beneficiaries to pay for its medication. the way the program is structured, medicare covers up to $2,700 in yearly prescription costs, and then stops. the coverage starts back up when the coverage exceeds $6,100. between that, folks are out of law. this gap has placed a crushing burden on many older americans who live on fixed incomes and cannot afford thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. . .

you are putting your life at risk, but there may be no other choice. as part of the health care reform by expect this year, medicare beneficiaries use spending falls within this gap will now receive a discount on prescription drugs of at least 50% for the negotiated price their plan pays. it is a reform that will make prescription drugs more affordable for millions of seniors and restore a measure of fairness to medicare part d. it is a reflection of the importance of this single step for america's seniors that it has earned the support of aarp which has been fighting for years to address this anomaly in the system. they're committed, as i am, to

achieving health care reform by the end of this year. i am committed to continuing to work with aarp ensure that any reform sweepers are carried out in a way that protects america's seniors who know as well as anyone what is wrong with our health care system and why it is badly in need of reform. and our goal is to reduce punishing inflation in health care costs while improving patient care. to do that, we will have to work together to get rid of waste and efficiencies that made at the bottom line of the insurance industry's but nothing to add to the health of our nation. the pharmaceutical industry has committed to reduce its hold on the health care system by $80 billion over the next 10 years as part of overall health care reform. real health care reform that reduces the spiraling costs of health services and ends -- extends quality, affordable health coverage to all americans will require these kind of

amendments throughout the system. drug and insurance companies stand to benefit. when tens of millions more americans have coverage. so we're asking them, in exchange, to make essential concessions to reform the system and help reduce costs. it is only fair. today marks a major step forward. but it will only be meaningful if we complete the journey. so i want to commend the house for coming together last week to produce a health care reform bill, a bill that protects senior is and has received support of the aarp. i will continue to work closely with the relevant chairs and the house and senate and leaders like senator dodd and senator baucus and with members of both parties who are willing to commit themselves to this critical task. our families, our businesses, and our long-term fiscal health and demands that we act and act now. today, we are. i am grateful for all those who helped make this a possible.

and a to those here in washington who have grown accustomed to the sky is falling prognoses and the 70's that we cannot get this done, i have to repeat and revive an old saying we had from the campaign. yes, we can. we're going to get this done. thank you very much, everybody. >> sir, anything you want to say about iran today? [no audio] >> the president announcing at the $80 billion deal with drug companies to help cover costs of medicare recipients. the president has scheduled his first rose garden news conference for tomorrow. the white house saying the president will take questions from reporters at 12:30 p.m. on tuesday. he previously took formal questions from reporters in the east room and on international trips. this will be his first time in the white house rose garden. a look at the supreme court, the

nation's highest court is accepting new cases. the supreme court has made it easier for parents a special- education students to be reimbursed for the cost of private schooling. the court ruled 6-3 in favor of a teenage boy from oregon is parents sought to have their local soap -- public-school district paid the $52 above the costs to send their sons to private school. they say school districts must pay for a private specialist services if the school does not have appropriate services, regardless of whether the child previously received special- education services through the public school. also, the supreme court upheld a federal government permit to dump waste from an alaskan gold mine into a nearby lake even though all its fish would be killed. by 6-3 vote, the justices said federal appeals court wrongly bought the permit on environmental grounds. the army corps of engineer granted that permit in 2005.

environmental groups challenged the permit, saying it violated the clean water act. coming up at 3:00 eastern today, we will be live with a senate republican meeting on energy policy and the possibility of increasing the number of nuclear plants. the senate republican conference will speak with energy analysts. we will have that life here on c-span at 2:00. the u.s. senate starts at 2:00 p.m. eastern today, beginning with general speeches before returning to debate on a bill to create a commission to encourage foreign tourism in the u.s. later this week, the homeland's security department spending. and off the floor, committees are working on health care legislation. live senate coverage on c-span2. the houses here on c-span. members return tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. eastern for short speeches and it will be in at noon for legislative work. the will of the cost-of-living adjustment in veteran's disability pay. beginning wednesday, federal spending next budget year for

the homeland's security and interior departments as well as unburned the programs. also, defense programs and policy. >> the fcc should be a model for transparency, openness, and fairness. >> tonight, a discussion on president obama's choice to lead the fcc with andrew feinberg and fawn johnson. what the fcc would look like under a new chairman, tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern on "the communicator's." >> how is c-span funded? >> through donations? >> a little bit from the federal government. >> brands. >> maybe from sponsors? >> it might get government funding. >> viewers? >> how is he's been funded? 30 years ago, america's cable companies created c-span is a

public service, a private business initiative. no government mandate, no government money. >> democratic leadership council recently honored its retiring ceo, al from. speakers include bill clinton, steny hoyer, and the incoming dlc chairman. this is about an hour. >> standing right behind me, so save me, please. ladies and gentlemen, the rabbi. >> oh, god, a creature of the universe upon universe. we're here this evening to honor, to ease bank, and to recognize a friend, a patriot, a leader, a lover of our country. in this moment, dear god, as we should in all moments, we

recognize your presence and the work of our hands, your lights and the clarity we attain, your spirit and the wisdom with chief, at your inspiration and the good that we seek to do. we ask for your continued guidance and blessing, even as we know that we all -- we often merit than not. we thank you for our many deaths. this evening, we thank you for al and ginger from who have shared some much of themselves with all of us and many more across the nation in the globe or not here this evening. our tradition teaches at five years old, the person should study scripture. at 13, the commandments. at 20, one is ready for one's life pursuits. at 40, one achieves discernment. at 50, one is ready to give

counsel. at 60, one becomes an elder, even with year grace the stage. the rabbi would ask, which is the proper course that a man should choose for himself? ago he would then say, that which is an honor to him and a list its honor from his fellow man. the rabbi would continue, be as scrupulous about a small deed as a way the one. for you do not know the reward allotted for each action. and finally, he would teach know what is above you, a seeing eye, a hearing here, and all your deeds recorded in a book. al you have been a follower of rabbi judah. we might even say, to use it technical term, a total mench.

and with the patience and strength, perhaps not quite of joke but of a devoted cubs then, something almost biblical in itself. your body the words of rabbis shimon he used to sit there 3 crowns. -- who used to say that there are three grounds. but the crown of a good name surpasses them all. al fromm, it is a good name. we ask god's continued blessing on you. blessed are you. ruler of the universe who has kept us alive, sustained us, and broad as to this wonderful moment for you and for all of us. molotov and -- mozel tov and amen. [applause]

>> thank you again, rabbi, for the processing. thank you all again for joining us for such a wonderful and a special occasion, celebrating the contributions of al from, not only to this great organization but to the larger political body. as on the telephone earlier today and was chatting with someone i am working on a project with. and i was in washington and share that it was for this evening's events. he and i are about the same age. i turned 39 a month ago. i shared with him, i remember graduating from college in 1992 and working from my father's reelection campaign to congress back in memphis and how i was so

excited that this arkansas governor and this tennessee senator would be the nominee is for the party or were the nominees for the party. i shared with the fellow i was speaking to on the telephone, and he agreed that it was the first time since i was 6 years old but a democrat was boy is to win the white house and i felt good about it. in 1980, 1984, 1988, i was excited about our candidates. i cannot forget about 1984 when i was excited about jesse jackson's candidacy as a 14- year-old freshman student. and in 1988 by him again. but there was something special about bill clinton in 1992. the man now speaking to helped to lay the foundation for so much of this. a young man who noticed in 1984 and 1985 that middle-class america and the mainstream america was not being represented.

their concerns are not being addressed, and there were not given the tools to achieve their dreams and aspirations. i thought back on the great leaders of this organization from chuck robb to dig gephardt to jim jones, at 2 barbara kinelly, obviously to the great chairman in 1990 and 1991 with whom we will hear from later. a thought about the congressman from mississippi. the great leader and the senate from connecticut, joe lieberman. the hon. joe long. i thought about roy romer and did mccurry who is here this evening. i thought about the great senator from indiana. i thought about my dear friend of vice chairman and partner in chairing this organization, now senator tom carver. of course, my immediate predecessor, my friend, the

great gov. tom vilsack. we have all been a part of something very special because, largely, the courage and determination and tenacity of a little fellow back then who is now a little fellow again, and you'll see later, in our friend al from. tonight's dinner is special not only for those of us in this room but for politicians and those who benefited from new policies all across this country, and i daresay the world. what al did more for our party and more for the body of politics was that he helped make our party, or at least a huge wing of it. not only believers in the future but shapers and no longer chasers of the future. it is his blueprint and in so many ways, the footprint that he believes that he started and leaves for bruce and the rest of us to take to new levels and a

new heights. nd new heights. it has made it possible for some many democrats across the south and the midwest, the south least, the northwest, the midwest, and even the northeast. -- and even the northeast to win. even though i didn't win in 2006, you made it easier for me to love my god, to feel strongly about taxes being low, about businesspeople creating jobs, and that the same time -- and at the same time, the government had a responsibility to give people the tools to compete. we all owe you a debt of gratitude. for someone who loves politics and making public policy, i dare say there are not many people in this city or around this country who have done more to

advance and find good people to serve in politics, there are not many people have sacrificed more that we all know you have. this night not only is for you, but it is to celebrate all of the young politicians, middle- age politicians, and even a few older ones who you helped pave the way for. it gives me great pride to introduce my partner and the president and ceo of the dlc, bruce reed. [applause] >> thank you so much, congressman, for fine words and great work. for president clinton who changed our party and made democrats sprout, to secretary sebelius, and all of the other

former dlc shares, the vice chair tom and a dozen others are here from the senate. and many house members and state and local fichu -- and officials, and think all of you from far and near who have come here tonight. this is an amazing crowd. all these years, al from mid name for himself as one of the all-time great trouble makers. it will ruin his reputation forever when the world finds out he has as many friends. tonight, it saddens me to tell my favorite joke one last time i was born with the ultimate washington curse. i look like alfred, and i think like our from -- al from. it could be worse, it could be

the other way around. [laughter] the truth is, thinking life -- like al from is the privilege of a lifetime. the world is a vastly better place, because over the years, so many democrats in this room and in this town have come to have like -- and have come to think like al from. [applause] we take for granted now, but we should not forget how well -- how he got started. back in the 1980's, congressman pat schroeder used to tell audiences that democrats need to do three things to win back the white house. unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.

well, al from knew. he understood that it would take a different time a democrat -- a different kind of democrat. if you have forgotten what the political wilderness was like in those days, just take a look across the aisle at the sad state of today's republican party. we can't feel too bad, after all, they did plenty to earn it. republicans have lost back-to- back land sides in 2006 and 2008. they do not have the courage to challenge old orthodox is and interest groups. they would rather hold on to old approaches then embrace new ideas that work. and even though their ranks are shrinking fast, they cling to

the same old approaches that are sure to strengthen -- short to shrink itheir party. it is a big reason we decided long ago to be done with all of that. [applause] today, the democratic party is stronger. we're eager to help push the obama administration's reform agenda, and we're thrilled to have a democratic party in the white house so the republicans can explore the wilderness for a long time to come. [applause] tomorrow, and in the days and months ahead, we will say more about the important work that lies ahead for the dlc. to " tony blair, we have a lot

still to do. we have a new wave of ideas to put forward, and a new generation of democrats -- the democrats to bloom. like rachel store to you will hear from an -- who you will hear from in a few minutes. the moment we stopped counting ourselves to take on tough issues -- the moment we stop challenging ourselves to take on tough issues, we miss the chance to prove to the american people that we will not stop fighting for real change. tonight is a chance to remember how we got here, and to pay tribute to the great insurgency al from started to modernize progressive government, made the world safe, and help find the road to victory out of the agony of defeat. this morning, a journalist wrote a loving tribute entitled "al

from wom." -- won. democrats won, and the country one. -- won. the progress we have one has been its own best reward. like any great trouble, al has been blessed with many co- conspirators, from will marshall was president -- who was present at the creation -- [applause] to jennifer callahan who has stayed with al to this day. [applause]

is to all the sponsors who worked so hard to pull off this to be tonight this room is filled -- to bnight. tonight, this room is filled with elected officials who put their careers on the line for reform. on behalf of all those co- conspirators, i want to thank al for the lessons he has taught us. he showed us that ideas matter and obstacles don't. he is a thin man than he was back then, but the party a stronger because of his thick skin. he showed us that orthodoxy is a one-way ticket to the wilderness, and the path of least resistance is a dead-end street. when the party wanted to break some china, how was adopted in a

china shop and needed -- al was the donkey in a china shop that we needed. [applause] and most of all, he showed us that in the end, the fickle fashions of washington did not really matter. we did not care -- he did not care who was up one who was down, he just wanted to keep fighting for the same principles he believed. all of you who stood by the dlc, and the commitment to the ideals of the new democratic movement a stronger than ever. hisarents emigrated to indiana and raise our son to believe the opportunity for all was the democrats mission.

the patron saint of the dlc, the love of his life, ginger from. [applause] he spent the last quarter- century willing the democratic party back from the dead. he is going to spend the next quarter century on a more quixotic cause, when the cubs back to the world series. tonight, all of us pledge to honor his legacy with a new wave of new democrats on the rise, new majorities in congress, and a new president in the white house. this party will remain a place where ideas matter. we have always wanted to unable every generation to build a better and brighter future for

the next generation that comes along. in the end, that is what he has done for us. democrats are far better off than we were 24 years ago. so is our country as a result. [applause] our party's map is bigger, our nation's civic ethic is stronger, and our children's future is brighter because of the cause he has left us to carry on. and now, to remind you about how far we have come, and how much we can still do, we will then the lights for a video on the incredible adventure of how he changed the face of american politics. >> there are so many things we can measure. the power of the sun. the wind. electricity. and sound.

an engine. but how the measure the power of an idea? it can only be measured by the mines it opens, the innovation its parks, and the lines again change -- and the lives it can change. in 1984, ronald reagan wins 49 states. democrats are out of ideas. the new deal coalition has been split asunder. for the forgotten middle class, democrats stand for weakness abroad and big government at home. out of the rubble, a young congressional staffer named al from organizes a small group of governors, senators, and activists who decide to chart a new path, organizing the democratic leadership council to democratic leadership council to forge a new, modern agenda,