the GEF takes on environmental challenges that are increasingly caused by activities outside the United States, but which negatively impact our environment and our economy.

I have been very concerned not just with the banks, but in all of our foreign aid programs--and domestic programs, too on the whole issue of fraud, corruption, transparency.

Last September, the administration issued the first Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, and the President made absolutely clear that the mission of the U.S. global development policy is to promote broad-based economic growth, democratic governance, support developing countries, et cetera.

In the 21st century, the idea that the United States can or should isolate itself from the international community is both unrealistic and shortsighted.

So it seems to me that we should be helping countries use their own economic growth to address their problems rather than taxing that growth and then replacing it with a far smaller amount in aid.

It has often been said that if the United Nations did not already exist, we would have to create it.

I am very concerned that in the General Assembly, we don't have a veto.

I have been committed and I think all of us around this table are committed to enforcing tough sanctions, both bilateral and multilateral, to stop Iran in its tracks.

Yet to achieve a more efficient, performance-oriented, and innovative U.N., the U.S. should continue to push for reform from within not by holding the institution hostage by cutting funds.

I do think it is an improvement, and I am hopeful about the potential for U.N. Women.

As we know, the Iranian leadership is dominated by hardliners whose pursuit of nuclear weapons, support of terrorism through their Hamas and Hezbollah proxies, and assistance to armed groups in Iraq, Afghanistan continue to make Iran a threat to the United States and the world.