Amy Klobuchar

I would like to personally thank Senator Klobuchar for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of patients and our companies who serve them.

I wholeheartedly offer my support for Senate Bill 1472, 'Strengthening Congressional Oversight of Regulatory Actions for Efficiency.'

Well thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased that the Committee is again looking at regulatory issues, and thank you for holding this hearing.

Americans expect a common sense approach to regulation. They want to have their water, and air, and their safety protected, but they also do not want to stifle innovation and economic growth.

Improving regulation is a big issue in our country. It is important to business. It is also important to consumers.

About 50 percent of the heroin is grown in Mexico and 60 percent of the heroin that we have come into the U.S. is either grown or distributed through Mexico.

I recently led a delegation to Mexico a few weeks ago on the topic of sex trafficking as well as heroin.

Mexican police captured El Chapo in Mexico, long-time boss of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, which dealt in heroin.

We have seen a lot of overdoses in Minnesota.

You have long been a great supporter of the travel and tourism industry, and we truly appreciate your continued leadership in pushing for important, successful programs like Brand USA.

I urge you to help us create more American jobs by advancing H.R. 4450/S. 2250--the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014.

Competition like this is critical. I know we have said this many times up here just because we believe it creates a market that provides best prices and best services.

Seven percent of the market was cable.

There are a lot of very important issues here: the issue of consumers and how they will be protected going forward.

But there have been some challenges, right, with----

The proposed merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable, the two largest cable companies in the country, presents unique issues.

Okay. Thank you very much.

Competition in the cable industry is one of the most critical issues that this Committee faces for a very simple reason: Cable is the primary way Americans get pay TV and broadband Internet access.

Do you want to get to the third reason?

The combined company would control about 30 percent of the pay television market and 40 percent of the wireline broadband market.

That is why I was so concerned when the EPA came out with the rule. I think it creates uncertainty.

I truly believe that the success, the story of the success of the Renewable Fuel Standard is only half-written.

I think that this renewable fuel standard is so important.

Do you like having three women up here asking you questions?

It's something we clearly have to be focused on.