Maurice Hinchey

Many people are asking, why are we even having this hearing today? My response to that is that it could not come at a more important time, and thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The great wildlands of Utah that are owned by the American people are under threat.

The land that we are trying to designate holds less than a few days worth of oil and a few weeks worth of gas.

I agree with Peter, I think that this would be a very viable way of creating jobs in Utah.

Thank you very much for that. And I think that what we are trying to focus on here is some of the misunderstanding that is generating opposition to the kinds of things that are trying to be done on behalf of the people of the State of Utah.

It is fitting that we are having this hearing while PBS is airing Ken Burns' new documentary, 'The National Parks: America's Best Idea.'

It put more money in the hands of the wealthiest people, as we have seen, and it also caused a decline in the income and economic sustainability of middle-income and lower middle.

That is the circumstances that we are dealing with.

This Congress and this administration needs to deal with it effectively.

The predatory lending--and that predatory word, I think, is very appropriate--is a major part of the problem.

It is going to deal with some aspects of the problem. But it is not going to deal with it all the way.

The economic circumstances that this Congress is attempting to deal with is probably the most serious and severe since the 1930s.

We have seen a manipulation of the lending practices in this country now going back for almost a decade.

There is an awful lot more work that needs to be done.

I am sure that they were advised to do that by a lot of the people who wanted to engage in these practices that we have seen that have caused so much of the damage.

I wish that we had given you more power, including subpoena power because I think that you would have used that effectively.

The elimination of that Glass-Steagall Act was intentional, and purposeful, and it was designed to allow the manipulation of these investment practices.

I think that is one of the things that is very important here: We want to have good, competent, highly-qualified personnel dealing with the normal set of circumstances to which military personnel might be involved with.

the medical attention that has to be given there has to be immediate, and it has to be in ways that are designed to save the life of that person.

The Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2009 will finally bring accountability into the military medical system.

Joining the military should not mean that one has to give up his or her right to hold medical providers accountable.

The question before you is whether or not we, as Members of the Congress, believe that members of our Nation's military are deserving of the same rights as you and I and the rest of our country.

I believe we must match the dedication and sacrifice of our soldiers with the adequate health care they deserve.

I contacted Congressman Hinchey, and I wanted to get his medical records.

Don't let this just be it. Don't let this be it. Fight.