Ed Royce: “I do think Mr. Eliot Engel of New York should feel proud about this bill. He is the original author of the House- passed…”

“I do think Mr. Eliot Engel of New York should feel proud about this bill. He is the original author of the House- passed version. I would say that, in the interest of expediting this measure, we on the Foreign Affairs Committee worked, frankly, not only across party lines but across Chambers in order to draft legislation that preserves congressional prerogatives, that advances U.S. interests, and, as Eliot Engel said so succinctly, that saves lives. This bill does that. It achieves these objectives. We worked in tandem with the Senate on Mr. Engel's original draft to get this done. This bill does not affect direct spending. It doesn't affect revenues. It does not create new programs or include major new policy provisions. I want the Members to understand that. It is a streamlined, bipartisan measure that does extend critical PEPFAR authorities that expired, and it maintains the gains achieved through the 2008 reauthorization process. Besides the leadership of Mr. Engel on this bill, I would like to recognize the work of Representatives Ros-Lehtinen and Lee to shape this measure, as well as efforts by our leadership to ensure that we do not miss this narrow window of opportunity to send this bill to the President's desk without further delay. I would also share with our Members that it helps get us on a path towards graduating countries from assistance. It conditions and limits assistance to the Global Fund.…”