Elijah Cummings

The IG report, which I commend Chairman Schapiro for requesting, clearly describes a procedural breakdown within the SEC's ethics process that undermines the public's trust not just in the Madoff matter but also in any other matter before…

I think the President, in fairness to him, heard our colleagues and tried to create a balanced approach.

God knows. I have, in my district, probably a 35 percent African-American male unemployment rate, black. I want to create jobs.

Of course, I believe we can always improve regulations to make them better.

There is a lot of rhetoric in the committee and on the House floor describing regulations as job killers, but regulations perform a critical role in implementing some of our most important laws, such as the Clean Air Act.

We urge Congress to allow USDA to move forward expeditiously to implement a final rule that will strengthen and clarify the packers and stockyard acts with commonsense protections for farmers and ranchers.

Mr. Cantor's memo makes assertions about the costs of these rules but does not discuss the benefits.

Did you realize that there are organizations from Florida in the Everglades that are begging for these regulations?

We are now reduced to the point of actually hearing, no disrespect, Mr. Barker, about reptiles and how intrusive Federal regulation is in trying to protect the Everglades.

From a human health point of view regulation is essential because the marketplace is not self-correcting.

Shovel-ready has become a national joke.

These are exactly the kinds of bipartisan constructive initiatives our committee and Congress should support.

We need to find common ground; we need to focus on concrete proposals and we need to pass them now.

I think we would make a much more responsive contribution if we submit one together, with recommendations on which we all can agree.

In my opinion, it is time to work together and take action on proposals we should all be able to support.

I think every member of our committee would agree that creating jobs should be our committee's number one priority.

I think we need to do both.

Their concern was that there were Members of Congress that were going around talking about not raising the debt ceiling.

One of the greatest threats to our national security is our failure to properly educate every single one of our children.

To say that we cannot afford to make these investments right now when our economy needs it most and get 14 million people back to work is quite frankly absurd.

We are paying less taxes, percentage of GDP, than we have in a long time.

Government does have a role. Private business has a role.

At some point, we have to say wait a minute, let us get off this merry go round and begin to create jobs for people.

Let me tell you what worries me.

At some point, there is no one in this room who, if you had a house, you would repair it and maintain it.