As this hearing is fully virtual, we had to address housekeeping matters. For this meeting, the or staff designated by the staff may mute their microphones when they are not under recognition and the purposes of eliminating inadvertent background noise. Numbers are responsible for muting an unyielding themselves, and if ive noticed that, i would ask the staff you. If you indicate by knotting, we will unmute your microphone. I remind everybody that the fiveminute club still applies. If there is a technology issue, we will move to the next issue member until the issue is resolved. You will mean pain the talents of your time. At one minute remaining, the clock will turn yellow, at 30 seconds permitting, i will deadly tap the gavel that your time is almost expired. When your time has expired, the clock will turn red and i will begin to recognize the next member. In terms of speaking order, we will begin with the chair and Ranking Members and members present at the time the hearing is calle
Departments budget and clean jobs. This is two hours and 35 minutes. Welcome, everyone. As this hearing is fully virtual, we had to address housekeeping matters. For this meeting, the or staff designated by the staff may mute their microphones when they are not under recognition and the purposes of eliminating inadvertent background noise. Numbers are responsible for muting an unyielding themselves, and if ive noticed that, i would ask the staff you. If you indicate by knotting, we will unmute your microphone. I remind everybody that the fiveminute club still applies. If there is a technology issue, we will move to the next issue member until the issue is resolved. You will mean pain the talents of your time. At one minute remaining, the clock will turn yellow, at 30 seconds permitting, i will deadly tap the gavel that your time is almost expired. When your time has expired, the clock will turn red and i will begin to recognize the next member. In terms of speaking order, we will begin
Hearing is two hours and 40 minutes. [inaudible conversations] good morning. The commerce science and Technology Transportation committee will come to order. I want to welcome all our witnesses for joining us today. Today is a very important hearing date. We are going to be joined by obviously welcoming back our colleague and former colleagues, senator nelson and his position to be nominated as nasa director, and former colleague senator hutchison who i think is going to join us virtually. So, can think of two more active members, Ranking Member on the committee, so we certainly welcome them. And certainly, we have our former commerce secretary who is going to be joining us virtually. So, it is a very big commerce a day for those of us in the commerce family and longstanding members of the committee to see our colleagues and people weve worked with on so many policy issues and obviously a lot of enthusiasm by members who want to join in and support the nominations and we will be joined
Called to order. Members will be recognized in order seniority as members not present at the time the hearing called to order will then be recognized. Finally, the house requirement remiedged you that we have set up email address to which to sending anything they wish to submit in writing at any of our hearings or markups. That he mail address has been provided in advance to your staff. Make sure your video is turned on at this time. Well, good morning and welcome to todays hearing. This morning we are honored to have secretary tom vilsack to discuss his vision for usda during has second tour at the department. Thank you for answering President Biden call to return to service after having been the longest serving member of president obamas cabinet. You are the first cabinet secretary to testify before the House Appropriations committee this year. And we really appreciate your taking time to be with us today even while youre still settling in and working on your long to do list. We look
May mute the my microphone for purpose of eliminating inadvertent background noise members are responsible for muting an unmuting themselves. If i notice that youve not unmuted yourself i will ask you if you would like the staff to unmute you. If you indicate by approval by nodding, then staff will unmute your microphone. I remind all members witnesses that the five minute clock still applies. If theres a technology issue, we will move to the next member until the issue is resolved and you will retain the balance of your time. You will notice a clock on the screen that will show how much time is remaining. At one minute remaning the clock will turn yellow. At 30 seconds remaining gavel to remind members that the tile is almost expired. When your time has expired the clock will turn red and i will begin to recognize the next member. In terms of speaking order, we will follow the order set forth in the house rules. Beginning with the chair and Ranking Member, then alternating between maj