Some fiduciaries--entrusted to manage the finances of our nation's heroes who are unable to do so themselves--were caught abusing the system by withholding funds, embezzling veterans' money and other egregious actions.

Some fiduciaries entrusted to manage the finances of our nation's heroes were caught abusing this system.

Thank you, Chairman Abraham and Ranking Member Titus and members of the subcommittee.

Our veterans were willing to sacrifice everything to serve our nation and they deserve to receive the care, the benefits and the respect that they have earned.

I really appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today on H.R. 2605.

An investigation into the VA's fiduciary program by my subcommittee at that time revealed shocking behavior.

I am proud that this legislation has passed the House of Representatives twice now, both in 2012 and in 2013 as part of larger legislation.

I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you on H.R. 2605, important legislation I introduced to reform the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA's) Fiduciary Program.

A tightened ozone standard has the potential to cause non-attainment areas to expand into relatively rural areas.

We can't ignore the economic implications.

I have got 4 children. I have got 6 grandchildren. I am very concerned about making sure that our air is clean, that our water is clean, that my children are drinking and eating and breathing the right kinds of things.

I am afraid that our manufacturing industry will not have a source of reliable and affordable energy.

Can we expect our manufacturing renaissance to continue under this type of scenario?

If you get a 52-percent increase in the cost of natural gas under a 62-parts-per-billion standard, that is essentially a tax.

Increased access to low-cost sustainable domestic natural gas production has helped tremendously in fueling the manufacturing renaissance in this country.

The discussion that we're having today about the EPA's overreach, it's a continuing dialog, and it's disturbing.

We have learned, our ratepayers, our businesses and our residential customers, have said they are no longer willing to pay the exorbitant high prices for energy.

My district is a district and a state heavily dependent upon the coal industry, not only for reliable energy, affordable energy, but also the jobs that it represents.

I don't know why America, Mr. Secretary, why we have to learn this lesson the hard way; that coal still provides the most reliable, affordable energy on the planet.

Unless we act soon, we are going to lose many of these benefits. He says, while the American policymakers procrastinate, other countries are stepping up to meet these needs.

It is a game changer when you are talking about manufacturing coming back to our region...

The American people have asked us to ask you the questions.

The death tax continues to pose a serious threat to the likelihood that present-day African American-owned businesses can be preserved as part of a family's long-term legacy.

I expressed my concern to you that TSCA reporting requirements seemed to incentivize manufacturers, for example, in the electronics industry, to landfill byproducts instead of recycling them.

Whatever the confident assurances of the agency are, this is going to be a very messy process, and I think that everyone understands it.