Senator Brater asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Brater’s statement is as follows:
I want to thank the Majority Leader and Majority Floor Leader for allowing the hearing of this resolution this afternoon. It is an urgent, timely matter because there is a struggle going on for leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington. I am very happy to have so much bipartisan support of this resolution in recognition that the leadership in the United States House of Representatives should reflect the diverse needs of all of the states and regions, and especially at this critical juncture for the auto industry—important not only to the state of Michigan, but all the industrial states.
We are expressing our voices today that we support the dean of the House of Representatives, Congressman John Dingell—who is also the dean of our Michigan delegation, of course—that he would remain as chair of the important Energy and Commerce Committee. This committee has in its jurisdiction not only energy issues, which Congressman Dingell is engaged in putting together a broad coalition of people to put together viable energy legislation federally, but he also works on health care issues, environmental issues, patient’s rights, and many important issues are under the jurisdiction of that important committee.
We do express our fervent wish today that he will remain as chair of that committee. We ask that you support this resolution.