It'd be one thing if we're having a conversation about fiscal discipline or whatever it is, but the way to exert fiscal discipline is to have a program, have accountability not just to spend the money after a bunch of suffering.

Every member on this committee knows the importance of stable bridges, efficient airports, and safe cars.

I think you have the wisdom of having come from the Legislative Branch and also just understanding that whatever thicket of processes and procedures and rules and laws that you inherited is not your fault and so you might as well be the…

Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. Thank you for your testimony today. Thank you for your partnership with this committee.

The question is whether or not we have a permanent authorization to do it in an intelligent, predictable, responsive, accountable way.

Buy American has been the law of the land since 1933, but for far too long, past Administrations have found a way to get around it. Not anymore.

The model here is the DOD, right. The DOD doesn't get to have an opinion necessarily about climate action.

I welcome the budget's focus on democracy and human rights, and particularly robust funding for promoting press freedom.

On a bipartisan basis, we made the right decision to fix our aging infrastructure and begin taking steps to adapt to climate change.

I think on climate we have an absolute responsibility, and we are acting on it, to try to provide the technical assistance, the technology and, yes, the resources to deal with this, particularly for countries that, literally, risk not…

But the truth is, some of these people need immediate assistance because they can't drink the salt water, and their runways are flooding.

they don't actually have to invent or curate something brand new now, telehealth is all across the country, all across the planet.

I would like to be reassured that we are moving forward.

I welcome the budget's focus on democracy and human rights, and particularly robust funding for promoting press freedom.

I would like to be reassured that we are moving forward.

I think on climate we have an absolute responsibility, and we are acting on it, to try to provide the technical assistance, the technology and, yes, the resources to deal with this, particularly for countries that, literally, risk not…

I guess the question I have is: Is this just a question of finite resources available for a very challenging program, or are there problems with the ability of our Pacific Island friends and neighbors to expend the money responsibly; is…

But the truth is, some of these people need immediate assistance because they can't drink the salt water, and their runways are flooding.

the one thing I would add for your--or the people who run these various programs is, they don't actually have to invent or curate something brand new now, telehealth is all across the country, all across the planet.

I would like you to talk through how, attitudinally, we are shifting, and not just throwing another, say, $80 million at the problem.

the less precipitous, but just as bad scenario, is saltwater inundation of the freshwater systems.

I think we do need to come up with an economic model.

What we have to offer are, as you say, values, right, and relationships.

I think there are some cases, Kiribati is a good example where they really might vanish.

I am concerned we are facing a telehealth cliff in 2024.