mr. engel: thank you, mr. speaker. i want to again concur with everything that chairman royce said. i agree with every word he mentioned. i'm again very happy to have been working closely with him on this legislation in a bipartisan fashion. chairman royce feels, as i do, particularly strongly about broadcasting and it is something that's very important. it's something that helped to win the cold war. it's something that we're able to get into countries so they hear the truth when they are denied the truth from their own government. and that's what this bill does. over the past few weeks, the people of ukraine, russia and much of eastern europe have been bombarded by false and misleading information broadcast by the state-controlled and directed russian media. among other things, the so-called reports claim the fascist and neonazis have taken control of the government in kiev, that they have been attacking ethnic russians in ukraine and several things in crimea, that they have engaged in widespread anti-semitic acts. a

so mr engel. thank you thank you very much mr chairman of the me first start off by saying how happy i am to the ukraine. how much i feel a part of the resolution that happened here. that day ukrainians on them and darren were an inspiration to so many millions of people all around the world. and then i think not only ukraine has a stake in the selections on the march. i'm a pretty fair but that the whole free world has a stake in these elections we have to make sure that these elections are held. that they're actively participated in. and that's the answer to and answer the phone is that he's not going to crush free and democratic ukraine because the people of ukraine will not stand for. and i think that's the most important thing we. they are delegation here united states congress is a bipartisan delegation from both political parties and were all united in the fact that we support ukraine in its struggle for freedom. and we want to do everything we can to help ukraine. we met with our vice presi

mr. engel: thank you very much, mr. speaker. since my election to the united states house of representatives in 1988, i've been immensely proud to be a part of new york's congressional delegation. my colleagues from new york and i, both democratic and republican, have united many times to fight for causes that are critical for our state. in the wake of terrible tragedies like september 11, 2001, and most recently hurricane sandy, we have come together to perform our most important duties as members of congress, which is our obligation to do what's best for the people of new york. it is important, though, that we don't solely band together in times of tragedy. rather, we must also gather in celebration of the people and occasions that make our empire state a great state. that is why i am delighted to rise today in recognition of a hudson river school of painters, the first school of art indigenous to the united states. the hudson river runs through my district, the district of many of my colleagues, some will be speaking here tod

mr. engel's question. our chairman has returned and i believe ms.ahn has a question. >> thank you, i want to go on the record -- it is heartening for me to hear about the incredible cuts we have imposed on our coast guard. we are continuing to ask them to do more with less. we are talking about contracting out and landing on barges, i wish we could restore the cuts we made and not impose the next round of sequestration on our coast guard. we either believe in your mission or we don't. it is unfortunate we are at this stage. i just wanted to go on the record to say i believe in your mission and i feel we are shortchanging that department and the american people. ambassador, one of the primary missions behind the bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement affairs is to tilt partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies here at home in order to allow these agencies to provide their unique expertise to foreign agencies and governments. in order to incentivize state and local agencies to provide this expert tease, the state depart

with political analyst and also very cold emits light and oil was mr engel welcome to our see if that a promise to me a person can fulfill can he keep you up on top despite all this happening in ukraine right now. well of course there's the north stream pipeline which. bypasses the ukraine that can make a substantial contribution the problem is both western europe and russia need to reach a diplomatic solution to this situation over this. i don't know what you'd call it outlaw government interim government in ukraine now there are elections at the end of may we will see what what emerges from that but when the i.m.f. is demanding that ukraine domestically raise its gas prices lift state subsidies on natural gas. you know that's hardly contributing to the stability of the ukrainian economy so it's a very difficult question it's a very difficult question for germany and for western europe one that i don't think that they are wise to play the gas roulette if you want to use the term with moscow on this one. but they've been three months now since he crane last paid its battles how long w

mr. eliot engel of new york and representatives marino and bass and u.s.id on a broad coalition along with a broad coalition of advocacy groups and ultimately we succeeded in freeing of an additional $100 million from inefficient purchase and shipping regulations so that we can strengthen food markets, promote greater self-sufficiency, and save more lives more quickly and for less money. i have seen firsthand the need for a quick and efficient food aid program having recently visited talk to bonn in the philippines which, of course, was ravaged by the typhoon that struck the island. unfortunately, usaid we will have no shortage of challenges ahead. needs in syria and the region are growing. humanitarian space is shrinking. u.s. investments in afghanistan and pakistan must contend with debilitating corruption and waste and the withdrawal of u.s. forces from afghanistan will only place a greater risk. i'm disappointed that the administration's request for egypt failed once again to prioritize true economic reforms, including a focus on a clear title to prope

mr. eliot engel of new york. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i have four questions i'm going to try to do it quickly. first something i mentioned in my opening statement, that's tuberculosis. it's usually treatable, as you know, with a course of inexpensive drugs, but it's still the leading -- curable, claiming 1.3 million lives per year and the emergence of multidrug resistant and extensively t.b. strains threatens the public health of the u.s. this year's budget question for usaid's tuberculosis program proposes a $45 million cut from f.y. 2014's appropriated level of $236 million. at a time of tight budgets, pepfar, and the global fund, can you elaborate on how usaid's tuberculosis program could absorb a cut of this magnitude and still carry out its vital mission? >> thank you. i appreciate your leadership on tuberculosis, i think it's very, very important. and that's part of why we have seen a 50% reduction in t.b. mortality and t.b. is projected to achieve its millennium development goal target. the -- we are very concerned about multidrug

i very much appreciate the bipartisan support that we've received from mr. engeland other members of the committee aisle. he this legislation passed unanimously out of our committee and the bill makes several change -- several changes also to improve u.s. security assistance to friends and allies. on april 10, 1979, the taiwan relations act was enacted to govern america's relationship with the republic of china-taiwan. for 35 years the act has helped maintain peace and security across the taiwan strait and the asia-pacific region. during this time, taiwan has undergone a monumental transformation from grinding poverty, from dictatorship to today a vibrant, multiparty democracy. taiwan's economy has evolved, too. to where it is today, our 10th top trading partner. this week we recognize this 35-year transformation. few other pieces of foreign policy legislation have been as consequential as the taiwan relations act. america's support for taiwan has allowed this island nation to realize its full potential. it is now more important than ever that we reaffirm our stro

engel been told. the remarks being made by mrs c ones that say invested more than six billion us taught us to create such a critical mass which ended with c and two was a mind on development and for that long of a ton of investment icing see him when caught in a size i see it in and tia is playing a dangerous god. the acting against the local commissioners if so the enemies. new converts keep saying send out tentatively and means going against your own people. this only is their hair fall to five houses on the barricades to form tiny t have decided to go off on the mind. as this mind to expel its own on a toe. the former is the chief of breaking news just to up some thief has joined is called into a self defense representative but we are now identifying government on chanel would drop to the helicopter nonetheless i'm attacked a checkpoint guarded by local militiamen in ukraine's donetsk region steps beyond this posting is of course bomb in the region at the second to none live will mold do we know the details between throughout this last ninety minutes is mine. i drink drink drink and becoming calmer th

mr. chairman. i have four questions i'm going to try and do it -- eliot engel. i'm going to try to quickly. the first one is about something mentioned in my opening statement, tuberculosis. it's usually treatable as you know with inexpensive drugs but it's still the leading curable infectious disease in the world, claiming 1.3 million lives per year. and the emergence of multi-drug-resistant and extensively, drug-resistant strain really poses a direct threat to the public health of the u.s. this year's budget request, u.s. aides to the goes program or pose a $45 million cut from fy 2014 of 236 million. at a time of tight budgets with pat far and the global fund, and you elaborate on how usaid tuberculous program could absorb the cut of this magnitude and stuck it on its mission? >> thank you. i appreciate your leadership on to rigid sister i think it's been very, very important and that's part of why we sing a reduction in tb mortality and tb is projected to achieve its blame development called target. we are very concerned about multidrug-resistant tuberculosis which largely has emerged in