WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt has been named chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services & Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger made the announcement Monday.

“It is an honor to have been chosen to chair this important Appropriations Subcommittee,” Aderholt (R-Haleyville) said. “The Labor, Health and Human Services & Education subcommittee is responsible for the largest pool of non-defense government spending in the entire federal budget, and with that, comes the commitment to renewed oversight and fiscal responsibility as we move into the Fiscal Year 23 Appropriations cycle. 

“As chairman of this committee under Appropriations, I will be laser-focused on looking at areas where we can rein in out-of-control spending, much of it put in place during the pandemic and no longer needed.

Aderholt said threats to the nation’s security are increasing and, despite the national debt near a record $33 trillion, defense spending cuts are “not an option.”

“As the national debt approaches $33 trillion, we must get control of the discretionary, non-defense spending,” he said. “With so many threats to our national security from the likes of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, cutting defense spending is, in my opinion, not an option.

“Therefore, we must look at areas of our domestic spending that have grown wildly out of control.”

But, Aderholt said he wants to ensure his panel meets its commitments to the departments and agencies “without breaking the bank built by American taxpayers.”