reduction package that i would have written. the fact that we're on a pace to add another $7 trillion to the debt is certainly nothing to celebrate. but getting it there for more than $9 trillion, the president continued to defend is no defeat either. and slowing down the big government freight train will give us the time that we need to work towards a real solution. or give the american people the time they need to have their voices heard. so much work remains. and our first step will be to make sure that republicans who set in power on a cost cutting committee are serious people who put the best interest of the american people and the principals that we've fought for throughout that debate first. before we move to the next step, i'd like to say a word about

some of those who made today's vote possible. and i'll start with speaker boehner. it should be noted he helped set the terms early on about imposing any debt limits that didn't include any cuts that were greater than the amount the debt limit would be raised. and he stuck to his guns. he figured i've worked it shoulder to shoulder the past few months and that's certainly been a pleasure. he's been a real partner and i assure my colleagues we wouldn't be here without him. i want to thank the speaker and the entire republican leadership in the house for standing on principal, and i want to thank my republican colleagues here in the senate for their determination, their ideas, and their support. we wouldn't be here without them either. i want to thank my friend the majority leader for his work in getting the agreement over the finish line. we may disagree a lot, but i

hope everyone realizes it's never ever personal. and i think today we can prove that when it comes down to it, we'll get together when the greater good is at stake. i also want to thank the president and the vice president. and every one of our staff who believed as we did that despite our many differences, we could all agree that america would not default on its obligations. it's a testament to the goodwill of those on both sides that we were able to reach this agreement in time. neither side wanted to see the government default. and i'm pleased that we were able to work together to avoid it. now this bill does not solve the problem. but at least it forces washington to admit that it has one. the bill doesn't solve the problem, but it forces washington to admit they it has

one. and it puts us on a path to recovery where nowhere near where we need to be in terms of restore balance. but there should be absolutely no doubt about this. we have changed the debate, we are headed in the right direction, and people are wandering how it happened. it happened because the american people demanded it. so in the end, we are back to where he started. the only reason that we are talking about passing legislation that reigns in the size of washington, instead of growing it, is because the american people believed they could have a real impact on the direction of their government. they spoke out, we heard them. and it's only through their continued participation in this process and lawmakers are willing to listen to them that we'll complete the work that we've begun. it's winston churchill said,

courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. i can't think of a better way to sum up the last year, and in particular, these last few months right here in washington than that. the american people want to see accountability, and cooperation in washington, and they want to see that we are working together to get our fiscal house in order. this legislation doesn't get us there, but for the first time in a very long time i think we can say to the american people that we're finally facing in the right direction and for that, we have them to thank. >> mr. president. >> majority leader from the senator from nevada. >> the eyes of america and the world have been watching washington this past week very

closely. while they witnessed a lot of political wrangling, they also saw congress make some historic, important decisions. and averted default on the debt that's been so concerning to all of us for such a long period of time. our country was literally on the verge of a disaster. it was on the brink of a disaster. one day left, we were able to get together and avert that disaster. now this compromise that we've reached is not perfect. i feel it's important -- mr. president, can we have order please? want to make it clear think disturbance or manifestation of approval or disapproval is prohibited under the senate rules. the majority leader may proceed. mr. reid: i appreciate the kind words that my counterpart

mr. mcconnell has stated on the floor, i've gotten to know him and speaker boehner a lot better this past month or two. especially the speaker. even though i disagree vehemently with the direction the speaker's legislation took with no bipartisan support at all, it is not the product we have here. the product we have here is one of compromise. the winners, without trying to the winners, without trying to to the winners are especiallyroh one winner through all this is the americanties we sold for less than we wantedo so did my friend, the leader, the republican senator, but they that's the way legislation works and compromise works. but i can't let go without bo responding to my friend who boasted about the new senators and members of congress who came

here. all i welcome, them all.n the result of the tea partys has direction of the congress the do last few months has been very disconcerting and very unfair to the american people. nc stopped us from theco conclusionlu much earlier and mt go forward.reside i also, mr. president, io recognize we have to do more. he of course we have to do more anp that's why we have the joint committee set up i will talk about in just minutes. people the american people are not impressed with the revenue, the vast majority of democrats, is independents, republicans think this arrangement is unfaircontrt because the richest of the riche have contributed nothing bur to this. what has taken place is on the middle class and the poor. my friend talks about no newwa taxes. huge mr. president, if they were p right thela huge taxes that tooe place during the eight years th

economy should be thriving.nomy. these tax cuts have not helpedos the economy. the loss of 8 million jobs during the bush years, the two worst started on borrowed moneyw hr the tax cuts were so good,d t the economy should be thriving. if you go back to the prior clinton's23 administration, 23 million new jobs werehen p we had when president bushce tok office a surplus over ten yearsa and $7 trillion. that has evaporated and now we're talking devotee 14 trillion-dollar debt. the compromise we reach is not perfect and we are going to send legislation to president today that will not only avert a default and make significant not reductions. enough. is that enough? no, not enough. will pro

this legislation in the prairied economy desperately needs and tl assure the congress we willyes,y continue working, and i said the this yesterday i appreciate myan friend, the public cleaver putting his arms around the idea i came up with to have this w joint committee. can't w they worked in decades past and there is no reason it can't wore now. no supermajority each leader the committee of 12. this. we need to do this and it has to irness. be one that's fair. the american people demand t fairness. it can't be programs more cuts tot it programs that made this country but it is. of there must be the sharing of sacrifice.es and it is unfair for billionaires' and both millionaires not to bed contributing to the arrangements we just made that they are not.o my friends and republicans held firm in the revenue which was really too bad.

we need to have a fair approach. to the joint committee and i am confident we will do that the trigger mechanism ticks in. to now, this committee that was going to have to be appointed, the members must have opent minds. we have had too much talk the ay last few days of republicans asn early leaders in the senate saying there will be no revenue.riggers that's not going to have another was the trigger is going toiv kt in. the only way we can arrive at as fair arrangement for the american people in the joint committees to have equal sharing. it's going to be painful. going each party if they do the right thing its wing to be painful for them because to be fair we have to move forward. equal there has to be equal spending cuts, they're has to be revenue that matches that.resident t

the legislation is going to be sent to the president and stand off the ground of work of washington to a halt this most summer. so converse wants to return to its most important job, creating now, mr. jobs.re mr. president, there are thingse we can do to create jobs.we q know that. we've passed out of here quickly the patent bill.soe'll 270,000 jobs by the legislatione so the first time we get back up in the summer and moved to these patent legislation.ere are there are other things we can do and things out there that should bipartisan in nature that we e.ipartisan in nature that we can do. t have a highway bill that's do. i've spoken to the chairman of the finance committee todayn there are ways we can find thata in keeping with the bipartisan a approachnt to this. thi the important part, the important thing we have, t i. president, with the much

infrastructure jobs we need soe very much is that for every billion dollars we spend an infrastructure we take 47,500 j. high-paying jobs, a lot of othea jobs that spin-off from that. now these are not jobs you havea a billion dollars and have all these jobs the federal government does.ridges a these are monies that go to the private sector and bridges and dams. we need to do that and we can de that. of clean energy jobs are changing d the face of this nation. we need to do that. i am optimistic and hopeful than ee spirit of compromise that's taken over the last several days will endure. i hope my republican colleagues to bring back work and not be ad looking for winners and lookingf political parties let's startor. looking for winners with the tor american people. we've made progress towards cutting the goal.progress towd r

we made progress toward the goal of cutting the deficit spending that we have around here. the nation still thinks the job deficit as well. peopl there's no issue more important for the american people and jobs creation.ork and every american and chooses to o work and find a job our job is undone. goi so we are going tngo to continuu making jobs the number one priority. we ask the republicans to join adelaide stevenson once called business, the most important business there is to read thatso so it's time for congress to get to doing the people'sthing is p business, creating jobs. nothing is more important than n that. my mr. presidentmotion i ask for tm yeas and nays on the motion to concur. >> we will have more from today's debate on the debt ceiling coming up during prime time at 8 p.m. eastern on c-span2.

following a series of tweets remarking the capitol looks beautiful tonight and turn on c-span now arizona representative deferreds returned to the house and cast of the last votes to raise the nation's debt ceiling. [applause] sergel america there is a demand that stirs more love, more and admiration, more respect, more wishing for our daughters to be like her then the name of conagra's common gabby giffords. >> watch return to the house on line in the library. it's washington, in your way. [applause] president obama today insisted that any future efforts to reduce the deficit would have to include revenue from changes to the tax code. during remarks following the passage of the debt ceiling agreement in the senate, the president also called on congress to pass a number of initiatives including pending

free trade deals and infrastructure bank and extension of unemployment benefits. he spoke briefly from the white house rose garden. >> good afternoon, everybody. congress has now approved a compromise to reduce the deficit and avert a default that would have devastated our economy. it was a long and contentious debate, and i want to think the american people for keeping the pressure on elected officials to put politics aside and work together for the good of the country. this compromise guarantees more than $2 trillion in deficit reduction. it's an important first step to ensure that as a nation we live within our means. yet it also allows us to keep making key investments on things like education and research that lead to new jobs and ensure that

we are not cutting too abruptly while the economy is still fragile. this is, however, just the first step. the compromise requires that both parties work together on a larger plan to cut the deficit, which is important for the long-term health of our economy. since you can't close the deficit with just spending cuts, we need a balanced approach where everything is on the table. yes, that means making some adjustments to protect health care programs like medicare so that they are there for future generations. it also means reforming our tax code so that the wealthiest americans and biggest corporations pay their fair share and it means getting rid of taxpayer subsidies to the oil and gas companies and tax loopholes that help billionaires' tayler tax rate to them teachers and nurses. i've said before and i will say it again. we can't balance the budget on

the back of the very people who are poor and the biggest brunt of this recession. we can't make it tough for young people to go to college or ask seniors to pay more for health care or ask scientists to give up on promising medical research because we couldn't close a tax shelter for the most fortunate among us. everyone is going to have to chatman. it's only fair. that the principle i will be fighting for during the next phase of the process. and in the coming months, i will continue also to fight for what the american people care most about, new jobs, higher wages and faster economic growth. while washington has been absorbed in this debate about deficits, people across the country are asking what can we do to help the father looking for work, what are we going to do for the single mom whose hours were cut back of the hospital. what are we going to do to make it easier for businesses to put up that now hiring sign?

that's part of the reason people are so frustrated with what's been going on in this town. in the last few months, the economy has already had to absorb an earthquake in japan, the economic headwind coming from europe, the air of spurring and the oil prices all of which has been very challenging for the recovery. but these are things we couldn't control. our economy didn't need washington to come along with a manufactured crisis to make things worse. that was an hour hands. it's pretty likely the uncertainty surrounding the raising of the debt ceiling for both businesses and consumers has been unsettling and one more impediment for the full recovery that we meet and it was something we could have avoided entirely. voters would have chosen the government but they sure didn't vote for the dysfunctional

government. they want us to solve problems. they want us to get this economy growing and adding jobs. while deficit reduction is part of that agenda, it is not whole agenda. growing the economy isn't just about cutting spending. it's not about rolling back regulations to protect the air and water and keep people safe. that's not how we are going to get past this recession. we are going to have to do more than that. and that's why when congress gets back from recess i will urge them to immediately take some steps, bipartisan common sense the will make a difference and create a climate where businesses can hire, folks have more money in their pockets to spend, people who are out of work can find good jobs. we need to begin by extending tax cuts for families so you have more money in your paychecks next year.

if you've got more money in your paycheck you are more likely to spend it and that means small businesses and medium-sized businesses and large businesses will have more customers. that means they will be in a better position to hire. and while we are at it we need to make sure millions of workers who are still pounding the pavement looking for jobs to support their families are not denied needed about unemployment benefits. to patent reform, we can cut the red tape that stops too many entrepreneurs from turning ideas into a thriving business which holds our whole economy back. and i want congress to pass a set of trade deals that we've already negotiated the would help displaced workers looking for new jobs and would allow businesses to sell more products in countries in asia and south america, products stamped with the words made in america. we also need to get more opportunities to all those construction workers who lost their jobs when the housing boom

went bust. we can put them to work right now by giving loans to private companies that want to repair roads and bridges and airports. rebuilding our infrastructure. we have workers who need jobs in a country that needs rebuilding, and infrastructure bank would help us put them together, and while we are on the topic of infrastructure, there's another stalemate in congress right now involving the aviation industry which is stalled airport construction project is all around the country and put the jobless tens of thousands of construction workers and others at risk because of politics. it's another washington inflicted wound on america and congress needs to break that now. hopefully before the senate adjourns so these folks can get back to work. so these are some of the things we could be doing right now. there is no reason for congress not to send me those bills so i

can find them in the law right away as soon as they get back from recess. both parties share power in washington and need to take responsibility for improving this economy. it's not a space responsibility or republican responsibility. it is our collective responsibility as americans and i will be discussing additional ideas in the weeks ahead to help companies higher, invest and expand. so, we've seen in the past few days washington has the ability to focus when there's a timer ticking down and when there is a looming disaster. it shouldn't take the risk of default, the risk of economic catastrophe to get folks in this kind of work together to do their jobs because there's already a crisis going on in the lives of a lot of families and in a lot of communities all across the country. they are looking for work, and

they have been for a while. they are making do with fewer hours were fewer customers. or they are just trying to make ends meet. that ought to compel washington's to cooperate and washington to compromise and it ought to compel washington to act. it ought to be enough to get all of us in this town to do the jobs we were sent here to do. we've got to do everything in our power to grow this economy and put america back to work. that is what i intend to do it by looking for work to working with congress to make it happen. thanks very much, everybody. [inaudible conversations]

the senate foreign relations committee heard testimony from robert ford, the obama administration's nominee to be the u.s. ambassador to syria. mr. ford, who served in the position and a nation grieve role since december, 2010 is still awaiting a vote on his confirmation by the senate. his testimony is about 45 minutes.

>> we will start our second panel, and mr. ford, i know before i arrived here you have an opening statement. but i will do is i will present an opening statement and then we can go right to questions. am i correct -- >> yes, senator, that is correct. >> thanks so much. thank you everyone. i know we are moving to the second panel on a very busy day. but i wanted to get right into these critically important issues. over the past few days, scores have been killed in the same location of a devastating attack by government forces in the year 1982 which killed an estimated 10,000 syrian civilians.

despite the sustained assault by government forces, syrian activists continue to demonstrate in very large numbers the testament to their courage, their cause and their desire for the most basic elements of human rights and human dignity. the horror taking place in syria today has let me and i know many others in this body, the united states senate to be very clear about the conclusion that we have reached. this is a regime that is not capable of reform. it has lost all legitimacy. we must be direct, and i believe unequivocal in our message to the dictator of damascus. he must step down. the syrian people should not have to bear the brutality of this regime any longer.

let's not forget how these demonstrations in fact started. these demonstrations started with children. on march 6th of this year, the syrian authorities arrested 15 schoolchildren in the city first repainting anti-government slogans. these children were reportedly tortured while they were in fact in custody. the parents and members of the community demonstrated and called for their release. the police used force on the parents and community leaders and within a week they killed 55 people. today after months of courageous demonstrations, and of course that is a dramatic understatement. there is no other way to adequately convey the courage and the dollar of these people. after all of that demonstration,

some estimates are that the death toll has reached maybe as high as 2,000, but at least 1,600. some think of course that even 2000 would be too low. we don't know for sure. but it is unacceptable to stand buy any longer and just watch this. the turtle reach of this regime has treacly affected constituents in my home state of pennsylvania. the doctor is a naturalized american citizen from syria and respect oncology researcher who lives in marion park pennsylvania just outside of philadelphia. in may, his brother who was also a doctor visited the u.s. to attend a medical conference. upon his return to syria, he was missing.

his wife content of the authorities to confirm that he was in their custody but would be released shortly. the next day, his wife and daughter were interviewed by the authorities who again confirmed she would be released. two days later his body was discovered in a village 20 miles south. the authorities then denied him or denied that he was ever in their custody and claimed they found his body in a ditch by the side of the road. his body was subjected to brutal torture. his bronze were broken and his body was mutilated in unspeakable ways. he was not a political activist, he was not involved in the demonstrations. the sole offense appears