Well, thank you, Chair Murray. This is your first hearing as the Labor, Health and Human Services chair.

The past 18 months have been challenging for our nation. The COVID-19 pandemic put unprecedented strain on our economy and its workforce.

We also really need to have a clear strategy to provide vaccines to developing nations.

I have no further speakers and am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time until Mr. Hill yields back.

Let's talk about the guidance that came out last week on masks for people who have been fully vaccinated.

I look forward to working with you in this role.

I think that decision that you don't have to wear a mask once you have been fully vaccinated, will encourage people to get vaccinated.

The fight against COVID-19 is not yet over.

I know those programs continue to be programs that we can do more with and, can look for reforms in.

I know you don't want, and I don't want any of those children to go to a place where they're less safe, where they're going to be exploited or taken advantage of, and I would hope you're doing everything you can dealing with those big…

I believe we can work toward consensus with the Department's budget, but frankly, as I have said at our other budget hearings this year, I think this can only be achieved by more parity between the defense and nondefense funding.

I want to remind the Committee that only a few short months ago, President Biden felt it was so imperative to pass a COVID-19 supplemental bill that the Administration pushed through a $1.9 trillion partisan bill, with no input from…

I want to work with Senator Murray and others on this committee to do that.

I want to recognize the tireless efforts of the CDC staff, working across the country during the pandemic.

It certainly ought to include the second attack of the Capitol that resulted in the murder of a Capitol Police officer and I think it probably also should include the riots on other federal properties and other attacks on federal agents.

As we move forward with our work in Congress, I look forward to offering my passion and expertise to help bring real solutions to the challenges facing our nation.

We can't continue to let Big Pharma keep getting rich on life-saving medicines that people need to survive.

I have found myself fearing that the storied tradition of bipartisanship that our Committee has long been known for has been jeopardized.