(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. The issue of price volatility in climate change legislation is a critical issue for this committee to consider, and I am pleased that the Full Committee and our relevant Subcommittees are taking the appropriate time to study the complex issues of cap-and-tax. Many of our witnesses today will get into great detail about the… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Mr. Chairman, you have commented that the globe is smaller and more interconnected than ever, and I couldn't agree more.  In this era of increased globalization, the prosperity of American families is intricately linked to the global market, and therefore America's prosperity is intricately linked to its international competitiveness. Millions of American jobs… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Today’s hearing is about two things.  The first is the large backlog in Social Security and SSI disability claims, and efforts to reduce it.  That is a big problem, which we should work to fix.  The second, and in the long run more important, thing this hearing is about is the plummeting credibility of our Democrat colleagues and the… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you and congratulations Mr. Chairman.  I look forward to the good work we will accomplish together. I also want to welcome our new members and our colleagues from the Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee.  We all share a real concern about the delays our constituents face when they visit or contact a local Social Security office, call… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you, Chairman Lewis. I’d first like to recognize the absence of our Ranking Member on Oversight, Dr. Boustany, whose father passed away earlier this week.  The thoughts and prayers of all of our committee members are with him and his family. The Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, was intended to open up credit for families and businesses, but… Read more

(Remarks as Prepared) Thank you, Chairman Stark. MedPAC’s March report to Congress illustrates why we must approach health care reform very carefully and thoughtfully.  We don’t need to look any further than the Medicare program to see that the federal government has often shown itself to be incapable of accurately and appropriately administering health care programs. MedPAC… Read more

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INCOME SECURITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT HEARING ON GLOBAL WARMING AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MARCH 12, 2009 [AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY] Chairman McDermott’s announcement for this hearing began with this statement:  “A major international assessment released in 2007 highlighted the clear consensus in the scientific community that the Earth’s climate has unequivocally… Read more

Opening Statement of Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) Hearing on Health Reform in the 21st Century: Expanding Coverage, Improving Quality and Controlling Costs March 11, 2009 (Remarks as Prepared) Mr. Chairman, this is an important hearing following a historic meeting at the White House last week.  And, first, let me thank you for so readily turning over the microphone this… Read more

(REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Director, as I noted yesterday with Secretary Geithner, your budget places a new $646 billion energy tax on the American people.  Or at least that is the most your budget admitted to in the plain type. Upon closer inspection, I found that footnote 3 to table S-2 in the President’s budget states that there are… Read more

OPENING STATEMENT OF RANKING MEMBER DAVE CAMP (R-MI) HEARING ON THE PRESIDENT’S FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET OVERVIEW WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY SECRETARY TIMOTHY F. GEITHNER MARCH 3, 2009 (REMARKS AS PREPARED) Thank you for yielding, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, the President’s budget increases taxes on every American and does so during a recession.  Now, before my… Read more