Remarks

Thank you, Chairman Harris, and thank you to Ranking Member Bishop, Ranking Member DeLauro, and to all the members of the subcommittee for being with us today.

As we kick off our markup schedule for the fiscal year 2026 bills today, we should all expect some early mornings and late nights in the coming weeks. But, the idea of sunup to sundown is nothing new for America’s foremost producers. For rural districts like the one I represent in southwest Oklahoma, agriculture is not merely a commodity, it is a way of life. Through production, innovation, and pure grit, American farmers feed the world.

Good morning. The Subcommittee will come to order. I want to welcome everyone to the Subcommittee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. I am pleased to be joined by our Subcommittee Ranking Member, Mr. Bishop, Full Committee Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and the Members of the Subcommittee.

Thank you, Chairman Carter, and thank you to Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, Ranking Member DeLauro, and to all the members of the subcommittee for being here.

This morning’s first measure is the first appropriations bill we will consider for Fiscal Year 2026. I echo my good friend Judge Carter’s comments about this bill. It honors our commitment to those who’ve worn America’s uniform and supports our military and their loved ones. By providing critical funding for military bases and improving housing for our troops and their families, we are ensuring that our national defense needs are met both at home and abroad.

We are also upholding our pledge to our veterans. This bill fully funds health care and benefits for those who have honorably served. They upheld their sacred oath to us—and now a grateful nation is keeping our promise to them. 

Welcome to the subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.  Welcome Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Ranking Member Wasserman-Schultz.

I am pleased to present the fiscal year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill today. I know the process to this point has been a little non-traditional, but it is important that we do our jobs as appropriators and get moving on this critical legislation. I recognize as this process unfolds and we receive further documentation on the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, we will take it under consideration including those proposals aimed at improving efficiencies. 

I would like to thank Director Vought for being here today. The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, plays a central role in most of the decisions made in the Executive Branch, particularly as it relates to the federal budget. 

It’s also important to remember that OMB is an office created by Congress. In 1921, the Congress passed the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, which created the Bureau of the Budget under the Department of the Treasury. Later in 1939, in the Reorganization Act of 1939, the Bureau was relocated to the newly created Executive Office of the President. And, in 1970, Congress approved the Bureau’s renaming to the Office of Management and Budget.

Thank you, Chairman Womack, and thank you Ranking Member Clyburn. Welcome Administrator Rocheleau. Thank you for coming before us today and for your decades of public service. Administrator Rocheleau, as we start the Fiscal Year 2026 process, I am focused on providing effective fiscal support to the FAA. We know you need resources to ensure the safety of our national airspace, support American manufacturers and innovators, and invest in infrastructure that improves the efficiency and reliability of our aviation system. 

Today, we welcome testimony from Chris Rocheleau, Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Administrator Rocheleau, thank you for joining us today as we review the FAA's budget request for the coming fiscal year.

We've seen air travel rebound since the pandemic, with passenger numbers now consistently exceeding pre-pandemic levels across our aviation system. Aviation remains a critical driver of economic growth. Commercial aviation contributes more than $1 trillion to our economy, and new aviation technologies promise to deliver more opportunities while improving the quality of life for all Americans. I am particularly excited to see how advancements in the aviation sector provide more opportunities in areas of high growth like the third district of Arkansas.

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.