Chris Van Hollen

I just think we have got to step that up in a big way, especially given the new commitments that need to be met with the legislation that has been passed.

Just another question, Assistant Secretary Phee. With respect to the opposition, we have a very broad-based civilian opposition and many, of course, are still protesting in the streets. They have been subject to beatings and violence and…

What is happening now in Sudan is a military coup. Unequivocal.

Are we using our leadership there to make it clear that we will not support additional debt relief to Sudan until Sudan moves forward again toward democracy and meets those conditions?

I do think the United States has to say that out loud, too.

Clearly, he broke his word. More importantly, he broke his word to the people of Sudan.

I have really strong confidence that we are going to see that improve more slowly over coming quarters and years.

In fact, for low-income households the share of their budget on energy is three times higher than for higher-income households.

On top of that, we have the issue of people who are not looking for various reasons, and many of us are pushing very hard to pass legislation to dramatically lower the cost of childcare for those families.

As Chairman Powell acknowledge in his testimony before this Committee on Tuesday, because of the American Rescue Plan we have been able to lower unemployment in the country way ahead of projections.

Black American unemployment is at 7.1 percent, and while long-term unemployment has been cut in half over the past year we still have about two million Americans who are long-term unemployed.

Putin's brutal war against Ukraine has created price shocks around the world in energy and food.

I hope that the President will also pursue those principles vigorously on his upcoming trip.

If confirmed, I will work hard to ensure that the U.S.-Saudi partnership serves U.S. interests and reflects U.S. values.

The President made a decision early in the Administration to release the intelligence community assessment of responsibility for that and I have no reason to differ with that assessment.

I hope that is the case and look forward to working with you on that.

I do not want to swing back entirely in the other direction and see ISIS and other terrorist organizations use this opportunity while everybody is focused on other parts of the world to regain their strength.

I think and I--again, I defer to my Africa colleagues and I am looking forward to learning a little more about that region.

What in your view is the best way forward there in terms of both continuing to apply pressure but trying to reach the goal of a denuclearized peninsula?

I am particularly focused on the humanitarian assistance because I am the chair of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee.

PEPFAR has created a tremendous public health infrastructure that has been used effectively, thanks to your leadership.

It is good to see you are all going to countries that voted with the United States to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I hope we will move quickly to pass that supplemental request.

I just--obviously, we have got to make sure that we do what we can to support the efforts to form a government.

We really need to make sure that we bring people together quickly.