Strategic development assistance is not charity; it is an essential, modern tool of U.S. national security.

A draconian and disproportionate cut of this magnitude would take funding levels for development and diplomacy programs back to levels not seen since 9/11.

Now is not the time to retreat.

It's unacceptable for me.

If you are a national security component of our overall defense strategy, why we would cut you now given the threats we face?

The administration's proposal to slash approximately 30 percent from the State Department and foreign assistance budget signals an American retreat, leaving a vacuum and making us far less safe.

What we're saying when we talk about making America great, we're stepping aside, we're letting other countries fill the vacuum, and making the United States less great.

They're fighting and dying with you in Afghanistan without caveats.

We can't be Fortress America.

This is what we can do without. This is what we need more of.

I would say that increasing military defense spending by 10 percent is absolutely long overdue.

I don't understand reducing soft power by 29 percent, but we'll work through this, Mr. Secretary.

I just don't see how, given the displacement of this many people and no end in sight, that 77 percent reduction in disaster assistance is consistent with the threats we face from the disasters that are going on all over the world.

It's the worst signal to send to a good ally, the worst signal to send to the Russians.

we feel has to be respected because that law was intended to put pressure on the regime to address these oppressive issues

It just doesn't work for us to walk away from our global responsibility and then to hurt those who are accepting much more than others.

I am embarrassed at the policy of this country now when it comes to accepting refugees in the world.

This budget cuts by 18 percent migration and refugee assistance to countries like Jordan.