Welcome, everyone the subcommittee is meeting today to hear testimony on both budgetary and policy priority is in the middle east for the fiscal year 2020. We look forward to hearing from the witnesses about the 2020 budget2020budget for the departf Near Eastern Affairs bureau. Thanks the witnesses were appearing today and now recognize myself for the purpose of making an opening statement. Thank you assistant administrator for testifying today nearly three years into the administration the United States faces a multitude of challenges while the administration touts its maximum pressure policy, iran continues to destabilize from iraq to lebanon despite President Trumps bellicose rhetoric, tehran has been able to launch attacks in the International Shipping and regional states and undermining the deterrence and credibility in the process. The program was more intense today than it was on the day President Trump took office and the International Community is more divided in confronting it. Iran continues to imprison americans including my constituents and finally the human rights of its own people. Iran also continues to support the shower of assad and fuel the conflict that has led to the death odeaths of more than 600,e displacement of millions inside in the neighboring countries. The conflict but created with reshape the middle east for decades to come the policy remains ambiguous at best. President trump has twice announced the withdrawal of the troops and little known given to the partners on the ground. This approach has seated the leverage over the future political solution and placed american troops in danger undermined the credibility, remove pressure on isis and betray our partners who fought to counter american support. I commend the operations we had to take out but i caution that the removal of one individual shouldnt invalidate the current withdrawal strategy. If anything it should show the importance of the mission and cooperation with partners on the ground. The president also provide a strategic victory to the adversaries and russia used military force, economic support and weapons sales to become the arbiter to increase the regional influence at the expense of the United States and yemen with the intervention into the worst humanitarian crisis. The administration has offered support to saudi arabia to the campaign and yemen ignoring the bipartisan support in congress for ending the military support for the Coalition Operations and while i understand the risk the conflict has led to tens of thousands and shifted focus from al qaeda and worsened the humanitarian catastrophe. They also face ongoing challenges that confront threats on the borders from terrorist organizations like hezbollah and hamas and remains elusive. Into the arena for expanding proxy war between the regional powers 45 of the middle east is under 25yearsold and presents the chance to reset u. S. Relations with the people of the region in the coming decade to demand that the government corruption and better meet the needs of people more than eight years after millions took to the streets to protest corruption and hypocrisy these demonstrations indicate to many regional governments remain unaccountable to the people on the human rights and Democratic Values at the time that many are questioning the commitment to the region the administration has too often turned a blind eye to human rights abuses and equivocated in expressing support for Good Governance in the middle east administration has proposed cuts to the budget into the fy 20 budget requested an estimated 6. 5 billion in total, excuse me, total bilateral assistance to the region. A figure that is 6 less than the fy 19 requested 11 less than what congress appropriated in fy 19. The subcommittee has oversight responsibility over the bureau and middle east bureau budgets and i hope this hearing today can help us get some better understanding of the administrations strategy and clear articulation of the policy ipolicy inthe middle east and he allocating resources to accomplish this objective in the region. Im grateful to the witnesses for appearing i in that i will turn it over to the Ranking Member wilson for his opening statement. Thank you, chairman, for calling this important hearing and examining the administrations policy objectives. We appreciate the distinguished witnesses and assistant administrator Michael Harvey for their Extraordinary Service and for their testimony before the committee today. Formulating u. S. Policy isnt easy, but living alone for crafting a policy of so many complexities of the region like the middle east for centuries of conflict but they certainly have their job cut out for them and we thank them for their positive efforts. Indeed republican and democratic administrations alike that despite the difficulties, the United States has remained engaged in the region. Although we may have disagreed about the specific policies, we can all agree the u. S. Engagement and commitment is necessary. Its definitely preferred to the middle east in which the road regimes like russia, iran or china or powerbrokers. To be fair, the administration has presided over many important successes in the middle east and todays hearing comes days after the special forces success rate conducted a raid that led to the death of the leader of isis, t o be clear to ensure that this ideology of isis doesnt resurrect from the ashes and require the commitment, not just to the global war against terrorism but the stability of the middle east itself i also commend the administration for spearheading the campaign against iran and this is the right approach. But im deeply concerned about the current approach as something not enough in the past year alone, they have cemented the stranglehold over iran and lebanon and increased the amount of territory that it controls in this area. It appears that theres only so much that can be accomplished in the sanctions. We are working to push back and increase the influence of the region in ways other than sanctions consistently over the decades theyve remained committed to exporting their evil ideology throughout the middle east fostering terrorism and violence everywhere. Meanwhile the United States sought to promote democracy in the region. There are plenty of reasons to renew its results and commitme commitment. The middle east today is teaming up with potential in the past year alone we have seen the citizens of sudan from egypt, and most recently iraq and lebanon take to the streets and give expression to their democratic aspirations. Im even hopeful the spark of liberty will one day at night a Democratic Movement in iran as well which has such a historic background reflective of the person culture. Just last week the world as the runnerup in tunisia is president ial elections met with the countriebut withthe countrid president a sign of Democratic Institutions and i was fortunate to travel to tunisia last month with the Helsinki Commission for the democracy inaction. They must not concede influence to those who counter the spirit of democracy and freedom in the middle east is simply no substitute for the u. S. Leadership in the region and i look forward to hearing from the Witnesses Today and i yield back my time. It is now my pleasure to introduce the witnesses. Before i do that objection all members may have five days to submit the limitation and the rules and assistant secretary david is the assistant secretary of Near Eastern Affairs sworn in june 15, 2019 player to join the department of state as director of the program on the politics of the Washington Institute for near east policy and previously served in the office of the secretary of defense at the country director and was awarded ththework of the office of the secretary defense medal for Exceptional Service in 2005. Before joining the government in 2002, he was a Research Fellow at the institute and a project coordinator of large centrally funded projects in egypt and jordan. Assistant administrator harvey was appointed assistant administrator of the middle east bureau in january, 2019 and comes to position after serving more than 30 years with multiple overseas assignments including Mission Director of nigeria and west bank and gaza and served as a faculty member of the National War College in washington, d. C. And chaired the task force to defeat the state as assistant to the administrator. After receiving numerous awards for the department of state and usaid for his Exceptional Service thank you both for being here today. He reminded the witnesses to keep within five minutes and without objection your statements will be made a part of the hearing record. Thank you for being here today. You are recognized. Thank you for inviting us today for the budget request stability is the imperative in the middle east and north africa to protect the American People and our interests abroad. The core object if it benefits the interest as well as the reason for the diplomatic and foreign assistance the president s fy 2020 foreign assistance budget requested 6. 6 billion for the region have also put the priorities and ensure the defeat of isis support persecuted religious minorities throughout the region and maintain support for the key allies in the critical partnerships across the region. The request also recognizes the United States cannot alone bear the sole responsibility for the challenges in the region. The request places an emphasis on burden sharing without reducing the taxpayer dollars and the investments from the regional partners in the International Community. The strategy focuses on the destabilizing influence and constrained activities particularly the support for terrorism and militants. Strong diplomatic, economic and security measures must be bolstered by the Assistance Programs and seek to deny access. Resource is requested counter the influence in iraq, yemen by working with partners. The u. S. Assistance would enable them to become a constructive stabilizing influence in the region and the request of the supports we are working to address critical needs that pubc Health Creates the foundation for the durable peace and in addition the budget request 41 million economic assistance and their institutions. The budget reflects the commitment to comprehensive the safe and secure israel consistent between the United States and israel requires 3. 3 billion they continue to work towards a comprehensive and lasting peace between israel and palestinians in separate of these efforts the president s fy 2020 budget request 33 million for the Palestinian AuthoritySecurity Forces and requires funding in the diplomatic fund that can also be used for the west bank and gaza and to improve the regional security. The fy 2020 request includes 1. 275 billion for jordan with the bilateral m. O u. And i would like to think the subcommittee for sharing the administrations support for the u. S. Jordan relationship and they help further the impact is a Syrian Crisis and supports the longstanding u. S. Jordanian relationship. Egypt and the most populous country is also important to u. S. Interests. By 2020 request includes 1. 3 billion to support the Armed Forces Capacity to Counter Terrorism and to secure the maritime borders including the canal. In closing, the request over the National Security priority is in the region and supports advancements to advance the interest. Thank you for your support to the diplomacy in the region and our Foreign Service investment and Foreign Service. For the continued support i look forward to answering your questions. Thank you. Thank you, assistant secretary and administrator harvey you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you, chairman, Ranking Member wilson and distinguished members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Important Role of the development and humanitarian Assistance Programming in advancing u. S. Interests in the middle east and north africa. To be here with the secretary and to be representing the administrator as a professional. Usaid recognizes most of the nations in the region are middle income countries, countries with young populations whose energy, education and inspiration can be capped to help speed up the countries journey to selfreliance. We believe well targeted investments by the United States and others can play a Critical Role in helping the countries walwalked in democratic advances where they have occurred and drive the job creating Economic Growth through modern freemarket economies. In line with administration policies, the focus to some of our friends and allies and steadily worked towards those with foreign assistance helping partners build selfreliance is key to the broad u. S. Effort to focus the malign influences coming from outside while demonstrating American Values in the context of renewed for competition. In iraq we continue to support the government initiatives to strengthen fiscal management and improve service delivery. Progress in these areas will strengthen iraqi sovereignty and providing an effective counter influence within the society. Another area of focus is our support for the areas of Northern Iraq building a 400 milliondollar investment we have made thus far to help communities recover from the atrocities of isis to support affordable religious and ethnic minority groups globally, this investment will help ensure the communities are able to remain in their historical homeland and thrive as crucial components of the larger society. I want to know it as a part of our effort effort to expand ther base is a Global Initiative earlier this month the administrator announced six awards to the local iraqi organizations working to implement programming ethnic and religious. We played with pride to our pilot and High School Programs targeting science, technology, engineering and math programs in egypt theyve expanded across the country with the capacity to take on the success and address and forward the countrys development effort. Lets be clear job creation across the region as the key concern. Our work with the private sector is yielding results. We recently handed diplomas and Employment Contracts to the first group of logistic students that graduated in the suez Corridor Program and we are doing similar jobs matching projects across the region helping both the firms and young people they will employ. In tunisia with the support of congress and in particular the subcommittee, the unite united s has played an Important Role since 2011 in solidifying the democratic transition. During my recent visit there, i was honored to officially reopen the office as a full mission, and on the same trip to sign the first fiveyear Bilateral Agreements with tunisia. While there, i traveled to the interior where i had the pleasure of visiting the businesses that are now growing at with young people that are actively participating with their local governments into setting up a path forward for their communities. Before i close, a word on burden sharing just to echo the remarks. The administrations foreign assistance request prioritized as investment matched by the commitments and encourages International Donors to share the burden of development. Our work is an example programs have restored water and electricity to hundreds of thousands in areas liberated from isis. We helped revitalize agriculture, rehabilitate the canals in all of this was funded by the coalition partners. We will continue to do the best interests first and to be full partners in advancing the u. S. National interest in the region with the support of congress and to the strategic efficient use of resources we will continue to present the best of the American People to the people of the middle east and north africa. Thank you and i look forward to your questions. Thanks to both of you for being here and a sincere thanks for your work in advancing the interest and representing the American Values throughout the region. We will now begin five minutes questioning and then we will alternate between the parties. Last week the Iranian Foreign ministry reportedly sent to the United States a list of people its demanding a prisoner swap and also made another proposal. Can you speak to the recent proposal and to tell us whethere admin