From Gannett News Service:
Question: Has the committee functioned well so far?
Answer: We thought the select committee was going to be a big deal. Huge honor to be on it, select committee, hot topic, big deal to the Democrats. … We were going to be working around the clock on it. I even thought about hiring additional staff to work on it.
And to be candid, the commerce committee energy subcommittee, chaired by (Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va.,), has done an exponentially better job of going at this issue. Boucher has held nine hearings, the select committee has held three. Boucher has had 51 witnesses. … We’ve had 13 witnesses. … I don’t think anybody could claim it hasn’t been kind of a letdown.
Q: Could the committee have been successful or was it doomed from the start?
A: My answer to that is it very much could have been and still might be. … I have come to the conclusion we absolutely should pass legislation addressing this issue. Indeed, I think it’s a huge opportunity for us to pass legislation.