I strongly request that we use our subpoena authority to demand that PREPA come to this subcommittee.

We ought to get to the bottom of this, and we have got to know what happened.

I hope this will not be a 'one and done' hearing.

The Governor says he was unaware of this contract.

The economic consulting firm Rhodium Group concluded that Maria cost 1.25 billion hours of electricity supply disruption to households, which they say is the longest disruption in recorded history.

I amazed at the lack of proper attention by those in our Government in determining their response to this American tragedy in Puerto Rico.

Mr. Rush. Mr. Chairman, I want to restate or reiterate my request that PREPA be subpoenaed and that we have FEMA before this subcommittee in the near future.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria exposed the vulnerability of the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands electric grids to extreme weather.

It is over a month now that Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and Maria shattered their lives and devastated their livelihoods.

I simply smell a rat here. I really smell a rat.

It is essential that we fund the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and other related agencies in our next supplemental.

Do you trust PREPA? Do you trust them?

I am amazed at the breadth of the tragedies that are occurring, even as we speak, in Puerto Rico.

More than six weeks after Hurricane Maria initially made landfall, nearly 70 percent of Puerto Rico and 80 percent of the U.S. Virgin Islands still lack the power needed for basic everyday services.

No, not for Vice Chair, Mr. Chairman, I wouldn't switch parties just to become a Vice Chair.

What is the future of that office under your administration, the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity?

FERC and DOE have become too tolerant of the RTOs' ability to shut out public interests.

The whole process for reforming energy markets have become more and more complex, while at the same time consumer voices have been diluted.

Consumers do not have the opportunity to fairly participate of all the developments taking place within the energy markets.

Many, many in this room, plus DOE, are in the difficult position of unfairly and unjustly picking winners and losers, and placing the interests of select industries above the public interest.

It is vital that we hear from people who are being impacted the most, consumers and retailers.

Many consumer advocacy groups believe that the RTOs are too beholden to the utilities than they are trying to administrate.

I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Nay'' on rollcall No. 538. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution. The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes…

I must also note, Mr. Chairman, that we are holding this hearing in the midst of National Clean Energy Week.

I want to thank you for holding this important hearing today, Examining Technology's Role in Empowering Consumers.