mr. waxman. we have had a history on this committee and this subcommittee going back at least 40 to 50 years when we have major issues we try to approach them on behalf of the american people in a nonpartisan very open way. and it certainly appears that we're going to continue that tradition today. so i hope that we can show the best to the american people that the congress at its best gets the facts, presents the facts, and does so in a way that in the future we protect the public health and safety for the american people. now, with that caveat, i do have a few questions. a number of congressmen so far have made the point that these ignition switches didn't appear to meet specificications. and my assumption is that you've agreed that they did not meet specifications. is that correct? >> we have learned that as we did the recall. >> now, i am an industrial engineer. i used to be a registered professional engineer. i'm not currently registered but i have been in the past. why in the world would a

mr. waxman. we have had a history on this committee and this subcommittee going back at least 40 to 50 years when we have major issues we try to approach them on behalf of the american people in a nonpartisan very open way. and it certainly appears that we're going to continue that tradition today. so i hope that we can show the best to the american people that the congress at its best gets the facts, presents the facts, and does so in a way that in the future we protect the public health and safety for the american people. now, with that caveat, i do have a few questions. a number of congressmen so far have made the point that these ignition switches didn't appear to meet specificications. and my assumption is that you've agreed that they did not meet specifications. is that correct? >> we have learned that as we did the recall. >> now, i am an industrial engineer. i used to be a registered professional engineer. i'm not currently registered but i have been in the past. why in the world would a

mr. waxman for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman. dr. frieden, last friday when you released the cdc report on the anthrax incident, you announced you were imposing a moratorium on cdc transferring any biological samples out of any bsl-3 or bsl-4 labs until they had conducted a lab-by-lab assessment. additionally, you closed the bioterrorism rapid response and advanced technology or the brrat laboratory and announced it will remain closed until it as approved to reopen under safer conditions. these seem like appropriate interim steps until cdc can undertake a comprehensive safety review and ensure that the proper procedures and protocols are in place moving forward. dr. frieden, how long do you anticipate this moratorium lasting and the brrat lab being closed? >> the short answer to your question is as long as it takes to ensure that they can open safely. the longer answer is that there some are things that need to resume. for example, proficiency testing for select agents in the laboratory response network. and that's something we will

mr. waxman said in his opening statement.may sound obvious but i think it's important that we acknowledge it is a complicated issue. there is a lot of complexity to this and a lot we don't know about and i think we all could agree the notion that this is an issue that merits a significant investment and research and itss beyond even concussions of sports. we have tremendous brain injury in terms of the soldiers in the field. it's an important issue that is complicated and we have to make sure that we approach it in a thoughtful and comprehensive way. thank you for scheduling this hearing today. i was going to ask mr. miller without taking too long because this is an open-ended question you have to walk us through the steps as information and research is brought more knowledge to the nfl how has the league responded and how have you position yourself on these issues of concussions and just if you could walk us through the history of its involvement in your organization. >> i'm happy to do it and thank you for the questions. i

mr. waxman said in his opening statement. it may sound obvious but it's important to acknowledge.his is a public education. there's a lot of complexities, a lot we don't know about, brain science, and i think we all can agree that the notion that this is an issue that parents, research is something passionate and it's beyond concussions in sports. dramatic bring into interest our soldiers into. this is really important issue that is competent and we have to make sure we approach it in a thoughtful and comprehensively. so mr. chairman thank you for scheduling this hearing today. i just want to ask mr. miller. without taking too long because this is an open ended question but can you walk us through the steps, as information, research is brought up has brought more knowledge to the nfl, how has the league responded and how have you positioned yourself on these issues to address the issues of concussions? just if you could walk us through some of the history. >> happy to do it, and thank you for the question. i think the point that you made that the science has evolved on their logic

mr. waxman for five minutes. >> thank you, mr. chairman. ms. barra we have heard about how in 2002 gm approved the use of faulty ignition switches in cobalts ion knows and other cars. that's what caused many of the problems that led to the recall of the cars model year 2003 to 2007. so new ignition switches were designed and approved by general motors. these were switches that were used -- were used in the model years 2008-2010. that all sound right to you? am i correct in what i'm saying? >> there's a couple statements you made at the beginning that i don't know to be true. >> well, in 2002, gm approved the use of what turned out to be faulty ignition switches. in several cars. >> they actually were parts that went into a 2003 was the earliest model. >> well, the tests were done in 2002. but the cars were 2003 to 2007. so we had a recall of those cars. >> right. >> and then there was a new switch, a new ignition switch designed and approved by gm. and these new switches were in use in the model year 2008-2010 cobalts and ions. >> to the best o

mr. waxman, five minutes. sdplz thank y >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. this is the 12th hearing this committee held on the health care act since enrollment began on october 2013. these hearings, if you look at them, all have one purpose. to undermine the affordable care act regardless of the facts. the hearings have misled the public and i think squandered t taxpayers' dollars. in fact, the affordable care act is an historic success. it has made comprehensive health care reform a reality for the american people. more than 8 million people have signed up for private health insurance plans through the public and private marketplaces, exceeding efforts by over a million people. an additional 7.6 million people have enrolled in the chip program. 3 million people under the age of 26 have enrolled in their parents' health care plans. in my district alone, if i can be parochial, 17,000 residents who were previously uninsured now have quality affordable health coverage because of the affordable health care act. so i'm giving you some perspective that the law has

mr. waxman, five minutes. sdplz thank y >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. this is the 12th hearing this committee held on the health care act since enrollment began on october 2013. these hearings, if you look at them, all have one purpose. to undermine the affordable care act regardless of the facts. the hearings have misled the public and i think squandered t taxpayers' dollars. in fact, the affordable care act is an historic success. it has made comprehensive health care reform a reality for the american people. more than 8 million people have signed up for private health insurance plans through the public and private marketplaces, exceeding efforts by over a million people. an additional 7.6 million people have enrolled in the chip program. 3 million people under the age of 26 have enrolled in their parents' health care plans. in my district alone, if i can be parochial, 17,000 residents who were previously uninsured now have quality affordable health coverage because of the affordable health care act. so i'm giving you some perspective that the law has

mr. waxman, for five minutes. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. this is the 12th hearing this committee held on the health sdh care act since enrollment began on october 2013. these hearings, if you look at them, all have one purpose. to undermine the affordable car act regardless of the facts. r the hearings have misled the fa. public and i think squandered taxpayers' dollars. in fact, the affordable care act is an historic success. it has made comprehensive healta care reform a reality for the n american people. more than 8 million people havec signed up for private health insurance plans through the forv federal and state marketplaces, exceeding cbo's enrollment estimates by over a million people. an additional 7.6 million people have enrolled in the chip program as of may of this year, three million young adults under the age of 26 have enrolled in their prparents' health insuran plans. and the fact sheets that democrats put out from our staf reveal that in my district alone, if i can be parochial, 17,000 residents who were previously uninsure

mr. waxman, two of the experts on the democratic side. our system really does work over the next however many months, the country is going to see america's political system and medical system at its best. as we work together to decide how to take things out of the laboratory into everyday life. some of you i know very well. some of you i work professional. professionally. by xharm upton is an honest broker, and he is absolutely making this a top priority, and you're going to see real result. the american people will see real results. i commend you, mr. chairman and mr. gett. i look forward to having the dialogues, and ultimately as mr. wax man said, coming up with common-sense solutions for cures that make america and the world a better place. >> when we sent out the invites, to spur some thoughts. one, what is the state of biomedical innovation two, what does it mean three how does the u.s. compare to other countries, and how do we make sure to foster innovation. and as we know keep more jobs in the u.s. what -- whether it's in this coun

mr. waxman for five minutes. >> thank you esther tremendous this is the 12th hearing this committee has held on the affordable care act since the end romans began in octobe october 2013. these hearings if you look at it then they all have one purpose, to undermine the affordable care act regardless of the facts of the hearings that misled the public to squander taxpayers dollars. in fact, the affordable care act is a historical success. it's made comprehensive health care reform a reality for the american people. more than 8 million people have signed up for private health insurance plans for the federal and state marketplaces exceeding the annual mint estimates by over a million people. additionally, 6.7 million individuals have enrolled in medicaid or the sj program in may of this year and 3 million young adults under the age of 26 have enrolled in their parents health-insurance plans and the fact sheets that were put out from the staff revealed that in my district alone if i can be parochial, 17,000 residents who were previously uninsured now have quality affordable health coverage becaus

mr. lu worked for eight years with representative henry waxman as a deputy chief counsel of the house oversight and government reform committee. mr. lu, thank you for being here. patricia smith was confirmed by the senate as the solicitor of labor on february the 4th, 2010. prior to becoming solicitor of labor, patricia smith was the new york state commissioner of labor and the chief of the labor bureau for the new york state attorney general. she also argued and won two cases before the supreme court and has an extensive history of representing employees in various legal service organizations. ms. smith, thank you very much for being here. third and finally for this panel, dr. john howard serves as the director for the national institute of occupational safety and health in the u.s. department of health and human services. dr. howard was first appointed by president george w. bush and was reappointed to serve in this capacity under president obama. prior to his appointment as the director, the acronym which we'll hear a lot about today, dr. howard serves as the chief of the division of occupat