call this hearing of the State and
Foreign Operations subcommittee , The
Senate appropriations committee to
order . We have one witness today .
Secretary of state , Anthony Blinken .
Um It is great to have you here . Mr
Secretary . We have a lot to cover . So
I'll be relatively brief . We have many
of us just come from a moving powerful
service in memory of former Secretary
Madeleine Albright , an extraordinary
person who lived a remarkable life and
career and whose impact on the
department , on the Senate , on our
nation on the world rooted in her
commitment to democracy to advancing
the role of women . Was profound . I
intend to propose naming a portion of
the Fulbright fellows for her , as we
did for one of her predecessors , for
whom she also worked for former Senator
and Secretary Edmund muskie , the
National Democratic Institute where she
long served as board chair is naming
their annual democracy award for
Secretary Albright . Mr Secretary we
very much look forward to suggestions
from you as to how the State Department
may want to also honor her service ,
especially as a defender of democratic
principles and someone who advanced the
role of women leaders around the world .
I have just returned from a number of
nations including Georgia , where the
president in particular um cited the
mentorship and the example of Secretary
Albright , um no secretary of State has
an easy job , but yours in particular
at this moment in our modern history is
exceptionally demanding and you have
done exceptionally well at it and we
are grateful both for the way in which
you have represented us in the world .
Um and for your recent trip to Kiev ,
which we look forward to hearing about ,
but also for your responsiveness to the
committees of the Senate . You have
testified frequently at great length
and been very accessible . And so um I
wanted to thank you both for your
service more broadly leading the State
Department , representing us in the
world , but also for your engagement
with this committee . Now we face a
number of challenges more than I need
to take the time to recite in detail .
Russia's unprovoked , unjustified and
brutal invasion of Ukraine with
regional and global security
implications that we need to confront
and will be felt for decades . A global
food security crisis greatly
exacerbated by the war in Ukraine now
threatening hundreds of millions with
food insecurity , a global pandemic
that's infected half a billion killed a
million americans , caused immense
economic damage and that continues to
pose threats to all of us as new
variants may emerge . Climate change
which continues to accelerate and
threatens of the entire world , Iran
and North Korea , both whose
nonproliferation whose efforts at
nuclear proliferation threatened their
regions of china , which continues to
be a peer competitor and expands its
influence around the world In ways we
need to confront . Um and a growing
clash between the forces of democracy
and authoritarianism . Um to say
nothing of a record refugee crisis and
ongoing conflicts in Syria , Yemen
Ethiopia , South Sudan Libya on the
positive side . Mr Secretary . You and
the president have rallied a NATO in
defense of Ukraine its people and its
sovereignty . This administration is
embracing our alliances and building
coalitions , not embracing isolationism .
You've shown the world that as
Secretary Albright so often said , we
are the indispensable nation um and the
critical role that we can and must play ,
we've provided hundreds of millions of
US manufactured covid vaccine doses
which unlike those provided by Russia
and china are effective against all the
variants . You've reaffirmed the role
that the United States must play in
advancing democracy and human rights
around the world and shown strong
leadership on tackling climate through
a variety of means , including the
Development Finance Corporation . Um
you're tackling global challenges like
economic instability and violent
conflict with new tools like the global
fragility act and you are addressing
deeply rooted staffing and diversity
challenges at the State Department with
new resources provided by Congress . We
here in this committee have worked hard
to find a bipartisan path forward and
to support and promote our national
security diplomacy interests . I am
thankful for my ranking member ,
Senator Graham , who has been a good
partner um over a number of Congress's
to myself and to the former chairman of
the subcommittee , the chairman of the
full committee . Um yet we have um
genuinely struggled to get either the
allocation that this subcommittee
deserves or to fully meet the
objectives that this subcommittee has
taken on . We faced huge challenges
last year with an allocation four
billion below the budget request . Uh
and we were able to soften that impact
really only by rescinding two billion
from the Afghanistan account and option
we will not have again this year . Um
We have done nothing to address our U .
N . Arrears . We have not done enough
to face the growing food security and
refugee crisis and we have a great deal
of work to do together . So as our NATO
partners have , we need to demonstrate
that we can pull together and work
together in the way this subcommittee
traditionally has . We look forward to
hearing from you , MR Secretary , how
you see this year , unfolding what your
highest appropriations priorities are
and how we can work together to achieve
our nation's schools . Senator Graham ,
thank you . Mr Chairman . Uh One MR
Secretary welcome . Uh You are a very
hard worker and I enjoy , you know
working with you where we can and we
have our differences . This
subcommittee has had a good track
record of trying to put money into
programs that produce value for the
american people make the world a safer
place . The world food program is under
siege . So there's a lot of talk in the
building about another supplemental
count me in . I'm willing to look at
Ukraine in terms of what their needs
are . So you're just gonna have to come
to reality here that as the world
changes the subcommittee has a role to
play when it comes to the state
department . I want to thank those
under your your command Mr Secretary ,
you know , I've spent a lot of time in
the military . A lot of us go to war
torn regions , but it's the diplomat ,
the foreign Service officer , the USA I .
D . Worker there in harm's way . Just
as much as anybody and um the work they
do on behalf of stability can sometimes
create a peaceful world better than
dropping a bomb . And I think the
military agrees with that . So the
military is a big fan of this account
because without developmental
assistance and showing up you're gonna
lose ground . Just got back from Japan
uh Taiwan and Australia , they want to
do more . Uh There's a backlash brewing
against china's misadventures . Uh One
of my colleagues I think had a
discussion with the yesterday about
what's the big deal about Ukraine that
used to be part of the soviet union .
Uh I think we can find common ground
here that that Putin has no legitimate
claim on Ukraine , It's a sovereign
nation Back in the 90s . They did the
Budapest Memo where Russia and the
United States and Great Britain
guaranteed sovereignty of Ukraine if
they would turn their nukes over to to
Russia . That agreement has been
stepped upon . I think most of us here
believe that Putin wants to recreate
the old Russian empire of the soviet
union Ukraine is just a warmup warmup
act Moldova , he will go until somebody
stops him . So this is not about a
buffer zone between Russia and NATO .
It's about a man with an ambition that
I think is going to destroy this
country and kill thousands of innocent
people and I appreciate the flow of
weapons . Uh , it has been on the
increase . I hope we can do more and I
think we should do more . But I want
you to understand MR Secretary , most
republicans do not see Putin's
endeavors as any way legitimate and
that we all understand if we don't stop
him in Ukraine , he'll keep going when
it comes to china . Japan is going to
increase their military spending . The
Solomon islands . Haven't heard about
that much since World war two china is
in play there , appreciate you sending
some diplomatic presence there uh
developmental finance corporation is a
brilliant idea . I think it's now time
to have a DFC component for Asia to
compete with the belt road initiative
by china And I would like to work with
the chairman and the secretary and
beefing up our developmental aid
presence in Asia to combat china
Afghanistan is heartbreaking . We'll
talk about all of that . It seems to be
that the Iranians are making a demand
on the administration to change
the decks designation of the Iranian
Revolutionary guard Corps no longer to
be a fair and foreign terrorist
organization . I hope you resist that
demand and we'll have a discussion
about that . But Putin gave his speech
today to the Duma . He said he vows to
accomplish the goals of the invasion .
He will not be deterred . So as we meet
in Ramstein where Defense Ministers of
NATO and the coalition of the willing
talk about providing more aid to
Ukraine . Putin is basically telling
his people through the Duma that he is
committed to see this through . My
commitment is this will be the end of
Putin one way or the other that when
this is over , the Russian people will
see they have no future under his
leadership . That will keep the
sanctions on that . We increased
sanctions at every turn . We provide
the brave Ukrainians the ability to
fight back and that over time the world
isolate Putin . I met with the
International Criminal Court prosecutor
Mr Khan yesterday I think he has a good
plan for those who are committing war
crimes in Ukraine wearing Russian
uniforms . So too , to
Putin , you're committed to the
invasion . We're committed to Ukraine's
freedom . We're gonna win and you're
gonna lose . Thank you . Thank you .
Senator Graham . Chairman Leahy , Thank
you Mr Chairman . I uh , I'm listening
to the travel . I've been watching and
I've talked with Secretary Blinken
again this morning about the amount of
traveling he's done first . I must tell
you , I I worried greatly when you and
Secretary Austin we're going into
Ukraine because they announced it ahead
of time . I suspect that was not the
way you would like to have done it .
But I'm glad you went . I'm glad you
got back safely . Senator coons .
And Senator Graham been traveling quite
a bit lately . I went to Vermont
but I am going to be doing
some of those trips later later this
year . I miss chairing the subcommittee .
But I note that mr chairman that over
the years different chairs
myself , Senator Gramm , Senator
McConnell and I shared this committee .
We got things God always
in a a unified passion
and I can think of no one more
qualified or better suited for the job
than Senator coons . And I'm delighted
that he's here cares passionately about
it in or in public . But in private he
talks about these issues and it's
occurring for diplomacy . I think the
budgeting this and budget Department of
State are extremely important in what
we do um in our non military . I
mean the military is obviously
important , but we're doing the non
military . I don't I know that and some
of the issues of foreign native member
of former Secretary Madison , if you
want to cut these programs , uh
foreign aid and other things that the
State Department that you want to cut
those programs buying more bullets
because he's gonna need them and I
agree . But the role you played with
President biden . Secretary Austin
marshaling of NATO countries and
all to stand up united against
Russia's unprovoked aggression
brutality in Ukraine . Uh that is so
important . And you know , we we spoke
briefly part of leaving the funeral
today . But they we have to stand up
and the fact that you were able to
bring our NATO allies together
sometimes they could be a desperate
group , but they came together on this .
It is extremely important and it shows
a critical need for our country's
leadership NATO , I think uh
It was just a couple of years ago . I
don't think it would have happened that
way . And here we are facing the
greatest challenge to democracy since
the 40s Now , we're going to have
another hearing on the global Covid and
food security crisis . The pandemic
continues to spread its mutating in
scores of countries . The food security
crisis been greatly exacerbated by the
skyrocketing commodity prices due to
the war in Ukraine . Covid is
important worldwide because there's no
place having a Covid outbreak that's
more than an airplane trip away from
our shores . And We know the
161 million people are facing
starvation . Another 227 million are
facing acute food insecurity where the
wealthiest , most powerful nation on
earth , we have to step in on that . So
I hope Mr Secretary , you get the White
House asked for additional supplemental
funds to address these global
humanitarian emergencies . They have
prior reaching economic security , I've
got to step outside for a phone call .
I'm gonna be coming right back in to
hear this . And mr Chairman , I am so
glad you're doing this . Thank you very
much Chairman Leahy and thank you for
your very long and very effective and
very engaged stewardship of this
subcommittee over three decades . Um
you have steered this subcommittee ably
through some really hard budget times ,
political times , global environments
and um I cannot possibly hope to
succeed in living up to the record that
you've established of focus and
excellence in . I'm delivering on our
role in the world . Given the
challenges we face Mr Secretary , um if
you can give us a broad overview both
of your insights from your trip to Kiev
in the challenges facing the State
department and your priorities for
appropriations this year , we'd be
grateful Mr Chairman , thank you very
very much to to you to Chairman , lee
ranking member , Graham . I'm grateful
for this opportunity to talk about the
administration's pro budget for the
State Department . Um let me just start
by saying that later today , we will
welcome back to the United States
Trevor Reed who was wrongfully detained
in Russia . We're deeply grateful to
our allies and partners who helped in
this effort to bring them home and I
especially want to thank uh special
presidential envoy for hostage affairs .
Ambassador Roger Carson's known well to
all of you . Ambassador john Sullivan
in Moscow and others in our government ,
including in this Congress who worked
relentlessly to bring Trevor home and
who continue to press for the release
of paul Whelan and other U . S .
Citizens wrongfully detained abroad .
Ah as you've noticed several of us just
came from a ceremony honoring Madeleine
Albright and just take a moment to
honor her extraordinary service .
She was a friend to me , a mentor
to me , someone I sought counseling she
had , I think is you all know an
incredible clarity of voice , voice
that I think we can all still here and
an ability to really get to the essence
of things Few diplomats have so clearly
embodied the ideals for which our
country stands or done more to protect
them around the world . We mourned her
passing , which is softened only by
knowing that her example is going to
continue to guide our department and
our foreign policy for years to come .
I look forward to finding ways to honor
her in the department and Chairman lee
he left the room , but I did want to
say to him that this may be the last
time that I have the privilege of
speaking on a budget request before a
committee that that he leads . And let
me just simply join in the course of
people thanking Chairman Leahy for his
extraordinary service , not just for
the service , but for the way that he
has served and continues to serve .
Always championing the vital importance
of investing in diplomacy and
development , always insisting that
human rights be at the heart of our
foreign policy , including of course by
offering a law requiring the government
to withhold support for foreign
security forces that commit gross human
rights violations and always being a
partner to Secretary of State across
eight administrations , the department
will always appreciate Chairman ladies ,
support for our people and for the work
they do around the world . Um I read
about a surprise tribute that Chairman
lee he received last week in Vermont's
General Assembly . I was struck by
something that that he said and I quote ,
I think Vermont is a place where you
can develop your conscience . I think
of the Senate as a place that should be
the conscience of the nation and
sometimes is so I would say for a long
time Senator Leahy has in fact in the
conscience of this institution when I
served here , I certainly felt that
very strongly our nation in the world
are better for it . Um Mr Chairman
ranking member , Graham , I have a
statement that goes to uh the budget
proposal goes to our modernization
agenda . But in the interest of time ,
I'm happy to submit it for the record
so that we can get to a conversation in
questions . Terrific . Thank you very
much . Mr Secretary , I'll begin What ,
our seven minute questions we may get
to a second round , but there is a vote
scheduled for 3.30 . Um so if members
intend to come back for a second round ,
please make sure my staff knows um
thank you for your tireless work on
pulling together our allies in support
of Ukraine . Ukraine faces a brutal
invasion by Russia and I would be
interested first . Just in a few
questions about a supplemental that we
understand may be coming soon . Um
Bridget brink has been nominated to be
the next U . S . Ambassador Ukraine .
Will you be resuming operations in Kiev
as well as in the west of the country ?
And will the supplemental include
funding um to return us embassy
personnel and provide for their
security ? 1st 2nd . In addition to
military and humanitarian assistance ,
do you think this supplemental will or
should include funds for the global
food security crisis and the pandemic ?
And then last I've just returned from
Georgia . Many of us have expressed
concern about Moldova and Georgia which
are also roughly in the position that
Ukraine is meaning not members of the
Eu not members of NATO countries that
are receiving Ukrainian refugees and
where there is a real and present
threat of Russian aggression against
Moldova and Georgia . So if you would ,
Mr Secretary , that's my opening set of
questions . Mr Chairman , thank you
very very much . Um so a few things .
First of all with regard to the
supplemental that should be coming
forward in the next couple of days and
it will include very robust
assistance requests for for Ukraine
for for partners and allies and
as well as of course our ability to
function in Ukraine with regard to our
diplomatic presence . We have diplomats
going back to Ukraine this week as we
speak to begin the process of looking
to reopen the embassy in Kiev . And my
anticipation is that they will start um
in LVIv in Western Ukraine and uh
look to reopen the embassy as quickly
but also as safely as possible . And we
look forward to working with you on
that . A number of other countries that
are left with the onset of the Russian
aggression are also coming back ,
reopening their missions . It was very
important for Secretary Austin and I to
go to to show the flag but we want to
be able to show the flag every day . Um
but it's a process that we take very
seriously in terms of making sure that
we do it in a way that ensures the
safety and security of our of our
personnel . But I think this will play
out over the next the next few weeks .
We will very much appreciate the
Senate's prompt consideration of
Bridget brink to be ambassador to
Ukraine . She is extraordinarily
qualified for this job . I think she's
known to many members of this committee
and uh hopefully she will be um
confirmed quickly once she sent
formally to the Senate . I anticipate
the supplemental will include um
request for resources for food security ,
something that we can and should talk
about . Uh this is as chairman Leahy
said uh a very very dramatic problem
that was already already existed of
course and has been exacerbated by
Russia's aggression by the invasion .
We have Ukrainian farmers who instead
of being able to deal with our crops
have been forced to fight or to flee
for their because of the Russian
aggression . We have Russia blockading
black sea ports so that even though
Ukraine is actually producing a lot of
wheat , it can't get out of the country
because of this blockade . Um and all
of that is having an effect not just in
the immediate region but literally
around the world . And I know in all of
your travels you've heard this too
everywhere we go , everywhere I go .
I'm hearing this , we have we have
plans to address this . Uh not just
with the supplemental , we're trying to
get countries to support the World Food
Program with additional funding , the
Food and Agriculture Organization with
more funding . They both have needs for
resources . Were looking to countries
that have large stockpiles of food to
use those stockpiles to not hold them
back to not put export restrictions on
food . The President's incentivize the
production of fertilizer here in the
United States . Um and we are working
in a variety of ways to try to address
this . Last thing I'll say on this Mr
Chairman is that um we have the
Presidency of the U . N . Security
Council in May . I intend to focus our
month of the presidency on Food
Security and I'll be spending some time
there as well . And again very much
look forward to working with this
committee . Finally on Moldova and
Georgia . I share the concerns that
you've expressed about the vulnerable
position they're in . We're working
very closely with both . I was in
Moldova a few weeks ago , our assistant
secretary for population refugees and
migration secretary . Assistant
secretary Noise was just there as well .
Um We have contributed through a german
pledging conference an additional $100
million to help support Moldova . The
request that you have before you would
fund programs to do a number of things
including bolstering cybersecurity ,
economic stabilization and resilience
to counter disinformation where they're
on the receiving end to try to
integrate their energy system to europe .
There's I think a significant
development in the connection of
Moldova as well as Ukraine to the
european security grid . But there's
work to do to make that work . We also
need to get the U . N . Agencies
to be prepared for a potential huge
influx of additional refugees to
Moldova . Uh They've already taken in a
lot of people . It's a small country um
anyway , in the interest of time ,
there's more on Georgia . I can't speak
to that as well . But the point that
you make is exactly right . We need to
be looking out for these countries that
are at risk and in between . We see
again in Moldova something's happening
in Transnistria that we're looking at
very very carefully as well . Thank you .
Mr Secretary to the United Nations if I
might just a few points and then I'll
um lead to the ranking member . Um
First we did not succeed last year and
paying anything in our U . N . Arrears .
We have arrears now totaling a billion
dollars and in my view failing to pay
what we could and should weakens our
credibility and frankly strengthens
some of our global competitors who take
advantage of that opportunity . I was
just in paris and had the chance to
meet with Director General Azula of
unesco . I'd be interested in your
thoughts on whether in our absence our
competitors have used that absence to
expand their role . Um And then last on
the U . N . Human Rights Council on
March 4th the U . N . Human rights
Commission adopted a resolution opening
a commission of inquiry for the human
rights violations , the war crimes
being committed in Ukraine . I'll be
interested in whether the
administration supports an I . C . C .
Or other war crimes investigation into
a prosecution of Russian soldiers and
leaders and what assistance we could
provide there and how significant you
think it is that Russia has been
suspended now from the U . N . Human
Rights Council . The first permanent
member of the UN Security Council to be
so suspended and whether you could make
a case for are renewing our
participation in that council and with
that I'll yield to the ranking member
if you would take a minute and answer
those . Thank you very much . I very
much share your view that it is to our
detriment to not be making good on
our commitments to the United Nations .
In terms of the budget , in terms of
dealing with arrears . It puts us in a
position of disadvantage in a place
that we should be in a position of
advantage . And to your point , um some
of some other countries are able to
make the rhetorical case because of
this that um us leadership , us
influence , um uh can't be counted on .
Uh and uh it also of course contributes
to some operational challenges . So we
think that paying , paying our dues ,
paying into the budget is vital um both
for the functioning of the U . N . But
also for our standing and our ability
two carry the day and carry the debate
at the U . N . I think we have some
proof positive of this by the way , and
what you just referenced because we're
back on the Human Rights Council , we
were able to actually lead in the
creation of this Commission of Inquiry
for Ukraine . So , it's something we're
going to very much support looking at
the atrocities and even rights abuses
that were committed by Russia in
Ukraine . Similarly , we support and
welcome the fact that the I . C . C .
Has opened an investigation . We found
ways to support the in a number of
instances in the past , including most
recently with the prosecution of a john
graduated from Darfur , that
prosecution resulted in no small
measure from information and evidence .
We were able to bring forward . Our
main focus when it comes to Ukraine is
on helping the prosecutor general and
her team that's investigating these um
war crimes allegations , we have
experts who are working very closely um
with that , with that team to make sure
that they can do their jobs effectively .
Uh and finally on on unesco
this is a , I think a perfect example
of a situation where our absence is
clearly to our detriment because ,
among other things , unesco is in the
business of setting standards norms um
around the world for education , uh for
the way new emerging technologies like
artificial intelligence are used to
cite just two examples . So when we're
not at the table shaping that
conversation and so actually helping to
shape those norms and standards , well ,
someone else's and that someone else is
probably china . So it really does not
make a lot of sense for us to be absent
from that from that body now . Uh ,
there was a , a very understandable
concern expressed in the past because
of uh the Palestinians seeking
ignition and that going forward that
Congress chose to act two make
it difficult for us to continue our
participation . Um We believe that
having a waiver authority , it would be
important and necessary and I can say
with authority that our partners in
Israel feel the same way they would
support are rejoining unesco
and I think it's in the national
interest to do that precisely because
these debates are so important and we
should be at the table making sure that
we shape them , not someone else .
Thank you . MR Secretary , I'll yield
to the ranking member , Senator Graham ,
If it's okay , I'll let cinema Moran go
first . He has a hearing the chair in
about five minutes someday . I hope to
chair a committee again . But at the
moment I'm only the ranking member .
But I appreciate your your willingness
not only to promote me , but to allow
me to go ahead of you , Senator Graham .
Thank you . Mr Secretary , thank you .
I would join in my commendation for the
chair of the full committee and the
chair of this subcommittee and I always
appreciate the opportunities I have to
work with them . MR Secretary . Um
yesterday you told the Foreign
Relations Committee that you believe
our allies and partners are prepared to
sustain and build upon the sanctions
imposed . And I'm a member of the NATO
observer group . So I'm talking about
NATO and I'm talking about the
circumstances that we all face in
regard to the invasion , the evil
invasion of Ukraine from your
conversations with our allies and
particularly Germany who who haven't uh
pledged to increase their defense
budgets . Um what do you what what do
you see as happening next ? Will this
last longer than this particular
circumstance uh and you indicated
that they would build it build upon
sanctions imposed . What do you
anticipate that building to include
Senator ? Thank you very much and thank
you for your leadership at this
critical time on this issue . A couple
of things . First , I think what we've
seen to date is extraordinary in terms
of allies coming together , both in
support of Ukraine , but also in
exerting pressure on Russia . We said
before this Russian aggression took
place as we saw it coming . We tried to
head it off , but Putin went ahead . We
said back in december that there would
be massive consequences imposed on
Russia if it went ahead with the
aggression . The reason we were able to
say that with confidence is because for
many months we've been working with
allies and partners to build those
massive consequences , including
unprecedented sanctions . And I think
that Many of us would not have fully
expected that we would actually be able
to carry that through uh thus far we
have and we're seeing as a result of
the pressure imposed on Russia , an
economy in freefall . Um , most
predictions suggest it will contract by
15% this year . We're seeing capital
flight from the country to the extent
that Putin is not able to prevent that .
Um , we're seeing an exodus of
companies more than 600 businesses , um
international businesses with brand
names . Leaving Russia , uh denying
Russian consumers the ability to get to
get those products and the export
controls that we've been able to impose ?
Working with other countries ? Mean
that Russia will not be able to
effectively modernize critical parts of
its economy and a system including the
defense sector . But to your point ,
it's vitally important that we sustain
this effort and that means making sure
that , um , as we've done to date , um ,
allies and partners come along as we do
this , we are in constant contact with
them . We will continue to roll out
sanctions in in the weeks ahead . This
is not not stopping , as long as Russia
is not stopping . And um , the european
union itself is continuing to do that .
I think the next step is one of the
things that they're looking at is an
oil embargo on on Russia . They are
working on that . We are looking to see
what , what they do . We will continue
to focus um , on additional sectors
of the Russian economy to make sure
that we continue to to ratchet up the
pressure . I anticipate that this is
going to go on for some time and all
the more reason why we have to make
sure that we sustain what we've been
able to put in place . Mr Secretary ,
thank you . I was on the border of
Ukraine a few weeks just a couple of
weeks ago . My takeaway then as it was
previously and continues to be and what
I'm looking for is reassurance . I want
to make sure the United States , in my
view , it would be immoral for us just
to provide enough assistance for the
Ukrainians to survive and not win . Uh ,
and I also think that our help should
include more than defending the
Ukraine , the offensive capabilities of
Ukraine to attack those areas that are
attacking them . Can you assure me that
that is policy , that's what we're
doing . Um , or would you want to
dissuade me from my views a couple of
things First , thanks
to the tremendous support , the
generosity of the american people
through this Congress , we've been able
to date to provide the Ukrainians with
um , exceptional support . And this is
something that started well before the
Russian aggression . The initial
presidential drawdown uh , took place
back in Labor Day of last year , Uh ,
million . Then there was another
significant drawdown of about $200
million Christmas time . All that was
done relatively quietly . The Russians
had not yet committed their aggression ,
but we wanted to make sure that
Ukrainians had in hand what they needed
if Putin carried this forward . And
when he did , um , the main reason that
the Ukrainians have been so successful
thus far in repelling the Russians is
of course because of their own courage .
Um , remarkable , but it's also because
they had in hand , the tools they
needed to do that and in particular the
javelins , The stingers , systems of
that nature were critical in winning
the battle for Kiev . Um , I can tell
you that broadly speaking , when it
comes to anti armor systems and anti
air systems for every Russian plane and
every Russian tank in Ukraine , we and
allies and partners have been able to
provide the Ukrainians to date with
about 10 systems for every plane and
every tank . But to your point , the
nature of the battle is now shifted .
Uh and it , what's happening in the
east and southern Ukraine is very
different than what was happening
around Kiev in terms of what the
Ukrainians need to be able to repel the
Russian aggression . And so heavier
artillery has been critical and we're
working assiduously and others are to
get them that um sure to ship weapons
to deal with the challenges uh in the
in the Black Sea , also vital heavier
armor tanks , etcetera . All of that is
in trained Secretary Austin was in
Germany yesterday as as you probably
saw a pretty remarkable scene . 40
defense ministers sitting around a huge
table all working on coordinating the
effort to get to the Ukrainians what
they need . We spent three hours with
President Zelensky , his Minister of
Defense , his Chief of the Armed Forces ,
the Foreign Minister , etcetera . And a
chunk of that time was spent on going
in detail through Ukraine's needs going
forward . So the short answer is we are
determined to get them what they need
to deal with this Russian aggression
and to push the Russians out of the
country . It's another matter uh
as to whether um the Ukrainians should
take actions that go beyond their
borders . My own view is that um it's
vital that they do whatever is
necessary to defend against Russian
aggression and the tactics of this
are their decisions . But what we're
doing with all of these systems is
making sure the Ukrainians have the
means to defend themselves . That's
what this is about and making sure that
they can do whatever is necessary to
push the Russians out of the country .
Mr Chairman , I won't ask another
question , but if I can compliment or
at least support a decision that the
secretary has made , I encouraged you
several weeks ago , a week or more ago
to return to Kiev with our diplomatic
embassy . You are headed that direction .
It sounds like it's going to occur in
stages , but I am supportive of the
United States having its embassy in
Kiev as quickly as it's safe for our
personnel . And I want to thank you for
a couple of folks , several of your
folks , uh nas Courtney paul , Jeff
consular affairs folks who have been
exceptionally helpful to us in our
efforts to solve problems for kansans
and americans around the globe . Thank
you Senator , thank you for saying that
we very much appreciate and we look
forward to continuing to work with you .
Thank you . Thank you . Chairman , lady ,
thank you Mr Chairman and Secretary
Blinken . I stepped out , but I heard
your kind words outside . I I
I didn't jump back in . Glad I didn't
want to interrupt you guys enjoy it too
much . But thank you . It was , it was
uh it was undeserved but
greatly appreciated . And
regarding Ukraine ,
There has been some of the birds of us
to liquidate the Russian central banks
nearly was a $100 billion
foreign-exchange reserves . They are
frozen at the Federal Reserve to use
those funds out the people of Ukraine .
Does the department have the capacity
to identify the assets of Russia and
other oligarchs ? And can they
coordinate with the Treasury and
Justice departments and seizing and
freezing such assets ? Mr Chairman , we
are working very closely with Treasury
and Justice to look at um both how we
can um effectively freeze but also
seize seize assets and we have blocking
sanctions as you know in place against
a variety of individuals and
institutions that effectively freezes
their property in the United States .
The question , when it comes to the
seizure pieces , do we have the
relevant provisions in place seminal
civil criminal forfeiture authorities .
Justice is in the process of reviewing
that . Uh and I know that there are a
number of ideas that um I find
compelling about finding ways to use
these assets to support Ukraine . The
short answer is uh Justice Department
lawyers are looking at all of that . Of
course , it doesn't help that a lot of
those assets are behind
Various walls , one after another ,
ah fake corporations and
um things of that nature ,
yep . And I think it goes to the
importance of of having of having
transparency , beneficial ownership
rules etcetera . And I can't
think of anything I've seen more
shocking than the scenes of what the
Russian soldiers are doing . Um machine
gunning families is they're trying to
run away from something the
Children , innocent civilians have
been murdered . And
can that be investigated by the
International Criminal Court ? Should
it be ? And can we help we welcome the
fact that the sec has opened an
investigation . One of the critical
things they're doing is making sure
that uh potential evidence of
atrocities is being is being compiled
effectively . As I mentioned , I think
when you're out of the room Mr .
Chairman besides the the I . C . C .
Work , I think the critical focus that
we have is on supporting the work of
the Ukrainian prosecutor general , and
we have experts who are working every
single day with that team to make sure
that they have what they need to uh
document , compile the evidence and
actually look at potential prosecutions .
But those two efforts , as well as the
Commission of Inquiry established by
the Human Rights Council at the United
Nations with our our leadership are
three of the critical vehicles we see
going forward to get accountability to
deal with . And to your point , some of
the things we're seeing are I think
beyond almost our collective
imaginations , for example , um
there are very credible reports that
the Russians have been in retreat ,
booby trapping things like people's
washing machines and toys so that when
people are able to return home and go
about their lives , they're killed
or injured . As a result , I look at
some of the land mines and questioned
mines using in this javelin mind that
you don't even have to touch it , you
come near it . That's exactly right .
And and and mr chairman part of our
request and I think this will be in the
supplemental will be for some
additional funds for the mining because
unfortunately we have to deal with that
now as a result of what Russia has been
doing . And I was thank you for
mentioning it because I know your
request Is 18 million below what's been
requested last year . I have a feeling
you're gonna need a lot more for
humanitarian demining and
the as you know , I've long
side to rid the world of landmines ,
but I think also the what the
prosecutors are getting is going to be
extremely important for historians .
You know , those who I
don't understand the mistakes of
history , it's almost a cliche , but
they are condemned to repeat them . The
world is gonna see this because it
there is no question that it's
crimes against humanity
and we're going to need , I think the
world food program projects an unmet
need of $10 billion . I would hopefully
have requests to beef that up .
And um The
president's budget request is
about $8 billion dollars above the
fiscal year 2022 enacted level .
But war in Ukraine . Um
The COVID-19 pandemic climate change
and so on . Is this not the moment we
should be investing more in the State
Department and other agencies and more ?
I know this is something Chairman Koons
has talked about it late . Um putting
more in In four knots not less
so . And lastly , and my time is
running out
the lady law . Would you and your staff
please talk with us ? How how that the
one that prohibits assistance of units
of foreign security forces there
committing gross violations of
human rights . Ah
I think you have some money in your
budget For Leila vetting . But are you
confident that that's being carried out
as much as it should be ? Mr . Chairman
in my judgment , it is , I think it's
being consistently and effectively
applied . We have $15 million dollars
in the budget uh this year to conduct
the vetting . Uh It's a critical part
of what we do uh And I think we have
the resources as well as the focus
necessary to carry that out in the way
it was intended . And I just mentioned
a chairman , your plane was delayed but
we had a meeting at some
extensive meeting . I know Senator
Durbin and I were there yesterday with
the president and others about cuba
ah nobody condones the crackdown on
the people are peacefully protesting
in there . But I also
don't I don't condone the
toro rollback of the policy that we had
under the Obama administration . I had
hoped the attention is given to finding
a way that we can start having normal
relations with CUBA for the good of
their own people and for us . Thank you .
Mr Chairman . I look forward to
catching up with the President . I
haven't talked to him since your your
meeting but I look forward to hearing
from him on the meeting . Thank you .
Mr Chairman Senator Graham . Thank you
very much . Mr Chairman uh won't
request a second round . We'll try to
make this as quick as possible . But
there's a lot going on in the world .
And Let's start here at home . Mr
Secretary . Do you believe if we repeal
title 42 authority to deport illegal
immigrants because of the threat of a
covid outbreak , that we will have more
illegal immigrants coming ? Um
Senator I two things on that first . Uh
as you know , Title 42 is a CDC
Authority Public Health Authority .
It's it's not an immigration policy
authority . The question is , what
practical effect would its repeal have ?
I think we are likely to see more
people seeking to enter the country .
But if they cannot present a credible
claim Of asylum , they'll they'll be
returned . That's the policy that
doesn't change the borders not opening
with the repeal of title 42 . If that's
what happens , I'm just saying the
border is completely broken . We have
1.2 main illegal crossings since
October of last year and there will be
a tsunami . more coming if we repeal
Title 42 . And uh , will there be covid
money in the supplemental ? Ah my
I can't speak to that at this point
because I think the White House is
still looking at that 11 way or another .
Um Senator , in my judgment , we need
covid money internationally . Whether
that's in this supplemental or in some
other vehicle . I don't know , but we
need it . Yeah , I think we do need
money for Covid internationally . I
agree with that . And I think if you
want to stop as Senator Leahy said ,
one country away from an outbreak , you
would revisit title 42 . I would
encourage you to do that . Let's go to
Afghanistan . What's the state of Play
in Afghanistan for women ? Right now ?
The state of Play is
extremely mixed to negative .
And what's the upside for women ? The
only upside that we've seen at all is
that uh somewhat ironically , you might
say there is there is in the country at
large , greater stability and relative
peace than there's been . That's about ,
The only upside I can think of the
downside of course is that we've seen
including most recently the Taliban um
Fall back on its commitment that it had
made to ensure that girls can go to
school above the 6th grade . Um this is
among many things . Um something that
is a deep , deep concern is our
homeland more at risk now than it was
before the withdrawal in Afghanistan
from Al Qaeda and ISIS presence in
Afghanistan . If you look at the , if
you look at the presence and the threat ,
I'd say there are three things that are
going on . Uh first there is Al Qaeda
itself and um I can go into more detail
and we'll do it setting . But it's just
a general question is Al Qaeda and ISIS
more free to roam now that we're out of
Afghanistan than there were before we
were left . IsIS K is as you know , is
of course an enemy of the Taliban . And
the issue , there is not the will of
the Taliban to take them on their
capacity . That's that is right . When
it comes to Al Qaeda and the the Arab
Al Qaeda core , there is , there are a
very , very small number of people and
how do we know based on the um again ,
without going into detail and in this
setting , this secretary , all due
respect is if you're a Shiite in
Afghanistan , it had been a good week
for you . There is no upside to the
Taliban in charge for a woman anywhere
in Afghanistan . And I think our
homeland is far more at risk now that
we have no presence on the ground , no
ability to detect what Al Qaeda and
ISIS K are up to . So to me
that's an easy question to ask . Uh
President biden said he had no regrets
about leaving Afghanistan . Do you have
any regrets ? Um , I don't senator in
the sense that this was America's
longest war now , That's fair enough .
Is the war over ? Uh have we ended the
war between us and radicalism Leaving
Afghanistan ? We went to Afghanistan as
as you know ? Well , for one reason ,
which is the deal with the folks who
attacked us on 9 11 , we decimated al
Qaeda and its ability to continue
attacks beyond Afghanistan . Osama bin
laden was brought to justice more than
a decade ago . It was time to end . Uh ,
have you heard the assessment by the
Secretary of Defense and others that
how long would it be before an attack
against America originating from
Afghanistan were mature and they said
two years , Is that a successful
withdrawal ? Ah , that's what they said .
I asked him and I don't wanna myself
put words in their mouths . But the
question anyway , I just think it's
potentially request is just ridiculous
to say that we're safer by letting the
Taliban take over Afghanistan and women
have any upside . Uh , let's go to the
Ukraine . Uh , are you pursuing Russia
being a state sponsor of terrorism ?
We're looking at that . Um , and the
question , what was hard about that ?
The question is this and this is
something that the lawyers are looking
at , there's no doubt in my mind
Senator that the Russians are
terrorizing the Ukrainian people . Well ,
what about Syria ? Uh , the question is
this and again , this is something that
the , uh , that lawyers are looking at
to make sure that we actually meet , uh ,
the statutory requirements of that
designation . And if you need to change
the law , so that Russia fits in ,
you'll have 100 votes . I don't know
what more you'd have to do as a country
to be a state sponsored terrorism .
They've decimated the Ukraine Ukraine
and they're all over Syria dropping
barrel bombs on people . So , you
mentioned that you're looking at it , I
would encourage you to look at it and
act upon it . Um , Putin vowed today in
the Duma , that he would stay
committed even though there have been
heavy losses to accomplishing the goal
of the invasion . What would you like
to say to him very
simply ? And this aggression and
it now , um , well , it seems not to be
working . What what are the
consequences to him if he keeps this up ?
I think we've already seen uh ,
devastating consequences for Russia .
And let me say this first , in terms of
his actual objectives , as stated in
his own words , he has already failed
because those objectives were to
eliminate Ukraine as an independent and
sovereign country to subsume it back in
some fashion into Russia . We know
already as a result of the
extraordinary courage of the Ukrainians ,
that that's not going to happen . And
as I've said , there is going to be an
independent and sovereign Ukraine
around a lot longer than Vladimir Putin .
So it's already a strategic from your
lips to God's ears . And I want to help
you where I can in that endeavor when
it comes to um Winning in Ukraine
described very briefly what winning
looks like for Ukraine and the United
States , Winning is going to be defined
by , by the Ukrainians and we will
support whatever they decide is in
their interest . Have they told you
what winning looks like right now for
them ? And I don't want to put words in
their mouths , but I think their focus
is of course on repelling the Russian
aggression and getting the Russians
said Senator Moran Moran , that our
goal was to get Russia out of Ukraine .
Is that our goal ? Uh that is that is
Ukraine's goal . And as a result that
that's our goal as well ? Okay , great .
Um , if Russia uses banned chemical
weapons in Ukraine , what will our
response be the president has been
clear that there would be severe
consequences for any use of a weapon of
mass destruction by Russia . We have
been working not only within our
government , but with the parameter
drone , what severe consequences would
look like . I'm not gonna telegraph in
in in public . What we can do , I can
tell you that a lot of work has gone
into planning against every possible
scenario and again in a , in a
different setting , I'm happy to get
well , we'll take that up if Russia
explodes a tactical nuclear device in
Ukraine . Would you consider that an
attack on NATO ? Um because the
radiation would go well beyond Ukraine ,
all of this , uh including the
potential use of a nuclear device , a
tactical nuclear device is part of the
planning we're doing . And again we can
get into that uh in more detail in just
a couple more minutes . Do you think
our policy regarding Russia and Ukraine
has been successful ? Ah to
date in my judgment , Yes , in the
sense that we said this senator before ,
when we saw the likelihood of a Russian
aggression many months ago . So you
think this is successful . I would say
two things first . When we saw this as
a as a possibility . We we did two
things and we did both of them at the
same time . We work to see if we could
head it off through diplomacy and that
didn't work and at the same that did
not work . But we also said at the same
time that we would make sure that we
and the Ukrainians and the world were
prepared if Russia went through with
this aggression . And we have been ,
Ukraine has done an extraordinary job
in pushing the Russians back from Kiev .
Um the world has come together to
support the Ukrainians uh as a result
of american leadership and american
engagement in the world has come
together to impose massive consequences
on Russia for its aggression again as a
result . So I think in terms of what we
set out to do uh so far this has been
successful , but It has to be sustained .
I just take issue with the fact that we
have been successful in Ukraine one .
They invaded and we told them not to .
They did , they're killing people right
and left and you know , we're slow
getting weapons in . I hope it turns
out well . But do you think our
withdrawal from Afghanistan affected
Putin's decision to invade it all ? I
do not . Um senator , I think he looks
at these things on their own terms .
Why did he pick when he went well ,
when he went into , when he went into
Georgia in 2008 , we had more than
150,000 troops between Afghanistan and
Iraq . That did not deter him . When he
went into Ukraine in 2014 , he hasn't
dismembered the state of Georgia . Is
that , you know , there's two provinces
there , but why did he choose to invade
Ukraine this year ? You believe ? Um I
think a number of factors came into
play . I think he saw Ukraine moving
inexorably to the west to europe
and he saw nothing that was going to
interrupt that process . It was
democratizing it was strengthening its
system and having a successful
democracy on Russia's borders . It was
bad for uh for Putin . And he had the
ambition that he said in his own words
last year ending its sovereignty and
independence . And this was he doesn't
recognize Ukraine as a separate nation .
That's correct , yeah . So it's not
really about them being democrats have
been moving toward democracy for a long
time . I think he invaded this year
because I thought he because he thinks
he can get away with it . Um So very
quickly , one minute here , China just
got back from the region . The people
in Taiwan are very concerned about what
happens in Ukraine . Do you agree that
the outcome in Ukraine can influence
what china does regarding Taiwan ? I do .
I think China is looking at this very
carefully and the fact that it is seen
as a result of our leadership , 40
countries and more come together in a
variety of ways to impose these massive
costs on Russia for its aggression .
That would have to factor into its
calculus about Taiwan going forward .
Are you as administration committed to
following Putin to the ends of the
earth in supporting war crimes
investigations and prosecution against
him individually . Do you believe that
we could ever forgive and forget when
it comes to Putin . Do you believe it's
the right policy for the international
community to pursue him as a war
criminal senator . We're committed to
doing everything we possibly can for as
long as it takes uh to ensure that
there's accountability for the crimes
that have been that includes Putin
himself . Whoever committed the crimes ,
whoever ordered the crime . Um
Thank you Mr Secretary , we both went
about 10 minutes . We will endeavor to
encourage others to stick to about
seven . But I appreciate your
forbearance . I'm gonna ask Senator
Durbin who's next . If he would both
question and then preside . If I have
to run to vote during the next few
minutes , you may uniquely among the
cabinet be familiar with exactly how
this all works . So thank you for your
forbearance . Senator Durbin . Thanks
Mr Chairman . I want to make a point of
being here today . Mr Secretary after I
witnessed on television last night the
exchange between you and the junior
senator from Kentucky . I hope that no
one left that hearing or believes today
that his questioning represents the
feeling of America . If Putin or the
Russians or anyone take comfort in his
questioning , they're making a mistake .
I think it should be clear and you try
to make it as clear as you could , that
we are not uh conceding any sphere of
influence to Vladimir Putin . We are
not conceding a an anxious
effort to understand what he's doing in
Ukraine . I understand what he's doing
in Ukraine . It's very clear what he's
doing . He has launched a vicious or
barrick genocidal attack on this
nation , unprovoked by them and
un un sustained by international law as
we know it . And I did not want any
friends and allies of the United States
to think that the junior senator from
Kentucky expresses our point of view .
I cannot imagine the reverberations of
that comment in the Baltics . For
example , the Baltics were part of the
soviet union because of the aggression
of Adolf Hitler and joseph Stalin . It
had nothing to do with the people of
those countries asking to be part of
any soviet union . And they survived to
this day as small , vibrant democracies
loyal to the United States because they
are part of NATO and they share our
values and we are not giving that up to
Vladimir Putin under any circumstances .
I hope what I've just said , you agree
with good , let me talk to you about a
sentiment that has been expressed by
senators Moran and also by Senator
Graham and I share . And the sentiment
is this the earliest analysis of what
would occur when the Russians invaded
Ukraine suggested , and this is before
the invasion , that Kiev would last a
matter of days , the bulk of the
country , a matter of weeks . But the
resistance that would be formed against
any Russian occupation could go on for
months or years uh and Putin would
have learned under those circumstances
that he had won a Pyrrhic victory if he
even wanted to call it , that the
reality of the situation is much
different . Kiev has not fallen . You
were able to visit that city with the
Secretary of Defense . The bulk of
Ukraine is at least stable though .
They're terrible ah examples of
fighting going on at this point . And
my concern is this We are trying to
scramble in the last 53 days . Is that
correct ? 54 days to readjust our
thinking about the future of Ukraine .
We underestimated the courage and
resiliency of the Ukrainian people ,
the determination they have shown to
defend their own country . We perhaps
overestimated the power of the Russian
military . Uh , and as a consequence ,
we have to readjust to the fact that
the Ukrainians have won some
significant victories . My concern is
expressed by my republican colleagues ,
is this Are we throwing a 10-foot rope
to someone drowning 20-foot offshore ?
Are we falling short of what they need
for something decisive to happen in our
interest and their interest ? Are we
doing enough from a diplomatic or
military viewpoint . From your point of
view , I would hate to be able to I'd
hate to see the situation where we're
saying how proud we are of NATO coming
together with all its strength and at
the end of the day , a devastated
Ukraine with refugees by the millions
and people in unmarked graves is what's
left behind by Putin . That's hardly a
NATO victory . Would you comment on
that ? Thank you , Senator .
What Russia has done and continues to
do to Ukraine every day . The
brutalization of the country and the
parts where Russia is um um is engaged
is a tragedy that in and of itself
can't be undone . People have , people
have died been killed in the most
awful ways that can't be undone .
People have been displaced from their
homes . Um five million refugees ,
seven million displaced persons inside
of Ukraine , including by most
estimates , three quarters of the
Children of the country have been
displaced at one point , some are
moving back . Um , and even if they
come when they come home , that's not
gonna fully erase the trauma that
they've been through . So there are
some of the , some of the damage that's
been done is quite literally
irreparable . Having said that , um , I
believe that we are the United
States , many other countries coming
together to make sure that to the best
of our ability , the Ukrainians have
what is necessary to push back this
Russian aggression . They've done that
successfully uh , in and around Kiev .
Um they are engaged now in a ferocious
fight in Southern and Eastern Ukraine .
And as I mentioned a few moments ago ,
um Secretary Austin was just in Germany
yesterday with 40 Ministers of Defense
to make sure that we're all coming
together to get the Ukrainians the kind
of weaponry that they need in a battle
that has changed in its in its nature
to continue to do what they need to do
to push back this Russian aggression ,
we are focused like a laser on that and
on making sure that they have what they
need , some of that is coming from the
United States , some of it is coming
from uh , many other countries that are
engaged and it's being done in an
organized and coordinated fashion and
it's being done in full consultation
with with the Ukrainians . But as I
said , we have to continue saying that
and follow through . Let me just cite
one quick example though of how this
has evolved . Um , it used to be that
when you have , the President made a a
drawdown order , uh , it might take
some weeks for between the time the
order was given and the time the
equipment in question got into the
hands Of those that was going to , this
is now happening in many cases in as
little as 72 hours from the time the
president did the draw down to the time
weapons are getting into the hands of
Ukrainians to use them against the
Russian , aggression . 72 hours . We
were just there , as you noted , um ,
and talked with all of the folks on the
ground who are helping to make sure and
coordinate , the the security
assistance is getting in to the
Ukrainians . It's a remarkable
operation and it's working in real time .
We have to keep that going and we have
to make sure that they are getting what
they need to deal with the actual
threats that they face . The President
has made it clear that a patch of
polish real estate is a trip wire . He
said that over and over again , I
assume there are other trip wires which
you may not want to be as explicit with
us in this committee setting in
describing . I hope that they will
include the consideration of the
genocide which is taking place there as
well . If there is a point beyond which
we cannot with a good moral conscience
justify or even look the other way or
wait for a day to resolve it on the
question of war criminals . I was
surprised to learn that current
american law does not give us any
criminal authority to prosecute those
who committed war crimes in other
countries . Nor does it give us any
civil anyone , any civil authority over
those same people . I have legislation
to change that . We should make it
clear to anyone that has been engaged
in Putin's strategy ? They will never
find a comfortable safe home in the
United States . And I hope that I can
bring that to your attention and your
people will take a look at look forward
to looking at that Senator . Thank you .
If I could mention two or three other
things , Senator Haggerty , I'll wrap
it up quickly because I know you
probably are waiting to vote as well .
Ah Afghanistan . Mark Frerichs . I
wanted to make a point of making a
record of our continuing concern about
this Illinois resident who is being
held captive in Afghanistan , are you
familiar with this situation more than
familiar with it ? It's something that
I've intensely focused on . Thank you .
We hope that we can bring him home the
chinese bullying of Lithuania over
their decision to recognize the
Taiwanese office . Are you aware of
this situation again ? More than aware
of it , extremely focused on it . We
jumped in very quickly when that
happened to make sure that we could um
bolster Lithuania including with uh
economic assistance , creating greater
opportunities for trade and investment .
Um we've also rallied countries and
partners in the european union to do
the same thing . Uh , the european
Union has stood up against this kind of
coercive action by by china , the
bullying that it's trying to use and
Lithuania has been extraordinary in its
resilience and fortitude against it .
But yes , very focused on that as well .
Is there a path forward in Haiti with
the situation that we currently face ?
What it's a it's a long path forward ?
Um there as you know very well from
the time you spend on this , there are
two things that they're going first .
We need to see the government ,
civil society , all actors come
together to get us to elections free
and fair elections that re establish a
fully legitimate Haitian government and
leadership and that work is in progress .
We're trying to facilitate that and
support that . But having said that
the problems are so deep rooted
and so challenging that um I think the
road is very long the criminality
violence , the lack of basic law and
order is a fundamental problem that
we're working to address , including by
supporting and strengthening the
Haitian national police and getting
other countries to do the same . That's
very much a work in progress , the
endemic poverty and lack of economic
opportunity . One of the challenges
senators that , you know , we've we and
other countries over many years have
devoted substantial resources to Haiti ,
but to date the honest truth is that it
has not made a sustainable difference .
We have to be . And we are looking at
how can we do this more effectively to
help Haiti um get to a place where it
is sustainable . And of course it has
been on the receiving end of one
horrific thing after another ,
including natural disasters that
continue to set back what progress is
made . So the short answer is this is a
long road we're looking at and focused
on trying to get the elections and and
and and having a government that can
fully represent the people we're trying
to work on on basic security by
bolstering the police and dealing with
the criminality the gangs which are
terrorizing parts of the country . But
then there is a much longer project uh ,
in helping Haiti to really stand on its
feet in a , in a self sustaining way .
Thank you . I'm gonna send you a
written question related to my efforts
to secure the release of Philippines .
Senator Leila de lima , one of the
critics of the regime . I'd like to
know your take on the current state of
affairs there . I'll save that because
I see Senator Haggerty waiting . I know
he asked to vote so senator , please
take it away . Thank you . Senator
Durbin and um secretary Blinken , it's
good to see you again . I appreciated
our inter interaction yesterday at the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee as
we talked about the importance of the
US Japan alliance , the quad , uh the
indo pacific . And I look forward to
continue working with you on those
issues . Um I'd like to turn my
discussion do today though . Something
else that's related to the region but
also it hits us right here at home and
that's um China's refusal to stop the
flow of fentaNYL and its precursors
into the Western hemisphere . Um I've
raised this issue with your assistant
secretaries , with your deputy
assistant secretaries , but I want to
raise it with you today because it's
that important . Um I feel like we need
decisive action . It's for the safety
of americans is for the safety of our
Children . Were both parents . I'm sure
you feel the same . Um Today in America ,
the number one cause of death for young
people between the age of 18 and 45 is
drug overdose . 100,000 lives were lost
last year to drug overdoses And most of
those drug overdoses we're fentaNYL
related and the DEA continues to assess
that sentinel coming from china into
Mexico is the major cause of this .
It's it's something that I talked about
with mexican officials last May when I
traveled to Mexico . They talked about
the fact that chinese entities are
sending technicians , they're sending
equipment and setting up production in
partnership with mexican cartels there .
And these cartels are multibillion
dollar industries that have basically
taken control of the northern border of
Mexico . I met with your counterpart
foreign minister abroad and asked him
what we could do to cooperate what we
could do to help . And he told me that
they would greatly appreciate help with
things in the nature of scanning
technologies . Anything that would help
them determine whether fentaNYL or its
precursors or the machinery to produce
it was coming into this country . Um I
appreciated his concern there and um I
think it's something that we ought to
to to continue to focus on . You know I
was on the phone with White House staff
during the buenos Aires G 20 when
President trump directly asked
President Xi to stop sending fentaNYL
to the United States . Um my sense is
that we need to really double down on
our pressure with china on this . If if
President Xi and the chinese Communist
Party can shut down a city the size of
shanghai , one of the three largest
cities in the world . I think they
could certainly shut down the flow of
fentaNYL . Its precursors into our
hemisphere . And I know you have many
difficult conversations with your
chinese counterparts . but I'd like to
hear your thoughts on what our strategy
might be and encourage you to take on
this difficult challenge to Senator .
Thank you for raising that . I very
much share your concern . I appreciate
your your focus on it and the the the
efforts we've been making uh and I
agree with you this is a problem that
needs intense focus and uh and
solutions . We've been working on this
in a number of ways . We've been ,
we've been working to add some of the
precursors to prohibited lists to make
clear that you can't get uh fentaNYL or
variants in through the back door by
using precursors that are , for one
reason or another , not on prohibited
lists . We've made some progress there .
We are working with the mexicans on
exactly this question . We've
reestablished the security dialogue
with them last year . And part of this
is looking at the of course the flow of
drugs of any kind into the country .
And what assistance do they need to
more effectively police it . I'm going
to follow up on the specific uh
suggestion that you referenced to make
sure that we are if we haven't already
done it actually looking at that and uh
doubling up back with them on what it
is they need to effectively police
fentaNYL . I can tell you this has come
up in engagements between President
biden and President Xi uh , so it's uh
it's been raised to that that level as
well . But I'd also welcome working
with you uh and your team on ways that
we can effectively address this problem .
I I appreciate that very much . And
again , in my conversations with
Foreign Minister Abba , that may have
predated what you've been talking about .
But he sincerely believed that there
were technology solutions that we could
help provide that would help them .
I've seen some of those technology
solutions deployed at our southern
border . I went to our southern border
earlier this month to see what's
happening there . It's a tragedy in in
terms of the flow of narcotics coming
across the border . But again , I saw
the technology that we're putting in
place now , the consents in a very
sophisticated manner . Uh the the the
the illegal substances that at least
where they may be hidden . So I
appreciate any efforts that you might
make to um to work on that . Um I also
wanted to take on for just a moment
longer . Um the topic of India and our
US India relations . Um the world's
oldest democracy , democracy , of
course , uh is the United States , but
India is the world's biggest democracy .
And I think they have , you know , I
think what what I see before us , It's
something I'm certain that is very
frustrating in the short term when we
have our differences and you deal with
that every day . But in the long term ,
um the strategic partnership that we
have with India , I think poses the
opportunity to do more good in the 21st
century and have more more consequence ,
more impact than anything that the CCP
could do uh coming from from their
perspective and I believe that there's
a great untapped potential there in
terms of developing that partnership
for the for the good of all . And I
would look forward to hearing your
views in terms of what concrete steps
the United States and India could take
together to deepen our strategic
alliance . Senator , I very much share
your perspective . I think this
partnership um has the potential
to be one of the most important and
foundational partnerships that we have
going forward over the next decades .
This has actually been I think a
success story over multiple
administrations going back to the end
of the Clinton administration through
the Bush administration , uh
particularly with the uh peaceful
nuclear cooperation agreement that by
the way , now President then Senator
biden helped shepherd through uh this
institution through the trump
administration as well . Uh and uh and
prior to that the Obama administration
and now through ours , President biden
has spent a lot of time directly
engaged with Prime Minister modi and
India's leadership of course , as you
know very well , we have energized the
the Quad that brings India together
with Australia and Japan and us . Uh
this has been a very important vehicle
for strengthening our collaboration
across a whole variety of fronts with
India . I've spent a lot of time with
my indian counterpart and very much
agree with you what's interesting and
we talked about this a little bit
yesterday , the Foreign Relations
Committee is this is a moment of I
think strategic Inflection by which , I
mean this is a number of countries are
now re looking at some of their
relationships uh and some of their
interests , particularly when it comes
to their relationship with Russia . And
of course in the case of India there is
a relationship that goes back decades
and Russia for India was out of
necessity a partner of choice when we
were not in a position to be a partner .
Now we are and we are investing
in that effort . I think there is a
growing strategic convergence between
the United States in India and of
course china is a big , big part of
that , but I very much share your
perspective and this is a major area of
focus uh for the administration and for
me to make sure that we are doing
everything we can to strengthen and to
build on that partnership going forward .
I appreciate that very much mr
Secretary . And I would just add one
more point of encouragement in my
recent trip to Japan , I spoke with
Prime Minister Abe who developed a very
good relationship with Prime Minister
modi . Um and I know , you know , Prime
Minister Abe as well and I would
encourage you as you talk with your
Japanese counterparts to engage them
and um finding good ways to work
together with India because they seem
to be on the same track in the same
mindset as we are . Thank you very much
for your comments today , appreciate
your testimony . Senator Van Hollen ,
thank you mr Chairman . And let me
start by congratulating you on assuming
the chairmanship of the subcommittee
first hearing and look forward to
working with you and the ranking member .
And I also want to commend the chairman
of the full committee , Senator Leahy
as others have done for his incredible
service . MR Secretary good to see you .
He had a chance to talk yesterday in
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee .
So I'm not going to re tread that
ground . But I do want to circle back
on the sanctions issue because I think
you and the president , the Secretary
of Defense , the whole team have done a
really good job in accelerating now the
deployment of weapons um and
also isolating Russia to the extent we
can at the U . N . And other places and
moving forward on sanctions . But as
the sanctions go on sustaining them is
going to be key and expanding them is
going to be key . And leakage in the
sanctions only helps Putin . And there
are countries that right now and other
entities that are violating the
sanctions , as you indicated yesterday
when I asked , we have not applied any
secondary sanctions so far . Um I think
we've got to use the secondary
sanctions authority . The
administration has um including against
countries and entities in countries
that are not simply maintaining their
current or prewar imports of Russian
oil and gas and other commodities but
have increased it . Um And I would just
urge you to do it because I think
you're gonna see growing movement for
mandatory sanctions in the Senate and
the House if you don't use the existing
authorities that you've got within the
administration , I just want to make
that really clear . Uh let me say
something about the Czech Republic and
you and I and others just came from a
beautiful memorial service to Secretary
Albright , of course , she and her
family came to the United States from
Then Czechoslovakia and I think she was
about 11 years old . Um I had a meeting
with the Czech foreign minister
yesterday , uh and uh you know , he
indicated that they were willing and
wanting to provide some of their Soviet
era helicopters in my 20 for uh to
Ukraine , but wanted sort of a swift
agreement for us to replace uh those
with vipers and if not new vipers with
some of the vipers out of our inventory
now . So I just want to encourage you
to move forward on that as fast as
possible . And Senator , just on that ,
the Defense Department looking at at
that right now . Yeah , this is um
something that I think is very
important across the board , which is a
number of allies and partners have
provided weapons from their stocks um
to the Ukrainians in some cases that
leaves a void that understandably they
want to fill one of the things that
will be coming forward with in the
supplemental our our funds to help
provide additional foreign military
financing . Uh 22 partners and allies
that is one vehicle by which they can
make up any of the systems that they've
shared with the Ukrainians that leave a
void with them . At the same time . Of
course , we're looking at at what we
have on hand . The pentagon is focused
on this particular case as well as a
number of others . Great , no , I
appreciate that . No , I know you're
trying to overturn every stone , but
anything we can do to accelerate that
effort . Um of course , something else .
Secretary Albright was very involved in
was trying to stop the bloodshed and
atrocities in the Balkans um at the
time . Um and I also had a chance to
meet with the Foreign Minister of
Bosnia Herzegovina , Herzogovina
yesterday and I think Senator Shaheen
raised this issue and I just want to
underscore it . I think we're worried
about what will happen in november . Um
when as I understand the process . Uh
the U . N . Security Council has to
continue to authorize the presence of
international forces and if Putin
exercises that sanctions that that vito
it's a real problem . I know it's on
your radar screen . Um I think I'm
pleased to see the actions the United
States has taken with respect to Dodi's
adobe in the I . R . S . I hope will
encourage our european allies to to
work in that direction , as you said
yesterday , to try to accelerate the
integration of Bosnia Herzogovina into
the into the european family . Um a
couple other issues Senator Menendez
raised yesterday . The fact that Turkey
had now essentially convicted Osman
Kavala to a life sentence . You know ,
clearly a political prosecution , no
legitimate basis for it . The
administration did make up sort of ,
you know , a tepid statement , uh you
know , showing unhappiness , but this
combined with the fact that Turkey is
continuing to move forward um in in
their effort to ban um the
main kurdish party uh in Turkey from
participating in the elections . Um it
seems to me something that the
administration really needs to press
hard on in the case of the HDP ,
You've got just last Tuesday April
19th . Um you know , they were
challenging it in the court . This
effort to ban them , but Turkey's top
court accepted an indictment filed by
the prosecutor seeking closure of the
HDP . I mean , this is just a blatant
blatant disregard for any standards of
of of democracy . And so I just hope
will be very strong on it . And
obviously we have a complicated
relationship with Turkey . There are
lots of pieces . But this is something
you've been involved in for years
trying to support our allies , the
Syrian kurds . You know , Turkey
continues to try to take them out
whenever they can . Uh So I think we
have a lot of work to do on that that
front . Um let me just close by asking
you about uh you know , the President's
pledge during the campaign and I think
you you you really emphasized again
when you were asked last october about
the Consulate in Jerusalem to
um establish , you know , greater
reestablish that that consulate for our
relations with the Palestinians , can
you give us an update on where that
stands ? Um We are committed to
reopening the consulate in Jerusalem
for for the Palestinians . Um it's
something that we're working on with
the Israeli government . Um
I was in uh Ramallah Gist a few weeks
ago uh and saw President Abbas , we
talked about that , among other things ,
you know , we re established support
for the Palestinians a year ago ,
january uh including significant
humanitarian and economic assistance
that had been previously held back . We
have reengaged them across the board
and the consulate is a piece of a piece
of that . It does of course require
coordination with and support from
Israel , including for example ,
providing privileges and immunities for
the staff of the counselor to be . So
it's a work in progress , but it's
something that we continue to work on .
Thank you , I appreciate efforts and
thank you for going through a whole lot
of issues very quickly . All right .
Thank you . Mr Chairman . I gotta go
vote I think and thank you and mr
Secretary . It's my understanding we
have no other members seeking
recognition . If I might . I just had
two or three quick questions on some
very specific programs that Senator
Graham and I have worked together on
over a number of years , both to get
them authorized in law and then to fund
them . Um I have a lot of other
questions I'd be happy to ask , but we
both have other things we need to get
to . Um the Global fragility Act . As
you know , one of the things that
Secretary Albright contributed to was
the development of plan Colombia and
the whole concept of a coordinated plan
between um diplomacy , development and
security came out of playing Columbia ,
Senator Graham and I worked over
several Congresses to ultimately get
the global fragility act signed into
law . Um and I'd welcome a chance to
talk in more detail about the selection
process . The path forward , the
strategy to prevent conflict and
promote stability . Um I'd be
interested just in hearing briefly now
from you , a timeline for the
development of implementation plans .
Um and and the the requests for funding
were very modest relative to the scale
of the problems we have many other
areas where we have requests that
outstrip the budget of this committee .
Um I'd just be interested in your view
on the timeline for implementing these
strategies and what we might be able to
do together to improve the focus and
investment in this area . Um Mr
Chairman , The timeline for
implementation is now because just
a few weeks ago the president signed
off on our proposed focus , including
the country's uh in question that we
would focus on and so this is something
we're moving out on uh and very much
welcome working with you on as we move
forward and actually implementing it ,
but it's right on the right on the
front burner . Thank you . Um The
Development Finance Corporation , I'm
planning to have a hearing with scott
Nathan , the Ceo to discuss their
fiscal requests , but I just wanted
your view of their performance to date
and their role in supporting the
administration's priorities . Senator
Graham asked about china , there's a
number of other members that see it's
it's significant potential , whether
it's in climate resiliency , in
combating climate change , whether it's
in the West Bank or in developing um
better opportunities for economic
development that might promote
stability in other areas . What's your
view of how they've performed ? Uh And
I'm sorry , could you just repeat the
last the last part of that ? Well , the
Development Finance Corporation has a
potentially very broad range of areas
of activity . Each senator has their
own view as to whether it should be
principally countering china or dealing
with climate or working in the Middle
East in the Israeli Palestinian
conflict or elsewhere . I'd just be
interested in your overall view as to
whether they have achieved the
potential um that the act that
created the Development Finance
Corporation imagined for . Thank you .
Uh First I'm a very strong supporter of
the DFc , I think it's um very
important and powerful tool , one that
that I appreciate and it gives us the
ability to do a number of things . One
of the things that gives us the ability
to do is to more effectively offer a
an affirmative positive alternative to
china's development programs ,
including Belton Road . Uh We can make
this a race to the top , not a race to
the bottom , uh including by using the
FC not only of course with its own
resources , but the fact that it has
the ability to leverage significant
private sector resources . Uh and so
that's one area of focus for me , is
making sure that uh we use this
effectively as a way of actually
advancing concrete projects that are
again attractive and affirmative and
don't bring with them , for example ,
many of the burdens that we see uh
countries take on when they are , for
example , working with china that
workers brought into from china to
actually build the projects instead of
using local workers , no respect for
the environment , for worker rights ,
corruption , etcetera , but we needed
the tools to do that . The DFc is one
of them . Um We also have to make sure
and this is an area of a real focus
that we have and the DFc can be engaged
in viable uh projects . So the money
maybe there , we've got to make sure
that the projects are there . And in a
way that really brings the private
sector in , so we're very focused on
that . It also joins up with um with a
couple of things it joins up with build
back Better World , which I think is a
very important initiative that the
President's undertaken again to make
sure that in critical areas including
energy and climate , health and uh
and technology , we are investing in ,
engaged in uh projects that will be
erased to the top for the countries
that are that we're doing them with .
And DFC is one of the tools that we can
bring to bear on making build back
better World effective . We've been
identifying projects in different parts
of the world , That makes sense . I
think we'll be moving out on , on a
number of them shortly now . Having
said that , um I think we need to look
at ways to maximize the potential of
DFC . DFc . I'm not convinced that
we've gotten to that point yet . So ,
um we have a lot of focus on it . I
actually , by statute share of the
board , the Deputy Secretary of State
for Management and Resources , brian
McKeon is intimately involved with DFc
uh and working on that on a , on a
regular basis , I'd welcome actually
sharing ideas with you about how we can
use it even more effectively going
forward . Thank you . Um , it as of
right now , the way that the equity
provisions of it are scored is uh ,
causing me some agenda . I respect and
understand the concerns of long
longstanding staff on the
appropriations committee about the
secondary of follow on consequences .
It might have if we were to change the
treatment of the DFC equity authority .
But I think we are under utilizing a
very powerful tool . Um , and I would
welcome interacting with you and with
my other colleagues on this committee
and the administration on how we can
make sure that the DFC and build back
better World Fund together or allowing
us to really combat china's pernicious
influence . In my first six years here
as chair of the Africa subcommittee , I
saw it in country after country all
over the continent . I was with former
President Sirleaf of Liberia last night
and was reminded of my very first
conversation with her a dozen years ago
now where she was asking for us help
rebuilding the Mount Coffee . Um , that
had been destroyed in their civil war .
And after several meetings , she
basically said , well , I guess the
United States doesn't do this anymore .
Will have to take chinese funding .
Ultimately , our partners in europe
were able to provide funding for the
restoration of that critical source of
clean energy and and stability for
Liberia . But there are dozens of
countries around the world that would
rather work with the United States than
work with china if we can just provide
them with the source of funding . And I
think DFC could be a critical part of
the answer to that . I couldn't agree
with you more . And I think one of the
things that we really have to work on
with DFC and other vehicles is
the speed with which we're able to
engage on things . Because what exactly
what you described I've heard again and
again that the process
across different agencies , not I'm
not just talking about DFC um is uh is
slow , laborious now we have to do the
right due diligence . That's that's
vital . But I think there are ways to
make what we do more more efficient ,
quicker , more responsive to needs .
And um I agree with you that DFC is a
major , can be a major part of that .
So we should work on making it work
even more effectively . Thank you Mr
Secretary , thank you for your
testimony before the subcommittee today .
I think the conflict in Ukraine
Russia's completely unjustified and
unacceptable brutality against the
civilians of Ukraine . Its attempt to
rebuild the Russian empire uh and the
ways in which it is um shaking the very
foundations of peace in europe . The
rules based international order is the
most pressing issue of the day . I'm
grateful that you and Secretary Austin
have taken the initiative to engage
with our allies to deploy resources um
to travel to keith personally and to
testify before this committee today ,
when you've just returned at a moment
when it is so critical that we continue
to work in close partnership um to show
the impact of american diplomacy and to
show the impact of the resources that
we can and should provide to support
our critical NATO allies , to support
the Ukrainian people and their
resistance and to meet the pressing
humanitarian needs of all impacted by
this conflict . Questions for the
record will remain open . They need to
be submitted excuse me um by five p.m.
Tuesday may 3rd . Um so the hearing
record will remain open until that
point and again . Mr Secretary , thank
you for your testimony . Thank you .