The point of our legislation I think was to acknowledge that the futures market is absolutely essential for end-users, but that to the extent it is manipulated by Wall Street speculators, it is for their benefit at the expense of consumers…

We represent Democrats in Republican districts and we represent Republicans in Democratic districts and every one of us has been hearing from families where they are just wondering why, if the demand is going down, the price is going up.

We believe this funding level is necessary to ensure the oversight, transparency and stability necessary for the proper functioning of our nation's commodity markets.

On February 1 of this year, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that American forces would step back from a combat role in Afghanistan as early as mid-2013. This is a year faster than had been announced only months previously. He also…

I thank the gentleman. Keystone is not the energy future that advocates claim it is. But if in fact the Keystone pipeline is built, then this amendment says that that oil in fact should be used in the United States to reduce our dependence…

The major reason why this motion to instruct is timely is the answer to this question. What will we know after February 17 that we don't know now? There is going to be no new information. So what would justify the delay? What we know now…

I thank the gentleman from Maryland. There are two constitutional principles; there is one practical problem; and there is one democratic ideal. The most important constitutional principle is the power of the purse that must be retained by…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. There is a reason that this institution of Congress is so discredited among the American people. The reason is quite simple. Instead of facing the problem, we come up with ways to avoid it. These two…

You had indicated, let me get it, one of your allegations was that, and I quote, you said that folks made a crisis and they are using this crisis to somehow take away or limit people's Second Amendment rights.

I think it is important for us to ask the question whether the point of this hearing is to try to do something that is going to help the men and women of law enforcement deal with the major problem.

In the past 5 years, 94,000 guns recovered in Mexico, over 64,000 are traced to the United States.

We have a serious challenge here. We have people who need long-term care. We have very serious fiscal constraints. And the question before us really is, do we repeal the program altogether when there is a serious long-term program, as if…

This institution of Congress and the House and the Senate is seen rightly by Americans as totally dysfunctional.

The problem we are having here is Democrats can't work with Republicans in either body.

We haven't passed a budget. That is disgraceful.

I was so disappointed to see a culture-proof minority of 45 Senators block Mr. Cordray's nomination to be director.

The simple fact is that we need the CFPB.

I applaud the early work that has been done looking into predatory practices targeting veterans and I look forward to hearing more.

Mr. Cordray, who I am pleased to welcome here today as the first director of CFPB, was appointed to his position by the President on January 4, 2012.

But if we have too much regulation, that can get in the way of, like what Mr. Meehan was saying...

Under the Consumer Protection Finance Agency, would these Vermonters be able to call your office and at least get a yes or no answer on what they could do and some help through the process?

I happen to think that the failure to have regulation caused a lot of harm.

I thank the gentleman. Madam Speaker, the course of action that is being proposed by the Republican majority is two things: One, it's reckless and irresponsible; and, two, it's cynical and very political. First of all, why is it reckless…

I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, for the fourth time this year, Congress has failed to reach a consensus on a significant issue that will affect the lives of every American and imperil our fragile economic recovery. Today, we are on the…

Is it basically the consensus that Congressman Meehan's question that implied more information is better is a point that all of you agree with?