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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.
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.
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.
Washington, D.C. – This week, the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee held hearings with leadership from the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and Army to discuss military readiness, priorities, and the strategic posture forward. With evolving threats and emerging domains, lawmakers emphasized the importance of a unified defense approach that aligns capabilities across land, air, and space to deter aggression, respond rapidly, and maintain lethality.
Good afternoon. The subcommittee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the first Fiscal Year 2026 Budget hearing for the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. I will begin by recognizing myself for an opening statement.
Thank you, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum. This hearing comes at a pivotal moment for our national security, as we face an increasingly complex and volatile global landscape. Among the challenges before us, none looms larger than the rising threat posed by China. With its rapid military modernization, expanding global influence, and assertive posture in the Indo-Pacific, China presents a strategic challenge that demands our full attention and a robust response.
Thank you, Chairman Harris and Ranking Member Bishop, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for being with us today. For rural districts like the one I represent in southwest Oklahoma, agriculture is not just a line on a ledger, it’s a reflection of our past, present, and future. American agriculture feeds us, but it also roots families, economies, and the nation’s well-being. You have seen these principles firsthand as you have traveled the country meeting with farmers and ranchers.
I would like to welcome Secretary Chris Wright to the Energy and Water Subcommittee this morning. Secretary Wright, thank you for joining us today to discuss the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of Energy. Before I go into my prepared remarks, I’d like to express my sincere appreciation for your recent visit to the Oak Ridge Reservation in my district. I’d also like to thank you for maintaining an open line of communication, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with you through this process as we develop our fiscal year 2026 bill.
