Devex: Rex Tillerson outlines U.S aid vision, with few commitments to climate change and health, during Senate hearings
“Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, offered general support for furthering U.S. foreign aid and its development agenda as secretary of state, but expressed reservations on various hot-button topics — including women’s health and climate change — during an all-day Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing. … Tillerson remarked favorably on the work of the independent U.S. foreign aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation and PEPFAR, a global initiative initiative that offers programs and treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infections…” (Lieberman, 1/11).

Huffington Post: Rex Tillerson Hints At Support For State Department Women’s Programs
“Rex Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, offered tentative support on Wednesday for State Department programs that provide contraceptives and economic aid to women in developing countries. But the former Exxon Mobil Corp. chief executive stopped short of pledging to commit at least the same amount of money to such programs. ‘As I understand it, we currently invest something around a half a billion dollars a year in programs directed at family planning through foreign assistance,’ Tillerson said during his Senate confirmation hearing. ‘I think that’s an important level of support’…” (Kaufman/Peck, 1/11).

Rewire: Tillerson Waffles on Reproductive Rights, Climate Change, Russia
“…Trump’s transition team last month asked the State Department to name employees working on gender equality and gender-based violence. During the confirmation hearing Wednesday, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said that action sends a ‘chilling message.’ She pressed Tillerson on whether he would commit to continuing State Department and USAID programs dedicated to empowering women. Tillerson answered with a direct ‘yes.’ But he dodged a follow-up question on family planning programs, saying that he would have to examine all aspects before giving a similar commitment…” (Grimaldi, 1/11).