Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which seeks to cut all funding for the TechCamp public diplomacy program. TechCamp is designed to support good governance and mitigate violent extremism. Through TechCamp workshops, the State Department connects private-sector technology experts with key populations--journalists, nongovernmental organizations, and civil society advocates--to explore and apply innovative tech solutions to global issues. TechCamp also boosts U.S. economic engagement around the globe by highlighting the United States' technical and private-sector innovation. I understand that attention to this program has increased after a former participant was involved in activity that some Members take exception to. There are thousands of participants from more than 110 countries making an impact through this program. An effective foreign policy tool should not be disposed of because of the actions of one participant a decade after they left the program. This past year, one TechCamp in Nepal funded a digital outreach campaign for the management of antimicrobial resistance. Another in Kazakhstan educates people in Central Asian countries on how to protect themselves from Russian propaganda and fact-check information as well as develop cybersecurity skills in women in the region through online webinars. These are not programs we should be cutting. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Russia's brutal and unprovoked attack in Ukraine is not just a threat to Ukraine and its neighbors but to the world, including our own country. If Russia succeeds in its aggression, other unprovoked attacks are inevitable. Ukraine's democracy is being undermined every single day. Entire cities have been demolished, women and girls are being sexually abused by Russian soldiers, and children are being kidnapped. Hospitals and schools, which should be safe havens, are being intentionally attacked. Thousands of innocent children and their families have been brutally murdered. Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their country. I have visited Ukraine, and I immediately recognized the love of the Ukrainian people for their country and their democracy. Since the war broke out, I have been to Poland, and I met with Ukrainians to hear firsthand about the dire situations they face amidst Russian aggression. I have talked to civil society organizations funded by the United States who, facing danger and violence, are supporting refugees, vulnerable people, women and children. I was deeply moved by their stories and their commitment. Mr. Chair, we must be able to ensure that Ukraine has the funding and support it needs to defend itself and that vulnerable people continue to receive lifesaving assistance. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which is an attack on our commitment to strengthen our security and economic cooperation with Ukraine, as well as to pursue accountability for Russia's actions there, by prohibiting funds for implementing the Bilateral Security Agreement recently signed between the United States and Ukraine. No specific funds are committed through the security agreement, but the signal this amendment sends to our Ukrainian partners is damaging. Mr. Chair, I ask for a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, this amendment prevents the United States Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery from helping forge Ukraine's future as a prosperous, secure, European democracy and accelerate Ukraine's economic transformation. This position is key to ensuring that Ukraine not only survives but thrives, standing on its own. The Ukrainian people are defending their country from the front line to the assembly line. Their ability to emerge from this conflict depends on their economic resilience. A Coca-Cola bottling plant outside of Kyiv, the largest in Europe, was shelled, and many of the plant's 1,600 workers fought not only to liberate it but to get it back up and running. Eighty-four percent of American companies in Ukraine are back up and running. Ukraine's economic recovery is not just key to the stability of Europe but also dinner tables around the world. In January of 2024, the Black Sea corridor brought more than 8.7 million tons of Ukrainian grain to global markets feeding much of the world. Ukraine and its people have not given up on their aspirations. The Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery is doing critical work to ensure Ukraine can see economic success and not be dependent on donor assistance. This should be supported, not demagogued. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. This amendment seeks to punish Administrator Power, likely due to differences of opinion with the amendment's sponsor. Given the administrator covers all worldwide issues, it is natural that differing opinions would arise. However, we cannot decide to defund the salary of the leadership of a United States Government agency simply because a Member of Congress does not agree with all the positions the administration takes on issues pertaining to foreign affairs. Administrator Power is a patriot. She cares about inclusion. She wants diversity, equity, and inclusion reflected as a policy in the State Department so that the State Department and countries reflect the diversity not only of our own country but throughout the world. It means people like myself would be part of this program. Her career has been very distinguished, serving as our ambassador to the United Nations. She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. I think we should thank Samantha Power for trying to make sure that our USAID is inclusive and that it reflects our democracy. If my colleagues want to debate the merits of our foreign policy, then let's do it. However, it is beneath this body to really take on a public servant for just doing their job. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Russia's brutal and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is not just a threat to Ukraine and its neighbors but to the world. If Russia succeeds in its aggression, other unprovoked attacks are inevitable. Ukraine's democracy is being undermined every single day. Entire cities have been demolished, women and girls are being sexually abused by Russian soldiers, and children are being kidnapped. Hospitals and schools which should be safe havens are being intentionally attacked. Thousands of innocent children and their families have been brutally murdered. Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their country. As I have said earlier, I have visited Ukraine, and I immediately recognized the love of the Ukrainian people for their country and their democracy. Since the war broke out, I have met with Ukrainians in Poland to hear firsthand the dire situation that they face amidst Russian aggression. I have talked to civil society organizations funded by the United States who are facing danger and violence. They are supporting refugees, vulnerable people, and women and children. I was deeply moved by their stories and their commitment. However, we must continue to ensure that Ukraine has the funding and support it needs to defend itself and that vulnerable people continue to receive lifesaving assistance. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, support for Ukraine is in the interests of the United States. Also, we have to deplore women being raped and children being kidnapped anywhere in the world, including in Ukraine. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. The United States Agency for International Development is essential to global stability, asserting United States leadership and foreign policy influence, and advancing security and prosperity worldwide. USAID is the leader of the United States' global humanitarian and development work, ensuring strong stewardship and accountability of U.S. tax dollars and making tangible improvements in the lives of millions of people all around the world. This amendment would force USAID to close all of its missions and terminate its programs overseas. It is highly ironic that the Department of Defense, which this Congress cannot seem to give enough money to, would be the first people to decry the loss of these programs in building security and stability around the world. Without USAID, millions of children with malaria would go untreated, and hundreds of thousands of people would die of tuberculosis. Without USAID, millions of the most vulnerable people in the world would be hungrier as well as lose access to quality education and clean water. USAID teams are working day and night to address catastrophic humanitarian crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and beyond. Continued battering from a growing number of natural disasters during this particularly strong El Nino has led to a number of people requiring humanitarian assistance, increasing by nearly a third from $274 million in 2022 to $363 million at the end of 2023. With regard to PEPFAR, yes, I was the author of PEPFAR and worked with Republicans, primarily President Bush, to make sure that the United States was on the right side of history by just basically saving lives. We have saved over 25 million lives thanks to PEPFAR. I think that is a real testament to how it was in the past in this House of Representatives, where Democrats and Republicans worked together to save lives. I am very proud of that effort, and I know that this amendment would harm that effort to achieve an AIDS-free generation by 2030. It is harmful. We must not reduce our development and humanitarian efforts. We wouldn't be able to counter the PRC's or Russia's influence. What we are doing is opening the door for their expanded global influence, if that is all my colleagues care about. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, let me just say that I realize the United States is not a charity, but I believe there are many in this country who believe we are our brothers' keepers, our sisters' keepers, and we have a duty to those less fortunate. In fact, USAID is providing remarkable humanitarian assistance to those who need the United States' generosity and support. Mr. Chair, I ask for a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which would prohibit funding to the Food and Agriculture Organization because the agency head is a citizen of the People's Republic of China. The FAO deputy director general is a U.S. citizen, and there are numerous Americans in high-level positions across FAO, all elevating the United States' priorities and interests. Americans have always held one of these three deputy director general positions. There are 735 million people who face hunger worldwide. The United States' support to the FAO in 2022 provided assistance to 30 million people in places like Ukraine, Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and Afghanistan to address food insecurity, famine, and drought. FAO is also aggressively pursuing partnerships with American private- sector companies, working with Google on monitoring natural resources, Mars, Inc. on antimicrobial resistance mitigation, and others on agribusiness. FAO collaborates with the United States land grant universities on agricultural technology programs, such as with Penn State on their desert locust early-warning system and Mississippi State University on a reference center for antimicrobial resistance and aquaculture biosecurity. This amendment is another example of approaching the world as black and white. The FAO director general was reelected last summer unopposed by the FAO membership. The United States pulling out from an organization that we have an interest in is only detrimental to us. Our ability to improve the operations of multilateral institutions and make sure their stances reflect our values hinges on the United States being an active, participating member of the organization. While I agree that reform should be considered regarding appointments at the U.N., this is not the way to go about such a change. This amendment would reduce U.S. engagement in a United Nations agency based on where a leader is from. We need to pay our dues, contribute to U.N. agencies, and be an active participant. You don't have a say in what happens at the table if you are not at the table. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, how can we counter CCP influence if we pull out of these organizations? We also agree that the United States should be more serious about leadership, but we have to be there to do it. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Both the Department of State and USAID rely on IOM's expertise as an implementing partner to support the United States' foreign policy priorities worldwide, including strengthening border security, countering trafficking in persons, combating the smuggling of migrants, providing humanitarian and emergency relief, and assisting involuntary repatriation. State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration has funded the IOM to support migrants who have experienced violence, exploitation, and/or abuse, and includes victims of trafficking and unaccompanied and separated children. IOM does not facilitate, assist, or encourage illegal or mass migration in any way, period. By supporting the humanitarian needs of migrants, such as basic sanitation, healthcare, and food, it makes migrants less likely to resort to harmful coping strategies, such as child labor, family separation, or forced marriage. This amendment would prevent support for IOM programming in Haiti, where it is the only agency providing emergency relief to returned Haitian migrants. More people are on the move globally, 117 million, than at any point in human history, and most of those displaced are taking refuge in neighboring low-income countries. IOM supports the stability of our neighbors and partners that are struggling to host a larger number of refugees. The infrastructure-- shelter, water, sanitation, health, and education--of these states is overwhelmed. This aid relieves the strain and advances our national security interests. Left unaddressed, the strain will feed instability and trigger more violence in these regions. It is in the United States' interests that these vulnerable people are cared for and hosting countries are willing to continue to receive them. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which prohibits funding for materials that refer to the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party by the title ``President.'' The United States House of Representatives does not get to pick what other countries call their head of state. This is not a serious policy. In the United States of America, we should not resort to pettiness, and we should treat others with respect, even when we have vehement disagreements. This is how you solve problems. I must reflect on the fact that this is the appropriations process, a process that is derived by the United States Constitution. It is a privilege to serve in this House and on the Appropriations Committee. This amendment does not meet the stature of this process. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I ask for a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, first of all, let me just say, we should allow the State Department to manage protocol. We don't need a funding prohibition. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.