All Quotes

Yes, they are terrified at organization, more terrified at organization than they are, I think, of the Congress itself.

I think making sure that those workers at least are given the protections of employees and collective bargaining rights is absolutely essential.

I mean you report as little as $3.75 an hour.

Well, it is the obligation of this committee to see that it doesn't happen to Government employees, and that it doesn't happen to the public any longer.

Well, you see the handle that gives the Federal Government right there to begin with. And, this committee will be very interested.

We are not here to malign Uber and Lyft. There is probably not a member of this committee that hasn't, on occasion, taken an Uber or Lyft ride. But we have obligations of our own to the public.

It is important that this Congress do its work. That is why we are going to act based on the testimony we hear today.

The tenuous existence of Uber and Lyft is literally fueled by millions of independent contractors who see their take home pay reduced drastically--below minimum wage in some States.

In June 2015, I wrote to then-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick urging the company to conduct fingerprint-based background checks.

I am grateful to Representatives Smith and Suozzi for starting off this hearing with statements on their ideas to improve the safety of ride hailing services.

They are also, as we have seen, making a lot of their employees yet another victim of the gig economy.

This has got to end.

I have been focused on the potential dangers of pairing passengers with poorly vetted drivers for years.

The failure today of Uber and Lyft to appear is a telling sign that they don't want to answer questions on the record about their operations.

Today's hearing marks the first serious discussion about how to harness the power of technology and innovation to deliver benefits to riders.

We will hear about the effects on hundreds of thousands of workers who are left with little choice in today's market but to drive for Uber and Lyft.

We will hear about important public safety concerns that arise when companies develop an app that connects passengers and drivers through technology.

Congress cannot avoid its responsibility to engage, to investigate its role in overseeing this industry.