mr. crowley, you are recognized for five minutes. >> thank you. thank you for holding this hearing and inviting me to appear before you today. usaid has played a major role in the civilian response to the iraq social needs since 2003 and will continue to do so. the situation in iraq has dramatically improved over the last few years. iraq is still very much post- conflict developing country facing considerable development challenges. the reduction and violence has created breathing room for the iraqis to begin building their democracy, restoring public institutions, and creating conditions for growth. continued support is required to further nurture the iraq a fledgling democracy and prove its ability to manage its own. usaid as supporting -- has supported efforts since 2003. the primary objective then was to restore essential infrastructure. in 2007, we shifted much of our resources to a stabilization program to complement the military and civilian search which began at that time. this program focused on community stabilization and in the district

mr. crowley.general austin and his troops and many offices and bureaus throughout the department of state and other u.s. departments and agencies involved in this transition. planning and implementing the transition has required tireless efforts of her top and women's, many risk in mice to ensure everything we've been fighting and working for but the last decade is not lost. thank you again for the opportunity to appear today. i'd be happy to answer any questions the committee may have. >> thank you on that as ambassador. talk or kahl, you recognize for five minutes. >> thank you. chairman chabot, i appreciate the opportunity to appear today to discussion susan challenges associated the u.s. transition from a military to civilian led effort in iraq. ambassador haslach has discussed the situation enabling responsible drawdown and then say a few words about support from the defense department provided for the state department to help set them up for success. members have concerns about readiness of

mr. crowley, are you family with the cert program? >> yes. >> is it your understanding it's well in excess of a billion dollar? >> not in iraq. >> not in iraq. i'm just talking about cert. >> i'm not sure what the overall dimensions are. >> you don't know what the number is? >> no, sir. >> if it were, what are the conditions of programming of that money? you work for a.i.d. it has all kinds of constraints and regulations and legal requirements. what the comparable constraints of the use of and reporting of and the auditing of the funds? >> well, i know how surf funds are used during the period i was there and by the large, they were used by the reconstructive team to deal with rapid response compatibility to put economic issues on the ground. these are more short-term programs to respond to local situations. u.s. works in a long term term -- >> i am familiar with how the i.d. works. would it not be a concern to you that i agree with your -- that was the original intent. but when you have that kind of intent, that's a relatively modest

mr. crowley? >> well, there is an office in the state department that that is purpose of doing exactly that. i think ambassador haslak would be better able to comment on it. u.s. aid works closely with that office in situations where these kinds of responses are required. we also have our own office of transition initiatives which is itself built around providing responses to these kinds of situations, but it works hand in hand with scrs which is the state department office tasked with that responsibility. >> would you indulge -- >> the gentleman is recognized for an additional minute. >> i thank the chairman. >> mr. crowley is right. there is an office at the state department that is tasked with what you're thinking about. under the qddr, there are a number of suggestions on how that office can be strengthened to fulfill the role you're recommending. >> ok. again, if you want to get back to the record, that would be great. thank you so much. thank you mr. chairman for your indulgence. >> thank yo

mr. crowley, who is a member of the ways and means committee. the chair: the gentleman from new york is recognized for a minute and a half. mr. crowley: thank you. i thank the gentleman for yielding me such time. madam speaker, i rise in strong opposition to the amendment that would eliminate section 18 of the underlying patent reform bill. section 18 empowers the patent and trademark office to review the validity of so-called business method patents. this language was drafted in close cooperation with the patent and trademark office and the department of commerce. it also enjoys the wide bipartisan support of the judiciary committee which defeated the similar amendment during committee consideration of this bill. further, this amendment does not hurt any legitimate inventors. it only allows for the review of abstract patents issued since 1998, when the federal court ruled that business methods could be patented. a ruling which the u.s. supreme court limited significantly last year. were these -- what are these methods i'm talking about? in one

mr. crowley? >> well, there is an office in the state department that has the purpose of doing exactly that. i think that the ambassador would be better positioned to comment on it. u.s. aid works closely with that office. do in situations where these responses are required, we also have our own office of transition initiatives which is, in itself, built around providing responses to these kinds of situations, working hand in hand with fcrs. >> with to indulge? >> the gentleman is recognized for an additional minute. >> mr. crowley is right. there is an office at the state department asked with exactly what you are talking about. under the quadrennial development and diplomacy review, there are a number of suggestions on how the office can be strengthened to fulfil the role you are recommending. >> again, anything back for the record, that would be great. thank you so much. >> with the gentleman from pennsylvania -- we are ready to wrap up the hearing. you are welcome to ask questions, if you have

mr. crowley? >> well, there is an office in the state department but that has the purpose of doing exactly that, and i think the ambassador would be better positioned to comment on it. u.s. aid works closely with that office at it -- where there are these kinds of responses that are required. we also have our own operas of transition initiatives, which is, itself company built around providing responses to these kinds of situations, and it works hand-in-hand with the state department office that is tasked with that responsibility, so -- and >> mr. chairman, i know we are running -- would you to indulge? >> the gentleman is recognized for an additional minute. >> i thank you. >> he is right. there is an office at the state department that is tasked with exactly what you're talking about, and under the quadrennial development, in fact, there are a number of suggestions for how the office can be strengthened to fill the role you are discussing. >> , ok, again, if you can get back, that would be great

mr. chairman. supervisor avalos: we are adjourned. thank you. is called to order. roll call. commissioner crowley: present. katz here. >> in two, approval of minutes for the may 20, 2011 meeting. commissioner brandon: all those in favor? and the post? minutes are approved. >> item 3, public, an executive session. commissioner brandon: any, on executive session? >> >> second. >> all in favor? move not to disclose any of the items discussed in executive session. >> second. >> all in favor? >> aye. >> item six, please be advised that the ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. the chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any persons responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or similar sound- producing electronic device. be advised that a member of the public has a to 3 minutes to make pertinent public comments on each agenda item unless the port commission adopts a shorter time on any item. 7a, executive directors report. >> good afternoon, president brandon, vice-president lazarus. welcome to the po

mr. maxwell. >>> well, you won't hear from him tonight, because he hasn't officially joined the race, but jon huntsman has sure been out there stumping. chief political correspondent candy crowleytells us more about him. >> reporter: he looks like a candidate, walks like a candidate, talks like a candidate. >> we're in a deep funk in this country. >> jon huntsman has held more events in the past 30 days than anyone else, but not a declared candidate, though that's pretty much nuance. >> we're right at the end point. is your family supportive? yes, you check that box, do you think you can rally enough financial support? yes, you check that box, do you think in the early states you can create the presence and the excitement and enthusiasm that will work? yeah, you check that box. >> hey, how are you? >> how are you, sir? >> he's a motorcycle riding mormon who speaks fluent mandarin, a soft-spoken father of seven with ecollective political connection. former ambassador to china for president obama, a man huntsman once described as a remarkable leader. therein lies a primary problem. >> i think the problem isn't so much that he served as ambassador, but gushed over policies that ma