These are important documents and they capture many headlines. The strategy is much more than words. The strategy underpins the Department’s budget and drives our resourcing. We have more than a strategy. We have a plan.
In this context, it is important to recognize the heavy lifting done by our Congress, which has shown extraordinary bipartisan support to provide the Defense Department with the resources needed to execute our defense strategy. Congress did not just remove the budget caps limiting our efforts; they have fully funded our defense strategy.
Their contribution is significant, and many have made the long journey to be here with us today. I would like to recognize them：House Armed Services Committee Chairman Smith; Ranking Member Thornberry; Representatives Larsen, Norcross, and Brown; and Senators King, Gardner, Duckworth, and Blackburn.
I thank them for their vital support to our National Defense Strategy, and I can personally speak to their engagement. I truly appreciate all the help.
Congress’ focus is global and regional, and this region in particular will benefit from their passage of the bipartisan Better Utilization of Investment Leading to Development or BUILD Act, which President Trump signed into law last October.
The BUILD Act establishes a new U.S. International Development Finance Corporation that will prioritize low－ and middle－income countries. Through it we will more than double U.S. development finance capacity, from ＄29 billion to ＄60 billion, helping to unlock the potential of private capital to support high quality, high standard, transparent investments to better service infrastructure needs across the region and the world. |
