the -- 2:00, the senate vote in relation to the warner amendment with no second-degree amendments in order prior to the vote. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: i ask unanimous consent the senate be in a period of morning business for senators permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of s. res. 293 submitted earlier today. the clerk: senate resolution 293, commemorating the 150th anniversary of morgan state university. the presiding officer: weeks, the senate will proceed. mr. gardner: i ask that the preamble be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h.r. 2989 which was received from the house. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 29789 -- 2989 afternoon act to establish the frederick douglass bicentennial commission. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure.

mr. gardner: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the most to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today it adjourn til 9:30 a.m. thursday, october 19. further, following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed. finally, following leader remarks the senate resume consideration of h. con. res. 71 under the previous order. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. gardner: if there's no further business to come before the senate, i ask that the senate be adjourned under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate will be adjourned til

>> >> as they fought to liberate their own country from the oppression of isis. instead of caring for the urgent humanitarian needs isis utilize the money is stockpiled including against many muslims to rage terror around the world. using civilians as human shields isis barbara eric attack left many scars across the region and we remain committed to the stabilization efforts of the local security forces in a liberated areas through political transition and syria. unfortunately the syrian regime cannot liberate so

the. regime forces attacked our partners in the attempt to block them from liberating the syrian people from the brutality of isis. we know that destructive ideology will remain a threat deviled mark the beginning of the new phase as we take away the ability of isis to plan and carry out attacks we will continue to seek the day escalation of other battlefields across syria. looking ahead to tomorrow we will be welcoming the governor from puerto rico to the white house to talk about the ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts working hand-in-hand with local leaders in all areas of our country impacted by several natural disasters in recent months. as president trump has repeatedly said we stand with our fellow citizens, we are here to helping get them back on their feet.

with that i will take your questions. >> the president stated earlier today he would not allow insurance companies to pad pockets with money from the federal government. the white house has concerns about the alexander every bill. >> we want something that provides relief for all americans this bill does not address that facts we want to make sure that is taking care of. this is a good step in the right direction the president certainly supports republicans and democrats to work together that we need to build a little further. >> specifically what is the white house concerned about?. >> some of the things with those lower premiums to

provide greater flexibility he likes the idea of block grants. >> the president's tweet this morning congresswoman wilson is not telling the truth. >> there were several people in the room from the administration on the call including the chief of staff. >> he said he called every family of someone who has died is that true?. >> they have made contact with all of those families from the white house military office. >> but they said they had actually heard from the white house. >> all the individuals the president has been presented with through the proper protocol have been contacted through the process.

>> is it correct to say president trump does not support the bill?. >> correct he stated that pretty clearly. >> as a follow-up come up with governor reynolds from iowa what did they discuss?. >> they didn't make any assurances they will continue to look at that process but it was discussed. >> it is very hard not to give tax cuts to the wealthy so it seems like bad acknowledgement with that independent analysis.

>> that is not the focus of the tax plan but time and time again the priority the way it is laid out to benefit the middle class. they are making some people in the well the bracket that middle-class americans are the ones that our most impacted. >> what is a protocol to give the names of the families to the president?. >> there is a process through protocol once a person is killed in action the process begins with the dod casualty assistance

officers making next of kin notification that they create a package sent to the military office to reconfirm all of the details of the contents have to be confirmed and once the process is complete, the president or other members can engage in and contact. >> to follow what are you saying that if the president has not contacted the family members of every service member they have a protocol to the office?. >> that is maya understanding. but as a whole in general that is my and a standing. >> so a follow-up why did the president wait 12 days to speak publicly?. >> of rocky through the process. dod package sent arrived on thursday of last week the white house military office confirmed the contents of that package on monday and the letters have been drafted over the weekend once the confirmation was

completed. >> why even make public remarks. >> he has learned everything he wants to know it was described as in the speed of the evacuation with the military personnel he knows everything he needs to know of rules of engagement. >> dead wrong thing the president could never be satisfied if there is loss of life from men and women in uniform. but i cannot get into the

specifics at this point. but i don't think you can never use the word satisfied if there is a loss of life in the military. >> does the president think the congress should do that?. >> so to have a review done on that process with the official policy position i will make that announcement. >>. >> there were questions of the funding for abortions.

will the president ruled on any kind of measure?. >> the president stated he would like to see a health care bill. >> i believe that is something that is a priority but in terms of negotiating the health care package i will not do that from the podium today. i will take one question today to get to everybody. >> with the question of the nfl earlier today said all players should stand during the playing of the national and the emperor gore earlier this week it was a change of policy relating to the nfl mandating that all players stand for the national anthem. does the president believe he has won the argument as

to what he said if players should stand?. >> it is a step in the right direction as we have said many times before the president supports saluting the flag and honoring those men and women in uniform. >> with a matter of principle that isn't adequate as president bush and president obama? and to send a letter to general kelly?. >> en el think there is anything but of president can do for the families of those that are killed in action. the point he was making is is is a different process.

sometimes they engaged directly those comments were taken out of context and that is where it should be focused. >> and to say there is no question in my mind if we don't get it done you will see a reversal of a significant amount to be a major correction. how concerned is the president at this point of that possibility?. >> that we will get tax cuts done that is what we are focused on. >> one question per day. >> with the california wildfires situation does he have any plans to visit california to survey the

damage?. >> not at all. the administration has been very engaged throughout this process we will continue to talk with state and local officials on the ground and work with those individuals to make sure whatever aid is needed to provide the process. >> this has not been ruled out. >> [inaudible] >> as we said before talking about it a couple times all sides to avoid escalating this further and we would like for them to be focused on helping to continue in the fight against isis that

is where we would like to see their energy focused against iran. >> it has been more than two months can you detail the process?. >> there is an "in-depth" legal process to make further announcements on that next week but it is the interagency process and we will have further announcements on that next week. >>. >> following on of tax reform. >> that they were a must

have. >>. >> band getting the democrats on board?. >> we don't know why they would want to be against providing tax relief and tax cuts to middle-class americans. i don't know why anybody would want to get on board with that. >> and they still don't of drinking water does the administration consider those conditions importer rigo except double?. >> we are continuing to do everything we can to help the people of puerto rico the governor will be here at the white house tomorrow to continue those conversations to talk to us how they can a state and local government with of recovery efforts.

>>. >> as the president said yesterday he has interviewed very qualified individuals. >> does he deny ever spoke these words to the widow that he must have known what he signed up for what was taken out of context?. >> the president's call accounted by multiple people in the room believed the president was completely respectful and sympathetic and expressed condolences of his self and the rest of the

country. and then to commended them for having an american hero in their family i don't know how you take that any other way. >> she felt he put into the wrong context. >> said sentiment of the president is very clear to me a call to express his condolences and then to portray that is an act of kindness. >> speaking to general kelly multiple times. >> and then reese -- raising that issue i'm not sure they

knew that specific comment. >> is general kelly comfortable?. >> i think he is disgusted the way this has been politicized not the way they are lost but it is frustrating of the azinger it is towards that. >> [inaudible] >> there have ben conversation is about that.

but beyond that i don't know if there are further conversations. >> and then to try to find out information and she said with that signal that was located and also what do you say about her comments?. >> just because the

president said your guy i don't think he doesn't know his name but the hardest job he has is to make calls like that. i think it is appalling what the congresswoman has done or the way she has politicized the issue of this is a person who loves our country with the greatest level of respect for men and women in uniform and wanted to offer condolences to try to create something from that what the congresswoman is doing is appalling and disgusting. >> what about. >> i will my get into the details as i said before. >> setting aside said she

felt like her son was disrespect did. [inaudible] is the president reconsidering away he communicates or how he may want to choose his words?. >> general kelly was present and thought it was completely inappropriate and he thought the call was respectful and he thought the president did the best job he could under those circumstances to offer condolences on behalf of the country. >>. >> to reject the u.s. proposal. >> but as the president said

it is a bad deal he wants to make sure of the american workers this is how we will push forward. >> former fbi director james komi he also asked where is the justice department would today asking for?. >> offering a legal opinion on his conduct with any and all legal questions referring to the department of justice. >> anything on the department of justice will be referred to them.

>> why did it take so long talking about the isis ambush but even to offer condolences talking about what happened and there is also there is remarks from the administration and i know i did in short order and i speak on his behalf on behalf of the president and the administration. >> said to bring that up as a defense.

>> so just to clarify that there is some point in the conversation this is what he signed up for?. >> i haven't spoke specifically of the sentiment or the details because i don't find that to be appropriate. >> so my question for you is with u.s. involvement with syria and iraq post isis?. >> so to completely destroy and defeat isis that is the of parity error we will continue to be focused. thank you for today i will see you tomorrow.

. >> and to date did example all around the world and get this came out of a terrible tragedy a harvard learned experience because none of these were in place at the end of the 20th century. >> when he was alive

probably the most famous english language writer in the world if not the most famous person in the world. like paul reveres ride the children's hour, . >>. >> with the state's oldest white house. . >> it is a long story but was able to get back to the surface but then they jumped

in and there is the pitcher that i'm sure you will show them pulling the amount of the lake you can see my arm was broken and then once they pulled me now they seem happy to see me because i just finish bombing the place. [laughter] so it got pretty rough. i broke my shoulder and i hurt my knee again but i don't blame them. we were in a war. i did not like it but at the same time when you are in a war and captured by the enemy, you cannot expect to have tea. . .

that is coming from the mother of johnson who was killed in an ambush earlier this month. after request of the president told the widow that her husband quote - knew what he signed up for. the treatment referring to florida congresswoman frederica wilson. we'll get reaction to the story from the president in a