The Honorable Henry Waxman is Representative of the 30th Congressional District in California and Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The following is an excerpt of his remarks delivered at the Federal Trade Commission’s “News Media Workshop” held on December 1 and 2, 2009:

A vigorous free press and a vigorous democracy have been inextricably linked. We are here today because of these bonds and what they mean. This is why this conference is so important. We cannot risk the loss of an informed public and all that means because of a “market failure.”