Daniel Inouye: “The Department consists of 22 separate agencies. These agencies are responsible for everything from international trade…”

“The Department consists of 22 separate agencies. These agencies are responsible for everything from international trade to animal health inspection. It would be unwise for the Senate to suggest that a single committee should manage oversight of those 22 agencies and each of their multiple missions just because the Secretary does not like to travel to the Hill and testify. The Senate cannot abdicate its oversight responsibilities because the Department thinks it takes up too much time. And so, I respectfully but deeply disagree with the nonbinding measure in the underlying bill suggesting that this Senate should neglect its oversight duty--and put aside much of its long-standing expertise--because the Department is too busy to come tell us what they are doing.”