Washington, DC
–
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) was named Chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection, following an organizational meeting of the full Foreign Relations Committee. 

 

“Development programs, while a minute portion of our federal budget, help to promote economic and political stability throughout the world, which strengthens America’s national security. The programs under the jurisdiction of this subcommittee also provide critical assistance across the globe and fulfill our moral obligation to help reduce poverty in vulnerable communities. For these reasons, I strongly believe that our focus on development should complement the commitment we currently show to defense and diplomacy,”
said Senator Cardin. “Even in this time of scarce U.S. budget resources, our globalized world requires a rigorous and effective implementation of these programs. I am looking forward to working through this subcommittee to ensuring this crucial goal, with a strong eye towards sustainability, gender equality and transparency.”

 

“The challenges we face this year are enormous, and we have an outstanding group of subcommittee chairs to tackle the issues before us,”
said Chairman Kerry. “Senator Cardin is good at getting to the ‘nuts and bolts’ of issues and has long been a powerful voice on foreign assistance reform and the global economy. I’ve worked closely with Senator Cardin for years and I’m pleased that he is chairing the Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection.” 

 

Senator Cardin’s subcommittee has jurisdiction over and oversight of foreign assistance programs and U.S. development policy, such as food security, health, education, economic and humanitarian assistance. The oversight also includes programs carried out by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and other U.S. agencies involved in bilateral and multilateral development.

 

In addition to chairing the Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection, Senator Cardin also serves on the following other subcommittees of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: African Affairs, European Affairs, and Near East and South Central Asian Affairs.

 

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