Senator Hillary Clinton confirmed as Secretary of State
January 16, 2009

Hillary Rodham Clinton has been confirmed as the 67th U.S. Secretary of State. The importance of development to U.S. national security emerged as a theme throughout her confirmation hearing.

During the hearing, Secretary Clinton discussed her commitment to elevating global development through increased budget resources and better organization, and detailed ways she hopes to modernize foreign aid, including working to build on the promise of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Here are just a few of Secretary Clinton’s statements about development and foreign policy.

“Efforts to modernize U.S. development and foreign assistance programs will require a substantial investment of time and effort. But the President-elect believes that these efforts can pay significant returns in global stability, security and prosperity.”

“The President-elect has committed to doubling U.S. foreign assistance over his first term, and I look forward to working closely with the Congress to fulfill this goal.”

“I don’t think in this complex and dangerous world, there is any substitute for the role of the State Department and USAID professionals, so it will be my undertaking to make this department as efficient as possible so that you know you’re getting your money’s worth, to streamline it as much as possible. I want strategies. I want specific ideas. I want more partnerships. That’s how I see the role of the State Department of the 21st-century. That’s how I hope that USAID will be revitalized to perform that role as well.”

“President-elect Obama supports the MCC, and the principle of greater accountability in our foreign assistance programs…However, there are challenges within the MCC…The Obama Administration looks forward to working to build on the promise of the MCC as we move forward with modernizing U.S. foreign assistance programs.”

Read more of Secretary Clinton’s comments on global development compiled by the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN).

For further analysis, read coverage by the Center for Global Development.