April 9, 2019
Capitol Hill
Washington, DC

ADMINISTRATOR GREEN: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member McCaul, members of the committee. I appreciate this opportunity to summarize my written testimony.

In total, the Fiscal Year 2020 request for USAID, fully and partially-managed accounts, is approximately $19.2 billion. It represents 2.4 billion, or 14 percent, more than requested last year. I think the message of this request is straightforward, as has been alluded to. We attempt to balance fiscal responsibility here at home with our leadership role and national security imperatives on the world stage.

In order to capture some of the important work we're doing, I'd like to begin by touching upon my most recent travels. I've just returned from Egypt, Jordan, and Senegal. In Egypt, I had the chance to meet with young entrepreneurs taking part in a USAID-supported Agricultural Strengthening Program. We discussed ways to improve emerging technologies that will strengthen yields and improve export opportunities.

I met with civil society leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities that NGOs face in Egypt and efforts to revise its counterproductive NGO law. In Jordan, I reviewed initiatives we've supported to both strengthen public-private partnerships and expand access to quality education. I met with Queen Rania and others to explore new ideas in this area. I met with faith-based leaders, who are trying to provide humanitarian support to families displaced by regional conflicts, like the crisis in Syria.

I then travelled to Senegal, to lead the U.S. delegation to the inauguration ceremonies for President Macky Sall. Senegal stands as a beacon of hope in the region, an example of what is possible through a commitment to democracy, inclusive growth, and policy reform. Unfortunately, as you all know, there are many countries that are not moving in that same direction. Democratic backsliding is a significant challenge that we're hard at work trying to address.

In modern times, authoritarian leaders rarely oppose elections outright. Instead, as we've seen in capitals from Caracas to Phnom Penh, they use sophisticated tools and methods, often with outside help, to bend elections long before the votes are ever cast. Subverting civil society and independent media, marginalizing opposition voices, and other steps undermine any real hope that citizens might have that they can shape their future through the ballot box.

Venezuela, of course -- Mr. Chairman, as you alluded to -- is a prime example. Nicholas Maduro's ruthless policies and actions have destroyed Venezuela's economic and political institutions. At Interim President Guaidó's request, we have prepositioned humanitarian supplies in the region for eventual delivery into Venezuela. In fact, since February 4, the U.S. government has prepositioned nearly 546 metric tons of assistance. We've also provided more than $195 million in humanitarian and development assistance throughout the region, for Venezuelans, and to help host communities.

Around the world, the U.S. will continue its role as the leader in humanitarian assistance. While most of such assistance currently goes to places suffering from man-made, regime-driven crises, like Venezuela, we're also responding to terrible natural disasters, like Cyclone Idai. Torrential rains there have put nearly 900 square miles of land underwater; 500 people have lost their lives; and 2 million are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

Across the U.S. government, we've answered the call, mobilizing approximately $43 million in supplies and assistance. To prevent the further spread of cholera, we're delivering essential relief supplies, like water treatment units, water storage containers, and latrines. Then, there's Ebola outbreak in the DRC, where health officials have recorded at least 1,146 confirmed and probable cases and 721 related deaths. The experts of our DART, Disaster Assistance Response Team, are working tirelessly to break the chain of transmission and, ultimately, end the outbreak.

And, then, there's the crisis in Burma and Bangladesh. Bangladesh now hosts 1 million Rohingya refugees; 730,000 of them were driven there by the ethnic cleansing campaign conducted by Burmese security forces. Last May, I visited Cox's Bazaar, myself. I met with government representatives, and I conveyed America's gratitude to Bangladesh for hosting the refugees. But, I also encouraged them to allow humanitarian organizations to provide those refugees with the full range of support necessary for their well-being: access to education, weather-resistant shelter, and livelihood opportunities.

As to Burma, we continue to call on the government to take concrete actions that would allow the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Rohingya and other vulnerable communities.

This budget significantly expands our investments in another kind of freedom: freedom of conscience and religious expression. In particular, this budget request includes $150 million to help us continue our assistance to those religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East whom ISIS sought to extinguish.

Members, I've had the chance to discuss with many of you the rising antidemocratic influence of China and Russia. USAID will soon unveil a framework for countering malign Kremlin influence, especially in Europe and Eurasia. Our Fiscal Year 2020 request prioritizes $584 million to support that work. Part of our approach in this region must, also, be standing firmly with our allies. For example -- Mr. Chairman, as you know -- Kosovo, a country you care about a great deal, is a strong U.S. ally and should be integrated into the international community. We are committed to helping Kosovo along its journey to self-reliance.

As I know you all agree, America's security and prosperity at home is closely tied to a stable and free Indo-Pacific region. This request includes $1.2 billion to advance U.S. leadership and promote open, transparent, and citizen-responsive governance across the region.

Members, when I last appeared before the committee about a year ago, I provided an overview of several planned initiatives in our Transformation plan. After consultations with many of you and your staff, we have improved those plans. And we have, in fact, actually implemented many of them. I look forward to addressing any questions you might have, going forward, as we address some of the remaining Congressional notifications. I do appreciate that partnership.

In terms of initiatives launched, we launched the Agency's first ever, Private Sector Engagement Policy. The idea is to move beyond mere contracting and grant-making to true collaboration, co-financing, co-design of initiatives. Early this year, we joined others in launching the White House-led Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, W-GDP.

In Fiscal Year 18, we allocated $50 million for this initiative. This current budget request goes further and includes $100 million to support workforce development and skills training, greater access to capital, and changes to the enabling environment.

Finally, I'd like to say a word about our most precious asset: our human resources. Our dedicated corps of Foreign Service Officers, Foreign Service Nationals, and other team members, are truly on the frontlines of that which we do. So, we'll continue to staff-up, and bring our workforce into greater alignment with strategic planning numbers, and available operating expense budget allocations. We're preparing to hire approximately 140 career-track Foreign Service Officers before the end of Fiscal Year 2020. We've also approved 221 new Civil Service staff position and have selected 10 finalists for the Donald J. Payne Fellowship program.

Members, thank you for your support and guidance. I do appreciate it. And I view it as a true partnership. And, Mr. Chairman, thank you for this opportunity to appear again. I apologize if my voice doesn't hold out very well. But, as always, I appreciate our discussion. And, again, thank you.