tv Key Capitol Hill Hearings CSPAN September 9, 2015 6:00am-8:01am EDT
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>> number one, mr. speaker. this morning i had meetings at others in addition to make duties in this house i shall have further such meetings later today. >> julia knight. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i would like to echo the sentiments in relation to her majesty the queen. will the prime minister join me in congratulating parents of the newly announced alternative revision academy providing vital places for those in complex behavior means that nobody also agree with me those who ascribe free schools would deny parents choice in children opportunity.
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[shouting] >> my friend is right. the movement is bringing but we need in this country which is more good enough dinning school places. over 250 such schools in existence and we want to see 500 set up over this parliament. what we've seen is the order i was standing and speaking out today, he should praise the fact that quarter free schools are outstanding schools. these are not condescendingly schools for yummy mummies. they are special schools enhancing the educational. [shouting]
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>> can i ask the prime minister about the refugee crisis? this is the largest movement of people across europe since the second world war within just one month over 50,000 refugees arriving thousand refugees arriving in greece and thousands more signing off on foot to go from hungary to austria. the prime minister committed and if we would accept 20,000 refugees over the next five years. for these people, 2020 may seem a lifetime away. can you tell the house how many will be allowed to come to the u.k. by the end of this year? >> first of all, mr. speaker, before i answer the question, that will house legitimate paid tribute to her 28 years of front bench surveys this week issue service distinction in opposition and government. twice she stepped into the bridge is acting party leader, but she's carried it out with total assurance. she's always been a robust
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adversary and a fierce champion for a range of issues from a most notably women write and let the wind changing attitudes in our country or the better. but though we haven't seen eye to eye, she searched constituents, party with distinction from the front bench and i wish her well or she continues to serve this house in our country from the back benches. >> she is absolutely right this is the biggest crisis facing europe. we have to act on all of the areas she mentions. we have to use our head in her heart could be committed to taking 20,000 people. i want us to get on with that. no limit on the amount of people in the first year. let's get on with it to recognize we have to go to the camps, find the people, and make sure they can be house and find schools for their children to work with bodies to make sure when people come to get a warm welcome from britain.
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>> area farmer. >> can i be on the front bench and say for me it has been an absolute honor and privilege to play my part in leading this great priority. we have to do all those things to be sent out in relation to the refugees, but we still need to know how we need to have a commitment about a number we will take. this is an urgent crisis. if you can give us a number today, can he at least commit to consult throughout government with voluntary organizations and charities and come back in a month and say how many this country will take this year. it has welcomed the prime minister says we will take in refugees in the camps in the region readies rolled out those
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who've made it to southern europe. we understand his argument is not putting themselves in danger of this got got to deal with the reality and the reality is there's already thousands including thousands of children without their parents who have arrived in europe and propose we take 2002 this country. we should be playing our part to help the most vulnerable children even if they are already in europe. will he reconsider this? >> number we can achieve over the coming year, the first meeting chaired by the secretary and community secretary. we want secretary. we want to invite representatives of the lga to make sure we can plan. it is one thing to give a commitment to the number, which it is the 20,000 i think it is right or something else to make
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sure you can find out, get them here. i hope the whole country can come together and making sure we deliver the affair properly. the second reality in europe i would say is also a bigger reality, which is 11 million syrians who have been pushed out of their homes. only 3% has so far decided to come to europe. it's in the interest of the serious people and all of us to do everything we can to make sure as many people as possible stay in the neighboring countries and refugee camps and return to syria. britain has led the way funding refugee camps, jordan and will continue to go on doing that. they will go on to the excellent work they've done in a number of oxford organization with the dangers of taking children
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further away from their parents. those that have arrived in europe currently safe. the ones in the refugee camps, lebanon and jordan can discourage more people from making the journey. they can see britain playing her role, funding refugee camps, and taking 20,000 syrians to welcome into our homes. >> it's very important indeed and we support that. what about the thousands of children already many, many miles away from their homes who are already in europe but have no home. surely we can play our part in helping some of those children. i do urge him to reconsider. planning has to be done for receiving refugees in the camps.
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it's right he should be meeting with local government. when his development plans he should come back to the house. a month is enough time to come back and say how many we will take this year. this is urgent. can i ask about the situation of child refugees from the camps who will be allowed to come here. they need security and the deportation. can he assure there will be viable when they turn 18. >> the reason with these five-year humanitarian visas is because you don't have to go through the normal asylum process. the assumption at the end of that if people want to stay they can apply for applications to stay in there would be able to stay. some may want to go back if there's any settlement.
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let me answer other questions. obviously i will come back on a weekly basis to answer questions and making statements that i will permit to make sure the home secretary and community secretary regularly update the house because this is an enormous national exercise to give warm welcome and i'm happy to do that. members want to feed into the process at the offers and ideas from local councils. to the point about children, we will be taking children as we have already including orphans from camps in the region but listening to the advisor to advise advise caution on relocating children and apply that to the children of come to europe as well. >> they don't tell us not to take children from this camps in europe they are without their
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parents. i do welcome what he said about not having a threat to deportation over the serial children that do come here. it is right that we don't lose sight of those still make in a perilous across the mediterranean from libya. our navy has rescued thousands already been important to level a search and rescue is made king. can you update the house i'm not? >> so far was rescued 6,700,000,000,000. it is replaced by hms enterprise but has continued this very good work and will continue in doing this work with allies and others as long as necessary but also using the cut ends. we should be honest and recognize we have to been a case of economic migrants on the
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african root break the link between people getting on a boat and getting settlement sooner. all the evidence from the migration crises in the past, particularly spain in the canary islands need a way of returning people to africa who are leaving for a better life. you can't break the link and an increasing number of people on the perilous journey. >> of course we need to find ways of returning people where that is right but we've also got to make sure we stop them drowning at sea and i know he agrees with that. the e.u. must have a robust and realistic plan. today the european commission has announced further steps. the prime minister would look at whether there was a need for a special summit of e.u. leaders. there's one scheduled for october but if there ever was a
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late first summit, that time is now. will he call for one? >> i'm happy to keep this under review. i'd does this in the last couple days. the meeting of the ministers will be taking place in a couple days time. this must be a comprehensive approach. if it gone refugees that won't solve the problem sends a message that's a good idea to make that journey is not just my view. i think he's absolutely right. the answer is not quotas. quotas will play to the hands of those of vulnerable refugees. of course your pastor reaches of answers for those countries. britain has done borders and ability to make her own sovereign decisions are approaches to say we are a
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humanitarian mission within moral conscience but we want a comprehensive approach that puts money in the camps and solve the problems as they returned to season their government in libya. we have to address these issues in britain as a sovereign nation will do just that. >> this is not just about us as a sovereign nation doing what we can and should. this is about us working together with other countries. the refugee crisis remains a daunting problem which we are all striving to tackle, but we also have to address the underlying causes which are conflicts, global inequality and poverty and there are no simple answers but we can only address them working with other countries. the responsibilities we share as well as the threats we face reach across borders in a globalized age. to be british is not to be
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narrow, inward looking and fearful, but to be strong, confident and proud to reach out and engage with the rest of the world. the government should rise to this challenge of our time and i urge him to do so. >> i agree with every word of what she said. britain uniquely amongst countries meet their 2% nader spending target and play a role in defense and security countries and which are 97% gdp. no other country in the world meets those two targets and i'm proud we do. she talks about the causes of the crisis and she's absolutely right. particularly the mediterranean crisis is because they have
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assured others and millions have fled syria and we can do all we can is the moral humanitarian nation of taking people and spending money in helping refugee camps but we have to be part of the international mind that says we need an approach in syria which has a government look after his people. some of that will require not just sending money, not just upon the sea but hard military force. >> the last exchange is the most important. we with other countries have more than practical responsibilities. meeting both the commitment and spending to expand how each helps us deal with the situation in syria. >> the point i make is defending
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on aid is vital because you have 11 million people forced out of their homes. some remain in syria. some refugee camps may support and many are looked after and turkey in those countries need our help set the budget which has always been a controversial issue can now see the connection between the money we spend and the national security would help enforce in the u.k. the point i'm making is not to change the debate about what happens in syria but we have to keep thinking about the fact there is nothing in the end travelmate isil go away other than a confrontation and we should be clear steps were being degraded and defeated if not just in this country's interest of civilization more broadly.
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>> thank you, mr. speaker. the threat level from terrorism is listed as severe in the u.k. and many challenging decisions of the prime minister in protecting public safety and parliament to consider for months for reestablishment and the prime minister explained what role he holds and what role they will fulfill. >> the honorable gentleman is right that the current level is severe. that means we believe an attack is highly likely. the levels are set independently of government and intelligence and security does work today to see its reestablishment and i hope you will be part of that committee and be able to be briefed in the ways that the members of the committee are briefed. is there a role for the intelligence and security committee with already expanded to do even more to scrutinize
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the actions of the services and government that may well be the case. sa announced would've happened, what we've done in terms of straight in a country against which we are not current to war is a new departure and it's important they are scrutinize. for the prime minister to come to the house is the accountability. but to look at these things, i'm very happy to discuss that with the new chair who i hope will be appointed in the coming days. >> the prime minister talk about the importance of intelligence and security committee. we learned this week at a u.k. policy against terrorism suspects and regions whether it's not parliamentary perusal for military action. for the prime minister provide
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relevant information to the taligent and security committee said it can conduct a review? >> is such a sad i'm happy to discuss that when their appointment. what i meant to say was elected by members because that is what greatly happens. i'm happy to do that. the intelligence and security committee cannot be responsible for overseeing current operations. the responsibility for current operations and the government explain that. i will not subtract her counterterrorism policy to someone else. i take responsibility but it is important after the events have taken place at the highest he can make these investigations. >> rebecca powell. [shouting] >> thank you, mr. speaker. over the past week i've been facing severe difficulties in
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many sectors. these industries are lifeblood in my constituency. could the prime minister give assurances that all aspects are being made to help the industry through this time as far as having been campaigning on the streets to highlight. >> my honorable friend is right to raise this because commodity prices are right across the european union. we let cause in the council in brussels yesterday for urgent action in urgent action and there is a 500 million euro package of measures to help farmers. we've taken steps to help include and get a fair deal at the supermarket to do more on public procurement and authorities are buying british food and also making sure we
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look at farmers to give them a better deal at this difficult time. >> two weeks ago the work and pensions secretary department not only admitted to testimonies , but they also publish data on the desks of people which shows they are four times more likely to die after the secretary of state told them they did not exist. given the offensive remarks this week's referring to people without disabilities, when will the prime minister take control and respond to be investigated to reaching ministerial? >> first of all, let me deal directly with the publication of the payday. i promise it would be published
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in a way never published and is the first one. [shouting] we should be clear about what this data shows. it does not show people died as a result of benefits taken away. listen to the organization full text common i have to say to newspapers have printed the fact and had to retract it. the fact checking organization says it was widely reported thousands of people died. you should read that before our next billion. [shouting] >> in 2011 the prime minister confirms to the house the prohibition on the tronic monitoring of members of
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parliament still in force. unfortunately july 24th this year the government -- and also a complaint from the honorable lady at the wilson doctrine is not legally binding and according to places no obligations. this is clearly inconsistent with this statement in the doctrine into the house today. >> i've got nothing to add to comments but i'm happy to write to the honorable gentleman and set out the position. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, the refugee crisis is filled by a complex which in turn is heard in part by the grub worms straight. the u.k. has supplied weapons in many areas from which people are
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now seen in yemen and libya. they once again host the largest in the world. is it time the government recognized the link between the tragedy unfolding around us. >> we have district has rules anywhere in the world for selling arms to other countries. if she thinks the reason why so many people are fleeing syria is something to do with the arms trade, the fact is because assad is butchered his own people was that a terrorist organization running a large part of two countries. those of the problems we have to confront. [shouting] >> the u.k. is a social enterprise and it is about developing prosperity raids across england.
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can i ask the prime minister when he will see our area stimulate growth and everything. >> is a real opportunity to make some decisive steps towards rebalancing our economy and building the powerhouse and a big part of that is the local government and specifically accountable to communities and resources to drive economic growth in areas. we've had over at her to areas making proposals as well as city regions. i very much hope you'll be in the vanguard. [shouting] >> mr. speaker, the prime minister will be aware over 900 people and my constituency with
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the perception across the industry the u.k. government has been encouraging and supporting to relocate many jobs. can i ask what they do to support the markets? >> i'm aware of this issue not this because the local members of parliament in the grimsby area can't see me to talk about this industry. what matters is we don't want being an economy that will attract businesses and growth in jobs and that means keeping inflation down, taxes down i would also argue keeping our country together. s&p, my constituent -- the diamond jubilee will next be hosting a job fair which over 130 employers will be added. we have seen the lowest level of
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their and youth unemployment down by two thirds. can my right honorable friend had dissemination to finish the job i used unemployment? >> i'm grateful for what my honorable friend is doing and what is happening. what we have seen is employment rise by 2 million the unemployment rate for 25 consecutive months. it is not going to get harder as we dig down to those people after the labor market have challenges for getting jobs and we need to work hard to make sure the apprenticeships the trading and help his air. >> in the prime minister tell the house whether he thinks he has led public opinion or followed it? >> would've done it consistently to be frank, public opinion has an always supported the 9.7%
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weaker to the gdp aid and in the most difficult of economic circumstances the government led to the world's forests. >> thank you, mr. speaker. will the prime minister join me in welcoming the chancellor's announcement of funding to kickstart improvement and agree with me this is some vital project that will continue economic growth and jobs which is economic policy already delivering. >> one of the things that struck me on the many visits i've made to his tissues in the run-up to the election is the coastal towns are completely reliant as an absolutely vital artery and that's why it's good there is a 3 million pounds of funding to develop the case for
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improvement. we will keep on this because we know how vital the road is. >> every year thousands of people of medical emergencies, whether it's cardiac arrest every minute without cpr reduces survival chances by 70%. first a true life skill that the majority of teachers and parents of emergency first aid and scored the prime minister look closely at my private member's bill which aims to do that and make every child a life saver. >> i will certainly look closely at the bill because the truth is this is the availability of cpr equipment, whether village halls or pubs are schools can say many, many lives. that's why the budget is for buying defibrillators for public space and training in many schools will take advantage of
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this. >> nigel adams. be aware that new wonders and my constituency or consulting closure that provides 4% of the electricity and the announcement that also it has gotten legal action against the government over changes to the tax regime. the reality is they are taxed out of existence with power capacity issues next year. will the prime minister meet with me to discuss the way forward for the industry and people in my constituency whose jobs are under threat. >> i'm very happy to meet with the honorable gentleman. if we have sufficient capacity that is something nice meetings regularly to make sure that is the case.
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we do have a difficult situation of wanting to see over time a phasing out of unabated coal that needs to happen if we meet our carbon emissions but also replacing hole with renewable technologies and we need to make sure it's affordable and how much we are prepared to add the bill because this has to be paid for. >> the u.k. steel industry is facing huge challenges and 25,000 people rely on steel. will they call the steel summit and take the action necessary to secure its future. >> i've discussed this issue before and i'm sure we will meet and discuss this again. that government can help with the energy bills and with a 35 million pounds towards that.
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we've also sat out the infrastructure needs of the country so steel consumers can plant or how much needs to be produced and will do everything we can to support this vital industry. [shouting] >> the constituency advises the changes near the start. what does my right honorable friend see as a successful franchise to continue to offer is good or service is available now and maybe even better. >> my right honorable friend is right to raise this in the point about the franchise process is to see an improvement in the services. riccardi spoken about getting rid of the popular northern england and adding extra welfarism 500 services a day to increase the morning peak capacity and the outdated retired. is a good program and one we can
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secure through the franchise. >> experts say delivery a civic. how will the prime minister get a project back on track and budget by the delivery date of 2018. >> we are committed all the way. we are making record investments and many of us including members are privileged to be here for the opening of the factory providing the state of our built in japan, but here in the 700 new jobs in the northeast of england. >> mr. speaker, does my right honorable friend recall the debate about syria voices around the chamber argues the area and elsewhere have nothing to do
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with fascination and all of us. isn't it clear the failure of western security strategy in the middle east and elsewhere is the main driver antennae and doors hiss requirement for full spectrum response to isis in which he considers setting this house and a comprehensive white paper to feed the opinion. >> first of all, i want to say to the honorable gentleman who should be clear about who is responsible for the refugee crisis in syria. how to play at the door of assad isil today are terrorizing communities and driving people to take to the road and that their country. they are the ones responsible but he makes an important point when we don't involve ourselves in these issues and take
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difficult decisions, that is a decision in itself and it has consequences and that's a joke we can debate and discuss. as many different ways of presenting information. >> we do a great job not protected by the education. that means my constituency is, almost 20% of the funding over the last five years is almost 30%. >> unlike previous governments would've gone a long way to equalize funding between schools. we've made a lot of progress. [shouting] >> we are just days away from the world's third largest sporting event, the road the world cup.
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in addition, will the prime minister agree this represents a great economic opportunity to my talent would welcome visitors around the world to the birthplace of the games. >> i certainly look forward to welcome britain's bouquets. i'm happy to wish clark and what is going to be a compelling contests. this was a gift to the house of commons that the people at disneyland. while we are grateful, we want one of the home nations to win this. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the prime minister will be aware that your degrees father went to murder in belfast has escalated to new heights with the arrest today of the chairman in
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connection with the incident another leading members. be warned about this earlier this week. with an average seven-point and gone beyond the tipping point. the prime minister is aware that met the secretary of state this morning. casey now accept unless he and others take action we are in a state as far as the evolution is concerned and seek government but only those committed gambian government. does the prime minister agree? >> first of all, i agree we are in a difficult phase of these discussions in northern ireland. i obviously can't comment on the police operations taking place. but there is no justification for the power military organizations in northern ireland or anywhere else in our country. there applied to in our society.
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they should be disbanded on every occasion and on every side. the only thing i would appeal to members and the dep, members who don't take their seats in this house as someone who sat on most pages have watched of the peace process was put together in the arrangements in place, it is one of the most inspiring things i've seen to say politicians put aside distance and concerns and things in the past and decide to work together in the appeal and make to all of you if please have that spirit in mind. it was an amazing day when he formed the administration will do everything we can to help him. let's do it again. [shouting]
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>> border. [inaudible conversations] >> middle-school and high school students, we are happy to announce the launch of c-span's 2016 student can video documentary competition at the 2016 been a presidential election year, we are excited about this years theme, wrote to the white house. what are the issues you want
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candidates to discuss during the 2016 presidential campaign? or keeping us up into a highschooler metal student and is awarding $100,000 in cash prizes to students can work alone or join a group of up to three. your goal will be to produce a five to seven minute documentary on issues select it and include programming and also ask for opinions other than your own. the $100,000 cash prizes will be shared between 150 students in 53 teachers with the grand prize of $5000 to students with the best overall injury. this is done by machinery 20, 2016 and winners will be announced on march 9. join us this year. be a student documentarian. you will find more information on our website, student cam.or.
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>> the assistant democratic leader. thank you, mr. chairman. this has been one of the most extraordinary measures come before the senate in the time i served here. it is rare to have an issue of this historic moment, of this importance, one that literally raises the question of war and peace in the middle east and one considers so carefully by both sides of the aisle for such a fun period of time. when i left for the august recess. the senate, most of the numbers on my side of the i/o on the
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democratic side were so processing and reviewing the proposed agreement and over the course of august, members announce public positions on the matter. today there are 41 of the 46 democratic senators who have announced they will support the iran agreement. another four are opposed to it and one has yet to announce her position. we expect that to happen shortly. this is a unique matter. i asked my staff and others to research one particular aspect of this debate. the aspect i asked them to research was a letter sent march 9th of this year by 47 republican senators, 47 republican senators sent a letter to the leader of the
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islamic republic of iran, ayatollah to take you back in history at the appointed time of 47 republican senators sent that letter, the united states of america was in negotiation with iran to see whether we could come to any agreement or understanding when it came to limit iran's development of a nuclear weapon, something i'm sure both political parties want to stop from happening. in the midst of the delicate negotiation in switzerland, 47 republican senators including every member of the leadership sent a letter to the ayatollah in iran. it has come to our attention while observing negotiations with government they you may not fully understand our constitutional system the 47 senators wrote. best to bring your attention to
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features of our constitution. the power to make binding international agreements in the character of federal officers which you should seriously consider as negotiations progressed. 47 republican senators right in the midst of delicate negotiations. first under our constitution while the president appreciates international agreements, congress plays a significant role of ratifying it. in the case of the treaty for senate must ratify by two thirds vote a so-called congressional agreement requires a majority vote in the house and senate. which because of procedural rules effectively means a three fifths vote in the senate. 47 republican senators are rising that i is to load in iran in march that he should no more
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about our constitutional form of government and understand it will take senate approval which will effectively mean a three fifths vote. they go on to write anything not approved by congress' senior executive agreement. the officers of our constitution of characteristics. the president may save only two four-year terms were senators may serve six-year terms. president obama will leave office in january 27th team while most of us will be in the office well beyond, perhaps decades they write. then the 47 republican senators in march in their letter to the ayatollah say what these provisions mean is we will consider any agreement regarding a nuclear weapons program is
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nothing more than executive agreement between president obama and ayatollah khomeini. the next president to revoke an agreement with the stroke of a pen could modify the terms of the agreement at any time. we hope the letter which is your knowledge of our constitutional system that promotes understanding and clarity as negotiations progressed. 47 republican senators in march of this year writing to the ayatollah, basically telling him don't get your hopes up if you're negotiating with the united states, reminded him they will have the last word as members of congress and stipulating a three fifths vote required in the united states senate and then going on to say keep in mind we would be a lot longer than any president. we may be the last group to make a decision and basically
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reminding them that presidents come and go and don't assume the next president will honor an agreement reached by this resume. mr. president, you back 12 years ago. 47 democratic senators in the midst of our negotiation as to whether we should invade iraq, 47 democratic senators have sent a letter to saddam hussein saying don't negotiate with resident bush. don't pay attention to his negotiations. we will have the last word. i cannot imagine what the public response would've been but that's exactly what happened here. 47 republican senators intervening a negotiation process with iran basically telling those at the table, don't worry about reaching an agreement with the united states of america and this president.
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i know what would've happened if that would've come up when dick cheney was vice president of the united states. who would've had 47 democrats and charges of treason. and this circumstance this was not good judgment. i would like to stipulate the chairman of forming relations committee did not sign this letter. the 47 who did have to end the question, why. in delicate negotiations with the united states of america and we don't have a final agreement, why would 47 republican leaders want to intervene and say to the ayatollah don't waste your time negotiating with the president. it is troublesome. many have reached a conclusion before the agreement was written they would impose it, witness the letter. but it took time to consider, to
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measure and announce positions when it came to this matter. i respect them for doing that the mistake into a to a different conclusion than i did. i was in contact with virtually every member of our caucus during the month of august talking to them about this. real soul-searching here. real serious consideration. some of course went to the stories cap at the from the state department or the department of defense and the came back to washington in recess. one senator sat down for five hours in closed meetings to ask questions on his mind about the agreement. others met with constituents, talked about it, found differences of opinion within the red states. they thought about it long and
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hard, prayed over it. i talked to them, always wanting to hear where they were but never pushing because they knew it was serious and they took it seriously and that's where we find ourselves today. i want to salute the senator from tennessee. he and i may disagree in substance but i respect him very much. he is a man of honor and a man of integrity and he brings to the process that kind of attitude which i respect and i will continue to respect. i believe my colleague from maryland come a close personal friend that we see this issue differently has really thought long and hard. we've been on the phone together many times during the course and i ruined his vacation figuring out where he was and what the thought process was. we cannot two different positions on this matter.
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but the american people expect now is a debate befitting the great institution of the united states senate. they expect us to come here and conscientiously consider the matter in its merits and express points of view and virtually every senator has 30 done that. in the course of the debate american people can follow. whether iran will develop a nuclear weapon we believe they have capacity now to create as many as 10 nuclear weapons. we don't want that to happen. it would be disastrous for the world compass certainly disastrous disastrous for the middle east and israel and that is by leaders around the world, 100 different nations supported different nations supported the president a bomb is striving to do. but the president is trying to do something that should be a starting point in every critical
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foreign policy negotiation. try to solve problems in a thoughtful diplomatic way and if that fails, start with diplomacy and that's what the president has done. he's organized nations around the world to join in this effort. if this were the united states for saving, we wouldn't be where we are today with the president engaged countries which historically and recently have not been allies. before we left we sat down with the five ambassadors from nations that joined us a negotiation. i looked across the table to see the ambassador from china, for russia, from the united kingdom, representatives of germany and france and thought to myself that you're a student of history this is an amazing coalition. china, russia, germany, france
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and the united states working together family abroad in countries that didn't have the same involvement in negotiations but were with us. japan another good example join us in the effort to put pressure on iran. president obama led the effort and he was successful. iranians came to the negotiating table because they put the pressure on them and brought to that moment and now we have that we had before this disagreement. some have said you can never trust a random matter what they say and i would just hearken back to the days of ronald reagan who said of our enemies around the world when it came to agreements, trust but verify. recently we had an announcement made by colin powell, a man i respect very -- in support of this agreement.
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it was an announcement that surprised me in a way. i didn't know if you take a a position on this matter. former secretary of state colin powell expressed support for the nuclear agreement with iran calling the iranian leaders accepted remarkable and dismissing critics concern on the notation. it's a pretty good deal: powell said on "meet the press." critics concern to deal with expedite for quoted as forgetting the reality of the superhighway for 10 years to create a nuclear weapon or nuclear weapons program with no speed limit, and of quote. the reduction in centrifuges, iran's uranium stockpiled an agreement to shut down to react to her were all remarkable. these were remarkable changes in subways stopped the race they
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were going down and i think that's very important. powell also pushed back on skype takes to express worries about the ability to verify iran's following agreement with respect to the opinions, don't trust, never trust and always verify. i think a very vigorous verification regime has been put in place. see how they implement the deal and if they don't implement it, they allow. none of our options are gone paul said. i think he hit the nail on the head. general colin powell who served our country in the military and chairman of joint chiefs of staff, dennis secretary of state brings a perspective which very few can. a man who risks his life on the battlefield from a man who knows the true cost of war and a part of another republican president to lead us in diplomatic
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negotiations. this is the clear eyed approach we need when it comes to an issue of this gravity. all it takes to say on this matter at this funny yet the floor to my colleagues. >> the senator from tennessee. >> thank you, mr. president. i have more lengthy comments to make on this topic later that i did want to thank the distinguished senator from illinois for his comment and certainly senator cardin and i would do so more formally in just a moment. , to remind the body we went through several steps along the way to get where we are today. they created certain my consternation on both sides of the aisle. there are lots of things that occurred. a letter was referred to. there was an address to the joint congress, a number of things along the way that i've
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caused people to concern themselves that maybe this debate would end up being something of his party stand and low-level. i think what we have done is end up with the iran review act in short-term that gives us the opportunity as the distinguished senator mentioned to review this. we've done that. we have had 12 hearings on this topic, extensive hearings of the foreign relations committee and many other committees have done the same. what we put in place with 90 votes in the senate. we created a process were all senators to review this and have the document at their disposal could go through classified briefings in understanding could understand fully what the agreement says and then have the right to vote. certainly some things happen on
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the way that as i mentioned created consternation. as the body in the united states senate fashion in lieu of letting that divide us on monday that create a scenario where we would review it and not vote on it, we created a process where we would review it and vote on it i hope that the distinguished senator from illinois, conversations as a senator from maryland, process of this week, that is as good as that is all that's what the happen. the american people deserve to know where senators and house members stand on this serious piece of policy, foreign policy before us and i want to thank everyone for their role in getting it here. i will move on if i could do what i plan to say. i first want to thank senator mcconnell and senator reid for allowing the debate toake face
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this week without having a motion to proceed. i couldn't thank senator cardboard for being a colleague who really works to figure out a way for the senate to place appropriate role in foreign policy. it has been nothing but outstanding dealing with him since he assumed this role and i want to thank him for the way he has conducted himself. i would like to remind people about the iran nuclear agreement review back there would be no role for congress. one of the things that is confused a lot of american people and a lot of people would prefer this to have been a treaty. the fact is under our form of government, the president is able to decide whether he will submit an agreement as a treaty or an executive agreement. an executive agreement stays in place during the duration of the president's tenure and can be
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altered by the next president. a treaty is binding on future president. this president decided to go directly to the u.n. security council and let some congressionally mandated sanctions that we all helped put in place that brought iran to the table so with the knowledge of god, congress stepped in and pass the piece of legislation that now gives us the right to review what the president has negotiated and prevents him from lifting congressionally mandated sanctions should we decide they disapprove of this deal. so this is a place for congress said we want to play a role even though it was not contemplated, but i know this has been confusing to numbers of people. this was the only vehicle capable of letting the majority provide congressh
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