“An energy company took more than $1 billion from Ohio customers in a major bribery and corruption scandal, and now they want to raise power bills again. I introduced a bill to hold these executives accountable and give that money back to the public. I want the Energy and Commerce Committee to hold a hearing on my bill right away.”

“Mr. Speaker, justice delayed is justice denied. That couldn’t be more true for the thousands of honest, hardworking people and businesses I represent in northwestern Ohio. They were wronged for decades by the largest nuclear power corruption scandal in both American and Ohio history. First Energy took the public’s money to buy influence and bail out failing nuclear plants, costing the public over $1 billion and counting, at a minimum. That is money stripped from families and our local economy. Just weeks ago, First Energy visited the Public Utility Commission of Ohio seeking to raise electricity bills again--this time for 3 more years. This follows a mistrial declared in the spring in the State in its ongoing corruption case and Federal litigation that is ongoing for conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery. It is over time to recover the money taken and return it to the ratepayers. Nuclear power executives must be held accountable. The Ratepayer Justice Act I just introduced yesterday would do just that. Mr. Speaker, I call on the Energy and Commerce Committee to act with dispatch to schedule a hearing on this important bill. Mr. Speaker, let’s get to the bottom of this once and for all and return the public’s money.”