Jim Cooper: “It is rare in the modern Congress to have essentially a good news hearing, but I think this one of those hearings.”

Hope is not a plan and it is time to move beyond hope.

This hearing will come to order. I would like to begin by thanking our distinguished panel of witnesses.

I request the witnesses keep their opening remarks to no more than 5 minutes, and that members respect the same time limit for their questioning.

The war in Ukraine is a tragic reminder of the importance of our work, which, as I have always said, is arguably the most important and technical of any committee in the House.