today. i probably don't need to remind my colleagues from california and probably anybody else hear about the need for state government to receive the entirety of taxes. the state of california undergoing tremendous budget shortfall is expected to lose nearly $1.8 billion in uncollected revenue alone. and i would go a large rate towards helping us with our budget woes. you know not trained to place the blame because many consumers just aren't aware of the responsibility to pay their use tax from online payments. furthermore because your most sellers are required to collect sales tax, it puts them is any of the witnesses noted in a written testimony, at a distinct advantage to the brick-and-mortar businesses and we want to see survive and thrive. the internet undoubtedly has changed many sections of our economy, particularly how we treat remote sellers is my

humble opinion that we no longer live in an era where the supreme court and knowledge in the quill decision continues to be an obstacle to the remission of sales tax by remote sellers. at a time when many local governments in states are struggling and many people are out of work and looking for work, i think that h.r. 3179 is a common sense solution that helps level the playing field for retailers and provides states with the tax dollars they deserve and also allows states flexibility to address taxation with it is to their unique position. so given my opinion, but i am elected to touch and a couple of questions that i'd like to start with governor haslam. your state can i understand can i understand is not a full member of the streamline sales tax agreement.

is that correct? >> currently rate. >> neither is my home state of california. can you reiterate what we need the national solution outlined in the fairness act? >> well, without it the quill decision stays in effect and specifically cited was that the to congress to change the things in congress have the ability to do that. >> great. you noted in your testimony you don't believe in increasing taxes. so when your constituents ask you about collection of online sales tax how do you explain it in the way that is not in fact any tax? >> not always easy, but i think the reality is that i firmly believe. it's currently a tax that is currently do and not collected. we have a situation where we enable a lot of people out there to break the law. >> thank you. representative harper, if any have a knowledge today consumers should start paying the use tax. do you think that system is fair to consumers?

>> which system? the one in this bill? >> the status quo right now that many people aren't paying the use tax. >> i think consumers can go out there and specifically try to avoid paying the sales tax based on the government inequity that found the books and i think it disadvantages local businesses who are required to pay -- to collect a sales tax or not those who are remote. >> would it also disadvantage consumers that perhaps are technologically sophisticated or don't even have a computer or access to internet in their home? >> it creates a memorable playing field. >> thank you. you also spoke in your testimony to a point that technology currently exists to collect sales tax. is that correct? >> yes. >> eight companies currently have the tech ologies to collect vat tax.

to have a sense of what it costs to have that technology in order to do that? >> it depends on the company and how you handle it. i've met with a number of small businesses who say it's very simple, cheap, they can afford it. they sell online. they use that. i am concerned with statements that have been made and that caused that would be an undue burden on business summit drive medical businesspeople were promulgating is the fact that there will be a vendor compensation and it will not decrease the cost of business. >> would it be accurate to make the assumption that the burden of collecting sales tax is placed on the remote seller come mace would look into developing the kind of ticked ologies and the price for remote sellers to be lowered eventually? >> absolutely. >> great, those are the points

of interest in hearing testimony on. i appreciate your answers and i yield back. >> thank you. see no additional colleagues for questioning in the interest of our guests in the gallery and distinguished panel i want to taxi with any questions. i would like to thank our witnesses for their testimony today. without objection members will have five legislative days to testimonies are additional materials for the record. this hearing is adjourned, thank you. [inaudible conversations]

>> is the kind of shocked that if you can't disagree, even disagreed fianna mini on a lie without taking it personally and without hating the person is on the other side you want to find another job.

>> today senators spoke about the victims of last week's violent and aurora, colorado movie theater. hear the remarks by mark udall and michael bennet. mr. udall: mr. president like you i come to the floor this evening with a heavy heart. i know as senators and leaders we're expected to have words for every occasion, and what happened last friday morning makes it very difficult to put words that are appropriate. however, as i think of the coloradans that were there that we're so lucky to represent their actions spoke louder than words. their actions spoke very loudly on a friday morning in the city

of aurora and i want to focus on the actions of all those brave decent coloradans who were victims in a variety of ways at the horrific movie theater shooting that took place there in aurora. and it cut short the lives of 12 people injured approximately 58 others. and i'm rising to pay tribute to all of those people as well as to their families and their loved ones. but i think -- and i know the presiding officer my colleague and my fellow senator from colorado knows that most importantly we're going to be here to state emphatically that aurora will triumph over adversely in our state and colorado will emerge stronger than ever. i know from the time i woke up to the news of the movie theater shootings in aurora early friday

morning, july 20, i along with the rest of colorado and our country, have experienced meigss ranging from deep, profound sadness to utter -- frankly -- outrage. our state was just starting to recover from the devastating wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes forced tens of thousands to evacuate their communities and scorched thousands of beautiful acres in our state of colorado. with that in mind, none of us could have been prepared for the news of these mass shootings in one of our communities. i know the presiding officer has three beautiful daughters. i have two children. i know that having loved ones stolen from us in such a tragic and violent fashion is something you can never be prepared for. but it's during these times that we're also reminded to cherish those all-too-brief moments that we have with the people we love.

and though this heinous crime may have shaken us, it did not break us, and it will not break us. we will mourn those we've lost and those who are injured and with them in mind we'll heal and we'll become stronger. sadly, mr. president this kind of tragedy is not new to colorado. it was 13 short years ago that we learned of another mass shootings at columbine high school on the western side of denver. and as a nation, we're reminds of more recent shootings at virginia tech, fort hood texas and tucson, arizona. these incidents may occur in one city or in one state but they're national tragedies that tear at us all and then cause us all to tear up and cry together. like all americans my heart goes out to the victims and their families, and i also remain hopeful that the

presiding officer and i were at the hospital -- one of the hospitals on sunday -- that survivors are going to defy the odds on their road to recovery and we've been truly inspired by their stories. i want to take a moment and applaud the leadership shown by colorado's public servants from governor john hickenlooper, aurora mayor steve hogan and especially the police chief dan oates. there are also other law enforcement professionals that came to the scene immediately first responders, medical professionals on site and in a number of hospitals where the victims were taken. i think what's most notable is that they worked seamsly to carry out the city's disaster plan and protect the victims from further harm. the aurora police and firefighters arrived a mere 90 seconds off the first 911 call was placed and there is no

question that lives were saved by the swift and coordinated action of aurora's first responders. i have to say this incident showed as similar tragedies have before, that america shines brightest when the night is darkest, and that was literally the situation at midnight on friday morning in aurora. mr. president, we had the uplifting experience of hearing the stories of bravery coming out of aurora. we marveled at those stories on sunday. and you can't but start with the fact that at least four young men demonstrated the heights of heroism when they is sacrificed their lives to protect their girlfriends from the hail of this gunman's bullets and one young woman had the courage to remain by the side of her wounded friend camelia plying pressure to the friend's --

calmly applying pressure to the friend's wound while the gunfire continued around her. let me put it this way: lives were saved friday morning by those who did not let fear override their capacity to care for one another. mr. president, these experiences have underlined for me and our entire nation that what makes us great and will help us endure this tragedy. and that is our people. i saw that sunday night. we all saw that sunday night while participateing in a moving vigil in aurora where our community not only mourned together but also held together during this most difficult time. although the west is known for its rugged individualists, colorado is also known for its rugged cooperators. people help their neighbors in times of adversity.

we saw it after the recent wildfires and we see it again now. president obama's visit with victims and families on july 22, just sunday, two days ago in are aurora provided comfort those in need and again reminded us that the sanctity and strength of family and community is what unites us in the face of adversary. coloradans have seen in the wake of this tragedy our nation has come together for aurora and our state and to my colleagues and anyone listening today let me say humbly, we are grateful. mr. president, i want to take a moment to say the names of the 12 people who were taken from us too soon, and i know that later you will share even more of their stories with us and with the nation. their families and friends have my commitment that we will -- to

honor these good people, these coloradans -- never forget them as the healing process goes on. so mr. president the 12 coloradans americans who we lost friday morning jonathan t.bluyk, alexander j.boik jesse childress, jays could ghawi michaela medek, matthew mc mcquinn, john larimer alex sullivan alexander teves rebecca wingo and i think the hardest name for all of us to say that of 6-year-old veronica

moser-sullivan. i think the presiding officer has seen the photo of her with an ice cream cone in hand, delight on her face, ice cream on her nose. and i guess maybe what we could do is each take the time to enjoy an ice cream cone, maybe leave that ice cream on our nose for a little bit and remember her. in honor of these victims i filed a congressional resolution resolution senate congressional resolution 53, along with my colleague, the presiding officer, senator bennet. congressmanan identical resolution has been filed in the u.s. house of representatives and the resolution among many things strongly condemns the atrocities which occurred in aurora, offers condolences to the families' friends and loved ones of those killed in the attack and expresses hope for the rapid and

complete recovery of the wounded. applauds the hard work and dedication exhibited by the hundreds of local state and federal officials and others who offered their support and assistance. and last but certainly not least, it honors the the resilience of the city and the state of colorado in the face of such adversity. i ask all of my colleagues in theinsenate to support aurora and support this resolution. as we pay tribute to our fallen fellow americans and the heroes around them, here's what i hope can come out of what can only be described as a senseless tragedy. can we harness the sense of community we feel this week and use it to create a lasting sense of collaboration in america? and use it to solve our shared

challenges in a measured, respectful and thoughtful way? we can truly learn from those who selflessly gave of themselves during the chaos of the aurora shootings. and draw from it the strength a better people, better family members, and yes even better legislators. in rowman mythology aurora is the goddess of dong. at dawn on friday, the chaos and the pain and the tragedy of the night before still lingered over that wonderful city of aurora. but by dawn on the second day the signs of heroism of recovery and of community began to shine through the darkness of the great colorado city called aurora.

as each dawn signals a new day we owe it to the victims to rise to the occasion and renew our commitment to make this a better stronger, and more perfect nation. thank you mr. president. mr. president. i'd ask the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. bennet: thank you mr. president. i'd like to first thank my friend -- and i don't mean that in the political sense i mean in the real sense -- the senior senator from colorado, the presiding officer, for his incredibly thoughtful remarks about the tragedy last week in colorado. and i can't think of any more fitting place to be than here with you tonight to have this conversation. so thank you very much for your words. mr. just a few dark moments last week in aurora, colorado 12 innocent lives were taken from us 12 people full of life and

aspirations loved by family and friends and now 12 people remembered by an entire nation. as the presiding officer said, thousands of coloradans attended a vigil hosted by the city of aurora on sunday evening. we shared tears and prayers. we -- we also resolved to support one another to heal and to always remember those who lost their lives on july 20 2012. and it's for that purpose that the presiding officer and i come to the floor this evening. first is jonathan blunk age 26. jon was a father of two who moved to colorado in 2009 after three tours in the persian gulf the north arabian sea for the u.s. navy. he was a certified firefighter

and e.m.t. jon lost his life protecting his friend jansen young from the gunman's line of fire. jon shield her from gunfire by pushing her to the ground while shots were fired. he was supposed to fly on saturday to nevada to see his wife chantal blunk and his four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son. instead, his wife had to put up the dress her daughter had picked out to wear to the airport. she told her daughter that they wouldn't see their dad anymore but that he would still love them and look over them. his daughter, hayley, is comforted by calling her father father's cell phone and hearing him on voicemail. this is a.j. boik, alexander boik. age 18. a.j. recently graduated from

gateway high school. he enjoyed baseball, music and making pottery. a.j. was to start art classes at the rocky mountain college of art and design in the fall. he was described -- quote -- "as being the life of the party. a.j. could bring a smile to anybody's face." he was a young man with a warm and loving heart. this is jesse childress. age 29. jesse was an air force cyber systems operator based at buckley air force base. he loved to play flag football, softball and bowl. he was a devoted fan of the denver broncos for which he secured season tickets. and he was described by his superior officer as an invaluable part of the 310th family who touched everyone he worked with.

this is gordon cowden, age 51. gordon was originally from texas and lived in aurora with his family. he was -- quote -- "a quit-witted world traveler with a keen sense of humor." he will are remembered for his devotion to his children and for always trying to do the right thing no matter the obstacle. gordon took his two teenaged children to the theater the night of the shooting both of whom thankfully made it out unharmed. >> this is jessica ghawi age 24. jessica was an aspiring journalist most recently interning with mile high sports radio in denver and went by the nickname redfield. she was hard working and

ambitious with a generous spirit and kind heart. when numerous homes were recently destroyed by colorado wildfires, ghawi decided to start collecting hockey equipment to donate to the kids affected because she wanted to help. >> thisthis is john thomas layer tom-tom's larimer. she was a cryptological technician also at buckley. a job which requires "exceptional good comarkt and skills." originally from chicago, he was the youngest of five children and joined the service just over a year ago like his father and grandfather. john chose to serve in the u.s. navy. john's superior officer called him -- quote -- "an outstanding shipmate, a valued member of the navy and an extremely dedicated sailor. colleagues were drawn to his

calming demeanor and exceptional work ethic. he was also known as an extremely competent professional. here's matthew matthew mcquinn, age 27. matt died while protecting his girlfriend samantha sw yowler, by jumping in front of her during the shooting. matt and samantha moved to colorado from ohio last fall and worked at targ he. and he samantha were very much in love and planning their life together. because of matt's bravery samantha was only wounded in the knee and is expected to make a full recovery. this is cayla micayla medek age 23. cayla was a gradual of william c. hinckley high school in aurora and a resident of westminster. she worked at subway and was a huge green bay packers fan.

cayla would plan weekend activities around watching the games with her brother and father. she is remembered as a loving and gentle young woman. this is veronica moser-sullivan, age six. veronica had just learned to swim and attended holly ridge elementary school in denver, colorado. she was a good student who loved to play dress-up and read. veronica's mother, ashley moser remains in critical condition at aurora medical center. she was shot in the neck and abdomen. we pray for ashley's recovery and strength and working through the passing of her daughter veronica.

alex sullivan age 27. alex was at the movies celebrating his 27th birthday and first wedding anniversary. he loved comic books, the new york mets and movies. alex was such a big movie fan that he took jobs at theaters just to see the movies. alex stood 6'4" and weighed about 280 pounds. he played football and wrestled before graduating high school in 2003 and later went to culinary school. alex was known as a gentle giant and loved by many. this is alexander teves age 246789 alex received an m.a. in counseling psychology from the university of denver in june and was planning on becoming a psychiatrist.

he also competed in the tough mudder an intense endurance challenge, and helped students with special needs. alex was at the theater on the night of the shooting with his girlfriend amanda winger, when the gunman opened fire and he immediately lunged to block amanda from the gunfire held her down and covered her head. this is rebecca wingo age 32. rebecca, originally from texas and a resident of on aurora, joined the air force after high school, where she became fliewntd in fluent in mandarin chinese and served as a translator. she was the single mother of two girls and worked as a customer relations representative at a mobile medical engine company. rebecca was also enrolled in the community college of aurora since fall 2009 and had been working toward an associate of arts degree. she was known to family and

friends as a gentle -- as -- quote -- "a gentle, sweet and beautifuloul." .. mr. president, here is a photo of the gathering that we had last sunday night in aurora. i believe like you mr. president, that the early morning hours of july 20, 2012 will not be remembered for the evil that happened. scripture tells us -- quote -- "not to be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good." that's what the people of aurora and colorado have been doing since the first moment of this tragedy, and that is what we'll continue to do.

in time, we'll not remember the -- the morning of july 20 20th for the evil that killed 12 innocent and precious people. instead, we'll remember the bright lives of those we lost and the families they leave behind. we'll remember the 58 wounded survivors whose recovery bears witness to humanity's strength and resolve. and tonight knowing that some are still in critical condition we pray for their recovery. we'll remember the heroic acts of everyday citizens, our first responders and medical personnel that saved lives that otherwise surely would have been lost. we'll remember the continuing generosity of those coloradans and americans who donated blood in record numbers and raising funds to support the families in this trying time. and in time because we are all aurora we'll draw strength from the example set by one great american city and the faith of her people in one another. thank you mr. president.

i yield when >> what can you tell us about the senate democrats' tax proposal that's coming up for a vote? >> well i can tell you that it's very much like since the obama campaign of 2008. it will extend all of the existing tax cuts that we know about 98% of the population and it would basically allow the tax rates to go back to the levels for households that make more than to hundred 50000.

>> a lot of democrats say their proposal was better than other republicans were offering and with the president said. >> they are making it a case right now trying to improve fairness, trying to improve, give the impression of increasing number attendees of the middle class this is a big issue not only for the campaign the progressive in the tax code this been pointing to things like middle class is losing income at the same time as the top 1% incomes increase over the last decade or so and then they see these changes as something which we've heard of the fundamental tax reform and they all start now as part of the awaiting trained deficit control as well. wait another year or so the

republicans propose. skype what about the proposal? what is in it and will get a vote? >> it sounds like now it will not get a vote of it's basically the same proposal the house is going to be voting on next week as well so the house will vote on it. the key differences that the senate proposal does go ahead and increase more less what you see now in the current tax policy our rates would be existing tax rates would be extended for an additional year. there's a couple of smaller items and democrats are happy to point out things like changes made to the aaron the income tax credit and the child tax credit that predominantly affect the lower income folks that were not included in that bill because they were not a part of the original 20012003 tax cuts. those were added later under president obama in the stimulus

bills. those are the big changes. there's also an estate tax provision republican bill. democrats have said we don't want the estate tax portion in there. we want to keep the focus on the middle class for this one and republicans come back and there's a lot of middle-income people out there affected by the state tax as well they might be family farmers or small business and could face a big tax increase on those inheritance taxes. >> looking ahead to the vote where do you see the vote falling and anybody going to break from their party ranks? >> not on this vote. i don't want to try to predict too much but there's really no expectation that there's going to be a major breakthrough on this bill. this is mostly seen as sort of a

pregame show. they're going to put this bill out there and do votes on it and it's going to stay on the party lines. this will be the expectation and then caw likely after the election to find a way to figure out some of these hard issue is what to do with those top income people and the estate tax whether you should have things like the earned income tax in the tax credit extended and those are the big items they are going to wait and expect to try to solve in the lame-duck session. >> brad ferguson is the reporter for bloomberg dna joining us from capitol hill. thanks for the update. >> thank you. >> now part of the day senate debate on taxes. we will hear from democrats sherrod brown, sheldon whitehouse and carl levin thpresiding followed by republican johnak a thune need to extend middle-class tax

cuts. we have a broad bipartisan consensus that middle-class families should not see their tax increases -- that their taxes increase on january 1. we know if congress does nothing, then taxes will increase for a whole lot of americans, for the broad middle class on that date. we have a broad bipartisan consensus that that should not happen. so we have this moment of agreement. we should act swiftly to extend tax cuts for 98% of american families -- tubal actually, actually brk actually about 99% of people in my state. but we won't. because special interests and their allies in congress are holding this hostage. why? it's the same old song, in order to protect billionaires and millionaires. it seems that the default button for so many people in this institution, certainly the majority in the house of representatives and far too many in the senate, is no matter what, you protect the interests of millionaires and protect the interests of billionaires.

let's be clear regardless of whose plan becomes law whether it's our plan where we immediately today, this week, as soon as possible whether we immediately grant tax relief for that -- for people that are middle class that -- in he is every american will get a tax cut on their first $250,000 of income f. you're making a million dollars a year, you still get a tax break on your first -- a tax cut on your first $200,000. if you make $10 million a year, you still get your taxes cut on the first $250,000. you're only paying roughly 4% on every dollar above $250,000. so we have bipartisan agreement. let's lock that in, that the middle class will get a tax cut. there's a -- there's an old cliche that that definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. we've been in this -- we've been in this policy shop before when they sold us the

same flawed economic policies based upon tax cuts for the wealthy trickling down to the middle class. i was in the house of representatives in the first part of the last decade when president bush came to us. we had a huge budget surplus if you remember those days, a huge budget surplus. in fact, in 2001, we had the largest budget surplus in american history. surplus, not deficit. look what we're dealing with now. so what happened? we went -- two wars, iraq and afghanistan. bad idea to go into iraq. contentious issue the intelligence wasn't really right that the congress was given. many of us voted against it. but put that aside nobody paid for that war in iraq. then there was the tax cuts that went overwhelmingly to the wealthiest people in our society. nobody paid for those tax cuts. then there was the medicare partial privatization prescription drug bill. nobody paid for that. so we went from the biggest budget surplus in american history to the biggest budget deficit. at the same time, the economic geniuses of the time that were running government said if you cut taxes on the rich, they

really -- they didn't use the term trickle down, but that's what it is. if you cut taxes on the richest in the country all that wealth will trickle down to the middle class and poor and everybody will get richer and the economy will take off. we had eight years of that experiment. but you know what happened, madam president? twoan 2000 and 2010, we lost in this country 5, million manufacturing jobs. under those economic policies of give huge tax breaks for the rich -- that was the policy, the fundamental tenet central core of that policy is huge tax cuts for the rich. what happened? we lost a third of our manufacturing jobs. it's only since we've begun to bring some more fairness with the recovery act with wall street reform with some other things we've done, with the auto rescue especially important in my state did we see the economy grow. from 2010 -- the unemployment rate in my state in 2009 was 10.6%. now it's 7.3%. that's not good enough but it's certainly progress. 5 million manufacturing jobs lost between 2000-2010.

since 2010 almost every single month we've gained manufacturing jobs. in the aggregate some 450,000 to 500,000 manufacturing jobs. so clearly this policy of cutting taxes on the wealthy is going to create prosperity. it just didn't work that way. went from -- as is, we went from a surplus at the end of the clinton years to massive deficits at the enof the end of the bush years. so let's be clear. we're talking about returning the tax rates for the top 2% of americans to their 1993 level the same year that president clinton balanced the budget. opposition to our bill to extend the middle-class tax cuts say if millionaires have to pay the same marginal tax rate that they did in the clinton years then job creation will suffer. but it doesn't make sense. again, the clinton years, we want to go back to the tax rates for the richest people in our country to what they were under president clinton. during that eight years 22 million increased jobs in this country. the bush years with low tax rates for the rich we lost 5

5 million manufacturing jobs and had absolutely anemic economic growth. it just -- make the compare son. you don't have to be an economist to make this comparison. you look at tax rate during those years he look at tax rates during the eight years of the bush years. the clinton years and the bush years. and i don't want to go back. i don't want to blame everything on president bush. that doesn't get us anywhere. it makes people quit listening. but i do want to learn from history. and i look at the tax system we had during the clinton years and the tax system we had during the bush years and make the contrast about what happened. 22 million jobs created. not so good during the bush years with almost -- with very anemic job creation. far too many people in my home -- for too many people in my home state the recession meant that they had to delay -- the recession didn't mean they had to delay buying a new yacht. workers -- workers in steubenville and norwood and norwalk were struggling to stay afloat. they struggled to make ends meet. too many are still struggling. struggling. that's why we want a responsibility mr. president to the people in new hampshire

and all over to pass the middle class tax act of 2012. madam president, the median household income in ohio is $47.358. for those families, a $2,000 tax cuts means a whole lot. we know that 98% of americans who would benefit from this tax cut are going to put that money back into the economy. this isn't trickle down. this is you get a tax cut like that and you put money into the the -- you buy -- maybe you can put a down payment on a car. maybe you can help pay your son or daughter's way to community college. maybe you can do some remodeling in your house. maybe you can just do some things around the house that you need to do or take your kids to a move oh or go out to dirnt once in awhile. but that -- dinner once in awhile. but that $2,000 to 2,000 really means meens a lot to aa family whose income is $-- but that $2,000 really means a lot to a family whose income is $47,000. the middle class society has been beat up lore enough.

forlong enough. where wages have been stagnant and people haven't had the opportunity to do what we need to do to build this great country. madam president, i ask my colleagues to support this legislation. and i yield. 123450 mr. whitehouse: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from rhode island. mr. whitehouse: madam president may i first ask unanimous consent that for the duration of today's session varun jane, who is a fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. whitehouse: thank you. tomorrow madam president we will have the opportunity to deliver a little bit of tax certainty to the american people by advancing the middle class tax cut act. this legislation would prevent tax rates from increasing for the vast majority of american families and would preserve an important tax credit that currently helps millions of students and families avoid the the -- afford the costs of a

higher education. this middle-class tax cuts act is the right thing to do for the middle class and i intend to vote for it. the question is: will it be filibustered? a tax cut for millions of hardworking americans filibustered simply to protect the wealthiest americans from paying a fair share. we will find out. this is not a new story. in 2001 when president george w. bush decided to spend a large portion of the surpluses he inherited from president clinton to cut tax rates across the board many democrats opposed it because the tax cuts were unfairly waited towards the highest-income americans. as a result of this opposition, republicans were forced to set the tax cuts to expire at the end of 2010. as 2010 drew to a close

president obama and many democrats in congress including myself supported extending the tax cuts for middle-class families but letting the lower rates on income above $200,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a family revert to the clinton-era levels, as was scheduled. senate republicans filibustered that effort refusing to allow the middle class tax cut without a tax cut for america's wealthiest. not wanting tax rates to go up on middle-class families still struggling during the economy. the president and senate democrats reluctantly agreed to extend all of the tax cuts through this year. which brings us to now. once again these tax rates are set to expire. i would like to keep rates low for middle-class families. those families in rhode island are still struggling in the aftermath of the mortgage

meltdown on wall street. and this is not the time to raise their taxes. but i agree with president obama that for reasons of fairness and to begin to address our deficit it would be wise not to extend the bush tax cuts for high levels of income. and bear in mind in this discussion that the middle-class tax cut act actually would benefit even high-ends taxpayers. when we protect the first $250,000 in income, it's the first $250,000 for somebody making a million dollars. it's not just the first $250,000 for a family that makes $100,000 or $185,000. if you make $100 million or $185 million, you still get the first $250,000. if your family, for instance, makes $255,000, you'd only see an increase on the $5,000 and only to the clinton era rates

that were in effect during the 1990's when our economy was thriving. a family earning $255,000 would pay an extra $150 as a result of this bill. extending the lower tax rates for income above $250,000 for one year, again as the republicans have proposed, would add over $49 billion to our deficit. even in washington, $49 billion is significant money, money that would have to be borrowed adding to our deficit problem. now, many of the same republicans who voted in the name of deficit reduction to end medicare as we know it -- deficit reduction was so important to them that they voted in that ryan budget to end medicare as we know it, to put thousands of dollars in costs on

our seniors they would support deepening the deficit with high-end tax cuts. there is a double standard here, and for most rhode islanders these are exactly the wrong priorities when it comes to deficit reduction. in addition to the deficit concerns, we should let the tax cuts at the top expire just for fairness reasons. loopholes and special provisions allow many super high income earners to pay lower tax rates than many middle-class families. according to the nonpartisan congressional research service 65% of individuals earning $1 million or more annually pay taxes at a lower rate than median income taxpayers making $100,000 or less.

let me say that again so it sinks in. 65%, two-thirds nearly, of individuals earning a million dollars or more a year, the vast majority of individuals earning a million dollars or more annually, pay taxes at a lower rate than median income tax taxpayers making $100,000 or less. because of the loopholes because of what the special interests have done, our supposedly progressive tax system is upside-down to the point where 65% of over million dollar earners pay a lower tax rate than the median income taxpayer making $100,000 or less. as you know, madam president earlier this year, we voted on my paying a fair share act legislation that would implement the so-called buffett rule and ensure that multimillion-dollar earners paid at least a 30%

overall effective federal tax rate. during debate on my buffett rule bill, i cited an i.r.s. statistic that the top 400 taxpayers in america in 2008 who earned an average of $270 million apiece, they each earned on average $270 million in that one year, and they paid the same 18.2% effective tax rate on average that's paid by a truck driver in providence, rhode island. the single biggest factor driving this inequality is the special low rate for capital gains, 15% under the bush tax cuts. the special capital gains rate allows hedge fund billionaires to avail themselves of that so-called carried interest loophole and pay taxes at lower rates than their doorman their secretaries, their chauffeurs. if we let the tax cuts at the

top expire, these rates revert to 20% instead of 15%. now, 20% is still a pretty low rate for someone making $100 million a year, but it's more like what a family making $100,000 a year pays. let's also be very clear about one more thing. the proposal that republicans prefer the tax cut bill introduced by finance committee ranking member orrin hatch would raise taxes. it would raise taxes on 25 million lower and middle-class americans. it would raise taxes on those 25 million americans still struggling in these challenging economic times. republicans claim not to want to raise taxes but the republican tax bill would let very popular

lower and middle-class provisions expire that would cost 25 million americans an average of $1,000 each. under the republican bill, 12 million families would see an end to the -- a smaller child tax credit. 6 million families would lose their earned income tax credit. and 11 million families would lose their american opportunity tax credit, which helps pay for college, provides a 2,500-dollar tax credit for higher education. that popular tax credit has already helped millions of students and their parents pay for college along with pell grants another subject of republican attack. extending the american opportunity credit the college

tax credit, through 2013 would cost about $3.2 billion. so republicans believe that we cannot afford a $3.2 billion investment in higher education for middle-class americans but we can afford $49 billion in continued tax cuts for ultrahigh income earners. a $2,500 tax credit might seem pretty small in comparison to the $92,000 average tax break that millionaires, people earning a million dollars a year, would receive from another year of high-end tax cuts, but that $2,500 may make a much bigger difference in the life of that middle-class family with that child trying to get into a

college they can afford than that $92,000 would make in the life of somebody earning well over a million dollars a year. once again, madam president look at the priorities here. republicans fought to protect the tax loopholes and taxpayer subsidies for big oil. they have fought to protect the carried interest tax loophole that lets hedge fund billionaires pay lower tax rates than their chauffeurs and doormen, and they want to go after the child tax credit. they want to go after the earned income tax credit. they want to go after the college tuition tax credit. that is priorities that, like our tax code for too many americans, are upside-down.

i hope the republicans will join us tomorrow in voting to advance a measure that would keep taxes low for the vast majority of americans, and i urge them to reexamine their proposal to raise taxes on 25 million low and middle-class americans. i thank the chair and i yield the floor. mr. levin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from michigan. mr. levin: madam president many of our republican colleagues argue that we cannot extend tax relief for middle-class families unless we also extend tax cuts for the wealthiest. they argue that without tax cuts for that wealthiest 2%, we will harm job creators and slow the economy. their arguments rely on faulty assumptions, mistaken beliefs and misleading statements, and let's get to the facts. it is a fact that every american

taxpayer would receive a tax cut under our bill on the first $250,000 of their income. it is a fact that compared to the middle-class tax cut act now before us, the plan that the republicans have put forward would increase the deficit by $155 billion. it ia fact that the bill republicans have put forward despite their professed support for tax cuts, would raise taxes on the middle class by failing to extend the 2009 tax cuts for middle-class families, including the american opportunity tax credit and credits that help families with children. now, madam president what's unfolding on the senate floor now is the culmination of a rigid republican adherence to tax cuts for the wealthy as the supreme goal of public policy. republicans have demonstrated a willingness to risk government showdowns, shutdowns.

they have demonstrated a willingness to risk grave economic damage, to risk rising taxes on the vast majority of americans in pursuit of their highest priority lower taxes on the wealthiest 2% of us. they want to risk all of that in service to an idea that has already proved a failure. when historians look back at the republican dedication to tax cuts for the wealthy, they will find it remarkable that so many fought so long and so hard to go back to a failed policy. income for the typical american family peaked in the year 2000. not coincidentally just before the republican tax cuts for the wealthy mania reached its zenith. a june study by the federal reserve found that the average middle-class families' net worth had fallen by 40% from 2007 to

2010 and in 2010, the bottom 99% of income earners reaped just 7% of total income growth while 93% of all growth flowed to the top 1%. as david leonhart of the "new york times" reported on monday -- quote -- the top earning 1% of households now bring home about 20% of total income up from less than 10% 40 years ago." he continued -- "the top earning 1/10000 of households, each earning at least $7.8 million a year, many of them working in finance, bring home almost 5% of the nation's income, up from 1% 40 years ago." close quote. now, perhaps this vast accumulation of wealth would

arguably be acceptable if it had resulted in faster economic growth if it had produced new jobs and helped average americans prosper. indeed since the time of president reagan, america has been told that the rising tide lifting up the wealthy would lift all boats, that the benefits would trickle down to all americans and our republican colleagues today argue that we must continue the president bush tax cuts for the wealthy or risk harm to the -- quote -- "job creators." but the republican emphasis on policies that are more and more generous to the wealthiest has utterly failed to spark economic growth or create the jobs that we need. their experiment failed. the bush tax cuts coincided with the slowest rate of job growth in american history. economic growth even before the financial crisis nearly sent our economy into depression was

woefully short by historic standards. the failure of the bush policies to spur economic growth and job creation underlies the failure of another promise from supporters of tax cuts for the wealthy. the promise that those cuts would pay for themselves. republicans backing the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 painted those grand scenarios of growth so rapid that it would yield increased tax revenue but instead of growing federal coffers, we got a flood of red ink. so the policy of tax cuts for the wealthy failed as a fiscal policy. it added to our deficit. it failed as an economic policy, coinciding with weak growth and economic output and job creation and it failed as a vital test of public policy in a

democratic society because it failed the fairness test. instead, it facilitated massive accumulations of wealth for a fortunate few while most americans have struggled just to trim. yet our republican colleagues persist in their pursuit of the failed policy, persist in fact to the point that they are willing to force a tax increase on more than 90% of taxpayers to potentially send their economy tumbling back into recession in adherence to that failed policy. madam president we're not arguing against this policy of tax cuts for the wealthiest because we seek to denigrate success for class waffle as the public has alleged. we are arguing against these policies because they are broken, they have failed, they are unfair. we should reject them lest they do even more harm. we should reject the republican pursuit of tax cuts for the

wealthy at all costs. every other consideration be damned. we should allow middle-class families to keep a few of their hard, on the other-earned dollars and pass the middle class tax cut act. we should at a minimum vote tomorrow to overcome the filibuster threat and to move to proceed to debate this singularly important issue. represent -- you one plan introduced by majority leader reid and supported by senate democrats and the president proposes higher taxes

on american entrepreneurs investors, and small business owners the democratic plan represents the philosophy that if only the government could raise enough money that congress could somehow spend our way to prosperity. it is a viewpoint that holds that the federal government can spend hardworking american tax dollars better than they can. rather than leaving the money in the private economy where it can be invested or spent by private citizens this view holds that the government should instead bring these dollars here to washington d.c., to redistribute them through the federal bureaucracy. this philosophy was probably best articulated by the president recently when he said, and i quote "if you got a business you didn't build that; someone else made that happen." end quote. in other words nobody is extraordinary bring by virtue of their hard work and accomplishments. when someone works hard and succeeds we shouldn't celebrate

that person as an example. we should instead take from him or her in order as the president said, to spread the wealth -- to quote another of his lines. i am hopeful that the tax-and-spend philosophy of the reid tax plan will not be our only oftentimes i hope that we'll have the opportunity to vote on legislation introduced by senator hatch and minority leader mcconnell. this plan takes a very different approach by following the view that now is not the time to raise anyone's taxes. this view holds that our american freeent price system works best when government gets out of the way leaving americans free to pursue their hopes and dreams. one way that we can leave americans free to pursue their dreams is by not raising their taxes next year, and we especially shouldn't raise taxes when americans are struggling to get by. ironically the view that we should extend current tax policy at a time when the economy is

weak was articulated interestingly enough by the president just two years ago when he signed and extension of all the tax rates. at that time, president obama said that raising taxes would have been a blow to our economy just as we're climbing out after recession. well interestingly enough, at that time real g.d.p. growth when he made that statement when that tax rate extension was signed into law, was around 3.1%. that was the average when the president made the statement that if we raise taxes it would be a blow to our economy. well real g.d.p. growth this year is on a pace to average around 2% and possibly less. those numbers consistently are being revised and being revised downward. if it didn't make sense to raise taxes when our economy was recovering why does it make sense now to raise taxes as our economy is slowing? how does it make sense to raise

taxes in an environment where over 23 million americans are out of work or underemployed when the unemployment rate has been stuck over 8% now for 41 consecutive months? the votes tomorrow are incredibly important. not because either plan is likely to become law immediately but because americans deserve to know where their senators stand when they go to vote this november. do you stand for stable tax rates that encourage work and investment? or do you stand for increasing taxes on the very businesses we rely on for job creation? do you stand for a free enterprise system that rewards hard work and innovation? or do you stand for making it more difficult for small businesses to grow and succeed? mr. president, these are the important choices that they will have -- that will have real impact on hardwork hardworking americans and on our economy at large.

consider the reid tax plan. according to the committee -- joint committee on taxation, this plan will close a tax increase on nearly a million business owners. nearly a million business owners. now, proponents of this increase are going to argue that it will only affect a small segment of our economy. and yet the joint tax committee estimates that the tax increases in the reid plan will hit more than 50% of all income earned by businesses that pay their taxes at individual rates. these are called pass-thru businesses and they apply to "s" corporations partnerships, sole proprietorships and l.l.c.'s. they are the ones that will see their cost business go up next year for no other reason that are to tax the rich. small businesses which accounted for two-thirds of all the taxes over the last decade will be particularly impacted. according to a survey of small businesses by the national federation of independent

business 75% beaver of small businesses are organized as pass-thru businesses. nfib also found that the businesses most likely to be hit are those businesses employing between 020 and 250 employees. according to the u.s. census, the data that they collect these businesses employ more than 25% of the workforce. and so the million small businesses that according to the joint committee on taxation will see their taxes go up under this proposal employ 25% of the american workforce and account for over 50% of all pass-thru income. and so you're going to see taxes go up -- taxes go up dramatically on over 50% of pass-thru income and on small businesses that employ 25% of the american workforce. now, does that make sense in this economy? it should be no wonder that the political party advocating this kind of tax policy has also

presided over the weakest economic recovery literally since the end of world war ii. the impact of the reid tax increases on small businesses will be bad enough, but unfortunately these tax increases will have significant ramifications for our entire economy. according to a study released earlier this month by ernst & young be, the reid tax plan would hurt our economy in the long term. according to ernst & young the tax increases in the reid plan would reduce economic output by 1.3%. this would mean $200 billion less in economic activity if translated into today's economy. the ernst & young study indicates that the tax policy in the reid plan would reduce employment by half a percent. meaning roughly 710,000 fewer jobs. the study estimates that the senate democrat approach will reduce the nation's capital

stock by 1.4% and ivestment by 2.4% and that this approach will reduce after-tax wages by 1.8%. and so you're going to reduce investment, you're going to cost the economy over 700,000 jobs, you're going to reduce after-tax wages for hardworking americans in this country and yet here we are talking about a tax increase that would do dangerous dangerous damage and harm to our economy. and i would say mr. president these aren't partisan statistics compiled by senate republicans. these are the estimates by a respected accounting firm as to what will happen if we follow the tax policies proposed by senate democrats and the president. we'll have less economic growth, fewer jobs and a lower standard of living in the long run. these numbers simply confirm common sense. if we want individuals and businesses to spend and invest more we shouldn't raise the amount of their income -- the

amount of their income that they have to pay to the federal government. and that's what this does. we have major tax policy decisions to make, decisions reflected in the votes that we're going to take tomorrow. do we want to encourage capital formation in this country? in other words do we want to encourage investors to put their capital at risk so that businesses will have money to make new investments? well, by raising the capital gains tax rate from 15% to 20% for some investors the reid bill will make it less attractive to invest in our economy. according to an ernst and young study from february of this year, the top rate of capital gains will rise to 56.7% on january 1 of next year after taking into account corporate investor and state taxes. this will be the second highest combined capital gains tax rate in the world among oecd and brick nations. america already has the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. it appears as if the senate democrats are going for number

one when it comes to capital gains taxes as well. if there is anything i can say that's positive about the democrats' tax increase plan, it is at least that they rejected the president's proposal to nearly triple the tax on dividends paid by upper-income americans. even senate democrats are not shy about raising taxes understand that the president's proposal to impose a top rate of over 40% on dividend income will be terrible for millions of seniors who rely on dividends -- for dividend paying stocks and for those american companies that rely on dividends to raise capital. instead, the reid bill would increase the top rate on dividends from 15% to 20%. now, i believe this tax increase is bad policy but it won't be nearly as harmful as the president's approach would have been. on another issue of critical importance however, the senate democrats have decided to run to the left of this liberal administration and this is on the issue of the estate tax

better known as the death tax. the reid plan would impose a huge new death tax on family farms and businesses next year. under current law businesses and farms are exempted from the death tax on the first $5 million of the value of an estate. values above this amount are taxed a top rate of 35%. well, i believe we ought to completely eliminate the death tax and i've introduced legislation with 37 of my colleagues to do so. but the current death tax treatment exempts the large majority of family farms and businesses from the tax. the reid plan, however would allow the death tax to revert to the provisions in effect before 2001. this means that under the reid plan family farms and businesses will face a top death tax rate of 55% on estates above $1 million in value. this is a massive death tax increase on tens of thousands of

small businesses and family farms across america. in fact, according to the joint committee on taxation, the reid plan will increase the number of estates subject to the death tax in 2013 from 3,600 estates under current law to 50,300 estates under reid's proposal. according to the joint committee on taxation, the reid plan will subject 20 times more farming estates to the death tax in 2013 2013 a 2,000% increase. the reid plan will subject nine times more small businesses to the death tax a 900% increase. if the death tax policy in the reid plan were made permanent over the next ten years a number of small businesses subject to the death tax would increase from 1,800 to 23,00 and the number of family farms subject to the death tax would increase from 900 to 25,200. those are all -- that's all data put together and -- and roortd out by joint committee --

reported out by the joint cotaxation. the reason for this massive expansion of the death tax is the $1 million exemption amount is much too low given the value of successful farms and small businesses today. i'll use my state of south dakota as a good example. if you take family farms in south dakota according to the department of agriculture the average size of a farm in my state is 1,374 acres. and according to the usda, the average value per acre of cropland in south dakota is about $1,800. this means that the average value of a farm in my state is nearly $2.5 million. and so if you have a -- a death tax law that only exempts a million dollars and has a 55% top rate on everything above that imagine what that's going to do to the average farm in a state like south dakota. and south dakota's not unique in that regard. we've seen land values rise across america's heartland from

nebraska to missouri to montana. let's be clear the reid bill will subject many more families to a punitive double tax the death tax when a loved one passes away. it will make it much more difficult to pass family farms and businesses from one generation to the next. and we should never forget that most family farms are land rich and cash poor. lots of assets, land values, those sorts of things. what you don't want to see happen mr. president is to see a family farm that could be passed on to the next generation have to be liquidated to pay the i.r.s. because of a punitive death tax. it and that is precisely what -- and that is precisely what this policy as proposed by the democrat plan would do. the usda estimates that 84% of farm assets are comprised of farm real estate. that's where most farm and ranch families have their assets. that means that family farms don't have extra cash on hand to pay the death tax. instead they'll have to sell off land or take on additional

debt in order pay these higher taxes. mr. president, that is exactly what we don't want to see happen in this country. i don't believe that the president's proposal which is a $3.5 million exemption and a 45% top rate, is adequate but it is much better than what the senate democrats and the reid plan have proposed. and so let me just summarize, if i might. tomorrow we're going to vote on the reid proposal to raise taxes at a time when americans are hurting and our economy is fragile. the reid proposal's going to impose higher taxes of more than $50 billion on successful small businesses owned -- small business owners and families. it will hurt our economy reducing economic growth and job creation at the same time it lowers wages for hardworking american families. and it will impose a new death tax of $31 billion on 43,100 family farmers ranchers and small businesses. we will also vote, i hope -- i hope mr. president -- on the

hatch-mcconnell alternative plan to keep tax rates where they are to prevent a tax increase on any american next year. in addition to keeping tax rates where they are the hatch-mcconnell proposal provides instructions to the finance committee to report out fundamental tax reform legislation by 12 months from the date of enactment of the bill. the hatch-mcconnell approach is the correct approach. prevent a tax increase now and move to fundamental tax reform next year. of course, extending current tax law temporarily is only a short-term fix. what is really needed is comprehensive tax reform, much like the tax reform act of 1986. real tax reform will drive economic growth higher, will lead to robust job creation, and will result in more revenue to the federal government. but real tax reform is going to require presidential leadership, something that has unfortunately been lacking over the past 3 1/2 years. perhaps next year we'll have a president truly willing to commit to tax reform a

president who is not content is wimplely releasing a 23-page framework for corporate tax reform. but until we get to comprehensive tax reform, mr. president, the least we can do now is to ensure americans do not face a massive new tax hike during the week -- during the weak economy. i hope we will get that vote tomorrow. i hope that -- you know, that the senate democrats will find their way to -- to give us a vote on extending the tax rates for all americans so that small businesses aren't whacked with a big tax increase next year, so that our economy doesn't get plunged perhaps into a recession. we don't see that. unemployment race particular even higher. those are the results. those are the outcomes, those are the types of things that are going to happen, according to all the independent analysis of the tax proposal that is before us today. and, remember, there's always this idea that somehow if we raise more taxes that we'll have -- we'll be able to pay down more of the debt. and i got to say mr. president

i've not been my experience around here that when there's money around washington d.c., it gets sucked up and it gets spent. and i think a lot of americans would be -- we8 come the idea of seeing their taxes going to -- welcome the idea of seeing their taxes going to pay down the debt. but we're going to see a massive increase on americans that is going to be used to grow government near washington d.c. and that is not what the american people want and that is not what we in the united states senate should be for. and by asking this with picks hockley is the clash between

macarthur and truman is this a clash of the policy, is it a problem of personalities?

phill the new lieutenant general today handed over directorship at the defense intelligence agency to lieutenant general michael flynn. this change of leadership ceremony took place of the joint base in washington, d.c. the headquarters of the defense intelligence agency. general burgess served in the u.s. army for 38 years. speakers include the commander of the u.s. strategic command, defense secretary leon panetta joint chiefs of staff chairman general martin dempsey and intelligence director james clapper. this is an hour and a half.

>> ladies and gentlemen please stand for the arrival of the parties, honors and presentations of the colors and please remain standing for the singing of the national anthem. the national anthem will be sung by all the more ten. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ [presentation of colors]

♪ ♪ oh say can you see y the darn's erly light ♪ ♪ so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight ♪ o'er the ramparts we walked ♪ ♪ or so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ and the rockets red glare ♪ ♪ the bombs bursting in air o'er the ramparts we ♪

♪ gave proof trough the night ♪ ♪ that our flag was still there ♪ say does that star spangled banner ♪ ♪ yet wave ♪ ♪ o'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ and the home of the brave ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, we will

now give the invocation. >> would you about your head and prayed with me? our heavenly father, we thank you for the privilege of pausing in the shadow of a great national heritage and in the midst of the leaders of our nation to pray to you. it is fitting that we begin the ceremony in prayer because you have been our constant help in years past and you are our hope for the future. we ask for your presence today and for your continued guidance and protection upon our nation and on our military men and women who are stationed around the world. we are grateful for the opportunity to recognize and honor one of your choice leaders and faithful servants general ron oh say can you see y the darn's erly burgess leading to for his commitment and dedication and

his service to the country for over 38 years. he leaves a legacy of patriotism and sacrifice that sets an example for all of us to follow. the impact he has made on many lives and the intelligence community is evident. we acknowledge your hand in guiding general burgess in this point in his life and provided him wisdom and courage for his decisions and you have rewarded his undying efforts with success. father, i think you all for the priority that general panetta has placed on his family. the love and support of his wife and the deep respect of his children are evident in of a life well spent. we are grateful for the dedication and commitment of the entire burgess family to each

other to the nation and to god. we pray for your continued blessings upon the general and mrs. burgess as they begin a new chapter in their lives. and now lord, as the general flynn assumes the leadership, we pray for him and for his family, and the men and women under his leadership and give general flynn wisdom and tenacity and a servant heart and bite him for the sake of the nation. in the name of christ i pray amen. >> ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. remain seated during the remainder of the ceremony unless directed otherwise. on behalf of the secretary of defense the honorable leon panetta, the director of national intelligence the honorable james clapper, jr. the secretary of the army, the honorable john kehler and the chairman of the joint chiefs of

staff general martin dempsey and the commander united states strategic command general robert kehler welcome to today's ceremony. this morning we will witness the chain of command for the joint component command for intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance jfccisr as well as the agency change of directors of those lieutenant general ronald burgess jr. passes the leadership to lieutenant general michael flynn. the passing of the colors from one commander to another is significant in many ways. the history, traditions and accomplishments are embodied and we will see passed today the colors record the glory of the past. they stand guard in the present and aspire for the future. we are honored to have with us today a number of current former

national leaders and retired military members channing to families with lieutenant general and mrs. burgess and the general and mrs. flynn. i would also like to acknowledge the united states army for their musical contributions to this morning's ceremony. at this time mrs. burgess is being presented with a bouquet of red roses symbolic of the loving concern she has shown through her husband's tenure as a director. [applause] is this flynn is being presented with a bouquet of yellow roses to welcome her into the family. [applause]

>> also being presented to mrs. mary rodgers and jordan, mrs. julia and mary houston. mrs. helen come shane flynn and nikkie flynn. ..

the director of the defense intelligence agency serves as the commander of the kfc cii sorry. by direction from the command of the united states strategic commander, lieutenant general is hereby appointed commander, joint functional component command for intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance effect dave 24 july 2012.

ladies and gentlemen, the commander of the united states strategic command general c. robert kehler. [applause] >> thank you and good morning secretary panetta general dempsey can come distinguished guests and families my pleasure to preside over a change command ceremony for command for intelligence surveillance act commonsense. i must say i'm honored to be part of what may be the most complicated ceremony ever undergird. in fact, i'm interested to see how it's going to turn out. [laughter] is 2005 js eci has planned, integrated and synchronized isr in support of strategic and global operations. responsibility we perform on behalf of all combatant

commanders of the men and women of the functional component i worked tirelessly to assess results, provide recommendations on the employment of isr assets to the secretary of defense. jfccir with her teammates and defense intelligence agency and the cia director was given a second hat as commander. the alignment of sadsack and 73 as leverage to dia collection management responsibilities of direct your global planning and operational focus of combatant command. under lieutenant general ron burgess, the jfccir active for failing commands with assets that are always in short supply. and in a complex operational environment, the likes of which

we've never seen before. in large measure coming because of their hard work, the dod gathers by misinformation and added me strategic pride and support commanders of forces in the field. braun colleagues friends, thanks to being such great numbers of stratcom and meeting in such a great member. the members say you a debt of gratitude about our heartfelt best wishes as you transition to the next successes in your life. lieutenant general mike flynn, to put on the first of a number of hats. in fact you may qualify with a guy with the most hats. in multiple bosses is savarese cannot i pay to leave secretary have basically the same goals. we will depend on you and your team to meet our isr needs using all your heart. it's a tough challenge, but i'm confident you can conakry professionals in jfccir to get

the job done. welcome to the united states or shooter command. the book and best wishes in accomplishing your mission and i look forward to working with you as part of the great stratcom team. thank yo. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen lieutenant general burgess lieutenant general flynn will join centerstage for it change of directorship. by direction of the secretary of defense, lieutenant general ronald l. or just junior will relinquish director denies its defense intelligence features the effective 24 july 2012. attorney general michael t. flynn is hereby appointed director of defense intelligence

agency affect his 24 july 2012. ladies and gentlemen, the secretary of defense, the honorable leon panetta. [applause] >> thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. distinguished guests, leaders that the department of defense and leaders of the united states intelligence community.

it is really an honor for me to be able to participate in this ceremony, paying tribute to ron burgess and acknowledging that we have a new director here, mike flynn. today, we pay tribute to ron as he retires after 38 years of service to our nation. i am a big believer in public service to this country. as the son of italian immigrants, my parents made very clear to me the responsibility that their children had to give something back to this country which has given so much to them.

in his quiet italian way my father said, you better give something back to this country or i'll kick your ass. so i was inspired to public service and throughout my almost 40 years i have really believed that public service and is dedicated to giving something back to this country is what america is all about. it is what keeps our democracy strong. and that is what ron burgess is all about. he is a great public servant. beyond that, he is a great soldier. he's a great leader. he is a great great intelligence innovator, leader in the community and is also a very dear friend.

to me into so many in the audience. ron, you've earned your retirement, my friend. and take it from me there is life afterwards. there are many who want to make use of your great experience and your wife will let the additional income. [laughter] that's what my wife said. but i hope he'll have a lot more success than i did. as we celebrate braun, we also have the opportunity to welcome another distinguished soldier, mike flynn come as he takes on the vital leadership role in our military and intelligence

community. this ceremony -- this ceremony is about recognizing the impressive achievements of both of these extraordinary officers. but it is equally important to pay tribute to their families. the love and support of their families has financed solely critical and instrumental to their success. in that spirit i would like to express a personal, deep thanks to braun's wife, marta who has been a patient and loving spouse and a wonderful mother for their five children. there is no way -- there is no

way we can do these jobs without the love and support of our families. that's a reality and it's true here. and i thank you for the support tissue provided throughout these years. i know how much ron is looking over to being able to spend more time with you and with the rest of the family. as long as that family doesn't interfere with another love of his life which is auburn football. let me also recognize and think the flynn family including my ex-wife and their two great sons. the are as i said to have jobs. they demand a lot of time and a lot of commitment.

and it is because of the tolerance, patience and the love of our families that these jobs are able to be done. so in many ways, the families that are here are part of the larger family that represents their community. our defense community and the intelligence community. i deeply appreciate all of the support that she is given to mike and to ron and the support they shall continue to provide as ron goes into retirement and mike assumes the leadership responsibilities here at the dia. i also want to extend my gratitude to the broader dia family, the dedicated men and women of the dia who work every

day and every night to keep our nation safe. last fall i had the chance to join ron here at the dia community and commemorating the 50th anniversary of the defense intelligence agency's founding which took place at the kennedy administration. it was especially meaningful for me because like ron i began my career in public service as an army intelligence officer. a search for two years, became the second by tenet and got the out. brian served a little longer, rose to much higher rank but now it's his turn to get the

out. when i think back to this couple years that i spent in the army i recall what intelligence was like then and what intelligence is like now. when i was in the army it was pretty much a stove piped operation. there is very little sharing of information among the military services. if i gave any information to another survey set aside jake to court-martial. the reality was that there was very little of the kind of joint operation enjoyed sharing that goes on today. and years later personally

experienced the change that had taken place at my son. one of my sons was activated in the navy and went in as an intelligence officer in the navy. and his first post that he reported was not a navy post. he reported to fort bragg for training. and from fort bragg where to bagram and afghanistan where he was working with the other services that the cia and an intelligence unit, working together to share information and intelligence. landscape has changed dramatically, but it's changed for the better. dia in particular has evolved into a global agency that operates wherever our forces are engaged and at every point along the chain of command.

military intelligence is now far more integrated, far more effective and more vital than other to our ability to defend this country. and ron burgess has been instrumental in this transformation. particularly over the last decade, ron has helped bring about that fusion of military and intelligence capabilities but it's really been at the heart and soul of our intelligence effort in this country and throughout the world. it has been a game changer on the battlefield. as a former director of the cia i can personally attest to how

important nonmilitary intelligence relationship has been, the ability of the military intelligence communities to work together has been incredibly important to protecting this country. there isn't a mission that i had the cia that could have been accomplished without that partnership, whether it was the radon a lot whether it's going after al qaeda's leadership, whether it's going after terrorists and by men or somalia or wherever there are. intelligence and military officers and agents people working together has been absolutely essential to our ability to accomplish that mission. ron has been an important part of that relationship.

during the time i was director of the cia, he and i would go to graduation ceremonies and intelligence areas where we were not only educating intelligence officers we were educating military officers and intelligence capabilities. and now, as secretary of defense, there is no way. there is no way i could accomplish our defense mission without the support of intelligence. there's no way. whether in dealing with what is happening in iran whether in dealing with what's happening in syria, whether we are dealing with what's happening in the middle east in general, what they were doing with north korea, whether we're dealing with afghanistan and the enemies you confront there or pakistan or whether we're dealing with the cyberwar, whether we dealing with china whatever challenge we are facing in today's world

it could not be done without good intelligence. the ability to know what others are doing and what they intend to do. as someone who depends, as i said every day on good intelligence and on dia's analytical work, i have been very fortunate to have been benefited from one's judgment and from his base. and it is our good fortune that we have another extremely capable officer ready to assume that mantle of leadership. mike flynn brings to this position decades of experience in military experience. his knowledge of the 21st century title field is unsurpassed. i had the opportunity to see his impressive work up close as director of the cia a chance to

see it up close when he was in afghanistan doing tremendous work very. and i have full confidence that he is the right man to lead to more than 16,000 dedicated professionals that are here at the dia. you've had a great leader and ron burgess. and you now have another great leader and mike flynn. as secretary of defense, and as an american, i am deeply grateful that our department has men and women of the caliber of these two who are willing to dedicate their lives, defending the values that we cherish and

the freedom we hold so dear to our heart. we have a lot of new and exciting technology in the defense business. i have some of the most sophisticated systems in the world. in terms of weaponry and in terms of technology. and even in the intelligence world, we now have some of the most exciting new technology shoes that are being developed. but let me tell you some things. none of that -- none of that would be worth a word not for the good people at that good leaders who understand not only had he used that technology but are dedicated to defending this country. may god bless them may god

bless his agency and may god bless the united states of america. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the director of the defense intelligence agency, lieutenant general michael t. flynn. [applause] >> mr. secretary, before a gig on to some remarks, the irish mother always uses choice words as well. i know she talked about him was reminded about how many hats i was supposed to be wearing in this job she said it'll keep your head warm. [laughter] to begin, i also want to say

welcome to everyone for attending today's great ceremony. as a secretary man says the men and women at dia are extraordinary group of intelligent professionals is to recognize the great leader and ron burgess for his service to dia and our nation over these many years today's as much about the civilians or military about the families who make up a global organization currently deployed in 139 countries around the world with over 500 different combat versus in afghanistan. secretary pineda, director come the secretary makes mchugh, general dempsey, mrs. dempsey general kaler, distinguished members of commerce, other civilians and military leaders, agency directors and the flag officers and members representing executive service, i also want to welcome coalition partners and think each of you for being steadfast and partnership together with the united states against germany shared challenges.

there's a great quote that goes the will to win means nothing without the will to prepare. as a new defense strategy highlights are developing new and innovative partnerships in the coming century we can demonstrate we have both. again thanks to all of you here today. i next went to expressing serious reservations to the burgess family. your husband and dad has had a great writing service for a nation has the basic to forget old and transfer them in the united states intelligence community can especially following the tragic events of 9/11 a powerful legacy to be sure. i'd like to recognize the bulk of those from the flynn family. it's about two thirds of this throwback. the flints, andrews let haines and o'neill claims here and most especially my mother who had just recognized a while ago helen flynn. thanks for all you've done for all of us images of the dearly. and finally --

[applause] thomas is doing okay with those curtains. to each member of my family what to say how much lori and i deeply appreciate all of you for taking the time by your crazy schedules. it means more than you'll ever know. finally to our other friends i guess, lori and i simply want to say thanks for being here. in the bittersweet tradition of military changes of command, it's important to take time to reflect on the matter most to us in uniform in a command. if anyone has ever served in command of his is always about balancing the nation will simultaneously taking care of the people. in today's uncertain environment, dia stands out as the world's premier military intelligence agency. they're simply not better. the teams of people representing this world-class outfit rancher margrethe afghanistan, pakistan task force directly supported general allen or military who

remain forward deployed in afghanistan. to our counterterrorist intelligence specialist supporting our special operations forces globally deployed, to those that are banks supporting nations rebalanced was asia-pacific region from a space not only vital to the united states and allies, but as our defense strategy highlights of the present increase need for all of us to engage in a new and innovative partnership especially intelligence. lastly she does make impossible the newly established service the staffer will change the defense intelligence supports were fighters and nation around the world. as a transition further into the second decade of the 21st century, we should constantly remind ourselves of agency's history and legacy one of which ron burgess took to the next stage and what makes us as good as we are that it's all about values in which we live by, such as teamwork and the principles of which we operate within, such as stressed.

more importantly, what makes us the best of what we do is all about the people at dia. dia has always been and will remain a highly agile and adaptive workforce and most can't find building in times of crisis as it supports military forces were fighting commands. dia has always responded to rapidly changing global event. it has demonstrated an amazing level of resilience it regardless of demand. yet despite challenges we face, the people at dia continued to stand firm traditions defense is a transition one leader to another, it is more than just about changing riders. it's about using opportunities to reflect the direction of the organization again a clear understanding for changes that lie ahead. for dia cometh the shaping of redirect being the survey some partnering even more closely with our combatant commanders national intelligence and law-enforcement agencies and coalition partners. it's about our entire analysis

system and how to take shape in an era where information intelligence as well as the nature of the threat are difficult to discern and stole land from direct or clap her our director of national intelligence to speed a mature environment changes is unlike anything we've seen in the past. it is about how we support our people, how we get the necessary tools for professional leader development of those training and educating workforce and how to better analyze and balance risk for understanding challenge and opportunities as well as changing the nature of the threat are slightly matching people with science and elegy capabilities. these are and will remain vital components of the great agency and world-class. dia of people within stand above all others around the world that i recognize both for professionalism and that test readiness to routinely step up in support of our nation regardless of adversity and challenges they may face.

i believed then and will continue to showcase dia as a world-class organization with world-class talent. dia remains a key summit in our defense department and is a vital member of our overall national security structure. again mr. secretary, thank you is a terrific opportunity. it's an absolute honor to stand here today. things for the latest and mentors who held to maturity made it possible to stand here as well today and thanks to rob burgess and your entire family. yours unmarred his incredible years in numerous sacrifices for our country leaves a lasting legacy of extraordinary service. you are both truly inspirational. gloria and i are excited about the months and years ahead. many thanks to all for attending today's ceremony. thank you. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the departure of the secretary of defense. ♪ >> please be seated. ladies and gentlemen the director of the national intelligence, the honorable james r. crawford junior. [applause] >> the secretary departs so does the chair. well this is a very difficult ceremony for me in many ways. giving up i plan on saying goodbye to bob urges over the

fact of the course that as a former director at dia, this is a very special to me. so i'm honored and privileged to be a part of this. many recall the famous article mike flynn wrote called a blueprint for making intelligence relevant, which is one of the reasons why i brought mike 20 dni coming to fix the intelligence issues hit than complaining about. this reminds me of the old saw of my daddy served in the army for 28 years. you know, you take the guy who complains about the chow hall and make in the mess officer. that is kind of what he'll continue to do here i think at dia. i couldn't have been more pleased by the phenomenal things might did for the entire intelligence community has had a partner engagement at zero dni. our partners, allies and friends, many represented today, round the world as well as colleagues across the u.s.

government, fellow, state and the local and tribal levels. those in the private sector in academic circles are the key to making intelligence integration really happened. there's no doubt in my mind that mike who has been a legend in the army since earliest days when he was known as the second lieutenant who went to grenada on its own would exceed all expectations. and he did. i know him or he will do great work here at dia. many congratulations to them and to this gradations to you. yesterday ron burgess attended his last executive committee meeting with me in the 60 meters of the intelligence community, so we shared great stories about him and that god such occasions do a little emotional. not as emotional as an auburn alabama football game, but still emotional. i found out thanks to mary was

shared that the army finally gets to retire the polyester green uniform now that ron is retiring. [laughter] [applause] as you all know, and very eloquently attested to already ron has had a very very distinguished career spanning almost four decades. but i like to fast for a word to him to the time when he was a brand-new three-star general, the director of national intelligence for standing up about seven years ago. brown was offered the job of what was called the dede and i for customer outcomes requirement. i am told that he said it sounded -- and i'm quoting here it sounded a bit air air force ebay decided to give it a try. [laughter]

and i think general shores is here. i'm assuming air force is a complement. [laughter] the first thing he asked was how soon can i change the name? the answer was less than a year. despite the strange dudley was basically the chief of staff for the opposite direct or of national intelligence and over the next four years he also served a year and a half of that time to all had a dress and act principle of dna. somehow he was summertime to workout in the gym, a man after my own heart. as they see the newspaper, dave petraeus two. i understand at a dia town hall where a woman was signing for the charade paired, ron graciously announced he was giving civilians three hours a week to work out. he proudly claims that with the minimum time necessary to sculpt a body that was quote i can be like his.

[laughter] and then laughter broke out. not so much because of the comment itself, but because of the woman who was signing. she had made the hourglass symbol with her hands to represent a candy. you may or may not know that ron was a jedi knight come the slang term for a graduate from the school of advanced military studies at fort leavenworth. this is evidence they think to the southern country boy demeanor as a razor-sharp intellect. because of his interest in education, i really appreciated ron taking the lead on professional education for the entire intelligence community transition would've been the national intelligence college into what is now a national intelligence university. it's especially impressive when you consider advice to his own children going to college when he said quote, if only a lot of reading if you do it.

[laughter] more seriously, ron made a huge difference at dia as has been already characterized in so many ways. yesterday, for example we presented run with a special award recognizing his leadership and foster an equal opportunity and diversity not only at dia but as a role model leadership for the entire community. that was richly deserved recognition and is exemplary of ron superb leadership. and yes, secretary panetta pointed out, dia is a significant supporter of operations and was so in the ubl tape done operation a year ago last may something which i don't think dia has ever gotten the appropriate credit that it deserved. of course, ron is famous as the workforce in dia does and we

know for its many colorful phrasings. some from the army some from growing up in north carolina and alabama. now, my favorite is running down the street renege on as a picturesque image they are. another one is poised to ask that something has been strewn about, which is ironic because he'll be the first to that that bart is the one responsible for his success. she moved around the world within the site amazing caves whom she homeschooled and she always bpcs was an adventure. marta, to be formally recognized appropriately so for your distinct or service to this agent into this country and we thank you for that. ron, i'll finish with one last inspirational memorable thing to say. quote, first, get it right, then

get it first. well you unmarred it clearly did that. you will be missed and i'm so glad you're not going too far away. he will always be a part of the intelligence community family and we will undoubtedly be calling on you for some day down the road. the first i will make sure whether to calling you at us in weekend whenever intelligence analyst on the road is at the burgess family will be busy watching the opera tigers take on the christian dates. so thank you for exceptional service to our country. and now behalf of the intelligence community is my great honor to bestow upon you the national distinguished service medal. >> ladies and gentlemen direct your clapper will now submit the metal to joe burgess paid

citation is attended general ronald burgess junior united states army is hereby awarded national intelligence distinguished service medal and wreck mission of extraordinary contributions from may 1974 to july 2012. during his distinguished 38 year career, lieutenant general burgess is a driving force in the depart of defense and united states intelligence community, providing exceptional leadership and broad strategic vision that contributed to the safeguarding of our national security interests. in every position of the crease responsibility, lieutenant general burgess comes that strengthen our national and military intelligence capabilities during some of the most challenging periods in our nations history. his unyielding dedication to duty selfless devotion to our country and unparalleled personal drive were instrumental in transforming defense telogen into a cooperative enterprise to

better serve national policymakers, combatant commanders and more fighters. lieutenant general versus distinguished accomplishments reflect the highest credit upon himself. the defense intelligence agency and the intelligence community. find james r. clapper junior, direct your national intelligence. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen the ceremony will now continue with the retirement of lieutenant general burgess beginning with remarks by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general martin dempsey. [applause] >> thanks very much. enron, there is no truth to the

rumor is that it stretches beyond noon that your entire net percentage goes up. this is the defense intelligence agency so opposed to all all a very profound question. what do a best of yellow school bus dinosaur helicopter and motorcycle heaven, and? you can't answer that question but thomas can because that is the array of choice that confronts me as i look over the podium. last night i'll be fascinated later to find out how the combination fits together. i'm honored to be here today. much has already been said to command run for his account ocean and, but i will echo a few of those comments. braun, and the defense and national intelligence community, you've clearly been something i referred to as the leader of consequent and a champion to those who were placed in harms way around the globe. features a difficult path early in your career at a time of great transition for our nation.

we are fellow members of your group 1974 so we experience as well with keith alexander jay petraeus this face. particular challenges. that force that we entered was exhausted by vietnam. but just the kind and emerging threats foreshadows will it be a dramatically changed post-cold war security environment. much of your career has been hidden from the public side even sometimes those of your family. he worked behind the scenes at every level of leadership across multiple legions these commands and crazies that give our nations best the critical information they needed with the speed, precision and accuracy that they require. instinctively you understood instinctively you understood adaptation of flexibility are the adaptation of flexibility are the keys to success. he consistently led organizations in ways that have

strained them and produced simply outstanding results. your insights from leading army enjoining intelligence operations in south com around the world paid dividends for decades later when those very same foundations became central to our success in iraq and afghanistan. her leadership enabled us to better part with allies to forge a bond of trust between intelligence and special operators and ultimately keep americans safe at home and abroad. even more importantly, you never forgot, secretary panetta reminds us that intelligence is fundamentally about people. men and women, military and civilian serving hearing in harms way drag your career you set example for your people and you inspire that confidence. he gave them the right tools, push them forward and then you got out of their way so they can do their best work and they certainly have. i know you leave confident your

successor, lieutenant general mike flynn shares these same traits and he too will extend the moments when you have here. you're gifted intelligence professional leader and in my judgment there is truly no better choice for direct your at this agency to take the mantle and carry it on with the extraordinary professionalism that is third exhibited. and by the way it's good to see you again at the thought of gaelic. i'll have to cool that later if you'd like. he then set up for success in your glory will be fantastic command team for men and women and families the defense intelligence agency. be on your mark the leadership in the intel business which honored 38 years as a truly great soldier and family man. will rogers once said all a man can really ever hope to do in life is lived to whip out a little higher than he found it. you left our profession both better and higher than you found

it. and marta i want to extend its all my gratitude to use for your rocksteady support and for your patience, service and sacrifices and especially for the family of phrase. i would know de gortari said something about the connection to auburn university. i'd highlight the fact to factors beyond auburn university army cadet. let's give them a round of applause. [applause] >> sarong come your ability to connect with families across the force and those with unique and special missions has truly been inspirational. we thank you. and i offer a special inks for your sacrifice over the years. i know you've given your dad great strength and inspiration that were proud of your service too. ron in the burgess family on behalf of the entire joint force, thank you for 30 years of extraordinary service to our

nation. but many will truly never know details of your journey the american people are grateful for all you've done. good luck godspeed and importantly, god bless you in the great nation we serve. [applause] >> lieutenant general burgess will now join general dempsey at center stage. please remain seated as general dempsey presents defense distinguished service medal to attend the general burgess. the citation reads ronald burgess junior, united states army, distinguished himself by superior service of serving in the 17th direct air defense intelligence agency from march 2009 to july 2012 drawing upon his exceptional leadership skills amid change and

uncertainty, lieutenant general burgess focused the agency and the greatest challenges can renting the united states, including afghanistan and pakistan iraq, iran commit transnational terrorism and preventing strategic crazies suppressed elsewhere around the globe. in doing so lieutenant general burgess redefined the dia stability and demonstrated agency's agility to surge in support contingency operations and crazies in all his endeavors he consistently guided outcomes have strengthened our national military capabilities and hopeless devotion to duty and unparalleled personal drives have been instrumental in transforming defense intelligence into a cooperative enterprise. whose distinctive accomplishments can lieutenant general burgess compliments and distinguished 30 year career in the service of our nation and reflects great credit upon himself, defense intelligence agency and a part of defense.

[applause] >> by order of the secretary of the army, lieutenant general ronald o. burgess junior is retired from the united states army effect june 1 september 2012 after more than 38 years of faithful and honorable surveys. [applause]

ladies and gentlemen, general dempsey will now have a certificate from commander-in-chief, which reads i extend to you my personal thanks and sincere appreciation of a grateful nation for your contribution of honorable service to our country. you can help maintain security of the nation during the critical time in its history with a devotion to duty in the spirit of sacrifice in keeping with the proud tradition of military service. your commitment and dedication have been an inspiration for those who will follow in your footsteps and for all americans to join me today in so booting you for a job extremely well done. my best wishes to you for happiness and success in the future. signed barack obama, commander-in-chief.

[applause] general dempsey will now present the certificate of retirement to lieutenant general burgess. it reads -- [laughter] to all who shall see these presents greeting, this is to certify that lieutenant general ronald o. burgess junior having served faithfully and honorably is retired from the united states army in the year 2012, saint raymond odierno, general of the united states army chief of staff. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen can the secretary of the army the honorable john mchugh. [applause] mrs. burgess will now join secretary mchugh at center stage. secretary mchugh will now award mrs. burgess the declaration for distinguished civilian service. the citation reads as follows. the declaration for distinguished civilian service is awarded to mrs. marta burgess or 38 years of distinguished and devoted service, taking care of united states military families and being the constant advocate for numerous quality of life related initiatives and programs

on behalf of our uniformed service members and department of the army defense civilian. her care and can passion has significantly enhanced family operations and reflect great credit on yourself and the department of the army. [applause] mrs. burgess will now receive the armor certificate of appreciation.

[applause] ladies and gentlemen lieutenant general ronald l. burgess junior. [applause] >> well, good morning. this morning i was doing my normal routine in an early ceremony director referred to me and i was working out in the sporting an agenda and a lot of folks were coming by, kind of interrupting my normal routine. but i didn't mind the fact that they were interrupting my normal routine. what i minded that said no one was referring to me as i can be.

[laughter] however, one of my female employees came up to me and kind of hit it on the head when she said so your ending year army career the way he began, by doing pt. it struck me that she was right and that he used to open my remarks everywhere all the time with it's a great day to be in the army. secretary pineda who has departed, secretary mchugh, general doug c. congressman rogers the honorable john negroponte the honorable mike mcconnell undersecretary victories, general shorts, are both stephanie o'sullivan general keith alexander has thrown me on the bus by not

wearing this uniform. distinguished as fellow flag and general officers the dia advisory board intelligence colleague. friends, family members. most importantly, men and women of dia welcoming thank you for joining us here today. each and every one of you here today on there myself my family and professionals that this agency with your present. secretary pineda who has departed honored us with his presence and i remain grateful and honored for the opportunity to have worked with and for the secretary over the last few years. his lifetime of service truly reflects the very best of this nation's highest ideals and the american people are most fortunate that he is leading

leading the department during this challenging time in our history. as i told him earlier he sets a very high bar for others to emulate as they look to surveys caring and compassion. director, men and women at dia and the intelligence community recognizing greatly respect your managed lifetime in the intelligence profession. we also appreciate your intelligence experience and the expertise to ukraine. thank you for your strong leadership, your loyal friendship and your service to this nation. also, dia has been fortunate to have your steadfast support over these many years. thank you sir. secretary mchugh, sir you also honor us with your presence today. thank you for your stewardship and leadership of your army during this particular moment in our nation's history.

general dempsey, were greatly honored by your participation today. as a former joint chiefs of staff i have a firsthand appreciation for the demands on your time. supporting you in the joint chiefs of staff is one of these agencies most important missions that we greatly appreciate the very high standard that you have set for the high-quality intelligence you need is the chairman. thank you, mr. chairman. general kehler commissar were fighting bass on our side of the house, thank you for taking time to be here today. he supported our mission with the resources and guidance we need to support this department and combat commanders in a time of unrelenting demand. thank you and i've appreciated your friendship over the years. there are faryears. there are far too many distinguished guests in this audience today for me to recognize everyone here. but there are a couple that i'm going to mention.

congressman rogers, i saw you sitting out there. sir, thank you very much. as the chairman of the house from the select committee on intelligence, i very much appreciated the way you a fletcher committee during your time as the chairman. you have always encouraged strength and honest discourse. you would call them like you saw them. we haven't always agreed but that is a good thing about our system. sir thank you for your support and your friendship. ..

>> i look forward to your collective wisdom is i take my new position that is referred to the ranks of geezer. [laughter] a special thank you to my buys a report. insight into our deliberations i appreciate the willingness to serve.

a friend of personal and professional and i am a better person. to the men and women of dia thank you for your service to the nation. serving as a director is an honor and a personal privilege. entrusted with the most sensitive missions you rise to do the challenges of a high of standard of selfless public service. my family, my wife and five children. and their families. thank you for being here today. i thank you for your support over the last 38 years.

all that i have done or achieved since my commission in 1974, i owe to you. [applause] thank-you for that spontaneous clapping moment. [laughter] i know everything to love, patience, a tireless support and strength. like all military families use serve as well.

as you can tell from the input i am getting. [laughter] and. [baby babbling] and even s it goes off to the museum i am proud to wear the uniform. with the trust placed in me with the army, department of defense and i am amazed by times passage and how quickly for decades have passed. for those of us time has a different quality. from my commissioning third

today is the blink of an eye. since 1974 worthier may has provided me the opportunity of a lifetime and the lifetime of opportunities. it is not the same army we've joined in 1974. it has been a long journey. severely challenged after be a non rebuilt during the cold war of victorious desert storm and never shown more strength than during the fight of the terrorist attack since 2001. 1974 was a good year. i am joined by others who have their career. director petraeus keith

alexander and jeff cleamons is supposed to be in the audience. we named ourselves the three amigos. as we've tried to make intelligence relevant. we tried to continue what several former dia directors , thomas's just to name of view. others will have to judge if we were successful. since 1997 i had the opportunity to serve exclusively in the joint world that southern command command, joint staff

staff, director of national intelligence and now dia. a matter that agency i had the ability to see the integration provided to the nation legacy of the goldwater nichols act. then came intelligence reform terrorism prevention act. i found myself among leaders charged with building an organization built upon the law. and it was an interesting time. weill learned about the capabilities of the intelligence committee.

under the outstanding leadership now under clapper more reform has been made and many thought possible i/o debt of gratitude to mcconnell and negroponte. i served under them at a period longer than some would care to remember. fe q for allowing me to surveying give me the freedom what we thought was right and the example of selfless service that each of you have exemplified with your service. it always looks easy after the fact that time you just the difficulty. we have kept at it. we may progress one did a

time it is a marathon not a sprint that is the nature of public service whether the uniform for the business suit. it puts a great premium on clarity, a commitment and integrity that brings me to my final point*. in the intelligence business, integrity is everything. it applies during peacetime anwr and good intelligence does make a difference. sometimes it is the difference. unfortunately some have seen where intelligence falls short. matter the circumstances

flood value of matters most. must tell leaders what they need to know not what they want to hear. we have a non negotiable obligation to the american people to call it as we see it. ronald reagan said it best " it is not enough of course, to simply collect information thoughtful analysis is vital to seven decision-making. the goal of our intelligence analyst can be nothing short of the truth even when the truth is unpleasant or unpopular" will not always be easy but the right thing to do. the defense agency knows that it guides them with their service and decisions.

what guides them everyday is dander standing much of what we do secret hour work shall be a public trust. that we must earn every day. i have seen that to zero for the last three years that is why no place would rather conclude my service that this agency. i could not be more proud to serve the worldwide mission. during our 50th anniversary last october of dia that was self reflection of was pleased to join others to recognize their performances 9/11 as their finest hour. would rise if professionals we have seen new

professionals make back to back deployments and conduct analysis against adversaries bergen never before has dia contributed that volume of intelligence up at the national level. and signals the agency's positive direction more can be done to take the agency to greater heights. i leave this agency thinking about its future. but i take great comfort to pay and over the directorship to lt. general flynn. he can handle any challenge put before him. he and his wife are well prepared based dog there many years of service. we wish both the view the

very best as you embark on this latest endeavor and a venture together. godspeed. over the past week i have focused on the things that matter the most to me. service friends, family my faith. i end my career deeply humbled with so much to be grateful for. the french principal or to from so many and grateful to those that are represented today and to lead the best troops. to have been granted the opportunity to wear a uniform of the united states

army but of but -- above all else i remain grateful for family and friends that have and will continue to love me, pray for me and support me in spite of myself. thank you for being here today and taking a timeout of your schedules and may god continue to bless our nation and those that serve in harm's way. thank you. [applause]

>> ladies a and gentlemen please remade standing as be will saying god bless america and the mentally for the official departure of the party. ♪ god bless america ♪ ♪ and that i love ♪ ♪ stand beside her ♪

♪ and it died heard ♪ ♪ to the night with the light from above. from the mountain to the prairie ♪ ♪ to the notion -- potion white with foam ♪ ♪ god bless america my home sweet home ♪ ♪ god bless america ugh ♪ ♪ my home sweet home.

♪ ♪ to the amount ♪ ♪ to the prairie ♪ ♪ to the ocean white with foam ♪ ♪ god bless america ♪ ♪ my home sweet home ♪ ♪ god bless america of ♪ ♪ my home sweet home ♪ ♪ america ♪

♪ [applause] ♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ [applause]

[inaudible conversations] in

>> dr. mugo wow! from a national referral hospital in kenya has worked on to multi site hiv clinical trials as a regional director for the partners and prevention and cites

investigator for the study sponsored to the international clinical research center and department of global health and university of washington. is currently the head of research at a programs and kenya please join me to welcome dr. mugo. [applause] >> good morning, everybody. i would like to thanks the conference organizers to talk about the implementation of science realizing that hiv prevention revolution. where we are with the

pandemic it remains the global health challenge. 1980's through present millions had died. the current population is 40 million. not a small number. the current estimate is 2. 7 million will be infected with 1.8 million dead. aids is the most common cause of death in africa and the sixth most common globally. 30 years from the epidemic research has demonstrated we have powerful interventions to prevent new infections. for the first time we can visualize the future free from hiv/aids.

what do we need to change? we need to start thinking about the population four targeted intervention we have seen the populations and in combination to get high impact. its i looked at data where i knew they j.p. infection was coming from in high pandemic areas sub-saharan africa and took data from i own home country where married and cohabitate being couples contribute 44% of new infections. this is true of other countries as well rate contributes the most of new

infections. we did not think of other populations with men and men and drug users but sex workers and a small proportion of drug injection is a small percentage of new infections. and drug users have this transmission is any one. patterson -- so with a heterosexual couple is key. the highest risk of the new infection but yet to across datasets 50% of the affected individuals are also hiv negative.

in the absence of couples counseling it is difficult to know who is at risk or who needs to be targeted for intervention. we have learned to couple's desire for children overshadows the infection and something we need to think about. this population requires private prioritization. of the sec's worker project 40% are hiv-infected and 20% of the cohort has stayed the same from the '80s pro with these people in the cohort only 20% know how to

correctly use a condom. i have seen many presentations with the political environment but they're reluctant to see teleservices. it could lead to the 14 year jail sentence. some of the neighboring countries have harsh sentences where men having sex with men. harsh condemnation and also sexual abuse. we cannot have the hiv revolution 42% of infections come between age 15 and 24 years old.