Press Releases

(As prepared for delivery)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I begin, the wildfires in California are devastating, and I know I speak for all of us when I say, Congresswomen Chu and Sanchez, and Congressman Gomez, we are so sorry for the losses in your districts. Mr. Chairman, I saw the Speaker’s comments on conditioning aid on the debt ceiling, but that violates our national principle of helping one another in times of need, and I hope you can pledge to work with us to deliver the relief these communities deserve. 

The start of a new Congress can be a time of renewal and reflection, particularly on what we’ve been entrusted to do on this dais. It is the breadth of this responsibility that guides us to bold, clear priorities, and a mission to level the playing field for the American people.

Throughout our nation’s history, the Committee on Ways and Means has risen to the moment. We’ve led some of the most significant legislation on record, and under President Biden has been no exception. We acted decisively and deliberately for the American family, ushering in a new economy with the American Rescue Plan, reinvigorating our manufacturing and construction industries with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CHIPs and Science Act, and lowering costs in the Inflation Reduction Act. We championed workers’ rights and expanded health care access to record numbers. We protected pensions and paved the way for a more sustainable, fairer future.

President Biden notched himself a new record last week. The only president to create jobs every single month of his term. The best job creator in our history. 

Unfortunately, we did not see the same level of action over the last two years from the Republican Majority. We saw many, many bills come through this Committee that, with proper consultation and input, could’ve become bipartisan priorities, and we saw many bills fail to even make it to the House floor. Extreme agenda item after item, all focused on chaos, conspiracies and cuts. Soon, Republicans will have all the keys, and our economy’s resilience and strength will lie in their hands.

Your decisions and your promises will be remembered, and the consequences will speak for themselves.

I would like to welcome our new members and emphasize how much I look forward to working with you. For the Minority, I welcome back Brendan Boyle from Pennsylvania, Stacey Plaskett from the Virgin Islands, and Tom Suozzi from New York and on the Majority side, Aaron Bean of Florida, Max Miller of Ohio, Nathaniel Moran of Texas, and Rudy Yakym of Indiana. We all come to this Committee to do big things, and I thank you all for your service to the American people. 

With that, I yield the balance of my time. 

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