Roy Blunt

But over the past 7 years, NIH funding has increased nearly 50 percent.

I think there is some discussion where they may graduate in some way to where they continue to exist.

I would encourage that. I think every single home test for COVID comes out of the RADx experience.

If there is one lesson to be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that our Nation's success depends on medical research infrastructure.

I am a supporter of ARPA-H, I am a supporter of the Secretary's decision to have it associated with NIH.

I am disappointed that this budget request reduces funding for 12 of the 27 institutes, including the National Cancer Institute.

One of the things we were most concerned about 8 years ago was the fact that young researchers were leaving the field.

in reserving the right to object, my colleague Senator Paul is well-intended in this recommendation, and I listened to it carefully, as I am sure others did. The Page Program, which has been in effect since 1829, has become a program of…

I think encouragement to USAID from the Senate in the House to move these funds quickly.

I think the Javelin's probably closer to 18 to 24 months and the Stinger missiles, we haven't bought a Stinger missile, according to the CEO of Raytheon, for 18 years.

I want to continue to talk about some of the challenges the administration is facing and the country is facing. Let me talk for just a little bit about the border, about the economy, and about our ongoing concerns on COVID. First of all…

I want to say to that, Secretary, there is a reason that we had the veterans set aside in some of these areas.

I am a supporter of the program, quite honestly, because in a lot of areas that it is really difficult to get workers in a short period of time.

Through his commitment to seeing our patients as people he can help, Senator Blunt's longstanding promise of expanding the reach and resources of the Nation's Registry has saved thousands of lives.

This administration's inflation forecast has already showed prices rising this year at nearly twice the pre-pandemic rate.

I am talking of course about the economic impact of inflation, an invisible tax that takes its toll on every American.

I'm alarmed by the potential of widespread loan forgiveness currently under discussion by the administration. It's an illegal, regressive, unfair, and expensive proposal that does nothing to address the real issues with college costs and…

I had serious concerns that our country would not return to our pre-pandemic unemployment levels, which had been the lowest since the late 1960s.

I would think some of the overall--this big increase you asked for in the overall budget, maybe there are some ways to justify this $2.2 billion to fill some of those gaps.

I was pleased in the budget that you have shown--asked for a substantial increase in the certified community behavioral health clinics.

I think it is really important that people certainly, in high school, begin to get a sense of what jobs are out there.

Thank you, Chair Murray. I appreciate Secretary Becerra being here today to discuss the Administration's fiscal year 2023 budget request.

We served together in the House, but I think in the last year we have had a chance for our relationship to grow and I am grateful that that has happened.

It's wrong for the Federal Government to dictate what that workforce should look like, and for bureaucrats in Washington, DC to determine the speed at which we get there.

I look forward to working with you to strengthen our Nation's workforce, and create a more prosperous economy for all Americans.