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First, I want to recognize our colleagues, Representatives Pingree, McCollum and DeLauro for suggesting this topic. I am delighted we are having this hearing. Today’s topic is sustainable agriculture. Specifically, the economic opportunities for farmers through such practices. To be sure, our farmers have known for a long time that implementing simple practices such as crop rotation or no-till can increase both soil health and their bottom lines.

In a speech less than two weeks ago, you outlined your priorities for the Department of Transportation. First, safety. Second, rebuilding and refurbishing our country’s infrastructure. Third, preparing for the future. If a budget reflects values, it seems the Trump Administration does not actually share these priorities.

This morning we will examine the FY 2020 budget request for the Department of Transportation. Secretary Chao, welcome back and thank you for joining us today. Repairing and improving our infrastructure remains one of the top challenges facing our nation. Our economy, quality of life, and international competitiveness depend upon robust transportation networks that can accommodate the movement of people and goods.

I am pleased to introduce our witness, Secretary Perdue. The Secretary and I have a decades-long relationship. He has a deep commitment to our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Before we begin, I want to say that we need to get a supplemental disaster bill through Congress. I know the Secretary shares my sense of urgency about this. The House passed its bill in January and we are ready to go to conference with the Senate as soon as it passes a bill. I know all House members are also committed to ensuring the areas of the Midwest that were hit with monumental floods just a few weeks ago have the funds they need.

Today, we are focused on combatting wage theft and the critical role of the Wage and Hour Division. The National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice is a grassroots organization founded to spotlight and combat wage theft. They define wage theft as a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which provides for a federal minimum wage and allows states to set their own higher minimum wage, and requires employers to pay time and a half for all hours worked above 40 hours per week. When employers violate those requirements in federal law, and thus fail to pay working people the full wages they have earned and are legally-entitled to, those companies are committing wage theft.

Good morning, I’d like to welcome to the subcommittee Rear Admiral Michael D. Weahkee, the Principle Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS). The Rear Admiral testified before this subcommittee last year, and we are very happy to have you back today. Joining the Rear Admiral today is Ann Church, Acting Director of Finance and Accounting, and Rear Admiral (Retired) Gary Hartz, Director of Environmental Health and Engineering.

Welcome to the Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee for our annual Public Witness Day. Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all of our witnesses—both the witnesses in attendance today and the ones who are submitting written testimony for the record.