Derek Kilmer: “I think it is absolutely essential. Those are two good programs that you mentioned. They are critical.”

These retreats will allow us to identify areas of mutual concern and agreement.

I am grateful to my colleague and friend, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, for serving on our first panel today.

I think we make a terrible mistake--and I am through--when Members get elected and there is a Democratic bus and there is a Republican bus right at beginning.

My gratitude to Chairwoman Bice and to you, Mr. Chairman, and to Ranking Member Morelle, is that you are loving critics of the institution, and that matters.