in wrda. okay. we have the same people saying this is a local issue while the house government and oversight committee and chairman chavis did hearings bringing in the e.p.a. administrator and challenging her to step down because of what the e.p.a. did in flint. so okay, it's local. no, it's the e.p.a., which is federal. we feel like we're being bounced back and forth and back and forth, and the bottom line, people in flint still can't drink the water. since mid august, we've had more than 611,000 cases of bottled water delivered to families and friends. in fact, delivered is the wrong word because most of the time they have to figure out a way to go pick it up. if you're riding a bus, that's pretty tough, or if you're walking and you have a car and you're trying to figure out when you will go get the bottled water that you can bathe in and feed your children in and cook

with. this has gone on day after day after day after day. and so while we thought we had a path and now it is extremely unclear, i trust our leaders here, senator inhofe, senator boxer in the senate, but we are getting a very different message in the house of representatives, and then all of a sudden we have a short-term appropriations bill, the continuing resolution, where we could in fact stop all the back and forth, ping-ponging and actually get this done for the people of flint. we're told no, the people of flint are told no, but then all of a sudden there's help for louisiana. now, i'm happy to support the people of louisiana, and it would be a tragedy and frankly i think really an outrageous way to make decisions if the answer after all of this is okay, we won't help louisiana either.

that is not what we're suggesting. we're saying that whether it is hurricanes, floods, disaster assistance, whether it's livestock disaster assistance that i put in the last farm bill, and it affects very little of michigan but an awful lot of people in the west and the south. whether it's that. whether it's a fertilizer plant explosion that was caused by various issues of malfeasance in west texas that exposed people to chemicals where the federal government came in to help. wherever it is, we step up together in extraordinary circumstances where there is an emergency, a disaster beyond the control of the citizens and the community involved, and we help. this has not been partisan in the past. we have not decided which zip code, whether or not you had a

republican senator representing you or a democratic senator. we have stepped up together to support efforts, and i supported every single one of them. what is different about flint, michigan? that's the question. now, the only thing i know that's different is that we have actually agreed to eliminate a program to fully pay for what we're doing to help. normally, it's not paid for. it goes on the deficit. we don't see a program being eliminated to fund the floods in louisiana or other areas, but we took the extra step. we are actually raising a program that affects predominant ly michigan that i authored in the 2007 bill because of the emergency and the dire circumstances in the city of flint. so that's the only difference i see, is that it costs nothing to do this, nothing. we could do it by unanimous

consent today. it costs nothing. so then the real question is, well, why, why is there such a problem? why is there such a problem? in including something that costs nothing on this short-term appropriations bill? i don't get it. and the people of flint don't get it. the fact of the matter is i hear from people all over the country that don't get it. this is an opportunity today, and i'm strongly urging that we reject the continuing resolution in front of us and to ask the leaders to go back to the drawing board and to get it right and to indicate that we see, we hear, we care about

100,000 people in flint, michigan, about 9,000 children under the age of 6, about people who live in homes that have some lead levels higher than at a toxic waste dump, about the mom who was here two weeks ago whose daughter was bright and engaged and going to school and now after lead exposure is lethargic, is not focused, and she can't eat a sandwich because her teeth are crumbling, because she has zero, she had zero vitamin d, zero. so much so that when it was -- when she was tested, the doctors immediately put her into the hospital to give her massive doses of vitamin d for her bones. how do i tell that mom that we could help her now and it's not

going to happen? i don't get it. time to vote no on this procedural motion on c.r. and get back to work and make sure that the families that have floods in louisiana and west virginia and other places get the support they need and that we help in partnering to help -- not total but help with some of the costs that will put the water back on in flint. when you turn on the faucet today wherever you are, think about what would happen if you didn't have confidence that what came out of that faucet wasn't going to poison you. this is the united states of america. we can do better than this.

this body has supported to do better than this. it's time to get it done. thank you, mr. president. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the senate stands in recess until 2:15.

mike, what's the status of the containing resolution and what's in it currently? >> caller: no one thought we would be here one more time. but this thing washington here we are and the senate will vote at 2:15 p.m. on the package the republicans introduced last week. it is widely expected to fail. the democrats are not going to support it largely america because the last funding for the floodwater crisis, they want to under $20 million that is already passed the senate but is not included in this continuing resolution. there's also some conservative groups that don't like the cr and are a couple of republicans are going to vote against it. all of those things being said, that the are expected to fill, not get the safety belt mitch mcconnell the need to bring it over the finish line. so the question is what is plan b for mcconnell?

he knows very well the republican suffer politically three years ago when the government shut down for 60 days. that was the ted cruz fight over rebuilding obamacare. and they were just lucky that wasn't an election year. this is. been of everyone they don't want it to happen again. we are surprised a bit of this law. there was talk they would be are three weeks in september. here we are three, four days before the shutdown, it's going at midnight on friday if they can't fund the government and is just a short-term extension. this just gets it beyond the election of the fact they're having trouble i guess surprises, surprises a little bit and again this congress and all these things seem to take just the last minute, you know, the very last deadline to get these guys to rally again we don't expect a shutdown indian because the question how do going to do it? >> host: harry reid on the forward link of the democrats position and he was calling on

republicans in the house and senate to add the flint, michigan, funding to this continuing resolution or why do democrats want him to continue resolutions a badly country the other vehicle legal it is the water resource and government act and that is our passed the senate. it includes the flint language but it's not a must pass bill and the democrats are just worried there's not the time to conference with house and senate because there do exist in those two bills. to conference investing get out of town by friday. they just don't see it happening. they have leverage in this fight. they know that mitch mcconnell and republicans are against a rock and hard place and they want to include differently which i must pass vehicle and you would think that movie is the cr. there are political considerations that we should mention. moscow has wanted all month to get his guys back on the campaign trail. there are a number vulnerable

republicans. the democrats don't have many fumble people. they don't have any to speak of. so the longer the democrats remain in town, the longer they keep mcconnell here so there are political tension. kind of a win-win for the democrats, and so there in over a even as they are saying the urgent this plan is for flint. a couple different things happening, and the ball will be in mcconnell's court. all right has said that the water resources act, wrda act, is also the better vehicle for the flint language. but again it's not must pass and last night and it was offered to the house built on the republican shotgun. this was a new want of jurisdiction issue. they said was not germane so they ruled that out of order. it was over by the democratic from flint who is pushing hardest for the money for obvious regional reasons. puts the republicans announced any that spot because they are saying on one end let's put it in the water bill, on the other hand, which is shut down the

minute that would put it on the water bill. a lot of strange politics happening and for all those reasons the democrats wanted on the cr. >> host: of course back in the senate what happens if the cr, the containing resolution fails? are they going to be some are able to make the deadline of friday? >> caller: they have the time to the question is whether the caller going to do? they have to go back to the drawing board. they could add the flint language has already passed. that would give democrats on board. even if they continue to lose a couple of the republicans, there's concerns over the ex-im bank and mike lead utah never vote for containing resolution in any form so he will oppose a. you could also democrats on board and the misery quickly through the city. it's an issue of what is mcconnell once do. who blinks first? if kind became a shutdown chicken. and begin because the republicans took the politically last time round they were not wanted to write again and found this election. the democrats feel they have leverage, the of the vantage and they're trying to use that to

maximize all about. >> host: mike lillis foothill. appreciate your time. >> guest: thank you for having me. appreciate it. >> the senate taking a quick vote on a measure to 15 p.m. eastern limiting debate and setting up a vote for final passage. that will be after senators return from their weekly party lunches. >> c-span, created by america's cable television companies and brought to you as a public service by your cable or satellite provider. following for special debate between hillary clinton and donald trump last night in new york, the democratic nominee will be holding a rally today in north carolina, we will be taking their life. it is scheduled to start at 1:00 eastern time. on the way to north carolina she made some comments to reporters aboard her campaign plan. let's take a look.

>> hey, everybody. well, we had a great, great time last night, and had to say i was thrilled i got a chance to lay out some of the middle-class economic policies and profamily policies that i've been talking about throughout this campaign, to all the viewers who tuned in. i felt so positive about it, and one of the positive thoughts in my head was one of my favorite baseball players growing up, ernie banks, used to get so excited about going to play that he would say let's play too. some looking forward to the next debate and then one after that. spume what you think was most critical moments last night? >> i think viewers got a real chance to begin to prepare us on policy. policy gets lost a lot of the time i income which was back and

forth that goes on. and laying out my plans for strong growth and fair growth indeed we found economic issues like affordable child care and paid family leave in free college -- debt free college with no real response, no real offer coming for my opponent your attacks plans that we put forward are so different, in his would explode the deficit and debt in the would be a huge step to the wealthiest of americans including him in his own family. i think of all coming to focus for people. >> what about the way he kept interrupting and the way he answered the question about gender? do you think women would react to the? >> well, i think his demeanor, his temperament, his behavior on the stage could be seen by everybody. people can draw their own conclusion.

and i thought on several occasions he was making charges and claims that were demonstrably untrue, offering opinions that think a lot of people would find offensive and lost 40. he can run his campaign represent himself however he chooses, but the real point is about temperament and fitness and qualification, told the most import, hardest job in the world, and i think people saw last night some very clear differences between us. >> are you concerned donald trump will not show up for the next debate? are you concerned he will not show up? >> well, i'm going to show. he gets to see sideways going to do but i will be there in st. louis and then after that in las vegas. if i'm the only person on stage, well, i'm on a person on stage.

>> when donald trump says he shows great restraint last night and that he could come after you and your husband for personal matters speak as i say he can run his campaign however he chooses. i will continue to talk about what i want to do for the american people, let out specific plans with very clear goals in mind to help us do with all the challenges we face. i'm excited about what art in this country. he'd talk to down america every chance he gets. he called us in. he calls us a third world country. he talked in such dire and dark terms. that's not who america is. you know, we are the best problem solvers in the world. our diversity is a strength. i am excited about helping to pull the country together, set some big goals on infrastructure and defense manufacturing in clean energy to take on climate change which, by the way, is not

a hoax made up by the chinese. and do everything that i've talked about. you should know by now when i set my mind on something, i keep going. i don't quit. whatever the static, what are the incoming is, and that's what i'll do for the american people. i am looking forward to it. thank you. >> what about his stamina? >> everyone who have to blame it on the microphone is not having a good night. >> all, wow. -- >> oh, wow. >> the democratic present moment will be holding a rally today in north to like it will take you live as soon as it begins. scheduled to start in about 10 minutes, 1:00 eastern time. first a look at a recent white house medal of arts ceremony.

>> ladies and gentlemen, the recipient of the 2015 national medal of arts. [applause] [applause] >> the recent years of the 2015 national humanities medal. [applause]

>> they don't ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states. [cheers and applause] ♪

>> thank you. everybody, please have a seat, have a seat. thank you so much. everybody, please sit down. i can tell this is a rowdy crowd. sit down. welcome to the white house, everybody. throughout my time here, michelle and i have tried to make it a priority to promote the arts and the humanities, especially for our young people, and it's because we believe that the arts and the humanities are, in many ways, reflective of our national soul. they're central to who we are as americans, dreamers and storytellers, and innovators and visionaries. they're what helps us make sense of the past, the good and the bad. they're how we chart a course for the future while leaving something of ourselves for the next generation to learn from. and we are here today to honor

the very best of their fields, creators who give every piece of themselves to their craft. as mel brooks once said to his writers on blazing saddles, which is a great film, write anything you want, because we'll never be heard from again. we will all be arrested for this movie. [laughter] [applause] now, to be fair, mel also said, a little more eloquently, that, every human being has hundreds of separate people living inside his skin. and the talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters

living within him. and that, i think, is what the arts and the humanities do, the a lift up our identities, and make us see ourselves in each other. and today's honorees each possess a gift for this kind of creative empathy, a gift that allows us to exchange a sense of what's most important and most profound in us, and to identify with our collective experience as americans. now, along with mel, we have an impressive crew with us here today. we've got terry gross, and a whole bunch of people who terry gross has interviewed. [laughter] we have jane chu, our chair of the national endowment of the arts.

[applause] bro adams, chair of the national endowment of the humanities who also just has a cool name. bro. and we thank the members of congress who are here for their strong support of the arts and the humanities. but today, the focus is on our recipients. and today's recipients of the national medals of the arts and the humanities are poets, musicians, artists, journalists, professors, historians, and at least one chef. their paths and their mediums could hardly be more different, and that's what makes them great. they take their piece of this big, bold, diverse, energetic country, they reshape it, and then they share it with us. they open our experience to theirs, and for that, we honor

them here today. we honor poets like louise glück, whose probing poems capture the quiet drama of nature and the quiet emotions of everyday people. throughout her life, fastidious, attentive readers have taught her that there are ears that receive. as a professor, she strives to be a receiving ear for others, and she's inspired generations of young poets who are her students and readers alike. once, when asked how she hoped the world would respond to her work, louise said she wanted william blake to come down from heaven and say, you did a very good job. [laughter] now, i don't think that's happened. so you will have to settle for us today. [laughter] we honor musicians like philip glass.

like his own life as a juilliard-trained new york city cab driver, philip's work is full of contradictions that cross genres and cultures. when the music he made strayed from neat conventions, audiences didn't know always how to react. i understand that there have been some eggs thrown occasionally. but as philip said, what seems strange or bizarre for any short period of time starts becoming familiar, and whatever artistic rewards or secrets it might have become revealed. change isn't easy. but over his career of symphonies and operas and film scores, philip glass has proven that change can be beautiful. we honor historians like isabel wilkerson, whose masterpiece the warmth of other suns made the story of the great migration of african americans from the south to the north and west accessible to a new generation of americans. to craft this remarkable book,

isabel spent 15 painstaking years trekking between archives and living rooms, interviewing more than 1,200 people who told her their families' stories of heartbreak and endurance and ultimately overcoming, stories they often found too painful to share even with their own children. and through it all, she had to conquer the enormity of her task and prove wrong the doubts of others. and because she did, one of the most important chapters in our history is told in a book any young person can pick up and read. and that's just a sampling of the extraordinary accomplishments that are represented here today. we honor rudolfo anaya. josé andres. mel brooks. ron chernow. sandra cisneros. philip glass. louise glück. berry gordy. santiago jiménez. moisés kaufman. ralph lemon.

audra mcdonald. terry gross. james mcbride. louis menand. the eugene o'neill theater center. elaine pagels. the prison university project. luis valdez. abraham verghese. jack whitten. isabel wilkerson. we also honor wynton marsalis, who unfortunately could not make it here today, and morgan freeman, who undoubtedly is off playing a black president again [laughter] [applause] he never lets me have my moment. he's always, like -- [laughter] all of today's honorees work in

an age where the stories we tell and the technologies that we use to tell them are more diverse than ever before, and as diverse as the country that we love. every human being has hundreds of separate people living inside his skin. it echoes what whitman once wrote about america, that we are large, containing multitudes. it's what's so great about this country -- that there is no single, set way to contribute. all of us belong. all of us have a story to tell. even when you think your story is too different, too strange, too unique, there's someone out there who's been waiting their whole life to hear you tell your story, because it's just like theirs. what a great gift all of you have given us. so today, we thank you, today's honorees, who have had the bravery to go first and tell

their story and make us feel a little bit better about ours. so with that let's give out some awards. let's read the citations. [applause] >> national medal of arts recipients. mel brooks. [applause] the 2015 national medal of arts to mel brooks for a lifetime of making the world laugh. as a writer, director, actor, and musician, he pioneered the art of musical comedy. and his hilarious, thought-provoking work on film and in theater have earned him the rare distinction of winning oscar, emmy, tony, and grammy awards.