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Thank you, Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Frankel. I’m pleased to be with you today for this important hearing before the newly renamed Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs. More than mere terminology, the change reflects a renewed commitment to strategic engagement and diplomacy to build a stronger and more secure future. We are leading with sharpened purpose to ensure Americans are safer at home and abroad. The work of the State Department is core to this mission and the cause of freedom – and every action and investment we make should protect and promote U.S. security, prosperity, and values.
Secretary Rubio, it is an honor and privilege to have you with us today to provide testimony on the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the Department of State and related programs. Before we get started, I want to recognize the Subcommittee’s new Members. We’ve got a tremendous group -- each Member has something unique to contribute and I’m grateful to have them on this panel.
I would like to thank Chairman Carr for being here today and for his leadership at the FCC. The Federal Communications Commission was created for the purpose of expanding access to radio, television, and other communication services to all Americans.
Methods of communication have changed a lot since the FCC was founded more than 90 years ago. Decades of technological advancements have made long-distance communications much more affordable. In 2023 the total number of wireless connections in the United States reached almost 558 million, or more than 1.6 connections per American. The FCC continues to play an important role in expanding access to new technologies and making communication services affordable for all Americans.
Good morning. I am very pleased to welcome our new Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to the House Appropriations Committee. Today we will hear about the Department of Education’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2026. Secretary McMahon has wasted no time implementing President Trump’s bold agenda to restore education to the states and I want to commend her efforts to hit the ground running.
