to the subjects received to their brains other than knowing that -- it is very low. >> host: when you look at the plethora of studies that have been done on cell phone use and its potential effects on the brain, do you have a conclusion at all? >> guest: yes, my conclusion is basically that of health agency said agencies that have looked at this, which is that there have been many reports of studies. there have been a number of effects of the cell phone is that they are small if no clear biological significance and they tend to come and go so there's really no clear evidence after all these years that there are significant health effects from using cell phones. >> host: now do you have any connection with the cell phone companies in your research, sir? >> guest: no, i'm a professional engineer and sometimes i provide calculations to determine whether transmitting facilities comply with federal regulations but that is quite a different thing. >> host: dr. kenneth foster by engineering department at the

university of pennsylvania, thank you for being on the computer -- communicators. .. because i thought i knew what was going on to learn they recommended back then that teenagers be very limited in their use itself focus salles phones. islamic when you look at the slide showing the increased

glucose activity, what is your conclusion? >> i think it's a stunning defeat piece of work and i agree they were quite low and that's why we need to be very concerned. what i've done my book disconnect is to show that the study was not a breakthrough in terms of showing the effect on the brain that was one of the most elegant pieces of work ever done. the reason i say it wasn't a breakthrough is other research document in my book disconnect found in 1994 that microwave radiation to the brain could unravel their dna and research in 2002 done in finland shows the you can get cerebral blood flow from sulfone radiation and that in 2006 of their studies were done also in finland showing that you could alter brain energy after cell phone use. unfortunately many studies in the case of one appeared in finnish language and others in english have not gone as the

head line. of course he is to be commended because she is such an eminent researcher and the study was a controlled study where they looked at the same person when they didn't have the phone next to their head and when they did so even though the exposures were quite low and the phone was seeking as they do to get information from a tower with nothing else going on, there was a significant change in brain glucose in those areas of the brain that we modeled exposure gets into and we know where exposure gets in the brain because studies done by the cell phone industry that i discuss in my book as well that show that children absorb about twice as much exposure into their brains as adults and that's why we are very concerned and we are starting a cell phone safety awareness campaign with middle school in bethesda and around the country in jacksonville monreal ming and montana we are working with teachers and parents to promote self own safety. we are not opposed to phones we

just want people to be aware of the safe way to use them particularly around children. >> the wireless industry responded to the study and this is what they had to say, dr. davis, the peer reviewed scientific evidence is overwhelmingly indicated that wireless devices within the limits established by the fcc do not pose a public health risk or cause any adverse health effect. >> that is a misreading. as a literature there's all studies that show cellphone radiation affects the brain. they've been around for a while. in fact, governments in israel and britain have recently issued new warnings about reducing direct radiation to the brain for everyone. the british government has just reissued march 6, and it says all people should be encouraged to text, hold a phone revenues for him or use a headset or

speakerphone and i think that is sensible advice and it is unfortunate with all of the things going on in washington our government hasn't caught up with what others in the world are emphasizing and if the industry continues to invoke the same advice it has been invoking for 20 years the fact is this is a fast-moving science. we've got to update our understanding of the issue and we are in the midst of an experiment on ourselves and our children with no control because so many of us including me are using cell phones today but i don't hold a phone next to my brain any more. islamic debra davis is the author disconnect and the founder of the environmental health trust and has been our guest on the communicators. >> think you so much >> the communicators invited the wireless industry to participate in this program and they chose not to. also, if you'd like to read the nih study on the cell phone use for yourself, you can go to

c-span.org/thecommunicators. thanks for being with us. yesterday house majority leader eric cantor was a featured speaker at the american israel public affairs committee conference. his remarks our next. the conference continues today in washington after congress remarks will take you live to the conference and hear from senate majority leader harry reid, house speaker john boehner and the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. that's life here on c-span2. >> it's great to be here. i'm truly honored to be able to address the afternoon plenary of the apec policy conference, the biggest ever. [applause] as i look out, i see more than 10,000 people, young and old,

who have come to washington from a around the country not for personal enrichment ordain, not out of concern for your industries or businesses, but out of the deep affection for the fellow democracy of israel. [applause] we are all here because we know that america is at its best when his stance with allies that share our value. >> like many of you, the descendants of immigrants to america. my grandparents came to this country nearly a century ago from russia. they pass through new york harbor, passed by the statue of liberty on the way to a better and free life.

my grandmother was a widow at a young age, and she eventually made her home in a predominantly african-american section of my hometown of richmond. she raised my father and my uncle in a tiny apartment above a grocery store that she owns. through hard work, perseverance and faith, the very values on which america is built, she lifted herself open to the middle class and even sent her children to college. but never, never did she dare to dream that her grandson would someday be a member of congress much less the majority leader of the u.s. house. [applause] [cheering]

when i grew up, my parents were among the few jews at actively involved in local politics. from them, i learned the value of community involvement in shaping the future. one of my most vivid memories as a child can on that fateful day of 1973. i was just 10-years-old. i remember standing on the stamps in front of the synagogue after the services let up. i heard grownups are around me talking about israel being attacked on all holiest day of the year. i heard them recall what was like to live as a jew before israel came into being. they were worried when. that experience was etched into my memory. it was only years later that i truly understood the role

america could play coming to the aid of a fellow democracy. our country often ask why is it that america and israel are so close? there are many answers to this question. yes, israel is a critical pillar of the u.s. national security strategy. yes, israel fights on the front line against radical islam, and yes, a strong israel provides a more stable in hospitable released for u.s. interest. our strategic ties to israel are important, but there's something much deeper that binds the two nations. there's something that americans identify with on a gut level, something that i see every time my friends and colleagues steny hoyer and i take members to

israel. when members of congress stand on the shore of the sea of galloway, when they listen to the words of the summit on the mountains, and when they walk the stations the names and places people read about in their sunday school studies come alive right before their very eyes. it is emotional. it is profound, and to them and to our kristen brethren among us, we salute you and appreciate your solidarity and support. [applause] [applause] israel cherishes the values we

do. israel represents the triumph of the human spirit over impossible odds. israel represents a fierce dedication to saving and improving life for all and israel spirit lived through its people. in 1932 a boyte was flanked by his parents off the train on the gas chamber to auschwitz. by and look a catholic woman in a nearby village took him in and she hid him in her covered. after the war was finally over, that bleak and agreed to israel to begin a new life. today his son heads up the now famous medical field hospital that travels the world in the wake of natural disasters. [applause] just three days after the

earthquake in haiti, the doctor was their helping save lives, and this year his unit treated the wounded in remote areas hardest hit by japan's did lisa amit. no question israel joins america and leading the way to save lives and help feed the world. [applause] yet today the 2000-year-old dream of the state of israel is in jeopardy. there is no other nation on earth so delighted right to exist and threaten with destruction. recent development has moved iran out of that line but it is undeniable the sector a nuclear iran larger than ever and we must never take our eye off iran. [applause]

and that's why congress will soon pass the bipartisan hiram threat reduction act making it the official u.s. policy to prevent iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. [applause] plain and simple, if you do business with iran you cannot do business with america. [applause] meanwhile, during this era of spurring, we all hope freedom will take a leap forward in the middle east, and we will do everything we can to support institutions of democracy and civil society.

yet the truth is there is much uncertainty. there is one thing for certain, america must do everything in her power to keep israel strong and secure. [applause] the longstanding anti-israel anti-semitic vitriol persists but the world must no longer turn a deaf ear. it is time for america to lead. [applause] and so, to the emerging government of the middle east, america must clearly state it is not okay to vilify israel, it is not okay to demonize jews, and it's time to stop scapegoating israel.

[applause] estimate nearly 7,000 miles away israel fights the same war we do. we share a common enemy in iran and the proxy to seek nuclear weapons. so the message to you this afternoon is this, if israel goes, we all go. [applause] in order for us to win this great struggle, we must have the courage to see the world not as we wish it to be, but as it truly is. [applause] it is not morally equivalent when the offense of terrorists

are equated with a defense of israel. [applause] the following story is illustrates the dilemma. a palestinian woman from gaza a rise of the hospital from life-saving skin treatment for burns over half her body. after the conclusion of her extensive treatment, the woman is invited back for follow-up visits to the outpatient clinic. one day she's caught at the border crossing wearing a suicide built. her intention? to blow herself look at the same clinic that saved her life. now what kind of culture leads one to do that? sadly it is a culture infused with resentment and hatred.

but it is this culture that underlies the palestinians and the broad arab world's refusal to accept israel's life to exist as a jewish state. [applause] and this is the root of the conflict between israel and the palestinians. it is not about the 67 line. [applause] [cheering] [applause] [applause]

[cheering] and until israel's enemy comes to terms with this reality, true peace will be impossible. and the reality is as we say in hebrew the people of israel live, and what they want is to live in peace. [applause] if the palestinians want to live in peace in a state of their own, they must demonstrate that they are worthy of a state. so to mr. a boss stop naming public squares and athletic teams after suicide bombers and come to the negotiating table when you have prepared your

people to forgo hatred and renounce terrorism and then israel will embrace you. [applause] until that day -- [applause] until that day, until that day there can be no peace with hamas. peace at any price isn't peace, its surrender. [applause] all of us here today are years to a rich tradition of zionism that has its roots in america's

founding. the colonists including ben franklin and thomas jefferson saw themselves as a new israel crossing for the promised land. i have the great privilege of holding james madison's seed in the congress. [applause] he spent a year at princeton learning to speak hebrew. like many others, john adams marveled at the prospect of 100,000 israelites returning to the land of israel and creating an independent nation in their ancestral religious homeland. 190 years later, adams division has been realized never before in the history of mankind have the people removed from their land for thousands of years return just as the bible

promised. [applause] in this time of extraordinary challenge for israel and for america, we simply cannot afford to become complacent. we must rise to the challenge before us and shape history. israel deserves america's friendship in reality, not just in rhetoric. [applause] words and promises come and go, only deeds count. [applause] there is a time for talk but now is the time for action. there is a time for dreaming but now is the time for doing. there is a time for following but now is the time to leave

from the front. for the survival of israel, for the security of america and peace for the world now is that time and here is the place to begin. thank you all very, very much. [applause] [cheering] ♪ >> a reminder we are going to be taking you live to the american public affairs committee conference in washington, d.c. where speakers later this evening will include senate majority leader harry reid, house speaker john boehner and israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. until that gets started we will show a few minutes of today's state department briefing.

[inaudible conversations]

[inaudible] northern soldiers some people will do the two were wounded and it produced what we feel is an extremely disproportionate response by the government of saddam. they basically invaded administration has had to clean most of the people as they have fled south -- this is a very serious violation of the comprehensive peace agreement, and it certainly jeopardize this

the process of negotiation that has been under way to resolve the remaining issues before the south becomes independent on july 9th. well then the u.s. has been very heavily engaged over the last several days and nights in talking to the parties and the regional leaders and the united nations to the african union and others with several major points. first of all, we feel that the attack on the u.n. convoy was deplorable and wrong, but we feel the response of the government was disproportionate and irresponsible. we think those forces should be withdrawn. the civilian administration which the president bushehr

unilaterally dissolved should be recreated. and we've urged the president of busheir and vice president who's the head of the southern sudan ministration immediately come together and, the situation down and restore the level of cooperation they talked about after the january 9th referendum they so far have not been in direct touch and we feel that is an extremely important thing for them to do. now what happens if the u.n. security council was visiting sudan at this very time. in fact, they were scheduled to go to abyei but of course could not under the circumstances. they were in khartoum yesterday, and they issued a statement which i hope you have been able to see basically saying some of the same points as the white house said saturday night condemning both the attack on the u.n. convoy but condemning in particular this overreaction

and occupation of abyei and urging the troops withdrawn and that the two leaders meet immediately that they go back to the negotiations under the cpa. others have been involved the chief mediator special has seen president bushehr and vice president today and we are trying to bring this crisis under control. it's the most serious one since the attack on abyei in 2008. and we feel that both sides must restore koln and cooperation between them. ironically, this all took place just as fairly productive discussions were going on

between the two parties on the economic issues. they had been going on in ethiopia at this very time and it's just indicates that there is much to be done and so much negotiation that it's been planned and it's under way that this crisis really calls into question how those negotiations can be finished on the time of the right spirit let me stop there and i would be happy to answer your questions. >> can you confirm or deny the north is repopulate thing the area of abyei? >> we know that people from the masuria haven't seen a abyei town whether they are coming in in the wake of this invasion or actually selling is much too soon to get a fix on that, but since the takeover just happened over the weekend, it seems a

little preliminary to make a judgment like that. >> over the weekend they said they felt the situation may affect the process of normalization in khartoum and the united states. can you elaborate on that and maybe discuss further with other leverage the united states might have on that? >> i'm glad you raised that because in our road map towards normalization it includes specifically a resolution problem which is to be a negotiated solution, and it involves for implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement. it complicates both of those conditions, and what it means is our ability to move towards normalization is going to be complicated as well. we started the process as you

know of looking at how to take them off of the list of the state-sponsored terrorism. we've been working with the world bank and others on the debt situation. we've been working at the prospect of naming a full ambassador after july 9th in khartoum. all of these are important steps of normalization treaty they can't be fulfilled if we don't have a successful cpa >> [inaudible] >> well, the point is that these are all steps towards normalization and if we don't have a successful completion of the agreements and if we don't have abyei being negotiated rather than occupied on those items because it's part of the road map. so you can't complete that road

map if you can't complete these conditions. >> what about the status of the referendum? when can it happen, how can it happen, and with the evacuation of the fleeing of so many residents of abyei, how can that be actually accomplished any time soon? >> welcome of the referendum had not been complaints because the two sides could not agree on who would be eligible voters whether it would be primarily the misery of would have the right to vote, and because of the difference and many meetings to try to resolve its attention turned to an administrative solution whether the two principals, president of bushehr and vice president could come to a negotiated solution on abyei. the president and former south africa who leads the a you negotiation had put several options, administrative options

to the two presidents some months ago. they were not able to agree on many of them coming and they turned back to the international community and said can you come up with some other ideas? and in fact we have been working on trying to develop a proposal for them. and this obviously makes it more difficult to do. but the attention had turned from the referendum to see if there was an administrative solution. sprigg is there any indication of that movement either armed or would back up the more widespread suggestion the two sides are on the verge of going back to war? de think that's a realistic threat given where we are now? >> i think the danger of the conflict and abyei is a serious. there is fighting going on now down towards the southern border where the southern forces are

still inside abyei anbar fighting the sudanese armed forces and the clash is very great. that's not a general warfare between the two but any kind of warfare and especially over an area as emotional and difficult as abyei was the dangerous prospect. >> the u.s. context with the parties to yourself plan to head out there? >> the secretary of state, the advancement of the national security council, myself, johnny carson, assistant secretary for african have all been in contact with parties and leaders constantly over the last several days, and of course as you know, the ambassador susan rice is

there with you and security council and of course we have in both khartoum and cuba and everybody's been involved in all of this. i haven't worked out the exact date but i will be going out this week. >> do you know who cicatrix clinton has spoken to? >> she spoke to the vice president and to the foreign minister, the secretary spoke to the vice president, i spoke to vice president tier john kerry, senator kerry has issued a statement today or yesterday which you may say so there have been a lot of calls. >> thank you very much for

joining us. >> thank you. >> again we are waiting to take you live to the american israel public affairs committee conference and meeting in washington, d.c. and headline speeches by the senate majority leader harry reid, house speaker john boehner and israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. while we wait for tonight's speaker here is some of the discussion from today's washington journal and president obama's health care law. estimate we are going to turn attention to the healthcare biln signed into law last march by lw president obama continues to generate a lot of interest and. oflitical debate in this country.nd debatin michael cannon is the policy director for the cato instituter -- the health policy director for the cato institute. guest: think you for having me. -- thank you for having me.

host: this piece -- (if some americans deserve waivers from this bad law, all americans do. guest: there is a requirement that americans purchased unlimited coverage on an annual basis so that an insurance company cannot tell you -- cannot set a limit on your coverage. lower than $750,000. it will eventually be phased out so there will be no limits on claims and a covered person can file with an insurance company. that costs money. when you require a person to purchase more coverage, that will increase premiums. many are asking the administration, can we please waive those requirements? insurance companies spend no less than 80% of premium

revenue on claims. on medical care plus quality improvement initiatives. and only 20% on things like marketing and underwriting and so forth. and fighting fraud is another important element of administrative costs. entire states are going to the administration and asking it to waive that requirement for what we call the individual market, where people purchase insurance directly from insurance companies because they're afraid that requirement will cost insurers to flee their markets. some insurers have fled the market as a result of this. what is interesting about these two waivers is two things. first, both of these reckoned -- both of these regulations that people are asking the administration to waive our consumer protections. if they really are consumer protections, where are consumers going to the administration to say please protect us from these

consumer protections? because they really are not consumer protections, they are hurting as much as they're helping. about half of the workers to receive waivers so far are workers in union plants. unions -- the percentage of american workers in unions is about 12%, but they represent 50% of those receiving waivers. that raises the question of what is going on here because unions were very supportive of president obama's campaign in 2008, very supportive of this law, and yet they are receiving an overwhelming number of exemptions from this law. host: the be shared with you from the website healthcare.gov. first of all, looking at individuals -- both individual who can afford it will be who can afford it will be required to obtain basic health insurance or pay a fee to help

offset costs of caring for uninsured. if affordable coverage is not available, he or she will be eligible for an exemption. if the employer does not offer insurance, individuals will be able to buy insurance from an exchange. we talked about some of those issues before, but for those not quite familiar with the exchange, how does that work? guest: what you just described is the ball of individual mandate, the least popular element of obamacare -- is the lot of individual mandate, the least popular element of obamacare. critics of this law, myself included, have pointed out that the constitution does not give congress the authority to force americans to purchase a private product. another element of this law are the health insurance exchanges it envisions for every state pretty law says each state has to either create its own health insurance exchange or the government will create one. it is a government bureaucracy that will be helping to govern

the regulations of obamacare, handing out subsidies to private insurance company that it will help people to comply with that individual mandate. that will be hundreds of billions of dollars of subsidies as the years go on. so states are grappling right now with the question of should we create these health insurance exchanges, these new government bureaucracies? a lot of states that are left leaning have embrace that. there is something of a split among opponents of the governors and state legislatures that generally oppose the law. some of them have said, flat out, no, we are not going to create an exchange because that will make the cost of health care rise and make it harder to repeal this law. but other opponents of the law said they it will go ahead and create exchange, do it in compliance with the law. what is interesting about doing it with a more free-market way, the federal government has said if you create an exchange that is not complying with all the

rules and regulations that this law lays out, that the federal government is basically coming in to commandeer that state exchange. so there is really no such thing as a free market health insurance exchange or a non- obamacare exchange because any exchange that states create will become a vehicle for the federal government to control health- care markets in all 50 states. host: so according to kaiser, it points out that in 2014, if you do not have insurance, benefit that you could potentially pay would be $95. it would increase to $325 by 2015, $695 by 2016. here is the other argument on the other side -- if you do not have health insurance and you get sick and go to the hospital, those who do have insurance are paying for it anyhow. how do you solve that issue? guest: the administration is

being fast and loose with the facts here. if you look at research by the urban institute, they have found that actually those people who show up at the hospital and do not pay for the medical care they consume, they do not increase the premiums for people with high -- with private health insurance. there are government programs that subsidize hospitals, that get back what we call uncompensated care. so it increases your taxes, but not your insurance premiums. how much of a burden is that on the taxpayer? it turns out the same research -- these are not opponents of the law -- they had estimated that uncompensated insurance -- is a very small problem, definitely not the largest problem. if you look at wasteful spending in american health care, that runs about 30%, according to the

dartmouth atlas of health care. we have a much bigger problem than that free rider problem. in massachusetts they already enacted a individual mandate like we have with obamacare. there are indications that that has gotten worse in massachusetts, created new free rider problems where people do not purchase health insurance, they pay the penalty because the penalty is much less than the cost of the mandatory insurance are supposed to purchase. they waited until they are sick to purchase health insurance, and they get all the medical care they need. then they stopped paying the premiums. that is going to drive up the cost of health insurance as well. host: we will get to calls and comments in a moment. also join the competition online on twitter, et twitter/c-span.l

.j >> i want to live in the sort of society where we do not that people just die because they cannot afford the medical care that they need. but the way we keep people from getting into that situation is by reducing the cost of care, reducing the cost of health insurance so that more people are able to afford it, fewer people find themselves in a situation where they cannot afford the chemotherapy they need. the problem with this lot is that it will increase the cost of health insurance rather than reduce it. and it is going to encourage insurance companies to avoid the most costly patients, including those with very expensive-to- treat cancers because of the price controls it imposes on health insurance. i am very concerned with those people who cannot afford health insurance, cannot afford the medical care that they need, and it is precisely because of that concern that i think this law is a bad idea.

host: michael cannon, who is the health policy director for the cato institute here in washington. there is a new ad on this issue, and the response from the democratic congressional campaign committees. but what both of these political spots. >> isn't it time? >> we demand congress to bring about health care reform. >> proudly joined our canadian brothers and sisters. >> isn't it time we do that? >> the power. >> citing these -- citing -- signing this bill. >> we won. >> is the obama administration it is renting some for complying with the new health care law as a political favor? a political favor? overy haven't there been

1000 -- why have there been over 1000 -- >> we are forced to pay higher costs. they get a special sweetheart deal. >> they locked doors for me. we have worked together over this the last few years. i'm proud of what we have done. >> you missed a spot. >> did someone call the fire department? because it is about to get hot in here. >> the democratic impression a campaign committee is responsible for the content of this advertisement.

host: some humor and a lot of substance in those ads. guest: that is right. the crossroads at pretty much covers what we discussed about the appearance of favoritism with the administration handing out these waivers. the point about senior is being unable to afford health insurance, it takes a swipe at republicans who would reform health care by letting seniors choose their own. it is a little -- the proposal would improve the quality of health care for seniors, as well as provide enough money in the year after year to obtain year after -- to obtain health insurance. it is typical of the attacks that have been launched against

what has been called the medicare doubtful -- the medicare voucher proposal. it would improve the quality of health care. if you want to look for evidence of that, look no further than what the administration is trying to do elsewhere to improve the quality of care for seniors. the main idea for lowering the cost of medicare and improving the quality of care that seniors receive is something called at the conable care organizations. that is policy jargon for getting doctors and nurses to talk to each other about shared patient, courtney b. care so there will be less duplication, -- coordinating care so there will be less duplication, according mistakes, and so forth. the administration has been growing up this accountable care program in obamacare for a few months now. it has been roundly rejected by health-care providers. it is not going to reduce the cost of health care. but the most telling bit of

evidence here came from the ceo of kaiser permanente a. kaiser permanente has been hailed by don barrett, the head of medicare, -- don berwyck. but george robertson said is that the medicare advantage program did a better job of promoting coordinated care than the obama administration's plan for it accountable care organization. in medical care advantage program is where seniors get to choose their private health insurance plan, and that is what the house medicare reforms are really modeled on. here you have a leader of one of the nation's top accountable care organizations saying that essentially the house republicans medicare forums do a better job of promoting quality, coordinated care, which reduces costs, and in the administration's proposal for

accountable -- for an account care organization. host: questionable whether he will stay beyond this year. guest: there is a lot of opposition to him in the senate for their risk -- that is one of the reasons why he is a recess appointments. he has made a lot controversial statements about the government rationing decisions for seniors, deciding when they will and will not -- and a lot of people see this accountable care organization program as an effort toward that rationing. host: donald berwyck joined us yesterday. all of our program, part of c- span's growing video library. check it out at c-span.org. unions saying they do not have to pay or have obamacare info on them, why should we the people? let's get your phone calls. next is oakland, california.

good morning. caller: good morning. please do not cut me off. i have quite a few comments. my first one is the cato institute. i listened some mornings when i get up and i hear people calling in and saying how biased you are and how this is like -- the cato institute is a right-wing think tank. they were part of the problem when we had this health care, and regarding the waivers, united healthcare and a lot of these other huge insurance companies were asking for waivers when this first happened. another thing he mentioned -- i'm a union worker. i have not gotten a waiver. these insurance companies were asking for waivers. obamacare, they say, has done nothing but attempted and it has not even kicked in yet, and they do not want it to kick in. but the same premise, giving

vouchers to people 45 and under, 55, 54 and under on medicare so that they can go to the private industry and buy is the same thing that obama, that obamacare is doing for the american people. give you a voucher, and all that is going to cost. did the gay doctor to go into the private sector and buy something -- given the voucher to go into the private sector and buy something that is sky- high? i am still appalled for you to have this crap on here lying to the american people. guest: welcome a couple of clarifications, the cato institute is not right wing, we are a libertarian organization. people call us left wing because we end up aligning ourselves with people who believe in free speech and civil liberties, with the right of gays to marry and

so forth. these are really right wing issues. we do not fit into the left wing, right wing spectrum. we like to say that the right wing is libertarian on economic issues, and the left -- and the left is libertarian when it comes to personal freedom. what these would do is these vouchers would be adjusted for both the medicare enrollees risk and their incomes so that lower income people would receive larger vouchers. that would help them afford higher premiums that insurance companies would charge someone who is sick, would help low- income people afford a basic health plan through the private sector. host: next is maria joining us on the republican line from san diego. good morning, with michael cannon. caller: good morning. i am thankful you are on the air today. i wanted to make a couple of comments real quick. i was appalled to hear about the

attacks on unions. our insurance had gone up at least 75% in the year that the attacks on the union's are getting rave road did -- that the attacks on the unions are getting waivers is appalling. illnesses that are long term, it really does not help our state. there are portable clinics that are through private health care insurance such as kaiser, bluecross, that do provide services for alien residents, but still do not help the federal with the large chunk that is needed for care. thank you so much. guest: i do not think the people who are highlighting the waivers are necessarily attacking unions. i am certainly not. i do not know about crossroads. i do not speak for that.

i think the unions are planning for the waivers because they recognize how harmful law is. it is already taking effect. it is increasing insurance premiums. there are some insurance companies to have reported that obamacare is increasing premiums for some members by as much as 30%. so i sympathize with the unions. i'm on their side when it comes to the weavers and i think they should get these waivers. but the issue is that more americans should get these waivers. more americans -- i think more americans should get a plenary waiver from the entire law. the problem is that a lot people do not know how much -- one of the problems is a lot of people do not know how much this what itself as contributing to the itself as contributing to the premier is because -- secretariat and human services secretary kathleen sebelius threatened insurance companies to threaten to do so come and since then you have not -- have

been indications that we have is this lot is making health insurance to expensive for working americans. or these waiver applications that we're getting for unions and from others around the country. host: two questions for donald host: two questions for donald kagans, a frequent tweeter on the show. "was it kato that interested -- that was interested in canada's legalization? what blow with that yet to be pharma -- to big farmers? guest: we support it. we think the war on drugs has been a horrible failure, has destroyed more lives than drugs have, has led to violence here in the united states and in mexico. it is not my area of expertise, however. host: next caller. atlantic, georgia, you're on with michael cannon of the cato institute.

caller: here is my point. as far as this health care, obamacare, as the republicans say. i am a democrat, a black man who has lived in the united states for all my life. i'm 63. healthcare has been going up since it started. it goes up every year. they go up when they want to go up. here is another point i would like to make. the republicans, especially this cato institute -- you keep saying you are not right wing, but to me you are right wing. i call right wing -- i call ron paul right wing, and he is a libertarian. i'm trying to say to myself, who is going to vote for a republican? i do not think blacks will vote for republicans this year or next year. i do not think muslims will vote for republicans. i do not think the mexicans will vote for republicans. with the paul ryan budget on

that voucher plan, i do not think the old people are going to vote for republicans. i'm trying to figure out -- i went to the herman cain rally when he announced he was going to be president because i lived down the street from there. i sat on a bench and watched for two hours of people going in there. they the audience was all caucasian, all white people. this was a black man. host: we will get a response. guest: the caller touched on the rising cost of health care. it has been rising his entire life. for the last seven decades, the federal government has put this in a situation where everybody

is spending someone else's money on health care. on health care. get health insurance through your employer. people covered by government programs, they are spending -- they are spending other people's money. nobody spends other people's money as carefully as they spend their own. you give seniors a fixed amount of money and let them save what they do not spend on health insurance and they will be more cost-conscious consumers. there will force insurance companies to be more efficient. there will

.. >> while ayn's nuclear progress has been slowed, we know it has not been stopped, but we also know that senator reid will continue to do everything he can to prevent iran from aciring the world's most dangerous weapon,

but iran is not the only issue harry reid has been a leader on. we know that not a day goes by without israel's right of self-defense being challenged. who can forget exactly one year ago how the international community ignored all clear evidence and quickly blamed israel when its brave soldiered were attacked as they properly defended a ship that attempted to destroy the blockade of the gaza strip. we supported our ally israel and senator reid and mitch mcconnell challenged 85 senators to a clear bipartisan message with eight unmistakable words, we fully support israel's right to self-defense.

[applause] in that same spirit, senator reid always helped ensure that support for israel's security never became a partisan issue. this past spring, when congress was in intense debate about budget cuts, the majority leader never allowed israel's assistance to become an issue, and, in fact, he advocated for increased funding for critical projects like the iron dome rocket defense system. [applause] israel's citizens in the south have had 10,000 rockets fired at their homes and communities in the past 10 years. the bottom line is harry reid advocated for funding that saves israeli lives. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, standing with us today is a man who presses for israel's security and demands that justice for the

ages be done, a man who not only talks as a great friend of israel, but acts on his words, a man who fights as our friend and leads as our friend. he will always be our friend. join me in welcoming this extraordinary man, senator harry reid. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> we meet this year in the shadow of israel's birthday, but our mode is not one of celebration. our mode is one of caution and

concern, unease sits heavily on our shoulders. this because no time in israel's history has our future faced such tension and tests and uncertainty awaits us and never in history has so many of you leaders, students, and concerned citizens gathered to make your voices heard. your activism made you an unparalleled force not only in this town, but throughout the country and the world. it's not only your numbers or your passion that has made you effective and earned you the discuss you deserve. it's the virtue of your cause and the integrity of your conviction. [applause] your in the arena, in the fight year after year when the head winds pick up, you push back even harder, and today, here, we are united, determined demanding

strength and success. we insist israel not only survives, but thrives. [applause] i'm honored to stand before you this evening to say that like you, i stand with israel always. [applause] i'll make sure the united states stapedes with israel every time. i will do this as majority leaders of the united states senate, and i'll do this in my most important job as a senior senator from the state of nevada, the home of the fastest growing jewish community in the country, a spirited pro-israel community and the home to many aipac members here tonight including my good friend and next senator from the state of

nevada, shell y. [applause] i stand with israel, the congress stands with israel, and america stands with israel because the values that have cast our histories are one in the same, and our futures will intertwine more than our history has been. you know, here are the values. you know them. democracy, opportunity, justice, strength, security, and self-defense, innovation, peace -- these values fasten the unbreakable bond between the united states and the state of israel. we also share a common confidence that the risks we take are right. israel and america meet great challenges with the faith that we're fighting the good fight.

this month began with a daring mission the world will long remember, the raid that got bin laden was unprecedented in significance, but to those who know their history, it was not unfamiliar. thirty-five years earlier in the summer of 1976, israel showed the world how it's done. many of you remember terrorists took a hijacked plane where they freed only the non-jewish passengers. after days of deliberation, israel's leaders decided to conduct its first ever mission outside the middle east, far, far from home. the rescue was as dangerous as it was ingenious. the israeli troops went to the airport in the cover of night to deceive the guards on the ground and drove to the terminal in mercedes and land rover motorcades, identical to the one the president would use to travel.

less than an hour later while we celebrated our independence, more than 100 jewish hostages discovered their freedom. [applause] the only troop israel lost that day was prime minister benjamin netanyahu's brave older brother, yoni. [applause] many of the elements of that story sound familiar to the details we've heard in recent days about the raid that brought another hijacker to justice. before both missions, intelligent services surveyed the targets. troops built and trained on an exact model before flying through the darkness to unfamiliar foreign terrain to what they had to do. the surprise mission was carried out with staggering speed and success. all the while it was kept under the highest secrecy, but these

stunning operations have something much more important in common, and neither was a case of certainty or even really probability. israel's leaders were far from confident a military strike would succeed. they wrestled with the tension and pressure and doubt. it was approved at last with hope, but also with a heavy heart, and three weeks ago even as the hell chopper was -- helicopter was landing, our troops were not certain bin laden was inside. american leaders struggled with second and third guesses, but in the end, decisive leadership led to definitive success. [applause] in both cases, those who designed, ordered, and carried out the mission operated on a little more than circumstantial evidence. in other words, they acted on faith. faith that their job is justice

and duty is solemn. the faith that tells us if we will it, it's no dream. [applause] both nations decided the risks were worth taking because neither israel nor america tolerates terrorism that stains our past. we don't give into fear. we stand up to the honor of our nations and our people. when we're attacked, we will always remember, always fight back though it may take some time, we follow through. [applause] many nations take many risks. america and israel though are the countries that make them count. we succeed. americans and israelis are the people who make possible the impossible. that's the spirit we need to recapture in the next pursuits

of justice. the past six months have seen more remarkable change in the middle east than any period in the past six decades since the state of israel was born. this young story has been one the democracy, of human rights, a story written by those who know the voice of the people is as valid as the voice of the palace that's just as legitimate and just as loud. today, the middle east and north africa have captured the world's attention. witnesses of history around the globe are rooting for democracy, but while we celebrate progress and as the arabs' spring turns to summer, we have to protect the stability, security, and support of the state of israel. [applause] and no one should forget the vast majority of the arab world is still not free, but for 63 years of strong, vibrant democracies flowered in the

unlikeliest of deserts. it's a democracy committed to progress and prosperity and anchors the free world. the thousands of us here tonight say single voice if you believe in democracy, believe in israel. [applause] three years ago i wrote legislation in the united states senate to congressmen rate the -- comeme rate israel. it passed anonymously. when the whole world condemned israel in the accident, i didn't stay silent, but i spoke up. i spoke up real loudly. [applause] i worked with democrats and republicans alike to collect almost 90 senators' signatures to defend israel's right to defend herself.

[applause] we all know that if we were attacked in the same way off our shores, the united states would have done nothing different. [applause] i've been happy to host many bipartisan senate meetings with israeli prime ministers, and i look forward to benjamin netanyahu's visit tomorrow in a rare joint meeting of congress. [applause] i've always supported robust american aid to the state of israel, and i always will. [applause] in congresses' budget last year with domestic and international spending was slashed, we made sure israel got the full funding it needs. [applause] frankly, that was no easy task, but my senators stood by israel.

[applause] when congress' next budget, i support full funding for security assistance. [applause] we will face an even tougher budget environment this year, but i'm committed to defending this critical aid, but aid alone is not enough. we support israel because it's in our national and security interests. [applause] we support israel because she is what isiah called a light into the nations. [applause] we also must sustain her glow with all of our political might. the history of the jewish people is in the land of israel. it's future will be there too. i support a strong democratic jewish state of israel living in peace and security with the

palestinian state. like you -- [applause] like you, i hope sincerely for a true and lasting peace between israelis and the palestinian people. this conflict is older than us, but i refuse to believe it cannot be resolved by us in our lifetimes. these solutions are not simple. the only way to achieve delicate balance we seek between security and peace is through the hard work of negotiation. [applause] i believe the parties that should lead these negotiations must be the party at the center of this conflict and no one else. [applause] the place where negotiation will happen must be at the negotiating table and nowhere else. [applause] these negotiations will not

happen. their terms will not be set through speeches or in the streets or in the media. [applause] no one should set premature parameters about borders, about buildings, or about anything else. [cheers and applause] [applause] i support strongly the resolution centers that carter and collins introduced saying a conflict should come through direct palestinian-israeli negotiations. [applause] we're going to have faith that peacetimes will be fruitful and know those having the conversation are doing so in

good faith, and if we wish for these talks to be productive, to produce a fair ending, we must demand a fair beginning. [applause] what this means is that the pal stippians can want bring the negotiating table a terrorist organization that rejects israel lease right to -- israel's right to exist. [applause] nowhere else in the world, any place in the world at no other time is one party expected to compromise with a partner who denies its very existence. [applause] a peace process can happen only when both sides seek peace. [applause] two partners cannot build a bridge when one party refuses to even admit there's something on the other side of the span.

[applause] my friends, perez, is the most visionary foreign leader i've ever known. a government that includes hamas is a threat not to israel, but a threat to the palestinian state, the legitimacy of a new state, and threat to the state in the region. [applause] we must never forget that these are the hostage-taking terrorists who kept car gents from their families and fellow soldiers for almost five years. [applause] their beginning of good faith talks also means the palestinians cannot stop by the negotiating table on the way to the united nations where they seek recognition where it's

symbolic and dangerously counterproductive. [applause] a fair beginning to good faith talks, means israel cannot redefine its confines only to compromise its own security. [applause] palestinian's cooperation also determines american's willingness to continue our current aid program. [applause] i'll say this as clearly as i can -- the united states of america will not give money to terrorists bent on the destruction of israel. [cheers and applause] [applause] the palestinian government, specifically including hamas, the united states continues to

insist hamas recognizes israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and honor the commitments made by prior palestinian authority governments. [applause] i was there when the first of the governments was conceived. some of you were there too, and many of you remember clearly the sunny september day when the south won at the white house. we watched two sworn enemies sign a piece of paper and peace seemed within our grasp too. the prime minister spoke about the promise of a new age. as a soldier and father talked of those tired of war and dreamed of child not knowing war. a child born on that day in 1993 turns 18 this summer. they shook hands in the city are counting down the days until they start their service to the

idea, and now that child, a child with hope who would not know war finds himself or herself face to face with the same challenges of which its parents have grown very weary. we must remember the lessons, weigh both the potential and the peril of negotiating israel's future, and we must do better. [applause] the torah teaches us to honor our father and ore mother, but also honor our children by giving them the chance to know peace. [applause] that mission may be more daunting and seem more improbable, but we've seen that faith and fearlessness have won us before. the next generation will face another menace as well, one on which we cannot afford to lose

focus amid the frustration and fatigue of the stammering peace process. it cannot be overestimated. it is a common enemy to both israel and america. [applause] the president of iron has made anti-semitism his policy and preaches propaganda and his regimes go erasing israel from the map. while iron torments neighbors, it brutalizes its own people and the world watched in hoer -- horror as they murdered their own citizens as they only asked for their basic freedoms that all people desire. sadly, these abuses continue today, unjust executions, abductions by security forces, arbitrary arrests, detention,

and yes, torture. as long as the terrorist state of iran supports hamas and hezbollah and hides behind the terrorists and defines the international community, america will stand against iran. for our sake, and for israel's sake. [applause] iran's terrorists are only the beginning of the problem. they are pursuing nuclear weapon cape the and the ability to launch them in israel. these weapons could reach europe. that would destabilize the region making existing conflicts volatile and more dangerous. the regime threatens the national security of israel and the united states. we will not sit back and watch

it develop nuclear weapons capability. [applause] this is why we work so hard to pass last year's bill. it says if you pursue nuclear weapons, you put your economy at risk. i thank each of you here tonight because it was your hard work that got this bill to the president's desk. [applause] many of you personally came to capitol hill and made clear the urgent case for passing these sanctions, not just any sanctions, the aipac team was there to make sure we pass the strongest legislation possible. you should be proud of what you accomplished. this program was comprehensive, and it's tough. our goal is to target iran where it hurts the regime the most, so we imposed sanctions on the refinery industry and banking institution that does business

with the terrorist guard. we've seen these sanctions work, major international firms pulled out of iran because they didn't want to put their businesses at risk. iran's economy suffered as a result. of course, iran continues to get around these sanctions. we knew that would happen, so we have to keep our foot on the gas, ensure that the administration fully implements and forces sanctions and keeps the pressure on the allies to do their part. [applause] the senate will be working on a new round of legislation to help tighten the sanctions we already passed. none of us wants to go to war with iran. on the other side it prevents human suffering, but we will not wait forever or take any option off the table. [applause] president kennedy speaking of the great nuclear challenge of his time reminded us that our

problems are manmade and they can be solved by man. he said, man's reason and spirit often solved the seemingly unsolvable, and we believe they can do it again. israel and america have done the impossible before. we can do it again. we must do it again. let me close how i began with a story of a daring israeli rescue mission, one, to me, defines israel. this evening here, but in the middle of the night in israel where it's already the 24th of may. it's now 20 years almost to the hour that operation solomon began. 20 years ago this month, civil war swept through ethiopia. over the previous year and a half, thousands of ethiopians have been brought to safety in israel, but thousands more remain. in may 1991, they fled and rebels controlled the capitol. time was ticking for the

remaining jews and entire villages who were isolated from the diaspora continued this for thousands of years. again, israel government and its partners executed a covert, flawless air lift, flying 36 overloaded aircraft for 36 test hours to rescue more than 14,000 jews, nearly an entire jewish population. [applause] the beta israel as they were called got no belongings or clothes. their feet were the first things to touch the ground. many did not have shoes. months after the rescue, my wife and i had the privilege of meeting with the new israelis in israel. i'll never forget the smiles they wore on their faces and the gratitude in their hearts for

the state of israel. they were brought to an unfamiliar country with a vastly different culture, but they had come home and couldn't have been happier. fifteen years after and thousands of years after the exodus from egypt, israel demonstrated the lengths it travels and risks they take for the safety of the jewish people. [applause] israel demonstrated the unmatched precision and professionalism of which it operates. twenty years ago tonight, israel's light into the nation shown as brightly as ever. this is the israel aipac and congress have to share with the world and the israel that does not define itself by war and worry and hope. this is the israel that's decided and dedicated itself that humanitarian aid and international development since the young country was called to

share what little we have. this is the israel that worked for years with u.s.-aid to help unemployed egyptians plant farms in the desert. they flew into haiti hours after the earthquake to set up the first fully house. [applause] this is the israel that didn't wait a minute after hearing about the disaster of jay pap and going there -- japan and going there to help. [applause] this is the israel who works with ethiopians to eradicate hiv. [applause] this is the israel that built the armor keeping american soldiers safe. [applause] this is the israel that gave a grant to jerusalem startup so it could invent the bandage to safe congresswoman gabrielle gifford's life. [applause] you see, this is the israel we

love. this is the israel we supported since its earliest minutes, before the declaration of independence with the name of the state literally penciled in, we recognized their right to self-determination and self-defense. we were there from the beginning. [applause] we will be there with her for all times. [applause] american's commitment to israel is uncorruptible, nonnegotiateble, and we will never, never leave her side. thank you very much. [applause] ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome aipac national board member, sander gerber. ♪ >> good evening. ladies and gentlemen, john boehner is our friend. [applause] growing up as the second of 12

children in a small town in ohio, john boehner worked his way up from sweeping the floors in his family tavern to become one of our country's top leaders. [applause] he i pit mizes the american dream. from his first days as a freshman member of congress 20 years ago, until now as speaker of the house, john boehner has always understood that those who threaten israel, threaten the united states as well. [applause] this understanding is not just intellectual for the speaker; it is in his bones, and there's no greater security threat than the islamic republic of iran. that is why john boehner has been among the leaders in

congress pushing for the implementation of tough sanctions against the islamic republic for its nuclear ambitions and for its support of terrorist groups like hezbollah and hamas. for years, hamas fired rockets at israeli civilians, and now astonishingly, surprisingly, maybe yet, maybe not, the terrorist group is being welcomed back into the palestinian authority. for years, the speaker has worked to support security assistance to israel in its fight against hamas and terrorism even in the face of enormous political pressure. [applause] in fact, just a few months ago, congress was on the verge of government shut down as both

parties were fighting over how much to cut the budget, but when it came to israel, speaker boehner assured and helped ensure as he always has that israel's security would not be in question. [applause] as a result, the continuing resolution passed in april increased aid to april by approving more than $3 billion in security assistance for the jewish state. [applause] in yiddish, boehner means bones, so when you think of john boehner, don't think of him just as the speaker of the house, but remember that his defense and his support of israel is in his bones. [applause]

ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the speaker of the house, john boehner. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> thank you for that kind introduction and to all of you, thank you for what you do. you know, i had the chance to meet so many of you over the years, not just those of you from ohio, but throughout the country. to be asemilled under one roof feels like getting old friends back together again. we've got a lot of catching up

to do, don't we? you know, recent events bring to mind henry kissinger's leapt at one point saying there can be no crisis next week, my schedule's already full. [laughter] i thought about that when i was thinking about what i was going to say tonight, and i began to recall the last time that i was in israel several years ago, and i'll never forget visiting the northern border with lebanon standing there with the solders, many of them 18 and 19 years old, and the closest of the enemy hit me how israel doesn't get to choose its batter space. where i stood on the border is 100 miles from jerusalem, about the same distance my home in ohio is from our state capitol in columbus. i feel a responsibility to help ensure that our nation keeps its political and financial commitments and maintains this

role as the beacon of freedom and democracy. [applause] it's in that spirit that i join with all of you tonight. much has been said about the special bond between israel and the united states. ambassador orrin called israel the ultimate ally, and i couldn't agree more. [applause] in the last 63 years through all the threats we have faced, america and israel have formed and honed a strategic alliance built on trust and based on shared values. that is the reason we gather year in and year out to honor and strengthen in a very public way the historic friendship between our two great democracies. we know the world is a dangerous place for democracies. we saw in this country on 9/11.

israel sees in the terrorist attacks that seem to come every month or sometimes every day. now, the death of bin laden marks and important victory in the fight against al-qaeda and islamic extremism, and our nation's military and intelligence professionals have achieved an important goal in our nation's and in all three nation's fight against terrorism, and i think they deserve our deepest appreciation. [applause] the terrorist organizations are more resill yept than -- resilient than just one person. al-qaeda has been weakened, but they have not been destroyed. my job as speaker is to ensure the house is focused on confronting and defeating the complex and evolving terrorist threats that still targets the united states and her allies.

in lebanon, hezbollah casted out a freely elected government and dominates that country, and every day that terrorist organization committed to the destruction of israel with weapons from syria and iran, and looming over the entire region, of course, the iranian regime and the threat it poses there and in the wider world, and there's no doubt that the regime in iran has taken notice how the united states has responded to the threats in libya versus how it has responded to the threats in north korea. in anyone here doubts the iranian's regime quest for nuclear weapons, i think you're awfully optimistic. anyone who thinks we can contain the aggression and terrorist's version of a nuclear armed iran, you may not just be on optimistic, but somewhat

dilutional. [laughter] [applause] the best remedy to the threat of the world is for the people of iran to rise up and replace that regime just as the people of tunisia and egypt rose up and replaced their regimes. [applause] now, we all hope that the regimes in libya and syria will be replaced as well so that the peoples of those countries can escape tyranny and enter freedom. now, we should make a clear and clearer than it has been for the last two years that america is on the side of those who yearn and struggle for their own freedoms. [applause] that is our historic and moral responsibility as a great and free nation, and we should never apologize or be ashamed of that role we play in the world. [applause] that's why america's commitment to the advancement of democracy

in the middle east remains critical, and while those democracies is iraq. as president obama recently said, iraq represents the promise of a multiethnic, multisectarian democracy. iraq is more than a democracy on the making. it is in the position to become a vital strategic ally in the region, and this is a tribute to the resilience of the iraqi people, the sacrifices made by troops and diplomats, and the many nations who played a role in this task, but we must remain committed to ensuring that iraq continues towards a transition as a sovereign country capable of defending itself and is at peace with its neighbors. now, let me be clear. experience reminds us that one election does not constitute a transition to a viable and responsible democratic state. as americans, we know that

democracy means not just majority rule, but the rule of law, the protection of minority rights, the basic freedoms of religion, speech, and assembly, and, yes, the arab spring marks and overdo rejection of corruption on police states, but now we're witnessing the battle of the region's political identity. build governments that respect human life and dignity, uphold human rights, and where the people rule? will we see women of religious minorities repressed and fundmental rights abridged? will we see one man, one vote, one time? we are watching the struggle play out in egypt and fostering economic development in egypt is important, but just as critical is the work to secure a stray teemingic partnership with -- strategic partnership with the people of egypt to protect our

interest and maintains their commitment to peace with israel. [applause] this brings me to israel and to peace. i know the hour is late, but over in jerusalem, the sun is just gipping to rise, and with it, another day of uncertainty. the work of achieving a safe and secure israel has never been easy, but the cause is right, and i will tell you that you have my 100% support for the cause of peace and support in israel. [applause] israel has demonstrated time and again that it seeks negotiating table more than peace with its neighbors, and then on the negotiation, both sides need to make compromises and like every

prime minister before him, prime minister benjamin netanyahu knows this and accepts it. what does the other side want? when it embraces a terrorist organization, it makes itself known. you are judged by the company you keep. [applause] you know, there are some out there who complain that the united states is too pro-israel. well, hit me tell you what i think? i doubt what america stands for and who america stands with slows the search for peace and stability in the region. [applause] the president and the congress should work together so that the american people are our friends and yes, our enemies understand the national security policies and our goals, and so that our

allyies, like israel, have no cause to doubt that we'll be with them through thick and thin. [applause] you know, before there was an aipac, securing american support for a jewish state was the work of a dedicated few including a historian by. he said at one point many people in those days had no faith. today, there's the same thing from people who believe israel must always give in. that view was wrong then, and it is wrong today. [applause] tomorrow, his son, the prime minister of israel, will address the united states congress, marking another milestone in this historic friendship. i was honored to invite him, and

it will be our honor to have him there. [applause] [cheers and applause] it will be our honor to have him there, the representative of a free people who have come, overcome, all odds to rebuild and ancient nation. ladies and gentlemen, congratulations on the larger aipac gathering ever. thank you for having me, and remember this, keep up the fight. [applause] thank you [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ >> hi, i'm here with two great

champ yons in congress of the u.s.-israel relationship, congress wam skate granger of texas, chair of the subcommittee and congresswoman of new york, the ranking democrat on the critical house appropriations foreign operations subcommittee. congresswoman granger, what does cooperation mean in your district? >> i'll be very specific. one of the israeli companies in fort worth, my hometown, a very exceptional defense contractor. when i became familiar with them, there were 250 employees, 35 million in production, and they are now at 700 employees and a billion dollars, and they are very involved in communities, extremely active, contributing in education, the arts, and i work with them very closely. that's how good it is. >> jobs in your district?

>> all jobs in my district, and most are engineering jobs, very had high-paying, very stable and important jobs. >> give us a picture of what u.s. military aid means to israel? >> 75% of the aid that we appropriate for israel is spent here in the united states of america in 50 states. that's an incredible spur to the economy. it creates jobs, and at a time where our economy is in difficulty and we're focused like a lacer beam -- laser beam on crediting jobs, knowing 75% of the appropriated money is spent here makes an extraordinary difference. >> thank you so much for your time. there you have it, u.s. military aide israel creating jobs across the country. >> thanks, and now we need to start thinking about preparing for tomorrow.

as we've said time and again, tomorrow is the most important day of the conference, so if you've made plans to lobby a member of the congress, but those plans have changed, we ask that you stop by one the quick-stop kiosks and let us know. we want to think about policy conference 2012, and we have an amazing deal for you. if you sign up for policy conference 2012 which takes place between march 4-6 of next year, you pay 50% of the registration rate. again, that rate is available only through three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. you want to take care of that as soon as you can. finally, doors open tomorrow morning at 8:15 for our senators john thune and bob casey, to wonderful friends of a u.s.-israel strong relationship and featuring a special guest, former prime minister who made it part of his life's mission to

stop legit maization of israel across the globe. have a great night, and we'll see you tomorrow. >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome aipac chairman of the board, david victor. ♪ >> good evening. well, before i introduce the prime minister, i want to mention how wonderful it is and how hop norred we are to be joined tonight by the first lady of the state of israel, mrs. sarah netanyahu. [applause]

[applause] well, to say it's a tense time in the middle east is to understate things quite a bit. regime change in egypt, protests in syria, hezbollah has seized power in lebanon, nato intervention in libya, uprisings in bahrain, yemen, and the uae, and meanwhile the palestinian authority just welcomed hamas into the government, and all the while iran continues its development of a nuclear weapon, but in the midst of the instability, america has one reliable ally. it has one dependable ally, one stray teemingic al -- strategic ally, the jewish state

of israel. [applause] as he has many times before, israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu is here with us tonight to reaffirm his personal commitment to the united states and the bond that units these two great democracies. [applause] the prime minister always understood the ever lasting ties that bind the united states and the jewish state, freedom, peace, security -- these core principles have always defined both nations, and prime minister netanyahu shares these values, and the most treasured value is the pursuit of peace, but

despite the prime minister's unprecedented efforts to bring the palestinian leaders back to the negotiating table, the palestinian authorities refuse to meet with him. its leadership set up conditions for entering talks trying to define negotiations before even entering the room, and that faps the fire among -- fans the fire among the people and it's resulted in numerous deaths and a family being massacred. yet, despite these obstacles, the prime minister is committed to a peace agreement not based on conditions or a predetermined starting point, but yet on the result of direct talks. [applause] additionally, the prime minister

has been working closely with united states to ward off the greatest threat to both nations, nuclear proliferation by the islamic republic of iran. that is a challenge that keeps benjamin netanyahu up at night. for years, he has tried to warn the world about that dangerous threat from bilateral meetings at the world meetings and repeated the call that america and the west must come together to stop the islamic republic before it is too late. [applause] the islamic republic with a nuclear weapon threatens the shared values that brought the united states and israel together for 63 years. despite involving dangers and instability, it is these core tenants that bring the prime minister here today, that ever

lasting strategic partnership that enables him to speak to us with a sense of hope and optimism that the united states and israel will continue to strengthen their relationship, reach new heights, and stand together to face all the evolving threats that challenge both nations. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the prime minister of the states of israel, benjamin netanyahu. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause]

♪ >> thank you. [applause] ♪ thank you. ♪ thank you. [applause] ♪ [applause] my friends, before i talk about things about israel, i want to say something about the scenes on television i saw today, and you have been seeing as well. when tragedy strikes america,

israel feels an immediate identification and tramming di has struck america. in recent days floods and tornadoes have claimed the lives of hundreds of americans including today in joplin, missouri. all i can say is america, we're with you. on this day, on every day. [applause] that's very evident from the things i just heard from my two close friends, speaker of the house john boehner, senate majority leader harry reid. [applause]

you lead the many friends who are here today, the distinguished senators and congressman and congresswomen of the united states of america. [applause] i want to greet aipac president lee rosenberg. i learned the other day if i take you on, it's not going to be in basketball. it will be in soccer. [laughter] executive director howard cort. howard, you, i'm not going to take on in anything. [laughter] i want to welcome also the representatives of the government of israel, members of knesset, u.s. ambassador of

israel, ambassador dan schipiro. my beloved wife and two boys, and finally, our terrific ambassador to the united states, a man who knows a few things about the u.s.-israel alliance, michael orrin. ..

[applause] thank you for your staunch commitment to israel's security. thank you for defending israel's right to defend itself. [applause] for thank you for standing by israel as it seeks a secure peace. now i heard tonight from all the speakers, something that you know that israel is america's indispensable ally. [applause] you understand that israel and america stand shoulder to shoulder, fighting the common enemies, protecting common

interests. you know that the israeli innovators help power computers, fight disease, conserve water, clean the plan at. store support for israel flows from the heart. it's not just what israel does, it's what israel is. [applause] now let me explain that. yesterday i had a great day. they let me out. sarah and i could actually go for a walk, and i have to congratulate american security services. they're a little more generous than ours. [applause] so we walked along the potomac, and we got to visit washington's

majestic monreal to become a real. i read jefferson's the five words we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. if i read lincoln's immortal address, government of the people, for the people, by the people. now let me tell you why these words resonate so powerfully with me and all is really is. because they are rooted in ideas first by our people, the jewish people, the idea that all men are created in god's image, that no ruler is above the law, that everyone is entitled to justice. these are reza listen very jewish ideas, and they were spoken thousands of years ago when vast empires ruled the earth. a vast slave and players rule

the world and the jews spoke these truths. israel is the cradle of our common civilization. it's the crucible of our common values, and the modern state of israel was founded precisely on these internal values and this is why israel's more than 1 million muslims enjoy a full space rights. [applause] this is why the only place in the middle east with christians completely free to practice their faith is the democratic state of israel. [applause] this is why israel and only israel can be trusted to ensure

the freedom for all faiths in our eternal capital, the united city of jerusalem. [applause] [applause] my friends, israel and america has gone from from the steep things of our common values. [applause] [cheering]

we for urged an enduring friendship not merely between our government, but between our people. support for israel doesn't did fight america, it unites america. [applause] unites the old and the young, liberals and conservatives, democrats and republicans, and yes, joe lieberman and even its independence. [applause] i want to take this opportunity to support one of the great centers in my lifetime, a man who has given unbelievable service to his country, america and has been unbelievably dedicated to israel and the jewish people.

thank you, joe lieberman. [applause] see this broad support for israel and the united states is a tremendous help and gives tremendous strength to my country, and since harry truman, israel has looked to american presidents to stand by as we meet the unfolding challenges of a changing world. yesterday president obama spoke about his ironclad commitment to israel's security. he rightly said that our

security cooperation is unprecedented. he spoke of that commitment in front of apec, he spoke about it to speeches heard throughout the arab world and he has backed those words with deeds. i know these are tough economic times so i want to thank the president and congress for providing israel with vital assistance so that israel can defend itself by itself. [applause] i want to thank you all for supporting the missile defense system. [applause] a few weeks ago there was in gaza fired eight rockets at our

cities. now, these rockets never reached their targets. iron dome intercepted them in mid air. [applause] for the first time, a missile defense system worked in combat. that's a precedent in military history, and i want to say thank you america. america and israel are cooperating in many other ways as well with cooperating in science and technology and trade and investment.

[applause] [applause] >> it's not only american companies investing in israel, it is the israeli companies investing in america. and the last decades is really companies have invested more than $50 billion in the united states. [applause] [cheering] [applause]

to one of those -- [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause]

thank you. [cheering] thank you. you think they have these protests in gaza? [laughter] what a way to get a standing ovation. thank you. [applause] so, one of those companies is investing just down the road in richmond. it's a company that is building its food factory. here's what it means, more business, more jobs and more homes. [applause]

it brings more than just food to america. [applause] take medicine israel is advanced secure for multiple sclerosis, alzheimer's, cancer. [applause] we've developed mechanical means to make paraplegics walk again. [applause] we placed a tiny diagnostic camera inside a pill. i did not swallow it but i understand it's quite effective. and you just heard of this miraculously bandage developed by an israeli company that is help save congresswoman giffords

life. [applause] and i wish her a great friend of israel a happy and quick, speedy recovery. [applause] israel and america are also cooperating to end the world's worst addiction, the addiction to oil. [applause] this dependence fuels' terrorism and poisons the planet so we have launched a ten year program in israel to kick the habit to find a substitute for gasoline, and if we succeed, we can change the world, we can change history. [applause]

my friends, the american people's support for israel is reflected in my invitation to address a joint meeting of congress tomorrow. thank you, john boehner for the invitation. [applause] now i will talk about the great convulsion taking place in the middle east, the risks and the opportunities, and i will talk of the dangers of a nuclear-armed iran, and i would also alkaline secure israeli peace. i intend to speak the honest truth. [applause] because now more than ever, what

we need is clarity and evens in the region are finally opened people's eyes to a simple truth. [applause] [applause] events in the region are opening people's eyes to a simple truth. the problems of the region are not rooted in israel. when [cheering] [applause]

remarkable scenes we are witnessing in town square and across the middle east and north africa are occurring free simple reason, people want freedom. they want progress. they want a better life. for many of the people of the region, the 20th century skipped them by come and now 21st century technology is telling them what they missed out on. you remember that a desperate food vendor, why did he set himself on fire? not because of israel, he set himself on fire because of decades of indignity, decades of intolerable corruption and the millions who poured into the streets of tehran, cairo, bin zazi, damascus, they are not thinking about israel, they are thinking of freedom collier and

for opportunities, for hope for themselves and their children. so it's time to stop blaming israel for all of the region's problems. [applause] [applause] let me stress one thing, peace between israelis and palestinians is a vital interest for us. it would be the realization of a powerful and internal dream, but it is not a panacea for the endemic problems of the middle east. will not give women in some arab countries the right to drive a car. it will not prevent churches from being bombed. it will not keep journalists out

of jail. what will change this, one word, don walker see, real genuine democracy. [applause] i don't just mean the election, i mean freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, the right for women, for gays, minorities, everyone, with the people of israel want. it's for the people of the middle east to have what you have in america, what we have in israel, democracy so it's time to recognize this basic truth israel is not what is wrong with the middle east, israel is what is right about the middle east. [applause]

my friends, i want peace because we know the pain of terror, and we know the agony of the war, we want peace and because we know the blessings peace can bring, what it can bring to us in and to our palestinian neighbors in. but if we hope to advance peace with the palestinians, then it's time that we had met another truth. this conflict is raised for nearly a century because the

palestinians refused ended. but they refuse to accept the jewish state. this is what this conflict has always been about. there are many issues linked into this conflict that must be resolved between the israelis and palestinians. we can, we must resolve them, but i repeat, we can only make peace for the palestinians as peace for the jewish state. [applause] tomorrow in congress i will describe what it used in a palestinian state and the jewish state can look like. but i want to assure you one thing, it must leave israel with

security, and therefore, israel cannot return to the indefensible 1967 line. [applause] [applause] i will talk about these and other aspects of peace tomorrow when congress and, but tonight i want to express israel's gratitude for all of you are doing to help strengthen israel and the great alliance that israel has with america. you help maintain a qualitative military edge. you back sanctions against iran, you supported genuine peace, you opposed to hamas and joined

president obama and me in denouncing hamas and demanding the release our captive soldier. [applause] [applause] that's another an outrageous crime of hamas, just imagine keeping a young soldier locked in a dark dungeon for five years without even a single visit, not even a single visit of the red cross the entire civilized community should join israel and the united states and all of us in a simple demand from hamas we leave. [applause]

my friends i spent my high school years in philadelphia. it's developed quite a bit since then. during those years when it was a sleepy town the, i used to go visit the liberty bell. now as the prime minister of israel, i can walk down the streets and see an exact replica of the bill in jerusalem's of liberty park. on both is the same inscription. it comes from the bible, from the book of leviticus, proclaim

liberty throughout the land. my friends, this is the essence of the great alliance between the two nations. two people on it and liberty seeking freedom and peace for all what this alliance is all about. you are part of it. i think you on behalf of the people of israel and the government of israel, thank you for the american israel alliance. thank you. [applause] ♪

♪ [applause] the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu at the american israel public affairs committee conference. you're watching live coverage on c-span2. tomorrow prime minister netanyahu will be on capitol hill to address a joint meeting of congress. we will have live coverage at 11 a.m. eastern on our companion network, c-span.

this month the obama administration unveiled its cybersecurity plan. earlier the senate homeland

security committee looked at that proposal and compared it with one the committee had been working on. witnesses include the top tie cybersecurity officials from the commerce, defense, justice and police and security department. connecticut senator joseph lieberman shares this two-hour hearing. >> good morning. the hearing will come to order. thanks to everyone for being here. thinks particularly to representatives of the administration before us as witnesses. if there's anyone who doesn't believe we urgently need to pass strong cybersecurity

legislation, which is the topic of the hitting today, i would tell them to look at some of the high-profile computer attacks that happened in the past several months, that is the ones the we know about. let's just take this corporation as an example. in two separate attacks, hackers stole a personal and billing information including reportedly some of the credit card numbers of 100 million people and when the site finally reopened last a mistake the company found that they hadn't actually been able to close all the vulnerabilities that had been opened up in the wake of the first two attacks and that the hackers could still use the information to hijack users accounts. if that doesn't convince skeptics we have a real cybersecurity problem in america, then consider the breach that has