Gregory Meeks

Republican budget cuts will only tie our hands, undermine our ability to compete with China.

The world must view the United States as a credible partner of choice.

That's not leading. That's not competing.

We do have one party that campaigns on a smaller government. We are not doing so well.

I think it is great that we are having this hearing, and it is important that we address just the growth of government.

A 20-year war deserved comprehensive and bipartisan oversight.

The American people have funded our bipartisan oversight work and we owe them full transparency, not just misleading, cherry-picked snippets.

It was not Joe Biden who crafted the February 2020 deal. It was, in fact, his Republican predecessor that made the agreement with the Taliban.

There are a lot of folks who feel that America, in a way, is becoming a police state.

The Biden Administration's approach to sanctions on Russia, I believe has been unprecedented, has been impactful, and has meaningfully limited Russia's ability to conduct its illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine.

I want to ask unanimous consent that Rep. Courtney who worked very hard on the AUKUS agreement participate at today's hearing.

It's good to be home, and I want to thank you, Mr.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment in the nature of a substitute at the desk.

I support this legislation, and I want to especially thank Representative Wexton, the author, for her work in reconnecting Korean families.

It is time for the U.S. Government to actively work to help Korean Americans reach and reunite with their relatives.

An immediate collapse of UNRWA, which this underlying bill is attempting to achieve, would have a devastating impact on the people of Gaza and the State of Israel.

If UNRWA ceases operating on the ground, this could cause a humanitarian catastrophe that would force Israel to halt its fighting against Hamas. This would not be in Israel's interest.

This legislative effort is irresponsible. Despite major flaws calling for its immediately elimination in attempting to jettison UNRWA's funding with no realistic plan to replace it would have dire consequences for the Palestinian people…

I strongly oppose this measure. UNRWA is flawed. But prohibiting U.S. funding of UNRWA while the people of Gaza are suffering an acute humanitarian disaster undermines the United States and Israel's interests.

If UNRWA collapses, 266,000 West Bank Palestinians lose access to primary health care, 100,000 lose emergency food and cash assistance.

I am so glad we are addressing it legislatively here today.

This potential chaos in Jordan does not help Israel or the United States.

Let me be clear. I am concerned about the disturbing allegations against the 12 UNRWA employees and I welcome Secretary Blinken's decision to temporarily pause UNRWA's funding while the United States investigates.

I agree with my colleague, Representative Manning, that no U.S. funding should support any entity that supports terrorism or employs individuals who support terrorist organizations, including in UNRWA.

I thank them for their focus on bringing American citizens wrongfully detained abroad home and pledge to continue to work with them, to work with also Representative Tenney and any others to bring Ryan home also.