All right. This hearing will come to order. 2020 has been a year of challenge and triumph for Americas National space agency. The covid19 pandemic has disrupted planning and daytoday operations, but nasa and its commercial partners have achieved many successful outcomes. These include launching american astronauts to the International Space station and returning them safely to earth. Returning that launch vehicle safely to earth. Launching a perseverance rover to mars, and preparing the space launch systems, sls, rocket and orion crew capsule for the first deep Space Exploration Program Mission next year. Im pleased that nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine is here to provide us with an update on nasas missions and programs and the agencys plans for the future. Further progress on the art miss program is critical to achieving the goals of landing the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024, and establishing a sustainable presence on or around the lunar surface by 2028. Congress
For joining. My name is loren smith. Itll be three years this month that ive been at the department, incredibly honored to be part of a great team doing a lot of what we think is really, really awesome work. Its going to be a lot of help to a lot of different parts of the country. Were really, really excited about. I had the honor of serving previously with secretary chow at the labor department. Its been a fascinating experience seeing different cabinet agencies and how the different organizations work. Im joined today by four really excellent panelists i think youre going to enjoy hearing from. I first want to introduce Alex Herrgott who is executive director of the public improvement counsel, fipsi. He has been in that role since september 2018. He had been serving previously as the associate director for infrastructure for counsel on Environmental Quality at the white house. Mr. Herrgott worked for senator james earnhoff in california. He served as primary staff for transportation
Todays hearing to serve on secretary of health and Human Services. It will vote on the nomination. We will each have an Opening Statement and then former secretary and former governor who we welcome today good to see you and senator young will introduce him after his testimony each will have five minutes of questions. We already have a good turnout. I anticipate a good vigorous questioning period. Youll be overseeing medicare and medicaid National Institutes of health and excellent leadership. The United States is leading efforts to develop a cart for efforts. A nonaddictive painkiller and new treatment for dancer. You also have an opportunity to implement what the majority leader of the senate called the most important piece of legislation last year. The 21st century cures act which members of our committee agreed on and gave broad new powers that included the first Major Organization they worked on Mental Health programs as well as significant new funding for the Opioid Crisis you ha
Human services. The Health Committee holds a courtesy hearing on the nomination of the secretary, the finance committee receives paperwork, it will vote on the nomination. Senator murray and i will have an Opening Statement and former secretary and former governor of utah Michael Leavitt who we welcome today, good to see you and have you back and senator young who is a member of this committee will introduce alex azar after his testimony then senators will each have five minutes of questions. We have a lot going on in the senate today but we have a good turnout so i anticipate a good, vigorous questioning period. Alex azar, if confirmed will be did the of health and Human Services, you will be running 1. 11 trillion organization, that almost equals the total of 12 Appropriations Bills Congress Passes each year to Fund Everything from National Parks to National Defense to national laboratories. You will be overseeing medicare and medicaid, the nations government run Insurance Programs f
Department of health and Human Services. While we hold a courtesy hearing on the nomination of the secretary, it finance committee receives his paperwork and will vote hon the nomination. Senator murray and i will each have an Opening Statement and then former secretary and governor of utah whom we welcome today. Mike, good to see you and have you back. And senator young, whos a member of this committee, will introduce him after mr. Azars testimony, senators will each have five minutes of questions. We already have a good turnout so i anticipate a good vigorous questioning period. Confirmed to leave the department of health and Human Services, youll be leading a 1. 11 trillion budget. That almost equals the totals of the Appropriations Bills that Congress Passes each year to Fund Everything from National Defense to national laboratories. Medicare and medicaid. Our nations government run Insurance Programs for it poor and elderly. Mental hilth health and Substance Abuse. The National In