00:00Seeing none, the chair recognizes a gentlelady from Florida, Ms. Frankel, for the purpose of an amendment.
00:23I do not think the gentlelady's mic is on.
00:27Got it. Thank you, sir.
00:30Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, and I move that the reading be dispensed with.
00:35Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentlelady's recognized
00:40for remarks on her amendment.
00:42Mr. Chair, imagine putting half a baseball team on the field and expecting them to win
00:49the World Series.
00:50No outfield fielder, no catcher, no relief pitcher, just a handful of players scrambling to cover
00:57it all.
00:58That's exactly what this administration has done with our foreign aid infrastructure.
01:03They stripped away the seasoned professionals, dumped new responsibilities on the State Department
01:08without backup, and somehow expect a win.
01:12It's not just unrealistic.
01:14It's reckless.
01:15So I'm offering an amendment that speaks to the heart of what it means to lead on the
01:20world stage with competence, compassion, and commitment.
01:24And my amendment would ensure that the State Department has the staff that it needs to properly
01:29manage and oversees a vital foreign aid and humanitarian relief for programs that were abruptly yanked
01:36from USAID.
01:37And let's be clear that these are important efforts that keep us safe, secure, and prosperous.
01:48They are life-saving programs, programs that feed hungry children, deliver medicine to war
01:53zones, and rebuild communities shattered by disaster.
01:58They don't run on autopilot.
02:00They need experienced hands.
02:02They need oversight.
02:03They need people who know what they're doing, and that's why this amendment prioritizes the
02:10rehiring of USAID professionals who were arbitrarily fired, experts with decades of institutional
02:18knowledge who were tossed aside in a political purge.
02:23These are the very people who know how to get aid to the front lines, and we need them back.
02:30To cut staff and then expect success is not just foolish, it's dangerous.
02:35People's lives are on the line.
02:37I'm talking about lives all over the world.
02:39And this is not just a amendment about stabbing.
02:42It's about restoring the integrity of America's global leadership.
02:46Since the start of the Trump administration, we've heard a lot about eliminating waste, fraud,
02:53and abuse, often without a shred of evidence.
02:57But here's the bitter irony.
03:00They've now created the very conditions that invite waste, fraud, and abuse.
03:06In January, the Trump administration demolished USAID and shifted responsibility of the American
03:12foreign aid and humanitarian relief to the State Department without consultation, without a plan,
03:19without any input from Congress.
03:21And what was the result?
03:24A department forced to absorb a massive new responsibility with neither the workforce nor the
03:31institutional capacity to carry it out.
03:35Thousands of seasoned development professionals, people who knew how to get food,
03:41to famine zones, medicine, to rural clinics, and support to vulnerable communities,
03:47were fired overnight.
03:49Their programs were canceled.
03:51Their expertise discarded.
03:54And what's in their place?
03:56Chaos.
03:58I'll just give you one example.
03:59In Nigeria, a once-thriving program to detect and treat tuberculosis,
04:04a disease that kills more people globally than any infectious disease,
04:09had increased detection.
04:11This program had increased detection from 25% to 80% in just a few years.
04:18It was a public health triumph.
04:21But now, that progress stalled.
04:24The USAID staff talked to those grants who were fired.
04:28Really?
04:29I mean, can you?
04:31What is wrong with these people?
04:33The funding just vanished.
04:36The programs stopped.
04:38The medicine, life-saving supplies, now sits on shelves, unused and expiring,
04:44while TB spreads like wildfire.
04:48And it gets worse.
04:51Efforts to track data on HIV, TB, and other infectious disease has collapsed.
04:56The people responsible for monitoring, for reporting, for saving lives, they're gone.
05:02They're fired.
05:03Without cause.
05:06And, you know, we had all this hullabaloo last week about saving PEPFOR.
05:10Guess what's happening to PEPFOR, folks?
05:15I had Bill Gates in my office yesterday.
05:17Bill Gates, his foundation, has put millions and millions of dollars into HIV.
05:21You know what he told me is happening with PEPFOR right now?
05:24Well, nothing, nothing is happening.
05:28Clinics are shutted.
05:30The HIV testing has ground to a halt.
05:33Patients have been turned away.
05:34They don't have the supplies that they need.
05:36Pregnant women are being denied care.
05:38Babies are being born with HIV.
05:40Babies who months ago could have been protected.
05:44Now they're dying.
05:45Dying because the infrastructure we built was torn down on a whim.
05:51Like a whim, really, on extreme political ideology.
05:55That's what it was torn down on.
05:57And let me say this again.
05:59Babies are dying, not because we lack the science or the resources,
06:03but because the Trump administration had chose to dismantle the very programs
06:08that could have saved these little children.
06:10The systems at once monitor health outcomes are shutting down.
06:16And the, well, let's just say, Mr. Chair, you should pass this very good amendment.
06:24I appreciate the gentle lady's summary.
06:30Gentlemen from Florida, Mr. Diaz-Billard is recognized to respond to the amendment.
06:35Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
06:36I rise in opposition to the amendment.
06:39Well, I appreciate the goal of this amendment,
06:42which is to ensure sufficient oversight of programs.
06:45It unfortunately would create significant and costly inefficiencies in program management.
06:52The Department of State needs to have the discretion to determine staffing levels
06:58based on program needs rather than just an arbitrary ratio set by Congress.
07:05To be clear, program oversight is vitally important,
07:10which is why the bill in front of you provides significant resources to the Inspector General
07:16and requires the Department of State to increase impact evaluations.
07:21The report also includes a new requirement for the State Department
07:26to analyze and justify its staffing levels for fiscal year 2025.
07:32In short, while I share the gentle lady's goals,
07:36I can't support this amendment,
07:38which really undermines the efficiencies of the Secretary of State
07:42in trying to implement what he's trying to implement.
07:46And the distinguished ranking member used a baseball analogy.
07:52Let me just respond with another baseball analogy.
07:55You all imagine if Congress was going to decide what a baseball coach,
08:03who they pick, where they pick, how many,
08:06you know what I can guarantee you?
08:07They'll lose every game.
08:10So again, well-intentioned amendment.
08:12It's actually, unfortunately, something that I cannot support at this time.
08:16And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
08:20Gentleman, are there other members wishing to address the amendment?
08:27Seeing none, the gentle lady is recognized for one minute to close.
08:32And Mr. Chair, and I know, Mr. Chair,
08:35you wouldn't put less than nine people back on that baseball field.
08:38But moving right on, listen, yes, that was a good point, says Mr. Hoyer.
08:46Quite frankly, I really don't like to watch baseball myself.
08:50But I thought it was a good analogy, right?
08:56Go Yankees.
08:56You know, in seriousness, listen,
09:00we're never going to be able to fully undo the catastrophic damage
09:03done by the Trump administration.
09:06It's his doge acolytes, that so-called friend, not friend.
09:11Is he a friend?
09:13Elon Musk, I don't know.
09:15But listen, we can start to put things right.
09:17And that's what this amendment does.
09:19It ensures that the State Department isn't set up for fail.
09:22It brings back the experts.
09:24It restores some measure of accountability and gives us some eyes and ears on the ground.
09:29We need to ensure that our humanitarian investments are effective and transparent
09:33and actually reaching the people who need it the most.
09:36It's not just a bureaucratic fix.
09:39It's a moral imperative.
09:40I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
09:43Let's correct the real waste, fraud, and abuse happening right now.
09:46And let's reclaim a role as a global leader with integrity, capability,
09:52and the humanity that the world expects from the United States of America.
09:59And I yield back.
10:04And Mr. Chas for roll call.
10:07Well, you want to give me just a second?
10:10I can assure the gentlelady we'll get there and we'll do what she requests.
10:13The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentlelady from Florida.
10:18All those in favor say aye.
10:19Aye.
10:20All those opposed say no.
10:21No.
10:22The chairman and the opinion of the chair, the no's have it.
10:25Roll call has previously been requested.
10:29I'm sure there's going to be, this guy's a stickler.
10:32A few more hands, please.
10:34Thank you very much.
10:37An opinion of the chair, again, oh, excuse me.
10:40Sufficient number of hands having been raised in support.
10:45The recorded vote is ordered and the clerk will call the roll.
10:49Mr. Adderholt.
10:50Mr. Adderholt, no.
10:52Mr. Aguilar.
10:54Mr. Alford.
10:56Mr. Alford, no.
10:57Mr. Amaday.
10:59Mrs. Bice.
11:00No.
11:01Mrs. Bice, no.
11:02Mr. Bishop.
11:04Mr. Calvert.
11:07Mr. Carter.
11:10Mr. Case.
11:11Aye.
11:11Mr. Case, aye.
11:12Mr. Siskimani.
11:14No.
11:14Mr. Siskimani, no.
11:16Mr. Kline.
11:17No.
11:18Mr. Kline, no.
11:19Mr. Cloud.
11:20No.
11:21Mr. Cloud, no.
11:22Mr. Clyburn.
11:23Aye.
11:24Mr. Clyburn, aye.
11:25Mr. Clyde.
11:26Mr. Clyde, no.
11:28Mr. Cole.
11:29No.
11:30Mr. Cole, no.
11:31Mr. Cuellar.
11:32Ms. Dean.
11:37Ms. DeLauro.
11:38Aye.
11:39Ms. DeLauro, aye.
11:40Mr. Diaz-Balart.
11:41No.
11:42Mr. Diaz-Balart, no.
11:44Mr. Edwards.
11:45No.
11:45Mr. Edwards, no.
11:47Mr. Elzey.
11:49Ms. Escobar.
11:53Mr. Espayette.
11:56Mr. Fleischman.
11:57No.
11:57Mr. Fleischman, no.
11:59Ms. Frankel.
12:00Aye.
12:00Ms. Frankel, aye.
12:02Mr. Franklin.
12:03Mr. Franklin, no.
12:05Mr. Gonzalez.
12:06Mr. Gonzalez, no.
12:08Mr. Guest.
12:09No.
12:09Mr. Guest, no.
12:10Mr. Harder.
12:11Aye.
12:11Mr. Harder, aye.
12:13Dr. Harris.
12:14Dr. Harris, no.
12:16Mrs. Henson.
12:17Mrs. Henson, no.
12:19Mr. Hoyer.
12:21Yes.
12:22Mr. Hoyer, aye.
12:24Mr. Ivey.
12:25Aye.
12:25Mr. Ivey, aye.
12:27Mr. Joyce.
12:28Mr. Joyce, no.
12:30Ms. Kaptor.
12:31Aye.
12:31Ms. Kaptor, aye.
12:33Mr. Leloda.
12:36Ms. Lee.
12:38Ms. Letlow.
12:40Ms. Letlow, no.
12:41Mr. Levin.
12:44Ms. Malloy.
12:45Ms. Malloy, no.
12:47Ms. McCollum.
12:50Ms. McCollum, aye.
12:51Ms. Ming.
12:52Aye.
12:53Ms. Ming, aye.
12:54Mr. Molinar.
12:55No.
12:55Mr. Molinar, no.
12:57Mr. Moore.
12:58Mr. Moore, no.
13:00Mr. Morelli.
13:03Mr. Mervan.
13:04Aye.
13:04Mr. Mervan, aye.
13:06Mr. Newhouse.
13:07Mr. Newhouse, no.
13:08Ms. Perez.
13:10Ms. Perez, aye.
13:12Ms. Pingree.
13:12Aye.
13:13Ms. Pingree, aye.
13:14Mr. Pocan.
13:16Aye.
13:16Mr. Pocan, aye.
13:17Mr. Quigley.
13:18Aye.
13:19Mr. Quigley, aye.
13:20Mr. Reschenthaler.
13:21Mr. Reschenthaler, no.
13:23Mr. Rogers.
13:24No.
13:24Mr. Rogers, no.
13:25Mr. Rutherford.
13:27Mr. Rutherford, no.
13:28Mr. Simpson.
13:29No.
13:30Mr. Simpson, no.
13:31Mr. Strong.
13:32No.
13:32Mr. Strong, no.
13:34Mrs. Torres.
13:35Aye.
13:35Mrs. Torres, aye.
13:37Ms. Underwood.
13:38Aye.
13:38Ms. Underwood, aye.
13:40Mr. Valadeo.
13:42Ms. Wasserman Schultz.
13:44Aye.
13:45Ms. Wasserman Schultz, aye.
13:46Mrs. Watson Coleman.
13:48Aye.
13:48Mrs. Watson Coleman, aye.
13:50Mr. Womack.
13:51No.
13:51Mr. Womack, no.
13:53Mr. Zinke.
13:54High school.
13:56Mr. Zinke.
13:57Zinke.
14:00Mr. Zinke, no.
14:01It must be a great lunch, because there's a lot of members here that, anyway, are there
14:10any members wishing to record their vote or change their vote?
14:15Gentleman from Texas.
14:16No.
14:17Mr. Carter, no.
14:19Gentleman from Nevada.
14:22Mr. Amaday, no.
14:23Gentlelady from Nevada.
14:24Ms. Lee, aye.
14:27Gentlelady from Pennsylvania.
14:30Ms. Dean, aye.
14:31Gentleman from California.
14:33Mr. Calvert, no.
14:35Gentleman from California.
14:36Other Gentleman from California.
14:37Aye.
14:38Mr. Levin, aye.
14:39Gentleman from New York.
14:42The Gentleman is not recording.
14:46Mr. Morelli, aye.
14:47Gentleman from Georgia.
14:49Mr. Bishop, aye.
14:51Gentleman from New York.
14:52Aye.
14:52Mr. Espiat, aye.
14:55I think gentleman from California.
14:58Mr. Valadeo, no.
15:01Okay.
15:01Are there other members wishing to record their vote or change their vote?
15:07Gentleman from California.
15:10Mr. Aguilar, aye.
15:13Are there others?
15:15If not, the clerk will tally.
15:24Yeah.
15:36If not, the clerk will.
15:45Yes, Chair McCann, gentlelady from Texas.
16:02Ms. Escobar votes aye.
16:15On this vote, the ayes are 27, the nos are 33, and the amendment is not adopted.
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