Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, everyone. As we begin our final day of consideration of the fy21 spending bills, id like to thank you all for your kind words and well wishes and ask you, please, to indulge me in just a few more reflections. I came to congress in 1989, one of just 31 women in the house and senate and to this committee in 1993 alongside only six other women under the 64member panel. This body is better for the 100 women serving in the 116th congress and for the many women in the room today. Its my honor to address the full committee for my final time as the first woman chair. You know, its ironic [applaus [applause] thank you. Its ironic that back in 1993 i had to choose between serving on appropriations or ways and means. I was fortunate to be given that choice. And today, we markup my final appropriation bills in the ways and Means Committee room. I chose appropriations because i believed it was the best place to give more people a better chance at a better l
Well. Since 1999 more than 700,000 people have died from a Drug Overdose in the United States. Increased opioid addiction and a production of deadly synthetic opioids have exasperated american staggering overdosed death rate. In 2017, more than 70000 people died from Drug Overdoses making it the leading cause of injury related death in the United States. Of those, 60 involve prescription opioids and illicit opioid such as fentanyl. Americans fared no better against Opioid Epidemic in 2018 when more than 10 Million People aged 12 or older of abused opioid in 2 Million People suffered from an opioid use disorder and on average 130 americans died each day from an opioid openers. We did not know that some cost and disrupted lives or untimely deaths from widespread misuse of prescription and nonprescription opioids but we know from our family, our neighbors and our friend who bear the enduring lost loved ones that the opio crisis is not over. We must continue contending with this crisis. Th
Officials testified at the Committee Hearing on migrant smuggling and trafficking issues of the u. S. Mexico border. This portion begins with the swearing in of witnesses and their opening statements. It is just under one hour. It is the tradition of this committee to swear in witnesses. If you will stand and raise your right hand. Do you swear that the testimony who have given before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you god . You can be seated. Our first witness is mr. Brian hastings. Mr. Hastings currently serves as the chief on question operations in the u. S. Border patrol headquarters in washington, d. C. Mr. Hastings . Mr. Hastings thank you. It is my honor to represent the men and women of Border Patrol before you today as they are hard at work addressing the Current Crisis on the border. Interdicting illegal aliens, drugs, cash and weapons at the border is a key component of u. S. Border security, and by extension, our Nationa
[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] may i have your attention [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] we will now begin to resume. The subcommittee will not resume. Think you very much, again, that was an Inspiring Panel of leaders, including survivors. So the hearing has reconvened. I do want to thank our panel for the administration for not only the work that you are doing but for your patience. We did want to hear first from does amazing survivors and, normally, the administration goes first. We were kind and courteous to extend that to them as well, thank you. We have to distinguish witnesses, beginning with the honorable sydney dire, the ambassador at large to monitor trafficking, leaving the United States Global Engagement to combat trafficking and support anti trafficking efforts across the u. S. Government. Ambassador dire, from galatians on her confirmation, ambassador dire is a human rights advoca
[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] may i have your attention [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] we will now begin to resume. And maybe thank you very much and again, that was a very Inspiring Panel of leaders including survivors, the hearing is reconvened. I want to thank our panel for not only the work you are doing but for your patience. We did want to hear from amazing survivors. Normally the administration goes first and kind and curious to extend that to them as well, so thank you. We have two testing wished witnesses beginning with the ambassador at large to monitor and combat trafficking of persons, leading the United States engagement to combat Human Trafficking and support efforts across the Us Government. Congratulations on your confirmation, professor dyer is working at the last local International Levels to respond to Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault and domestic violence, Vice President