Excerpts from Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on the FY10 Supplemental Request
March 25, 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – Opening Statement
Addressing the Global Challenges of the 21st Century
- “The challenges we face demand that we draw on all the tools of American leadership and American power. And the strategies we now have in place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq do exactly that.”
Importance of a Whole-of-Government Approach
- “Success requires a fully integrated civilian-military effort, one in which security gains are followed immediately by economic and political gains.”
Defense Secretary Robert Gates – Opening Statement
Importance of Funding our Civilian Tools of Global Engagement
- “At the outset, I would like to offer my strong support for the important programs funded in the State portion of the supplemental request, without which our military efforts will not be successful.”
Importance of Funding for U.S. National Security during Tough Economic Times
- “These times of economic and fiscal stress place enormous pressure on all of us to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars – including the agencies represented here today….However, even at a time of budget pressures, I believe it is critical to sustain an adequate, sustainable level of investment in the instruments of national power – be it defense, diplomacy, or development – that are so essential to America’s security and position in the world.”
Importance of a Whole-of-Government Approach
- “Our joint testimony today reflects the close cooperation of our two departments, and the importance of a properly funded and integrated civil-military approach to the challenges we face in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world.”
Congressional Statements
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Support for Rebalancing Authorities between Defense and State
- “I’m also glad to see — and this is something I’ve talked with both of you privately about — the effort of the Department of Defense to have the Department of State take over those things that really are best suited for the Department of State.”
Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO)
Importance of a Smart Power Approach to U.S. Foreign Policy
- Noted Secretary Clinton and Gates’ joint appearance reflects the only way the United States is going to make progress in the frontlines states, “is smart power — combining the military and the economic-diplomatic efforts.”
