Henry Waxman

Well, wasn't it misleading to say that that company didn't tell them sub par switches may have been installed in the first place?

But not when you knew there was a problem.

But you recalled those vehicles. You recalled them later.

But in a briefing last week, Delphi told committee staff that these new switches also did not meet GM specifications.

In 2002 GM approved the use of faulty ignition switches in Cobalts, Ions, and other cars.

Because GM didn't implement this simple fix when it learned about the problem, at least a dozen people have died in defective GM vehicles.

GM has known for years about this safety defect and has failed to take appropriate action to fix the problem.

General Motors has recalled 2.5 million vehicles due to a defective ignition switch.

I have a sad sense of deja vu as I sit here today.

We will follow the facts where they lead us.

Today's hearing is very personal to me, because I come from Michigan, the auto state, the auto capital of the world.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Whoever you met with before is interesting but don't you now have to have comments from everybody with a proposed rule and take those comments into consideration?

We don't want to scare consumers to think, oh, if I take a generic, I may be taking something that is not as safe.

I think there needs to be sameness in labeling.

Sameness in labeling is important but also finding out about new problems is important.

I still believe that to be true. However, I don't think allowing a temporary period of time in which the labels may be different thwarts the sameness goals.

I don't believe those claims.

I am Henry Waxman from the Hatch-Waxman and I am here to set the record straight.

The proposed rule, if finalized in its current form, would be an important step forward for patient safety.

It is clear that a generic and a brand name label must be the same...

This law has been a tremendous success if I don't say so myself. Over 80 percent of prescriptions in the United States are generic.

The Medicaid expansion is a good deal for the states, and it is desperately needed by millions of Americans.

If these four million Americans obtained coverage, they would receive better ongoing treatment and care, and they would be less likely to end up in a hospital emergency room, or worse, a prison, with a mental health crisis.

The failure by states to expand their Medicaid programs is causing nearly four million people who are in serious psychological distress or have a serious mental illness or substance disorder to go without health insurance.