Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “The FY 2018 budget request for the Middle East and North Africa raises serious questions about the administration’s priorities and goals for the region and its plans to achieve them. From the fight against ISIS, the Syrian conflict and humanitarian crisis, to the still fragile governmental transitions in Tunisia and Egypt and the instability and uncertainty in Yemen and Libya, the administration needs to clearly demonstrate how its proposed funding levels will address these issues of great concern to regional stability and U.S. national security. This hearing will be an opportunity for Members to ask the administration what its policies and objectives are for the region and for us to continue our oversight role by calling on the administration to justify the President’s budget request for this fiscal year.”

Witnesses

The Honorable Stuart Jones
Acting Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
U.S. Department of State
[full text of statement]

Ms. Maria Longi
Acting Assistant Administrator
Bureau for the Middle East
U.S. Agency for International Development
[full text of statement]

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Hearing transcript (PDF)