The functions of both the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) and the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) are vital to the Department's mission to secure our borders and protect the American people.

Tonight, there was a press report that the Secretary of State is considering the elimination of the special coordinator for Global Criminal Justice issues, which basically deal with atrocities and war crimes.

We are a coequal branch of government. We expect the State Department to implement what Congress has done.

If we are going to try to work together on this... there are areas that I want to have special attention where I do not think you get it unless there is a point person within the State Department to deal with it.

I want to talk about an area that has gotten a lot of attention in this committee, and that is special envoys.

On the other hand, I would like to know what your priorities are.

Again, Secretary Sullivan, thank you so much for your willingness to take on these responsibilities.

I want to give the administration maximum flexibility, but where Congress has said that this area... it seems to me that we are the policy arm.

These are not confirmed positions, and, therefore, they gain a lot of power at times, where a confirmed person should have personal responsibility.

This is an extremely important hearing, the review of the State Department reauthorization bill for fiscal year 2018, as well as the State Department's reorganization plans.

I am pleased that Secretary Tillerson opposes this shift and believes this work is essential to the Department's mission.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I share that view that we want to get this done as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________

Mr. Speaker, I thank the majority leader. Mr. Speaker, in addition, one of the things, obviously, that I think both sides are concerned about, and Secretary Mnuchin has urged, and others have urged us to deal with, is the debt limit. We…

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. Members ought to plan accordingly. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, the Appropriations Committee is marking up its bills, but we have not yet adopted a budget and, therefore, have no…

Mr. Speaker, I thank the majority leader for that information. Mr. Speaker, I might say that that may be the most expensive birthday present anybody ever has gotten, when you mentioned Mr. Thornberry. The chairman has done very well, and I…

Mr. Speaker, I rise to inquire of the majority leader the schedule for the week to come, and I yield to my friend, Majority Leader McCarthy from California. (Mr. McCARTHY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)…

Mr. Speaker, I thank the majority leader for his observation. I might say, if I can, the first year I was majority leader, which was in 2007, we passed all appropriations bills before the August break to the Senate, but I am pleased that…

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, lastly, I would say that obviously I know the gentleman and I, and I think the overwhelming majority of Members of the House on both sides of the aisle, are very concerned that we ensure…