simply hand them back to hamas. that's not going to happen. [applause] israel will destroy the tunnels we have found and we will not stop until that job is done. [applause] >> israel believes that a sustainable solution is one in which those tunnels are destroyed, the rocket fire ends and effective mechanisms are established to assure the demilitarization of gaza so that hamas does not simply rearm and force israel into a confrontation again in another year or two. the prime minister discussed these principles with both secretary kerry on friday and with president obama yesterday. israel appreciates that both president obama and secretary kerry and national security adviser susan rice, who i understand will be speaking here

after me, we appreciate that they have all strongly supported israel's right to defend itself. we also appreciate their efforts to help israel achieve a sustainable cease-fire. and i speak directly for my prime minister here. the criticism of secretary kerry for his good faith efforts to advance a sustainable cease-fire is unwarranted. [applause] >> there is broad understanding between israel and the united states about the principles for a sustainable cease-fire, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the united states to advance that goal and a durable solution to the problems in gaza. the demilitarization in gaza is critical if any cease-fire is to prove durable. hamas must not be allowed to rebuild its war machine. effective mechanisms must be put in place to assure that cement

is not used to build terror tunnels, iron is not used to manufacture rockets and chemicals are not used to fuel explosives. when israel raised these issues in the past, they were largely dismissed by the international community. worse, israel was libeled and oppos insisted that goods coming into israel were monitored. those that object should look at the terror tunnels that hamas has built. instead of using them for better schools in gaza, they used them for terror tunnels underneath gaza and to fire hundreds of thousands of rockets into the skies of israel. we are fighting hamas, a brutal

terrorism that fires on our civilians and hides behind their civilians. hamas has fired over 25,000 rockets in israel. they have forced two-thirds of our population, the equivalent of 200 million americans, into bomb shelters. over 500 of those rockets that were fired in israel have landed in gaza. those are hamas and palestinian rockets, they have landed in gaza. today two of those rockets aimed at gaza landed in a gaza shiite hospital and a refugee camp. that may not be what they report in the media today, but ladies and gentlemen, that is the truth. that is the truth. [applause] >> hamas has turned countless civilian sites in gaza into military sites. they are systemically using palestinians in gaza as human shield. hamas has fired from inside

hospitals, used ambulances to ferry terrorists, stored rockets in u.n. schools and turned hamas into weapons post. they have violated all reasons of war. as civilians try to get palestinians out of harm's way, hamas tries to keep them in harm's way. they tell palestinians to ignore the warnings of the ids and tries to enforce them to sacrifice themselves in the war against israel. israel does not target civilians and regrets the tragic loss of every civilian life in gaza. but hamas, and only hamas, is to blame for these casualties. [applause] >> hamas hopes that mounting palestinian casualties will trigger both condemnation and pressure on israel. hamas must not be allowed to

once again manipulate the world with this despicable tactic of human shields. unfortunately, instead of holding the real war criminals, hamas, accountable, organizations like the u.n. human rights commission accuse israel of war crimes. what a disgrace. what a travesty of justice. israel will continue to confront these lies, and we will take the measures necessary to defend the people of israel. now, we know that in doing so, we have the support of america's leaders and of the american people, and we know we have the support of all of you. i want to thank you on behalf of my government and the people of israel for your solidarity with israel, for all of you coming here today. thank you for standing shoulder to shoulder with us during these very difficult days. thank you very much.

[applause] i'm proud to serve as the president of the board of the jewish federation of greater washington. i'm also proud to stand with israel today. one of the most important connections between us and israel is the shalia, the emissary, who works to build bridges between our communities. the shalia develops educational programs and coordinates the activities of over a dozen local jc cs, synagogues and campuses

throughout the area. here in washington, we are honored to have nina for the engagement of the jewish federation of greater washington. in israel is the director of the tel aviv university. she worked to create a pluralistic space for jewish children to find their identity. and after 60 years of independence with a tribute to women, she was one of the women you should know. she emigrated when she was three years old. it is my pleasure to introduce nina y arnaganyahu. >> thank you.

since the operation took a turn, 43 officers, and three civilians have died. more than 1,000 died and more than 6,000 have been injured. and a few minutes ago, i just updated that more -- five more soldiers died today. it must stop. nobody can count the number of deaths on each side. i have felt more pain and sorrow during this war than any other war we have had in the past. an operation projected edge expanded to include ground forces and offered to end hamas ability to fire rockets and carry out attacks on civilians, hamas used their own people to continue the rocket attack on israeli civilians. and more than ever, we can

forgive the arabs for killing our children. we cannot force them to forgive us for killing their children. right now it's so true for me personally because the rockets are still falling on my own family in israel. this is why the numbers are what they are. while we are trying to protect individuals in israel and gaza, hamas are using civilians as human shields. it's impossible to make peace with an organization which does not value human life. as an educator, i have been struggling through the last 20 days as there are so many aspects of the current situation in israel to teach and educate

about. what do i want the people here to know? what should they learn from this? why should we care about something that takes place somewhere else so far from us? as humans, as jewish and americans, we all want peace, not war. we all want to live life normal, like i have experienced here. there are several stories we can all learn from and rely on, and i would like to share one of them today with you. maria hovitz is one of the great singers in israel, and yesterday he just announced a new song regarding the current situation. i want to share some of the moving words with you. 20,000 people and you are the first. 20,000 people behind you, marching in silence with flowers.

20,000 brothers and 2 sisters came to say thank you and to say goodbye. ariel was referring to shawn, 21 years old, a lone soldier from texas who served at the bridge and was killed. he mentioned 20,000 people, but actually the entire people of israel were mourning for him. this song shows you the love and unity we have. we are indeed one big family. for 66 years, israel has been fighting for its existence. we have lost more than 23,000 soldiers and israel is worse. and we now find ourselves in the midst of yet another battle. i remember as a child when i grew up in israel, we hoped that in the future we will not need the army. we thought we would not need a soldier because in the future

we're not going to have any wars. but here we find ourselves again in another battle. as much as this breaks my heart to say, that's beside the support of the people here in the united states, it doesn't look like we have enough luck in the world. the war is growing like a wildfire, with constant israeli pressure on the government to be more humanitarian. i can't state more firmly that israel has the right to defend herself and that is what she is doing now. any sight of children dying hurts me. i do know that israel is fighting this war reluctantly so less children will die in the future. this is why the global jewish community needs to be one big family and stand with israel. they say all jews are responsible and we can truly

only rely on each other. this is one of the lessons we learned from this war. thank you. [applause] my name is kenneth p.alpen. i am in an organization that is dedicated to the strong relationship, friendship and alliance that exists between the united states and israel, so our mission to nurture, to let it grow, and this audience and our speakers and our audience is a sign of that alliance. we should never lose sight of what israel is fighting for

today. they are fighting for the same reason we fought in 1901 because israel was part of the non-islamic world and it was their objective to destroy america. israel is fighting for its life because hamas is unwilling to countenance the survival and existence of israel. so israel and america are fighting and embraced in the same long fight against terrorism. when i was the chairman of the conference of presidents, a previous executive head died, and i was confronted with the question of what to do. there was only one question i had to answer. not what to do, not who to seek to employ to engage to run the

conference of presidents, but whether i would have the stamina, the forensic ability to convince malcolm holmline to come and work and be the leader and serve as the executive vice chairman of the conference of presidents, a major american organization. i count that as one of the greater achievements of my life. on behalf of all of you, i want to say to him, thank you for you. [applause] >> okay, i have to talk quickly because we're waiting for our keynote speaker who is in an elevator and hopefully will get out of that elevator. first and foremost, i want to thank all the speakers and joe who is doing the timing. you'll tell your grandchildren about this, how you tried to

shut up the members of the congress unsuccessfully. we have an unbelievable achievement today, not only because of the room being full, filled with people from all over the country from 50 organizations and 150 communities, that you all came on short notice reflects the deep sense of commitment that we have and understanding about what this is really all about, that this is not just israel's battle, it's our battle for survival. this is appen attack on the isri people but on all the jewish people around the world. they make it clear it is our resistance that is the enemy. they say it's only about israelis, it's about occupation. it is not. it's not about 67, it's about 47. it's not about occupation, it's about israel's right to exist. and when you read the words of the leaders of hamas or iran, take it seriously. dictators tell the truth. leaders of democracy sometimes

lie, dictators tell the truth. they tell you what they're going to do. hitler told us what he was going to do, the world didn't want to listen, stalin told us what he wanted to do, we didn't listen. when hamas says he wants to wipe israel off the map, he means it, and we need to make sure he never has the means to do it. [applause] >> i want to thank all the people involved in this. 50 volunteers, and nobody could have done this in three days, without all our teams. [ all named ]

>> wait a minute, i have to get through the telephone book. we are grateful to all of you for your assistance in helping this happen. but this is just a beginning. this can't be the end. we have to go out of here with a commitment to become ambassadors of truth. because with the information revolution and despite it today, you can't believe what you read, you can't believe what you hear, you can't even believe what you see. the distortions, misrepresentations that abound and we have to become jews and become leaders of ambassadors of truth. that is our strongest weapon. israel doesn't need excuses. israel doesn't need lies. we need to simply tell the truth and get the media to cover. so we go out of this meeting today charged and recharged, ready to take the lead. we heard from administration, you will hear soon, but we heard

from leaders across the board in a bipartisan way. there is no doubt anymore where the american people stand. 70% of the american people stand, a record number with israel, because they get it. despite the distortions and misrepresentations, they get it. rarely was there ever such a clear moral distinction, two sides. hamas exists to kill. israel sometimes has to kill to exist. what country puts a hospital on the border of its enemy territory to take care of their wounded? what enemy has the leader's mother-in-law treated in an israeli hospital? i don't know what he intended, but sending his mother-in-law, let alone his granddaughter. what country allows hundreds and hundreds of trucks, medicines, good food and other details -- thank you again -- to allow it

to go into gaza? and you remember the campaign for humanitarian cement last year, how all of us was pressured and israel was pressured? send in cement, they need to build, they said they'll make missile rocket bases, they'll make tunnels. no, they need cement, they need cement. we know what they did with the cement. 500 tons in a single tunnel. we are not going to be fooled anymore. and no more pressure on israel to do what it thinks is not in its best interest. israel alone has to make those decisions. [applause] >> proportionality is the code word of the day. so the next time the local police have a bank robbery and you have one bank robbery, you better send one cop. and god forbid, if one bank robber is killed, you have to kill one hostage. proportionality is hostile. we know what happened during world war ii and the restraint.

no one has to tell israel to be restrained. today i think it's especially important for us to remember shawn carmelli and max steinberg, the two americans who died in the defense of israel. we ask you, keep in touch with members of congress. let the white house know how you feel. call talk shows, write letters to the editors. don't scream, don't noriyell, l them know that they're wrong. buy products especially from the south. keep in touch with israeli family and friends. and when you go, visit the wounded and don't forget about iran. don't forget about the feed for us to keep pressure on iran to make sure it does not become a nuclear power which will undermine the interests and

security of everyone. introduce important resolutions you heard about. this is the time to say never again. no more memorials for dead jews. it's time to stand up for living jews and the living jewish state. it's time to say never again. no more will jews put at a disadvantage and left alone to defend themselves. it's time for the leaders in europe and leaders of the world to stand up in the united nations and say there is one moral party in this occasion. there is one country we have to stand behind. [applause] >> martin luther king once said we won't be judged by the actions of our enemies but by the silence of our friends. we won't judge by what others do but what we do or fail to do. too often we raise the bar in what we will tolerate, what we will allow.

no more. as ambassadors of truth, we will not tolerate the lies and the distortions. i asked the christian audience this week, 5,000 people, who can name the ten scouts that moses sent to check out the land and came back with a negative report? 5,000 people sat silent. who came back with the report? several yelled joshua and caleb. those who speak up for israel are remembered. those who speak against israel are written off to history. as we come to ti-shabab, we remember. we look back at the past but not to look at it as a fundamentalist, but to guide us in the future. we know why the temples were destroyed so now it's time for unity between our communities

with every other faith, every other religion to stand together. this is a time when we will be counted. and now our guest has arrived and i want to call up bob sugarman, the chairman of the conference, to make the introduction. [applause] >> thank you, malcolm. it is my honor to welcome ambassador susan rice. she has been consistently available to our community, whether in large meetings such as this or small meetings and individually, in person, and on the phone. ambassador dermer's remarks thanked the president, the secretary and you, madam

ambassador, for your strong support for israel to defend itself and stated that the statement on secretary kerry is unfair. the fact that you're here is a testament to how you value our community. it is a personal privilege to ask you to join me in welcoming national security adviser, ambassador susan rice. [applause] >> good afternoon, everyone.

thank you so much, bob, for that incredibly generous introduction. i also want to thank my friend malcolm and express my personal gratitude for this invitation. and it's good to be back at the conference of presidents and see so many friends and familiar faces. many of you have come from jewish communities across this country in a strong show of support for israel. these are, indeed, difficult days. today, together, all of us who care about the state of israel are again confronted with the challenges of a dangerous and imperfect world. of silence in shelters, and young people called to war. >> the truth is, israel is

bombing the people of gaza. stop the bombing, stop the killing, stop the murder, stop the hate, stop the murder, stop the hate! [ booing ] >> why don't you just say if you want me to leave. that's how normal people say it. >> these are difficult days. [applause] >> i was speaking of sirens and shelters, of young people called yet again to war, of a land where in the haunting phrase of sacrobine, parents bury their children. today is the first day of ov,

the month when jews commemorate the destruction of the first and second temples. it's a reminder that the jewish people have endured much worse than rockets and survived much stronger enemies than hamas. oou be you've been tested by tragedy and time, by history and hatred. but each time, the people of israel live. [applause] >> this is a time of worry for all who care about israel. but here is one thing you never have to worry about, america's support for the state of israel.

[applause] >> as president obama declared before the israeli war in jerusalem, quote, as long as there is a united states of america, you are not alone. [applause] >> and that's why from the moment the terrorist rockets began to rain down on israel, this administration from president obama on down has made it clear. israel has the same unequivocal right to self-defense as every other nation. [applause] >> no nation can accept terrorists tunnelling into its territory or rockets crashing down on its people. president obama has been equally clear about who has been responsible for the violence.

hamas fired the rockets, hamas deliberately targeted israeli citizens, particularly civilians. hamas refused an early plan for a cease-fire. hamas, in a time of glaring human need, instead of investing in the future of gaza's children, builds tunnels to kidnap and kill israelis. so hamas initiated this conflict and hamas has dragged it on. but america and israel are also united by a shared belief we each strive to honor, that every person is created equal. and put zelem and oquim in the image of god. i know we all share deep concern

about the suffering and deaths of innocent people that arise from a conflict like this one. in gaza as well as in israel. the people of gaza, many of whom disapprove of hamas and suffer under its misrule, are trapped in the crossfire. the loss of children has been particularly heartbreaking. as president obama and prime minister netanyahu discussed yesterday, the united states supports an immediate, unconditional, humanitarian cease-fire. that humanitarian cease-fire should lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities based on the november 2012 cease-fire agreement. for the sake of innocence on both sides, the rockets must stop. we need to bring the violence and civilian characteasualties

end, and we are concerned that continued fighting could further stabilize the west bank. we need to stabilize israel's security and bring it to a position that it will not be attacked in another year or two. [applause] >> we also believe that any improvement must result in the disarmement of terrorist groups. [applause] >> so we will work closely with israel, regional partners and the international community to achieve this goal once a sustainable cease-fire is

agreed. let me also take a moment to acknowledge, as ambassador dermer did, the extraordinary efforts of secretary kerry. i must tell you, we've been dismayed by some press reports in israel mischaracterizing his efforts last week to achieve a cease-fire. we know these misleading reports in turn raise concerns here at home in america. the reality is that john kerry, on behalf of the united states, has been working every step of the way with israel in support of our shared interests. [applause] >> both in public and in private, we have both supported

israel to defend itself in rockets and terror attacks. we will continue to do so and we will continue to set the record straight when anyone distorts the facts. as we pursue diplomacy, we're grateful that the amazing iron dome anti-rocket system, researched and funded jointly by israel and america, stands watch over israel's cities. during my most recent visit to israel in may, i saw firsthand the technology at pal mahim air force base. i met the israelis who operate the system, dedicated men and women who work now around the clock. in recent weeks on average, over 100 rockets a day have been fired at israel. iron dome has literally meant the difference between life and death.

and i'm deeply proud that president obama helped make it possible. and i'm proud that with his enthusiastic support, the united states will more than double our investment in iron dome in 2015. [applause] >> the president also instructed the secretary of defense to inform congress last week that we support an additional $225 million to accelerate the production of iron dome components in israel this year and maintain israel's stockpile of interceptor missiles. [applause]

>> now congress has a critical opportunity this week to fund the president's supplemental request so that israel can remain secure. [applause] >> iron dome makes it clear yet again that america's got israel's back. we've always had a truly special relationship. ever since president truman made america the first nation in the world to recognize the state of israel in may 1948, just 11 minutes after david bengurian declared israel's independence. the seeds of friendship planted that day have grown into a mighty oak, strong, sturdy and enduring. our governments have never been in closer touch, including through the delegation of senior officials, from the department

of state, treasury and defense and the cia that i led to israel on behalf of the president in may. we are in constant contact, constant consultation, constant cooperation. and by the way, that's why i was late getting here. i was on the phone in the basement with my israeli counterpart. so it is constant, it is daily, and it is highly constructive. our commitment to protect israel's qualitative military edge also remains absolute. just ask israel's generals. our security assistance to israel is at a record high. the relationship is even stronger between our peoples. just last week, 30,000 israelis came to the funeral of max steinberg, a young man from los

angeles who joined the israeli defense forces and was killed in gaza. another 20,000 came to pay respects to shawn carmelli from texas. israel is not alone. not in war, not in peace. [applause] >> and because america staunchly supports israel's future as a jewish democratic state, we'll also continue doing what we can to bring about a just, comprehensive and secure peace between israelis and palestinians. two states for two peoples living side by side in peace and security. we're committed to strengthening israel's security and achieving

this goal and cementing israel's rig rightful place among the community of nations. which brings me to my next point. we don't just fight for israel's security. we also fight for israel's legitimacy. [applause] >> as president obama said in jerusalem, and i quote, those who would adhere to the idealogy of rejecting israel's right to resist, they might as well reject the earth beneath them or the sky above, because israel is not going anywhere. [applause] >> no country is immune to criticism, nor should it be. but when that criticism takes the form of singling out just one country unfairly, bitterly

and relentlessly over and over and over, that's just wrong and we all know it. [applause] >> i saw this firsthand during my years in the united nations where america always has israel's back when its basic right of self-defense is challenged. believe me, i remember all too well the fight against the deeply flawed goldstone report. so last week when the united nations human rights council again passed a one-sided resolution calling for a commission of inquiry that will have no positive impact and should never have been created, the united states stood with israel and said no. [applause]

>> we were the lone vote in the human rights council. even our closest friends on the council abstained. it was 29-1, but the one, as usual, was america. that's what we mean when we say you are not alone. [applause] >> we take that stand on principal. it's important not just for israel but for the credibility of the united nations itself. the u.n. does exceptional, life-saving things around the world, empowering women and girls, keeping peace in f far-flung conflict zones, providing humanitarian aid whether in gaza, syria or congo

and elsewhere around the world. the world needs the united nations. so when countries single out israel for unfair treatment at the u.n., it isn't just a problem for israel, it's a problem for all of us. and today we also see anti-semitism flaring up around the world, including in europe. the pretext is the passions coming out of the current conflict, but we all know it has its roots in something ancient and ugly. and we should not shy away from calling it by its name. it's one thing to use the right of free expression to criticize particular policies of a particular government. no nation is immune from criticism, fair and otherwise,

including our own. take it from me as a former u.n. ambassador. but an anti-jewish riot is not a policy critique. it's not free expression when a protest turns into a mob that attacks the synagogue in a kosher grocery store. it's one thing when the message is end the fighting, but when the message is death to the jews, it's an outrage. [applause] >> skpand it's dangerous. when the mayor of the city calls hitler, quote, the despicable

murderer's consulate. that's just hate and it's got to stop. as the late tom lantos used to say, and i quote, the veneer of civilization is paper thin. we are its guardians, and we can never rest. and so when leaders in tehran talk openly about ending the state of israel, that's just one more reason why america is determined to prevent iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. [applause] >> under president obama's leadership, we've martialed unprecedented equal and diplomatic pressure on iran. we brought iran to the

negotiating table and signed a joint plan of action that halted iran's progress on its nuclear program and rolled it back in key respects for the first time in nearly a decade. this interim agreement has given us time and space to try to negotiate a comprehensive solution. to date we've made meaningful progress on some key issues, although we remain far apart on several others. as a result, we decided along with the european union, germany and the other permanent members of the security council to extend the agreement until november '24. our goal remains clear. a comprehensive, verifiable deal that can assure the world that iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon and that will offer confidence that iran's nuclear

program is exclusively peaceful. but let me be blunt about two things. maybe i should say two other things. first, we will not accept a bad deal under any circumstances. [applause] >> even if that means no deal. and second, we will do what we must to prevent iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. [applause] >> all this is rooted in the very special friendship between the united states and israel, stretching back from before israel's birth to today. and for me, it's rooted in

powerful personal experience. i'll never forget my very first visit to israel. i was just 14, and i went with my younger brother and my beloved late father who was then on the board of transworld airlines. on that trip, we bowed our he s heads, walked the dead sea, climbed yosata and picked fruit at a kibbitz. i learned by heart the words of the shmaa. and here's something that has always stayed with me. to go on that first trip, i was privileged to take one of the very first flights from cairo to tel aviv, just after israel and egypt had signed the camp david

accords. that peace seemed impossible for so long, but it wasn't. that peace, enduring to this day, reminds us that human conflict and human problems can be resolved by human courage. you know that. that's why you're here today. and it's why i came, too. my friends, these are difficult days. but as israel's former president and my friend shiman paris likes to say, there are no hopeless situations, just hopeless people. we all know a few. so let us remember, especially in troubled times, that despair

is a sin. and service is a duty. america doesn't lose hope. the jewish people don't lose hope. and the state of israel doesn't lose hope. that's why israel's national anthem is hat irkhatiqua, the h. that's why in this perfect and dangerous world, we ask together for god's blessing and help. we pray for security and peace, but we know that it's not enough just to pray for it. we've got to work for it together, united and determined, because, as president kennedy once said, here on earth god's work must truly be our own.

and that's what we strive to do together every day. thank you. [applause] >> will everybody be seated. thank you for those powerful words. we now vour last speaker. good afternoon, i'm jason isaacson of the american jewish

community. our my honor to introduce the last speaker. ranking member of the house on foreign affairs for 25 years has been one of the clearest, strongest, most respected and most effective voices for the beneficial u.s.-israel relationship. for jews around the world for democracy and human rights. just a few days ago, congressman engle at a solidarity rally for israel in white plains said some memorable things, as he always does. one of his lines was a reminder that the people of israel want and deserve and have always wanted and deserved peace. but that hamas, with its relentless attacks has forced israel to take tough action that america has had to take against our enemies in recent years and anyone so provoked would take. the ham mat rockets fired into israel congressman engle said

have forced them to defend themselves against the threat of terror. ladies and gentlemen, congressman eliot engel. >> well, thanks very much. it's great to be here. speaking after susan rice, though, it's a little difficult. but let me tell you why i came here late. because i really bring you a message. i was just at the rally in new york city in front of the united nations. the rally was supposed to start at 12:30 but it was jewish time, so it started about 1:00, and i had to make a 2:00 time -- 2:00 plane to come back because i really wanted very much to be here. so i can tell you the rally, at the plaza, in front of the united nations was great. there were tens of thousands of people there. it was really, really great to see the outpouring for israel. and as the ranking members of

house foreign affairs committee, let me tell you that, you know, we hear a lot about our dysfunctional congress. we hear a lot of things that people say. democrats and republicans can never agree and nothing gets done. well, there's one thing, one subject, on which democrats and republicans all agree. and that is strong support for the state of israel. so, support for israel in congress is strong. remains strong. it's bipartisan, and it's really the way it should be. because when we look at the middle east, you know, i always tell people you don't have to be jewish to love israel. many of us have personal connections to israel. but israel and america are two of the world's few democracies. our value, the same. and that's why people, americans who are not jewish, support israel, because they realize the hypocrisy of the international community to try to attack the only democracy in the middle

east, the only place where people have rights is really just a shame. and we will not let it stand. and we will not be quiet. we will continue to speak the truth. tonight, i am introducing a bill that's called the emergency iron dome replacement act. we will mark it up in the foreign affairs committee this week, and it will replenish all the money for the iron dome. and i think it's interesting, and i'm going to stop because this word "stop" just came up. let me say this, people have the chutzpah to talk about casualties, civilian casualties in gaza. this whole war started because

day after day, month after month, week after week, year after year, hamas has been targeting israeli civilians. and that is why there's a war. they're trying to kill civilian population. well, israel worked very hard not to touch civilians at all. so i want to say, we will continue to support israel. there is no moral equivalency between hamas terrorists and the state of israel. and israelle is not at war with the palestinians. it's at war with hamas. a terrorist group. a terrorist organization that won't accept israel's rights to exist. that wants to kill as many jews as they possibly can and wants to drive israel into the sea. so i want to thank you in closing. i want to thank you for being here. i think it's very, very important. we know the media by and large has not been fair in reporting what's happening. it's very important that there are rallies like this so that

people can see what the truth is. america will always remain true to israel. israel and america work together. on the people of israel. thank you. my name is cantor rosa lee box i'd like to invite you to stand in the singing of the star bangled banner followed by hat i qa. ♪ oh say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous

fight ♪ ♪ o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ o say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free ♪ and the home of the brave

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

[ singing "hatikvah" ] >> thank you all for coming. thank you for your unwavering support of the state of israel. safe home.

and we are live on capitol hill for a house judiciary committee hearing on immigration services. we will hear about the situation involving immigrant children on the u.s. southern border. and what can be done to help them without endangering american international security. leon rodriguez, he is the director of u.s. citizenship and immigration services. he'll testify. we understand this hearing is running a little bit behind. we think in about 15 minutes it will get under way. we'll have live coverage here on c-span3. while we wait for it to begin, discussion now on immigration and a number of foreign policy issues from today's "washington

journal." >> roger wicker joins us now a republican from mississippi. senator, you're also a senior members of armed services committee. i want to get your take on the reform deal that we were talk about yesterday. >> well, i think most members will vote for it. we're not totally delighted by every aspect of it, particularly, the way it's paid for but when you get bernie sanders elected on the socialist ticket in vermont and jeff miller, a conservative republican chairman in the house to come up with an agreement, there's going to be some compromise. and some give and take. and i think basically, this is a package that most members of the house and senate will support and it will go forward and be a strong statement that we value the contributions of our veterans. and we're going to do what -- we're going to take this step to see if that alleviates the problems that we've had.

with access. >> $17 billion. and then $5 billion that's offset here. are there ways down the road to find more offsets? >> well, i certainly hope so. like i say, this is what we can get done this week. and it's important that we get it done this week. we're also going to confirm secretary mcdonald probably today. and i think we'll be looking to his leadership for some other suggestions there. but this is a step we can take. it's paid for, but it's not paid for in the way i'd like to see it paid for. so that's why we meet year-round and we can look at this in the future. >> any concerns about the exodus of veterans out of the v.a. out of this legislation and that cost commitment if a large number of veterans decide to go that private care route in commitments for pay noorg

private care? >> well i think the cost concerns always need to be looked at. but the veteran is paramount. and when there's a long waiting period, and under our government-run health care system that the v.a. system is, if the veteran cannot be taken care of, i think he needs to be able -- he sorry needs to get to a doctor, and be taken care of. that's perrault. paramount. so if it gets too costly, we'll go back and look at it. to me, a key part of this legislation is the opt-out and the ability of the veteran not to stay on that waiting list and get the care they need. >> and on that idea of opting out and using private providers is a subject that both senator sanders and congressman miller talked about yesterday. here's a bit of what they had to say about it. >> i don't believe that there will be a flight of all of the veterans out of the system. but we don't know until we start this program, to see how

veterans are actually going to act. and this first year, is going to give us a good benchmark with which to be able to set the future of this program forward. the other thing that i think we all agree on is that one of the important things in our bill was to have a commission that would go through and independently look at the department of veterans affairs from top to bottom. the v.a. will tell us they need more money and more people. but what they won't do is help us understand what efficiencies can be found within the system. are doctors seeing patients as they should? is there space being used adequately. do they need to close and only see people during the normal business hours? so there are a lot of things that we're going to find out in the next year that hopefully will change the way the v.a. delivers health care. >> let me just say, i agree with what the chairman said. in addition, we hope with

doctors and nurses and space coming in the v.a. system itself will be able to accommodate veterans in a timely manner. >> congressman miller is saying we don't know until we allow this option how many people are going to use that opt-out. does that concern you? >> i think they both have excellent points. let me tell you, i'm very comfortable with jeff miller being in the leadership on this. he is a tough conservativconser. a fiscal hulk. and i think he will look to the information that is going to be provided. by this commission. and i think we will find efficiencies. i think senator sanders makes a good point with the additional doctors. with the additional facilities. we would hope the waiting list would be shorter. and there will be fewer veterans opting out. so, obviously, with the money that is going to be expended, we

would certainly hope the waiting list is much, much shorter. so i'm comfortable, particularly with jeff miller presiding in the house. and making sure that we've got some savings there and efficiencies. i think we can achieve those. >> switching tracks for a second, another vote that will be awatched this week in the senate the border bill vote taking place in the senate. senator harry reid has set up that vote for later this week to provide $2.7 billion in emergency border funding. he filed on the motion to secede that. setting up april vote on wednesday. what's your take on what will happen in that vote? >> i don't think there will be 60 votes for closure.

we can work on about $1 billion. which is enough, i think, to address the immediate border process and beyond that i'd be surprised if he got the $2.7 billion. and i would be not all in inclined to vote for that? >> what do you think will happen before the congress recesses. could a billion-dollar bill be likely? >> on tuesday, i understand harry reid wants to get us out of here thursday night. he's going to have to do some fast maneuvering negotiate something that would gain a majority vote in the house and senate. >> we're talking with senator roger wicker, a republican of mississippi to take your questions on "the wall street journal" -- independents 202-585-3882. a lot of issues being wrapped up

here on the final week before congress returns. we'll start with terry calling in on the line for democrats. >> caller: good morning, i'm 100% permanent disabled with the v.a. and last year, i went down to the dallas hospital down there and i was getting x-rayed. and the techniqcian asked me wh the lady was with me, it was my daughter. and i told him she always takes care of me and gives me rides to the v.a. when i have to go. she said, well, how well is she going to take care of you when they cut off your money, because i do get a disability check every month. and it went on from there. the head shrink lady that i work with up near denton, she told me the same thing. and the republican house cut all

the money coming into the disabled veterans. and president obama, no matter what everybody says did sign an executive order to restore that money or i would have just been up the creek. >> senator wicker, you can comment on the situation? >> that is not at all the way i remember the legislation. well, as i understand it, terry, are you saying that the congress cut off all the money going to disabled veterans. that would have taken legislation passed by the democratic senate and the republican house and signed by the president of the united states. i think we're a little bit inaccurate on the facts stated there. and i do say this, i think it's -- i think it's probably wrong for health care advisers and providers to be giving in to

politics and policy like that. to me, their job is to provide care and to take care of the case as needed and not give in to advocacy. that would be my response. it might be, if you want to talk specifically to you, your u.s. congressman or united states senator they would be able to help you with your perception that all v.a. funding was cut off. that is not my understanding at all. >> let's go to frank waiting in egg harbor township, new jersey on the independent line. you're on live with senator wicker. >> caller: i'm 100% disabled v.a. too. like the previous person. my only complaint with the v.a. is when you have a situation where, say, you cut yourself or you have a rash or you have a cold, and you want to see the general practitioner, they'll tell you, we can't get you in until next month.

you know, and they'll say, if you really need some assistance, you have to go to the emergency room, which is like 60 miles away. and then when you get there, it's a whole day affair to sit is there. i think the idea letting vets to a general practitioners when they have acute situations when they have to be taken care of, is a lot better than having to hop in their car and drive 60 or 70 miles and stand around. if you could do something about that, that's the main complaint from a lot of vets. and once you get into the specialty field, it's basically the same as on the outside. you get the care you that need. but acute care that you need that day or within a couple days, that's when the v.a. falls flat on their face. >> well frank, that's a very helpful analysis, and i think people like you are going to be

very pleased with the progress we make this week, because i do think there will be more of an opportunity for people like you to be seen by the acute provider. and, so, and then, to go the outside route, if that's not available within a reasonable period. so, i hope you're satisfied with that. do let us know how it works six months from now. and i think that's part of what chairman miller was talking about, once the legislation's in place. we're also going to do some oversight and see how it works but i do think you'll be pleased with this approach because it's exactly what you're talking about, frank. >> to our line for republicans, pat's waiting in long, south carolina. pat, good morning. >> caller: good morning. >> go ahead, pat. >> caller: good morning, thank you both for c-span. malcolm, i would like to ask him, where is the money coming

from. the government, congress' answer to every problem is throw the money out there. we're $17 trillion in debt. i believe wholeheartedly, that should be taken care of, my husband is a vet. if you put somebody in there to really look, you probably can find the waste right in the v.a. to pay for this why do y'all want to pay your way out? why can't you fix the problems? thank you. >> well, i think the caller makes an excellent point. and as john points out, the -- a portion of the bill will be paid for by offsets, by cutting other expenditures and other parts of the budget. and i think the longer term question is what pat is talking about. and roger wicker, united states senator for mississippi has

voted for the paul ryan budget. it makes tough choices in our entitlement program, slowing the growth in the first decade. and out years also. that's the way we're going to address the $17 trillion plus national debt that we have. but to answer your question, i would have preferred to have honest pay fors for the entire $17 billion. i've got to make a choice, and i've made a choice by the end of this week torsi vote for a bill that is not exactly what i want but partially offset. >> we talked about v.a., border issues, as we mentioned, roger wicker also a member of the armed services committee. i want to get your take on the latest in ukraine and the expected sanctions coming down from both the e.u. and likely the u.s. as well. >> well, we have encouraging

news from our european allies just yesterday. after some reluctance on their part, there has been an agreement among european allies for stronger sanctions against russia. and i certainly think they're coming based on the fact that mr. putin has taken really some of the most outrageous actions that have occurred in europe, really, since the 1930s. certainly, a gross violation of the helsinki final act which was adopted in 1995. every single tenet of the helsinki act were violated with

vladimir putin with the ent interference by the ukraine. and the clear evidence that the russian leadership is continuing to be involved with these military separatists. in eastern ukraine. and it's something that needs to stop, and if it doesn't, i think we've now shown there are going to be serious consequences for mr. putin and his fellow countrymen. >> as we noted secretary kerry is meeting with ukraine's foreign minister this morning at about 10:15. what do you make of how he's handled himself both ukraine and also what's happening in israel and gaza? >> i'm very disappointed in the secretary of state. and i have a lot of company in that respect. and, of course, he represents administration policy, no question about it.

i don't think anybody in a responsible position in washington, d.c. would have advocated the united states becoming militarily involved with helping the ukrainian democracy resist the russians. i think that's something that simply could not have been attained. we didn't the capability or stomach to do that. but there were so many ways we could have helped ukraine with assistance, with arms. and, instead, you know, the meal's ready to eat and first aid kits and things like that. so i'm disappointed with the lack of giving the ukrainians the ability to defend themselves. and then just, i think your question also sort of looks at a larger foreign policy failure. on the part of the

administration. i brought a column from yesterday's "washington post" entitled "an experiment gone wrong." and i'll just quote a line or two." a stunning unfolding of international crisis from iraq to syria to gaza has prompted less than edifiying washington to date. mr. hyatt says for mr. obama, things like the tumult in egypt and elsewhere was a distraction, not a once in a generation opportunity. mr. hyatt suggests that when ordinary citizens in tunisia, egypt, syria and elsewhere unexpectedly became agitating for democracy, the west might have responded after it did after world war ii after the marshall plan or after the falling of berlin wall for the

commitment of a europe whole and free. but the add obama administration did not have the stomach to do that. so i think we're seeing -- we're seeing a crumbling of our foreign policy, in all of those areas. and basically, it seems to the man on the street and to the united states and to me, this particular united states senator that the world is going up in flames. and american leadership has been absent there. >> that fred hyatt column in yesterday's "washington post" the headline "an experiment gone wrong." senator wicker joins us for the next 25 minutes or so. we'll start with bill in danville, illinois. good morning. >> caller: good morning. senator, my thoughts on this, every time they take this money and go to congress for the v.a., they want to cut back on the

veterans' disability benefits. what's your thought on that? >> well i would be opposed to that. and that's not part of this legislation. >> caller: thank you. >> so let me give you that assurance. >> and edgar, louisiana, on our line for our democrats, torre, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, senator. here in louisiana it's taken a long time for our v.a. hospital to be built. but i can say something about v.a. here, especially with the outpatient clinic here in st. john's parish, we have one of the best here. basically the scheduling, they don't take too much precedence here in new orleans of making sure the vet's getting the proper scheduling. if they can take more of that money that you're putting out they can use that money to take

some of the facilities here in st. john and use them as a model of how a v.a. should be ran. i think we'll come off with a better understanding of how veterans work. mental health here is fantastic with the outpatient. and that's just a small clinic. and for them to have as much care. the best person who has worked with me is senator david vitter. he's a fantastic person. i'll tell you, if we have more people like yourself and david vitter behind the veterans. >> i appreciate that call coming in on the democratic line, i'll be sure when i see senator vitter later on today to pass along that compliment. i think the caller makes some very good points. he's very happy with specific care that he's received. and, tori, i think you're complimenting the mental health facility there. there are a lot of things in the

v.a. health system that are being done right. i got some information from a texas clinic just a few days ago. particularly in the mental health and substance abuse area. where the people are very, very high on the job that is being done there. so let's not paint everybody with the same brush. the caller mentions infrastructure delays and certainly, there's always a bureaucracy there. which frustrates in giving us buildings and also bridges and highways constructed. and i think if we can address with the legislation the backlog, improvements will be made, and again, they're going to do oversight and try to make sure that the bill has the intended result. >> earlier in the segment, you mentioned some concern with health care professionals, straying into the policy realm

with their patients. brian writes in on our twitter page, not true, senator wicker. as health care professionals we're encouraged to advocate for the best interests of our clients. >> i think that's fine. but i think when they start saying that congress has passed legislation that's going to disadvantage you, to me, you're getting over into advocacy there. and crossing that line. but that's a matter of opinion. >> let's go to joe waiting in rockville, maryland, on our line for independents. jill, good morning. >> caller: good morning. it would be very good to improve the congressional oversight of the v.a. and i was wondering about a inspect specter general of phil bowen in iraq and neal borassky who would report directly to congress and provide the same

legislation for the vets to have access to these special inspector generals. the second thing i would like to mention is the role of the unions. i saw, very briefly, betsy mccoy before congress. and she was saying that -- from one union alone, there are 300 workplace rules. we have to get the cost of the v.a. down. it's an expensive kind of care. and also, we have to be able to fire not only high-level people, but snippy secretaries who refuse to give vets appointments that they need. and when they're being referred tout other specialists out of the v.a. >> senator wicker on unions and inspector generals? >> i think betsy mccoy as she refers to is a former lieutenant

governor of new york. i very much provide that insight that she provides there. there should be, i think, an easier way to hire and fire, particularly to terminate people who, as the call suggests, are not there with the best interest of the patient and treat the patients callously and not as clients and customers which deserve the best. with regard to a special i.g., you're not going to find that in this legislation, although the department certainly has inspectors general that can report to us. there will be oversight. and the clip that was shown, chairman miller mentioned the commission that will report back. and if that's not sufficient, then i think the suggestion of a special inspector general might

be well taken. but the caller makes some very good points which i very much appreciate. >> to lancaster, kentucky on our line for republicans. charles is next. good morning. >> caller: good morning. i've got a lot of questions. >> we've got time for one or two, charles. and turn your tv down and go ahead with your question. >> caller: okay, my biggest question is this -- >> charles, turn your tv down. >> caller: okay. i'm working on it here. now, it's down to zero. my biggest question is why do the marines that served in grenada have zero, absolutely zero benefits from v.a.? since we lost soma marines in one city. >> okay. you're saying that marines who served in beirut and in the

incursion into grenada do not have benefits. i'd be surprised if that were 100% accurate. let me ask you to do this, and you may want to contact your own representative in kentucky. if not, you can call my office, and we will run that issue down specifically on a case work basis. but veterans who served should be eligible, regardless of where they served. so let me see if i can run that down. and if you'll call my office, we will check that out. or maybe you want to call senator mcconnell or senator paul about that since they represent you specifically. >> responding to roy on twitter talking about the issue of ukraine and crisis on the border. republicans are predictable. money for arming of ukraine but not so much for the republican-declared border crisis. that's incredible.

>> well, we're for addressing the border crisis also. and the fact of the matter is, these minors, these young central american children should be returned to their families. an incorrect signal has been sent from this government that if you send your child to mexico/texas border, they'll about allowed to come in and enjoy the good life here in the united states. we cannot afford from an infrastructure standpoint to take care of the flood of immigrants that would occur if that signal continues to be sent out. i think these children are

victims of some purveyors of false information. we can adjudicate quickly. once the adjudication is made that they are not victims of human trafficking or something like that. then i think a three or four-day turn around can be done. perhaps some judges are needed for that. and for way less than the president is asking, we could put them all on a first class plane ride back to their native cities and return them to their families, and we can do that for far less than the president is asking. >> and a major front for that crisis on the border is texas. shirley is calling in from texas on the independent line. go ahead. >> caller: good morning. i've got two questions. first of all, i'd like to give kudos for taking care of these children because of false information, regardless of who it came from.

but my main question is, if you're going to give border patrol, 2.7, or 1 billion, it doesn't matter. what we need is to know how that money is going to be spent and how well it's going to contain that border. and i'd like for to you answer that. and i'd also like to find out how soon these children are going to be able to be returned to their parents and what's going to happen to them. >> and, shirley, i'll let senator wicker explain that just to give you some information on that bill that's going to be on the floor in the u.s. senate, or at least the bill that senator majority leader harry reid is trying to move into the senator, the $2.7 billion proposal would include $1.2 billion for child services, $1.1 billion for deportation and a few other

items thrown in there, including $650 million for emergency wildfire suppression. and $225 million for israel's anti-missile defense system. senator wicker, i'll let you respond. >> that last item is iron dome -- good morning. the judiciary committee will come to order, without objection the chair is authorized to declare recesses of the committee at anytime. we welcome everyone to this morning's hearing on oversight of the u.s. citizenship and immigration services. i'll begin by recognizing myself for an opening statement. welcome to the house judiciary commit, director rodriguez. i understand this is your first time testifying in front of congress as the director of uscis. your appearance comes at a time when americans are feeling the repercussions of the illegal immigration crisis on the southwest-west border. of course if president obama took seriously his duty to

secure the u.s. border and enforce laws against illegal immigration there would be no such crisis. u.s. custom its and border protection is the dhs agency getting most of the attention during this southwest border crisis, but there is no doubt that policies implemented by uscis are a major source of the problem. by that i mean policies such as deferred action for child arriv arrivals. and fears of persecution claims and even higher asylum grant rates by uscis officers. daca is a major reason for the influx of illegal immigrants to the united states. and discussion of the program is pertinent since uscis recently announced the renewal of an initial tough of two-year grants of daca will be process. ed. uscis made changes to the original daca guidelines and

requirements including gutting the education requirements. i previously expressed concern about the lack of any constitutional authority to implement daca. the cost of the program increased weight times for illegal immigration from daca processing and fraud in the program. fraud is of paramount concern since an immigration system subject to rampant fraud is a national security risk. so i was particularly astounded in may when the uscis added question and answer number 21 to its existing daca guidance. it's an absolute invitation for fraud in which the uscis virtually admits it will not verify the validity of documents as evidenced by daca eligibility. i understand when uscis leadership was asked about question 21, congressional staff members were assured that,

quote, generally, the majority of documents received are valid, end quote. but forgive me if such an assurance is not comforting, especially now that uscis is broadcasting its lack of attention to even attempt validation. the uscia processes over six million applications per year. i understand the magnitude of that responsibility and the enormous volume of work should make anti-fraud measures all the more important. unfortuna unfortunately, what we've been hearing for years from sources at uscis and even the uscis union is the existence of culture getting to question. yes. unrelentless adjudicators who are routinely overwithin that they deny applications or petitions. there are documented instances of employees at leadership at

uscis taking control of applications or petitions that have been brought to their attention by immigration lawyers or other outside forces. and i understand that there are ongoing investigations of such illegitimate interference in the adjudication process. the very notion that an application can be approved, despite fraud on the part of the applicant, and that uscis leadership will intervene if they get a call or e-mail from an outside party interested in a certain visa application is disturbing, to say the least. we know that the president has promised more administrative action to allow unlawful immigrants to remain in the united states and receive quasilegal status and the right to work. in fact, some of the different tactics he may try to take were even outlined in a set of 2010 leaked uscis memos regarding administrative alternatives to comprehensive immigration reform and immigration administrative

relief options. however, let's be clear. such policies of this administration including many implemented at uscis, as well as promises about future administrative legal administrations continue to encourage unlawful immigrant parents to smuggle their children into the united states. these policies are putting money directly into the pockets of human smuggling and drug cartels. and they're undermining the fundamental principles that congress creates the laws and the president is bound to enforce them. i'm interested in hearing how under director rodriguez's leadership the uscis will no longer contribute to this state of affairs and i look forward to the director's testimony. it's now my pleasure to recognize the ranking member of the committee, mr. conyers for his statement. >> thank you chairman goodlatte

and members of the committee. in a nutshell, the united states citizenship and immigration service services are vital in examining the young people that are coming across our southern border. and i want to suggest that before we leave for five weeks that we try to ease the deportation of children and appropriate emergency funds. bus we have too few judges, too few asylum offices. we have 243 immigration judges.

for 375,000 cases. we're talking about a more than four-year backlog, my colleagues. and, so, youngsters with valid claim should have a speedier way to have that determined. now, more -- those without valid claims, i'm sorry to say, should be sent back. but that determination is what democracy is all about. and it's our responsibility. to be careful in how we do this. i know the strong feelings about

these youngsters pouring over here. but the question is how do we dispose of it consistent with democratic principles that will guide us. and nowhere should this be more keenly felt than the house judiciary committee itself. so, we must determine even though there may be violence, persecution, trafficking. we're at a recess, and we still don't know. throughout this session of congress, there have been too many of us that have had but one theme. the president isn't enforcing immigration law. and this is a myth.

a myth that has been debunked in hearing after hearing where we have heard about record-breaking detentions, removals and prosecutions. still, the majority is not persuaded by facts and continue to blame the president for their inaction on immigration reform. many of them have argued that the president's use of prosecutorial discretion is unconstitutional. and they should be removing young people seek the opportunity, if they qualify to live, work and study in the united states. they said that our laws

protecting people fleeing prosecution and torture in their home countries should be rolled back and more of them should be detained for longer periods of time. and most recently, some is have used a humanitarian crisis affecting women and young children in central america to say that we can't fix our broken immigration system and provide relief to millions of undocumented americans living within our borders. and that begins right in this important committee. so, today, let's listen carefully. over a year ago, the united states senate passed a comprehensive reform bill allowing millions of individuals to apply for earned legal

status. the house majority has refused to bring the bill, or its companion bill, h.r. 15 for a vote. the congressional budget office tells us that we would reduce our deficit by $900 billion over 20 years through these proposals. and so this refusal to bring a bill to the floor, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of americans support comprehensive immigration reform is something that i feel very badly about. if such a bill were brought to the floor, i'm confident that it would pass, even the house of representatives in the 113th congress. and unfortunately, i'm beginning to think that the only immigration bill that we might

ever see in this congress will be a bill to strip protections that all of us unanimously agreed to extend to child victims of trafficking, persecution and torture and abuse. and i don't feel or believe that merely -- i feel that we can do better than this. we were sent here to solve problems that demand action on comprehensive immigration reform. and so i urge my colleagues, majority and minority, in the house to end the delay and to start acting. and i join the chairman in welcoming our distinguished witness. and i yield back the balance of my time.

thank you. >> thank you, ranking member. it's my understanding that the ranking member of the immigration subcommittee would like to make an opening statement. ordinarily, we could ask at this time that members put their statements in the record. however, noting her request and noting that the chairman of the subcommittee is not present, the chair will turn to the gentleman from utah, mr. chavets for an opening statement. the gentleman from utah, mr. chaffetz recognized for his opening statement. >> i thank the chairman. this is obviously a vital issue to the united states and it is something that is exploding on our borders and exploding in this country. as somebody who represents good hard-working americans who are doing the right thing. they're paying their taxes, they're working hard, they're trying to take care of their kids. they may be an individual who

has just graduated trying to get their feet on the ground. there's a whole other wave of people coming here. i happen to believe, mr. chairman, there is a proper place for asylum, for those people who are truly in harm's way whose life is in danger. this is a country who's had open arms but we're being taken advantage of and by great numbers. the flow coming across our border is absolutely unbelievable. by every metric, every account, everything i've seen, people who are coming here and trying to take advantage of the united states of america and our generosity are overwhelming the system and the consequences, we have people who are legally and lawfully trying to come to this country, we've been ignoring those people. the people who are legally and lawfully getting in line, doing it the right way, trying to come in in the front door, what about those people? because the resources that we've had to take for people who aren't willing to play by the rules have put a huge strain on

the system. that's why i think this hearing today is so vital today. we have to address some very important topics. those people that are coming across and claiming asylum. and they're not just coming from one or two countries. when i went and visited the border and i went to the detent center in phoenix, there were representatives from 60 countries trying to come across the border. they were overwhelming the district. when i visited the phoenix i.c.e. office and what's going on in the system, you had people literally knocking on the door saying please arrest me because i want to get in the system. and the system generally works like this. you come in, you make your claim. you're going to get some sort of court date. now in phoenix, when i was there, what they told me in 2013, you would get a court date in 2020. in the meantime, what are you going to do? you're going to say, because my court date is so far in the future, i need to be able to

work. and then we grant these people a work permit. so, now, they get free education, free health care, and they have a work permit to compete against somebody who is legally, lawfully here. whether they're on a green card or maybe they're maybe a united states citizen, competing for those jobs. again, we can be compassionate. but the reality is, president obama and this administration has created a magnet. and the magnet says this, come step foot in the united states of america and nothing's going to happen to you. there's not going to be a consequence to this. it's unfair. it's not right. the president owns this issue. the president has created this situation. there's a reason why, particularly the unaccompanied minors are flowing across the border. because they don't feel like anything's going to happen to them. we're going to take care of them. we're going to actually -- oh, we'll go ahead and take you. then we'll pass you off to

somebody else. if you had a note in your pocket, we'll pass you off to somebody else, do we do any background checks on who we're passing these minors to? no, we don't. do we check the legal status of the person we're handing them off to? no, this administration doesn't do that. it's fund mentally to its core wrong. and a key part of this system is what the united states citizenship and immigration service does along with this process. we've got a lot of good men and women. patriotic, working hard, trying to do the right thing for their country. but i worry about the direction that they're giving. the direction that they're being given by their management. and i worry what this administration is telling them to do. or not to do. and that's a deep concern. so, mr. chairman, i appreciate you holding this hearing. a lot of members have good questions. i look forward to hearing. and i yield back. >> chair thanks the chairman and

welcome miss lofgren for the opening statement. >> thank you. let me begin by opening the hearing by welcoming him to his new position. i think it's fair to say that uscis doesn't get the attention that the rest of the components of dhs do. but its mission is very important. as we know, uscis adjudicates a wide array of immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions. families hoping to reunite. businesses searching for talent. persons fleeing torture, all to become american citizens all go through your agency and it's critically important to our country that your agency perform well. it's also important to point out that the uscis is responsible for all of these important activities without taxpayer

money. it's entirely fee-driven except for a minor amount used for e-verify. all of the applicants pay for the services that they receive. our country? i sometimes mention my grandfather who came to the united states in the early 20th century. got on a boat, got off the boat, and i'm in congress today because he had the courage to want the american dream. the director's own story of his family fleeing turkey and poland to escape anti-semitism and to cuba, then fleeing cuba to escape communism. and here he is today part of the rich american fabric. i've always admired immigrants who have enough get up and go to get up and go. they made our country. we here have inherited that rich history, and we're now in a position to help shape the future for those who come after

us and it's incumbent we preserve that legacy. there are many topics that will be discussed today, but i want to touch on the issue because it's already been mentioned about the children, the unaccompanied children who have been apprehended at the southwest border. as we know, these individuals are under law placed in the safe keeping of the department of health and human services, but it is uscis, asylum officers who determine whether there is a well-rounded fear of persecution and in the director's written testimony he explains that almost 65% of the asylum applications filed by unaccompanied children that have been adjudicated this fiscal year have been approved. some argue this somehow means that there is a rubber stamp of these applications or that the asylum system is vulnerable to fraud and abuse. i look at that statistic and

think these are vulnerable children who are fleeing persecution and extreme violence, and they are thankful that they are receiving the protection to which they are entitled under domestic and international law. i think it's worth pointing out that an application for asylum isn't illegal. that's part of our immigration laws and it has been since after world war ii. now, children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected and who obtain a state court order can apply to uscis for special immigrant status. the director notes over 3,900 applications for this sij status have been received this fiscal year. those of us who went to south texas this month know that these applications require a finding by a state court that these children have been abandoned. state court makes that determination that's only then that the uscis will proceed.

now, children who have been victims of severe forms of human trafficking are eligible for a t-visa. it's important we maintain and defend this procedure. as mr. conyers pointed out, we had a nearly unanimous vote in 2008 that put the congress and america on record saying we will fight human trafficking and we will make sure that the victims of human trafficking are given safe haven in the united states. much of this discussion in the congress and in the country has overlooked the fact that the wi wilbur force act is about human trafficking. if we eliminate the protections in that act what we will be saying is we win countenance the victims of trafficking being returned to their traffickers. i will say this, that we did make an exception for the children from contiguous

countries and we have learned much to our sorrow that those exemptions need to be revisited because the united nations at our request has reviewed our processes and found that children from contiguous countries who have been trafficked are, in fact, being returned to their traffickers. with that, mr. chairman, i look forward to this hearing and i yield back. >> without objection all other opening statements will be made part of the record. we thank our only witness for joining us today. director rodriguez, if you would please rise, i will begin swearing you in. do you swear that the testimony that you are about to give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you god? >> i do. >> thank you. let the record reflect director rodriguez responded in the affirmative. mr. rodriguez serves as the director of the united states citizenship and immigration

services, the department of homeland security agency responsible for administering and processing immigration benefits including asylum, naturalization and visa petition. prior to joining uscis, mr. rodriguez was first an assistant u.s. attorney in pittsburgh, led the department of labor's wage and hour division, and served as the head of the office of civil rights within the department of health and human services respectively. he attended brown university where he earned a bachelor of arts in history in 1984. mr. rodriguez received his jd from boston college in 19 88. thank you very much for coming and we look forward to your testimony. your written statement will be entered into the record in its entirety. i ask you to state your record. there is a timing light on the table. when it turns yellow, you have one minute left to summarize your testimony. thank you and thank you for being here today.

you may again. >> thank you, chairman goodlatte. good morning, ranking member conyers, congressman chaffetz and other members of the committee. i am extremely honored to be the new director of the united states citizenship and immigration services and to be before you today. i hope that today is the beginning of a long and fruitful and constructive relationship that i will have with this committee as a whole and with its members in particular. i am also honored to be the leader of more than 18,000 extremely dedicated men and women who are the employees of the united states citizenship and immigration services. i have worked in many different government positions. i have worked in the private sector. and i can say even after the short time in office that as a

country, we really should be pleased to have the extreme level of talent, commitment and work ethic that characterizes so many of the people that i had the opportunity to meet in these last three weeks. i accepted this job because i am a patriot. i am a patriot who believes that america is indeed unique in its freedom, its equality, its energy and its enterprise. and those qualities are the product of the kind of people who are in this country and who come to this country. they are people who work hard, they are people who take risks, they are people who are dedicated to making a better life for their family. and those kinds of people come from all over and do all kinds of things. they can be tomato pickers, they can be physicists, they can be captains of industry, they can be plumbers. and for me, the challenge as

director of citizenship and immigration services, the reason i am embracing this challenge, is to create a fair and efficient system for those individuals to find a place in our society. i am the son and grandson of immigrants. my grandparents did flee communism in cuba and both fled anti-semitism and hardship in both turkey and poland. these are motivators for my work here, as well. like so many, my parents hoped for a better future for me and for my sister, as well. i have spent the majority of my career as a law enforcement officer. i don't need to have done that to know that there are many people who wish the united states harm. and so i do view it as a very solemn and important part of my work to safe guard the security

and safety of the united states. i'd like to relate two particular experiences that i've had during my few days as director of u.s. citizenship and immigration services. i had the honor of attending a naturalization ceremony where 53 different countries were represented. showing the remarkable energy and talent that continue to pursue the dream of becoming new americans every day. and i had the opportunity recently to meet with the recently-returned refugee processing team from our refugee asylum international operations division that had recently come back from iraq. these are incredibly dedicated and talented public servants who i can say with great confidence inspired me when i heard the stories of the work that they do. and we have some challenging issues to talk about today. i have no doubt that we'll be talking about the deferred action for childhood arrivals program. i can say as a former

prosecutor, i have exercised discretion, i have worked for leaders who exercised that discretion. that is not anything novel in the various an enforcement enterprises in our country. it is my view that daca provides an opportunity to exercise pros cue torl discretion. for an individual i met about to receive her degree in harvard or another individual in medical school trying to decide to be a dermatologist or obgyn. i imagine we will also speak about the crisis at the border. i think that has been noted, the president has recognized this as a very serious problem, as has my agency and has secretary johnson. i would like this morning to talk in more detail about how our asylum process works, and the degree to which these asylum claims actually