The legislation before us today, Mr. Chairman, implements a clear-
eyed and unapologetic approach to our security and democracy efforts.
  It leaves no doubt about our Nation's posture. America will not be
passive or simply write blank checks. Every investment we make must
advance U.S. interests, strengthen our strategic position, and deliver
measurable results for the American people.
  We are putting our values into action by upholding freedom, promoting
economic opportunity, supporting religious liberty, and safeguarding
protections that uphold life.
  This approach marks a necessary course correction. Unlike previous
administrations that prioritized symbolism over outcomes, President
Trump and Chairman Diaz-Balart have returned U.S. engagement to a
foundation of strength, accountability, and strategic purpose.
  On every level, this bill reiterates that it won't be optics but real
results that drive our work.
  The measure stands firmly with our friends while drawing a clear line
against our adversaries. It reinforces

support for key allies, like Israel and Taiwan, and directly counters
threats from Communist China and other regimes that challenge our
interests and principles. It also demands greater accountability and
raises expectations for our partners, recognizing that enduring
alliances are strongest when responsibilities are shared.
  Further, it implements strategic investments that enhance U.S.
leverage abroad and combat fentanyl trafficking and criminal
organizations. It refocuses our diplomacy on core missions like embassy
security, passport services, and promoting American businesses
overseas.
  The bottom line is simple: This legislation recognizes that freedom
and democracy are not mere ideals. They are principles that we will
actively champion and advance.
  Chairman Diaz-Balart's bill directs resources to the highest impact
priorities that strengthen America's position while cutting billions in
unnecessary spending. This bill delivers security, strategic focus, and
results.
  Mr. Chair, I thank my friend from Florida and Ranking Member Frankel
for their leadership, and I thank the staff on both sides of the aisle
for their hard work. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                              {time}  1230

  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the
distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I thank Ranking Member Frankel for her
leadership and work on this bill. I also extend my appreciation to
Chairman Diaz-Balart and Chairman Cole for their partnership.
  I also thank the subcommittee staff: Erin Kolodjeski, Ed Etzkorn, and
Laurie Mignone on the minority side, and their counterparts on the
majority: Susan Adams, Craig Higgins, Jamie McCormick, Trey Hicks, John
Muscolini, Gabriella Zach, Erin McMenamin, and Clelia Alvarado. I thank
them all for their work.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this bill. It undercuts
humanitarian assistance, undermines global health programs, threatens
women's health, and breaks promises to our partners and our allies,
while surrendering influence to our adversaries.
  After failing to bring this bill to the floor for several weeks,
Republican leadership has decided to attach an entirely unrelated
measure that would restrict voting access for American citizens.
  President Trump has insisted on this measure, despite opposition from
members of his own party. He is afraid the American people will voice
their vehement disapproval of Republican-led government and the failed
policies of this administration at the ballot box in November.
  The President's war with Iran has been a catastrophic failure. It has
cost Americans more than $130 billion in higher prices so far.
President Trump began this war with no plan, no strategy, no objective,
no goal, and no understanding of the consequences.
  Nearly 6 months into the war, and the Iranian regime is still in
place. The Iranian people are not free. Their ballistic missile program
is intact. Their nuclear ambitions are unchanged. Their proxies are
emboldened, and gas prices are rising. Their leverage is greater than
it has been before, and President Trump has not articulated any course
of action to bring this conflict to a close that is even remotely
intelligible.
  The Trump Doctrine is failure followed by failure, chaos abroad, and
high costs at home. The bill that we are considering today will only
set us up for more failures in the future.
  This bill cuts funding for global health programs, particularly in
the areas of reproductive health and global health security, making us
more vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks that originate abroad.
  We are seeing the consequences of this administration's decisions to
dismantle the USAID, withdraw from the World Health Organization, and
decimate our global health systems in real time, as the current Ebola
outbreak in Africa threatens to become the deadliest in history.
Because it took so long to detect and due to the challenging
conditions, we will likely be working to contain this outbreak for more
than a year.
  Aid workers are working in active combat zones, putting their own
lives at risk from both infection and violence to stop this disease
from reaching our shores. Here we are debating a bill that would
further choke off resources they desperately need to keep all of us
safe.
  Let us not forget the Trump administration's choice to dismantle
USAID is a moral tragedy. More than 500,000 children have died as a
result of these cuts. It is unconscionable.
  This bill does not provide any funding for the U.N. regular budget,
abandoning one of the longest standing institutions devoted to global
peace. Undermining the U.N. only erodes our influence. It also
shortchanges American businesses who receive upwards of $2 billion in
U.N. contracts both here in the United States and overseas, which is
more than our dues.
  The bill threatens women's health around the globe, blocking any
funds from going to the U.N. Population Fund, which is dedicated to
reducing maternal mortality and violence against women and extending
family planning to women and girls everywhere.
  This includes work to eliminate obstetric fistula, a traumatic
childbirth injury that leads to incontinence, infections, kidney
disease, and infertility. By failing to provide any funding for UNFPA,
the conditions under which millions of women around the world live will
only become worse. Approximately 260,000 women around the world died
during or shortly following pregnancy in 2023. That is 700 maternal
deaths every day, one maternal death every 2 minutes. Eliminating this
funding is a moral failure.
  This bill also eliminates funding for the U.S. Institute of Peace,
the Inter-American Foundation, and the U.S. African Development
Foundation. Each of these programs strengthen our influence abroad,
helping to cultivate relationships with the next generation of global
leaders, and prevents crises before they arise.
  This bill surrenders American influence to our adversaries. For every
step backward we take, they take a step forward. Continually defunding
the institutions that support America's international presence will
have serious, lasting consequences.
  In less than 2 years, the Trump administration has squandered decades
of American influence, undermining our ability to persuade other
countries to support our values and interests without resorting to the
use of force. This bill reduces our ability to reclaim any of that
influence for years to come.
  Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to oppose this bill.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I am now pleased to yield 2 minutes to
the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford), a valuable member of the
National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs
Subcommittee.
  Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking
Member Frankel for their hard work on putting this bill together.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this fiscal year 2027 National
Security, Department of State, and Related Programs funding bill. We
are talking about security through responsibility today.
  This is a bill that does something that Washington doesn't always do:
It spends less, and it prioritizes more. It cuts spending by $2.6
billion, compared to last year, while putting American interests and
national security first. It also demands fiscal responsibility.
  It strengthens oversight of taxpayer dollars, especially, with new
accountability for grant programs, to make sure that taxpayer dollars
are not spent on woke projects, like a transgender opera in Colombia.
  Mr. Chairman, this legislation also makes a simple promise to the
American people: If American taxpayers are footing the bill, then more
of that money should stay right here in America. It is pretty simple.
It should stay in America to support our defense, to support our
industrial base, and to strengthen Made in America procurement. When we
do spend abroad, it should serve American interests, supporting our
allies like Israel and Taiwan.
  This bill, Mr. Chairman, is about security. It is about
accountability, and