Now, while most IRBs are affiliated with universities, IRBs that are not associated with any institution, they are known as commercial IRBs, are reviewing a larger share of drug clinical trials.

I want to say again thank you to Senator Braun for holding this hearing.

The GAO found that an emphasis on profits can lead private equity backed IRBs to rubber stamp reviews of drug clinical trials.

According to a recent GAO report, despite representing just two percent of the review boards, these commercial IRBs now review over half of studies involving investigational new drugs.

For individuals who are experiencing a devastating diagnosis, the promise of a new therapy or a cure provides hope in a profoundly dark time.

The GAO reported that private equity backed IRBs, I am going to quote here, 'are beholden to their clients or equity holders.'

We should not divert any energy or attention away from getting a Speaker so this government can begin to function again.

We are losing the faith of the people that we represent.

I don't believe that consumers should have to pay to access wages that they have already earned in that system.

I don't want to pretend that this Congress is functioning, because it is not.

The progress we made in 2021 shows that we can slash child poverty when we have the political will to do so.

The doubling of child poverty in our country in one year is a five-alarm fire.

This subcommittee should be taking action to eliminate child poverty, not attacking struggling parents.

Pro tempore, 212, it is a New York area code, and it is our call for a Speaker of integrity, intelligence, and inclusion; 212 is our call for a Speaker who will protect our children, our veterans, our planet; 212 is our call for a Speaker…

equating Hamas with the Palestinians is wrong for several reasons.

I would have voted yes to report H.R. 2973.

Senator Cassidy and I already have, coming out of the Commerce Committee successfully, an upgrade of the protections for kids online up to age 17.

I would have voted yes on Castro Amendment No. 75.