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The Subcommittee on Defense 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 James McConville, the Chief of Staff of the Army.
Thank you for joining us. We look forward to your testimony.
The rise of China as a military and economic power has raised concerns about the potential for conflict and the need for the Army to maintain a credible deterrence posture. China is improving their military capabilities and their efforts to maintain a technological edge, particularly in the areas of munitions, missiles, and other ground combat systems.
Good Morning, Mr. Secretary. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education for our very first budget hearing of the year, which happens to also be my first budget hearing as Chairman. We are looking forward to hearing your testimony.
Mr. Secretary, as I've been coming up to speed as the new Chairman, I've been learning more about the incredible breadth of programs under your jurisdiction. From overseeing research that we hope will cure diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's, providing childcare and early learning for our littlest Americans, training our next generation of medical professionals, and administering health insurance for our Nation's poor and aging populations, it is clear that your responsibilities are many.
The hearing will come to order.
Good afternoon and welcome back, for the second time today, to discuss the President's budget proposal for FY 2024.
Earlier this morning, Secretary Haaland with the Interior Department joined us and now we are pleased to welcome Administrator Regan from the Environmental Protection Agency. Thank you for being here today, Administrator Regan.
As you know, I previously served as Chairman of this subcommittee, and I'm very excited to be back in this role again.
In part because I am a lifelong conservationist from a Western state and recognize the importance of protecting and preserving our land and water resources.
The committee will come to order.
Madam Secretary, thank you for being here today. And thank you for our conversation last week in advance of this hearing. I look forward to our discussion on several important issues facing the Department of the Interior.
While I don't agree with all of your decisions or the Administration's policies, I am glad that we have been able to work together on many bipartisan issues, like working to meet our treaty and trust obligations with American Indians and Alaska Natives and implementation of the Great American Outdoors Act.
I am thrilled to return as Chairman of this subcommittee after serving on it over the last two decades. This subcommittee oversees funding for public land agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the Forest Service, and as chairman I have a unique opportunity to influence federal policies that directly impact Idaho.
