Donna Edwards

American manufacturing employs more than 11 million Americans in high-paying jobs.

I'm very pleased to welcome Chief Mitchell here today so we can hear more about his vision for the Administration.

I think it is really important for us to make sure that whomever is responding in whatever jurisdiction has the same capacities.

The truth is that our firefighters are our first responders in all types of emergencies, including terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for calling this hearing on the ways that we can address the impending spectrum crunch.

He promised me five years, so you all will be here for awhile.

Wireless broadband is expected to trigger the next wave of innovation and holds enormous potential to create high-quality jobs and economic growth.

We need to do all that we can to ensure that the global wireless revolution grows from American innovations and benefits American companies and the American people.

I am strongly supportive of efforts by policymakers and business leaders in my home State of Maryland to enact a measure to make more companies eligible for the State's biotech investment tax credit.

I believe the U.S. Government and Congress could take a look at a gap analysis, and to be honest with you, the gaps are wider and deeper than they have ever been in the private sector.

Without a doubt, regulatory, tax, immigration, and economic policies have an unquestionable impact on innovation and competitiveness.

I am proud that our system would allow me the option to keep on my health insurance policy my 23-year-old up until age 26 in the event that he doesn't receive coverage through an employer.

The Affordable Care Act ensures that women are able to choose any doctor they trust without a referral.

The countless pages of regulations, rules and requirements for Obamacare have been incredibly confusing.

The creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, the IPAB, has been met with universal distain by the medical community and our seniors.

And for women, and I am proud that for women all across this country Affordable Care Act has had a remarkable impact on their ability to finally obtain affordable and comprehensive coverage.

Before the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, our health care system had been failing a large part of our population who most needed insurance coverage.

In my congressional district, this provision has already helped protect 190,000 residents from price gouging by requiring health insurers to post and justify rate increases of 10 percent or more.

The National Women's Law Center reports the practice of charging women more than men for the same coverage cost women $1 billion a year with little evidence to explain the difference.

I worked with my colleagues, and I was interested to hear you, Mr. Chairman, particularly Jan Schakowsky, in championing a provision that holds insurance companies accountable for excessive premium increases.

I was honored to preside over the passage of the Affordable Care Act in the House and filled with pride actually to witness President Obama sign the landmark bill into law.

By 2014, health care reform will keep insurance companies from denying women coverage due to preexisting conditions like experiencing domestic violence or pregnancy or even acne.

I am proud and steadfast in my support of the Affordable Care Act and the preventive care, the primary care, the community-based care and the quality care that will now be received by millions of Americans.

And so I appreciate the opportunity to be here today to celebrate the good news of health care delivery for the American people through the Affordable Care Act.

I visit senior centers regularly where seniors now understand that the Affordable Care Act strengthens their Medicare benefit by closing the prescription drug donut hole and expanding coverage, all while lowering costs to them.