RFK Jr. appears at House budget hearing for Department of Health and Human Services

[34:14] Okay. Well, good afternoon, and I want to welcome again to our subcommittee, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy. [34:25] Mr. Junior, Mr. Secretary, we're pleased to have you with us here today. Welcome. Good to have you back. [34:31] Secretary Kennedy brings a new perspective to the focus on public health and what is needed to improve the state of health care system in America. [34:41] For too long, public health recommendations have not revisited the science of supporting them, and the health care system lacks focus on improving health and wellness for better long-term outcomes. [34:54] Secretary Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again initiative has galvanized advocates who want to take a direct role in improving their health and their well-being. [35:04] The federal government is currently spending – well, let me rephrase that. [35:11] American taxpayers are currently spending an estimated $1.9 trillion annually on health care programs and services, [35:19] which constitutes over a quarter of federal outlays and the largest category of federal spending. [35:26] The United States vastly outpaces every other country in the world on a per capita health care spending. [35:35] And yet, despite this massive and growing investment, America's health outcomes are often lower than other developed countries. [35:45] Life expectancy in the United States is lower than in any other developed economy, [35:53] while rates of infant and maternal mortality, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are higher. [36:00] That does not mean that targeted money spent on the right work isn't important. [36:09] But simply, more money to the system is not necessarily improving our outcomes. [36:15] It's time to do something different, and I want to commend Secretary Kennedy for charting a new course to fight chronic disease that is crippling America. [36:25] In addition to taking on chronic disease, the administration is restoring common sense to hospitals that perform mutilating surgeries on children. [36:38] The Department of Health and Human Services has taken numerous actions to end the practice of sex change surgeries on minors and the health care system. [36:47] These so-called treatments expose children to irreversible harm that will last their entire lifetime. [36:54] Ending these practices is long overdue. [36:58] Also, long overdue is enforcement of conscious rights protection by the Weldon Amendment, [37:06] which for over 20 years has prohibited the discrimination of health care entities by state and local governments [37:12] because they refuse to provide coverage for abortion. [37:17] Prior secretaries have blatantly ignored the law in order to protect the far-left government, [37:23] forcing their views on faith-based providers. [37:26] Just last month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced an investigation into 13 states for violation of the Weldon Amendment. [37:35] So thank you, Secretary Kennedy. [37:37] Thank you for your agency standing up and doing the right thing. [37:40] Another area that I want to see the administration focus more on is the status of rural health care. [37:47] Hospital closures, maternity deserts, and limited access to general surgery abounds in much of the United States. [37:59] Being from Alabama and being from a rural state, rural communities deserve better from their government. [38:06] The one big, beautiful bill provided $50 billion for rural health care transformation, [38:11] and I think discretionary investments into this space can complete this effort. [38:18] Like with any other budget, the proposal puts forward by your agency seeks to balance objectives of fiscal stewardship [38:26] while putting a priority on the most critical investments. [38:30] Like last year, I doubt that we will be able to agree on areas for reduction. [38:36] I'm a strong supporter of investments for NIH and believe extreme swings in funding supporting biomedical research are counterproductive. [38:46] I respect that to fit the President's objective, you've had to make some hard decisions, [38:51] and I look forward to working with you and the Director of NIH, Dr. Potichera, [38:57] to finding the right balance on spending on research to ensure that America's rightful place [39:04] are at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs. [39:07] So, Mr. Secretary, as I'm sure you've learned in your time in federal service, [39:13] implementing reforms in Washington is not an easy task. [39:16] The President has asked you to take on a very mighty challenge, [39:20] and I look forward to your continued success in ways that we can work together [39:24] to continue making America healthy again. [39:27] And with that, I would like to recognize the ranking member, Mr. Delaro, [39:31] for any opening remarks that she might have. [39:33] Thank you so much, Chairman Adderholt, for convening today's hearing on the Department of Health and Human Services' proposed budget. [39:42] Now, I want to say a thank you to Secretary Kennedy for taking the time to join us today [39:46] and to hear his testimony and to be able to engage in a dialogue over our questions. [39:52] Secretary Kennedy, you and I spoke on the phone recently about this, [39:57] but let me just commend you on your recent efforts to reduce the amount of microplastics in American drinking water. [40:06] We know there's a pervasive problem with these contaminants, [40:10] and I applaud the Department's efforts alongside the EPA to classify microplastics for the first time as water contaminants. [40:21] Microplastics have been shown to cause damage to our respiratory system, [40:25] increase our risk of heart attack and stroke, [40:27] potentially lead to colon and lung cancer, [40:30] along with a slew of other negative health efforts. [40:32] They have been found just about everywhere and in just about everyone. [40:36] Even newborns enter the world with microplastics already in their bodies. [40:43] And I did mention this to you on the phone, [40:45] and for anyone who wants to bother to take a look, [40:48] there is a book out called Plastics, Inc., [40:51] The Secret History and Shocking Future of Big Oil's Biggest Bet. [40:57] Oil companies are upping the production of plastic as a safeguard against falling revenue, [41:02] which talks about this issue here is that each person's brain contained around 7 grams of plastic [41:11] an entire disposable spoon's worth. [41:14] Those who suffered from dementia had more plastic in their brains than those who did not. [41:18] So, again, let me commend you and the Department for walking down that road and getting that done. [41:25] We need to act quickly and seriously to stop this pollution of ourselves and our planet. [41:34] This designation is an important step in the right direction. [41:37] I was very proud of the work that Chairman Adderholt and I and every member of this subcommittee [41:43] were able to do earlier this year on the fiscal year 2026 funding bill [41:48] for the Departments of Labor, HHS, and Education. [41:52] It illustrates that despite partisan divisions, [41:54] we can still come together on a bipartisan basis, [41:57] negotiate in good faith, [41:59] and forge an agreement that passed overwhelmingly. [42:03] I was extremely disappointed to see that the White House budget request did not build [42:08] on that progress we made, [42:09] but instead has proposed extreme cuts to programs that the American people rely on. [42:17] Mr. Secretary, the budget request proposes a $16.5 billion cut [42:21] to health agencies funded by this subcommittee. [42:26] That adds up to 14 percent. [42:29] And frankly, it signals a lack of good faith on the part of the administration [42:34] and indicates to me a shameful reversion to the same extremism we found in the pages of Project 2025. [42:43] The president is failing the American people. [42:46] He is failing to bring down the rising cost of living, [42:48] which he promised to do again and again on the campaign trail. [42:52] Instead of taking any action to bring down costs, [42:54] he has called affordability a, quote, [42:57] con job, a hoax. [42:58] Just the other day, he said, and I quote, [43:00] the United States can't take care of daycare or Medicare or Medicaid [43:05] because, quote, we're fighting wars, wars of choice, not necessity, [43:10] that the vast majority of Americans are opposed to. [43:14] The president wants to increase funding for the Pentagon by half a trillion dollars [43:19] to fight his wars overseas. [43:22] Meanwhile, his budget proposal includes no increase in funding for child care. [43:30] Inflation is surging. [43:31] The cost of gas, groceries, everyday necessity is climbing day by day. [43:35] And all of this administration has done is to start more wars, [43:39] raise more tariffs, create more uncertainty, [43:41] but no relief for the American people. [43:44] The only thing this administration has managed to accomplish [43:46] is cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations, [43:51] paid for by defunding Medicaid and nutrition assistance by $1.2 trillion [43:56] and pushing 15 million people off their health insurance. [44:00] The consequences of these cuts will extend far beyond just Medicaid enrollees. [44:06] They will raise the cost of coverage for everyone. [44:10] And under your tenure atop HHS, you have fired thousands of department personnel, [44:15] decimated our public health system, incapacitated critical agencies [44:19] like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, [44:23] and the Administration for Healthcare Research and Quality, AHRQ. [44:27] Almost 300 CDC staff have been on administrative leave for over a year. [44:33] They are being paid not to work. [44:38] Taxpayers' dollars not to work. [44:42] Officials at SAMHSA have not directly responded to inquiries from this committee [44:47] for a full year, undermining our oversight responsibility. [44:51] The HHS funding bill we passed in January requires monthly agency briefings [44:57] for the committee, but not a single one has been scheduled. [45:01] It has been even longer since AHRQ awarded funding for a new research grant, [45:05] and as far as we can tell, they have ceased to function as independent health agencies. [45:11] Over the past year, Mr. Secretary, you have terminated hundreds of NIH research grants, [45:16] not because there was any problem with the research being conducted, [45:19] not because they were breaking any rules, but because they were researching issues [45:24] that you just personally do not like. [45:28] We must fund research that is based on scientific evidence and not on subjective opinion. [45:36] This administration has extorted public universities in order to extract ideological concessions. [45:42] Again, the problem here was not that they were engaged in misconduct, [45:46] but that you just did not agree with them politically. [45:48] You choose to use your power to force them to agree with you, [45:52] and this is a pattern that extends beyond public funding for health research. [45:57] In August, you fired the director of the CDC, Susan Menares, [46:01] because she refused to put blind loyalty to your own personal beliefs [46:06] above empirical data and scientific research. [46:09] You replaced the CDC's vaccine advisory panel with people who share your anti-vaccine agenda. [46:15] Fortunately, a federal judge blocked their attempts to gut the childhood immunization schedule. [46:21] The judge correctly ruled that your handpicked advisors were, quote, [46:26] distinctly unqualified, unquote, due to their lack of vaccine experience. [46:32] You are the Secretary of Health and Human Services. [46:36] You've been in this position for 14 months. [46:38] If you still claim today that you have not, quote, [46:41] seen the evidence that supports vaccines, [46:44] that's a remarkable failure of leadership [46:47] and an evidence of a refusal to avail yourself of information [46:51] that is extremely relevant to your role in government. [46:55] Some of the leading experts in this field work at the CDC, [47:01] but it's my understanding that you are unwilling to even meet with them. [47:05] In 2025, measles cases in the United States shot up to more than 2,200. [47:11] In the first three months of 2026, there have been already more than 1,700 measles cases. [47:16] We have seen outbreaks in South Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Utah. [47:21] Under your leadership, the U.S. is on the brink of losing its measles elimination status, [47:26] which we have held for more than 25 years. [47:29] In January, HHS attempted to block $10 billion in federal funding for child care [47:35] and assistance for needy families in five states with Democratic leadership. [47:41] Once again, a federal judge blocked you, [47:43] but did not prevent you from attempting to coerce the public in the first place. [47:47] Now we are more than halfway through the fiscal year, [47:50] and grant making at HHS has slowed to a trickle. [47:53] The administration is withholding billions of dollars owed to states and communities, [48:00] money that came from their taxes. [48:03] For the last 10 weeks, OMB has used unprecedented 15-day funding schedules [48:10] to prohibit HHS agencies from making the grants to carry out their programs, [48:16] which is the core function of many HHS agencies. [48:19] And only this week, as you are testifying before Congress, [48:25] did the OMB finally release those funds. [48:29] It should not take a congressional hearing for OMB to release funds appropriated by Congress to your agencies. [48:38] So, Secretary, you are the Secretary. [48:41] OMB is not the Secretary of HHS. [48:44] The Constitution is clear. [48:46] Congress has the power of the purse. [48:47] It is the executive branch's job to execute the laws we pass, [48:51] not manipulate the process to advance a partisan agenda. [48:55] The President's budget proposes to cut funding for NIH research by $6 billion. [49:00] We are not going to do that. [49:02] I just will tell you that right now. [49:04] You propose cutting CDC funding by 30 percent. [49:07] We are not going to do that. [49:09] You propose eliminating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, [49:13] which helps prevent overdose and supports people with substance use disorders. [49:17] And we are not going to do that. [49:20] You propose eliminating the LIHEAP program, [49:23] which would raise energy costs for 6 million American households, [49:27] even as President Trump's war with Iran has led to a 40 percent increase in the price of gas. [49:33] You can be sure we are not going to do that. [49:37] None of these proposals make Americans better off. [49:39] All of them make it more expensive, more difficult for people to live their lives. [49:44] Mr. Secretary, you cannot strengthen public health systems by defunding the CDC. [49:50] You cannot support medical research by cutting $6 billion from the NIH. [49:55] And you cannot improve access to quality health care by kicking 15 million people off of their health insurance. [50:03] We'll have more questions, Mr. Secretary, when the time comes. [50:06] I look forward to your testimony and look forward to engaging on the question and answer. [50:11] Thanks, Chair, and I yield back. [50:15] Thank you, Reiki member. [50:17] At this time, I'll recognize the Secretary for his comments. [50:29] ...that you just outlined. [50:33] And thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today [50:38] to discuss the President's fiscal year 2027 budget request. [50:42] We stand at a generational turn point. [50:46] Our children are the sickest generation in modern history. [50:49] And decades of failed policies, captured agencies, and profit-driven systems have caused it. [50:56] Parents across the country demanded change, and we are delivering it. [51:00] We are ending the era of federal policies that fueled the chronic disease epidemic [51:05] and replacing them with policies that put the health of American people first. [51:10] President Trump and I are challenging the status quo and the institutions that defend it [51:16] as we work to make America healthy again. [51:18] In just 15 months, HHS has delivered historic wins. [51:23] We negotiated most favored nation drug prices with 16 of the largest pharmaceutical companies [51:29] so Americans no longer pay more than people in other wealthy countries for the same medications. [51:36] We're bringing real transparency to health care pricing so patients know the cause before they receive it. [51:42] I use the full convening power of the federal government [51:46] to bring health insurance CEOs to the table to reform prior authorization. [51:51] We're cutting red tape, speeding decisions, and demanding transparency. [51:57] We're also cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse. [52:01] This year, HHS and USDA issued new dietary guidelines [52:05] that put real, whole food at the center of the American plate. [52:09] We flipped the food pyramid upside down [52:12] and sent a clear message to the American people, eat real food. [52:17] HHS has also opened the door to partnerships with the industry, trade association, [52:22] non-profits, and advocacy organizations. [52:26] More than 50 medical schools have committed to expand nutrition education [52:30] from an average of just two hours to 40 hours. [52:33] Food manufacturers are stepping up, too. [52:36] More than 40% of the food industry is committed. [52:40] The phase-out petroleum-based dyes by the end of the year, [52:43] many have already eliminated them. [52:45] In conjunction with these efforts, FDA approved six natural food colorings [52:49] derived from fruits and vegetables. [52:51] Through President Trump's Great American Recovery Initiative, [52:56] HHS is matching compassion with action [52:59] to help Americans break the cycle of addiction. [53:03] At HHS, we are prioritizing patients with ultra-rare diseases [53:07] and their families and driving faster access to life-saving treatments. [53:12] We're restoring gold standard science and integrity across the agency. [53:17] We're protecting children from sex-rejecting procedures [53:22] that expose them to irreversible harm. [53:25] We are eliminating outdated and misleading warning labels [53:28] on hormone therapies used to treat women during menopause. [53:33] We're strengthening our oversight of organ procurement. [53:37] We're implementing Operation Stork Speed [53:40] to ensure the safety and quality of infant formula. [53:43] We're applying that same focus and urgency to rural America, [53:48] the Rural Health Transformation Fund, [53:51] which the chairman mentioned, [53:53] delivers the largest investment in rural health in our nation's history, [53:56] $50 billion over five years, [53:59] to strengthen rural hospitals, [54:01] and ensure Americans can access the care they need no matter where they live. [54:05] Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle [54:08] have made rural health a clear priority in their conversations with me [54:11] because every state is feeling the strain of hospital closures, [54:15] workforce shortages, and gaps in access. [54:19] HHS announced more than $135 million investment this month [54:24] to expand rural residency programs and nutrition services. [54:29] The data is clear. [54:31] When physicians train in rural communities, [54:34] they're far more likely to stay and serve there. [54:37] The president's budget puts all these priorities into action. [54:41] It invests in prevention because preventing disease costs less [54:45] and delivers better outcomes than treating it. [54:48] As my uncle, President John F. Kennedy, said, [54:51] progress is a nice word. [54:53] A change is its motivator, and change has its enemies. [54:58] We see those forces clearly entrenched interests, [55:02] defenders of a fall in the status quo, [55:04] and institutions that put profits ahead of the American people. [55:10] Add resistance underscores the urgency of this moment. [55:14] We can reverse chronic disease, improve public health, and lower costs. [55:18] And I stand ready to work with this committee and Congress [55:21] to seize this opportunity, [55:24] implement and codify lasting generational reform in American health care. [55:29] For our country, for our children, and for the health of the American people, [55:33] together we can make America healthy again. [55:35] Thank you. [55:36] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. [55:43] And we appreciate, again, you being here today. [55:45] I know you've had a long day and been on the heels, [55:48] so we thank you for spending time with us this afternoon. [55:52] I want to mention the chemical abortion, [55:58] mifepristone. [56:01] It is, as you probably know, [56:04] FDA has issued a black box warning. [56:08] And I'm going to read what the warning says. [56:13] Serious and sometimes fatal infections and bleeding occur very rarely [56:19] following spontaneous surgical and medical abortions. [56:23] Recent data shows that the rate of serious adverse events is closer to 1 in 10, [56:30] or 10% of women who take the drug. [56:32] However, at the same time, FDA does not currently require reporting serious nonfatal events. [56:41] My question is, how can the department appropriately address the risk of chemical abortion drugs [56:47] to the health and safety of women without the reporting of serious adverse events? [56:54] Mr. Chairman, I regret that I can't talk about that issue, [56:58] because, as you know, it's under litigation in Louisiana, [57:03] and I've been advised by the Office of General Counsel to not discuss it. [57:09] Oh, so right now you don't have any reporting requirements or any changes right now? [57:17] Is that, you know, are you... [57:21] Yeah, they've asked me not to discuss it, [57:24] because anything I say may have implications on the litigation. [57:27] Yeah, okay. [57:29] Well, I do want to mention, and I understand that, [57:32] but I do want to point out that, you know, [57:35] modifications issued by FDA under the previous administration [57:39] created a mail-in order abortion scheme [57:43] that completely removed the in-person dispensing requirement. [57:47] It requires no ultrasound, no gestational age confirmation, [57:52] and no assessment of risk. [57:54] The black box warning directs physicians to inform the patient about risk, [58:00] such as severe pain or heavy bleeding, [58:03] and advise them to bring the medication guide with them [58:07] so a potential emergency room provider knows what they're undergoing for a medical abortion. [58:14] And so even though you can't speak to it, according to your counsel, [58:19] I do want to say that when you do have serious risk factors like atopic pregnancies, [58:26] that it's very difficult when you have no requirement there any physical examination of a woman. [58:35] And so we would clearly... [58:37] This is an important issue for many members of Congress, [58:40] and I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to let you know [58:45] that some strong feelings on behalf of members of Congress. [58:50] Let me go to... [58:51] I talked a little bit about rural health care, as you mentioned. [58:56] Hospital leaders in my state of Alabama have documented for decades [59:00] that Medicare Hospital Wage Index is seriously flawed, [59:06] that it is heavily distorted by exceptions, [59:09] and it creates a self-perpetuating disadvantages for low-wage and rural states. [59:14] And that results in... [59:17] I know in Alabama alone, hospitals being paid substantially less for providing the same care. [59:22] My question is, how is CMS evaluating whether the current wage index methodology [59:30] accurately reflects true labor market costs today? [59:37] Mr. Chairman, as you know, the Social Security Act makes it... [59:45] requires any changes in the wage area index to be budget neutral. [59:51] And so making changes in it is very complex, [59:55] because if you raise somebody's compensation, [59:58] you're choosing to lower somebody else's compensation. [1:00:02] And ultimately, this is a... [1:00:04] It's a problem that is, as you say, [1:00:08] helping to destroy rural hospitals. [1:00:11] We've lost 120 rural hospitals since 2010. [1:00:15] But it's something that we can't fix at HHS. [1:00:19] We need Congress to intervene, [1:00:21] and we are here to provide technical advice [1:00:26] and to work with you to make sure that we get something that works. [1:00:30] Yeah. [1:00:30] Well, you know, like I say, [1:00:32] in CMS and evaluating whether the current wage index methodology [1:00:39] actually reflects the true labor cost, [1:00:43] you know, I think that's something that should be looked into [1:00:46] if they could look at the true labor cost, [1:00:49] and then they could help Congress determine a statutory solution to it. [1:00:54] So getting that information to Congress [1:00:57] and how it is substantially different for rural areas [1:01:03] and how that methodology doesn't really reflect the true market cost, [1:01:08] I think is something that the department could take a look at. [1:01:12] Do you agree? [1:01:13] I'm happy to work with you [1:01:15] and to bring Dr. Oz in to work with you [1:01:18] on possibly developing that kind of study. [1:01:22] And that's what the request would be, [1:01:24] is we want to, you know, have the information [1:01:27] so we can, where the information is laid out [1:01:29] so Congress, you know, if it need to be, [1:01:31] we can determine statutory solutions to it. [1:01:35] And with that, I will now recognize the ranking member. [1:01:41] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:01:42] I would just make this reference to you. [1:01:44] This is a different tack on rural health. [1:01:48] It's a $50 billion rural health fund. [1:01:50] This article talks about it's coming up short [1:01:54] and that that will be a very detrimental effect [1:01:57] on rural hospitals and their abilities to stay open. [1:02:02] My time is limited, Mr. Secretary, [1:02:05] so I'm going to ask a couple of quick yes or no questions to start. [1:02:08] Tobacco was the leading cause of death and disease in the United States, [1:02:12] killing half a million Americans every year. [1:02:14] Do you think it's important to prevent youth [1:02:15] from starting to use tobacco, yes or no? [1:02:18] Yes, I do. [1:02:19] Okay. [1:02:19] Do you think it's important to raise awareness [1:02:21] about pregnancy-related complications [1:02:24] that lead to women dying, yes or no? [1:02:28] Yes, I do. [1:02:28] Okay. [1:02:29] On April 1st, it marked one year [1:02:30] that American taxpayers are paying nearly 300 CDC staff, [1:02:35] including those who work on tobacco prevention, [1:02:37] maternal mortality, and disability and health, [1:02:40] which advises a program synonymous with the Kennedy name, [1:02:44] Kennedy Shriver name, Special Olympics, [1:02:46] to be on administrative leave. [1:02:49] For more than one year, [1:02:50] public health experts are being paid not to work. [1:02:54] Waste of taxpayer dollars, $38 million. [1:02:57] You can bring these staff back from administrative leave, [1:03:00] just as you brought back the CDC employees [1:03:03] focused on occupational health. [1:03:05] Can you commit to bringing back these experts [1:03:07] from administrative leave [1:03:09] and really end this wasting of taxpayers' funds? [1:03:12] I expect that President Trump, [1:03:16] I believe that he is going to release the nominations [1:03:21] of the new team at CDC, [1:03:23] including the new CDC administrator or director, [1:03:29] this week, hopefully today or tomorrow, [1:03:32] and our decision will be in their hands. [1:03:37] Okay. [1:03:37] But you could bring back, as you did, [1:03:41] the folks with regard to a focus on occupational health. [1:03:44] But from your point of view, [1:03:46] can you bring these folks back [1:03:47] that have been on administrative leave? [1:03:51] These are people who were, you know, your employees. [1:03:54] So, you know, this is an issue that at this time, [1:04:00] Jay Bhattacharya is acting as head of CDC. [1:04:04] That's a decision that he would normally make. [1:04:08] The, you know, we lost a lot of employees at CDC, but... [1:04:16] So, the answer is no, you won't bring them back. [1:04:18] Thank you. [1:04:19] Thank you. [1:04:20] Okay. [1:04:20] Let me, I actually have two other questions. [1:04:23] I'm going to try to move as quickly as I can. [1:04:25] On March 15th, the FDA recommended [1:04:27] that Raw Farm voluntary recall its cheddar cheese [1:04:29] made from raw milk linked to E. coli contamination. [1:04:33] April 2nd, after 18 days, [1:04:35] the company finally initiated voluntary recall, [1:04:37] but only, quote, under protest, [1:04:39] according to the gentleman in charge, Aaron McAfee. [1:04:45] 18 days. [1:04:46] 18 days. [1:04:47] Nine people sick and three hospitalizations, [1:04:49] one case of serious kidney condition, [1:04:51] more than half the cases involving children three or younger. [1:04:54] In the FDA's initial outbreak alert, [1:04:56] the agency stated that they were, quote, [1:04:58] providing information to consumers and retailers [1:05:01] so they are aware of this outbreak [1:05:04] before deciding to eat raw farm-brand cheddar cheeses [1:05:07] or to serve it to children. [1:05:10] Usually, the alert says consumers, retailers, [1:05:13] this is a quote, [1:05:13] should not eat, sell, or serve, [1:05:16] or consumers should check their homes for recalled products [1:05:19] and throw those products away. [1:05:22] That wasn't there. [1:05:24] Quite frankly, never have seen anything like this [1:05:27] with regard to roll call. [1:05:30] Now, I know, Mr. Secretary, [1:05:32] that you have been an staunch advocate of raw milk, [1:05:35] positioning it as a, quote, superfood, [1:05:38] a key element of make America healthy again. [1:05:41] Talk about it reducing chronic disease. [1:05:47] You know, you describe the FDA's aggressive suppression, [1:05:50] that's a quote, of natural unprocessed foods. [1:05:52] You've said that you've drinking it yourself [1:05:54] despite federal health agencies' warning of safety risks. [1:05:59] And you have said that you promised to end [1:06:02] what you called the Food and Drug Administration's, quote, [1:06:05] aggressive suppression of raw milk. [1:06:07] You urged the CEO of Raw Farm [1:06:10] to previously apply for an advisory role at the FDA [1:06:14] to establish national standards for raw milk distribution. [1:06:18] And you're a longtime promoter of raw milk [1:06:20] and a customer of Raw Farm. [1:06:23] I just have to ask this question. [1:06:26] Mr. Secretary, did you or another senior officials [1:06:28] exert any influence in the way the FDA alerted consumers [1:06:32] about this outbreak? [1:06:33] I agree with you that the behavior of the company [1:06:38] during the outbreak was unprecedented. [1:06:40] We immediately told them that they needed to do a recall. [1:06:44] In virtually every case, [1:06:45] that recall happens voluntarily and immediately. [1:06:49] But there was foot dragging by. [1:06:51] They initially refused. [1:06:54] And we put tremendous pressure on them [1:06:57] and told them that we were doing a forcible recall. [1:06:59] And finally, they complied. [1:07:01] Did the FDA refuse to use its mandatory recall? [1:07:05] Yeah, we were going to do it. [1:07:09] Usually, we don't have to. [1:07:10] In every case, the company stops up [1:07:14] and voluntarily removes it. [1:07:16] And this company was intransigent. [1:07:19] Let me put it that way. [1:07:20] I just have, having, you know, said what I said [1:07:26] and what your view is on raw milk, unpasteurized milk, [1:07:31] and the FDA's website says raw milk, unpasteurized milk, [1:07:35] can harbor dangerous germs [1:07:36] that can pose serious health risks [1:07:38] to you and your family. [1:07:40] You have your own personal views about raw milk. [1:07:43] They cannot be part of a health protocol that they use. [1:07:50] Raw milk is not regulated by the federal government, [1:07:55] Congresswoman Delora. [1:07:59] Unpasteurized milk. [1:08:00] It's regulated by the states. [1:08:02] It's not regulated by us. [1:08:04] Well, they can legalize it within their borders. [1:08:07] I'm not sure what your question is. [1:08:07] We don't regulate it. [1:08:10] FDA does not regulate it. [1:08:13] It's regulated by the states. [1:08:14] We circulated across state lines. [1:08:15] Some states allow it. [1:08:17] Some states do not. [1:08:18] It's up to the state. [1:08:19] It's not up to us. [1:08:21] Well, you are the head of the Health and Human Services. [1:08:26] If raw milk has the ability to put nine people [1:08:30] into the hospital, serious kidneys, [1:08:33] as more than half the cases involving children [1:08:35] three years and younger, [1:08:36] you are the Secretary of Health and Human Services. [1:08:40] Is there not some moral responsibility or compunction [1:08:43] to say, don't drink raw milk? [1:08:47] Don't do that because it's unpasteurized [1:08:50] and it can cause you serious harm to your health. [1:08:54] Is that not your view as your responsibility? [1:08:57] You just pointed out that processed cheese [1:08:59] can also contain contaminants. [1:09:03] Every product can contain contaminants. [1:09:05] What we do is we inform the public. [1:09:09] And we let people make a choice. [1:09:11] The chairman is gabbling me down. [1:09:13] And just to say this, [1:09:14] if I were the head of HHS, [1:09:17] I would, by God, say, [1:09:19] don't take raw milk. [1:09:21] It is dangerous to your health. [1:09:22] And if you can't say that, [1:09:24] well, maybe there's some other conclusions [1:09:26] that can be drawn. [1:09:27] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:09:28] Ms. Letlow. [1:09:33] Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. [1:09:34] And, Secretary, thank you so much [1:09:36] for being with us today. [1:09:39] It's an honor to be with you. [1:09:40] And it is clear that we need strong, [1:09:44] forward-thinking leaders in place at HHS [1:09:46] to advance the Maha agenda. [1:09:49] Americans are fed up with the status quo [1:09:51] that has worked to stall the momentum [1:09:53] of the Maha movement. [1:09:54] We're ready for leaders who go against the grain, [1:09:57] who challenge outdated ways of thinking [1:09:59] and put forth innovative solutions [1:10:02] to our country's most pressing public health issues. [1:10:06] Thank you for doing that. [1:10:07] And that's also why I strongly support [1:10:09] the immediate confirmation [1:10:11] of President Trump's nominee, Casey Means, [1:10:13] for U.S. Surgeon General. [1:10:15] Means has been a leader [1:10:16] in uncovering the root causes of chronic disease [1:10:19] and shedding light on our broken healthcare system. [1:10:22] Through her work, [1:10:24] she has amplified the concerns [1:10:25] of American families, especially mothers, [1:10:28] whose opinions and decisions [1:10:29] on their children's healthcare [1:10:30] have too often been an afterthought [1:10:33] rather than a priority. [1:10:35] Secretary Kennedy, can you elaborate [1:10:36] why Casey Means' nomination [1:10:38] for U.S. Surgeon General [1:10:39] is critical to advancing the Maha agenda [1:10:43] and how will a continued delay [1:10:45] affect the American people? [1:10:47] Thank you, Congresswoman. [1:10:49] Casey Means is the most articulate, [1:10:52] eloquent, and erudite evangelist [1:10:55] for the Maha movement. [1:10:57] She wrote the Bible on metabolic health, [1:10:59] a best-selling book [1:11:01] that has changed the way [1:11:02] that people think about metabolism. [1:11:05] She was number one [1:11:06] in her Stanford Medical School class. [1:11:09] She practiced medicine for a while [1:11:11] until she realized [1:11:12] we were in a sick care system. [1:11:14] We weren't, she was healing people [1:11:16] who never should have been sick. [1:11:18] She decided to devote her life instead [1:11:21] to actually preventing disease [1:11:23] by educating mothers, [1:11:26] educating the American people, [1:11:27] and, you know, Casey Means [1:11:31] is not a political person. [1:11:33] She is just a very, very effective evangelist [1:11:37] for the kind of changes that we need [1:11:39] to end the chronic disease epidemic [1:11:41] in this country. [1:11:42] And I hope that she gets support. [1:11:45] Any, you know, all the Democrats [1:11:46] on this committee [1:11:47] are people who I've worked with [1:11:49] for many years [1:11:51] to try to get dyes out of the food, [1:11:54] to get people eating to reform infant formula, [1:11:58] to do all the things we need [1:12:00] to get Americans healthier. [1:12:02] And what I would say to you [1:12:03] is Democrats and Republicans [1:12:05] should support her nomination [1:12:07] because she's going to help our country. [1:12:09] And, you know, the only thing [1:12:11] that would prevent that [1:12:12] is the kind of lack of integrity, [1:12:15] lack of courage, [1:12:16] and the tribalism that is polarizing [1:12:19] and destroying our country. [1:12:21] Thank you so much. [1:12:22] I hope they move swiftly [1:12:23] with that confirmation. [1:12:24] I now love to turn to your work [1:12:26] on women's health initiatives. [1:12:29] This is so incredibly important to me [1:12:31] on a personal level, [1:12:33] but also to my district. [1:12:35] From eliminating the black box warnings [1:12:37] for menopause treatments [1:12:39] to hosting the 2026 National Conference [1:12:42] on Women's Health, [1:12:43] it's clear that your agency [1:12:44] is challenging the status quo [1:12:46] to harness innovative breakthrough treatments [1:12:48] and research [1:12:49] that have been largely overlooked. [1:12:52] And the urgency of this work [1:12:53] is especially evident [1:12:54] in places like Louisiana [1:12:56] where high rates of chronic disease, [1:12:58] the prevalence of medical deserts, [1:13:00] and the ongoing healthcare workforce shortage [1:13:02] have consistently resulted [1:13:04] in poor health outcomes [1:13:06] for women across the state. [1:13:08] Secretary Kennedy, [1:13:09] based on the lessons [1:13:10] your agency learned [1:13:11] in the recent National Conference [1:13:12] on Women's Health, [1:13:13] what specific actions [1:13:14] will the department be taking [1:13:16] to build out the administration [1:13:18] for a healthy America's [1:13:19] new maternal and child health bureau? [1:13:22] Well, we've released [1:13:23] a number of initiatives [1:13:25] that are now funded [1:13:26] in the proposed budget, [1:13:29] specifically for maternal health. [1:13:31] We have the worst maternal health record [1:13:33] of any developed nation in the world. [1:13:36] And particularly, [1:13:37] black Americans, [1:13:39] women are dying [1:13:40] at two and a half times [1:13:41] the rate of white women [1:13:43] in this country. [1:13:44] A college-educated black woman [1:13:47] is more likely to die, [1:13:49] two times more likely to die, [1:13:51] than a white woman [1:13:52] with a high school education. [1:13:54] We are trying to fix that. [1:13:55] President Trump is trying [1:13:56] to fix that disparity [1:13:57] and to fix maternal health [1:14:00] across the board. [1:14:02] I want to just mention [1:14:03] one very, very promising initiative [1:14:05] under the Trump administration. [1:14:08] We've initiated a pilot program [1:14:10] what we provide [1:14:11] called the Paranatal Pilot Program. [1:14:14] It provides protocols to hospitals [1:14:16] for how to improve [1:14:18] the outcomes for maternal health. [1:14:21] We have 220 hospitals [1:14:23] that signed up. [1:14:25] And in those hospitals, [1:14:26] maternal mortality [1:14:27] has dropped by almost 42%. [1:14:29] We have solutions for this. [1:14:32] We need to now expand that [1:14:34] to every hospital in this country. [1:14:36] But help is around the corner. [1:14:38] Thank you so much for your work. [1:14:39] I yield back. [1:14:46] Thank you very much, [1:14:46] Mr. Secretary. [1:14:47] It's always good to see you. [1:14:50] I have 77,000 federal employees [1:14:52] in my district, [1:14:53] so it will not surprise you [1:14:54] that I'm going to ask [1:14:55] some questions [1:14:55] to deal with FTEs [1:14:58] and the ability of your agency [1:15:01] to respond to the challenges [1:15:02] that you put forward [1:15:03] that we all know [1:15:06] are challenging [1:15:07] the health of our country. [1:15:09] But you need people [1:15:10] with talent, [1:15:12] with expertise, [1:15:13] and with conviction [1:15:14] to pursue solutions. [1:15:19] So I'm going to ask you [1:15:20] some questions. [1:15:20] When we talked last year, [1:15:24] I asked you about this, [1:15:27] and you said to me [1:15:29] that in talking about Doge, [1:15:31] personnel that should not [1:15:33] have been cut were cut. [1:15:36] I don't know whether [1:15:37] you still believe that, [1:15:38] but that's what you said [1:15:39] last year. [1:15:40] How many full-time employees [1:15:43] do we have in HHS now? [1:15:46] Which includes... [1:15:47] Last year when I talked to you, [1:15:49] there were 62,000 [1:15:50] down from 82,000. [1:15:52] We are now at 72,000, [1:15:55] and we're hiring [1:15:55] 12,000 new employees. [1:15:59] We will have made up [1:16:01] all the employees [1:16:03] that we lost. [1:16:05] We've replaced them [1:16:06] with a better group of people [1:16:07] who are actually going [1:16:08] to address chronic health. [1:16:09] Your judgment is [1:16:13] that the other 20,000 [1:16:17] that were reduced [1:16:18] were not capable, [1:16:21] were not motivated? [1:16:22] It's not my judgment. [1:16:23] It's the record. [1:16:24] They presided over [1:16:25] the biggest decline [1:16:26] in health, [1:16:27] in the history of the world. [1:16:30] Now we have the sickest generation [1:16:32] in history. [1:16:32] We have the sickest population [1:16:34] on the face of the earth. [1:16:36] That is a failure of government. [1:16:39] They weren't looking [1:16:40] at chronic disease. [1:16:42] They were focused [1:16:42] on other things, [1:16:43] and they did nothing [1:16:44] to prevent the food ties, [1:16:47] the bad food, [1:16:47] all the things [1:16:48] that are making us sick. [1:16:50] It was their job [1:16:51] to protect us, [1:16:52] and they did not do it. [1:16:54] They failed at their job, [1:16:55] and if this was private industry, [1:16:57] they would have all been fired. [1:16:59] We did what we had to do [1:17:01] to change the culture [1:17:02] at these agencies [1:17:04] so they're now doing [1:17:06] what they can do [1:17:07] to protect what they were hired to do, [1:17:10] which is to protect [1:17:11] the health of our country [1:17:12] and restore us once again [1:17:14] to the healthiest country [1:17:15] in the world. [1:17:15] Now, Mr. Secretary, [1:17:16] you and I don't agree [1:17:17] because I don't think Doge, [1:17:19] and I think Doge [1:17:20] was in charge of these, [1:17:22] unless you indicate to me [1:17:24] that it was your evaluation [1:17:27] that led to the firing [1:17:30] of these folks. [1:17:32] Essentially, [1:17:33] most of us believe [1:17:34] that they were fired [1:17:35] to reach a number, [1:17:37] a lesser number. [1:17:38] It is ironic [1:17:39] that you've just told me [1:17:40] we've reached back [1:17:41] to that number [1:17:42] because if you're telling me [1:17:44] that Doge [1:17:45] and the people [1:17:46] who resulted [1:17:49] in the firing [1:17:49] of those folks [1:17:50] or forcing them to retire [1:17:52] was made on the basis [1:17:55] of ability and talent, [1:17:59] I hear what you're saying [1:18:00] about the result, [1:18:02] but I don't think that's accurate. [1:18:06] Well, first of all, [1:18:08] Congressman Oyer, [1:18:09] I appreciate the dialogue [1:18:11] that you and I are now having [1:18:12] because my experience [1:18:14] with talking to the Democrats [1:18:15] on some of the other committees [1:18:17] is they don't let me [1:18:18] answer questions, [1:18:19] and so I cannot tell you [1:18:21] how deeply I am grateful [1:18:24] for the chance to respond. [1:18:30] During the Biden administration, [1:18:33] my agency grew by 38%, [1:18:35] mainly because of COVID, [1:18:37] and so we had at the end [1:18:41] 10 people doing one job. [1:18:43] We cut that down [1:18:44] to five people [1:18:45] doing the same job. [1:18:47] I can talk about [1:18:48] the duplication [1:18:49] that happened at my agency, [1:18:51] which is just insane. [1:18:53] Nine offices for women health, [1:18:55] eight offices for minority health, [1:18:56] 27 separate HIV programs, [1:19:00] 59 behavioral health, [1:19:02] 40 opioid programs. [1:19:04] We had 1,400 external affairs [1:19:06] officers in 100 communications [1:19:09] offices, 41 information officers, [1:19:13] 40 procurement departments, [1:19:15] dozens of IT departments, [1:19:17] none of them talking to each other. [1:19:19] We had to do a consolidation [1:19:21] of the agency [1:19:22] and make it work efficiently, [1:19:24] and that's what we did, [1:19:25] and I'm not saying [1:19:26] that people who lost their jobs [1:19:27] were bad actors. [1:19:28] They weren't. [1:19:29] Many of them were doing jobs [1:19:31] that they were hired to do. [1:19:32] So we needed to do [1:19:35] something drastic, [1:19:36] change the institutional culture [1:19:38] of this agency [1:19:39] and realign it [1:19:40] with a new trajectory [1:19:41] and the chronic disease epidemic. [1:19:44] Mr. Secretary, [1:19:45] my point is [1:19:45] that we're going to be back, [1:19:48] apparently, [1:19:49] pretty close to the same [1:19:50] complement of FDA [1:19:51] that we had. [1:19:51] I understand that. [1:19:52] Now, how many of the replacements [1:19:57] are political [1:19:59] as opposed to career? [1:20:02] Virtually all of them [1:20:03] are career. [1:20:06] So I wanted to ask you [1:20:09] a question about experts [1:20:11] having been rehired, [1:20:13] but is your position [1:20:13] that all of the people [1:20:14] that were hired [1:20:16] to fill these positions [1:20:18] did not work there [1:20:20] in the past? [1:20:23] Some of them, [1:20:24] I think many of them [1:20:25] were recalled. [1:20:26] Yeah, [1:20:28] and that, of course, [1:20:29] makes my point [1:20:29] about they were removed [1:20:30] to get to a number [1:20:32] and not to affect the result. [1:20:35] And the problem [1:20:36] with my letting you speak, [1:20:38] I still get five minutes, [1:20:40] no matter how long [1:20:41] your answer is. [1:20:43] Lastly, he's getting... [1:20:44] It's a pleasure [1:20:45] to talk to you. [1:20:46] Well, he's giving me [1:20:46] a little bit of latitude. [1:20:48] Just a little bit. [1:20:52] Let me ask you [1:20:53] about the morale at CDC. [1:20:56] I talked to the NIH director [1:21:00] who is also temporarily [1:21:02] acting as a CDC director. [1:21:04] He told me, [1:21:05] because I asked him [1:21:06] the question, [1:21:07] I said it's reported [1:21:07] as being so, [1:21:09] that the morale at CDC [1:21:10] was, in fact, very low. [1:21:12] If the morale is low at CDC, [1:21:15] inevitably, [1:21:16] the work that they do [1:21:17] will not be up [1:21:18] to the standard you want [1:21:19] or that I want [1:21:20] or the American people want. [1:21:22] What is your assessment [1:21:23] of the morale at CDC? [1:21:24] I can't give you [1:21:26] an honest assessment. [1:21:28] I can give you [1:21:29] what I've been told by Jay, [1:21:31] which is the morale [1:21:32] is much better [1:21:33] than it was a year ago. [1:21:35] I think a year ago, [1:21:36] it was really at a nadir, [1:21:37] you know, [1:21:37] during all the rifts. [1:21:42] I think it was at a nadir. [1:21:44] Now, I would say [1:21:46] that we're bringing in [1:21:47] an extraordinary team. [1:21:49] And, you know, [1:21:50] the team has been leaked [1:21:52] and it's gotten applause [1:21:54] from both Republicans [1:21:55] and Democrats. [1:21:56] I think this new team [1:21:58] is really going to be able [1:21:59] to revolutionize CDC [1:22:01] and get it back on track [1:22:04] and get it doing the job [1:22:05] that it does better [1:22:08] than any other health agency [1:22:10] in the world. [1:22:12] Well, the proof [1:22:12] is in the pudding, right? [1:22:13] Right. [1:22:14] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:22:16] Mr. Elsey. [1:22:19] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:22:19] Thank you, Mr. Secretary, [1:22:20] for being here. [1:22:22] While as fun as that was [1:22:23] to talk about, [1:22:24] let's talk about anthrax. [1:22:25] I think it's a lot more fun. [1:22:28] The nation's most likely [1:22:29] biological weapon [1:22:31] whose risk has substantially [1:22:32] elevated with the widespread [1:22:34] availability of AI tools [1:22:35] and drones, [1:22:36] it has the potential [1:22:36] to kill hundreds of thousands [1:22:37] of Americans [1:22:38] in a single drone [1:22:39] disseminated attack. [1:22:41] Despite these concerns, [1:22:42] the previous administration [1:22:43] planned to eliminate [1:22:44] anthrax antitoxin [1:22:46] countermeasures, [1:22:47] cuts that may embolden [1:22:48] adversaries to exploit [1:22:49] these vulnerabilities. [1:22:50] Does the president's budget [1:22:51] ensure that the strategic [1:22:52] national stockpile [1:22:54] is able to fully meet [1:22:54] its anthrax antitoxin [1:22:56] requirements? [1:22:57] Yes, it does. [1:22:58] And, you know, [1:23:00] we're stocking [1:23:01] the anthrax vaccine, [1:23:03] but also antibiotics, [1:23:05] which also cure anthrax. [1:23:09] Okay. [1:23:10] Something that, you know, [1:23:12] the Chinese, [1:23:14] everything they do [1:23:14] is a pattern of life. [1:23:15] They want to find out [1:23:17] everything about American life, [1:23:19] and they want to use that [1:23:21] in a military means. [1:23:21] So Texas governor Greg Abbott [1:23:23] has directed state agencies [1:23:25] and state-owned medical [1:23:26] facilities to assess [1:23:27] the potential [1:23:28] cybersecurity risks [1:23:29] associated with medical [1:23:30] equipment manufactured [1:23:31] in China. [1:23:32] In addition, [1:23:33] recent reporting [1:23:34] has highlighted concerns [1:23:35] regarding patient data [1:23:36] security and patient [1:23:37] safety risks [1:23:37] associated with medical [1:23:38] devices produced [1:23:40] by Chinese-owned companies [1:23:41] and used in the United States. [1:23:43] How does the Department [1:23:44] of Health and Human Services [1:23:45] assess these emerging [1:23:46] cybersecurity and data [1:23:48] security risks, [1:23:49] and what steps [1:23:49] has the Department taken [1:23:50] to ensure the American's [1:23:51] health data and health care [1:23:52] systems are safeguarded? [1:23:53] This is an issue [1:23:54] that we pay a lot [1:23:55] of attention to. [1:23:56] We're working with ASPR, [1:23:58] with BARDA, and CMS [1:23:59] to reduce the use [1:24:02] of Chinese products, [1:24:03] not only medical devices, [1:24:05] but also to, [1:24:07] we're putting this year [1:24:08] $325 million [1:24:10] into reshoring APIs [1:24:14] and pharmaceutical production [1:24:16] in those countries [1:24:17] so that in future pandemics, [1:24:20] we won't be reliant [1:24:21] on a supply chain [1:24:22] that China controls. [1:24:24] Absolutely. [1:24:26] How does your department [1:24:27] plan to sustain [1:24:28] the nation's medical [1:24:30] countermeasure pipeline [1:24:31] and preparedness posture [1:24:32] against evolving CBRN threats, [1:24:34] chemical, biological, [1:24:35] radiological, [1:24:36] and nuclear threats? [1:24:37] As I said, [1:24:39] ASPR and BARDA [1:24:40] are funded in this round, [1:24:45] and I feel very, [1:24:47] very confident, [1:24:48] and John Knox [1:24:48] and the team [1:24:49] that we have there, [1:24:50] that they are on top [1:24:52] of those issues. [1:24:53] Okay, thank you. [1:24:54] And on a personal note, [1:24:56] I'd like to say [1:24:56] that a couple weeks ago, [1:24:57] I found myself [1:24:58] in a foreign nation. [1:24:59] TMZ wasn't there. [1:25:00] They didn't find me. [1:25:01] But I got the opportunity [1:25:03] to have an infection [1:25:05] in my leg. [1:25:07] Probably too much information, [1:25:08] but the point I'm trying [1:25:09] to make is this. [1:25:10] I got to go [1:25:11] to a National Health Service [1:25:12] hospital where nobody [1:25:14] was kind, [1:25:14] nobody was caring, [1:25:15] and they gave me [1:25:16] just enough sugar tablets [1:25:17] to leave the hospital [1:25:18] and not die. [1:25:19] So I just want to say [1:25:20] that coming back home [1:25:21] and getting medical care, [1:25:22] we still have the best [1:25:23] medical care in the country. [1:25:25] Nobody is denied service. [1:25:26] You get exactly [1:25:27] what you need, [1:25:28] and I'm proud to be [1:25:29] an American because of that. [1:25:30] So thank you for the job [1:25:31] that you're doing [1:25:31] and the work that you're doing. [1:25:35] And agreed on your assessment [1:25:37] of the quality of health care [1:25:38] in this country. [1:25:39] It's the best. [1:25:40] We have other problems. [1:25:42] We have misaligned incentives, [1:25:44] and we spend too much money. [1:25:46] But if you're sick, [1:25:48] there's no place [1:25:48] you'd better, [1:25:49] you would want to be sick [1:25:50] than in this country. [1:25:52] Mr. Spokane. [1:25:55] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:25:56] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. [1:25:57] Last year when you came here, [1:25:59] there's a number of things [1:26:00] we agreed on. [1:26:00] We started out with right away. [1:26:01] And you even commented, [1:26:03] you wish that everyone [1:26:04] had asked questions [1:26:05] the way I did. [1:26:06] And we had a specific request [1:26:09] to talk to you [1:26:09] about the 988 line [1:26:11] and LGBT funding, [1:26:13] and you said you'd be glad [1:26:13] to have a follow-up conversation. [1:26:15] We reached out to your office. [1:26:17] Your schedule got back to us, [1:26:18] said they were throwing [1:26:19] on Jordan Cox onto it. [1:26:21] We followed up, [1:26:22] and we followed up, [1:26:24] and you and I [1:26:24] never had a conversation. [1:26:26] And I just want to let you know [1:26:27] I was very disappointed [1:26:28] because that's something [1:26:30] that you had promised to do. [1:26:32] We should have had [1:26:32] that conversation. [1:26:33] And if we can't have [1:26:35] a conversation, [1:26:36] it's not ideological, [1:26:37] then that's a problem [1:26:38] and a disconnect [1:26:39] that we've got to figure out [1:26:40] for the future. [1:26:41] I apologize for that. [1:26:43] Before I leave today, [1:26:44] I'm going to give you [1:26:44] Ken Callahan's number, [1:26:46] and if you can't reach me, [1:26:48] you reach him, [1:26:49] and he will get me. [1:26:50] So I don't know [1:26:51] how that happened. [1:26:53] It should not have happened. [1:26:55] I return calls from Congress [1:26:57] all the time, [1:26:57] so I apologize for that. [1:26:59] No problem. [1:27:00] I would say, I think, [1:27:02] I really have a lot of issues. [1:27:04] We're done. [1:27:04] I agree with you. [1:27:05] I accept your apology. [1:27:06] No worries. [1:27:07] In the ranking member's [1:27:09] opening comments, [1:27:10] she mentioned a lot [1:27:11] of the funding that we've seen [1:27:12] that has not gotten out [1:27:13] of your agency [1:27:14] that has been approved [1:27:15] by Congress. [1:27:16] Do you believe [1:27:17] it's the responsibility [1:27:18] of the HHS secretary [1:27:19] to expend funds [1:27:21] that Congress has appropriated [1:27:22] in a timely manner? [1:27:24] Okay. [1:27:24] I just hope that, you know, [1:27:27] we can follow up maybe [1:27:28] on that issue [1:27:28] because a lot of, [1:27:29] I've had three groups [1:27:30] this week came in [1:27:31] with funds that have not [1:27:32] been released going back [1:27:33] two years from the agency, [1:27:35] and because of that, [1:27:37] you know, [1:27:38] at some point, [1:27:39] where we sit on this dais [1:27:42] might change a little bit, [1:27:43] and we want to make sure [1:27:44] that, you know, [1:27:45] we have those funds expended [1:27:47] or else we may have to look [1:27:48] at how to make sure [1:27:49] they're happening [1:27:50] out of your office. [1:27:51] The main thing [1:27:51] I really want to ask about [1:27:53] is something I think [1:27:54] much of what you're doing [1:27:55] around healthy foods [1:27:57] and health [1:27:58] is right on, [1:27:59] dead on, [1:28:00] with the Maha movement, [1:28:02] but there's other things [1:28:02] that, I've got to admit, [1:28:03] honestly confuse me. [1:28:04] We won't talk vaccines [1:28:05] at all this year, [1:28:06] but I do want to talk [1:28:08] about glyphosate. [1:28:10] About glyphosate? [1:28:11] Yeah. [1:28:11] This is something [1:28:12] you've got a record on. [1:28:14] You said it was probably [1:28:14] a carcinogen. [1:28:16] You've talked about [1:28:17] one of your tweets, [1:28:18] likely one of the most [1:28:19] chronic disease academic, [1:28:21] most widely used here [1:28:22] in Europe. [1:28:22] Shockingly, [1:28:23] much of our exposure [1:28:23] comes as its use is a, [1:28:25] on and on, [1:28:26] you said your USDA, [1:28:27] when you're running [1:28:28] for president, [1:28:28] will ban that practice. [1:28:30] And Casey Means, [1:28:31] who you just brought up, [1:28:32] also talked about [1:28:33] grave concerns [1:28:34] and about it [1:28:35] as a carcinogenic. [1:28:37] And you said, [1:28:38] I believe it causes cancer. [1:28:40] Those are all your words. [1:28:41] And yet the White House [1:28:43] came and decided [1:28:43] they want to expand [1:28:44] the production of this. [1:28:47] And you were supportive. [1:28:48] And I'm just trying [1:28:48] to understand, [1:28:50] did the evidence change [1:28:51] between now and then? [1:28:52] And just, [1:28:53] and again, [1:28:53] briefly if you could, [1:28:54] why shift on that recommendation? [1:28:56] No, [1:28:56] I had grave reservations [1:29:00] about the president's [1:29:01] executive order. [1:29:03] I understand why he did it. [1:29:05] The executive order, [1:29:07] right now, [1:29:08] there's a problem [1:29:09] in this country [1:29:10] that the president didn't create. [1:29:11] 97% of corn is glyphosate- [1:29:13] You can do it in 60 seconds [1:29:14] because I got one more second. [1:29:15] 98% of soy is glyphosate-dependent. [1:29:18] 100% of glyphosate [1:29:20] is made in China. [1:29:21] So do you still think [1:29:22] it's carcinogenic? [1:29:23] Maybe that's easier. [1:29:24] Oh, yeah. [1:29:24] Yeah. [1:29:25] So I would like to make sure [1:29:27] that maha does not become [1:29:29] mahuika, [1:29:31] which is make America healthy [1:29:32] when it's convenient again, [1:29:34] right? [1:29:34] And this is kind of [1:29:36] out of convenience, right? [1:29:37] If you know it's a carcinogenic- [1:29:37] Well, it's a national security issue [1:29:39] because China can shut off [1:29:40] our food supply overnight. [1:29:41] Would you right now [1:29:42] eat something with glyphosate on it? [1:29:46] Would I? [1:29:46] Yeah. [1:29:47] You've got a reputation [1:29:48] for eating interesting things. [1:29:49] Would you eat a- [1:29:50] I probably do it inadvertently, [1:29:50] but not by choice. [1:29:51] Right? [1:29:52] Yeah. [1:29:52] I mean, I just, [1:29:53] I wish, you know, [1:29:54] maha stands for something. [1:29:56] And I actually like a lot [1:29:57] of what maha stands for [1:29:58] in eating healthier foods. [1:29:59] And it's an integral part [1:30:00] of health. [1:30:01] But if we're not consistent [1:30:03] on it for whatever reason, [1:30:05] we don't really have [1:30:06] a maha movement. [1:30:07] I just want to express [1:30:08] that concern. [1:30:09] The president has put [1:30:10] more money into developing [1:30:12] alternatives for glyphosate [1:30:14] than any other president might. [1:30:15] Gotcha. [1:30:15] But right now, [1:30:16] you're saying it's okay [1:30:17] to have a known carcinogenic [1:30:19] I don't think it's okay. [1:30:20] I think we inherited [1:30:22] a problem in this country. [1:30:23] I would just like [1:30:24] one more subject if I could. [1:30:25] I'm trying not to be rude. [1:30:26] I really appreciate it. [1:30:27] I just have one last one [1:30:28] because in my district, [1:30:30] we have something called [1:30:30] Ridgeland Farms. [1:30:32] That's a beagle breeder [1:30:34] for research. [1:30:35] They've had 311 code [1:30:36] violations, [1:30:37] including very serious harm [1:30:39] to the health of dogs. [1:30:40] The head of NIH, [1:30:42] which you can ask. [1:30:42] I said some of the nicest [1:30:43] things about it. [1:30:44] I really like your head [1:30:45] of the NIH that you have [1:30:46] said that there's a policy [1:30:48] about beagle testing [1:30:49] that would not allow [1:30:50] analysts to be tortured. [1:30:52] And that's part of what's [1:30:53] happening with this facility. [1:30:54] So grants are still, [1:30:55] in the last month, [1:30:57] going to groups [1:30:57] that are getting beagles [1:30:59] from Ridgeland Farms. [1:31:00] Could you please [1:31:01] take a look at this? [1:31:03] Because they are under, [1:31:05] right now, [1:31:05] not a court order, [1:31:06] a settlement to close down [1:31:08] part of their breeding [1:31:08] facility by July 1st. [1:31:10] But they're not getting rid [1:31:11] of the 2,000 beagles [1:31:12] they have. [1:31:12] And if they don't, [1:31:14] we know what's going to happen. [1:31:14] They're going to get euthanized. [1:31:16] And I just want to make sure [1:31:17] that for that commitment, [1:31:19] which is a good commitment, [1:31:20] not to harm the beagles, [1:31:22] right now you're still [1:31:23] giving money to groups [1:31:24] through the NIH [1:31:25] that are using beagles [1:31:27] from this highly [1:31:28] questionable farm. [1:31:29] I have a hard time, [1:31:30] I believe you, [1:31:31] but I have a hard time [1:31:32] believing that. [1:31:33] I need to look into this [1:31:36] and talk to the office [1:31:37] because we're trying to end, [1:31:39] we've done more than [1:31:39] any other administration [1:31:40] in history to end [1:31:41] animal testing. [1:31:42] And in fact, [1:31:43] in this year's budget, [1:31:44] there's a $25 million budget [1:31:46] request that will allow us [1:31:49] to end. [1:31:51] We've ended most of it. [1:31:53] There's a few things [1:31:54] that are going on, [1:31:55] mainly veterinary, [1:31:56] where you have to use animals. [1:31:58] But what you're describing [1:32:00] should not be happening. [1:32:02] And I'd be glad [1:32:02] to share these with you [1:32:03] so you have them. [1:32:04] And then if we could [1:32:04] have that follow-up, [1:32:05] I really would appreciate it. [1:32:06] I will. [1:32:07] And again, [1:32:07] I'm going to give you [1:32:08] Ken Calhoun's number. [1:32:10] I really appreciate it. [1:32:11] We will get back to you. [1:32:12] Thank you. [1:32:13] Yeah, I recognize [1:32:14] the general lady [1:32:14] from Oklahoma. [1:32:15] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:32:16] And thank you, [1:32:17] Mr. Secretary, [1:32:17] for being with us [1:32:18] this afternoon. [1:32:19] It's been a long day, [1:32:20] I'm sure. [1:32:21] So let me start [1:32:22] by saying that I applaud [1:32:23] the work that your agency [1:32:24] has done to keep [1:32:26] Americans healthy. [1:32:27] I believe in HHS's mission [1:32:29] and it's anchored [1:32:30] by a simple [1:32:31] but essential truth. [1:32:33] There is no path [1:32:34] to a healthier nation [1:32:35] without a strong [1:32:37] and sustained investment [1:32:38] in scientific research. [1:32:40] It was mentioned earlier, [1:32:41] the discussion with NIH. [1:32:43] I had the great pleasure [1:32:43] of hosting Dr. Bhattacharya [1:32:45] in Oklahoma last year [1:32:47] and it was a wonderful experience. [1:32:50] I believe that sustained [1:32:52] strategic investment [1:32:53] in NIH will maintain [1:32:55] our global leadership [1:32:56] in biomedical science, [1:32:58] accelerate medical breakthroughs [1:33:00] and confront [1:33:00] the chronic disease epidemic [1:33:02] that burdens families [1:33:03] across this country. [1:33:05] A robust and reliable NIH budget [1:33:07] is the cornerstone [1:33:08] of that mission. [1:33:10] Breakthroughs do not happen [1:33:11] by accident. [1:33:12] They grow from long-term [1:33:14] commitments to discovery, [1:33:16] stable funding streams, [1:33:17] and a national belief [1:33:18] that medical innovation [1:33:20] is both possible [1:33:21] and necessary. [1:33:24] Moreover, [1:33:25] strong NIH funding [1:33:26] is not just about [1:33:27] today's research, [1:33:28] it is about maintaining [1:33:29] U.S. leadership [1:33:30] in biomedical innovation. [1:33:33] As someone who is a commissioner [1:33:34] on the National Security Commission [1:33:35] on biotech, [1:33:38] I am committed to making sure [1:33:39] that we continue to invest [1:33:40] in biomedical innovation. [1:33:43] And as our adversaries [1:33:44] accelerate their investments, [1:33:46] especially in early phase [1:33:48] clinical trials and research, [1:33:49] we cannot afford to fall behind [1:33:52] in investing in the future. [1:33:54] NIH's budget is essential [1:33:56] to ensuring that scientists, [1:33:58] universities, [1:33:59] and research institutions [1:34:01] remain unmatched engines [1:34:02] of discovery and innovation. [1:34:05] So NIH has historically [1:34:07] had bipartisan support. [1:34:09] What are the primary areas [1:34:10] within NIH [1:34:11] that would see either reductions [1:34:13] or expansions [1:34:14] under your proposed funding plan? [1:34:16] And how will you ensure [1:34:17] that those shifts [1:34:18] don't impede ongoing research? [1:34:20] Well, let me give you [1:34:21] a couple of examples. [1:34:22] 800,000 to the Medical College [1:34:23] of Wisconsin [1:34:24] for cardio-metabolic impact [1:34:27] of gender-affirming hormone therapy [1:34:29] in transmasculine young adults. [1:34:32] 650,000 to Georgia State University [1:34:35] for an intersectional approach [1:34:37] linking minority stressors [1:34:38] experienced by transgender [1:34:40] and gender-diverse adults. [1:34:42] Alcohol and drug use [1:34:44] comorbid with mental [1:34:45] and physical health outcomes. [1:34:47] I can give you hundreds of those. [1:34:49] There was a billion dollars [1:34:51] being spent [1:34:51] on the genetic cause of autism. [1:34:54] That's like studying [1:34:55] the genetic cause of lung cancer [1:34:58] and not wanting [1:34:59] to look at cigarettes. [1:35:01] There was so much waste there now. [1:35:03] Nobody wants to cut NIH funding. [1:35:05] I don't want to cut it. [1:35:06] Russ Vogt doesn't want to cut it. [1:35:07] The president doesn't. [1:35:09] You have a $39 trillion debt. [1:35:11] It is a social determinant of health. [1:35:14] Every child in this country [1:35:15] is a $6,600 debt, [1:35:19] and that before they make [1:35:20] a single health care claim. [1:35:23] And so we've been asked to cut [1:35:24] by 12% across my agency, [1:35:26] and all of those cuts are painful. [1:35:30] Nobody wants to do them, [1:35:32] but somehow we've got to tighten our belt [1:35:35] in order to save our kids [1:35:37] from these kind of costs. [1:35:39] My agency gets twice as much [1:35:42] as the Defense Department. [1:35:43] We're spending a lot on health care, [1:35:45] but we're also recalibrating [1:35:48] NIH spendings. [1:35:49] $30 billion of it [1:35:50] is going to chronic disease, [1:35:52] which they've never studied before. [1:35:54] We're going to find out [1:35:55] what the cause are, [1:35:56] what the etiology is, [1:35:59] and how to eliminate [1:35:59] those exposures. [1:36:01] Thank you. [1:36:02] You warned in your testimony [1:36:03] that China now conducts [1:36:04] more Phase I clinical trials [1:36:06] than the U.S., [1:36:08] citing this as a competitiveness risk. [1:36:10] What measurable outcomes [1:36:11] should Congress expect [1:36:13] from the FY27 NIH investment [1:36:15] to reverse the trend? [1:36:16] Can you repeat the first sense? [1:36:19] Sure. [1:36:20] You warned in testimony [1:36:21] that China now conducts [1:36:22] more Phase I trials than the U.S. [1:36:26] What can Congress do to expect, [1:36:30] what can Congress expect [1:36:31] from the FY27 NIH investment [1:36:33] that will reverse this trend? [1:36:36] I mean, we're already doing, [1:36:38] we are accelerating drug approvals [1:36:41] like it never happened before. [1:36:43] We're also doing more [1:36:45] surprise inspections in China [1:36:47] because they're using [1:36:48] unethical practices [1:36:49] to steal our IP, [1:36:51] to steal our best scientists, [1:36:53] to steal our doctors. [1:36:55] This year, China approved more [1:36:57] or produced more drugs [1:37:00] that were licensed [1:37:01] than the United States, [1:37:02] almost half of them in the world. [1:37:05] They've gone from 3% [1:37:06] of clinical trials [1:37:07] to about almost 40%. [1:37:08] They are eating our lunch, [1:37:11] and we are responding, [1:37:13] you know, we just, [1:37:15] Arne McCary just approved [1:37:17] two new drugs, [1:37:20] oncology drugs, [1:37:21] one in 55 days [1:37:22] and one in 44 days, [1:37:25] the fastest in history. [1:37:26] We are accelerating approvals, [1:37:29] accelerating the times [1:37:30] from conception [1:37:30] to commercial use, [1:37:33] and in order to bring that, [1:37:36] to make us competitive with China [1:37:38] and Australia, by the way. [1:37:40] We're also investing $325 million [1:37:43] in reshoring pharmaceuticals, [1:37:47] and we have a great American plan [1:37:49] which requires that, [1:37:52] that puts first in line drugs [1:37:55] that were researched [1:37:56] in the United States. [1:37:57] So we are doing everything we can [1:37:59] to restore the advantage [1:38:00] of the United States [1:38:01] and keep America number one [1:38:04] in biomedical research. [1:38:09] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. [1:38:10] I appreciate the answer, [1:38:11] and my time has expired. [1:38:12] I yield back. [1:38:14] Ms. Frankel. [1:38:18] Good afternoon. [1:38:19] Thank you for being here. [1:38:22] So you mentioned to Mr. Pocan [1:38:25] that you agreed [1:38:26] that when Congress appropriates money, [1:38:29] that money should be released. [1:38:31] So I want to talk to you about Gavi. [1:38:33] Gavi is an organization [1:38:35] that procures vaccines [1:38:36] for use in development countries, [1:38:38] mainly in Africa, [1:38:39] to help prevent deadly diseases, [1:38:42] including malaria, [1:38:43] Mises, Ebola, yellow fever. [1:38:45] Since 2000, Gavi has helped prevent [1:38:47] nearly 20 million deaths, [1:38:50] mostly children, [1:38:51] and stopping deadly diseases [1:38:53] before they spread. [1:38:54] It's one of the most effective tools [1:38:56] we've had to prevent outbreaks [1:38:58] from reaching our shores. [1:39:00] Now, Congress, [1:39:01] in a different subcommittee, [1:39:02] but with the full budget, [1:39:04] we appropriated $300 million to Gavi, [1:39:08] both in F-25 and F-26. [1:39:11] None of this funding has been released, [1:39:13] and we have told, [1:39:14] the State Department has told us [1:39:16] they're waiting for your approval [1:39:18] at HHS to obligate these funds [1:39:21] and that you are holding up [1:39:23] based on unproven anti-vaccine beliefs. [1:39:27] So I just, [1:39:28] I want to just say this. [1:39:29] I'm going to get into an argument with you, [1:39:31] but these funds must be released immediately. [1:39:35] It was a bipartisan appropriation, [1:39:38] and we're trying to keep people alive [1:39:41] and keep people healthy. [1:39:43] That's number one. [1:39:45] Number two, [1:39:45] I want to go to a little different subject, [1:39:47] which is Medicaid. [1:39:51] In Florida, [1:39:53] we have 4 million people on Medicaid. [1:39:56] Half of them are children. [1:39:58] And right now, [1:39:59] Florida's hospitals receive [1:40:01] standard Medicaid reimbursements [1:40:03] at only 50% of the care. [1:40:06] To close this gap, [1:40:08] Florida uses the State-Directed Payment Program, [1:40:11] which is a federal program, [1:40:12] to secure additional federal funding [1:40:14] for the hospitals. [1:40:15] And they're providing essential services [1:40:18] to our low-income populations. [1:40:20] Florida is one of three states, [1:40:22] we're one of three states [1:40:23] whose state-directed payment programs [1:40:25] have not been approved by CMS. [1:40:29] And without approval, [1:40:30] Florida is facing a 4.5 billion annual [1:40:33] federal funding shortfall. [1:40:35] This is not just a budget issue. [1:40:37] It's an access to care issue. [1:40:39] It's going to hospitals. [1:40:41] Some will go out of service. [1:40:43] Some will cut services. [1:40:44] We are going to lose thousands and thousands [1:40:46] of health care jobs, [1:40:48] and patients are going to get sicker. [1:40:51] And this delay is unnecessary. [1:40:53] It's dangerous. [1:40:54] And I am requesting [1:40:55] that you take a look at this [1:40:57] and CMS act immediately [1:40:59] to update to do this. [1:41:03] We are meeting every week [1:41:05] with Florida officials [1:41:06] to try to make this happen. [1:41:08] All right. [1:41:08] It's $8 billion. [1:41:10] So Florida gets more than any other state. [1:41:12] It's a huge amount of money. [1:41:14] And as you know, [1:41:15] it's been used to game the system. [1:41:17] Well, okay. [1:41:18] I'm going to... [1:41:18] I don't want to get into an argument [1:41:20] because I've got some other things for you. [1:41:21] But please take a look at it. [1:41:23] We're a very big state [1:41:24] with a lot of people. [1:41:25] We know that. [1:41:26] We're poor. [1:41:28] And we did not expand Medicaid. [1:41:30] Okay. [1:41:30] I'm going to go to the next one. [1:41:32] We're working. [1:41:32] I want to just repeat [1:41:35] something that you said. [1:41:36] You said that these cuts [1:41:38] now are to save children later. [1:41:41] I'm telling you [1:41:43] that your cuts... [1:41:44] These children are not going to be around [1:41:45] because of your cuts. [1:41:47] I don't know who you're... [1:41:48] You're killing children to save children. [1:41:51] One of your budget calls... [1:41:53] Your budget calls [1:41:53] for the elimination of Title X, [1:41:56] which serves 2.8 million [1:41:58] low-income patients a year, [1:42:00] provides basic care, [1:42:01] birth control, [1:42:02] cancer screening, [1:42:02] STI testing, [1:42:04] and infertility services. [1:42:06] And eliminating this program [1:42:08] would be a dangerous mistake. [1:42:10] It means more undetected cancers, [1:42:12] more unintended pregnancies, [1:42:14] fewer preventive care options. [1:42:17] And we've also been told [1:42:18] that if you have the funds, [1:42:20] you're going to divert them [1:42:21] to clinics [1:42:22] that do not provide [1:42:23] evidence-based care [1:42:24] and push anti-abortion narratives. [1:42:27] This is going to make things worse. [1:42:28] So Title X has been bipartisan. [1:42:31] It's worked [1:42:32] because it delivers real, [1:42:33] trusted care [1:42:34] to people who need it the most. [1:42:36] And I am just urging you [1:42:38] to keep that in your budget. [1:42:40] And my last 45 seconds, [1:42:43] you also want to eliminate [1:42:45] your fall prevention program. [1:42:48] Falls is the number one [1:42:50] injury-related death [1:42:51] for Americans over 65. [1:42:54] One in four seniors, [1:42:55] 14 million a year experience of fall, [1:42:58] leads to 3 million emergency visits, [1:43:00] 1 million hospitalizations, [1:43:02] and a $50 billion cost [1:43:05] to the health care system annually. [1:43:07] Fall prevention programs work. [1:43:09] And so it doesn't seem to me [1:43:11] it make any sense [1:43:12] to cut those programs. [1:43:14] And with that, [1:43:15] 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. [1:43:19] Thank you for being here. [1:43:20] I yield back. [1:43:26] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:43:27] Mr. Secretary, [1:43:28] thank you for being here [1:43:28] with us today. [1:43:30] I want to follow up with you [1:43:31] on a few of the questions [1:43:33] that have been raised. [1:43:34] First, I appreciate learning [1:43:37] about the reshoring effort [1:43:39] for APIs and our medicines. [1:43:44] And I wonder if you could talk [1:43:45] a little bit more about that [1:43:46] because one of the things [1:43:48] we've learned over the last year, [1:43:50] especially, [1:43:51] is our dependency on China [1:43:52] for rare earth [1:43:54] and critical minerals [1:43:55] and pharmaceuticals [1:43:57] seem to be in that same situation. [1:43:59] And I'm encouraged to hear [1:44:01] about this investment. [1:44:02] And I wonder if you could talk [1:44:03] a little bit more about that. [1:44:04] I mean, President Trump [1:44:08] has made it a priority [1:44:10] to reshore all pharmaceutical [1:44:13] production for critical medicines [1:44:14] in this country. [1:44:16] The APIs, as you know, [1:44:17] are the precursor chemicals [1:44:19] and compounds [1:44:22] that go into building [1:44:24] a variety of pharmaceutical drugs. [1:44:27] During COVID, [1:44:28] it became clear [1:44:29] that we did not have any control. [1:44:31] We were virtually producing [1:44:34] no APIs. [1:44:35] They're all coming from China [1:44:36] and India, [1:44:37] most of them from China. [1:44:39] So President Trump [1:44:40] has made this a priority. [1:44:42] And we have, [1:44:44] in addition to the $325 billion [1:44:47] that we're putting into it, [1:44:49] there's also a million [1:44:51] that we're putting into it. [1:44:53] President Trump [1:44:54] is putting billions in [1:44:55] from the tariffs. [1:44:56] And we have secured agreements [1:44:57] during the MFN negotiations [1:44:59] with these companies [1:45:01] to build billions and billions [1:45:03] of dollars of plants [1:45:05] right here in the United States. [1:45:06] I think Lilly alone [1:45:08] is building six new plants. [1:45:10] Pfizer's building plants. [1:45:11] All the big companies [1:45:12] are now building here [1:45:14] in the United States. [1:45:16] We're going to be [1:45:17] in a lot more secure position [1:45:18] two or three years from now [1:45:20] than we are today. [1:45:22] Wonderful. [1:45:22] Does BARDA need [1:45:24] any more contracting authorizations [1:45:26] to help accelerate [1:45:28] domestic production? [1:45:29] You know what? [1:45:31] I will have to meet with you. [1:45:32] I know we have [1:45:33] a slightly expanded power [1:45:34] under the last bill. [1:45:36] And I need to meet [1:45:37] with my staff over there [1:45:39] to see if there's [1:45:39] something additional [1:45:40] that we need. [1:45:41] And I appreciate that offer. [1:45:43] And we will get back to you. [1:45:44] Okay. [1:45:45] Thank you. [1:45:46] Also wanted to follow up [1:45:48] with you [1:45:48] on some of the unethical practices [1:45:51] used by China. [1:45:52] Because one of the concerns [1:45:54] with their clinical data [1:45:56] is sometimes it may be linked [1:45:59] to forced labor [1:45:59] or other human rights abuses. [1:46:02] Is there anything HHS can do [1:46:04] about those kinds of... [1:46:06] Well, yeah, before we came in, [1:46:10] there were no surprise inspections. [1:46:12] And now we're doing that. [1:46:14] And we're doing a lot of them. [1:46:17] We're doing surprise inspections [1:46:19] over there to make sure [1:46:20] that they have their IND, [1:46:21] to make sure that they have [1:46:22] their IRB approvals, [1:46:23] and to make sure [1:46:25] that they're conducting [1:46:26] this ethically, [1:46:27] that they're not, you know, [1:46:28] going to minority groups [1:46:31] and forcing them [1:46:32] to participate in studies [1:46:34] where they have no choice over. [1:46:35] And that's something [1:46:37] that we've seen there [1:46:38] in the past. [1:46:39] Thank you. [1:46:40] Rural providers [1:46:41] are increasingly vulnerable [1:46:43] to cyber attacks [1:46:45] that can disrupt care [1:46:47] and compromise patient data. [1:46:49] Is there anything HHS can do [1:46:51] to help these providers [1:46:52] strengthen their cybersecurity [1:46:54] before an attack [1:46:55] and then also maintain operations [1:46:57] after an attack? [1:47:00] Well, the rural health... [1:47:02] I mean, I think that there's two things. [1:47:04] I can answer that [1:47:05] with the specificity [1:47:07] that you deserve. [1:47:09] I can say the Rural Health [1:47:10] Transformation Fund [1:47:11] has a lot of the states [1:47:15] have chosen to spend [1:47:18] that money on AI [1:47:19] and telemedicine, [1:47:20] and that has to be [1:47:22] very, very heavily armored [1:47:24] against cyber attacks. [1:47:25] Otherwise, you can get [1:47:26] patient information. [1:47:28] We have at HHS now [1:47:31] the best team in its history [1:47:32] for cybersecurity, [1:47:34] and we've been able [1:47:35] to recruit the top names [1:47:37] in Silicon Valley [1:47:38] who are now working [1:47:41] in the agency [1:47:42] to armor, [1:47:45] to fortify [1:47:46] our biosecurity capacity, [1:47:49] and it's something [1:47:52] that is a huge priority [1:47:54] for us. [1:47:55] As we move to AI [1:47:56] and, you know, [1:47:58] they can crack [1:47:59] pass codes [1:48:00] and there's a lot [1:48:03] of scary things happening [1:48:04] where we don't want people [1:48:06] stealing patient information. [1:48:09] And then just one final thing [1:48:11] on the glyphosate. [1:48:13] You know, [1:48:13] I represent a district [1:48:14] that's rural, [1:48:16] strong agricultural. [1:48:16] You know, [1:48:18] you've got corn, beans, [1:48:20] sugar beets, [1:48:21] all benefit [1:48:22] from glyphosate. [1:48:24] And I think it's important [1:48:25] when we talk about [1:48:26] some of these products [1:48:27] about carcinogenic, [1:48:28] it certainly depends on, [1:48:30] you know, [1:48:32] the content, [1:48:34] and it's not just [1:48:36] sort of a one-size-fits-all. [1:48:38] And I appreciate [1:48:39] the fact that you recognize [1:48:40] our dependency on China [1:48:42] with that, [1:48:43] and as we look [1:48:43] for alternatives [1:48:45] that may be better fitted [1:48:48] that it's not [1:48:49] a knee-jerk reaction on that. [1:48:51] So thank you. [1:48:52] And I think, you know, [1:48:53] there's now very, [1:48:54] very promising technology [1:48:55] to replace [1:48:56] intensive pesticide use, [1:49:00] particularly in sugar beet fields, [1:49:03] less so with corn and soy, [1:49:05] but a laser technology, [1:49:09] laser weed-killing technology, [1:49:11] which is now beginning [1:49:12] to proliferate around the country [1:49:13] and kind of promises [1:49:14] an era of chemical-free agriculture. [1:49:17] Thank you very much. [1:49:18] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:49:19] I yield back. [1:49:26] Good afternoon, Mr. Secretary. [1:49:28] I want to ask you a question [1:49:31] about who were you citing [1:49:33] when you said that [1:49:35] we have the biggest decline [1:49:37] in health [1:49:38] and that this is [1:49:41] the sickest generation [1:49:43] of children. [1:49:44] Where does that information [1:49:45] come from? [1:49:46] I've not read that. [1:49:48] Well, I don't think [1:49:49] there's anybody [1:49:50] who doesn't. [1:49:51] There's an associate [1:49:53] with public health [1:49:54] who doesn't know that. [1:49:57] I mean, CDC, in fact, [1:49:59] said the reason [1:50:00] that we had the highest death rate [1:50:01] during COVID [1:50:02] of any country in the world, [1:50:04] we had more Americans, [1:50:05] 3,000 per million population, [1:50:07] huge, [1:50:07] 10 times what they had in Europe, [1:50:10] was because we have [1:50:10] the highest chronic disease burden [1:50:12] of any country in the world. [1:50:14] America has higher diabetes, [1:50:16] higher obesity, [1:50:17] higher heart disease, [1:50:18] higher cancer, [1:50:20] less lifespan, [1:50:22] more fertility issues [1:50:24] than any other country, [1:50:25] autoimmune disease, [1:50:26] neurological disease. [1:50:27] If there is any kind [1:50:29] of a report, [1:50:31] any kind of research, [1:50:32] I would just love [1:50:33] to read it for myself. [1:50:34] I would say there's [1:50:35] hundreds of reports [1:50:36] and we're happy to provide them. [1:50:37] I would. [1:50:38] Thank you. [1:50:38] When we met last year, [1:50:41] we talked a little bit [1:50:42] about LIHEAP. [1:50:44] And you told us [1:50:45] that you did understand [1:50:46] that it had a life-saving importance. [1:50:50] And so, however, [1:50:52] we look at this [1:50:53] and we look at the budget [1:50:54] and once again, [1:50:56] it proposes the elimination [1:50:57] of this program, [1:50:58] which has helped more than 200 [1:51:00] and 40,000 households [1:51:02] in my state of New Jersey alone. [1:51:06] Families already facing [1:51:08] extreme weather [1:51:09] and rising energy prices, [1:51:11] especially with the threat [1:51:13] of all these AI data centers, [1:51:15] et cetera, et cetera, [1:51:16] and the costs [1:51:16] that are associated with them. [1:51:18] You also claimed [1:51:19] the administration's energy policies [1:51:21] with lower utility bills [1:51:23] and that LIHEAP [1:51:24] would merely subsidize [1:51:25] the oil industry. [1:51:27] But according [1:51:27] to the Joint Economic Committee [1:51:29] Minority Analysis, [1:51:31] households in New Jersey [1:51:32] are paying 17% more [1:51:35] for electricity [1:51:35] than they were a year ago [1:51:37] and so for many families [1:51:39] this means $260 [1:51:41] in addition to every other aspect [1:51:44] of their living, [1:51:46] cost of living, [1:51:46] has increased. [1:51:48] How does cutting the assistance [1:51:50] that helps these working families [1:51:51] afford their utility buildings [1:51:53] align with making America healthy again? [1:51:58] And what do you have to say [1:52:00] about saying last year [1:52:02] how important you thought this was [1:52:04] and the fact [1:52:04] that it doesn't exist [1:52:05] in this place? [1:52:06] Yeah, I mean, listen, [1:52:07] I understand the importance [1:52:09] of LIHEAP to communities. [1:52:10] My brother Joe [1:52:13] was the biggest provider [1:52:14] of low-cost [1:52:17] home heating oil [1:52:19] to families across New England, [1:52:21] and I have had people come up [1:52:23] to me for years saying, [1:52:25] you know, your brother saved my life. [1:52:26] I go on the Indian reservations today [1:52:29] and people tell me [1:52:30] that people will die [1:52:31] on the reservations. [1:52:33] I'm well aware of it. [1:52:35] I'm aware of your brother's work [1:52:37] in this area. [1:52:38] I'm just saying to you [1:52:39] in this position. [1:52:40] There are issues with LIHEAP. [1:52:43] The IG report that came out [1:52:46] in February showed a lot [1:52:47] of corruption in LIHEAP, [1:52:50] and there's a lot of duplication [1:52:52] in the states. [1:52:52] But I want to say this. [1:52:54] You gave me money this year [1:52:56] for LIHEAP, [1:52:57] and I spent that money, [1:52:58] 90% of it, [1:53:00] and we're working with... [1:53:02] We're going to give money [1:53:02] again this year, [1:53:03] but this is not a question... [1:53:05] If you give me the money, [1:53:06] I'm going to spend it. [1:53:06] We should not have to have [1:53:07] this discussion [1:53:08] about something [1:53:09] that's so obviously important [1:53:11] to the well-being [1:53:12] of vulnerable communities, [1:53:14] low-income communities, [1:53:15] and minority communities. [1:53:16] I want to go to the issue [1:53:17] of minority health. [1:53:19] Black women die [1:53:20] from childbirth complications, [1:53:22] a higher rate [1:53:22] in this country [1:53:23] than any other [1:53:24] high-income country. [1:53:26] The rate of colorectal cancer [1:53:27] is 20% higher [1:53:29] among black men [1:53:31] and 14% higher [1:53:33] among black women [1:53:35] compared to white women. [1:53:37] According to the CDC, [1:53:38] in 2023, [1:53:39] the average life expectancy [1:53:41] for black Americans [1:53:43] was 74 years [1:53:45] compared to 78.4 years [1:53:48] for all other races. [1:53:50] HHS's FY27 budget [1:53:53] proposes eliminating [1:53:54] the National Institute [1:53:56] on Minority Health [1:53:57] and Health Disparities [1:53:59] at NIH, [1:54:01] as well as [1:54:02] the Minority Fellowship Program [1:54:04] at SAMHSA, [1:54:05] which recognized [1:54:06] the disproportionate [1:54:08] under-representation [1:54:10] of minority experts [1:54:12] in those fields. [1:54:13] And I have successfully fought [1:54:15] to get those reauthorized [1:54:17] along with the other programs. [1:54:18] The work of the government [1:54:19] should look at all Americans, [1:54:21] and that includes [1:54:22] those who don't look like you [1:54:23] or our president. [1:54:25] So, Mr. Secretary, [1:54:26] do you believe [1:54:27] that some diseases [1:54:28] have a higher incident rate [1:54:30] in the minority population [1:54:31] than in others? [1:54:33] Could you just say yes or no to that? [1:54:34] I do, and I think, [1:54:36] particularly with chronic disease, [1:54:37] that the minority population [1:54:39] is substantially overburdened. [1:54:41] Do you agree that we need [1:54:44] to pay particular attention [1:54:45] and use our research dollars [1:54:48] to try to figure out [1:54:50] exactly why similarly situated [1:54:53] people economically, [1:54:56] educationally, et cetera, [1:54:57] have these disparities [1:54:59] simply because of race? [1:55:01] Well, I think the answer is [1:55:03] because they're not [1:55:03] similarly situated. [1:55:05] And President Trump, [1:55:07] his policy is to make [1:55:09] all Americans healthy. [1:55:10] I don't understand why you say [1:55:12] that we're not [1:55:13] similarly situated. [1:55:15] Well, because... [1:55:16] In what regard, [1:55:17] are we not similar? [1:55:18] Minorities are more likely [1:55:19] to live in food deserts. [1:55:21] They're more likely [1:55:21] to live in neighborhoods. [1:55:23] That's exactly what I said to you. [1:55:25] So they're not similarly situated. [1:55:27] That the disparity exists [1:55:27] even when there is [1:55:30] an equity in education, [1:55:34] equity in income. [1:55:37] excuse me, economic and income, [1:55:42] but there still are [1:55:44] these disparities that exist. [1:55:47] And these institutions [1:55:49] that look at the research [1:55:50] into why that possibly [1:55:52] is happening, [1:55:54] they're losing money [1:55:55] because of the decisions [1:55:56] that you and Donald Trump [1:55:58] have made. [1:55:59] And I'm asking, [1:56:00] how can you believe [1:56:03] that that's the right thing to do? [1:56:06] President Trump wants [1:56:08] to focus on all Americans [1:56:10] to get it all healthier again. [1:56:12] Thank you, sir. [1:56:14] Mr. Clyde. [1:56:18] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:56:19] And thank you, [1:56:21] Secretary Kennedy, [1:56:23] for appearing before [1:56:24] the subcommittee today. [1:56:26] First, before discussing HHS funding, [1:56:29] I want to thank you [1:56:30] for your work, [1:56:31] restoring accountability [1:56:32] and protecting personal freedoms [1:56:34] in health care. [1:56:36] In particular, [1:56:37] I appreciate the FDA's efforts [1:56:38] under your leadership [1:56:39] to expand access [1:56:41] to investigational drugs [1:56:43] for patients [1:56:43] with no other options. [1:56:45] Your personal work [1:56:46] in the approval [1:56:47] of the lamopratide, [1:56:48] now known as forazinity, [1:56:52] has been a lifeline [1:56:53] for one of my constituents. [1:56:55] She was a five-year-old little girl. [1:56:58] Her name was Hope. [1:56:59] And she now has Hope [1:57:01] because she battles [1:57:03] a rare mitochondrial disease. [1:57:05] This was meaningful. [1:57:06] This approval by the FDA [1:57:08] of this drug [1:57:09] was not only meaningful for Hope, [1:57:12] but for countless other Americans [1:57:13] living with debilitating [1:57:15] mitochondrial diseases. [1:57:17] So I want to tell you [1:57:18] from the bottom of my heart, [1:57:20] face to face, [1:57:21] thank you. [1:57:22] You have done great work [1:57:24] for my district. [1:57:26] Thank you very much. [1:57:27] You're welcome. [1:57:28] As we turn to the fiscal year [1:57:30] 2027 appropriations, [1:57:31] I'd like to discuss [1:57:32] how HHS is ensuring [1:57:33] that health funding [1:57:34] serves the interests [1:57:36] of Americans, [1:57:37] specifically what actions [1:57:38] HHS is taking [1:57:39] to protect life, [1:57:41] prevent fraud, [1:57:43] and prioritize merit [1:57:44] over DEI agendas. [1:57:48] Most Americans agree [1:57:49] that taxpayer dollars [1:57:50] should not fund abortion, [1:57:52] regardless of political affiliation. [1:57:54] Title X of the Public Health Service Act [1:57:57] has explicitly excluded abortion [1:58:00] since its creation in 1970. [1:58:03] Yet previous administrations [1:58:04] allowed large abortion providers [1:58:06] to receive Title X grants [1:58:07] without meaningful separation [1:58:08] between family planning [1:58:09] and abortion services. [1:58:11] During President Trump's first term, [1:58:13] the Protect Life Rule [1:58:14] enforced congressional intent [1:58:17] by requiring that Title X providers [1:58:19] maintain this separation, [1:58:21] comply with abuse reporting laws, [1:58:23] and prohibit abortion referrals, [1:58:25] a rule that was later rescinded [1:58:27] by the Biden administration. [1:58:30] So does HHS plan to issue [1:58:33] a new Protect Life Rule [1:58:35] to protect the integrity [1:58:36] of the Title X funding [1:58:37] going forward? [1:58:38] Is that something [1:58:39] that's in the docket [1:58:40] for you guys? [1:58:41] We are about to issue [1:58:43] new NOFOs, [1:58:45] and I think you'll be [1:58:45] very happy with them. [1:58:47] Okay. [1:58:47] All right. [1:58:48] Great. [1:58:49] Given last month's announcement [1:58:53] that HHS is unfreezing [1:58:55] the funds that were [1:58:56] previously frozen for this, [1:58:58] what assurances can you provide [1:59:00] that taxpayer dollars [1:59:01] are not subsidizing abortion [1:59:03] or abortion referrals [1:59:04] through Title X? [1:59:05] Well, it's illegal, [1:59:07] and we take our responsibilities [1:59:10] in terms of monitoring grants [1:59:14] to make sure that [1:59:15] that doesn't happen. [1:59:16] Okay. [1:59:17] I also would add that [1:59:19] at NIH, [1:59:21] we have now banned [1:59:24] fetal stem cells [1:59:26] funding from NIH [1:59:29] for external researchers, [1:59:31] and we ban the use [1:59:33] also of fetal tissue. [1:59:36] Well, thank you. [1:59:38] So now on the subject [1:59:41] of welfare fraud in Minnesota, [1:59:43] as we work to restore accountability [1:59:46] and ensure taxpayer dollars [1:59:47] are used as intended, [1:59:49] I want to highlight [1:59:49] the billion-dollar child care fraud scheme [1:59:52] that was documented in Minnesota, [1:59:54] linked to Somali networks. [1:59:55] This scandal reveals [1:59:57] how gaps in oversight [1:59:58] can be exploited. [2:00:00] That being said, [2:00:00] what specific steps [2:00:01] is HHS taking [2:00:03] to strengthen oversight [2:00:04] of the block grant programs [2:00:06] like the child care [2:00:07] and development blocks, [2:00:08] and how can Congress [2:00:10] support additional efforts [2:00:11] to hold these criminal actors [2:00:12] accountable? [2:00:13] Yeah, I mean, [2:00:14] I want to say this. [2:00:17] In the autism program there, [2:00:19] we expected to pay about, [2:00:22] this is for, you know, [2:00:23] 88 care for autism. [2:00:26] We expected to pay [2:00:28] $7 million a year, [2:00:30] and we were paying [2:00:31] $200 million a year. [2:00:32] No. [2:00:33] That was stolen money. [2:00:35] And we have impounded now [2:00:37] $349 million [2:00:39] on the state of Minnesota. [2:00:42] This is money that has already [2:00:44] been paid to the providers. [2:00:49] We are holding our reimbursement [2:00:52] until they can show us receipts. [2:00:55] And that's what we will do [2:00:56] in the future. [2:00:57] We also have changed [2:00:58] our payment methodology [2:01:01] on the Biden administration. [2:01:02] They implemented rules [2:01:04] that required us [2:01:06] to pay claims [2:01:09] even when we knew [2:01:10] they were fraudulent. [2:01:12] It was called [2:01:12] a pay-and-change system. [2:01:14] And then we were supposed [2:01:16] to go and call them back. [2:01:18] And, of course, [2:01:19] that never happened. [2:01:20] So now we have [2:01:21] a catch-and-stop system [2:01:24] where we look at it [2:01:25] before it goes out. [2:01:26] We have AI now monitoring [2:01:28] all of the grants, [2:01:29] looking for fraud, [2:01:31] flagging fraudulent cases [2:01:33] for us, potentially fraudulent cases, [2:01:36] have human review, [2:01:38] and we stop them [2:01:38] before they go out the door. [2:01:39] We've already saved [2:01:41] $2.1 billion [2:01:43] just in the last few months [2:01:45] that would have been stolen from us. [2:01:47] Well, thank you very much. [2:01:48] My time has expired, [2:01:49] but I just want to say [2:01:50] I appreciate you taking [2:01:52] good care of taxpayer dollars [2:01:54] in that regard [2:01:55] and eliminating the waste, [2:01:56] fraud, and abuse. [2:01:57] And I yield back, Mr. Chairman. [2:01:59] Mr. Harder. [2:02:00] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:02:02] Mr. Secretary, [2:02:03] as you know, [2:02:05] mercury exposure [2:02:05] could have significant [2:02:06] harmful effects on kids, [2:02:08] including permanent [2:02:09] cognitive deficits, [2:02:11] lowered IQ, [2:02:12] poor memory, [2:02:13] language delays. [2:02:15] During your career [2:02:16] as an environmental lawyer, [2:02:17] you brought lawsuits [2:02:18] targeting coal-burning utilities, [2:02:21] specifically over [2:02:21] their mercury emissions. [2:02:23] When President Trump [2:02:24] tried to roll back [2:02:25] mercury wastewater rule [2:02:26] during his first term, [2:02:27] you went to the EPA's [2:02:28] own public hearing [2:02:29] to fight it, [2:02:30] warning that allowing [2:02:31] more power pump pollution [2:02:33] into waterways [2:02:34] would poison people [2:02:35] through mercury-contaminated fish, [2:02:37] a problem you said [2:02:37] you experienced personally. [2:02:39] You said at the time, [2:02:40] and I'm quoting you directly, [2:02:41] it's really troublesome [2:02:42] for those of us [2:02:43] who will suffer [2:02:44] from your irresponsibility. [2:02:46] Given your long history [2:02:47] of advocacy on this issue, [2:02:48] do you still believe, [2:02:49] as you've argued for decades, [2:02:50] that mercury emissions [2:02:51] from coal plants harm kids? [2:02:53] I do. [2:02:55] Terrific. [2:02:57] In February of this year, [2:02:58] the Trump administration [2:02:59] finalized the repeal [2:03:00] of the mercury [2:03:01] and air toxic standards. [2:03:03] As a result, [2:03:04] coal-burning power plants [2:03:05] are now allowed [2:03:06] to emit more than twice [2:03:07] as much mercury [2:03:08] as they were before. [2:03:10] Just last week, [2:03:11] the Trump administration [2:03:12] proposed to weaken a rule [2:03:13] that monitors [2:03:13] and protects groundwater [2:03:14] from coal ash, [2:03:15] a waste product [2:03:15] that contains heavy metals [2:03:16] like mercury and lead. [2:03:18] How are these actions [2:03:19] consistent with your agenda [2:03:20] to make our children [2:03:21] healthy again? [2:03:22] Those are actions [2:03:23] that are not taken [2:03:24] by my agency, [2:03:25] and I am not familiar [2:03:28] with exactly what's happening [2:03:30] at the EPA, [2:03:31] so I would have to ask [2:03:32] Lee Zeldin about that. [2:03:34] This has been [2:03:35] a major news story. [2:03:36] You're the Secretary [2:03:36] of Health and Human Services. [2:03:38] You made a career [2:03:39] out of fighting [2:03:40] mercury pollution. [2:03:41] Are you telling me [2:03:41] that you don't have [2:03:42] an opinion [2:03:43] about this mercury rule? [2:03:45] Well, I don't think [2:03:46] any mercury is good, [2:03:47] and that's one of the reasons [2:03:48] we're holding up [2:03:49] the Gavi grants, [2:03:50] because they're giving [2:03:51] mercury vaccines [2:03:53] that are banned [2:03:53] in Europe [2:03:54] and the United States. [2:03:55] Secretary, [2:03:56] 161 million kids in Africa. [2:03:59] This is your administration [2:04:01] making this decision. [2:04:02] Are you critical of it? [2:04:03] Why have you stayed silent [2:04:04] on this? [2:04:05] You should call Lee Zeldin [2:04:06] here and ask him [2:04:07] about those. [2:04:08] That's not in my... [2:04:09] I have a $2.3 trillion [2:04:11] agency. [2:04:13] Mr. Secretary, [2:04:14] you had in your testimony, [2:04:16] you wrote an entire report. [2:04:17] I was not part [2:04:18] of the hearings. [2:04:19] I was not part [2:04:19] of that decision. [2:04:20] I'm not going to comment [2:04:21] on it, [2:04:21] because I don't know [2:04:22] anything about it. [2:04:23] It sounds like pretty [2:04:24] convenient amnesia to me, [2:04:26] because you wrote a report [2:04:27] where you talked [2:04:28] about the damage [2:04:30] of toxic air [2:04:31] and water pollution. [2:04:32] Mercury is absolutely... [2:04:35] It's the most powerful [2:04:35] neurotoxin [2:04:36] we know of [2:04:38] in the universe. [2:04:40] So why are you working [2:04:41] for an administration [2:04:42] that is doubling [2:04:43] the amount of mercury [2:04:44] pollution in our air [2:04:45] and water? [2:04:45] I am running HHS, [2:04:48] and I'm ending [2:04:50] the chronic disease epidemic. [2:04:51] I think it sounds like [2:04:52] an awful lot of... [2:04:53] President Trump wants, [2:04:55] and I'm not going [2:04:56] to comment on that, [2:04:56] because I don't know [2:04:57] anything about it. [2:04:59] Well, I think [2:04:59] that's very convenient [2:05:00] for you, [2:05:01] and it shows [2:05:01] a significant degree [2:05:02] of cowardice. [2:05:03] It's not just mercury. [2:05:06] President Trump, [2:05:06] in July 2025, [2:05:08] granted 50 chemical plants... [2:05:09] Why don't you ask me [2:05:10] something that I'm [2:05:11] in charge of, [2:05:12] instead of other things... [2:05:13] Are you not in charge [2:05:14] of health care [2:05:15] and human services? [2:05:16] Yeah, HHS. [2:05:17] And you wrote a report [2:05:18] about how we want [2:05:18] to make sure [2:05:19] that our kids... [2:05:19] Well, you're asking me [2:05:20] about it. [2:05:21] It's not a decision [2:05:21] that's being made [2:05:22] by my agency. [2:05:23] Why don't you ask me [2:05:24] about something, [2:05:26] and I won't ask you [2:05:27] about something [2:05:28] that's happening [2:05:29] in the United States Senate. [2:05:31] Sir, I'm happy [2:05:32] to talk about [2:05:32] what's going on [2:05:33] in the United States Senate. [2:05:34] I'd be happy [2:05:35] to talk about [2:05:35] the damages [2:05:36] that mercury pollution [2:05:37] did. [2:05:38] I think it's pretty disturbing... [2:05:39] I'm telling you [2:05:40] what I know, [2:05:41] which is mercury [2:05:42] is a toxin. [2:05:43] We should be minimizing [2:05:44] the exposures [2:05:46] to that in the environment. [2:05:48] I don't know anything [2:05:49] about the particular... [2:05:51] Running this agency [2:05:52] is a big job [2:05:53] and it's pretty consuming. [2:05:55] So I don't get into [2:05:57] what the other agencies [2:05:58] are doing. [2:05:59] I think this sounds [2:06:00] like a pretty simple story. [2:06:01] Why don't you ask me [2:06:02] something that's happening [2:06:03] in my agency? [2:06:04] Why don't you ask me [2:06:06] about a decision [2:06:06] that I've made? [2:06:07] You wrote a report. [2:06:09] You wrote a report [2:06:10] talking about [2:06:10] what we need to do [2:06:11] to make our kids healthy. [2:06:12] I've admitted it. [2:06:13] You're talking in circles. [2:06:15] I've said... [2:06:16] I think it's pretty [2:06:17] disturbing to me [2:06:18] that you don't want [2:06:19] to talk about [2:06:20] a doubling of mercury pollution. [2:06:21] I don't want to talk about... [2:06:23] You've spent a career [2:06:23] about this. [2:06:24] I don't want to talk [2:06:24] about a regulation [2:06:25] or a policy [2:06:27] that I don't know [2:06:27] anything about. [2:06:29] Well, I hope you learn [2:06:30] about it [2:06:30] because this is a big deal [2:06:32] and you spent [2:06:32] your entire career [2:06:33] advocating to lower [2:06:35] mercury pollution, [2:06:36] which I think [2:06:36] is really admirable. [2:06:37] Let me just say, [2:06:39] I think you all [2:06:39] are talking over each other. [2:06:41] You definitely... [2:06:42] The Secretary has acknowledged [2:06:43] he has some issues [2:06:44] about that, [2:06:45] but obviously, [2:06:46] he cannot speak [2:06:47] to the EPA, [2:06:50] so y'all are both [2:06:51] really agreeing [2:06:51] but won't agree. [2:06:53] Well, let me close, [2:06:55] Mr. Chair. [2:06:55] We did that in partner [2:06:56] because we run ARPA. [2:06:59] So that, for me, [2:07:01] was a decision [2:07:02] that I had something [2:07:03] to do with. [2:07:04] I don't know if anything... [2:07:05] And I can tell you this, [2:07:07] President Trump, [2:07:08] when he gave me this job, [2:07:11] he made a condition precedent [2:07:12] and he was very open [2:07:13] about it. [2:07:15] He said, [2:07:15] I want you to stay away [2:07:16] from energy policy, [2:07:18] and I agreed to do that. [2:07:20] So I don't comment [2:07:21] on energy policy. [2:07:22] I comment and work. [2:07:23] I've got enough to do [2:07:24] in my agency [2:07:25] to make it... [2:07:26] This isn't an energy issue, sir. [2:07:27] This is a healthcare issue. [2:07:28] And just in closing, [2:07:29] I think this sounds [2:07:29] like a pretty simple story [2:07:30] to me. [2:07:31] An administration [2:07:32] that took $219 million [2:07:34] from the oil [2:07:35] and gas industry [2:07:35] in 2024 [2:07:36] and, in exchange, [2:07:38] doubled the amount [2:07:39] of mercury pollution [2:07:40] in our air and water. [2:07:41] And so what I don't understand [2:07:42] is how you can spend [2:07:43] your entire career [2:07:44] talking about this issue, [2:07:45] and then the first minute [2:07:46] that you get power [2:07:47] to do something about it, [2:07:48] you take off the mask [2:07:50] and become an apologist [2:07:51] for an administration [2:07:52] that is increasing [2:07:53] mercury more than [2:07:53] any other in history. [2:07:55] I'm shocked [2:07:55] that you'd come [2:07:56] to this meeting [2:07:57] and not have a single question [2:07:58] to ask me about my agency. [2:08:00] I had plenty of questions, sir. [2:08:02] Well, go ahead. [2:08:02] Whether you want to answer this. [2:08:03] All right. [2:08:04] Time has expired. [2:08:05] Mr. Moore. [2:08:09] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, [2:08:10] and thank you, [2:08:10] Secretary Kennedy, [2:08:11] for being here. [2:08:12] Thank you for all [2:08:13] of your hard work. [2:08:14] As a side note, [2:08:15] I would applaud, [2:08:16] being from the state [2:08:16] of West Virginia, [2:08:17] what the administration's done [2:08:18] as it relates [2:08:19] to the coal industry, [2:08:20] and we heard some numbers [2:08:22] cited in terms [2:08:23] of life expectancy [2:08:24] in certain communities. [2:08:26] I can tell you in my state, [2:08:27] life expectancy [2:08:28] is like 71 years. [2:08:30] I mean, it's the lowest [2:08:31] in the country, [2:08:32] and part of that [2:08:33] is obviously we live [2:08:34] in food deserts, right? [2:08:36] That point that you made [2:08:37] earlier is just that, [2:08:39] and part of the reason [2:08:40] we live in food deserts [2:08:41] is because we had 20 years [2:08:42] of Democratic elected officials [2:08:45] shutting down our coal industry [2:08:46] against our united mine workers, [2:08:49] our great united mine workers, [2:08:51] unionized guys losing their jobs. [2:08:54] But anyway, [2:08:55] I guess we don't care [2:08:56] about the unions. [2:08:57] So, Mr. Secretary, [2:08:59] thank you very much, though, [2:09:00] for your decisive leadership [2:09:02] you brought to the Department [2:09:04] of Health and Human Services, [2:09:05] and I commend you [2:09:06] on the work on advancing [2:09:07] to make America healthy again [2:09:09] in the agenda, [2:09:09] particularly the Maha Commission [2:09:12] to confront the root causes [2:09:14] of chronic disease, [2:09:16] taking bold action [2:09:17] on infant formula safety [2:09:19] through Operation Stork Speed [2:09:21] and fighting to finally deliver [2:09:23] fair, most favored nation [2:09:25] prescription drug pricing [2:09:27] for Americans. [2:09:28] And as an aside, [2:09:29] I want to thank you [2:09:30] for coming to the great [2:09:31] state of West Virginia [2:09:32] with my governor. [2:09:33] You're actually [2:09:34] at my children's school. [2:09:36] Were you trying to help him [2:09:37] actually get a little healthy [2:09:38] there as well? [2:09:39] I'm trying. [2:09:40] Yeah, you might want [2:09:41] to check back in on it. [2:09:43] But... [2:09:43] You lost 15 pounds [2:09:45] the last time I took it. [2:09:46] He did. [2:09:46] He did. [2:09:47] He's getting there. [2:09:47] He's doing good. [2:09:49] I also sincerely appreciate [2:09:51] you working with me last year [2:09:53] to help ensure critical [2:09:54] NIOSH funding [2:09:56] for restoring NIOSH [2:09:58] in Morgantown, West Virginia, [2:10:00] where black lung testing occurs, [2:10:02] which is vital [2:10:03] for hardworking coal miners [2:10:04] and their families [2:10:05] across West Virginia. [2:10:06] Mr. Secretary, [2:10:07] I've introduced [2:10:07] the Respect Parents' Child Care [2:10:10] Choice Act, [2:10:11] which would ensure [2:10:12] child care and development [2:10:14] block grant funds [2:10:16] are delivered directly [2:10:17] to parents, [2:10:18] allowing them to choose [2:10:19] the best caregiver [2:10:21] for their family, [2:10:22] whether that be a parent, [2:10:23] a grandparent, [2:10:24] an aunt or an uncle [2:10:26] or a sibling. [2:10:27] Given your emphasis [2:10:28] on empowering families [2:10:31] and improving outcomes, [2:10:32] will you commit [2:10:33] to working with me [2:10:35] to ensure the CCDBG funds [2:10:37] can more readily support [2:10:39] kinship and in-home care [2:10:42] rather than being [2:10:43] disproportionately steered [2:10:44] toward institutional providers? [2:10:48] Yeah, I will absolutely [2:10:49] commit to work with you [2:10:52] on that. [2:10:53] And as you probably know, [2:10:55] the First Lady [2:10:56] has been driving this effort [2:10:58] to keep families, [2:11:00] to keep children [2:11:01] with their families. [2:11:03] We have programs at HHS [2:11:05] that are funding substance abuse. [2:11:08] which is one of the primary reasons [2:11:10] that families are losing [2:11:12] their children. [2:11:13] And partially as a result [2:11:15] of the programs [2:11:16] that we have in place, [2:11:17] the number of foster children [2:11:18] has dropped from 425,000 [2:11:20] to 325,000. [2:11:23] And it's because we're focused [2:11:25] on keeping them [2:11:26] with their family of origin, [2:11:28] which is where they belong. [2:11:29] It really is. [2:11:30] And in a state like mine, [2:11:32] next to kin [2:11:33] and the kinship, [2:11:34] it happens more [2:11:36] in West Virginia [2:11:37] than a lot of other states. [2:11:38] And I think it's really important [2:11:39] to keep them [2:11:39] with their family of origin. [2:11:42] Just shifting gears here real quick, [2:11:44] I was encouraged [2:11:45] by the announcement [2:11:45] that the Trump administration [2:11:46] would be ending [2:11:47] the use of human fetal tissue [2:11:50] from abortions [2:11:51] in NIH-supported research. [2:11:54] Can you give me an update [2:11:55] on the implementation [2:11:56] of that policy? [2:11:57] We have finalized regulations [2:12:03] on that. [2:12:04] That's wonderful. [2:12:05] That is excellent. [2:12:07] Well, with that, [2:12:09] Mr. Secretary, [2:12:09] please keep up the good work. [2:12:11] Come back to West Virginia [2:12:12] anytime. [2:12:12] We'd love to have you. [2:12:13] Your father was very popular there, [2:12:15] as was your uncle, [2:12:16] so we'd love to have you back [2:12:17] anytime. [2:12:18] I yield back, Mr. Chairman. [2:12:20] Ms. Dean. [2:12:23] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:12:24] Good to be with you, [2:12:25] Secretary Kennedy. [2:12:27] I hail from Philadelphia region, [2:12:30] suburban Philadelphia. [2:12:32] And I have to admit to you, [2:12:33] this last round [2:12:33] with Mr. Harder [2:12:34] was relatively revealing [2:12:36] that Maha, apparently, [2:12:37] as you sit around [2:12:38] the Cabinet table, [2:12:39] works only in silos. [2:12:41] That's something you care [2:12:42] desperately about. [2:12:43] You have not had a conversation [2:12:44] with the EPA, Secretary. [2:12:46] That's rather... [2:12:47] I have a lot of conversation. [2:12:48] That was my comment. [2:12:50] Excuse me. [2:12:50] That was my comment. [2:12:51] Let me go to... [2:12:52] It's just wrong [2:12:53] what you said. [2:12:54] Thank you. [2:12:54] Let me go to... [2:12:57] Let's talk about vaccines. [2:12:59] Before the Trump administration [2:13:00] came back into office [2:13:01] and you came into office [2:13:03] as Secretary, [2:13:04] 2024, [2:13:05] how many measles cases [2:13:07] were there in the United States? [2:13:10] I think during the four years... [2:13:13] I'm asking a specific year, [2:13:14] the year before you came in. [2:13:16] I don't know, [2:13:17] but very few. [2:13:19] Yes, you're right. [2:13:20] 285. [2:13:21] How about in the first year [2:13:23] of the Trump administration, [2:13:24] 2025, [2:13:25] how many cases [2:13:26] of measles? [2:13:27] 2,500. [2:13:29] You're very close. [2:13:30] Yes, you're right. [2:13:31] So we went from less... [2:13:32] fewer than 300 [2:13:33] to more than... [2:13:35] much more than 2,000. [2:13:37] How about this year? [2:13:39] Up to... [2:13:39] This year, 1,700. [2:13:42] This year... [2:13:43] We're talking January [2:13:44] to April the 9th. [2:13:46] 1,700. [2:13:47] 1,700, yeah. [2:13:48] 1,714. [2:13:50] How many deaths [2:13:51] have we had? [2:13:52] Three, or two. [2:13:54] Three. [2:13:55] Three. [2:13:55] Two children in Texas. [2:13:57] You're aware of those. [2:13:58] Yeah. [2:13:58] And an adult in New Mexico [2:14:00] unvaccinated. [2:14:03] Can you tell me, [2:14:05] can you tell all of us, [2:14:06] is the MMR vaccine [2:14:08] safe and effective? [2:14:09] Yes or no? [2:14:10] The MMR vaccine... [2:14:12] Yes or no? [2:14:13] Yes. [2:14:14] Thank you. [2:14:15] It's safe for most people. [2:14:17] Can you agree [2:14:17] that getting the vaccine [2:14:18] is a lot safer [2:14:19] than getting measles? [2:14:21] Yes. [2:14:22] Terrific. [2:14:23] That's why I am deeply troubled [2:14:25] that vaccination rates [2:14:26] are declining [2:14:27] under your leadership, [2:14:29] under this administration. [2:14:31] MMR coverage [2:14:31] has dropped [2:14:32] to just 92.5%, [2:14:34] well below the 95% [2:14:36] threshold needed [2:14:38] to prevent outbreaks [2:14:39] such as we are seeing [2:14:40] in this country [2:14:40] like we have not seen [2:14:42] in decades. [2:14:43] Deaths that we have not [2:14:44] seen in decades. [2:14:47] Mr. Secretary. [2:14:49] How many members [2:14:49] of the Advisory Committee [2:14:51] on Immunization Practices [2:14:52] did you replace [2:14:53] when you came in? [2:14:56] Well, I fired all 17 members. [2:14:59] That's correct. [2:15:00] You fired all of them? [2:15:02] Yeah. [2:15:02] All of the vaccine board? [2:15:04] The entire corrupt vaccine board. [2:15:07] Okay, thanks. [2:15:08] You've decided [2:15:09] they were corrupt [2:15:09] and apparently [2:15:11] what their practices were, [2:15:12] what their recommendations were, [2:15:13] were keeping us healthier, [2:15:15] children healthier, [2:15:17] children alive. [2:15:18] You're not going to let me reply. [2:15:20] You will not let me reply [2:15:21] because you do not dare [2:15:23] to talk to me [2:15:24] about what you just talked [2:15:25] about, measles. [2:15:26] You do not have the courage [2:15:28] to allow me to reply. [2:15:30] I told you the numbers. [2:15:31] You know the numbers. [2:15:33] I would think [2:15:33] that would concern you [2:15:34] as Secretary. [2:15:35] You're implying [2:15:36] that that is because [2:15:37] of a drop in vaccination rate. [2:15:39] 80% of those numbers [2:15:41] are people who are over five [2:15:42] and nothing to do with me. [2:15:44] That there is a... [2:15:45] Vaccination rates dropped [2:15:46] after COVID [2:15:47] because of mismanagement. [2:15:49] I'll reclaim my time, [2:15:50] Mr. Secretary. [2:15:51] Thank you. [2:15:51] And you replaced [2:15:52] all 17 members [2:15:53] with people [2:15:54] who lack the expertise [2:15:55] required to make [2:15:56] evidence-based recommendations. [2:15:58] Wrong. [2:15:59] Absolutely. [2:16:01] Well, it's true. [2:16:01] Completely, utterly wrong. [2:16:03] Okay. [2:16:03] Let me turn to two other areas [2:16:05] that I know you care about, [2:16:06] I care about, [2:16:07] mental health and addiction. [2:16:09] As you know [2:16:10] from our past conversations, [2:16:12] substance use disorder [2:16:13] and addiction, [2:16:14] it's a health issue [2:16:15] that is, I bet, [2:16:16] matters to everybody [2:16:17] in this room. [2:16:17] It matters to me [2:16:18] and my family. [2:16:19] I have a son, Harry, [2:16:20] 13 and a half years [2:16:21] in long-term recovery [2:16:23] from addiction to opioids. [2:16:25] So many of my constituents [2:16:27] have had this same struggle. [2:16:30] So many of my constituents [2:16:31] have lost family members [2:16:32] to addiction [2:16:33] and to overdose. [2:16:35] I know you too [2:16:36] have been open [2:16:37] about your own recovery. [2:16:39] Would you agree [2:16:39] that addressing [2:16:40] our nation's mental health [2:16:41] and substance use crisis [2:16:42] is a priority of yours? [2:16:44] Absolutely. [2:16:46] In your testimony, [2:16:47] you state, quote, [2:16:47] we must address [2:16:48] the root causes [2:16:49] of behavioral health conditions, [2:16:51] end quote, [2:16:51] and that HHS will focus [2:16:53] on strengthening prevention. [2:16:55] Secretary Kennedy, [2:16:56] you stand by that testimony? [2:16:57] Yes. [2:16:58] Thank you. [2:16:59] Did you recommend [2:17:00] cutting $261 million [2:17:02] from SAMHSA's [2:17:03] Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, [2:17:06] yes or no? [2:17:07] We didn't cut that money. [2:17:09] Have you read your budget? [2:17:11] Have you read [2:17:11] your budget proposal? [2:17:13] For this year? [2:17:14] For this year. [2:17:15] And we could talk [2:17:16] about SAMHSA before, [2:17:17] but for this year, [2:17:17] did you read [2:17:18] your budget proposal? [2:17:19] I thought you were [2:17:20] talking about another issue. [2:17:22] Okay. [2:17:23] You've cut SAMHSA. [2:17:25] But we've increased, [2:17:27] we've also elsewhere [2:17:28] increased... [2:17:28] You're cutting SAMHSA. [2:17:30] Am I right? [2:17:30] You're cutting SAMHSA? [2:17:31] We've dramatically increased [2:17:33] our investment [2:17:34] in addiction elsewhere. [2:17:36] That is actually not true. [2:17:38] That is seriously not true. [2:17:39] And that's why [2:17:40] we have to have [2:17:40] these budget hearings [2:17:41] and you have to come in [2:17:42] knowing what your budget request was. [2:17:44] I have read the budget [2:17:45] and your testimony. [2:17:46] You state in your testimony [2:17:48] that AHHA, [2:17:49] I'm not sure of that acronym, [2:17:50] but AHHA, [2:17:51] will focus on high-impact [2:17:52] priority areas, [2:17:53] including mental health. [2:17:55] Did you recommend [2:17:55] cutting $1.3 billion [2:17:57] from the Center [2:17:58] for Mental Health? [2:17:59] $1.3 billion cut [2:18:02] in your budget. [2:18:02] I think that's the proposal. [2:18:04] Okay. [2:18:05] You're comfortable with that. [2:18:06] Your testimony cites [2:18:07] White House Maha report [2:18:08] finding a shortage [2:18:10] of behavioral health providers. [2:18:12] Do you agree with that finding? [2:18:13] Did you recommend [2:18:14] cutting $68 million [2:18:16] from behavioral health [2:18:17] workforce development? [2:18:20] I think that's the proposal. [2:18:21] That's terrific. [2:18:23] And you also propose [2:18:24] consolidating substance use [2:18:26] and mental health block grants, [2:18:28] along with state [2:18:29] opioid response funding [2:18:31] just as we're finally [2:18:32] making some progress. [2:18:34] You did not increase [2:18:35] the overall funding. [2:18:36] You're trying to cut [2:18:37] all of these things. [2:18:38] In my neck [2:18:39] of the appropriations woods, [2:18:41] we call that kind [2:18:42] of block granting [2:18:43] shifting and shafting. [2:18:45] We move all of you [2:18:46] into one fund of money. [2:18:47] We don't give you any more. [2:18:48] In fact, [2:18:49] we cut a whole lot [2:18:50] and good luck [2:18:50] finding your resources. [2:18:52] We've created new programs. [2:18:54] New programs [2:18:55] because the other ones [2:18:56] were so lousy. [2:18:58] SAMHSA wasn't. [2:18:58] They weren't. [2:18:59] SAMHSA was a bad program? [2:19:01] I guess that's why [2:19:02] you cut it earlier this year. [2:19:03] I'm happy to explain [2:19:04] why, Congresswoman. [2:19:06] Well, let me just finish with [2:19:07] you cut it entirely [2:19:08] earlier this year, [2:19:10] sending 2,800, I think, [2:19:12] notices of grant cancellations, [2:19:14] which the administration [2:19:15] had to reverse [2:19:16] in a matter of a day. [2:19:19] What kind of incompetent [2:19:21] decision-making is that [2:19:22] when lives are at risk? [2:19:26] Termination notices [2:19:27] went out in SAMHSA, [2:19:28] and I reversed them [2:19:29] as soon as I found out [2:19:31] about it within 24 hours. [2:19:32] Yes, it was a crazed mistake. [2:19:36] Thank you very much. [2:19:41] Good to see you, [2:19:42] Mr. Secretary. [2:19:42] You too. [2:19:43] I've got to tell you, [2:19:44] I like the idea [2:19:46] that finally someone [2:19:48] is questioning [2:19:49] how things have been done [2:19:51] in this country [2:19:51] for 20 years [2:19:52] because the observation I made, [2:19:54] and I don't know [2:19:55] if it might have been [2:19:55] with you last year, [2:19:56] it might have been [2:19:57] with the head of the NIH, [2:19:58] that the country [2:20:00] is clearly sicker now [2:20:01] than it was 20 years ago. [2:20:02] There's no question, [2:20:03] there should be no question [2:20:04] in anyone's mind, [2:20:04] despite the fact [2:20:05] that we spend hundreds [2:20:07] and hundreds of billions [2:20:08] of dollars on things like, [2:20:10] and you know, [2:20:11] this was one of my pet projects, [2:20:13] you know, [2:20:14] $10 billion a year [2:20:15] on sweetened beverages, [2:20:17] on SNAP program, [2:20:18] that I'm convinced [2:20:19] all that did [2:20:20] is lead to higher rates [2:20:21] of obesity, [2:20:22] higher rates of metabolic disease, [2:20:24] higher rates of insulin resistance, [2:20:27] and we were spending [2:20:28] federal money, [2:20:29] and then on the other end, [2:20:30] spending federal dollars [2:20:31] to treat the people [2:20:32] who got the chronic illness [2:20:33] because that's what [2:20:35] we were allowing them [2:20:36] to buy with federal dollars, [2:20:37] and we're slowly unraveling that, [2:20:39] so thank you very much. [2:20:42] You know, [2:20:42] with regards to the vaccines, [2:20:43] the reason why people [2:20:44] are skeptical of vaccines [2:20:45] is because of what [2:20:45] happened during COVID. [2:20:47] When I had the CDC director [2:20:49] sitting where you were [2:20:49] and asked her, [2:20:50] well, why did you exactly [2:20:51] propose that children [2:20:53] should be getting it, [2:20:54] like young, healthy children? [2:20:55] Oh, well, because otherwise [2:20:56] it wouldn't be covered [2:20:57] under the free vaccine program. [2:20:59] Oh, so it's not [2:21:00] for medical reasons [2:21:01] because there were [2:21:02] some children [2:21:02] who wouldn't be covered, [2:21:03] so why didn't you [2:21:04] come to Congress [2:21:05] and just ask us [2:21:05] to cover those children [2:21:06] if their parents [2:21:08] decided they needed [2:21:09] the vaccine? [2:21:10] But no, [2:21:11] for unscientific reasons, [2:21:13] they said every healthy [2:21:14] child should get it, [2:21:15] and most parents [2:21:16] figured out [2:21:17] that COVID really [2:21:18] wasn't dangerous [2:21:19] for young, healthy children, [2:21:21] despite the fact [2:21:22] we made a lot of children [2:21:23] get a vaccine. [2:21:24] That's where it started, [2:21:26] so that's not [2:21:28] your responsibility. [2:21:29] That's where [2:21:30] questioning vaccines started. [2:21:33] I do want to just mention, [2:21:35] I thank you in the NIH budget [2:21:37] that once again [2:21:38] you dealt with the issue [2:21:40] of indirect costs [2:21:41] because as you know, [2:21:43] large universities [2:21:44] shift a lot of cost [2:21:46] of doing research [2:21:47] over to the federal government [2:21:48] through what are much [2:21:50] higher indirect costs, [2:21:52] and the variant [2:21:52] between universities [2:21:53] could be as low as 15%, [2:21:55] high as 70%. [2:21:56] Overhead should be [2:21:57] about the same everywhere, [2:21:58] and what you're finding [2:21:59] is that in some [2:22:00] of the universities, [2:22:01] especially the wealthier [2:22:03] universities, [2:22:03] choose not to use [2:22:04] their endowments [2:22:05] but instead depend [2:22:06] on the federal government [2:22:07] indirect cost rate [2:22:08] on NIH to fund [2:22:09] their research. [2:22:11] And I've always said [2:22:12] that a much better approach [2:22:13] is keep the NIH [2:22:14] budget constant [2:22:15] but reduce that [2:22:16] indirect cost rate [2:22:17] so you can fund [2:22:18] more research. [2:22:20] And, you know, [2:22:21] when I've talked [2:22:22] to university directors, [2:22:24] you know, [2:22:25] people high up, [2:22:25] they say, [2:22:26] well, we can't spend [2:22:27] our endowments on that [2:22:28] because those endowments [2:22:29] are targeted. [2:22:30] Well, they're not targeted [2:22:31] to research [2:22:32] because you're passing [2:22:33] the cost on [2:22:34] to the federal government. [2:22:35] Philanthropists [2:22:36] will target that. [2:22:37] They can fund those labs. [2:22:40] With regard to Medicare Advantage, [2:22:43] I just want to bring [2:22:43] your attention to the fact [2:22:44] that I was a little disappointed [2:22:46] that we allowed [2:22:46] the insurance companies [2:22:47] a little higher increase [2:22:50] this year [2:22:50] for Medicare Advantage. [2:22:51] I understand [2:22:52] that there were some areas [2:22:53] where they were going [2:22:54] to withdraw product, [2:22:55] but there is still [2:22:57] that problem [2:22:57] of abuse of the program [2:23:00] by what's called [2:23:01] upcoding. [2:23:03] You may be aware of it. [2:23:04] If not, Dr. Oz, [2:23:05] I'm sure you're... [2:23:06] Very much aware of it. [2:23:06] Yeah, that upcoding [2:23:07] has got to go away. [2:23:08] This is totally abusive. [2:23:09] You're fixing it. [2:23:10] Thank you very much [2:23:11] because this is [2:23:12] tens of billions [2:23:12] of dollars a year [2:23:13] goes right into [2:23:14] the bottom line profits [2:23:15] of insurance companies [2:23:16] that are making [2:23:17] a lot of money [2:23:18] and not to delivering [2:23:20] health care. [2:23:20] We're fixing it. [2:23:21] Thank you very much. [2:23:23] On nutrition, [2:23:24] obviously, [2:23:24] we're aligned on that. [2:23:26] We really have to think [2:23:28] long and hard [2:23:29] about how we, [2:23:30] you know, [2:23:31] the kind of signals [2:23:32] we send to people [2:23:34] about what you should be eating [2:23:35] and what you shouldn't be eating. [2:23:37] And I think we've got to start [2:23:38] with the, you know, [2:23:39] 22 states that have [2:23:40] the SNAP waivers. [2:23:41] It might even be [2:23:42] more than 22 now. [2:23:43] But what I want to ask you [2:23:44] is what work are you doing [2:23:47] to crack down [2:23:48] on the fraud, waste, [2:23:49] and abuse in HHS? [2:23:50] Because we know [2:23:51] that when you have [2:23:51] a budget that large, [2:23:53] there is going to, [2:23:54] and at many different levels, [2:23:55] there's going to be fraud, [2:23:56] waste, and abuse. [2:23:57] Can you give us some examples [2:23:58] of where you've found it [2:24:00] and where you're dealing with it? [2:24:02] I mean, [2:24:02] we've ended the pay-and-chase system [2:24:06] so that every grant [2:24:07] that goes out [2:24:08] is monitored [2:24:09] before it goes out [2:24:11] to make sure [2:24:12] that we're not sending it [2:24:13] to fraudsters [2:24:14] instead of human beings. [2:24:16] We're doing high work. [2:24:17] You know, [2:24:17] we've withdrawn [2:24:18] $350 million [2:24:22] we've withheld [2:24:24] from payments [2:24:26] to Minnesota [2:24:26] to force them [2:24:27] to audit [2:24:28] and give us receipts. [2:24:30] We're doing the same thing [2:24:31] in Florida [2:24:31] with the deal [2:24:32] with the durable medical equipment. [2:24:35] Florida is absolutely [2:24:36] cooperating with us. [2:24:37] Minnesota is not. [2:24:39] The same things [2:24:40] are happening in New York [2:24:41] and Los Angeles. [2:24:44] In Los Angeles, [2:24:45] we have terminated [2:24:47] 500 hospices. [2:24:48] Hospices in California, [2:24:52] which has more [2:24:53] than any in the country, [2:24:56] are empty, [2:24:58] many of them. [2:24:59] We were finding [2:24:59] an entire hotel [2:25:01] filled with hospices [2:25:03] almost in every room. [2:25:05] And, of course, [2:25:06] they didn't have any patients. [2:25:07] They had fake patients. [2:25:09] They were buying patient numbers [2:25:11] or they were going [2:25:12] to poor areas of town, [2:25:15] giving a flat-screen TV [2:25:16] that cost them $400 to $600 [2:25:18] and getting the patient [2:25:20] to register for the hospice [2:25:21] and then collecting [2:25:22] from us $6,000 a month. [2:25:25] The odd thing [2:25:25] that we were able to see [2:25:27] is that the patients [2:25:28] never die. [2:25:29] Typically, [2:25:30] a patient goes to hospice, [2:25:32] they die within 18 days. [2:25:34] These patients live forever. [2:25:36] And they were just billing us [2:25:37] month after month [2:25:39] after month. [2:25:40] And they stole billions [2:25:41] and billions of dollars [2:25:43] from us [2:25:43] and we're shutting that down. [2:25:44] Thank you very much [2:25:45] for looking after [2:25:46] the taxpayer dollars. [2:25:47] That kind of, [2:25:47] you know, [2:25:48] stealing money [2:25:49] from people [2:25:50] who really need [2:25:50] the health care [2:25:51] is just immoral. [2:25:53] That's all I can tell you. [2:25:54] We can extend. [2:25:55] Medicaid's supposed to expire [2:25:57] in 2033. [2:25:59] It goes bankrupt. [2:26:01] Just by eliminating the fraud, [2:26:02] we extend it [2:26:03] for another five years. [2:26:04] Mr. Fleischman. [2:26:07] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:26:08] Welcome, Mr. Secretary. [2:26:09] I want to, [2:26:10] at the outset, [2:26:10] thank you [2:26:11] for your thoughtful, [2:26:12] constructive, [2:26:13] and really outstanding [2:26:17] participation today. [2:26:18] I know you've faced [2:26:19] some adversity [2:26:20] and the like. [2:26:21] I chair the Energy [2:26:22] and Water Subcommittee. [2:26:23] I'm the cardinal there [2:26:24] and I promise not [2:26:25] to ask you [2:26:26] any energy questions. [2:26:28] But I have a great affinity [2:26:29] for this subcommittee, [2:26:31] so I'm going to try [2:26:32] to limit my questions [2:26:33] to relevant topics. [2:26:37] My first question, sir, [2:26:39] in January of 2025, [2:26:41] the FDA approved [2:26:42] the first oral [2:26:43] self-administered non-opioid [2:26:45] to treat moderate [2:26:46] to severe pain. [2:26:47] I think this is really [2:26:48] a big, big accomplishment. [2:26:51] It's my understanding, [2:26:53] though, that now, [2:26:54] nearly a year later, [2:26:55] Medicare Part D plans [2:26:56] are not covering [2:26:57] newly approved [2:26:58] non-opioids, [2:26:59] which provide patients [2:27:01] and prescribers [2:27:02] with these alternatives. [2:27:04] I'd rather ask this [2:27:06] in the most benign way, [2:27:07] because I know you've been [2:27:08] through a lot today. [2:27:09] Would you commit [2:27:10] to working [2:27:12] to help [2:27:13] to ensure [2:27:14] that Medicare beneficiaries [2:27:15] would have access [2:27:17] to opioid alternatives? [2:27:19] And I'll just leave it at that. [2:27:22] Yeah, I mean, [2:27:23] we're doing everything [2:27:24] that we can [2:27:24] to make that happen. [2:27:26] It was a complication [2:27:28] because if you allow [2:27:30] certain companies [2:27:32] to change their label [2:27:34] for non-surgical pain, [2:27:37] it then applies [2:27:39] to every non-surgical painkiller [2:27:41] across the board, [2:27:42] and they all then [2:27:43] get CMS refunds. [2:27:46] And there's a lot [2:27:46] of those [2:27:47] that we don't want [2:27:48] to pay for. [2:27:49] And so we tried [2:27:51] everything that we could [2:27:52] to figure out [2:27:53] how to do that [2:27:55] because they're approved, [2:27:56] all of them are approved [2:27:57] for surgical pain [2:27:58] and immediately post-surgical [2:28:00] while you're still [2:28:01] in the hospital. [2:28:03] And we tried [2:28:04] to figure out [2:28:05] how to get them [2:28:06] to change the label [2:28:07] so that they would [2:28:09] continue to apply [2:28:10] even after you left [2:28:11] the hospital. [2:28:12] But if we did that, [2:28:14] it would open up CMS [2:28:16] to tens of billions [2:28:17] of dollars in costs [2:28:18] or pills [2:28:21] that are not covered [2:28:23] right now [2:28:23] that people just buy [2:28:24] in the drugstore. [2:28:26] Thank you, sir. [2:28:28] My final question [2:28:29] deals with illegal [2:28:31] e-vape products. [2:28:32] It's my understanding, [2:28:34] Mr. Secretary, [2:28:35] that this is [2:28:37] a staggering problem. [2:28:38] A lot of these [2:28:39] have apparently come [2:28:40] in from China [2:28:41] into the U.S. market. [2:28:45] And my question for you [2:28:46] is that last year, [2:28:48] Congress directed the FDA [2:28:49] to dedicate $200 million [2:28:52] towards enforcement [2:28:53] to crack down [2:28:54] on illicit vapes [2:28:55] and illicit nicotine products. [2:28:58] Do you know [2:28:58] how those funds [2:29:00] are going to be spent [2:29:01] and what are your thoughts [2:29:03] on this issue? [2:29:05] Well, some of it [2:29:06] has been spent [2:29:07] on enforcement. [2:29:08] I participated [2:29:09] with Pam Bondi [2:29:10] in a big bust [2:29:11] in Illinois. [2:29:12] I think we confiscated [2:29:14] a million vapes [2:29:15] that were Chinese. [2:29:18] There is a complication [2:29:19] because, [2:29:21] a regulatory complication [2:29:23] with an FDA [2:29:24] because we were not able [2:29:26] to get enough [2:29:28] American vapes [2:29:29] approved for this country. [2:29:31] There is a giant market. [2:29:34] People are using those vapes [2:29:35] to quit smoking, [2:29:36] which is something [2:29:37] that we like. [2:29:38] And it was further complicated [2:29:43] about whether or not [2:29:44] we should allow the companies [2:29:45] to make vapes [2:29:47] that were designed essentially [2:29:49] to attract children, [2:29:50] cotton candy, [2:29:51] and bubblegum flavors. [2:29:53] So which flavors, [2:29:54] we would approve menthol, [2:29:56] tobacco versus those. [2:29:59] And that got caught up [2:30:00] in the regulatory process. [2:30:01] And we are doing everything [2:30:02] we can now [2:30:03] to approve American vapes [2:30:06] as quickly as we can. [2:30:07] And as soon as we get [2:30:09] a few more on the mark, [2:30:11] we'll be able to do the bust, [2:30:12] the Chinese vapes [2:30:13] more aggressively. [2:30:15] Yes, sir. [2:30:15] Well, Mr. Secretary, [2:30:16] I begin with thanks. [2:30:17] Let me conclude with thanks. [2:30:18] I appreciate your service [2:30:19] in this position [2:30:21] and to this administration. [2:30:23] Thank you, sir. [2:30:24] I yield back. [2:30:26] Thank you, Mr. Plash. [2:30:27] Well, I think we've had [2:30:28] a very good, robust hearing today. [2:30:31] And we know we've been going [2:30:32] for almost two and a half hours now. [2:30:35] So I know the Secretary's [2:30:37] had a long day, [2:30:38] but I would like to recognize [2:30:40] the ranking member [2:30:41] for some closing remarks [2:30:43] that she'll have, [2:30:44] and then I will close. [2:30:46] Thank you very much, [2:30:47] Mr. Chairman. [2:30:48] And just one point, [2:30:51] and this follows up on something [2:30:52] that Mr. Pocan said earlier, [2:30:54] because it had to do [2:30:55] with last year's hearing. [2:30:57] Because I asked you [2:30:58] if you would fully commit [2:30:59] to obligating funding [2:31:00] that was appropriated, [2:31:01] and you said yes in the same way [2:31:02] that you said yes [2:31:03] to this inquiry by Congressman Pocan. [2:31:08] And, you know, [2:31:11] I make an assumption [2:31:12] that you would just say yes [2:31:13] to do you commit [2:31:14] to fully obligating funding [2:31:15] appropriated to HHS [2:31:17] for fiscal year 2026, [2:31:19] and that you would be, [2:31:21] that you agree to that. [2:31:23] I agree to that. [2:31:24] Yes, fine. [2:31:24] But I just want to just say [2:31:25] with regard to that, [2:31:27] Mr. Secretary, [2:31:28] and I don't, [2:31:29] this is, [2:31:31] we passed the Labor HHS [2:31:32] appropriators more [2:31:33] than 10 weeks ago. [2:31:35] Throughout most [2:31:35] of the 10 weeks, [2:31:36] OMB, OMB has prohibited [2:31:39] your agencies [2:31:40] from awarding funds [2:31:41] to carry out their missions. [2:31:43] I mean, I have to ask the question, [2:31:44] who's in charge? [2:31:46] Who's in charge? [2:31:47] Family violence prevention grants [2:31:48] are not going on. [2:31:49] Community service block grants [2:31:51] are not going on. [2:31:52] And the list, [2:31:53] and the list go on. [2:31:55] I understand they have now [2:31:57] approved that, [2:31:58] but that's quite frankly [2:31:59] because of your presence [2:32:00] here today. [2:32:02] I'm going to just pose these. [2:32:04] You don't have to answer them, [2:32:05] but I want answers to these. [2:32:07] Have all of your agencies [2:32:08] received their 2026 funds [2:32:09] from OMB? [2:32:11] And would you commit [2:32:12] to sharing with this committee [2:32:14] the spend plans [2:32:15] that each of your agencies [2:32:17] are required to negotiate [2:32:18] with OMB, [2:32:19] which are currently [2:32:20] now being withheld [2:32:21] from the Congress [2:32:22] and from this committee? [2:32:24] Two important areas [2:32:25] that I would hope [2:32:26] that could be answered [2:32:28] in the affirmative? [2:32:29] I will work with your staff [2:32:30] on that, Congresswoman. [2:32:33] Okay. [2:32:34] Thank you. [2:32:35] And if there are agencies [2:32:35] who have not been approved, [2:32:37] let us know that. [2:32:38] We want to, [2:32:40] let us help you [2:32:41] get the money [2:32:42] that we have appropriated [2:32:44] to go out to people. [2:32:46] I said in my opening remarks [2:32:48] that the country [2:32:49] is suffering [2:32:50] from an affordability crisis. [2:32:51] The cost of everyday items [2:32:52] goes up. [2:32:53] I don't believe, [2:32:54] and as I said, [2:32:55] that there isn't anything [2:32:57] being done by the administration [2:32:59] to address this issue. [2:33:01] As a matter of fact, [2:33:02] calling it a hoax. [2:33:04] And you passed a law. [2:33:07] Instead, [2:33:07] the Trump administration [2:33:08] and Republicans [2:33:09] in the Congress [2:33:09] passed a law last year [2:33:11] to cut Medicaid [2:33:12] and nutrition assistance [2:33:14] by $1.2 trillion. [2:33:16] Fifteen million Americans [2:33:18] will lose [2:33:18] their health insurance. [2:33:20] Millions of Americans [2:33:21] are seeing [2:33:21] their health insurance premiums [2:33:23] increase [2:33:23] by thousands of dollars. [2:33:25] Hospitals are going to close. [2:33:27] That's especially true [2:33:28] in rural areas [2:33:29] of the country [2:33:30] that are on Medicaid coverage. [2:33:34] In your written testimony, [2:33:35] you said, [2:33:35] and I quote, [2:33:36] behavioral health conditions [2:33:38] are a major contributor [2:33:39] to chronic illness, [2:33:40] disability, [2:33:41] and rising health care costs. [2:33:43] End quote. [2:33:44] The largest payer [2:33:47] for behavioral health care [2:33:49] is Medicaid. [2:33:51] And if you're going to, [2:33:52] the Republicans [2:33:52] are going to cut Medicaid [2:33:54] by a trillion dollars [2:33:55] over the next decade. [2:33:57] Now, [2:33:59] the president's budget [2:34:01] is proposing [2:34:02] to cut funding [2:34:03] for health agencies [2:34:03] by $16 billion next year. [2:34:07] We can't afford child care [2:34:09] because we are fighting wars. [2:34:11] So you are proposing [2:34:13] to cut [2:34:14] life-saving medical research [2:34:16] at $6 billion, [2:34:17] public health programs [2:34:19] by $3 billion, [2:34:20] energy assistance [2:34:21] by $4 billion, [2:34:23] mental health services [2:34:24] by $500 million, [2:34:26] workforce training programs, [2:34:27] including nurses' training, [2:34:29] by more than $600 billion. [2:34:32] And I said to you, [2:34:33] and I think it was very clear, [2:34:35] Mr. Secretary, [2:34:36] we're not going to do that. [2:34:38] And maybe that's what [2:34:39] you are relying on, [2:34:40] but we're not going [2:34:42] to do that. [2:34:43] We can't, [2:34:44] in good conscience, [2:34:45] do that. [2:34:46] You can't support [2:34:46] medical research [2:34:47] by cutting $6 billion [2:34:48] from the NIH. [2:34:50] You can't strengthen [2:34:50] public health [2:34:51] by defunding the CDC. [2:34:52] You can't improve access [2:34:55] to quality health care [2:34:56] by kicking 15 million people [2:34:58] off their health insurance [2:35:00] and raising health care costs [2:35:01] for millions of families. [2:35:04] This is an agency [2:35:05] that has an enormous portfolio, [2:35:10] all of it geared [2:35:11] toward saving lives. [2:35:15] I believe you want to do that. [2:35:19] I believe that this budget [2:35:21] is contrary to doing that. [2:35:23] And we will, [2:35:25] from this side of the dais, [2:35:27] there will be some [2:35:29] of our colleagues [2:35:30] on the other side [2:35:30] that will join us [2:35:31] in saying no [2:35:33] to what these cuts mean [2:35:35] because the best, [2:35:37] the most important thing [2:35:38] we have to do, [2:35:41] the biggest cause we have, [2:35:44] the biggest job that we can do [2:35:47] with this institution [2:35:48] is to prevent illness [2:35:53] and to save people's lives. [2:35:55] There is no more noble cause [2:35:57] that we are engaged in. [2:35:59] I work on helicopters, [2:36:00] roads, bridges, [2:36:01] all of that stuff. [2:36:03] Nothing is more important [2:36:04] than what happens [2:36:05] that it's coming out [2:36:06] of this subcommittee [2:36:09] and what we do to save lives. [2:36:10] We are going to do that. [2:36:12] And thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:36:15] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:36:16] Can I say a couple of quick things? [2:36:20] On his first, [2:36:20] I want to thank this committee [2:36:22] for its civility [2:36:23] and its congeniality. [2:36:25] It is way different [2:36:28] than going in front [2:36:29] of any other committee [2:36:30] and I'm happy [2:36:30] to come back here anytime. [2:36:32] So I want to thank all of you, [2:36:33] Democrats and Republicans. [2:36:35] Second of all, [2:36:37] we're not cutting Medicaid. [2:36:38] The CBO report came out. [2:36:40] Medicaid increased by 47% [2:36:43] over the next 10 years. [2:36:44] So there is no cut to Medicaid. [2:36:46] And number three, [2:36:50] it's easy to demonize OMB [2:36:52] and RussVote, [2:36:55] but RussVote is looking out [2:36:57] for our country. [2:36:57] We are the $39 trillion debt. [2:37:00] Each child born in this country [2:37:02] is paying $6,600 [2:37:03] before they pay a single health bill, [2:37:07] $25,000 for a family of four. [2:37:10] For us, it's trying to make sure [2:37:11] that these programs are alive [2:37:14] for future generations. [2:37:15] And that's what the president wants. [2:37:17] So I just want to mention that. [2:37:21] Yeah, well, thank you, [2:37:23] thank you, Mr. Secretary. [2:37:27] No tax on Social Security. [2:37:31] Let me just say, [2:37:34] Mr. Secretary, [2:37:36] I will say thank you [2:37:37] for your compliments [2:37:38] on our committee, [2:37:39] our subcommittee here. [2:37:40] And there was a common theme, [2:37:42] I think, up and down this aisle [2:37:44] that everyone agreed with you [2:37:46] on so many issues. [2:37:47] Maybe not 100%, [2:37:49] but there was, [2:37:51] I go to some hearings [2:37:53] when some of my colleagues [2:37:55] on this aisle, [2:37:55] they don't agree with anything. [2:37:57] So you were given [2:37:58] a lot of compliments here today. [2:37:59] But thank you. [2:38:01] I know it's been a long day for you. [2:38:02] And thank you for your time here. [2:38:04] But just in closing, [2:38:06] I do want to mention, [2:38:07] of course, [2:38:08] I mentioned the [2:38:09] Milford-Fristone issue. [2:38:12] And I understand [2:38:12] you're not allowed [2:38:14] to speak to that right now [2:38:15] because of the litigation. [2:38:17] But obviously, [2:38:18] abortion is a very big issue [2:38:21] to many of us. [2:38:22] And I just want to mention [2:38:24] that Planned Parenthood [2:38:25] released its annual report [2:38:27] that, [2:38:28] and I don't know [2:38:28] if you saw it or not, [2:38:29] but it state that [2:38:30] that more than $2 billion [2:38:33] have come in in revenue [2:38:35] from grants and contracts [2:38:38] and medical payments. [2:38:39] And it's one of the largest [2:38:41] abortion providers [2:38:42] in the United States. [2:38:43] Planned Parenthood uses [2:38:44] its resources [2:38:45] to pursue a very radical [2:38:48] left-wing agenda. [2:38:50] And I would just ask you [2:38:51] to look into this [2:38:54] and as they address this [2:38:56] and how you can deal with that. [2:38:59] And then in closing, [2:39:00] again, [2:39:01] rural health is very near [2:39:03] and dear to many [2:39:03] on this issue, [2:39:05] on this dais [2:39:06] and across the board [2:39:07] and Democrat [2:39:08] and Republican. [2:39:09] So, you know, [2:39:10] I know that the wage index [2:39:12] is a tricky matter [2:39:13] and how you deal with it. [2:39:15] But I would look, [2:39:17] ask you to look [2:39:17] at some options [2:39:18] that in your existing authority [2:39:20] and what y'all could do [2:39:22] to address these persistent [2:39:23] inequities for rural areas [2:39:26] and where they're low-wage states. [2:39:29] So it would be, [2:39:31] I think this would be something [2:39:32] that Democrats and Republicans [2:39:33] would very much appreciate you [2:39:36] looking at what your authority [2:39:37] is in that regard. [2:39:38] So with that, [2:39:40] thank you for being here today [2:39:41] and we look forward [2:39:41] to working with you [2:39:42] and sending you back in Alabama [2:39:44] and back in Weston County. [2:39:45] Thank you. [2:39:46] All right, bye-bye.