has been looked at and looked at again come and it is the responsibility of the chief of missions to look at both the physical security working with the security team that you lead, as with any threats that are posed day in and day out at the threat level might be changing, and it's a constant give and take, constant conversation. and i think it's probably best to leave at that. >> thank you. ..

>> a video showing a mob assault a woman in tahrir square and a policeman's struggle to save her has been circulating on the internet. how would you work with the egyptian government to insure the prevention and prosecution of sexual assault? how would you work with them to insure that this is a priority for them in this new government? >> the act you're referring to and others like it which have been reported as well are are extremely disturbing, and we're extremely concerned about those type of incidents. women should have the ability to go anywhere they want in the country just like a hand, and they should be full participants in egypt's democratic and social processes. we need to engage the egyptian government, we need to make clear that these activities are unacceptable, and i recognize that egypt -- including president assisi, has made statements to the effect that these are unacceptable.

and they need to do everything they can to insure women are safe in the afterhath of this incident. we have -- aftermath of this incident. we need to pursue those programs as well through our assistance consistent with the law. >> let me, for the record, and i'm just verifying this right now, but my understanding is that the memorandum of understanding is available to leadership as well as members and appropriately-cleared professional staff members of several committees including the senate foreign relations committee which would mean that any member and those professional staff who have been cleared for intelligence briefings will have access to the memo, so all members would be able to read it. with that, senator johnson. >> thank you, mr. chairman. again, want to thank the witnesses and your willingness to serve. ms. smith, when did you review the memorandum of understanding? >> earlier this week, senator. >> on monday, or -- >> i believe it was monday.

>> is your security clearance higher than that of a united states senator? >> i am, i can't answer that question. i don't know what your security clearance is. [laughter] >> okay. i appreciate the fact, mr. chairman, that now we have the opportunity to review that memorandum of understanding, but i think the point of my question is, is a nominee to be ambassador, you know, i think you should certainly be able to review that, but i think we should have been as well, but we simply were not until, apparently, late last night. >> i would like to make this commitment to you, mr. senator, if i am confirmed, i will be delighted to consult with you and any members of the committee and your staffs as closely and regularly as you like. >> you, in your testimony, said we are confident that the security measures that have been put in place, including restrictions placed on activities of the individuals, will stably mitigate -- substantially mitigate any threat that the individuals will pose to our national security. did you by any chance see the video of celebration as these five detainees were welcomed at qatar? >> i didn't see the video.

i saw reports about it. >> you should review that. it doesn't look like particularly restrictive environment to me. >> if i'm confirmed, we're going to be focused on our national security, and we will be looking at not only the directly-threatening types of things they could be doing, but things that constitute propaganda and that constitute that type -- >> because i was not able to take a look at the memorandum of understanding, i will go down, and can i will look at it. can you tell me, were there restrictions and terms of public displays for propaganda purposes within that memorandum of understanding? in other words, has qatar already violated that based on your understanding? >> i think the best thing that i can say here is that there will be restrictions on some of the activities of those individuals. i'd be delighted to consult with you, again, in a different setting. >> okay. ambassador beecroft, how would you assess or how would you

describe the result that's occurring in iraq now after we have withdrawn all of our combat forces? how's that going? >> well, iraq is facing a very, very severe challenge from terrorist group, particular -- terrorist groups, particularly the islamic state of iraq and the levant, and it has suffered setbacks. if there's a silver lining in this, it's that we're seeing iraqis over the past few days start to pull together in ways they haven't before, overcome sectarian divides. we've seen the kurds in baghdad start to cooperate on the battlefield, and we've seen iraq putting together a conference for sunnis to reconcile with as many groups as possible and engage them in the fight. so it's an uphill battle, it's a struggle. we're doing what we can to help them in ways of providing assistance for military equipment, military weapons, ammunition, providing training

and providing, sharing as much intelligence as we can with them to fight this battle. >> but, again, just kind of a one-word, couple-word assessment of the result. success? >> on the battlefield? it's very, very difficult. it cannot be considered a success. it's going -- it's a huge challenge. >> ambassador jones, what would you describe the result after our pullout of all combat troops in iraq? >> [inaudible] thank you, senator. as ambassador beecroft just characterized, i think the government of iraq continues to face a severe threat from isil which has now penetrated iraq through the influx of foreign fight beers across the syrian -- fight beers across the syrian border as a result largely, although not exclusively, of course, of the syrian war. the isil poses not only a threat to iraq, but to iraq's

neighbors. and i think the united states has a commitment to support iraq in its security, and we will continue to work true the pleasures that ambassador -- through the measures that ambassador beecroft just outlined to try to support the iraqi forces in this challenge that they face. >> now that we've seen fallujah, mosul fall to, basically, elements of al-qaeda, now that we've seen the iraqi security forces shed their uniforms, go door to door getting civilian clothes so they could meld into the population, do you see any silver linings? >> i think what ambassador beecroft said was i think the escalation of the threat posed by isil is having an impact in baghdad of drawing the political factions more closely together. and i think in the last 72 hours we've seen a series of meetings where the various political elements are coming together and

drawing up plans and looking for ways to cooperate for the national security. >> so do you expect the iraqi security force now to turn the tide and be able to capture back true ya and mosul? >> we certainly hope for that outcome, and i think it's incumbent upon the united states to support that outcome. >> you're obviously going to iraq, and god bless you for being willing to serve. you said there are 5300 u.s. personnel in iraq. are they going to be safe? >> that's a very good question, senator, and thank you more your kind words. the compound, as mentioned earlier, i was the deputy chief of higgs in baghdad from 2010 -- of mission in baghdad from 2011 2011 -- 2007 to twch. we've taken extraordinary measures to insure the safety and protection of our personnel. we're going to have to make sure and be vigilant to maintain those. we can't stay behind the walls. we have to be out. and i know that ambassador beecroft is out frequently to

meet with iraqi contacts in baghdad and ore parts of -- other parts of the country. so we're going to have to do the best we can to reduce the risks and insure that we can do, both do our jobs and stay say -- stay safe. >> can you tell me how many of the personnel are military? are those state department? >> yeah. it's a complicated question. i'd love to go into the details with you in another setting. suffice to say that we have a significant number of diplomatic security officers who are state department officers. we also have, of course, the marine security guards. and then we also have contract guards who are assigned to protect the perimeter. so it's a significant number, and i'd be happy to get back to you with the details. >> okay. i appreciate that. again, i wish you godspeed and safety and best of luck, but i hope the security of yourself and those serving with you on the ground in iraq is your top priority. >> thank you very much. i appreciate that. >> thank you. mr. smith, my questions have

largely been asked and answered, so i won't pursue them. i would just instruct the nominees that there will be, the record will be open for, until -- for the next 48 hours. to the extent that questions are submitted to any of you, i'd urge you to respond to them expeditiously so that we could move your nominations before a business committee meeting of the relation, foreign relations committee. and with the gratitude for your willingness to serve, this panel is excused, and i would call upon our second panel today. james nealon, nominated to be the ambassador to honduras. [inaudible conversations]

>> if we could have everyone who is not staying for the rest of the hearing, please, leave the room. [inaudible conversations] >> all right. as we have everybody exit, let me for the sake of time and votes that are going to be coming, our second panel is james nealon, nominated to be

ambassador of hon curious. -- honduras. being apprehended and held, the government of honduras is struggling to guarantee the security and economic welling with of its people, and as a result, we are left to address how we will handle waves of children immigrants crossing into the united states on their own and how the honduran government will handle the underlying issues of crime and violence. just last week president obama announced the creation of a task force to address what he called an urgent humanitarian situation stemming from unaccompanied minors crossing the border of the southern united states, many of whom are from honduras. i look forward to hearing mr. nealon's views. also on our panel is gentry smith, nominated to be the officer of ambassador. he is a career member of the foreign service, class administer i counselor serving

as deputy assistant secretary and assistant director for countermeasures at the state department, a position he has held since 2009. he has served as a regional security officer at the u.s. embassy in tokyo and the u.s. 'em bussey in rangoon, he served as deputy officer during two separate tours of duty in cairo. we welcome both of you to the committee. again, if you have family members, we urge you to introduce them to the committee. we appreciate their willingness to join in your service on behalf of our country. your full statements will be included in the record, without objection. but i ask you to summarize your openings in about five minutes or so, so that we can enter into a dialogue with each of you. with that, mr. nealon, you're recognized first. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. mr. chairman, ranking member corker, distinguished members of the senate foreign relations committee, it is an honor to appear before you as the president's nominee as

ambassador to honduras. i am deeply grateful to the president and to the secretary of state for their trust and confidence. after 30 years in the foreign service, i appreciate the privilege and the responsibility that it is to be considered for confirmation as ambassador. i deeply respect the role of the senate in insuring that the united states has a foreign policy that reflects our nation's values. i'd like to recognize my wife kristin who's here today and our four children; rory, katie, maureen and liam, all born while we were living overseas. we're a foreign service family, and we've been in this together from the very beginning, so this is their day as much as mine. i believe i also have a sister, a brother, a brother-in-law and many friends here, so i thank all of them, and i see my son arrive from california. glad to see him. mr. chairman, the headlines don't always tell a positive story about honduras. this is a country that faces tremendous challenges. many of them associated with the direct and indirect effects of

narcotics trafficking and organized crime. it's a challenge to establish strong democratic institutions, establish a rule of law culture, attack impunity and corruption, reduce crime, attract investment and insure a prosperous future for honduran citizens. i share with many members of congress a concern about the consequences of slow economic growth, impunity, weak institutions, corruption and extreme violence in honduras. i share the view that everything is related. impunity and lack of accountability and transparency promote a weak rule of law culture. they discourage investment, and they encourage illegal migration to the united states. we are partners with you in seeking to influence this trajectory in a positive direction. mr. chairman, in such circumstances some will ask if u.s. engagement in honduras makes a difference. i believe that it does and that it is in our interests to stay

engaged. a honduras with greater accountability and transparency will establish stronger rule of law institutions and be more likely to protect human rights. a honduras with a vibrant middle class means a larger overseas market for american-made products. a more secure and prosperous honduras means fewer migrants trying to cross our borders. a honduras with strong capacity means fewer drugs arriving in our communities. as president obama recently said, respect for human rights is an antidote to instability. a honduras with strong human rights protections means enhanced security in our region. the united states is committed to partnering with the government of honduras to promote prosperity, governance and security. in order to do so, we need willing partners in honduras who have the political will to transform their society, the capacity the seize drugs and the commitment to arrest, prosecute and sentence criminals.

they also need to guarantee the human rights of their own citizens. mr. chairman, honduras is at a cross roads. we have seen some early signs that the government of honduras is ready to take important steps to improve the lives of its citizens. in may, for the first time, the they extradited a notorious drug trafficker to the united states, an important strike against impunity. the new government has dedicated scarce resources to better combat trafficking in persons. they have fired corrupt police, they have indicted the entire board of directors of the social security institute for corruption, and they have invited the united nations to set up a human rights office. they have also formed a task force to investigate unsolved murders in a particularly conflicted area of the country. but there is no doubt the government of honduras still has a very big job ahead. i am fully aware of the serious doubts expressed, including in the u.s. congress, regarding the

willingness and ability of the government of honduras to take needed steps to improve the human rights situation. if confirmed, i commit to work tirelessly in this area. mr. chairman, i've been a deputy chief of mission at three embassies in this hemisphere. i'm currently the deputy civilian commander at u.s. southern command. i spent the last 30 years in thine foreign postings working to promote democracy and human rights, enhance security partnerships and promote u.s. exports and investment. mr. chairman, thank you again for the honor of appearing before this committee today. if confirmed, i pledge to work with you and your colleagues to advance the vital interests of the united states in honduras. thank you very much, i look forward to answering your questions today and at any time in the future. >> thank you, mr. nealon. and, you know, we didn't give you the appropriate, in our introduction. you have 30 years of experience joining the service in 1984. most recently been deputy chief of mission in canada, peru,

uruguay, also been located spain, hungary, the philippines and chile, as well as the current assignment you just talked about, so a tremendous background in this respect. we appreciate your willingness to serve. mr. smith. >> chairman menendez, ranking member corker and distinguished members of the committee, i am honored to appear before you today as president obama's nominee to be the next director of the office of foreign missions, ofm. i am profoundly grateful for the confidence the president and secretary kerry have demonstrated in nominating me for this unique and important position. my entire professional life has been dedicated to public service. beginning with my first career as a police officer in raleigh, north carolina, to my assignments at our embassies in tokyo, rangoon and cairo, and to my current role as the deputy assistant secretary for countermeasures with the bureau of diplomatic security, i have strived to improve the conditions in which our colleagues live and work.

i believe my dedication and commitment in this regard will serve me well if given the opportunity to lead the office of foreign missions, an organization whose primary goals are using reciprocity to insure equitable treatment of united states diplomatic council missions abroad and their personnel, regulating the activities of foreign missions in the united states to protect our foreign policy and national security interests, protecting the u.s. public from abuses and prejudices of immunities by members of the foreign mission and assistance to the foreign mission community in the united states on a reciprocal basis. as you are aware, ofm was established in 1982 as a requirement you should the foreign missions act -- under the foreign missions act. in passing the act, congress made it clear that the operations of foreign missions in the united states is a proper subject for the exercise of federal jurisdiction. for more than 30 years, the act has guided the department's management, extension through the foreign missions and united

states of privileges, benefits and immunities associated with the acquisition and use of real property, motor vehicles, driving services, tax exemptions, custom clearances and domestic travel courtesies and restrictions. in my estimation, the foreign higgss act is a landmark piece of -- missions act is a landmark piece of legislation which has positively conditioned the environment in which u.s. diplomatic and consulate missions operate abroad. this committee is well aware of the department's ongoing efforts to insure our personnel abroad work in facilities that are safe, secure and functional. i can authoritatively attest that the relocation of an american embassy is a complex, costly and difficult task. to accomplish this job, the united states government and many countries have, in countries, the sport of that -- support of that host country. and in countries where that support is lacking, the office

of foreign mission plays a critical role in assisting in the resolution of these impasses. we sometimes face with these governments during our attempts to acquire real property. and in those countries where we're relocating our facilities. when a country has an interest in improving and relocating its own mission in the united states, the office of foreign mission uses its ability to regulate the acquisition and the use of real property of those missions as leverage to achieve the department's own property-related needs in that country. without ofm and authorities it has under the foreign missions act, we may not have been able to build a new embassy in beijing, china, or a new annex in that same location. this and more was achieved as a result of reciprocity and the foreign missions act. in closing, mr. chairman, i am honored to have the opportunity to address you and the esteemed members of the committee. if confirmed, i will do all that i can to further these important objectives of congress as set

out in the foreign missions act. i look forward to continuing to work with you to insure the proper treatment of our foreign personnel abroad and that foreign missions here are good neighbors. thank you for this opportunity and your consideration for my nomination. i respect any request that -- respectfully request that my entire statement be entered into the record. >> thank you. mr. nealon, let me start off with, for me, the most pressing issue of the day as it relates to honduras which is in the headlines and minds of all of us who care about the issues of human rights and human dignity. and it's the thousands of young people and increasingly younger people who seem forced to leave their families and head for the u.s. border because of the inability of the honduran government and other central american governments to deal with crime and violence in a region that is home to the highest murder rate in the

world. i'm personally appalled by the staggering numbers of minors -- sometimes as young as 5 and 6 years old -- who are left, at least i guess by their perm circumstances -- personal circumstances, with no other choice than to try to cross the desert by themselves. and as you approach this post, i would like to get a sense from you as to what discussions you have had with the administration, with the state department. what's our strategy to try to address both the present challenge as well as the underlying causes that present the challenge that gives us this humanitarian tragedy? >> thank you very much, senator. i very much share your concerns about these children who are leaving central america,

including honduras, and making a difference trip this an attempt -- dangerous trip in an attempt to cross our borders. if confirmed as ambassador to hon do you recollect of course, my piece of this would be an earth in honduras to -- an effort in honduras to try to get hondurans to see their own future in their own country and not to try to make this dangerous trip. we all know what the push factors are. the push factors are the threat of violence and a lack of economic opportunity. senator, we currently have programs in honduras that are designed to address these issues. some of them are very good programs, but we have to ask ourselves if it's enough. we have programs that, such as the great program which address at-risk youth and try to wean them away from the threat of joining gangs. we have programs that offer economic opportunity. we support outreach centers which try and create a culture

where kids stay out of gangs, where they try to get job skills so they can enter the labor force, but it's extremely difficult. as you said, senator, it is one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere, and it is, perhaps, the most violent. so the challenge is staggering. >> well, let me just -- [laughter] let me just say that here's part of our challenge, and i hope that, if confirmed, you'll make this case within the administration. last week the white house thissed the congress that it would need $2.28 billion, billion dollars, to address the issue of unaccompanied minors crossing in the, to the united states. now, in 2015 the administration's request to congress was only $130 million. for its five-country central american regional security initiative. which is a decrease of $30 million over 2014.

so given that we these to spend $2.2 billion to address the consequences of the crisis here in the united states, it would seem that $130 million is absolutely insufficient to address the root causes of the problems. this is one of the things that boggles my mind. so we're going to spend $2.28 billion, almost $2.3 billion if we honor the president's request, to deal with young people crossing the border instead of spending that type of money to ultimately make sure they stay in their country and have the aspiration that you so aptly talked about. so i know this is above your pay grade, you don't make this decision. but since you're going to be going to this job upon confirmation, i hope you're going to make the case that $130 million for five countries, which is less than what we've done, but $2.2 billion to solve the, respond to the problem just

doesn't make any sense. this is our problem with, as someone who is the western hemisphere chair here before i payment the full committee chair -- became the full committee chair, getting the focus of the congress and this administration on the western hemisphere is challenge. it's fronter yard. it is our -- it is our front yard. it is our own national interests, and we seem to have a problem understanding that. we'll spend more on a crisis than we will on meeting the challenge in the first place. so can i get you to be an advocate for this proposition? >> senator, you can absolutely have me as an advocate for this proposition if confirmed. i'm, obviously, not in the position to assess how much additional money we might need in honduras to address this problem, but i do know that both usaid and the state department are right now assessing those programs we do have. so i will very much look forward to seeing the results of that assessment to see if we can get a handle on how much additional money we might need. >> mr. smith, let me ask you

what do you consider to be ofm's highest priorities x how do you perceive -- and how do you perceive your role in achieving them? this is a mandate that has evolved and expanded since the creation of the office in 1982. i want to get the nominee here what your highest priorities would be and what your role would be in pursuing them. >> -- thank you for that question, senator. as we know, the office of foreign missions as it came into existence from the foreign missions act of 1982 gives the secretary broad responsibilities for insuring that foreign missions act in a manner that's appropriate. my highest priority will be making sure that our citizens who work abroad are treated fairly and in a reciprocal manner and also insuring that the activities of foreign entities here are in support or

do not conflict with our national interests and also that there's no abuse of privileges and immunities by the missions and personnel that are here. >> now, i'd like to hear from you what role does the office of the director of the foreign missions play in interacting with diplomatic security with respect to security in our embassies and consulates abroad? >> the relationship between the office of foreign missions and the bureau of dip lo hattic security -- diplomatic security has existed for a long time. from the time before the office of foreign missions was officially an office within the bureau of diplomatic security until point where it is now where it is a separate entity. diplomatic security has always played a supporting role in helping the office of foreign missions carry out some of its respondents. we have to protect -- responsibilities. we have to protect the diplomats who are here in the united states through our police

liaison unit. diplomatic security has relationships with police organizations and local police throughout the country. and so we help to protect the diplomats who reside here, and we also offer protection to visiting diplomats who come here to visit the country in short periods of time through our protective details. in every location where there is an office of foreign missions, there's also a field office for diplomatic security. >> uh-huh. one final question. your, this office is often referred to as the office for tit for tat meaning that for one of our main goals is to insure reciprocity of treatment of our diplomats overseas. can you talk about that reciprocity? and there's one example, for example, argentina. a february 2013 department of state inspector general report suggested there was an array of reciprocity inequities

negatively affecting personnel at the office in argentina. in particular, inequities regarding the importation, exportation, sales and transfer procedures relative to private and government-owned vehicles and household effects. i'm under the understanding that the office sent a diplomatic note to the argentine embassy in washington drawing attention to the situation, but at the time of the inspector general's report, no response had been received. so that's an example of one of the important roles you play so that our people can have a decent standard of living as they are representing our country abroad. tell me a little bit about the reciprocity issue in yen, and do you know -- in general, and do you know about this argentina example in specific? >> thank you, senator. yes, reciprocity is one of our major tools we can use in insuring that our diplomats overseas and our missions that operate overseas are treated

fairly. i have had -- i have heard during my briefings for preparations that there has been an issue in argentina. as a matter of fact, i know that as you stated, the issue was raised in the february 2013 report. the reason that the issue is still under discussion is the fact that there is still information that we have asked for, the office of foreign missions has asked for from our mission in buenos aires, and, yes, we have been in contact with the argentine mission here, but there are additional details that are needed from the people that we have down on the ground -- >> something's wrong when 16 months later we're looking for information versus action. so if confirmed, will you commit to me that you'll make this one of your highest priorities? >> i will indeed, senator, if confirmed.

we very much would like that information because, you're absolutely right, we're looking and willing to engage on this issue to insure that our personnel overseas are treat inside -- treated in the fairest manner possible. >> senator corker. >> i'll let senator rubio go and then ask my questions. >> thank you both for your service to our country. mr. nealon, i have two quick questions, and i appreciate the ranking member's indulgence on this. the first has to do with an issue i'm sure you're aware of, and that was a u.s. crew that was arrested in honduras during a live job. they had a contract to dredge the pa talk about ca river and raise valuable mahogany and cedar logs that were on the bottom of the river bed. a very valuable contract, mutually men be official to honduras, but also to this crew that was involved in this. it's standard operating procedure for crews in the mosquito coast in this part of the world to have firearms to defend themselves from pirates

and potentially from drug traffickers in the region. this group pulled into the port, they declared their two pistols, their two shotguns and a semiautomatic sport rifle that looks like an ak-47. they declared it to the honduran navy inspection post. the sailors agreed to let them continue to the port, but when they arrived, they were arrested for weapons charges, and they remain in the custody of the honduran government. i just was hoping to get your commitment that, if confirmed, hopefully by the time you get there, this will be cleared up, but if not, you'll make it among your highest priorities to address this outrage that's occurred there. these men should not be in jail. they've done nothing wrong. they followed maritime law, and i just want your commitment publicly that we will address this issue if, in fact, this hasn't been cleared up -- and we hope it will be -- by the time you get there. >> thank you very much, senator. i am very much aware of the detention of the crew of the aqua quest in honduras on may 5th. you do have my word that, if

confirmed as ambassador to honduras, the safety and welfare of american citizens will be my highest priority. i too hope that this situation will be cleared up by the time i get there, if confirmed. but if i am confirmed, you'll with able to hold me personally accountable for the actions of the embassy in any case involving american constituents. >> we appreciate that. thank you very much. i want to talk about a broader issue that's emerging in the press because of the urgency of it, and the chairman's alluded to it. the facts are staggering. about five years ago there were 968 unaccompanied children that crossed the u.s. southern border. this year alone, not even halfway through the year, there's been more than 13,000 unaccompanied minors that have come across the border from honduras. this is, as i said, almost twice as much as last year, the entire year. we understand that violenceç ad poverty are a driver of this. it's important to understand the desperation that a parent must have to put their kids on, in

the hands of these groups that are going to move them across the border. that's how desperate people are to turn your child over. some of these unaccompanied minors are very young children. talking very young children. 6, 7, 8, 9 years of age, so this is a very serious humanitarian crisis that we're all kind of struggling around here to figure out what to do with it in the short term. i do want to ask you, what insight do you have beyond the motivation for doing it, why is this happening? in essence, we've heard anecdotal reports -- i have certainly in south florida -- among members, some in the honduran community, that there are what are, for lack of a better term, rumors that if, in fact, the children are able to get here, they're going to get to stay. is that, is, in fact, those rumors circulating, and if, in fact, they are as i believe there's some element of it. i don't know how much of it is quantified to that, but what can we do working with the honduran government to make clear to parents in honduras that despite

the desperation that they face and what we need to do to help the honduran people overcome that in their own country, this is not something they should be doing? they should not -- they are putting their children in grave danger when they're crossing through mexico into the united states. they become prime targets for traffickers, they become prime targets for all sorts of transnational criminal organizations. and then when they get to the united states to be abundantly clear, the laws of the united states do not allow them to stay here if they arrived illegally. whatever it is they're hearing, it's not accurate. what can we do through our embassy to help make that clear so that we can prevent this mass migration? i think this is a question to ask of our posts in el salvador and guatemala as well, but you're going to honduras. what can we do to make it clear that this is not something they should do, it isn't wise, and it puts their children in grave danger? >> senator, thank you very much. as i said to chairman menendez, i share your very deep concern for this situation. i'm not sure that i have any

wisdom to add to what i already said to the chairman, except i can say that the honduran government is running public service ads in honduras to counter the kind of rumors that you described. obviously -- >> do these rumors come from? why are they -- what are the perception that they can come and stay if they arrive -- where's that coming from? >> senator, you unfortunately, m not in the position to answer that question for you, i simply don't know. but i can tell you that, if confirmed, this issue -- which i think has gotten the attention, rightly, of all of us -- would be at the top of the list of my prior ties to try to address, and i would look forward to working with you. i know you have deep roots this the community in florida. i would really look forward to working with you to see if we could come up with some ideas to address the situation. >> thank you. thank you, mr. chair. >> senator cain. >> thank you, mr. chairman, and thank you to the witnesses and, mr. smith, i will apologize to you in advance. i have kind of an obsession about honduras, so i'm not going to grill you. i hope you don't mind.

and i'll start with mr. nealon. first, congratulations, this is a country of many, many wonderful people, and i think being ambassador to the honduras at this time -- though a very challenging one -- is going to give you a superb opportunity to continue what's really been anest mall career in foreign service, so i congratulate you. i lived in honduras in 1980 and '81, and i worked with jesuits there who are responsible for a lot of good work in that province and around the country. and i just, i kind of hate to say this, and every time i say it, you know, i kind of feel bad saying it. but when i was there, it was a military dictatorship, and it was a very brutal place, including brutal to people whom i worked with many of who were targeted during that time and after because of their advocacy on behalf of the least of these. especially the banana camps near el progresso. but it's worse now than then.

they're less safe now than then. it's not a military dictatorship anymore. you know, we moved out of the military dictatorship era into a time of presidential elections. but my friends who are there, it's not that they want to go back, but they're less safe than they were. and a country that was, that has been a superb ally of the united states, a country that is one of the original partners with us on an issue -- it's like a peace corps, now is one of the few countries in the world that can't even have peace corps volunteers there because of the level of violence and danger. and that's just a tragic thing to think about. one element of the tragedy in particular that i'm concerned about is, as you might imagine, is the people that i worked with. there was a radio station in el progresso, radio progresso, that was run by the jesuits, bombed and attacked when i was there. and a very prominent journalist who worked -- [inaudible] jesuit-run think tank -- was

just murdered on the 11th of april, murdered in his home in el progresso, and the speculation has been that he was murdered because he was a journalist, because he was doing what that radio station does which is call attention to human rights problems. there's been virtually no press that i'm aware of in solving that case, and he is one of 34 media representatives that have been killed in honduras since 2010. the fate of people i know -- and maybe it's unfair to focus on this -- but these are people doing good work, and they're raising questions that have to be asked, and yet they're being targeted as other journalists are as well. maybe if you could just start off there. what can you do in your position as ambassador to demand accountability for the deaths of journalists, demand that they take it seriously and hold up the virtues that we proclaim

here about the importance of a free press and the protections that they're entitled to? >> thank you very much, senator. first of all, i'm very aware of your obsession with honduras and your work as a lay missionary there back in the 1980s. and if confirmed, i would be delighted to well i don't -- weu back to introduce me to your old friends and your old haunts. you raise a number of very important issues, but i think the most important is the issue that goes to impunity. as you probably know, senator, impunity is a longstanding human rights issue in honduras. by some estimates, as many as 95% of crimes in honduras go unresolved. not just crimes against journalists or politicians or members of other such communities, but crimes against the population in general. so this is something that we simply have to address. i will say, senator -- and if you come down, if i'm confirmed and we get a chance to work

together on this -- i believe we've seen some early signs of positive steps that this government is willing to take important steps to begin to address these issues. and with your patience, i'll name a couple of them. first of all, last month honduras extradited -- >> good news. >> >> -- a notorious narcotrafficker. they had to change the constitution in order to do it. and we understand more extra dictions hay be coming. i think this is a very, very positive step. they have fired scores of corrupt livers. they've -- police officers. they've indicted the entire board of directors of the social security institute, 16 people, for corruption. and the president has requested that the united nations open up an office of the u.n. high commissioner on human rights in honduras. and i understand that the congress, our congress, has appropriated a million dollars towards that which i think is a fantastic step. so, senator, i believe we are

seeing early signs of positive steps, but i completely agree with you that the issue of immunity is manager that we need to get at -- is something that we need to get at. >> i want to associate myself with comments the chairman made about the importance of investments. trying to help the hondurans deal with the violence challenges in honduras not just because we're good people and it's not just because if we do it, it may slow down unaccompanied minors coming to our borders. i mean, the violence is largely driven by a drug trade that is fueled by americans' demand for drugs. hondurans aren't big drug users. the drugs are not transiting through hondurans because of the hand dune mass appetite for illegal substances. honduras has become a convenient staging ground, transit point and stopover lace for drugs that are coming -- place for drugs that are coming authority into the united states or canada. and so it is, you know, it is finish it's hard to look at

yourself in the here record and, you know, kind of just -- in the mirror and point the finger what the hondurans need to do about their justice system when you know so much of the violence that's causing parents to set their kids free is driven by a drug trade that's largely fueled by u.s. dollars and the demand for drugs. so we have more than just a need to do something, you know, to help a partner. we have an obligation here because the violence that folks are suffering under in honduras is something that's directly connected to domestic activities here in the united states. and it is my hope as well that we won't just, oh, gosh, now there's unaccompanied minors, i guess we have to do something about it because they're trying to come to our border. the country has one of the highest murder rates in the world because of a drug trade that, at the end of the day, is ending up in the united states, that ought to call us to do some things too. and the chairman said we ought to be proactive and not wait until the problem just gets to our door. if it's a problem we have some

responsibility for, we ought to be solving it even before it gets to our doorstep, and i associate myself, mr. chair, with your commenters. thank the witnesses, and i wish you my best. and i will visit you. i will. >> thank you very much. >> thank senator kaine, and particularly i know that he has a real passionate interest in honduras. and as such, throughout the central america region which is a challenge for us. i have one final question, in nealon. mr. nealon. you know, i was arguing earlier that we need to invest more so that we don't spend so much more, multiples more as it relates to facing the problem versus meeting the core elements of why we have situations like young people crossing the boarder. by same -- border. by the same token, as i advocate for increased resources to

addressing the citizen security issue throughout central america including, obviously, in honduras, we need a strong, shared approach with the governments in the region; in this case with honduras. in that sense, i want to get an understanding of your evaluation of the hernandez administration's ability and willingness. understanding you're not on the ground, but hopefully the briefings have given you some insight. the state department's 2013 human rights report on honduras raised concerns about corruption, the weakness of the justice system, unlawful and arbitrary killings by security forces. president hernandez has prioritized the creation of a military police force over what should be the u.s. priority of strengthening and reforming a civilian police force. and finally, the u.s. has, u.s. government has limited intelligence sharing and radar information as a result of recent legislation providing the

honduran government with authorities to shoot down civilian planes believed to be involved in drug trafficking. and while we certainly, you know, can applaud any efforts to try to intradistrict drug -- interdict drug traffickers, shooting down creates all types of risk, especially if you've got the information wrong. so what do these developments imply for our relationship with the government of honduras as we try to meet this mutual challenge? >> thank you very much, senator. first of all, you raised the issue of the military police. these are actually members of the armed forces who have law enforcement authorities who have been put on the street by the honduran government to try to address the highest murder rate in the world and the other violent crime that's pervasive there. we do not support putting the military in the treats in a law enforcement capacity -- streets in a law enforcement capacity.

we believe that distracts from the very important work that we do support with our programs of working with the civilian police force. because we believe that military police in the streets simply isn't a viable, permanent solution. we have to work with the civilian police. you also mentioned, senator, the recent legislation in honduras, the air sovereignty law which some people call a shootdown law. that is very problem gnattic -- problematic for the united states, and that point has been made clear to the honduran government. there were some immediate con we think sos -- consequences of that law. for example, southern command general kelly had to turn off air feeds that we provided to the hondurans because there was some risk that those air feeds could be used to shoot down civilian aircraft. and there may be other consequences to that as well moving forward. >> well, i, i hope this had been

part of the work that you'll pursue on confirmation in terms of trying to get us to a point that we can get the honduran government to agree with us on the common methodology if we're going to fund it, one that we can be supportive of. because if not, it'll be a further be challenge to trying to help them with citizen security. senator corker asked me to say that he will submit his questions for the record. he has deep respect for both of you, but he had a conflict in his schedule, so he couldn't stay any longer. so he will do that, and i will urge you not only to answer his questions, but any other members' questions as expeditiously as possible so that we can, therefore, consider your nominations before a business meeting of the full committee. and with the thanks of the committee for your willingness to serve, this panel's excused, and this hearing is adjourned. >> thank you very much.

knox next >> this saturday live coverage froe iowa state republican party convention in des moines. speakers include bobby jindal, kentucky senator rand paul and 2012 presidential candidate rick santorum. it's live at 11 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> we will need to learn again how to work together, how to compromise, how to make pragmatic decisions. in the upcoming midterm elections, americans will have choices to make about which path they want to go down and whether we'll make the investments we need in our people. i will leave that discussion to others. but for a lot of us in the

private and than profit sectors, we have work to do too. government doesn't have a monopoly on good ideas, obviously, and even if it wanted, it couldn't and shouldn't try to solve all the problems by itself. we have responsibilities to do what we can. >> hillary clinton's latest book called "hard choices" about her time as secretary of state and how her experiences there shape her view of the future. friday, live on c-span2, watch booktv coverage of secretary clinton starting at 6 p.m. eastern followed saturday morning with a book signing in arlington, virginia, live at 11 a.m. eastern. both events will reair saturday night starting at 8:30. booktv, television for serious readers, every weekend on c-span2. >> one of the things people don't always recognize is that during the war of 1812, it was fought from 1812 until after

1814, early 115. and service really -- 1815. and it was really about america republishing its independence against the british. this was sort of our second american revolution, and this flag is the object for which francis scott key penned the words which became our national anthem. >> the um imagine in 1995 that the flag was made to look whole and restored, and there's a whole bottom section that was reconstructed. when the flag was moved into the new exhibition space, there was a deliberate decision by the curators not to do that again. and what we wanted was that the flag becomes a metaphor for the country. it's tattered, it's torn, but it still survives, and the message is really the survival of both the country and the flag. and we're not trying to make it look pretty, we're trying to make it look like it's endured its history, and it still can celebrate its history. >> this year marks the 200th

anniversary of the british naval bombardment of fort mchenry during the war of 1812. learn more about the flag francis scot key wrote about -- scott key wrote about while we tour the star-spangled banner exhibit sunday night at 6 and 10 is p.m. eastern, part of american history tv this weekend on c-span3. >> wednesday president obama delivered the commencement address at worcester technical high school in massachusetts. this is half an hour. [cheers and applause] >> thank you! thank you. [cheers and applause] thank you so much! thank you! please, everybody be seated. well, good afternoon! [cheers and applause] it is great to be back in

massachusetts, and it is great to be here at worcester tech! [cheers and applause] i want to thank reggie for that outstanding introduction. [cheers and applause] i want to thank naomi for those inspiring words. [cheers and applause] i want to thank your outstanding, fabulous principal, sheila harrity, who's done so much to make this school a success. [cheers and applause] let me just say, when you're the national high school principal of the year, you're doing something right. there are a lot of principals out there. [applause] and we could not be prouder of what she's doing. i want to thank your mayor, joseph petty, your outstanding governor and great friend of

mine, deval patrick. [cheers and applause] wonderful congressman, jim mcgovern -- [cheers and applause] and most of all, i want to thank the class of 2014! [cheers and applause] thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day. and y'all look great. i want to thank all the parents and all the grandparents and the family and the friends. this is your day too. you know, part of the reason i'm here is because i've got to practice, because malia's graduating in two years. so i'm trying to get used to not choking up and crying and 'em parissing her. [laughter] embarrassing her. so this is sort of my trial runs here. i have to say i do not remember

my high school graduation seeker. speaker. i have no idea who it was. [laughter] i'm sure i was thinking about the party after graduation. [laughter] [cheers and applause] i don't remember the party either. [laughter] i'm just, i'm just telling the truth here. [laughter] you will remember the speaker at this graduation because there's a lot of secret service around, not because of anything i say that's so inspiring. [laughter] but i know this day has been a long time coming. together you made it through freshman initiation, you survived mr. o'connor's english class, which i understand is pretty tough. [cheers and applause]

everybody's got to have like a mr. o'connor in their life. [laughter] straighten you out. and now it's the big day. although i notice that none of you are wearing your ids. [laughter] rumor has it some of you haven't been wearing them for years. [laughter] today i'm exercising my power as president, granting an official pardon for all of you who -- [laughter] did not follow the rules there. i consider it my graduation gift to you. [laughter] i know a lot of folks watching at home today will see all of you in your caps and your gowns, and you'll think, well, maybe this is just another class of graduates at another american high school. but i'm here today because there is nothing ordinary about worcester tech or the class of 2014. [cheers and applause] ..

and that's why i am here today. i mean i like all of you and, i

am glad to be with you but the thing i really want to do is make sure that, what we've learned here at this high school, we can lift up tore the entire nation. i want the nation to learn from worcester tech. [applause] of course your journey is just beginning. take a look around at all the smiles from the parents and the grandparents and all the family members. everything your families have done has been so that you could pursue your dreams, so that you could fulfill your potential. everybody here has a story of some sacrifice that has been made on your behalf.

and whether you're heading to college or the military or starting your career, you're not going to be able to take them with you now. some of your moms and dads probably wish they could hang on to you a little bit longer. some of you may be, are ready to get rid of you. regardless though, you are now entering into a stage where it's up to you and what you can do is remember some of the lessons that you've learned here and carry them with you, wherever you're going. and i want to talk about three of those lessons. a couple of which have already been mentioned by the previous speakers. first of all i want you to remember that each of us is only here because somebody somewhere invested in our success. [applause] somebody invested in us.

i know that's true for me. i was raised by a single mom with the help of my grandparents. we didn't have a lot of money growing. at times we struggled. when my mom was going to school at the same time as she was raising my sister and me, you know we had to scrape to get by but we had a family who loved me and my sister and i had teachers who cared about me, and ultimately with the help of a community and a country that supported me, i was able to get a good education. he was able to get grants and student loans and opportunities opened up and all of this happened because people saw something in me that i didn't always see in myself. that is not just true for me. that is true for michelle who grew up the daughter of a blue-collar worker and a mom who

stayed at home and then became a secretary. never went to college themselves. that is true for deaf val deval. grew up initially on the south side of chicago and somebody reached out of and behave him a hand up. it is true of this city. this town has always been home to people with big ideas. the mayor mentioned the robert goddard, the father of the modern rocket. he was born here, performed some of the earliest tests on rock chetry but worcester is also prepared its workers for the jobs that these big ideas would bring. that's why they opened a technical school here more than a century ago with class of between 9-iron workers and between 3-wood workers and that school became worcester tech. along the years economy changed.

innovation made it possible for businesses to do more with less. the internet meant those companies could do it anywhere. schools like this were finding it harder to prepare with cools looking for. a guy named ted coughlin came along and -- [applause] known as godfather of worcester tech. he set out to make the school what he knew it could be. a place where businesses trained new workers and young people get keys to a brighter future. he put his heart and soul into it. eventually that is what happened much. ted helped raise money for a new building and the state and federal government chipped in as well. businesses helped create everything from auto service center to a bank right inside of the school and top-notch teachers got on board, led by

principal heraty and the assistant principals here and outstanding superintendent. before long worcester tech was an its way to becoming one of the best schools in the city and today so many students want to come to worcester tech there is a waiting list of more than four hundred names long. [applause] the number of students scoring proficient or advanced in math has gone up 100%. in english, more than 200%. 95% of students now graduate in four years and just as impressive, many of you are leaving here with more than a diploma. you're already certified as a nursing assistants and emts and home held aides and preparing to become i.t. associates. and with some of the credits you earned some of you are on the way to a college diploma. as ted said, our students

deserve the best so we can help them become the best, for their future and ours. the point is a lot of people made an investment in you. i can't imagine a better investment. but, as you experienced your success and as you experience setbacks, you need to remember, everything that's been put into making sure that you had opportunity. which brings me to the second thing i hope you remember when you leave here. you will also have to give back. [applause] this community invested in you. you've got to, you've got to make sure that you use those gives. when my secretary of education arne duncan came to worcester tech earlier this year he said he had never seen a school more open. if you live near the school you

wan come in and get your car detailed for a fraction of what it would cost someplace else. so i'm giving a little free advertising to the detailing operation here. you can eat a meal cooked by students in the culinary arts program. [cheers and applause] one teacher called the hair salon, the city's best kept secret. [cheering] your veterinary clinic cares for about 250 pets a month. so i could have brought bo and sunny here. you guys would have taken care of them. so worcester tech isn't separate from the broader community. you're a vital part of the community. so part of what you've learned here is that we are, we at our best, we are strongest when we are working together and when we're looking out for one another and we have

responsibilities towards each other. and all of us have contributions to make. you're giving back to folks who gave you so much and whatever you do next i hope you keep giving back. that may mean staying in worcester and working for one of the companies that helped train you. if it means going to college or the military, or using your skills to help more students get the same opportunities that you have had here, no mater what it is that you do, no matter what path you take, i want to make sure that you understand the incredible leadership that we now expect from you. i understand that every year at exam time you hear from a motivational speaker and one of them this year was colin powell because when you're getting ready to take a test it never hurts to get a pep talk from a general. but the best part is that you

decide to do the same thing for younger kids. so this class, those of you in the national honor society rolled out, rolled out the red carpet for students at nearby chandler elementary. and so those younger kids left here feeling fired up, inspired by your example, looking up to you, imagining that they could do what you did. and they're going to keep on looking up to you and there are going to be people across the country who are watching you and when they see you succeed, when they see you working hard, when they see you overcoming setbacks, that is going to inspire them as well. that brings me to my final point which is, i hope you leave here today believing that, if you expand make it, then there shouldn't be any kid out here who can't make it. every child in america, no matter what they look like or where they grow up, what their last name is --

[applause] there is so much talent out there and every single child, as ted understood when he helped transform this school, every single child should have the opportunity like you have had to go as far as your talents and hard work will take you. i've seen you do it. so we know it's possible. that's a challenging time. i think sometimes, i worry that your generation has grown up in a cynical time. in the aftermath of a great recession, in the aftermath of two wars, we live in a culture that so often focuses on conflict and controversy and looks at the glass half empty instead of half full. you're grawing at a time when

you'll no longer be competing just with people across town for good jobs. you will be competing with the rest of the world. but when i meet young people like you, i am absolutely certain, we are not just going to outcompete the rest of the world. we are going to win because of you. because we are americans. that's what we do. we don't settle, we outwork, weout innovate and weout outhustle the competition and nobody can beat us. that is what you've shown at this school. not just a few kids that show how their hard work will takes them i want the process of all our young people to achieve their god-given potential. as president my job is make sure everyone in the america gets that chance and deval patrick that everyone in the commonwealth gets that chance and the mayor that everyone in this town gets that chance. every community is different.

if worcester can bring teachers, business and entire communities together for the sake of our young people, then other places can too. that is why i have challenged high schools across the country to do what you're doing here. better prepare students for the demands of a global economy. we're getting started this year with a competition that pairs schools and employers and colleges to combine quality education with real world skills. as part of that initiative i launched something, called connect ed, working with the private sector to connect america's students with high speed and broadband technology, just like you've got here at worcester tech. already companies have committed to donate $2 billion to this effort and, starting this week, schools, teachers and students will be able to go to whitehouse.gov and access resources in time for the new school year because i want to encourage more schools to do what you are doing. you set a standard. you set a bar.

more schools can do it across the country. [applause] if you're going to college i also want to make sure that when you graduate you don't have a mountain of debt. [cheers and applause] so we're not only working to make college more affordable, we're working to help more students pay back their loans that they take out when they go to college. it is not fair to do students to do everything right to get saddled with debt they have to pay off not just for years but in some cases decades. we can do better than that. [applause] and i, even though they had votes and couldn't make i want to make a plug to a couple people. senator elizabeth warren and congressman john tierney, both from massachusetts who introduced bills that would make it easier for students to repay their student loans. the same idea we used to make it easier for parents to pay off

their mortgages. today that idea was defeated by republicans in congress, which was frustrating. especially, well, don't boo. just remember to vote. [laughter] [applause] so i know this frustrating for parents. it is frustrating for students who are working hard and doing everything right. too many politicians in washington that don't have the right priorities. we need to straighten them out. maybe they forgot where they came from and who invested in them along the way. and when a bill to help you pay off your college doesn't pass, it is a disservice not only to your generation but to our history as a nation that strives to put quality education within the reach of every american. so we'll have to keep on putting pressure on congress. but in the meantime where congress won't act i will do whatever i can on my own. so on monday i announced --

[applause] on monday i announced executive actions that are going to help students like you find the right options and give millions of americans who are already making their loan payments a chance to cap those repayments at 10% of their income because a quality education shouldn't be something that other kids get. it should be something that every kid gets and that has to be a priority for this country. [applause] i tell you all this not just because you stand to benefit from changes in laws but because you're going to have to be a part of helping to shape the law. you're going to have to shape public opinion. you're going to have to remember everybody who invested in you, you will have to remember the experience of being part of this incredible community. and then when you go out into the world, whether you are a business person or you are in

the military or you are an academic or a doctor, or, whatever it is that you're doing, you will also be a citizen. you're also going to be somebody who has a voice in how this country operates, and you've got to push so that others get the same chance you did. in making sure that every young person has the same opportunities you've had it won't be easy. progress takes commitment. it takes hard work. we have to fight through the cynicism. it is going to take work from parents and from teachers and members of the community and from students but i know we can do it and i know it because of you. if melinda blanchard can get so good ad welding a bunch of college kids asked her help building a solar paneled house for a competition in china, i know that we can get more young people excited about learning.

[applause] if greg carlson can help the robotics team at worcester tech win the world championship and still find time to mentor a robotics team at the middle school where he started out, then i know we can help guaranty every child in america a quality education. if derek murphy can start his own web development company and graduate with 18 college credits, i know we can help more students earn the skills that businesses are looking for. you're already doing it! you're already blazing a trail. you're already leading. you're already giving back. you don't need to remember what i said today. because you're already doing it. and if it can happen in worcester, it can happen any place. and if it does, if more communities invest in young people like you, if you give back, if we all keep fighting to

put opportunity within the reach of everybody who is willing to work for it, america will be stronger, your future will be brighter, there is no limit to what we can do together. congratulations to the class of 2014, you're going to do big things. god bless you. god bless the united states of america. [applause] >> thank you, president obama. thank you president obama. not only for being here, but for your inspiring remarks. we're so honored to have you here celebrating our students and our school's success. at this time i would like to introduce our class officers. president reginald sapon.

vice president monica valente. secretary, keisha flynn. and secretary, leticia austin. they would like to present our guest with a certificate of appreciation. >> on behalf of the class of 2014, i would like to thank president obama for joining us today and for sharing his words of inspiration and encouragement. we would like to present you with this worcester technical high school national blue ribbon school jacket as a remembrance of the celebration and to thank you -- [applause] and to thank you for making our graduation an event that we will surely never forget. [applause]

[cheers and applause] >> yeah. whoo! [applause] >> superintendent, dr. melinda boone. mayor joseph petty we would like to present you with these gifts. a donation in your name to the worcester county food bank as a token of our appreciation for your support and participation in this truly memorable event.

[applause] at this time, we would like to present a gift from the class of 2014 to dr. harity we would like to thank you her and the entire worcester technical high school staff for four remarkable years. [applause] >> thank you very much for your generous gift, the class of 2014 will always be with us. and now it is the time you have been waiting for! [cheers and applause]

we, we will now present the diplomas to our graduates. [applause] [shouting] >> destiny albino. [applause] leona alicia. [applause]

nicole allen. zachary seth allen. brittany marie chavous. lequtia austin madison. omar amakl. vincent a shown anderson. lizette m. arden. marilyn aravalo. that tall i can't baez.

provans val baliant. jeffrey balzer. dug last eric barbin. rose batista. justin t. beck. emily bagonas. michael joseph benson. matt andrew bergeron. lindsey berdier. diondra nicole berry. larry bethune.

gina n. beseglia. ryan beseglia. melinda marie blanchard. johani bowman pagan. kristin boyce -- >> friday, hillary clinton recounts her tenure as secretary of state from her recently published memoir "hard choices." the former first lady and new york senator will be interviewed by politics & prose owner lindh can muskatine from washington university in washington, d.c. live 6:00 p.m. eastern on c-span2. >> c-span's new book, sundays at 8:00, includes "huffington post"

correspondent david wood. >> there is something that drives them to this ideal of service and the, like some people i know who served in war, that the intensity of the experience, the intensity of the relationships they have with their combat buddies, are so strong and so pure and true, that they look back on those types with mourning. i always asked them, you know, do you wish this had never happened? you know and they're like, i would do it again in a heartbeat. i think there is something else that gross on there too and it is that going through a near-death experience somehow seems to give them so much strength and courage and

optimism that i think that's one reason why they would do it again. >> read more of our conversation with david wood and other featured interviews from our book notes and q&a programs in c-span's "sundays at eight." from public affairs books available for a father's day gift at your favorite book seller. >> one of the things people don't always recognize is that during the war of 1812, it was fought from 1812 until after 1814, earl 1815 and it was really about the america re-establishing its independence against the british. this was sort of our second american revolution and this flag is the object for which francis scott key penned the words which became our national anthem. >> this is the image in 1995 that the flag was made to look

whole and restored and there is a whole bottom section that was reconstructed. when the flag was moved into the u.s. exhibition space there with as deliberate decision by the car ratetores not to do that again and what we wanted that the flag is metaphor for the country. it is at that timerred torn but still survives the message is the survival of the country and the flag. we're not trying to make it look pretty. we're trying to make it look like it endured its history and can still celebrate its history. >> this year marks the 200th anniversary of the british naval bombardment of fort mchenry during the war of 1812. learn more about the flag that francis scott key wrote about while we tour the smithsonian's star-spangled banner exhibit. sunday night at 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. history. part of american history tv this weekend on c-span3. >> live now to the u.s. capitol and the senate today. circle confirmation votes for

presidential nominees. senators will debate and then vote on confirmation of the nominee to be u.s. ambassador to the u.n. educational and scientific and cultural organization. that is unesco. followed by confirmation votes for nominees undersecretary of the defense, chair of the national endowment for the arts and assistant agricultural secretary. later in the day we expect confirmation votes for two members of the federal reserve board of governors and vice-chair of the fed. now live to the senate floor here on c-span2. the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. today's opening prayer will be offered by rabbi doniel ginsberg, associate dean of the yeshiva ateres, shmuel in waterbury, connecticut. the guest chaplain:

our father in heaven: bless the united states of america and the brave men and women of our armed forces who have left their loved ones in defense of freedom. bless our lawmakers, men and women who love to serve and who will serve with love. place into their hearts and into the hearts of their counselors a moral compass to guide them to the right decisions. oh lord, protect and inspire these good, gifted and gracious people. endow them with courage, fortitude, wisdom, and crown them with humility and compassion. may the eternal teachings always be with them to act with accountability, to relate with respect, to be diligent and devoted, to be a friend of truth. may our beloved unites states be a place where dreams are worth dreaming, a place where

sacrifices are worth enduring, and where our tomorrows can be even better than our todays. amen. the presiding officer: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the presiding officer: the clerk will read a communication to the senate. the clerk: washington d.c., june 12, 2014. to the senate: under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable brian schatz, a senator from the state of hawaii , to perform the duties of the chair. signed: patrick j. leahy, president pro tempore. mr. reid: mr. president?

the presiding officer: majority leader. mr. reid: i move to proceed to calendar number 428. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 4660, an act making appropriations for departments of commerce, justice, science and related agencies for fiscal year ending september 30, twist, and for other purposes. mr. reid: mr. president, i would yield to my friend, the distinguished senator from connecticut. the presiding officer: the senator from connecticut. mr. murphy: thank you very much. i'd like to thank majority leader reid as well as chaplain black for allowing rabbi ginsberg to open with prayer talking about acting into conscience. a word about rabbi ginsberg's leadership. he has been helping to organize one of the most robust religious communities in connecticut for the last decade. in 2000 rabbi harris conceived a

yeshiva in waterbury. it began with 38 students and today has grown to service 600 students and 180 families who have settled in a neighborhood just off of the center of waterbury that 10 to 20 years ago had become pretty run down but today is thriving, rebuilt because of the community surrounding the yeshiva. we've had a wonderful jewish community in waterbury since the mid1800's but stronger today now than ever in large part because of the efforts of rabbi ginsberg. in addition to building this wonderful community, being amongst its leaders, he also has been a great counsel to myself, senator blumenthal, governor malloy, both as a moral guide but also we can rely on when it comes to the tough policy choices we have to make. again to chaplain black and to leader reid, thank you to rabbi ginsberg, thank you for accepting our offer to lead us

this morning. i yield back. mr. reid: following my remarks and those of the republican leader, the senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:30 this morning during that time the republicans will control the first 30 -- minutes. at 11:30 up to four roll call votes on confirmation of several nominations, although we are confident and somewhat hopeful that only one roll call vote will be necessary. we will move forward to confirm crystal -- nix heinz, michael mccord to be secretary of defense, actually the comptroller of the defense department. jane chu, chairperson of the national endowment of the arts. and then we will move forward on todd batta to be assistant secretary of agriculture. there will be three roll call votes on three federal reserve nominations. lael brainard to be a member of

the federal reserve system. jerome powell, member of the board of governor of the federal reserve system and stanley fischer to be vice chair of the board of governors of the federal reserve system. would the chair announce the business of the day. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. under the previous order, the senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:30 a.m. with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, and with the republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the next 30 minutes. mr. reid: i would ask that the, there be a quorum call initiated with the time charged equally. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

quorum call:

mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: the republican leader. mr. mcconnell: i ask that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: yesterday, the senate passed bipartisan legislation to address the v.a. scandal. the sanders-mccain bill will increase patient choice.

it will infuse some much-needed accountability into the v.a. system, and it was important for us to show some urgency in addressing the crisis. that's why i voted for it. that's why i'm glad the majority leader decided to move forward with this effort, even if it took a vote to set aside a partisan bill in order to take up this important bipartisan legislation. it will now go to conference so it can be improved further. the sooner the bill managers begin negotiations with their colleagues in the house, the sooner we can get a bill on the president's desk. i'm optimistic that it will do just that. as i have said all week, the systemic failures and scandals we've seen within the administration are a national disgrace. when you see 100,000 veterans, 100,000 of them waiting for care, that's a national disgrace. when you see so many veterans waiting three months or longer just to get an appointment, that's a national disgrace.

and when you see veterans dying before they even receive care that they are counting on, well, it's completely unacceptable. so this problem needs to be solved, and there is more to be done. a lot of the responsibility here resides with the president himself. he still needs to nominate a capable manager who possesses the necessary skills, leadership and determination to fix the scandal. he needs to support the thousands of v.a. workers committed to serving our veterans and to provide all those who served bravely with the timely care they deserve. and he needs to use all the tools in his toolbox to address the systemic management failures, both the tools he already has and the new ones we can provide him. like those contained within the legislation we passed yesterday, because our veterans have waited long enough for care, they shouldn't be made to wait any longer.

now, mr. president, on another matter, obviously, much of washington's focus this week has been on doing right by our veterans. that's exactly what we should be doing. we owe so much to the men and women who protect us, and in that spirit, i would be remiss if i failed to acknowledge an important milestone just reached by one of america's most famous veterans. today our nation's 41st president george h.w. bush turns 90. it's a rare milestone. only four other presidents have ever reached it -- herbert hoover, john adams, gerald ford and the man president bush once served under, ronald reagan. and beyond wishing him a very happy birthday, i want to acknowledge president bush's extraordinary record of service. on his 18th birthday, the future president volunteered as a world war ii navy pilot, going on to receive the distinguished flying cross for bravery.

from there, he would go on to excel in a dizzying number of fields -- as a businessman, a congressman, a diplomat, c.i.a. director, leader of his party, vice president and president, commander in chief during desert storm and desert shield. even his post-presidency has been marked by a continuing and gracious willingness to serve. yet, for all of his professional distinction, i know president bush's favorite job never appeared on his resume. it was his role as proud husband to barbara, who also turned a year older this week and as the father of five adoring children and the proud grandfather and great grandfather. maybe that's why every time you see him these days, he has always got a big smile on his face and a lively pair of socks on his feet. with a loving family like that, it's not hard to see why. so i'm proud to cosponsor the resolution we passed yesterday honoring this good man and

former president for such a long lifetime of service. and i know my colleagues join me in sending president bush the warmest of birthday wishes. now, mr. president, on to one final issue concerning our nation's veterans. i want to honor an exemplary citizen of my home state, the commonwealth of kentucky, who has devoted her life to service of our country. martha j. cassidy is a veteran of the united states army, a member of the veterans of foreign wars and this saturday she will be named the first female veteran state commander of the kentucky v.f.w. her ascension to this post is an accomplishment that i believe is deserving of recognition and praise here in the senate. martha was born on september 29, 1957, in my hometown of louisville. she was raised there by her parents, joan and charles

blandford. while attending western high school, martha joined the ladies auxiliary to veterans of foreign wars in 1974, thus beginning her life of devoted service to her country. the stated mission of the ladies auxiliary is to serve the veterans of this country and our communities in honor of the sacrifices and commitment of every man and wol who has served in uniform. for nine years, martha worked tirelessly to advance this mission, holding multiple chairmanships in the organization. martha joined the u.s. army in october of 1984 as a track vehicle repairer and gave ten years of honorable service to the army, including postings in germany and south korea. she became eligible to join the v.f.w. while stationed in south korea, and she did so in 1991. upon returning from south korea, martha was stationed at fort stewart, georgia, where she was

injured during her battalion's preparations for operation desert storm. she was honorably discharged in 1994. after leaving the army, martha earned her associate's degree in applied science from alabama southern community college. although her days in the military were behind her, martha's service to america and to her fellow veterans would continue. since 1999, martha has been heavily involved in the veterans of foreign wars. she has held numerous chairmanships and chairs on the post and district level. she served as v.f.w. post and district commander. she has held chairmanships on the national level and has been on the national women's veterans committee for the past three years. she currently serves as senior vice commander of the kentucky v.f.w., and this saturday she will be named the first female veteran state commander of the kentucky v.f.w. we owe our veterans an unimaginable debt for their service to our country.

in this new post, martha will continue to serve her nation by advocating on veterans' behalf. martha works to make real the v.f.w.'s vision, ensuring that veterans are respected for their service, recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of a grateful america. so today i ask that my senate colleagues join me in recognizing martha j. cassidy's lifetime of service to our country and wishing her well in her new post as veteran state commander of the kentucky v.f.w. she is a true friend of kentucky's veterans to the commonwealth and to our country. mr. president, i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presidinga senator: mr. pre? the presiding officer: the senator from missouri. mr. blunt: mr. president, i want to join our leader, the republican leader in recognizing the birthday of the 41st

president of the united states, george h.w. bush. it is possible that nobody ever came to the presidency with a preparation that exceeded his in both diplomacy as he served as the first u.s. emissary to china in that -- those decades or as he served as the head of the c.i.a., as he served as vice president. just reading a few days ago another and a new retelling of what happened as the soviet bloc fell apart, the importance of both president reagan and then president bush who brought his unique background to that time when it was so unpredictable what might happen, and frankly the results turned out to be results that were carefully

managed by this president as the berlin wall fell, as these countries came together, president bush's skills were in great evidence as they were when the coalition was put together to push back what the iraqis had done in kuwait. but probably his greatest example to all of us is his example of a man of kindness and generosity. some would say almost too forgiving a nature to have risen in politics as he did, but on his the 0th -- his 90th birthday, i think it's a good time for americans to reflect about his service to the country. his wife's birthday was just a few days ago, and on her birthday, we also want to think about their family and what their family has meant to the country. my understanding is the president has announced that he intends to jump out of an airplane for the third decade in a row as he did on his 70th birthday and his 80th birthday

and his 90th birthday. i'm not sure the judgment to do that is quite as good as the judgment he showed as he managed the future of the country, but if you get to be 90, you're only 90 once, and i'm sure he is the only 90-year-old president to have jumped out of an airplane on his birthday on three different decades. the youngest pilot in world war ii, and so we all appreciate the service of george h.w. bush to his country from signing up to be the youngest pilot until the service that he continues to provide as a former president of the united states. i was thinking about him and the other world war ii veterans as we see them leave us, as heads of families, as examples we can turn to, and thought of another veteran who one of my colleagues was mentioning just a few days ago, senator moran's father.

raymond moran died on d-day at 98 years old. senator moran and i have been good friends for a long time. on this floor and in the senate, i am always talking about my good friend and my long-time relationship. this is a case where we really have been close friends, so close that in the couple of decades now, we have known each other, i have heard a lot about jerry moran's father and his mother. jerry was lucky enough to have both of his parents until just a couple of years ago, and his mom and dad were together until just a couple of years ago. but jerry's father as staff sergeant in north africa and italy wasn't part of the d-day invasion, even though his death on june 6, the 70th anniversary of d-day, a significant date for all the veterans of that conflict, but the stories i heard about senator moran's father were the

stories that you would think that a man from plainville, kansas, would be part of -- quiet, unassuming, church-going, passing along the values that he stood for to his family and working hard and believing in some way that somehow his children could do anything they wanted to do and then having the opportunity to see his son in the congress of the united states, representing that huge district in western kansas and then in the senate of the united states. these are two stories, very different stories, the george h.w. bush story and the raymond moran stories are very different in the lives these two men led but very similar in the values they stood for, and the values of that generation, that generation that tom brokaw called the greatest generation, are fundamental and foundational

values to what we're all about as a nation. and this week, the senate stepped up, united as we seldom do these days, to talk about the veterans of that war and our other wars and the obligation we have to our veterans. i think te bill that the senate passed yesterday that i cosponsored, that i vote for can be better, and i think it will be better after we have a chance to talk to our house conference. maybe like the conference used to be. it is time we got back to the normal way of doing business. but the underlying approach, this key significant change that the bill that the senate passed yesterday brings to the veterans is more options and more opportunities. and particularly our younger veterans, mr. president. i want to see more choices. they want to have more information. when senator stabenow and i