Remarks

The subject of today’s hearing is the Fiscal Year 2025 request for the House of Representatives.

I’d like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat, Committee Members, Mr. Kevin McCumber, Mr. Bill McFarland, and Ms. Catherine Szpindor and our other House officers for being here today.

I know that all Members of this committee share my appreciation for the critical work that you do to maintain the operations of the House.

We are experiencing the work your offices do in the hearing this morning— the Clerk’s office provides the stenographer for the transcript, the Sergeant at Arms controls access through the appointments desk, and the sound equipment and live streaming services come from the CAO.

You make the House work, and I look forward to hearing your testimonies and learning more about your budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2025.

I now recognize Ranking Member Espaillat for his opening remarks.

Good afternoon.

The Subcommittee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time.

Senator Nelson, it is good to see you again.

We welcome your testimony regarding NASA’s fiscal year 2025 budget request.

The Biden Administration is requesting $25.4 billion in funding for NASA – a roughly 2 percent increase over the fiscal year 2024 enacted level.

Funding NASA is critical to getting back to the Moon, advancing our scientific understanding, and driving innovation.

However, we remain accountable to the taxpayer, and with the national debt continuing to skyrocket, it is critical that NASA remains focused on its core mission.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration was founded in 1958 in response to the “space race” with the Soviet Union to land the first man on the Moon.

This is the Fiscal Year 2025 Legislative Branch Subcommittee Member Day Hearing.

I’d like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat, Committee Members, Representative Kilmer, and Representative Crockett for being here today.

In addition to our two witnesses here this morning, Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) and Representative Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) submitted testimony for the record. I would also like to make note that this hearing also serves as a vehicle for Public Witnesses to submit testimony for the record and nine testimonies were submitted and may be found online.

Good morning, Acting Secretary Su. I welcome you to the Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education and thank you for joining us this morning. I’m pleased to have you this year for a budget hearing and look forward to your testimony.

The role of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of wage earners in the United States; to improve their working conditions; and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment.

The purpose of this hearing is to review the Department’s fiscal year 2025 budget request.

While there are many open jobs in the economy, persistent and painful high‑inflation, driven by Democrats’ out-of-control spending and regulatory overreach has burdened the American workforce and their families for more than two years.

The committee will come to order.

Good morning and thank you to Chief Moore for being here today to testify on the Forest Service’s fiscal year 2025 budget request.

At last year’s hearing, we were lucky to be joined by a bird of prey that frequents our national forests—a bald eagle. I think we all enjoyed hearing from the Peregrine Fund about the work they do to conserve bald eagles and other critical species.

As a lifelong Idahoan, I have seen firsthand how catastrophic wildfires can affect these birds and their habitats, much like the devastating toll fires take on communities across the country, other natural resources, and infrastructure.

Good morning.

The subcommittee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time.

Today, we welcome the Attorney General of the United States, the Honorable Merrick Garland, to the Subcommittee to testify on the Department of Justice’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request.

The Department requests approximately $38 billion in discretionary resources, an increase of nearly 2 percent over the fiscal year 2024 enacted level.

Once again, the Department’s budget submission uses themes such as “upholding the rule of law,” and “keeping our country safe.” It is the job of Congress to examine whether agency priorities line up with these themes and fund the Department appropriately and accordingly.

Unfortunately, the Department’s budget underwhelms and has not thoughtfully identified areas where strategic reductions could be made, aside from aid to local law enforcement.

The subject of today’s hearing is the Fiscal Year 2025 request for the Library of Congress and the Architect of the Capitol.

I’d like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat, Committee Members, the Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden, and the Acting Architect Joe DiPietro for being here today.

The largest library in the world, the Library of Congress is the main research arm of the Congress.

Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) released the following statement in response to Iran’s airborne attack against Israel:

“Israel has the right to defend itself, and I strongly condemn Tehran’s attack on one of our greatest allies. This is a dangerous escalation that further derails the safety and security of the region and the world. Congress must continue to ensure Israel is equipped with the resources and capabilities needed to defend itself in full force against this terror. This is a defining moment - our actions must show the United States remains steadfast in our commitment to Israel’s security. We must work together and lead with strength. Our prayers are with Israel.”

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