It is unconscionable that we still have teachers forced to take money out of their own pockets to buy paper, pencil, even food for their students.

Now is the time to invest, reimagine, and rebuild the American economy by building the architecture for our Nation's future.

As we work together, I would ask to bring your attention to a national infrastructure development bank, a concept I have been advocating since 1994.

He said that he wants the workforce to reflect the diversity of our country, and we have a lot of work to do.

Infrastructure is the lifeblood of our economy. I strongly believe it must be a central component of a long-term national growth strategy that returns us to a country that builds, rather than one that just consumes.

We cannot simply return to normal. Now is the time to make desperately needed investments to rebuild our Nation and create millions of good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced.

We will because this is such an important moment for this subcommittee to do the work of the last 30 years, to unravel and dismantle those structures that have been in place and have been exclusionary and discriminatory.

I have a bill that has been referred to this committee which would rename the Hoover building (H.R. 1290), and I hope the Committee would act on this proposal to ensure Mr. Hoover, who was a bigot and malign character in American history…

Under President Biden, we have an opportunity to make transformative investments in our nation's roads, bridges, electric grid, transit systems, research and development, drinking water, schools and childcare, housing, broadband networks…

This is a shame and disgrace, and we have to be the example in the world as it relates to not only what democracy means, but also what diversity, inclusion, and equity mean.

It seems this administration has chosen to use the unique authorities provided to you by Congress prominently in their climate agenda.

I think we are--we and China are taking different approaches.

If there is something that we have learned from the pandemic, it is that when one of us suffers, all of us suffer.

I am very, very excited about today's testimony.

Ambassador Thomas, your earlier statement about the Black recruits going predominantly to the Africa Affairs Bureau is very concerning, because it seems like there is a two-tiered system for how people get assigned, which is, obviously…

I am fully committed to partnering with the Biden-Harris administration on meeting our annual assessed payments, paying down our United Nations' arrears.

I am also very concerned about what I view--and I will be clear about this--as exploitation of intellectual property.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored just how imperative it is to care for our neighbors abroad.

USAID needs more resources to advocate for human rights and democratic values to combat corruption and democratic backsliding.

We can't wait that long to have a State Department that reflects the country.

I want to thank you, Ambassador, and President Biden, for helping to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to at-risk populations around the world.

I am specifically interested in how we ensure women and youth are part of our climate efforts.

Our greatest strength as a country is in our diversity.

I am really, really pleased about Secretary Blinken's first move was to appoint a diversity and inclusion officer who will report directly to him.

The world needs strong American leadership, especially through development and humanitarian assistance.