DeLauro and Lowey Statement on Delaying Budget Hearings for the NIH and Department of Education

WASHINGTON, DC (March 20, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Senior Democrat on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-17), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the postponement of budget hearings for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Education.

"Since last Thursday, when President Trump proposed staggering cuts to domestic services and investments, the Administration has pulled the plug on scheduled Appropriations hearings on the NIH and the Department of Education. The Administration clearly lacks the ability to defend these unjustifiable proposals—including slashing $6 billion from medical research and $9 billion from our nation's education system—and is even preventing the nation's leading scientists from testifying before Congress about the impact of these cuts.

"Members of Congress and the American public deserve to know just how destructive these cuts to the budget will be and we must hear directly from the agencies. The Administration cannot be allowed to run and hide because it is unable to explain a budget that would harm American workers and families."