Washington– Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued the following statement on President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Ambassador Samantha Power to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID):

“President-elect Biden’s nomination of Ambassador Samantha Power as Administrator of USAID – and the elevation of the position to the National Security Council – demonstrates the value he places on having development at the table alongside diplomacy and defense. Foreign assistance is a critical tool for our national security, as well as our moral authority, and Ambassador Power will be a true force in bringing that to bear.

“Over the past four years, our standing in the international development community has diminished, as the Trump administration has repeatedly attempted to slash foreign assistance, sidelined development professionals, and failed to call out human rights abuses.

“I am confident that Ambassador Power will bring her foreign policy expertise, passion for human rights, and experience with multilateral engagement to USAID. I look forward to working with her to tackle the development challenges we face today, from COVID-19 to democratic backsliding, climate change, human rights, and beyond.”

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