Cloud: Economic & Consumer Policy Subcommittee Must Hold Hearings on Economic Crises Facing Americans

Blasts Democrats for holding this year’s first subcommittee hearing on flea and tick collars

WASHINGTON—Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee Ranking Member Michael Cloud (R-Texas) today blasted Democrats for holding this year’s first subcommittee hearing on flea and tick collars instead of on historic inflation, record breaking gas prices, out of stock infant formula, the surge in fentanyl overdoses, and President Biden’s border crisis. He pointed out that flea and tick management is an essential part of pet care but not an essential part of congressional oversight. Subcommittee Ranking Member Cloud concluded by calling to adjourn the hearing so the subcommittee can focus on more pressing issues facing Americans.

Below are Subcommittee Ranking Member Cloud’s remarks as prepared for delivery.

Thank you, Chairman Krishnamoorthi.

This is the first hearing the Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee has convened this year.

We have been in session for 52 days this year. And our first hearing is on pet collars?

Pets are a huge part of our lives. They enrich our families, provide companionship, help foster responsibility, compassion, and care in our society. Most recently, our family mourned the loss of our guinea pig, Biscuit.

I must admit that when I saw this hearing on the agenda this week, I cannot help but be concerned, especially coming from South Texas, about the tens of thousands of human lives that have been lost to fentanyl and open borders and the Biden Administration’s policies that aid and abet cartels.

I realize this is the Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee and so I think about economic policy and where the minds of the American people are.

Gas is now averaging $5 a gallon nationwide for the first time in history. No hearing.

Inflation is at a 40-year high. No hearing.

The American people can’t find baby formula. No hearing.

Fentanyl is killing Americans, particularly our teens, at unprecedented rates. No hearing.

Biden’s systematic elimination of the safe and secure border he inherited led to the worst humanitarian and national security crisis in this country’s history. No hearing.

Perhaps we could talk about how inflation is affecting the cost of owning a pet, including the increased cost of food, toys, or accessories. But we aren’t talking about that either. 

Instead, Democrats are holding a hearing on a pet collar which fights fleas and ticks.

As any pet owner knows, flea and tick management is an essential part of pet care. But I am not sure if it an essential part of congressional oversight.

Subcommittee Republicans would rather explore efforts to help American consumers during these trying times.

We would gladly have joined the Chairman in holding a hearing on the shortage of baby formula.

Moreover, we would have welcomed the chance to explore TikTok’s troubling practice of showing dangerous content to minors—an investigation you started last year.

In fact, it has now come to light that teenagers are using TikTok and other social media platforms to purchase illicit drugs including, unknowingly in most cases, fentanyl.

A hearing on that crisis would be incredibly important.

And on the subject of our nation’s youth, CDC bureaucrats actively pursued an agenda to close schools during the pandemic instead of following the science—damaging our children’s financial, mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing for years to come. Yet still, no hearing. 

Americans are facing incredible economic issues, which require us, as elected officials, to listen to and respond.

I do appreciate the fact that our pets play an important part in our lives. We should be kind to animals and should teach our children to do that same. But I do care immensely more about the human lives that we were elected to serve.

And right now, we have troubling economic times with many families having to choose between food and fuel. With many families who have saved up their entire lives to build up a life savings thinking they might have enough to make it by month to month only to find out that inflation has put an unbearable demand on those needs.

These are important things on the minds of the American people right now. As someone who was sent here to serve the American people, I know they are bewildered this hearing is one of the top topics in Congress. The people who elected me to serve prefer that we spend time on more important issues.

And therefore, Mr. Chairman, for the reasons stated, I move to adjourn this hearing.