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Good morning. It is my pleasure to begin today’s hearing by welcoming our new Secretary of Health and Human Services to the House Appropriations Committee. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Confirmed to his Cabinet post just three months ago, he has hit the ground running with the aim of implementing the President’s goal to Make America Healthy Again. Mr. Secretary, we are pleased to have you with us here today.
Secretary Kennedy brings fresh eyes and a new perspective on public health and the state of the health care system in America – what is working and what is not working.
Thank you, Chairman Womack, and thank you, Ranking Member Clyburn. Welcome Secretary Duffy. It is good to have you back – even if it’s on the other side of this chamber’s dais. Thank you for appearing before us and for your service.
I also want to acknowledge Tim and Sheri Lilley, who are with us today. They are the parents of Flight 5342 first officer Sam Lilley, who lost his life in the tragic mid-air collision at DCA. Tim and Sheri, this entire Committee—and the nation—mourn alongside you and each family whose lives irrevocably changed that night. You have taken the voice of grief and used it to speak for those who no longer can. Your strength and purpose in advocating for aviation safety—particularly given Tim’s experience as a retired helicopter pilot—are an important force for change. Your work honors Sam and the victims in the most powerful way: by helping to save lives and make our skies safer.
Washington, D.C. – This week, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY), Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), and other appropriators underscored the vital role of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in safeguarding national security and combating violent crime during an oversight hearing with Director Kash Patel. The discussion centered on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request and ongoing threats from drug trafficking, cybercrime, and terrorism.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD), Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), and other members underscored the vital role of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities during an oversight hearing with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The discussion centered on FY26 budget recommendations and ongoing collaboration between Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure greater prosperity, opportunity, and long-term stability for the nation’s agricultural sector.
