A foreign subcommittee, this is about 50 minutes. Thank you for joining us on this important hearing. I am filling in this morning. I want to extend a warm welcome to our witnesses today, assistant secretary of state, michelle j season, the subcommittee hearing will cover at the bureau for International Organizations, budget requests for fiscal year 2023. This is the first hearing in many years and we wish to investigate goals in the United Nations and multilateral organizations. I look forward to the discussions this faces, the United States contributes millions of dollars each year to the United Nations efforts to manage conflicts through keep peacekeeping operations and addressing Food Insecurity, supporting refugees and so much more. This funding is in our National Interests and this hearing as an opportunity to discuss these priorities. Organizations are deeply engaged in responding to the russian invasion of ukraine, including efforts by the World Food Program and other bodies to address regional and global Food Insecurity that has been made worse by the war. The u. N. High commissioner for refugees and the International Organization for migration are playing roles for refugees. The International Criminal court has taken on key roles in documenting war crimes in ukraine and will be crucial when it used for pursuing accountability. I look forward to hearing how the administrations budget request will address these priorities and the testimony and how the United Nations can continue to adapt to a changing world and what the Biden Administration will be doing to make sure it remains effective. The world has never been more interconnected. The crises we are facing are truly global in nature. There is no way for us to face them alone. The strong relationships with International Institutions are our best hope for finding cooperative solutions to these problems. I will return it to the Ranking Member for her opening remarks. Thank you for the support and your efforts to support International Organizations. Making sure that the United Nations and other groups are funded and also meet their mission. The United Nations are comprised of 193 nations, the United States pays 4. 2 of the regular budget, 26. 94 percent and the peacekeeping budget. What does the United States receive in return for this investment of the tax dollars . As a member of this body, we must ensure that the funds that the u. S. Grants to the u. N. Are used in a way that benefits the american taxpayer. This was not the case when the World Health Organization echoed the Statement Given to them by the Chinese Communist party at the start of the pandemic. It was noted that from the beginning stages of the covid19 outbreak the who repeated the upheld ccp statements as truth. An examination of public statements including praise of the handling of the pandemic reveals a willingness to ignore signs and other credible sources. We do not know everything that happened when the threat of covid19 first appeared, the director general acted in an effort to defend the ccps leadership from criticism. This bowing negatively impacted the world, disturb the worlds understanding and hamper the Global Response hampered the Global Response. We would have some input into the operations of the agency. The who refuses to include taiwan in held assembly. Taiwan held a reserve status at meetings but this changed after taiwan elected a government that was far less accommodating to the ccp. Additionally, we wish to see reforms made to other entities such as the United NationsHuman Rights Council which has some of the most greatest violations of its members including china, cuba and venezuela who cover up Human Rights Violations in many Different Countries including the horrors conducted upon Chinas Muslim population. Since 1945 the u. N. Has accomplished incredible things and i look forward to ensuring that their good work does continue in the future, but we must also ensure that the funding we provide will be used in the most effective way possible to benefit the lives of american taxpayers. That they go back to their original mission, the United States must use his voice and vote its voice and vote to advocate for transparency, and stand up against the maligned influence of actors like russia and ccp. I want to thank our witnesses for being here today and i look forward to hearing your testimony. Thank you. We have with us the honorable michelle, the assistant secretary for state for the bureau of International Organization affairs with the u. S. Department of state. She was confirmed by the senate in december to lead this critical bureau and briefly previously served as an u. S. Ambassador to haiti and uae. Thank you for having me here today with you to discuss the fiscal year 23 budget request for the you and for the u. N. And other organizations. Prioritizes our engagement with the you and and with the multilateral systems to advance u. S. And National Interests and strengthen the International System to address today global challenges todays global challenges. Late defend the values of the system and especially against efforts by our competitors do reshape them. We continue to push for reforms to ensure that International Organizations deliver results with good governance, efficiency, and accountability. I appreciate the strong interest of the subcommittee in this important work. I last appeared before you on february 15 and it has been an eventful last five months to say the least. Il mobilized to bring our partners on board to win overwhelming Un General Assembly condonation of russias aggression days after russias unprovoked invasion of ukraine. As well as a Swift International affirmation of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The isolated and blocked russia from leadership in numerous u. N. Bodies including suspension from the Human Rights Council, the hrc. We galvanized partners to hold russia accountable by helping establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate russias violations and abuses of human rights in ukraine. We recognized early on that strategic targeted actions across the u. N. s specialized agencies would be crucial in cementing International Consensus calling out russias Human Rights Violations and war crimes. We had resolutions calling russia out for violations included in the food and agriculture organization, the world health assembly, to name just a few. We also worked successfully with likeminded governance to block the election of russia to the World Food Program executive board. As we remain focused on the urgent ukraine crisis, we are also committed to attracting and strengthening the rulesbased International Order. The system of law, instruments, and institutions to promote the rights of all people. Secretary blinken made these points in his may speech about the administrations approach to the communist party of china. There was a highlight that the president s budget makes it a case to assert multilateral leadership. Our failure to live up to our financial obligations at the you and gives our adversaries an easy talking point with which to criticize us and with which to undermine our positions. We need to be able to pay our assessments in full and on time. It helps us rally other countries to our cause. Paying our arrears is essential to maximizing u. S. Credibility and influence at the you and. We need to be at the table when International Consensus is being built so that we can advance u. S. Values and interests. The president s budget requests the authority of funny to enable u. S. Leadership in organizations such as unesco. In the absence of u. S. Leadership, the prc and others have been more assertive there, sticking to shape the debate on issues like Artificial Intelligence in ways that are hostile to democratic norms. We see the p. R. C. And russia attempting to chip away at human rights. Our bureau is working hard to counter this trend. We advance our u. S. Priorities at our sessions. We succeeded in passing appropriate resolutions to renew mandates on syria, belarus, iran, and north korea growing the most recent u. N. Hrc session, we led a robust joint statement criticizing the open ended mandate up antiisrael commission of inquiry. We cap the space up on could kept the pressure on china, and expanded the inclusion of vulnerable groups, we supported the urgent focus on women and girls in afghanistan. Turning to Food Security, it is estimated that russias unprovoked war on ukraine may drive 40 million or more additional people worldwide into extreme poverty and Food Insecurity this year. You may have noted that secretary blinken made the presidency to the find the link between poverty and insecurity. Every driver of Food Insecurity has been made worse by president putins war of choice. 98 countries have signed onto the roadmap we launched in may to tackle this growing global Food Security crisis. We are working around the world with countries to urge them to increase their resources we are providing to the World Food Program and the food and agriculture organization. We are focused on a range of challenges thank you. Thank you for your testimony. I will recognize members for five minutes each pursuant to house rules. All time yielded for questioning our witnesses. I will recognize by seniority, altering between majority and the minority. I can only call on you if you are present with your video on. Please turn your function to gallery view so that you can see everyone. If you miss your turn, let our staff know. Address the chair for help. I will be strict with the five minute limit for questions so that we can get every member of the every member the chance to participate. There has been bipartisan support for the International Criminal courts investigation into the atrocities being committed in ukraine. According to existing u. S. Law, what types of assistance are we able to provide for the ukraine investigation . What types of assistance are prohibited . Thank you for that important question. The u. S. Is pushing across the u. N. System for accountability on russias unjustified illegal invasion of ukraine, in ukraine. Our turn to the icc in a moment. I want to underscore the commission of inquiry which was launched by the u. N. Human Rights Council in geneva. It is focused on violations and abuses of human rights and of International Humanitarian law in the context of russias aggression. This is the most robust type of investigative mechanism that the hrc can establish. It is the first time in its history it has established a commission of inquiry related to russia. On the icc, we, the u. S. , support the documentation and investigative capacities of the icc. It was in washington, and met with us, the Affairs Bureau was meeting with our folks on the criminal justice team. Accountability using all of these mechanisms is absolutely essential. There are more displaced people on earth now than any time in human history. Climate change and conflict continues to force millions of people in their homes each year. The wars in ukraine and ethiopia and the end of the u. S. War in afghanistan have caused contributed to this largely. With a famine moving in the horn of africa and a Food Security crisis looming, it will get get worse before it gets better. What is the administrations plan for supporting this through the budget . Thank you for raising these matters. The bureau with our colleagues in the bureau of population refugees and migration, it focuses on supporting the International Committee of the red cross and others as well. Our bureau also works in global Food Security issues with the World Food Program and the front of Agricultural Development and the food and agriculture fund. The funding for iom is focused on providing protection and direct assistance to refugees, asylumseekers, and other vulnerable migrants and all of in all of the geographic areas you noticed. It focuses on Capacity Building for the host countries immigration authorities, it focuses on civil society, supporting these vulnerable populations. Thank you. The law signed into law by President Biden includes 5 million to address Global Security challenges resulting from these crises we have talked about. Is this finding sufficient to meet the challenges we currently face . How is the Administration Working with the World Food Program and other stakeholders to get the a out as soon as possible aid out as soon as possible . I was just talking with the food and agricultural organization, i had found out 10 days ago on the global food crisis that russias were on ukraine has exacerbated. Of course, the supplemental is focusing on not only on the population of ukraine and the needs in the surrounding countries by the displaced populations, but as you know, the impact of the russian blockade of the black sea port has strangled ukraines economy and has an impact on the horn of africa, the middle east. We are working closely with the u. N. Food agencies, but also with humanitarian affairs parts of the u. N. , looking for solutions to reopen the black sea ports to facilitate those grain and other food exports. I will circle back on that question later on if we have more time. I will recognize the representative from new york. [indiscernible] can you hear me . Let me move this up. Hello, can you hear me . Thank you. Thank you acting chair and thank you to our witness today. I wanted to ask a question about israel. The u. N. Human Rights Council is undertaking an unprecedented inquiry against israel, what is the state department doing to respond to this latest biased effort by the u. N. And to delegitimize israel . By the u. N. To delegitimize israel . We wish to end the open ended and vaguely defined commission of inquiry concerning israel. In partnership with israel, the u. S. Led and lobbied in support of a joint statement that criticized the open ended nature of the commission of inquiry mandate. This garnered over 20 signatures. Working with our partners we drew the attention of the international community. We also issued by a secretary of state, released a statement on june 7 after the release of the first report by the coi opposing the inquiry and its onesided, biased approach. We will continue to push for a reduction of resources to this, we were successful last december in the fifth committee. 25 reduction in staffing positions. The issue of working with our partners i think is critical here. We will continue to do so. When it comes to russia, i know that there is a lot of criticism of the u. N. , its effectiveness and russia repeatedly uses its role, through china and Russia Holding such veto powers, other crises around the world, the genocide against muslims in china has continued to go unchecked by the United Nations. How would you ss the effectiveness of the u. N. To respond to these emerging how would you assess the effectiveness of the u. N. To respond to these emerging crises . I have a couple of quick questions after that. I agree that russia has done a greatest reference to the core mandate of the u. N. Security council. Many violations of human principles, it commits theoretically to defend as a member of the Security Council. We are successful in isolating russia in a number of the agencies in rome, geneva, in vienna, new york, we had three historic votes in new york condemning russias behavior in which 141 Member States condemned russias aggression. I know that you are not allpowerful, with due respect, we have a war that is still raging, lives are being murdered. The u. N. Does not seem to be able to resolve the issue. I wanted to get into taiwan, obviously, china is trying to rewrite the rules of the International Order and direct their own agenda when it comes to the World Intellectual Property Organization excluding taiwan from the representation at who and the Civil Aviation organization. What is the u. N. Doing to combat these efforts . Tell me that quickly. You have 44 seconds. I lobbied personally with the director general of the w. H. O. On the world assembly, we were not successful this year but we did have a partnership of an unprecedented number of countries, more than 20 directly mentioned. Support for taiwan in their national statements in the world health assembly. Is there a way we can make the u. N. Actually do something that is effective and improving the old order instead of a Discussion Group to talk about it . How do we make that happen in the future . With our relentless focus on working with our partners to lift up all of these issues that you are raising. Territorial integrity, sovereignty, misuse of the u. N. Charter and arguments. Supporting taiwans participation, world health, and a number of other critical areas. Thank you. I yield back. I recognize the to the lady from california, the vice chair of the subcommittee. Thank you. I actually returned from a trip to south sudan where i had a chance to visit with peacekeeping operations and observe the work that they are doing to provide security for internally displaced people and convoys and i also spent some time with peacekeepers including service who provided support. In all of these conversations, they told me about the challenges they are facing and a message i heard is that there was not enough resources to do what they needed to do in order to implement their mandate. That is why i have sponsored legislation so that the u. S. Can actually pay all of its peacekeeping dues each year. I would like to hear your views on my proposal which is also in the house version of the competes bill. How would you describe the peacekeeping missions when the leading financial contributor does not pay in time or in full . Thank you for going out and visiting the peacekeeping passion peacekeepers the peacekeepers. I am grateful for the question and your sustained interest in these matters and completely agree with your view on the issue of paying our bills in full and on time. When we fail to meet our commitments, we are giving space to the peoples republic of china and others to advertise themselves as the responsible member. It is easy ammunition. These narratives which we push back on, we hear them in our budget committee. These narratives diminish our ability to build coalitions, in places such as the budget committee, our delegation is not only try to make the u. N. Operate more efficiently, but make sure that we resource aspects we care about that others do not. Protection of civilians, human rights protections, lifting up women and girls, these are areas where some countries are not putting their emphasis. As a contributor to the u. N. And its founding members, we should not be giving our competitors easy ammunition in a way that undermines our credibility. Thank you and i look forward to working with you to make sure that we get this through the congress so that we can help you do your work better. As you know, prior to becoming a member of congress i worked for the u. N. In peacekeeping and i unicef. I saw firsthand why it matters which country is national which countrys nationals is in which position. We also need to ensure that the Talent Pipeline is diverse and that our competitors are using this effectively in order to extend their reach into the u. N. Can you discuss the efforts to recruit more americans into the u. N. System and why this matters for our National Security . Thank you for that question and i am going to invite your staff at the desk and anybody on the invite your staff and anybody on the hill, it is called advocacy plus. With the resources we were provided last year, we have been able to staff up our office and personnel, use a new computer database to streamline advocacy and track the applications of american citizens going in for you and positions with additional junior professional officers which is terrific. There are 123 furnished positions, with this additional money, we have been funding we have been able to recruit for americans not only in new york but also it to the office of high commissioner of human rights in geneva and also out in bangkok. You are right, getting wellqualified americans into the pipeline at the junior and middle level is key. We also advocate for the secretarygeneral and other seniorlevel positions as well. We are grateful for the bipartisan support we have had from the hill, pushing forward with advocacy or american assistant employment in the system. Thank you and i yield back. I recognize the gentleman from california. Thank you. Last month the former United Nations undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief focused on the famine in tigre. We saw that the ethiopian authorities aided by the mediterranean authorities have mauritanian authorities have used food as a weapon and they have used their power in the United Nations to prevent a declaration of the famine that they have created. What is happening in tigre is the worlds most dire and devastating hunger crisis in a decade since the devastating famine in somalia of 2011. Given that this is a manmade famine orchestrated by the ethiopian government, who has blocked aid from entering in tigre and otherwise preventing the transportation of food and the preventing farming, it seems odd that a declaration of famine can depend on a host government that is creating the famine. Will you commit to working with the United Nations to formally declare a famine in tigre . I was just in a room as i mentioned representative german, and spoke with David Beasley who heads of ethiopia, tigre and other critical humanitarian situations. We are extremely concerned about the continuing humanitarian crisis out there. The u. N. s access has been difficult, challenging, uneven, unpredictable, in many areas affected by these military operations. The conflict out there as a threat to peace and security and the entire horn of africa. We are committed to working not only with the food other organizations the food organizations to deliver humanitarian assistance. I hope you are also working for a you and declaration of famine, the physical side of getting the food trucks in and enough fuel in so that you can move the food around the tigre area. We want to move on to another question. I have supported our aid to the Palestinian People through umbrella and otherwise. Teaching the next generation of israelis and palestinians to strive for a two state solution is important. The Palestinian Authority curriculum taught half a million palestinian students in west bank, gaza, jordan, has moved us further away from peace. It teaches a whole new generation to glorify terrorism and promote antisemitism and reject a two state solution. They identify particular terrorists who have killed dozens of israeli civilians and teach these children those are their heroes. When barbara leaf testifying before this committee in june i asked about the status of the implementation of cooperation and the removal of antisemitism in the curriculum. The u. N. Umbra has put on leave, six of its own staff who posted that we must fight against the jews and kill them and slaughter the zionists. A little bit of belief seems like a very mild action. The staff have not been terminated. What is the current progress of implementation of corporation including removing antisemitic, violent content . Content and assuring that teachers are working for peace . Violent, hate filled, antisemitic sentiments are abhorrent and have no place in classrooms. Including the sponsored classrooms. We bring up these issues and allegations with them, have brought it up with the head of the program and we are committed to working with them to address these issues. You asked about the u. S. Framework for cooperation. We do hold with prm, regular discussions on all of this and on holding on to commitments on education and these other areas. Let us make sure that the six or terminated, slaughter zionists and kill all of the jews . That is at a nazi level. I point out to my colleagues, they can still cosponsor the Palestinian Education act which would require a report from the state department on these schools and i yield back. I recognize the gentlelady from pennsylvania. Held out, thank you. I was not expecting to be next, i appreciate the opportunity. My question has to do with secretary of state statements in the wake of roe. They have underscore that the state department would remain fully committed in helping to provide access to Reproductive Health services and advancing Reproductive Health around the world. I was hoping you may be able to expand on that statement. Have you or the secretary or ambassador reached out to you and partners working on Family Planning or Reproductive Health care like the unfpa to remain partners in this space . Thank you for raising unfpa, a very important partner for the u. S. As we look to expand access to sexual reproduction and Maternal Health care around the world. Both in the core funding and also supporting their great work on combating genderbased violence. , particularly in humanitarian settings. You asked about the recent support based violence particularly in humanitarian settings. You asked about the support to advance a and Reproductive Health rights advance aid and Reproductive Health rights. We are working to make sure the women and girls health is lifted up and protected. It is something that is alarming as you all know, the unfpa does not provide Abortion Services but i can only imagine that they and many others are concerned about what limiting access to safe abortion will do. I am grateful to hear that the administration is in tune with that concern. My second question has to do with the unhrc. They held an urgent debate on ukraine and they established the commission that would investigate were crimes being committed during this conflict. They are made up of three independent human rights experts and is mandated to preserve evidence for future Legal Proceedings and cooperate with other judicial and legal entities as appropriate. That is significant given that the International Criminal court has opened its own investigation. We are highlighting prussias investigations russias investigations. What do you believe is the significance of these actions and is the role of the future accountability of russian actions in ukraine is there anyway we could be doing a better job on this particular issue . Accountability, that is the key, insisting on accountability , weight have our partners launching the inquiry into russias actions. The real possibility of accountability and we mentioned a bit earlier of the icc. Other agencies are bringing their special skills and mandates to support you and women is u. N. Women, they are bringing forth experts to look at genderbased violence in the ukraine conflict to be able to support the work of the coi and icc. Do you think we are able to support this and accountability organisms by being a part of the council or not . When we are at the table, we were able to lead. Our ability this year in the march and june sessions i think is evidence of that. We have seen the impact of energetic, positive u. S. Leadership, we have a great u. S. Ambassador to the Human Rights Council. We could be a force for good, and we are. We are able to as i mentioned with the work a few days ago on the passage of the mandate, protection against sexual Sexual Violence on sexual orientation. I yield back. Representative from new jersey . You mentioned the blockade of odessa, we have seen the russians hampering our ability to address Food Insecurity, it devastated the ukrainian economy. I spoke to ukrainian officials recently, this was at the top of the list. The yuan has been trying to engage on this, trying to see if there is an we have been trying to engage on this, trying to break through the impasse. What is a state of these negotiations or what, where is this right now . How do we provide a solution and what role does the u. S. Play to facilitate this . We are in close contact with you and officials, i mentioned as a coordinator for humanitarian affairs, also rebecca greenspan, we are supporting these efforts with the urging of secretarygeneral to facilitate discrete exports from ukraine facilitate these grain exports from ukraine and facilitate new harvests. I just impacting the immediate region but also impacting subsaharan africa. Until this issue is resolved, it will increase hunger and famine around the world for months to come. We are also pushing back on a lot of disinformation, it is russia who is actively blocking the export of food from ukraines ports and increasing world hunger. There has been a lot of disinformation about u. S. Sanctions causing disruptions that is not the case. We are working with our partners to make sure that the word gets out. As to who and why, these exports of food from ukraine are being blocked and exacerbating hunger around the world. I want to get a clearer sense, our would you categorize this as negotiations . Is this a formal process . Are the russians participating in this in any type of good faith . Is there any sense that the russians are engaging in a process that will yield a solution . Russias blatant disregard of global Food Security has been evident. It is reprehensible. The u. N. Officials with our encouragement and support continue in their efforts and discussions to engage to identify solutions. We are of course also working with our partners on the other piece of this which is to boost the global food supply, look at the supply of fertilizer, it is not just the ports getting back up and running, it is the fuel issues as well. As a bottom line is it is calling on put into immediately cease the aggression against ukraine, and for russia to end this blockade of the exports. Thank you if your update on that and i know that you touched on some food and security issues, the challenges we are having around the world. Let us make sure. That we follow up on that i would love to know how we can be more forward leading on this. Obviously, the blockade of odessa plays a role in that. Let us make sure that we are firing on all cylinders here between the executive and legislature to solve that problem. Thank you and with that i will yield back. Thank you to our witness for testifying today. The members for joining us, there is a lot to follow up on and i look forward to working with you on this important priorities. With that, the hearing is adjourned. The usas Security Council meets tuesday afternoon to discuss the security and safety concerns of the Nuclear Power plant which came under russian control poorly after the invasion of ukraine. Watch live coverage at 3 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan, also our free mobile video app, cspan now or online at cspan. Org. The two noy Six Committee has conducted a series of hearings revealing the findings of its investigation at the january 6 committee has conducted a series of hearings revealing the findings of the investigation. Witness testimony into the attack on the capital. Tonight, former Justice Department official address allegations of Election Fraud made by then President Trump and his requests to alter the outcome of the election. Watch monday on cspan or anytime on demand at cspan. Org. To alter the outcome of the election. Watch monday on cspan or anytime on demand at cspan. Org. Now available in the cspan shop, cspans 2022 directory. This compact spiralbound book is your guide to the federal government with Contact Information for every member of congress, including bios and committee assignments. Also Contact Information for state governors and the Biden Administration cabinet. Order your copy today