employee sitting at his or her job. they should also think about the stresses that employees face outside of work. childcare, aging parents, long commutes. if an employer can find creative ways to ease some of those stresses, employees can be more productive with the time they are at work. ..

she was able to enroll her twins into four, four-day kindergarten next year and start friday fun days this summer. not only is jamie getting to spend time with her kids, she is, she also has peace of mind that every monday she won't with to catch up on a day's worth of missed meetings. rei was another company that participated in the discussion. they allow for flexible commuting to employees can go in earlier and miss rush hour. i'm sure that is something everybody here can relate to coming into washington. as an outdoors company they also

want their work place culture to encourage employees to live healthy lives. what they refer to as nature nutures. so they encourage employees to get outside, go for a hike, and engage in activities that they enjoy outdoors. pretty nice, huh? the participants also discuss other ways to address many of the challenges every working family faces offering on site day care, providing a set amount of paid leave and connecting workers with elder care programs. underscoring all of these policies was another theme. employers should trust employees and trust that these solutions make workers happier and productive. it is important that businesses adopt policies that recognize life is rarely simple and that

the american family has changed. when we think of caregivers, we often think of a mother caring for her child but that image simply does not reflect today's realities. particularly those in the sandwich generation, individuals who are caring for their children at the same time they are caring for their parents. like so many americans both my husband joe and i have had first-hand experience of caring for our parents in the final years of their lives. i can vividly recall how caring for joe's parents, both of whom came to live with us in the last months of their lives. but the role of caregivers in today's society is, is expanding far beyond children caring for parents. a role that remind me of two brothers i met last fall, kyle

and bret pletky. kyle is an army specialist who was injured in his first deployment to afghanistan in late 2012. during his recovery bret's employer encouraged him to make the most of the company's leave policy. they kept his job open that he could go and care for his brother. stories like theirs are why this convening is so important. everyone participating in this important discussion can contribute innovative ideas to help make life a little better for our working families. whether it's resources and flexibility for employees who are acting as caregivers or mentoring for women, or offering flexible working arrangements all of us must continue to think creatively about the work place of the future, so that we can

insure that every working american has an equal opportunity to succeed and care for our children. that's what i know our next speaker wakes up every morning thinking about. [applause] it is my great pleasure to introduce my husband, vice president joe biden. [cheers and applause] >> thank you. thank you. thank you. before jill leaves the stage, let me say i'm sure glad she took me to work today. [laughter] tom, i think you have, i don't

know, i was just outat starbucks headquarters, i think you get the double jolt in the morning here, i don't know, man. by the way he is that way at midnight too. that's why i love working with him on the work he and i are doing about jobs for the future but, valerie, thank you, kiddo. you've been a great, great friend to me personally but you've also, you and tina have never left up on this subject. you have from the moment we took office been focusing on -- and it matters. [applause] it matters a great, great, great deal and and neera, you do an incredible job at cap but you do an incredittable job of everything you touch and it's a pleasure to work with you. look, let me begin by stating the obvious. sometimes it's not, not always so obvious.

every, every single circumstance is different. everyone of you in this audience has a different circumstance. different opportunity, different problems. how many of you have children out there, raise your hand? okay. in everyone of your cases there are different pressures. they're not all the same, they're not all the same and the fact is that, the fact that you're here, the vast majority of you, you're among the lucky ones. like jill and i, you're among those who are educated. you're among those who have, have options mostly. you're the ones who generally make enough money that you can get some help in caring for your children or your parents. even if you don't have the salary to do that, you're the ones that know your way around. you know the existence of

programs to help your elderly parents. or your children. you're the ones in your communities who have, we're not going to speak about it much today, as i looked at the agenda, but for example, there's a whole lot of things that are going on and we've been working on for, in my case, for over 35 years to to ameliorate the pressure on families and that is, you know, everything from after-school programs. they mike a gigantic difference. that is a government program. but when mom and dad -- [applause] i mean we have millions of turn-key children going home after school. no one there. 3:00, 3:30, and circumstances sometimes that are not always, they're, i was raised in the grade school bit nuns of the they say, you know, you know, temptation. well, you know, it, i don't care

how good your child is but 12-year-old going home turning on the key to get in the house even in a safe neighborhood, there is still concern. so there is a whole lot of things we're not going to be talking in detail about but the vast majority of single moms and, i might add dads, don't have these opportunities. [applause] each one of you here, if you're honest and you all are honest, you know, i mean this sincerely, you know how difficult it is to do your job, advance in your job, and be the parent or caregiver for your parents that you want to be. you've been raised, 99% of you, with the notion that your first and foremost obligation is to your family, whether it is your parents in distress, or your

children. and it is really difficult. a lot has to do with the personal choices that we make as to how we allocate our time versus relative to our careers. i don't think anyone participating here is, makes any moral judgments about any of the choices people make as long as they're conscious choices with real opportunities and our job it seems to me is to provide as many opportunities so that the choices that are always going to be difficult, the choices that have to be made, are at least more rational, at least have more options but there are a lot of factors and a lot of players that can have a ameliorating impact on difficult choices, women primarily but men also have to make in raising their children. if you have, do you have an extended family that can help

you? well, that's a big factor. can you afford safe and nuturing day-care? what organizations including out side of your school are available from your community from a ywca to boys clubs and girls clubs. no, by the way, we owe you. you do an incredible -- i spent of bulk of my career chairing the judiciary committee. there is an absolute direct correlation between children getting in trouble and having access to boys and girls clucks, ywcas, ymcas. it matters. you have to give children choices. children basically -- [applause] children basically want to do the right thing. but the peer pressure is overwhelming. sometimes they need an escape, they need an excuse when mom or dad are not present. but look, you all know all of these things.

but one of the factors we're talking about today is, also the can be incredibly ameliorating, not just the policies but how understanding is your employer? how understanding? you know, lastly, what if anything can the federal government do to help? i say lastly. all the other things out there in the community if they're working really well including your employers, less others there is need for minimum wage and whole range of things we discussed and equal pay and things we've been working on our whole careers but there is an awful lot to be done to change the atmosphere. the examples jill gave. you know, you will get to discuss all of these things today and more but if you excuse, as we used to say in the senate, a point of personal privilege i can speak a little bit from my own experience. the first thing i was going to say, look at biden, man. he got, has a mildly expensive

suit on. [laughter]. he's vice president of the united states of america. he makes, notwithstanding, this is poorest man in congress he still makes a lot of money as president of the united states and i do by the way, i do. don't hold it against me that i don't own a single stock or bond. don't hold it i have no savings account. i have a good pension and i have got a good salary. and, for real. for real. [applause] sometimes we talk about this stuff about struggle. my struggle, my god compared to where i grew up and where people are trying to go through things. but here's the point i want to make. i've been really, really fortunate. jill is a community college professor. she has seen the struggle of working parents trying to secure an education while earning a living and raising a family and many times being victim of domestic violence in the process. as a military mom and through the great work she and the first

lady have been doing in joining forces she knows the stress on military families face and struggle through multiple deployments, caring for returning veterans, coping with financial, emotional pressures. these are real. these are real. and you know, she knows what you know. that no family is alike, no struggle is the same, no opportunities are identical but all families, whether headed by two parents or single mom or single dad, share the same basic dream and same goals for themselves and their children. we can't equalize it all but we sure in heck can do a lot better. so i want to support -- look, they want to support their families. they want, they want to feel comfortable. they want to feel safe. they want to be in a secure home and a secure neighborhood. they want to send their kids to college. they want to care for their mom and dad if they have to. and put aside this, a little bit, maybe they will have enough for their own retirement. they want to achieve these goals

without having to sacrifice all of the moments that really matter. my generation, and obviously i'm a lot older than you, you can see that, but all kidding aside, in my generation, as i was getting in college, coming out of college in the late '60s, it was, you know, it's not quantity time. it is quality time. give me a break. give me a -- [applause] there's not one important thing my sons or daughter have said to me that came about, when i said, now, we have quality time. let's go fishing. let's discuss this. every, and as parents you know that to be the truth. the most incredible things your children say to you, ask of you, reveal to you, are in those moments that you don't

anticipate. moments that occur when you're reading them a story at night. when you get home and climb in bed with them even though they're already asleep and you pet them. no. [laughter]. one of the great memories of my daughter, who is a grown woman and a social worker, as i stroke her hair, she says, daddy, you know what i miss most? how you used to smell coming home from work, lying down in bed with me. you and i, you know what i'm talking about. they are the things that matter for god's sake. not all of us have the kind of flexibility that i had. not all of us had the opportunity. not all of us had the outside help. there is no substitute for being there. no amount of compensation to replace being physically, emotionally or mentally present when your child needs you but we all know there is going to be those times we're not going to be there.

it is just a fact of life. when i lost my wife and daughter in a car accident, shortly after i got elected before i was sworn into the united states senate, i had a whole heck of a lot of help. i have got an incredible family. my sisters is the origin of a phrase in our family, if you have to ask, it is too late. i mean that sincerely. if you have to ask it is too late. so i came home from the hospital and my sister had already moved into my home. no, with her husband. gave up his job. no, i'm serious. who has that? who has that kind of help? my mother, who is nearby, my brothers, they all helped me raise my children. but i was a single father for five years. and i want to tell you, with all the help i had, and i was making a good salary. i was a u.s. senator. i was making a lot more salary than average guy. i was making $42,000 a year.

that was then. the average salary was close to $19,000. i was doing well and i had all this help and overwhelming goodwill of an entire state that wrapped their arms around me and my children. i used to think to myself, i give you my words, i used to think to myself, i have a secretary in delaware who had three children and is single and her child will be held to the exact same standard mine is, the exact same standard under the law. and how in god's name could she do what i was able to do? and i was finding it hard, really hard. but i got lucky. i still, i still had to find my way to be there for my boys. my son hunter was three. my son bowe was four. still in full body cast, both arms, both legs, up to his neck.

when i would leave for washington every day i could almost hear the fear in their voices, are you going daddy? they wanted to know if i was coming back. they wanted to know if everything was okay. to demonstrate, for them, i need ad point i thought i was openly going to stay for six months, i started to commute back and forth every day. 8,000 round trips later, not a joke. 8,000. [applause] no, no, no, no. really and truly, by the way, it was, i needed to do that. i needed to do that, just for me. they helped raise me as much as i helped raise them. but here's the point. what i found out and employers can help in this, that it really matters that, even if it is only i get home at night and after five years, no man deserves one great love, let alone two, five years later jill came along and

basically saved all of our lives, what happened i would come home and i used to get home late. not real lay. i get home usually by 8:00. she would keep the boys up and have their dessert and i would have my dinner. i know jill would not like giving them dessert but it was healthy dessert. [laughter]. look, look, but, you do it. you go up and, and, you lie in bed with them. whatever your tradition is. my case we would say prayers. like my grandpa finnigan would do with me. and they works you know, there are things they remember. when you woke up in the morning, it was no ozzie and harriet, "all in the family" kind of stuff where we all had breakfast together. when i was shaving they come in

and they had whatever was on their mind that day. i'm having cup of coffee they're eating their breakfast. young kids, young kids can only hold an important idea for about 12 hours. no, no, for real. you missed it. it's gone. you miss it, it's gone. it matters to them and to you. look, nothing is more important to me than being able to, being able to be there but i had this overwhelming luxury. i didn't have anyone boss. i had a million people in delaware that were my boss. they were pretty understanding. i sincerely mean it. i missed my first six years, i was one of the lowest percentages of people voting. 87%, i think it was voting record. i never missed a vote that was a deciding vote and most were procedural votes. so everybody said, he came up with all these explanations.

the other team was doing the right thing. they were attacking me on tv, made sense. would you hire a man only showed up 87% of the time, et cetera? so i, over the advice of my, my, and i tell you this to tell you what i think about how people think. over the advice of the experts i did one ad. i looked into the camera and i said, look, it's true. i missed whatever it was, 13, 15% of the votes. and if you elect me again, i will do it again. no, i'm serious. and i said because i never, i will never miss a vote that will make a difference but if i have a choice between a procedural vote and my child's parent teacher meeting, i'm going to the meeting. [applause] no, no. but here's the point. it is not about me. look at the luxury i had. how many of you would like to be able to do that? [applause]

i am no different than anyone of you for real. i'm not trying to say, oh, this is joe biden, he did the good -- i ad the ability to do it. you all want to do it. and i could make a choice and i was confident that the people in my state would understand because i was confident, and the reason i tell you this story, i think that is how almost every american thinks. they think, if they only could, if they only could they would. so, folks, look, the fact of the matter is, there are too many people who where it comes down to making a choice between doing that parent teachers meeting or going to that championship game or showing up at that debate or being there just when your child is sick, having to choose between doing that and their job, not one time, but like many of you, i, my family has been an incredible consumer of health care costs. my sons were critically injured.

my daughter had her verb bringing in traction a long time. both jill and i teaching. but we had the option. we could choose who had to stay home. i could operate from my home, assuming there weren't a critical vote. but the point is those kind of choices, most times it comes down to not losing your job or not, it comes down to subtle things. it is about, if i don't stay and help finish the project, and not go to my daughter's parents night, they're going to think i don't really want to work hard. they're going to think i really don't care about my job. so damn it, your employer is not demanding to do it, but if i don't stay, look, i've had, i have some really incredible people work for me over the years. i forget one time we counted on, i had something like 25 roads scholars, more marshall scholars.

i had a law firm of 65 people as chairman of the judiciary committee. almost everyone graduating the top 5% of their class. really, smart, smart people, ambitious people. i remember during the, during really difficult hearing, a hearing having to do, that i was conducting on the supreme court and a very controversial hearing, judge bork. and the young man who, and i'm not going to mention his name, one of the young men who had done most of the research and background on judge bork and he was having difficulty at home. he was having difficulty because he was spending so little time at home for the previous six months in preparation. having difficulty in his marriage. and the day the hearing started, fortunately i have a guy named ron klein, chief of staff, wonderful guy came to me, so-and-so has a problem. tell him if he comes into work he's fired. not a joke.

not a joke. i wasn't being noble. i wasn't being noble. it was the right thing to do but beyond that, he was important. he could do it from home. he could be on the phone. he could let us know. and he had to be assured though that it would not affect his advancement. that's all employers have to do sometimes, is let you know, that these subtle choices, don't have to have some massive policy. particularly if they're smaller. look, no one, and the other piece about what jill pointed out about trust. you know, folks, we make such a mistake, i think, sometimes, because i don't know, i'm not quite sure why, but guess what? trust is usually returned. trust is really usually returned. i have a policy. just hired on three very

high-profile people. the first thing i sat with them when i hired them, i said, look, here's the deal. if you ever have any problem at home, no matter what it is, you don't have to tell me what it is because sometimes it is embarrassing. my child has a drug problem. i'm taking him to counselor, vast majority of parents face that. my, i'm having difficulty. my wife is having, and i are having a problem. my father is. you don't have to give me an explanation is. just say look, i need the time. i need the time. no explanation. you have no idea. i guess you do have an idea, how much not only is the right thing to do but how much loyalty that engenders. how much response you get. [applause] by the way, for those who are employers and corporate folks out there, you know when it is

being abused. you don't need a road map. you know if that is really abused. and so, it's a lot easier to trust. people don't abuse trust. if you really trust them, by and large, these are the things that, i think all employers can do. now it's true that many times problems are much bigger. companywide policies have to be made. decisions on flexible schedules, expanded leave policies, telecommuting and job training and education, on-the-job training and education. these are all points you're going to discuss in some detail today. i wish i could stay, i really do, i wish i could stay to be in this conference. the point i want to make today is that all of the corporate executive business owners in this room, it's about creating policies to allow your worker to balance family and work and it is never going to be an absolute balance up in a way that is better for them, if, if, if you

give it a shot. i think you will find the return is overwhelming. when i was chairman of the senate judiciary committee a woman named, i mention this because in the book, lean in, her name is mentioned, she is still a great friend of mind, i know valerie knows her very well, cynthia hogan a really first-rate lawyer. she was my chief council. she was with me for a long time. she is one of the reasons we were able to successfully pass the violence against women act. she left in 1996 when her first child was born. when cheryl stamp berg said she was concerned she wouldn't be able to continue to have time for her family. now, teenagers is a little bit older. so we worked it out. we found a way to give her time

and flexibility she needed. benefiting from her experience and her talents which were badly-needed. as her employer, i benefited just as much as she did. there were certain, she left by a certain time so she could be home. wasn't a hard thing. there was no loss of productivity in my office. i mean, i would have taken cynthia for five hours a day but the point is she was able to do it from home. so when the kids walked through the door which was important to her, important to her, she was there. she was in connection with the office. and i made, we made a rule. no matter how important it was, she didn't get any text message during dinner. because it was important time. important time. look, here's the deal. you all know it, study after study, confirms my experience. family friendly policies reduce turnover and boost performance and boost productivity.

speaking of cynthia and some other women in my shop with children, they're the reason i was able to write the domestic violence law in the first place and i can't leave. --. . threatening coworkers. it happens. and so you can on one and understand why employers, particularly and big operations, say we don't need this. we don't need this. it's disruptive.

but the total cost to the economy, or the cost to the economy according to the center for disease control and prevention is about how they can list about $8 billion in lost productivity and health care. that's not the total cost to the whole economy. it's much higher. employers can and many are, i was going to list them but my staff says don't go listing the ones, because you leave somebody out. you know i always listen to my staff. [laughter] but all kidding aside, a number of major companies are making a big difference because they develop policies to help the victims keep their jobs and stay safe. it takes effort on the part of the company. but i would urge you at another time, not part of your discussion today, but i think you cannot talk about opportunity for women unless you talk about dealing with, in the

work environment, the violence against them that occurs, the domestic violence. but i hope you employers will take a look at some of your fellow companies who have done and provided permissive environment for victims against domestic violence. you're going to hear a lot more today, and i know many of you are already putting these policies in place. so i want to close by thanking you all here. thanking you for everything to do for working families in your companies and your communities and your country. and like i said, we may need brothels is, and i think we do. you'll talk about them. but an awful lot of this, an awful lot of this could be done just by subtle, but nonetheless significant, understanding of the circumstance that single, particularly single moms and some single dads, have to deal with. thank you for caring so much

about our kids. thank you for caring so much about being able to make sure that particularly women have the opportunity to meet their potential, and everyone of their expectations. god bless you all. may god protect our troops. thank you. [cheers and applause] >> thanks, valerie. ♪ ♪ ♪ je >> thank you. thank you, everybody. thank you. thank you. this crowd looks fired up. [applause]

all right, everybody have a seat, have a seat. you look like you have been busy. >> just waiting on you. >> i know that's right. [laughter] i know that's right. good afternoon, everybody. have a seat, have a seat. i love you back. [applause] i do. well, welcome to the white house summit on working families. [applause] and thanks to all of you for joining us. i know that for most of you, you are taking time off work, or family, or both to be here. and i know that's a sacrifice. and managers juggling schedules can be tough. and, in fact, that's one of the reasons that we are here today. i want to thank our cohosts, secretary of labor tom perez.

give him a big round of applause. [applause] as well as neera tanden and everyone at the center for american progress for the work -- for the great work that they didn't. [applause] thanks is will to all the members of congress who are participating, especially nancy pelosi and the members of the democratic women's working group. [applause] and a longtime friend and champion of families and women and veterans, connie milstein. we could not have pulled this off without her great assistance, so we want to thank her. [applause] so i just walked over to chipotle for lunch. [laughter] i cause a lot of havoc, as you might expect. [laughter] it had been a while since i had the brutal bowl, and it was good. [laughter] -- burrito bowl. and i went there with four new

buddies of mine. one of them is a father of a four year old and a two month old who has worked with his wife to come up with a flexible plan where he works three or four days a week. she works three or four days a week. and reason is because, as roger put it, he thinks it's important that he be able to bond with his kids just as much as his wife is. lisa you just heard from, who had twins who were prematurely born. and because the company was supportive, she was able to not just thrive and watch her kids grow up, but she is also been able to be promoted and continue to succeed in her company without being on a slower track while maintaining that life family balance, which is

terrific, worth applauding. surely young from new york works at a nursing home, and she's got older children. and she was most interested in talking about the fact that when her son -- it was discovered had curvature of the spine, that should health care should count on, otherwise there was no way she could deal with it. and our benefits on the job for good enough that she could use some vacation time when he was, when he had to go to the doctor. and then shelby from denver -- [applause] shelby has got a little fan club here. shelby talked about the fact that on her job it's been a little more challenging. her kids are older and she's going back to school. and it's wonderful that she is actually a taken some classes with her children and they are helping to math to for. [laughter] on the other hand, she's also got an aging parent.

and when he had to go to the doctor, they don't have a policy of paid family leave. and since it's hard to make ends meet in the first place, her dad had end up getting on a bus for eye surgery and come back on his own, because she couldn't afford to take the time. each of these folks come from the different parts of the country. they have different occupations, different income levels. and yet what bound all of us together was a recognition that work gives us a sense of place and dignity, as well as income. and is critically important, but family is also the bedrock of our lives and we don't want a society in which folks are having to make a choice between those two things. and there are better decisions that we can make and there are not so the decisions that we can make as a society to support this balance between work and family.

most of our days consist of work, family, and not much else. and those two spheres are constantly interacting with each other. when we are with our family, sometimes we are thinking about work, and when we are at work we are thinking about family. that's pretty universal experience. it's true even when you're president of the united states. [laughter] now, i am lucky that my daughters were a bit older by the time i became president, so i never had to meet a world leader with cheerios stuck to my fans for. [laughter] that has not happened. and i'm also lucky, because we live above the store, so to speak. [laughter] i have a very short commute. and as a consequence we've been able to organize ourselves to have dinner with michelle and the girls almost every night.

and that's pretty much the first time we've been able to do that in our lives. [applause] but before i moved into the white house, i was away a lot sometimes with work, sometimes with campaigning. michelle was working full-time and was at home with the responsibility all too often of dealing with everything that the girls needed. and so we understand how lucky we are now because there was a big chunk of time when we were doing what so many of you have to deal with everyday, and that is figure out how do we make this whole thing work. a lot of americans are not as lucky as we have been. it is hard sometimes just to get by. our businesses have created jobs for 51 consecutive months, 9.4 million new jobs in all. [applause] but we all know somebody out there who still looking for work, and there are a whole lot

of people are working harder than ever, i can't seem to get ahead at pay all the bills at the end of the month. despite the fact that our economy has grown and those of us at the very top have done very well, the average wage, the average income hasn't gone up in 15 years in any meaningful way. and that means that relative to 15 years ago, a lot of families just aren't that much better off. and the sacrifices they make for the families go beyond just missing family dinner. you look at something like workplace flexibility. this is so important to our family. this is so important to our family when i was away, because if malia or sasha got sick, or the babysitter did not show up, it was michelle got the call. and fortunately she had an appointment understood if you need to leave work in the middle of the day or change your schedule sadly. in fact, actually when she

applied for the job, she brought sasha, who was then about six months into her car seat into the interview. [applause] just the kind of explained them this is what you will be dealing with if you hire me. [laughter] and so they signed up for that. and that flexibility made all the difference to our families. but a lot of working moms and dads can't do that. they don't have the leverage. they are not being recruited necessarily where they can dictate terms of employment. and as a consequence, if they need to bring their mom to the doctor or take an afternoon off to see their kids at school play, it would mean them losing income that they can't afford to lose. and even when working from home from time to time is doable, it's often not an option, even though studies show that flexibility makes workers happier and helps companies lower turnover and raise productivity. the same goes with paid family

leave. a lot of jobs do not offer it. so when a new baby arrives or an aging parent get sick, workers have to make painful decisions about whether they can afford to be there when the families need them the most. many women can't even get a paid day off to give birth. now, that's a pretty low bar. [laughter] you would think that we should be able to take care of. [laughter] [applause] for many hourly workers, taking just a few days often mean losing their jobs. and even though i'm paid family leave is available, if you can't pay the bills already, the idea of taking a couple days off and paid me mean you can't make the

mortgage payment or the rent payment at the end of the month. or look at child care. in most countries, it costs -- or in most parts of the country, it costs thousands of dollars a year. in fact, in 31 states, decent child care costs more than in state college tuition. in 31 states, in more than half the size. i recently got a letter from a woman in minnesota whose kids preschool is so expensive, it costs more than her monthly mortgage payment. now, she's made a determination to make that sacrifice for her kids, but a lot of working families can't make that sacrifice. and by the way, there are other countries that know how to do childcare will -- well. this isn't rocket science. or look at the minimum wage. low-wage occupations

disproportionately represented by women. nearly 28 million americans would benefit if we raised the minimum wage to $10.10 and our. [applause] we are not just talking about young people on the first job at the average worker who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage is 35 years old. many have kids, a majority are women. and right now, many full-time minimum-wage workers are not making enough to keep their children out of poverty. so these are just a few of the challenges that were parents face. and everyday i hear from parents all across the country. they are doing everything right. they are working hard. they are living responsibly. they're taking care of their children. they are participating in their community, and these letters can be heartbreaking, because at the end of the day it doesn't feel like they're getting ahead. and all too often it feels like

they're slipping behind. and a lot of the time they end up blaming themselves thinking, if i just worked a little harder, if i plant a little bit better, if i sleep a little bit less, if i stretch every dollar a little bit farther, maybe i can do it. and that thought may have crossed the minds of some of the folks here from time to time. part of the purpose of this sum is to make clear you're not alone. because here's the thing. these problems are not typically the result of poor planning or too little diligence on the parts of moms or dads, and they cannot just be fixed by working hard are being and even better parent. [applause] all too often, they are the results of outdated policies and old ways of thinking. family leave, childcare, workplace flexibility, a decent wage. these are not frills, they are

basic needs. [applause] they shouldn't be bonuses. they should be part of our bottom line as a society. that's what we are striving for. [applause] parents who work full-time should earn enough to pay the bills, and they should be able to head off to work every day knowing that their children are in good hands. workers who give their all should know that if they need a little flexibility, they can have it. because their employers understand that it's hard to be productive if you've got a sick kid at home or a childcare crisis. talented, hard-working people should be able to say yes to a promotion or a great new opportunity without worrying about the price of their family will pay. there was a new poll by nielsens that found that nearly half of all working parents say they have turned down a job, not because they didn't want it but because it would put too much of a burden on their families.

when that many members of our workforce are forced to choose between a job and their family, something is wrong. and here is a critical point. all too often these issues are thought of as women's issues, which i guess means you can kind of screwed them aside a little bit. at a time when women are nearly half of our workforce, among our most skilled workers, are the primary breadwinners and more families than ever before, anything that makes life harder for women makes life harder for families and makes life harder for children. [applause] when women succeed, america succeeds, so there's no such thing as a women's issue. [applause] there's no such thing as a women's issue. this is a family issue and an

american issue. these are common sense issues. [applause] these are common sense issues. this is about you, too, and then. [laughter] men care about having high quality childcare. dads rearrange their schedules to make it to teacher meetings and school plays, just like moms. although somebody pointed out to me, this is a useful insight, that when dads say yes, i've got to leave early to go to the parent-teacher conference, everybody in the house has all, isn't that nice? and then when women do, everybody is like issue early committed to the job?

right? so they can be a double standard there. [applause] but sons help care for aging parents. a whole lot of others would love to be home for their new babies for sweets in the world. people ask me what do i love most about being president, and it's true air force one is on the list. [laughter] the truman balcony has a really nice of you. [laughter] but -- a nice view. but one of -- i was telling folks the other day that one of the best perks about being president is anybody will hand you their baby. [laughter] here. [laughter] so i get this baby fix like two

or three times a week. [laughter] but the reason it's so powerful is because i remember taking the night shift when molly was born and when sasha was born, endingd being up at two in the morning and changing diapers and burping them and singing to them, and reading them stories, and watching sportscenter once in a while, which i thought was good for their development. [laughter] it was. we want them to be well-rounded. [laughter] but the point is, i was lucky enough to be able to take some time off so that i was there or the 2 a.m. feeding and assisting, and just getting to know them and making sure they knew me. and that bond is a replaceable.

and i want every father and every child to have that opportunity. but that requires a society that makes it easier for us to get folks that opportunity. [applause] so the bottom line is, 20% of families deserve 21st century workplace is. [applause] and our economy demands them because it's going to help us compete. it's going to help us lead. and that means paid family leave, specially paid parental leave. [applause] there is only one developed country in the world that does not offer paid maternity leave, and that is us. and that is not the list you want to be on by your lonesome. it's time to change that, because all americans should be able to afford to care for their families. [applause] it means high quality early education. we know that the investment we

make in those early years pays off over a child's entire lifetime. and these programs give parents a great place to know what their kids -- to know that the kids are driving while they are at work. other countries know how to do this. if france can figure this out, we can figure it out. [laughter] [applause] we can figure it out. all our kids need to benefit from the early enrichment. it means treating pregnant workers fairly, because too many are forced to choose between their health and their job. [applause] right now, if you're pregnant you could potentially get fired for taking too many bathroom breaks, clearly from a boss who has never been pregnant, or forced unpaid leave. that makes no sense.

congress should pass the pregnant workers fairness act without delay. [applause] >> speaking of congress, by the way -- [booing] >> no, don't boo, vote. [cheers and applause] as long as congress refuses to act on these policies, we are going to need you to raise your voices. we need you to tell congress don't talk about how you support families, actually support families. don't talk the talk. we want you to walk the walk. in the meantime, if congress will not act, we're going to need mayors to act. we will need governors and state legislators to act.

we need ceos to act. and i promise you, you will have a president who will take action to support working families. [applause] the good news is, the good news is you don't have to do it alone and i don't have to do it alone. now that's part of the purpose of this summit is to recognize that there's all kinds of exciting stuff going on around the country. we just have to make sure that we lift up conversations that are taking place at the kitchen table every single day. some businesses are already taking the lead, knowing that family-friendly policies are good business practices. it's how you keep talented employees. that's how you build loyalty and aspire your workers to go the extra mile for your company. some of those business are represented here today. so jetblue, for example, has a flexible work from home plan in

place for its customer service representatives. representatives. they found a lead to happier and more productive employees, and that lowered the cost which translate into higher profits and lower ticket prices for the customers. it was good business. in 2007, google realize women were leaving the company at twice the rate that men left, and one of the reasons was that the maternity leave policy wasn't competitive enough. so the increased paid leave for new parents, moms and dads, the five months. and that helped to cut the rate of women leaving the company in half. good business sense. cisco estimates that by letting their employees telecommute, they save more than $275 million each year. they said it's the main reason why they are rated one of the best places to work in america. so it's easy to see how policies like this make for better places

to work. there's also a larger economic case for it. the strength of our economy rests on whether we are getting the most out of our nation scotland, whether we're making it possible for every citizen to contribute to our growth and prosperity. we do better when we field an entire team, not just part of a team. and the key to staying competitive in the global economy is your workforce, is your talent. right now too many folks on the sidelines who have the desire and capacity to work, but they're held back by one obstacle after another. so it's our job to remove those obstacles, help working parents, improve job training, improved early childhood education, invest in better infrastructure so people are getting to work safety. just about everything i do as president is to make sure that we are not leaving any of our nation's talent behind. that's what this summit is all about. >> working families love you,

mr. president. >> well, thank you. [applause] so we are seeing businesses set a good example. we've got states were setting a good example. california, -- [applause] rhode island, new jersey -- [applause] all gave workers paid family leave. connecticut offers paid sick days and so does new york city. [applause] since i ask congress to raise the minimum wage last year, they've been a little slow, shockingly, but 13 states have taken steps to raise it on their own. [applause] ..

nobody says, well, i don't know. i'm not sure whether the republican platform agrees with paid family leave. they're thinking, i could really use a couple paid days off to take care of dad. regardless of what their party affiliation is. so, even as we're waiting for congress, whenever i can act on my own i'm going to. that is why we raised minimum wage for employees of federal

contractors. [applause] nobody who cooks our troops meals or washes their dishes should have to live in poverty. that's a disgrace. that's why i ordered, tom perez, our secretary of labor to review overtime protections for millions of workers to make sure they're getting the pay they deserve. [applause] that's why i signed an executive order preventing retaliation against federally contracted workers who share their salary information or raise issues of unequal compensation because i think if you, if you do the same work you should get the same pay and you should be able to enforce it. [applause] which is why congress should pass the paycheck fairness act today, for all workers and not just federally contracted workers. [applause] and yes, that's why i fought to pass the affordable care act, to give every american access to

high quality, affordable care no matter where they worked. so far over eight million people have enrolled in plans through the aca. millions with preexisting conditions have been prevented or, have been confident that their insurance companies have not been able to block them from getting health insurance. and by the way, women are no longer charged more for being women. [applause] they're getting the basic care they need including reproductive care and millions are now free to take the best jobs for their family without worrying about losing their health care. today i'm going to sign a presidential memorandum, directing every agency in the federal government to expand access to flexible work schedules and giving employees the right to request those flexible work schedules. [applause] because whether public sector or the private sector, if there's a way to make our employees more

productive and happier, every employer should want to find it. and to help parents trying to get ahead i'm going to direct my secretary of labor, tom perez, to invest $25 million to helping people who want to enroll in jobs programs but don't currently have access to child care they need to enroll in the job training programs. we'll make it easier for parents to get the training they need to get a good job. so we'll do everything we can to create more jobs and more opportunity for americans and let me just close by saying i was interviewed in the run-up to this on friday, somebody asked, well, it's well-known that women are more likely to vote for democrats, which i said, women are smarter. [laughter] [applause] this is true. but, they said, so isn't this working families summit

political? and i said, no, i take this personally. i was raised by strong women. who worked hard to support my sister and me. [applause] i saw what it was like for a single mom who, you know, was trying to go to school and work at the same time. and i remember her coming home and having to try to fix us dinner and me saying, are we eating that again? and she saying, you know what, buddy, i really don't want to hear anything out of you right now because i have to go do some homework after this and i remember times where my mom, you know, had to take some food stamps to make sure we had enough nutritious food in the house. and, i know what she went through. i know what my grandmother went

through, working her way up from a secretary to the vice president of a bank but she should have run the bank except she hit a glass ceiling and was training people who would leapfrog ahead of her year after year. i know what that's like. i've seen it. i take this personally because, i'm the husband of a brilliant woman who struggled to balance work and raising our girls when i was away and i remember the stresses that were on michelle, which i'm sure she will be happy to share with you later today. [laughter] and most of all i take it personally because i am the father of two unbelievable young ladies. [applause] and i, i want them to be able to have families and i want them to be able to have careers and i want them to go as far as their dreams will take them. i want a society that supports that. and i take this personally as

the president of a country that built the greatest middle class the world has ever known and inspired people to reach new heights and invent and innovate and drew immigrants from every corner of the world because, because they understood, because they understood that no matter what you look like or where you come from here in america you can make it. that's the promise of america. that's what we're going to keep on fighting for. that's what you're fighting for. that's what this summit is all about. let's go out there and get to work. thank you guys, i love you. god bliss you, god bless america. [applause] ♪. [applause]

>> [inaudible] [applause] >> oh, this, is a lively crew. are you ready? are you ready for this? >> wow. >> we've been listening backstage. >> wow what a panel. >> very dynamic. >> let's pick up, how are you? >> i'm doing great. >> how are you? >> i'm doing well. >> doesn't robin look good? >> thank you. >> you're looking good. >> you're saying it because it is true.

[laughing] but it has been all day long here. >> yes. >> and that lively group discussion that just preceded us, talking about the role of women in the work place. >> yeah. >> and the fact that nearly half of the workforce is made up of women. yet, when you see the fortune 500 companies, only 24 women are ceos. >> yeah. >> that is less than 5%. like anyone you're involved in any type of work you want to be in an environment where you can excel and grow. what do we need to do to change that environment? >> you know, i think you've heard it all day today. we have to use our voices particularly, particularly the young generation. because we have to realize, now that the numbers are on our side, right? more and more people are realizing, that this is an issue for everybody. and, we have to use our voices, our power and our leverage to make demands, to feel like we can make the requests, to make

the asks, to our employers. i had to find that, that voice within me, myself and it occurred, during my, after the birth of sasha. and barack, i think he mentioned this everybody was like, what was he talking about? this is what he was talking about. [laughter] this is what he was talking about. i had, you know, sort of dealt with the tug of, how am i balancing things. barack was in springfield. then he was in washington. i was in chicago, trying to manage these two beautiful girls, trying to still hold down a part time job. the first thing i tried to do, which was a mistake, i tried the part time thing. but what i realized is i got gypped on that front because when you are, working a professional job, what happened was, i got a part-time salary but continued to work full time.

so, so after that experience, i said, never again will i short-change myself because we were still paying for full time babysitting. when there was a professional meeting that they had to happen they expected you to be there. we had had fall "time" babysitting, so that was a net loss for us. then i had sasha. we lost our babysitter, which was probably the worst time of my, my motherhood. i was so devastated because, that balance, that work-family balance. you realize ow fragile it is with the blink of an eye, a broken toilet a sick child, a sick parent, that balance is thrown off. and after we lost that first babysitter, someone we developed trust with, you let them in your home, they were wonderful and loved your kids and she left, she left for good reason, but she left because eshe needed to make more money but it was

devastating. i said, i quit. forget it. i'm not doing it again. but a call from the university of chicago hospital. they wanted me interview for a job. by then i was ready to be done but that empowered me, i said, i don't even want this job. so i will go to the interview. and i'm going to be whoever i'm going to be. [laughter]. and they're going to have to deal with it. who i was at the time was a breast feeding mother of a four-month-old. [applause] and i didn't have a babysitter. so i promptly took sasha to the interview with me and i thought, look, this is who i am. i got a husband who is away. i've got two little babies. they are my priority. if you want me to do the job, you got to pay me to do the job and you've got to give me flexibility. flexibility means i will work my tail off for you, but you better pay me and value my family. and the guy said, of course.

and i thought, are you kidding? [laughter]. and so, i became a vice president at the university of chicago hospitals and it was one of the best experiences that i had because they, because he put my family first and i felt like i owed that hospital because they were supporting me and that's what we have to, we have to get employers to understand that this is about their bottom line as well. >> so your approach -- [applause] your approach to your career changed as you became a mother and how you first you learned, not to ask for part time. so you were more direct in what you needed and your employer responded. there are a lot of people though are going to say, yeah, but, i'm at risk if i do that. >> that's true. >> i might lose my job. i really need this job. >> that's true. that is why it is so important for women and men who are in the position to make these demand to do it. so this isn't just, you know, this fight isn't about me or

barack because things are different now, you know. we live in the white house. [laughter]. grandma lives upstairs, thank god and, we have resources that we never could have imagined. so this isn't, the fight isn't about us. it is about every mother and father out there who doesn't have the leverage to make those demands. we're fighting for them, because we know how bad it is. we know how tough it is. i knew back then when i was a vice president at a hospital, i understood the advantage i had. if i were a teacher or bus driver or a nurse or shift worker, which my father was, there is no room for that kind of negotiations. if you're an hourly worker. but the needs are even greater because the balance is even, it is even more delicate for many working families, folks on an hourly wage. child care is beyond expensive. i mean, we had, you know, the luxury of looking at nannies

right. we couldn't even afford to keep the one we had, but we weren't looking at the cost of child care, bringing, taking a baby, packing them up, putting them in the car seat, dropping them off, at a child care center. coming back. just that emotional tug on its own is powerful and it is not lost on either me or barack, how tough it is, which is why we all have to be in this fight. this is something we're doing for each other. [applause] >> you bring up so many excellent points. >> i know that -- >> there are so many. >> so many places to start. heat me in, but no, but, the fact that you're saying working families because the landscape is changing. women are going into the workforce. there are more stay-at-home dads, is that part of the movement in letting everybody know it is an issue for everyone in the family? >> absolutely. that is why i love the fact that this is a working family summit.

you guys heard from barack. at least i heard you heard from him. what i heard that he talked about was just how important those first months that he had with the girls was, you know. and, men, you know, understand that, you need that time too. you because that bonding time, that time that he spent getting up, taking the late-night shift, not only did it save me, you know, gave me some sleep and some peace of mind, but, he connected with our girls in a way that i still see, you know. that connection is real, and we as mothers, you know, we don't take that for granted. but i think more and more men are understanding that you don't miss that time, because you don't get that time back. let me tell you, now that malia and sasha are teenagers, they don't want to be bothered with us. it is that time he spent rocking in the chairs and reading them stories. he was able to do that because

not only did he value it but he was in a work situation that allowed him to do that. and that brought us closer. you know, so this is about strengthening the whole family. and i think more and more men are realizing, they just can't pass off those responsibilities and they have to fight for these changes for themselves. this isn't a women's issue by any stretch of the imagination. >> they realize that. and your husband really, he was, he was, things that he was saying and one thing that really touched a lot of people when he said, yes, you are a strong woman, a strong mother, a strong wife but that early in the marriage, to see you break down in tears because you were trying to juggle so much. and how that, after all this time has still stayed with him. did you? were you in tears trying to do everything? >> oh, my goodness, the minute those kids come into the world, they just rip your heart out of your chest. that is why i tell young women

and young families, that, you know, we grow up as professionals, many of us, and we think we have it all figured out. we have a plan. four years here at this university and i will go down this path. i will earn this money and get this promotion. i'm like, just have a bibby. and that baby comes out and looks you in the face and all the plans go out the window. you don't know how you're going to feel. and every child is different. you know. they add a whole new set of joy, a whole new set of worries to your life. there is nothing more important to me than my girls. that's when we first came in and people asked me what was my agenda when we first came in the white house and i said, it is making sure my kids were whole. i thought it was being honest. some people judged me for that. the truth of the matter whether i'm the first lady and he's the president, our first job is to make sure our kids are on point. that is the most important

legacy we will ever leave. [applause] so, that's why this issue was so important because employers have to know that as families if life isn't right, if there's a worry, if you don't think that you're leaving your child in good care, if they're not healthy and whole and happy, you are going to bring that worry to work. it will eat away what you're able to do. i don't care what you do, you know. you wait, as working families, don't you wake up every morning just praying that nobody's sick? don't be sick, my god. you know we all pushed them out the door, a little sniffly, like, okay, cough again. you're not really sick. not 100. not 100. we all, sent them to school just a little -- you're fine. try to get through lunch. [laughter] call me. tell me how you feel, you know?

but you send them off, all you're doing and worrying they're falling apart in school. these are really emotional-draining issues and, you know, there are, because there are employers who figured how to do this, how to give us families the space to be good workers, but also to, first and foremost be good families, if some can do it, they all can do it. >> some are doing this not all are doing this. in part why we're here in washington, people want to know the role of the federal government, and in some cases the state government. is that something that should be done? because there are a lot of people who are not certain of that. >> well, you know, there are two ways to focus on this. you see in this administration they're going to do everything in their power administratively to make changes and lead by example. one of my young staffers, said she got an email from the chief

of staff, because of the summit, this administration is going to start asking a set of different questions. so the first thing that the president can do is make sure that his administration is leading by example. now what we need to do on the policy front requires congressional action a the some point in time. i know, i just heard nancy say it and i heard the president say it, you have got to have elected officials who believe in this, these issues and the changes that need to be made as passionately as we all do, and that is going to require us to help them understand just how important these issues are. [applause] you know. >> but you know there are some who feel, when we talk about the minimum wage and equal pay, but mainly minimum wage, i think first time we sat down had an interview, you brought it up. you were passionate about it then and fighting and saying how important it is knowing the importance of that.

when there are people that are there who are zareing it will cause jobs to be lost it is such a political debate. what are you going to do if we lose that debate, what can be done to push that through? >> i think building momentum, because again, most employers are private employers. they can make decisions based on what is most financially expedient for them. and studies are showing that having a fair wage, having decent family leave policies and the like, creating a flexible environment, that that improves the bottom line for companies. we have to start getting that information out so that every company looks at the bottom line for themselves. the question is, is everybody even looking at it? because if we allowed this not to be an issue because we're sucking it up, let me tell you, women, we suck it up. we're just going to figure it out. maybe it is me, the reason why i

feel crazy. not because i, we tell ourselves i should be able to manage this, right? i should be able to have a full-time job and pick my kids up from day care and drop them off and kick a meal and fry it up in the pan and all that stuff. >> never forget he is a man, i'm a woman. remember that? remember that. [applause] i'm old school. >> yeah. what robin said. but, because we wind up taking these issues on and we're just going to do it all, right? we're not focusing on the need to push for change. and the 21st century work place as you have pointed out, it's very different, you know. women are working more. men are understanding their value as caregivers. women are primary breadwinners. we could go on and on. things are different.

we can't keep operating like everything is the same. i think that is what many of us have done. think it is up to us to change the conversation. this summit is hopefully the beginning of a shift in dialogue, so as nancy said, as good speaker said, we have to change the public conversation. and we can't underestimate the power of that. you can't just wait for politicians to do what they, what you think they should know you want to do. they have to feel the pressure. and that's, that's the job of all of us and it starts here but these conversations have to continue at the regional level. i know many people have been working, absolutely. [applause] this is just the beginning and it has to be a movement and there has to be momentum and it has to continue and to the point where the pressure is too real and this is the conversation that we're having at every socioeconomic level, within every race and every community, that we are now demanding that we can have the resources to do

it all, to be good workers, to earn a decent living and to raise your families so that they're whole, happy and healthy. that is the american way. that is the american way. [applause] >> and, it was said here about how women, there are more women that are in law school and medicine and other fields, but, when it comes to the stem field, the one, you know, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, that's where the growth is. that's where women can make even more money than any other field but yet women, even though there are more of us on college campuses we're not in those fields. >> yeah. >> and there seem to be a stigma attached to that how do we eradicate that? >> we have to start very early on. more and more resources are being put in to encourage more women and girls to enter stem fields. as you know it starts very early on.

you have to create that pool. so much of that field requires, stairsteps of math and science and you can't sort of skip a step because everything builds upon everything else and so many girls shy away from math and science. they automatically say, i'm not good at that. i was a victim of that, you know. i didn't go to medical school because i thought i wasn't good in sciences. my mother told me i talked a lot. so i went to law school. but, we've got to get girls when they're young. >> right. >> before they, move away, or, sort of buy into the, you know, the mythology that women can't do these things. so we have to start very early. >> you had said in, i think it was "parade" magazine, that you and your husband would like your daughters to get a minimum wage job, to build character, to understand what it's like. >> uh-huh. >> what kind of job would you like when you say that? >> i don't care. i don't care. just a job that pays them, you

know. it really doesn't matter what it is, you know. i think the whole point is that they, you know, learn how to roll up their sleeves and work hard and understand what the vast majority of folks in this country have to do to earn a living and that it is not glamorous and it is not fun all the time. there are people who get up every day for their entire lives and go to a job that's not fun and they do it to put food on the table. my father was one of those folks, one of those men. watching him get up every day and go to work and go to a job that didn't, that wasn't exciting and glamorous, but go to a job that paid the bills and sent us to college, it motivated me to never take midcation or my opportunities for granted and i want my girls to understand that. [applause] so -- >> and, when you and your husband, when you leave washington, let's see, malia will be in college. >> i know.

>> sasha will be in high school. there are many people that are wondering what is your next act? >> me? >> will it be political? >> no, it will not be political. yeah, no, it definitely will not be. it will be, it will be mission-based. it will be service-focused. it will, you know -- [applause] >> just not in that regard. >> yeah. >> here we are. we're talking, we have nancy pelosi that was up here. we have women at the supreme court. and there are many feeling that if we're going to talk about leadership and that's what we're doing here, that a woman president is part of that. and what an example that would set for your girls and for young boys and all of us. >> absolutely. >> do you perceive that happening? when should that happen? >> that should happen as soon as possible. [applause] and, you know, i think this

country is ready. this country is ready for anyone who can do the job and what we have learned is that the person who can do the job is, you know, doesn't have a particular race or gender or background or socioeconomic status or, you know. that, the person who can do the job is the person who is the most qualified and i think we, we have some options, don't we? [applause] >> you sure you're not getting into politics? because that answer was really good. >> i am positive. [laughter] >> quick reminder that you can watch the entire working families summit on our website at c-span.org. president obama is hosting israeli president shimon peres at the white house today. president peres will head to capitol hill to receive the gold medal in the capitol rotunda.

several notable results in yesterday's primary elections. mississippi senator thad cochran narrowly held off a challenge ever state senator chris mcdaniel after coming in second in the june third primary. the six-term senator holds 6,000 vote lead with 99% of the precincts accounted according to the associated press. latest numbers out of new york's harlem and manhattan district show 22-term congressman charlie rangel holding a slight lead over the his democratic challenger. that is still too close to call with number of absentee ballots. we'll update results after the day progresses. live to the u.s. senate. members working on a federal jobs training bill, series of votes including final passage scheduled for 2:30 eastern this afternoon. live to the floor of the senate here on c-span2.

the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. merciful god, a gracious and willing guest in every heart, thank you for the opportunities and privileges of this day. may your peace rule within our

senators' hearts. as they remember how you have guided us in the past, give them strength for today and bright hopes for tomorrow. with the ebb and flow of life's seasons, may they grow more certain of your reality and power. lord, when much seems obscure to them may they be even more faithful to the little they can clearly see. continue to shower them and their loved ones with your daily mercies. we pray in your holy name. 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 25,2014. to the senate: under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable edward j. markey, a senator from the commonwealth of massachusetts, to perform the duties of the chair. signed: patrick j. leahy, president pro tempore. mr. reid: mr. president? the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. reid: i move to proceed to calendar number 384, hagan sportsmen's legislation. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: motion to proceed

to calendar number 384, s. 2363 a bill to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting and for other purposes. mr. reid: mr. president following my remarks and those of the republican leader, the senate will be in a period of morning business until noon. the time will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees. the republicans will control the first 30 minutes, the majority the next 30 minutes. at noon the senate will proceed to the consideration of h.r. 803, the workforce innovation opportunity act. at 2:30 there will be three roll call votes on amendments and passage of the bill. mr. president, this afternoon the senate will consider and pass the bipartisan workforce innovation and opportunity act. while the unemployment rate has steadily declined since the recession and more than nine million private-sector jobs have been created, too many americans are still unemployed or lack the tools necessary to compete for

today's jobs. that's why this legislation, which updates and streamlines our nation's job training and local workforce development program, is so vital. mr. president, this legislation is very complicated, is very complex, and it's vital. it proves, though, the mere fact that you have legislation that's complicated, complex, and vital; we can pass it. this act will help improve training and educational opportunities for those americans looking for a job or to advance their careers. it will also help businesses grow and strengthen local economies across the whole country. in nevada, tens of thousands have benefited from the job training placement and educational programs funded by the workforce investment act. many found their first job. others were able to reenter the workforce. and still others took advantage of programs to improve their skills. for all, it meant a paycheck. or to some, a raise to support

their families. this legislation is also an example, mr. president, of how the senate can and should function. i repeat: this legislation is not a walk in the park. extremely complicated. it shows how congress can operate when both sides are willing to compromise and work in good faith to craft legislation that helps improve the lives of americans. it hasn't been easy. this program was last authorized in 1998. think of how much the world has changed in the 16 years. look at the internet. it's transformed training and education programs. even the way most americans look for work. in these 16 years there have been several attempts to reauthorize this legislation. and they have all fallen short. so after 16 years of attempts, it's even more impressive that chairman harkin, senators

murray, alexander, and isakson along with their counterparts in the house were able to forge a bicameral, bipartisan agreement. so, mr. president, congratulations to each of these senators and the house members who work with them. they've worked in a bipartisan, bicameral approach to successful legislation. you know, mr. president, they say in basketball if you're not doing well, you have a lot of off days, that the best way for a shooter to get his rhythm back is to sink a couple of baskets. so i hope this theory proves true here in the senate. it's time we sank a couple of baskets. it's time we start working together to get things done. hopefully by witnessing the success of a good bipartisan bill like this, the united states senate will get its rhythm back. mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that following the

disposition of h.r. 803, which is the workforce innovation opportunity act, the senate proceed to executive session and consider calendar number 499, 501 and 787 and the senate proceed to vote on confirmation nominations in the order listed. further, that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table with no intervening action or debate and no further motions be in order to the nominations. that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the record, and that president obama be immediately notified of the senate's action and the senate resume legislative session. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, so ordered. mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: the republican leader. mr. mcconnell: influence. influence. it's a word we hear a lot about

these days, spicialg from -- especially from our friends on the other side who suddenly feel the need to convince their constituents that their quote, unquote moderate -- moderate democrats despite the voting records that say just the oppose. these senate democrats can't stop boasting about how much supposed influence they have on energy issues, but it's really a baffling claim to the rest of us because it's so hard to point to what they've actually accomplished. so let's take the keystone pipeline. the senate democrats i'm referring to claim to have so much influence within their party to get it approved, but evidence actually leads to the opposite conclusion, that they really have almost none at all. when it comes right down to it, they haven't even been able to secure a serious gimmick-free floor vote from the majority

leader to approve the keystone pipeline. that should be the bare minimum here. the events that transpired yesterday only underscore the point. yesterday afternoon several of my republican colleagues again tried to pass the keystone pipeline. once again the democratic leadership blocked the bill and the so-called moderate democrats simply stood by while their own party blocked this important job-creating legislation. they didn't even put up a credible fight. it's disappointing, but it's no surprise. because washington democrats have blocked approval of this shovel-ready job creation project for years now. even though it would create thousands of well-paying american jobs. even though it would help our struggling economy. even though it would increase

north american energy independence. and even though the obama administration has already admitted that constructing the pipeline would have almost zero -- zero -- significant impact on the environment. in other words, senate democratic leadership is constructing construction of the keystone pipeline for one main reason, to please their patrons on the far left. and let's be clear about something. the only reason they're able to get away with it is because so-called moderate democrats let them. the same so-called moderates who claim to have so much influence around here. the bottom line is that these so-called moderates can't have it both ways. they can't credibly claim to have influence on issues like these even as they let their party leaders shoot down almost every effort to achieve the things they claim to want, like keystone. frankly, it's hard to see how we

could ever hope to get a keystone bill over to the president's desk and to sign into law while democrats run the senate, especially when the so-called moderates stand idly by as the president has yet another meeting -- yet another meeting -- with the antikeystone jobs lobby tonight. the president is meeting with an anti-keystone fund-raiser today and will be hearing with an administration to stop these important jobs. but he needs to hear from americans across the country who are desperate from work in the obama economy. preaching to the choir is not going to get that done. now, ironically enough, the president will be meeting with these same anti-keystone interests right after holding a pep rally with senate democrats. his reliable anti-keystone back stop here in congress. so i think it's time to put aside the charade. the american people have already had to suffer through more than

five years -- five years -- of delay and obfuscation on this pipeline. the bureaucrats and the experts have studied it to death over and over and over again. and every time we learn basically the very same thing, that there's a ton of up side to building keystone and minimal, minimal substantive down side. so it's time to end all the politically motivated delays and get serious around here. it's time for democrats who claim to support these important jobs to stand up to the party bosses and stand with their constituents. not just talk about doing it. we owe it to the american people to get these keystone pipeline jobs approved as soon as possible. unfortunately, it seems increasingly clear that that will never happen under the current democratic-run senate.

but one way or another, we need to get this thing done. mr. president, i yield the floor. 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 12:00 noon with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each, and with the republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the next 30 minutes. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from south dakota. mr. thune: mr. president, in a moment or so my colleagues will be coming down here to the floor and asking to enter into a colloquy to discuss an issue that is important to many of us, particularly those of us who represent states in the west and the midwest. the issue i want to speak to has

to deal with something that over the past five years, the obama administration has been particularly -- mr. reid: mr. president, would my friend allow me to ask a question through the chair? i was in the office and i heard the statement from the republican leader about keystone. so this question i direct to my friend from south dakota, who is a fine senator and understands energy issues. we agreed to have a vote on keystone. my friend, the republican leader, keeps misdirecting things. we can have a vote on keystone. that was part of the deal we made. we had a bipartisan bill, portman-shaheen. they worked on that for months, since last fall.

they put in it amendments that people wanted. and so jeanne shaheen came here yesterday and said let's have a vote on keystone but just vote on energy efficiency. and you can have a vote on using the mcconnell rule, 60 on both of them. so, mr. president, this is so transparent that my friend, the republican leader, is doing the bidding again of the koch brothers, who own the first- or second-largest tar sands that exist in the world. so i say to my friend from south dakota, why can't we just have a vote on both of those, energy efficiency and on keystone? mr. thune: i would say through the chair to the majority leader that the offer, as i understand, that was put forward by the majority with respect to the energy efficiency bill was, you pass this bill without amendment, no debate, no

amendment, and then somewhere down the road you might get the vote on keystone pipeline. well, it strikes me at least, as many of my colleagues on this side has been pointing out now for sometime, that the way in which the majority leader is running the floor and calling up legislation preventing amendments to be offered, to be debated, to be voted upon, denies the rights not only of us as senators but ignores the voices of the people we represent. so for the majority leader to say that you pass this bill without any amendment -- energy is an important issue in many of our states. it is important in my state of south dakota. it is important to a lot of members on our side, i would stowing a lot of members -- i would suggest to a lot of members on the leader's side who would like to debate an energy bill on the floor. the leader has come down, no amendments, no debate, you pass this. we'll jam this bill down without amendment, and then sometime you get the vote on keystone. well, we'd love to get a vote on

keystone. the leader can call that up anytime. and we've been saying for sometime that we ought to have a vote on keystone. there's broad, bipartisan support for that in the senate. there are a lot of democrats who support the keystone pipeline. but what the leader is suggesting again is, he's going to put a bill up, fill the amendment tree, prevent republicans from offering amendments. we don't think that's the way the senate ought to operate. mr. reid: mr. president? the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. reid: i say to my friend from south dakota, it is so transparent what is going on here. they're hung up on procedure. if this keystone rot vote is so important to them, let's have a vote on it. that's what i was told when we brought up, for the second time, the energy efficiency. in fact, i was told by a republican leader who was pushing that bill, go ahead and fill the tree. we've already worked out all the amendments. the bill is different from when

we first brought it up. so again we get right where weeppedz to bweneed to be to pae legislation. if this keystone is such a big deal, let's vote on t let' it. let's vote on energy efficiency. but, no, we can't do that. we can't do that because we wouldn't be able to offer more amendments. now remember, the republicans, who were part of that arrangement th, the energy efficiency bill of shaheen-portman, they thought it was a good bill. but i repeat, this this was such a big deal to the republicans, why do they get hung up on procedure? let's vote on both of them. let the cards fall where they may. mr. thune: i would say to the distinguished democrat -- the majority leader, that we on this side believe that when you bring an energy bill to the floor to talk about energy, we ought to

be talking about energy. now, he may suggest that there were certain things incorporated in the bill that some of his members wanted, maybe even perhaps some of our members wanted, but we have a lot of members on this side that have been shut out, who haven't been able to offer amendments for the past year. since july of last year there have only been votes on nine republican amendments. there's only been votes on seven democrat amendments, out of 1,500 filed. this is insanity. you know, we would love to get a vote on keystone pipeline, but we also think there are a lot of other energy issues foreign this country. if you -- other energy issues that are important to this country. if you bring a bill to the floor, it is offer to amendments. there are issues in addition to keystone pipeline there are critically important to jobs and the economy and to energy security in this country. and so the way that the leader

has suggested that this ought to work isn't simply about an argument on procedure. this is about whether or not the senate is going to function in a way where the views of the millions of people that are -- that we represent, those of us here who would love to offer amendments on these bills, are being prevented from doing. so i would simply say to the leader that this is not simply about keystone pipeline. this is about the broader debate on energy, what it means for jobs, what it means for our economy. and you've gotten to the place now where we're not even getting votes in committee. appropriations bills are being pulled back at the committee level because democrat members don't want to vote on amendments that republican members might offer. that's not the way this place is supposed to work. and i would -- so i appreciate the majority leader's understandable frustration. but it is a frustration that's grounded in the way that he's

runninrunning this institution,n anything our side is doing. mr. reid: mr. president, no one needs to take my word for it. take the word of one of the most senior republicans in this body, the senior senator from tennessee. he came to the floor a few days ago and said, on the appropriations bills we hear this plaintiff plea, let's have some votes. so the senator from tennessee said, why don't we have the votes. because what has been established around here is that we have 60 votes on anything that's controversial and 50 votes on everything else. that's what the senator from tennessee said. let's just go ahead an vote through the bills. no better example of that than dodd-frank, the bill that the republicans hate. it passed. on the 24th amendment that we voted on on that bill, senator durbin offered an amendment on swipe fees, and he was told i.t. going to be 60 votes. -- and he was told it's going to

be 60 votes. everything else had been 50. so he had to do his with 60 votes. that's how things work here. the republicans don't want to have votes. they want to have an issue on procedure. we should finish every one of those aeption pro appropriation, every one of them, if we followed what lamar alexander said. so, mr. president, it is interesting. energy issues -- this is a buzzword for, let's take care of the energy companies some more. they want to protect bill oil. if they want to have all the appropriations bills passed, let's pass them. all we have to do is follow what i've suggested, what senator alexander has suggested. that's what we should do. the presiding officer: the republican leader. mr. mcconnell: mr. president, i would simply offer the consent

agreement that the majority leader objected to when he pulled the shaheen bill a while back. it was pretty simple and pretty easily understood. this was the consent that was offered when the majority leader, as i said, pulled the shaheen-portman bill a while back. this is what i said. "i propose a different unanimous consent agreement. i ask unanimous consent that the only amendments in order be five amendments from the republican side related to energy policy, with -- with -- a 60-vote threshold a doption o on adoptih amendment. i ask that the bill be read a third time, the senate proceed to passage of the bill as amended, if amended." now, mr. president, that gives the majority leader what he was asking for on the last bill,

60-vote thresholds. it gives them amendments from our side related to energy policy. and it would have led to a vote on keystone. so i would propound that consent agreement again. it sounds to me like we may be getting somewhere, if the majority leader really wants to give us a chance to have a keystone vote out here on the floor. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. reid: mr. president, reserving the right to object to my friend's suggestion -- the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. reid: i would ask that it be modified to have a vote on keystone and have a vote on shaheen-portman. a 60-vote threshold, ofnlgt. the presiding officer: will the republican leader modify his request? mr. mcconnell: reserving the right to object, we didn't get amendments on shaheen-portman,

so what the majority leader is now saying is he wants to pass a kind of comprehensive energy bill deal waing with a variety f different subjects without any amendments at all as a condition for having a vote on keystone with five amendments related to the subject. i can remember when we used to vote around here. in fact, his members have only had seven roll call votes in a year. he's got one member from alaska who's never had a roll call vote on the floor in his entire senate career. so i think, you know, rather than these u.c.'s going back around forth be, maybe we ought to start talking and maybe the senate can start voting on things again. i object. the presiding officer: is there objection to the original request? mr. reid: yes. mr. president? the presiding officer: objection is heard. mr. reid: mr. president, let's not have revisionist history.

let's have real valid history. shaheen-portman was worked on for weeks last fall. shaheen-portman worked on this new version of the bill for months, and they worked out many, many amendments in the committee, and they came to me and said, we've gotten all of this worked out. shaheen and portman and a number of other senators. and i said, great. so before one of our recesses, the day we were getting treed leave, they came to -- we were getting ready to leave, they came to me and said, what would be better is if we had a sense of the senate resolution. we already agreed what we were going to do. the bill is different. like the workforce investment act we're going to this afternoon. i came back and said, that's

fine. we're going to do this as soon as we get back. we come back and then i'm told, we don't want a sense of the senate resolution. we want an up-or-down vote here. i said, okay, let's do it. that's when that still wasn't good enough. that still wasn't good enough because they want the issue. the energy efficiency bill is a good bipartisan bill. it's like the one we're going to work on this afternoon. it's a complex bill. but the differences have been worked out and we should go ahead and vote on that. so if they really care about keystone, if this is such a big deal -- the republican leader said, we've been working on this for five years -- the time has come, let's belly up to the bar where we vote and let's vote on it. but in the process, let's also do the bipartisan energy efficiency legislation that jeanne shaheen has put her heart into. so that's where we are.

another obstruction, diversion to keep us from really voting on things. they want the issue. they're focused on procedure, mr. president. and what the american people, they want us to do things. they want the minimum wage raised. they want unemployment benefits extended. -- for the long-term unemployed. they would like it so that a man working doesn't like more money than a woman that does the same work. they think -- the american people believe that they should not be burdened with college debt, which is larger than any other debt. it is $1.3 trillion now. they've stopped us from doing that based on procedure. why don't we work on things that would help the mile-per-hour? -- why dewe wor don't we work on tt would help the american people? mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the exchange between the majority leader and myself come out of our leader time, in order to not take further -- mr. reid: i would agree with

that. mr. mcconnell: yeah. i yield the floor. the presiding officer: without objection. the senator from south dakota. mr. thune: mr. president, as i mentioned previously, we intend to enter into a colloquy here on the floor of the senate to talk about an issue that's important to many of our states. the senator from i would wishing-- thesenator from wyomie impacted by something the e.p.a. has been pursuing and has been particularly active in issues misguided and ill-perceived proposals that do little more than overburden hardworking americans and families. one of the worst is the obama's e.p.a. proposal to slig expand its authority to -- significantly expand its authority to create stock ponds and ditches under the e.p.a. clean water act. the federal government could expand its regulatory authority from waters like rivers and lakes to the ditches on your

grandfather's property or the dry creek bed behind your house. that's what we're talking about. this could lead to untold compliance costs and bureaucratic wrangling for ordinary families and literally cripple farmers and businesses.e e.p.a. and army corps of engineers propose clean water act jurisdictional rules seeks to redefine waters of the united states which would effectively eliminate the clean water act provision. congress specifically did it to guarantee limits to federal authority. bodies of water currently deemed waters of the united states are subject to multiple regulatory requirements under the clean water act including permitting and reporting, enforcement and mitigation. despite opposition in congress, the e.p.a. and corps relentlessly pursu