State Department

June 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today chaired the Foreign Relations Committee hearing considering President Obama’s nominees for two important posts at the Department of State.

Senator Boxer is the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women’s Issues. The subcommittee is the first of its kind with a specific focus on women's issues.

The following is Senator Boxer’s opening statement:    » read more »

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State -- Washington, DC, June 1, 2009 -- "Forty years ago this month, the gay rights movement began with the Stonewall riots in New York City, as gays and lesbians demanded an end to the persecution they had long endured. Now, after decades of hard work, the fight has grown into a global movement to achieve a world in which all people live free from violence and fear, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In honor of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and on behalf of the State Department, I extend our appreciation to the global LGBT community for its courage and determination during the past 40 years, and I offer our support for the significant work that still lies ahead.    » read more »

Sends letter after reports of mistreatment of students in Pennsylvania

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asia Affairs, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to investigate the Department of State’s oversight of U.S. youth exchange programs following reports of abuse and mistreatment of nine foreign exchange students in Pennsylvania.    » read more »

May 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts: Christopher Schroeder, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy, Department of Justice; Paul Anastas, Assistant Administrator for Office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency; Sherry Glied, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services; Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration; Ambassador Nancy Powell, Director General of the Foreign Service, Department of State; and Deborah Matz, Chair, National Credit Union Administration.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to review procedures impeding the rapid resettlement of Iraqi refugees to the United States.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- James S. Brady Press Briefing Room -- MR. GIBBS: A renewed guest appearance. Thank you all for coming. As we talked last week here, you all know the national security priority that Pakistan is for this administration. President Obama asked all those in the administration to respond quickly to the conditions that we're seeing now in the Swat Valley and in Pakistan. And I will turn it over to the Secretary of State for an announcement on that.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Robert. And I appreciate the opportunity to provide some information about what our government and the people of the U.S. are doing with respect to the humanitarian crisis that is affecting Pakistan.    » read more »

May 13, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts: Capricia Penavic Marshall, Chief of Protocol, with the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service, Department of State; Evan Segal, Chief Financial Officer, United States Department of Agriculture; and Rocco Landesman, Nominee for Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. The President also announced that he will be designating Gregory B. Jaczko, currently a Commissioner at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.    » read more »

May 12, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts:    » read more »

Washington, DC -- May 8, 2009 -- The President’s FY 2010 International Affairs Budget for the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other foreign affairs agencies provides the resources to renew America’s global leadership through diplomacy and foreign assistance that enhances our security, advances our interests, and reflects our values. This budget totals approximately $53.9 billion, including food aid:

* Foreign Operations and Related Agencies (including food aid): $36.7 billion
* Department of State: $16.3 billion
* Other International Affairs: $0.9 billion

The President’s budget proposal:    » read more »

May 6, 2009 -- James S. Brady Press Briefing Room -- MR. GIBBS: All right, guys, let's come to order here. In an effort to keep you on your toes and to prevent the normal boredom of having to listen to me each and every day, we have a special guest, the Secretary of State, to give us a readout on her meetings this morning with President Karzai and President Zardari.

Madam Secretary.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, Robert. You know, I successfully avoided this room for eight years. (Laughter.) But I'm very pleased to be here to discuss the series of meetings that we had this morning as part of our second trilateral with delegations from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and this time led by their respective Presidents.    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts: Alejandro Mayorkas, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security; Robert O. Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Department of State; Jamie M. Morin, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management, Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense; Thomas R. Lamont, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of the Army, Department of Defense; Daniel Benjamin, Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large, Department of State; Pearlie S.    » read more »

April 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts: Daniel B. Poneman, Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy; Fred P. Hochberg, President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States; Francisco "Frank" J. Sánchez, Under Secretary for International Trade, Department of Commerce; Miriam E. Sapiro, Deputy Trade Representative; Judith A. McHale, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Department of State; Philip J. "P.J." Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Department of State; Bonnie D.    » read more »

Washington, DC, April 8, 2009 -- Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher and U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake met with several U.S.-based organizations representing members of the Tamil diaspora to discuss the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.    » read more »

Washington, DC, April 6, 2009 -- The United States and the Republic of the Philippines will co-sponsor the May 4-8 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Voluntary Demonstration of Response (VDR) in the Philippines.    » read more »

Washington, DC, March 30, 2009 -- U.S. Official Development Assistance (ODA) increased substantially across sectors and worldwide in 2008. Once again, the United States is the largest single donor in the world on the basis of net annual disbursements.

* U. S. ODA totaled $26.0 billion in calendar year 2008, a $4.2 billion, or 19 percent increase from last year.
* U.S. 2008 ODA is the second highest net level historically for any donor country after the record U.S. level in 2005 of $27.9 billion.
* U.S. ODA to the Least Developed Countries increased by over 40 % to $6.9 billion, from $4.8 billion in 2007.
* U.S. humanitarian assistance in 2008 rose 46% to $4.4 billion, allowing the U.S. to meet global food security needs despite high global food and fuel prices.    » read more »