:47.340 --> 01:49.160 States must invest in in lead 01:49.170 --> 01:51.690 international institutions and stand up 01:51.700 --> 01:54.310 for international law . We must invest 01:54.310 --> 01:56.480 in smart economic development in free 01:56.480 --> 01:58.890 and fair trade . We must invest in 01:58.890 --> 02:00.779 meeting the challenges of climate 02:00.779 --> 02:02.612 change and we must invest in our 02:02.612 --> 02:05.150 diplomacy and development professionals 02:05.540 --> 02:07.810 for when we do not . We find that 02:07.820 --> 02:09.820 others with different interests and 02:09.820 --> 02:12.460 values , have the space to act in ways 02:12.460 --> 02:14.460 that threatened to upend the global 02:14.460 --> 02:16.770 order and undermine our interests . The 02:16.770 --> 02:18.381 administration's proposal to 02:18.381 --> 02:20.492 significantly increase the budget for 02:20.492 --> 02:22.560 state and USA ID and other 02:22.560 --> 02:24.560 international programs reflects the 02:24.560 --> 02:27.440 investments we need to be successful in 02:27.440 --> 02:29.551 furthering our nation's interests and 02:29.551 --> 02:31.718 values . And I want to commend you for 02:31.718 --> 02:33.840 seeking to rebalance the budget away 02:33.850 --> 02:36.420 from overseas contingency operations 02:36.430 --> 02:39.440 and to restore based funding . But 02:39.440 --> 02:41.273 today's hearing isn't just about 02:41.273 --> 02:43.730 numbers , it's about how we invest 02:43.730 --> 02:45.786 those numbers . So let me take a few 02:45.786 --> 02:47.841 minutes to highlight a few issues in 02:47.841 --> 02:50.300 areas of concern broadly in the Middle 02:50.300 --> 02:52.411 East . We need to rebalance a heavily 02:52.411 --> 02:54.590 military and armed sales oriented 02:54.590 --> 02:56.990 policy to one that focuses more on 02:56.990 --> 02:59.720 strategic diplomatic and development 02:59.730 --> 03:02.400 investments and while not directly 03:02.400 --> 03:04.456 related to the budget . We certainly 03:04.456 --> 03:06.678 want to hear about the administration's 03:06.678 --> 03:08.511 efforts to reach a comprehensive 03:08.511 --> 03:10.650 diplomatic agreement with Iran that 03:10.650 --> 03:13.760 goes far beyond the J . C . P . O . A . 03:14.440 --> 03:17.250 What is the definition of stronger 03:18.240 --> 03:19.796 in europe ? Many of us were 03:19.796 --> 03:21.851 disappointed by the administration's 03:21.851 --> 03:23.740 decision to waive sanctions on no 03:23.740 --> 03:25.851 extreme too . As I know that when you 03:25.851 --> 03:27.796 leave us today , you're heading to 03:27.796 --> 03:30.018 europe , I look forward to hearing your 03:30.018 --> 03:32.129 perspective about how the U . S . Can 03:32.129 --> 03:33.796 work to assure Ukraine of our 03:33.796 --> 03:35.518 commitment to its security and 03:35.518 --> 03:37.462 critically in advance of President 03:37.462 --> 03:39.684 biden's meeting with Putin . I hope the 03:39.684 --> 03:41.629 administration sends a very strong 03:41.629 --> 03:44.030 message to Moscow . Putin only 03:44.030 --> 03:47.090 understands strength on Afghanistan . 03:47.090 --> 03:49.257 The security situation is increasingly 03:49.257 --> 03:51.201 dire and we have to start thinking 03:51.201 --> 03:53.450 about our contingency planning . The 03:53.450 --> 03:55.990 committee needs to hear beyond vague 03:55.990 --> 03:58.046 promises of commitment to the Afghan 03:58.046 --> 04:00.780 people . What we are going to do in 04:00.780 --> 04:02.780 Africa , the administration faces a 04:02.780 --> 04:04.891 raft of diplomatic challenges . China 04:04.891 --> 04:06.891 and Russia continued to act in ways 04:06.891 --> 04:09.113 inimical to our interests and those are 04:09.113 --> 04:11.391 the majority of the people . In Africa , 04:11.391 --> 04:13.840 tensions between Ethiopia , Egypt and 04:13.840 --> 04:15.830 Sudan over the grand Ethiopian 04:15.830 --> 04:18.160 renaissance , dan could destabilize the 04:18.160 --> 04:20.840 entire horn of Africa . Al Shabaab 04:20.850 --> 04:23.150 poses a continuing threat while in 04:23.150 --> 04:25.261 Mozambique and other robust terrorist 04:25.261 --> 04:27.340 threat has emerged , coups and molly 04:27.340 --> 04:29.507 and shot have undermined international 04:29.507 --> 04:31.340 counterterrorism and development 04:31.340 --> 04:33.007 efforts in Nigeria requires a 04:33.007 --> 04:35.229 fundamental rethink of the framework of 04:35.229 --> 04:37.451 our overall engagement in latin America 04:37.451 --> 04:39.284 and the Caribbean . The covid 19 04:39.284 --> 04:41.400 pandemic is exacerbating social and 04:41.400 --> 04:43.350 political pressures with serious 04:43.360 --> 04:45.471 implications for regional stability . 04:45.840 --> 04:47.562 We're also seeing a fraying of 04:47.562 --> 04:50.270 democratic consensus with deeply flawed 04:50.270 --> 04:52.520 elections , and far too common attacks 04:52.520 --> 04:54.687 on the separation of powers , with the 04:54.687 --> 04:56.909 potential results of democratic decay , 04:56.909 --> 04:58.964 all too apparent in the humanitarian 04:58.964 --> 05:01.170 crisis in Venezuela or the irregular 05:01.170 --> 05:03.003 migration streaming from central 05:03.003 --> 05:04.980 America . I also look forward to 05:04.980 --> 05:07.202 hearing what we are doing to get to the 05:07.202 --> 05:09.450 bottom of apparent attacks on U . S . 05:09.450 --> 05:11.680 Personnel and family members that have 05:11.680 --> 05:13.902 left many with ongoing and debilitating 05:13.902 --> 05:15.902 injuries and the steps the state is 05:15.902 --> 05:18.160 taken to ensure personnel are protected 05:18.840 --> 05:21.007 beyond the immediate health impacts of 05:21.007 --> 05:22.840 the covid pandemic . I also look 05:22.840 --> 05:24.840 forward to hearing from you how the 05:24.840 --> 05:26.896 United States will address secondary 05:26.896 --> 05:29.118 impacts of the pandemic . Given that 36 05:29.118 --> 05:31.780 countries and 100 and 30 million people 05:31.790 --> 05:34.260 could now experience famine this year , 05:34.940 --> 05:36.996 I'm also eager to understand how the 05:36.996 --> 05:38.996 administration plans to address the 05:38.996 --> 05:41.180 needs of the 235 million people 05:41.180 --> 05:43.270 worldwide that require humanitarian 05:43.270 --> 05:46.130 assistance and protection near 40% 05:46.140 --> 05:49.160 increase over 2020 across the globe . 05:49.160 --> 05:51.160 Authoritarian regimes and non state 05:51.160 --> 05:53.670 actors have impeded humanitarian access 05:53.670 --> 05:55.880 to devastating effect and how the 05:55.880 --> 05:57.991 administration intends to address the 05:57.991 --> 06:00.010 horrific trend of sexual and gender 06:00.010 --> 06:02.820 based violence in Tigre Ethiopia 06:02.830 --> 06:04.780 burning , Burma , Xinjiang and 06:04.780 --> 06:06.680 elsewhere , where governments use 06:06.680 --> 06:08.624 sexual violence as a weapon of war 06:08.624 --> 06:10.958 against religious and ethnic minorities . 06:11.240 --> 06:13.407 Finally , as the Senate continues with 06:13.407 --> 06:15.462 consideration of its china package , 06:15.462 --> 06:17.796 including the Strategic Competition Act , 06:17.796 --> 06:19.462 this committee voted out on a 06:19.462 --> 06:21.518 bipartisan basis . I'm interested in 06:21.518 --> 06:23.407 your views on how to resource and 06:23.407 --> 06:25.518 posture ourselves in the indo pacific 06:25.518 --> 06:27.518 and successfully compete with china 06:27.518 --> 06:29.740 across all dimensions of power . It's a 06:29.740 --> 06:31.907 long list of concerns . Mr Secretary , 06:31.907 --> 06:33.629 you will know that it's hardly 06:33.629 --> 06:35.629 comprehensive even , but that's the 06:35.629 --> 06:37.930 world that we have the challenges that 06:37.930 --> 06:40.000 we face as a nation . So we look 06:40.000 --> 06:42.056 forward to hearing your thoughts and 06:42.056 --> 06:44.240 ideas for how we meet the sig signal 06:44.250 --> 06:46.970 moment in our country and our planet's 06:46.970 --> 06:49.192 history and the well you envisioned for 06:49.192 --> 06:51.192 the Department of State helping our 06:51.192 --> 06:53.026 nation to do something with that 06:53.026 --> 06:55.192 distinguished ranking member , Senator 06:55.192 --> 06:57.470 Risch . Well , thank you , Mr Chairman . 06:57.470 --> 06:59.248 And uh I join you in uh express 06:59.248 --> 07:01.137 expression of frustration for the 07:01.137 --> 07:03.303 tremendous number of issues we have in 07:03.303 --> 07:05.359 the minimal time . We really have to 07:05.359 --> 07:07.581 deal with them here . But it is what it 07:07.581 --> 07:09.526 is and uh we're just gonna have to 07:09.526 --> 07:11.760 triage and deal with what's most 07:11.760 --> 07:14.070 important . Mr Secretary . I understand 07:14.070 --> 07:16.220 that you're off to the G seven summit 07:16.230 --> 07:18.640 immediately after this meeting . And so 07:18.640 --> 07:20.807 I'd like to start on a positive note . 07:20.807 --> 07:22.751 There are some bright spots in the 07:22.751 --> 07:24.640 President's international affairs 07:24.640 --> 07:26.862 budget request . I was pleased with the 07:26.862 --> 07:28.918 emphasis on advancing U . S . Global 07:28.918 --> 07:31.140 health Security . Chairman Menendez and 07:31.140 --> 07:33.196 I continue to work on legislation to 07:33.196 --> 07:35.084 improve pandemic preparedness and 07:35.084 --> 07:37.560 response . It is a high priority for 07:37.560 --> 07:39.504 myself and I think I speak for the 07:39.504 --> 07:41.282 chairman and saying it's a high 07:41.282 --> 07:43.004 priority for him . Also , it's 07:43.004 --> 07:45.060 something that this committee really 07:45.060 --> 07:48.240 needs to do in light of the things that 07:48.240 --> 07:50.407 have happened over the last year and a 07:50.407 --> 07:52.573 half . I look forward to seeing how we 07:52.573 --> 07:54.520 can line this effort with the 07:54.530 --> 07:57.090 Department of State , which obviously 07:57.100 --> 07:59.680 plays and will play a large role as we 07:59.680 --> 08:02.030 go forward . But overall , the request 08:02.030 --> 08:04.197 is consistent with a troubling pattern 08:04.197 --> 08:06.419 where Congress is asked to provide more 08:06.419 --> 08:08.474 and more and the administration uh , 08:08.474 --> 08:11.660 does not respond in kind . And we'd 08:11.660 --> 08:13.990 like to see that improved . We see this 08:14.000 --> 08:16.630 uh , plainly in the partisan american 08:16.630 --> 08:18.730 rescue plan , which provided $10 08:18.730 --> 08:20.730 billion to help combat the covid 19 08:20.730 --> 08:22.786 pandemic overseas three months ago . 08:22.840 --> 08:24.951 And I still don't feel that I have an 08:24.951 --> 08:27.540 understanding of how this plan will put 08:27.540 --> 08:29.484 those resources to good use on the 08:29.484 --> 08:31.651 ground . The president also pledged to 08:31.651 --> 08:33.707 share 80 million surplus doses of us 08:33.707 --> 08:35.873 approved over 19 vaccines over a month 08:35.873 --> 08:37.984 ago and just last week and provided a 08:37.984 --> 08:40.151 snapshot of where they will go . But I 08:40.151 --> 08:42.318 just I don't feel I have a comfortable 08:42.318 --> 08:44.860 understanding of the information that 08:44.940 --> 08:48.040 should be provided with this . Also , 08:48.050 --> 08:50.280 I'd really like to see how the 08:50.280 --> 08:52.710 administration will ensure that U . S . 08:52.710 --> 08:55.140 Financial contributions to kovacs which 08:55.140 --> 08:57.790 are important are not used to purchase 08:57.800 --> 08:59.990 uh and distribute the substandard 08:59.990 --> 09:02.190 chinese vaccines . We've all seen how 09:02.190 --> 09:04.246 those have worked out in the field . 09:04.246 --> 09:06.357 The president has now asked for a 12% 09:06.357 --> 09:08.579 increase in foreign assistance spending 09:08.579 --> 09:10.579 for fiscal year 2022 . Here again , 09:10.579 --> 09:12.523 Congress has asked to provide more 09:12.523 --> 09:14.634 money . We need more transparency and 09:14.634 --> 09:16.800 more accountability . Of course , the 09:16.800 --> 09:18.911 challenges we face overseas romance , 09:18.911 --> 09:20.689 but throwing good money and bad 09:20.689 --> 09:22.911 problems hasn't solved much in the past 09:22.911 --> 09:24.911 and will not solve anything today . 09:24.911 --> 09:27.022 Increasing foreign aid absent a clear 09:27.022 --> 09:29.133 strategy that emphasizes efficiency , 09:29.133 --> 09:31.022 effectiveness and ultimately self 09:31.022 --> 09:33.189 reliance will not advance us strategic 09:33.189 --> 09:35.430 interests normal . The budget that 09:35.430 --> 09:37.486 proposes to throw harder and U . S . 09:37.486 --> 09:39.652 Taxpayer dollars or worse our kids and 09:39.652 --> 09:41.319 our grandkids money at a holy 09:41.319 --> 09:42.874 unaccountable international 09:42.874 --> 09:44.708 institutions including the Green 09:44.708 --> 09:47.030 Climate Fund or un agencies in dire 09:47.030 --> 09:49.160 need of reform like the U . N . Human 09:49.160 --> 09:51.327 Rights Council and of course the World 09:51.327 --> 09:53.549 Health Organization which itself admits 09:53.549 --> 09:56.540 that the reform is needed . I believe 09:56.540 --> 09:58.762 that advancing an effective strategy to 09:58.762 --> 10:00.873 compete with the People's Republic of 10:00.873 --> 10:02.873 China must be the United States top 10:02.873 --> 10:04.984 policy priority expected . We're here 10:04.984 --> 10:07.096 today about how this budget addresses 10:07.096 --> 10:09.207 this strategic imperative and we need 10:09.207 --> 10:11.262 to fortify us engagement in the indo 10:11.262 --> 10:12.984 pacific region . The Strategic 10:12.984 --> 10:15.207 Competition Act , which recently passed 10:15.207 --> 10:17.900 out of this committee on a 21 to 1 vote , 10:17.970 --> 10:21.590 provides a roadmap I had hoped and I 10:21.590 --> 10:23.780 think the chairman of hope that we 10:23.780 --> 10:25.947 would get a standalone vote on this on 10:25.947 --> 10:28.160 the floor when a bill comes out . That 10:28.170 --> 10:30.540 is as important as that is deals with 10:30.540 --> 10:32.820 the complexity that it did and comes 10:32.820 --> 10:35.250 out in 21 to 1 vote , it really should 10:35.250 --> 10:37.250 get consideration instead of course 10:37.250 --> 10:40.050 it's been placed in the other bill 10:40.340 --> 10:44.060 which obviously it's is 10:44.070 --> 10:47.310 uncertain where that will go . The bill 10:47.310 --> 10:49.532 that we had authorizes funds to provide 10:49.532 --> 10:51.477 strategic direction for countering 10:51.477 --> 10:53.530 chinese influence . It mandates 10:53.530 --> 10:55.710 increases for diplomatic engagement , 10:55.710 --> 10:57.488 foreign assistance and security 10:57.488 --> 10:59.488 assistance for indo pacific finally 10:59.488 --> 11:01.543 will help countries better organised 11:01.543 --> 11:03.599 infrastructure deals without falling 11:03.599 --> 11:03.400 into a chinese debt trap or 11:03.400 --> 11:06.430 compromising their sovereignty with I'm 11:06.430 --> 11:08.541 hoping that whatever happens with the 11:08.541 --> 11:10.652 large bill , if it does not pass that 11:10.652 --> 11:12.920 we get a vote on our bill . This 11:12.920 --> 11:15.610 committee's bill with regard to the 11:15.610 --> 11:17.777 Iran deal . I'm deeply troubled by the 11:17.777 --> 11:20.054 direction Iran negotiations are headed . 11:20.054 --> 11:22.277 This is no surprise to you Mr Secretary 11:22.277 --> 11:24.443 as we've talked about it over and over 11:24.443 --> 11:26.666 again . While you're negotiators are in 11:26.666 --> 11:28.832 touch with the committee . Uh They are 11:28.832 --> 11:31.054 like their predecessors on the original 11:31.054 --> 11:33.221 J . C . P . O . A totally unresponsive 11:33.221 --> 11:35.443 to congressional objections . These are 11:35.443 --> 11:35.220 not consultations but simply 11:35.220 --> 11:36.942 notifications . Not one of the 11:36.942 --> 11:39.164 suggestions I've made has been accepted 11:39.164 --> 11:40.790 either in the first JCP away 11:40.790 --> 11:42.679 negotiations or the ones that are 11:42.679 --> 11:46.280 ongoing . Now uh it's clear that uh 11:46.290 --> 11:49.190 it's intended that uh we the United 11:49.190 --> 11:51.412 States rejoined the failed nuclear deal 11:51.412 --> 11:53.810 unchanged after the Iranian elections . 11:53.820 --> 11:55.487 Your promises to lengthen and 11:55.487 --> 11:57.598 strengthen them will come later . But 11:57.598 --> 11:59.542 the idea of follow on agreement is 11:59.542 --> 12:02.530 unrealistic and I would argue 12:02.540 --> 12:05.910 delusional . I can't understand why 12:05.920 --> 12:08.142 anyone would think that if the Iranians 12:08.142 --> 12:11.220 won't agree to up to uh the things we 12:11.220 --> 12:13.760 want them to agree to upfront , Why in 12:13.760 --> 12:15.704 the world would they agree to it ? 12:15.704 --> 12:17.927 After the fact when they get everything 12:17.927 --> 12:17.900 that they've asked for in the 12:17.900 --> 12:20.820 negotiations , the Iranians uh will 12:20.830 --> 12:22.886 never agree to return to discussions 12:22.886 --> 12:24.663 without the threat of continued 12:24.663 --> 12:26.386 sanctions . Additionally , the 12:26.386 --> 12:26.290 administration's plan to pursue 12:26.290 --> 12:28.346 sanctions relief not consistent with 12:28.346 --> 12:30.290 the original nuclear dealer deeply 12:30.290 --> 12:32.512 concerning , especially as you consider 12:32.512 --> 12:34.346 rolling back terrorism and other 12:34.346 --> 12:36.457 sanctions not covered in the original 12:36.457 --> 12:38.679 deal . Moving to Israel , I applaud the 12:38.679 --> 12:40.568 administration's refusing about a 12:40.568 --> 12:40.380 progressive demands would abandon our 12:40.390 --> 12:42.446 closest friend and ally as they face 12:42.446 --> 12:44.668 down a terrorist organization . This is 12:44.668 --> 12:46.770 a matter of Iran backed terrorism 12:46.770 --> 12:50.600 against Israel , a sovereign nation and 12:50.610 --> 12:53.640 and uh that is being done by a 12:53.650 --> 12:55.650 designated terrorist organization , 12:55.650 --> 12:57.660 Hamas using its own people as human 12:57.660 --> 12:59.882 shields . I'm disappointed that some of 12:59.882 --> 13:01.938 my colleagues in Congress would call 13:01.938 --> 13:04.271 this enduring partnership into question . 13:04.271 --> 13:06.382 At the same time , I'm concerned that 13:06.382 --> 13:08.216 the administration is Russian to 13:08.216 --> 13:09.827 normalize relations with the 13:09.827 --> 13:11.938 Palestinian authority without gaining 13:11.938 --> 13:13.771 elimination of the pay for slave 13:13.771 --> 13:15.882 program and other Palestinian actions 13:15.882 --> 13:18.690 that glorify and actually reward 13:18.690 --> 13:21.550 violence and terrorism on Afghanistan 13:21.550 --> 13:23.717 have long called for a responsible end 13:23.717 --> 13:25.606 of the war . But by doing so in a 13:25.606 --> 13:27.661 manner that keeps americans safe . I 13:27.661 --> 13:29.494 believe that what happens , what 13:29.494 --> 13:31.383 appears to be a Russian political 13:31.383 --> 13:32.994 decision to withdraw without 13:32.994 --> 13:35.106 consideration of our counterterrorism 13:35.106 --> 13:37.161 priorities will allow Afghanistan to 13:37.161 --> 13:37.100 serve as a future platform for 13:37.100 --> 13:39.156 terrorist attacks against the United 13:39.156 --> 13:41.378 States . And our partners have concerns 13:41.378 --> 13:43.600 that the despicable attack on the girls 13:43.600 --> 13:45.656 school in Kabul is a sign of more to 13:45.656 --> 13:47.489 come . I'm also concerned by the 13:47.489 --> 13:47.320 President's submission to Putin and 13:47.330 --> 13:49.441 abandonment of our european allies by 13:49.441 --> 13:51.608 waiving sanctions on North Stream to A 13:51.608 --> 13:53.990 G . You testified in january that North 13:53.990 --> 13:55.920 Stream two is a bad deal yet this 13:55.920 --> 13:57.920 administration is allowing it to be 13:57.920 --> 14:00.087 completed . I understand you have some 14:00.087 --> 14:02.309 thoughts on that , that you're going to 14:02.309 --> 14:04.087 tell us about today . This is a 14:04.087 --> 14:06.309 decision is really uh on the front us . 14:06.309 --> 14:09.170 I can't understand , I totally do not 14:09.170 --> 14:11.392 understand how the President , within a 14:11.392 --> 14:13.614 very short time after being inaugurated 14:13.614 --> 14:15.781 within hours , put a pen to a piece of 14:15.781 --> 14:18.114 paper , shut down the keystone pipeline , 14:18.114 --> 14:20.448 put Canadians and americans out of work . 14:20.448 --> 14:22.503 And yet , uh we don't have that same 14:22.503 --> 14:24.392 enthusiasm to shut down the North 14:24.392 --> 14:26.559 Stream pipeline as the President heads 14:26.559 --> 14:28.781 to europe . I hope to see the emergence 14:28.781 --> 14:28.270 of a real strategy for dealing with 14:28.270 --> 14:30.630 Russia , not just more dialogue . Give 14:30.630 --> 14:32.920 Putin an inch and he will take a mile 14:32.930 --> 14:34.597 and I agree with the chairman 14:34.597 --> 14:36.763 wholeheartedly that all he understands 14:36.763 --> 14:39.540 is power . Lastly , in regards to the U . 14:39.540 --> 14:41.707 N . This fall , the United States will 14:41.707 --> 14:43.762 renegotiate the scales of assessment 14:43.762 --> 14:45.929 for U . N . Peacekeeping . Currently , 14:45.929 --> 14:48.096 the UN's assess the United States at a 14:48.096 --> 14:50.207 rate of 27.9% . As you know , this is 14:50.207 --> 14:52.373 not congruent with US law . No country 14:52.373 --> 14:54.429 should pay more than 25% . In 1990 . 14:54.429 --> 14:56.430 For Congress enacted a bill that 14:56.430 --> 14:59.370 imposed a 25% cap . I would hope the 14:59.370 --> 15:01.537 administration would follow this law . 15:01.537 --> 15:03.703 It remains in effect today and it must 15:03.703 --> 15:05.814 be used as the negotiating position . 15:05.814 --> 15:07.981 Look forward to hearing your testimony 15:07.981 --> 15:09.870 on these and other items that are 15:09.870 --> 15:11.870 concerned to you . Thank you , Mr . 15:11.870 --> 15:13.981 Thank you , Senator Risch , your full 15:13.981 --> 15:15.870 statement will be included in the 15:15.870 --> 15:18.037 record . Mr Secretary and the floor is 15:18.037 --> 15:21.520 yours . But thank you very much . Uh 15:21.530 --> 15:23.641 Chairman Mendez , uh ranking member , 15:23.641 --> 15:25.752 Rish all the members of the committee 15:25.752 --> 15:28.350 uh here today very much appreciate this 15:28.350 --> 15:30.517 opportunity to talk about the proposed 15:30.517 --> 15:33.110 budget and how it will help us achieve 15:33.120 --> 15:35.230 our national security priorities and 15:35.230 --> 15:37.563 deliver results for the american people , 15:37.563 --> 15:39.730 which is our common responsibility and 15:39.730 --> 15:41.674 common cause . Uh we see this as a 15:41.674 --> 15:43.786 critical moment for the United States 15:43.786 --> 15:46.140 and for our global leadership . We face 15:46.150 --> 15:49.150 major tests including stopping Covid 19 15:49.740 --> 15:51.629 rising , the challenge of climate 15:51.629 --> 15:53.870 change , uh supporting a global 15:53.880 --> 15:56.480 economic recovery that delivers for 15:56.480 --> 15:58.591 american workers and their families . 15:58.640 --> 16:00.862 We need to revitalize our alliances and 16:00.862 --> 16:03.190 partnerships out compete china and 16:03.190 --> 16:05.246 defend the international rules based 16:05.246 --> 16:07.023 order against those who seek to 16:07.023 --> 16:09.190 undermine it renewed democratic values 16:09.190 --> 16:11.350 at home and abroad and push back 16:11.360 --> 16:13.220 against malign activity by our 16:13.220 --> 16:16.220 adversaries . In a more competitive 16:16.220 --> 16:18.470 world . Other countries are making 16:18.470 --> 16:20.581 historic investments in their foreign 16:20.581 --> 16:22.840 policy toolkit . We need to do the same 16:22.840 --> 16:24.729 thing . Uh And that's why in this 16:24.729 --> 16:27.250 budget we've requested $58.5 billion 16:27.260 --> 16:29.538 for the State Department and U . S . A . 16:29.538 --> 16:31.970 I . D . For fiscal year 2022 . Uh and 16:31.970 --> 16:34.081 just a touch on some of the specifics 16:34.081 --> 16:36.137 uh the budget will strengthen global 16:36.137 --> 16:38.303 health . Uh The United States has been 16:38.303 --> 16:40.414 a leader in this field for decades in 16:40.414 --> 16:43.360 africa and around the world . We're 16:43.360 --> 16:45.249 asking for $10 million for global 16:45.249 --> 16:47.416 health programs , including nearly one 16:47.416 --> 16:49.527 billion for global health security to 16:49.527 --> 16:52.020 help us prevent , prepare for respond 16:52.020 --> 16:54.760 to future global health crises so we 16:54.760 --> 16:56.760 can stop outbreaks before they turn 16:56.760 --> 16:59.260 into pandemics that put our safety and 16:59.260 --> 17:01.790 prosperity in danger . The budget would 17:01.800 --> 17:03.689 accelerate the global response to 17:03.689 --> 17:06.080 climate change in the climate crisis by 17:06.080 --> 17:08.302 providing 2.5 billion for international 17:08.302 --> 17:10.191 climate programs , including 1.25 17:10.191 --> 17:12.247 billion to the Green Climate Fund to 17:12.247 --> 17:14.247 help developing countries implement 17:14.247 --> 17:16.080 climate adaptation and emissions 17:16.080 --> 17:18.302 mitigation programs , which is directly 17:18.302 --> 17:20.358 in our interest . Uh We would double 17:20.358 --> 17:22.413 down in this budget on the fight for 17:22.413 --> 17:24.524 democracy , which as we all know , is 17:24.524 --> 17:26.413 under threat in too many places . 17:26.413 --> 17:28.136 People talk about a democratic 17:28.136 --> 17:30.590 recession around the world . Our budget 17:30.600 --> 17:33.310 request includes 2.8 billion in foreign 17:33.310 --> 17:35.610 assistance to advance human rights to 17:35.610 --> 17:37.666 fight corruption to stem the tide of 17:37.666 --> 17:39.721 democratic backsliding to strengthen 17:39.721 --> 17:41.888 and defend democracies , for example , 17:41.888 --> 17:43.610 through technical training for 17:43.610 --> 17:45.721 elections and support for independent 17:45.721 --> 17:47.610 media and civil society . We also 17:47.610 --> 17:49.721 request $300 million for the National 17:49.721 --> 17:51.777 Endowment for Democracy . The budget 17:51.777 --> 17:53.943 would support a comprehensive strategy 17:53.943 --> 17:56.166 to address the root causes of irregular 17:56.166 --> 17:58.166 migration from central America . It 17:58.166 --> 18:00.388 would invest $861 million in the region 18:00.388 --> 18:02.332 as a first step toward a four year 18:02.332 --> 18:04.166 commitment of $4 billion to help 18:04.166 --> 18:06.430 prevent violence , reduce poverty , uh 18:06.440 --> 18:08.940 curtail endemic corruption and expand 18:08.950 --> 18:11.660 jobs and educational opportunities . 18:12.140 --> 18:14.430 The budget would reestablish our 18:14.440 --> 18:16.273 humanitarian leadership with the 18:16.273 --> 18:18.496 request of $10 billion in assistance to 18:18.496 --> 18:20.773 support refugees , victims of conflict , 18:20.773 --> 18:23.070 other displaced people , and to rebuild 18:23.070 --> 18:25.490 the refugee admissions program . The 18:25.500 --> 18:27.556 budget would support our partners in 18:27.556 --> 18:29.611 the Middle East by fully funding our 18:29.611 --> 18:31.833 commitment to key countries , including 18:31.833 --> 18:33.778 Israel and Jordan and by restoring 18:33.778 --> 18:35.500 humanitarian assistance to the 18:35.500 --> 18:37.611 Palestinian people . Uh It includes a 18:37.611 --> 18:40.020 budget request for $3.6 billion to pay 18:40.020 --> 18:42.190 our assessed contributions in full to 18:42.190 --> 18:43.857 international organizations , 18:43.857 --> 18:46.134 initiatives , and peacekeeping efforts , 18:46.134 --> 18:47.912 including to restore our annual 18:47.912 --> 18:47.780 contributions to the World Health 18:47.780 --> 18:51.300 Organization uh as china and other 18:51.310 --> 18:53.100 countries work hard to bend 18:53.110 --> 18:55.166 international organizations to their 18:55.166 --> 18:59.040 worldview . We need to do our best 18:59.050 --> 19:00.994 to ensure that these organizations 19:00.994 --> 19:03.217 instead remain grounded in the values , 19:03.217 --> 19:05.383 the principles , the rules of the road 19:05.383 --> 19:07.328 that have made our shared progress 19:07.328 --> 19:09.272 possible for so many decades . And 19:09.272 --> 19:11.328 finally , uh mr . Chairman , ranking 19:11.328 --> 19:13.730 member to deliver in all of these areas 19:13.740 --> 19:15.796 of the budget , will reinvest in our 19:15.796 --> 19:18.073 most vital asset and that's our people . 19:18.090 --> 19:20.090 Um It will provide new resources to 19:20.090 --> 19:23.430 recruit , train and retain a first rate , 19:23.430 --> 19:25.990 diverse global workforce with nearly 19:25.990 --> 19:27.830 500 additional foreign and civil 19:27.830 --> 19:29.608 service positions , the largest 19:29.608 --> 19:31.497 increase for the State Department 19:31.497 --> 19:34.820 staffing in a decade . And critically , 19:34.830 --> 19:36.941 it would modernize our technology and 19:36.941 --> 19:39.108 cyber security , protect our embassies 19:39.108 --> 19:40.886 and consulates include a direct 19:40.886 --> 19:42.940 appropriation of $320 million for 19:42.940 --> 19:45.370 consular services worldwide so we can 19:45.370 --> 19:47.148 continue to provide those vital 19:47.148 --> 19:49.148 services to americans and those who 19:49.148 --> 19:51.259 seek to travel , study or do business 19:51.259 --> 19:53.390 with the United States . Our national 19:53.390 --> 19:55.223 security depends not only on the 19:55.223 --> 19:57.530 strength of our armed forces but on our 19:57.530 --> 19:59.890 ability to conduct effective diplomacy 19:59.900 --> 20:02.720 and development . That's how we solve 20:02.720 --> 20:04.942 global challenges . That's how we forge 20:04.942 --> 20:07.164 cooperation , advance our interests and 20:07.164 --> 20:09.430 values , protect our people and prevent 20:09.430 --> 20:11.097 crises overseas from becoming 20:11.097 --> 20:13.240 emergencies here at home . And that's 20:13.240 --> 20:15.462 why diplomacy and development are smart 20:15.462 --> 20:18.490 investments for american taxpayers . A 20:18.500 --> 20:20.710 final word . MR Chairman . A top 20:20.710 --> 20:23.100 priority for me as secretary is to 20:23.100 --> 20:24.890 restore the traditional role of 20:24.890 --> 20:27.110 Congress as a partner in our foreign 20:27.110 --> 20:29.270 policy making . Uh that's the spirit 20:29.270 --> 20:31.750 that I bring to today's conversation 20:31.760 --> 20:33.871 and I'm grateful for this opportunity 20:33.871 --> 20:36.038 and the opportunity to have a dialogue 20:36.038 --> 20:38.260 and answer your questions . Thank you . 20:38.260 --> 20:40.316 Well , thank you , mr Secretary . We 20:40.316 --> 20:42.482 would look forward to engaging in that 20:42.482 --> 20:44.704 uh do a start around the questions . Uh 20:44.704 --> 20:46.871 and let me first start on the budget . 20:46.871 --> 20:49.760 Uh I have been a robust defender of the 20:49.760 --> 20:51.871 State Department's budget in years in 20:51.871 --> 20:54.038 which we received budgets that clearly 20:54.038 --> 20:56.260 could not meet the mission of the State 20:56.260 --> 20:58.204 Department or the interests of the 20:58.204 --> 21:00.427 United States . So I'm glad to see . As 21:00.427 --> 21:00.390 I said in my remarks , the budget that 21:00.390 --> 21:03.650 is real and that would be the single 21:03.660 --> 21:05.900 most significant increase in a decade . 21:06.140 --> 21:09.240 And I support in general I support the 21:09.250 --> 21:11.110 the effort . I may have some 21:11.110 --> 21:13.277 suggestions to make as we move forward 21:13.277 --> 21:15.388 on the refinement of elements of it , 21:15.388 --> 21:17.930 but I do want to know I support it . Uh 21:17.940 --> 21:19.996 Having said that I'd like to explore 21:19.996 --> 21:22.080 with you some regional issues uh for 21:22.080 --> 21:24.191 which this budget is ultimately going 21:24.191 --> 21:27.930 to be put to work . Uh Is it fair to 21:27.930 --> 21:31.900 say that when we 21:31.900 --> 21:35.730 had the JCPOA Iran uh 21:35.740 --> 21:38.180 continue to pursue ballistic missiles , 21:38.180 --> 21:40.840 Iran continue to destabilize the region . 21:40.840 --> 21:42.840 Iran continue to be the single most 21:42.840 --> 21:45.980 significant uh sponsor of terrorism in 21:45.980 --> 21:48.091 the world . I think it is fair to say 21:48.091 --> 21:50.091 that Mr chairman , although I think 21:50.091 --> 21:52.258 unfortunately it's activities in those 21:52.258 --> 21:54.480 areas have only gotten worse . I agreed 21:54.480 --> 21:56.813 to get out of the evidence gotten worse . 21:56.813 --> 21:58.813 Uh I agree with you on that . Is it 21:58.813 --> 22:01.091 fair to say that when we had the J . C . 22:01.091 --> 22:04.060 P . O . A uh that uh Iran did not seek 22:04.420 --> 22:07.470 to change its ways in these areas and 22:07.470 --> 22:11.160 others or seek to get greater relief 22:11.540 --> 22:13.910 from sanctions in order to change their 22:13.910 --> 22:16.560 ways on these various issues uh During 22:16.560 --> 22:18.790 the time the J . C . P . I was enforced 22:18.790 --> 22:21.012 to the extent we were participant . And 22:21.012 --> 22:22.734 I think that's a that's a fair 22:22.734 --> 22:24.901 assessment . And so here's the concern 22:24.901 --> 22:27.380 that I and others have , uh , the 22:27.380 --> 22:30.330 Iranians have have have gotten onto the 22:30.330 --> 22:33.080 fact that when they want relief , they 22:33.080 --> 22:34.969 accelerate their programs . And I 22:34.969 --> 22:37.302 wasn't a supporter of the J . C . P . O . 22:37.302 --> 22:39.524 A . I think everybody knows that I also 22:39.524 --> 22:41.636 wasn't a supporter of President trump 22:41.636 --> 22:41.490 arbitrarily and capriciously leaving 22:41.490 --> 22:43.712 the agreement without allies at the end 22:43.712 --> 22:46.010 of the day or strategy to achieve a 22:46.010 --> 22:48.177 goal . And in fact , Iran has advanced 22:48.177 --> 22:50.450 its nuclear program since President 22:50.450 --> 22:52.810 trump left the agreement , it has 22:52.820 --> 22:55.180 greater capacity . It has enriched more 22:55.180 --> 22:57.513 material . And of course , none of that . 22:57.513 --> 22:59.402 It's other malign activities have 22:59.402 --> 23:01.624 stopped . They've gotten worse . So the 23:01.624 --> 23:04.510 question is , uh , if all we return to 23:04.510 --> 23:08.120 is a compliance for compliance basis , 23:08.130 --> 23:10.550 which is my takeaway from my 23:10.550 --> 23:12.383 conversations I've had with your 23:12.383 --> 23:14.660 negotiators . And if we have a history 23:14.660 --> 23:17.130 that Iran never saw to get more relief 23:17.130 --> 23:19.186 in return for dealing with its other 23:19.186 --> 23:21.660 malign activities , what's going to 23:21.660 --> 23:24.670 make us believe that in fact , I return 23:24.670 --> 23:26.980 to compliance for compliance is going 23:26.980 --> 23:29.780 to produce anything stronger than what 23:29.780 --> 23:32.020 we had . Uh , two things were starting 23:32.020 --> 23:34.370 first compliance for compliance . If we 23:34.370 --> 23:36.592 get there and that remains a big gift , 23:36.592 --> 23:38.814 which we can come back to , uh , it has 23:38.814 --> 23:40.981 to be a first step , not a last step . 23:40.981 --> 23:42.990 I agree with that . Uh , we have an 23:42.990 --> 23:45.101 immediate challenge . Which is that , 23:45.101 --> 23:47.268 to your point , Iran's nuclear program 23:47.268 --> 23:49.470 is galloping forward . It is enriching 23:49.480 --> 23:53.080 at higher levels , 20% even 23:53.080 --> 23:55.590 60% . In small cases , it's using more 23:55.590 --> 23:57.590 advanced centrifuges . The breakout 23:57.590 --> 23:59.701 time . That the agreement established 23:59.701 --> 24:01.646 an agreement that on its terms was 24:01.646 --> 24:03.868 working is verified by our intelligence 24:03.868 --> 24:05.923 folks , as well as the international 24:05.923 --> 24:08.034 experts , uh , push the breakout time 24:08.034 --> 24:10.034 to a year . We're now down based on 24:10.034 --> 24:12.201 published reports to a few months . If 24:12.201 --> 24:14.257 this continues , if they continue to 24:14.257 --> 24:16.312 enrich at the levels in the way that 24:16.312 --> 24:18.146 they're doing , it will get down 24:18.146 --> 24:20.312 eventually to a few weeks . So that is 24:20.312 --> 24:22.090 a concrete problem . We have an 24:22.090 --> 24:21.970 interest in putting that nuclear 24:21.970 --> 24:23.970 problem back in the box because and 24:23.970 --> 24:26.137 Iran with a nuclear weapon or with the 24:26.137 --> 24:28.303 ability to produce fissile material on 24:28.303 --> 24:30.637 very short notice to get one is in Iran . 24:30.637 --> 24:32.803 That's going to be an even worse actor 24:32.803 --> 24:34.914 uh in terms of its impunity in all of 24:34.914 --> 24:34.820 these other areas . Having said that , 24:34.830 --> 24:37.130 I agree with you that again , this 24:37.130 --> 24:39.241 would need to be a first step , not a 24:39.241 --> 24:41.408 last step . And we would seek to build 24:41.408 --> 24:43.660 on what is stronger mean , your 24:43.660 --> 24:45.771 administration , your you yourself in 24:45.771 --> 24:48.104 testimony before the committee has said , 24:48.104 --> 24:51.430 we seek a longer that I get stronger 24:51.440 --> 24:53.662 but what is stronger means . So I think 24:53.662 --> 24:55.662 we have to look at specific aspects 24:55.662 --> 24:58.350 whether there are areas where we can uh 24:58.360 --> 25:00.650 get even uh huh 25:01.140 --> 25:04.430 stronger uh commitments 25:04.440 --> 25:08.180 uh from from Iran . But of course if we 25:08.190 --> 25:10.190 uh if we do that we can expect that 25:10.190 --> 25:12.301 Iran would ask for things in return . 25:12.301 --> 25:14.357 So we have to gauge whether whatever 25:14.357 --> 25:16.523 improvements might be made in terms of 25:16.523 --> 25:18.523 stronger would be worth whatever uh 25:18.523 --> 25:21.120 needed . Uh Iran would seek the longer 25:21.120 --> 25:24.520 piece as you know very well uh is 25:24.520 --> 25:26.409 important because a number of the 25:26.409 --> 25:28.520 provisions in the agreement uh sunset 25:28.520 --> 25:30.520 although I would point out that the 25:30.520 --> 25:32.520 most critical provision that is the 25:32.520 --> 25:34.576 ability to enrich beyond 3.67% . The 25:34.576 --> 25:36.576 ability to have a stockpile of more 25:36.576 --> 25:38.798 than 300 kg of enriched uranium . These 25:38.798 --> 25:40.909 go until 2030 . So there's still some 25:40.909 --> 25:43.700 time built in if we come back . But I 25:43.700 --> 25:46.033 think we need to look at those . I hope , 25:46.033 --> 25:48.033 I hope Mrs Secretary that as we are 25:48.033 --> 25:51.300 assuaging our european uh colleagues 25:51.300 --> 25:54.670 and , you know , cohorts in this effort 25:55.040 --> 25:57.300 that they are truly committed to the 25:57.300 --> 25:59.411 stronger part . Because my experience 25:59.411 --> 26:01.411 with them is they want to solve the 26:01.411 --> 26:03.633 immediate problem . But getting them to 26:03.633 --> 26:05.744 follow on on the longer term problems 26:05.744 --> 26:07.911 is a much more difficult proposition . 26:07.911 --> 26:10.240 So let me , let me turn to Russia . I'm 26:10.240 --> 26:12.296 sure many other members will ask you 26:12.296 --> 26:14.129 this , but I want to give you an 26:14.129 --> 26:16.740 opportunity . I I think many of us on a 26:16.740 --> 26:19.200 bipartisan basis were deeply concerned 26:19.200 --> 26:21.367 about the administration's decision to 26:21.367 --> 26:23.790 waive sanctions on North Stream to A G . 26:23.790 --> 26:27.360 And its ceo last week , uh as the 26:27.360 --> 26:30.840 president heads to his meeting 26:30.850 --> 26:34.500 with Putin reiterate from my 26:34.500 --> 26:36.880 perspective , we know what Putin is . 26:36.890 --> 26:38.890 As the President himself has said , 26:38.890 --> 26:42.630 he's a murderer , He's KGB . Uh , and 26:42.640 --> 26:45.610 he only understand strength . I would 26:45.610 --> 26:47.499 have thought that one of the most 26:47.499 --> 26:50.130 significant ways to show strength is to 26:50.140 --> 26:52.196 ensure that the pipeline is killed . 26:52.196 --> 26:54.520 Now , you all from your analysis may 26:54.520 --> 26:56.576 come to a different conclusion and I 26:56.576 --> 26:58.742 certainly understand the importance of 26:58.742 --> 27:00.631 Germany , but if you want to give 27:00.631 --> 27:02.840 somebody a very strong blow to send a 27:02.840 --> 27:05.007 message , North Stream would have been 27:05.007 --> 27:07.284 in . So why don't you share it with us ? 27:07.284 --> 27:09.396 Uh , the thinking that went behind on 27:09.396 --> 27:11.451 the waiver . Sure . And I appreciate 27:11.451 --> 27:13.618 that very much . First . As you know , 27:13.618 --> 27:15.396 uh , well , construction on the 27:15.396 --> 27:17.618 pipeline began in 2018 . By the time we 27:17.618 --> 27:19.784 took office , it was over 90% complete 27:19.784 --> 27:19.240 the physical construction of the 27:19.240 --> 27:22.890 pipeline on the 19th . Under 27:22.900 --> 27:25.011 uh , under the piece of legislation , 27:25.011 --> 27:27.320 we sanctioned 13 ships and four 27:27.320 --> 27:29.790 companies , the most the largest number 27:29.790 --> 27:31.710 of entities sanctioned under that 27:31.710 --> 27:33.599 legislation since it was put into 27:33.599 --> 27:35.766 effect . But we also , to your point , 27:35.766 --> 27:38.180 issued a national interest waiver under 27:38.180 --> 27:40.610 the law with regard to the parent 27:40.610 --> 27:42.920 company , Nord Stream two A . G . And 27:42.920 --> 27:46.370 its ceo that waiver can be rescinded at 27:46.370 --> 27:50.060 any time . Um , why did we do that ? 27:50.980 --> 27:52.980 The worst possible outcome from our 27:52.980 --> 27:55.810 perspective would be physical 27:55.810 --> 27:57.977 construction of the pipeline completed 27:58.140 --> 28:00.970 relationship with Germany uh , poisoned 28:00.980 --> 28:03.202 no incentive for Germany to come to the 28:03.202 --> 28:07.060 table uh , to um make good on working 28:07.060 --> 28:10.600 to mitigate uh , the serious negative 28:10.600 --> 28:13.530 consequences of oil flow of gas flowing 28:13.530 --> 28:15.586 through this through this pipeline . 28:15.586 --> 28:17.697 The Germans have now uh , come to the 28:17.697 --> 28:19.752 table , we are actively engaged with 28:19.752 --> 28:21.697 them and there are few things that 28:21.697 --> 28:23.752 absolutely would need to happen uh , 28:23.752 --> 28:25.919 going forward , as you know , as we've 28:25.919 --> 28:27.863 had an opportunity to discuss . Uh 28:27.863 --> 28:29.863 Ukraine needs to be made whole . If 28:29.863 --> 28:31.752 this pipeline is going to go into 28:31.752 --> 28:33.974 operation , uh it will potentially lose 28:33.974 --> 28:35.752 transit fees as a result of the 28:35.752 --> 28:37.974 pipeline going around Ukraine . Uh that 28:37.974 --> 28:39.974 needs to be dealt with . Uh we must 28:39.974 --> 28:42.197 make sure that Russia cannot use gas or 28:42.197 --> 28:45.280 energy uh as a coercive tool in its 28:45.280 --> 28:47.280 relations with Ukraine or any other 28:47.280 --> 28:49.280 state in europe , there are ways of 28:49.280 --> 28:51.447 doing that , making sure that there is 28:51.447 --> 28:54.140 a back up so that if uh gases denied , 28:54.150 --> 28:57.130 uh we can provide it other ways of 28:57.140 --> 28:59.084 securing and strengthening Ukraine 28:59.084 --> 29:01.251 various snap back mechanism so that if 29:01.251 --> 29:03.490 Russia acts in an inappropriate way , 29:03.500 --> 29:05.389 there is some automaticity in the 29:05.389 --> 29:07.389 actions that are taken by us and by 29:07.389 --> 29:09.611 Germany , so we're engaged with them on 29:09.611 --> 29:11.889 that at the same time . Uh as you know , 29:11.940 --> 29:13.996 even when the pipeline is physically 29:13.996 --> 29:16.162 complete for it to go into operation , 29:16.162 --> 29:18.162 uh it still requires insurance , it 29:18.162 --> 29:20.710 still requires various permits , and 29:20.710 --> 29:22.877 we're looking very carefully at all of 29:22.877 --> 29:25.100 that . So , what we need to do now is 29:25.110 --> 29:27.388 uh and that's exactly what we're doing , 29:27.388 --> 29:29.499 engaged with the Germans uh to see if 29:29.499 --> 29:31.780 we can uh deal with the negative 29:31.780 --> 29:33.910 consequences of this pipeline going 29:33.910 --> 29:35.688 into operation . And there is a 29:35.688 --> 29:37.521 distinction between the physical 29:37.521 --> 29:39.632 completion of the pipeline , which in 29:39.632 --> 29:41.966 our judgment , we simply could not stop , 29:41.966 --> 29:44.132 it was too late to stop the joining of 29:44.132 --> 29:46.243 the of those pipes . Its operation is 29:46.243 --> 29:48.243 another matter , what we can do for 29:48.243 --> 29:50.188 Ukraine and others is also another 29:50.188 --> 29:52.299 matter , parenthetically last point , 29:52.299 --> 29:54.410 President spoke to President Zelensky 29:54.410 --> 29:56.466 today , uh invited him to the United 29:56.466 --> 29:58.243 States , uh were in very active 29:58.243 --> 30:00.077 engagement with Ukraine as we go 30:00.077 --> 30:02.299 forward on this . Well , we're happy to 30:02.299 --> 30:02.070 see you did that and we look forward to 30:02.070 --> 30:04.292 seeing what you do as it relates to the 30:04.292 --> 30:06.403 potential operational capacity if you 30:06.403 --> 30:08.626 don't care what you want . And the last 30:08.626 --> 30:10.737 point I'd commend your attention to a 30:10.737 --> 30:12.792 Washington post op ed that we did on 30:12.792 --> 30:14.959 Iran and a different pathway power and 30:14.959 --> 30:16.792 a positive different pathway for 30:16.792 --> 30:19.014 senator . Thank you . Mr Chairman , I'd 30:19.014 --> 30:20.959 like to associate myself with your 30:20.959 --> 30:23.990 questions regarding Iran deal . I look , 30:24.000 --> 30:26.056 MR Secretary , I don't think there's 30:26.056 --> 30:28.111 anybody here that would suggest that 30:28.111 --> 30:30.278 the dealings you're going to have with 30:30.278 --> 30:32.520 Iran are tough . They are tough . It's 30:32.520 --> 30:36.390 not easy . What is easy is to say no 30:36.400 --> 30:38.622 and push your chair away from the table 30:38.622 --> 30:40.844 if you can't get them to where you need 30:40.844 --> 30:42.956 to be . And the J C P O A didn't come 30:42.956 --> 30:44.956 anywhere close on that . One of the 30:44.956 --> 30:46.678 biggest problems I had was the 30:46.678 --> 30:48.622 tremendous amount of cash that was 30:48.622 --> 30:50.670 given to the Iranians . There's no 30:50.670 --> 30:54.070 doubt in my mind that uh part of that 30:54.070 --> 30:57.270 cash wound up paying for the munitions 30:57.270 --> 30:59.900 were dropped on Israel in uh in recent 30:59.900 --> 31:02.122 days , there's no doubt in my mind that 31:02.122 --> 31:04.233 part of that cash was paid to arm the 31:04.233 --> 31:07.880 Houthis in order to uh continue their 31:07.880 --> 31:10.240 attacks against Saudi Arabia . There's 31:10.240 --> 31:12.351 no doubt in my mind that part of that 31:12.351 --> 31:15.500 cash was used to uh construct and 31:15.510 --> 31:19.340 deliver missiles into Lebanon that we 31:19.340 --> 31:21.451 all know we're there and uh and aimed 31:21.451 --> 31:24.030 at Israel . Um this business is just 31:24.030 --> 31:26.260 handing cash over to these people is a 31:26.260 --> 31:28.550 bad bad deal . And I suggested last 31:28.550 --> 31:31.450 time that if indeed 31:31.840 --> 31:35.320 cash is allowed to flow into Iran that 31:35.320 --> 31:37.209 would be put in on some kind of a 31:37.209 --> 31:39.376 lockbox or have some kind of oversight 31:39.376 --> 31:41.431 over it so that it can't be used for 31:41.431 --> 31:43.598 the nefarious purposes that Iran wants 31:43.598 --> 31:46.270 to use it for . And uh I suggested that 31:46.270 --> 31:48.437 last time and uh I was told oh no they 31:48.437 --> 31:50.659 won't agree to that if they won't agree 31:50.659 --> 31:52.714 to that you know where that money is 31:52.714 --> 31:54.881 gonna go and I don't know how somebody 31:54.881 --> 31:57.500 could ask us to vote for it when we 31:57.500 --> 32:00.100 know that that money is going to be 32:00.110 --> 32:03.750 money that causes of blood to flow . So 32:03.760 --> 32:07.030 I would hope you take a look at that as 32:07.030 --> 32:09.320 you know , there's billions in south 32:09.320 --> 32:12.220 Korea and other countries that that the 32:12.220 --> 32:14.590 Iranians want freed up And that I've 32:14.590 --> 32:16.701 heard discussion would be freed up if 32:16.701 --> 32:19.750 indeed another uh J . C . P . O . I . J . 32:19.750 --> 32:23.690 C . P . A deal was reached and I'm just 32:23.690 --> 32:25.690 I'm very concerned about doing this 32:25.690 --> 32:27.912 again . I mean we've we've seen exactly 32:27.912 --> 32:30.023 what happened and that's what's going 32:30.023 --> 32:31.968 to happen again . And uh it's it's 32:31.968 --> 32:33.690 troubling . It's really really 32:33.690 --> 32:35.857 troubling when you give money to these 32:35.857 --> 32:38.220 kind to these kind of people . So I 32:38.220 --> 32:41.340 don't know I I I have irreconcilable 32:41.340 --> 32:43.507 differences with the administration on 32:43.507 --> 32:46.170 simply going back into the uh into the 32:46.170 --> 32:48.170 G . C . P . O . A . That we were in 32:48.170 --> 32:51.500 before . It seems to me that we've 32:51.500 --> 32:53.667 gotten ourselves in a position whether 32:53.667 --> 32:55.667 you agree or disagree with what the 32:55.667 --> 32:57.833 prior administration did . It's gotten 32:57.833 --> 33:00.000 us to a position where they are deeply 33:00.000 --> 33:01.667 weakened compared to when the 33:01.667 --> 33:03.889 administration took office . So I would 33:03.889 --> 33:06.056 hope you take advantage of it and just 33:06.056 --> 33:08.260 say no . Uh there's and and that's 33:08.450 --> 33:10.900 that's just the beginning . I mean the 33:10.910 --> 33:14.540 there uh testing and development of uh 33:14.550 --> 33:18.080 missiles in absolute violation of 33:18.090 --> 33:22.000 resolutions of the U . N . Should not 33:22.010 --> 33:24.980 be tolerated . Uh why sit at the table 33:24.980 --> 33:27.147 with people that are gonna look you in 33:27.147 --> 33:29.369 the eye and say look we don't care what 33:29.369 --> 33:29.190 you say . We don't care what the U . N . 33:29.190 --> 33:31.301 Says . We don't care what the rest of 33:31.301 --> 33:33.134 the world says . We are going to 33:33.134 --> 33:35.246 develop missiles and you can go pound 33:35.246 --> 33:37.246 sand and then we handle billions of 33:37.246 --> 33:39.412 dollars . It doesn't make sense . Well 33:39.412 --> 33:41.634 in any event uh I wish you well in it . 33:41.634 --> 33:44.140 I wish you'd say no uh and keep the 33:44.150 --> 33:46.372 sanctions in place . We will be willing 33:46.372 --> 33:48.483 partners at least this senator . Well 33:48.483 --> 33:51.050 as far as ratcheting up more of those 33:51.060 --> 33:53.470 uh sanctions against against that 33:53.470 --> 33:55.248 country . Let me ask a specific 33:55.248 --> 33:57.990 question on on the money that I looked 33:57.990 --> 34:00.150 at it in this budget that is going to 34:00.150 --> 34:03.770 other countries for addressing global 34:03.770 --> 34:07.590 warming , how I'm really 34:07.600 --> 34:09.878 lost as to what that's going to go for . 34:09.878 --> 34:11.878 Its really vague in there . Can you 34:11.878 --> 34:13.933 help me out what is going to be used 34:13.933 --> 34:17.610 for ? Uh Thank you . Uh Here's the 34:17.610 --> 34:20.800 challenge for for us with with dealing 34:20.800 --> 34:23.078 with global warming and climate change . 34:23.078 --> 34:26.510 Uh we are taking significant steps to 34:26.520 --> 34:29.680 curb our emissions , but even if we do 34:29.680 --> 34:31.847 everything right , at least in the way 34:31.847 --> 34:33.750 that we see it were 15% of global 34:33.750 --> 34:35.972 emissions . So we do everything right . 34:35.972 --> 34:38.194 We still got 85% of the problem left uh 34:38.194 --> 34:40.472 and other countries have to come along . 34:40.472 --> 34:42.528 And of course , we do not want to be 34:42.528 --> 34:44.583 the ones doing all of the all of the 34:44.583 --> 34:46.583 work we have to get others uh to do 34:46.583 --> 34:48.806 what they need to do as well to do what 34:48.806 --> 34:50.972 we can't be can I mean , if we're only 34:50.972 --> 34:53.570 15% we can't finance the other 85 . So 34:53.570 --> 34:55.681 it's not it's not financing the other 34:55.681 --> 34:57.903 85% . But there are some countries that 34:57.903 --> 35:00.014 need to take uh meaningful actions to 35:00.014 --> 35:02.126 curb emissions that uh that will need 35:02.126 --> 35:04.070 assistance in in developing uh and 35:04.070 --> 35:06.350 adapting technologies that can help 35:06.350 --> 35:08.572 them curb those missions . So the Green 35:08.572 --> 35:10.683 Climate Fund , for example , is a way 35:10.683 --> 35:12.850 of helping countries without the means 35:12.850 --> 35:15.017 to do it uh to adapt technologies that 35:15.017 --> 35:16.961 will go to curb emissions and also 35:16.961 --> 35:19.183 build resilience against some of the uh 35:19.183 --> 35:21.370 challenges post . Is there a plan that 35:21.370 --> 35:23.370 we can look at in that regard and 35:23.370 --> 35:25.481 identify the countries that are going 35:25.481 --> 35:27.648 to get this money and how much they're 35:27.648 --> 35:29.981 going to get there ? I believe there is . 35:29.981 --> 35:32.314 And I'm happy to share with uh go ahead . 35:32.314 --> 35:34.370 I I uh I was gonna say well happy to 35:34.370 --> 35:36.259 come back to you with uh with the 35:36.259 --> 35:39.320 details on that . Thank you . Um I 35:39.330 --> 35:41.274 didn't allow you to respond on the 35:41.274 --> 35:44.410 Iranian situation . Yes . And look and 35:44.410 --> 35:46.632 we've had the opportunity to talk about 35:46.632 --> 35:48.466 this . We have a number of times 35:48.466 --> 35:51.310 appreciate you first . Um All of the 35:51.310 --> 35:55.050 egregious actions which we share uh 35:55.060 --> 35:57.590 condemnation of with with you that Iran 35:57.590 --> 35:59.479 is engaged in our happening under 35:59.479 --> 36:02.210 maximum pressure . Uh Not more . It's 36:02.210 --> 36:04.740 gotten worse . Not better . So that 36:04.740 --> 36:06.684 effort did not solve the problem a 36:06.684 --> 36:08.851 problem . We all uh we all acknowledge 36:08.851 --> 36:10.851 um whether we like it or not and we 36:10.851 --> 36:12.684 don't like it . Uh Iran has been 36:12.684 --> 36:14.796 engaged in these activities including 36:14.796 --> 36:17.018 support for Hamas including support for 36:17.018 --> 36:19.240 other terror groups , including support 36:19.240 --> 36:21.351 for proxies engaging in destabilizing 36:21.351 --> 36:21.300 activities across the board . It was 36:21.300 --> 36:23.633 doing that before the J . C . P . O . A . 36:23.633 --> 36:25.800 It continued to do that during the J . 36:25.800 --> 36:27.911 C . P . O . A . And it's gotten worse 36:27.911 --> 36:27.400 since we got out of the J . C . P . O . 36:27.400 --> 36:30.050 A . R . Challenge . Now , I think is 36:30.050 --> 36:33.830 threefold one is um we have 36:33.840 --> 36:36.460 the problem that its nuclear program 36:36.470 --> 36:38.581 and now that it is not abiding by the 36:38.581 --> 36:40.803 constraints of the J . C . P . O . A is 36:40.803 --> 36:42.859 literally galloping forward . And we 36:42.859 --> 36:44.970 talked about that a few minutes ago . 36:44.970 --> 36:47.081 But the magnitude of their enrichment 36:47.081 --> 36:50.690 enriching more at higher levels uh is 36:50.690 --> 36:52.523 putting it in position where the 36:52.523 --> 36:54.634 breakout time inexorably getting down 36:54.634 --> 36:56.801 from a year , two months to eventually 36:56.801 --> 36:59.023 weeks . Uh And that is a problem for us 36:59.023 --> 37:02.340 also , if this continues um what it is 37:02.340 --> 37:06.200 learning what it is um able to master 37:06.210 --> 37:08.432 in the time that is doing this is going 37:08.432 --> 37:11.210 to be very hard to to pull back . So we 37:11.210 --> 37:13.321 have that that incentive . That's one 37:13.321 --> 37:15.432 piece the second piece is and I agree 37:15.432 --> 37:17.321 with with both you and uh and the 37:17.321 --> 37:19.540 chairman . Uh that is in my judgment , 37:19.540 --> 37:21.651 a necessary step put this back in the 37:21.651 --> 37:23.818 box , but an insufficient one . Uh and 37:23.818 --> 37:26.151 we have to build we have to build on it , 37:26.151 --> 37:28.318 but not only in terms of the agreement 37:28.318 --> 37:30.151 itself . In terms of these other 37:30.151 --> 37:32.262 actions that Iran is taking , that we 37:32.262 --> 37:34.207 all profoundly objective , we will 37:34.207 --> 37:36.530 retain all of the tools to do that to 37:36.540 --> 37:38.762 push back on them for these actions . I 37:38.762 --> 37:40.929 think we will have greater cooperation 37:40.929 --> 37:43.151 and coordination from partners who over 37:43.151 --> 37:45.207 the last few years have been focused 37:45.207 --> 37:47.096 almost entirely on preserving the 37:47.096 --> 37:46.950 nuclear agreement , not actually 37:46.950 --> 37:49.006 working with us to help curb some of 37:49.006 --> 37:51.340 these other other actions . Uh so we 37:51.340 --> 37:53.562 have to be able to do all of that . And 37:53.562 --> 37:55.340 what I can tell you is , we are 37:55.340 --> 37:57.507 determined to do that . But we need to 37:57.507 --> 37:59.562 put this nuclear problem back in the 37:59.562 --> 38:01.673 box that it was in uh and uh and move 38:01.673 --> 38:03.784 on from there . Well , my time's up . 38:03.784 --> 38:05.840 Thank you , Mr Chairman . But let me 38:05.840 --> 38:08.130 just conclude by saying um we we both 38:08.130 --> 38:10.241 know and the world knows that there's 38:10.241 --> 38:12.130 another entity that's going to do 38:12.130 --> 38:14.510 something about this . Uh whatever the 38:14.510 --> 38:16.732 J . C . P . O . A . Says or doesn't say 38:16.732 --> 38:18.732 whatever everybody else agrees to , 38:18.732 --> 38:20.954 there's another entity that has taken a 38:20.954 --> 38:23.177 solemn oath that they will never have . 38:23.177 --> 38:25.399 Iran will never have a nuclear weapon . 38:25.399 --> 38:27.566 And I guess the biggest question would 38:27.566 --> 38:29.788 be what happens when you get the call ? 38:29.788 --> 38:31.830 Thank you . Senator carton , mm . 38:32.320 --> 38:34.620 Secretary Blinken . Welcome . So you've 38:34.620 --> 38:37.580 been very busy . It's a challenging 38:37.580 --> 38:40.410 world . I certainly agree with Senator 38:40.410 --> 38:42.299 Menendez , our chairman , that we 38:42.299 --> 38:44.132 welcome the budget that has been 38:44.132 --> 38:47.220 submitted for our foreign policy issues . 38:47.220 --> 38:49.710 It certainly reflects the commitment 38:49.710 --> 38:52.230 that we have a value based foreign 38:52.230 --> 38:55.220 policy . I was particularly pleased by 38:55.220 --> 38:57.350 your statements here about your 38:57.350 --> 38:59.350 commitment to good governance . The 38:59.350 --> 39:01.790 press statement for your fy 22 budget 39:01.790 --> 39:04.370 says it includes a significant increase 39:04.380 --> 39:06.530 in resources to advance human rights 39:06.530 --> 39:08.430 and democratic values . Fight 39:08.430 --> 39:10.470 corruption , stem the tide of 39:10.470 --> 39:12.490 democratic backsliding and defend 39:12.490 --> 39:15.070 against authoritarianism . And then in 39:15.070 --> 39:17.770 the NL budget , you have a particular 39:17.770 --> 39:21.040 focus on the anti corruption activities . 39:21.720 --> 39:24.230 So you mentioned some of that during 39:24.230 --> 39:26.286 your opening statement , But I would 39:26.286 --> 39:28.286 like to drill down to one aspect of 39:28.286 --> 39:30.397 fighting corruption , which I believe 39:30.397 --> 39:32.563 is desperately needed within the State 39:32.563 --> 39:34.786 Department . And that's the capacity in 39:34.786 --> 39:37.010 each of our missions to understand the 39:37.020 --> 39:40.020 circumstances in the host country , uh 39:40.030 --> 39:41.641 to get the best intelligence 39:41.641 --> 39:45.160 information about their system and what 39:45.170 --> 39:48.060 can be done to fight corruption and 39:48.060 --> 39:50.171 then impressing upon the host country 39:50.171 --> 39:52.420 our interest in helping them in dealing 39:52.430 --> 39:55.840 with anti corruption measures ? Uh , do 39:55.840 --> 39:59.040 we have enough resources in this budget 39:59.050 --> 40:00.994 to be able to develop that type of 40:00.994 --> 40:03.010 capacity within the missions ? Uh , 40:03.020 --> 40:05.180 thank you . Uh , first of all for for 40:05.180 --> 40:07.402 putting a spotlight on that . Thank you 40:07.402 --> 40:09.513 for all of the work you've been doing 40:09.513 --> 40:12.230 over many years . I think of all of the 40:12.240 --> 40:14.462 bad things out there that we're dealing 40:14.462 --> 40:16.518 with , uh corruption in terms of the 40:16.518 --> 40:18.296 corrosive impact that it has on 40:18.296 --> 40:20.670 democracy is got to be very near the 40:20.680 --> 40:22.902 top of the list . And parenthetically , 40:22.910 --> 40:25.240 I think if we look at virtually any 40:25.610 --> 40:29.090 popular movement over the last decade 40:29.090 --> 40:31.312 or 15 years , whether it's the tunisian 40:31.312 --> 40:33.312 fruit vendor or whether it's career 40:33.312 --> 40:35.368 square or whether it's the maiden in 40:35.368 --> 40:37.312 Ukraine . Whether it's protests in 40:37.312 --> 40:39.368 brazil , the common denominator each 40:39.368 --> 40:41.320 time is revulsion at corruption . 40:41.330 --> 40:43.163 Sometimes it's the reason . It's 40:43.163 --> 40:45.730 certainly a reason that we see people 40:45.730 --> 40:49.030 at some point just get fed up . So 40:50.310 --> 40:52.421 we're determined to make sure that we 40:52.421 --> 40:54.532 have the resources to do exactly what 40:54.532 --> 40:56.699 you're talking about in in a couple of 40:56.699 --> 40:58.754 ways and we welcome working with you 40:58.754 --> 41:00.977 going forward to make sure that this is 41:00.977 --> 41:03.032 as sharp as possible . Uh , first we 41:03.032 --> 41:05.088 need the human resources , the , the 41:05.088 --> 41:07.254 expertise in the department , uh , and 41:07.254 --> 41:09.640 the ability to support and deploy that 41:09.640 --> 41:11.700 expertise to your point to our 41:11.700 --> 41:13.940 embassies . So people who have the 41:13.940 --> 41:16.162 training have the background , have the 41:16.162 --> 41:18.273 skill set to work on these issues . I 41:18.273 --> 41:21.180 think part of our request that is so 41:21.180 --> 41:23.220 significant to me is the additional 41:23.230 --> 41:26.640 almost 500 positions . But this is not 41:26.650 --> 41:29.620 asking for just 500 positions in a , in 41:29.620 --> 41:32.190 a vacuum . There are specific areas 41:32.190 --> 41:34.301 where we know we need to build up our 41:34.301 --> 41:36.523 capacity that will look to use this and 41:36.523 --> 41:39.040 other flexibilities uh to to address . 41:39.050 --> 41:41.600 And the this expertise on economic 41:41.610 --> 41:43.610 matters on corruption is one of the 41:43.610 --> 41:46.990 technology is another china is the 41:46.990 --> 41:49.530 third . Global health is 1/4 . So we're 41:49.530 --> 41:52.370 very focused their second . Um We have 41:52.370 --> 41:54.670 to do this in close collaboration and 41:54.670 --> 41:56.940 coordination with the other expert 41:56.940 --> 41:59.880 agencies uh in our government and that 41:59.890 --> 42:02.112 I think is there's a real commitment to 42:02.112 --> 42:04.057 to do that . The National Security 42:04.057 --> 42:06.223 Advisor , jake Sullivan who brings all 42:06.223 --> 42:08.501 of us together is very focused on this . 42:08.501 --> 42:10.668 Uh and so we have to do that third . I 42:10.668 --> 42:12.668 think you saw Vice President Harris 42:12.668 --> 42:16.520 just today announce the surging of 42:16.530 --> 42:20.500 experts to some countries in in 42:20.500 --> 42:23.890 central America to help them , to the 42:23.890 --> 42:25.890 extent they're willing to be helped 42:26.200 --> 42:29.610 deal with endemic corruption . So we 42:29.610 --> 42:31.930 have some ability to surge expertise . 42:32.300 --> 42:34.522 Uh the long and short of it is though , 42:34.522 --> 42:37.160 I very much welcome working with you on 42:37.160 --> 42:40.480 this to make sure that we do have what 42:40.480 --> 42:42.591 we need and we're certainly very open 42:42.591 --> 42:44.647 to ideas for how we can do this more 42:44.647 --> 42:46.647 effectively and then make sure well 42:46.647 --> 42:48.813 resourced appropriately . I appreciate 42:48.813 --> 42:51.036 that it also helps us that we then have 42:51.036 --> 42:52.924 the information we need to impose 42:52.924 --> 42:55.036 sanctions such as Global Magnitsky by 42:55.036 --> 42:57.036 having that capacity in each of our 42:57.036 --> 42:58.536 each of our missions . The 42:58.536 --> 43:00.202 administration's talked about 43:00.202 --> 43:01.924 multinational approaches and I 43:01.924 --> 43:03.702 certainly support multinational 43:03.702 --> 43:06.320 approaches . So let me talk about the 43:06.320 --> 43:08.542 sustainable development goals that were 43:08.542 --> 43:12.240 created in 27 2015 Goal 16 deals with 43:12.250 --> 43:14.306 good governance , which is the areas 43:14.306 --> 43:16.194 that we're talking about here and 43:16.194 --> 43:19.010 getting our international support for 43:19.010 --> 43:21.470 efforts to make significant 43:21.480 --> 43:24.190 improvements in governance . The prior 43:24.190 --> 43:26.468 administration failed to support the U . 43:26.468 --> 43:29.590 N . Joint SDG fund , which is the sole 43:29.590 --> 43:32.840 U . N . Funding vehicle for price to 43:32.840 --> 43:35.760 catalyze to energize private sector and 43:35.760 --> 43:37.927 other resources to support the S . D . 43:37.927 --> 43:41.180 G . S . Given presidents biden and your 43:41.180 --> 43:43.030 renewed commitment to american 43:43.030 --> 43:45.410 multilateralism and sustainable 43:45.410 --> 43:47.910 development , what steps will this 43:47.910 --> 43:50.160 administration take in order to advance 43:50.160 --> 43:52.730 the SDG goals , particularly Gold 16 ? 43:53.100 --> 43:55.322 Uh I think we need to make sure that we 43:55.322 --> 43:57.810 are dedicating are appropriate share of 43:57.810 --> 44:00.032 resources to advance these goals . This 44:00.032 --> 44:02.254 is one of the reasons we want to try to 44:02.254 --> 44:04.670 uh make right by our commitments to 44:04.680 --> 44:06.569 international institutions and to 44:06.569 --> 44:08.736 various programs in those institutions 44:08.736 --> 44:10.680 that advanced the interests of the 44:10.680 --> 44:12.902 United States . Uh parenthetically when 44:12.902 --> 44:15.090 we when we don't do that , our 44:15.090 --> 44:17.530 influence and our ability to shape how 44:17.530 --> 44:20.010 these programs are carried out is 44:20.010 --> 44:22.120 diminished or lost . So we have an 44:22.120 --> 44:25.240 interest in making sure that the focus 44:25.240 --> 44:27.470 that these institutions bring to the 44:27.470 --> 44:30.450 problem is appropriate and effective . 44:30.460 --> 44:32.960 But the long and short of it is we 44:32.960 --> 44:35.420 believe we need to to to fund our 44:35.420 --> 44:38.520 commitments and then be at the table in 44:38.520 --> 44:41.320 the room to help carry them out . And I 44:41.320 --> 44:44.090 would just add in multi nationalism , 44:44.090 --> 44:46.201 the organization of american states , 44:46.201 --> 44:48.100 the Osc and other international 44:48.100 --> 44:50.310 organizations where United States 44:50.310 --> 44:52.477 leadership can play a critical role to 44:52.477 --> 44:54.588 focus those organizations in addition 44:54.588 --> 44:57.220 to the United Nations , in these values 44:57.220 --> 44:59.276 that are critically important to our 44:59.276 --> 45:01.442 national security . I would do is urge 45:01.442 --> 45:04.130 you to to work with us to see whether 45:04.130 --> 45:06.130 we can be more effective in getting 45:06.130 --> 45:08.690 multinational focus on dealing with 45:08.690 --> 45:12.340 corruption . I want to add my view in 45:12.340 --> 45:14.590 regards to the Iran circumstance . I 45:14.590 --> 45:16.646 agree with Chairman Menendez C and I 45:16.646 --> 45:19.040 had similar views on the J C . P . O . 45:19.040 --> 45:22.180 And the president trump's decision to 45:22.190 --> 45:24.357 leave the J . C . P . O . A . But just 45:24.357 --> 45:26.720 make one point , the jcPOa it was a 45:26.720 --> 45:29.010 lifetime prohibition about Iran being 45:29.010 --> 45:31.288 able to have a nuclear weapons program . 45:31.288 --> 45:33.232 That's great . We had sunsets that 45:33.232 --> 45:35.980 we're now would be irrelevant to to 45:35.980 --> 45:38.410 that lifetime commitment . So when you 45:38.410 --> 45:41.400 talk about whatever we get back into an 45:41.400 --> 45:43.600 agreement , it's got to make sure that 45:43.600 --> 45:45.656 there's a lifetime prohibition about 45:45.656 --> 45:47.711 Iran ever becoming a nuclear weapons 45:47.711 --> 45:49.711 state . And you have uh functioning 45:49.890 --> 45:53.390 agreements that you can identify to 45:53.390 --> 45:55.668 make sure they never get within a year . 45:55.668 --> 45:58.080 A breakout . Thank you . Thank you for 45:58.080 --> 46:00.440 German , Senator johnson . Hey , Mr 46:00.440 --> 46:03.490 Chairman uh Mr Secretary , I was part 46:03.490 --> 46:05.490 of the effort led by santa Cruz and 46:05.490 --> 46:07.940 Senator Shaheen to pull impose 46:07.940 --> 46:10.051 sanctions to stop the building of the 46:10.051 --> 46:12.162 North Stream two pipeline . I have to 46:12.162 --> 46:14.384 admit honestly , I was surprised at how 46:14.384 --> 46:16.551 unbelievably effective those sanctions 46:16.551 --> 46:18.773 weren't stopped it when you came before 46:18.773 --> 46:20.940 this committee about five months ago , 46:20.940 --> 46:23.107 I thought you were completely on board 46:23.580 --> 46:27.490 with uh the continued halting the 46:27.490 --> 46:29.546 construction of the North Stream Two 46:29.546 --> 46:31.379 pipeline . I have to admit , I'm 46:31.379 --> 46:33.157 shocked . And now the fact that 46:33.157 --> 46:35.323 yesterday and today , you're conceding 46:35.323 --> 46:37.379 the fact that's going to get built , 46:37.379 --> 46:37.350 that would have been really nice to 46:37.350 --> 46:40.710 know five months ago . When did your 46:40.710 --> 46:43.620 thinking change on that ? Thank you , 46:43.620 --> 46:47.040 senator . Uh again , as we as we 46:47.040 --> 46:49.700 discussed then , uh unfortunately , 46:49.700 --> 46:51.811 construction started on this bad idea 46:51.811 --> 46:55.380 in 2018 . And when we last spoke , the 46:55.390 --> 46:57.557 pipeline was well over 90% complete as 46:57.557 --> 46:59.668 a as a physical . Yes , and it was it 46:59.668 --> 47:01.557 was quite complete when we impose 47:01.557 --> 47:03.779 sanctions and halted it last time . Why 47:03.779 --> 47:06.112 why not continue to pause the sanctions ? 47:06.112 --> 47:08.279 I'm sorry . Your explanation literally 47:08.279 --> 47:10.340 makes no sense . So , so now we're 47:10.350 --> 47:12.461 seeing the building we're going to do 47:12.461 --> 47:14.628 that we're going to have constructed . 47:14.628 --> 47:16.739 And now we're going to somehow impose 47:16.739 --> 47:19.240 what serious consequences when Jeremy 47:19.240 --> 47:21.140 doesn't live up to providing the 47:21.150 --> 47:23.880 revenue relief for Ukraine when Russia 47:23.880 --> 47:25.400 does use it as a weapon 47:27.680 --> 47:30.380 as a practical matter , As we looked at 47:30.380 --> 47:33.140 this ? Uh we all agreed this pipeline 47:33.140 --> 47:36.940 is a bad idea . We uh pose it . Uh 47:36.950 --> 47:39.380 we've uh president has been clear about 47:39.380 --> 47:41.840 that for a long time , but as a very 47:41.840 --> 47:43.784 practical matter with inheriting a 47:43.784 --> 47:46.060 pipeline that was 95% complete . Uh 47:46.070 --> 47:48.126 None of these we start we stopped at 47:48.126 --> 47:50.181 the last time . Let's move on to our 47:50.181 --> 47:52.014 radio . In fact , we didn't , by 47:52.014 --> 47:54.610 definition , let's move on to Iran 47:54.620 --> 47:56.930 during the debate over the J . C . P . 47:56.930 --> 47:59.300 O . A . I offered an amendment to deem 47:59.300 --> 48:02.510 that a treaty , from my standpoint that 48:02.520 --> 48:05.000 amendment should have passed 100 to 0 48:05.370 --> 48:07.710 and had it passed 100 to 0 , the J . C . 48:07.710 --> 48:09.870 P . O G P . O . It would have been 48:09.870 --> 48:12.960 first a far better agreement and you 48:12.960 --> 48:15.016 wouldn't be in a position where from 48:15.016 --> 48:17.127 one administration the next president 48:17.127 --> 48:19.016 can just cancel another executive 48:19.016 --> 48:21.071 agreement . So now you're engaged in 48:21.071 --> 48:23.238 further discussions with Iran . I have 48:23.238 --> 48:25.349 my doubts that you will end up with a 48:25.349 --> 48:27.349 better agreement . It's going to be 48:27.349 --> 48:29.293 worse . It will embolden Iran . Um 48:29.293 --> 48:31.404 Don't you think , first of all , what 48:31.404 --> 48:33.516 justification is there something that 48:33.516 --> 48:35.738 is that significant ? And then you take 48:35.738 --> 48:37.793 a look at the State Department's own 48:37.793 --> 48:39.960 manuals in terms of how it defines the 48:39.960 --> 48:42.127 treaty ? I think it's quite clear that 48:42.127 --> 48:44.182 the original JCP away was a treaty . 48:44.182 --> 48:46.349 Don't you think any agreement that you 48:46.349 --> 48:48.571 enter into with Iran should be deemed a 48:48.571 --> 48:50.571 treaty and should be ratified ? The 48:50.571 --> 48:52.571 United States Senate senators , you 48:52.571 --> 48:54.710 know , numerous arms control and 48:54.710 --> 48:56.877 nonproliferation agreements reached by 48:56.877 --> 48:58.988 the United States were not treaties . 48:58.988 --> 49:02.510 Uh and there are benefits your right to 49:02.520 --> 49:04.464 uh enshrining something the treaty 49:04.464 --> 49:07.240 there also uh downsides and in terms of 49:07.240 --> 49:09.018 some of the constraints that it 49:09.018 --> 49:11.184 actually would place on us . It's also 49:11.184 --> 49:13.240 more complicated when you're dealing 49:13.240 --> 49:15.930 with a multi party um agreement which 49:15.930 --> 49:18.152 was the case of the J . C . P . O . A . 49:18.152 --> 49:20.041 We had of course the the european 49:20.041 --> 49:22.152 partners uh we had the Russians , the 49:22.152 --> 49:23.930 chinese , not to mention uh the 49:23.930 --> 49:26.152 Iranians . So looking at the history of 49:26.152 --> 49:27.930 arms control , nonproliferation 49:27.930 --> 49:30.152 agreements , looking at what would give 49:30.152 --> 49:32.960 us uh maximum flexibility . 49:32.970 --> 49:36.620 Uh This was the most effective way 49:36.620 --> 49:38.564 forward . Okay , well respectfully 49:38.564 --> 49:41.220 disagree . Uh Real quick I I did send a 49:41.220 --> 49:43.900 letter together with Senator Scott uh 49:44.370 --> 49:46.037 enquiring as to why the State 49:46.037 --> 49:47.981 Department ended its investigation 49:47.981 --> 49:50.810 regarding the the gain of function and 49:50.820 --> 49:54.340 the lab leak uh origination of 49:54.350 --> 49:57.490 the coronavirus . Uh I think your 49:57.490 --> 49:59.823 response is due on january on june 10th . 49:59.823 --> 50:02.400 I'm hoping you'll uh respond and 50:02.400 --> 50:04.233 provide us the information we're 50:04.233 --> 50:06.178 requesting . Are you aware of that 50:06.178 --> 50:06.080 letter ? Yes . Thank you , Senator . I 50:06.080 --> 50:09.380 am . And just uh and we'll certainly 50:09.390 --> 50:11.223 respond to that in a in a timely 50:11.223 --> 50:13.390 fashion . But just to uh for what it's 50:13.390 --> 50:15.280 worth to try to uh clear this up 50:15.760 --> 50:17.480 because there's been a lot 50:17.480 --> 50:19.536 unfortunately erroneous reporting on 50:19.536 --> 50:22.580 this . The uh the study in question . 50:22.590 --> 50:26.380 The work in question was uh 50:26.390 --> 50:28.370 asked for by the uh by the trump 50:28.370 --> 50:30.203 administration . Uh they hired a 50:30.203 --> 50:32.370 contractor within the State Department 50:32.370 --> 50:34.314 to do an internal inquiry into the 50:34.314 --> 50:36.314 origin's of uh of covid 19 . With a 50:36.314 --> 50:39.580 focus on the lab leak um scenario 50:40.160 --> 50:42.750 that work was completed . It wasn't 50:42.750 --> 50:44.917 terminated . Ok , so just explain that 50:44.917 --> 50:46.972 when you return it to me , I want to 50:46.972 --> 50:48.917 move on to another issue . So just 50:48.917 --> 50:50.972 respond to my my oversight request . 50:50.972 --> 50:52.917 Finally , I want to talk about the 50:52.917 --> 50:54.750 budget as relates to what the by 50:54.750 --> 50:56.917 administration is proposing to spend , 50:56.917 --> 50:59.220 I guess to fix central America . Uh My 50:59.220 --> 51:01.680 first trip down to central America . Uh 51:02.660 --> 51:04.590 I was it was interesting what the 51:04.590 --> 51:06.534 presence of those countries talked 51:06.534 --> 51:08.534 about in terms of problems they are 51:08.534 --> 51:08.520 dealing with . And first it was 51:08.530 --> 51:12.220 corruption and impunity . Obviously I 51:12.230 --> 51:14.008 understand corruption . Thought 51:14.008 --> 51:16.230 impunity . That's that's odd . What are 51:16.230 --> 51:18.452 you talking about there ? In fact , the 51:18.452 --> 51:20.452 matter is they're talking about the 51:20.452 --> 51:20.310 fact that the drug cartels are 51:20.320 --> 51:22.431 untouchable and by the way , the drug 51:22.431 --> 51:24.487 cartels in central America . Because 51:24.487 --> 51:27.860 through a drug interdiction uh efforts 51:27.870 --> 51:30.180 we stopped or we certainly redirect the 51:30.180 --> 51:32.069 flow through the caribbean and up 51:32.069 --> 51:34.013 through Central America destroying 51:34.013 --> 51:36.236 those societies in many respects . So , 51:36.236 --> 51:39.570 uh , I don't know what amount of money 51:39.570 --> 51:42.040 we can spend in Central America to 51:42.040 --> 51:45.670 really address the drug lords . Um , I 51:45.670 --> 51:47.670 keep hearing the root cause of this 51:47.670 --> 51:49.892 problem is that the violence in Central 51:49.892 --> 51:52.059 America , I would argue the root cause 51:52.059 --> 51:54.170 of the violence in central America is 51:54.170 --> 51:56.392 America's insatiable demand for drugs . 51:56.392 --> 51:59.280 So the border crisis , which is current , 51:59.280 --> 52:02.180 the current crisis is completely 52:03.650 --> 52:06.590 the result of the actions that 52:06.590 --> 52:08.590 President biden took when you first 52:08.590 --> 52:10.757 entered office , ending the successful 52:10.757 --> 52:12.534 migrant protection policy , the 52:12.534 --> 52:14.534 agreements with those countries and 52:14.534 --> 52:16.646 quite honestly not completing the 250 52:16.646 --> 52:18.868 miles of border wall that is bought and 52:18.868 --> 52:20.830 paid for . So I listen to Vice 52:20.830 --> 52:22.886 President Harris talking about we're 52:22.886 --> 52:24.997 going to secure the border . I see no 52:24.997 --> 52:28.630 evidence of that . Um , so tell me how 52:28.630 --> 52:31.850 you can expect a few 100 million or 52:31.850 --> 52:34.060 built . I don't exactly know the exact 52:34.060 --> 52:36.282 amount you're really proposing over the 52:36.282 --> 52:38.116 next couple of years during this 52:38.116 --> 52:40.282 administration of pouring into central 52:40.282 --> 52:42.449 America to try and fix the push factor 52:42.450 --> 52:44.610 when the push factors caused by our 52:44.610 --> 52:46.610 insatiable demand for drugs and the 52:46.610 --> 52:48.850 flow of migrants . By the way , the 52:48.850 --> 52:51.060 presence of those countries , we're 52:51.060 --> 52:53.680 telling , pleading with me and on a 52:53.680 --> 52:55.458 bipartisan basis , other Senate 52:55.458 --> 52:57.458 colleagues , please fix your laws . 52:57.458 --> 52:59.402 This isn't good for us to lose our 52:59.402 --> 53:02.680 future to have this outflow of people . 53:02.680 --> 53:05.040 We need to rebuild our economies . So 53:05.050 --> 53:07.770 please explain how , how these policies 53:07.770 --> 53:09.992 are going to result in anything and how 53:09.992 --> 53:11.881 that money isn't going to just be 53:11.881 --> 53:14.048 completely wasted in central America . 53:14.048 --> 53:16.770 Thank you . Um , there are a number of 53:16.770 --> 53:18.937 things that we need to do , uh , and , 53:18.937 --> 53:21.360 uh , and do it at the same time we have 53:21.360 --> 53:23.638 to have , and we're determined to have , 53:23.638 --> 53:25.749 and we will have a secure border . We 53:25.749 --> 53:27.471 have to have a rational , uh , 53:27.471 --> 53:30.380 immigration policies and we have to 53:30.380 --> 53:32.820 deal with , uh , with these drivers . 53:32.830 --> 53:35.790 And , you know , I think it's fair to 53:35.790 --> 53:38.530 say that , uh , folks don't just wake 53:38.530 --> 53:40.650 up in the morning in Guatemala or 53:40.650 --> 53:43.320 Honduras or el Salvador and say , uh , 53:43.330 --> 53:45.497 boy , it would be a lot of fun to just 53:45.497 --> 53:47.719 give up everything . I know my family , 53:47.719 --> 53:50.052 my language , my culture , my community , 53:50.052 --> 53:52.052 um , take this incredibly hazardous 53:52.052 --> 53:54.108 journey , put myself in the hands of 53:54.108 --> 53:57.020 coyotes , come to the United States and 53:57.020 --> 53:59.187 the borders closed in any event . Uh , 53:59.187 --> 54:01.353 and , uh , that would be a great thing 54:01.353 --> 54:04.290 to do . We know that there are very , 54:04.300 --> 54:06.522 very serious things in their lives that 54:06.522 --> 54:08.770 are pushing them to take , uh , these 54:08.770 --> 54:11.060 chances . And these are things that I 54:11.060 --> 54:13.790 think we can help address to your point . 54:13.800 --> 54:15.744 You're right . I think there are a 54:15.744 --> 54:17.467 number of factors involved the 54:17.467 --> 54:19.633 corruption , lack of good governance , 54:19.633 --> 54:21.730 uh , the , the impunity in terms of 54:21.730 --> 54:23.952 violence . The single biggest driver in 54:23.952 --> 54:26.063 most places in my estimation though , 54:26.063 --> 54:28.341 is fundamentally a lack of opportunity , 54:28.341 --> 54:30.619 a lack of a job , a lack of a paycheck , 54:30.619 --> 54:32.786 being able to put money on the table , 54:32.786 --> 54:34.786 feed their families . And this is a 54:34.786 --> 54:36.952 place where I think we can have a real 54:36.952 --> 54:38.952 impact . Working primarily with the 54:38.952 --> 54:41.008 private sector , which has to be the 54:41.008 --> 54:43.230 engine for these kinds of investments . 54:43.230 --> 54:45.063 The government can help and be a 54:45.063 --> 54:46.952 catalyst . We need to see that of 54:46.952 --> 54:49.180 course , governments need to do the 54:49.180 --> 54:51.402 work to put in place , uh , some of the 54:51.402 --> 54:53.513 laws and structures that make private 54:53.513 --> 54:55.569 investment , uh , more possible . So 54:55.569 --> 54:57.736 we're working on that as well . But if 54:57.736 --> 54:59.680 senators , we don't also deal with 54:59.680 --> 55:01.736 these drivers , you know , it's just 55:01.736 --> 55:05.630 very hard to overcome the choice that 55:05.630 --> 55:07.900 people make to , you know , put their 55:07.900 --> 55:10.233 lives in , uh , in someone else's hands , 55:10.233 --> 55:12.344 uh , to try to come here . We have to 55:12.344 --> 55:14.511 be able to do all of that . And that's 55:14.511 --> 55:16.511 where the president can go . I'd be 55:16.511 --> 55:18.789 happy when , you know , the time comes . 55:18.789 --> 55:21.011 We , this is not just throwing money at 55:21.011 --> 55:23.178 the problem there . Well , there are , 55:23.178 --> 55:25.122 and will be serious metrics , uh , 55:25.122 --> 55:27.289 serious oversight , serious benchmarks 55:27.289 --> 55:26.830 for what we're trying to accomplish . 55:26.830 --> 55:29.052 The last thing I mentioned on this , if 55:29.052 --> 55:32.450 I can , um , part of the challenge is 55:32.450 --> 55:34.672 that you have governments that we can't 55:34.672 --> 55:36.617 work effectively with because of a 55:36.617 --> 55:39.120 corruption , uh , because of gross 55:39.120 --> 55:41.342 mismanagement . Well , we'll be working 55:41.342 --> 55:43.570 with , uh with others , with with the 55:43.570 --> 55:45.681 private sector , with civil society , 55:45.681 --> 55:48.540 with Ngos , with organizations that do 55:48.540 --> 55:50.651 this , work with local communities as 55:50.651 --> 55:52.651 the case may be to try to make sure 55:52.651 --> 55:54.373 that any funds that we ask our 55:54.373 --> 55:56.540 taxpayers to dedicate to this are used 55:56.540 --> 55:58.484 wisely and effectively and are not 55:58.484 --> 56:00.318 wasted . And I really welcome an 56:00.318 --> 56:02.151 opportunity to work with uh this 56:02.151 --> 56:04.940 committee on that . Thank you . Uh for 56:04.940 --> 56:07.590 the information of all members is a 56:07.590 --> 56:10.160 vote that started at 307 Is the chairs 56:10.160 --> 56:12.460 intention to continue to work through 56:12.530 --> 56:15.350 and rotate as members come in and out 56:15.360 --> 56:19.020 because we have a time finite with the 56:19.020 --> 56:21.187 secretary and we have members who want 56:21.187 --> 56:23.409 to ask questions . So I'm going to work 56:23.409 --> 56:25.520 through these votes with that senator 56:25.520 --> 56:27.742 jean . Thank you . Mr . Chairman and Mr 56:27.742 --> 56:29.798 Secretary . Thank you for being here 56:29.798 --> 56:32.020 and for the hard work that you're doing 56:32.020 --> 56:34.242 to restore America's credibility in the 56:34.242 --> 56:36.620 international community . I have in new 56:36.620 --> 56:39.240 Hampshire , we have a short border with 56:39.240 --> 56:42.010 Canada , but I have a number of 56:42.010 --> 56:44.080 constituents who have relatives in 56:44.080 --> 56:46.370 Canada . We have a number of businesses 56:46.370 --> 56:48.537 who do business in Canada . There is a 56:48.537 --> 56:50.560 lot of cross border traffic and the 56:50.560 --> 56:52.950 border closure has been a real hardship 56:52.960 --> 56:55.580 for so many of our citizens . Um My 56:55.580 --> 56:57.802 office heard from a man , a constituent 56:57.802 --> 57:00.024 in Belmont whose mother had passed away 57:00.024 --> 57:02.710 in january in new Brunswick . Um he 57:02.710 --> 57:04.710 wanted to go to the funeral because 57:04.710 --> 57:06.821 they couldn't delay it any later than 57:06.821 --> 57:09.730 May 31st . Um the Canadian government 57:09.730 --> 57:11.952 told him in order to do that , he would 57:11.952 --> 57:14.063 have to quarantine for five days . He 57:14.063 --> 57:16.230 couldn't take the time off from work , 57:16.230 --> 57:19.610 he couldn't get a waiver . And so 57:19.900 --> 57:22.350 I appreciate that this has been a joint 57:22.730 --> 57:24.760 um agreement between Canada and the 57:24.760 --> 57:26.830 United States . But at this point , 57:26.830 --> 57:28.941 given the increasing vaccination rate 57:28.941 --> 57:30.997 on both sides of the border , I hope 57:30.997 --> 57:32.663 that you will commit to doing 57:32.663 --> 57:34.774 everything you can to get that border 57:34.774 --> 57:36.663 open so that the hardship that my 57:36.663 --> 57:38.886 constituents and other constituents are 57:38.886 --> 57:40.997 experiencing um will end and they can 57:40.997 --> 57:44.880 resume normal relationships with 57:44.880 --> 57:47.960 their families and business in the way 57:47.960 --> 57:50.320 that will benefit them . Uh I very much 57:50.320 --> 57:52.640 appreciate Senator those uh those 57:52.640 --> 57:55.430 hardships for all of the border states 57:55.440 --> 57:57.662 uh with Canada . This is something that 57:57.662 --> 58:00.830 I've engaged uh my Canadian counterpart 58:00.830 --> 58:03.600 on uh multiple times . We're trying 58:03.600 --> 58:07.060 to work through uh these 58:07.060 --> 58:10.990 challenges . Uh and I've gotten some , 58:11.000 --> 58:12.833 I think relatively more positive 58:12.833 --> 58:14.833 feedback from him recently that I'm 58:14.833 --> 58:17.000 happy to uh to share with you . It's a 58:17.000 --> 58:19.240 work in progress and if there are 58:19.240 --> 58:23.020 specifics specific instances or cases 58:23.020 --> 58:25.460 please as well bring them to my 58:25.460 --> 58:27.516 attention to our attention so that I 58:27.516 --> 58:29.127 can also share them with our 58:29.127 --> 58:31.182 counterparts . But to your point , I 58:31.182 --> 58:33.238 think we're hopefully getting to the 58:33.238 --> 58:35.182 point , we're , we certainly are . 58:35.182 --> 58:37.349 Canada is a little bit behind where we 58:37.349 --> 58:39.349 are , but we're getting to a better 58:39.349 --> 58:41.610 point . Um , Well , good . I appreciate 58:41.610 --> 58:43.666 that , particularly as we're getting 58:43.666 --> 58:45.888 into the tourism season , there's a lot 58:45.888 --> 58:48.054 of cross border traffic between Canada 58:48.054 --> 58:50.277 and the United States and it's critical 58:50.277 --> 58:52.166 to our state and others along the 58:52.166 --> 58:54.540 border . Um , I want to follow up with 58:54.550 --> 58:56.606 the questions that have already been 58:56.606 --> 58:58.772 asked about Nord Stream two because as 58:58.772 --> 59:00.772 you know , this is something that I 59:00.772 --> 59:02.828 have been very concerned about and I 59:02.828 --> 59:05.780 just returned from a trip to Kiev with 59:05.780 --> 59:08.450 my colleagues , senators Murphy and 59:08.450 --> 59:10.890 Portman who were also along . And one 59:10.890 --> 59:13.760 of the things we heard very loudly from 59:13.760 --> 59:15.760 our Ukrainian partners was just how 59:15.760 --> 59:18.360 devastating the loss of revenue will be 59:18.360 --> 59:21.190 once Russians stop using Ukraine as a 59:21.190 --> 59:24.290 transit route , um also the concern 59:24.300 --> 59:26.411 about giving Russia another weapon to 59:26.411 --> 59:30.330 use against europe and the other 59:30.340 --> 59:33.330 potential ramifications of the fallout 59:33.340 --> 59:36.840 from completion of Nord Stream two . So 59:36.850 --> 59:38.880 you talked about trying to make the 59:38.880 --> 59:41.102 Ukrainians hole in terms of the transit 59:41.102 --> 59:44.520 fees , but can you also discuss what 59:44.520 --> 59:47.910 else we can do to support Ukraine if 59:47.920 --> 59:50.190 this pipeline becomes operational and 59:50.190 --> 59:52.960 what the Germans might be willing to do 59:52.970 --> 59:56.080 and that regard ? Certainly . Uh and I 59:56.080 --> 59:58.191 think there are number of things that 59:58.191 --> 01:00:00.413 uh that we're looking at , that we need 01:00:00.413 --> 01:00:02.247 to look at and of course uh need 01:00:02.247 --> 01:00:04.302 Germany and others uh to look at and 01:00:04.310 --> 01:00:07.390 ultimately take action on . Uh One is 01:00:07.390 --> 01:00:09.430 the possibility of actually um 01:00:09.910 --> 01:00:12.260 extending the existing transit 01:00:12.260 --> 01:00:15.070 agreement uh for many years into the 01:00:15.070 --> 01:00:17.181 future so that Ukraine would continue 01:00:17.181 --> 01:00:19.181 to benefit from the transit fees if 01:00:19.181 --> 01:00:22.650 that doesn't work , I think finding 01:00:22.650 --> 01:00:24.817 ways to make Ukraine hole for the loss 01:00:24.817 --> 01:00:26.761 transit fees is something that the 01:00:26.761 --> 01:00:29.200 Europeans would need to step up to uh 01:00:29.210 --> 01:00:31.210 the other side of the coin that you 01:00:31.210 --> 01:00:33.470 just alluded to is making sure that we 01:00:33.470 --> 01:00:35.414 have in place in your cousin place 01:00:35.414 --> 01:00:38.280 appropriate um uh reserves and 01:00:38.280 --> 01:00:41.720 appropriate means to counter any 01:00:41.720 --> 01:00:45.690 attempt by Russia to use uh gas or 01:00:45.690 --> 01:00:49.410 oil as a course of uh political tool uh 01:00:49.420 --> 01:00:51.142 so that they can be subject to 01:00:51.142 --> 01:00:53.198 blackmail . Um There's another thing 01:00:53.198 --> 01:00:55.142 that's really important here which 01:00:55.142 --> 01:00:57.364 sometimes gets missed in the equation , 01:00:57.364 --> 01:00:59.740 which is Ukraine's own energy potential 01:00:59.740 --> 01:01:03.260 and efficiency potential is very , very 01:01:03.260 --> 01:01:06.910 much unrealized . And if uh Ukraine 01:01:06.920 --> 01:01:08.976 used energy more efficiently than it 01:01:08.976 --> 01:01:11.410 does , um a lot of the leverage that 01:01:11.410 --> 01:01:14.190 Russia might acquire uh , will uh , 01:01:14.200 --> 01:01:16.330 will be diminished significantly . So 01:01:16.340 --> 01:01:18.618 there's a lot of work to be done there . 01:01:18.618 --> 01:01:20.618 Finally , um , I think that when it 01:01:20.618 --> 01:01:24.520 comes to uh , Russian misbehavior , uh , 01:01:24.530 --> 01:01:26.980 in general , in uh , in that part of 01:01:26.980 --> 01:01:29.240 the world , we're looking to our allies 01:01:29.240 --> 01:01:32.520 and partners to commit upfront to 01:01:32.520 --> 01:01:35.250 taking actions , taking steps in 01:01:35.250 --> 01:01:37.472 response that we don't have to scramble 01:01:37.472 --> 01:01:39.639 if Russia does something bad to try to 01:01:39.639 --> 01:01:41.806 bring , bring people along all of that 01:01:41.806 --> 01:01:44.020 and more uh , is , is on the table . 01:01:44.030 --> 01:01:46.310 And we're looking to Germany in 01:01:46.310 --> 01:01:48.770 particular to uh , to make good on some 01:01:48.770 --> 01:01:50.992 of these things . Well , thank you , as 01:01:50.992 --> 01:01:53.390 you've heard , this is a very important 01:01:53.390 --> 01:01:55.612 bipartisan issue for this committee and 01:01:55.612 --> 01:01:58.280 for Congress . And we will be watching 01:01:58.280 --> 01:02:00.502 closely and trying to be helpful in any 01:02:00.502 --> 01:02:02.558 way we can , as we figure out how to 01:02:03.800 --> 01:02:07.380 how to negate the potential weapon that 01:02:07.380 --> 01:02:09.436 Russia could have against , not just 01:02:09.436 --> 01:02:11.547 Ukraine , but all of Western europe . 01:02:11.547 --> 01:02:14.450 Um , I want to go back to Afghanistan . 01:02:14.450 --> 01:02:16.561 You alluded to some of the challenges 01:02:16.561 --> 01:02:19.320 there in your opening statement , um , 01:02:19.900 --> 01:02:23.440 and we saw on May 8th the bombing of a 01:02:23.450 --> 01:02:27.170 school um in Kabul a girls school , 01:02:27.180 --> 01:02:30.610 um which resulted in about 80 deaths . 01:02:31.000 --> 01:02:33.850 Many were the school girls . And we 01:02:33.850 --> 01:02:36.017 know what the Taliban's position is on 01:02:36.017 --> 01:02:37.850 women and girls . We've seen the 01:02:37.850 --> 01:02:39.350 assassination , deliberate 01:02:39.350 --> 01:02:41.572 assassination efforts against women who 01:02:41.572 --> 01:02:44.670 are working . So what steps is the 01:02:44.670 --> 01:02:46.837 State Department taking to provide for 01:02:46.837 --> 01:02:50.060 the safety of women and girls after our 01:02:50.060 --> 01:02:52.800 military has left the country ? And do 01:02:52.800 --> 01:02:55.440 we have a focal point in the State 01:02:55.440 --> 01:02:58.500 Department for someone who is working 01:02:58.500 --> 01:03:00.611 on these issues , who we can continue 01:03:00.611 --> 01:03:03.950 to talk with as we hear from our 01:03:03.960 --> 01:03:07.390 um the women leaders in Afghanistan are 01:03:07.390 --> 01:03:09.723 so worried about what's going to happen . 01:03:09.723 --> 01:03:12.360 Yeah . Um first , just with regard to 01:03:12.360 --> 01:03:14.693 the attack that you that you referenced , 01:03:14.693 --> 01:03:16.860 I mean , we're all we all know , we've 01:03:16.860 --> 01:03:18.960 witnessed horrible things happening 01:03:18.960 --> 01:03:21.071 every single day in places that we're 01:03:21.071 --> 01:03:23.930 all focused on . I've got to say um 01:03:24.380 --> 01:03:28.020 that one in particular , I think it's 01:03:28.020 --> 01:03:30.840 hard to think of anything more horrific . 01:03:31.130 --> 01:03:35.030 The deliberate murder of these 01:03:35.120 --> 01:03:39.020 young young girls in a school that 01:03:39.020 --> 01:03:42.090 that hit me profoundly as well . Thank 01:03:42.090 --> 01:03:44.201 you . And I would just point out that 01:03:44.201 --> 01:03:46.146 this committee and the Senate just 01:03:46.146 --> 01:03:48.280 passed a resolution condemning that 01:03:48.280 --> 01:03:50.500 attack , which I hope sends an 01:03:50.500 --> 01:03:52.500 important message not just to the 01:03:52.500 --> 01:03:54.167 Taliban , but to the women of 01:03:54.167 --> 01:03:56.111 Afghanistan . Well , I think it is 01:03:56.111 --> 01:03:58.056 important and it does because here 01:03:58.056 --> 01:04:00.440 here's what's important . First , even 01:04:00.440 --> 01:04:02.162 as we withdraw our forces from 01:04:02.162 --> 01:04:04.107 Afghanistan and NATO withdraws its 01:04:04.107 --> 01:04:06.162 forces , we are not withdrawing from 01:04:06.162 --> 01:04:08.107 Afghanistan . We are determined to 01:04:08.107 --> 01:04:10.410 sustain a strong embassy and a strong 01:04:10.410 --> 01:04:12.510 diplomatic presence . We're working 01:04:12.520 --> 01:04:15.410 with other partner countries . Uh so 01:04:15.410 --> 01:04:17.632 that they do the same . We're trying to 01:04:17.632 --> 01:04:19.521 put in place what is necessary to 01:04:19.521 --> 01:04:21.632 sustain that . And we'll look forward 01:04:21.632 --> 01:04:23.521 to actually sharing that with the 01:04:23.521 --> 01:04:25.632 committee in the weeks ahead . Um and 01:04:25.632 --> 01:04:29.540 as a result , uh to continue uh many of 01:04:29.550 --> 01:04:31.717 most of the programs that we've had in 01:04:31.717 --> 01:04:34.020 place we've committed over the years , 01:04:34.030 --> 01:04:36.560 uh as you know better than I do nearly 01:04:36.560 --> 01:04:39.380 $800 million to programs for women and 01:04:39.380 --> 01:04:42.300 girls in Afghanistan . Uh We plan to 01:04:42.310 --> 01:04:44.990 sustain that programming also more 01:04:44.990 --> 01:04:46.823 broadly , economic development , 01:04:46.823 --> 01:04:49.900 humanitarian security force support um 01:04:49.910 --> 01:04:52.130 acknowledge it's not going to be uh 01:04:52.140 --> 01:04:54.251 necessarily a simple proposition . It 01:04:54.251 --> 01:04:56.630 comes with real , real challenges . But 01:04:56.640 --> 01:04:59.680 I believe that with the right embassy 01:04:59.690 --> 01:05:02.690 presence and the right team , we can 01:05:02.690 --> 01:05:04.579 sustain these programs and we can 01:05:04.579 --> 01:05:06.690 provide appropriate oversight to make 01:05:06.690 --> 01:05:08.746 sure the money is being well spent . 01:05:08.746 --> 01:05:10.857 That's one piece . The other pieces , 01:05:10.857 --> 01:05:13.790 um uh an afghan future Afghanistan that 01:05:13.790 --> 01:05:16.070 does not uphold these basic rights , 01:05:16.070 --> 01:05:18.237 including the gains made for women and 01:05:18.237 --> 01:05:20.014 girls , is going to be a pariah 01:05:20.014 --> 01:05:22.237 international . It is not going to have 01:05:22.237 --> 01:05:24.530 support from uh from anyone , certainly 01:05:24.530 --> 01:05:27.160 not in the United States . That also I 01:05:27.160 --> 01:05:29.327 think is going to have to get factored 01:05:29.327 --> 01:05:31.360 into the thinking of uh future 01:05:31.360 --> 01:05:33.740 governance in Afghanistan . Well , 01:05:33.750 --> 01:05:35.750 thank you , I'm out of time , but I 01:05:35.750 --> 01:05:37.972 certainly hope that's the case and that 01:05:37.972 --> 01:05:40.194 the United States will continue to lead 01:05:40.194 --> 01:05:42.306 the charge on um getting support from 01:05:42.306 --> 01:05:44.530 the international community to hold the 01:05:44.530 --> 01:05:46.740 Taliban accountable for what they're 01:05:46.740 --> 01:05:49.270 doing . Thank you , Senator Romney , 01:05:49.280 --> 01:05:51.990 thank you Mr Chairman and Mr Secretary . 01:05:51.990 --> 01:05:54.212 It's good to see you and appreciate the 01:05:54.212 --> 01:05:57.300 work that you're leading and uh applaud 01:05:57.310 --> 01:05:59.310 many of the initiatives that you've 01:05:59.310 --> 01:06:01.088 described today and that you're 01:06:01.088 --> 01:06:03.199 carrying out one thing you said today 01:06:03.199 --> 01:06:05.310 that I want to make a comment about , 01:06:05.310 --> 01:06:07.143 which is that looking in central 01:06:07.143 --> 01:06:09.366 America to try and uh deal with some of 01:06:09.366 --> 01:06:11.532 the uh illegal immigration crisis that 01:06:11.532 --> 01:06:13.254 we're seeing at the border and 01:06:13.254 --> 01:06:15.254 attempting to deal with some of the 01:06:15.254 --> 01:06:17.366 root causes , as you described , that 01:06:17.366 --> 01:06:19.366 of illegal immigration and and some 01:06:19.366 --> 01:06:21.199 funding providing to the central 01:06:21.199 --> 01:06:23.199 americans to help deal with some of 01:06:23.199 --> 01:06:25.366 those root causes . I'm concerned that 01:06:25.366 --> 01:06:25.280 a lot of that funding is going to end 01:06:25.280 --> 01:06:27.630 up in corrupt hands . I'd also note 01:06:27.630 --> 01:06:30.240 that that uh that fighting crime and 01:06:30.240 --> 01:06:33.020 poverty , there is quite a task because 01:06:33.020 --> 01:06:35.131 we have crime and poverty here , that 01:06:35.131 --> 01:06:37.353 we haven't been able to solve how we're 01:06:37.353 --> 01:06:37.340 going to solve them in someone else's 01:06:37.340 --> 01:06:41.000 country uh is beyond me . Uh And I 01:06:41.010 --> 01:06:43.232 also believe that the great majority of 01:06:43.232 --> 01:06:45.780 people who come here to illegally come 01:06:45.780 --> 01:06:47.947 here for better opportunity , which is 01:06:47.947 --> 01:06:50.058 part of our free enterprise system as 01:06:50.058 --> 01:06:52.280 opposed to the socialism they're living 01:06:52.280 --> 01:06:54.502 under and for freedom . And there is uh 01:06:54.502 --> 01:06:57.050 talk autocracies . Uh and so I just I 01:06:57.050 --> 01:06:58.883 would note that I think the best 01:06:58.883 --> 01:07:00.890 solutions to this crisis are , are 01:07:00.900 --> 01:07:03.650 completing the barrier mandatory . E 01:07:03.650 --> 01:07:06.590 verify . Uh these are the kinds of 01:07:06.590 --> 01:07:08.868 things . I think it makes a difference . 01:07:08.868 --> 01:07:10.923 Uh but let me not on another topic . 01:07:10.923 --> 01:07:12.923 I'm I'm concerned about what I read 01:07:12.923 --> 01:07:15.146 about Mexico uh and about the number of 01:07:15.146 --> 01:07:17.870 assassinations that have occurred in uh 01:07:17.880 --> 01:07:20.213 in Mexico leading up to their elections . 01:07:20.213 --> 01:07:23.670 And uh I mean it red and I , you know , 01:07:23.670 --> 01:07:25.450 I don't have the the sources of 01:07:25.450 --> 01:07:27.561 information that you have obviously , 01:07:27.561 --> 01:07:29.450 but it read as if it was almost a 01:07:29.450 --> 01:07:32.030 failed state . I mean , that , I mean , 01:07:32.040 --> 01:07:34.262 there were that was talking about a few 01:07:34.262 --> 01:07:36.429 we're talking about . I mean , I think 01:07:36.429 --> 01:07:38.596 the number was like over 80 people had 01:07:38.596 --> 01:07:40.596 been assassinated leading up to the 01:07:40.596 --> 01:07:42.596 elections . This is extraordinary . 01:07:42.596 --> 01:07:44.707 This is a country that was apparently 01:07:44.707 --> 01:07:47.620 being ridden with crime lords uh taking 01:07:47.620 --> 01:07:50.220 over the government , is how bad is it ? 01:07:50.220 --> 01:07:53.100 And is their effort that we can help 01:07:53.110 --> 01:07:56.610 uh support the government and trying to 01:07:56.620 --> 01:07:58.680 bring stability to that country ? 01:07:58.690 --> 01:08:01.590 Senator ? I very much share your 01:08:01.590 --> 01:08:04.750 concern about that , about insecurity 01:08:04.750 --> 01:08:06.870 in general . These uh this political 01:08:06.870 --> 01:08:10.240 violence as well in particular . Uh and 01:08:10.240 --> 01:08:11.962 of course , the violence being 01:08:11.962 --> 01:08:15.940 perpetrated by uh these uh drug 01:08:15.940 --> 01:08:17.662 gangs , transnational criminal 01:08:17.662 --> 01:08:20.340 organizations uh that are involved . Um 01:08:20.350 --> 01:08:22.680 One of the things that we've done uh is 01:08:22.690 --> 01:08:25.320 reengaged with the mexicans to restart 01:08:25.330 --> 01:08:27.740 uh and hopefully really reenergized the 01:08:27.740 --> 01:08:29.907 work that we've been doing together on 01:08:29.907 --> 01:08:31.851 security . So we have a high level 01:08:31.851 --> 01:08:34.100 dialogue on security issues that is now 01:08:34.110 --> 01:08:36.210 restarting as well as one on on 01:08:36.210 --> 01:08:39.170 economic issues . Uh and so I believe 01:08:39.180 --> 01:08:42.260 that we can be helpful to the Mexicans 01:08:42.260 --> 01:08:44.316 and getting a better grip on some of 01:08:44.316 --> 01:08:48.210 this violence , I acknowledge not 01:08:48.220 --> 01:08:52.070 not easy at all , but but necessary 01:08:52.080 --> 01:08:55.630 uh and uh there to uh would welcome 01:08:55.630 --> 01:08:58.290 working with uh with this committee on 01:08:58.290 --> 01:09:00.512 good ideas to try to advance that . But 01:09:00.512 --> 01:09:02.734 the bottom line is we ? Re engaged with 01:09:02.734 --> 01:09:04.679 the mexican government on security 01:09:04.679 --> 01:09:06.734 issues to see if we can be helpful . 01:09:06.734 --> 01:09:08.901 Thank you . Another topic going across 01:09:08.901 --> 01:09:11.210 the world in in Taiwan . I'm very 01:09:11.210 --> 01:09:13.480 concerned that what the Taiwanese are 01:09:13.480 --> 01:09:16.360 hearing from the chinese is uh is 01:09:16.360 --> 01:09:18.360 harming our interests there and the 01:09:18.360 --> 01:09:21.500 interests of freedom uh according to 01:09:21.500 --> 01:09:23.710 the ambassador from Taiwan , um she 01:09:23.710 --> 01:09:26.270 indicated that she received uh social 01:09:26.270 --> 01:09:28.437 media that said that americans have so 01:09:28.437 --> 01:09:30.437 much vaccine that we're using it to 01:09:30.437 --> 01:09:32.603 provide vaccines for our animals , our 01:09:32.603 --> 01:09:34.770 pets , our dogs and our cats and where 01:09:34.770 --> 01:09:37.050 the the lives of Taiwanese is not worth 01:09:37.050 --> 01:09:40.320 as much as an american dog . Um Clearly 01:09:40.320 --> 01:09:42.542 it's in our interest in a very critical 01:09:42.542 --> 01:09:44.764 nation in the world to see vaccinations 01:09:44.764 --> 01:09:47.280 that we have available . Going to uh to 01:09:47.280 --> 01:09:49.502 Taiwan . I'm concerned if kovacs is the 01:09:49.502 --> 01:09:51.910 source of providing that those vaccines 01:09:51.910 --> 01:09:55.540 that kovacs well believe we'll be if 01:09:55.540 --> 01:09:57.596 you were pressured by china will not 01:09:57.596 --> 01:09:59.762 give uh the Taiwanese what they need . 01:09:59.762 --> 01:10:01.984 Are we giving directly the vaccinations 01:10:01.984 --> 01:10:04.207 that Taiwan needs ? And can we make the 01:10:04.207 --> 01:10:06.318 number large enough ? I understand it 01:10:06.318 --> 01:10:08.370 was announced that 750,000 doses if 01:10:08.370 --> 01:10:10.700 that's a Pfizer or moderna dose , 01:10:10.700 --> 01:10:12.940 that's you know , half that number . In 01:10:12.940 --> 01:10:15.107 terms of vaccinated people , they need 01:10:15.107 --> 01:10:17.273 something much closer to two million . 01:10:17.273 --> 01:10:19.384 Can we be more ? I just hope that she 01:10:19.384 --> 01:10:21.329 will bring extra attention to that 01:10:21.329 --> 01:10:23.780 issue , senator , in short , Yes . Uh 01:10:23.790 --> 01:10:27.050 we're making sure that vaccines do get 01:10:27.060 --> 01:10:30.590 to Taiwan uh and just to be clear about 01:10:30.600 --> 01:10:32.933 what we're doing and how we're doing it . 01:10:32.933 --> 01:10:35.100 Uh the president announced as you know 01:10:35.100 --> 01:10:37.156 that we would be pushing out between 01:10:37.156 --> 01:10:39.267 now and early july 80 million vaccine 01:10:39.267 --> 01:10:42.260 doses to include a combination of of uh 01:10:42.270 --> 01:10:46.140 astrazeneca but also Pfizer Moderna uh 01:10:46.150 --> 01:10:48.480 and were doing um 01:10:49.160 --> 01:10:52.270 some of that in coordination with 01:10:52.270 --> 01:10:54.500 kovacs , but with even in coordination 01:10:54.500 --> 01:10:56.920 with kovacs , we can direct where the 01:10:56.930 --> 01:10:59.350 vaccines go . And some of it just , 01:10:59.360 --> 01:11:03.360 just directly the 1st 25 million doses 01:11:03.370 --> 01:11:05.800 uh is what we uh we describe the 01:11:05.800 --> 01:11:09.080 allocation for those uh to include uh 01:11:09.160 --> 01:11:12.350 doses for Taiwan , There are another um 01:11:12.360 --> 01:11:15.050 55 million uh to follow again between 01:11:15.050 --> 01:11:17.590 now and early july and then beyond that , 01:11:17.600 --> 01:11:19.770 two things are very important . One is 01:11:19.770 --> 01:11:22.490 will continue after the 80 million to 01:11:22.490 --> 01:11:25.820 provide excess doses uh in the months 01:11:25.820 --> 01:11:27.931 ahead as we have them because we will 01:11:27.931 --> 01:11:30.042 we will have them parenthetically the 01:11:30.042 --> 01:11:32.264 80 million doses we will by a factor of 01:11:32.264 --> 01:11:35.340 five uh be uh the leading country and 01:11:35.340 --> 01:11:38.620 sharing sharing vaccines with the world 01:11:38.620 --> 01:11:41.250 by a factor of five china's sold a lot 01:11:41.250 --> 01:11:43.306 to other countries , but in terms of 01:11:43.306 --> 01:11:45.528 actually giving them to other countries 01:11:45.528 --> 01:11:47.417 by a factor of five , but equally 01:11:47.417 --> 01:11:49.639 important , um we are working very hard 01:11:49.639 --> 01:11:51.790 right now on significantly increasing 01:11:52.260 --> 01:11:54.820 production capabilities uh so that we 01:11:54.820 --> 01:11:57.000 can make sure that more vaccines were 01:11:57.000 --> 01:11:59.500 produced more quickly and that we can 01:11:59.500 --> 01:12:01.778 be the leader in vaccinating the world . 01:12:01.778 --> 01:12:03.833 And of course , as you know , that's 01:12:03.833 --> 01:12:05.833 also profoundly , it's not just the 01:12:05.833 --> 01:12:08.000 right thing to do . It's profoundly in 01:12:08.000 --> 01:12:07.370 our interest because as long as this 01:12:07.370 --> 01:12:10.100 virus is replicating somewhere , it's 01:12:10.100 --> 01:12:12.044 going to be mutating . And if it's 01:12:12.044 --> 01:12:14.156 mutating , it could come back to bite 01:12:14.156 --> 01:12:16.267 us . So we have a strong incentive to 01:12:16.267 --> 01:12:18.433 get ahead of this . And I believe that 01:12:18.433 --> 01:12:18.430 with the work that we're doing , the 01:12:18.430 --> 01:12:20.597 president's doing on this , we will be 01:12:20.597 --> 01:12:22.600 the leader in making sure that the 01:12:22.600 --> 01:12:24.822 world's vaccinated , including Taiwan . 01:12:24.822 --> 01:12:26.933 I have very little time . And so that 01:12:26.933 --> 01:12:28.933 means you have very little time for 01:12:28.933 --> 01:12:31.100 this answer . But I'm coming back from 01:12:31.100 --> 01:12:33.433 europe and the meeting with the G seven , 01:12:33.433 --> 01:12:35.544 uh to what extent are you comfortable 01:12:35.544 --> 01:12:37.767 with or have confidence in the reaction 01:12:37.767 --> 01:12:40.500 of of our other G seven members to the 01:12:40.510 --> 01:12:44.000 uh the threat that's posed by china ? I 01:12:44.000 --> 01:12:46.800 think uh senator quickly and I'm happy 01:12:46.800 --> 01:12:49.078 to go into more detail at another time . 01:12:49.078 --> 01:12:50.750 Uh I think there's a rising 01:12:50.760 --> 01:12:52.871 appreciation for the challenges posed 01:12:52.880 --> 01:12:56.060 by uh by china uh including for example , 01:12:56.070 --> 01:12:59.250 uh to uh when it comes to technology . 01:12:59.260 --> 01:13:01.427 Uh and there are various networks . We 01:13:01.427 --> 01:13:03.704 spend a lot of time talking about that , 01:13:03.704 --> 01:13:05.816 about resilience supply chains . That 01:13:05.816 --> 01:13:08.750 concern is rising across the board . 01:13:08.750 --> 01:13:10.960 Now there are differences , you know , 01:13:10.960 --> 01:13:12.904 among uh certain countries . But I 01:13:12.904 --> 01:13:15.238 think the work that the Senate is doing , 01:13:15.238 --> 01:13:17.620 including I believe this afternoon is 01:13:17.620 --> 01:13:19.787 going to have a very meaningful impact 01:13:19.787 --> 01:13:21.842 and we appreciate that . Thank you . 01:13:21.842 --> 01:13:24.570 Senator Coons Mr . Secretary good to 01:13:24.580 --> 01:13:26.524 talk with you again following this 01:13:26.524 --> 01:13:28.600 morning's appropriations Committee 01:13:28.600 --> 01:13:31.090 hearing . Um just following up on what 01:13:31.090 --> 01:13:32.923 Senator Romney and you were just 01:13:32.923 --> 01:13:34.701 discussing . I think this is an 01:13:34.701 --> 01:13:37.170 important moment for bold vaccine 01:13:37.170 --> 01:13:39.170 diplomacy by the United States . We 01:13:39.170 --> 01:13:41.392 have long been a world leader in public 01:13:41.392 --> 01:13:43.448 health . Um , we have because of the 01:13:43.448 --> 01:13:45.614 efforts of this administration and the 01:13:45.614 --> 01:13:47.448 previous one developed the world 01:13:47.448 --> 01:13:49.337 leading most effective vaccines . 01:13:49.337 --> 01:13:51.559 Because of President Biden's relentless 01:13:51.559 --> 01:13:53.448 focus on vaccinating the american 01:13:53.448 --> 01:13:55.850 people were now at the threshold of 70% 01:13:55.850 --> 01:13:58.090 vaccination in a number of states . And 01:13:58.090 --> 01:14:00.201 I do think it's time for bold vaccine 01:14:00.201 --> 01:14:03.150 diplomacy . What more could we be doing 01:14:03.160 --> 01:14:05.390 in the Senate on a bipartisan basis to 01:14:05.390 --> 01:14:08.460 send a strong signal of support for 01:14:08.460 --> 01:14:10.510 taking decisive steps ? I think the 01:14:10.510 --> 01:14:12.621 announcement last week was terrific . 01:14:12.640 --> 01:14:14.751 What I heard in both Taiwan and South 01:14:14.751 --> 01:14:16.973 Korea as well as from other countries , 01:14:16.973 --> 01:14:19.430 was very encouraging . But what else 01:14:19.430 --> 01:14:22.460 would be helpful for you to hear from 01:14:22.460 --> 01:14:25.390 Congress about this initiative ? Thank 01:14:25.390 --> 01:14:28.570 you for getting for putting a spotlight 01:14:28.570 --> 01:14:30.570 on that , because I could not agree 01:14:30.570 --> 01:14:32.459 more with with you , with Senator 01:14:32.459 --> 01:14:34.514 Romney on the importance of this and 01:14:34.514 --> 01:14:36.737 also the honestly the opportunity uh to 01:14:36.737 --> 01:14:40.310 show our leadership . So I think the 01:14:40.320 --> 01:14:42.540 next most important step beyond the 01:14:42.540 --> 01:14:45.630 vaccines that we have available to 01:14:45.630 --> 01:14:48.880 share is increasing um 01:14:48.890 --> 01:14:51.300 significantly production capacity in 01:14:51.300 --> 01:14:53.480 the United States as well as in other 01:14:53.480 --> 01:14:56.050 parts of the world . If we stay on the 01:14:56.060 --> 01:14:58.240 current trajectory in terms of the 01:14:58.250 --> 01:15:00.472 vaccines produced and the pace at which 01:15:00.472 --> 01:15:02.417 they are being administered , uh , 01:15:02.417 --> 01:15:04.580 we're not going to get to global herd 01:15:04.580 --> 01:15:07.420 immunity roughly 70% as you know very 01:15:07.420 --> 01:15:10.200 well until 2024 . That's unacceptable . 01:15:10.210 --> 01:15:12.280 Or at least it should be . We do , I 01:15:12.280 --> 01:15:14.391 believe , especially if we managed to 01:15:14.391 --> 01:15:16.920 significantly increased production and 01:15:16.930 --> 01:15:19.240 then share that production , we can get 01:15:19.240 --> 01:15:21.780 there a lot a lot faster . So I think , 01:15:21.790 --> 01:15:23.679 and I think the president will be 01:15:23.679 --> 01:15:26.530 coming back to , to you on this uh , 01:15:26.540 --> 01:15:29.000 you know , in the relatively near 01:15:29.000 --> 01:15:32.550 future things that we can do to boost 01:15:32.550 --> 01:15:35.900 production . As you know , I had a hand 01:15:35.900 --> 01:15:38.122 in the build act and in standing up the 01:15:38.122 --> 01:15:40.090 DFc . I think it's a tool that in 01:15:40.090 --> 01:15:42.312 partnership with some of our key allies 01:15:42.312 --> 01:15:44.479 could be critical while in South Korea 01:15:44.479 --> 01:15:46.479 and a number of conversations about 01:15:46.479 --> 01:15:48.257 vaccine partnership in terms of 01:15:48.257 --> 01:15:50.423 manufacturing would be excited to work 01:15:50.423 --> 01:15:52.590 with you on this . Um , let me move on 01:15:52.590 --> 01:15:54.757 to the questions that have been raised 01:15:54.757 --> 01:15:56.646 a number of times today about the 01:15:56.646 --> 01:15:58.701 Northern Triangle . I'll add to that 01:15:58.701 --> 01:16:00.812 the suhel um , two areas of the world 01:16:00.812 --> 01:16:03.034 where we've got significant fragility . 01:16:03.034 --> 01:16:05.320 A band of several states in West africa 01:16:05.330 --> 01:16:07.330 grouping of three states in central 01:16:07.330 --> 01:16:09.850 America where corruption , impunity , 01:16:10.030 --> 01:16:13.280 widespread insecurity , the impacts of 01:16:13.280 --> 01:16:15.890 climate change are having a dramatic 01:16:15.890 --> 01:16:19.270 impact on the global fragility act is a 01:16:19.270 --> 01:16:21.240 bill that was signed into law that 01:16:21.240 --> 01:16:23.240 Senator lindsey Graham and I worked 01:16:23.240 --> 01:16:25.910 hard on . That provides a framework for 01:16:25.920 --> 01:16:28.750 accountability for metrics and for a 01:16:28.750 --> 01:16:31.040 State Department led partnership 01:16:31.050 --> 01:16:33.460 between State U . S . A . I . D . And D . 01:16:33.460 --> 01:16:36.820 O . D . On dealing with fragility . How 01:16:36.820 --> 01:16:38.820 do you see the Global fragility Act 01:16:38.820 --> 01:16:41.130 framework being relevant to places like 01:16:41.130 --> 01:16:43.540 the Sale or the Northern Triangle ? And 01:16:43.540 --> 01:16:45.820 how can that help focus ? Um The 01:16:45.820 --> 01:16:47.876 difficult work the Vice president is 01:16:47.876 --> 01:16:50.098 currently leading in terms of investing 01:16:50.098 --> 01:16:52.690 in stabilizing three very difficult and 01:16:52.690 --> 01:16:56.370 troubled three countries that have a 01:16:56.380 --> 01:16:59.010 very troubled current status , but 01:16:59.010 --> 01:17:01.910 where successfully stabilizing them is 01:17:01.910 --> 01:17:04.160 essential to our security instability 01:17:04.160 --> 01:17:07.300 as well . A couple things first , thank 01:17:07.300 --> 01:17:09.356 you for mentioning the say hello and 01:17:09.356 --> 01:17:11.578 thank you for your work there as well . 01:17:11.578 --> 01:17:13.720 I think we have a deep concern about 01:17:13.720 --> 01:17:16.410 spreading instability in the Sahel . We 01:17:16.410 --> 01:17:20.310 have roughly 20 million people who are 01:17:20.310 --> 01:17:22.930 in need uh in uh in that area , Burkina , 01:17:22.930 --> 01:17:26.470 faso chad , mali , Mauritania . Uh And 01:17:26.470 --> 01:17:28.359 that of course becomes a breeding 01:17:28.359 --> 01:17:30.414 ground for violent extremism . As as 01:17:30.414 --> 01:17:32.870 we've seen , uh we are partnered with a 01:17:32.870 --> 01:17:36.220 number of other countries uh to act on 01:17:36.220 --> 01:17:38.109 countering violent extremism , on 01:17:38.109 --> 01:17:40.340 governance , on humanitarian , were the 01:17:40.340 --> 01:17:42.280 largest humanitarian donor in the 01:17:42.280 --> 01:17:44.502 neighborhood , as you know , in March . 01:17:44.502 --> 01:17:46.760 We uh we uh we had an additional $80 01:17:46.760 --> 01:17:48.960 million or so , but to the more 01:17:48.960 --> 01:17:51.100 specific point , I think the Global 01:17:51.110 --> 01:17:53.060 Facility Act is a very important 01:17:53.060 --> 01:17:55.670 vehicle for us to be able to advance uh 01:17:55.680 --> 01:17:58.490 this work . The budget request that we 01:17:58.490 --> 01:18:01.570 have before you includes $185 million 01:18:01.580 --> 01:18:04.280 to help implement uh the Global 01:18:04.280 --> 01:18:07.290 Facility Act . There's 125 million for 01:18:07.290 --> 01:18:09.512 the Prevention and stabilization fund , 01:18:09.520 --> 01:18:13.100 I think 25 million above the f 01:18:13.100 --> 01:18:16.650 y 21 enacted budget . 01:18:16.660 --> 01:18:19.330 Uh 60 million for the complex crises uh 01:18:19.340 --> 01:18:22.220 fund , which there is I think roughly 01:18:22.220 --> 01:18:24.590 30 million above the uh the fy 21 01:18:24.590 --> 01:18:26.680 enacted . So the resources would 01:18:26.680 --> 01:18:29.040 support the actual implementation of 01:18:29.040 --> 01:18:31.780 the act to try to do what you set out 01:18:31.780 --> 01:18:33.891 to do which is to actually anticipate 01:18:33.891 --> 01:18:37.470 and prevent conflict because announced 01:18:37.470 --> 01:18:39.581 the prevention right beats a pound of 01:18:39.581 --> 01:18:42.980 cure , but also to support uh these um 01:18:42.990 --> 01:18:45.290 inclusive , locally driven political 01:18:45.300 --> 01:18:47.610 processes to try to stabilize some of 01:18:47.610 --> 01:18:50.560 these conflict ridden places uh work 01:18:50.560 --> 01:18:52.727 with our external partners have proven 01:18:52.727 --> 01:18:55.360 integrate our capabilities . So right 01:18:55.360 --> 01:18:57.527 now , where we are is we're finalizing 01:18:57.527 --> 01:19:00.070 the selection of the five priority 01:19:00.070 --> 01:19:03.610 countries or regions based on uh you 01:19:03.610 --> 01:19:05.777 know , our assessment of the of the of 01:19:05.777 --> 01:19:07.999 the data , the opportunity for impact , 01:19:07.999 --> 01:19:10.300 um and uh national security priorities . 01:19:10.310 --> 01:19:12.650 And we're doing that across the across 01:19:12.650 --> 01:19:14.706 the administration with the relevant 01:19:14.706 --> 01:19:16.872 departments and agencies . And then um 01:19:16.872 --> 01:19:19.180 as we as we get that settled we want to 01:19:19.180 --> 01:19:21.630 come to you and uh and consult on that 01:19:21.640 --> 01:19:23.800 uh share our thinking uh and then 01:19:23.800 --> 01:19:27.100 refine it and get uh and then go to the 01:19:27.100 --> 01:19:28.822 president for final approval . 01:19:28.822 --> 01:19:30.822 Wonderful . Last question . I don't 01:19:30.822 --> 01:19:32.878 mean to seem churlish because you've 01:19:32.878 --> 01:19:35.240 just dedicated a huge amount of time to 01:19:35.250 --> 01:19:37.083 testifying in front of the House 01:19:37.083 --> 01:19:38.972 Foreign Affairs Committee , house 01:19:38.972 --> 01:19:41.139 appropriations . Senate appropriations 01:19:41.139 --> 01:19:42.917 in the Senate Foreign Relations 01:19:42.917 --> 01:19:44.917 Committee . But in the context that 01:19:44.917 --> 01:19:46.972 many of us have worked in . Your two 01:19:46.972 --> 01:19:50.840 predecessors appeared once and we had 01:19:50.840 --> 01:19:53.520 enormous difficulty getting them back 01:19:53.530 --> 01:19:55.252 to testify in front of foreign 01:19:55.252 --> 01:19:57.197 relations or appropriations and to 01:19:57.197 --> 01:19:59.880 engage around their budgets . Um That 01:19:59.880 --> 01:20:02.047 was at a time when they were proposing 01:20:02.047 --> 01:20:05.240 dramatic cuts in spending . I'm very 01:20:05.240 --> 01:20:07.380 encouraged by the budget that the 01:20:07.380 --> 01:20:09.491 administration is putting forward for 01:20:09.491 --> 01:20:11.658 the State Department for a I . D . For 01:20:11.658 --> 01:20:11.620 a number of other critical 01:20:11.620 --> 01:20:14.540 international functions . Um Can we 01:20:14.540 --> 01:20:16.651 count on you to come back because you 01:20:16.651 --> 01:20:18.818 are such a good advocate for the State 01:20:18.818 --> 01:20:20.873 Department as someone who served for 01:20:20.873 --> 01:20:22.762 decades here in the Senate and in 01:20:22.762 --> 01:20:24.818 foreign policy . I just want to make 01:20:24.818 --> 01:20:26.929 sure that we're going to have another 01:20:26.929 --> 01:20:29.096 opportunity for you to engage with the 01:20:29.096 --> 01:20:31.151 appropriations Committee and Foreign 01:20:31.151 --> 01:20:33.373 Relations Committee as we try and enact 01:20:33.373 --> 01:20:35.596 a robust budget that meets the needs of 01:20:35.596 --> 01:20:37.820 this moment . I'm committed to engaging 01:20:37.830 --> 01:20:40.930 this committee as well as the 01:20:40.940 --> 01:20:43.920 appropriations committees uh in a whole 01:20:43.920 --> 01:20:46.820 variety of ways whether it's uh in uh 01:20:46.830 --> 01:20:50.020 in hearings in uh in private 01:20:50.020 --> 01:20:51.631 conversations and individual 01:20:51.631 --> 01:20:53.742 conversation . I made a commitment to 01:20:53.742 --> 01:20:55.964 the chairman during uh the confirmation 01:20:55.964 --> 01:20:58.020 process that uh that I would do that 01:20:58.020 --> 01:21:01.350 and uh I'll be held to that . Great , 01:21:01.360 --> 01:21:03.527 thank you very much . Mr . Thank you . 01:21:03.527 --> 01:21:06.440 And to the Secretary's credit , he has 01:21:06.450 --> 01:21:08.672 kept his word on that . Senator Portman 01:21:08.672 --> 01:21:11.700 is with us virtually understand . Thank 01:21:11.700 --> 01:21:13.533 you Mr Chairman and thank you Mr 01:21:13.533 --> 01:21:15.533 Secretary for being here . I'll get 01:21:15.533 --> 01:21:17.700 right down to my questions as you know 01:21:17.700 --> 01:21:19.922 from Senator Shaheen's comments . I was 01:21:19.922 --> 01:21:21.756 on this congressional delegation 01:21:21.756 --> 01:21:23.978 recently to Lithuania , the Ukraine and 01:21:23.978 --> 01:21:26.144 Georgia . We spent quite a bit of time 01:21:26.144 --> 01:21:28.144 talking about the belarus issues in 01:21:28.144 --> 01:21:30.311 Lithuania , including meeting with the 01:21:30.311 --> 01:21:32.478 opposition leader . Uh I want to start 01:21:32.478 --> 01:21:34.700 by just saying uh won't surprise you to 01:21:34.700 --> 01:21:34.590 hear that . I strongly disagree with 01:21:34.590 --> 01:21:36.757 the administration's position on North 01:21:36.757 --> 01:21:38.720 String to which is a reversal of a 01:21:38.720 --> 01:21:41.760 previous position and waving the 01:21:41.760 --> 01:21:43.760 congressional mandated sanctions on 01:21:43.760 --> 01:21:45.760 North Street Two is going to have a 01:21:45.760 --> 01:21:47.649 detrimental impact on these other 01:21:47.649 --> 01:21:49.816 countries in the region , particularly 01:21:49.816 --> 01:21:51.982 Ukraine , where the pipeline currently 01:21:51.982 --> 01:21:54.038 goes through Ukraine , where there's 01:21:54.038 --> 01:21:56.200 about a $3 billion fee that is badly 01:21:56.200 --> 01:21:58.144 needed in Ukraine these days . And 01:21:58.144 --> 01:22:00.490 that's in our interest . But one issue 01:22:00.490 --> 01:22:02.546 that has come to my attention that I 01:22:02.546 --> 01:22:04.730 had not fully realized was the threat 01:22:04.730 --> 01:22:06.730 they're feeling not just from their 01:22:06.730 --> 01:22:08.619 eastern border , where Russia has 01:22:08.619 --> 01:22:10.841 recently sent 100 and 10,000 troops and 01:22:10.841 --> 01:22:12.841 left equipment there by the way and 01:22:12.841 --> 01:22:15.063 left most of those troops , but also on 01:22:15.063 --> 01:22:14.470 the northern border with Belarus , 01:22:14.470 --> 01:22:16.526 where Russia's military presence was 01:22:16.526 --> 01:22:18.692 increasing , so more and more pressure 01:22:18.692 --> 01:22:20.748 on them . And again , something that 01:22:20.748 --> 01:22:22.914 perhaps isn't fully understood is that 01:22:22.914 --> 01:22:24.970 the pipeline itself in a way , was a 01:22:24.970 --> 01:22:27.610 way to encourage the safety of Ukraine 01:22:27.670 --> 01:22:29.726 and that Russia would be unlikely to 01:22:29.726 --> 01:22:31.948 want to destroy its own pipeline should 01:22:31.948 --> 01:22:34.340 it to make a mistake and engage in 01:22:34.340 --> 01:22:36.673 further aggression towards Ukraine ? So , 01:22:36.673 --> 01:22:38.896 can you comment on why you changed your 01:22:38.896 --> 01:22:41.229 mind ? I see very talk about this today . 01:22:41.229 --> 01:22:40.880 I wasn't able to listen to all the 01:22:40.880 --> 01:22:43.280 testimony and and and how you answer 01:22:43.280 --> 01:22:45.224 Ukraine , you know , when they say 01:22:45.224 --> 01:22:47.224 among other things that no one even 01:22:47.224 --> 01:22:49.391 bothered to talk to President Zelinski 01:22:49.391 --> 01:22:51.669 about it before this decision was made . 01:22:51.669 --> 01:22:53.780 Thank you very much , Senator . Yes , 01:22:53.780 --> 01:22:53.390 we did have an opportunity to talk 01:22:53.390 --> 01:22:55.557 about this a little bit before , but , 01:22:55.557 --> 01:22:58.520 uh , just to focus in on it again . Uh , 01:22:58.530 --> 01:23:00.840 first , let me just say , uh , 01:23:00.850 --> 01:23:02.794 President biden spoke to President 01:23:02.794 --> 01:23:05.460 Zelensky today . Uh , he invited him to 01:23:05.470 --> 01:23:09.390 Washington in the uh , in the coming uh , 01:23:09.400 --> 01:23:12.540 weeks . And they had a very good 01:23:12.540 --> 01:23:14.890 conversation also for the record . Um , 01:23:14.900 --> 01:23:18.170 We did um , share with our Ukrainian 01:23:18.170 --> 01:23:21.400 partners are our intentions when it 01:23:21.400 --> 01:23:23.690 came to the pipeline , and maybe that 01:23:23.700 --> 01:23:25.644 information didn't get directly to 01:23:25.644 --> 01:23:27.811 President Zelensky . Uh , it certainly 01:23:27.811 --> 01:23:29.760 should have um well , I think it 01:23:29.760 --> 01:23:31.982 certainly should have been communicated 01:23:31.982 --> 01:23:33.704 to him . And by the way , I do 01:23:33.704 --> 01:23:35.649 appreciate the fact that the phone 01:23:35.649 --> 01:23:35.590 calls made . Thank you . I'm sure you 01:23:35.590 --> 01:23:37.980 could be role in that not as good as 01:23:37.980 --> 01:23:41.180 having Georgia and Ukraine President at 01:23:41.180 --> 01:23:43.780 least for a 10 or 15 minute session 01:23:43.780 --> 01:23:46.730 with with the NATO summit . And that's 01:23:46.730 --> 01:23:48.841 what I think is really needed because 01:23:48.841 --> 01:23:50.841 otherwise , it just sends the wrong 01:23:50.841 --> 01:23:53.008 signal to Russia and , you know , this 01:23:53.008 --> 01:23:52.800 is something that I know you understand 01:23:52.800 --> 01:23:55.330 well , but these signals are important 01:23:55.340 --> 01:23:57.118 and it's a narrative and it's a 01:23:57.118 --> 01:23:59.118 disinformation that Russia will now 01:23:59.118 --> 01:24:01.118 engage in . That makes it even more 01:24:01.118 --> 01:24:02.951 difficult . Or Ukraine at a very 01:24:02.951 --> 01:24:05.062 difficult time , I want to ask you to 01:24:05.062 --> 01:24:04.600 go into your your explanation , I'll 01:24:04.600 --> 01:24:07.140 find it from the previous uh questions , 01:24:07.140 --> 01:24:09.251 but I must say I'm disappointed and I 01:24:09.251 --> 01:24:11.473 know that you yourself , you know had a 01:24:11.473 --> 01:24:13.584 strong view on this at one point that 01:24:13.584 --> 01:24:15.696 nursing too is not something that was 01:24:15.696 --> 01:24:17.918 in our inner interest with regard to an 01:24:17.918 --> 01:24:17.270 ambassador to Ukraine . We've got a 01:24:17.270 --> 01:24:19.437 good career team there . As you know , 01:24:19.437 --> 01:24:21.659 you were there recently . Thank you for 01:24:21.659 --> 01:24:23.992 making the trip . We need an ambassador . 01:24:23.992 --> 01:24:26.048 I assume you heard this from all the 01:24:26.048 --> 01:24:28.159 folks uh in the government in Ukraine 01:24:28.159 --> 01:24:30.159 as we did . I've been there with an 01:24:30.159 --> 01:24:32.326 ambassador and without an ambassador . 01:24:32.326 --> 01:24:34.492 And it's a big difference . And as you 01:24:34.492 --> 01:24:33.820 know , we came very close to getting 01:24:33.820 --> 01:24:36.042 general dating through the process last 01:24:36.042 --> 01:24:38.290 time . Why have you all not nominated 01:24:38.290 --> 01:24:40.179 someone ? And what's your plan on 01:24:40.179 --> 01:24:42.179 nominating Ambassador for Ukraine ? 01:24:42.179 --> 01:24:44.179 Thank you Senator . We're trying to 01:24:44.179 --> 01:24:46.960 move forward on that uh , as quickly as 01:24:46.960 --> 01:24:50.420 possible . Um And we have uh 01:24:51.290 --> 01:24:55.080 a process that I'm sure you're 01:24:55.080 --> 01:24:57.260 familiar with at the State Department 01:24:57.270 --> 01:24:59.740 in terms of putting forward uh 01:24:59.750 --> 01:25:01.910 ambassadors were in the midst of uh 01:25:01.920 --> 01:25:04.470 that process now . Uh and I anticipate 01:25:04.470 --> 01:25:07.180 that uh that will happen in in 01:25:07.180 --> 01:25:09.760 relatively short order . But let me 01:25:09.760 --> 01:25:13.650 just say that is a priority for for us 01:25:13.650 --> 01:25:15.817 and for the president , I want to make 01:25:15.817 --> 01:25:17.594 sure that we have the strongest 01:25:17.594 --> 01:25:17.590 possible person leading the strongest 01:25:17.590 --> 01:25:21.000 possible team in Ukraine . Well , the 01:25:21.000 --> 01:25:23.222 secretary , when you nominate someone , 01:25:23.222 --> 01:25:25.333 assume it will be a career person who 01:25:25.333 --> 01:25:27.580 has a good background and I'm glad 01:25:27.580 --> 01:25:29.469 you're looking to someone who has 01:25:29.469 --> 01:25:32.010 experience because it's a critical post , 01:25:32.020 --> 01:25:34.076 but I'll be one of those who will be 01:25:34.076 --> 01:25:36.298 very eager to help you get that through 01:25:36.298 --> 01:25:38.353 the process . Thank you in the chair 01:25:38.353 --> 01:25:40.464 and ranking member will agree with me 01:25:40.464 --> 01:25:42.798 on the NATO map issue in 2000 and eight , 01:25:42.798 --> 01:25:44.687 Then , Senator biden introduced a 01:25:44.687 --> 01:25:46.353 resolution calling for a NATO 01:25:46.353 --> 01:25:48.520 membership action plan for Ukraine and 01:25:48.520 --> 01:25:50.742 for Georgia . And by the way , that was 01:25:50.742 --> 01:25:52.742 the same year as you know that NATO 01:25:52.742 --> 01:25:55.020 said they were going to have both NATO , 01:25:55.020 --> 01:25:57.242 both Georgia and Ukraine come into NATO 01:25:57.242 --> 01:25:57.150 is a question of When that resolution 01:25:57.150 --> 01:25:58.872 passed , the Senate easily had 01:25:58.872 --> 01:26:01.039 supported a lot of members , including 01:26:01.039 --> 01:26:03.039 the senator named Obama , one named 01:26:03.039 --> 01:26:02.960 Clinton , one named McCain , totally 01:26:02.960 --> 01:26:05.310 bipartisan . Does this administration 01:26:05.310 --> 01:26:07.477 still support a membership action plan 01:26:07.477 --> 01:26:09.900 for Ukraine and Georgia ? Uh We support 01:26:09.910 --> 01:26:13.620 uh Ukraine membership in uh in NATO . 01:26:13.630 --> 01:26:17.370 Uh It currently has uh 01:26:17.380 --> 01:26:19.602 all of the tools it needs because since 01:26:19.602 --> 01:26:21.880 the membership action plan was created , 01:26:21.880 --> 01:26:24.047 a number of other very important tools 01:26:24.047 --> 01:26:25.880 were developed to help countries 01:26:25.880 --> 01:26:28.850 prepare for possible NATO membership , 01:26:28.850 --> 01:26:31.250 including uh an annual programme that 01:26:31.250 --> 01:26:33.194 Ukraine benefits from . And in our 01:26:33.194 --> 01:26:35.361 estimation , Ukraine has all the tools 01:26:35.361 --> 01:26:37.250 that it needs to continue to move 01:26:37.250 --> 01:26:39.361 forward uh in that direction . Uh And 01:26:39.361 --> 01:26:41.700 so we're and we're working with it on a 01:26:42.080 --> 01:26:45.800 virtually a daily basis . Map itself 01:26:45.810 --> 01:26:49.180 has would have to be done uh in full 01:26:49.180 --> 01:26:51.458 consensus with with other NATO members . 01:26:51.458 --> 01:26:53.550 Uh I think there are some countries 01:26:53.550 --> 01:26:56.600 that are uh less supportive than others 01:26:56.610 --> 01:26:58.832 of that right now , but irrespective of 01:26:58.832 --> 01:27:01.054 map , Ukraine has the tools it needs to 01:27:01.054 --> 01:27:04.570 move forward toward being uh ready 01:27:04.570 --> 01:27:07.010 for membership in the future . The 01:27:07.010 --> 01:27:09.121 other piece of this , though is , you 01:27:09.121 --> 01:27:11.343 know , and and all that , given all the 01:27:11.343 --> 01:27:10.990 time and investment you've made on this , 01:27:11.480 --> 01:27:15.070 as important as its preparations , uh 01:27:15.080 --> 01:27:18.680 militarily strategically uh is the 01:27:18.690 --> 01:27:21.370 preparation when it comes to having 01:27:21.370 --> 01:27:25.060 good governance and um dealing with the 01:27:25.070 --> 01:27:27.070 aggression that's eating at Ukraine 01:27:27.070 --> 01:27:28.990 from within , Uh and that is uh , 01:27:29.000 --> 01:27:32.180 corruption uh and uh a system that 01:27:32.180 --> 01:27:34.710 works effectively to deal with it . So 01:27:34.710 --> 01:27:36.821 what we also need to see from Ukraine 01:27:36.821 --> 01:27:39.150 is continued progress on that level as 01:27:39.150 --> 01:27:41.850 well . Well . And of course there's 01:27:41.850 --> 01:27:43.961 been enormous progress made . We have 01:27:43.961 --> 01:27:45.906 looked back only to 2014 when they 01:27:45.906 --> 01:27:48.210 began and the electoral changes , the 01:27:48.220 --> 01:27:50.387 judicial reforms and others as some of 01:27:50.387 --> 01:27:52.150 the economic reforms have been 01:27:52.150 --> 01:27:54.372 substantial and I agree more need to be 01:27:54.372 --> 01:27:56.539 done and more has to be done frankly , 01:27:56.539 --> 01:27:58.761 I think in order for NATO membership to 01:27:58.761 --> 01:28:00.817 be completed . But I would hope that 01:28:00.817 --> 01:28:02.928 said earlier about the narrative that 01:28:02.928 --> 01:28:02.870 we're not backing off on membership 01:28:02.880 --> 01:28:05.102 action Plan , understanding that you've 01:28:05.102 --> 01:28:07.269 got to convince the other NATO members 01:28:07.269 --> 01:28:09.324 to go along , United States tends to 01:28:09.324 --> 01:28:11.380 have a significant influence in NATO 01:28:11.380 --> 01:28:13.713 and and where their champion , you know , 01:28:13.713 --> 01:28:15.824 where the country they look , too and 01:28:15.824 --> 01:28:15.360 they're under enormous pressure right 01:28:15.360 --> 01:28:17.350 now , this build up on the eastern 01:28:17.350 --> 01:28:19.520 border is something that mystifies 01:28:19.520 --> 01:28:21.780 everybody who accept that Russia must 01:28:21.780 --> 01:28:24.070 have some designs on continuing their 01:28:24.070 --> 01:28:26.720 aggression and holding onto Crimea and 01:28:26.730 --> 01:28:28.841 the number so and then again , what's 01:28:28.841 --> 01:28:31.063 happening in Belarus is an additional , 01:28:31.063 --> 01:28:33.280 very serious concerns . So my time is 01:28:33.280 --> 01:28:35.580 probably over . But the globalization 01:28:35.590 --> 01:28:37.980 we talked about and we look forward to 01:28:37.990 --> 01:28:40.157 following up with you about the global 01:28:40.157 --> 01:28:42.323 engagement . Thank you request . Thank 01:28:42.323 --> 01:28:44.379 you . Mr Secretary . Thank you . All 01:28:44.379 --> 01:28:48.170 right , Senator Kaine . Yeah , 01:28:48.570 --> 01:28:50.681 Thank you . Mr Chairman . Thank you . 01:28:50.681 --> 01:28:52.570 Mr Secretary . This has been very 01:28:52.570 --> 01:28:54.459 helpful because members have been 01:28:54.459 --> 01:28:56.626 putting down their views about the J . 01:28:56.626 --> 01:28:58.626 C . P . O . A . I'm going to do the 01:28:58.626 --> 01:29:00.737 same thing . I was one of the largest 01:29:00.737 --> 01:29:00.450 proponents of the J . C . P . O . And 01:29:00.450 --> 01:29:02.900 this committee , and I continue to be 01:29:02.900 --> 01:29:05.140 and I believe it was disastrous for the 01:29:05.140 --> 01:29:07.473 trump administration and back out of it . 01:29:07.570 --> 01:29:09.820 The first sentence of the first 01:29:09.820 --> 01:29:12.540 paragraph as I recall said that Iran 01:29:12.540 --> 01:29:14.680 reaffirms that it will never seek to 01:29:14.680 --> 01:29:16.902 purchase , acquire or develop a nuclear 01:29:16.902 --> 01:29:18.847 weapons , correct . An enforceable 01:29:18.847 --> 01:29:21.220 agreement signed before the entire 01:29:21.220 --> 01:29:23.553 global community , not only with allies , 01:29:23.553 --> 01:29:25.609 the United States with adversaries , 01:29:25.609 --> 01:29:27.664 the United States , Russia and china 01:29:27.664 --> 01:29:31.410 permanent enforceable would 01:29:31.410 --> 01:29:33.740 give would give the US grounds for I 01:29:33.740 --> 01:29:36.860 think defendable military action should 01:29:36.870 --> 01:29:38.981 Iran have violated ? That's correct . 01:29:39.070 --> 01:29:42.110 Um The agreement contained many other 01:29:42.110 --> 01:29:44.810 provisions with respect to limitations 01:29:44.810 --> 01:29:47.780 on Iran's nuclear program . Now , many 01:29:47.780 --> 01:29:49.836 of those provisions were temporary , 01:29:49.836 --> 01:29:51.724 some expired in five years , some 01:29:51.724 --> 01:29:53.780 expired in 10 , some expired in 15 , 01:29:53.780 --> 01:29:55.947 some expired in 25 . But there was one 01:29:55.947 --> 01:29:58.058 other permanent part of the agreement 01:29:58.058 --> 01:30:00.224 at Year eight . In the Agreement , the 01:30:00.224 --> 01:30:02.224 Iranian Legislature was required to 01:30:02.224 --> 01:30:04.169 permanently embrace the additional 01:30:04.169 --> 01:30:06.391 protocol inspection requirements of the 01:30:06.391 --> 01:30:08.920 E which at the time and today was the 01:30:08.920 --> 01:30:10.570 state of the art in terms of 01:30:10.570 --> 01:30:13.810 inspections . So a permanent agreement 01:30:13.820 --> 01:30:15.931 never to purchase , acquire , develop 01:30:16.260 --> 01:30:18.960 nuclear weapons and a permanent 01:30:18.970 --> 01:30:21.490 inspection regime that would enable us 01:30:21.490 --> 01:30:23.490 to determine if they were violating 01:30:23.490 --> 01:30:26.690 their agreement . And what did we give 01:30:26.690 --> 01:30:29.220 up to get that ? What did we give up ? 01:30:29.230 --> 01:30:31.390 The ranking member said we gave him a 01:30:31.390 --> 01:30:33.723 lot of money . We gave them their money . 01:30:35.860 --> 01:30:38.310 Great work by chairman and as and 01:30:38.310 --> 01:30:40.421 others and putting a sanctions regime 01:30:40.421 --> 01:30:42.310 in place had led us to be able to 01:30:42.310 --> 01:30:44.532 freeze money . That was not our money . 01:30:44.532 --> 01:30:46.643 What american taxpayer dollars it was 01:30:46.643 --> 01:30:49.450 Iranian money . And so they got their 01:30:49.460 --> 01:30:52.200 own money back and in exchange agreed 01:30:52.200 --> 01:30:54.490 to permanently pledge to the entire 01:30:54.490 --> 01:30:56.460 world that they would never have a 01:30:56.460 --> 01:30:59.090 nuclear program . Why the trump 01:30:59.090 --> 01:31:01.146 administration would want to tear up 01:31:01.146 --> 01:31:03.570 that agreement and allow Iran to go 01:31:03.570 --> 01:31:05.737 back to , Okay , I guess we don't have 01:31:05.737 --> 01:31:08.010 to abide by our side of it anymore . I 01:31:08.010 --> 01:31:10.980 just am continuously flummoxed by it . 01:31:11.560 --> 01:31:13.760 So if you could return to a compliance 01:31:13.760 --> 01:31:17.180 for compliance , it wouldn't turn Iran 01:31:17.180 --> 01:31:20.090 into a good actor . But they would be a 01:31:20.090 --> 01:31:22.740 bad actor without a nuclear program 01:31:22.750 --> 01:31:24.940 rather than a bad actor rushing toward 01:31:24.940 --> 01:31:27.950 a nuclear program . I'll never forget 01:31:27.960 --> 01:31:30.127 as a member of this committee going to 01:31:30.127 --> 01:31:32.182 Israel in january 2015 with the then 01:31:32.182 --> 01:31:35.460 chairman , Republican bob corker to sit 01:31:35.470 --> 01:31:37.526 in Prime Minister Netanyahu's office 01:31:37.526 --> 01:31:39.748 and ask about what Israel thought about 01:31:39.748 --> 01:31:41.803 our nuclear negotiations . The Prime 01:31:41.803 --> 01:31:44.026 Minister was completely against it . We 01:31:44.026 --> 01:31:46.081 had a meeting scheduled the next day 01:31:46.081 --> 01:31:48.192 with Tamir pardo , the head of Massad 01:31:48.192 --> 01:31:50.680 in tel Aviv , the Prime Minister told 01:31:50.680 --> 01:31:53.200 us that meeting was canceled , That we 01:31:53.200 --> 01:31:55.422 were not going to be able to go do it . 01:31:55.860 --> 01:31:58.027 And our Republican Committee chair had 01:31:58.027 --> 01:32:00.082 the backbone to look him in the face 01:32:00.082 --> 01:32:02.249 and say , if you cancel that meeting , 01:32:02.249 --> 01:32:04.249 we're canceling all the rest of the 01:32:04.249 --> 01:32:06.471 meetings here in Israel , we'll leave , 01:32:06.471 --> 01:32:08.638 we'll leave tomorrow . We won't have a 01:32:08.638 --> 01:32:11.410 single other meeting hastily . The 01:32:11.420 --> 01:32:13.364 meeting suddenly reappeared on the 01:32:13.364 --> 01:32:15.587 schedule and we went to tel Aviv and we 01:32:15.587 --> 01:32:17.642 sat down in the offices . The Massad 01:32:17.642 --> 01:32:19.809 with Tamir pardo and others . And what 01:32:19.809 --> 01:32:19.780 they told us is , look , we don't like 01:32:19.780 --> 01:32:22.030 Iran , we don't know whether this is 01:32:22.030 --> 01:32:24.030 gonna work . But what we do know is 01:32:24.030 --> 01:32:26.141 that the maximum pressure campaign is 01:32:26.141 --> 01:32:28.086 not working . We're hurting Iran's 01:32:28.086 --> 01:32:30.086 economy , but we're causing them to 01:32:30.086 --> 01:32:31.974 floor it in terms of developing a 01:32:31.974 --> 01:32:35.040 nuclear weapons program . So , if you 01:32:35.040 --> 01:32:37.540 could return to compliance for 01:32:37.540 --> 01:32:41.110 compliance and get Iran once again to 01:32:41.110 --> 01:32:43.277 say , we will never seek to purchase , 01:32:43.277 --> 01:32:45.499 acquire or develop nuclear weapons ever 01:32:45.499 --> 01:32:47.720 and we will permanently agree to the 01:32:47.720 --> 01:32:49.887 additional protocol of the I . E . A . 01:32:50.250 --> 01:32:52.361 I would be strongly supportive on one 01:32:52.361 --> 01:32:54.472 condition there is a but to this long 01:32:54.472 --> 01:32:57.070 intro get american hostages out of Iran , 01:32:57.850 --> 01:33:00.130 I don't think doing a deal with 01:33:00.130 --> 01:33:02.186 american hostages still in Iran is a 01:33:02.186 --> 01:33:04.408 good idea . And I would and I would say 01:33:04.408 --> 01:33:06.463 that would need to be a precondition 01:33:06.463 --> 01:33:08.297 for me and I would hope that the 01:33:08.297 --> 01:33:10.019 administration would take that 01:33:10.019 --> 01:33:11.908 seriously . We had a hearing this 01:33:11.908 --> 01:33:15.020 morning in Armed Services Mr Secretary 01:33:15.030 --> 01:33:17.130 about the U . S . China relationship 01:33:17.140 --> 01:33:19.362 and obviously this is dominated much of 01:33:19.362 --> 01:33:21.580 the discussion to but I couldn't help 01:33:21.580 --> 01:33:24.450 bring up a wonderful quote of George 01:33:24.450 --> 01:33:27.280 kennan in foreign affairs , 1947 . The 01:33:27.280 --> 01:33:30.560 so the sources of soviet conduct here 01:33:30.560 --> 01:33:33.080 is this quote . He basically says the 01:33:33.080 --> 01:33:35.302 way that the U . S . Needs to be strong 01:33:35.302 --> 01:33:37.358 in any bilateral competition of this 01:33:37.358 --> 01:33:39.247 kind is to be strong internally , 01:33:39.247 --> 01:33:41.730 exhibitions of indecision , disunity 01:33:41.730 --> 01:33:44.000 and internal disintegration within this 01:33:44.000 --> 01:33:46.970 country have an exhilarating effect on 01:33:46.970 --> 01:33:50.400 the whole communist movement at each 01:33:50.410 --> 01:33:52.640 evidence of these tendencies . A thrill 01:33:52.640 --> 01:33:54.862 of hope and excitement goes through the 01:33:54.862 --> 01:33:57.870 communist world . The most important 01:33:57.870 --> 01:34:00.037 thing we can do to be strong vis a vis 01:34:00.037 --> 01:34:02.080 china's be strong internally . They 01:34:02.080 --> 01:34:04.520 celebrate when they see us in chaos . 01:34:04.530 --> 01:34:06.697 They celebrate when they see an attack 01:34:06.697 --> 01:34:08.970 on the U . S . Capitol by domestic 01:34:08.970 --> 01:34:11.340 insurrectionists . They celebrate when 01:34:11.340 --> 01:34:13.229 they see a Congress of the United 01:34:13.229 --> 01:34:15.284 States fighting over whether we even 01:34:15.284 --> 01:34:17.670 want to analyze what happened in order 01:34:17.670 --> 01:34:21.180 to prevent it from happening again . So 01:34:21.190 --> 01:34:23.770 you have a big job to go out to the 01:34:23.770 --> 01:34:25.750 world and get good work done with 01:34:25.750 --> 01:34:28.160 respect to shoring up china . But we've 01:34:28.160 --> 01:34:29.938 got a lot of work to do here to 01:34:29.938 --> 01:34:31.771 demonstrate unity of purpose and 01:34:31.771 --> 01:34:33.882 resolve . I think the bill that we're 01:34:33.882 --> 01:34:36.104 about to pass on the Senate floor which 01:34:36.104 --> 01:34:38.327 is built largely on this committee , is 01:34:38.327 --> 01:34:40.549 nearly unanimous work on a china bill a 01:34:40.549 --> 01:34:40.190 month or so ago is a really good piece 01:34:40.190 --> 01:34:42.301 of this . But the other thing we need 01:34:42.301 --> 01:34:44.468 to do with respect to china . And then 01:34:44.468 --> 01:34:46.690 here's my last question for you is what 01:34:46.690 --> 01:34:48.634 they most fear about us is not our 01:34:48.634 --> 01:34:50.801 military , not even our economy , what 01:34:50.801 --> 01:34:52.968 they most fear about us as our network 01:34:52.968 --> 01:34:54.968 of allies because they don't really 01:34:54.968 --> 01:34:57.134 have them . People understand china is 01:34:57.134 --> 01:34:59.357 predatory , self interested and they're 01:34:59.357 --> 01:35:01.579 not an ally or partner in a traditional 01:35:01.579 --> 01:35:03.579 sense . They don't like NATO , they 01:35:03.579 --> 01:35:05.690 don't like the quad , they don't like 01:35:05.690 --> 01:35:07.801 us India cooperation . They hated the 01:35:07.801 --> 01:35:09.801 idea of a trans pacific partnership 01:35:09.801 --> 01:35:11.801 with us more engaged in ASIA . They 01:35:11.801 --> 01:35:14.023 hate the network of alliances . So tell 01:35:14.023 --> 01:35:16.134 us about the summit for democracy and 01:35:16.134 --> 01:35:18.246 what the biden administration and the 01:35:18.246 --> 01:35:20.246 State Department are going to do in 01:35:20.246 --> 01:35:22.357 planning this gathering of the global 01:35:22.357 --> 01:35:24.468 democracies to share best practices , 01:35:24.468 --> 01:35:26.357 to look in the mirror and be self 01:35:26.357 --> 01:35:28.301 critical and to try to improve and 01:35:28.301 --> 01:35:30.468 strengthen democratic ties . That will 01:35:30.468 --> 01:35:32.634 be the thing that will most rattle the 01:35:32.634 --> 01:35:32.270 cage of chinese leadership .