Remarks

Thank you, Chairman Cole, and I want to commend your leadership in moving the FY27 appropriations process forward. I also want to recognize the Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Ms. DeLauro, and the Subcommittee Ranking Member, Mr. Bishop, for their work in getting us to this point. I appreciate the conversations Mr. Bishop and I have had, and while we may not agree on everything in the bill, I know we are closer to agreement than some of today’s debate may show.

Thank you, Chairman Diaz-Balart, and thank you to Ranking Member Frankel, Ranking Member DeLauro, and all our members. We continue full committee markups today with the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs bill. This legislation makes a clear statement about American leadership. We will engage where it matters. We will invest where it counts. And we will demand accountability for every dollar spent. On a world stage where challenges are growing and competitors are threatening the global order, this bill ensures the United States is not passive – it is prepared, it is focused, and it is leading.

I am pleased to present the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs appropriations bill to the full committee for consideration and approval. Let me start by thanking Chairman Cole for his invaluable leadership of the Appropriations Committee and for his commitment to ensuring that Congress upholds its responsibility to provide the tools necessary to safeguard our national security.

This afternoon I’d like to welcome the 17th Administrator of the EPA, Lee Zeldin. Administrator Zeldin, welcome back. We are here to discuss the FY 2027 President’s budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency.

I would like to welcome Administrator Isaacman to our Subcommittee. We are pleased to have him here today at a critical and exciting time for NASA. Administrator, I want to first extend my congratulations to NASA for the success of the Artemis II mission.

I would like to welcome everyone to this morning’s hearing. I would also like to welcome a new member to the Appropriations Committee and to CJS, Representative Jefferson Shreve. I know he will be a strong voice for Indiana on the committee, and I look forward to working with him. Thank you to our Subcommittee members and to Secretary Lutnick for joining us to discuss the Department of Commerce’s fiscal year 2027 budget request.

Thank you, Chairman Harris, and thank you to Ranking Member Bishop, Ranking Member DeLauro, and to all the members here today. Our subcommittee markups continue this morning with the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill. We all recognize a simple truth: when American agriculture is strong, America is strong.

Good morning. The Subcommittee will come to order. I want to welcome everyone to the Subcommittee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 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.