Eliot Engel

I want to emphasize that Ukraine's future is for Ukrainians alone to decide.

Ukrainians need to work together to build a tolerant, pluralistic society.

We need to help ensure that the May 25th elections in Ukraine are safe, free and fair.

NATO needs to ramp up cooperative activities in Central Europe.

It is clear that President Putin is responsible for this crisis. He has trampled on Ukraine's sovereignty.

I have been long in favor of closing it because of a number of difficulties that we have had with it.

House Concurrent Resolution 51 calls for the creation of an international tribunal to hold accountable those responsible for these heinous crimes.

It also urges the administration to formally withdraw its official diplomatic recognition of the Assad regime.

This resolution demands that all parties to the conflict in Syria immediately cease attacks on civilians and provide aid workers with access throughout the country.

This crisis is a humanitarian nightmare. Backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, Assad continues to commit mass atrocities.

This legislation is so important and should be passed with no dissension because I think this is the type of legislation that this committee can be proud of, again, on a bipartisan basis.

Thank you for holding this important markup and really for your leadership over the course of many years on international broadcasting issues.

It is absolutely critical that the news be accurate and seen as credible by the foreign audiences we are trying to reach.

Only by working closely together will these broadcasters be effective in providing comprehensive news and information to those who need it most.

The bill that Chairman Royce and I introduced with support from many of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will help fix this structure

In North Korea, the regime locks radios on certain frequencies to prevent people from listening to the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.

In Iran, the regime closely controls the free flow of information and has actively jammed U.S. satellite transmissions.

Moscow has used its state-controlled media to broadcast totally baseless propaganda that has been used as a pretext for Russia's invasion of Crimea and its destabilizing activities in eastern Ukraine.

We saw firsthand that the competition of ideas and the battle for hearts and minds are alive and well.

Mr. Engel. Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this markup of bipartisan legislation, as you mentioned, that will enhance the ability of the United States to facilitate the free flow of information and share our values with people around…

I believe we should do more to help bring this conflict to an end and relieve the immense suffering of the Syrian people.

I am disappointed by the proposed cuts to the bilateral tuberculosis program and to the humanitarian accounts.

Through all of these activities we make a critical investment in our own security.

Let's not fool ourselves into believing that we can solve our larger budget issues by slashing foreign aid.

I have constantly been saying that we should have more money in the budget for foreign aid.