It is very important across these institutions, again, that we meet the commitments we make because if we don't, we will lose influence.

It makes no sense for us to put ourselves in that position.

Thirty years ago, President Reagan affirmed that international financial institutions, and I quote, 'have contributed enormously to the spread of hope of a better life throughout the world community.'

At the London Conference in 2010, the United States and the international community agreed to work to provide up to 50 percent of donor assistance directly through mechanisms of the government of Afghanistan.

For many years, I have championed family planning, which saves the lives of mothers and children by educating women on healthy pregnancies.

It is also vital that we continue to make investments in the fight against infectious diseases.

I want to focus on corruption. Because, during last year's hearing, we had a discussion regarding corruption and how it fundamentally undermines economic growth.

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

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

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.

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 cannot fathom why basic education is not one of the key development priorities in the budget.