I will continue to insist that improving consumer protection be a first principle and an urgent priority.

Let us put a cop on the beat so that this spectacular failure of consumer protection at the root of this mess is never repeated again.

I firmly believe that someone should 'have their backs,' as the expression goes.

the very people who created the damn mess are the ones now arguing that consumers ought not to be protected.

We applaud your leadership on a very complex set of issues intended to restore confidence and stability in our financial system.

I strongly support your notion of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

At the center of this effort will be a new, independent consumer protection agency to protect Americans from poisonous financial products.

We cannot afford inaction.

It's time to rethink the way we plan the futures of the places we live, work, and raise our kids.

Before today, Federal policy has often treated transportation, housing, and environmental protection as separate issues.

If there are legislative things that we can do to help facilitate your success in working together...

In February, I wrote a letter to President Obama urging him to establish a White House Office of Sustainable Development.

I've been a longtime advocate for the Tri-City Corridor that will create new transit villages, get people off the roads, and revitalize our regional economy.

Well, thank you, Dr. Raines, very, very much.

I don't think there's any argument that obesity is not one of the causes of four chronic illnesses we are grappling with.

the present situation is no longer not only unacceptable, it is unsustainable.

Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who is also very interested in this subject matter, has raised some very good questions.

We have written a provision for the bill very similar to the best pharmaceuticals for children provision.

We need to be thinking also, as we reform and re-engineer the healthcare system, about the different roles public health will be playing.

It has been his inspiration for four decades to try and get a national healthcare plan in place that is accessible and affordable and is value-based, quality-based.

Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership and for this opportunity to express our support for the public health provisions of this historic legislation.

I totally endorse your maternal benefits.

Thank you very much, Mr. Rother. We appreciate it very much.

I've chaired or been the ranking member over the years of the Subcommittee on Children and Families.

We are very proud of the fact that we have removed the financial incentive from the decisionmaking around medicine.