News Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, expressed disappointment that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary is refusing to testify on the HHS Fiscal Year 2015 budget request:

“I would expect the head of any Department to justify its budget request before the Senate Appropriations Committee, especially since the Department of Health and Human Services requested nearly $70 billion for Fiscal Year 2015. While I appreciate the expertise and experience of the panel of witnesses, none of them can testify to the overall strategy or management of HHS. Not one person on the panel can explain the gives and takes that go into determining how funding is allocated throughout the entire budget. Not one of the witnesses can answer questions regarding the priorities of the Department as a whole. And not one of the panelists can speak to why specific decisions were made. 

“I am disappointed and frustrated that Secretary Sebelius refused to testify today on the Department’s budget request. Not only did the Labor-HHS staff invite and confirm the Secretary to appear before the Committee to testify, the Subcommittee subsequently moved the hearing from April 2 to May 7 to accommodate the Secretary’s schedule.”

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