Statements For the Record
Dr. Shah, good morning and welcome.
Your vision is to restore USAID as the world's premier development agency. As a Member of this Subcommittee, I am committed to making that vision a reality.
I want to elevate and strengthen USAID, and ensure your agency has the authority and resources it needs to focus on long-term development rather than crisis response and contract management. This is an exciting moment for USAID and for global development.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in support of H.R. 2701, a bill to authorize appropriations for intelligence-related activities in fiscal year 2010. This bill strengthens the safety and security of every American family with targeted investments in our intelligence capabilities.
Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to join my colleagues today in recognizing the extraordinary American response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010. I am proud to support H.Res. 1048, H.Res. 1059, and H.Res. 1066. Each of these resolutions honors the courage and sacrifice of the Americans who rushed to aid the people of Haiti in their time of need.
The Commander-in-Chief, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense all publicly support allowing gay and lesbian Americans to serve openly in the Armed Forces of the United States. This is a significant and long overdue development that I wholeheartedly endorse. It is time for Congress to now act to ensure that every committed and courageous American who wishes to serve our country, regardless of sexual orientation, can proudly wear the uniform of the United States of America.