Mark Pocan

They may go back to public school, and then not get the funding.

I think it is absolutely fair to say that this is a widespread issue.

Many of my colleagues are, I guess the word I would use is, obsessed with cracking down on an apparently pressing issue of our time, the social media platform, TikTok.

We can likely agree that mismanagement and greed on the part of the executives at the Silicon Valley Bank led them to make some risky decisions...

I am particularly concerned about section 956 of Dodd-Frank, which required a number of financial regulators...

Just to raise that age would be certainly a bait-and-switch to those folks and have a negative effect.

I think I would call that a cut. If it is not a direct cut, it is at least a bait-and-switch.

I just don't feel like it from everything I am seeing and experiencing from being on the planet for 58 years.

I feel like--and I am a small business owner for 35 years. And I could tell you what I am seeing right now.

But they talk about whether or not they get their Social Security check, their veterans benefit, whether interest rates are going to rise when they buy something.

I appreciate it. And thanks to our witnesses. I would like to try to get to two areas.

I look forward to discussing what the FTC has accomplished and the direction it is going, as well as how the fiscal year 2024 budget request will provide the resources they need.

So, I mean, if we wind up with 22 percent cuts in this area, not only can you not expand, but you would actually have to contract what you are doing in this area, causing even more burden on the healthcare facilities?

I am extremely concerned about that.

I have been one of the lead advocates for doubling Pell Grants in 5 years, being a Pell Grant recipient myself.

I didn't want to take up the ladder from others, right? And I would hope that this is a program I think that has bipartisan support.

If they are going to claim this is a cut to Medicare, then let us just allow Medicare to use 'Medicare.'

We want taxpayers who are helping pay for some of those Medicare services get their money's worth.

I am really concerned about what those cuts mean.

It is the politics of the budget versus the people benefiting the budget.

Dereliction of duty, of Congress and State legislatures to not act.

I want to thank you for blocking the proposed merger between Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne earlier this year.

I have been concerned about concentration in the meat packing industry for years, and I fear that right now it is contributing to the high prices that we are seeing at the grocery store.

Can you assure us that any increases for budget would be used to ensure that the wealthiest and corporations are paying their fair share?

I know you mentioned the lack of employees. And I understand that. But it is estimated that the U.S. is losing about $547 billion per year through unpaid taxes.