I would like to work with you and with my staff on answering questions that we have on what resources the Anti-Trust Division.

I am a proud sponsor of the Children Harmed in Life-Threatening Or Dangerous (CHILD) Labor Act, which would strengthen our Federal child labor laws and hold companies that exploit the labor of children accountable.

public service is the rent we pay for space on this earth.

Through the fiscal year 2025 budget, Congress has the duty to ensure the Army has the resources to be able to fulfill its mission to keep our country secure, our troops protected, and well equipped.

Even shutdown of the government would be great. We know and I know and others know that ain't the truth.

I would very, very much like to work with you on this because I think the whole issue of FEMA and its role in homeland security gets lost.

Sikorsky makes the finest helicopter in the world, and Connecticut is their district.

The President's budget includes a $400 million increase for the Army that will ensure we are doing all that we can to support our soldiers and their families.

We need to not backslide on our public health investments.

We need to take a very hard look and investigate the price gouging that is being done by corporations.

Thank you for including, again, the Title X money, which I think is very important.

As a Nation, we are going backward in this area.

It is, therefore, our duty to invest in every American child so that they may have the opportunity to reach their potential, achieve their dreams, and become the leaders of the next generation.

The Department is committed to combating illegal child labor because we cannot build our economy on the backs of children.

We know during the pandemic, public health infrastructure almost collapsed on us.

if we do not have a strong public education system, we are doomed as a Nation.

How does your budget address the larger childcare crisis, specifically the staffing shortages and the underpaid workforce in the childcare sector?

I think the Department of Education, we had mental health counselors in schools. That is first line, as well, to look at that and put resources there.

Childcare is essential and it is in crisis.

Unfortunately, many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to roll back these essential protections, but we cannot go backwards.

We increased the Childcare Development and Block Grant funding by $2,700,000,000 while I was chair.

And early childhood, I was just in a daycare center in New Haven last Friday, and they take infants, 6 weeks.

I specifically commend your Department's work to fight wage theft when employers fail to compensate workers for the wages they have earned.

I think we ought to examine the kinds of authority that HHS should have, and quite frankly, that should not be an unfunded mandate.

Maybe Congress ought to take a look at providing you with that authority and with the resources, as well.