Earlier in my opening comments, I discussed the tragic impacts of widespread uranium contamination in the Navajo Nation.

Republican leaders said that the ACA would create death panels; well, there are none in the law.

American citizens live near this radioactive waste every day, and they deserve nothing less than our best efforts.

This morning, our Nation's leading climate scientists released the country's third National Climate Assessment. The report confirms that climate change is real, is being caused by humans, and is already harming communities across America…

Over and over, Republican leaders have fabricated criticisms of the Affordable Care Act and none of them have been true.

I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, this is a bill that could have been worked out. This is a bill that could have accomplished the purpose that I know that our colleague from Delaware wants to see put…

Unfortunately, if the goal is a broadly supported bipartisan bill, this process is currently failing.

I think many in the public would listen to this discussion and find this proposal morally questionable.

If we want a law, we will have to work together to address those concerns.

For decades, the Toxic Substances Control Act has operated under an unreasonable risk standard, which requires EPA to perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether or not a chemical is to be regulated.

The public health groups remain in strong opposition to the draft.

We are here to discuss the epidemic of opioid abuse. The numbers are stark. Each year, approximately 17,000 people die from prescription opioid overdoses, and 3,000 die from heroin overdoses.

I think there is a consensus outside this room that the safety standard in TSCA should be risk-based.

The bill would even overturn recent reforms made by EPA to enhance transparency.

Do you think that we can protect our kids and keep industry's costs manageable if we use a risk-based standard that sets a clear goal of protecting health and the environment?

Costs would still come into play in figuring out how best to regulate a chemical, but we shouldn't use cost to determine whether the public should be protected from a chemical exposure.

For far too long, prescription opiate pain relievers were prescribed too easily, without enough attention paid to the potential risks, and a large number of people became addicted.

The draft retains the cost-benefit standard, leaving American families, and especially children, without adequate protection.

I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Madam Speaker, I want to say to my friend from Vermont, a member of my committee, that this is not the way to pass laws. This is not the way to correct problems. Problems should be worked out…

We have a choice to make. The House Democratic budget and the Republican's budget present very different choices about America's future. The Democratic alternative promotes job growth and expands opportunity. The Republican budget gives…

If we are going to have a hearing, FDA ought to be here.

I think we can all agree that the current process has not been working.

I think that is going to be very important.

The bill sets out mandatory time frames for decisions both by the advisory committee and the FDA.

That seems like an inappropriate shifting of the burden of proof.