that is not something i am part of. i would refer you to the president's outside counsel. reporter: does the white house denied that the president is individual one? in the southern district of new york -- sarah: i am not going to comment on an ongoing case. that's not something i would be part of and i refer you to outside counsel. i can tell you the president has stated his position and made it clear. reporter: why does the president deny something that was caught on tape? on camera? why did he later denied -- deny it? announcer: deputy secretary of state john sullivan joined other government officials to go over the president 20 budget request for the state department and take questions from reporters. this briefing is about half an hour. >> thank you, robert, for that

introduction, and i want to thank my friend and colleague, ambassador mark green, for joining me today to present the fiscal year 2020 budget request for the department of state and usaid. i want toet started, say on behalf of the department of state that we want to extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in the tragic crash of ethiopian airlines flight 302. there were a number of american citizens on that flight, people who worked for the united nations, united nations affiliated organizations. friends, colleagues, partners of ours. it is an extremely sad and tragic moment for us. andcolleagues in addis washington are working hard to provide all the appropriate counselor assistance we can to the families of the victims at this difficult time. getting to the subject at hand,

the president's fiscal year 2020 budget request is for $40 billion for the department of state and usaid. with this funding level, we will protect our citizens at home and abroad, advance american prosperity and values, and support our allies and partners overseas. the state department and usaid are on the front lines of the most pressing foreign policy and national security issues facing our country today. staffing from both of our agencies are working very hard each day to protect american freedom, hold china and russia accountable as members of a rules-based international system, support the people of venezuela as they work toward a peaceful restoration of democracy in their country, prevent infectious disease outbreaks from reaching our borders, assist countries to become self-reliant, economic, and security partners, and so much more. with all of this on the line we

need all of our colleagues, our entire team, to be safe, prepared, and ready to take on any new challenges at a moment's notice. keeping our citizens safe and secure requires constant vigilance and adequate resources. our fiscal year 2020 budget request prioritizes the safety of our diplomatic and foreign assistance staff overseas. it protects chief of mission personnel from emerging threats and invests in safe, secure, and functional facilities. it will enable both the state department and usaid to recruit, sustain, and train our global diplomatic and development workforce. our agencies are developing new capabilities for the 21st century. together with so many critical goals to advance on behalf of the american people, the state department and usaid need resources for both diplomatic and foreign assistance programs. the fiscal year 2020 budget

request accounts for those resources and puts u.s. foreign policy on firm footing to move into the future. our request is guided by the principle of taxpayer dollars must be used wisely. we want to maximize the investment made by the american people and deliver exceptional results on their behalf. president trump has made it clear that u.s. foreign assistance should serve america's national interests and should support those countries that help us to advance our foreign policy goals. this budget maintains critical support for key u.s. allies, including israel, jordan, egypt and colombia. through strategic funding and programming, this budget positions the united states to win. this means ensuring our nation is fully engaged in regions of the world upon which our national security and future prosperity depend. in recent years, we have seen china proactively applying its power to exert its influence in

the indo-pacific region and beyond. under president trump's leadership, the united states has taken decisive steps to respond to china's aggressive actions. we recognize that the united states' future security, prosperity, and leadership depends on maintaining a free, open, and secure indo pacific region. to advance the indo pacific strategy, the budget request nearly doubles u.s. foreign assistance and diplomatic engagement resources to the region. our budget request is also guided by the realization that the threats imposed by russia have involved -- have evolved beyond external or military threats and now include influence operations in the very heart of america and the western world. this budget prioritizes countering russian malign influence in europe, eurasia, and central asia. as we speak, the people of venezuela continue to fight for their freedom in the face of

tyrannical and corrupt leader who refuses to step down. the fiscal year 2020 budget request includes funding to support democracy in venezuela and provides the flexibility to make more funds available to support a democratic transition, including up to $500 million in transfer authority. in the past year, the united states has been out front in global efforts to help persecuted religious and ethnic minorities in the middle east and elsewhere. on a trip to iraq last fall, i experienced firsthand the positive impact of this kind of assistance and what it has done in these devastated communities. working with local actors and community leaders, our assistance programs clear the explosive remnants of war to help keep families safe, restore access to services like health and education, improve economic opportunities, and more. but there's much more work that

needs to be done. the fiscal year 2020 budget supports an increase in our efforts to empower religious and ethnic minorities including requesting funds for new opportunities among different communities in need and continuing u.s. leadership to promote global religious freedom. in addition, our budget request for fiscal 2020 includes a diplomatic progress fund so we can effectively respond to new opportunities arising from diplomatic and peace progress and emerging counter-iran needs. the diplomatic challenges we face today are particularly difficult due to rapid, continual advances in media and technology. our human resources and organizational structures must keep pace with these changes. the fiscal year 2020 budget fully funds state and usaid's current workforce levels, enabling us to take on emerging policy challenges.

the priority we place on safety and security extends beyond physical facilities to our networks and data. the budget request will seek to strengthen the state department and usaid i.t. systems, prioritizing cybersecurity enhancements. and speaking of the threats to our homeland, there are few efforts as important to this administration and to the safety and security of the american people as securing our borders. the state department and usaid budget request will support u.s. border security by strengthening vetting, targeting illicit pathways that transnational criminal organizations are using to traffic drugs, money, weapons, and even human beings from the western hemisphere, and enhancing governance and boosting local economies to discourage illegal immigration. our budget request for fiscal 2020 also protects against infectious disease threats by

bolstering country capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to any future outbreak and prevent epidemics. these efforts mean retaining our place as a global leader and -- global leader in health assistance. with this budget, the united states will remain the single largest donor to global hiv-aids relief efforts. several other important additions to the fiscal 2020 budget request will increase private sector involvement in global development, optimize our humanitarian assistance, and advance partner countries in their journey towards self-reliance. my colleague, usaid administrator ambassador mark green, will introduce those final elements of the 2020 budget request shortly. through all of these efforts and more, our budget promotes american interests while continuing our country's legacy as a beacon of freedom to the world. the president's budget request for fiscal year 2020 sets our

agencies and our country up for success, and i appreciate the opportunity to introduce it to all of you this afternoon. again, thank you for joining us and with that, i will turn it over to ambassador mark green. mr. green: thank you, deputy secretary sullivan. john laid out well, i think, a number of the usaid and state shared priorities. i'll keep my remarks relatively brief, but i would like to begin in joining him in expressing our sadness over the many lives lost in yesterday's ethiopian airlines crash. as was mentioned, we understand that it included at least eight u.s. citizens, as well as a number of members of usaid partner organizations. as many of you know, i have really deep gratitude and admiration for the many heroes of humanitarian work.

and this particular route and this particular flight was used regularly by humanitarian and development organizations in the region. people working each and every day to save lives and make the world just a little bit better place, despite the risks. our hearts go out to all of those who lost loved ones, and our thoughts and prayers are truly with them during this difficult time. with that, on to the more mundane subject of the budget. while fiscally conservative, i believe this budget request will support our goal of advancing countries on their journey to self-reliance. it aims to help partner countries build capacity so they can eventually take on their own development challenges. by supporting our tools aimed at reducing the reach of conflict, spreading the -- or preventing the spread of pandemic diseases, counteracting the drivers of violence, instability, and other security threats, this budget

will also strengthen u.s. national security. it also strengthens american economic leadership by supporting our investments that expand markets for american goods, leveling the playing field for american businesses, as well as supporting more stable, more resilient, more democratic societies. as many of you have noted in recent months, many parts of the world have seen an exponential growth of predatory financing that is dressed up as foreign assistance. this budget supports usaid's efforts to aggressively communicate the stark differences between authoritarian financing tools and the approach that we and our ally donor nations use. our approach is true assistance. it helps partner nations build their own self-reliance in a more dynamic, private enterprise-driven future. it incentivizes reform to spur private enterprise and free

markets, attract investments, and again, foster self-reliance. we also aim to help partner countries recognize the cost of alternative models, like those of china and russia. their approach seeks to weaken confidence in democratic and free market systems, saddle countries with unsustainable debt, lead to the forfeiture of strategic resources, and further the militaristic ambitions of those authoritarian actors. unveilng weeks, we will a framework that we will use to help counter malign criminal influence, especially in europe and eurasia and central asia, and this budget supports that work. our efforts in this regard will be made easier as the new development finance corporation is stood up later in the year. it will also be made more clear as the trump administration accelerates our partnerships in

the indo pacific. i firmly agree with the deputy secretary that our security and prosperity at home is closely tied to a stable and free indo pacific region. others,with state and our strategic investments will promote open, transparent, and governanceponsive across that indo pacific region. a third way we will be able to sharply contrast our approach is through the administration's efforts to promote inclusive economic growth, especially as it relates to full economic participation by women around the world. the national security strategy clearly identifies women's empowerment as a priority integral to economic prosperity and global stability. last month, the president signed a presidential security memorandum decisively linking the ability of women to participate fully and freely in the economy with greater peace and prosperity across the world.

we have also officially launched the women's global development and prosperity initiative, known as wgdp, which aims to economically empower 50 million women in developing countries by the year 2025. the wgdp fund established at usaid included an initial commitment of $50 million u.s. funds from fiscal year 2018. support is being doubled in this budget proposal to $100 million for the fund, to support workforce development and skills training, greater access to capital, and changes to the enabling environment so that around the world, women all have the opportunity to reach their full economic potential. as you all know, usaid is not only our lead agency in development assistance, but we are known around the world for our humanitarian assistance and crisis response as well.

the u.s. will continue its role as a world leader in humanitarian assistance, but we'll also call on others to do their part, and we'll work relentlessly to ensure the assistance is delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible. the consolidation of our overseas humanitarian assistance funding within our new bureau for humanitarian assistance supports the administration's commitment to optimize humanitarian investments by leveraging the strength at both state and usaid. nowhere is america's leadership and humanitarian assistance more important, or quite frankly more timely, than in our continued response to the man-made, regime-driven crisis in venezuela. the department of state and usaid are committed to providing support to those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. we are also both dedicated to supporting a future democratic transition for the people of

venezuela. we vow to stand with them as they fight for a government that represents their interests and is responsive to their needs. this budget significantly expands our investments in another kind of freedom that the deputy secretary mentioned, the freedom of religion. in particular, we will continue our important assistance to those religious and ethnic minorities in the middle east who misys sought to extinguish -- whom isis sought to extinguish. the 2020 budget supports the implementation of usaid's internal reform initiative or transformation. this will allow us to strengthen our core capabilities, increase efficiency, and ultimately reduce cost. we are an agency that is capable of leveraging our influence and authority and available resources to transform the way that humanitarian and

development assistance are provided. alongside the rest of the world, we will work hard and forcefully to meet the daunting challenges that we all face. while the funding generously provided by congress is never enough to meet every demand and need in the world, we will ensure that usaid remains the world's premier international development agency and continues the work we do each and every day to protect america's future security and prosperity. thank you for the honor of being able to be with you today. >> thank you and deputy secretary sullivan. >> you are not going to take questions? >> we are inviting experts up now. >> i would rather ask a general question. >> we have -- >> they can't defend the entire budget? >> we have folks who can do that, just not right now.

we have three subject matter experts. our director, office of u.s. foreign assistance, from the state department. we have our director for their bureau of budget and planning for the state department. and from usaid, tricia smith, the director of budget and resource management. they are more than capable of answering your questions. >> right, i was just hoping the deputy or administrator -- so it is open for questions? so this is the third year in around, the third time this administration has gone to congress with a proposal that would slash the funding for diplomacy and development by 25% , even more the first time around. congress has soundly rejected those proposals the last two times, and those two times, the party of the administration

controlled both houses of congress. this year it is a little different. the chairman of the house foreign affairs committee has just said this budget proposal is dead on arrival, a 24% cut. i am wondering, given the fact you can't possibly think congress is going to go along with this and these cuts are going to happen -- in fact, you may end up getting more that you do not want last year. how do you argue against people who say that repeatedly bringing these massive cuts to the hill doesn't mean that the administration isn't trying to diplomacy and development, the u.s. state department, usaid , and really does not have any regard for the institution? >> first, it is important to look at this request in the context of the overall approach to nondefense discretionary spending, which as they made clear is not sustainable given the current fiscal picture.

this is part of an effort to reduce nondefense spending by 5% starting now and continue that for the next 15 years to get our overall fiscal picture in some order while still prioritizing things like defense, border security, veterans, and other programs. i think it has to be looked at in that context. it also sets priorities in terms of what programs the administration and department believes should be prioritized for funding in the context of that constraint. there are certainly things, relative to the last request, we have made new investments proposed to sustain. the last budget include reductions to personnel. this budget does not propose that. this budget sustains the workforce at both agencies. it prioritizes the security of our diplomatic presence overseas and targets selected initiatives, such as the global engagement center, for additional resources.

it does contain reductions to some programs in efforts the administration outlined last year to lead to major savings volume, if they are a lower priority or are not the best use of taxpayer dollars. an example is requesting lower amounts for contributions to international organizations to drive burden sharing among the organizations. there are things that have been continuous over this three year period. we recognize this is a back and forth with congress, and just because congress has not taken up some of the reductions proposed over the last two years does not change the administration's position. >> they have not taken up any of them. if you want to reduce the overall budget by 5%, why does state and usaid have to take almost a 25% cut? >> the budget is decided both on specific programs, like the contributions i mentioned. it proposes a lower amount based on the merits of those

investments, other domestic priorities, and also because there are investments rolling out in other nondefense programs, there are going to be offsets. >> it sounds to me like you can't make a case against the argument that critics will make. you cannot make a case that you are not trying to gut diplomacy and development. >> we would argue this does support diplomacy and development, just with lower spending on some programs. reporter: can you explain the message you are trying to send by fully eliminating the item for international disaster cuttingand also migration and refugee assistance by $2.5 billion? what is the specific message with the decision, recognizing, as matt said, this won't be acted on? what message are you trying to

send by eliminating those items? >> if you review the entirety of the proposal, you will see that while specific funding was proposed for a limitation in those accounts, that funding has migrated to a new account, the international humanitarian assistance account, which is proposed for funding at a level over $6 billion, which ensures the united states continues to be a leader on humanitarian assistance throughout the world. the budget will recommend a series of potential changes for congress's consideration in the structure and delivery of humanitarian assistance. as you review the details, you will see that the president's commission from june 2018, where they discussed the potential of optimizing humanitarian assistance delivery, is reflected in this budget proposal. consolidatesest all overseas humanitarian assistance from the

international disaster assistance, migration and refugee assistance accounts into this new single, flexible account, the iha. it is administered by the administrator of usaid under the authority of the secretary of state. this new account and organizational structure will enable the u.s. government to respond seamlessly to ongoing as well as new humanitarian needs. the most vulnerable displaced people in the world and other affected populations. the new proposed high-level dual-hat leadership recommended in the budget, also offering humanitarian assistance to more effectively address the continuum of response, including diplomacy, from relief to conflict resolution and to the eventual transition from aid. the request restructures our

overseas humanitarian programming to enable the united states to respond seamlessly to evolving humanitarian needs, achieve optimal u.n. reforms, and induce other donors to do their fair share, while resolving ongoing crises. reporter: can i ask a follow-up on that? in his statement at the start of this briefing, deputy secretary sullivan made explicit as well that humanitarian assistance would go primarily to countries that support u.s. policies. >> i think you are blending a couple of concepts that the deputy secretary of state discussed. there is no question there are a variety of priorities the secretary and administrator laid out in constructing this budget, one of which is working on behalf of the american taxpayer to provide appropriate resources

and assistance to friends and allies around the world. second is to position ourselves to continue to compete strongly in the great power competition. third is to support the opportunity and options for countries to evolve as they move on a journey to self-reliance. finally, to focus on opportunities at every point possible to enhance burden sharing. you will see many elements of the budget that reflect these four emphases of the secretary. reporter: the creation of the international humanitarian assistance account actually makes it difficult to make comparisons. you have -- do you have some sort of figure on how much was spent on settling migrants and refugees this existing year compared to what is being proposed? it seems you are not even spending what congress has appropriated for you.

also, is there some sort of restructuring going on in prm? don't i could also ask, i understand why you are making such a deep cuts in global health. happyst, we are certainly , as information develops, to provide specific numbers to you as we work through both the implications as well as the actual facts of what has occurred on humanitarian assistance, both for us and usaid. happy to provide that. when it comes to prm, the restructuring here is the objective to try to replace outdated, fragmented structures. ,pread across four accounts responsibilities in three offices, so we are attempting both to consolidate accounts, but also accountability when it comes to providing humanitarian persistence -- assistance. prm's role will continue with

refugee assistance work as well as work in resettling migrants from israel, as well as providing the secretary and the entire integrated team a political ad diplomatic strategy when it comes to dealing with refugee challenges around the world. reporter: what about global health? there seem to be steep cuts proposed. >> thanks for the question. i think just a couple points on global health in general. proposal that we are sending to congress today actually includes significant resources for global health. certainly year-to-year comparisons of the request demonstrate that we are not reducing the proposed recommended expenditures for global health. we are sustaining significant resources for global health. happy to walk through the details on that. that includes specific funding as well as for the global fund.

the global fund is about ready to launch its sixth punishment cycle. we budget for that as well as pepfar to ensure that no single individual loses coverage versus where they are today by virtue of the resources we provide to pepfar. and the global fund, by proposing both resources and a new way of funding to ensure that the amounts unlocked by a u.s. pledge to the global fund will be the most ever in the global fund history if accepted by international partners. >> you are going from $8.7 billion to $6.7 billion. >> happy to provide details of fy 2019 versus fy 2020 request. reporter: i have a question about colombia. it says there has been a significant increase in funds

requested for columbia in the fight against drugs. if the u.s.ing government is worried about coca production. >> the resources recommended for budgeta in the anticipated the potential of partnering with columbia, not just on its current efforts related to the peace settlement, dealing with the regional consequences of the migration flows from venezuela and the current eradication process underway, but in the event the supreme court allows the government to resume aerial -- provide, preside resources from the united states for that program. that's why you see a significant uptick in recommended resources for colombia. >> last question. reporter: i have a question

related to foreign aid. do you have numbers related to the aid to israel, egypt, and jordan? >> thank you for that question. in the recommended budget for fy 2020, the recommended amount for israel, egypt, and jordan is a straight line extension of last year's proposed amount. ,.3 billion for israel consistent with our memorandum of understanding with the government. consistent with our memorandum with jordan as well as expenditures with egypt for last year. reporter: do you have the numbers? >> i can get those to you, but they are consistent with last year's numbers. >> last question. reporter: there has been discussion to have a new security bureau. budget, theg the

fact sheet. i did not find funding for the bureau. is it still the plan to have them bureau under the authority of the under secretary of state for arms control and international security? >> the department is working on a proposal. we are still in the initial planning stage, and since we have not formally provided the proposal to congress -- it was not in the budget -- but the proposal will provide the flexibility to address that bureau, should the administration and congress move forward we are still in the planning stages of that proposal. fairly close, but because it has not been formally signed off on and informed the hill prior to the release, it was not in the budget. once it is released, we will be able to explain to congress and all of you how it tracks with funding levels. >> with the structure be under

the arms control and international and security bureau? >> i don't want to get ahead of the formal submission, but it is something the department is working on. when it is released, we are happy to come forward with details. >> thank you very much, thanks. you can go out this door right here. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2019] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] announcer: c-span's washington journal, live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. tuesday morning, al green discusses continued efforts to impeach president trump. florida republican congressman ted yoho joins us to talk about u.s.-north korea relations. the center for strategic and international studies's todd harrison about what is in president trump's pentagon budget request. be sure to watch washington journal live at 7:00 eastern

tuesday morning. join the discussion. announcer: here is a look at the agenda for congress. the house is considering bills that would make u.s. government records more available to the public. later this week, members are expected to take up a resolution supporting the disclosure of special counsel robert mueller's final report on russian interference in the u.s. election. currently the attorney general has discretion on how the report is released. in the senate, work on executive and judicial nominations. senators vote on a house-past resolution to block president trump's national emergency declaration and prevent unappropriated funds from being used for a border wall. republican senators susan collins, tom tillis, lisa murkowski, and rand paul have said they will vote in favor of the resolution, meaning it is likely to pass if all democrats vote in favor. the president has said he will

veto the resolution. you can follow the house live on c-span and the senate live on c-span2. >> the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. >> asked not what your country can do for you. ask what you can do for your country. >> the people who knocked these buildings down -- book,cer: c-span's newest the president's. noted historian rank america's best and worst chief executives. it provides insight into the lives of the 44 american president's through stories gathered by interviews with noted presidential historians. explore the life events that shaped our leaders, challenges they faced, and the legacies they left behind. published by public affairs,

c-span's the presidents will be on shelves april 20 three, but you can preorder your copy today c-span.org/thepresidents, or wherever books are sold. announcer: the house rules committee began the week by considering the rules for debate on a nonbinding resolution that calls for special counsel robert mueller's final report on russian interference in the u.s. election to be made available to congress and the public. the resolution is expected to reach the house floor on wednesday. from capitol hill, this is just under an hour. >> the rules committee will come to order.