Energy and Commerce Committee Democratic leaders sent a letter to Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) today urging him to schedule a series of hearings with federal agency officials under the Committee’s jurisdiction to discuss President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2018 budget. Historically, agency officials are invited to provide testimony and input following the release of a President’s proposed budget.
In their letter, the Committee Democrats requested that Walden invite Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Jr., Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, Federal Trade Commission Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen, and Consumer Product Safety Commission Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle to provide testimony on the impact of President Trump’s proposed FY2018 budget on their respective agencies.
“It is paramount that this Committee remain proactive in its efforts to ensure that all eight of these agencies are functioning on behalf of the interests of all Americans," the Committee Democrats wrote to Chairman Walden. “Holding hearings concerning the President’s proposed budget affords this Committee the opportunity to better understand the proposed changes to the budget, the needs of these agencies and the potential impacts on the American public and the country as a whole."
The letter was signed by Full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Energy Ranking Member Bobby Rush (D-IL), Health Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX), Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), Communications and Technology Ranking Member Mike Doyle (D-PA), Digital Commerce & Consumer Protection Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Full Committee Vice Ranking Member Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Environment Ranking Member Paul Tonko (D-NY).
Full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Chairman Walden:
We are writing to urge you to hold hearings as soon as possible to receive testimony from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom E. Price, Commerce (DOC) Secretary Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Energy (DOE) Secretary Rick Perry, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen, and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle regarding President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2018 budget. It is a longstanding practice of Congress to receive testimony from the aforementioned agency officials following the release of the President’s budget. The agencies listed above, which are outlined in the President’s budget, are critically important to the health, safety, and general welfare of every single American.
It is paramount that this Committee remain proactive in its efforts to ensure that all eight of these agencies are functioning on behalf of the interests of all Americans. Holding hearings concerning the President’s proposed budget affords this Committee the opportunity to better understand the proposed changes to the budget, the needs of these agencies and the potential impacts on the American public and the country as a whole.
This Committee has historically held to the practice of hearing testimony from the above requested agency officials following the release of a President’s proposed budget. We encourage you to continue in this crucial practice of governance by scheduling hearings as soon as possible.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
Bobby Rush (D-IL)
Gene Green (D-TX)
Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Mike Doyle (D-PA)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Paul Tonko (D-NY)
