WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Susan Collins (R-ME), the three Ranking Members on all three Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittees, have sent letters to their respective subcommittee Chairs requesting appropriate hearings on the Biden Administration’s proposed $6 trillion budget for fiscal year 2022.
“Most authorizing committees hold budget hearings with their respective cabinet agencies so that the members of the authorizing committee can better understand the proposed budget request,” wrote the senators. “Such a hearing is at the heart of our role in oversight of the agencies under our jurisdiction and helpful to the American people for whom we work to know what our government proposes to spend and do with their taxpayer funds.”
“Because current and recent Chairs of the HELP Committee, U.S. Senators Murray, Alexander, and Harkin, have also served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, holding a budget hearing for HELP’s cabinet agencies has fallen out of practice. This is a huge disservice to the rest of the members of the HELP Committee,” continued the letters.
Cassidy serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Children and Families, Braun serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, and Collins serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security.
Click here or read the letter sent by Cassidy below.
Dear Chair Casey:
This letter is to request our Subcommittee on Children and Families hold a hearing with Secretary Miguel Cardona regarding the Biden Administration’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022.
Most authorizing committees hold budget hearings with their respective cabinet agencies so that the members of the authorizing committee can better understand the proposed budget request. Such a hearing is at the heart of our role in oversight of the agencies under our jurisdiction and helpful to the American people for whom we work to know what our government proposes to spend and do with their taxpayer funds.
Because current and recent Chairs of the HELP Committee, U.S. Senators Murray, Alexander, and Harkin, have also served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, holding a budget hearing for HELP’s cabinet agencies has fallen out of practice. This is a huge disservice to the rest of the members of the HELP Committee.
As Chair of the Subcommittee on Children and Families it would be appropriate for you to hold a hearing with Secretary Cardona and would be good for the integrity of our Committee.
My office is ready to work with yours to schedule this hearing and look forward to your reply.
Click here to read the letter sent by Braun.
Click here to read the letter sent by Collins.