Press Releases

Welcome, General Klotz, Dr. Cook, and General Davis. We appreciate you appearing before the Subcommittee this afternoon.

Since this Subcommittee last met to review the National Nuclear Security Administration budget, much has transpired. Russia's brazen intervention in Ukraine has caused great concern in this country and around the world. Just this week, the assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov provided a deadly reminder of Russian President Putin's capability.

It is through that lens that we must assess our strategic future, including nuclear security.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to welcome Secretary Moniz and thank him for coming before our committee today.

The President's budget request for fiscal year 2016 calls for investments in research, education, training, and infrastructure. It also calls for the end of the mindless austerity of sequestration, urging Congress to replace it with more targeted spending cuts, program integrity measures, and the closure of several outdated tax loopholes.

Good morning, Dr. Moniz, it is good to see you again. I appreciate your recent visit to Ohio and your willingness to work with us to address the challenges faced by communities in the part of the country that I represent.

First among those, I remain focused on job creation. I appreciate several of your proposals to meet this need—in particular, a $200 million increase for the Advanced Manufacturing program, which could do great things for our region and nation.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), at today's Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, called for more support for the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Administration for Community Living. Her opening remarks noted that SSA's operating budget, in particular, has been cut by more than $1.2 billion since 2010, after adjusting for inflation.

The below remarks are as delivered at the hearing:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to welcome Secretary Anthony Foxx and thank him for coming before our committee today.

The programs under the jurisdiction of this subcommittee are some of the most important, and are a prime illustration of how indiscriminate budget cutting has had a massive impact across this entire nation. Our infrastructure needs simply cannot be ignored any longer.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'd like to join you in welcoming my friend and fellow North Carolinian, Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. I am familiar with his many accomplishments as Mayor of Charlotte, and I know we are lucky to have him leading DOT.

Secretary Jewell, I join with Chairman Calvert in welcoming you to the subcommittee today. I appreciate that you and Deputy Secretary Connor are here to provide insight into the fiscal year 2016 budget request for the Department of the Interior and to answer any questions we may have.

Secretary Kerry, welcome back. You continue to represent our country with passion and dedication, and I thank you for your tireless efforts. Since you were sworn in two years ago, you have worked diligently on both Middle East Peace and Iranian nuclear negotiations; faced nonstop crisis in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine; and consistently worked to counter terrorism and advocate for human rights and humanitarian needs.