John Mica

Well, thank you. I will start with some questions.

Let the record reflect that the witness answered in the affirmative.

I think it is important that that be updated.

I think we need to go back and look at the whole law and make it make a little bit more sense.

Maybe we need to go back and look at your agency.

I think what you heard here today was a plea for some consistency and common sense.

Well, maybe this will spark or be the genesis for looking at the law itself.

I am always quoted as saying, one of my favorite sayings to folks is don't assume members of Congress know anything, start from that proposition.

There is an inconsistency, a fair inconsistency in their standards and their--the unpredictability of enforcement.

But that being said, it sounds like the penalties, they have gone overboard with the penalties.

I will guarantee you I will handle those people and they will not forget the truth that I rub off.

No one benefits by anyone being injured, and certainly not by a fatality.

And we would welcome that. And the record is open for seven days.

I think that is another thing, Mr. Meadows, when we are looking at revising the law--I mean, the reference would tell us that every dog has his day in court, but it doesn't sound like every mine operator has a fair process.

Congressman Meadows requested that I conduct this hearing and this review of mine safety, which is particularly important, as you know, to this district and this state, and to the country.

I am Congressman John Mica. I am privileged to chair the Government Operations Subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives' full Committee on Government Oversight and Reform.

I can't remember a field hearing where we had four members from four different states.

We will report back to his citizens.

The technology has dramatically changed, so the standard you set now... might need to be upgraded periodically.

We do need to get a standard in place.

It is incredible, the credentialing. And they have within the biometric ID, it has various levels of security clearance.

We spent billions. I had the staff starting to count this. TWIC is half a billion by itself.

Well, we have to get people talking to each other. We have to get the standards set.

Oh, okay. Just like IRS, it leads to the White House.

I guess if I put it in law that they should attend the meetings, that would be used as an excuse.