Remarks
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.
Secretary Rubio, it is an honor and privilege to have you with us today to provide testimony on the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the Department of State and related programs. Before we get started, I want to recognize the Subcommittee’s new Members. We’ve got a tremendous group -- each Member has something unique to contribute and I’m grateful to have them on this panel.
I would like to thank Chairman Carr for being here today and for his leadership at the FCC. The Federal Communications Commission was created for the purpose of expanding access to radio, television, and other communication services to all Americans.
Methods of communication have changed a lot since the FCC was founded more than 90 years ago. Decades of technological advancements have made long-distance communications much more affordable. In 2023 the total number of wireless connections in the United States reached almost 558 million, or more than 1.6 connections per American. The FCC continues to play an important role in expanding access to new technologies and making communication services affordable for all Americans.
Good morning. I am very pleased to welcome our new Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to the House Appropriations Committee. Today we will hear about the Department of Education’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2026. Secretary McMahon has wasted no time implementing President Trump’s bold agenda to restore education to the states and I want to commend her efforts to hit the ground running.
It is my pleasure to welcome Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Robyn Colosimo, and Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lieutenant General Butch Graham, to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I am equally pleased to welcome Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Scott Cameron, to discuss the request for the Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project.
We scheduled this hearing with the expectation that we would have the full budget request for these critical programs. I appreciate the challenge facing any new administration in submitting a timely budget request to Congress; however, we cannot do our work without those details. I hope we can expect that information soon, so we can begin the important work of funding our nation’s water resource development programs.
