Today, as authoritarian regimes like China and Russia are expanding their influence around the world, we cannot afford to waste taxpayer dollars on ineffective programs that make our nation look weak
By Cong. Michael McCaul
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the world grows more dangerous, we must ensure every dollar of American foreign assistance is used effectively to advance our national interests. During last week’s House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, I called for urgent reforms at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to refocus it on its core mission: countering our adversaries and stabilizing fragile nations that breed terrorism.
When I was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee last Congress, the Biden administration’s State Department notified me of many wasteful programs — both within USAID and the State Department. As chairman, I put “holds” on those programs, which meant the administration should have stopped their efforts to fund these initiatives. But they were so committed to their woke causes, they blew through my holds and spent the money anyway — bucking longstanding tradition.For example, the administration spent $1.5 million encouraging LGBTQ immigrants in Latin America to sue primarily Catholic nations, and more than $20 thousand hosting drag shows in Ecuador. It’s wasteful and woke spending like this that gave USAID — and U.S. foreign aid in general — a black eye.
USAID was created during the Cold War to counter the Soviet Union. Today, as authoritarian regimes like China and Russia are expanding their influence around the world, we cannot afford to waste taxpayer dollars on ineffective programs that make our nation look weak. Our diplomatic might is needed to counter China’s malign Belt and Road Initiative now more than ever.
The American people deserve to know that their hard-earned tax dollars are being used wisely. As we move forward, I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to reform USAID and restore its focus on programs that truly advance U.S. national security and global leadership.
- Click to Watch my full exchange with our witness, former Rep. Ted Yoho, at the hearing.
No family should have to endure the heartbreak of watching their child fight cancer without access to the best possible treatments. That’s why I founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus in 2009: to give child patients and survivors hope and a voice in Congress. Since then, I have seen firsthand the incredible resilience of young cancer warriors and their families. Their courage is what drives me to continue this fight.
This week, I was proud to reintroduce the Give Kids A Chance Act — landmark legislation that would spur drug development for pediatric rare diseases, improve outcomes for patients, and close gaps in pediatric drug research.
Over the past 16 years, we have made great strides in pediatric drug development. But our work is far from over. Every year, nearly 16,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer, and it remains the leading cause of disease-related death among American children. The Give Kids A Chance Act will ensure every child has a fighting chance to beat this horrible disease.
- Click here to read more about the bill.
The Give Kids a Chance Act also included a bipartisan section to establish an Abraham Accords office within the Food and Drug Administration. This office will build on President Trump’s successful Abraham Accords — which normalized relations between Israel and several nations in the Middle East — by collaborating with Abraham Accords nations on medical research and development.
This will, in turn, help strengthen our countries’ economies, diversify U.S. supply chains, and reduce our reliance on China for lifesaving medicines and supplies.
Congressman Michael McCaul represents Texas' 10th Congressional District, which stretches from Lake Travis outside of Austin to the Brazos Valley and includes: Austin, Bastrop, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Lee, Madison, Travis, Washington, Waller and Williamson Counties. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and previously – prior to being term-limited as chairman under the House of Representatives Rules – served as the Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee during the 113th, 115th and 116th Congresses.
