Bill Keating

It is important to note, however, that these burdens taken up by this narrow assortment of Americans did not end when the final C-17 lifted off of Hamid Karzai International Airport.

I just want to thank these, our fellow Americans, who really stepped up and helped save lives there in Afghanistan.

Thank you, Secretary Kerry, for being here.

So the outcome of the war in Ukraine is extremely important to show that countries who engage in aggression, who violate the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and use force to try to redraw borders, will not succeed.

In response to Vladimir Putin's criminal war and illegal occupation of Ukraine, the Biden Administration has coordinated more than 50-country response with transatlantic alliances as well, and our own global partners, to this effort.

Together, along with our colleagues across the U.S. Government, you work to provide Ukraine with the military, economic, and humanitarian support they need to win the war and to secure their future.

As has been proven by the bipartisan interest in this hearing, congressional support for NATO and Ukraine remains steadfast.

I hope will see the floor soon.

Earlier this week I introduced a resolution supporting the AU's bid to join the G-20.

I particularly want to commend President Biden's announcement of U.S. support for the African Union's bid to join the G-20.

It's long overdue for the United States to truly prioritize Africa in its broader foreign policy.

What is actually happening, and I appreciate the chairman for recognizing, by giving them a few resources and an open checkbook, we are not defining what it takes to win.

We have to recognize that would include occupying part of Russia, toppling their government, and replacing them with a different government.

That takes different resources.

We could say that we support a mission that this war doesn't spread to NATO.

The problem is we haven't committed to a mission. I have asked Secretary Blinken to define what he thinks the mission is.

Where were those concerns--I didn't hear them voiced through any amendment in the process of a 2017 tax modification.

I hope this amendment is defeated, and I hope we go on and work as we have.

Do not sit here publicly--I do not think it's productive to the overall effort.

I do not understand why this would deviate from that.

I oppose this amendment. I'm curious why it would even be offered.

For the first 15 months, Ukraine has fought valiantly and courageously in defense of their freedom against illegal Russian aggression.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank you and the ranking member for holding this important markup today.

If we're going to be competitive we have to fund the team on the ground.

There are Republican proposals that went through that would have had the effect of 22 percent budget cut on USAID, Commerce, State Department.