Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 422) urging adherence to the ``one country, two systems'' policy as prescribed in the Joint Declaration between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of the Hong Kong, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Ranking Member Engel for authorizing this important measure on Hong Kong, the city once known as the Pearl of the Orient.

I commend the gentleman for strongly advocating for Hong Kong's continued adherence to the ``one country, two systems'' policy that has allowed for Hong Kong's autonomy and prosperity for so long. I was happy to join him as an original cosponsor of this important measure.

During a recent trip that I led to Hong Kong, I heard firsthand how measures like this are helpful in keeping the pressure on Beijing to keep its commitment to the Joint Declaration.

Twenty years have now passed since the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. At the time, the U.S. Congress played a vital role in the continuity of the U.S. relationship with Hong Kong by passing the Hong Kong Policy Act in 1992. This act established that the U.S. would treat Hong Kong as a nonsovereign entity distinct from China on commercial, cultural, and law enforcement matters so long as it remained ``sufficiently autonomous.''

Since the handover, Hong Kong has continued to be a global economic force and a financial hub. In recent years, however, it has also begun to face increased social, economic, and political challenges, including external pressures.

Mr. Speaker, we saw the Umbrella Movement protest in 2014, which was led by youth seeking to liberalize the electoral system and introduce true universal suffrage to Hong Kong in accordance with the Joint Declaration between Great Britain and China. In the intervening years, we have witnessed booksellers kidnapped from Hong Kong, Thailand, and Mainland China; legislator oaths being invalidated; and the jailing of protest leaders.

For many of us here in Congress, there is growing concern about the apparent increased role of Beijing in the affairs of Hong Kong. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is important to reiterate here today that our special treatment of Hong Kong is dependent upon it remaining sufficiently autonomous. We want to see Hong Kong's highly developed rule of law, independent judiciary, and respect for individual freedoms remain as the lifeblood of Hong Kong and its economic prosperity as guaranteed, again, by China and Great Britain in the Joint Declaration.

Passage of this resolution demonstrates our support for the continuation of the ``one country, two systems'' policy in Hong Kong, so I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I, too, want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Engel; Mr. Royce, the chairman of the committee; Doug Anderson; and, of course, Hunter Strupp. I chair the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee. It has been a bipartisan committee, and to see everybody come together to work on these different situations, and different bills and resolutions, it is so important that we project a unified body.

I would think China, as they move forward, would look hard to honor their commitment that they made because it is not just Hong Kong they are influencing. It is all of the other countries in the world, and it will determine future negotiations on how China, Beijing, honors their commitment that they made with Hong Kong that the other nations will look at.

Hong Kong plays an important role in today's regional and world economy. Its open market and strong rule of law have served as an example to the region of how freedom and a rules-based society can foster a positive environment for its people's happiness and prosperity.

The U.S. has benefited greatly from strong economic cultural ties to Hong Kong, and I would venture to say, the world has benefited from that. We want to continue this relationship, but to do so, Hong Kong must remain sufficiently autonomous. Our President is headed on a 5- country, 12-day tour of the Asia area at the end of the week, and it will be his first time visiting China as President.

With this resolution, we send a strong message from Congress about our support for Hong Kong's continued prosperity and special status. Thus, we urge faithfulness to the ``one country, two systems'' policy, as established by the joint declaration and the basic law with respect to Hong Kong's autonomy and its enjoyment of the executive, legislative, and judicial powers. Hong

Kong's independent judiciary must be sacrosanct.

In closing, I would like to thank Ranking Member Engel again and the original cosponsors: Mr. Smith, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Sherman, and Connolly.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 586.

Peronal Explanation

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida.

Named after its first director, who ran the hospital for 30 years, the Malcom Randall VA Center first opened its doors to our Nation's veterans on October 22, 1967. Since then, it has grown from its original staff of 500 to be the centerpiece of our Nation's largest veterans health delivery system.

Today, the Malcom Randall VA Center serves over 140,000 veterans a year, consists of 14 hospitals and clinics, and acts as a teaching hospital in conjunction with the University of Florida medical school and other affiliates.

The services Malcom Randall VA provides to our veterans cannot be overstated, and I am proud to know that this institution is in my hometown.

Once again, congratulations to them for reaching this milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of Mr. Zeldin and I appreciate him using that word ``learned.'' It feels good.

You know, this is an interesting thing, because I was there during the time that John Kerry and the President were negotiating this deal.

Keep in mind, this is a deal that John Kerry and the President agreed to, but nobody signed. We didn't sign it, our Senate never voted on it, and Iran didn't sign it. So this is a deal in paper only that nobody has signed. If you

were to do any business transaction in the real world, this piece of paper would be worthless.

I want to mention words of one of our previous Presidents. It has been about 60 years after President Dwight Eisenhower announced that Atoms for Peace Program, and one lesson is clear: ``Civilian nuclear programs flourish only through cooperation and openness. Secrecy and isolation typically are signs of a nuclear weapons program.''

So here we are. I have in front of me the Institute for Science and International Security, August 31, 2017, and in the introduction, it says: ``One of the most serious compliance issues concerns the IAEA's access to military sites and credible verification of Section T, which prohibits key nuclear weapons development activities and controls dual- use equipment potentially usable in such activities. In this report, the issue of verifying Section T is discussed. The absence of credible implementation and verification of Section T undermines the effectiveness of the JCPOA.''

My colleague, Mr. Zeldin, brought up that we know they are using IR-6 and IR-8 centrifuges. We know they have the carbon fibers that they are not supposed to have. We also know that they have overproduced heavy water more than two times. The first time, we bought it at the American taxpayers' expense. The other two times, it has gone to Russia. The only reason you would have an excess of heavy water is if you are producing nuclear fissile material.

In addition to that, the heavy water--the inspections that we are supposed to do anytime, anywhere,--John Kerry said this over and over-- anytime, anywhere, that we can go, and if they are noncompliant, the sanctions will snap back. They must have used an overstretched rubber band because nothing has ever snapped back.

With the IAEA supposedly being able to inspect anywhere, there are so many places that are off limits. It is only those areas that Iran says that we can go in and inspect. Parchin military site is a place that we know they detonated a nuclear trigger. We have not been able to go in there and check the soil, Yet we have to accept their word that they are checking the soil.

I brought this up in the committee, and I am going to repeat it here. It would be like having a drug addict testing his own urine sample and taking it to the lab. It is just not the way to do business in the 21st century on something that is so important.

During that time, when we negotiated or when the deal was being negotiated, there was an intelligence report--I don't know if you were in the Congress then, but there was an intelligence report that had always had Iran as a state sponsor of terror. The year this deal was done, state sponsor of terror was taken off. And when we questioned about it, they said it was an oversight. This deal just stinks from the beginning.

John Kerry said: No deal is better than a bad deal.

This is a bad deal. The President should decertify it. It does not take us out of the deal, but it allows us to put the pressure back on Iran so that they are fully compliant with the letter of the law.

If we don't hold up people to the letter of the law as we move forward in future negotiations, i.e., North Korea, why should they follow the letter of the law?

So this is high time that we do this. I appreciate it, and I thank the gentleman for doing this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the discovery of Hernando de Soto's 1939 encampment and the lost Native American town of Potano, by the University of Florida professors, Dr. Fred White and Dr. Michele White, and University of Florida honor student Ethan White. This newly discovered archaeological site is the oldest confirmed New World contact site in the United States.

In one of the most important events in U.S. history, de Soto was the first European to discover the Mississippi River and explore an area that today would hold 10 States. Until this incredible archaeological discovery, there was no physical evidence of de Soto's 4,000-mile journey. The collection of artifacts recovered near Orange Lake, Florida, includes very rare King Ferdinand coins, Queen Isabella coins, and a King Enrique IV of Castile coin that is the oldest dated European artifact ever unearthed in the United States.

Other rare items include Murano glass beads and Spanish weapons and armor dated from the early 1500s. The artifacts were excavated in the lost ancient Native American town of Potano. Also discovered in the town of Potano were the remains of the first location of the San Buenaventura Franciscan mission built there in the 1580s. Within the floors of the 16th century mission, the team discovered the largest cache of medieval coins found in the American mainland so far.

Acknowledgment for confirmation and identification of the artifacts goes to a large and diverse group of scholars throughout the country. The recent scientific findings were published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Archaeology and with the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Bureau of Archaeological Research in Tallahassee, Florida. The collection of artifacts is at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the campus of my alma mater, the University of Florida.

National Farmers Day

Mr. Speaker, additionally, I would like to recognize today is National Farmers Day, a day when we say thanks to all of our farmers and ranchers for the work they do. Our agricultural industry, in a lot of ways, is the backbone of this country. It feeds our Nation and a big portion of the world, and accounts for 11 percent of overall employment.

Most people don't realize how farmers affect their life, but it is important to reflect on the interdependence between rural and urban life.

People often associate Florida with tourism, but agriculture is actually

Florida's number two industry, utilizing one-third of Florida's available land. Without agriculture, urban developments--in fact, all developments--could not flourish. There is a simple symbiotic relationship between families and communities, and that is, if you are hungry, you are going to eat. Every time you get hungry you think about your farmer, so thank a farmer today.

Honoring the Life of Bud Adams

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting on National Farmers Day that I am able to rise and honor a true Florida legend, Mr. Bud Adams of Fort Pierce, Florida, and his contributions to the Florida cattle industry. He is an icon in Florida and the Nation's cattle industry.

Mr. Adams was a pioneer, a wildlife photographer, but more than anything else, he was a true American pioneer and cattle rancher. He was a real American cowboy in Florida, and they are known in Florida as Florida crackers. That name is derived from the sound of a bullwhip when it is used to round up and herd cattle.

After a stint in the Navy during World War II, Mr. Adams returned home to work and grow the family ranch. For the past 80 years, you could find Mr. Adams on horseback surveying the land and the cattle that they raised. He was a strong advocate for conservation and was nationally recognized for his leadership in preserving the land for future generations.

Even more so, Mr. Adams is known for creating the Braford breed of cattle, which is a cross between the Brahman cattle and the Hereford cattle, a heat-tolerant, heavy-beef-producing cow, ideal for the Florida climate. Mr. Adams was rightfully proud of this breed and went on to help found the United Braford Breeders Association.

Additionally, Mr. Adams was a proud member of the Florida Cattlemen's Association. He served as the president in 1958, and, for the last 59 years, he was always willing to offer a helping hand to the new Florida Cattlemen's leadership.

Mr. Adams will always be remembered for the impact he had on the Florida cattle industry and his willingness to nurture future generations of Florida cattlemen. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Gainesville's native son, Mr. Tom Petty.

Thomas Earl Petty was born on October 20, 1950, and, over a career that spanned five decades, collected 28 top 10 hits, the most of all time.

But his contribution cannot be measured in hits or awards. He wrote America's soundtrack. Tom Petty's story sounds familiar. He grew up in a small town, struggled, persisted, and then succeeded--a true American Dream story.

But it is not what he did; it is how he did it that strikes us. It is the honesty, wit, and sentimentality that made his music special. Every hit Tom Petty crafted became an anthem, each song a score to the memorable moments of our lives. American life would be much diminished without his work.

Jefferson and Madison wrote our system. Twain wrote our story that described Early American folklore. Petty wrote our songs. The songbook of America is bigger and brighter because of him.

Rest in peace as you continue ``Runnin' Down a Dream.''

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chairman's leadership on this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the three promises, 3-month initiative that you have outlined here, and I think it is so important that we follow through with this.

I want to start with tax reform. Members can say: Why do we need tax reform? I think it is self-evident. Our Tax Code, as you heard, is the most burdensome in the world. It stifles economic growth, entrepreneurship, and it creates noncompliance. So we need to simplify it. We have told the American people we were going to do that if we get in charge.

I think the repeal of ObamaCare--and some people get offended if we call it ObamaCare, so I will refer to it as the Affordable Care Act. It has disrupted over 20 percent of our economy, and I think it is not affordable. We can talk to so many different people. I know our premiums went up $11,000 since I have come to Congress. In fact, our policy got canceled when I came to Congress because of ObamaCare.

Then I think the third part of that is we promised the American people that we would repeal this in its entirety and fix healthcare so that people have access to healthcare, it is affordable, and that it is quality care is the part that gets left out.

Then I want to touch on border security. This is something that we have all run on. Any nation needs a secure border. A sovereign nation has to have a secure border, and they have to have control over their border. However, due to the failures of politicians past and present, the U.S. southern border, in particular, remains porous.

I applaud President Trump for releasing a set of principles which I fully endorse and his priorities that are focused on making our borders more secure. President Trump's consistent message calling for better enforcement of our immigration laws and improving border security is one of the main reasons he won the Presidency.

President Trump is sticking to his campaign promises, which is refreshing to see in Washington, D.C., these days, a town where too many times there is an aversion to making tough decisions in fear of how that will be viewed in the next election. So it is refreshing to see President Trump do what he said he was going to do.

Protecting our borders, ending sanctuary cities, and facilitating State and local cooperation in immigration enforcement are commonsense ideas that will protect national security, promote public safety, and deter future illegal immigration. We are hard at work on solving these problems of illegal immigration in the House.

Just three real quick facts:

From November 2013 to July 2014, officials apprehended 143 individuals listed on the U.S. terrorist watch list trying to cross the Mexican border and enter the U.S. illegally. So many times I hear people say that this is not true and that this does not happen, but we know better.

As of 2014, illegal immigrants were convicted and sentenced for about 13 percent of the crimes in the United States.

Then, lastly, border security should also focus on maritime domain. Our Coast Guard, a hardworking branch of our military service, has set a new record for cocaine seizures at sea for the second consecutive year, seizing more than 455,000 pounds of cocaine in 2017 that was destined for the homeland.

So I am proud to join the Republican Study Committee in recognizing the necessity of border security today.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 538.

Stated against:

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2061, the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2017. I commend Chairman Emeritus Ros- Lehtinen for leading this reauthorization effort, and Chairman Royce and my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee for their support of this legislation.

The horrific human rights abuses committed by Kim Jong-un are an integral part of his power structure. Countering these unspeakable crimes, however we can, is both a moral imperative and a sound strategy.

As amended, H.R. 2061 includes my Distribution and Promotion of Rights and Knowledge Act, which will improve U.S. efforts to broadcast outside information into North Korea, weakening Kim Jong-un's regime by eroding his stranglehold on information. It will provide light to the North Koreans; not just light to read by, but shine light on those innate basic beliefs of liberty and freedom.

Specifically, this language updates the means in which information can be disseminated, helping to find new ways to end the Kim regime's monopoly on information.

The two bills are natural partners and, together, they can meaningfully advance human rights and free flow of information in North Korea.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to echo Chairman Royce's support of H. Res. 311, and I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Engel; my colleagues, Mr. Castro and Mrs. Wagner, for bringing this resolution up, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Association of South East Asian Nations and the 40th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN ties.

As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the block of 10 ASEAN members, we had a meeting earlier in the year. They said the primary reason ASEAN is successful is because of U.S. involvement. I think that speaks highly of U.S. foreign policy.

The 10 members of ASEAN are some of the most dynamic nations in the world, and Southeast Asia's economic and strategic importance grows every day.

As the chairman noted, ASEAN is our fourth largest trading partner and is the second fastest growing in Asia. With a combined population of over 600 million people and an economy of $2.5 trillion, the opportunity for U.S. industry is immense. As a security partner, ASEAN also is invaluable, recognizing that for the 50 years the Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN, has worked towards stability, prosperity, and peace in Southeast Asia.

The grouping is strategically located astride some of the world's most critical sea lanes and shares the U.S. pursuit of regional stability through rules, order, and peaceful dispute settlements.

This resolution rightly highlights enduring U.S. interests in Southeast Asia and conveys our commitment to stay engaged.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank Representatives Wagner and Castro for introducing this measure. As the founding members of the ASEAN Caucus, their work on this bill underscores the centrality of ASEAN to Congress' foreign policy for Asia.

Madam Chair, I am unable to vote as I am in Florida assisting Floridians in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 516 (MTR).

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 517 (H.R. 3697).

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 518 (Palmer amendment No. 192).

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 519 (Gohmert on behalf of Posey amendment No. 195).

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 520 (Norton amendment No. 196).

Amendment No. 199 Offered by Mr. Ellison

Madam Chair, I am unable to vote as I am in Florida assisting Floridians in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 521 (Ellison Amendment No. 199).

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 522 (Ellison Amendment No. 200).

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 523 (Ellison Amendment No. 201).

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 524 (Mitchell Amendment No. 204).

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 525 (Huizenga Amendment No. 207).

Amendment No. 223 Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee

Mr. Speaker, I am unable to vote as I am in Florida assisting Floridians in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 526 (Jackson Lee Amendment No. 223).

``Nay'' on rollcall No. 527 (MTR).

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 528 (H.R. 3354).

``Yea'' on rollcall No. 529 (H.R. 3284).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate, honor and thank Ms. Hannah Adams, a young constituent from my district, for her exemplary service as a National Youth Ambassador for the Hyundai Hope On Wheels foundation to fight pediatric cancer.

Ms. Adams, a 14-year-old childhood cancer survivor from Middleburg, Florida, was selected to serve as a Hyundai Hope On Wheels National Youth Ambassador in March 2016.

Since that time, Ms. Adams has traveled across the country to share her story of courage and hope and to inspire others to join in the fight against cancer.

Ms. Adams joined Hyundai Hope On Wheels in its mission to educate people about pediatric cancer and to raise money--over $130 million since 1998--to find a cure.

Over the last two years, Ms. Adams visited many children's hospitals and attended events to stand in solidarity with other children and families who are battling cancer or who have been impacted by the disease.

Ms. Adams was only five years old when she was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Wilms tumor that enveloped her kidney, and she has become one tough cancer survivor.

Ms. Adams is an inspiring example of bravery for all of us, and I am exceptionally proud of her for giving others hope. It is critical that we encourage and support the kind of selfless contributions this young woman has made.

Ms. Adams gives me hope for a better tomorrow and a future where no child has to hear the words, ``You have cancer.''

I wish Ms. Adams the best of luck with all her future endeavors, and I urge my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating her as she completes her service as a 2016-2017 Hyundai Hope On Wheels National Youth Ambassador.

Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, this is a simple, straightforward amendment that would limit the taxpayers' burden of hundreds of millions of dollars to the bodies at the United Nations that work against America's interests and the interests of our ally, Israel.

Since its reformation as the Human Rights Council about 10 years ago, this U.N. agency has operated with a singular focus to isolate and delegitimize one of America's closest friends and allies, Israel.

In fact, Israel stands alone as the only Nation to have an entire agenda, Item 7, devoted solely to it.

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, but one would never know that if you only saw what came out of the Human Rights Council. In fact, while Israel is targeted repeatedly for unwarranted criticism, some of the world's worst human rights abusers are ignored.

When the body that was created to promote and protect global human rights has its agenda driven by the very worst human rights abusers, you have to stop and ask: How does this make sense? And why should the United States continue to legitimize this agenda by remaining part of that body?

The same goes for the U.N.'s Office for High Commissioner for Human Rights, which serves as the secretariat for the Council.

There is an endemic and systemic anti-Israeli bias and agenda at the Council, and it is the High Commissioner's Office that serves and fuels this agenda. In fact, this is the office that is currently putting together the BDS blacklist for the Council, and the High Commissioner has signaled his intent to publish this list. This effectively puts the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner at the forefront of the anti-Israeli boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement. There is simply no justification for the American taxpayers to fund this sort of activity aimed at isolating and delegitimizing our ally, Israel, and harming our national interests.

There is also no justification for the American taxpayers to support our participation at a body that enables human rights abusers. When Cuba, Venezuela, China, Saudi Arabia, Burundi, and others are allowed to sit on the Human Rights Council and dictate

its direction, you know that the body has strayed far from its mandate.

In fact, these countries use the Council to actually shield themselves from criticism, turning the body meant to promote and protect human rights into a tool for the world's worst despots to hide the atrocities that are coming at home.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. Chair, by passing this amendment, Congress will send a very clear message to these agencies and to the entire U.N. that the status quo is no longer, that we want to see the reforms that we want to address now before we return to full participation.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment in an effort to change the status quo at the U.N. by starting with the most egregious of the entities, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen for the work he has done with the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Chair, I rise to speak about two important sections of the funding bill: the Agriculture and the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.

I am pleased to support the committee's work in addressing several crucial issues facing America's agricultural community.

I commend the committee for encouraging expansion of the foot and mouth disease vaccine supply through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at the USDA.

I am also pleased to support the committee's recognition for the critical contributions the National Animal Health Laboratory Network makes in responding to emergency threats to American Agriculture, funding the National Veterinary Stockpile, and for supporting pest management and disease research.

I also want to recognize the committee's support for citrus greening research and response, which is vital to the State of Florida's economy. This vital program we are supporting today will provide valuable protection for our agricultural system from pests and disease, and will encourage innovative solutions to agricultural issues to the future.

In regards to the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations budget, I want to first thank the committee for including language that will make the international broadcasting funds available at levels no lower than the previous year. This will ensure the administration has the ability to increase the transmissions of information into North Korea, which is critical for eroding support for Kim Jong-un's brutal regime, breaking the dictator's stronghold on information.

Finally, I want to mention foreign assistance and development. Today, America is confronting unprecedented instability and growing humanitarian crises around the world, all of which have a direct impact on our national security and economic interests at home.

The U.S. Government must use each and every dollar more efficiently and effectively. This appropriations bill takes important steps in making it more effective. This investment in foreign aid can yield great returns and can help increase trade, trade that is vital not only to my State of Florida, where it supports over 2.5 million jobs, but to the entire United States.

Eleven of the 15 largest importers of U.S. goods and services are countries that graduated from U.S. foreign assistance, and 12 of the 15 fastest growing markets for U.S. exports are former recipients of our aid.

The State Department and U.S. development agencies work to advance America's economic interests by promoting exports that today make up almost 13 percent of America's $18 trillion economy and supports about one in five American jobs.

We must look to cut the duplicative and ineffective programs while empowering the parts of our foreign assistance that work to become even more effective.