Peter Welch

Pharma fixes the prices whenever they want, as high as they want, and as often as they want.

Pharma justifies its highest prices in the world by perpetuating two myths: First, they warn in very solemn tones that if we negotiate prices, it will result in price fixing.

This legislation legalizes industrial hemp production, something that Vermonters have been advocating for for decades. This is going to be a boost for local agriculture in Vermont and other parts of our country. And beyond these, there are…

In my view, no details, no metrics, no progress.

Instead of arguing about the science of climate change, we can talk about the benefits of saving taxpayer dollars and creating local jobs and employment.

This energy efficiency is really a big deal. In addition to cutting down on the cost of energy, every single improvement is made by a local laborer.

If we enter into these contracts with the private sector, where they provide the financing, they do the work, and then they get repaid from the energy savings, then everybody is a winner.

There are two ways that we can deal with the $150 billion backlog in repairs and energy efficiency improvements that need to be made.

The question for us is: Will we accept the minimal responsibility that we have in our job to have a debate and say no more, no more will this be done in our name?

The fundamental question that this committee refuses to ask itself is whether there's a role for publicly-elected officials to make some of these decisions.

The idea that a pharmacist can't give relevant information on how to save money for their customer really is inexcusable.

That is astonishing. Mr. Carter and I have a bill in to get rid of it.

H.R. 3891, introduced by Representatives Walberg and Welch, will improve the authority of the State Medicaid Fraud Units.

There has got to be some mapping. There has got to be a bolstered Universal Fund.

Deregulation won't get it done where there is no market opportunity.

I thank Mr. Carter, I thank Ms. McCollum, and I thank the Appropriations Committee for their support, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Vermont (Mr…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 85, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $5,000,000)''. Page 85, line 15, after…

I thank the gentlewoman as a good partner, as well, and I thank Mr. Calvert for his consideration. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Vermont…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 38, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $4,000,000)''. Page 68, line 9, after the…

I hope you're 5-0 in asserting the need to have a very strong FTC to help working Americans.

I think serving on the FTC at this time is incredibly important.

In Vermont, we are starting to see what it could look like when--our largest utility, Green Mountain Power, is all in on this.

This is such a great issue--we can do something useful for once.

We have got to dedicate funds to the buildout of broadband. There is just no escaping that.

The transparency that Dr. Bucshon mentioned is important and, Mr. Griffith, the point you made about the benefit going to the patient actually raises a pretty serious question.