Before we get started, I want to express my condolences to Congresswoman Debbie Dingell on the loss of her husband, John.

A growing economy lifts all boats.

Unemployment for women is at a 65-year low.

The unemployment rate is at a 20-year low.

Only two years ago we were being told by the media that we would never see sustained growth over two percent in GDP.

Unemployment for teenagers is at a 50-year low.

All-time lows in African-American unemployment, all-time lows in Hispanic unemployment.

We have 157 million people employed in the country, the highest in history, 6.9 million available jobs.

I wanted to just kind of go through some statistics. I am sorry, you all. I am a CPA, and statistics are just exciting as hell to me.

We need to work on merit-based immigration.

Investments in next generation broadband networks are important to reach unserved communities like mine in Southwest Missouri and help close the digital divide.

Today's hearing gives us the opportunity to hear about how the American public can benefit from the proposed merger of T-Mobile and Sprint.

I was born in 1955. John Dingell was sworn into Congress in 1955.

I have seen a lot of mergers in this industry and others and it is hard to think of one where consolidation didn't result in people losing their jobs, prices going up, and innovation being stifled.

What guarantees do rural providers have that they won't face increased costs if T-Mobile doesn't adopt Sprint's practices?

CWA's testimony suggests that this merger will result in up to 30,000 job losses in the industry and a reduction in industry pay by as much as $3,000 per employee.

This hearing isn't about the benefits that both of your companies have brought to the market. It is about the extraordinary impact that your combined company could have on the public and the marketplace if this merger goes through.

I believe it is the duty of this subcommittee to allow our members to publicly discuss and debate the merits of these transactions.