Remarks
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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Today’s hearing is on the Navy and Marine Corps fiscal year 2025 budget request for military construction and family housing.
It is a great pleasure to be here today with the Honorable Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; Vice Jeffrey Jablon, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Installations and Logistics, and Lieutenant General Edward Banta, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics for the U. S. Marine Corps.
Military construction and family housing makes up only about 2 percent of the Defense budget. Yet, it has a tremendous impact on our Sailors, Marines, and their families, who feel the impact of infrastructure investments daily.
Military construction dollars not only account for quality of life and family housing projects, but they also directly impact the recruitment, training and readiness of our forces.
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 2025 hearing for the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.
Before I start, I would like to thank Chairwoman Granger for her years of dedication to this Committee and formally congratulate Chairman Cole. I look forward to continuing to work with both of you.
I will begin by recognizing myself for an opening statement.
I’d like to welcome our witness, the Honorable Christopher Wray, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, back to this Subcommittee.
Director Wray, who has nearly 30 years of DOJ and FBI experience dating back to the late 1990s, has served in his current role since August of 2017.
Today’s hearing is on the Navy and Marine Corps fiscal year 2025 budget request for military construction and family housing.
It is a great pleasure to be here today with the Honorable Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment; Vice Jeffrey Jablon, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Installations and Logistics, and Lieutenant General Edward Banta, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics for the U. S. Marine Corps.
Military construction and family housing makes up only about 2 percent of the Defense budget. Yet, it has a tremendous impact on our Sailors, Marines, and their families, who feel the impact of infrastructure investments daily.
Military construction dollars not only account for quality of life and family housing projects, but they also directly impact the recruitment, training and readiness of our forces.
The Defense Subcommittee will come to order.
Today, the Subcommittee will receive testimony from the Honorable Carlos del Toro, Secretary of the Navy; Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations; And General Eric Smith, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.
Thank you all for joining us.
I want to start by welcoming Admiral Franchetti. You have the distinction of being the first woman Chief of Naval Operations, the first woman on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and today is your first time testifying before the Committee. We are happy to have you here today.
General Smith, this is also your first time testifying before the Committee. We are glad to see you back leading our Marines. Thank you for being here.
Finally, Secretary Del Toro, welcome back. It is always good to have you.
The Subcommittee will come to order.
Today, the Subcommittee will receive testimony on the posture of the United States Army.
First, I would like to welcome our two witnesses: Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth, and General Randy George, the Chief of Staff of the Army.
Thank you for joining us. We look forward to your testimony.
The U.S. Army provides our nation with the best fighting force in the world. We face a variety of threats from across the globe which require a well-trained and well-equipped Army. As new threats evolve, it is imperative that we prioritize investments that not only contribute to current readiness, but also provide us with a decisive advantage on any future battlefield.
